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By . Lucy Crossley . A travel company boss has captured what could be the ultimate selfie after photographing himself at the top of Brazil's iconic Christ The Redeemer statue. Very few people are able to climb the landmark in Rio de Janeiro, but Lee Thompson was able to convince the Brazilian tourist board to let him scale the monument. It took the 31-year-old almost half an hour to reach the summit of 124ft-high statue, climbing narrow steps where a single misplaced move would have resulted in serious injury, or worse. Scroll down for video . The ultimate selfie? Travel company boss Lee Thompson was allowed to climb the 124ft-high Christ The Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, taking a selfie as he reached the top . Head for heights: It took the 31-year-old almost half an hour to reach the summit of 124-foot statue, climbing narrow steps where a single misplaced move would have resulted in serious injury, or worse . However, it was all worth it for the Londoner when he poked his head out of the top of the statue to be met by the sight of the sprawling city below. He then managed to take a photograph of himself in one of the greatest ever selfies. Mr Thompson, who co-founded group travel firm www.theflashpack.co.uk, said: 'I think it must be the first selfie from the top of Christ The Redeemer. 'The climb took 25 minutes. They had been repairing it after a lightning storm and we managed to convince the Brazilian tourist board to allow us to climb to the top. World at his feet: Very few people are able to climb the landmark in Rio de Janeiro, but Mr Thompson was able to convince the Brazilian tourist board to let him scale the monument . 'It was extremely hot, eerily quiet and claustrophobic. It was really quite scary. 'The last bit sees you climbing a tiny, very tight staircase and if you fall, you fall a long way. 'When I popped my head out of the top it took my breath away. The view really was incredible. It is the most fun selfie I've taken and one of my favourite photos. 'Everyone says it is crazy and it makes them feel sick just looking at it. 'I have had lots of messages from Brazilians who say it is something they have always wanted to do. 'Very few people have ever been able to do it.' Iconic: The Christ The Redeemer statue is one of Brazil's most famous landmarks, and will no doubt be visted by hundreds of football fans as they flock to the country for this month's World Cup . Iconic: Christ The Redeemer . Standing atop the 2,300ft-high Corcovado mountain, overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the statue of Christ The Redeemer, or Cristo Redentor in Portuguese, is one of the South American country's most iconic landmarks. The statue, depicting Jesus Christ and used as a symbol of Brazilian Christianity, was the largest Art Deco statue in the world when it was completed in 1931, a record which stood until 2010 when it was beaten by the Christ the King statue in Poland. The statue itself is 98ft tall, and it stands atop a 26ft pedestal. Its arms reach 92 ft wide and the statue, made out of reinforced concrete and soapstone, weighs 635 tonnes. Work began on the statue in 1922, after it was first proposed by Catholic priest Pedro Maria Boss in the mid-1850s, who requested money from Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil to build a large religious monument on Corcovado. However, the regent, ruling on behalf of her father Pedro II, was not keen on the idea and it was dismissed outright in 1889 when Brazil became a republic with laws mandating the separation of church and state. In 1920 a second scheme for a statue on the mountain was put forward by the Catholic Circle of Rio, funded by donations from Brazilian Catholics, and other designs considered included Christian cross, a statue of Jesus with a globe in his hands, and a pedestal symbolizing the world. Local engineer Heitor da Silva Costa designed the winning statue, which was then sculpted by Polish-French artist Paul Landowski, with the face created by Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida. Construction took nine years, from 1922 to 1931 and cost the equivalent of $250,000, worth around $3,300,000 in today's money. In October 2006, on the statue's 75th anniversary, Archbishop of Rio Cardinal Eusebio Oscar Scheid consecrated a chapel named after the patron saint of Brazil - Nossa Senhora Aparecida, or 'Our Lady of the Apparition' - under the statue. This allows Catholics to hold baptisms and weddings at the site. The monument has been struck by lightning many times, including during an electrical storm in February 2008 where it suffered damage on the fingers, head and eyebrows. The Rio de Janeiro state government commenced a restoration project on the statue to replace part of the soapstone layers and repair its lightning rods. However, in January this year it was damaged again in a storm and a finger on the right hand was dislodged. Due to strong winds and erosion, as well as lightning, maintenance work is regularly carried out on the statue, and as the original stone used is increasingly rare replacement stones are darker in colour. The statue is one of the best-known symbols of Brazil and has featured in a number of films, music videos and television shows, including Michael Jackson's They Don't Care About Us, the disaster film 2012, in which it crumbles after an earthquake, animated films Rio and Rio 2, and television series Hustle.

Lee Thompson, 31, managed to convince the Brazilian tourist board to let him climb the statue in Rio de Janeiro . Statue was being repaired after a lightning storm when travel company boss was allowed to scale the monument . As he popped his head out of the head of the 124ft-high statue he took a photograph of himself with the city below .

By . Eleanor Harding . PUBLISHED: . 07:17 EST, 1 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:47 EST, 2 January 2014 . A disabled two-year-old has been left housebound after thieves stole hundreds of pounds worth of specialist equipment from her parents’ car days before Christmas. Audrey Frantzich cannot walk, talk or eat due to a rare genetic condition and needs an oxygen supply and expensive mobility equipment to help her live. She has to be fed milk through a tube in her stomach and relies on specialist aids just to help her sit up. Condition: The two year old suffers from a rare genetic condition which means she cannot sit up, walk or talk . Now her parents Louise, 28, and Herman, 24, are unable to take her out after thieves stole their car containing her special car seat, buggy, chair and oxygen canister. The culprits later abandoned the car but kept the equipment – and even the vehicle’s disabled badge. They also held on to the family’s sat nav and a camera full of irreplaceable photographs charting Audrey’s life. Mrs Frantzich said the Rover was stolen on Saturday from the garage attached to the family’s bungalow in Baildon, West Yorkshire. She said: ‘We feel really shocked and upset that people would do that, especially around Christmas time. ‘When they saw the oxygen and the disabled badge in the car, they would have had an idea. How would they feel if it was their disabled child who was left without? Stolen: Parents Louise, 28, and Herman, 24, (pictured) discovered that their Rover Streetwise had been stolen . ‘It’s had a huge impact on our life over Christmas. We wanted to go out and do things with Audrey, but we’ve not been able to because the buggy we would have put her in was stolen.’ Audrey’s condition means that she has spinal problems, hearing aids in each ear, a cleft palate and suffers from reflux, where acid from the stomach leaks into the gullet. She cannot sit up properly and finds it hard to hold her head upright, meaning she needs a special seat or buggy to support her. Audrey has to have constant medical attention, so the stolen equipment was vital for her travel to hospital appointments. Her parents estimate they have lost £350 worth of equipment, not including the oxygen canister which was provided by the NHS. Her mother added: ‘They’ve even taken the fleece blanket I bought to keep her warm when we go out. The rare genetic condition has a range of symptoms. The disorder means people have the entire 9th chromosome three times rather than twice in some cells of the body. Sufferers can have congenital heart defects as well as skull and other physical abnormalities . It is caused by problems when reproductive cells divide early in a pregnancy. Source: rarediseases.org . ‘It’s been awful for Audrey, she’s . quite social and loves to go out and about and see different places, but . because we’ve been stuck in she’s been really unsettled. ‘I don’t know how we would have managed if there was an emergency and we needed to get to hospital. Appointment: The car and equipment is needed so Audrey can be taken to a hospital appointment at Bradford Royal Infirmary on Friday . ‘It’s . going to be a struggle getting to hospital appointments without . everything that has been stolen and we’ll even struggle to park because . the disabled badge has gone.’ Audrey’s great-grandmother Barbara Seed, 78, added: ‘How can people be so cruel? Audrey’s such a happy and lovely little soul.’ Police . recovered the car on the same day that it was stolen and arrested three . people, but the items were not in it or found during a search of the . suspects’ homes. It is . thought only about ten children in the UK have Audrey’s condition, . Trisomy 9 Mosaic (T9M), which is caused by having a partial third copy . of a chromosome. Audrey’s . mother added: ‘When she was born, doctors said she wouldn’t see her . first birthday. She has a lot of problems, but she’s always quite . jolly.’ Mrs Frantzich is a . full-time carer for her daughter. Her American-born husband cannot work . as he is waiting for his national insurance number, after obtaining a . visa. The family’s financial situation, and a £500 insurance excess, means they will struggle to replace the stolen items. A . police spokesman said two women, aged 18 and 25, have been released . without charge and a 24-year-old man has been released on bail pending . further inquiries.

Audrey Frantzich has to be tube-fed and on an oxygen supply . The two year old suffers from a rare genetic condition . Her parents discovered their car had been stolen from the garage . 28-year-old mum said the theft had affected their plans over Christmas . Equipment is needed so Audrey can be taken to a hospital appointment .

By . Harriet Arkell for MailOnline . Police who stopped a car found a vast arsenal of weapons including a claw hammer, a sledgehammer handle and a baseball bat studded with nails and wrapped in barbed wire. Five gang members admitted possessing an offensive weapon but walked free from court yesterday after saying they intended to damage a man's car rather than a person. Prosecutor Paul Newcombe told Teesside Crown Court that the baseball bat officers found in the gang's Fiat Punto late one night was 'more suited to Game of Thrones than the streets of Guisborough'. Police found a baseball bat studded with nails and wrapped in barbed wire hidden in a car in Guisborough . Concrete blocks, a modified baseball bat, a sledgehammer handle and claw hammer were among the array . Mr Newcombe said: 'It's a very threatening and dangerous weapon.' adding that police also found three concrete bricks, two masks, one of which was a 'Scream' mask, and gloves. The court heard that driver Kyle Wright, 28, looked nervous when police came across the car in Guisborough, Cleveland, at about 11.20pm on March 17. He made a U-turn and tried to drive away but was stopped by officers who then found the stash of weapons hidden under seats, in footwells and by the handbrake. Wright, of Guisborough, told police the implements were 'for protection', though he later said that was a joke, the court heard. Also in the car were passengers Sean Harris, 27, also from Guisborough, Paul Jeffels, 32, of Easington, Saltburn, Lewis Swatton, 20, from Brotton, and Jamie Haley, 18, from Loftus. The prosecutor said: 'While it's unknown exactly what the true purpose of this journey was, it may well be related to a recent stabbing in the area, and possible revenge for that stabbing.' All five admitted possession of an offensive weapon but said the intention was to damage a man's car. The court heard they had few or no relevant previous convictions, except for Jeffels who had numerous assaults on his record. Andrew Turton, defending Harris, said: 'No violence was used. No threats of violence were made. Police found Sean Harris, 27, Paul Jeffels, 32, and Lewis Swatton, 20, in a car with an arsenal of weapons . He said Harris, a college student, was foolish and had alcohol issues, but said he was tackling those and aspired to set up his own business. Duncan McReddie, representing Wright, said prison would have a serious impact on the single father's two children, and that he had medical problems. Alex Bousfield, for Jeffels, said: 'It was to be a show of force, it seems, to a certain individual in Guisborough. 'He just went along with it. No member of the public saw any of these weapons.' Swatton's barrister Nigel Soppitt said: 'He's very easily led.  He says he was really oblivious at that point through drink and drugs.' And Peter Makepeace, defending Haley, said he was a hard-working man of previous positive good character, and unlikely to be in court again. Judge Howard Crowson told the five: 'I'm not going to lock you up today, but it comes pretty close - this sort of weapon could cause a great deal of harm. 'What we see is the final offences which usually result in dreadful violence and horrible injury.' He said police information matched the assertion that the men didn't mean to hurt people, but such street violence could have erupted. He gave Jeffels, an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for one year, and Wright, Harris and Swatton five-month sentences, suspended for one year. Wright and Swatton were also each given eight-week tagged curfews, Harris and Jeffels were ordered to do 150 hours' unpaid work each, and Haley, of Loftus, was given a one-year conditional discharge. Game of Thrones is a fantasy television series based on the novel series A Song Of Fire And Ice by George R. R. Martin. It has won several awards and nominations, as well as record audience figures, but has also attracted criticism for its ultra-violence, particularly towards women. Games of Thrones (season four pictured) features terrifying weaponry in its many scenes of violence . Filmed in a Belfast studio and on location in sites around the world including Morocco, Scotland, Croatia and Malta, Game of Thrones spans four seasons and began its original run in October 2011. The show roughly follows three storylines from the original novels, and is set in the fictional Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. But many of the episodes feature violence to women, prompting one critic to write: 'rape has become so pervasive... that it is almost background noise'.

Police came across five men in a Fiat Punto late one night in Guisborough . Found claw hammer, concrete blocks, masks and gloves hidden in the car . Also discovered baseball bat studded with nails and wrapped in barbed wire . Prosecutor told the court it was 'more Game of Thrones than Guisborough' The popular fantasy TV show has been criticised for its ultra-violent scenes . Kyle Wright, 28, Sean Harris, 27, Paul Jeffels, 32, Lewis Swatton, 20, and Jamie Haley, 18, all admitted possessing an offensive weapon . But all walked free from Teesside Crown Court yesterday . They told judge they wanted to damage a man's car rather than a person .

By . Charles Walford . UPDATED: . 05:20 EST, 17 July 2013 . Stephen Lawrence is buried in a remote location in the rural highlands of Jamaica, his mother has revealed. The family chose to lay him to rest alongside his great-grandmother in a secluded spot near where Doreen Lawrence used to play as as a child. However, the exact location of the grave . remains a fiercely guarded secret, she said, to allow her to visit him . in peace and quietly reflect. She told the BBC's Panorama programme that his family feared his grave would be desecrated if it was in the UK. Private grief: Stephen's grave is in a secret location in Jamaica, next to that of his great-grandmother . Resting place: Stephen Lawrence's mother says her son is buried in the Caribbean because Britain 'didn't deserve to have him' Fading: Mrs Lawrence said it will soon be time to change the photo of her son on the grave . Mrs Lawrence, who came to the UK at the age of nine, said: 'Here nobody knows where he is. 'Then . again, I don't think the country deserves to have his body there anyway . because they took his life. 'I think it's still the best thing we did, that we brought him here so he can be next to his great-grandmother so she can look after him.' She added: 'I am really pleased I have . buried him here, because had he been buried in the UK his grave would . have been desecrated so many times.' The grave bears a picture of her murdered son which will soon be replaced because it is fading, Mrs Lawrence said. In the programme Mrs Lawrence looks through pictures of Stephen as a child and says she is protective of his memory. She says: 'I don't like the idea of too many . photos of Stephen being out. I just think everybody seems to want to . have photos of him and I just think "no". 'The one is enough, that way you have some control.' Mrs Lawrence makes a visit to her son's grave in an area of Jamaica where she used to play as a child . Memory: Stephen's grave in a remote corner of Jamaica. The exact location is a secret, to enable the family to visit him in peace . With his family; Stephen's grave, right, is beside that of his great-grandmother . Mrs Lawrence can also be seen looking at Stephen's cap and jumper, complete with badges, from when he was a cub and scout. She leafs through some of his writings but says she still cannot bring herself to read them. 'I came across this. He did it on April 7, 15 days before he died he did it,' she says. 'I can't read it, I find it difficult, when I look at what he could achieve. I'm not ready to read this yet.' Yesterday there was finally some justice for her son after an 18-year ordeal. As well as the immeasurable grief and anger caused by the murder of her son, she and her husband Neville, their marriage already under strain, were finally driven apart by Stephen's death. As the verdicts on Gary Dobson and David Norris were returned the Lawrences sat ten feet apart, but wept at exactly the same time. During the BBC Panorama programme Mrs Lawrence is seen going through Stephen's childhood belongings . Police set up a mobile surveillance van to prevent Stephen Lawrence’s memorial plaque being vandalised yesterday. The van positioned its cameras on the black marble dedication that marks the spot where he died on Well Hall Road, Eltham, South East London in 1993.It came after a string of racial abuse was aimed at mourners who came to leave flowers on Tuesday by passing motorists after Gary Dobson and David Norris were found guilty of his murder. Police patrolled the road fearing another racist attack could be carried out on the memorial. Dozens of flowers were laid around the memorial – mostly by people who did not know the 18-year-old A-level student. The plaque has been targeted three times in the 16 years since it was positioned at the site of the stabbing. On one occasion it was chipped and it has also had paint and flammable liquids poured on it. After the two men had been found guilty, . Doreen Lawrence was applauded as she read a statement outside the Old . Bailey. But this wasn’t a cause for celebration, she said. ‘How can I celebrate when my son lies . buried? When I cannot see him or speak to him? 'When will I see him grow . up and go to university or get married or have children? These verdicts . will not bring my son back. ‘How can I celebrate when I know that . this day could have come 18 years ago if the police, who were meant to . find my son’s killers, had not failed so miserably to do so?' Of Stephen she said: ‘I now want . people to remember him as a bright, beautiful young man who any parent . of whatever background would have been proud of. ‘He was a wonderful son and a shining . example of what any parent would want in a child. 'I miss him with a . passion. Hopefully now he can rest in peace.’ When she visited Stephen's grave in March she told the BBC that when she returned she would like to be able to tell him that someone had gone to prison for his death. At least now she can. Doreen Lawrence uses her visits to the grave to quietly reflect on her Stephen's life . By PAUL HARRIS AND DAVID JONES . UPDATED: . 05:20 EST, 17 July 2013 . He was 18 and on the brink of fulfilling his ambition to train as an architect. In . school he was a promising student; outside, a burgeoning athlete. By . the time six weeks of evidence came to a close at the Old Bailey, the . jury knew everything about Stephen Lawrence’s death, right down to the . angle the knife was plunged into his chest. They . knew virtually nothing about his life. Remarkably, they were never even . shown his photograph. In truth, his story is unremarkable – but one . which illustrates how a single act of  violence snatched away a young . man’s future and devastated an ordinary, decent family. The . oldest of three children, Stephen was born on September 13, 1974. His . brother Stuart is two years younger and sister Georgina six years . younger. The brothers . squabbled like any teenage siblings, but remained close. Days before he . died, Stephen had forgiven Stuart for dismantling his Sony Walkman to . see how it worked. Stuart, . now a teacher, has previously said: ‘It was great having a big brother. No-one messed with me. Stephen was tall and cool and had lots of . friends.’ When the . children were growing up, the Lawrences did everything as a family. They . attended the local Trinity Methodist Church, where Stephen volunteered . to help old people. The family ate together around the table when . possible and went on traditional English holidays. At . the time Stephen was murdered he was doing A-levels at Blackheath . Bluecoat School, where he was popular, gregarious, confident. He was . never known to have caused a fight. Rio Ferdinand, later to become a . Manchester United and England soccer star, was a fellow pupil. Ferdinand . was a few years below Stephen, but Stephen, a keen Arsenal fan, knew . him through their mutual interest in football. In any case, he was the kind of . figure that new pupils would look up to. When first years arrived, it . was Stephen whom teachers chose as part of the team that showed them . around. They regarded him as a role model and knew his easy manner would . make youngsters feel at ease. He . wasn’t an angel, of course, and during his mid-teens his parents were . worried he wasn’t working hard enough. Later, he realised how important . his exams would be and got back on track. Had his path not crossed with a . group of thugs, he would have made a success of his life. ‘As a young boy Stephen was never a problem,’ his father Neville said. ‘He . had worked out what he wanted to do in life.’ He was a quick learner by . all accounts, and very talented at drawing. An architect where Stephen . did work experience offered to take him on when he passed his exams. Even . at 18 he was quite industrious – he designed and made T-shirts . featuring drawings and cartoon characters, and sold them with a friend . to shops in Camden Town. He also took a part-time job in McDonald’s. Public tribute: Flowers are laid next to the memorial plaque dedicated to Stephen Lawrence on Well Hall Road near Eltham . Like his father, who had been a . champion distance-runner, Stephen was a good athlete. He was . comparatively short at 5ft 8in but sprinted 100metres for Cambridge . Harriers and was the second fastest among his age group. The fact that . he didn’t try to flee the gang is one of the enduring mysteries of what . happened that night. Stephen’s . father, Neville, had wanted to be an architect too. But growing up in . Jamaica, he was so poor that he had to go to work at 14, and he became . an upholsterer. Hence, the family hoped Stephen would realise his father’s unfulfilled dream. At . one point Stephen, who was taken to Jamaica as a baby, even considered . going back to the Caribbean to forge a career there. Instead, the island . was to become his final resting place because his family feared his . grave would be attacked by racists if it was in England. His . mother, Doreen, told the BBC’s Panorama: ‘I am really pleased I have . buried him here, because had he been buried in the UK his grave would . have been desecrated so many times. ‘Here . nobody knows where he is. Then again, I don’t think the country . deserves to have his body there anyway because they took his life. ‘I . think it’s still the best thing we did, that we brought him here so he . can be next to his great-grandmother so she can look after him.’

Doreen Lawrence says she believes her son's grave would be desecrated if it was in UK .

Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Cubans will be allowed to work for themselves in 178 activities in the private sector and even hire employees, according to guidelines published Friday as the communist government moves quickly to shed half a million state jobs and provide alternatives for workers. Cubans will be permitted to be self-employed carpenters, restaurateurs, barbers and even salsa dancers. Many of the categories already existed, but the government hadn't granted new licenses for years, which meant that the total number of self-employed people in Cuba's 5.1 million-strong workforce was just 143,000. The new list of occupations published in state media includes seven new categories, among them accountants and bathroom attendants. It also says that for the first time in decades, these private entrepreneurs will be allowed to hire nonrelatives and access credit. The measures are aimed at "raising levels of productivity and efficiency," according to state-run newspaper Granma, and eliminating the social "stigma" long associated with self-employment in the socialist system. Last week, Cuba announced it would eliminate "at least" 500,000 state jobs, or 10 percent of the public sector workforce, over the next six months and pave the way for more private enterprise. This is the most dramatic move yet by President Raul Castro to reshape the country's sputtering economy, but he insists the socialist system will not be altered. The announcement got mixed reactions from Cubans. Some are concerned that a way of life ­ and a guaranteed fixed income ­are disappearing. Others are optimistic that they will be able to make more money in the private sector. The average state salary is just $20 a month. But many details, like how much these entrepreneurs will have to pay in taxes, social security and licensing fees, are still missing. State media said more details would be soon be unveiled.

Cubans can work for themselves in 178 activities . Move comes as Cuba cuts 500,000 state jobs . State media says more details of plan will be soon be unveiled .

A cash-strapped student is pleading for the safe return of his beloved vintage car after it was stolen from outside his house – and is offering a reward of 'love and affection' to anyone who finds it. Ben Wheldon-Bayes, 20, said he was devastated when he popped outside to get something from his 30-year-old brown B-reg Austin Mini only to find it had been stolen. The civil engineering student had driven home from Southampton University for Christmas and parked the motor - nicknamed Edna - outside his family home in Reading, Berkshire. Ben Wheldon-Bayes, 20, parked his 30-year-old brown B-reg Austin Mini (pictured) outside his family home in Reading, Berkshire, on Saturday but noticed it had vanished when he went to unpack it just a few hours later . The civil engineering student had driven home from Southampton University for Christmas just hours before it was taken. He is now pleading for any information about its whereabouts and will offer 'love and affection' He said he noticed his beloved car had disappeared when he went to unload it on Saturday evening. He is now desperate to see his car returned, and said that while he cannot offer a cash reward, he will 'shower love and affection' on anyone who can help. His Facebook post appealing for his car's return has already been shared more than 16,000 times around the country. It says: 'My car has been stolen from outside my house in Reading some time between 6.30pm and 2am last night (Saturday). 'Any info etc. would be greatly appreciated, can't really offer a reward but I'll shower you with love and affection. 'Someone please give my car back, it's Christmas.' Speaking at his parent's large red-brick home today, the third year student said the car was his 'pride and joy'. Mr Wheldon-Bayes, 20 (above), saved up for years for the vintage car and said he is 'devastated' that it has been taken. He hopes it will be safely returned . 'I saved up for years for the car,' he said. 'All my birthday money, Christmas money, and I had a job in Asda. 'It was my pride and joy and I was so happy driving it.' Mr Wheldon-Bayes had owned the vintage brown Mini for three years, and it was his first car after passing his test. The penniless student said that while he would be unable to offer anyone a financial reward for the safe return of his car, he would do anything he could to thank them. He said: 'I would be overjoyed. I don't know what I'd do. I'd be shocked if I got it back. 'It would be incredible to have it back. It is my favourite thing in the world at the moment.' Of the online support, he said: 'It's wicked, it's lovely. So many people have messaged me. 'More than 16,000 people have shared my Facebook post, and that's strangers, people I don't even have mutual friends with. 'Loads of people have contacted me and suggested things that might have happened.' He believes thieves took the car and may have sold it on for parts since there's a huge market for the older models. He had only recently saved up enough money to insure the car again after having it in storage for two years, but was in the process of sorting out special classic car coverage when it was taken. 'I don't think I'll get a penny,' he said. His father John, 71, said he worked hard to get the car and appealed to anyone with information to contact the family. He said: 'I just think Ben worked really hard to get the car. I really respected Ben working to afford the car.' The missing Austin Mini hasthe registration B335 EDA.

Ben Wheldon-Bayes appealing for safe return of his beloved Austin Mini . 20-year-old parked vintage motor outside his home in Reading, Berkshire . Just hours later it had vanished, and he believes it was stolen by thieves . Facebook appeal for its return has been seen by more than 16,000 people . He said: 'I can't offer a reward but I'll shower you with love and affection'

(CNN) -- The expulsion of an international medical NGO providing a vital lifeline to displaced Muslims in Myanmar's Rakhine state has raised fears other aid agencies could be next. Advocates for the Rohingya Muslim minority -- tens of thousands of whom have been displaced by sectarian violence and are forced to live in sealed camps -- fear the move is part of a push by extremist Rakhine nationalists to cut off a lifeline to the persecuted ethnic group and help drive them from the state in western Myanmar. "It is absolutely shocking, especially that the government seems to bow to the demands of protesters in the face of international human rights concerns," said Chris Lewa, founder of the Arakan Project, an NGO which advocates on the Rohingya issue. "I'm really, really concerned, if the government is bowing to these extremists' requests, where it's going to go." Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) was banned from operating in the volatile state last week, following protests by ethnic Rakhine nationalists against the organization and other international NGOs. Myanmar's government said the organization had been banned for consistently showing bias towards the state's Muslim minority and breaching the terms of its agreement to operate in Rakhine, where it provided services to tens of thousands of patients. Human Rights Watch slammed the move, with senior researcher David Mathieson describing the expulsion as "simply deplorable." Lewa said MSF was the major NGO provider of healthcare in the state and its expulsion would "have devastating consequences on the Rohingya population," as well as impacting members of the Rakhine ethnic group which relied on its services. "There is no other international NGO providing this kind of assistance," she said. She feared other aid agencies could be next to be targeted. "The extremists have been protesting not only against MSF -- it has been against all international NGOs, the UN, even the ICRC," she said. She feared that cutting off international aid to the Rohingya -- many of whom were prevented from working by travel restrictions that leave them stranded in vast camps -- was part of a push by Rakhine extremists to hound them from the state. "The most worrying thing is where is it going to stop." READ MORE: Medecins Sans Frontieres banned in Rakhine state for alleged "Rohingya bias" The Rohingya are a stateless Muslim minority in Rakhine state, thought to number between 800,000 and one million. Myanmar does not recognize them as citizens or one of the country's 135 recognized ethnic groups. Much of this is rooted in their heritage in East Bengal, now called Bangladesh. Though many Rohingya have only known life in Myanmar, they are widely viewed as intruders from across the border. According to Human Rights Watch, laws discriminate against the Rohingya, infringing on their freedom of movement, education, and employment. They are denied land and property rights and ownership, and land on which they live can be taken away at any given time. Public sentiment against aid workers rose in the impoverished state in the second half of last year, according to the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Last week, aid agency Mercy Malaysia withdrew staff from Rakhine due to the heightened tensions, in a move it said was temporary. MSF has not commented on latest developments, other than to say it was "deeply shocked" and that its services were provided according to medical need only. READ MORE: Rights group alleges "ethnic cleansing" in Myanmar . But in an editorial submitted to regional newspapers last year, the organization's Myanmar operational manager Lauren Cooney addressed the accusations of bias that had been directed at the organization in the wake of two incidents of violence on November 2 that resulted in four deaths. MSF medical teams had transferred three injured Muslims to hospital after being notified by leaders of a displaced persons' camp, she wrote. The organization subsequently learned that injured Rakhine Buddhists had been ferried to hospital in a boat organized by their community. MSF staff would have assisted the injured Buddhists had they been notified, she wrote. Lewa said MSF's recent public comment on an alleged massacre at Du Chee Yar Tan village near the township of Maungdaw in January had exacerbated ill-feeling toward the group. The U.N. says at least 40 Rohingya men, women and children were killed by security forces and ethnic Rakhine assailants, but the government strongly denies the account. MSF drew criticism after it publicly stated it had treated 22 people in the area for weapon wounds after the alleged killing spree, with Myanmar's presidential spokesman Ye Htut previously telling CNN the comments had been the "final straw" for the Rakhine state government when it came to the NGO. "The state government and local people think the MSF is intentionally creating tension in the community by spreading baseless information like this," he said, adding that he believed the government would be able to replace MSF's services itself. Htut did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

There are fears NGOs could be expelled from Myanmar's volatile Rakhine state . Medecins Sans Frontieres was banned following protests by extremist Rakhine nationalists . The government backs their allegations that the NGO favors Rohingya Muslims . Advocates for the persecuted Rohingya fear the move is part of a push to drive them out .

Editor's note: Deborah E. Lipstadt, Dorot professor of modern Jewish and Holocaust studies at Emory University, is the author of "History on Trial: My Day in Court with David Irving." She was the target of a British libel lawsuit by Irving, a historian she said had become a spokesman for Holocaust denial. Lipstadt won the case in April 2000. Read her blog here . Deborah Lipstadt says the Holocaust love story seemed incredible on its face. (CNN) -- I don't know whether to be sad or angry -- or both. The recent exposé of the fact that Herman Rosenblat's Holocaust memoir is a hoax was no surprise to me. From the first time I heard the story of his "miraculous" survival during the Nazi era, I doubted that it could be true. Rosenblat's claim that, as an inmate in a Buchenwald sub-camp, he had survived because a young girl had tossed an apple over the fence each day for seven months just did not seem credible to me. The notion that a concentration camp inmate could approach the fence without the SS shooting him beggared the imagination. I could not believe that a little girl whose family was supposedly passing as non-Jews would allow their daughter to engage in such an act. The fairy tale nature of the incident was enhanced by the supposed reunion of the couple on a blind date years later when both had moved to America. The story was that they discovered each other's true identity and, after a whirlwind romance, decided to marry. Survivors who had been in the camp with Rosenblat and had kept in touch with him since the end of the war protested that the story could not be true. They wondered why Rosenblat had never mentioned the incident until the late 1990s. A number of other historians shared my doubts, which I posted on my blog. As one of the first to express skepticism about this, I became the target of attacks from those who thought I was demeaning the Rosenblats. We doubters could not, however, initially overcome the power of Oprah, on whose show Rosenblat and his wife appeared twice. Credulous reporters, who should have sought some form of verification, kept writing about this "miraculous" event. The producer who acquired movie rights tried to intimidate those of us who raised questions. He wrote to me saying, "I have traveled all over Eastern Europe for several years in preparation for what will be a major feature film. I may be more of a Holocaust expert than you, even though, I have no title nor university affiliation. What I do know for sure is before I make any statements I know the facts. You simply do not know those facts, and that Deborah, is the greatest sin to the memory of all those perished so long ago." The publisher refused to let anyone see the book. Public relations people circulated versions of the story urging recipients to send it on so eventually it would reach millions of people. Slowly, thanks to the power of the Internet and the work of some intrepid historians, the hoax was exposed. The publisher pulled the book. The movie producer cried foul, presenting himself as a victim who had been duped. This is not the first time such a hoax has been perpetrated. Most of the previous stories have been spread by people who were passing as survivors. In contrast, the Rosenblats were both survivors of the Holocaust. But that fact has now been lost in the shuffle. What, then, is the danger of these sorts of hoaxes? First of all, they give ammunition to Holocaust deniers. This is a bonanza for them. Deniers expend great efforts in trying to implant doubts in young people about the veracity of the Holocaust. They spend so much energy attacking "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl" because it is a book that is widely read by young people. The fact that this "apples over the fence" story has already been published as a widely successful children's story provides the deniers with a great opportunity to peddle their wares. However, the danger posed by deniers is not the primary reason why such fabricated stories should be exposed. The events of the Holocaust are horrible in and of themselves. They do not need to be aggrandized or exaggerated to be made to sound any worse than they were. They also do not need to be rendered as joyful love stories that make us feel good about what happened. Both are insults to the survivors and inimical to the pursuit of historical truth. The optimum way of teaching about the Holocaust and presenting its history is, to quote Detective Joe Friday from the old TV show, "Dragnet," "just the facts, just the facts." What we need, particularly in relation to something as mind-boggling as the Holocaust, are "just the facts." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Deborah Lipstadt.

Deborah Lipstadt: People raised questions about Holocaust love story . She says backers of the story rejected the doubts . Lipstadt says such tales give ammunition to Holocaust deniers . She also says the fake story insults the memory of the survivors .

Iowa Republican Senate candidate Joni Ernst canceled a meeting with the Des Moines Register editorial board Thursday, a move that the newspaper's publisher and president described as "rare." Ernst was scheduled to meet with the editorial board Thursday morning and skipped out in a "last minute" move Wednesday afternoon, Des Moines Register publisher Rick Green confirmed to CNN. "I think that Iowa voters were cheated because of the fact that she didn't appear and have more of a chance to articulate details on her strategy, vision and long term priorities," Green said. He said that her absence will "not be the deciding factor" in which candidate the editorial board chooses to endorse in the race. The Braley campaign pounced on Ernst's cancellation of the Register in a conference call Thursday afternoon, calling her move a "major change in strategy for the Ernst campaign." "I know she made mistakes recently where she accidentally revealed her extreme positions...but those are not good reasons to hide from an open conversation to help voters make decisions," said Sarah Benzing, Braley's campaign manager. "It's one thing to stick with talking points at events. It's another to sit down with editorial board members and answer tough questions." The Register endorsed Ernst in her primary election in May. The paper also picked Mitt Romney over Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential contest. A representative from the Ernst campaign did not return CNN's request for comment on why Ernst didn't attend her meeting, but a campaign spokeswoman mentioned the Register's editorials, many of which are critical of Ernst, in a statement to POLITICO. "Recent editorials in the Des Moines Register make their position in this race perfectly clear," spokeswoman Gretchen Hamel said. "And it's one that many voters across our state seem to disagree with." Ernst, currently an Iowa state senator, is challenging incumbent Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley. The pair is locked in a tight race with a Quinnipiac University poll from Thursday morning showing Ernst leading Braley at 48 percent and 46 percent respectively. Ernst's two point lead is within the poll's margin error. Green said the Ernst's last-minute decision to eschew the editorial board meeting was not unprecedented, but it was rare. "Candidates do what candidates do," he said.

Iowa Senate candidate Jodi Ernst skips out on meeting with Des Moines Register . The paper's publisher called the move "rare," but said it won't affect the paper's endorsement. Ernst is in a neck-and-neck race with her opponent, Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley. The Braley campaign pounced on Ernst's cancellation in a conference call Thursday afternoon .

By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 06:14 EST, 26 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 16:59 EST, 26 October 2012 . The father of Taliban shooting victim Malala Yousufzai today told how he feared his brave daughter would die - and even contacted a family member to start making funeral preparations. Speaking at a press conference at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, an emotional Ziauddin Yousufzai said it was 'a miracle' that his daughter was still alive. He said: 'I think that it is a miracle for us because when I saw my daughter . after she had been operated on, her whole body was swollen and she was in . a very bad condition. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Reunited: Malala Yousufzai is pictured in her hospital bed with her father Ziauddin, second right accompanied by her two younger brothers Atal, right and Khushal, centre. Her mother is also pictured with her back to camera . Relieved: Mr Yousufzai, centre, told how he feared his brave daughter would die - and even contacted a family member to start making funeral preparations. He is pictured with his 12-year-old son Khushal and Dr David Rosser . Care: Pakistani shooting victim Malala Yousufzai, who is recovering in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham . 'I talked to my brother-in-law that we should make preparations for her funeral. I am thankful to God.' He said: 'An attacker, who could be called the agent of Satan, he . attacked, but after that I found angels on my side, everywhere, all . around me, until this time and this place.' He said: 'The person who attacked her wanted to kill her. She fell temporarily but she will rise again. 'When she fell Pakistan stood. This is a turning point and that is . why I am thankful to all the people all over the world, indifferent to . caste, creed, religion, faith, age, sex. 'Everyone across the world, they condemned the attack in strong words and prayed for my daughter. She is not only my daughter, she is the daughter of everybody. The sister of everybody. Victim: Malala, 15, was shot by the Taliban on October 9 for speaking out against the militants and promoting education for girls . Family: Mr Yousufzai is pictured with his son Khushal during the press conference at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital . 'In Pakistan for the first time we saw that all political parties, the government, children and women, elders, they were crying and praying to God. 'Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, indifferent to caste, colour and creed, they prayed for my daughter. I think God kept the honour of people's prayers because those prayers and good wishes from all over the world meant that everything was done in a proper way, a good way. ' The 15-year-old is being treated in the hospital after she was flown to the UK for . treatment after being shot on October 9. She was targeted by Taliban gunmen for speaking out against the militants and promoting education for girls. Support: Malala was flown from Pakistan to be treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham . Prayers: Indian students participate in a prayer ceremony in support of the schoolgirl . Mr Yousufzai, who was accompanied by . Malala's 12-year-old brother Khushal Khan also thanked hospital staff . and members of the public for their help and support for his daughter. Mr Yousufzai said the family had . received regular updates from Dr David Rosser, who is treating Malala at . the hospital, while they were in Pakistan. He said: 'She got the right treatment, at the right place, at the right time.' He added: 'She is recovering at an encouraging speed and we are very happy.' He said her mother, Toorpekai, was too camera-shy to attend today's briefing. He also thanked the Pakistan and UK Government for their help and support. When asked how he felt when he and his family saw Malala last night, he said: 'I love her and last night when we met her there were tears in our eyes out of happiness. 'We all cried a little bit.' He said she had also asked her father on the phone to bring her schoolbooks so she could study for her exams. Malala, was shot in the head and neck at point-blank range as she returned home from school in the Swat Valle . She had been demanding education rights for women in Pakistan and the attack has provoked uproar around the world. The Taliban have vowed to kill Malala, raising questions about whether it would be safe for her to return . Al-Qaeda are furious that Malala is being hailed a heroine around the world, it was reported earlier this week. Dr David Rosser, who is treating the teenager, said Malala was continuing to make very good progress clinically. He said she was walking with very little help, eating well and talking. He said both her short and long term memory seemed to be fine. 'We’re very much in a phase of her care that is about her recovery, both physical and psychological.'She’s very tired but she managed a big smile for her mum and dad and her brothers.' He said she would have reconstructive surgery on her skull when she was strong enough, which he said could be 'within weeks'. The reconstruction will involve either reinserting bone or using a titanium plate. When asked about her long term recovery, Dr Rosser said: 'She’s likely to make a full recovery.' Child rights organisation Plan International today called for more girls to be allowed access to education in Pakistan. Rashid Javed, director of Plan International in Pakistan, said: 'Malala’s father is right. This can be a pivotal moment for Pakistan. We cannot allow girls here or elsewhere in the world to be denied their fundamental right to education. Malala has bravely stood up and we should all stand up alongside her in this fight. 'There’s an urgent need for girls to have safe, quality schooling in Pakistan. While the importance of education for all - boys and girls - is recognised by the Government, it needs serious political attention, commitment and more financial investment. 'The current barriers keeping girls out of school - child marriage, discrimination, poverty and violence - must be removed if girls are to reach their true potential.'

Ziauddin Yousufzai said it was 'a miracle' that his daughter was still alive . He said the shooting of his 15-year-old daughter was a 'turning point' for Pakistan . During emotional press conference, he said: 'The person who attacked her wanted to kill her. She fell temporarily but she will rise again'

Solana Beach, California (CNN) -- I dont tlk on th fone. txt im fb me. I tried to reach my teenage daughter the other day. I left a voice mail, sent an e-mail message and finally texted her and told her to check both and call me back. Seconds later, she texted back one letter: "K." She is 19 and has been sending and receiving upwards of 3,000 texts per month. One month, she hit 7,500! She is not unusual at all. According to Nielsen Mobile, in the first quarter of 2009, the average U.S. teen made and received an average of 191 phone calls and sent and received 2,899 text messages per month. By the third quarter, the number of texts had jumped to a whopping 3,146 messages per month, which equals more than 10 texts per every waking non-school hour. (At the beginning of 2007, those numbers were 255 phone calls and 435 text messages.) Preteens sent and received 1,146 texts per month. My daughter doesn't answer her phone because to her, it is no longer a phone. We are in the midst of four distinct generations of Americans: Baby Boomers (born 1946-64), Generation X (1965-79), Net Generation (1980-89) and the new iGeneration (born in the 1990s and beyond and given the "i" designation to represent media such as iPods and the Wii but also to reflect the "individualized" nature of their media). Until recently, "communicate" meant to talk face-to-face or on the phone. But both the Net Generation and the iGeneration have turned the concept of communication upside down. The old ways are, well, old. It is now all about texting, IMing, Facebooking, Skype-ing -- pretty much anything but talking live or on the phone. I know that this is alarming to many, but quite honestly, people must recognize that this is the way it is now and is going to be -- at least until the next new form of e-communication bursts into our world. If you have a teenager (or even a preteen), for example, you must learn how to text, or you two will never "connect." To this generation, it is all about connection, but those connections are, for the most part, electronic. It is important to note that although experts agree about the two older generations, not everyone agrees on "defining" the last two generations. They are called Generation Y and Millennials by some and, as far as their demarcation dates, well, that is open to fierce discussion. From my research with 3,000 Americans, the final two generations are defined not by a letter or by their birth year but by their use of technology and media, their need and ability to multitask, their rapid acceptance of anything new and their view of the meaning of technology. All of which lead to differences in personal and work values and often to disharmony in the family, school and the workplace. In my research, we query people about daily media activities as well as those they choose during free time. We find striking generational differences. Older teens and Net Geners spend more than 20 hours per day using media. This is accomplished not by not sleeping but with considerable multitasking, which peaks at seven simultaneous activities for older teens. Setting aside music (with its omnipresent ear buds), preferred media choices differ dramatically across generations: For children, it's television; for tweens, it's video games; for teens, it's texting and social networking; and for Net Geners and Gen Xers, it's being online. And for Boomers, it's, of course, back to television. The roots of these differences lie in the origin and pace of technological change, particularly among the most recent generations. Net Geners were early adopters of the Internet, which they came to view as a valuable tool. iGeners, however, are different. They know no other world than that of the Web, texting and social networking. They were online when they could sit up and sent an e-mail to Grandma; they made MySpace a household name by their early teens. They live in their own bedroom "TechnoCocoons," where new technologies appear and penetrate society in months rather than years. Although the telephone took 20 years to reach 50 million users, the Web took four years, iPods three and MySpace two, and YouTube hit 50 million users in one year. The iGeneration is driving these consumer trends. Individuals in this group watch more than 100 YouTube videos a month, download apps, MySpace and Facebook (now verbs), and text the night away. They don't see technology as a tool. For them, it is just life. These generational differences have tremendous ramifications for the family, education and the workplace. Parents are upset that their children multitask and yet are perplexed that they can balance all their technology and do well in school. Teachers struggle to reconcile their need to have students read books, do worksheets and pay attention in class (unitasking) while students want multitasking technologies. Bosses want meetings (more unitasking), goals and progress reports, while their Gen X and Net Gen employees want to do it their way through multitasking and flex time. These differences permeate every system and cause parents, teachers and bosses to tear their hair out. Yet those pesky multitasking kids are the smartest generation ever, with high professional aspirations. Some may call them narcissistic, but they are really a highly social generation (albeit with much of the socializing done online); they value family, revere friendship (some "virtual"), consume massive quantities of information (again, much of it online) and are the most "communicating" generation yet. But to us "old fogies," it seems like they are just chatting aimlessly, sending brief tweets with funny acronyms that make no sense (could you decipher the text message at the beginning of this article?). They text while they walk (sometimes into trees) and keep their cell phones on vibrate while they sleep. No one really has a choice but to accept their world and learn to adapt. The Net Geners and iGeners will soon be the country's parents, teachers, bosses and political leaders, and their techie style will become the norm. We may not like it, but we have to admit that they are happy, successful and engaged with all their media and technology. I may have to text my daughter to get her attention, but I am also bewildered and awed by her mastery of anything new and amazed at how she can balance her media and college and maintain an A average at Yale. It is their world. Watch out for the young ones who are already surfing the Net at 2. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Larry Rosen.

Larry Rosen says in third quarter of 2009, average teen had 3,146 text messages . There are four generations now, he says; oldest use phones, youngest anything but . For young people, electronic communication is not about technology, it's just life, he says . Rosen: Next generation is highly social, successful and plugged in. It's time to get used to it .

By . Emma Innes . Surgeons in Afghanistan have carried out a life-saving operation on a baby girl born with an extra head. Asree Gul, who is one of a pair of twins, was admitted to a hospital in the eastern city of Jalalabad with an extra head attached to her scalp, chief surgeon Ahmad Obaid Mojadidi said. He said: ‘Her mother gave birth to twins, two girls. Asree Gul, two-months-old, was born with an extra head attached to her skull. Doctors in Afghanistan operated to remove the extra head and the baby has now been released from hospital . ‘One girl was in good health but the other had an abnormality. She had an extra head attached to her head.’ ‘We separated the extra head from her body,’ he said a week after the operation which he described as the most sophisticated ever carried out in the impoverished city. The two-month-old baby whose parents are farmers was released from hospital yesterday. Surgeons believe that the extra head was part of a third baby that failed to develop properly in the womb. They said the surgery was complicated as vital blood vessels in Asree Gul's skull were attached to the extra head. Nematullah, Asree Gul’s father, said he had not expected his baby to survive the operation. ‘The doctors saved her life. I thank them,’ he said. The surgeons carried out the operation free of charge as Asree Gul's parents could not afford it. Asree Gul (left) is one of twins and her sister was born healthy. It is thought that her extra head was the result of a third baby who did not develop properly in the womb . Afghanistan, plagued by more than 30 years of war and still fighting a decade-long Taliban insurgency, lacks modern healthcare. However, facilities have improved thanks to the billions of dollars that have been pumped into the country by the international community in the last ten years. Last month, surgeons in New Delhi, India, separated one-year-old Nigerian twins who were joined at the hip and had spinal cord fusion. Hussaina and Hassana Badarus' surgery took 18 hours and was only the fourth such separation to be carried out in the world. The procedure - which cost an estimated £64,000 and was paid for by a Nigerian philanthropist - was so risky that doctors were forced to conduct practice runs on dummies before attempting it for real.

Asree Gul, one of twins, was born with an extra head attached to her scalp . She had surgery to remove the extra head in what was the most complex operation every to be carried out in the impoverished city of Jalalabad . The baby was released from hospital yesterday .

