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By . Martha De Lacey . PUBLISHED: . 10:55 EST, 9 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:23 EST, 9 January 2013 . Most people would find juggling two adolescent children, a Harley Street therapy practice and just one relationship time consuming enough. But 38-year-old widow Louise Van der Velde, from Camberley, Surrey, is not most people, and after the death of her doctor husband nine years ago the mother-of-two decided she wanted more than one man in her life - and that marriage was for 'mugs'. Now the sex therapist maintains relationships with three men - a property tycoon, a multimillionaire who runs a solar panel company in Dubai, and her 'bit of rough' electrician - and has written a book telling others how they could do the same. Louise Van der Velde practices as a sexual and relationship expert in Harley Street and her own retreat in Marbella, Spain . 'There are simply far too many great men out there for me to settle for just one,' said the middle-class mother, who says each man she is dating knows they are not in an exclusive relationship with Louise, but are still perfectly happy with the arrangement. Louise, who practices as a sexual . and relationship expert both in Harley Street and at her own . retreat in Marbella, Spain, says her model won't work for everyone, but . it has brought her happiness. She said: 'If you are having great sex and great relationships all areas of your life are impacted positively. Some people find happiness in a relationship with one person. I have it with three.' Insisting she doesn't feel cheap sharing her body with more than one lover, Louise added: 'The . fact is, I have a deep connection with all three men. 'Yes I have sex with all of them but not at the same time. I wouldn't . say that I have a ridiculously high sex drive. The average person has . sex two or three times a week - I might be a little bit more than that, . but not much more.' Louise says she is completely happy with her three lovers, as are they . Maintaining that she shields her two children - a daughter aged 11 and a son of 16 - from her private life, Louise explained how she has been seeing the 40-year-old Dubai-based solar panel tycoon for the past six years after meeting by chance at an airport. 'He is aware that I see other men and is quite happy with the situation,' she said. She . was introduced to lover number two - a London-based property tycoon in his 30s who appeared on Channel 4's Secret Millionaire - . by mutual friend, and they have been seeing each other for a year. 'He is very sexy and dynamic - I have always been attracted to high-achieving men,' she said. Lover number three is a young electrician who lives near her in Surrey - and is happy to pop round when she asks. 'He . is great - we met quite by chance after we got chatting on the train to . London. He is quite young and completely different to my other two . lovers.' Louise claims the arrangement works because she has always been completely honest with her partners. 'I . have counselled numerous people and have seen how it can work for them . too. We are all on a different journey. You have to follow . your gut feelings to achieve happiness.' Louise also believes many people are 'deluding themselves' when they say are happily married. She saidl: 'The controversial truth is that the . state of marriage - and, more importantly, the monogamy it entails - . isn't really working for most people in today's society. 'Okay, it works for some, and that's wonderful when it does bring happiness. I've got the utmost respect for their choice. 'But the sad reality is that many people simply cannot live up to the expectations of life and sex with a single partner. 'And that almost inevitably causes cheating, marital breakdowns, recriminations, divorce, spousal abandonment and misery.' Louise has outlined how her new model for relationships in a new book, Decent Proposal. She explained: 'What if the fairytale version of love and marriage we stumbled upon in storybooks when we were kids, is simply incompatible with the modern world? 'Look around you. How many friends are now on their second - or even third - marriages? Be honest. Count them. 'The sad fact is that too many relationships are coiled with deceit, insecurity or just plain apathy, as the foundations at their core were wrong from the start. 'So why in the 21st century do we still keep trying to make an outdated model of relationships work? Why don't we have the honesty and integrity to admit we all want a bit more out of life?' Saying that 'many people simply don't have time for the old model of relationship', Louise feels many people are instead choosing to spend time with lots of people they like. Louise Van der Velde has now written a book, left, explaining how other people can use her 'relationship model' 'Opening the door to your heart so wide it's okay for people to come and go as they choose isn't always easy and it's not for everyone. I understand that. 'That way we can make ourselves and others happy, without the pressures or expectations that arise from a traditional, and, I would argue, outdated, one-man, one-woman relationship. It seems so obvious to me now. 'I'm living the new model of relationships, and I can assure you, it not only works, it'll help you reach new heights of intimacy, that you may not have ever previously dreamed possible.' Decent Proposal by Louise Van der Velde is available on Kindle via Amazon. Louise's website is www.pleasureprofessor.com .

Louise Van der Velde, 38, is a Harley Street relationship therapist from Camberley, Surrey . Brands monogamous relationships 'outdated' Insists she shields children - daughter, 11, and son, 16 - from her sex life . Believes people who say they are happily married are deluding themselves . One of her lovers appeared on Channel 4's Secret Millionaire . Has written a book to explain her 'relationship model' to others .

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By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 11:45 EST, 9 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:49 EST, 9 May 2013 . Whitehall staff are being paid extra bonuses worth thousands of pounds just for their job, it emerged today. Extra allowances are given to civil servants for being good at typing, knowing first aid, being green and working late. Critics said the payouts were outdated and must be abolished at a time of austerity. Civil servants can receive more than £1,000 for 'proficient typing' under a raft of extra Whitehall allowances . Dozens of staff in government departments and agencies are eligible for the extra cash on top of their salaries. At Eric Pickles' Department for Communities and Local Government, staff can receive £144 for being a fire marshal, £200 as a first aider and £600 in a 'green allowance'. They can also be paid £3,160-a-year for being on call and up to £1,092 for 'typing proficiency'. Spending on the allowances and subsidies last year was £946,600, 23 per cent higher than in 2011-12. Spending on allowances at the Audit Commission last year totalled £1.664million, and at the Planning Inspectorate £360,885. A first aider can receive an extra £200 (file picture) Other perks available include a £2,325 ‘disturbance allowance’ for when staff have to work away from home. A separate payout of £684-a-year is made to civil servants who work from home. New staff cannot receive the extra money, which is only available to long-serving civil servants. Tory MP Priti Patel, who uncovered the allowances, said the government must stop ‘the cycle of rewards for people just for doing their day job’ She told the Telegraph: ‘This is the 21st century. The labour market has changed and these allowances must be abolished.’ A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: ‘Only a very small number of people receive these allowances, most of which do not have origins in the Department for Communities and Local Government. ‘The department had to honour existing terms and conditions for staff that transferred over from arms length bodies that were closed down as part of the Government's restructuring. They are not available to anyone else. ‘Some also address specific recruitment and retention issues around business critical posts that require professional skills such as accountancy. ‘The department is in the process of reviewing its pay policies, including allowances and subsidies, as part of wider civil service reform and ensuring good value for public money.’

Allowances paid to Whitehall staff for 'just doing their job' Payouts include £144 for a fire marshal and £1,000 for 'proficient' typing . Tory MP Priti Patel says they do not belong in the 21st century .

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Beyonce this week hit headlines when it was revealed she owned a pair of bespoke trainers made of five different exotic animal skins including anaconda, stingray and crocodile. Fans and animal welfare groups slammed the singer as 'cruel' and 'spoilt'. Now her husband, U.S. rapper Jay-Z, has been dragged into the controversy as it is revealed he has a pair of trainers made for him out of elephant skin. The shoes, which were custom-made last year by high fashion brand Perfectly Made Kicks (PMK), the same brand behind Beyonce's trainers, use the elephant hide among nine other types of skin - almost all from exotic animals. Scroll down for video . The Brooklyn Zoo Jordan 1's PMK designed for Jay Z last year are made Alligator, Stingray, Boa, Calf, Python, Ostrich, Crocodile, Lizard, and, most shockingly elephant . The shoe label (bottom left) proudly displays the skins used, and the elephant image dominates the label . The Brooklyn Zoo Jordan 1 not only . has the five skins used in Beyonce’s Key Beys - stingray, anaconda, . ostrich, crocodile and calf - but adds to that morbid roll call with . alligator, boa, python, and lizard. And, of course, most shocking of all, elephant skin. The sneakers, which use the heavily . grained hide in the side panels, are a customised version of the Nike Air Jordan and cost $2,500 (around £1,664) a pair. Jay-Z, who has been photographed wearing the shoes on many occasions, is obviously very proud of his exotic acquisition. When he received them he posted a picture on his blog Life And . Times of one of the shoes on a podium in his house accompanied by the caption, 'Condos in my condo'. Jay-Z has been seen out and about wearing his Brooklyn Zoo sneakers many times, here with Beyonce at the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors game in November . Jay-Z posted this picture on his lifestyle blog 'Life and Times' with the comment, 'Condos in my Condo' when he first got the shoes last October . It must be stated that while the idea of trading elephant skin seems alien and shocking to many of us, the use of sanctioned elephant hide in the manufacture of leather goods is not illegal. Elephant skin is used in everything from . boots, belts and shoes to gun holders and pool cues, and many items can . be bought easily on eBay and elsewhere online. It is legal to buy and sell the hides under certain conditions laid out in the Convention Of International Treaty Of Endangered Species (CITES). Ingrid Newkirk, founder of animal rights charity PETA says: 'There can be no shame or sense of decency left in the world, that a few people, can show so much disrespect for life as to order up the slaughter of the largest, most revered of animals only to make them into a pair of shoes.’ Elephants fall under Appendix II of . the CITES convention, which means they are considered 'not necessarily . now threatened with extinction but may become so unless trade is closely . controlled'. The elephant leather market, mostly based in the U.S. and importing from Africa, trades freely over the internet. The ears and trunk, being a thinner and softer leather, are highly prized and often used for wallets. Eight square feet of elephant skin is . usually sold at around $400 (around £266), although regular deals often . mean it can be purchased online for less. Although one would be hard pressed to find . a seller of elephant in the UK, in other countries it is a highly . valued skin that traders say is incredibly durable and has a 'rich texture'. Roje Exotics American Leathers is just one of the multiple websites where elephant leather can be purchased . Roje Exotic American Leathers is just one of numerous companies that offers elephant skin to purchase online. The leather can be purchased in a variety of colours from honey through to vintage peat, as well as original grey. Roje explain on their website . that their elephant hide, which comes from African elephants, is obtained . only under the ‘strict requirements of the Convention of International . Treaty of Endangered Species (CITES) permit’ They . justify the use of the beautiful beast’s skin by saying: ‘The source of . all African elephant skins come from culls once the elephant heard . reaches destructive numbers to African tribes and nature. ‘It’s very similar to our deer season in the United States. An average 8 square foot piece of elephant leather can be brought for about $400, but there are often deals like these on the Roje Exotic American Leathers website . A variety of colours and finishes are available for elephant skin, as can be seen on the Roje Exotic American Leathers website . ‘Without culling, which outsiders often view as unethical, many African tribes would lose their homes and possibly be trampled to death. ‘Designers, manufactures, and leather enthusiasts should not feel emotional or have guilt for using this leather as we are not creating a demand rather using a by product. We deal with reputable international partners who abide by all regulations and we never sell poached hides.’ But the truth remains that many of us feel a strong emotional attachment to these majestic beasts. Elephants are not only a highly . endangered species, but fiercely intelligent, remaining in tight-knit . family groups throughout their life and many are repulsed by the use of elephant skin under any circumstances. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, PETA’s Founder Ingrid Newkirk said: ‘There can be no shame or sense of decency left in the world that a few people, so out of touch with the wonder of nature, can show so much disrespect for life as to order up the slaughter of the smallest, most vulnerable and the largest, most revered of animals only to make them into a pair of shoes.’ When contacted over the issue, the CEO of PMK, Andre Scott, responded: 'No elephants were beaten, harmed, or killed in the development and crafting of the Brooklyn Zoo sneaker. 'All leather and exotic skins including elephant skin found in the 'Brooklyn Zoo' used by PMK are from a legal supplier in New York.' Jay-Z is regularly seen wearing fur (left) and . he and wife Beyonce wore matching black fur coats to President Obama's . Inauguration (right) The 'King Bey' sneakers PMZ designed for Beyonce also feature a plethora of skins from varying animals and have caused a huge uproar amongst animal rights activists .

Jay-Z's customised Brooklyn Zoo Air Jordans by PMK are made of TEN skins including elephant leather . Elephant leather is legal if international endangered species law is followed . Skins taken from animals culled in areas where they pose a hazard to locals . Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, PETA founder says: 'There can be no shame or sense of decency left in the world'

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Ryan Sidebottom ripped through the Nottinghamshire lower order to secure Yorkshire the County Championship for the first time in 13 years. The former England fast bowler took four wickets on the final morning at Trent Bridge to bowl Nottinghamshire out for 177 and seal a win for Yorkshire by an innings and 152 runs. James Taylor, who aside from a first innings duck has been in superb form recently, made a resolute 75, but wickets tumbled around him and the 36-year-old Sidebottom eventually removed him to make certain of the Championship title with a game to spare. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire highlights . Joe Root, captaining Yorkshire in the absence of Andrew Gale, lifts the Championship trophy . The players go into a celebratory huddle after Sidebottom removed James Taylor to seal the title . It is Sidebottom's fourth title, his second with his home county, following their last success in 2001, and Yorkshire's 32nd. His other two successes came with opponents Nottinghamshire before he returned north. The white rose emphasised their dominance of this year's competition, as they took charge of this match against their closest challengers Notts from the very first session. A century from Adam Lyth, as part of an opening partnership of 176 with Alex Lees set the tone, and after amassing 532/9 declared, the pace attack set about dismantling the hosts. Jonny Bairstow (centre) Adam Lyth (left) and Ryan Sidebottom rush to grab a stump at the end of the game . Ryan Sidebottom bowled beautifully to end with figures of 6-30 and win the game, and the title, for Yorkshire . Sidebottom and Josh Brooks shared seven wickets in the first innings, and eight in the second to win the game by an innings. Brooks described the title win as 'the best day of his life' while Sidebottom failed to hold back the tears during the celebrations. The shaggy-haired left-armer showed his enduring quality on the final morning, first swinging a ball through Gary Keedy's defenses and then having Chris Read caught behind with a jaffa of a delivery. Luke Fletcher edged to second slip and then, after Adil Rashid's leg spin had removed Jake Ball, Sidebottom rounded of the game, and the season, with the wicket of Taylor. Sidebottom celebrates removing Chris Read with a beauty which gave the Notts keeper no chance . Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie (r) will take credit for the excellent season Yorkshire have had . If the shot which finally brought an end to Taylor's innings, a wild swipe which looped to gully, was out of keeping with his current form, the bowling performance was completely typical of Sidebottom's, and Yorkshire's season. Under Jason Gillespie's leadership the county have lost just once this season, winning eight of their 15 first class matches this season. In fact, since the former Australian fast bowler joined in 2012, Yorkshire have lost just three times. They lead the table by 47 points with just one game remaining, and even with games in hand neither Somerset nor Warwickshire can catch them up. England batsman Joe Root was leading Yorkshire in the absence of club captain Andrew Gale, banned by the England and Wales Cricket Board for this match and the last one of the summer in two weeks' time after his on-field spat with Lancashire's Ashwell Prince at Old Trafford. Root, 23, has had many highlights for his country already - but this achievement is still one he will never forget. 'This is obviously very special ... to get this opportunity is very memorable,' he said. Josh Brooks celebrates a wicket on the third day - the fast bowler has taken 67 first class wickets this season . Adam Lyth set the platform for victory with a brilliant century on day one, and Yorkshire never looked back . VIDEO Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire - Day 3 . 'I didn't expect to captain the side. 'But unfortunately it came about, in bad circumstances, and it's credit to Galey that the way he has captained the side made it very easy for me this week. 'For a big club like us not to have won anything for such a long period of time is obviously very frustrating. 'I think the lads deserved it - they have played exceptionally well all year in all departments. 'The guys put in some great performances with bat and ball - which meant they captained themselves - and I only had to do tinkerings here and there.' Permanent captain Gale had to watch the celebrations from the side before eventually being able to lift the trophy, and wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow said it took a gloss off the win. 'I'm absolutely gutted for Andrew, not being able to be on the pitch with us at those final moments, because he's been such a crucial part in what's been a fantastic season for Yorkshire,' said Bairstow. Andrew Gale, banned for the final two matches of the season, comes onto the pitch to lift the cup . 'To drop himself at the start of the season at Middlesex shows the integrity of the bloke and shows how much the county means to him. 'It was a real big team performance today and something we really wanted to do for Galey being sat up there. He's a very proud man and for him not to be on the pitch with us was desperately disappointing. 'It's definitely not soured it but it's still disappointing to find out the day after it happened that all of a sudden he's banned. 'It's the fastest thing that I've ever heard of and we're all disappointed as a club that there wasn't a longer time taken to look into it perhaps. But that's the way that things have panned out. 'We've moved on from that, taken it on the chin and come here and put on a fantastic display.'

Ryan Sidebottom takes six wickets to secure title with a game to spare . Yorkshire win their first title since 2001 . Nottinghamshire thrashed by innings and 152 runs . Captain Andrew Gale not allowed to lift the trophy after being banned . Jonny Bairstow dedicates win to Gale and says it was disappointing the captain could not be on the pitch for victory .

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By . Eddie Wrenn . PUBLISHED: . 06:16 EST, 5 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:57 EST, 6 October 2012 . Charity dance: Ben Hammond, pictured at the start of his journey, is now in hospital in Yeovil . A fundraiser who was dancing the length of Britain in a yellow-green tutu has halted his charity bid - after being mowed down by a 'drink-driver'. Flamboyant Ben Hammond was meant to be skipping and twirling from John O'Groats to Land's End to raise awareness of the oppression in Burma. But he is recovering in hospital today after an alleged drunk driver struck him and his support rider Alice Tanswell. The two were nearing the town of Polsham, Somerset, at around 10pm on Wednesday when they were struck by a passing car. Ben, 34, suffered concussion and cuts and bruises while Alice had a minor injuries. Both were taken to Yeovil Hospital, with Alice discharged and Ben kept in overnight. He is expected to be discharged shortly and will continue with his challenge. The teacher had been in the final fortnight of his challenge, which has seen him dancing the length of the UK in a neon yellow tutu after setting off on August 13. Ben, from Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, chose to dance his way down south to show the sort of freedom Brits have which isn't afforded to the people of Burma. He is hoping to raise £50,000 to support the work of Amnesty International, the Burma Campaign UK and LearnBurma. His mother Judith said: 'He's okay and hopefully will be released from hospital to come back to Bradford-on-Avon to recover. 'He is devastated as he had completed the majority of the journey and was due to finish next week.' Scroll down for video . Ben Hammond and his support rider Alice Tanswell were both knocked over in the suspected drink-driving accident near Wells . A spokesperson for Dance Britain said Ben was sitting up in hospital and was expected to be released shortly. She said: 'He's got a pretty bad headache, and lots of bruises. He's got bad cuts on his back and concussion. 'He's . very, very keen to get back on with the dancing, but the trike is . pretty much a right-off. We're not sure when he'll be back.' The . teacher was inspired to take up the mission after he taught in a . refugee camp on the Thai/Burma border and was shocked by the lack of . freedom the people had. Alanna . Rugg, 25, has been charged with drinking and driving, failing to stop . at the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident. She has been bailed to appear at South Somerset Magistrates' Court on October 19. Ben Hammond, pictured outside Bath, is currently in Yeovil Hospital receiving treatment . Dancing away: Ben was hoping to dance from John O'Groats to Land's End - but his bid was cut short .

Ben Hammond, 34, is in hospital today after he and his support rider was knocked over . Fundraiser was dancing to raise awareness of oppression in Burma . Police arrest female driver, 25, following incident on Wednesday evening .

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By . Matt Barlow . Follow @@Matt_Barlow_DM . Steven Gerrard has never been one for a sugar coating. When he was about to win his 100th cap, he was asked to rate his own international career and gave himself a six before, after a pause, upping it to a seven. All at sixes and sevens; it sums up 21st Century England, Gerrard’s generation, and they were much the same on Thursday night. They fared no better in the winter chill of Sao Paulo than in the jungle sweat-box of Manaus. There was in fact less to admire in terms of flair and attacking promise than against Italy. If Roy Hodgson’s team deserve credit for hauling themselves back into the game they were naïve to let it slip again and remain painfully fragile at the back against decent teams. Outdone: Luis Suarez beats Liverpool team-mate to the ball in Sao Paulo . Looking back: Gerrard and Phil Jagielka can only watch as Suarez's header loops beyond Joe Hart . Gerrard must take his share of . responsibility as the deepest midfielder — the man who missed his tackle . in midfield as Luis Suarez opened the scoring and the man under the . long ball which somehow made its way to Suarez for the winner. The man . who makes the tactical calls on the field. If he hoped the World Cup might help erase the agony of Liverpool’s title slip he appears likely to be disappointed. After . surviving the early Uruguayan assault, England were beaten by a simple . long ball down the middle and a very good finish from a very good . finisher, who somehow escaped the attentions of everyone. In . Brazil, England have lost two games they ought to have taken points . from and, despite flickers of progress, Group D is proving just too . tough. At the heart of all this, the 34-year-old skipper is finding it hard to either influence the game or protect his defence. More . World Cup heartache; he might be glad it will be his last. By now . Gerrard knows the routine. There are no excuses and no hiding places, as . he says himself. He can be . his own harshest critic and he is a valuable voice on the state of the . nation as England face up to the prospect of their first three-game . World Cup finals since their first, when the tournament was last in . Brazil in 1950. Calm down: Referee Carlos Velasco Carballo speaks with Gerrard after a foul by Raheem Sterling . Tough times: Gerrard was disappointing for England against Uruguay . VIDEO Uruguay elated as England sit on the brink . In this . twilight of his career, Gerrard talks with the gravitas of an England . captain. These days he carries himself like an England captain, chest . out, full of pride. He may . not be a world-class player any more but he has quality. Few could have . produced the cross from the right when he whipped the ball towards . Daniel Sturridge. Gerrard . has always addressed the ball with style, whether he be shooting or . spraying passes. He no longer gets to take all the set-pieces but he can . strike a dead-ball, as he did with the free-kick from which Wayne . Rooney headed against the bar. It . is his defensive acumen which can be questioned, particularly in this . deeper midfield position where he has settled with club and country over . the last 18 months. Gerrard refers to it as the ‘controlling role’ but he has not been able to exert much control against Italy or Uruguay. Against . the Italian midfield pass masters he could not get a grip of the game . and there were similarities last night against an intense and highly . motivated Uruguayan team. Watching brief: Gerrard looks on as Egidio Arevalo clears the ball in acrobatic fashion . Holding on: Gerrard tussles with Edinson Cavani as England struggled to thwart Uruguay . As . England trailed 1-0 with 20 minutes to go, frustration tore through . Gerrard and he was booked for a late and heavy challenge on Cristian . Rodriguez. He was bounced . off the ball by Suarez early in the game, allowing Uruguay to counter . quickly. It was a reminder that he lacks a defensive instinct. The . priority was to ensure Suarez did not escape beyond him with the ball . but he tried to win it, got out-muscled and England were exposed. It was not easy. Uruguay’s . movement and tempo were excellent. They were inspired by Suarez and the . tactical tweak by coach Oscar Tabarez to play Nicolas Lodeiro behind . the strikers, which kept Gerrard and Jordan Henderson occupied. Gerrard’s conversion is not complete. Perhaps it never will be. His instinct is to play freely and fairly, not to stop others. Strong in the challenge: Gerrard goes in hard on Cristian Rodgriguez in Sao Paulo . Harsh lesson: Gerrard and Gary Cahill trudge off at half-time after a punishing first-half . The . Barclays Premier League does not cultivate these footballers. The . speed, physical nature and rapid turnover of possession means the . all-action heroes thrive — like a young Gerrard, Frank Lampard or Yaya . Toure. None of which means . he should not be in that role. This will be his last World Cup, maybe . his final major tournament. But if he calls it a day, is there anyone . better? Fabio Capello, . hailing from Italy where these qualities are cherished, always trusted . Gareth Barry, but there is no going back to Barry or Michael Carrick and . there is no young heir apparent. Jack Wilshere has lots to prove. The empty cupboard might prompt Hodgson  to plead with Gerrard to stay on as the Euro 2016 campaign gets rolling. It has been a soft-spot in the team for some time. Gerrard has helped to mask it. At times he looks comfortable in there but often he does not, especially against fluent teams like Italy and Uruguay. It has been laid bare. It is another six. Pause. Perhaps even a five.

Steven Gerrard made his 113th appearance for England, just two behind David Beckham, the most-capped player . In this twilight of his career, he talks with the gravitas of an England captain . This will be his last World Cup, maybe his final major tournament but if he calls it a day, who steps into that role?

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Italy and Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has joined the criticism of the Italian football federation (FIGC) presidential candidate Carlo Tavecchio after the 71-year-old referred to African players as 'banana eaters.' As the row continued to fester a week after the comments were made, Chiellini said that the position needed somebody with 'decorum and personality' and that Tavecchio's rival Demetrio Albertini, a former Italy midfielder, was the only suitable candidate. The election to replace Giancarlo Abete, who quit following Italy's group stage exit at the World Cup, is due to take place on Aug. 11. Blast: Giorgio Chiellini has criticised Italian football federation presidential candidate Carlo Tavecchio . Controversy: The 71-year-old referred to African players as 'banana eaters' last week . 'I read his (Tavecchio's) words the day after and they left me disconcerted,' Chiellini said. 'I asked...how Italian football could be heading towards this election and if there was any solution. 'I have nothing personal against Tavecchio but at the moment, the only adequate person for the role is Albertini.' The 29-year-old continued: 'We mustn't let Italian football embarrass itself again. The national team is bigger than Tavecchio but we must avoid having a certain type of figure for these roles. 'We need a person with a certain decorum and personality to perform certain roles.' FIGC vice-president Tavecchio has received a wave of criticism for his comments, which came at the summer assembly of Italy's amateur leagues (LND), and FIFA has asked for an investigation. Preferred: Chiellini says Tavecchio's rival Demetrio Albertini is the only credible candidate for the job . He made the comment as he suggested that Italy should replicate England's stringent requirements for non-EU players. 'In England, they identify the players coming in and, if they are professional, they are allowed to play,' he said. 'Here instead we get 'Opti Pobà ', who previously ate bananas and then suddenly becomes a first team player with Lazio.' Tavecchio, who initially had the support of all Serie A clubs except Juventus and AS Roma, has seen his backing drop since the incident, although many clubs, including AC Milan, still back him.

Tavecchio referred to African players as 'banana eaters' Juventus defender says Demetrio Albertini is the only credible candidate . The election to replace Giancarlo Abete is to take place on August 11 .

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These dramatic images show the moment a man with 'cop-killer' tattooed across his knuckles, wanted for shooting four officers, was killed after a 16-mile police chase. Christopher Chase, was found dead, slumped over the wheel of a stolen police car after being shot eight times - three times in the neck, once in the back of his head, scalp and upper back, twice in his left arm. Chase was pursued for 16 miles through the streets of Albuquerque, New Mexico, by dozens of police officers, before crashing the stolen car into a petrol pump. Warning graphic content, Scroll down for video . Police were embroiled in a 16-mile chase through Albuquerque after Christopher Chase opened fire at officers, injuring four, before stealing a police car and trying to escape . Dressed in body armour and camouflage and carrying an assault rifle described by an officer as being an AK47, Live Leak reported, the 35-year-old told witnesses to call police, and let them know he was waiting for them. The video was shot from cameras mounted on the lapels of the officers involved. It begins with Bernalilo County Sheriff's deputy Robin Hopkins telling her colleagues she is being shot at. A male officer is seen being treated for a leg wound, by a colleague, his police car having been stolen by Chase. Deputy Hopkins is then found slumped, . injured in her car as colleagues are heard shouting 'She's been shot, . she's been shot', in the background. As the 16-mile pursuit progresses, an officer is heard to say, 'If someone has a clear shot to take the vehicle out'. The . next shot shows an officers apparently firing through the windscreen of . his car with one hand, while steering with the other. The dramatic footage was shot on cameras mounted on the lapels of the police officers involved . One officer is seen shooting his machine gun through the windscreen of his car with one hand, while steering with the other . One officer is seen trying to treat a gunshot wound to his leg. A colleague is seen helping him stem the bleeding, as the injured officer ties a tourniquet around his thigh . The injured officer appears calm, watching as he is treated for the wound . Officers are then embroiled in a gun battle at a petrol station, with several police cars on the forecourt, officers shielding behind the open doors. After crashing the police car into a petrol pump, Chase was found slumped over the wheel of the stolen police car, blood splattered across the windscreen and inside of the vehicle. He was wanted for shooting four officers, on October 26. Three received minor injuries, while the fourth suffered a shattered thigh bone. Documents released by the Office of the Medical Investigator show Chase was shot eight times in total. The . report showed he had three gunshot wounds on his neck near his sternum . and another from a bullet that entered near the back of his head. Another officer is seen on the floor having suffered an injury during the shoot out. Four officers in total were shot - three suffered minor injuries, while the fourth suffered a shattered thigh bone . At one point officers are heard shouting: 'She's been shot, she's been shot' A female officer is seen in the full version of the video, slumped injured in her car . Officers followed Chase through the streets of the New Mexico city. Several police cars eventually surrounded the 35-year-old at a petrol station . An autopsy report revealed Chase suffered eight gunshot wounds to the neck, head and back. He was found slumped over the wheel of the blood-stained police car . Chase also had a gunshot wound on his scalp, a 'gaping' laceration that measured six inches by four inches at its widest point. The 27-page autopsy report said Chase's brain was 'extensively lacerated' from at least two of the shots, adding it was impossible to track the trajectories of the bullets. He was found to have suffered blunt injuries to his head and upper left arm as well. APD spokeswoman Tasia Martinez said the shooting is still under investigation, and the department is waiting on the results of ballistics tests to determine how many officers fired and who they were. 'We do not know how many officers fired their weapons yet,' Martinez said. She said six officers were placed on leave after the shooting, which is standard practise for officers involved in shootings.

Dramatic footage shot from cameras mounted on officers' lapels . Video shows 16-mile pursuit of Christopher Chase through Albuquerque . Chase shot one officer before stealing his police car . 35-year-old injured four officers, with one suffering a shattered thigh bone . Chase found slumped dead over the wheel of the blood-stained vehicle . He was shot eight times in the neck, head and back . Six officers were placed on leave, as is standard practise after a shooting . Investigation into the incident is ongoing says police spokeswoman .

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By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 05:05 EST, 8 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:38 EST, 8 November 2013 . The youngest daughter of New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has revealed how proud she is to share her millionaire father's name - a decade after telling the world it 'sucks'. Georgina Bloomberg, who is who is reportedly worth $11.5 billion and is due to give birth to her first child in December, made headlines in 2003 when she told an HBO documentary that: 'Having the last name Bloomberg sucks.' Four years later, the tongue-pierced socialite and professional show jumper, 30, was named the fourth 'most intriguing . billionaire heiress' by Forbes for 'defying the stereotype of the bon-bon popping princess'. Indulgent: Mr Bloomberg, 71, has indulged his daughter's passion for equestrian and paid for at least six horses, which she keeps on estates in North Salem, New York, and Wellington, Florida . But describing herself as a 'rebellious teenager [who] wanted to get things pierced and smoke cigarettes on the street corner', she told Glamour.com she now regrets making the statement. 'I was only 19; 11 years later I feel completely differently,' Georgina said. 'Today I’m very appreciative of who my family is and how hard my father works. I’m proud to be a Bloomberg.' The Bloomberg family are among the . richest in America and Mr Bloomberg has an estimated personal fortune of . $18.1billion earned through his eponymous financial information . company. But the . 69-year-old has made no secret of the fact that his daughter’s career . costs a lot of money as show horses can cost hundreds of thousands of . dollars a year to keep. Intriguing: The tongue-pierced socialite and professional show jumper, 30, was named the fourth 'most intriguing billionaire heiress' by Forbes for 'defying the stereotype of the bon-bon popping princess' 'My father lacks a filter, and it’s gotten him in trouble,' Georgina said. 'A couple of years ago, he gave a speech at the Nathan’s hot . dog eating contest at Coney Island. It was badly written and cheesy, . and he stopped and said loudly over the microphone, "Who wrote this . sh**?" 'Something about that moment made me realize how glad I am that he is . my father. He’s not just your typical politician: He says what he . believes, no matter how it comes out. I willingly inherited that trait, . and one day I’ll share that story with my son.' 'This sucks': She made headlines in 2003 when she told an HBO documentary that: 'Having the last name Bloomberg sucks' Saying she and Argentinian boyfriend Ramiro Quintana have no plans to marry despite having a baby together, she added: 'Ramiro and I won’t be typical parents, but that doesn’t mean we’ll . be worse parents: I believe in love as much as the next person, and I . would love to be with one person for the rest of my life. But I don’t . need a marriage license and a party. 'I believe it takes more strength to do this than to go get engaged like everybody else.' Mr Bloomberg, 71, has indulged his daughter's passion for equestrian and paid for at least six horses, which she keeps on estates in North Salem, New York, and Wellington, Florida. The family also have a lavish property portfolio including neighboring waterfront homes in Bermuda for Miss Bloomberg. But their personal lives were thrown into the spotlight two years ago when Miss Bloomberg published her novel 'The A Circuit.' The book concerns Wall St billionaire Rick Aaronson, his two daughters and their family squabbles. His eldest daughter Camille went to an Ivy League colleague and wants to move into politics. His youngest daughter Tommi is an award-winning horse rider who refuses to do what her father tells her. 'She wasn't afraid to say no to her father,' Tommi says in the book. 'Even if half of Wall Street was.' By coincidence, Miss Bloomberg's sister Emma went to Princeton and now works with her father City Hall in New York. Another parallel is Miss Bloomberg's own interest in horses. Georgina is due to give birth on Christmas day with Mayor Bloomberg's first grandchild. But she has said she is not planning to marry her boyfriend Argentinian equestrian Ramiro Quintan anytime soon.

Georgina Bloomberg told documentary in 2003 'being a Bloomberg sucks' But 30-year-old said she was 'rebellions teen' and regrets the statement . The pro show jumper told a magazine she is 'proud to be a Bloomberg' She is estimated to be worth $11.6bn and due to give birth in December .

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Raymond van Barneveld has his sights set on winning a sixth world title – because he feels he has discovered a cure for his deteriorating eyesight. For many darts players, who sometimes compete around the country on poorly-lit stages, ever-decreasing vision is what usually curtails a career. Senior pros like 16-time world champion Phil Taylor, John Part and Gary Anderson have complained in recent years that as they have got older their ability to focus on the dartboard has gradually got worse. Raymond van Barneveld is ready to fight for his World Darts Championship title this year at Alexandra Palace . Like them, Barneveld was concerned at the start of this year about properly being able to see the doubles and trebles. But last month, after a quick YouTube search, the Dutch ace chanced upon the 'Bates Method', an alternative therapy aimed at improving quality of vision. After a few weeks of intense 'palm therapy' he says his eyes have improved so impressively that he has cancelled his laser surgery appointment in the New Year. And, as a result, he is confident his healing hands will be holding aloft the Sid Waddell Trophy on January 4. Van Barneveld produced a strong showing against Rowby-John Rodriguez on Monday in the first round . Barneveld, whose last world title was in 2007, said: 'Darts players often struggle with their eyes because of the light and the stress of playing every single week. 'I noticed that my eyes were getting bad because of my diabetes but I don't like playing with glasses. 'So, I went on YouTube the other day and found something about "palming". Basically you rub the palms of your hand together until they get extremely warm. The Dutch six-time world champion has found a method that helps him to improve his eyesight . Van Barneveld had been struggling with his eyesight and was going to have laser surgery in the new year . 'Then you place your palms on your eyes to warm them up. If you sit like this for ten minutes, you'll have better vision. I'm doing it twice a day – morning and night. 'I had known about this for two years but I was too lazy to do it. I do it ten minutes in the morning or before I go to sleep. And my vision is fine now. 'Trust me I already had an appointment on January 16 to laser my eyes because these are my working tool, they have to be right. You can't have blurred vision. But I have now cancelled my appointment because I am fine.' Barneveld, who smashed debutant Rowby-John Rodriguez in the first round with a 125.25 average in the third set, faces Jamie Caven in the second round on Monday evening. He added: 'If I believe in myself, if I play like I did in the first round, then anything is possible.'

Raymond van Barneveld is chasing a sixth World Darts Championship . The Dutchman brushed aside Rowby-John Rodriguez on Monday . Barney has been trying to find ways of improving his eyesight .

