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(CNN) -- Imagine you're about to travel to a foreign land. You've heard it can be a mighty dangerous place, but you have to go there -- you have no choice. You don't know exactly where the threats lurk, and you don't speak the language. Wouldn't it be nice to have a guide? Nurse Susan Gonzalez stopped a hospital nurse from giving her father a drug to which he is allergic. In many ways, a hospital is like that foreign land, and the guides that know the terrain are the nurses. As many as 98,000 people die in U.S. hospitals each year as a result of medical errors, according to an Institute of Medicine report. Some 99,000 people die each year from infections acquired in the hospital, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vigilance is key, says Cindy Sellers O'Brien, president of the mid-Maryland chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association. "The patients that do better are the ones that take an active role in their health care. They have the better outcomes [because] they take more ownership." The American Hospital Association agrees that patients play a crucial role. "While we are striving for perfection in the way we deliver care, we know we fall short of that mark -- but patients can help us get better," says Nancy Foster, AHA's vice president for quality and patient safety policy. "They can -- and should -- ask questions when something does not seem quite right." The consequences of medical errors are especially devastating for children, according to the Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals nationwide. This week the commission released tips for keeping your child safe in the hospital, noting that according to its figures, one in 15 hospitalized children is harmed by medication errors. A study out last week from the University of Michigan found that nearly two-thirds of parents reported they felt the need to watch over their child's hospital care to make sure no one made any mistakes. Given the dangers lurking in hospitals, we asked several nurses to give us their suggestions about what steps to take to protect yourself and your family. Watch more on avoiding hospital mistakes » . 1. Bring in a list of the medications you're taking . This is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your safety, according to a survey of 731 nurses by Consumer Reports. It's best to have the list in your wallet in case you're taken to the emergency room. Rita Kobert, a nurse in Fredericksburg, Virginia, who has a seizure disorder, told Consumer Reports she learned this lesson long ago. "If I fall from a seizure ... and have to go to the hospital, I already have a printout of medications," she said. 2. Make sure the hospital gets your name right . Last year, Michelle Waddy, a freelance pediatric nurse practitioner in Roanoke, Virginia, suffered a drop in hemoglobin and needed four units of blood immediately. "The emergency room nurse entered my name on the computer wrong. I was given blood under another patient's name," she wrote to us. Waddy says she caught the error, but the hospital continued to use the wrong name. "Luckily they had to get my blood type before I was given blood, or I wouldn't be telling this story." 3. Ask about every medication they give you . Nurses say to double-check the name, dosage, and timing of every medicine you receive in the hospital. Susan Gonzalez, a nurse in Austell, Georgia, caught a medication error just in time. She was visiting her father in the hospital when a nurse came to give him an intravenous medicine. "I asked them, 'What are you hanging?' " she said. The nurse answered it was ampicillin, an antibiotic. "I was like, 'My dad is allergic,' and they said, 'Oh, you're right.' That could have been a fatal outcome." 4. Make sure everyone washes hands . In the Consumer Reports survey, 26 percent of the nurses reported observing hand-washing lapses. "It seems like a simple little thing, but doctors and nurses pick up a lot of nasty germs and then transmit them to other patients," Dr. Howard Blumstein told Consumer Reports. Blumstein is a vice president of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and practices in North Carolina. Since it can be an uncomfortable conversation, Consumer Reports has a list of ways to ask a doctor or nurse to wash up. Here's advice on preventing hospital infections from the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, and the National Patient Safety Board. 5. If you think something's wrong, don't back down . O'Brien, the nurse from Maryland, said she had to fight to stop her mother from receiving a dangerous medication during an emergency visit to the hospital. She says her mother, who had breast cancer, was supposed to receive a dose of a steroid called Decadron before her chemotherapy sessions. She said someone in the hospital made a mistake and wrote in her mother's chart that she was supposed to receive Decadron every twelve hours. O'Brien begged the nurses to take her mother off the 12-hour schedule of Decadron, explaining that she was a diabetic and it could hurt her heart. Within 10 minutes of talking to the nurse, her mother experienced chest pain and had a heart attack, O'Brien recalls, adding that her mother survived. O'Brien says don't give up if you think something's wrong. "You don't need to be aggressive, nasty, and mean. Be convincing and confident," she said. CNN's Sabriya Rice and Jennifer Pifer Bixler contributed to this report.

Medical errors kill up to 98,000 U.S. hospital patients a year . To cut back on potential for mistakes, vigilance is key, says nurse . Ask about every medication the hospital gives you . If you think something is wrong, don't back down .

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By . Claire Ellicott . PUBLISHED: . 13:21 EST, 30 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:33 EST, 30 January 2013 . Brian Fraser leaves Maidstone Crown Court where he faces charges relating to the attempted murder of his former girlfriend Louise Leggatt . A marrried master of fox hounds shot his ex-lover after she rejected his bid to rekindle their romance, a court heard yesterday. Brian Fraser is accused of attempting to murder showjumper Louise Leggatt ‘in a fit of pique’ after she declined to  let him watch a horse race with her on television at her house. Days later, Miss Leggatt, 54, was blasted by a shotgun as she went to tend to her horses. Two months earlier, an arson attack had gutted her detached home in the exclusive Kent village of Benenden, forcing her to rent another property next door. The divorced mother of two had a five-year affair with Fraser after they met through the Ashford Valley Hunt in Kent in 2006, Maidstone Crown Court heard. They split up in October 2011 when Fraser, 64, went back to live with his wife in Shadoxhurst near Ashford. But last year he bought Valentine’s Day flowers for Miss Leggatt, the court heard. Then a few days before the shooting last March he brought her a box of chocolates when he arrived to help her move some boxes. Ian Acheson, prosecuting, said: ‘He tried to give her a cuddle or kiss. She did not reciprocate. They went back to her home where she made him coffee and they chatted. 'These people are fond of horses and members of the hunt and it was the Cheltenham Festival. ‘Louise said that as she was working, she would record the Gold Cup at which Fraser suggested that he come round and they watch it together over a Chinese. When she declined that suggestion, he was miffed and made a jibe or barbed comment as he was leaving.’ Six minutes before leaving his house on the night of the shooting, the court heard, Fraser sent Miss Leggatt a text message, angrily telling her not to ‘make any excuses’ about not watching the Gold Cup the following day with him. Denial: Fraser, (left, outside Maidstone Crown Court where he is on trial) denies attempting to murder Ms Leggatt (right) but has admitted possessing a firearm without a firearms licence between March 14 and 17 . Mr Acheson said: ‘In a fit of pique, . and with the Gold Cup reunion dragged from under his feet, he sent a . text message before trying to kill her, a woman who was causing him pain . and rage.’ The court heard that the master of fox hounds lied to police . twice, having initially denied owning a shotgun and that he had left . his house on the night of the shooting. But a shotgun and cartridges found at . his farm were compatible with the weapon with which Miss Leggatt was . shot, and Fraser was captured on his own CCTV leaving his home around . the time of the shooting, the court heard. Fraser denies attempting to . murder Miss Leggatt on March 15, 2012. She was left with fragments of . shot in her bowel and pelvis, but has made a good recovery. Shooting: Ms Leggatt was shot as she went to tend to her horses at Apple Pie Farm in Benenden, Kent, on March 15 last year, it has been alleged . Shooting: Maidstone Crown Court heard Fraser, 63, pulled the trigger 'in a fit of pique' in a bid to kill Ms Leggatt as she went to tend to her horses . Relationship: Fraser and Ms Leggatt (above) met through the Ashford Valley Hunt, in Kent, in 2006 but split in October 2011 when he went back to live with his wife . Mr Acheson told the court that Miss . Leggatt was at her house that night in Benenden, which is home to the . public school of the same name where Princess Anne was educated. He said: ‘At about 9.30pm she was . going to go outside to tend to her horses. She emerged and turned on the . patio lights. Her dog was barking and had clearly seen something. His . hackles were up. She shone a torch but before she could see or did see . anything, she screamed as she realised she’d been shot.’ Initially, Miss Leggatt accused her . ex-husband Philip Gorringe, as she blamed him for the arson attack. He . was arrested, but Fraser was later arrested and charged. The trial . continues. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.

Brian Fraser accused of trying to kill former lover, 54 . Court told he hid in bushes outside her farmhouse before shooting her . 63-year-old denies attempted murder but admitted possessing a firearm without a licence .

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By . Tim Shipman . PUBLISHED: . 08:50 EST, 14 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:22 EST, 14 November 2013 . David Cameron last night condemned the ‘appalling’ and ‘chilling’ slaughter of innocent civilians in Sri Lanka as he and Prince Charles arrived there for the Commonwealth summit. The Prime Minister flew into a diplomatic firestorm after demanding that President Mahinda Rajapaksa hold a new inquiry into his regime’s human rights abuses. But Mr Cameron’s hosts hit back, accusing him of behaving like a colonial bully. Scroll down for video . Prime Minister David Cameron and Witham MP Priti Patel, walk through Kolkata, India, where they visited the Howrah Bridge which was built by the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company . The Prime Minister is due to defy Mr Rajapaksa today by becoming the first world leader to visit Jaffna in the Tamil north of the country since Sri Lanka became independent in 1948. He will then meet Mr Rajapaksa and warn that he has ‘serious questions to answer’ about the murder of 40,000 civilians at the end of the civil war in 2009. Mr Cameron has faced pressure to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital. But he seized on footage smuggled out of Sri Lanka, which showed the regime shelling civilians in a supposed no-fire zone and the execution  of prisoners. David Cameron is visiting India for a two days before travelling to Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting . 'These are chilling images of appalling acts and they need to be properly investigated,’ he said. ‘There are legitimate accusations of war crimes that need to be properly investigated.’ He said the footage screened by Channel 4 has been ‘verified’ as true by the United Nations.Mr Cameron added that the Tamil Tiger terrorist group, which specialised in suicide bombings, ‘did appalling things as well’. But he said the onus was on Mr Rajapaksa to come clean ‘about how the long war ended and the appalling scenes we’ve seen on television of thousands of innocent civilians being killed at the end of that war’. Mr Cameron added: ‘Part of my message to President Rajapaksa is he should be seizing the opportunity to win the peace.’ Mr Rajapaksa hit back, insisting he has ‘nothing to hide’ and seeking to justify the killings on the grounds that violence has now ended. ‘I will be meeting him and I will also have to ask some questions,’ he said. ‘If anyone wants to complain about a human rights violation in Sri Lanka – whether it be torture, whether it be rape – we have a system. ‘People were getting killed for 30 years. At least after 2009 we have stopped it. There is no killing in Sri Lanka today.’ Sri Lanka’s information minister said the Prime Minister only condemned human rights abuses there in order to pander to Tamil voters in the UK. Keheliya Rambukwella added: ‘We are a sovereign nation. You think someone can just make a demand from Sri Lanka! We are not a colony. We are an independent state.’ Mr Cameron denied that he was lecturing a former colony. ‘We are two sovereign governments, this is 2013, and we should have these sorts of frank conversations,’ he said. Mr Cameron is due to visit a refugee camp and a Tamil newspaper that has suffered censorship and oppression by the regime, but Downing Street aides believe Sri Lankan officials may try to prevent him going to the north of the country. Prime Minister David Cameron meets staff at Air Radio in Kolkata, India .

President wants to meet Prime Minister to defend his country . Mr Cameron speaking ahead of Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka . Visited Indian radio station while on two-day trip before talks .

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Iraqi troops, security forces and tanks surged into Baghdad on Sunday as political turmoil deepened over who should lead the country. Military tanks were deployed to several neighborhoods in central Baghdad, two Iraqi police officials told CNN. The officials said there are also significantly more troops in Baghdad's Green Zone, the secure area where many government buildings, the military headquarters and the U.S. Embassy are located. The stepped-up troop presence comes as Iraqi forces battle Islamist militants in northern Iraq, and just after Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki accused Fuad Masum, Iraq's newly elected President, of violating the country's constitution by extending the deadline for Iraq's biggest political coalitions to nominate a candidate for prime minister. The precise reason for the growing number of troops in the Iraqi capital was unclear. But CNN military analyst retired Lt. Col. Rick Francona described it as an "ominous" development that signals the Iraqi Prime Minister doesn't want to hand over power. "You've got Nuri al-Maliki refusing to step down. Now he's mobilized not just security troops loyal to him, but now he's mobilized army units to put tanks in the streets. Some of the bridges have been closed," Francona said. "It looks like he's trying to lock down the city in some sort of confrontation with the President, so this does not portend well." Retired Marine Gen. James Williams said the stepped up security could also be a response to advances by militants from ISIS, the Sunni Muslim extremist group that has now declared itself the Islamic State. "It could be a show of force. If you're talking about protecting government buildings, there may be a sense that ISIS forces may be closer than everybody thinks at this point, and so depending on what the undercurrent in Baghdad right now, that could be a great sign for concern," Williams said. "But it may also be a concern that there's a coup afoot." CNN's Michael Holmes said al-Maliki could be digging in his heels for a political battle. "It's not in his DNA to go without a fight. This is a man who's really feeling besieged at the moment. He's cornered on all sides, if you like," Holmes said. "He's got ISIS on his doorstep, in a military sense. He even had the Grand Ayatollah the other day saying politicians should not cling to their posts. But this is a guy who seizes onto power. He holds it." In a televised speech Sunday, al-Maliki said he would file a complaint against Masum for allegedly violating Iraq's constitution. Lawmakers elected Masum, a veteran Kurdish politician who's been a member of the Iraqi parliament since 2005, to the presidency last month. Choosing a prime minister is a key next step for Iraq's leaders. Critics of al-Maliki have called for him to pull his name out of the running, but he's repeatedly refused. Al-Maliki and his Shiite-dominated government have been under enormous international pressure to be more inclusive of the country's minority Sunni population, who say they have been marginalized and cut out of the political process. Obama administration officials have talked repeatedly about how their priority is a political settlement that creates a more inclusive government in Iraq. A deadline to agree on a new prime minister had been set for last week and was extended on Sunday. In a statement Sunday, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the United States is closely monitoring the situation and supports Iraq's President. "The United States fully supports President Fuad Masum in his role as guarantor of the Iraqi constitution," she said. "We reaffirm our support for a process to select a Prime Minister who can represent the aspirations of the Iraqi people by building a national consensus and governing in an inclusive manner. We reject any effort to achieve outcomes through coercion or manipulation of the constitutional or judicial process." U.S. officials who put their faith in al-Maliki for years may have misjudged him, Francona said. "Most people thought that there would be this peaceful transition to the new government. He served for two terms," Francona said. "Now he's refusing to step down. ... This looks very bad, like he's going to refuse to go." Iraq's PM defiantly says he'll stay amid ISIS threat .

State Department says it supports Iraq President Fuad Masum . Military tanks are deployed to several Baghdad neighborhoods, officials say . Police officials say more troops have entered Baghdad's Green Zone . It looks like Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is "trying to lock down the city," analyst says .

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(Financial Times) -- When pop sensation Girls' Generation recently provided the grand finale to the Late Show with David Letterman, a top slot on US television, it signalled that South Korea's entertainment industry had broken out of Asia and is now looking to make it big in the west. Just days after making their first appearance on US network television with their hit single "The Boys", the band of nine telegenic women this week returned to France -- where tickets for a 2011 concert sold out in 15 minutes -- to sing on prime time television. Korean films, soap operas and "K-Pop" music idols, many of which were modelled on Japan's own sugary "J-Pop", have taken Asia by storm over the past decade. But the hallyu -- or "Korean wave" as the phenomenon is known in Asia -- is now spreading to Europe and the US, and spurring South Korea's export earnings. Cultural exports -- including films, comics and computer games -- hit a record $4.2bn last year, up from $2.6bn in 2009, causing the share prices of leading entertainment studios to soar. Even Korea's favourite cartoon character, the penguin Pororo, has appeared on television in 120 countries. Cho Hyun-jin, a government representative who coined the phrase K-Pop for Korean bands in a previous incarnation as a journalist, said the spread of Korean music had surpassed his highest hopes. "It was my old heroes like Led Zeppelin who famously played Madison Square Garden. Now to see Girls' Generation there is amazing," he said. While Korea has been an export powerhouse for decades in electronics, ships and cars, manufacturing companies have rarely played up their Korean brand identity, fearing until recently they would be seen as inferior in quality to Japanese rivals. Cultural exports are, however, giving the once reclusive country a global cachet for the first time, shaking off the war-torn images of the US comedy M*A*S*H. Broadcasting exports such as television dramas hit $252m last year, up from $185m in 2009, according to government statistics. Music earned $177m, soaring from only $31m in 2009. Film exports earned $26m, up from $14m in 2009. Until recently, hallyu was seen as an Asian phenomenon. A 2003 drama called "Jewel in the Palace" about a female doctor at a 16th-century royal court proved a huge hit from Taiwan to Iran, and has more recently come to eastern Europe. Asia is still crucial and the most effective managers continue to target export markets there. Park Jin-young, the impresario who runs JYP Entertainment, created the band Miss A with two Korean and two Chinese singers, so they can record their hits in both Korean and Mandarin. Girls' Generation sing in Korean, English and Japanese. "The next phase is for the music industry to introduce western singers to globalise the boy and girl bands further," said Han Koo-hyun, president of the Korean Wave Research Institute. Koreans have been surprised by the enthusiasm for K-Pop in the west, where Korean culture receives scant attention in mainstream media. Korean newspapers splash photographs of packed French concert halls or British fans greeting Girls' Generation with signs in Korean. These European fans have largely discovered K-Pop through social networking sites, Facebook and YouTube. Many commentators have also observed that K-Pop's novelty to outsiders comes from the years of training -- sometimes in tough quasi-boot camps -- that stars endure to ensure their songs are accompanied by immaculate group choreography that is rare in other pop music. While cultural exports are a source of national pride, Koreans are also calling for improved regulation of the industry. The suicide of Jang Ja-yeon, a soap starlet, in 2009, focused attention on hallyu's dark underworld where some performers are locked into slave contracts and are told to sleep with managers to win roles. Additional reporting by Kang Buseong and Jonathan Soble . © The Financial Times Limited 2012 .

Korean films, soap operas and "K-Pop" music idols have taken Asia by storm . Cultural exports -- including films, comics and computer games -- hit a record $4.2B . Korea's cultural playbook modeled on Japan's own sugary "J-Pop"

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(CNN) -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth II arrived in Northern Ireland Tuesday for a two-day diamond jubilee visit during which she will shake hands with a former IRA commander, Martin McGuinness, in a highly symbolic gesture. She will meet McGuinness, now a Sinn Fein politician and the deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, at an arts event in Belfast Wednesday. The meeting is a sign of the significant easing of tensions in British-Irish relations since the Good Friday peace deal was signed in 1998. Ireland's President Michael Higgins will attend the same event. On Tuesday, the queen was greeted in Enniskillen -- the scene of a deadly IRA bombing in 1987 -- by crowds lining the streets and waving Union flags. She was greeted by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Paterson, who accompanied her to a jubilee thanksgiving service at St. Macartin's Cathedral, an Anglican church, that was attended by more than 700 people. She also went to a smaller service at St. Michael's Church in Enniskillen, a Catholic church. Friday's confirmation that the queen would meet McGuinness prompted wide reaction in the UK media. It follows the queen's visit to the Republic of Ireland in May of last year, which was seen as ushering in a new era in relations. The meeting has an added significance for the queen because one of her relatives, Lord Mountbatten, was killed by an IRA bomb in 1979. IRA members have also killed police officers and soldiers in Northern Ireland, who serve in the queen's name. The nationalist community in Northern Ireland sees the British as occupiers and wants their rule in the province to end. Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams acknowledged the controversial nature of the handshake in a statement Friday. "Because this involves Martin meeting the British monarch, this will cause difficulty for Republicans and nationalists who have suffered at the hands of British forces in Ireland over many decades," he said. However, he said, the party had agreed that McGuinness should meet the queen "in the context of conflict resolution and national reconciliation, as well as our own republican national objectives." The event is not connected with the queen's diamond jubilee celebrations, he said. "This is a significant initiative involving major political and symbolic challenges for Irish republicans," Adams added. "As the record of the peace process demonstrates, Irish republicans have frequently been prepared to take bold and historic initiatives and risks for peace to break stalemates and find agreements." The Queen's 2011 visit to Ireland was the first by a British monarch to the republic since it gained independence in 1921 and marked a reconciliation between neighboring countries, which once viewed each other with suspicion and hostility. McGuinness has admitted that he was a leader of the Provisional IRA during the 30-year conflict in Northern Ireland between pro-British and pro-Irish forces. In recent years, he has received death threats from hardline dissident IRA splinter groups because of his support for the peace process. The majority of the island gained independence in 1921, following two years of conflict, but six of the nine counties of the province of Ulster chose to stay in the United Kingdom, eventually becoming the country of Northern Ireland. In the late 1960s the conflict between mainly Protestant unionists who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom and largely Roman Catholic nationalists who want the North to be reunited with the rest of Ireland exploded into a political and sectarian war, known as the Troubles. The three decades of ensuing violence between the IRA and loyalists claimed the lives of more than 3,000 people, most of them north of the border, and while the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 effectively ended the conflict, suspicions remain. Under the terms of the landmark accord, terrorist groups on both sides dumped their weapons, and political allies of the two now work together in Northern Ireland's power-sharing government. CNN's Max Foster contributed to this report.

Queen Elizabeth II is visiting Enniskillen, scene of a deadly IRA bombing 25 years ago . She is to meet former IRA commander Martin McGuinness Wednesday . McGuinness is now a Sinn Fein politician and the deputy first minister of Northern Ireland . The queen lost a relative, Lord Mountbatten, to an IRA bomb in 1979 .

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Washington (CNN) -- In a congressional version of hot potato, the Senate on Friday passed a short-term spending plan that would prevent a looming government shutdown and sent it to the House for a weekend showdown between Republican tea party conservatives and their more moderate party leaders. The 54-44 vote on strict party lines came after Senate Democrats pushed through an amendment to restore funding for Obamacare that House Republicans had eliminated in their version of the spending measure, which would prevent the start of a government shutdown on Tuesday. Now House Speaker John Boehner must decide whether to urge his divided Republican caucus to vote with Democrats to pass the Senate plan, or yield again to a hardline conservative wing that demands making continued government funding contingent on undermining Obamacare. Cruz loses filibuster bid . The Senate began its votes Friday by easily overcoming a filibuster led by GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas against the spending plan. Cruz waged a 21-hour floor speech this week against Obamacare, but 25 more moderate Republicans rejected his tactics in voting with Democrats on Friday to move ahead on the measure. All but two of the other Senate Republicans then joined Cruz in opposing the Democratic amendment to restore Obamacare funding, as well as in the vote for final approval. The other two Republicans -- Sens. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Orrin Hatch of Utah -- were out of town. Boehner indicated Thursday the House could revise the Senate's version and send that back, a move that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid warned would result in at least the start of a government shutdown because of the time it would take to reconsider the proposal. Cruz said Friday he expected his GOP colleagues in the House to continue the fight by revising the spending plan, which would mean "this issue is coming back to the Senate." In Friday's votes, Democrats facing re-election next year in conservative-leaning states such as Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Mark Begich of Alaska, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Kay Hagan of North Carolina all resisted Republican pressure to buck their party over the Obamacare funding. After the Senate vote on the spending plan, President Barack Obama criticized Republicans for using the threat of a government shutdown as leverage in trying to defund Obamacare. "The House Republicans are so concerned with appeasing the tea party that they have threatened a government shutdown or worse unless I gut or repeal the Affordable Care Act," Obama said, adding: "That's not going to happen." He noted new exchanges for private health insurance under the law will open next week as scheduled even if there is a government shutdown, calling it "a done deal." Exclusive: Romney disagrees with GOP tactics . The revised spending measure approved by the Senate -- called a continuing resolution -- would fund the government through mid-November, more than six weeks into the new fiscal year that begins Tuesday. Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski said the goal now was to work out a broader spending plan for the rest of fiscal 2014 that would ease the impact of forced cuts to the military and other government programs. House GOP split . Republican leaders in both chambers don't want a shutdown now over the spending issue, for political and negotiating reasons. They fear the optics of Republicans being blamed for a shutdown, and also want to exert as much leverage as possible for the GOP's agenda at the upcoming deadline to raise the federal debt limit. However, Boehner needs backing from the 40 or so tea party conservatives in the House in order to have a spending plan pass with full support from his Republican caucus. Their opposition to the Senate version that had included funding for Obamacare would mean the measure could only pass the House with support from all Democrats and some Republicans, which would further weaken Boehner's already shaky leadership of his caucus. The brinksmanship highlights the division within the Republican Party over how best to attack Obama's signature domestic policy achievement, which was pushed through Congress by majority Democrats in 2010 and upheld by the Supreme Court last year. Tea party conservatives want to halt Obamacare now, just as full implementation of its individual health care exchanges begins in the new fiscal year starting Tuesday. In the Senate, veteran Republican conservatives such as John Cornyn of Texas oppose the tea party strategy of linking the Obamacare funding to a possible government shutdown. "There are some people across America that are so upset with Obamacare -- and I understand their frustration -- that they say we ought to shut down the federal government," Cornyn said, adding that the Congressional Research Service had determined the health care reforms would be funded even if there was government shutdown "because there are alternate sources of revenue that could be used to keep it going. "So I say to my friends who say we ought to shut down the government to get rid of Obamacare that it won't work," he said. Democrats slam GOP tactics . Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa called on House Republicans to "be responsible and forget about kid's games like picking up their marbles and going home or throwing a temper tantrum or shutting down the government because you can't get your way." On Thursday, Boehner had to delay their plan to introduce a bill to raise the nation's debt limit after conservatives complained the proposed package failed to include enough budget cuts and significant changes to entitlement programs. The Obama administration says the debt ceiling must be increased by October 17 to ensure the government can pay all its bills. Boehner signals GOP focus now on debt ceiling . Boehner and his top lieutenants initially hoped to move ahead with their proposal to permit Washington to borrow more money to pay its bills as soon as Friday. The initial proposal by House GOP leaders, which would raise the debt ceiling for a year, included a lengthy list of GOP priorities including a one year delay of Obamacare, provisions to roll back regulations on businesses, tax reforms, and approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. However, conservatives wanted more. "It definitely has a lot of goodies in it, things that arguably would grow the economy and would arguably would generate more revenue," GOP Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama told reporters, adding he was undecided on whether to support it. "Washington has a spending problem and this debt ceiling bill does not address the problem." Another Republican, Rep. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, told CNN that she was also undecided but wanted to see deeper budget cuts on the measure. "I came here to cut spending and to reduce the size of the federal government, so when those opportunities arise I want to take advantage of them," Lummis said. When asked Thursday about the scope of cuts, Boehner told reporters that "in this bill, we have spending cuts and we have issues that will help spur more economic growth. We think the balance is correct." Obama said Friday that the GOP strategy amounts to threatening to "burn the house down simply because you haven't gotten 100% of your way." "That's not how our democracy is supposed to work," he said, repeating his past insistence that he will not negotiate under threat of a U.S. default because Congress failed to increase the debt ceiling. White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters on Thursday a one-year delay in implementing Obamacare's individual mandate for people to obtain health insurance would undermine a key provision of the program that prohibits the denial of coverage due to pre-existing conditions. "The fact is you have to make the system work," Carney said, adding people with pre-existing conditions won't be denied insurance under Obamacare "because of the expansion of the number of people who will be covered and participate in these marketplaces provided by the Affordable Care Act through the individual mandate." Some House Republicans questioned the strategy of proceeding to the debt ceiling fight before Congress resolved the question on spending and the possible shutdown. They argued the GOP still had some leverage to force a change to Obamacare on that measure. CNN Chief National Correspondent John King said Thursday that focusing on the debt ceiling was where House Republicans "wanted to wage this fight all along." "They didn't want to get bogged down in the government shutdown fight, but a conservative revolt within the House Republican ranks forced them to get there," King said. Analysts warn of severe economic impact from any doubt cast over whether the United States would fail to meet its debt obligations. A similar bout of congressional brinksmanship over the debt ceiling in 2011 led to the first-ever downgrade of the U.S. credit rating. CNN's Dana Bash, Ted Barrett, Deirdre Walsh and Bryan Koenig contributed to this report.

NEW: President Obama criticizes Republican tactics on shutdown, debt ceiling . The Senate sends the House a revised spending plan to avoid a shutdown . Senate Democrats restore funding for Obamacare opposed by Republicans . House Speaker John Boehner faces a showdown with tea party conservatives .

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(CNN)Imran Khawaja left London to train with a terror group in Syria last year and rose in the ranks, eventually appearing in one of its online promotional videos holding a severed head to the camera, authorities say. Sometime later, the group announced he was dead -- but police say it was only a ruse, uncovered when he was arrested trying to re-enter the United Kingdom. Khawaja, 27, was sentenced Friday in Woolwich Crown Court to 12 years in prison, having pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism and other terror-related charges, London's Metropolitan Police said. "Khawaja chose to become a terrorist, engaged in weapons training in a terrorist training camp and faked his own death in order to conceal his entry back into the UK," Metropolitan Police counterterrorism Cmdr. Richard Walton said Friday. "This sentence sends a powerful message to those who plan or prepare acts of terrorism overseas or here in the UK." Authorities say Khawaja, of west London, traveled to Syria in January 2014 and joined Rayat al Tawheed, a group aligned with ISIS, the brutal terror group that has captured parts of Syria and Iraq for what it says is its Islamic caliphate. Eventually, he took the name Abu Daigham al-Britani and appeared in one of the group's promotional videos featuring the training camp and encouraging others to join it, police said. In a separate video posted on social media, police say, a man with his face covered is seen with a bag of severed heads. He picks up one of the heads, according to police, and shows it to the camera. Police say a description with the video reads: "British ISIS fighter Abu Daigham al-Britani with Government soldier's head Syria." In May, the group sent a message on social media claiming that Abu Daigham al-Britani had been killed -- news reported at the time by the British media. Khawaja, however, was arrested on June 3 after entering the United Kingdom at the port city of Dover, Metropolitan Police said. "The images and video of Khawaja in Syria are horrific and deeply disturbing. He was a senior figure in Rayat al Tawheed, a group aligned to the Islamic State terrorist group that celebrated its terrorist acts through social media back to the UK," Walton said. Arrested with Khawaja was his cousin Tahir Bhatti, 45, on suspicion of assisting an offender. Police said they searched addresses linked to both men, and found messages and photographs that showed Khawaja had engaged in terrorist training in Syria, including how to handle weapons. Khawaja pleaded guilty in December to preparation of acts of terrorism, attending a terrorist training camp, weapons training and possession of an article for terrorist purposes. Bhatti pleaded guilty last month to assisting an offender and was sentenced Friday to 21 months in prison, Metropolitan Police said. A second man accused of helping Khawaja, Asim Ali, 33, of west London, was arrested in August. He was accused of, among other things, giving Khawaja money before Khawaja left for Syria. Ali pleaded guilty in December to entering a funding arrangement for the purposes of terrorism. He was sentenced Friday to 21 months in prison, Metropolitan Police said.

Police say Imran Khawaja, of west London, trained with a terror group in Syria last year . He was in a promotional video showing him holding a severed head, police say . The terror group said he'd died, but he really was trying to return to the UK, where he was arrested, police say .

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Bill Cosby is planning to perform in Colorado this weekend despite expected protests and a new allegation of sexual misconduct which has launched a police probe. The comedian released a statement on Thursday thanking his 'courageous' fans and saying he's ready to perform in Pueblo on Friday and at Denver's Buell Theater on Saturday, his first gigs in the U.S. this year. He finished his statement with references to his 'Fat Albert' character's trademark line and to his 2013 television special: 'Hey, Hey, Hey - I'm Far From Finished.' Scroll down for video . Bill Cosby performs in Melbourne, Florida on November 21 last year. It was one of the few tour dates that was honored amid dozens of cancellations by venues and fans following sexual assault allegations that have emerged against the TV star . The 77-year-old comedian is facing sexual assault allegations from more than 15 women, with some claims dating back decades. He has denied the allegations through his lawyer and has never been charged. In the most recent allegation, a model claims Cosby drugged and sexually abused her at the Playboy Mansion in 2008. Chloe Goins met with Los Angeles police on Wednesday to pursue criminal charges against the comedian over the incident almost seven years ago. Bill Cosby released this statement to The Denver Post: 'Dear Fans: I have thousands of loyal, patient and courageous fans that are going to leave their homes to enjoy an evening of laughter and return home feeling wonderful. 'I'm ready!... I thank you, the theatre staff, the event organizers and the Colorado Community for your continued support and coming to experience family, fun entertainment.... 'Hey, Hey, Hey - I'm Far From Finished.' An attorney for Miss Goins said after the meeting that his client is the first woman accusing Cosby of sexual misconduct whose case may fall within the statute of limitations. More than 15 women have accused Cosby of sexual misconduct, including several who say the comedian drugged and raped them in incidents dating back at least four decades. Goins did not speak during a press conference Wednesday. Her attorney, Spencer Kuvin, said she came forward after hearing about other women describing abuse by Cosby and realizing she might have a valid criminal case. Cosby's attorney, Marty Singer, did not immediately return requests for comment this week. Mr Kuvin declined to discuss what Miss Goins told detectives but restated her allegations that Cosby drugged her at a 2008 event at the Playboy Mansion. The model does not know what happened while she was blacked out but Mr Kuvin says she awoke to find herself naked and Cosby over her. 'Ms. Goins and I are here for two reasons: for justice and accountability,' Kuvin said. Miss Goins is at least the second woman to meet with Los Angeles police detectives to recount accusations against Cosby. Chloe Goins, a model who claims Bill Cosby drugged and sexually abused her at the Playboy Mansion in 2008, pictured outside LAPD headquarters after meeting investigators on Wednesday . Prosecutors rejected filing charges against Cosby based on allegations by Judy Huth, a Riverside County resident who is suing the comedian, alleging he abused her in the early 1970s when she was 15 years old. Huth's lawsuit states the abuse happened at the Playboy Mansion. Los Angeles police Commander Andrew Smith said that he could not confirm any investigation into Cosby and that sex abuse cases are 'extremely confidential'. Neither Smith nor Kuvin would speculate on what charges Cosby might face, and both noted that the statute of limitations for sex offenses are complex and depend on the facts of a case. Cosby's attorney has denied some of the accusations against the comedian, saying they have been discredited or come from discredited accusers. Cosby joked about the allegations against him at a recent show in Canada. 'We hope that the people that are paying to attend Mr. Cosby's shows understand that these victimized women have broken their silence now and they will not remain quiet any longer,' Kuvin said. 'Mr. Cosby should, and will be held accountable for what he's done.' He said women reporting abuse 'should be encouraged and not joked about'.

The comedian thanked his 'courageous' fans and said he's ready to perform in Pueblo on Friday and at Denver's Buell Theater on Saturday . He finished his statement with references to his 'Fat Albert' character's trademark line: 'Hey, Hey, Hey - I'm Far From Finished' The 77-year-old comedian is facing sexual assault allegations from more than 15 women, with some claims dating back decades . In the most recent allegation, a model claims Cosby drugged and sexually abused her at the Playboy Mansion in 2008 . Chloe Goins is the first woman accusing Cosby of sexual misconduct whose case may fall within the statute of limitations .

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85-year-old entertainer was due to perform in Australia . By . Richard Shears . Last updated at 6:17 PM on 24th June 2011 . Unexpected: The comedian was struck by an illness just minutes before he was due to perform . Legendary comedian Jerry Lewis was rushed to hospital in Sydney today, after falling ill minutes before he was about to perform to a club. The 85-year-old entertainer, on his eighth tour of Australia to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, fell ill just before he was scheduled to entertain an expectant crowd. Mr Lewis was so ill that he could not even get out of a car which brought him to the club last night. He was driven to hospital where he was admitted for tests but there was no immediate comment on his condition. Mr Lewis had shown no sign of illness earlier in the day, conducting a series of newspaper, tv and radio interviews. In true style, he had radio broadcaster Alan Jones roaring with laughter when he said he wasn't going to be in Sydney after all, but was flying to Brisbane. When Jones asked why, Mr Lewis replied: 'I don't know - I just made that up. I haven't got anything else to say.' [related . Later he told another journalist that he loved coming to Australia, where people had always treated him like a friend since his first visit in 1970 when he ended up staying in Tasmania for four weeks. 'It's a beautiful country, filled with honest beautiful people,' he said. Keeping the laughs coming: Jerry Lewis, seen here in 1967, still attracts big crowds . Clearly the warm feeling is mutual, as when club patrons were told that he had been taken ill and would not be able to continue with his scheduled performance, the gave him a standing ovation and wished him good luck. Mr . Richard Errington, chief executive officer of the Rooty Hill Returned . Servicemen's League club, where Mr Lewis was due to perform, said he was . with the American when he arrived at the club's entrance. Warm welcome: The popular comedian was given a standing ovation of support by the expectant crowd . 'He looked ill. He couldn't even get out of the car,' said Mr Errington. 'He was pale and looked extremely unwell. 'But I was heartened when I went on to the stage to advise the sell-out crowd that he had had to cancel. 'I told the audience they could have refunds, but they rose as one and gave Jerry Lewis a personal standing ovation of support. They said his charity could keep their ticket proceeds as a donation. 'It was a touching gesture that was recorded and will be seen by Mr Lewis when he is well.' During the past 61 years Mr Lewis has raised £1billion for the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation.

85-year-old entertainer was due to perform in Australia .

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New York (CNN) -- As the world mourns the untimely conclusion of professional famous person Kim Kardashian's marriage to professional tall person Kris Humphries, how are you coping? Probably not very well, particularly if you watched their televised $20 million wedding (for which they allegedly spent $0 -- various sponsors took care of the costs for this impoverished but hardworking young couple) on August 20. They were so in love. Sports fans and sex fans alike have shed countless tears over the breakup of a man who bounces a ball for living and a woman who once videotaped herself making sexy time with Brandy's little brother. But while we all acknowledge that Kim and Kris are the greatest living beings on Earth or any other planet, we may not all agree on what lessons to take from this sad state of affairs. Fortunately, as the Voice of My Generation, I'm available to explain the five most important things you and your friends ought to learn from Kim and Kris' impending divorce. 1. Providing $400,000 of Perrier-Jouët at one's wedding does not ensure the success of a marriage. You need Cristal for that. 2. Fish and relatives stink after three days, but spouses can last 24 times as long. Have you ever been stuck in a car with your beloved family for more than three hours? It's awful, and you probably love them more than any other folks in the world. Kim and Kris made it work for 72 whole days. That's 1,728 hours of uninterrupted togetherness! Rather than tear them down, let's salute them for their longevity. Considering that they probably ran out of new words after the first day, it's pretty amazing they lasted as long as they did. 3. Contrary to popular belief, it's a bad idea to marry a dude with the same first name as your mom. Especially when Mom describes herself on Twitter as "MOM, MANAGER, MOMAGER, LOVER OF LIFE, LOVER OF CHRIST." 4. If at first you don't succeed ... you'll probably also fail the second time. Like many other members of her generation, Kim fell in love and launched a starter marriage that didn't last so long. I'm talking, of course, about her first marriage -- she married producer Damon Thomas when she was 19 and divorced him four years later. Just remember, third time's a charm. Maybe. 5. One's posterior-to-waist ratio does not correlate to one's marriage-to-divorce ratio. 'Nuff said. And now, let the healing begin. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Sara Benincasa.

Sara Benincasa: Many are trying to cope with news of the Kardashian/Humphries split . She says fans may not agree on the best lessons to take from the breakup . She offers five: For one, the wedding needed better champagne for marriage to last . For another, don't marry someone with the same first name as your mother .

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It's not exactly a competition for the faint-hearted, but let's hope there was no sting in the tale for any of these brave bee beard growers. The remarkably daring men and women have got Ontario all abuzz after taking part in the tenth annual Clovermead Bee Beard Competition. The contest sees four teams of competitors entice swarms of bees to the head and torso of a 'beard grower' before two winners are chosen by the audience and the official judges. Scroll down for video . Oh Bee-hive! John Hiemstra (left) and Ken Vandendool show off their bee beards at the annual Clovermead Bee Beard competition . Honey, there's a problem: The annual competition at Clovermead Apiaries, in Ontario, is now in its tenth year . Each team consists not only of the beard model, but also a 'bee whisperer', who is able to groom the flying insects into the required shape. Beebearding is thought to date back to the 1700s when an English beekeeper discovered he could create a beard of bees by tying the queen to a thread around his neck and would parade through the streets wearing the unusual costume. At the Clovermead competition however, once in place, the beards are weighed before each wearer goes on to strut their stuff and perform a little dance in front of the watching crowds. The Bee Beard Champion is then chosen by judges, while the audience is also able to pick their Crowd Favourite. To bee the best, you've got to beat the best: Ken Vandendool (left) gets his bee beard groomed by Amsey McEown during the annual competition . Nuria Morrison of Mexico shows off her bee beard for the competition. Each team consists not only of the beard model, but also a 'bee whisperer', who is able to groom the insects into the required shape . Once in place, the beards of the competitors at Clovermead are weighed before each wearer goes on to strut their stuff and perform a little dance in front of the watching crowds . Clovermead Apiaries co-owner Chris Hiemstra told the In Transit blog of The New York Times: 'Bee beards are wonderful, but they’re really tickly. 'It takes well over a thousand stings in one shot to kill a person, so if you get a sting or two it’s no big deal.' The competition at Clovermead sees $2,500 donated to the champion's charity of choice, while $2,000 is given to the Crowd Favourite's charity and $500 is offered to charities chosen by the remaining two competitors.

