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By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 05:36 EST, 25 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:40 EST, 25 September 2012 . Standing tall over sprawling Belgian fields, this looming structure once housed Nazi soldiers who surveyed the surrounding landscape from the vantage point of the 100ft watchtower. Now the 74-year-old building has been given a new lease of life after being transformed into a luxurious contemporary home spread over six floors, featuring striking circular rooms, lift access, and a magnificent terrace to take advantage of its panoramic views over the Flemish countryside. While the exterior of the building has changed little since the days of Nazi rule, the interior has been stripped out to make way for a stunning high-spec kitchen, an enormous living area boasting 360 degree views, and a vast bathroom that occupies an entire floor of the tower on the outskirts of the village of Steenokkerzeel. Looming: The 100ft tall structure was used as a watchtower by the Nazis during World War II . New lease of life: The former Nazi watchtower has been transformed into a luxury home . Contemporary: The spacious home is split over six floors and boasts elevator access . Transformation: This giant cylinder - now used as a unique chalkboard - was part of the original structure of the tower . In 2008 architects from Belgian design studio Bham gutted the interior of the tower, leaving just the concrete skeleton behind. The building was then split into six floors and an elevator installed to whisk occupants between the newly-installed master bedroom, kitchen, living and dining areas. Keeping in mind the building's original purpose, the top floor of the luxury 4,844 sq ft abode - named Chateau D'Eau - has been turned into a terrace boasting views stretching miles over the surrounding countryside. Dramatic: A spiral staircase dominates the minimalist master bedroom . Vast: The main bathroom occupies the entire third floor of the tower . Palatial: The huge bathroom boasts his and hers sinks and a sofa for lounging around in . Centrepiece: The almost 15ft tall shower forms the centrepiece to the enormous bathroom . Level five houses the living area, including a vast contemporary kitchen, while the whole of level four has been devoted to the spacious master bedroom. The third floor has been given over entirely to the main bathroom, in which a near 15ft high shower has been installed as a dramatic centrepiece. A guest area incorporating a bedroom and bathroom takes up the second floor, while level one is home to storage and utility rooms. On the ground floor is a garage with space for two cars. Original elements including the main water conduct, concrete ceilings and staircases, and a giant 250,000 litre water basin were kept to preserve the strong identity of the building. The tower was originally built in 1938, and co-opted by the Nazis during World War II who used it as a vantage point from which to monitor the surrounding area. The building was used as a water tower up until the 1990s, and was declared a war monument in 2004. It is owned by a couple who rent parts of their unique home out for exclusive events. Views: The renovation of the former watchtower was designed to take advantage of the views from the building . High-spec: The modern kitchen boasts all mod cons . History: Nazi soldiers surveyed the Flemish countryside from the 100ft tower during World War II . Living area: The light-filled kitchen, dining and lounge areas are on the fifth floor of the tower . Visitors welcome: The contemporary home also features guest quarters . Original features: Original elements including the main water conduct, concrete ceilings and stairs, and the giant 250,000 litre water basin were kept to preserve the strong identity of the building . Des res: Chateau D'Eau boasts panoramic views over the Flemish countryside . Minimal: The tower on the outskirts of the Belgian village of Steenokkerzeel has been transformed into a sleek living space . Unique: The building was declared a war monument in 2004 . Looming: The structure, which dates back to 1938, stands almost 100ft tall . Outlook: Nazi soldiers surveyed the Flemish countryside from the watchtower when they occupied Belgium during World War II . Panorama: Located just outside the Belgian village of Steenokkerzeel, the view from the watchtower stretches for miles .

100ft structure once housed Nazi soldiers who used it as a watchtower during WWII . War monument in the Belgian countryside has been transformed into a modern mansion .

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By . Graham Smith . Last updated at 8:44 PM on 28th October 2011 . Captured American fugitive George Wright suffers from various health problems and should not be extradited from Portugal to the U.S., his wife said today. Speaking at their home in Almocageme near Lisbon, Maria do Rosario Valente said that Wright suffers from glaucoma, 'very, very high' blood pressure caused by recent stress, and has complained of chest pains. She said: 'We're having a bunch of tests done to see what's his current health condition.' 'Unwell': Fugitive George Wright looks at his wife Maria do Rosario Valente in their kitchen at home in Almocageme, near Lisbon, on Friday. She claims he suffers from various health problems and should not be extradited from Portugal to the U.S. Wright's lawyer Manuel Luis Ferreira . said he intends to include his client's poor health in his legal . arguments against extradition. Mr Ferreira said: 'I didn't initially realise how bad he was. Now I've got to know him, I know his problems.' The U.S. wants Wright returned to serve the remainder of his 15- to 30-year sentence for a 1962 murder in New Jersey. The 68-year-old was on the run for 41 years until his . arrest in Portugal a month ago. He was convicted of the murder of Walter . Patterson, a service station worker in Wall Township, New Jersey. He broke out of . the Bayside State Prison in Leesburg, New Jersey, in 1970 after serving . more than seven years. The FBI says Wright also was part of a . Black Liberation Army group that hijacked a U.S. plane from Detroit . Metropolitan Airport to Algeria in 1972. After that, Wright went on the . lam. The couple married in 1991 and have two children. Wright is currently under house arrest and wears an electronic tag as legal proceedings about his extradition take place . Walter Patterson's daughter, Ann Patterson, now 63, said she wants Wright extradited to serve the rest of his sentence. She said that recent weeks have caused her family sleepless nights. "Our world has been turned upside down," she said. "We've now had to grieve for our father for the second time when we never should have had to the first time." She declined to comment on Wright's lawyer's plans to use his health condition as a reason to fight extradition. Ms Valente said her husband, who she has lived with for 20 years, regrets his criminal past and has become a more peaceful man since his days in the Black Liberation Army. As he was: Wright has been on the run . since 1970. His wife (right) claims her husband regrets his criminal past . Hideout: The house where Wright has lived for more than 20 years . Wright was initially placed in a . Lisbon jail pending the outcome of the court case, but two weeks ago the . judge allowed him to return home on condition he remains inside the . house and wears an electronic tag that monitors his movements. Wright . cannot stray beyond the front door into the garden. Wright, . a tall, slim man with his head shaved and wearing glasses, is not . allowed to discuss his extradition case due to Portugal's judicial . secrecy laws. 'He regrets . the choices he made,' Ms Valente said of her husband's past. 'If he . could, probably he'd have made different choices.' Many . locals in this hamlet near Lisbon describe Wright as a friendly, . church-going family man. He has a grown daughter and son with Valente. Some assumed he was from Africa when he moved here. Hijack: Dressed as a priest, Wright hijacked a plane bound for Detroit in 1972. FBI agents tried to negotiate with them before they escaped to Algeria with a $1million ransom . Wright joined the Black Liberation Army, above, who lived as a 'family' in New York . Ms Valente said: 'If the purpose of sending someone to jail is to rehabilitate them, then that job is done.' Wright's . lawyer argues that Wright is now a Portuguese citizen and should be . allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence in Portugal, where his . wife and two grown children live. Wright . got Portuguese citizenship through marriage in 1991 after . Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony in West Africa, gave him the . new name of 'Jose Luis Jorge dos Santos' - the one he uses in Portugal - . and made him a citizen. The . identity from Guinea-Bissau was granted after the country gave Wright . political asylum in the 1980s, and that was accepted by Portugal, . according to the lawyer.

Fugitive George Wright, 68, is suffering from 'very, very high blood pressure' He was convicted of 1962 murder before breaking out of U.S. prison in 1970 . Then hijacked plane and fled to Algeria in 1972 . He was on the run for 41 years until his arrest in Portugal a month ago .

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With Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel preparing to say their 'I dos' this weekend, the pair are undoubtedly busy with last-minute preparations. The couple kept a low profile on Friday, as they prepare to exchanges vows against a rustic Italian backdrop, believed to be taking place in a sunset ceremony on Saturday evening. On the eve of the wedding, some of their guests were spotted relaxing at the local beach in Southern Italy and taking in the sights on a bicycle ride. It comes after a sighting of Timberlake on Wednsday, enjoying pre-wedding drinks with guests including Saturday Night Live star Andy Samberg. Preparations: Justin Timberlake enjoyed pre-wedding drinks with a group of guests on Wednesday night in Brindisi, Italy . Rumours have been circulating for days about the Hollywood duo's nuptials - but things now look more certain than ever. In fact Timberlake's aunty Jane Harless appeared to confirm things, by gushing about Biel as a fantastic 'daughter-in-law'. 'We couldn’t ask for a better daughter-in-law, she told Celebuzz. 'We just love her.' Making a splash: Guests were spotted frolicking in the seas at the local beach on Friday . Magical setting: The attendees relaxed at the beach, but Timberlake and Biel were nowhere to be seen . Harless was invited to the Italian . wedding - but says she has skipped the 6,000-mile trip to care for . Timberlake's disabled grandparents William and Sadie Bomar, in . Tennessee. Meanwhile, Timberlake apparently has a . surprise up his sleeve - and is set to perform a comedy dance routine . to It's Gonna Be Me. Justin will hark back to his 'N Sync days - but with a twist - with exaggerated boy band moves and poses, according to The Sun. Timberlake's guests were seen relaxing at the local beach on Friday. Taking in the sights: Another group of guest spotted taking a bicycle ride . Rather than enjoy a modern wedding . full of luxurious trappings, the multi-millionaire couple seem to have . opted for a very rustic-style occasion. Interior shots of the Italian castle known as a 'castello' in Brindisi, show overgrown grass and ye olde stone monuments dotted around the grounds. Horses graze next to a ramshackle stable, along with hay bales and a rickety teepee style structure with fire underneath. There are several loungers and beds laid out among the grounds, with a basket of apples dangling over one double bed. There . has even been a sighting of a group of Italian entertainers dressed in . traditional costume while guests enjoyed a country-style picnic of . tomatoes and potatoes, along with obligatory peasant clay pots on . Thursday. Eat, drink, and be merry! The lucky guests indulged in wine, cheese, canapes, and olives at the picnic on Thursday . Celebration: Justin Timberlake's Saturday Night Live friend Andy Samberg was one of the famous faces enjoying a welcome drink on Wednesday before the firework display . Jetted over: Samberg is one of several friends and family said to be flown to Italy by private jet from New York  City . Justin was pictured sporting a grey and black hat, as he mingled with the 'few hundred' guests who sipped champagne in the grounds of the castle in southern Italy. The guests later enjoyed a lavish firework display in a nearby seaside town. Fiery blasts of red, green and white . lit up the sky, while a large van and several . spotlights were seen in the area. Location location location: Interior photographs of the château which is said to be where the nuptials are taking place . Picturesque: Justin and Jessica are said to have chosen the southern Italy location as it 'means a lot to both of them' In the country: The grounds of the venue featured beds and cushions dotted around . The happy couple: Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake were all smiles at the Costume Institute Gala in New York City on May 7 . An insider told the New York Post that Justin, 31, and Jessica, 30, chose the Italian location, near Naples, because it 'means a lot to both of them.' According to the newspaper, Jessica's maid of honour will be her best friend Lindsay Ratowsky, while the A-Team star's stylist Estee Stanley, who is also a partner in his home décor business HomeMint has been helping to plan the wedding. 'A private plane was flown out of New York to take guests to Italy, including both their publicists,' a source told the newspaper. 'But the event has been shrouded in a lot of secrecy, and not even the guests were told the exact location or day of the wedding before they left.' Samberg and music producer Timbaland are both said to have been flown out to Italy by private jet. The . couple are reported to have sent 'vague save the date notifications' back in the spring, and guests are reported by the newspaper as being . 'prohibited from bringing cameras or phones.' Into the wild: The extensive grounds appear to feature donkeys, a ramshackle stable and log fences . Traditional country mood: The wedding venue seemed a far cry from the more salubrious venues the couple are used to . Picnic . in the park: A little boy appears to be dressed in traditional costume . holding a goat, while the guests relax in the sunshine . Chilling out: The guests made the most of the sun loungers available at the party . Italian feast: Guests are reported to have enjoyed a picnic consisting of traditional cuisine . All dressed up and somewhere to go? Several people in the grounds were spotted dressed up in traditional Italian costume . The pop star-turned actor - who sold . more than 50 million albums with 'N Sync - got engaged to Jessica last . December and the pair are widely reported to be tying the knot in at . some point this weekend. An insider told Us Weekly the couple is taking 'extra precautions' to keep details of their nuptials secret. Spokespersons for Biel and Timberlake have not responded to MailOnline's request for comment. Fruitful occasion: A basket of apples hangs down over a bed in the grounds of the Italian castillo . Old fashioned fun: Men dressed in country costume carry baskets of must through the rustic grounds . Authentically olde: Hay lies around the ground, while a ladder is held against a tree . The couple became engaged in December 2011, after he proposed in the mountains of Jackson, Wyoming. The singer-turned-actor is said to have celebrated his bachelor party in September. Photos . of the star surfaced with a group of . male friends - first in Las Vegas, and later in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico - . amid reports the days to Timberlake's wedding date were . winding down. Although they have been tight-lipped . about their plans, the Alpha Dog star recently reminisced . about when he asked his fiancée on their first date. That was back in 2007 - after Timberlake got her details from a friend. Glass of bubbly: Samberg dressed in casual clothes as he drank from a champagne flute . Picturesque setting: The guests appeared to be socialising in front of some giant white lanterns and next to a white outhouse . The night of a thousand stars: The guests drunk and chatted as the night went on, standing next to giant lanterns . Picturesque: Guests enjoyed a dramatic setting next to lit up lanterns outside the chateau . He told UK's Hello! magazine: 'I did . it the old fashion way - by telephone. That’s something I learned from . both my stepdad and my grandfather - that there is a thing called . chivalry and it doesn’t have to die with the birth of the internet. 'The way I see it, if you’re asking a girl out on a date, it’s only right to do it in a way that she can hear your voice.' But because he was a big name popstar at the time, not to mention a former Mouseketeer, it was not an easy sell. Getting ready: Some guests stroll through the grounds of the château where the nuptials are said to be taking place . Pre-party: The wedding guests dressed casually for the drinks, as they mingled in the rustic surroundings . The SexyBack singer admitted: 'I had to be pretty persistent in order to get her to say yes. 'But I have a fair amount of tenacity and if I want something I stick to it. And in the end she agreed.' He also said that their most important quality as a couple is their willingness to work hard on their relationship. He said: 'Some days are better than . other days for all of us - and if we have our good days and bad days . individually, and then we’re dealing with someone else’s good and bad . days on top of that, it’s going to add up. 'But what I have learned from my stepdad is something as important, which is patience and compassion. 'Because when you are living with someone else, those two qualities go a long way.' Jessica has meanwhile insisted she has not turned into a fearsome 'bridezilla' in the run-up to the big day. She told E! News earlier this month: 'I'm just pretty much cool as a cucumber in general in my life. So no, I'm cool.' The new issue of Life & Style Weekly is on newsstands now. Wedding celebration? A firework display went off in southern Italy on Wednesday night . Patriotic: Red, white and green - the colours of the Italian flag - were a prominent part of the display .

Nuptials reported to be taking place this weekend in Brindisi, southern Italy . Guests relax on eve of Italian nuptials as Hollywood couple prepare to wed . Famous couple have been flying in guests by private jet from New York .

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Alfreda Weir, 64, has 26 medical conditions . She is not sure if operator was being 'rude or just stupid' Patient's group brands treatment at hands of Scottish Ambulance Service 'absolutely inhuman' By . Hayley Dixon . PUBLISHED: . 12:40 EST, 29 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:30 EST, 30 November 2012 . A blind pensioner was told by an ambulance service operator she could get to hospital on her own as her guide dog would read the signs. Outraged Alfreda Weir, 64, has had three strokes, kidney failure, heart failure and depends on her 10-year-old guide dog Yoko for getting around. She has to make regular visits to the hospital for treatment and until recently she was regularly picked up by the Scottish Ambulance Service and taken to her appointments. Blind Alfreda Weir, 64, was effectively told that her guide dog Yoko, pictured with her, could read signs and get her to hospital . But after calling the service last week, Ms Weir was informed by an operator that she no longer met criteria and would have to make her own way to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. Ms Weir, who lives alone in Dunfermline and has no family, was then left speechless when the operator effectively told her that her Labrador could read the hospital signs for her when she got there. She said yesterday: 'When the lady on the phone made it clear the ambulance wouldn’t be taking me for my appointment, I asked her what I would do if I made my own way to the hospital. 'It’s a big place and they use signs to direct patients, but obviously I can’t read them. Ms Weir was trying to get to her appointment at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, pictured, when the operator refused to provide her with an ambulance . 'She said to me "there are signs". So I reminded her that I am visually impaired, to which she replied "but you’ve got a guide dog". 'So I had to tell her that my dog can’t read. She’s a lovely, clever little thing but she’s not that clever. I’m not sure if the operator was being rude or just stupid.' As well as being blind, Ms Weir has 26 different medications for conditions such as bronchitis, diabetes and asthma. She has used the patient transport system for years to get to appointments but a new booking system was introduced in October and she was told she no longer met criteria for a lift. Margaret Watt, from the Scottish Patients Association said Alfreda’s treatment was 'Absolutely inhuman'. Ms Weir, pictured at her home with her guide dog Yoko, was left outraged by the Scottish Ambulance Service's refusal to provide her with transport to her hospital appointment . She said: 'I doubt any of the people in the ambulance service would think that was clever if it was one of their relatives. 'What a ridiculous thing to say. That operator should be retrained on respect, compassion and dignity for patients, because she obviously hasn’t got any. 'With regards to Ms Weir not being taken to hospital, that is also not acceptable. Not only is it inconvenient for the patient it costs a lot of money. 'They should be making sure this lady gets to and from hospital safely and has no difficulties in getting around hospitals.' The matter has now been resolved and Alfreda will be picked up by the ambulance again, but she said she is nervous about calling the operator to book up. A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said that they would not comment on specifics of the case because of patient confidentiality, but issued this statement: 'Ambulance transport is provided for patients who have a mobility or medical need. 'The decision to provide transport was based upon the initial information provided by the patient. Once further information and the patient’s circumstances were clarified, transport was confirmed and will continue to be provided in future.'

Alfreda Weir, 64, has 26 medical conditions . She is not sure if operator was being 'rude or just stupid' Patient's group brands treatment at hands of Scottish Ambulance Service 'absolutely inhuman'

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NEW YORK (CNN) -- In the midst of the ongoing culture wars, can it be a good idea to put out a comedy about two Stone Age men who wander into the Bible? In "Year One," Jack Black stars as an inquisitive Stone Age man, with Michael Cera as his sidekick. Harold Ramis thinks so. "Year One," which he directed, concerns two men -- played by Jack Black and Michael Cera -- who leave their home and, in their travels, meet biblical characters such as Cain, Abel, Abraham and Isaac. Among the locales: ancient Sodom, which "didn't seem worse than Las Vegas to me," Ramis told CNN. "Year One" comes out Friday. Ramis, whose writing and directing credits include "Groundhog Day" and "Analyze This," said it was time for a new biblical epic -- of sorts. "No one had done this film for our generation," he told CNN. It's like, you know, when 'Animal House' [which Ramis co-wrote] came out, there were college films. Every generation had college films, but our generation didn't have one yet, and I don't know that our generation - this young, new generation of kids has a, you know, a sandal epic yet, and this is the one. This is for them." Ramis rounded up a cast of comedians familiar to any watcher of Judd Apatow-produced movies -- no surprise, since Apatow is a producer of "Year One." Christopher Mintz-Plasse ("Superbad"), Horatio Sanz ("Saturday Night Live," "Step Brothers") and Bill Hader ("Tropic Thunder") all have parts. "A lot of them were new to me," said Ramis. "[But] Jack knew them, Michael knew them, they were connected -- all connected through Judd Apatow, through 'Saturday Night Live' ... the comedy world is a club." Black joked that everyone's a member of a secret society, requiring retinal scans, that meets "inside the O of the Hollywood sign -- the first O," he noted.. "All the projects are laid out on a table," he said. "And we talk generally about how we're gonna take over the planet, take over the comedy and keep a vise grip on it." Black said he revels in the chance to find the humor in the Bible. "That was the fun of this thing," he said. "It's like, we are going to have some fun with the Bible; you don't see it very often. It hasn't really been done since Monty Python days. 'Life of Brian.' " However, the film could get more than it asked for. Films poking fun at the Bible -- or, indeed, treating the Bible with anything less than reverence -- have been the subject of protests and criticism. "Life of Brian," the Python troupe's 1979 comedy about an assumed messiah that parodied the story of Jesus, was protested by clergy in the U.S. and banned outright in Ireland. French protesters threw Molotov cocktails into a Paris theater showing "The Last Temptation of Christ," Martin Scorsese's 1988 film version of Nikos Kazantzakis' novel. More recently, Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," though a huge financial success, was criticized by some observers for alleged anti-Semitism, as well as its violence. Ramis, who observed that a number of biblical films focus on the New Testament, said he deliberately chose to make the Old Testament his subject. "I told people that I wanted to do for the Old Testament what Monty Python did for the Gospels," he said. "Which is just to kind of take a funny look and project a contemporary sensibility back to these treasured myths of Western civilization. "It wasn't so much to attack any particular religion," he added. "I figure all religions are good. They all make sense on paper; it's just the exploitation of religion that's been a problem, by ... people using religion to justify war, or to justify government or, you know, 'God made me do it.' " Ramis said one of his intentions with "Year One," which he co-wrote with "Office" writers Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg, was to focus on people, not God. Paraphrasing the liberal clergyman and activist William Sloane Coffin, he said, God's not the event itself, but "God's in our reaction to the event." "I wanted to do a film that kind of addressed these fundamental beliefs and urged people to take personal responsibility, no matter what they believe God is or isn't," Ramis said. "It's still up to us in the final analysis." Which is not to say that the film skimps on its comedy -- and with Ramis, Black, Cera, Hank Azaria, David Cross and producer Judd Apatow ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Superbad") around, there's no shortage of jokes. "It's really just a good, dumb, broad comedy," Ramis told Entertainment Weekly. Improvisation often played a role, said Cera and Black. "We weren't locked to anything," Cera said. "It was a very honest set. If something wasn't working then we would address it." "We got a lot of different options [from observers], and they were able to play with different options in the editing room. I thought it was a cool way to do it," said Black. "I've never done a movie like that -- and now I wanna do that on all my movies." iReport.com: Seen "Year One"? Share your review . The handful of early reviews have been positive, and Ramis is pleased with the result. He's particularly happy the film was received warmly in the Sodom shooting location -- Sibley, located in northwest Louisiana, in the heart of the Bible Belt. "It's funny, because Southern people living in the heart of the Bible belt, there's a Baptist church every 150 feet in that area, and here we are in Sodom, in the city of Sodom," he said. "And they just got into it, they enjoyed it so much."

"Year One" stars Jack Black and Michael Cera as Stone Age men in Bible . Director and co-writer Harold Ramis says the film uses comedy to make points . Biblical films are sometimes met with protest; will "Year One" qualify?

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(CNN)In 1610, after he built his telescope, Galileo Galilei first spotted enormous Saturn's gigantic rings. More than 400 years later, astronomers have in a sense dwarfed that discovery with a similar first. Using powerful optics, they have found a much larger planet-like body, J1407b, with rings 200 times the size of Saturn's, U.S. and Dutch astronomers said. It lies some 400 light-years away from Earth. For decades, scientists have believed that many moons around large planets formed out of such ring systems. But this is the first one astronomers have observed outside of our solar system, they said. It was discovered in 2012, but a detailed analysis of its data was recently completed and published. If J1407b were in our solar system, it would dominate Earth's nightly sky. "If we could replace Saturn's rings with the rings around J1407b, they would be easily visible at night and be many times larger than the full moon," said Matthew Kenworthy from the Netherlands' Leiden Observatory. Unlike Galileo peering a relatively short distance through his simple telescope, today's astronomers can't eyeball the rings hundreds of light-years away. But using two very powerful optical devices with eight cameras each, they can observe the effect the rings have as they pass across nearby star J1407 -- written without a 'b' at the end. It is similar to our sun. The rings of planet J1407b eclipse its light. With the enormous size of the rings, the eclipse the astronomers observed lasted 56 days. But the star did not go completely dark for nearly two months. Some of J1407b's 30 rings are denser, blocking more light, and some of them are less dense, letting more light through. And there are gaps between the rings, leading the scientists to theorize that "exomoons" have formed and cut clean orbits through the debris, like the moons around Saturn. Our own solar system's ringed giant has at least 60 moons, according to NASA. Like its system of rings, planet J1407b is also much larger than Saturn, said astrophysicist Eric Mamajek, whose team at the University of Rochester discovered the object. "You could think of it as kind of a super Saturn." It is called a brown dwarf, a size classification somewhere between a planet and a star, according to the California Institute of Technology. Brown dwarfs are hot but don't burst into nuclear fusion the way stars do, so they don't give off light. The scientists are calling on amateur astronomers to keep an eye on star J1407 in hopes they may observe the rings eclipsing it again and report the results to the American Association of Variable Star Observers, which collects astronomical data on "stars that change in brightness." And astronomers will also search for more such ringed systems.

Scientists have long believed many moons formed from Saturn-like rings . This is the first time such a system has been spotted outside of our solar system, astronomers say .

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It was as all going so swimmingly in defence for Arsenal. Laurent Koscielny was fit after Achilles tendinitis, Per Mertesacker’s recent displays were markedly better, Nacho Monreal was looking like a player who could displace Kieran Gibbs at left back and Hector Bellerin was finding his feet since graduating from the club academy. For 56 minutes it looked like Arsenal would earn a fourth consecutive Premier League clean sheet. Then they allowed Harry Kane too much space to drill home the equaliser, before Koscielny lost the striker in the lead up to the late winner. Back to square one, it seems, in the space of 30 minutes. Two mistakes, two goals and back to the drawing board for Arsene Wenger. Arsene Wenger, pictured talking to the linesman, wasn't happy with Martin Atkinson's performance . The Frenchman watches on as Tomas Rosicky replaces Santi Cazorla in the 68th minute . The Frenchman is also likely to be worried about the way his side were dominated by Tottenham, but instead he tried to deflect attention from such deficiencies by criticising referee Martin Atkinson. His comments could well land him in trouble with the FA, but no amount of referee-bashing could hide the fact that his side were second best. ‘I wasn’t happy with the referee. I felt, like us, he was not at this best,’ said Wenger. ‘I believe we made too many technical mistakes compared to our usual level — we lost balls we aren’t used to losing.’ Atkinson shows Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud a yellow card during the Premier League clash .

Arsene Wenger stated he 'wasn't happy with the referee' after match . He also said he felt his side made too many mistakes during 2-1 loss . The FA may decide to punish Wenger after his post-match comments .

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(CNN) -- The old adage "beauty is only skin deep" has turned out to be true, and filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders is a living witness. For his latest documentary, "About Face: Supermodels Then & Now" -- premiering on HBO on Monday --- the lensman exposes a side of the fashion business rarely seen by the masses, in which some of the most legendary and beautiful clotheshorses open up about their triumphs and struggles in and out of the spotlight. HBO is owned by CNN's parent company. The hour-plus-long film, which debuted this year at the Sundance Film Festival, features interviews with household names like Christie Brinkley, Beverly Johnson, Calvin Klein, Isabella Rossellini, Christy Turlington Burns and Cheryl Tiegs alongside industry pioneers such as Carmen Dell'Orefice, China Machado, Eileen Ford, Pat Cleveland and Bethann Hardison. Unlike other accounts of the fashion business -- such as popular fictional films like "Mahogany," "Zoolander" and "The Devil Wears Prada" and the documentary "The September Issue" -- "About Face" let the models do the talking. "People go into the film thinking, 'Oh, it's going to be some kind of fluffy film about the fashion world,' and then they leave it overwhelmed," Greenfield-Sanders said from his home in upstate New York. "I think that everyone was very honest in the film," he added. "And that's what I appreciated, them giving me their 100%. They gave me a lot and were very open." The film begins with 81-year-old Dell'Orefice candidly comparing her plastic surgery to repairing a ceiling that's falling down. The New York native is regarded as the world's oldest working model and started at Vogue magazine at the tender age of 15. Another eyebrow-raising moment comes with anecdotes from another octogenarian: Machado, who became the first ethnic model to grace the cover of Harper's Bazaar in 1959 after legendary fashion photographer Richard Avedon blackmailed the magazine's publisher into putting her on it. Three years later, the Shanghai-born beauty would become fashion editor of the same publication. "It started out in this '70s and '80s world," Greenfield-Sanders explained. "And I realized that I wanted to go deeper in front of that, and I wanted to do people from the '60s and even the '50s. Part of that was because they are still alive. You can still have a first-person conversation with (them)." The auteur behind such acclaimed documentaries as "Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart," "Thinking XXX" and "The Black List" series became inspired to do the project after a chance encounter. His friend Harry King, a well-known fashion hairdresser, hosted a party three years ago in New York as a reunion of sorts with people from the past who were his current Facebook friends. Greenfield-Sanders double-parked his car to run in for five minutes and ended up staying for hours. "My life changed," he said. "I knew a few of their names, and there were a handful of models there, and I thought, 'This could be a interesting group portrait,' " he said. "And that was the beginning of what I wanted to do. ... As I got to know them, I realized that this could definitely be a film." "I liked the idea of strong women who had kind of reinvented themselves, who have gone through tremendous fame and glamour and how they deal with that." The conversation around ageism is what mostly piqued his interests, he admitted. "That's something I think about a lot. I'm 60 years old. How does the world treat you as you get older? How do you deal with the fact that you're not the best-looking person anymore if your life is all about your looks?" Beverly Johnson, the first African-American woman to grace the cover of Vogue, appears in the film, as does another black beauty ("one-eighth African-American," she clarifies in "About Face"): Cleveland, who spoke poignantly about being attacked in the racist South during her early days modeling with the Ebony Fashion Fair. Cleveland would flee the United States for Europe until women of color were represented more in fashion in her homeland. Marisa Berenson revealed how her grandmother, famed fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, ended a longtime friendship with then-Vogue editrix Diana Vreeland after she hired her as a model for the magazine. Isabella Rossellini opened up about how her long-term contract as a spokesmodel for Lancôme cosmetics ended once she turned 40. And Bethann Hardison, who is more known for managing and shaping supermodels' careers, shared intimate stories about growing up in Brooklyn and how her mother thought she was a prostitute when she embarked on a modeling career. There were a few coveted cover girls, like Twiggy, who were out of his reach. "I think the film covers all of the areas that I wanted to cover. It covers the fun of fashion and modeling and the excitement of being that beautiful and having people turning everyone's heads," he noted. "It covers the drugs, the racism and the plastic surgery, and it's a very wide-ranging film. And I like that about it. And we like stories." Kim Alexis, one of the top models of the '80s, was elated to be a part of the film and to reconnect with friends she hadn't seen in years. "Modeling is a lonely business. We show up for jobs by ourselves, and each day is a new venture, no team, no office camaraderie. To be able to take a photo with my favorite models, doing what we did best, was a great day." The former Revlon spokesmodel released her literary debut, a novel titled "Beauty To Die For," this week. Like her book -- a sudsy murder mystery -- she said "About Face" offers a voice for the silent. "Modeling is silent. People don't know or understand how we feel as we work." Alexis recently hobnobbed with some of the film's subjects and the New York glitterati at the premiere party at the Paley Center for Media, which will house the corresponding portrait exhibit through September. "How good it was to hear these women's past and present thoughts, how everyone looked so good -- still -- and what a great thought on the part of Timothy Greenfield-Sanders to think it was worth sharing," said model Tyson Beckford, who attended the party. "No matter who you are, a good story is always worth listening to, and a beauty-related issue keeps it interesting." With the increasing growth and mass appeal of image-savvy social media apps and smartphones (equipped with state-of-the-art camera lenses) Greenfield-Sanders understands his lofty position as the poster child for portraiture. And it's not something he takes for granted. "I have been very aware of this and how the world had gotten so much faster and bigger, and if you don't have a photo show and a movie and a book and a DVD and a CD all at once, you just get lost, and I've been lucky as an artist, because I started out as a filmmaker but then became a photographer, so I'm skilled in all of these areas," he said. "I think, if you can, you need to be in as many mediums as possible at the same time."

"About Face: Supermodels Then & Now" premieres tonight . The filmmaker got access to some of the top names in fashion . Models' struggles with race, age are included in documentary .

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(CNN) -- Sony is reducing the price of the PlayStation 3 game console, hoping to help the 5-year-old system reach a larger audience, the company said on Tuesday. The base model now costs $250, and another system with twice the storage space is $300. Sony cut $50 from each, which is nearly the price of a new game. "While others in the space are losing steam, PlayStation 3 is gaining momentum," Jack Tretton, the president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment of America, said in a statement. "The new price will make the PS3 more accessible than ever before." Sony last cut prices on the PlayStation 3 in 2009, when it released a slimmer model. Microsoft has not reduced the Xbox 360's price since 2009, and analysts are split on whether it will do so this year as a response to Sony. The entry-level Xbox 360 costs $200. Sony's move is seen by analysts as a usual part of a game system's life cycle. Game console generations typically last four to six years, but some predict that motion-detection peripherals like Microsoft's Kinect for the Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation Move could prolong the current cycle. Nintendo announced last month that the successor to the Wii, a tablet-controlled device called the Wii U, will hit the market next year. The news comes as the Wii, this generation's top-selling console, is experiencing a sales slump. Nintendo reduced the price of the Wii from $200 to $150 in May. Last month, Nintendo cut the price of the 3DS, its handheld game console that displays 3-D graphics without needing special glasses. The 3DS now costs $170, a 40% reduction for a console that's less than five months old. Sales of the 3DS tumbled quickly after a promising launch, and analysts have attributed the proliferation of inexpensive, quick-hit games for Facebook and smartphones as a hindrance to growth in the market for hand-held game systems. Sony is gearing up for the release of the PlayStation Vita, a portable game console that follows the PlayStation Portable. To compete with smartphones, it will have downloadable games, a touchscreen and 3G cellular data connectivity. The version with 3G will cost $300, and the one without will cost $250. Sony is still recovering from a nearly monthlong outage that affected its online game networks. The cyberattack, which resulted in stolen personal and financial information, did not seem to harm sales of the console, according to reports. Sony, which has sold more than 50 million PlayStation 3 systems, compensated customers with free game downloads.

Sony cut the PlayStation 3 to a base price of $250 . Analysts see the move as a normal part of a game console's life cycle . Nintendo has already announced its next home game console, called the Wii U .

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Potentially harmful: A wider classification of symptoms for ADHD in the psychiatric 'bible' used by the profession has led to a steep rise in diagnosis and prescriptions for medication, the study warned (picture posed by model) The diagnosis of ADHD may have become too broad, leading to needless and potentially harmful treatment for some children, researchers warn. A wider classification of symptoms for ADHD in the psychiatric ‘bible’ used by the profession has led to a steep rise in diagnosis and prescriptions for medication, the study warned. The group of researchers from Australia and the Netherlands said there was now a risk of over diagnosis which could fuel scepticism about the disorder. In addition, stretched resources may mean some seriously affected children do not get medical help, or they are undertreated. In recent years, the term ADHD has been given to a collection of behavioural problems linked to poor attention span including impulsiveness, restlessness and hyperactivity. Around three to seven per cent of children are believed to have ADHD, about 400,000, with many being prescribed drugs to try and improve their concentration at school. Prescriptions for stimulant drugs such as Ritalin increased twofold for children and adolescents in the UK, and fourfold in adults between 2003 and 2008. There have been similar rises elsewhere despite little data showing the long term benefits of treatment, says Rae Thomas, a senior researcher at Bond University in Australia, and colleagues. In a report published on bmj.com (must credit), they say Australian data shows a 73 per cent increase for ADHD medication between 2000 and 2011. Prescriptions for stimulant drugs such as Ritalin increased twofold for children and adolescents in the UK, and fourfold in adults between 2003 and 2008 . Prescribing in the US increased steadily between 1996 and 2008 - mostly for adolescents aged 13-18 years - with estimated drug costs up to $500m. Such medications can cause adverse reactions such as weight loss, liver toxicity, and suicidal thoughts, and in the short term may suppress pubertal growth. Dr Thomas said ‘Compared with children with asthma, children with ADHD have been described as lazier, less clever, and less caring, and they are also more likely to be stigmatised.’ Having a diagnostic label often means teachers and parents have low academic expectations of them potentially creating a self fulfilling prophecy, she added. To be diagnosed with ADHD, a patient should meet diagnostic criteria outlined in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) - used around the world to classify mental disorders - or International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Diagnosis: Around three to seven per cent of children are believed to have ADHD, about 400,000, with many being prescribed drugs to try and improve their concentration at school (picture posed by model) But definitions have been broadened in successive editions of DSM, resulting in higher rates of the disorder when compared with ICD 10, Although clinicians are likely to have got better at detecting and diagnosing ADHD, some of the rise could stem from overdiagnosis or misdiagnosis. ‘Severe cases of ADHD are obvious, but in mild and moderate cases - which constitute the bulk of all ADHD diagnoses - subjective opinions of clinicians differ’ says Dr Thomas. ‘The broadening of the diagnostic criteria in DSM-5 is likely to increase what is already a significant concern about overdiagnosis. ‘It risks resulting in a diagnosis of ADHD being regarded with scepticism to the harm of those with severe problems who unquestionably need sensitive, skilled specialist help and support’ she added. Prof Eric Taylor, Emeritus Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s college London, said the UK was different because NHS guidelines already recommend careful specialist assessment, with psychological treatments given priority over medication in most cases. ‘Probably too few children here get help’ he said. In the UK, the increase in stimulants was from a very low base rate: 4.8 per 1,000 schoolchildren in UK compared with around 70 per 1,000 in parts of the USA. Prof Taylor said ‘The increase in the UK follows an increased ability in the medical profession to recognize ADHD; but all too many children with severe problems still go untreated.’ Prof Philip Asherson, Professor of Molecular Psychiatry at the MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry centre at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College Londo, said ‘This paper makes a set of arguments relating to the inappropriate use of the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. ‘I would see their arguments as largely correct, and does explain the potential dangers of over diagnosis of ADHD. ‘However, they are not against the diagnosis and treatment of children with ADHD when this has been properly evaluated by specialists.’

Wider classification of ADHD symptoms has seen rise in diagnosis . Prescriptions for treatments increased twofold in children over five years . Use of stimulant drugs such as Ritalin increase fourfold in adults .

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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Barack Obama's election as president of the United States won't see a change in American relations with the Taliban, a senior Taliban leader in Pakistan says. A Taliban leader says Barack Obama's election will bring little change. "For us, the change of America's president -- we don't have any good faith in him," said Muslim Khan, a grizzled Taliban spokesman who is one of the most wanted men in Pakistan, in a rare interview with CNN. "If he does anything good, it will be for himself." With an assault rifle on his lap, Khan answered 10 written questions, sharing his view on a range of topics from slavery to Obama's middle name -- Hussein. He spoke in the remote Swat Valley of northwestern Pakistan, the site of frequent and fierce clashes between Pakistani troops and Taliban and al Qaeda militants. There was no opportunity for follow-up questions. Khan said Obama's election may change conditions for black Americans. "The black one knows how much the black people are discriminated against in America and Europe and other countries," he said. "For America's black people, it could be that there will be a change. That era is coming." He said he doubted Obama's victory would lead to changes in relations between the United States and the Taliban. Watch the Taliban spokesman on Barack Obama » . U.S. forces dislodged the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan shortly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. America and its allies have battled the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan ever since, with fighting spreading across the border into Pakistan. "American should take its army out of the country," Khan said. "They are considered terrorists." Obama has minced no words in describing how he would administer U.S. policy toward the Islamic extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan. When he accepted the Democratic presidential nomination in August, Obama pledged to "finish the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban." And the president-elect included a blunt warning in remarks on the evening of his election victory: "To those who would tear the world down," he said, "we will defeat you." Khan noted that Obama's middle name was fairly common in the Muslim world, referring to him at times as "Hussein Barack Obama." "If he behaves in the way of a real Hussein, then he has become our brother," he said. "If Barack Obama pursues the same policies as Bush and behaves like Bush ... then he cannot be Hussein. He can only be Obama."

Taliban leader: We have no faith in Barack Obama . Taliban not expecting change in relationship with U.S. Obama has committed himself to defeating the Taliban and al Qaeda .

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Pill-making machines and a pair of glasses thought to have belonged to notorious poisoner Dr Crippen are to go under the hammer next week. Northamptonshire-based auction house JP Humbert is also offering poison bottles recovered from the workplace of Hawley Harvey Crippen, who was hanged at London's Pentonville Prison in 1910 for murdering his wife, Cora. A brooch thought to have been owned by Cora is also on sale at the auction in Towcester on Wednesday November 19. Dr Hawley Crippen, left was hanged in Pentonville Prison London in 1910 after he murdered his wife Cora, right . Dr Crippen was a homeopathic doctor who made his fortune selling pills and potions containing nothing more than just sugar and alcohol although he was found guilty of killing his wife with the deadly  poison hyoscine . Crippen, who was born in the United States, is believed to have used hyoscine to kill Cora at his London home before attempting to flee to Canada. Commenting ahead of the sale, auctioneer Jonathan Humbert predicted that the lots may emulate the success of other recently-sold items linked to well-known criminal names. Mr Humbert said: 'The items were removed from Crippen's work address at Albion House, New Oxford Street, where he was medical advisor to a dental practice.' 'Whilst crime doesn't pay, people are paying large sums of money for crime-related items.' As well as the artifacts believed to have been owned by Dr Crippen, copies of the New York Times and Los Angeles Express covering the story are also going up for sale. Mr Humbert added: 'The items were removed from Crippen's work address at Albion House, New Oxford Street, London where he was medical advisor to a dental practise and latterly a franchisee of Munyons. 'It was here that he ordered five grains of the poison Hyoscine from a nearby chemist.' The items, believed to have been owned by Dr Crippen were recovered from his London work address. Investigators recovered  headless corpse from a shallow grave inside Dr Crippen's basement, but DNA evidence has since proved it was a man . American born Dr Harvey Crippen moved to Holloway in north London with his second wife Cora. She disappeared following a party at the couple's house in January 1910. Friends of Mrs Crippen became suspicious after seeing Crippen's mistress, who moved into the house, wearing her clothes and jewellery. An initial search by Scotland Yard found no evidence of any foul play, however, Dr Crippen fled with his mistress to Canada. After he disappeared, Scotland Yard conducted three further searches of the property where they recovered human remains. Crippen and his mistress were travelling on the SS Montrose when the captain of the vessel, who was keeping up-to-date with the news on the newly installed wireless, telegraphed Scotland Yard. Crippen's mistress, Ethel Le Neve, was travelling disguised as a young boy. An inspected boarded a faster vessel and raced Crippen across the Atlantic, arresting him upon his arrival in Canada. Had he boarded a vessel to New York, he would have probably escaped punishment. Crippen was returned to the Old Bailey where he was found guilty of murder after less than 30 minutes and hanged in Pentonville Prison in Novembe 1910. The human remains recovered by Scotland Yard were badly decomposed and more than 100 years after their recovery, it is believed that the bones belonged to a man. Attempts have been made by distant relatives of Dr Crippen to exonerate him, however his body remains inside the walls of Pentonville Prison. A study reported in the Journal of Forensic Science in America by scientist David Foran said: 'Based on genealogical and DNA research, the tissue used to convict Dr Crippen was not that of Cora. ‘Further DNA testing showed the tissue was male. All we can say scientifically is, the tissue did not come from Cora. ‘One possibility is that Crippen murdered someone else and those were the remains discovered. Another possibility is that the celebrated investigators planted the evidence.’ Among the items for sale is a brooch believed to have been owned by his murdered wife Cora . Several unusual artifacts believed to have been owned by Dr Crippen are being sold by auction . Among the items for sale are some original US newspapers covering the story from July 1910 . Dr Crippen made his fortune as a homeopath selling pills and potions to gullible patients .