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Arsenal fans have been pinching themselves ever since their club announced the signing of Barcelona star Alexis Sanchez for a fee of £35million. The 25-year-old has the pace, strength and skill to light up the Premier League this season, but what are his key attributes? Here, Sportsmail's Martin Keown gives you the lowdown on Arsenal's new star... VIDEO Scroll down to see 'Sanchez and Sanogo link up for incredibly crafted training goal' Main man: Arsenal's star signing of the summer Alexis Sanchez has the talent to light up the Premier League . INTELLIGENCE . When Alexis Sanchez played for Barcelona, he’d start out wide but make clever runs inside at the last minute to latch on to balls from Xavi and Iniesta. He swooped inside like a Red Arrows plane. He has real footballing intelligence and is even more effective when he starts down the middle. SPEED . Sanchez has electric pace but most impressive is how many high-intensity sprints he can manage over 90 minutes. He repeats them again and again. I watched him training this week and he already looks up to speed, amazing considering he returned later than most of the rest of the squad because of the World Cup. In the match against Brazil at the World Cup, he made 68 sprints, well above average of the rest of his team. He regularly hits 18mph and FIFA ranked him the world’s 10th fastest player. Moving up a gear: The Chilean star will add speed and intelligence to the Arsenal attack . WORK-RATE . This is what makes him stand out. He dictates the pace the team plays at because he works so hard out of possession. I’ve rarely seen that level of tenacity and intensity. He gets through so much work, closing down the opposition defenders. That attitude turned an ordinary team in Chile into an excellent one at the World Cup. He is not like so many forwards, who only come alive when they have the ball. He will set a new benchmark of what’s required from a Premier League striker. Rapid: Sanchez regularly hits 18mph and FIFA ranked him the world’s 10th fastest player . Leader: The 25-year-old played a starring role for Chile during the World Cup in Brazil . STRENGTH . He’s only 5ft 7in but Sanchez is brave and strong. At the Emirates Cup you saw him going up for challenges others would have ducked. He’s fearless. FINISHING . Only Lionel Messi scored more for Barca than Sanchez’s 21 last season. Alexis scored or assisted in 63 goals during his 88 La Liga appearances. He will score more as he grows in confidence. He was forever playing second fiddle to Messi. As the main man at Arsenal, he can really thrive. Tally: Only Lionel Messi scored more for Barca than Sanchez’s 21 last season .

Alexis Sanchez has the speed and intelligence to thrive in the Premier League . Only Lionel Messi scored more for Barca than Sanchez’s 21 last season . FIFA ranked him the world’s 10th fastest player . Arsenal face Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday .

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By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:27 EST, 16 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 18:46 EST, 16 January 2014 . The parent company of the Chuck. E. Cheese restaurant chain has agreed to be acquired by an affiliate of Apollo Global Management for about $950 million, plus the acquisition of $350,000 in debt. Founded in 1977, Chuck E. Cheese restaurants are known for their mix of games, play areas and robotic characters that provide musical entertainment. The chain has been struggling to lift sales, even after a makeover for its rodent mascot in 2012 that was intended to refresh its outdated image. The parent company of the Chuck. E. Cheese restaurant chain has agreed to be acquired by an affiliate of Apollo Global Management for about $950 million, plus the acquisition of $350,000 in debt . Enter Leon Black's investment firm Apollo, which buys troubled companies using borrowed money and tries to sell them for more, usually years later, in a transaction known as a leveraged buyout. The companies say Apollo will pay $54 per share for CEC Entertainment Inc. That's about a 25 percent premium over CEC's closing price on Jan. 7, the last trading day before media speculation regarding a transaction, the companies noted. They put the deal's value at about $1.3 billion, including debt. CEC has approximately 17.6 million outstanding shares, according to FactSet.CEC may seek out superior proposals from limited third parties until Jan. 29. Founded in 1977, Chuck E. Cheese restaurants are known for their mix of games, play areas and robotic characters that provide musical entertainment . The company, which announced on Thursday that it has adopted a shareholder rights plan, had been reviewing its strategic options. A shareholder rights plan, also known as a 'poison pill,' is commonly used by businesses to try to ward off hostile takeover attempts. CEC said its shareholder rights plan was implemented to help its board 'in overseeing a fair and orderly process' and to maximize shareholder value during a sale of the company. CEC said its rights plan won't prevent or restrict any person from making a superior bid. CEC and its franchisees run 577 Chuck. E. Cheese locations in 47 states and 10 foreign countries or territories. The chain has been struggling to lift sales, even after a makeover for its rodent mascot in 2012 that was intended to refresh its outdated image . The restaurant was founded by Nolan Bushnell, one of the founders of the video-game company Atari. Its mascot has undergone various changes over the years; at one point, its personality was depicted as a 'lovable thug' from New Jersey that sometimes held a cigar, according to fan site ShowBizPizza.com. CEC said its board unanimously approved the transaction. The company's shares were up $6.04, or about 12 percent, at $54.47.

Parent company Chuck. E. Cheese has agreed be acquired by Apollo Global Management . Deal works out at $950 million for shares, plus the acquisition of $350,000 in debt . Founded in 1977, . restaurants well known for their mix of games, play areas and robotic . characters . Chain has been struggling to lift . sales, even after a makeover for its rodent mascot in 2012 .

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A picture has emerged of the British businessman and his Saudi wife who were attacked by religious police officers for using a women-only till at a Riyadh supermarket. It comes as the couple revealed that they have received an apology for the incident from the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the official name for the organisation to which the officers belonged. Shocking video footage appeared online that showed Peter Howarth-Lees and his Saudi-born wife, Abeer al-Fouti, being set upon by members of the religious police, also known as the Mutawa, outside a supermarket in an upmarket area of the Saudi capital. Scroll down for video . Attacked: Peter Howarth-Lees and his Saudi-born wife, Abeer al-Fouti, were set upon by members of the religious police in Riyadh. They are pictured here at the Just Like Us premiere during the 2010 Doha Tribeca Film Festival at the Katara Opera House in Qatar . In the video, after a woman appears to intervene, Mr Howarth-Lees, can be heard shouting 'That's my wife, how dare you.' Mr Howarth-Lees, a Muslim convert who runs a business called Smile Productions, was attacked after members of the Mutawa followed him out of the shop, The Telegraph has reported. A statement apparently written by Mr Howarth-Lees and posted on to a local website describes how he and his wife were directed to the female cashier before three men approached them and objected. Assault: Footage shows members of the religious police, also known as the Mutawa, jumping on Mr Howarth-Lees . He said the couple were harassed by the men, despite the cashier's assertion that the customers were a family, before the argument spilled out into the car park after they had paid for their goods. He said he was thrown to the ground when he tried to take a picture of the Mutawa members as evidence for a complaint after noticing one of them taking pictures of his car. He said: 'While I was on the ground all three of them proceeded to kick me repeatedly in the head and back and then one of them stamped hard on my face.' His wife then got out of the car before one of the men, apparently as seen in the video, climbed on to a car and jumped on to father-of-three Mr Howarth-Lees. The incident finally came to an end after the couple were rescued by guards from the British Embassy and driven away. They had called the local police, but they refused to help. Mr Howarth-Lees said he was thrown to the ground when he tried to take a picture of the Mutawa members as evidence for a complaint after noticing one of them taking pictures of his car . The incident took place outside a supermarket in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia (file picture) Mr Howarth-Lees told The Times that he had received an apology from the Mutawa and that the officers who had attacked him had been ‘administratively punished’. The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice is the Saudi Arabian government's religious police to enforce Sharia Law within the Islamic nation. Altogether, it has 3,500 to 4,000 police officers who enforce a strict religious code among citizens. Members patrol the streets checking dress code, strict separation of men and women, salat prayer by Muslims during prayer times, and other behaviour it believes to be commanded by Islam. The Mutawa are known for having full beards and wearing their headscarves (ghutrah or shemagh) loose without an agal and often come from Saudi Arabia's lower classes. The body has widespread powers to detain and berate offenders and shut down businesses and are employed directly by the King. The organisation's 2013 budget was the equivalent of $390million. In May this year it was reported that five Saudi men had been sentenced to 32 years in prison and 4,500 lashes by a criminal court in Saudi Arabia for holding a Valentine's Day party. The men were caught at a rented rest house in the Al-Farouq area of Buraidah Qassim province and accused of holding a party with women who were unrelated to them, drinking and dancing. Mutawa members rounded up the men with the help of security patrols for their offences along with six women on February 14.

Peter Howarth-Lees and his wife attacked by religious police in Saudi Arabia . Couple had used a women-only cash register at a Riyadh supermarket . Video footage has emerged of moment Mr Howarth-Lees is jumped on . Head of religious police has apologised for the ugly incident, reportedly .

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A Costa coffee customer was left horrified after she found a worker's blood mixed in with her latte. Janine Hughes bought the hot drink from the chain's drive-through store in Swansea, South Wales and thought it tasted strange. The 30-year-old was sickened when she opened the lid and found fresh blood staining the inside of her cup and mixed with the coffee. Today she told how she drove back to the outlet and discovered the source of the blood was a barista who had cut his hand while making drinks . Janine Hughes has complained after her discovering blood mixed in with her latte from Costa coffee . The 30-year-old IT worker had bought the drink at the chain's 'drive thru' store in Swansea, South Wales, but removed the lid to find blood on the inside of the cup . She is now nervously awaiting blood test results to check she did not catch anything from the contaminated coffee. Ms Hughes complained to the manager, who gave her a new latte, and later received a letter from the area manager. But she has yet to receive a response to an official complaint she made to the company's headquarters. She said: 'I drove off and took two sips of my latte and it tasted like iron. I realised something was wrong, but did not know what at the time. 'Then I saw blood on the inside of the lid and realised there was blood in the coffee. 'I was filled with horror when I realised what I had just drunk. I drove back and asked to see the manager.' She says the manager of the drive through coffee shop in Swansea, South Wales, told her that the employee who served her had a cut hand. Ms Hughes received an apology from the area manager but is angry the company's HQ has not responded . She is now awaiting tests to check she did not catch anything and has vowed never to visit the chain again . The barista had then gone to dress his wound while another staff member changed the lid, but the drink already had blood mingled in with the milk and coffee. IT worker Ms Hughes added: 'The person who served me was mortified. But I should have been given a completely new coffee and not just a new lid. 'I was given a new latte in the end but I had to report it - it was too serious to ignore.' Ms Hughes said she will never drink at the any of the chain's outlets again. She added: 'Not once have they contacted me. They have hidden behind the brand. That is terrible. 'I have had the worry of the blood tests. I don't think I will ever go to Costa again. I will support my local coffee shops.' A Costa Coffee spokesman said: 'Our area manager has spoken to Ms Hughes and apologised for the distress this obviously caused her. 'This was an isolated incident and does not reflect our high standards of safety and hygiene.'

IT worker visited drive-through store in South Wales and ordered a latte . When she removed the lid because it tasted strange she found blood inside . She discovered a worker at chain had cut his hand while making drinks . While the lid of the coffee had been replaced, blood had got inside the cup . Cafe boss has apologised and company insists it has high standards . Customer waiting for blood tests results says she won't go to Costa again .

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(CNN) -- Wichita State used its Cinderella slipper on Saturday night to trounce Ohio State early and hold on late to advance to the Final Four of the NCAA men's basketball tournament, where it will be joined by Syracuse. The Shockers, the No. 9 seed in the West region, shocked the basketball world by beating the Buckeyes 70-66 in Los Angeles. Though dominating most of the way, they had to sweat out the game's final minutes. Their 20-point advantage with 12 minutes to go dwindled steadily as the contest wore on, with Ohio State pulling within 5 points with just over three minutes to go. But Wichita State was able to stave off the Buckeyes' furious rally, thereby earning the right to play the winner of Sunday's Louisville-Duke showdown at a national semifinal. Those will be held next week in Atlanta. Louisville is last No. 1 seed remaining in this wildly unpredictable tournament. The Orange will be in Georgia along with them, thanks to their decisive 55-39 victory over Marquette earlier Saturday. The two Big East foes scored a paltry 42 points, combined, in a hard-fought first half, with Syracuse entering the intermission up 24-18. But the Orange pulled away in the second half, eventually cruising to victory before a crowd at Washington's Verizon Center that included President Barack Obama. Syracuse's Final Four partner will be either Michigan or Florida, who square off Sunday afternoon at Cowboys Stadium outside Dallas.

NEW: Wichita State dominates early, holds on late to beat Ohio State and advance . NEW: The No. 9 seed in the West region at one point led by 20 points, and won 70-66 . Syracuse pulled ahead late to defeat Marquette by 55-39 in Washington . Playing Sunday for last two spots in Final Four: Michigan vs. Florida, Louisville vs. Duke .

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By . Louise Boyle for MailOnline . A 45-year-old worker died on Thursday after he was pulled into a machine at an industrial factory. Elbert C Woods, from Garfield Heights, was crushed to death on the job at Cleveland Track Material in Ohio, which makes railway tracks and parts. Mr Woods was pulled into the machine after his clothing became stuck. Rescues from Cleveland Fire Department rushed to the scene but when they arrived his colleagues had freed the man but he had already died of his injuries. Elbert C Woods, from Garfield Heights, was crushed to death on the job at Cleveland Track Material (pictured), which makes railway tracks and parts . The medical examiner said that he had died of crushing injuries. The company, which is 20 years old, employs 250 people and is a branch of Vossloh North America which also has factories in Ohio, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. No one at the company was available to comment when contacted by MailOnline today. An email . The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has begun an investigation into the incident tinot the machine's 'lockout' abilities.

Elbert C Woods, from Garfield Heights, was crushed to death on the job at Cleveland Track Material in Ohio .

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(CNN) -- It's not every day you meet an active field agent of Israel's super secret spy agency, the Mossad. Generally, if you did, you wouldn't know it. But there he was, taking us on a tour of "Operation Finale: The Story of the Capture of Eichmann" before the V.I.P. guests arrived for opening night. This spy is the curator of the extraordinary exhibit of recently declassified spycraft chronicling the capture of Adolf Eichmann, one of the chief architects of the Holocaust. It's a passionate side project to document one of Mossad's most famous successes. I can't use his name and we couldn't film him, but he told us why he spent months in the archive. "It was our first big 'James Bond' operation. I knew we had the material in the archive," he says, "but until today, people only knew a small part of the story, we had to tell the whole thing." The story starts with Eichmann, a German SS officer put in charge of orchestrating the "final solution," the Nazi plan to kill all of the Jews in Europe, during World War Two in the early 1940s. Eichmann was the chief logistician, organizing transport for millions of Jews to the gas chambers. In the waning years of the war, when Nazis were trying to destroy all evidence of the Holocaust and halted the killing, Eichmann insisted on continuing his evil work. At the end of World War Two, Eichmann escaped and evaded capture several times. He was a wanted man, but the trail went dry. But in the 1950s, word began to reach Mossad and Israel's domestic security service, Shin Bet, that Adolf Eichmann was hiding in Buenos Aires using the name "Ricardo Klement." At first, agents sent to Argentina didn't believe that the shabby suburb where Klement lived could be the residence of a senior Nazi officer. Agents then traveled to Argentina to take photos of the man who called himself Klement. They pretended to be property investors. The small Leica camera, a simple converted business case with a secret camera trigger, and original photographs, are part of the "Operation Finale" exhibit. The agents took the negatives to a developing shop in town and got three shots of an ordinary looking man standing over a barbed wire fence. But Adolf Eichmann was no ordinary man. The covert pictures were compared to SS photos in Mossad's files. A 10-point analysis of his ears (apparently ears are unique) told Mossad they had their man. Avi Armoni, the CEO of the Museum of the Jewish People, says the exhibit shows the evolution of Mossad, then in its early days. "Even the mighty Mossad started with improvising solutions," says Armoni. And it's painstakingly documented in an exhibit crammed with originals: the crudely made license plates; the fake passports used by agents, the metal syringe used to drug Eichmann. "What people react to in museums, aside from the story, is to see original artifacts, to feel that they are in the presence of the real thing," he says. "And to all of us it symbolized evil, it symbolized the Holocaust, it symbolized the notion of justice." To bring Adolf Eichmann to justice, 11 agents traveled to Argentina under assumed names. Dozens of Jews living in Argentina helped provide the cover needed to succeed. The agents put Eichmann in an El Al crew uniform and shoved him into a Pontiac. They slipped him onto a special El Al flight and spirited him out of Argentina. In April 1961, the trial of Adolf Eichmann began in Jerusalem. During nine months of testimony, the world was astounded by the personal testimony of 120 witnesses (99 of them Holocaust survivors). The impact was greatest in Israel. "I grew up in Israel. I was born here," says Armoni. "The whole notion for young Israelis growing up here -- of the Shoah, of the Holocaust -- was very much not spoken of, it was hidden, we were in shock." "The capture of Adolf Eichmann -- bringing him to court and to justice in Jerusalem -- was for so many Israelis of my generation a watershed event. It actually brought out the stories and the horror of what happened to the Jews in Europe." The "Operation Finale" exhibit ends with the actual bulletproof glass booth where Adolf Eichmann sat impassively during the duration of the nine-month trial. The message is clear. The agents who painstakingly tracked down and captured Eichmann were after one thing: justice.

An exhibition documenting Mossad's capture of German Nazi Adolf Eichmann has just opened . 'Operation Finale: The Story of the Capture of Eichmann' is curated by an active Mossad field agent . The exhibit follows the evolution of Mossad and the capture of one of it's most high profile targets . Mossad agent: '"It was our first big 'James Bond' operation'

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(Mashable) -- The new-look Gmail that Google accidentally told us about last week is now rolling out to all users. The changes, officially announced in a blog post Tuesday, allow Gmail users much more control over the look of the service. You can drag sidebars around to your preferred size and width, choose from a wider selection of high-resolution background pictures, and decide whether you want lots of email on your screen or more white space between mails. (Your choice of email density is between "Comfortable," "Cozy" and "Compact.") Heavy Gmail users will also be pleased to learn that there's a new search function -- that is, you can now access Advanced Search by clicking on the search bar. Conversations have been condensed, and profile pictures added. These are more features than Google offered in its sneak peek of the new Gmail, which started in July. For now, at least, the new features will be opt-in -- and not all of us will be able to access them immediately. "If you like what you see, over the next few days you'll be able to switch to the new look by clicking on Switch to the new look in the bottom-right of Gmail," writes Google user experience designer Jason Cornwell. See the original on Mashable.com . © 2011 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved.

New changes to Gmail allow users more control over look of the service . Heavy Gmail users will be pleased to learn that there's a new search function . Conversations have been condensed and profile pictures added .

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A Latvian migrant was caught trying to smuggle his wife into Britain in a suitcase after she was twice refused entry to the UK. Bogden Croitor of Stanmore, London, had been given permission to live in Britain but officials twice refused to allow his Moldovan-born wife to join him. The 30-year-old travelled to Calais in October 2013 to spend the weekend with his wife in the French port town. Bogden Croitor was discovered trying to smuggle his Moldovan-born wife into the UK after customs officials stopped his car for a routine stop and search at Dover, pictured . Canterbury Crown Court heard how Croitor said his wife spoke of how she should join him in the UK and suggested hiding in his luggage. However, when entering the UK at Dover, customs officials stopped his car for a routine search. They then found his wife hiding in his bag. Natasha Spreadborough, defending, said Croitor’s wife had made numerous applications for a visa but had been refused each time. Judge Adele Williams sentenced Croitor to 14 months jail suspended for two years. She told him: 'You could have absolutely no complaint if I had sent you to prison straight away because those who commit this offence normally always go to jail immediately. Croitor was sentenced to 14 months jail suspended for two years after appearing at Canterbury Crown Court, pictured . 'But I take the view that the way you committed this offence does have extraordinary mitigating circumstances attached to it.' Croitor was also given 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay £400 costs. It is thought he has returned to his home London after receiving the sentence while his wife has been deported to France.

Latvian migrant Bogden Croitor, 30, given permission to live in the UK . But his Moldovan-born wife was twice refused entry to come to Britain . Wife suggested joining him in the UK while he was visiting her in Calais . She hid in his suitcase as he re-entered the country in his car via Dover . But he was stopped by customs officials who found her in one of his bags . Croitor has been sentenced to 14 months jail suspended for two years .

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By . Ray Massey . The Third World conditions experienced by passengers at Gatwick airport last Christmas were foreseeable and should be a ‘wake-up call’ to other airports, a report warns today. The report paints a shocking picture of the chaos at Gatwick - with just one functioning but ‘disgusting’ toilet shared by thousands and a lack of food and water for stranded passengers. More than 11,000 travellers were hit by delays and 72 flight cancellations - with easyJet worst affected - on December 24 after flooding caused a power failure at the West Sussex airport. The Third World conditions experienced by passengers at Gatwick airport last Christmas were foreseeable and should be a 'wake-up call' to other airports, a report warns today . The report paints a shocking picture of the chaos at Gatwick - with just one functioning but 'disgusting' In a scathing report, the watchdog said airport bosses needed to ¿get a grip¿ to ensure more passengers are never again failed by poor and inadequate contingency planning. The failure also knocked out flight-information, baggage check-in and retrieval system - which meant that even those who wanted to leave could not get their bags back in order to do so. In a scathing report, the watchdog said airport bosses needed to ‘get a grip’ to ensure more passengers are never again failed by poor and inadequate contingency planning. The flooding fiasco should be ‘a wake-up call for airports across the UK’ in tackling foreseeable disruption’, the MPs said. More effort should also be made to ensure passengers know and receive reimbursement and compensation in line with their consumer rights. More effort should also be made to ensure passengers know and receive reimbursement and compensation in line with their consumer rights . More than 11,000 travellers were hit by delays and 72 flight cancellations - with easyJet worst affected - on December 24 . A Gatwick spokesman apologised at the time to passengers saying anti-flood work was in hand but the weather conditions had been extreme . Passengers gave evidence to MPs of the shocking conditions in which they were left for up to 12 hours without heating, hot food or drink and with access to just one functioning but ‘putrid’ toilet. One said: ‘Many toilets, which were reliant on electronic flushing mechanisms, were out of action,’Sussex police had to step in to keep order amid the chaos and lack of loudspeaker announcements. British Airways passengers Neil and Jennifer Smith are quoted by MPs in the report saying: ‘As a result of BA staff’s unwavering refusal to speak to customers or provide any information in the terminal, we received no food or drink vouchers at any stage during our 11 hours at Gatwick.’ Had BA informed them that their luggage was unlikely to be on the plane, ‘we would have bought some essentials from the airport to relieve the stress and discomfort,’ they said. Dr Sylvia Baron said: ‘All this time no food was provided at any point by easyJet (13 hours total).’ Daniel Salt says: ‘eastJet failed at every stage to notify the public of what was happening.’ And Malina Majithia said they received no food or water: ‘More shockingly, the washroom facilities were appalling. The toilets were a disgrace. They did not flush and the putrid stench was overpowering.’ Even Labour peer Lord Triesman, caught up in the chaos spoke of ‘distressed and crying and shouting children’ and the ‘massive queue to the only functioning loo.’ Passengers wait in the departure hall of Gatwick airport's North Terminal as severe weather caused delays and cancellations to numerous flights . Passengers were left for up to 12 hours without heating, hot food or drink and just one toilet to access . Janet Coombs tells MPs: ‘19 hours without food or fluid; 15 hours standing; 15 hours without access to toilets; 2 days lost holiday; 2 nights lost sleep.’ Many phoned relatives outside the airport to find out from news reports what was happening. Anna Powell spoke of lost luggage, distress, and the ‘joy of securing the last chicken’ in Sainsburys but noted: ‘As far as we were concerned our Christmas was cancelled.’ Today the House of Commons Transport Committee thanked those passengers who wrote with their testimony. They said the main problems had been poor and often inconsistent provision of information about what was happening, lack of clarity about who was in charge, and a lack of basic facilities, such as toilets and drinking water. Christmas plans were badly affected for thousands of people after storms across the UK resulted in flooding and caused havoc at Gatwick Airport . Passengers gave evidence to MPs of the shocking conditions in which they were left for up to 12 hours without heating . The committee welcomed a key conclusion from Gatwick¿s own review of the events on Christmas Eve which found the airport should appoint passenger champions at each of its terminals . The chaos at Gatwick was compounded when airport bosses sought to switch passengers from the blighted North Terminal to the still-working South Terminal in a move that ‘was not well tested.’ MPs were particularly concerned the ‘that contingency planning had not involved major airlines.’ Launching the report today, the committee’s chairman Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside said: ‘Passengers need accurate and consistent information, must be able to identify who is in charge during periods of disruption, and should have ready access to toilets and drinking water. ‘If our largest airports cannot demonstrate they can look after passengers’ interests in this way then the CAA must act.’ She added: ‘Passengers must also be promptly reimbursed for the extra costs they face as a consequence of disruption.' Mrs Ellman said: ‘It was clear from evidence to this inquiry that there is considerable scope for airlines to ensure passengers are far better informed about their rights when flights are delayed or cancelled and how to enforce these rights.’ Passengers need accurate and consistent information, Labour MP Louise Ellman said . The flood caused a power failure which severely disrupted flights at the airport¿s North Terminal . The committee welcomed a key conclusion from Gatwick’s own review of the events on Christmas Eve which found the airport should appoint passenger champions at each of its terminals, to focus on passenger welfare. The committee suggested that similar arrangements should also be put in place at other major UK airports. Gatwick’s own report into the chaos concluded in February that passengers were failed because airport bosses ‘overreached themselves’ and communications to passengers were ‘disappointingly poor’. The flood caused a power failure which severely disrupted flights at the airport’s North Terminal. But rather than cancel flights straight away managers tried to get as many people away as possible - by switching them to the unaffected South Terminal. However, this merely added to the chaos. Gatwick non-executive director David McMillan said in own February report: ‘On this occasion, the airport community overreached itself in seeking to maintain a close-to-normal flying programme on the day. MPs demanded to know why the country¿s second-biggest airport had been unable to cope with flooding . ‘In doing so, while the majority of airport passengers flew that day, a very significant number of passengers endured poor levels of service and information before seeing their flights either substantially delayed or, ultimately, cancelled.’ MPs had earlier accused country’s second-biggest airport -owned by an American private equity Global Infrastructure Partners of failing to invest at Gatwick while making bumper profits. Transport committee chairman Louise Ellman said the sorts of problems encountered by Gatwick should not have been unforeseen, unexpected or unprepared for: ‘The problems that unfolded were not new and the whole event should be a wake-up call for airports across the UK to improve their operational resilience.’ This was the scene at Gatwick Airport Station on Christmas Eve amid chaos around the airport . The report itself concludes: ‘None of the issues discussed in our report is new. Contingency planning, communications and passenger welfare were all covered in the Begg report into disruption at Heathrow due to snow in December 2011., themes we then picked up in our 2011 report on the disruption to transport caused by snow and ice.’ It added: ‘The CAA recently told us that it had already given the industry some guidance about what is expected in relation to oversight of operational resilience.’ MPs said the CAA had told them: ‘If the plans produced by airports over the Spring and Summer do not include all appropriate elements, we will use our licence powers to requite this to be remedied.’

Report paints a shocking picture of the chaos at Gatwick on December 24 . More than 11,000 travellers were hit by delays and 72 flight cancellations . Flooding caused a power failure at the West Sussex airport . Knocked out flight-information, baggage check-in and retrieval system . Watchdog said airport bosses needed to ‘get a grip’

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By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 08:25 EST, 18 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:08 EST, 18 February 2013 . A canister of radioactive material has been stolen from the back of a van, police said. The 'small amount' of material, believed to be Iridium 192, is not considered dangerous so long as it remains contained in its heavy lead container. Lancashire Police said the yellow canister, which is marked with the radiation trefoil, was taken sometime over the weekend from a Peugeot Panel Van which was parked outside an address on New Line in Bacup. Officers were alerted to the incident in the early hours of this morning after the van driver discovered the material was missing . Officers were alerted to the incident . in the early hours of this morning after the van driver discovered the . material was missing. Chief Inspector Russ Procter said: 'It is important that this material is located as soon as possible. 'I would ask the public, especially in the Rossendale area, to keep an eye out for this canister and if they locate it then to call the police who will come and deal with it. 'I would also appeal directly to the people who have stolen this. They may have no idea what it is that they have in their possession or they may have discarded it somewhere. 'If that is the case then I would ask them to contact us or call Crimestoppers anonymously.' New Line, in Bacup, where the potentially dangerous material was stolen from a van . The radioactive material, believed to be Iridium 192, will not pose a risk to the public if it remains contained in its . heavy lead container . Police have not said what the purpose of the material was. Iridium-192 emits strong gamma rays. It is commonly used in industrial radiography to locate flaws in metal components. It is also used in radiotherapy as a radiation source. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) urged anyone coming into contact with the cylinder to leave it where it is and alert the police. A spokesman added: 'The radioactive material, believed to be Iridium 192, will not pose a risk to the public if it remains contained in its heavy lead container marked with the radiation trefoil. 'However, if the material is outside of its protection packaging, anyone who has come into prolonged physical contact, such as keeping it in a pocket, should seek medical assistance. 'If you see this package you should immediately inform the police, do not touch it and keep away.' Anyone with information should call Lancashire police on 999 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Van driver discovered the material was missing this morning . Iridium 192 is dangerous if taken out of its container .

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By . Louise Boyle . ABC news producer Dawn Ennis who changed gender three times was fired in May for 'performance-related issues' An ABC news producer who changed gender three times has been fired for 'performance-related issues', according to reports. Dawn Ennis, who was once known as Don Ennis, identified as both a man and a woman during a long career at the company. The producer, from Danbury, Connecticut, lost her job in May just a few weeks after transforming from her male identity. An industry source told the New York Daily News that Ennis losing the job was not because of gender-identity issues. ABC News declined to comment to MailOnline on Tuesday. In . May 2013, Don Ennis appeared at work wearing a black dress and an . auburn wig, and asked that co-workers call him Dawn. She reportedly . received a very public show of support from her longtime colleagues. The . father-of-three explained to colleagues that she believed her gender . mix-up was linked to her mother giving her oestrogen as a child to . prolong a childhood acting career. Ennis said she ended up developing breasts and thinking as a woman. Soon afterwards, the producer separated from wife Wendy after 17 years. Then three months after revealing her new identity to colleagues, the senior ABC employee returned to work as Don and claimed to have suffered from 'transient global amnesia'. Ennis said he had believed it was 1999 and thought that his wife had tricked him into dressing up as a woman. Don Ennis, pictured with his wife of 17 years Wendy, before he became a woman and the couple separated. They have three children . According to the New York Post, Ennis posted a memo on the newsroom bulletin board which read: 'I accused my wife of playing some kind of cruel joke, dressing me up in a wig and bra and making fake ID’s with the name ''Dawn'' on it. Seriously.' The journalist explained that while his memories of the last 14 years had returned, his female identity did not. In the memo, first reported on gossip site NewsBlues, Ennis added: 'I am writing to let you know I’m changing my name . . . to Don Ennis. That will be my name again, now and forever. And it appears I’m not transgender after all.' The producer thanked colleagues at ABC for their support and said that he hoped the experience would make it easier for the next transgender person at ABC. In May, 49-year-old Ennis became Dawn again. She was let go from the company soon afterwards. On May 31, she posted on Facebook: 'It is all going to work out.' On June 2, Dawn Ennis then published lines from Shakespeare's King Lear on her Facebook page, which read: 'No, I will weep no more. In such a night/ To shut me out? Pour on; I will endure.'

Dawn Ennis, formerly Don Ennis, identified as both a man and a woman during career at ABC News . In . May 2013, Don Ennis appeared at work wearing a black dress and an . auburn wig, and asked that co-workers called him Dawn . Three months later, the producer claimed to have suffered 'global transient amnesia' and identified as a man again . This May, father-of-three Ennis once again took the identity of Dawn .

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A woman-only taxi service has been forced to apply the brakes after it failed to attract enough female drivers into the job. The New York-based SheTaxi iPhone app was created for women who feel uneasy getting into a cab alone with a male driver because of safety concerns or religious beliefs. Currently only three per cent of New York's 115,000 taxi drivers are female, so SheTaxi - which was scheduled for launch yesterday - was built to book only taxis driven by a woman for its users. The release of the app has now been delayed by owner Stella Mateo however, after she said it would not be financially viable until at least another 400 female drivers register with the company. Scroll down for video . Apply the brakes: Dinorah De Cruz is one of 100 women currently signed up to drive for SheRides - an iPhone app helping female passengers locate women taxi drivers in New York City. The launch of the app has been delayed until at least another 400 female drivers register with the service . Mateo said about 100 women have signed up as drivers so far. They will wear bright pink pashmina scarves, making it easy to identify them. 'In the taxi and livery industry, where women comprise less than 3 per cent of drivers but 60 per cent of riders, women's needs go unmet on either side of the partition,' said Mateo, whose husband Fernando is founder of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers. 'Why don't we have female drivers exclusively for female riders?', she added at a news conference yesterday. SheTaxis is the name of the service in the New York suburbs, while SheRides is used in the city itself, which has regulations governing the use of 'taxi' in a name. When it is eventually launched, the app will be available for the iPhone initially - before an Android version is eventually launched. There also are plans to expand to other U.S. cities. Going places: Driver Dinorah De Cruz (left) talks with Stella Mateo (right) - founder of the SheTaxi car service. Drivers will be required to wear bright pink pashmina scarves, making them easy to identify . Mateo said the service, which will use an Uber-like smartphone app, determined that demand would outstrip the capacity of the 100 female drivers currently available to fulfill requests. Access to female drivers, she said, would particularly help some Muslim and Orthodox Jewish women whose religious beliefs prohibit them from traveling alone with unrelated men. She said that encouraging women to drive would also allow them to become small business owners in an industry that has no gender pay gap and also provides flexibility for working mothers. In order to recruit more women drivers, Mateo said SheTaxis/SheRides will hold a women's opportunity job fair starting September 16 at its Long Island City offices for seven days a week from 10am to 8pm. Prepared: SheTaxi driver Dinorah De Cruz walks up to a New York Taxi and Limo Commission brokerage to collect her insurance and license paperwork yesterday afternoon . As for legal questions that have been raised as to whether a women-only car service might be discriminatory against men, Andrew Celli, an attorney for SheTaxis/SheRides, said 'We have no legal issues as far as I'm concerned.' But the city's Human Rights Commissioner, Patricia Gatling, said the agency is reminding car service companies that denying service based on gender is illegal under city law. He noted that the service, which partners with a number of established livery car firms, would not exclude male riders. Tamika Mallory, spokeswoman for SheTaxis/SheRides, has said male riders could be referred to a livery affiliate if a female driver was not available. On the road: SheTaxi driver Dinorah De Cruz gets into her car after a visit to a Taxi and Limo Commission brokerage. Currently only three per cent of New York's 115,000 taxi drivers are female, so SheTaxi - which had been scheduled for launch yesterday - was built to book only taxis driven by a woman for its users . Stella Mateo did not give a target date for the launch of the service, which will rely on an Apple app with an Android version to follow. Dinorah Decruz, 64, of East Meadow on Long Island, said the app made her decide to get back to driving after stopping about a year ago. She said she had some safety concerns and was almost robbed by a man once. She said focusing on women passengers makes her more comfortable. 'I like the idea,' she said. 'It feels safe.' Bronya Shaffer, 66, of Brooklyn, said the app is a good idea and she would encourage her daughters to use it. She likened it to being able to go to female doctors or attorneys. 'It's having one more opportunity in our whole world, in all of our interactions everywhere, to know that I can choose to have a woman if I want,' she said. 'It's kind of nice.'

SheTaxi app was intended to locate women drivers for female passengers . 500 women drivers need to sign-up with service in order for it to be viable . Was due to be released for the iPhone in New York City and state yesterday . But with only 100 driver registered, owner Stella Mateo has delayed launch . Currently only three per cent of New York's 115,000 taxi drivers are female .

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An accused witch doctor said to have used sorcery to bring about the death of another man in a remote Papua New Guinea village has been chopped into pieces and his body parts burned to ashes. The gruesome attack on the alleged sorcerer was carried out close to the time when a 20-year-old woman was tortured and burned to death after she was accused of using witchcraft to kill a six-year-old boy. As news of the recent alleged incidents of sorcery has spread through the jungles of the nation lying to the north of Australia, uneducated villagers have been put on their guard and are watching for other witches or witch doctors, say police. Spreading: The gruesome attack on the alleged sorcerer was carried out close to the time when a 20-year-old woman was tortured and burned to death after she was accused of using witchcraft to kill a six-year-old boy . In the latest gruesome incident, a 50-year-old man named as Eriok Tembe, from the village of Tewai-Siassi, in the eastern part of the country, was attacked at his home by a group of people convinced he had used witchcraft to bring about the slow death of another villager. They hacked him to pieces with machetes, said provincial police commander Supt Leo Lamei, and then set his body parts on fire when they applied torches to his hut. ‘He’d argued with other villagers during the day when they accused him of using sorcery to kill another person,’ said Supt Lamei. Still alive: Sorcery and witchcraft are still practiced in remote villages in Papua New Guinea's highlands . Sorcery and witchcraft is widely believed in Papua New Guinea and is commonly practiced in remote villages across the island nation. The cost of a witch doctor revealing a cause of death or casting out an evil spirit is usually 1000 New Guinean kina (£303), plus a pig and a bag of rice, . In 1971, whilst still a colony, the country introduced a Sorcery Act to criminalise the practice. However the law has recently seen a rise in attacks on innocent people accused of black magic, such as that on Miss Leniata, and convictions by ‘kangaroo courts’ made up of of local village elders. As a result the Papua New Guinean law reform commission proposing to repeal the law. Last July, 29 people were arrested accused of black magic and cannibalism after allegedly murdering seven people in order to eat their brains and use their genitals for sorcery rituals. In 2009 a man was hacked to pieces by machetes after a ‘kangaroo court’ convicted him of sorcery. ‘Then during the night, between 3am . and 4am, a number of people went to his home, chopped him up with bush . knives and set his house in fire with his remains inside.’ Police arrived later and in a grim search retrieved the charred remains before delivering them to relatives for burial. ‘The suspects are still at large and we are yet to identify them,’ said the police officer. ‘We condemn these acts and we are using all available resources to bring the suspects to face the law.’ Sorcery is rife through the remote regions of jungle-clad Papua New Guinea, where alleged witches and witch doctors are said to use effigies of their victims and so-called magic chants to bring about the deaths of their enemies and their relatives. Other acts of sorcery include burning something that belongs to the intended victim, which could be a single hair or clothing – and some so-called evil-doers are said to blow contaminated smoke in the direction of their enemies. Mr Tembe died at about the same time as . young mother Kepari Leniata was tortured and burned to death in the . central highlands, 150 miles away, after she was blamed for the death of . a young boy who died in hospital from a stomach illness. Her shocking death made international . headlines, yet the murder was one of scores among the executions of . alleged witches in the country, which is steeped in superstition and . ancient irrational beliefs. Sociologists . say that accusing people of carrying out sorcery and witchcraft is . based on fear and ignorance and international action is needed to spread . ‘modern knowledge’ among remote tribes. Part of the culture: Sorcery and witchcraft is widely believed in Papua New Guinea, which brought in a Sorcery Act to protect against attacks on those accused of practising black magic (file picture) Breaking the law: The criminalisation of sorcery has seen several cases of violent vigilante action against 'witches' and 'sorcerers' in highland villages .