Competition sees contestants entice swarms of bees to their face and torso . The beards are then weighed before the model struts their stuff on catwalk . Bee Beard Champion is chosen by judges while audience picks their Crowd Favourite .

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Dignified and solemn, and a display of all the ceremony that Britain could muster, Sir Winston Churchill’s State funeral 50 years ago was the country’s epic farewell to its revered wartime leader. But Buckingham Palace courtiers were initially opposed to giving such an honour to a mere ‘commoner’, previously unpublished official papers reveal. Their concerns have come to light as Britain prepares to mark the 50th anniversary of the funeral, which took place on January 30, 1965. Scroll down for video . Anniversary: Sir Winston Churchill, left, died 50 years ago. Right, guardsmen carry the Prime Minister's coffin . Official documents in the Parliamentary Archive in the House of Commons show that Royal representatives first raised their concerns in 1959 – just as civil servants were beginning to plan the event. A record of a ‘Garter Meeting’ which took place on June 23 that year states: ‘It was clear that Garter and the Palace representatives did not appreciate the vast scale on which this occasion is likely to develop – at any rate as regards the lying in state. In this they were considerably influenced by the theory that the funeral of a commoner must in all respects be on a smaller scale than that of a Royal person.’ The same document also refers to a proposal to include French and American troops in the event alongside representatives of the police, civil defence and Commonwealth forces. It states: ‘Opinion seemed to be against this, partly on the grounds that the procession must not be larger than that of a reigning Monarch and partly because it would be difficult to know where to stop.’ At one point it was even suggested that Prince Philip should act as one of the pallbearers. News of the Palace’s concerns will surprise many because the Queen was known to have been close to Sir Winston, who was Prime Minister when she came to the throne in 1952. Sombre: Crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square on 30 January 1965 to pray for the great wartime leader . Ceremony: Attended by dignitaries from 112 countries – a record – it was the largest State funeral to date . Mourning: The Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth led other members of the Royal Family in St Paul's . Historian Andrew Roberts, the author of the book Eminent Churchillians, said it was quite possible that the Queen herself had not been aware of the opposition. He said: ‘It is interesting that Buckingham Palace didn’t want Churchill’s funeral to overshadow Royal funerals. On one level you can see their point a bit. But this isn’t necessarily the Queen herself – it sounds like courtiers, who are often more conservative than the Monarch. ‘The very fact that the Queen went to the funeral of a commoner was a complete break with precedent.’ The files show that preparations for Churchill’s funeral were revised seven times in the years leading up to his death and that the last revision occurred just a month before he died on January 24, 1965. Tributes: Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill, Lady Blanford and the Marquis of Blanford at Churchill's grave . Dignified: Crowds gathered as the coffin is carried up the steps of St Paul's Cathedral in London . Respects: Queues outside St Martin's Parish Church in Blandon, Oxfordshire, where Churchill was buried . Officials spent a great deal of time planning what to do in the event of Sir Winston dying abroad. The files show that the Royal Navy was charged with bringing Churchill’s body home in the event of him dying in France, Belgium or Holland. In any other country, the Royal Air Force would have been responsible for repatriation. In the event, he died in his London home. Attended by dignitaries from 112 countries – a record – it was the largest State funeral to date. The former Prime Minister’s body lay in state for three days in Westminster Hall and more than 300,000 people waited to pay their respects. Silent crowds lined the street as the cortege made its way from Westminster to St Paul’s Cathedral and dockers bowed their cranes as the coffin was carried down the River Thames. Last night, Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Death of Sir Winston Churchill was marked with a dignified State funeral . But courtiers were initially opposed to giving honour to a mere commoner . Concerns come to light ahead of 50th anniversary of the funeral next week .

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MEXICO CITY, Mexico (CNN) -- Suspected drug cartel leaders in Mexico don't often answer reporters' questions, although one did call a radio station a few days ago to offer the government a deal. Police escort suspected drug cartel leader Jose Alberto Lopez Barron on Wednesday in Mexico City. So it was rather unusual for Jose Alberto Lopez Barron to speak to journalists shouting at him during a police lineup Wednesday, opening up a new window on how his reputed cartel operates. Lopez Barron was arrested this week in connection with the torture and killings of 12 federal police agents in Michoacan state July 13. Mexican federal officials say Lopez Barron, also known as "El Gordo," is one of the top leaders of La Familia Michoacana, a drug cartel blamed for a rash of violence that has left at least 18 federal agents and two soldiers dead since July 11. Speaking in a calm manner, Lopez Barron said that even if the cartel acted outside the law, it operates in an orderly manner and under rules that not only cartel members have to obey, but also residents in Arteaga, one of the cities the cartel controls. "You can't go around shooting off guns," Lopez Barron said. "You can't go around killing people, not only us but for the whole town. You can't speed in your vehicle. You can't traffick any kinds of drugs without telling us first." Anyone who wants to sell drugs, he said, has to go through the Familia Michoacana. "It has to be the company's merchandise," Lopez Barron said. "He has someone there who I believe is in charge of distributing cocaine." Cocaine can be sold retail, he said, but not methamphetamine, known as crystal or ice, since La Familia has prohibited it in the whole state. Lopez Barron said his direct boss was Servando Gomez, known as "La Tuta." Authorities said Gomez is La Familia Michoacana's top leader. Gomez went on a radio show recently to offer a truce with the federal government. Mexican President Felipe Calderon quickly answered that the government does not make pacts with criminal organizations. Lopez Barron said authorities have tried to capture Gomez but local residents have protected him. "Elements from the federal investigations agency arrived in town -- I wouldn't know the exact number of agents -- and we had to leave town for the hills. We arrived at a small ranch called La Peña, and they gave us nourishment and refuge." The suspect said municipal authorities respect the cartel and it respects the local police. He said that although the sale of drugs has diminished, the cartel has not stopped paying local police for protection. Lopez Barron was one of four suspects arrested this week in connection the slayings of the 12 federal agents in southwestern Mexico. Officials said he had a handgun that was traced to one of the slain officers. The other three suspects -- Gamaliel Rodriguez Granados, Evaristo Armas Bello and Jaime Rafael Navarro -- were captured inside a taxi in a town in Michoacan, officials said. The killings were among a series of reprisals by La Familia after the federal police captured one of their top leaders, authorities said.

Jose Alberto Lopez Barron arrested in connection with deaths of 12 police agents . Mexican officials: Lopez Barron a top leader of La Familia Michoacana drug cartel . "You can't go around shooting off guns," suspect tells reporters . Anyone who wants to sell drugs has to go through cartel, Lopez Barron says .

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Is this the the slowest police chase ever? A video of an Auckland man gliding away from for police in a shopping trolley has gone viral, garnering over four million views and over 115,000 likes on Facebook. The 29-second clip shows a man leaning over a trolley and rolling down Queen St in Auckland, before a police car appears to spot him and pursue him down the street with sirens blazing. A video of a man scooting away from police in a trolley cart has gone viral . Onlookers cheer the man on as he veers around the corner, with one man urging him to 'go faster brother!' The video, which is filmed on a sunny day, does not reveal who the mystery trolley rider is nor when it was filmed. New Zealand police have denounced the clip, declaring the conduct of the man could be worthy of prosecution. Auckland City district road policing manager Regan James told Stuff NZ 'The individual may think this is a joke but it is clearly a dangerous activity which puts himself and others at risk.' 'A shopping trolley travelling at speed in this way on a busy CBD road with multiple road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles, has the potential to cause serious injury to an adult pedestrian or, even worse, to a child', he said. 'Without information about the date this occurred, we are unable to say what the outcome of this incident was. We can, however, say a warning or even prosecution for using a vehicle carelessly could be considered.' Auckland police have denounced the clip as being reckless, claiming the man could be liable for prosecution . The video has been reposted by several prominent Facebook pages, including LAD Bible and Fortafy. It has garnered a wealth of comments from New Zealanders, such as Robert Danbury, who posted: 'Never have I been more proud to be a New Zealander.' LAD Bible, an English based page, has over 7 million followers around the world.

Video of man escaping from police in a shopping trolley has gone viral . The clip shows a man being pursued by police on Queen St in Auckland . It does not reveal the identity of the mystery rider nor when it was filmed . It has garnered over four million views and over 115,000 likes on Facebook . Auckland police have denounced the clip as being reckless and unlawful .

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By . Joel Christie . Three apartments within New York's grand Ritz-Carlton hotel have been listed for sale as one property for the price of $118.5 million, making it the most expensive home in Downtown Manhattan. The condominium units take up the top two floors of the sprawling building at 10 West Street in Battery Park City, the exclusive community at the southern tip of Manhattan. The residence measures up at a total of 15,434 square feet and has been listed by Ryan Serhant, one of the three power brokers that star in reality TV real estate series Million Dollar Listing. It also has nearly 2,200 square feet in terrace space, according to NBC. Quite a view, eh?: With almost 2,200 square feet in terrace space alone, three units inside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Battery Park City have been listed together for $118.5 million . The combined home, with sprawling views of the Hudson River and Downtown Manhattan, is the most expensive listing in New York . There is no saying whether the sale will go anywhere near $118.5 million. The highest price paid for a property in Manhattan is $88 million . Because the units are inside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel - on floors 39 and 40 - the owner will be afforded the hotels amenities, such as room service . The sale is being handled by Ryan Serhant, one of the three brokers that star on reality TV series Million Dollar Listing . The three apartments are not yet combined but have the potential to be . The asking price beats out a a $110 million penthouse that went on the market in the former Woolworth building. The three apartments - on levels 39 and 40 and with expansive views of the Hudson River and Statue of Liberty - are only being sold as a whole but are owned by two different people. The Wall Street Journal reports that one of them, a five-bedroom duplex measuring at about 7,600 square feet and with two terraces, was listed last year for $56.6 million but then taken off the market. It is said to be owned by Gary Segal of Five Star Electric in Ozone Park. Mr Segal is owner of another units in the sale, which he only bought in April for $11.7 million. The third condo is a four-bedroom duplex with five bedrooms, which was listed earlier this year for $23 million. It is owned by financier Randall Yanker, who bought it for $4.786 million in 2005. Ryan Serhant, 29, who has listed the three units as one property, is love-to-hate fan favorite broker on Bravo's reality series Million Dollar Listing . The residence measures up at a total of 15,434 square feet . The expansive terrace space and views is part of the listing's premiere drawcards . The master bedroom features stunning views of the Hudson River, Governors Island and the Statue of Liberty . The property has three eat-in kitchens . Serhant, of Nest Seekers International, told The Journal that the listing is justified by the square footage and the amenities. The lucky buyer will access to hotel's services, such as housekeeping and room service. As it stands, the most expensive property sale in New York City was $88 million. That was paid for a penthouse at 15 Central Park West by fertilizer magnate Dmitry Rybolovlev in 2011. At the time Mr Rybolvelev was the world's 93rd most richest person. In 2011, fertilizing magnate Dmitri Rybolovlev purchased an $88 million apartment on Central Park West for his daughter Ekaterina Rybolovleva. It remains the most expensive property sale in Manhattan and boasts 10 rooms, a wrap-around terrace, library and seven walk-in closets .

Battery City Park property is the most expensive listing in Downtown Manhattan . The three units occupy the top two floors - 39 and 40 - of the Ritz-Carlton . Put on the market by Million Dollar Listing star and power broker Ryan Serhant . Measures at a total of 15,434 square feet, with 2,200 square feet in terrace space .

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(CNN) -- With the launch of the gleaming new Azzam, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich can no longer lay claim to being the owner of the world's largest superyacht. At 590- feet long, the Azzam is 57-feet longer than Abramovich's mighty Eclipse -- previously the largest yacht on the waves. The hulking superyacht is significantly longer than a football field, larger than the US Navy's Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and more capacious than many popular cruise ships. Last month, the behemoth eased cautiously out of its shipyard in Bremen, Germany, ushered by a team of powerful tugboats which were dwarfed by its enormous scale. The yacht has been kept under wraps throughout its construction for the past three years. The identity of the huge boat's owner remains a mystery, but some speculate that it belongs to a powerful Middle Eastern billionaire. Just building the yacht cost a staggering $605 million -- a fee which doesn't even begin to take into account the sky-high costs of its annual upkeep. In his book on the Lady Linda superyacht, author G. Bruce Knecht said that, "operating and maintaining a yacht is at least 10% of what the thing cost." By which estimation, just keeping the Azzam on the water could cost as much as $60 million every year. The project was brought to fruition by Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi, who assembled a triumvirate of yacht-building super stars: the Azzam's engineering was done by premier German shipbuilding company Lürssen, the exterior design was by Nauta Yachts and the interior was composed by Christophe Leoni. At present, very little is known about the interior detailing of the vessel. A spokesperson for Lürssen said "the yacht is still under construction, and I doubt that we will get permission to shoot her even when she is ready." Experts suggest that the interior could match or even surpass the opulence of Abramovich's yacht which is equipped with two helipads, two swimming pools, a cinema, a disco and a mini-submarine that can dive to 150-feet to explore the ocean floor. Bullet-proof glass and armor plating lines Abramovich's master bedroom, and the boat has its own missile defence system. The Azzam is described as having a "sophisticated and luxurious interior in a turn of the century Empire style." Although his primary work is not in yachting, French interior decorator Christophe Leoni says he is "confident that the final yacht is everything and more the owner expects." TheYachtPhoto's Peter Seyfferth commented: "For a yacht of this size, I think that she looks amazingly elegant and sleek." As well as its prodigious length, the yacht also travels at a record-breaking pace. With a top speed of over 30 knots (around 34 mph), the Azzam is considered to be the fastest superyacht on the sea. The Azzam is the latest in a line of vessels to have held the mantle of world's largest yacht. Prior to the Eclipse, the 482-foot Prince Abdulaziz, owned by the Saudi royal family, held the record for 22 years. And before it, the Rising Sun was briefly the record-holder. Built by American businessman Larry Ellison, The Rising Sun came in at 454-feet and cost $200 million. With many more billionaires around the world eager to inscribe their names into the history books, it is anyone's guess quite how long the Azzam will remain at the top. For now, its mystery owner can revel in the knowledge that his or her boat is at the very pinnacle of the yachting pecking order.

590-foot Azzam becomes world's largest superyacht . The yacht is 57-feet longer than Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich's Eclipse . With a top speed of 30-knots, the Azzam is also the fastest superyacht on the waves .

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By . Nick Purewal . Lleyton Hewitt is still targeting sole ownership of the record title haul at the Queen's Club Aegon Championships after easing into the second round. The 33-year-old Australian last won in Kensington in 2006 and shares the all-time record of four tournament victories with American Andy Roddick. Hewitt reached the semi-finals last year, before being dislodged by Marian Cilic - and believes that run sparked a resurgence in form leading to him claiming the Brisbane International title. Old stager: Lleyton Hewitt reached the second round of the Aegon Championships at Queens Club, London . High five? Australian 33-year-old beat Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-3 6-3 as he searches for a record fifth title . Hewitt saw off Roger Federer in January to land his first title in four years, and is aiming to sustain his hot streak after overcoming Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-3, 6-3. "I'd love to win a fifth title here," said Hewitt. "That run I had last year was great. I felt like I got a lot of confidence out of that. "That set me up for a good US summer and a good US Open, beating Del Potro there as well. "I really love coming back to this tournament and playing well. "I love coming here, I just love the surroundings. "The setting was a fantastic crowd for a first day at Queen's where a lot of the top seeds have byes as well. "I felt pretty sharp out there, I've been hitting the ball well in practice, I felt good on the grass straight away. "The last few years it hasn't taken me long to adapt after clay, I'm fortunate in that way, but I come in with a positive mindset as well." Down and out: Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain reacts after falling in his first round defeat to Lleyton Hewitt . Hewitt is still ranked 43 in the world, but said he has no interest in the statistics - instead he will chase that elusive fifth Queen's title and a positive run at Wimbledon. "I don't set any targets over that, I couldn't care less about my ranking," he said. "Obviously I want to win every tournament I enter, and every match I play. "The majors are still the top motivation, and in a couple of weeks' time it's one of the big ones for me."

Hewitt reached the second round of the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club in London . Australian veteran beat Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-3, 6-3 . The 33-year-old is trying to win a record fifth title at the Wimbledon warm-up event .

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When Ian McLaren-Morris named his 12 meter yacht "Silver Slipper," he never could have known it would bring him a real life fairytale romance. The divorced father-of-two had long dreamed of sailing around the globe with his very own Cinderella; a soul-mate who shared his love of the ocean and sense of adventure. But finding a special woman willing to quit her job and say goodbye to her family and friends for a romantic voyage into the sunset wasn't quite as straightforward as the 52-year-old had hoped. Like a growing number of single people across the world, McLaren-Morris searched for love on internet dating websites. Two years later and the sailor was still no closer to finding his seafaring sweetheart. It wasn't until McLaren-Morris signed up to a website catering specifically for boating enthusiasts, LoveSail.com, that he found the woman of his dreams -- 45-year-old former superyacht hostess Wendy Robson-Burrell. The pair met at the Chichester Yacht Club in south-east England, embarking on a whirlwind romance that found them engaged just six months later. They now plan on marrying in April, sailing around the world for their honeymoon before joining the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), the world's largest transatlantic yachting event later in the year. "I loved sailing, I had my own boat, and I wanted to do it with someone who got the same excitement and pleasure out of it," McLaren-Morris, a former sales and marketing director at National Geographic, said. "And to do that, you can't have a partner that's too high maintenance. You can't be with someone who needs to have a hairdryer, their nails done, a shower everyday. "Wendy is so naturally beautiful she doesn't need all that. She just loves having the wind in her hair. And being near the water is one of the most important things in her life." Launched in 2004, LoveSail now has around 5,500 users ranging from professional skippers to hobby sailors. As the name suggests, most are looking for love but there are also offers of friendship, sailing trips and work opportunities. For those mariners constantly on the move, trying to find a partner willing to wait on land or give up everything to jump on board is one of the pitfalls of a seemingly idyllic lifestyle. "People who sail tend to be extremely passionate about it -- it's a big investment," LoveSail director Erica Joyce said. "But it can be difficult for sailors because they're not based in one place, so when they do find someone they often have to leave them." It's a scenario former delivery captain Tor Pinney knows well. As a handsome young sailor traveling the globe in the 1970s, Pinney had little problem meeting women willing to show him around their home town or even set sail for a brief adventure on the high seas. But rather than leading to a long-lasting relationship, it was more often a case of ships that pass in the night as Pinney's nomadic lifestyle made it difficult to rest his anchor in one port for very long. Now 64-years-old, Pinney's love of the water hasn't waned. And neither has his search for a partner willing to share an unconventional life on the waves. "When I was 20 there was no shortage of girls who wanted to share this experience and cruise the islands," said Pinney, speaking from his 12 meter yacht in St John's River, Florida. "But as people get older they seem to lose that adventurous spirit -- and that's changed my prospects." Pinney also signed up to LoveSail.com in the hope of finding that special lady. He's still yet to find her, admitting: "It's difficult to hook up with a LoveSail girl for a cup of coffee when I'm still sailing all over the world." Online dating is big business in the UK, with more than 9 million people logging on in search of love last year, according to Metaflake, a company that reviews internet dating sites. It's the highest number in Europe, with Britain now claiming 1,500 of the continent's 5,000 dating websites. And it's continuing to grow, with the industry turning over £170 million ($270 million) in the UK -- a 6% rise on the previous year. "It's not just people who sail, everyone has busy lives now and you don't have the opportunity to meet new people," McLaren-Morris said. "Five years ago, if someone had told me they were doing online dating my reaction would have been 'you silly idiot.' But as more people do it, the stigma disappears." For Pinney, the joy of yachting is still far too great to give up on the off-chance it will help him find love. "It's a lifestyle I chose when I was 16-years-old and obviously it presents its challenges," he said. "But it's beautiful out here. I can watch osprey and fish from my deck and manta rays dive under my boat." Whether he'll one day share that beautiful view with a special lady remains to be seen. But then, there's always plenty more fish in the sea.

For sailors traveling the globe, finding a longterm partner can be difficult . Young mariners may find it easier to meet adventurous companions . Online dating site LoveSail.com caters to sailing enthusiasts looking for love . Increasing number of Britons turning to internet dating, highest in Europe .

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By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 12:21 EST, 30 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:15 EST, 30 October 2013 . A Norwegian shop has been forced to apologise to children and their families after it packed realistic looking severed plastic hands and feet in butchers' plastic trays and sold them as part of its Halloween collection. Furious parents were horrified when they discovered the severed limbs in the meat freezers which terrified children looking for Halloween costumes and decorations. Europris, which has stores across Norway, has now been forced to withdraw the range of fake, shrink-wrapped body parts. Furious parents were horrified when they discovered the severed limbs in the meat freezers . Knut Spaeren, the company's spokesman, said: 'We also didn't want to cause any upset, especially not to children and we are withdrawing the range with immediate effect.' But the move failed to lessen the storm of protest on Facebook and other social media platforms. Facebook user Mona Urfjell wrote: 'I think it's such a shame that we have an American tradition so violently forced down our throats.' Another Gudveig Olsen wrote: 'It's absolutely terrible and it should not be allowed.' Europris has now been forced to withdraw the range of fake, shrink-wrapped body parts . The fake hands looked so realistic they scared children who visited the shop in Norway . Ivar Larsen added: 'Do we not have enough violence in the country without these kind of crazy people bringing such things into the shops.' Earlier this month a man who puts up a display of 'disembowelled corpses' outside his home in Hertfordshire was asked to tone it down. James Creighton, 25, was told that his scene was making children cry with its macabre reconstruction of a scene from The Texas Chainshaw Massacre. He has put the display up outside his house in Stevenage to raise funds for charity every year since his grandmother died in 2009. But one parent complained to Hertfordshire Constabulary, concerned that the collection of 'bloody corpses and gory skeletons' was scaring young children.

Parents horrified after discovering fake severed limbs in meat freezers . Europris has been forced to withdraw the range of body parts .

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By . Luke Salkeld . PUBLISHED: . 07:21 EST, 26 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:29 EST, 26 July 2012 . Shaun Clee is chief executive of Gloucestershire's 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, and chairman of the Mental Health Network . With his staff facing pay cuts and redundancies, it might have been wise for Shaun Clee to show a little more sensitivity. Instead, the NHS chief executive went on Twitter to show off his new pride and joy  – a £10,000 speedboat. Some of his staff follow his account on the social networking site and were outraged and insulted by his ostentatious purchase, made during a summer trip to Cornwall. Mr Clee, 52, chief executive of the 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, has signed up to a consortium of health trusts reviewing staff pay and conditions in an attempt to reduce costs by 2013. All staff earning more than £21,000 could face a pay cut, with reduced leave and bank holiday pay. Sickness and unsociable hours pay could also be slashed. Under his Twitter username Pictoontwit, he told his 407 followers: ‘Round-trip to St Austell, sea trial resulted in a new boat – oops!’ Tim Coupland, an NHS worker in Gloucestershire, then asked: ‘As in the purchase of a new boat?’ And Mr Clee replied: ‘I am afraid I have to plead guilty.’ The father of three, who lives in a £650,000 detached house in Worcester, went on to describe his purchase as a fast ‘day boat’ for inshore or river fishing. He then posted a picture of what is believed to be his boat on his Twitter page, before adding: ‘Relaxing with a nice glass of something is definitely the order of the day.’ His 27-year-old daughter Ellen replied: ‘Nice, but we were hoping for something we could holiday on!’ Mr Clee responded: ‘That sounds like a lottery win wish.’ 'Oops!': This picture tweeted by health trust boss Shaun Clee is believed to be the boat he purchased after a trip to Cornwall . As boss of the trust, which provides mental and social healthcare in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, Mr Clee earned between £140,000 and £145,000 last year. The boat in the picture is a Raider Boats 16 Cuddy, believed to be about 12 years old and worth around £10,000. John Nicholson, managing director of Raider Boats UK, said: ‘The 16 Cuddy is purely a leisure fishing boat and this particular model could reach up to 30mph, maybe more.’ Mr Clee’s gaffe stunned workers who face an anxious few months to discover whether their pay will be slashed. Employees who fail to agree to the proposals could be made redundant and forced to sign new terms of employment. 'Regretful': Mr Clee's tweets about his new boat were met with anger from some staff at the 2gether NHS Foundation Trust . Chris Moore, co-ordinator for the local campaign group Stroud Against The Cuts, said: ‘At a time when NHS staff are being told their pay and conditions are under attack, it is outrageous that management can behave in this way. It shows a complete arrogance of management.’ A worker at the 2gether Trust, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘It seems insulting to people who follow him. I believe it shows poor judgment. ‘Staff want a leader who they can look up to and admire. People are absolutely incensed. You shouldn’t put it in other people’s faces.’ Mr Clee, who is married to wife Sarah, has 32 years experience in the NHS and moved into management in 1990. A spokesman for the 2gether Trust said: ‘The timing of the message on Mr Clee’s Twitter feed was regrettable as we appreciate staff have concerns around our membership of the pay consortium.’ He added that there were no formal proposals to consider and discussions with staff would continue.

Health trust boss splashes out on new purchase as anxious staff await outcome of pay review . Tweets picture of boat to his more than 400 followers - including NHS staff . Staff earning over £21,000 at Gloucestershire's NHS 2gether Foundation Trust could see their pay cut and leave reduced following a cost-cutting review . Those who fail to agree to new proposals may face redundancy .

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(CNN) -- Powerful storms that damaged homes and businesses in Texas and the central United States moved east Friday, threatening a wide swath from the Gulf Coast north to the upper Ohio Valley, the National Weather Service reported. In Memphis, Tennessee, early-morning storms knocked out power to 3,495 Memphis Light, Gas and Water customers, CNN affiliate WMCTV reported. Most customers had power restored in a few hours, the station said. Heavy rain caused flooding that closed parts of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, CNN affiliate WEWS-TV in Cleveland reported. The weather service issued a wind advisory for parts of Indiana and a flood warning for central Indiana, with both expected to end Friday night. The main threat will be thunderstorms with straight-line winds and hail, the weather service said. Heavy rain is possible throughout the area as well as in the Northeast. In Birmingham, Alabama, and Jackson, Mississippi, the chance of thunderstorms is 100% before 1 p.m., with storms tapering off the rest of the day. A drenching thunderstorm also was predicted for Cleveland and Cincinnati. In Atlanta, there's a 60% chance of thundershowers Friday and Friday night. On Friday morning, no twisters had been spotted in the South and Midwest. In Texas and Missouri on Thursday night, people were cleaning up damage caused by the storms and, in some cases, tornadoes. Authorities say a tornado touched down Thursday night in Hopkins County, Texas, causing serious damage to homes and businesses such as the Burger Barn Restaurant and Joe Bob's Gas Station, according to CNN affiliate KTVT-TV. The tornado reportedly touched down near Birthright, just north of Sulphur Springs. The storm also knocked down the local water tower. A tornado was spotted on the ground Thursday night in St. Louis County, Missouri, near Glendale. About an hour earlier, the agency reported a "damaging" twister with quarter-size hail about 50 miles west near Washington. And a tornado was earlier reported in the Osage County community of Rich Fountain. Denton County, Texas, sheriff's office spokeswoman Sandi Brackeen said that "a tornado touched down south of Krum." Outbuildings and barns, but no known homes or commercial properties, suffered damage, said county emergency services chief Jody Gonzalez. St. Louis residents awoke Thursday to tornado sirens as a cluster of heavy thunderstorms began moving through. The weather service confirmed a tornado touched down about an hour before sunrise in the St. Louis suburb of University City, gouging a half-mile-by-100-yard path. The weather service gave the tornado an initial rating of EF-1, packing top winds of 112 mph. The twister knocked down trees and ripped up a gas main in University City, but there were no injuries, University City Mayor Shelley Welsch reported via Twitter. St. Louis County officials said about 100 homes had been damaged. The national Storm Prediction Center noted reports of large hail falling Thursday in parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Renato Reyes-Gomez sent CNNiReport a picture of golf ball-size hail in Denton, Texas, saying he cannot recall anything "ever this big." CNN's Greg Botelho, AnneClaire Stapleton, Matt Smith, Henry Hanks and Jennifer Moore contributed to this report.

NEW: Power knocked out, restored in parts of Memphis, Tennessee . Storms that struck Texas, St. Louis are moving east . There's a strong chance of rain in Cleveland, Birmingham and Atlanta . Twisters caused damage Thursday, but no deaths have been reported .

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(CNN) -- The opening race of the Formula One season, the Bahrain Grand Prix, has been axed due to ongoing political unrest in the country. The Bahrain government confirmed the race, scheduled for March 13, had been called off on Monday afternoon after days of speculation. The Bahraini Crown Prince, Salman bin Hamad al Khalifa, informed Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone of the decision by telephone after days of unrest in the Gulf kingdom. The 2011 Formula One season will now begin in Melbourne, Australia on March 27. CNN blog: Have F1's global riches come at a cost? The Crown Prince told the country's Information Affairs Authority Twitter site: "We felt it was important for the country to focus on immediate issues of national interest. "Bahrain's priority is on overcoming tragedy, healing divisions and rediscovering the fabric that draws this country together to remind the world of the very best that Bahrain is capable of as a nation once again united. "At the present time the country's entire attention is focused on building a new national dialogue for Bahrain. "I would like to extend my personal gratitude to Bernie Ecclestone for his support and understanding." Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets in recent days to protest against the country's ruling monarchy, basing themselves at the Pearl Roundabout in the capital Manama. Around 10 protestors were reported to have been killed after security services attempted to clear the roundabout on Thursday. The Crown Prince said he was deeply sorry for the deaths in an interview with CNN. There has been no announcement yet on whether the race will be held at a later date, though chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit Zayed R. Alzayani told CNN he was hopeful there would be an annoucement in a "matter of weeks." He said: "That all depends on how the events in Bahrain going on at present turn out -- there will be a process of reconciliation launched soon and all parties will come to the table in response to his Royal Highness's efforts and things will come back to normality." The cancellation of the race could be costly for Bahrain's economy. The 2008 grand prix was worth around $600 million in direct and indirect revenue, according to the Marcopolis website. British newspaper The Times reported that it cost Bahrain race organizers $40 million to secure a place in this year's calendar, plus another $20 million to ensure it was the first of the season. On top of that, the $200 million Sakhir circuit has also had a $50 million revamp since last year's race. Mark Webber, driver for the Red Bull team, backed the cancellation. He said "I think the right decision was made, in light of what is going on, so we look forward to Melbourne instead. "It would have been nice to go to Bahrain, but hopefully it can stage the race again. As for starting in Melbourne, it's my home race and, as always, I'm looking forward to it. Webber's comments were echoed by Renault team boss Eric Boullier. He said: "The recent situation in Bahrain has been difficult for the country. We feel the decision taken by the Crown Prince is wise and we fully support it. "The Bahrain Grand Prix has always been warmly welcomed with enthusiasm from the Bahraini people and we're looking forward to going back there when they have healed their country."

The Bahrain Grand Prix has been canceled . Opening race of the Formula One season was due to take place on March 13 . It is called off due to ongoing political unrest in the Gulf kingdom . The season will now begin in Melbourne, Australia on March 27 .

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(CNN) -- Confirming earlier rumors, Apple launched a new program Friday that will allow customers to trade in old iPhones at U.S. Apple stores for credit towards a newer model. Apple already has an online recycling program that lets users trade older iPhones for credit on an Apple gift card. This new nationwide program lets customers bring their phones into stores for a discount on a new handset -- most likely the next iPhone, expected to go on sale next month -- provided the new phone comes with a wireless contract. You may want to hold off until Apple makes its latest iPhone announcements so you're not stuck with last season's model. The company is widely expected to unveil two new iPhones at an event on September 10. "iPhones hold great value. So, Apple Retail Stores are launching a new program to assist customers who wish to bring in their previous-generation iPhone for reuse or recycling," said Apple spokeswoman Amy Bessette in a statement. "In addition to helping support the environment, customers will be able to receive a credit for their returned phone that they can use toward the purchase of a new iPhone." According to reports in the Wall Street Journal and 9to5 Mac, the most Apple will credit someone for an old device is $280, and the store credit needs to be used on a new iPhone. Apple's Reuse and Recycling programs are not new, but they seem to get renewed attention every August, just ahead of September iPhone announcements. A version of program has been available through Apple.com for years. After answering some questions about the state of a device, you can trade eligible computers, iPhones, iPads and iPods for Apple store credit. The new in-store program will be operated via a third-party re-seller, Brightstar (the online recycling program is run through PowerOn). Prices may vary between in-store and online trade-ins, although there are fewer limitations with Apple's online option. You get store credit that can be used towards any product, and no contract is necessary. Right now, a top of the line, mint-condition iPhone 5 can net $406 in Apple store credit. Before handing your old device over to Apple, check all your options to make sure you're getting the best price. Carriers including AT&T and Verizon also offer store credit in exchange for old iPhones and other smartphones. Sites like Gazelle and NextWorth will also give a free quote for selling old iPhones, and they pay in cash that you can use on another iPhone, a rival model or a fancy dinner. To determine how much your old smartphone is worth, Apple and the other companies will ask if it's had any water damage (thanks to a small sensor in the headphone jack, they can tell if you're lying), make sure everything is working properly and check the exterior for scratches and other flaws. If you have patience, eBay and Craigslist can also bring in good prices for old devices. Or, if you're feeling charitable, there are nonprofit organizations that accept iPhone donations.

iPhone users now can trade in old models at Apple stores for credit on a new phone . The company's Reuse and Recycling program offers online credit for phones, iPads and computers . Apple is widely expected to unveil two new iPhones September 10 .

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Kim Kardashian has opened up for the first time about being pregnant - but admitted the happy news is tinged with sadness. The 32-year-old reality star said she and boyfriend Kanye West feel 'blessed' but wished that her late father Robert and his late mother Donda were still around to share in their joy. Taking to her blog on Monday, Kim wrote a message titled 'New Year, New Beginnings'. She . wrote: It’s true!! Kanye and I are expecting a baby. We feel so blessed . and lucky and wish that in addition to both of our families, his mom . and my dad could be here to celebrate this special time with us. WATCH ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW... Expecting: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, pictured in October, have confirmed they are having a baby . Kim's message to fans: The reality TV star posted this note on Monday . 'Looking . forward to great new beginnings in 2013 and to starting a family. Happy . New Year!!! Xo . Kim's father, powerhouse attorney . Robert Kardashian, died in 2003, aged 59, just weeks before Kim's 23rd . birthday, after losing his battle to esophageal cancer. In 2007 Kanye's mother Donda died aged 58 due to complication from cosmetic surgery. Kim and Kanye, 35, have admitted in . the past that their mutual loss of a parent has been something they have . formed a close bond over as their friendship blossomed into romance. The couple's baby news was first revealed by Kanye onstage during his concert in Atlantic City on Sunday night as Kim watched from the audience. The rapper said . 'stop the music', then announced 'make noise for my baby mama right . here,' with a wide smile. Kanye's announcement prompted a flurry of . excited tweets from the audience. Bereaved: Kim's father Robert died in 2003 while Kanye's mother Donda (pictured in 2006) passed away in 2007 . Hiding a bump: The couple at the LA Clippers game on Christmas Day . Kim, who was sat in the audience . during the show, is said to have not known that her man would reveal . their pregnancy and was in shock like many of the rappers fans. Her spokesman confirmed shortly afterwards that the pregnancy buzz was indeed true. The two have been dating for eight months. They have previously denied pregnancy rumours. Kim is thought to be around the 12-week mark. Kim and Kanye were last seen together . on Christmas Day when they attended a basketball game to watch Kim's . brother-in-law Lamar Odom play with his new team The Clippers. Kanye was seen carefully attending to his girlfriend and holding her hand as they sat side by side in the front row. They left at half time, with Kim later tweeting that she felt 'unwell'. 'In bed with the flu all day. Praying this goes away fast!' the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star wrote. Kim won't be letting her pregnancy get in the way of her work - she is hosting a party in Las Vegas for New Year's Eve at the 1 Oak nightclub. Shout out to his 'baby mama': Kanye made the announcement at this concert . Full of festive cheer: Kanye could not stop grinning after he made his spectacular announcement . Kim will earn a six-figure sum for . the appearance with tickets costing $125 for entry into the VIP area and . $3,000 for a table, according to TMZ. Of course, Kim is still married to her . estranged second husband Kris Humphries. The pair's divorce has been prolonged . as the basketball star has insisted on a court case, claiming the . marriage should be annulled as it was 'fraud'. After the news of Kim's pregnancy broke late on Sunday her excited family took to Twitter. Sister Kourtney wrote: 'Been wanting . to shout from the rooftops with joy and now I can! Another angel to . welcome to our family. Overwhelmed with excitement!' And little sister Kendall added: 'Whos excited about the KIMYE babbyyy?! :D weeee'. Khloe wrote: 'KIMYE!!!!! Keeping secrets is hard with so many family members!  'Especially when . you are so freaking excited!!!!! LOVE is everything!!!! Khloe‘s husband Lamar tweeted: 'I’m excited for Kanye and my sister! There’s nothing like bringing life into this world! Exciting! Kim's large family were quick to offer their congratulations to the happy couple . 'Let’s keep Gods blessings coming!' And Grandma-to-be Kris Jenner added: 'I'm a happy girl !!!!!!!!! Wowza!' Kanye spent the Christmas period with Kim's family, who have welcomed him with open arms. Kim has also become close to Kanye's family after being he took her to visit them in Oklahoma City while visiting his mother Donda West's grave last month. Since Kim and Kanye began dating in April they have rarely been apart. Despite the shortness of their relationship, the two have been friends for years. It has even been speculated that the rapper had been in love with Kim back in 2009, when he appeared to refer to her in his track Knock You Down. Parents to be: The couple have been the picture of happiness since they started dating earlier this year . Always together: Kim and Kanye walk around Los Angeles on Christmas Eve . At the time the song was penned, Kim was in a relationship with NFL star Reggie Bush, whom she went on to date on and off for three years. The song includes the lines: 'You was always the cheerleader of my dreams... To seem to only date the head of football teams... And I was the class clown that always kept you laughing... We were never meant to be, baby we just happened.' He then goes on to rap: 'You should leave your boyfriend now.' And in December 2010, Kanye was on hand when Kim filmed her music video Jam (Turn It Up). In scenes later broadcast on her reality show Kris Jenner was seen jokingly criticising Kanye for eyeing up Kim, telling him: ‘Don’t be looking at her a**’. Not one to miss a beat, quick-witted Kanye replied: ‘I’ve never seen it actually.’ Whirlwind romance: Kanye tweeted this picture of him and Kim on November 12, writing 'My baby'

Kim blogs about happy news - but wishes her late father and his late mother were still around to share in their joy . Kanye announced news onstage during Atlantic City show . Reality star's spokesman confirmed news to MailOnline . Sister Kourtney tweeted: 'Another angel to add to our family' Kim 'didn't know Kanye would make announcement at show'

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 06:06 EST, 2 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:35 EST, 3 March 2014 . From peacock blue Manolo Blahnik spikes to towering Sergio Rossi, the stars of Sex and the City were as famous for their footwear and they were for their exploits in and out of bed. Now, Kristin Davis, the actress who played conservative Charlotte, has spoken out against the cult of the high heel and has apologised to fans for encouraging them to squeeze their feet into uncomfortable shoes. But her confession isn't entirely out of character: with flats now the stylish shoe of choice, Davis seems as fashion-savvy as ever. Scroll down for video . Popular: Davis, seen here with her SATC co-stars, says she regrets encouraging women into heels . 'I do feel guilt about the heels,' said the 49-year-old star. 'It did seem we were trying to say to women, "You should be wearing heels like these". Speaking in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Davis added: 'But we definitely weren’t. Were they beautiful shoes? Yes. Were they appropriate for the characters? Yes, that’s what women like that wear. 'But it became a bigger picture thing, where it seemed women should be wearing them every day.' Although her stance might come as a shock to TV fans, flats have been steadily gaining ground on heels and are currently the stylish shoe of choice, as Davis, who says she only wears flats, is all too well aware. So fashionable are flats, Karl Lagerfeld sent all of his models down the runway in trainers during January's round of couture shows in Paris, while off the catwalk, stylish flats have been embraced by everyone from Rihanna and Cara Delevigne to Home Secretary Theresa May. What's more, orthopaedic style flats such as Birkenstock sandals have been deemed the hottest shoe for summer, along with the equally sturdy pool slider. Seal of approval: Karl Lagerfeld accessorised every outfit with trainers during the Chanel couture show . Stylish: The Duchess of Cambridge in her taupe Mint Velvet canvas plimsolls and favourite J Brand skinny jeans . Stylish: Alexa Chung shows off her fashion savvy in a chic pair of buckled flat pumps . Other popular choices include the brogue, especially in sunny pastel shades, and the loafer. Even the humble ballet pump and the equally low key plimsoll are enjoying a new lease of life, with the Duchess of Cambridge choosing a pair of the latter to wear on the plane en route to a holiday in Mustique. Since Sex and the City ended in 2004, Davis has had something of a chequered career, with roles in rom coms such as the badly-received Couples Retreat interspersed with stints voicing children's cartoons and a guest appearance on Project Runway. Her latest project will see her star as Beth Gallagher in a stage adaption of Fatal Attraction, scheduled to begin at London's Haymarket Theatre this month. Nevertheless, she remains best known for her Sex and the City character Charlotte and her impressive wardrobe of sky high heels. 'I . wear heels so rarely now,' she added. 'It hurts when I do – you have to . get in training for them, and it takes a lot of practice.' And Davis isn't the only former Sex and the City to swear off heels. Last year, co-star Sarah Jessica Parker revealed that she had been forced to give up her spikes because of damage to her feet. Speaking . to Net-a-Porter's in-house magazine, Parker said: 'I went to a foot . doctor and he said, "Your foot does things it shouldn’t be able to do. That bone there – you’ve created that bone. It doesn’t belong there"’. 'The moral of the story is, the chickens are coming home to roost.