Harvey Crippen was found guilty of murdering his wife Cora in 1910 . The notorious doctor was hanged in Pentonville Prison after a half-hour trial . Some artifacts owned by Dr Crippen are being auctioned next month . Among the items up for sale are his glasses as well as some poison bottles . Forensic experts believe Dr Crippen may not have murdered his wife . DNA tests on samples of the body recovered from 1910 are those of a man .

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(CNN) -- As a country music recording artist, as an entertainer and especially as a husband and father, life can get hectic. I realized early on the importance of having a routine to manage such a busy schedule. But my body kept giving me "reminders" earlier in my career that something was just not right. In the mid-'90s, I started to experience tingling and numbness on my right side along with facial spasms. I hoped they would pass, but symptoms continued to appear all too frequently. After a battery of tests, I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, the most common form of multiple sclerosis. My diagnosis came when I was 26. It surprised me to learn that of 400,000 Americans with MS, many are diagnosed between ages 20 and 50, like I was. I kept wondering, "Why me? Why now?" My career was progressing, and there were many positive things going on in my life: I had just recorded my fourth album and was celebrating the birth of my first child. So this country boy decided he was not going down without a fight. With support from my family and friends, I realized that I needed to stop dwelling on being diagnosed with a chronic disease, and instead focus on finding a groove. To do that, I had to develop a routine to manage my condition, which helped me look forward for the first time since being diagnosed. Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis can be tricky to manage because it affects everyone differently. In fact, it took almost a year of working with my neurologist to find the routine that worked best for me. Living with multiple sclerosis means struggles and triumphs . I've learned to eat a healthy diet and keep up a moderate exercise routine, take my medication and rely on love and support from my family to get through the tough times. Now that I've found a routine that works, I stick with it and encourage others with this illness to do the same. I'm proud to help lead the "Stick With It" campaign to educate patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis about the importance of sticking with a routine for the long haul. Experts agree that patients do better when sticking with a routine that works for them. There's a lot of information out there that can sometimes be confusing, but I encourage folks to talk to their doctor to find what can work best for them. "Stick With It" includes national public service announcements to start airing this month, along with a Facebook page that is coming soon. Both will provide tips on how MS patients can work with their doctor. "Stick With It" is in partnership with Teva Pharmaceuticals and Band Against MS, the charity I founded a decade ago to help provide educational information and fund programs for those with MS. I didn't have the information available when I was diagnosed, and I want to make sure others with MS don't feel as lost in this disease as I once was. Helping others with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis has been close to my heart for some time. It's all the motivation I need to "Stick With It!" In addition to being a country music artist, Walker is also an ambassador for the National MS Society and a paid spokesman for Teva Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of one of nine medications approved for treating relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Clay Walker was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis at 26 . He says he's learned to eat a healthy diet and rely on his family . Walker has begun a campaign to educate MS patients .

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By . John Drayton . Jamie Anderson had the eyes of the world on her when she took gold in the slopestyle at the Winter Olympics. And the snowboarding star is once again the centre of attention as she stripped down to pose for the front cover of ESPN's latest magazine. It's certainly a different sight to when we last saw the American at Sochi in February, where the 23-year-old was on the top step of the podium after winning the inaugural slopestyle event. I'm keeping the goggles on: Jamie Anderson (left) posed for ESPN magazine nude along with Venus Williams . Watered down: Micahel Phelps (right) also featured along with Baseball's Prince Fielder for the body issue . As one of many stars chosen to grace the front of a special body issue, Anderson only kept on her snowboarding goggles as she covered up. Tennis ace Venus Williams was also chosen to be one of the cover stars, as well as record breaking Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps who posed for an artistic shot underwater. It wasn't all about chiseled out athletes though as baseball star Prince Fielder also took a swing at appearing on one of the covers.

Sochi gold medallist chosen as a front cover for ESPN magazine . Venus Williams and Michael Phelps among others also selected for body issue .

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(CNN) -- When people talk about the cinematic geniuses of the 1980s, one name invariably comes up -- John Hughes. For young people growing up then and even today, the writer-director's name conjures up memories of unforgettable films. From "Sixteen Candles" (1984) and "The Breakfast Club" (1985) to "Pretty in Pink" (1986) and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (1986), Hughes was responsible for a series of films that openly and honestly explored the exhilaration and tumultuousness of adolescence. It's been nearly three decades since those movies arrived in theaters, but audiences still watch and enjoy them as if they were made yesterday. However, despite the love audiences have shown for his work, Hughes was never nominated for an Academy Award. Hughes isn't alone in being an outstanding filmmaker whose features about people under 30 were overlooked during awards season. It's unfortunate but undeniable that award shows -- and the Oscars in particular -- have a history of ignoring great movies made for and about young people. In 2013 alone, several such films received raves from critics, earning spots on "best of" lists. "The Kings of Summer" and "The Way, Way Back" scored approval ratings of 76% and 85% of critics, respectively, on RottenTomatoes.com, while "The Spectacular Now," written by the duo behind 2009's underappreciated "(500) Days of Summer," earned the approval of 92% of critics. "Short Term 12" received a 99% approval on Rotten Tomatoes, a higher ranking than any of this year's best picture nominees. "Spring Breakers," starring James Franco and Selena Gomez, may have divided some moviegoers, but the film was also lauded for its provocative depiction of disaffected youth. And it's not for nothing that "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" was the top grossing film of 2013. Yet not one of these movies earned a single Oscar nomination. Meanwhile, "The Wolf of Wall Street -- which secured a 77% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes -- received five Academy Award nods, including ones for best picture and best adapted screenplay. 2014 Oscars nominees list . That's not to say that "Wolf" didn't deserve recognition, but these other movies focused on characters in the early stages of adulthood. From three teenage boys running away from home to build a house in "The Kings of Summer" to a couple in their 20s managing a treatment facility for troubled children in "Short Term 12," these films were about young people finding their way -- a seeming disadvantage in the academy's eyes. In an e-mail interview, Dana Polan, a professor of cinema studies at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, noted that "Hollywood associates youth with escapist entertainment. (There) is the assumption here (no doubt, a biased one) that to be important, a theme has to be adult and mature, and youth films just don't make it." Over the years, there have been some exceptions to this rule. For example, "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955) received three Oscar nominations, and "American Graffiti" (1973) grabbed five nods -- though both films ultimately walked away empty-handed. "Juno," the 2007 comedy about a pregnant high schooler (Ellen Page), was nominated for four Oscars, including best picture and best director. The film took home the award for best original screenplay -- a win that one could argue had more to do with the quirkiness of Diablo Cody's script than the subject matter itself. Film critic Nell Minow (the Movie Mom) also observed that "Oscar voters skew older." "They are more interested in stories about grown-ups and more likely to have relationships with actors and filmmakers who are 30 and older," Minow said via e-mail. That may be part of the reason why movies such as "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," which delighted critics with one of 2012's best scripts and stellar performances from Logan Lerman and Emma Watson -- also didn't receive any recognition from the academy. Such snubs seem particularly egregious, partly because the academy often blatantly attempts to appeal to a younger demographic. In 2011, the Oscars chose James Franco and Anne Hathaway as hosts in hopes of attracting younger viewers. The plan failed, with the ratings dipping and the duo receiving poor reviews. The intention may have been a noble one, but perhaps a better idea would have been for the academy to begin honoring movies that speak to what it's like to be a young person today. "The Youth," a song performed by MGMT on "The Kings of Summer" soundtrack, speaks of the transition between adolescence and adulthood. It includes the following lyrics: . The youth is starting to change. Are you starting to change?

The Academy Awards tend to overlook movies about young people . Films such as "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" and "Short Term 12" were snubbed . Some of these movies brought in more money or accolades than many Oscar nominees .

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Shocking: Martin Winter has revealed Ed Miliband's bombshell confession in his explosive new memoir . It's a devastating indictment of the Labour leader by the man who made him an MP. Fallout, the forthcoming book by Martin Winter, a former Labour Mayor of Doncaster, serialised here, reveals a portrait of the young Ed Miliband that would be funny were it not so shocking. For in nine and half weeks between March and May 2005, when the Winter family took Miliband into their home and orchestrated his election as MP for Doncaster North, we see the future leader almost set himself alight, buy a prayer mat to cover scorch marks to his office carpet and be out-negotiated by the Winters’ three young children. But amid the farce there is a bombshell confession: Miliband tells Winter that Ed Balls backed a snap General Election in 2007 because ‘the economy is going to fall off a cliff and this is our best chance of winning an Election’. It is a revelation that Winter has no doubt will infuriate the Labour high command, but last night he vowed to face down any attempt by ‘Labour attack dogs’ to undermine his explosive revelations. Winter said he expected Miliband’s allies to condemn him for revealing the private conversations. But he had no regrets about speaking out. ‘People are entitled to know the truth about a man who wants to be Prime Minister,’ he said. ‘My partner Carolyne and I know him better than most Labour MPs – he lived with us and we made him an MP. ‘We also know that he cannot be trusted. In 2007, he told both of us in our sitting room that the economy was going to “fall off a cliff” a year before it did – and that Labour had cynically planned an early General Election for that reason. On the stump: Miliband and Winter meet people in Doncaster after his selection as Labour candidate in 2005 . ‘Labour attack dogs may try to deny it – just like they did when in 2008 Alistair Darling was Chancellor and said the crash was coming. But they are wasting their time. Carolyne was present with me when Ed Miliband said it and she has been a card-carrying member of the party since she was 18.’ Winter, 52, was feted by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown after he rescued the last Labour Government’s flagship scheme to introduce US-style directly elected mayors. Blair believed they would root out town hall corruption – and nowhere was it worse than Labour-run Doncaster. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, more than 20 councillors were convicted of fraud and half a dozen were jailed in the ‘Donnygate’ scandal, one of the widest-reaching incidents of town hall corruption in British history. Feted: Mr Winter, left, Local Government Minister Phil Woolas and Tony Blair at a town hall reform summit in 2006 . In 2002, former rugby league player Winter stood for election as mayor on an anti-corruption manifesto – and won. He was invited to Downing Street and sat next to Blair at a Cabinet-style summit to reform local government. In March 2005, then Chancellor Gordon Brown asked him to help Ed Miliband, his chief economic adviser, win Doncaster North when the sitting MP fell ill. At a secret meeting in the Treasury, Winter promised Brown he would secure the safe Labour seat for Miliband. During the campaign, Miliband moved in with the Winter family and used their home as his base for nine and a half weeks. Miliband won with Winter’s help, going on to become Labour leader five years later. Having been re-elected as mayor, Winter left the Labour Party and then stepped down in 2009 due to renewed infighting and a series of social services scandals in which seven children known to the council died within three years. Family: Martin Winter, with his wife Carolyn, and children, left to right, Marcey, Joss and Beth in 1999 . An Audit Commission report said Labour councillors spent more time ‘pursuing long-term political antagonisms’ than improving services. The book Winter has now written tells how he was recruited by Labour chiefs to end corruption and feuding in Doncaster – and his success in boosting the town’s economic growth with a dynamic regeneration portfolio. The second half tells the story of his falling out with Labour as Winter’s enemies ‘tried to destroy me despite all my loyalty to the party – and to Miliband’. A day after their first phone call on March 2, 2005, Ed Miliband moved in with Mr Winter, his partner Carolyne Hunter and their three children at their home in Doncaster. He lived there for a month and carried on using the office in their garden until the 2005 General Election on May 5. He was elected the MP for Doncaster North and said farewell two days later, posting a ‘How Sweet Is Victory’ thank-you note through Winter’s letterbox. Campaign base: This is where Ed Miliband worked - and nearly poisoned himself - while campaigning to become an MP . It brought an end to 66 days – nearly nine and half weeks – spent as a temporary member of Mr Winter’s politically extended family. At the time, the couple’s children, Marcey, Joss and Beth, were aged ten, 11 and 14 respectively. Miliband slept in the bottom bunk in Joss’s Manchester United-themed bedroom, with Joss moving to another room. Ms Hunter then converted the children’s yellow and green playroom into a bedroom for their special guest. The couple also bought him a wardrobe and a bed. After a month, Miliband rented a house nearby to comply with Election rules, but he continued to use Mr Winter’s garden office as his campaign base.

Martin Winter's new memoir is a devastating indictment of Labour leader . Former Mayor of Doncaster took Miliband into his family home in 2005 . During nine week period, the future leader almost set himself alight . Also bought Winter prayer mat to cover scorch marks to his office carpet . Amid farce, makes shocking confession to his host about his knowledge of the UK's crumbling economy prior to 2008 crash .

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(CNN) -- May the force be with them. George Lucas, the Hollywood writer, director and producer who's most known for his work on the Star Wars film franchise, wed his longtime girlfriend over the weekend. Lucasfilm spokeswoman Lynne Hale told CNN that Lucas, 69, and Mellody Hobson, 44, were married north of San Francisco Saturday at Skywalker Ranch. Hobson is president of Chicago-based Ariel Investments and sits on numerous corporate boards. "It was a beautiful ceremony," Hale said. Journalist Bill Moyers officiated, she said, and former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley walked Hobson down the aisle. In a Twitter post Sunday, actor and director Ron Howard said the wedding was a "joy to behold." "Bill Moyers service was beautiful," he wrote, "nothing short of profound." With Abrams in place, 'Star Wars' fans brace for future .

George Lucas and Mellody Hobson wed . A representative for Lucas says they married at Skywalker Ranch in California . In a Twitter post, actor Ron Howard describes the wedding as "beautiful"

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By . Lee Moran and Thomas Durante . Last updated at 10:45 PM on 9th August 2011 . As a fourth night of violence is feared across London tonight, several governments have begun dispensing advice to those thinking about travelling the UK . The United States, Germany, Latvia, Sweden, Denmark and Finland have all urged tourists to be vigilant, keep checking the media for updates and ensure they are insured. On the U.S. Embassy website, travellers are warned to avoid any civil unrest they may see on the streets, and not to engage anyone seen causing a disturbance. Burning down: Several foreign governments have started issuing advice to their citizens thinking about visiting the UK . •    Follow local media reports and be aware of what is going on around you; . •    If you find yourself near any civil unrest, leave; . •    If you see trouble move away from the scene; . •    Don’t engage with those causing disturbance; . •    Do not challenge debate or make unwise comments.  This will only increase your chance of becoming a victim of violence; . •    If you find yourself in trouble and it is an emergency call the police first, only then, if necessary, reach out to the Embassy . Latvia became the first country earlier today to advise its citizens to avoid visiting parts of Britain hit by riots. Its Foreign Ministry in Riga also urged all travellers to Britain to ensure they have health and life insurance policies. Sweden, . Denmark and Finland quickly followed its lead by issuing safety advice . to stay vigilant and keep an eye on local media and British websites for . safety updates. Embassy's alert: The website of the U.S. embassy is London now includes tips on how to stay safe . Embarrassing: The Portuguese Jornal de Noticias . (left) and the Belgian De Standaard (right) both put photographs of the . London riots on their front pages . Headline news: Dutch newspaper Het Parool (left) and the Argentinian paper Clarín (right) both led on the London riots . The Finnish Embassy warned that moving from one place to another in problem areas can be 'extremely difficult'. The German foreign ministry also issued travel advice by warning its citizens to exercise 'special caution' in the wake of the troubles. It told travellers to immediately 'pull back' if confronted with any signs of disturbance, and to especially follow advice given by security forces. Its travel advisory stated: 'Travellers should also look to the media to keep themselves informed about the latest developments and act in an appropriate fashion locally.' Foreign news: Spanish newspaper El País (left) and Austrian newspaper Voralberger Nachrichten (right) have both published in-depth coverage of the riots . In India, the editor of the country's Lonely Planet magazine told his Twitter followers to avoid coming to the UK at all. Vardhan Kondvikar said: 'Violence has now spread to Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and Liverpool. 'Try not to travel to the UK this week if possible.' Foreign newspapers have splashed images of burnt out cars, looters and embattled police on their front pages. Journalists from near and far have been following the riots, in particular the German media which has highlighted the fact that London is just one year away from hosting the Olympics. 'London burns - but the fears are concentrated on the Olympics instead of de-escalation,' said Sueedeutsche Zeitung. 'Chaos reigns in London!' added de Bild, while a commentator on Bavaria Radio said: 'It will be hard to sell London as a civilised upholder of Olympic values and spirit while the buildings burn brighter than the Olympic torch and the stone-throwers beat out the discus and javelin competitors with ease.' The TZ newspaper in Munich added: 'What has gone wrong with Britain? Like the Sex Pistols said, it truly is anarchy in the UK. Now the fight is on to find the solution - and fast.' The reaction from the U.S. has been mixed, but broadly in favour of a tougher response. On arts and culture website The Atlantic, David Blum wrote: 'They enacted a slash spending program nine months ago, it destroyed growth, and people are rioting. There's no surprise here. You destroy the economy and bad things happens.' Warning: The editor of India's Lonely Planet magazine Vardhan Kondvikar told his Twitter followers to avoid coming to the UK at all . But elsewhere, commenting on the Wall Street Journal website, Steven Hoskins was not so sympathetic and wrote: 'They riot because they are criminals. No excuses accepted. 'These people are welcome to march and protest, but when they start robbing and destroying other's property, then I'm all for declaring them targets for target practice.' Another poster on the Washington Post website added: 'Send in the military with orders to shoot all looters. That will end the riots fairly quickly....'

U.S. urges travellers to 'move away' from any scene of civil unrest . Germans warned to exercise 'special caution' Latvians told to get health and life insurance . Sweden, Denmark and Finland also issue safety advice .

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Former Rangers boss Alex McLeish has told the current Ibrox team to copy the example set by Bradford and Middlesbrough as they set out to stun Celtic. Kenny McDowall's Scottish Championship side are as long as 6-1 with the bookmakers ahead of next Sunday's Scottish League Cup semi-final clash. It is doubtful the odds have ever been stacked so high against one side going into an Old Firm encounter. Ex-Rangers manager Alex McLeish believes his old side can beat Celtic in the Scottish League Cup semi-final . But McLeish insists the Light Blues can topple their fiercest rivals and urged them to use the same self-belief which helped both the Bantams and Boro inflict their respective shock FA Cup upsets on Chelsea and Manchester City at the weekend. The Genk boss - who won eight of the 20 Old Firm games he bossed between 2001 and 2006 - said: 'Normally Celtic should win because of the difference in quality. But it's a cup tie and an Old Firm game. Rangers will probably raise their game big time. 'We've seen the big FA Cup upsets in England over the weekend. There is no reason why Rangers can't do that. 'You have to believe. There is no point going out onto the pitch thinking: 'I'm intimidated. I'm overawed by this.' 'You have to go there and give everything - perhaps even a couple of per cent that isn't in your make-up consistently. 'For this game, I'd like to think they will step up. If Rangers get everything right tactically, they can upset Celtic.' Mark Yeates (front) scored Bradford City's fourth in a memorable 4-2 win at Chelsea in the FA Cup . Middlesbrough players celebrate with their travelling supporters after beating Manchester City on Saturday . And McLeish believes old-stagers like Lee McCulloch and Kenny Miller will be vital to the Ibrox cause as they take on the Hoops at Hampden. Seven of the current Light Blues crop - McCulloch, Miller, Steven Smith, Lee Wallace, Richard Foster, Kyle Hutton and Kris Boyd - have tasted Old Firm action before, just one fewer than Celtic can boast. 'The important players for Rangers next week are going to be the experienced players,' said former Scotland boss McLeish, who was back at Ibrox on Sunday as he managed a team of retired Rangers players in Fernando Ricksen's charity match. 'Those lads will be key. They could be the catalyst for an upset. 'Because it is Rangers, we all think they should still be able to beat Celtic. But you have to be realistic. 'At the same time, it's a great chance for these boys to get their names in the history books.' McLeish says Kenny Miller (left) and Lee Wallace's (right) previous experiences in Old Firm games will be vital .

Celtic host Old Firm rivals Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-final . League One Bradford won 4-2 at Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round . Premier League champions Manchester City lost 2-0 to Middlesbrough .

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A cheerleader who was teased by bullies at school for having an unsightly growth on her face has had her self confidence restored after being crowned champion at a beauty pageant. Natalie Nason, 21, suffered cruel taunts during her teenage years about her looks because of a 'wart-like' growth on her cheek. But now she is celebrating after being crowned Miss Rugby - 30 years after her mother Andrea, 48, won the title of Leamington Carnival Queen. Scroll down for video . Natalie Nason (left) suffered bullying due to the growth on the side of her face (right) Natalie chose to enter Miss Rugby contest to boost her confidence and was delighted to win . The gymnastics and cheerleading coach scooped the prestigious award at Dunchurch Park Hotel in Dunchurch, Warks., in January, and had now reached the finals of Miss England, which will take place in July. Natalie, from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, said: 'I chose to do the competition to help with my confidence. 'I used to get bullied all the way through primary school and a few years through secondary. 'I managed to push through it all and make myself feel better. 'It all went back downhill when I had an operation on my face and the scar didn't heal properly which made me feel horrible as people would walk past and stare. Natalie, who is a cheerleader (left) and gymnastics coach is now looking ahead to competing in Miss England . 'By doing this competition my confidence will grow and hopefully be a role model to other girls or boys out there to make themselves feel good enough.' The Miss England contest has been taking place since 1928 and sees girls aged between 17 and 24 across the UK compete for the crown. It describes itself as 'not just a beauty contest - you have to be far more than just a pretty face to win the crown'. Last year the competition got rid of the swimwear round and replaced it with the new eco round, where contestants were asked to design and make an outfit made purely of recycled materials. The winner of Miss England - which is held every year - is also entered into Miss World and the final will be held on September 27 in Melbourne, Australia.

Suffered cruel taunts during her teenage years . Bullying centred on 'wart-like' growth on her cheek . Chose to enter Miss Rugby beauty contest to boost her confidence . Won the competition and will now compete in Miss England in July .

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For anyone who's ever driven in a large city, red lights quickly become a massive annoyance. However, Audi is developing a system that could spell the end of red lights for drivers. It is testing a system known as 'Traffic Light Assist' that shows drivers exactly how far away their next red is - helping they time their drive to minimise stopping. Audi's latest feature will tell drivers when traffic lights are about to change - and warn if you're about to run a red light. Information from the traffic light systems is transmitted to the car and shown on the dashboard - or eventually on a heads up display. When combined with the motion sensors and speed information from the car, drivers can be told exactly how to avoid stopping at red lights. It shows the driver the speed to select in order to reach the next traffic light during a green phase. Acoustic signals also warn the driver in advance of red lights. The display, in the dashboard in front of drivers, shows a traffic light icon  with a countdown timer that reads the number of seconds before a light changes from red to green. The system, is linked into a city's electronic traffic light network, and can even take into account lane changes. Local data from city councils who install smart traffic lights, and motion sensors in the car are used to to predict exactly how long it'll be until the green light goes red. Audi has been testing the new technology in Ingolstadt and Berlin in Germany, as well as in Verona, Italy, and also set it up in Las Vegas for the CES show. In the traffic light phase assistant project in Frankfurt, 20 traffic light systems in the vicinity of Frankfurt am Main were retrofitted so that the test fleet could communicate with them. Audi also showed off their new Sport Quattro Concept car during the Audi keynote at the International Consumer Electronics Show, which features laser headlights . 'The goal of developers was to achieve the most efficient flow of traffic in metropolitan areas,' said Audi. 'Information from the traffic light systems is transmitted to the car and visualized as graphic images on the driver information system display. 'They show the driver the speed to select in order to reach the next traffic light during a green phase. Acoustic signals also warn the driver in advance of red phases. ' Audi claims the traffic light info online enables CO2 reductions of up to 15 percent. how the system could work: Audi says it hopes smart cruise control could be integrated so automatically set the car's speed . 'In sum, this would be equivalent to about 900 million liters (237.75 million US gallons) of fuel per year, if this technology were to be implemented throughout Germany,' it claims. Over the course of the six-month test phase, a total of 500 test drivers in 120 cars and three motorcycles covered a total of 1.65 million kilometers (1.03 million miles). The vehicles were networked with one another via specially developed radio transmission equipment and via a traffic control center to inform drivers of traffic conditions and hazards.

Audi concept car is able to communicate with city traffic lights to find out when they will turn red . Can alert driver how faraway their next red is, and how long it will take to get there - and the speed to drive at so they don't have to stop . System requires cities to install smart traffic lights . Can even alert drivers if they are at risk of running a red light .

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(CNN) -- They say that breaking up is hard to do, especially when millions of eyes are there to witness every caustic comment and verbal volley. Kate and Jon Gosselin are going through a very public and contentious divorce. No one knows that better than Jon and Kate Gosselin, whose divorce is playing out on a world stage, complete with tabloid covers, he-said-she-said television appearances and court orders. Such public spats can do a great deal of harm, said divorce attorney Randall M. Kessler, who's handled several celebrity cases. "I just gave a presentation where I said, 'When can press hurt you? It's when clients start talking,'" Kessler said. "The hard thing for [famous people] to do is to not speak out, because they are so used to everything they say being quoted and helping them, but this is the opposite. Talking about a divorce is never good." The Gosselins join a growing list of celebrities whose marital woes have been well-documented by the media and paparazzi. See a gallery of celebrity custody battles » . Kessler has represented quite a few clients involved in celebrity divorce cases, including Tameka Foster Raymond (who is in the midst of a divorce with superstar singer Usher) and rapper Mack 10 (ex-husband of TLC member Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins), as well as some high-profile paternity and child support lawsuits. Celebrities often want to protect their reputations and the wrong sound bite can ruin that, Kessler said. Yet, at the same time, it can be difficult for the famous to take direction, he said. "They are so used to being in charge of their own destiny and being able to decide what's best for them that it's very hard for them to listen to attorneys, accountants or anyone that is trying to advise them," Kessler said. Viewers have questioned who, if anyone, Jon and Kate Gosselin are taking cues from in their very public marital battle. In May, Kate defended her husband against rumors that he had been cheating on her and stepping out while she stayed home with their twins and sextuplets. Weeks later they used their enormously popular TLC reality show, "Jon & Kate Plus 8", to admit what fans had begun to suspect: Their marriage was on the rocks. Soon they announced that they were divorcing, but would continue filming -- albeit separately -- their series, which for four seasons had chronicled the highs and lows of their family life. It all appeared to be relatively civil until Jon began stepping out with his new girlfriend, moved to a bachelor pad in New York and appeared to be living the high life with shopping sprees and designer duds. Jon took to the airwaves to reveal that he "despised Kate." Kate lamented that she missed "the Jon I knew." TLC announced in October that the reality show would continue as "Kate Plus 8" and Jon immediately called a halt to filming, claiming the series was doing damage to their children. Within days, Kate accused Jon of making off with more than $200,000 from their joint bank account. A judge ordered him to return $180,000 to the account. Watch a discussion about the Gosselin's money madness » . Through it all, both have maintained they each have the best interests of their children at heart. Child psychologist Joanne Pedro-Carroll said the Gosselins are in a precarious position. "It's very concerning, especially given how public this is and the children's young ages, which makes them especially vulnerable," Pedro-Carroll said. "One of the things we know with really young children is that they are prone to misconceptions about the reasons for the breakup." While Jon and Kate haven't so far added a bitter custody dispute to their matrimonial melee, Pedro-Carroll said she worries about the long-term effect on the young Gosselins. "Sadly, the things that are happening now, with all of this conflict and having it be so public, puts these children very much at risk for having problems," said Pedro-Carroll, author of the forthcoming book "Putting Children First: Proven Parenting Strategies for Helping Children Thrive After Divorce." "I worry about the children being pulled into loyalty conflicts, thinking about who the good person here is and who's the bad person, when children very much need two loving, responsible parents in their lives." Kessler said he advises his celebrity clients to, when possible, keep the children out of the media and receive training in cooperative parenting. Lisa Pecot-Hebert, an assistant professor at the College of Communication at DePaul University, said she believes many viewers can relate to the Gosselins' divorce drama. Fans can also view the family's situation as a cautionary tale, she said. "I think viewers can learn that sometimes when people let cameras into their personal lives for our entertainment, oftentimes it ruins what was theirs to begin with," Pecot-Hebert said.

Jon and Kate Gosselin's divorce is playing out before the public . They join a growing list of celebs whose marital woes have been documented . Celebrity lawyer says it is sometimes hard for stars to listen to advisers . Professor: Gosselins can be a cautionary tale for viewers .

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(CNN) -- Taping of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" reunion special, scheduled for last week, has been postponed as the cast deals with the death of Kandi Burruss' former fiancé, Ashley "A.J." Jewell, an NBC Universal spokeswoman told CNN Monday. The Atlanta "Housewives" have been touched by tragedy this season with a loved one's death. The show is now winding down its second season on the network, and the two-part episode was expected to air on October 29 and November 5. Cast member and purported "sixth housewife" Dwight Eubanks told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he was "shocked" when he heard of Jewell's passing but does expect the taping to resume eventually. "I don't see them editing [Jewell] out," he told the newspaper. "It's television. It's reality. We just have to prepare and gear up for next year." So far, Bravo hasn't erased Jewell's presence from the series. Although scenes with Jewell weren't a part of last Thursday's episode, "Housewives" viewers did watch as Kandi debated the future of her engagement to Jewell with castmate Kim. Blog: What happened on "Housewives" But commercials for this Thursday's episode showed clips from therapy sessions with Burruss, her mother and Jewell. Eubanks told the Journal-Constitution that he doesn't know if Burruss will continue with the "Housewives" or not. "She's had such a dramatic year," Eubanks said. "She had her uncle die, too. She has her own career to focus on. Now her life has changed with her daughter and taking temporary custody of [A.J.'s] twins." Jewell, who died at 34 after a fight outside of an Atlanta strip club on October 3, was buried on October 9.

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" was scheduled to tape reunion special last week . Taping has been postponed in aftermath of death of A.J. Jewell . Jewell was former fiancé of "Housewives" cast member Kandi Burruss . Jewell's presence still part of show, which was taped weeks ago .

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It was more than just a dark plume of smoke on the horizon - for this was the moment that marked the turning point of World War Two, and the end of a great German battleship's reign of terror. Just days earlier, in 1941, the Bismarck had sunk HMS Hood during the Battle of the Denmark Strait. The . attack, that killed 1,415 men, prompted the Prime Minister to give the . famous order 'sink the Bismarck'. Now, an archive of photos that document the race to destroy the dreaded vessel - as seen from the crew of a British ship - has been unearthed after 71 years. The German battleship Bismarck is struck by the first torpedo in a newly unearthed set of rare photos taken in May 1941 . The message on the reverse of the above photo - released as picture postcard souvenirs - reveals how aircraft carrier HMS Victorious engaged the enemy off the coast of Greenland . There are numerous pictures showing Swordfish bi-planes and their crew on standby and ready for action on the deck of Victorious . Victorious was one of 42 ships sent by Winston Churchill to find the fearsome German battleship . The snaps were taken from on board the . aircraft carrier HMS Victorious, one of 42 ships sent by Winston . Churchill to find the battleship in May 1941. The 20 black and white photos show Royal Navy ships steaming through the North Atlantic at great speed during the chase for the pride of Hitler's fleet. There are numerous pictures showing Swordfish bi-planes and their crew on standby and ready for action on the deck of Victorious. One image taken from a reconnaissance aircraft records the moment the enemy ship was first sighted off the coast of Greenland. On the reverse of an image of a plane flying from the aircraft carrier, someone has written across it 'Swordfish taking off from Victorious to have a smack at the Bismarck'. One image taken from a reconnaissance aircraft records the moment the enemy ship was first sighted . The photos have been owned by an unidentified private collector for more than 50 years and he has now chosen to put them up for sale at auction . The 20 black and white photos show Royal Navy ships - including Victorious (above) - steaming through the North Atlantic at great speed during the chase . The sinking of the Hood (pictured below) by the Bismarck managed to shock a nation by then used to war. Only three of its 1,418 crew survived the sinking during the Battle of the Denmark Strait. The fifth salvo from the Bismarck hit the ship's magazine resulting in a catastrophic explosion, which tore it in half, and it sank in less than three minutes. The flagship of the fleet was part of a force ordered to engage the Bismarck and her escort cruiser Prinz Eugen off Greenland. And another is of the Bismarck in the distance with a plume of black smoke coming from her. The back reads: 'Bismarck receiving the first torpedo from aircraft from Victorious.' After coming under heavy attack, the Bismarck tried to limp to the Nazi-occupied French port of St Nazaire but was attacked again and sunk 600 miles from it on May 27. Other pictures show King George VI inspecting the crew of Victorious after the historic battle that proved a turning point in the war. It is believed the photos were printed off months afterwards and made available as souvenirs to the crew of the aircraft carrier. There is an official stamp on the back of each one which states they are not meant for press publication. The photos have been owned by an unidentified private collector for more than 50 years and he has now chosen to put them up for sale at auction. Andrew Aldridge, of Henry Aldridge and Son of Devizes, Wiltshire, which is selling the photos, said: 'This is a fascinating archive which catalogues one of the decisive moments of the war. 'The pictures show some of the British ships racing across the sea to find Bismarck, the intense activity on board, the first sighting of her and then the first attack. 'There are several more showing the King inspecting the crew and the ship after they were victorious. 'The pictures are actually postcards and they were not meant to be seen by the wider public. HMS Aurora behind Victorious near Iceland as they hunt for the Bismarck . There is an official stamp on the back of each one which states they are not meant for press publication . A picture taken from a Swordfish plane off the Ark Royal ahead, with the Victorious behind it (in the foreground) 'I just think they were printed to mark a decisive victory for the Allies at that point of the war.' HMS Hood was the biggest vessel lost by the Royal Navy in World War II after she wasattacked by the 41,000 ton Bismarck on May 23. After being chased south towards France, the Bismarck was pummelled with torpedoes dropped by the Swordfish planes and from several destroyers. It was recently claimed that the crew of the Bismarck tried to surrender before the ship was sunk with the loss of 2,000 men. Her wreck was discovered in 5,000 feet of water 600 miles west of Brest in the Atlantic in 1989. The photos are expected to sell for £300 at the auction in Devizes on Saturday. Helping wing: It was the Fairey Swordfish bi-plane which helped sink the German Battleship Bismarck in May 1941 . Andrew Aldridge, of Henry Aldridge and Son of Devizes, Wilts, which is selling the photos, said: 'This is a fascinating archive which catalogues one of the decisive moments of the war'. Above, a Navy ship searches for its prey . After being chased south towards France, the Bismarck was pummelled with torpedoes dropped by the Swordfish planes and from several destroyers . A Swordfish takes off from HMS Victorious. The photos are expected to sell for £300 at the auction in Devizes on Saturday . It was recently claimed that the crew of the Bismarck tried to surrender before the ship was sunk with the loss of 2,000 men . Other pictures show King George VI inspecting the crew of Victorious after the historic battle that proved a turning point in the war . Bismarck, the fearsome German battleship which was sunk in the North Atlantic . Every war veteran has a story to tell. But few could rival John Moffat's extraordinary tale. It was the torpedo he fired that crippled the rudder of the German battleship, leaving it at the mercy of Royal Navy ships which then sank it. He was piloting one of three Swordfish open-cockpit biplanes that set off from the aircraft carrier Ark Royal to take vengeance. 'What nobody talks about were the conditions  -  they were unbelievable,' recalled Mr Moffat,  speaking in 2009. Then aged 89, he had written a book, I Sank The Bismarck, about his experiences. 'The ship was pitching 60ft, water was running over the decks and the wind was blowing at 70 or 80mph. John Moffat is credited with taking off from HMS Ark Royal and launching the torpedo from his Swordfish that disabled the rudder of the Bismarck . 'And nobody mentions the deck hands who had to bring the planes up from the hangars  -  they did something special. After they brought them up they had to open the wings which took ten men for each wing. And then they had to wind a handle to get the starters working. 'I only stopped flying nine months ago and there are no other planes in the world that could have done what the Swordfish planes did that day. 'After take-off we climbed to 6,000ft to get above the really thick cloud and we knew when we were near because all hell broke loose with Bismarck's fire. We got the order to attack and I went down and saw the enormous bloody ship. I thought the Ark Royal was big, but this one, blimey. 'I must have been under 2,000 yards when I was about to launch the torpedo at the bow, but as I was about to press the button I heard in my ear "not now, not now". 'I turned round and saw the navigator leaning right out of the plane with his backside in the air. 'Then I realised what he was doing  -  he was looking at the sea because if I had let the torpedo go and it had hit a wave it could have gone anywhere. I had to put it in a trough. 'Then I heard him say "let it go" and I pressed the button. Then I heard him say "we've got a runner"  -  and I got out of there. 'My navigator was a chap called John "Dusty" Miller and I've spent the last 20 years trying to find out what happened to him or where he is.' Mr Moffat pulled up before the torpedo hit and didn't see it strike. The following morning he flew to the ship for a second attack but there was no need. He watched as the Bismarck, which had been under siege from the Royal Navy, rolled over. And he saw hundreds of German sailors leaping into the water as she started to sink. Only 115 of Bismarck's crew of 2,222 survived. 'I didn't dare look any further, I just got back to the Ark Royal and I thought: "There but for the grace of God go I",' said Mr Moffat, from Dunkeld, Scotland. He only found out it was his torpedo that crippled the Bismarck when the Fleet Air Arm  -  the Navy's air force  -  wrote to him in 2000. He said: 'It gave me a sort of satisfaction.' The Bismarck was built in August 1940 and was the biggest battleship made by Germany. She was named after Otto von Bismarck, the German chancellor behind the unification of Germany in 1871. Despite her fearsome reputation, the Bismarck enjoyed just an eight-month career during which time she was involved in one offensive operation, when she destroyed HMS Hood. Out nearly 3,000 shells fired at Bismarck by the Royal Navy, about 400 hit the ship before she finally sunk. The Bismarck's sister ship the Tirpitz wreaked havoc among the Arctic convoys until she was sunk while at anchor in a Norwegian fjord. The Bismarck had a maximum weight of 51,000 tons, was 823ft long and had a top speed of 34mph.

Photo archive unearthed after 71 years . One image taken from reconnaissance aircraft records moment the enemy battleship was first sighted off Greenland . Bismarck had sunk HMS Hood days earlier, killing 1,415 men . Swordfish bi-planes and crew are seen on standby on deck of aircraft carrier HMS Victorious . Photos - made into picture postcards - given to carrier crew as souvenirs .

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(CNN) -- As part of a campaign to fight AIDS, Swiss health officials are offering a new twist on safe sex: condoms delivered to your door. Switzerland's Federal Office of Public Health began a new program Thursday giving people in Geneva, Bern and Zurich the chance to order condoms by phone. Young people should always carry condoms with them, the office said in a news release Friday, but now bike couriers will arrive -- in an hour or less -- to "come to the aid of those who have forgotten." For 8 Swiss francs (about $7.50 U.S.), messengers will deliver three condoms. The project, which lasts throughout July, is part of the country's "LOVE LIFE STOP AIDS" campaign. "The couriers are simply the perfect people to remind people in a pleasant way of our message that one should always have condoms available," campaign manager Norina Schwendener said. The Swiss AIDS Foundation is a co-sponsor of the campaign, which stresses that people should always use condoms during sexual intercourse, she said.

Swiss program offers condom delivery in three cities . After phone order, bike couriers will deliver condoms within an hour . Program is part of country's AIDS prevention campaign .

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The Princeton grad accused of executing his hedge fund manager father after he threatened to cut the 30-year-old's allowance may have burned down a friend's historic mansion in a jealous rage in September. The New York Post reports that Tommy Gilbert Jr. is the prime suspect in an arson that completely destroyed a 19th century Hamptons home belonging to the father of Peter Smith Jr., a former friend. The Post quotes anonymous sources as saying that Gilbert Jr. retaliated because he believed that Smith Jr. was sleeping with his girlfriend. The Post also claims that Gilbert Jr. killed the Smith family dog, which was found dead in their driveway. However, sources close to the events denied this to Daily Mail Online. Scroll down for video . Former flame: Anna Rothschild recently dated Tommy Gilbert Jr, the 30-year-old man accused of murdering his financier father over a weekly allowance . Broken up: The couple met at a mutual friend's party in December 2013. Pictured above last year at an event at The Jane Hotel. Miss Rothschild says they broke up last May after she started dating someone new . Motivations: Investigators believe Thomas Gilbert Jr (left) killed his father Thomas Gilbert Sr (right) because the elder wanted to cut down his son's weekly allowance . Gruesome: Above, investigators remove Thomas Gilbert Sr's body from his apartment building on Manhattan's Upper East Side . Just three days after the fire in Sagaponack, New York, Gilbert Jr. was arrested for violating a protective order taken out by Smith Jr. Gilbert Jr. was arraigned on Monday on murder and weapons possession charges in the death of his father, 70-year-old Thomas Gilbert Sr., who was found shot in the head in his Manhattan apartment on Sunday. Gilbert Jr.'s ex, meanwhile, insisted in an interview with ABC News that he is a 'sweet man' who is tortured by his relationship with his demanding father. Twice-divorced Upper East Side socialite Anna Rothschild, 49, dated Gilbert Jr. for several months until he broke it off in May when Gilbert Jr. met someone new. Miss Rothschild, 49, says she was shocked and surprised to hear her ex-boyfriend was implicated in his father's death, since Tommy seemed happy and 'totally fine' when she saw him at a dinner just two weeks ago. Pattern of violence? Tommy was arrested and accused in September of harassing a Peter Smith Jr. in Southampton, Long Island. A law enforcement official told the Associated Press that Tommy was suspected of burning down Smith's father's mansion there three days before his arrest . Love rival? Sources told the New York Post that Gilbert Jr. set fire to the family home of Peter Smith Jr. (left) because he believed Smith was sleeping with his girlfriend. Smith's sister, Bettina Prentice, and brother Chris Smith are pictured at right . Party boy: Gilbert Jr was a fixture on the New York social scene with a host of beautiful women ready to pose for pictures with him including Arielle Patrick (left) and Maddie Haddon (right) Society friends: Alex Brice, Amy Poliakoff and Tommy Gilbert pose together at Greensward Circle's 7th Annual 'Evening in the Garden' in June 2012 . Social: Tommy Gilbert, pictured with friend Monika Plocienniczak, at the Young New Yorkers Summer Party in the Hamptons . However, she she was frank when she described his 'strained' and 'stressful' relationship with his father. 'His father was never happy with anything he did or nothing was ever good enough,' she said. Miss Rothschild first met Tommy at a mutual friend's dinner party in December 2013, and soon after started dating. She says they broke up last May when she started dating someone new. At the time, Miss Rothschild says Tommy was unemployed but working to start his own hedge fund, just like his father. In a separate interview with the New York Post, Miss Rothschild revealed that Tommy complained about his father not giving him the seed money to start the investment venture. Still, money never seemed to be too much of an issue during their courtship since Tommy always paid the bill when they went out and seemed to enjoy his life of leisure. Miss Rothschild says Tommy appeared not to be too bothered about his lack of a job, spending most of his time in the Hamptons, going to the gym, practicing yoga and surfing. She describes Tommy as sweet but a bit of an introverted loner who had few friends. In fact, Tommy's mother was about the only person who ever called him, Miss Rothschild says. Still, she finds it hard to believe her former flame capable of carrying out such a heinous act. 'How could a guy be that gorgeous, that wealthy, that fit and kill his dad? This is the last thing in a million years that I thought he could do,' Miss Rothschild said. Tommy Gilbert was part of the trust-fund-baby crowd, a handsome Princeton grad who flitted between his Manhattan home and the Hamptons and attended society parties at museums and symphonies while living off an allowance from his parents. Behind bars: Tommy seen being escorted into Manhattan Central booking by a police officer . No bail: The 30-year-old was arraigned Monday on murder charges and jailed without bail. His attorney had no comment . On the surface, it was a charmed life. But he was in debt, with no job or recent work history. He was a suspect in a fire that destroyed a mansion on Long Island, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press. He was accused of harassing a friend. And his mother told police he had a tense relationship with his Wall Street father and a history of mental illness, authorities said. On Sunday afternoon, police say, it all erupted in violence over a small amount of money. Threatened with a cut of a few hundred dollars in his monthly allowance, Gilbert went to his parents' apartment on wealthy Beekman Place on Manhattan's East Side and shot his father to death, authorities said. The 30-year-old was arraigned Monday on murder charges and jailed without bail. His attorney had no comment. Gilbert had gone to his parents' home saying he wanted to have a word alone with his father, hedge fund founder Thomas Gilbert Sr. His mother went out to get him some food and was gone about 15 minutes when she got a "bad feeling" and went back, said Robert Boyce, chief of detectives. She found her 70-year-old husband on the bedroom floor, a bullet hole in his head, Boyce said. A .40-caliber Glock was resting on his chest, his left hand on the gun. Boyce said it was a staged to look like suicide, but the gun wasn't in the right position for a self-inflicted wound. Detectives waited outside Gilbert Jr.'s $3,000-a-month apartment in a six-floor walkup in Chelsea. When they saw a light go on, they went in and found bullets and empty shell casings along with 21 blank credit cards and a device for stealing card numbers, police said. "He was on a stipend from the family. Looks like he was in debt," Boyce said. Gilbert was taken in for questioning but he refused to speak to detectives and asked for an attorney. His father, a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Business School, worked on Wall Street for more than 40 years and founded Wainscott Capital Partners Fund in 2011. The fund has $200 million in assets. The shooting was a rare act of violence in the well-to-do neighborhood near the United Nations. Neighbor Pierre Gazarian remembered Gilbert as "incredibly courteous, elegant," and praised his "civility." Gilbert Jr. graduated from Princeton in 2009 with a degree in economics and was trying to follow in his father's footsteps: He had filed papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission to start a hedge fund of his own, Mameluke Capital. He attended galas and fundraisers with the city's wealthy. In many society photos, some taken at such places as the Frick Collection and the New York Philharmonic, he was seen posing with smiling young women and looking tan at the beach. But he was arrested and accused in September of harassing Peter N. Smith in the town of Southampton, on Long Island, and had a Feb. 2 court date. And a law enforcement official, who was not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said Gilbert is a suspect in a blaze that burned down Smith's father's mansion three days before his arrest.