Man, 50, was attacked in the middle of the night in his hut . 'Chopped him with knives and set his house in fire with his remains inside' Sorcery is rife in the remote regions of jungle-clad Papua New Guinea .

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(CNN) -- A federal judge sentenced Colton Harris-Moore, whom authorities dubbed the Barefoot Bandit, to six-and-a-half years in prison on Friday for an infamous string of thefts and burglaries. The federal sentence will run concurrently with his state imprisonment of seven years and three months imposed in December, the judge ruled. The 20-year-old gained notoriety -- including 50,000 Facebook fans and a movie deal -- while leading authorities on a two-year manhunt while eluding capture in stolen boats, cars and planes, often while barefoot, authorities said. He once left chalk outlines of bare footprints at one crime scene. Harris-Moore pleaded guilty last year to federal charges stealing an airplane, piloting it without a license, burglarizing a bank and possessing a firearm as a fugitive. He also pleaded guilty in December to 33 state charges related to residential burglaries, identity thefts, a firearm theft, a car theft, attempting to elude a police vehicle and other offenses, according to court documents. He was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison on those charges. Prosecutors recommended that Harris-Moore get 78 months in prison on the federal charges, according to court documents. Harris-Moore had asked for 70 months. As part of the federal plea deal, he agreed to give up any profits that may come from book or movie deals on his story. His attorney has said Harris-Moore wants any such money to go to victims. He is estimated to owe more than $1.4 million in restitution in the federal case. Under the Washington state plea arrangement, he would also have to give up any proceeds for restitution on the state offenses, court documents said. He was arrested in July 2010 after crashing a stolen plane in the Bahamas and then trying to escape in a stolen boat. He'd been on the run from police since escaping from a Washington group home in 2008. His attorney has said that his client hopes to go to college one day to study aviation or engineering. CNN's Shawn Nottingham, Michael Martinez and Bill Mears contributed to this report.

The federal sentence will run concurrently with a state sentence of seven years . Colton Harris-Moore also pleaded guilty to 33 state charges last year . He eluded capture for 2 years in stolen planes and cars, often while barefoot .

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Jose Mourinho has lashed out again at the Football Association and Sky Sports, accusing them of operating with double standards in pursuit of violent conduct charges against players. Mourinho demanded to know why the rules which applied to Diego Costa did not apply to other players in the Barclays Premier League. He did not mention Robin van Persie but he was talking about the Manchester United striker, who escaped a violent conduct charge after he appeared to throw an elbow into James Tomkins' face during a 1-1 draw at West Ham on Sunday. VIDEO Scroll down for Jose Mourinho: Van Persie should be banned for elbow on Tomkins . Jose Mourinho makes an elbow gesture as he discusses why Robin Van Persie should have face retrospective action for his elbow on James Tomkins . Manchester United striker Van Persie catches Tomkins in the face during the 1-1 draw against West Ham . Tomkins complained after the match that he thought Van Persie's challenge was malicious . The West Ham defender turns away holding his head after the challenge with Van Persie . The Chelsea boss mimed an elbow and said: 'A player did this in the face of somebody else and nothing happened. The same thing happened last season when Ramires was suspended and one week later a Man City player kicked a player at Norwich, who was on the floor and nothing happened. I'm used to it.' Ramires was banned for four games last April when cameras caught an off-the-ball elbow on Seb Larsson. It was missed at the time but treated as his second red card of the season. Michael Oliver was the referee in charge of Chelsea's Capital One Cup semi-final against Liverpool, after which Costa was banned for three games for stamping on Emre Can. Oliver told the FA that he had not seen the Costa stamp, opening the door to a disciplinary charge. At West Ham, referee Mark Clattenburg awarded a free-kick, indicating he had seen the clash, but did not show Van Persie any card. Mourinho explained that he 'needed time to understand' why Diego Costa was given a three-match ban . Chelsea striker Diego Costa (right) moves towards the ball after Emre Can takes a tumble off the pitch . As they were in different competitions, there is a slightly different disciplinary process. The Football League operate by the 'old' system which allows referees to look at a situation again, while the Premier League is led by a three-man panel of ex-referees who step in if they believe the officials have missed something, after reading the referee's report of the game. 'The same people who suspended my player didn't want to suspend a player this weekend,' said Mourinho. 'A player could have been suspended this weekend and he wasn't. I am still processing that information.' Costa (right) sits next to Cesc Fabregas at Stamford Bridge after being banned for three matches . Speaking of the incident, Hammers boss Sam Allardyce said this morning: 'From a challenge point of view I thought it was pretty naughty. He (Van Persie) had a look to see where the defender was and then took him out basically. 'The assistant referee gave a foul but he didn't think it was more serious. Tomkins should be fit to play tomorrow night which is the most important thing for us.' Mourinho also shed more light on why he had decided to shun the media following Costa's three-match ban. Romelu Lukaku (left) was sold by Mourinho after failing to make an impact at Stamford Bridge . He said: 'I'm fine. I was in a good mood. I needed more time to forget why my player was suspended. 'I needed more time to understand why some are punished and others aren't.' The Everton contest on Wednesday night sees the return of Romelu Lukaku to Stamford Bridge after the Belgium forward struggled to break through into Mourinho's plans and was allowed to leave the club. The Portuguese manager said: 'He proves every weekend that he's a good player. Nobody has doubts at Chelsea that he's a good player. Lukaku has scored 10 goals so far this season for Roberto Martinez's side . 'We know Romelu is a good player. (Andre) Schurrle is a good player, (Kevin) de Bruyne is a good player, (Juan) Mata is a good player. 'They are good. We don't sell garbage. We sell top players. 'We sell top players, we get top fees. (Without) top fees we don't sell them, we keep them. 'That's football, that's life, that's market. The player wishes sometimes to be in clubs where they become clearly the first option. That's football, that's life. 'If he's happy, that's good. He wanted to play all the time.'

Jose Mourinho believes Man Utd star Robin van Persie should have faced retrospective action for elbow on James Tomkins . Diego Costa was handed three-match ban for apparent stamp on Emre Can during Capital One Cup clash against Liverpool . Chelsea boss Mourinho claims Van Persie 'could have been suspended' CLICK HERE for all the latest Chelsea news .

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The President of Turkey has suggested French security forces are to blame for the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris last week, since the culprits had recently served prison sentences. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused the West of 'playing games with the Islamic world', warning fellow Muslims to be 'aware'. Erdogan said Muslims are 'paying the price' for the attacks on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish kosher supermarket in Paris last week. Scroll down for video . Blame game: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested French security forces were behind the Paris attacks as they 'track' former prisoners and the culprits in the Charlie Hebdo shootings had served time . 'French citizens carry out such a massacre, and Muslims pay . the price,' Erdogan said yesterday. 'That's very meaningful ... Doesn't their intelligence . organisation track those who leave prison? 'Games are being played with the Islamic world, we need to . be aware of this. 'The West's hypocrisy is obvious. As Muslims, we've never taken part in terrorist massacres. Behind these lie racism, hatespeech and Islamophobia,' Erdogan added. Erdogan also denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin . Netanyahu for attending a solidarity rally in France on Sunday . with other world leaders after the Paris attacks. 'How can a man who has killed 2,500 people in Gaza with . state terrorism wave his hand in Paris, like people are waiting . in excitement for him to do so? How dare he go there?' he said. Erdogan denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his attendance at the Unity rally in Paris alongside, from left to right,  Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, EU President Donald Tusk and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas . Erdogan made the comments at a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara on Monday . Erdogan did not attend the Sunday march, though Turkish . Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu participated. Erdogan is not the only senior Turkish politicianpublicly voicing conspiracy theories over the Paris attacks. The Mayor of Ankara, Melih Gokcek, said he was convinced the Israeli intelligence service Mossad was behind the attacks, linking them to France's recent move towards recognising Palestine as an independent state. 'Mossad is definitely behind such incidents… it is boosting enmity towards Islam.' Mr Gokcek said, according to Financial Times. In Russia, several pro-Kremlin commentators blamed the United States and the CIA for the attack, the newspaper reported. One, Alexei Martynov, director of the International Institute for New States, said 'I am sure that some American supervisors are responsible for the terror attacks in Paris, or in any case the Islamists who carried them out.' The former Imam and recruiter of jihadists, and the man who helped radicalise the Kouachi brothers has come forward to condemn the Charlie Hebdo murders. Farid Benyettou, revealed as working as an intern in the hospital where many of the dead and dying were taken said: 'It was a cowardly assassination and monstrous.' Farid Benyettou has condemned the Charlie Hebdo murders, despite radicalising one of the brothers involved in the shootings . His face hidden, the 32 year old told i-Tele: 'Whatever was done, whether it be the cowardly and monstrous murder of the journalists, or of the police and members of the Jewish community – it should not be attributed to Islam. 'If you are murderers then that's your business.' Benyettou, who has since been removed from the wards of Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital to finish his studies in training school, said he had come forward in the name of Islam. He said: 'I am not here to proclaim my innocence but to condemn what has been done. My innocence is not in doubt. 'Some people will say if I don't that 'Farid Beyettou may agree with what has been done' and some people may identify with that. 'No. Farid Benyettou absolutely does not agree with what happened.' Benyettou said that he had mentored Cherif Kouachi, the younger of the terrorist brothers, for around two months. He said: 'He came unexpectedly. He wanted discussion. With him it was always the same topic…. 'It all turned around combat. He was fascinated by that – his knowledge of the religion was limited to that. Having a good relationship with his neighbours, the behaviour of Muslims in every day life, he had no idea about. 'And the relationship with God did not interest him. He was someone very, very stubborn. I told him I could not agree with what he was saying about violence and that it was probably the worst crime a Muslim could commit. 'He seemed to change his stance, accept criticism. Nothing could have seen what was to come.' Then in a passionate defence of France he said: 'Some think that France oppresses Muslims. I am proof to the contrary. Yes I have a criminal record – terrorist written on it. 'I think this is the worst thing to happen yet despite this, doors have been open for me. 'I was given help, never been discriminated against. On the contrary.' Benyettou was radicalised after the arrest of his brother, Youssef Zemmouri in 1998 when security forces dismantled the Parisian Salafist Group. Self taught he became an 'emir' and taught theology courses. He was arrested along with six others in 2005 for helping to send jihadists to Iraq after the US invasion. Three years later, then aged 27, he was sentenced to six years in prison and release in 2011.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan suggested French security forces knew of attack . Turkish President said the West is 'playing games with the Islamic world' Said: 'French citizens carried out massacre, and Muslims pay the price'

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It was always going to be the most awkward of diplomatic encounters, as Prince Charles met Vladimir Putin after comparing him to Adolf Hitler. But yesterday the Russian president was forced to endure a series of tense stand-offs at the D-Day commemorations. Mr Putin cut an isolated figure as he brazenly stood apart while other world leaders were clustering around the Queen to help her down a flight of steps for the 70th anniversary event. Scroll down for video . As heads of state gathered for a group photo at at Benouville Castle, Mr Putin cut a solitary figure while Mr Obama and New Zealand's Governor-General Jerry Mateparae fussed around the Queen . The . Queen, US President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande . smile for the cameras, but just feet away Mr Putin looks much more . stern . World leaders photo: The Queen (centre wearing green hat) stands next to Barack Obama (to her left) and Francois Hollande (right) after a lunch at the Chateau De Benoville. They were also joined by the King of Norway (front row in military uniform), Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot (far right), Angela Merkel (to his left) and David Cameron (back middle) Keeping an eye on you: Prince Charles gives Vladimir Putin a quizzical look at yesterday's event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings . Russian President Vladimir Putin passes behind US President Barack Obama, who has heavily criticised Moscow's aggression. Britain's Queen Elizabeth stands in front of Norway's King Harald at Benouville Castle . Icy encounter: German Chancellor Angela Merkel seemed sombre as she spoke with Mr Putin at Sword Beach in Normandy . As . the Queen and French President Francois Hollande climbed the steps on . to the platform, Mr Putin appeared to be one of the few world leaders . not clapping . Not only did he have to face the . Prince of Wales for the first time since the war of words triggered by . Charles’ remarks, likening Mr Putin to Hitler and criticising his policy . in Ukraine. He also came . face-to-face with Ukraine’s president-elect Petro Poroshenko, who . appeared to give him the cold shoulder as he strode past the Russian . leader. And German Chancellor Angela Merkel seemed sombre as she spoke with Mr Putin at Sword Beach in Normandy. There . had been intense interest in whether Mr Putin and the Prince of Wales . would exchange words or shake hands at the commemoration. The . Kremlin launched a furious attack on Prince Charles after the Daily . Mail revealed his controversial remark, made to an 87-year-old Jewish . woman as he met Second World War veterans during a royal tour of Canada . last month. He told . great-grandmother Marianne Ferguson, who lost many family members during . the Holocaust: ‘And now Putin is doing just about the same as Hitler.’ Prince Charles appeared happier to see Mr Obama at an International Ceremony with Heads of State at Sword Beach in Normandy, where senior figures from around the world shared a platform in the sunshine . While the Prince's criticism of Russia acting like Hitler came in an unguarded remark with a member of the public, Mr Obama has been more outspoken, warning further Moscow against taking further action against Ukraine . Prince Charles kisses the hand of the Queen of Denmark at the D-Day 70th anniversary commemorations at Sword Beach, Ouistreham, France . His . remarks were seen as a reference to Russia’s seizure of the Crimea – . the first annexation by a major power in Europe since the end of the . Second World War. Russia . has been accused of sending undercover military forces into eastern . Ukraine under the pretext of protecting the Russian minority population. The . prince’s comments provoked outrage in Moscow, where senior officials . pointed out that nearly 30million Russians died fighting the Nazis. Mr . Putin accused the heir to the throne of ‘unacceptable’ behaviour . unbefitting of a future king and said the prince’s criticism of him was . ‘not what monarchs do’. Ukraine's President-elect Petro Poroshenko shakes hands with the Queen, amid growing tensions over Russia's aggression towards Crimea . In another awkward moment of international diplomacy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel holds her hand up to Mr Putin, while Mr Poroshenko looks on . Mr Putin and Mr Poroshenko held talks for 15 minutes today to discuss how Russia could recognise the Ukrainian elections, according to French officials . The International Ceremony at Sword Beach brought the leaders together again, with Mr Putin, Mrs Merkel, Czech President Milos Zeman, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko applauding as other politicians and veterans arrived . At lunch Mr Putin was sat next to Denmark's Queen Margrethe, with French President Francois Hollande hosting, and the Queen and Mr Obama to his right . Mr Putin puts on his jacket as he arrives for the official lunch at Benouville Castle, where he risks being ostracised by other presidents and politicians . President Putin taps his nose during a conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Ouistreham event . The Russian president glances down as the German Chancellor applauds during the service of remembrance . As the diplomatic crisis escalated,  pro-Putin media in Russia linked the Royal Family to the Nazis. A . Russian newspaper close to the Putin regime hit out at  Charles as ‘a . clearly defined eccentric’, whose remarks were in keeping with his . ‘royal foolishness’. But public opinion seemed to support the prince’s intervention. He also received the support of David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband. Mr Cameron said: ‘I’m not going to comment on the private conversations of anyone, least of all Prince Charles.’ Earlier Charles and Camilla joined the Queen at a bi-national France-UK D-Day commemoration ceremony at the British War Cemetery of Bayeux . Prince Charles joined David Cameron and Australian Prime Minister in the walk from Bayeux Cathedral after a Service of Remembrance . German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a meeting with Mr Putin at the Barriere Normandy Hotel in Deauville, France today . But . he insisted: ‘Of course, everyone’s entitled to their private . opinions.’ Mr Clegg said the prince should be ‘free to express . himself’. ‘I obviously . can’t comment on a conversation which was clearly private…and I’m not . going to start comparing one period of European history to another, but . Prince Charles is able, I would have thought, to be free to express . himself,’ he said. ‘I have . never been of the view that if you are a member of the Royal Family . somehow you have to enter into some sort of Trappist vow of silence.’ Feeling the heat, Mr Putin walks away from the meeting with Mrs Merkel held in the margins of the D-Day commemorations to mark 70 years since the Normandy landings . David Cameron met President Putin last night, the first talks since the Ukraine crisis began. Aides said it was a chance to 'look him in the eye' and tell him his behaviour was unacceptable . French President Francois Holland shook Mr Putin's hand as he arrived at the Elysee Palace last night . Yesterday . the prince and Mr Putin stood only yards apart but there was no sign of . any communication between them. Charles cast a glance down the line of . world leaders towards Mr Putin, but made no attempt to approach him. The . Russian leader received an even cooler reception from Ukraine’s . president-elect, who was stony-faced when he saw Mr Putin approach. The reaction to Mr Putin’s presence contrasted starkly with the warm welcome extended to the Queen by world leaders.

Vladimir Putin brazenly stood apart while other world leaders clustered around Queen to help her down steps . Had to face the Prince of Wales for the first time since war of words triggered by Charles likening him to Hitler . Also came face-to-face with Ukraine's president-elect Petro Poroshenko who seemingly give him cold shoulder . And German Chancellor Angela Merkel seemed sombre as she spoke with Mr Putin at Sword Beach, Normandy .

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved the nomination of federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor to become the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice, setting up a final confirmation vote by the Senate. With Republican senators' support, Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation by the full Senate is a virtual certainty. The 13-6 committee vote was mostly on partisan lines, with one Republican joining the panel's Democrats in sending the nomination to the full Senate. At least five Republican senators have announced their intention to support Sotomayor, making confirmation by the Democratic-controlled Senate a virtual certainty. Sotomayor, 55, is President Obama's first nominee to the nation's highest court. She would be 111th person to sit on the Supreme Court, and the third female justice. The Judiciary Committee held a four-day confirmation hearing earlier this month that foreshadowed Tuesday's vote, with Democrats praising Sotomayor's 17-year record as a federal judge and her made-in-America story as a minority woman who rose to success through hard work and opportunity. Republicans questioned her judicial neutrality, complaining about speeches in which she made controversial statements, including her hope that a "wise Latina woman, with the richness of her experiences" would reach a better conclusion than a white man "who hasn't lived that life." Conservative Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the lone Republican to back Sotomayor, said Tuesday that he still has concerns about her impartiality. Some of her speeches "bugged the hell out of me," Graham said, but he added that some of his own speeches probably "bugged the hell out of people on the other side" of the political divide. Graham praised Sotomayor's competence and qualifications, and he joked that she was unlikely to be worse than the justice she was chosen to replace, David Souter, a liberal. "She can be no worse than Souter from our point of view," he said to fellow Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, who opposed Sotomayor. See how Sotomayor compares with Supreme Court justices » . Graham also noted that Sotomayor is a unique historical figure. "This is the first Latina woman in the history of the U.S. to be nominated to the Supreme Court. That is a big deal," he said, although he said it was neither a reason to vote for or against her. It was the first time that any of the Republican opponents had voted against a Supreme Court nominee put forward by either a Democratic or Republican president. Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said Tuesday that he "genuinely wrestled with this decision," but that in studying Sotomayor's speeches, articles and cases, he found a "troubling approach to judging" that the judge's testimony before the committee did not resolve. He said he believes she gave short shrift to constitutional rights and used inappropriate legal standards in deciding cases. Democrats on the panel praised the judge, with Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California saying: "I see her as a most impressive person on a number of different levels." Referring to Sotomayor's judicial record, Feinstein said she found "no example of infidelity to the law." Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, a former Republican and the longest-serving member of the panel, said Sotomayor was the best nominee of the 11 he has reviewed over the years. Specter also praised the "wise Latina" comment, saying: "If a woman didn't stand up for women, I wouldn't think much of her." Obama's Democratic Party holds a 58-40 edge in the full Senate, with two independents considered part of the Democratic caucus. CNN's Terry Frieden contributed to this report.

13-6 vote sets up final confirmation vote by full Senate . Panel voted mostly on partisan lines; 1 Republican joined Democrats . At least 5 GOP senators back Sotomayor, making Senate confirmation almost sure .

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Los Angeles (CNN) -- For the first time in U.S. history, the largest single group of poor children in any racial or ethnic category is Hispanic, according to a new survey. Calling it "a negative milestone" in Hispanics' explosive growth in the United States, the Pew Hispanic Center study said in 2010, 37.3% of poor children in the U.S. were Hispanic, compared with 30.5% white and 26.6% black. The Pew analysis of new census data put the number of Hispanic children in poverty at 6.1 million in 2010. This negative trend has emerged as the 2010 census confirmed for the first time that Hispanics are the nation's No. 2 group, surpassing African-Americans. Hispanics now make up 16.3% of the total American population -- but in the youth demographic, Hispanic kids comprise an even bigger share -- 23.1% of U.S. children are Latino, the study said. See how Hispanics drove the growth of the white population . The study found there are 6.1 million Latino children living in poverty, and more than two-thirds of them -- 4.1 million -- are children of immigrant parents. Of those 4.1 million, 86% were born in America, the study said. The remaining 2 million poor Latino children have U.S.-born parents, the study said. Prior to the recession, more white children lived in poverty than Latino kids, but since the recession began in 2007, those positions reversed, and the number of poor Hispanic children grew by 36.3% between 2007 and 2010, or 1.6 million, the study said. The number of white and black children in poverty also grew, but not as big, the study found. See how the white population changed in relation to minorities . The recession hit Latino families hard: the unemployment rate among Hispanic workers is 11.1%, compared with a national rate of 9.1%, and the household wealth for Latinos fell more sharply than for white or black families between 2005 and 2009, the study said. Food insecurity also grew among Latinos, with one-third of households facing the problem in 2008, up from 23.8% the prior year, the study said. Leaders of programs serving the poor said Thursday their experiences match the study's findings, which was released Wednesday. In his twice-a-month acts of charity, Reverend Carlos Paiva has noticed the increasing number of Latino youngsters who arrive with their families at his Angelica Lutheran Church near downtown Los Angeles. The church gives free rice, beans, potatoes, onions and fruits to needy families, he said. "The numbers are growing," Paiva said about Latino kids who show up at the church with their families. "The average age of the people who come here for food is 10 years old." Michael Flood, CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, said his group's recent summer lunch program for poor children saw "a lot more kids from the Latino community." "It worries us," Flood said. "Given the fact that the economy hasn't turned around, it's a more desperate deal." Victor Martinez, director of programming at Bienestar, a nonprofit that runs nine health community centers in southern California for Latinos, said he was "sad and disappointed to see that my community is facing these problems." "Especially for the more recent immigrants, they have more limited resources to work. We have more requests to go to the food bank and housing," Martinez said.

NEW: More than 6 million Latino kids were living in poverty in 2010, according to study . NEW: Pew Hispanic Center study: 4.1 million of those are children of immigrants . NEW: Prior to 2007, more white children lived in poverty than Latino kids, study reports . NEW: Providers of services to poor say the report reflects what they're seeing .

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A Sydney woman who suffered permanent brain damage after being hit by a car while walking with her newborn baby has settled her bid for damages out of court. Emma De Silva irrecoverably changed when she was hit by Bryce James Wayland in March 2011 and was left in a coma for two months. She was pushing her 19-day-old daughter Eloise in a pram in St Peters in Sydney's inner west when she was hit by the car. While Mr Wayland avoided jail after he told the court the accelerator of his vehicle became stuck under a floor mat, the accident broke down Ms De Silva's marriage and left her in the care of her father Keith Freeman. Scroll down for video . Emma De Silva (right) and her father Keith Freeman (left) leave Sydney's District Court on Monday . Emma De Silva irrecoverably changed when she was hit by Bryce Wayland in March 2011 and was left in a coma for two months . De Silva is suing an insurance company for damages after she was hit by a negligent driver in March 2011, leaving her severely injured . Ms De Silva suffers from permanent brain damage after she was hit by a car in St Peters, Sydney's inner west . Bryce Wayland avoided jail after he told the court the accelerator of his vehicle became stuck under a floor mat . The 40-year-old launched a bid against the insurance company in the NSW District Court, seeking damages, including the loss of future earnings. On Tuesday the claim settled out of court with the judge due to give it approval on Wednesday. Ms De Silva's father said he was 'very pleased' with the outcome, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. 'The first thing we hope to do is to get her sorted out and in a house,' Mr Freeman said. 'Hopefully she'll be able to live reasonably without too much problems.' It comes two years after the driver Wayland was was sentenced to 50 hours of community service in February 2013 over the crash. He had told the court the accelerator pedal of his Lexus sedan was caught under the floormat and he swerved to avoid a bus before mounting the kerb and hitting the mother and baby. Speaking after the sentence was handed down, Ms De Silva's father Keith Freeman said his daughter's life was now 'completely different' to the one she had when the accident occurred. 'Emma was at the height of happiness,' Mr Freeman said. 'She had just had a baby, she had a husband she adored and they had just renovated their house in St Peters and everything was perfect for her... It lasted exactly 19 days.' The once A-grade squash player once had dreams of having more children and becoming principal of the school where she taught . In a recent post on the Emma De Silva Foundation Facebook page, photos of the mother and daughter were uploaded . Daughter Eloise, who is turning four this year, escaped serious injury from the accident . The once A-grade squash player once had dreams of having more children and becoming principal of the school where she taught. After she woke up from her coma, Ms De Silva spent a further year at Royal Rehabilitation Hospital in Ryde. Her marriage has since ended and she has suffered permanent brain injuries. Her daughter Eloise, who is turning four this year, escaped serious injury from the accident. In a recent post on the Emma De Silva Foundation Facebook page, photos of the mother and daughter were uploaded along with an update on Ms De Silva's condition. 'Em is doing well. She has been in her own place for close to 12 months and loves it. She has many amazing carers giving her round the clock care, helping her cook meals and general life skills,' the Facebook post reads. 'Her speech is slightly better, some days it's harder to understand than others but her physical improvement are fantastic. 'Em aims to walk her beautiful sister down the aisle next year and fingers crossed it will happen. She walks with a frame but can stand on her own for a little bit and bend down keeping her balance. 'Em still has good days and bad and finds it hard to get motivated at times but loves her time with Eloise and is a great mum.'

Emma De Silva was hit by Bryce Wayland in 2011 while she was pushing her baby in a pram in St Peters, Sydney's inner west . The baby was just 19-days-old but escaped serious injury . But Ms De Silva was in a coma for two months after the accident . She now suffers from permanent brain damage, has slurred speech and needs a walking frame . The driver, Mr Wayland, was sentenced to 50 hours community service . Ms De Silva launched a bid against the insurance company, seeking damages including loss of future earnings . Her marriage ended after the accident and she is being cared for by her father Keith Freeman .

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The son of actor Jackie Chan has been sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty in a Beijing court to providing a venue for drug users. Police seized more than 100 grams of marijuana during an August raid at Jaycee Chan's Beijing home. Both Chan and Taiwanese movie star Ko Kai tested positive for the drug, it was reported. His imprisonment comes amid a major crackdown on illegal drugs in China, and is particularly embarrassing for his movie star father, who in 2009 was named an anti-drug ambassador. Scroll down for video . Jackie Chan's son Jaycee was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to providing a venue for drug users. Here he is pictured being led into a Beijing court . A police car transports the 32-year-old from the court house following his sentencing . The main entrance of Beijing Dongcheng People's Court was guarded by a policeman today as crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the movie star's son . Chan also was ordered to pay 2,000 yuan, or about £210, the Dongcheng District People's Court in Beijing said on its microblog account. 'I violated the law. I deserve to be punished. When I return to society, I won't do it again,' Chan said in courtroom footage aired on state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV). Last summer, police arrested more than 7,800 people in Beijing over illegal drug use. Actor Jackie Chan (left) pictured with Jaycee at the Double Trouble premiere in Beijing, in 2012 . Other celebrities, including actor Gao Hu, were also detained in what was described as the biggest crackdown in two decades. Illegal drug use has ballooned in China in recent decades, after being virtually eradicated following the 1949 communist revolution. Official News Agency Xinhua said the maximum sentence for the charge against Chan was three years in prison. The trial and sentence were especially sensitive for Jackie Chan, who was named an anti-drug ambassador in 2009, and sits on China's top national political advisory panel — the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The actor has told Xinhua that he did not use his connections to interfere with the case and that he hopes his singer-actor son will eventually become an anti-drug ambassador. CCTV had aired video of the police raid on Jaycee Chan's apartment, in which Chan was shown identifying marijuana in his possession. Ko testified on camera that he had used drugs at Chan's home. CCTV also said Chan told police that he has been using drugs for eight years. Ko, whose real name is Ko Chen-tung, has been released after a 14-day administrative detention for drug use.

Jaycee Chan, 32, sentenced to jail after police find marijuana at his home . Chan pleaded guilty to providing a venue for drug use . He was caught along with Taiwanese movie star Ko Kai . His father Jackie Chan has been an anti-drug ambassador since 2009 .

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By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 12:32 EST, 31 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:49 EST, 31 October 2013 . They're often derided for being a less than healthy accompaniment to our favourite foods. But a father and son in Belgium won't hear a word said against the humble chip - they've created the world's first museum dedicated to fries. The Frietmuseum in Bruges offers chip lovers an educational insight into one of Belgium's national speciality foods. History: A visitor looks at the exhibits in one of the rooms at the world's only chip museum in Bruges, Belgium . Food glorious food: The museum charts the history of the potato, which originated in Peru . Chip lovers: Founders of the museum Eddy Van Belle (Right) with his son Cedric . It charts the history of the potato, which originated in Peru and the Belgian production of frites. The museum, opened by Eddy Van Belle and hi son Cidric, is housed in the oldest building in Bruges - the 14th century gothic Saaihaile. Eddy said: 'Over the years, fries have . become known world wide and enjoyed by adults and children in . practically all countries and we so can be proud that they actually . originate from Belgium. 'This is why it is not only normal, but absolutely necessary that the first potato fry museum should be opened in Belgium.' Miss Belgian Beauty Nele Setners shows her support for the museum by appearing on one of its flyers . Historic: The Frietmuseum is housed in the oldest building in Bruges . Potatoes, chips and the various condiments which can be enjoyed with them including Belgian favourite mayonnaise are all celebrated in the quirky museum, which is spread over two floors. All of the rooms are painted a nice chip-coloured yellow and the museum shows off a range of exhibits including ancient potato cutters and a video which shows the process of turning a potato into a chip. There are no prizes for guessing what is on the menu in the museum's restaurant - chips. Fascinating: One of the museum's rooms features a bright display with pictures of various potatoes on it . Lunch time: No prizes for guessing what is on the menu in the restaurant at the museum - chips . The Van Belles are not the only food enthusiasts in the world to pay homage to their favourite meal by opening up a dedicated museum. Florida man Harry Sperl turned his home into a museum dedicated to hamburgers. 'Hamburger Harry' filled his Daytona Beach home with 1,000 souvenirs based on his favourite food that he took around 23 years collecting. Tasty: Chips . Belgians lay claim to the humble chip, though there is an ongoing dispute between the nation and France over its origin. Belgian journalist Jo Gerard claims that the method of deep frying potatoes was used in the Spanish Netherlands (modern belgium) before 1860, citing a 1781 family manuscript. Gerard has never produced the manuscript. Regardless of which country invented chips, it is likely that the potato did not arrive in the area until around 1735. The food is often attributed to the French - they are called French Fries after all - with Americans citing a notation from Thomas Jefferson between 1801 and 1809 which refers to Pommes de terre frites a cru, en petites tranches (potatoes deep-fried while raw, in small cuttings). From 1813 onwards, recipes for what could be described as French fries began appearing in American cookbooks. Some also believe that the chip may have originated in Spain - the first European country that the potato appeared in via the New World colonies.

Eddy Van Belle and son Cidric pay homage to the chip in the Belgian capital . The Frietmuseum offers an educational insight into the history of the potato . The museum is housed in the oldest building in Bruges - the Saaihaile .

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By . Simon Walters And Brendan Carlin . PUBLISHED: . 18:09 EST, 29 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:09 EST, 30 December 2012 . Defiant: Prime Minster David Cameron denied his tough stance on benefit shirkers was unfair . David Cameron last night denied he is being 'cruel' by vowing to ban unemployed people who refuse to try to find a job from claiming the dole. In a hard-hitting New Year message, he promised to 'get behind the workers' and crack down on the shirkers. It came as he summoned Tory MPs to a private meeting, during which he will fire the starting gun for the 2015 General Election campaign. An email sent by Chief Whip Sir George Young and obtained by The Mail on Sunday orders Conservative MPs to attend the gathering a week on Tuesday. The Prime Minister, Tory chairman Grant Shapps and No 10 head of campaigns Stephen Gilbert will tell backbenchers that despite Labour's big lead in the polls, the Conservatives can still win the next Election. Sir George wrote: 'The Prime Minister has asked me to invite you to an important meeting to focus on our campaign for the 2015 General Election.' Mr Cameron plans to use the meeting to boost party morale, which is flagging after dire economic forecasts, revolts over gay marriage and Europe, and splits with his Liberal Democrat Coalition partners. According to a poll by website ConservativeHome, two-thirds of party members expect Labour to be in power after the next Election, with only 12 per cent believing Mr Cameron will get a Commons majority. One Tory backbencher said: 'It is highly unusual for a Prime Minister to start an Election campaign two-and-a-half years before the votes are counted. 'There has been a severe loss of confidence in the PM from some of us. It sounds like he intends to put a gun to our heads, saying, "Back me or we will lose the next Election." 'He trots out his, "We're all in this together" slogan, but it doesn't feel like that when he rams through daft policies like gay marriage. It wasn't in our last manifesto, so how can we trust him over the next one?' In his New Year message, Mr Cameron praised Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith's plans to strip the long-term unemployed of benefits if they refuse to take part in schemes designed to help them find work. Tory Chief Whip Sir George Young has summoned senior Conservatives as the Prime Minister prepares to launch an early re-election campaign . The Prime Minister said: 'When people say we've got to stop our welfare reforms because somehow it is cruel to expect people to work, we are saying no. Getting people into good jobs is absolutely vital, not just for them, but for all of us. 'We inherited a welfare system that was out of shape and paid people not to work. So we made some big changes, and this New Year almost half a million more people are in work than last New Year.' Mr Cameron rejected Labour claims that his economic policies have failed. The only way to compete with the rest of the world, he argued, is to continue cutting the national debt, cut taxes and carry on with radical reforms to welfare and schools. He added: 'We are doing all this to get behind anyone who likes to work hard and get on in life.' Mr Cameron said the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympics had made 2012 'an extraordinary year for our country'. He said: 'If we are honest, it was a tough one too. For many families, making ends meet is difficult.' However, he blamed Labour for leaving massive debts and said the Coalition was putting things right. 'Britain is in a global race with countries like China, India and Indonesia; a race for the jobs and opportunities of the future. 'So when people say we can slow down on cutting our debts, we are saying no. We can't win in this world with a great millstone of debt round our necks.' Radical plans to simplify the benefits system will encourage hundreds of thousands of young people to find work, a Minister claimed last night. Welfare Reform Minister Lord Freud said Universal Credit, to be introduced late next year, will mean 300,000 under-25s will be up to about £100 a month better off if they get a job.

Prime Minister promises to cuts for those who refuse to look for work . Message comes as PM prepares to 'fire the starting gun' for re-election . Backbenchers say move is a desperate attempt to salvage party morale . PM insists welfare reform and debt cuts are the way forward for Britain .