The actress, 49, says she now wears nothing but flat shoes . Flats are currently the shoe of choice for the world's most stylish . Fans include Karl Lagerfeld, Rihanna and Alexa Chung . Davis said she regrets encouraging women into spike heels . Is to appear in a play in London's West End from 11th March .

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By . Adam Shergold . Follow @@adamjshergold . Real Madrid's historic La Decima triumph in the Champions League last season netted them a whopping £46m, according to the official UEFA breakdown. The Spanish giants beat city rivals Atletico 4-1 in a memorable Lisbon final to win their first European Cup since 2002 and their tenth overall. And they consequently pocketed the biggest share of UEFA's £726m prize fund for the 32 clubs that qualified for the group stage. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Real Madrid's Champions League celebrations . Pay day: Real Madrid's 10th European Cup triumph earned them £46m from UEFA's prize fund of £726m last season . La Decima: Gareth Bale scored the decisive goal for Real in extra time as they beat city rivals Atletico 4-1 in the Lisbon final . VIDEO Zidane hoping to follow Castilla greats . Beaten finalists Atletico earned £40.1m for their efforts, putting them third on the Champions League money list. Paris Saint-Germain split the Madrid sides despite bowing out in the quarter-finals, getting £43.7m thanks mainly to lucrative French TV rights. However, UEFA is withholding £16m as a fine for overspending in breach of their Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. Bonus: Beaten finalists Atletico collected £40.1m for their exploits in reaching a first European Cup final for 40 years . Losing out: Paris Saint-Germain earned £43.7m from last season's competition, but will lose £16m for breaching UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations . Manchester United, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Barcelona all earned at least £32m despite failing to make the final. United, who lost to Bayern in the last eight, made just shy of £36m, more than neighbours City (£28.4m). Chelsea, who crashed out to Atletico in the semi-finals, were rewarded with £34.85m, while London rivals Arsenal took home £21.87m. It shows that despite United's failings last season, they can still command the biggest slice of TV money. Belgian side Anderlecht's £9.7m payment was the lowest. Financial boost: Manchester United earned the most of the English teams - just under £36m - despite losing the Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals . The figures include payments to certain clubs (marked *) that are being withheld due to non-compliance with Financial Fair Play regulations.

'Decima' triumph earns Cristiano Ronaldo's team £46m in bonuses . Beaten finalists Atletico Madrid take £40.1m from £726m prize pot . Quarter-finalists Manchester United make just under £36m; semi-finalists Chelsea £34.85m . Paris Saint-Germain stripped of £16m for Financial Fair Play breach .

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(CNN) -- Dr. Paul Offit doesn't take any vitamins. In fact, while you might think that vitamins are great in any quantity, Offit urges you to take a step back and think before swallowing the equivalent of eight cantaloupes in a single dose. "I think that alternative medicine is often given a free pass," he told CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. "I think we should hold alternative medicine to the same standard that we hold conventional medicine. It lives under this sort of untouchable halo. I think we should be a little more skeptical." Offit, chief of the division of infectious diseases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, is no stranger to controversy -- previously he has taken on the anti-vaccine movement. His book "Do You Believe in Magic? The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine," came out Tuesday. Vitamins and supplements, representing about a $27 billion industry, are necessary to convert food into energy, but it's possible to take them in excess, Offit said. For instance, it's not uncommon to hear of someone taking 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, but that's about the same amount in 14 oranges. "Vitamins live under this notion that you can't possibly hurt yourself," he said. "But you can, by challenging Mother Nature and taking these vitamins and concentrating them to these exceptionally large quantities that you would never normally eat." Opinion: Alternative healing or quackery? You may have heard the term "antioxidant" as a buzzword that applies to some vitamins. Antioxidants combat free radicals -- molecules produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation, according to the National Institutes of Health. Free radicals damage cell membranes and DNA. Doctors recommend a healthy intake of fruits and vegetables containing antioxidants to prevent this from happening and apparently decreasing the risk of conditions such as cancer and heart disease. However, oxidation is necessary for life, and preventing too much of this process can be a bad thing because cells that need to be destroyed, such as cancer cells, won't be. There have been several important studies showing the harmful effects of vitamins. As Offit wrote in an op-ed the New York Times, a 1994 New England Journal of Medicine study on 29,000 Finnish smokers found beta carotene was associated with lung and heart disease death. Beta carotene and vitamin A in combination were shown in another New England Journal of Medicine study to be linked to a 46% greater risk of death from lung cancer than placebo. A 2012 Cochrane review of multiple randomized clinical trials showed an increase in risk of death may be linked to beta carotene and vitamin E, as well as higher doses of vitamin A. The likely explanation, Offit said, is that supplemental antioxidant vitamins, taken in large quantities, cause unnatural behavior in the body, counteracting oxidation too much and leaving the immune system weaker in its defenses against invaders. In response to Offit's op-ed, the nonprofit Consumer Healthcare Products Association countered that there is research underscoring the benefits of multivitamins, and that these supplements are prominent in the health care regime of many consumers. "Consumers should always use caution when considering 'megadoses' of any supplements, carefully research these choices, and consult a healthcare professional with questions," the CHPA said. "While Dr. Offit shares his own hypothesis on supplemental antioxidants in this piece, it has yet to be substantiated. Until that time, we look forward to future research that would provide guidance for public health." The Council for Responsible Nutrition, a trade association representing the dietary supplement industry, reacted strongly to Offit's book, saying he "weaves together a series of tired old arguments." "Dr. Offit's credentials as a respected medical physician are well-established, making his dismissal of the value of dietary supplements all the more unfortunate," council president Steve Mister said in a statement. "With more than 150 million Americans taking dietary supplements each year, it would be a shame if consumers reading this book mistake the opinion of one doctor for the opinion of the medical community as a whole. It is important for consumers to have an open dialogue with their health care practitioners about their dietary supplement regimens, and hopefully this book won't deter them from doing so." The abundance of strong studies on the harmful effects of megavitamins suggests to Offit that these supplements are worse than Vioxx. That was an anti-inflammatory drug that its manufacturer, Merck, voluntarily withdrew from the market in 2004 after evidence emerged of its harm to the heart in some people. "I think if vitamins were a regulated industry, you could argue that megavitamins would have a black box warning on them," he told CNN. Because the industry is not regulated, Offit said, no one knows if alternative remedies are actually the same, or have a standard concentration, from batch to batch. No safety or efficacy data is available, either, the way there is with pharmaceuticals regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, he said. "I think people have the misconception that these products -- dietary supplements and vitamins -- are made by elves and old hippies that have meadows and flowers," he said. The 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act had the effect of defeating the FDA's attempt to regulate the supplements industry, so consumers don't know what they are buying, Offit said. "We are the victims of enormous marketing campaign regarding some of these vitamins and supplements," he said. Despite the widespread popularity of vitamins and supplements, doctors shouldn't encourage patients to take these substances just because they want them, he said. "I think the message is this: That patients are not customers, and we're not waiters." CNN's Miriam Falco contributed to this report.

Studies have shown that vitamins have been linked to disease and death . Too much antioxidant vitamins may disrupt the immune system's natural processes . Dr. Paul Offit argues there should be more regulation of the vitamin and supplement industry .

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(CNN) -- Matthew Cordle hasn't yet been found liable of killing a man while drinking and driving, but there's not much question about whether he's guilty. It's not because of the the homicide charges that were filed against him on Monday. But it's because Cordle went on YouTube last week and told the world he'd done just that. Cordle's confession, a highly produced, three-and-a-half minute video that has been viewed by more than 1.2 million people, is the sort of pronouncement that would have been impossible before the world had social media platforms at its fingertips. And it's raising questions that go far beyond the 22-year-old Ohio man's guilt or innocence. Chief among them: Was Cordle, who says he plans to plead guilty and accept whatever punishment is handed down, just trying to get a lighter sentence by using the Web to get out in front of a criminal case in which he hadn't even yet been charged? On Flip the Media, a blog by students, faculty and alumni of the University of Washington's master's program in digital media, graduate Brook Ellingwood argues that parts of the video seem orchestrated to do just that. "That he sees the video as a tactical move in a legal chess game is evident," Ellingwood writes, noting the way Cordle cites depression as a reason for his drinking. And if it buys Cordle some sympathy from the court? Well, it's not farfetched to imagine others trying a similar tactic, he writes. "We may well be in for a flurry of copycat videos as miscreants of all sorts try to duplicate what works in this one," wrote Ellingwood. "One can imagine the appearance of less and less competent videos, resulting eventually in a criminal confession so ineptly scripted and produced that it becomes an ironically viral phenomenon in the manner of Rebecca Black's 'Friday'." Cordle's attorney, George S. Breitmayer II, dismisses such speculation. "Despite any speculation of his intentions, the video was meant to raise awareness related to the serious issues surrounding drinking and driving," he said in a statement sent to CNN. But what does it mean for criminal justice -- a system that is designed to move deliberately -- that a new generation of young people can potentially influence the system by sharing something instantly with the entire world? Alex Sheen is the founder of "Because I Said I Would," the website where Cordle's video began spreading. He's also the person who produced it, enhancing the raw footage with a swelling orchestral soundtrack and visual effects that make it look like a public service announcement. He told CNN that Cordle was familiar with his site, on which people make public pledges to help them follow through with good deeds, and reached out to him with his story. Sheen said he didn't consider contacting police because he knew Cordle was already a suspect and that prosecutors were preparing charges. A grand jury in Franklin County, Ohio, indicted Cordle on Monday on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. He is charged in the death of Vince Canzani, 61, who was killed June 22 when a wrong-way driver hit his Jeep on Interstate 670 near Columbus, Ohio. "The whole goal of this video is to convince people to not drink and drive -- to come to that realization that a lot of people make the same excuses that Matt makes in his life about drinking and driving," Sheen said. "To make that message compelling, we made this video." Sheen calls Cordle's confession and plea for others to avoid drunken driving, "honorable." But he's pushed back against those on his site who have heaped praise upon the young man. "While Matt certainly made an honorable decision to confess, Because I Said I Would does not believe that Matt should be praised as a 'hero,' " Sheen wrote on the site. "Matt made an irresponsible choice to drink and drive that ended an innocent man's life. "Matt decided to release this video because he wants to raise awareness about the dangerous and irreversible consequences of drinking and driving. If that message is not heard ... if viewers do not make the commitment to never drink and drive, then the video has certainly failed in its mission." He's got at least one perhaps unlikely believer. "He ruined two lives," said Cheryl Oates, the victim's ex-wife. "He took Vince's life, and he ruined his life." "It's gut-wrenching, coming from a mother, looking at that young boy," she said, saying she admired him for confessing so publicly. "You've got to respect him for that. I'm sorry. You do." It's impossible to know the full measure of Cordle's motives. Was it self-interest? Sincere remorse? Perhaps some of both? Ellingwood, now interactive director for a Seattle TV station, can envision it as part of a new, look-at-me world in which Internet celebrity is celebrated, regardless of the reason for it. "Today, the only thing standing between any one of us and instant celebrity is our ability to create a message with resonance," he wrote. "Cordle may view the death he caused as a personal opportunity, the mother of all Facebook timeline life events. He may lose a few years to prison, but he won the Internet and when he gets out, he'll have a chance to parlay this 15 minute shot of fame into a repeat. Only time will tell if his redemption story gets him onto 'Dancing With the Stars.' "

Video confession raises questions about social sharing . Matthew Cordle confessed to drunken driving death in YouTube video . The viral post, with more than 1 million views, marks new wrinkle in criminal cases . Some speculate video was an effort to sway judge in the case .

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Is the tea party changing the Republican Party from the inside -- or selling out to the GOP? As Republicans prepare to officially roll out Mitt Romney as their party's presidential nominee at the Republican National Convention this week, major tea party groups and figures have descended on Tampa, Florida, to schmooze with party bigwigs and rally for Romney. But Romney's conservative credentials have long been viewed with suspicion by the movement. So it came as a surprise when, before at least one event, tea party organizers committed what some activists would consider heresy: seeking approval from establishment Republicans to rally. How much of a damper will Isaac be to convention? All of it has opened up a once unthinkable charge: the movement that's rabble-roused and rocked the GOP establishment since 2009 is now too cozy with it. "The top national groups have already sold out," said Judd Saul, a prominent Iowa activist associated with the Cedar Valley Tea Party. "They don't truly represent the grassroots." "Even before the caucuses, these guys were all pushing for Romney even when the primaries were going on," Saul added. "It's a pretty widespread (sentiment). A lot of activists have noticed that." But presidential historian Douglas Brinkley doesn't see this phenomenon as anything new. "I think it happens all the time in politics," said Brinkley, a political analyst and professor at Rice University. "The grassroots people are the people who are hypermotivated. They are people willing to go to rallies and hold bake sales and ... and they're always later kind of seen as auxiliary players once it gets to the main game when the elections come in the fall." Get the latest political news at CNN's Election Center . "I think selling out is too strong," added Brinkley. "But you can say something to the effect of they've tricked the tea party movement into believing they were going to have a meaningful role in the 2012 election." Others are taking their groans to social media. "I think it is time not only to clean up Washington but we as well need to clean up or clean out the top dogs in the RNC that are turn coats," tea party supporter Margaret Robinson posted on the Facebook page for theteaparty.net. "Not only TAKE BACK AMERICA but also need to TAKE BACK OUR REPUBLICAN PARTY. " Saska Mare, who describes herself as a "tea party Republican" and Newt Gingrich supporter, wrote: "Now is the time for All Good Patriots to come to the aid of their Country and QUIT MITT & RECRUIT NEWT!!" The president and CEO of one of the largest tea party sponsors knows that not everyone is happy with the commingling between the two groups. "There's always purists in any movement who think that anything less than perfect is a sellout," said Matt Kibbe of FreedomWorks, based in Washington. "But that's not how the American system works. " The head of another group was more blunt. "Anyone at this point who is trying to disrupt the convention or protest the nomination of Romney is blinded by irrational enthusiasm," said Dustin Stockton, chief strategist for theteaparty.net. There is one problem with such rationalities: They contradict the movement's belief that to change the system, it must be blown up. Since its birth three years ago, tea party activists have railed against compromise, leaned on lawmakers, launched RINO hunts against moderates deemed "Republicans in Name Only" and sought swift action on their ideas of reduced government spending, lower taxes and increased adherence to the constitution. For them, political patience was not a virtue. But since then, the tea party has gradually moved from anger and impatience toward acceptance and embrace. Several leaders say they understand the slow pace of change and stress the need to change the political system from the inside. Stockton's group sponsored a rally on Sunday in Tampa, a few miles away from the GOP convention site, featuring prominent tea partiers Herman Cain and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, both former presidential candidates. The 30-year-old tea party leader is adamant that the event's goal is to continue advocating for the tea party. "We wanted to make sure that when (activists) tune in to the convention and the convention starts, they know that the tea party is still here -- still fighting for the values they believe in," Stockton said. "Because that's really uniting more than Republicans, actually the American people in general. And we wanted to do it right before the conventions to try and set the tone for the entire convention." Yet Stockton also revealed something that will surely cause some activists to fume. "In order to get the venue and everything, we did get the blessings of the Romney camp and the RNC to hold the event months ago," Stockton said. "And the Romney camp is sending (Utah) Congressman Jason Chaffetz as a surrogate for Romney. So they're on board with it. " Many tea partiers support efforts to unify the movement with the GOP. Kibbe's group is also holding GOP-friendly events during the convention week. But he, too, beats back any notion that the tea party is toeing the Republican line. "I would describe us as having a foot in the door and a seat at the table," the FreedomWorks chief said. "Things are definitely trending in our direction." Kibbe also noted another achievement: the GOP embrace of core tea party proposals. FreedomWorks had pushed the RNC's platform committee to adopt 12 items. "We had a whole delegation of tea partiers at the platform committee," Kibbe said. "And we feel like we made a lot of progress. We feel like we had success on 11-and-a-half of them." Sal Russo, chief strategist for the Tea Party Express, also claimed that the Republican Party is coming around to the tea party -- not the other way around. "We have a huge Tea Party Express rally (in Tampa). In fact, we already have 15,000 reporters sign up to be there. We've called it the '2012 Republican National Convention,' " Russo joked. Though Stockton is promoting unity during convention week, he has a special gripe: one prominent tea partier is not on the speaking list. "I'm incredibly frustrated at the speaker lineup -- it doesn't include Sarah Palin," Stockton said. "And Palin should have definitely been invited. He also lamented that two former presidential hopefuls in 2012, Newt Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, will not have a prominent presence. Palin on her lack of a speaking role at convention . Meanwhile, after long viewing Romney as a suspect conservative, how are activists feeling about him now? "I say there's a solid 50-50 split within the movement" for and against Romney, Saul said. He added: "I will hold my nose and pull the lever for Romney. Legitimately, I think that President Obama is the worst of the two evils. And Romney has a shot. And with some backing and some pushing, he could do some better things for the economy and the country. " But the FreedomWorks chief stressed political patience. "The practical reality of presidential politics: it takes years to build your brand, and your machine, your ability to fundraise," Kibbe said. "And the tea party class was very green; they weren't ready." In the face of some activist criticism, Russo said the movement should celebrate a milestone. "I think (the tea party) has successfully yanked the Republican Party back to where it's sort of always been since Reagan yanked it back -- which is an opposition to an increasing size, cost and intrusiveness of the federal government," Russo said. Calling tea party opposition to Romney and the RNC "silly," Russo said: "I mean, sometimes people don't know when to declare victory."

Some in tea party feel they are being absorbed by more mainstream Republicans . Others believe the movement has been successful in shifting the GOP to the right . Historian Douglas Brinkley: "It happens all the time in politics"

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By . Ashley Collman . PUBLISHED: . 14:18 EST, 30 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:16 EST, 31 December 2013 . Sacking means something quite different for NFL coaches on the first day following the end of the regular season. Five coaches have already been fired in a tradition known as Black Monday, as teams not progressing to the playoffs try to get a head start on next year. The head coaches of the the Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, and Cleveland Browns have all been let go withing hours of the regular-season ending. First to go: The Cleveland Browns got a head start on Black Monday by announcing the firing of head coach Rob Chudzinski late last night . Now unemployed: Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier (left) and Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan (right) were the first to be fired this morning as the NFL's struggling teams clear out . The dismissals started early this year, with the news that the Cleveland Browns would not be keeping coach Rob Chudzinski being released late last night. As Monday morning dawned, two other coaches expected to be fired joined Chudzinksi on the unemployment line. The Minnesota Vikings fired head coach Leslie Frazier and the Washington Redskins sacked head coach and Executive Vice President Mike Shanahan. Shanahan was among those expected to be out of the job for the way he dealt with quarterback Robert Griffin III's ACL injury last season. Bad move: Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan was expected to lose his job for the way he dealt with quarterback Robert Griffin III's leg injury. Above, Griffin aggravated his injury in a game against the Seattle Seahawks last year . Instead of letting Griffin recover from the injury, Shanahan put him back on the field after missing just one game. On January 6, the Redskins went up against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL Wild Card game and Griffin aggravated the injury, having to undergo surgery three days later. Griffin was back playing this season but the leg injury seems to have slowed him down noticeably. By lunchtime in America, two other coaches had been fired: Greg Schiano of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jim Schwartz of the Detroit Lions. Surprising: Greg Schiano of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (left) and Jim Schwartz of the Detroit Lions (right) were also let go. Schiano's dismissal was unexpected since an NFL insider previously tweeted that his job was safe . Schiano's firing was unexpected as NFL insider Jay Glazer tweeted yesterday that the Tampa Bay coach was safe. Tampa Bay General Manager Mark Dominik was also let go. While five firings may seem relatively tame, the dismissals have impacts far beyond one man since it means their assistant coaches are also out of the job. But most won't be unemployed for long as they'll get snapped up by one of the other now head coach-less teams. This quick turnover process helps the struggling teams get a fresh start on next year before the combine and draft. 'Everyone’s in such a competitive environment, there’s a race to get things done because there is the same group of candidates out there,' former Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum told the New York Times. 'It’s to clear the decks and move on.' While it's not certain when Black Monday officially became apart of the NFL culture, the Times reports that it originated about 10 to 15 years ago around the time when sports channels switched to become 24 hour news sources.

Rob Chudzinski sacked by Cleveland Browns on Sunday night . Minnesota Vikings fire Leslie Frazier after finishing bottom of NFC North . Jim Schwartz sent packing by Detroit Lions after failing to reach play-offs . Tampa Bay Buccaneers send Greg Schiano packing . Mike Shanahan fired by Washington Redskins after 3-13 season .

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A man from Sierra Leone has been charged with brokering a uranium deal intended for Iran, federal officials revealed today. Patrick Campbell, 33, was arrested on Wednesday at JFK Airport in New York after traveling to the U.S. via Paris from Sierra Leone with a sample of uranium hidden in the soles of his shoes and in his luggage. Campbell was arrested after being caught in a federal undercover operation where he had agreed to sell Homeland Security . agents 1000 tons of yellowcake uranium to be supplied to Iran. Smuggling: Patrick Campbell, 33, was arrested on Wednesday at JFK Airport in New York after being caught in a sting trying tAo broker a uranium deal intended for Iran . When it is processed, yellowcake uranium can be used in nuclear weapons. The U.S. bans the supply of such material to country's such as Iran which are outspoken about their nuclear ambitions. According to the Smoking Gun, Campbell told an undercover agent that he had connections to a Sierra Leone firm that deals in uranium and precious minerals. When he was arrested, Campbell had an onward ticket for Miami. The 33-year-old made his initial court appearance on Thursday at U.S. District Court in Brooklyn. According to the criminal complaint filed . in the Southern District of Florida, Campbell brokered the supply of . goods he knew were destined for supply to Iran. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations office conducted the investigation over 15 months. It's not known if he has an attorney. If convicted, Campbell faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Seized: Campbell, from Sierra Leone, was arrested at JFK with uranium in his shoe and luggage .

Patrick Campbell, 33, was arrested on Wednesday at JFK Airport . He has been the subject of 15-month sting operation by Homeland Security . Yellowcake uranium can be processed to make nuclear weapons .

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By . Rebecca Seales and Emma Reynolds . Last updated at 12:40 AM on 2nd December 2011 . It’s one way to guarantee a white Christmas – but as it requires a £20,000 investment and nine months of preparation, it might be easier just to jet off to Lapland. Paul Toole has transformed his bungalow into a winter wonderland, complete with quarter of a mile of fake snow and 50,000 fairy lights which flash in time to his own radio channel. Visitors to his cul-de-sac in Wells, Somerset, are invited to tune in to his station, which plays 11 festive tracks on a loop while a Father Christmas figurine in his garden moves to the beat of each song. Scroll down for video . Twinkling lights: Paul Toole has spent a huge £20,000 on his illuminations and attracts 100 visitors every night . Completely crackers! Mr Toole decorates his bungalow with 50,000 Christmas lights . Lights... action: Mr Toole puts the finishing touches to his display, which he began putting up on October 24 . Up to 100 guests each night arrive to . view the spectacle, which includes a 20ft Christmas tree, an . illuminated waterfall and glowing polar bears, seals and reindeer. Mr . Toole, 36, who runs karaoke nights, begins preparations for each year’s . display in March. He said: 'Walking into our street is quite magical at Christmas. Some people say it makes them feel cold, it is very Arctic. ‘Our bungalow has been nicknamed “the house on Christmas . Street”. I think about it and plan it every single day of the year. ‘I am slightly wacky about Christmas and I am constantly trying to think of ways I can make our display the biggest and best.’ Mr Toole estimates that this year’s display will add around £150 to his . electricity bill – but the money  thrown into the wishing well in his . garden is given to charity. He has spent £20,000 collecting the illuminations since 1998, when he started with two strings of lights in 1998. Magical: The display boasts penguins, polar bears, a ferris wheel and 400 metres of fake snow . Dashing through the snow: A horse and sleigh in the garden in Wells, Somerset . Celebrities John Challis, who played Boycie in Only Fools and Horses, and American singer Judy Pancoast . visited the close for the big switch-on yesterday. Mr Toole added: 'Our . street looks good in the day as well as at night. You can sit in your . car and enjoy the music on your radio, or come out as we have speakers . playing Christmas tunes. 'It really looks fantastic, I feel very proud of it this year.' More than 1,000 people turned out for the switch-on,held in aid of the Make a Wish foundation, and were each given a mince pie from a local bakery. A team from Starbucks also handed out free drinks. Mr Toole has spent a staggering 264 hours synching his lights to his radio . station and the Father Christmas figure - as one minute of music takes . eight hours to sequence. The House on Christmas Street: Visitors flock to see the display, which will be on show from 1 December to 5 January . He began putting up the . decorations on October 24, and his house and garden are covered with 400 . metres of polyester wadding which looks like a blanket of snow. He was inspired to create a 'House on Christmas Street' after visiting New . Hampshire in the U.S. where homeowners deck out their properties with . thousands of festive lights. He . returned home with just two sets of lights and put them on his mother's . bungalow. The lights stopped working a few years later and he began . stocking up on UK-made decorations. A donation wishing well is left at the front of the display - which attracts up to 100 cars a night. Mr Toole's radio station, 89.2FM, is broadcast . from a transmitter a few hundred yards from his home between 5pm and . 9.30pm from December 1 until January 5. He said: 'I am absolutely thrilled by what we have created and it . is worth every penny.' David Cameron appeared to be rather less filled with festive spirit than our merry bungalow owner. While Paul Toole brings glad tidings to all his neighbours, the Prime Minister had kept the best tree on the block for himself. The bushy fir outside No 10 was laden with huge shining baubles and delicate blue lights, but the Norwegian evergreen in nearby Trafalgar Square was looking decidedly crooked. Sad tidings: The famous tree that appears annually in London's Trafalgar Square looks crooked and plainly decorated . Festive joy: But David Cameron, joined by Blue Peter badge holders and presenter Helen Skelton, has a beautiful fir over in Downing Street . Tourists in Central London were rather surprised to discover the traditional Norwegian tree looking extremely ragged. The tall, skinny centrepiece is decorated carelessly with vertical strips of harsh green lights and a stark bulb on the top. Mr Cameron turned on the lights on in Downing Street with presenter Helen Skelton and a group of young Blue Peter gold badge holders - but the public in Trafalgar Square were left out in the cold. It will be a real a disappointment for children who visit the London landmark in the hope of seeing the most impressive festive scene of the season. The Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree is the City of Oslo's traditional Christmas gift to the City of Westminster as a token of thanks for British support during the years of occupation. Perhaps our Prime Minister could demonstrate equal Christmas spirit in his own country. Austerity Britain: The sparse Trafalgar Square tree has been dressed with little visible effort or love . Christmas cheer: The magnificent sight outside No 10 is the perfect winter spectacle, with its tasteful colour scheme of silver and white . Watch the video .

Visitors to cul-de-sac can tune in and hear 11 festive favourites . But in London, David Cameron keeps the best tree for himself .

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By . John Drayton . David Silva attempted to put Spain's early elimination from the 2014 World Cup out of his mind as he relaxed on a beach of the sunshine isle of Ibiza. After winning the last three consecutive major tournaments, Spain's domination of world football came to an end when a 5-1 humiliation by Holland and 2-0 loss to Chile dumped them out of the tournament with just two games played. The Manchester City playmaker was spotted seeking solace at a beach bar on the island where he appeared relaxed with friends - including a bevy of beautiful ladies. Scroll down for video... Take a break: Spain playmaker David Silva takes time out on a beach in Ibiza with a female friend . Moving on: Manchester City star appeared relaxed as he put Spain's World Cup exit behind him . Life's a beach: David Silva is used to island life after growing up in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands . Despite changes needed to be made to Spain's side, former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has no doubts that under-fire manager Vincente Del Bosque should remain in his job. 'Del Bosque is the best . coach Spain could have and I hope he stays, because he is the right man . to make the changes the team needs,' said the Bayern Munich manager. 'Spain made me very sad,' he added. 'Football . owes these players so much as they have done so much for the sport, . which means they deserved to be able to compete in the final stages.' Early shower: Spain were eliminated from the World Cup after losing to Holland and Chile . End of an era: Spain's early exit was unexpected after they had won the last three major tournaments . VIDEO Spain bow out on high .

Defending champions Spain were eliminated at World Cup group stages . David Silva put disappointment to one side with holiday in Ibiza . Manchester City star looked relaxed with friends on the beach .

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(CNN) -- The NFL markets the Super Bowl as the ultimate game, the ultimate contest. Helmets clash like gladiators in ancient Rome. Stadiums resemble coliseums -- especially those without a roof. The contest is macho all the way. Players talk about "manning up" (not a reference to the quarterback family) and other testosterone-leaning terms. Other than a few party-oriented commercials, football is marketed toward men. It's a guy thing, and we ladies are allowed in if we know either when to cheer or how to bring the cheer. Or so the stereotype goes. So it used to be. But no more. According to Nielsen demographic data, 46% of the Super Bowl viewing audience is female, and more women watch the game than the Oscars, Grammys and Emmys combined. That perhaps surprising statistic raises two questions: Why? And, so what? History of the Super Bowl: By the numbers . Why do women watch the game? Now, we know that women attended the gladiator fights and chariot races in ancient Rome. But today, it may be more than just the blood sport. Many women are into sports for the same reasons men are: They enjoy the competition. It's entertaining. The tailgating before. The excitement during. The celebrating (or commiserating) after. Lots of action. But a lot of women are football fans because it's a family thing. My father was a lifelong Saints fan, and I'm proud to carry on the family tradition. Lionel Brazile has got to be beaming, knowing I'm going to my second Super Bowl. He would have loved to hear my stories. Maybe I'll tell him one or two while I'm praying. There are lots of studies about the different ways men and women bond, so I find it interesting how the bonding intersects around Super Bowl time. For women, the score is important if our team is playing. But whether we're watching at home or at the stadium, it's about being there and being with -- family and friends. For the men, it's also about sharing -- but I suspect it's about sharing the competition, vicariously. But as long as it's a good game, and brings people together for a positive experience, it doesn't matter why. There is a "so what," though -- a practical economic side to women's interest in The Big Game. She-conomy.com reports that "women influence the majority of consumer spending across all categories." On the line of scrimmage: Football and politics . For advertisers and businesses, Super Bowl Sunday should be a prime time to focus on women. Sadly, according to a recent article in adweek.com, advertisers have fumbled the ball. "In 2013 we saw waitresses turned strippers, scantily clad women tackling each other in the dirt, and a supermodel sloppily kissing a computer programmer," said writer Kat Gordon. This turns off men as well as women. So if businesses want their Super Bowl commercials to be part of the event, instead of an excuse to check the fridge, they'd better pay attention to the numbers -- and I don't mean the Roman numerals. And while they are at it, they should seriously consider taking it one step further and using the Super Bowl -- the most watched sports event of the year -- to promote awareness around issues facing women today. Use this testosterone-saturated event, for instance, to make clear that while testosterone-driven violence might be entertaining on the field, it doesn't belong in the bedroom. Use the Super Bowl to do more than determine the best football team of the year. Use it to help end one of the most prevalent crimes of the century -- violence again women. Use it as a warm-up for the One Billion Rising event on February 14, in which more than a billion people worldwide will rise to support justice for women. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Donna Brazile.

According to Nielsen data, 46% of the Super Bowl viewing audience is female . Is it the spectacle of the battle or a chance to spend time with the family? Advertisers now know the audience, and cater to the female viewer .

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Since The Bridge disappeared from our screens in February in a flurry of betrayal, dead bodies and elaborate plot twists, it's been a frustrating time for fans of Scandi Noir. What was in the files that Danish detective Martin Rohde saw that related to the childhood of his blunt-speaking Swedish colleague Saga Noren? Is Martin himself guilty of murder? And does the temperature ever rise above freezing in this corner of Scandinavia? Scandinavian drama The Bridge takes its name from the five-mile bridge across the Oresund, linking Copenhagen in Denmark and Malmo in Sweden . The good news is that we won't have to wait too much longer to find out. Filming for a third series of the BBC4 hit is under way, so there was only one thing to do - head to the scene of the crime. The drama takes its name from the five-mile bridge across the Oresund, linking Copenhagen and Malmo. In the first series, a body is found at the point on the bridge where Denmark and Sweden meet, which is why detectives from both countries are brought together to solve the case. Our base for the night is a 1960s motel, the Scandic Segevang, just outside Malmo - it's where Martin stays when his wife kicks him out after discovering he has been unfaithful. Those who sign up to The Bridge tour visit the Copenhagen's colourful harbour of Nyhavn . In The Bridge, it's a symphony of misery, augmented by depressing decor, despair and Martin's haunting visions in the subterranean swimming pool. In reality, it's a clever, chic budget hotel, filled with thoughtful Scandi furniture and views of the forest. In the morning, happy families tuck into a generous breakfast buffet before heading out into the sunshine. BBC4 drama Wallander was  adapted from the Swedish novelist Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander novels . Once in Copenhagen, visitors on the tour are able to visit popular tourist sights such as the Royal Palace . By and large, there's a lot of rain, snow and sleet in The Bridge, and the drama certainly doesn't showcase the architecture of the two cities. This is mostly by design, according to scriptwriter Hans Rosenfeldt, when I track him down in Malmo. We meet in the Ribersborg, a cafe at the end of a pier which is the site of a pivotal scene in the first series when Martin realises just who might be responsible for a series of murders. Over coffee and cinnamon buns, I subject Hans to a police-style interrogation. What's happened to cuddly Martin? Will Saga, his glamorous but decidedly non-cuddly colleague, ever get a boyfriend, or even master the art of small talk? Malmo's city centre includes Lilla Torg, a square filled with half-timbered houses, bars . Will we be seeing more of Saga's vintage mustard-coloured Porsche and leather trousers? The next series will apparently be about responsibility and notions of family while also delving into Saga's childhood. I hoover up the dramatic crumbs as eagerly as I've been devouring the tasty cinnamon buns. Then it's time for a tour designed for Bridge obsessives. We start in Malmo, a powerhouse during medieval times, when its wealth was built on the herring trade. The gorgeous city centre includes Lilla Torg, a square filled with half-timbered houses, bars and happy Swedes celebrating the weekend in the early autumn sun. Malmo is Sweden's most multi-cultural city, a legacy of its ship-building days. That industry may have dwindled away, but now it's also a showcase of cutting-edge, sustainable architecture, especially the Western Harbour. It's apparently where Saga lives (alone). Our bus takes us past some of the buildings that feature in the second series, including the site of the Malmo police station that is actually part of a hospital, and has a exterior that's dark grey/blue. 'The designer is very into this colour,' says our guide, as we head off to a street in the same muted palette. Then it's time for the highlight - a trip across the bridge itself. Malmo is Sweden's most multi-cultural city and is a key destination on the tour offered to fans of Scandinavian drama, The Bridge . There's a slow incline as we head out from Malmo, and before we reach the central area we pick up a key bit of information with which we can share with less informed devotees back home: the actual border is a few hundred yards further along, and a simple sign denotes we have now reached Denmark. Once in Copenhagen, we eschew such commonplace tourist sights as the Royal Palace and colourful harbour of Nyhavn in favour of the modernist architecture of the Copenhagen police headquarters and the trendy harbourside building that serves as the home of IT entrepreneur Julian Christensen in series two. Most of The Bridge is actually filmed along the Swedish coast in Ystad. This cute town - population around 20,000 - regularly sees some of the darkest fictional deeds unfold in its streets. Most of The Bridge is actually filmed along the Swedish coast in the town of Ystad . The real police investigate one murder a year here on average, but thanks to Henning Mankell, the creator of local detective Kurt Wallander, dozens of fictional ones have taken place in its cobbled streets. The tourist board has a handy map with blood splashes to denote the area. And the body count is set to rise alarmingly. From this month, Kenneth Branagh will be dusting down his weariest expression to film Wallander in one studio, with Saga striding around in The Bridge in the next one, while both will make regular forays into the Ystad and Malmo and nearby countryside for location shoots. The locals are pretty blasé about these incursions - many of them have acted as extras and don't bat an eye at one of the full-scale Bollywood film productions that regularly turn up here either. The Wallander industry is kept low-key, largely because Henning Mankell has refused to allow commercialism. A Ystad cafe that features as the diabetic detective's favourite tried to introduce a Wallander cake. Mankell refused, but you can find it today - a family called Wallander gave the cafe permission to name it after them. A conspiracy of sugar, cream and Scandinavian baking excellence, it would have been a crime not to experience it. Double rooms at the Scandic Segevang (scandichotels.com) start at £75 per night. The Bridge Tour costs around £33pp. For more information, go to visitskane.com/en. Return flights to Copenhagen from Heathrow with SAS (flysas.co.uk) start at £110pp.

Tours include trips to five-mile bridge linking Copenhagen and Malmo . Visitors can stay in the same Swedish hotel where The Bridge was filmed . Most of The Bridge is filmed along the Swedish coast in Ystad . Ystad also the setting for numerous murders in the BBC4 drama Wallander .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:51 EST, 1 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 16:56 EST, 1 August 2012 . Two pigs heads have been found in a pool of blood outside a French mosque, leading Muslims to claim that Islamophobia is on the rise. The heads of the two animals were found attached to two pillars at the entrance to the Salam Mosque in Montauban, near Toulouse. Pigs are considered unclean by Muslims, who are forbidden from eating them. Gruesome: Islamic faithfuls inspect the spot where the heads of two pigs were dumped on Wednesday morning . Muslim leaders have condemned the act, while the mayor of Montauban branded the incident an 'odious and blasphemous act toward the Muslim community'. Police have launched an investigation. Muslim leaders said the vandalism was especially shocking because it happened during the holy month of Ramadan. Abdallah Zekri, a regional Muslim leader based in Nimes, said: 'This was meant to dirty this place of prayer.' The incident has been condemned by the mayor of Montauban as an 'odious act towards the Muslim community' It was the first such incident in Montauban, a town with a population of around 56,000 near the city of Toulouse in southern France. In 2009, pigs' trotters were hung on a mosque in Castres, also in southern France, and a Nazi swastika was painted on its walls along with racist and nationalist slogans. The discovery of the pigs' heads came a day after officials in the northern Paris suburb of Gennevilliers reinstated four summer camp counsellors who had been suspended for Ramadan fasting. After an outcry, the town decided that during the month of August it would not apply a clause in the labour contract requiring summer camp counsellors to be fully fed and hydrated, a statement said.

Heads of two animals found on Wednesday morning in mosque in Montauban, near Toulouse . Mayor of French town condemns incident as 'odious attack on Muslim community'

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Paul Lambert has hailed the impact of Carles Gil at Aston Villa and believes he can be their inspiration. The 22-year-old midfielder signed from Valencia made a bright second-half debut in last week's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool. Gil could start in Sunday's FA Cup fourth round tie at home to Bournemouth and Lambert has already seen his quality against the Reds. Carles Gil (centre) trains at Bodymoor Heath on Friday ahead of Aston Villa's FA Cup tie . Gil (left) laughs as Villa prepare to host Bournemouth at Villa Park at the weekend . "To an extent it was a magic performance," said Lambert. "Carles gives us something we don't have but to come on and play the way he did in a game of that magnitude lifted the whole stadium and it was great. "He is an excellent footballer, has a low centre of gravity and has an excellent touch, a typical Spanish type of player. "Technically he's first class and he has only been here a few days so there'll be a lot more to come from him. Villa boss Paul Lambert (second left) has hailed the impact of Gil on the squad . "He's excellent and we let him play with a bit of freedom to go and create and he is really enjoying his football. We don't want to put too much expectancy on him but he has fitted in excellently for us." Gabby Agbonlahor and Joe Cole are both doubts with hamstring injuries ahead of the visit of the Sky Bet Championship leaders.