(CNN)With Carnival under way and Fat Tuesday on February 17, it's high season for reflecting on the virtues of New Orleans. The city rolls at a different pace during Mardi Gras, with parade routes blocking access to certain neighborhoods at outwardly mysterious times and businesses closing or amending their hours to accommodate the season's unique needs. Flexibility, a strong sense of adventure and a costume on Fat Tuesday will help Mardi Gras visitors make the most of it. While the Crescent City is never entirely predictable -- and a good dose of whimsy is always the best preparation for a trip to New Orleans -- the following must-do list could serve as a guide for visitors arriving after the final Carnival parade rolls down St. Charles Avenue. While we could write an encyclopedia on the city's food and music options alone, these 15 suggestions will help you start to experience the heart of this low, lovely, lyrical place. Eat with your hands . Among the benefits of dining in a shellfish culture is that silverware is frequently optional. Eating with your hands is the only way to get through a bowl of buttery, pepper-spiked BBQ shrimp at Pascal's Manale Restaurant, where the iconic dish was first conceived. Boiled crawfish is the seasonal delicacy from roughly January through May, and it's arguably best eaten on a park bench with a cold one. Big Fisherman in Uptown and KJean in Mid-City are reliable crawfish takeout spots. And locals tend to tip oysters on the half-shell up to their lips rather than mess with those awkward, tiny forks. At Bourbon House Restaurant in the French Quarter and Casamento's Restaurant in Uptown, no one expects you to use those forks for anything besides squeezing the juice from lemon wedges over your catch. World's most colorful carnivals . Browse a supermarket . Especially at locally owned grocery stores like Rouses Supermarkets and Langenstein's, you can stock your suitcase -- and, later, your pantry -- with Louisiana dry goods staples like Camilla red beans, Cajun Country rice, Zapp's Potato Chips (try the Cajun Crawtator), Creole-style coffee, crab boil and boxed jambalaya mix. Even if you can't find room among your boas and beads for smuggling food products home, it's worth a wander down the spice aisle to observe in what amazing quantities New Orleanians stock up on bay leaves and cayenne pepper. Cool off with a sno-ball . New Orleans' best ammunition against the subtropical heat of its eight-or-so summer months is, perhaps counter-intuitively, not alcoholic. Sno-balls (not snow cones) are simple but culturally important treats of finely shaved ice drenched in sugary syrups. They come served in cups or Chinese take-out containers and are generally sold from trucks, takeaway windows and small sweet shops. Your favorite sno-ball vendor is generally the closest sno-ball vendor, though our pick is Uptown's Hansen's Sno-Bliz, where the syrup flavors range from the traditional (nectar, chocolate, cream of strawberry) to the uber-contemporary (satsuma, cardamom, ginger). Get your bounce on . Miley Cyrus might have brought twerking -- a dance move that involves shaking one's rump at the speed of a hummingbird's wings -- to a popular audience at MTV's Video Music Awards in 2013, but New Orleans dancers have been "popping" since the late 1980s. In a NOLA.com/Times-Picayune article, local music writer Allison Fensterstock even presented evidence that Miley learned to twerk to New Orleans bounce music while filming a movie here in 2010 and 2011. Check in at http://nolabounce.com for bounce news and up-to-date club listings. Take a literary tour . New Orleans collects literary ghosts, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote and Eudora Welty among them. Besides reading works penned while writers were encamped in the city, the best way to channel the city's literary life is by touring the French Quarter's numerous and wonderfully atmospheric used and new book stores. Call it antiquing for the mind. Our favorites include Crescent City Books, Librairie Book Shop and Kitchen Witch, a store specializing in used cookbooks. Local author Susan Larsen's book, "The Booklover's Guide to New Orleans," is a great resource for unpacking the city's literary dimension. Eat beignets . The centenarian, open-air coffee and beignet spot Café du Monde might be the most obvious tourist attraction in the French Quarter, if not the entire city. As we're in the business of steering visitors to New Orleans' more genuine experiences, you might expect us to avoid such clichés. On the contrary. A beignet-free trip to New Orleans would be a travesty of the first order, and Café du Monde has a high batting average for serving a consistently hot and well-sugared product. The queue can be excruciating, though, so keep the nearby Café Beignet, as well as the City Park location of Morning Call Coffee Stand, in your back pocket. Marvel at the Mississippi . In a city surrounded by water -- the Great River, Lake Pontchartrain, the ever-encroaching Gulf of Mexico -- it's sometimes surprising how infrequently you encounter water views. Woldenberg Park, adjacent to the French Quarter, is an exception; it's also a wonderful place to pass a breezy hour or two. But for a birds-eye view of the winding Mississippi and its workings, take the elevator at Canal Place (located at the foot of Canal Street) skyward. Alternately, "The Fly" at Audubon Park, just behind the Audubon Zoo in Uptown, is an expanse of ball fields and green space from which you can watch magnificent barges push down the river at eye level -- and practically at arm's length. See Treme off-screen . Experience the real-life companion to David Simon's HBO series "Treme" by exploring what is sometimes referred to as America's oldest African-American neighborhood. You could begin just across Rampart Street from the French Quarter at Armstrong Park. Then make your way to Backstreet Cultural Museum for a Mardi Gras Indian history lesson, worship at a jazz-filled Mass at St. Augustine Catholic Church and lunch on Creole gumbo, seafood platters and po-boys at Li'l Dizzy's Café. Take a Katrina tour . Katrina tours are touchy, and with good reason. Cruising in air-conditioned buses or vans through previously flooded neighborhoods where the worst possible scenario occurred -- and where, more than nine years later, life is hardly back to normal -- is inherently controversial. But seeing the altered neighborhoods with a knowledgeable guide is also the best way to unpack the natural and human-wrought causes behind Hurricane Katrina's remarkable losses of life, land and property. Drink a Sazerac . New Orleans had a cocktail culture long before "mixologist" entered the popular lexicon and specialty cocktail bars augmented the nation's bar topography. Though it's also drunk in other cities, New Orleans has laid claim to the Sazerac, a stiff drink of rye whiskey, bitters, sugar, absinthe or pastis and a twist of lemon. Mixologists make reputable versions in their cocktail bars around town, but the best places to drink Sazeracs are where they've always done well -- in historic hotel bars like the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone or the Sazerac Bar in The Roosevelt New Orleans; and in the city's oldest restaurants, like Tujague's and Galatoire's. Go to Mardi Gras . If you can't make it down for the actual holiday, you can still peek at the pageantry. Tours at Mardi Gras World offer spectacular behind-the-scenes looks at float production and costumes, as well as off-season tastes of king cake. Lunch on fried chicken in the Seventh Ward, twice . Just two blocks apart, the kitchens at Willie Mae's Scotch House and Dooky Chase's Restaurant arguably put out the city's most consistently fine fried chicken, though only at lunch. The restaurants and their 90-plus-year-old matriarchs are not at war, but instead coexist peacefully, with differences in ambiance and chicken-frying styles. Willie Mae's is a more casual restaurant with chicken cooked to order, while Dooky Chase is a white-tablecloth establishment with a lunch buffet. Turn on the radio . Wherever you listen to 90.7 WWOZ community-supported radio (you can stream online from anyplace), it sounds like Louisiana. Horns. Accordions. Carnival tunes. Listen long enough and you'll find your favorite DJs and shows -- for us, it's Bill DeTurk's New Orleans Music Show on Fridays and the back-to-back Gospel and bluegrass programs on Sunday mornings. Local food media personality Tom Fitzmorris hosts a three-hour radio show about New Orleans food every weekday afternoon on 1350 AM. It also airs on 105.3 FM on Saturdays. And the local NPR station, WWNO 89.9 FM, is rife with local programming. Find some brass . Especially in the spring, around Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest, it's nearly impossible to walk down a New Orleans sidewalk without eavesdropping on some school kid practicing his trumpet or her trombone. Music begins in the schools and in the neighborhoods. Second line parades, which include brass bands, roll every Sunday during the cooler months. And in-between the beads and masks in Carnival parades are junior high and high school marching bands high-stepping and getting the crowds moving. For nighttime brass sounds year-round, you can count on clubs like Blue Nile, Hi Ho Lounge and Maple Leaf Bar, where the Rebirth Brass Band raises the roof every Tuesday night. See some art, and eat some too . New Orleans has a centrally located arts district, commonly called the Warehouse District, which is a little-known relative to the city's more historic and heavily toured neighborhoods. The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) is the district's anchor, though it's no longer the only attraction. Additionally, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the National World War II Museum, the Louisiana Children's Museum and numerous galleries and art spaces have built a neighborhood where you could easily spend a couple of days. To sweeten the pot, the Warehouse District happens to be a culinary hotbed, with top-tier restaurants like the Link Restaurant Group's Cochon and Peche, Emeril Lagasse's flagship restaurant Emeril's New Orleans, Adolfo Garcia's steakhouse La Boca and American Sector at the World War II Museum. New Orleans transplant Sara Roahen is the author of "Gumbo Tales: Finding My Place at the New Orleans Table." This story was first published in 2014 and updated in February 2015.

There's more to celebrate than Mardi Gras in New Orleans . Shellfish culture means silverware isn't always required at the table . 'Popping" predates the Miley Cyrus visit to this town .

(CNN) -- American missiles were used in an attack that killed 55 people, including 41 civilians, in southern Yemen, Amnesty International said Monday. The human rights organization released what it said were photographs of a U.S.-manufactured cruise missile used in the December attack in the community of al-Ma'jalah, and said authorities must be held accountable. "Based on the evidence provided by these photographs, the U.S. government must disclose what role it played in the al Ma'jalah attack, and all governments involved must show what steps they took to prevent unnecessary deaths and injuries," said Philip Luther, deputy director of the organization's Middle East and North Africa program. Asked about the report, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said, "I would refer you to the Yemeni government for any information on operations against al Qaeda in their country. That said, the Yemen government should be commended for dealing with the al Qaeda threat in their nation. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula threatens the stability of the region and poses an increasing threat to Yemenis and Americans. We strongly support actions against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and cooperate closely with Yemen and other countries on counterterrorism initiatives." The government of Yemen has not yet been reached for comment. Yemeni government officials had said the December 17, 2009, attack in southern Yemen targeted an al Qaeda training camp, according to Amnesty International. The attack killed 55 people, including 14 alleged members of the terrorist group, the organization said. Civilians killed included 14 women and 21 children, Amnesty International said. Amnesty International said the photos were provided to the organization by a confidential source. It said the organization had spent months checking their contents with specialists, but teams from Amnesty International had not yet been able to visit the site to verify the images. In December, senior U.S. officials told CNN U.S. special operations forces and intelligence agencies, and their Yemeni counterparts, were working to identify potential al Qaeda targets in Yemen. This was part of a new classified agreement with the Yemeni government that the two countries will work together and that the United States will remain publicly silent on its role in providing intelligence and weapons to conduct strikes, the officials said. Officially the United States has not said it conducted previous airstrikes in Yemen, but officials have privately said the Yemeni military could not have carried out the strikes on its own. Washington began eyeing the impoverished desert nation as a possible new haven for al Qaeda as early as 2001, after the invasion of Afghanistan triggered by the group's attacks on New York and Washington. It's the ancestral homeland of al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, whose followers bombed the destroyer USS Cole in a Yemeni port a year before the 9/11 attacks. In December the country became the target of more scrutiny after U.S. officials said the suspect in the Christmas Day attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight over Detroit had trained at a camp in Yemen.

Amnesty International says U.S.-made cruise missiles used in attack . Attack killed 55 people, including 41 civilians, organization says . Pentagon won't comment but pleased with Yemen's fight against al Qaeda . Yemeni officials have said al Qaeda camp was target .

A group of Syrian Islamist militants posted a series of photographs of a man having his hand cut off in a live-update on Twitter. The live-feed of the amputation, which was carried out in the northern town of Maskanah, near Aleppo, was re-tweeted by several Jihadi social media channels. The group responsible, militant organisation ISIS - Islamist State in Iraq and Syria - claimed the man, an alleged thief, had requested to be punished in this way. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT . Horrific: This was the first in a series of gruesome images posted on Twitter from extremist group ISIS showing crowds watch an alleged thief have his hand cut off . Brutal: Militants held the alleged thief back as one advanced with a sword to chop his hand off . Several Jihadi accounts said the 'thief' had admitted his crimes 'and also asked that his hand be cut off to cleanse his sins'. It was not immediately possible to verify the accounts, and the photographs and tweets have now been removed from Twitter. One photo showed a blindfolded man with his hand being held down on a table while surrounded by a large group of militant rebels. A man dressed in a traditional white robe stands in front of the table, and on the right side is a man in a black balaclava holding a large sword. A later photo showed the man with his hand severed, the limb resting on the bloodied table. Graphic: The final image showed the man seemingly passed out after his hand had been severed . Live amputation: The group claimed the man had asked for the punishment to be carried out in Maskanah, near Aleppo in northern Syria, to 'cleanse him of sins' The Twitter account that posted the images has now been suspended from the social networking site. The punishment was inflicted by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a pro-Al Qaeda Jihadist group that many fear is taking an iron grip over parts of Syria. The group was formed in April 2013 and grew out of Al Qaeda's affiliate organisation in Iraq, but it was formally disowned by the central organisation on February 3 for being too extreme. One of its leaders, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has been deemed Middle East's most-wanted by the Iraqi interior ministry after a series of terrorist attacks which won him the moniker 'The Ghost'. Born from ISI (Islamic State in Iraq), it fought U.S. troops in the country before the end of the Iraq war in 2011. It has since become one of the main Jihadist groups fighting government forces in Syria and is mainly composed of foreign fighters. Ongoing battle: ISIS control a large proportion of northern Syria and is taking control of the previously disorganised rebel fighting groups as well as imposing Sharia law in the area (stock image) Though widely considered the most . radical group fighting President Bashar al-Assad, it is also engaged in a . violent struggle with rival Islamist rebels. ISIS controls much of rebel-held Syria in the north, including the town of Azaz, which was seized from the Western-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) on 18 September. The city of Raqqa, with a community of Christians, was the first provincial capital to be occupied by the group last year. ISIS first formed during the Iraq war in 2004, comprised of numerous groups of the Sunni faith. It tried and failed to establish a Sunni state capital in the country, but held a strong presence in the most important battle grounds - including Baghdad and Salah ad Din - throughout the war. The extremist group is believed to be responsible for killing thousands of Iraqis, including members of the government. The group lost strength but by 2012 was gathering momentum after moving into Syria. Reports claim there are more than 2,500 ISIS members. On February 3, 2014, al Qaeda issued a formal statement distancing themselves from the group. Waging . war on Christianity, ISIS demanded any non-Muslims to pay a levy in . gold of 14g and curb displays of their faith or face death - although less than one per cent of Raqqa's 300,000 inhabitants are Christian. In a statement, the group claimed to . have met Christian leaders and offered them three choices: convert to . Islam, accept the conditions, or face death. It . stated: 'If they reject, they are subject to being legitimate targets, . and nothing will remain between them and ISIS other than the sword.' A group of 20 Christian leaders chose to accept the new rules, ISIS claim. Many Christians fled after ISIS started attacking and burning churches. Under a new set of brutal rules outlined by ISIS, they are banned from owning weapons and from selling pork or wine to Muslims or drinking wine in public. Punishments will also be issued to those who renovate churches, display crosses or other religious symbols, ring church bells or pray in public. It is believed ISIS is trying to implement an extreme interpretation of Islamic law. The group has been operating independently of other Jihadist groups such as the Nusra Front and has had a tense relationship with other rebels in Syria. In July, a commander of the FSA was reportedly shot dead by ISIS fighters in the coastal province of Lattakia. There were also reports of deadly clashes between the two groups in the north-western province of Idlib. Late last year, reports started to emerge of friction with other Islamists. In November 2013, ISIS was accused of killing a prominent member of the Syrian Islamist rebel group Ahrar al-Sham. In the most recent sign of continuing tension, ISIS suffered losses in two days of fighting against an alliance of other rebel forces in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. More than 2,000 people are believed to have been killed since Western-backed and Islamist groups attacked ISIS-occupied cities at the start of this year.

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Islamist group live-tweeted punishment of a thief in northern Syria . Photos were posted online showing a man having his hand chopped off . Group claimed the man requested the punishment to 'cleanse him of sin'

It is an astonishing new view of a unique nebula. Researchers have used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to photograph the iconic Horsehead Nebula in a new, infrared light to mark the 23rd anniversary of the famous observatory. Looking like an apparition rising from . whitecaps of interstellar foam, the iconic Horsehead Nebula has graced . astronomy books ever since its discovery more than a century ago. Scroll down for video . The Horsehead Nebula as viewed at near-infrared wavelengthswith the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. This thick pillar of gas and dust is sculpted by powerful stellar winds blowing from clusters of massive stars located beyond the field of this image. The bright source at the top left edge of the nebula is a young star whose radiation is already eroding the surrounding interstellar material. Hubble has been producing ground-breaking science for two decades since its launch aboard the space shuttle Discovery on April 24, 1990. During . that time, it has benefited from a slew of upgrades from space shuttle . missions, including the 2009 addition of a new imaging workhorse, the . high-resolution Wide Field Camera 3 that took the new portrait of the . Horsehead. The nebula is a favorite target for amateur and professional astronomers. It is shadowy in optical light, and appears transparent and ethereal when seen at infrared wavelengths. 'The rich tapestry of the Horsehead Nebula pops out against the backdrop of Milky Way stars and distant galaxies that easily are visible in infrared light,' said Nasa. The nebula is part of the Orion Molecular Cloud, located about 1,500 light-years away in the constellation Orion. The cloud also contains other well-known objects such as the Great Orion Nebula (M42), the Flame Nebula, and Barnard's Loop. It is one of the nearest and most easily photographed regions in which massive stars are being formed. Spot the horsehead: A new view from ESA's Herschel space observatory of the iconic Horsehead Nebula in the context of its surroundings. The Horsehead Nebula resides in the constellation Orion, about 1300 light-years away, and is part of the vast Orion Molecular Cloud complex. To the left, the panoramic view also covers two other prominent sites where massive stars are forming, NGC 2068 and NGC 2071. In the Hubble image, the backlit . wisps along the Horsehead's upper ridge are being illuminated by Sigma . Orionis, a young five-star system just out of view. Along the nebula's top ridge, two fledgling stars peek out from their now-exposed nurseries. Scientists know a harsh ultraviolet glare from one of these bright stars is slowly evaporating the nebula. Gas . clouds surrounding the Horsehead already have dissipated, but the tip . of the jutting pillar contains a slightly higher density of hydrogen and . helium, laced with dust. This . casts a shadow that protects material behind it from being stripped . away by intense stellar radiation evaporating the hydrogen cloud, and a . pillar structure forms. Hubble has been producing ground-breaking science for two decades since its launch aboard the space shuttle Discovery on April 24, 1990. During that time, it has benefited from a slew of upgrades from space shuttle missions, including the 2009 addition of a new imaging workhorse, the high-resolution Wide Field Camera 3 that took the new portrait of the Horsehead. This three-panel image shows the latest near-infrared Hubble image of the Horsehead Nebula in context with the new wide-field Herschel view of the surrounding environment at far-infrared wavelengths.

Incredible image revealed to mark the 23rd anniversary of Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope. The iconic Horsehead Nebula has graced . astronomy books ever since its discovery more than a century ago .

By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 09:25 EST, 11 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:25 EST, 11 April 2013 . The married teacher accused of raping a 14-year-old student over a seven-month period was friends with countless teen boys and girls on Facebook, it emerged today. Sixth-grade English teacher Daniel Reilly, 36, from Queens, New York, is accused of having sex repeatedly with the student at his home while his wife and new baby daughter were out. On his Facebook page - which has since been taken down - he had 40 visible friends, the majority of whom were young students from local high schools. The ex-marine had his victim use a code name in her cellphone to keep the illegal hookups a secret, according to the Queens district attorney. English teacher Daniel Reilly, 36, is alleged to have had an eight-month affair with a 14-year-old former pupil . His lawyer wife, Annemarie, put up his $30,000 bail Tuesday, said Reilly’s lawyer, Eric Franz, and is 'supporting her husband'. If convicted, he faces seven years in prison. Court documents suggested that their most recent tryst took just days before Reilly was arrested at Intermediate School 237 in Flushing after his alleged victim's mother alerted the school. The prosecutor told Queens Criminal Court that the alleged relationship began last year after he pursued the girl, who originally just wanted to be friends with him. He is alleged to have begun texting her last August before inviting her to his apartment when his wife and 11-month-old daughter were out. Reilly, who faces statutory rape charges, is said to have given the girl a code-name to use so that her parents would not discover the affair, while he used another code for her so his wife Annemarie would remain in the dark. Intermediate School 237 in Flushing, New York,where Daniel Reilly was a sixth-grade English teacher . The prosecutor said: 'The defendant planned on keeping the affair secret', according to a report in the New York Daily News. It said the relationship was only discovered when the victim's sister discovered texts from Reilly on her sister's cellphone. She told her parents, who alerted IS237, where the girl is no longer a student, and they hauled him out of class while they rang police. The $61,000-a-year teacher, who served as a sergeant in the Marines between 1996-2000, is said to have no history of disciplinary problems since he began working as a teacher in 2007. Queens DA Richard Brown told the New York Post: 'This case is particularly disturbing.  Schools should be safe havens for children. 'Instead, this defendant is accused of sexually preying upon one of his former students and rendezvousing with her at his residence.' Schools chancellor Dennis Walcott said: 'As I've said before, this is totally unacceptable.  We have no tolerance for that. 'Keep your hands off our students.' Reilly is said to have been honorably discharged from the Marines in 2000, and is a popular teacher at the school where he has taught for six years. He is charged with second-degree rape, criminal sexual acts, and endangering the welfare of a child, and is due back in court on May 6.  A victim order has been issued on behalf of the teen.

Daniel Reilly, 36, faces rape, child endangerment, and sexual abuse charges . English teacher and ex-Marine taught girl at IS 237 in Flushing, New York . His lawyer wife Annemarie and mother-in-law in court for arraignment . Father-of-one jailed for $30,000 but could face seven years jail if found guilty .

Chris Lilley's titular character in Jonah From Tonga has been branded 'racist' and 'creepy' by members of Australia's Tongan community, as backlash continues to mount against the comedian's controversial new TV series. Jonah, who featured in Lilley's previous series Summer Heights High, is portrayed with brown face make-up, an over-the-top Polynesian accent and contempt for school authority figures - breeding the catch phrase: 'P**k you, Miss!'. But not everyone is a fan of the boisterous Tongan teenager's depiction in Jonah from Tonga - a co-production between the ABC, BBC and US cable network HBO - with a new a social media campaign hitting back at the stereotypes of the Pacific Island character. However the ABC has played down the furore over the character, which it says makes 'an observation about the narrow-minded attitudes' expressed by some of the show's characters. Scroll down for video . Hitting back at the negative stereotypes: A young Tongan-Australian woman has launched a social media campaign, calling-out Chris Lilley's racist depiction of her community in Jonah From Tonga . Taking to Facebook and Instagram, two young Tongan women have photographed themselves with protest signs. 'This post is to Stand up to the stereotypes of how Pacific Islanders are being perceived as within the TV show #JonahFromTonga,' Leitu Havea wrote on Facebook. On the sign, she notes that she is a proud Tongan, has never been imprisoned, was never suspended from school and is currently studying at university. At the time of publication, the post had been liked by 594 people. 'AMEN!! Absolutely disgusted by this show. Feel confident in knowing that you are not alone in knowing how inaccurate and inappropriate stereotyping in the media is,' commented one of Leitu's friends. #ChangeStartsHere: Sydney university student Leitu Havea is calling for an end to the negative depictions of her community in the name of comedy . Leitu is not alone in calling out the television series, and it's creator, as racist. Prinnie Stevens - a former contestant on The Voice Australia and proud Polynesian herself - has applauded the #ProudPoly movement. 'I have always despised the stereotypes that society put upon us as Tongans/Polynesian people,' she posted to Facebook. Similarly, SBS radio presenter Meliame Fifita took issue with the show following it's premiere, saying it was misrepresenting Tongans. #ChangeStartsWithMe: Salote Tuakalau has joined the campaign to declare Jonah From Tonga as racist . Speaking with the Australia Network last week, Professor Helen Lee, head of La Trobe University's department of sociology and anthropology, labelled the show 'just awful'. 'A 40-year-old white man, dressing up as a 14-year-old Tongan boy in brown face is just inherently creepy,' she said. 'It just seems like a deeply self-indulgent exercise where he just enjoys inhabiting these characters' 'I don't think it's permissible,' she claimed, 'I think it's appalling and I don't think he should be allowed to do it.' Not happy: Australia's Pacific Islander community are unhappy with Chris Lilley's 'satirical' representation of them . It appears as if audiences are beginning to tire of Chris Lilley's negative stereotypical depictions as well. Only 287,000 Australians tuned in to watch Jonah From Tonga on Wednesday night, down from 414,000 last week and a far cry from the 1.6 million viewers Summer Heights High had for it's series premiere. Do you think Jonah From Tonga is racist? 'Jonah from Tonga plays with stereotypes, but it’s doing so to make an observation about the narrow-minded attitudes expressed by some of its characters, including Jonah’s own,' Rick Kalowski, Head of Comedy at ABC TV, said. 'It’s also worth noting that while Jonah himself might be a heightened comic character, virtually every other Tongan or Islander character in the series is presented as a well-rounded, believable person without comic traits'. Chris Lilley has been contacted for comment. We Can Be... Offensive: Chris Lilley's imitations of Asian-Australian physics student by day, turned musical theatre nerd by night, Ricky Wong, and snobby private school girl Ja'ime King - who both featured on his first comedy We Can Be Heroes - didn't come without controversy . Flamboyantly cringeworthy: Summer Heights High's Mr G had plenty of people calling the ABC's complaints line with the musical he wrote about a girl who died of a drug overdose, and while Jonah is Lilley's first brown face, S.Mouse had Lilley donning the even more offensive black face in 2011's Angry Boys .

Tongans take to social media to criticise poor depiction of their community . Prominent Pacific Islanders concerned by show's racist message . University professor labels Lilley's portrayal 'inherently creepy' ABC playing down backlash, labelling the program 'observational' comedy .

FIFA's official ticket and hospitality partner MATCH has denied its English director Ray Whelan is 'a fugitive' from Brazilian police. Detectives declared Whelan as a fugitive when he disappeared from his hotel via a service entrance minutes before police investigating illegal World Cup ticket sales arrived to re-arrest him. MATCH said in a statement: 'We do not believe that the term "fugitive" is appropriate under the circumstances as he is presently with his lawyer. 'Fugitive': . Ray Whelan, the director of MATCH services, is said to have fled . through the service entrance of the lavish Copacabana Palace an hour . before Brazilian police were set to re-arrest him . VIDEO Hospitality director labelled 'fugitive' by police . 'We understand that any accused in Brazil has the fundamental right to resist a coercion that he believes to be arbitrary and illegal. 'Ray Whelan has not yet been granted the due process of a fair trial. MATCH remains absolutely confident that any charges raised against Ray will be rebutted.' Police have received recordings of mobile phone conversations between Whelan and an Algerian, Lamine Fofana, who is alleged to be the leader of the ticket touting ring, negotiating the sale of hospitality packages for 25,000 US dollars (£14,605) each in cash. Centre . of probe: Brazilian police have described Whelan, pictured being taken . for questioning on Monday, as the 'facilitator' of the scandal which saw . tickets being sold for vastly-inflated prices . MATCH admitted that offering the packages for cash was 'highly unusual' but that it was 'permitted under the various terms and conditions'. The company also said that Whelan was unaware that MATCH had put a block on Fofana buying any more packages or tickets. Barucke said they had recorded 900 calls between Whelan and Fofana since the World Cup began. Flee: . A Brazilian police investigator said they have CCTV footage of Whelan . leaving the hotel which is used for FIFA officials during the . tournament .

Executive of MATCH is embroiled in World Cup ticket touting probe . Ray Whelan left the Copacabana Palace before he was set to be re-arrested . Police say they have CCTV of him walking through the service entrance .

Mexico City (CNN) -- Rescuers overnight recovered four bodies from a coal mine in northern Mexico that suffered an explosion last week, making a total of 11 bodies that have been extracted so far, the country's labor secretary said Saturday. Javier Lozano says at this point -- more than four days after the blast -- there is no hope of finding alive the remaining miners trapped inside. Three more miners remain inside the shaft. The mine had been operating for only 20 days and had 25 workers who were not unionized, Lozano said. He described such small, makeshift coal mines as "unsafe places," calling them "irregular, deadly traps, as we are seeing." The owner of the mine is a company known as Binsa, the statement from the attorney general's office said. The mine contains a shaft that is 60 meters (197 feet) deep, Sabinas Mayor Jesus Montemayor Garza said. Sabinas is in the coal production center of Mexico and has a museum dedicated to the history of coal mining. Several chapters of that history, however, have been tragic. In 2006, in the nearby town of San Juan de Sabinas, 65 miners perished after an explosion in the mine where they were working. Explosive gas inside the mine hindered the rescue of the miners at the Pasta de Conchos mine, which the government eventually abandoned. An organization representing family members of the victims of that accident said Tuesday's blast was a tragic reminder that the federal government must do more to regulate mines. One activist from the organization said there had been more than 40 people killed in local coal mines since the 2006 accident. "How long will it take to recognize that there is a very serious crisis in coal mining (in the Mexican state of) Coahuila, in which the workers and their families are those who must endure the worst, with dead, widows and orphans?" a statement from the organization said.

Eleven bodies have been recovered and rescuers are looking for three more . Lozano says crews are close to reaching those . He says there is no hope of finding the miners alive .

Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez used "coded messages" in jailhouse calls to discuss the killing of Odin Lloyd, Massachusetts prosecutors said in court papers. Hernandez, 24, is being held on first-degree murder and weapons charges in the shooting death last year of his friend Lloyd. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty. In court papers filed Thursday, the Bristol County District Attorney's Office asked a state court to order the Sheriff's Office to turn over recordings of jailhouse calls and records of the people who visited Hernandez since the former tight end was arrested in Lloyd's killing in June. Prosecutors said Hernandez used coded messages when discussing with friends allegations that he planned the June 17 killing of Lloyd in a North Attleborough, Massachusetts, industrial park, where Lloyd was found shot to death. Hernandez's lawyers moved to quash the request, calling it a "fishing expedition." "There is absolutely no basis to provide the Commonwealth with access to all of the defendant's recorded phone calls, past, present, and future," his attorneys, Michael Fee and Jamie Sultan, said in their court filing. Those who have visited Hernandez included his fiancee, Shayanna Jenkins, and cousin, Tanya Cummings Singleton, both of whom face charges in connection with the Lloyd homicide, the court papers said. "Both of these co-defendants have been charged as accessories in the underlying offense of murder on the theory that they provided assistance to the defendant after the commission of that offense," Bristol Assistant District Attorney Roger L. Michel Jr. wrote in a court papers requesting the tapes and records. Michel wrote that in jailhouse phone conversations Hernandez discussed "matters directly relevant to the circumstances surrounding the murder of Odin Lloyd; viz: the defendant's subjective belief about his criminal liability; his use of coded messages to communicate with persons outside of jail; related prior offenses; inculpatory denials of ownership of a vehicle connected with the investigation; the extent of his control over persons charged as accessories; other matters relating to his codefendants, including their whereabouts and likely criminal liability.'' Both detainees and people they call are warned by the jail that their conversations are recorded. Authorities have said that Hernandez and two other men picked Lloyd up from his Boston apartment in a rental car shortly before he was found shot to death June 17. Surveillance cameras then captured the rental car leaving the crime scene and Hernandez carrying a gun as he returned to his home minutes later.

Defense attorneys move to block request for Aaron Hernandez's jailhouse calls . The former NFL star is being held on first-degree murder charge in death of Odin Lloyd . Prosecutor says Hernandez used "coded messages" while discussing killing during calls . He has pleaded not guilty to the charge stemming from the June killing .

(CNN) -- The guns that have ravaged much of Syria since March 2011 may fall silent Friday, now that Syria's government has agreed to a cease-fire. Syria's government and its main rebel force, the Free Syrian Army, said Thursday they would halt military operations during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which runs from Friday to Monday. But the terms of Syria's agreement have raised skepticism among some observers: Damascus reserves the right to respond to "terrorist" attacks, including bombings, as well as "terrorists" trying to reinforce their positions; and to protect neighboring borders crossed by "terrorists." On the rebel side, a top Free Syrian Army general said his fighters had agreed to halt military operations if the Syrian government were to do so as well. But he said he doubted that the truce would hold. Syria's rebel opposition is fractured, and Gen. Mustafa al-Sheikh noted that some rebel groups have not agreed to halt operations. The United States and the United Nations, which helped negotiate the truce through U.N.-Arab League special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, welcomed the news, despite the uncertainty. Barbara Walters says she regrets trying to help Syrian aide . "What we are hoping and expecting is that they will not just talk the talk of cease-fire, but they will walk the walk -- beginning with the regime," said U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. At the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "welcomes the reported announcements," U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters. "Obviously, the world is now watching to see what will happen on Friday morning," he said. "We cannot be sure yet what will transpire, but the hope is that the guns will fall silent for the people of Syria so that they will have peace and quiet during this holy holiday." U.N. humanitarian workers, working with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, are on standby to provide aid to areas that have not been easily accessible, he said. Opposition forces said government troops struck rebel targets Thursday in the war's major hot spots, particularly in Aleppo, Syria's most populous city. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported violence in Homs and Deir Ezzor. At least 106 people were killed Thursday amid fighting and shelling nationwide, the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria said. At least 36 of them died in Damascus and its suburbs and 33 in Aleppo. Rebels expressed skepticism over the truce. "They have betrayed us many times and they do not care if it is Eid or anything else, they will continue to kill," said Abdualla Yasin, the rebel Free Syrian Army spokesman in Aleppo. Eid al-Adha is a major holiday on the Muslim calendar. It is described as a joyous time of peace as the faithful celebrate the end of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The government touted several goodwill efforts Thursday leading to its announcement that it will stop fighting. State-run TV aired footage of men walking out of a prison -- part of a government amnesty program, a commentator said. The release comes a week after rebel fighters told Al Jazeera news agency that they would agree to a proposed cease-fire only if the government were to release detainees, end a siege in the city of Homs and halt aerial attacks. As the cease-fire was announced, rebels reported strategic military advances in the city of Aleppo. Syria cease-fire: Could it really happen? The rebel spokesman singled out Aleppo's Kurdish community for permitting the presence of rebels in their neighborhoods. Much of the opposition is Sunni Arab, and rebels said they were heartened to receive support from all groups in the diverse society. "We were welcomed by the Kurds because people believe the FSA will liberate Syria," Yasin said. "Every small gain brings us closer to victory. The FSA was also happy to unite another facet of Syrian society under the FSA umbrella." Previous truces have failed to take hold in Syria, which has been wracked by civil war since March 2011. In April, a cease-fire lasted barely a day before the killing resumed. In total, more than 32,000 Syrians have died since the conflict began, opposition activists say. A spokesman for the Syrian National Council, an opposition coalition, said the truce is an attempt by President Bashar al-Assad to buy time. "The whole world knows that the Syrian regime cannot be trusted and doesn't have any credibility in fulfilling any promise that they make to anyone," said George Sabra, a Paris-based spokesman for the Syrian National Council, which speaks for rebels fighting al-Assad. "The Assad regime is trying a diversion." It's foolish to expect a total cease-fire, said Aram Nerguizian, a Middle East expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. A cease-fire in this context is about a larger goal of getting most rebel brigades and al-Assad forces to halt or reduce the killing. The rebels themselves are partly to blame for the failure of this spring's cease-fire, Nerguizian said. They have been just as vicious in their killing as al-Assad's forces, he said. But getting them to work together and resist the urge to fight, he said, is unrealistic. Meanwhile, the United Nations' investigation into alleged war crimes in Syria is moving forward. The Geneva-based U.N. commission investigating war crimes announced Thursday it has requested a meeting with al-Assad to discuss gaining access to Syria for the team. 5 things you need to know about Lebanon and Syria . Carla del Ponte, who once served as prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, is part of the commission. Noted for her investigation of war crimes in the Balkans in the 1990s, she cited similarities with past probes. "The similarity is, of course, we are handling the same crimes, crimes against humanity and war crimes for sure," she said. The Syrian government's isolation continued to grow. In Jedda, Saudi authorities announced the deportation of three staff members of the Syrian Consulate General, the official Saudi Press Agency said Thursday. The move was taken because "authorities have concluded that their behaviors are incompatible with their consular duties and assignments," it said. Attack at Syria funeral: 'Children's bodies were maimed and burnt' CNN's Ashley Fantz, Holly Yan, and Hamdi Alkhshali and Journalist Ammar Cheikh Omar contributed to this report.

NEW: Saudi Arabia deports three Syrian diplomats . Under pressure, the government announces the release of some detainees . The cease-fire would extend to Monday .

By . William Cook . PUBLISHED: . 09:48 EST, 23 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:30 EST, 23 October 2012 . A Second World War veteran who risked his life to transport vital supplies to the Soviet Union has spoken of his anger at being denied a bravery medal by the British government. Bob Cowan, 93, has been offered a medal by Russia for his role in the 1941-1945 Arctic Convoys, but British rules on foreign military honours bar him from accepting it. The Russian embassy recently offered the Ushakov medal for valour to all survivors of the perilous missions to deliver food and munitions to allies on the Eastern Front, on which 3,000 sailors died. 'It's a farce': Bob Cowan, 93, has been told British rules ban him from accepting an award from Russia in recognition of his service on the Second world War Arctic convoys . They have already given the honour to veterans from Australia, Canada and America. But Bob, who braved German torpedo attacks on two convoys in May and October 1942, has been told that Foreign Office red tape prevents him and other veterans from claiming the medal. Under the rules, former British soldiers are not allowed to accept military medals from foreign governments - unless it awards service performed in the past five years or there is no equivalent medal in Britain. Unrecognised: Bob Cowan as a young sailor, left, and the letter from Foreign Secretary William Hague to Bob's MP Gerald Kaufman . But veterans' groups say that the Ushakov medal is a bravery award, and can therefore be awarded in addition to campaign medals that recognise service. Grandad-of-four Bob, who lives in Chorlton, Manchester, with wife Joyce, 87, said: 'It's a farce. It seems like they have been trying to sort out [what recognition we should get] for years. 'I would like to receive the Russian medal. The Russian embassy has the silver medal in its possession so it's just waiting for our government to give it the go-ahead.' Perilous: 3,000 sailors died on the Arctic convoys . Hellish: Sailors braved freezing conditions to deliver essential food and munitions to the Soviet Union . The British Government . has repeatedly denied the Arctic convoy survivors a campaign medal of . their own, insisting the Atlantic Star medal is sufficient. Veterans say the Atlantic Star is . inadequate, as it was created in recognition of a separate Naval . campaign and extended to include those who served on the convoys. The fight to overturn the government ruling has now been taken up by the Labour MP for Gorton Gerald Kaufman. And Bob's friends at community group Chorlton Good Neighbours, plan to conduct a ceremony in his honour - regardless of what the Government decides. Bernard Leach, from the group, said: 'Bob is 93 and in poor health and I don't see why he should not be honoured in this way. It seems mean-spirited of the British government.' A spokesman for the foreign office said: 'We very much appreciate the Russian government's wish to recognise the brave and valuable service given by veterans of the Arctic Convoys. The Arctic covoys delivered essential supplies to the Soviet Union during the darkest part of the Second World War. With naval escorts, around 1400 merchant vessels sailed from Britain, Iceland and North America to the Soviet ports of Archangel and Murmansk. The convoys carried food, munitions, weapons and vehicles donated under the Allies' lend-lease agreement. These supplies were vital to Russian troops on the Eastern Front, particularly those resisting the siege of Leningrad. 85 merchant vessels and 16 Royal Navy warships were lost over the course of the campaign. 'However, the Rules on the acceptance of foreign awards clearly state that in order for permission to be given for an award to be accepted, there has to have been specific service to the country concerned and that that service should have taken place within the previous five years. 'Additionally, permission cannot be granted if they have received, or are expected to receive, a UK award for the same services. All British Veterans of the Convoys were eligible for the WW2 'Atlantic Star'. Additionally, a lapel badge (the "Arctic Emblem") was introduced in 2006 and some 10,000 have been issued. 'We look at each request for permission to confer a foreign or Commonwealth state award upon a British citizen on an individual case by case basis. We can never comment on individual cases, but, in general terms, the Russian government would need to provide evidence of direct support for Russia in the last five years for any British citizen to be awarded the Ushakov Medal.'

Bob Cowan, 93, took part in missions to deliver supplies to the Soviet Union . Convoy veterans have been offered Russia's Ushakov medal for valour . Foreign Office rules bar veterans from accepting foreign medals for service already recognised .

Lagos, Nigeria (CNN) -- Nigeria's ruling party on Friday declared incumbent Goodluck Jonathan its presidential candidate in the April elections after he won a primary vote in Africa' most populous nation. The president got 77.7% of the vote in the People's Democratic Party primary, election officials said. He beat rival Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president supported by a group of influential northern leaders. Jonathan is from the Niger Delta in the Christian-dominated south while Abubakar is from the majority Muslim north. The incumbent's candidacy sparked a controversy because an unofficial zoning agreement in the ruling party aims to rotate power between the north and the south every two terms. Jonathan, then the vice president, inherited the presidency when President Umaru Yar'Adua, a northerner, died during his first term last year. Some in the ruling party have said a northerner should have replaced Yar'Adua to honor the zoning agreement. Nigeria has been rocked by violence in recent years, which the government has blamed on Islamist extremists. Christmas Eve attacks in the volatile northern city of Jos killed at least 31 people. Earlier this week, an attack on a Christian village in central Nigeria left 13 people dead, an official said. The village was attacked at midnight by unknown assailants. Militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta have also been a focal point in recent years. The most prominent rebel group in the area, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, and other militants say they're fighting for a fairer distribution of the region's oil wealth. CNN's Christian Purefoy contributed to this report.

Goodluck Jonathan gets 77.7% of the vote in the People's Democratic Party primary . He fends off a former vice president supported by influential northern leaders . The incumbent is from the Niger Delta in the Christian-dominated south .

German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined thousands who marched to condemn the terrorist attacks in Paris, promote tolerance and send a rebuke to a growing anti-Islamic movement today. The chancellor was among the marchers at a Muslim community rally today, a day after a record 25,000 people attended a right-wing protest. The German Chancellor said: 'Hatred, racism and extremism have no place in this country. We are a country based on democracy, tolerance and openness to the world.' Scroll down for video . German President Joachim Gauck (centre) gives a speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin at a Muslim community rally today . Vigil: Thousands of people, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel turned out to condemn the terrorist attacks in Paris, promote tolerance and send a rebuke to a growing anti-Islamic movement . (l-r) German President Joachim Gauck, chairman of the Central Committee of Muslims in Germany Aiman Mazyek, and Chancellor Angela Merkel at the vigil . President Joachim Gauck addressed the event at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, organised by the Central Council of Muslims under the banner 'Let's be there for each other. Terror: not in our name!' Imams recited Koranic verses, including a passage that condemns the taking of life, and this was followed by speeches given by Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders and a minute's silence. Announcing the vigil, the Muslim Council and the Turkish Community of Berlin had condemned 'the despicable terror attacks in France in the strongest terms' and stressed that 'there is no justification in Islam for such acts'. With a view to a nascent anti-Islamic movement, they said they wanted 'to send a message for peace and tolerance, against hatred and violence and for a cosmopolitan Germany which respects and protects the freedom of expression and religion'. The rallies are in response to last week's terrorist attacks in Paris which shocked the world. Last night, tens of thousands of people joined the Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West, or PEGIDA, rally in the city of Dresden in the former communist east Germany. The right-wing movement was founded on Facebook and launched with several hundred people in October. It has grown week-by-week and spawned smaller copycat groups nationwide, with the group's 12th march held last night. But across the country, 100,000 people took to the streets in counter-demonstrations on Monday, voicing support for multiculturalism and Germany's four-million-strong Muslim community. Je suis Charlie: Marchers carrying banners turned out in their thousands in Berlin following a right-wing march last night . Aydan Oezogus of the Social Democratic Party (left) and German Family Minister Manuela Schwesig (right) pay their respects . Chairman of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, Aiman Mazyek (left) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) were among thousands at a Muslim community rally, less than 24 hours after a record 25,000 people attended a right-wing protest . Merkel, who is often known to avoid controversial issues, has weighed in strongly, condemning PEGIDA's leaders and stressing on Monday that 'Islam is part of Germany'. Representatives of Germany's Green party (l-r) Anton Hofreiter, Katrin Goering-Eckardt and Simone Peter lay a wreath in front of the French embassy in Berlin . Her comments were broadly hailed in the media, but not everyone agreed. 'Naturally, Muslims belong in our society,' said Merkel's former interior minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, a Bavarian conservative. 'But the question is knowing what constitutes the identity of a country, and in Germany it is a Christian identity built on Judeo-Christian roots.' Commentary on news site Spiegel Online meanwhile praised Merkel for speaking out against PEGIDA, at the risk of losing voters at the fringes of her conservative party. 'The chancellor is not playing tactical games but in her New Year's address placed herself at the forefront of the anti-PEGIDA movement,' it said, after Merkel condemned the group's leaders as having 'prejudice, coldness, even hatred in their hearts'. Bild, Germany's top-selling daily, said the Paris attacks seemed to have shaken the usually unflappable Merkel, a pastor's daughter who grew up in the communist east. 'She has two issues where, when she speaks, she doesn't sound like she is simply droning on with platitudes: religion and freedom,' it said, noting the rare public signs of emotion she showed with Hollande at Sunday's solidarity march. 'She knows that gestures are now necessary... it is about freedom and protection from a terrorist war.' On Sunday, Merkel joined French President Francois Hollande and other world leaders at a huge Paris solidarity rally. At the right-wing protest on Monday, one placard depicted German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who had spoken out against the protests, wearing a headscarf . Memorials: A blood-stained banner bore the faces of the cartoonists and contributors murdered in the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris at the 12th PEGIDA rally .

March promoted tolerance and sent a rebuke to anti-Islamic movement which has grown week-by-week . German Chancellor said: 'Hatred, racism and extremism have no place in this country' Muslim community rally followed a right-wing protest attended by a record 25,000 on Monday . But across country, 100,000 people attended counter-demonstrations, voicing support for multiculturalism .

By . Wills Robinson for MailOnline . This is the moment a London tourist bus driver mounted a pavement to block two cyclists in their tracks before yelling at them to 'get a Highway code'. Ali Choudhry, 19, and a friend were riding through central London, sticking to marked cycle lanes, when they found themselves in conflict with an open-topped double-decker. As they approached the Tower of London on Lower Thames Street, they were directed onto a shared pavement by the road markings. Scroll down for video . Road rage: The bus driver confronts the two cyclists after cutting them off on a pavement in central London . Furious: During his rant the driver is seen telling Ali Choudhry, 19, and his friend to 'get a Highway Code' - after he had mounted the pavement . Halt: The bus driver perches a wheel on the pavement and waits for the cyclists to approach the doors . But the angry driver - who has since been sacked - apparently overtook them in his tour bus and pulled straight onto the pavement in front of them - stopping the pair in their paths. He then climbed from his seat, opened the door and yelled at the two cyclists - telling them to 'get a Highway Code'. Mr Choudry, of Ilford, Essex, said: 'This idiot driver decided to spice things up a bit for us with a spectacular display of road rage. 'He tailgated us at literally three feet and got angry for being held up for a few seconds but had all the time in the world to stop and vent his fury.' The incident happened at around 6pm on August 2, and was captured by Ali’s helmet-mounted camera. 'He said he had a bus full of witnesses, but I said my camera was a more reliable witness, and he shut the doors,' he added. Approach: The two cyclists - who recorded the footage from a camera attached to a helmet - approach the end of the cycle lane on Lower Thames Street in the centre of London . Turn: The bus begins to indicate left before a corner as the pair ride along the pavement . Blocked off: The bus driver pulls onto the pavement, stopping the cyclists in their tracks . Mr Choudry has sent the footage to bus operators Golden Tours and is still waiting to hear back from them. He said: 'I hope they do sort it out as best as they can. The driver really needs to control his irrational anger and what he does as a result of it.' The Metropolitan Police have not been contacted about the incident and have not taken any action. A spokesman for Golden Tours told the Evening Standard: 'Golden Tours were notified of an incident that occurred on 2 August 2014 when a video was uploaded by Ali Choudhry to YouTube. 'After reviewing the evidence provided by Mr Choudhry and the CCTV footage from the bus, the driver was dismissed from his service with Golden Tours with immediate effect on 4 August 2014. 'Golden Tours employs a rigorous recruitment and training process to ensure that the highest level of customer service is provided to our customers and to other shared road users. 'We are grateful that matters such as these are highlighted to us, so that we are able to maintain the high standard of professionalism.' Confrontation: The driver then opens his doors and starts shouting at the cyclists . Aftermath: Following the angry confrontation, the bus driver simply pulls away and carries on with his journey .