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The woman representing Pennsylvania in the Miss USA 2014 pageant has opened up about how she was conceived when her mother was raped at knifepoint. Valerie Gatto, 24, revealed to Today.com that a man dressed in black attacked her mother when she was just 19, forcing himself upon her behind a building until a passing car spooked him, and she managed to run away. Rather than let the tragic story define her, Valerie has decided to use it as a platform to help educate women about sexual assault. 'I believe . God put me here for a reason,' she said. 'To . give [people] hope that everything is possible and you can't let your . circumstances define your life.' Tragic past: Valerie Gatto, who is representing Pennsylvania in the Miss USA 2014 pageant, has opened up about how she was conceived when her mother was raped at knifepoint . Childhood curiosity: Valerie (pictured in her very early pageant days) was six years old when she began asking about her father. Her mother told her: 'A very bad man hurt me, but God gave me you' Now, Valerie is an advocate for sexual assault awareness, traveling the country to talk to women from 18 to 30 about how to protect themselves against violence and sexual aggression. And she says winning the Miss USA crown would give her an even larger platform for spreading her message of hope and solidarity. 'I hope to show others how to be proactive, what to do, to be present, to be aware of your surroundings,' she said. 'It's so awesome to see their responses. They say it changes their life.' On her biography website, Valerie - who currently works as a marketing consultant for a periodontal practice - explains that she was six years old when she began asking questions about her absent father, whom she'd never met. Positive outlook: 'I believe God put me here for a reason,' said Valerie (pictured with her grandfather).'To give hope that everything is possible and you can't let your circumstances define your life' 'I grew up with my mom and my grandparents. They never looked at it as something negative,' she explained. Making the best of her beauty: 'Being a child of a rape, not knowing who my father is, not knowing if he's ever been found, most people would think it's such a negative situation.' World traveler: In summer 2013, Valerie spent 52 days in Europe exploring the cultures and teaching English to Italian children (pictured dancing in Rome) Finally, when she was ten, her mother told her the truth. She revealed that she didn't tell her family she was pregnant, and had every intention of putting Valerie up for adoption until the night that she was born. 'I believe God put me here for a reason, to give people hope that everything is possible' 'Valerie's mom told her family about her adoption plans; but Valerie's great-grandmother said - God doesn't give you more than you can handle,' reads the beauty queen's biography. 'Her mother listened and decided to raise Valerie with the help of God and her family.' Valerie told Today: 'Being . a child of a rape, not knowing who my father is, not knowing if he's . ever been found, most people would think it's such a negative . situation.' Exercise outfit: Valerie, who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, at a Power Walk event . Fight for a cause: Now, Valerie is an advocate for sexual assault awareness and she says winning the Miss USA crown would give her an even larger platform for spreading her message . Staying strong: She says her family's strong Christian faith was a major factor in her positive outlook on life . On the contrary, 'I grew up with my mom and my grandparents. They never looked at it as something negative,' she explained. 'I have a loving, supportive family who told me I could be the president of the United States.' Valerie, who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, says her family's strong Christian faith was also a major factor in her positive outlook on life. Tourist activities: Valerie has made the most of her time in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where the pageant is taking place (pictured showing off her Cajun shrimp and grits at a local restaurant) Seeing the sights: The 24-year-old beauty queen also took a break from pageant training to visit a house in Baton Rouge for high tea . Competing for the crown: The 2014 Miss USA competition will air on NBC on Sunday at 8pm ET . It also helped her mother cope with the rape. Valerie says she told her when she was a child: 'Something bad happened to me. A very bad man hurt me, but God gave me you.' 'I hope to show others how to be proactive, to be present, to be aware of your surroundings' Valerie told TribLive.com in December that even though her conception was under terrifying circumstances, she is always grateful that her mother lived through it, thanks to the bright light from the passing car, which she sees as a meaningful symbol. 'I like to think of that light as my mother's and (my) guardian angel,' she said, adding: 'She always would tell me I was her light - I am the light to illuminate the darkness for all to see.'

Miss Pennsylvania Valerie Gatto, 24, was born after her mother was raped at knifepoint at the age of 19 . Rather than let the tragic story define her, she has used it as a platform to help educate young girls about sexual assault awareness .

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Thief: Building society cashier Adrienne Wells, 23, has been jailed after stealing from elderly savers . A crooked cashier who stole £40,000 from pensioners' savings has been jailed after she was exposed by two victims in their 90s. Adrienne Wells hoped her victims would think they had 'lost their marbles' and spent the money - which is what two of them, aged 94 and 96, said they were told when they alerted building society staff. But the elderly pair refused to back down, and Wells was eventually brought to justice with her cocaine and drink habit exposed. The 23-year-old stole £40,000 from the accounts of five Derbyshire Building Society customers between May and November 2013, Derby Crown Court heard. She looked for the savings of people who rarely withdrew money, suggesting they had forgotten about them. That was until sharp-eyed Doris Cash, 94, spotted £20,000 missing from her account. She knew she had not spent the money because it was set aside for her funeral. Although the retired barmaid used a wheelchair, she insisted on being taken to a branch near her Derby home to question the withdrawal. Ms Cash has since died but her nephew Philip Elmore, 61, said the building society 'kept insisting' his aunt had withdrawn the money. 'This woman did a lot of harm and will be inside for six months but if you asked people if they would do six months in prison for £40,000, they would queue up,' he added. 'It'll be like going into a holiday camp.' He said he did not blame his aunt's death on Wells' thefts but said 'it didn't help'. He added: 'It was always on her mind and she went into hospital three times.' Jim Hunt, a 96-year-old widower, also saw £2,200 was missing when he received an annual statement in March 2014 - but said staff denied responsibility to him too. 'They claimed I had lost my marbles and that I'd spent it,' he said. 'I could not understand how this had happened because I had my paying-in books at home. 'I didn't even know you could withdraw money from a building society without the books. 'I was not very happy at all when they kept saying I had lost my marbles and spent it. Helpless: Two victims said staff at the building society insisted they spent the cash by mistake (file photo) 'They kept saying to my daughter that she needed to jog my memory. 'But they were just messing about and keeping it hush-hush until they finally came out and said where it had gone.' Mr Hunt's daughter, Lois Hunt, 60, a nurse, said: 'The building society were basically saying he was gaga and didn't know he had the money. 'But this was the work of a despicable young woman in a position of trust, taking advantage of the elderly and vulnerable.' Wells, pictured in her mugshot, was described as a 'despicable young woman in a position of trust' Wells, of Holbrook, Derbyshire was jailed for 12 months yesterday for taking a total of £40,000 from customers' accounts. She will spend half the sentence in prison. The court heard she had no assets to her name but claimed to have given £3,000 to her boyfriend. Police asked him for a statement on this but he failed to make one. Wells also claimed to have handed more than £6,000 to a village pub. This has now closed and the former landlady said it was a £1,000 loan which had been repaid. Other enquiries had been made into all Wells' cash claims but Judge Ebrahim Mooncey said: 'That still remains a mystery.' The court heard she had spent thousands of pounds of the money 'on drink and drugs'. Quentin Robbins, in mitigation, said Wells was in the grip of cocaine and alcohol at the time but was now clear of both drugs. He added: 'She realises the hurt and distress she has caused as a result of her offending.' The Derbyshire Building Society was bought out last year and is now part of Nationwide. A spokesman said: 'Employee fraud is extremely rare, but where it does happen, we take it very seriously, treating victims fairly and ensuring that those affected are not financially disadvantaged. 'In this particular case, we took action as soon as we were alerted to the situation. 'The suggestion that our branch staff were not taking customer concerns seriously is not a behaviour we recognise amongst our employees who pride themselves on excellent customer service. 'We have a policy in place for the management of vulnerable customers who have the potential to become victims of financial crime and this is regularly communicated to our employees.'

Adrienne Wells siphoned cash from Derbyshire Building Society accounts . 23-year-old hoped elderly targets would think they had 'lost their marbles' But keen-eyed Doris Cash, 94, saw £20,000 for her funeral was missing . And Jim Hunt, 96, lost £2,200 - though staff insisted he probably spent it . Wells, of Holbrook, Derbyshire, jailed for a year after admitting five frauds .

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By . Sarah Griffiths . Scinetists have discovered that people with a mutation of the CHD8 gene have a 'very strong' likelihood of having autism (stock image) Scientists have taken a breakthrough step towards understanding exactly what causes autism. Researchers from 13 institutions around the world have discovered that people with a mutation of the CHD8 gene have a 'very strong' likelihood of having autism. The new study found the gene mutation was marked by common characteristics, including gastrointestinal disorders, a larger head and wide set eyes. It is the first time researchers have linked a definitive cause of autism to a genetic mutation, the team claim. Associate professor at the University of Washington, and lead author of the new research, Raphael Bernier, said: 'We finally got a clear cut case of an autism specific gene.’ In the study, published in Cell magazine, 6,176 children with autism spectrum disorder were anaylsed. Researchers found 15 had a CHD8 mutation and all of these children had similar characteristics in appearance. The 15 children also shared sleep disturbance and gastrointestinal problems. Professor Bernier and his team worked with scientists at Duke University who specialise in zebra fish modelling. The Duke team disrupted the CHD8 gene in the fish, and noted they developed large heads and wide set eyes. They then fed the fish fluorescent pellets and found that the fish had problems discarding food waste and were constipated. Professor Bernier said this is the first time that researchers have linked a definitive cause of autism to a genetic mutation. Although just 0.5 per cent of all children have the kind of autism related to the CHD8 mutation, he said that there are lots of implications from the study. A team of researchers disrupted the CHD8 gene in the zebra fish, (pictured) which developed large heads and wide set eyes. They then fed the fish fluorescent pellets and found that the fish had problems discarding food waste and were constipated . ‘This will be a game changer in the way scientists are researching autism,’ Professor Bernier said. The results could pave the way for a ‘genetics-first approach’ that could uncover hundreds more genetic mutations and lead to genetic testing, he explained. Genetic testing could be offered to families as a way of guiding them on what to expect and how to care for their child. Currently autism is diagnosed by doctors examining and assessing a child's behaviour. In the short term, Professor Bernier said that clinicians can pay attention to the small population with this CHD8 mutation and provide targeted treatment. Autism has already been linked to different types of genetic events. The most commonly researched genetic events associated with autism are chromosomal re-arrangements, called ‘copy number variations,’ in which a chunk of chromosome is copied or deleted. But no one rearrangement affects more than one per cent of all autism cases and there is no definitive link between the rearrangement and autism. The CHD8 gene mutation is the first gene mutation to show a ‘very strong penetrance’ – or link - to a certain subtype of autism. Scientists have developed an app that can detect signs of autism as well as a trained expert. They said in May that the software is also more accurate than medics who are not autism experts . The researchers, from Duke University, in North Carolina, believe the technology could eventually be placed in schools as a way of screening children for autism. They believe this would be particularly beneficial as it is known children with autism develop fewer symptoms if they are diagnosed early. The software works by tracking and recording infants’ activity during filmed autism screening tests. Experts currently use behavioural tests to identify autism in very young children, such as shaking a toy from side to side and seeing how long it takes for a child's attention to shift in response to the changing stimulus. The new programme provides automatic measurements of reaction times down to tenths of a second. ‘The great benefit of the video and software is for general practitioners who do not have the trained eye to look for subtle early warning signs of autism,’ said Amy Esler, an assistant professor of paediatrics and autism researcher at the University of Minnesota, who participated in some of the trials. ‘The software has the potential to automatically analyse a child's eye gaze, walking patterns or motor behaviours for signs that are distinct from typical development.

Scientists from the University of Washington discovered that people with a mutation of the CHD8 gene have a 'very strong' likelihood of having autism . It is the first time that researchers - from 13 institutions - have linked a definitive cause of autism to a genetic mutation . A total of 15 children with the CHD8 mutation shared similar characteristics in appearance as well as problems with sleeping and digesting food . When scientists disrupted the CHD8 gene in fish they found they too showed characteristics such as wide-set eyes and problems digesting food . Experts believe their study will help uncover hundreds of genetic mutations and lead to genetic testing for the condition .

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Two disabled brothers face eviction from their childhood home because the council says the property is too big for them since their parents died of cancer. Clive Samson, 50, and his 49-year-old brother Peter, lived with their mother and father in a three-bedroom council house in Betsham, near Southfleet in Kent. But they lost their father Geoffrey, a former RAF serviceman, to pancreatic cancer in December 2012 before his wife of more than 50 years, Yvonne, succumbed to breast cancer and lymphoma just months later at the age of 72. Clive Samson (left) and his brother Peter (right) say they face eviction after their parents died of cancer five months apart . The tenancy of the Samsons' semi-detached 1930s property was in Mrs Samson's name. Clive applied to Dartford Council for the lease to pass on to the next generation but has been told he and Peter must pack-up and leave the family home as they now have a spare bedroom which the council feels other tenants could fill. Clive, who has been unable to work for four years and struggles to walk because he suffers from arthritis and tendinosis, said: 'It would be devastating if we had to leave. 'The council just see two people have died and think "we want our house back". 'It just seems pretty callous. 'They said they would look into it and do everything they could to help us stay here - ha ha.' Peter has long suffered from anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia, and moving from the area would force him to give up the part time work he has in the village doing odd jobs for a family friend. The former mechanical engineer said: 'We are still grieving and have a whole house of our parents' things we haven't even been through yet. The brothers (pictured left as children) lost their father and mother Geoffrey and Yvonne (pictured together right) to cancer in the space of five months . 'I understand the council has a problem with not having enough properties but how does making our lives a misery help anyone?' Greenhithe and Swanscombe Royal British Legion branch treasurer Graham Mentor-Morris said: 'From a legion point of view we find it absolutely disgusting that two people of this age and disabled are likely to be ejected from the house where they have lived for all their lives. 'The fact that the family has lived there for 50 years ought to count for something.' A Dartford Council spokesman said: 'We’re not a callous council and we’re not looking to apply some rigid policy when a common-sense solution would sort things out for Peter and Clive at a difficult time for them. 'We are required to respect their privacy on some aspects of the brothers’ situation which haven’t been disclosed and which might explain what we are doing and why. 'We are far more interested in helping Peter and Clive than we are in bureaucracy and it sounds like we need to step out from behind the desk and go out to see them urgently, which we are always more than happy to do. 'Hopefully we can reassure them.'

Clive and Peter Samson lost father Geoffrey to cancer in December 2012 . Just five months after he passed away his wife Yvonne died of cancer at 72 . Brothers applied for lease for council house they lived in to pass on to them . But they claim the council has told them they face eviction from 1930s home . Claim council said they must leave as they have a spare bedroom which other tenants could fill . Dartford Council has pledged to find a 'common sense solution' to problem .

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For those whose worlds have been torn apart by the raging conflict in war-torn Syria, a rare blanket of snow provided some much needed comic relief as residents took to playing snowballs and building snowmen in the shelled streets. Members of the Syrian Free Army were pictured in high spirits today as they dressed a snowman in combat uniform, even fixing a weapon in its twiglet arms, in the streets of Aleppo. Elsewhere resources were replenished for the first time after much of the Middle East was brought to a standstill by the storm which saw the first snow fall on the region in 100 years. Snowballs in Syria: Free Syrian army fighters play with snow in Aleppo's Karm al-Jabal district after months of unrest and conflict in the country's largest city . Comic relief: Free Syrian Army fighters inspect a snowman that they made in the Karm al-Jabal district of war-torn Aleppo . A snowman made to look like a Free Syrian Army fighter is pictured in Aleppo's Karm al-Jabal district . Residents in Gaza tried to return to . normal life as authorities were able to clear major roads and . repair electricity lines for the first time since Wednesday. An . estimated 40,000 people were though to have fleed flooded homes, with . as many as 10,000 seeking shelter in schools and public buildings. People . returned to face the storm's devastation today, with many coming home . to leaking roofs and cracked walls in some of the worse affected areas. Thousands were left without power in Israel and the neighbouring West Bank after the snow fall which has been described by authorities as the worst in decades. Temperatures plummeted to below freezing in Syria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon as Snowstorm Alexa struck, bringing Egypt's main European ports to a halt and dusting the typically warm city of Jerusalem with snowflakes. Palestinian women walk on snow to reach to their homes in the West Bank city of Nablus, after the area was brought to a standstill by Snowstorm Alexa . A man trudges through the thick snow to reach his home in Nablus, Palestine, after the worst blizzards in decades forced many to flee to public buildings and schools . Uphill battle: Thousands were left without power and forced to return to damaged homes today as the storm let up for the first time since Wednesday . 'It's time for hard work, to restart our lives again,' said Ihab Saed, 23, whose family's home was damaged by rainwater and sewage. Some 14,000 homes in Israel are thought to remain without power according to the country's Electric Corporation, though two of the main roads to Jerusalem was reopened. Motorists were still being advised however to take caution when driving. Video source alarabia.net . Children play in the rare snow in Saint Catherine, Egypt, where many of the country's biggest ports were forced to close . Bulldozers clear snow off a road in the West Bank as authorities were able to start repairs on downed power lines and blocked routes for the first time . Two young girls build a snowman at a school yard in Saint Catherine, Egypt. Schools were closed last week as much of the country's roads were blocked and public transport suspended . A man carries boxes through the blanketed town of Saint Catherine in Egypt where workers tried to return to normal and schools re-opened . Children in Saint Catherine had the rare opportunity to build a snowman at school yesterday. Much of the Middle East was blanketed by the storm . 'This morning I want to go to work but I . can't because you see all the ice on the streets. I can't move my car,' said Jerusalem resident Itzchak Haringman, who helped push a taxi out . of the snow before hopping in. Schools were closed in Jerusalem and the West Bank where roads were blocked and residents left without electricity for three days. In Ramallah, officials said one woman was forced to give birth in a car trying to take her to the hospital, while another was carried by workers for an hour on a stretcher before reaching an ambulance. In Bethlehem, the snow gave the traditional birthplace of Jesus an appropriately festive atmosphere. 'I took my seven-year-old boy, Adam, and made a snow man, and played with the kids of our neighborhood,' said Haneen Ayesh, a 24-year-old woman. 'The best view ever in my life is seeing the snow covering the courtyard of the Nativity Church and the Christmas tree,' she said. In neighboring Jordan, King Abdullah II caused a stir by showing up to help push a car out of the snow Saturday. The king stopped his black SUV to help a stranded motorist, shocking his security guards, who scrambled to keep curious onlookers away from him.

Syrian Free Army fighters enjoyed some comic relief as they built snowmen and threw snowballs at one another . Elsewhere residents returned to damaged homes after storm battered parts of Middle East with rare blizzards . Thousands left without power in Israel and West Bank after snow fall described as 'worst in decades' Estimated 40,000 people fled homes with many taking shelter in schools and public buildings . Bethlehem dusted in light covering of snow for the first time in almost a century .

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By . Associated Press . Last updated at 10:12 AM on 21st February 2012 . John Glenn, the former astronaut who became the first American to orbit the Earth, has slammed the U.S. for being unable to take workers to and from its own space station. The 90-year-old, who circled the Earth three times in five hours on February 20, 1962 and helped lead the nation into space, lambasted the county on the 50th anniversary of his feat. 'It's unseemly to me that here we are, supposedly the world's greatest space-faring nation, and we don't even have a way to get back and forth to our own International Space Station,' he told ABC. Disappointed: John Glenn, the former astronaut who became the first American to orbit the Earth, has slammed the U.S. for being unable to take workers to and from its own space station . Discussing the past: Mr Glenn (center) was the focus of the attention at a panel hosted by Ohio State on Monday . John Glenn commemorated the 50th anniversary in his flight as the first American to orbit the moon . His comments referenced NASA retiring its fleet of space shuttles last year - meaning astronauts have no way of reaching the space station unless they rent a seat on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. This will continue until NASA, which hopes private industry will take on the job of taking astronauts to the space station, is able to create its new Space Launch System. Glenn's criticism came as NASA surprised him with a live chat with the International Space Station while he . marked 50 years since his historic spaceflight. He celebrated the anniversary at Ohio State University by kicking off a forum about NASA's future. The first man to set foot on the moon led the tributes to the first American to orbit the Earth on the 50th anniversary of the feat. Neil Armstrong was the surprise speaker at an Ohio State University gala honouring John Glenn half a century after Mr Glenn's historic 1962 space flight. Success: John Glenn pictured on 20 February 1962 after completing his mission . Rocket man: John Glenn at Cape Canaveral, beside . Mercury-Atlas 6 spacecraft 'Friendship 7'. Monday marks 50 years since . Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth . Mr Armstrong said there was a need for leadership in the space programme and Mr Glenn 'literally rose to the occasion'. Mr Glenn has had his share of accomplishments. But the former astronaut and US senator from Ohio recently said he envies Mr Armstrong and wishes he could have been part of the first manned moon landing in 1969. Mr Glenn got another surprise earlier . when Nasa enabled him to speak live with crew members from the . International Space Station. Commander Don Burbank appeared by . video link, flanked by two flight engineers floating in the zero-gravity . environment, and said the crew was delighted to help commemorate Mr . Glenn's momentous trip. Sitting on stage with NASA Administrator . Charles Bolden, he chatted by video link with three space station crew . members about space research and the future of the so called ‘final . frontier’. Mr Glenn was among the top military test pilots presented in 1959 as the Mercury Seven. The only other surviving Mercury astronaut is Scott Carpenter, who called out the memorable line: . ‘Godspeed John Glenn’ moments before the rocket ignited for Mr Glenn's spaceflight.' ‘Fifty years ago today, Friendship 7 was . orbiting planet Earth, and that helped in a very big way, paved the way . for America to become a space power, and to go to the moon, and to do . the things that we're doing right now on the International Space . Station,’ Mr Burbank said. ‘And we hope this also can help set the stage for us down the road to do even greater things.’ Mr Glenn had a light-hearted but educational exchange with the space station crew, asking them about the types and number of experiments on board - more than a hundred, they said - and explaining to his gravity-bound audience of more than 200 people that, for example, a candle burns differently in space than on Earth. When Mr Bolden asked the astronauts which experiment they'd like to hand off to Glenn if he could join them, Mr Burbank suggested research on the ‘regenerative environmental control systems’ on spacecraft. Meeting of minds: Former astronaut-turned-Senator Glenn (left) was questioned by NASA administrator Charles Bolden and they reflected on the past and future of the country's space program . Laughing matter: Mr Glenn joked that he thought they would make him clean the toilets on the spaceship . ‘That's a fancy word for our toilet,’ flight engineer Don Pettit added. Mr . Glenn took the humor in stride, replying that being ordered to fix the . toilet was ‘exactly what I thought I was going to get assigned to’. Mr Glenn also inquired about how far the space station had travelled during the course of the roughly 15 minutes they'd been talking. They hadn't kept an eye on the exact distance but said they guessed it was about one-fourth of the way around the Earth. Mr Bolden joked that Mr Glenn sometimes bugs him about making a trip to the space station. Mr Glenn became the oldest person to fly in space in 1998, at age 77. Presidential approval: John Glenn appear alongside JFK at Cape Canaveral several days before his space mission . Mission complete: Glenn shows President Kennedy the Friendship 7, the space capsule which carried him around the world . He and Annie, his wife of almost seven decades, were scheduled to cap Monday's anniversary by participating in a student-led question-and-answer session during an evening gala featuring a keynote speech by former astronaut Mark Kelly, the commander of the space shuttle Endeavour's final mission and husband of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Today's talk follows on the heels of a weekend full of anniversary activities. Hundreds of NASA workers jammed a space center auditorium on Friday to honor Mr Glenn, and on Saturday, he was joined by Mr Carpenter as they reunited with more than 100 retirees who worked on Project Mercury. The early 1960s were a magical time in Cape Canaveral and adjoining Cocoa Beach, Carpenter said. 'Everyone was behind us. The whole nation was behind what we were doing,' he said. American hero: Glenn said that today's cell phones have more processing power than the technology which was available to the Nasa crew in 1962 .

Glenn was first American to go on the milestone trip, but the fifth overall . Neil Armstrong was the surprise speaker at the gala honouring Glenn .

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A woman is suing Boar's Head, the supplier of delicatessen meats, cheeses and condiments, for discriminating against her as a domestic-violence victim. Sequeya Henderson, 22, claims she was sacked after the company ignored her repeated complaints that co-worker Jarrett Claitt - her then boyfriend - was abusing her at the company's office in Brooklyn, New York. According to her Brooklyn federal court suit against Boar's Head and Claitt, he threatened her in the company parking lot and bombarded her with texts and calls. Sequeya Henderson, 22, claims she was sacked after the company ignored her repeated complaints that co-worker Jarrett Claitt was abusing her at the company's office in Brooklyn, New York . When she asked him to stop, she alleges that he replied, 'I really feel like putting a bullet in your fat-ass head right now.' Henderson claims she sent Boar's Head the threat, but they took no action, reports the New York Post. Claitt was arrested and then fired after he allegedly choked, punched and threatened to kill her in her office, the lawsuit claims. The next day, he allegedly showed the sex tape off. The company then fired her, saying it was because she had lied about the relationship, Henderson claims. Claitt got his job back after an arbitrator later found 'no credible evidence' he had assaulted her, according to court papers. A Boar's Head declined to comment, while a relative of Claitt has denied the allegations. Sequeya Henderson claims she sent Boar's Head the threat made against her, but they took no action .

Sequeya Henderson, 22, claims she was sacked after the company ignored her repeated complaints about co-worker Jarrett Claitt . She said Claitt, her then boyfriend, threatened her at the meat company's office in Brooklyn, New York . Claitt was arrested and then fired after he allegedly choked, punched and threatened to kill her at work . He allegedly showed their sex tape off and the company then fired her - saying it was because she had lied about their relationship .

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Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- A Mexican judge has issued an arrest warrant for reality TV producer Bruce Beresford-Redman in the death of his wife at a Cancun resort in April, his lawyer said Monday. "We have been advised that Mexican authorities have issued a warrant for the arrest of Bruce Beresford-Redman in connection with the murder of his wife, Monica," defense lawyer Richard Hirsch said Monday. "This news, if true, is extremely disturbing since it appears that this case is being handled in a manner outside the normal procedures in Mexico." The prosecutor in Mexico had said earlier Monday he had developed a "very concrete, very specific" case that was sent to a judge Friday for consideration of charges. Quintana Roo Attorney General Francisco Alor said through a spokesman that the investigation file, with recommended charges, was sent to the judge on Friday. "It is our understanding that the issuance of an arrest warrant normally entails a detailed judicial review that takes anywhere from several weeks to several months," Hirsch said. "It appears that the way this matter is being handled constitutes a rush to judgment." Bruce Beresford-Redman was briefly detained after Monica Beresford-Redman's body was found in a sewer at the Moon Palace Resort on April 8. His passport was taken by investigators and he was told not to leave Mexico until the probe was concluded. The former producer on TV's "Survivor" recently returned to his Los Angeles, California, home, to take care of family business and see his two young children, his lawyer said. His lawyer issued a statement from Beresford-Redman Monday after learning of the arrest warrant. "I am devastated at her loss," Beresford-Redman said in the statement, "and I am incensed at the suggestion that I could have had anything to do with her death. I am innocent. My children have had one parent taken from them by a senseless act of violence. I implore the Mexican authorities not to take their remaining parent by a miscarriage of justice and to do what is right, not just what is expedient." Hirsch said Friday that there should not be "a rush to judgment," adding that there have been other unsolved deaths and an attack at the resort. He cited the death of an elderly Scottish woman, who was found in a swamp weeks after leaving a pool for a walk, and a Canadian man who allegedly fell from a hotel balcony. Jeff Toews, a Canadian, was found dead in May 2007. Investigators decided he died from a drunken fall from a balcony, but his family did not accept that explanation. Julia Howard, a 77-year-old woman from Scotland, was found dead in a dense swamp six weeks after disappearing from a pool area last summer. Her family also rejected the police conclusion that her death was an accident. A woman reported an attempted rape in her hotel room "several days after Mrs. Beresford-Redman's body was discovered," Hirsch said. "We have brought this to the attention of the authorities and, in particular, to the attorney general in Cancun and asked them to pursue all leads before making a decision whether of not to charge our client," Hirsch said. "We feel that this case should not be a rush to judgment." "There are strange things going on -- I think that need to be pursued," he said. A spokeswoman for the resort directed CNN to a Mexican news report that quoted the prosecutor saying there was no connection between other deaths and the Beresford-Redman case. The initial investigation suggested Monica Beresford-Redman "died of strangulation, because of the bruising," Mexican regional police spokesman Adrian Cardena said. A source close to the wife has told CNN that she cleaned out the family bank account and took her two children to Hawaii because she was upset about her husband's extramarital affair. The couple later traveled to Cancun in an effort to repair their marriage, the source said. A Los Angeles judge decided Friday that the children, ages 3 and 5, could not attend a memorial service organized Sunday by Monica Beresford-Redman's sisters because a therapist said it might be emotionally harmful to them. "We respect the decision of the court, but we are very disappointed the fact that the children were denied to participate in the celebration of their mother's life," Jeane Burgos said. The sisters are fighting Beresford-Redman for custody of the children. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff delayed any decision on changing the current custody arrangement. Beresford-Redman's parents were given temporary custody in April after he was told by Mexican police to remain in the country while they investigated. He filed papers for custody to be returned to him last week. Bruce Beresford-Redman built his career as a Hollywood reality television show producer. He worked for several seasons on the popular CBS show "Survivor," in which contestants compete against each other in a variety of extreme outdoor scenarios. He was nominated for three Emmy Awards as a producer on the show and was last credited as a producer in 2004. He also worked on NBC's "The Contender" and "The Restaurant," as well as MTV's "Pimp My Ride," according to entertainment media company IMG. Monica Beresford-Redman, a native of Brazil, owned a restaurant in Los Angeles. CNN's Rosalina Nieves contributed to this report.

Mexican judge issues arrest warrant for TV producer in wife's death . "Very concrete" case was sent to judge Friday, prosecutor says . Lawyer for Beresford-Redman complains case being handled "outside normal procedures" Reality TV producer says "I am innocent"

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Convicted: Emma Czornobaj, 25, faces life in prison after being found guilty of causing a crash which killed two people in 2010 . A woman who parked her car on a highway to rescue ducklings has been found guilty of causing the deaths of a motorcyclist and his daughter who slammed into her vehicle. Emma Czornobaj was convicted by a jury on Friday on two counts of criminal negligence causing death, a charge that carries a maximum life sentence, and two counts of dangerous driving causing death, which comes with a maximum of 14 years in jail. The 25-year-old was charged in the deaths of Andre Roy, 50, and his daughter Jessie, 16. She wiped away tears when the verdict was . delivered to a packed courtroom in Montreal. Quebec Superior Court . Justice Eliane Perreault said the 12-member jury voted unanimously. Czornobaj was released until her pre-sentence hearing on August 8. Roy's motorcycle slammed into Czornobaj's Honda Civic after the woman stopped in the left lane of Highway 30 in Candiac, Quebec on June 27, 2010. Jessie was sitting on the back of her dad's Harley-Davidson. Pauline Volikakis was riding her own motorbike behind her husband and daughter, and watched in horror as they were thrown into the air. Volikakis briefly fought back tears when she left the courtroom. 'I don't wish misfortune on anyone,' the widow said. 'It's time that we go on. This will not bring (back) my loved ones.' Heartbreaking: Pauline Volikakis' (left) husband Andre Roy, 50, and daughter Jessie, 16, both died in a Montreal highway crash in 2010 . Still grieving: Pauline Volikakis, whose husband and daughter were killed in the collision, fought back tears when she left the courtroom . She said she hoped publicity of the case will reinforce a basic message to drivers. 'Future and present drivers should know that we don’t stop on highways, and it’s very dangerous. Even if it’s a small animal that we like or that we want to preserve, we should not stop on the highways,' she said. 'It’s not a place to stop.' Czornobaj, a self-professed animal lover, told the court that she did not see the ducklings' mother anywhere and planned to capture them and take them home. She had three years driving experience at the time of the accident. National Post reported Czornobaj, who doesn't have a criminal record, was willing to plead guilty as recently as April but refused to do jail time. Her lawyer Marc Labelle said his client was stunned by the jury's decision. He said he may appeal. 'So now we are at the sentencing stage in this case. The question we have to ask is that considering the nature of the facts, it is rare that we have criminal negligence where there are no bad elements,' Labelle said. 'This was not a race. This was not a person who took a chance and drove drunk. This is not about someone who was speeding and took a risky maneuver.' During the trial, witness Martine Tessier testified that she noticed parked car didn't have its hazards on and that the driver's door was open. She also said she saw Czornobaj motioning to some ducks on the side of the road. 'I shouted to my [three] children: ‘What is she doing there? She’s going to get killed',' Tessier said, according to National Post. 'I saw a body go over the car. It looked like a rag doll. I shouted to my daughter to call 911.' Accident scene: Police said Emma Czornobaj stopped her car on Highway 30 in Candiac, Quebec (pictured) to rescue some ducklings on June 27, 2010 . Written off: Emma Czornobaj's car after the crash on a Canadian highway in 2010 . Scene: Emergency workers with the motorcycle Andre Roy and his daughter Jessie were riding when they crashed into a parked car on a Canadian highway in 2010 . Prosecutor Annie-Claude Chasse had a message for motorists. 'What we hope is that a clear message is sent to society that we do not stop on the highway for animals. It's not worth it,' she said. Czornobaj left the courthouse without commenting. According to National Post, she is a financial analyst who graduated from Concordia’s John Molson School of Business where she made the dean’s list.

Emma Czornobaj, 25, faces life in prison . Andre Roy, 50, and his daughter Jessie, 16, died in 2010 after crashing into Czornobaj's car on a Canadian highway . The financial analyst parked her car on the road with the driver's door open and no hazard lights on . She said she wanted to catch the orphaned ducklings and take them home .

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By . Anna Edwards and Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 03:30 EST, 25 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:10 EST, 25 July 2013 . The man accused of the murder of Pc Keith Blakelock in the 1985 Broadwater Farm riots has been pictured holding a sign protesting his innocence. The picture of Nicholas Jacobs, 44, was released just days after appearing in court charged with the murder of the officer, who was stabbed as he tried to protect firefighters as they tackled a blaze at a supermarket during the height of the unrest in Tottenham, north London 28 years ago. The poster, which has some spelling errors, reads: 'I did not murder PC Blakelock. I was not there when PC Blakelock was murderd. I don’t know who murderd PC Blakelock. I’m innocent.' Nicholas Jacobs was pictured with a sign denying the murder of the police officer in 1985 . Pc Keith Blakelock was attacked and stabbed dozens of times as he tried to protect firefighters . Wearing a grey tracksuit, bearded Jacobs spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth . It was released by a campaigner the day after Jacobs, who was just 16 at the time of the killing, appeared at a short hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Friday. Pc Blakelock, 40, was set upon by a mob armed with machetes and stabbed dozens of times in Tottenham, north London as he tried to protect firefighters tackling a blaze at a supermarket. It is claimed the policeman stumbled and was surrounded by a mob screaming, 'kill the pig'. He was knifed 42 times and it is believed his attackers tried to decapitate him in order to display his head on a pole in a gruesome taunt to other officers. Aftermath: The Broadwater Farm riot occurred in Tottenham, North, causing substantial damage to the residential area . Pc Blakelock had been sent down to the Broadwater Farm Estate with fellow officer PC Richard Coombes, and were trying to help firefighters who were tackling a blaze . Keith Blakelock's widow Elizabeth Johnson laid a wreath at a 2010 service on Muswell Hill Roundabout where the officer worked . The father-of-three was eventually dragged away by colleagues, but he died later that evening in North Middlesex Hospital on October 6 1985. Pc Blakelock, from Sunderland, had been sent down to the Broadwater Farm Estate with fellow officer PC Richard Coombes, when the pair were set upon by a gang armed with knives. Pc Coombes also suffered serious injuries and never returned to duty. Race riots had erupted in north London after a West Indian woman, Cynthia Jarrett, 49, died from massive heart failure after police raided her home. Officers had stopped her son, Floyd Jarrett, 24, to inspect his car’s tax disc. He was charged with theft and assault at a Tottenham police station, but later cleared of both counts. Cynthia Jarrett’s death sparked violent unrest and accusations of police race discrimination. It plunged the country's race relations into crisis. Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle adjourned the case and Jacobs was remanded in custody. Jacobs will appear at the Old Bailey on July 26 for a first hearing and a preliminary hearing will be held on August 1 also at the Old Bailey. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.

Nicholas Jacobs is accused of hacking to death Pc Keith Blakelock, 40 . Supporters released the image days after he was charged . Pc Blakelock was stabbed dozens of times in Tottenham, north London . Officer was trying to protect firefighters tackling a shop blaze in 1985 .

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(CNN) -- A Cleveland man will spend the rest of his life in prison for the killings of two women in the 1990s, cases that were reinvestigated after the discovery of three women held captive nearby for years by Ariel Castro. Elias Acevedo Sr., 49, pleaded guilty Monday to 297 counts, including aggravated murder, rape and kidnapping, said Timothy McGinty, the Cuyahoga County prosecutor. CNN affiliate WEWS reported the charges included the two slayings, the 1993 rape of his sister-in-law and the sexual assault of three children. Acevedo cried as victims gave statement and later said he wished he could "change everything that happened," the station reported. "I'm not a monster," he said. The plea recommendation was accepted by a Cuyahoga Common Pleas judge, a written statement from McGinty's office said. Acevedo received two consecutive sentences of 20 years to life and 405 years for the rape and other charges. In October, the FBI's Violent Crime Task Force -- which was looking into other suspected abductions in Cleveland after Castro was arrested -- linked Acevedo to the slaying of Christina Adkins, who disappeared in 1995 at age 18. Remains believed to be those of Adkins were found in October in a utility vault near the intersection of interstates 71, 90 and 490, authorities said. Acevedo was indicted earlier this year in the 1993 rape, which occurred near where Pamela Pemberton's body was found the next year. As part of Monday's plea, Acevedo admitted to strangling the 30-year-old woman on October, 24, 1994, and leaving her body in a vacant lot. Acevedo was arrested earlier this year in the same neighborhood where authorities found Amanda Berry, Georgina "Gina" DeJesus and Michelle Knight in May at Castro's two-story home. Castro, who pleaded guilty to 937 counts, was found hanged with a bedsheet in his jail cell on September 3. CNN's Kevin Conlon and Chelsea J. Carter contributed to this report.

Elias Acevedo, 49, was charged with 297 counts, including rape and murder . Acevedo pleaded guilty to strangling 30-year-old Pamela Pemberton . He also was accused of killing Christina Adkins, who disappeared in 1995 .