Paul Lambert believes Carles Gil can be Aston Villa's inspiration . He made his debut in the defeat against Liverpool last weekend . The 22-year-old midfielder signed from Valencia in January . Gil could start in the FA Cup fourth round tie against Bournemouth .

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By . Simon Carr . Nestled in the Durham countryside, Beamish: The Living Museum of the North is filled to the brim with the nation's history. The vault, in the 300-acre open-air museum, has sets of wooden false teeth, a cow's vertebrate and items dating backs to Roman times up to the 1980s. The curiosities also include old motorbikes, furniture, toys, rocking horses and even tinned vegetables from 1910 which are stacked high in the warehouse that is the size of 11 tennis courts. The collection is constantly growing with donations which are used to fill traditionally built houses, shops, banks and stables which form an open air museum on the site. Crockery, vintages posters, a 50,000 book collection, toys, clocks and wirelesses are also included. Scroll down for video . Time warp: vintage hair dryers used from the 1960s and vintage posters are among the items in the vault. Nearby is an old arcade machine that was used to personalise pennies . A library of more than 50,000 books are kept in the historic archive. The collection includes books by Shakespeare and Dickens as well as an edition on gardening - in Latin . Historic oven and vintage posters are among the nostalgic items in the vault. These may soon be featured at one of the museum's open air exhibits . A step back in time: ancient clocks, stalls and pots stretch as far as the eye can see. Child's furniture is also common. Old saucers, salt-shakers, milk jugs and teapots feature. Jim Rees, Assistant Director for Development said that the stores at Beamish had effectively been acting as Britain's 'attic'. Old saucers, salt-shakers, milk jugs and teapots feature. Pottery vessels were used for liquids such as ginger beer to bleach . An assortment of kitchenware including containers for making tea are among the huge pile of stock. Irons are also regularly donated . Battered volumes and old documents are stacked high in the vault in Durham . Some the earliest televisions, wirelesses and stereos are featured. The Mazda Radio Valves advert dates back to the 1950s . Vintage cameras and photography equipment are in the vault. The Koroll 24s were made in Milan in the 1950s . Members of the curating team wear traditional outfits to support the historic theme as they sort the huge book collection . Vintage signs and road names are across a wall, including one from British Rail (left). Staff meticulously sort items at the Durham vault which include porcelain figures and wicker baskets .

The store is the heart of a 300-acre open-air museum which includes historic houses, shops and banks . A mountain of old books, ovens, furniture and crockery is constantly growing at the Durham museum . Wooden false teeth, old motorbikes and tinned food from 1910 are among the odd donations . A collection of hairdryers from the 1960s, a baker's wagon and primitive cameras are also featured . The vault is the size of 11 tennis courts with many unique items including the painted vertebrate of a cow . Beamish: The Living Museum of the North hopes to show snapshots of the UK's past .

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Researchers have uncovered the history of Ebola - and found it dates back far further than they expected. The research shows that filoviruses - a family to which Ebola and its similarly lethal relative, Marburg, belong - are at least 16-23 million years old. They say the discovery could help find new ways to create a vaccine. Scroll down for video . A digitally-colorized scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicts filamentous Ebola virus particles (blue) budding from a chronically-infected VERO E6 cell (yellow-green). The new study is helping to rewrite Ebola's family history. Filoviruses likely existed in the Miocene Epoch, and at that time, the evolutionary lines leading to Ebola and Marburg had already diverged, the study concludes. The research was published in the journal PeerJ in September. It adds to scientists' developing knowledge about known filoviruses, which experts once believed came into being some 10,000 years ago, coinciding with the rise of agriculture. The new study pushes back the family's age to the time when great apes arose. 'Filoviruses are far more ancient than previously thought,' says lead researcher Derek Taylor, PhD, a University at Buffalo professor of biological sciences. 'These things have been interacting with mammals for a long time, several million years.' According to the PeerJ article, knowing more about Ebola and Marburg's comparative evolution could 'affect design of vaccines and programs that identify emerging pathogens.' The research does not address the age of the modern-day Ebola virus. Instead, it shows that Ebola and Marburg are each members of ancient evolutionary lines, and that these two viruses last shared a common ancestor sometime prior to 16-23 million years ago. Marburg virus disease (MVD) (formerly known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever) was first identified in 1967 during epidemics in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany and Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia from importation of infected monkeys from Uganda. MVD is a severe and highly fatal disease caused by a virus from the same family as the one that causes Ebola virus disease. These viruses are among the most virulent pathogens known to infect humans. Both diseases are rare, but have a capacity to cause dramatic outbreaks with high fatality. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly, with severe headache and severe malaise. Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic manifestations between days 5 and 7, and fatal cases usually have some form of bleeding, often from multiple sites. The Marburg virus is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected persons. Transmission of the Marburg virus also occurred by handling ill or dead infected wild animals (monkeys, fruit bats). Taylor and co-author Jeremy Bruenn, PhD, UB professor of biological sciences, research viral 'fossil genes' — chunks of genetic material that animals and other organisms acquire from viruses during infection. The first Ebola outbreak in humans occurred in 1976, and scientists still know little about the virus' history. The same dearth of information applies to Marburg, which was recognized in humans in 1967 and implicated in the death of a Ugandan health worker this month. Understanding the virus' ancient past could aid in disease prevention, Taylor says. He notes that if a researcher were trying to create a single vaccine effective against both Ebola and Marburg, it could be helpful to know that their evolutionary lineages diverged so long ago. Knowing more about filoviruses in general could provide insight into which host species might serve as 'reservoirs' that harbor undiscovered pathogens related to Ebola and Marburg, Taylor says. 'When they first started looking for reservoirs for Ebola, they were crashing through the rainforest, looking at everything — mammals, insects, other organisms,' Taylor says. 'The more we know about the evolution of filovirus-host interactions, the more we can learn about who the players might be in the system.' In the new study, the authors report finding remnants of filovirus-like genes in various rodents. Ebola (pictured) and Marburg are each members of ancient evolutionary lines, and that these two viruses last shared a common ancestor sometime prior to 16-23 million years ago. One fossil gene, called VP35, appeared in the same spot in the genomes of four different rodent species: two hamsters and two voles. This meant the material was likely acquired in or before the Miocene Epoch, prior to when these rodents evolved into distinct species some 16-23 million years ago. In other words: It appears that the known filovirus family is at least as old as the common ancestor of hamsters and voles. 'These rodents have billions of base pairs in their genomes, so the odds of a viral gene inserting itself at the same position in different species at different times are very small,' Taylor says. 'It's likely that the insertion was present in the common ancestor of these rodents.' The genetic material in the VP35 fossil was more closely related to Ebola than to Marburg, indicating that the lines leading to these viruses had already begun diverging from each other in the Miocene. The new study builds on Taylor's previous work with Bruenn and other biologists, which used viral fossil genes to estimate that the entire family of filoviruses was more than 10 million years old. However, those studies used fossil genes only distantly related to Ebola and Marburg, which prevented the researchers from drawing conclusions about the age of these two viral lines. The current PeerJ publication fills this viral 'fossil gap,' enabling the scientists to explore Ebola's historical relationship with Marburg.

Found Ebola is related to Marburg, a lethal virus . Discovery could help find new ways to create a vaccine .

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A 102-year-old man has died a day after receiving the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America. Bernard Queneau from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who volunteered with Meals on Wheels for 20 years and helped dozens of other local organizations, died Sunday. Esther Queneau tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that her husband 'just hung on' so he could receive the award that 'meant so much to him' Saturday. Community man: Bernard Queneau from Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, who volunteered with Meals on Wheels for 20 years and helped dozens of other local organizations, died Sunday . That also happened to be her 90th birthday. The Scott Township man received the honor from the Laurel Highlands Boy Scout Council and the National Eagle Scout Association. The award was established in 1969 for those who have been Eagle Scouts for more than 25 years and continued to demonstrate outstanding career achievement. Fewer than 2,200 people have received the award, including Neil Armstrong and Steven Spielberg. Queneau was believed to be one of the country's oldest living Eagle Scouts . The former steel specialist and U.S. Navy veteran volunteered at Meals on Wheels, a local library and worked as an escort at St. Clair Hospital. Describing her husband, Mrs Queneau said: 'He was such a special man. 'He excelled at everything. He was a high achiever. He was a treasure, and it's going to be very lonely going on without him.'

Bernard Queneau from Pennsylvania received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America on Saturday . He died the following day . His 90-year-old wife, Esther, said he 'just hung on' so he could receive the award that 'meant so much to him' 'It's going to be very lonely going on without him,' she added .

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A 9-year-old boy who disappeared from Seattle with his father in early September was found safe Wednesday on a remote island in the South Pacific nearly 5,500 miles away from home. Billy Ginger Hanson was supposed to return to his mother in Pennsylvania September 4 after spending the summer with his father, but he never boarded the plane to go home. The child was last seen at Shilshole Bay Marine in Ballard, where he presumably boarded his father's sailboat, Draco. Found: Jeffrey Ford Hanson, left, and his son, Billy Ginger Hanson, right, have been located on the island of Niue in the South Pacific, nearly 5,500 miles from Seattle, Washington . Tropical hideaway: The tiny island nation with a population of 1,611 is located in the Pacific some 1,490 miles northeast of New Zealand . Long way from home: The father and son sailed 5,450 miles from Seattle to Niue . Following an intense two-month search, on Wednesday police and FBI investigators located Billy and his father, 46-year-old Jeffrey Hanson, on the island of Niue, reported SeattlePI.com. The tiny island nation with a population of 1,611 is located in the Pacific some 1,490 miles northeast of New Zealand - and a whopping 5,450 miles southwest of Seattle, Washington. Mr Hanson has been charged with international parental kidnapping and will remain in Niue pending extradition to the U.S. Billy's mother, Joanna Hanson, has been given the good news and federal officials are now working on reuniting her with her son. It took the efforts of the FBI; the US Attorney’s Office; the Seattle Police Department’s Major Crimes Task Force; the Port of Seattle Police Department; the US Coast Guard, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to track down the missing boy. It's not known exactly when Hanson set sail from Seattle with Billy. They were last seen by authorities August 28. Billy was supposed to fly back to his mother in Pennsylvania on September 4 - though the FBI says he never boarded the flight. Hanson is accused of abducting Billy from Shilshole Bay Marina. Billy was last seen wearing black knee-length surf shorts, with no shirt or shoes. Missing: Billy Hanson was supposed to fly back to his mother in Pennsylvania on September 4 - though the FBI says he never boarded the flight . Boat: FBI agents have asked Hawaii's sailing community to look out for Hanson's 1976 White Cooper sailboat named 'Draco,' pictured . FBI agents in Honolulu made an appeal to Hawaii's sailing community earlier this month to look out for Hanson's 1976 White Cooper sailboat named 'Draco.' A federal arrest warrant was issued for Hanson September 12. 'When I talked to Jeff he told me they were going to Blake Island,' Billy's mother Joanna Hanson told KIRO in September. 'I love my son, and I want him back.' The Star Advertiser described Hanson as 'a known drug abuser with a volatile personality.' 'Our focus is on helping the agents at the Seattle FBI recover Billy safely, so he can go back to his mom where he belongs,' said Tom Simon, a FBI spokesman in Honolulu. 'Hawaii and the islands of the Pacific have a vibrant sailing and nautical community, and we are appealing to that community to be on the lookout for this sailboat and contact authorities with leads.' Search: Billy was last seen wearing black knee-length surf shorts, with no shirt or shoes .

Billy Ginger Hanson and his father, Jeffrey Ford Hanson, 46, were located on the island of Niue Wednesday . The tiny island with a population of 1,611 is located 1,490 miles northeast of New Zealand . Mr Hanson is charged with internationally kidnapping his nine-year-old son . He is accused of abducting Billy from Shilshole Bay Marina in September . Billy was supposed to fly back to his mother in Pennsylvania on September 4, but the FBI says he never boarded the flight .

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (CNN) -- The lower house of Argentina's Congress has approved a controversial media law that spells out media ownership rules and calls for the creation of a regulatory agency. Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has blamed Grupo Clarin for her low approval ratings. The measure passed Thursday by a vote of 147 to 4, but the wide margin does not reflect the heated debate over it. Lawmakers opposed to the measure protested by walking out of the chamber and not voting. Some even threatened to turn to the courts to challenge the legitimacy of the vote. The goal of the so-called Audio-Visual Communication law is to regulate television and radio broadcasters and increase competition in the media industry, according to a draft of the bill. Opponents say it targets media critical of the current government and President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, especially the media giant Grupo Clarin. This bill is "for everyone who wants to live in a more democratic and more pluralistic Argentina," Fernandez de Kirchner said in a speech last month. The newspaper Clarin has been highly critical of her leadership and that of her husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner. Although the proposed legislation would not affect newspapers, Grupo Clarin's other business interests in cable, television and radio would be forced to be sold off or restructured. "[Cristina] Kirchner saw [Clarin] as a limit to her power, and this was the origin of the conflict," Argentine political analyst Rosendo Fraga said. Argentina's case is just one of a number of fights between the presidency and the media in Latin America. "At this moment, in Nicaragua, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Argentina, the presidents have conflicts with the private media and seek to dominate them, although each country is a different case," Fraga said. Among the changes proposed in the bill, a company that owns a cable business would not be allowed to own any over-the-air broadcast channels. Also, the owner of a cable company would be allowed to have only one channel on that system. In its current form, Grupo Clarin would be in violation of both limits, among others. "It hits other media groups, but Clarin is the one it hurts," said Daniel Kerner, an analyst at Eurasia Group. The reform would also redistribute broadcast frequencies into thirds: one-third for private media, one-third for the government and one-third for nongovernmental organizations and other civil groups. "More control of the media by the government, this is the main motivation," Kerner said. Journalism advocacy groups have raised concerns, focusing on a proposed requirement that broadcasters renew licenses every two years. "We are extremely concerned at the opportunity created under the current draft legislation for political pressure on broadcasters," International Press Institute Director David Dadge said in a statement. "We urge Argentinean legislators not to pass this bill in its current form." If anyone is applying unfair pressure, it is monopolistic media companies, Fernandez de Kirchner said. "Freedom of expression cannot turn into freedom of extortion," she said during an August 27 speech. "The right to information means the right to all information, not to the concealment of part of the information and the distortion and manipulation of the other part." Grupo Clarin has about two-thirds of the cable market in Argentina, but its other products don't come close to monopolistic figures, Fraga said. Both Kirchners have blamed Clarin's critical reports for their low approval ratings. The ruling party was dealt a strong defeat during recent midterm elections. In response, Fernandez de Kirchner has come out swinging at the Clarin newspaper and its parent company, observers said. Last month, the government pushed the nation's soccer association to rescind a contract it had with Clarin to broadcast games. The government reached into its coffers and offered the association double what Clarin was paying for rights to broadcast the games. This month, 200 tax agents made a surprise raid on the newspaper's offices, ostensibly to check employment records, editor Ricardo Kirschbaum said. But the agents left after three hours, empty-handed. "Their real mission was to intimidate," Kirschbaum said. The editor bristles at the characterization of the bill as part of conflict between his newspaper and the government. The Kirchners "have a hostile stance, not just against Clarin but against all the press," he said. "They are the proponents of 'democratizing' the media through this law, and this is how they regard the media? It's paradoxical." CNN en Español's Guillermo Fontana contributed to this report.

Measure passes 147 to 4, but wide margin belies heated debate . Opponents protest by walking out of chamber, not voting; some threaten challenge . Opponents say bill targets media critical of the government -- especially Grupo Clarin . Latin America has seen many fights between media, presidents .

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A mall in Thailand that used to be awash with shoppers is now teeming with fish after the abandoned building was flooded. The New World Mall, in Bangkok, was closed in 1997 after it was found to have breached building regulations, before a fire in 1999 left it without a roof. Rainwater slowly filled the building with water, causing a major mosquito problem. In an effort to rid themselves of the pests, the locals introduced freshwater talapia fish to eat the insects. An abandoned mall in Thailand has become home to hundreds of fish after it flooded. Locals introduced the talapia to eat mosquitoes which had been attracted by the stagnant water . Meant as a simple pest control measure, the talapia have now thrived and hundreds of them can be seen swimming in the strange urban pond . The New World Mall was closed in 1997 after it was found to have breached building regulations and a fire in 1999 destroyed the roof allowing rainwater in . The fish thrived, quickly multiplied, and now fill the lower floors of the mall, swimming around rusty escalators and across the 5,000sqft floor. Shops around the mall sell fish food to tourists who visit, but throwing anything else into the subterranean lake is banned in order to protect the aquatic inhabitants. Backpacker Jesse Rockwell, 30, stumbled across the deserted mall while travelling in Thailand. He said: 'It is quite bizarre - I was really surprised when I came across it. It is literally three blocks away from backpacker central, but nobody is even aware it is there. As the water level rose, the locals noticed it was attracting mosquitoes and so introduced the freshwater talapia fish in order to eat the pests . The mall was closed after it was found to be seven floors taller than the original building plans allowed . 'It was very quiet in the mall, I could only hear the sound of splashing fish, even though it's close to a main road.' Mr Rockwell, from Santa Rosa, California, USA, added : 'A sign written in Thai outside says 'Do not throw anything into the water' - so people are trying to protect the fish.' New World Mall, found on Bang Lam Pu Junction in Bangkok's old town, was built in the 1980s. The company that built the mall was found to be in breach of building regulations as the 11-storey mall was seven floors taller than the approved construction blueprint. Local shops sell fish food for visitors to throw to the fish, but tossing anything else in the lake is banned as residents try to protect the animals from coming to harm . From outside the mall, it is impossible to tell that there is a lake of fish inside and it is one of the lesser-known tourist attractions in Thailand . The mall was forced to close in 1997 and was set ablaze in 1999, leading to its partial demolition. The fifth to eleventh floors were later dismantled so the empty shopping centre was in line with the original  construction plans. Mr Rockwell, a chef, said: "Some people think it was set ablaze because it was too tall. Lots of people in old town Bangkok think it is insulting to build something taller than The Grand Palace. 'So when the mall was built people got really angry.'

New World Mall in Bangkok, Thailand, flooded after fire destroyed roof . Locals noticed water attracted mosquitoes so introduced fish to eat them . The freshwater talapia have thrived and hundreds fill abandoned building .

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(CNN) -- The stakes in a court hearing Tuesday were as big as the star performers at the heart of the matter. SeaWorld appealed to a federal three-judge panel Tuesday, asking it to overturn Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety citations and a ban restricting how humans interact with killer whales during performances. OSHA instituted the regulations after the death of veteran trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010, when Tilikum, the orca she had worked with for years, dragged her into the water and killed her in front of a horrified audience. The governmental agency said the company had violated the general duty clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, saying it exposed its workers to a known hazard in the workplace. Eugene Scalia, son of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and former solicitor of the U.S. Department of Labor, argued in the hearing that OSHA is overstepping its bounds and has no more of a right to impose restrictions on a specialized industry like SeaWorld than it does to regulate tackling in the NFL or impose speed limits in NASCAR. Filmmaker: Why I made 'Blackfish' The judges peppered both Scalia and Amy Tryon, who represented OSHA and the Labor Department, with numerous questions on that analogy. "SeaWorld created this business but cannot create their own safety standard," Tryon said. The issue seemed to trouble Judge Brett Kavanaugh. "It does seem giving the authority (here) would give OSHA the authority over sports and entertainment industries in the U.S.," Kavanaugh told Tryon. Scalia also argued that OSHA's restrictions present a "fundamental difference" and a "stark change" in the premise of SeaWorld's existing business model, which is based on exhibiting humans interacting with killer whales. The theme park was known until 2010 for its famous Shamu shows, which featured amazing demonstrations of trainers surfing on orcas or being catapulted high into the air. "OSHA isn't asking SeaWorld to prevent all activities," Tryon said. "These are feasible reductions that we know SeaWorld can do because they're doing them now." In 2010, SeaWorld was originally fined $75,000 for three safety violations, including one "willful" citation. After SeaWorld appealed that decision, an administrative law judge in 2012 downgraded the "willful" complaint to "serious," reducing the fine to $12,000. Crucially, that judge sided with OSHA's mandate to keep humans out of the water with killer whales unless there were physical barriers to reduce the risk of serious injury or death. SeaWorld disagreed and filed its appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. With the court-ordered restrictions, some argue that SeaWorld's very livelihood is on the line. "SeaWorld offers the public an opportunity to observe humans' interaction with killer whales," the company said in court documents. "This brings profound public educational benefit, is integral to SeaWorld's care of the whales, and responds to an elemental human desire to know, understand, and interact with the natural world." OSHA argued in a response brief that such close interaction between humans and whales was not crucial to the company's business. "It is clear from SeaWorld's adoption of these measures that close contact of the kind that resulted in Dawn Brancheau's death is not essential to SeaWorld's ability to draw visitors to its parks, to practice behaviors during shows, or to care for its whales," the brief said. Captive orcas have killed four people, including three trainers. "The ($12,000 citation) amounts to basically a very expensive speeding ticket," said Benjamin Briggs, a partner with Seyfarth Shaw LLP who specializes in labor law. "The one that's going to be harder to prove is proving this type of interaction between whales and the trainers actually makes the interactions more predictable, and by reducing that, and creating greater distances, it's going to undermine not only the level of predictability, but it's going to harm their ability to care for the animals and impact their operations in a more fundamental way." Trainers have been in "close contact with whales since the 1960s," court documents say. "During this time, OSHA could have opened an investigation at any time if it believed that close contact presented a recognized hazard." Briggs said the argument is legitimate, but SeaWorld faces an uphill battle because what OSHA has on its side is history. "There's a long and well-documented track record of these types of animals behaving aggressively toward humans to the point that they've caused a number of fatalities, not only at SeaWorld, but at a number of places," Briggs said. "That is what OSHA is going to say: 'You absolutely were on notice of this, this is absolutely a recognized hazard.' This kind of track record is not one you can ignore. So it's very important; it's what OSHA's case really hinges upon." The appeal hearing, normally held in a courtroom, garnered such high interest that it was held at a public forum at the Georgetown University Law Center. The venue was the first time oral arguments for the D.C. Circuit have been heard outside of the court. Spectators included Georgetown University law students, the general public and SeaWorld employees. A decision is not expected immediately. Brancheau's death sparked the making of a documentary acquired by CNN Films called "Blackfish." The documentary explores the history of killer whales in captivity and incidents in aquatic parks leading up to Brancheau's death. SeaWorld answers questions about 'Blackfish'

NEW: SeaWorld, OSHA make their cases before federal appeals panel . SeaWorld lets visitors observe human interaction with killer whales, company says . OSHA has cited SeaWorld for not having adequate safety precautions . In 2010, Dawn Brancheau was pulled underwater by a killer whale and drowned .

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By . Sarah Griffiths . Carrying shopping, work kit or even an order of pizzas on a motorbike can be tricky, unless you have access to a massive Harley Davidson. But an eco-friendly electric bike that has a large cubby hole instead of a fuel tank could mean the end of cumbersome backpacks or bags precariously balanced on handlebars. German engineers built a nifty electric motor into the hub of the ‘Feddz’ bike’s wheel to free up the space for a rider’s personal possessions. Scroll down for video . The future of pizza delivery? An eco-friendly electric bike (pictured) that has a large cubby hole instead of a fuel tank could mean the end of cumbersome backpacks or bags precariously balanced on handlebars . USP: The bike has a large cubby hole where the fuel tank and engine would be on a traditional motorbike. Power: An electric motor is built into the hub of the bike's wheel. Charging: The bike can be charged using a standard household power outlet and take around seven hours for a full charge. Batteries: The bikes use the latest lithium-ion batteries. Storage: The cubby hole can accommodate 23 litres - or a tool box, collection of logs or several pizza boxes. Range: The premium model has a range of 68miles (110km) and the eco one a smaller range of 43miles (70km). Top speed: The premium bike can reach 28mph (45kph) and the eco model has a capped speed of 16mph (25kph). Weight: 99lbs (45kg) - including the battery. Price: €5,990 (£5,018) for the eco model and $6,990 (£5,855) for the premium bike. The Feddz model is designed and built by a German firm called Emo-Bike and its most eye-catching feature is the cavity where you expect an engine and fuel tank to be, which is freed up as 23litres of storage space – enough for logs, pizzas or a large toolbox, according to the company. The 'cargo space' is fitted with two belts with ‘quick release closures’ and inside the frame is a USB connection so that riders can charge their smartphones on the go. The bikes are available with two different batteries. The ‘premium’ bike with the larger battery has a 68-mile (110km) range on a seven hour charge and a top speed of 28mph (45kph). The ‘eco model’ has a range of 43miles . (70km) has a capped speed of 16mph (25kph) which means it can be driven . without a licence in some places. The cargo space is fitted with two belts with 'quick release closures' and inside the frame is a USB connection so that riders can charge their smartphones . According to Emo-Bike, the ‘plug-in and drive’ batteries use the newest lithium-ion technology and can be recharged using any household outlet while they are removed from the bike, or still attached. The bike frame and wheels weigh just 73lbs (33kg) and can be loaded onto a conventional bike carrier once the 25lb (12kg) battery is removed. German engineers built a nifty electric motor into the hub of the 'Feddz' bike's wheel (pictured) to free up the space for a rider's personal possessions or heavy items like logs . Seat height can be adjusted to allow a rider to choose between a comfortable upright position and a lower, sportier posture. The most basic model costs €5,990 (£5,018) and while it is an investment, the company points out that a user will save money on fuel in the long-run. The bikes are available with two different batteries - the larger 'premium' one with a 68-mile (110km) range on a seven hour charge and a top speed of 28mph (45kph) The bike frame and wheels weigh just 73lbs (33kg) and can be loaded onto a conventional bike carrier once the 25lb (12kg) battery is removed .

German engineers built a nifty electric . motor into the hub of the ‘Feddz’ bike’s wheel to free up the space for a . rider’s personal possessions . The Feddz bike is available with two different batteries for different ranges and top speeds. The premium model has a top speed of 28mph (45kph) The bike frame and wheels weigh just 73lbs (33kg) and the cheapest model is available for €5,990 (£5,018)

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Richard Shepherd (pictured) from Doncaster, has been jailed for two years after he admitted stealing thousands from a children's hospice . An accountant who stole more than £13,000 from a hospice for terminally ill children has been jailed for two years. Richard Shepherd, from Doncaster, admitted the 'deplorable' theft after suspicious staff at the South Yorkshire-based Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice installed covert cameras. He was then captured 'red-handed' stealing two large bundles of cash and stashing them down his trousers. All the money pocketed by the 26-year-old financial assistant had been given by the public, including generous donations from children who had handed over their birthday gifts and mourners who donated at funerals. Jailing him, Judge Julian Goose said the terminally ill children at the hospice were 'exceptionally vulnerable' and Shepherd had even met those donating to the charity. 'You personally saw them as they gave you money and you took it from them,' he told him. 'It could have supported children and their families through some of the toughest times they could experience,' he told him. Sheffield Crown Court heard a new chief executive at the hospice became suspicious when she saw him hide something in his pockets and later count cash before work which was not normal procedure. Covert cameras were installed inside the office and footage showed Shepherd stealing the cash and hiding it down his trousers. He was challenged but initially would only admit to stealing £850. He was sacked and the police were called, said David Wain, prosecuting. He was arrested on July 2, 2013. 'He was caught red-handed in essence,' said Mr Wain who added that the theft had a detrimental effect on Bluebell Wood. Shepherd, who worked for the charity for four years, admitted fraud over a seven-month period between December 1, 2012 and July 1,2013. More than £13,000 of donations were stolen from the South Yorkshire-based Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice (pictured) by Shepherd over a seven month period . The prosecution claimed he stole £20,748 but the defence would only accept a figure of £13,500 and Shepherd was sentenced on the latter figure. The court heard he used a 'sleight of hand' to pocket the charity cash. He kept some cheques back given by well-wishers instead of banking them and recording the amount on the donations account system. When cash was donated he would record the donation but instead of banking it he would submit a cheque for the same amount - leaving him able to deposit the money in his own account. 'This was not an arms-length fraud, he was in contact with the ultimate victims of these offences,' said Mr Wain. The hospice, based in Rotherham, costs more than £3 million a year to run and has to raise over 95 per cent of that funding itself. Shepherd worked alongside another accountant in the finance office and was the junior but often accepted the public donations. Richard Sheldon, defending, said: 'They were offences that were bound to be discovered at some stage, it was only a matter of time. He is totally ashamed of what he has done.' Shepherd had held two jobs in the Doncaster area, working a night shift and delivering fish and chips before he started nights to support his new partner who was pregnant. He has since been thrown out of the matrimonial home and voluntarily sought counselling. Judge Goose said he stole at least £13,500 and other proceeds of crime proceedings would ascertain just how much he gained. Bluebell Wood provided a vital support service for 'desperately ill' children which relied on charitable donations. 'They have to work hard for every penny,' he said. Shepherd's role was to protect the charity's financial interests and his 'high impact' crime had a serious detrimental effect on Bluebell Wood, he added. The judge told him: 'The loss of this money means less care can be provided and what you did may well affect significantly the willingness of people to give to this charity.' Speaking after the sentencing, Clare Rintoul chief executive of Bluebell Wood said: 'We're absolutely sickened that a member of our staff who was in a position of trust has stolen funds from Bluebell Wood. 'Our supporters range from small children giving up their birthday presents to retired grandmothers skydiving for us; all so that we can provide vital support and services to children who won’t live to adulthood and their families.' 'This is a shocking act of calculated betrayal and we hope justice means he will never get the opportunity to do this again.' PC Angela Hardwick who led the investigation said: 'Shepherd's actions are deplorable. To steal money from a charitable organisation especially one that provides essential care and support for terminally ill children and their families is despicable. 'The money he stole allowed Shepherd to fund a lifestyle far above that afforded by his legitimate income.'

Richard Shepherd admitted stealing £13,500 from the children's hospice . The 26-year-old was caught after suspicious staff installed covert cameras . He was then captured 'red-handed' stealing and stashing the donations . The court heard he had met many of the people whose donations he stole .

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(Mashable) -- In an update to one of the more iconic "year-end" magazine editions, People has launched a "Sexiest Man Alive on Facebook" campaign to complement its "Sexiest Man Alive" issue, which hits newsstands later this month. For the campaign, People has chosen five celebs that aren't just "sexy" (as defined by the editors, we presume), but also have a big presence in social media. Notably, the Old Spice guy is on the list, as well as Vin Diesel (who we've long noted is disproportionately popular on Facebook) and NFL social media super user Chad Ochocinco. Enrique Iglesias and "Jersey Shore's" Pauly D round out the five celebrities that People's Facebook fans can vote for through November 10. The winner will be revealed in the "Sexiest Man Alive" issue -- the 25th edition of the feature. While hardly the most innovative application, we imagine it will be a win for People -- which also recently launched its iPad app -- as its social media obsessed nominees encourage their fans to vote. Who do you think should take the title? Let us know in the comments. © 2010 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved.

Peopke magazine launches campaign on Facebook to complement "Sexiest Man Alive" issue . Magazine chose five celebs that aren't just "sexy" but have presence in social media . Facebook fans can vote for their favorites through November 10 .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:37 EST, 25 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:46 EST, 25 December 2012 . A South Carolina couple are fighting to win back custody of a three-year-old Native American girl they adopted as a baby, after the Supreme Court ruled she should be handed back to her biological father due to 'tribal rights'. Dusten Brown, a member of the Cherokee Nation, had never met his daughter before picking her up in his truck in December 2011, and had even told the girl's biological mother that he did not want her. But after finding out the woman, who is not a Native American, had given the girl up for adoption, he invoked the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, which gives American Indian parents preference in custody disputes. Happy family: Matt and Melanie Capobianco with their adopted daughter Veronica, who has been taken out of their custody and given to her biological father as he is Native American . He won custody of the girl and her adoptive parents, Matt and Melanie Capobianco, have not seen her in a year as he has refused to allow them to contact her. Now the Capobiancos are fighting to win back their daughter, Veronica, and in turn, they are battling the controversial federal law that has taken her away. 'No one can believe that this nightmare can happen in America,' Melanie told the Washington Times last month. 'We live in total grief.' The South Carolina Supreme Court had ruled for Brown to have custody even though it called the Capobiancos 'ideal parents who have exhibited the ability to provide a loving family environment.' But the law was put in place to be sensitive to distinctive . aspects of Native American culture and to protect children following . cases of abuse against children from tribes, the New York Times reported. Battle: Veronica, who is now three, was taken by her biological father, Dusten Brown (right), last December and the Capobiancos have not seen her since. He had originally said he wanted nothing to do with her . While family courts usually base their . decisions on the best interests of the child, the 1978 law notes other . factors should be considered and the tribe's interest in the child is . equal to that of the parents. The Capobiancos believe the law has . gone too far, and question whether a man who previously showed no . interest in his child should take custody simply because of he is Native . American. 'There was no transition period, nothing for Veronica,' Melanie said. 'We were ordered to hand her over and that was it. 'We can't understand how she was given . no time to adjust or even meet her birth father in advance of him . taking her back to Oklahoma.' New home: Before Veronica's birth, Brown gave up his parental rights and her mother put her up for adoption . Missed: But on hearing that Veronica, pictured, was up for adoption, the father changed his mind . With the decision causing outrage, Paul Clement, the former U.S Solicitor General, and Thomas . Lowndes, a founding member of the American Academy of Adoption . Attorneys, have filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the . Capobiancos to restore custody. While the Supreme Court hears only . about one per cent of cases that are submitted, the couple hopes that . the Court will be among those heard in 2013. Brown was given custody of Veronica even though he told his former fiancee, while she was pregnant with the girl, that he wanted nothing to do with the baby - by text message. And in the ruling, one dissenting judge said Brown had 'turned his back on the joys and responsibilities of fatherhood at every turn', while another said his 'vanishing act triggered the adoption in the first instance'. Fight: The Capobiancos have questioned whether it is right for a man - who previously showed no interest in his daughter - take her back simply because he is Native American . The Capobiancos, who live in Charleston, South Carolina, are in touch with the biological mother, who supports their parental rights, but Brown has not allowed them to contact Veronica. 'The concern should not be with a tribe, or a community, a birth parent or an adoptive parent. It should always be with the child,' Melanie said. 'This case is about fundamental justice for children. We are determined not to give up hope.'

Matt and Melanie Capobianco in custody dispute over daughter Veronica . Father wanted nothing to do with her and mother put her up for adoption . But now biological father, a Cherokee, has won custody of her back after invoking Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 . The federal law gives American Indian parents preference in custody battles . Capobianco have not seen adopted daughter in a year .

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(CNN) -- Lionel Messi broke the Spanish league's all-time scoring record after hitting a hat trick in Barcelona's 5-1 victory over Sevilla. It has been a season of records for the Argentine international who, at just 27, already holds the record as Barcelona's highest ever scorer in European competition. But all eyes were on the diminutive striker at the Camp Nou stadium to see whether he cold break Telmo Zarra's 59-year-old record of 251 Spanish league goals. Typical Messi . In the end, Messi didn't just break the record: he equaled it, surpassed it and then extended it in typical fashion. His first, which tied the record, was a sublime left foot free kick which he bent over the wall into the top left hand corner of the goal. The second, which broke the record, was a surging run through the heart of Sevilla's defense that ended with Messi exchanging passes and sliding in to finish at the far post. His Barcelona teammates celebrated with him on the pitch by picking him up and throwing him in the air. But Messi wasn't finished there. He scored another fantastic goal to extend the record with a left foot shot on the run into the bottom left hand corner of the goal. "Brutal record" "We are happy for everything. Obviously for Leo, it is an incredible, brutal record," Barcelona midfielder Xavi told AFP after the game. "It is historic and I am very happy for him because he deserves it as a person and obviously as a player." More importantly, however, the comprehensive victory allowed Barcelona to close the gap on Real Madrid at the top of the table who had beaten Eibar 4-0 earlier on Saturday. There were signs too that Messi's record might not stand for almost six decades, as the previous one had. Cristiano Ronaldo again scored twice, his 197th goal in just 177 matches.

Messi breaks Spain's scoring record . Scored hat trick in Sevilla win . Previous 251 goal record stood for 59 years . Barca stay in second place in the league .

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By . Luke Augustus . Follow @@Luke_Augustus29 . Santi Cazorla believes Arsenal must follow the blueprint of Atletico Madrid if they are to end their 10-year Premier League trophy drought against their big spending title rivals. Atletico were crowned La Liga champions for the first time since 1996 last season after breaking the dominance of Barcelona and city rivals Real. Diego Simeone's side wrestled the title away from the El Clasico duo despite the loss of talisman Falcao to Monaco, while Real and Barcelona spent heavily on marquee signings Gareth Bale and Neymar respectively. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Arteta expecting great season . Example: Santi Cazorla says Arsenal must follow Atletico Madrid's blueprint to win the Premier League . Champions: Atletico won La Liga for the first time in 18 years despite spending less than Barcelona or Real . Target: Cazorla (right) is trying to help Arsenal win their first Premier League crown since the 2003/04 season . VIDEO Arteta expecting great season . Speaking to Marca, Cazorla says Atletico's method of success should be something the Gunners should employ whilst trying to compete against the likes of Premier League winners Manchester City and Co. 'Atletico are good example to follow,' he said. 'Atletico and Arsenal have to play the same way, but everyone is looking to win titles. 'They had an incredible season last year, winning titles takes several campaigns, I admire everything they have conquered. Many people do not realise how hard it is to win a league competing with Barcelona or Madrid.' Despite the signings of Alexis Sanchez, David Ospina, Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers this summer, the Spain international believes next season's Premier League is too close to call with all their title rivals strengthening as well this summer. 'Manchester City are the current champions and will always be the ones to watch out for,' he added. 'Manchester United are coming off the back of a bad season - but they will come back stronger this season. Having no European competition this season will focus their attention on the league. 'Then there's Chelsea, who have  made great signings: Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Courtois, who has returned... But it's difficult to choose one, the problem is that there are many. 'I do not want to forget other teams like Liverpool, who went so close to the title last year, or Tottenham. I'm sure it will be very open and just hope that Arsenal are in the top group.' New recruit: Chelsea striker Diego Costa cost £32million from Atletico in July . Exciting times: Arsenal have strengthened their squad with four new signings including Alexis Sanchez .

Santi Cazorla believes Arsenal must follow Atletico Madrid's example if they're to win the Premier League next season . Atletico won La Liga last season despite Real Madrid and Barcelona spending heavily . Cazorla thinks Arsenal have to mirror Atletico's blueprint against big spending Premier League rivals such as Manchester City and Chelsea .