Tommy Gilbert Jr was arrested after his father Thomas Gilbert Sr was found shot to death in his Upper East Side apartment on Sunday . Investigators believe the younger Gilbert shot his father because his weekly allowance was about to be cut . Anna Rothschild, who recently dated Tommy, was shocked to hear of the murder . However, she says the father and son did have a strained relationship that haunted Tommy when they were dating .

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(CNN) -- Ryder Cup captains past and present joined family and friends of golfing legend Severiano Ballesteros Wednesday for the funeral in his hometown parish church in the northern Spanish village of Pedrena. The 2012 European Captain Jose Maria Olazabal, and past European Ryder Cup captains Nick Faldo, Bernard Gallacher, Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam, attended to pay their last respects to Ballesteros, a European Tour spokesman said. Ballesteros died Saturday from complications related to a brain tumor, his website said. He was 54. The European Tour website said all of Spain's 422 golf clubs will observe a minute's silence, while the flag sticks at the Pro-Am of the Iberdrola Open in Majorca will have black ribbons attached. A procession from Ballesteros' home to the nearby village church was led by a bagpiper. The golfer's three children came just behind, carrying an urn with his ashes. Ballesteros' website said someone also carried a three iron, the club he used when he started playing golf as a child. Crowds gathered outside the small San Pedro de Pedrena church to watch the funeral on big-screen televisions. Ballesteros won a record 50 tournaments on the European Tour before retiring in 2007. A three-time British Open champion and two-time Masters champion, Ballesteros was often credited for transforming European golf. Ballesteros first made his name as a 19-year old in 1976 when he finished second at the British Open -- one of golf's four major tournaments. That year he also went on to win the European Tour's money list for the first of six times. His triumph at the 1979 British Open made him the youngest winner of the event that century and the first non-British European to do so since 1907. He was twice a victor at the Masters in Augusta. As well as his success in stroke play tournaments, Ballesteros was also a mighty competitor in the match play format, winning the world title five times. He helped beat the United States in the 1985 Ryder Cup to begin two decades of dominance and also led his team to victory in Valderrama, Spain, in 1997 -- the first year that the teams event was hosted by Europe outside of Britain and Ireland. Ballesteros was diagnosed with a brain tumor after losing consciousness at Madrid Airport on October 5, 2008. He underwent surgery. In June 2009, he established the Seve Ballesteros Foundation to fight cancer. The Roman Catholic funeral mass was officiated by three local parish priests. "Seve stated that he wanted to be treated like any other neighbour during the ceremony," the family website stated. After the funeral, his ashes were carried from the church back the family estate and placed next to a magnolia tree, Ballesteros' website said. CNN's Al Goodman contributed to this report.

The funeral was held in Ballesteros' hometown church . The golfing legend won a record 50 tournaments on the European Tour . He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2008 .

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She's known and loved in the fashion industry for her quirky, urban style and if there's one girl who pioneered the sportsluxe street trend, it's undoubtedly Cara Delevingne. So when the supermodel announced she was working on a range for DKNY fashion fans couldn't wait. And now the model-turned-actress' range has finally dropped her fans, who call themselves Delevingners, will be pleased to hear that it does indeed mirror her cool, London style. Here it is! Cara Delevingne has unveiled her debut fashion range for DKNY . Cara first started to work with DKNY almost two years ago as a model. Talking about the design collaboration she explains that the brand has have always encouraged her input, personal style and ideas from the very beginning of the working relationship. Speaking about the new drop, the 22-year-old said: 'It was an organic process and it made sense. DKNY is urban and edgy but most of all, it’s individual. They truly embrace the weirdness in all of us, so you can really be yourself. 'I can’t believe that some random, rough ideas have finally turned into my own collection! Designs with my own name on them and in collaboration with the iconic DKNY brand. 'It is so wild to realise that it has been an entire year since we began planning this project together and it goes to show that time does fly when you’re having fun.' Stars of the future: Cara launched a social media competition to find her campaign models . In the family: Cara has already worked with the brand for several seasons as a model . Behind the lens: The 22-yr-old says that DKNY gave her lots of creative control on the project . Cara's range, which lands on October 15 at DKNY stores, DKNY.com, Net-a-porter, Selfridges, Harrods and Harvey Nichols, consists of 15 pieces to be layered 'every which way', according to the young fashion star. The collection includes crop tops, which she cites as wardrobe essentials, jumpsuits, hoodies and a 'to die for' leather bomber jacket. One of Cara's favourite pieces from the range, which starts at £65, is the pantsuit, because, she says, you can boy it up, split it up or suit it up, when needed. On set: Cara modelled her own designs in the urban shoot . Beanie: The 15 piece collection includes a hat in the model's signature style . Cara added: 'When I first came to NYC when I was 15 years old and saw the DKNY mural on Houston Street, I was wowed. To me, DKNY captured the essence of New York and set trends for young people everywhere. 'For Donna to trust my creative vision and give me freedom to design pieces I love is such a privilege. I’m thrilled to share it - and can’t wait to see how you make it yours.' Aside from her design duties, Cara has been busy walking the runway at Paris fashion week - including closing for Chanel - and filming for her upcoming movies. At least she'll have plenty of new clothes to wear. Cosy: One of Cara's favourite pieces is the pantsuit (left) because 'you can boy it up, split it up or suit it up' as needed and the range also includes a comfortable onesi (right) Casual style: Cara has included some T-shirts emblazoned with the positive slogans she loves to post on Instagram such as 'Don't worry, do you' and 'get your brow on' in homage to those famous brows . Wardrobe essentials: Prices of the full collection are still a trade secret but they start at £65 . Fashion fans: Supermodel pals Joan Smalls, Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner are already lucky enough to be wearing Cara's designs (as Instagrammed by the fashion force herself)

Cara, 23, has designed a 15 piece range for luxury brand . Includes beanies, jumpsuits and T-shirts and priced from £65 .

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Morgan Amalfitano will be disciplined by West Ham United for his ‘unprofessional’ sending off in the FA Cup humbling at the Hawthorns. The French winger was sent on as a substitute by Sam Allardyce on the hour, only to get a straight red nine minutes later for pushing Chris Brunt in the face, seconds after receiving a yellow card for a bad foul on the West Bromwich Albion player. Amalfitano will be banned for three matches for violent conduct and faces internal action, Allardyce confirmed. Morgan Amalfitano was given a straight red just nine minutes after coming on as a West Ham United sub . Amalfitano sees red as he pushes former West Bromwich Albion captain Chris Brunt in the face . ‘The normal disciplinary procedure and measures that we have in place,’ said the West Ham boss. He added: 'It’s another miss for next week and another body less, which was unprofessional from his point of view. 'We will probably have some players back, but we want them all back and fit because we haven't got the biggest of squads in terms of numbers.’ West Ham are reduced to ten men after it all gets a bit too much for French midfielder Amalfitano .

Morgan Amalfitano was sent off just nine minutes into his appearance . The midfielder was sent on as a sub but saw red within minutes . West Ham were dumped out of the FA Cup by West Bromwich Albion . Amalfitano will miss three games for violent conduct and internal action . CLICK HERE for all the latest West Ham United news .

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A Powerball winner has died broke and all alone in hospice care, just 12 years after raking in $27million cash from a lottery jackpot. David Lee Edwards, a convicted felon from Ashland, Kentucky, bought a mansion in a gated community, dozens of expensive cars and even a LearJet with the share of a record $280million jackpot he won in August 2001. But drug addiction and his free-spending ways left Edwards and his wife Shawna broke and living in a squalid storage unit contaminated with human feces within five years. Shawna left him not long after and remarried. Unhappy ending: David Lee Edwards, pictured with his new wife Shawna at their Malibu wedding shortly after winning the lottery, died Saturday in hospice at age 58 . Edwards bought this 6,000-square-foot mansion in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, for $1.5million. He lost it five years later . Big spender: Edwards spent $1.9million on this LearJet to ferry him between his mansion in Florida and his hometown in Kentucky. He even had a personal pilot . In the end, Edwards' first ex-wife and her husband drove him from Florida back home to Ashland. He died in hospice care Saturday at age 58. Edwards' friends and family say his tragic story can serve as a parable about the corrupting influence of money. By the end of his life he had lost every last penny of his $27million fortune and died owing thousands of dollars to friends. Both Edwards and Shawna contracted hepatitis from their needle drug use and both were arrested multiple times and had numerous run-ins with police for possession of crack cocaine, prescription pills and heroin, the Broward-Palm Beach New Times reported in 2007. Shawna bounced into and out of drug rehab for addition to OxyContin and other drugs, the newspaper reported. Shortly after winning, Edwards bought a $1.6million, 6,000-square-foot house in a private tennis and golf community in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He spend $600,000 on another home nearby. He paid $1.9million for a LearJet, bought three losing racehorses and acquired a fiber optics installation company and a limo business for $4.5million. Neighbors complained that Edwards had so many cars in front of his house that it looked like a dealership. His purchases included a $90,000 Dodge Viper (pictured) Edwards also bought more than 200 pieces of medieval armor and weapons - all of it cheap reproductions . He paid his ex-wife $500,000 to hand over custody of his teenage daughter Tiffani. She couldn't drive at the time, but he bought her a $35,000 Hummer golf cart to drive around the community. He collected cars - he treated himself to a $200,000 Lamborghini Diablo super car and a $90,000 Dodge Viper. At one point, he had $1million in vehicles parked in front of his house - so many that his neighbors complained that the upscale home in the upscale community started to look like a car dealership. 'I want this money to last, for me, for my future wife, for my daughter and future generations.' David Lee Edwards in August 2001 after winning the lottery . He invited in an NBC News TV crew and bragged that he was wearing a $78,000 diamond-encrusted gold watch and a $159,000 ring. He showed off his $30,000 plasma screen TV. Edwards also amassed a collection 200 swords, armor and antiques - all of it cheap reproductions. In his first three months as a . millionaire, he spent $3million. One year after his win, he had spent . $12million, the New Times estimates. He lost every bit of it by 2006. Edwards intended to do right. On the day that he publicly claimed his winnings, he promised to use his money responsibly. 'You know, a lot of people, they're out of work. Doesn't have hardly anything,' he told reporters. 'And . so I didn't want to accept this money by saying I'm going to get . mansions and I'm going to get cars, I'm going to do this and that. I . would like to accept it with humility. Sickly: Edwards, show left with his daughter Tiffani in 2010, reportedly contracted hepatitis from his repeated drug use. His daughter says there is no money left from his winnings . Troubled: Edwards and his wife Shawna had multiple run-ins with police as their lives spiraled out rapidly down after the lottery money dried up . 'I want this money to last, for me, for my future wife, for my daughter and future generations.' Shortly after his win, he hired a financial adviser and a lawyer to look after his assets. 'If . he followed my advice, he'd be pulling in about $85,000 a month for the . rest of his life,' financial planner James Gibbs told the Broward-Palm . Beach New Times in 2007. Instead, Gibbs says, Edwards sold off the stocks and bonds that Gibbs invested on his behalf. On Tuesday, his daughter, Tiffani Lee Edwards, said that her father had . left her with nothing - not even a life insurance policy. 'There is NO MONEY anywhere!!!!' she wrote on Facebook. Tiffani, . whom Edwards enrolled in a private college prep academy in South . Florida during his short brush with wealth, now works as a clerk at an . amusement park in West Virginia. Before he won the lottery, Edwards was unemployed and living with his then-girlfriend Shawna, who is 19 years his junior. He had spent a third of his life in prison after he was arrested for armed robbery. He borrowed money from a friend to pay his water bill. After he got his water turned on, he used the rest to buy a pizza and $7 worth of lotto tickets from Clark's Pump-N-Shop. He picked the winning numbers himself and shared the $2800million jackpot with three other winners. His $41million lump sum portion came out to $27million after taxes.

David Lee Edwards, 58, died Saturday in hospice care in his hometown of Ashland, Kentucky, after blowing through $27million in five years . Daughter says there is 'NO MONEY anywhere!!!' leftover from the lottery winnings . Edwards spent $12million in his first year as a millionaire . Bought cars, a $1.5million house and even a LearJet . He and wife Shawna 'contracted hepatitis from habitual drug use' Shawna left him in 2008 after all of his money disappeared .

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By . Laura Powell . PUBLISHED: . 16:13 EST, 3 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:13 EST, 3 August 2013 . Recovering well: Hussein Benhaffaf, right, pictured with twin Hassan and parents Angie and Azzedine, needed a life saving operation . One of the conjoined twins dramatically separated in a high-risk operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital three years ago has survived further life-saving surgery. Hussein and Hassan Benhaffaf had their liver, bladder, gut and intestine divided in February 2010 when they were just five months old, after being born conjoined from chest to pelvis. Now Hussein has returned to the London hospital to undergo surgery for an incisional hernia, believed to have been caused by wounds from the first operation not fully healing. Speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday from Hussein’s bedside, his mother Angie Benhaffaf, 40, said: ‘It’s the first time since they were separated that I’ve absolutely feared I’d lose one of them. 'I worried that Hussein wasn’t going to live through that night. I was terrified.’ Hussein, who lives with his mother, his father Azzedine, 40, sisters Malika, nine, and Iman, six, and his twin Hassan in Carrigtwohill, County Cork, Ireland, is now recovering well. It was the little boy’s third procedure. Hassan has had six since they were separated, including operations to help correct his scoliosis, a curvature of the spine. Angie and her husband work as full-time carers to the twins. She said: ‘Some days I wake up and feel that it’s all too much, too tough. ‘Then I remind myself that I have to be positive for my children. Happy: Hassan and Hussein pictured at their home in Ireland . Celebration: The family attend a civic function at Cork Town Hall in Ireland after an operation to separate the twins . 'All we want now is for them to stay healthy and happy, and for one day to make whatever dreams they have come true.’ Angie learned that the twins she was carrying were conjoined at her 12-week scan. She said: ‘To this day, I carry a photo of that first scan in my purse and whenever I look at it, it reminds me of how far the boys have come.’ New borns: The twins, pictured before they were separated, were conjoined from the chest to pelvis .

Hussein and Hassan Benhaffaf were separated in February 2010 . Hussein recently had further life saving surgery for an incisional hernia . It was the little boy's third bout of surgery since he was born .

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Gangland boss Noye stabbed 21-year-old on M25 in front of the victim's fiancee . By . Louise Boyle . Last updated at 8:43 PM on 9th September 2011 . Comforts for a killer: Kenneth Noye, who stabbed a man to death on the M25, has been secretly moved to a minimum-security prison at Lowdham Grange, near Nottingham . The M25 road rage killer Kenneth Noye has been moved to a ‘holiday camp’ jail after his security status was downgraded. Noye, 64, was jailed for life in 2000 for the murder of 21-year-old Stephen Cameron, whom he stabbed to death during a fight on the M25 four years earlier. The multi-millionaire gangland killer, who fled to Spain after the stabbing in 1996 but was extradited two years later, denied murder, instead claiming that it was self defence – a claim rejected by an Old Bailey jury. Just two years before the stabbing he had been released from jail after serving eight years of a  14-year sentence for his part in the £26million Brink’s-Mat bullion robbery in 1983. Yesterday it emerged that he has been secretly transferred from Whitemoor, a high security jail near March in Cambridgeshire, to the Category B Lowdham Grange, near Nottingham. Inmates at Lowdham Grange have described the prison as a ‘holiday camp’, with individual cells, personal televisions, PlayStations, fridges and en-suite bathrooms. Sources have said it is to prepare him for his release, which could come in as little as four years’ time. Despite being viewed as a model prisoner by guards at Whitemoor, his move has infuriated the family of his victim. Victim: Stephen Cameron, 21, who was knifed to death by Noye, with his girlfriend Danielle Cable. He died at the Swanley interchange in Kent in May 1996 . At his new digs in Lowdham Grange, Kenneth Noye will be able to enjoy a string of luxuries. In what will surely make uncomfortable reading for the Cameron family, their son's killer will be able to stock his own fridge and kick back with a Playstation. He will also be able to watch television and take a shower in his en-suite cell. So cushy is the category B facility near Nottingham, it has been nicknamed the 'holiday camp' by prisoners. Noye will also be allowed his own bedding and to wear his own clothes, while cells come equipped with hobby kits. He'll be able to keep trim with a range of fitness classes, including volleyball and badminton. The prison also offers courses in arts and crafts, computer studies and creative writing to name but a few should Noye want to further his education. The facility is a training prison so Noye can also sign up to vocational courses including gardening and sports studies. According to a report from May, prisoners spent 'plenty of time' out of their cells.' Stephen Cameron’s father Ken, 64, . said: ‘He is still a very dangerous man. A leopard never changes its . spots. But now he’s going to get a softer time inside.’ Speaking from his home in Norfolk, he . added: ‘They are moving him to a softer prison and didn’t even let us . know. It’s outrageous. Out of courtesy I would hope we would have been . notified. ‘He’s got around three-and-a-half years to go in prison. Surely this is too early to de-categorise him to Category B? ‘With his money and contacts it must make it easier for him to attempt to escape.’ Prison officers at Whitemoor are said . to have been given a secret briefing at 7am on Thursday. Noye was then . placed in a van where he was handcuffed to a guard and driven from . Cambridgeshire to Nottinghamshire. Six years ago he had been moved to . another jail after Whitemoor officers were said to have discovered that . he had arranged to have a mobile phone – with which he planned to . co-ordinate a breakout – smuggled into the unit in a box of Weetabix. He was transferred under armed guard . to the maximum security Full Sutton prison in York before later being . moved back to Whitemoor. Noye was involved in laundering the proceeds of the Brink’s-Mat robbery in the 1980s. While under investigation in 1985 he . stabbed to death an undercover detective, John Fordham, in the grounds . of his home in West Kingsdown, Kent. Noye was cleared of murder on the . grounds that he was acting in self defence. He was, however, convicted of handling . stolen gold and sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was released in . 1994. Mr Cameron was murdered in 1996. Noye was convicted in 2000 and appeals . in 2001 and 2004 failed. But last year his case was referred to the . Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Earlier this year he lost his attempt at the Court of Appeal to overturn his murder conviction. A spokesman for the Prison Service said: ‘We do not comment on the location of individual prisoners.’ Cushy: Killer Kenneth Noye was secretly transferred from high-security HMP Whitemoor to Category B Lowdham Grange, near Nottingham .

Gangland boss Noye stabbed 21-year-old on M25 in front of the victim's fiancee .

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By . Pa Reporter . Ahead of the opening weekend of the Premier League, Sportsmail will be providing you with all you need to know about every fixture, with team news, provisional squads, betting odds and Opta stats... Here is all the information you need for Stoke City's home clash with Aston Villa... Stoke vs Aston Villa (Britannia Stadium) Kick-off: Saturday 3pm . Odds (subject to change): . Stoke 19/20 . Draw 23/10 . Aston Villa 16/5 . Referee: Anthony Taylor . Managers: Mark Hughes (Stoke), Paul Lambert (Aston Villa) Head-to-head league record: Stoke wins 28, draws 26, Aston Villa wins 46 . Team news . Stoke . Stoke boss Mark Hughes has a full squad to choose from for the club's Barclays Premier League opener against Aston Villa at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday. Summer signings Bojan Krkic, Mame Biram Diouf, Steve Sidwell, Phil Bardsley and Dionatan Teixeira could all make their competitive Potters debuts. Star man: Bojan Krkic (left) has impressed in pre-season for Stoke following his arrival from Barcelona . The likes of Brek Shea and Wilson Palacios look set to depart the club and Hughes has stressed that, due to numbers, some senior players he wants to retain will also have to miss out on being selected for the 18-man match squad. Provisional squad: Begovic, Sorensen, Butland, Pieters, Huth, Muniesa, Wilson, Shawcross, Cameron, Wilkinson, Shotton, Teixeira, Bardsley, Whelan, Nzonzi, Adam, Ireland, Sidwell, Odemwingie, Arnautovic, Walters, Crouch, Krkic, Diouf. Aston Villa . Summer signings Joe Cole, Philippe Senderos, Kieran Richardson and Aly Cissokho could all make their competitive debuts for Aston Villa in the club's Barclays Premier League opener against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday. Villa boss Paul Lambert will check the condition of both Cole (thigh) and World Cup semi-finalist Ron Vlaar ahead of the match but is optimistic the pair will be able to feature, while long-term absentee Jores Okore is in contention for his first competitive appearance since September having recovered from a serious knee problem. Joe ready to go: Joe Cole could hake off a thigh injury and make his competitive debut for Aston Villa at Stoke . There could also be comebacks for Charles N'Zogbia, out for all of last season with an achilles injury, as well as Alan Hutton and Darren Bent, who have previously been exiled from the Villa first-team and out on loan. Christian Benteke (achilles) and Libor Kozak (broken leg) remain sidelined. Provisional squad: Guzan, Given, Baker, Bennett, Vlaar, Okore, Clark, Senderos, Richardson, Hutton, Cissokho, Lowton, Stevens, Bacuna, El Ahmadi, Cole, Westwood, Delph, Herd, Gardner, N'Zogbia, Grealish, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Bent. Key match stats (supplied by Opta) Despite winning just once on the opening weekend in the Premier League (D2 L3), Stoke are unbeaten at the Britannia Stadium on the opening day (W1 D1). Last season’s 3-1 win over Arsenal was Paul Lambert’s first victory on the opening weekend of a Premier League season. Peter Crouch scored a goal and assisted a goal in both of Stoke’s victories over Aston Villa last season. Only against Blackburn (8) and Arsenal (7) has Crouch scored more Premier League goals than he has against his former team (5). Breakthrough: Charlie Adam celebrates after scoring the opening goal in a 2-1 victory for Stoke against Aston Villa at the Britannia Stadium last December . Only Aston Villa (491) committed more fouls than Stoke City (486) in the 2013-14 Premier League. Stoke have never recorded a positive goal difference in the Premier League. Overall the Potters have scored 233 goals in 228 Premier League matches. Since August 2011, Villa have recorded fewer points (117 in 114 games) than any other ever-present side in that period. Stoke summer signing Steve Sidwell scored seven Premier League goals (for Fulham) in 2013-14, as many as he managed in the previous four campaigns combined. Villa signing Joe Cole has not assisted a Premier League goal since October 2010. Villa conceded four goals in four of their last nine Premier League games in 2013-14.

Bojan Krkic set to make Stoke City bow following Barcelona switch . Brek Shea and Wilson Palacios unlikely to feature with futures uncertain . Joe Cole among Aston Villa summer signings set to make debuts . Cole looking to shake off thigh injury with Ron Vlaar to also be assessed .

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By . John Hall . PUBLISHED: . 12:12 EST, 18 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 15:47 EST, 18 March 2014 . A serving police officer has been killed by a train at a level crossing two days after he was arrested over an alleged sex attack. Ged Swash, 41, was declared dead at the scene after being struck by a train near Cowpen Bewley station in Billingham, County Durham. Two days earlier Mr Swash, a father, had been arrested over an alleged sex attack on a woman, and was still on bail pending further investigation at the time of his death. Claims: Two days before his death, police officer Ged Swash was arrested over an alleged sex attack on a woman. He was on bail pending further investigation at the time of his death . Village: Ged Swash was declared dead at the scene after being struck by a train near Cowpen Bewley station in Billingham, County Durham . Mr Swash, who lived in Billingham, had been arrested on the morning of Sunday, March 9 following an allegation of a sexual offence against a woman while he was off duty. He was bailed while his colleagues carried out further investigations. As he was already absent from work due to injury at the time of arrest, Mr Swash was not suspended by the force while the investigation took place. He had been off work from the Hartlepool headquarters of Cleveland Police due to injuries sustained after making an off duty arrest. A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: . 'We can confirm the man who died following an incident on a railway line . on Tuesday 11 March was 41-year-old Ged Swash, who was a serving police . officer.' 'We can also . confirm that this officer had been arrested on the morning of Sunday, . March 9, following an allegation of a sexual offence on an adult female . while off duty.' Scene: As he was already absent from work due to injury at the time of arrest, Mr Swash was not suspended by the force while the investigation took place . 'He was subsequently released on bail pending further enquiries.' 'Specially trained Family Liaison Officers are working with the family to support them in dealing with this tragic situation. Our thoughts are with the family, his friends and colleagues at this sad time,' the spokeswoman added. Mr Swash worked in Cleveland Police’s vulnerable people protection unit and was a governor at Barley Fields Primary School in Ingleby Barwick. Graeme Leck, head teacher of Barley Fields Primary, told the Northern Echo: 'Ged was a much valued parent governor and will be sadly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time.' He was declared dead at the scene after being struck by the train and a full investigation into his death was opened yesterday. The line was closed for around 90 minutes after the incident, which involved the 8.30pm Newcastle to Middlesbrough service.

Ged Swash struck by train near Cowpen Bewley station in County Durham . Serving police officer declared dead at the scene following the incident . Two days before death, Mr Swash was arrested over alleged sex offence . He was on bail pending further investigation when he was struck by train .

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(Financial TImes) -- The Netherlands has nationalised SNS Reaal, the fourth-largest systemically important bank in the Netherlands, at a cost to Dutch taxpayers of €3.7bn. The bank had spent the past several weeks in a desperate search for private capital to compensate for heavy losses in its real estate holdings, particularly in Spanish assets. Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Netherlands' finance minister, said in a statement he had "looked at every alternative involving private parties", but found none that could guarantee the stability of the Dutch banking system. With ABN Amro still in government hands after it was nationalised in 2009, the nationalisation of SNS Reaal means two of the Netherlands' four systemically important banks are state-owned. The nationalisation, carried out under the Netherlands' 2012 law on bank intervention, will mean shareholders of the bank and subordinated debt holders will see their stakes wiped out. The state will inject €2.2bn in new capital, while forgiving €800m the bank still owed from its earlier bailout during the financial crisis. It will also write off €700m in the value of the bank's real estate assets. "I can sympathise easily with the resistance many will feel because we again will need to use a large amount of public money," Mr Dijsselbloem said. "This is why I want the private sector to pay as large a share as possible of the rescue of SNS Reaal." In addition, the government will levy a one-time tariff of €1bn on Dutch banks in 2014 as a contribution to restoring the health of the financial sector. "Politically speaking, that's very important," said Harald Benink, a professor of finance at Tilburg University. Ronald Latenstein, SNS Reaal's chief executive, as well as the bank's chief financial officer and chairman of the board of directors, tendered their resignations. SNS Reaal announced they "could not take responsibility for the nationalisation scenario". The finance ministry said the bank's management would receive no bonuses, and that salary cuts were to be expected. The nationalisation comes after the European Commission blocked an earlier plan that would have seen the country's other large banks, Rabobank, ING and ABN Amro, contribute capital to a so-called "bad bank" to house SNS Reaal's distressed property assets. In a blogpost on FT.com on Thursday, economist Heleen Mees noted that rating agency Fitch has warned it may downgrade the debt of other Dutch and European banks if a government rescue of SNS Reaal wipes out ordinary bondholders.

Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem said he had "looked at every alternative . The state will inject €2.2bn, while forgiving €800m the bank still owed from its earlier bailout . The finance ministry said the bank's management would receive no bonuses .

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These pictures show the HMS Bounty moments before it sinks as rescue teams recover the body of one crew member from the sea while the ship's captain remains missing, presumed dead. Claudene Christian, 42, was pulled from the sea last night but was unresponsive and later pronounced dead, the U.S. coastguard said. It now means 15 of the 16 crew members of the iconic boat are accounted for - with 63-year-old captain Robin Walbridge yet to be found. Scroll down for video . Tragedy: Claudene Christian died after the boat she was on - a replica of HMS Bounty - went down in Superstorm Sandy . Abandon ship: The view of HMS Bounty from a coast guard helicoper after six metre waves and ferocious gales forced the crew to abandon ship as the 180-foot three-masted ship sinks in the Atlantic Ocean . Sinking ship: The world-famous boat became stranded on Sunday night about 90 miles southeast of Hatteras, North Carolina on Sunday . Emergency: This image shows the dramatic moment some of the crew members of HMS Bounty were rescued by the US Coastguard . These dramatic pictures show the . moment stranded crew members of the iconic HMS Bounty were rescued from . their life boats by the U.S. coastguard. The crew of the vessel . were forced to abandon ship off the east coast of America yesterday as it . became caught in raging seas near the eye of Hurricane Sandy. Two coast guard helicopters rescued 14 people from life rafts after they were forced to abandon ship. Claudene Christian pictured with the Bounty which she joined as a crew member in May . Ms Christian's mother, who is also called Claudene, said the ship began taking on water after a generator went out on the ship on Sunday night. It was around 160 miles from the eye of the storm as it made its way from Connecticut to Florida. Her mother said she was contacted by her daughter on Thursday when she said she wouldn't be able to contact them from the sea, according to 5newsonline. Ms Christian was a former Miss Teen Alaska and attended the University of Southern Carolina. Life-saving: A coastguard crew member uses a hoist to bring up a survivor into a helicopter . Safety: Despite the rescue efforts, the captain is still missing and a crew member has died . This image shows a survivor being pulled into the helicopter . Her aunt, Patricia Saulsberry, said that she had been interested in ships since she toured replicas of Nina and Pinta. As six-metre waves and ferocious gales battered the decks of the 180-foot, . three-masted ship - knocking out its power - terrified crew-members . clambered into life boats to watch their floating home shrink unmanned . into the darkness. These pictures show U.S. coastguard . teams rescuing the crewmen from their lifeboats. One of the terrified . crewmen can be seen being dragged from the lifeboat and into the sea by a . brave rescuer. The world-famous boat - which . featured in Hollywood blockbusters Mutiny on the Bounty with Marlon . Brando and two Pirates of the Caribbean films, starring Johnny Depp - . became stranded on Sunday night about 90 miles southeast of Hatteras, North Carolina. Dangerous: This image shows a crewman from the replica tall ship HMS Bounty being aided in the water by a member of the U.S. Coast Guard . Relief: Some of the crew members of HMS Bounty are back on dry land after being rescued by the coastguard team . Recovery: The survivors were wrapped up warmly in blankets and coats after spending time stranded in a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean . Injured: This HMS Bounty crew member appears to have a red mark on his face following his rescue. Along with other survivors he was taken to the Coast Guard Air Station in Elizabeth City, North Carolina . Heroic: Three helicopters were used by the coastguard team to rescue the 14 crew men . The crew were picked hours later up by a search and rescue team who were dispatched by helicopter to bring them to safety. But fears were confirmed that this was indeed the final voyage of the historic replica after the coast guard . said it did not have time to retrieve her before conditions became too . dangerous. 'The 17 person crew donned cold water . survival suits and lifejackets before launching in two 25-man lifeboats . with canopies,' the Coast Guard said in a statement. The ship was built in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia for the 1962 movie Mutiny on the Bounty that starred Marlon Brando. Trouble at sea: The Bounty - which featured in Hollywood blockbusters Mutiny on the Bounty and Pirates of the Caribbean - sailed into trouble on Sunday night after losing power . Alone at sea: She is now a ghost ship, bobbing unmanned towards the churning epicentre of what experts believe could be the worst hurricane ever to hit America . Starring role: The Canada-built replica of HMS Bounty feature in two Pirates of the Caribbean films. Pictured left to right in 2007: Chinese Pirate Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat), Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), and Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) World famous: The replica ship was built for the 1962 movie Mutiny on the Bounty that starred Marlon Brando, pictured on set with co-star Trevor Howard . It is a replica of the British Navy's original HMS Bounty on which the famous mutiny took place in Tahiti in . 1789 and is now used as a sailing school for prospective seafarers. It was built using the original ship drawings from files in the . British admiralty archives, but its dimensions were enlarged by around a third to fit the enormous 70 mm cameras used in the filming. Some 400,000 feet of lumber were used, 10,000 square yards of canvas were . sewn by hand and 10 miles of rope were rigged before it was ready for the silver screen. Bad bearings: The ship ran into trouble some 90 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina . Eye of the storm: The world-famous vessel became stranded on Sunday night about 90 miles southeast of Hatteras, North Carolina . Fears: The coast guard had to let the historic replica sink to the bottom of the ocean because conditions became too dangerous for a rescue . Testing: U.S. Navy sailors from the submarine USS Mississippi test the wheel earlier this month during a sail aboard the square rigged sailing ship HMS Bounty . The plan was to burn the ship in a dramatic final act, but Marlon Brando had become so attached to the vessel that he threatened to walk out in protest so, rather than lose their star, its owners MGM agreed to keep it in service. It has since become one of Hollywood's most famous ships and was used in filming for the 1989 film Treasure Island with Charlton Heston and also appeared in two of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Dead Man's Chest and At World's End, both starring Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley. This year it was put up for sale by its current owners for $4.6 million. 'Bounty': It is an exact replica of the British Navy's original HMS Bounty on which the famous mutiny took place in Tahiti in 1789 . The mutiny that took place aboard the original Bounty is one of the most famous of all seafaring tales. It was led by Fletcher Christian, played in the 1962 film by Marlon Brando, against commanding officer Lieutenant William Bligh, played by Trevor Howard, on 28 April 1789. According to most reports, the crew had become fed up with the rod of iron with which Lt. Bligh commanded the ship and decided overthrow him to start new lives on the Pacific Islands. They rounded up Lt Bligh and a handful of his loyal seamen and set them afloat in a dinghy leaving them to their fate. The men then settled in on Pitcairn Island and in Tahiti before burning HMS Bounty to avoid detection where many of their descendants remain to this day. VIDEO: Watch the iconic HMS Bounty at sea in 1962 .

15 of the 16 crew members have now been found . The coast guard said 42-year-old Claudene Christian was pulled from the water but later pronounced dead . Captain Robin Walbridge, 63, is still missing at sea . The Bounty starred in Hollywood blockbusters Mutiny on the Bounty, starring Marlon Brando, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest . The Canadian-made replica vessel got caught in storms near Hatteras, N.C.

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Utah officials will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court a lower-court ruling allowing same-sex marriage in the state, the state attorney general's office said Thursday. Newly appointed Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes will seek a stay of the federal judge's ruling after state officials consult first with outside attorneys over the next few days. "It is the intent of the Attorney General's Office to file with the Supreme Court as soon as possible," the attorney general's office said in a statement. The emergency appeal, when filed, would go to Justice Sonia Sotomayor because she has jurisdiction over appeals from Utah and nearby states. She could rule on the state's application herself or ask the entire nine-member court to weigh in. Sotomayor is likely to refer the Utah request to the entire court, as is tradition with high-profile traditional cases, said Carl Tobias, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Richmond. The Utah announcement comes two days after state officials lost their case in a federal appeals court, which said the state's request for a stay wasn't warranted and ordered the appeal process be expedited. The appeals court's ruling allows same-sex marriages to continue in Utah while appeals continue. Last week, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby struck down Utah's ban on same-sex marriage, saying the law "conflicts with the United States Constitution's guarantees of equal protection and due process under the law." Utah voters approved a law banning same-sex marriage in 2004. Judge Shelby's ruling drew national attention partly because Utah is viewed as among the more conservative states and because the U.S. Supreme Court just ruled this summer on same-sex marriage. In June, the nation's highest court cleared the way for same-sex marriages in California to resume after it ruled private parties did not have "standing" to defend California's voter-approved ballot measure barring gay and lesbian couples from state-sanctioned wedlock. The U.S. Supreme Court also rejected parts of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in a 5-4 decision, dismissing an appeal over same-sex marriage on jurisdictional grounds and ruling same-sex spouses legally married in a state may receive federal benefits. In the Utah case, the state argues that the "federal district court's ruling that same-sex marriage is a fundamental right has never been established in any previous case in the 10th Circuit" Court of Appeals, the attorney general's office said. The federal judge's ruling, nonetheless, prompted a rush of same-sex couples to courthouses in Utah where they obtained marriage licenses, despite the state's ongoing legal challenge. Some jurisdictions such as Piute and San Juan Counties are issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but there haven't been requests for them there, officials said. Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert has criticized Judge Shelby's ruling of last week, calling him "an activist federal judge." Shelby said the state's "current laws deny its gay and lesbian citizens their fundamental right to marry and, in so doing, demean the dignity of these same-sex couples for no rational reason. "Accordingly, the court finds that these laws are unconstitutional," the judge said. Same-sex marriage is banned by constitutional amendment or state law in: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. It is legal in 17 other U.S states and the District of Columbia: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

Sotomayor is likely to refer Utah request to entire court, expert says . Utah attorney general will appeal a lower-court ruling to nation's highest court . Utah will file appeal after consulting with outside attorneys over the next few days . A lower federal court struck down Utah's ban on same-sex marriage .

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(CNN) -- Pastor Maldonado grabbed his first Formula One victory as the Venezuelan impressively held off Ferrari's Fernando Alonso to win Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix, but his celebrations were muted by a fire in his team's pit-lane garage. In only his second Formula One season, Maldonado secured Williams' first win since 2004 despite losing the early advantage of his pole position, thanks to some timely pit stops after Alonso raced away from him at the start. Maldonado's second pit stop proved key to his victory and Alonso then had to work hard to hold off Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen, with the Finn's teammate Romain Grosjean finishing fourth, while Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber was fifth and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel sixth. Alonso and defending champion Vettel are tied on points in the 2012 standings after a race that produced the season's fifth winner in five races, though the German driver stays ahead on count back. Maldonado had started on pole after McLaren's Lewis Hamilton was relegated to the back of the grid on Saturday because of a technical fuel breach, which resulted in the exclusion of all the Briton's qualifying times by the race stewards. Hamilton fought up from the back of the grid to eighth, with teammate Jenson Button taking ninth. "I think it's a wonderful day, not just for me but for all the team," said Maldonado. "We have been pushing so hard since last year to try to improve race by race and here we are." Spaniard Alonso added: "Second place at home feels fantastic and thanks to the people that came here and the people at home and hopefully a step forward in terms of championship possibilities." However Williams' celebrations at Maldonado's win were marred after a fire broke out in the team's garage just over an hour after the race finished as the Barcelona pit lane was engulfed in thick smoke. A number of personnel from the Williams, Force India and Caterham teams were taken to the medical center, though no serious injuries have been confirmed. Of the 31 people taken to the medical center, 24 were released and the remaining seven were transferred to local hospitals for treatment. "All the team's employees have been accounted for and four people have been taken to the circuit medical center for examination; one with a minor hand injury and three with respiratory issues," said Caterham. Formula One's governing body the FIA and the Spanish authorities have opened an investigation into the fire. Meanwhile, Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher's collision with Williams' Bruno Senna on lap 12 proved costly for Germany's seven-time world champion, who was handed a five-place grid penalty for the Monaco Grand Prix later this month. Race stewards decided Schumacher was at fault in the incident which forced the retirement of both drivers.

Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado takes first Formula One win in only his second season . Maldonado's Williams team secures first win since 2004 in Spain on Sunday . Fernando Alonso finishes second to join Sebastian Vettel at top of standings . McLaren's Lewis Hamilton fights from back of the grid to take eighth place .

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By . Miles Goslett . Controversial: Former director-general Mark Thompson, 56, left the BBC in September 2012 after eight years in charge . The BBC is under fire for agreeing to spend £20,000 of licence fee money on an official portrait of former director-general Mark Thompson. The 56-year-old, who left the corporation in September 2012 after eight years in charge, has been advised by senior executives that the public will foot the five-figure bill for the commissioned work. It has been a tradition for director generals to have an official portrait since the first man to hold the post, Lord Reith, sat for an artist in the 1930s. Thompson – now chief executive of the New York Times, where he earned an estimated $6 million (£3.7million) including a bonus during his first year in charge – is currently choosing which artist will depict him on canvas. The picture is intended to hang in Broadcasting House, the BBC's headquarters in central London, and insiders have indicated that at least £20,000 is available for the exercise. But critics have lambasted the idea, insisting millionaire Mr Thompson should pay for it himself. Tory MP Philip Davies, a member of the Commons media select committee, said: 'No public money should be spent on this. The BBC has already accepted that Mark Thompson was an overpaid director-general. 'We know this because although his salary was as high as £834,000 at one point, his successor is paid only £450,000. Mark Thompson should pay for this picture out of the additional funds he received which even the BBC now admits were unjustified.' Rob Wilson MP, an aide to chancellor George Osborne, said he objected to the portrait being paid for with public money in part because of the various BBC scandals with which Thompson is associated, such as the inquiry into Jimmy Savile's sex abuse, illegal executive pay-offs, and the £100million Digital Media Initiative fiasco. Mr Wilson said: 'In light of what we now know about Mark Thompson's tenure, I would suggest that if he wishes to have a BBC portrait he should pay for it himself. 'There may be a tradition of commissioning portraits of director-generals, but I think it's an anachronism in this day and age. It smacks of an elitist, almost imperial culture at the top of the BBC that glorifies itself and its leadership rather than focussing on the people it serves.' It has been a tradition for director generals to have an official portrait since the first man to hold the post, Lord Reith, sat for an artist in the 1930s . George Entwistle, who succeeded Thompson in September 2012 but was forced to quit after 54 days over the Lord McAlpine scandal, has not been granted an official BBC portrait. Thompson's predecessor, Greg Dyke, spent £15,000 of public money on his official BBC portrait, painted by John Keane and unveiled in 2006. Although Thompson left at a time of his choosing, his BBC track record has been scrutinised like none of his predecessors'. He has been forced to return to London from his new base in New York three times in 15 months to give evidence to official inquiries into BBC scandals. The first related to Savile. Thompson said he knew nothing about the abuse allegations surrounding the late DJ until after he stopped running the BBC. However, legal papers plus statements to MPs from his colleague Helen Boaden, the BBC's head of Radio, have since surfaced which contradict his story. Thompson was also in charge of the BBC when £25 million in golden goodbyes was paid to 150 departing executives, some of whom were not entitled to the six-figure sums they received. He was grilled about this by MPs last September and has subsequently been accused of misleading their committee, an allegation he is still battling. And on Monday he was in London to give evidence to the same parliamentary committee about the Digital Media Initiative IT project, in which £100 million of licence fee money was written off. Thompson apologised for the catastrophe, but MPs say his precise role in the affair remains unclear.