Ali Choudhry, 19, and a friend were sticking to cycle lanes in central London . Found themselves in conflict with an open-topped double-decker bus . As they approached the Tower of London, the lane merged onto a pavement . The driver then overtakes them and blocks them off, causing them to stop . He then opens the doors and shouts 'get a Highway Code' at the cyclists . Firm says they have reviewed the footage and the driver has been dismissed .

Six-month-old twin girls who were born joined at the abdomen will undergo tissue expansion this month as doctors begin the lengthy process of separating them. Knatalye Hope and Adeline Faith Mata weighed just 3lbs 7oz each when they were delivered by Cesarean section at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston at 31 weeks on April 11. The adorable sisters, who remain in the hospital's Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, share a liver, diaphragm, pelvis, intestines and heart lining. Now, they are preparing to undergo six-to-eight weeks of tissue expansion to stretch skin that will be used to cover patches of their bodies when they are separated in December. Adorable: Knatalye Hope and Adeline Faith Mata, pictured with their mother Elysse, weighed just 3lbs 7oz each when they were delivered by Cesarean section at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston on April 11 . Conjoined twins: The adorable sisters, who remain in the hospital's Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, are joined at the abdomen. They share a liver, diaphragm, pelvis, intestines and the lining of the heart . Today, Knatalye and Adeline's mother, Elysse, who spends at least seven hours at the hospital every day, said she felt 'sick' with worry about the long and arduous procedure. 'When I think about December I get that sick feeling in my stomach. I want to know how much pain they are going to feel after. What is it going to be like for them?' she told Reuters. 'They are where they should be developmentally. They reach up for toys, they reach out for us when we get close and talk to them.' During the surgery in December, two shifts of teams of pediatric, urological, plastic, orthopedic, cardiac and gynecological surgeons will work to separate the girls. Cared for: The girls (pictured in hospital with their mother) will now undergo six-to-eight weeks of tissue expansion to stretch skin that will be used to cover patches of their bodies when they are separated . Twins: Today, Knatalye and Adeline's mother, Elysse, who spends at least seven hours at the hospital every day, said she felt 'sick' with worry about the long and arduous separation procedure in December . Dr Darrel Cass, pediatric surgeon and co-director of the hospital's Fetal Center, said the separation team will start and the reconstruction team will complete the process. He added: 'The [girls'] intestines appear to be intermingled but there appears to be enough intestines for both children.' After the separation, the girls will undergo rehabilitation to learn how to balance, crawl and walk. In 1992, surgeons at Texas Children's Hospital successfully separated one-year-old twins Tiesha and Iesha Turner, who shared a sternum, liver, entwined intestines and fused organs. Hospital: Dr Darrel Cass, pediatric surgeon and co-director of Texas Children's Hospital's (pictured) Fetal Center, said there 'appears to be enough intestines for both children' to have following the separation . Together: After the procedure, the girls will undergo rehabilitation to learn how to balance, crawl and walk . Conjoined twins occur once every 200,000 births. Around 40 to 60 per cent arrive stillborn, while 35 per cent live only one day, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Mortality rates for twins who do live and then undergo separation vary, depending on their type of connection and the organs they share, it said. The Mata family's life was turned upside down in January when a routine ultrasound revealed that Mrs Mata was carrying conjoined twins. The family was referred to the hospital's Fetal Center. The expectant mother, her husband John and their five-year-old son Azariah relocated from Lubbock to Houston, where the girls were born. Loving family: Mrs Mata, pictured with her husband John and their five-year-old son Azariah, spends at least seven hours at the hospital every day leaving only when it is time to pick up her son from school . On a YouCaring page, Mrs Mata said the twin's 20 per cent chance of survival at birth inspired their middle names, Faith and Hope. While the mother spends most of her daily life at the hospital, leaving only when it is time to pick up her son from school, full-time worker Mr Mata spends every weekend with his daughters. Mr Cass said he expects both Knatalye and Adelie to be able to experience independent, happy lives following the surgery. But he added: 'It is likely further reconstructive surgeries may be needed in the future. Perhaps the biggest challenges may be orthopedic and in helping them walk and have normal gait.'

Knatalye Hope and Adeline Faith Mata, aged six months, born April 11 . They share liver, diaphragm, pelvis, intestines and lining of the heart . This month, they will begin tissue expansion to stretch areas of skin . Skin will be used to cover patches of twins' bodies during separation . Girls are currently living at Texas Children's Hospital's neonatal unit . They are scheduled to undergo life-changing separation in December .

By . Daily Mail Reporter . Artist Tracey Emin’s controversial unmade bed caused outrage when it was included in the 1999 Turner Prize exhibition. Now it is going under the hammer and is expected to reach up to £1.2million after its owner, multi-millionaire art collector, Charles Saatchi, decided to sell it. My Bed - complete with soiled sheets, empty vodka bottles and cigarette butts - is worth nearly ten times more than what Mr Saatchi bought it for in 2000. Despite disagreeing with his politics, Ms Emin sold the bed for £150,000. My Bed - complete with soiled sheets, empty vodka bottles and cigarette butts - is now worth nearly ten times more than what Charles Saatchi bought it for in 2000. He paid £150,000 but it is now set to fetch up to £1.2m . The piece is a ‘confessional self-portrait’ that was created in Ms Emin’s Waterloo flat in 1998 after the artist suffered a bout of severe depression accompanied by excessive drinking and bouts of casual sex. The 50-year-old artist told The Telegraph the sale feels ‘like the end of an era. Saatchi’s had this Nineties thing in his house like a time capsule. Now it’s historical.’ Last weekend, David Maupin, Emin’s dealer in New York, who sold the bed to Saatchi, said he thinks the estimate of £800,000 to £1.2 million is too low for such a significant work. ‘It’s historic,’ he said. ‘It’s priceless.’ My Bed is going to be sold at auction this summer, when Christie’s offers Tracey Emin’s My Bed from Charles Saatchi’s collection. The bed is a 'confessional self-portrait' which was created in the Waterloo flat of Tracey Emin (pictured) in 1998 after the artist suffered a bout of severe depression accompanied by excessive drinking and bouts of casual sex .

Unmade bed caused outrage when it featured in 1999 Turner Prize exhibition . It is expected to fetch up to £1.2million when it is auctioned in the summer . 'My Bed' now worth ten times more than what Charles Saatchi paid in 2000 .

By . Jessica Jerreat, Associated Press Reporter and Alex Greig . PUBLISHED: . 00:41 EST, 12 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:58 EST, 12 August 2013 . The Obama's dog has arrived for the family's annual vacation in style, jetting in on a state-of-the-art aircraft with his own contingent of security agents. Bo, the Obama's beloved Portuguese water hound, was airlifted from the White House to rendezvous with his family at Martha's Vineyard. Going on vacation is no mean feat for the First Family, with more than 70 secret service agents to find rooms for, public roads to be closed for the President's outings - and the first pooch must be ferried over in a Marine Corps chopper. Scroll down for video . VIP: Very Important Pooch Bo is escorted off the tarmac with his own personal retinue of secret service agents . Faithful hound: The Obama girls Sasha and Malia (seen here with Bo in April) will be pleased their dog has come to join them on holiday in Martha's Vineyard . President Barack Obama teed off . his Martha's Vineyard vacation with his favorite pastime - golf. But . he had a rough start, as reporters - given a rare glimpse of the . president's golf game - watched him overshoot the first hole by about 15 feet. He then missed his first putt and reacted by leaning . back, kicking his knee up and letting out an 'Ooooh.' His next putt was also a miss and his third finally made it in the hole. Obama . hit the Farm Neck Golf Club for his first outing of a weeklong stay on . the exclusive Massachusetts island where he arrived Saturday afternoon. The course is open to the public and overlooks Nantucket Sound. President Barack Obama reacts as he misses a shot while golfing on the first hole at Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs, Mass., on the island of Martha's Vineyard on Sunday . Obama (right) lines up his putt on the first green at the Farm Neck Golf Club at Oak Bluffs on Marthas Vineyard . President Barack Obama putts on the first hole at Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs . The president was golfing Sunday with aide Marvin Nicholson, White House chef Sam Kass and Robert Wolf, a Wall Street consultant who has advised him on financial matters . President Barack Obama steers his cart while golfing at Farm Neck Golf Club. He will be in Martha's Vineyard for eight days . President Barack Obama waves to a group of on-lookers. Obama . regularly vacations on the island, but is staying for the first time at . the $7.6 million Chilmark home of Chicago friend David Schulte . The White House says Obama plans no official public appearances but will receive daily briefings on national security and domestic issues . The president was golfing Sunday with . aide Marvin Nicholson, White House chef Sam Kass and Robert Wolf, a . Wall Street consultant who has advised him on financial matters. Obama . regularly vacations on the island, but is staying for the first time at . the $7.6 million Chilmark home of Chicago pal David Schulte. The . White House says Obama plans no official public appearances but will . receive daily briefings on national security and domestic issues. Getting . on the plane from Orlando the Obama's sported a smart look with the . President donning a suit and Michelle Obama meticulously attired with . pearls and a belt around her sun dress. However, . when the first couple disembarked in Martha's Vineyard they were ready . for their vacation to start, as Obama had changed into a pair of chinos . and Michelle ditched the pearls and belt. Scroll down for videos . Before: President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama wave goodbye as they leave Orlando for a family vacation at Martha's Vineyard . Vacation time: Looking more comfortable the President traded his suit for a button down and pair of khakis, while the first lady removed her proper pearls . Tranquil: Floor to ceiling windows look out across the ocean . The First Family have been . vacationing on the Vineyard for years, but this is the first time they . will stay at the luxury four-bedroom Chilmark House designed by . architect Rick Sundberg. With . wall-to-ceiling windows, the 5,000sq ft home has stunning views over . the ocean, as well as an infinity pool, tennis courts and a half . basketball court. Half the cost of the President's holiday is met by the taxpayer, and the Obamas pay for the remainder, although they have met the full cost of the vacation home, which is owned by private equity expert David Schulte, according to Bloomberg. Mr Schulte contributed to both of the President's election campaigns and his run for the Senate. Looking presidential: The President and first lady are dressed to the nine's as they leave the White House for Orlando, Florida where they addressed the Disabled American Veterans National Convention . Bo came too!: Bo, the First Family's Portuguese waterdog, departs a Marine helicopter, as US President Obama and the First Lady landed at Martha's Vineyard . Ready to run: Bo, President Barack Obama's dog arrived with the first family in Martha's Vineyard for the President's vacation . It is not known how much the Obamas paid . to stay at the house, which was found for them by their broker who . specializes in finding vacation homes for prominent politicians and . royalty who have specific security needs. He has previously found rentals for the Clintons and also found the Blue Heron Farm where the Obamas previously stayed for years, until it was sold to a British architect for $22.4 million. A property expert in the town of Vineyard Haven told MailOnline that Chilmark House would 'likely run in the $40,000 to $60,000 range for the eight-day stay.' It is estimated the cost of the entire vacation, including the 75 rooms booked at a nearby hotel for staff and security, could reach $2 million. Holiday home: The Obamas are staying at a $7.6 million vacation house in Martha's Vineyard . Private: The home is set in nine and a half acres and has a guest house that could house secret service agents . Exclusive: The luxury home will be the perfect place for the First Family to relax and entertain friends . Lush: Chilmark House is set on the coast and comes with an infinity pool and tennis courts . The Obamas' vacation home is on the . south coast of the Massachusetts elite playground, which is favored for . visitors who need extra security. At the entrance of the home, which . was built in 1961 and renovated in 2006, is a giant bolder left by a . retreating glacier in the Ice Age, according to Sundberg Kennedy Ly-Au . Young Architects. A guest house set in its nine and a half acres of gardens could be used by secret service agents, who will accompany the family. With the President's approval rating at 46 per cent, according to Gallup, there has been criticism that his decision to vacation in such an elite spot is insensitive, according to the Huffington Post. When he was seeking reelection last year, he skipped the family's usual vacation, but this year he plans to play golf with friends and relax with Michelle and his daughters. Natural: A boulder left by a glacier in the Ice Age is next to the entrance of the Rick Sundberg-designed house .

First Family returned to the elite vacation spot after skipping annual holiday before last year's election . Bo, the Obama family's beloved dog, arrived for the holiday in a MV-22 Osprey aircraft . He will enjoy an eight-day holiday with plenty of manicured grass to run around in .

London (CNN) -- With her lashings of butter and flirtations with the camera, celebrity chef Nigella Lawson has charmed her many fans by turning everyday cooking into a more sensual experience. As she's licked her fingers while talking viewers through her recipes, she has earned nicknames such as "domestic goddess" and the "queen of food porn" in the British media. But her successful cooking career has not been mirrored in her recent personal life. Her 10-year marriage to millionaire art collector Charles Saatchi collapsed after photos of the couple having an argument at a restaurant emerged in June. In the photos -- which were splashed across the front pages of national newspapers at the time -- Saatchi has his hand around Lawson's throat. Saatchi accepted a police caution for assault, and the couple announced they would divorce soon after. Since then, the trial of the couple's two former personal assistants -- who were cleared Friday of defrauding Lawson and Saatchi of hundreds of thousands of pounds -- has gripped the media. This has mainly been thanks to revelations of drug use by Lawson and insights into her troubled marriage to Saatchi. During the trial, the two former assistants, Italian sisters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo told the court they believed the celebrity chef repeatedly used drugs. Saatchi had said in an e-mail that Lawson had used drugs regularly, but in his testimony before the court last month, he backed off that claim. The court heard that none of the witnesses had seen her take drugs. In her own testimony, Lawson, 53, confirmed she had taken cocaine half a dozen times, during two periods of her life, and used cannabis in the past. But she denied being a habitual user, saying, "I did not have a drug problem, I had a life problem." 'I am not a chef' Her admission of limited drug use may cause some surprise because of Lawson's connections with the British political establishment. Born in London, she is the daughter of Nigel Lawson, a former Conservative Party British chancellor of the exchequer, or finance minister. Her brother Dominic was formerly editor of The Spectator, a British conservative political magazine. In the 1980s, before Lawson married him, Saatchi ran Saatchi & Saatchi, a leading global advertising agency, with his brother. Its campaigns included the promotion of the Conservative Party under then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. After studying at Oxford University, the celebrity chef began her career in publishing before moving into media, writing restaurant columns. She met her first husband, John Diamond, while working at the Sunday Times newspaper. The couple had two children. In 2001, Diamond died after a battle with throat cancer. Lawson went on to contribute to various UK newspapers before writing books. In 1998, she brought out "How to Eat," in which she stated how food was an early love. "I am not a chef. I am not even a trained or professional cook. My qualification is as an eater," she wrote. Her second book -- "How to Be a Domestic Goddess," in which she taught readers how to feel just like that while baking muffins or cakes -- came out two years later and won her the British Book Award for Author of the Year. Lawson went on to release a string of other successful cookbooks and host numerous cooking television shows, such as "Nigella Bites" in Britain. In the United States, she's been a judge on the ABC show "The Taste," which is due to air its second season starting in January. She also launched a successful kitchenware line and once oversaw a lunch menu for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former U.S. President George W. Bush. Lawson lists her recipes on her website and posts them on her Twitter account.

Fans call Nigella Lawson the "domestic goddess" and "queen of food porn" Trial of ex-assistants gripped media, thanks to disclosure of her drug use and marriage woes . "I did not have a drug problem, I had a life problem," Lawson told the court . Her marriage to millionaire Charles Saatchi ended this year .

(CNN) -- World leaders rushed to congratulate President-elect Barack Obama as incumbent George W. Bush called his win "a testament to hard work, optimism and faith in the enduring promise of our nation." Kenya declared a national holiday for Obama's White House victory. Speaking from the White House, Bush said the people had chosen a president "whose journey represents a triumph of the American story." He said: "It will be a stirring sight to watch President Obama, his wife, Michelle and their beautiful girls step through the doors of the White House. "I know millions of Americans will be overcome with pride at this inspiring moment that so many have waited for for so long." Watch the speech from President Bush » . Across the globe, people in city squares and villages, living rooms and shacks cheered his success, boosting hopes that America's first black commander-in-chief might herald a more conciliatory approach to the rest of the world. Leading the congratulations by world leaders, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was excited about the prospect of working with the new U.S. president. "I know Barack Obama and we share many values," he said. "And I look forward to working extremely closely with him in the coming months and years." Watch as Brown hails 'friend of Britain' » . German Chancellor Angela Merkel also offered her congratulations and said she would work with Obama to deal with the challenges facing the world. "I'm convinced that through a close and trusting cooperation between the United States and Europe we will be able to confront new risks and challenges in a decisive manner and will be able to take advantage of the numerous opportunities that are opening up in our world," Merkel said. Obama met both Brown and Merkel over the summer while on an international trip through Europe and the Middle East and held a huge rally in Berlin that revived memories of President John F. Kennedy's 1963 visit. Chinese President Hu Jintao offered similar congratulations, urging Obama to join China in shouldering "important common responsibilities." "I look forward to endeavor together with you," he said. "To push the Sino-U.S. constructive and cooperative relations to a new level, in order to better benefit our two peoples and the peoples of the world." In Kenya, Obama's extended family danced in his ancestral village of Kogelo, chanting, "Barack Obama, Barack Obama is going to the White House." Obama's grandmother, half-brother and relatives eagerly watched the election results, while in the capital Nairobi, revelers marched and danced through the streets to sirens and whistles, singing Obama's name and carrying and waving American flags. Blog from Kogelo, Kenya . Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki called Obama's election "a momentous day not only in the history of the United States of America, but also for us in Kenya. The victory of Senator Obama is our own victory because of his roots here in Kenya. As a country, we are full of pride for his success." Watch celebrations in Kenya » . U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said: "On a personal note, as an African-American, I am especially proud because this is a country that's been through long journey in overcoming wounds, and making race not the factor in our lives." Her predecessor, another African-American, Colin Powell said he wept as he watched Obama deliver his victory speech in Chicago's Grant Park. Powell, in an interview with CNN in Hong Kong, said he believed Obama had the potential to be a great president and asked Americans -- including Republicans -- to get behind Obama. Watch as Powell describes his reaction » . Powell, a retired U.S. general and a Republican, was once seen as a possible presidential candidate himself but endorsed Obama towards the end of the campaign. "Obama displayed a steadiness. Showed intellectual vigor. He has a definitive way of doing business that will do us well," Powell said Wednesday. In Jakarta, Indonesia, where Obama lived with his mother and stepfather in the late 1960s, hundreds of students at his old elementary school poured into the playground and danced in the rain, some chanting "Obama! Obama!" The Associated Press reported. In a Japanese town bearing Obama's name, jubilation took a few minutes to translate from the group of American teachers to the local crowd, which also cheered "O-ba-ma!" CNN's Kyung Lah reported. Watch reaction in Japan and China » . Financial markets in Asia closed higher Wednesday as traders were hopeful that Obama could successfully tackle the global economic crisis. But in Europe the major markets closed down about 2 percent and U.S. markets closed about 4.5 percent down. Read what Obama must do to tackle crisis . Amid unprecedented turmoil in the financial markets, Wall Street is desperate for an end to the uncertainty that has built up over the two-year campaign. At an election party in Paris, French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde highlighted the financial crisis as Obama's priority when he takes office. She told CNN's Jim Bittermann she expected the president-elect to be "clearly involved" in the upcoming financial summit being hosted by Bush. Watch Lagarde discuss priorities for the U.S. president-elect » . In an open letter to Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Obama's election raised in France, in Europe and around the world "an immense hope" and that the American people "had expressed with force their faith in progress and the future." Afghan president Hamid Karzai said the American people have taken "themselves ... and the rest of the world into a new era, the era where race, color and ethnicity ... will also disappear as a factor in politics in the rest of the world." Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said: "We look forward to relations between our two countries that witness, during your rule, further consolidation and development in all different fields, based on a firm contractual ground, common interests and similar values." Watch reaction from Iraq, Afghanistan » . In addition to the global financial crisis, Obama's challenges include Iran's nuclear ambitions, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and relations with Syria -- challenges the Middle Eastern media have dubbed "the hot files." Iran's Deputy Parliament Speaker Mohammad Hossein Abutorabifard offered a mild note of optimism to traditionally thorny relations between his country and Washington. Watch as Iran awaits Obama » . "If the United States takes into consideration the realities of the world and chooses suitable policies, America can play its (proper) role in the relations between the United States and the countries of the region and the world of Islam," he said. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said: "We have no doubt that that the special relations between the two nations will continue and strengthen during the Obama administration." Russian President Dmitry Medvedev congratulated Obama on his victory and said he was hoping for constructive dialogue with the incoming U.S. president but also highlighted differences between the two countries, including the missile defense plan. Russia expresses hope for a new relationship » . In Russia, Pravda newspaper was ecstatic, announcing that "Eight years of hell are over." It criticized the cost of the "grand American soap opera" during a time of economic crisis. Watch how world's media covered the election » . Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

President Bush: Obama victory represents a triumph of the American story . World leaders congratulate Barack Obama on winning U.S. presidential election . Most stocks rise in Asia as Obama win seen positively; markets fall in Europe . Kenyan President Kibaki calls Obama victory "our own victory"

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband holds the title of prince but he may look more like a movie pirate for the next two weeks as he wears a patch over an eye. The patch protects an eye that Prince Frederic Von Anhalt accidentally glued shut Tuesday morning, publicist John Blanchette said. "It was dark and he grabbed his wife's nail glue instead of eye drops," Blanchette said. "It was stupid," Von Anhalt said after a doctor repaired the damage at a Beverly Hills eye clinic. When Von Anhalt returned to his Bel Air, California, home later Tuesday morning he moved his wife's nail glue from the couple's bathroom. "She doesn't use it anymore," Von Anhalt said. Von Anhalt, 68, will have to wear the patch over his right eye for two weeks, he said. Gabor, 93, suffered an eye injury years ago when she mistakenly used "crazy glue" on her eyelashes, her daughter Francesca Hilton said. She has been frail and "pretty much confined to a wheelchair" since a 2002 car accident, Von Anhalt said. The crash happened when the car in which she was riding with her hairdresser slammed into a light pole on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Gabor underwent hip replacement surgery last summer after she fell from her bed. The Hungarian-born actress, the second of the three celebrated Gabor sisters, is most famous for her many marriages. Among her husbands was Oscar-winning actor George Sanders. Her more prominent films include John Huston's Toulouse-Lautrec biopic, "Moulin Rouge," in 1952, "The Story of Three Loves" in 1953, "The Girl in the Kremlin" in 1957, and Orson Welles' 1958 cult classic, "Touch of Evil." Her sisters are deceased -- Eva in 1995 and Magda in 1997.

Prince Frederic Von Anhalt accidently glued his right eye shut . A Beverly Hills doctor repaired his eye Tuesday morning . Von Anhalt has moved his actress-wife's nail glue .

(EW.com) -- This year, Showtime's ground-breaking TV series "Weeds" will come to a close. The premium network will conclude series creator Jenji Kohan's acclaimed pot comedy after eight seasons. Weeds helped pave the way for other daring cable shows and made Showtime a competitive force in the original series game. "There were two shows, 'Weeds' and 'Dexter,' that really got Showtime taken seriously for cutting-edge original programming," says Showtime entertainment president David Nevins. "How they get brought home is really important. In this case, both for the sake of the two women behind the show [Kohan and Golden Globe-winning star Mary-Louise Parker] and an audience that's really invested in the show. TV fans love nothing better than to complain about how shows end and we really want to end this one the right way." Kohan admits she's "sad" about the news, noting "sometimes ignorance is bliss," but the writer does appreciate the rare opportunity to creatively wrap up a show. "I'm so proud of what we do here and that it's about a strong woman lead who's really flawed," she says of her protagonist, Nancy Botwin (Parker). "We get to do comedy right up against drama, which a lot of shows don't get the opportunity to do." The final season will quickly resolve this year's assassination attempt cliffhanger, and fans can expect a time jump and a return to the suburbs. Beyond that, Kohan hasn't yet decided how to conclude Nancy's tale. "We wrack our brains every year for crazy cliffhangers and we're trying to figure out how to top ourselves," she says. Showtime and "Weeds''" studio Lionsgate Television Group have full faith that Kohan will deliver a stellar final batch of episodes. "No matter how close she's gone to the edge of everything falling apart, she reels the story back in, grounds it, and brings you back," says Lionsgate TV Group president Kevin Beggs. "It's an art form." Weeds premiered in 2005 and, along with other titles, pioneered an edgy adult-cable programming renaissance that not only boosted Showtime but inspired similar risk-taking content on networks. Weeds particularly broke ground with Parker's Golden Globe-winning portrayal of a suburban pot-dealing matriarch, a performance that was later followed by other female anti-hero programs like Showtime's "Nurse Jackie" and FX's "Damages." "From a creative standpoint, the show broke a bunch of barriers," Beggs says. "It became one of the most talked about cable comedies and ushered in a new era. Jenji's unique voice skewered hypocrisy; whether attitudes towards drug use, racism, sexism or suburbia." The final season of "Weeds" premieres Sunday, July 1 at 10 p.m. on Showtime. For more exclusive news about Weeds' final season, pick up this week's issue of Entertainment Weekly. See full story at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.

Showtime has announced it will cease production of its hit show "Weeds" The series starred Mary-Louise Parker as a suburban pot dealer . The final season of "Weeds" premieres July 1 .

A spurned receptionist knocked an Indian doctor unconscious because he 'lied when he promised to marry her'. Vasundhara Sharma, 27, slapped and punched the doctor repeatedly in his surgery, ripping off his clothes and leaving him apparently unconscious - before she was eventually dragged off by security. And even his own employees did not save him from a 30-minute ordeal, where she slapped him more than 70 times, because they believed it to be a private matter. Scroll down for video . Vasundhara Sharma, 27, slapped and punched the doctor, named as Dr Arpit Chopra, in his surgery . CCTV footage shows her ripping off his clothes and leaving him apparently unconscious - before she was eventually dragged off by security . They eventually called police to the clinic in Indore, in Madhya Pradesh, India. The incident occurred at the end of October - but the doctor, named as Dr Arpit Chopra, reported it two weeks later. He insisted the delay had been as a result of his injuries and not because he was trying to avoid a scandal. A preliminary investigation the woman had worked for Dr Chopra, who specialised in homoeopathic medicine. She alleged that she had started a relationship with him after working at the clinic for three months in 2012. Even his own employees did not save him from a 30-minute ordeal, where she slapped him more than 70 times, because they believed it to be a private matter . The receptionist alleges she began a relationship with Dr Chopra and he reneged on a promise to marry her . And her father has said she should be acquitted because the doctor had lied to his daughter and reneged on a promise to marry her. In India, it is, in some cases, regarded as a criminal offence to promise to marry a woman in order to start a relationship and then to break it. Because the woman's consent to a sexual relationship was based on the promise of marriage, if the promise was a lie it means consent was never really given. Therefore it has, in the past, sometimes been classified as rape. But Dr Chopra claims the woman was delusional and although he had employed her for three months, he dismissed her when she tried to form a relationship with him. A police spokesman said: 'A woman has lodged a sexual harassment case against a doctor and he in turn has lodged an assault case. 'We will investigate the matter thoroughly and take appropriate action whosoever is found guilty.' Eventually, the doctor's staff called the police who dragged the woman away from the apparently unconscious doctor .

Vasundhara Sharma, 27, slapped and punched the doctor in Indore, India . Ripped off his clothes before she was eventually dragged off by security . She claims she had started a relationship with Dr Arpit Chopra . Alleges that he promised to marry her and then reneged on the decision . Police say she has lodged sexual harassment suit against him and he has lodged an assault case .

AC Milan are set to fire coach Clarence Seedorf and replace him with youth team coach Filippo Inzaghi, according to reports from Italy. Seedorf is only four months into a two-and-a-half year contract and has overseen a considerable improvement in results, but rumours about the Dutchman's future have been rife for several weeks. His dismissal would leave Claude Makelele as the only black manager in a major European league, with the former Chelsea midfielder taking up the post at French club Bastia just last Saturday. Ousted: Clarence Seedorf is set to be sacked by AC Milan . Embrace: Even despite his popularity with the players and the improvement of results . Club president Silvio Berlusconi reportedly met chief executive Adriano Galliani to discuss the move late on Monday night. Seedorf, 38, who spent 10 years of his playing career at Milan, took over at the end of January to replace Massimiliano Allegri, who was fired after two-and-a-half years in charge. Former Italian prime minister Berlusconi had been chasing Seedorf for several months before finally appointing him, yet the Dutchman quickly fell out of favour. And despite having no previous coaching experience, results improved markedly under him with 11 wins in 19 league games, compared to five in the previous 19 under Allegri. Milan climbed up the table to finish eighth, missing out on Europa League qualification by one point. Icon: Filippo Inzaghi played 300 competitive games for the club between 2001-12 . Winner: Inzaghi scored both goals in Milan's 2-1 Champions League final victory over Liverpool in 2007 . However, they also suffered an embarrassing exit from the Champions League after losing 5-1 on aggregate to eventual finalists Atletico Madrid in the round of 16. Similar to Seedorf, Inzaghi has no previous experience of coaching a senior professional team. The 40-year-old spent 11 seasons playing for Milan, where he won two Serie A titles and two Champions League titles, and also won 57 caps for Italy. He has been in charge of Milan's under-19 team for the past two seasons. Ditched: Former boss Massimiliano Allegri was sacked by the club in January . Erratic: AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi only brought Seedorf in at the turn of the year .

Clarence Seedorf to be sacked after less than five months in charge . Will be replaced by the youth team boss Filippo Inzaghi . Move would leave Bastia manager Claude Makelele as the only black manager in a major European league . Club has had a disappointing season finishing 8th in Serie A .

Philip Cox contracted Legionnaires' Disease on a holiday to the Ca'an San Apartments in Santa Eulalia, Ibiza that left him hospitalised and off work for five weeks. The holidaymaker, from Teignmouth, Devon, is taking legal action against Thomson Holidays after finding out that a fellow holidaymaker died from the disease only a number of weeks later after staying at the same resort. Mr Cox, and his wife Karen, 55, visited the apartments in September 2014 for a two-week stay, along with Mr Cox's sister and her partner. On his return to the UK from a stay at the Ca'an San Apartments in Santa Eulalia, Ibiza, Philip Cox was diagnosed with Legionnaires' Disease and placed on a drip . Prior to the group flying home, Mr Cox fell ill, suffering with diarrhoea, a fever, shortness of breath and nausea. When he returned to the UK he visited his local GP and the next day he was admitted to hospital, where he was diagnosed with Legionnaires' Disease and placed on an IV drip. He stayed in hospital for five days and was then discharged. Mr Cox was absent from work for five weeks. His sister's partner also suffered an unconfirmed illness whilst staying at the apartments and was prescribed medicine at a clinic in Ibiza. Since returning to the UK, Mr Cox discovered that Lynne Balaam, from Cardiff, who stayed at the same C'an Sanso Apartments, died in hospital in Spain after reportedly contracting Legionnaires' Disease. He alleges Thomson Holidays previously claimed that there is no clear link between the illness that caused Ms Balaam's death and water contamination at the C'an Sanso apartments. However, the apartments were closed some days after Ms Balaam tested positive for Legionella. Mr Cox and his wife say that they were originally told by Thomson Holidays that his illness was an isolated case and that they would not be investigating the cause further. Last year the C'an Sanso Apartments were forced to relocate guests following an outbreak of Legionnaires' However since his illness and the death of Ms Balaam, guests due to stay at the apartments have been relocated to alternative accommodation. Mr Cox said: 'The whole experience was extremely scary for myself, my wife and my children, as well as my grandchildren, as my symptoms quickly got worse when I got home and I ended up on oxygen and a drip in hospital. It's the last thing which you expect when you go on holiday. 'It was frightening to find out that another holidaymaker at C'an Sanso Apartments had died after contracting the same illness that I had suffered. 'I was very frustrated that the tour operator told me my illness was an isolated case and that they would not be investigating further. I was extremely concerned that other people staying at the resort would not be aware of the issues. Mr Cox travelled to Ibiza with his wife Karen, but his holiday took a turn for the worse when he fell violently ill . 'During our stay we noticed algae in the swimming pool and we felt the pool didn't appear to be cleaned correctly. There was also a problem with the water in the apartment as the shower would run hot and cold. 'I am very lucky that I received the correct diagnosis and treatment so quickly, but I was still forced to take time off work. 'Hopefully, my legal team's investigations will lead to answers about why I contracted Legionnaires' Disease and help to ensure others do not have to go through the same experience I have endured.' A spokesperson for Thomson has told MailOnline Travel that the company is 'sorry' to hear that Mr Cox contracted the illness. 'We believed there was a heightened risk of water contamination towards the end of October and, as a precaution, Thomson arranged alternative accommodation for all guests who were either staying in or due to travel to the hotel until the end of the season,' the spokesperson said. The C'an Sanso Apartments in Ibiza whereMr Cox was staying with his wife and family . 'Thomson also contacted all customers who stayed at the apartments in October to check if they felt unwell. As this case is now subject to legal proceedings it would be inappropriate for us to comment further. 'Thomson closely audits all of the hotels to which we operate to ensure they meet our high health and safety standards. We would like to reassure customers that situations such as this are extremely rare.' Amandeep Dhillon, an expert international personal injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who is representing a number of holidaymakers who suffered from the outbreak said: 'Legionnaires Disease is a very serious illness and can be fatal in some cases due to the respiratory complications it can cause. 'The immediate priorities now are ensuring anyone affected receives the help and support they need as well as identifying the cause of the illness as soon as possible. 'We have acted in several previous outbreaks of Legionnaires Disease. Our work on behalf of victims of fatal outbreaks at the Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe, Spain where sadly four victims died with many others left fighting for their lives, as well as closer to home in both Edinburgh and Stoke-on-Trent in recent years, means we have seen first-hand the devastating impact Legionnaires Disease can have on victims. 'The seriousness of such illnesses cannot be underestimated and it is vital that public health authorities in Spain, and the hotel management work to quickly to locate the source of these problems and provide holidaymakers with the answers they deserve. 'We shall be working closely with our Spanish colleagues to investigate this outbreak and establish the level of investigations that have to date been made by the Spanish authorities. On the basis of the information we have at the moment, any legal proceedings would be pursued in England. 'As we conduct our investigations we ask anyone who has stayed at the C'an Sanso Apartments and may be able to help provide information about the conditions, to get in contact with us as they may be able to help with the case.'

Philip Cox and his wife Karen had booked Ibiza stay with Thomson . Couple stayed with family in Ca'an San Apartments in Santa Eulalia . Mr Cox, 59, fell ill with diarrhoea, a fever, shortness of breath and nausea . Admitted to hospital on a drip on return to UK with Legionnaires' disease . Lynne Balaam died from Legionnaires' only weeks later after staying in same resort .

Sandy Busby claimed earlier this summer that his father would've been delighted with the appointment of Louis van Gaal as Manchester United manager. CLICK HERE for more. Sandy Busby - the son of legendary former Manchester United manager Sir Matt Busby - has died, aged 76. Tributes have poured in for Busby who passed away on Monday evening at around 7:15pm. United chief executive Ed Woodward said in a statement: 'I am shocked and saddened by news of Sandy's death. He was such a genuine person who had a deep and rich love for the club that his father did so much to establish in the hearts of millions around the world. Sandy Busby (right), pictured with Philip Jackson at the premiere for film Believe, has died aged 76 . Sir Matt Busby (right) holds the European Cup Winners Cup with Sir Alex Ferguson back in 1991 . 'Sandy understood better than almost anyone what the United way means and his enthusiasm, his wit and his affection for the club will be sorely missed. 'Our thoughts go out to Irene and his family at such a sad time.' Former United star Norman Whiteside took to Twitter to express his condolences. He said: 'So sorry to hear about the passing of Sandy Busby. What a lovely gent RIP.' TV presenter and United fan Eamonn Holmes added: 'Sandy Busby's death so unexpected. Thoughts to his lovely family.' Sandy Busby, pictured in action against Everton (right), represented Blackburn Rovers as a player . Sandy remained a keen supporter of the club and lent his full backing of new manager Louis van Gaal's appointment this summer. When asked by Sportsmail if his father would enjoy Van Gaal's brand of football, Sandy Busby was effusive in his support of the Dutchman. He said: 'Oh, I'm sure he would. I'm sure he would. And please God he does. 'This club is enormous, it's an enormous club. It's got a great support throughout the world and it would be great to see Mr Van Gaal succeed and I'm sure he will. 'From the way he's talking, he's going to play attacking football and that's all we want. It's what this club stands for.' Sandy Busby admitted that his father Matt would've been pleased with the appointment of Louis van Gaal .

Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward has led the tributes to Sandy Busby . The 76-year-old passed away on Monday evening . His father Matt led United to five titles and the European Cup in 1968 . Norman Whiteside among others to pay respects to Busby .

(CNN) -- Police believe a Louisiana man abducted his two young sons early Wednesday after breaking into the Florida home of the children's grandmother and tying her up. The boys had been removed from the care of Joshua Michael Hakken and his wife, Sharyn Patricia Hakken, last year, and on Tuesday the couple's parental rights were terminated in Louisiana, investigators say. Hakken, described as an anti-government protester, is believed to be armed, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in Tampa. Investigators believe his wife is with him. The sheriff's office told CNN there have been ongoing issues with Hakken since he attended an anti-government rally somewhere in Louisiana in June of last year. He was arrested at the rally on multiple drug charges, officials said. Louisiana authorities have told Florida investigators that the children were initially placed in temporary foster care after being taken away from the Hakkens. Sometime later, investigators allege, the couple went to the foster care center, armed, and tried unsuccessfully to enter it. At some point over the past few months, the children were sent to Tampa to live with their grandmother, Patricia Hauser, the mother of Sharyn Hakken. "Somehow they found out where the kids were and an Amber Alert is being issued now," said Detective Larry McKinnon of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's investigators say Hakken entered Hauser's home at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. She has told police that he tied her up and fled with the children in her silver 2009 Toyota Camry. That vehicle was found later in the day just a couple of blocks away from the home. The sheriff's office said the children now could be in a black 2006 GMC pickup registered to Hakken. Authorities said the abducted children are Chase Hakken, 2, and Cole Hakken, 4. Both have brown hair and brown eyes and were last seen wearing pajamas. "We suspect that the wife is with him. He has a history of being armed," McKinnon said. Investigators have brought in the FBI to help them track the family, who could have left the state of Florida by Wednesday afternoon.

The children had been taken from Joshua and Sharyn Hakken last year, investigators say . "Somehow they found out where the kids were" and took them, a sheriff's detective says . The grandmother was left in the house tied up .

Few things in life frighten me, but dying before my time is one of them. To achieve my dream of longevity, I lead a relatively healthy life, exercising daily, drinking in moderation, eating plenty of fruit and veg, and — most important of all — shunning fatty foods including butter and dairy products to reduce the risk of heart disease. Well, that’s turned out to be a huge waste of time! The truth is, I shall probably die at exactly the same age as my mum and dad, and I will have wasted decades on a virtuous eating plan based on a lie. This week, we were told that the advice dished out by doctors in 1983 — that to avoid heart disease we must cut our fat intake drastically, and increase our carbs correspondingly — turns out to be based on flawed evidence. Scroll down for video . Janet leads a healthy life exercising daily, drinking in moderation, eating plenty of fruit and veg as well as shinning fatty foods including fruit and veg . Shockingly, medical experts have reversed their opinion and now say they find it ‘incomprehensible’ that millions of us were advised to alter our diets, because the conclusion that fats were bad was based on a small sample of ‘unhealthy men’. (Just as shockingly, women weren’t even included in the original survey!) I can’t tell you how annoyed I am by this news, having spent all those years since 1983 eating slimy, flavourless, low-fat spreads, cutting down on meat and never roasting my spuds in beef dripping, completely taken in by ‘official advice’ from ‘government health advisErs’. Drinking black tea, not eating trifle, spurning custard and never dripping cream on my crumble. I was totally brainwashed about butter, along with millions of you. The dairy industry never recovered from the dietary warnings of 1983 — milk sales plummeted, along with those of butter, and supermarkets drastically increased the amount of shelf-space devoted to low-fat spreads, zero-fat yogurt and skimmed milk. Unsurprisingly, the dairy industry is now in crisis, and in The Archers, poor Ed Grundy has had to flog off four of his cows because he can’t make a living from the herd, while Mike Tucker can’t find a buyer for his milk round. It’s not surprising when on any given day you’ll hear yet another celebrity proudly announce that they’ve given up dairy as part of their healthy eating regime. Dairy has become horribly, unfairly demonised — and all because of bogus medical advice. Janet says that spreads such as Flora Pro-activ taste like 'taste like slimy muck' But then, when it comes to lifestyle advice, why should anyone bother listening to the medical profession? Doctors are usually over-weight, middle-aged men with flushed faces and paunches, although my own NHS doctor is the opposite. He’s a fitness fanatic, a fell-runner so scrawny he looks on the point of death every time I walk through the door. He’s always got the fat-measuring callipers handy, to check my body mass index. (Another discredited method, incidentally, of measuring how near to death we are). For years now, both Labour and Tory governments have decided to interfere and tell us what we should eat, what we should weigh, and how often we should exercise. Sod the economy, they seem to be thinking, let’s focus on the nation’s blood pressure! Politicians have become like the extra foster-mum we never wanted. By the way, both my parents ate thick slabs of butter on white bread with every meal. They loved salad cream slathered over their lettuce. They gorged on tinned ham, tongue, huge joints of red meat every Sunday, potatoes roasted in animal fat, and meat and offal at least five times a week. Yes, we ate fish on Fridays — usually in batter from the chippy, with chips cooked in dripping — and the idea of a wholemeal grain or a low-fat vegetarian meal was a completely alien concept back in Fifties Britain. They took sugar in tea, and salt was always on the table. Yet, both parents were as thin as rakes and walked for miles well into old age, even if they did smoke. But then I regularly meet healthy pensioners over 80 who survive on full-fat milky tea and bread and butter, interspersed with the odd ciggie and a glass of beer or gin. My generation of baby boomers decided we didn’t want to age like them or get wrinkly and stooped, so we adopted every life-extending fad going, starting with no saturated fat. I love the taste of butter — particularly on crumpets — but a packet of butter now lasts three months in my fridge. It sits unloved on a special shelf, next to that other devil food, creamy Gorgonzola, which I only eat when I’ve had several glasses of red wine too many. Janet says although she loves the taste of butter on crumpets, a packet of butter now lasts three months in her fridge . Full fat cheese is like a class A drug to me — a super-evil. I am a total food snob, so how I ever persuaded myself that low-fat spreads were delicious is a mystery, no matter what twaddle Lulu claimed in her advertising campaign extolling the benefits of the Flora Pro-activ ‘cholesterol-lowering’ range. Let’s be honest, all these spreads taste like slimy muck. And now we’re told we have been smearing them over our wholegrain for no reason at all. This strategy of demonising fats was shown to be a sham last year when the British Heart Foundation concluded that UK dietary guidelines on fat needed rethinking. And yet the government did nothing. Common sense dictates that eating too much fat can’t be good for us, but the advice in dietary guidelines — which substituted carbohydrates for fats — just seems to have been scribbled out on the back of an envelope. And if the levels of obesity now plaguing the population are anything to go by, the advice has been totally counter-productive. Janet says full fat cheese is a like a class A drug to her and that Gorgonzola is reserved for when she's had several too many glasses of red wine . My beef with all this is that it’s just tinkering around the edges. Instead of promoting cookery lessons in schools (they’re starting this year at long last) and encouraging people to enjoy all sorts of food and use unprocessed ingredients, the government prefers to waste millions of tax-payers money trying to encourage us to change our behaviour using ‘nudge’ tactics like giving people vouchers for free slimming classes. David Cameron said he would slash government advertising when he took office, but spent a whopping £90 million in the 11 months to November 2013, up from £64 million during 2013, and almost double what was spent in 2011. We are bombarded with public health messages about ‘healthy eating’ in every ad break on telly. Change4Life was set up by Public Health England in 2009 and made a big expensive fuss about the benefits of eating five fruit and veg a day. Last June, the National Diet and Nutrition Survey concluded that only ten per cent of boys and seven per cent of girls had heeded that advice. Yes, a million people have downloaded the app, and 1.9 million families joined the scheme — but when it came to actually EATING fruit and veg, the average number of portions a day we consume remains at three — and, like the great Butter Scandal, experts can’t agree whether it should be five portions, or seven, or what even constitutes a portion. As for me, I’m too set in my ways to change. My longevity breakfast will remain raw tomatoes or mashed avocado on a slice of heavy, seed-laden wholemeal bread, with chopped anchovies, slathered in olive oil. I can’t remember what health ‘advice’ brought me to this point, but I’m not stopping now. Heaven forbid that in a moment of terrible weakness I might even start living dangerously and buy another packet of butter. The moral of this saga? Eat a little of whatever you like, don’t listen to government busybodies — and remember that butter’s not only delicious, it’s also officially good for you.

Janet leads a healthy life, excercising daily and shunning fatty foods . Advice from doctors suggested cutting fat intake to avoid heart disease . Medical experts have reversed their opinion, given the poor data . Only a small number of ‘unhealthy men’ were questioned originally .

Washington (CNN) -- With the architect of the September 11, 2001, attacks dead, U.S. commandos in Osama bin Laden's Pakistan compound quickly came upon another prize: A trove of hard drives, DVDs and thumb drives that might provide evidence of other al Qaeda operations. Those materials, seized after bin Laden and four others were killed, have provided the first specific alert to come out of Monday's raid. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a notice tied to rail security Thursday. The unclassified notice to "federal, state, local and tribal partners" says that, in February 2010, al Qaeda members discussed a plan to derail trains in the United States by placing obstructions on tracks, according to a law enforcement source who received the notice. Pakistan reacts angrily to tone of U.S. questions . The plan was to be executed this fall to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. But no specific city or rail system was identified in the notice, the source told CNN. Although a U.S. official cautioned that the information doesn't appear to suggest an imminent plot against U.S rail systems, the discovery may be the tip of the iceberg of potential plots. The haul included "lots" of paper documents, 10 hard drives, five computers and more than 100 storage devices, such as disks, DVDs and thumb drives, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday. Since Monday, intelligence experts and others have pored over the find. A task force was set up at the CIA to comb through the evidence seized in the raid, according to a senior intelligence official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity. More details emerge about the raid . At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said of evidence taken from the residence, "As we glean information from that material, we will make appropriate decisions with regard to who might we add to the terrorist watch list, the no-fly list, all those things." The U.S. official who spoke Thursday of the data said, "We take every possible threat seriously, so we are running all of this to ground." When asked if there were any indications that bin Laden had signed off on the rail operation, the official said, "There is no information to suggest that there was some kind of 'blessed operation' attached to U.S transportation systems." The same U.S. official says the al Qaeda scheme, which included derailing trains over bridges and valleys, "doesn't appear to be anything more than an idea on paper at this point." Material also indicated that al Qaeda was particularly interested in targeting cities -- Washington, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, the official said. Authorities sifting through the material learned al Qaeda has considered striking on significant dates such as July 4, Christmas and the opening day of the United Nations, according to the official. Osama's wife: We lived there 5 years . Department of Homeland Security spokesman Matt Chandler echoed the belief that there was no imminent threat to the rail system. But officials "wanted to make our partners aware of the alleged plotting," he said. "We want to stress that this alleged al Qaeda plotting is based on initial reporting, which is often misleading or inaccurate and subject to change." Since Sunday, Chandler said, the department and other agencies have reviewed potential terror targets and deployed additional officers to nonsecured areas at U.S. airports. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told federal lawmakers Wednesday a "number of actions" have been taken in response to the killing of bin Laden, among them "surging some resources" to U.S. ports, airports and borders. "These include issuing advisories to fusion center directors, Homeland Security advisers, major city chief intelligence commanders, private sector critical infrastructure owners and operators and other law enforcement entities," she said at a Senate hearing. "We are and have been reviewing all open cases of potential al Qaeda core, AQAP (al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) and AQIM (al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) operatives possibly in the U.S. in conjunction with the FBI," she added. Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut independent who is chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, asked Napolitano about the data removed by the Navy SEALs from the bin Laden compound. "I assume that as this material is gone over, anything related to Homeland Security will be shared immediately with your department?" he asked. Napolitano responded, "It is being shared (already)." Earlier this week, former CIA Director Michael Hayden told CNN's "The Situation Room" that the "diffuse" nature of al Qaeda is among its strengths. "Keep in mind this is a network, not a hierarchy," Hayden said. "So you've got still very active, very talented cells around the world." CNN Homeland Security Correspondent Jeanne Meserve and Jim Barnett contributed to this report.