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By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:36 EST, 25 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:18 EST, 26 July 2013 . Four Russian nationals and a Ukrainian have been charged with running a sophisticated hacking organization that penetrated computer networks of more than a dozen major American and international corporations over seven years, stealing and selling at least 160 million credit and debit card numbers, resulting in losses of hundreds of millions of dollars. Indictments were announced Thursday in Newark, where U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman called the case the largest hacking and data breach scheme ever prosecuted in the United States. Princeton-based Heartland Payment Systems Inc., which processes credit and debit cards for small to mid-sized businesses, was identified as taking the biggest hit in a scheme starting in 2007 — the theft of more than 130 million card numbers at a loss of about $200 million. Scroll down for video . Dmitriy Smilianets, left, is in U.S. custody and expected to appear in federal court next week, while Albert Gonzalez, right, is currently serving 20 years for stealing credit card numbers . Atlanta-based Global Payment Systems, another major payment processing company, had nearly one million card numbers stolen, with losses of nearly $93 million, prosecutors said. The indictment did not put a loss figure on the thefts at some other major corporations, including Commidea Ltd., a European provider of electronic payment processing for retailers. The government said hackers in 2008 covertly removed about 30 million card numbers from its computer network. About 800,000 card numbers were stolen in an attack on the Visa network, but the indictment did not cite any loss figure. Not all the companies the hackers infected over the years with malicious computer software suffered financial losses. Customer log-in credentials were stolen from Nasdaq and Dow Jones Inc., the indictment said, though prosecutors said Nasdaq's trading platform was not affected. The indictment said the suspects sent each other instant messages as they took control of the corporate data, telling each other, for instance: 'NASDAQ is owned.' At least one man told others that he used Google news alerts to learn whether his hacks had been discovered, according to the court filing. The defendants were identified as Vladimir Drinkman, 32, of Syktyvkar, Russia (PDF), and Moscow; Aleksander Kalinin, 26, of St. Petersburg, Russia (PDF); Roman Kotov, 32, of Moscow; Dmitriy Smilianets, 29, of Moscow; and Mikhail Rytikov, 26, of Odessa, Ukraine. Smilianets is in U.S. custody and was expected to appear in federal court next week. His New York-based lawyer, Bruce Provda, said Smilianets was in the U.S. ‘sightseeing’ when he was arrested. ‘It's a rather complex international charge of hacking,’ Provda said. ‘If it goes to trial, it's going to be a lengthy trial.’ Drinkman is being held in the Netherlands pending extradition, prosecutors said. His lawyer there, Bart Stapert, did not immediately return a message. The other three defendants remained at large. Princeton-based Heartland Payment Systems was identified as taking the biggest hit ¿ the theft of more than 130 million card numbers at a loss of about $200 million . The prosecution builds on the 2009 case that resulted in a 20-year prison sentence for Albert Gonzalez of Miami, who often used the screen name 'soupnazi' and is identified in the new complaint as an unindicted co-conspirator. Other unindicted co-conspirators were also named. In the Gonzalez case, which focused on the theft from Heartland - at the time the biggest breach of its kind ever discovered in the U.S. - Kalinin and Drinkman were charged as 'Hacker 1' and 'Hacker 2.' Prosecutors identified the two as sophisticated hackers who specialized in penetrating the computer networks of multinational corporations, financial institutions and payment processors. Kotov's specialty was harvesting data from the networks after they had been penetrated, and Rytikov provided anonymous web-hosting services that were used to hack into computer networks and covertly remove data, the indictment said. Smilianets was the information salesman, the government said. All five are charged with taking part in a computer hacking conspiracy and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The four Russian nationals are also charged with multiple counts of unauthorized computer access and wire fraud. The individuals who purchased the credit and debit card numbers and associated data from the hacking organization resold them through online forums or directly to others known as 'cashers,' the indictment said. Atlanta-based Global Payment Systems had nearly one million card numbers stolen, with losses of nearly $93 million . According to the indictment, U.S. credit card numbers sold for about $10 each; Canadian numbers were $15 and better-encrypted European ones $50. The data was stored on computer servers all over the world, including in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, Latvia, the Netherlands, Bahamas, Ukraine, Panama and Germany. The cashers would encode the information onto the magnetic strips of blank plastic cards and cash out the value, by either withdrawing money from ATMs in the case of debit cards, or running up charges and purchasing goods in the case of credit cards. The charging documents unsealed Thursday show instant message chats between Gonzalez and Kalinin about hacking into Hannaford's systems. When Kalinin jokes about the breach being reported on TV news, Gonzalez advises him to set up Google news alerts, like Gonzalez says he has, for 'data breach' 'credit card fraud' 'debit card fraud' 'atm fraud' and 'hackers.' The gang stole about 800,000 card numbers in an attack on the Visa network . 'It's how I find out when my hacks are found,' Gonzalez says. Gonzalez jokes, 'Hannaford will spend millions to upgrade their security!! Lol' And Kalinin replies: 'they would better pay us to not hack them again.' Kalinin was also charged, along with another Russian man, in a separate indictment unsealed in New York on Thursday. The men are accused of hacking into computer systems at Citibank and PNC Bank and giving co-conspirators information who encrypted blank ATM cards that were used to withdraw $4.2 million from customer accounts in 2006 and 2007. Kalinin is also accused in that indictment of installing malicious software on Nasdaq computers. Prosecutors say the breach did not affect securities trading.

Four Russians and a Ukrainian have been charged with running sophisticated hacking organization over seven year period . One company - Heartland Payment Systems - suffered losses of about $200 million . One defendant is in U.S. custody, another is in the Netherlands and the other three remain at large . Albert Gonzalez, currently serving 20 years for stealing credit card numbers, was named as a collaborator in the complex scheme .

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French troops killed a senior jihadist leader in northern Mali -- a man purportedly behind a number of high-profile attacks and kidnappings, and ambitious and brazen enough that the United States had issued a $5 million reward for him -- the French military announced Thursday. Ahmed el Tilemsi was the military head and co-founder of a jihadist group called the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa, one of several jihadist groups active in the region. The U.S. government designated el Tilemsi a terrorist in December 2012 and offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to him. He was killed Wednesday night in a French military operation, which was coordinated with Malian forces, in the Gao region in Mali, French military officials said. "One of the things that proves he was a senior chief (in the group) is that when he got killed ... he was accompanied by a dozen (fighters) who were also ensuring his security," French Defense Ministry spokesman Sacha Mandel said. About 10 suspected terrorists were "neutralized" -- which means killed or taken captive, according to the French military -- in the same operation, said Col. Gilles Jaron, another French military spokesman. Mali is a former French colony. According to the U.S. State Department, el Tilemsi was among the militants who in September 2011 broke off from al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb -- another terrorist group -- to form the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa. A month later, the group, also known as MUJWA, abducted three aid workers from a refugee camp in western Algeria. The U.S. government blames the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa for an attack on a police base in Tamanrasset, Algeria, and another in Ouargla, Algeria, as well as the kidnapping of seven Algerian diplomats -- incidents that all occurred in 2012. The State Department described el Tilemsi, a Malian born in 1977, as MUJWA's military chief, adding that he directly took part in the October 2011 kidnappings in western Algeria. Before that, as a member of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, he took part in the abduction of two French nationals in the Niger city of Niamey, the U.S. government said.

French troops conduct an operation in northern Mali, coordinating with Malian forces . They kill Ahmed el Tilemsi, co-founder of the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa . A French official says a dozen other militants were with el Tilemsi when he was killed . The U.S. had designated el Tilemsi a terrorist, offered a reward of up to $5 million for him .

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Britain's ageing nuclear submarines have been issued with  ‘Code Red’ safety warnings after inspectors found radioactive leaks and a chronic shortage of Royal Navy engineers trained to repair faulty reactors, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. An official watchdog discovered major safety issues with both the UK’s nuclear-powered submarines and facilities used to repair nuclear missiles, raising the risk of a catastrophic accident involving radioactive material. Last night, experts described the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR) report for 2012-13 as the most worrying they had seen. Code Red: Tireless, the oldest submarine in the Royal Navy fleet, which entered service in 1984, suffered damage to its circuits earlier this year resulting in a radioactive leak . The document, obtained by this newspaper, reveals: . Head of the DNSR Dr Richard Savage wrote: ‘Significant and sustained attention is required to ensure maintenance of adequate safety performance and the rating [Red] reflects the potential impact if changes are ill-conceived or implemented. ‘The inability to sustain a sufficient . number of nuclear suitably competent personnel is the principal threat . to safety. Vulnerabilities exist in core skill areas, including safety, . propulsion, power and naval architects. In March 2007, sailors Anthony Huntrod, 20, (right) and Paul McCann, 32, (left)  were killed on HMS Tireless when a self-contained oxygen generator exploded during an Arctic exercise north of Alaska. They died trapped in a small, smoke-filled compartment. An inquest heard that there was a significant possibility the generator was salvaged from a hazardous waste depot in a cost-cutting bid  by the MoD. ‘Due to build delays with the Astute . Class, there has been a requirement to extend the Trafalgar Class beyond . their original design life in order to maintain the SSN flotilla at a . fully operational level. Some . of the emergent technical issues affecting the Trafalgar Class over the . last few years can be directly attributed to the effects of plant . ageing.’ The . report also raises concerns over whether the UK’s nuclear fleet and its . inland nuclear establishments could withstand an earthquake on the same . scale as the one that struck the Fukushima reactor plant in  Japan in . 2011. The document . notes that facilities which form part of Britain’s Defence Nuclear . Programme (DNP) require ‘continued priority attention’ to reach . recommended safety standards. Last . night, nuclear expert John Large told The Mail on Sunday that the DNSR . report revealed a crisis in Royal Navy nuclear safety. He . said: ‘This is the most self-damning and concerning report that I have . seen. We’re talking about a ticking time-bomb, with a higher risk to the . public and the environment than we previously feared. ‘The combination of a lack of nuclear . engineers, the Astute submarines being so far behind schedule and the . Trafalgar Class sailing beyond their design date is very worrying. 'The Trafalgars, including HMS Tireless, the oldest boat of the class, should be withdrawn immediately.’ HMS . Tireless, which entered service in 1984, suffered damage to  its . circuits earlier this year resulting in a radioactive leak. The . nuclear sub was patrolling off South-West England when the problem . arose, forcing its captain to return to Devonport. A more serious leak . was avoided because of swift remedial action. Nuclear . materials – including Trident missiles – are brought to the AWE’s site . at Aldermaston, Berkshire, for assembly, maintenance and . decommissioning. Warning: There are also fears over the Aldermaston centre where Trident missiles are serviced . These processes include ‘uranium polishing’ – the removal of impurities from the material in order to extend its life cycle as a component in nuclear missiles. The DNSR report states: ‘Inspection programmes have not been as comprehensive as regulators would expect. As an example, corrosion in the structural supports of a building was not identified as early as would be expected which resulted in the Office for Nuclear Regulation issuing a Safety Improvement Notice.’ Last night the AWE admitted corrosion had affected its uranium component manufacturing facility, but added repairs had been completed. An MoD spokesman said: ‘We would not operate any submarine unless it was safe to do so and this report acknowledges that we are taking  the necessary action to effectively manage the technical issues raised by the regulator. ‘It also highlights that the MoD is committed to maintaining expertise in submarine technology and operation – underlined by last month’s operational handover of the first two Astute Class submarines.’

Safety issues with UK's nuclear subs and facilities used to repair missiles . Cracks in reactors and nuclear . discharges found in Navy’s oldest . boats . Nuclear-qualified engineers are quitting over poor pay and conditions . Experts described latest report as the most . worrying they had seen . Cracks in reactors and nuclear discharges are directly attributable to the Royal Navy’s oldest Trafalgar Class SSNs (Ship Submarine Nuclear) remaining in service beyond their design date. Faults with the new Astute Class submarines will delay their entry into service, forcing the Navy to continue sailing the ageing and potentially dangerous Trafalgars. The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) failed to notice or rectify corrosion to a nuclear missile treatment plant in Berkshire. Nuclear-qualified engineers are quitting the Navy in droves over poor pay and conditions, creating a skills crisis.

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(CNN) -- A four-minute video lampooning your image as an international statesman is not the ideal start to a foreign tour. But this week, Australia's increasingly unpopular Prime Minister Tony Abbott will put an unflattering viral video behind him as he embarks on a 10-day trip to Indonesia, France, Canada and the U.S. As the clip, from John Oliver's "Last Week Tonight," spread through social media, the show tweeted: "Australia is a continent divided! After last night's episode, they are unable to decide between hashtags #TonyDumbDumb and #TonyDumDum." The most recent opinion polls back up the sentiment. According to Newspoll surveys commissioned by The Australian newspaper, Abbott's approval rating has slipped to 33%, down from his highest ever rating of 45% in November last year. Mending ties with Indonesia . Abbott's foreign tour starts in Indonesia Wednesday when he meets President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the Indonesian island of Batam. It will be their face-to-face meeting in six months, following a period of frosty relations between the two countries. Relations soured last November amid allegations that Australian intelligence agencies phone-tapped Indonesia's leader, his wife and close allies. Indonesia immediately recalled its ambassador, who has only recently returned to his post. "The clear indication from Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is that he wants this thing to end on good terms as he completes his presidency of 10 years," Ross Tapsell, a lecturer in Asian Studies at the Australian National University told CNN. Yudohoyono will step down after two terms in office, when the country votes for a new leader in July. "He's clearly been known to be a friend of Australia... and he's prided himself on his international statesman image. Certainly as he comes to the end of his reign that will be how he will be wanting his legacy to be reflected, because domestically he's been rating very poorly in the polls," Tapsell said. Abbott has made it clear too he wants to mend ties, on Tuesday brushing aside revelations that Indonesian journalists were in the room listening to an ostensibly private phone conversation between Abbott and Yudhoyono last month. Asked by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Chris Ulhmann whether he knew journalists were listening, Abbott said, "the important thing is the quality of the conversation." Describing the call as "very genial," Abbott said "there is no doubt that President Yudhoyono is and will always be, I think, a great friend of Australia." A transcript of the phone call was published on an Indonesian website in early May. A partial transcript published by the ABC on Tuesday revealed a seemingly innocuous conversation about when they'd next meet. Voter discontent . Abbott's problems at home center on a deeply unpopular budget the government has been struggling to sell since it was announced two weeks ago. Described as the worst-received federal budget in more than 20 years, it raised taxes, cut benefits, increased university fees and imposed a new fee for medical visits. Abbott maintains the budget is a painful but necessary remedy to years of overspending by the former Labor government. However, critics accuse him of breaking pre-election promises and imposing spending cuts that unfairly target the poor. Tough asylum policy . One of Abbott's main pre-election policies was a tougher stance on asylum seekers who arrive in Australian waters by boat. As well as a continuation of offshore processing, the Liberal leader advocated a "turn-back" policy; approval for the Australian Navy to force boats in Australian waters to turn around "when it is safe to do so." The policy rankled Indonesia, especially after a Joint Review by Australian authorities found Australian vessels "inadvertently" strayed into Indonesian waters six times between December 2013 and January 2014. "The Indonesia government has I think quite fairly been arguing for some time that there needs to be regional cooperation on the issue of asylum seekers and indeed the stop the boats policy was seen as a unilateral action," Tapsell said. During the eight months it has been in power, Abbott's government has succeeded in drastically reducing the number of boats arriving in Australia. The Prime Minister told the ABC the government's policies had removed a "source of friction" with Indonesia -- "Because none of them are making it to Australia, very few of them are leaving Indonesian shores. The whole point of leaving Indonesia is to get to Australia and if you never get to Australia, why bother leaving Indonesia?" After the phone tapping controversy, Indonesia called for a "code of conduct" to be agreed before relations return to normal. However it's unlikely it will be announced this week as the document is still being drafted. Beyond Indonesia . After Indonesia, Abbott is due to attend the official D-Day commemorations in France on June 6, before traveling to Canada for talks with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, then the U.S. where he'll meet President Barack Obama. Trade will dominate talks there as Abbott attempts to attract foreign investment with the mantra that Australia is "once again open for business." Abbott has acknowledged his government faces a "very, very big job" at home convincing voters that the measures announced in the budget will eventually pay off. The upcoming series of high-profile meetings is Abbott's opportunity to redefine early perceptions of his premiership, and deflect the conversation away from a choice of unflattering hashtags.

Australian, Indonesian leaders to meet for first time in six months Wednesday . Relationship soured over phone tapping allegations and asylum seeker policy . Australian PM is struggling in opinion polls after delivering painful budget . From Indonesia, Abbott will travel to France, Canada and the U.S.

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By . John Hall . Pioneer: Charles Darwin told his son about having had a passion for ice hockey prior to 1825 . Canada's national pride has been dealt a serious blow after Britain laid to inventing ice hockey - claiming Charles Darwin was one of the sport's first ever participants. A recently-discovered letter sent by the famous naturalist in 1853 asks his young son if he has a good pond at school, adding: 'I used to be very fond of playing at Hocky [sic] on the ice in skates'. The letter casts serious doubt on generally accepted Canadian claims that ice hockey was invented in the country in the 1870s and that the first proper match was played in Montreal in 1875. Darwin's letter was sent to his then 13-year-old son William, who was boarding at Shrewsbury School at the time, on March 1, 1853. 'My Dear Old Willy… have you got a pretty good pond to skate on? I used to be very fond of playing at Hocky [sic] on the ice in skates,' he wrote. The evolutionary theorist had himself attended the school as a boarder between 1818 and 1825 himself, and it is thought his reference to enjoying 'hockey on the ice' relates to this time. If that is the case, ice hockey would have been played in Britain at least 50 years earlier than the first officially recognised match in Canada, where is it now a national sport and general obsession. The claim will come as something of a blow to Canadians, who are taught to play the game almost as soon as they learn to walk. Jean-Patrice Martel, a member of the Society for International Hockey . Research, poured fuel of the fire by claiming the early 1820s was around the time that a game . recognisable as ice hockey started. 'We expect a lot of people won’t believe it and some will have much difficulty in believing it,' he told The Independent. 'It’s something you have been told since you were the youngest age, that you’ve been told by your parents,' he added. Despite potentially breaking Canadian . hearts with his claims, Martel gave them at least something to hold on . to by suggesting the ice hockey played in Britain in the early 1800s . would have been a slow, primitive sport compared to the high-energy, . high-impact game we know and love today. On the Origins of Ice Hockey: The sport may have been played in Britain at least 50 years earlier than the first officially recognised match in Canada, where is it now a national sport and general obsession (pictured) 'We wouldn’t want to say Canada has no claim at all [to the game] – that’s not true... Canada took the game, sped it up and made it better. Canada really made the game its own and hockey is truly a Canadian game now'. The Darwin letter appears in a new book French Canadian Martel wrote alongside two Swedish colleagues, medical doctor Carl Giden and sports writer Patrick Houda. Titled 'On the Origins of Hockey' in a deliberate nod to Darwin's seminal work 'On the Origins of Species', the trio also found an entry in the Lincolnshire Chronicle dated February 16, 1838 that backs up claims the ice hockey was being played in Britain in the first half of the 19th century. The entry reads: 'On Saturday last, an amusing scene took place on a splendid sheet of ice which covered Croxby Pond. 'A large party from the neighbouring residence of Geo. Alington, Esq., of Swinhop House, drove up in sledges to the pond. 'The ladies were drawn upon the ice in traineau, while the gentlemen performed various feats upon their skates: after going through several quadrilles, reels and playing a warmly contested game at hockey, the party partook of a cold collation, and again stepping into their sledges, glided swiftly away.' Reacting to the claims made in the book, Toronto newspaper The National Post called the idea of ice hockey being invented in Britain a 'puck-shattering thought', adding it is 'sure to rankle Canadian hockey patriots'.

Letter suggests Charles Darwin played hockey in Britain before 1825 . He wrote to son in 1853 reminiscing about his time at Shrewsbury School . Said he 'used to be very fond' of playing hockey 'on the ice in skates' Contradicts Canadian claims that the sport was invented in the country . Players are taught that the sport was first played in Montreal in 1870s .

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Demands: Albert Buitenhuis and his wife Marthie. The couple are being forced from their home as he is too over weight . This is the man who was told he is too fat to live in New Zealand, despite losing 66lb since moving there six years ago. Albert Buitenhuis, who weighs 20 stone six pounds, was told that it may place demands on the New Zealand health services. He and wife Marthie are now facing deportation from their Christchurch home and are living with his sister in Auckland as they fight the decision. New Zealand is the third most obese nation in the developed world, coming behind the US and Mexico. Albert is five feet ten inches tall and has a body mass index of 40, making him clinically obese. But, he weighed 25 stone two pounds when he arrived in New Zealand after gaining weight when he quit smoking. His wife Marthie said that his weight had not stopped Albert from working 40 hours a week as a chef. She added that their annual visas have been approved every year since 2007 with little problem. Marthie told The Press: ‘We applied for [them] year after year and there were no issues. They never mentioned Albert's weight or his health once and he was a lot heavier then. ‘We've committed no crime and did nothing wrong other than my husband being a foodie.’ But at the start of May the couple were told they must leave as Albert’s health was no longer acceptable. Immigration New Zealand said that an applicant’s BMI must be under 35. He and his wife Marthie are now facing deportation from their Christchurch, pictured, home (Stock image) A spokesman said: ‘INZ's medical assessors have to consider to what extent there might be indications of future high-cost and high-need demand for health services.’ They claim that his weight increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and fatty liver. He also has a knee injury which could cost up to $20,000 to replace. The Press reported that the couple’s doctor said he could bring his cholesterol and blood levels into the acceptable level within 26 weeks. They have made an appeal to New Zealand Associate Minister of Immigration Nikki Kaye.

Albert Buitenhuis was told he was too heavy to stay in new Zealand . Weighs 20 stone six pounds, five stone less than when he moved there . He and wife Marthie are facing deportation from their Christchurch home . Albert is five feet ten inches tall and has a Body Mass Index of 40 .

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By . Rachel Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 05:30 EST, 18 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:33 EST, 18 June 2013 . Two nurses are saving women the embarrassment of going into the operating theatre without a bra - by making a paper version. Theatre nurses Natalie Reid, 39, and Fiona Cartwright, 48, discovered many women dread surgery because they feel so exposed. So the pair came up with a blue paper bra to cover their patient's modesty in theatre. Dignified: The new disposable 'Digni Bra' (posed by model) is made of paper and is sparing women the embarrassment of going into surgery topless . So good has the feedback been, Natalie and Fiona, from Porthcawl, South Wales, are hoping the NHS will start offering their 'Digni Bra' to women patients who want to cover their breasts. Natalie said: 'It's not about vanity, it is about dignity. Obviously all the medics are professionals who've seen it all. But we would still want to be covered up if we going in for surgery.' Until now, women have been given just a pair of paper pants before they going for operations - but with nothing to cover their breasts. But Natalie and Fiona have now designed a matching bra and pants made out of blue paper to be trialled for patients. Nurses Natalie Reid (left) and Fiona Cartwright (right) designed the garment which is now on trial at the Vale Healthcare Hospital in Cardiff, which specialises in cosmetic surgery including weight-loss procedures. The nurses discovered that many women dread surgery because they feel overly exposed. Until now women only wore paper knickers while undergoing surgery . The bra and pants are used once to cover a patient's modesty before being safely disposed. Natalie said: 'We have been working with female patients for a long time and we just thought: "Why aren't women given bras?" 'We did some research and they just don't exist. 'We thought that it was a great idea to develop - particularly with dignity being so high on the agenda in healthcare at the moment.' The royal blue bra protect patients' modesty while allowing for essential heart monitoring and can be easily removed for cardiac massage. The new garments protect patients' modesty while allowing for essential heart monitoring and can be easily removed for cardiac massage . The paper garments have been on trial at a private hospital in Cardiff and have been welcomed by both patients and the medical profession. Fiona said: 'When we did the survey we found that 95 per cent of the women we asked did not know that they may become exposed when being prepared for surgery. 'We have met with some of the health boards and they seemed very positive about the idea, but it's difficult at a time when the NHS is cutting back. Nurse Fiona said Digni Bra is a simple concept 'but it's part of the NHS' code of conduct to protect patients' dignity, so we are hopeful [it will be used more widely]' 'But it's part of their code of conduct to protect patients' dignity, so we are hopeful.' A survey of 100 female patients at the hospital found all but one would prefer to have had a bra provided. The bra is being trialled at the Vale Healthcare Hospital in Cardiff which specialises in cosmetic surgery including weight-loss procedures. Alison Moir, Clinic Manager at the the hospital said: 'A patient's dignity is at the forefront of our staff's behaviour and attitudes at all times.'

Natalie Reid and Fiona Cartwright from Porthcawl in South Wales discovered many women dread surgery because they feel so exposed . Until now, women were only given paper knickers to wear under a gown . Now their blue paper bra protects patients' modesty while allowing for essential heart monitoring and can be easily . removed for cardiac massage . The garments have been on trial at . a private hospital in Cardiff and have been welcomed by both patients . and the medical profession .

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Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- China's top security official paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan, where he met with President Hamid Karzai on issues ranging from investment and bilateral trade to to terrorism and drug trafficking, China's state-run news agency said Sunday. The visit Saturday by Zhou Yongkang, a member of Communist Party's politburo, the elite group of 25 men who run China, was the first visit by a top Chinese official since 1955, Xinhua reported. Beijing kept the visit secret because of security concerns, the agency said. "It is the consistent policy of the Chinese government and the (party) to consolidate and develop China-Afghanistan relations," Zhou said in a statement reported by Xinhua. Zhou also said China is willing to make "due contributions" to peace and stability. "We will continue to provide assistance to Afghanistan with no attached conditions and sincerely hope the Afghan people can regain peace as soon as possible and build a better home in a peaceful environment," he added. Karzai and Chinese President Hu Jintao held a summit in Beijing in June. The two countries decided at the time to develop a strategic and cooperative partnership, Xinhua reported.

China's top security official visited Afghanistan on Saturday and met with President Hamid Karzai . Visit was first by a top Chinese official since 1955, according to China's state-run Xinhua agency . China kept the visit secret because of security concerns, Xinhua said .

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Mention Nepal and most people think snow-capped scenes, of 7,000-meter mountains and the climbers raring to conquer them. Is there much to the country beyond its mighty Himalayan peaks? Yes. Thankfully, for those who don't consider it a vacation to hike for days, eat out of tins and do their business in a hole in the ground, it's possible to "do" Nepal without scaling anything. Here are six ways to experience mountain country minus the mountain climbing. In search of the inner Buddha . Who knew a hum could be so infectious? The ubiquitous Buddhist mantra of "Om Mani Padme Hum" fills every monastery, shop and establishment in Nepal. For embracing the spirituality that's woven into this little mountain nation, Boudhanath -- Kathmandu's thriving Buddhist enclave and a UNESCO World Heritage site -- is a good place to start. The circular complex pulsates with the energy of chanting monks and Buddhist devotees. It might be a peaceful place of worship, but it's a riot of color. The ivory and yellow stupa in the center is wreathed in rainbow-hued prayer flags. Maroon-clad monks walk clockwise around the stupa, turning prayer wheels with their right hand, and lighting lamps. Anyone can join in, provided they remember to walk clockwise. Scattered along the back alleys in radial, unnamed roads, other smaller, incense-filled monasteries such as the Jamchen Lhakhang and Shechen Monastery are pockets of calm. In the large courtyard of Shechen, young monks in training sit with their books and smartphones, eager to take photos with visitors. In a ring around the stupa, little shops are crammed with singing bowls and thangka religious paintings. Rooftop restaurants like Cafe du Temple or Stupa View offers great view of the stupa. An hour's bus ride away from Kathmandu, visitors can spend a weekend at the guesthouse adjacent to Neydo Tashi Choeling Monastery to immerse themselves in Tibetan Buddhism, meditate in the Himalayas and find out what it's like to live with 200 monks. The money from paying guests helps fund the monastery. Neydo Tashi Choeling Monastery Guest House, Pharping, Kathmandu; +977 1 692 4606; double bed from $70 per night . Cafe du Temple, Boudhanath, Patan Durbar Square (south of Krishna Mandir), Kathmandu; +977 1 214 3256 . Stupa View, 10 meters from the Boudhanath stupa, Patan Durbar Square, Kathmandu; +977 1 491 4962 . Chill out at the end of the universe . "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" author Douglas Adams probably never dreamed his influence would be felt 2,200 meters up a Himalayan mountain in Nepal. In Nagarkot -- a village 30 kilometers from Kathmandu that sits quietly above the clouds -- the Hotel at the End of the Universe sits atop its own mountain with 180-degree views of terraced farms and the 7,000-meter peaks of the Annapurna and Langtang ranges. "The name is inspired by ['Hitchhikers' sequel] 'Restaurant at the End of the Universe'," says the splendidly monikered Oasis Bhaju, who's been running the place for the past 18 years. "The hippies were here many years ago," says Bhaju. "Someone suggested this name to my father saying it would bring him good luck. I think people like it because it reminds them of Douglas Adams' book." There's more than just the familiar name. On a clear day, the hotel offers a majestic view of the sunrise over Mount Everest. Low-roofed wooden rooms look out on hazy blue mountains poking up through the mist: the Ganesh Himal and Manasulu, to name a few. In the evening, over a Khukri rum or two with the super friendly hotel staff, guests can sometimes jam with them on their didgeridoos and djembes. Hotel at the End of the Universe, near Mahankal Temple, Nagarkot: +977 1 622 6500; standard room from $24 per night . Drink like a local . Nepalis like their booze, and they like it strong. While the words "khukri" (the curved Nepalese dagger) and "gorkha" (named for the fierce soldiers) may conjure images of fierce soldiers brandishing razor-edge machetes, in Nepal they hold the promise of a good time. Gorkha also gives its name to a bitter and heavy brand of Nepalese beer. Khukri is the local dark rum. Neither are for the easily intoxicated. Everest, a milder local brand of beer, goes down easier. One of the best places to rock out with the locals is at Purple Haze in Kathmandu's tourist-filled Thamel district. Most nights see a band belting out Hendrix and Led Zep covers to a dance floor rammed with locals letting their hair down. Khukri-induced courage might be needed to bust out some smooth moves among the expat and local crowd at Tuesday salsa nights at Tamarind in southern Kathmandu's Lalitpur district. Purple Haze, Paryatan Marg, Thamel, Kathmandu +977 984 118 1699 . Tamarind, Pulchowk, Lalitpur; Kathmandu +977 1 552 2626 . Make some momos . Any Nepali restaurant worth its spicy chutney is bathed in the scent of steamed momos, Nepal's version of dim sum, and hot thukpa noodle soup. Visitors may weary of them while in Nepal, but are sure to miss them when they leave. So how to cure those post-travel momo cravings? Social Tours offers momo-making lessons at a produce market close to its Thamel kitchen. The market is a good place to stock up on ingredients including flour for the dough, veggies or chicken, but it's also a great place to see everyday Nepali life. "Classes usually last two to three hours, but it really depends on the clients' speed," says Anura Rai, local trips consultant at Social Tours. Local women teach students how to make dough from scratch, get the proportions right, fold the dumplings into little bite-sized pockets and then whip up mean peanut and chili sauces to service with them. "Folding is quite difficult, clients take time to learn," says Anura. "It's an art and we teach them how to do it." Travelers choose what to pay depending on the experience they've had. Social tours, two classes held in Thamel daily from Monday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; pay what you like; +977 1 441 2508 . Be immersed in history and architecture . A paradise for history and architecture buffs, centuries-old traditional buildings dominate the durbar squares -- the plazas that form the ancient centers of Kathmandu. Patan, Kathmandu and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares, all listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, echo a slower time, with old men in traditional caps playing cards on wood and brick plinths. The 17th-century Royal Palace stands on Patan Durbar Square. Its three courtyards, Sundari Chowk, Mul Chowk and Mani Keshav Narayan Chowk, were once home to Malla Dynasty kings. Scattered around it are temples. Some, like the pagoda-style Golden Temple, the shikhara-style Krishna temple with 21 gold pinnacles and the Kumbheshwar Temple with its five-tier roof, date from the 12th century. Often, a Nepali wedding takes place amid the crowds. The Kumari -- a young girl given worshipped as an incarnation of the Hindu goddess, Taleju, for the duration of her childhood -- sometimes makes an appearance at the Durbar Square's Kumari Chowk, where she lives. Enjoy cafe culture . It's been pulling in an eclectic range of global visitors since the days when it was established as a way station on the hippie trail, so it shouldn't be a surprise that Nepal has a burgeoning international food scene. Wafer-thin wood fired pizzas and tangy flavors from the Middle East are as easy to come by as local dal bhat (rice and lentils) and momos. Dhokaima in Lalitpur is a favorite with travelers for its leafy garden setting. The house special is the Nepali lamb kebab thali -- meat cooked slowly until falling off the bone, served with rice and veggies. The dish is best with a Coffee Puff, a concoction of rum and Kahlua. At New Orleans Cafe in Jhamsikhel, jazz comes with an American-style breakfast. A local musician starts the day with Nepali morning ragas on his flute, before seamlessly transitioning to Dave Brubeck's "Take Five." Dhokaima, Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur Nepal; +977 1 55 22113 . New Orleans Cafe, Jhamsikhel; +977 1 55 22708 .

Nepal isn't just a climbing destination but home to cool cafes, Buddhist traditions and unique architecture . Apart from turning the prayer wheels at Boudhanath stupa, there are less touristy temples nearby . Purple Haze is one of the best places to rock out in Kathmandu, fueled by local drinks like Khurki and Gorkha . The three UNESCO World Heritage-listed Durban Squares are home to centuries-old traditional architecture .

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By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 22:15 EST, 13 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:29 EST, 14 October 2013 . Oscar Hijuelos, a Cuban-American novelist who won a Pulitzer Prize for his 1989 novel 'The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love' and whose work often captured the loss and triumphs of the Cuban immigrant experience, has died. He was 62. Hijuelos died of a heart attack in Manhattan on Saturday while playing tennis, according to his agent, Jennifer Lyons. 'The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love' became a best seller and earned him international acclaim. He won the Pulitzer for fiction in 1990, making him the first Hispanic writer to receive that honor. Oscar Hijuelos: A Cuban-American novelist who won a Pulitzer Prize for his 1989 novel The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love and whose work often captured the loss and triumphs of the Cuban immigrant experience, has died . Prize-winning: Musician brothers Cesar and Nestor leave Cuba for America in the 1950s, hoping to hit the top of the Latin music scene . The novel tells the story of two Cuban brothers who journey from Havana to New York to start an orchestra. At one point in the story, the brothers appear on the television sitcom 'I Love Lucy,' which starred Lucille Ball and her Cuban bandleader husband, Desi Arnaz. The book was eventually turned into a movie starring Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas. In his 2011 memoir, 'Thoughts Without Cigarettes,' Hijuelos writes of how he struggled against being labeled an 'ethnic' writer and notes that even today there are few other Latinos whose work, despite the considerable number of talented authors, has been awarded the same recognition. After a trip with his mother to Cuba as a young child, he became ill with a kidney disease and was hospitalized for a year, during which he loses his Spanish-speaking ability, and never truly recovers it. Groundbreaking: Oscar Jerome Hijuelos died whilst playing tennis in Manhattan this weekend. He won the Pulitzer for fiction in 1990, making him the first Hispanic writer to receive that honor . 'For the longest time, all I would know was that I had gotten sick in Cuba, from Cuban microbios, that the illness had blossomed in the land of my forebears, the country where I had once been loved and whose language fell as music on my ears,' Hijuelos writes. 'Of course, diseases happen anywhere, and children get sick under any circumstances, but what I would hear for years afterward from my mother was that something Cuban had nearly killed me and, in the process of my healing, would turn my own `Cubaness' into air.' It was an experience of displacement and a never-ending inability to reach an identity he inherits that many Cubans of his generation can understand. Thoughts: In his 2011 memoir, 'Thoughts Without Cigarettes,' Mr. Hijuelos writes of how he struggled against being labeled an ¿ethnic¿ writer and notes that even today there are few other Latinos whose work has been awarded the same recognition . It also defined much of his development as a writer, as he initially hesitated to embrace his story and that of his family as a source of inspiration for his fictional characters - too ashamed to put them on paper, believing the world was indifferent to his tale. Hijuelos was born and raised in New York City and enrolled in local community colleges where an array of early writing teachers - Susan Sontag, Donald Barthelme, and Frederic Tuten - encouraged him to continue to pursue his craft. He was also exposed to Cuban and Latin American writers including Jose Lezama Lima, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Carlos Fuentes, whose work inspired him. His other novels include 'Our House in the Last World,' 'Empress of the Splendid Season,' 'Dark Dude,' 'The Fourteen Sisters of Emilio Montez O'Brien' and 'A Simple Habana Melody.' He was also received the Rome Prize and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation.

Won Pulitzer for writing 1989 novel 'The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love' Author was first Latino to win the prestigious award for fiction . Hijuelos, 62, died from sudden cardiac arrest, his agent says .

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Moscow (CNN) -- Russia said Wednesday that it blamed "unfriendly" actions by Britain for a recent diplomatic spat that led both nations to expel each others' diplomats. "The British side has recently took an unfriendly step, groundlessly declaring persona non grata a diplomat at the Russian Embassy in London. We were compelled to take a similar step in response," a statement on the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "It is regretful that the actions of the British side were undertaken at a moment when our relations with Britain have just started to improve. The initiators of this incident bear full responsibility for its consequences." The statement comes after the United Kingdom expelled a Russian diplomat on suspicion of spying, and Russia kicked out a British embassy staffer in Moscow in retaliation. Britain asked the Russian to leave on December 10 "in response to clear evidence of activities by the Russian intelligence services against U.K. interests," British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Tuesday. Russia told the British diplomat to leave Moscow on December 16, Hague said. Hague said there was not "any basis" for the expulsion. CNN's Maxim Tkachenko contributed to this report.

London expels a Russian diplomat on suspicion of spying . Russia expels a British embassy staffer in response . London says the Russian embassy staffer was working "against UK interests"

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(CNN) -- As Jane Austen's classic comedy of manners, "Pride and Prejudice" reaches 200, its heroine Elizabeth Bennet is being hailed as one of literature's best-loved ladies. But which other fictional women do we love, admire or sometime fear? Who are the powerful, striking and independent women fighting hardest for our attention through the pages of literature? The Leading Women team has drawn up an entirely subjective list of some of our favorite fictional heroines. But we know you'll have other ideas. We'd love to hear your favorites in the comments box below. They are (in no particular order): . Jo March . "Little Women," by Louisa May Alcott (1868) Why we love her: Like her creator, Jo March is one of four sisters living in 19th century New England, and most critics agree she is the one who most closely resembles Alcott. Jo is a tomboy, strong-minded and independent, at a time when girls were more often expected to stay at home. The spin-off: In the 145 years since it was written, "Little Women" has been made into at least three feature films (with Jo played by Katharine Hepburn in 1933, June Allyson in 1949 and Winona Ryder in 1994), several TV series and even a Japanese animated television series. Sample quote: "If I weren't going to be a writer I'd go to New York and pursue the stage. Are you shocked?" Anna Karenina . "Anna Karenina," by Leo Tolstoy (1873) Why we love her: Rebellious and unhappily married socialite Karenina begins an affair with the dashing Count Vronsky. Their passion pits them against the norms of 19th century Russian high society and forces Karenina to make stark choices about how to live a fulfilling life. The spin-offs: A 2012 film starring Keira Knightley and Jude Law is the latest in a long line of adaptations for the big and small screen. Sample quote: "I simply want to live; to cause no evil to anyone but myself" Hermione Granger . "Harry Potter" series, by J.K.Rowling (2001) Why we love her: The brightest of the main characters, Granger starts the series as an annoying know-it-all, but grows into a smart beauty, who is determined and loyal to her friends. J.K.Rowling has described Granger of an exaggeration of her own youth. The spin-offs: The series of seven "Harry Potter" books, all adapted into major films made J.K.Rowling a multi-millionaire. Granger was played on screen by Emma Watson. Sample quote: "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things -- friendship and bravery." Mariam . "A Thousands Splendid Suns," by Khaled Hosseini (2007) Why we love her: Married against her will at the age of 15 to an abusive man 30 years her senior in Kabul, the novel doesn't start well for Mariam. Twenty years later, when 15-year-old Laila moves into her household as her husband's second wife, the two women strike up a deep bond against a backdrop of Taliban brutality and war in Afghanistan. The spin-offs: Columbia Pictures is expected to make a movie, scheduled for release in 2015. Sample quote: "Why have you pinned your little heart to an old, ugly hag like me?" She murmurs into Aziza's hair. "Huh? I am a nobody, don't you see? A dehati. What have I got to give you?" She has found in this little creature the first true connection in her life of false, failed connections. Jane Eyre . "Jane Eyre," by Charlotte Bronte (1847) Why we love her: After a rotten childhood in 19th century England, Jane Eyre becomes a governess and falls in love with her employer, Mr Rochester. She's a strong and complex character who manages to get back on her feet after countless setbacks. The spin-offs: The most famous of its many film adaptations are a 1943 version starring Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine and a 2011 version with Mia Wasikowska in the title role. Sample quote: "I have now been married 10 years. I know what it is to live entirely for and with what I love best on earth. I hold myself supremely blest -- blest beyond what language can express." Lady Macbeth . "Macbeth," William Shakespeare (1611) Why we love her: You can't love Lady Macbeth, perhaps, but there is something to admire in her ruthless determination. Lady Macbeth urges her husband to kill the King of Scotland to seize the crown herself. Ultimately, though, she falls victim to guilt and madness. The spin-offs: Macbeth is arguably the best-known play by the world's best-known playwright and has hardly been off the stage since it was first performed in 1611. Sample quote: Discussing the arrival of King Duncan, the ambitious and often ruthless Lady Macbeth illustrates how far she is willing (and ready) to go to seize the throne. "Come, you spirits . That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, . And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full . Of direst cruelty." Aibeleen Clark . "The Help," by Kathryn Stockett (2009) Why we love her: Aibeleen is a black maid raising her 17th white child in 1960s Mississippi, while nursing the pain of losing her own son. When she finds the courage to tell her story to an aspiring writer, she inspires others to do the same and unleashes big waves in a small community. The spin-offs: Aibeleen was played by Viola Davis in the successful 2011 film adaptation. Sample quote: "We ain't ... we ain't doing civil rights here. We just telling stories like they really happen." Scout Finch . "To Kill a Mocking Bird," by Harper Lee (1960) Why we love her: Scout is the narrator of this much-loved Pulitzer Prize-winning novel dealing with racial injustice in the American Deep South. As a tomboyish child, Scout is able to ask questions that an adult can't while trying to make sense of the events she witnesses. The spin-offs: It was made into a film in 1962, with Scout played by a 10-year-old Mary Badham. Sample quote: "I never understood her preoccupation with heredity. Somewhere, I had received the impression that Fine Folks were people who did the best they could with the sense they had, but Aunt Alexandra was of the opinion, obliquely expressed, that the longer a family had been squatting on one patch of land the finer it was." Dominique Francon . "The Fountainhead," by Ayn Rand (1943) Why we love her: Set in a man's world of architects in 1920s and 30s New York City, Dominique has a pessimistic world view, which leads to her marry two men she despises. She eventually learns to find happiness with a man she loves and accept a more positive view on society. Sample quote: "Ask anything of men. Ask them to achieve wealth, fame, love, brutality, murder, self-sacrifice. But don't ask them to achieve self-respect. They will hate your soul." Masami Aomame . "1Q84," by Haruki Murakami (first published in Japanese, 2009. English translation 2011) Why we love her: Aomame lives an alternate reality as an assassin in a fictionalized Tokyo of 1984 avenging victims of domestic violence. Her strange world eventually converges with that of a man she fell in love with when they were both 10 years old. It's not conventional reading, but if you can make sense of it, you'll probably love Aomame. The spin-offs: The latest offering from superstar author Murakami has been enormously successful in Japan. No news of adaptations so far. Sample quote: "If you can love someone with your whole heart, even one person, then there's salvation in life. Even if you can't get together with that person."