The 56-year-old left in September 2012 after eight years in charge . It has been a tradition for director generals to have an official portrait . Picture is intended to hang in Broadcasting House, the BBC's HQ .

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San Francisco, California (CNN) -- Web sites come and go, but the short bursts of text you publish on one Web site in particular -- Twitter.com --may end up having a longer shelf life than the company itself. The Library of Congress announced this week that it will archive the billions of tweets published since Twitter launched in March 2006. Yes, that Twitter, the social networking site mocked and trash-talked in the press, late-night talk shows and by retro-minded pundits as 21st-century navel gazing for fidgeting geeks (David Letterman: "You know what it reminds me of? Oh yeah, a waste of time.") But that's not the way the library sees it: If you use Twitter and your status updates are public, they should be in the archive. Twitter haters can go on scoffing that tweets are only ephemeral bits of frivolous information, but the Library of Congress has just ratified the importance of social media in recording history. What else does this mean? Only that future generations will have an unprecedented amount of firsthand data (in 140-character bites) about what people from every corner of the world were doing, thinking and feeling at every moment starting four years ago. There will be a record, for example, of the torrent of tweets that brought news from street demonstrations during the Iranian elections last year, when Internet and mobile lines were cut off. There will be a record of the devastation and the relief efforts out of Haiti and Chile after the earthquakes; and of a certain historic presidential inauguration. (http://twitter.com/barackobama/status/992176676 "We just made history. All of this happened because you gave your time, talent and passion. All of this happened because of you. Thanks") More on the Library of Congress plan to archive tweets . Thoughts and ideas written by people who wouldn't necessarily be in a position to write them into books (some for good reason) will be immortalized just the same. Current and future academics, historians and anthropologists will have a simple but deep dataset to analyze in new ways they haven't thought of yet. The Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution. Its mission is to "sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations." It doesn't sound like the right place to archive messages thumbed on a cell phone or dashed off in the Web page text box of a Web site. Or as one of my own twitter followers put it: "Since when does banality & frivolity warrant cultural preservation?" -@matty_g http://twitter.com/matty_g/status/12187504242 . But amidst the "craving a chocolate bar" or "watching my cat throw up a hairball" tweets, there is a serious reflection of historical context -- a real-time timeline written by regular people. Even a small sampling of archived tweets yields insights. "BREAKING: Healthcare Reform Just Passed!!!! This is one small step for health care, one giant leap for America!"http://twitter.com/Jason_Pollock/status/10852088956 . Another, when Shaun White won the Olympic gold: . "Oh my God! Shaun White was amazing in the half pipe! Landing the double mctwist/big mac/white snake/ giant tomato! Sweet!" http://twitter.com/Swiftsfan/status/9268595586 . And this week the White House (@whitehouse on Twitter) solicited ideas from citizens about what the United States' next major technological or scientific achievement should be. The archive of tweeted replies is intended to help prioritize the president's to-do list. Finally, three things about Twitter's dataset particularly suit it for the library's archive: . 1. A tweet is small and has a simple structure. 2. Most tweets are public. 3. Billions of public tweets are already available, and millions of new tweets go into the system every day. While Twitter itself and certain partners maintain copies of the data created with the service, the library will preserve that data regardless of what becomes of those businesses. Perhaps the most amazing thing is that the tweet archive gives many more people entrée into a collection historically reserved for a select few. Getting your words and ideas included in such an important cultural archive is a privilege. Twitter users may cringe at the thought that their tweet about the cat getting sick will outlive them like this, but they should celebrate, then make their next tweet really good. It will be around for awhile. Or as a twitter follower put it: «LC archiving tweets should remind us all that once it is in the ether, it's forever.» -@itwalkabout http://twitter.com/itwalkabout/status/12187791303 . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Gina Trapani.

Library of Congress will archive all Twitter messages since site started in 2006 . The move, Gina Trapani says, validates social media's role in recording history . Archive gives academics, historians, anthropologists a simple, deep dataset, she says . Trapani: Many more people will have entrée into a collection usually reserved for select few .

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(CNN) -- Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-serving monarch, celebrated his 84th birthday Monday, giving the Southeast Asian country some much-needed cheer after months of devastating flooding nationwide. Also celebrated as Father's Day, the occasion launched a week of national celebrations, including a birthday speech by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on behalf of the Thai people, a public audience by the king during a grand state ceremony and the pardon of some 26,000 prisoners. A new book celebrating his seventh decade as monarch has also hit stores. Titled "King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life's Work," and with an editorial advisory board chaired by former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun, the book offers a look at the king's life, work, laws governing the throne, along with hundreds of pictures. In a rare appearance, the king on Monday addressed the recent floods that have devastated the country, urging people to overcome divisions and set up sustainable water management. "It is a duty of everyone to cooperate and help each other," he said. The U.S.-born and Swiss-educated king has reigned since 1950, succeeding his brother King Ananda Mahidol, whose death in 1946 of a gunshot wound in bed remains a mystery. Also known as Rama IX, the king commands great love, respect and God-like status among Thais despite his lack of direct power under Thailand's constitutional monarchy, in which decision-making rests with the prime minister. The Constitution stipulates that the king "shall be enthroned in a position of revered worship and shall not be violated" and that "no person shall expose the king to any sort of accusation or action." He has wielded his moral authority to intervene in political crises over the decades, but his failing health -- he has been residing at Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital -- has raised questions about the country's future, as it struggles to recover from the most recent spasms of political unrest in the aftermath of a 2006 military coup. His son, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, is his heir apparent. But talk about the future role of the monarchy -- most especially if it's deemed less than supportive -- has been hampered by Thailand's lese majeste laws, which ban criticism of the monarchy. Last week, Human Rights Watch urged the amendment of Thailand's lese majeste laws after 61-year-old Ampon Tangnoppakul was sentenced to 20 years in prison for sending four SMS text messages considered offensive to the Queen and the monarchy -- a case that also drew the concern of the European Union. "The severity of penalties being meted out for lese majeste offenses in Thailand is shocking," said Human Rights Watch's Asia Director, Brad Adams on the HRW web site. The group pointed to the King's own 2005 birthday speech in suggesting he invited criticism: "If the King can do no wrong, it is akin to looking down upon him because the King is not being treated as a human being. But the King can do wrong," according to a translation by the Thai newspaper, The Nation. The U.N. Special Rapporteur has recommended the amendment of Thailand's lese majeste laws. On Monday The Nation released a Dusit survey on the king. Among the findings: 60 percent of those polled most appreciate his kindness for the economy; 78 percent pledged to be honest in honor of his birthday; 61 percent would like to light candles and sing songs to wish him well; and 73 percent believe disunity most upsets the king. In addition to Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, King Bhumibol and his wife of more than 60 years, Queen Sirikit, have three other children: Ubolratana, Chulabhorn, and Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, whose work promoting schools, nutrition and health care for the needy has earned her the nickname "Angel Princess."

Thai King's 84th birthday sparks a week of celebrations . Country has been suffering from devastating flooding . King Bhumibol Adulyadej's wields moral authority but not political power . Laws banning criticism of the monarchy are controversial especially after a texter was last week jailed for 20 years .

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Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- A suicide bombing at an Iraqi military base north of Baghdad killed at least 10 people and wounded 25 others Monday, police said. Most of the dead and wounded were Iraqi soldiers, according to Baquba police, who said the truck bomber ran into a barracks. Police combed through the rubble of the building looking for victims. The attack took place in the town of Kanan about 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Baquba in Diyala province, which is ethnically mixed. The province used to be an al Qaeda stronghold, especially during the peak of sectarian violence in the country between 2005 and 2007. On Monday afternoon, a string of roadside bombings targeted Baghdad communities. One civilian was killed and two others were wounded in western Baghdad's al-Amriya neighborhood after a roadside bomb blast, police said. Eight other people were wounded earlier Monday when three roadside bombs exploded in Baghdad neighborhoods, the interior ministry said.

New: A roadside bomb kills one and wounds two in western Baghdad . A suicide truck bomber hit a barracks for Iraqi soldiers . Eight other people were wounded Monday in roadside bombs . The suicide attack takes place in the Diyala province town of Kanan . A truck packed with explosives is used in the attack .

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By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 06:07 EST, 9 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:08 EST, 9 December 2013 . People in their 40s are the most likely to be admitted to hospital after abusing drink or drugs, a new report has revealed. More than half a million people were admitted to hospital as an emergency in the last three years with health problems related to drink or drug use, health performance experts Dr Foster said. Of the 533,302 admitted since 2010, more than 120,000 were in their 40s. People in their 40s are the most likely to be admitted to hospital after abusing drink or drugs . Of those, 60,738 were 40 to 44, the Guardian said, while 60,083 were between 45 and 49. Almost one in five people in their 40s admitted to hospital in 2012/13 were classed by the NHS as ‘emergency admissions due to a known drug/alcohol issue’, the report said. The news comes just days after the Health and social Care Information Centre revealed that official figures showed alcohol-related hospital admissions among those aged 45 and over have more than doubled in the last ten years. The figures also revealed alcohol-related hospital admissions among those in their 60s have almost tripled. In contrast, the increase was much lower among younger adults. The data shows that in 2012/13, a total of 26,209 men and 12,461 women aged 45 to 49 ended up in hospital due to alcohol. More than half a million people were admitted to hospital as an emergency in the last three years with health problems related to drink or drug use . This was the highest total for any five-year age group. But the statistics reveal that the greatest increase in hospital treatment for alcohol problems over the past decade was among those in their 60s. During that period there was a 178 per cent rise in admissions of men aged 65 to 69 and a 177 per cent increase in admissions for women aged 60 to 64. Admissions more than doubled for every age group over 45. Experts said this was the cumulative effect of life-long drinking by the baby-boomer generation who felt liberated from societal constraints in the 1960s and 1970s. Almost one in five people in their 40s admitted to hospital in 2012/13 were classed by the NHS as 'emergency admissions due to a known drug/alcohol issue' But they added that many older people are drinking too much now. In contrast, the smallest rises among adults in the past ten years were seen among those in their 30s – perhaps because this is the age at which many people settle down and have children. Commenting on the latest figures, experts warned of a generation that is gambling with its long-term health through heavy drinking and drug taking. Roger Taylor, co-founder of Dr Foster, told the BBC the figures suggested there was a particular issue among people born in the 1960s. He said: ‘The bulk of the problem is in this age group. It seems they are the ones that have used drinks and drugs more than previous generations and it is now catching up with them in middle age.’ The data, collated for Dr Foster’s annual Hospital Guide, which is released today, also revealed that alcohol and drug abuse problems cost the NHS £607million a year. While drinking problems were spread across all socio-economic groups, the poorest were most likely to end up in hospital. Some 192,014 – 36 per cent - of the total admissions since 2010 were of people in the most deprived income group, compared with 45,957 - 8.6 per cent - of people in the wealthiest 20 per cent. The figures also showed an alarming number of children and teenagers were admitted to hospital for drink and drug problems. More than 1,000 children between the ages of 10 and 14 were hospitalised each year - 3,013 over the three year period - and 24,101 teenagers between 15 and 19 years old. Some 15 per cent of drink or drug-related admissions were among those aged 30 to 34, 18 per cent between 35 and 39, and 16 per cent for 50 to 54-year-olds. More than 1,000 children between the ages of 10 and 14 were hospitalised each year - 3,013 over the three year period - as were 24,101 teenagers between 15 and 19 years old . And the figures uncovered a geographical divide in the numbers of patients admitted because of drink or drugs, with higher rates in the north of England, the Guardian said. Matt Tee, chief operating officer of the NHS Confederation, which represents hospitals, said the hidden problem of middle-age drinking to excess was more harmful than binge-drinking. He told the newspaper: ‘It’s all too easy to dupe ourselves that binge-drinking teenagers or stag and hen parties in their 20s are the cause of alcohol-related pressures on the health service. ‘Today’s news puts this myth firmly back in its place and makes it even more important that as a society we seriously examine the impact our drinking habits have on our health - and on our health service.’ The British Medical Association warned that the burden from alcohol on the NHS was unsustainable . The British Medical Association warned that the burden from alcohol on the NHS was unsustainable. A spokesman said: ‘It is vital that we take more action to tackle the impact of excessive alcohol consumption on the UK’s population and the NHS. ‘As the Dr Foster research highlights, this is a problem that affects large numbers of people across all age groups and as a result places serious strain on a number of already overstretched NHS services. A Department of Health spokeswoman said: ‘These figures highlight the very real harm that alcohol and illicit drugs can have on users of all ages, and the need for action not just to raise awareness and prevent substance abuse, but also to ensure that the right services are accessed by the people that need them. ‘We are helping the NHS target harmful drinkers with measures such as increasing the use of interventions by health professionals, and introducing alcohol liaison nurses in A&E. ‘However there must also be more focus on prevention, not just treatment for those with existing problems. ‘We are also working to both reduce harmful drug and alcohol use and to increase the numbers recovering from their dependence. Our focus is on combining health and social policies to help people affected access services, rebuild their lives and play a full part in society.’

More than half a million people were . admitted to hospital as an emergency in the last three years with health . problems related to drink or drug use . Of the 533,302 admitted since 2010, more than 120,000 were in their 40s . One in five people in their 40s admitted to hospital in 2012/13 were classed by the NHS as ‘emergency admissions due to a known drug/alcohol issue’ Some 192,014 - 36 per cent - of the total admissions since 2010 were of people in the most deprived income group .

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By . Alasdair Glennie Tv Correspondent . Channel 4's Benefits Street has now received more than 1,700 complaints as one of its stars, 'Black Dee' was charged with drug and firearms offences . Channel 4’s controversial Benefits Street documentary has now received more than 1,700 complaints as one of its stars was charged with drug and firearms offences. The broadcaster and TV watchdog Ofcom have been deluged with calls, letters and emails from viewers who accused the five-part documentary of glamourising crime, promoting drug use and celebrating welfare dependency. Yesterday it emerged one of the core participants - Samora Roberts, known in the show as ‘Black Dee’ - will face prosecution for a string of charges alongside five of her neighbours. The 32-year-old - who was also arrested last week for allegedly stealing a packet of condoms from a branch of Boots - has been charged with conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs including crack cocaine, possession of class A drug diamorphine and possession of firearm ammunition without a certificate. West Midlands Police raided her house on the now infamous James Turner Street in Birmingham last June. She will appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court on February 6 alongside other residents, including Benefits Street co-star Charlene Wilson, 29. Channel 4 have said it has no plans to change the programme despite the potential risk it could prejudice any future trial. But the number of viewer complaints has continued to soar. Scroll down for video . Typical: Channel 4 and programme makers Love Productions claim the street is typical of hundreds of UK communities struggling to cope with economic and social decline . Switch: Deidre Kelly - known as White Dee - revealed she is a former Liberal Democrat who now supports the Labour party in protest at Nick Clegg's support for the Coalition . 'If you'd like to spare some change for a cup of tea, please press your red button now...' Last night, Ofcom said it had received a total of 945 complaints, while 820 contacted Channel 4 directly. A . Channel 4 spokesman said some viewers will have contacted both Ofcom . and Channel 4 meaning not all should be counted as separate complaints. Benefits Street is the channel’s biggest ratings hit since its coverage of the Paralympics in 2012. Channel . 4 and programme makers Love Productions claim the street is typical of . hundreds of UK communities struggling to cope with economic and social . decline. But some critics labelled it ‘poverty porn’ and said it is paints a false picture of life in modern Britain. Others praised it for exposing the truth of benefits fraud but said it failed to condemn crime and also exploits children, exposing them to bullying and victimisations. Some residents said the show - which shows children swearing and misbehaving - has left youngsters to ashamed and embarrassed to go to school. Last week, another participant Deidre Kelly - known as White Dee - revealed she is a former Liberal Democrat who now supports the Labour party in protest at Nick Clegg’s support for the Coalition. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

TV watchdog has been deluged with complaints from angry viewers . Core participant Samora Roberts, known as Black Dee', has been charged with drug and firearms offences, alongside five of her neighbours . Her house was raided by West Midlands Police last June . Ofcom has received 945 complaints, while 820 contacted Channel 4 . Show is the channel’s biggest ratings hit since its Paralympic coverage .

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By . Michael Zennie . PUBLISHED: . 13:26 EST, 15 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:50 EST, 15 August 2012 . When a Long Island, New York, hedge fund manager reached out to his Congressman for help obtaining permits so he could have a fireworks show at his son's bar mitzvah, he received a request for a $10,000 donation two days later -- before the paperwork was secured, according to e-mails. Now, Rep Tim Bishop is defending himself against allegations he violated house ethics rules, accused of soliciting money in exchange for greasing the wheels of federal bureaucracy. In e-mails obtained by Politico, Eric Semler called the request from Rep Bishop's surrogate 'really gross,' but said he planned to pay up so the fireworks could go ahead as scheduled. Quid-quo-pro? Rep Tim Bishop was asked to help a constituent secure an environmental permit and two days later his daughter sent a request for a $10,000 donation to the constituent . The political news site reports that Mr Semler asked Rep Bishop, a five-term Democrat, for help with the pyrotechnics on May 21 -- five days before his son's party -- because his attempts to work with federal environmental agencies had gone nowhere. His 3,400-square-foot home in the Hamptons sits near wetlands that are used as nesting grounds by protected species like the piping plover. Several, local, state and federal departments worried that a large fireworks display would harm the nearby wildlife. The fireworks firm, Fireworks by Grucci, is owned by former Congressman Felix Grucci, a Republican who Rep Bishop unseated in 2002. Two days after making the request, Mr Semler received an e-mail from Rep Bishop's daughter Molly, asking for a donation. Wealthy: Eric Semler wanted to launch fireworks from his house in the Hamptons (center) to celebrate his son's bar mitzvah . Rep Tim Bishop won his Congressional seat in 2010 by only 593 votes after spending nearly $3.1million. This year, he faces the same Republican opponent -- local businessman Randy Altschuler -- and clearly expects the race to be another dogfight. Rep Bishop has raised $1.9million so far this year, nearly half of it from large donations. Rep Bishop serves in New York's First Congressional District, which encompasses the exceedingly wealthy Hamptons. Some of the rich and famous who live there have taken Bishop's side in his five terms in Congress and given generously to his campaign. Donors include: . 'Our Finance Chair, Bob Sillerman . suggested to my dad that you were interested in contribution to his . campaign and that I should be in touch directly with you. We are going . to be in a tough, expensive campaign and so we are very grateful for . your willingness to be of help,' the e-mail says, according to Politico. 'If you make a contribution before June 26th you and your wife may each contribute up to $5,000; after June 26th the most you can each contribute is $2,500.' When the e-mail was sent, the question of the environmental permit was still up in the air and Mr Semler didn't know whether he would be allowed to have fireworks at his son's party in three days. The permits were eventually approved and the fireworks were shot off from the roof of Mr Semler's home. However, he says, debris from one of the rocket's landed on his neighbor's Bentley and caused $7,500 worth of damage he had to pay for out of pocket. Campaign records show Mr Semler and his wife donated $2,500 each to Rep Bishop's campaign on June 26. It was the first time either of them had given to the Congressman. Politco reports that the request seems to violate Congressional rules. The House Ethics Manual says, 'a solicitation for campaign or political contributions may not be linked with an official action taken or to be taken by a House Member or employee.' Rep Bishop denied that he made asked for a donation in exchange for helping Mr Semler. The hedge fund manager's gift was simple was simply a show of gratitude, the Congressman told Politico. Mr Semler also disagreed with Polico's take and said there was no quid-pro-quo with Rep Bishop. He willingly gave to his campaign and was glad to to so, he said. Mr Semler called the issue a 'non-story.' Messages left by Mail Online with Mr Semler, Rep Bishop and Fireworks by Grucci were not immediately returned.

On May 21 Eric Semler asked Rep Tim Bishop, a Democrat, for help getting permission to launch fireworks from his Long Island, New York, home . On May 23, before he received the permits, Mr Semler got an e-mail from Rep Bishop's daughter asking for a contribution of up to $10,000 . House ethics rules bar members from requesting for donations that are linked to Congressional action . Rep Bishop denies asking for quid-pro-quo .

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Jos Buttler begins his Test career as England’s wicket-keeper batsman on Sunday but just a few years ago the former child prodigy was a reluctant gloveman. The 23-year-old former Somerset star — whose remarkable ball-striking ability has drawn comparisons with Viv Richards and Ian Botham — caught the attention of England’s hierarchy at a early age, once scoring 227 not out for his school first XI in a record 340-run partnership in 2008. The player who had the best view in the house that day, former school friend and current Somerset batsman Alex Barrow, says the man making his Test debut in place of 79-cap veteran Matt Prior today was not always a willing wicket-keeper. Catching practice: Jos Buttler in an England nets session on Saturday . Debutant: He is set to make his Test bow for England against India on Sunday . ‘Jos was actually very reluctant to keep at school,’ Barrow said. ‘On several occasions he’d hand the gloves over to someone else so he could have a bowl. He was a very good keeper but didn’t really enjoy it. 'He didn’t really want to do it but he’s come on a long way and done a huge amount of work which is testament to him for becoming a Test keeper. But there were many times at school he didn’t fancy it.’ With his opportunities at Taunton limited by former England keeper Craig Kieswetter, Buttler moved to Lancashire from Somerset this winter to gain regular wicket-keeping opportunities at first-class level. He has worked tirelessly with wicketkeeping coach Bruce French and is entrusted with the gloves at the Ageas Bowl following Prior’s decision to take a break. He is the least experienced wicketkeeper England have selected in the past 50 years in terms of first-class appearances, apart from Essex skipper James Foster who made his Test debut against India in 2001. Buttler’s one-day credentials are already established and his astonishing innings of 121 from 74 balls in a losing cause against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in May led to calls from many — including Kevin Pietersen — for him to be elevated even sooner. ‘Jos’s ball-striking was always pretty exceptional,’ said Barrow. ‘He was able to clear the boarding house at one end and the science block from the first XI square at school, which was around a 100m carry. 'No-one else could get close but Jos could hit it over pretty regularly and pretty comfortably. He could always hit the ball a long way. He could also always hit the ball in strange areas, too. ‘We batted together in a Twenty20 tournament at Millfield and he walked down the wicket to me in one game and said “I’m going to try to hit this guy over point for six”. In my naivety I wondered how the hell he was going to cut the ball for six, but the next ball he came down and he said: “I’m going to reverse sweep him for six”. And that’s exactly what he did. It was pretty amazing. ‘He spent a lot more time practising those sorts of skills at a younger age than most other people.’ Pedigree: He is already established in limited overs cricket for England . Backup: In training with captain Alastair Cook (centre) and Chris Jordan (right) Buttler’s parents, John and  Patricia, will be at the Ageas Bowl today to witness his Test debut. ‘Jos was a bowler at a young age but when one of his team’s wicket keepers was ill and the other was injured on that day, Jos took over, and that was it,’ John told the Mail on Sunday. ‘One thing that he has had ever since he was born is incredible hand-eye co-ordination. It means if there’s something to be hit or something to be caught, he has the natural ability to do it.’ Jos honed his skills as a youngster by playing against his older brother James, seven years his senior, in the garden of their family home in the Somerset village of Wedmore. Patricia said: ‘We had a mown strip up the top of the garden and they would charge in at each other, smashing around the place. Windows were broken, the greenhouse was in pieces but they played and played. ‘Because there were so many years between them, if Jos wanted to play he had to play as hard as his older brother. They were so competitive and still are. They still play whenever they’re both here. ‘People have told us that Jos is the same as Kevin Pietersen. They go because he’s playing, he’s got something special to inspire a crowd.’ Buttler turned down the chance to be a school prefect in order to concentrate on his cricket and A-Levels in his final year at King’s, Taunton, a West Country boarding school he attended through a cricket scholarship won aged 13. ‘He was an unbelievable cricketer and clearly a class above everybody else,’ said headmaster Richard Biggs. ‘There was no doubt he would go on to succeed in the game. But he wasn’t just a cricketer, he was also an exceptionally talented rugby player who I have no doubt could have gone on to make a living out of that. He played hockey very well and was also a bright boy who did very well in his A-Levels. ‘He was modest, softly spoken and a great ambassador for the school. The only place he pushed himself on to the centre stage was on the cricket field. He was never arrogant and everybody liked him.’ Batsman: According to a school friend, he was a reluctant wicketkeeper growing up . Safe hands: But he has been working hard with Somerset to prepare for his chance when it comes . Buttler was soon on Somerset’s radar where former England batsman Brian Rose — county captain in the late Seventies of a side containing Botham and Richards — immediately spotted his promise. ‘I was fortunate enough at Somerset to see Ian Botham emerging and one or two others,’ said Rose. ‘I’ve seen Jos play cricket since he was 13 and it was immediately apparent to me he was going to play at the highest level. ‘There are not many people you can say that about. People as talented as Jos will always get through. 'His hand-eye co-ordination and ability to hit the ball anywhere in the ground takes me back a long time to when I was watching people like Ian Botham and Viv Richards, one of the greatest cricketers ever to play. ‘I think Jos has that special ability. His big challenge is to bat for longer periods in first-class cricket.’ At just under six feet, Buttler is relatively tall for a wicket-keeper. ‘Initially I doubted he’d be a wicketkeeper because of his height,’ Rose added. ‘But he’s naturally flexible and is good on his feet. His glovework has come on a lot and he’s been helped a lot by Frenchy over the last couple of years. ‘He’s a natural athlete so the more he keeps practising with soft hands he’ll be fine.’

Buttler was a reluctant wicketkeeper when he was growing up . Set to make England Test debut against India on Sunday . Already established at national level in limited overs cricket . England on a run of ten Tests without a victory .

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More than 11,000 children have been killed in the nearly three-year civil war in Syria, including young boys and girls who were tortured and executed, according to a report from a London-based think tank. The Oxford Research Group said that most of the 11,420 children reported dead were killed in explosions, and many others were shot to death. Teenage boys were most likely to be the victims of targeted killings, according to the report, entitled "Stolen Futures: The Hidden Toll of Child Casualties in Syria." "What is most disturbing about the findings of this report is not only the sheer numbers of children killed in this conflict, but the way they are being killed," co-author Hana Salama said in a statement. More than 1,000 children were either summarily executed (764) or killed by snipers (389), the report found. Some 112 children, even infants, were tortured before being killed. And what's worse, deaths of children are "mounting," the report said. Both Syrian troops and rebel groups have been blamed for targeting civilians. "The world needs to take a much closer interest in the effects of the conflict on Syria's children," Salama said. The report authors called for the warring sides to stop using explosives in places where children live and play. The Oxford Research Group said Aleppo Governorate was the site of the most child deaths, with 2,223. The statistics are taken from the casualty lists of Syrian organizations from March 2011 to August 2013 and include only named victims. In June, the United Nations said at least 6,500 children had been killed since the start of the war. "There are ... well-documented cases of individual children being tortured and executed, and entire families, including babies, being massacred," U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said at the time. The overall death toll topped 100,000 in late July, the U.N. announced. The U.N. says that more than 2.1 million people have fled Syria, which has about 22.5 million residents.

The report says 112 children were tortured, then executed . Many kids were gunned down by snipers, but most were killed in explosions . London-based study authors call for sides to stop using bombs in areas with children . U.N. says 100,000 killed in the country, millions of refugees .

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By . Christopher Stevens . PUBLISHED: . 22:01 EST, 17 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:15 EST, 18 July 2013 . Enough of the pantomime. The Apprentice (BBC1) is over, and should never be allowed back on British screens. On a scale of one to five, it gets no stars. If it were possible to earn a minus rating, it deserves a score of around - 3. That’s not just because of the slack-jawed inanity of the contestants, or the grinding repetition of the same clips and scenes for two dreadful months. Scroll down for video . Tinpot title: Lord Sugar has spent 12 episodes selecting his 'new business partner'. He wasn't hiring an employee this time; he invested £250,000 in a business, in return for 50 per cent equity . It isn’t just because the BBC has been milking the show to the last rancid drop, squeezing six hours of Apprentice programming into the past fortnight, including a whole segment devoted to childhood retrospectives of the candidates. All this, despite insipid ratings — the show launched with just six million viewers, a record low, and has struggled to make any gain on that. These figures should, on their own, be sufficient to condemn The Apprentice as television landfill. Half a century after the Moors Murders, a three-part series, Myra Hindley: The Untold Story, started last night on C5, while ITV was repeating Brady and Hindley: Possession. We can only trust Ian Brady is not given the satisfaction of watching these programmes. Worse still is the cossetting of Alan Sugar’s ego. His tinpot title is echoed dozens of times in every episode — the voiceover, the receptionists, the lackeys, the contestants all chant ‘Yes Lord Sugar’,  ‘Thank you Lord Sugar’. And when the former barrow-boy thinks he can get away with it, he starts Lord Sugaring himself. Recent episodes have seen new ‘business brains’ arriving to swell the chorus of praise. When one candidate commented on her own talents, a shocked lickspittle gasped: ‘Don’t ever compare yourself to Lord Sugar!’ The show’s worst failing is a business one. Alan Sugar has spent 12 episodes selecting his ‘new business partner’. He wasn’t hiring an employee this time; he invested £250,000 in a business, in return for 50 per cent equity. Victorious: Recent episodes of the programme - won this series by Leah Totton - have seen new 'business brains' arriving to swell the chorus of praise to Lord Sugar . Several candidates were promising multi-million-pound growth within five years — such profits are improbable, of course, but the BBC seems to have tossed away any claim to future income streams. Sugar has already been amply rewarded for his investment. There are plenty of narcissists in the corporate world who would mortgage their country cottages, their Mercs and their own mothers to be touted endlessly on primetime telly as ‘a business icon’. Sympathy for the crocodiles: In Ray Mears' Close Encounters, one croc ranger held up a hand to demonstrate what 'interaction' looked like: two fingers had been bitten off. Mears is pictured . For him to have the chance of a 1,000 per cent return or more, through a state TV channel, is utterly wrong. The BBC ought surely to have capped his profits, perhaps a maximum of double his money. Any bank would see that as a fair return. And this flags up the great unasked question of the series: if these candidates have good business plans, why not take them to a conventional investor? By handing over half their companies, and perhaps sacrificing many millions for the arbitrary seed sum of £250,000, they would almost be better off applying for a pay-day loan. It was easier to feel sympathy for the 94-stone salt-water crocodiles on Ray Mears’ Close Encounters (ITV) than for Alan Sugar. The crocs were being hauled out of Darwin harbour on ropes, before duct tape was wound around their jaws and the presenter stood on their heads to subdue them. ‘This is an outstanding example of modern conservation,’ Mears insisted. The captures helped to ‘stop interaction between crocodiles and the public’. One croc ranger held up a hand to demonstrate what ‘interaction’ looked like: two fingers had been bitten off. You can’t always blame the reptiles when tragedies happen. One man was photographed attempting to surf on the back of a croc. Two girls were pictured sunbathing on a wire cage containing a snared, and very disgruntled, ‘saltie’. ‘Alcohol is usually involved in these cases,’ Mears told us, straight-faced. Any boozed up Aussie who survives a croc attack will learn their lesson. But do BBC executives have the same basic common sense not to get bitten again? Watch The Apprentice final on BBC iPlayer .

The Apprentice (BBC1)  Rating: . Ray Mears’ Close Encounters (ITV) Rating: .

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Newcastle’s Sammy Ameobi has opened talks over a potential summer transfer to join David Moyes at Real Sociedad. Moyes is a big admirer of 22-year-old Ameobi, who is out of contract at the end of the season and already free to talk to foreign clubs and sign a pre-contract agreement. Newcastle would be entitled to a compensation fee but it is likely to be less if he moves abroad. Sammy Ameobi (centre) has opened transfer talks with David Moyes about joining his Real Sociedad side . The winger's contract at Newcastle ends at the end of the season and Moyes (right) could pounce to sign him . Moyes is also keen on Burnley’s Danny Ings, who is in a similar contractual situation, and would like to sign both players. But the former Everton and Manchester United manager fears he is losing the battle to take Ings to North Spain. Sammy’s brother Shola, 33, left Newcastle to try his luck abroad last year but returned to England in January after six months in Turkey with Gaziantep. Moyes is a keen admirer of Danny Ings and has held talks with the forward but the deal looks unlikely .

Sammy Ameobi has started talks with David Moyes to join Real Socieded . The winger is out of contract at Newcastle at the end of the season . Moyes is also keen on Danny Ings but that deal looks unlikely to happen . Click here for all the latest Newcastle United news .

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Features . By . Nina Golgowski . PUBLISHED: . 18:34 EST, 16 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:03 EST, 17 April 2013 . A lightweight ATV specially designed for sneak attacks by the U.S. Special Operations Forces has been revealed days before its first and potentially last public showing before military combat use. The C2 Commander, a Lightweight Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle, or LTATV, is one of three vehicles in a new line of LTATV Strike and Mobility Vehicles making their public debut next month by RP Advanced Mobile Systems. The military grade ATV is specifically designed for completing low profile missions with its weight and size ideal for fast transport by small aircraft into the battlefield, according to RP, based out of Oregon. New item: The C2 Commander, the first of three Lightweight Tactical All-Terrain Vehicles by RP Advanced Mobile Systems, will make its public debut next month for expected use by the U.S. Special Operations Forces . Ready to go: The military grade ATV's features a lighter weight and size making it ideal for fast transport by small aircraft into the battlefield . Features to the C2 Commander includes a rear open differential system (RODS) said to substantially add maneuverability on paved roads and in tight urban quarters, in addition to a . locked rear differential for maximum off-road capability. The vehicle also features an electrical support system that allows prolonged use of communications equipment while the engine isn’t running, strengthened bumpers for pushing other vehicles and obstacles, an upgraded suspension system, new Dynamic Power Steering, and a multimodal cargo bed for holding a variety of weapons systems, gear and medical litter for transporting injured troops. The vehicle’s run-flat tires, at a cost of $250 each, are also said capable of taking a hit from a 7.62mm round before continually operating up to 75 miles at 45MPH while deflated. The tires feature 14-inch aluminum bead lock wheels. Features: It features strengthened bumpers for pushing other vehicles and obstacles and a multi-modal cargo bed for holding a variety of weapons systems, gear and medical litter for transporting injured troops . Run flat: The vehicle's SOF Series II 12-Ply Run-Flat Tires, one pictured, are said capable of taking a hit from a 7.62mm round before continuing up to 75 miles at 45MPH while deflated . Price tag: The vehicle is available for purchase only by the military at a price of $25,000 . The seating system has also been upgraded to a Fatigue Mitigation MOLLE Tactical Seat system that uses a memory-foam type material for reducing fatigue during long rides over rough terrain. It's available in colors Flat Black, Desert Sand, OD Green. The latest design by RP, run by former USAF Special Operations Weapons Control Specialist Terry Wilmeth, is based on the Can-Am Commander, once called 'the most powerful rec-utility side-by-side you can buy' by RP. As for previous light utility vehicles, today's are considered to have been inspired as far back as the Willys MB/Ford GPW, a Jeep used in World War II. Predecessor: A covered Willys MB/Ford GPW is seen here, one of the first light utility vehicles said to have inspired the vehicles used today . Comparison: A Navistar MaxxPro Plus MRAP, seen here in 2008, is an obviously much larger and stronger vehicle built up from the original Jeep design while able to withstand mines . Those later evolved into the Jeep CJ, a civilian Jeep commonly seen on the streets today. The C2 will cost approximately $25,000 but is only available to military. The other two vehicles of the line up yet to be released are based on the Can-Am 101 HP Maverick 1000 in both 2-passenger and 4-passenger configurations. The C2 Commander will make it public debut at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference Association in Tampa in May in what could be its last public showing before its purchase with military costumers said to be currently evaluating its use. Original: The C2 Commander is based on the Can-Am Commander, seen here being loaded off a helicopter . Legacy: The Can-Am Commander, pictured, was once 'the most powerful rec-utility side-by-side you can buy' according to RP .

Designed for low-profile . missions with its light weight and size ideal for fast transport by small . aircraft into the battlefield . Features include easier maneuverability on paved and urban roads, a multimodal cargo bed, memory-foam type seats and run-flat tires . Costs $25,000 but only available to military . The vehicle's design goes back to the first light utility vehicles used during WWII .

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In yet another Christmas tragedy, the teenager who had his legs severed by a train on the New South Wales mid-north coast four days before Christmas has died. On Tuesday police said Adrian Simon died at John Hunter Hospital on Christmas Eve, three days after he was hit by a train after he fell asleep on the tracks. ABC News reported that the 18-year-old was asleep on the tracks at a railway crossing near Taree on December 21, police said. He had been celebrating his 18th birthday and was hit by a train at about 4:30am, severing both his legs. Scroll down for video . An 18-year-old has had both his legs cut off when he was struck at a railway crossing in Taree on the NSW mid-north coast . When the accident happened the 18-year-old's father allegedly attacked the ambulance vehicle after they arrived to save his son. Police officers and paramedics who arrived on the scene were forced to take refuge in the train driver's cabin, along with the 33-year-old train driver, after they were hurled with rocks by a group of people. Paramedics were also blocked, pushed and verbally abused by the group during their initial attempts to treat the teen, and an ambulance vehicle was damaged from the rocks. Taree Inspector Allan Fidock told Daily Telegraph the father of the victim 'smashed the windscreen of the ambulance'. 'Today the father has been better to us and is apologetic for his actions,' he said. 'We are trying to find people and get an ID on a couple who threw rocks and smashed windows. 'It is horrific to have to deal with that and then deal with alcohol-induced friends and family. And they are having a go at the cops and ambulance officers. Emergency services were called to Bushland Drive railway crossing in Taree on the NSW mid-north coast . 'Initially we had two officers out there. We had to close the station down then because we had five people (at the scene). 'Then there was three or more police who rushed out there when they started in the morning. All up there would have been a maximum of eight police.' The 18-year-old, who was celebrating his birthday with family and friends, was taken to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition. The train driver, from Queensland, who managed to stop the train soon after the accident and contact emergency services, was taken to Manning Base Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing. A crime scene was established and specialist officers attended the location and an investigation is currently underway into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Police will also examine the actions of the group of people who threw rocks. Police reinforcements were called and a number of other officers attended the location and dispersed the group. No one was injured as a result. Emergency services found the man on the tracks with his legs severed, at about 4.30am on Sunday. He was taken to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition . Bystanders caused havoc for emergency services by throwing rocks at police investigating the scene and abusing paramedics during their initial attempts to treat the teen .

Adrian Simon died at John Hunter Hospital on Christmas Eve . Emergency services found the 18-year-old on the tracks at a railway crossing at about 4.30am on Sunday, December 21 . The man fell asleep on the tracks after celebrating his birthday nearby with family and friends . He was taken to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition . Bystanders threw rocks at police officers, paramedics and train driver when the accident happened .

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By . Mail Online Reporter . A fugitive on the run from child abuse charges for 14 years has finally been captured thanks to facial recognition technology. Neil Stammer was arrested in 1999 in New Mexico on multiple state charges including child sex abuse and kidnapping, but went on the run after being released on bond. He was recently arrested in Nepal. Fugitive Neil Stammer was arrested in 1999 in New Mexico on multiple state charges including child sex abuse and kidnapping, but went on the run after being released on bond . The FBI has been involved in the case since 2000 but as there were few leads the trail went cold, Fox News reports. However FBI Special Agent Russ Wilson put a new wanted poster for the fugitive in January. 'In addition to the current . fugitives, I had a stack of old cases, and Stammer’s stood out,' he wrote in a statement at the FBI site. Concurrently, a Diplomatic Security Service agent had begun testing facial recognition software to spot passport fraud, and used that software on Stammer's wanted poster to see if it would match any passport photos on file. This led them to discover the fugitive was actually teaching English in Nepal, where he was known as Kevin Hodges. The FBI is now building a huge database for the purposes of facial recognition which could store up to 52 million images by 2015 . 'He was very comfortable in Nepal,' Wilson wrote. 'My impression was that he never thought he would be . discovered.' Facial recognition software is proving to be a powerful tool for law enforcement. An armed robber was captured 41 years after escaping a North Carolina prison thanks to the technology, which is becoming more widely used. The FBI is now building a huge database for the purposes of facial recognition which could store up to 52 million images by 2015. The NSA is also reportedly gathering electronic images for a similar program. And in the private sector, both Ford and Intel as working on adding facial recognition software to car dashboards.

Neil Stammer was discovered living under an assumed name after fleeing from child sex abuse and kidnapping charges . Ran in 1999 after posting bond in his case . FBI discovered him after comparing wanted image poster to passport images .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . If you're having no luck with online dating, it may be time to consider a pseudonym. Olivia or Jack would serve you well, according to new research. Single people named Jack and Olivia are more likely to attract potential partners, a study released today reveals. The research found that a person's name can lead to an 8 per cent swing in favourability on dating websites. The research found that a person's name can lead to an eight per cent swing in favourability on dating websites - Jack Whitehall, left, would do well, as would Olivia Wilde, right . Of those polled, four in ten women (41 per cent) would consider dating someone called Jack. Meanwhile, six in ten men (58 per cent) would visit someone's online dating profile if they were called Olivia. Olivia and Jack have topped the baby name lists many times over the last few years - but all those little Olivias and Jacks will not yet be old enough to date. However, the popularity of the names indicate that Brits are well-disposed to them. 'Date-ability' rankings for men1. Jack (41 per cent) 2. Barry (40 per cent)3. Riley (38 per cent)4. Trevor (38 per cent)5. Matt (37 per cent)6. David (37 per cent)7. Nigel (37 per cent)8. Dan (34 per cent)9. Alex (34 per cent)10. Wayne (33%) Barry . (40 per cent) is the second most popular men's name, while Chloe (58 . per cent) and Sharon (57 per cent) make up the top three females. Wayne is the least popular men's name, while Ava is bottom of the girls' chart. The new research, carried out by match.com, asked 2,178 single Brits to select names they would most and least like to go on a date with. The dating service then selected the top and bottom five and tested them visually. They showed a panel of 11,760 people a different version of the same profile with only the name changed. Respondents were simply asked whether they would or wouldn't consider dating the person they were presented with. 1. Olivia (58 per cent)2. Chloe (58 per cent)3. Sharon (57 per cent)4. Emily (57 per cent)5. Kate (56 per cent)6. Chantelle (56 per cent)7. Sophie (55 per cent)8. Deborah (54 per cent)9. Tracy (52 per cent)10. Ava (50 per cent) Barry finished second, ahead of Matt, David and Dan.Sharon and Chantelle were voted ahead of Emily, Kate and Sophie. The . results showed an increase in favourability of up to 8 per cent for the . most well-liked names when all other profile details were identical. Kate Taylor, resident relationship expert at match.com, said: 'Everyone's views on names are subjective and influenced by their upbringing, peers and people they knew at school. 'It can be very easy to make a judgement on someone's personality based on their name - but this is a meaningless assumption. 'I'd always encourage online daters to review the full profile before making a snap decision, otherwise you're likely to find yourself missing out on some fantastic dates with lovely people.' Smug: Yes! My name is Olivia AND I'm super hot thus men are more likely to click on my profile on a dating website .