Homeland Security releases notice over rail system . It stemmed from discovery of material at bin Laden compound . No evidence al Qaeda plot was imminent, government says .

Two "Dancing With the Stars" contestants are on the mend from injuries. On Monday night's show, contestant Amy Purdy landed in the hospital with a back injury following her performance with pro dancer Derek Hough. The 34-year-old athlete had won high scores from the show's judges with her rumba, but after the routine, she said, she "turned wrong" and then found herself in a world of pain. "Right after judging I kind of turned my head and my back cracked and it just seized up," Purdy said. "Everything's really painful right now, it's hard to breathe." Later Purdy tweeted that she was "in pain but I'm in good hands." Because of her injury, Purdy sat out a group routine and "Dancing With the Stars" ran rehearsal footage instead. Purdy tweeted that she isn't sure whether she'll be able to return to the competition next week, but she's hopeful and excited for the routine she and Hough are scheduled to perform. The Paralympic snowboarder isn't the only "Dancing" contestant whose hard work on the dance floor has led to offstage pain. During an April 24 rehearsal, Danica McKellar broke a rib. The former "Wonder Years" actress was still recovering when she performed on Monday, but she said support from her fans helped her pull through. "It's sore, but it's OK," McKellar said after her routine. "You fight through it and do your best."

Two "Dancing With the Stars" contestants are facing injuries . During Monday's show, Amy Purdy injured her back . Earlier, Danica McKellar broke a rib .

Aleppo, Syria (CNN) -- Journalists often get invited on tours of battle zones during wars, but the one the Syrian government organized for CNN and several other media outlets Wednesday was more than bizarre. We had been told we were going on a trip to the front line in Damascus. Instead, we were driven to an airfield and packed into an old Soviet-made Yakovlev YAK-40 aircraft. It wasn't until we were in the air that government officials on the flight finally offered up some information. "We are going to Aleppo," one said with a smile. He told reporters that ours would be the first civilian aircraft to land at the city's international airport since December 2012, when the airfield was shut because of heavy clashes in the area. We sat still, slightly nervous about the guinea pig role we had been thrust into by the government, as our pilot performed a spectacular combat landing on a foggy day. As the aircraft taxied toward the terminal we finally realized that we were the news of the day. A live transmission vehicle and dozens of reporters were waiting to greet us as Syrian government TV carried the live banner proclaiming "The reopening of Aleppo Airport and the landing of a commercial flight." EXCLUSIVE: Gruesome photos could prove torture by Assad regime . Mohammed Wahid al Akad, Aleppo's provincial governor, was on hand to greet us, eager to show us the gains that Syrian forces had made in and around the city -- and also talk about the ongoing negotiations in Switzerland between representatives of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government and various opposition factions. "What we want from Geneva is to stop foreign money, fighters and weapons coming into Syria. We as Syrians can reconcile with each other, make our own government to rebuild our country," he said. Three buses picked us up for a tour of areas the military had recently taken back from rebels. Aleppo and its surrounding areas are a key battleground in Syria's hard-fought, nearly three-year-old civil war. The killings have been far too numerous to count. In December, overwhelmed doctors scurried to help scores of patients amid days of air raids by the government. "There was a big massacre today," Dr. Ammar Zakaria told CNN at the time. "We were treating shrapnel wounds, deep abdominal and brain injuries. I just lost count of the amputations." For a long time it appeared opposition forces might take full control of Syria's largest city. But infighting among various rebel groups and a resurgent Syrian army has reversed momentum. The government soldiers we spoke with sounded confident and emboldened by their recent gains. "Al Qaeda were the worst people to fight against. They are Islamists, they see us as infidels and they want to kill us," one soldier said. As the buses drove us to the town of Tal Hassil near the airport, people lined the streets, chanting pro-Assad slogans. We were not sure how spontaneous this show of affection really was. We were taken to an aid distribution center before the tour took us to regime-held areas of Aleppo. PHOTOS: Haunting images of Aleppo's abandoned homes . The city has the same remarkable dynamic as many other Syrian cities during the civil war, including Homs and Damascus. As the mortars boom and machine guns crackle during heavy clashes in many parts of town, other neighborhoods seem totally normal, to an almost absurd extent. The United Nations and other international groups accuse Syrian regime forces of using heavy weapons against civilian areas, including barrel bombs -- oil drums filled with explosives that cause massive destruction wherever they are dropped. But in many government-controlled parts of the city, just a few blocks from the fighting, the streets are full of people and the shops are well stocked. There are trendy restaurants and cafés, even as rebels control almost half of the city. Syrian officials believe that Aleppo could be a model for a ceasefire between regime and rebel forces. But looking over the skyline, it is easy to see just how hard that will be. At a sniper position atop of one of Aleppo's tallest buildings, soldiers showed us areas under opposition control. Some are held by the moderate Free Syrian Army, or the newly-constituted and moderate Islamic Front. But others are under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the al Qaeda-linked group which is battling against other rebel factions in its bid to set up an Islamic caliphate in Syria. Aleppo offered many surprises before we climbed back into our rickety old YAK-40 jet at the end of the day. But it still seems that a ceasefire in the city is a long way off, even if the Geneva negotiations go well. READ MORE: How Syria talks derailed before they started .

CNN's Fred Pleitgen was taken on a surprise trip to Aleppo, one of the war's flashpoints . Syrian government-organized flight was first civilian landing at airport since late 2012 . Syrian forces have retaken many areas of country's largest city from rebels in recent months . Much of city remains in rebel hands and a ceasefire anytime soon seems unlikely .

It may have just been the perfect weekend for John Terry following his side's 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday. The Chelsea skipper topped it all off with some added sprinkles as he took a trip to an ice cream parlour with a difference whilst holidaying in Dubai. Posting a video on his official Instagram page on Monday evening, the former England captain showed us he still has the reflexes as he played catch with ice cream scoops with one of the parlour's employees. An employee at the ice cream parlour cranks his arm back ready to fire some ice cream at John Terry . Armed only with an ice cream tub, the Chelsea skipper bags the flying dairy product without problem . Terry was taking time out with family during international break and posted the video on his Instagram account . As England prepare to take on Slovenia on Saturday, Terry used the time off during the international break to spend some quality time with the family. The 33-year-old was clearly enjoying himself whilst flinging frozen goods in the United Arab Emirates' most populous city. Chelsea currently sit four points clear at top of the Premier League table and will look to resume their fine form after the international break. Terry's performance against Liverpool proved he is still one of the best defenders in the Premier League .

John Terry posted a video on Instagram as he played catch with ice cream . Terry showed fans he still has sharp reflexes as he joked with employees . The Chelsea captain is enjoying some time off during the international break .

By . Martin Robinson . Hundreds today used their Bank Holiday Monday to pay tribute to murdered soldier Lee Rigby by laying yet more flowers, balloons and hand-written notes at the spot where he died in Woolwich. Many sobbed as they came to see the stream of tributes that now runs the whole length of the street where the 25 year old Drummer was executed as he walked to his barracks last Wednesday. Meanwhile 10 miles across London more than 1,000 English Defence League supporters waved placards that read 'Blood on your hands' and 'GB RIP', as well as singing 'There's Only One Lee Rigby', and some anti-Muslim songs as they marched in his memory. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Poignant: Flowers left at the scene where Lee Rigby, who was wearing a Help For Heroes Tshirt, was murdered by two fanatics brandishing firearms, knives and machetes . In remembrance: The number of floral tributes outside Woolwich Barricks has grown over the weekend as people pay their respects . Heartfelt: A young girl adds to the hundreds of bouquets laid at the scene in Woolwich . Respectful: Crowds add to the floral tributes to Lee Rigby. Balloons, bouquets and cards adorn the scene where he was killed last week . They snarled at United . Against Fascism supporters, with both groups largely kept apart by . police as they both protested on Whitehall, close to Downing Street. Witnesses said that both groups then began to throw dozens of glass bottles at each other. Earlier the EDL demonstrators pushed their way through a police cordon as they made their way to Trafalgar Square. They . chanted 'Muslim killers off our streets' and 'There’s only one Lee . Rigby' and protesters held placards that read 'Blood on your hands' and . 'GB RIP'. EDL leader Tommy Robinson told the demonstration: 'This is a day of respect for our Armed Forces.' The crowd repeatedly chanted 'coward' after he claimed Prime Minister David Cameron was on holiday 'because he doesn't care'. Mr Robinson added: 'They've had their Arab Spring. This is time for the English Spring.' Chanting: English Defence League supporters wore Union Jacks and flew England flags as they called David Cameron a 'coward' for going on holiday after the Woolwich terror attack . Making themselves heard: Defence League demonstrators chant anti-Muslim messages during a protest in the sunshine in Whitehall . Faces of fury: Protestors with the English Defence League gathered outside Downing Street. Leaders said the protest was a celebration of the armed Forces . Aggression: Police had prepared for an aggressive protest following the shoicking killing of British soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich last Wednesday . A . group of United Against Fascism supporters staged a . counter-protest at the same time and were penned in by the Met Police to . avoid ugly clashes. Violence broke out when about 100 anti-fascists mobbed five protestors who were arriving to join the march draped in Union Jacks and wearing England football shirts. Police filmed the anti-EDL protesters as they chanted 'fascist scum off our streets' and 'follow your leader, kill yourself like Adolf Hitler' before escorting the EDL supporters around Parliament Square. The demonstrators marched through . Admiralty Arch and onto Parliament Square. They were escorted by . Metropolitan Police officers and vans, while a force helicopter followed . overhead. A Scotland Yard spokesman said Whitehall was closed to traffic because of 'a number of demonstrations'. Tensions have also increased in . certain communities where thugs have been attacking mosques in . retaliation for the murder of Lee Rigby. A Grimsby mosque was last night hit with petrol bombs, while people were inside, including children. Chairman . Diler Gharib said: 'We had just finished our prayers and were . discussing how to thank our neighbours for the support they have shown . us over the past few days when we heard a bang and saw fire coming under . the door. Backlash: A counter-protest, staged by United against Fasciam, led to violence when 100 anti-fascists mobbed protestors who were joining the EDL march . Distressed: Unite Against Fascim demonstrators (left and right) pitted themselves against EDL marchers. Police worked to keep the two groups apart outside Downing Street . Making their point: Unite Against Fascism demonstrators shout across police lines at EDL protesters . 'I grabbed a . fire extinguisher and put it out and then two more petrol bombs hit the . fire escape and the bin so I had to put those out too. 'Luckily . the police have been monitoring the mosque since the last attack and . they were able to arrest two people almost straight away. 'We . have all been feeling on edge and now this has happened. It’s not just . the people at the mosque we are worried about, it’s our wives, daughters . and children who are out in the community. 'People . need to realise that the people who committed the murder in Woolwich . are criminals and it had nothing to do with the Muslim faith.' Two men, aged 33 and 37, have been arrested after yesterday's attack and are still in police custody. Four boys, aged 15 and 16, were arrested after a separate attack on Thursday and were released on bail until the end of June. Chief . Supt Tony Forbes said today: 'I would like to remind people that these . are serious offences which are being investigated and those who are . responsible will be brought to justice. 'It is important to remember that . those people who have committed these offences are a very small minority . and they do not reflect the vast majority of people who live in North . East Lincolnshire. 'The . people who want to engage themselves in this type of criminal activity . will be dealt with using all appropriate police resources and powers. Control: Police officers walk members of the English Defence League protest as they march from Trafalgar Square . Standing guard: Police cordoned protestors off today, in an attempt to keep the protest peaceful . On the run: Police officers move into position as they react to English Defence League members marching . Should David Cameron have gone on holiday as Britain deals with terror crisis? 'I . have spoken to community leaders and what is clear to me is the attacks . will not be allowed to undermine the very good community relations in . North East Lincolnshire. 'My officers will continue to work with all of our communities to protect them and ensure their safety.' On Saturday night riot police were called to stop a ‘Help for Heroes’ walk over fears it would turn violent. Officers carrying shields and batons brought a halt to the parade in Bristol after they received reports of planned trouble. Marchers . said they were raising money for the armed forces charity but internet . rumours claimed  facist group the English Defence League was also . taking part. Police stopped the walk outside a pub - sparking a five hour stand-off which saw up to 40 people barricade themselves inside. Riot police, vans and horses attended on Saturday evening as an operation was launched to contain the group. Scotland Yard said three arrests had been made during the protest and counter-protest outside Downing Street. EDL members congregated after their march in Leicester Square, central London. As one youth was taken away by police, the crowd began throwing bottles at them. One . officer was hit on the head with a glass bottle and the mob followed . the officers, chanting "who the f*** is Allah?" before being pushed back . towards the square. Skirmishes . broke out around the square, with several men threatening a youth . wearing a Palestinian scarf with a stick before police intervened. As . the two groups arrived towards Westminster Tube station, the . anti-fascists began to run towards the men, forcing the police to set up . a cordon to protect them. Officers say there were 19 arrests and 12 people were later charged with public order offences and five remanded in custody. Meanwhile an English Defence . League activist who threatened to burn down a mosque in retaliation for . Lee Rigby's murder has been told he faces jail. Adam . Rodgers took to Facebook following the murder and called on his fellow . EDL members to meet him at a mosque in Hastings, Sussex. Attack: This scorched door to the Grimsby Mosque shows the damage caused by the firebomb attack last night . Upsetting: The spray paint has been used to scrub out the inscription on the tribute to the animals which helped keep Britain free . Attack: The Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, London, was also targeted in the past 24 hours and was then covered in black plastic and guarded by police . A tarpaulin covers part of the Animals in War Memorial on Park Lane, which police say they found at 5am on Monday . The . 28-year-old posted various 'inflammatory' remarks on the social . networking site in the hours following the drummer's death including . 'the mosque needs burning down'. Lead . magistrate Paul Brown, told him: 'The harm you could have created was . potentially huge due to the circumstances. 'You made threats to burn down . a mosque and mobilise people at a time when feelings are running very . high due to a tragic incident. All options will remain open, including . prison.' Two . of Britain's most celebrated war memorials have been defaced, . apparently with the word 'Islam' scrawled across them and inscriptions . scrubbed out with red paint. Police have confirmed they are . investigating the vandalism of the RAF Bomber Command Memorial in Green . Park and the Animals In War Memorial in Park Lane, both in central . London. Pictures taken today show that the damage has now been covered over with plastic or white sheets. Scotland Yard said there have not been . any arrests, so it not clear if it has been done by Muslim protesters or far-right . groups attempting to stir-up hatred. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: . 'At 5am this morning police discovered graffiti on both the RAF Bomber . Command War Memorial in Green Park and the Animals in War Memorial on . Park Lane. Scene: Police and firefighters attend the blaze started by troublemakers at a Grimsby mosque last night . Problems: Hoards of police were forced to break up the walk in Bristol because of disorder . Trouble: Riot officers were called to halt a Bristol walk in support of Help for Heroes after they feared it would stoke up 'community tensions' - this led to 19 arrests . 'Royal Parks' officers and Westminster police are investigating. There have been no arrests at present.' The Bomber Command Memorial remembers . the sacrifice and bravery of the 55,573 RAF crew who lost their lives . in the Second World War and was unveiled by the Queen last summer. Just . last week Dame Judi Dench described herself as being 'very proud' to be . the first patron of a new campaign to preserve it for generations to . come. The . Animals in War Memorial is 'a powerful and moving tribute to all the . animals that served, suffered and died alongside the British, . Commonwealth and Allied forces in the wars and conflicts of the 20th . century', according to the Animals in War Fund website. The monument was unveiled by the Princess Royal in November 2004 - the 90th anniversary of the start of World War I. The . fund's website says the £2 million needed to build the monument came . from 'a national appeal and the generosity of many individual donors, . charities and companies'.

1,000 EDL chant, sing and march from Trafalgar Square to Downing St . Police keep them apart from Unite Against Fascism counter-protest . The EDL supporters and anti-fascists hurled dozens of glass bottles . Bomber Command Memorial and Animals In War Memorial vandalised . Police unsure if attack was by Muslims or by far-right troublemakers .

By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 07:26 EST, 5 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:03 EST, 5 November 2012 . A disgraced university dean on trial for using her students as personal servants was the prime suspect in the execution-style murder of her first husband, it has emerged. Dr Cecilia Chang, 57, has been accused of embezzling more than $1 million from St John's University, where she worked as dean of the Asian Studies Center, and using students as her personal servants. But it has now emerged that her first husband accused her of being responsible for his murder as he lay dying in hospital. Disgraced: Dr Cecilia Chang, 57, has been accused of embezzling more than $1 million from St John's University. It has now emerged her dying husband accused her of being responsible for his murder . According to the New York Daily News, Ruey Fung Tsai — known as 'Johnson' - asked for a piece of paper from detectives as he lay in the intensive care unit at  Elmurst General Hospital after being shot three times in his back. He was unable to talk because he had a tube running down this throat. 'He wrote that his wife was responsible: "My wife did this,’” a source told the newspaper. It is also alleged that Tsai told detectives of Chang's business dealings with Donald Manes - a former Queens Borough President who committed suicide in 1986 amid a corruption scandal. The murder of Tsai still remains unsolved. Detectives were unable to further question him about his claims before he died on July 31 in 1990. He was shot as he arrived at his business premises in Bushwick, Brooklyn, 11 days earlier. According to police records, after arriving at work at about 9.30am, a young Asian man walked up to him and opened fire. 'Servant': Peiyi Gan was worried she would lose her scholarship if she didn't comply with the dean's demands . The gunman did not take anything and fled into a nearby subway station. Following the murder, Chang - then a rising star at St John's - was questioned as the prime suspect but said she did not know anything. Her home was even placed under surveillance. But despite the claim of her husband, police were unable to link her to the murder. When asked to comment on the claims, Chang, who has remarried twice, said: 'My lawyer says I am not supposed to answer any questions.' A foreign exchange student at St John's University previously told a court that she was treated like a servant by Dr Chang - and said nothing because she feared her scholarship would be taken away. Peiyi (Tracy) Gan, a Chinese national, did laundry, cooked and cleaned for Dr Chang. Miss Gan said that she acted as a maid for Chang and her family at their home in Jamaica . Estates, Queens, New York and often endured verbal abuse from Chang's son Steven. She was also required to hand-wash the disgraced university dean's underwear. Under the scholarship program at St John's, students are required to give 20-hours service to the school each week. Taking advantage: A former St. John's University student previously testified that she cooked, cleaned and did laundry for Dr Chang because she feared losing her scholarship . Miss Gan, now 31, had come to the U.S. to study in 2004 - and began working for Chang seven days a week. She continued for four years until she had completed her Master's degree. As well as taking out the trash and mopping floors, the young woman cooked for the family - who often insulted her meals. Miss Gan was also forced to create . fake financial statements allowing the disgraced dean to claim thousands . of dollars from the school, according to the New York Post. In . 2010, Chang was charged with forced labor after she allegedly told . students they would lose their scholarships unless they worked for her. Prosecutors . at the Brooklyn court said that Chang stole from the university to pay . off gambling debts at casinos in Atlantic City and Connecticut. Scandal: Chang was the dean of the Asian Studies Center at St John's until her alleged scam was uncovered in 2010 . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.

Dr Cecilia Chang, 57, has been accused of . embezzling more than $1 million from St John's University and using students as her . personal servants . But it has now emerged that her first husband accused her of being responsible for his murder as he lay dying in hospital . Ruey Fung Tsai died after being shot three times in his back in 1990 .

By . Neil Michael . Severe burns: Elizabeth Soffe was lying in her cot beneath the air condition unit . An air conditioning unit believed to be the cause of a fire that led to an Irish baby nearly being burned to death in a Qatar villa broke down 12 days previously. It has emerged that a complaint was made about the unit in a bedroom of the Doha villa where six-month-old Elizabeth Soffe's Dublin parents were living. In an email to the maintenance workers employed by the owners of the villa - Al Asmakh Real Estate - Elizabeth's mother Sinéad raised her concerns. The unit was seen to by maintenance workers, but it is believed to have broken down again on the day of the fire. What role it played in the May 29 blaze that caused the toddler to suffer 60 per cent burns is currently being investigated. Last night, the company was unavailable for comment. But Mrs Soffe's email shows there were issues with the air conditioning unit, which was based over the cot where her daughter was sleeping when it caught fire. On May 17, her email read: 'The a/c unit in our master bedroom is leaking water. It needs to be fixed as a priority as our small baby sleeps there. Kind regards, Sinéad Soffe.' As a consequence of the complaint – which was one of many maintenance issues at the villa – a worker came out to fix the leak. But tragedy struck on May 29 and Elizabeth suffered horrific injuries in the fire at the villa where there had been a string of maintenance issues months and weeks previously. The Soffe couple, who moved to Qatar three years ago, had to travel to England with Elizabeth four days after the fire so she could receive medical treatment. In last week's Irish Daily Mail her parents detailed the devastating moment when Mrs Soffe discovered her baby on fire, just moments after she had been laid down in her cot. Husband Liam, who works for Doha-based engineering firm Atkins, said his wife patted out flames on Elizabeth's head and chest after she heard the baby's screams. He told the Irish Daily Mail last night about the various maintenance issues they had in their home. Raised concern: Sinéad Soffe, Elizabeth's mother, had raised concerns about the air conditioning unit less than a fortnight before the fire broke out . There was another A/C unit (air conditioning unit) in another room and the on/off switch melted. 'The compound replaced it. The same thing happened with the washing machine, the plug in the socket melted, they replaced that. We also had problems with the electric cooker, where even if you switched it off, it was wired wrong, so one of the rings stayed on.' He added: 'The only two things in the room were the A/C unit and the baby monitor. Because Sinéad heard her crying on the baby monitor we knew it wasn't that.' Rod Stewart, managing director for Atkins in Qatar, said: 'We're a close-knit organisation in Doha and all our people are devastated by Elizabeth's injuries. 'It's a tremendously difficult time for Liam, Sinéad and the family and we're doing what we can to support them, both as a company and a community.' Elizabeth, who is now being treated by specialists in Birmingham Children's Hospital, is going to have to stay in the UK for at least a year. Liam and Sinead – who lost everything in the blaze – have set up a charity to raise £100,000 to care for her and their other three children. The Baby Elizabeth Fund – which is being run through the Youcaring.com website – has so far raised just over £33,500. The family have attracted just under 500 supporters of the fund, a link to which has so far been shared on Facebook 1,400 times. The family are also currently trying to have returned to them €8,400 in rental and deposit cheques which Al Asmakh Real Estate is currently holding on to. Despite the May 29 tragedy, the company cashed the €2,800 June rent cheque four days later. The company, which is owned by one of the Qatar's wealthiest businessmen Ibrahim Al Asmakh, has since promised to return the money. Blaze: The fire took place at this villa, which the Soffe family rented in Doha, Qatar . Following an approach by the Irish Daily Mail, Al Asmakh Real Estate apologised about the June rental cheque having been cashed and promised to make a contribution to the cost of Elizabeth's care. That offer of help has, however, yet to materialise despite a promise from the company's general manager, Fadi Barakeh. Although he said he was too busy to take questions last night, when spoken to previously he said: 'We are more than happy to do everything to help the family in any way we can. 'There's been an unfortunate misunderstanding on the issue of rental cheques. We are determined to help the family and, in the company, this goes all the way to the president Ibrahim Al Asmakh who is following this very closely. Like the rest of us, his sympathies are with the family and Elizabeth and he very much hopes for her safe recovery.' He added: 'We will also facilitate any discussion relating to the issue of insurance. Obviously at this stage, we are unable to pre-empt the outcome of any investigation into what caused this terrible fire. 'But if we are liable in any way, then we will obviously not shirk any responsibilities we have. In the meantime, if there is a contribution we can give towards her Elizabeth's care, then we will be happy to do so.' Donations can be made at youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/thebaby-elizabeth-fund-/190347. A father who lost his triplets in a fire in Doha two years ago said that he isn’t surprised to hear of Elizabeth Soffe’s appalling injuries. Martin Weekes said last night that medical care was disturbingly backward when his two-year-old daughter, Lillie, and sons Jackson and Willsher died at the Gympanzee day care centre in the Villaggio Shopping Mall on May 28, 2012. ‘Given the appalling state of Qatar emergency care in May 28, 2012, when our three children died, Ithink it is a miracle Elizabeth survived,’ he told the Irish Daily Mail last night. Perished: Lillie, Jackson and Wilshire Weekes were killed in May 2012 at a daycare centre in Doha . ‘When Lillie was being rushed to hospital, paramedics couldn’t give her oxygen because they didn’t have an oxygen mask small enough.’ And when firemen turned up to try and enter the blazing building, they arrived with wooden ladders, he said. A total of 19 people perished in the blaze which was caused by faulty wiring. The walls of the unlicensed nursery had been painted with flammable paint. There was no sprinkler system and inadequate alarms. Five people have since been convicted and sentenced to jail, although they have yet to serve any of their sentence. Qatar’s ambassador to Belgium, Sheikh Ali Bin Jassim Bin Al Thani, and his wife, owners of the Gympanzee centre, received a six-year sentence for causing death by negligence. The couple areappealing their sentences.

Six-month-old Elizabeth Soffe was severely burned at family home in May . She suffered 60 per cent burns after blaze at rented villa in Doha, Qatar . Elizabeth was taken to the UK and is receiving treatment in Birmingham . Faulty air conditioning unit is believed to be behind the blaze . It has emerged that Elizabeth's mother Sinéad complained about it . Unit was fixed, but broke down 12 days later on the day of the fire .

A father has been charged with capital murder in the death of his son who died after being inside their washing machine. Authorities will not comment on whether Joseph Blocker, 28, put his son, Koda Blocker, inside the washing machine or if the boy had climbed inside himself, but they did say it is a front loading machine that must be closed and switched on from the outside before starting a cycle. Around 3.30pm on Tuesday, Blocker called 911 to report that the boy was unconscious at their home in Garland, Texas. Only he, Koda and his 22-month-old daughter were home at the time. Scroll down for video . Locked up: Joseph Blocker, 28, has been charged with capital murder after his four-year-old son died after being in their washing machine. It is not yet clear if the father put the boy in or if he climbed inside . Authorities arrived and found the boy already dead. Detectives said that a medical examiner found the boy's injuries consistent with him being inside a washing machine. 'What we feel is at some point the child was inside the washing machine in the home,' Garland police Officer Joe Harn said. 'According to investigators it is a front-loading type. For the child to be in the machine, the door had to be shut and it had to be started from the outside. It does not start by automatically shutting the door.' He would not comment on what role the father is believed to have played in the boy's injuries, but pointed out only he, the four-year-old boy and his 22-month-old daughter were home at the time. The boy's exact cause of death is under investigation. Police detectives are working with the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office to determine the cause of death, Harn said. Tragic: The little boy Koda, pictured left with his father and right, was dead when police officers arrived at their home on Tuesday afternoon. He was alone in the house with his father and toddler sister . Scene: The father called 911 on Tuesday and was taken into custody at their Garland, Texas home (pictured) Blocker, who lives with his children and a woman at the address, was arrested at the scene. Neighbor Yesenia Varela told CBS he was there when Blocker was taken into custody on Tuesday. 'He had no expression on his face,' she said. 'I don't know what to tell you. He had no expression.' Another neighbor, Luz Juarez, said Blocker's hands appeared to be streaked with blood. Blocker was taken to the Garland Detention Center on the murder charge. His bond has been set at $500,000. According to public records, Blocker pleaded guilty to marijuana possession in 2005 and was convicted on a DWI charge in 2013. The boy's mother was out of state at the time, WFAA reported. The little girl is now in her care. See below for video .

Joseph Blocker called 911 on Tuesday to say his son, Koda, was unconscious and whenpolice arrived he was already dead . The medical examiner found the boy's injuries consistent with him being inside a washing machine, police said . It needs to be switched on from the outside but police would not comment on whether Blocker put the boy in there or if he had climbed inside . Blocker was home alone with the boy and his 22-month-old daughter .

(CNN) -- Authorities have identified both people who died after being swept away by fierce waves churned up by Hurricane Bill on the East Coast. Tourists watch waves crash ashore at Acadia National Park in Maine on Sunday. Clio Axlerod, 7, of New York, died after a wave knocked her and six other people into the Atlantic at Maine's Acadia National Park on Sunday, Park Chief Stuart West said. Of the other six who were swept from that park into the ocean, four made it back to shore on their own. Two -- Axlerod's father, Peter Axlerod, 55, and Simone Pelletier, 12, of Belfast, Maine -- were rescued by the Coast Guard, he said. The victims were among several thousand people who were at the park late Sunday morning to watch the high waves that Bill -- then a Category 1 hurricane -- was producing. iReport.com: See photos shot before tragic wave incident . The people knocked into the water were on a rock cliff about 20 feet above the sea, West said. A wave struck at about 11: 50 a.m., pushing water onto the ankles of some of the people standing on "top of what we think would be a safe area," West said. People started to turn back, but then they were hit by a larger wave, which sent the seven into the sea, West said. Some people were taken to a hospital with broken bones or other injuries, according to Sheridan Steele, the park's superintendent. A witness, Mary Ellen Martel of Maine, said that before the seven were swept into the ocean, people were clapping and laughing when the wind would bring the spray over. "It was a very festive atmosphere," Martel said in a telephone interview. "It was a warm, sunny day and everyone was just enjoying the show that Mother Nature was offering, but not everybody knows to stay away from the edge -- or way, away from the edge." Martel, who had come to the park with her husband, said she feels "pretty certain" she had been on the same ledge as some of the victims who were swept to shore. Martel had stood far enough back that the first wave did not affect her much, but when she saw the second coming, she turned her back to protect a camera she had. She was doused from her shoulders down, and she went for the road that led away from the area, she said. "When I looked [back], everybody was scrambling to get off the ledge," she said. Angel Rosa, 54, had come with family to Bethune Beach, one of Volusia County's 40 miles of beaches, Petersohn said. Although lifeguards had warned people not to go in the water because the offshore wind built waves to between 10 and 13 feet tall, Petersohn said, he suspects that's exactly why Rosa was in the water. "I have a feeling he probably came over to body surf these huge waves," he said. He added that such waves come along only every few years. Rosa entered the water Saturday afternoon with a group, but was separated from them, Petersohn said. His fellow swimmers reported Rosa missing, he said, and as rescue teams were mobilizing, beach patrol received an emergency call that a man had been dragged to shore a half-mile away. Petersohn said Rosa might have suffered some kind of trauma that contributed to his drowning. Emergency personnel treated three spinal injuries during the weekend, Petersohn said, as the tough waves slammed swimmers into the bottom. An autopsy report on Rosa is expected in coming days. "It's very unfortunate that this happened, and everyone feels terrible about it, but it's not something I'm surprised about," Petersohn said. "As big as the surf was, as treacherous as it was, it doesn't surprise me." Bill was downgraded to a tropical storm and then to an unnamed storm Monday as it headed into the northern Atlantic. The storm was expected to be in the British Isles by midweek, according to a forecast map from the National Hurricane Center. CNN's Khadijah Rentas contributed to this report.

Girl who died after being swept into Atlantic Ocean off Maine identified . Bill, a Category 1 hurricane Sunday, downgraded to unnamed storm Monday . Two other people rescued after being swept into ocean . Man died Saturday in surf off Florida .

While most of us are familiar with the word "meme" as the 21st century's buzzword for the latest trends and multi-media conversations in social media, Internet memes actually have been in active circulation for decades. They existed long before the arrival of web 2.0, social networking and the so-called viral industry, back when 56K dial-up was your only key to the World Wide Web and even before that, during the bygone years of Usenet newsgroups. With this in mind, let's take a look back at the top 10 most classic Internet memes that have sprung up and defined our "cyberculture" as we once knew it. Leetspeak (1980s) "1337speak," read as leetspeak, is a corrupt style of the English language marked by liberal interchanging of numbers and symbols in place of certain letters that arose from the so-called "leet" ("elite") subculture of hackers in the late 1980s, and later, gamers in the 1990s. Though now considered an outdated vernacular, 1337speak established a way to "be cool" on the Internet and left many other lasting legacies in the online gaming world -- most notably "n00bs" (newbies) and "getting pwned" (owned). Godwin's Law (1990) In a telling sign that shows the Internet's penchant for arguing and mudslinging, one of the first Internet memes to be referred to as such is a piece of Usenet-era wisdom from Mike Godwin, who observed in 1990 that "as an Internet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one." Since then, Godwin's Law has matured into an unspoken rule on message boards and forums that says: "if you mention Hitler or the Nazis to advance your argument in a discussion thread, you've automatically ended and lost the debate." Hamster Dance (1998) This very adorable (and equally obnoxious) homage to dancing hamsters went live in 1998 and quickly spread like a wildfire through newsgroups and e-mail chains, inspiring a series of copycats and parodies like "The Pig Dance," The Matchstick Dance" and even "The Jesus Dance." Though it may not look like much in comparison to "Nyan Cat" or "Hamster on a Piano," the dancing hamsters were declared one of the biggest sensations the Internet had ever seen at the time, along with the legendary "Dancing Baby." All Your Base are Belong to Us (1998) Originally found in the opening dialogue sequence from the 1989 Japanese space shoot'em up game "Zero Wing," this awkward translation of the phrase "all of your bases are under our control" swept across gaming message boards and forums in the late 1990s, giving rise to one of the first epic-scale "Photoshop memes" based on poorly translated quotes from Japanese video games and animes. Not surprisingly, a number of other funny "Engrish" moments from Nintendo video games were brought to light in the wake of "All Your Base," including "I am Error" (The Legend of Zelda) and "A Winner is You" (Pro Wrestling). You're the Man Now, Dog (2001) It's impossible to talk about the state of Internet humor and remix culture in the early 2000s without bringing up the names of a few websites, one of them being YTMND.com. While the site first began as a humble monument to an awesomely awkward quote uttered by Sean Connery's character in the 2000 drama "Finding Forrester," it inadvertently grew into a major creative hub for mash-ups and parodies of all things pop culture, like "The Picard Song" or "Lindsay Lohan's Unchanging Facial Expressions." Anonymous (2003) The word may nowadays ring a bell with headlines about hacktivism, DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks and Internet vigilantes, but the movement actually started back in 2003 as a far less political group of users on 4chan's /b/ board who would occasionally pull mass pranks on other online communities for their own entertainment under the collective pseudonym "Anonymous" -- a label that was designated to every user on /b/ by default. In the following years, the group continued to build its notoriety through on-air prank calls and chat room raids, most notably the infamous Habbo Hotel invasion in 2006, until the launch of Project Chanology in 2008. FAIL (2003) Yet another classic genre of Internet humor that emerged at the turn of the century, this catch-all term quickly rose to favor in the early 2000s as people on the Internet began coming to terms with the fact that we love to laugh when others fail, a psychological behavior also known by the German word "schadenfreude." The resounding impact of FAIL in humor can still be felt in today's Internet memescape, as we continue to celebrate others' ineptitude through an evolving generation of emoticons and slang terms, such as *facepalm*, cringe and the look of disapproval. Badger Badger Badger (2003) "Badger Badger Badger" is a flash animation featuring an army of badgers dancing to a repetitive electronic song interspersed with occasional mentions of "mushroom." Created by Jonti Picking in 2003, the animation not only provided a springboard for Picking's cartoon site Weeble's Stuff, but also served as the gateway meme to the Internet's fondness for mind-numbingly repetitive tunes that continues to this day. See: Nyan Cat . LOLcats (2007) Just in case you forgot, this is the story of how cats became the lions of the animal memedom. By the mid-2000s, consumer-grade digital cameras pretty much had become a household staple, and with a stroke of genius on the meme factory of 4chan, thusly began the great invasion of the adorable and semi-literate cats, and their Cheezburgers, on the Internet. In addition to making cats ever so popular, LOLcats also put the Impact font on the map as the standard typeface of Internet humor. Rickrolling (2007) "Rickrolling," or tricking someone into clicking a link under the impression it will lead to something interesting, but instead serenades the viewer with Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up," led to the song became an unlikely hit over two decades after its release and brought the British singer back into the limelight. The meme also brought the concept of trolling into mainstream consciousness. There have been a number of successors to carry on this "bait-and-switch" tradition, some of the most popular choices being "Trololo" and the wheelchair cliff scene from "Mac and Me."

Celebrating 25 years of the World Wide Web, Ben Huh recalls some of its finest memes . Hamster dance was adorable, obnoxious, viral . Lolcats took over the internet in 2007 . Rickrolling was a classic "bait and switch" meme .

By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 12:25 EST, 17 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:23 EST, 17 December 2012 . Innocent: Kenrick Wickham was mistaken for a crack cocaine dealer and murdered in West Dulwich, London, last year . Three members of a gang who executed an innocent man after mistaking him for drug dealer were jailed for a total of at least 81 years today. Anthony McKenzie, 23, Samir Yusuf, 24, and Devana Palmer, 21, were all handed lengthy prison terms for the murder of Kenrick Wickham who was shot in the back of the head as he begged for mercy. Mr Wickham, 36, who was also shot twice in the neck, was bundled into a black Audi A3 after being mistaken for crack dealer O'Neill 'Power' Miller in June last year. McKenzie was given the longest sentence for pulling the trigger in West Dulwich, London. Sentencing the trio, Judge William referred to the 'dreadful tragedy' that saw 26 adults and children gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut on Friday. He said: 'It does not need the dreadful tragedy of last Friday in America to remind us all of the almost limitless power of the gun to damage and destroy. 'Guns are not bling, they are not a designer accessory available to foolish young men to impress other foolish young men, they are killing machines. 'It must be clearly understood that those involved in the taking of guns onto our streets which are then used to kill face life changing punishment. 'As Kenrick Wickham had his life casually snuffed out, so those responsible for it will see their lives forever altered, and your families will never be the same. 'In so far as Palmer and Yusuf are concerned, the finger of you was arguably as much upon the trigger as that of McKenzie. 'Those who ally themselves with the carrying and using of guns must understand they face exactly the same consequences.' McKenzie, who was convicted of Mr Wickham's murder after a trial at the Old Bailey earlier this year, was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years behind bars. Palmer and Yusuf were convicted of murder following a retrial at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Palmer was handed a minimum sentence of 25 years, while Yusuf will serve at least 26 years in jail. Jailed: Anthony McKenzie, 23, left, and Devana Palmer, 21, right, were both jailed for the murder of Kenrick Wickham . Jurors were unable to reach a verdict on Kurt McLean, 27, in respect of the murder charge but he had already admitted plotting to rob the victim. McLean, a father-of-one, will not face a second retrial and he was sentenced to seven years and eight month in prison for his part in the robbery plot. Frightened West Dulwich, southeast London, residents heard shouts of 'murder, murder, murder' after Jamaican-born Mr Wickham was gunned down yards from his home in the early hours of June 23 last year. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Prosecutor Simon Denison QC said: 'He had been shot in close range, pleading for his life, before three bullets were fired in close range, one in the back of his head and two in the back of his neck. 'It is apparent that this was related to the trade in class A drugs, particularly crack cocaine. 'It became apparent that Kenrick Wickham may not have been the intended victim.' Hours before Mr Wickham's murder, Yusuf arranged to meet O'Neill Miller in Kennington to buy three ounces of crack, with a street value of around £2,500. He added: 'Mr Miller was staying with Mr Wickham in a flat in West Dulwich. Behind bars: Samir yusuf, left, was jailed for the murder of Kenrick Wickham, while Kurt McLean was jailed for conspiracy to rob . 'The drugs were to be taken out of the flat to the car waiting outside where a simple and quick exchange of money for drugs was to take place. 'But it was Kenrick Wickham, not O'Neill Miller, who took the drugs outside. 'It wasn't just Yusuf waiting in that car, it was a group of four people who were there, including McLean, Palmer and McKenzie. 'What O'Neill didn't know was that the defendants had no intention of buying any drugs. 'They were intent on robbing and, we say, killing O'Neill Miller.' Mr Miller saw his friend bundled into the back of the car and gave chase, the court heard. 'He jumped into his own car and drove to the end of the alleyway just around the corner,' said Mr Denison. 'He saw Yusuf's car and the defendants and McKenzie all out of the car standing around Kenrick Wickham. 'He saw McKenzie with a gun in his hand and he heard shots'. The defendants were arrested moments after the shooting. Justice: McKenzie was convicted of Mr Wickham's murder after a trial at the Old Bailey earlier this year, while Palmer and Yusuf were convicted in a retrial at Snaresbrook Crown Court . A blood-stained bullet that passed through Mr Wickham's head was discovered in the car, together with heavy duty handcuffs and a balaclava. The four defendants remained expressionless as sentence was passed today. Roy Ledgister, defending Mclean, said he was 'taken by surprise' by the firearm, of which he had no knowledge. 'This has been a real wake-up call for him and he is ready to turn his life around.' Richard Carey-Hughes QC, for Palmer, said there was a 'gulf' between his and Yusuf's actions compared with McKenzie's. Sally Bennett-Jenkins, defending Yusuf, added that he was a secondary party and criminally naive. Judy Khan, acting for McKenzie, insisted the killing had been 'spontaneous'. 'When the firearm was brought to the scene it was not the overt intention for it to be used - something arose to bring that about,' she said. McLean, of Oval, south London; Palmer, of Muswell Hill, north London; Yusuf, of Brixton, south London, and McKenzie, formerly of West Drayton, west London, all denied murder but admitted conspiracy to rob.

Anthony McKenzie, Samir Yusuf and Devana Palmer were jailed for murder . Kenrick Wickham was bundled into a car and shot as he begged for mercy . Kurt McLean was also jailed for conspiracy to commit robbery . Mr Wickham's West Dulwich, London, neighbours heard shouts of 'murder'

A woman who was 'left with no bones in her nose' after being beaten with a hammer in a plush London hotel room has spoken of the night she and her two sisters were attacked. Ohoud, 34, Kohlood, 36, and Fatima al-Najar, 31, were all left for dead in their room of the four-star Cumberland Hotel off Oxford Street, London, after being attacked by Philip Spence, 32, a court has been told. Today Fatima has spoken of the moment she woke up to the sound of her sister, Kahlood, screaming as she was beaten over the head 'around 30 times' on April 6. The mother-of-two, who had been asleep with her children aged seven and 11 at the time, told Southwark Crown Court that she tried to stop the attack, but was then beaten unconscious herself. Fatima al-Najar demonstrates how Spence beat her with a hammer in court today. She also told how she has been left without bones in her nose after the attack in a hotel room in west London . Philip Spence, 32 (left, in red), admits causing GBH and and aggravated burglary but denies attempted murder. Thomas Efremi, 58, (centre left, in black) denies conspiring to commit aggravated burglary . Kahlood al-Najar told Southwark Crown Court that she was woken to the sound of Spence shouting 'give me the f****** money' before he hit her over the head 'around 30 times' The court was told that after beating Fatima and Kahlood unconscious, Spence then moved into the adjoining room where Ohoud was asleep in bed with her nephew. Ohoud was then beaten so badly that a section of her brain had to be removed, and was unable to give evidence in court today because she can no longer speak, Kahlood said. Before the night in question, the three women, who were visiting London from the United Arab Emirates, had spent the day visiting Buckingham Palace and the London Aquarium. They had gone to sleep in two adjoining rooms of the luxury Cumberland Hotel, near to Mayfair and a stone's throw from London's West End, when the attack took place. Kahlood recalled waking up to the sound of Spence shouting 'give me the f****** money'. She began screaming, which woke Fatima. Fatima told the court: 'I just saw him with his hand up highly. I didn't know what it was he was hitting her with. 'I saw a man just attacking my sister I just got out of my bed and went to her trying to stop him. I was saying "What's happening, what is this?" 'He just started attacking me, I didn't know what was happening,' she said. 'He started attacking [my left side] but I was always moving so he was hitting me everywhere.' She said he hit her 'many times' in the incident which sister Khulood said was 'like a dream'. Fatima added it was 'like someone is under the water and they are sinking - that is the way I felt'. She woke to hear her family shouting and screaming before losing consciousness for the second time, the court heard. Fatima, who had a plaster covering her nose and also wore all black, burst into tears while leaving the witness box after laying eyes on Spence. Spence burst in on three wealthy Arab sisters sleeping at the Cumberland Hotel off London’s biggest shopping street and just streets away from plush Mayfair . The women were sleeping in adjoining rooms like this one when Spence crept in to steal from them . 'The nose is broken, there are no bones left inside,' she said. By the end of the terrible attack all three sisters were left unconscious with smashed skulls while their traumatised children cowered close by, prosecutors said. The 'horrific onslaught' was part of a plan with Neofitos 'Thomas' Efremi who plotted with Spence and within an hour had withdrawn £5,000 from cashpoints using the victims' credit cards, the jury was told. Trial: James Moss, (above) 33, has appeared in court alongside Philip Spence, who denies the attempted murder of three tourists in a London hotel . Prosecutor Simon Mayo QC, said: 'Three sisters who were visiting London from their home in the United Arab Emirates were subjected to a sustained and vicious attack as they slept in their beds at the Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch. 'Each was struck repeatedly to the head by a man wielding a claw hammer - their skulls fracturing and splintering under the onslaught. 'The intention of their attacker, say the prosecution, was to kill them.' Police and ambulance crews called to the scene described the gruesome aftermath as 'horrific'. Mr Mayo added: 'The women suffered terrible injuries, one of them even lost part of her brain'. Jurors were shown CCTV stills of Spence, wearing a brown leather jacket, walking across the four-star hotel's lobby before making his way to the the fifth floor. Khulood Al-Najjar was sleeping in the double room 7007 with her 11-year-old daughter and her sister Fatima who had arrived in the capital just hours earlier, the court heard. Their sister Ohoud slept in the adjoining double room 7008 on the seventh floor of the upmarket hotel. Simon Mayo QC said: ‘As Khulood slept in her bed in room 7007 she was woken by a sound coming from the corner of the room. ‘She looked up and saw that the door to the adjoining room was open. ‘She noticed a man was searching through her handbag, that man was Philip Spence. ‘Spence briefly walked to the door to the adjoining room before he turned and approached Khulood in her bed. He leant over her and said to her “Give me f*****g money!” ‘At about the same time he raised the claw hammer he had in his hand and brought it down on her head not once but repeatedly. Her screams woke Fatima who saw Spence attacking her sister, jurors heard. ‘Showing remarkable courage, Fatima got up from the bed and desperately tried to stop the attack on Khulood,' the QC said. ‘Spence however simply turned his attention to her and struck her repeatedly on her head with the hammer. She too lost consciousness. ‘A third sister, Ohoud, was subjected to a similarly ferocious assault as she lay in her bed in the adjoining room. 'Having left the women for dead lying In their beds, Spence collected a suitcase full of valuables and left the rooms where the injured lay.' Photos from the scene showed blood-spattered walls and white bed sheets covered in dark blood stains. Spence, of west London, has admitted carrying out the brutal burglary but he denies he meant to kill the women. The three women had come from their home in UAE to London for a shopping and sightseeing trip . Spence left Efremi's Islington home and made his was to the hotel shortly after midnight on April 6. He returned to the address following the attack, using a mobile stolen in the raid to call his alleged co-conspirator. Mr Mayo said: 'Within minutes of Spence arriving at Efremi's home, Efremi went out in possession of bank cards stolen from one of the victims to withdraw cash from cashpoints before the cards were blocked by the bank. 'in the course of just one hour the second defendant, Thomas Efremi, withdrew £5,000 in cash using the stolen cards.' Detectives found two blood spattered-jackets worn by Spence in the attack were later found at Efremi's home. They later recovered the mobile used by Spence to call Efremi, with the women's belongings, at the north London home of an alleged associate, James Moss. Spence, of Hounslow, west London, denies three counts of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary. He admitted three charges of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent at an earlier hearing. Efremi, from Islington, north London, has admitted one count of credit card fraud but denies conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary. Moss, of Stroud Green, admitted handling stolen goods. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Philip Spence, 32, attacked three wealthy Arab women in their luxury hotel . Ohoud, Kohloud and Fatima Al-Najar had spent the day visiting Buckingham Palace and the London Aquarium before falling asleep at four-star hotel . One had her head smashed 'like an egg' with a claw hammer on April 6 . Her sisters sustained fractured skulls during the late-night assault . Their children witnessed the attack as they were staying in the same rooms . Spence, of Hounslow, admitted causing GBH and aggravated burglary . He denies attempted murder at plush Cumberland Hotel near Oxford Street . Also accused of conspiring to commit aggravated burglary with second man . Thomas Efremi, 58, of Islington, London, and Spence deny these charges .