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By . Craig Hope . Follow @@CraigHope01 . Hull City debut in Europe on Thursday night but the surrounds will feel hauntingly familiar, a backwater venue with a capacity which barely breaks 10,000. For it was just over a decade ago that The Tigers finally ended an eight-year exile in the bottom tier on a murky May afternoon at Yeovil Town. Since then they have journeyed from England’s lowest league – via the Premier League and an FA Cup Final – to the Europa League, and from the brink of liquidation – via salvation – to celebration. Volcanic Ash: Ian Ashbee celebrates his goal against Yeovil back in 2004 . Green envy: Hull will be turning out in the Europa League . They take on Slovakian side AS Trencin in their third-round qualifier at the Stadion pod Dubnom in Zilna. It was Ian Ashbee who scored the promotion-clinching goal at Huish Park in 2004 and, while the green seats and intimate setting of Zilna will be the same, he believes the club has come an unimaginable distance since that day. ‘If someone had said to me back then that I would be watching Hull in Europe then I would have laughed, I would have told them they’d been drinking,’ Ashbee – the man who went on to captain the club in all four divisions - told Sportsmail. ‘Yes, the potential was there and it always was a much bigger club than League Two, but they nearly went out of business. They were difficult times. ‘But my goal (a 20-yard curler into the top corner) set the whole thing off, they had been desperate to get out of the bottom division and from there we had momentum. It was the most important day of my career.’ Turning point: Ashbee's goal triggered Hull's rise through the leagues . Fast forward 10 years – three promotions, one relegation and seven managers – and Steve Bruce is leading the club on their maiden odyssey. There is, however, one striking similarity between the team of today and that of 2004 – a British core. Bruce has recruited wisely this summer. Three Englishmen – Tom Ince, Jake Livermore and Harry Maguire – and two Scotsmen – Robert Snodgrass and Andrew Robertson – have been added to the likes of Tom Huddlestone and Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long. Defenders Maguire, 21, and Robertson, 20, arrived only this week from Sheffield United and Dundee United respectively. Theirs is an exciting, young squad reared predominantly on these shores. Best of British: Harry Maguire and Andy Roberton have signed on the dotted line at Hull City . ‘Steve is a top man,’ Ashbee added, ‘I know the lads really like him and he is attracting top players to the club. Some of the signings have really put a marker down. A lot of clubs were after the likes of Tom Ince but Hull got him and that’s huge.’ Andy Dalton – editor of the Amber Nectar fanzine - will be among the 600 Hull fans in Zilna. His journey started at 2am on Wednesday. Like all away days, it took in the M62. He was headed for Luton – just as he had been for a League One fixture in 2005 – only this time his destination was the airport, not Kenilworth Road. From there to Kosice in the south east of Slovakia and then by train across country to Zilna in the north west. He wouldn’t have it any other way. Man with a plan: Steve Bruce has set his sights on reaching the Europa League group stages . ‘My first game was in Division Two in 1990 – I never thought I’d be checking train timetables in Slovakia 24 years later,’ said the 32-year-old. ‘But supporting your club should be fun, it should be an adventure and exciting. We’re all on a massive high right now and who knows where it will end?’ But what about the lows? ‘I remember an away game at Shrewsbury on December 28 in 1998,’ he said with the unerring authority of a man who bears the scars of that perilous period when the club faced winding-up orders on an almost weekly basis and the gates to Boothferry Park were locked. ‘We got beat 3-2 and we were 12 points adrift at the bottom of Division Four. That was the lowest point. But all that does is make you appreciate what we have now.’ Rick Skelton, who writes the From Boothferry to Wembley blog, agrees. ‘We nearly went bust a few times,’ said the 34-year-old. European adventure: Bruce and Jake Livermore in the pre-match press conference . ‘It took us a good few years to scrape our way out of the bottom division but once we did it all took off and this now is just incredible.’ From hard miles to air miles, Hull must now negotiate Trencin and one more opponent before Europa League football – and the prospect of romantic names such as Inter Milan - becomes a regular fixture at the KC Stadium this season. Ashbee, now retired, went on: ‘I still live there and Hull is a city going places; City of Culture for 2017, Premier League and now Europa League football. The city is buzzing and the people are rightly proud. It has put us on the map again.’ Hull. We know where it is now. Just at the end of the M62. The gateway to Europe.

Tigers face Slovakians AS Trencin in third-round qualifier . Hull have come from the basement to European football in a decade . Ashbee's goal against Yeovil Town in 2004 clinched promotion .

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Guilty of assault: Peter Samms went to the home of his son's ex-girlfriend Stephanie Wardn . The father of footballer Danny Simpson has been found guilty of assault after a bust-up with his son’s former girlfriend. Bodybuilder Peter Samms confronted Stephanie Ward, 25, after she revealed how the Newcastle United star had 'cheated' on her with X-Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos in a national newspaper. Samms, 46, barged into Miss Ward’s home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, just hours after she had aborted the child she was carrying with the footballer. During the confrontation, last November, Samms acted in an 'intimidating and threatening' manner, magistrates in Manchester heard. Miss Ward’s mother Gillian, who had answered the door when Samms arrived at the house, was knocked off balance as he went past her. Samms allegedly warned Miss Ward that he had 'gangster friends' and she would never be able to go out in Manchester again. Prosecutor Rebecca Radcliffe told magistrates that Samms, who works as a security guard, was intimidating 'in terms of body language and physical movement'. Samms, of Ellesmere St, Manchester, denied  common assault and a charge of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour. He was cleared of the second count but found guilty of common assault. Samms was fined £375 and ordered to pay £400 costs and £100 to his victim. Scroll down for video . Close: Tulisa was pictured cuddling up to Danny and a group of friends as they spent an evening together . Lashing out: Tulisa Contostavlos has been branded a 'homewrecker' for reportedly romancing Newcastle ace Danny Simpson . Last November, Miss Ward revealed how she’d been left devastated after finding out Simpson had been dating 24-year-old Tulisa. She branded the singer a 'home-wrecker', adding: “She’s been sleeping in my bed! Danny has humiliated me in front of my family, friends and the whole nation.” But Tulisa’s lawyers later issued a statement saying: “Tulisa categorically denies any allegation that she entered any relationship with Danny Simpson while he was still in a relationship with Stephanie Ward.' Ms Ward told The Sun newspaper: 'We've been off-and-on for the last seven years - but absolutely solid for the last two. 'As . far as I'm concerned he has cheated on me because we hadn't broken up . or anything. She's a home-wrecker and has destroyed my family.' Happy families: Danny has a baby daughter, Skye-Lorena, with his on-off girlfriend of seven years, Stephanie Ward . The pretty brunette is the mother of Simpson's baby daughter Skye-Lorena. She had been reportedly three months pregnant with their second child. It's believed Tulisa met the footballer through mutual friends, before enjoying a date together. Her fans will have been hoping the singer is finally having some good luck in the romance stakes after a series of heartbreaks in recent years. She split from her bandmate and boyfriend of two years Fazer earlier this year. A video of the singer and her ex-boyfriend Justin Edwards also emerged on the internet. Tulisa filed a lawsuit against her ex and it was settled in July - with Edwards subsequently apologising for releasing the tape. Tulisa also dated skins star Jack O'Connell, but their romance eventually fizzled out. VIDEO: Tulisa jokes on X-Factor about relationship with Danny Simpson .

Peter Samms allegedly warned Stephanie Ward he had 'gangster friends' Stephanie had branded Tulisa Contostavlos a home-wrecker for romance with Newcastle United star .

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By . Gavin Mccafferty, Press Association . Georgia Davies of Wales set a new Commonwealth Games record in the heats for the 50 metres backstroke. The 23-year-old, who won silver in the 100m final, came home in 27.90 seconds ahead of Emily Seebohm of Australia. England's Lauren Quigley was third-fastest while Kathleen Dawson set a new Scottish record in 28.56. Talent: Georgia Davies set a new Commonwealth record in the heats for the 50m backstroke . English pair Lizzie Simmonds and Jess Fullalove also qualified for tonight's semi-finals along with Northern Ireland's Danielle Hill and Niamh Robinson of the Isle of Man. Scots Ryan Bennett and Craig McNally opened the penultimate day of swimming at Glasgow 2014 by finishing one-two in their heat to reach the final of the men's 200 metres backstroke. Bennett was fifth-fastest qualifier but Australia are well placed to dominate the final, with 100m medallists Mitch Larkin and Josh Beaver among the fastest four. Welshman Xavier Mohammed scraped into the final but England's only entrant, Roberto Pavoni, did not compete. England's Ben Proud split the strong Australian team in the 50m freestyle heats to post the third fastest time in qualifying for tonight's semi-finals. Cameron McEvoy was three hundredths of a second outside a Games record with a time of 22.04 seconds, while Proud came in at 22.21 - faster than 100m gold medallist James Magnussen. Proud's team-mates, Adam Brown and James Disney-May, also qualified for the last 16 along with Scotland's Richard Schafers and Curtis Coulter of Northern Ireland. Through: Scotland's Ryan Bennett has qualified for the final of the men's 200m backstroke . There was more Welsh promise in the women's 200m butterfly heats with 2010 bronze medallist Jemma Lowe the second-fastest qualifier and team-mate Alys Thomas also making Monday night's final. Scotland's Hannah Miley, who is going for a third Glasgow 2014 medal, booked her place along with England's Aimee Willmott. England's Ollie Hynd finished five seconds ahead of the field in the para-sport 200m individual medley heats. The Paralympic champion, who has a degenerative muscle condition, races the same four rivals in Monday night's final.

Georgia Davies sets new Commonwealth Games record in 50m backstroke heats . Kathleen Dawson sets new Scottish record . Scottish duo Craig McNally and Ryan Bennett qualify for men's 50m backstroke final .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 07:00 EST, 15 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:37 EST, 16 May 2012 . A barmaid who was asked by her manager to show off her breasts in a push-up bra to boost a pub's trade has won £10,000 in compensation. Kathryn Broughton, 21, was given the nickname 'little t*ts' by her boss Andrew Stephens and asked if she was wearing a push-up bra. When the shy university graduate failed to reply, the 33-year-old married man told her: 'Well you really should.' 'Intimating': Blonde barmaid Kathryn Broughton (left) has won £10,000 in damages after telling an employment tribunal how she endured six months of sexual harassment from her pub manager Andrew Stephens (right) Miss Broughton told an employment tribunal: 'He then said we will get more customers and you will get more tips.' The part-time barmaid won her claim for sex discrimination after she quit the real ale pub in disgust following a string of rude remarks. She claimed on-going sexual harassment over a six-month period by Mr Stephens, who is a shareholder in the pub company which runs the Rutland Arms in Sheffield city centre. Miss Broughton said her boss first called her 'little t*ts' to 'curry favour' with a member of staff with whom he was engaging in banter at the bar and repeated it on several occasions in front of other bar and kitchen staff. When she was off work sick, Mr Stephens made a comment about her having a sexually transmitted disease and he labelled her boyfriend a transvestite. 'Far removed from reality': Miss Broughton quit working at the Rutland Arms (above) in Sheffield city centre in disgust after a string of rude remarks, which included being given the nickname 'little t*ts' In a Facebook message, Miss Broughton was told of a rumour that female bar staff could be asked to wear more revealing tops. It culminated in her resigning following the incident on June 1, 2010 after Mr Stephens drank at least five pints one evening and was chatting to customers and then kitchen staff at the bar. He directed the 'push-up bra' comment towards her at the end of the evening and Miss Broughton said: 'I felt upset and degraded and very self-conscious.' She became aware of her breasts being stared at, she said. 'I was a bit scared. I didn’t want to talk about it to anyone,' she added. Miss Broughton was so frightened she called her boyfriend to take her home and she immediately quit and fired off a letter of complaint saying she found the remarks inappropriate. She wrote: 'I found them intimidating and insulting. They were unwarranted and amounted to harassment.' Her barrister Simon Pallo told the Sheffield hearing: 'She was a young lady in a relatively male-dominated workplace and she’s quite a retiring, shy girl.' Mr Stephens denied making any sexual comments to the barmaid. Judge John Trayler . He said she had never raised any grievance with him and he did not make any comments about sexually transmitted infections or call her boyfriend a transvestite. He said the picture she painted of the Rutland Arms was 'far removed from reality' although they did have nicknames for staff. One was called 'Fat Paul' although he was slim, there was 'Staring Richard' who stared at people and he himself was called 'Steve the man', but he denied calling Miss Broughton 'little t*ts'. The tribunal heard a female friend of Miss Broughton’s posted on her Facebook wall a message reading 'tits, tits, I love tits.' Mr Stephens said: 'Perhaps she is not as adverse in talking to her friends in that way.' But Miss Broughton said she took it as a joke between friends and it was different if an employer had made such a comment. The panel decided Miss Broughton’s sex discrimination claim in her favour after a two-day hearing. Employment Judge John Trayler said in his judgment that the panel believed the comments were made as described by the barmaid although the sexually-transmitted disease remark was not an act of discrimination but 'unwelcome' nevertheless. Mr Trayler said there was evidence that the physical characteristics of employees at the pub were identified and this was a factor that had to be taken into account. He said: 'There is a possibility the claimant may have been referred to by Mr Stephens as "little t*ts" either as part of banter which had gone too far or a nickname which had been initiated but not stuck.' 'There was nothing which might have been misconceived or misinterpreted by Miss Broughton. We think it more likely than not that the claimant’s version is correct.' He added: 'She’s a relatively quiet-spoken individual whom we believe was pretty upset. The circumstances were serious and caused her to give up her job.' Miss Broughton was awarded £10,000 for injury to feelings and £529.34 in wages plus interest against Mr Stephens and the Sheffield-based pub company Reet Ale Pubs.

Shy graduate Kathryn Broughton told she should wear push-up bra . Given the nickname 'little t*ts' by her manager Andrew Stephens . Mr Stephens wrongly said she had a sexually transmitted disease . She quit job after six months of abuse, employment tribunal heard . Wins sex discrimination case after judge says 'circumstances serious'

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The headlines and blogs are all abuzz with the latest news: If a driver who's texting gets in an accident and you sent the text, you can be arrested! Terrible, right? Actually, it's not true, despite what you may have been told by people who have seen two episodes of some lawyer show and think they are qualified to be legal analysts. Such ignorance about the law feeds misinformation that grows on itself, doubles back and makes us all dumber. For people like me, lawyers, that is a wonderful thing. Why? Because people who have no idea what they are talking about wind up making simple legal situations complicated, ramping up the billable hours for all of us. Remember the McDonald's hot-coffee lawsuit? That case, maligned from coast to coast, stands in the public mind as the one that says, "If you are stupid enough to spill hot coffee on yourself, you deserve hundreds of millions of dollars." Anyone who knows anything about the law will tell you that the real ruling came down for the plaintiff because McDonald's had been warned time and again that it was going to hurt somebody if it didn't do something about the scalding temperature at which it served its coffee. But, in the name of more profits, it ignored the warnings. Even thereafter, McDonalds had the opportunity to pay the 81-year-old woman's medical bills -- she was seriously injured, with third-degree burns -- but it acted arrogantly. McDonald's did something wrong. When it was called to task for it, the punishment had to fit the defendant. Fining McDonalds $1,000 just wasn't going to do it. Hitting McDonalds with a huge multimillion-dollar settlement? That did it. (The injured woman's $2.86 million jury award was later reduced, however, by a judge to $640,000.) So what has that to do with the New Jersey texting case? The New Jersey texting case will likely lead to more boneheads who get their legal acumen from "My Cousin Vinny" expounding on its meaning. This chorus shrieks that the New Jersey decision makes you liable for sending a text. But the court actually held that the person doing the texting was not liable in this instance. The court held that theoretically, someone could be held liable for sending a text to a driver. But the ruling was very clear, and very, very limited: . "We hold that the sender of a text message could potentially be liable if an accident is caused by texting but only if the sender knew or had special reason to know that the recipient would view the text while driving and thus be distracted." In other words, yes, you can be held responsible if you cause an accident by sending a text message. But only if you knew that the recipient would look at the text message while driving. If you had any reason to have any doubt in your mind, then you will likely not be held liable. So if you send a text message to someone, you don't need to call your lawyer or your insurance company. But if you send someone a text message and they respond back "driving, leave me alone" and then you keep sending text messages, perhaps you might be found liable. The only thing that is certain is that this case, which makes plenty of sense, will serve to continue to allow the common law to grow, while those who would like to bring ignorance to our knowledge of the legal system will continue to succeed.

Marc Randazza: Buzz on New Jersey texting ruling leaves wrong impression . Judge did not rule that a woman texting a driver was legally liable for the crash, he says . Randazza: As in the McDonald's scalding case, misinformation feeds ignorance . You may be liable only if you know the person you're texting is driving, he says .

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By . Lucy Crossley . PUBLISHED: . 11:49 EST, 18 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 15:16 EST, 18 March 2014 . Convert: Rebekah Dawson, 22, who refused to remove her niqab full face veil in court has been jailed for a further six months . A Muslim convert who refused to remove her niqab in court was jailed for six months today after she terrorised a mosque security guard because he allowed non-Muslim women inside without veils. Last week Rebekah Dawson, 22, was sentenced to 20 months at the Old Bailey for making three videos glorifying the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby while her husband Royal Barnes, 23, was jailed for five years and four months. However, today she was sentenced to a further six months after admitting to threatening and intimidating Daudi Yusuf at Finsbury Park Mosque in north London. Dawson . had initially denied a single charge of intimidating a witness but, in a bizarre twist, changed her . plea to guilty in January after the jury failed to reach a verdict . against her and her brother Matthias Dawson, 32. She had tried to stop Mr Yusuf from testifying against Barnes, who had assaulted him. Barnes had angrily confronted Mr Yusuf after they took offence when he let three Portuguese women tourists tour the mosque without wearing headscarves on June 10 last year. She later returned to Mr Yusuf’s office and confronted him about . letting non-Muslims into the mosque asking him 'Why are you inviting . naked women in the mosque.' Dawson then ran off and her husband attacked Mr Yusuf who then reported it to the police. Two weeks later, on June 23, Dawson returned to the mosque in an attempt to stop Mr Yusuf from giving evidence. She told the frightened security guard: ‘Now I’ve seen your face you’re finished - you’re not safe’. Barnes was found guilty of assault and harassment at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in December 2013. Mr Yusuf said he was left feeling 'worried' about another attack because he did not know what Dawson looked like due to her having her face covered. A defence statement previously made to the court said: 'She attended on June 23 to ask him why he was lying. Row: Dawson admitted to threatening and intimidating Daudi Yusuf at Finsbury Park Mosque in north London in a row over non-Muslim women being allowed inside without wearing veils . 'She did not threaten him or do anything to interfere with him being a witness in other proceedings.' During her trial Dawson had to remove her veil for a female police officer who then verified that she was the defendant at the start of every court session. During her trial at Blackfriars Crown Court she refused to remove her niqab - which leaves only the eyes on show. She claimed her religion prevented her . removing the veil in the presence of men but Judge Peter Murphy ruled . it was of ‘cardinal importance’ that a jury could see her face while she . gave evidence. In his . original ruling Judge Murphy said that Dawson could not expect the court . to ‘set aside its established procedure’ to accommodate a ‘particular . religious practice’. Write caption here . Video nasty: Barnes was filmed by his wife laughing hysterically as he drove past the scene of the attack near Woolwich Barracks last May . Susan Meek, defending, today told the court that Dawson, of Stroud Green, north London, has suffered ‘great intrusion into her life’ due to ‘unprecedented media interest’ for her wearing of the niqab. She also said that Dawson’s dreams of becoming an English . teacher were now in “tatters” and that she wanted to get on with her . life being a law abiding citizen. But Judge Murphy said the court must show that witness intimidation was not acceptable. Shocking: In the video clips Barnes described the day Fusilier Lee Rigby (pictured) was murdered as 'brilliant' He . said: 'I have given a great deal of thought to this case. Mr Daudi . Yusuf was doing his job. Obviously there was a difference of opinion but . it did not justify the offence committed against him.' The . judge jailed Dawson for an extra six months for intimidating Mr Yusuf, . to run consecutively to her current term of imprisonment, and also . handed her a five-year restraining order banning her from contacting Mr . Yusuf, going within 500 meters of Finsbury Park . Mosque and from entering the Muslim Welfare Centre.. 'Your . brother said that your husband Royal Barnes had changed your life . considerably for the worse - I’m sure you don’t agree with that', he . said. 'I have to say I find . his evidence compelling and whether you wish me to or not I’m going to . take into account my own belief that this offence was committed by you . at least partly under your husband’s influence.' He added: 'It was not a systematic campaign but took place on one occasion and no . violence was used but the threats were obviously very real.' Dawson, who refused to stand in court, bowed her head as she received her latest prison sentence. Last week Dawson and her husband were jailed at the Old Bailey after she filmed Barnes - a Muslim extremist with links to one of Lee Rigby's killers Michael Adebowale - as . he glorified the Woolwich killing in a series of YouTube videos. Barnes was filmed by his veiled wife laughing hysterically as he drove past the scene of the attack near Woolwich Barracks last May. The couple ridiculed the memorial flowers left by friends, family, and members of the public for Drummer Rigby and Barnes described the murder as ‘absolutely brilliant’ on videos uploaded on to YouTube. In the clip shot as the pair drove close to tributes left to Drummer Rigby, Dawson asked her husband to drive around again as he said: 'These kuffar, they fail to realise . that their foreign policy is the reason why this Lee Rigby is no . more...he got chopped up in Woolwich...' Scene: The couple ridiculed the memorial flowers left by friends, family, and members of the public for Drummer Rigby . In memory: Floral tributes left at the spot close to where Drummer Rigby died .

Rebekah Dawson admitted threatening Daudi Yusuf at Finsbury Park Mosque . She wanted to stop security guard giving evidence against her husband . Royal Barnes, 23, had confronted Mr Yusuf after couple took offence at Portuguese tourists being allowed into the mosque without headscarves . Barnes was found guilty of assault and harassment over incident . She admitted intimidating a witness after jury failed to reach a verdict . During her trial she had refused to take the stand without her niqab . Last week couple were jailed for making videos glorifying killing of Lee Rigby .

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Members of the controversial Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church are planning a protest at tragic actor Robin Williams' funeral over his portrayal of a gay man in the movie The Birdcage. The Good Will Hunting star passed away on Monday and while details of his funeral have not been made public, members of the church have already announced plans to picket the memorial. A message posted on the group's official Twitter.com page reads: 'Westboro Baptist Church Hopes To Preach In Lawful Proximity To Robin Williams' Funeral - To Warn The Living: Repent Or Likewise Perish.' Robin Williams (left) starred with Nathan Lane in The Birdcage . The controversial church has already spoken out about Williams' role in the film, in which he played a gay man . Tough time for the family: Robin Williams' wife, Susan Schneider (left), announced his death earlier this week while his daughter Zelada (right) was callously trolled on Twitter . However, organisers at the global non-profit organisation Planting Peace have launched a fundraiser to counter the church's plans. A message from co-founder Aaron Jackson reads: "Robin Williams played many different roles in so many people's lives, and giving back to others was at the top of that list. "His appeal crossed generational boundaries. I was personally impacted when I heard of his passing. This is a small gesture to honour his legacy and the difference he made to so many," he said. Jackson said that when the WBC announced they were protesting the star's funeral, "we felt like launching a fundraiser for a charity Robin loved would be the perfect way to honour him and counteract the message of hate and intolerance that the WBC continues to convey". The proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit St Jude Children's Hospital, which Williams supported during his life.

Controversial church infamous for its anti-gay agenda . Says it will 'preach in lawful proximity' to star's funeral to 'warn the living' Williams played a gay man in the movie The Birdcage .

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By . Freya Noble . The annual Garma Festival is a colourful and vibrant celebration of the Yolngu culture, held at Gulkula in north-east Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Now in its 16th year, the four day event is set against the backdrop of a stringybark forest and is designed to preserve cultural traditions and provide a forum for discussion on issues affecting the Aboriginal community. Throughout the festival young and old take part in traditional bunggul, or dance, manikay, or song, and cultural ceremonies known as Wangga. Art, storytelling and other forms of education are all incorporated into Garma. More than 800 tents are dotted around the Gulkula area, overlooking the Gulf of Carpentaria, and attendees are encouraged to stay onsite to appreciate the experience in its entirety. Attendees are encouraged to stay onsite in tents to appreciate the experience in its entirety . Located in the north-eastern corner of the Northern Territory, Arnhem Land has been occupied by Indigenous Australians for tens of thousands of years and is rich in Aboriginal culture. The area is sacred to its original inhabitants and rock paintings and artifacts have been dated back as far as 40,000 years. Taking in Kakadu National Park and bordered by the Gulf Of Carpentaria, Arnhem Land is one of the largest and most remote Aboriginal reserves. The Yothu Yindi Foundation, who present Garma, describe the festival as 'Australia’s most significant Indigenous event, and a model for self-determination, reconciliation, Indigenous knowledge sharing, transfer and exchange'. This year's theme is 'responsibility, reform, recognition', director of Garma Denise Bowden told the ABC, and highlighted the importance of closing the gaps for Indigenous Australians. A new Garma Knowledge Centre was opened as part of this year's festivities, with many members of the Aboriginal community in traditional dress and body paint for the ceremony. Politicians past and present attended the festival this year, with former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke at the event at the weekend and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten giving an address to Garma on Sunday. The Garma Festival is held annually at Gulkula in north-east Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory . The event is a colourful and vibrant celebration of the Yolngu culture, and throughout the festival young and old take part in traditional dance known as bunggul . This year is the 16th Garma, and the four-day event incorporates art, storytelling and other forms of education . The festival is held in a stringybark forest in north-east Arnhem land overlooking the Gulf Of Carpentaria . Djunga Djunga Yunupingu at the official opening of the new Garma Knowledge Centre at Gulkula in northeast Arnhem Land . Men in traditional Indigenous body paint performed at the opening of the centre . The Yothu Yindi Foundation present Garma, and describe it as Australia's most significant Indigenous event . Djunga Djunga Yunupingu is a senior Gumatj elder of the Yolngu clans . A Gumatj boy watches on at the official opening of the new Garma Knowledge Centre on Friday . Gumatj clan performers in traditional Indigenous face and body paint at the Garma Festival in Arnhem Land . Yothu Yindi Foundation chairman and Gumatj clan leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu with former Prime Minister Bob Hawke during the Garma Festival key forum . Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion, Garma Ambassador Jack Thompson and former Prime Minister Bob Hawke attended the key forum on Saturday . Yothu Yindi Foundation deputy chairman and senior Gumatj clan member Djawa Yunupingu addressed the forum about land rights . Yothu Yindi Foundation chairman and Gumatj clan leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu also spoke about land rights on Saturday . The key forum is an integral part of Garma, and includes addresses on a variety of Indigenous issues. Pictured: Professor Marcia Langton . Many politicians past and present, including Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion attended the festival at the weekend .

Garma Festival is held every year at Gulkula in north-east Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory . Is a celebration of the Yolngu culture held in a stringybark forest overlooking the Gulf of Carpentaria . Includes traditional ceremonies and a key forum to discuss important issues facing Indigenous Australians .

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Beijing (CNN) -- China said Sunday it plans to increase its defense budget by 11.2%, following similar increases in years past and coming on the heels of a renewed U.S. push in the region. The planned increase would lift spending to some 670 billion yuan ($106.4 billion) in 2012, which is almost 68 billion more than 2011 spending, said Li Zhaoxing, spokesman for the National People's Congress. By comparison, the proposed U.S. defense budget for the 2013 fiscal year is $613.9 billion, including $525.4 billion in base spending. That budget cuts half a trillion dollars in spending increases over the next 10 years. Li spoke a day before the annual session of the Chinese legislature is scheduled to start in Beijing. "The Chinese government follows the principle of coordinating defense development with economic development. It sets the country's defense spending according to the requirement of national defense and the level of economic development," he said. Last year, China announced it would increase its defense budget by close to 13%. It reported a 7.5% increase the year before. Li stressed that China's defense spending will go primary toward living expenses, training, maintenance and equipment, China's state news agency Xinhua reported. Given the country's population, long coastline and large territory, the outlays are low, he said. "The limited military strength of China is solely for safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will not pose a threat to any country," the news agency reported Li as saying. Still, China's announcement is sure to stoke concerns among some its neighbors. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to use force against the island if it ever formally sought independence. China also has claimed a significant portion of the South China Sea as its own territorial waters, putting it in conflict with other nations that have made claims on portions of the region. The move is similarly sure to raise eyebrows in Washington, where President Barack Obama is pursuing a more aggressive approach in the region. During last year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, the president stressed the importance of the Pacific to global economic security. And this year, Obama and top defense officials unveiled a new U.S. defense strategy that focuses heavily on the Asia-Pacific region, a fast-growing economic powerhouse with numerous potential flashpoints that the administration has identified as crucial to U.S. interests. The strategy calls for the United States to increase its military's "institutional weight and focus on enhanced presence, power projection, and deterrence in Asia-Pacific," said Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. Xinhua, while welcoming a peaceful U.S. role in the region, cautioned in a commentary then against the United States acting like a "bull in a china shop." CNN's Steven Jiang contributed to this report.

The planned increase would lift spending to some 670 billion yuan ($106.4 billion) It follows similar rises in defense spending in years past . The move is sure to stoke concerns among some of China's neighbors .

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By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 07:56 EST, 22 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:53 EST, 22 January 2014 . Hitting the bullseye is typically the work of professional darts players and chance. But even a novice could soon master the art as two brothers have created a small plastic loop that fits on the finger to help darts players perfect their throw. Professor David Needham and his younger brother Stuart have created DartSight, a finger ring 'sighter' designed to help darts lovers hit 180s and the bullseye more often. Stuart Needham shows off DartSight, a finger ring 'sighter' designed to help darts lovers hit 180s and the bullseye more often . The brothers created a small plastic loop which fits on the finger which helps darts players perfect their throw . And the Oldham man's design is sure to be a hit with darts enthusiasts as they train. The PHD Professor and director of the Centre for Single Particle Science and Engineering at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense, created the device because of his passion for darts. Prof Needham's business partner Stuart, also of Oldham, who teaches people to drive minibuses, said DartSight will improve players' accuracy. The 55-year-old grandad-of-one said: 'David has used his scientific skills to develop DartSight. DartSight is described as a: 'a serious attempt to help align your throw and develop a reliable and repeatable muscle memory for your action' It works by showing you what you should see with your dominant eye . 'The sighter is a small plastic device . that fits on the player's finger and is lined up with the target on the . dartboard in training. 'From the initial concept idea it took us 18 months to have a finished product. 'For pretty much the price of a pint, £3, you could develop a really good darts throw by practising with it. 'We've sold around 350 and more distributors are wanting to come on board.' It is to be used only for practice and not for actual competing, as darts rules are so strict. DartSight is described as a: 'serious attempt to help align your throw and develop a reliable and repeatable muscle memory for your action.' It works by showing you what you should see with your dominant eye. When you line-up DartSight with your target, e.g., the bullseye, you can then throw your dart at the correct angle. Father-of-one David splits his time between universities in North Carolina and Odense in Denmark. The brothers are now working on a Greater Manchester Business Growth programme to develop future sales, marketing and product development strategies. Prof Needham's brother added: 'At its most fundamental level, success at darts is about accuracy and consistency. 'DartSight is a training aid, not a gimmick and our trials show it works. 'It helps you put your hand in the same place every time so you can get your eye, hand and arm co-ordinated together to keep a level of consistency. 'We are not targeting professionals to begin with. 'It is aimed at the general player, or semi-pro, and the person who wants to develop accuracy.' The product is available to buy at dartsight.com. Played in international tournaments and in pubs around the world, darts is believed to have begun in medieval times, when soldiers would practise throwing missiles for fun and to maintain their shooting skills. The rules begin with the law that a player shall throw darts from a standing position, excepting only in those circumstances when a physical disability, or physical injury requires a player to adopt a non-standing position. A throw must consist of a maximum of ‘three darts’, unless a leg, set, or match is completed in less than ‘three darts’. If a player ‘touches’ any dart, which is in the dartboard, during a throw, then that throw shall be deemed to have been completed. Any dart bouncing off, or falling out of, the dartboard, does not count, and shall not be re-thrown. The ‘Bull’ counts as ‘50’, and if ‘50’ is required to complete a leg, set, or match, then the ‘Bull’ shall count as a 'Double 25’. Players aim to reach target scores of 501, 601, 701, 1001 or similar. For more rules, visit the British Darts Organisation.

Small plastic loop that fits on finger which helps players perfect their throw . DartSight 'helps align throw and develop muscle memory for your action' Can be used as a training aid so that players can hit their target .

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An emotional Marussia team will decide on Thursday whether to replace the stricken Jules Bianchi for this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix or leave his car empty as a mark of respect. With Bianchi’s condition remaining critical but stable after his horrific crash at last Sunday’s race in Japan, a sense of normality has yet to return to the British-based team. Marussia’s reserve driver, Alexander Rossi, travelled to Sochi on Wednesday night and could make his Formula One race debut in Bianchi’s place. Jules Bianchi's name takes place on his side of the Marussia garage ahead of the Russian Grand Prix . Bianchi is in a stable but critical condition in intensive care at Mie Hospital in Yokkaichi, Japan . Bianchi's absence from the Russian Grand Prix means Marussia could field just one car with Max Chilton . Marussia reserve driver Alexander Rossi (left) could partner Max Chilton at the Russian Grand Prix . Bianchi is fighting for his life after sustaining brain injuries after his crash with the tractor . The 23-year-old, who has driven in practice for Caterham, has a superlicence that would allow him to slot straight in but some within the team would prefer they race only one car, that of Britain’s Max Chilton. Whether the rules allow that is unclear. There is also the question of how their owner, Andrey Cheglakov, views the situation going into the first Formula One race to be staged in Russia. The race is likely to see the grand prix community united in sympathy. Ferrari, who schooled Bianchi - he remains on their young driver programme - will carry the words ‘Forza Jules’ on their car. The FIA embarrassingly included John Booth, the Marussia team principal, on their press conference list even though he is still in Japan at Bianchi’s bedside. Lewis Hamilton, who won in Japan to extend his championship lead over Nico Rosberg to 10 points, said on Wednesday: ‘I was pleased to have finally won at Suzuka, but as soon as we heard what happened to Jules it suddenly didn’t seem relevant anymore. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.’ Marussia driver Bianchi spun off the road in treacherously wet conditions in Japan and is still in hospital . The idea of closed cockpits has been raised in light of Jules Bianchi's crash at the Japan Grand Prix . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Jules Bianchi suffered horror 110mph smash at Japanese Grand Prix . Frenchman's family confirmed he suffered a diffuse axonal injury (DAI) The 25-year-old driver has been in intensive care since Sunday . F1 resumes in Sochi for inaugural Russian Grand Prix this weekend . Marussia must decide whether to race Alexander Rossi in Bianchi's place .

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By . Sam Adams . PUBLISHED: . 08:42 EST, 21 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:13 EST, 21 March 2013 . The Ku Klux Klan is planning a rally in Memphis in protest at the city's decision to remove the name of one of its founding members from a public park. A faction of the KKK called the 'Loyal White Knights' is angry that Nathan Bedford Forrest park has been renamed, and claims the move is part of a plan to 'erase white people from the history books.' Bedford Forrest was a Confederate general during the American Civil War - and was thought to be the white supremacist organisation's first 'grand wizard.' Opposition: A faction of the Ku Klux Klan is planning a rally in Memphis in protest at the removal of the name of one of its founding members from a city park . The group is calling on other branches of the KKK to join the rally on March 30. Nathan Bedford Forrest Park has been temporarily renamed . Health Sciences Park until a permanent name is selected, the Daily News reports. The city's Confederate Park . and Jefferson Davis Park - named after the former Confederate leader - were all also renamed by the city in February and are now called Memphis Park and Mississippi . River Park, respectively. Legacy: Nathan Bedford Forrest was a skillful Confederate cavalry commander during the Civil War - but was also an early member of the KKK . 'They are renaming the park and also removing his remains,' the Loyal White Knights wrote on its website. 'We are asking all good klans to join us in the fight. The group invited the Northern Mississippi White knights and International Keystone Knights to join it at the rally. The North Carolina White Knight's self-titled 'imperial wizard' Chris Barker, said the decision to change the park's name was an attempt to 'erase white people from the history books,' the Daily News reports. The rally will reportedly be held from 1.30 pm to 4pm outside Memphis's federal courthouse. Meanwhile the city council voted on Tuesday to ban the wearing of masks 'for the purpose of civil rights intimidation.' Acccording to recent census figures the city's population is now more than 60 per cent black. The Memphis president of the National Association for the Advancement . of Colored People (NAACP) has urged residents not to 'give the Klan an . audience,' according to the Guardian. The city council's decision is thought to have been influenced by a state bill that would ban the renaming of military or war memorial parks. Bedford Forrest was a skillful cavalry and military commander during the Civil War, and one of the few men to enlist as a private and rise through the ranks to become a general. He was less well educated than many of his fellow officers, but his innovative approach to military command was celebrated by his contemporaries. However, his reputation was scarred after he was accused of war crimes at the Battle of Fort Pillow for allowing his forces to massacre upon hundreds of black Union Army and white Southern Unionist prisoners. After the war he became an early member of the KKK which had been formed by veterans of the Confederate Army in Pulaski, Tennessee in 1866.