Some 41 per cent of women would consider dating someone called Jack . While 58% of men would click on the profile of an Olivia . A name can lead to an 8% swing in favourability on dating websites .

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Mothers taking their children back to school this week have driven a rise in the demand for anti-ageing treatments. The Harley Medical Group has seen an 18 per cent increase in the number of women wanting treatments such as Botox, Dermal Fillers and face peels - and they believe the pressure to look good at the school gates is to blame. A spokesman for the Group, that has clinics across the UK, said more 'yummy mummies' have been booking treatments throughout June, July and August, compared to the previous three months. Back to school: Many mothers are worried about the pressure to look good at the school gate . The Group saw a rise in enquiries for . laser treatment for pigmentation and brown spots, Dermal Fillers and . Line and Wrinkle treatments. 'We aren't talking about making women look like movie stars or supermodels. We are talking about refreshing them post holidays, capitalising on their post holiday glows and getting them looking good for the autumn months ahead,' said Dr Naylor of The Harley Medical Group. Anti-age me: The Harley Medical Group has seen an 18 per cent increase in the number of women wanting treatments such as Botox . Other treatments which are popular amongst mothers who visit the Group's 21 clinics include Laser Rejuvenation or Obagi Blue Peel to treat pigmentation caused by pregnancy or sun damage, Dermaroller Therapy to give the skin a healthy glow and Botox and Dermal Filler treatments to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. 'Having a "Mummy Makeover" is part of a trend toward women wanting to look refreshed again after the summer holiday break,' Dr Naylor added. 'We aren't creating beauty, we are simply restoring it.' The news comes after it was revealed in MailOnline last week that mothers spend an average of £87 to make sure they look their best at the school gates. They will have spent a collective £658m on clothes, jewellery and beauty treatments. One in five admitted in a survey that they feel under pressure to look glamorous on the school run. Forums on parenting websites are awash with mothers lamenting their dread at the school run resuming - not only for the challenge of getting children dressed and out the door on time but because they'll have to face other 'judgmental' mothers again. One such thread on netmums.com is entitled 'hate the school run - the mums are so mean!', where members share their horror stories of the cliques they're left out of and the animosity between working and stay-at-home mothers. All in the timing: One mother recommends arriving to miss the other mothers (posed by models) Meanwhile, on mumsnet.com, the situation has led to members offering their survival tips for the school run. One advises: 'Park round the corner from school, so it looks like you've walked' and 'time it so everyone's just going in and you don't have to mingle with the other parents'. Another warns: 'Never go out in your pyjamas, however late you are.'

Harley Medical Group has seen 18 per cent rise in demand for treatments . They say the trend is down to women wanting 'mummy makeovers' One in five mothers said they feel pressured to look good on school run .

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Britain awoke to a blanket of frost this morning after temperatures plummeted to almost -4C on what was one of the coldest nights of the season so far. Large swathes of the country experienced sub-zero temperatures as millions of people headed outside to enjoy Bonfire Night activities and firework displays. The coldest temperature recorded last night was -3.8C in South Newington, Oxfordshire, which was closely followed by -3.7C in Topcliffe, North Yorkshire. The mercury also dropped to -2.8C in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire. Red sky in the morning: The spectacular scene as the sun rises on this frost covered hill in Malmesbury, Wiltshire . Britain awoke to frost today after temperatures dropped to -3.8C in parts of the country overnight. Pictured: London's Richmond Park . Much of the UK was greeted by cold mist this morning, including the River Cray at Foots Cray Meadows in Sidcup, Kent (pictured) The Met Office said last night's temperatures were some of the coldest seen so far this season. Pictured: Sunrise at Sidcup, Kent, today . A jogger embraces the chilly start as he runs through a very frosty Richmond Park in west London following a drop in temperature . Deer stand in long frost-ridden grass at Richmond Park in west London as Britain recovers from overnight temperatures of almost -4C . Although last year’s Bonfire Night was slightly colder, at -5C, yesterday was colder than the same night in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Forecasters at the Met Office said widespread frost caused by last night’s plunging temperatures would be replaced by heavy rain across large parts of the country this afternoon. Severe weather warnings have been issued for parts of Northern Ireland, where 80mm of rain is predicted to fall within the next 24 hours, and in Scotland where localised flooding is a possibility. However, despite last night’s chilly temperatures, forecasters said the mercury would rise again this week, with temperatures returning to the November average of between 10C and 12C. Mark Wilson, meteorologist for the Met Office, said: ‘Last night was a cold night, one of the coldest nights of the season far. ‘There’s been widespread frost this morning but cloud is thickening from the west and that heralds wet and windy weather pushing through. ‘If you’re in the south east, it will stay dry until after dark but elsewhere in the country it will turn wetter throughout the course of the day. ‘Weather warnings have been issued and in eastern parts of Northern Ireland we could see as much as 80mm of rain over the next 24 hours.’ Despite the heavy rain forecast for much of the UK today, Mr Wilson said the country would experience some respite from last night’s cold weather. He said: ‘Tonight will be much, much milder than last night. The lowest temperature will be in the Scottish highlands and that will be around 4C to 5C so much milder. 'Over the coming days, temperatures are looking closer to average. Last night would have been the coldest night for the next few nights. 'By day, temperatures will be in the 10C to 12C range generally. 'The weather remains largely unsettled though. 'Tomorrow, the persistent rain will clear away, leaving a day of sunny spells and showers with strong, breezy winds. 'As we head into Saturday, unfortunately we see a pretty wet day across much of England and Wales. ‘There’s a band of rain pushing up towards the north east, affecting much of England and Wales during the day, but Scotland and Northern Ireland will see the best of the weather. ‘However, if you’re looking to get out and about this weekend, Sunday is definitely the better day. There will be one or two isolated showers but mostly sunny spells and lighter winds.’ Forecasters said it would get milder and temperatures would not plummet to below zero again this week. Pictured: Richmond Park . Heavy rain is set to replace the widespread frost which greeted much of Britain today including Richmond Park in west London (above) Many people wrapped up warm to get a glimpse of the sunrise in Richmond Park this morning despite the chilly temperatures and frost . One cyclist stopped to take a picture of today's sunrise during an early morning bike ride alongside the River Cam in Cambridge . The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland today (left) and tomorrow (right) With severe weather warnings in place for Northern Ireland from 10.30am today until 8am tomorrow, Mr Wilson warned of the potential risk of localised flooding. A less-severe weather warning is also in place for much of Scotland today, which warns of heavy rain until 6pm on Friday. Mr Wilson added: 'The public should be prepared for the risk of localised flooding. It’s not going to widespread but there is a risk of localised flooding – especially in the eastern areas of Northern Ireland.' Rowers were greeted by a beautiful sunrise as they practiced on the River Cam in Cambridge despite this morning's widespread frost . The rowers made the most of the dry weather this morning, which is set to be replaced by heavy rain across England and Wales later . A beautiful autumn sunrise was captured over allotments in the St. Werburgh area of Bristol this morning ahead of the forecasted rain . The sunrise in Bristol looked stunning over the city, but forecasters have warned wet and windy will swamp much of England and Wales . The sun rises in Seaham, County Durham, above the statue of 'Tommy' depicting a solider sat with his head bowed and a rifle in hand . The first migrating Siberian swans of this year landed in Britain this morning - heralding the belated arrival of winter. Each year around 300 Bewick swans flock to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, after flying more than 2,500 miles from Arctic Russia. This year's arrival - coinciding with the first cold snap of the season - is the latest for 45 years. It traditionally marks the beginning of winter as the birds head to Britain to escape the Arctic weather which follows closely behind them. The first family of two adults and two cygnets touched down at 7.15am and the adults were identified as regulars Nurton and Nusa, who have been visiting the spot for the last five years. The first migrating Siberian swans arrved in Britain today at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve in Slimbridge, Gloucestershire . Slimbridge swan expert Julia Newth said: 'This is the latest arrival date since 1969. 'It is no coincidence that their arrival has coincided with a change from the mild temperatures and south-westerly head winds that have dominated in recent weeks. 'We are excited to see that the first arrivals are a family because the swans desperately need more cygnets to bolster the dwindling population.' The Bewicks - the smallest and rarest members of the swan family - live in Siberia during the summer. In winter they migrate west - aided by chilling easterly winds - to escape winter temperatures of -25C. They normally arrive at Slimbridge in a steady stream between October and January.

Temperatures dropped to -3.8C in South Newington, Oxfordshire, and -3.7C in Topcliffe, North Yorkshire, last night . Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for Northern Ireland and Scotland today with heavy rain on the way . Despite last night's sub-zero temperatures, much of the UK will experience milder weather over the coming days .

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It's that time of year again when dogs with unusually large heads, hairless bodies and other oddities compete to be the World's Ugliest Dog. This year's winner? A 2-year-old mutt named Peanut, whose wild white and brown hair, bulging eyes and protruding teeth belie his sweet, energetic personality. Although Peanut is healthy now, his owner, Holly Chandler of Greenville, North Carolina, says he was seriously burned as a puppy, resulting in bald patches all over his body. Scroll down for video . Popular attraction: The World's Ugliest Dog contest is held at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, California, and it just celebrated its 26th year . Happy couple: Peanut is held by Holly Chandler after winning the contest . Moment in the spotlight: Mutt Peanut won the title of World's Ugliest Dog . Chandler hopes Peanut's victory will help raise awareness about animal abuse. "We're trying to use him as a poster child for what can happen to animals who are abused," she said. She plans to use the $1,500 prize to pay for other animals' veterinary bills. The contest, held at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, California, is in its 26th year. The dogs are scored by a three-judge panel in several categories, including special or unusual attributes, personality and natural ugliness. The past five winners have included a duck-footed beagle, boxer and basset hound mix with a waddle, a Chinese crested and Chihuahua mix with a protruding tongue and short tufts of hair and a Chihuahua with a missing eye and a camel's back. Here are photos of this year's contestants. What a sweetie! SweePee Rambo, a Chihuahua/Chinese Crested mix, is held by the owner on Friday . Spooky: SweePee Rambo is ready for a close-up . It's Icky! Icky, a Chinese Crested looks over the shoulder of Jon Adler, his owner before Friday's contest . Twins! Icky and owner Jon Adler wear the same haircut as they go in for a kiss . Grrrrrrruff! Quasi Modo, whom the owner claims has a back too short for its body, walks on the stage on Friday . Sleepy? Quasi Modo walks on stage . Knocked out: Grovie is seen resting . All set! Grovie, a pug in a tuxedo, awaits the start of Friday's competition . Don't be afraid! These pups were just in attendance for the World's Ugliest Dog competition . What a star: Wally, last year's winner, walks on the red carpet at the World's Ugliest Dog Competition in 2014 . Lots of fun! Owners are seen with their two 'ugly dogs' Wrapped up: This dog is seenin a bandanna . Big boy! This pooch doesn't look too happy to be at the contest . How festive! This dog wore a beaded necklace for the special occasion . Scared or excited? A judge is seen evaluating a dog during the competition . Proud: One girl looked all smiles while holding a dog during the event . Moment in the sun: This dog was seen being carried on its owner's shoulder .

This year's winner was Peanut, a 2-year-old mutt whose wild white and brown hair, bulging eyes and protruding teeth belie his sweet, energetic personality . His owner, Holly Chandler, plans to use the $1,500 prize to pay for other animals' veterinary bills . The contest, held at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, California, is in its 26th year .

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(CNN) -- In a scene unfolding in many Latino communities throughout the country, the graduation ceremony at Garcia High School in Chicago was especially celebratory Saturday: 20% of the graduating seniors are illegal immigrants who can now put their education to use with work permits authorized by President Obama's new immigration rules. "What the president did this week was an amazing gift to me and other students who are undocumented," graduating senior Andrea Labra, 18, told CNN. "It's just an emotional thing to have the same opportunities that other students have and that we didn't have just because we didn't have papers," added Labra, who was born in Mexico and came to the United States at age 5 with her family. For the class of 2012, the routine tossing of mortarboards in the air was more emotional than anticipated, said classmate Rodrigo Espinoza, 18, who's also an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. His family brought him to the United States when he was 3 months old. "It's so unexpected," Espinoza said of Obama's executive order, announced Friday. "It's like a dream. I can finally do something with my life now." Espinoza is going to study bio-engineering on a scholarship at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He wants to find a cure for cancer, he said. "I'm determined to do it now that I have a chance to do it," said Espinoza, who will be the first one in his family to go to college. As an honors graduate, a yellow sash topped his blue cap and gown. "This is going to change my life. It was a life-changing experience for all of us and for my family," he added about the new immigration rules announced Friday. Juan Rangel, the leader of Chicago's largest Hispanic advocacy organization that runs Hector P. Garcia High and 10 other city charter schools, said the White House announcement was "a high note for the graduating ceremony." "It's a timely announcement, and it's coming at the end of the school year," Rangel said. In a measure that a Pew Hispanic Center analysis said could benefit up to 1.4 million children and young adults, the Obama administration said it will offer work permits to illegal immigrants younger than age 30 who came to the United States before age 16 and meet certain criteria. Participants must be in the United States now and be able to prove they have been living in the country continuously for at least five years. The centerpiece of the Obama measure grants illegal immigrants a two-year deferral from deportation if they pose no criminal or security threat, and were successful students or served in the military, administration officials said. The change is part of a Department of Homeland Security effort to target resources at illegal immigrants who pose a greater threat, such as criminals and those trying to enter the country now, officials said. For many educators and school leaders across the nation, the new program means undocumented immigrant students can come out of the shadows and underground economy of society and participate legally in the U.S. work force, Rangel said. Equally important, teachers and principals now have an answer to illegal immigrant students who have asked "what's the point?" about pursuing a higher education, Rangel said. "At some point these kids ask themselves the question: they work hard, they get the good grades, but what's the point of going to a university if they can't work?" said Rangel, chief executive officer of the United Neighborhood Organization, which operates 11 charter schools in Chicago serving 5,500 students. He's also president of the UNO Charter School Network. "It's almost like a leap of faith that we have asked of these kids: Something is bound to happen, and you can't give up at this point. That leap of faith has been answered, and it opens a whole new horizon for these kids," he said. Labra was on the brink of greeting such an opening. "The emotions that go through me to think that one day when I graduate from college that I might become a doctor or teacher and that I'll be able to do it without having to go anywhere else -- I thought I would have to go back where I came from," Labra told CNN. Her parents were equally elated about the graduates' new possibilities. "I'm so overwhelmed," her mother, Yolanda, told CNN. "I'm very thankful for everything. We have faith that their dreams are going to be realized." "It's great that the students are going to have this opportunity" to work, said Juan Labra. Andrea Labra said she's going to save money for a four-year college by first attending the two-year Harold Washington College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago. She plans on majoring in biology and wants to become a science or biology teacher. Twenty-one of Garcia High School's 107 graduates are undocumented immigrants -- a figure that's not too surprising because the school is located in a Mexican immigrant community in the Archer Heights neighborhood on Chicago's southwest side, Rangel said. The school is 99% Latino, with a 93% poverty rate, but 97% of the graduates are going to college on academic scholarships totaling $4.7 million, Rangel said. Obama's executive order addresses a major concern of the nation's burgeoning Hispanic community -- now the nation's No. 2 group under the 2010 census -- and mimics some of the provisions of a Democratic proposal called the DREAM Act, which has failed to win enough Republican support to gain congressional approval. Both Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano cautioned Friday that the order is not a pathway to citizenship and urged Congress to pass the DREAM Act. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors -- or DREAM -- Act would create a path to citizenship for immigrants who entered the United States illegally as children under the age of 16 and have lived in the United States for at least five years; obtained a high school or General Education Development diploma; demonstrated "good moral character"; and haven't committed crimes that "would make them inadmissible to the country," according to a White House fact sheet.

President Obama's new immigration rules praised at Chicago high school graduation . 20% of the students in Garcia High's Class of 2012 are illegal immigrants . "What the president did this week was an amazing gift," an illegal immigrant student says . "It's like a dream. I can finally do something with my life now," another says .

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A man wanted in the killings of an elderly Ohio couple and in armed robberies in three states was arrested early on Thursday in Arizona after a high-speed chase and nationwide manhunt that lead to three police cars catching on fire. An FBI spokeswoman in Cleveland said 29-year-old Robert Clark was arrested by the Mohave County sheriff's office in Kingman. One of his companions, 26-year-old Tabatha Hazel, a suspect in the armed robberies, was arrested with him. A third companion, 28-year-old Jeffrey Caley Jr., fled and is still being sought by authorities. Scroll down for video . Arrested: Robert Clark,  wanted in the killings of an elderly Ohio couple and in armed robberies in three states, was arrested early on Thursday in Arizona after a high-speed chase and nationwide manhunt . Dead: Robert Clark is wanted for the murder of Doyle, 88, and Lillian Chumney, 79, who were found dead in their burnt vehicle on a remote dirt road 30 miles away from their burglarized home last month . Escape van: The chase began when police spotted the suspects’ green 2003 Dodge Caravan and tried to conduct a traffic stop which led to a chase when Robert Clark did not stop . Fox 8 reports that the chase began when police spotted the suspects’ green 2003 Dodge Caravan and tried to conduct a traffic stop. The suspects did not stop but instead tried to evade police. The suspects' van eventually turned onto a dirt road where it became disabled, and the suspects fled on foot. During the chase, three police cruisers pulled up on brush and desert debris and caught on fire. As smoke and flames filled the air the deputies were able to arrest Clark and Hazel, but during the fire, Caley was able to escape. Clark has been charged with one count of murder in the deaths of 88-year-old Doyle Chumney and his 79-year-old wife, Lillian. On the run: One of Robert Clark's alleged companion Jeffrey P. Caley Jr.(left)is on the run and being sought after by authorities after he fled on Thursday but police managed to nab 26-year-old Tabatha Hazel (right) Crime Spree: This surveillance footage shows the suspects at the Donalsonville Gas Station on February 2 where then men believed to be  Robert Clark (left) and Jeffrey Caley stole $8,000 . Robbed at gunpoint: Surveillance video from shows Robert Clark holding a sawed-off shotgun and Jeffrey Caley holding a pistol at the gas station . Their remains were found inside their torched car on a country road January 22, the day after they were reported missing from their home. The Chumneys had four children. Their daughter Diane Enama, who found her parents' home ransacked January 21, declined to comment on Thursday. The FBI had offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to Clark's capture. It wasn't immediately clear Thursday whether anyone could claim the money. A second suspect in the slayings, 21-year-old Jeffery Stewart, was arrested Saturday. He is charged with one count of murder and is being held on $2 million bond. Authorities have said Stewart implicated himself and Clark in the killings. Clark, Caley and Hazel are suspected of being involved in the armed robberies of gas stations and convenience stores in West Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia on Saturday and Sunday. No one was hurt in the robberies. The trio was last seen during a robbery in Donalsonville, Georgia, on Sunday night, said Tom Couts, a Coshocton County sheriff's detective. Surveillance video shows Clark holding a sawed-off shotgun and Caley holding a pistol as a clerk walks in front of them. Hazel went inside the store before Clark and Caley entered, Couts said. Caley and Hazel were not involved in the Chumney slayings, Couts said. It appears that Clark and Stewart knew each other through a landscaping service where they had worked, Couts said. Clark was released from prison in May after serving a 4 1/2 -year sentence for robbery and other charges. Couts said authorities believe the Chumneys were driven to a country road in Coshocton County where they were shot before their car was set on fire. Authorities received a break in the investigation after surveillance video was released to the public that shows Clark's van at a gas station where Stewart bought a gas can and filled it, Couts said. Stewart called police after seeing the video. He was arrested on a traffic warrant and provided statements implicating himself and Clark, Couts said. Accussed of murder: Jeffery Stewart. Stewart, 21, was arrested on Saturday January 31 and charged with murder in the slayings of Doyle Chumney, 88, and his 79-year-old wife, Lillian . Burnt outline: This is the burnt outline of where the Ohio couple's car stood with their torched remains inside . Burglarized: Police at the Ohio couple's burglarized home after it was ransacked and they were allegedly murdered by Robert Clark .

A man wanted in the killings of an elderly Ohio couple and in armed robberies was arrested early on Thursday in Arizona . An FBI spokeswoman in Cleveland said 29-year-old Robert Clark was arrested by the Mohave County sheriff's office in Kingman after a car chase . One of his companions, 26-year-old Tabatha Hazel, a suspect in the armed robberies, was arrested with him . A third companion, 28-year-old Jeffrey Caley Jr., fled and is still being sought by authorities . During the chase three police cruisers caught on fire . Another suspect in the slayings, 21-year-old Jeffery Stewart, who was arrested on Saturday, charged with murder and is on $2 million bond . Caley and Hazel were not involved in the Chumney slayings, saidTom Couts, a Coshocton County sheriff's detective .

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Silent film star Colleen Moore had a lifelong obsession with dollhouses and spent what would be around $7 million in today’s dollars to build the Fairy Castle—an 8-foot, jewel encrusted little girl’s dream. As one of the most popular actresses of her day, the star of 1934’s The Scarlet Letter had the resources to enlist top talent to produce her miniature dream home. The doll house even had an actual architect, who said ‘the architecture must have no sense of reality. We must invent a structure that is everybody's conception of an enchanted castle.’ Scroll down for video . Welcome: An ornate courtyard welcomes tiny imaginary visitors into Fairy Caste--the '$7 million' dream doll house commissioned by silent film star Colleen Moore . Breaking ground: Moore's vision first began to bear fruit when construction began on Fairy Castle in 1928 . Precious gem: Fairy Castle drips with jewels. The house's many chandeliers are fashioned with diamonds, emeralds, and pearls . The end result was Fairy Castle, a doll house full of chandeliers dripping with diamonds, emeralds, and pearls, murals courtesy of Walt Disney himself, and 2,000 miniatures throughout its expansive floor plan--including the smallest bible ever written. Work on Fairy Castle began in 1928. By 1935, some 100 designers and artists had worked on the house. When the doll house was completed, America was finally struggling out of the Great Depression and Moore put her castle to a philanthropic use. She organized a national tour which showcased Fairy Castle in major cities across the country . Big names: An architect was even hired for Fairy Castle and Walt Disney himself painted the house's ornate murals and tiny paintings . Ornate: Thousands of individual miniatures are placed throughout the 8-foot doll palace . Pricey: Real wood floors and actual tapestries adorn Fairy Castle's enchanting dining hall. The doll house cost $500,000 to build in the late 1920s and early 1930s -- in today's dollars, that's about $7 million . Ads for the tour in Chicago described Fairy Castle thusly: ‘A museum in itself—it awaits you—starting November 15th in our Eighth Floor Toyland. You will want to see it again and again.’ In the end, the tour raised $650,000 between 1935 and 1939, which was donated to children struggling with poverty. In 1949, Moore was convinced to part with her dream house for good and put it on permanent public display. Its new home became Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, where it resides to this day behind glass. Millions have gazed into the tiny, enchanting home and will continue to for years to come. Good cause: The miniature world was inspired by Moore's lifetime obsession with doll houses. When it was completed in 1935, Moore sent Fairy Castle on a national tour to raise money for children left destitute by the Great Depression . Group effort: By the time it was complete, some 100 artists and designers had lent a hand to Fairy Castle . New home: Moore gave up her beloved Fairy Castle in 1949 so that it could go on public display. It now resides permanently at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry . Celluloid star: Built in 1928, the Fairy Castle was the property of the famous silent movie actress Colleen Moore (pictured crouching in its courtyard)

One of the biggest stars of her day, Colleen Moore was obsessed with doll houses and had the means to commission the miniature castle of her dreams . The 8-foot so-called Fairy Castle has some 2,000 miniatures throughout, including the smallest bible ever written .

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(CNN) -- With Tuesday's debut of Google+, a new social network, comparisons to Facebook are inevitable, and immediate. CNN.com has yet to demo the service, which lets users gather and organize contacts through such Google products as Gmail and Picasa. But based on what Google has posted about it online, here are some initial impressions. Punch for punch, Google+ reproduces some of Facebook's most popular tools but adds one distinctive function: video chat. Google refers to the video service as Hangouts. Several friends can join a room, and the live feeds from their webcams appear as separate blocks along the bottom of the window. The main video box shows the person who's speaking the loudest at any given time. Hangouts can also integrate with Google's YouTube. By contrast, Facebook hasn't made video conferencing available on its website. But the social networking giant has a close relationship with Microsoft, which acquired Skype last month. Recent versions of the Skype desktop software tie into Facebook's services. With Hangouts, Google+ has at least one technological advantage over Facebook. But Google's apparent ambition is not to unseat Facebook right away. Google has set up barriers to fast adoption, as it has done with some of its other products, by only allowing people who have been invited by friends to use Google+. How tech bloggers are reacting to Google+ . When crafting a service to take on Facebook, Google was wise not to ignore what that popular network, with its more than 600 million users, already does well. Google+ has photo sharing, which places a large emphasis on smartphone usage. For example, photos taken from an Android phone can be automatically dumped into a private folder in the Google+ Web service, a la Apple's iCloud. The Circles section in Google+ is like Facebook's friend lists. Each user can organize friends into categories and limit which group sees which parts of his profile. With Circles, users can more quickly send certain messages to a particular crew, such as siblings or frat buddies, that they wouldn't want to share with their entire list of contacts. A Google+ group-messaging feature, similar to Facebook's newer Messages and Groups products, is called Huddle. The +1 button, which was previously made available as an optional program for Google account holders, ties this all together, not unlike Facebook's "Like" button. Clicking +1 on Google search results, embedded on other sites or from within Google+ pages, allows you to share links with friends or selectively with groups of friends. Unsurprisingly, Google has tapped its prowess in Web search for a section called Sparks. It's like Google Alerts, for receiving updates on favorite topics. Facebook's search engine is Microsoft's Bing, but users of that site can't subscribe to updates in this way. The video conferencing ability may be Google's sharpest edge over Facebook's current product. However, video chat alone likely won't spark a mass exodus from Facebook. Google appears to be rejecting the idea that Google+ is meant to take Facebook head on. Google says its service is for more tight-knit groups, rather than for all types of online interactions. "The problem is that today's online services turn friendship into fast food -- wrapping everyone in 'friend' paper," Google executive Vic Gundotra writes in a blog post. "We'd like to bring the nuance and richness of real-life sharing to software." Eric Schmidt, Google's executive chairman and former CEO, took a more directed swipe at Facebook last month. At a technology conference, he described the service as catering to "every friend you've ever had, including the ones you can't quite remember." Google suggests that it has plenty more to show. The company repeatedly refers to Google+ as a "project," indicating it will change over time. "This is just the beginning," Google said Tuesday. "We're just getting warmed up, and we're already pretty excited about what's coming next."

Google is beginning to roll out a new social network called Google+ . Google+ packs many of the same features as Facebook but adds video chat . The video chat feature puts the spotlight on whoever is talking the loudest .

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A beach hut is on sale for £225,000 despite not having mains electricity, running water, or - and some would say this one's pretty crucial - a sea view. The 13ft by 13ft timber shack on Mudeford Spit near Christchurch, Dorset, is divided into a living area, bedroom and mezzanine and is one of the most expensive beach huts ever to go on sale. But although glimpses of the sea can be seen from side windows, its front porch looks out on little more than sand dunes and grass - and there's a public toilet round the back. Room with a loo: A beach hut on Dorset's Mudeford Spit is on sale for £225,000 despite not having mains electricity, running water or a sea view - and it's next to a toilet . The sea? Oh, it's just over there: The hut's furnishings are slightly dated compared to others, and it faces sand dunes, but it's one of the largest on the peninsula . It also requires a half-hour walk or a ride on a novelty tourist 'land train' from the nearest parking space. At the same price as a detached house in Hull - which costs on average £218,000 - it outstrips the highest previous selling price for a hut on the spit by £55,000. Sold in 2012, the 18ft by 10ft timber retreat which held the previous record was shifted just two days after it went on sale amid bidding frenzy. For less than the hut now on sale, buyers could snap up a five-bedroom detached house in the south Wales village of Aberfan, near Merthyr Tydfil, which is on sale for £199,950. Or for £180,000 they could buy an entire church 'with conversion potential' in almost an acre of land in the village of Farr, near Inverness. But the estate agents selling this chalet insisted it was worth the price because it is one of the largest on the peninsula - which, like nearby Sandbanks, has become a premium spot for buying seaside homes. Upstairs, downstairs: Estate agent Andy Denison said the hut's value was increased by having a mezzanine level. It is one of the most expensive ever to go on the market . Kitchen: The hut has no mains electricity, but it does feature this charming gas hob, and there's even a fridge. It's claimed the chalet sleeps 10, at a push . Both areas have a 'perfect storm' of factors which push up prices, including that they are situated between harbours and the sea, have been largely owned within families and there is no room left for any new buyers to expand onto the narrow strips of land. The public toilet could also, in fact, come in useful - as the hut and others like it don't have one of their own. At a stretch: The sea is visible by standing on the steps and craning one's neck . Andy Denison, of Denisons Estate . Agents, said: 'The hut has been in the same family for donkey’s years and it . has got potential for people to put their own style on it. 'It has a living space, an integral bedroom and a mezzanine level and can sleep up to 10 people. It . features 12 volt solar electricity through solar panels on the roof and . has lighting, a fridge and a cooker which is run by gas. 'Bigger hits at Mudeford tend to have a mezzanine floor and the value seems to increase because of it. This . is a good size hut and I think that’s where the value is, it’s suitable . for a larger family or for friends which much be sharing it.' He added: 'The . hut has sea glimpses as it is set back about 30 yards from the . beach. There is nothing in front of it but grass, sand, and a path.' As well as the hefty price tag, the . new owners will have to pay a £15,000 transfer fee and more than . £2,600 a year in ground rent to Christchurch Borough Council. In order to see the sea, the new . owners of the beach hut will need to stand on the top step leading up to . the decking and then look towards the left. If it sells for the asking price, the cabin will just fall short of becoming the most expensive beach hut ever sold in Britain. Another on the Strand in Shaldon, south Devon, sold for £245,000 in 2012 despite being just 6ft wide. But unlike the Mudeford Spit huts, it was a new build with under-floor heating, a marble wet room, wireless internet, and electric windows which automatically close when it rains. Measuring 23ft long, it also boasted a fitted kitchen, a rear patio, TV, DVD and one mezzanine bedroom. Steve Barratt, chairman of the . Mudeford Sandbank Beach Hut Association, said: 'Back in the 1980s, the . beach huts would have sold for around £6,000 or £7,000. 'Now, . people are paying around £150,000 for one. Compared to how house . prices have changed, there’s a significant difference. 'Beach huts have outstripped property prices over the years by several times.' Picturesque: The quiet village of huts is on a peninsula with Christchurch harbour on one side and the English Channel on the other, and cannot be reached by cars . Spending a lot more than a penny: The hut, pictured in green, is right next to a public toilet block - useful if nature calls while the 10 people squeezed in are sleeping . Idyll: Thanks to its secluded sense of calm and good sizes by beach huts standards, Mudeford Spit has become one of Britain's priciest areas by cost per square foot . Many luxury beach huts on the market cost more than a brand new, fully-functioning home. In the last few months some beach huts across Britain have been marketed for vast amounts. They included a hut on Chesil beach near Weymouth, which featured in the title of a novel by Ian McEwan, which went on the market for £300,000. In Christchurch, Dorset, there are beach huts up for sale for £225,000, with some estate agents marketing them as 'one-bedroom terraced properties'. But there are bargains to be had. In Felixstowe, Suffolk, the cheapest beach huts are on the market for £7,000 while in Hove, East Sussex, one hut was recently on sale for £14,000. Another, in a prime position on the seafront at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, was on the market two weeks ago for £18,000, decorated in pastel colours with a 1950s floral interior.

13ft square timber shack is on desirable Mudeford Spit near Christchurch, with living area, bedroom and mezzanine . Glimpses of the sea can be seen from side windows, but the porch looks out on sand dunes and a toilet is behind it . Hut has no mains electricity or running water and can only be reached by walking or catching a novelty 'land train' But there is one advantage to the dated £225,000 shack... it's one of the most expensive on the premium peninsula .

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(CNN) -- Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme was released from federal custody Friday, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons said. Lynnette "Squeaky" Fromme, left, appears in court in Los Angeles, California, in December 1969. Fromme was convicted in 1975 of pointing a gun at then-President Gerald Ford in Sacramento, California. She was released Friday morning from Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, said Felicia Ponce, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons in Washington. Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, pointed a gun at Ford a year after he became president. Secret Service agents prevented her from firing; the gun was later found to have ammunition in it, but no bullet in the chamber. In a 1987 interview with CNN affiliate WCHS, Fromme, then housed in West Virginia, recalled that the president "had his hands out and was waving ... and he looked like cardboard to me. But at the same time, I had ejected the bullet in my apartment and I used the gun as it was." She said she knew Ford was in town and near her, "and I said, 'I gotta go and talk to him,' and then I thought, 'That's foolish. He's not going to stop and talk to you.' People have already shown you can lay blood in front of them and they're not, you know, they don't think anything of it. I said, 'Maybe I'll take the gun,' and I thought, 'I have to do this. This is the time.' " She said it never occurred to her that she could wind up in prison. Asked whether she had any regrets, Fromme said, "No. No, I don't. I feel it was fate." However, she said that she thought her incarceration was "unnecessary" and that she couldn't see herself repeating her offense. "My argument to the jury was, if she wanted to kill him, she would have shot him," John Virga, a Sacramento attorney appointed to defend Fromme, told CNN recently. "She'd been around guns. And let's be realistic: We know the Manson family, at least some of them, are killers." See more about Manson's followers » . Fromme was sentenced to life in prison, and parole was an option at the time, although the federal system later abolished it, Ponce said. Inmates do receive "good time" -- for every year and one day they serve, Ponce said, 54 days are lopped off their sentence.

Fromme was convicted in 1975 of pointing a gun at then-President Ford . She was in the Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas . Fromme, 60, released on parole Friday morning .

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(CNN) -- The tennis world is in mourning after Elena Baltacha died at the age of 30 after losing her battle with liver cancer. Baltacha, who was born in Ukraine, had retired from the sport in November 2013. "We are heartbroken beyond words at the loss of our beautiful, talented and determined Bally," read a statement from Nino Severino, Baltacha's husband and long-time coach. "She was an amazing person and she touched so many people with her inspirational spirit, her warmth and her kindness." Aged 19, Baltacha was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a condition that effects the bile ducts and the liver. Baltacha turned pro in 1997 and spent 132 weeks as British No. 1 between December 2009 and June 2012. She won 11 International Tennis Federation Pro Circuit titles, reached the third round of Wimbledon in 2002 and advanced to the third round of the Australian Open as recently as 2010. In September 2010 she reached a career-high 49th in the world rankings. The final event of her playing career was the 2013 U.S. Open last September, where she was defeated during the pre-tournament qualifying competition. Baltacha's father Sergei was a footballer who played for the Soviet Union at the 1982 World Cup. "She was fighter during her days in sport and she is a fighter now," the former Dynamo Kiev player told CNN just weeks before the death of his daughter. "I would like to say thanks to everyone who is support(ing) us, sending message, emails, calling us to give us support or offer any advice or you know. "Most importantly we are all together, fighting all together." A charity event, called The Rally Against Cancer -- Rally For Bally, will be held on June 15 with a host of tennis greats set to turn out in support. Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and 18-time grand slam winner Martina Navratilova are among the names set to take to the court at London's Queen's Club. A number of tennis legends took to social media to pay their respects to Baltacha with American Billie Jean King tweeting: "Saddened to hear about Elena Baltacha's passing. "My fondest memory w/Bally was sharing a wonderful chat when we met the Queen at Wimbledon." King's compatriot Chris Evert also paid her respects, saying, "Rest in Peace, beautiful Elena Baltacha...No words...Thoughts and prayers..." People we've lost in 2014 .

British tennis player Elena Baltacha dies aged 30 . Baltacha revealed she had liver cancer in March . The Ukraine-born star was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis at 19 . Baltacha spent 132 weeks as British No. 1 between December 2009 and June 2012 .

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un executed his uncle by having him stripped naked and eaten alive by starving dogs while he watched, a report claimed yesterday. Jang Song-Thaek was said to have been thrown into a cage with his five closest aides, after which 120 hounds which had been starved for three days were released, eating the men until there was nothing left. The horrifying details emerged in a report in Singapore’s Straits Times newspaper, which said the gruesome act was known as ‘quan jue’, or ‘execution by dogs’. Brutal: Jang Song-Thaek, in blue suit and handcuffs being escorted in court on December 12, was executed by wild dogs, according to reports coming from China . In previous executions, political . prisoners were killed by firing squads with machine guns, although one . aide was tied to a post and a mortar round was fired at him. The . report said the ‘quan jue’ lasted an hour, and Kim was said to have . watched the stomach-churning ‘show’ along with 300 senior officials. Analysts . said the tyrant had probably invited the officials to the death . ceremony as a warning that they should not step out of line and remain . faithful not only to him but also to the Stalinist regime. Kim had . described his 67-year-old uncle – who was married to his father’s sister . – as a traitor, a womaniser and a ‘despicable human scum – worse than a . dog’. It was previously thought he had been executed by firing squad. Family: Kim Jong-Un (right) applauds at a show as his uncle, Jang Song-Thaek (left), looks on . Vicious: Dictator Kim Jong-Un, pictured, shocked the world when he accused his 'scum' uncle of treachery and had him executed . Frenzied: Jang Song Thaek was fed to a pack of 120 dogs which had been starved for three days, it was claimed. (Stock picture) The . Singapore paper was quoting China’s official newspaper, Wen Wei Po, . which was published in Hong Kong on December 12, although details . emerged only yesterday. The . savage death of Kim’s uncle sent shockwaves through the authoritarian . state, showing no one was safe – even family members. Kim’s 19-year-old . nephew fled his university campus in Paris after the execution and has . gone into hiding. North Korean justice: The tribunal in the capital Pyongyang which apparently ordered Jang Song Thaek's death . Family: Shown with his powerful nephew during a military parade in February last year, Jang Song Thaek (left) was once the second most powerful man in North Korea. Some say he was seen as a threat . The . tyrant’s ruthless streak was documented last year when it was claimed he . had a former lover executed because she appeared in a porn film. South . Korean newspapers said singer Hyon Song-wol and 11 others were arrested . in August for violating North Korea’s laws against pornography and were . executed, possibly by firing squad, three days later. The . condemned, all members of the performing groups Unhasu Orchestra and . Wangjaesan Light Music Band, were accused of making videos of . themselves  having sex and selling the videos for distribution in China. Other band members as well as the families of the victims were made to . watch the mass execution. Revelations: Kim Jong-un used his New Year's speech to defend the recent execution for treason of Jang Song-thaek, Kim's uncle and North Korean second most powerful man of the past decades . Authoritarian: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (seventh from the right) visits the mausoleum of his father Kim Jong-il, late North Korean leader, at Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang on New Year's Day . The . Straits Times said the report of the ‘quan jue’ vividly depicted the . brutality of the young North Korean leader and the fact that it appeared . in a Beijing-controlled newspaper showed that China no longer cared . about its relations with the Kim regime. Two . days after the initial newspaper report, The Global Times, which is . associated with the People’s Daily, a Chinese Communist Party outlet, . published an editorial saying that the abrupt political change in North . Korea epitomised the backwardness of the country’s political system. And . it warned its own government not to cosy up to North Korea any longer, . claiming that the majority of the Chinese people were ‘disgusted’ with . the Kim regime. Writing in . the Straits Times, analyst Ching Cheong said the story, along with the . stern editorial, provided a measure of the extent of Beijing’s loathing. ‘In purging a top official . known for his close ties with Beijing in such a brutal manner, . Pyongyang (the North Korean capital) did not hide its antagonism towards . China,’ he wrote. Kim Jong-Un is no stranger to ordering brutal crackdowns on anyone even suspected of posing a political threat - no matter how close the relationship. The dictator had his former lover singer Hyon Song-wol, pictured right, executed by machine gun amid claims that she had been appearing in pornographic videos. Hyon was among a dozen singers, musicians and dancers from two pop groups who were machine-gunned to death on August 20, last year. The savage death of Kim's uncle sent shock waves through the authoritarian state, showing no one was safe - even family members. Kim's teenage nephew fled to a university campus in Paris after the execution of Jang Song-Thaek. The 19-year-old's name was removed from the postbox at prestigious social science university Sciences-Po, which saw South Korean media report that he was hiding for fear of his safety. Fears also mounted last month that Kim's wife Ri Sol-Ju had fallen out of favour with the tempestuous leader. She had not been seen publicly for weeks and was not present in an official photograph, provoking speculation . But these were largely eased when a video was released showing her with Kim Jong-Un at a memorial service to mark the second anniversary of his father's death.

A pack of 120 starving dogs were set on Jang Song Thaek and five aides . Kim Jong-Un and 300 officials watched horrific execution . Punishment, called 'quan jue', or execution by dogs, lasted an hour . Uncle was accused of treachery and corruption by the brutal regime . Kim has carried out a 'massive purge' of threats to consolidate his grip .

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By . Lizzie Parry . PUBLISHED: . 13:36 EST, 28 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 19:15 EST, 28 February 2014 . Blow: Entrepreneur Rob Law was dealt a crushing blow as judges ruled a rival to his Trunki children's suitcase does not infringe on his design rights . A Dragons' Den reject who has sold two million of his children's ride-on suitcases was today dealt a crippling blow as judges ruled a rival product does not infringe on his design rights. Rob Law left the Den in 2006 dismayed after each of the Dragons ruled 'I'm out', after the strap on his prototype broke during a demonstration. But the entrepreneur fought to make the Trunki a success, and today turns over £7million a year. By 2011, 20 per cent of British three to six year olds owned one of the ride-on pull-along children's cases, which can be designed with a number of different animal and insect motifs. But trouble began to brew when Paul Beverley, MD of Hong Kong-based PMS International Limited, spotted a Trunki while on his travels in 2010. PMS began marketing a rival product, the Kiddee Case, setting the scene for a legal battle over the design. Appeal Court judges today ruled that the 'more rounded' shape of the Kiddee Case - which comes in animal and insect designs - is 'very different' to the Trunki's 'sleek and stylised' appearance. Lord Justice Kitchin said: 'The Kiddee Case is softer and more rounded and evocative of an insect with antennae or an animal with floppy ears.' The Court’s decision that the Kiddee Case does not breach the Trunki’s community registered design rights is a disaster for Mr Law and his company, Magmatic Ltd, effectively opening up the European market to its discount competitor. Bristol-based Mr Law was a student at Northumbria University when he was nominated as a finalist for the 1998 Materials Design Award. Given the brief to produce 'a design for luggage', he was inspired to design a child's bag, after visiting a toy shop. The prototype, which he dubbed the 'Rodeo' - was awarded the top prize. From there the Trunki became a success, with Mr Law securing a contract with John Lewis, on the back of his appearance on Dragon's Den. Scroll down for video . Practical: Globetrotting children can sit on the suitcase as their parents pull them along . Sucessful: Mr Law employs more than 50 people and enjoys a turnover of more than £7 million a year . Largely due to the popularity of the Trunki - which now sells in 97 countries - Magmatic won a top prize at the National Business Awards in 2012. But Mr Law's success came back to haunt him in court as PMS argued the 'Rodeo' design had been honoured publicly at the 1998 prize ceremony, long before the design rights were registered for the Trunki in 2003. While no one disputed that the Trunki was an ‘innovative design’ - and it was accepted that the Kiddee Case was 'inspired by' its rival - PMS pointed to a photograph of Mr Law at the award ceremony and argued the Trunki’s design rights were invalidated by the publicity. Ruling on the dispute today, Lord Justice Kitchin said that the differences in the rival products’ shape, decoration, and colour meant that the possibility of parents being confused between them was slight. Design: His invention is made from the same material as adult suitcase brands and can be ridden like a toy . Demonstration: He sat on one of his products during his appearance in front of the Dragons in 2006. But he left the Den disappointed as one by one the Dragons declared 'I'm out' Describing the insect version of the Kiddee Case, he said: 'It looks like a ladybird and the handles on its forehead look like antennae. 'Overall the shape conveys a completely different impression from that of the Trunki.' Although there were ‘some similarities at a general level’, the judge, sitting with Lord Justice Moses and Lady Justice Black, said: 'I think the impression conveyed to the informed user by the designs of the two versions of the Kiddee Case is very different from that of the Trunki.' There were, he said 'many significant differences' between the profile of the two products as well as their colour and decoration. Curious: The Dragons were initially impressed with the product, with Theo and Deborah (second and third from right) calling it 'cute' Dreams dashed: Mr Law felt the investment slipping away when Theo Paphitis managed to break one of the straps . He added: 'The overall impression created by the two designs is very different. The impression created by the Trunki is that of a horned animal. 'It is a sleek and stylised design and, from the side, has a generally asymmetrical appeareance...by contrast, the design of the Kiddee Case is softer and more rounded and evocative of an insect with antennae or an animal with floppy ears. 'At both a general and detailed level, the Kiddee Case conveys a very different impression.'

