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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:45 EST, 3 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:28 EST, 3 February 2014 . A British oil worker is believed to have been abducted by gunmen in Sanaa - just hours after three explosions shook the Yemeni capital, underscoring the transitional government's feeble grip on security. The kidnapping followed that of a German by Yemeni tribesmen, who said on Sunday they had seized him two days earlier to press the authorities to free jailed relatives. Meanwhile, two roadside bombs have exploded near the Defence Ministry and Central Bank - while a mortar bomb landed in a district that houses the French embassy and the home of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh on Sunday night, according to a police source. Gunmen abducted a Westerner identified by a police source as a British oil worker in Sanaa (pictured) on Monday - just hours after three explosions shook the Yemeni capital. Above, the site of one of the explosions . Two roadside bombs exploded near the Defence Ministry and Central Bank on Sunday, said a police source . Meanwhile, a mortar bomb landed in a district that houses the French embassy and the home of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. It damaged two cars - including the one above - and three buildings . Four people were injured in the mortar blast, which damaged three buildings and destroyed two cars, witnesses said. One resident reported hearing gunfire after the explosions, but details were sketchy. It follows a suicide bomb and gun attack that took place near the Defence Ministry in December last year - killing 52 people. The mortar bomb struck the home district of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh (pictured) Yemen, which neighbours oil giant Saudi Arabia and is home to an ambitious al Qaeda offshoot, has long wrestled with instability, internal conflicts and poor governance. Mass protests in 2011 eventually forced Saleh to end his more than three decades in power, but a political transition process has yet to calm a rebellion by Shi'ite Muslims in the north and a secessionist movement in the south. The Shi'ite Houthi rebels who had carved out a northern fiefdom before Saleh's fall have clashed in recent months with hardline Sunni Muslim Salafis and Hashid tribal rivals. Elsewhere, attacks blamed on al Qaeda-linked militants have grown bolder, raising fears of a total security breakdown in Yemen, a nation mired in corruption that has aggravated poverty. In Monday's kidnapping, four armed men forced the Westerner out of his car and into a waiting vehicle in Sanaa's upscale Hadda district, witnesses said. A police source said a report of the abduction identified the victim as a Briton. The source said the man worked for an oil services company. The British embassy in Sanaa and the Foreign Office in London had no immediate comment. It was not immediately clear if Islamist militants or tribesmen, who often use foreign hostages as bargaining chips to pursue demands against the government, were behind the attack. Efforts to stabilise Yemen hang on the post-Saleh transition and a national reconciliation conference that ended last month. In Monday's kidnapping, four armed men forced the Westerner out of his car and into a waiting vehicle in Sanaa (pictured) A police source said a report of the abduction identified the victim as a British oil worker . In December, a suicide bomb and gun attack near the Defence Ministry killed 52 people. Above, the explosion . Political factions have extended interim President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's term by another year to give him more time to turn Yemen into a federal state as agreed at the reconciliation talks to try to accommodate southern demands for more autonomy. Hadi will also oversee the drafting of a new constitution that will form the basis of elections slated for next year.

British oil worker believed to have been abducted in Yemeni capital Sanaa . Reportedly forced out of car and into waiting vehicle by four armed men . Follows seizure of German by tribesmen hoping to free jailed relatives . Two bombs exploded near Defence Ministry and Central Bank on Sunday . And nearby mortar bomb injured four people and destroyed buildings .

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(CNN) -- If you view a tablet as a guilty pleasure, like I do, then buying the Kindle Fire should make you feel a little less guilty. Amazon's new device doesn't replace a computer for doing e-mail or composing documents, but it's a fun hub for personal entertainment. And at $199, Amazon has managed to greatly undercut the price of Apple's iPad, the dominant tablet, and still churn out a good product. Apple calls its iPad "a magical and revolutionary product at an unbelievable price." Consider now that for the iPad's $499 price tag, I could buy two Kindle Fire tablets and still have cash left over for downloading apps and movies. However, except for price the Kindle Fire falls short of the iPad in just about every category. The iPad's processor is faster; its software is more abundant, capable and polished; its storage space is larger; its screen is bigger; and its body is more slender. Still, the Kindle Fire is a good Wi-Fi tablet, and the price is fantastic. After testing the device this week, I found the Kindle Fire is the most impressive iPad rival among the dozens of tablets that have flooded the market this year. Other iPad competitors have not sold well, but the new Kindle will likely have a different fate. The Nook Tablet, which also came out this week but which I have not tested at length, costs $50 more and has weaker multimedia offerings. Amazon and Barnes & Noble are squaring off with a new line of inexpensive black-and-white e-readers, too. Yes, those are still around, and bookworms love them. Size, components and features . Many tablets are much faster and have more bells and whistles than the Kindle Fire, which doesn't have cameras, GPS or a microphone. (The latter is especially strange because even the year-old black-and-white Kindle has a microphone.) Unlike other tablets and e-readers, there also is no version of the Kindle Fire with cellular-data connectivity, meaning that would-be Web surfers are limited to areas with Wi-Fi. Forgetting for a moment about the guts inside, the Kindle Fire does not feel cheap. The back is rubbery and doesn't slip out of my hands. It's not ultra thin, but it's girth and weight makes it comfortable to hold for long periods of time, like a paperback book. Because the Kindle is significantly smaller than the iPad -- with a 7-inch-wide screen versus the iPad's 9.7-inch more boxy display -- it weighs about a third less. The built-in speakers sound OK and get about as loud as an alarm clock. There is also a place to plug in headphones. But the Kindle's battery loses a charger much faster than the iPad. I was able to surf the Web and play videos for several hours, but I found myself frequently searching for a charger after that. That Amazon skimped on some of the components becomes evident when swiping through menus, switching the screen's orientation or playing games, which can all be jerky at times. The split-second delays are even present when turning pages on a Kindle e-book, which should be the pride of an Amazon device. The lack of a microphone means no Skype or other Internet telephony programs. Browser and OS . Amazon's Silk Web browser has the features I'd expect and can play most videos found online. Amazon touts the browser's unique speed enhancements, but probably due to the device's lower-end components, it doesn't show. Web pages generally take a few seconds longer to load than on computers or other tablets. Also, I am somewhat uncomfortable with the idea that Silk, as a means of speeding up load times, sends information from every page I visit to Amazon's servers. This Kindle's operating system is based on Google's Android, but Amazon has changed it so extensively that I barely noticed the similarities. A setback to this approach is that Amazon did not include some basic features, like the ability to copy and paste text, or to quickly switch between running applications. But overall, the interface is attractive and neatly laid out. On the home screen, the top bar allows me to search for content on the device or search the Web with Google. Below that is a list of categories like news, books, music and apps. In the main area, I have a bookshelf that includes recently opened items or apps organized in a carousel, plus other shelves full of my favorites. Movies and e-books . Amazon's multimedia offerings are pretty extensive and have been available on other platforms for some time. The company runs the biggest e-bookstore and the second-biggest music download store. Many publishers offer their newspapers and magazines in the Kindle newsstand, but the Kindle Fire's small screen size is not ideal for reading, say, an issue of Bloomberg Businessweek or the New York Times front page. The built-in Amazon shopping app is well designed. Each Kindle Fire comes with a free 30-day subscription to Amazon Prime, whose primary perk (for $79 a year) is free two-day shipping on every item the company sells. The Prime membership also gives new Kindle Fire owners a taste of its Instant Videos service, which has 13,000 movies and TV shows available for streaming on demand. Tens of thousands more are available for purchase. For those who prefer Netflix, that company released a new version this week for the Kindle Fire and other Android tablets. But overall, Amazon's Appstore carries far fewer apps than Apple's online store and even Google's own Android Market. Developers are required to list their Android apps separately with Amazon. (Yes, the Kindle Fire does have "Angry Birds.") A few bugs . The bare-bones e-mail client that comes with the Kindle Fire does not support Microsoft Exchange, which many companies use for their e-mail system. The app encourages users to download another e-mail program from the Appstore, but it doesn't specify which one to get. Holding the tablet upright and typing with my thumbs is fairly efficient, but the system occasionally doesn't register my taps right away if I type fast. I also ran into several bugs throughout the Kindle's software. Sometimes my Fire would crash for no reason, and other times, images would not show up in the gallery. Some third-party developers apparently did not account for Amazon not including volume buttons on the hardware, and so I had to adjust the volume from the settings menu activated by tapping the menu bar. These are issues that I expect will get fixed over time through software updates. The bottom line . The overall software experience is pleasant and integrated from top to bottom. I am never asked to punch in my credit card to buy things, which is convenient. When I first turned on the Kindle Fire, the software recognized who I am because it was already tied to my Amazon account. After a few clicks, I was set up without ever connecting to a computer to synchronize anything. The music I bought through the Amazon MP3 store and the books I've gotten through the Kindle Store were all ready to go. The iPad remains the superior tablet, and it's the closest I've found to replacing a laptop. But I wouldn't discount a less capable competitor. The Kindle Fire is a good entertainment device at a price that's truly unbelievable.

Amazon's Kindle Fire is a multimedia-heavy touchscreen tablet computer . It's significantly cheaper than the iPad, the undisputed leader in the tablet market . The Kindle Fire first went on sale this week . Reviewer: Kindle Fire is a good entertainment device at a price that's truly unbelievable .

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(CNN) -- The engineer who was operating the Metro-North train that derailed last year, killing four passengers and injuring dozens more, was suffering from a sleep disorder, according to documents released Monday by the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB's investigation discovered during a post-accident sleep evaluation that William Rockefeller Jr. had "severe obstructive sleep apnea." In a Metro-North medical history form from 1999, Rockefeller specifically answered "no" to a question asking whether he had difficulty sleeping, and at no point before the accident did any of his health care providers document a discussion with him regarding sleep problems, according to the NTSB's medical factual report of the investigation. However, after the derailment, a sleep study was ordered for Rockefeller because he "did not exactly recall events leading up to the accident," the report said. The sleep specialist noted that Rockefeller's recent work schedule change from late night to early morning shifts "might have contributed to the accident," according to an additional statement in the specialist's report. Sleep apnea is a disruptive sleep disorder in which a person's breathing repeatedly stops and starts. This can result in an individual feeling tired even after a full night's sleep. As a result, the sleep specialist prescribed Rockefeller continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) as treatment. Rockefeller reported feeling more energetic after 30 days of treatment. "My client was fully cooperative with the NTSB investigation, including giving them access to his medical records and doctors," Rockefeller's attorney, Jeffrey Chartier, said Monday. "I believe these reports support that there was no criminality in regards to my client." The accident happened on December 1 when the train of seven cars derailed while traveling from Poughkeepsie, New York, to Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The train was hurtling along at 82 mph, far above the speed limit of 30 mph for that section of track as it approached a sharp bend in the Bronx. The cars tumbled off the track, killing four passengers and leaving dozens more hospitalized. The lead car came to rest inches from water at the intersection of the Hudson and Harlem rivers. At the time of the accident, the train was in "push mode," meaning that the locomotive was in the rear of the train pushing it along the tracks, with Rockefeller in a cabin at the front operating it remotely. His cabin was equipped with a "dead man pedal" that required constant downward pressure with the foot to keep the train moving, MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan told CNN last year. "Should you lose consciousness or die, and the foot is taken off, a whistle sounds and the train begins to slow immediately to a stop," Donovan said. "It's a pressure you have to keep -- your foot actively engaged." But it is unclear whether the "dead man pedal" mechanism was activated when Rockefeller allegedly nodded off at the controls. "That is unknown," Donovan said. "MTA Metro-North Railroad is reviewing the documents released today by the NTSB," Donovan said Monday. "The investigation is still ongoing, and Metro-North will continue to work with the NTSB on addressing their recommendations." A safety review from the Federal Railroad Administration said Metro-North's focus on punctuality "had a detrimental effect on safety, adversely affecting the inspection and maintenance of track and negatively impacting train operations," according to the report released in March. CNN's Lawrence Crook III and Haimy Assefa contributed to this report.

Engineer of Metro-North train that derailed was suffering from sleep apnea, NTSB report says . William Rockefeller Jr. had no record of sleep disorder before December accident, it says . "There was no criminality in regards to my client," Rockefeller's attorney says . Four people were killed and dozens were injured in the accident in the Bronx .

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A woman who had a threesome with her two lovers to reward them after they murdered her husband has been sentenced to life in jail. Joanna Grabowski arranged for her lover Jacek Pawlak, 42, and his friend Lukasz Kaminski, 31, to kill her husband, disabled Piotr Grabowski, 31, after he refused to allow her to bring a lover back to the house. Piotr was a well-known and popular man in the city of Olsztyn in north-eastern Poland who did a lot for charity. Jailed: Joanna Grabowski (pictured with her children) arranged for her lover Jacek Pawlak, 42, and his friend Lukasz Kaminski, 31, to kill her husband, disabled Piotr Grabowski, 31, after he refused to allow her to bring a lover back to the house . Joanna Grabowski, pictured in court, has been sentenced to 25 years in jail . He was an active member of the Catholic aid charity Caritas and it was there that he met Joanna, 30, who was getting financial assistance from the charity to help her with her five children. The couple had started dating and eventually married, and he had been an enthusiastic stepfather for her five children, but when she told him that she had found a lover and wanted to bring him back to the family home, he told her that he wouldn't allow it. As a result she arranged for Pawlak and Kaminski to kill him when he went to get some fresh air in a local park. Guilty: Lukasz Kaminski (left) and Jacek Pawlak (right) strangled Piotr Grabowski then had a threesome with their victim's wife . Victim: Piotr Graboswki's body was found in a park by passersby . The court heard that she had called them on her mobile phone and told them he was coming, allowing them to hide in the bushes in advance. And as he passed by they dragged him from the wheelchair and strangled him with a trouser belt. Joanna then rewarded them afterwards by inviting them back to the house for sex while her dead husband's body was left lying in the park. He was later found by other park visitors who noticed the abandoned wheelchair and then found the body. Police who were suspicious when interviewing the woman about her husband's death managed to unravel the complicated love triangle by looking at telephone records, and after questioning all three eventually extracted a confession that resulted in the court case. And now the woman has been jailed for 25 years for the murder of her husband. Sentencing of the lovers was delayed pending reports. The woman's five children have all been taken into care.

Joanna Grabowski told her lovers to kill her disabled husband in a park . She arranged his murder after he refused to let her bring a lover home . Piotr Grabowski was strangled by Jacek Pawlak and Lukasz Kaminski . They left his body in a park and then had a threesome with Joanna .

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Eli -- a sweet, active, blonde-haired preschooler -- had gone to sleep feeling fine, perhaps dreaming of playing with his sisters or having a fun day at school. He didn't make it through the night. While the young boy died sometime between the night of Wednesday, September 24, and the following morning, it wasn't until Friday night that authorities figured out why: enterovirus D68, a particularly pernicious strain of an otherwise common virus that has been particularly widespread this year. While it's been detected in at least four people who died, Eli's case is the first in which authorities have definitively cited enterovirus D68 as the cause of death. Jeff Plunkett, the health officer in Eli's hometown of Hamilton Township, New Jersey, explained Saturday that, while the boy was born premature, "he had no other existing condition" and his parents no reason to believe he was direly ill before the virus took his life. Eli was 4. "He was asymptomatic and fine, and the next morning he had passed," Plunkett told reporters. "So the onset was very rapid, very sudden. And that's clearly the big difference (between enterovirus D68 and other enterovirus strains)." Authorities are testing one other child who attended preschool at Eli's school, Yardville Elementary, albeit in a different class, for enterovirus D68. That boy has been treated at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and is now recovering at home, according to Plunkett. There are no other suspected cases in the town of 90,000 residents. Nor is there any sign of pervasive sickness at Yardville Elementary or other town schools, with attendance levels around normal. This speaks to the deadliness, the randomness and, in a sense, the pervasiveness of enterovirus D68. Hamilton Township Mayor Kelly Yaede pointed out that his parents "nor anyone will ever be able to determine where Eli may have contracted this virus." "The virus is out in the community, there is nothing we can do about that," the health officer said. "The way to prevent it is from your own personal hygiene and be vigilant with your own children and yourself." Officials did not disclose Eli's last name during a Saturday press briefing. More enterovirus cases are likely . Just last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or state public health laboratories had confirmed 277 cases of enterovirus D68. That figure has skyrocketed in recent days, to 538 confirmed cases in 43 states and the District of Columbia as of Friday. And there's no reason to think it won't get even worse. As the CDC points out, "Enteroviruses commonly circulate in summer and fall. We're currently in middle of the enterovirus season." Not including Eli's cases, tests showed enterovirus D68 in four people who had died. The CDC, though, reported then that "the role that EV-D68 infection played in these deaths is unclear at this time." Mercer County's medical examiner, Dr. Raafat Ahmad, was unequivocal about it's part in Eli's death. "The child had some brain swelling, it had some lymph node swelling," Plunkett said. "But Ahmad attributed that to the virus as the cause of death." Enterovirus is very common, with the CDC estimating 10 million to 15 million infections each year in the United States. But it has about 100 strains, with D68 among the most dangerous. Authorities say this strain has sent more children than usual to the hospital with severe respiratory illnesses. It seems to be most affecting children with a history of asthma or breathing problems. Enterovirus may also be linked to a small number of cases of a mysterious neurologic illness in Colorado, Boston and Michigan. Doctors in Colorado spotted it first -- a group of 10 children hospitalized with limb weakness, cranial nerve dysfunction and abnormalities in their spinal gray matter . Staff at Boston Children's Hospital have since identified four patients with the same symptoms. And a child in Washtenaw County, Michigan, has also developed partial paralysis in the lower limbs after being hospitalized with the virus, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health. As Plunkett, the Hamilton Township health officer, explained: "The D68 strain is a very virulent strain of entire that would attack young children, preschoolers, toddlers who have for the most part compromised immune systems. It has a certain target in our population." Hygiene education, cleaning ramped up in schools . It's not clear, though, whether Eli should have been any more susceptible than anyone else, beyond his age. That and the suddenness of his death makes it especially difficult to fathom or fully understand. People in Hamilton Township, at least, are doing something about it. While officials say they're being careful not to overly alarm students, they are stressing things like hand washing, sneezing into your sleeves, staying home if you're sick and the like to students, teachers and parents to try to prevent the spread of enterovirus D68 and other viruses. Superintendent Jim Parla also said "we have ramped up cleaning in all of our schools," devoting extra staff and hours to "do cleaning that goes above and beyond what we normally do." Then there's the matter of taking care of Eli's family, namely his parents -- both educators -- and two young sisters. Yardville Elementary Principal Elena Manning said that blue-and-yellow bows, her school's colors, are being put up around the community in Eli's honor. The late boy's preschool teacher and an assistant bought a girlish bedroom set and rug to decorate his sisters' room at home. And the school will soon have a "Proud of Me" wall to display students' work, because Eli would regularly "ask Daddy if Daddy was proud of him," according to Manning. Eli's parents are working with school officials on other things. But their focus now is more on grieving, taking care of their daughters and sending a message to the community. According to Principal Manning, "They are most concerned about giving thanks, which is incredible."

Official: A preschooler went to bed "asymptomatic," was dead the next morning . A medical examiner now says the boy died suddenly from enterovirus D68 . There's no way of telling how the boy contracted the virus, official says . CDC confirms 538 people in 43 states have respiratory illnesses caused by enterovirus D68 .

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By . Daniel Miller . PUBLISHED: . 12:41 EST, 13 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:55 EST, 13 August 2013 . Collapse: Lieutenant Colonel Michael McErlain, 45, died . during a D-Day run on the clifftops of the Normandy beaches in France . An army surgeon, who treated injured children in Afghanistan, died while competing in a charity D-Day run along the Normandy beaches in France. Lieutenant Colonel Michael McErlain, 45, was one of around 30 runners and was bringing up the rear when he collapsed around two miles into the 44-mile race. Another competitor, an American fireman, tried desperately to revive him but he died at the scene on the morning of June 6. The father-of-three, who worked as a spinal surgeon at Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey, had co-founded the event with wife Joanna and brother-in-law Giles Barnes and had competed in it six times before. Mr Barnes, who was also competing, heard about the collapse and ran four miles to the scene but arrived to find Lt Col McErlain grey and cold. He had died about 20 minutes previously. The event, held in aid of the British Limbless ex-Services Men's Association, aims to raise awareness of the sacrifices made by allied soldiers in World War Two. A post-mortem examination revealed Lt Col McErlain, from Hindhead, Surrey, died from ischemic heart disease. At an inquest into the death held in Alton, Hampshire, Mr Barnes described his brother-in-law as an extremely talented man who was very 'humble' about his achievements in life. Recalling the day he died he said: 'It was about 16 degrees outside. A lovely temperature to be doing it. It was perfect conditions. 'I was going to be doing the support part of the run. Every seven miles giving them painkillers, something to eat and drink and be on their way. 'Mike was used to doing the run. He was the slowest person on the run, but made a point of being the slowest so he could literally bring up the rear. 'I would imagine he was not even running. More of a shuffle. Certainly the runner who was with him was more interested in sightseeing and taking photographs. Lt Col McErlain, who worked as a spinal surgeon at Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey, had co-founded the event with wife Joanna and brother-in-law Giles Barnes and had competed in it six times before . 'He was American and with Mike when he collapsed. They were stop starting. They had been having a conversation about the beautiful weather. 'Some of Mike's last words were that he said it was such a historically wonderful thing to do and the setting of the run itself would be enough to get people to do it. 'It was such a beautiful run. To have that conversation suggests it he wasn't really going for it. 'He did not complain about having to stop and was chatting away and suddenly he collapsed.' The fireman, known as Brian from Colorado, said Michael was gasping for breath and lost consciousness. Despite his best efforts to perform CPR he died in his arms during the race aimed at raising awareness of the sacrifices made by allied soldiers. Recording a verdict of natural death, Hampshire Coroner Andrew Bradley said: 'I would expect this disease in the heart of a 65-year-old, not someone who is 45. 'If your heart is going downhill and you use it more the worse it is going to get. 'This is a degeneration and progressive change. 'He had constant medical check ups with the Army, which showed he was fine. 'It is clearly an ongoing condition. It was not a heart attack this was a degeneration rather than a single event. 'It is sad and very unexpected.'

Lt Col Michael McErlain, 45, collapsed around 2 miles into the 44-mile race . He had co-founded the event and had competed in it six times before . Father-of-three worked as a spinal surgeon at Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey . Post-mortem revealed he had died from ischemic heart disease .

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(CNN) -- The eldest daughter of Walt Disney, Diane Disney Miller, has died at 79, a statement from the museum dedicated to the legendary animated filmmaker said Tuesday. "She went through life with a determination to inspire and entertain. She was her father's daughter, a creative force with the perseverance to follow dreams and make a difference," the news release said. Miller died in Napa, California, the result of injuries sustained in a fall. The statement didn't say what day she died and said funeral services will be private. Miller married Ron Miller in 1954, a year after they met at the University of Southern California. Ron Miller went to work for Walt Disney Studios and later was the CEO of the Walt Disney Company until 1984. Current Disney CEO Robert Iger said: "(Diane) holds a special place in the history of The Walt Disney Company and in the hearts of fans everywhere. She will be remembered for her grace and generosity and tireless work to preserve her father's legacy, and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her." Miller was one of the co-founders of the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. At the time of her death, she was the president of the board of directors of the Walt Disney Family Foundation, which owns the 4-year-old museum. She and her husband also operated Silverado Vineyards in Napa. She is survived by her husband, seven children, 13 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Her adopted sister, Sharon Mae Disney, died in 1993. People we've lost in 2013 .

Diane Disney Miller was Walt Disney's eldest daughter . She helped start a museum to remember her father . Her husband was once the CEO of the Walt Disney Company .

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(CNN) -- Travis Mills has no arms or legs. He is an American hero who served three tours in Afghanistan and lost all his limbs when a bomb exploded under him. "How I survived, I have no idea," he said. "I was yelling at the medic, 'Get away from me,' because I thought I was done." The retired United States Army staff sergeant spent months recuperating at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, but don't dare call him a wounded warrior. "I'm not wounded any more," he said. "I'm just a guy living life." Recalling comrades killed in combat, he asks: "How selfish would it be if I gave up?" He snowboards, bikes and recently jumped out of an airplane with the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team. And now, he has a new admirer in Mike Rowe, the star of "Dirty Jobs" and the upcoming CNN series "Somebody's Gotta Do It." He met Mills a few weeks ago at a conference in Washington and wrote a Facebook post about their exchange to honor him this Memorial Day. As of Monday night, the post had more than 90,000 shares on Facebook. "He has a motto: Never give up - never quit. He has a Foundation. He's featured in a new documentary. He also has a wife and a kid, and a deeply personal commitment to help other wounded vets cope with their injuries." Rowe wrote. "But when I asked why I hadn't seen him in any of the typical commercials and PSA's for wounded veterans, his answer was stunning. He said he didn't consider himself to be wounded. 'I'm not a victim, Mike. And I refuse to be portrayed that way. Case closed.'" Rowe ended his candid post by reflecting on the holiday meant to honor America's military fallen. "That's called a gut-check, and I could use one from time to time. Especially on Memorial Day, when the biggest decisions I face are what to grill and which type of frosty beverage to enjoy. This year, as I resolve these and other important issues, I'll think of Travis Mills." The toll of war now includes more amputees . CNN's Barbara Starr contributed to this report.

Mike Rowe meets Mills at conference in Washington . Mills' motto is "Never give up - never quit" Rowe posts on Facebook about Mills to mark Memorial Day .

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LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- George Lucas didn't get to be a billionaire by delegating. George Lucas says he was "completely surprised" by "Star Wars in Concert." Holding fast to his vision -- and his marketing rights -- for the "Star Wars" empire has made it the biggest franchise in history, and made Lucas one of the most powerful people in entertainment. But while he's enthusiastic about the new touring show "Star Wars In Concert," it wasn't his idea, and when I talked with him before the first Los Angeles performance this week, he kept giving the credit to others. "Star Wars In Concert" is built around John Williams' well-known scores from the films, performed by a symphony orchestra and choir, and accompanied by specially edited clips from all six movies, displayed on a mammoth LED screen. Anthony Daniels, who has played and voiced the golden protocol droid "C3PO" in every film and most of the spinoffs, provides live narration -- and another reason for the "Star Wars" fans in the audience, especially those waving lightsabers and dressed as everything from sand people to Imperial stormtroopers, to cheer mightily, as they did the night I interviewed Lucas. iReporter praises the 'Force' of the show . George Lucas: I've seen some presentations of, you know, live orchestras with "Star Wars" clips, and that sort of thing. But this is so much more than that -- it's so much more emotional, because what they've done is taken the emotional content of the score ... one is obviously the Imperial March, one is obviously romantic ... and then they've cut all the pictures around that from all the movies, so that you get this really wide range of visuals going with the music, and it really is quite powerful when you see the depictions of all of the various Imperial shenanigans that were going on over the Imperial March. CNN: Obviously, when John Williams did the music for the original film, neither of you could have guessed your association would last so long, or that you'd be so identified with each other. How did he get involved originally? Lucas: What I did was, I was doing this space opera, and I was talking to Steve Spielberg and I said, "Look, I've got to get somebody who really knows the old-fashioned music score, I really am doing some giant romantic action adventure, you know, throwback to the '30s, and who do you know that can do that?" And he said, "Oh, there's only one person who can do that and that's John Williams -- he did 'Jaws' and he's perfect." And I said OK, and I met him, and we hit it off, you know, perfectly, and doing the first film was such a great experience -- he's so wonderful to work with -- that, you know, I'll never let him go. And Steve won't let him go either! CNN: How did this show come together? Lucas: Howard! [Lucas calls over Howard Roffman, the president of Lucas Licensing.] You're the man who did the whole thing -- I've got nothing to do with it. ... We would kid him about how his concert was going and he had to get Johnny [Williams] to buy in and me to buy in. Howard Roffman: Well, he always got it from the beginning, so he was an easy sell. CNN: But what was it he "got"? How did you sell him on a new concept for his franchise? Roffman: I think he understood that the music was so powerful and the images are so powerful that when you put that together with a live orchestra on a big venue, I mean, who would not be thrilled to see that? CNN: It's a very different experience, being live. Lucas: It's very powerful. I was completely surprised by it. And I've seen other live orchestra performances with "Star Wars" images, but nothing like this -- I mean this really works, because it was edited specifically to bring out the emotion.

"Star Wars in Concert' features John Williams' music and scenes from films . George Lucas supported idea, though he's quick to give credit to others . Effect of the arrangement? "It's very powerful," says Lucas . "Star Wars" remains a tremendously successful franchise .

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Art often confronts questions of life, death and the human condition. Now one introspective painter has delved even further into existential themes. He creates each of his works entirely from his own blood. Scroll down for video . Strange themes: Vincent Castiglia sees his methods as putting 'psychic energy' into each piece. Pictured, Beautiful Vivisection . Portrait of the artist: Castiglia extracts his blood in his studio and then uses it to paint the unsettling scarlet designs . Vincent Castiglia, from New York, insists that the content of his work - surrealistic human bodies in various stages of decay - overshadows the strange medium. The tattooed 30-year-old describes his figures as being painted with 'what could be described as "liquid flesh"'. He says that the iron oxide in human blood is a pigment common in paint, and also found naturally in rust and iron ore. His first experiments with using his blood as paint were prompted by a 'need to connect with his work on the most intimate level', but he insists the methods are not gimmicky. Underground sensation: The tattooed 30-year-old has created art for heavy metal band albums and MTV slasher film Savage County . Oxidised: Castiglia's macabre paintings can fetch up to $26,000 a time. Pictured, Stings of the Lash (2005) 'My response would be to really take a . look at the content of the work, which overshadows what it's made from, I . think,' he said. 'In order for something to be a gimmick, it really . would have to lack substance.' Castiglia's website says he 'practises a kind of modern-day phlebotomy [blood-letting]... siphoning the life force which contains his own psychic energy, while giving it an outlet and form [and dissolving] the barrier between artist and art.' He sketches out his pieces in graphite or pen, before extracting his blood in the studio and completing his scarlet artworks. The larger, more detailed . paintings can take more than three months to complete all the works cost between $950 and $26,000. Rock and blues musician Gregg . Allman recently acquired a 2006 painting by Castiglia called Gravity. Under your skin: The works look at birth, death, the human condition and deeper psychological questions. Pictured, Conqueror (2008) Castiglia's latest exhibition, Resurrection, consists of a collection of his blood paintings from the last 10 years, and runs throughout October in Soho, Manhattan. One of the pieces, Feeding, depicts a mother with decaying legs in a wheelchair gazing at an infant she is breastfeeding. Castiglia describes it as an expression of the fragility of life and the hope and drive that can still accompany it. His art may be familiar to slasher film . and heavy metal fans. In 2010, one of his works was used as the . poster for MTV horror film Savage County, and other paintings were used . as album art for Swiss heavy metal band Triptykon's debut Eparistera . Daimones in the same year. Castiglia's work has also featured on Spike TV and tattoo parlour reality show Miami Ink. Life's work: The rust-coloured pieces show human . bodies in various stages of decay. Left, Strata of Self (2010) and . right, Conqueror (2008)

Vincent Castiglia describes his unusual medium as 'liquid flesh' His artworks have been used for rock band's albums and horror films .

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(CNN) -- The coming summer and fall could be an "active to extremely active" hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean, U.S. forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted. There is a 70 percent chance that three to seven major hurricanes will swirl in the Atlantic in the six months following the start of the hurricane season on June 1, according to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. "If this outlook holds true, this season could be one of the more active on record," said Jane Lubchenco, the under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere, and NOAA's administrator. The forecast predicts between 14 and 23 storms with top winds of 39 mph or higher, the threshold for tropical storm status. It predicts eight to 14 of those will become named hurricanes, with winds topping 74 mph or higher, and three to seven of those will become major ones, meaning Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Category 3 storms have sustained winds of at least 111 mph. Forecasters have said that El Nino conditions will dissipate by summer and that unusually warm tropical Atlantic surface temperatures will persist, leading to favorable conditions for hurricanes to develop and intensify. A report released in April by Colorado State University's forecasters William Gray and Phil Klotzbach also said that this year's hurricane season could be difficult, but they predicted only 15 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes. Gray and Klotzbach will issue a revised forecast next Wednesday. A typical season has 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes, according to NOAA. The hurricane season ends November 30, although later storms have been known to happen. Last year's hurricane season was below average, with only nine named tropical storms, three of which were hurricanes. The National Hurricane Center said it was the lowest number of tropical storms for the Atlantic basin since 1997.

NOAA predicts three to seven "major" hurricanes in the Atlantic . Hurricane season starts Tuesday . Unusually warm tropical Atlantic surface temperatures are expected to boost storms .

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A dingo has been put down after lunging at an 11-year-old girl and behaving aggressively towards several other tourists on Fraser Island off southeast Queensland. The girl was swimming in the Island's popular Eli Creek when the dingo lunged at her on New Year's Day. Authorities say her mother managed to scare off the dingo, which was linked to a string of other near-attacks in the Eli Creek area. Authorities say the dingo was linked to a string of other near-attacks in the Eli Creek area . As a result the male dingo was put down on Thursday. The dingo behaved aggressively towards to two teenage girls on December 27, and only left after a passer-by chased it with a stick, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service says. On New Year's Day, the dingo also threatened a woman who was rescued by a passer-by and a ranger. Shortly afterwards, the same dingo stalked a group of people before lunging at the 11-year-old girl. The girl was swimming in the Island's popular Eli Creek when the dingo lunged at her on New Year's Day . 'The dingo presented an unacceptable risk and the decision was taken to capture and humanely destroy the animal,' a Queensland police spokeswoman says. 'Rangers have increased patrols and monitoring in the area and advise visitors to take extra care.' People are being advised to be vigilant and to report any dangerous dingoes.

The dingo lunged at the 11-year-old girl on New Years Day . It was linked to a string of other near-attacks in the Eli Creek area . People are being advised to be report any dangerous dingoes .

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New York (CNN) -- In the first two days back from his Martha's Vineyard family vacation, President Obama gave two speeches on two important subjects. The first was a four-minute address from the Rose Garden on Monday on the economy. This was obviously a quickly thrown together speech to let the country know that even though the economic indicators, to quote the Washington Post, "trended from bad to worse" while the president golfed and relaxed, his team was aware of them. We all come back a little rusty, and hopefully relaxed, from our vacations, and certainly the president and his family are entitled to theirs. But this speech offered nothing new on the most important subject of concern to voters, who in two months may alter the political makeup of the Congress and change the way this president can do things for the remainder of his term. The president slammed the Republicans one more time. This is his campaign theme, and obviously it isn't working. Besides, the more he blames the Republicans, the more difficult it will be to work with them in January, when they may have a majority or at least a lot more clout in the Congress. Saying his economic team was working on identifying new ways to boost the economy, the president said he would provide details "in the days and weeks to come." It raises the obvious question: What has the administration been doing in the weeks and months just past? It may not matter if the administration proposes any new measures on the economy, especially if they would require a vote in Congress. I can promise you, Mr. President, in the heat of a campaign battle royal -- in which your congressional team is on the brink of a disaster unlike any that Democrats have faced since 1994 -- in the "days and weeks ahead," they are going to be focused on doing nothing except trying to get re-elected and running as far from you and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as possible. The second speech was given from the newly decorated Oval Office on Tuesday night in prime time. It was to celebrate the "Campaign Promise Kept": the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq. I couldn't quite figure out what the speech was about. Our combat troops moved out of the cities of Iraq last summer and haven't been in real combat since the success of the surge much earlier. There still isn't a functioning government there and may not be for months to come. Mr. President, you need to fill in the blanks about what you meant when you said, "Our combat mission is ending, but our commitment to Iraq's future is not." It was appropriate to thank our troops and military leadership. It was a nice gesture to tell the country that George W. Bush supported our troops and loved our country, and obviously was committed to our national security. It would have even been more appropriate to say that the program he and Secretary Robert Gates laid out is the one the president implemented without change, and it seems to have worked. It would have been an accurate statement to remind people that we were withdrawing our troops because of a Status of Forces agreement signed in December 2008 by Bush and Iraq President Nuri al-Maliki to do so -- and not because Obama had promised this in his campaign. The Iraq government insisted that we withdraw all of our forces by December 31, 2011. I hope we can. We certainly will know by then whether the Iraq government can stabilize and whether the Iraq army and police can keep the peace. If not, the president has another tough decision to make. We signed an armistice in Korea in July 1953 -- and we still have nearly 30,000 troops there. Let's hope that's not the outcome here. The president said: "Now is the time to turn the page." But, as in his speech on the economy, he raised several issues that will need to be clarified "in the days and weeks ahead." He gave the clear impression that now that we are finished with the "bad war" in Iraq, his term we can focus on the good war, Afghanistan. "Because of the drawdown in Iraq, we are now able to apply the resources necessary to go on offense [in Afghanistan]." I am sure that the more than 100,000 troops fully engaged under the leadership of Gen. David Petraeus already think they are on the offense and didn't realize they were being bogged down by Iraq. But the president couldn't leave it there. He had to return to politics, because every speech will be political between now and November 2. He went on to say: . "As we wind down the war in Iraq, we must tackle those challenges at home [jobs, deficits, energy independence and education] with as much energy and grit and sense of common purpose as our men and women in uniform who have served abroad." The war was expensive, not only in terms of the soldiers who were killed and injured but in the trillion-plus dollars spent on it. But if the president thinks the nation and the world are in this economic mess because of a war he didn't want to fight and didn't support, we are in worst shape than I thought. We still have expensive obligations to those men and woman who so bravely served us. It's not like we can close down the Pentagon and use that money to build more buildings to house Energy and Education Department employees. Now that Iraq is fixed -- and in a few weeks we will hear how the president and his team plan to get the economy moving again -- we now move on to solving the crisis in the Middle East. Lots of luck! Like most Americans, I want my president's focus to be on the economy. In a few short weeks, we Americans get to exercise our voice and vote for a new Congress. I promise our voice and our message will be a lot clearer than these two pedestrian speeches the president just made. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ed Rollins.

President Obama made two speeches in first two days after vacation . Ed Rollins says the president's speech on economy had no new ideas . Rollins says speech on Iraq left questions unanswered . He says it doesn't make sense to blame our economic problems on the Iraq war .

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Two orphaned baby wombats have picked up an unlikely skill after a tragic start in life, learning to play soccer in the back yard of their temporary home. Dudley and Moria-Joy were rescued by Judy Bailey around 12 months ago on the NSW South Coast after their mothers were killed by cars. 'They were both found on the side of the road in their mums' pouches after their mums were run over by cars,' Judy’s niece Kirsten Bailey told Daily Mail Australia. Soccer is now ‘a regular hobbie’ for the marsupials. ‘It’s how they get exercise,’ Kirsten explained. When they were first rescued, Dudley weighed just 720g but now they are both a healthy 8kg. Scroll down for video . Two orphaned baby wombats have learnt to play soccer at their temporary home on the NSW south coast . Dudley and Moria-Joy love to have a kick around after being rescued when their mothers were hit by cars . 'Judy will look after them on her enclosed property on the South Coast until they are 22kg and old enough to be released into the wild. 'Besides soccer, they enjoy digging dirt to make burrows, eating grass and lots of sleeping,' Kirsten said. Judy has been rescuing wildlife for around a decade, but it’s not just wombats – she also takes in injured kangaroos, wallabies, birds and possums and cares for them until they are strong enough to be released into the wild again. Judy Bailey has been rescuing wildlife for around a decade, caring for them until they are strong enough to be released into the wild again . They were found in the pouches of their dead mothers but are now enjoying a happy life at Judy Bailey's home until they are old enough to be released into the wild . Kirsten said they wombats love to play around and 'bond with humans quite easily' Kirsten said the little wombats have ‘a lovely big area for them to play in’ out the back of Judy’s home. One day, Judy threw a soccer ball to them and they’ve been playing with it ever since. Their sporting antics were filmed and published on YouTube last week, with Kirsten’s husband Luke describing them as ‘too cute for words’. ‘The wombats are her babies, they are so cute,’ Kirsten said. The mini marsupials have formed a strong bond since being orphaned . ‘They are very affectionate; they love a cuddle and playing around and bond with humans quite easily. It can make it dangerous to release back into the wild but it’s OK if the location is far away from the roads,’ she added. Dudley and Moria-Joy will be driven out into the bush and released as soon as they are big enough, in the wild wombats are usually weaned after 15 months. Whether they’ll take their ball with them remains to be seen. Judy volunteers with Wildlife Rescue South Coast, to make a donation go to www.wildlife-rescue.org.au/donate .

The wombats were found as babies in their mothers' pouches after their mothers were killed by cars . Judy Bailey cares for them at her home on NSW's South Coast . Her niece Kirsten says soccer is now a 'regular hobbie' for the cute pair .