Pride and Prejudice celebrates its 200th birthday this week . The novel's heroine Elizabeth Bennet is being recognized as one of fictions greatest heroines . But who else makes your favorite fictional femme list? Tell us in the comments below .

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Lynn Keesler, from Texas, lived on peanut M&Ms and drank bottled water . By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 8:19 AM on 25th January 2012 . A woman spent seven days in a rental car after she accidentally drove it into a muddy pond - then decided to stick strictly to advice that she was not to leave her vehicle if she became stranded. Lynn Keesler, . 61, took a wrong turn while looking for a hotel and drove into the water on January 15. She finally walked to a nearby house for help on January 22. Mrs Keesler . told police she had been trying to find a hotel in Burley, Idaho. She saw a body of water by a dairy factory . and thought it was the Snake River which was mentioned in her directions. As she began to drive . around the edge of the pond, the car became stuck in mud. Muddy waters: Lynn Keesler, 61, spent seven days in her car which became trapped in the mud after she tried to drive around a pond in Burley, Idaho . The . first night she was stranded she flashed her headlights until . the car's battery died. She told officers she also honked the . horn a couple times when the battery would power up enough. The woman, from Houston, Texas, survived the seven days stuck in the car by eating peanut butter M&Ms and drinking bottled water. She finally climbed out of the car when the water level in the pond began to rise on Sunday, the Times-New reported today. Sinking feeling: Mrs Keesler only left her car after the water level of the pond, which is used by a dairy factory, began to rise . Camped out: The 61-year-old managed to stay in the car for seven days by eating peanut M&Ms and drinking water . She was evaluated by emergency services but refused to go to hospital saying she just wanted 'a warm bed and a bath'. The . dairy boss told deputies that workers started filling the settling . ponds on Friday. When deputies arrived, the ponds were full and the car . was hardly visible. Representatives . from Enterprise Rent-A-Car told police officers that Mrs Keesler had rented the vehicle . on December 8 and was supposed to return it on January 5. Supplies: The woman, from Houston, Texas, took a wrong turn after being given directions to an Idaho hotel by a sheriff . Stranded: Mrs Keesler refused to go to hospital after her ordeal but instead said she just wanted a 'warm bed and a bath'

Lynn Keesler, from Texas, lived on peanut M&Ms and drank bottled water .

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(CNN) -- Millions of BlackBerry users remained without service on Wednesday as a three-day network outage spread to North America, causing massive frustrations for people who rely on these smartphones for business and personal communications. "BlackBerry subscribers in the Americas may be experiencing intermittent service delays this morning," Research in Motion, maker of BlackBerry smartphones, said in a statement. "We are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible and we apologize to our customers for any inconvenience. We will provide a further update as soon as more information is available." The outage now impacts people on nearly every continent, according to the company's statements. An "extremely critical issue" on the BlackBerry network caused the outage, Stephen Bates, RIM's managing director in the U.K., told CNN's Richard Quest. He added: "We're putting all of our focus with all of our engineers and all of our network specialists on trying to understand the nature of why this backup system didn't work as it should have ..." The service outage started on Monday with customers in the Middle East, Europe and Africa, before spreading to South America and Asia on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning it appeared to hit the United States and Canada. The outage appears primarily to affect text messaging and Internet access from the mobile phones, not necessarily their ability to place calls. No customer e-mails have been completely lost, and they will be delivered eventually, RIM said in a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, according to CNNMoney's Julianne Pepitone. CNNMoney: RIM can't win . In a statement released Tuesday, the company said the "messaging and browsing delays being experienced by BlackBerry users in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, Brazil, Chile and Argentina were caused by a core switch failure within RIM's infrastructure. Although the system is designed to failover to a back-up switch, the failover did not function as previously tested." The company said it is working "around the clock" to fix the problem. "A large backlog of data was generated and we are now working to clear that backlog and restore normal service as quickly as possible," the Tuesday statement said. "We apologize for any inconvenience and we will continue to keep you informed." There are about 70 million BlackBerry users worldwide. RIM has not commented on how many users are affected, but reports suggest the number of users without some sort of service has climbed into the millions. BlackBerry users, many of whom use the devices primarily for business purposes, were angered by the outage. Overheard on CNN.com: BlackBerry outage not all bad . Many people took to Twitter to both complain about lost productivity and to make light of the situation. "COME ONNNN. Sort it out #blackberry. This is ridiculous in this day and age," a Twitter user named @Suzy__G wrote. "OK, this #Blackberry business is now SERIOUSLY pissing me off," CNN's Piers Morgan tweeted. Later, he said: "One positive of the #Blackberry crisis - my personal trainer can't get hold of me. #OrderingBurgers." "#DearBlackberry I can't work, I can't study, please, please come back from that coma!" @marianaae wrote. "What did the one #Blackberry user say to the other?..........nothing....," said another Twitter user, @giselewaymes. "And iPhone users everywhere smile smugly and search for the 'I Told You So' app," wrote another. A website called isblackberrystillbroken.com popped up to track developments. People who visited the site on Wednesday afternoon were greeted with a red screen and a giant word: "Yes." This is not the first time RIM has faced a major service outage. "I have been an analyst for 25 years and have watched RIM wrestle with this same outage problem time after time. Every few years we get pinched by yet another major problem," tech analyst Jeff Kagan said in a statement. Is the outage affecting you? This outage, however, comes at a particularly bad time for RIM, since it faces increasing competition in the smarpthone market, Kagan says. Apple's iPhone and phones on the Google Android operating system have been gaining ground, and the new iPhone 4S goes on sale Friday. The tech blog Electronista wrote: . "RIM's outage is now one of its largest in recent memory and is now edging even closer to the iPhone 4S launch than before, leading to a possible temptation for those already looking to upgrade their phones. Commentary on Twitter has shifted gradually from frustrated patience to open anger and has led some to remark that they're now likely to switch to the iPhone, Android, or another platform."

BlackBerry outage spreads to North America on Wednesday morning . Maker: Cause was "extremely critical issue" on BlackBerry network . Company says it is working "around the clock" on a fix . Customers say the outage has disrupted business and personal lives .

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(CNN) -- All three presidential debates are now in the books and the race to the White House is taking its final shape. Looking back, the first debate was undoubtedly the watershed moment of this campaign and the most powerful inflection point in the race to date. President Obama regained some lost ground in the next two debates, including Monday night's event, but the damage had already been done. Mitt Romney now carries the momentum into the home stretch. Like in the second debate, Obama came out Monday night more aggressive and more provocative. He threw more punches and landed more punches, centering his attacks on trying to characterize Romney's foreign policy as amateur and reckless. But there was an air of desperation in his delivery. It was as if he knew he needed to not just defeat Romney, but to destroy him. He fell far short of that bar. Opinion: Obama in command; Romney plays it safe . Obama was helped, however, by Romney's peculiar pass on contesting Libya and the Benghazi catastrophe while also not taking Obama to task for the timetable and withdrawal from Afghanistan. Romney's repeated agreement with Obama on issues like drone strikes and keeping U.S. forces out of Iran and Syria in any way may upset some conservatives. But we are at a different time and place in the foreign policy psyche of most Americans. The country is war-weary, wants the troops to come home and doesn't want any form of intervention in another country. Romney had to reassure voters that he was not interested in nation-building and provoking or initiating foreign conflicts. He accomplished that very well. It was a different test for a different time for a Republican candidate. He distanced himself from President George W. Bush and offered his own vision for the Middle East. Or as he put it, the United States should "help the - the world of Islam and other parts of the world, reject this radical violent extremism." Perhaps foreshadowing the last two weeks of the presidential race, Romney used the debate to move to the center. He emphasized peace and diplomacy and avoided at all costs any hint of sending U.S. forces to future wars. Romney also looked and acted presidential. He had a steady, levelheaded confidence and avoided any snarky, patronizing "horses and bayonets" moments. Obama used the final debate to go to the left and energize his base, attacking Romney at any opportunity while throwing in comments about teachers and classroom size -- a clear signal to his strong base with the teacher's union. Obama offered little on his plans for a second term and spent much of the debate hammering Romney. Opinion: Was Obama too relentless with Romney? That may be why some commentators think Romney acted and appeared more like the president and Obama the challenger. One of the central facets of the Obama campaign was to define Romney as an unacceptable candidate, which they did relentlessly in states like Ohio. Yet, Romney's first debate performance shattered that image. And through the rest of the debates, he proved that he is not the man they said he was; he is not a warmonger or greedy vulture capitalist. Now, Obama is racing to put the genie back in the bottle. The electoral map is shrinking for him while expanding for Romney. Paul Begala recently admitted the Obama campaign has given up on North Carolina. Meanwhile, GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan recently campaigned in Pennsylvania, a state once thought to be totally out of the reach of Romney and Ryan. According to RealClearPolitics.com's electoral map, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania are now toss-up states and North Carolina is leaning Romney. With the wind at this back, Romney can now consolidate his resources in the most crucial states -- Ohio, Virginia, Colorado and perhaps even Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. And with the foreign policy debate in the rear view mirror, he can get back to the economy -- his strongest issue and advantage over the president. Opinion: So, who's going to win? In the latest WSJ/NBC poll Romney has a six point advantage on which candidate is better at dealing with the economy, a seven point lead on jobs and unemployment and a whopping 13 point lead on fixing the deficit. Romney has the momentum. Barring any October surprise, he will likely keep the momentum. With less than two weeks to go, it may matter less what Romney and Obama say but where they say it. That will tell us all we need to know about how the campaigns feel heading into the home stretch. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of William J. Bennett.

William Bennett: President Obama was aggressive in final debate, but it may be too late . Bennett: Some pundits think Mitt Romney acted more presidential than Obama . He says the electoral map is shrinking for Obama while expanding for Romney . Bennett: Barring any surprises, Romney will likely keep the momentum .

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(CNN) -- Former South African leader Nelson Mandela remained in intensive care Monday, two days after he was hospitalized with a recurring lung infection. The increasingly frail Mandela was rushed to a hospital in Pretoria on Saturday. Later in the day, the South African president's office said the 94-year-old former leader was in a "serious but stable condition." He was breathing on his own and his wife was by his side, the office said at the time. After offering no updates for 48 hours, the government said Monday that Mandela's condition was "unchanged." Meanwhile, his daughter Zenani Dlamini, who is the South African ambassador to Argentina, has flown back to South Africa to be with her father. Mandela has been in and out of hospitals in recent years. Each episode has sparked concerns worldwide. South Africa: Following Nelson Mandela . 'We will release him' On Sunday, South Africans offered prayers at church services, and well-wishes poured in for Mandela from across the world. Meanwhile, the front page of South Africa's Sunday Times read, "It's time to let him go." The paper quoted Mandela's longtime friend Andrew Mlangeni as saying that the time may have come for South Africans to say goodbye to the beloved icon. "You have been coming to the hospital too many times. Quite clearly you are not well and there is a possibility you might not be well again," Mlangeni told the paper. "Once the family releases him, the people of South Africa will follow. We will say thank you, God, you have given us this man, and we will release him too," Mlangeni said. History of ailments . South Africa's first black president gets round-the-clock care, and his house is fitted with medical equipment that mirrors that of an intensive care unit. His history of lung problems dates to when he was a political prisoner on Robben Island during apartheid, and he has battled respiratory infections over the years. Last year, he spent Christmas holidays undergoing treatment for a lung infection and gallstones, one of his longest hospital stays since his release from prison in 1990. Considered the founding father of South Africa's democracy, Mandela became an international figure while enduring 27 years in prison for fighting against apartheid, the country's system of racial segregation. "He has taught us ... that we enhance our own humanity when we serve and make a difference to other people's lives," presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said. "It's easy to serve oneself, own interests, but serving the interests of others, making their lives better changes the quality of all humanity." In 1993, Mandela and then-South African President F.W. de Klerk jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize. Hero of democracy . The iconic leader was elected the nation's first black president a year later, serving only one term, as he had promised. He has not appeared in public since South Africa hosted the World Cup in 2010. But despite rare public appearances in recent years, he retains his popularity and is considered a hero of democracy in the nation. Last year, South Africa launched a new batch of banknotes with a picture of a smiling Mandela on the front, a testament to his iconic status. Mandela's impact extends far beyond South African borders. After he left office, he mediated conflicts from Africa to the Middle East.

NEW: Mandela's daughter Zenani Dlamini has flown in from Argentina to be with him . Mandela has been in and out of hospitals in recent years . A newspaper quotes Mandela's friend as saying it's time to say goodbye . He has not appeared in public since South Africa hosted the World Cup in 2010 .

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By . Eddie Wrenn . PUBLISHED: . 06:57 EST, 26 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:52 EST, 26 October 2012 . The two Google founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, were both aged around 13 when Back to the Future was first released. So what better way to apply for a job at Google than by making your very own version of every geek's dream car - the cherished DeLorean which took Marty McFly flying backwards and forwards in time? 29-year-old Matt Riese, from San Francisco, really wants to work at Google - and whether or not he succeeds, his hovercraft-take on the film legend will at least get the search engine's attention. Scroll down for video . Where we're going, we don't need roads: Matt Riese hopes to use his DeLorean to drive into a better future with Google . From hoverboards to hovercars: The pet project takes the best elements of the film sails across the waters of San Francisco . Great Scott!! Residents of San Francisco get a shock when Marty McFly apparently turns up and takes a trip around the yachts . See the DeLorean sail across the waves here: . Matt, according to Bloomsberg, is not your typical Google candidate - his current job is as a crab fishermen. But Google is renowned for liking the quirky types of tech enthusiast - as their own in-house job interview questions have shown - and they must admire the fan-boy dedication which went into producing the car. Back to the Future was the seminal sci-fi franchise of the 1980s, combining a powerful time-travel concept with a cool car, classic guitar riffs, and a nostalgic look back to high school in the 1950s. With a young skate-boarding Michael J Fox at the helm, the film jumped from 1985, to the 50s, to the dark distant future of 2015, and then back to the Wild West, all thanks to a DeLorean turbo-charged with a 'flux capacitor', or time machine to you and me. We're going back ... Back to the Future!! Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) and Dr Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd) test out the real deal . High performance: The film DeLorean following its first spin through time and space - once it hits 88 miles and hour and 1.21 gigawatts . The original DeLorean was the brainchild of controversial US businessman . John DeLorean who managed to secure £100 million of funding from the . Northern Ireland Development Agency to build the car outside Dunmurry . near Belfast. Despite . having an incredible design which included gullwing doors, the DeLorean . was a spectacular failure as a car and a business. Resurgence: DeLorean went bust but the car became one of the world's most loved after the Back to the Future trilogy starring Michael J Fox, pictured . It was slow, unreliable and . production ceased after just one year in when the company filed for . bankruptcy in 1982. Just 9,200 models left the factory with around 7,000 . thought to remain in existance. But Wynne set up the DeLorean Motor Company in 1995, 16 years after leaving the UK in 1979. He . also acquired the remaining tools, spare parts and distribution rights . for the car along with the trademarked name DMC - cashing in on the name . with deals with the likes of Nike, Mattel and Sony. He will also sell you a completely re-manufactured DeLorean using unused original parts from £37,000. A used DeLorean on the UK market normally goes for between £15,000 to £30,000. Matt started his project in 2008, and in 2010 turned to Kickstarter, which funds creative projects, to raise the $5,000 needed to make the hover-car a reality (minus the time travel mechanisms). The 'car' is actually a fibreglass construction, painted and sprayed to take on the classic DeLorean lines - gull-wing doors included. Placed on an inflating base with an engine, the car can take to the waters around McCovey Cove - near  to the San Francisco Giant's stadium, offfering baseball fans a sprinkling of sci-fi to go with the weekly matches. The hover-car has previously featured on the AT&T's Park's Jumbotron screens - after Matt took it for a ride during a match. He originally made the hovercraft as he 'just wanted to do something big' on the run-up to leaving college, but what was expected to be a three-month project became a labour of love . But if it can land him a job with the company that's currently testing self-driving cars, it will be a job well done. Under the skin: The fibreglass construction is lightweight, and sits on top of an inflated hovercraft base . Taking shape: The hovercraft, with its fan attachment, took more than two years until it was ready to travel through time ... or at least, take to the waters . How it looks now: The labour of love led to an almost exact replica of the famous time-travelling car .

Google fan Matt Riese builds Back to the Future hovercraft in bid to get a job with search engine .

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PAU, France (CNN) -- Take a pen, start with the nib at the bottom left corner of the page. Gently drag the pen diagonally from bottom left to top right and you have a quick and easy graphic representation of the price differential between the standard BMW 3-series and its habañero cousin the M3 coupe over the last four generations (and 20 years). Quad exhaust pipes and M-badging distinguish the M3 from standard 3-series coupes . The car in my hands is, supposedly, a 3-series. You know the 3-series. You may well own one. You almost certainly know someone who owns one. It is the ubiquity of the 3-series that has seen BMW become a more mainstream player (without making an obvious lurch down-market) while the mainstream has made an obvious lurch up-market to plug the gap. Ford's new Mondeo couldn't be clearer in its 3-series aspiration. But this latest M3 has substantially less in common with the vanilla 3-series than I have with a gorilla (98.4 per cent shared DNA). Eighty per cent of the M3's body panels are brand new, from the aluminum hood to the composite fenders and carbon-fiber reinforced plastic roof. And let's get back to that graph. This UK-specification car costs £50,000 (€74,000). With the options as tested (including the gorgeous 19" alloy wheels, one of which I pranged on a curb while rectifying a going-the-wrong-way-down-a-one-way-street maneuver -- I'm blaming the co-driver for this navigational error, and so should you) we're talking close to £55,000 (€81,000). It looks good. It looks purposeful and aggressive and more -- what's the word -- obvious than its M3 predecessors, with the engorged dome on the hood to accommodate the 4-liter V8 and the Aston-like side air-intakes with integrated side-light repeaters and M3 badging. But it still looks like a pumped-up family car rather than a purpose-built sports car (though it sits between Porsche's Cayman S and 911 Carrera in price). It may just be possible to buy one and pretend to one's spouse that it's a sensible family car -- providing, that is, that the 22.8 mpg (12.4 liters per 100 km) combined fuel economy (and the regularity of trips to the gas station this necessitates) doesn't give the game away. Inside it's typical BMW -- leather seats that adjust to accommodate any driver (including those such as me who are short of body but long of leg) and a chunky leather steering wheel stitched with the cyan, blue and scarlet colors of BMW's M division. On the road the M3 is -- simply -- lovely. Over 20 years BMW's M cars have evolved from homologation specials (road car versions of track racers) to sedate luxury saloons that can transfer themselves into sporting monsters. Some earlier enthusiastic driving from my co-driver made it necessary to drive slowly, in sixth gear, behind the slipstream of a motor home to conserve fuel while on a desperate hunt for a gas station. In some sports cars this would require skill and dedication. Not so in the M3, it drives however you want to drive. It can pootle as competently as it can hustle. And boy can it hustle. When questioned later that day, a BMW spokesman denied any knowledge of the cars having had their limiters disabled. But I can state that I was passenger in a car that supposedly tops out at 155 mph (200 km/h) at a staggering 176 mph (283 km/h). The question of whether this delimited limiter is an "undocumented feature" or a manufacturer's attempt to woo motoring journalists with a set-up that isn't representative of the sale car, will only be resolved once the first customers take delivery of their new M3s. There is, of course, more to the M3 than flat-out speed on the straight. It's a car that allows drivers a turn of speed on twisty roads with confidence and sure-footedness. You can take corners faster, without fear of picking gorse from your teeth. Take a corner a little over enthusiastically and there's a comforting orange light on the dash to tell you that the DSC (dynamic stability control) has kicked in. When the DSC is engaged flatters the abilities of average drivers. Disengaged it allows skillful drivers an awful lot of wheel-spinning sideways action, as I discovered while given a few hectic laps of the Pau-Arnos circuit in the hands of a pro. What's wrong with it? In common with the M5 and M6 there's the frustrating short indicator stalk that ALWAYS clicks three times, even if you try and cancel it (and in an effort of trying to switch the right indicator off you inevitably find yourself signaling left and vice versa). There seems to be no substantial difference between fifth and six gears. You engage the clutch, throw the lever and -- well, nothing much. But then you really start struggling to find fault. The cup holders don't have an elegant glide and the driver's one isn't as accessible as it could be. While the electric thingum that extends telescopically to hand you the seat belt looks cheap. Harsh criticism. Cup holder aficionados and those who demand milled-aluminum electric hand-me-my-belt thingums may have to look elsewhere. Incidentally, BMW do have a name for the electric thingums. I prefer my own. Just as I prefer the term "paddle shifts" to "SMG" -- another minor grumble -- paddles shifts would be a welcome option, and one that BMW assured the assembled press would be added as an option in the future. BMW estimates that M3 buyers will be predominantly male and aged 31-50. They will own a number of high performance cars but use the M3 as their everyday conveyance. In the light of this market research, the most obvious criticism of the new M3 -- its price -- is something of an irrelevance. E-mail to a friend .

Fourth generation BMW M3 coupe . Power from 420bhp V8 engine . Target market 31-50 year old males in multi-automobile households .

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London (CNN) -- Vertical gardens are cropping up all over cities these days, transforming drab urban facades into vibrant jungles of color. These lush expanses have found their way onto the walls -- both inside and out -- on numerous sites in recent years revitalizing public buildings, hotels, offices and even a multi-storey car park in Netherlands. Aside from their pleasing aesthetic qualities, vertical gardens could also deliver more practical benefits says Mark Laurence, creative director at Biotecture, a UK company who design and build green walls. "The market is rapidly moving into looking at how they can provide eco-system services and green infrastructures for urban environments," Laurence said. Their modular hydroponic system -- where plants sit in a soil-free set up with nutrients delivered through irrigation channels -- can be retrofitted to just about any wall. A recent creation erected on the side of Edgware Road Underground station in central London is hoping to improve air quality. The 200-square meter wall near Marylebone Road -- one of the UK capital's grimiest thoroughfares -- is being monitored by Imperial College, London. "They have taken initial samples and going at regular intervals to take leaf samples. Then they wash these leaf samples to see how much particulate matter has adhered to the leaves," said Laurence. The leaves also have an electrostatic charge that also attracts particles. "A researcher I was speaking to recently reckons green walls in urban canyon environments (areas where walls are higher than the width of the road separating them) are more effective than trees at collecting particles because the way the wind eddies around and then moves down the wall," Laurence said. Some believe that in less polluted areas, green walls could be employed to grow food, which could aid urban food security. Biotecture have successfully trialled a wall which grew 45 varieties of vegetable. Furthermore, there's nothing stopping people building their own, more basic green walls at home, Laurence says. There are various systems for DIY constructions with most requiring a compost-based system, he says, but homemade hydroponic systems can be made using plastic bottles. All you need is irrigation and adequate light.

Green walls turn dreary urban facades into vertical banks of color . As well as aesthetic qualities, vertical gardens may also improve air quality . New wall near congested Marylebone Road in London may reduce pollution .

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JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli troops have completed their withdrawal from Gaza after a three-week military campaign against Hamas militants, the Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday. Palestinians look at an damaged rocket launcher left behind by Israeli forces. "The forces are now redeployed outside the Gaza Strip, and are prepared for any development," a military statement read. During their withdrawal, Israeli troops warned Gaza residents to avoid unexploded bombs or shells left behind and report their location to Israeli authorities. Israel said it had achieved its goal to halt Hamas' firing of rockets into southern Israel from Gaza. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that has controlled the territory since 2007, also declared victory in the conflict during a rally in Gaza City on Tuesday. Israeli troops began to withdraw Sunday following tentative, separate cease-fire declarations by Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Hamas. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who visited the territory Tuesday, criticized both sides and the international community for what he called their "collective political failure" in settling the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "I have condemned from the outbreak of this conflict the excessive use of force by Israeli forces in Gaza. I view the rocket attacks into Israel as completely unacceptable. We need to restore basic respect for civilians," he said. Watch troops prepare to withdraw » . The conflict, which began December 27, has left more than 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis dead. Confirmation of the Israeli withdrawal came within a day of the inauguration of Barack Obama as the new president of the United States, replacing George W. Bush, whose administration was among the most supportive of Israel in decades. Ban said he hoped Obama would consider settling the conflict "a matter of priority." Speaking during a visit to Sderot, the southern Israeli city that has endured rocket fire from Hamas for years, Ban said the Bush administration was "leading and heavily engaged" in the region, but added, "Unfortunately, we have not achieved the goals." Obama has vowed to move swiftly and has said he was assembling a strong team to be "immediately engaged" on "day one." In a statement welcoming the new U.S. president, Olmert said Israel and the United States would remain "full partners in advancing peace and stability in the Middle East." CNN's Shira Medding contributed to this report.

Israel says it has removed its troops from Gaza after three-week offensive . Both Israel, Hamas have declared victory in conflict . U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticized both sides for fighting . More than 1,300 people have died in Gaza operation .

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(CNN) -- Tim Masters squarely blames Fort Collins, Colorado, police and prosecutors for his inability to land gainful employment and for his not having a wife and kids at this stage in his life. Tim Masters, left, stands with attorney David Wymore, right, before Masters' release from prison last year. In 1987, Masters became the prime suspect in the slaying of Peggy Hettrick, a 37-year-old found in a field near his house. Among the reasons police said they focused on Masters was that he failed to report the body after he found it and his childhood drawings and stories suggested he was fixated on death. Masters was convicted of murder in 1999, but a judge last year threw out the conviction and released him from prison, citing new evidence that did not implicate Masters. Masters now has a lawsuit pending against several police officers, ex-prosecutors and the city. The city of Fort Collins has asked a federal judge to dismiss the case. Now 37, Masters sat down for a phone interview with a CNN reporter who covered his case and subsequent release. He said he still holds a grudge against the police and prosecutors who put him behind bars. Watch Masters the day after his 2008 release » . He's living in Greeley, Colorado, and doesn't get back to Fort Collins much, but he does love traveling. Most notably, he's traveled to Amsterdam, Netherlands, to appear on a talk show with Richard and Selma Eikelenboom, the Dutch forensic scientists who discovered the DNA evidence that ultimately freed Masters. Things can be tough sometimes, but anything is better than prison, Masters said of his first year as a free man since being imprisoned. CNN: How have things been in the year since your release? Masters: It's a struggle to earn enough money to pay my bills and everything, make a living. Other than that, life is good. CNN: Do you have a job? Masters: I buy stuff at auction and I sell it on eBay. CNN: Do you have trouble finding a job because of your time in jail? Masters: Yeah, I think that has a lot to do with it. The first thing that comes up on a background check is "charges dismissed -- first-degree murder." Watch Masters thank those last year who worked to free him » . CNN: How else have you been keeping yourself busy? Masters: Pretty much work. That's it. CNN: Describe a typical day. Masters: The big challenge is, first of all, you've got to find out where the auctions are. Once you get that down, then you go to the auctions. Another disadvantage I have is I'm a little outdated on the prices of things, so I'm thinking things are worth a lot less than what they're going for. So I have to learn what things are worth now. I go to the auction, and I bid on stuff. I try and buy it cheap enough that I can make a profit on it, load it into the truck, bring it back to the house. I have shelves all in my basement full of just odds and ends. I put it all on the shelves. I do research on the computer and find out which ones I can actually make a profit on, and I list those. You list the item on eBay and let it run its course through the auction for usually seven days. If it sells, you pack it and ship it off. If it doesn't sell, you can either re-list it as an auction item, re-list it as a store item or throw it in the trash. CNN: What kind of money do you make in a typical week? Masters: Not enough. CNN: What do you enjoy doing most that you weren't able to do in prison? Masters: Travel. I've been to see my sister about four times since I've been out. She's in California. I have an uncle in Arizona. This goes along with the eBay business. I go down there every once in a while. He has a warehouse full of used restaurant equipment, and I go down there every so often. I go through his warehouse, take pictures of all the new stuff he's got in and I list it on eBay for him. Sometimes it sells, sometimes it doesn't. In April, a TV station over in Amsterdam paid to fly me over there to be on a talk show with Richard and Selma [Eikelenboom] from the DNA lab. That was cool. Watch a prosecutor explain why Masters' conviction was reversed » . CNN: What did you have the hardest time getting used to after being in prison so long? Masters: Maybe cell phones? Cell phones are everywhere now. They didn't used to be so common. I had a cell phone before I was arrested, but the last year before I was arrested, I didn't even keep service on it. Now, I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have a cell phone. It has my calendar, my address book, everything on it. CNN: You spent some prime years of your life -- late 20s, early 30s -- in jail for a crime you didn't commit. What do you think you missed most by not being a free man in those years? Masters: There's so much. Right off the top, I'd say having a family. I think they're very much responsible for me not having a family right now, a wife and kids. But it goes back further than just them arresting me. It goes all the way back to my high school days when they labeled me a murder suspect among all my peers and my teachers and everything. It goes back a long time. Watch police interrogate a 15-year-old Masters » . CNN: They did the same thing when you were in the military, too, right? Masters: Yeah, in '92. CNN: You said last year that you were staying away from alcohol because you were uncertain what emotions it might stir up. Are you still staying away from booze? Masters: Yeah, that went to hell when I went to Europe. I had a couple beers over in Europe. I didn't get drunk, but we'd have a few beers. CNN: Are you still cautious with your use of alcohol? Masters: Yeah, I think I am. CNN: Why? Masters: No. 1, I don't want a hangover [laughing]. I have a lot of repressed anger from all those years, but I don't think it's going to snap on anybody when I have a couple of beers though. CNN: Any hard feelings toward the Fort Collins Police Department or the prosecutors in the case? Masters: Oh, absolutely. They locked me up for a decade for something I didn't do. Read how DNA pointed to a new killer . CNN: If you could talk to the prosecutors or police who handled your case, what would you say to them? Masters: I don't want to talk to them at all. CNN: Talk about your lawsuit against the prosecutors and police. Who does it target? Masters: Mainly, [former prosecutors, now Judges] Jolene Blair and Terri Gilmore and [Fort Collins police Lt.] Jim Broderick, but there are a few other defendants involved and the city, but in my mind those are the big three. Key players in the case » . CNN: Tell me about the suit, what it alleges. Masters: You'd probably be better to talk to the lawyers about that. CNN: What would you say to the Hettrick family, which is now left to wonder what happened to their daughter? Masters: I don't know what I'd say to them. It's a damned shame that [the police] did this to them, too, telling them they got the guy when they didn't have the right person. I don't know what I'd say to them. That's a tough question. CNN: Do you get back to Fort Collins much? Masters: I try to stay away from Fort Collins. I still have family over there though, so I'm over there every once in a while. CNN: Does going there bring back bad memories? Masters: Yeah, and every time I go over there I feel like I'm on the defensive, every time I see a police car with someone pulled over or something -- well, let me give you an example. One day, my aunt and I were coming back from having lunch, and we were about to make a left and the road kept going straight. On the other side of the street, they had the yellow police tape up, and this is only two blocks from my aunt's house. I'm thinking, "Oh great, I wonder when they're going to come interrogate me for something that happened over here." It turns out the yellow tape was up because there was a telephone pole that was leaning over, but it looked like crime scene tape. I didn't know. But I can't live like that, wondering when they are going to harass me for something that I didn't have anything to do with. They did it to me before. CNN: So you're keeping a low profile? Masters: Yeah, pretty much.

Tim Masters relies on eBay for income because record still mentions murder charge . Masters says he's still getting used to cell phones, the current prices of things . City of Fort Collins asking federal judge to dismiss Masters' lawsuit . Wrongful conviction leaves Masters anxious when he sees police, he says .

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The Justice Department said it won't challenge state laws that legalize marijuana and will focus federal enforcement on serious trafficking cases and keeping the drug away from children. Attorney General Eric Holder, in a conference call Thursday morning, notified the governors of Colorado and Washington that the department, for now, will not seek to pre-empt those states' laws, which followed voters' approval of ballot measures that legalized recreational marijuana use. Marijuana will remain illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act. But a department memo to federal prosecutors tightened federal marijuana prosecution standards. Opinion: How to regulate pot when it's legal . Under the new guidelines, federal prosecutors are required to focus on eight enforcement priorities, including preventing marijuana distribution to minors, preventing drugged driving, stopping drug trafficking by gangs and cartels and forbidding the cultivation of marijuana on public lands. The guidelines, issued by Deputy Attorney General James Cole, have been months in the making and took on some urgency after citizens in Colorado and Washington approved the ballot measures last fall. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia allow some legal use of marijuana, primarily for medicinal purposes. The attorney general told the Washington and Colorado governors that the Justice Department will work with the states to craft regulations that fall in line with the federal priorities, and reserves the right to try to block the laws if federal authorities find repeated violations. Are American opinions on marijuana changing? The memo to prosecutors also seeks to address one common complaint from medicinal marijuana dispensaries in some states, which have been subject to raids by federal agents because they were deemed too big or profitable. The size and profitability of marijuana businesses will still be a factor prosecutors can consider, but there also must be additional illegal activities for prosecutors to take action. The new guidelines don't change federal money laundering rules, meaning that some large banks may still be leery of doing business with marijuana producers and sellers. However, Justice Department officials said there is some leeway for banks to provide services to such businesses, so long as they don't violate the eight priorities being assigned to federal prosecutors. "We received good news this morning when Attorney General Eric Holder told the governor the federal government would not pre-empt Washington and Colorado as the states implement a highly regulated legalized market for marijuana," Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson said in a statement. "We want to thank the attorney general for working with the states on this and for finding a way that allows our initiative to move forward while maintaining a commitment to fighting illegal drugs. This reflects a balanced approach by the federal government that respects the states' interests in implementing these laws and recognizes the federal government's role in fighting illegal drugs and criminal activity," they said.

Washington state officials cheer the "good news" Holder won't try to block pot legalization laws in Washington, Colorado . The two states passed measures legalizing personal marijuana use last year . Federal laws still make possession, production and sale of marijuana illegal .

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By . Mia De Graaf . PUBLISHED: . 05:54 EST, 12 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:29 EST, 12 September 2013 . Where would we be without mobile phones? Garett Kolsun might not be here at all. The 40-year-old Canadian Borders Services guard owes his life to his cell after he used it as a last ditch attempt to scare of a raging polar bear. Lucky escape: Garret Kolsun, 40, was trapped in a door way by a raging bear biting and scratching him . New to Churchill in Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Mr Kolsun was not aware of its sizable polar bear population. Known as 'the polar bear capital of the world', it has numerous sanctuaries - and even a prison for the arctic creatures. On his way home from after-work drinks last Friday, Mr Kolsun, from Winnipeg, would be made well aware. As he made his way through the main town in the early hours of Saturday morning, a 28-stone animal appeared out of nowhere. Hearing a muffled noise, the worker looked over his shoulder to see the creature charging towards him. Screaming, running, and shielding his face, Mr Kolsun was not quick enough. The bear sunk its teeth into his hip, wildly hitting and scratching. In a desperate bid to get away, he flashed the screen of his mobile phone. It gave him a second to run . In the tussle, he managed to break free and run for a nearby bakery. But the door was locked. The predator caught up and pinned him against the door. With a similar IQ to apes, polar bears are ranked as some of the planet's most intelligent creatures. Their hunting techniques are calculated and fast. They can grow up to 71 stone - and even before they are fully grown, most can run up to a speed of 45kmph. Polar bear hunting in Canada became a popularised sport in the mid-1980s. Despite the common misconception, polar bears are not left-pawed. A terrified Mr Kolsun instinctively reached for the only thing he had: his phone. 'At that point the bear was basically right on top of me,' he explained to CTV News. 'The bear's nose was inches away from me. I didn't know where else to . go. I didn't want to be a stat. 'I was yelling and screaming, trying to keep it away from me. Throughout all this it had swatted at me a few times and it had bit me. 'So I pulled my cellphone out of my pocket, turned it on and the screen lit up. I turned it towards the bear, put it in his face.' It was a move that would save his life. One look at the screen baffled the animal, which stumbled and hit a plant pot. 'When it stepped back, luckily it knocked over a planter. It startled the bear and it turned its head. So when it did, I just ran.' He scarpered towards a group of people sitting on a deck. But, turning around, the bear was nowhere to be seen. Exhausted, he got a taxi to the health centre, where staff treated two bite wounds on his leg and hip. He is now in a stable condition, and ecstatic to be alive. 'I'm just a lucky guy who got away from a bear,' he said. 'It pawed at me. It ripped my shirt a few times. 'I have scratches on my chest, some going down and a couple going sideways. 'When you're in Churchill, take a cab. Or drive. Don't walk after dark.' Manitoba Conservation caught the bear on Saturday. It is now being assessed. According to a government spokesman, bears are known to be more active in the months before the ice freezes. People are advised to avoid walking alone or going out after dark.

Garett Kolsun, 40, was walking home from after-work drinks at 1.30am when the animal charged . The Border Services guard from Winnipeg did not know Churchill, Canada, was the polar bear capital of the world . He could not run fast enough so grabbed his phone from his pocket . The 28-stone bear had already bitten his hip and scratched his chest .

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When most of us make a spelling misteak, er, mistake, at work a quick tap on the delete button usually does the trick. But that option clearly wasn’t available to road markers in Carlisle whose KEEP CEEAR error at the civic centre was gleefully reported by drivers. Contractors have corrected the mistake, which appeared last week, free of charge, and Cumbria County Council has apologised. Ceear-ly wrong: A bemused passer-by stops to look at the spelling mistake at the Civic Centre in Carlisle . Councillor Willie Whalen said: . 'Anybody can make a mistake. I think it is a genuine mistake, it doesn’t . look to be anything else. It really shows how hard the lads are . working.' Cyril Weber, chairman of the council’s . Carlisle local committee, said: 'It’s just a basic human error.' He . added: 'I am sure most people would be aware of what it means, in spite . of the spelling. Meanwhile in York, gas workers have . dug up road bricks with double yellow lines on before placing them back . into the road in different positions - making one of the lines barely . recognisable. The double yellow lines in now look . more like a scene from classic computer puzzle game Tetris after the . Northern Gas workers finished their handiwork last Friday. And until the surface was put back to normal yesterday, drivers were left unsure of the parking restrictions. Road markings on a York street ended up looking more like a game of Tetris than double yellow lines after builders bodged the job of relaying the bricks . The jumbled road markings resemble vintage video game Tetris, but Northern Gas says it has put them right . Computer classic: A modern version of the game called Tetris Blitz is pictured, available for free on iTunes . One of the world's most popular computer games, Tetris first appeared in 1984. It was created by Russian programmer Alexy Pajitnov while was studying computer science in Moscow. The catchy theme tune was based on a 19th century Russian folk song called 'Korobeiniki', before it was arranged by Hirokazu Tanaka - also behind the music in Super Mario Land. It is notoriously addictive - and a condition called the Tetris Effect was named after the game to explain when people spend so much time doing something that it begins to pattern their thoughts and dreams. Tetris was said to have got its name from the 'tetra' prefix in 'tetramino' - a geometric shape made of four squares, connected at right angles to each other - and 'tennis', Mr Pajitnov's favourite sport. One passerby, speaking before the . bricks had been fixed, said: 'It looks as if someone has left a trail of . scrambled egg down the street. 'I can't see how they can enforce the parking restrictions until they get some new double yellow lines painted.' Another . bystander, also speaking before the works were complete, said: 'They . could get the contractors to rearrange all the bricks, but I think that . might be rather expensive and I doubt they could figure it out. 'It's . probably far easier for the council to paint some new double yellows. It shouldn't take them long, after all they've had enough practice. 'They'd better hurry up though. This . is not a very wide road and if a couple of drivers decide to take . advantage it could cause traffic chaos.' A City of York Council spokesman said . that the works had been completed four and a half weeks ahead of . schedule by Northern Gas. Although parking restrictions in the area . remained in force throughout, no-one received a ticket over the weekend. And Northern Gas said that the jumbled surface, which have now been fixed, were all part of a plan to ensure a . professional and even finish. A . spokesman for the firm, which is . currently upgrading 0.75 miles of metal gas mains in York city centre, said the lines were fixed yesterday so as not to cause disruption during . the busy weekend - and the existing yellow marks were burned off before yellow lines were repainted.