Rob Law was sent packing from the Den in 2006 after a strap on his children's ride-on suitcase broke during a demonstration . He has since sold two million cases and turns over £7million a year . But in 2010 a rival firm PMS International Limited marketed a new product, the Kiddee Case, sparking a legal battle . Appeal Court judges today ruled the 'more rounded' Kiddee Case is 'very different' to the Trunki's 'sleek and stylised' appearance . Court ruled the Kiddee Case does not breach Mr Law's design rights .

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Sarah Mason, 25, spotted in a line of activists at Occupy LA . By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 10:28 PM on 18th December 2011 . Her face has become the symbol of a year of protests that stretched from downtown Manhattan to Cairo's Tahrir Square. After being featured on the cover of TIME magazine as 'person of the year', it was only a matter of time before the identity of the Protester was revealed. Sarah Mason, 25, has had fame thrust upon her after her image at an Occupy LA protest ended up on the front page. Unmasked: TIME magazine used the image of Sarah Mason, a 25-year-old protester at Occupy LA, for its cover of the year . Her distinctive yellow bobble hat, defiant glare and 99% scarf stood out to photographer Ted Soqui who snapped the picture for LA Weekly. It was transformed into the artistic cover by LA street artist Shepard Fairey. Miss Mason, who has gone completely underground since the cover emerged, was pictured linking  arms in a circle during a protest at the Bank of America Plaza on November 17. She was arrested by riot police at the end of the day for failing to leave the square. The young woman, who works in an art gallery, had soaked her bandana in vinegar 'just in case the police sprayed them with gas or pepper spray', according to LA Weekly. Miss Mason was pictured on an international day of action for the Occupy movement. On the same day in New York, more than a thousand protesters gathered near the New York Stock Exchange chanting 'All day, all week, shut down Wall Street'. Several thousands more crammed into Manhattan's Foley Square and marched to the Brooklyn Bridge. Relentless: Another protest springs up in Los Angeles earlier this month as demonstrators bring their cause to the federal building . American spirit: The Occupy movement regrouped yesterday in Duarte Square, New York . Sarah Mason became involved in Occupy LA after struggling with her own personal debt when she left Northern Arizona University. She . told 360 magazine: 'I think the Occupy Wall Street Movement has shown . that a lot of attention has been going to the fact that students have . made an investment in their educations, then they come to the real world . and they realize that that investment is essentially worthless.' 'Students have . made an investment in their educations, then they come to the real world . and they realize that that investment is essentially worthless.' Sarah Mason, 'The Protester' Occupy LA was cleared two weeks after NYPD evicted protesters from Zuccotti Park in Manhattan. More than 200 people were arrested at the camp in California as 1,000 riot police stormed the site and cleared the tents. The runner-up for the distinction of Time's person of the year included Admiral William H. McRaven, who organised the Navy SEALS raid that led to Osama bin Laden’s death in May. Also considered were Chinese conceptual artist Ali Wei Wei, Wisconsin Rep Paul Ryan and Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton. An online poll by the Today Show showed overwhelming support for former Apple honcho Steve Jobs and Rep Gabrielle Giffords.

Sarah Mason, 25, spotted in a line of activists at Occupy LA .

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Sanaa, Yemen (CNN) -- The death toll from a sophisticated attack by Islamic extremists against soldiers in Yemen jumped to 184 Tuesday, three Yemeni officials told CNN. Air raids on militant positions since the attack have left at least 42 militants dead in Abyan province, security officials said. The attack Sunday at an army base by Ansar al-Sharia, which is allied with al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, originally claimed the lives of 90 soldiers and wounded many others. A spokesman for the Yemeni Embassy in Washington issued a statement giving a much lower death toll, saying "73 martyrs" died in the "battles in Abyan." But officials on the ground in Abyan gave CNN the higher death toll. The attack "illustrates AQAP's complete disregard for human life," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement. She vowed that the United States will continue to support Yemen's new President Abdurabu Hadi "and the Yemeni people as they work to realize their aspirations for a brighter and more prosperous future." The attack was a humiliating defeat to Yemen's army in a power struggle against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The militants seized large amounts of weaponry -- including rocket launchers, mortars, armored vehicles and tanks -- and appeared to have had help from within the security apparatus, according to Yemeni officials. The bloodbath took place near Zinjibar, a town on the Arabian Sea where Ansar al-Sharia has been active for nearly a year. One Yemeni official, who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said militants began attacking an army base from the east, drawing the fire of troops, and then began attacking from the other side of the base. The "reinforcement response was too slow," he said, adding that was partly because of sandstorms in the area. "Troops were basically slaughtered by the militants. The attacks happened so suddenly; and this time they were more organized than we expected," one senior security official said. On Monday, more attacks took place. Al Qaeda-linked militants occupied a Republican Guard garrison in the province of Baitha before the Yemeni army overtook it, a Yemeni government official said. A police chief in Aden's 6th precinct survived an assassination attempt, but his bodyguard was killed, the government official said. It was unclear who was behind the attack, but al Qaeda-linked militants have stepped up assassinations. "Political bickering" is under way about what to do in the province of Abyan, where the attack occurred, as politicians play a blame game over why such violence has been on the rise, the official said. Meanwhile, U.S. trainers are helping the Yemeni government in its effort to retake al-Kowd, the town in Abyan closest to the military base where Sunday's attack occurred, two Yemeni security officials said. U.S. officials had no immediate confirmation. Air attacks went on through the night Monday and into Tuesday morning in an effort to kill militants and destroy their tanks and other vehicles, the officials said. Hundreds of troops were deployed to Abyan, and nearly 1,000 more will reach the province by Tuesday night, the Interior Ministry said. "This will take time, but the government will not be lenient when dealing with terrorist groups," said Ali Obaid, a spokesman for the military committee. Militants were weakened by government raids on their hideouts in Ansar al-Sharia, he said. At least 146 troops have been wounded since Saturday, security officials said. Experts warn that al Qaeda is planning to conduct powerful attacks in six Yemeni provinces. Abdul Salam Mohammed, director of the Sanaa-based Abaad Strategic Center, said pamphlets belonging to al Qaeda were distributed to residents informing them of the attacks to come. "This is just the beginning, and al Qaeda attacks will spread quickly in March. Security authorities must be on high alert or risk seeing another bloodbath like the one in Abyan," Mohammed said. "Sanaa, Baitha, Hadramout, Aden and Shabwa provinces are all on the al Qaeda hit list." CNN's Hakim Almasmari, Mohammed Jamjoom and Josh Levs contributed to this report.

NEW: 184 soldiers were killed in the Sunday attack, Yemeni officials say . NEW: A Yemeni government spokesman in Washington gives a much lower death toll . 42 militants have been killed in air raids, according to Yemeni officials . The militants were with Ansar al-Sharia, which is allied with al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula .

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By . Ap Reporter and Rachel Quigley . PUBLISHED: . 14:24 EST, 22 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:35 EST, 22 October 2013 . Cleveland kidnapping victim Michelle Knight performed a touching rendition of Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On in honor of the son taken away from her before she was kidnapped by Ariel Castro, it emerged today. Dressed as an angel and with face paint on, the 32-year-old took the stage at Cleveland's Boo-You-Bash event on October 12. She grew very emotional towards the end of the song and had to be comforted by someone after she broke down in tears. Scroll down for video . Michelle Knight: Dressed as an angel and with face paint on, the 32-year-old took the stage at Cleveland's Boo-You-Bash event on October 12 . Tears: Michelle struggled to keep her emotions in check during the song, which she sang in honor of the son who was taken away from her before she was kidnapped . Tell-all: Michelle will be the first victim to break her silence after an exclusive interview with Dr Phil which will be aired in a three-part special between November 4 and 6 . The video, recorded by Broco-El-Unico, was released at the same time as it emerged Michelle will be the first victim to break her silence after an exclusive interview with Dr Phil which will be aired in a three-part special between November 4 and 6. She is expected to make never-before-heard revelations about what went on in Castro's Cleveland house of horrors as she recalls the day-to-day details of her decade in captivity in a manner described as 'passionate, moving and poignant'. 'She is the self-proclaimed, most hated victim in the house, and according to Knight, suffered the most abuse at the hands of Castro,' a statement said. Dr Phil said of the interview: 'Michelle Knight's story of horror and . courageous survival almost defies description and has changed me like no . other in 12 years of doing the show. Her dark journey . from victim to victor is beyond compelling.' WATCH MICHELLE'S FULL PERFORMANCE ON YOUTUBE . Dr Phil: Michelle is expected to make never-before-heard revelations about what went on in Castro's Cleveland house of horrors as she recalls the day-to-day details of her decade in captivity . Hugs: The young woman had to be comforted by the woman who sang with her at the Cleveland event on October 12 after she broke down . It also emerged today that victims Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus are collaborating with a Pulitzer Prize-winning team of Washington Post . reporters for a planned book about their ordeal. Michelle was abducted on August 23, 2002 when she was 21 years old, a year before Amanda Berry in April 2003. A year later Gina deJesus joined them. The three escaped from Castro's home on May 6, 2013. In a . statement issued yesterday, an attorney for Berry and DeJesus said they will work with the Post's Mary Jordan, a . Cleveland native, and her husband and fellow reporter, Kevin Sullivan. No meetings with publishers have been scheduled, although interest would . likely be based on the popularity of another kidnapping survivor's . memoir, Jaycee Dugard's A Stolen Life. Castro had been sentenced to life in prison, plus 1,000 years, but is believed to have committed suicide in prison last month. Victims: Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus have agreed to write a book about their terrible ordeal . Hometown: Cleveland native Mary Jordan will write the book about the women kidnapped by Castro . 'Many . have told, and continue to tell, this story in ways that are both . inaccurate and beyond the control of these young women,' said James . Wooley, the attorney for Berry and DeJesus. 'Our clients have a strong . desire for privacy, but it is a reality that confronts them every day. Gina, Amanda and their families have decided to take control and are now . interested in telling the story of what happened to them.' Wooley . said in his statement that he had known Jordan for years and contacted . her about the project. Jordan said during a recent interview that . she was drawn to the 'resilience' of Berry and DeJesus and was eager to . help them tell an 'amazing story of overcoming adversity'. In 2003, she . and Sullivan won a Pulitzer for their series about the Mexican criminal . justice system. Investigators said the three victims were bound, repeatedly raped and deprived . of food and bathroom facilities. At his sentencing, Knight told Castro: 'I spent 11 years in hell, now your hell is just beginning'. She was the only one of the three girls to attend. Monster: Ariel Castro was found dead in his prison cell last month after apparently hanging himself . House of horrors: The three women were held in this house (right) for nearly 10 years .

An interview with Dr Phil will be aired next month in which Michelle is the first to break her silence about  what happened in the Cleveland House of Horrors . Other two victims Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus are writing book about their ordeal in collaboration with Washington Post reporters . Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mary Jordan will write the book .

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Veteran television actor Stephen Collins and his wife of nearly 30 years have finalized their divorce, an acrimonious breakup that revealed the former '7th Heaven' star had inappropriate contact with underage girls decades ago. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael J. Convey on Friday approved a divorce judgment that ended Collins' marriage to Faye Grant, who first disclosed molestation allegations against her estranged husband in court filings. Collins acknowledged he acted inappropriately with three underage girls in incidents that occurred between 1973 and 1994. The revelation cost Collins several roles after audio of a 2012 therapy session in which he discussed the incidents was posted by celebrity website TMZ last year. Grant recorded the session but denies leaking the audio to the website. Acrimonious: Stephen Collins and his wife of nearly 30 years Faye Grant have finalized their divorce during a split which revealed he had inappropriate contact with underage girls . Grant first disclosed molestation allegations against her estranged husband in court filings. Collins admitted he acted inappropriately with three underage girls in incidents that occurred between 1973 and 1994 . The actor acknowledged in an interview with Katie Couric that he molested one girl and engaged in sexual misconduct with two other underage girls. However he denied being a pedophile . Collins sought to deny his wife any future spousal support payments. A copy of the couple's divorce judgment was not immediately available. A divorce trial was scheduled to begin next month. The trial would have focused on the financial fallout from the release of the therapy session audio and would have divided the pair's assets. Grant and Collins and their attorneys reached a settlement on Friday after negotiating for several days at a downtown Los Angeles courthouse. They both said during Friday's hearing that the marriage was irretrievably broken and could not be fixed through further counseling. Mark Vincent Kaplan,  Collins' attorney, arrives at court in Los Angeles on Thursday. A copy of the couple's divorce judgement was not made immediately available . The revelations cost the 7th Heaven (cast pictured) a number of roles. Collins' admissions came in a recorded therapy session in 2012. Grant had the tape but denied releasing it . Collins filed for divorce in May 2012 and the case received little attention until the molestation allegations became public. The actor acknowledged in an interview with Katie Couric that he molested one girl and engaged in sexual misconduct with two other underage girls. He denied he was a paedophile and said he has controlled his urges since 1994. Grant included the molestation accusations in divorce proceedings and authorities in New York and Los Angeles have investigated the claims, but Collins has not been charged. The incidents occurred between 1973 and 1994, according to a statement Collins released to People magazine in December. 'Forty years ago, I did something terribly wrong that I deeply regret,' Collins wrote. 'I have been working to atone for it ever since.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

LA Superior Court Judge Michael J. Convey ended marriage to Faye Grant . She disclosed molestation allegations against her husband in court filings . Collins said he acted inappropriately with underage girls in 1973 and 1994 . The revelations were outlined in a taped therapy session recorded in 2012 . Since its release - it has cost the actor a number of roles .

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By . Paul Bentley . PUBLISHED: . 13:36 EST, 26 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:01 EST, 26 December 2012 . It's a festive phenomenon that saves youngsters money and keeps Mum and Dad in the technological loop. This Christmas saw the rise of the ‘hand-me-up’ gift – when children pass on the still-desirable, hi-tech gadgets they don’t want any more to their parents. A survey found over a quarter of us gave second-hand technology to our mothers and fathers. Hand-me-up: A generation of parents have 'inherited' discarded gadgets, such as smartphones and tablet devices, from their children this Christmas . The trend was even more apparent among . young adults, with nearly half of those aged 18-24 passing on used . gadgets such as smartphones, cameras, iPods and Kindle e-readers. Of the 2,000 people questioned, the . most common reason for giving a hand-me-up was that old gadgets were . outdated (and newer ones might be sitting in  Christmas stockings), . while a third said they gave such gifts because cash was tight. One in ten gave old smartphones to parents so they could log on to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Women buyers were more likely to pass . on an old phone to a parent, while men were more likely to give the . hand-me-ups to a friend instead. Young adults largely chose to give . their cast-offs to their mothers. Some 44 per cent of mums received old . gadgets, compared with 28 per cent of dads. Grandparents, however, opened  more . conventional presents on Christmas Day, with just 4 per cent of . grandchildren giving hand-me-ups to that generation. Sylvia Chind, from mobile operator . Three, which carried out the survey, said the ‘hand-me-ups’ would ‘save . time and money’, and expose older generations to more up-to-date . technology. She said: ‘This research has found . that Brits are making the most of their older technology and connecting . Mum and Dad, siblings and friends to the  mobile internet.’ Generational gap: A survey of 2,000 people revealed that more than a quarter of us gave outdated gadgets to parents as gifts over the festive season . Sales of electronic gadgets are, naturally, very high before Christmas with the market for new smartphones almost doubling in December. Women buyers are more likely to pass on an older smartphone to a parent, with men more often giving the ‘hand-me-ups’ to a friend instead. While much has been written in recent years about ‘silver surfing’ older people, the survey found grandparents were not particularly likely to have been given old gadgets. Just 4 per cent of people interviews said they had passed on ‘hand-me-ups’ to their grandmother or grandfather. American youth marketing experts Buzz Marketing Group put ‘hand-me-ups’ as their fifth top trend in 2012. Chief executive Tina Wells said: ‘The hand-me-up trend implies that the older generation is actually being exposed to newer technology faster than we had previously believed. Recycled: Almost half of those in the 18-24 age group said they gave ‘hand-me-ups’, including smartphones and cameras, to relatives for Christmas . ‘They might not be as updated [as their children] but tech-saviness is definitely being facilitated amongst Generation X and beyond.’ Previous studies have found that mobile phones are the most popular ‘hand-me-ups’, followed by mp3 players, including iPods. In a recent survey commissioned by Intel, almost half of 502 students surveyed said they had passed on an old piece of technology to their mother or father. Young adults are more likely to give ‘the hand-me-ups’ to their mothers than their fathers, though. 44 per cent of mothers said they had received the old gadgets, compared to 28 per cent of fathers. Sylvia Chind, Head of Devices at Three said the ‘hand-me-ups’ would ‘save family and friends time and money’. She added: ‘Christmas is a time for giving and this research has found that Brits are making the most of their older technology and connecting Mum and Dad, siblings and friends to the mobile internet.’

Survey of 2,000 finds quarter of people gave old technology to parents . Nearly half of people between 18-24 passed on 'hand-me-up' for Christmas . Main reason is that people don't want to own 'outdated' technology .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:16 EST, 3 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:09 EST, 3 December 2013 . A police officer has used his Movember moustache to raise even more money for charity after realising he became a deadringer for some of Britain's most famous stars. In the past week sergeant Chris Bethell has dressed as Borat, Inspector Clouseau, and Blackadder because his facial hair made him look like the actors who played them. The sergeant also posed as Lord Lucan and Freddie Mercury, raising £400 so far for the Movember cancer appeal. Inspector Clouseau: Sergeant Chris Bethell's Movember moustache, left, has helped him ape a number of Britain's greatest stars, including Peter Sellers, right . Freddie Mercury: Sergeant Bethell managed to recreate this famous pose by Queen's iconic frontman . Sgt Bethell, based in Barrow, Cumbria, has blogged, tweeted and used Facebook to show off his remarkable collection of doppelganger pictures. 'By creating a different face every day during the final week and writing humorous dialogue and verses, I found a fun way to catch the attention of many good friends on Facebook and Twitter', he said. 'Their comments, encouragement and generosity have been a terrific motivator'. During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of millions of moustaches around the world. Spot the difference: The Cumbrian police officer before he grew some facial hair and now with his distinguished moustache . Lord Lucan: The policeman looks uncannily like the aristocrat who disappeared without a trace in 1974 . Borat: Chris even braved a dip in the November seas as he recreated a classic moment by Sacha Baron Cohen . Men then raise vital funds and awareness for prostate, testicular cancer and mental health. Sgt Bethell said: 'I know several people who in recent months have been diagnosed with serious illnesses. 'Having friends who have had to suffer through no fault of their own, I became acutely aware of how lucky I am. 'This is just my way of giving a little back and raising awareness about men’s health. 'So far this week, over £400 has been raised and still people are sending me donations'. Captain Edmund Blackadder: In this posed picture the sergeant pretends to be Rowan Atkinson in Blackadder Goes Forth . Officer Crabtree: His costumes, including this one showing him as as Allo Allo's best-love characters is helping him raise a large amount for charity . Terry Thomas: Using a cigarette holder and adding a gap between his teeth he transformed himself into the cad actor . As an independent, global charity, Movember's vision is to have an everlasting impact on men's health. It challenges men to grow a moustache for the 30 days of November, thereby changing their appearance and the 'face' of men's health. For those who want to sponsor Sgt Bethell click HERE .

Sgt Chris Bethell is raising valuable funds using his Movember moustache . With facial hair and costumes he has posed as Britain's greatest stars . 'This is my way of giving a little back and raising awareness,' he said .

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(CNN) -- When Russia bid to host its first Winter Olympics back in 2007, the document quoted an expected cost of around $12 billion. However, as the extensive renovation of the city of Sochi has unfolded in the years since successfully winning the rights to stage the Games, that number has ballooned to around $50 billion -- more than four times over budget. It will be the most expensive Olympics yet, surpassing Beijing's 2008 Summer Games. The Russian government says that much of this has been sunk into infrastructure -- upgrading travel links such as airports and train stations, building new roads, houses, hotels and conference centers and providing the other necessary utilities to welcome thousands of visitors. According to both President Vladimir Putin and his predecessor, the present Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, the "sports-related" costs have come to about $6.4 billion. This has largely come from building 10 competition venues, both down on the Black Sea coast in Sochi's Olympic area and up in the mountain cluster in Krasnaya Polyana -- which not long ago had just one ski lift. The Games will launch with the February 7 opening ceremony at the $600 million Fisht Stadium, which will not host any sporting events but will close the Olympics two and a half weeks later. The arena will then be used by Russia's national football team and will host matches at the 2018 World Cup with an expanded capacity of 45,000. Watch: Sochi by numbers .

Russia has spent more than any other Olympics host in preparing Sochi for Winter Games . Its reported $50 billion cost is four times higher than originally promised in bid document . Black Sea resort transformed with an unprecedented level of construction .

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(CNN) -- Taking a break for Memorial Day? To point you in the right direction, we looked for celebrations across America that offered something special in honor of the Memorial Day holiday, be it a unique patriotic tribute, a celeb-worthy pool party, an epic blues festival or a vineyard tour. But reading about a party that's taking place miles and miles from home is frustrating, not fun. That's why we highlighted places that are easily accessible no matter where you are in the U.S. (all of the cities called out under "easy getaway" are within either a 1.5-hour flight or four-hour drive from the featured destination). Consider this your guide to three-day weekend bliss. Budget Travel: See photos of the places . Palm Springs, California: For guaranteed summer weather . WHY GO THIS WEEKEND While most beach seasons are just beginning, Memorial Day marks the end of bearable temps in the desert, so hotels and operators are running specials for the holiday. Though other parts of California will be in the midst of "May Gray" and "June Gloom," Palm Springs still has nonstop sunshine -- plus dozens of vintage shops, acclaimed restaurants such as Copley's on Palm Canyon (where celebrity chef Andrew Copley whips up So Cal comfort food like lobster pot pie) and an enduring love for all things mid-century (its hotels and private homes offer some of the best examples of 1950s modern architecture in the country). It also makes a great base camp for exploring the striking desert landscape of Joshua Tree National Park through hikes, mountain biking, or rock climbing. WHERE TO STAY Book one of the 155 pet-friendly rooms, with pool or mountain views and breakfast included, at the hip and affordable Palm Springs Travelodge. Call and mention "Budget Travel" for 20 percent off bookings over the weekend. From $115 per night. EASY GETAWAY FROM Los Angeles; San Francisco; Phoenix; Las Vegas. Budget Travel: 41 mother-daughter trips of a lifetime . Washington, D.C.: For patriotism, pomp, and circumstance . WHY GO THIS WEEKEND As you might guess, D.C. is the most patriotic place to celebrate the holiday, with a parade and plenty of pomp and circumstance taking place during special military ceremonies. The Thursday before Memorial Day, soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery put flags before each gravestone. On Memorial Day, a wreath-laying ceremony happens at the Tomb of the Unknowns -- President Obama spoke at last year's ceremony -- and the U.S. Army Band, Pershing's Own, performs. Men in uniform also march in the National Memorial Day Parade along the National Mall. Don't miss the National Memorial Day Concert Sunday on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol from 8 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. WHERE TO STAY Kimpton Hotels is running a Memorial Day weekend special in five of its hip properties. Check in Thursday or Friday and stay for three nights for the $120 a night rate at the Helix, $130 per night at the Rouge, $140 a night at Topaz or the Madera, or $150 per night at the Palomar Washington D.C., all in northwest D.C. near The White House, when you mention booking code "PMEM" (that's over 25 percent savings off of normal rates). From $120 per night over Memorial Day weekend. EASY GETAWAY FROM Albany, N.Y.; Baltimore; Boston; Charleston, S.C.; Columbus, Ohio; Hartford; Louisville, Ky.; Nashville; New York; Providence. Budget Travel: 10 natural phenomena you need to see to believe . Las Vegas: For free rock concerts and parties by the pool . WHY GO THIS WEEKEND Memorial Day weekend in Las Vegas is one of the busiest times of the year, along with New Year's Eve. Parties held around the resorts' elaborate pools are the big event, and become daylight nightclubs with DJs, drink carts, bottle service, cabanas, and more. To get in on the action, grab a chaise at the Venus Pool Club at Caesars Palace (if you're a guest, there is no cover charge for hunkering down poolside until 1 P.M., at which point women pay $10 and men $30 to attend. Caesars Palace is one of the few properties that allows non-guests to enjoy the party for a cover charge -- women get in free until 1 P.M. and pay $10 after that, while men are charged a $30 cover all day) The Tropicana Las Vegas opens its brand new Bagatelle Beach & Nightclub this Memorial Day weekend, featuring Mediterranean food and comfy daybeds to lounge in by day, and offers poolside dining and a new nightclub by night. The XS Nightclub at the Wynn Las Vegas & Encore Resort will host DJ Tiesto Friday night and David Guetta on Monday night among other electronica superstars over the weekend -- tickets can be purchased ahead of time starting at $30 per person. The Rock of Vegas free summer concert series also kicks off this weekend at the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas, and runs every Saturday night thru Labor Day with performances by Vince Neil of Motley Crue, Poison front-man Brett Michaels, and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister. WHERE TO STAY The Orleans Hotel & Casino is just off the main drag and offers free shuttle service to and from the Strip every 30-45 minutes from 9:30 A.M. to 12:30 A.M. The hotel offers its own casino, comedy club, cabaret lounge, Irish pub, movie theater, bowling alley, and playgrounds and arcades for the kiddies. From $95 per night over Memorial Day weekend. EASY GETAWAY FROM Los Angeles; San Francisco. Budget Travel: Can you spot the travel rip-off? Saint Louis: For comfort food, a Blues Festival, and the ultimate treasure hunt . WHY GO THIS WEEKEND This year, Soldier's Memorial Park will host the Bluesweek Festival, free from Friday to Sunday, with performances by over 50 musicians, including local blues legend Arthur Williams. If all that music whets your appetite, head to the Schlafly Tap Room on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pork Shop, a combination community garage sale and neighborhood bar-b-que, featuring local pork and plenty of Schlafly beer. You'll need all this fuel to tackle the largest flea market in the Midwest, Gypsy Caravan, an annual Memorial Day event organized for the 40th year by the St. Louis Symphony Volunteer Association. WHERE TO STAY Downtown, the 179-room Roberts Mayfair Hotel has a rooftop pool and emerged from a $9 million makeover in March 2011. You can get the MetroLink light rail two blocks from the hotel, which will take you to Soldiers Memorial and other downtown sites. From $149 a night. EASY GETAWAY FROM Chicago; Cincinnati; Kansas City, MO.; Memphis. Budget Travel: 8 common air-travel snafus . Portsmouth, New Hampshire: For seaside New England charm . WHY GO THIS WEEKEND Portsmouth keeps popping up on lists of cool, small towns, and Memorial Day weekend, when locals and visitors alike come out en force to honor our veterans, is a great time to explore the area. Sitting at the northern point of New Hampshire's brief coastline, the 17th-century seaport here is one of the oldest in America. Every year, the U.S. Navy conducts a ceremony at the USS Albacore Museum & Memorial Park, a 1953 test submarine that is now a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, set in a park honoring those lost in deep-sea battles or tragedies. WHERE TO STAY The Ale House Inn, a 130-year-old former brewery, sits right downtown at Market Square. Its 10 contemporary rooms come with complimentary in-room iPads. From $139 per night. EASY GETAWAY FROM Boston; Hartford; Portland, Maine; Providence. Austin: For boating season and outdoor fun . WHY GO THIS WEEKEND Head to Lake Travis to soak up some of Austin's best weather of the year, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the eighties. Memorial Day kicks off boating season here, so the place to be is the lake. To get in on the action, check out Austin's REI store's schedule of events to find out what classes and events are on offer this weekend or rent a ski boat at Just for Fun ($75 for one hour). If you'd rather be a spectator, catch a glimpse of the Capital of Texas Triathalon on Memorial Day, an event founded in 1991 that brings in 3,000 participants annually. Things get started with a swim at Lady Bird Lake before athletes break out the bikes for a race through Austin, leading up to a foot race around the southern part of the lake. WHERE TO STAY The Mansion at Judges' Hill is a reasonably priced, 48-room boutique hotel. Plus, the turn-of-the-century property is walking distance from downtown. From $129 per night. EASY GETAWAY FROM Atlanta; Dallas. Budget Travel: Cutest zoo babies of 2012 . Charleston, S.C.: For high art with Southern hospitality . WHY GO THIS WEEKEND One of the earliest observances of Memorial Day was by a group of freed slaves and took place weeks after the Civil War ended in 1865 in Charleston's Hampton Park. Today, the world-renowned Spoleto Festival starts its two-week run this weekend, filling the historic city's theaters, churches, and outdoor spaces with opera, theater, jazz, symphonies, choruses, and visual arts. Highlights this year include the urban dance fused cabaret show, Traces; ukulele prodigy Jake Shimabukuro; Brazilian vocalist Virginia Rodrigues; and Kepler, a new operatic piece by Philip Glass. Tickets can be purchased on a per-event basis, with prices ranging from $10 to $130. WHERE TO STAY Rooms can be hard to come by during Spoleto, so for last-minute travelers, we recommend Lodge Alley Inn, a time-share that rents its unreserved rooms starting seven days in advance. It's an old Masonic temple with choices of a studio or a one- or two-bedroom condo, all with kitchenettes. From $209. Alternately, you can stay across the river at the Hampton Inn/Charleston Mount Pleasant-Patriot's Point. It's a short drive to downtown over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, and the rates are more affordable than those in the city center. From $169 per night. EASY GETAWAY FROM Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Miami; Washington, D.C. Budget Travel: See five more great getaways . Get the best travel deals and tips emailed to you FREE - CLICK HERE! Copyright © 2011 Newsweek Budget Travel, Inc., all rights reserved.

Washington, D.C. offers celebrations rich in pomp and circumstance . Las Vegas' hotel pool parties offer a more hedonistic take on the long weekend . Saint Louis is hosting a frees blues festival from Friday to Sunday .

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Los Angeles (CNN) -- The cause of death for Sage Stallone, the 36-year-old son of actor Sylvester Stallone, won't be officially known for another two months, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Coroner said Sunday. The autopsy on Stallone, who was found dead in his Los Angeles home Friday, was completed Sunday, the coroner's spokesman said. It normally takes six weeks for toxicology tests to be completed by the coroner's lab. Sage Stallone's attorney, George Braunstein, told Los Angeles TV station KNBC that Sage Stallone was engaged to be married and was working on various film projects at the time of his death. "Sylvester Stallone is devastated and grief-stricken over the sudden loss of his son Sage Stallone," his representative said in a statement. "His compassion and thoughts are with Sage's mother, Sasha. Sage was a very talented and wonderful young man. His loss will be felt forever." He acted in several movies, including "Daylight" and "Rocky V" with his father. The younger Stallone also co-founded Grindhouse Releasing, a company that describes itself as "dedicated to the restoration and preservation of motion pictures historically held in very low regard." CNN's Douglas Hyde contributed to this report.

The autopsy on Sage Stallone, found dead Friday, was completed Sunday . He acted in several movies, including "Daylight" and "Rocky V" with his father . Stallone was engaged to be married and working on film projects, his attorney says .

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(CNN) -- Ten years ago, as the first bombs began to fall on Afghanistan, I was almost 500 miles away with our live satellite transmission dish on the roof of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan. Two weeks earlier the Taliban had forced me out of the country, but before they did I managed to get to their spiritual capital Kandahar, and to our make-shift office in a dusty, drab one-storey villa. That visit was now proving vital. My cameraman, Alfredo Delara and I set up our staff there -- two Afghan brothers -- with a camera and satellite phone. Their job was to be CNN's eyes and ears once we were forced out of the country. At that time, no other TV network had a presence in Kandahar. So as the United States began its response to the 9/11 attacks on October 7, our staff were able to relay details of the bombs falling around the airport. Later we would learn the target was the al Qaeda training camps where Osama bin Laden's fighters had infamously been recorded swinging on monkey bars and crawling through mock tunnels. That night it was enough to know the United States had gone to war. Special: Afghanistan Crossroads . Everyone knew it was going to happen, we even had a good idea when, but those two brothers kept me fed with an up-to-the-minute, blow-by-blow account, all those miles away on the roof of the Marriott. That information was then quickly passed to our audience. Although they dared not call in their reports live, they bravely continued day after day, week after week, venturing out with a camera to record what they could of the opening days of the war. And sometimes braving local anger when occasionally civilians were killed. When a Taliban armored personnel carrier was hit by a missile right outside our office, blowing out the windows, the two brothers were forced to flee, setting up camp in a tumbledown old house that two wars earlier had been their family home, graceful and opulent with rose gardens. They built a bunker among the flowers in the back garden, and kept us informed as best they could. When several months later the Taliban capitulated and Kandahar, their last hold-out, fell, the brothers took us to the airport. The showed us dozens of Arab passports found in the al Qaeda camp. Many had arrived just days before 9/11. Bin Laden knew what would follow and had rallied his supporters to his side. Taliban key to peace process 10 years on . Driving him from Afghanistan proved easy. Killing him, however, was a decade-long challenge. Ensuring the country does not fall into his allies' clutches and become once again a breeding ground for terrorism is proving far more difficult. The Taliban, once al Qaeda's erstwhile ally, regrouped and re-emerged. Their Pashtun nationalist agenda that claims to push the interests of Afghanistan's largest ethnic group, has, on the face of it, little in common with al Qaeda's global terrorism. The two groups share conservative Islamic values, but while the Pashtun tribes who make up the Taliban traditionally follow a more spiritual path of Sufi'ism, al Qaeda's takes the ultra-radical Salafist agenda. In theory, they are not natural bedfellows. But against a backdrop of a common enemy, the United States -- considered occupiers by the Taliban and the sworn global enemies for al Qaeda -- the two are drawn together. That's the conundrum: To separate and isolate al Qaeda from internal Afghan issues, thus denying them legitimacy in the Afghan conflict. The Taliban ride the great Mujahedeen myth that no occupier has ever successfully conquered their country. On the back of this, they refuse to give ground, whatever the pain. Al Qaeda money fuels the fight, and nothing in the past 10 years of war has divided the two. The Taliban win local recruits every time NATO inadvertently kills civilians. Al Qaeda feeds on these mistakes, selling them as a global Christian crusade against Muslims. Until recently the Taliban demanded NATO troops leave before they enter serious talks with the Afghan government. The United States and the Afghan government have demanded the Taliban publicly cut ties with al Qaeda first, ensuring the global terrorists can never return. But 10 years of war have not turned the tide. I've watched year after year. As long ago as 2002, I was embedded with U.S. troops in the mountain valleys near Khowst in Eastern Afghanistan, when they were handing out radio sets to Afghans. It was an inducement for them to hand over information about Taliban leaders in the Haqqani network. The same men are still being hunted today. It didn't work then, and it doesn't work today. Loyalty cannot be bought, and is rented only rarely and unreliably. The equation is simple: No one will rat out a well-armed neighbor unless they're sure of protection 24/7. In Afghanistan no one gets that, except President Karzai. And on the subject of Karzai, his last election victory was marred by allegations of vast fraud that even he has not been able to lay to rest. Efforts to build a nation around his flawed veneer are failing. NATO plans to use its troops to provide security until Afghan forces are deemed ready. But as every Afghan farmer who may or may not have an inkling of Taliban activity knows, if you can't trust the president, how can you trust the forces who might come in his name to protect you? The Taliban see this and exploit it. The cycle of violence that leads to occasional civilian causalities continues. Writ large, it means for all the well-meaning NATO effort, it is struggling to find a tipping point to bring the Taliban to their knees and sever the al Qaeda connection once and for all. Agendas have been set for NATO troops to leave over the next three years. Afghans fear the resumption of the civil war already under way as 9/11 was sprung on the world. The Taliban had all but a tiny sliver of land in the far northeast controlled by ethnic Tajiks. It was there that U.S. special forces first entered the country. Little surprise that those same northerners have benefited well from their early alliance. Today they are well armed and well equipped. A new civil war would be a highly-energized affair. Those Afghans who fret over NATO's departure are right to be disturbed. I share their concerns. The country has become a far more dangerous place. In the past decade a new highway from the capital Kabul to Kandahar seemed to symbolize a brave new future for Afghanistan. It slashed the drive from 16 hours to four. I drove it a few times before the Taliban shut it down. It was the same highway that Alfredo, my cameraman, and I drove just after 9/11. We'd bumped and bounced over its entire 300 mile sand and rock surface to reach our Kandahar office, train the two brothers, hand them the camera and phone before being forced out of the country. When I look back it saddens me immensely. So many lives have been lost. Both of the Kandahar brothers are dead. One brother was murdered a few years ago. He was killed by a bomb placed outside his grocery store in Pakistan where he'd fled Afghanistan's violence for the safety of his family. The other brother, I was told, had been killed in a roadside blast in his hometown, Girishk, in Helmand province. Even now all this time later when both of them are dead we cannot reveal their names for fear of endangering their families. It breaks my heart. They were amiable, educated young men -- the seed of the country's future, forever lost to the violence that still wracks their nation, winnowing out a generation of its promising sons.

Nic Robertson and his crew were forced to leave Afghanistan by the Taliban . The Taliban were forced from power after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S. But the Taliban have since regrouped and re-emerged, building on their Pashtun support . Until recently they demanded NATO troops leave before they enter serious peace talks .

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British troops are being sent to Ukraine to help the country defend itself against Russia, David Cameron announced today. About 75 soldiers will be deployed to carry out tactical intelligence and some basic 'defensive' infantry training. The revelation came as the Prime Minister warned there would be 'dreadful' consequences to appeasing Vladimir Putin. In a clear reference to the Second World War, Mr Cameron said Britain had 'made these mistakes' before, adding: 'It's not a sensible thing to do.' Mr Cameron said the Russian President's goal was to swallow up swathes of territory on its border. He told MPs that if Britain and the West did not stand up to Russia now, Mr Putin would target other countries after annexing parts of Ukraine. About 75 British soldiers will be sent to Ukraine to carry out tactical intelligence and some basic 'defensive' infantry training, the PM said today . Mr Cameron confirmed the British military personnel being sent to Ukraine will be deployed over the next few weeks. Giving evidence to the Commons Liaison Committee, Mr Cameron said: 'We are not at the stage of supplying lethal equipment. We have announced a whole series of non-lethal equipment, night-vision goggles, body armour, which we have already said that we will give to Ukraine. 'Over the course of the next month we are going to be deploying British service personnel to provide advice and a range of training, from tactical intelligence to logistics to medical care, which is something else they have asked for. 'We will also be developing an infantry training programme with Ukraine to improve the durability of their forces. This will involve a number of British service personnel, they will be away from the area of conflict but I think this is the sort of thing we should be helping with.' The Prime Minister said he was not advocating sending 'large numbers of British troops' to Ukraine. But he said the EU and US should use its economic might to punish Mr Putin. Mr Cameron said: 'Of course there is short-term pain when you are putting sanctions on a country there's short term pain to your own economies. 'But in the medium to long term the countries of Europe depend on a rules-based system where people obey the rules. 'The instability we will yield if we don't stand up to Russia in the long-term will be deeply damaging to all of us, because you will see further destabilisation – next it will be Moldova or one of the Baltic States. 'That sort of instability and uncertainty will be dreadful for our economies, dreadful for our stability – and that's why Britain takes such a clear view.' Mr Cameron said the Russian President Vladimir Putin's goal to swallow up swathes of territory was becoming increasingly clear . Pro-Russian Donetsk residents receive a free meal during a rally as people celebrate the Russian festival 'Defender of the Fatherland' in Donetsk, Ukraine, yesterday . He said Mr Putin's 'strategic goals' were becoming clear. 'We've now seen a very clear pattern of behaviour. We saw it Georgia, with the creation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, we've seen it with Transnistria – we're now seeing it with Ukraine. 'He would like if countries respond weekly to try to restore some of the Russian near abroad to Russia. That is what he would like to do in my view. That is not acceptable. These countries are democracies and should be able to decide their future.' Mr Cameron said allowing Russia to swallow up its smaller neighbours with Russian-speaking minorities would be wrong. He said: 'We've made these mistakes in our history, or talking about far-away countries of which we know little – and it's not a sensible thing to do. 'I'm not saying we should send huge numbers of British troops to Ukraine or even that we're at the stage of arming the Ukrainians – but what we should do is make the weight of our economic power that Europe and America play against Russia if they continue to behave in this way. 'Putin knows if he continues down this path he will have a very different relationship with Europe, with Britain, with the US, with the West.' Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has asked for military help to defeat Russia's military advance, David Cameron said today . Members of the Ukrainian armed forces ride an armoured personnel carrier in Artemivsk, eastern Ukraine, today . Mr Cameron also insisted that Russia's annexation of Crimea and supporting Ukrainian rebels had not been a success for Moscow. He said: 'Let us not talk ourselves into some idea that it's all been a fantastic success for Russia – it hasn't been. 'A couple of Russian planes fly around the Channel. But we shouldn't talk ourselves into a situation where we think we can't defend ourselves – we absolutely can. The Prime Minister also insisted that Russia knew Britain and other members of Nato were 'rock solid' in support of its eastern European members. He said: 'President Putin absolutely knows that we would stand by our article five obligations. If a country of Nato is attacked, an attack on one is an attack on all. That is Nato doctrine – I sign up to it absolutely.' Mr Cameron said Britain was keeping up the pressure on Mr Putin from within the European Union. He said: 'Britain's role is to be at the tougher end of the spectrum, keeping the European Union and the European Union together.' By James Slack . Vladimir Putin attended a wreath-laying ceremony to mark the 'Day of the Fatherland's Defender' in Moscow yesterday . Ministers have been accused of kowtowing to Russia by refusing to publicly identify Vlaidimir Putin ‘henchmen’ with links to the UK. Despite a series of provocative acts by the Russians – including buzzing Bear bomber jets off the coast of Cornwall last week – the Home Office said it did not want to upset ‘international relations’. The decision provoked fury among MPs and campaigners who accused the Government of being on bended knee to the Russian lobby of ‘murderers and torturers’. Senior MPs say that, where a decision is taken to ban Russian officials from travelling to the UK on the grounds their presence here would be harmful, they should be publicly identified. This is considered crucial as, by omission, it would also reveal which of the President’s wealthy associates – including men with links to a notorious murders and the mafia – have not been excluded. There are fears a string of Russians who may even pose a threat to national security are still being allowed in, to avoid angering Putin. Tory Dominic Raab warned: ‘If we are serious about trying to alter Putin’s behaviour, should we not start by making sure that those who bankroll him cannot enjoy the fruits of their labour here, clandestinely in luxurious comfort? ‘Those individuals who bankroll Putin and his like should know that when they cross the line and engage in serious international crimes, their association with him and support for him will bar their ability to enjoy the luxurious Knightsbridge lifestyle that so many of them crave. ‘People carrying dirty money and individuals with blood on their hands should not be welcome on the streets of Britain. This is not just a question of moral principle. ‘Sooner or later, if we keep allowing such unsavoury characters into the UK, bringing all their baggage and vendettas with them, we risk finding that it is British citizens who are caught in the crossfire or worse.’ The campaign to name Putin associates banned from Britain was inspired by Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer who was tortured and murdered in 2009 whilst detained, on instructions from the Kremlin, for exposing a $230 million tax fraud committed by Putin’s ‘cronies’. In the US, a law was introduced banning the Russian officials allegedly involved in the killing from entering the country. All have been publicly named by the Obama administration. MPs have been calling for a similar law in the UK since 2012. Yet, while promising to similarly exclude the guilty men, the Home Office refuses to say who has been banned – raising fears a number of those responsible have been allowed to slip through the net to avoid offending Putin. Tory MP Dominic Raab has accused of kowtowing to Russia by refusing to publicly identify Vladimir Putin ‘henchmen’ with links to the UK . On Monday evening, a band of senior MPs – including the chairmen of seven Westminster select committees - attempted to introduce a clause to the Serious Crime Bill. This would have forced the Government to identify the people who it had excluded from the country and, therefore, those who remain free to travel here. However, despite the continued Russian hostility to Britain, Home Office Minister Karen Bradley was ordered to block the legislation in order to not offend ‘international relations and foreign policy objectives’. A string of prominent Tory backbenchers had backed the naming of Putin’s ‘henchmen’, including ex-solicitor General Sir Edward Garnier, who said the case for changing the law was ‘unassailable’. Mr Raab accused the Home Office officials blocking the legislation of burying their heads in ‘a comfortable secrecy and lack of transparency’. The Government’s ‘unbelievable’ stance also angered campaigners. The British businessman Bill Browder, who employed Mr Magnitsky, said: ‘Who are British ministers serving here? They are more worried about a dictator in a foreign country than in keeping the British people safe. ‘The Russian torturers and murderers lobby seems to hold a lot more sway here in the UK than the US.’ Justifying the decision, Mrs Bradley said changing the law would have ‘serious implications for the security of our borders and therefore to the national security of the country’. She added: ‘There is a further risk that publication of individuals excluded from the UK may undermine international relations and foreign policy objectives. ‘That risk is intensified if the excluded individual has connections with a foreign Government or well known organisation that may be working in partnership with the UK to broaden our interests abroad. That is one example. ‘Also, ongoing investigations into the activities of an individual could be jeopardised if they became aware of the fact that they were on the list.’