By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 07:50 EST, 9 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:17 EST, 9 July 2013 . A sightseeing bus has spontaneously combusted in China because of extreme summer temperatures, it is believed. The double decker tourist bus burst into flames in front of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, yesterday. It took firefighters around 30 minutes to put out the blaze but there were no reported causalities. A sightseeing bus has spontaneously combusted in China because of extreme summer temperatures . The double decker tourist bus burst into flames in front of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, yesterday . It is believed that the fire started in the engine of the bus, police said. The cause is still under investigation, but according to authorities it is thought that the bus spontaneously combusted due to the high summer temperatures. It comes as the country experiences record high temperatures. Although temperatures average around 27C to 30C in July, its hottest month, some areas heat up to over 35C (95F) on at least 20 days a year. It took firefighters around 30 minutes to put out the blaze but there were no reported causalities . The Chinese capital of Beijing recorded the highest temperature in the first few days of July in 50 years. It was experiencing average temperature of 40.3C (104.5 degrees Fahrenheit) It has been said that the heat wave has seen hundreds of people sent to hospital with heat-related illnesses, and children and the elderly have been advised to stay indoors.

Burst into flames in front of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai . It is believed to be because of the extreme summer temperatures . Comes as China experiences a heat wave which has left hundreds in hospital .

(CNN) -- A lone saxophonist plays in the shadow of an overpass while a horde of cyclists looks down at a set of tangled train tracks. This outwardly gloomy spot is as good a place as any to begin a cycling tour of the "Berlin Wall Trail," a 160-kilometer (99-mile) path developed to commemorate and transform one of the darkest chapters of the city's past. Once a popular location for defectors because East German trains cut through a corner of the Western zone, it was here on November 9, 1989, that tens of thousands of people overwhelmed an official checkpoint after a bureaucratic error led to the opening of the border. Divided by mapmakers into 14 sections that vary from seven to 21 miles in length, the Wall Trail, or "Mauerweg," traces the entire path of the Wall. Built in 1961, the Wall divided the city by surrounding West Berlin, for decades following the partitioning of Germany after World War II an island of freedom behind the Iron Curtain. 'Culture, politics and nature' The Wall Trail is a unique combination of tourist attraction and recreational zone, says Michael Cramer, the Green Party politician and cycling enthusiast who conceived the plan in the early 1990s and is now working on a Europe-spanning Iron Curtain Trail, inspired by the Wall route's success. "It's a ride through history, culture, politics and nature," he says. That feeling hits home as I pedal across the Mauerpark to the Wall memorial on Bernauer Strasse, where a watchtower and a section of the barren "death strip" have been preserved unchanged. While Cramer's scheme might seem an obvious venture now, it wasn't easy in the beginning. Berliners hated the Wall so much that many people wanted every trace of it obliterated. In 1989 and 1990, souvenir hunters were carting it away so fast that the government had to shift from demolition to conservation practically overnight. With experts forecasting an unprecedented population boom, real estate developers were eying the former "death strip" as keenly as East Germany's notorious Stasi security agents ever had. "At that time, all the politicians and the media said, 'No, no, we want to erase the Wall,'" Cramer says. "But 10 years later, in 2000, we were successful." Completed in 2009 at a cost of some 10 million euros ($13.4 million), today the trail appeals to all types of cyclists. Bike-friendly public transport . Every section is accessible by Berlin's bike-friendly public transportation system, so cyclists can pick and choose from various sights and terrain. It's flat and paved, so it doesn't take an athlete's fitness to hack it, and an ordinary city bike or single-gear, hipster's "fixie" serves as well as something fancier. Better still, even though it attracts thousands of visitors every year, it never gets crowded, says Martin "Wollo" Wollenberg, who heads a tour company called Berlin-on-Bike. "As you experience the Wall zig-zagging through the city, you get a feeling for the separation," Wollenberg says. "In a lot of places, the difference between East and West is still quite vivid." For tourists new to Berlin, about 25 miles of the trail runs through the heart of the city. Passing not only the Bernauer Strasse documentation center but also the Reichstag, Brandenburger Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and many other important historical sites, it makes an excellent route for a leisurely four-hour guided tour. Meanwhile, for more committed cyclists, in former western districts such as Kladow and Wannsee, the path doubles as a nature trail, cutting through forests. Regular rows of plantation pines make the former death strip easy to identify. At 29 different sites along the path, memorial placards tell the stories of some of the nearly 250 "victims of the Wall," such as Peter Bohme, a 19-year-old cadet in East Germany's National People's Army who was shot trying to escape to West Berlin in 1962. Signposts at regular intervals make it well nigh impossible to get lost, and every section has something to spark the traveler's interest -- the bridge where captured spies were exchanged, a former watchtower now used by the forest brigade or the famous Church of Our Savior whose walls once formed part of the fortifications. Riders are never more than a mile or two from the nearest beer garden. How to ride the wall . For do-it-yourselfers, bicycle rental runs about €10 per day, with outlets ubiquitous throughout the city. Visit Berlin offers free pamphlets with complete maps of the 14 sections of the trail and brief descriptions -- though only the German version was available when I visited. The same material is available online. Cramer's "Berlin Wall Trail: Cycling Guide" can be picked up for about $10 online or at the souvenir shop at the Berlin Wall Documentation Centre on Bernauer Strasse. Berlin on Bike's "Wall Tour" covers 15 kilometers of the Wall Trail in about four hours. The company's English- and German-speaking guides provide information about the building and destruction of the Wall and life in East Germany. At €14 plus €5 for bicycle rental, it's worth considering even for those planning to do the rest of trail solo. An award-winning journalist and travel writer, Jason Overdorf's byline has appeared in The Washington Post and The Atlantic. He's also the Berlin correspondent for GlobalPost. CNN Travel series often carries sponsorship originating from the countries and regions we profile. However CNN retains full editorial control over all of its reports. Read the policy.

The Berlin Wall Trail runs for 99 miles along the frontier that once divided the city . Completed in 2009 at a cost of $13.4 million dollars, the trail attracts all types of cyclists . All 14 sections of the trail are connected by public transportation . Numerous beer gardens lie close to the route .

Heatwaves and prolonged spells of freezing weather have become more common over the past three decades, according to scientists. Researchers at the University of East Anglia found that extreme weather conditions have been occurring more frequently in the past 30 years compared to a 130 year average. It comes as meteorologists have said that 2014 is on track to the be warmest year on record. Scroll down for video . Average global temperatures for 2014 have been higher than average and may even break previous records . Figures published by the Met Office predicted that the global mean temperature for 2014 is 0.01 degrees C warmer than 2010, currently the warmest on record at 14.50 degrees C (58.12F) This is despite much of the northern hemisphere being plunged into temperatures well below freezing in January as North America was hit by an Arctic polar vortex. According to the latest findings from the University of East Anglia's climatic research unit, temperatures in the northern hemisphere have been more volatile than in the southern hemisphere. Extreme heatwaves in Europe like the one that killed tens of thousands in 2003 could happen every other year by 2040s, the Met Office has warned. They claim that the chances of extreme heatwaves in Europe have increased from occurring once in every 1,000 years to around one a century. Extremely warm summers that would be expected to occur twice a century in the early 2000s are also now likely to happen twice a decade, according to the research in the journal Nature Climate Change. Dr Peter Stott, co-author of the study, warned that projections of future climate change suggest that by the end of the century summers like that seen in 2003 could be considered 'unusually cool'. He said: 'This paper shows how our vulnerability to heat extremes is rapidly changing and we expect that to continue going forward.' Professor Phil Jones, who led the work, said: 'Trends in extreme heat and cold are important because they have a large impact on water supplies, agricultural productivity and other factors related to human health and wellbeing. 'Improved understanding of the spatial patterns of change are vital for understanding the causes of recent extreme weather events.' The researchers, whose findings are published in the journal Geophysical Review Letters, analysed monthly temperature records at set points around the world between 1881 and 2013. The found that on average through the 130-year period, periods of unusually cold weather increased in frequency more than extreme heatwaves. This led to a narrowing of the range of the Earth's temperatures, they said. However, in the past 30 years, the researchers found that the pattern has been reversed with incidences of hot weather increasing at a faster rate. Extreme weather can bring chaos to transport systems while causing billions of pounds worth of damage and hundreds of thousands of deaths around the world each year. Average temperatures since 1850 show that 2014 is on course to be the warmest year on record . An estimated 31,000 people died in the UK as a result of bitter temperatures during the winter of 2012/2013. During December 2013 and January 2014, 200 million people were blasted by icy temperatures as arctic winds brought heavy snow to much of North America. Temperatures fell as low as -38°C (-37°F) in Babbitt Minnesota while Wisconsin saw its lowest temperature since 1979. The cold air reached as far south as Dallas that reportedly saw temperatures plunge below −9°C  (16°F). The conditions are estimated to have cost the USA more than $5 billion and saw widespread power failures across large swathes of Canada. In some areas, temperatures were so low that it led to residents being able to throw pots of boiling water and watching them freeze before the water hit the ground. By contrast, in 2003, around 30,000 people died across Europe during a summer heatwave, where temperatures in some areas reached more than 104°F (40°C). Professor Scott Robeson, from Indiana University, who also took part in the study, said: 'Arguably, these cold extremes and warm extremes are the most important factors for human society.' Extreme cold weather like the Polar Vortex conditions that caused the Hudson River in New York to freeze over in January 2014 have been growing more frequent in the past thirty years, according to new research . Heatwaves see sunseekers flock to the beach but they also bring high death tolls as some struggle to cope . The IPCC has predicted that few areas will be left untouched by the impacts of climate change, which they say will include increasing levels of extreme weather events such as heatwaves and snow storms . He added that the study could help to explain the 'pause' in global warming since 1998 that was reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change last year. The new study showed that while warming continued in most parts of the planet, it was offset by a strong cooling during the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere. Prof Robeson said: 'There really hasn't been a pause in global warming. There has been a pause in Northern Hemisphere winter warming.' It comes after separate research, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, found that the chances of heatwaves in Europe have increased in the past decade. The likelihood of Extreme heatwaves, such as the one in 2003, have also increased tenfold, from being a one in 1,000 year event to occurring around once in a century. By the 2040s, such extreme heatwaves could happen every other year if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, the researchers at the Met Office claimed. The summer heatwave in 2003 killed thousands of people as temperatures soared far higher than those seen in previous years. This map shows the temperature difference in 2003 compared to 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004 . Temperature data gathered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that 2014 has already been the warmest on record for some parts of the world, including much of Europe .

University of East Anglia found heatwaves are becoming more frequent . Extremely cold temperatures have also been occurring more often . Findings come amid prediction that 2014 is likely to be warmest on record .

(CNN) -- It is midday and Geoff Lawton is hard at work at Zaytuna Farms in New South Wales, Australia. But the real work, he says, is going on inside the center of the compost. Geoff Lawton says that permaculture "revs up" systems of soil creation. "There's lots of things breeding in there," Lawton says. Compost may not seem a sexy subject, but within this steaming pile, life is being created. "There's organisms breathing and dying and reproducing very quickly," he says. "It's all very hot and steamy." That rich soil lays the groundwork for Lawton's revolutionary method of food production. It's called permaculture. Lawton's friend and mentor, Bill Mollison, developed the process back in the 1970s. Since then he and Lawton have traveled the globe preaching the value of permaculture and its aim to create harmony between the landscape and the people who live on it. "Nature exists in an incredibly rich form, and enriching form and does so without any energy inputs from mankind," Lawton explains. "Permaculture does the same thing." "We've taken the systems of soil creation and soil life and we've revved them up. We've speeded up nature itself and we've improved the system." Watch Geoff Lawton at work » . So what does it take to improve the system? Lawton says it's about rehabilitating areas that have been damaged by pollution or overuse by recycling nutrients and energy back into the soils. Permaculture also takes all the things we need -- our housing, energy sources, food and water supplies -- and tailors them to fit into the natural rhythms of the ecosystem. The idea is to work with, not against, nature. Lawton says that during the first few weeks and months you don't see the real benefits, but after a year to 18 months you really start to see the difference. "Within two or three years you can see a system that is really something that's got great opportunities and possibilities," he said. The gardens at Zaytuna Farms bear fruit and vegetables of all that hard work. The real measure though isn't how it works, but where. Lawton claims this permaculture method can work anywhere in the world, including the desert. "Almost all the deserts on earth at one point were forested," he said. "They all have different types of oasis systems. What you're doing is picking different points in the desert and turning them into a rich oasis." On a DVD created by the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia, Lawton shows us what happened when he took this method to places like Morocco and Jordan -- just 80 kilometers from the Dead Sea. "People were amazed to see an area that was salty, sandy ground, turn into a lush green forest, that had mushrooms growing from the soil," Lawton said. The ability to "green" the desert is not only having an impact on the communities where these gardens are grown. Interest is also sprouting among young people. Dozens come to Zaytuna Farms every year to learn about the permaculture method. "I've only been doing it a year and once you hit upon the principles it's basically observations," said intern Jonathan Chan. "You have to look at the land and which way the wind is blowing and see where the sun angles are and design around that and it does seem quite simple." For Chan it's as much about cultivating a new way of life as it is about cultivating the land. "I think people are getting to the point where they have to make change and permaculture is a good direction to go," he said. Still, permaculture isn't without its critics. They argue the method is time-consuming in the early stages and that makes the system hard to get off the ground in many places. It can be made even more difficult if the people living around the site aren't familiar with the process. But Lawton argues the time and energy expended in a permaculture garden is offset by the quality of the experience, and the richness of the end result. "A good organic farmer works a thousand hours a year. The industrial mankind works two thousand to three thousand hours a year. What do we have to show for it? Gadgets. "We don't have community, we don't have clean water, clean air or sensible housing. As negative as we currently are, we can be equally positive," Lawton said. "It's not just self-reliance or self-sufficiency, it's absolute abundance."

Geoff Lawton is using renewable natural resources to enrich ecosystems . Permaculture can turn the most arid, nutrient-free soil into thriving habitats . Lawton's friend and mentor, Bill Mollison developed the technique in the 1970s . Lawton has turned deserts in Jordan and Morocco into rich oases .

By . Daily Mail Reporter . Horrendous: Shawn Custis, 43, has been indicted on seven counts after being caught on camera beating a woman in her home last year . A home invader whose vicious attack on a mother in front of her child was captured on the family's 'nanny cam' last year has been indicted on seven counts, including attempted murder. Shawn Custis, 43, was caught on camera repeatedly kicking and punching a Millburn woman before throwing her down the stairs as her terrified three-year-old daughter cowered on the sofa on June 21. The woman was left with a concussion, chipped teeth, an injured lip, facial swelling and leg injuries. The convicted robber was today indicted by a grand jury of attempted murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree burglary, third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree criminal restraint, third-degree theft, and second-degree aggravated assault, according to nj.com. The horrific attack sparked outrage when police released the footage in a bid to track down the perpetrator. Custis was arrested a week after the attack when police released his photo and name. The disturbing video shows the moment Curstis broke into the woman's home about 10am as she and her child watched television. The woman's 18-month-old son was sleeping in an upstairs room. Curtis began to attack the helpless mother who later told NBC4 she was afraid to cry out in case it made her daughter scream and anger her attacker. Scroll down for video . Arrested: A week after the June 21, 2013, attack, Shawn Custis was arrested when police released his name and picture . 'I . knew that if I started screaming, my daughter would, too, and I was . afraid she would get hurt. I took it. I didn’t cry the entire time,' she said. After punching and kicking the woman at least 16 times, video shows the attacker turn and speak to the woman's daughter. At one point, the invader seems to make physical contact with the child, but she was not injured. The woman's husband was at work in New York City when the invasion took place. The robber made off with an undetermined amount of jewelry, according to NBC News. Police . believe the suspect thought he would be alone when he entered the home . as the blinds were drawn and there was no car in the driveway. Deeply shaken: The young mother was tossed around ruthlessly, and beaten and kicked over and over as her infant son slept upstairs and cartoons played on the television . Merciless: The woman was kicked and punched even as she lay helplessly on the ground and the thief appears to pocket items from her person or the table beside her . Custis is being held on $750,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on February 28 before Superior Court Judge Peter J. Vazquez, nj.com reported. Olubukola 'Buki' Adetula, a pool attorney representing Custis, said his client would enter a not guilty plea at next month's arraignment. Custis pleaded not guilty to the charges in July. 'It is our intent to defend this case as aggressively as possible in a court of law,' Adetula said. Custis is reportedly no stranger to the criminal justice system. Nj.com last year reported the man has been in and out of jail for robbery, assault, resisting arrest, eluding police, theft and forgery convictions. Lasting: The attack occurred Friday morning while the woman's husband was at work in New York City. She was treated for a concussion and extensive bruising . Blind sided: The attack occurred on this tree-lined, Essex County, New Jersey street. The victim's blinds were closed and no car was in the driveway. Police believe the invader thought no one was home . Scarring: The little girl, 3, is seen here blurred at left. She watched her mother being attacked and at one point the invader appears to speak to her and possibly make contact with her. She was unharmed . Loose: The thief shoved the woman down the basement stairs and made off with an unknown amount of jewelry. He remains at large and police think he's done this before .

Shawn Custis, 43, indicted on seven counts . Footage captured his brutal attack on mother in her Millburn, New Jersey home on June 21 last year . The woman was left with a concussion, chipped teeth, an injured lip, facial swelling and leg injuries . Custis has previously been jailed for assault, forgery and burglary .

The bells of St John's Church have been ringing since the first half of the 18th century, when German composer Handel donated them in exchange for the church's organ. They have been a part of daily life in Keynsham near Bristol, ever since, but they may be silenced after almost 300 years, because one person thinks they are too noisy. A petition by local residents urging the church to keep the bells playing has prompted talks between the frustrated resident and the vicar of the 13th century Anglican church, Reverend Stephen M’Caw. Threat of silence: The bells of St John's Church in Keynsham near Bristol may be forced to stop ringing after one resident complained that they are too noisy . Historic: The church had an organ when it was built in 1250, but German-born composer Handel swapped it in the 18th century for a peal of bells because he liked the 'mellow tones' The Grade II listed church was built in 1250 and had an organ until Handel, a Baroque composer famous for his operas and oratorios, is said to have swapped it for a peal of bells in the 18th century - simply because he liked its mellow tones . Some of the bells were made by the Bilbie family from nearby Chew Stoke. An inscription on the smallest bell says: 'I value not who doth me see, For Thomas Bilbie casted me, Althow my sound it is but small, I can be heard among you all.' The petition against the single complaint, which is growing strength, asks the church to take 'no action'. It describes the bells as 'a valued local tradition and need to be retained to reach the proposed extensions to the town'. Reverernd M'Caw, who wants to come to an agreement with the aggrieved party, said: 'At the end of the day, we want to be good neighbours to everyone. There is a wonderful community spirit here in Keynsham' he said. 'Our churches are a key part of it and celebrating and enhancing that spirit is very important to us.' Campaigner, Nick Dewfall, 52, a sports coach, said: 'I’ve lived in Keynsham most of my life and everyone I’ve spoken to likes the bells regardless of whether they go to church or not. 'The church is 700 years old so bell ringing isn’t new and tends to have a positive association, plus the bells aren’t constantly ringing.' Fed up: The complaint is said to have been made in the Old Vicarage Green, which is 300m away . The complainer is said to live near the church in Old Vicarage Green, a development of retirement flats 300m away from the church. But none of the occupants spoken to have owned up to being the voice of protest. Pam Redwood, 67, who has lived there for 14 years, said the place used to have a 'nice community spirit' but recently people had started to disagree over things like parking. She added: 'Don’t buy a house near the church if you don’t like the bells, simple as that.' Bernadette White, 69, said: 'They used to go off a lot more - before I even got up in the morning - but they haven’t as much for the last few week since somebody complained. 'If they were right on top of me I might feel differently, but I don’t mind them at all.' Campaign: Around 70 local residents have signed a petition urging for the church not to take action . Retired Edward Kirkland, 67, added: 'Surely there are more important things in this world to worry about than church bells. 'They are lovely. They don’t just ring them, they play hymns and songs and they really are lovely. I don’t see why they should stop because one person complains.' Bath and North East Somerset Council said its environmental health department had not received any complaint about the bells. Two years ago church leaders at the All Saints’ Church, in Wrington, North Somerset, 17 miles away were given a noise abatement notice after a newcomer complained about their bells. Reverend Nicholas Maddock was told by North Somerset Council environmental health officers not to switch off bells between 11pm and 7am or face prosecution. The switching off caused fury among residents, many of whom said they relied on the chimes to know the time. Messiah composer: George Frideric Handel . George Frideric Handel was born in Germany in 1685 and, despite being told not to meddle with instruments by his father, he developed a propensity for music in his childhood. In 1712, he decided to settle permanently in Britain following a number of visits and popular performances. He then became a naturalised British subject, with the backing of Queen Anne, in 1727 and would go on to complete one of his most famous compositions, Messiah, in London in 1742. When he arrived, he travelled around the country, visiting various schools and churches, including St John's in Keynsham, to perform his oratorios or simply listen to music. But his time in Britain was mainly based on writing Italian opera for the British stage, which came with a mixed success. Between 1711 and 1739, more than 25 of Handel's operas were premiered in the Haymarket (now the Her Majesty's) theatre. But after losing money on his productions, he turned his attention to oratorios, an area where he had already received royal approval. One of his four Coronation Anthems, Zadok the Priest (1727), composed for the coronation of George II of Great Britain, has been performed at every subsequent British coronation, traditionally during the sovereign's anointing. Handel composed more than forty operas in over thirty years, and since the late 1960s, with the revival of baroque music and historically informed musical performance, interest in Handel's operas has grown. After his death in 1759, he was buried in Westminster Abbey. Talks: Reverend Stephen M'Caw , who is believed to be setting up a meeting with the frustrated resident, said: 'At the end of the day, we want to be good neighbours to everyone'

Bells at St John's Church in Keynsham were installed nearly 300 years . Grade II listed church near Bristol had an organ when it was built in 1250 . German-born composer exchanged it for bells because he liked the sounds . 70 local residents have started a petition in reaction to the single complaint . Have urged the church not to take action because bells are a part of daily life . Reverend Stephen M'Caw said he just wants to be a 'good neighbour' The one opponent, who lives 300m away, remains anonymous .

(EW.com) -- Fox chose an auspicious moment to greenlight a Batman prequel show. The same day the network announced "Gotham," eternal rival Marvel saw its multi-punctuated "Avengers" spin-off "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." deliver a dominant series-premiere ratings performance. "S.H.I.E.L.D.'s" success is proof-of-concept for a new Superhero-Adjacent genre: A show set in a familiar super-universe that focuses on the less-super (and decidedly cheaper) heroes. "Gotham" is superficially similar. Like "S.H.I.E.L.D.," it transforms a supporting character into the lead: The show will apparently constitute an origin story for Commissioner Gordon, the chief lawman and Friend-of-Batman played by Gary Oldman in the "Dark Knight" trilogy. But it also appears that "Gotham" will prominently feature other characters from the comic book mythos. Fox has indicated that iconic villains will also appear, in some kind of fetal prequel form. Expect to learn more about the show in tantalizing tidbits dropped with regular, Internet-imploding news releases over the next few months. In the meantime, here are five talking points about Gotham: . 1. It will probably have a strong narrative foundation from "Batman: Year One." Although less famous than Frank Miller's other grim-and-gritty '80s Caped Crusader adventure, The Dark Knight Returns, Miller's four-part origin-story collaboration with artist David Mazzucchelli has arguably been more influential. Year One provided the structural backbone for Batman Begins and strongly influenced the grounded portrayal of Gotham City through Christopher Nolan's trilogy. The new series might be Batman-free, but Year One is just as much an origin story for Jim Gordon. A younger Gordon arrives in Gotham as a Chicago transplant with a pregnant wife and discovers the Gotham police department is filled with corruption. He becomes a kind of Elliot Ness figure, a hero cop who refuses to take money; meanwhile, his personal life falls into shambles. Since Gotham is on network TV, the rampant corruption will probably be toned down, but don't be surprised if Gordon becomes a great-at-his-job/bad-at-his-life procedural protagonist. 2. It will hopefully have characters inspired by/taken directly from Gotham Central. This Greg Rucka/Ed Brubaker/Michael Lark monthly comic was short-lived but absolutely fantastic. Essentially Homicide: Life on the Street where the criminals are all costumed lunatics, Gotham Central focused on the nitty-gritty police work performed by its gigantic cast of detectives. At one point, a Gotham Central TV series was actually in development. (It was a long time ago; the network developing it was the WB.) While Central focused on the whole department, the new Gotham will probably zero in on a squad of badasses — but if we're lucky, some of those badasses will have names like Renee Montoya, Crispus Allen, and Maggie Sawyer. 3. It will almost certainly be a procedural. At least at first. The new hot concept for a broadcast drama is a Mission-of-the-Week drama set in a larger world that might eventually transform into something more ambitious. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Sleepy Hollow both had pilots that simultaneously set up long-running story arcs while promising hour-long monsters-of-the-week. Fox's own upcoming Almost Human could be a model for Gotham: set in a fantastical world, but with weekly cases that mix the fantastical with viewer-grabbing cop work. Gotham executive producer Bruno Heller created The Mentalist, one of the more durable procedural concepts of recent years. I wonder if the first season will gradually build up through a series of cases that point to an ultimate villain, à la Red John. 4. But the show's ambitions could grow, as it explores the history of Gotham. Batman's hometown has probably the most substantive history of any superhero city. Over the years, various writers and projects have used Gotham's dark-side-of-America persona as a chance to explore just about every bleak thing that has ever happened in the history of the American City. Will Gotham feature anything about the history of the Wayne family? Or the tangled families of the Gotham underworld? Could we ever get a trip to Wonder City, a prototype utopia fallen into disarray that appeared in Arkham City? Could season 5 of Gotham just be a long Batman-free retelling of the incredible earthquake-apocalypse story arc of "No Man's Land"? Remember: Heller also produced Rome, HBO's proto-Game of Thrones, which constantly set its characters' struggles against the history of their society. 5. Clearly, the Riddler should be the Big Bad. Has any Batman villain had a rougher go of it in the modern era? He's the most famous Bat-baddie to not get a Nolanized reinterpretation — which means that his most prominent appearance in the last two decades of pop culture was Jim Carrey's green-tights performance in Batman Forever. But the Riddler could make for a great antagonist in a procedural: His whole existence is based around coming up with ever-more-elaborate mysteries. Also, if the creators of Gotham want to slowly back up into the crazier aspects of the Batman mythology — no Mr. Freeze, no Clayface — the Riddler is a real-ish psychotic. They could even play around with the Riddler's iconography: Maybe, in this retelling, he's Gordon's main nemesis. Or maybe he's initially working with the Gotham PD in some kind of expert capacity, like Hannibal in Hannibal. Come on guys, the Riddler! He makes riddles! What do you want to see from Gotham, fellow Bat-people? And who should play Jim Gordon? Patrick Wilson? Garrett Hedlund? Casey Affleck? See the original story at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.

Fox has greenlit a Batman prequel show . "Gotham" will give an origin story for Commissioner Gordon . Fox has indicated that iconic villains will also appear .

(CNN) -- With her decades-long dream of swimming from Cuba to Florida achieved, Diana Nyad is setting her sights on her next challenge. "I am through with the ocean," she said on CNN's "New Day" Tuesday. "Never going to be seasick again! See how happy I look?" Still, she's off to do something few other people could or would. Nyad plans to swim for 48 hours in New York City. A special pool will be installed for the October 8-10 event, a fundraiser for people who lost their homes in Superstorm Sandy. "Then we're going to take that pool to the Boston Marathon at the anniversary of that terror attack, and we're going to swim there to help those people recover," she said. After that, she'll travel to Moore, Oklahoma, which was ravaged by a massive tornado earlier this year. It's "a nice pool with no waves, no jellyfish, no seasickness," Nyad joked. "Those 48 hours should be a piece of cake," she told CNN's Kate Bolduan. Diana Nyad's jellyfish-proof face mask . Nyad's nearly 53-hour journey in her fifth attempt to cross what she calls "a treacherous stretch of water" ended in victory Monday. Her first effort was 35 years ago, when was in her 20s; now she's 64. After the previous attempts, people had emphasized to her that "it's the journey, it's not the destination," she said Tuesday. "It's all the self-discovery and the wonderful team. And I agree. But I'll tell you something: This time, the destination really brought me into a state of euphoria." Not that she has instantly recovered from what the historic swim did to her. The waves were "tough," and a special facial mask designed to protect her from jellyfish stings led her to "take in a lot of saltwater," she said. "I was very sick." "I'm a little beat up," she said. She has facial lacerations and effects of saltwater exposure inside her mouth. But "the emotional high is wiping out any physical problem." People told her that swimming from Cuba to Key West, Florida, was "impossible," she says. People encouraged her to try friendlier waters, such as the Maldives or Guam. "But Cuba was in my heart, and when I look at the map, that's what spoke to my imagination. So I didn't want to give up on it. And this time I got lucky." "The Gulf Stream was my friend, and usually it's not," she said. "Usually you're out there going in circles, going east of the Bahamas. This time the Gulf Stream went north, right where I was going." She was surrounded by a team of 35 people along the way "working like a machine," Nyad said. Kayakers helped keep away sharks, and a jellyfish expert was in the water with her, scooping up jellyfish to keep them away from her. Her handler, Bonnie Stoll, helped get her "somehow through the tough moments," Nyad said. Still, it's "a very isolating experience," she said. Opinion: Nyad shows baby boomers so 'not over' "When you're feeling good and you're cruising through the daylight hours, you're singing Neil Young songs to yourself and counting in French and German and Spanish, just passing the time." But, she said, "I had two nights of full suffering." At those times, "You're not thinking of anything. You're just coping and surviving." At a news conference later Tuesday morning, a relaxed Nyad thanked her team and joked as she recounted her swim. On Sunday night, she said, she hallucinated she was seeing the Taj Mahal. Recalling a previous attempt, she talked about hallucinating while looking at a streamer of lights that was meant to show her where her support boat was so that she'd know in what direction to swim at night. She remembers telling Stoll, from the water, that she saw people walking on a yellow brick road, singing "Heigh-Ho." Stoll responded, "That's where you're going; follow them." Nyad said, drawing laughter. The people who have followed her efforts closely for years "aren't sports hounds," she told CNN. "... They're human beings who are dealing with their own heartaches and their own obstacles in life, and they want to know how to get through." Nyad said she represents a commitment never to give up on something "important to your heart -- you look and see what's inside yourself and you find a way." And her age speaks to baby boomers, she said. "I think people are looking to me to say, 'Hell no, I'm not old.' "When I'm 90 I'll get in a rocking chair, look at the sunset. But look how my friends who are in their 60s are vibrant, at their intellectual peak -- I'm proving that you can even be at your physical peak at this age."

Diana Nyad plans to swim for fundraisers in New York, Boston, and Moore, Oklahoma . "I am through with the ocean," she tells CNN . Nyad says she was "very sick" during the swim from Cuba to Florida . She sang Neil Young songs in her head and counted to get through, she says .

Doctors are looking for more information about a "polio-like syndrome" that has caused paralysis in a few children in California. Neurologists have identified five patients who developed paralysis in one or more of their limbs between August 2012 and July 2013. All five children had been vaccinated against the poliovirus. Treatment did not seem to help the children regain their motor function. Samples from two of the children tested positive for enterovirus 68, a rare virus that has been linked to severe respiratory illness in the past. Samples from the other three children were not collected or tested soon enough to yield conclusive results, said Dr. Emmanuelle Waubant, a neurologist at the University of California, San Francisco. Waubant and her colleagues will present a case report about these patients' illnesses at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting in late April. They are asking health care providers to be on the lookout for similar cases and send in samples from any patient exhibiting these symptoms. Dr. Carol Glaser, chief of the Encephalitis and Special Investigation Section at the California Department of Public Health, said the state is aware of the paralysis cases but believes the risk to families is very low. "We are evaluating cases as they are reported to us," Glaser said in an e-mail to CNN. "We have not found anything at this point that raises any public health concerns." The poliovirus has been eradicated in the United States for more than 30 years. Only three countries in the world are not yet free of the disease: Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria, according to the World Health Organization. Why polio hasn't gone away yet . Poliovirus is part of the Picornaviridae family, which also includes enteroviruses and rhinoviruses (better known as the common cold). There are more than 100 types of enterovirus that cause 10 million to 15 million infections in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most people who become infected with an enterovirus do not get sick or experience only mild symptoms, said Dr. Steven Oberste, chief of the Polio and Picornavirus Laboratory Branch at the CDC. Common symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, skin rash and body aches. Enterovirus is often the cause of "summer colds," whose cases spike in July, August and September. Children and teens are more likely to fall ill because they have not yet built up immunity to these common viruses. However, some types of enterovirus are more serious. These can cause hand, foot and mouth disease; viral meningitis; encephalitis (inflammation of the brain); an infection of the heart; and paralysis in some patients. Enterovirus 68 was first identified in a California lab in 1962, after four children came down with a severe respiratory illness. Between 1970 and 2005, only 26 cases of enterovirus 68 in the United States were reported to the CDC. Since 2000, the government agency has kept a closer watch and has seen 47 cases, Oberste said. Outbreaks have occurred over the years in Asia and Europe, but it's still one of the rarest types of enterovirus. More common -- and more concerning to health officials -- is enterovirus 71, which was discovered by the same California lab in 1969, Oberste said. Enterovirus 71 is usually associated with severe neurological issues, including aseptic meningitis, polio-like paralysis and encephalitis. Waubant is not sure if the samples from this latest group of patients were tested for enterovirus 71. According to a CDC report, several outbreaks of paralysis caused by enterovirus 71 were seen in Europe in the 1960s and 1970s. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, fatal encephalitis was a big problem in Malaysia and Taiwan. "Ever since then, the virus has circulated in high levels in Southeast Asia," Oberste said. In recent years, the outbreaks have spread to Australia; a cluster of cases near Sydney drew media attention in 2013. Between 1983 and 2005, 270 cases of enterovirus 71 were reported in the United States. But none has resulted in a larger outbreak, despite the virus's infectious nature. "That's the really odd thing," Oberste said. "We see cases from time to time in the United States. Occasionally they'll be severe. Basically it's identical to what's circulating in Asia ... but it doesn't cause the same big outbreak in disease. And we really don't know why." The CDC is aware of the small cluster of cases in California but is not actively involved in an investigation, a spokesman told CNN. Waubant and her colleagues don't want to alarm anyone with their case report presentation; they're simply seeking help in finding the cause of these seemingly connected cases. "We would like to stress that this syndrome appears to be very, very rare," one of Waubant's colleagues, Dr. Keith Van Haren, said in a prepared statement. Parents need to know that vaccination is key to preventing polio from returning to the United States, Glaser said. While there is no vaccine to protect you from a non-polio enterovirus, washing your hands frequently and avoiding close contact with others who are sick can help.

Five children in California have a "polio-like syndrome," according to neurologists . Two of the children tested positive for enterovirus 68, a rare type of enterovirus . Another type, enterovirus 71, is more commonly linked to paralysis . Both are uncommon in the United States; state health officials say risk is very low .

By . Sarah Griffiths . The mystery of how farming techniques spread throughout Europe, signalling a significant shift away from hunting, has baffled scientists for decades. Now, the DNA of the first Near Eastern farmers living 10,000 years ago has revealed migration, rather than cultural adoption, was to blame. Experts believe genetic similarities between the DNA of the first Neolithic populations and the DNA of the first Catalan and German farmers, suggests small pioneering groups migrated across Europe, taking farming methods with them. The mitochondrial DNA of the first Near Eastern farmers (remains pictured) living 10,000 years ago has been sequenced. Experts believe genetic similarities between this DNA, and the DNA of the first Catalan and German farmers, suggests small groups migrated across Europe, taking farming methods with them . The Neolithic Revolution was the world's first verifiable revolution in agriculture. It saw the widespread transition of many disparate human cultures moving from hunting and gathering practices, to ones of farming and building small settlements. Archaeological evidence suggests the domestication of a number of animals and the growing of plants, evolved in different locations around the world, perhaps beginning in what is now Turkey around 12,000 years ago. The revolution was responsible for turning small groups of travelling men into settled communities who built villages and towns. Some cultures used irrigation and made forest clearings to better their farming techniques. Others stored food for times of hunger, and farming eventually created different roles and divisions of labour in societies as well as trading economies. Scientists analysed samples dating to around 8,000BC from three sites located in the birthplace of Neolithic farming practices - in the Middle Euphrates basin and the oasis of Damascus, in modern Syria. It is thought that agricultural practices originated in a region of the Near East known as the ‘Fertile Crescent’ in around 12,000BC. These practices resulted in a profound social, cultural and economic transformation of human populations as communities became more settled and started founding the very first towns. Eva Fernández, an author of the study from the University of Barcelona, said: ‘The Neolithic Revolution rapidly expanded from these territories into Europe, where the hunter-gatherer subsistence economy - prevailing till then - was replaced by an agro pastoral (farming and livestock) producing system.' For the past 50 years, scientists have debated whether knowledge spread as the result of population migration, or cultural adoption. Different research fields including archaeology, physical anthropology, linguistics and human palaeogenetics have made contributions to the discussion. Scientists analysed samples dating to around 8,000BC from three sites located in the birthplace of Neolithic farming practices - in the Middle Euphrates basin (marked with shading) and the oasis of Damascus, in modern Syria (also marked) For the past 50 years, scientists have debated whether knowledge spread as the result of population migration, or cultural adoption. One of the sites from which the samples were taken is pictured . While there have been some breakthroughs in hinting at  the genetic composition of first Neolithic populations, this latest study, published in the journal PLOS Genetics by experts at University of Barcelona, Liverpool John Moores University, the Spanish National Research Council and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, is the first to reveal their genetic makeup. They studied maternally inherited DNA from the first Neolithic farmers taken from samples. The sites are located in modern day Syria. Here, an archaeologist painstakingly reveals an ancient structure hidden by the earth . Professor Daniel Turbón, from the University of Barcelona, said the results ‘are the first ones regarding first Near Eastern farmers - in other words, the genetic stock of original Neolithic.’ ‘Conclusions of previous studies are based on the comparison with current Near East populations, as first agricultural societies and genetics have remained unknown until now.’ Genetic similarities have been observed between the mitochondrial DNA of first Neolithic populations and the DNA of first Catalan and German farmers. This suggests Neolithic expansion probably took place through pioneer migrations of small groups of people. The two main migration routes - Mediterranean and European - might have been genetically linked, the experts explained. Dr Fernández said: ‘The most significant conclusion is that the degree of genetic similarity between the populations of the Fertile Crescent and the ones of Cyprus an Crete supports the hypothesis that Neolithic spread in Europe took place through pioneer seafaring colonisation, not through a land-mediated expansion through Anatolia, as it was thought until now.’ Other scientists have already challenged the notion that ancient man – a group living after the Ice Age known as Proto-Indo-Europeans – spread from Anatolia in modern Turkey. Dr Turbón added: ‘Recent archaeological finds have proved that the Neolithic arrived in Cyprus around 10,600 years ago, some years after the first documentation of agricultural practices in the Near East.’ Architecture and burial models found in Cyprus’ sites are similar to the ones found in the Middle Euphrates basin, which ‘indicates a direct colonisation of these territories,’ he said. Radiocarbon dating of different objects from Neolithic sites in the Near East and Europe also suggests that a journey by sea was first made via Cyprus. The team of experts will analyse a larger number of human Neolithic samples from other regions of the Fertile Crescent in a bid to increase the number of genetic markers examined in the samples. It is thought agricultural practices originated in a region of the Near East known as the 'Fertile Crescent' in around 12,000BC. This resulted in a profound social, cultural and economic transformation of human populations as communities became more settled. Samples were taken from the ancient site pictured .

Genetic similarities between the DNA of the first Neolithic populations and the DNA of the first Catalan and German farmers have been spotted . Evidence suggests small groups spread across Europe 10,000 years ago . These pioneers are said to have taken farming techniques with them . DNA samples were taken from three sites in modern Syria . Agricultural practices originated in a region of the Near East known as the ‘Fertile Crescent’ in around 12,000BC .

(CNN) -- Millions of BlackBerry users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa were reportedly without Web and texting service Monday because of an outage that BlackBerry maker Research in Motion said it was investigating. "We apologize to any of our customers in Europe, Middle East & Africa still experiencing issues. We'll bring you an update as soon as we can," read the message from @blackberryhelp on Twitter. A statement provided by Research in Motion basically said the same thing. The company did not respond to CNN's questions about the cause of the outage, the number of users affected or an estimate of when service would be restored. London's The Telegraph was reporting that all of the affected areas are served by a data server in Slough in southern England. On its support Twitter feed, T-Mobile UK told customers the outage had knocked out service to "everyone" in the affected area and that BlackBerry Messenger and Web service were "having issues on all networks." The network told customers it had not been given details about the cause of the outage, but that Research In Motion was looking in to it. Other carriers were telling customers much the same, saying the problem is on BlackBerry's end. "RIM has advised us that they're working to resolve the issue as a matter of urgency," a UK-based Vodafone spokesman told Dow Jones Newswires. The BlackBerry remains hugely popular throughout Europe and the Middle East, where many international business users prize the phones for their vaunted security features. British and European media were counting the number of people affected by Monday's outage in the millions. In July, BlackBerry reported it had added 1 million customers in the Europe, Middle East and Africa market in less than three weeks.

BlackBerry customers in Europe, Africa, Middle East without service . Outage affected Web and BlackBerry Messenger services . Maker Research In Motion did not give details on what's behind outage .

By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 11:35 EST, 13 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:52 EST, 14 November 2012 . Knockout: John Applewhite, 34, was punched in Long Island by a man in a random attack, breaking his jaw . A Long Island resident has been arrested for attacking a volunteer utility worker from Florida who had travelled to New York to help restore power after Hurricane Sandy left the region largely without power. Thomas Libretto, 34, was arrested outside of his Long Island home four days after allegedly beating up John Applewhite, also 34. Applewhite had travelled to East Hempstead, Long Island from his home in Lakeland, Florida with 24 other electrical workers, and had just finished a 16-hour shift when a man yelled at him from across a parking lot. Mr Applewhite said that the suspect got out of his black BMW, walked toward him, and punched him once in the face, breaking his jaw and fracturing several other bones in his face. The electrical worker said that he had just finished a gruelling shift helping out the Long Island Power Authority and was heading to dinner at the Texas Roadhouse when a man in a BMW across the parking lot began yelling at him. According to the Nassau County Police Department, the man parked his car and walked toward Mr Applewhite and fellow lineman John Barefoot. Scroll down for video . Return home: Applewhite was flown back to his home in Florida, where he will have his jaw wired shut and receive plastic surgery to repair his facial fractures . Thinking the man had a question about power restoration, Mr Applewhite headed in the direction of the man, while Mr Barefoot stayed by the service vehicle. ‘Just as I got within arm’s reach, he decked me,’ Mr Applewhite told WTSP. The single punch broke his jaw, his cheekbone, and other facial bones. He also suffered a black eye. When Mr Barefoot tried to intervene, the suspect allegedly bit him on the finger and then ran back to his BMW, driving away. Mr Applewhite was rushed to Nassau Medical Center, but he was eventually flown back to Tampa. The lineman said that his jaw has to be wired shut, and he faces reconstructive surgery to repair the broken bones in his face. Hard at work: Florida Power & Light Company crews have been assisting PSE&G restore power to it's customers impacted by Superstorm Sandy . Setback: Linemen work during blowing wind and rain to restore power to the area ahead of an incoming Nor'easter storm, causing further headaches for residents . A photograph following the attack shows the lineman’s face badly swollen on the left side. Despite the brutality of the attack, Mr Applewhite said that he still holds a good impression of the town, according to ABC Action News. ‘It was one heck of a punch,’ he told the station. ‘If nothing else, I would like to shake the guy’s hand. He got a heck of a jab.’ Mr Applewhite’s sister, Mary Anne, told WTSP that she is saddened by the attack. ‘John is such a sweet person and he certainly didn’t deserve this,’ she said, noting the difficulty her brother will face during the upcoming holidays. But his father, Morris Applewhite, had a more practical solution. ‘If he has his jaw wired shut, we will just feed him through a straw, and he’ll enjoy it,’ he said. In the dark: More than 70,000 customers of Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) were without electricity Monday, two weeks after Superstorm Sandy struck . Flooding: Sandy flooded many low-lying areas of Nassau County in Long Island, causing billions in damage . ABC 7 reports today that Libretto was arrested outside his Levittown, Long Island home and has been charged with third-degree assault. He is scheduled to appear at his arraignment on November 27. Parts of Long Island were hard-hit by last month’s Superstorm Sandy, flooding homes, and leaving thousands without heat and power. Disaster relief organizations like FEMA and the National Guard have been sent in, but many in the hardest-hit areas remain without power. Volunteer workers like Mr Applewhite have been working with LIPA to help customers still stuck in the dark.

John Applewhite, from Tampa, was volunteering in Long Island following Superstorm Sandy . Man allegedly attacked him in restaurant parking lot, breaking his jaw and several facial bones, then allegedly bit co-worker's finger . Thomas Libretto, 34, arrested outside his Long Island home .