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The online auction site eBay shaved almost £50million from its corporation tax bill in Britain by legally channelling payments through Luxembourg and Switzerland, it has emerged. The U.S. firm paid just a little over £1million in tax in Britain - despite generating sales of almost £800million in this country. Meanwhile Swedish furniture firm Ikea cut its UK tax bill by half by siphoning off profits overseas in the form of royalty payments to a sister company, it has been found. Headquarters: eBAY has said its European arm complies fully with all applicable tax laws and regimes . The news comes after it emerged coffee giant Starbucks has paid no tax in the UK in the past three years. The coffee chain has used loopholes in order to pay just £8.6million in tax in 14 years of trading in Britain - during which time it has raked in over £3billion in revenues. Foreign firms' use of savvy accounting techniques to legally avoid paying tax in Britain has provoked fury among politicians and consumers. eBay, the world's largest online marketplace, is structured in a way that allows it to dramatically reduce its UK tax liability. Furniture giant Ikea paid £8.1million in corporation tax on sales of almost £1.2billion and profits of £23.6million . According to an investigation by The Sunday Times, using a group-wide profit margin of 23 per cent, eBay's UK profits would have been £181million in 2010. At the time this would have resulted in a corporation tax bill of £51million. But the total amount of tax paid by the firm's four main UK-based subsidiaries for that year was £1.2million. This is partially down to the fact . that fees stumped up by eBay sellers in Britain are handed over to a . related company in Luxembourg called PayPal (Europe) Sarl, meaning most . sales are channelled through a tax haven. Other U.S. firms including Facebook and Google are known to use similarly complex methods of moving money out of Britain and into countries with lower tax rates. Furniture chain Ikea paid £8.1million corporation tax in the year to August 2011, on sales of almost £1.2billion and profits of £23.6million. The investigation found the firm uses a legal accounting trick to lower profits in Britain, by way of paying a three per cent 'franchise fee' to a separate company based in Holland. The fee covers the right to use Ikea's furniture designs and its trademark. In 2010-11 Ikea's profits in Britain were reduced by £35.7million by the fee, meaning the exchequer did not receive £9.7million in corporation tax it otherwise would have from Ikea's UK subsidiary. The fee was paid to Inter Ikea Systems BV in Holland, which is controlled by another firm based in tax haven Liechtenstein. The Public Accounts Committee are set to question the head of HM Revenue & Customs over the kinds of methods being used by foreign firms to legally avoid paying UK tax at a parliamentary hearing next month. Starbucks - the second largest restaurant or cafe chain in the world after McDonald's - has recorded losses in Britain while telling investors the UK market is profitable. It is now facing a backlash after thousands of outraged customers pledged to boycott its branches after learning of the host of complicated measures Starbucks employs to legally avoid paying tax in Britain. A spokesman for eBay said: . 'eBay Inc in Europe works with tax authorities and complies fully with . all applicable tax laws and regimes - including national and . internationally recognised rules.' An Ikea spokesman told the Sunday Times: 'There is a 3% franchise fee on Ikea sales worldwide. Tax authorities in the Netherlands have consistently confirmed that Inter Ikea Systems BV is the beneficial owner of the Ikea retail system and the franchise fee income.' Boycott: Thousands of customers have pledged to stop visiting Starbucks after it emerged the chain has not paid corporation tax in Britain in three years . Starbucks, which has to pay VAT on in-store hot drinks, has said it continues to pay its 'fair share' in taxes in full compliance with all UK tax laws. 'There has been no suggestion by any authority that we are anything but compliant and good tax payers,' the chain has said.

eBay generates sales of more than £800million a year in Britain - but paid only a little over £1million in corporation tax in the country . The online auction firm legally channels payments through Luxembourg and Switzerland to avoid paying nearly £50m in tax in Britain . Furniture firm Ikea has cut its UK corporation tax bill by half thanks to elaborate - and legal - accounting methods . News comes after it emerged coffee giant Starbucks has paid no tax in the UK in the past three years .

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By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 13:15 EST, 28 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:15 EST, 28 May 2013 . A sham marriage was foiled when a registrar saw the would-be bride holding hands with her real boyfriend. Svetlana Kokenyova, 20, was to be paid £3,000 for marrying Pakistani student Ali Ansar at the registry office in Llandudno, North Wales. However, the plan was rumbled when the registrar spotted Kokenyova, from the Czech Republic, hand-in-hand with her real boyfriend Vladimir Bango, 21. Svetlana Kokenyova was spotted hand-in-hand with her real boyfriend in the Llandudno registry car park . The pair was seen in the registry office car park after she had given notice of the planned marriage. The three were jailed at Caernarfon Crown Court today. Prosecutor Wyn Lloyd Jones said the aim was to enable Ansar, a student in this country illegally, to remain in Britain. They were arrested after the registrar contacted the UK Border Agency, who were waiting for the bride and groom to return to the office. Kokenyova, living in Salford, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, and her boyfriend Bango, also from the Czech Republic was jailed for one year. Kokenyova was to be paid £3,000 to marry Pakistani student Ali Ansar but the pair and her real boyfriend Vladimir Bango were jailed for between 10 months and 21 months at Caernarfon Crown Court, pictured . Ansar was sentenced to 14 months after admitting conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law. Parvez Tabassam, 50, Pervaiz Iqbal, 41, Abip Aslam, 37, who organised the would-be sham marriage were jailed for between 16 months and 21 months after admitting the same offence. Judge Philip Hughes said: 'Those people like you who involve themselves in this type of criminal activity must be made to understand, if caught, they will be dealt with robustly and immediate prison sentences will follow.'

Registrar in Llandudno saw bride holding hands with real boyfriend . Svetlana Kokenyova, 20, from Czech Republic, to be paid £3,000 to marry Ali Ansar, from Pakistan, so he could stay in UK . The pair and Kokenyova's boyfriend Vladimir Bango jailed on Tuesday .

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Washington (CNN) -- Her voice was halting, but not weak. Two years after being shot in the head by a gunman at a political event, former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords appeared at the first congressional hearing since last month's Connecticut school massacre to urge Congress to act now on gun violence. "Too many children are dying. Too many children. We must do something," Giffords said in a rare public appearance Wednesday, reading a statement that acknowledged her injuries made it difficult to speak. "It will be hard, but the time is now," she told the packed hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Teen who performed at Obama inaugural events shot dead in Chicago . The panel also heard from voices on both sides of the gun control issue in the nearly four-hour hearing that illustrated the deep political and ideological divisions over a longstanding issue. National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre blamed the government for failing to enforce existing gun laws and said new restrictions, including background checks, won't stop criminals from using weapons in violent crime. "Law-abiding gun owners will not accept blame for the acts of violent or deranged criminals, nor do we believe that government should dictate what we can lawfully own and use to protect our families," he said. Democratic senators led by California's Dianne Feinstein, who is proposing a ban on semi-automatic rifles and ammunition magazines exceeding 10 rounds, argued that restricting access to such firepower and expanding background checks to as many gun sales as possible will help. Giffords' husband, retired astronaut and naval aviator Mark Kelly, called for a "careful and civil conversation" on new gun limits and a broad new acceptance of society's responsibility to keep firearms from dangerous people. "Our rights are paramount. But our responsibilities are serious," he said. "And as a nation, we are not taking responsibility for the gun rights our founding fathers have conferred upon us." Opinion: Gun makers, help keep weapons out of criminals' hands . Sen. Patrick Leahy, the committee's Democratic chairman from Vermont, called for stronger background checks and a crackdown on so-called straw purchases, in which people who can pass background checks buy weapons for others. Leahy has proposed a measure to increase penalties for straw purchasers. However, Leahy avoided endorsing an expanded ban on the assault-style weapons called for by President Barack Obama and Feinstein. "Second Amendment rights are the foundation on which our discussion rests. They are not at risk," Leahy said. "But lives are at risk when responsible people fail to stand up for laws that will keep guns out of the hands of those who will use them to commit mass murder. I ask that we focus our discussion on additional statutory measures to better protect our children and all Americans." The hearing came a few weeks after Obama announced legislative proposals aimed at curbing gun violence following the December 14 shootings that left 20 children and six adults dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. The shooter, Adam Lanza, also killed his mother and himself. How the violent mentally ill can buy guns . Obama's proposals include a ban on popular semi-automatic rifles that mimic assault weapons, a limit of 10 rounds per magazine, and universal background checks for anyone buying a gun, whether at a store or in a private sale. Guns sold through private sales currently avoid background checks -- the so-called gun show loophole. Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York said at Wednesday's hearing that he is in talks with colleagues -- including several who are ranked highly by the NRA -- on possible legislation to expand background checks on private gun sales. Sources close to both Schumer and Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma told CNN the two were in serious discussions about co-sponsoring a bill to strengthen background checks. The NRA, which is the public face of the powerful gun lobby, opposes many government limits on gun ownership as a violation of the constitutional right to bear arms. LaPierre insisted Wednesday that the current background check system doesn't work, so expanding it would only create an unmanageable government bureaucracy instead of reducing gun crime in the country. Quick draw: How the NRA's LaPierre keeps his enemies guessing . "The fact is the law right now is a failure, the way it's working," he said. "The fact is that you have 76,000-some people that have been denied under the present law. Only 44 were prosecuted. You're letting them go. They're walking the streets." Instead, he called for better enforcement of all existing gun laws and creating "an immediate blanket of security around our children" by putting armed guards at all the nation's schools. At the White House, spokesman Jay Carney called LaPierre's statistic an intentional diversion "from another issue that is part of this, which is the need for broader and universal background checks." "This is being pushed as a reason not to do something that the overwhelming majority of the American people support," Carney said, later adding that "the skepticism you're hearing" comes from those "who don't want to do anything on this issue." During the hearing, an exchange between LaPierre and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, showed the deeply held positions on each side. After LaPierre complained that expanded background checks would only burden law-abiding citizens and said they make no sense because criminals ignore the system, Durbin commented that the NRA official missed the point. Obama's gun violence measures: Would they work? "The criminals won't go to purchase the guns because there will be a background check," Durbin said. "We'll stop them from the original purchase. You missed that point completely. And I think it's basic." LaPierre responded that it was Durbin who failed to understand, adding as Leahy banged his gavel for order that "if you are not prosecuting them, you are not even stopping them." He and other opponents of more gun control also depicted extreme scenarios of Americans under threat in their homes and at schools to make the case for access to semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines. "We all know that homicidal maniacs, criminals and the insane don't abide by the law," LaPierre said. Another witness, Gayle Trotter of the Independent Women's Forum, repeatedly described scenes of women at home with their children needing weapons that would be banned under Feinstein's proposal to fight off bigger, stronger male attackers. "An assault weapon in the hands of a young woman defending her babies in her home becomes a defense weapon and the peace of mind that a woman has as she's facing three, four, five violent attackers, intruders in her home with her children screaming in the background, the peace of mind that she has knowing that she has a scary looking gun gives her more courage when she's fighting hard and violent criminals," Trotter said. "If we ban these types of assault weapons, you are putting women at a great disadvantage." Other witnesses and senators who support tougher regulations countered that the constitutional right to bear arms can be limited, for example, by the existing ban on private citizens possessing grenade launchers and other military weaponry. Why would someone own a military-style rifle? "I think most people believe that, sure, we could have guards at schools," Feinstein said, making a reference to the Columbine, Colorado, school massacre in 1999 in which two students killed 13 people before shooting themselves. "I'm well aware that at Columbine there was a deputy sheriff who was armed who actually took a shot but couldn't hit the shooter there. The question comes, what do you do about the malls then? What do you do about our movie theaters? What do you do about businesses. We can't have a totally armed society." The police chief of Baltimore County in Maryland, James Johnson, endorsed what he called the holistic approach urged by Obama to create a system that reduces access to guns for people who shouldn't have them. "The best way to stop a bad guy from getting a gun in the first place is a good background check," said Johnson, the chairman of the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence. However, Denver University law professor David Kopel said the Supreme Court made clear in a Washington, D.C., case that gun controls could not include weapons used commonly by law-abiding citizens, such as the top-selling AR-15 semi-automatic rifle that Feinstein's legislation would ban. NRA chief: Obama makes 'mockery' of American freedoms . The hearing showed agreement in concept on some issues, such as strengthening mental health screening. In general, though, it appeared to do little to create common ground on the issue. Leahy said he hopes the committee will begin considering legislation next month. The NRA's membership has spiked by 500,000 people since the Newtown shooting, bringing its number to more than 4.5 million, the group said Wednesday. In the meantime, Kelly and Giffords have launched Americans for Responsible Solutions to push for gun control. On Tuesday, Kelly said that despite the Tucson, Arizona, shooting that wounded his wife and killed six others, he and Giffords still support the Second Amendment, which guarantees Americans the right to possess firearms. "But we really need to do something about the safety of our kids and our communities. It's gotten really out of hand," he said. After Wednesday's hearing, Kelly made a point of approaching LaPierre to shake his hand as media cameras recorded the moment. Why new laws could miss America's bigger gun problem . CNN's Faith Karimi and Arielle Hawkins contributed to this report.

NEW: Sources: Senators from both parties discuss a bill on background checks . Senators and witnesses tangle over politics and ideology . A Senate committee holds the first hearing on gun violence since the Sandy Hook massacre . Gun owners won't accept new restrictions or blame for crime, NRA official says .

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A sham marriage operation was uncovered after a couple who could not speak the same language had to resort to an iPhone translation app in the register office, a court heard. The cross-Channel ‘delivery service’ scam which brought in brides from Eastern Europe was well organised and was compared by prosecutors to the retailer Amazon. Up to ten women were ferried from Dunkirk to Dover before tying the knot. Hamid Mushtaq, 24 (left), and Blanka Farkasova, 35 (right), are among the couples accused of arranging sham marriages in which some partners did not even speak the same language . The brides-to-be were ‘ordered’ by prospective Asian grooms with ‘questionable’ immigration status – many foreign students desperate to stay in Britain. One bride, a mother-of-six, was said to have booked a flight back to Prague in the Czech Republic within hours of tying the knot. Another groom was said to have used an iPhone app so he could talk to his wife-to-be. Avtar Singh and Melania Jakabova first aroused suspicion when they registered notice of intention to marry in Shrewsbury in 2013. The officiating registrar, Paul Ainscough, said they seemed unable to talk to each other without the help of the app. Describing the couple’s big day, on March 5, Mr Ainscough added: ‘The wedding seemed to be a choreographed performance. The hem of the bride’s dress was soiled and she wore it without any deportment or sense of occasion.’ Indian national Singh, 37, of Wolverhampton, admitted conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and awaits sentence. His bride Jakabova remains at large. Now two couples have gone on trial accused of taking part in the scam. Manchester Crown Court heard Hamid Mushtaq, 24, of Manchester, and Pavlina Kratka, 28, got married before going to a local KFC to celebrate. And, just a few hours after her marriage to Waqas Hussein, 25, – also of Manchester – Blanka Farkasova, 35, allegedly booked herself a flight back to Prague. Prosecutors told the jury at Manchester Crown Court (pictured) that one bride booked a flight to Prague within hours of tying the knot while a second couple went to KFC to celebrate their union . All four deny conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Registrars became suspicious when they saw that the couples interacted awkwardly. Czech-born Klement Buncik, 43, who denies nine charges of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, was allegedly mastermind of the operation, bringing in brides between September 2012 and June last year. They were Czech nationals and therefore EU citizens, a court heard. Darren Preston, prosecuting, said: ‘This is a delivery service, but unlike a delivery you might order from Amazon, [Buncik] is delivering women.’ The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Jury told Klement Buncik, 43, brought Czech women to UK on ferries . One bride booked flight to Prague after tying knot, court was told . Another couple celebrate their wedding by getting a KFC afterwards . Two couples deny conspiracy to assist illegal immigration after sting .

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Tokyo (CNN) -- Fifty rebel lawmakers resigned Monday from Japan's governing party, weakening the majority of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda as he pushes a controversial increase in the sales tax through parliament. Led by the influential Ichiro Ozawa, 40 members of the lower house and 12 members of the upper house have left the Democratic Party of Japan, said Kenji Yamaoka, a senior lawmaker allied with Ozawa. However, two of the lower house lawmakers on the list announced by Yamaoka -- Megumu Tsuji and Takeshi Shina -- subsequently said they were not leaving the party, their offices said. The exodus is in protest over Noda's plan to double the sales tax from 5% to 10% to try to tackle Japan's huge public debt, Yamaoka said. The lower house passed the measure last week despite opposition from the group led by Ozawa, a former party leader known for his political power-broking. The departures Monday whittle down Noda's majority in the lower house, leaving the Democratic Party of Japan with 251 out of 480 seats. In the upper house, which is still to vote on the sales tax legislation, the party now holds 92 out of 242 seats. Noda, who took office in September, is the latest in a string of politically fragile Japanese leaders. He is the sixth prime minister in the six years since the departure of Junichiro Koizumi, who was in power for more than five years. The Ozawa-led exodus has fueled speculation about a possible vote of no confidence being introduced against Noda. But Ozawa has so far failed to lure away enough Democratic Party of Japan members to threaten Noda immediately. If a vote of no confidence were to be called and Noda lost, he would have to step down or call a snap election. Ozawa said last week that he expected a general election could be called "in the near future."

NEW: Two of the Japanese lawmakers on the list of those leaving say they are staying . The departing parliamentarians are led by the influential Ichiro Ozawa . They say they are protesting the prime minister's plan to double the sales tax . It leaves the government with 251 out of 480 seats in the lower house .

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(CNN) -- Think of it as a giant barometer for climate science. With a new groundbreaking study on climate change seemingly coming out every other week, it can be hard to keep up with the latest findings. Fortunately, every five to six years, the United Nations sums it up in a comprehensive report. That's what's going on this week in the Swedish capital Stockholm, where the latest Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is set for release on Friday. The document will bring together the latest research from top scientists around the field. The IPCC is recognized as the leading authority on the subject of global climate change. The first section of its new report -- the fifth since the organization was formed in 1988 by the United Nations and the World Meteorological Organization -- contains a "Summary for Policymakers," aimed at guiding politicians and lawmakers worldwide on decisions regarding the environment over the next several years. The amount of research that goes into each section of the report is staggering. Friday's report is the culmination of work by over 250 authors from 39 countries and was subject to an extensive review process involving more than 1,000 experts. In addition to the rigorous scientific review, representatives of 195 governments are meeting in Stockholm to approve, line-by-line, each section of the Summary for Policymakers before its release. More than 850 expert authors from 85 countries contributed research for the full report, which will be released in three stages through April. The first, on the physical science behind climate change, will accompany the Summary for Policymakers on Friday. The second, expected in March, will cover "impacts and vulnerabilities" of climate change; the third, on mitigation efforts, is set to go out in April. Bloomberg: Why Sandy forced cities to take lead on climate change . What is expected in the report . Friday's report is expected to contain language that further identifies the role human activity is playing in increasing global temperatures through burning of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. The last report, in 2007, indicated that it was "very likely" that humans were responsible for most of the observed warming -- a judgment that corresponds to a confidence level greater than 90%. A draft that leaked in August raised that confidence level to "extremely likely," or greater than 95% confidence that humans are responsible for the majority of global warming through carbon pollution. The impacts of this warming are already being seen through increases in extreme weather events like heat waves, droughts, and extreme flooding events, which the assessment will highlight. The report will lay out projections for climate change through the end of the century, based upon four different carbon emission scenarios. Those range from a low end which would require significant cutbacks in emissions, to a worst-case scenario in which carbon emissions would continue to climb unabated. The projections will provide more details about sea-level rise, for which observations show rates increasing, and should give a more precise estimate of the levels we will see at the end of the century. Loss of sea ice will also be addressed, and the report will discuss the accelerating loss of sea ice in the Arctic and the slight increase of ice seen in the Antarctic. Climate change may increase violence, study shows . Critics of the report . Despite the overall breadth of the scientific expertise involved, and the extensive review and approval process, the IPCC Assessment Reports spark quite a few criticisms, from both climate change believers and skeptics. Skeptics claim the IPCC exists only to produce further evidence supporting the idea of man-made climate change while ignoring opposing research. But climate change activists, and many climate scientists, believe that the IPCC's consensus-seeking policy produces conclusions and estimates that are too conservative. Another often-cited critique of the report is that, due to its size and lengthy approval process, it is already outdated by the time it is released. Several important studies already have been published in the past year in the constantly evolving science of climate change that will not be included in this assessment. Despite the critics, this week's document will serve as a major measuring stick for the current state of the world's climate and what type of change is in store. The Summary for Policymakers will be available Friday at http://www.climatechange2013.org. Climate sticker shock: Arctic thaw could cost $60 trillion .

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report every five or six years . The first section of the report is aimed at assisting policymakers . A draft that leaked in August said there is more certainty that humans are playing a role . The report will lay out projections for climate change through the end of the century .

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For the frequent traveller, it could be the perfect way to attend those urgent meetings while staying at home. The Double robot can turn your iPad into a 'virtual you' that can be sent anywhere in the world. The $2,000 robot is described as 'the simplest, most elegant way to be somewhere else in the world without flying there' Scroll down for video . The Double robot that can let you virtually attend meeting anywhere in the world, and even let you visit art galleries. It can move around, all controlled by your own iPad, and even adjust its height to make sure you are always at eye level. The firm says the gadget could be used to attend meetings, meet friends for lunch, and even visit art galleries around the world. 'You can stay at eye level, whether sitting or standing, by adjusting your height remotely, which makes conversations fluid and real,' says the firm behind it. The robot is based around a single wheel, which balances the robot as it moves, rather like a Segway. Where you're not moving, a retractable kickstand automatically deploys to conserve power when you are not moving around. The robot is controlled via a second iPad, and can be driven using computer game style controls . Double Robotics, the firm behind the design, says 'Efficient motors and lightweight design give Double the ability to last all day without recharging the battery.' Where you're not moving, a retractable kickstand automatically deploys to conserve power when you are not moving around. The gadget has already proved a huge success, the firm said, with the first run already sold out. The robot could even be sent into art galleries without ever having to visit them, with rented robots being used to give hundreds access to collections around the world. 'First off, we want to thank you all for your enthusiasm and support for Double, especially to those of you who pre-ordered,' it said in a blog post. 'Because of the overwhelming response, we've already had to expand our first production run to include more robots than planned, which is great! 'However, in good conscience, we cannot continue to offer a December ship date for units placed from here forward. 'New orders placed (as of August 16th) will now be shipping in early 2013.' The double robot can adjust its height between a sitting and standing mode to ensure you are at eye level with others.

Motorised arm turns an iPad into a 'virtual you' Makers say it can be used to attend meeting and even tour art galleries .

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By . Julian Robinson for MailOnline . A schoolboy who was banned from becoming a Boy Scout has won a landmark legal ruling against the group. Clare and Barry Coyne were left devastated when their autistic son Thomas,11, was refused admission to the Scouts after four years in the younger Beaver and Cubs group. Now after a legal battle against leaders of the 36th Sheffield Scouts Thomas has won £5,000 in compensation - and his parents hope to raise awareness to stop other youngsters suffering the same problem. Clare Coyne (pictured) says she was ‘shocked and hurt’ to be told Thomas would not be allowed to move into Scouts when she tried to register him for a camping trip in July last year . Mrs Coyne says she was ‘shocked and hurt’ to be told Thomas would not be allowed to move into Scouts when she tried to register him for a camping trip in July last year. Mr and Mrs Coyne, who volunteered for Cub committees and accompanied their son to sessions, were told their child posed a ‘significant health and safety risk to other Scouts and himself’. She said: 'I couldn’t believe the Scout leader at the time was refusing Thomas a place, based on an assumption because of his disability. 'It was only when I was registering Thomas to attend the trip that the leader delivered the news. 'He then emailed me back saying Thomas couldn’t progress to Scouts or attend the camping trip, because "he lacks independence". 'To be told, with no prior discussion, that he was not progressing to Scouts with his friends was devastating. 'I was also shocked and hurt to receive the news by email - especially after acting as parent rep for the group.' A Scout Association spokesman vowed that the organisation would 'take on board any lessons learned in this case' The Scout leader and a district commissioner then asked Mrs Coyne, 44, from Fulwood, Sheffield, for an apology when she made an official complaint of disability discrimination. She added: 'Thomas enjoyed four happy years at Ranmoor Beavers and Cubs. He didn’t cause any problems whatsoever. 'My child is gorgeous, not violent or aggressive. His former leaders had discussed Thomas’ needs with us, but the Scout leader didn’t - and wouldn’t back down on his decision. 'When he started at Beavers he could say about seven words and now he’s this articulate, funny, happy boy. It helped him so much. 'He is in special needs education and even though it is amazing, this allowed him to make friends near his home and do something in his own community. 'The whole family were very much involved with both groups, my 13-year-old daughter is a member of the same Scouts. I couldn’t believe they chose to tell me via email. They didn’t try and explain why, or have a discussion with us. It was horrific after four very happy years. 'We faced huge legal costs if we lost, but I felt a duty to fight this for other children out there.' Mrs Coyne sought legal advice from Sheffield Citizens’ Advice and Law Centre. The action was later settled before the case went to county court and the Scout Association paid £5,000 in compensation, which will be held by the court until Thomas is aged 18. Thomas has since taken up a place at the 79th St Timothy’s Scout Group in Sheffield, but Mrs Coyne says Thomas has already missed out despite moving to another group. She said: 'The financial compensation can’t replace the friendships and experiences Thomas has missed. 'We want to be lessons to be learned to avoid another family going through the distress that we have experienced.' Scout Association spokesman Simon Carter said: 'We do intend to take on board any lessons learned in this case. 'Our volunteer team is passionate about making sure we offer scouting to as many young people as possible whatever their needs.'

Thomas Coyne wins ruling after being banned from becoming a Boy Scout . Autistic 11-year-old had spent four years with younger Beavers and Cubs . But parents left 'shocked' after being told be would not be allowed to move into Scouts . Claim they were told their son  posed a 'significant health and safety risk' Case was settled before it went to county county and the child has been awarded £5,000 in compensation . Scout Association vows 'to take on board any lessons learned in this case'

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New York (CNN) -- Civil rights lawyers filed papers in federal court Monday seeking to prohibit the New York Police Department's surveillance of Muslim communities when there is no evidence that they are linked to terrorism or other illegal activities. The department's demographics unit -- or zone assessment unit -- was put together with the CIA's help after the September 11, 2001, attacks. The unit has acknowledged that it engaged in monitoring that included Muslim-owned business and mosques across the New York region. The motion filed Monday is part of a class-action case from 1971 that resulted in a historic settlement in 1985 known as the Handschu agreement, or Handschu guidelines. The settlement restricted police -- who were then accused of compiling dossiers on political activists and those perceived as radicals -- from investigating individuals whose activities were constitutionally protected. "We think the surveillance of innocent Muslims is an infringement of civil liberties by the police and a violation of the guidelines," said Paul Chevigny, a New York University law professor and one of five attorneys on the Handschu case. Muslim leaders boycott breakfast over surveillance program . According to the guidelines, the police cannot keep records unless they find evidence of terrorism, and according to Chevigny, they have kept voluminous records on businesses connected with Islam. "There's no indication of crime in connection with any of the organizations they've infiltrated," Chevigny said. Last summer the head of the city's police intelligence division testified that the controversial surveillance unit never produced a lead that linked to a potential terrorist plot during years of investigation. The unit's reports never led to a terrorism investigation in at least six years of surveillance, according to court testimony from Thomas P. Galati, the commanding officer of the police intelligence division. "I could tell you that I have never made a lead from rhetoric that came from a demographics report, and I'm here since 2006," he said in a June 28 deposition unsealed last August. "I don't recall other ones prior to my arrival. Again, that's always a possibility. I am not aware of any." A 60-page report obtained by The Associated Press in 2012 showed police department maps of Newark, New Jersey, and photographs of Muslim residences and mosques, while other reports revealed that authorities had tracked websites and on at least one occasion placed an undercover officer among university students. There was no statement in the documents regarding terrorism or other criminal activity. However, in 2011 civil rights attorneys filed papers in federal court challenging whether the use of undercover agents and informants within Muslim communities constituted a breach of those guidelines. Last year New York Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said that the "premise that the demographic unit was used for wholesale spying on Muslims, using undercover officers and informants to do so, was false," and that neither "confidential informants nor undercover officers were assigned to the demographics unit." Browne added that "the small unit, about eight people, surveyed places a terrorist might go to use a foreign language internet cafe, get a job off the books, find a place to stay, etc." However, police did uncover information that "led them to recommend that investigators take a closer look." Police actions adhered to the Handschu guidelines, Browne added, which were modified after the 2001 attacks to provide authorities greater leeway in investigating potential threats. In the first expansive official description of the city's demographics unit, Galati testified last June that the department had collected information often based on ethnicity and language. "Most Urdu speakers from that region (Pakistan) would be of concern, so that's why it's important to me," he said. Listening in on a conversation at a Lebanese cafe could also be useful, he added, allowing analysts to determine what part of Lebanon the cafe-goers were from. "That may be an indicator of possibility that that is a sympathizer to Hezbollah because southern Lebanon is dominated by Hezbollah." But "related to demographics ... I can tell you that information that (has) come in has not commenced an investigation." The purpose of the unit is to help "identify locations if we're faced with a threat," he noted, offering investigators a better starting point when confronted with a possible attack. "The police department needs to know where we should go and look for that particular terrorist," he said. "A lot of information that the zone assessment unit captures helps us identify locations that we should look or not look for." Last year New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa announced that the NYPD did not violate New Jersey laws when it carried out surveillance of Muslim-run businesses across state lines. The findings were the product of a three-month review meant to address concerns expressed by Muslim organizations, who later filed a lawsuit in New Jersey federal court against the NYPD for unfairly targeting the Muslim community. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in March called reports of NYPD surveillance "disturbing," though White House chief counterterrorism adviser John Brennan praised the city's efforts to strike a balance between security and the protection of civil rights.

Civil rights lawyers ask federal court to end New York police surveillance of Muslims . Surveillance of businesses, mosques violate 1985 court settlement on monitoring groups, lawyers say . Police department unit monitored Muslim businesses and mosques in region . Power to monitor groups expanded after 9/11 attacks in 2001 .

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By . Paul Milligan . PUBLISHED: . 04:11 EST, 21 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:30 EST, 21 June 2013 . Enrika (left) and Jolanta Lubiene were brutally murdered in their home in Killorglin, County Kerry . Irish police are investigating a double murder after a mother and daughter were brutally killed in their County Kerry home. 27-year-old Jolanta Lubiene and her eight-year-old child Enrika, which were discovered on Sunday, confirmed the pair died in violent circumstances. It has emerged that eight-year-old Enrika Lubiene had her throat slit, and was killed alongside her mother, 27-year-old Jolanta Lubiene. Jolanta was stabbed more than 20 times in her torso as well as receiving a fatal knife wound to the neck . She was stabbed in the kitchen after putting away the shopping and her dinner in the oven. Their bodies lay dead in their home for 48 hours before being found by a friend. Ms Lubiene, originally from Lithuania, was found in a room downstairs and the child in an upstairs bedroom. According to sources, the extensive nature of the stab wounds . suffered by Ms Lubiene suggest she was the intended victim of the attack. Police are investigating whether Enrika was then killed because she . witnessed the attack on her mother and may have known the killer. A source said: . ‘The scene was awful, because there was so much blood. It was like an . abattoir.’ It is believed they were murdered sometime between 2.30pm and 5.30pm on Saturday. Enrika was not wearing pyjamas and was dressed in regular clothes. Police were eventually called to the house at about 8.30pm on Sunday, alerted by another Lithuanian . woman living locally who had been unable to contact Ms Lubiene. Enrica, who made her Holy Communion last month, was regularly seen cycling around the estate on the bicycle, and was known for always having a smile on her face. Her father Marius Lubys flew in from . Sweden yesterday, where he has been working for the past six months . He told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘I’m shocked. I am very . sorry for my wife and daughter.’ It is understood that the family were due to move back to Lithuania, where the couple came from, in just two weeks. Enrika with her mother Jolanta Lubiene and father Marius Lubys. He flew into Ireland from his job in Sweden after being given the news his wife and daughter had been murdered . Jolanta Lubiene with daughter Erika at her First Communion last month . A clearly distraught Kristina Lubite, Jolanta's sister, is consoled by her husband Viadas outside the house in Langford Downs, Killorglin . Detectives believe that the young mother . of one may have known the double murderer, as there were no signs of . forced entry at their rented semi-detached home, in the Langford Downs estate in Killorglin, . County Kerry. They also suspect the killer may be from . Eastern Europe. It is understood Ms Lubiene had taken out a . protection order against someone she knew in the past, though this person is not currently a suspect. Police have ruled out robbery as a motive as nothing was taken from the house. They have also ruled out a sexual motive as both victims were fully clothed. On Saturday morning, some neighbours . heard loud music coming from the house, suggesting to gardaí that the . killer turned up the radio to drown out screams. Ms Lubiene was last seen at around 1.50pm on Saturday on Langford Street, walking towards her semi-detached home. Police investigators remove the two bodies from the scene . Enrika was well known around the Langford Downs estate in Killorglin for riding her bicycle and always having a smile on her face . 'She was wearing a dark waist length . coat, dark trousers and white shoes,' Superintendent Murphy said. 'She . was carrying two bags of shopping, a pink bag and a white bag. 'Investigating Gardai are particularly anxious to talk to everyone who was in the Langford Downs housing estate between 12 noon and 7pm Saturday last. 'This is a small housing estate with just over 50 houses and with only one vehicle entrance and exit.' Ms Lubiene had been living in Ireland for several years and working locally. A technical examination of the scene is continuing. Earlier, Killarney Garda Station Superintendent Florence Murphy appealed for anyone with information to come forward. Jolanta Lubiene had gone to the courts to take out a protection order against someone she knew in the past . Marius Lubys (left) husband of the dead mother and daughter, arrives at a special mass held in their honour in  Killorglin clutching a picture of them both, and people visiting the house to pay a floral tribute . Father Michael Fleming says a prayer after the bodies of Jolanta Lubiene and her daughter Enrika were removed from the house .

27-year-old mother Jolanta Lubiene and her eight-year-old daughter Enrika were killed in a bloody attack . The family was due to move back to Lithuania in two weeks . Jolante Lubiene had already taken out a . protection order against someone she knew in the past .

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Ryan Taylor is sat having dinner with two of his team-mates and their partners. It is April of last year and they are at the historic Close House, resting on Hadrian’s Wall in Newcastle. It’s where he got married, plays golf and socialises. It’s a happy place. Tonight, however, those special memories will be tainted by one phone call and the devastating news relayed to him. Forty-eight hours earlier, Taylor, afforded protection as a ‘non-contact floater’ in a practice match at Newcastle’s training ground, tweaked his knee chasing a loose ball. Ryan Taylor poses after unveiling the new mural of 2,000 Newcastle United fans that took selfies . Taylor unveiled a mural featuring 2,000 fans outside St James’ Park on Friday ahead of the match vs QPR . The mural was created and installed by sponsors wonga.com outside of Newcastle's St James' Park . Only a matter of days into his comeback from eight months out with knee ligament damage, he convinced himself it was a minor setback. Then the phone rang. It was Paul Catterson, the club doctor. ‘I was with Dan Gosling, James Perch and our wives and girlfriends,’ he recalls as we sit in the home dressing-room at St James’ Park, where he will on Saturday run out for the first time in more than two years against QPR. ‘The Doc phoned. I always used to know with his calls if it was good or bad. It was either very quiet, “Hello Ryan”. Or, “Alright Ryan, how you doing?”. ‘I knew straight away. It was the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) again. I went back to the table, everyone was really upset. It hadn’t sunk in with me.’ Sink in, it later did, but only amid a flood of tears. ‘It wasn’t until I walked through the doors at training that I thought, “hold on a minute, I’m not coming to train here”,’ says Taylor, who on Friday unveiled a mural featuring 2,000 fans outside St James’ which was created and installed by sponsors wonga.com. ‘I completely broke down. There were a few shoulders which had tears on that day.’ Taylor has been recalling the devastating injury that kept the defender out of action for Newcastle . Taylor speaks with Sportsmail's Craig Hope in the changing rooms at Newcastle's St James' Park . Taylor was told he could be 30 by the time he returned to football following his devastating injury . Taylor, then 28, was told he’d be 30 by the time he returned. He rang his dad, Darren, back at home in Liverpool. ‘We talked about it - I’d put so much in and got nothing from it. It just killed me, my body went in to shut-down mode,’ he says. ‘I said to my dad, “this could be me”. He said, “listen, it’s not happening”. It took a while to get my head around it all.’ The best surgeon in the world was identified – Dr Richard Steadman of Colorado. It emerged that Taylor’s initial knee operation, the previous year, had not gone to plan. He spent the next six months ‘doing absolutely nothing, it was torture’. Then, thanks to a donor – a male in his twenties who had died – his patellar tendon was replaced. After that it was rehab. And then, more rehab. In October of this year, 26 months after his last appearance, finally, it was matchday. The opponents, Manchester City at the Etihad in the League Cup. Taylor takes up the story. ‘I thought I’d get half an hour but we had a team meeting and the XI went up. I was like, “hold on a minute, I’m in it”,’ he laughs. Taylor pictured during Newcastle training, practising kicking the ball and taking free-kicks over mannequins . In October of this year, 26 months after his last appearance, Taylor returned to face Manchester City . ‘I thought I’d play an hour. Once he’d made all three subs I thought, “what’s going on? It’s only 1-0, we could go to extra-time here”. So when Moussa (Sissoko) scored our second I wish that I could have sprinted and kissed him, but I couldn’t run. ‘It was one of those days where everything fell right and the result topped it off. It made those two years feel like two minutes.’ Afterwards, he received a standing ovation from his comrades. ‘It was incredible, the reaction from our fans and the lads,’ he says. ‘I had messages from John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, they helped me.’ Newcastle’s physio, Derek Wright, also gets a special mention – ‘he was like my dad up here’ – but his wife, Kim, and boys, Henri, three, and baby Evan, were Taylor’s biggest source of strength. This Saturday afternoon, the club have allowed him to walk out with Henri. ‘He’s been there from day one,’ says Taylor. ‘He’s never seen me play here, he was only six months old when I did my knee. ‘It will be a special day and I’m lucky to have a brilliant relationship with these fans, scoring the winner against Sunderland helps of course.’ That goal, in a 1-0 win in 2011, is a happy memory. After two years of turmoil, Taylor wants more like them, starting with Saturday. Taylor will walk out with his son Henri at St James' Park ahead of their match against QPR . · Created and installed by club sponsors wonga.com . · Wonga invited Newcastle supporters to submit photos of themselves, on wongafootball.com, cheering on the team for the chance to be included . · 6m x 2.2m artwork fixed to the exterior of the stadium’s Gallowgate End . · Captioned ‘St. James’ Park – home of the Toon Army’. · Includes faces of more than 2,000 Newcastle fans . · Fans from the all over the world – North East to the Far East . · Eleven members of the first team squad including Ryan Taylor .

Ryan Taylor unveiled a mural featuring 2,000 fans outside of St James' Park . The Newcastle player will lead his son out ahead of their game against QPR . Taylor suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage when he was 28 . The 30-year-old on finding out about his injury: ‘I completely broke down. There were a few shoulders which had tears on that day’

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By . Rebecca English . Less than 24 hours after details of their tour to New Zealand were announced, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been plunged into a diplomatic row. It centres on a planned visit to pay their respects to the king of the Maoris, Tuheitia Paki, at Turangawaewae Marae – his people's sacred  place – during a visit to the country's North Island. But yesterday it emerged that the visit had been called off after the king made it clear he was offended that the couple could spare only 90 minutes out of their schedule. Snubbed: Kate and Prince George are on a 10-day stay in New Zealand . According to sources, the long list of demands around the visit and tight timeframe would have broken proper protocol on the marae. So the king told both the New Zealand government and Kensington Palace that the visit was off.  Now William and Kate, who will still travel to nearby Hamilton, no longer have a specific meeting with any Maori leader outside of the usual 'traditional  welcomes' they will receive during their ten-day stay in New Zealand, their first tour with Prince George, which begins on April 7. The meeting was important because not only was it seen as a mark of respect to the indigenous community, but William and Kate would have been following in the footsteps of the Queen and Prince Philip who made the same detour on their visit to New Zealand in 1953. Locals had been planning the couple's itinerary for weeks, saying they were looking forward to welcoming the young royals to the 'heart of the kingitanga', the Maori monarchy. The ensuing furore has forced New Zealand prime minister John Key to make a statement. 'I think it's a shame the couple aren't going, but it's a decision made solely by King Tuheitia's people,' he said. 'My understanding was the palace [Kensington Palace] offered King Tuheitia's people an opportunity for the prince to visit. Respect: Maori King Tuheitia Paki sits on the throne at his coronation at Turangawaeware Marae . This picture of Prince George leaving hospital is the only official public appearance he has made so far . 'They were offered a 90-minute slot, that was longer than pretty much any other engagement that they have, and King Tuheitia's people decided that wasn't long enough and on that basis they rejected him attending.' He added: 'He [Prince William] has a pretty tight timetable [and] 90 minutes by the time you also travel there and back and have to fit in a number of other things, was, I would have thought, quite generous.' Tuheitia Paki, 55, came to the throne in 2006 after the death of his mother, queen Te Atairangikaahu. Maori academic Professor Rawiri Taonui said the cancelled meeting was a snub that needed to be smoothed over. 'It's an awkward, clumsy and glaring oversight,' he said. 'The king may have over-reached in terms of the time that he's looking for, but ultimately I think it's the government's responsibility.' Kensington Palace said there would be numerous chances to meet members of the Maori community at the many traditional welcomes the couple will receive.