About 75 soldiers will be deployed to carry out 'defensive' infantry training . PM revealed troop deployment to MPs on Commons Liaison Committee . He said UK should not allow Russia to swallow up small European states . Mr Cameron said Putin's goal to swallow up new territory becoming clear . He said if UK did not act now Putin would target Moldova and Baltic states . British personnel will be deployed to Ukraine over the next few weeks .

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Sir Bradley Wiggins completed a difficult year by clinching his first world road title on Wednesday with a stunning performance in the time trial. Already the Olympic champion in the discipline, Wiggins beat three-time world champion Tony Martin by 26.23 seconds over the 47.1km course in Ponferrada, Spain. Martin took Olympic silver behind the British rider in London two years ago but beat him to the world title in 2011 and 2013. Sir Bradley Wiggins is the 2014 Road World Championship men's time-trial champion . Wiggins won the 2014 Road World Championship in a time of 57min 25.52sec . Wiggins beat Germany's Tony Martin to secure his first-ever victory in the competition . Wiggins revealed his desire to return to track cycling for the 2016 Rio de Janiero Olympics . Wiggins has racked up 11 Olympic and World Championship gold medals. Olympics . Individual pursuit: 2004, 2008 . Team pursuit: 2008 . Time trial: 2012 . Track World Championships . Individual pursuit: 2003, 2007, 2008 . Team pursuit: 2007, 2008 . Madison: 2008 . Road World Championships . Time trial: 2014 . Wiggins was confident that the hilly course would suit him more than his main rival, and so it proved. He was more than four seconds down on Martin at the 12km time-check but crushed the German in the latter stages of the race. For Wiggins it proved particularly satisfying given his bitter disappointment with the decision by Sir Dave Brailsford to exclude him from Team Sky at this year’s Tour de France. ‘It’s been an up and down year — obviously I didn’t ride the Tour de France — so I want to dedicate this to my family because they had to put up with me when I was at home in July,’ he said. One of Britain’s most successful sportsmen can now reflect on 11 Olympic and world titles, on the track and the road, as well as the Tour de France title he won in 2012. Wiggins celebrates winning the men's individual time trial event by posing for a picture with a Mahou beer . Wiggins victory denied Germany's Martin to achieve four successive triumphs in this competition . Wiggins' victory adds to his 2012 Tour de France triumph - where he was the first British winner of the race . The hour record is simply the longest distance a rider can cycle cycled in one hour. The current record is 51.115 km set by Jens Voight earlier this month. It is thought Wiggins would attempt the record in June next year. But to take the world champion’s rainbow jersey in what he says will be his last World Road Championships must have been particularly satisfying. ‘It’s my last World Championships and I’ve finished with a gold medal,’ he said. ‘I knew coming into it that I had the legs. Once I saw the course I realised if I was ever going to beat Tony again it was on a course like this. I paced it perfectly.’ Wiggins (left, with his new medal) became the first British rider to take world time trial gold since Chris Boardman in the inaugural race in 1994. Now he intends to pursue the Hour Record in 2015. ‘That’s the thing now,’ he added. ‘Just to add the world title to the British title and the Olympic title, I’ve got the set. ‘Very good. Along with the pursuit world titles it’s fantastic.’ Wiggins also won gold in the men's time trial at the 2012 Olympics - his seventh Games medal . Wiggins is Britain's first champion since Chris Boardman (pictured) won the inaugural time-trial in 1994 .

Bradley Wiggins has won gold in the men's time-trial at the Road World Championships held in Ponferrarda, Spain . Olympic champion won in 56min 25.52sec . The 34-year-old's win is Britain's first in event since Chris Boardman, 1994 . Wiggins denied Germany's Tony Martin a fourth successive world title . Martin finished 23.23sec slower in second, while Holland's Tom Dumoulin came third in 57:06.16 .

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Manchester United hope to formally announce the signing of Angel di Maria on Tuesday after agreeing terms on a British record transfer fee of £59.7million plus add ons with Real Madrid. United officials held meetings with their Real Madrid counterparts on Sunday evening and resumed talks on Monday as they bartered down the £75m asking price. The scale of the extra fees due from United will depend on performances and the prospect of Di Maria winning the Ballon D'Or. VIDEO: Scroll down to watch Angel di Maria's career highlights . Spotted: Di Maria is on the left hand side of the back seat on his way into United's training ground . On the look out: Di Maria peers out of his United car as he arrives for the completion of his transfer . World class: Di Maria has been a key figure for both Real Madrid and Argentina over the past few years . The Argentina midfielder posed with fans at Madrid airport on Monday afternoon prior to flying into Manchester on a private plane to meet up with United manager Louis van Gaal late on Monday night. Van Gaal had been at Carrington overseeing the first team squad's 4pm warm-down session and training ahead of Tuesday night's Capital One Cup second round tie at MK Dons. Di Maria's arrival will give the club a welcome lift following a disappointing start to the season that has delivered just one point from their opening two Premier League games but there is concern that his signing, as stellar as it is, fails to address United's real needs and Van Gaal is pressing the club to deliver two more players over the coming days. Ajax utility player Daley Blind and Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal are among those being considered. Creative: The winger should bring a new spark to Louis van Gaal's side, which has been lacking this season . The Manchester United megastore at Old Trafford ran out of the letter 'R' as supporters clambered to buy Angel Di Maria shirts. A sign was put outside the shop on Monday night informing fans that there were no 'R' letters left in black print. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY . Madrid are also agreeing terms over United right back Guillermo Varela. The 21-year-old Uruguayan only joined United a year ago from Penarol but will move to Real's B team Castilla to play under Zinedine Zidane. The deal is likely to be a loan with a view to a permanent £3m transfer. Di Maria will join up with his new United team-mates at training on Thursday and the club hope to formalise his work permit and registration by noon on Friday if he is to figure against Burnley on Saturday. A work permit, however, has yet to be arranged for his compatriot Marcos Rojo with the Bank Holiday helping to delay the process. Di Maria, hailed as the best player in Spain, 'surpassing even Lionel Messi' according to former Argentina coach Cesar Luis Menotti, has at least got United supporters excited. Pedigree: Di Maria was a crucial member of Real's Champions League-winning side last season . A need for more such names is underlined by the fact United face MK Dons on Tuesday night in the Capital One second round without seven first-team players. Chris Smalling has joined Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Jesse Lingard and Rafael on the sidelines. Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez and Shinji Kagawa are set to be involved from the start, with youngsters Reece James and James Wilson also in contention to play. Juventus have made an enquiry about the availability of Hernandez after Arsenal stalled on the proposed loan of Lukas Podolski. Welbeck remains a target for other clubs with Everton, Tottenham, Newcastle and Sunderland rivalled by Turkish club Galatasaray. Like our dedicated Manchester United Facebook page here.

Argentina winger set to sign for Louis van Gaal's side . Transfer deal worth around £70million and Angel Di Maria will earn £200,000-per-week in wages . Di Maria will be Manchester United's second highest earner behind Wayne Rooney . Add-ons include a bonus for Real Madrid if Di Maria wins the Ballon D'Or . Di Maria joins Marcos Rojo, Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw as Man United's summer signings . Manchester United superstore runs out of the letter 'R' as fans rush to buy Di Maria shirts .

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By . Jack Doyle, Home Affairs Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 20:21 EST, 10 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:47 EST, 11 January 2014 . Furious Tory MPs last night rounded on European Commissioner Viviane Reding who accused David Cameron of deliberately spreading ‘populist myths’ about immigration and benefits tourism. Mrs Reding accused the PM of raising the issue deliberately to distract from the ‘real subjects’ of concern to British people. She said Mr Cameron’s actions were ‘destroying the future’ of Britain. Her comments were condemned as ‘unbelievable’ and ‘utter nonsense’ by Tory backbenchers, who accused her of being out of touch. Criticised: European Commissioner Viviane Reding, pictured, said David Cameron was spreading 'populist myths' about immigration and benefit tourism deliberately to distract from real subjects of concern to Britain . James Clappison, MP for Hertsmere, praised Mr Cameron for his approach and said Mrs Reding’s remarks were ‘wholly inappropriate’. ‘She has no business in commenting in those terms and no business in interfering with national immigration policies,’ he said. MP James Clappison said: 'She has no business commenting... and interfering with immigration policies' South Northamptonshire MP Andrea Leadsom, writing on the Spectator website, said the comments showed out ‘completely out of touch with voters’ Mrs Reding was. ‘Whilst I believe the UK will remain an open economy and society that welcomes hard-working and aspiring people from across Europe, to hide our heads in the sand and pretend that the free movement of people across the EU does not come with some negative consequences is utter nonsense. ‘The issue of immigration is one of the biggest concerns of taxpayers across many EU countries, and the impact on wages, access to benefits, and ‘social dislocation’ all need to be addressed in the context of large scale migration in the EU. She added: ‘Member states must be able to decide who should be allowed to access their welfare.’ Mrs Reding made her comments an online discussion. She claimed that ‘most of the things which are told to the people in Great Britain are myths, have nothing to do with reality.’ ‘Coming back to the subject which the Government of the UK has pushed to the agenda, probably in order not to make people speak about the real subjects in the UK, are this supposed invasion of foreigners coming to the UK and stealing the jobs and stealing the social security and the health money. ‘The free movement and supposed invasion by the people who want to take advantage of the social security and health is an invention of politicians who like to have populist movements in order to win in elections. The European Commissioner said: 'I'm frustrated about [British] political leaders. What is leadership if you just try with political movements and political speeches to gain votes? You are destroying the future of your people' ‘I’m mostly frustrated about the political leaders (of the UK). What is leadership if you just try with political movements and political speeches to gain votes? You are destroying the future of your people, actually.’ Mr Cameron has enraged the commission with his proposals to stop migrants from EU states claiming child benefit for children living in their home country. Tory MEP Daniel Hannan said instead of 'populism' the Eurocrat should have used the word 'democracy' The Government has also floated broader proposals to rein in EU free movement rules, a sacred cow for Eurocrats. Earlier this week Mrs Reding, who is vice-president of the EC, called for the EU to become a ‘United States of Europe’ with the Commission as its government. Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan said: ‘When Mrs Reding says ‘populism’, what she means is ‘politicians doing what their constituents want’, or as we call it in English, ‘democracy’. ‘The EU’s problem is not its people, but the unelected paleo-federalists like Mrs Reding with their 1950s visions of a European superstate.’ Tory backbencher Mark Reckless said he was ‘very surprised’ by the comments. The MP for Rochester and Strood told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme it was the EU which was ‘stoking up’ the row and that the Government’s approach had been ‘quite moderate’. ‘People in this country get social security benefit, but they spend it here, but very often people coming from Poland - and perhaps now from Romania and Bulgaria - are sending money home. I think it’s quite wrong that if a child is being schooled in Poland and with family there that they should be paid child benefit by the taxpayers of this country.’ He said the PM should be ‘much more assertive’ in its dealings with the EU. A government spokesman said: ‘Hardworking people expect and deserve a benefits system that is fair to British citizens and migrants who come here to work but is robust and tough on those who abuse the system and flout the law.’

Viviane Reding said PM was deliberately spreading myths to win elections . Her comments were condemned as 'unbelievable' by Tory MPs . One said: 'She has no business in interfering with immigration policies'

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(CNN) -- Months after Comair Flight 5191's deadly accident in Lexington, Kentucky, in 2006, I continued to look through the thousands of pages of official evidence to understand what happened. Although this was my fifth airline accident investigation, no matter how many times I examined the documents, there simply was no egregious act leading up to the disaster's key event: The airliner took off from the wrong runway. Then it dawned on me -- and shook me to my core. As a captain flying the same type of aircraft in and out of the same airport, I could have had the same takeoff accident. This could have been me. This was not some troubled crew, but one that had been praised for their safety standards and passion for flying. While pouring over the accident "facts," I could not help but notice how normal everything seemed early that morning. The documents painted the picture. This looked like any other morning I had experienced as an airline pilot. But yet, something was terribly wrong, we had just suffered the worst U.S. airline accident in five years and 49 passengers and crew were dead. How would we ever put our finger on one item and identify it as the factor with which in its absence the accident would not have occurred? How do we establish this one component as being more important in causation as compared to the others discovered? And in the United States we do this even if the evidence still does not support it. We do it because we have to, and the federal organization that investigates plane crashes, the National Transportation Safety Board, has no choice. At least right now. When NTSB investigators are finished walking through the rubble and sifting through the broken parts, they analyze the results and offer up what -- for some people -- are palatable answers. These answers might include phrases such as "He failed to do this..." or "She did not follow a procedure," explanations that strip away the confusion and reveal a supposed weak link in an otherwise robust transportation system. These explanations satisfy our desire to understand how order can become disorder so quickly. These single cause explanations unfortunately read like who is to blame. When the NTSB was created by Congress more than 40 years ago, lawmakers ordered them not to assign blame. But Congress did command the NTSB to find a probable cause. However, using single, narrow explanations -- with qualifiers such as "failed to" or "did not" when aimed at a single incident or person -- does just that. Single explanations fall short of answering a larger, perhaps more important question: Why? Why did "he fail to do this?" Or "Why did she not follow procedure" This is where the true lever for change firmly rests. The missed opportunity to truly understand the complexity of these events. As seen in the recent hearings surrounding last year's crash landing of Asiana Flight 214, the complexity is evident and is painfully clear that you cannot choose one thing to stand above the rest. You cannot say that one item of interest was the most important at the expense of other causal roles taking a backseat. Maybe some are more central to the final act moments to the event, but there is no metric for determining which event is the one that goes to the top of the list and everything takes a lesser role. Why are we so convinced that we can? In fact, sizable research into these events shows that it is simply wasted energy to try to do so. Why are we so focused on trying to find that one elusive smoking gun when it is never really there? This is why many countries no longer try. The United States is one of the last industrialized nations that still tries to find a single cause to these complex transportation accidents. This is an impossible task left over from an outdated congressional mandate that has caused the United States to lag behind in accident investigation. For example, in Canada, the Transport Safety Board has done away with causal statements altogether. Instead, it lists its findings and recommendations -- thus avoiding an artificially narrow focus on blaming a few things or people. It recognizes as do many other countries that it is a futile effort. After an accident last year, Canada's TSB chair Wendy Tadros reported: "We hold by the theory that no accident is ever caused by one thing. It's always a series of things, and it always involves an organization and how they operate. We need to look deeply into that. It never comes down to one individual." She is right. Years ago when our congressional mandate was written, investigative methods were still in their infancy. Additionally, over the past 20 years, increased regulatory oversight, improved engineering methods and better procedures to name a few have helped reduce the number of deadly airline accidents to its lowest in history. Single factors by themselves do not "cause" safety. Why would a single factor also be responsible for an accident? So why do we continue to offer explanations to the traveling public at the expense of improving the larger system? Do we really believe that a single human decision could topple a safe transportation system? Fourteen years ago, a Rand Study of the NTSB titled "Safety in the Skies" specifically addressed the issue of single, probable cause. One recommendation said, "the NTSB should move away from simplistic, one-line probable cause statements, and instead consistently adopt a comprehensive statement that reflects the reality that a modern aircraft accident is rarely the result of a single error or failure." After the Comair accident, then-NTSB board member Deborah Hersman, who is the current NTSB chairman, stated the same concern in a statement at the end of the accident report. "I do suggest that the Safety Board should explore other approaches to determining probable cause or causes as a way to refine our approach and if necessary, ask Congress to grant us the statutory relief needed to structure our probable cause findings to be more comprehensive." It's an idea that has been sitting around longer than the Rand report. What are we waiting for? Do we think these accidents will become less complex with time, or that our systems are so brittle that despite safeguards and resilience they will collapse with a single inevitable human error? Of course not. Then why do we still try to find the one item that did? I think the traveling American public deserves the same breadth of investigative findings that other world citizens are offered. If we hope to improve upon the currently stalled accident rate, we must -- like the rest of the world -- move beyond artificially narrowed construction of causation statements and truly see the events before us as they are instead of forcing them into an outdated congressional mandate of single cause. Congress, it's your move. Join us on Facebook/CNNOpinion. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Shawn Pruchnicki.

Comair Flight 5191 investigator on crash that killed 49: This could have been me . Shawn Pruchnicki says crash probes should cast wider net beyond a single factor . The U.S. is one of the last industrialized nations that still does it, Pruchnicki says . Pruchnicki calls on Congress to change the NTSB's mandate .

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(CNN)The first day of same-sex marriage turned out to be a mixed bag for Alabama. While many couples converged on courthouses in population centers like Montgomery, Birmingham and Huntsville to exchange vows, other would-be newlyweds -- the majority of them in rural counties -- were turned away. "It was so joyous to be able to see these couples who had been together for 20, 30 years to marry and to have their relationship respected," said Susan Watson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama. At the same time, she said, it was "painful to couples who want to get married and who were denied." It's unclear exactly how many counties issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples after federal courts ruled they could go forward on Monday. Several counties, including Jefferson, Montgomery and Madison (which have the state's highest populations of same-sex couples, according to the Williams Institute) told CNN they were issuing licenses, while others said they were following a Sunday order from state Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore telling probate judges not to issue the licenses because the federal courts lacked jurisdiction. Tuscaloosa County chief probate clerk Lisa Whitehead said the county would follow Moore's guidance and, "We will be issuing traditional marriage licenses." Likewise, Lee County Judge Bill English said he, too, was "complying with an order from the chief justice late last night." As of late Tuesday, at least 44 counties were not issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, while 21 were, said Human Rights Campaign spokesman Ianthe Metzger. His group was still trying to get confirmation on two counties. The ACLU's Alabama office, which set up a hot line, received complaints from about 50 couples, Watson said. It was widely reported that some counties weren't issuing any licenses. Marshall and Shelby counties' probate offices told CNN they were in that group. Watson's organization is now working to obtain a federal court order to explain "to probate judges that they're required to follow the U.S. Constitution" rather than Moore's order, she said. A hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday in the U.S. District Court for Alabama's Southern District in Mobile, which, incidentally, is one of the counties that reportedly did not issue the licenses. A call to the Mobile County Probate Court was not returned. Mobile County has the state's fourth-highest population of same-sex couples, according to the Williams Institute, and the ACLU of Alabama is involved in a lawsuit filed by four same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses in the county, Watson said. Though Watson believes the federal courts were unequivocal in allowing same-sex marriages to go forward in the state, Moore -- who issued his order in response to a U.S. District Court ruling, prior to a similar ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday -- couldn't agree less. In fact, had the Supreme Court ruled on the issue before he sent his order to probate judges, he said he still would have gone through with it. "The Supreme Court order doesn't affect what I said," he said. Because the original lawsuit -- filed by a woman who, despite being legally married in California, was prohibited from adopting her partner's 9-year-old -- targets only Attorney General Luther Strange, the high court's ruling applied only to Strange, Moore said. And since probate courts fall under Moore's authority as the administrative head of the judicial branch, he said, judges were free to disregard the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which declined to extend a stay on Alabama's prohibition of same-sex marriages beyond Monday. A federal district court and appeals court had also declined Strange's request to extend the stay. Moore denied Jefferson County Probate Judge Alan King's assertion that Moore's Sunday order was akin to then-Gov. George Wallace's 1963 stand in the schoolhouse door to block integration at the University of Alabama. In Alabama, he noted, Amendment 774, or the Sanctity of Marriage Act, makes it unconstitutional to perform same-sex marriages or civil unions. It passed with 81% approval in 2006. (A 2012 poll says that approval for same-sex marriage in the state is 32%, among the lowest in the country.) "I'm not standing in any door. I did not bring this on. This was forced upon our state. This is simply federal tyranny," he said. "This is not about race. This is about entering into the institution of marriage." The chief justice, who once lost his post in 2003 for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument from a state building in Montgomery, said his decision was not based on his religion. Unlike sexuality, he said, race cannot be used to deny someone's rights. Race is biologically predetermined, where in the case of sexuality, "people can choose different lifestyles and no doubt they have since Sodom and Gomorrah," he said, referring to the cities destroyed in the Bible's Book of Genesis. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to address the larger issue -- specifically, whether same-sex marriage in four states deserves the protection of the U.S. Constitution -- later this year. While Moore doesn't believe the high court has the jurisdiction to redefine the definitions of family and marriage, he concedes that if the justices rule same-sex marriage is constitutionally protected, Alabama judges would have to honor the unions under the U.S. Constitution's Supremacy Clause. However, "I will not concur that that is a proper ruling under the Constitution of the United States," he said, explaining his personal beliefs. Watson and other observers believe the Monday decision by the U.S. Supreme Court is a sign of what's to come when the high court rules on the larger issue. "I think that tells us something about what we might expect," she said. Moore doesn't see any writing on the wall. "I don't think the ruling is a harbinger," he said. "Justices (Elena) Kagan and (Ruth Bader) Ginsburg both have performed same-sex marriages. They should both be recused from this case. When you have a predisposition ... you have no right to sit on the case. They're flouting the ethical rules that apply to most judges in this country." CNN's Devon M. Sayers contributed to this report.

It's unclear how many counties declined to give licenses to same-sex couples . Chief Justice Roy Moore defends telling probate judges to defy "federal tyranny" ACLU seeks order directing probate judges to honor same-sex marriages .

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By . Sarah Griffiths . Tesco is challenging Skype's dominance by launching its own cheap international calling app (pictured) The cost of calling home from abroad has plummeted in recent years thanks to services such as Skype. And prices could be set to fall even lower as Tesco is challenging the voice-over-IP service’s dominance with its own low cost international calling app. The Tesco Calling Card app is available for iPhone and Android handsets and offers international calls for as little as two pence a minute. Holiday makers and football fans visiting Brazil for the World Cup, for example, would pay just 60p for 30 minutes, when using the app. Tesco said a comparable length chat from a hotel in São Paulo would cost around £60. A half-hour call from Spain using the app would cost just 30p, compared to a hotel phone in the Costa Del Sol, which the company said would cost £14.50. The app can also be used to call overseas from the UK from just 1p per minute. ‘The new app offers an even more convenient and cost effective way to keep in touch with loved ones over the summer, whether that be from the sun lounger to back home, or from the sofa in the UK to family living overseas,’ said Tesco. Users can earn £1 credit for downloading the app and £2 for referring friends. They can also make calls and send messages app-to-app for free. The Tesco Calling Card app is available . for iPhone and Android handsets and offers international calls, to any number, for as . little as two pence a minute using a Wi-Fi connection. The app also lets people make calls and send messages app-to-app (pictured right) free of charge . Tesco Calling Card can also be used by people without a smartphone as they can buy traditional cards worth £5, £10 or £20 in the supermarket, which they can then use on holiday. The cards are valid for 90 days after purchase or topping up. While Skype and Tesco’s services both require an internet connection to work, an app called Ringo is offering calls between countries for up to 25 per cent less than Skype, using submarine cables. This means the app bypasses expensive carrier call costs, doesn’t ask people to turn on roaming data and the firm claims is typically 25 per cent cheaper than Skype. But the app does not have such a large geographical spread, as users can call from 16 countries. Holiday makers (stock image pictured) and football fans visiting Brazil for the World Cup, for example, would pay just 60p for 30 minutes, when using the app. Tesco said a comparable length chat from a hotel in São Paulo would cost around £60 . Tesco's new app could also be put to a more novel use as a survey has found that millions of besotted cat owners stay in touch with their pets by calling home to 'speak' to them. One in three use video messaging service Skype to see and give them attention, a poll of 1,000 owners by Hallmark claims. A quarter of male owners admit they’ll even call home just to hear their feline friend purring - more than the number of women who do. While more companies are entering the low cost international calls market in new ways, Skype is trying to stay ahead of the game. Microsoft has unveiled its new Skype Translator technology that it says can decode languages in real-time. It means that during video calls the speech recognition software will allow two callers from different countries to talk with ease. Around 300 million people use Skype and two billion minutes of conversation are spoken every day, so Tesco has some catching up to do before it rivals the VoIP giant.

Tesco's Calling Card app is available for iPhone and Android handsets . It requires a Wi-Fi connection but offers international calls to any number from two pence a minute - including from the World Cup in Brazil . Users can make free app-to-app calls and send text messages . App can also be used to call overseas from the UK from just 1p a minute . Tesco's app and Calling Card service rival options offered by Skype .

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By . Gerri Peev . and James Chapman . A senior minister last night risked causing fury in Downing Street by mocking the ‘Eton mess’ at the heart of Government. As it emerged that David Cameron has rebuked Michael Gove for highlighting the ‘preposterous’ number of old Etonians at the top of government, Baroness Warsi appeared on television with a spoof newspaper front page fuelling the row. The Communities Minister - who attends Cabinet but is not given the full Cabinet minister status - echoed the Education Secretary’s view that there needed to be more state school pupils like her at the heart of government. Scroll down for video . Campaign: Baroness Warsi on The Agenda with her spoof Eton Mess front page . Baroness Warsi told ITV's Agenda that she wanted to see less 'Eton Mess' and more 'bread and butter pudding' in the government . Incredibly, she appeared with a mocked up newspaper front page she apparently designed herself bearing the headline ‘Number 10 Takes Eton Mess off the Table’. It featured a picture of David Cameron and the faces of other old Etonians in Number Ten - chief of staff Ed Llewellyn, bumbling Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin and policy chief Jo Johnson - in a pudding bowl. Holding up the front page on ITV’s The Agenda, Lady Warsi said: 'Mine is this one, which is the story that we had earlier this week about Michael Gove talking about people at the top of the Cabinet. 'Number 10 takes Eton Mess off the menu, and replaces it with bread and butter pudding.' Lady Warsi, the former Conservative Party . chairman, went on: ‘Michael [Gove] was making an incredibly serious . point that it can’t be right that the seven per cent of kids who go to . independent school end up at the top tables, not just of politics, but . banking and law and every other profession.’ In an extraordinary swipe at the Prime Minister and his advisers, Baroness Warsi mocked them up in a pudding bowl . She added that the Education Secretary ‘wants to create a first class, a world class state system which means that in future years you will have more pupils from state schools, people like me, around the Cabinet table and in that I fully support Michael Gove.’ Mr Gove said in a newspaper interview at the weekend that the number of old Etonians in Mr Cameron’s inner circle is ‘preposterous’. He told the FT: ‘It doesn’t make me feel personally uncomfortable because I like each  of the individuals concerned, but  it’s ridiculous. ‘I don’t know where you can find some such similar situation in a developed economy,’ The Education Secretary has told colleagues his remarks were not meant to embarrass the Prime Minister. They were interpreted as a jibe at London Mayor Boris Johnson, another old Etonian, since Mr Gove is said to have decided to support Chancellor George Obsorne as Mr Cameron’s successor. Last night it emerged that Mr Gove - who won a scholarship to private Robert Gordon’s College - was admonished by the Prime Minister over the weekend for his attack on the influence of Eton. A Cabinet source told the Mail: ‘He was b******d ’. The Education Secretary is understood to have accepted that he had blundered. The Spectator magazine quoted another source saying Mr Gove had been ‘torn a new one’. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles today insisted he was not interested in where people went to school. The 61-year-old, who attended Greenhead Grammar School in Yorkshire, told LBC 97.3 radio: 'I'm anything but posh, but frankly I don't think you should judge somebody on where they came from and whether they went to Eton or Shenfield High. 'I'm not even slightly worried about people inside the Government who went to Eton. There are two people with ministerial responsibilities that went to Oakbank grammar school in Keighley in my department and I'm not worried about that. 'We shouldn't be worried so much about where people come from as where they are going.' Eton College's chapel. The school was attended by the Prime Minister and costs £33,000 a year . Earlier a Cabinet said that Lady Warsi’s mock front page would be seen as ‘a weak joke’. The . peer was said to have been furious when she was demoted as party . chairman in the 2012 Cabinet reshuffle by the Prime Minister. She . reportedly insisted she would not remain in the Government unless her . job at the Communities Department was augmented with another one as a . Foreign Office minister. Lady Warsi also clashed with Number Ten over gay marriage. She said last night she had abstained in a vote on the issue as she felt religious communities ‘needed to have the protection’ but had been on a ‘personal journey’ since. ‘You will find over time religious communities and individuals will change too… let’s allow that process to happen more naturally, rather than shoving it down people’s throats, because I think what we will end up finding is that over time people - like the Conservative Party, like David Cameron, like many of us in the Conservative Party - will start to change their position,’ she added. David Cameron, Prime Minister: Eton College (£33,000 a year), Oxford University . Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister: Westminster School (£32,000 a year), Cambridge University . William Hague, Foreign Secretary: Ripon Grammar School (state), Oxford University . George Osborne, Chancellor: St Paul's School (£31,000 a year), Oxford University . Danny Alexander, Treasury Chief Secretary: Lochaber High School (state), Oxford University . Theresa May, Home Secretary: Holton Park Grammar (state), Oxford University . Philip Hammond, Defence Secretary: Shenfield School (state), Oxford University . Vince Cable, Business Secretary: Nunthorpe Grammar (state), Cambridge University . Iain Duncan Smith, Work and Pensions Secretary: St Peter's RC School, Solihull (state), Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst . Chris Grayling, Justice Secretary: High Wycombe Royal Grammar (state), Cambridge University . Michael Gove, Education Secretary: Robert Gordon's College (£11,000 a year), Oxford Uni . Eric Pickles, Communities Secretary: Greenhead Grammar (state), Leeds Polytechnic . Jeremy Hunt, Health Secretary: Charterhouse School (£33,000 a year), Oxford University . Owen Paterson, Environment Secretary: Radley College (£32,000 a year), Cambridge University . Justine Greening, International Development Sec.: Oakwood Comp. (state), Southampton Uni: . Alistair Carmichael, Scottish Secretary: Islay High School (state), Aberdeen University . Ed Davey, Energy Secretary: Nottingham High School (£12,000 a year), Oxford University . Patrick McLoughlin, Transport Secretary: Cardinal Griffin RC (state), Rodbaston College . Maria Miller, Culture Secretary: Brynteg Comprehensive (state), London School of Economics . Theresa Villiers, Northern Ireland: Francis Holland School (£15,000 a year), Bristol University . David Jones, Welsh Secretary: Ruabon Grammar School (state), University College London . Lord Hill, Leader of the House of Lords: Highgate School (£17,000 a year), Cambridge University .

Baroness Warsi appeared on TV with an 'Eton Mess' spoof newspaper . Featured picture of David Cameron and other old Etonians in Number Ten . Comes as Gove was rebuked for criticising number of old scholars in power .

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(CNN) -- I hesitated. I vacillated. I fluctuated. I scratched, spat, sucked on sunflower seeds, adjusted my cup (coffee), wiped dirt from my palms onto my pants, tried to do what a ballplayer would do. I dug in, waggled my pen, stared at my baseball Hall of Fame ballot like I'd like to kill it. Do I vote for HIM? No, he cheated and got caught. Do I vote for HIM? I don't know .... he was just suspected of cheating. How about HIM? No, he didn't get enough hits. But what about HIM? He got a whole lot of hits, but was he as good as HIM? This guy's on the ballot for the first time. Whereas that guy's on it for the 15th and last time. This guy's a jackass, a jerk. Oh, man, though, could he hit. This guy's a pleasure, a prince. But he sure couldn't hit like that guy. And, whoa, that guy could pitch. So could this guy, but sure wasn't that guy. I voted. I mailed it. I even stuck a Willie Stargell forever stamp on the envelope, although the postage was already on it. I waited. I wondered. Who would make it? Barry Bonds, yes or no? Roger Clemens, yes or no? Mike Piazza? Sammy Sosa? Craig Biggio? Jeff Bagwell? Jack Morris? Maybe none? NONE??? Yes, I kept hearing as the December 31 vote deadline passed, very possibly not a one. Wednesday, the news came. The non-news. Whatever you want to call it. Yes, the answer was no. No to all. No to the man with 762 home runs. No to the pitcher who won 354 games. No to the hitter who got 3,060 hits. Bonds (762 homers, most ever) struck out. He needed 427 votes. He got 206. Eight other guys on the ballot got more votes than he did. Clemens (354 wins) got lit up. He got 214. Three other pitchers got more votes than he did. Biggio, (3,060 hits) came closest. He got 388, fell a mere 39 votes shy of a date in Cooperstown, New York, with a nice, bronzed bust and plaque. It was like he won all the electoral votes he needed except Florida and Ohio. He gave it a great shot. Maybe next time. I could try to justify it. I could try to explain it. I won't. I can't. It is an election. Everybody has a right to be wrong. A total of 569 ballots were cast. Five were turned in blank. I guess those voters have their reasons, bizarre as they are. A total of 37 names were on the ballot. No one won. I don't know why. I can't tell you why one of those 569 voters gave a yes to Aaron Sele, a pitcher who won 148 games. I have no problem with Aaron Sele, but if he is a Hall of Famer, I am the husband of the Duchess of Cambridge. Will I reveal my own vote? No, I won't. Not even whether I voted for Clemens and Bonds? OK, dammit, I did. Baseball writers balk at Hall of Fame class of '13 . I am not necessarily proud of it. I was not 100% sure which way to go. I crunched the numbers on a number of the candidates, tried to weigh their qualifications, make up my mind if a guy was a Hall of Famer or merely wonderful. No such crunch was necessary for Clemens or Bonds. Their stats were insane. Off the charts. I generally know a Hall of Famer when I see one, and whenever I saw those two guys, I saw two. But each had an asterisk.* . * Not a real asterisk. A make-believe asterisk. Or more of a question mark, I guess. Cheater? Charlatan? Liar? Fraud? Neither of them, in my opinion, were proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to have broken baseball's laws and rules. We can do the "you know and I know they did" thing all day long, but neither Barry Bonds nor Roger Clemens was ever banned, suspended or disciplined by Major League Baseball for being a steroids cheat. Others got caught red-handed. Busted. Banished from the field for a specified period the way Hall of Fame candidate Rafael Palmeiro was and the way future Hall of Fame candidate Manny Ramirez was. I can't look the same way at the accused the way I do at the convicted. I know, or know of, a lot of my brother and sister voters. I know they know baseball, love it, put a lot of thought into it. Here is a partial list of Baseball Writers' Association of America members who publicly acknowledged that they did cast votes for Clemens and Bonds: . Barry Bloom, Jim Caple, Chris De Luca, Gordon Edes, Jeff Fletcher, Gerry Fraley, Paul Hagen, Tom Haudricourt, Mike Imrem, Bruce Jenkins, Richard Justice, Tim Kawakami, Tom Keegan, Tim Kurkjian, Carrie Muskat, Bob Nightengale, Ian O'Connor, Buster Olney, Rob Parker, Joe Posnanski, Ron Rapoport, Tracy Ringolsby, Henry Schulman, Claire Smith, Jayson Stark, Dave Van Dyck. Now here is a partial list of BBWAA voters who said no to Clemens and Bonds: . Mike Bass, Michael Bauman, Hal Bodley, Murray Chass, Pedro Gomez, Mark Gonzales, Scot Gregor, Ken Gurnick, Jon Heyman, Phil Hersh, Ann Killion, Wallace Matthews, Bruce Miles, Scott Miller, Fred Mitchell, Terence Moore, Mike Nadel, Marty Noble, Mark Purdy, Phil Rogers, Ken Rosenthal, Bob Ryan, Dan Shaughnessy, Paul Sullivan, Rick Telander, Tom Verducci, Charlie Vincent. They can't ALL be wrong. I have been maintaining since I began voting in the late 1980s that there are three kinds of professional baseball players -- the good, the great and the immortal. You cannot play baseball for a living without being good. You can become great, or you can even become one of the greatest of all time. Bonds and Clemens are among the greatest of all time, without a doubt. But they have extenuating circumstances. Biggio never seemed a mortal lock to be an immortal the way Bonds and Clemens do, but I cannot tell you in a million years why 181 voters did not put a check mark by his name. (I did.) Nor do I have a clue where the Hall of Fame goes from here. It took Bert Blyleven and Jim Rice a ridiculous number of tries to become Hall of Famers, but they made it. It took 15 ballot failures and a couple of post-election rejections before Ron Santo made it, but he made it. Posthumously, but he made it. I hear TV and radio announcers call a player "a surefire Hall of Famer" and I have no idea what universe they reside in that permits their mouths to form these words. There is no such thing as a surefire Hall of Famer any more. Greg Maddux will be on the ballot next year. Frank Thomas will, too. If either of them fails, I will eat my cap. I will never, ever, ever refer to either as "a surefire Hall of Famer," however, because that ship has sailed. The voters have spoken, as politicians have put it. I know there are millions of you who hate the way it came out. I do, too. Baseball is not supposed to be a game in which nobody wins. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Mike Downey.

Not one of the 37 players on the 2013 ballot will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame . Mike Downey: "You cannot play baseball for a living without being good" Downey says there is no proof Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens broke baseball's rules . Downey: "Baseball is not supposed to be a game in which nobody wins"

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By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 16:42 EST, 26 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:02 EST, 26 November 2012 . A horrified dog walker discovered the bodies of 11 puppies who had been skinned and then dumped in a public park. The dead animals were found in a bag that had been tossed along the side of the road in a Pennsylvania suburb. The incident is the second time that skinned animals were found in the state. DNA tests will be done to determine if the puppies are dogs, coyotes or some other domestic or wild animal, while necropsies will be conducted to learn how they died. Outraged: Animal rights advocates at the Lehigh County Humane Society are concerned after a bag of 11 skinned puppy corpses was found ditched near a park . A woman walking found the bodies Friday . in woods near a park in Lower Macungie Township, outside Allentown, the . Lehigh County Humane Society said. The bodies were in or near a bag that had been torn open, perhaps by an animal. Unless a witness comes forward, it's usually difficult to make arrests in animal cruelty cases, authorities said, meaning that both the culprit and the motive will remain at large. Victims: The dead pups were either coyotes (like the ones pictured here) or some breed of dog but it is difficult to tell post-mortum . 'It could have been kids or some . whacked-out person who found an abandoned litter of puppies or coyotes . and just thought they'd have some fun,' said Cary Moran, the county . humane society's shelter manager. 'That's what's so scary about not being able to (solve) these cases, and find out what happened, because you don't know who's out there. Because, unfortunately, animal abuse is a precursor to harming (people).' The discovery came the same week . another animal was found skinned, with its feet cut off and rope tied to . one leg, about 20 miles away in Lynn Township. That involved a larger animal, perhaps one sought for its pelt, according to humane society Officer Christine Wiggins. Two pairs of thin latex gloves were found beside that animal, and will be sent to a forensics lab. If . it proves to be a coyote, the case may amount to little more than a . citation for improper disposal, since it is legal to hunt coyotes in . Pennsylvania. But investigators think legitimate hunters would have disposed of the body properly. Ms Wiggins believes the two cases might be related, given that the animals were skinned. The . puppies appeared to be a few months old, weighing less than 10 pounds, . according to Ms Moran, who added that it's hard to know their age . without knowing the breed. An animal advocacy group has offered a reward for tips that lead to an arrest and conviction. 'Somebody purposely took time and precision and skinned animals, over and over. It's really disgustingly gruesome. I can't imagine what's going through somebody's head when this happens,' said David Lee of the Lehigh Valley Pitbull Awareness Club. Scene: Police are still searching for any clue over who killed the pups or why, as little was known when a woman found the dead bodies while walking her own dog in Lower Macungie Township . Neighbors and friends are often reluctant to report animal cruelty, fearing retribution, animal welfare officials said. This has proven true even in notorious cases in which animals are set on fire, the Pennsylvania SPCA said. 'Someone usually knows but is afraid to come forward. Often there are multiple witnesses who maybe feel intimidated to not `snitch,' said spokeswoman Wendy A. Marano. 'These are disturbing cases - not only are helpless animals suffering cruel fates, but it's unsettling to know that people capable of these kinds of depraved acts are members of our own communities.' Coyotes are now more common in Pennsylvania than black bear or bobcats, according to state game officials. The Pennsylvania Game Commission now allows them to be hunted and trapped to reduce their population. More than 43,000 coyotes were bagged in 2010, according to commission data.

Dead animals found in a bag ditched by a suburban park . Second time in the same week that Pennsylvania police found skinned dog . Police concerned because serial killers often start displaying their violent behavior by attacking animals .