(CNN) -- A 14-year-old boy and his 13-year-old girlfriend who ran away together last month from Michigan were found safe Sunday in Chicago. An anonymous caller rang the Chicago police after spotting the teens. The pair was found in a parked Ford SUV on the north side of Chicago, said police spokesman John Mirabelli. The car was next to a gas station and out of gas. The teens' parents have been notified and are en route to pick them up, Mirabelli said. Braxton Wood, 14, and his girlfriend, Jayden Thomas, 13, were believed to have driven off August 26 in Wood's parents' 2005 black Ford Explorer with about $80 in cash. Until Sunday, no one in Isabella County, located about 160 miles northwest of Detroit, had heard from them. Police considered the teens runaways (they didn't issue an Amber Alert) and said there was no reason to believe they faced imminent danger. Before they were found, Braxton's mother, Sarah Kiley, told HLN's Kyra Phillips she thought they had a pretty healthy relationship, though it had been on-again, off-again recently. "They felt like they were very much in love. And that's intense for 13- and 14-year-olds. But I felt like it was a positive (relationship)," Kiley said Friday on HLN's Raising America. She pleaded then for both teens to come home. "It's been too long. We know they have to be scared. They're young. They don't have any resources to make it on their own. And if they're scared to come home, please don't be. We'll support them in whatever they need. We just need them home. Life can't go on without them here." CNN's John Branch and Mark Morgenstein contributed to this report.

Jayden Thomas, 13, and Braxton Wood, 14, left their Michigan homes last month . They were found in a parked SUV next to a gas station; the vehicle was out of gas . Their parents are en route to Chicago to pick them up, spokesman says .

By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:37 EST, 23 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:28 EST, 24 February 2014 . A Florida teenager is now safely home after a running away with an older man on Tuesday, and her relieved parents have the kind folks at Chick-fil-a to thank. Steve and Tammy Harp of Jacksonville were horrified to find a note from their 16-year-old daughter Kaitlyn in which she told them she'd left with a 19-year-old man she'd met online just months before. Some digging revealed an Instagram photo of Kaitlyn with the man wearing a Chick-fil-a shirt and managers from the beloved southern chicken restaurant soon got involved and in just 24 they'd found the teen and had her heading home. Scroll down for video... Runaway: 16-year-old Kaitlyn Harp, left, ran away with Daniel Bridgeman, 19, on Tuesday and this Instagram photo of in which Bridgeman is wearing a Chick-fil-a uniform quickly helped her parents find her . It was a striking example of the power of social media and also the profound empathy even strangers can have for fellow parents in need. 'Because of their involvement what could have taken days, weeks, or months, only took a matter of two or three hours once they got involve,' an emotional Steve Harp told FCN. 'It is beyond words, as a parent, this is your worst nightmare.' The story began seven months prior when Kaitlyn met 19-year-old Daniel Bridgeman online. The Harps found the note she left on Tuesday and after seeing the photo of their daughter with Bridgeman they rushed to the Jacksonville International Airport Chick-fil-a location in hopes of finding him. Quick thinking: Yulee, Florida Chick-fil-a worker Lita Fannin (left) posted the photo on a site for operators of the southern chicken chain and within two hours Bridgeman was identified . Detective work: Kaitlyn's parents Tammy (left) and Steve (right) say the Chick-fil-a workers helped bring their daughter home faster than the police . The folks at the Chick-fil-a didn't know the man, but they put the Harps in touch with another store manager named Lita Fannin, who asked for pictures of Bridgeman and Kaitlyn. Thanks to Fannin, the photos were then seen by hundreds of Florida Chick-fil-a operators on a Facebook group page and just two hours after she'd posted them, a manager in Winter Haven, Florida recognized Bridgeman. Which is when this tale of the generosity of CHick-fil-a managers gets even more touching. The Winter Haven manager Elio Florin reached out to Bridgeman and got Kaitlyn to call home. That night, Florin personally drove Kaitlyn the three hours from Winter Haven back to Jacksonville. Three hours away: The Harps began their search at a Jacksonville Chick-fil-a (pictured), and word quickly spread statewide. It turns out, Bridgeman worked at a location in Winter Haven, some 200 miles from Jacksonville . Thanks to Fannin and Florin, Kaitlyn was home by 1:30am Wednesday. 'We can't thank them enough,' said Tammy Harp. 'They could have just wiped it away, "aw no big deal," but she put it upon herself, being a mother, said "I have to get involved."' And while the Harps are calling her and Florin heroes, Fannin maintains she just did what any parent would. 'I have kids around that age, and I would hope if that happened to me, someone would act quickly,' said Fannin. 'It turned out really positive, really quickly, which is a blessing.' Bridgeman faces no charges, but Florin made sure to give the teen a stern lecture when he arrived to pick up Kaitlyn.

Kaitlyn Harp ran away with Chick-fil-a worker Daniel Bridgeman on Tuesday . Parents Steve and Tammy Harp of Jacksonville, Florida reached out to an area Chick-fil-a for help . In just hours, a network of restaurant managers had identified Bridgeman, found Kaitlyn and even personally drove her home across 200 miles .

They say you should dance like nobody is watching - a piece of advice this body popping U.S. motorcyclist appears to live by. A hilarious video filmed by another motorist has caught the biker practising his body-popping dance moves while waiting for a red light. Despite all the cars and spectators queued up around him, he shows no hesitation busting a few moves to a mystery song playing on his headphones. Scroll down for video . The motorcyclist suddenly starts practising his 'body popping' dance moves while waiting at the lights . As he continues dancing on the motorbike the man filming it bursts into laughter . The motorist filming the dancing then states: 'Look, the biker's pop locking. This is totally going on YouTube.' While continuing to keep his bike upright - and wearing a backpack and motorcycle helmet - he starts 'popping' his arm and neck muscles. As the routine continues he receives more and more bewildered and bemused looks from the motorists surrounding him. The motorist and his passengers who filmed the moment also struggle to contain their amusement as they wait behind the motorcyclist at the lights. In between bursts of laughter, he driver states: 'Look! The biker's pop locking. 'What is he doing? This is totally going on YouTube! 'What is he listening to? He must be listening to something. Everybody's looking at him, like: "What are you doing?"'

Nearby motorist captures the moment a motorcyclist dances at a red light . The biker can be seen practising body popping while waiting for traffic . Laughing motorist: 'What is he doing? This is totally going on YouTube!'

(CNN) -- For nearly two weeks, Tamerlan Tsarnaev's body lay unclaimed at the Boston medical examiner's office. A funeral home now has the remains and a quest is underway to find him a resting place in Massachusetts. But first, he will undergo a second "independent" autopsy demanded by his relatives, a family spokeswoman said. Other hurdles remain. His death certificate has yet to be filed with the Boston city clerk, and there is no burial plot yet, according to the funeral home holding the remains. If no grave site is found after the second autopsy, Peter Stefan, the owner of the funeral home, plans to ask the government to find a grave. Three cemeteries that Stefan contacted said they feared reprisals, but the funeral home owner said you can't pick and choose when it comes to a burial. "This is what we do in a civilized society, regardless of the circumstances," Stefan said. "As I told some of them, at the immediate moment you may fear (reprisal), but later on, when things calm down, people are going to resent you because you didn't do it." Tsarnaev died on April 19 after he and his brother shot a university police officer to death, carjacked an SUV and hurled bombs at officers pursuing them, according to authorities. A few days earlier -- April 15 -- he and his younger brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, allegedly bombed the Boston Marathon, killing three and wounding more than 260. CNN obtained a copy of Tamerlan Tsarnaev 's death certificate, which lists the cause of death as "gunshot wounds of torso and extremities" and "blunt trauma to head and torso." The document notes that Tsarnaev was shot by police and run over and dragged by a car. It lists the manner of death as homicide, and denotes that he was "DOA," or dead on arrival. Authorities have said his younger brother may have run him over as they resisted arrest days after the marathon attacks. Separately, 12 people remained hospitalized with bombing-related injuries on Saturday, according to a count by CNN. None were in serious condition. Also, the frantic manhunt two weeks ago for the surviving bombing suspect drew the attention of gun rights advocates at their convention in Houston. National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said residents were "imprisoned" in their homes with no means to protect themselves while police searched for the younger Tsarnaev. "How many Bostonians wished they had a gun two weeks ago?" he asked. "Boston proves it. When brave law enforcement officers did their job in that city so courageously, good guys with guns stopped terrorists with guns," he said. 'Everyone deserves to be buried' Tsarnaev's body remained unclaimed until Thursday, when an uncle, who had previously publicly condemned his alleged attacks, had a funeral parlor pick up the body. The uncle, Maryland resident Ruslan Tsarni, had decried the alleged bombers as "losers" after the attacks. Their parents in Dagestan have said they will not fly his body back to Russia for burial, spokeswoman Heda Saratova said. CNN affiliate WCVB reported that the hearse that picked up Tsarnaev's body ferried it to a funeral home 30 miles away from Boston, near the Rhode Island state line. Residents of North Attleboro, Massachusetts, took to the streets to boo Tsarnaev, when they heard about the presence of the corpse in their town, The Sun Chronicle reported. Others took to social media to vent anger at the funeral home for accepting the body. It was later transported to Stefan's funeral home, Graham Putnam & Mahoney Funeral Parlors in Worcester. "Everyone deserves to be buried," he said. The marathon bombings . Authorities say the brothers carried out the Boston Marathon bombings using explosive devices made of pressure cookers. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, is being held at a federal Bureau of Prisons medical facility in Devens, Massachusetts, charged with using a weapon of mass destruction, which carries the death penalty. He is being treated for gunshot wounds to the head, neck, legs and hands that he received in the shootout with police that led to his brother's death. Investigators found explosives residue in the apartment that the elder Tsarnaev shared with his wife and young daughter, a source briefed on the investigation said Friday. It has turned up in at least three places at the small apartment in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the source said: the kitchen table, the kitchen sink and the bathtub. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has said they built the bombs there, U.S. law enforcement officials briefed on the progress of the investigation said. Other target, a cover-up . The marathon was not the original target, the officials said. The brothers had set their sights on a suicide attack on the city's massive Independence Day celebration, which draws about 500,000 people and is televised nationally. But the bombs were ready sooner than anticipated and a day or two before the Boston Marathon, they changed their plans, the officials said. They spoke on the condition that their names not be used because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media. One key question involves whether intelligence, law enforcement and homeland security agencies could have done more in their investigation of Tamerlan Tsarnaev in recent years before the attack and whether they shared information effectively enough. An independent government review is underway. In an interview with Univision published on its website on Saturday, President Barack Obama said cooperation among agencies can always get better. But he again defended U.S. efforts. "I think we can continue to improve and refine how we're engaging and countering terrorist activity," Obama said. "I don't think it's fair to say though that law enforcement dropped the ball." It is very difficult to prevent attacks when dealing with individuals who are self-radicalized and not part of a massive conspiracy or network, he said about the current belief of investigators looking at the origins of the Boston bombing. Tsarnaev's widow, Katherine Russell, has remained largely out of view since her husband's death, staying in her parents' Rhode Island home. Her attorney, Amato DeLuca, says the 24-year-old knew nothing about plans to bomb the race, and reports of her husband's involvement came as an "absolute shock" to Russell and her family. Three of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's friends have been accused of covering for the bombing suspects. Azamat Tazhayakov and Dias Kadyrbayev, both from Kazakhstan, were charged Wednesday with conspiring to discard potentially incriminating items from Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's dorm room. Robel Phillipos, a U.S. citizen, was charged with making false statements to investigators. All three are accused of removing items from Tsarnaev's dorm room after the bombings. According to FBI affidavits released this week, they left with the backpack and Vaseline -- which Tazhayakov believed could be used to make bombs -- and Tsarnaev's laptop. Investigators found the backpack, fireworks and Vaseline in a landfill last week after a two-day search. The laptop was turned over by Kadyrbayev on April 19, the same day the FBI raided the apartment he shared with Tazhayakov, Kadyrbayev's attorney Robert Stahl said. The FBI is examining the laptop, two federal law enforcement officials told CNN. Authorities have said they believe the Tsarnaev brothers acted alone, but are investigating whether they could have learned from or have been aided by terror groups, including groups overseas. CNN's Chelsea J. Carter, Susan Candiotti, Eric Feigel, Carol Cratty, Marina Carver and Deborah Feyerick contributed to this report.

NEW: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's laptop was turned over the night of an FBI raid, attorney says . Tamerlan Tsarnaev's death certificate says he was DOA, "dead on arrival" Source: Investigators find explosives residue in three places at one suspect's home . Source: Brothers considered a suicide attack on July Fourth, the suspect told investigators .

By . Baz Bamigboye . PUBLISHED: . 20:30 EST, 11 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:16 EST, 12 February 2013 . Their love affair entranced the world. Now Helena Bonham Carter and Dominic West are to recreate the magic between Hollywood golden couple Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in a new BBC film. The award-winning actress and the charismatic Mr West, 43, will play the tempestuous pair when they were reunited in 1983 to star in a production of Noel Coward’s Private Lives in the US. The BBC4 film will capture the highly explosive nature of the Burton and Taylor relationship through the prism of playing star-crossed lovers on stage. Tempestuous: Elizabeth Taylor's relationship with Richard Burton is to be recreated for a BBC film . At the time everyone wanted to know whether the reunion would become a reconciliation. It was a circus that saw the pair in the centre ring and it sold tickets. Miss Bonham Carter, 46, said: ‘ Elizabeth was fifty-one , still every inch a star , still beautiful  and they still needed each other but this was professional . They were doing Noel Coward’s Private Lives on stage  playing a couple who used to be married. People wondered if they were still in love  and whether they’d be playing themselves or their characters in the play.’ At the time Burton and Taylor  were paid  $1 million each for the limited run playing  Coward’s Elyot and Amanda , a maddening  and  magnetic  couple who divorce  after enduring  a turbulent short-lived marriage. Spotlight: Helena Bonham-Carter, left, will star as Elizabeth Taylor in a one-off 90-minute drama about her tempestuous love affair with Richard Burton, who will be played by Dominic West, right . They rediscover each other years later  when each  has  a new spouse .They chuck their new partners  and run off with each other. ‘It sounds familiar  and has echoes of their own marriages and relationship’ Helena observed. Burton and Taylor fell in love on the set of  the movie Cleopatra. Both had partners  but they were eventually married in 1964  and after ten tempestuous years  of living it up they exhausted each other  and divorced  in 1974. Falling for each other: Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor on the set of 'Cleopatra' in 1963, where they began their on-off relationship . But they were soul mates and within a year they were hitched again only to break again fifteen months later in 1974. Taylor went on to marry Senator John Warner and Burton made Suzy Hunt his wife but they split  and BBC assistant producer Sally Hay subsequently became his girlfriend, and later his wife. ‘But Elizabeth and Richard  still cared for each other’, said Miss Bonham Carter. Miss Taylor unshackled herself from Warner and soon after she and Burton were together again but this time on stage in Boston trying out Private Lives before its run on Broadway. Centre stage again: Richard Burton appears to strangle Elizabeth Taylor during a scene from the Broadway revival of Noel Coward's 'Private Lives' ‘’It’s about this sliver of their lives together. They were huge stars  and  they’d never been on stage together before’, Miss Bonham Carter added. The actress won a Bafta award  for her portrait of the Queen Mother in The King’s Speech and can currently be seen in the film version of Les Miserables. She said the idea of the BBC film isn’t for her  and Mr West, who has starred in The Wire and The Hour on TV, to impersonate  Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. ‘I look nothing like her for a start but it’s about capturing the essence of them at a particular time. She was and continues to be a fascinating  woman and she was a huge star. There’s  no one comparable around now’, she said.

Helena Bonham Carter and Dominic West cast in starring roles . BBC4 film to capture explosive nature of the Burton and Taylor relationship .

By . Rob Cooper . The hit television show Glee could be banned in Britain after a Midlands comedy club won a High Court battle against the show's makers. The Glee Club took legal action against Twentieth Century Fox accusing show bosses of stealing their name and won. Mark Tughan, 45, registered the name for his chain of comedy clubs as a trademark in the UK in 1999 - ten years before the US musical show first aired in Britain on Sky One. Copyright: Mark Tughan trademarked The Glee Club in 1999 - a decade before Glee appeared on British television screens . TV favourite: The long running TV show, which is due to resume its fifth series in this country on Sky One next month shows a group of high-school entertainers in a musical comedy drama . Glee: The television show could potentially be pulled off screen for infringing the Midlands nightclubs' trademark. The judge will decide what action to take at a future hearing . He argued that customers were being put off attending his venues in Birmingham, Nottingham, Oxford and Cardiff because people associated them with the teen musical drama. Senior executives from Rupert Murdoch's Fox TV were flown in to contest the claims, saying they had no prior knowledge that the comedy clubs or their trademark existed . But following a two-and-a-half year case, High Court judges sitting in London today agreed with Mr Tughan and ruled in Mr Tughan's favour. It means the popular US series could now be axed from UK screens after a judge ruled it 'diluted and tarnished' the reputation of Mr Tughan's chain of comedy clubs. However, Fox has said that it intends to appeal against the ruling. Deputy Judge Roger Wyand QC said Fox had infringed the Glee Club's registered trademark. He said: 'I have found that there is a likelihood of confusion and Twentieth Century Fox's use causes dilution and tarnishing... the damage suffered by Comic Enterprises is caused by its venues being confused with the TV show and its potential customers being put off.' Speaking after the case, Mr Tughan said: 'I had no desire to resort to such a David and Goliath legal action which could potentially result in depriving Glee fans in the UK of their favourite show. Nightclub: The Glee Club in Birmingham which has had business hit because of its association with the musical drama, the court was told . Copyright case: Mark Tughan, 45, registered the name for his chain of comedy clubs as a trademark in the UK in 1999 - ten years before the US musical show first aired in Britain on Sky One . 'But the High Court has looked at the evidence and agreed that the programme makers have confused the public and damaged my business, brand and reputation for cutting edge comedy and music, over a period of more than four years so far. 'I tried to resolve this before it reached court, however Fox's refusal to get round the table with me leaves matters in the hands of the judge.' The ruling means future episodes of the show and repeats could be scrapped. It could also mean the show would need a full re-branding and Glee CD's, DVD's and music downloads could also be banned from sale in this country. A judge today ruled that Twentieth Century Fox had 'infringed' a trade mark. But he said Comic Enterprises had not been damaged. Deputy High Court Judge Roger Wyand QC . made no mention of any compensation in a written ruling published . following a High Court hearing in London. He said any subsequent issues . would be analysed at another hearing. Judge Wyand said album . compilations of songs performed on the show had been sold in the UK, two . world concert tours had included performances in Manchester and London . and Glee merchandise had been sold. Legal battle: Mark Tughan, pictured with his wife Samantha, has fought a two-and-a-half year legal battle against Twentieth Century Fox . Glee star: Actor Chris Colfer performs at Glee Live (left) while Lea Michele, who plays Rachel Berry, can be seen (right) Commercial success: The court heard album compilations of songs performed on the show had been sold in the UK, DVDs had been released, two world concert tours had included performances in Manchester and London and Glee merchandise had been sold . 'Comic . Enterprises says that all these activities, when carried out the United . Kingdom, infringe the (trademark) and pass of Twentieth Century Fox's . show and associated products as being associated in the course of trade . with Comic Enterprises,' said Judge Wyand. 'Twentieth Century Fox denies infringement and passing off.' The . judge concluded that Comic Enterprises' claim on infringement . succeeded. But he said the company's claim on 'passing off' failed. 'I believe that (the) evidence taken as a whole shows that there is a likelihood of confusion,' he said. 'Twentieth . Century Fox's use causes dilution and tarnishing. Continued use of the . sign in such circumstances cannot be in accordance with honest practices . in industrial or commercial matters. Twentieth Century Fox has . infringed the (trademark).' But . he added: 'I am not convinced that such confusion is sufficiently . likely to be said to cause damage to Comic Enterprises. The passing off . case fails.' Judge Wyand . gave no hint of what the consequences of his ruling might be. He said - . when handing down the ruling at a hearing in London today - that . subsequent issues would be considered at another hearing. The long running TV show, which is due to resume its fifth series in this country on Sky One next month shows a group of high-school entertainers in a musical comedy drama. Mr Tughan, who opened the first Glee Club branch in Birmingham in 1994, said previously: 'Glee's performers sing covers and the programme is aimed at a young demographic while mine starts at 18. 'It's manifested itself in the under-performance of newer outlets in Oxford and Nottingham. 'Members of staff said people were walking along the street and pointing to the entrance, asking if it was something to do with the TV show.' A spokesman for 20th Century Fox Television said: 'We intend to appeal and are confident that, as the case plays out, we will ultimately prevail. We remain committed to delivering Glee to all of its fans in the UK.' Television success: A scene from series two of the hit show which has now run for four series on Sky .

Mark Tughan trademarked The Glee Club a decade before the show came out . Judge rules that the hit television show infringed the club's copyright . Customers were put off visiting The Glee Club because of its association with the show, the judge was told . Television show could be axed following the ruling . Judge will decide what compensation should be paid at a future hearing . Fox has said it will appeal against the ruling and 'will ultimately prevail'

By . Amy Oliver . PUBLISHED: . 09:57 EST, 21 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:08 EST, 21 November 2012 . Defence: Ashley Gill-Webb, 34, from South Millford, Leeds, was 'mentally unwell' at the time of the bottle-throwing incident, his legal team have claimed . A father of two who hurled a bottle onto the track moments before Usain Bolt’s iconic 100m Olympic victory was 'mentally unwell' at the time, his legal team have claimed. Ashley Gill-Webb, 34, is accused of barging to the front of the stadium and hurling a barrage of abuse before throwing the green, plastic bottle at the sprinters. Gill-Webb, from South Millford, Leeds, was due to stand trial over the incident in September after pleading not guilty to using threatening words or behaviour with intent. However, this was later abandoned after he was sectioned under the mental health act. An alternative charge was added during the hearing at Thames Magistrates' Court today which alleges that Gill-Webb did cause the . distress but without the intent. He indicated a not . guilty plea. District Judge Jacqueline Comyns agreed to put Gill-Webb's trial off until January to give the defence time to gather psychiatric report. She said: 'He (Gill-Webb) is admitting that he did the act but . it is a question of whether he was aware of what is in the charge or . whether he intended it in the other charge.' 'All it comes down to in effect is whether he knew what he was doing.' The judge also warned: 'I am not having this trial vacated, if he is not ready then that is unfortunate.' Gill-Webb, who was banned from all Olympic . venues after the incident, is still receiving mental health treatment at the Bootham Park Hospital, in York, the court heard. Today, wearing a black suit with white shirt and blue tie, he sat blinking and looking nervously around the courtroom during the short hearing. Defending, Thomas Barley said: 'The trial issue is essentially at the time of the offence Mr Gill-Webb’s mental state.' 'It seems now that this is plainly to be a case where the actual physical behaviour of Mr Gill-Webb isn’t going to be in dispute, the defence are not going to be asking for any prosecution witnesses to be called.' As it happened: The green bottle can be seen bouncing next to Jamaica's Yohan Blake (third left) in this picture of the 100m Olympic sprint from August 5 . Intervention: Dutch World Judo champion Edith Bosch, who intervened during the stadium incident, will no longer have to travel from Amsterdam to give evidence against Gill-Webb . This means that Dutch World Judo . champion Edith Bosch, who intervened during the stadium incident, will . no longer have to travel from Amsterdam to give evidence against him. Bosch . has described how she was standing close by when a green plastic drink . bottle was thrown from the stands behind the start line. The 32-year-old judoka tweeted at the time: 'A drunken spectator threw a bottle onto the track! I HAVE BEATEN HIM... unbelievable.' Explaining the message, she later described how she saw a man who was having 'behaviour problems' and 'pushed him away hard'. 'I did like any other person would have done, I corrected it. I just said, "Man, you’re crazy, what are you doing?",' she said. 'We are here for Olympic heroes, people who are performing on the highest level, and we have to honour them, not disrespect them.' She added: 'The one thing I’m most sad about is, due to all the commotion, due to this guy, I missed out on the 100m.' Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who won the race in 9.63 seconds, said he had been unaware of the incident. U.S. sprinter Justin Gatlin, who took bronze, said: 'It was a little distraction and I didn’t know what it was. But when you’re in those blocks and the whole stadium’s quiet, you can hear a pin drop.' He said the incident had not affected the race: 'You just have to block it out and go out there and do what you got to do.' And Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake said: 'I was so focused I didn’t see anything. I was so focused on just running to the line.' Gill-Webb was bailed to live at his home address or the hospital, and a condition not to enter any Olympic venues was removed. Unfazed: Usain Bolt, left, who won the 100m race, said he had not noticed the bottle, while his countryman Yohan Blake, right, said he was 'so focused' on the finish line he hadn't seen the bottle either . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.

Ashley Gill-Webb was due to stand trial in September after pleading not guilty to using threatening words or behaviour with intent . This was abandoned after he was sectioned under mental health act . Alternative charge added at hearing today which alleges Gill-Webb did cause distress but without intent . He indicated a not . guilty plea to second charge . Gill-Webb still receiving mental health treatment at Bootham Park Hospital, York .

Fans desperate for pictures with the Tour de France cyclists are creating danger for riders by trying to take 'selfies' as they race past at 37mph. Competitors have warned that spectators could get seriously hurt if they step into the road when they have their backs to the fast-moving peloton. Tejay van Garderen branded the craze ‘a dangerous mix of vanity and stupidity’ and appeared to be complaining on Twitter on Sunday night that he suffered a knee injury after a collision with a spectator. While some spectators (such as this man pictured) made sure there was a clear distance between them and competitors, others were not so careful . While riders have said they appreciate the support, they have said that creeping nearer to the road to get a better shot is endangering both them and fans. The spectator pictured above keeps a safe distance from the riders. ‘Standing in the middle of the road with your back turned while 200 cyclists come at you, just to take a selfie. Think,’ said the American. ‘I love the crowds and thank you for your support. But please give us room. Gonna ice my knee now.’ His views were echoed by Team Sky rider and British Olympic gold medallist, Geraint Thomas. ‘It was dodgy at times,’ he said. ‘The worst thing is when people have got their backs to the peloton taking selfies. ‘Do . that if you want but go sit in a tree. It’s the new pain in the a**e . that’s for sure. People don’t understand how fast we go.’ Sir Dave . Brailsford agreed. ‘British people are fantastic at supporting sport,’ he said. ‘But the riders were worried about safety.’ Support: Millions of fans lined the route as the tour began in Yorkshire but a few caused trouble . Concern: Some of the cyclists are worried at how close the crowds got on the narrow roads . Anywhere will do: Fans climbed walls and some even camped out to get pictures of the race . Britain’s Simon Yates, riding for Australia’s Orica GreenEDGE team, told the New York Post: 'The crowd support in England was amazing. The only real complaint was people taking selfies in the middle of the bunch and having their back to the peloton. 'Everyone is out there having fun and a lot of people don’t realize we’re coming past at 37 mph and we use every inch of the roads.' One man who appeared to be taking a picture forced  Sky’s David Lopez Garcia to swerve wildly with four other riders crashing as a result. Among them was the unfortunate Simon Gerrans, who was the victim of Cavendish’s error on Saturday. Froome avoided any such issues, however, finishing safely in the pack and remaining just two seconds adrift of race leader Vincenzo Nibali. Exuberant: Sir Dave Braislford praised the English fans but warned that the selfie craze was dangerous . Phones out: Dozens of fans take pictures on mobile phones as the Peloton cylces past . VIDEO Cavendish out after crash .

New craze angers Tour riders who label it mix of 'vanity and stupidity' American Tejay van Garderen complained he had been injured by fan . British gold medalist Geraint Thomas also criticised fan selfies as 'dodgy'

A dog needed life-saving treatment after she chewed the cap off a bottle of Baileys and drank the lot. Six-year-old German Shepherd cross Molly was found crumpled in a heap by her owners at their home in Folkestone, Kent, after she guzzled a litre of the creamy liqueur. The owners, who asked not to be named, said they had taken Molly on her morning walk before leaving her in the house for 'a short period of time'. Feeling ruff: Molly with vet nurse Andi Mills (in green) and vet Stephanie Hughes (blue) after she recovered from alcohol poisoning caused by downing an entire bottle of Baileys liqueur while her owners were out . When they returned they found Molly barely conscious and suffering fits as she struggled to breathe. At the time, Molly's owners had no idea what was wrong and rushed her to the vet, where she was put under general anaesthetic to stop any further seizures. It was only when Molly's owners returned home they found a entire one-litre bottle of Baileys - which has an ABV of 17 per cent - empty in the living room. Molly had chewed the cap of the bottle, which was full and had not previously been opened, and proceeded to glug every last drop. Vet Jane Lewis, who helped save Molly's life at Manor Vets in Folkestone, said the dog was lucky to be alive after being treated for alcohol poisoning. She said Molly was taken to a specialist unit for overnight care last Monday, the day she was admitted, and started to make a full recovery by the end of last week. Irish cream: Molly had chewed the cap of the bottle, which was full, and guzzled every last drop . She said: 'She is very lucky to have made a full recovery from her ordeal. 'Alcohol is not just toxic to humans but pets as well and sweet tasting drinks such as Baileys can be impossible to resist. 'As the festive season approaches we hope this will act as a warning to all pet owners to ensure your Christmas spirits are kept out of reach for children and animals alike. 'The next time we see alcohol toxicity we may not see such a happy ending.'

German Shepherd cross Molly, six, chewed the lid off and guzzled the lot . Her owners found her barely conscious, fitting and struggling to breathe . Vets treated Molly for alcohol poisoning and say she is lucky to be alive .

By . Mail On Sunday Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:10 EST, 18 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:06 EST, 19 May 2013 . It is 70 years since the Ministry of Food’s leaflets taught Britons to eat well on rations and stay ‘fit for the fight’ during the Second World War. But much of the long-forgotten dietary advice still stands and, says a leading nutritionist, could help improve our diet today. A new book, Eating For Victory, reproduces the leaflets distributed along with posters in the 1940s. Here is some of the advice as it was printed. It’s accompanied by wartime illustrations – with a modern interpretation of the old wisdom... A new book, Eating For Victory, contains posters which were distributed by the Ministry of Food to try and encourage Britons to eat healthily during WWII. Dr Carrot, pictured, and his companion Potato Pete were two of the Ministry of Food's most popular creations . POTATOES . There is no vegetable more useful than the homely potato. It is a valuable yet cheap source of energy, and one of the foods that help to protect us from ill-health. It contains Vitamin C and 1lb of potatoes daily will give half the amount of this vitamin needed to prevent against fatigue and fight infection. So don’t think of potatoes merely as something to serve with the meat. A stuffed baked potato can be a course in itself. Bridget Benelam, a scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation, says: ‘A medium-sized baked potato, with skin, provides a third of the recommended daily amount (RDA) of Vitamin C – twice that of an apple. It will also provide half the RDA of potassium – important for blood pressure and water balance – iron, zinc and B vitamins.’ The homely potato: Britons were encouraged to eat potatoes in the 1940s, pictured left, as they are a cheap source of energy and packed full of vitamin C. Leaflets were also distributed encouraging people to eat cheese because it is a 'concentrated energy-giving food', pictured right . CHEESE . Cheese is an A1 food because it is an excellent body-builder, better than meat for building firm muscles. It builds strong bones and teeth, too. Therefore, it is invaluable for growing children. Plenty of cheese in childhood means less dental trouble in later life. It is a concentrated energy-giving . food, especially suitable for heavy workers as it gives a large amount . of energy in small bulk. It contains a high proportion of fat and so gives a feeling of satisfaction after a meal. Eat like a granny: Bridget Benelam says much of the advice given in the 1940s is still relevant today . Bridget says: . ‘A matchbox-sized serving, 30g, of cheese provides a quarter of our . daily calcium needs – crucial for maintaining bone density – although . milk or yogurt might be better choices as they are lower in fat. ‘Cheese is as good a source of protein as meat but generally contains more fat, so should be eaten less.’ HERRINGS . ‘Of . all the fish that swim in the sea,’ runs the old saying, ‘the herring . is the king.’ Consider the herring’s food value. It is a very cheap . source of the best body-building protein. Herring . oil not only supplies an extraordinarily high number of calories and . energy-giving units, but it also contains two vitamins, A and D. Vitamin . A strengthens resistance to disease and Vitamin D is essential for . bones and teeth. Bridget says: . ‘This is still true – herrings are an excellent source of fish oil. Research since the 1940s has shown the omega 3 in oily fish is important . for good heart and brain health. 'We should eat two portions of fish a week, one oily. Nowadays other types of fish are readily available, such as tuna.’ DRIED EGGS . Dried egg is pure fresh egg with no additions, and nothing but the moisture taken away. It is pure egg, spray-dried. Eggs . contain first-class body-building material. They also help us to resist . colds and other infection because of their high protective properties. They are easily digested, and for this reason are especially good for . children and invalids. Bridget says: . ‘Transporting food is easy now so we generally eat only fresh eggs. Two . medium eggs provide your entire RDA of B12, important for blood and . brain function, and 60 per cent of our Vitamin D requirement. They are . also high in protein.’ King of the sea: Herring was a cheap, readily-available fish that provided a lot of protein and vitamins, pictured right, while Britons were encouraged to eat dried eggs for their protein, Vitamin D and B12 content, pictured right, as food transportion in the 1940s wasn't what it is today and fresh eggs were harder to come by . VITAMINS . Enemies . of Vitamins: air, water, heat. Too much of any of these will destroy . the Vitamin C. Therefore, have your vegetables as fresh as possible. Best . of all, grow them yourself. Wash your vegetables in salted water but do . not soak them overlong. Shred them before cooking to cook quickly. Bridget says: . ‘Oxidisation occurs when certain vitamins in food are exposed to heat, . air or light, meaning they degrade and become ineffective. This is . particularly true of Vitamin C, often lost in cooking water. 'It is best not to cut up veg in advance as the air will degrade the vitamins. Steaming is the best method of cooking.’ GREEN VEGETABLES . When . fresh fruit is short, we need green vegetables more than ever because . they all contain the important fresh-fruit vitamin, Vitamin C. Some have more than others. Brussels sprouts, parsley and watercress . all contain more than oranges. For healthy eating, plan to have a green . leafy vegetable at least once every day. Bridget says: ‘This . all holds true – vegetables can have just as much Vitamin C as fruit. In fact, a pepper contains double the Vitamin C of an orange and will . provide your entire daily requirement. ‘Dark . green leaves are an important source of antioxidants, which protect . cells from a host of diseases from cancer to age-related sight loss.’ Dig for Victory Now: Britons were encouraged to grow their own vegetables to help with food rationing during World War II, pictured left, while soups were suggested as a quick and healthy dinner, pictured right . SOUPS AND BROTHS . Once upon a time cooks used to think a good soup needed three or four hours’ cooking, and that to be nourishing it must be made from meat and bones. Today we know better. Tasty soups can be made quickly using vegetables and vegetable water, or stock from meat cubes or vegetable extract. Bridget says: ‘Soup has a good reputation for being healthy because it’s low-calorie but fills you up because it contains a lot of water. 'The vegetables added will provide different vitamins, which won’t be lost in cooking as they just leach into the liquid. 'Soup can also be high in fibre, which keeps the gut healthy. Stock cubes can be high in salt, though.’

New book, Eating For Victory, reproduces leaflets distributed in the 1940s . Leading nutritionist Bridget Benelam gives her verdict on the advice .

London (CNN) -- Charles Dickens is one of the world's best-loved writers, whose books -- and the countless film and TV adaptations they inspire -- still keep readers (and viewers) on the edge of their seats. Now, 200 years on from his birth, his genius is to be feted with a host of events marking the bicentenary of one of Britain's most famous sons. Dickens 2012 will see everything from readings to royal visits, celebrating the man who gave the world "Oliver Twist," "David Copperfield" and "Great Expectations." In London, the special events will begin with a celebrity performance, by actors Simon Callow and Joanna Lumley, at the Dickens family's graves in Highgate Cemetery on Monday. And on Tuesday, the anniversary of Dickens' birth, the Prince of Wales will lay a wreath at Dickens' grave in Poet's Corner, Westminster Abbey, while actor Ralph Fiennes, Dickens' biographer Claire Tomalin and the author's great-great-grandson, Mark Dickens give readings. There are more commemorations planned across the country, and around the world, so what is Dickens' secret? And why, above all others, is his work still revered, so many years after his death? Clare Pettitt, Dickens specialist at King's College London, puts his continued popularity down to his modernity. "Everybody says this about absolutely every author ever, but Dickens really was a peculiarly modern writer, very attuned to what was new; he was writing at the beginning of the industrial revolution which, effectively, we are still in. "He would have been fascinated by Twitter, for example -- he loved the telegraph, the railways, all sorts of modern communications technology, he was very 'on the button'." Adrian Wootton, co-director of the Dickens 2012 celebrations, insists that almost 150 years after his death, the "Oliver Twist" author still has something to say: "Dickens is not some fusty historical figure, but still an ultra-relevant, dynamic innovator. "He rewrote the style, form and substance of the novel; changed the process and dissemination of the printed word; wrote the way a camera saw before film had ever been invented, and he remains the most cinematic of writers." "A critic of the young Dickens once said the writer 'would go up like a rocket and come down like a stick,'" said Florian Schweizer, director of the Charles Dickens Museum. "In 2012, one thing seems to be sure: That rocket will not come down again. "175 years after he first shot to fame at the age of 25, Charles Dickens continues to be regarded as one of the world's finest authors and storytellers, and one of the most influential figures Britain has ever produced." But the Dickens 2012 celebrations are not limited to the UK -- and fittingly so. "Dickens' fame and appeal spreads well beyond Britain," says Pettitt. "He has huge global reach, well beyond the bounds of this island -- he's been taken up by Bollywood, set in the south seas, in 'Mr Pip,' and on and on." The bicentenary will kick off in Australia, with the first part of a 24-hour Dickens read-a-thon to be staged in 24 countries across the world, from Albania to Zimbabwe, with readings from "Oliver Twist" in India, and "A Christmas Carol" in Kazakhstan. Susie Nicklin, director of literature at the British Council, which has organized the event, agreed such a worldwide celebration was truly appropriate, given Dickens' international fame -- and his passion for performing. "Reading aloud -- bringing characters to life -- was a crucial part of Dickens' life," she said, adding that the event would be a "truly global homage to a great British literary giant." And while many of the festivities are centered on February 7, others will be much longer-lasting. One of the biggest commemorations of Dickens and his works in 2012 is the Dickens and London exhibition at the Museum of London (until June 10), which celebrates the author's links with the city, and explores how it inspired so many of his novels. It features items from Dickens' own life -- including the desk he wrote at, his bank ledger, and the manuscripts for some of his most popular novels -- alongside items evoking life in London in the 19th century, from playbills, pub signs and theatre costumes to heartbreaking evidence of the extreme poverty Dickens knew well from his own childhood. London's other big draw for Dickens fans, the Charles Dickens Museum, housed in his former home, is -- perhaps surprisingly -- to close for a large part of the bicentennial year, as part of a major refurbishment program, but it is expected to reopen just in time for Christmas 2012, when a further round of Dickens celebrations are planned.

Several events planned to mark bicentenary of birth of Charles Dickens . On Tuesday Prince of Wales will lay wreath at Dickens' grave in Westminster Abbey . Dickens specialist puts author's continued popularity down to his modernity . Dickens 2012 celebrations also planned elsewhere in the world .

By . Tom Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 04:22 EST, 11 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:57 EST, 11 May 2012 . A schoolboy may never be able to smile again after he was shot in the face by a sniper with an airgun. Jordan Winstanley, 13, was blasted by a gunman hiding in bushes as he walked with friends. The teenager collapsed to the ground with blood pouring from a hole in his cheek. Agony: Jordan Winstanley, 13, doubled up in pain after he was hit in the face by the pellet as he walked with friends . He was rushed to hospital and transferred to a specialist facial unit, where he underwent a three-hour operation. Jordan’s parents have been told by medics that the pellet could have severed key nerves in his left cheek and mouth. They face an agonising wait to see if the youngster will ever regain his smile. Mum . Michelle Bleakley, 34, said: ‘We are just keeping our fingers crossed . that his facial movements will return. There is a chance that the nerves . could be completely severed. Excruciating: An X-ray of Jordan Winstanley's face shows the pellet lodged just below his cheekbone - potentially severing nerves which control expressions . 'Jordan could have lost his eye if the . pellet had been two inches higher. It also could have gone through his . neck. It could have killed him. It was a disgusting attack and . completely unprovoked.’ Michelle, from Atherton, near Wigan, is calling for a ban on air weapons. Horror: Jordan needed a three-hour operation after he was shot in the face with an air rifle while playing with friends . Jordan had been walking with two friends on land near to Hall Lee Bank Park in Westhoughton when the sniper struck. He was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital before being transferred to the unit in Blackburn. The teenager was finally discharged with 12 stitches both inside and outside his cheek. The swelling must clear before he can be assessed by surgeons again in two weeks. Jordan, a pupil at Hindley High, said: ‘I was just walking when I felt a sharp pain. I just remember falling to the ground. My friends told me that I was bleeding and I covered it with my sleeve. The ambulance was there the next minute. It was very scary.’ Jordan’s dad Steve Winstanley, 32, said: ‘The child or adult who has got this air rifle needs to know the danger of what they are doing. Someone out there thinks it’s okay to go around taking pot-shots at people. ‘It’s horrendous. This air rifle needs to be taken off the streets.’ Bolton CID confirmed they had launched an investigation. None of the boys saw the gunman. Witnesses can call 0161 856 0064 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Jordan Winstanley told by medics the shot could have severed key nerves in his left cheek and mouth . Pellet missed youngsters eye by a few centimetres . Teenager had to undergo three-hour operation on the wound . Police hunting sniper who took pot-shot at children from bushes .

Google is rumoured to be working on a way to help people shop without ever leaving the search engine. Reports in the Wall Street Journal claim a Google 'Buy' button would work in a similar way to Amazon's 1-Click ordering service. The tech giant wouldn't be responsible for selling or shipping the items directly, though. Instead, it is likely to work with manufacturers to simply offer a faster payment option. Reports in the Wall Street Journal claim a Google 'Buy' button could work in a similar way to Amazon's 1-Click ordering service. The search engine wouldn't be responsible for selling or shipping items directly from its Shopping tab (pictured). Instead, it will work with manufacturers to simply offer a faster payment option . At the moment, Google's search results and Shopping tab find items for sale and then send the customer to that merchant's website to complete the purchase. Under the rumoured plans, if a customer wants to buy an item without looking at it on the merchant's site first, they can pay for it in one click of the Buy button. The exact details of the scheme have not been announced, and reports claim the plans are still in the very early stages. On Amazon, when a customer places their first order and enters a payment method and delivery address, 1-Click ordering is automatically enabled. Earlier this year, Twitter introduced a ‘Buy’ button that lets users make purchases directly through tweets. The button, which is currently only available to a small percentage of US users, appears at the bottom right of partner tweets in the Twitter apps on iOS and Android. To make a purchase, users tap the button, review product details and enter their shipping and payment information when prompted. Once complete, Twitter sends an order confirmation. ‘An an entire purchase can be completed in just a few taps,’ the company boasted in a blog post introducing the feature. To take advantage of the faster payment option, customers click 'Buy now with 1-Click' on any product page. The order is then charged to the default payment method on the account and delivered to the default address. It is thought Google's system would work in a similar way and either charge to a card linked to a Google account through Google Wallet, or via a secure payment partnership with the website. MailOnline has contacted Google for a comment on these reports. Earlier this year, Twitter introduced a ‘Buy’ button that lets users make purchases directly through tweets. The button, which is currently only available to a small percentage of US users, appears at the bottom right of partner tweets in the Twitter apps on iOS and Android. To make a purchase, users tap the button, review product details and enter their shipping and payment information when prompted. Once complete, Twitter sends an order confirmation. ‘An an entire purchase can be completed in just a few taps,’ the company boasted in a blog post introducing the feature. On Amazon, when a customer places their first order and enters a payment method and delivery address, 1-Click ordering is automatically enabled. The order is then charged to the default card and sent to the default address. It is thought Google's system would work in a similar way . Earlier this year, Twitter introduced a ‘Buy’ button that lets users make purchases directly through tweets.The button, which is currently only available to a small percentage of US users, appears at the bottom right of partner tweets in the Twitter apps on iOS and Android (pictured) Twitter partnered with social shopping platform, Fancy, ecommerce companies Gumroad and Musictoday, and mobile payment startup, Stripe to develop the functionality, and has rolled out the service with a number of notable brands, nonprofits and music artists. Current participants include Burberry, The Home Depot, Demi Lovato, Pharrell, Paramore and (RED), with more to come. The company also stressed the measures it’s taken to ensure security of user information. ‘Your payment and shipping information is encrypted and safely stored after your first transaction, so you can easily buy on Twitter in the future without having to re-enter all of your information,’ Tarun Jain, Group Product Manager explained. It is likely Google will offer similar security assurances if it introduces a Buy button of its own. Current participants in the Twitter 'Buy' button scheme include Pharrell (left) and Demi Lovato (right). The company stressed user information is secure, and it is likely Google will offer similar security assurances if it introduces a Buy button of its own .

Google's Buy button would be similar to Amazon's 1-Click ordering . The search engine won't be responsible for selling the items directly . Instead, it will work with manufacturers to offer a faster payment option . Earlier this year, Twitter launched a similar Buy button to let people purchase goods directly from tweets . Current participants include Burberry, The Home Depot, Demi Lovato, Pharrell, Paramore and (RED), with more to come .