KKK angry that Nathan Bedford Forrest Park is to be renamed . Forrest was a Confederate general during civil war and early KKK member . Council has also renamed two other city parks with Confederate links .

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Two legends of sport shared a stage on Thursday, when tennis star Andy Murray met WBO world welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao in the Philippines. Murray was in Manila ahead of the start of the International Premier Tennis League, which will take place over the next month across Asia. Pacquiao was crowned the WBO world welterweight champion on Saturday night when he produced a dominant display to beat Chris Algieri in Macau. Two legends of sport smile for the camera, as Andy Murray (left) meets Manny Pacquiao in Manila . The pair were interviewed prior to the start of the International Premier Tennis League in Manila . Philippines: 28-30 November . Singapore: 2-4 December . India: 6-8 December . United Arab Emirates: 11-13 December . Pac-Man, as he is known, then travelled home to the Philippines, where he received a hero's welcome upon his return. He met Murray at the Mall of Asia as the Scot attempts to lead Pacquiao's country to glory in the IPTL. The first leg begins in the Philippines on Friday, where Andy Murray will captain Manila Maverick's against Novak Djokovic's UAE Royals. Murray (left) shook hands with Pacquiao, who won the WBO world welterweight title at the weekend . Murray (left) posed for pictures with tennis fans as he gears up to lead Manila Mavericks in the IPTL . Pacquiao also met other tennis stars involved in the IPTL; pictured are Gael Monfils (left) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (right) VIDEO Pacquiao delighted with performance . The tournament heads to Singapore second, before fans in India and the UAE are entertained through the first half of December. 29 players are included in the four franchise teams, including the likes of Roger Federer, Djokovic, Murray, Serena Williams, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. Each match has 5 sets, and there will be a men's singles, women’s singles, mixed doubles, men’s doubles and men’s legend singles in each match. The order of play is decided by the home team.

Andy Murray will be playing in the International Premier Tennis League . He is to captain Manila Mavericks, of Manny Pacquiao's home country . Pacquiao won the WBO world welterweight title on Saturday night . He has arrived back in the Philippines, and met Murray on Thursday .

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(CNN) -- Some 11 months after President Barack Obama beat out Mitt Romney, CNN itself emerged as a winner -- taking home an Emmy for its Election Night coverage, as well as two others for its coverage of race in America and unrest in Syria and Afghanistan. The Election Night honor wasn't CNN's only Emmy victory. "Kids on Race: The Hidden Picture," a special series that ran on CNN's "AC360," won for outstanding news discussion and analysis . And Nick Paton Walsh, a Beirut-based correspondent for CNN International, topped five contenders to take home the award for outstanding writing for his reports out of Syria and Afghanistan. The news network won for live coverage of a news story for "Election Night in America" during a ceremony Tuesday night in New York's Time Warner Center, one of dozens bestowed at the 34th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards run by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. "Producing an election night is a team sport, and ours was the best team ever to produce an election," CNN's Washington Bureau Chief Sam Feist said in a congratulatory message to staffers. CNN bested a field that included ABC News for its reporting on the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, "Good Morning America" for its Superstorm Sandy coverage and "CBS Evening News' " work on the Supreme Court's ruling on the Affordable Care Act, as well as CNN's own programming on the Israel/Gaza conflict. On Election Night, CNN finished first among all cable news outlets between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. in total viewers, according to the network. It also outpaced the broadcast networks -- including NBC, ABC, CBS -- among those in the 18 to 34 age bracket, and beat CBS and Fox in prime time for total viewers. CNN's digital arm had more than 203 million page views on November 6, while CNN Mobile garnered three times more traffic than it ever had on a single day.

NEW: CNN's NIck Paton Walsh, "Kids of Race" series also win Emmy awards . CNN wins for live coverage of a news story for "Election Night in America" The awards were given at the 34th News and Documentary Emmy Awards .

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By . Mark Duell and Deborah Arthurs . PUBLISHED: . 12:46 EST, 7 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:50 EST, 8 November 2012 . First there were the pictures of debauched racegoers rolling round the paddocks after the Melbourne Cup. And now there is this jaw-dropping video showing a woman in a tight blue dress, fascinator and high heels so punch-drunk she’s prepared to take on the entire crowd. The footage, shot at Flemington Racecourse and posted by Gavin Caporn, features her throwing wild punches, collapsing on the floor and eventually being pinned down. Her astonishing antics provoke a wealth of comments. ‘Oh, she’s terrible,’ one woman says before a male voice advises ‘Just walk away mate,’ to someone on the receiving end of her fist. Five security guards eventually arrive to remove her. Scroll down for video . Shocking: The unidentified black-haired woman, who was wearing a tight blue dress, matching blue hairpiece and black heels, was caught on camera at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia . Undignified: The video, posted by a Gavin Caporn, showed the drunk woman stumbling around the grass without a security guard in sight, bumping into random people and falling over while shouting at the crowd . The footage is sure to provoke some . more heated debate after a Mail Online article showing Melbourne’s . finest running amok at the event went viral yesterday. A slew of newspapers and TV shows . featured the story with many appalled that the behaviour at Flemington . had attracted such bad international press. More than 70 racegoers were thrown out of the event after incidents involving alcohol. Out of those, 39 were forced to leave for being intoxicated, four people were arrested for being drunk in public place and 29 were caught trying to bring alcohol into the racecourse. Paramedics treated 23 racegoers mainly for alcohol-related problems. But as the drunken behaviour at the event became the focus of the international press, others were only too keen to highlight Britain’s own less than salubrious record at sporting events. Debauched scenes from recent race . meetings such Aintree and even Royal Ascot where a picture of a drunken . thug swigging a bottle of pink champagne horrified Mail Online readers. Crowd watches on: A clip emerged today of the female racegoer so drunk that she was flinging wild punches at anybody near her, falling over, exposing her underwear and eventually being hauled away by security . Going nowhere: She is pinned down by a man, while shouts of ‘Get this b***h out of here’ and ‘Where's security?’ are heard. Someone shouts: ‘Calm down sweetheart’ and another jokes: ‘Take your missus home’ Fun's over: The woman shouts at the crowd: 'Ah you dumb f**ks' and another person shouts: 'Just another day at the races'. Then there are cheers as five security guards arrive to take her away from the area . One Australian newspaper accused our ‘trashbag’ nation of ‘chaotic scenes’ and being a ‘frolicking mess’. ‘Back in the Old Dart, Royal Ascot's . finest must have been choking on their foie gras and desperately . pondering just how we let it come to this,’ Aaron Langmaid wrote in . Melbourne’s Herald Sun. ‘We have always done it differently . Down Under. We've learnt to excuse those regrettable back tattoos, white . leather shoes and bum-skimming skirts. It's cheap entertainment, after . all.’ He added that Britons ‘sugar-coat’ the Wimbledon tennis tournament to be about ‘dining on wild strawberries . draped in freshly whipped cream and watching the greats of the game do . battle.’ But we ‘fail to mention the . frolicking mess that is Henman Hill, where cross-eyed tennis fans purge . themselves of excess liquor before rolling down the mound after yet . another Brit fails to make the finals’. He said people must step over . ‘acid-tripping hippies’ at the Notting Hill Carnival and Boat Race fans . are seen ‘chugging down pints of Stella Artois and blabbering on about . the Premiership League’. The paper also lambasted Britain’s . ‘dramatically inconsistent take on public etiquette’ after scenes of . drunkenness when an alcohol ban was launched in 2008 on the London . Underground. In addition it wrote of ‘a shameful . wake of locals who stumbled out of stations, hitching up their dresses . and doing up their flies and wobbling off into the night’. Meanwhile news.com.au asked the . question: ‘The Melbourne Cup party stopped a nation, but is it the . British who don't know how to have fun?’ Social networks were abuzz with . Australians claiming British coverage of the race was hard on them. Alex . Cauchi said: ‘Bit rich of the poms to lecture us on how we handle our . grog.’ Robyn Westbury added: ‘They're only . p****d off because they don't have a big day to match ours :) whinging . poms never happy unless they are whinging..lol’ Commentary: The response to MailOnline's story in the Australian media was far from complimentary . And Pauline O'Brien said: ‘They're only interested cos Charlies here! At least there was no nudity eh Harry??’ The Melbourne Cup attracted 105,000 . people yesterday, including the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall who are on . the Australia leg of their Jubilee tour. A two-mile event, the race has become a social, cultural and sporting icon with attendees sporting their finest clothes. But in time-honoured fashion, as the . champagne flowed and races were won - or lost - the racegoers became . ever-more dishevelled, with some kicking off their shoes to feel the . grass of the race track under their bare feet. British racing meets have long had a . reputation for getting a bit messy as the day develops, but the . hedonistic Melbourne crowds showed the UK that they can party just as . hard. Some rolled around in the paddock . revealing their knickers, others sipped drinks through the mouth of a . giant horse head, while those who'd got luck somewhere other than at the . tote got stuck in to passionate kissing sessions. Nonetheless, the day's racing was . deemed a resounding success, with Amanda Elliott, vice chairman of the . Victoria Racing Club (VRC) which runs the Melbourne Cup, saying Camilla . for one declared she was 'absolutely delighted' to be at the race course . and 'could not believe' the crowds. The Melbourne Cup is one of the . richest flat races in the world with a total prize money pot of around . £4 million and attracts riders, owners and horses from across the globe. BEST (AND THE WRECKS) FROM FROM THE MELBOURNE CUP . Just say neigh: One horse gets distracted by the bar . Good fortune: One male racegoer strikes it lucky - even if it wasn't with the horses . Big day out: Girls looking a little dishevelled after a few hours at the course . Cause to celebrate? One racegoer looked in jubilant mood - perhaps having found fortune at the tote . That's rubbish! One racegoer takes a tumble - and lands in a heap of discarded bottles and beer cans . Horseplay: A couple take the weight off among the debris . Whoops! Looks like the ground's a little soft . Flat out: A race goer "planks" after the last race at Flemington racecourse . Wipe out: It's tiring work having all this fun . Green and pleasant land: The grass at the course was littered with empty alcohol vessels . Well-heeled: A race goer adjusts her shoes . Guess there's no hemline rules then! One racegoer with a very short dress enjoys a tipple at the race course . Jumping for joy: A couple celebrate at the Melbourne Cup, the event seen as the highlight of the Spring Carnival . Ouch: Looks like somebody fell at the first furlong . Pole position: One Race goer celebrates with a dance spurred on by her friends . Fillies . in their finery: Girls don summery frocks and fascinators for the . occasion, which was deemed a huge success by organisers . Should have gone Gangnam Style: A couple of male guest discard their blazers and demonstrate their best breakdancing moves . Party time! Revellers dance as a band plays music at Flemington Racecourse yesterday . Bright and breezy: These colourful spectators managed to keep neat and tidy - all the better to show off their vivid creations . The royal couple are on a six-day visit to Australia to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II . Pop royalty  Delta Goodrem arrived in style in a fuchsia fairy-inspired dress while actress Mischa Barton chose to make a statement with a towering hat . Shane Warne enjoyed a cigarette in sunshine on the VIP balcony with friends including James Packer and Erica Packer . Australian actress Rose Byrne poses at the Lexus Design Pavillion . Model Sophie Monk wearing an intricate hairband poses with flowers . Ronan Keating enjoyed the races with his new girlfriend Storm Uechtritz . Flamboyant businessman Darryn Lyons dresses to impress . Chef Marco Pierre White at the Melbourne Cup . Model Kris Smith at the Melbourne Cup . Cricketer Shane Warne at the Melbourne Cup . Green Moon ridden by jockey Brett Pebble heads over the line followed by Fiorente during the Emirates Melbourne Cup . The horses come around the bend in the Emirates Melbourne Cup during 2012 Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse .

Video shows woman in tight blue dress wildly punching random racegoers . 78 racegoers forced to leave event because of alcohol-related incidents . Australian media hits out at MailOnline's coverage of drunkenness at race . Claims British sports fans are always drunk at Wimbledon and Boat Race . Charles and Camilla attended prestigious horse racing event in Melbourne .

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By . Ruth Styles . She's famous for her penchant for high street buys and the thrifty Duchess of Cambridge was at it again as she watched the action at the Commonwealth Games today. Laughing and joking with the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, Kate looked relaxed in her £79.99 double-breasted Zara blazer and trusty J Brand skinny jeans. Finishing off the look were her fail-safe £245 Stuart Weitzman navy wedges, which, like the jeans and the jacket, have made regular appearances. Scroll down for video . Old faithfuls: Kate watches the gymnastics in her trusty Zara blazer, J Brand jeans and navy wedges . Favourites: Kate's ensemble included all of her go-to pieces, including a £79.99 Zara blazer . All three were worn on several occasions during the royal tour of Australia and New Zealand with the Duchess donning jacket and heels for her trip to Auckland - even if she did swap the heels for a pair of Sebago flats ahead of a boat trip around the harbour. Prior to her trip to New Zealand, Kate wore the ensemble for another sporty event at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London in her role as patron of the charity SportsAid last October. Prince Harry, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend the gymnastics during the Commonwealth Games - have they got some interesting snaps of the gymnasts in action? The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge appear transfixed by Kate's phone . The Duchess of Cambridge also appeared engrossed by a hockey match between Scotland and Wales today (above left and right, with the Duke of Cambridge) Committed royal fans will also remember seeing the Duchess in the ensemble during a visit to the Olympic Games in London two years ago. There, the Duchess, who was meeting sports stars in the athlete's village, won the approval of Rebecca Adlington, who told the Duchess that she loved her navy wedges. Stylish: Kate donned blue J Brand skinny jeans . and a £48 ME + EM striped Breton-style top with a £79.99 navy Zara . jacket and cool Ray Ban sunglasses during a trip to Auckland . Down under: Kate wore the same jeans and blazer combination for a visit to Auckland . Repeat wear: The Duchess in her trusty navy blue blazer from high street store Zara . 102749 . 162215 . 80620 . 73213 . 36224 . 118480 . 104676 . 139436 . 36224 . 43296 . 80448 . 161054 . 146542 . 205102 . 96154 . 219940 . 70612 . 116704 . But it isn't only the wedges and blazer to have made repeat appearances: The jeans too have also been worn on multiple occasions. Most recently, the Duchess teamed them with her faithful Sebago tan deck shoes and Me + Em striped Breton t-shirt to watch her husband and Prince Harry play polo in Gloucestershire. Despite looking wonderful, however, the presence of Prince George meant that for once, she wasn't the only royal to sell out her outfit with the infant prince's Petit Bateau dungarees proving even more popular. In her jeans: The Duchess of Cambridge wore J . Brand jeans three days in a row in Canada in 2011. Kate purchased the . 811 style from Trilogy's Chelsea store over three years ago (among other . styles that she has bought from the store over the years) and has been . wearing them ever since . Seen those before: The Duchess in her wedges at a SportsAid Athlete Workshop last October .

The Duchess wore her favourite £79.99 double-breasted Zara blazer . Teamed it with trusty J Brand skinny jeans and Stuart Weitzman wedges . Wore similar ensembles in Australia and New Zealand and to Olympics .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:15 EST, 3 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 17:49 EST, 3 February 2014 . Police say a man who alleges he was shot by former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has been shot again, this time in the football star’s home state of Connecticut. Hartford police Lt. Brian Foley says Alexander Bradley was shot several times in the leg Sunday night outside the Vevo Lounge Bar & Grill. Bradley allegedly then fired shots at the front of the club before being caught and taken to a hospital. He's expected to survive. 'Alexander Bradley is again a shooting victim,' Foley said in a Twitter posting Monday morning. Fighting back: Alexander Bradley was shot at a nightclub over the weekend and then allegedly began shooting back. In his previous altercation with Hernandez, the NFL star allegedly shot him in the face causing Bradley to lose an eye . 'Multiple GSWs (gunshot wounds) to his leg. Major Crimes investigating.' Police haven't announced any arrests or a clear motive, though his connection to Hernandez has investigators suspicious that it may be tied to those charges. Bradley alleges in a Florida lawsuit that he lost an eye when Hernandez shot him outside a Miami club last year. Boston police have linked Bradley and Hernandez to a 2012 double killing, although no charges have been filed. Police believe Hernandez and Bradley were in an SUV when someone inside the vehicle fatally shot Daniel Jorge Correia de Abreu and Safiro Teixeira Furtado in Boston's South End, according to a search warrant filed by Bristol, Connecticut police. The warrant doesn't say who investigators believe pulled the trigger in the double killing or suggest a motive. No charges have been filed in the case. Twisted case: Hernandez, who is originally from and has close ties to Connecticut, is currently being held in Massachusetts on murder charges related to the death of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd . Second time as a victim: Alexander Bradley, seen here in an October 2013 court appearance, claimed that the first altercation with Hernandez took place in Miami, Florida . The warrant sought recordings of phone calls made by Bradley while he was jailed in Hartford in October for failing to appear before a Massachusetts grand jury investigating the 2012 shooting. Investigators say they found the SUV wanted in the Boston homicides at the home of Hernandez's uncle in Bristol. Shady: The latest twist in the saga comes as prosecutors now say Carlos Ortiz Ortiz is no longer a trusted star witness . Police say surveillance camera recordings show Hernandez and Bradley going into a Boston nightclub shortly after the shooting victims went into the club. The recordings also show Hernandez driving the SUV out of a nearby parking garage with Bradley as a passenger shortly before the shootings, police said. Hernandez is currently being detained on a murder charge in the death of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player whose body was found June 17 near Hernandez's North Attleborough, Massachusetts home. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty. The Connecticut nightclub shooting is just the latest twist in the ongoing saga, as prosecutors announced on Friday that they no longer view their star witness as reliable. Carlos Ortiz, 27, who is charged with accessory to murder after the fact in the shooting death of Odin Lloyd, will no longer be called as a witness in Hernandez's murder trial at all. Ortiz was one of two men allegedly in the car with Hernandez before Odin Lloyd was shot to death. He was arrested last summer in connection to the murder and told police that Hernandez and another man, Ernest Wallace, 44, were outside their vehicle at the North Attleborough Industrial Park when Lloyd was shot five times. On trial: Prosecutors allege Aaron Hernandez has been speaking in code about the murder of Odin Lloyd to his cousin and his fiancee . Accused co-conspirators: Cousin Tanya Cummings Singleton (left) and fiancee Shayanna Jenkins (right) face charges for their involvement in the murder case, and are accused of receiving the coded messages . Ortiz said he was asleep in the . vehicle when he was awoken by the sound of gunshots, after which . Hernandez and Wallace returned to the car. He . also told police that he saw Hernandez carrying a handgun and mentioned . a 'flophouse' in Franklin which 'other football players used,' where . police recovered evidence including clothing and ammunition, according . to the Taunton Gazette. However, Ortiz has now changed his story to say that Hernandez was alone with Lloyd outside the vehicle. Prosecutors . also requested copies of Aaron Hernandez's phone calls from Bristol . County Jail and records of visitors on Friday, alleging that he has used . ‘coded messages’ to discuss the Odin Lloyd murder from prison, . authorities claim.

Alexander Bradley was shot at a Connecticut nightclub over the weekend . He previously filed a suit claiming Aaron Hernandez shot him in the face- causing him to lose an eye- outside a nightclub in Miami, Florida . Police believe the two men were involved in a 2012 double murder . Comes as prosecutors say Carlos Ortiz will not be called by the prosecution in Aaron Hernandez's murder trial . Ortiz is one of two men allegedly in the car with Hernandez the night Odin Lloyd was killed .

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Captain Scott Brown and winger James Forrest have been left out of the Celtic squad for the final Europa League Group D game against Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia on Thursday night. The Hoops have already qualified for the knockout stages and Brown is one booking away from a suspension while Forrest is still coming back to full fitness after injury. Ineligible striker John Guidetti drops out again while midfielder Charlie Mulgrew (knee) and defender Jason Denayer (foot) are unavailable to manager Ronny Deila. James Forrest is sent tumbling by Motherwell's Simon Ramsden, who was sent off for this tackle, on Saturday . Captain Scott Brown has also been left behind with Celtic already through to the knockout phase . Right-back Mikael Lustig has recovered from a hamstring injury but the game comes too soon for him. Speaking at Glasgow Airport before the team flew out, assistant manager John Collins said: 'Scott Brown has been left behind. He is on a booking so we will rest him and I think he deserves a little rest. 'James Forrest stayed at home, he will be ready for the weekend. 'But we will approach it the same as every other game, the exact same preparation. 'We will treat them with respect. We want a good performance and we want to finish the group on a high. Ronny Deila's side have won their last three matches in all competitions heading in to Thursday's tie . 'The lads have done terrifically well in qualifying. 'It is a nice position to be in but ultimately we want a result and we want a performance. 'We can go and enjoy the game but you only enjoy it if you play well and get a result. 'There is a chance there will be one or two changes but not too many changes, that is always dangerous.'

Celtic already guaranteed to finish second in their Europa League group . Final group game is against Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia on Thursday night . Manager Ronny Deila has rested captain Scott Brown and James Forrest .

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Chinese authorities formally arrested prominent lawyer Pu Zhiqiang on Friday for "picking quarrels and creating a disturbance." His other alleged crime was "illegally obtaining citizens' personal information," Beijing police said on their official microblog, adding that the investigation into Pu is still ongoing. Pu, 49, was detained in early May after attending a low-key seminar in a private home to mark the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. State-run Global Times newspaper said in an editorial at the time that he had crossed "a legal red line" by associating himself with a topic still considered taboo in China. Pu took part in the student-led demonstrations in 1989 that ended in a bloody military crackdown on June 4 of that year. He later become one of the best-known lawyers in China for defending human rights in courts as well as in the media. A fierce critic of China's once ubiquitous forced labor camps, Pu took on several high-profile clients who were victims of the "re-education through labor" system. His cases gained nationwide attention and support, pressuring the government to re-examine the controversial system and leading to its eventual abolition late last year. Although his work had often put him at odds with the ruling Communist Party, Pu dismissed the risks in an interview with CNN last summer. "I think I'm fine," he said. "I'm a moderate, and the government has treated me well. I'm a veteran lawyer and haven't made mistakes in my career. I'm not radical, and I don't threaten the government." Pu's arrest comes as the latest development in a new wave of government crackdowns on human rights advocates. Police put nearly 100 people in detention or under house arrest before this year's Tiananmen anniversary, said Chinese Human Rights Defenders, a Washington-based monitoring group. When President Xi Jinping took office in 2013, some activists hoped he would preside over a system more tolerant of dissent and discussion. His government, however, is now widely seen as tightening the screws on the work of activists and intellectuals, including the sentencing of Xu Zhiyong, another well-known human rights lawyer, to four years in prison in January after he pushed for financial transparency for senior officials.

The government accuses Pu Zhiqiang of "picking quarrels and creating a disturbance" He was detained in May after attending a seminar marking Tiananmen Square anniversary . Pu took part in demonstrations in 1989 in the square that ended in a bloody military crackdown . His work has put him at odds with the ruling Communist Party .

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The launch of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are just days away, and a lot of the talk about the new devices are their larger, ion-strengthened glass screens. Now the American Chemical Society has created a video that explains why this type of screen is typically stronger than other displays - and it involves using a hot bath of potassium. The video also reveals many of the other elements found in smartphones, including gold, silver, tin, and even arsenic. Scroll down for video . The American Chemical Society has explained how the ion-strengthened glass on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus (pictured left to right) is stronger than regular glass, because it is placed into a hot potassium bath. The chemist has also revealed other elements found in phones such as silver, gold, tin, aluminium and silicon . In the build up to Apple’s iPhone 6 event, nearly every report claimed the devices would have a sapphire screen. Instead, Apple unveiled 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch handsets that both feature ion-strengthened glass, during last week's launch. To make ion-strengthened glass, glass is placed into a hot bath of potassium salt, typically potassium nitrate, at around 300°C (572°F). This causes the sodium ions in the glass to migrate, which in turn causes sodium ions in the glass surface to be replaced by potassium ions from the bath solution. The larger potassium ions in the bath squeeze themselves into the holes created by the moving sodium. This compresses the glass, to accommodate the larger ions, which in turn makes it stronger. By comparison, sapphire screens are made from synthetic sapphire - a hard, transparent material made of crystallising aluminium oxide, produced at high temperatures. As the material is heated, it forms disks that can be sliced using diamond-coated saws. These round disks are ground into shape, and polished, to become glass. According to the American Chemical Society’s video, created with help from experts at the Compound Interest blog, ion-strengthened glass is created using a potassium bath. One method is to dip the glass into a hot bath of potassium salt, typically potassium nitrate, at around 300°C (572°F). This causes the sodium ions in the glass to migrate, which in turn causes sodium ions in the glass surface to be replaced by potassium ions from the bath solution. The larger potassium ions in the bath squeeze themselves into the holes created by the moving sodium. This compresses the glass, to accommodate the larger ions, which in turn makes it stronger. When broken, chemically strengthened glass still shatters, similar to traditional glass, but it is said to be between six and eight times stronger. An alternative method for strengthening glass, is submerging the glass into a sodium nitrate bath first. This enriches the surface with more sodium ions, and when the ions in the glass are immersed in potassium nitrate, there are more sodium ions to be replaced, which increases the compression and strength. By comparison, sapphire screens are made from synthetic sapphire - a hard, transparent material made of crystallising aluminium oxide, produced at high temperatures. To make ion-strengthened glass, glass is placed into a hot bath of potassium salt, typically potassium nitrate, which is around 300°C (572°F). This heat causes the sodium ions in the glass to migrate, which in turn causes sodium ions in the glass surface to be replaced by potassium ions from the bath solution (illustrated) By comparison, the Apple Watch (pictured) features a sapphire crystal screen . As the material is heated, it forms disks that can be sliced using diamond-coated saws. These round disks are ground into shape, and polished, to become glass. The technology is traditionally used in watch displays because it is thin, super-strong and scratch resistant. Apple already uses sapphire crystal in the Touch ID fingerprint scanner on its latest iPhone 5S and to protects the phone's camera. Elsewhere, the screen on typical smartphones are also made up of extremely rare elements called praseodymium, gadolinium and terbium. And to achieve the charge needed to power the touchscreen, a compound of indium, tin and oxygen is used in a transparent film that conducts electricity. The video also explains that a typical smartphone contains about 300 milligrams of silver and 30 milligrams of gold, housed in an aluminium case. Copper is used in the wiring and circuitry, and the silicon chips that power the devices also feature oxygen, antimony, phosphorous, gallium and arsenic.. ‘So there you have it. Those are the elements that make up the phone, you can’t put down,' concluded the American Chemical Society. Elsewhere, smartphone screens are also made up of extremely rare elements called praseodymium, gadolinium and terbium. And to achieve the charge needed to power the touchscreen, a compound of indium, tin and oxygen is used in a transparent film that conducts electricity . The video also explains that a typical smartphone contains about 300 milligrams of silver and 30 milligrams of gold, housed in aluminium. Copper is used in the wiring and circuitry, and the silicon chips that power the devices also feature oxygen, antimony, phosphorous, gallium and arsenic (pictured)

The screen on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus contains ion-strengthened glass . This is created by placing glass into a hot potassium bath . Experts from the American Chemical Society have also revealed other elements found in phones . A typical phone contains silver, gold, tin, aluminium and silicon . It also contains extremely rare elements such as gadolinium and terbium . The silicon chips even contains small traces of arsenic .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:01 EST, 24 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 16:37 EST, 24 May 2012 . Simple scrape: Paul Bales cut himself in the water while he was installing a new dock at the lake where he lives . A fourth victim of flesh-eating bacteria in Georgia lost his leg when doctors were forced to amputate it three weeks after he received a cut in the water. The latest outbreak of the infection has left neighbors terrified to go in Lake Sinclair, afraid they'll come down with the rare and serious disease, as well. Three other victims are recovering in the hospital after picking up the bacteria from cuts and wounds across the state. Doctors say the cases are not related. Aimee Copeland, the 24-year-old graduate student whose battle with the bacteria first drew international attention to the horrific medical condition, sat up in bed for several hours. She continues to recover doctors were forced to amputate her leg, her foot and both her hands as the necrotizing fasciitis spread rapidly through her body. Paul Bales, the latest victim, was standing in Lake Sinclair near Milledgeville, preparing to install an expansion onto his dock when he cut his leg in the water on May 1, WGXA-TV reports. His son, Mike Bales, told the TV station his father didn't think much of the wound when it first happened. 'It was a very small cut. Matter of fact he just bandaged it up and then went and played golf for the next couple of days,' he said. But, within four days the cut began to swell ass the infection set in. On May 5 Mr Bales, a grandfather, went to his local hospital. Horrific: Paul Bales (right) has been fighting a flesh-eating bacteria infection for three weeks. Doctors amputated his leg on Wednesday . Family man: Mr Bales (bottom) was installing a new dock at Lake Sinclair when he accidentally cut himself . The next week he was transferred to Medical Center of Central Georgia, as doctors struggled to battle the aggressive disease. Mr Bales is now 'resting comfortably' after a portion of his left leg was removed. Doctors fear they might have to amputate more of his leg next week if the infection persists, Mike Bales told WMAZ-TV. Mr Bales terrifying ordeal, coupled with the other infection rates is beginning to cause panic in Georgia. 'Like, over the last three decades only about 200 cases nationwide. And then all of a sudden we've three or four in the last month,' Mike Bales told WGXA. Mr Bales neighbors on the lake are keeping their kids out of the water for the Memorial Day holiday, terrified that the bacteria could enter their bloodstreams, too. Outbreak: Four people have been infected with the horrific disease this month in Georgia. All infections have been as a result of cuts and wounds received in different parts of the state . Still critical: Aimee Copeland, 24, (left) remains in the hospital after her leg, foot and both hands were amputated. Lana Kuykendall, 36, (right) has just given birth to twins before she was afflicted by the disease . Don't be stubborn: Bobby Vaughn, 33, says his refusal to stay at the hospital in the first days of his infection almost cost him his life . 'People are scared they'll lose limbs. Everybody in town's scared to go out on the water,' Austin Hunter, one of Mr Bales' neighbors, told WGXA. Miss Copeland, despite her heart-breaking amputations, continues to improve. She remains in critical condition at Doctors Hospital in Augusta. On Thursday, her father Andy revealed that his daughter sat up in bed for several hours on Tuesday. 'When the doctors put Aimee up in that chair, their expectations were to give her an hour,' he wrote on her Facebook page. 'Five hours later, Aimee decided it was time to lie down. Had she been running an Olympic marathon, I think Aimee would have experienced a record-breaking, gold-medal moment.' Miss Copeland, at student at the University of West Georgia, was infected after she cut her leg when she fell from a homemade zip-line and splashed down into the Tallapoosa River near her home in Carrollton on May 1. The second victim of the flesh-eating disease, Lana Kuykendall, 36, noticed the infection on the back of her leg just hours after being released from Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where she gave birth to twins. She has had seven surgeries to remove the infected flesh and remains in critical condition at Greenville Memorial Hospital in South Carolina, near her home. The third victim, Bobby Vaughn, 33, has been upgraded to good condition after doctors removed two pounds of flesh from his groin. He is recovering at Doctors Hospital, as well, after he cut his thigh while cutting weeds in Cartersville. Despite the bizarre outbreak of the disease, Dr Mike Green, of Macon, said people shouldn't over-react and become paranoid about becoming infected. It remains very rare, he said. Insidious: This scanning electron microscopic image of WT Aeromonas hydrophila strain SSU, the bacteria responsible for the flesh-eating disease that attacked Aimee Copeland . Necrotizing fasciitis, more commonly known as 'flesh-eating disease', is a rare but extremely vicious bacterial infection. 'Necrotizing' refers to something that causes body tissue to die, and the infection can destroy skin, muscles and fat. The disease develops when the bacteria enters the body, often through a minor cut or scrape. As the bacteria multiply, they release toxins that kill tissue and cut off blood flow to the area. Because it is so virulent, the bacteria spreads rapidly throughout the body. Symptoms include small, red lumps or bumps on the skin, rapidly-spreading bruising, sweating, chills, fever and nausea. Organ failure and shock are also common complications. Sufferers must be treated immediately to prevent death, and are usually given powerful antibiotics and surgery to remove dead tissue. Amputation can become necessary if the disease spreads through an arm or leg. Patients may undergo skin grafts after the infection has cleared up, to help the healing process or for aesthetic reasons.

Aimee Copeland sat up in bed for five hours in 'Olympic effort' as she continues recovery . Paul Bales, the latest victim, cut his leg working on his dock in Lake Sinclair . Now his neighbors are terrified to go in the water, afraid they will catch the horrific disease, as well .

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Glittering jackets, pounding drums and faces covered in bright paints -- welcome to Cape Town's New Year carnival celebrations. Thousands of lively performers dressed in eye-catching costumes paraded Saturday through the South African city, dancing and singing as throngs of cheering spectators swelled the streets to revel in the carnival atmosphere. More than 70 minstrel troupes -- sporting panama hats and colorful bow-ties, as well as carrying umbrellas and waving parasols -- set the city center alive as brass bands and singers entertained the crowds to the beat of ghoema drums during this year's "Tweede Nuwe Jaar" ("Second New Year) parade. Read this: Five African festivals you can't miss . "(It) may be compared to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro, or the Notting Hill Carnival in London," says South African Michael Hutchinson, author of "Bo-Kaap: Colourful Heart of Cape Town" and "Mixit - Voices of the Bo-Kaap." The annual street party, which usually takes place on January 2, rather than January 4, came after months of preparations for the participating troupes -- each group of dancers, singers and performers had to prepare their own colorful uniforms and practice their performance routines well in advance. Rooted in slavery . The vibrant open-air celebrations, which are deeply rooted in the local Cape Malay population's culture and traditions, have been shaped by varied influences over the years. Yet, it is widely believed that their origins can be traced back to the dark days of slavery during South Africa's colonial period. "The story goes that Tweede Nuwe Jaar was the day on which the Malay slaves were given time off, because their masters celebrated on New Year's Day," says Hutchinson. Read more: Lagos festival puts mega city in the spotlight . In 1830s, slavery came to an end and the former slaves took to the streets to celebrate their freedom. These emancipation celebrations were apparently merged with the New Year festivities, creating a tradition that grew stronger in the following decades. It is also understood that the carnival's current form has been influenced by the songs, costumes and performances of African American minstrels who arrived in Cape Town in 1860s to entertain crowds. The first edition of the carnival in its current form took place in 1907 and while the festivities were severely restricted during apartheid, the carnival has been growing in popularity in recent years. Read this: The township teens turned opera stars . Saturday's festivities were just one part of the wider carnival. The celebrations will continue in the following weeks as thousands of onlookers are expected to attend competitions to determine the best troupes, choirs and bands. Click through the gallery above for a taste of this year's street party atmosphere.

Cape Town hosted Saturday its annual minstrel carnival celebrating the New Year . Revelers donned colorful costumes as they danced to the beat of marching bands . The street party celebrations are deeply rooted in the culture of the Cape Malay population .

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From idyllic beaches to spectacular scenery, there isn’t much that Haiti doesn’t offer tourists. But this is one activity that isn't on most visitors’ itineraries. Bullfighting is a huge pastime for Haitians, with locals often gathering each Sunday to gamble on the outcome of matches. Scroll down for video . A casual pastime for some rural men, it's a serious business for others looking to pay their children's school fees or even buy a car . In the coastal town of Leogane, locals often gather each Sunday to gamble on the outcome bullfights . The coastal town of Leogane holds regular events, and the obscure Haitian practice has been likened to cockfighting or dog-fighting. A casual pastime for some rural men, it's a serious business for others looking to pay their children's school fees or even buy a car. The animals’ horns are often sharpened by knives and machetes ahead of each fight in a bid to give the bulls an advantage over their rivals. The bulls' trainers then stomp through crowds of onlookers as they look to drum up bets among the spectators, while the animals dig holes in the dirt as they wait to be let loose from their ropes. Locals say most fights end when one of the bulls retreats, but some have ended with one of the animals - or spectators - being gored . The animals’ horns are often sharpened by knives and machetes ahead of each fight in a bid to give the bulls an advantage . When owners are satisfied with the bets, two bulls are released to charge into a bone-rattling collision. Lunging at one another and digging their hooves into the soil, the 1,700lb animals battle while hundreds of spectators shout and wave money. While some fights last a matter of minutes, other can continue for a quarter of an hour. Locals gather to watch a bullfight that they organized on a banana farm in Leogane, Haiti . For people living on as little as £1 a day, the chance of landing a big payday is appealing . Bettors say their decision to pick a specific bull to win a fight can often involves dreamlike visions . The fight ends when one of the bulls retreats. While locals reveal that this is the most likely ending to a fight, some have ended with one of the animals - or spectators - being gored. Local Jean Andre Martineau says he has managed to buy a large Jeep with the winnings he has collected from his four fighting bulls. ‘The happiness is in betting on an animal you know is strong and ready,’ he said outside Leogane, an hour's drive from Port-au-Prince. The 72-year-old said his great-grandfather was a well-known bull trainer and the practice has existed in several rural hamlets for at least a century. Men congratulate a bull that won a fight in the coastal town of Leogane. The sport has been likened to cockfighting and dog-fighting . A man sprays water on his bull after it was entered in a fight in Leogane, Haiti . Those with less money gather around rough-hewn roulette tables. Winners get cans of condensed milk . A man pulls his bull by a rope before entering him in a fight in Leogane, Haiti . For people living on as little as £1 a day, the chance of landing a big payday is often appealing. In bull fights, pots can grow to 36,000 Haitian gourdes (£450). Bettors say choosing bulls often involves dreamlike visions. On the field in Leogane, fighting bulls are just one game of chance. Those with less money gather around rough-hewn roulette tables, the winning numbers on wobbling wheels pinpointed by metal spokes. Winners get cans of condensed milk. It fits into a gambling culture in Haiti that includes cock fights and ‘borlettes’ - gaudily-painted outlets that sell lottery tickets.