Row centres on a planned visit to pay respects to king of the Maoris . But yesterday it emerged that the visit had been called off . The king said he was offended that the couple could spare only 90m .

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The trend for trying to take a good selfie is nothing new but with the evolution of the selfie stick or monopod people are trying so much harder to get that perfect photo. It's a regular site at tourist attractions like the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, people with their selfie sticks out trying to get that shot they will post Facebook, Twitter or Instragram. Despite the help of a three-foot metal stick people are still getting it wrong and end up with the stick actually in the photo. Sydney Fashion Blogger posted this selfie on Instragram and its had thousands of likes, but she forgot to leave the stick out of her posy picture . Jillian Foss posted this picture on Instagram of a girl taking the micky out of 'stick selfie' obsession . Mohil92 posted this picture of a group of friends and they still got the stick in their selfie . The selfie stick is becoming a regular fixture among normal social activities like BBQs, holidays, sports events and parties. The trend for cameras on sticks, also known as monopods, isn’t new and a number of sticks are already available for digital cameras from companies including Opteka and XShot. But monopods designed especially for smartphones, however, were unveiled at this year’s Mobile World Congress, including a Samsung version from Chinese firm Winners’ Sun Plastic Electronics. This amazing backdrop would have looked much better if the photographer had left out the 'selfie stick' Oldanchorinn posted this picture of a man attemping a stick selfie while in a moving car . Tristan Vandeworp posted this happy looking selfie with his friends on Instragram at a cafe . 1. Don't have the stick in the picture. 2. Capture the best angle, try turning your head a few degrees to the right or left, your features will appear less flat . 3. Show off something new in your selfie like haircut or new item of clothing . 4. Enhance one of your features e.g. wear lots of mascara or a bright lipstick and keep the rest natural . 5. You need good lighting for the best selfies. 6. Use the phone's back camera because it will take a higher resolution picture. 7. Think about what background you want, the best selfies have something interesting behind the subject. It is a trend that's especially popular in Asia, including Indonesia. Soulaya Lestary, 20, from Indonesia, told The Huffington Post: 'We use social media all the time and because we’re shy to ask someone, [to] take picture of us,’ it’s easier to do it ourselves.' Meanwhile, a number of existing monopods can be used with iPhones, from companies including Interfit. They work by holding the camera in landscape mode, with the screen facing the photographer and using the front-facing camera. Buttons on the handle of the stick are used to control the device. Depending on the model, some monopods will manually press the shutter button on the side of phone using an arm, or similar, while others connect remotely via Bluetooth and take the photo using software controls. Makati City in the Philippines is the selfie capital of the World, reported time.com in March this year. Oldanchorinn posted this picture on Instragram but unfortunately left the stick in the scenic image . Jessiey McGee posted this Instragram picture with her friend and left in just a little bit of the stick . Selfie sticks, or monpods, pictured, work by holding the camera in landscape mode, with the screen facing the photographer. Buttons on the handle of the stick are used to control the device . The trend for cameras on sticks, also known as monopods, isn't new and a number of sticks are already available for digital cameras from companies including Opteka, pictured, and XShot .

First there was the selfie phenomenon and now there is the 'selfie stick' The metal sticks or monopods range between $35 and $90 in Australia . Despite hundreds of people carrying around the three-foot sticks lots of people still cannot take the perfect photo . They end up with half the 'selfie stick' in their photo . The trend is being particularly seen in the Philippines and China .

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NEW HAVEN, Connecticut (CNN) -- A Yale University lab technician was arrested Thursday and charged with murder in the slaying of a graduate student whose body was found in the basement wall of an off-campus medical research building, police said. Raymond Clark, 24, was arrested and charged with murder, police said. His bond was set at $3 million. Raymond Clark was apprehended about 8:10 a.m. ET at a Super 8 motel in Cromwell, Connecticut, where he had spent the night after being released Wednesday following his submission to DNA testing. Bond for Clark has been set at $3 million, New Haven Police Chief James Lewis said. Hours after his arrest, Clark appeared in court and did not enter a plea. Standing with chains on his ankles and his palms on a table, he looked only at the judge and spoke only to acknowledge that his rights were read to him. A court date of October 6 was set. Lewis described the killing as an instance of "workplace violence" but did not elaborate. Watch chief, acquaintances talk about Clark » . Annie Le's body was found in the basement wall of an off-campus medical research building Sunday. She had been strangled. Le, 24, a pharmacology student, was last seen alive September 8, the day she appeared in a surveillance video entering a four-story lab at 10 Amistad St., about 10 blocks from the main campus. Her body was found on what was to have been her wedding day. Lewis said the arrest "went smoothly." Watch the police chief announce the arrest » . He could not release details about the charges or whether DNA results led police to arrest Clark, who initially was described as a person of interest in the case. "This arrest warrant has been sealed, so no further information can be released in order to comply with this court order," Lewis said. Clark could have been arrested Wednesday if he had declined to provide DNA samples and allow police to search his home, but he was released after complying, New Haven city spokeswoman Jessica Mayorga said. Police had been monitoring the motel where Clark was staying. When asked about the arrest, Clark's attorney David Dworski referred CNN to the statement he released earlier: "We are committed to proceeding appropriately with the authorities with whom we are in regular contact." Two other search warrants also were executed Wednesday -- one on property belonging to Clark that was not named in the first warrant and a second for Clark's vehicle, which was being processed Wednesday evening, Lewis said earlier. He said Clark is a technician who does "custodial-type" work at the building. Clark answered police questions for a while but later retained an attorney and stopped, Lewis said. Yale President Richard Levin said while the school's administration is "relieved" by the news of Clark's arrest, "we must resist the temptation to rush to judgment." Clark, a lab technician at Yale since December 2004, had nothing in his employment history that "gave an indication that his involvement in such a crime might be possible," Levin said in a statement Thursday. Lewis said Clark and Le worked in the same building and passed in the hallway, but he refused to comment further on whether they knew each other. Investigators have collected about 250 pieces of evidence, Lewis said. Watch police discuss the investigation » . Lewis earlier said police had reviewed about 700 hours of video and interviewed more than 150 people, some more than once. Watch a timeline leading up to Le's death » . Authorities have not released information on what DNA evidence may have been found, although investigators said earlier that bloody clothing was found hidden above tiles in a drop ceiling in another part of the building. Police have not described the clothes that were found, nor said to whom they might have belonged. Teams of investigators at a Connecticut State Police lab worked through the weekend processing and examining the bloodstained garments. But Thomas Kaplan, editor in chief of the Yale Daily News, said a Yale police official told the college paper that the clothes were not what Le was wearing when she entered the building. Lewis said Wednesday that processing of the building was nearing completion and police would probably clear it Thursday morning. Watch a report on the police saying the killing was no random act » . Le was to have been married Sunday on New York's Long Island to Jonathan Widawsky, a Columbia University graduate student. Le was from Placerville, California, and seemed to have been aware of the risks of crime in a university town. In February, she compared crime and safety at Yale with other Ivy League schools for a piece for B magazine, published by the medical school. Among the tips she offered: Keep a minimum amount on your person. When she walked over to the research building last week, she left her purse, credit cards and cell phone in her office. CNN's Tom Foreman, Mary Snow and Shirley Zilberstein contributed to this report.

NEW: Suspect appears in court, doesn't enter plea; October 6 court date set . Bond for Raymond Clark set at $3 million, police say . Police chief describes crime as a case of workplace violence . Le's body was found on what would have been her wedding day .

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Los Angeles (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's mother and his three children will be immersed in the pop icon's music, dance and imagery as they attend the premiere of Cirque du Soleil's "Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour" in Montreal, Canada, Sunday. Katherine Jackson, who sat through four days of disturbing testimony in the trial of the doctor charged in her son's death, agreed with the Michael Jackson estate and Cirque du Soleil just this past week to attend the opening performance this weekend, according to a source close to the Jackson family. The agreement is a sign Katherine Jackson and the men who now control her son's estate as executors have reached an understanding that should ease the tensions that erupted in probate court soon after Michael Jackson's death in 2009, the source said. Jackson's mother waged a legal challenge against lawyer John Branca and music executive John McClain, who were named as executors in her son's will, but dropped it several months later. Relations between the Jackson family and the estate have been tense from that beginning. The trip, which includes Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson, will not end until October 9 when they return to Los Angeles following the Michael Forever Tribute show in Cardiff, Wales, next Saturday, the source said. With several of Michael Jackson's brothers and sisters also traveling to the Wales concert, most of the Jackson family's eight seats in Dr. Conrad Murray's trial will likely go empty until next week. Jackson's children never saw their father perform live on stage, but the Cirque du Soleil show promises for two hours to "capture the essence, soul and inspiration of the King of Pop, celebrating a legacy that continues to transcend generations." The road tour will reach at least 47 cities in the United States and Canada over the next year. The circus company, legendary for its creative and acrobatic performances, first talked to Jackson seven years ago about the possibility of a Jackson-themed show, Cirque's president said when the agreement with his estate was announced in April 2010. The estate and Cirque du Soleil are equal partners. The MGM Mirage has signed on to host the Las Vegas, Nevada, residency starting in 2012. The hotel also will open a nightclub based on the Jackson show, the hotel said.

Jackson's mother will miss at least the next week of the Conrad Murray trial . Katherine Jackson's agreement to go to Cirque du Soleil shows peace with estate, source says . "Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour" will go to 47 cities in the next year. Prince, Paris, Blanket never saw their father perform live on stage .

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By . Lydia Warren . Arrest: Mike Doster was charged with domestic . battery after the violent argument with his wife . A woman has died from head injuries days after her husband threw her off their jet-ski when she confronted him about seeing him engaging in a sex act with another man, police said. Pamela Carter Doster, 45, passed away at hospital on Wednesday and authorities in Manatee County, Florida are now investigating the 'suspicious' incident, the Bradenton Herald reported. On Sunday, her husband of two years, Mike Doster, 49, was arrested for domestic battery. The Tennessee man had called 911 and told dispatchers that she had 'jumped off the boat' and was unable to find her in the water. Their drunken, . violent argument on Sunday evening was sparked when Mrs Doster told her husband she had seen him engaging in a sex act with another man, the police report said. She was eventually found naked on Passage Key, a nudist beach that is popular . with swingers, and told police that her husband had thrown her into the water. She claimed that she had been riding back to land on a jet ski when the argument became heated and he reached back and threw her off the water vehicle. The report seen by Smoking Gun . states that Doster threw his wife off the . jet ski a total of four times and 'during the last time she was pulled off she hit . her head against the side of the jet ski.' 'Suspicious': Authorities are looking into the death of Doster's wife after he allegedly pushed her off a jet ski multiple times on Sunday, causing her to hit her head. She died from head injuries on Wednesday . She refused to get back on the ski with him and stayed on the sandbar which rests under knee deep water. Her . husband tried to get her back on the jet ski but she flat out refused . and eventually he rode away, leaving her there, the police report said. When . he reached the shore, he called 911 and informed rescue services she was . out at sea. Emergency workers were able to find her - wearing nothing but her life jacket - and noticed . she had a 'bruise/bump' on her head, a bruise on her biceps, and a . 'large swollen area to her left hip area.' Scene: The woman was found on the sandbar pictured just north of the tip of Santa Maria Island in Florida . Shore: After losing his wife in the water, he drove the jet ski to the shore, pictured, and called 911 . She was transported to a local hospital for treatment, and she passed away on Wednesday, . Doster was arrested for domestic battery and was released on Tuesday after posting $5,000 bond. Detectives are now asking for anyone who may have witnessed what happened to call Detective John Kenney at 941-747-3011, ext. 2216, or Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS.

Mike Doster, 49, was charged with domestic battery after leaving his wife, Pamela, 45, naked on a Florida sandbar on Sunday . They had started arguing when Pamela said she saw her husband performing oral sex on another man . He 'threw her off the jet ski and she hit her head on the vehicle' She was taken to hospital but she died of her injuries on Wednesday .

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The days of awkwardly trying to wing your way in a foreign language could soon be over. Microsoft has unveiled their new Skype Translator technology that they say can decode languages in real-time. It means that during video calls the speech recognition software will allow two callers from different countries to talk with ease. Scroll down for video . Microsoft has revealed their language translation software for Skype (pictured). Known as Skype Translator, it will enable people with two different dialects to communicate using voice or video calling, with the software then translating what they say into text and voice so that the other person can understand . Microsoft first unveiled the technology two years ago. At the time, though, it was deemed too inaccurate to release to the general public. But a recent breakthrough by the Skype and Microsoft Translator teams in neural network-based speech recognition has reduced errors in speech recognition by more than 30 per cent. In a blog post Microsoft says Skype has more than 300 million users, while at least 2 billion minutes of conversation are spoken every day. Skype can be used across a variety of devices including computers, smartphones, tablets and TVs. It allows users to either voice-call or video-call friends and family anywhere in the world without the large costs of regular phone tariffs. Microsoft says Skype has more than 300 million users around the world, who in turn speak 2 billion minutes of conversation every day. Skype is available for a number of devices including computers, tablets (Windows tablet shown) and smartphones and lets people make calls over the internet . Now Skype Translator could allow people who normally wouldn't be able to understand one another to communicate. Skype Translator is a spin-off of the technology behind Microsoft's Siri clone called Cortana, the personal voice assistant on Windows Phones. In a demo, Microsofts show a conversation with real-time audio translation between and English and German speakers using Skype Translator. The foreign language is converted into subtitles for the other person, and then spoken aloud by a chosen voice. The quick translations allow for a back and forth conversation even though the two don't speak the same language. Microsoft, however, say it is still early days for the technology ‘but the Star Trek vision for the universal translator’ isn’t a galaxy away.’ By the end of 2014 Skype Translator will be available as a Windows 8.1 beta app, although no news on when a full release will be brought to other platforms has yet been announced.

Microsoft has unveiled its new speech recognition software for Skype . It will allow two people to communicate through a language barrier . Called Skype Translator the software decodes speech on the fly . So, for example, a German could chat with an English speaker in real-time . The software will be released as a beta for Windows Phones in late 2014 .

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By . Sally Lee . It's been a dismal start to the Australian snow season this year as snow slopes have been uninvitingly bare and brown. While it's usual for snow fall to be infrequent this early in the season, temperatures have been too warm for snow machines to be brought out by ski resorts. And it doesn't look very promising as snow forecaster Peter Taylor says it's going to be an average season. Despite the slow start to the snow season due to warm weather, families enjoyed Thredbo Ski Resort's opening weekend celebrations . One snow gun was used at Thredbo on Friday night . Mr Taylor, the operator of snowatch.com.au, said this hasn't been a good start to the season which officially begun on Friday. 'It's been very slow,' he said. 'But there usually isn't enough snow at the start of the season. 'Although warmer temperatures meant that snow machines couldn't be used until last night. 'They usually bring out the snow guns two weeks prior but it was too warm to do that this year.' This was the case at Thredbo as their spokeswoman Susie Diver confirmed they only brought out their snow guns last night. Snow forecaster Peter Taylor predicts it will be another average year for snowfall this year . Mr Taylor also believes it will be a slow start to the snow season this year. Pictured is an Australian ski resort, Thredbo, on Friday . 'But the temperatures dropping now and we’re expecting to see a few centimetres of snow tonight,' Mr Taylor said. He predicts that the snow season will be 'average' this year but it'll certainly be better than the last. 'Thankfully season 2013 is well and truly behind us as it was one of the worst seasons on record,' he said. 'And because of the El Nino patterns, we're less likely to get a good season this time round but it'll definitely be better than last year.' Thredbo’s spokeswoman Susie Diver said there probably won’t be enough snow for skiing and snow boarding this long weekend. ‘But we can't be too sure as it's very unpredictable,' she said. Despite the minimal snowfall, Thredbo are gearing up for the Queen's Birthday long weekend. Temperatures have been too warm for ski resorts to use their snow machines . The Australian snow season officially launched on Friday .

Temperatures have been too warm for ski resorts to use their snow machines . The Australian snow season officially launched on Friday . Snow forecaster Peter Taylor says it'll be another average season this year due to El Nino weather patterns . But he doesn't believe it'll be as bad as last year .

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By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 10:35 EST, 7 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:36 EST, 7 September 2012 . A university cheerleader fell to her death from a warehouse roof after scaling the building with a friend to get a better look at a nearby river, an inquest heard today. Outgoing student Vanessa Clarke, 23, had decided to . climb up the building in order to get a better view of the River Avon, . next to the building in Bath, Somerset. But in a tragic turn of events Miss Clarke plummeted 20ft onto the concrete floor of a builders’ merchant warehouse after enjoying a night out in May this year. Tragedy: Vanessa Clarke fell to her death in after she toppled six metres through the roof . An inquest into her death heard she died almost instantly from head injuries after toppling six metres through the roof. Flax Bourton Coroner’s Court heard Miss Clarke, a third-year computer science student at the University of Bath, was walking home from the city centre with a friend at 4am on May 5. They decided to climb onto the roof of the Travis Perkins building, in Lower Bristol Road, to look at the River Avon. But the roof gave way under the Bath Jets cheerleader and she fell 20ft onto a concrete floor below. She died almost instantly from head injuries. Tragedy: The cheerleader died almost immediately from the 20ft fall off of the building, an inquest heard . Untimely death: The roof gave way beneath Miss Clarke's feet and a verdict of death by misadventure was recorded at her inquest . Tributes, including flowers and cheerleading vests, were left on railings close to the site after her death. One message on a bunch of flowers read: 'Colourful ones for a colourful princess.' A verdict of death by misadventure was given into her death at Flax Bourton Coroner’s Court today. After her death, Bath University said in a statement: 'The University is saddened to announce the death of Vanessa Clarke, a third year Computer Science with Business undergraduate student. Plunge: A view across the River Avon in Bath towards warehousing thought to be part of the same building where Miss Clarke died . 'Vanessa’s family has been informed and the Coroner’s Office is now investigating the circumstances of her death. 'Police are treating Vanessa’s death as a tragic accident and inquiries are continuing. 'The University wishes to express its deepest sympathies to her family and friends. 'We recognise the impact this will have on students and staff who knew Vanessa and are offering a range of support.'

Vanessa Clarke, 23, plummeted 20ft and died almost instantly from severe head injuries .

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(CNN) -- While several high-profile actors and directors have rallied around Roman Polanski, not everyone in Hollywood believes he should be freed and forgiven. The case surrounding the arrest of director Roman Polanski has both supporters and critics. In the face of a petition signed by notables such as Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese and John Landis calling for the immediate release of Polanski following his detainment in Switzerland, a backlash is building against such support. "I can't believe that Hollywood has separated itself so completely from American morality," said Paul Petersen, a former child actor and president of A Minor Consideration, which advocates on behalf of young performers. "It is yet another case of Hollywood being out of sync with most of America." Polanski pleaded guilty in 1977 to having unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, but fled the United States before he could be sentenced. In the years since, the director known for "Chinatown" and "Rosemary's Baby" settled in France and avoided authorities until he was arrested Saturday while on his way to the Zurich Film Festival. In the aftermath of Polanski's arrest last weekend, a number of performers -- including Penelope Cruz, Tilda Swinton and Monica Bellucci -- appear as supporters on a petition which states, "Roman Polanski is a French citizen, a renown and international artist now facing extradition. This extradition, if it takes place, will be heavy in consequences and will take away his freedom." Polanski's detention has stirred debate over whether he should be returned to the United States to face possible imprisonment. Supporters make note of his age, the years that have passed, his talent and the victim's own assertion that pursuing the case opens fresh wounds for her as reasons the director should be left alone. But critics observe that Polanski's supporters might be downplaying his crime. "I don't think a lot of people take the sexual assault of children very seriously at all, and it's something we battle everyday," said Grier Weeks, executive director of Protect, a national organization to protect children. "We say at Protect that we are the most bipartisan group in America because we've got everyone from Hollywood liberals like Alison Arngrim [Nellie Oleson] from 'Little House on the Prairie' to extremely conservative people. ... But I will say with the notable exception of a few people from Hollywood, we get blank stares from some of that crowd." Weeks pointed to the example of a discussion on ABC's "The View," in which panelist and actress Whoopi Goldberg made the comment that she didn't believe the original charges against Polanski were for "rape-rape," as what he views as a pervasive attitude. "I assume [Goldberg] regrets saying what she said, but she really didn't say anything that is not under the surface anyway," Weeks said. "This is just the attitude, that children are property and crimes against them are not real crimes." Watch a discussion of about Polanski's supporters » . Goldberg's fellow panelist, Sherri Shepherd, said during the show that she believed Polanski should still be punished. On Twitter, she tweeted, "Whew... long day at 'The View'... two shows today... hot debate over the Statutory Rapist Polanski. 45-year-old man plies a 13-yr-old w/drugs & Liquor and anally & orally penetrates her w/o her consent is a RAPIST. We hunt down 75-year-old Nazis. We must protect our children." Actress Kirstie Alley wrote on Twitter "JUST FOR THE RECORD....RAPE IS RAPE...this is one HOLLYWOOD STAR who does not CELEBRATE or DEFEND Roman Polanski..his ART did not RAPE her." "The Biggest Loser" trainer Jillian Michaels said "If she's [the victim] OK and feels that they are resolved then who are we to say" referring to the now adult victim, Samantha Geimer. Despite that, Michaels said, "If somebody drugged and raped my 13-year-old I'd shoot them." Watch stars discuss Polanski's arrest » . Terry O'Neill, president of the National Organization for Women, said it is understandable that Geimer would want to move on given what has occurred. "I think that it's deplorable that some celebrities, and I emphasis the word 'some,' are supporting rape, supporting the destruction of the life of a 13-year-old girl," O'Neill said. "You look at what happened to the victim in this case and how she was re-victimized over and over again. First by [Polanski] himself when he claimed it was consensual, then by his pals all powerful, wealthy celebrities who supported him, then by the media who characterized her as the little Lolita, the 13-year-old temptress." Petersen, who played son Jeff Stone on "The Donna Reed Show," said he believes there are many in the industry who would like to speak up against the support Polanski has received. "They are afraid of the Hollywood power structure that is tilted distinctly to the left and plays favorites," Petersen said. Thomas J. Reese, S.J., a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University, wrote a piece for The Washington Post's "On Faith" column titled "Father Polanski Would Go to Jail." Reese said Hollywood might learn a lesson from the scandals involving pedophiles and the Catholic Church. "I think that perhaps there is a sense of entitlement that comes with being a celebrity and a star and part of that whole industry where people are always fawning over them and idolizing them," Reese said. "I think that kind of goes to your head and makes you think that you are special and above the law. The clergy used to think that at one time, inaccurately, and it's just not a healthy attitude." On Wednesday, the BBC reported that the French government had dropped its public support for the release of Polanski stating that the director "is neither above nor beneath the law."

Some stars speak out against Roman Polanski's crime . A petition with high-profile names has circulated calling for his release . NOW president calls support of Polanski from some celebs "deplorable" Former child actor says some critics "afraid of the Hollywood power structure"

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By . Gerard Couzens . Pope Francis has agreed to meet his first Falklands War veteran since his election last March. He will receive fellow Argentinian Oscar Doria Fernandez privately at his Vatican home Saint Martha's House on Wednesday. Fernandez, the youngest Argentinian Air Force non-comissioned officer to take part in the 1982 conflict, wants the Pope to bless two crosses due to end up at Falklands cemeteries where casualties from the two countries are buried. Pope Francis (right) will meet fellow Argentinian Oscar Doria Fernandez (left) privately at his Vatican home . Speaking before leaving his home in Gran Canaria ahead of his meeting with the Pope, Fernandez, 19 when war broke out the two countries, said: 'I want to tell the Pope there are new paths we haven't trodden and that we have to take, and that I'm committed to helping. 'I believe the Falklands issue can be solved but we have wounds to heal because the damage has been great.' Pope Francis, the first Argentinian Pontiff, claimed the islands were snatched by Britain when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 2011. He insisted those who died in the war had 'shed their blood on Argentinian soil.' And in a mass to mark the 30th anniversary of the Argentinian invasion he said the islands were 'usurped.' After he became Pope, David Cameron urged him to respect the overwhelming wishes of residents who days earlier had voted overwhelming to remain British in a referendum. In a dig at the Vatican, where officials pumped white smoke from a chimney to announce Pope Francis had been chosen in keeping with tradition, he said: 'The white smoke over the Falklands was pretty clear.' Pope Francis poses with Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner during a private meeting at Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican city . Argentinian president Christina Kirchner begged her compatriot to intervene in the row with Britain over sovereignty of the islands when they lunched together before his inaugural papal mass. But Tory minister Baroness Warsi, the minister for faith, said later she was confident the Pope would not get involved. And Nigel Baker, the UK ambassador to the Holy see, claimed around the same time he had received assurances from Vatican officials its policy of non-intervention in the dispute had not changed. Fernandez, who has written a book about the Falklands war and is in close contact with British veterans of the conflict, says he was invited to meet the Pope through his publishers. He said ahead of his meeting with Pope Francis he supported the idea of a 'diplomatic war' and dialogue.

Pope will meet Argentinian Oscar Doria Fernandez privately at his Vatican home on Wednesday . Fernandez was the youngest Argentinian Air Force non-comissioned officer to take part in the 1982 conflict . He wants the Pope to bless two crosses due to end up at Falklands cemeteries where casualties from the two countries are buried .

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Camera-shy pop star Sia Furler enlisted Kristen Wiig and Dance Moms star Maddie Ziegler for her Chandelier performance at Sunday's Grammy Awards. The 41-year-old Oscar nominee seemed an offbeat choice of avatar for the Australian 39-year-old, who kept her back turned to the crowd. The SNL veteran donned her signature platinum blonde fringed wig with an unflattering, tear-away jumpsuit for the interpretive dance. Scroll down for video and full winners list . Wiigging out! Camera-shy pop star Sia Furler (M) enlisted Kristen Wiig (L) and Dance Moms star Maddie Ziegler (R) for her Chandelier performance at Sunday's Grammy Awards . Kristen wildly girated in a set resembling a broken-down apartment featuring an overturned mattress and a light bulb-riddled ceiling. Later, the similarly-clad 12-year-old joined the Skeleton Twins actress in a whirling dervish through the cluttered stage. It didn't take long for both ladies to wind up in the prominently featured nude leotard tugging at each other viciously. Camera shy: The 41-year-old Oscar nominee seemed an offbeat choice of avatar for the Australian 39-year-old, who kept her back turned to the crowd . Bridesmaids funnywoman: The SNL veteran donned her signature platinum blonde fringed wig with an unflattering, tear-away jumpsuit for the interpretive dance . 'I'm gonna swing from the chandelier!' Kristen wildly girated in a set resembling a broken-down apartment featuring an overturned mattress and a light bulb-riddled ceiling . '1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink': Later, the similarly-clad 12-year-old joined the Skeleton Twins actress in a whirling dervish through the cluttered stage . Double take: It didn't take long for both ladies to wind up in the prominently featured nude leotard tugging at each other viciously and animatedly . Art imitating life: Much of the imagery and movements during the performance related to Sia's real-life struggle with alcoholism . Cathartic: The Pittsburgh-born prodigy showed off her impressive handsprings and split leaps during the vibrant performance choreographed by Ryan Heffington . Interpretive: Furler lurked in the background, belting the emotional song as Kristen catched Maddie in a climactic moment . Still strange? Wiig embraced Ziegler in a similar fashion as Shia LaBeouf in Sia's cage-set video for Elastic Heart . Wiig caught then embraced Ziegler in a similar fashion as Shia LaBeouf in Sia's cage-set video for Elastic Heart. The Big Girls Cry belter was forced to apologise to fans after 'pedophelic' imagery of the 28-year-old actor dancing with the young reality star from the video offended them. LaBeouf was also there, introducing Furler by reading a cryptic letter from 'Erik' - likely her filmmaker husband Erik Anders Lang. Daring dance: Sia was forced to apologise to fans after 'pedophelic' imagery of the 28-year-old actor dancing with the young reality star from the video offended them . 'I love you so. Punch me if I stop crying': LaBeouf was also there, introducing Furler by reading a cryptic letter from 'Erik' - likely her filmmaker husband Erik Anders Lang . The 'metamodernist' Fury actor read: 'For Sia, I feel like this may be strange to say this here. I love you so. Punch me if I stop crying. I raise the white flag for you defeated, finally. If strength were made of broken pieces, you and I would always win. 'It is though and buildings and statues wink at us. I could squeeze you to zero. I'll never know another "What am I going to do?" Punch me if I stop crying and I'll do the same. Love, Erik. Ladies and gentlemen, Sia.' Her song Chandelier - which won best choreography at the MTV Video Music Awards - was nominated for four Grammys but lost in all categories. 'I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night': Her song Chandelier - which won best choreography at the MTV Video MusicAwards - was nominated for four Grammys but lost in all categories . Another funnywoman: Last June, Girls creator and star Lena Dunham - posing with choreographer Ryan Heffington - filled in for Sia's appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers . 'It's horrible I just wanted to have a private life': The elusive hitmaker (R) - who favours Maddie as her avatar - also refused to face the camera on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in May . Last June, Girls creator and star Lena Dunham filled in for Sia's appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers. 'It's horrible,' she lamented to the New York Times. 'I just wanted to have a private life. Once, as my friend was telling me they had cancer, someone came up and asked, in the middle of the conversation, if they could take a photograph with me.' Don't look at me! Before the ceremony, the elusive hitmaker hid her eyes beneath a massive wig alongside her mini-me Maddie outside the Staples Center . Caped crusader! The lookalikes rocked matching hand markings and black Armani suits for the red carpet . Pin parade: However, Sia had no trouble smiling for the cameras alongside Lang (R) backstage following the performance while clad in an ultra-short shirt dress . Before the ceremony, the elusive hitmaker hid her eyes beneath a massive wig alongside her mini-me Maddie outside the Staples Center. The lookalikes rocked matching hand markings and black Armani suits for the red carpet. However, Sia had no trouble smiling for the cameras alongside Lang backstage following the performance while clad in an ultra-short shirt dress. Maddie - born Madison - can currently be seen in the fifth season of Dance Moms, which airs Tuesdays on Lifetime. Big grin! Ziegler opted for comfy Adidas slides and a grey marbled jacket while cooling her heels backstage . The Abby Lee Dance Company: Maddie - born Madison - can currently be seen in the fifth season of Dance Moms, which airs Tuesdays on Lifetime . Album Of The Year . Beck, Morning Phase - WINNER . Beyonce, Beyonce . Ed Sheeran, x . Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour . Pharrell Williams, Girl . Best New Artist . Sam Smith - WINNER . Bastille . Iggy Azalea . Brandy Clark . Haim . Record Of The Year . Stay With Me (Darkchild Version), Sam Smith - WINNER . Fancy, Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX . Chandelier, Sia . Shake It Off, Taylor Swift . All About That Bass, Meghan Trainor . Song Of The Year . Stay With Me (Darkchild Version), Sam Smith - WINNER . Chandelier, Sia . All About That Bass, Meghan Trainor . Shake It Off, Taylor Swift . Take Me to Church," Hozier . Best Rap Album . The Marshall Mathers LP2, Eminem - WINNER . The New Classic, Iggy Azalea . Because the Internet, Childish Gambino . Nobody's Smiling, Common . Oxymoron, ScHoolboy Q . Blacc Hollywood, Wiz Khalifa . Best Pop Duo/Group Performance . Say Something, A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera - WINNER . Fancy, Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX . A Sky Full of Stars, Coldplay . Bang Bang, Ariana Grande, Jessie J & Nicki Minaj . Dark Horse, Katy Perry ft. Juicy J . Best Rap Performance . i, Kendrick Lamar - WINNER . 3005, Childish Gambino . 0 to 100/The Catch Up, Drake . Rap God, Eminem . All I Need Is You, Lecrae . Best Alternative Music Album . St. Vincent, St. Vincent - WINNER . This Is All Yours, alt-J . Reflektor, Arcade Fire . Melophobia, Cage the Elephant . Lazaretto, Jack White . Best Rock Album . Morning Phase, Beck - WINNER . Ryan Adams, Ryan Adams . Turn Blue, The Black Keys . Hypnotic Eye, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers . Songs of Innocence, U2 . Best Rock Song . Ain't It Fun, Paramore - WINNER . Blue Moon, Beck . Fever, The Black Keys . Gimme Something Good, Ryan Adams . Lazaretto, Jack White . Best Country Album . Platinum, Miranda Lambert - WINNER . Riser, Dierks Bentley . The Outsiders, Eric Church . The Way I'm Livin', Lee Ann Womack . 12 Stories, Brandy Clark . Best Rap/Sung Collaboration . The Monster, Eminem ft. Rihanna - WINNER . Blak Majik, Common ft. Jhené Aiko . Tuesday, I Love Makonnen ft. Drake . Studio, ScHoolboy Q ft. BJ The Chicago Kid . Bound 2, Kanye West & Charlie Wilson . Best Rap Song . i, Kendrick Lamar - WINNER . Anaconda, Nicki Minaj . Bound 2, Kanye West & Charlie Wilson . We Dem Boyz, Wiz Khalifa . 0 to 100/The Catch Up, Drake . Best Country Song . I'm Not Gonna Miss You, Glen Campbell - WINNER . American Kids, Kenny Chesney . Automatic, Miranda Lambert . Give Me Back My Hometown, Eric Church . Meanwhile Back at Mama's, Tim McGraw ft. Faith Hill . Best Country Duo/Group Performance . Gentle On My Mind, The Band Perry - WINNER . Somethin' Bad, Miranda Lambert with Carrie Underwood . Day Drinking, Little Big Town . Meanwhile Back At Mama's, Tim McGraw ft. Faith Hill . Raise 'Em Up, Keith Urban ft. Eric Church . Best Country Solo Performance . Something In the Water, Carrie Underwood - WINNER . Give Me Me Back My Hometown, Eric Church . Invisible, Hunter Hayes . Automatic, Miranda Lambert . Cop Car, Keith Urban . Best Pop Vocal Album . In the Lonely Hour, Sam Smith - WINNER . Ghost Stories, Coldplay . Bangerz, Miley Cyrus . My Everything, Ariana Grande . Prism, Katy Perry . x, Ed Sheeran . Best Urban Contemporary Album . G I R L, Pharrell Williams - WINNER . Sail Out, Jhene Aiko . Beyonce, Beyonce . X, Chris Brown . Mali Is, Mali Music . Best Dance/Electronic Album . Syro, Aphex Twin - WINNER . While (1, Deadmaus . Nabuma Rubberband, Little Dragon . Do It Again, Röyksopp & Robyn . Damage Control, Mat Zo . Best Pop Solo Performance . Happy, Pharrell Williams - WINNER . All of Me, John Legend . Chandelier, Sia . Stay With Me, Sam Smith . Shake It Off, Taylor Swift . Best Reggae Album . Ziggy Marley, Fly Rasta - WINNER . Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Back on the Controls . Sean Paul, Full Frequency . Shaggy, Out of Many, One Music . Sly & Robbie & Spicy Chocolate, The Reggae Power . Soja, Amid the Noise and the Haste . Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album . Cheek to Cheek, Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett - WINNER . Sending You a Little Christmas, Johnny Mathis . Nostalgia, Annie Lennox . Partners, Barbra Streisand . Night Songs, Barry Manilow . Best Americana Album . The River & The Thread, Rosanne Cash - WINNER . Terms of My Surrener, John Hiatt . Bluesamericana, Keb' Mo' A Dotted Line, Nickel Creek . Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, Sturgill Simpson . Best Spoken Word Album . Diary of a Mad Diva, Joan Rivers - WINNER . Actors Anonymous, James Franco . A Call to Action, Jimmy Carter . Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America, John Waters . A Fighting Chance, Elizabeth Warren . We Will Survive: True Stories of Encouragement, Inspiration and the Power of Song, Gloria Gaynor . Best Gospel Album . Help, Erica Campbell - WINNER . Amazing, Ricky Dillard & New G . Withholding Nothing: Live, William McDowell . Forever Yours, Smokie Norful . Vintage Worship, Anita Wilson . Best Rock Performance . Lazaretto, Jack White - WINNER . Gimme Something Good, Ryan Adams . Do I Wanna Know?, Arctic Monkeys . Blue Moon, Beck . Fever, The Black Keys . Best Metal Performance . The Last In Line, Tenacious D - WINNER . Neon Knights, Anthrax . High Road, Mastodon . Heartbreaker, Motörhead . The Negative One, Slipknot . Best R&B Performance . Drunk In Love, Beyoncé ft. Jay Z - WINNER . New Flame, Chris Brown ft. Usher & Rick Ross . It's Your World, Jennifer Hudson ft. R. Kelly . Like This, Ledisi . Good Kisser, Usher . Best R&B Song . Drunk In Love, Beyonce ft. Jay Z - WINNER . Good Kisser, Usher . New Flame, Chris Brown ft. Usher & Rick Ross . Options (Wolfjames Version), Luke James ft. Rick Ross . The Worst, Jhené Aiko . Best R&B Album . Love, Marriage & Divorce, Toni Braxton & Babyface -WINNER . Islander, Bernhoft . Lift Your Spirit, Aloe Blacc . Black Radio 2, Robert Glasper Experiment . Give The People What They Want, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings . Best Dance Recording . Rather Be, Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne - WINNER . Never Say Never, Basement Jaxx . F for You, Disclosure ft. Mary J. Blige . I Got U, Duke Dumont ft. Jax Jones . Faded, Zhu . Best Latin Pop Album . Tangos, Ruben Blades - WINNER . Elypse, Camila . Raiz, Lila Downs, Niña Pastori & Soledad Pastorutti . Loco de Amor, Juanes . Gracias Por Estar Aqui, Marco Antonio Solis . Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media . Frozen - WINNER . Guardians of the Galaxy . American Hustle . Get On Up: The James Brown Story . The Wolf of Wall Street . Best Music Video . Happy, Pharrell Williams - WINNER . We Exist, Arcade Fire . Turn Down for What, DJ Snake & Lil Jon . Chandelier, Sia . The Golden Age, Woodkid ft. Max Richter . Best Music Film . 20 Feet From Stardom, Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer & Judith Hill - WINNER . Beyoncé & Jay Z: On The Run Tour, Beyoncé & Jay Z . Ghost Stories, Coldplay . Metallica: Through The Never, Metallica . The Truth About Love Tour: Live From Melbourne, Pink .

Elastic Heart star Shia LaBeouf read cryptic letter while introducing the camera-shy pop star's Chandelier performance .

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(CNN) -- Members of a well-known hacking group -- according to a statement and Twitter messages -- took credit Sunday for an online attack targeting San Francisco's embattled transit system. Anonymous -- in a news release attributed to the group, and backed up by related Twitter pages -- said it would take down the website of the Bay Area Rapid Transit System, known as BART, between noon and 6 p.m. PT Sunday. This is in response to the system's decision to cut off cellphone signals at "select" subway stations in response to a planned protest last week. "By (cutting cell service), you have not only threatened your citizens' safety, you have also performed an act of censorship," a seemingly computer-generated voice -- speaking over dramatic music and images -- said in a video posted online Sunday afternoon. "By doing this, you have angered Anonymous." On Sunday afternoon, a link off BART's website to myBART.org apparently had been hacked. It showed a page featuring, among other items, the Anonymous logo -- a smirking mask above two crossed swords, all on a black background. In addition, Twitter traffic related to Anonymous boasted that hackers had been able to get into BART's internal network. Several related items and documents were posted, including one claiming to be "the User Info Database of MyBart.gov." This had e-mails and, in some cases, phone numbers of hundreds of people. "We apologize to any citizen that has his information published, but you should go to BART and ask them why your information wasn't secure with them," the posted item said. "Also do not worry, probably the only information that will be abused from this database is that of BART employees." A call to a BART communication officer was not immediately returned. In a statement on its website released earlier in the day, BART acknowledged that it was aware of the threatened online attack -- and was taking steps in response. "We're doing what we can to defend against any attack on the BART website," the system said. "BART's website infrastructure is wholly separate from any computer network involved in the operation of BART service." In recent years, the hacking collective calling itself Anonymous has targeted several organizations to make political statements. Last week, for instance, Anonymous promised an "operation" targeting Facebook. And it took credit for hacking the site of the Syrian Defense Ministry, replacing its content with an anti-government message and the Anonymous logo. Anonymous also has boasted about taking down numerous other prominent websites, including those of PayPal, MasterCard, Visa and the Church of Scientology. The action in San Francisco is the latest challenge for the transit system, which has faced criticism after several shootings involving its police officers -- the latest coming last month and resulting in the death of 45-year-old Charles Hill. Demonstrators had planned a rally last Thursday to bring attention to the issue. But BART contended that such a protest during rush hour endangered the safety of commuters and employees. In response, the system said in a statement that "it temporarily interrupted service at select BART stations as one of many tactics to ensure the safety of everyone on the platform." The move was made on the same day that British Prime Minister David Cameron proposed a crackdown on social media to quell riots. The statement from Anonymous also touted a new peaceful demonstration that it said would occur at 5 p.m. Monday at the transit system's Civic Center station. "We sincerely hope that this series of actions will serve as a warning to BART and every public organization in the USA to NOT engage in this sort of dangerous and human rights violating behavior," the statement said. In the video statement linked to Anonymous and posted Sunday, a voice urges demonstrators to wear red shirts "in remembrance of those who have been battered by the BART police" and bring a camera to record the events. "We will show the world and BART that we will not stand for these types of actions," the voice said. BART issued another alert Sunday advising riders about the possible Monday protest. "As always, BART's primary mission is to ensure your safety and keep trains on-time," said a statement on the system's website. "BART may need to close some stations temporarily or make other service adjustments on short notice." CNN's Divina Mims and Greg Botelho contributed to this report.