Rich tastes: Miss Paltrow . She is the Oscar winning actress turned self-proclaimed ‘lifestyle coach’ who believes that women can transform their lives by adopting healthy diets and fitness. Now Gwyneth Paltrow has released a series of specialist recipes to help her followers launch themselves into a new year with a ‘Warming Winter Detox.’ But those not on Hollywood salaries may find Paltrow’s latest creation a little too much to take – ingredients for her peppermint hot chocolate will cost £50. One of her previous culinary creations led a food critic to claim she had a ‘Marie Antoinette detachment from reality’ and true to form, the recipe, published on her much-ridiculed lifestyle blog Goop, contains a number of highly expensive ingredients. Among the baffling list are almond butter, mint flavoured liquid chlorophyl, spirulina powder and the optional addition of chocolate flavoured protein powder, that makes it sound more like the makings for a chemistry experiment than a hot drink. All this to disguise the fact that though the name may sound like an indulgent treat Paltrow’s version of the cold day classic only contains a couple of tablespoons of raw cocoa and no sugar at all. Instead, like all the recipes that feature in her detox it also avoids any dairy, gluten, shellfish, sugar, caffeine, condiments, alcohol and any other additives. Fans who want to save themselves some cash may resort to leaving out the ‘optional’ chocolate protein powder but even without it the other ingredients are unlikely to be found for less than £38. It's detox o'clock! Gwyneth Paltrow, an avid foodie, has unveiled a January detox menu, which she promises doesn't feel like a sacrifice . And that is not to mention the fact . that most the ingredients can’t be found in normal supermarkets and need . a trip to specialised health food shops. Opening . the latest post on the site Paltrow writes: ‘You know we love a good . detox here at goop and this January is no exception.’ Despite . its prescriptive demands she promises readers that her three-day detox . menu ‘won’t leave you feeling cold and hungry during the winter’ and . offers eight recession-busting detox tips including ‘take saunas’ wear . ‘organic cotton.’ Paltrow . has faced persistent criticism over the advice she posts on Goop with . many mothers accusing her of having lost her a grip on the real world. She . has spoken proudly about her daughter Apple’s choice to become a . vegetarian, a decision she came to ‘entirely on her own’ at the age of . just seven. She also . refuses to let Apple, now nine or seven-year-old son Moses eat gluten or . dairy products and once infamously told an interviewer: ‘I’d rather . smoke crack than eat cheese from a tin.’ In . December she used Goop to recommend that for Christmas, one should buy . friends a £100 Fornasetti scented candle and take a £65 set of Hermes . poker cards as a ‘hostess gift.’ Recipe: The £50 detox winter warmer that is free from gluten, sugar, caffeine, and any other additives . Hard at work: Gwyneth and her team joined forces with a nutritionist to create some healthy recipes for her Goop fans to enjoy . Last . Spring her post on ‘spring wardrobe essentials’ provoked ridicule when . it emerged that they totalled £293,878 and included a silk skirt from . Temperley London, costing £992, and Chloe trousers at £1,200, . In . 2011 she released her cookbook ‘Notes From My Kitchen Table’ which had . frustrated readers searching the aisles of their local supermarkets for . vegenaise, agave nectar and oven roasted kale crisps. But . she has defended lifestyle advice saying she is the victim on . mean-spirited critics saying: ‘Pat of the problem is people get hit of . energy when they are negative about something. ‘They don’t understand why they don’t have a happy life, I feel sorry for them.’ Paltrow became a household name in 1998 when her part in Shakespeare in Love won her the Oscar for best actress. Thanks . to her burgeoning lifestyle empire she now limits herself to just one . movie a year, for which she can command up to £15 million. And today she launched a January detox meal plan, which she promises is 'warming, filling and doesn't feel like a sacrifice'. Writing on her site Goop, she says: 'You know we love a good detox here at goop, and this January is no exception. What, no carbs? Plenty of herbal teas, salads, soups and oily fish feature on Gwyneth's menu . 'We . created detox recipes that won't leave you feeling cold and hungry . during the winter months, with guidance from Dr. Alejandro Junger, a . specialist on the subject. 'We . took to the test kitchen to create a three-day menu of detox recipes . that are warming and filling and don't feel like a sacrifice. 'We . then turned to Dr. Alejandro Junger for some info on how to best detox . during the cold winter months. Dr. Junger contributed the warm shakes - . the rest of the recipes are from the goop kitchen.' The menu advises detoxers to start the day with room temperature water and lemon, followed by a herbal tea and special shake. Lunch consists of either a balsamic miso root salad or chickpea or carrot soup (bread rolls not included, obviously). If . you're feeling peckish in the afternoon, Gwyneth suggests snacking on . walnut lentil pate or a handful of nuts before feasting on coconut . poached salmon, quinoa stuffed squash or pan-steamed chicken and . broccoli for dinner. 'Adjust the times to your schedule and the meals to your taste,' advises the actress. Wise words: Gwyneth, who last year released a cookbook with her dietary tips, writes a weekly lifestyle blog . Foodies . will be delighted to hear that this winter detox is much less strict . than ones Gwyneth and her team have created in the past. 'Our winter detox has looser . guidelines and restrictions than ones we’ve done in the past but', she . adds, 'here is what we’re avoiding: dairy, gluten, shellfish, anything . processed (including all soy products), nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, . peppers and eggplant), condiments, sugar, alcohol, caffeine and soda,' she writes. The mother-of-two is well-known for her strict health regime and even released her own cook book, It's All Good, in 2012. According to the book's synopsis, after a . gruelling schedule and overindulgence in 2011, Gwyneth was . left feeling fatigued and faint and a trip to the doctor later revealed . that she was anaemic, vitamin D deficient, and that her stress levels . were sky high. Her doctor prescribed an elimination . diet banning coffee, alcohol, sugar, eggs, wheat, meat and processed . food to clear out her system and help her body heal. Now we can ALL look like Gwyneth: The detox eliminates dairy, gluten, shellfish, anything processed (including all soy products), nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant), condiments, sugar, alcohol, caffeine and soda .

Recipe includes mint-flavoured liquid chlorophyl and spirulina powder . 41-year-old teams up with nutritionist to unveil menu on her Goop site . Promises it's 'warming, filling and doesn't feel like a sacrifice' Lots of herbal teas, salads, soups and fresh fish . Coffee, alcohol, tomatoes, carbs, sugar and dairy all banned .

Just five months after giving birth to her first child, a girl named Mary-Jane, Catherine Tyler stepped onto the stage at one of Australia's biggest bodybuilding competitions. With washboard abs and a muscular physique that turned heads there were no signs that the 31-year-old had only ten weeks to prepare for the event many others spent the year training for. 'It was so rewarding and so empowering that I was in control of my body and control of my appearance,' Ms Tyler told Daily Mail Australia. Sydney mum Catherine Tyler (pictured left a few days before giving birth) competed in a bodybuilding competition just five months after the arrival of her first child (she is pictured right four weeks after birth) Ms Tyler trained with weights until she was eight-and-a-half months pregnant and did cardio until the day before she gave birth . The 31-year-old was trained by her partner Kevin (centre), a bodybuilder and personal trainer, and the pair originally met on a blind date at the gym . An avid lover of all things health and fitness, the 31-year-old from Sydney trained with weights until she was eight-and-a-half months pregnant, and was doing cardio up until the day before she gave birth. Also during her pregnancy, which left her with severe morning sickness, Ms Tyler made the decision that once she gave birth she would be 'back better than ever'. 'I've always had an interest in health and fitness but once I became pregnant I had this crazy idea that I could bounce back and I could come back better than ever,' she said. With her partner Kevin as her trainer, Ms Tyler got moving from the moment she gave birth - walking up to 5 kilometres most days while pushing her baby in the pram. 'Because I had kept training through the pregnancy my body just pinged back,' she revealed. The 31-year-old (second from right) said she's always had an interest in health and fitness . During her pregnancy she made the decision she would be 'back and better than ever' after giving birth . Ms Tyler said because she trained throughout her pregnancy, her body simply 'pinged' back into shape . In just ten weeks the first-time mum was at her fittest ever and competition ready, competing in the  IFBB NSW and National championships in the novice bikini division. But her transformation didn't come without a barrage of criticism. 'It’s been horrible,' Ms Tyler revealed. 'A lot of women are very defensive or negative and they often imply that I leave my baby to spend all my time in the gym, when I actually do a lot of my exercise with my baby. 'Or that I’m self-obsessed. I think a lot of women take it as a personal attack on them. 'It’s a bit hurtful but mothering is so competitive and there’s often a lot of conflict with other women over what you should feed your baby and things like that,' she continued. 'I’m just so proud of what I've achieved.' Ms Tyler also revealed she didn't want to take any shortcuts when she decided to enter a competition, and insists the program she followed and continues to live by is totally achievable for anyone. She insists the program she followed and continues to live by is totally achievable for anyone . She only visits the gym a few times a week and incorporates cardio into her week . Ms Tyler credits her strict diet for most of her success . 'I competed in an open division in bikini novice; I didn't want to do one of those bikini mother competitions,' she said. Breakfast: Water and 1 scoop of low carb protein shake with 3 weetabix . Post training: Protein shake or 1 serve of Gentec Cassein custard (perfect for sweet cravings). 270 calories . 4 meals a day consisting of: 50g protein which was either lean cuts of lamb, chicken or steak. 100g carbohydrates (dropping to 80g for the 2 remaining weeks before the comp) with can be a choice of sweet potato, brown rice or quinoa. 120g raw veggies (increasing to 150g for the 2 weeks prior to competing) consisting of finely chopped broccoli, red and white cabbage, baby spinach, celery and carrot. 'It was important to me that I didn't get any special consideration because I had just given birth.' 'I was just so proud and to be able to take part and to be competitive against other girls who had been training for a year, really I only had ten weeks to get ready,' she added. Another reason she was so insistent on keeping incredibly fit and healthy both during and after her pregnancy was because she's 'seen the toll pregnancy has taken on other women's bodies.' As a cosmetic nurse she has treated 'stretch marks and sagging skin' on many women whose bodies were irreversibly changed by child birth. 'Stretch marks are caused by rapid weight gain, some people are just more predisposed to it,' Ms Tyler said. 'But certainly for me it was just a matter of prioritising my time. She insists that the results she achieved under the guidance of partner Kevin - who has been a bodybuilder for 20 years and a personal trainer for 15 - are achievable for anyone. The 31-year-old (second from left) achieved the results under her partner Kevin, a person trainer . 'It was 90 per cent diet, people eat so much processed food it’s so detrimental to your health,' Ms Tyler said . 'I wasn't in the gym for like 20 hours a week... Two or three hours a week was all I spent in the gym,' she revealed. 'It was 90 per cent diet, people eat so much processed food it’s so detrimental to your health,' Ms Tyler added. Cardio: Walking five kilometres with the pram each day. And additional three cardio sessions are done at the gym each week. Weights: Four times a week at the gym alternating between a session of legs and glutes, and arms and back . Her top tips for mums who want to keep in shape both during and after pregnancy is not to eat for two the entire way through. 'The main thing is to be sensible with your eating during pregnancy,' Ms Tyler advised. 'Once you’ve caused the damage you can’t fix it and a lot of women go crazy with food. 'I mean I had some terrible cravings but really you just need to eat sensibly,' she added. Speaking to people who criticise her thinking she has a strict routine and neglects her child for exercise, Ms Tyler said she simply knows how to manage her time better. She juggled a masters degree with work and placement at a hospital two hours from her house while she was pregnant. Speaking to people who criticise her thinking she has a strict routine and neglects her child for exercise, Ms Tyler said she simply knows how to manage her time . She juggled a masters degree with work and placement at a hospital two hours from her house while she was pregnant . 'For me it was just a matter of prioritising my time,' Ms Tyler said. 'We don’t watch TV in our house, we do have one but it rarely gets used.' The fit mum has now set her sights on more competitions, and hopes that other mums can take what she's learned and incorporate it into their own lives. 'I generally manage three visits a week to the gym for cardio last thing at night when Kevin comes home from work,' she said. 'I alternate my training sessions between legs and glutes one session then arms and back. 'During the day I will normally walk for at least an hour a day with the pram. 'The key to my training is to focus on what you can do rather than compare yourself to others. My diet, whilst strict is very easy to follow and affordable,' Ms Tyler said.

Catherine Tyler competed in a bodybuilding competition last October . It was just five months after she gave birth to her first child . Ms Tyler did weight training until she was eight and a half months pregnant . The first-time mum, 31, was also doing cardio until she gave birth . She said her program and fitness is achievable for any mum . Ms Tyler is proud of her body and appearance despite criticism .

By . Adam Crafton . Follow @@AdamCrafton_ . Manchester United legend Paul Scholes believes that the club should be targeting Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos, with the former England international claiming that new signing Ander Herrera isn’t at the same level as the German ace. Scholes, who remains a paid ambassador at Old Trafford, raved over Kroos’ qualities in his column for Paddy Power, arguing that Manchester United have missed out on a great player by passing up on the German midfielder. ‘I love watching Toni Kroos,’ Scholes enthused, 'I think he’s brilliant. Dominant: Kroos powers past the challenge of Michael Bradley during Germany's win over USA . 'I love the way he controls the ball and controls games. He can really play a pass and has superb vision. 'Kroos is capable of scoring goals too, from outside the box on either foot. ‘I just wish Man United had signed him. Yes, it is good to see United bringing in new players, but they haven’t signed anything like the quality of Kroos.’ Against United: Kroos shields the ball from Danny Welbeck during a game at the Allianz Arena last season . VIDEO Herrera completes United transfer . New signing: Scholes does not believe Herrera is at the same level as the Bayern Munich midfielder . Shaw thing: United confirmed the signing of left-back Shaw from Southampton last week . United last week made their first serious movements in the summer transfer window when they splashed £28.8million on Athletico Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera before signing Luke Shaw from Southampton in a deal that will exceed £28m. It is understood that Bayern star Kroos emerged as one of the club’s top targets while David Moyes was in charge at Old Trafford and United officials were confident of securing a summer move. However, the situation has changed since Louis van Gaal took over and Kroos now looks set for a move to Real Madrid. Other targets: Van Gaal is said to be pursuing Juventus' Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal . Although the German only has one year remaining on his deal at Bayern, Van Gaal has decided that United should pursue other targets in the close season, with Juventus’ Arturo Vidal, AC Milan’s Nigel De Jong, Sporting Lisbon’s William Carvalho and Roma’s Kevin Strootman all under consideration. VIDEO Van Gaal set for German shopping spree .

The United legend thinks the club should have targeted Kroos this summer . Last week the Old Trafford club signed Luke Shaw and Herrera . Ex-United boss David Moyes was keen on the Bayern Munich midfielder . But Van Gaal has list of other midfielders for the club to pursue . Kroos now appears set for a move to La Liga to join Real Madrid .

FA head of security Tony Conniford admitted that the association is 'freaking out over safety in Rio' FA head of security Tony Conniford said senior figures in the England set-up were ‘freaking out’ over reports of crime and violence from Rio’s gang-ridden shanty towns, or favelas, the largest of which,  Rocinha, is near England’s hotel. He also raised the astonishing prospect that England stars such as Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard could be stuck on the team bus for up to four hours in gridlocked traffic as they travel nine miles to and from their training base. While officially the FA say they are ‘fully confident’ in security arrangements, former policeman Mr Conniford’s comments, overheard by a Mail on Sunday reporter in the bar of the England hotel in Rio, raise questions about preparations. Mr Conniford’s assessment was delivered in a loud voice to a Brazilian colleague. A reporter from this newspaper was having a meal at a nearby table and was able to take notes. Mr Conniford, a 30-year veteran of Essex Police, told the Brazilian, an ex-military officer: ‘The problems here have been all over the papers. It’s bad. I get calls from management, from my bosses at the FA, freaking out saying, “Tony, are you sure it’s safe?” ‘They ask me, “Is this really going to be safe for the team?” They are worried. These are real concerns. ‘We have to be extra vigilant. We cannot afford to make any mistakes. Security must be paramount.’ Mr Conniford’s comments – coming just a month before the tournament kicks off – raise serious question marks over the FA’s decision to base themselves in central Rio. England’s hotel, the ageing Royal Tulip, is rated by travel website TripAdvisor as only the 93rd best in the city. Only one other team – Holland, who will train much closer to their hotel – are based in the city, while Germany have built their own private beach resort to stay in. England's hotel is located within view of the Rocinha favela in Rio where armed gangs are being targeted by police . Mr Conniford told his colleague that a nine-mile trip between the squad’s training base in a military camp at Sao Joao Fort in Urca in the shadow of Sugarloaf mountain and the hotel had taken him two hours. He said: ‘The traffic is awful. Even with a police escort it will be a nightmare. The roads are terrible. The traffic is my biggest worry. This is a logistical nightmare. We have to work on how we get the team from A to B without getting held up. ‘We will be stuck in traffic the whole time.’ The airport, where the England players and their retinue, totalling no fewer than 78 people, will have to travel to to get to their group games, is even further away. Mr Conniford said he also had concerns about security within the Urca military base when England were training. He told the Brazilian: ‘Your guys need to know they can challenge anyone to see their badges. They must check and re-check everyone.’ And on hotel security, he said: ‘We can’t afford to let anyone in because once you are through that door out there you can go straight to the lift and get straight up to the players’ rooms in no time.’ As more than 50,000 England fans prepare to descend on Brazil, it is hard to imagine they have much idea of what actually awaits them: . Heavily armed snipers have been tasked to patrol the Rocinha favela, near where the England team will be based for the World Cup . Brazilian authorities are having difficulties clamping down violence in advance of the World Cup . The host cities for England’s first games – Manaus, Sao Paolo and Belo Horizonte – are plagued by robberies, murders and muggings. Sao Paolo has its own slum problem and, in Manaus, a steaming jungle city a four-hour flight north of Rio, child ‘gangs’ roam the streets robbing visitors at knifepoint. The violence shows no sign of abating. One person was shot dead on Friday as Rio police clashed with armed men in a favela close to the England hotel. Over the past six years the Rio authorities have established 39 so-called police pacification units, or UPPs, in the favelas in an attempt to smash drug and street gangs. England captain Steven Gerrard and his team will be based within view of Rio's biggest slum as they prepare for their three World Cup group matches . More than 50,000 England fans are expected to travel to the tournament where there have been regular violent protests . Adrian Bevington, Managing Director of Club England, said: ‘The FA are confident in the security arrangements in place. Tony is a vastly experienced officer and was simply overheard doing his job. He has our full support.’ Tory MP Chris Heaton-Harris, who is a qualified referee and member of the All-Party Parliamentary Football Group, said last night: ‘Like every English fan, I want our team and its management to be as safe as possible and would expect these concerns to have been addressed by now.’ An FA source said that Mr Conniford was using the opportunity to emphasise to Brazilian authorities that their extra support is appreciated and the conversation was private.

In England's dilapidated hotel next to the gangland slum, he tells of 'real concerns' for our players . More than 50,000 England fans expected to travel to Brazil for World Cup . FA security team afraid stars will be 'at risk' A British oil worker was shot dead in a botched robbery last month. A few weeks ago, protesters marched on the Presidential Palace in Brasilia leading to riots in which . 12 protesters and 30 police officers were injured.

By . Helen Pow . PUBLISHED: . 00:32 EST, 28 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:10 EST, 28 November 2013 . A Miss Universe pageant hopeful is suing the organization co-owned by Donald Trump, claiming a recruiter asked her to give him oral sex in exchange for fast-tracking her modelling career. Ashleigh Blake, 21, from Tracy in Northern California, filed a suit Wednesday against the Miss Universe Organization, which she alleges is rife with sexual deviants who prey on unsuspecting young women. She claims Miss California USA recruiter Domingo Rodriguez lured her to a Starbucks parking lot with promises to land her modeling jobs and magazine covers. But when she met him in his car he allegedly explained that her end of the bargain involved giving him 'sexual favors.' Lawsuit: Ashleigh Blake, 21, pictured, from Tracy in Northern California, filed a suit Wednesday against the Miss Universe Organization, which she alleges is rife with sexual deviants who prey on unsuspecting young women . Miss Universe: Blake is suing the Miss Universe Organization, which is co-owned by Donald Trump, pictured right . Blake says she burst into tears and ran from the car. She says she went straight to the Tracy Police Department but was told she couldn't file criminal charges against Rodriquez because the recruiter didn't force her to perform the sex act. So she's suing the Miss Universe Organization claiming it knowingly hires 'scam artists' who lure young women with false promises of modeling contracts and fame. Blake is seeking at least $200,000 in damages according to TMZ. According to Jezebel, Blake was an amateur model and part-time tutor who fantasized about being a movie star or one of the Glee team when she was contacted out of the blue by the Miss California USA recruiter in November 2012. She responded right away to his request to schedule a meeting. 'I didn't expect them to pick me in a million years,' Ashleigh said in a YouTube video to raise awareness of the scam. 'When they did, I thought it was the start of my dreams coming true.' After filling out an online application, she was invited to an interview session with Rodriquez and a handful of other girls at a hotel near her home. They watched a promotional video and had one-on-one interviews, during which he told Blake he'd help find her sponsors to pay the $895 non-refundable application fee. Big dreams: Blake, pictured, was an amateur model and part-time tutor who fantasized about being a movie star or one of the Glee team when she was contacted out of the blue by the Miss California USA recruiter in November 2012 . He also told her, if she was interested, he knew a Miami magazine that needed a cover model. He followed up with her on email and later texted her. Blake said she was excited but unsettled by the middle-aged man's enthusiasm so she called the number on the pageant website and reached K2 Productions, which produces the California pageant, and they confirmed he worked there. He then asked her to send him modelling photos, which she did. He text back straight away saying the Miami magazine wanted her on the cover but they'd have to meet in person to discuss the terms of the deal. She agreed to meet him at a Starbucks in Tracy. However, Rodriguez showed up without any paperwork and asked Blake to get inside his car. She felt uncomfortable but got inside, thinking that as he was an official pageant recruiter there'd be no funny business. But once the doors were closed, Rodriguez told Ashleigh that the agreement wasn't written. It was oral. Help: After the Starbucks encounter, Blake said she contacted K2 Productions Director Keith Lewis, pictured left, to report what had happened and she said he told her he was upset but that she should keep it under wraps . Surprised: Blake, a 5ft 8in model was surprised when she was contacted by the Miss California USA recruiter to apply for the MUO pageant . 'Basically, I had to give him head and other "sexual favors" if I wanted to be on the cover of the magazine,' she said on YouTube. He said that this was simply the 'fast track' that 90 per cent of all successful actors and models had done to get to the top and her path to fame would be guaranteed if she did the same. He then asked her to 'prove herself' right there in the Starbucks parking lot. When she looked upset, he let her out of the car and told her to think about his offer. She told the police, who said it was a civil rather than criminal case because he didn't force her to do anything. She also approached Keith Lewis, the State Director for Miss California USA. She said he told Blake in an email that he was horrified by her experience and would remedy the situation, but advised her to keep her story under wraps. Rodriguez confirmed to Jezebel in March that he had met Blake in his car outside of a Tracy Starbucks to impart his knowledge about making it in modelling. 'She told me she would do whatever it takes, and now she's throwing my help in her face,' he told Jezebel. He denied that he personally requested a blow job, but said that he told her he knew of a magazine where 'young ladies can get on the cover if they do some type of sexual favors with the people at the magazine.' He said he had offered the same option to other aspiring models and at least one who took up the offer was 'doing very well.' 'This is character assassination and it's a shame because I've helped a lot of people in the past.' he said. He said he only met with Blake because she said she couldn't afford the fee for Miss California USA. 'The pageant industry is expensive for young ladies,' he said. 'I feel bad for those who dream about it but financially can't make it happen.'

Ashleigh Blake, 21, from Tracy in Northern California, filed a suit Wednesday against the Miss Universe Organization . She claims the organization is rife with sexual deviants who prey on unsuspecting young women . Miss California USA recruiter Domingo Rodriguez allegedly lured her to a Starbucks parking lot with promises to land her modeling jobs and magazine covers . But when she met him in his car he allegedly explained that her end of the bargain involved giving him 'sexual favors' She is seeking $200,000 in damages in the suit .

Ed Miliband has defended the controversial comedian Russell Brand – insisting that his attacks on democracy are striking a chord with ordinary voters. The Labour leader said he did not agree with Mr Brand's call for people not to vote, but said he was only saying what 'a number of people are thinking'. He said the Hollywood star's message – calling for a revolution against Westminster – reflected the fact that ordinary people felt 'politics doesn't speak to them'. Labour leader Ed Miliband has defended comedian Russell Brand, who he claimed was only saying what a lot of people thought . Mr Miliband's intervention comes despite widespread criticism of Mr Brand's call for young voters to turn their backs on elections. The comic has revealed that he never votes because he regards politicians as untrustworthy and irrelevant. He told the BBC: 'I'm angry, because for me it's real. This is what I come from... there is going to be a revolution. 'Don't bother voting. Stop voting stop pretending, wake up, be in reality now. Why vote? We know it's not going to make any difference.' The comedian said he, like most people, regarded politicians as 'frauds and liars' adding: 'The current political system as nothing more than a bureaucratic means for furthering the augmentation and advantages of economic elites.' Speaking to Shortlist magazine, the Labour leader insisted he wanted people to vote – even if it was for the Tories. He said: 'I definitely want people to vote – and I want people to vote Labour, obviously – but it's really important that we engage people in the election.' But he added: 'People criticise Russell Brand, and I don't agree with his message, but what he's saying, a number of people are thinking. Which is that politics doesn't feel like it speaks to them.' Labour leader Ed Miliband with Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls (right) during a visit to Jaguar Land Rover in Wolverhampton today . The Hollywood star sparked controversy after calling on youngsters not to vote in general elections . Mr Miliband insisted he, personally, did not feel disillusioned with politics. He said: 'I'm not disillusioned. I feel incredibly optimistic that we can make a difference to the country. 'And this election really matters. If you think about this election, there's a disagreement about where we are now, because the government thinks it's going pretty well. 'I don't agree. There's disagreement about the future – they've got this plan to go back to the 1930s on public spending.' Mr Miliband's remarks are in stark contrast to David Cameron, who insisted he was glad Mr Brand would not vote and ridiculed his anti-democratic stance. Russell Brand called for a 'revolution' in his book, released last year . The Prime Minister said: 'I'm a democrat. If Russell Brand's got a better idea, he can let us know.' He added: 'I'm relieved he won't be troubling the scorers in my constituency.' It also comes after the Green Party distanced themselves from Mr Brand – insisting they did not want his celebrity endorsement. There had been mounting speculation that the comedian-turned-anarchist – who has worked with leaders of the Left-wing environmental party in recent years – would be unveiled as the 'Green Nigel Farage'. But senior party sources claimed they didn't need an answer to the charismatic Ukip leader. One said that if such an offer were to be made to Mr Brand, it should be declined because his 'controversial' reputation would be 'toxic' to some potential voters. 'It might seem like a good idea for two or three days but I suspect it would quickly turn into a nightmare,' the source added. Last year Green leader Natalie Bennett joined Mr Brand to address 1,200 people at an anti-austerity rally in London. He has also worked with Green MP Caroline Lucas, to get the Commons to debate drug policy. But Ms Bennett said last month that the party did not need 'big personalities' to be a success at the ballot box. She insisted it wanted to concentrate on serious issues and not be led by a person who 'tosses their hair around and waves a pint'. But Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, praised Mr Brand. She said: 'I've worked closely with Russell to promote a more evidence-based, effective and humane approach to drugs policy and appreciate all he has done to put the issue on the political agenda. 'He has effectively rattled the cage of Parliament and it is right that he has - MPs need to do far more to regain people's trust and confidence.' A party spokesman added that it and Mr Brand 'both believe there is a positive alternative to austerity economics and recognise that the politics of the future does not have to look like the politics of the past'.

Miliband said he did not agree with Russell Brand's anti-politics 'message' But he said he was only saying what 'a number of people are thinking' Brand has called on youngsters to turn their backs on elections . Claimed voting is pointless because 'it's not going to make any difference' Branded politicians 'frauds and liars' only out to help the 'economic elites'

By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 07:41 EST, 8 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:50 EST, 9 February 2013 . David Cameron today announced the Cabinet minister overseeing the 'shocking' horsemeat scandal has been summoned to return to London to get a grip on the crisis and reassure the public. After a day of confusion surrounding the whereabouts of Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, it emerged he has spent the day dealing with the scandal over the telephone from his Shropshire constituency. The Prime Minister used a press conference in Brussels to announce 'The Secretary of State for agriculture is returning to London' after the government admitted it cannot guarantee that food being served in schools and hospitals today does not contain horsemeat. Scroll down for video . Downing Street said it could neither confirm nor deny that meals sold in schools, hospitals in prison did not contain horsemeat (file picture) Mr Cameron said it was a 'very shocking story, it's completely unacceptable'. He added: 'This isn't really about food safety. It's about effective food labelling, it's about proper retail practice, and people will be very angry to find out they have been eating horse when they thought they were eating beef. 'I know there is great public concern about this issue,' he said during a press conference in Brussels. In the wake of fresh revelations that . Findus beef lasagnes contained 100 per cent horse meat since last summer, . police forces across Europe are now investigating ‘criminal acts’, Downing . Street said. This morning a spokesman for the Prime Minister told journalists Mr Paterson was working on the crisis from the department in central London. But it has now been confirmed that he was in fact in Shropshire, but has been in regular contact with officials, retailers and inspectors from the Food Standards Agency. Mr Paterson has been accused of ‘pretending this isn’t . happening’ amid growing calls for ministers to convene an emergency . cross-government summit to get a grip on the crisis. It is understood he will now chair an emergency summit with retailers, suppliers and Food Standards Agency officials tomorrow morning, amid concern in government that Mr Paterson has not been visible to reassure the public. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson is coming under pressure to prove the government has a grip on the crisis . The government has stressed that the . responsibility for knowing what is in food lies with retailers, but held . out the prospect of a wide-rangng review of food standards laws to . prevent a collapse in public confidence in the security of the supply . chain. But both Number 10 . and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs refused to . say what checks were being carried out by the government on beef . products being served and sold to schoolchildren, hospital patients and . prisoners. And the . Department of Health sought to absolve itself of responsibility. A . spokesman said: 'A Department of Healths spokesman said: 'It is not a . Government issue – every hospital sources its own food, it would be a . case of speaking to every hospital. It is all locally sourced.' The GMB union said hospitals, schools and meals-on-wheels services should check they are not serving horsemeat. Brian Strutton said: 'Hospitals, schools and council care services . provide millions of meals with meat products every week to the young, . the elderly and the sick. 'With . rising public alarm over the prevalent use of horse meat in retail food . products and possible health issues, the Government must require all . public services that feed vulnerable members of society to verify that . they have not used horse meat.' Mr Heath, the Lib Dem junior farming minister, was asked to reassure parents and patients that horsemeat was not being served in schools and hospitals. But he told BBC Radio 4: 'You are asking me to give an assurance on behalf of a great number of different purchasing agencies, lots of different people who make their own decisions about what is appropriate. 'We have given advice we hope people will follow. There is no danger to health but we are very concerned about the contamination of one species to another.' He confirmed that the cases were being investigated by the police who are 'looking at whether there has been criminal behaviour in this country and abroad, we’re involving all the relevant police authorities along with the food standards agencies to make sure that if there is evidence of criminality that we identify it, and we deal with it'. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: 'Our advice is to follow the advice of the FSA and retailers about the products they have bought.' ‘[The PM] is aware of the very distasteful issues which has come to light. Distasteful though this is, there is nothing to suggest any health risk,’ she added. The scandal broke on January 16, when the Irish Food Safety Authroity revealed beefburgers contatined equine DNA, including Tesco Value beefburgers which were 29 per cent horse.More than 10million burgers were stripped from shelves, including Aldi, Teso and Asda. Last night, the Food Safety Agency (FSA) finally acted in the growing crisis and demanded a massive sweep of all beef products for the presence of horse meat. Fresh revelations: Findus confirmed last night that it has been selling packs of its frozen lasagne that contained 100 per cent horse meat . Labour’s Mary Creagh, the shadow . environment secretary, said: ‘I’m waiting for the government, the . experts, for the scientists to issue proper clear advice for consumers. ‘It’s simply not good enough for ministers to sit at their desks and pretend this isn’t happening.’ She . said ministers had ‘pooh-poohed’ her concerns about horses being . slaughtered in the UK, in abattoirs and testing positive for banned . veterinary medicine Bute. ‘It . transpired in answers to my parliamentary questions that six animals . had actually entered the human food chain – five in France and one in . the UK. And two animals have still not been traced by the FSA.’ Asked . if customers should eat beef which they have previously bought and are . keeping in their fridge or freezer, Miss Creagh replied: 'I certainly . wouldn't, but I'm waiting for the Government, the experts, the . scientists, to tell us and issue proper clear advice for consumers. Conservative . MP Anne McIntosh, chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs . select committee, echoed Miss Creagh's sentiments as she insisted that . she would no longer eat processed beef until the scandal was over. Downing Street has tried to distance itself from the horsemeat scandal, insisting it was the responsibility fo the FSA. A Number 10 spokesman added: ‘They are working with the authorities and police in this country as well as other countries. ‘At the moment we are looking at two incidents that have come to light which at the heart are acts of criminality which seem to raise an issue that happened overseas with regard to what food has been imported into Britain. ‘We want people to be reassured that what people see on the label is what they see on the package. It is legal to slaughter and sell horsemeat in the UK provided it is from an approved abattoir. ‘But no-one wants to take away from the fact that these cases are distasteful. We are very concerned about the issues that have been brought to light and that is why there are investigations ongoing.’ The Findus lasagne packs were made by a French company, Comigel, at a plant in Metz. Comigel also makes beef products for Tesco and Aldi. Both supermarket chains have now withdrawn potentially affected lines from their shelves as a precautionary measure. Today MP Tom Watson claimed to have evidence that the company was told that it had inadvertently been selling impure meat as early as last Saturday, and that the violations dated back to August last year. Mr Watson, Labour's outspoken deputy chairman, wrote on his blog today that he had obtained a letter sent by Findus to its wholesale customers warning them that their products did not conform to regulations. The letter read in part: 'Investigations have led one of our suppliers based in France to inform us in writing on 2nd February 2013 that the raw materials delivered since 1st August 2012 are likely to be non-conform and consequently the labelling on finished products is incorrect. The supplier has asked us to withdraw the raw material batches.' Findus could not be reached for comment on Mr Watson's claim. Findus had asked retailers to remove three sizes of beef lasagne packets – 320g, 360g and 500g – from shelves on Monday, citing what it called a ‘labelling issue’. But it has now emerged the products contained horse meat, which constitutes a crime under consumer labelling laws.

Downing Street refuses to confirm that meals for pupils and patients is horse-free and shifts responsibility to Food Standards Agency . Environment Secretary Owen Paterson under pressure to give public reassurance as junior farming minister is ordered onto the airwaves . Tests reveal Findus beef lasagnes contained 100% horsemeat . Police are called in as government suspects 'criminal acts' Department of Health says it is 'not a government issue'

Chelsea supporters were the victims of two unprovoked attacks around an Istanbul bar on Tuesday night, with an eye-witness claiming the assailants were using bottles and knives. The fans were a part of two separate incidents the day before the Blues' trip to Galatasaray - the same area where two Leeds fans were attacked and killed in 2000, ahead of a UEFA Cup semi-final. Neither of the Chelsea fans were thought to be seriously hurt - one has a wound on the hand - and neither required hospital attention. The club were made aware of the incident. Worry: Two Chelsea fans have reportedly been stamped in Istanbul ahead of Chelsea vs Galatasaray . A 57-year-old fan, who preferred not to be named, was among those attacked and said: 'About 30 of them attacked a group of ten of us in the main street off Taksim Square. 'There were a few of them out looking for Chelsea. There were guys with bumps and bruises. 'I think tonight (Wednesday) will be worse.' Seb Owens, 22 from Putney, said: 'We were walking down the main drag looking for a pub when a huge group of them attacked us with bottles and knives. We had to split up to get away so I don't know how many were hurt.' The club's security experts will spend Wednesday investigating the incidents and speaking to fans in order to gather more information. Around 1,300 are expected at the ground for the last-16 clash. Tricky place to go: Galatasaray fans always make sure the atmosphere for visitors is forever hostile . Chelsea have to provide a report to UEFA, although it is up to the local police to deal with the issue primarily. Dave Johnstone, spokesman for the . Chelsea fanzine cfcuk, said: 'I'd say 99.9 per cent of people we have . met in Istanbul have been really nice and friendly. You can go to any . city in the world and find yourself in trouble. There is probably more . violence in parts of London. 'I . don't want to generalise about all Galatasaray or Turkish football . fans. There will always be the minority of people looking for trouble. My advice to those fans coming out today would be to be on your toes, be . wary. Don't go looking for trouble. Be friendly.' Johnstone . reports that he heard that a small group of Chelsea fans were 'rushed' and by locals purporting to be Galatasaray fans. He saw one fan who had . been stabbed in the buttock, one with a black eye and another who had . been beaten up. He described them as 'walking woundedere . Trouble: A Chelsea fan in Istanbul said that as many as 30 supporters attacked them on Tuesday . The Blues - who always have a Met police officer with them on European trips - had offered advice to travelling supporters on their website earlier this week. 'While Istanbul is generally a safe city and the police have not given any specific areas to be avoided (other than the Metro to the stadium on match day), supporters should be aware of pickpockets, petty theft and bag snatchers in crowded places,' it read. 'Care should be taken to keep bags and cameras secure and not to keep on show any other valuables. Supporters are advised to leave their passports in the hotel safe and use another form of photographic ID.' They routinely carry out an advance inspection of all European venues with a club official in advance of games. The Foreign Office confirmed it was investigating reports of the incidents which took place around Taksim Square. 'We are looking into reports,' said a spokeswoman. 'We have had no confirmation of an incident. If confirmed we stand ready to provide consular assistance.' Written in the stars: Petr Cech, training on Tuesday, knew he would face his old pal Didier Drogba . Best foot forward: Drogba (centre) leads team-mates in training before he faces the club where he is a legend . Meanwhile, Chelsea goalkeeper Petr . Cech said he saw this tie against Galatasaray coming. ‘It was written in . the stars,’ said Cech as he prepared to face Didier Drogba for the . first time since his friend left the club two years ago. They have not been on the same pitch since winning the Champions League in Munich. Cech saved three Bayern Munich . penalties that night in May 2012; Drogba headed a late equaliser, gave . away a penalty and struck the winning shoot-out spot-kick. ‘Didier is . one of those guys you would always want him beside you,’ said Cech. ‘He likes the challenge, he likes taking the responsibility and he is a winner. ‘By fighting for every inch you can bring the people with you and that’s what Didier did. ‘He loves the game. He plays with emotion and he could always bring people together with his emotions and his will to win.’ Iconic: Cech has a face of pure ecstasy as he celebrates Drogba's Champions League-winning penalty . Former blue: Drogba will line up against his former Chelsea team-mates on Wednesday night . Man in charge: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will be hoping his side can overcome Galatasaray .

Supporters were victims of unprovoked attacks in the centre of Istanbul . Eye-witnesses claim locals were armed with knives and bottles . Chelsea face Galatasaray in the last-16 of the Champions League .

By . David Mccormack . President Warren Harding famously campaigned on a platform of ‘a return to normalcy’ in the 1920s, but it’s his steamy love letters to a friends' wife that will finally be made available to the public later this month. Over a decade prior to becoming the nation's 29th president, Harding enjoyed a torrid love affair with Carrie Phillips who he eulogized in over 1,000 pages of love letters. The Harding family donated the letters - previously under court-ordered seal for 50 years - to the Library of Congress, which will finally make the letters available to the public online on July 29. Loveless marriage: President Warren Harding is pictured in 1922 with his wife Florence, but it's his steamy love letters to a friends' wife that will finally be made available to the public later this month . In his 2009 book The Harding Affair: Love And Espionage During The Great War, author James Robenalt contends that Carrie Phillips, left, was the love of Harding's life . The . letters were written between 1910 and 1920 during an affair that began . in 1905 between then-Ohio Lt. Gov. Harding and family friend Phillips. Despite Harding asking his mistress to destroy the letters, she kept every word. ‘I . do not know what inspired you, but you... resurrected me, and set me . aflame with the fullness of your beauty and the fire of your desire… . imprisoned me in your embrace and gave me transport - God! My breath . quickens to recall it,’ wrote Harding in Sept 1913 after the pair had . spent a weekend in New York. Two . months later, he wrote his love for her was ‘the surpassing influence . of my life. It is big, and glorious, and hallowed. It is full of . blessings and radiant with dreams. This photograph shows, clockwise, Warren Harding, his wife Florence, Carrie Phillips, her husband Jim . 'It could be as ardent and wild and impassioned as you have ever known it.’ Some of the letters were released to the public a decade ago when author James Robenalt was researching the president and discovered forgotten microfilm copies. In his 2009 book The Harding Affair: Love And Espionage During The Great War, Robenalt contends that Phillips may have been a German spy – or at very least a Nazi sympathizer. Robenalt has read almost all of the letters and believes that both Harding and Phillips were in barely functioning marriages. Florence Harding, who was divorced from her first, alcoholic husband, was chronically ill, Robenalt recounts. 'There isn’t one iota of affection in my home relationship,' wrote Harding. 'It is merely existence, necessary for appearance’s sake.' Although the affair ended prior to Harding's presidential inauguration in 1921, pictured, Harding and Phillips remained on good terms . 'I believe, based on everything I’ve read of these 900 pages, that [Harding’s relationship with his wife] was sterile, and that Carrie was his sexual outlet,' Robenalt told the Washington Post. Phillips chose to live for months in Europe with her daughter and away from her husband, Jim. 'This woman was clearly the love of his life,' said Robenalt. 'My Darling. There are no words, at my command, sufficient to say the full extent of my love for you - a mad, tender, devoted, ardent, eager, passion-wild, jealous... hungry... love,' he wrote on Christmas Eve 1910. 'It flames like the fire and consumes. It racks in the tortures of aching hunger, and glows in bliss ineffable - bliss only you can give.' As Harding climbed the political ladder toward presidency, it became more troublesome for the two to stay together. Although the affair ended prior to Harding’s presidential inauguration in 1921, Harding and Phillips remained on good terms. In 1922, Phillips, accompanied by her husband and mother, visited President Harding at the White House. Author Robenalt has read almost all of the letters and believes that both Harding, pictured with wife Florence, and Phillips were in barely functioning marriages . When her health failed in 1956, Phillips was admitted to a nursing home in Marion and died in 1960. Her lawyer and guardian found and retained the letters, which were hidden in a box in Phillips’ home in Marion, Ohio. The lawyer made the collection available to a potential Harding biographer in 1963, although the use of quotes from the letters in this biography was thwarted by a lawsuit brought by the president’s nephew, Dr. George Harding. An Ohio probate judge closed the papers on July 29, 1964, and after extended litigation, the Harding-Phillips letters were purchased by Dr. Harding from Phillips’ daughter, Isabelle Phillips Mathée. In 1972, Dr. Harding donated the letters to the Library of Congress for safekeeping, with the stipulation that the Library keep the papers closed until July 29, 2014, which would be 50 years from the day the probate judge first closed them. The letters have been locked in a vault in the Library’s Manuscript Division since their donation. Taken as a whole, the correspondence sheds light on a man on the eve of his presidency and a country on the brink of World War I. The library is hosting a program to discuss the collection July 22, featuring library and outside experts and a Harding descendant. Harding is rumored to have had other affairs, including with Nan Britton, who claimed that she carried on with Harding when he was president - once allegedly in a White House coat closet - and had his child. 'I don’t think he was a rampant womanizer,' said Robenalt. 'I think he fell in love with women [Phillips].'

President Warren Harding's steamy love letters to a friends' wife will finally be . made available to the public later this month . Over a decade prior to becoming the . nation's 29th president, Harding enjoyed a torrid love affair with . Carrie Phillips . Author James Robenalt believes that both Harding and Phillips were in barely functioning marriages . In his 2009 book The Harding Affair, Robenalt contends that Phillips may have been a German spy . 'My breath quickens to recall it,' wrote Harding in Sept 1913 after the pair had spent a weekend in New York . Although the affair ended prior to Harding’s presidential inauguration in 1921, Harding and Phillips remained on good terms . The Harding family donated the letters - . previously under court-ordered seal for 50 years - to the Library of . Congress . They will finally become available to the public . online on July 29 .

They say that Christmas is a time for giving - and that's a motto that dog lover Stephanie Mariam takes very seriously. The animal fanatic spends a staggering £4,000 on presents for her pet pooches over the festive season. Her pint-sized Pomeranians, Harvey Moon, age 3, and Connie, age 2, could be Britain's most pampered pets. Scroll down for video . Dog lover: Stephanie Mariam splashes out £2,000 on presents for her pet pooches, Harvey Moon, age 3, and Connie, age 2, every Christmas . On December 25, they are lavished with gifts from crystal dog collars and luxury beds to the ultimate dog's Christmas dinner. While most people break the bank buying presents for loved ones at Christmas, dog lover Stephanie, 21, reveals she's not as generous when it comes to other gifts and has spent more on her dogs than she did on her own family. The extravagant Christmas wish list, of which Stephanie has already purchased and lovingly wrapped, includes two £700 doggie beds, two £200 Swarovski crystal collars and leads. There's also £450 worth of clothing, £250 worth of toys, two £230 dog-friendly bags and £170 worth of accessories including hair bows, brushes and bowls under the tree. Merry poochmas! The dogs will find two £700 doggie beds, two £200 Swarovski crystal collars and leads, £450 worth of clothing, £250 worth of toys, two £230 dog-friendly bags and £170 worth of accessories under the tree . Treated: While most people break the bank buying presents for loved ones at Christmas, dog lover Stephanie isn't as generous when it comes to other gifts and has spent more on her dogs than she did on her own family . Spoilt: Her pint-sized Pomeranians, Harvey Moon, age 3, and Connie, age 2, are possibly Britain's most pampered pets . At home, it's become a family tradition on Christmas day for Stephanie to present her dogs with extra-large bones while they lay in their new luxury beds. The dogs, who usually start their day by opening the last window of their advent calendar, even join the family for Christmas dinner complete with all the doggy trimmings. Stephanie, who lives with her parents in Bournemouth, Dorset, said: 'Harvey Moon and Connie will spend every waking hour with us at Christmas because they are a part of the family. Christmas morning tradition: On Christmas day, Stephanie presents her dogs with extra-large bones while they lay in their new luxury beds . Morning routine: The dogs start their day by opening the last window of their advent calendar and even join the family for Christmas dinner complete with all the doggy trimmings . Best friends: Steph said of her pooches: 'My dogs are part of my family and I'd do anything for them' 'They both love Christmas - especially the food and the cuddles. They will have their own stocking, which we open whilst in bed, and they will join us for present opening in the morning in their doggy onesies. 'We give them just what every dog wants on Christmas, love, food and cuddles, with a bit of extra pampering diva style, of course. 'I don't really spend much money on myself, I'm a fairly easy going person, but my dogs take first priority. 'At the end of the day, I look after my money, I don't go out partying or drinking, so ultimately, it's up to me if I want to spoil my dogs.' Big fans: Steph said that the dogs both love Christmas - especially the food and the cuddles . Part of the family: Steph says she gives her dogs  just what every dog wants on Christmas: love, food and cuddles, with a bit of extra pampering diva style, of course . Proud: Speaking about her expenditure, Steph said: 'People might say that spending this much on my dogs is excessive, but I think it's justified' But for Stephanie, her dogs are for life not just for Christmas and she spoils them with fancy clothes, gifts and presents all year round. She works over 52 hours a week as a mental health nursing assistant and dance instructor to fund her pampered pooch's lavish lifestyles. Lunch: Dog friendly turkey, chicken, potatoes, vegetables, pigs in blankets, special gravy made for dogs, Christmas doggy biscuits . Dinner: Lilly's kitchen special Christmas dinner which is an organic beef, potato and vegetable dog food dish . Earlier this year, canine crazy Stephanie splashed out £10,000 on a party for her four legged friends to celebrate Connie becoming a new member of her family. The £10,000 sum went towards a fire dancer, customised doggie outfits, a party planner and a red carpet for a party to match the decadence of a celebrity's. She said: 'People might say that spending this much on my dogs is excessive, but I think it's justified. 'My parents are happy with the way I spend my money, they know I work two jobs, one of which is full-time and they know I'm saving for my future. 'I'm living within my means so the number of hours I work justifies the money I spend on my doggies.' Steph said: 'My dogs are part of my family and I'd do anything for them.' Out and about: Steph says her parents are happy with the way she spends her money. 'They know I work two jobs, one of which is full-time and they know I'm saving for my future,' she said . Funding their lifestyle: Steph works over 52 hours a week as a mental health nursing assistant and dance instructor to fund her pampered pooch's lavish lifestyles . Style chameloen: Earlier this year, canine crazy Stephanie splashed out £10,000 on a party for her four legged friends and often takes them to the hairdressers to reinvent their look . Lucky pooches: Her dogs are looking forward to being lavished with gifts from crystal dog collars and luxury beds to the ultimate dogs Christmas dinner .

Stephanie Mariam, 21, lavishes her pint-sized Pomeranians . Harvey Moon, age 3, and Connie, age 2, get treated at Christmas . Receive crystal collars, luxury dog beds, toys and Christmas dinner . Works over 52 hours a week to fund her pooch's lavish lifestyles . Splashed out £10,000 on a party for her four legged friends .