Haitians gather outside the coastal town of Leogane each Sunday to gamble on matches . Fights can last a few minutes or continue for up to a quarter of an hour . Gamblers win enough cash to pay their children's school fees or buy cars . Prize money can grow to £450 per fight in a country where workers can earn as little as £1-a-day .

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Widow Randi Lane, 69, was fleeced out of £20,000 of her life savings by a string of mail scams . A grandmother told how she was fleeced out of £20,000 of her life savings by a string of mail scams. Widow Randi Lane's name was found on a 'sucker list' used by fraudsters after a raid on a distribution house from where the letters are sent. But before the discovery she had lost tens of thousands of pounds replying to scam letters from lotteries and so-called clairvoyants. The trusting grandmother-of-two said she feels like she has been taken for a fool by the 'terrible' scammers who have deliberately targeted her with up to 20 letters a day. The former nanny, 69, said: 'I must have spent thousands of pounds - it was money I was saving for holidays and for my grandchildren. 'I would have loved to travel or go on a cruise - but because of these scammers I haven't been able to do any of that. 'The letters are so cleverly worded and addressed directly to you. They are so believable. 'They obviously think I am an easy target and used that to their advantage, and then they tell others and they send letters too. 'I have always thought of myself as a business minded person, as I have worked all of my life, and I have never thought of myself as stupid but I must have been to fall for it.' Mrs Lane - who moved to England from Norway almost 50 years ago - began receiving the abundance of mail when she moved into her current home St Annes, Lancashire, in 2006. And over the nine years since she has forked out as much as £20,000 - paying between £20 and £40 a time to supposed mediums and lottery schemes promising prizes of millions of pounds. Mrs Lane's was one of dozens of names found on a 'suckers list' when the National Scam Hub raided a distribution house from where scam mail would be sent. Trading Standards bosses said the case was an example of con artists using cleverly-worded letters to groom people into handing over their hard-earned cash. The widow, whose name was found on a suckers list, receives up to 20 scam letters each day . A spokesperson from Trading Standards said: 'Mrs Lane was highlighted to us as being on what they call a 'sucker list'. 'Unfortunately, particularly with elderly, vulnerable people they can be taken in and it can open up the flood gates. 'These people are effectively groomed. A more sinister development is a clairvoyant saying they can see a big money win. Surprise, surprise, the victim then gets a letter from the lottery. 'And they personalise letters using their first names - it's a very vindictive way of earning a living.' The 69-year-old used to reply to every letter she received but after being contacted by Trading Standards she has stopped this . But despite stopping replying to the letters last year, the grandmother still gets up to half a dozen letters every day as well as several phone calls. She said: 'These people normally target people who are elderly or alone or don't get out much. They take advantage of vulnerable people - it is terrible. 'But if I can stop just one person from doing what I have done, and stop more people from being hoodwinked, I am willing to share my story.'

Widow Randi Lane has been fleeced out of £20,000 by mail scammers . The 69-year-old receives up to 20 letters a day from fraudsters . She replied to scam letters from lotteries and so-called clairvoyants . Her name was found on a 'sucker list' during raid on distribution house . Grandmother-of-two is now being assisted by Trading Standards .

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(CNN) -- A lock break occurred on the Ohio River near Warsaw, Kentucky, on Sunday, stopping barge traffic for several hours as the Army Corps of Engineers investigated. The lock break stopped traffic on the Ohio River about 65 miles northeast of Louisville, Kentucky. The incident involved structures, and there were no reports of injuries. All traffic on the river was stopped in both directions at about 9 a.m. ET, Corps spokesman Todd Hornback said. By 8 p.m., an auxiliary lock was set up to start allowing the half-dozen blocked barges through. "It's going to take more time, but we're keeping the river open tonight," Hornback said. The river is a major artery for commodities shipping, with more than 50 million tons of cargo passing through the affected area annually, according to a waterways organization. It was not known what caused the break at the Markland Locks and Dam. Engineers were going to the site, about 65 miles northeast of Louisville, Kentucky, Hornback said. The lock's gates are 1,200 feet long and 110 feet wide. A smaller auxiliary lock is 600 feet long and 110 feet wide. Watch traffic backed up on Ohio River » . A lock is a section of a waterway, such as a river, that is closed off with gates. Vessels in transit enter the lock and the water level is raised or lowered in order to raise or lower the vessel to adjust to elevation changes. One of the broken portions is known as a miter gate, Hornback said. The Corps of Engineers, on its Web site, says a miter gate "has two leaves that provide a closure at one end of the lock." They are so named because the two leaves meet at an angle pointing upstream and resembling a miter joint, the Web site said, referring to a joint meeting at a 45-degree angle, such as the corner of a picture frame. A public policy organization, in a February 2008 report, graded the locks' performance as a D, "based primarily upon risk of failure due to unreliability of miter gates." The federal government allocated $10.6 million to install new chamber miter gates, according to Waterways Council Inc., which describes itself as an organization "advocating a modern and well-maintained national system of ports and inland waterways." Hornback said the work was scheduled for 2011, adding that it's unclear whether Sunday's break will speed that up. "The risk is very high that a failure of the lock gates will occur, forcing traffic through the auxiliary lock for an extended period, causing huge delays and costs to the towing industry," the council said in the report last year. Engineers hope to have the river back open as soon as possible, Hornback said, but an exact time frame was not known. Some 55 million tons of commodities pass through the Markland Locks each year, according to the Waterways Council. The principal commodity passing through Markland is coal, which fuels numerous electric power plants along the Ohio River, and those plants typically stockpile only about a 30-day supply, the council said.

NEW: Auxiliary lock used to relieve blocked river traffic . Lock broke Sunday morning; cause not known, Army Corps of Engineers says . Break happened about 65 miles northeast of Louisville, Kentucky . In locks, vessels are raised or lowered to match elevation ahead .

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Chelsea defender Ashley Cole and Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick will not be on the plane to Rio with the rest of the World Cup squad next month, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. England manager Roy Hodgson will announce his World Cup squad tomorrow with a dramatic cull of ageing stars as he turns to youth for this summer’s campaign. Hodgson has chosen a 23-man squad packed with young legs to cope with the soaring temperatures and sweltering humidity of Brazil. The team’s oldest members will be Frank Lampard, 35, and Steven Gerrard, 33. Boys not for Brazil: Chelsea left back Ashley Cole (left) and Red Devil Michael Carrick (right) have been left out of Roy Hodgson's squad for the World Cup this summer . Cole, 33, once seen as one of England’s ‘golden generation’, has struggled to get into Chelsea’s first team this season. He will be replaced by Southampton left-back Luke Shaw, 18, who has garnered critical acclaim for his performances this season and become a multimillion-pound target for Manchester United. Carrick, 32, will be forced to make way for Everton midfielder Ross Barkley, 20, tipped as one of the future stars of the squad. The young ones: Ross Barkley and Luke Shaw have been selected for the England squad . Arsenal pair Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (left) and Jack Wilshere (right) are both included despite suffering injuries this season . The old guard: Stevie Gerrard of Liverpool (left) and Chelsea's Frank Lampard are the squad's elder statesmen . Other youngsters set to feature include pacy Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling, 19, and Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 20. Without Lampard and Gerrard, the squad has an average age of 25. The other squad members are Joe Hart, Ben Foster, John Ruddy, Glen Johnson, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Leighton Baines, Jordan Henderson, Jack Wilshere, Adam Lallana, James Milner, Daniel Sturridge, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Rickie Lambert.

Tournament would have been Cole's fourth World Cup and Carrick's third . But the veterans have both been left out of Roy Hodgson's youthful squad . The oldest players selected are Frank Lampard, 35, and Steven Gerrard, 33 . Meanwhile Luke Shaw and Ross Barkley are the young hopefuls . Arsenal pair Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere are also included .

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(CNN) -- Actress Mia Farrow testified Monday that supermodel Naomi Campbell named Charles Taylor as the person who presented her with a diamond. Farrow was testifying at the war crimes trial of Taylor, the former president of Liberia who prosecutors allege funded a brutal civil war in Sierra Leone using blood diamonds. A so-called blood diamond is mined in war zones and used to fund rebels and warlords. The stones have fueled bloody conflicts in Africa for more than a decade. Farrow's testimony at the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone contradicted that of Campbell, who took the stand last week. During her appearance, Campbell said she didn't know who sent her stones, which were delivered to her room in Pretoria, South Africa late at night. But Farrow told prosecutors: "She said that in the night she had been awakened. Some men were knocking at her door. They were sent by Charles Taylor and they had given her a huge diamond." Both Farrow and Campbell were guests at a dinner hosted by Nelson Mandela in 1997, which Taylor also attended. The next morning, Campbell told the tribunal, she shared the story of receiving stones with her then-agent, Carole White, and Farrow. "Well, that's obviously Charles Taylor," one of them said. Campbell didn't recall who said it. Then, one of them added, "Well, obviously, they are diamonds." Campbell said she assumed the stones came from Taylor, but testified that she wasn't sure. After her testimony, prosecutors said they would present two witnesses who would dispute Campbell's story. "Two other witnesses will also testify about these events.... there are significant differences between those accounts and Ms. Campbell's account," the prosecution said in a statement. Farrow's testimony did just that. Taylor, 62, was president of Liberia from 1997 to 2003. The war crimes charges against him stem from the widespread murder, rape and mutilation that occurred during the civil war in Sierra Leone, fought largely by teenagers who were forced to kill, given addictive drugs to provoke violent behavior and were often instructed to rape and plunder. Taylor is charged with five counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, enslavement and sexual slavery and violence. He also faces five counts of war crimes, including acts of terrorism and torture, and one count of other serious violations of international humanitarian law. He has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors had rested their case against Taylor in February 2009 but reopened it to call Campbell to testify after learning in June of that year that Taylor had given the supermodel a diamond. When arguing to reopen the case, prosecutors said Campbell's testimony would prove that the former president "used rough diamonds for personal enrichment and arms purchases," according to papers filed with the U.N.-backed court. Taylor has testified that he never handled the precious stones.

Mia Farrow says Naomi Campbell said Charles Taylor sent her a diamond . Former Liberian president on trial for allegedly funding civil war with blood diamonds . Campbell testified she wasn't sure who sent her diamonds during a trip to Africa . Blood diamonds are mined in war zones and is used to fund rebels and warlords .

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By . Bianca London for MailOnline . She's a talented singer whose musical comeback has been welcomed with open arms but Pixie Lott is proving her worth as a model too. The songstress, who is signed with Select Model Management, looks stunning as she lets her natural beauty shine in a new photoshoot for Pandora. The jewellery giant is sponsoring Pixie's new album launch and to celebrate she's posed in a candid shoot wearing her favourite pieces from the range. Natural beauty: Pixie Lott, 23, looks fresh-faced as she poses in a natural shoot to showcase Pandora's latest collection of stacking rings - the jewellery brand sponsored her latest album launch . Wearing barely a scrap of make-up, the 23-year-old star looks fresh-faced with her hair poker straight. She looks casual but chic in a Breton-striped jumper and a selection of the brand's famous stacking rings. Last week, Pandora hosted an exclusive acoustic performance with Pixie Lott at their Flagship Marble Arch store on Oxford Street. Fast forward a week and the starlet head straight to V Festival this weekend where she took to the MTV stage and delighted the packed crowd by performing in a typically eye-catching and cheeky outfit. Clearly excited about the weekend ahead, the star tweeted: ‘En route to @VFestival best weekend of the year Who's coming to see my set at 2.20pm on the MTV Stage? excited to watch @jtimberlake.’ All smiles: Pixie looks giggly and cheerful in the snaps - and she's got every excuse to be after her musical comeback has been met with huge success . Busy bee: This weekend, Pixie has been performing on the MTV stage at V Festival where she delighted the packed crowd by performing in a typically eye-catching and cheeky outfit . Model behaviour: The 23-year-old is signed with Select Model Management, where her long-term boyfriend Oliver Cheshire is also on the books . She was joined there by long-term boyfriend Oliver Cheshire, who models for M&S and various other high fashion labels. Despite being together for nearly a half a decade, Pixie recently admitted that the pair are in no rush to walk down the aisle. The Mama Do singer told MailOnline: ‘Everyone’s different, everyone’s ready at different times. My sister got married last year so I feel like all that attention has been on her rather than pressure on me. 'There’s so much I want to do first and Oliver has things he’s doing in his career so while I want to get married and have babies in my lifetime, it’s not happening right now. I still have so much to focus on before that’. Speaking about how her boyfriend plays a huge part in her music, Pixie told Look magazine: ‘He makes me so happy, but I’ve imagined what it would be like if we broke up - awful - and it inspired some of the ballads on the album, like Break Up Song.' Stylish couple: Pixie and her model boyfriend Oliver have been partying in the Mahiki tent at V Festival this weekend . Going for gold! Pixie performed in an eye-catching and skimpy gold outfit for the crowds at V Festival in Chelmsford this weekend .

Pandora sponsoring her new album launch . Pixie, 23, poses wearing stacking rings from collection . Has been performing and partying at V Festival .

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By . Ian Drury . Police in Manchester admit the city centre is now ‘too dangerous’ after midnight because of the mayhem caused by Labour’s 24-hour drinking laws. Public safety can no longer be guaranteed because of rocketing alcohol-fuelled violence, said a senior officer. Inspector Ian Hanson said continental-style licensing since 2005 had led to chaos ‘spiralling out of control’. Offenders are now being allowed off the hook because there are too many violent incidents and too few officers because of budget cuts, he said. Unsafe: Continental-style licensing laws implemented in 2005 had led to chaos 'spiralling out of control' in places like the aptly named Shambles Square in central Manchester . He spoke out as a drunken thug was jailed for savagely stamping on a scientist in an unprovoked attack in Manchester city centre in December last year. Dr Dominic Henry, 32, had started a conversation with strangers Alan Croydon and Arron Buckley as he waited to get a cab home but was suddenly punched to the ground before being kicked up to 15 times as he lay defenceless. Labour talked of bringing a peaceful 'café culture' to the UK when it introduced round-the-clock opening in late 2005. But many towns and cities are now blighted by booze-fuelled thuggish behaviour with trouble ranges from fighting and drug dealing to pick pocketing and street robbery. Insp Hanson, 47, said he would no longer go into central Manchester late at night when the weekend drinking culture is in full swing at the city’s 300 pubs, bars and nightclubs. Chaos: Offenders are now being allowed off the hook because there are too many violent alcohol-related incidents in the city centre, said Manchester police's Ian Hanson . He said: ‘I would not be there past midnight now. I do not believe it is safe there. The situation is at crisis point - we cannot guarantee anyone’s safety after midnight.’ ‘We have got the fastest-growing night-time economy outside London with a new bar opening every weekend. There are a quarter of a million people coming into the city centre to enjoy themselves every weekend. ‘But at four o’clock in the morning we will have just half a dozen police officers on duty in the city centre, or even as few as four officers, which is beyond belief. ‘Cops are getting called to nightclubs to break up fights at 6am on a Sunday morning. The situation is spiralling out of control. Sooner or later something horrific is going to happen.’ Insp Hanson, who is chairman of the local Police Federation, said the force was so stretched in the early hours they let violent yobs walk free rather than take officers off the street to process the crimes. No problem: Labour councillor Pat Karney said he does not understand police critique of the drinking in Manchester . He said: ‘Officers have to take a pragmatic view about offences of disorder. ‘I am told regularly by colleagues that public order offences are not being acted upon because there are so few officers on duty and making an arrest would take them off the street for hours.’ The problem was worsened by cuts to police budgets and rank-and-file officers, he said. Dr Henry, a senior metallurgist with a chemical firm, had been out socialising with friends at the city’s Malmaison Hotel and a bar in the city's trendy Northern Quarter district before he the unprovoked attack. In a statement to Manchester Crown Court he said: ‘I was talking to them for a few minutes before they started punching. The attack was brutal, violent, beyond the scope of my imagination. I was an innocent, hardworking man that didn't deserve what I got.’ Croydon, 25, from Manchester, was jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual body harm. A warrant was issued for Buckley, 25, who has gone on the run. The Mail has repeatedly highlighted the full scale of the misery and loutish behaviour inflicted on the public by Tony Blair’s government’s 24-hour drinking laws. Home Office figures show the number of town centres and neighbourhoods officially classed as being overrun by problem pubs and bars has rocketed by 150 per cent – from 71 in March 2007 to 175 last year. The situation in these areas is considered so bad councils have special powers to turn down planning applications for yet more bars to protect the public from further disorder. It has also led to a massive increase in so-called cumulative impact zones – the official term for an area ravaged by alcohol-fuelled mayhem. The Association of Chief Police Officers wants to be able to put drunks in holding cells where they will be charged up to £400 a night. Since round-the-clock drinking was brought in, police officers have dished out an estimated 400,000 fines for drunk and disorderly behaviour. Ministers have given councils new powers to limit the harm of excessive drinking but they have stopped short of returning to the traditional closing time of 11pm or midnight. But Councillor Pat Karney, Manchester’s city centre spokesman, said: ‘As somebody who lives in the city and is regularly out after midnight, it’s not dangerous. If the police have problems with any licensed premises they can come to the town hall and ask for it to be reviewed.’

Manchester police warns the city centre is not safe after midnight . Inspector warns the 24-hour drinking laws are to blame for 'chaos' There are too many incidents and too few officers after cuts, say force .

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By . Sarah Bridge . PUBLISHED: . 09:33 EST, 4 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:02 EST, 4 November 2013 . No-one ever said that being a celebrity was a dog's life. But the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in south London is raising money by auctioning off a dog-walking experience with a whole host of dog-loving celebrities, including supermodel David Gandy, Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons and Saturdays singer and style icon Mollie King. Also getting their collars and leads ready for the exclusive one-on-one outings is Britain's Got Talent's Amanda Holden, adventurer, presenter and animal campaigner Ben Fogle, fashionista and model Daisy Lowe as well dance supremo Ashley Banjo and radio DJ Neil Fox, the proud owner of Battersea dog Bonzo. Dog-lover David Gandy, with Battersea dog Staffordshire bull terrier Coco Bean, says he can often be found helping out at the south London dogs and cats home . However the celebrities with have to get used sharing the limelight with the the real stars of the day, the four-legged friends from Battersea who will be joining in the star-studded walkies, showing off their loveable traits and stealing attention from their dog walkers wherever possible. Highest bidders in the auction at www.collarsandcoats.org.uk/ebay will win a full half hour with their favourite dog-loving celebrity, and the walks will take place in nearby Battersea Park, close to the iconic south London rescue that has cared for 3.1 million dogs and cats since it was opened in 1860. The online auction starts today and runs until midnight on Friday 8 November. It is being launched to support the charity’s annual Collars and Coats Gala Ball, a spectacular event bursting with glitz and glamour which raises money to enable Battersea to care for thousands of lost and abandoned dogs and cats. Now in its fifth year, this year’s Hollywood themed event will be hosted by Battersea Ambassadors Amanda Holden and Paul O’Grady. Saturday's singer and style icon Mollie King, pictured with her maltipoo dog Alfie, is one of nine celebrities putting themselves up for auction in aid of Battersea Dogs and Cats home . Holden is looking forward to her walk with some Battersea dogs. She said, 'It is such an honour for me to be supporting Battersea at the Collars and Coats Gala Ball again this year. As a Battersea Ambassador I want to support the charity in any way I can and all the money raised through the auction will help more deserving animals find new loving homes. I am really excited about going on my walkies with a couple of gorgeous Battersea dogs and a lucky winner.' One of the most popular dog-walking celebrities is a dog himself. Pudsey won Britain's Got Talent last year with his owner Ashleigh Butler, and has since performed for the Queen. Ashleigh and Pudsey on their way to winning Britain's Got Talent 2012 . Said Ashleigh: 'Every dog deserves a loving home and Battersea does a fantastic job helping lost and abandoned dogs. Pudsey and I are going to do our bit by taking part in Battersea’s eBay dog walk auction and help raise as much money as we can for homeless dogs. It’s such a fun way to raise awareness of a great cause.' Fans of television presenter Ben Fogle will love the chance to take a stroll with the adventuror and animal lover, who famously met his wife Marina while they were both walking their dogs in London's Hyde Park. Said Ben: 'As a dog lover, I whole-heartedly support Battersea’s fantastic work and so it’s an absolute honour to be able to raise much needed funds. The dogs deserve every penny we raise and I’m really looking forward to my walk with a very special rescue pup and an eBay winner.' Amanda Holden, with a Battersea dog, is one of nine celebrities putting themselves up for auction . DJ Neil Fox and his beloved pet Bonzo, a former Battersea dog . Model and fashion designer Daisy Lowe is often photographed walking her dog. Daisy said,  'My dog Monty means the absolute world to me, so to be able to support Battersea in giving a second chance to lost and abandoned dogs is an absolute joy.' Claire Horton, Battersea’s chief executive said, 'It is such a fantastic auction prize, with so many wonderful famous faces getting involved and showing their love for our four-legged friends. It’s what walkies dreams are made of and best of all, all money raised will help the thousands of homeless dogs, and cats, we care for every year.' To find out more and to bid go to www.collarsandcoats.org.uk/ebay .

The online auction starts today and runs until midnight on November 8 . Prize is half-hour walk with your chosen celebrity and furry friend . Date with Ashleigh and Pudsey also going under the hammer . All money goes to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home .

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Washington (CNN)The Supreme Court jumped into the same-sex marriage debate again, deciding Friday to hear arguments this spring on the question of whether states have the right to ban same-sex couples from getting married. It's expected to hammer out a decision on one of the most controversial social issues by June when the 2016 presidential race will be well underway, forcing the debate into full view during what's expected to be a crowded and diverse Republican primary. It's not an issue that establishment Republicans are eager to drag into the spotlight. On the national level, the party is increasingly reluctant to focus on social issues, especially after the 2012 debacle over Todd Akin's rape comments and as polling continues to show a majority of Americans support same-sex marriage. A recent CNN/ORC International survey indicates that 57% of Americans think gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to get married. Off the table or on? Some Republican strategists say quietly that a decision could bring some finality and take the issue off the table well before the election, while others say it could reignite the debate. "I fear there could be a bigger fight within the GOP because of a Supreme Court decision than there would be without one," said Vin Weber, a former congressman from Minnesota and an adviser to Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign. "I don't want to see a fight over this issue, because I think it's evolving on its own state by state." He added: "I would guess social conservatives would take up umbrage, make it a divisive issue, and force every Republican candidate to go on record saying what they really believe." It's a tough issue to talk about for Republicans, consultants say, because no matter what position they take, they're going to get in trouble with one side of the party or the other. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who adamantly stood against same-sex marriage during his unsuccessful 1994 gubernatorial run, struck a conciliatory tone last week when Florida became the 36th state to legalize same-sex marriage. "We live in a democracy, and regardless of our disagreements, we have to respect the rule of law," Bush said in a statement, calling for "respect for the good people on all sides of the gay and lesbian marriage issue." Weber said that Bush's statement likely reflects the position of a majority of Republican candidates and elected officials on the issue. "They're not quite ready to endorse gay marriage, but they really don't want to crusade against it like they used to," he said. "They're looking for ways to describe their position that don't put them directly at odds with supporters of same-sex marriage." 'Profound consequences' Opponents of same-sex marriage, however, argue that anyone who thinks the fight will slowly die down is highly misguided. Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, said a Supreme Court decision that reverses same-sex marriage bans will be "a frontal assault on the religious liberty of all Americans." "There are going to be profound consequences," he said. "If the Supreme Court rules, it will be just like Roe v. Wade all over again." With the 2016 GOP field spanning a wide ideological spectrum, there's a sizable crop of potential candidates who've signaled that they're ready for a fight. Sen. Ted Cruz spelled out a 10-point agenda for the new Republican Congress in a speech Monday that also read like a potential presidential platform. One of his themes was the need to "rein in judicial activism," pointing to federal court rulings on same-sex marriage. "The Constitution makes clear marriage is a question for the states," he said. "It's not a question for a bunch of unelected federal judges who may disagree with the democratic views of the people who live in the United States of America." Mike Huckabee last fall threatened to leave the GOP if Republicans don't take a stronger stand against a wave of acceptance. "If the Republicans want to lose guys like me and a whole bunch of still God-fearing, Bible-believing people, go ahead and just abdicate on this issue," he said. He seemed to soften his tone a little bit, writing in his newly released book that the idea that "same-sex marriage is destroying society is actually greatly overstated," adding that Christians who get divorced "have as much to answer for as do those who militantly push to redefine marriage." Still, while conservative candidates are more vocal about standing on principle, strategists say it's not as likely that they'll start a war over same-sex marriage in the face of issues involving the economy, terrorism, and health care -- especially when the tide has rolled in favor of same-sex marriage at such a rapid pace in the last couple of years. "It's not 2004. Gay marriage is not going to determine the outcome of presidential election like it did in Ohio," said GOP strategist Tara Setmayer, referring to the surge of Republicans who showed up to the polls to approve same-sex marriage bans in nearly a dozen states a decade ago. The turn-out helped tip the scales for George W. Bush's re-election. "The issue may come up in the primary, but I don't think anyone wants this to be the hallmark of this campaign," she said.

The Supreme Court decided Friday to hear same-sex marriage arguments this year . That could lead to a major decision during the early 2016 presidential race . Strategists say a decision could be welcome news to some Republicans, while others are ready to fight .

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(CNN) -- One backward notion that has been used to differentiate the 1960s Civil Rights movement from today's struggle for LGBT equality in the United States is the idea that gay people are somehow "invisible" and can hide who they are. This, in theory, makes them immune to discrimination. "How do you know who to discriminate against ...?" Iowa Rep. Steve King asked in an interview that was rebroadcast this week by Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert. I wish that, too, was satire, but King went on in the March 3 interview with a TV station in Des Moines to explain that characteristics that aren't "specifically protected in the Constitution" must be "immutable," meaning "a characteristic that can be independently verified and can't be willfully changed." The insinuation there is that a person's gayness must be verified for that person to be protected from discrimination. (Keep in mind that a person's religious freedom is protected by the U.S. Constitution, and religious beliefs are not always permanent and identifiable visually). Or that, because LGBT people can't be readily branded as gay, they don't deserve special protections under the law. Logical conclusion: Gay-labeling laws! Colbert, bless him, went on to instruct his viewers to mail photos of themselves proving their gayness to King's office address, which is 2210 Rayburn Office Building, Washington, DC 20515. (Don't send anything pornographic, but I think that stunt is pretty hilarious). All of this comes up in reference to the so-called "gay Jim Crow" bills that are popping in up in several states, most recently in Mississippi. These bills vary, but the undercurrent is that some religious groups want protection so that they could, in some instances, deny services to LGBT people based on their religious beliefs. That's outrageous, obviously, as even Arizona's hyperconservative governor, Jan Brewer, realized when she vetoed one such bill in her state late last month. Mississippi's bill already has been toned down some, but activists say the current version is still discriminatory. I'm not that interested in the politics of these laws. What's more important are the sentiments -- fear and ignorance, it seems to me -- that drive this legislation. These sentiments may seem isolated, but they're not. The reality is that gay people, especially in sometimes-hostile states like Mississippi, which I visited last year to report on LGBT rights, spend a lot of their time trying to cover up who they are because they fear discrimination. And they fear discrimination not because they're litigious but because they see discrimination all around them, all the time, even in 2014 America. It shows up in comments like those from King, in comments from friends and family, and, most crucially, in America's broken legal protections for LGBT people. How could a person expect to live free of discrimination in a country where a majority of states don't protect gay people from being fired or evicted because of who they are? Those issues aren't the subject of soundbites this week, but they're equally important. America is quick, and right, to judge the actions of countries such as Uganda and Russia, with deplorable records of persecuting LGBT people. Uganda last month passed a law intensifying criminal penalties for homosexual acts. But our judgment, as long as we continue to support discriminatory policies back home, stinks of hypocrisy. That King would argue in 2014 that being gay is a "self-professed behavior," and therefore one not worthy of explicit protection, is deeply troubling, but I'm comforted to know antiquated views such as that are moving toward the fringe of the discourse. That's true even in Mississippi, where one of these "religious freedom" bills is currently being debated and where activists have been staging demonstrations. Gay people -- verified or not -- have increasingly stepped out into the public spotlight in Mississippi to tell their stories. That's what I found when I visited the state last year. I met a prison guard who sued his employer after he was fired, he said, because he's gay. He won. I met lesbian couples in Hattiesburg who marched into a courthouse and demanded marriage licenses even though they would be denied under the law. And I met brave openly gay people who live proudly in the most remote of places. By sharing their stories, I'm optimistic they'll eventually get through to people like King who, for now at least, seems to need some proof of their existence. The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of John D. Sutter.

Mississippi is the latest state to consider a "gay Jim Crow" law . Sutter: Ignorance and fear promote that sort of legislation . He says proponents would rather think of gay people as invisible .

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(CNN) -- A suspected U.S. drone strike in Pakistan's tribal region killed four suspected militants Friday, intelligence officials said. It was the latest in a spate of suspected drone attacks that the United States has carried out in Pakistan since U.S. forces killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the early morning hours of May 2. The suspected drone fired two missiles on a vehicle in the area of Miran Shah of North Waziristan, a region near Pakistan's border that is rife with Islamic extremists, two intelligence officials said. They asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Suspected U.S. drone strikes, a source of tension between the two nations, have increased in pace in Pakistan since bin Laden's death. The United States has carried out six suspected drone strikes in Pakistan in the past 15 days, according to a CNN count based on information from Pakistani intelligence sources. That works out to an average of one strike every 2.5 days. From January 1 through May 5, by contrast, the United States conducted 20 suspected strikes, an average of one drone strike every six days, according to CNN's count. The recent increase, however, probably is not due to intelligence gained from bin Laden's compound, Bill Roggio, a military affairs analyst and editor of the Long War Journal, has said. "This uptick is not unusual from a recent historical perspective, he said. "What has happened, since the bin Laden raid, is that the U.S. has not felt pressured to dial back the attacks due to Pakistani sensibilities." The United States has conducted a string of drone strikes in a fairly short time period before, he said, while at other times several weeks have passed without such a strike. He attributes a lull in the first months of this year to tension between the United States and Pakistan over the arrest of CIA contractor Raymond Davis and other disputes between the countries' intelligence services. Authorities in Pakistan detained Davis after he shot and killed two men in what he described as a case of self-defense. Davis was released after a payment was made to the men's families.

A suspected drone strike has killed four suspected militants . The U.S. has stepped up drone strikes since bin Laden's death, a CNN count shows . Friday's attack hit a part of Pakistan that is rife with Islamic extremism .

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Sochi, Russia (CNN) -- "He didn't want carpets, he preferred to hear footsteps of people as they approached on the wooden parquet flooring," says Anna Hovantseva, the tour guide, as she explains another interior-design quirk of one of the most morbidly fascinating personalities of the 20th century. It's fair to say Joseph Stalin, the notorious dictatorial leader of the Soviet Union, still holds a curiosity for many. The Georgia native helped create much that is modern Sochi, the host of the 2014 Winter Games, when he built his summer retreat in this town in 1937. The retreat is open to visitors and will soon offer rooms to guests this summer for 7,000 roubles ($200) per night. Welcome to the home of Stalin. Benefiting from the cool, restorative mix of sea and mountain air streams, the villa -- or "dacha," as it's known locally -- was situated for the health-giving nature of its surroundings. Nestled in the coniferous, cypress-tree forest of the Matsesta mineral springs area and perched in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, it was seen as the ideal refuge to replenish the man whose day job was ruling over 200 million people. Follow CNN's live Sochi Winter Olympics coverage . It also has a rather snazzy green exterior. "The color is the same as the trees, it camouflages the building," adds Hovantseva -- another handy feature for a property if you have many enemies. For guests staying over, the facilities don't compare well to the luxurious standards of comfort demanded by modern national leaders. The interiors of every room consist of uniform beechwood paneling devoid of decoration. Portraits of Stalin that adorn the walls and the fireplace were hung there long after his demise, such was his dislike of them. There's a swimming pool, so small it more closely resembles an oversized sunken bath, where the Communist chief enjoyed walking (he couldn't swim) in seawater up to his shoulders. There are also fantastic views of the Black Sea, which laps against the shore a few miles away. Entertainment is basic, especially given the cinema room where Stalin used to view his favorite Charlie Chaplin movies is no longer functioning, but there is a billiards room with the original table and cue used by the man dubbed "Uncle Joe." And in a break with tradition of museums around the world, visitors can use both to try to pot balls in the small Russian-standard pockets. However, there is one word of warning: If you're considering a stay it's probably wiser to visit in the summer. The property walls are a secure 70 centimeters thick and, on Stalin's orders, the house has no heating. That accounts for the cool temperatures in the majority of rooms CNN visits. But it remains a mystery why the temperature drops five degrees in Stalin's cinema, where his waxwork sits ominously behind a desk in front of copies of Pravda and opposite a bullet-proof sofa. Our guide denies the presence of the rumored ghost of Stalin: "No, absolutely no. It is cold because of the architecture. (The thick walls) are very difficult to warm up. Of course now it is cold in the dacha, but it's very pleasant to stay there in summer." It was designed by architect Miron Merzhanov, to whom Stalin made only one request for the building: No fountains. A direction that required a swift alteration to the original water feature that sat in the middle of the central courtyard into a flowerbed. Despite the dacha's peculiarities, though, the presence of the leader of the USSR in such a small coastal resort had a seismic effect in the town now being viewed on televisions across the world. "No doubt that when our leader began to visit Sochi, the city benefited from great development," Hovantseva says. "Earlier our city was the resort for the nobility, for only rich people. There had been tourists' villas long before Stalin came here. "But when Stalin began to visit Sochi, he began to develop it as a resort town for all people. Thanks to him, a lot of sanatoriums and hydropathic establishments (and) a road to Matsesta were built. All in all, he did really much for the development of Sochi." Ironic then that the town Stalin "built" was the one chosen by President Vladimir Putin, who also has a summer house in Sochi, to represent the modern face of Russia to the world. Local journalist Alexander Valov edits the independent "BlogSochi," a forum he has used to reflect the positive and negative sides of Sochi hosting the Olympics, much to the ire of Russian officials. "First of all I see it from the city's point of view and how the infrastructure is being developed. But there are negative sides, too ... we had a huge beach with 70 meters covered with pebble, a beautiful seafront, but now (as a result of development) there is no beach. The ecology and nature was damaged greatly," Valov told CNN. The choice may be seen as shrewd if costly politicking by some, but for Hovantseva, Sochi seemed like the obvious and most welcome choice to host the Winter Games. "With the Olympics, Sochi has received a great new development. For example, the new buildings were built, even the image of the city has changed. We could compare the current policy with Stalin's one," she says. "I was not surprised because our city is really unique. Thanks to our mild climate you can relax here all year round, even in winter. So it was quite logical and natural," the guide tells CNN as we view the pictures of Stalin's family on show in the fridge-like cinema room. There is a black and white image of his second wife Svetlana, who died young -- officially from appendicitis amid rumors of suicide. There's also pictures of his son Yakov, who did not survive internment in a German prisoner of war camp. The smiling faces in the photos do not convey the whole picture, according to Hovantseva. "Generally, he liked to be all alone. He loved his wife Svetlana and his children. He had no friends. He read and thought a lot. He enjoyed hunting. He also loved farming. He grew lemons (for medicinal drinks). So he was an unsociable man, I think." Hovantseva says there is no shortage of interest in the dacha. She thinks attitudes toward Stalin are as varied as the visitors to the site; some consider him a great politician, many consider him a dictator and treat him a little "disdainfully." However, one factor that shows no sign of changing is the restorative powers Sochi offers to the political elite.

Joseph Stalin's summer home is on sightseeing list for Sochi . Dictator helped create much that is modern Sochi when he built dacha in 1937 . Home has several features helpful to a man who had many enemies .

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(CNN) -- Home favorite Roger Federer is through to the second round of the Swiss Indoors tournament in Basel after a straight sets victory over Italian Potito Starace on Monday. Third seed Federer, a four-time winner of the tournament, will now face either Brazilian Thomas Bellucci or Jarkko Nieminen of Finland after securing a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 success against his world ranked 54th opponent -- who is known more as a clay-court specialist. Federer, who is behind Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray in the seedings for the event, has not competed since playing for Switzerland in the Davis Cup in September, because of a succession of niggling injuries. And although he has won only one ATP Tour event in 2011, in Doha in the first week of the year, world number four Federer has reached the quarterfinals in 11 of the 13 tournaments he has played. "My focus now is well at Basel -- and the next round is my next priority," Federer told reporters. "Last year I won here and in London and also had match points in the Paris semis. "I know I can play well at the end of the season. If I'm going to make a ranking move, that's what it's going to take," he added. There was a surprise in Monday's other match, with eighth-seeded Serb Viktor Troicki going down 4-6 7-6 6-2 to 2005 runner-up Marcos Baghdatis in a marathon match lasting just 15 minutes short of three hours. Baghdatis had also beaten Troicki in the semifinals of the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur last month. Meanwhile, in the Valencia Open in Spain, Russian Nikolay Davydenko continued his comeback from injury with a superb 6-4 4-6 6-3 win over fifth seed Gilles Simon of France. The defeat almost certainly ends Simon's hopes of reaches the ATP World Tour Finals in London. He currently lies 12th in the standings with only the top eight qualifying. Davydenko will next meet Simon's compatriot, Nicolas Mahut who beat Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 7-6 (7-5) 6-2, in the last 16.