NEW: A video urges protesters Monday to wear red shirts and record the event . Statements attributed to Anonymous promised an online attack Sunday on BART . MyBART.gov appears Sunday to have been hacked . The system said it was prepared for hacks, as well as a planned protest Monday .

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By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 06:55 EST, 11 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:56 EST, 11 July 2013 . A fit and healthy young man died at the age of 21 because of an undiagnosed and deadly heart condition. Callum Branche, a carer, had a ‘work hard, play hard’ attitude and enjoyed regular games of football with his friends. But he enjoyed life and his work not realising he had the potentially fatal heart condition coronary artery anomalies. The condition means that blood is fed into the heart from the body’s main artery, the aorta, from only one side. Callum Branche, 21, died from a rare and undiagnosed heart condition which meant that blood was only fed to his heart from one side of his aorta . It can be aggravated by exercise as a problem artery can be squashed or kinked under the pressure of more blood being pumped to the heart. Mr Branche, from Little Lever, near Bolton, Greater Manchester, was found dead at his family home by his parents Timothy and Lindsay in April. An inquest was told six foot three inch Mr Branche - described by his family as a ‘gentle giant with an infectious grin’ - had no history of poor health. He was said to be ‘very family-orientated’ and ‘didn’t have a vicious bone in his body’. His father told the hearing: ‘He wasn’t shy of work. He worked hard and played hard. He was very active with how he lived his life.’ His father said: ‘He had his . breakfast then went back to his bed. He came back downstairs and spoke . to us, he was his normal self. ‘There was absolutely nothing to indicate there was a problem at all. He was just his normal self.’ However, . when his parents returned from a shopping trip later that day they . found their son’s lifeless body slumped against a door. Mr Branche, who worked as a carer, was not aware that he had the condition and had no history of ill health . His father desperately attempted to revive him before paramedics arrived, but his son was pronounced dead a short time later. Pathologist Dr Emil Salmo said Mr Branche’s death would have been very sudden and unexpected. He said he died from natural causes, the sudden death being down to an anomaly of the right coronary artery from the left coronary sinuses. He added: ‘It is a condition that would not normally have any symptoms.’ Mr Walsh strongly advised the couple to encourage their two other sons, aged 24 and 26, to go for a medical check-up. Returning a verdict of death by natural causes he added: ‘Callum was a young man who lived life to the full to work hard and play hard - exactly how you would want to have a son. ‘It is devastating for you to go out shopping and you come home to find him collapsed. I am so dreadfully sorry, I cannot imagine what it would be like, it is devastating.’ Mr Branche was found dead at home by his parents, Timothy and Lindsay Branche, when they returned from a shopping trip. Images shows the heart and circulatory system . In a statement Callum’s family said: ‘He would put his big arm around you. He was just a lovely lad. ‘He loved his mum to bits. He loved his job. He loved caring for people and talking to the residents. He was such a caring person and all the patients loved him.’ A spokesman for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young said: ‘In 1 in 100 people both coronary arteries come from the same side of the aorta. This is called an “anomalous coronary origin” or “coronary artery anomaly”. ‘The unusual origin of the artery means that the artery must take a different route to supply the heart muscle. In the majority of people this causes no problems. ‘However, in a small number, the abnormal route can cause the anomalous coronary artery to be squashed or kinked during exercise. ‘If the blood supply to the heart is disturbed then it can cause chest pains or dangerous arrhythmias. The cause of coronary artery anomalies is not known. However, in most cases they do not appear to be inherited.’

Callum Branche had a heart condition called coronary artery anomalies which meant blood was only fed to his heart from one side of his aorta . Had never had any health problems and was not aware of the condition . Was found dead at home by his parents, Timothy and Lindsay . Coroner returned verdict of death by natural causes .

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By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 05:48 EST, 22 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:04 EST, 23 April 2013 . When dinnertime arrives on the sun-scorched savannah of Kenya's Maasai Mara, you either fight for your life or your livelihood... but it doesn't always go according to plan. As this incredible series of photographs show, there is one kind of free dinner that likes being free, and will fight hoof and tail to keep it that way. So when Malaika the cheetah tried to hunt down a young wildebeest, the plucky calf stood its ground and gave the predator a nasty surprise. Tables turned: As this incredible series of photographs show, there is one kind of free dinner that likes being free, and will fight hoof and tail to keep it that way . Charge: The cheetah dodges the wildebeest's horns as it lunges in the long grass . Easy target? The wildebeest calf was slightly slower than the rest of the adult wildebeest and looked like an easy target . The images, taken by British photographer Manoj Shah, show the wildebeest fought back sending the cheetah running from its horns. The cheetah - named Malaika by local guides - had been tracked for several days by Manoj's party studying her hunting habits. Manoj said: 'The cheetah mother Malaika had to hunt every day or two to feed herself and the fast growing cub. 'I was taking her pictures as she was . seated with the cub on a termite mound. By being on top of the mound the . cheetah could scan the vast savanna grassland and easily spot any prey. Attack: Moving at top speed, the cheetah caught up with the wildebeest calf and put her front two feet on the wildebeests back, trying to bring it down . Hanging on: She tried to hold on to the wildebeest as it thrashed about trying to break free . Ferocious: The young wildebeest turns, dips its horns and charges at the unsuspecting cheetah in a last-ditch bid to save its own life . 'This was necessary because the grass . was taller than the cheetah's height and therefore she had to be taller . than the grass by climbing on top of a mound. 'While . on the mound, the cheetah - with a much more powerful eyesight than . humans - noticed a line of wildebeest moving across the grassland. I was . using binoculars all the time. 'She . quickly left the cub on the mound and started walking fast to the line . of the wildebeest. Her walk turned into a fast sprint at at approximate . distance of 100 metres from the wildebeest group.' Tussle: An almighty tussle broke out between the two as the wildebeest fought for its life and the cheetah its livelihood . Wild frenzy: The pair circled each other, locked in battle, as - for a brief moment - the hunted became the hunter . Victory: Incredibly, the cheetah ends up giving up the chase and running away . Manoj said the cheetah quickly singled out a potential target. He said: 'Cheetahs are known to reach a speed of about 100 kmph in a few seconds. 'The wildebeest started running on . spotting the fast encroaching cheetah. The wildebeest calf was slightly . slower than the rest of the adult wildebeest and became an easy target. 'Moving . at top speed, the cheetah caught up with the wildebeest calf and put . her front two feet on the wildebeests back, trying to bring it down. Snapper: The pictures were taken by British photographer Manoj Shah who had been tracking the cheetah for several days, studying her hunting habits . Majestic: Shah was taking her pictures as she was seated with the cub on a termite mound. By being on top of the mound the cheetah could scan the vast savanna grassland and easily spot any prey . 'But the wildebeest calf was brave and a strong fighter. It could not be brought down but instead it turned to face the cheetah, throwing off the cheetah on the ground. 'The wildebeest calf then charged with its horns and the scared the cheetah ran off. Being at a slight disadvantage the cheetah did not want to get injured as her cub was totally dependent on her hunting skills. So she let the wildebeest go.'

The series of photographs were taken by British photographer Manoj Shah in Kenya's Maasai Mara . He had been tracking Malaika the cheetah for several days when he saw her chase down a young wildebeest . But the wildebeest refused to lie down and fought back in a ferocious fight for life and livelihood . After ten minutes of fierce fighting, the wildebeest charged with its horns and the scared the cheetah ran off .

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By . Tamara Cohen . PUBLISHED: . 20:08 EST, 3 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:07 EST, 4 January 2014 . Appeal: Justine Thornton, here with husband Ed Miliband, specialises in environmental law . Ed Miliband's barrister wife is representing a wind farm company in a case which campaigners say could open the way to vast turbines blighting historic sites. Justine Thornton, who specialises in environmental law, is advising Barnwell Manor Wind Energy in its bid to build four 400ft turbines on land owned by the Duke of Gloucester. The plan had been rejected on the grounds it would overshadow a Tudor summer house set in what a planning inspector called Britain’s finest Elizabethan garden, with ‘national if not international significance’. But the Labour leader’s wife is helping the firm bring an appeal case against the National Trust, English Heritage and East Northamptonshire Council, which jointly secured a ruling against the wind farm at the High Court last March. The parties argued successfully that it would blight Lyveden New Bield, the Grade I-listed lodge and garden about half a mile away. Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, said: ‘The effect of the proposed turbines on one of the most important, beautiful and unspoilt Elizabethan landscapes in England would be appalling. This is why we pressed this case.’ However documents written by Miss Thornton and Gordon Nardell QC for the Court of Appeal case on January 23 claim the evidence for this was ‘less than substantial’. Mark Bradshaw, the local National Trust manager, said if the wind farm company won the appeal, it would make life easier for turbine developers to over-ride people’s concerns about other heritage sites. He said: ‘It will set a precedent which would be used for other applications that a 400ft object half a mile from Grade I-listed buildings is acceptable.’ The case has been fought for two years since the application was rejected by the local council, then overturned by a planning inspector who allowed it to meet green energy targets, despite admitting it would be ‘alien and incongruous’. The National Trust and English Heritage then defeated it at the High Court. The Trust billed it as ‘an important marker in the defence of the historic environment from inappropriate development’. The land is owned by the Queen’s cousin, the Duke of Gloucester, whose estate could make £120,000 a year in rental fees from the turbines. He is backing the energy firm, which says the project will provide clean electricity to more than 5,400 homes. Under-threat: The Grade I-listed Lyveden New Bield on which a wind farm would be built . The Duke, who lives in an apartment in Kensington Palace, is also patron of the Northamptonshire Museums and Historic Houses Forum which includes Lyveden New Bield. Lyveden was begun in the late 1500s by local sheriff Sir Thomas Tresham. It was left unfinished when he died in 1605. The National Trust discovered the remains of an Elizabethan pleasure garden in the grounds and restored its moats and orchards. Peter Stephens, chairman of the campaign group Stop Barnwell Manor Wind Farm, said: ‘It is hypocritical of the Duke to serve as patron of an organisation which seeks to protect our heritage while at the same time supporting a scheme which will damage it.’ A spokesman for Miss Thornton said: ‘Like all members of her profession, Justine Thornton is subject to the “cab rank rule” which stipulates that barristers act for anyone requesting their professional services.’

Justine Thornton is advising Barnwell Manor Wind Energy in bid to build four 400ft turbines on Grade I-listed land . Labour leader's wife specialises in environmental law . Case was successfully blocked but Miss Thornton has written papers for a Court of Appeal case to be heard on January 23 .

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(CNN) -- BlackBerry's loss of market share in the U.S. is the stuff of legends. Last fall, it was estimated only about 2% of American phone users were still carrying their BlackBerry mobile with its iconic keypad. But consider this: sub-Saharan Africa is expected to add 175 million new mobile users in just the coming 3 years. That's according to the GSMA, which represents the world's mobile operators. "Mobile has already revolutionized African society and yet demand still continues to grow by almost 50 percent a year," said Tom Phillips, Chief Government and Regulatory Affairs Officer, GSMA. That could be good news indeed for BlackBerry. Research in Motion, the maker of BlackBerry, estimates it holds a 70% market share in countries like South Africa. The company's new phones, announced this week, are not the ones some of its best customers in emerging markets would like to buy. They're too expensive. But Research in Motion -- which also this week changed its company name to BlackBerry -- is pledging some of its six new models will address that. While millions in China, Europe and the U.S. have adopted Android or iOS smartphones with a vengeance, millions more users in emerging markets are enthused about what's in store for the new BlackBerry 10. It's the update for what many of them are already using. They live in countries like Brazil, Malaysia, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. They have embraced the BlackBerry for a combination of factors that all point to the different way mobile devices are used. Unlike their counterparts in Europe and America, the mobile in their pocket is more likely to be their primary link to the internet. BlackBerry Messenger is the connection that allows these users unlimited conversations without paying charges for SMS data. While young, brand-conscious Chinese may be willing to part with several months' salary to buy the latest iPhone, African users are looking for more practical (and cheaper) connections. What separates developed countries from their developing counterparts at street level can be summed up in a single word: infrastructure. Isobel Coleman, senior fellow and Director of the Civil Society, Markets and Democracy Initiative at the Council on Foreign Relations, says mobile technology has proved it can bridge the gap where infrastructure is lacking. "It's a culture, it's an economy, it's innovation, education, healthcare, it's all of these things," says Coleman. You can take that to the bank. For many Africans, their cell phone account is the first bank account they've ever owned. In emerging markets, mobile phone banking is growing because of the lack of infrastructure. Fewer bank branches often mean long distances to travel and long lines once you've arrived. Africans are expected to transfer more than $200 billion per year or 18% of the continent's GDP by 2015. Oh, and that keyboard. No matter where you are in the world, there will always be a demand for a keyboard that clicks. The company appears to understand that as BlackBerry 10 models come with both soft keypads and the traditional BlackBerry buttons. I asked some of my Twitter followers to weigh in on the BlackBerry 10 roll out. While some said Android or Apple's iOS were in their future plans, many others expressed continued enthusiasm for the BlackBerry. Soji, a pianist and teacher in Nigeria tweeted back "I'm falling in love with this BB. Cheaper to own." From Kuala Lumpur, Amir wrote "I need a physical keyboard to type while also having a touch-screen for photos etc. Security factor also important." Hans-Eric from South Africa reinforced the sentiments of many mobile users in emerging markets: "The cost of data is simply too high without it (BlackBerry.)" The voices from emerging markets couldn't have been clearer. What they expect from BlackBerry 10 is a stronger, longer lasting battery, durability and continued low cost connectivity. CFR's Coleman agrees that BlackBerry (and anyone else) trying to win and hold this mobile device sector has to understand how these devices are being used and give the customers what they want. "Cheap. Rugged. Not too many bells and whistles. Practical." There is little doubt smartphones are changing the way people use the internet, how they bank, shop and interact socially. But it's worth keeping in perspective that in a world where there are now an estimated 1 billion smartphones, there are 5 billion feature phone users. That's a lot of upside growth potential for BlackBerry and all the other players out there.

BlackBerry sales have slumped in the U.S. but is still strong in emerging markets . New models launched should remember why they are popular in developing world . In places like Brazil and South Africa, the 10 is the update to their current phone . in Sub-Saharan Africa there is expected to be 175 million new customers in the next 3 years .

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PUBLISHED: . 17:31 EST, 11 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 19:48 EST, 11 March 2014 . Accused: Ryan Wyngarden goes on trial this week for the murder of his sister and her husband . The jury in the murder trial of a Michigan man accused of killing his sister and her husband for fear that she would reveal their incestuous love affair on Tuesday heard opening statements from the prosecution and the defense, which painted two very different pictures of the double homicide. Ryan Wyngarden, a 52-year-old married father-of-four from Zeeland, stands accused of shooting dead Gail and Rick Brink in their Park Township home in November 1987, only 18 months after their wedding. The prosecution in the case opened the trial Tuesday in Grand Haven by trying to convince the jury that the killings were premeditated – and that Wyngarden had admitted to his wife that he murdered the couple. Ottawa County Assistant Prosecutor Lee Fisher said in court that Mr Wyngarden was jealous of the relationship between his sister and her newlywed husband, and that the defendant was concerned that Gail Brink might reveal the truth about their sexual relationship. Wyngarden's defense team insisted that the 52-year-old man was innocent and had an alibi for the time of the murder, MLive.com. Defense attorney David Hall laid out a theory where a motorcycle gang with connections to a drug ring may have been behind the slayings. Day 1: Ryan Wyngarden appears in an an Ottawa County courtroom monitor during the opening his murder trial in Grand Haven, Michigan . The defense also insisted that no incest had occurred between the siblings during their teenage years. The case of Rick and Gail Brink laid unsolved until investigators decided to re-open it in 2011 and re-interview Wyngarden and his wife. At first, Pam Wyngarden stuck to the . story she had repeated for decades: that she and her husband were . visiting a friend's house, where they were babysitting the children, at . the time of the killings. But during interviews in January 2013, . the mother-of-four changed her story, saying that she could no longer hide his secret and claiming that her husband had . admitted to shooting dead the Brinks. At . a hearing in February 2013, she said they had only been dating a few . months when Ryan Wyngarden told her he had killed the couple because he . feared his sister would reveal they had had a sexual relationship as . teenagers. 'I was concerned that I would go to jail... because I was holding this information for so long,' she said, Michigan Live reported. 'I told myself I can't have this burden on my shoulders. I can't live with this.' Killed: Rick and Gail Brink were shot dead in their home in November 1987, 18 months after they married . Victims: Wyngarden allegedly shot the couple because he was worried she would reveal they had sex as teens . At a hearing last year, she recounted the moment Wyngarden allegedly told her he had carried out the murders in November 1987, just three months after they first started dating. 'He was upset and crying,' she told the court. 'And I asked, "What's wrong?" and he said, "I shot and killed Rick and Gail". I asked if he had called the police, and he said no.' When she asked him why he had killed them, 'he said the reason he shot them was he didn't want Rick to find out the intimate relationship between him and Gail and that he was jealous', she said. Mrs Wyngarden explained that this intimate relationship had been a sexual one. She said she married him regardless of . his confession because she craved love and support for her and her two . children, one of whom was his. According to the prosecution, Mrs Wyngarden told detectives that her husband brought her to his late sister's home and showed her where Gail and her husband were killed. Afterwards, the 52-year-old man allegedly warned her: 'If you ever tell anyone about this, the same thing is going to happen to you.' Wyngarden sits behind a photo of murder victims Gail and Rick Brink shown on an Ottawa County courtroom monitor . Prosecutor Doug Mesman shows photos of the Brink family during questioning of witness Bud Brink during the murder trial of Ryan Wyngarden . Pam Wyngarden is expected to take the stand and testify against her husband as the star witness for the prosecution. Fisher told the jurors Tuesday that the married woman will talk about how her husband allegedly left angry voicemails for investigators after they questioned the couple in October 2012. Mr Hall, who represents Wyngarden, said in court that his client stills stands by his alibi. In his opening statement, the defense attorney raised the possibility that the Brinks couple may have been victims in a case of mistaken identity. According to Hall, the previous owners of Gail and Rick's Park Township home, who had moved out not long before the murders, had been linked to narcotics trade and had connections to a Detroit-area biker gang. The previous homeowner, who was said to be a one-time police informant, is expected to testify during the trial as a witness for the defense. The trial is expected to last two weeks. Wyngarden remains in the Ottawa County Jail. Revelations: Pam Wyngarden, pictured in court last year after the case was re-opened, told investigators that her husband had admitted to killing the couple and she agreed to help him cover it up . Denial: Wyngarden sobbed throughout the hearing in February 2013 and yelled that he was not guilty . In the years after Wyngarden allegedly . told his wife about the murder, he demanded she kept it a secret and . would not allow her to have any friends in fear that she would tell . them, she said. As she spoke in court last year, her husband sobbed and shouted: 'How can you say these things? I didn't kill them, I didn't!' But Crystal Beelen, a former girlfriend of . Wyngarden's, also testified that Wyngarden admitted that . he had had a sexual relationship with his sister when they were . teenagers. The bodies of Rick, 28, and Gail Brink, 22, were found by Rick's parents, Isla and Bud Brink, after he failed to show up for work. The couple had last been seen two days before at a wedding. In the hearing last year, Mrs Brink said she found her daughter-in-law on the bed with a pillow over her head and multiple gun wounds. Her son was also found shot dead in his truck outside the home. Happier times: Pam Wyngarden, pictured, said her husband, right, became controlling because he worried she would share his secret. Last year, she said she said she could no longer hide the truth . The couple had been married less than 18 months at the time of their deaths. The case fell cold as investigators found . no apparent motives and believed that the Brinks could have been . victims of mistaken identity. Ottawa County Sheriff's Capt. Mark Bennett told Michigan Live . that several civilians, retired officers and sheriff's detectives are . expected to return to the town to testify about the on-scene . investigation. The trial is expected to take at least two weeks. If convicted, Wyngarden would face a sentence of life in prison.

Ryan Wyngarden charged with shooting dead Rick and Gail Brink in 1987 because he was jealous of their relationship . The case fell cold for years until investigators re-opened it in 2011 . In 2013, Wyngarden's wife 'cracked and told cops that her husband had admitted to killing the couple but that she had vowed to keep his secret' Pam Wyngarden, defendant's wife, will testify that her husband had confessed to her that he was the killer . Defense will try to prove that Brinks were killed by mistake, and the the real target was the previous owner of their home with links to drug trade .

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Sales of celebrity cookbooks have risen by 250% this year alone . Hairy Bikers knocked E.L James off number one bestsellers lists . Jamie Oliver is Britain’s second biggest-selling author since records began – with total book sales of £126m . From Nigella Lawson's food porn bibles to silver fox Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry baking up a storm on The Great British Bake Off, cooking has never been cooler. But while sales of celebrity cookbooks have risen by 250 per cent this year alone, one in 10 Brits admit to never even opening the ones they buy. Half say that they own more than four books but only pull them off the shelf when they need to make ‘something special’. Although sales of cookbooks are on the rise, one in ten of us admit to never even opening them . And a time-poor five per cent claimed . that while they own a mountain of cookbooks, they don't spend any time . in the kitchen at all. But despite the fact their spines remain unbroken and their recipes untested, it transpires that these beautifully designed, mouthwatering reads are beginning to eclipse other bestsellers. The diet cookbook from The Hairy Bikers, for example, has aroused enough interest to knock Fifty Shades Of Grey off the bestsellers lists. Jamie Oliver is now the second most valuable author of all time, missing out to just J.K Rowling . But despite half of Brits showcasing impressive cookbooks on their shelves, findings reveal that the meals most regularly cooked are traditional classics like spaghetti bolognese (60 per cent), meat and two veg-style roast dinners (54 per cent) and sausage and mash (48 per cent), with only a handful of Brits regularly taking on more exotic dishes such as Thai curry (16 per cent) or paella (10 per cent). The nation's favourite cuisines ranked as Italian (20 per cent), Indian (18 per cent), British fish and chips (17 per cent) and Chinese (15 per cent), however, only 30 per cent of those polled had tried to cook one of their favourite cuisines at home - and a naughty one in ten lied to friends about trying a certain cuisine or ingredients. With the help of celebrity chefs like Heston Blumenthal and Nigella Lawson, sales of celebrity cookbooks have soared by 250 per cent . The Great British Bake Off has become a firm favourite in the nation¿s homes . And it isn't just cookbooks . that are drawing in cooking aficionados, over a quarter of British . foodies admit to tuning in to at least two food programmes a week, with . Masterchef and Great British Bake Off being firm favourites in the . nation’s homes. Not that the nation's TV addiction is rubbing off on their domestic ambitions: despite immersing themselves in celebrity cook books and TV shows, when quizzed on how long they spend preparing and cooking meals, 78 per cent said they managed to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner in less than 30 minutes. 1. JK Rowling . 2. Jamie Oliver . 3. James Patterson . 4. Terry Pratchet . 5. Jacqueline Wilson . 6. Dan Brown . 7. John Grisham . 8. Richard Parsons . 9. Bill Bryson . 10. Delia Smith . 11. Julia Donaldson . 12. Danielle Steele . 13. Stephenie Meyer . 14. Patricia Cornwell . 15. Martina Cole . 16. JRR Tolkien . 17. Bernard Cornwell . 18. Ian Rankin . 19. Nigella Lawson . 20. Alexander McCall Smith . Jason Gissing, co-founder of Ocado, who . carried out the research, said: 'We know that Brits love to buy all of . the latest celebrity cookery books and enjoy watching recipes being . created on TV, but many of us just don’t have the time to recreate . delicious meals for ourselves.' Ocado also predicts that cookbooks are set to . be a staple stocking filler this festive season, including the new . titles from Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson and Heston Blumenthal. Jamie Oliver was recently named as Britain’s second . biggest-selling author since records began – with total book sales of . £126 million. The . Essex-born television chef and school meals campaigner, who has sold . more than 10 million cook books, is ranked second only to Harry Potter . author J K Rowling. Father-of-four Oliver, 37, who is famous . for his ‘Pukka’ catchphrase and whose bestsellers include The Naked . Chef and Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals, is joined on the bestseller list by . some of his culinary rivals. Delia Smith is in tenth place, Nigella Lawson is ranked 19th and Gordon Ramsay is towards the bottom of the chart at 45. Together, the four chefs account for a tasty 40 per cent of all the cook books sold  in Britain since records began in 1998.

Sales of celebrity cookbooks have risen by 250% this year alone . Hairy Bikers knocked E.L James off number one bestsellers lists . Jamie Oliver is Britain’s second biggest-selling author since records began – with total book sales of £126m . Despite our passion for cookbooks we stick to traditional classics like spaghetti bolognese, 'meat . and two veg' roasts and sausage and mash .

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By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 08:58 EST, 19 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:28 EST, 19 August 2013 . A carving of the face of a moustachioed warrior today greeted archaeologists as they raised part of a huge 17th century ship wreck in the English Channel. The head was carved into the 28ft long rudder section of a Dutch trading ship that sunk off Poole, Dorset, nearly 400 years ago. Its accidental discovery by a dredger led to six years of underwater investigations, which prompted experts to hail the find as the most significant since the Mary Rose. A spectacular carving of the face of a moustachioed warrior today greeted archaeologists as they raised part of a huge 17th century ship wreck in the English Channel . Divers found the sizable carving covering the stern and bowcastle of the 130ft-long merchant vessel, which would have been one of the largest of its kind on the seas at the time. It was decked out with opulent carvings of mermen whose eye sockets would have been decorated with precious stones. Other baroque-style carvings, similar to the one on the rudder, were also found on parts of the ship including the gunports. The head was carved into the 28ft long rudder section of a Dutch trading ship that sunk off Poole, Dorset, nearly 400 years ago . Its accidental discovery by a dredger led to six years of underwater investigations, which prompted experts to hail the find as the most significant since the Mary Rose. Here, archaeologist David Parham from Bournemouth University inspects the carving . Marine archaeologists from Bournemouth University have already recovered scores of artefacts from the vessel that is known as the Swash Channel Wreck after the area of sea where it sunk. And after being given a grant of £500,000 from English Heritage, the team today completed the recovery of the five tonne wooden rudder that had become separated from the main hull. Last month divers spent seven days digging the rudder from out of the sea bed and placing a large steel frame around it, similar to the operation that raised the Mary Rose in 1982. Divers (pictured right) found the sizable carving (left) covering the stern and bowcastle of the 130ft long merchant vessel, which would . have been one of the largest of its kind on the seas at the time . Marine archaeologists from Bournemouth University have already recovered scores of artefacts from the vessel that is known as the Swash Channel Wreck after the area of sea where it sunk. The black squares indicate the gunport locations . It was then towed four miles into Poole Harbour where today it was hoisted onto the quayside by a crane in front of the excited team of archaeologists. The baroque facial carving on the end of the rudder shows a military man wearing a classical helmet.It will be constantly sprayed with special chemicals for the next two years to help conserve it. The rudder will then put on display at Poole Museum alongside other artifacts recovered from the wreckage. The rudder is being temporarily stored at Poole docks, before being transported to York. It was towed four miles into Poole Harbour where today it was hoisted onto the quayside (pictured) by a crane in front of the excited team of archaeologists . Dave Parham, a senior lecturer in marine archaeology at Bournemouth University, said: 'Before now we had just seen the rudder underwater where you could only make out a few feet of it at a time. 'So to see it in day light in all its glory is really quite spectacular. 'It is a very large and impressive item itself so you can imagine how spectacular this merchant vessel would have looked. 'Its discovery is an extremely significant one and has given way to one of the largest shipwreck investigations within the UK.' Another carving previously discovered at the wreck of the Dutch trading ship near Poole, Dorset . Unlike the Mary Rose, little is known of the Swash Channel Wreck, including its identity. Tests on the oak wood from it have dated the felling of the timber to 1628 and from forests on the Dutch/German border. Analysis of some of the recovered artefacts date to the middle of the 17th century. This has led the experts to believe the vessel was an armed Dutch trading ship that was either going to or returning from the Mediterranean or the Far East. Analysis of some of the recovered artefacts date to the middle of the 17th century. This has led experts to believe the vessel was an armed Dutch trading ship . It is thought it hit a sandbank in the approaches to Poole Harbour and water flooded its bilges. The ship is then believed to have rolled over and sunk in 22ft of water. Mr Parham said: 'It would have been a very big vessel for its day and the whole vessel would have been a spectacular work or art. 'It was a sign of prestige and wealth. It was making a statement, showing how great and wonderful the owners were. Mr Parham said the ship could be compared to a 17th century version of the luxurious Titanic liner, although the Titanic was ornate for passengers, and not just for those viewing the ship. A carving of a merman is pictured (right) and (wreckage) left . 'They would have been a large Dutch conglomerate, similar to the East India Company. 'It would not have been a million miles from a 17th century version of the Titanic, although the Titanic was ornate for the passengers and not for those on the outside. 'We think it was a Dutch trading ship and would have taken high quality European goods like tweed to the Far East and traded them for things like exotic spices. Archaeologists believe the ship was a sign of prestige and wealth. It was making a statement, showing how great and wonderful the owners were by including lavish baroque carvings such as the one pictured, for example . 'It was either going out or coming back when it sank outside of Poole Harbour. 'We have received a grant to fund the recovery all the material that is at risk of erosion.' So far the team has brought up artefacts including five baroque carvings, ceramic pieces, leather shoes, copper and pewter plates and cups and a bronze compass divider. They have also recovered animal bones of sheep and cows that would have fed the crew. Mr Parnam (pictured) said he has no idea who the male carving on the rudder might be but thinks as it is a moustachioed man with a classical helmet on, it is depicting a military man of some sort . Mr Parham said: 'Last month we spent seven days excavating beneath the rudder in order to put strops around it and lift it into a steel frame. 'It was then moved four miles to the quayside in Poole and lifted out of the water today. 'We have no idea who the male carving on the rudder might be. It is a moustachioed man with a classical helmet on so it is depicting a military man of some sort.' About 40 per cent of the port side of the wreck lies intact on the sea bed but it will be too costly an operation to recover that. About 40 per cent of the port side of the wreck lies intact on the sea bed but it will be too costly an operation to recover that .

Known as Swash Channel Wreck after the area where it sank in Dorset . Archaeologists from Bournemouth University have recovered scores of artefacts including baroque carvings, shoes, plates and a compass divider . The head was carved into the 28ft long rudder section of a Dutch trading ship that sunk nearly 400 years ago .

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Spain defender Sergio Ramos is refusing to wallow in the pain of Friday’s 5-1 drubbing by Holland and will use it instead as a motivation for their next game. The world champions cannot afford to lose against Chile at the Maracana on Wednesday and Ramos insists their Dutch horror show will help them. ‘I’m not going to spend another second thinking about that match,’ said the Real Madrid defender, who was given the runaround by Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Casillas pushed hard in training with Reina and De Gea available . Running out of time? Ramos (centre) trains with Costa (left) and Busquets on Saturday . Is that wheelie appropriate? Sergio Ramos appears to take a break from training and ride his bike . ‘This team has experience and has been through bad times. It has been able to come back from setbacks like this. That makes it great.’ One setback was losing against Switzerland in their first game at the 2010 World Cup, a tournament they went on to win. With Chile beating Australia in their first game, the pressure is on Spain again and Fernando Torres accepts there is little room for error. Spanish inquisition: the defending world champions had plenty to ponder after defeat to Holland . Looking forward: Fernando Torres knows Spain can't afford to drop points against Chile on Wednesday . The Chelsea striker said: ‘Your opponents know you have to win. You can’t afford to draw and they’ll try to make the most of any anxiety we might have.’ Ramos dismissed suggestions that Spain were at a disadvantage against Holland because they had been training in the milder south for a match in steamy Salvador. ‘We are training here in good temperatures, in good conditions and with good facilities,’ he said. ‘If we’d won, you wouldn’t be talking about this subject.’ After his howler against Holland on Friday night, calls have grown in Spain for manager Vicentre Del Bosque to drop keeper Iker Casillas. The pair were spotted talking as Spain trained on Saturday and Casillas certainly didn't look happy after Del Bosque walked away (bottom).

Spain thrashed 5-1 by Holland on Friday in opening World Cup game . World champions lost first game against Switzerland at 2010 World Cup . Fernando Torres admits Spain must now beat Chile on Wednesday .

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(RollingStone.com) -- At the outset of "BAD 25" -- the documentary film celebrating the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's "Bad" album -- director Spike Lee quickly dispenses with talk of the pop superstar's personal struggles, diving right into the artistic perfectionism that drove him to achieve his career milestones. "Hopefully, that's what this documentary is about -- it's gonna have people return to focusing on the music, his art, which I feel is his legacy, in addition to his children," Lee, dressed in a white "BAD 25" T-shirt, told reporters at the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie had its North American premiere there over the weekend, after debuting in Venice 25 years to the day since "Bad's" release. To piece together the making of Jackson's landmark LP, Lee unearthed archival footage from studio sessions and music video shoots and conducted interviews with Jackson's many collaborators, including Quincy Jones, Martin Scorsese, Stevie Wonder and Sheryl Crow, and stars who were inspired by his music, from Kanye West and Mariah Carey to Questlove and Justin Bieber. Michael Jackson: The Essential Playlist . The film, which will get a television premiere on ABC on November 22, follows the making of "Bad" track by track; though it can feel clinical at times, it also revels in cool details, like the origin of Jackson's gravity-defying lean in "Smooth Criminal" and his famous expression, "Shamon!" Then, abruptly, Lee shifts to Jackson's death in the summer of 2009, collecting reactions from his interview subjects, many of whom choke back tears and break down. "Those were all real, raw emotions that were displayed," said Lee. One of the most impactful statements in the documentary comes from music journalist Danyel Smith. "We should all be ashamed," she says. "The way that I interpret that," said Lee, "is that Michael should be with us. He should be here." On Tuesday, Jackson's estate and Epic/Legacy Recordings will release a "BAD 25" CD/DVD deluxe package, with three discs' worth of remastered versions of the LP's original tracks plus bonus material, including previously unreleased songs ("Price of Fame," "Song Groove (A/K/A Abortion Papers)"), the first release of Jackson's 1998 Wembley Stadium concert on DVD, and remixes by EDM artists Nero and Afrojack. Spike Lee makes musical discovery for 'Red Hook Summer' "Listen to the song 'Price of Fame,' which he wrote specifically about the situation," said Lee, holding a copy of the release. "How can you get privacy when you're the most recognizable person on the planet?" "Did you see the disguises he had?" Lee added with a laugh, referring to a moment in the film that shows photographs of Jackson wearing intricate facial disguises. "He had to do that. He couldn't go anywhere in the world without there being a riot. Man, I wouldn't wish that on anybody. He became a prisoner of his fame. I mean, I'm not rewriting Michael's titles, but [the song] could've been [called] 'Prisoner of Fame,' instead of 'Price of Fame.'" To see the full story, visit RollingStone.com. Copyright © 2011 Rolling Stone.

Spike Lee's documentary celebrates the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's "Bad" Lee hopes the doc will encourage people to focus on Jackson's music and art . The movie follows the making of "Bad" track by track . Lee's doc will get a television premiere on ABC November 22 .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:00 EST, 18 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:18 EST, 24 July 2013 . The 84-year-old Powerball winner who won the $590.5 million jackpot in May, has decided to donate $2 million to fix the roof of a Maine high school in her hometown. Gloria MacKenzie pocketed $278 million after taxes and has since bought a $1.2m seaside mansion in Jacksonville, Florida, leaving her with plenty more to spend. The retiree from Maine has offered to write a check to repair Schenck High School's roof, under which her daughter teaches biology, the Bangor Daily News reported. Happy trio: Gloria Mackenzie, the biggest ever USA lottery winner, leaves Crazy Egg restaurant in Florida, alongside her son Scott Mackenzie - toting takeout - and his partner Jerry Cruz. The school's superintendent in East . Millinocket, Quenten Clark, told the paper: 'They want their privacy . respected, so I don't think they will have any comment publicly. East Millinocket was MacKenzie's hometown before she became a Florida resident. 'They . take their heritage to heart when it comes to the town and helping the . town out', school board Chairman Daniel Byron told the paper. The school was built in 1957 and Mr Clark told NBC News' WCSH: 'I think without [the donation], the school was going to die. 'East . Millinocket was not going to have a school in the long run, and I think . with this we'll be able to keep the school going for a while.' MacKenzie, who is the largest ever U.S. lottery winner, . has remained in the shadows since coming forward to claim her prize. She bought her winning ticket May 18 in Zephyrhills, where she lived in a . rental apartment. The school: Lottery winner Gloria Machenzie is donating $2 million to fix the roof on Schenck High School in East Millinocket, Maine (pictured) Her son, Scott, 57, who had a standing agreement to split the . prize with his mother, also lives in Jacksonville. Her new home is located in the gated Glen Kernan Country Club community in Ponte Vedra Beach and overlooks the club's golf course and a lake. Built in 2002, it has a library, a movie theater, closets the size of small bedrooms and a screened-in pool. MailOnline previously reported that Gloria MacKenzie was planning to buy a new home with Scott and his boyfriend, Jerry Cruz, 65, and that the three were planning to live together. Scott MacKenzie's ex-wife had Ella previously told MailOnline, 'The three of them are going to be living together. Scott wanted to move . in with his mom because he was worried about how she would cope on her . own.' Gloria, whose husband Ralph died in 2005, was forced to leave the trailer she had called home for 25 years to move into a run-down $30,000 bungalow in the small town of Zephyrhills, Florida, just one year ago. The retiree from Maine who won a $590.5 million Powerball jackpot in May bought a 6,322-square-foot, five-bedroom home in a gated golf course community in southeast Jacksonville . Old life: The door on the left is Mrs Mackenzie's home. Before her lottery win, she lived in this squat, modest duplex with a tin roof in Zephyhills, Florida . She had pledged to split the winnings . with son Scott, as she was with him when she . bought the $2 ticket at a Zephyrhills supermarket on May 18. Gloria . has two sons, Larry and Scott, and two daughters, Melinda – known as . Mindy – and Jaimie, and grandchildren Matthew, Alex, Scott and Lindsay, . and two great-grandchildren, Victoria and Ethan. Most . of her family remain in her home state of Maine and it remains unknown . how, or if, she plans to share the jackpot with them. According to lottery officials, Gloria opted to receive the lump sum of $278,172,585.40 48 hours after discovering she had won. Gloria’s winning numbers, using random selection, were 10, 13, 14, 22 and 52, with a Powerball of 11. Cheap eats: Lottery winner Gloria Mackenzie, her son Scott and his boyfriend Jerry leave Joe's Crab Shack in Florida. Schoolgirl: Gloria Mackenzie seen as a shy schoolgirl nicknamed Squeaky. Gloria - born Gloria Perry - went to school at the tiny Sherman High School in her home town of Sherman, Maine, where she graduated in 1946 .

Gloria MacKenzie became largest ever lottery winner the U.S. in May . She bought a $1.2m seaside mansion in Jacksonville, Florida . She previously lived in a squat duplex with a tin roof .