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By . Peter Allen . A French mayor caught speeding at almost twice the legal limit told police he trying to dry his car out after a visit to the car wash. Jean-Louis Hennon’s excuse is considered one of the most bizarre ever offered for breaking the law. After being caught by a flash gun doing more than 100mph in a 55mph zone, the mayor of Courcelles-Epayelles, in the Oise department of northern France, said he had just left a service station. Excuses: A French mayor caught driving at almost twice the speed limit told officers he was 'drying his car' (file picture) Mr Hennon said: ‘I’d been to the car wash and on the way back I may have accelerated for around a kilometre, no more, to dry the car out. 'It may seem strange a strange excuse but it is a sincere one.’ The incident is particularly embarrassing for Mr Hennon because it comes just a few days before municipal elections on Sunday, when he could lose his job. Today he was insisting that he was ‘not above the law’, while police were preparing to prosecute him for Saturday’s speeding. Mr Hennon said: ‘I drove a little fast for 1 kilometre, 1.5 kilometres maybe. Certainly I was going too fast. ‘Okay, well, I got caught by the police. I told them I agreed with them, that what I did was not very good, and that I made a mistake. 'I recognised my stupidity. I made a mistake and I won’t do it again.’ Mr Hennon was caught at 10.15am on the D138 road between Maignelay-Montigny, not far from Amiens in northern France, and Tricot. Police regularly highlight strange excuses people offered for speeding too fast on public roads. They range from drives saying they saw red and blue lights in their rear view mirror, to those who say they were engrossed in a conversation with a passenger so did not notice the speedometer. In 2008 a Muslim businessman from Falkirk, Stirlingshire, who was caught breaking the speed limit managed to keep his licence after saying he was ‘commuting’ between his two wives. In 1999, the then England footballer David Beckham successfully appealed against an eight-month driving ban for speeding in his Ferrari Maranello after he claimed he had been speeding to escape a chasing photographer. And, in the same year, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was found not guilty of illegally driving on a motorway hard shoulder after magistrates heard he had been suffering from severe diarrhoea and was trying to get to a toilet.

Jean-Louis Hennon caught doing more than 100mph in a 55mph zone . He is mayor of Courcelles-Epayelles in Oise, northern France . He insists he is not 'above the law' as Police prepare to prosecute him . It happened just a few days before municipal elections on Sunday .

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By . Ian Gallagher and Sharon Churcher . PUBLISHED: . 19:36 EST, 15 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:17 EST, 16 December 2012 . A six-year-old British boy was last night named as one of the victims of the worst school shooting in American history. Dylan Hockley, whose family moved to Connecticut from Hampshire two years ago, was one of 20 children murdered by ‘deeply disturbed’ Adam Lanza in what may have been a revenge attack. The Mail on Sunday has learned that Dylan’s parents, Ian and Nicole Hockley, lived almost opposite the house Lanza shared with his mother Nancy, whom he also killed. Scroll down for video . Tragic: Dylan Hockley was one of 20 children murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut . Devastated:  Dylan’s grandmother told how the family had moved to America for a better life for Dylan and his eight-year-old brother Jake, pictured wearing purple top,  who survived the massacre at the school . Last night, Dylan’s devastated . grandmother  Theresa Moretti told how the family had moved to America . for a better life for Dylan  and his eight-year-old brother Jake, who . survived the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. She said: ‘They chose that town to . live in specifically because the school was so good. My daughter told . me, “It’s safe and lovely here Mum.” On Friday I was out buying . Christmas presents for Dylan and his big brother Jake who is eight. I . got a garbled message on my answerphone from my daughter. She was almost . incoherent. ‘I called her back and she told me . what had happened. She kept saying “Mum, how do you tell an . eight-year-old his six-year-old brother is dead and not coming back?” Happier times: This picture shows Dylan, right, with his parents and brother . Close: Dylan and his older brother are seen playing with their father Ian . ‘Jake was at school that day. He heard the gunfire that killed his brother. ‘The family isn’t doing well. They . have not seen Dylan yet. They are making funeral arrangements and . waiting for his little body to be released to the funeral home. ‘They are in their house. They live . almost opposite the murderer and his mother. Why did he have to shoot 20 . innocent babies? They were only six and seven years old. ‘Dylan was a lovely boy. He had dimples and blue eyes and a mischievous grin,' said his grandmother . ‘Dylan was a lovely boy. He had . dimples and blue eyes and a mischievous grin. He loved playing Wii and . they had a trampoline in their garden.  He loved garlic bread and his . brother. We are shattered and will never be the same.’ ‘When I spoke to Nicole, I said: ‘Do . you know him? Did you know the mother?’ She said, ‘No, mum, I saw them . but never spoke to them. I didn’t know them. I didn’t know there was a . killer in my street’ Earlier this year, Mrs Hockley told . how she and her husband Ian had  settled in scenic Newtown, an hour’s . drive from New York, because ‘we felt happy and comfortable’. A young woman places flowers at a memorial near the Sandy Hook . Elementary School following Friday's shooting that has left at least 28 . people dead, 20 of them young children . Adam Lanza, a troubled 20-year-old loner with a . history of autistic behavior, is the monster behind a horrific shooting . at a Connecticut elementary school . Originally from Rhode Island, Mrs . Hockley spent 18 years in England, marrying her British husband, who . works for IBM in New York, in Norwich in 1993. Both Dylan and Jake were . born in the UK. All the child massacre victims were . first-graders, aged six or seven. Seven adults, six women who worked at . the school, plus Lanza’s mother, also died at his hands, before he . killed himself. The day before his killing spree the . 20-year-old ‘Goth’ was reported to have visited the school – where he . had been a pupil at least a decade ago – and had an ‘altercation’ with . four members of staff. Three of those four are now among the . dead. The fourth person was not at the school on Friday when he went on . his rampage and is now being interviewed by police. However, it was still not clear . yesterday precisely what caused Lanza, a socially awkward loner, to . snap, though detectives said they had found ‘clues’, thought to be . emails, at his mother Nancy’s home, where he lived. A grey-haired man who was laying . flowers outside the school described the Hockleys as a ‘very nice . family’ adding: ‘They fitted in this community perfectly. We were close . friends, like family. Fifty-two-year-old Nancy Lanza, pictured, was shot dead by her son, Adam Lanza on Friday. She was an avid gun collector . Adam Lanza shot his mother, Nancy, before driving to Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting 26 people including 20 children . ‘We found out last night. They called us and said just a few words, “Our son is not with us any more”. That’s how it happened.’ As police released the identities of . all the victims last night, it  was confirmed that they were all shot . several times by a semi-automatic rifle. Medical examiner Wayne Carver, said he examined seven of the children killed, and two had been shot at close range. When asked how many bullets were fired, he said: ‘I’m lucky if I can tell you how many I found.’ Police said they had found ‘very good . evidence’ they hoped would answer questions about the motives of the . 20-year-old gunman, described by those who knew him as brilliant but . remote. Witnesses said Lanza didn’t say a word during his murderous spree. And investigators said they found no . note or ‘manifesto’ of the sort they have come to expect after murderous . rampages. Just one person, a woman who worked at the school, was shot . and survived – an unusually small number in a mass shooting – and police . lieutenant Paul Vance said her testimony would be ‘instrumental’ in the . case. Traumatized students were seen being led out of the school crying and holding hands . A Glock and a Sig Sauer, both pistols, . and a .223-calibre Bushmaster rifle were found in the school and a . fourth weapon was found outside. It has also emerged that, on Tuesday, . Lanza tried to buy an extra rifle to bulk up his arsenal at local . sporting goods store, Dicks, where semi-automatic rifles are priced as . low as $49.98 (£31). Inevitably, the question of America’s liberal gun laws has been raised by the massacre. The family of the gunman last night branded his actions ‘incomprehensible’. James Champion, a police officer in . New Hampshire and brother of Lanza’s mother Nancy, said via a statement: . ‘Our whole family is devastated. Nancy was a wonderful, loving mother.’

Dylan Hockley's family moved to Connecticut from Hampshire in Jan. 2011 . Boy, 6, was one of 20 children murdered by Adam Lanza in 'revenge attack' Ian and Nicole Hockley lived close to house Lanza shared with his mother .

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Facial: Sergei Polonsky tweeted this picture of him having a beauty treatment, telling Lebedev 'I will appear at your nightmares' (sic) A Russian tycoon who has refused to appear at the trial of media mogul Alexander Lebedev spent last week goading him on social network sites. Sergei Polonsky has sent a series of taunts to Mr Lebedev from a luxury apartment in Israel. Mr Lebedev is accused of punching Mr Polonsky during a TV talk show in Russia in 2011. In the latest online attack, Polonsky posted a photograph of himself on Twitter having a facial treatment with white strips attached to his face giving him a ‘horror mask’ appearance. With it was the comment: ‘I will appear at your nightmares @lebedevalex :)) have a great weekend everyone.’ That image has followed others of the 40-year-old billionaire in which he is seen enjoying himself in a hot tub, kite-surfing on an Israeli beach and posing before a red sunset with an unidentified woman. Mr Lebedev, 53, whose family controls the Independent newspaper titles and the London Evening Standard, faces up to five years in jail if the judge at the Moscow trial finds he punched Mr Polonsky because of ‘political hatred’. Supporters of Mr Lebedev, who also owns a Russian investigative newspaper, say that Mr Polonsky’s games and refusal to appear in court make a mockery of the trial and his credibility as a witness. Mr Polonsky had claimed he was in Cambodia, where he is on bail facing allegations of kidnap and assault, and was unable to leave. Despite objections from Mr Lebedev’s lawyers, Mr Polonsky’s written statement has been accepted as evidence – but without him being available to be cross-examined about potentially goading his alleged attacker. Yesterday, The Mail on Sunday traced Mr Polonsky to a $1 million luxury apartment overlooking Bat Yam beach near Tel Aviv. Russian media magnate Alexander Lebedev (left)  is on trial for allegedly punching businessman Sergei . Polonsky (right) because of political hatred . It is from there that he is believed to have spent the past few days continuing his campaign to undermine and embarrass Mr Lebedev. The apartment is in a Russian-built development which was constructed at a cost of $6 million two years ago. Flats in the high-rise building cost around $1 million and owners receive security from a Russian-speaking concierge. Yesterday a constant stream of luxury vehicles – many with blacked out windows – arrived at the automated security barrier before heading for the underground car park. It was revealed yesterday that Mr Polonsky was released in early April – after writing a personal appeal to the Prime Minister of Cambodia – and was then spirited out of the country first to Europe and then to the Middle East. ‘Polonsky was taken out of Cambodia on a diplomatic plane almost as luggage,’ said a Moscow source. Israel: The Mail on Sunday have tracked Mr Polonsky down to a luxury apartment near Tel Aviv . Taunts: Mr Polonsky has been tweeting pictures of himself to Mr Lebedev . ‘It happened several days after he was released from jail, perhaps even the next day.’ Last night, it emerged that his spy-style escape route may have involved a boat trip from Cambodia, – where he has a private island retreat – to Thailand with the ‘diplomatic plane’ believed to be from Bangkok. Yesterday The Mail on Sunday tried to contact Mr Polonsky on a mobile phone he is said to have been using in Israel but he did not reply to text or voicemail messages. Earlier, Mr Lebedev wrote on his blog that he believed the tycoon to be near Tel Aviv. He said: ‘I am addressing fellow bloggers from Israel: Have you seen our “victim” by any chance, somewhere on the Mediterranean coast between Ashdod and Tel Aviv? He is keenly waited at the trial.’ Mr Polonsky’s immediate reaction to Mr Lebedev’s plea was to post on Twitter: ‘@Lebedevalex calls for help, isn’t it funny.’

MoS finds Sergei Polonsky in luxury apartment near Tel Aviv . He is supposed to be attending a trial against Alexander Lebedev in Russia . Mr Lebedev is accused of punching Mr Polonsky on a TV talk show .

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(CNN) -- The man police say kidnapped and brutally murdered a 7-year-old Georgia girl pleaded guilty Tuesday and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Ryan Brunn entered the plea at a hearing in a Cherokee County courthouse, during which he described in detail how he enticed, molested and killed Jorelys Rivera. The girl's mangled body was found in a trash compactor three days after she went missing on December 2 from an apartment complex in Canton, which is about 40 miles north of Atlanta. Brunn, 20, who worked as a maintenance man at the same apartment complex, was arrested on December 7 and charged with the crime. He told the court he had never talked to Jorelys before the day of her murder. He said he devised a plan after he found one of her skates. Brunn took a picture of the skate and approached her with it, asking if the skate was hers. She said yes, and Brunn promised to take her to it. Instead, he took her to an empty apartment and instructed Jorelys to pull down her pants. He then put tape over her face and cut her throat with a razor. At this point, she was still alive, he told the court. So Brunn took Jorelys to the bathroom and beat her to death with the skate. He said he did not have sex with the girl. Next, Brunn put Jorelys' body in a plastic bag and loaded it into his maintenance golf cart. He put the body in the trash compactor and operated the machine. He then went home and hung out with friends. Later, he again operated the compactor. Increasingly, Brunn told the court, he grew concerned about what he had done. So he took a receipt, wrote on the back of it, "She is in the trash can," and taped it to the compactor. He admitted lying to investigators who had questioned him about the case. Brunn said he knew right from wrong. During his testimony, relatives of the slain girl were visibly upset, crying and shaking. "I would like to apologize for everything I have done," Brunn told her family in court. Last week, he was indicted on 13 counts including murder, aggravated assault, cruelty to children, aggravated child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes, false imprisonment, abandonment of a dead body, making a false statement and sexual exploitation of children. According to the indictment, Jorelys was severely beaten and stabbed repeatedly in the face, neck and chest. Brunn's attorney had said previously he planned to plead not guilty. Brunn had no known criminal history, authorities have said.

NEW: Ryan Brunn is sentenced to life in prison without parole . NEW: He describes how he enticed, molested and killed Jorelys Rivera . NEW: Brunn, 20, says he cut her throat and beat her with a skate . NEW: He offers an apology to her family in court .

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(CNN) -- Bayern Munich recorded a comfortable 2-0 win against Borussia Monchengladbach at Borussia Park on Friday as the Bundesliga resumed after its annual winter break. After being soundly beaten 3-0 by Red Bull Salzburg in a friendly match last weekend, Pep Guardiola had called for his side put the passion back in their play, and they duly delivered against the league's third-place side. Any nerves traveling Bayern fans were feeling were quickly eased as Mario Gotze scored in the seventh minute, hitting a low first-time shot home from Thomas Muller's cut back. Despite dominating possession for the rest of the half, Bayern failed to find another opening but they soon had their noses further in front after the break. Granit Xhaka's blatant handball in the 52nd minute earned the visitors a spot kick with Thomas Muller stepping up to send Marc-Andre ter Stegen the wrong way and double their advantage. Gladbach immediately set about trying to repair the damage. Patrick Herrmann hit the post with an effort in the 63rd minute before being played in by Raffael two minutes later only scuff his shot. But it was Bayern who continued to dominate proceedings hogging two thirds of possession for the majority of the match. In the final ten minutes, Guardiola brought on Arjen Robben who returned to action following a six-week layoff after gashing his knee in December. The win takes Bayern to 47 points, ten points clear of second-place Leverkusen. Sami Hyypia's side travel to Freiburg on Saturday while fourth-place Borussia Dortmund will leapfrog Monchengladbach if they beat Augsburg at the Westfalenstadion.

Reigning German and European champions coast to 2-0 win at Monchengladbach . Bundesliga returning to action after a winter break . Second place Leverkusen travel to Freiburg on Saturday .

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These incredible pictures show the moment a plucky seal managed to twist away from the killer jaws of a great white shark after being thrown into the air. The great white burst from the water only for the seal to bounce off the tip of its nose and be thrown in the air. On the way down the shark snapped with its razor-sharp jaws, missing the airborne seal by the finest of margins. The great white shark burst from the water and snapped at the airborne seal with its killer jaws - missing by a matter of inches . The heart-stopping moment was captured by Sergio Riccardo near Seal Island in South Africa - a prime feeding location for sharks . The predators are attracted to the area when the population of Cape Fur seals is at its highest creating what is known as the 'Ring of Death' The heart-stopping scene was captured by underwater photographer Sergio Riccardo near Cape Town, in South Africa. Due to the dense population of seals on Seal Island - just a few kilometres from Cape Town - the location is a prime feeding location for great whites. Mr Riccardo, 51, from Sorrento, Italy, said: 'The boat began to follow the seals back to Seal Island where there are around 70,000 seals. 'During this process the seals are often the subject of attacks by great white sharks. 'They launch themselves from underneath the seal, knocking it above the surface and snapping the mammal in their mouths. 'The speed with which the sharks attack brings them to jump completely out of the water. I was glad to see the seal escape on this occasion.' Seal Island is a granite rock around 800m long by 50m wide which sits no more than 6m above sea level about three and a half miles off False Bay, near Cape Town. It is home to huge numbers of seals - around 65,000 - which give the rock its name, and is also a popular breeding site for seabirds. The area where the sharks circle the island is known by locals as the 'Ring Of Death'.

Great white shark burst from the water and narrowly avoided the airborne seal with its razor-sharp jaws . Scene was photographed by Sergio Riccardo near Seal Island, in South Africa, a prime feeding location for sharks .

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EastEnders actress Linda Henry is due to stand trial over allegations she hurled racially aggravated abuse during a row outside a Jamie Oliver restaurant in London. The 51-year-old, who plays barmaid Shirley Carter in the BBC soap, faces trial after pleading not guilty to a charge of racially aggravated harassment at Bexley Magistrates' Court. The charge is in connection with an incident outside Jamie's Italian in Greenwich on September 14. Scroll down for video . Court case: Actress Linda Henry, 51, denies allegations she hurled racial abuse outside a London restaurant . Alleged dispute: The star is accused of hurling abuse during a row outside Jamie's Italian in Greenwich . She is accused of using threatening or abusive words which was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, and the alleged offence was racially aggravated, a court official said. Henry, who has appeared in the BBC One soap since 2006, has vowed to fight 'tooth and nail' to clear her name when the case goes to court next year. She reportedly chose not to attend the court hearing in south London on Wednesday, and instead pleaded not guilty via her lawyer. A spokesman for the star told MailOnline today: 'She will be defending the allegation.' A source added to The Sun: 'Linda is horrified at the accusation and intends to fight it tooth and nail. 'Those close to her know the truth and the type of person she is. 'She has never been in trouble before.' Stunned: The 51-year-old actress is reportedly shocked at the allegation and vows to fight it 'tooth and nail' Henry, whose case is being heard under her married name Virilis, is due to stand trial on February 11 next year. The manager of the restaurant has insisted none of his staff were involved in the alleged dispute. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Linda Valiris, 51, an actress, of south-east London, was summonsed to appear at Bexley Magistrates' Court on November 26 charged with a racially aggravated public order offence. 'The next court appearance is scheduled to take place at the same court on February 11. 'This follows an incident in Greenwich on September 14.' A BBC spokesman said the broadcaster will not be commenting on the allegations faced by Henry. Aside from the court hearing, the actress has had a big month on EastEnders as her alter-ego Shirley returned to screens for the first time since Phil Mitchell's wedding. The Carter family is set to be rocked forever by a series of shock revelations including the news that Shirley is in fact Mick's (Danny Dyer) mother. Shirley had vanished after shooting Phil on his big day, but was eventually discovered hiding in an old family caravan. Big year: Linda's character Shirley was involved in some of the BBC One soap's most dramatic storylines . Brought up in Peckham, south east London, Henry started acting as a teenager and studied at leading London drama school The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Before appearing in EastEnders, Henry was best known for her role in ITV prison drama Bad Girls, where she played Yvonne Atkins - G Wing's 'top dog' who was jailed for hiring a hit-man to kill a business rival of her gangster husband. She appeared in the role between 1999 and 2003. She has also appeared in crime dramas The Bill, Touching Evil, Cracker, A Touch Of Frost and Trial & Retribution, as well as comedy series Birds of a Feather. Mother-of-one Henry, who married husband Stavros Virilis in 1992, has been nominated for several awards for her portrayal of Shirley, who the actress has described as a 'strong proud woman'. The BBC is yet to comment on whether Henry will be suspended from the show. However, it is understood that she will continue filming EastEnders until her trial date. Earlier this year Ricky Norwood, who plays was Arthur 'Fatboy' Chubb, was suspended from the soap for two months after an online video emerged of him apparently smoking cannabis. In May it emerged that Khali Best, known to viewers as mechanic Dexter Hartman, had been suspended for three months over a dispute with a London taxi driver, who said he was punched in the face and his vehicle doors kicked. Best accepted a police caution for common assault and criminal damage. It was announced last week that he will be leaving the show in the run up to Christmas. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Linda Henry, who plays Shirley Carter in the BBC soap, accused of racism . Actress, 51, allegedly hurled racist abuse during row outside restaurant . Incident allegedly occurred outside Jamie's Italian in Greenwich, London . Denies charge of racially aggravated harassment and will now face trial .

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U.S. President Barack Obama didn't speak very long at the White House on Friday, but his message was clear: Russia should not use military force to change the fate of Ukraine. "The United States will stand with the international community in affirming that there will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine," Obama said. The president made his remarks as events moved quickly in Ukraine, with troops believed to be from Russia moving into Crimea, the southern section of Ukraine that favors close ties with neighboring Russia. Other parts of Ukraine and the new government leaders want to align with Europe. "We are now deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the Russian Federation inside of Ukraine," Obama said. "Russia has a historic relationship with Ukraine, including cultural and economic ties, and a military facility in Crimea, but any violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing, which is not in the interest of Ukraine, Russia, or Europe. "It would represent a profound interference in matters that must be determined by the Ukrainian people." He said Ukraine must be autonomous. "Throughout this crisis, we have been very clear about one fundamental principle: The Ukrainian people deserve the opportunity to determine their own future," he said. Just before Obama spoke, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, called for an "urgent international" mediation mission to Crimea. Also, a bipartisan group of 12 senators from the Foreign Relations Committee expressed support for U.S. assistance in Ukraine and warned of Russian intervention. "We do not seek confrontation with President Putin and his government, but simply to ensure that Russia abides by its commitments and adheres to core principles of international law. A peaceful, democratic, stable, and sovereign Ukraine is in our national interest," the senators wrote in a letter to Obama. Vice President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk on Friday to "reaffirm the United States' strong support for the new government and our commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democratic future of Ukraine," a statement from the vice president's office said. The State Department warned U.S. citizens Friday night to avoid non-essential travel to Ukraine, particularly to the Crimean Peninsula, citing instability. Read Obama's full statement .

President Obama says "we are now deeply concerned" by reports of military movements inside Ukraine . Obama said Ukraine's fate must be determined by its people . The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations calls for international mediation . Senate Foreign Relations Committee members back U.S. assistance in Ukraine .

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Count Dracula’s Transylvanian castle has been put on the market by its Romanian archduke owner - with a reported asking price of at least £47million. Hilltop fortress Bran Castle is the eastern European country’s biggest tourist attraction and attracts 560,000 visitors annually. Mark Meyer, of Herzfeld and Rubin, a New York law firm handling the sale, said: ‘If someone comes in with a reasonable offer, we will look at who they are, what they are proposing, and will seriously entertain the idea.’ Bran Castle in Bran, Romania has been put on the market with a £47m price tag. Bran Castle attracts more than half a million vampire fans to the eastern European country each year . Archduke Dominic von Habsburg and his family care very much for the castle, and it's in far better shape now than it was when run by the government . Members of the Habsburg family, Elizabeth, Dominic and Mary Magdalena in the courtyard of Bran Castle . Previous owners of the castle, which dates back to 1211, range from Saxons to Hungarians and Teutonic knights. Bloodsucking vampire Count Dracula may be fictional but he is said to have been based on the sadistic Vlad the Impaler, prince of Wallachia in the 15th century. Actor Christopher Lee, right, is often regarded as the best on-screen Dracula . Bram Stoker is believed to have based his description of Dracula’s castle as ‘. . . on the very edge of a terrific precipice . . . with occasionally a deep rift where there is a chasm [with] silver threads where the rivers wind in deep gorges through the forests’ on that of Bran. In the days of Romania’s Habsburg royal family, Bran Castle was given to Queen Marie, the last Queen consort of Romania and granddaughter of Queen Victoria. When she died of cirrhosis, on July 18, 1938, she bequeathed the castle to her daughter Princess Ileana. But after the Communists came to power in 1948, the family was given 24 hours to leave the country. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, Bran Castle was restored to them - and Ileana’s son Dominic and daughters Maria Magdalena and Elizabeth have been running it ever since. All three children are now in their 70s and want a new owner to continue their ambitious vision for the site’s future. They are understood to have offered the Romanian government the chance to buy it for £47million but are seeking alternative offers. Mr Meyer said: ‘Archduke Dominic and his family care very much for the castle, and it’s in far better shape now than it was when run by the government. Bran Castle attracts over half a million visitors every year and is on sale for offers in the region of £47m . ‘The aim, though, is to take the whole thing a stage further and make Bran the kind of place people will stay for two or three days.’ He said that there is land for a small hotel, adding: ‘We’re also installing a glass elevator that will lead to a tunnel in the mountain, with a light show featuring Dracula and the whole history of the place.’ In 1920, the castle became a royal residence within the Kingdom of Romania. It was the favourite home and retreat of Queen Marie of Romania . Dominic von Habsburg (left) and Romanian Culture minister Adrian Iorgulescu sign the documents for the handover of the Bran Castle to the family after the collapse of communism . Bran Castle, Transylvania in Romania which was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Count Dracula's castle .

The castle made famous by Bram Stoker receives 560,000 visitors a years . Sale handled by New York lawyers who say owners open to 'reasonable offer' Owners have told Romanian government they can buy the castle for £47m .

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By . Jonathan Block . 'It would’ve been too emotional,' a source close to the opening’s organizers told the New York Daily News. The source added the organized respected Bush's decision not attend on Thursday. However, the same day, Bush was in Bentonville, Arkansas, receiving the Patriot Award, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's highest recognition. Former President George W. Bush addresses rescue workers at the World Trade Center site on September 14, 2011. Bush skipped attending the dedication of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York on Thursday because the event would have been too emotional for him . Instead of attending the National September 11 Memorial & Museum dedication on Thursday, Bush (center) was in Arkansas receiving the highest award from the National Medal of Honor Society . President Barack Obama speaks durign the dedication ceremony of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum on Thursday in New York. Former President Clinton attended, but former President George W. Bush was absent, stirring some controversy . Bush was an iconic figure in the days following the attacks in New York, Washington, D.C. and rural Penssylvania that claimed nearly 3,000 lives. A few days after two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, Bush stood on top of rubble on the site, and using a bullhorn, reassured Americans. That bullhorn is in the museum as part of a loan from the the Bush Presidential Library. A woman named Marie from Queens, New York called the Rush Limbaugh show on Thursday, saying she lost her firefighter son on 9/11 and didn't understand why Bush wouldn't be included in the ceremony. 'He should have been the first person to speak, or at least his name mentioned,' Marie said. 'I'm very upset. I lost a son there.'

Source close to museum organizers says Bush felt it would have been too much to bear for him to attend . On Thursday, Bush was in Arkansas where he was honored by the Copngressional Medal of Honor Society . Some relatives of 9/11 victims were surprised Bush was a no-show and wanted him to be there .

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(CNN) -- Within the next day or two we could hear from the special prosecutor's office about her decision on whether to charge George Zimmerman. Regardless of what she says, chances are a lot of people are not going to be happy with the decision. It's an emotional story with many layers that will likely end with more questions than answers, and more division than unity along racial lines. I know when I heard about Trayvon Martin's killing, the story immediately touched my heart because I could see my own 15-year-old son in Trayvon. Similarly, when I heard about the apparent racially motivated killing spree in Tulsa, Oklahoma, last week, it angered me because I could see my brothers and uncles in the slain victims. But something different happened inside when I saw the video of a white tourist being savagely beaten and stripped by a bunch of black thugs in Baltimore over St. Patrick's Day weekend. My heart wasn't touched. I didn't get angry. Instead, I just became cold. I didn't want the individuals involved to be arrested. I wanted them thrown in jail for life. I thought what possible good could adults who would do that to another human being bring to society? Some folks can be rehabilitated, but sometimes it's best to just cut our losses. Why bother wasting taxpayers' dollars on a trial over something that simply cannot and should not be defended? As I watched the helpless man being kicked and heard him being laughed at, I just wanted those hoodlums escorted to solitary confinement and the key thrown away. As I told you, I became cold. Sick even. I posted the video on my Facebook wall and soon found myself in a conversation with a buddy of mine, Brian, who I've known since grad school. In my frustration I e-mailed "I hate people." Brian immediately hit back: "No you don't. You love people, that is why this upset you so much." He was right. I don't hate people. I just hated what happened to that guy, just like I hated what happened to the victims in Tulsa. But what I really hate is how the video is only going to confirm what so many whites think about blacks and the arrests are only going to confirm what so many blacks think about whites. That's where much of the focus will inevitably go instead of to what I think is far more important, and that is what blacks think about ourselves. I don't need to tell you what the response from the black community would be if the victim in the Baltimore video was black and the assailants white. But for some reason many blacks puree crimes of this nature through some warped situational ethics filter, which in the end only makes a mockery of the community more than it empowers it. For if President Obama had a son, he would look like Trayvon, but he would also look like one of the assailants in that video. That's the uncomfortable truth that the black community must deal with: Racism still hurts us, but not nearly as much as we hurt ourselves. The same weekend the man in Baltimore was attacked, in Chicago 10 people were killed and 40 were wounded, including a 6-year-old girl who was shot dead while she was playing on the front porch of her home in the Little Village neighborhood. Neighborhoods such as Little Village, and West Englewood, which has a homicide rate five times that of the rest of the city, are mostly black and Latino. Since 2008, nearly 80% of the more than 500 killings of youth in Chicago have occurred in the 22 black and Latino neighborhoods. Those deaths are not coming by the hands of the KKK but by people who look a lot like the ones in that St. Patrick's Day video. Or the ones in the video that went viral in February in which a bunch of black thugs attacked a black man as he left a grocery store. Or the ones in the video that went viral three years ago in which a bunch of black thugs attacked and killed a 16-year-old honor roll student, who was also black. Sadly, I could go on, but I think the picture is clear. What isn't as clear is what the black community is going to do about it. We know how to come together and fight against injustice when the alleged perpetrators are white. However we're not quite sure how to deal with injustice as a community when the perpetrators look like us -- and that is troubling, because when you look at the statistics, it seems the survival of the black community depends more on figuring that part out than dealing with the George Zimmermans of the world. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of LZ Granderson.

LZ Granderson says a video of a white man being beaten in Baltimore is sickening . He says as we await outcome of Trayvon Martin case, more focus is needed on other crimes . Granderson: Black community rallies to fight injustice but not when "perpetrators look like us" He says black community needs to grapple with crime of all kinds .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter and Jim Mcbeth . PUBLISHED: . 15:05 EST, 30 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:48 EST, 31 December 2012 . The streets of Scotland's capital were overrun by a horde of Vikings - in a festive invasion to celebrate Hogmanay. Dozens of Vikings from Shetland, clad in armour and holding shields, joined around 7,000 others revellers in a stunning torchlit parade through Edinburgh to mark the end of the year. They were led by massed pipes and drums as part of the capital’s sell-out £30 million extravaganza. Lit up for Hogmanay: A group of Vikings take part in a torchlit procession through the streets of Edinburgh to usher in a new year . The annual illuminated procession finishes with a fireworks display at Calton Hill. And as the end of another year approaches, communities around Scotland were preparing for Hogmanay. From Edinburgh and Glasgow to a tiny . Perthshire village expecting a Hollywood A-list guest, revellers are . counting down to the Bells. And the good news is that the festivities will get an even break from the weather. Met Office forecasters are predicting a . wet start to the New Year but they promise that – relatively speaking – . it will be ‘warm and mild’ compared to last year when arctic winds . plunged temperatures to below zero. The . biggest party will be in Edinburgh - regarded as the world’s premier event. More than 75,000 revellers, nearly half of them from outside the capital, will line Princes Street. Celebrations: Up Helly Aa Vikings from the Shetland Islands shout while holding lit torches during the annual torchlight procession to mark the start of Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh, this evening . Out with a bang: Final preparations are made to the Hogmanay fireworks at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland ahead of the new year celebrations . The . festivities, which will be broadcast around the world, will feature the . traditional midnight fireworks and performances by 14 bands, headlined . by Scottish supergroup Simple Minds. More . than 900 police and security staff will be on duty and Assistant Chief . Constable Graham Sinclair of Lothian and Borders Police, said: ‘I urge . revellers to be mindful of their safety. We want a great atmosphere and a . night to remember.’ The second biggest celebration is, . ironically, in the Aberdeenshire coastal town of Stonehaven, which has . recently taken a hammering from the weather, forcing dozens of . inhabitants to flee their flooded homes. But Scotland’s bravest town fought . back and more than 20,000 people are expected in the Market Square for . the traditional fireball waving festival. The . sell-out party begins today, with a series of events leading up to the . festival and a concert featuring Blazin’ Fiddles and the Red Hot Chilli . Pipers. Stonehaven folk were determined to celebrate even as the clean-up operation continues. June . Ross of Your Event Scotland said: ‘It’s been a massive undertaking in a . short time and we’re delighted that the festival is able to go ahead . after the terrible damage caused by storms.’ The festivities begin at 2pm tomorrow and will run until 1am the following day. Festive cheer: Around 7,000 torchbearers are led by massed pipes and drums and the Up Helly Aa' Vikings from Shetland in a procession through the capital . Hotting up: The Vikings eschew traditional firelight techniques in favour of a blowtorch to set their torches on fire during a procession through Edinburgh as part of the pre Hogmanay celebrations . The country’s biggest city has its own . party, where the Glasgow loves Hogmanay celebration runs from 12 noon . until 10pm in George Square. It promises traditional entertainment ‘with the best in Scottish music, food, drink and family fun’. However, the party in Glasgow will, unlike Edinburgh, not go on over the Bells. The . last such major event was for the start of 2011, but several months . later city councillors decided they could no longer compete with the . capital. Faced with . financial cutbacks they said they could not justify spending £34 per . head of the city’s population on New Year celebrations. Stirling will host a night-time event on the esplanade, with the Proclaimers and various DJs. Far from the big events, the tiny Perthshire village of Comrie will be honoured by the presence of a bona fide movie star. Viking invasion: The annual Hogmanay celebrations saw Viking Erik Burgess from the Shetland Islands join a huge torchlit parade though Edinburgh . Hollywood hunk Gerard Butler will be a guest at the annual torchlit Flambeaux parade which dates back to pagan times. The star’s parents lives in the area. He said: ‘I love New Year’s Eve. The pipe band comes out and everybody lights huge wooden torches that they have to carry round like pillars, and march round the village to cast out all the old evil spirits. It’s amazing. It’s a great way to see out the old year.’ Revellers around the country will be hoping to see out the New Year with a kind climate. And they will get it. A Met Office spokesman said: ‘The weather will be cold but relatively dry compared to last year. ‘There will be a rain on Monday, clearing away to give generally dry weather with lighter winds over the Bells and temperatures staying above freezing. ‘But, as always, people should wrap up warm.’

More than 7,000 join torchlit procession through Edinburgh . Capital hosts £30million extravaganza to celebrate New Year .

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By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 11:44 EST, 7 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:37 EST, 7 March 2014 . Action: Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has signed a bill prohibiting 'upskirt' photos of women . Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has signed a bill prohibiting 'upskirt' photos of women just two days after the state's highest court ruled that taking photos of a woman's private parts was legal in certain circumstances. Patrick's office said the governor signed the measure today, after the Supreme Judicial Court controversially overruled a lower court which upheld charges against a man who took cellphone photos up the skirts of female subway passengers in Boston. Michael Robertson was arrested in August 2010 by transit police who set up a sting after getting reports that he was using his cellphone to take photos and video up female riders' skirts and dresses. On Wednesday, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Robertson did not violate state law because the women were not nude or partially nude, even though they did not consent to the photos. The court said that existing so-called 'Peeping Tom laws' protect people from being photographed in dressing rooms and bathrooms when nude or partially nude, but the way the law is written, it does not protect clothed people in public areas. 'A female passenger on a MBTA trolley who is wearing a skirt, dress, or the like covering these parts of her body is not a person who is "partially nude," no matter what is or is not underneath the skirt by way of underwear or other clothing,' the court said in its ruling. State law 'does not apply to photographing (or videotaping or electronically surveilling) persons who are fully clothed and, in particular, does not reach the type of upskirting that the defendant is charged with attempting to accomplish on the MBTA,' the court said. However, the ruling immediately prompted top Beacon Hill lawmakers to pledge to update state law. 'Upskirt': Now in Massachusetts, it would be illegal to take a photo up this woman's skirt even though she clothed . Lawmakers yesterday approved legislation to crack down on those who secretly take photographs of 'the sexual or other intimate parts' of men, women and children in public. 'It is sexual harassment. It's an assault on another person whether it's a child or an adult,' Senate President Therese Murray said moments after the Senate unanimously approved the bill. 'Women and children should be able to go to public places without feeling that they are not protected by the law.' The legislation says anyone who 'photographs, videotapes or electronically surveils' another person's sexual or intimate parts without that person's consent would face a misdemeanor charge and a maximum penalty of two-and-a-half years in jail and a $5,000 fine. The crime becomes a felony with a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for photographs or recordings of a child under 18. Peeping Tom: Michael Robertson (pictured) was arrested in August 2010 for using his cellphone to take photos up female riders' skirts and dresses . Distributing such photos would carry a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Murray said those who take such photos sometimes post them on pornographic websites. House Speaker Robert DeLeo said the Legislature moved swiftly after the Supreme Judicial Court issued its ruling on Wednesday. 'Not only did we get it done quickly, but I think there was a feeling that we did it right,' he said. 'We wanted to make sure that this would be a law that would pass all legal questions that could arise.' In the past three years, MBTA police have investigated 13 'secretly photographing' cases. In some cases, the alleged offender was issued a court summons. Some remain open investigations.

Lawmakers yesterday approved a bill that criminalizes secretly taking photographs up women's skirts . The bill was today signed by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick . It was moved through quickly after the high court ruled that a man who took cellphone pictures up women's skirts on public transport had not broken the law . Anyone who 'photographs, videotapes or electronically surveils' another person's sexual or intimate parts without that person's consent would face a maximum of two-and-a-half years in jail and a $5,000 fine .

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Dubai, UAE (CNN) -- A year-long intense diplomatic push by British Prime Minister David Cameron to advance his country's business interests in the United Arab Emirates may not yet deliver the contracts he was hoping for. During his only international interview on his UAE visit ahead of the official opening of the Dubai Air Show on Sunday, Cameron told CNN the sale of up to 60 BAE Eurofighter Typhoon for $10 billion does not have to close this week. "I'm very hopeful and we've made huge progress. And we're looking at, not just at one particular deal, we're looking at a proper strategic defense partnership between our countries. I'm very confident that is on track," the Prime Minister said. "I'm hopeful for good announcements from Airbus, real progress in terms of BAE Systems, lots of British companies here and also big investments being made by the Emirates into Britain." About 230,000 jobs, government officials suggest, are directly linked to aerospace. Before leaving, those officials said the Prime Minister held meetings with the Prime Minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Typhoon is built by Britain's BAE, Germany's EADS and Italy's Finmeccanica, but the U.K. is the lead contractor in negotiations. This is widely viewed as an all out effort to snatch it out of the grasp of French rival Dassault and its jet-fighter offering the Rafale. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy opened a naval air base in the UAE in 2009, and there was a widespread belief it was France's contract to lose, but there was on-going rumblings over pricing in the UAE capital over the past two years, which re-opened discussions for Britain. The British Prime Minister has not hid his desire to advance diplomatic and economic relations with the Gulf states of the Middle East to help secure contracts and therefore jobs back on British soil. British officials here talk of a "domino effect" if they can close the UAE deal, since others would likely fall into place, as well. On Thursday, Britain announced that the UAE would be one of four Gulf states to have its citizens enjoy the benefits of an electronic visa waiver scheme, which can be obtained 48 hours before traveling. Those two gestures follow a ringing endorsement by the British Prime Minister of Dubai as a candidate city for the 2020 Expo bid which will be decided this month. This past week, his ambassador to the UAE, Dominic Jermey, said Britain is often been seen as the "eighth emirate." The UAE is a federation of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi and Dubai being the two largest, which was founded in 1971. While business development is being worked on, the so-called P5+1 talks are scheduled to resume with Iran on its nuclear program. Gulf states are skeptical that Iran will abide by any terms to limit development of that sector. Cameron said sanctions are what brought Iran to the negotiating table, and a deal should not happen prematurely when asked if sanctions could start to be lifted in the first quarter of next year. "Britain led the way in Europe putting in place those oil sanctions which i think have brought us to this place. And my view is clear, there shouldn't be removal of sanctions unless there is a good deal." This year and next are crucial when it comes to strategic business interests, and this extends far beyond what Britain is hoping to secure. The two largest commercial carriers, Dubai-based Emirates and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad are planning to unveil multibillion-dollar plane orders as they experience rapid growth serving as a transport hub between Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Ahead of the official opening of the air show, Boeing released its Current Market Outlook report suggesting that the region will need 2610 new airplanes over the next two decades, with a book value of over a half trillion dollars. Outside the aerospace sector, the UAE has also accepted bids for tenders of its onshore oil and gas fields. For the first time in three-quarters of a century, production sharing agreements are expiring. While past energy production was dominated by Western-led international oil companies working with Abu Dhabi's national oil company ADNOC, the UAE has let it be known countries which are major importers of its crude will be given equal weighting during this bidding process. The UAE is looking to expand its daily out of crude from 2.9 million barrels a day to 3.5 million by 2017 and sits on roughly 9% of the world's proven oil reserves.

David Cameron says sale of BAE Eurofighter Typhoon does not have to close this week . About 230,000 jobs, government officials suggest, are directly linked to aerospace . Prime Minister has not hid his desire to advance relations with the Middle East .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:19 EST, 12 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:19 EST, 12 December 2012 . A 12-year-old boy has been shot dead by his friend who was playing with his grandfather's gun. Demetri Phillips was killed after being shot in the head on Tuesday evening while the pair were at his friend's grandfather's home. The grandfather allegedly kept the gun under his pillow in the bedroom of his home in University City, Missouri. Scroll down for video . Tragic accident: Demetri Phillips, 12, was accidentally shot and killed by a friend while they played with a gun in University City, Missouri on Tuesday . The bedroom door was unlocked and the gun had no safety catch. Police said that it was likely the boy knew where his grandfather kept the gun as he was being raised by him and lived at the house. Police are now investigating and it is unclear whether charges will be brought against the grandfather. A four-year-old boy accidentally shot himself in the foot after he found a gun at his family home, police said. The child, who has not been identified, injured himself on Tuesday night and was taken to hospital in Houston, Texas. The boy is in critical condition. The child was at home with his parents when the shooting happened. He had climbed on top of a chest in the bedroom and found the gun. After hearing the gunshot, his parents found him lying on the bed and dialed 911. No charges have so far been brought. The boy who fired the gun has not been identified and is currently being held in a juvenile detention center. The case is being treated as an accidental shooting, police said. Demetri was in the sixth grade at Brittany Woods Middle School in University City and was in the same class as the friend who shot him. School spokeswoman Shantana T. Stewart told the St Louis-Post Dispatch: 'Demetri had a really good sense of humor. 'He was creative and came up with stories full of adventure.' A neighbor said that after he heard the shot being fired, he saw the boy come out of the garage with his cellphone in his hand and he was calling the police. Demetri's body was lying on the porch behind the garage at the suburban home. Fatal: The two boys had been playing at this home in a suburb of University City, Missouri when one friend shot the other in the head .

Demetri Phillips was killed on Tuesday in University City, Missouri . In separate incident, boy, 4, in critical condition after shooting himself in the foot at home in Houston, Texas .

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