(CNN) -- Here in Boston, people will grieve for many days. How could anyone be so evil as to plant a bomb that would murder an 8-year-old child, rip the legs off parents and devastate a celebration of athletics that is pure joy. These were murders that wrench the soul. But if these cowards thought they would scare this city -- that their acts of terror would actually terrorize -- they picked the wrong place. Boston, as President Barack Obama so rightly said Monday night, is a "tough and resilient town" -- always has been and always will be. It will heal but will not forget; it will care for the wounded but will make the murderers pay their price. Boston has a reputation as an intellectual town, and it is that. Two of the world's best universities are here, along with a dozen other fine colleges and universities. It is electric with creativity and innovation. As they showed again after the bombing, its doctors and hospitals are world-class. Citizens can find a great concert or art gallery anytime they want. No wonder that in contrast to most other aging cities, young and old are streaming here to live these days. But that doesn't mean Boston is soft. Just the opposite. Boston has plenty of fight, too -- just ask any team that has banged up against the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics or Bruins. Since 2004, don't forget, Boston has won championships in all four major sports. That doesn't happen to softies. Rothkopf: In the face of terror, keep calm . The graveyards here are full of glorious men and women -- brave souls who carved the first communities out of wilderness, stood up first against British oppression, stood up first against the abomination of slavery, stood up early for the rights of women, and in recent years has stood up early and often for the rights of gays and lesbians. Harvard has lots of Nobel laureates, but it is also proud that it has the largest number of Medal of Honor winners of any university, save the military academies. Traditionally, the marathon itself occurs on Patriots' Day in Massachusetts -- a moment when people take time off to remember Lexington and Concord. One can watch re-enactments of the British marching to rid themselves of rebels -- and men without uniform but deadeyes with a rifle picking them off from the woods. If you want to remember the grit of the early men and women of Massachusetts, pull down your copies of David McCullough's histories. Reread "1776" and its fabulous stories of Bunker Hill and lifting the British siege of Boston (when men pulled cannons all the way across Massachusetts to chase away the most powerful navy in the world). Or reread "John Adams," the book that was originally intended to be about Adams and Jefferson -- until McCullough fell out of love with Jefferson and into love with Abigail. One of my favorite episodes in the Adams book occurs when her husband insists on taking their teenage son, John Quincy, on a perilous voyage to England. Abigail writes a farewell letter to John Quincy that captures the New England spirit: . "It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed. The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties. Great necessities call out great virtues ... qualities which would otherwise lay dormant wake into life and form the character of the hero and the statesman." In most of the country, that spirit is called toughness; in New England, it is often called hardiness. And with the passage of time, it has not disappeared. LZ: It can happen anywhere . Monday's bombings cap a 50-year period for Boston that has been marked by violence, tragedy and grief. It started with the assassination of a favorite son, John F. Kennedy, in 1963, and continued with the assassination of his brother Robert, later the plane crash of young John Jr. and the loss of another brother, Ted. So much sadness across these years. Yet there has been more. Massachusetts lost 1,537 in Vietnam, 12 in the first Gulf War, and 118 so far in Iraq and Afghanistan. On 9/11, two of those planes flew from Boston's Logan International Airport. Violence has also stalked the streets of Boston, but as they have done so often, people here stood up against the tide. In the late 1980s, gang violence and murder were rampant; by 1990, Boston felt like Chicago today as it had the highest number of killings in its history, many among the young. Opinion: Our 'greatest day' turns to horror . But even if it is occasionally knocked down, as it was by these bombings, the real Boston story is how it always gets up again. That spree in the '80s and early '90s of kids killing kids, even at funerals, so shocked the city that leaders of all stripes -- political, religious, business, nonprofit -- initiated a comprehensive, community-based strategy to reach at-risk youth early, and over five years, the rate of youth homicides dropped 80%. There was an upward spike in the mid 2000s, but the numbers are now again falling steadily. War, violence, tragedy -- Boston won't surrender to darker forces. Monday's bombings shattered any feeling of safety. People here looked with horror into the abyss. But count on it: Boston is still alive with the spirit of Abigail Adams. Great necessities will call out great virtues, and qualities that may seem dormant will wake into life, forming the character of new heroes and new leaders. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of David Gergen.

David Gergen: Bostonians will grieve, but terrorists picked the wrong city to try to frighten . He says the city is an intellectual, cultural bastion but it's not soft . He says Abigail Adams' letter to son heading into peril captured tough New England spirit . Gergen: Difficulties "call out great virtues," she said in letter .

By . Associated Press . The four men killed in a fiery plane crash in Ohio were students at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, including three members of the varsity wrestling team, school officials said Tuesday. The three wrestlers were identified as 20-year-old Lucas Marcelli of Massillon, Ohio, 18-year-old Abraham Pishevar of Rockville, Maryland, and 18-year-old John Hill of St. Simons, Georgia. The 20-year-old pilot, William Felten of Saginaw, Michigan, also was killed. University officials said Felten and Marcelli were second-year students, while Hill and Pishevar were freshmen. Marcelli graduated from Jackson High School in Massillon and twice qualified for Ohio's state wrestling tournament. Pilot: William Felten was piloting the small plane at the time of the crash . Victim: Lucas Marcelli was one of the four young men killed Monday evening . Wrestlers: Abraham Pishevar, pictured, wrestled for Case Western Reserve University, along with Lucas Marcelli and John Hill . Tragic: John Hill also died after the Cessna 172R crashed and burst into flames . The plane crashed outside the airport and then exploded shortly after takeoff from Cuyahoga County Regional Airport in suburban Cleveland about 10 p.m. Monday. The four men were trapped inside the wreckage. WKYC reported the plane 'had been rented for four hours and no flight plan was filed.' The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the crash. Case Western Reserve University is making grief counselors available to students, and university president Barbara Snyder said in a statement that the school would be working closely with the four men's roommates and friends. The plane took off from an airport about 15 miles northeast of Cleveland . The victims were all reportedly students at Case Western Reserve University . 'We are truly heartbroken about these promising lives cut short,' Snyder said. Mark Gerald told the Northeast Ohio Media Group 'It's just a shame. (Me and my neighbors) thought we had (a chance to help them). It was too hot,' he said. 'The whole fuselage was involved.' 18-year-old witness William Honaker told the media group, '(The plane) was so mangled. I didn't want to look at it anymore, to be honest.' Crash: It was not immediately known where the plane was headed, and the names of those on board have not been released . ---------- . Information from: WKYC-TV, http://www.wkyc.com .

Victims were pilot William Felten, 20, Lucas Marcelli, 20, Abraham Pishevar, 18, and John Hill, 18 . All four were students at Case Western Reserve University . Marcelli, Pishevar, and Hill were all part of the school's wrestling team . The young men were in a Cessna 172R that crashed at about 10 p.m. Monday after taking off from the Cuyahoga County Airport in Richmond Heights, about 15 miles northeast of Cleveland . The plane began its ascent, then crashed outside the airport and burst into flames . The occupants were trapped in the wreckage and died at the scene .

By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 12:29 EST, 24 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:18 EST, 24 May 2013 . A builders merchant in land-locked mid-Devon has helped rescue a yachtsman who went overboard off the French coast. The Ilfracombe man was swept into the sea off Ushant, north west France, on Thursday afternoon. His colleague on the 32ft yacht Caprice could not understand the French coastguard, so called his Crediton builders merchant - who raised the alarm with Brixham Coastguard. The yachtsman is now being treated for hypothermia in hospital. Unlikely saviour: A worker at a builders merchant in Devon was shocked when a customer rang him to ask for his help reporting a man overboard from a yacht near the French coast The customer struggled to understand the French coast guard. File picture . Chris Tucker, who works for Jewson in Crediton, said he was 'a bit surprised' when his customer phoned him at about 3pm. 'I'm not quite sure why he called me, but maybe he knew I'd be there and would have access to a computer and phone,' Mr Tucker said. 'It was quite difficult to hear him because it was so windy, but he just kept repeating coordinates and times. 'He said he couldn't understand the French coastguards and they didn't understand him.' Mr Tucker said he had seen his customer on Tuesday so knew he was planning a sailing trip. 'He'd told me he was going on his friend's yacht and they were going to take it down to the south of France to leave it there for the summer, then get the ferry back,' he said. Mr Tucker stayed on the phone to his customer while Brixham Coastguards liaised with the French authorities. The Ilfracombe man was swept into the sea off Ushant, north west France, on Thursday afternoon . The man who fell overboard is from Ilfracombe in Devon. He is now recovering in hospital . The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the search for the missing yachtsman involved a French lifeboat, two search and rescue helicopters, a fixed-wing aircraft, along with two naval vessels - from France and Germany - that happened to be in the area at the time. He was rescued by the German warship and then airlifted to hospital in France. 'The man who fell overboard was wearing a lifejacket and also a type of wet suit, which undoubtedly saved his life,' the MCA said. Mr Tucker, whose actions were praised by Brixham Coastguard and Jewsons, said he was glad both men were safe. 'It wasn't sounding too good for a while,' he said. 'Conditions were pretty damn rough, the yacht's engines had failed and the guy must have been in the water for about two hours. 'I don't think I did anything special - anyone would've done the same - I'm just happy they're okay.' The stricken yacht was towed back to harbour by the French lifeboat. The names of the sailors have not been revealed.

The unnamed sailor fell from yacht off the coast of France . A man on the yacht didn't understand French rescuers, so called Mr Tucker . The Jewson worker alerted the UK coastguard and the man was saved .

(CNN) -- I can't fully understand why a bigoted rancher in Nevada warrants as much media coverage as—or more coverage than—a presidential trip to Asia, the delay of a major job-creating infrastructure project or the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. But apparently it does. And like nearly all stories that involve race and politics, the media has covered rancher Cliven Bundy in a way that makes an honest conversation about race in America even more difficult. Take, for instance, a conversation CNN anchor Carol Costello had with my colleague, Republican National Committee Communications Director Sean Spicer, on Friday morning. Somehow Costello made the illogical conclusion that a racist rancher's rant has implications for the Republican National Committee's minority engagement efforts. Republicans "don't really invite minorities in," she insisted without evidence. Spicer explained that the RNC is working to help the entire party listen and connect with the black community and with Americans of all backgrounds. He noted that not only is the RNC building long-term relationships and a permanent presence in black communities, but also that the RNC has hired a number of black staff members, both those focused on engaging with the black community and those who are not. That wasn't good enough for Costello. She didn't believe the RNC actually hired black staff members, especially senior level staff. So she demanded that Spicer name names of black people working at the Republican National Committee. She wanted a list of black staffers. That crosses a line. Is Costello hosting a news program or a dog and pony show? Carol Costello: GOP's problem wooing African-American voters . As a senior-level staff member at the RNC who happens to be black, my job is to help the committee by developing communications and media strategy. My job is not to be put on display every time a news anchor wants to determine whether a political organization has the right number of people of color. How does that advance the discourse on race and politics in America? That would be pandering. It's wrong. Costello, and others in the media who do the same thing, are perpetuating a double standard. When black Republicans appear in the media, they suggest that Republicans are just checking a box by putting a black person on screen. When we don't put ourselves on display, they assume we don't exist. That's pretty revealing of their personal biases. That's also a dangerous double standard. Which brings us to the even bigger issue at hand. When someone who isn't even a Republican elected official or candidate says something disgusting and offensive, the media goes into overdrive to discuss how this is terrible for the Republican Party. But when Democrat elected officials, including a sitting governor and sitting vice president, say something racist or offensive, you don't hear a peep. They get a free pass. The latest example comes from President Obama's home state. Last week, the campaign of Democrat Gov. Pat Quinn promoted an article on Twitter that labeled black Republicans as race traitors and said they were akin to Jewish Nazi sympathizers. Yes, a sitting Democrat governor's campaign was publicizing racist material. If you didn't hear about it, that proves my point. It was abhorrent, but national coverage was almost nonexistent until CNN.com finally posted an article late Thursday. But did the media demand Democrats apologize and ask the Democratic National Committee for comment? Did they consider asking DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a prominent Jewish leader, to denounce the governor? Absolutely not. It was reminiscent of their ambivalent coverage when Vice President Joe Biden, during the 2012 campaign, told a group of black voters that his political opponents would "put y'all back in chains." That was disgusting rhetoric, but the vice president is a Democrat, so it wasn't breaking news. It was just Joe being Joe, as his fans in the media like to say. Again, it's a double standard. Racist language has no place in our political discourse. It's unacceptable whenever and wherever it's used. And yes, journalists, that includes the Democratic Party. Americans aren't hearing the full story when you're only covering one side of it. If we're going to defeat the racism that persists in America, we have to have intelligent conversations about it. The media should neither elevate it nor reduce it to some petty partisan game. But more often than not, media outlets are failing to meet that standard. That was the case on Friday. Let's hope next time it's different. Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion.

Tara Wall says CNN and the media have been unfair in its criticism of GOP and race . Republican National Committee, she says, has stepped up outreach to the black community . Wall: The media practices a double standard by not going after Democrats who have issues with race .

(CNN) -- Cowering in a school restroom stall, young Charles D'Angelo would eat his lunch alone to escape classmates bullying him about his weight. A woman at his Catholic school's rectory let him watch the news with her during his break instead of playing outside. After losing 160 pounds, Charles D'Angelo got a shirtless picture of himself shown in Cosmopolitan. During high school, he got a doctor's note to excuse him from physical education. After years of overeating and under-exercising, he ballooned to around 360 pounds and felt depressed. But before-and-after photos he posted on iReport.com show how the St. Louis, Missouri, resident transformed himself from overweight teen to muscular man. Now a fitness coach, his mission in life is to make exercise fun so that kids will want to stay healthy. "I'm not saying 'poor me,' but I went through a lot of pain and terrible days," D'Angelo said. "I do believe that if my story can help others, then I'll do what it takes." The need for better health habits seems greater than ever. More than 17 percent of youths ages 12 to 19 were estimated to be obese after a 2003-2006 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study. That number was just 5 percent in the late 1970s. When D'Angelo was 17, he decided to get in shape. He initially focused on weightlifting and gym workouts to build up his muscles, calling the iPod one of the best products ever invented for those seeking to get fit. Growing up in an Italian family had taught him that food and emotions go together, whether at weddings or funerals. He used to munch on junk food during recess, but as he got older, he forced himself to eat planned, healthy meals. iReport.com: Shedding pounds, becoming a fitness coach . At 23 years old and a muscular 204 pounds, he has kept his excess weight off for five years and sports a rippling six-pack. He says he even got a shirtless photo of himself showcased in Cosmopolitan magazine. He hopes his success will make him a role model for obese kids, and he tries to come up with fun and supportive ways of exercising. Watch iReporters 'dancasize' and show off fun workouts » . "I was just scared to death of being tested or compared. I don't think we should measure people based on how many push-ups can you do, how many sit-ups can you do." Keeping exercise fun and personally fulfilling is key to helping him stay with his workouts for the long haul. He enjoys watching TV while he works out. Boot camps and other group activities provide the camaraderie he craves. One of his clients owns a local gym that "looks like an arcade," which he points to as an example of another way of giving exercise a better image. Wii Fit and Dance Dance Revolution stations are available. D'Angelo also said he feels he would have benefited from more-structured eating habits and routines as a child. Anything that gets the body moving can be good exercise, said Janet Fulton, a CDC epidemiologist. The government recommends the equivalent of 150 minutes of brisk walking or other moderate exercise per week. The time spent can change based on the intensity of the exercise. Fulton said regular workouts help ward off disease and keep weight stable over time. In combination with properly balanced nutrition and caloric intake, increased physical activity can help with weight loss. Whether exercise or nutrition are more responsible for increases in obesity over the last 30 years is unclear, Fulton said, but people seeking to lose weight should focus on both areas and pay attention to what they eat. She suggested doing an enjoyable exercise in the company of others. iReport.com: What's your fun exercise? "Find a buddy, even if you're walking your dog. You cannot only do that, but do it with your family. Be a member of the team and get your social support that way." Over time, D'Angelo developed confidence, and he says he wants to help others do the same. Dating seemed to be out of the question when he was heavier, but he now has a girlfriend. He says losing the weight and building his confidence have gone hand in hand. Many other iReporters said they also felt bad about exercise as kids and posted their own ideas for pleasurable alternatives that could help beat obesity. Staci Lambert-Westcott of Stephens City, Virginia, took up exercise and fitness to help manage the diabetes she was developing. Getting married and having children made maintaining her weight a challenge. When she got up to 247 pounds and at age 29, she decided to get fit. Now 37, she recalls getting an ego boost after losing a significant amount under the cover of winter clothing. When spring came, a neighbor thought Lambert-Westcott's husband had a new woman in his life. Throughout her personal weight-loss journey, she learned to get over her childhood dislike of exercise. As she lost pounds, she grew more comfortable exercising in public. Lambert-Westcott got to know the owner of her gym and eventually bought the business from him. She had always dreaded going to physical education class, so she tried to offer fun options for women when she was in charge. iReport.com: Bought the gym, lost 135 pounds . "The classes were extremely popular because they were fun, and mom and daughter could come together. While mom was working out, daughter was working with a coach in the back." Though she eventually sold the gym to go back to school, she continues to work out and maintain her healthy weight. Keeping the pressure off workouts is key, said fellow iReporter Jonathan Lund, 35, of Duluth, Minnesota. As a fitness trainer at a hospital, he works with everyone from elite athletes to patients at the facility. His experiences as an overweight teen helped show him how to help others be healthy. "I have to remind myself, it took a lot of work to get these people out of the house and into this club," he said. He grew up self-conscious about excess weight and felt like he couldn't keep up with the other kids. Individual activities such as running helped him take off the weight. "I never thought I could play sports or do anything like that. I always felt really intimidated by that. I also didn't like the aspect of team sports because it wasn't much of a workout because usually, you'd be sitting on the sidelines and you'd play for five minutes." iReport.com: Lund stops to post an iReport at a marathon . He now runs marathons but got his start walking and increasing intensity little by little. He describes the long-distance events as "addictive." Along the way, Lund has battled a lot of negative thinking about himself. Despite the dozen or so marathons he's completed, including the Chicago Marathon on Sunday in Illinois and the recent Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lund's insecurities have stuck with him into adulthood. He pushes forward anyway. "I still feel like a fat kid, even though I'm not anymore," he said. "I feel like I have to keep running in order to keep up. But at the same time, it's the best therapy that there is. All that negative stuff gets worked out in your mind."

Readers overcame childhood obesity, dislike of exercise through fun fitness . Charles D'Angelo went from hiding out during recess to six-packed man . Staci Lambert-Westcott grew more comfortable with exercise, owned a gym . iReport.com: How do you make fitness fun for yourself?

By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 04:07 EST, 24 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:43 EST, 24 January 2013 . A Fijian soldier who spent 13 years in the Army has sent his four medals to the Prince of Wales after a fight against deportation from the UK left him facing bankruptcy. Bale Baleiwai, 32, sent the medals to Prince Charles with a letter saying that they had lost their meaning because of the treatment received by him and his British wife and children. The father-of-two could lose his Bournemouth, Dorset, house and faces possible bankruptcy after a costly fight to stay in the UK which he won last month. Angry: Former soldier Bale Baleiwai, pictured left, with his wife Kim and children Lilly and Sunny, has returned his Army medals to Prince Charles, right, after a successful fight against deportation left the family broke . Honour: Campaign medals, similar to those given to Mr Baleiwai, which were presented to Prince Harry and fellow members of the Household Cavalry Regiment for service in Afghanistan (file picture) In the letter he wrote: 'My service to Queen and country have been dishonoured and I have been betrayed.' Mr Baleiwai has earned campaign medals for tours of duty in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Afghanistan and two tours in Iraq. According to The Times, he added: 'Throughout this period we have tried to be proactive, graceful and dignified. 'We have not even received an apology from this Government and they continue to pass the buck ... I therefore feel I can no longer accept my medals.' Mr Baleiwai's six month fight for British citizenship began in June last year when he quit the Army. A fight with a fellow soldier had led to an internal punishment and a criminal record which meant that his application for UK citizenship was refused. The soldier of 12 years was shocked that his application was rejected and he and his wife Kim, 31, thought a mistake had been made. Facing ruin: Notice has been served on the Baleiwai family home after his costly six month fight to stay in the UK . The pair never knew that the fight, which was dealt with by a commanding officer in the Army and not a law court, had led to a criminal conviction. He had only not challenged the ruling at the time because he wanted to get on with his career, despite insisting that he was acting in self defence. Mr Baleiwai, who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Northern Ireland and alongside Prince Harry at Combermere Barracks in Windsor, decided to appeal the conviction last summer and it was quashed in November and citizenship was granted a month later. But the family had lived off savings during Mr Baleiwai's fight to stay in the UK and have been left desolate by the battle. Although he has since managed to find a job, notice has been served on the family home. Under law, all Commonwealth soldiers who have served in the military for at least five years can apply to the UK Border Agency for British citizenship.

Bale Baleiwai served in the Army for 12 years . The Fijian was refused UK citizenship after he quit the Forces . His family face ruin after a successful six month fight to stay in the UK . He has returned four medals to the Prince of Wales in disgust .

(CNN)(CNN) -- An accused killer was captured Monday at a bus station more than 250 miles from where police say he killed five people, including two teens, in a rural Georgia town. Thomas Jesse Lee, 26, surrendered to police in Tupelo, Mississippi, without any resistance, authorities said. Lee had been on the run since Saturday from LaGrange, Georgia, where he is accused of killing his wife, her parents, a family member and a friend. "It makes us feel very good he's in custody," said Stewart Smith, the spokesman for the Troup County Sheriff's Office in Georgia. "This was a crime where there were five murders. We've never had anything like that around here. For us to have him in custody that quick is a great relief to us and the family." His arrest came after a bizarre, almost surreal turn of events. Authorities said Lee attended a church service at Crossroads Baptist Church in a small town near Tupelo on Sunday. According to authorities, Lee got along with members of the congregation and they chipped in to purchase him a bus ticket to Opelika, Alabama. Smith said the bus wasn't set to leave until Monday morning. The church members didn't know the 6-foot, 3-inch man with red hair and a matching beard was sought in gruesome murders two states away. It was sometime Monday morning, Smith said, when the pastor saw a news report and realized the man his church helped was wanted in the killings. The pastor called local authorities, and Tupelo police found Lee still at the bus stop. "I believe he did identify himself as Jesse Lee," Smith said. The killings had shaken the community of Lagrange, with some residents fearful Lee might return, Smith said. Police found the bodies of William Burtron, 69, Sheila Burtron, 68, Christie Lee, 33, Bailey Burtron, 16, and Iiaonna Green, 18, late Saturday night at a home in the Water's Edge subdivision of LaGrange, about 70 miles southwest of Atlanta near the Alabama border, CNN affiliate WSB reported. Deputies forced their way into the home after receiving a call that one of the victims hadn't been to work in days, the station reported. The suspect was married to Christie Lee. Four of the five victims had been shot, and each of them was found in a different room of the house, WSB reported. No gun was found in the home. Smith said it was not immediately clear how Lee got to Mississippi. Authorities believe he may have ditched his olive green Mazda Tribute, but have yet to find the vehicle.

Thomas Jesse Lee, 26, captured in Mississippi . Lee was wanted in connection with the killings of 5 people in Georgia . "It makes us feel very good he's in custody," sheriff's spokesman says .

With a £40,000 price tag per night, it's a holiday that's out of reach for most of us, save those with the deepest of pockets. Luckily, there's another way you can have a snoop around Sir Richard Branson's Necker Island holiday retreat without spending a penny (save the cost of your TV license). BBC2 cameras are going behind the scenes at the Virgin mogul's Caribbean island hideaway as part of a new season of TV shows about the super-rich. Home sweet home: A one-off TV show will show viewers around Branson's Necker Island pile . Cash ready: It cost guests up to £40,000 a night to stay at Sir Richard's Caribbean island hideaway . The one-off documentary, Inside Necker Island, is described as 'an intimate portrait of how the rich, powerful and famous holiday'. Sir Richard bought the island in 1978 when he was just 27 and opened it as a luxury retreat for private hire in 1984. Guests can expect to pay up to £40,000 a night and are waited on by around 100 staff. It hit the headlines three years ago when Oscar-winner Kate Winslet had to carry Sir Richard's 90-year-old mother, Eve, to safety when a fire broke out in the multi-millionaire businessman's house. The blaze severely damaged the island's Great House, however it was rebuilt a year later. Other planned programmes include journalist Jacques Peretti examining how the arrival of the very rich has changed the UK and a one-off documentary about the lives of wealthy Russians who have made their home in London. Before the fire: An image of the island before it was devastated by a blaze which damaged the Great House . Luxury: This year the property was voted first in a survey of celebrity houses Brits would most like to stay in . BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw said: 'From exposing the jaw-dropping luxury in which the richest one per cent of society live to exploring the impact such lifestyle extremes have on contemporary Britain, this will be a fascinating and thought-provoking season of films for BBC2.' Earlier this year Necker Island was voted first in a survey of top celebrity houses Brits would most like to stay in, bumping Buckingham Palace into second place. Past guests of the sunny retreat include Princess Diana, Mariah Carey, Robert De Niro and Steven Spielberg and the private island house has eight guest rooms, each with a balcony, king-sized bed and en-suite bathroom. Room with a view: The main house on Necker Island as it was before the fire . A 1,500 square feet master suite sits upstairs that has been specifically designed to give panoramic views of the Caribbean, the Atlantic Ocean and neighbouring islands and includes a two-person Jacuzzi. The Virgin mogul also owns Makepeace Island in Queensland, Australia, a heart-shaped island which you can rent for holidays at a cost of £2,000 a day plus £350 a day per guest, for up to 22 people.

One-off BBC2 documentary to go behind the scenes at Caribbean island . Richard Branson bought Necker Island in 1978 when he was 27 years old . 'Inside Necker Island' intended to be a 'portrait of how the powerful holiday'

Danville, Kentucky (CNN) -- Vice President Joe Biden and Republican Paul Ryan, the man who wants his job, exchanged fire over taxes, Medicare, national security and some animated facial expressions in their only debate before Election Day. Here are five things we learned from Thursday night: . 1. Biden brought it . We expected Ryan, not Biden, to bring a three-ring binder full of facts and figures to the debate. It's not that the data-driven Ryan didn't show up with an arm full of his statistics; it is just that Biden did so as well. And Biden's aggressive offense from the very beginning drowned out Ryan until about 45 minutes into the debate. Biden's 36 years in the Senate served him well Thursday night. Who says that delivering hundreds of floor speeches on Capitol Hill isn't useful? The vice president also proved wrong the critics, who predicted he was going to make a gaffe. He didn't. In many ways, Biden stole a page from Mitt Romney's debate playbook: put your head down, charge forward and don't stop. Romney effectively employed this strategy last week, and Barack Obama was never able to recover. While Ryan put up a fight last night, he, too, was unable to regain his footing. The many expressions of Joe Biden . An Obama-Biden campaign official said before the debate that the vice president's goal was to try to compare and contrast the two competing campaigns' vision for the future. Whether you agree or disagree with the specifics of the Obama-Biden or Romney-Ryan plans, Biden did a better job of selling his last night. It will be several days until we know if this debate has helped the Obama-Biden campaign stem the political bleeding. But Biden did what he needed to do. 5 Independent perspectives on the VP debate . 2. Too much Joe? If Biden was on a mission to bring the fight to Ryan, then it appeared to be mission accomplished for the vice president. Moments into the debate, Biden went on the attack. "On Iraq, the president said he would end the war. Gov. Romney said that was a tragic mistake," said Biden. Minutes later the vice president pushed back against criticism by the Wisconsin congressman, saying "not a single thing he said is accurate." Feisty vice presidential debate sets up Obama-Romney rematch . And he called other accusations by Ryan "a bunch of stuff." Biden went where President Barack Obama wouldn't last week in his debate with Romney, bringing up Romney's "47%" controversy as well as the Republican nominee's tax rate. And later, when Ryan discussed President John F. Kennedy's tax policies, Biden fired back: "Oh, now you're Jack Kennedy?" "The vice president came and showed fight. He showed his boss what it is to engage and engage and engage and attack and attack and attack," said CNN Chief National Correspondent John King. "I think Joe Biden did do his boss a lot of help," agreed Senior CNN Political Analyst David Gergen, who's advised both Democratic and Republican presidents. But was Biden too aggressive? "I think Joe Biden is an authentic person. He speaks his mind. People know him. They expect that," Obama senior adviser David Axelrod said. "I think that authenticity is something that people appreciate." The Romney campaign disagreed. Poll: Debate watchers split on who won . "The sighing, the eye-rolling, the grinning. I don't know if the vice president knew that there was a camera on him the whole time, that there was a split screen," senior Romney campaign adviser Russ Schriefer said. "Even if we thought he was making good points, I think that they stepped on his good points. He was trying to cram everything in that he could that wasn't in the last debate to try and get it all out at once. But I don't think he made any kind of coherent argument as to why the Obama-Biden ticket should be re-elected." Gergen agreed: "On style I think that Paul Ryan won the debate. The Biden dismissive laughs, the interruptions, the sort of shouting, I think that Ryan was calmer and frankly more presidential." What did debate watchers think? Seven out of 10 debate watchers in a CNN/ORC International poll said that Biden was the aggressor. Opinion: Hyper Biden, wonky Ryan . 3. Does the debate even matter? The short answer is no. People don't vote for vice presidents at the ballot box. They vote for presidents. Past vice presidential debates, no matter how high the drama, have ultimately done little to move the needle in modern elections. Not surprisingly, Biden's scenery-chewing performance was viewed differently by both campaigns. The Romney campaign said he looked erratic, rude and unhinged. The Obama campaign said he laid out the facts and made Ryan look, in the spin room words of former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, "like a lightweight." But a common refrain from both campaigns after the debate was that it will probably have a minimal effect on the race one way or the other. 25 funniest tweets about the VP debate . The biggest impact of the night, and the reason Democrats were ebullient after the debate, was the base-rallying impact of Biden's aggressive and blustery stage presence. In the wake of Obama's wilting flower routine in last week's debate, the full Biden, exasperated and angry with Romney and Ryan, was just what Democrats needed. How happy was team Obama? Campaign surrogates stayed in the spin room with puffed chests for much longer than they did in Denver, when they offered dubious messaging before escaping. The campaign immediately sent out a fundraising plea. President Obama put himself in front of cameras after landing at Andrews Air Force Base to praise Biden's performance. And it wasn't just the Obama camp. Democratic state parties, liberal interest groups and down-ballot campaigns rushed to send out fundraising e-mails to capitalize on a fired-up base. You didn't see much of the same on the Republican side. The debate launched a fresh news cycle that will put a temporary halt to the "Chicago in disarray" storylines. Now the pressure is on President Obama to keep that narrative going next week in New York. First two debates couldn't be more different . 4. Ryan rises to challenge . It was arguably Ryan's biggest task in the vice presidential debate. As the running mate to the Republican challenger, Ryan needed to convey that he's fit to serve should something happen to the commander in chief, that he would be acceptable to Americans as president. Known as an expert on economic and budget issues, early in the debate Ryan showed his smarts on foreign policy. During a discussion on troop drawdowns in Afghanistan, he explained how the seasonal changes affect the fighting in Afghanistan. Opinion: Sports bar Biden vs. seminar Ryan . "The mountain passes fill in with snow. The Taliban and the terrorists and the Haqqani and the Quetta Shura come over from Pakistan to fight our men and women. When it fills in with snow, they can't do it. That's what we call fighting seasons. In the warm months, fighting gets really high. In the winter, it goes down," explained Ryan. "And so when Adm. Mullen and Gen. Petraeus came to Congress and said, if you pull these people out before the fighting season ends, it puts people more at risk. That's the problem." "I think Ryan proved himself unexpectedly competent on foreign policy," said Republican strategist and CNN contributor Alex Castellanos, who worked for Romney's 2008 presidential bid. "I think Ryan met his test tonight. Ryan looked very reasonable." As expected, the Obama campaign disagreed. "I think Congressman Ryan was out of his depth and showed clearly the ticket is not ready for prime time on foreign policy, and I think that was a decisive difference between the two sides," said Obama campaign manager Jim Messina. So what do debate watchers think? Did Ryan pass the competency test? Six out of 10 debate watchers in the CNN/ORC poll conducted said that Ryan is qualified to be president. Who won Thursday's debate? Martha Raddatz . 5. Malarkey moves numbers . "Malarkey" is one of Biden's favorite Biden-isms. He's been saying it for decades, but not usually with the kind of gusto he showed on Thursday before millions of prime time television viewers. Soon after the debate began, when Ryan criticized the Obama administration's foreign policy, Biden fired back: "With all due respect, that's a bunch of malarkey." What does malarkey mean? People apparently rushed to their computers to find out. "Malarkey," it turns out, was the third-most-searched debate-related term of the night on Google. It was also trending on Twitter for a good chunk of time. For the record: it's basically the Irish-American term for "nonsense." According to Google, the other top searches during the debate were "Biden," "conflating," "Who is winning the debate" and "How old is Paul Ryan." Read a transcript of the debate or watch it online .

Biden came armed with statistics and bluster . VP also proved he had some punch in him, but was it too much? Just what is malarkey? America wanted to know . Ryan meets challenge of looking like he's ready for the job .

(CNN) -- I have always been a fiercely independent woman. I learned from my grandmother -- the breadwinner in her marriage -- that there was nothing that a woman couldn't do as well as a man. I started working when I was 16 years old and, by all accounts, I had achieved a fairly high degree of success as a young journalist in my early 20s. A die-hard feminist, my desire for self-sufficiency didn't stem from a movement: It was personal. A child of divorced parents who always fought about money-related issues, and with my grandmother's words etched in my mind, I told myself at a young age that I would never rely on a man or anyone to take care of me. I became so defiant about being able to do things on my own that I would rarely even let people buy me meals. That still holds true today. Then, I met "Tom," who was much older and more successful than me. We started dating in my early 30s at a time when my career had me traveling all over the world to report stories. I was neither looking for a relationship nor cared to be in one. A lot of my friends, however, were beginning to settle down and I started to feel like something was wrong with me for not being able to even fathom doing the same. That's not to say I wasn't happy with where I was: I loved my work and I loved the woman I had become. Tom was a nice man who seemed to take a liking to me quite quickly. Like many men of similar ilk, Tom could be aggressive about acquiring things he wanted. Before I knew it, I was being sucked into his vortex. One week we'd be cruising the Mediterranean in a massive full-service yacht, the next we'd be on a shopping excursion in Rome. It all happened so fast and I was being exposed to a part of the world that -- despite being well-traveled -- I had never experienced. It started to become glaringly apparent that I was being seduced by a lifestyle. I was becoming a sugar baby. Or at least, that's how I felt. College 'sugar babies' date for cash . We all know what sugar daddies are: Wealthy older men have throughout history sought out much younger women -- "sugar babies" -- to date, even marry and take care of. Despite the women's liberation movement, our culture is always reminding us of gender roles. Today, websites like SeekingArrangement.com are making it that much easier for men and women to connect by waving the carrot of support and financial security to attract youth and beauty. SeekingArrangement.com CEO says love doesn't exist . While I think Tom liked me because of my independent spirit, I'm quite sure he hoped that the longer we were in a relationship together, the more likely it would be that I would eventually give up my career and let him support me. He was not at all a bad person, but increasingly, I was starting to feel owned and that I was losing myself. Now there's nothing wrong with being in a relationship in which one person financially supports the other. We all contribute to our relationships in different ways and in no way should any contribution be trivialized. I just knew that I was in mine for the wrong reasons and that I had compromised the woman I had worked so hard to become. I am now married and have a child with a man who is quite successful in his own right. I know that if I fall onto hard times, he'll support me, and I will do the same. Even though we're equal partners in our marriage, it's important for me to maintain my own identity, career and finances. "No matter what," my grandma always said, "have your own money." In a span of a lifetime, my relationship with Tom was a mere blip. But, it serves as a constant reminder of a time when I didn't recognize myself, and that didn't feel very good.

Lisa Ling describes herself as "fiercely independent" and "a die-hard feminist" While dating an older, richer man, she became "seduced by a lifestyle" Ling explores the world of "sugaring" in the premiere of her new CNN show . Watch "This is Life with Lisa Ling" Sundays at 10p .

A moving new campaign has been launched to help ex-cons adjust to society by transforming their prison tattoos into colorful works of art. The Freedom Tattoos project, a collaboration between the Pedagogium College of Social Sciences in Warsaw, Poland, and ad agency Isobar Poland, was created to 'transform crude, hideous amateur tattoos made in prisons and juvenile detention centers into professional, socially well-perceived artistic tattoos, that will help them find a job', according to its website. In a YouTube video describing the project, Pedagogium Professor Konopczynski explains why prison tattoos are harder to remove than ink designs done in regular parlors. Scroll down for video . Bad ink: The Freedom Tattoos project aims to help ex-cons adjust to society by transforming their prison tattoos into colorful works of art; one woman had the word 'vendetta' (left) turned into an artful design (right) Mirror, mirror: The woman is seen happily checking out the results of her transformation . 'Prison tattoos are made with improvised equipment assembled at the facility,' he said. 'Removing them is hard and leaves visible scars. They stigmatize and discourage potential employers.' The video shows two formerly incarcerated women having their tattoos camouflaged by new designs. One explains that she had the word 'vendetta' inked on the back of her neck at a juvenile detention center eight years ago, and was eager to have it covered for the sake of her children. After meeting with a Freedom Tattoos artist, she is told that her prison ink can be camouflaged and transformed into a piece of art that she will be proud to show her children. Before: 'For twelve years, I haven't looked at my arms,' another woman says, revealing a crudely-drawn shark tattoo (pictured) she received in prison . After: She has the shark tattoo transformed into a pretty red floral pattern (pictured) Emotional: 'Now I can discover a part of myself again. Now, I can take another step,' she says after seeing the new design . And when she sees the beautiful floral artwork that has replaced the basic wording, she exclaims: 'Oh my God...the "vendetta" is gone!' A few weeks after her tattoo transformation, she adds: 'Now everything is different. And when my tattoo was healing, my son would come to me with an ointment to put on my wounds. This program gave me a great chance. A chance to start a new life.' The other woman, who has lived with a crudely-drawn shark tattoo for more than a decade, reveals: 'For twelve years, I haven't looked at my arms. I just don't look at myself in the mirror. It's like I don't have a part of myself.' After her tattoo is transformed into an elaborate floral design, she is overcome with emotion. Fresh start: The women work with the Freedom Tattoos artists to create a meaningful design that will camouflage their prison ink . Mission statement: The project was launched to show that 'social rehabilitation is not about erasing the past, but rather building on it based on one's talents and passions' Happy ending: 'Oh my God...the "vendetta" is gone!' the first woman exclaims when she sees her new tattoo . 'Now I can discover a part of myself again,' she says. 'Now, I can take another step. And this is fantastic because I don't have to be locked up anymore in that gray world that held me back.' Professor Konopczynski further explains the significance of adding to the tattoos rather than eliminating them altogether. 'At Pedagogium, we teach that social rehabilitation is not about erasing the past, but rather building on it based on one's talents and passions. Sometimes the slightest change in one's life can bring the best results,' he says. 'If they decided to get tattoos, then it means that they wanted to express something. We help them express themselves better.'

The Freedom Tattoos project is a joint effort from the Pedagogium College of Social Sciences in Warsaw, Poland, and ad agency Isobar Poland . A video describing the project shows two formerly incarcerated women having their tattoos camouflaged by beautiful new designs .

A 13-year-old girl who has been missing for nearly two months is believed to be with an older man in Sydney's western suburbs. Jazmin Deacon, 13, has not been seen or heard from since August 26, when she disappeared from Blacktown. But photos on her Facebook page that were published on September 29 show her travelling with an older man at Kingswood, in Sydney's outer west. Police say they have serious concerns for Jazmin Deacon, as she is believed to be in the company of an older man . Ms Deacon has been active on her social media pages in recent weeks . Police say they have serious concerns for Jazmin's safety given her age and suggestions she is with an older man. Meanwhile, in the Hunter region, police are trying to track down another underage missing girl. Police believe 16-year-old Taylor Almond is safe, but her family says her behaviour is completely out of character. Taylor Almond, 16, from the Hunter region, is also missing, in what her family says is completely out of character . Taylor disappeared from her Lake Macquarie home on October 12, but police say they've received information that indicates she is safe. She has been seen at the Kotara, Adamstown area, and Newcastle Beach areas in the past week.

Jazmin Deacon, 13, has not been seen since August 26, when she disappeared from Blacktown, in Sydney's west . But pictures on her Facebook page indicate she has been travelling with an older man . Police say they have serious concerns for Ms Deacon's welfare .

Washington (CNN) -- Thursday, December 13, may have been one of the luckiest days of Susan Rice's life. It may not feel that way now since she had to set aside for the moment her longtime dream of becoming secretary of state. But it is one thing to be secretary of state in theory and it will be quite another to be America's top diplomat during the next several years. Rice, it must be said, was cheated out of a job for which she was well-qualified by a broken political system in Washington. She became a pawn in the campaign battle between the president she has ably served at the U.N. for the past four years and Republicans who sought to make her a scapegoat for the tragic mess that took place in Benghazi on September 11. She did nothing wrong except to do what an administration spokesperson is supposed to do, present the unclassified facts of the case as they were known and as her colleagues in the White House, intelligence and diplomatic communities concluded they ought to be presented. Democrat 'extremely upset' with Rice's withdrawal . Sen. John McCain led the effort to block her possible nomination as secretary of state with the assistance of colleagues like Sens. Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte. The fact that this forced Rice to submit a letter to the president withdrawing her nomination reflects the amount of power our system gives even one or two senators who are intent on blocking or dragging out a nomination. It may be a testimony to McCain's influence and his tenacity. It will certainly not be seen as a high water mark in his distinguished career. His opposition was petty, partisan, disproportionate to the facts of the Benghazi case that he used to frame his opposition, and inconsistent with the spirit that should prevail when a president presents or even floats his choice for a job as one of his top advisers. Rice withdraws from consideration as secretary of state . What the withdrawal of the Rice nomination was not was a sign of presidential weakness. Quite the contrary, the decision by the White House to accept Rice's withdrawal from consideration and allow her to remain as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations showed considerably more wisdom and public-spiritedness than was evinced at any time by the opposition. Great international challenges loom for the United States. To subject the country to a long drawn-out confirmation battle simply to prove who has the upper hand and in so doing to potentially weaken the eventual occupant of the office Thomas Jefferson was the first to hold would be of no benefit to anyone in the United States. The president had other good choices and would have access to the advice and service of Rice from her post at the U.N. He didn't blink. He kept his eye on the ball. Now, it seems likely that sometime in the next few days, the president will nominate someone else to the Foggy Bottom job. It is rumored that person may be Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is among the most qualified possible candidates for the job and would have no problem getting confirmed. McCain, in fact, is a close friend of his. Whoever gets the nod, however, may someday wish they did not. For one thing, the next secretary of state has very big shoes to fill. Hillary Clinton has been exceptional in the job, leading a remarkable resurgence in U.S. diplomacy, playing a central role in helping to restore America's standing in the world, being an architect of resetting this country's international priorities from the pivot to Asia to the recognition of the importance of emerging powers worldwide, from embracing the power of new information age tools of diplomacy to continuing her lifelong effort to win greater equality for women and other disenfranchised populations. There's an old saying in Washington that one secret to job success is picking the right predecessor and in that respect, whoever is next has a tough act to follow. More daunting by far is the world that will confront the next secretary. Not only do we face a situation in the greater Middle East that may be more dangerous than it has been at any time in history, but in case after case, America's leverage is weak, our options are lousy and our enemies are well-positioned. Opinion: An unfair portrait of Susan Rice . Egypt was a vital partner for peace and is now, at best, a question mark. Its new leader, Mohamed Morsy, has shown a propensity for authoritarianism and the group he represents, the Muslim Brotherhood, has extremist elements within it that many in the region fear may be inclined to help spread unrest to other moderate states like Jordan or some of those in the Gulf. President Bashar al-Assad may be teetering in Syria but the chaos that will follow his fall is likely to be as great as is our uncertainty about the motives and capabilities of many in the opposition. Iran continues to taunt the world with its seemingly relentless drive to acquire nuclear weapons and it may be that in the next year the United States will be confronted by the question of whether we are willing to use military force to stop them. Al-Assad losing control but showing no signs of leaving . Iraq and Afghanistan were challenging during the past four years to be sure. But President Obama was elected essentially to get out of these places and he made great strides in both in that respect. But now comes the hard part. In Iraq, the regime we have supported has been far too close to Iran, corrupt and may not be able to hold the country together. In Afghanistan, we may find that the only way to leave the country with a semi-stable government is to give substantial power to members of the Taliban, the group we sought to get rid of when we invaded the country. Neighboring Pakistan, with scores of nuclear weapons, a massive, struggling population and uncertain politics, is considered by many to be the most dangerous place in the world. We may have gotten Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders, but the terror network and others are resurgent, gaining strength across the Middle East and spreading into Africa. Obama's cabinet: Who's in, who's out? Europe continues to struggle with its severe economic problems. Japan has lurched into recession again. North Korea is testing long-range missiles. Japan and China are nose to nose in a dispute over contested islands. China itself is not only a rising rival but a vital economic partner, a place presenting equal portions of opportunity and risk. Further, the Chinese leadership is new and will be testing the United States and, at the same time, using whatever measures it must to maintain stability at home. Russia is causing trouble in Syria. We have great domestic challenges at home. We have done nothing to address global warming and the consequences are becoming ever more apparent. Our international institutions are as weak as we long ago designed them to be and there is little appetite to make them stronger even though the proliferation, climate, trade, financial and health challenges we face all strongly suggest they must be. While America itself may be entering a resurgent period, our recovery is likely to be fragile and clearly, as the Rice incident and the fiscal cliff clown show illustrate, Washington is bereft of the ability to do even the minimum we might expect of it. None of this means calamity is certain. None of this assures American decline. I for one, believe the United States will be the world's sole superpower for many decades to come. But what it does mean is that over the next four years we will face extraordinary challenges worldwide and at home. And for those reasons, it may well be that being the next secretary of state will be every bit as great a trial as it is an honor. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of David Rothkopf.

Rothkopf: Susan Rice may be lucky not to achieve her dream of becoming secretary of state . He says whoever gets the job faces a bleak prospect of dealing with U.S. global woes . Hillary Clinton will be a difficult act to follow as the nation's chief diplomat, he says . Rothkopf: Obama made the right call here; John McCain got it wrong .

By . Sadie Whitelocks . UPDATED: . 13:24 EST, 9 November 2011 . A couple who had waited for two years to hear their daughter to speak were overjoyed after the first words she uttered were: 'I love you daddy.' Toddler Bronte Cassell, who was born extremely premature, was given a tracheotomy to help her breathe when she was six months old. But because the tubes were inserted below her voice box she was left unable to speak. Two-year-old Bronte with parents Martin and Hellen Cassell who are overjoyed that she can now speak . After living with the breathing apparatus for a year and a half doctors at Sheffield Children's Hospital were finally able to remove the tubes, bringing her parents to tears with her first words. Mother Hellen, 41, from Rotherham said: 'It's been a long time in the waiting but more than worth it to hear those wonderful words. 'My husband Martin looked at her and . said : 'I love you Bronte' and she looked back and said "I love you . daddy". Then she looked at me and said ' I love you too mummy'. 'We just looked at each other and cried. It was the first time we had ever heard her really speak.' Bronte, who weighed just 1lb 12 oz when she was born, at one month . Bronte born at 25 weeks and weighing just 1lb 12 oz, spent her first 15 . weeks of life in hospital switching between intensive care . and special care wards. At the age of six months she stopped . breathing due to a tight narrowing just below her vocal cords and . underwent the tracheotomy before Christmas 2009. Unable to speak the toddler learned how to use sign language and to mouth words by communicating with her brother Noah, who is eight months older. Surgeons eventually operated on Bronte, removing the tubes and oxygen supply, enabling her larynx to function properly. Her father Martin, 41, said: 'It was one of the best days of our lives to see Bronte without her tubes and oxygen tank and to hear her say she loved us for the first time.' Neil Bateman, the surgeon who removed the tubes, said: 'It was a pleasure to operate on Bronte and be able to give her this new lease of life. 'It can be hard for families adapting to tracheotomy but for Bronte it has helped her to get through a difficult period of her life and it's fantastic she's now enjoying what a lot of other children can take for granted.'

Tube inserted below the voice box left Bronte unable to speak for 18 months .