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Washington (CNN) -- The United States and Russia completed a spy swap Friday, exchanging the agents on chartered planes at an airport in Vienna, Austria, a U.S. official and Russian media said. The plane carrying 10 Russian agents, who were expelled from the United States on Thursday for intelligence gathering, landed at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport on Friday afternoon, the airport press office said. "The United States has successfully transferred 10 Russian agents to the Russian Federation and the Russian Federation has released four individuals who had been incarcerated in Russia," Dean Boyd, a spokesman for the National Security Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, said in a statement released as the plane landed in Moscow. "The exchange of these individuals ... has been completed." The elaborately choreographed transfer -- which took place while the planes sat on the ground for about an hour -- was reminiscent of a scene from the Cold War. The White House was first briefed in general terms in February by the FBI, the CIA and the Department of Justice about the program and some of the individuals involved, a White House official said. Additional briefings occurred in subsequent months, the official said. President Obama was first briefed on the matter on June 11 and given details of the individuals involved over the past decade. A week later, Obama chaired a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the issue. The idea of a swap was discussed among the administration's national security team before the arrests were made, the official said. The four individuals freed by the Russians were selected based on humanitarian concerns, health concerns, and other reasons, the official said. The 10 Russian agents pleaded guilty in the United States on Thursday for failing to register as foreign agents and were ordered out of the country. They then boarded a U.S.-chartered flight accompanied by U.S. marshals, a federal law enforcement source said. "As a result of the successful exchange ... the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York has requested that the court dismiss any remaining charges against the 10 Russian agents," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said Friday. In Washington, Attorney General Eric Holder said none of the 10 had passed classified information and therefore none had been charged with espionage. "They were acting as agents to a foreign power," he told CBS News, referring to the Russians who, U.S. officials have said, had been under observation by federal authorities for more than a decade. Four young children of the Russian agents are now in Russia, according to attorneys for the agents. Two older children are no longer in the United States, though their exact location is unknown. Another two older children have remained in America, the attorneys indicated. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel told PBS' "NewsHour" that although the 10 agents didn't plead guilty to being spies, they "were clearly caught in the business of spying." In a conference call with reporters, senior administration officials said the agents agreed never to return to the United States without permission from the U.S. government. Holding them would have conferred no security benefit to the nation, they said. This "clearly serves the interests of the United States," one official said. A second official said the four prisoners in Russia were in failing health, a consideration that prompted quick completion of the deal. Under the plea agreements, the defendants disclosed their true identities in court and forfeited assets attributable to the criminal offenses, the Justice Department said in a news release. "Defendants Vicky Pelaez, Anna Chapman and Mikhail Semenko, who operated in the United States under their true names, admitted that they are agents of the Russian Federation; and Chapman and Semenko admitted they are Russian citizens," the Justice Department said. Carlos Moreno, an attorney for Pelaez, said his client does not want to take up residence in Russia and would prefer ultimately to live in her native Peru or in Brazil, where she has family. Pelaez hopes to continue her work as a journalist, according to Moreno. Pelaez told the court that Moscow promised her free housing in Russia and a $2,000 monthly stipend for life, as well as visas for her children to travel to see her. Pelaez and her husband, both naturalized American citizens, were stripped of that citizenship as a part of the plea deal. Authorities have lost track of an 11th suspect, who was detained in Cyprus, released on bail, and then failed to check in with authorities as he had promised to do. In Moscow, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree Friday pardoning the four Russians imprisoned for alleged contact with Western intelligence agencies, the Kremlin press service said, according to state-run RIA Novosti. "Three of the Russian prisoners were convicted of treason in the form of espionage on behalf of a foreign power and are serving lengthy prison terms," the Justice Department said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood, who handled the case in the United States. "The Russian prisoners have all served a number of years in prison and some are in poor health. The Russian government has agreed to release the Russian prisoners and their family members for resettlement." It added, "Some of the Russian prisoners worked for the Russian military, and/or for various Russian intelligence agencies. Three of the Russian prisoners have been accused by Russia of contacting Western intelligence agencies while they were working for the Russian (or Soviet) government." The individuals pardoned by Russia are Alexander Zaporozhsky, Gennady Vasilenko, Sergei Skripal, and Igor Sutyagin. All four appealed to the Russian president to free them after admitting their crimes against the Russian state, press secretary Natalia Timakova said. But in Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner denied Thursday that Sutyagin had been a spy. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the move was made "in the general context of improving Russian-American relations, and the new dynamic they have been given, in the spirit of basic agreements at the highest level between Moscow and Washington on the strategic character of Russian-American partnership." CNN's Dugald McConnell and Suzanne Malveaux contributed to this report .

NEW: Spy swap idea originated with the U.S. Six children of Russian agents have left the U.S., attorneys say . U.S. and Russia complete spy swap at Vienna airport . Moscow airport confirms plane landed with 10 Russian agents aboard .

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By . Paul Bentley . PUBLISHED: . 07:33 EST, 28 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 21:13 EST, 28 December 2012 . Best friends: The clever and sociable dog and his handler PC Matt Holding are the most successful partnership of 2012 . Scroll down for video . He has battled rioting yobs, found a missing girl and has an unrivalled record for the number of arrests he has made this year. And the police officer who looks after Visco the dog isn’t bad at his job either. The four-year-old German shepherd, pictured in training, is said to be Britain’s best police dog after making 142 arrests in 2012 alongside his handler. Among those Visco has snared is an English Defence League protester who smashed a female police officer over the back of her head. The dog was kicked and punched in the process of detaining the culprit, but avoided serious injury. Last month, he used his impeccable tracking skills to find a missing girl who had wandered off after a serious car crash. ‘I have an exceptional bond with Visco,’ said PC Matt Holding, of Staffordshire Police, who was partnered with Visco in 2009. ‘We depend on each other. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and we know our limits. But he can be frustrating sometimes. A dog’s mental capacity is a bit like that of an 18-month-old baby, it constantly wants attention. He just wants to work all the time. 'A dog's mental capacity is a bit like that of an 18-month-old baby, it . constantly wants attention. But he is one of the family.' The German Shepherd lives in kennels at the home of dog support unit inspector PC Chris Dawson and his partner Jo Willis, who is also a dog handler looks and after Solo. The couple met through the unit in 2008 and now have three . daughters, Millie, eight, Hattie, five, and Isla, three. Last month Visco and PC Holding, who lives with his partner were awarded a Divisional Commendation Award for their sterling work. Visco, who will be five years old in February, lives outside their house with Solo, but the competitive canines have a slightly strained relationship, despite being friendly dogs. It was by chance that Visco formed his winning partnership with PC Holding. The officer was originally assigned to another dog when he joined the unit in . 2008, but the animal was sent to the military because of behavioural problems. Solving mysteries: Visco has always held the advanced licence, which judges the pair on the dog's obedience and the control the handler has over the animal . PC Holdingand Visco trained for three months together before they were ready for action and the dogs licence is now reissued each year. He has always held the advanced licence, which judges the pair on the . dog's obedience and the control the handler has over the dog. Together they have experienced an array of testing situations, . but one in particular stands out for PC Holding. He said: 'Back in 2009 we were called to attend an English Defence . League march in Hanley, Stoke-on Trent where more than 100 members were . involved. 'We were being attacked from the front and back as well as trying to . protect some of the officers when a male protester struck a female . officer on the back of the head. 'I monitored him until I saw him get out of hand again. Then I deployed Visco to detain him. Pure talent: Dog support inspector Chris Dawson puts Visco through his paces. The clever dog has detained and arrested almost one criminal every three days . 'Visco was kicked and punched in the process but luckily he wasn't . injured seriously and was able to detain the offender who was then . arrested and convicted for violent disorder. 'I think he was given two-and-a-half years in the end and the judge . commended mine and Visco's bravery. I think that has been the biggest . demand on the pair of us just because of the sheer volatility of the . people involved.' Only last week, they had another success in finding a missing girl. PC Holding said: 'She was in a serious car crash and sustained injuries but . managed to get out and wander off before we could get there. 'Visco was able to track and we got her back safe and sound. Without the dog, it would have taken a lot longer. 'It can take a dog just 30 minutes to pick up a track but obviously it . depends on the circumstances. I find tracking the most rewarding because . it heavily relies on you as a team.' Tough cookie: Visco was kicked and punched during an English Defence League protest - but managed to detain the offender, who was convicted for violent disorder . 'You realise how having a dog helps solve so many more crimes. Without a police dog you perhaps wouldn't catch as many suspects. 'For the Visco it's fun, training and work is like playing in the park for him. 'For everything he does successfully I reward him with a ball or something like that. Rarely a snack though.' Together they work shift patterns of six days on, four days off in one . of the most successful police dog support units in the country. PC Holding suggested their success could be due to the area they cover and type of crimes that are committed. The unit also consists of 12 specialist dogs, who are trained to search for a variety of substances and articles. Some are trained to search for explosives only and are used to scan . suspicious packages and carry out searches of areas prior to the arrival . of persons such as Ministers and the Royal Family. On the scent: Just last week, the duo had another success in finding a missing girl and bringing her home . Other dogs are used to search for drugs and firearms. Some have additional skills to search for cash. So far this year, the unit has carried out 365 searches for drugs, firearms and cash. One dog in particular, Springer Spaniel Alfie, has had immense success along with handler PC Julie Hargreaves. This year, Alfie's best finds include a single stash of cannabis to the . value of £150,000 and £200,000 cash hidden in a car. The vehicle had . been searched several times by police officers and it was not until . Alfie had a go that the cash was found in a secret location. PC Holding and Visco were awarded the Divisional Commendation Award last . Tuesday for their good work, continued excellent performance, . motivation and achievement. PC Dawson said: 'In training Visco . fares very well in comparison to the other dogs, especially with the . guidance of his handler. They really put the practice in and we're . really proud.'

The law-enforcing hound has detained at least one criminal every three days . Visco has always held an advanced licence for his policing skills . He was commended for bravery after helping to arrest a violent protester . Just last week, the clever dog brought a missing girl home to safety .

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By . John Drayton . Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has got mud all over his face - as he posted a photo on Twitter standing outside a health spa with a face mask on. The forward was in a dressing gown with his arms aloft as he enjoys his time off following a dismal World Cup for Portugal. He posted a picture of himself and his girlfriend Irina Shayk about to board a helicopter earlier in the week as he relaxes on holiday. VIDEO Scroll down to watch the sizzling Irina Shayk during photo shoots . Mud on your face: Ronaldo poses with his arms aloft in a dressing gown outside of health spa . Flying high: Cristiano Ronaldo poses with girlfriend Irina Shayk ahead of his early morning ride . Posers: Cristiano Ronaldo (left) pictured in a selfie with Russian model girlfriend Irina Shayk (right) Despair: Cristiano Ronaldo looks upset during Portugal's elimination at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil . Magazine shoot: Ronaldo's model girlfriend Shayk stripped off for New York-based Maxim magazine . Jetting off: Ronaldo headed to the Greek island of Mykonos to relax before the new season . VIDEO Ronaldo scoring goals for Portugal . The former Manchester United ace is currently relaxing on holiday with Russian beauty Shayk ahead of the new season. Last season's La Liga top goal scorer has been afforded some extra time off before he starts pre-season training with Spanish giants Real Madrid due to Portugal's early elimination from the World Cup. The 29-year-old was pictured leaving Greek island Mykonos with several members of his family early last week. Flawless: Irina displayed her incredible figure in a racy new shoot for Maxim magazine .

Ronaldo posted a photo on Twitter showing him standing outside spa . He was wearing a mud pack on his face and standing in a dressing gown . Cristiano Ronaldo and Irina Shayk pictured standing next to helicopter . Real Madrid star Ronaldo on holiday after Portugal's early World Cup exit . Portugal were knocked out of World Cup in the group stage .

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FIFA 15 will see Lionel Messi, Eden Hazard and Neymar look even more like their real-life counterparts than ever before. No stone has been left unturned in EA Sports’ quest to make the game as authentic and realistic as possible as their new trailer shows. Aside from the players looking frighteningly like the real thing, there are new features such as visual breathing and hair movements. Better: FIFA 15 looks set to become the most realistic in the game's history when it's released . Spot the difference! Eden Hazard looks almost identical on the game (left) as he does when playing for Chelsea . Detail: EA chiefs have gone to extreme lengths to get the players' faces exactly as they are in real life . Recognise me? Clint Dempsey looks like the real thing in the game . Wind through: Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani''s hair will wave as the weather dictates in-play . The . attention to detail involved in the development of this year’s edition . looks set to make it the most accurate simulation of the beautiful game . yet. Boots and slide tackles will leave marks on the ground and the playing surface will tear up as the game progresses. The . focus this year appears to be on lots of subtle amendments to enhance . the overall gaming experience; the corner flags will move if hit for the . first time and crossbars will rattle on impact. The kits will become visibly dirty with mud and grass throughout the game and move realistically. In terms of overall feel EA sports claim new character models and body rigging will make players more powerful and athletic. Whether that promise comes to fruition remains to be seen but you have to admit the new visuals look very, very impressive. Attention to detail: Lionel Messi's face recognition looks as similar as possible to the real thing for Barcelona . The Yellow Wall: Borussia Dortmund's Westfalenstadion looks resplendent on the footage released early . Is that really him? Tottenham Hotspur and Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen on FIFA 15 . Plenty of that is done! Supporters celebrate inside the Bernabeu while hosts Real Madrid play .

New EA Sports game is out in September . Host of big names feature in the trailer, including Yaya Toure, Jan Vertonghen, David Silva and Edinson Cavani .

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Buildings of the future may have mirrors that reflect sunlight into space to keep them cool. Developers of the new technology hope the concept could lead to a cheaper and more sustainable form of air conditioning. Their incredibly thin material offloads heat from the sun into space in the form of infrared radiation, and could keep buildings 5°C (9°F) cooler than the surrounding air during the day. Scientists at Stanford University in California have created an ultra-reflective mirror. The incredibly thin material reflects infrared light from buildings (illustration shown), and it could be placed on top of buildings to keep them cool in hot weather by reflecting infrared radiation into space . The technology was developed by scientists at Stanford University in California. It consists of a multi-layered material that is just 1.8 millionths of a metre thick, thinner than the thinnest aluminium foil. This material is made of seven layers of silicon dioxide and hafnium oxide on top of a layer of silver. Heat can be transferred in three ways: conduction, convection and radiation. This material deals with the latter, reflecting infrared light directly into space. The ultrathin coating was carefully constructed to send this infrared light away from buildings at the precise frequency that allows it to pass through the atmosphere without warming the air, a key feature given the dangers of global warming. Professor Shanhui Fan of Stanford University said it was 'like having a window into space'. The coating prevents 97 per cent of sunlight from striking the building and heating it up. This can make the building 5°C (9°F) cooler than the surrounding air during the day. The internal structure of the material radiates incoming infrared rays back into space. Invisible light in the form of infrared radiation is one of the ways that all objects and living things throw off heat. For example, when standing in front of an oven without touching it, the heat felt is infrared light. Sunshine, in a similar way, radiates heat to Earth and can significantly warm buildings in the hottest parts of the world unless they have air conditioning. This cheaper method would prevent electricity needing to be used for air conditioning, and would instead just constantly keep buildings cool. About 15 per cent of energy used in buildings in the US is apparently spent powering air conditioning systems. The material would need to be installed on the roof of a building, where it would reflect heat straight back up into space. The new material reflects 97% of sunlight, making the building 5°C (9°F) cooler than the surrounding air. They say it is a cheaper solution to air conditioning (stock image shown) as the planet warms . As it is highly reflective, placing it on the side of buildings would probably not be an option, as it would radiate heat onto the ground and potentially heat up populated areas such as cities. But its potential for use on the top of buildings is obvious, and the team also think it could be used as a spray-on material to make objects more able to withstand the elements. The researchers said that as the planet gets warmer, such cooling technologies that don't require power might become more commonplace. 'Across the developing world, photonic radiative cooling makes off-grid cooling a possibility in rural regions, in addition to meeting skyrocketing demand for air conditioning in urban areas,' said lead author Dr Aaswath Raman. Right now the Stanford team's prototype is the size of a personal pizza, but cooling buildings will require larger panels. The researchers say there exist large-area fabrication facilities that can make their panels at the scales needed, which will be needed before the prototype can be developed further. More broadly, the team sees this project as a first step toward using the cold of space as a resource. In the same way that sunlight provides a renewable source of solar energy, the cold universe supplies a nearly unlimited expanse to dump heat. 'Every object that produces heat has to dump that heat into a heat sink,' Professor Fan said. 'What we've done is to create a way that should allow us to use the coldness of the universe as a heat sink during the day.'

Scientists at Stanford University in California create ultra-reflective mirror . The incredibly thin material reflects infrared light from buildings . It could be placed on top of buildings to keep them cool in hot weather . The material reflects 97% of sunlight, making the building 5°C (9°F) cooler than the surrounding air . They say it is a cheaper solution to air conditioning as the planet warms .

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A Labour MP is on the verge of defecting to UKIP, Douglas Carswell claimed today. The former Tory MP who easily won the Clacton by-election after switching parties said it was 'looking very promising' that a Labour MP would be next to join him. Labour leader Ed Miliband today sought to rescue his crisis-hit leadership with a fresh promise of an immigration crackdown, after UKIP also came within 617 votes of winning the safe Labour seat of Heywood and Middleton on Thursday night. Scroll down for video . Ed Miliband (left) has announced new immigration measures after conceding UKIP is a threat to the Labour party, but new UKIP MP Douglas Carswell, pictured arriving at the BBC today, claims a Labour MP could be next to defect . Mr Carswell's surprise defection in August sent shockwaves through Westminster, and within weeks was followed by fellow Mark Reckless, the MP for Rochester and Strood. Attention had been focused on Tory MPs and their willingness to change parties, fearing a UKIP surge in their constituencies would cost them their seat in Parliament. However, the Heywood result and growing unease about Mr Miliband's leadership mean UKIP leader Nigel Farage now has his sights set on wooing Labour MPs to cross the floor. Mr Carswells revealed that within hours of his Clacton by-election triumph, he took a call from a Labour MP poised to jump. Speaking on Friday, he said: 'A member of the parliamentary Labour party called me this morning and we had a chat about them coming over. 'It's looking very promising,' he told The Sunday Times. 'For years and years and years, like monopolistic businesses, they assumed the customers had nowhere else to go. Ed Miliband has been urged to copy Tony Blair by having people with broader appeal around him, such as Gordon Brown and John Prescott . Ed Miliband must get out of his 'north London comfort zone' or he will not win the election, Labour MP John Mann warned today. He urged the Labour leader to appoint a wide slate of MPs to his frontbench, in the way that Tony Blair put up with Gordon Brown and John Prescott because they broadened New Labour's appeal. Mr Mann said Mr Miliband’s article would not persuade a sceptical country he was taking action to deal with immigration. Labour MP John Mann . He told MailOnline: 'We need to see demonstrable evidence of a change of attitude. 'He has to move outside his north London comfort zone. Tony Blair had Brown, who he clearly couldn’t stand, and Prescott, who is not a natural dining partner, as his key lieutenants. 'Blair’s wasn’t particularly comfortable with either Brown or Prescott but he understood that represented areas of the electorate that he didn’t feel comfortable with. ‘Miliband isn’t doing it, that’s Miliband’s problem. ‘If he doesn’t succeed in getting outside his comfort zone, he will not be Prime Minister.' 'Then UKIP came along. For years and years they assumed that their own party had nowhere else to go. Well, guess what, guys, they do.' Today he told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show he hoped there would be more Tory MPs joining UKIP. But he stressed: 'UKIP is not the Conservative party in exile. I try to work with MPs from all parties. I am primarily interested in making sure voters make the journey I have made.' He refused to confirm or deny that veteran Labour MP Austin Mitchell was poised to defect. 'Austin Mitchell has been saying that for many years and on that I think he's proved ahead of his time,' Mr Carswell said. 'I try and work with MPs of all parties but I'm primarily interested in trying to make sure that voters make the journey that I have made. 'This isn't about which 650 politicians make their journey.' He likened the Tory party to struggling music shop HMV, with UKIP acting like the online music-streaming service Spotify. 'I think it’s a little bit like HMV music, once ubiquitous when it came to buying music. 'The way the Tory Party is retailing politics is like the way HMV retailed music: it’s a defunct retail model. 'I argued that we needed to Spotify politics, we ought to make the Conservative Party a bit more like Spotify, but the Conservative Party can’t change and won’t change because there are too many vested interests that are against recall, against open primary, against direct democracy, against change. 'Why? Because if we had direct democracy many members of the Conservative Party and the leadership would be replaced.' In an attempt to shore up his troubled leadership, Mr Miliband today pledged tougher measures for migrants coming to Britain saying they will have to be able to speak English and must earn the right to claim benefits. The Labour leader announced the policy just days after the party only narrowly won last week's Heywood and Middleton by-election in the former Labour stronghold, where it hung on with a wafer-thin majority over Ukip. Mr Miliband has been accused by some party members of not doing enough to combat the threat of Ukip with Andrew MacKinlay, the former MP for Thurrock, saying the party's dismal performance 'was not the performance of a Government-in-waiting'. But today writing in the Observer, Mr Miliband says he recognises that Ukip is a threat that the Labour party cannot ignore as immigration has 'changed the face of many communitites.' He then went on to explain the new immigration measures were an attempt to tackle the issue in a 'hard-headed fashion'. The paper reports that sources say the new measures would include extending the period that EU migrants must wait before they can claim unemployment benefits to six months and imposing language tests on those applying for certain public sector jobs. Mr Miliband wrote: 'Our task is to turn the despair and cynicism on which Ukip thrives into a positive force for change. We can only do so if we understand that many people are turning to Ukip because of disappointment with Conservative and Labour governments. 'I will not cede the issue of immigration to those offering fear or falsehood. So I will continue to chart a new way forward, combining stronger border controls and laws to stop the exploitation that has undermined wages of local workers, with reforms to ensure those who come here speak English and earn the right to any benefit entitlements. 'Such measures are part of a compelling and credible plan for Britain's future that will restore the values people believe in – contribution, responsibility, fairness – to the way our country is run.' Ukip have risen dramatically in the polls since April 2012 when they languished on 9% with little hope of an MP . The pledges come after concerns Nigel Farage and UKIP are gaining massive support in traditional Labour heartlands. Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman today insisted there was no 'wobble' in the Labour ranks and denied a leadership change would be required despite concerns about how voters view the party and huge Ukip gains in Heywood and Middleton. She told BBC 1's Andrew Marr Show: 'There's not a wobble in the ranks and nor should there be. 'Obviously we're very pleased we've got a new Labour MP and it was evident there was a collapse in confidence in the Tories and the Lib Dems but that doesn't make us complacent because the result was very close. 'But I think what is absolutely evident is that the anger and concern that there is amongst people when they're being told the recovery has arrived and yet they're not getting better off, and feeling disconnected from politics, that is being picked up on by Ukip but actually Ukip, although they're tapping into that sense of despair, they don't provide the answers.' Asked if there was any chance that Labour would change its leader before the general election, Ms Harman said: 'No, absolutely not. We always knew and Ed Miliband knew, the whole party knew it would be a very tough challenge after we were defeated in 2010 to be in contention to be in government and to have a Labour prime minister in 2015.' She added: 'We are not going to have a wobble or a leadership change.' Labour MP Graham Stringer says Mr Miliband's team have now idea how to combat Nigel Farage's, pictured, 'street fighting' political skill . One northern Labour MP, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Mail on Sunday: 'If Miliband cared to ask me, I could tell him why Ukip is picking up votes in northern constituencies. It is because if a single mother with a child is in a queue for council housing, she will find that an East European family with three children can jump ahead of her. 'And if she goes to the local GPs, the same East European families will have taken all the appointments. Anyone who utters that kind of sentiment is denounced as a racist. It is nothing of the sort: it is the truth.' Meanwhile another MP, Graham Stringer, said Labour could lose the General Election because Mr Miliband's team had no idea how to combat Nigel Farage's 'street-fighting' political skill. Mr Stringer, who took part in the Heywood campaign,said he was shocked by the hostility to Labour on the doorstep. 'We came extremely close to losing the seat,' he said. 'The ministerial bag-carriers who now run the Labour Party have no idea how to manage the bare-knuckle street-fighting which is Farage's speciality. 'The seat nearly fell – and the General Election could be lost for the same reason – because we are not tackling people's feeling of unfairness over immigration and the effect it is having on schools, housing and hospitals. 'The team around Ed Miliband have this aversion to even discussing immigration because they are so ideologically wedded to the EU and its open borders policy.'

New UKIP MP Douglas Carswell predicts more defections from other parties . Was called by a Labour MP on the morning after his by-election victory . Miliband warned he must 'get out of north London comfort zone' or lose . Pressure mounts on Miliband after holding safe seat by just 617 votes . The Labour leader says migrants have to earn right to claim benefits .

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A glamour model has spoken of how her career was shattered in an instant when she was paralysed in a freak accident while out clubbing. Lolly Mack, 40, from North London, was left in a wheelchair and with severely limited movement in her upper body when a fellow clubber high on drink and drugs fell from a balcony and landed directly on top of her. She said: ‘I didn't want to live at . first after being told I would need 24 hour care, using a catheter and . being washed and dressed. Lolly Mack, 40, a former glamour model, was paralysed from the neck down when a man fell from a balcony and landed on top of her in a nightclub in London in 2004 . ‘But my family said “let's fight this until one day you get back on your feet again”. From that day I just thought that is it! Fight it will be!’ She is now on a huge fundraising drive to raise funds into spinal research in the hope like people such as her will one day be able to walk again. Ms Mack, who was just 30 at the time, was in a nightclub in Central London in 2004 when Philip Brady, who had been taking ecstasy and drinking heavily, landed on top of her. She says she felt a sudden ‘thud’ on her neck and shoulders and fell to the ground as she was hit by the 6ft 3ins man. 'My initial thought was that I'd been punched and I remember falling backwards,' she says. 'But when I hit the floor I knew something was dreadfully wrong as I could do nothing other than blink. Ms Mack, who was 30 at the time of the accident, suffered a broken neck and her spinal cord was compressed. She had emergency surgery to stabilise her neck and then spent ten months in rehabilitation (pictured) Ms Mack (pictured in hospital) has regained some of the movement in her arms but she is still unable to move her legs or her wrists and hands. She says she has lost her independence and needs carers to help her wash and dress . 'My friends were encouraging me to get up, but I became increasingly distressed as I realised I couldn't.' Ms Mack, who appeared on MTV as well a model in various national newspapers, was rushed to King's College Hospital in south London, where she underwent six hours of emergency surgery to stabilise her neck. She was told her neck had been broken and her spinal cord compressed. She told MailOnline: 'I think there was something telling me not to go out that night - I didn't really want to go and my gut feeling was that I shouldn't. 'But I didn't want to let my boyfriend down so I went anyway.' She added: 'I knew immediately something was terribly wrong when I was lying on the floor. It was completely terrifying. 'The first thing I asked the paramedics was if I was going to be in a wheelchair but they said it was too soon to say. Ms Mack (pictured, left, before the accident) says that when she realised the extent of her injuries she initially thought she did not want to live any more . Ms Mack (pictured with friends) now focuses on raising awareness of spinal injuries and on raising money for research into a cure for these injuries . 'Being in the hospital was daunting - it was like a scene from Casualty. I knew by that point that it was quite serious.' The day after her injury, Ms Mack was moved to Stoke Mandeville Hospital, in Buckinghamshire, where she spent 10 months in rehabilitation. When she arrived at the hospital she was unable to move anything other than her head. She said: 'I thought I couldn't live like that. I thought it was the end of my life. I was crying buckets. 'I was not accepting it, I didn't want to hear about it and I was in denial. I think most people feel suicidal in that position. It was awful.' Ms Mack (pictured in rehabilitation) says her dream is to eventually walk again and to regain her independence . Despite the treatment and a strict exercise regime, she only regained some of the movement in her arms and none of the movement in her legs. And while she can now move her arms a little, she is still unable to move her wrists or her hands. She lives with her family and has carers who come in every day to help her wash and dress. She also suffers from neuropathic pain - pain caused by a problem with the signals from the nerves - 24 hours a day, from the shoulders down. Mr Brady was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and was jailed for two years. Ms Mack told MailOnline: 'I don't let him ruin my life - I don't think about it. He was never really apologetic but I don't wish bad upon him and I don't want to be ruined by anger. Philip Brady, the man who fell on Ms Mack, was found guilty of causing GBH and was jailed for two years . 'I do sometimes wonder what I did to deserve it, you think "why me?". 'I had so many gut instincts telling me not to go out but I ignored them - it happened and there is nothing I can do about that now.' She now dedicates her time to raising awareness of spinal cord injuries and to raising money for research into a cure. She said: 'My hope and my dream is getting back on my feet and regaining my independence. 'We rely on as much money being raised as possible - it is all about finding a cure. 'I live my life to the fullest I can - I love travelling, beauty, and I have even met a new guy which I am really happy about. Ms Mack (pictured in hospital) says she does her best to live life to the full despite her injury . 'I am trying to have as many fun, happy times as possible while waiting for a cure. 'I can still have fun and enjoy life and be grateful that I wasn't killed but I have great hope as I know it's not a case of if we find a cure, it's a case of when.' On May 31 Ms Mack will be holding an event in Central London to raise money for the charity Spinal Research. Tickets are on sale for £60 and the party will be held at the Yager Bar near St Paul's Cathedral where there will be champagne, canapes and performances from a range of musicians. Call Freda Burton 07770 418482 or Michelle Marsh at Spinal Research on 01483 898786 to buy tickets. Alternatively, visit the Spinal Research website.

Lolly Mack was in a nightclub in 2004 when Philip Brady fell on her . The 6ft 3ins man was drunk and on drugs when he landed directly on her . Ms Mack's neck was broken and her spinal cord was compressed . She had to have emergency surgery and spent ten months in rehabilitation . She has been left in a wheelchair and with limited upper body movement . She now tries to raise awareness of spinal cord injuries and to raise money for research into a cure .

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By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 22:32 EST, 6 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:02 EST, 7 March 2014 . Several UK airports have been selling a magazine which contains an article explaining how to build a bomb while you wait for your flight. According to the feature in Wonderpedia, which was written by Evan Booth, 31, from North Carolina, £120 of items can be bought in duty free after passing security which can be used to make explosives. It goes on to explain where in the airport you can go to build a suitcase bomb, shotgun and even a crossbow. UK airports have been selling a magazine which contains an article explaining how to build a bomb while you wait for your flight . Bosses at BAA have ordered the magazine which costs £3.25 to be removed from shelves in WHSmith. The magazine was also being sold at Gatwick, Luton and Stansted airports. WHSmith has said it has contacted the publisher about the magazine. Publisher H Bauer told The Sun: 'Our aticle was simply an analysis of independent research which had been published on and offline over the last several months. The publisher said Wonderpedia acted 'entirely responsibly' because it had edited the original research. Bosses at BAA have ordered the magazine which costs £3.25 to be removed from shelves in WHSmith . WHSmith has said it has contacted the publisher about the magazine . The feature appeared in Wonderpedia (right) and was written by Evan Booth, 31, from North Carolina (left)

The feature appeared in technology and science magazine Wonderperdia . It lists items which can be bought in duty free to make explosives . Magazine pulled from WHSmith at Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted .

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By . Ray Massey . Britain is facing a growing £12billion bill to fix the nation’s potholes - made worse by the record rainfall and flooding this winter, a report reveals today. It says the ‘catch-up’ cost of getting local roads back to a reasonable state has now soared by £1.5billion in a single year because of the deluge. And that is despite extra cash and effort to fill more than two million potholes across England and Wales over the last 12 months. Britain is facing a growing £12billion bill to fix the nation's potholes - made worse by the record rainfall and flooding this winter, a report reveals today . Compensation claims for car damage and injury caused by potholed or badly maintained roads now cost taxpayers £32 million a year and have soared by nearly 20 per cent in England and by 66 per cent in Wales. It would now take 12 years to clear the road repair backlog in England and Wales and 14 years in London, says the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey carried out by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA). Motoring groups said it was time to end the ‘sticking plaster’ and ‘patch and mend’ approach. Councils in England said the cost of restoring roads to a reasonable condition had risen 30per cent since last year to an average of £90million per authority. In his Budget last month, Chancellor George Osborne announced an extra £200million to repair potholes in 2014-15 . And Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced £183.5million emergency funding to help with road repairs following ‘the wettest winter on record’. He said the cash would pay for the repair of 3.3million potholes. But motoring groups said this was ‘a sticking plaster not a cure’. It would now take 12 years to clear the road repair backlog in England and Wales and 14 years in London, says the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey carried out by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) The AIA said the record winter rainfall had undone much of the pothole work done over the last 12 months with up to two thirds (65per cent) of local authorities in England affected by the winter deluge. Compensation claims for personal injury or damage to vehicles has increased by nearly 20 per cent over the last year to an average of 540 per local authority in England - up from 452 last year. This excludes London where the figures remain the same at 126 per authority. But in Wales claims have shot up by 66 per cent to 141 per council - up from 80 last year. The total cost of compensation claims . caused by poor road condition across England and Wales over the last . year topped £31.6million, of which £16.6million was for claim pay-outs . to motorists and other road users with the remaining £15million - up . from £13million the previous year - caused by the rising council . staff-costs of processing the claims. AIA . chairman Alan Mackenzie said the figures were ‘disappointing’ for . everyone who has worked to improve the roads: ‘To see that work washed . away is discouraging to say the least.’ RAC technical director David Bizley said it was ‘no great surprise’ that the catch up cost of getting roads in order had risen. And . AA president Edmund King said voters should take note: ‘It is . unacceptable that each winter, whether it is frost or rain, our roads . are crumbling and give way too easily. Bad surfaces with millions of . potholes can cause death and injury especially to those on two wheels . and lead to expensive damage and insurance claims.’ Compensation claims for car damage and injury caused by potholed or badly maintained roads now cost taxpayers £32 million a year . The Local Government Association said the country was facing a 'roads crisis escalating at an alarming pace'. Peter Box, chairman of the LGA’s economy and transport board, said: 'Councils have long warned that our already dilapidated road network could not cope with another extreme winter and the unprecedented recent flooding experienced across the country has left behind a trail of destruction to our highways.' The Government’s promised extra funding was welcome 'but it is simply not enough to free councils trapped in an endless cycle of only being able to patch up our deteriorating network. This will always be more expensive than longer-term preventative work,' he added. ‘This country is now facing a roads crisis escalating at an alarming pace with every bout of severe weather and following years of underfunding.’ He noted: ‘Our roads are now in such disrepair that it will take more than a decade and £12billion to bring them up to scratch.’ A Department for Transport spokesman said it had increased funding by more than 27 per cent this parliament 'to help councils tackle potholes', adding: 'We are providing councils in England with more than £10billion from 2010 to 2021 for local highway maintenance'. This includes an extra £183.5million 'specifically to help areas damaged by bad weather this winter.' The spokesman said: ''This long-term funding will help councils maintain their roads effectively. It is now important for local government to understand how any suggested backlog has increased and what measures councils can take to address it.' 1.5 inches (40mm)- the official guidance depth for a hole which constitutes a pothole . £52 - average cost of filling a pothole in England and Wales (£70 in London) 2 million (2,010,748) -number of potholes filled over past year . 15,195 - average number of potholes filled per English council last year (3,602 in London, 6,730 in Wales) £107million - total spent filling potholes in past year . £12billion - estimated one time 'catch-up' cost to get road conditions reasonable . £1.5billion - the increase from the £10.5billion 'catch-up' cost in previous year . £90million - estimated one-time cost per authority in England to get roads reasonable (£36million in London, £20million in Wales) 12 years - estimated time to clear maintenance backlog in England and Wales (14 years in London) £31.6million - Total cost of compensation claims caused by poor road condition across England and Wales over the last year . (£16.6million in claim pay-outs £15million cost of processing claims) 540 - average number of pot-hole related personal injury and damage claims per local authority in England (up from 452 last year) This excludes London at 126 per authority, and Wales at 141 per council (up from 80 last year) £713million - council shortfalls in annual road maintenance budget (England, London and Wales) £200million - extra cash announced in Budget by Chancellor to repair potholes in 2014-15 . £183.5million - emergency funding announced by Government to help pothole repairs following 'wettest winter on record'

It's despite extra cash to fill more than two million potholes in 12 months . Compensation claims for damage now cost taxpayers £32 million a year . It would take 12 years to clear road repair backlog in England and Wales .

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(CNN) -- Philippines Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III announced he will run for president Wednesday, a month after the death of his late mother, the popular former President Corazon Aquino. Philippines Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III announce his candidacy in Manila on September 9. "I'm accepting the challenge to lead this fight," said Noynoy Aquino, the state-run Philippines News Agency (PNA) reported. Aquino, 49, is the only son of Corazon Aquino, who died on August 1, and the late Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, a senator who opposed dictator Ferdinand Marcos and was assassinated in 1983 on returning home from exile in the United States. Noynoy Aquino said his mother's supporters had urged him to make a run for the presidency in next May's elections. He said he would continue the fight started by his parents to promote democracy in the Philippines. At least one lawmaker was critical of Aquino's run, PNA said. Rep. Pastor Alcover Jr. said the media has deceived the public by presenting Aquino as the man who can save the country. "We need a hardworking president," Alcover said. "But the problem is, Noynoy has a dismal performance as congressman for nine years and as senator for three years. Do we want more of his laziness?" President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's term ends in 2010. Under Philippine law, she cannot run again. Arroyo first took office in 2001. Since then, she has survived several impeachment attempts and periodic rumors of coups. She won re-election in 2004, though opposition parties called into question the legitimacy of that race.

Philippines Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III announces he will run for president . He is the only son of former President Corazon Aquino, who died on August 1 . He said he would continue the fight started by his parents to promote democracy . President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's term ends in 2010 .

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By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 08:37 EST, 13 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:12 EST, 13 December 2012 . Tragic: Former Sale Sharks rugby union player David Tait has died after falling from an apartment block in Hong Kong . Former international rugby player David Tait has died after falling from an apartment block in Hong Kong. The 25-year-old's body was found yesterday morning and in a brief statement, his family said they were devastated. Originally from Sale, Greater Manchester, Mr Tait had been . working in the Chinese city as a corporate finance manager for . international firm KPMG since injuries forced him to quit rugby in 2010. Mr Tait began his playing career with Sale in 2005, and made just 40 appearances before leaving the club after suffering a series of injuries. Former Sharks' press officer and family friend John Everton said that everything appeared to indicate that Mr Tait was 'very happy' in Hong Kong. It is the second tragedy to hit the family - his father Campbell Tait, . who was a barrister and a judge, was found hanged at the family home in . 2004. The back-row forward known as Taity, was signed by Sale as a teenager and went on to enjoy five years with the Cheshire club. On the international stage, Mr Tait formed . part of England’s training squad for the 2008-09 International Rugby . Board world seven series, but did not feature for the side. He did, . however, play for Scotland at the 2009 Dubai Sevens. The rugby world has been left . devastated by Mr Tait’s unexpected death, with England’s Danny Care leading the . messages of condolence on Twitter. The . Harlequins player wrote: 'Couldn’t believe the news y’day.Lost a good . friend and an absolute legend of a bloke David Tait. RIP mate. Sending . all my love to his family.' Northampton . Saints fly-half Ryan Lamb said: 'Terrible news about the death of David . Tait. Top player and a top bloke, had some awesome times playing . through the age groups with him. In a further message, Lamb added: 'Thoughts go out to his family and to the sale lads in such a bad time. #RIP' Mystery: Former Sharks' press officer and family friend John Everton said that everything appeared to indicate that David was 'very happy' in Hong Kong . The Rugby Players’ Association chief executive Damian Hopley also spoke of his sadness, praising the former Sale Grammar School and Manchester University student as a 'gifted and popular young man'. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Hopley said: 'The rugby community will be shattered by the passing of such a gifted and popular young man who was respected by everyone he played alongside. 'He wasn’t simply a talented rugby player, he was also extremely bright and successful in his life outside of rugby. 'We will do everything we can to help support David’s family.' Move: Originally from Sale, Greater Manchester, Mr Tait had been working in the Chinese city as a corporate finance manager for international firm KPMG since injuries forced him to quit rugby . Mr Everton paid tribute to Tait saying said:  He was a fringe player, a good sevens player, and . very popular. 'Everybody is devastated at the news and I'm sure fans will join me in expressing sympathy for the Tait family.' He added: 'This is absolutely devastating. I had a brief moment with the family yesterday. 'They're so shocked. We don't know enough yet but we'll have to respect their privacy.' It is the second tragedy to hit Sale Shark this year - in January, winger Selorm Kuadey died at the age of 24 after apparently taking his own life after also being forced to retire through injury. For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.

David Tait, 25, had played for Scotland and Premiership rugby . In a brief statement, his family said they were 'devastated' Former Sharks' press officer: Everything appeared to indicate that Mr Tait was 'very happy' in Hong Kong . Second unexpected death of a former Sale Sharks player this year .

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By . James Rush . Gamze Yilmaz died in a car crash after she became distracted by a WhatsApp message while driving, police have said . A German woman died in a car crash shortly after celebrating her 21st birthday when she became distracted by a WhatsApp message while driving, police have said. Gamze Yilmaz, who had only just passed her driving test, had been given a Mercedes A class car as a present from her father two weeks before the accident. She died after veering across the B54 at Herdecke in North Rhine Westphalia, and colliding head first into a Land Rover coming the other way. A 58-year-old woman and a 62-year-old man in the Land Rover were also critically injured in the incident but survived. Ms Yilmaz had been pictured sitting inside the car in images she had posted on Facebook shortly before her death. The family, originally from Turkey before settling in Dortmund, Germany, said they had been left devastated at the news. Her mother said: 'She was still so young. It is really difficult for my husband and I to come to terms with her death and to live with it.' She said her daughter had just qualified and earned herself a job as a kindergarten teacher, and was apparently on the way home when the tragedy happened on February 17. A police investigation discovered Ms Yilmaz received a message on her mobile phone at 1.10pm. Police said it was a private message over the WhatsApp service. Ms Yilmaz died after veering across the B54 at Herdecke in North Rhine Westphalia, colliding head first into a Land Rover coming the other way . A 58-year-old woman and a 62-year-old man in the Land Rover were also critically injured in the incident but survived . According to the police report, she was apparently reading the message at the time she crashed head-on into the other vehicle. Officers believe she had not noticed the road curved at that point as she was distracted by the message. The police report was handed to prosecutor Beatriz Foehring, 44, who said: 'Based on all the evidence we have concluded that she was distracted by her mobile telephone. It was a tragic accident.' Police spokesman Martin Pollmann, 50, added: 'I can imagine it was only a second or two in which she glanced at the mobile telephone, and at which point she was effectively driving blind at 80 kilometres an hour for about 45 seconds. It was enough to cause a disaster.' The young girl's body meanwhile has been flown by her parents back to Turkey where it was buried in the Turkish city of Macka. Ms Yilmaz had been pictured sitting inside the car in images she had posted on Facebook shortly before her death . Officers believe she had not noticed the road curved at that point as she was distracted by the message .