York gas workers put road surfacing bricks back in the wrong order . Motorists left confused over whether they would get a parking ticket . Onlookers compare the unusual road markings to 'scrambled egg'

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By . Tara Brady . An Oklahoma man has become the second person to die in the U.S. of the new 'Heartland' virus which is carried by ticks. The Department of Health said the man, who is over 65, was from Delaware County in north-east Oklahoma and died from complications from the virus. The virus is found in the lone star tick and is spread through tick bites. An Oklahoma man has died in the U.S. of the new 'Heartland' virus which is carried by lone star ticks (pictured) It was first identified in Missouri in 2009. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has said the other patient who died had other health conditions. Other cases have been diagnosed in Missouri and Tennessee but those patients have recovered. Similar to previous cases, the Oklahoma victim had a history of outdoor activities and exposure, said Becky Coffman, an epidemiologist in acute disease with the Oklahoma Health Department. Delaware County where a man died from the virus. Cases have also been recorded in Missouri and Tennessee . Symptoms include fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, loss of appetite, nausea, bruising easily and diarrhea. The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is found throughout the eastern, southeastern and south-central states. They have been recorded in large numbers as far north as Maine and as far west as central Texas and Oklahoma. All three life stages (larva, nymph, adult) of the lone star tick will feed on humans, and may be quite aggressive. Lone star ticks will also feed readily on other animals, including dogs and cats, and may be brought into the home on pets. The saliva from lone star ticks can be irritating; redness and discomfort at a bite site does not necessarily indicate an infection. People should monitor their health closely after any tick bite, and should consult their physician if they experience a rash, fever, headache, joint or muscle pains, or swollen lymph nodes within 30 days of a tick bite. These can be signs of a number of tickborne diseases. There is no vaccine or drug to prevent or treat the illness. Since its discovery, the Heartland Virus has killed two people and infected eight others. Coffman said people who become ill after spending a lot of time outdoors should disclose to physicians if they have a history of tick bites to help reach a correct diagnosis. The incubation period before the onset of symptoms of the Heartland virus is unknown but symptoms caused by other tick-borne illnesses generally begin two weeks after infection, Coffman said. 'We need to help doctors,' she said. 'We need to give them as much information as we can to give them some clues.' Coffman said campers and others who spend a lot of time outdoors should check themselves 'at least daily' for ticks. Although there is no routine testing available for Heartland virus, protocols are in place for investigational diagnostic testing. The state Health Department recommends using insect repellents, wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers when outdoors, avoiding bushy and wooded areas where ticks thrive and conducting thorough tick checks after spending time outside. 'They can cause a lot of damage,' said Dr Kathryn Zackery, of the Sapulpa Indian Health Center. According to Dr Zackery, Sapulpa patients visit the health center during the spring and summer months. 'We saw cases several times per week last summer,' she said. An engorged female lone star tick which has been blamed for the Heartlands virus . Heartland virus belongs to a family of viruses called Phleboviruses. Viruses in this family are found all over the world. Some of these viruses can cause people to get sick. Most of the phleboviruses that cause people to become ill are passed through the bite of a mosquito, tick, or sandfly. It is not yet fully known how people become infected with Heartland virus. However, recent studies suggest that ticks, namely Lone Star ticks, may transmit the virus. As of March 2014, eight cases of Heartland virus disease had been identified among residents of Missouri and Tennessee. Since the Heartland virus was first described in 2012 and there have only been a few cases, scientists are still learning about it. So far, all patients diagnosed with Heartland virus disease became sick during May-September. They all had a fever and felt very tired. Some also complained of headaches, muscle aches, diarrhea, losing their appetite, or feeling sick to their stomach. They all had low numbers of cells that fight infection and that help blood clot. Most patients required hospitalisation for their illness. Most patients fully recovered, but now two patients have died. People who work or do activities outside, where they are exposed to ticks or insects, may be more likely to be infected. There is no vaccine or drug to prevent or treat the disease. Preventing bites from ticks and mosquitoes may prevent this and other infections.

Department of Health said the man was from Delaware County . The virus is found in the lone star tick and is spread through tick bites . Other cases diagnosed in Missouri and Tennessee but patients recovered . The Oklahoma victim had a history of outdoor activities and exposure . There is no vaccine or drug to prevent or treat the illness .

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Two years after Hispanics rioted against police in a city that Disneyland made famous, Anaheim, California, has hired the first Latino police chief in its 157-year history. Raul Quezada, 44, was sworn in as chief on Wednesday, overseeing a police department that is 56% white in a city that is 53% Hispanic -- and is still reeling from strife that grew out of police shootings of poor Latinos, including at least one resulting in death, sparking the riots. Quezada acknowledges his daunting task. In 2012, two deadly police shootings in one summer weekend led to a protest outside City Hall, just 1½ miles from Disneyland, the city's famous attraction. That protest turned violent and spread throughout the central city for four days. Quezada, who worked his way up in the department after starting as a patrolman in 1996, will seek to regain the community's trust through civil engagement, he said. Anaheim has a population of 336,000 and is also home to baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and hockey's Anaheim Ducks. "We have to have an open dialogue," Quezada said. "Last Saturday I worked with a patrol officer out in the field. I want them to see the police chief is out there along with the officers. That way the police officer sees the way the chief is working with the community, and that builds and fosters that mindset." One of Quezada's programs is called "Coffee With A Cop," where citizens "just ask any questions they want about any topic whatsoever," Quezada said. "We then answer, and the dialogue happens and then the relationship starts to form. And in my opinion that has released a lot of the stress," he said. He knows he has already made history in Anaheim. "It's very, very prideful for me for me to be able to sit in this capacity and to be the first Hispanic" police chief, he said. Quezada was born and raised in Pico Rivera, California, which is outside the well-known Latino community of East Los Angeles and is about 17 miles northwest of Anaheim. He was a Los Angeles police officer for three years before joining the Anaheim force. In the past 10 years, Anaheim has had 50 shootings involving police officers, and 22 people died in those shootings, said Lt. Tim Schmidt. That track record worries longtime community leaders such as Amin David of a group called Los Amigos, who said he hopes the police department will improve its relationship with the Latino community. "The shootings outraged our community," David said of the 2012 violence. "There were demonstrations, and there is still a lot of hurt." In one of the 2012 fatal shootings that led to the riots, unarmed 25-year-old Manuel Diaz was shot in the back, and, after he fell, police shot him in the head and killed him, the family alleged in a lawsuit. Police acknowledged Diaz was unarmed, but "based on the actions of Diaz during a foot pursuit, our officer believed Diaz was armed with a gun and posed an immediate threat," police spokesman Tim Schmidt said. "The officer fired his weapon in response to that threat." In 2012, police also described Diaz as a gang member, but that characterization enraged the community. The second shooting occurred when a man in a car theft case opened fire on police, authorities said. Officers returned fire, killing Joel Acevedo, 21.

Chief Raul Quezada is the first Latino police chief in Anaheim's 157-year history . Quezada, 44, worked his way up the ranks from patrolman in 1996 . He implements "Coffee With A Cop" to build community trust . Riots by Latinos erupted in 2012 after police fatally shot an unarmed Hispanic man .

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A bag that sounds an alarm if thieves try to tamper with it has been created to solve the age-old problem of where to keep your valuables while at the beach. Lynn and Martin Mulholland, from West Yorkshire, came up with the idea for Clam Bag when their belongings were stolen during a holiday to Spain. The special hold-all has been created with a cord running through the zip which can be attached to a deckchair, sun lounger or seaside umbrella. Safety first: The locked bag is secured around a beach chair with a wire - and sounds an alarm if it's touched . Lynn and Martin Mulholland came up with the idea for Clam Bag when their belongings were stolen while on holiday to Spain . The only way the zip and cord can be untied is by tapping in a personalised combination code, similar to that found on a padlock or briefcase. The bag also has a high-tech alarm system so that if someone attempts to move it from where it is left, a piercing alarm will ring out and alert the owner to the thief. The clever device is perfect for gadgets like smartphones and tablets and essentials like money and keys. The bag has a high-tech alarm so that if someone attempts to move it, a piercing alarm will ring out and alert the owner to the thief . It comes in grey or black leather and has dimensions of six inches by nine by four. The couple are now looking to raise £19,000 on Kickstarter to get the project off the ground. Housewife Lynn, 40, said: ‘My husband and I were on holiday in Spain and we were having lunch when someone took my bag without me realising. ‘It had our passports, money, and credit cards inside and it was an absolute nightmare. ‘When someone steals something from you it's awful, even if it's just 20 or 30 euros, you can't relax and worry it will happen again. Secure: The only way the zip and cord can be untied is by tapping in a personalised combination code . ‘Because it was such an ordeal, before we went on our next holiday the year later, my husband built a special bag that we could use to keep our things safe. ‘We went to Crete with no problems and people were even asking us where we bought it from. ‘You simply pop everything into the bag, zip it up, and attach it to something using the wire that comes through the zip. ‘If someone tries to pick it up they can't, and there is also the option to set an alarm so it is lifted, moved, or altered a sound will ring out. ‘It gives people the option to do things together like swimming or getting ice cream without someone having to watch the bags. ‘Setting the alarm is optional and it can be turned off by a micro switch underneath the bag.’

Couple invented Clam Bag after their belongings were stolen in Spain . Bag can be attached to deckchairs, sunloungers or seaside umbrellas . Will sound an alarm if thieves try to tamper with it .

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By . Chris Pleasance . A gunman in China has killed himself after executing one of his neighbours and firing at armed police in a 12-hour standoff. Li Tak-yan, 51, who had served time in jail for attacking another neighbour with a knife, shot Liu Kai-chung, 43, dead outside his apartment in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, on Saturday night in an apparently unmotivated attack. Li then shot at armed police, sparking a 12-hour . standoff which only ended after officers from the elite Special Duties . Unit, known as the Flying Tigers, stormed the apartment and found him . dead. In dramatic twist it has emerged that Li is the father of Chinese actress and model Liddy Li, 27, who has made headlines recently after her affair with married director Oxide Pang was exposed. Scroll down for video . Li Tak-yan, 51, father of Chinese model Liddy Li, executed one of his neighbours in Hong Kong, starting a 12-hour standoff with armed police which ended with him killing himself . During the stalemate, Li fired appeared on the window ledge outside his apartment with a gun to his head before firing shots at armed police officers below . Police fired one shot at Li, forcing him inside. Elite officers from the Special Duties Unit, known as the Flying Tigers, then stormed the apartment but found Li had killed himself . Police are investigating whether Li's murder and subsequent suicide had anything to do Liddy and Pang's relationship, which was exposed when they were secretly photographed on a date. After the photo was leaked, Pang flew to the Malaysia to win back his wife, actress Lee Sinje, and then made a joint statement apologising to his wife and admitting his errors. The standoff with Li began at 11pm on Saturday night after he followed neighbour Liu into the lift in their apartment building on the Kai Ching estate, going with him up to the 21st floor. As Liu . approached his front door, keys in hand, Li shot him three times . 'execution style' before returning to his own apartment 11 floors below. Police . evacuated that floor overnight, and in the morning Li appeared on the . window ledge outside his apartment with a gun pointed at his head before . shooting at police below. In a dramatic twist it has emerged that Li's daughter is model and actress Liddy Li, who has been making headlines after her affair with married director Oxide Pang was exposed . After Oxide (left) and Li were pictured together kissing and hugging on a day out, Oxide left Li to return to Malaysia and win back his wife and has since apologised for his actions . Police are now investigating whether Li's murder and suicide had anything to do with Liddy's affair . Officers . returned one shot, forcing Li back inside. The Flying Tigers then . abseiled down the outside of the building, throwing stun grenades . through the windows before storming the apartment. When they got inside they found Li's body slumped next to two pistols, one of which was handmade and 43 rounds of ammunition. Police have since removed three knives, three holsters and a computer from the flat. Hong Kong police are working closely with their Guangdong counterparts to trace the source of the weapons. The Standard in Hong Kong is reporting that Liddy accompanied her younger sister and mother . Ding Ping to Fu Shan Public Mortuary in Sha Tin to identify the body of . the gunman . Divorced and unemployed, Li had a well-earned reputation for aggressiveness against his neighbours. Speaking to the South China Morning Post, a resident of Li's tower block who gave his name only as Wong, said: 'He's not the kind of neighbour who you can have a casual chat with. 'About half a year ago, he banged on everyone's door [on my floor] to complain about a noise problem and no one dared to open their doors.' Officers abseiled down to the apartment before . throwing stun grenades through the windows. When they got inside they . found Li's body slumped next to two pistols and 43 rounds of ammunition . Before attacking officers, Li executed neighbour Liu Kai-chung, 43, by following him up to his apartment and shooting him three times outside his front door . Another resident Tsang Yuk said that when she took her son to the courtyard downstairs she always saw Li wearing the same red polo shirt. 'His shirt stank so bad as if he never washed it,' she said, adding that he acted rather strangely and liked to sit in different corners of the playground. In a temporary housing estate in the town of Yuen Long where he lived . after his business failed and his wife left him, Li attacked and injured . a man next door with a meat cleaver . According to The Standard, during the court case Liddy wrote to the judge describing Li as a 'good father'. He received a one-year prison sentence for his crime, and upon his release moved into the tower near the old Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong. Psychologists said at the time that he had poor anger management abilities and dealt poorly with stress, but despite being lonely and volatile he was not mentally ill. Neighbours said Li was hot-tempered and once banged on everyone's door to complain about noise (pictured, Li's body is taken out of the apartment) Li had a history of attacking his neighbours - he was jailed for a year in 2011 for slicing one with a meat cleaver after his wife left him and his business collapsed .

Li Tak-yan, 51, shot neighbour Liu Kai-chung, 43, outside his apartment . Killing started 12-hour standoff with armed police in Hong Kong . At one point Li appeared on window ledge with gun to his head . Fired at officers before elite unit abseiled down and threw stun grenades . Stormed apartment and found Li's body with two pistols and 43 bullets . Li's model daughter Liddy Li, 27, is at the centre of an affair scandal . Liddy was caught having romance with married director Oxide Pang . Police are investigating whether affair prompted Li's attacks .

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The father-in-law of a mother fatally shot in an Idaho Walmart by her 2-year-old son says she didn't have a mean bone in her body. "Everybody that met her, knew her, loved her," Terry Rutledge said about Veronica Rutledge, 29. She died Tuesday after her young son shot her accidentally while they were out shopping with other family members, authorities said. Rutledge -- who put herself through school and was a chemical engineer -- "was a fun-loving, outgoing, outdoorsy person," said Terry Rutledge. "Her family liked to camp, hike, do outdoorsy things. They loved being together," he said. He said that Veronica Rutledge had carried a gun for years and had extensive training. "I cannot put any blame on my daughter-in-law because I know her, the training she's had ... I don't take it lightly ... I cannot put any negligence on her part. It was a terrible accident." Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger revealed details of the accident following an autopsy on Wednesday. According to Wolfinger, the toddler removed the 9mm Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handgun from his mother's new handbag, one that was "specifically designed for concealed carry of a firearm," he said. "The 2-year old removed the firearm from the purse and fired one bullet from the pistol. The bullet struck Mrs. Rutledge in the head, killing her instantly." The store's manager, who was nearby at the time, "stepped in and removed the firearm from the child," Wolfinger said.

Veronica Rutledge, 29, was fatally shot by her 2-year-old son . Her father-in-law remembers her as outgoing, fun-loving and kind . Gun was removed from special-designed purse for concealing firearms .

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(CNN) -- Italian authorities on Thursday rescued more than 800 migrants from four boats trying to reach the island of Lampedusa, the Italian navy said. As the closest Italian island to Africa, Lampedusa, in the Mediterranean Sea, is a frequent destination for refugees seeking to enter European Union countries, and shipwrecks off its shores are common. Navy and air force helicopters spotted the four boats, which "appeared in precarious floating conditions and overcrowded," the navy said in a statement. The migrants were being transferred to a Navy ship and will be brought to the port of Augusta in Sicily. They were from Africa and countries such as Egypt, Pakistan and Iraq. A day earlier, more than 200 migrants were rescued from the sea and also taken to the port of Augusta. More than 300 African migrants died in October after their ship sank off the island's shores. Days later, another 34 people died when their boat capsized.

More than 800 migrants have been rescued south of Lampedusa . The migrants were in four boats trying to reach the Italian island . 200 others were rescued the day before .

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(CNN) -- Fans of Usher Raymond IV view him as a singing, dancing and acting superstar. Superstar performer Usher Raymond IV at the closing ceremony for Usher's Camp New Look. But to a special group of young people, he is a mentor and a friend. "He leads by example," said Arnold "Supa" LaFrance, a "Mogul in Training" at Usher's Camp New Look. "Usher's all about peace and love and giving back to the community, and it's genuine. He does it when the cameras are on and when the cameras are off." Now in its fifth year, the camp is a passion for the Grammy Award-winning artist, who each year gives more than a hundred teens from underserved communities across the country the opportunity to learn about the entertainment and sports industries. Thomas Springer, a 17-year-old Atlanta, Georgia, resident, has participated in the camp for four years and said he wants to use his talent in filmmaking and what he has learned at Camp New Look to help his community. "Before I came to camp, I didn't think I had a voice in my community and that I could do anything based on my age," Springer said. "The camp let me know that no matter what your age, no matter what you do, you can make an impact on your community." Usher came to fame as a teen and has sold millions of records, including the hit singles "Yeah" and "Confessions II." His success has allowed him to become part owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team and to launch his own line of fragrances for men and women. The camp, the singer said, teaches participants the business aspects of the entertainment and sports industries and imparts the importance of being service-oriented. A selection committee selects campers that are nominated by partner organizations in various cities across the country. Now the father of two young boys, Usher said he is also enriched by the camp's experience. "It makes me a better man. It makes me a better individual," he said. "There's a difference between hard work and heart work, and this would represent heart work." Watch Usher talk about his camp » . As a youngster, Usher participated in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and he said it helped shape his ideas about mentoring. "I think that the Boys & Girls Club is a very positive environment for kids," he said. "It's another place that allows you to be a product of your experience. I encountered a lot of people who became mentors for me there." At this year's closing ceremony for Usher's Camp New Look, held at the Alliance Theater at Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, the energy level was high as campers and their family members walked a red carpet alongside some of Usher's celebrity friends, including NBA star Alonzo Mourning and San Francisco 49er Allen Rossum. The free, residential camp held for two weeks every summer in Atlanta is an outgrowth of Usher's New Look Foundation, which he established to empower at-risk youth by giving them the skills necessary to enter careers in the sports and entertainment industries and working with them to provide employment opportunities. Mourning said Usher is one who understands that "to whom much is given, much is required." "The service that Usher is providing for these kids with these educational opportunities and expanding their lives to a whole new level, it's important that we all rally around these particular causes and support these initiatives," Mourning said. Gabrielle Brou, 16, a first-year camper from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, who aspires to be an actress, said there were countless opportunities at camp to network with successful people who are living the lives she hopes to achieve. "Once I found out that there were ways I could better myself in acting, learn the business and also give back ... I decided that this camp would be really great for me," she said. "I would love to do it again next year." Having a day set aside for the campers and their families to revel in all that they have achieved and their future possibilities left Usher with a huge smile on his face. "It's really good to see them be able to live out their dreams," he said.

Usher's Camp New Look helps kids from underserved communities . Campers learn business behind entertainment and sports industries . Singer serves as mentor to more than 100 participants . Usher, who was mentored, said camp represents his "heart work"

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Migrants flowing into Europe by boat from Africa this year are expected to exceed 100,000 by mid-August, officials have said. Nearly 91,000 people have reached Italy . by sea since the start of the year, already close to the record-high of . 92,000 arrivals in 2011. It came as another 2,500 arrived in Italy in the last 24 hours after being rescued by the navy and coastguard while crossing the Mediterranean. Scroll down for video . Desperate: More2,500 migrants have arrived in Italy in the last 24 hours after being rescued by the navy while crossing the Mediterranean from Africa . Influx: The migrants were rescued in the previous few days in the Strait of Sicily while trying to reach Italian coasts from Africa . Around 1,000 people were brought by the coastguard into the southern port of Reggio Calabria. Another . 958 migrants arrived in the Sicilian town of Pozzallo on board a navy . vessel, while over 500 people reached the city of Palermo. Most of them are Egyptians, Pakistanis, Eritreans, Syrians and Somalis, the authorities said. Italy's navy and coast guard have been . patrolling the Mediterranean Sea since last October as part of an . EU-funded search-and-rescue mission called 'Mare Nostrum' (Our Sea). But overwhelmed by the numbers, the country is increasingly waiving European rules to fingerprint migrants, allowing them to move on. Fleeing their own countries:P Many of the migrants are Egyptians, Pakistanis, Eritreans, Syrians and Somalis, authorities say . Searching for a new life: A mother takes her children off the boat. Overwhelmed, Italy is waiving European rules to fingerprint migrants, allowing them to move on . Italy's navy and coast guard have been patrolling the Mediterranean Sea since last October as part of an EU-funded mission called 'Mare Nostrum' (Our Sea) Many are then heading to Britain via Calais, where the unprecedented influx is causing a tense summer as clashes break out among asylum-seekers in overcrowded camps. Sudanese and Eritreans have battled in . the heat in France's port city, with frustrations rising as the . Africans jockey for space while trying to sneak into Britain - the dream . destination some 30 kilometers (20 miles) away. British police have been on site trying to make sure they don't cross over. Their . French counterparts fired tear gas on Tuesday to break up the latest . battles that left dozens injured, one seriously, the Calais prefecture . said. Migrants fleeing . poverty and war in Africa and the Middle East arrive in Calais with . hopes of crossing the channel on a ferry or on trucks laden with cargo. Medical help: Many migrants head to Calais, where clashes have broken out among asylum-seekers, in the hope of making it into Britain . Welfare: Members of the Italian Red Cross check over and treat the migrants after their treacherous journey across the Mediterranean . Their numbers in the city at the edge of the English Channel have swelled to up to 1,300, overwhelming the city, aid agencies and police. 'There are migrants who arrive each day and each day some who succeed in getting to Britain,' said Deputy Mayor Philippe Mignonet, in charge of security, earlier this week. He refused to say how many migrants outsmart the scanners, CO2 detectors and other technology used on trucks and planted through the Channel Tunnel. 'Calais has been taken hostage,' Mignonet said, blaming in part a Franco-British cooperation accord that he says puts the brunt of the burden on Calais. Britain is seen by many migrants as Europe's Shangri-La, with a more humane treatment of migrants than continental neighbors like France, where there are only 22,000 living units for some 60,000 asylum seekers. Clashes among migrants are a new phenomenon. 'There are lots of people, so there is lots more tension,' said Noemie Bourdet of aid group Secours Catholique in Calais.

Nearly 91,000 men, women and children have reached Italy from across the Mediterranean since start of the year . Another 2,500 have arrived in Italian ports in the last 24 hours after being rescued by the navy and coastguards .

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A 76-year-old man in Texas recently spent nine days in jail for feeding nine strays that are said to have nine lives. David Parton of Gainesville has been giving stray cats food for almost a decade because God told him to 'keep feeding them'. He was arrested earlier this month after racking up $900 in fines and opted to spend nine days behind bars instead of paying. Scroll down for video . David Parton of Gainesville, Texas, was jailed for nine days after refusing to pay fines for feeding stray cats . A Gainesville law makes it illegal to 'make convenient food or containers of food' to feed stray animals . Parton, 76, served his time at the Cooke County Justice Center (pictured) earlier this month . Parton was breaking a city law that makes it illegal to 'make convenient food or containers of food on any property or city street in the City of Gainesville for the purpose of feeding stray animals'. He had previously been cited before for failure to vaccinate cats, the Gainesville Daily Register reported. The feline fan said he hasn't seen the cats he was feeding since he was released from the Cooke County Justice Center and he fears they may be in trouble. Parton claimed he wouldn't have paid the fines if he 'had a million dollars', CBS Dallas reported. He said: 'God told me to keep feeding them and leave the consequences to him. 'I told them I'd sit it out in jail. 'I did, that's why I went to jail, I wouldn't pay the fine. 'That law is not right.' Parton, who claims God told him to feed the cats, said there is no way he would have ever paid the fines . Parton has not seen any of the cats he was feeding since his release and he is worried about their welfare . An animal rights group, Alley Cats Allies, has hired an attorney to give legal advice to Parton . The situation in Gainesville caught the attention of animal rights group Alley Cats Allies. The group has offered support to Parton and is 'working to repeal the local feeding ban so that no one in Gainesville who feeds cats will have to fear legal action, fines, or jail time'. Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies, said: 'This is a truly disheartening miscarriage of justice. 'Compassion should not be criminalized, but that is exactly what this man was arrested for—simply providing food for cats. 'We are proud to offer any assistance to this gentleman who provides a service to the cats and Gainesville.' The organization hired an attorney from the Tatum Erlandson & Neu law firm for Parton, KX11 reported. Despite the added pressure, Gainesville police are standing by their decision to arrest Parton. Gainesville Chief of Police Kevin Phillips said: 'I think everyone involved in this process had tried to be as compassionate as possible. 'Our prosecutor met with him on two separate occasions, trying to work with him, really all we're looking for is compliance.' Authorities blame feral cats in the area for offenses including destroying ceiling tiles at a business, infecting a local yard with fleas and scratching and biting an eight-year-old girl.

David Parton of Gainesville has been feeding cats for almost a decade . It is illegal to 'make convenient food or containers of food' to strays in city . He received $900 in fines and decided to go to jail rather than pay . Parton hasn't seen the nine cats he was feeding since his release from jail .

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By . David Martosko, U.s. Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 14:26 EST, 7 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:10 EST, 7 November 2013 . If there were any doubts of a schism inside the Republican Party, three conservatives' veiled slaps at New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday should erase them. Hours before Time magazine unveiled its next weekly cover, featuring a silhouette of Christie and the headline 'The Elephant In The Room,' Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul told CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer that Christie is a 'moderate ... who can win in New Jersey.' 'What that means about the national party – I'm not sure there's an answer. But we do need moderates like Chris Christie in the party,' he said, before insisting that 'the party in general is more conservative.' 'Moderate Republicans' are fighting words from conservatives trying to paint their rivals as weak centrists who agree with some Democrats' initiatives. Paul, like Christie, is considered a likely 2016 presidential candidate. Rand Paul said Wednesday that it was a 'conflict of interest' for federal funds to support an economic development ad campaign that included shots of Chris Christie, his presumed rival for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination . Christie went back to work on Thursday, greeting a troop of Girl Scouts at the state capitol in Trenton, N.J. Gov. Christie appeared briefly in several ads, paid for with federal disaster recovery dollars, which touted the New Jersey shore's recovery after Superstorm Sandy . Christie briefly found the national spotlight in 2012 as a possibly running mate for presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, but fell out of favor with many on the party's right wing after he praised President Obama following Superstorm Sandy. 'I'm a conservative,' he insisted Tuesday during a separate CNN interview. 'I've governed as a conservative in this state, and I think that's led to some people disagreeing with me in our state, because it's generally a left-of-center, blue state.' More... Chris Christie is hailed as the GOP heir apparent: Triumphant New Jersey governor gears up for certain presidential run with US road tour following landslide re-election . Moderate Republicans are the big winners on election night as Tea Party's star wanes . 'I'm on a mission': Victorious Chris Christie invokes the 'Spirit of Sandy' and vows to take on dysfunctional DC after landslide win . Romney team compiled secret dossier that showed 'Pufferfish' Christie would be a disaster for presidential campaign . 'The difference has been, is, I haven't tried to hide it or mask it as something different.' Paul has steadily pushed himself toward the tea party base, announcing Wednesday that he will move his weekly opinion column from the right-leaning Washington Times to the still more conservative Breitbart.com blog. That shift followed accusations, and admissions, related to alleged plagiarism in Paul's 2012 book 'Government Bullies' and in several of his public speeches. His criticism of Christie turned decidedly aggressive during a Senate hearing Wednesday afternoon, when he slammed a series of federally funded post-Sandy economic development ads that included brief on-screen quotes from the New Jersey governor and his family. Time's new cover, complete with elephant references, was probably meant as a Republican pun but was immediately associated with jokes about the governor's weight . The ads, which promoted the Jersey Shore's recovery, included Christie's son saying it 'looks like the word is spreading,' and the governor adding, 'We're stronger than the storm and open for everyone.' Christie was a candidate for re-election at the time. 'People running for office put their mug all over these ads while they're in the middle of a political campaign,' Paul complained to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan in a clear jab at Christie. 'In . New Jersey, $25 million was spent on ads that included somebody running . for political office. I'm thinking there might be a conflict of . interest there. That's a real problem. And that's why, when people are . trying to do good and trying to use the taxpayer's money wisely, they're . offended to see our money spent on political ads. That's just . offensive.' At the time, however, the Center for Public Integrity's top watchdog Bill Buzenberg told USA Today that Christie's two-second cameo was no big deal. 'I can't say it's unethical,' Buzenberg . said, 'because it's not unusual for a governor to be involved in a . tourism campaign. When you drive into a state, you see the welcome signs . with the governor's picture. The pictures are usually bigger in an . election year.' Governor Christie, a self-professed conservative who has at times embraced bipartisanship, said Tuesday night that Washington politicians should look to New Jersey as an example of what's possible for the GOP . Four more years? (Two more years?) Christie is the governor until he decides not to be, an outcome that could accompany a presidential primary run in 2015 . Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, two more tea party-backed possible entrants into the White House sweepstakes a few years from now, also launched rhetorical mortars at Christie after his 60 per cent landslide showing in his re-election race. 'I think we need to understand that some of these races don't apply to future races,' Rubio said on CNN.  Every race is different – it has a different set of factors – but I congratulate [Christie] on his win.' 'Clearly he was able to speak to the hopes and aspirations of people within New Jersey. That's important. ... Governor Christie has certainly shown he has a way of winning in New Jersey – in states like New Jersey.' Cruz took his own veiled swipe at the New Jersey governor. Republican Senator Ted Cruz (R) is among the conservative pols linnig up to take pot shots at Chris Christie, the GOP political darling of the moment who is reveling in his brand of centrism . They keep their jobs too: Staffers in the governor's office applauded the boss after he won a second term Tuesday night in sweeping fashion . 'I think it is terrific that he is brash, that he is outspoken and that he won his race," he told ABC News. 'But . I think we need more leaders in Washington with the courage to stand . for principle. And in particular, Obamacare is not working.' That was a jab at Christie's decision to expand Medicaid in his state by raising the income limit for eligibility, a move made possible when the Affordable Care Act became law. During his victory speech Tuesday night, Christie showed disapproval for a perceived civil war that has pitted conservative purists against more broad-minded centrists whose appeal extends equally to independent voters. 'Listen, I know that if we can do this in Trenton, New Jersey, maybe the folks in Washington, D.C. should tune in their TVs right now, see how it's done,' he said.

Rand Paul jabs Christie: 'The party in general is more conservative' Marco Rubio damns with faint praise: He 'has a way of winning in New Jersey – in states like New Jersey' Ted Cruz: 'We need more leaders in Washington with the courage to stand for principle' Christie is wearying of being called a 'moderate' by tea party-backed Republicans . Rand Paul called it a 'conflict of interest' that a post-Sandy New Jersey ad featuring Christie for 2 secs got federally funded disaster recovery funds .

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By . Neil Sears . PUBLISHED: . 19:57 EST, 5 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:53 EST, 6 January 2013 . Sharon Shoesmith has said she is on benefits and is unemployable after being blamed for the Baby P case . THE social services chief whose team failed to save the life of Baby P has revealed that she is on the dole and unemployable. Sharon Shoesmith lost her job  as Haringey council’s director of children’s services in the fallout  over care given to Peter Connelly, who died aged 17 months after suffering horrific abuse despite being seen by social workers and doctors 60 times. She has waged a long battle to be cleared of any personal responsibility for the child’s death in 2007. And now she has revealed how criticism over her handling of the affair saw her consider suicide, and how she is so scared of revenge attacks she rarely ventures out. Mrs Shoesmith, 59, also suggests  that too many ‘at-risk’ children are taken into care – and that they  would be better left with their parents, despite concerns. Evidently still angry at her treatment, she suggests that inquiries into failures by social services should not be conducted in the public glare. She claims it was only social workers who faced disciplinary action over the case, apparently ignoring the fact that two doctors were investigated. Mrs Shoesmith was sacked from her highly-paid job in 2008 amid mounting public uproar over the death of baby Peter in August 2007 at the hands of his mother Tracey Connelly, 31, her sadistic paedophile boyfriend Steve Barker, 36, and his brother Jason Owen, 40. The senior social worker launched an appeal claiming unfair dismissal and eventually won. Despite reports she was due £1million in compensation, she says she has not yet received the payment, and that she faces huge legal bills. Speaking to Public Servant magazine, Mrs Shoesmith said: ‘What I didn’t know before, but I have learned over the past four years, is that you don’t recover from this – it stays with you. Your entire past is just wiped away and your future is utterly gone. Baby Peter died in August 2007 at the hands of his mother Tracey Connelly, her lover Steven Barker and their lodger, Barker's brother Jason Owen . ‘There was a sense of, “If we hit her hard enough, she will never stand up again”, and I nearly didn’t. It is  very hard to understand what that feels like. ‘People I used to know ask me what I’m doing now, and they’re shocked when I say “Nothing”. ‘They can’t quite grasp that my life hasn’t moved on at all in the past four years – that I can’t find any work and I’m living on benefits. ‘I used to have a £130,000-a-year job running my own department and was a national reference point for Ofsted for special educational needs, but no organisation will take the risk of employing me because of who I am.’ Baby P's mother Tracey Connelly, left, and her boyfriend Steven Barker, right, were jailed, along with Barker's brother Jason Owen for the death of the 17-month-old . Reports blaming her for Peter’s death drove her to consider suicide, and even to question whether she had murdered him herself, before seeking counselling. ‘I was certainly no softy, but being held directly responsible for the brutal murder of a child was something that I found impossible to live with,’ said Mrs Shoesmith. ‘I remember turning to my two grown-up daughters in tears and asking them, “Did I murder him?” I was in such a state that I actually believed I had killed him.’ She added that four years after her sacking she is still scared of being recognised and abused in public, and claimed police warned her she could be pushed in front of a Tube train. Mrs Shoesmith maintains that social workers do a good job and should not be vilified because of the ‘very small number of children who are murdered’. ‘We are so desperately fearful of getting it wrong that we cannot calibrate our own success,’ she said. ‘We have to get back to supporting social workers to use their professional skills to make reasoned judgments. ‘Then the crucial next bit, where no one wants to go, is that we have to accept mistakes happen. ‘The big dilemma for local government is that no one knows what to do with child homicide and whether social workers should be held responsible. It will happen and we cannot prevent it.’ After implying that inquiries  into social services failings should not be conducted in the public eye, and claiming that only social workers faced disciplinary action over baby Peter’s death, she suggested more ‘at-risk’ children should be left at home. ‘There is political pressure to take more children into care earlier to prevent them being harmed,’ she said. ‘But if the figure rises, is that a success or a failure?’

Former social services chief avoids public places four years after sacking . Sharon Shoesmith is unable to find work because of blame for Baby P . In rare interview she says risk to children is now greater than before case .

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The leading professional athletes in Australia are at risk of being blackmailed into match-fixing, according to an organised crime detective. The NSW Police Organised Crime Squad is addressing match-fixing, in particular the use of 'honey trapping', where players are set up to cheat on their spouse then blackmailed with the evidence. Detective Superintendent Scott Cook has claimed that most sports have already been infiltrated by match fixing, with players sabotaging their events to benefit criminals, reports News.com.au. A senior detective in the department has claimed that most sports have already been infiltrated by match fixing . Detective Superintendent Scott Cook claims the operations involve criminals from overseas, which makes it difficult for police to gather evidence on who is responsible . Mr Cook said the match fixing is being organised by a select number of individuals. 'The intelligence we are getting suggests that most sports have been infiltrated to some degree, but it's just a few people, not thousands.' 'A lot of the information we're getting is that players and sports people are being influenced or approached in social settings in order to manipulate them ... that is one example,' he said. 'It's early days for us, but we're looking to develop the intelligence to proceed into prosecutions.' Mr Cook believes underworld figures could be making billions of dollars from the match-fixing operations. 'In offshore locations the amount of money that's bet on games, like cricket, is billions of dollars,' he said. Mr Cook believes underworld figures could be making billions of dollars from the match-fixing operations . Professor Jack Anderson of Queen's University in Belfast estimates that 25 per cent of world sport now is controlled by organised crime . He claims that the operations involve criminals from overseas, which makes it difficult to gather evidence on who is responsible. He also claimed that many acts go unpunished due to a lack of evidence. Four Australian soccer players and a coach from the Southern Stars premier league team were arrested in 2013 for match fixing. Police claimed the syndicate had earned more than $2 million from betting. At an international sports law conference in Adelaide in October, Professor Jack Anderson of Queen's University in Belfast said match fixing had become the number one threat to sports integrity. He claimed there are some estimates that 25 per cent of world sport now is controlled by organised crime.

The NSW Police Organised Crime Squad is addressing match-fixing . A senior detective claims that most sports have already been infiltrated . Underworld figures could be making billions of dollars from the operations . It  involves criminals from overseas, making it difficult to gather evidence .

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Washington (CNN) -- House Speaker John Boehner said President Barack Obama could get "burned" if he uses executive action to help undocumented immigrants. There are a good number of immigration activists who feel burned that he hasn't done it already. While they were pleased to hear Obama renew his vow Wednesday that despite Republicans' takeover of the Senate he still intends to use his executive authority to help fix the nation's broken immigration system, the message from immigrants' rights groups to the White House remains the same: They'll believe it when they see it. Advocates of immigration reform want the president to provide deportation relief to millions of undocumented immigrants since Congress has so far failed to pass a comprehensive overhaul of immigration laws. It is hard to believe that a new Republican Senate and emboldened Republican majority in the House are likely to pass a bill that would pass muster with immigration activists. That leaves Obama and his promised executive action as immigration activists' only hope. They hope he'll keep his word. After promising on June 30 to announce the so-called executive actions he would take by summer's end, the White House delayed the move until after the mid-term election. Activists say they are tired of waiting and are planning a series of rallies, marches, conferences and other events to urge the president not to allow politics to delay action. "Details matter and promises have been made before," said Cristina Jimenez, managing director for immigrants' rights group United We Dream. "Our campaign to protect our communities will continue until the policy is changed in a way that includes our parents, families and neighbors." At risk is not just the president's standing with the Latino community. Activists say this is an issue for all Democrats -- including potential 2016 candidates -- who some believe have taken Latino voters for granted. In a November poll by Latino Decisions, two-thirds of Latino voters said immigration was either the most important or one of the most important issues driving their vote this year and 60 percent of Latino registered voters who were not planning to vote said the delay in executive action made them less enthusiastic about the president and the Democratic Party. An October survey by Pew Research found that 55 percent of Latino registered voters disapproved of the way the Obama administration has handled the issue of deportations. "The president's legacy is at stake," said Marielena Hincapie, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center. Hispanic members of Congress who support reform point to the 2 million people deported during the Obama administration as they make their case for swift, expansive action. The president -- who has frequently been called the "Deporter in Chief" by immigrant groups -- used a Congressional Hispanic Caucus gala in September to repeat his promise to act before year's end. He again reiterated that promise at a post election press conference on Wednesday, just moments after incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned that doing so would poison the well with the new Republican controlled Congress. Still, some advocates are skeptical. "There is nothing until there is something," said Marisa Franco, the lead organizer of the National Day Labor Organizing Network's (NDLON) #Not1More campaign against deportations. "We're not going to stop the pressure until we see the president follow through." And at least one former top Obama adviser urged the President to hold off on executive action in exchange for an up or down vote in the House. "POTUS should agree to shelve exec order for up or down vote in House," Axelrod said on Twitter on Thursday. Immigrant groups say "go big" Several advocates who have been part of discussions with the administration, believe the president will use the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program he announced in 2012 as a model for future action. DACA allows immigrants brought here illegally as children to stay without fear of deportation and apply for work permits if they meet certain criteria. The president could expand this relief to potentially millions more people. Many supporters want the president to "go big" with a move that would include everyone who would have been allowed to stay in the United States under the bill the Senate passed in June 2013. That would mean an estimated 6 million to 9 million people could qualify. "What they actually announce and who they decide to protect is not entirely clear at the moment, but what is clear is that the expectations are high," said Katy Green, a spokesperson for the advocacy group America's Voice. Advocates taking action . Activists are planning to protest in front of the White House on Friday to drive that point home. "It's just the beginning," said Gustavo Torres, president of Maryland group CASA in Action and co-chair of the national Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM), at a press conference with other activists on Thursday, adding that more events are planned around Thanksgiving, including a hunger strike. Immigrant rights groups have been slowly ramping up pressure on the president. The Friday before Election Day, some two dozen United We Dream activists hailing from as far south as Florida and as far north as Massachusetts descended on the intersection opposite the White House. For half an hour they sat on the pavement amidst a cacophony of honking horns holding giant pictures of loved ones in danger of being deported. Some marched in circles chanting: No Justice, No Peace. Members of the same group interrupted the president repeatedly during a campaign stop in Bridgeport, CT days later -- including one who was wearing a t-shirt that said "Obama Deports Parents" -- and heckled potential presidential candidate-in-waiting Hillary Clinton at a campaign rally in Maryland earlier in the week. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Illinois, long an outspoken advocate for executive action,has already set up a "Getting Ready for Administrative Action" website with advice to help prepare undocumented immigrants for the president's announcement. It includes suggestions for the types of documentation immigrants can begin gathering to prove they qualify, once a plan is announced. The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) held a rally in Los Angeles Wednesday with community based organizations and labor unions to urge action now that the election is over. The group will host an immigration conference next month. "Our hope is always that by Thanksgiving, people would sit around the dinner table giving thanks for the administrative relief-- and that by Christmas we will have no more separated families," said CHIRLA's Executive Director Angelica Salas. NDLON is planning a demonstration next week outside the Department of Homeland Security by people directly affected by deportations. The groups' plans go beyond pressuring the president. They also want to use rallies as well as Twitter and Facebook to make a case to the American public that bringing the undocumented out of the shadows is good for the economy and say it's also important to deliver that message to Congress, since only lawmakers can find a permanent solution to the broken immigration system. "The best way to get that legislative outcome is for the president to put a marker down and let the Republicans respond," said Janet Murguía, the president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza. "If they disagree, let them put their best foot forward on immigration reform and let's see what they will do."