Gamze Yilmaz was given car by her father two weeks before tragic accident . Investigators have concluded she was distracted by WhatsApp message . Ms Yilmaz had recently turned 21 and had only just passed her driving test .

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(CNN) -- Jury selection in the trial of Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach charged with child rape, is scheduled to start Tuesday in Pennsylvania. A judge last week denied his attorneys' latest bid for a delay, allowing the case to move forward. Sandusky, 68, has been under house arrest since being charged with sexually abusing 10 boys over 14 years. Prosecutors allege he met some of his accusers through Second Mile, a charity he created for underprivileged children. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. According to a source close to the Sandusky family, he is expected to attend court Tuesday. The allegations against Sandusky led to the firing of iconic Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno only months before he died of complications from lung cancer. Several of the people whom prosecutors accuse Sandusky of abusing asked a judge to protect their identities at trial. However, Judge John Cleland on Monday ruled the alleged victims' identities may not be concealed during the trial, although they will be protected through the jury selection process. "Courts are not customarily in the business of withholding information," Cleland's ruling said. "Secrecy is thought to be inconsistent with the openness required to assure the public that the law is being administered fairly and applied faithfully." Prosecutors in Sandusky case present new, graphic details . But, the judge noted, "It is also to be hoped that various news organizations that will report on the trial will use what has become their professional custom to protect the privacy of alleged victims." CNN generally does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault. Victim advocacy groups slammed the judge's decision late Monday, expressing their hope it would not have a chilling effect on the reporting of child sexual abuse. "The judge placed a significant burden on this class of victims by stating that they have 'a duty to the community to testify' about the crime, but denying them privacy protections in exchange for that testimony. By bravely coming forward, victims serve in the interest of public safety; they should be assured that their privacy will be protected," the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, the National Center for Victims of Crime and the National Crime Victim Law Institute said in a joint statement. Those asking for their identities to be concealed included one man known simply as Victim 4. His attorney, Ben Andreozzi, said he believes his client, now 28, is the strongest witness for the prosecution and will be called to testify first. "In society, sometimes we question why rape victims are reluctant to come forward," Andreozzi said Monday after the ruling. "So now we have our answer. ... We are disappointed." "We are not asking to close the courtroom, only to use a pseudonym," he said. His client will still testify, he said, "but at what expense to his emotional well-being?" He said he expects the defense to attack his client on the basis of a meeting he had with Sandusky in the years after the alleged abuse. "My client couldn't break free," said the attorney, describing the relationship between Victim 4 and Sandusky as "complex." Mike McQueary, a former graduate student considered to be another key witness in the Sandusky case, has testified that he alerted Paterno in 2002 that he'd seen what appeared to be Sandusky sexually assaulting a boy, an allegation authorities didn't learn of until years later. Psychologist flagged Sandusky as 'likely pedophile' in 1998 report . But prosecutors said later that the incident took place about a year earlier than what was originally alleged, causing defense attorneys for two former Penn State officials to argue that one of the charges should now be dropped. Tim Curley, Penn State's former athletic director, and Gary Schultz, a former university vice president who oversaw campus police, have been charged with perjury and failing to report the alleged sexual assault of a child. Both of them have pleaded not guilty, and their attorneys have said that prosecutors "charged this case before (they) knew the facts." After news of the scandal broke last year, The New York Times published an extensive interview in which Sandusky attempted to clarify his relationships with young people. "If I say, 'No, I'm not attracted to young boys,' that's not the truth," he said, according to the story. "Because I'm attracted to young people -- boys, girls -- I ..." His lawyer, who was present at the interview, spoke up at that point to note that Sandusky is "not sexually" attracted to them. "Right. I enjoy -- that's what I was trying to say -- I enjoy spending time with young people. I enjoy spending time with people," Sandusky continued. "I mean, my two favorite groups are the elderly and the young." CNN's Susan Candiotti, Ross Levitt and Jason Carroll contributed to this report.

Jury selection is scheduled to get under way Tuesday . Sandusky, 68, faces charges of child rape . Prosecutors allege that he abused 10 boys over 14 years . Sandusky has pleaded not guilty to the charges .

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David Cameron was urged to ditch EU green energy targets last night, amid warnings they will add £150 to the average family’s bills over the next five years. The Prime Minister will travel to Brussels this afternoon to debate stretching new targets that will require Britain to slash carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2030. But a new report from the respected think tank Open Europe warns that existing targets are already putting Britain’s economy and living standards at risk, and calls for them to be ditched. Ministers insist that the targets will strengthen Britain’s energy supplies and, in the long term, produce thousands of ‘green jobs’. But today’s study, based on an analysis of official Government figures, suggests that EU green measures have already added £59 to the average dual fuel energy bill in this country. It suggests this figure will rise to £149 by 2020 as the Government strives to meet a binding target of producing 15 per cent of electricity from renewable sources. Today’s report warns that the impact on business will be even greater, with the average medium-sized firm set to see its energy bills rise by 23 per cent as a result of green measures emanating from Brussels. And it says the potential economic benefits of meeting the targets have been grossly over-stated. The report’s author Raoul Ruparel said Mr Cameron should now push for the targets to be abandoned. If other EU leaders refuse, the UK should drop them unilaterally. He added: ‘Despite admirable goals the EU’s green policies have imposed huge costs but delivered limited benefit and are marred by conflicting objectives. 'With people in the UK concerned about the cost of living, business still struggling to balance their books and Europe needing a more flexible energy supply to wean itself off dependence on Russian gas, a radical re-think of the EU’s energy policy is now vital. Neither the EU nor the UK can afford to waste more time on a costly and failing policy.’ The Department for Energy and Climate Change last night said it ‘does not recognise’ the Open Europe analysis – and insisted that the drive for green energy was reducing bills. The existing EU targets require the UK to increase the proportion of energy produced from renewable sources like wind farms from about four per cent in 2012 to 15 per cent by 2020 . A spokesman said: ‘We don’t recognise the way these figures have been presented. We estimate that, in 2013, household energy bills were, on average, around five per cent lower than they would have been in the absence of all our energy and climate change policies. In 2020, we estimate that our policies will continue to reduce energy bills. ‘We need a diverse energy mix that includes renewable sources like wind and solar in order to reduce our reliance on imports from often volatile parts of the world.’ The existing EU targets require the UK to increase the proportion of energy produced from renewable sources like wind farms from about four per cent in 2012 to 15 per cent by 2020 – the fastest increase in the EU . Today’s report says this will require about 30 per cent of electricity to come from alternative sources, mostly on-shore wind, which enjoys large subsidies from the taxpayer. Today’s report suggests this would be dwarfed by potential savings of up to £21 billion that would be achieved by ignoring the targets. File picture . The targets are legally binding and Britain could face swingeing fines from Brussels of more than £220 million a year if it abandons them unilaterally. But today’s report suggests this would be dwarfed by potential savings of up to £21 billion that would be achieved by ignoring the targets – money that could be ploughed into insulating homes and improving energy efficiency. The study also suggests that projected benefits of meeting the targets have been based on a series of ‘flawed assumptions’. Most importantly, the EU initiative has not led to a global deal on emissions. As a result the benefit to the UK of £160 billion, which was predicted in 2009, has instead turned into a likely net cost of £17 billion. In addition, the study says that the plan has failed to boost Britain’s energy security and has instead exacerbated a potential energy crunch’. Downing Street yesterday said it supported the drive to cut EU carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2030, but said any new deal needed to be ‘cost-effective, fair and flexible’.

Thinktank says existing targets are already putting Britain’s economy at risk . Ministers insist that the targets will strengthen Britain’s energy supplies . PM will travel to Brussels this afternoon to debate new targets .

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(CNN) -- The seeds just can't stop tumbling out of Wimbledon and on Monday it was the turn of world No.1 and five-time champion Serena Williams to experience that sinking feeling. The American crashed out of the grass court grand slam in the last-16 following a shock defeat by Germany's Sabine Lisicki -- her first reverse in 35 matches. Favorite for the title, Williams lost the opening set 6-2 before roaring back to level a pulsating contest by taking the second 6-1. But Lisicki, seeded 23rd at the tournament, produced one of the greatest performances of her career, coming from a break down to take the final set 6-4 and send shockwaves through tennis. After knocking out the defending champion, the 23-year-old German burst into tears of joy when addressing the media for the first time. "I am still shaking, I am so happy," she told the BBC. "Serena played a fantastic match, she is such a tough opponent. It is an amazing feeling to win this match. "This is such a special place for me and the crowd were brilliant to me. I gave it everything I had, I fought for every single point to try to win it somehow." A Wimbledon semifinalist in 2011, Lisicki will play Estonia's Kaia Kanepi for a place in the last four. The German has never gone past the fourth round at any grand slam outside of Wimbledon but she has an impressive record at The All England Club, having reached the quarterfinals three times, and a curious one as well. For she has beaten the reigning French Open champion at all four of her last Wimbledon championships. Since she missed the 2010 edition through injury, the run starts in 2009 when she beat Svetlana Kuznetsova, a success that has now been followed by defeats of Li Na in 2011, Maria Sharapova the following year and Williams herself on Monday. In a tournament packed with shocks, the dethroning of 16-time grand slam winner Williams is arguably the greatest of all -- despite the defeats for Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the opening rounds last week. The win was all the more surprising given that the powerful American bounced back so strongly from losing the first set that she won nine consecutive games on the way to taking a 3-0 lead in the deciding set. But Lisicki broke back and even though Serena responded in similar style, the German once again overcame the American's serve to level the set at 4-4. After the match had gone past the two-hour mark, Lisicki earned her first match point and after that went begging she made no mistake for the second to claim surely her greatest win to date. Williams' remarkable twelve months - a spell where she won the Wimbledon, U.S. Open, French Open and Olympic titles - was finally at an end however and she was quick to praise her opponent. "It's not a shock," the 31-year-old said. "She plays really good on grass. For me any loss is extremely tough to overcome. I just have to go back to the drawing board and figure out a way to win those matches." The last time Williams lost a match on court was when she was beaten in the final of the Qatar Open by Victoria Azarenka on 17 February. Lisicki will face Kaia Kanepi after the Estonian ended Laura Robson's dream of becoming the first Briton to reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 29 years. The 19-year-old was the first British woman to reach the second week at Wimbledon since 1998 but left the court in tears after being beaten 7-6 7-5. Should Kanepi reach her first grand slam semifinal, she will meet either Agnieszka Radwanska, last year's runner-up, or Li Na in the semifinals. The fourth seed from Poland overcame Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova 4-6 6-3 6-3 while the Chinese sixth seed demolished Italian 11th seed Roberta Vinci 6-2 6-0 in just 55 minutes. Looking to win her second grand slam after her Roland Garros title two years ago, Li has reached the quarterfinals for the third time at Wimbledon and is seeking her maiden semifinal appearance. Few would have predicted that Sloane Stephens would be the last American left standing in both singles draws but after her 4-6 7-5 6-1 defeat of Puerto Rican youngster Monica Puig, the 20-year-old is through to the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time. The 17th seed will meet the 15th seed after Marion Bartoli, the beaten finalist in 2007, defeated Italy's Karin Knapp in straight sets. In the remaining quarterfinal, 2011 Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova will face Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens.

Serena Williams suffers shock defeat in last-16 of Wimbledon . Williams beaten by Germany's Sabine Lisicki in three sets . World No.1 and five-time Wimbledon champion had been favorite for title . Lisicki, seeded 23, reached semifinal in 2011 .

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England finally received some comforting news ahead of their ill-fated first Test against New Zealand after Mike Brown declared himself fit for the series opener on June 7. Less than 24 hours after it emerged that Bath fly-half George Ford will miss the tour to undergo shoulder surgery, Brown insisted he will be ready to face the All Blacks. The 28-year-old sustained a hip injury in Harlequins' Aviva Premiership semi-final defeat by Saracens on Saturday, but is on track to resume training on Monday. Ready: Mike Brown (left) has declared himself fit for England's first Test against New Zealand . England depart for New Zealand the following day and by the time they run-out at Eden Park, Brown expects to be fit to continue an outstanding season. 'It's a deep hip muscle injury,' said Brown, winner of England player of the year at the Rugby Players Association awards dinner on Wednesday night. 'I gave everything a big yank when I was twisted in the tackle on that turf. I overstretched it all.'It's feeling good each day. A bit more recovery and on Monday I'll be ready to rock and roll in training. It's definitely looking good for that first Test. 'I've had the same problem before after tough games, but to a lesser extent, so I know how to get rid of it and what I need to do. 'I've got great people around me to help me get fit and I can't wait to get out to New Zealand.'Brown's improving fitness will be greeted with relief by head coach Stuart Lancaster, who has seen his plans for the first Test continue to unravel amid Ford's withdrawal. Official confirmation that the 21-year-old requires an operation is expected after Friday's night's Amlin Challenge Cup final against Northampton in Cardiff, his final game of the season. Ford was destined to start at Eden Park as Owen Farrell and Stephen Myler are involved in the Premiership final on May 31 and will be unavailable until the second Test.Lancaster must choose between the recently returned Danny Cipriani, out of form Freddie Burns or Billy Twelvetrees, who is struggling with an ankle injury, at fly-half. Winner: Brown (centre) receives the England Player of the Year award . Adding to Lancaster's concerns, besides the absence of players from Premiership finalists Northampton and Saracens, is a crisis at hooker where potentially his first three choices in the position will be unable to tour. Tom Youngs has been ruled out for personal reasons and Dylan Hartley and Rob Webber are struggling with respective shoulder and knee problems. Furthermore, British and Irish Lions forwards Alex Corbisiero and Tom Croft have been given the summer off after returning from long-term injuries, while prop Dan Cole and wing Jack Nowell are in the treatment room. Against this bleak backdrop England will attempt to complete a maiden series victory in New Zealand having posted only two previous victories there in 12 attempts dating back to 1963. Missing out: Bath fly-half George Ford (right) will miss the tour to undergo shoulder surgery . History and circumstance, however, are unable to dim Brown's belief that the 2015 World Cup hosts are capable of toppling the all-conquering All Blacks. 'I don't see why we can't win this series. We've put in two good performances against New Zealand, beaten them once and narrowly lost once,' he said. 'It will be unbelievably tough playing the number one team on their home patch. 'They'll come flying into us and the fact we're missing a few guys for that first Test makes it even harder for us. 'But there are guys who will come in and will be desperate to show what they can do in an England shirt.'

England full-back Mike Brown is fit to face New Zealand . Harlequins star has recovered from hip injury suffered during defeat against Saracens .

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London (CNN) -- Britain's Royal Mail has added nearly 14,000 extra rounds for its postal deliverers, hoping to clear a huge holiday backlog caused by winter weather woes. The service said it planned to complete 7,000 extra delivery routes Sunday, bringing packages, cards and letters to a million homes and addresses in an effort to catch up on deliveries during what it calls Britain's coldest December in decades. About 6,500 extra deliveries were made last Sunday in the areas hardest hit by the severe weather, Royal Mail said. "This is already the worst December weather the UK has seen for almost 30 years," Mark Higson, managing director of Royal Mail, said in a statement. "We are planning up 7,000 delivery rounds this Sunday as we continue our drive to deliver items as quickly as possible." Online retailers are feeling the chill, too. Amazon.com's UK service has halted taking orders for its special rush delivery option and recommends giving e-gift cards instead of packages. Retailer Marks & Spencer also said that it could no longer guarantee that orders placed now would arrive in time for Christmas, except for flowers. Royal Mail had previously announced plans to add up to 3,000 extra workers and 250 delivery trucks to brave the icy roads. It warned there's little time left to get packages delivered. Tuesday is the deadline for first-class mail and packets that customers want to arrive in time for Christmas, Royal Mail said. CNN's Brian Walker contributed to this report .

Royal Mail adds nearly 14,000 extra rounds for postal deliveries . Its director says the UK is experiencing the worst December weather in 30 years . Royal Mail is trying to catch up on the delivery backlog .

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There is a football stadium in the tiny Tunisian settlement Hammamet, hometown of Lazhar Khedira, where the grass is long and dry and the nets have holes in them. The goalposts are square, not round, dating them to before 1987 when they were banned by FIFA. There are three white walls surrounding three of the sides and a wire mesh fence behind one of the goals. Tall trees grow at one end and the hum of a busy main road nearby can be heard. Top of the World: Sami Khedira is a World Cup winner with Germany and could now be set for Arsenal . German bond: Mesut Ozil is believed to have spoken to the Real Madrid midfielder about the London life . 'This is the stadium where Sami Khedira got famous,' one local recalls. Between the age of 10 and 15, this is where World Cup winner Khedira, born in Stuttgart to a Tunisian father and German mother, Doris, would often come to play when he visited. Although he has always represented the German national side, from under 17s through to winning 51 caps for the seniors, Tunisia is a large part of his life. Khedira explains: 'Although Hammamet is not my home, it is the hometown of my father so it is also important for me. 'My entire family lives there. My grandma and my grandpa live there as well as seven aunts and one uncle. I don't even know how many cousins I have there. 'Hammamet for me is a beautiful place for vacation. I really love to go there and visit my family. I like to relax on the beaches and to get away from my daily routine. It is the perfect place for a retreat, where I can feel at home.' On the move: Khedira has not signed a new deal at Real Madrid and is set to leave . Breakthrough: Khedira started out at hometown club Stuttgart in Germany . Khedira would also hone his football skills on the beaches when he would go on holiday there as a teenager. He joined Stuttgart's youth team in 1995, aged just eight, so by the time he was visiting his father's family at 15 he was already a star in Hammamet. It did not stop him returning to play with his peers on that pitch with overgrown bushes peering over the walls. 'It was a great honour for our guys to learn from him,' the same local recounts. 'He is very friendly and generous, that's why people like him. In particular they love his kindness.' Khedira was a local hero, but back in Germany he was fast becoming a star, too. At Stuttgart he won the Bundesliga title in 2007 then captained the Germany Under 21 side which won the 2009 European Championship, beating England 4-0 in the final. It was a team which included Manuel Neuer, Benedikt Howedes, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Mesut Ozil, who would all also go on to win the World Cup in 2014. Swoop: Arsenal have already signed Alexis Sanchez for £30million and are considering Khedira for £20m . A year later he earned a move to Real Madrid where he has since won a La Liga title, two Spanish Cups and the Champions League. After . winning the World Cup, Khedira's stock is at an all-time high and his . refusal to sign a new deal at Real, with only a year left to run on his . contract, has meant they are willing to cash in. Arsenal see him as the ideal man to plug the gap in their midfield. Arsene Wenger's side is crammed with attack-minded midfielders and forwards – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Rosicky, Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta – but lack a defensive midfield linchpin. Mathieu Flamini did a job there last season but he is not world class. If an agreement can be met, that humble man who grew up playing on a tatty, battered pitch in Hammamet might well be the perfect fit.

Real Madrid midfielder is a £20million target for Arsenal . He missed Sunday's World Cup final victory after injuring his calf in the warm-up . Germany star had been man-of-the-match in the 7-1 semi-final victory over Brazil .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . A 21-year-old motorist was arrested Sunday night on a drunken driving charge - while wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words 'drunk as s--t'. Ross Allan McMakin is accused of driving his 1994 Ford Ranger pickup on the sidewalk, hitting a parked car and choking his ex-girlfriend in an alcohol-fueled frenzy in Oregon. The Philomath man's blood alcohol level allegedly measured above 0.2 percent, more than twice the legal limit to drive, appearing to prove his statement T-shirt correct. Daft: Oregon's Ross Allan McMakin, 21, was wearing a shirt saying 'drunk as s**t' (pictured) when he was arrested Sunday for driving with a blood alcohol level above 0.2 percent, more than twice the legal limit . KEZI reported that McMakin dropped his ex-girlfriend off at her house following a party. She said she initially agreed to drive, but the car was a stick shift. The unidentified woman claimed her drunk ex drove on the pavement, struck a stationary vehicle and veered down the wrong lane. She said once she returned home, she grabbed McMakin's car keys and ran into the house so he couldn't drive again. However she claimed McMakin followed her inside before slapping, pushing and choking her to get the keys back. He then drove off. According to a police log published by Corvallis Gazette Times, McMakin's ex-girlfriend called cops about 3.30am. Caught: Police pulled McMakin over at the corner of Northwest Grant Avenue and Dixon Street in Oregon, Ohio (pictured) on Sunday night after his ex-girlfriend called cops . Cops tracked McMakin down at the corner of Northwest Grant Avenue and Dixon Street before charging him with strangulation, DUI, reckless driving, reckless endangerment and harassment. The woman reportedly had minor injuries but did not seek medical attention.

Ross Allan McMakin was arrested Sunday for allegedly driving with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit . His ex-girlfriend called cops claiming he choked and slapped her for taking his car keys . The Oregon man was wearing a T-shirt that said 'drunk as s--t' when he was arrested . He has been charged with assault and DUI .

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By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 06:48 EST, 27 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:21 EST, 27 February 2014 . A schoolgirl has been left scarred after being attacked with a crowbar and a sledgehammer by two masked men who burst into her home. Shannon James, 16, underwent plastic surgery and was left with nerve damage in the wake of the attack on her and her mother Rebecca, 42. The A-level student also needs to take sleeping pills after being left traumatised after the men burst into the £350,000 property in Ashington, near Horsham, West Sussex, posing as police officers. Warning: Graphic content . Anguish: Shannon's mother Rebecca James, 42, (left) said: 'They scarred Shannon's head but they scarred me mentally' Then and now: Shannon James (left) after undergoing emergency surgery has been left with scars on the right-hand side of her forehead (right) Shannon's family are offering a £12,000 reward to catch the culprits. The robbers smashed two glass panels in . the family's front door to enter the house at around 8.50pm, as they . were settling down for an early night. The men - wearing balaclavas - shouted 'police, police' before . entering the home Miss James shares with partner Graham Childs, an electrician. Miss James and Mr Childs, 47, rushed out onto the upstairs hallway after her daughter called out after hearing some banging. Miss James said: 'We got halfway down the stairs and I shouted out "Who is it?" 'There was a pause and then someone shouted, "police, police".' Miss James - who has less visible injuries - was struck over the head with a hammer. Shannon, who has 22 stitches in her head after undergoing emergency plastic surgery, said: 'I was really scared and tried to hide in my room. 'Then I heard my mum screaming and went onto the landing to see her lying against the wall. 'I ran at the man and told him to leave my mum alone and then blacked out because he hit me twice - once on the forehead and the top of my head. Wound: A large cut to Shannon's forehead after she was attacked by the raiders who burst into her home in Ashington, West Sussex . 'All I remember is screaming "I'm going to die, I'm going to die". I genuinely thought we were all going to die, I really did. It was the scariest thing ever.' Shannon, an only child, crawled back . into her bedroom and tried to unlock her mobile phone to dial 999, but . it was covered in blood. Her mum desperately tried the house phone and then ran to a neighbour's property to call for help. Paramedics . rushed the pair to hospital and Shannon later underwent a two-hour . operation. She has been left with a scar in the middle of her forehead . and on the right side of her head, under her hairline. She still suffers . headaches. Shannon, who hopes to study architecture at university, added: 'How could they do it? 'People ask me every day how I got my scar. I don't like to tell them. I can't wear make-up; it feels strange to touch it. 'I'm alright now but it is still there. The moment I wake up I think about it. I say to myself, "get over it" but you can't. 'What . could I have done to change it? It happened so fast. It was horrible. The attack had a huge effect on me and I still get nightmares. 'It's scary to be honest knowing those men are out there. If I see a man walking down the street I'll cross over the road to avoid him.' The robbers smashed two glass panels in the family's front door to enter the house at around 9pm, as they were settling down for an early night. Shannon added: 'My scar is still quite numb and feels horrible, there's a tingling sensation from where the surgeons had to stretch my skin. 'I get quite a lot of people looking at me and asking how I got my scar. It's a constant reminder of what happens. 'My mother still cries every day she sees it and says she cannot ever get over it.' Second wound: Shannon also suffered a second cut to her head underneath her hair in the attack in her home . Miss James' mother Rebecca James, 42, also suffered at the hands of the balaclava-clad intruders. The health and social care worker wept as she recalled the terrifying incident last August. Cut: Another wound to Shannon's hand which she suffered during the attack in her family home last August . She added: 'The men wearing balaclavas rushed in . and straight away we knew they were not police. The man with the . sledgehammer came at me and without saying anything hit me over the head . with it. 'I remember falling forwards, then backwards and my partner grabbed me and tried to help me back up stairs. 'The man with the crowbar came running up the stairs and I put my hand up to stop him from hitting me and got a cut on my hand. 'I . thought "thank god he's missed me' but then the next thing I heard was . Shannon screaming "I am dying". There was blood everywhere - even all . over the phone as I dialled 999. 'The . men ran off without taking anything and Shannon was raced to hospital . in Chichester and had microsurgery on her forehead. It is a lot to watch . your kid in the operating theatre.' Breaking down, she added: 'They scarred Shannon's head but they scarred me mentally. 'These . people need to be caught - they are dangerous people. There was no . motive and I need closure. 'We are always asking, "why?" 'I'm . supposed to be a mother and I failed to protect my child in her own . home. The whole attack has left me very, very sad and emotional. 'Seeing Shannon lying in the hospital bed was awful - you can imagine how that would make any mother feel. 'Until these men are caught and prosecuted, we have no answers for what they did. Attack: The raiders burst into the family home on this road in Ashington, West Sussex . 'Nothing spooked them, they simply walked away. I have my days, but the raid is on my mind every day. 'Shannon . and I share something that we will never ever be able to forget. It's . scary still living here with that fear that they will come back and do . it all over again. We're always on our guard.' Detectives at Sussex Police urged anyone who recognised the descriptions of the attackers to come forward. Detective Constable Katy Lewis, from Sussex Police, said: 'The attackers are both described as tall, white men. 'The . one with the sledgehammer was stocky and big and the other man is . described as slimmer. They were dressed all in black and wearing . balaclavas. 'We believe a . green VW Golf which was found burnt out in Storrington, West Sussex, the . next day could be connected to the attack. 'We are hoping someone might have seen this car being driven in Ashington either before or after the attack that could help us. 'This was a terrifying attack for the whole family and they are still suffering the effects now. 'If you know something that could help us find the people responsible please get in contact.' A Sussex Police spokeswoman said detectives had spoken 'extensively' to the family and all possible motives had been explored. 'Why the raiders chose to break into this house in particular is something we have looked at in great detail,' she said. 'Police have spoken to the family extensively in a bid to see if there is any indication to what the cause or motive might have been. 'But there doesn't seem to be anything. This is a very odd case and it's a strange attack, but every possible option has been considered. 'The family have all been spoken to and there's nothing to indicate they were targeted or victims of mistaken identity. 'As a police force, we hope that the media and the public at large will be able to help us ID who the culprits are and pinpoint what happened. 'We're hopeful someone will remember seeing the car being driven earlier or people getting into it so that we can bring who did this to justice.'

Raiders broke into family home shouting 'police, police' and attacked heron . They used weapons to attack her after she tried to protected her mother . 'Robbers' fled the property in Ashington, West Sussex, empty handed . A-level pupil forced to take sleeping tablets after being traumatised by attack . Shannon's family offer £12,000 reward to help catch the culprits .

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Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- A Pakistan government minister has personally offered a $100,000 reward for anyone who kills the man who made the anti-Islam movie that is drawing ire throughout the Muslim world. Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour announced the bounty at a news conference Saturday, but he made clear to CNN he was speaking for himself and not as a government representative. Asked whether he was concerned about committing or condoning a crime as a government official, Bilour said, "I am a Muslim first, then a government representative." Opinion: Pakistanis can debunk myths about Islam peacefully . He said he invited the Taliban and al Qaeda to carry out the assassination. Sen. Zahid Khan, a spokesman for Bilour's political party, said the minister's action is not representative of the Awami National Party. "We believe in nonviolence. How could we make such announcements?" Khan said. "Our party has been fighting against militancy and extremism for years. How could we invite Taliban and al Qaeda to kill someone? Taliban and al Qaeda are our enemies who have killed our loved ones." "We have lots of concerns over the statement of our colleague," he added. The leftist Awami National Party is a coalition partner in the federal government led by President's Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan People's Party. The ANP is a ruling party in northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Photos: Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide . Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf condemns the bounty issued by Bilour, his spokesman said Sunday. Shafqat Jalil said the prime minister will take up the issue with the head of the Awami National Party. Bilour did not mention the filmmaker by name, but he was likely referring to Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the man who U.S. officials say is behind the privately produced film. Nakoula and his family have already left their California home and gone into hiding amid the worldwide storm of protest, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced. Actress in anti-Islamic film files lawsuit against filmmaker . CNN's Reza Sayah and journalist Aamir Iqbal contributed to this report.

NEW: Pakistan's prime minister condemns the bounty, his spokesman says . Pakistan's railway minister is personally offering a $100,000 reward for filmmaker's death . His party is concerned about the comments, saying "we believe in nonviolence" The filmmaker has already gone into hiding amid worldwide protests .

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By . Sean Poulter . PUBLISHED: . 15:38 EST, 30 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:40 EST, 30 October 2013 . Treat: Budget chain Lidl is to sell reindeer steaks for £7.99 a pack as part of a 'Deluxe' range to tempt middle-class shoppers . Thoughts of reindeer and Christmas normally evoke images of red-nosed Rudolph and Santa’s sleigh flying over snowy rooftops. But Lidl has been accused by animal welfare groups of making a mockery of the Christmas season by putting Rudolph on the menu. The . budget supermarket is making reindeer steaks central to a Christmas . advertising push designed to attract middle-class shoppers. The . steaks are part of its ‘Deluxe’ range that will feature in the . company’s first multi- million pound TV advertising campaign in Britain. Packs of frozen . reindeer steaks, which are a seasonal treat in Scandinavian countries, . will sell for £7.99 each, while other products include a whole cooked . lobster for £5.99, a large serrano ham for £39.99, a three fish roast . for £5.69 and caviar for £1.49 a pot. The German-owned chain has sold the reindeer steaks before and insisted they are ‘back by popular demand’. Lidl, like its budget rival Aldi, is . making a concerted effort to attract middle and higher income shoppers . by introducing luxury products at low prices. Its television adverts will focus on the Deluxe range, which saw sales more . than double between 2011 and 2012 to £40.2million in 2012. It is looking . to rake in a further 50 per cent this year to some £63.8million. They . will emphasise quality and luxury to a soundtrack that includes a cover . of the One Direction song ‘All these Little Things’ and voiceovers from . Harry Enfield. Managing . director, Ronny Gottschlich, says: ‘Our Deluxe products have proven to . be our best-selling, along with our Comte de Brismand champagne, which . speaks volumes for what our customers want. ‘We . feel now is the time to fully showcase the quality of these products . with the vast expansion of the range and the addition of many new fresh . British products.’ A . spokesman added: ‘The Deluxe Reindeer steaks are back by popular . demand. We always have an enormously positive response from customers. ‘We . are selling them this Christmas as part of our premium range of . products, which also includes other luxury meats such as venison, quail . and partridge. ‘The animals are slaughtered in . strict accordance with EU guidelines in a EU certified slaughterhouse, . where the animals are stunned prior to the slaughtering process. 'We . takes issues of animal welfare as well as environmental protection very . seriously.’ Controversy: Animal welfare groups have accused the company of making a mockery of the Christmas season by putting Rudolph on the menu . But Justin . Kerswell, of animal welfare and vegetarian group Viva!, said wild . predators of reindeer, such as wolves and bears, are shot to protect . meat supplies for retailers. ‘What Lidl aren’t telling their . customers is that to put reindeer meat on British shelves other large . wild animals are systematically hunted, or trapped, and shot,’ he said. ‘All . that seemingly matters to this cut-price supermarket is delivering sick . novelty and the pursuit of profit this Christmastime.’ Aldi . is today taking its battle to win over middle Britain to Suffolk where . it will open its 500th store in the market town of Bury St Edmunds. Tempting: Lidl is making a concerted effort to attract middle and higher income shoppers by introducing luxury products at low prices at its stores, including this branch in Leatherhead, Surrey . At the same time, the company published research from retail analysts Verdict showing the number of people using Aldi for their main weekly shop has leapt 31.7per cent in a year. Some 36.6per cent of shoppers who have switched came from Tesco, 19.7per cent from Asda, 16.9per cent from Morrisons and 12.7per cent from Sainsbury’s. Almost one in five using the discounter are middle class or upper middle class, which is up from just one in eight a year ago. Andrew Stevens, food and grocery specialist at Verdict, said: ‘Shoppers have switched to Aldi for price, but have stayed with the retailer due to the high quality of its products.’

Frozen steaks part of German-owned supermarket's 'Deluxe' range . Packs of the meat to sell for £7.99 each and will feature in new TV adverts . Animal welfare groups accuse Lidl of delivering 'sick novelty for profit'

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Recent thunderstorms in NSW could have a direct impact on the number of Sydney rock oysters available in the lead up to Christmas. Heavy rain has halted harvesting of the oysters grown in the majority of waterways on the NSW far south coast from Batemans Bay to the Victorian border, the ABC reports. Growers, who have been forced to stop harvesting until storm water run-off subsides, now fear they won't meet Christmas demand for oysters. The harvesting of oysters on New South Wales' south coast has halted due to heavy rain . Wholesalers may be forced to source rock oysters from Tasmania and South Australia if the harvest is delayed by long periods. Farmer Andy Baker said the torrential rain caught him off-guard and he wasn't able to bring in the oysters at his Pambula Lake farm prior to the storms. 'I've been at this job a long time. I read it wrong on Saturday,' he said. Oyster farms like this one in Coffin Bay have been affected by the recent rain storms . 'I thought we might have got up to 25 millimetres of rain but I didn't think we'd get over 70 millimetres as quickly as we did.' Mr Baker and several other farmers managed to bring in several oysters prior to the storms. 'Pambula Lake is probably going to be shut for at least a fortnight,' he said. A few farmers were able to save their oyster harvest by storing them before the storms hit . While Mr Baker admits he might not be open again until the New Year, he is remaining optimistic. 'There's money in mud and this is an inconvenience at the moment, but in the next weeks and months and even the season ahead, this rain is a blessing,' he said. Oysters could now be off the menu at Christmas because of the bad weather .

Heavy rain has halted oyster harvesting on NSW's far south coast . Growers now fear they won't meet Christmas demand for oysters . Wholesalers may need to source food from Tasmania or South Australia . Farmer Andy Baker said torrential rain at the weekend caught him off-guard .

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By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 07:21 EST, 29 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:01 EST, 29 January 2013 . It's only the earliest of early birds and the most nocturnal of night owls that will get to take advantage of the UK's speediest broadband... at 4am. That ungodly hour is the best time to surf the internet, according to a survey which shows there is only a small window of opportunity to enjoy the maximum speeds touted by providers. It found when the clock rolls around to the 9pm post-dinner primetime, demand on services like streaming video and music slows broadband connections by up to two-thirds. Night owl: If you want to get up to enjoy the UK's best broadband speeds at 4am it will still be dark at this time of year. By 9pm speeds slow by as much as 60 per cent in some parts of the country . That means most people are only able to get the connection speed promised by their internet provider at a time when they are fast asleep in bed. The study by price comparison site uSwitch.com based on more than 2.3 million consumer speed tests over the past six months revealed that it is the nation’s insomniacs and early risers that get the best speeds. With average download speeds falling by as much as 60 per cent during peak times in some parts of the UK, the busy evening hours are actually the slowest time of the day to go online. The research showed that the average connection speed in Britain's biggest towns and cities is a nimble 14.83Mbps at 4am, but that slows 28 per cent on average by 9pm, leaving users with just 10.72Mpbs of bandwidth. The slowdowns are caused when thousands of other internet users nearby all log on at once, stretching the capacity of broadband infrastructure to its limit. The survey also showed that there were massive differences between regions. Source: uSwitch . Residents of Birmingham and Middlesbrough enjoy the fastest evening broadband speeds, experiencing 12.88Mbps and 12.87Mbps at 9pm respectively. But spare a thought for those broadband users in Aberdeen and Swansea who have to make do with speeds of just 6.08Mbps and 6.99Mbps respectively at peak times – half the speed of the fastest cities. Slow: Internet users can wait much longer to access content during peak hours as thousands of users logging on strains broadband infrastructure . Meanwhile, broadband users in Stoke-On-Trent experience the most consistent broadband throughout the day, with speeds between 4am and 9pm only dropping by 0.7 per cent. The difference in broadband speeds during peak and off-peak times is most significant in heavily built up towns and cities, due to a greater demand on services. For example, at 4am in Dudley, average broadband speeds are a super-fast 31.81Mbps. But at 9pm, they drop by 60% to 12.62Mbps. Just eight miles away, Walsall residents are also suffering from unpredictable speeds. The drop off between 4am and 9pm is a staggering 51 per cent. Neighbouring Bolton and Huddersfield are also seeing some of the biggest variations in broadband speeds between off-peak and peak times – of 57 per cent and 51 per cent respectively. Julia Stent, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, says: 'This research shows the incredible strain that is placed on broadband when everyone logs on at the same time, particularly in densely populated areas. 'And the big rise in streaming and downloading – be that films for our tablets, or games for our smartphones – means that striving to deliver consistent speeds will be a long, hard slog for broadband providers. 'It certainly explains why some people may never actually feel like their connection is as fast as the one promised by providers when they signed. 'The obvious solution of setting your alarm at 4am to use the internet is far from practical. 'Instead, run an online speed test at home to check that you are getting the best possible service available in your area. If you think you could do better, consider shopping around for a new deal.'

By 9pm peak time speeds in some areas slow by as much as 60 per cent . Average slowdown across the UK is more than a quarter . Survey also shows massive differences between UK regions .

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Of all the great lines, in all the films, it all had to come down to a plastic spaceman. According to a new poll, the greatest line in movie history is Buzz Lightyear’s catchphrase: ‘To infinity…and beyond!’ The public vote saw the line said by a toy astronaut in Disney’s 1995 film Toy Story come out top by just one vote. Scroll down for video . 'To infinity... and beyond!' Buzz Lightyear's famous quote has been voted the greatest line in movie histroy . This narrow margin gave it victory over Michael Caine’s line, ‘You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off’ from 1969’s The Italian Job. Third place went to ‘Say hello to my little friend’, screamed by Al Pacino in 1983’s Scarface. The Radio Times vote is sure to split opinion, with only ten quotes chosen from an original shortlist of 50 and many favourites not included in the process at all. Quotes that were chosen by the magazine to go to the public vote, but failed to attract enough support to make it into the final ten, include: ‘May the Force be with you’ from Star Wars and ‘Here’s looking at you, kid’ from Casablanca. 'I love the smell of napalm in the morning’ from Apocalypse Now, ‘Love means never having to say you’re sorry’ from Love Story and ‘The stuff that dreams are made of’ from The Maltese Falcon, were not even up for consideration. 'He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy': The Life Of Brian quip, spoken by Brian's mother - played by Terry Jones - came in fourth in the top ten greatest movie quotes . Not even considered: Robert Duvall uttered the immortal line 'I love the smell of napalm in the morning,' in the Vietnam war classic Apocalypse Now, which didn't even feature in the Radio Times poll . Last out of the 50 was the famous line from Hitchcock’s thriller Psycho: ‘A boy’s best friend is his mother’, which picked up just one vote from the 2,500 cast in total. The other famous lines in the top ten were ‘He’s not the Messiah. He’s a very naughty boy’ from Monty Python’s The Life of Brian which came in fourth. It was spoken by Brian’s mother, played by Terry Jones, and is one of a series of jokes in which Brian is mistaken for Jesus. Next came ‘You’re going to need a bigger boat’ from Steven Spielberg’s Jaws and Gone with the Wind’s ‘Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn’. Carry On Cleo’s: ‘Infamy, infamy, they’ve all got it in for me’ came in seventh, beating Blade Runner’s ‘All those moments will be lost in time… like tears in rain’. ‘Nobody’s perfect’ from Some Like It Hot and ‘We want the finest wines available to humanity. And we want them here, and we want them now’ from Withnail & I came ninth and tenth respectively. Just missing out was ‘Bond. James Bond’, first uttered in 1962’s Dr No by Sean Connery. Film critic Barry Norman, who worked with the magazine on the poll, revealed his favourite quote to be ‘Daddy! My Daddy!’ from the end of The Railway Children, claiming it ‘always brings a tear to my eye’. However, even this didn’t make it onto the final list. Mr Norman, who hosted the BBC’s The Film Programme from 1972 until 1998, said: ‘For me the power of words in films is just as great as that of visual images and helps to stamp the movie in my memory. 'And certain lines have a potent effect on me, however many times I hear them. For instance, I have to confess that Jenny Agutter’s “Daddy! My Daddy!” at the end of The Railway Children always brings a tear to my eyes.’ He said the success of the Toy Story line suggests many younger cinemagoers voted and, ‘reflects the continuing popularity of films as emotional and intellectual entertainment’. He added: ‘Therein, perhaps, lies a message for television programmers: the audience – or at least the thinking part of it, which I believe is greater than most programmers seem to acknowledge – is just as interested in the content and quality of the films themselves as they are in interviews with the stars’.

Third place is Scarface's 'Say hello to my little friend' Top ten compiled from responses to Radio Times readers' poll .

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(CNN) -- The 10-year-old American girl went to the Vatican on a prayer of maybe, just maybe, meeting the Pope this week to deliver an important message. Her prayer was answered, against all odds. But for a while, Jersey Vargas' pilgrimage seemed doomed when a bystander pushed the little girl in a pink hat out of the way as the Pope approached a Vatican grandstand filled with supplicants and the faithful. Jersey wept. "I had to get through a fence, and I was waiting for a long time," said the 10-year-old girl from Panorama City, California, near Los Angeles. "But when Pope Francis was getting near me, there was a woman who pushed me because she didn't want me there because Pope Francis was coming near. So I started to cry because when she pushed me, it did hurt." A Good Samaritan saw the weeping child and gave her a front-row position to see Pope Francis. It worked. Pope Francis barely saw Jersey standing eye-high at a white-draped railing. He approached her. He touched her head. He blessed her. The family now has photographs of the extraordinary encounter between their small daughter and the people's Pope, who's increasingly shown a penchant to enter a crowd and mingle. It was then that Jersey delivered a message that she had carried for more than 6,300 miles. "I told him, 'Please help my family because we are suffering and my dad is suffering deportation and it's not fair. Other children are suffering because their parents are getting separated,'" Jersey recounted. She was referring to how U.S. immigration policy -- a vexing issue that has left Congress polarized and gridlocked about how to reform it -- breaks apart families by deporting parents who are undocumented immigrants while allowing their U.S.-born children to remain in the country, left in the care of relatives or on their own. Her message on Wednesday just happened to be delivered as President Barack Obama was about to visit Pope Francis at the Vatican. In fact, the two leaders discussed immigration reform on Thursday, though no formal agreements were made, the Vatican said. Jersey even gave the Pope a simple gift during their chance meeting. The offering was a cloth napkin, embroidered with an image of two birds, made by Jersey's mother. The birds represented her mother and father. Also embroidered on it was a legend: "Nest of Love," it said. But that nest isn't complete because her father faces deportation. "Pope Francis had it in his hand," she said of the napkin. "I told him about my family, and that's when he blessed me and touched my head." The girl was flanked by chaperones and fellow members of a group called Hermandad Mexicana (Mexican Brotherhood), which trekked to the Vatican to bring attention to U.S. immigration reform efforts. To get the Argentina-born Pope's attention, they carried a banner that stated in Spanish: "Dear Pope Francis, Help us legalize our parents." Lola Vargas, Jersey's mother, said she's so happy that her daughter was able to talk to the Pope. "She told me what happened and what she told the Pope. I am so proud of her and she represents other kids who are in the same situation," the mother said. Jersey's father, Mario Vargas, 43, was arrested in Blount County, Tennessee, for driving under the influence last September, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. He was later convicted of the charge, officials said. At the time, Mario Vargas was working a construction job, said family attorney Alex Galvez. The father was then transferred to Louisiana because there was no ICE detention center in Tennessee. "The police took him into custody and forgot about him for two months," Galvez said, "He was recently turned into ICE when the police filed the deportation proceedings two weeks ago." Galvez said he spoke to the judge a week ago and presented the family's situation. The judged asked for the family to post bail of $15,000 but the family's attorney was able to reduce the bond to $5,000. Galvez said Jersey's father was released on bail Friday, but the family still faces a legal battle in his ongoing deportation proceedings. Galvez hopes to transfer his case to Los Angeles and said Mr. Vargas will be returning home with his family this weekend. Jersey's visit was part of a campaign where 11 immigration activists, plus some relatives, traveled to Rome hoping to talk to Pope Francis and ask him to speak to Obama about immigration reform. Doris Benavides of the Los Angeles Archdiocese said Archbishop Jose H. Gomez has been a big supporter of children like Jersey and their crusade for reform. Earlier this year Gomez relayed more than 1,000 letters to Pope Francis from children whose families members were facing deportation or were deported. "Archbishop Gomez met Jersey at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels and thinks she is poised and articulate and has never met anyone like her," said Benavides. Gomez helped the group by sending a letter to the Vatican requesting 17 tickets for the group, so they could have a viewing space Wednesday outside the Vatican, Benavides said. The 17 tickets were granted. But Jersey was lucky enough that she was able to get very close and deliver her message. The Los Angeles Archdiocese believes that this visit to Rome will open a dialogue on how important immigration reform is. "Jersey's story will help see the suffering caused in families by a broken immigration system," said Benavides. The archbishop also posted a comment on his Facebook page. "Please keep praying for Jersey and for all the families who are suffering because of our broken immigration system," he said. Jersey hopes that her messages will be heard. "I am very proud of myself because I already accomplished my mission, that was to talk to him and to please stop deportations because the kids are suffering," she said.

Jersey Vargas, 10, travels to the Vatican with family and church members . She gets lucky and actually meets Pope Francis . She urges immigration reform and seeks help for her father facing deportation . Pope meets with President Obama the next day, when they talk about such reforms .

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There are numerous fascinating experiments taking place on the International Space Station (ISS) at any time, including efforts to monitor how plants grow in space. But a tree that was grown from a cherry pit that travelled into space five years ago and is now back in solid ground is baffling scientists after it bloomed far earlier than its terrestrial counterparts. The tree made the trip 229 mile (370km) above the Earth around five years ago with astronaut Koichi Wakata, who is now commander of the ISS. The pit sent to space was one of around 265 produced from the fruit of a famous 1,250-year-old Chujohimeseigan-zakura cherry tree (pictured), which grows in the Ganjoji temple, in Higashiomi, which lies to the east of Kyoto, Japan . Scientists were astonished when it bloomed much earlier than normal cherry trees, which typically don’t produce blossom for a decade. The pit was one of around 265 produced from the fruit of a famous 1,250-year-old Chujohimeseigan-zakura cherry tree, which grows in the Ganjoji temple, in Higashiomi, which lies to the east of Kyoto. The tree which produced the pits - that were blasted into space in 2008 and returned a year later - is said to originate from the seventh century. The tree made the trip 229 mile (370km) above the Earth around five years ago with astronaut Koichi Wakata, who is now commander of the ISS. Pictured here Commander Wakata is attempting to understand the mechanisms of how plants build their shape while resisting gravity . At nearly £14,000 ($23,000) to send a kilogram of food into space, cosmic cuisine doesn’t come cheap. But Nasa hopes that in the future it can grow vast quantities of its own food in space. As well as cutting costs, Nasa is hoping a 'space farm' will  deliver a lasting supply of food for astronauts on deep space missions. It could also provide something called ‘horticultural therapy’ for astronauts to reduce stress, alleviate depression and improve their overall general health. The work is part of the Vegetable Production System (Veggie) to grow six romaine lettuce plants under pink LED lamps. Nasa claims that after extensive testing on plants on Earth, it doesn’t expect zero-gravity conditions to affect the growth of the plants. The Chujohimeseigan-zakura tree is a type of the wild cherry species which is notoriously difficult to grow. The Asahi Shimbun reported that until now the ‘space cherry’ attempts to grow young trees from the pits have been unsuccessful. But by covering soil with sphagnum moss, 78-year-old botanist Takao Yoshimura managed to get one of the pits from the ISS to sprout. And remarkably in four years, the young plants was already 13ft (four metres) high. It produced 10 buds, which bloomed last week, some four years before expected. Mr Yoshimura said that it usually takes at least a decade for young cherry trees to flower and that other trees that have grown from the pits from the ISS have also bloomed, perhaps suggesting that their extraordinary journey has somehow accelerated their growth. All the pits were planted in Kochi and Yamanashi in the hope that they might flower one day. The cherry pit came from the Ganjoji temple, in Higashiomi, Japan. The tree which produced the pits - that were blasted into space in 2008 and returned a year later - is said to originate from the seventh century . Botanist Kaori Tomita, of the University of Tsukuba, who was involved in the space experiment does not know why the space cherries are thriving. ‘There is a theoretical possibility that the cosmic environment has had a certain impact on agents in the seeds that control budding and the growth process, but we have absolutely no answer as to why the trees have come into bloom so fast,’ she said. Intriguingly, while each flower of the parent tree has around 30 petals, the ‘space cherry’ blooms only have five petals. ‘As it is grown from a seed, the young plant might have reverted back to have the characteristics of original yamazakura species,’ Dr Yoshimura said, before hypothesising that the number of petals on each flower might increase as the tree matures. At nearly £14,000 ($23,000) to send a kilogram of food to the ISS (pictured), cosmic cuisine doesn't come cheap. But Nasa hopes that in the future it can grow vast quantities of its own food in space .

Tree was grown from a cherry pit that travelled into space five years ago . Pit was from 1,250-year-old Chujohimeseigan-zakura cherry tree in Japan . In four years, one of the pits from ISS had already grown four metres high . It produced 10 buds, which bloomed last week - 4 years before expected . Botanist Kaori Tomita said: ‘The cosmic environment has had a certain impact on agents in the seeds that control budding and the growth process'

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Tunis, Tunisia (CNN) -- Tunisian opposition leaders joined the current ruling party Monday in a new government to replace the country's ousted president, while U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for a return to stability "as soon as possible." The government will be led by current Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi, who took charge of the North African country when longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled last week. Ghannouchi's 19-member Cabinet will include three opposition leaders and 10 independents, he announced Monday. The new government will be tasked with leading Tunisia toward new elections, he said. Street clashes continued in Tunis on Monday, three days after Ben Ali's departure, with police firing tear gas into crowds of demonstrators in Tunis. Ban called on the new government to restore stability and the rule of law "as soon as possible." Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on Friday after ruling the country for 23 years. His ouster followed weeks of protest over what Tunisians said were poor living conditions, high unemployment, government corruption and repression. Fouad Mebazaa, a former parliament speaker, was named acting president Saturday. He promised to restore stability and respect the constitution of the North African country. Speaking in Abu Dhabi, Ban told reporters the new government should protect human rights and guarantee freedom of speech and association. But he said he remained "extremely concerned" about the ongoing clashes in the streets. "This is a moment for the Tunisian people to strengthen the country's longstanding culture of political moderation and its attachment to peace," he said. "I call on the government and all stakeholders to ensure a prompt restoration of the rule of law, and to respect and accommodate the aspirations of the people. Tunisia must regain its stability as soon as possible, to pursue the path of development and prosperity." The new government includes opposition leaders Mustafa Ben Jaafar, who will serve as health minister; Ahmad Ibrahim, education minister; and Ahmad Najib Al Shabi, minister of local development. Among the holdovers is Ahmad Friaa, the interior minister. Friaa, speaking later on state TV, said 78 people have died in the clashes across several weeks and 94 have been injured, among them many police officers. He urged people to stop riots and to work with police. He vowed that those who should be held responsible for mistakes of the past will be punished. And Friaa ended his speech saying, "Yes for democracy, yes freedom, no for chaos." Friaa also said the cost of the turmoil of recent weeks is 3 billion Tunisian dinars (about 1.6 billion euros, about $2 billion U.S.). The announcements came a day after the country's army clashed with armed gangs and remnants of Ben Ali's personal guard. Police have arrested looters and as many as two dozen of the ousted president's relatives since Friday. Public protests continued Monday, as about two thousand people packed into a major road in Tunis. As the demonstrators tried to work their way toward the headquarters of the ruling party, police opened fire with tear gas. Opposition officials told CNN there were other peaceful demonstrations in towns in central and southern Tunisia. Tunisia's unrest was triggered by the December suicide of an unemployed college graduate, who set himself ablaze after police confiscated the fruit cart that was his source of income. Recent diplomatic cables from the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia, disclosed by the WikiLeaks website, revealed growing discontent with what Tunisians believed was widespread corruption and nepotism within Ben Ali's government. Experts say the kinds of protests seen in Tunisia could inspire similar actions, particularly by unemployed young people, in other Arab nations. In the weekend's chaos, a group of Swedish hunters visiting Tunisia said Monday they were stopped on the streets near Kasserine and beaten. Some of the men's eyes were swollen and blood-filled. One man had apparently been beaten on the back. Another man had a head injury. "To be fair, when we look back, we can understand that our guns scared them," said one of the men, Ove Oberg, who met with CNN Monday morning. The men said by the time the army came and understood the hunters were tourists, they had been badly beaten. "If the army didn't find us, we would have been dead," Magnus Josefsson said. Mohamed Guiga, a witness to Sunday's clash between government troops and Ben Ali's loyalists, said most Tunisians have rallied to each other's aid since the uprising. "We are proud of those people -- simple people, young people, normal people -- who take care of each other," Guiga said. CNN's Rima Maktabi, Ben Wedeman, Per Nyberg, Matt Smith and Neil Curry contributed to this report.

NEW: U.N. secretary-general is "extremely concerned" about ongoing clashes . Police used tear gas on demonstrators Monday in Tunis . Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi announces a unity government . Weeks of demonstrations have left 78 dead and has cost billions, the government says .

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Finland has become the final Nordic country to legalise same-sex marriage after an equal rights bill was passed in parliament today. Victory cheers erupted in central Helsinki where thousands of human rights activists had gathered outside Parliament ahead of the vote. Gay couples in Finland have been able to enter into registered partnerships since 2002, but will now have the same rights as heterosexual married couples, and will be able adopt children and share a surname. Yeys for gays: Supporters of the same-sex marriage celebrate outside the Finnish Parliament in Helsinki, after the Finnish parliament approved a bill giving equal rights to gay and straight couples . Laws governing marriage are now completely gender-neutral in the Scandinavian nation, which has a population of some 5.4 million. Supporters of the bill hugged after speaker Eero Heinäluoma closed the session, and some MPs cried leaving the floor of the House. 'Finland should strive to become a society where discrimination does not exist, human rights are respected and two adults can marry regardless of their sexual orientation,' centre-right Prime Minister Alexander Stubb said in an open letter before the vote. Finland becomes the 12th European state to allow gay marriage, but the last in the Nordic region to do so. It is an important move for Finland in taking a stand against its increasingly anti-gay neighbour Russia and joining forces with the rest of Scandinavia. United in joy: Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, right, hugs Finland's first openly gay MP Jani Toivola after the vote on same-sex marriages saw the bill passed with 105 to 92 votes . A female same-sex marriage supporter cheers outside the Finnish Parliament after the vote . Keeping up with the Joneses: Finland was the last Nordic country not to allow same-sex marriage . Most opponents argued that all children should have the right to a father and mother. 'This is a question of the future of our children and the whole society, and such changes should not be made without thorough evaluation of their impact,' Mika Niikko of the nationalist Sannfinlandarna (TrueFinns party) said before the vote. In the vote, 105 members of parliament supported the legal amendment while 92 opposed it. The vote came after a petition signed by 167,000 Finnish people was handed over to Parliament in December last year. An equal rights supporter waves a Teletubby doll as the crowds celebrate the winning vote .

Finnish Parliament has voted to legalize same-sex marriages . Until today, Finland was the only Nordic country not to allow it . Gay couples have been able to register partnerships since 2002 .

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By . Richard Kay . PUBLISHED: . 20:26 EST, 4 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:29 EST, 4 February 2013 . She has sung for the Queen and now, a year after her shattering split from her former fiancé, Welsh songbird Katherine Jenkins’s heart is being repaired — by a close friend of Prince Harry. Despite the classical singer being linked with a string of eligible bachelors over the past year, strapping rugby-playing Adam Bidwell is the first man she has stepped out with since she parted from TV presenter Gethin Jones. At the time, Katherine, 32, said she was ‘beyond broken-hearted’. But that is now all in the past. The first man Welsh songbird Katherine Jenkins has stepped out with since her split from Gethin Jones is Prince Harry's friend Adam Bidwell . She and Cambridge-educated Adam met through mutual friends in London a few weeks ago and are already said to be smitten. ‘This is the first guy since Gethin who Katherine has gone out with, so she is taking it slow,’ says a friend. ‘They obviously share a mutual love of rugby, as Adam used to play for London Wasps and she’s the Welsh team’s mascot and has sung at lots of games. She is really excited to see where it leads.’ Brighton-born Bidwell, 37, a sales manager for financial firm Investec, is a favoured member of Prince Harry’s entourage. He was famously photographed with the Prince in a Jacuzzi during Harry’s wild trip to Las Vegas last year. ‘Katherine knows Adam likes to have fun and all about his party past, but they have lots of other things in common like food, travel and music,’ says the friend. Rugby playing Adam Bidwell was with Prince Harry when he visited Las Vegas last summer .

Welsh singer has been stepping out with Adam Bidwell, a friend of Prince Harry . They met through mutual friends in London a few weeks ago .

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(CNN) -- Four months after a criminal investigation began into the disappearance of an Oregon boy, officials continue to ask the public for leads and tips. Thursday marks Kyron Horman's 8th birthday. Desiree Young, Kyron's biological mother, said she will celebrate the birthday by releasing red balloons outside a church in Medford, Oregon. His stepmother, Terri Horman, said she dropped him off at Skyline Elementary School on the morning of June 4. She has been the subject of intense scrutiny for several months. In divorce filings, her ex-husband, Kaine Horman, said he believes that Terri Horman "is involved" in the boy's disappearance. Court documents also allege Terri Horman attempted to hire a man to kill her husband. Meanwhile, Skyline Elementary began its first day of classes for the year on Tuesday with additional security measures to protect the children and staff. In a letter to parents, Principal Ben Keefer said video cameras will be installed this weekend at Skyline. "These cameras will show external views of the building as well as the main hallway," he wrote. Also, security procedures will be reviewed to ensure they are effective, he added. Tributes, messages, posters and cards that adorned a "Wall of Hope" for Kyron were moved from school property to a fence outside a nearby fire station, said the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. "We're happy that the fire district can provide this service to the community," said Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue Communications Officer Brian Barker. "Our hearts go out to Kyron's family and we all hope for a positive resolution to this case."

The investigation into Kyron's disappearance continues . His mother says she will release balloons to celebrate his birthday . Video cameras are being put in place at Skyline Elementary .

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By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 03:33 EST, 22 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:59 EST, 22 April 2013 . Heroic: Dr Natalie Stavas treated victims after crossing the finish line of the Boston Marathon . A doctor was crossing the finish line of the Boston Marathon when she heard the blasts which killed three people. With no thought for her own safety, Dr Natalie Stavas instinctively ran towards the victims and began to treat the wounded. In the minutes after the explosions, she carried out CPR and used bits of clothing to help stop people's wounds bleeding. Now, a week on, the pediatrician is coming to terms with what happened and the impact it will have on the rest of her life. 'As a physician, I take an oath to do the best I can,' she told the LA Times. 'I've carried with me this intense sorrow and intense grief since that day.' The doctor attended a memorial service this week and met some of the other first responders. She said: 'I was able to sit with the Boston police and be in the presence of true heroes surrounded by truly heroic people who were, as a collect as a whole, were able to save so many lives.' Dr Stavas was running the race with her father, who is also a doctor, when she reached the end of the 26-mile route. Her father Joe, 58, a radiologist, said: 'She was like an Olympic runner - I couldn't keep up with her.' Medics: Dr Natalie Stavas and her father had reached the end of the marathon when they heard the explosions . The daughter of a doctor and nurse, Dr Stavas grew up in Nebraska and was always destined to go into medicine. She is now a pediatric resident treating children at the Boston Medical Centre and Boston Children's Hospital. But the medic was nearly forced to pull out of the marathon because she broke her left foot a couple of weeks before the race. Determined: Dr Natalie Stavas says she now hopes she can move on from the bombings after treating victims . Her determination however, spurred her on to take part because she was doing it for charity. Had she not been there, victims of the blasts would not have been given treatment so quickly. She said: 'Finally I'm starting to have a sense of peace and a sense of closure and an urgent need to be able to move beyond my grief and move towards the future. 'I hope I can help us move forward and be a stronger person and overcome what we have been through...and go back out there next year and cross the finish line of the Boston Marathon.' Dr Natalie Stavas was crossing the finish line of the Boston Marathon when the first bomb went off .

Dr Natalie Stavas ran to treat the victims after hearing the explosions . She had crossed the finish line with her father when the bombs went off . The 32-year-old hopes she can now begin to move on from the tragedy .

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Washington (CNN) -- AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has a blunt message for labor union members: Get to the polls next week, because "as bad as things are, they can get a whole lot worse." As part of a massive get-out-the-vote operation, the labor federation is sending out 10 million personalized letters from Trumka as a final mailing to its membership Monday. Enclosed with each letter is a detailed "slate card" tailored to each member. It lists all of the state-wide candidates endorsed by labor, as well as the candidates for the House of Representatives and the state legislature. The card includes the person's polling place and information about what kind of identification they may need to bring. Trumka penned two letters Monday, each with a different message, which the union's spokesman called "the most sophisticated [get-out-the-vote] mail program the AFL-CIO has ever done." The union uses "micro targeting" analysis to pinpoint the issues union members care about and that, in turn, determines which letter they will receive. In one version, Trumka warns his members that if the Republicans win control of Congress they will privatize Social Security, send jobs to China, cut off any future extensions of unemployment benefits and let insurance companies take away health care coverage. The letter closes by saying, "get mad and do something about it." The other personalized letter from Trumka echoes the message President Barack Obama and Democrats have focused on over the past few weeks: undisclosed outside money is fueling an onslaught of television ads and distorting the records of pro-union candidates. This letter links the foreign money theme with the Democrats' other message on the economy: that big businesses are planning to outsource U.S. jobs. Trumka writes, "The same foreign companies that are stealing American jobs are now trying to buy our American elections." Including this mailing, the AFL-CIO has sent out 28.6 million pieces of political literature this midterm cycle. The labor federation also has call centers in 26 states that have high union membership and competitive congressional and statewide races. For example, in Ohio, there are 17 call centers where members are contacting fellow labor workers urging them to vote a week from Tuesday. Volunteers are leafleting work sites and doing neighborhood walks to encourage people to turn out. While the AFL-CIO is not funding television ads on behalf of candidates, its largest member, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers, is putting tens of millions of dollars into ads. A spokesman for the AFL-CIO declined to give a figure for how much the get-out-the-vote effort is costing, saying the organization doesn't want to give away any information to the other side about the extent of its efforts.

The union's president wrote a pair of letters to members . The mailings this week will go to 10 million members . The letters contend the GOP will privatize Social Security and send jobs overseas .

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By . Lizzie Parry . PUBLISHED: . 07:56 EST, 17 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:17 EST, 17 December 2013 . Helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter has issued a worldwide safety alert after a fault was found in the  model of craft that crashed into a pub, killing 10 people. A problem detected with the fuel dial meant that the indicator could fall straight from green to red without any warning, the firm discovered. The issue was found on some of the manufacturer's EC135 aircraft - the same type as the police helicopter involved in the Glasgow, Clutha pub tragedy last month. The scene at the Clutha pub in Glasgow on November 29 when Scotland's police helicopter crashed into the bar killing three on board and seven inside . Operator Bond Air Services temporarily suspended flights of its 22 EC135 helicopters last week after a fuel gauge fault was discovered on an air ambulance in the North West of England. The suspension affected air ambulance and police helicopters across the UK, many of which have now resumed flights. Eurocopter has now issued a safety information notice after tests revealed other aircraft may be affected by similar issues. A statement said: 'Eurocopter has been informed by Bond Air Services of an issue involving the fuel indication system experienced during normal operations by one of its EC135 EMS aircraft. 'Following this incident, fuel system functionality tests performed by Bond Air Services and two other EC135 operators in Europe have revealed possible similar supply-tank fuel gauging errors on some aircraft. Manufacturer Eurocopter has issued a safety warning after detecting a fault with the fuel indicators in their EC135 helicopters, the same model as that which crashed into the Clutha pub . Rescue workers prepare, left, to lift the wreckage of the Police Scotland helicopter from the Clutha pub, right . 'This incident is currently under in-depth investigation by Eurocopter. The first analysis shows that the indication of the fuel quantity in the supply tanks could be over-estimated.' The safety notice warns crews that in the 'worst case' scenario, a red low fuel warning could appear without any amber fuel caution beforehand. Pilot David Traill died in the crash along with two police officers on board and seven people drinking inside the Clutha pub . In a statement, Bond said: 'We note that Eurocopter has today issued a safety information notice to operators of the EC135 across the world confirming that some of their aircraft have a fault in the fuel indication and alert system which means that warning system may not work properly. 'This was a fault discovered by Bond during normal service operations on Wednesday, December 11, which we immediately reported to Eurocopter and the appropriate authorities. 'We understand other operators have since conducted similar tests and found similar problems with their aircraft. 'As soon as we discovered this issue, in line with our commitment to the highest standards of safety, we took the prudent decision to temporarily suspend service operations whilst we conducted checks on our fleet of EC135s. 'The results of these tests were subsequently validated by Eurocopter, and appropriate repairs made before returning the aircraft to service.' The company said it had ordered that all its EC135s should have a minimum of 198lb (90kg) of fuel on board at all times. An initial report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) into the Glasgow crash said there was 'no evidence of major mechanical disruption of either engine' of the Police Scotland helicopter. In addition, the helicopter still had 21 gallons (95 litres) of the 882lb (400kg) of fuel that it had taken off with from Glasgow City Heliport. The three people on board the Bond-operated aircraft and seven people in the pub died when it crashed on November 29.

The Police Scotland helicopter crashed into the Clutha pub in Glasgow on November 29, killing three on board and seven in the bar . Eurocopter issued warning after fault with fuel gauge was discovered . Dial could fall from green to red without any warning . Many of the craft grounded last week amid concerns have resumed flights . Air Accidents Investigation Branch said crashed helicopter still had 95 litres of fuel on board when it fell from the sky . Investigation found 'no evidence of mechanical disruption'

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By . Kieran Corcoran . PUBLISHED: . 11:38 EST, 6 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 03:29 EST, 7 March 2014 . A mother taking her two young daughters to school was elbowed to the floor by a woman who shouted at her and two other parents for blocking the path. Kirsty Livingstone, 28, was standing with other mothers and their pushchairs on a street in Southborne, Dorset, when she was knocked down by 34-year-old Telicia Henry. Miss Livingstone suffered whiplash, a chipped shoulder bone and severe bruising from the fall. Attacked: Kirsty Livingstone was elbowed to the floor by Telicia Henry in Southbourne, Dorest . Bruising: Miss Livingstone suffered painful injuries as a result of her fall . Seconds before, Henry, who had recently emerged from an off-licence, started shouting and swearing at the group before angrily barging past. After the assault, she continued to school and picked up her children Lillie, five, and Ella, seven, before calling police. Attacker: Telicia Henry, pictured, pleaded guilty to common assault . The pain from the injuries gave Miss Livingstone sleepless nights and has made her nervous of going outside, a court heard. Officers arrested Henry, of no fixed abode, who later appeared at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court where she pleaded guilty to common assault and received a six-week suspended prison sentence. Mark Price, defending, said: 'When this offence happened she was faced with a crowd of mothers and pushchairs and couldn’t get past. 'So she forced her way through forcefully - it wasn’t a reckless assault.' In a statement read to the court, Miss Livingstone said the assault left her unable to sleep for three nights because of the pain and she lost her confidence when out walking. Henry was told: 'This offence was committed in a group of ladies with children around. 'The abusive language you used was totally unacceptable and resulted in the lady being totally and utterly intimidated.' After the case Miss Livingstone, a part-time shop assistant, said: 'I was with some other mums and we had seen the woman go into an off-licence. 'We had about 20 minutes until we had to pick up the children from school. 'Then the woman came down the road and approached us. She elbowed me so hard that I fell over. 'I was in absolute shock, she could have easily avoided me but she knew what she wanted to do. 'I went to collect my children from school and when I got there I burst out crying and had a cup of tea with one of the teachers who called the police. 'The next day I went to hospital and discovered I had severe whiplash and a chipped bone in my shoulder. My arm was in a sling for two weeks because of it.' School run: Miss Livingstone was heading to school to collect her daughters Ella, seven (centre) and Lillie, five (right)

Kirsty Livingstone, 28, was knocked down in Southbourne, Dorset . She was walking to school to collect daughters Ella, seven, and Lillie, five . Telicia Henry, 34, started shouting and swearing before the attack . She pleaded guilty to common assault at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court .

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(CNN) -- A New York newspaper removed an interactive map from its website following a public outcry over the revealing of names and addresses of handgun permit holders in Westchester and Rockland counties, the publisher said Friday. The newspaper last month defended the online information culled from public records, but The Journal News publisher Janet Hasson on Friday said the map had served its purpose. The database was published in the wake of the elementary school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children and six adults were killed. The gunman, 20, had earlier killed his mother in their home; he killed himself after the school rampage. "Today The Journal News has removed the permit data from lohud.com," Hasson said in a public letter on the website. The newspaper wasn't caving to public pressure, and the decision wasn't an acknowledgment that it made a mistake, Hasson said. In fact, she said, many community members applauded publication of the permit data. "Our decision to do so is not a concession to critics that no value was served by the posting of the map in the first place," Hasson said. "Nor is our decision made because we were intimidated by those who threatened the safety of our staffers. We know our business is a controversial one, and we do not cower," Hasson said. After map published, blogger posts journalists' address . "But the database has been public for 27 days and we believe those who wanted to view it have done so already. As well, with the passage of time, the data will become outdated and inaccurate," she said. Hasson acknowledged a legislative climate in New York that favors making private any information about gun permits. "As a news organization, we are constantly defending the public's right to know," she said. "But we are not deaf to voices who have said that new rules should be set for gun permit data." The online map allowed readers to zoom in on red dots that indicated which residents were licensed to own pistols or revolvers. Blue dots indicated permit holders who "have purchased a firearm or updated the information on a permit in the past five years." The published data outraged many gun permit holders and privacy advocates, who posted angry comments online. Some threatened to cancel their subscriptions or boycott the publication. At the time, Hasson defended the decision. "One of our roles is to report publicly available information on timely issues, even when unpopular. We knew publication of the database (as well as the accompanying article providing context) would be controversial, but we felt sharing information about gun permits in our area was important in the aftermath of the Newtown shootings," she said last month. On Friday, the newspaper pledged to continue "to report aggressively" on gun ownership and will press its request for data from Putnam County and additional information from Westchester and Rockland counties once it's released publicly. "And we will keep a snapshot of our map--with all its red dots-- on our website to remind the community that guns are a fact of life we should never forget," Hasson wrote. CNN's KC Maas and Josh Levs contributed to this report.

The Journal News unplugs an online map listing gun permit holders . The map has served its purpose, publisher says . Newspaper said it didn't cower to vocal critics .

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Washington (CNN) -- President Obama visited a local bookstore in Washington Saturday and offered a quick assessment of a new book out about his time in the White House. "The Stranger: Barack Obama in the White House" is a book from NBC host and former White House correspondent Chuck Todd. It was sitting behind the register at Politics & Prose -- a bookstore in a Washington neighborhood north of the White House. His visit coincided with the White House effort to promote shopping locally on "Small Business Saturday." The President visited the store on the same day last year. Shoppers at the store crowded around as Obama and his two daughters, Malia and Sasha, bought a basketful of books. But it was Todd's book that caught the President's eye, especially the cover -- a pensive profile shot of Obama. "Lets see what Chuck has to say," said Obama as he leaned closer to the book, guessing from the title and cover that the book was about the President being "sad." "Looks like a sad book," Malia said, joking with her father. It was a friendly crowd but one shopper did yell out, "I hope you can close Guantanamo." The President had a quick response that brought laughter from the crowd, "We're working on it ... any other issues?" The Obamas bought a variety of books, and the President told the cashier that some of them were Christmas presents. The White House provided a list of the President's purchases to the press, but Chuck Todd's book was not on it. Some highlights from the list include books geared towards kids including "I Spy," "Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business," by Barbara Park, "Brown Girl Dreaming," by Jacqueline Woodson and the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. There also were books for adult readers including Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness," "Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End" by Atul Gawande, and "Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth and Faith in the New China" by Evan Osnos.

"Looks like a sad book," Malia Obama jokes to her father as they shop for gifts . The book: "The Stranger: Barack Obama in the White House" The President and his daughters visit a DC bookstore on "Small Business Saturday" The White House releases a list of books they bought -- "The Stranger" wasn't among them .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . and Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:00 EST, 20 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:26 EST, 21 June 2013 . When disaster strikes the natural reaction is to grab what is most precious to you and in the case of Kevan Yaets that was his cat Momo. The pair got caught up in flood waters on Thursday that submerged the rather unfortunately named town of High River in Alberta. Yaets and Momo found themselves trapped in their pickup truck after it became submerged after the Highwood River overflowed its banks and sweep downstream. Scroll down for video . Kevan Yaets crawls out the back window of his pick up truck with his cat Momo as the flood waters sweep him downstream . Swimming to safety: Momo, followed by owner Kevan Yaets, make their way to higher ground in High River, Alberta after the Highwood River overflowed its banks . With the vehicle filling with water the pair had to escape by crawling out the back window and swimming to safety. Momo swam bravely while his owner Yaets stuck close to his pet just in case he needed a helping hand. Fortunately for the pair they were able to reach some higher ground and got help from some other people caught up in the floods. As many as 100,000 people could be forced from their homes by heavy flooding in western Canada, Calgary city officials said, while mudslides forced the closure of the Trans-Canada Highway, isolating the mountain resort towns of Banff and Canmore. Torrential rains and widespread flooding throughout southern Alberta on Thursday washed out roads and bridges, left at least one person missing and caused cars, couches and refrigerators to float away. Momo swam bravely while his owner Yaets stuck close to his pet just in case he needed a helping hand . Pet rescue: A rather damp Mom and Kevan Yaets, center, are led to safety after flood waters submerged their truck in High River, Alberta on Thursday . Communities were hit hard just south of Calgary, a city of more than a million people that hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics. Many downtown neighborhoods were ordered evacuated as the evening went on. Officials said the evacuation would take place in stages over the next few days. The province reported that 12 communities were under states of emergency. One woman who had been stranded on top of a trailer was missing after it was swept away, STARS air ambulance spokesman Cam Heke said. Motorists who were trapped overnight Wednesday by water spilling over Canada's main western highway had to be rescued by helicopter, Town of Canmore spokeswoman Sally Caudill said. A woman is rescued from the flood waters in High River: Officials say as many as 100,000 people could be forced from their homes due to heavy flooding in western Canada . Two men use a fishing boat to rescue residents from a neighborhood after heavy rains caused flooding, closed roads, and forced evacuation in High River . 'I woke up at about three o'clock in morning to the sound of this kind of rumbling, and it was the creek,' said Wade Graham, a resident of Canmore. 'At first it was just intense, pretty powerful, amazing thing to watch. As daylight came, it just got bigger and bigger and wider and wider, and it's still getting bigger and bigger and wider and wider.' He added, 'I watched a refrigerator go by, I watched a shed go by, I watched couches go by. It's insane.' Bruce Burrell, director of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency, said water levels on the Bow River aren't expected to subside until Saturday afternoon. The Bow River Basin already has been battered with up to 100 mm (3.9 inches) of rain. Roger Poirier, holds his family's cat, Smartie, as his wife Crystal looks on after rescuing it from their flooded house in High River . Two women and a dog are rescued from the flooding after a state of emergency was issued for the town of High River . 'Depending on the extent of flooding we experience overnight, there may be areas of the city where people are not going to be able to get into until the weekend,' he told a news conference. In High River, Mounties asked people with motorboats to help rescue at least a dozen stranded homeowners. 'We have people on their rooftops who were unable to evacuate fast enough,' said RCMP Sgt. Patricia Neely. Environment Canada issued a rainfall warning for the affected areas, estimating as much as 100 millimetres more rain could fall in the next two days. A man carries his dog to safety in High River, which is being evacuated due to floods . Cars float in water covering a downtown street in High River: More rain and flooding is expected in the next 24 hours .

Kevin Yaets and his cat Momo had to swim to safety after their pickup truck got submerged in flood waters on Thursday . Heavy flooding in western Canada could force as many as 100,000 people from their homes . At least one person is missing after the torrential rains . throughout southern Alberta . Further rain is expected and water levels aren't expected to subside until Saturday .

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Carlsbad, California (CNN) -- Charity has always been a part of every spiritual tradition, and learning to give is an essential part of everyone's inner growth. However, charity has a dirty little secret that few of us want to face. It can fail or backfire. Our gifts can be squandered. A dollar given with compassion may wind up lining the pockets of someone who doesn't deserve it. It's a healthy sign that the public has become more aware of these drawbacks. Yet we have to be careful to ward off cynicism. To stop giving would be the wrong choice. Here's how I empower my own giving while at the same time bringing the compassionate gift closer to the right receiver. First of all, fuel an aspiration. The most hopeless people in the world aren't the poorest; they're the ones who can never fulfill even a tiny dream. As a group, women are the largest population of the helpless, so I look to help them any way I can. Invest in the future, which means directing your gift to young people. Ask for accountability. Know exactly where your money is going, and demand progress reports. Take advantage of the multiplier effect. The reason micro-financing has taken off like wildfire is that small loans to individuals to help them buy their own land or start their own businesses turn out to pay off handsomely. The businesses get started and flourish. The loans are repaid quickly and thus multiply the effect of your gift. I participate in Start Fund, started by philanthropist Fred Matser of the Netherlands. But there are now many online resources for directing your gift into micro-financing. Give generously of your spirit. If you can do this, money is secondary. Personal guidance, mentoring and encouragement happen on a one-to-one basis. If you can bring your spirit into contact with someone else's, your gift can change a life. These are simple, basic guidelines, but I believe in them wholeheartedly. I hope they come to mind the next time you get one of those annoying phone calls from a fast-talking, impersonal fundraiser who works for a cut of the money raised. There's a better way to give, and it's open to all of us. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Deepak Chopra.

Deepak Chopra: Giving part of inner growth, but corruption in charities makes us pause . Don't stop giving, just be smart about it. Seek accountability; ask where your money goes . Chopra: Help people reach aspirations. Invest in future . Give of your spirit. Helping someone in person can do more than money to change a life .

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By . Associated Press Reporter . A developer and city officials say some changes have been negotiated in a controversial plan for a so-called 'poor door' that was to be used by less-affluent residents of a new Manhattan skyscraper. People who live in the pricey condos of the 42-story Upper West Side building will still enter through the luxurious front lobby. But residents of the 'affordable' portion of the complex - who will pay steeply reduced rent under a government-funded program - will have a separate entrance and exit. Now, under new plan ammendments, developer Larry Silverstein says those people will have access to a courtyard and a roof deck facing the Hudson River. Scroll down for video . Controversial: Workers prepare the main entrance of a new residential building on Manhattan's West Side. Residents of the less-luxurious condos in the complex will use a separate so-called 'poor door' 'Poor door': The separate doors are the result of a change to the zoning rules in 2009 that allowed developers to build multiples building segments on the same site, where each is required to have its own entrance. However many argue it is separatist and unfair . Developing: Known as 10 Freedom Place, the market-rate apartments are perched atop affordable-housing units (picture) in a glass tower . Glassy: The entrance for owners of the market-rate apartments will feature a door man . Making changes: Larry Silverstein, chairman of Silverstein Properties, made changes to the building plans so that affordable-housing residents have access to some of the amenities in the adjacent building, such as the rooftop garden . The 'poor door' will also open up to a planned public park. It also will feature custom wood and a lobby with a glass facade. The changes follow outrage over the announcement that 'less valuable residents were being pushed out the back door'. City officials call the project a model for integrating affordable and market-rate apartments. But they're also hoping for changes in the law to forbid separate entrances. In order to get tax breaks or permission to construct major buildings in New York, developers agree to build a certain amount of subsidized housing units in the same area. State assembly woman Linda B Rozenthaal is working to take away those tax breaks from developers who plan to have separate entrances. Controvery: A project a few blocks away from the Silverstein venture, by Extell Development Co. at 40 Riverside Blvd. (puctred), has sparked similar outrage in recent weeks for also including a 'poor door' 'The zoning resolution can be changed so that this kind of set up cannot be legal,' she said. Until the laws are changed are made, officials will use the recent changes to Silverstein's plans as a precedent. 'I do think we've made a blueprint,' Vicki Been, commissioner of the Housing Preservation and Development Department, told The Wall Street Journal. 'The blueprint is that you've got to have a building that signals, ''You are welcome here. You are just as valuable as every person in this neighborhood''.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

A 42-story apartment complex known as 10 Freedom Place being contructed by Larry Silverstein on New York's Upper West Side . The building will feature 250 market-rate condos and 116 affordable rental units . However residents will use different entrances . New changes to design plans following 'poor door' controvery will see some shared amenities, including a rooftop garden .