Immigrant rights activists say they hope Obama will act despite GOP Senate takeover . Obama has said he plans to issue an executive order on immigration . Advocates will protest at the White House Friday .

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A mother is moving to America to marry a paralysed lonely heart she met on a Facebook game called 'Hot or Not'. Nicole Joseph, 44, signed up to the dating site for fun - but fell for wheelchair-bound Dean Wulfekuhle. Beauty therapist Nicole said she 'just clicked' with bachelor Dean, 42, as they chatted over the internet every day. Scroll down for video . Dean and Nicole pictured on their wedding day with Nicole's daughters (l-r) Ffion, Imogen and Mollie . Nicole met Dean online when she joined up to Facebook's 'Hot or Not' dating site as a joke . Nicole, from Newport, South Wales, said: 'It was just a chance, random meeting online. 'I was only on the Hot or Not game for one day, it was kind of one of those meant-to-be scenarios. 'I can't explain it - we both just hit it off straight away.' Dean told Nicole how his hopes of having a family was ended when he was left paralysed by a spinal injury in a car accident in 1993 . 'Hot or Not', an app that can also be accessed through Facebook, shows you profiles of people, allowing you to vote whether they are 'hot' or 'not hot'. The votes are calibrated to create 'leaderboards' of the hottest people in your area, and your own profile is also rated. The app also has a 'chat' option where you can contact people also playing the game. Over the next two years Nicole visited Dean nine times at his home in Minnesota where he works as a life coach. Quadraplegic Dean was upfront about his 'challenges' and immediately explained to Nicole that he spends his life in a wheelchair. He explained that his disability affects the lower part of his body but he has some movement in his torso and arms. Nicole said: 'I think he expected me to run a mile when he told me that - but it made no difference to my feelings for him. Nicole and her daughters have now moved to start a new life in the US with Dean, who is wheelchair bound . The couple says they 'just clicked' when they began talking online . 'When I met Dean in person the first thing I thought was that he was quite a hunk. 'The only thing that was different to what he'd said is that his eyes were far bluer than I expected.' Dean told Nicole how his hopes of having a family were ended when he was left paralysed by a spinal injury in a car accident in 1993. But after meeting Nicole on the internet dating game his dream finally came true. Nicole and her three daughters - Ffion, 16, Imogen, 15, and Mollie, 13 - have all started a new life in America with the girls enrolling at a high school in Minnesota. Nicole said: 'Some of our friends and family members on both sides were concerned at first. 'But we knew from that first in-person meeting that we were both sincere.' Dean says he feels very lucky to have achieved his dream of having a family . Nicole says when she first met Dean in person she remembers thinking he was 'quite a junk' The couple tied the knot in a beautiful lakeside ceremony in June 2010. Nicole's three daughters were bridesmaids at the traditional white wedding and Nicole wore a strapless lace gown and said it was the 'happiest day of her life.' She said: 'It was a real dream come true to marry such a strong and determined man, he truly is my best friend and a wonderful father to our three girls.' They were joined by friends and family from America and the UK to celebrate their nuptials in Dean's hometown of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota where Nicole now lives. Dean said he had never let his disability get in the way of leading a full and active life. He said: 'I feel very lucky - it was my dream to have a family and I got it.'

Nicole met Dean on 'Hot or Not' dating site, which she joined for fun . Talked online daily and soon Nicole began visiting Dean in America . Dean is a quadriplegic after suffering a spinal injury in a car accident in 1993 . Has a little movement in his torso and arms but is totally wheelchair bound . The pair said they 'just clicked' and quickly fell in love . Nicole and her three daughters have all started a new life in America .

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By . Ian Parkes . Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff feels Lewis Hamilton has proven he has the mental strength to cope with the pressure of this year's Formula One world title fight following his British Grand Prix win. In the wake of Hamilton's misjudgement during qualifying at Silverstone, three-times champion Sir Jackie Stewart suggested the 29-year-old's head 'certainly seems to have gone a bit'. Just 24 hours later Hamilton, starting from sixth on the grid and with Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg on pole, responded to his back-to-the-wall situation by claiming a crucial victory. Scroll down for video... Fightback: Lewis Hamilton won the British Grand Prix despite starting in sixth after a qualifying error . Home advantage: The British driver was able to feed off the energy of fans at Silverstone . Hamilton was aided by Rosberg's first retirement of the season due to a gearbox failure, but there was no denying his euphoria in his post- race celebrations and with the overall gap now just four points to the German. Far from Hamilton cracking, Wolff said: 'Different to what the perception is he is mentally very strong and he has coped well with problems. 'On Saturday night he showed a very mature, stable way of tackling things, and then in the briefing on the morning of the race he was very focused, very concentrated in a way that was really impressive. 'Another example is during the race he had a pit stop that wasn't perfect, but the first thing he did was to get on to the radio and say to the guys 'don't worry, let's make the next one better'. 'You can see within the team there is no blame culture, it's about trying to improve together. Mind games: Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, pictured with Niki Lauda (R), says Hamilton proved his mental strength . 'So he would have lifted himself out of his low anyway, but winning at home in front of such a crowd will have given him a big boost. 'When you are at home it does give you that extra boost, seeing the fans cheer. 'Even if you don't hear it in the car, I strongly believe in energy, and there was definitely energy behind Lewis at Silverstone.' Conversely, Wolff concedes the same could now happen for Rosberg as he heads into his home grand prix at Hockenheim next weekend. 'It could be the opposite in Germany and the energy could be behind Nico because it's home turf for him,' said Wolff. Bumber to bumper: Lewis Hamilton is only four points behind teammate Nico Rosberg in the title chase . With six one-twos scored by Hamilton and Rosberg this season, Wolff knows there would be no better place to chalk up number seven than on home soil for Mercedes, with their headquarters in Stuttgart just 80 miles away. 'We've already had a couple of home races,' said Wolff. 'We had Malaysia (home of title sponsor Petronas), then a bit of a home race in Austria (Wolff and non-executive chairman Niki Lauda were born there). 'Then we had our home race at Silverstone, and next is Hockenheim near Stuttgart where the mother company lives. 'That's the real home race, and it will be so important to score a good result, with a one-two what we will be trying to achieve.' VIDEO Hamilton triumphs at Silverstone .

Lewis Hamilton won the British Grand Prix despite starting in sixth place . Fightback proves he has 'mental strength' says Mercedes boss Tito Wolff . Teammate Nico Rosberg was forced to retire from race at Silverstone . Hamilton is only four points behind Rosberg in Drivers' Championships .

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A woman treated for a recurring superbug infection with a stool transplant from an overweight donor rapidly gained weight afterwards, it has emerged. The female patient then became obese, according to experts who reviewed her case. Faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is a promising treatment for relapsing C. difficile infections. The bacterial infection affects the digestive system, and often those who have been treated with antibiotics. In severe cases, the infection can cause life-threatening complications. A woman who underwent a faecal transplant to help cure her recurring C-difficile infections gained more than three stone in the months after the procedure, where stools from an overweight donor were transferred into her gut, in a bid to restore 'good' bacteria (picture is posed by models) The aim of a faecal transplant is to replace 'good' bacteria in the gut that has been killed or suppressed. This balances out the 'bad'bacteria, specifically C-difficile, that are overpopulating the colon. However the new report suggests clinicians should avoid selecting stool donors who are overweight. And doctors say it raises questions about the role of gut bacteria in metabolism and health. At the time of the patient's faecal transplant in 2011, her weight was stable at nine-and-a-half stone, and her body mass index (BMI) was a borderline 26 (a healthy BMI is classed as a up to 25). Then 32 years old, the woman had always been of 'normal weight', according to the case report. The transplant used donor stools from the woman's overweight but otherwise healthy teenage daughter. It was administered via a colonoscopy to restore a healthy balance of bacteria in the woman's gut, curing her C-diff infection. But 16 months after the procedure, the woman's weight rose to 12 stone and her BMI increased to 33 - meeting the medical criteria for obesity. Faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is a procedure where faecal matter, or stools, is collected from a donor. It is then mixed with saline before being transplanted into a patient by colonoscopy, endoscopy or enema. The aim is to replace 'good' bacteria in the gut that has been killed or suppressed, usually by the use of antibiotics, leaving 'bad'bacteria, specifically C-difficile, to overpopulate the colon. The infection can cause complications often resulting in debilitating diarrhoea, which in some cases proves fatal. The woman's weight gain continued, despite doctors placing her on a medically supervised liquid protein diet and exercise regime. Sustained efforts to diet and exercise regularly failed to achieve any weight loss. Three years after her transplant the woman weighed 12-and-a-half stone, and her BMI reached 34.5. Specialists examining her case said she remains clinically obese today. Colleen Kelly, from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University said: 'We're questioning whether there was something in the faecal transplant, whether some of those "good" bacteria we transferred may have had an impact on her metabolism in a negative way.' The link is supported by past animal studies looking at bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and weight. After transferring gut bacteria from obese mice into animals of a normal weight, scientists noted a marked increase in fat. In light of the woman's case, the authors of the report recommend selecting stool donors who are not overweight. But they noted the transplant was not the only possible cause of the patient's weight gain. The woman weighed a stable nine-and-a-half stone before the procedure and had a BMI of 26. But within 176 months her weight rose to 12 stone and BMI to 33 - making her medically obese. Two years after the operation the woman weighed 12-and-a-half stone and her BMI was 34.5 (file picture) They said in addition to treatment for C-diff, the woman had also been treated with several antibiotics for Helicobacter pylori infection. Other possible contributing factors in the woman's weight gain include the resolution of her C-diff infection, genetic factors, ageing, and stress related to illness. However, as noted, the patient had never been overweight before. Ana Weil and Elizabeth Hohmann, of Massachusetts General Hospital, said the case raises many questions about donor selection and highlights the importance of studying long-term outcomes of faecal transplants. In a related editorial, they said: 'Careful study of FMT will advance knowledge about safe manipulation of the gut microbiota. 'Ultimately, of course, it is hoped that FMT studies will lead to identification of defined mixtures of beneficial bacteria that can be cultured, manufactured, and administered to improve human health.' The report was published in the new journal Open Forum Infectious Diseases.

32-year-old woman had the faecal transplant in 2011 after suffering recurring C. difficile infections - which affect the digestive system . Procedure uses donor stools to introduce 'good' bacteria to the gut . Prior to op woman weighed a stable 9 and a half stone, her BMI was 26 . 16 months later she weighed 12st and her BMI rose to 33 - meeting the medical criteria for obesity . Three years after transplant she weighed 12 and a half stone, BMI was 34.5 . Diets and exercise didn't help, leading experts to question whether the 'good' bacteria introduced negatively affected the woman's metabolism . Warned against using overweight donors for future faecal transplant ops .

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Nearly a decade before Amanda Berry was found alive in the home of her alleged abductor, the young woman's mother went on The Montel Williams Show and was told in no uncertain terms by a celebrity psychic that he daughter was dead. Self-described medium and spiritual teacher Sylvia Browne told Berry's mother, Louwanna Miller, on a 2004 episode that Amanda, who went missing the year before, was no longer among the living, causing the desperate mother to break down in tears. 'She's not alive, honey,' Browne told Miller on the show, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper. 'Your daughter's not the kind who wouldn't call.' Supernatural help: Talk show host Montel Williams *(right) invited Louwanna Miller to talk to psychic Sylvia Browne (left) about her missing daughter in 2004 . Hope lost: Browne (left) told Miller (right) that her daughter was 'not alive' that that she would see her in heaven, leaving the mother '98 per cent' sure that the medium was right . Browne added that she would only see her daughter 'in heaven, on the other side.' Amanda Berry, now 26, escaped from the basement of a Cleveland home on Monday night with Gina DeJesus, 23, and Michele Knight, 32, who all disappeared from the same block ten years ago. They were found with a six-year-old girl, who relatives confirmed Amanda gave birth to while held against her will at the home for a decade. Amanda went missing on April 21, 2003, on the eve of her 17th birthday shortly after she called her sister to say that she was getting a ride home from her job at Burger King. On Monday night, Amanda had a smile on her face as she hugged her weeping sister Beth as the pair were reunited for the first time in a decade following her decade in captivity in the home of Ariel Castro. Tragic end: Louwanna Miller, pictured with Amanda Berry, died from a heart failure in 2006 . The kidnapping victim also introduced her sister to her daughter, who was born during the 10-year ordeal. After 19 months of refusing to accept that her daughter was dead, Miller was finally forced to face what she believed at the time to be the awful truth. The grieving mother gave away her daughter's computer and took down her pictures. 'I'm not even buying my baby a Christmas present this year,' she told the paper. Miller was devastated by what she heard on the nationally syndicated talk show, but said that she believed '98 per cent' in Browne. The mother said after her on-screen conversation with Sylvia Browne that while she wanted to hold on to hope that Amanda was still alive, after a year-and-a-half without any breaks in the investigation, she had little to go on. 'It seems like the God-honest truth. My daughter would always call home,' Miller said. The FBI and police working on the missing person case were skeptical of the psychic's verdict, saying they will consider Amanda Berry was alive until her body and evidence proving that she was dead is found. Reunited: Amanda Berry (centre) at the Cleveland Hospital alongside her emotional sister (left) and the daughter that she gave birth to during the 10 years she was held against her will . Before the kidnapping: Amanda Berry, pictured . before her disappearance, was last seen leaving her job at Burger King a . day before her 17th birthday and told her sister that she was getting a . ride home . House of horrors: Amanda Berry was freed along with two other women from this home in Cleveland, Ohio, where the three had been held captive for 10 years . Louwanna Miller died at age 44 from a heart failure and a host of other ailments a little more than a year after her 2004 encounter with Sylvia Browne. Miller had spent three years searching for her daughter, during which time those who knew her said the woman’s health had deteriorated. On Monday, Amanda Berry was discovered alive after she managed to escape from the Cleveland home of a man she said had kept her in captivity for the past 10 years along with two other young women. Those who knew Mrs Miller, among them Councilwoman Dona Brady, said that the devastated mother died of a broken heart. Neither Browne not representatives from The Montel Williams Show have publicly commented on Amanda Berry's case. On Tuesday, the 76-year-old psychic faced sharp criticism for falsely predicting the death of the missing teen. In hot water: Browne, 76, has been lambasted for wrongly predicting Amanda's death, with online commenters calling her names and accusing her of being a fraud . Long career: Browne has been a regular on talk shows like The Montel Williams Show and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno (pictured) Furious Twitter and Facebook users heaped insults on Browne, calling her a 'grief vampire' and a' hunch-backed harpy,' among other things. 'I remember you on Montel Williams telling the family of Amanda Berry she was dead," wrote Facebook commenter Lisa Lupas on Browne's Facebook page. 'What do you have to say for yourself? You are a fraud! What a horrible horrible thing to say to a family holding on to nothing but hope and faith. Shame on you!' Another commenter Michael Martin wrote: 'Hey Sylvia, Amanda Berry is alive. Think of the torment you put her mother through when you told the poor woman her daughter was dead. 'Then the mother herself died before she could learn the truth. You are evil, evil, evil and ought to be ashamed of yourself.' KIRO Radio host Dori Monson chided both the medium and Williams for taking hope away from Miller in her hour of grief and doubt, according to MyNorthWest.com. Past failure: Browne was under fire in 2007 for incorrectly telling the parents of missing 11-year-old Shawn Hornebeck (left) that he was dead. The teen was found alive four years later (right) 'The fact that he [Williams] got so far deep into the sewer that he brings this grieving mom on to have some phony psychic tell her that her daughter's dead...it's despicable,' said Monson. This is not the first time that Browne, who also has helped the FBI in the past, faced public scrutiny over her predictions. In 2003, the TV psychic incorrectly told the parents of missing 11-year-old boy Shawn Hornebeck that their son was dead, and that his body could be found near 'two jagged boulders,' ABC News reported. Nearly four years later, Shawn was found living with his kidnapper Michael Devlin 60 miles from his home in Missouri. A website was created in 2006 called Stop Sylvia Browne dedicated to documenting the psychic's purported failures.

Medium Sylvia Browne appeared in 2004 on the talk show and told Louwanna Miller: 'She's not alive, honey' Miller walked away from show '98 per cent' sure her daughter was dead and even didn't buy Amanda Christmas presents that year . Louwanna Miller died in 2006 from heart failure. She was 44 years old . Online users accused psychic of being a fraud and wrote on her Facebook page that she should be ashamed of herself . Browne, 76, faced scrutiny in 2007 after incorrectly predicting that missing 11-year-old boy Shawn Hornebeck was dead .

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(CNN) -- Chester Nez, the former Marine and last of the original 29 Navajo code talkers, passed away June 4 at age 93. When an elder dies in Indian country -- especially someone as revered and decorated as Nez, the World War II veteran -- we, Native Americans, feel it, all of us, regardless of tribe or nation. We are also reminded that, not long ago, in the 19th and 20th centuries, Native American culture, including our languages, was considered a threat to U.S. national security. Then, the government worked in collusion with Christian institutions to stamp out Native American languages, including Navajo. "A great general has said that the only good Indian is a dead one," Capt. Richard Pratt famously read from a paper at an 1892 convention. "In a sense, I agree with the sentiment, but only in this: that all the Indian there is in the race should be dead. Kill the Indian in him, and save the man." Pratt was the founder of the Indian boarding schools, institutions charged with turning the "red Indian" into the "noble savage." Native Americans: We're not your mascots . Chester Nez attended one of these schools as a child, and was punished when he spoke Navajo. One can't help but think that, had it not been for the resilience of the Navajo people and their resistance to these early oppressive American policies, it's quite possible that World War II could have ended differently. Without the use of the Navajo language that was once discouraged by American policy, the U.S. military could have lost a distinct advantage over its enemy. Nez's death is a reminder that America's strength lies in its diversity. Native Americans, who have not always been included in the American story, should be remembered and honored for their contributions. Before the arrival of the Europeans, there were between 300 and 500 unique languages spoken throughout what is now the United States and Canada. Today, there are fewer than 200, and that number will continue to decrease if North American indigenous language revitalization efforts aren't considered paramount to the continuity of Native American communities by the United States. Opinion: NFL may throw flag on N-word, but what about the 'R-word'? Recently, a neighbor and I were discussing Native American languages. He was curious why more Native American elders "don't just pass on the language to the next generation." I told him that many of said elders still suffer from the trauma they experienced in the Christian boarding school system, and remembered what Ruby Left Hand Bull told me recently. "They'd pierce your tongue if you spoke your language!" my elder recalled. "Or they'd make you stand in front of the classroom and they'd tell you to stick your tongue out and then they'd whip it with a wooden ruler, just for speaking our language." Ruby knew our Lakota language growing up, she said, and very well. But she has lost it, she said. She understands it, but it's all but left her, courtesy of the boarding schools. I told my neighbor, who said he was a third-generation Italian-American, that his people's language could die in New York, but there is no threat that it will become an extinct language any time soon. "There are more Italians speaking Italian every day right across the Atlantic," I said. "You could board a plane or hop a ship today and travel to your home country and hear your people's language reverberating off Italian walls. We, Native Americans, don't share in that luxury. This is it. This is our home country. Our languages are invariably on the brink of extinction, especially since we are 1% of the population. So when a Native American language dies, it's forever gone." Our elders tell us that when a language dies, so, too, does the culture. But all is not lost. There are various campaigns to revitalize Native American languages. The state of Colorado, for example, passed a law stating that Native Americans who speak their language can teach it to students for credit at secondary schools under the category "World Languages." Maybe one day all Native Americans will, again, be fluent speakers of their language -- just like Chester Nez, the warrior. Indeed, the world would be a richer place for it. My hope is that when President Barack Obama visits with our Native American leaders this month at Standing Rock, North Dakota, he will be reminded of the significant contributions of Native American peoples like Chester Nez. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Simon Moya-Smith.

Simon Moya-Smith: The death of original code talker Chester Nez is a significant cultural loss . Nez attended boarding schools that discouraged the use of his Navajo language . Author: Native American elders say when a language dies, so does the culture . Without the use of the Navajo language, the U.S. military could have lost a war, author says .

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LONDON, England (CNN) -- A group of Heath Ledger fans have taken their reverence for the late "The Dark Knight" star to a whole new level. Heath Ledger fans launched a petition calling for studios to remove the Joker from future Batman movies. Followers of the actor, who electrified audiences with his chilling reinvention of the Joker in the second Batman blockbuster, are calling for the character to be retired from the movies permanently. Ledger supporters at new Web site, The Ultimate Joker, launched a petition last week calling for studios to remove the Joker from any future Batman movies. The petition currently has 2,431 supporters. "We think Heath deserves this honor," the site's team leader, Fer Barbella, told CNN from Buenos Aires, Argentina. "He is the ultimate Joker. "We are Batman fans from the comics and from the movies," he said, "After we saw 'The Dark Knight,' we thought this Joker was really the best. It deserves to be withdrawn from any Batman sequels. "When Michael Jordan retired, they withdrew the number 23 jersey as an honor. It's the same thing with Heath." Barbella said he thinks any new performance just won't be able to top Ledger's. "He upgraded the character in a thrilling way," he said. "Although a lot of actors would love the chance to play the Joker, as Batman fans and now Heath Ledger fans, we think no one could ever perform it as well as he did." The Web site is the brainchild of Barbella, 34; Nico Pimentel, 33; and Natalia Rodoni, 33, all advertising creatives in Buenos Aires. The trio say that if they collect enough names, they may go to the studio to present their petition. "As soon as we start seeing that we have more than 50,000 names on our Web site, perhaps we will go to the Warner Brothers gate and do a bit of activism," Pimentel said. The huge buzz around Ledger's performance as the Joker last year stemmed from his update of the iconic character played by camp comedian Cesar Romero and as a hateful clown by Jack Nicholson. Ledger's Joker was a very different proposition from those that had come before: In a ripped, stained suit, with clown makeup smeared across a scarred, twisted mouth, his Joker was a nihilistic, sociopathic prankster. "Why so serious?" he sneered in a performance that received rave reviews from critics globally. Do you agree that Heath Ledger's Joker should be the last one ever? The actor was found dead after overdosing on prescription drugs at his apartment in New York on January 22, 2008, shortly after concluding work on "The Dark Knight." Ledger has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the Joker, having been awarded a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor. Barbella says that the Web site and petition are their award: "The Academy gives an Oscar," he said. "This is a new award from the people. A user-generated award."

Heath Ledger fans are calling for The Joker to be removed from future Batman films . They launched a petition at new Web site, The Ultimate Joker, last week . Ledger's Joker in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" received rave reviews . Ledger who died in 2008 has been nominated for an Oscar for the role .

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(CNN) -- A powerful and dangerous Bering Sea storm prepared to slam Alaska's west coast late Tuesday, bringing a brutal mix of high seas, blizzard conditions and strong winds, the National Weather Service said. Sustained winds in some areas are expected to reach up to hurricane-force levels of 75 and 80 miles per hour, with higher gusts possible, meteorologist Stephen Kearney told CNN. Nome, with a population of about 3,700, will endure sea levels 7 to 8 feet above normal, with occasional 10-foot waves, he said. Chip Leeper, incident commander with the Nome government, said people in low-lying areas and on the edges of a sea wall are being advised to seek shelter elsewhere. There were no mandatory evacuations late Tuesday. While the town was taking the matter seriously, residents were taking things in stride. "Most people are a hardy lot," Leeper told CNN. "We don't scare easy." Forecasters said the storm would cross the Chukotsk Peninsula and take a northwestern track into the Chukchi Sea on Wednesday. Widespread flooding and severe beach erosion are expected in several areas, including Norton Sound. While fall storms happen, this one has officials particularly concerned because of the anticipated coastal flooding. Usually, the less-populated Aleutian Islands to the south are most affected. The U.S. Coast Guard said it had moved helicopters into positions to assist. "We are prestaging helicopters from Air Station Kodiak to parts of Western Alaska in response to severe weather advisories, including hurricane force winds and high seas that are forecast all along the west coast of Alaska," said Capt. Daniel Travers, Coast Guard District 17 chief of incident management. A 143-foot fishing trawler, Rebecca Irene, had lost an engine in the Bering Sea and Coast Guard crews were preparing to remove non-essential personnel, the Coast Guard said in a statement . The mayor of Point Hope, an Inupait village, told CNN Fairbanks affiliate KTVF the community was prepared. Mayor Steve Oomittuck said, if necessary, everyone in the village of about 700 will go to the school, which sits on higher ground.

National Weather Service tracks major storm in Bering Sea . U.S. Coast Guard makes preparations . Business district of Nome largely protected by sea wall .

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A killer superbug which claimed the lives of two patients in a Los Angeles hospital has been linked to a surgical tool used on more than 500,000 patients a year. At least seven people have contracted the antibiotic resistant bacteria while undergoing endoscopic procedures at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center between October and January. Medics fear that more than 170 patients may have been put at risk having been treated with the suspect piece of equipment. Scroll down for video . Dr Robert Cherry, pictured, confirmed that two endoscopes at the hospital had been infected with the bug . The infected patients were treated using a contaminated endoscope which transmitted the bacteria, file photo . Dr Robert Cherry, the hospital's chief medical quality officer, confirmed that two endoscopes that were used to diagnose and treat patients with pancreatic and bile-duct problems here contaminated with 'embedded' infections. Five other endoscopes were found to be clear. Worryingly, the two infected endoscopes had been cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions. Dr Cherry said that a more stringent sterilisation technique had been introduced following the fatal outbreak. Dr Benjamin Schwartz, deputy director of acute communicable disease control and prevention for the LA County Department of Public Health said: 'This outbreak is not a threat to public health.' Scientists have confirmed the infection is a carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE. The bug was found on the endoscope which is inserted down a patient's throat to allow a doctor to examine internal organs without the need for major surgery. The infection has been linked back to a 'source case' patient responsible for the outbreak. Medics only discovered the problem in mid December after a patient, who had just undergone an endoscopic procedure developed an infection which could not be treated with antibiotics. Attorney Kevin Boyle said Thursday that one of his clients, an 18-year-old student, was among those infected after he entered the hospital for a procedure that involved using an endoscope to examine his pancreas. The patients were infected with the carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae bacteria, artist's impression . One of those infected by the superbug is an 18-year-old student who has spent 83 days in hospital . Mr Boyle said: 'After he had the procedure he was released. Then he came down with his illness, and when they studied him and noticed he had the CRE bacteria in him they quickly put two and two together. Mr Boyle declined to release the teenager's name or say where he attends school but said he spent 83 days in the hospital at one point and was released but recently relapsed and is currently hospitalised. He said the family doesn't blame UCLA but is considering suing the endoscope's manufacturer. Dr Deverick Anderson, infectious-disease expert at Duke University said: 'You can very easily do everything right and still have some contamination . 'We're finding this is a problem, but it's probably one that we don't have a very good solution to right now.' The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday issued an advisory warning doctors that even when a manufacturer's cleaning instructions are followed, germs may linger. The device's complex design and tiny parts make complete disinfection extremely difficult, the advisory said. Between January 2013 and December 2014, the FDA received 75 reports involving 135 patients in the U.S. who may have been infected by tainted scopes. In a statement, the FDA said it is trying to determine what more can be done to reduce such infections. But it said that pulling the device from the market would deprive hundreds of thousands of patients of 'this beneficial and often life-saving procedure.' 'The FDA believes at this time that the continued availability of these devices is in the best interest of the public health,' the agency said. The bacteria can cause infections of the bladder or lungs, leading to coughing, fever or chills. CRE infections have been reported in every state except Idaho, Alaska and Maine, according to the CDC . Similar outbreaks of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have been reported around the nation. They are difficult to treat because some varieties are resistant to most known antibiotics .

Two patients have died after being infected with a superbug in LA . An 18-year-old student has spent 83 days in hospital after he was infected . The superbug was found two endoscopes used on almost 180 patients . Doctors have identified the 'source' patient responsible for the bug .

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Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- A Los Angeles photographer claims singer and former Playboy model Tila Tequila kidnapped his girlfriend and threatened to kill him a week ago, according to a court filing made public Wednesday. Garry Sun filed an application for a temporary restraining order against Tequila, who stands less than 5 feet and weighs just 90 pounds. "The story is patently absurd," said Alan Gutman, Tequila's lawyer. "The allegations are delusional and a work of fiction." Sun, who said he is Tequila's former boyfriend, accused her of making "several threats to my girlfriend (21-year-old Shyla Jennings) that if police were in any ways notified of her crimes, that either she or I would be killed." His application for the restraining order, which was obtained by CNN, alleged that on October 19, Jennings "was kidnapped from her home in Houston, Texas, and was flown to Los Angeles." It does not detail how Tequila was involved in the alleged kidnapping. Tequila "drove to my home address with four armed men with guns threatening to kill me and threatening my father," Sun said. Tequila's lawyer said Sun "is a former paparazzi who was terminated from his role on Tila's website and is now desperate to get back at her." She has two witnesses who "can confirm that she had nothing to do with any of these ridiculous claims," Gutman said. "Mr. Sun's filing shows that anyone can file anything in a courthouse," Gutman said. "He will undoubtedly be held accountable by appropriate authorities for making these false allegations." Sun has not returned CNN calls for comment. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Anthony Jones has not yet decided whether he will grant the temporary restraining order.

A self-described former boyfriend claims Tila Tequila threatened his life . Garry Sun files for a temporary restraining order against the model-singer . Sun claims Tequila orchestrated the kidnapping of his current girlfriend . The judge has not decided yet on Sun's restraining order request .

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A principal at a prestigious prep school in Rhode Island has unleashed his inner artist to perform a parody of Frozen's Let It Go which is now going viral. Matt Glendinning, 50, from Moses Brown School in Providence starred in the comical music video to announce that lessons are off due to heavy snowfall from winter storm Juno. For more than four minutes he enthusiastically sings about the icy weather, while wrapped up in a snazzy knitted hat, glove and scarf ensemble. Caught on camera: Matt Glendinning from Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island, has unleashed his inner artist to perform a parody of Frozen's Let It Go which is now going viral . 'The snow glows white on Route 95, not a tire track to be seen. We could make you come to school but that would just be mean,' he chimes to the camera. At one point he grabs a sleigh to do a spot of sledging in the playground and later he sits inside with a cup of cocoa. 'Today no Moses Brown for me, I'm free!' Glendinning continues. He also encourages students to either 'stay in bed and sleep' or 'read an engaging book'. Adam Olenn, the school’s director of public relations, was the man behind the quirky song. He told WBUR News that he sat down and wrote the lyrics in 15 minutes. As a father of two young girls he was familiar with the hit Frozen song. Although Glendinning looks like he’s singing in the video, the voice viewers are actually hearing is the school’s choral director, Justin Peters. Getting into the groove: The 50-year-old headteacher starred in the comical music video to announce that lessons are off due to heavy snowfall from winter storm Juno . Lost in the moment: For more than four minutes he enthusiastically sings about the icy weather while wrapped up in a snazzy knitted hat, glove and scarf ensemble . Boundless energy: At one point Glendinning grabs a sleigh to do a spot of sledging and later he sits inside with a cup of cocoa - to date his music video has been watched more than 160,000 times . The finished video took just over a week to put together and was uploaded on January 26. To date, it has been watched more than 160,000 times. Many viewers have applauded the quirky idea. 'I want to give this video more than one thumbs up!' one fan wrote. 'Absolutely charming,' added another. Apparently parents were called about the snow day and sent an email with a link to the video. The National Weather Service said it had received reports of 11 inches of snow in Providence. Maximum accumulation is expected to reach 25 inches, a lower range than had been forecast. All of Rhode Island remains under a blizzard warning until 1am Wednesday. The snow glows white on Route 95, not a tire track to be seen. We could make you come to school but that would just be mean. The plows are running but still traffic starts to slide. So don't come to school, just stay inside. Don't come to school I am free today, the snow has set you free. It's true no school just stay at home. You can stay at home. School is closed, school is closed! Cos' it snowed so much last night. School is closed, school is closed! So stay at home sit tight. Stay inside or go out and play, gonna grab my sleigh. The cold never bothered me anyway. Its funny how some snowflakes can bring things to a crawl. And the streets that once ran smoothly become a tangled brawl. It's time for fires and cocoa too, to read an engaging book or two. Today no Moses Brown for me, I'm free! School is closed, school is closed! Because the snow's too deep. School is closed, school is closed! You can stay in bed and sleep. Here I'll snooze and here I'll stay, let the storm rage on. This feeling flurries through the air into the ground. While Dr Cruisin shows us frozen fractals all around. Though this hard hits me like an icy frozen blast, . We'll soon be going back when this storm has passed. School is closed, school is closed! Don't come to school at dawn. School is closed, school is closed! So stay at home with slippers on. And hold your seat there's no school today. Let the storm rage on, the cold never bothered me anyway.

Matt Glendinning, 50, from Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island, stars in a comical music video to announce that lessons are off . 'Today no Moses Brown for me, I'm free!' he sings . More than ten inches of snow has fallen in the area due to storm Juno .

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By . Louise Boyle . and Associated Press . A man convicted as a teenager in the slaying of a special education teacher in 2000 has been released from prison after his murder conviction was overturned on DNA evidence. Lorenzo Montoya, 29, pleaded guilty on Monday to being an accessory in the killing of Skinner Middle School teacher Emily Johnson, then 29, in Denver, Colorado. He was sentenced to ten years in prison but was immediately released because he had already served 13 years and seven months of his life sentence. Four of those years, he spent in solitary confinement. His defense attorney Lisa Polansky told MailOnline today that Montoya 'had no hard feelings' and 'was one of the most gracious people she had ever met'. Scroll down for video . Lorenzo Montoya, 29, hugs his mother outside a Denver court on Monday after his murder conviction was overturned. Montoya was wrongfully convicted of murder at age 15 and spent 14 years in jail . Lorenzo Montoya is hugged tightly by his mother on Monday as he is freed from a Denver prison after 14 years for a crime he didn't commit . Lorenzo Montoya, 29, (pictured fourth left with his family on Monday) was freed after his murder conviction was overturned on DNA evidence after he served 14 years . The lawyer said: 'He's not angry. That's not how he wants to be.' She described the moment Montoya walked out of court as him 'being like a kid all over again'. She said that he had been told about the Internet but was now learning all about it. Montoya planned . to move away from Denver and bad influences from his youth, complete . his GED and learn a trade. Ms Polansky added: 'He's thinking about what he wants to do when he grows up.' Montoya had always denied killing Ms . Johnson or stealing her car but admitted to going for a joyride in the vehicle the following day. Ms Johnson, 29, was beaten to death at her home by Nicholas Martinez, then 16, when he stole her brand-new Lexus. The following day, Montoya, then 14, along with others in the neighborhood, took a ride in the car which Martinez told some people he had bought and to others admitted he had stolen. Montoya was brought in for police questioning over the stolen car in the company of his mother. When she left the room, a detective aggressively hounded the teenager, Ms Polanksy said today, forcing a confession. Montoya's police statement was disallowed at his murder trial. However Montoya, then 15, was convicted of murder and other charges and sentenced to life without parole in an adult prison. He spent four years in solitary confinement. Lorenzo Montoya was arrested aged 14 (pictured left) and later convicted of the murder of special education teacher Emily Johnson, 29 (pictured right) who was found brutally beaten to death in her home in 2000 . The teenager was convicted after the . prosecution convinced the jury that a sneaker print and a Bronco jacket . found in the house belonged to Montoya. However forensic testing carried out by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, at the request of Ms Polansky and her team at the Center For Juvenile Justice, found no DNA belonging to Montoya on either item. Ms . Polansky took on Montoya's case free of charge in 2011 and brought it . back to court by arguing that his initial lawyer had failed him. The 29-year-old was cleared on the new DNA evidence. Montoya . decided not to opt for a new trial, which could have taken several . years to come to court, and took the DA's offer of a guilty plea to . accessory to murder. The . victim's family asked for privacy but have previously said that if Ms . Johnson was alive, she would want Montoya to have a second . chance. Martinez was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Mr Montoya with his defense attorney Lisa Polansky who worked on his case free of charge since 2011 to have him exonerated .

Lorenzo Montoya, 29, was exonerated in the murder of special education teacher Emily Johnson, then 29, in 2000 . He pleaded guilty on Monday at the Denver court to being an accessory to the killing but was released on time served . Montoya was 14 when Ms Johnson was beaten to death inside her home . He was convicted at 15 and spent 14 years in jail including four years in solitary confinement . His lawyer told MailOnline today that her client had 'no hard feelings' and 'was one of the most gracious and thankful people she had ever met'

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By . Chris Greenwood . PUBLISHED: . 11:34 EST, 5 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:45 EST, 5 August 2013 . Re-arrested: Rolf Harris . Rolf Harris was yesterday  re-arrested on suspicion of new sexual offences. He was questioned over  ‘further allegations’ made to detectives at Scotland Yard’s Operation Yewtree. They arose after he was first revealed to be a suspect in the controversial inquiry four months ago. The Met refused to discuss the nature of the allegations. But they are now believed to involve more than one complainant and cover a period of several years. Police insisted that the allegations remain unconnected to paedophile Jimmy Savile, who sparked the Yewtree inquiry. Neighbours said Harris, 83, has not been seen at his home in Bray, Berkshire, for several days. The Australian-born star is the biggest name to be arrested as part of the inquiry into historic sex offences. He was first questioned under caution when he attended a police station by appointment in November last year. His original accuser is a woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by him when she was a teenager. It is understood that he vehemently denies the allegations but has declined to issue a formal statement on the matter. Harris is being dealt with under the 'others' strand, meaning the allegations have no link to shamed DJ Savile . Rolf Harris, 83, was pictured performing on Sunday at the Wickham Festival in Hampshire . Harris’s wife of 55 years is the Welsh sculptress and jeweller Alwen Hughes, 81. The . artist and singer received a rapturous reception from fans when he . performed on London’s South Bank and in Bristol this year. Earlier, . a leaked email from his Sydney-based brother and manager Bruce Harris . revealed the family’s frustration at the pace of police investigations. Writing . to a friend, Bruce said: ‘This has been dragging on for nearly seven . months. The Plod in the UK are certainly taking their time. Rare public appearance: Harris performed at the Wickham Festival in Hampshire over the weekend, where he greeted fans with a loud 'G'day!' and became emotional as he thanked them for their support . 'We’ve been . advised by Rolf’s top-notch legal team to sit tight and make no . comment.’ Others held . as part of Yewtree include pop star Gary Glitter, comedian Freddie . Starr, DJ Dave Lee Travis, publicist Max Clifford and comedian Jim . Davidson. A Metropolitan . Police spokesman confirmed Harris was ‘further arrested on suspicion of . sexual offences in connection with further allegations made to Operation . Yewtree.’ Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.

Harris was first arrested in March by detectives from Operation Yewtree . National investigation is probing historical allegations of sexual abuse . The allegations have no link to shamed DJ Jimmy Savile, police said .

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