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By . Press Association Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:28 EST, 28 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:29 EST, 28 April 2013 . Hundreds of peace campaigners gathered outside an RAF base today to protest against the 'obscenity' of armed drones being used to conduct unmanned missions in Afghanistan. About 400 demonstrators took part in a march from Lincoln to a rally at nearby RAF Waddington, which assumed control of British drone missions in Afghanistan earlier this week. The Ministry of Defence confirmed on Thursday an oversight of armed intelligence and surveillance flights by drones deployed to Afghanistan had now moved to Waddington from a United States Air Force facility in Nevada. Vocal: Hundreds of protesters took part in a march to RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, which started flying armed drones over Afghanistan this week . Adamant: But despite assurances over their use from the MoD, protesters insist they are unethical . Clear message: Members of the Stop The War Coalition, CND, The Drone Campaign Network and War on Want all took part in the rally . Protesters taking part in today's rally cheered calls for the international community to emulate action taken against cluster munitions by outlawing armed drones. Chris Cole, a co-ordinator of the Drone Campaign Network, said the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to wage war raised numerous legal, ethical and moral issues. Speaking near Waddington's perimeter fence, Mr Cole told the Press Association: 'This is the new home of drone warfare in the UK and there are questions about the growing use of these armed, unmanned systems. Not here: The RAF began remotely operating its Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles in Afghanistan from the Lincolnshire airbase earlier this week, to the dismay of residents . 'Because of their remote nature, there is no risk to any of our forces and that makes it easier to launch weapons and makes it much easier for politicians to get involved in warfare.' Mr Cole said the number of demonstrators present at the rally showed the strength of public feeling against the use of drones, particularly to target areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The activist added: 'In Pakistan there are reliable reports of a large number of civilian casualties and we don't know about British use of drones because there is no information about what's happening in Afghanistan.' Veteran peace campaigner Helen John, who has been living in a caravan adjacent to Waddington, also addressed the protestors. The retired nurse and midwife, 74, said she was disgusted the UK was using Reaper drones controlled from British soil. She said: 'If you are going about your normal business without interfering with anyone else you should not be able to be targeted by a drone. 'It's quite horrifying how people are happy to accept this happening. 'The opposition (to armed drones) is growing but it really has to speed up so that this type of weaponry is outlawed.' Many of the marchers carried banners bearing slogans including 'No More Drones' and 'Murdered by Robots', while others held up placards with photographs and names of individual drone strike victims. Local resident Pat Pilling, aged 71, was among those who backed the protest, which was organised by CND, the Drone Campaign Network, the Stop the War Coalition, and War on Want. 'My worry is that because they are controlling the drones from here, Waddington is now a target,' she said. Lethal: Campaigners are concerned the drones are being used to prolong the War on Terror with little public scrutiny . Drones: RAF-controlled Reaper drones are used to gather intelligence on the ground in Afghanistan, but also carry 500lb bombs and Hellfire missiles for precision strikes (file photo) Anger: The CND called the drones a 'barbaric form of hi-tech killing' 'We are just making ourselves a bigger target - they are controlled by kids in an air-conditioned room thousands of miles away with no concept of the devastation that they are causing.' In a speech to the protesters, Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsey German said: 'There is nothing like getting close up to these bases to see how menacing they are. 'It brings home that (the UK is) engaged in drone warfare - it is warfare which is operated remotely at absolutely no risk to anybody in this country but with terrible consequences for people in countries many, many thousands of miles away. 'Nobody knows how many have died and nobody knows their names.' Chris Nineham, vice-chair of the Stop the War Coalition, voiced concern that drones were being used to continue the so-called 'war on terror' with little or no public scrutiny. 'They're using them to fight wars behind our backs,' Mr Nineham said. 'Important weapon': The Ministry of Defence says the aircraft are operated by highly-trained military pilots who engage in the same rules of conflict as traditional RAF aircraft . Ground the Drones: Protesters held up banners and waved 'peace' signs during their afternoon of action . CND's general secretary, Kate Hudson, was also fiercely critical of armed drones, saying in a statement: 'It's time to end this remote killing before even more innocent civilians are slaughtered. 'They are the main victims in this barbaric form of high-tech killing.' The MoD says drones have played a vital role supporting military operations in Afghanistan and have 'undoubtedly' helped to save the lives of military personnel and those of countless Afghan civilians. Defence officials have also stressed that Reaper drones are primarily operated in Afghanistan in a surveillance and reconnaissance role. Rally: Opponents say use of the remote controlled drones in war-torn countries like Afghanistan is a blot on the UK's copybook and called for missions to stop . An MoD spokesman said: 'We fully respect people's right to protest peacefully and within the law. 'UK Reaper aircraft are piloted by highly trained professional military pilots who adhere strictly to the same laws of armed conflict and are bound by the same clearly defined rules of engagement which apply to traditionally manned RAF aircraft. 'In all military operations everything possible is done to avoid civilian casualties and this is no less the case with RPAS (Remotely Piloted Air System) operations.'

Four-hundred gather for march to RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire . Anti-conflict groups like Stop the War Coalition join local residents for rally . Protesters say the unmanned aircraft cause unknown number of casualties . They say 'hi-tech, remote-controlled barbarity' must stop . Neighbours fear they will become a terror target . But MoD says the robotic machines offer vital military support for forces . It insists they adhere to same rules of engagement as traditional aircraft .

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(CNN) -- After the craziness of the winter weather, it's time for some positive predictions, right? Meteorologists are on the lookout for a weather pattern that could mean a milder hurricane season for the East Coast this summer. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday that there's about a 50% chance of a weather phenomenon called El Nino developing this summer or fall. That's not a guarantee, but conditions are favorable enough in the next six months to warrant an "El Nino Watch." An El Nino event occurs about once every three to seven years, said Kevin Trenberth, senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. It involves the warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, and results in major changes in the jet stream where storms track. As the ocean builds up heat in the western Pacific Ocean, some of the heat goes into the atmosphere through evaporation. The moistened atmosphere invigorates storms, Trenberth said, changing where hurricanes and typhoons occur. But those of you on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast, rejoice: "It means that the Atlantic hurricane season will be rather weak because it can't stand the competition," Trenberth said. An El Nino event would likely mean more shear -- wind speeds that increase with height -- in the upper levels of the atmosphere during hurricane season. This wind shear would suppress the development of tropical systems. California would also benefit if El Nino conditions develop and continue into the winter. The state is suffering from one of the worst droughts in its history. An El Nino pattern in the winter time usually results in much wetter conditions for the West Coast. Because El Nino warms up the atmosphere as a whole, we may see a mini global warming phenomenon, Trenberth said. Places that shivered through a deep freeze this year may see above-average temperatures next winter, if the pattern continues, Trenberth said. But in other parts of the world, El Nino can be quite disruptive, depending on where you live. Monsoons in India and droughts in Australia may result, Trenberth said. Hawaii would be more likely to see a hurricane. Flooding in Peru and Ecuador are also associated with El Nino. Farmers there have switched from cotton to rice farming to adapt during such times, Trenberth said. In February, sea surface temperatures were below average in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, but above average near the International Date Line, NOAA said. There were also strong low-level westerly winds reappearing over the central equatorial Pacific, which could help to hold onto the increased heat content in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific. Right now the El Nino Southern Oscillation is in its "neutral" phase -- neither warm nor cool -- but models suggest that El Nino could develop. The last record-breaking El Nino event was in 1997 to 1998. The pattern led to a relatively warm winter, but also a series of devastating weather events: Flooding in the Southeast and California, an ice storm in the northeast and tornadoes in Florida. "Be careful what you wish for sometimes," Trenberth said.

NOAA: 50% of El Nino this summer or fall . The pattern would mean warmer atmosphere . California could get a relief from drought . Record-breaking El Nino was 1997 to 1998 .

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If the NFL is really serious about getting London to embrace the American game, it may want to consider sending over the Cowboys Cheerleaders whether Dallas is playing at Wembley or not. As American as apple pie, bourbon, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis, the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders have been an institution for decades and they are just as recognisable, if not more so, than their NFL team’s distinctive star logo. After getting in early on Tuesday morning, the ladies have been busy promoting Sunday’s game at Wembley against the Jacksonville Jaguars, participating in community events, exploring London, and of course, finding time to practice. With only a short amount of time to get a lot of things done, the team has been attempting to operate with the speed and efficiency of a two-minute drill in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys cheerleaders wrap up warm and jump for joy outside Wembley's world famous arch . ‘We keep saying “You’re only in London once,” so that’s our new phrase for YOLO this week,’ two-year DCC member Jennifer Kathryne said. ‘We just keep telling ourselves we want to take in as much as we can. We’ve foregone a few extra-precious hours of sleep to go see Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey and do some shopping. We’ve definitely done our best to get out there and see the city.’ ‘My favourite part about sightseeing was Parliament and going into the House of Commons,’ Angela Rena, a sports massage therapist who hails from Australia, said. ‘We witnessed a debate going on about England and Iran. That was an experience we wouldn’t have otherwise been able to have.’ The differences in language have also been somewhat of a change from the US. ‘I think our favourite word is rubbish,’ Emma Mary, a four-year DCC member who enjoys National Public Radio and iBooks, said. ‘We can’t stop talking about the rubbish. We haven’t been here long enough to start saying “loo,” but if we were here a few more days I could totally see some of us picking up on that.’ The cheerleaders visited Marylebone Station during their sightseeing tour of the capital . The difference between chips, French fries, crisps and potato chips is still a bit confusing. ‘We went to a fish and chips place around the corner and then they had actual potato chips on the table for us,’ Nicole Bulcher, who holds degrees in history, justice studies and sociology, said. ‘When we told the woman the chips were good, she told us they were crisps. Okay… crisps, chips, French fries, fried potatoes, they’re all good.’ Although they’ve enjoyed eating fish and chips, lamb, toffee pudding and other English dishes, the ladies are calling for ‘some queso’ in London as they’ve been missing one particular taste from home: . ‘Mexican food. I was born, bred and raised on Mexican food and I’ve been craving it,’ Miss Kathryne said. ‘It’s only been a few days, but I’m ready for some spicy, southern, Tex-Mex food.’ The comfort food of Dallas may be across the pond, but the members of the cheerleading squad anticipate feeling right at home on Wembley even though the Cowboys will technically be the away team on Sunday. ‘The Cowboys are an international brand,’ Miss Rena said. ‘We saw people wearing Dallas jerseys near Buckingham Palace and I think even though we are the away team, our fans will be loud. We’ll just own it like it’s our home stadium.’ The Cowboys cheerleaders run through their routine at Arlington . Kathryne added: ‘We could see Broncos jerseys. We could see Redskins jerseys. It will kind of be a melting pot. It’s going to make the atmosphere very exciting because people will be rooting for big plays and whatever else is exciting during the game. The crowd is going to be lively and I’m hoping to see the same intensity that they bring to a soccer match. If they bring that, it’s going to be a loud, energetic and awesome experience.’ Although the Cowboys won’t be returning to Wembley next season, the ladies are hopeful they’ll be back for a future International Series game or if the NFL installs a team in London permanently. ‘I think that would be amazing,’ Miss Bulcher said. ‘Making the NFL a more international interest would make sense. This would be the best away game to go to.’ One thing many people don’t realise when they see the boots, pom-poms and blue and white outfits is how much work cheering for the Dallas Cowboys requires, the DCC members said. Although the ladies all have other jobs, their responsibilities for the team are full-time and there is no offseason. ‘Practises and games are only 50 per cent of the job,’ Miss Kathryne said. ‘We have a lot of appearances, a lot of shows, a lot of radio spots and a lot of TV productions. Every day of the week at least one of us is doing something. It’s a full-time commitment. You’re in uniform a lot more during the week than just at the games.’ ‘Who you are really matters,’ Miss Mary added. ‘We truly are America’s sweethearts. We’re representing the Dallas Cowboys wherever we go whether it’s at our job, at our church or in London. We don’t have an offseason. Maybe two weeks in January – unless we get booked. We’re constantly performing, but we love it that way.’ The Cowbys face the Jaguars at Wembley and can count on some familiar support across the pond . Much like in the NFL, tryouts for the team are held each year and it’s not uncommon to see veterans get cut and replaced. The competition is stressful, but it also ensures that the squad is always showcasing the best possible talent on gamedays. That talent will be on full display at Wembley on Sunday and Jacie Veronica, a Louisiana native who skipped fifth grade and aspires to write for Sports Illustrated, has a message for anyone and everyone who’ll be attending the international event: . ‘We’re not just America’s team.’ Executives with dreams of establishing a permanent NFL club at Wembley should hope Londoners feel the same way. The presence of America’s sweethearts in the UK will certainly help the cause.

Five team members - Emma, Angela, Nicole, Jennifer and Jacie - speak to Sportsmail . The ladies are enjoying seeing the city but are missing Mexican food . DCC is squad expecting ‘energetic’ and ‘loud’ atmosphere at Wembley on Sunday . Hoping to return for another NFL International Series game in the future .

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By . Anna Hodgekiss and Chris Brooke . PUBLISHED: . 07:53 EST, 24 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:29 EST, 24 September 2013 . For many mothers-to-be and bashful husbands, they have been a ritual of pregnancy for decades and regarded as a source of invaluable skills. But the digital age and pressure of time is consigning antenatal classes to online tutorials. A drop in women going to classes - currently attended by less than 25 per cent of mothers - has led to a decision to phase them out but critics are disappointed that the classes are being 'abandoned'. Parenting charity NCT said the move online will put parents at a disadvantage but York Hospital insists the virtual classes will allow expectant mothers to access important information. A hospital is to become the first in the country to replace antenatal lessons . with 'virtual classes' to be watched online. A drop in women going to classes - currently attended by less than 25 per cent of mothers - has led to the decision . All of the same information will be available online with virtual classes filmed at the maternity suite at York Hospital showing its staff and labour rooms. The filmed classes will include learning about relaxation and breathing, the early stages of labour, and explanation of what happens in labour and information about pain relief as well as breast feeding and what can be expected after birth. Midwife Sue Jackson said the films will familiarise the majority of women who are not going to classes with the staff and facilities. She said: 'It should open up the information available to women much more effectively than what we have at the moment. We have to make sure the service is appropriate and is being accessed appropriately.' York Hospital said antenatal classes will still be held for teenage mothers and women giving birth to more than one baby. The filmed classes will include learning about relaxation and breathing and the early stages of labour. They will also include an explanation of what happens in labour and information about pain relief, breast feeding and what can be expected after the birth . Women will continue to see a midwife who will answer any questions and give guidance. But the parenting charity NCT has said it is disappointed antenatal classes were being 'abandoned altogether'. Belinda Phipps, chief executive, said: 'There is currently no evidence to show that online courses are as good as traditional antenatal courses. 'Replacing the courses with an online-only system could put parents at a disadvantage. 'Antenatal education is not just about the transfer of information, but also the support you get from the parents that you meet.' York Hospital said other relevant information to mums will also be available on the site, including information about healthy eating and frequently asked questions.

A drop in women going to classes at York Hospital - currently attended by less than 25 per cent of mothers - has led to a decision to phase them out . Instead, the same information will be available online . But critics argue the move will put disadvantaged parents at risk and remove the social element of the classes .

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Irish police spent £200,000 on a world wide appeal for her identity . An Australian woman who triggered a worldwide police appeal for her identity after she was found wandering the streets of Dublin has a previous conviction for deception in her native country, it was claimed today. Samantha Azzopardi was allegedly given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, last year after she illegally tried to claim social welfare benefit payments, according to the Irish Independent. The 25-year-old, who is believed to have up to 40 aliases, is currently being cared for by health professionals after she was discovered in a distressed state in the Irish capital a month ago. She spoke only broken English after being taken into care and communicated by drawing pictures - some of which led detectives to believe she may have been a sex trafficking victim. This later turned out to be false. At the High Court this afternoon, where it will be decided what steps to take next with Miss Azzopardi's care, it was heard that her 'life could be at risk' if she was released from the supervision of Ireland's Health Services (HSE). Mr Justice George Birmingham discharged the order allowing her to be detained under the Mental Health Act. But he put a stay on the discharge until tomorrow morning so other arrangements could be put in place. She was due to be assessed by a psychiatrist this afternoon, it was reported by the Irish Independent. Miss Azzopardi was originally believed to have been a European sex slave aged 14 to 16 because she spoke only broken English after being found in Dublin a month ago. However, it has now emerged she has family connections in Tipperary, where it is believed she was living with relatives for two months before she was found, and is not a victim of human trafficking. A source close to the investigation told the Irish Independent that she had been 'fretful of any engagement with officialdom' after she was found, adding: 'There is no doubt she has been the victim of some traumatic event of some sort.' Another source told the paper: 'She is very disturbed. 'It would appear there is something very serious going on here.' The investigation was hindered by her apparent refusal to speak to police and the HSE - her only form of communication being to write short notes in English. She also drew pictures of being brought to Ireland on a plane and of her lying on a bed with men, leading police to believe she was forced into prostitution. Identified: Irish police initially feared the girl was a victim of human trafficking but she is in fact a 25-year-old Australian woman who has apparent health problems . It is now thought she may be mentally unwell and had been 'play acting'. Reports in Australia say a member of the woman's family has now made contact with police in Dublin. The . Australian Federal Police are working with their Irish counterparts, . but have not confirmed reports on her identity, DNA tests or aliases. The breakthrough in the case, which . has involved 2,000 man hours and 115 separate lines of inquiry, came . after police released a picture of the woman which prompted a male . acquaintance who knows her family in Australia to come forward. She had refused to be pictured and it is believed the images were taken without her knowledge. A senior source said: 'We do not . believe she is a victim of human trafficking. She is Australian and . appears to be an adult, not a child. She is a vulnerable person and has . health issues.' The man who came forward, who is in . Ireland but not a blood relative of the woman, contacted police . yesterday following the massive public appeal and identified her. Mystery: The girl, named Samantha, was found on O'Connell Street in Dublin (above) on October 10 . After . all efforts to identify the teenager failed, police decided to issue an . international media appeal in a bid to identify her. Last . week, the case went to the High Court as police attempted to obtain . permission to release her photograph in order to try and identify her. After . the release of the pictures, there were hundreds of calls from all over . the world – some coming from frantic parents who believed the girl was . their missing child. As . part of their probe – codenamed Operation Shepherd – 15 possible names . were provided to investigators. But when these were fully checked, they . proved to be incorrect. The . investigation involved door-to-door inquiries, on-street vehicle and . pedestrian checkpoints near where the girl was discovered and CCTV . checks. Social youth workers and homeless services were also contacted. The . investigation team also contacted Interpol, the missing persons bureau, . the forensic science laboratory, the domestic violence and sexual . assault unit and national immigration authorities. Pictures . of the woman were distributed on the internal Garda computer system, . and checks were made at ports, airports and train stations. B&Bs and guesthouses in Dublin city centre were also checked. After . it was discovered that the young woman had braces on her teeth, . paediatric orthodontists around the country were contacted. However, this also proved a dead-end for investigators as no records of her having got the braces were uncovered.

Samantha Azzopardi 'given six-month suspended jail term in Australia' Police initially feared she may have been child sex slave from Europe . Acquaintance came forward last night after her picture was released . Girl was 'fretful about officialdom' and spoke only broken English . Source: 'No doubt she has been the victim of some traumatic event'

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By . Katie Davies . PUBLISHED: . 18:38 EST, 10 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:14 EST, 11 April 2013 . A 21-year-old 'heroin addict' has today been accused of conning friends and strangers into donating to her 'life-saving cancer treatment' when really she was completely healthy and using the cash 'to fund her drug habit'. Prosecutors claim Brittany Ozarowski of Selden, New York, carried out the elaborate scam for over a year claiming she had ovarian, stomach, brain and bone cancer, accepting numerous donations totaling more than $20,000. The former Newfield High School Student set up a donation website explaining how she was dying and needed help; a Facebook fundraising page and placed jars near the cash registers of businesses across Nassau and Suffolk County. Accused: Brittany Ozarowski, pictured, is alleged to have duped dozens into believing she was dying of cancer and convincing them to give her money . Sympathetic friends and strangers hosted fundraising events and appealed for others to come forward and support her. But in a press conference this afternoon, Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota said they had all been duped. 'It was a scam. There was no cancer, no chemo, and no radiation. The only thing that there was, was heroin and more heroin,' he said. On her own website, Ozarowski, claims her family have already liquidated all their assets to pay for her treatment. 'In September of 2011 I was diagnosed with stage two ovarian cancer as well as stomach cancer,' she writes. 'After multiple treatments of both radiation and chemotherapy I had beaten cancer as of December 2011.' 'Scam': The 21-year-old had a fundraising page online, left, where she claimed she had stomach, brain, bone and ovarian cancer. According to police, she used pictures taken after a car accident on the site, right . 'Scam': This jar was allegedly placed in several stores across Long Island by Ozarowski . 'I was cancer free until they had found a tumor on my left hip in February 2012. That is when I found out that I have bone cancer. ' 'The cancer has spread to my spine as well as my brain. So once again I was in need of radiation treatments as well as chemotherapy treatments.' 'This time the medicine was much more expensive and my family had already liquidated all assets since September.  The treatments are about $33,000 each day and although my doctor has been incredible with helping my family financially I am still short. I have very few options left and I am still in desperate need of treatments.' She now faces 24 charges, including forgery and petit larceny. Her arraignment has been postponed, but she is currently being held on $5,000 bail. Officers say she had a car accident over a year ago which left her with multiple broken bones. She was arrested for being under the influence of heroin and used the photographs of her sitting in a wheelchair and getting treatment to perpetuate her fake cancer story, officers claim. Happier times: A MySpace page for the teenager pictures her four years ago before the cancer scam is alleged to have begun . Duped: Police said many people close to the 21-year-old, pictured here in an old MySpace photo,  were conned . CBS News reports several locals who were allegedly caught out in the scam. Denise Bambola who lives next door to the house where Ozarowski grew up with her grandmother said she donated $10,000. 'She looked sick. She looked like she was going to die,' she told the broadcaster. 'She completely fooled me. She completely fooled everybody.' Tuscany Gourmet Market's owner, Thomas O’Grady, says the shop held a dinner dance and raised over $7,000 for Ozarowski while also giving $5,000 of his own. 'I lost $5,000 of my own, $7,265 we raised at the fundraiser and then . you have all the customers who have been donating for seven months . into a jar,' he told CBS. Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota told Long Island Press: 'There was no cancer, no chemotherapy, no radiation and no medical bills. There was just heroin. 'The truth is she is a 21 year old drug addict with four open narcotics . cases, and we have strong evidence she forged doctors’ notes to avoid . court appearances.'

Police allege Brittany Ozarowski of Selden, New York, duped friends and strangers into handing over thousands of dollars for cancer treatment . They claim it was a scam to solicit money for heroin and she was never ill . The 21-year-old had a donation page talking about her struggle to pay for treatment of stomach, brain, bone and ovarian cancer . One allegedly conned neighbor said: 'She looked sick. She looked like she was going to die'

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The vintage slogan 'Do you love anyone enough to give them your last Rolo?' has been voted the most romantic ad of all time. Manufacturer Nestle axed the slogan in 2003 saying it was too sentimental, but its popularity has lingered long enough for ad buffs to vote it their favourite. John Lewis just missed the top spot with its Christmas 2012 ad about a snowman on a mission to find the perfect present featuring the tagline 'Give a little more love this Christmas.' Scroll down for video . My last rolo: The classic advert which featured a cartoon woman giving her last chocolate to a man she was in love with was voted the most romantic of all time . Google's 2009 ad took third place with its story told through search terms such as 'impress a French girl', 'long-distance relationship advice', 'churches in Paris' and 'how to assemble a crib'. Marketing editor Rachel Barnes said: 'Rolo's slogan is so ingrained in the public psyche that you could ask someone on the street today and they would find it just as current as it was in the 1990s. 'It works so well as it rings true - it's hard to give away your last bit of chocolate, but you'll do anything for the special person in your life. John Lewis's 2012 snowman campaign beaten into second, but expert says it does not have 'staying power' of some of the classic campaigns such as Milk Tray man . She added: 'John Lewis' ad tells a tale of classic romance, but I'm not convinced this one goes down in history among the most romantic ads of all time. 'The retailer's high share of the vote is no doubt because all their advertising is just so brilliant right now. In 10 years' time, I don't think people will recall the snowman in the same way they fondly remember "your last Rolo".'

John Lewis's ad featuring snowman looking for perfect gift come second . Nescafe Gold couple and Milk Tray man swimming on to boat also feature . Chanel No5 appears twice in top ten, alongside Google and Match.com .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:39 EST, 8 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:33 EST, 8 November 2013 . An Arizona man offered an undercover detective a year's worth of free haircuts, an iPad and iPod in return for killing his grandfather, police said. Devin Almejo, 20, met the undercover cop in a grocery store parking lot Wednesday night after the cop responded to a Craigslist ad seeking a gun for the alleged planned murder of his grandfather. Citing Almejo's inexperience with guns, the undercover cop reportedly offered to kill the relative for him; Almejo accepted the offer, police said. In custody: Devin Almejo, 20. allegedly offered an undercover detective a year's worth of free haircuts and an iPod in return for killing his grandfather, police said . Plans: Devin Almejo, 20, met an undercover cop in a grocery store parking lot after responding to a Craigslist ad seeking a gun for the alleged planned murder of his grandfather . Gotcha: Devin Almejo was arrested after offering an undercover detective an iPad, iPod and year of free haircuts to kill his roommate . 'He would provide the keys to a . recreational vehicle where the defendant and the proposed victim live,' records reportedly said. Shocking . messages were also posted on social media: a bloody hand with the . Facebook post 'I just killed my grandfather', and a tweet, 'I am going to . kill my grandfather - I need a gun.' Officers . responded to the ad and met up with Devin Almejo in a grocery store . parking lot.  He even offered undercover officers an iPad, iPod and free . haircuts for a year to carry out the murder. Tempting: Almejo allegedly offered an undercover cop an iPod and free haircuts for a year if he carried out the murder . Warning signs: Almejo made this disturbing posting on his Facebook page where he announced he had killed his grandfather . 'We're talking about a homicide here. We're talking about murder.  This is serious.  Are you sure this is something you want to do?  Something you want to go through with?  Statements of that nature.. and each and every time, the suspect answers in the affirmative yes,' said  Detective Berry. Before his arrest, Devin Matthew Almejo was given three chances to walk away from a meeting Wednesday night in a supermarket parking lot where the hit on his friend was discussed, but declined and 'answered that he was good with the murder,' police say. Almejo was arrested and his grandfather, Michael, told Fox 10 that he was very surprised to hear what happened. 'We were getting along fine.  There was no problems at all.  The first I heard about this was last night.  This morning when the police came,' he said. Almejo told police that the 'friend' abused him physically, mentally and emotionally. Get-out clause: Before his arrest, Devin Almejo was given three chances to walk away from a meeting in a supermarket parking lot where the hit on his friend was discussed, but declined and 'answered that he was good with the murder' Deal: Devin Almejo, 20, offered an undercover detective an iPad, iPod and year of free haircuts to kill his roommate Wednesday night . The paper identified the man as Michael Laide, a native of Australia who said he took in Alemjo to prevent him from life on the streets. Laide said Almejo is mentally ill and a patient at a state mental-health provider. Court documents released Thursday said . police found a disturbing post on Almejo’s Facebook account that hints . at rage or fantasy. Police found an image of a hand that appeared to be covered with blood, with red splatter on the ground 'the defendant had finally done it and had beat the victim repeatedly,' court papers said, according to the report. The posting said that 'the defendant had finally done it and had beat the victim repeatedly,' the court document said, 'and could not get the victim to stop screaming.' Laide told the paper he was warned by probation officers about trying to help Almejo, and said, 'The reality is that they were correct. Strange man: Almejo was arrested and his grandfather said he was very surprised to hear what happened . In custody: Almejo is now facing charges of conspiracy and first degree murder .

Devin Almejo, 20, posted ad on Craiglist looking to buy a gun to kill his grandfather . Police were alerted and undercover cop agreed to meet Almejo . Hairdresser offered cop free haircuts for a year as well as an iPad and iPod to carry out the murder . Other disturbing photos and comments posted on Facebook and Twitter accounts .

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By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 04:50 EST, 18 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:00 EST, 18 August 2013 . A mother of three today claimed she was told to put on her school uniform and sexually abused as a child by a top British actor. The woman - who is now aged 39, but was 15 at the time in 1989 - said the TV star even recited the nursery rhyme Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross while they were lying on the floor. She told police last year and prosecutors said although there was enough evidence to proceed, a legal loophole meant the alleged attacker could only be charged up to a year after the incident. Abuse claim: The woman is now aged 39 but was 15 at the time of the incident in 1989 (posed by model) The woman, who lives in the South West and cannot be named for legal reasons, said she met the man in a theatre and he told her how ‘sexy’ she was, shortly before she started at a boarding school. The man said the school was near his parents’ house and he would take her out. She then called him in October 1989 after starting at the school, and he said it would be ‘nice’ if she wore her uniform. They met in the local town centre and he allegedly drove her to his home where he gave her wine, before they had sex. He later dropped her back and said ‘see you soon’, she claimed. The woman, who is a civil servant, told the Sunday Mirror: ‘I can’t remember what we spoke about as we sat in the living room but it was there, on the floor, that we had sex. Report: The twice-divorced woman told Surrey Police (file picture of one of the force's police stations) about the incident 24 years later, before they handed over the case to the Crown Prosecution Service . ‘It happened fairly quickly and I was compliant and just let him get on with it. It was clear he knew what he was after. As we had sex he recited the nursery rhyme.’ 'I can’t remember what we spoke about as we sat in the living room but it was there, on the floor, that we had sex' The twice-divorced woman - who first married aged 18 and has attempted suicide twice - eventually told Surrey Police about the incident 24 years later, before they handed over the case to the Crown Prosecution Service. The actor denied the allegations when questioned by officers, but the CPS told the woman in a letter that it was ‘entirely satisfied the sexual assault took place as you described’. However, it added that the charge would have been under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 - and could only have been made against the man if proceedings had started within a year of the allegation. Decision: She eventually made a complaint when Jimmy Savile was exposed as a predatory paedophile in 2012 . The CPS said this law was only relevant to incidents alleged to have taken place before 2004. But if there was sufficient evidence that there was no consent to the act, rape could be prosecuted. 'It happened fairly quickly and I was compliant and just let him get on with it' The woman met her current partner in 2010 and only revealed the abuse to him two years ago after having to leave the room while they were watching a DVD featuring the actor. He told her to tell police, but she did not want to at the time. However she eventually made a complaint when the late BBC DJ Jimmy Savile was exposed as a predatory paedophile last year. She told the Sunday Mirror: ‘What he (the actor) did set the tone around my expectations of men and being used by them. He knew what he was doing and doesn’t care about anybody else.’

Woman says star recited Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross . He allegedly took her to his house in 1989 where they had sex . CPS cannot charge him as it's more than a year since incident .

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(CNN) -- Alex Ferguson has spent half a lifetime pacing touchlines pointing at his watch, but the boot might be on the other foot if his new lectures overrun at Harvard Business School (HBS). The Boston-based school announced Friday that the former Manchester United manager has agreed to take up a teaching role on a new program called "The Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports." Ferguson retired last May after claiming a 13th English Premier League title with United -- the 49th and final trophy of an illustrious 39-year career in football management. The 72-year old has already lectured at Harvard, but will take up "a long-term teaching position" next month. "I'm delighted to have the opportunity and privilege to contribute to such a respected center of excellence," Ferguson said in a statement released by the University. "The time I have already spent at Harvard has been a stimulating experience and I look forward to developing my relationship and activities with the students, faculty and friends of the Harvard Business School community." Ferguson has previously participated in several classes with HBS professor Anita Elberse and has also collaborated with her on an analysis of his management methods. "We look forward to welcoming Sir Alex Ferguson on the HBS campus to share his remarkable leadership journey, and contribute to our Executive Education participants' ability to make a profound difference in the world," Elberse said.

Former Manchester United boss to teach business execs at Harvard Business School . Ferguson will take up teaching post in May . The 72-year-old is the most successful British football of all time winning 49 trophies .

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By . Lucy Crossley . PUBLISHED: . 20:22 EST, 28 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:23 EST, 29 December 2013 . A loyal dog watched over his dead four-legged friend overnight in sub-zero temperatures after the other dog was run over by a car. The small white dog was killed in the middle of a busy street in the city of Yinchuan in north west China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, when he was hit by an unknown car. Despite temperatures dropping to a chilly -13C another sandy-coloured dog stayed by the animal's side overnight, guarding the body as it lay in the road. Scroll down for video . Loyal: This dog watched over his dead four-legged pal overnight in sub-zero temperatures after the other dog was run over by a car . On Guard: The small white dog was killed in the middle of a busy street in Yinchuan, north west China, when it was hit by an unknown car . Chill: Despite temperatures dropping to -13C the sandy-coloured dog stayed by the animal's side overnight, guarding the body as it lay in the road . Passersby took photographs of the touching gesture, with images and video footage of the dog quickly going viral on the internet. Other people placed a stool near to the two dogs so that they would not be struck by other passing vehicles. 'The drivers must be careful and not hit them', one onlooker told ITV. Protection: Onlokers placed a stool near to the two dogs so that they would not be struck by passing vehicles . Kind: Eventually restaurant workers removed the dead dog's body, and buried it under a tree in a nearby park . A woman called Ma Hongyan told Sky . News: 'It is our stool. A kind-hearted woman put it next to the dogs to . protect them from being hit again by another car.' Eventually restaurant workers removed the dead dog's body, and buried it under a tree in a nearby park. They were followed along the route by the other dog, who stayed with the workers until his friend had been buried.

Dog was killed by a car on a busy street in Tinchuan, north west China . Other dog stayed with the body as temperatures dropped to -13C . Onlookers placed a stool by the dogs so another car would not hit them . Body removed and buried by restaurant workers .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann has a new political option after her early exit from the GOP presidential race - she can run for office in Switzerland. The Republican U.S. Representative, whose husband Dr Marcus Bachmann is Swiss, recently activated her right to become a dual U.S.-Swiss citizen along with three of their five children. 'Congresswoman Bachmann's husband is of Swiss descent so she has been eligible for dual-citizenship since they got married in 1978,' said Bachmann's press secretary Becky Rogness. Dual citizenship: Michele, pictured with her husband Dr Marcus Bachmann, has written to revoke her filing for Swiss nationality that was announced earlier this week . 'However, recently some of their children wanted to exercise their eligibility for dual-citizenship so they went through the process as a family.' A spokesman at the Swiss embassy said Bachmann had activated that citizenship in March. In an interview with Swiss television, Bachmann - who pulled out of the race in January for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination - laughed when asked if she would run for office in Switzerland. 'There's a lot of competition ... and it would be very stiff because they are very good,' she said. Christian counsellor Dr Marcus Bachmann, 55, met his wife at a Minnesota university and they have been involved in politics since working together on Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign in 1976. Dr Bachmann is president of Bachmann . & Associates, a Christian counselling firm based in Lake Elmo and . Burnsville - two cities around 30 miles apart in Minnesota. Togetherness: Marcus and Michele Bachmann, right, have raised five children- as well as 23 foster kids - and decided to go for Swiss citizenship as a family . He has been a clinical therapist for more than 20 years after studying at Winona State University in Minnesota, Regent University in Virginia and Union Institute and University in Ohio. They have raised five children and 23 foster children together. Mrs Bachmann’s hardline approach throughout her campaign on issues from gay marriage to energy-saving light bulbs saw her win support from the far-right wing but in the end she was seen as little more than a fringe candidate. She ended her run for the White House in January after a disastrous sixth-place showing in the Iowa caucus.

Tea party firebrand Bachmann eligible for dual  nationality as husband Marcus is from Switzerland .

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Most sportsmen will try to put a positive spin on things, no matter how bad they get. Sometimes the truth is unpalatable. For manager Manuel Pellegrini and his Manchester City players, however, the lessons of Tuesday night’s home defeat by Barcelona were clear. Once again they had come up short and they head to Spain for a second leg on March 18 knowing something much, much better is required. So when City’s French defender Gael Clichy was asked the key question, there was no great point trying to sugar-coat anything. Gael Clichy attempt to stop Lionel Messi in his tracks as the Barcelona forward goes on the attack . The Manchester City defender was sent off in the second half as the home side pressed for an equaliser . Luis Suarez had given Barcelona the lead from a tight angle after the ball fell kindly to him in the City box . Have City, Clichy was asked, improved at all since last year’s 2-0 defeat at home by Barca at this stage of the Champions League? ‘It’s hard to say that,’ said Clichy. ‘If you look at this game they had more possession, created chances and we ran after the ball a lot. I don’t know if we have improved since last year. ‘We are privileged to be in a club that wants to improve year after year. And to improve is to go further in the Champions League. Twice in a row we have played Barcelona. They are a big team and know how to play those kind of games. Eventually we will get there. ‘Those clubs have been built for several years — 20, 30, 40 years — and this is only the sixth season for us but that’s no excuse. The owner wants to improve quickly, so we have to improve quickly. Suarez celebrates the crucial first away goal after finishing emphatically past Joe Hart . Suarez slides in ahead of Martin Demichelis to flick Jordi Alba's cross past Hart to double the lead . ‘If we play as we did in the second half, everything is possible. It’s not going to be easy, but we are going to try really hard.’ Given that Clichy had been sent off only an hour earlier, the former Arsenal player’s honesty was welcome. City did improve after half-time but by then they were 2-0 down and all but out of the competition once again. Goalkeeper Joe Hart, whose last-minute penalty save from Lionel Messi prevented another Barcelona goal, admitted City had panicked when their plan to suffocate Barca high up the field failed. City’s owners — and Pellegrini — face a conundrum in that while few really thought they would beat Barcelona, improvement is expected. And currently it is hard for Pellegrini to suggest there has been any. Sergio Aguero fires past Marc Andre ter Stegen to put Manchester City back in the game . Aguero celebrates with James Milner after scoring what could turn out to be a vital goal in the context of the tie with 20 minutes to go . City bought three players last summer. Bacary Sagna has not managed to displace Pablo Zabaleta at full back, Fernando would perhaps not have played on Tuesday had Yaya Toure not been suspended, and £30million-plus French defender Eliaquim Mangala has been the biggest disappointment of all. Football director Txiki Begiristain heads City’s recruitment team and must accept some responsibility. Pellegrini, however, will ultimately feel the greatest pressure. There is no question mark over his future right now but this is a club with a very clear idea of where it wants to get to and when. Some may question Pellegrini’s decision to play 4-4-2 on Tuesday. City looked short in central midfield where Fernando and James Milner had a dreadful evening. More startling was the way City seemed to have learned so little from last year. As Barcelona picked them apart in the first half, it was with the same tactics we witnessed a year ago. Pellegrini will thank no-one for saying it, but it’s hard to imagine a team coached by Jose Mourinho being dismantled like this. Manchester City were beaten 2-0 at the Etihad by Barcelona in last season's last-16 . Manuel Pellegrini's side were reduced to 10 men in that game too after Marin Demichelis . ‘I have played Barcelona many times and even if you played five in the middle you always feel a player short because they know how to move, how to keep the ball,’ added Clichy. ‘The choice of the manager to go from the first minute with two strikers showed we wanted to play offensively and score goals. We didn’t, and we didn’t start well. ‘We have to carry on like this because that is the way we want to play and that is the way we are going to win things.’ City must now forget Barcelona. The return leg is three weeks away and on Sunday they travel to Merseyside for a Barclays Premier League meeting with Liverpool. Last season Liverpool won this fixture 3-2 but they are in Europe tonight and City’s two days of extra rest may give them the edge. The Premier League is safe and familiar territory for City. They understand it. Sooner or later, however, Pellegrini must find a way to expand his team’s horizons. Manchester City’s match statistics were similar in some respects to those from last season’s performance against Barcelona. They had one more shot on target on Tuesday (4) than in last season’s match at the Etihad and the same number of shots off target (4). Their possession was up on last season, though still low — 37.9 per cent compared to 31.6 per cent in 2014. However, they did get 20 crosses into the penalty area as opposed to 11 last season and had eight corners on Tuesday night against one in 2014. PS Barcelona’s passing success rate was down on the same fixture last year — 88.9 per cent of 686 passes compared to 92.4 per cent in 2014. This was largely down to Luis Suarez, who scored two goals but found a team-mate with only 72.7 per cent of his passes. Without his erratic input, Barcelona’s average was 90.3 per cent.

Manchester City beat Barcelona 2-1 at the Etihad on Tuesday night . Sergio Aguero scored for City after Luis Suarez netted brace for visitors . City were knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona last season . Manuel Pellegrini's side were beaten 2-0 at the Etihad in the last-16 . Before going on to lose 4-1 on aggregate after a 2-1 defeat at Nou Camp . Gael Clichy says that Man City have not improved since last season . City now face Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday . CLICK HERE for all the latest Manchester City news .

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