Roger Federer begins the Swiss Indoors tournament with victory over Potito Starace . Federer is seeded three in Basel behind Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray . Eighth-seeded Serb Viktor Troicki is beaten in three sets by Marcos Baghdatis .

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Washington (CNN) -- The Hells Angels are going to court, protesting a federal policy barring the motorcycle club's foreign members from visiting the United States. In a complaint filed in federal court in Washington, the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation, as the group calls itself, said its designation as a "known criminal organization" by the departments of Homeland Security and State violates immigration law and the group's constitutional rights. Lawyers for the Los Angeles-area-based group describe its membership as composed of loosely associated charters, "made up of motorcycle enthusiasts who have joined to ride motorcycles together, organize social events, fundraisers, parties and motorcycle rallies." Canadian rides 186 mph . Founded in 1948 in southern California, Hells Angels claim charters in 35 countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, the United States and Wales. The group is asking for a temporary injunction, allowing foreign members to be granted visas to travel to the United States. In its lawsuit, the group claims the government routinely denies visas "to all aliens based solely on their membership in a Hells Angels charter without further analysis into whether or not that individual seeks to enter the United States to engage solely, principally, or incidentally in unlawful activity." The motorcycle group also seeks to have its "criminal organization" designation removed. Singer's husband loses leg in bike crash . The Obama administration is expected to respond to the lawsuit in coming weeks, when a federal judge would decide the injunction request, and later, the larger legal questions raised. There was no immediate response to the lawsuit from government officials. A number of federal and state prosecutors and law enforcement organizations have called the Hells Angels a criminal motorcycle gang, along with their alleged rivals the Bandidos, Outlaws, and Pagans. Some of its members have been prosecuted for committing felonies including drug dealing, extortion, and other violent crimes. The Hells Angels as a group has said any crimes committed by its members have been done as individual acts, and are not representative of the club as a whole. The case is Hells Angels Motorcycle Corp. v. Napolitano (1:12-cv-1357).

The Hells Angels motorcycle club claims charters in 35 countries . The group is suing to protest a federal policy barring its foreign members from the U.S. It also is fighting its federal designation as a "known criminal organization" There was no immediate reaction to the lawsuit from government officials .

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(Sunset) -- Yes, I admit this wasn't the first time I'd forgotten an important event. Let's not get hung up on that. What's important is that I quickly and admirably redeemed myself. For a refreshing walk, try a sliver of the Laguna Beach coastline, about 50 miles south of Los Angeles. Once the florist came to deliver the white dendrobium (I collect orchids) and I read the note -- "Happy Anniversary. Love, J" -- I immediately jumped into action: In less than an hour, I'm driving my wife, Jan, to Laguna Beach, our favorite seaside village. It is a place blessedly stocked with eateries where a guy can get noteworthy huevos rancheros while his beloved browses chic shops along Ocean and Forest Avenues for bejeweled sandals during winter sales. Laguna Beach also happens to be where we spent a few days on our honeymoon years ago, so I have that going for me. Short of hiring a helicopter, there are only two ways to get to this gallery-filled artist colony, either along Orange County's Coast Highway or down eucalyptus-laden Laguna Canyon Road, which curves like a riverbed, flowing down to the sea from the base of steep hills dotted with aerie bright-white homes that look like seagulls perched on precipices. As we roll into town just before sunset, we feel like we're dropping into a box canyon with the Pacific Ocean as its only outlet, making the village feel cozy and isolated, particularly in the fall and winter months when the crowds thin out. A chilly breeze brings the faint smell of menthol (the canyon's eucalyptus trees) and something sweet, like saltwater taffy, perhaps from one of the candy stores. Long sheets of purplish orange clouds scatter like flaming blankets across the sky, suffusing the ocean, the sky, even Jan's face with a fireside glow. "This is such a special treat," she says. "I can't believe you thought of it. By the way, where are we staying?" Fortunately, I'm prepared for this question. I've been turning it over in my head from the moment we left home. I was thinking we could try to get a room at the hotel where we'd spent three nights on our honeymoon, even though it wasn't that great. But then my spousal guilt kicks in, so I decide to bite the bullet and go all out at Montage Laguna Beach resort and spa: California Craftsman architecture. Plein air art lining lobby walls. Feather-top beds. Soaking tubs for two. Views of Laguna's beaches. Jaw-dropping room rates. That sort of thing. Beach romance . When we get up the next morning, the sun warming up the room, Jan and I both notice the quiet. With doors open wide to the Pacific, we hear the chest-thumping crash of the waves, the raspy bark of sea lions, the singsongy entreaty of a distant jogger calling his dog back from a run on the beach. I say we love the quiet, then I talk about the sounds. But it's different. In summer, beach sounds can be cacophonous. In fall and winter, there's mostly the wind and waves and sea life. We love the communal feel of the town at this time of year, when locals, who seem to hibernate during the hot months, suddenly reappear to reclaim their favorite eateries and bars. One morning we laze about Zinc Cafe on boutique-lined Ocean Avenue, reading the paper while digging into massive bowls of oatmeal mixed with dried cherries and nuts and surreptitiously listening to the breezy conversation around us -- like that of the young woman at the next table who's trying to convince a friend to join her in a laughter-yoga workshop on the beach. "At first you just feel really stupid going hee-hee-hee, haw-haw-haw, but then you really do start laughing and it ... it's such a release," she says. "What the heck is laughter yoga?" I lean over and whisper to Jan. She raises her eyebrows, perplexed, and we both try hard not to laugh. Fishing for adventure . For exercise, we hike down from Coast Highway to Victoria Beach, a secluded cove hardly anyone goes to, particularly off-season. I take moody black-and-white photos of Jan on a sea-worn rock in front of an odd little castle turret on the beach, a tower built almost 80 years ago by an early inhabitant who was looking to camouflage spiraling stairs to his house -- long gone -- on the bluff above us. We do a lot of beach walking, particularly just before cocktail hour in the late afternoon. Strolling down Treasure Island beach, we come across couples cozy on their blankets, and chilled surf fishermen slapping their hands together while keeping a watchful eye on their poles. That night we enjoy dinner at Sapphire Laguna restaurant, where the old Pottery Shack, a local landmark, sat for 60 years. We huddle around a firepit on the patio, looking over the roofs of shops along the highway to where the sun is dipping into the dark ocean, and nosh on homemade rosemary and sea-salt potato chips while quaffing Chimay Blue dark ale. And while it isn't exactly my favorite adventure, in the spirit of the weekend I join Jan one afternoon while she pokes around the shops of Laguna Village, perched on a bluff above the ocean, trying not to act too annoyed when she insists I sniff herbal-scented candles or try on goofy-looking leather hats, the type worn by guys with walrus mustaches and jackets with fringe. In short, we do everything and nothing at all, which is really the best thing about Laguna at this time of year. And I think Jan appreciated my efforts. Which may explain why she seems completely unruffled when I confess that I had, indeed, forgotten our anniversary. "Of course you did," she says as we head back home. "Why do you think I sent the orchid?" A more cynical man might suspect that she'd engineered the whole weekend herself. But what are the odds of that? Getting there . Laguna Beach is 50 miles south of Los Angeles and 75 miles north of San Diego; John Wayne-Orange County Airport is 15 miles away. For more area info, contact the Laguna Beach visitors bureau (800/877-1115). 3 romantic stays . Casa Laguna Inn & Spa Historical inn with suites and rooms, most with fireplaces. To make it extra romantic: The Togetherness spa treatment (from $250) includes side-by-side massages, a soak in the ocean-view garden tub, and a bottle of bubbly with souvenir flutes. INFO: Rooms from $250, including breakfast, wine, and cheese; 800/233-0449. Montage Laguna Beach Five-star digs in Craftsman-style buildings with stunning ocean views. To make it extra romantic: The Montage excels at sparking romance. Food of Love (from $150 per person) is a four-course candlelit dinner staged in a poolside cabana, and there are couples' plein air painting sessions (from $200 per person). But we like the Sunrise Surfing for two (from $200), which comes with a private beach butler and the option of matching surfboards or bodyboards that you can keep. INFO: Rooms from $695; 888/715-6700. Surf & Sand Resort On the water and close to downtown shops and restaurants. Splashes restaurant ($$$$; 1555 S. Coast Hwy.; 949/376-2779) is a local favorite in winter for enjoying storm surf. To make it extra romantic: Splurge on having the room decorated with rose petals and white tea lights (from $150). INFO: Rooms from $275; 888/869-7569. Where to eat . Sapphire Laguna Delicious homemade-chorizo huevos rancheros and eclectic dishes like kalua pulled-pork quesadilla; brunch Sat--Sun. INFO: $$$; 1200 S. Coast Hwy.; 949/715-9888. Studio California-French cuisine showcasing seasonal ingredients. INFO: $$$$; closed Mon; in Montage Laguna Beach resort, 30801 S. Coast Hwy.; 949/715-6420. Zinc Cafe & Market Tasty pastries and generous portions of breakfast and lunch offerings. INFO: $; 350 Ocean Ave.; 949/494-6302. What to do . Laguna Art Museum If the dozens of local art galleries overwhelm you, spend an afternoon at this museum. Its focus on California art is a good primer for further discovery. INFO: $10; 307 Cliff Dr.; 949/494-8971. Laguna Village Beach- and art-themed kiosks. INFO: On S. Coast Hwy. near Legion St. Pure Light Make candles (from $14) any day, or sign up for a workshop (from $10) and create holiday cards or ornaments. INFO: 821 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949/376-7200. See sea lions Despite its name, Seal Rock (free; Crescent Bay Beach, N. Coast Hwy. at Cliff Dr.) is the place to observe Laguna Beach's sea lion colony; they're here year-round. Or you can go to Pacific Marine Mammal Center (free but donations welcome; 20612 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949/494-3050), where injured and ill sea lions are rehabilitated. Proceeds from the gift shop help care for the mammals. Treasure Island Crescent-shaped beach with fishing and tidepools. INFO: Free; down a ramp at the southwest edge of Montage Laguna Beach resort. Victoria Beach Beautiful pocket beach near Casa Laguna Inn & Spa. INFO: Free; down the narrow staircase (watch for other beachgoers) off Victoria Dr. at Sunset Terrace St. E-mail to a friend . Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright 2004-2009 Sunset magazine. All rights reserved.

Laguna Beach, California, is about 50 miles south of Los Angeles . Crowds thin out in Laguna Beach in the fall and winter months . Art galleries, shops and secluded beach walks keep visitors entertained .

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(CNN) -- Rafael Nadal warmed up for next week's Indian Wells hard-court tournament by thrashing David Ferrer in the final of the Mexican Open at Acapulco Sunday. The former World No.1 claimed his 52nd ATP title, his 38th on clay, by seeing off his fellow Spaniard 6-0 6-2. Since his return from a seven month absence with a knee injury in February, Nadal has won 12 of his 13 matches, coming second in Vina del Mar, Chile, before winning at Sao Paulo last month. Djokovic claims fourth Dubai crown . "I have had some difficult months, especially during my time away from tennis," the 11-time grand slam winner told reporters. "But I take with me fond memories of returning to Acapulco. I feel good being back on court. "I have to thank my family and everyone involved in my rehabilitation. It has been a difficult time over the last few months. "My heart tells me I should continue competing, that I need to move on to the next tournament." Federer: 'Naive to think tennis is clean' Nadal required just 65 minutes to defeat Ferrer, winning 81% of his first serve points, while saving both of the break points he faced. "I am sorry about this result but I know Ferrer will be back and I consider him one of the great players of today," added the World No. 5. Is the NFL killing American tennis? Nadal dominated from the start of the contest, taking the first eight games and breaking Ferrer on five occasions. "I want to congratulate Rafa. He is not an easy player to beat," Ferrer told reporters. "If I have to lose, I am happy to lose to Rafa." In the women's final, Italian top seed Sara Errani breezed past second seed Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-0 6-4. In Malaysia, Karolina Pliskova won her first WTA singles crown after defeating Bethanie Mattek-Sands 1-6 7-5 6-3 at Kuala Lumpur. Elsewhere, Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis won his third career ATP title by defeating France's Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-6 6-3 at the Delray Beach International Championships.

Rafael Nadal ready for Indian Wells next week . Spaniard warmed up by winning Mexican Open . Nadal defeated David Ferrer 6-0 6-2 to claim title . Karolina Pliskova wins maiden WTA title .

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By . Jaya Narain . PUBLISHED: . 10:57 EST, 26 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:25 EST, 26 March 2013 . Football stars Gary and Phil Neville were said to be in a state of shock last night after their father was arrested over allegations of indecent assault. Neville Neville, 63, was detained in the early hours of Saturday morning after a distressed woman phoned police following an alleged incident. The football agent is understood to have gone out on Friday night and enjoyed drinks with friends at a pub. At the end of the evening a woman allegedly offered him a lift home in her car. Neville Neville, left, with son Gary Neville, was arrested at the weekend following allegations of a sexual assault . But she claims that as she was driving him back to his home he sexually assaulted her. Neville was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault before being bailed pending further inquiries. Last night there was no answer at the . £650,000 mock-Tudor house he shares with his wife Jill, 61, in North . Manor, Bury. Neighbours refused to comment. Neville Neville at a dinner during the Fifa World Cup 2006, with a woman who is not involved in the allegations . Neville’s son, Gary, 38, a former . Manchester United and England star, is now Sky Sports’ main football . pundit. Phil Neville, 36, still plays for Everton and used to play for . England. His twin sister Tracey was an England netball player. A football source said: ‘Gary and Phil are absolutely stunned by this thunderbolt. ‘Their stable family life has been the . rock on which they built their successful careers so this allegation . comes totally out of the blue. It would be safe to say they are in deep . shock. Neville and his wife are an incredibly close couple and appear to . have the perfect marriage.’ He played cricket for Greenmount . Cricket Club in the Bolton Cricket League during the 1980s before . becoming the high-profile director of Bury football club. Neville inspired and mentored his two sons and acts as their agent, representing both during contract talks with their clubs. His unusual name achieved a cult . status among football fans as ‘one of the best chants in football’. It . is chanted on the football terraces to the tune of David Bowie’s hit . Rebel Rebel. He also has a reputation as the life . and soul of the party, not least because of reports of his raucous . partying with the wives and girlfriends of the England footballers . players during the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Neville was said to have stood on a . couch at a restaurant and bar and proceeded to lead the WAGs in singing . the national anthem and smashing their champagne glasses. Yesterday Greater Manchester Police . said: ‘Police are investigating a sexual assault which happened in the . early hours of Saturday, 23 March 2013 in the North Manor area of Bury. A . 63-year-old man from Bury was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault . and has been bailed till May pending further inquiries.’ Neville Neville, pictured here at a football dinner in Baden-Baden, has lent his name to a popular football chant . Neville Neville has acted as agent for both his footballer sons Gary, 38, left, and Phil, 36, right . As director of Bury Football Club, Neville Neville was praised for his efforts in campaigning to save the club from going into administration . Footballing brothers Phil and Gary Neville, seen here in Zagreb in 2006, are part of a sporting family . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.

Neville Neville, 63, arrested on Sunday after alleged incident on Saturday . Former director of Bury FC, married Mr Neville has been bailed until May . Arrest is a blow to footballer sons with Gary working for England ahead of tonight's clash with Montenegro .

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(CNN) -- He has a face only a mother could love -- a mother who lives 1,000 to 3,000 feet under water and voraciously feeds on live squid and fish. We're talking about a goblin shark -- only the second member of his species ever caught in the Gulf of Mexico, and the first since 2000, shark expert John Carlson said. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," Carlson, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research biologist said. "Some would call them 'ugly.' I think, 'interesting.'" Carl Moore, 63, of Townsend, Georgia, was the unlikely archeologist of this ichthyological wonder, which he estimates was 18 to 20 feet long. He caught it on April 19, about halfway through an 18-day fishing trip. Carlson guesses it was closer to 15 feet, with the largest goblin shark ever measuring 18 feet. Moore decided an exact appraisal wasn't in his best interest. "I was going to take the tape measure, then he flashed around again. I said, 'Forget the measurement. That thing'll eat me up!'" Moore has been shrimping the Atlantic and the Gulf for 50 years, with a short break for a stint in the Air Force, and he's "caught so much weird stuff: sawfish, Bahamian anglefish, loggerback turtles weighing 1,000 to 1,500 pounds." But when the goblin shark spilled out of his trawling net full of royal red shrimp, Moore felt "disbelief." "First thing I told them boys was, 'Man, he's ugly! Looks prehistoric to me,'" Moore said. Goblin sharks do resemble some prehistoric species, and Carlson said Moore made a "pretty important find." They're not seen anywhere all that often, though the coast of Japan boasts the shark's share of recorded sightings. "We don't know a lot about deep water fauna," Carlson said. "We know little about (goblin sharks) -- how long they live, how fast they grow." One thing that's fairly certain: At their size, goblin sharks have few natural predators, according to Carlson. The photographs Moore provided to NOAA will help expand that knowledge. Carlson said he and a colleague now are writing a paper on goblin sharks to submit to a scientific journal. And Carlson can thank a 3-year-old boy for that. Moore just recently began carrying a camera with him on his shrimping expeditions. He wants to share pictures of what he does with his grandson Keaton, who turns 4 on Wednesday. Moore released the shark after getting photographic evidence of his -- and just about anyone's -- greatest fish story ever. "Anything that's alive we try to put back in the ocean," he said. Shark's 'man-eater' image undergoes makeover . Team finds new hammerhead shark species . Second oarfish washes ashore in California . Saber-toothed whale lands in California . Could whales explode in Canadian towns?

Georgia shrimper catches only second goblin shark on record in Gulf of Mexico . Goblin sharks live deep under water and are rarely seen, NOAA shark expert says . Views of goblin sharks' looks range from "interesting" to "ugly" The fisherman released the shark because it was still alive .

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Jaine Stanley, 4, was diagnosed with severe scoliosis of the spine at the age of two . A girl with a 63-degree bend in her spine is now a step closer to her dream of becoming a gymnast after a pioneering operation to straighten her back using remote controlled magnetic rods. Jaine Stanley, 4, was diagnosed with severe scoliosis of the spine at the age of two and forced to wear restrictive and uncomfortable plastic braces for 23 hours a day to support her back. The painful condition meant she could only sit on the sidelines as her friends played and could not even sit on the sofa because her tight braces got in the way. Instead she would sit on the living room floor of her home in Newport, Isle of Wight, where she was first mesmerised by gymnasts on television and began to dream of joining them one day. Yet, as her spine continued to curve into a shocking 63 degree bend - the worst case her spinal surgeon had ever seen - her ambition seemed further away than ever. But now the budding gymnast is a giant step closer to her goal - and an incredible four centimetres taller - after a pioneering operation to straighten her spine. Jaine had the life-changing seven-and-a-half hour operation in October and was the first - and youngest - patient to have the surgery at Southampton Children's Hospital, Hampshire. The MAGEC rods brace the spine to minimise the growth of scoliosis and are lengthened over time using an external remote control. This is placed on top of the skin and triggers a magnetic motor inside the rods to cause them to grow. The process, first introduced in 2009 and now NHS England's recommended practice, replaces the need to operate to manually lengthen the growing rods every six to nine months. Jaine will next return to the hospital every 12 weeks, when her rods can be lengthened within just minutes during a routine outpatient appointment. She will have her first follow up appointment later this month and hopes to start gymnastics lessons in the coming months. Jaine's mother Berenice, 42, said: 'The difference in Jaine is already amazing. 'We couldn't believe it when she came out of the operation four centimetres taller - in less than eight hours. 'We've taken her swimming since the operation and she was over the moon that she could finally touch the floor of the pool. 'She has always been so positive and despite the discomfort she felt with her braces, she just got on with things the best she could. Jaine was unable to play with friends after the severe scoliosis left her in crippling pain. Pictured is an x-ray of her back prior to having the pioneering operation . Jaine's back was bent at a 63 degree angle (left) before the operation straightened her spine (right) 'She'd put the braces on her teddy bears when she wasn't wearing them. But it was horrible to see her missing out on bouncy castles or soft play parties and struggling in the summer as she got hot and uncomfortable. 'It's still early days so we are taking it slowly but now she's set her sights on becoming a gymnast. She keeps talking about getting a leotard. It's lovely to see her so happy.' Mrs Stanley began to have concerns about Jaine when she was two and a family friend pointed out that her body did not look 'straight'. The mother-of-eight, who owns a burger van with partner Myles, 47, said: 'When Jaine got to about two years old we noticed that she didn't look straight and her body was going off to the side. 'It was concerning so we took her for an x-ray and she became the youngest child on the island to be diagosed with scoliosis.' Jaine had to be fitted with for four different braces over the next two years, which she had to wear for 23 hours a day. The tube-shaped plastic frames encased her torso and works to support Jaine's spine, but they had to be fastened tightly to be effective. Her mother said: 'She had to wear the brace all day and it would dig into her armpits and make her very hot in the summer. The MAGEC rods inside Jaine brace the spine to minimise the growth of scoliosis and are lengthened over time using a remote control . Hospital x-rays show the two rods implanted in her back, which are extended using remote controls in order to help straighten her spine . Scoliosis is a condition that causes the spine to curve to the left or right. While it is usually mild and doesn't require treatment, severe cases such as Jaine's require back braces or surgery. The word itself comes from the Greek word meaning crooked - and it can form in either the upper or lower spine. It generally starts during puberty and begins gradually and painlessly. But if it is severe, it can become disfiguring as the bending spine contorts nearby muscles, vertebrae and ligaments. If not treated properly, it can cause back pain, breathing and heart problems later in life. 'She would flip it off her body when she was asleep and give it to her teddies to wear when she was having a break. It supported her completely for 23 hours of the day and when she took it off, her spine would curve back around again. 'It was so hard for her because she couldn't play with her friends or join in on the bouncy castles at parties, but she stuck with it and got on the best she could.' The life-changing surgery was carried out by Consultant Orthopaedic Adult and Paediatric Spinal Surgeon Christopher Dare. Mr Dare said: 'Jaine's curvature was certainly the worst case of early onset scoliosis I've ever seen. 'I've never have I seen it progress quite so rapidly and to that sort of size, because we do try to stop it getting so bad with the use of braces but it was relentless in this case. 'The braces press on the rib cage externally to try to manipulate the spine into a straight position and hold it there while it grows. 'Often the bones are too small to operate on at that age and so the braces hold things in place until the child is old enough for us to operate. 'However, with Jaine it was clear - with a 63 degree bend - that we were losing the battle against the scoliosis with the braces and so the external pressure wasn't working and we needed to operate to fit the internal rods. Jaine is now looking forward to fulfilling her ambition of becoming a gymnast - something she was unable to do before undergoing the operation . Jaine's mother Berenice Stanley said she began to have concerns about her daughter when she was two and a family friend pointed out that her body did not look 'straight' 'Historically, we used screw in rods which we would have to operate every six to nine months to stretch the rods out under general anaesthetic. 'The advantages of the rods is they have a magnetic motor built into the rod, which is driven by an externally applied magnet. 'So rather than have the operation to stretch the rods, we can place a magnetic motor on the skin and use that to stretch the rods, without exposing the rods and risking infection.' He added: 'Jaine will have that lengthening procedure every three months until she is eight or nine. 'A scoliotic spine does not grow like a normal spine, so we are trying to achieve as much longitudinal growth of the spine as possible. 'We will lengthen the spine for as long as we can, usually until a child is 11 or 12, and when it is unlikely to grow any more we will then do a final spinal fusion to fix it into a fixed position.'

Jaine Stanley was diagnosed with severe scoliosis of the spine aged two . The four-year-old's painful condition meant she couldn't play with friends . Her spine was curved at 63 degrees - the worst case her surgeon had seen . She was given pioneering surgery which utilised remote controlled rods . The rods brace the spine and are lengthened over time using a remote . It is placed on top of the skin and triggers a motor which makes rods grow . She is now beginning to realise her dream by starting gymnastics lessons .

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By . Rob Waugh . Last updated at 11:10 AM on 17th January 2012 . Early reports by sites such as Ars Technica hint that Apple will unveil a textbook version of its Garageband music software - a 'book creation kit' that will make it easy for publishers, or teachers, to add video, music and images to text . Steve Jobs described textbooks as an '$8 billion a year industry ripe for digital destruction', in conversations with his biographer Walter Isaacson. Apple looks set to unveil the weaponry it will use later this week, in a New York 'special event' that will have an education theme. Early reports by sites such as Ars Technica hint that Apple will unveil a textbook version of its Garageband music software - a 'book creation kit' that will make it easy for publishers, or teachers, to add video, music and images to text. Jobs himself had reportedly been in conversation with major textbook publishers such as Pearson before his death - and insiders say that the new Apple textbook software might be built around blueprints created by Jobs himself. Several textbook publishers are to attend the event this week. Bill Goodwyn, head of Discovery Inc's education department, said that he had talked to Apple about new approaches to the textbook industry. 'Apple is a very disruptive force, and in education, that's a good thing,' he said. Amazon already publishes many university-level textbooks via its Kindle eBook format - but many tech insiders say that Apple's ability to deliver textbooks mixed with video, pictures and music could be a critical advantage. Ars Technica reports that a 'book creation kit' is the most likely product to be unveiled this week, as Apple doesn't usually tend to go into publishing, regardless of what industries it works with. The site also claims that whatever plans are unveiled this Thursday, they could well be the brainchild of Apple founder Jobs himself. 'According to our sources close to his efforts, Jobs' personal involvement was perhaps more significant that even his biography purports,' says the site. 'Jobs worked on this project for several years, and our understanding is that the final outcome was slated to be announced in October 2011 in conjunction with the iPhone 4S. Those plans were postponed at the last minute, perhaps due to Jobs' imminent death.'

Insiders say Apple will unveil 'textbook creation kit' Plans based on blueprints by Steve Jobs . Jobs said, 'Textbooks are an $8 billion industry ripe for digital destruction'

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By . Laura Cox . Last updated at 6:24 PM on 28th February 2012 . Skipping regular dental check-ups could end up costing you ten times as much money in the long run, according to a report by the PEW Centre. More and more Americans are checking into the Emergency Room with complaints such as toothache, which could easily have been prevented and at a far lower cost. The number of ER visits nationwide for dental problems increased 16 per cent from 2006 to 2009 the report showed, and analyst fear the trend is set to continue. Costly: People who forgo regular dental checks or don't brush their teeth regularly could face heightened costs for Emergency Room treatment. Preventive dental care such as routine teeth . cleaning can cost $50 to $100, versus $1,000 for emergency room . treatment that may include painkillers for aching cavities and . antibiotics from resulting infections. These infections can be dangerous, especially in young children, who may develop fevers and dehydration from preventable dental conditions. In Florida, for example, 200 children were hospitalized in 2006 for those types of infections. Hospital information from 24 states was . analysed, as well as data from the federal Agency for Healthcare . Research and Quality and studies on dental care. Researchers claim the problem stems from a shortage of dentists, particularly those willing to treat Medicaid patients. In Florida, for example, only 10 per cent of dentists participate in the programme. They also highlighted the recession as a contributing factor. When a family member loses a job, dental care may take a back seat to food and other necessities. In 2009, 56 per cent of Medicaid-enrolled children nationwide received no dental care. South Carolina ER visits for dental-related problems increased nearly 60 per cent from four years earlier. Tennessee hospitals had more than 55,000 dental-related ER visits - five times as many as for burns. But Dr. Frank Catalanotto, a professor at . the University of Florida's College of Dentistry, warned that using . emergency rooms for dental treatment ‘is incredibly expensive and . incredibly inefficient’. Emergency Rooms are not generally staffed by dentists and are not equipped to deal with dental problems, meaning that many patients end up returning when they cannot find or afford follow up treatment. Shelly Gehshan, director of Pew's children's dental campaign, added: ‘Emergency rooms are really the canary in the coal mine. If people are showing up in the ER for dental care, then we've got big holes in the delivery of care. ‘It's just like pouring money down a hole. It's the wrong service, in the wrong setting, at the wrong time.’

Reliance on emergency room treatment jumps 16% . Shortage of dentists blamed - and fewer of them willing to treat Medicaid patients .

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The wife of the Sydney man Mohamed Elomar who is fighting with the extremist group ISIS in Syria is planning a legal challenge against the Australian government, saying terrorism charges against her are 'unconstitutional'. Fatima Elomar, a mother of four who was arrested trying to board an international flight earlier this year to allegedly join husband Mohamed in Syria, appeared in a Sydney court on Tuesday morning. Ms Elomar, 30, is charged with preparing for incursions into a foreign state with the intention of engaging in hostile activities. Scroll down for video . Terror accused: Fatima Elomar (pictured) leaves Downing Centre court in central Sydney on Tuesday after making a brief appearance on charges of preparing for incursions in a foreign state. Elomar, 30, was arrested boarding an international flight with her four children . I bought a Jeep: Fatima Elomar (pictured, getting into her shiny black Jeep Patriot following her court appearance in central Sydney on Tuesday) has been reporting to NSW Police since her arrested in May. The Brisbane mother of four was allegedly trying to leave the country, bound for Syria . Poster boy: Ms Elomar's husband, Mohamed Elomar (pictured allegedly holding the severed heads of Syrian government soldiers) has become one of the Australian 'poster boys' for the extremist group ISIS since he travelled to war-torn Syria last year . P plater: Fatima Elomar at Goulburn Street parking station in central Sydney with her lawyer, Zali Burrows, in the passenger seat after she appeared in Downing Centre Local Court of foreign incursion charges with Ms Burrows representing her . She applied to Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan in the Downing Centre Court in Sydney not to have to appear personally the next time her case was up for mention because she had a baby to look after. The accused, whose face was uncovered during the brief court hearing, then exited the court wearing a full-face niqab, just as she had done at her previous court hearing when she and her four children left the court draped in cloths and blankets. Ms Elomar was arrested by joint counter-terrorism detectives at Sydney Airport on May 3 while trying to board a flight to Malaysia. She was reportedly carrying cash and camouflage gear on behalf of her husband. Turning heads: Mother of four, Fatima Elomar, on a street corner in central Sydney just before lunchtime on Tuesday after she appealed to Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan not to have to appear in person the next time her case was up in court . Bare faced: Fatima Elomar (pictured in full-face niqab on the street with her lawyer, Zali Burrows) appeared bare-faced in the Down Centre Local Court on charges of preparing for incursions into a foreign state with the intention of engaging in hostile activities . Final appearance: Fatima Elomar pulls out of the parking station following her appearance at Downing Centre Court. Her lawyer Zali Burrow (pictured in Ms Elomar's Jeep) has successfully applied for Ms Elomar not to appear in person at the next court hearing because she has a baby to look after . Hoped reunion: Fatima Elomar (pictured, left, leaving court earlier this year with her four children draped in sheets and cloths) is the wife of Mohamed Elomar (right) and mother of his four children. She was caught in May trying to leave the country. Police charged her with preparing for foreign hostilities, which she now plans to fight in the High Court of Australia . High court bid: Fatima Elomar (above) with her lawyer, Zali Burrows, leaving a central Sydney court after she briefly appeared on foreign incursion charges is planning to appeal against the Federal Government charging her in the first place, saying the matters are unconstitutional . Ms Elomar said she was travelling on holiday with her with her two young sons, daughter and baby. In the months since Ms Elomar's arrest, husband Mohamed Elomar has become one of ISIS's 'poster' Aussie terrorists, posing in the besieged Syrian town of al Raqqa with a pair of severed heads and posting the photos on social media. Through her lawyer, Ms Elomar has said she is a ‘devoted mother’ of her four children and described the charges against her as ‘serious and over-zealous’. Ms Elomar (above, leaving the Downing Centre on Tuesday) appears in court with her face bare before covering up when she emerges onto the street . The Brisbane woman has remained in Sydney and reported to police while on bail, and has had to send her children to schools here. In a statement released following her arrest through her lawyer, Zali Burrows, Ms Elomar said her children had suffered enough from not being able to visit Malaysia for a holiday, which she claims was her only intended destination when she boarded the plane. 'The ordeal of being interviewed without their mother, being unable to return home to their friends and school, having to adjust to a new way of life of reporting in to the police station with mum, and the task of trying to make new friends at a new school in a new state,’ Ms Burrows said. She told Daily Mail Australia Ms Elomar would be mounting a legal challenge in the High Court of Australia against the foreign incursion charges under the Crimes Act. Ms Burrows could not give a date when the challenge would be filed but said she had made the High Court aware of the looming application. Ms Elomar's husband, Mohamed, is the nephew of convicted terrorist Mohamed Elomar, who plotted with four other men in 2005 to bomb targets in a bid to force Australia's government to change its policy on Middle East conflicts. Mr Elomar is believed to have flown to Syria late last year with Khaled Sharrouf, a convicted terrorist, who fled the country on his brother's passport. Mr Sharrouf has also posted photographs of himself and his children allegedly from Syria on social media, with one of his sons posing with a severed head. Ms Elomar said earlier this year through Ms Burrows that her arrest highlighted the pitfalls for travellers packing camouflage gear as a fashion item. 'At the end of the day this is an example of one must be careful what you pack to travel, let it be a travel warning to leave the camouflage pants at home and best check with Smart Traveller as to what the acceptable fashion is,’ she said. Ms Elomar's case was adjourned until December 16 so prosecutors could seek further documentation as the Federal Attorney General's office prepares a brief for prosecution. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

The wife of a Sydney man fighting with ISIS in Syria is planning a legal challenge against the Australian government . Fatima Elomar says terrorism charges against her are unconstitutional . Mohamed Elomar's wife was arrested trying to board a flight in May reportedly carrying cash and camouflage gear for Mohamed . It's alleged she was trying to join her husband in Syria . She exited court today and left in a shiny black $25,000 Jeep .

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By . Emily Davies . PUBLISHED: . 19:07 EST, 19 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:10 EST, 20 July 2013 . Medical attention: Woolwich murder suspect Michael Adebolajo lost two teeth as he was restrained by officers at Belmarsh jail in south-east London . Five prison officers have been suspended after one of the men accused of hacking off-duty soldier Lee Rigby to death in Woolwich had two teeth knocked out. The men were suspended from their duties from top-security . Belmarsh Prison in south London after the alleged attack on Michael Adebolajo, 28, three days ago. He had refused to obey officers’ instructions and had to be restrained, according to prison sources. It is understood that five officers have to be on hand when . Adebolajo leaves his cell. Four of the officers were suspended on Thursday, while the . fifth was suspended yesterday. All of the officers are on full pay pending the . results of the investigation. Peter McParlin, chairman of the Prison Officers Association, accused the Ministry of Justice of over-reacting to the situation. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We have spoken to our members and on the basis of what our members have told us they have done absolutely nothing wrong. 'We are concerned that the Ministry of Justice have over-reacted due to the notoriety of this prisoner.' Mr McParlin criticised the MoJ for failing to 'correct false reporting of the incident at Belmarsh. He said restraint techniques were designed to minimise injuries to staff or prisoners 'but sometimes there are unforeseen consequences in any violent incident'. Mr McParlin added: 'Some people have the idea that somehow it's a sitcom like Porridge. I'm afraid the reality of the modern prison system is far different from that. He told the Times: ‘We feel that the Ministry of Justice have let the staff down . here. ‘They have suspended five of our members but that does not . necessarily mean they are guilty of anything.’ Adebolajo’s brother Jeremiah said Adebolajo telephoned . after the incident, saying that he was bleeding and had lost the teeth. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice confirmed that . police are investigating the incident. She said: ‘I can confirm five members of . staff have been suspended while there is a police investigation on going.’ She added that this was ‘not unusual’. Adebolajo has been charged with murder and possession of a . revolver, and also charged with the attempted murder of two police officers. Accusations: Adebolajo is accused of hacking Fusilier Rigby (left) to death together with Michael Adebowale, 22 (right, in a court drawing). The two suspects are due to stand trial on November 18 . His alleged accomplice, Michael Adebowale, is charged with . murder and possession of a firearm for the May 22 attack outside Woolwich barracks. In . a statement earlier this week, the POA said the officers involved . 'strenuously deny any wrongdoing' and that the prisoner had been . 'subjected to restraint using techniques' which are 'only used where . necessary'. It added: 'The POA will be supporting them legally and emotionally during this difficult time. 'The use of restraint is only used where necessary when dealing with incidents up and down the country. 'The POA will fully co-operate with . any police investigation and are hopeful that this matter will be . resolved quickly and we expect the officers to be completely . exonerated.' Adebolajo, from Romford, east London, . complained about his treatment at the hands of prison staff during a . court appearance last month. Violent incident: Adebolajo lost two teeth as he was restrained by officers at Belmarsh jail (pictured) in London . During the June 5 hearing via . video-link from the prison, he was flanked by prison officers in full . riot gear. Belmarsh staff asked for him to be handcuffed on the basis he . was ‘unpredictable’ and had refused to comply with their orders. The judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, terminated the video-link after Adebolajo launched into a series of rants against prison staff. The unit in which he is being detained . has the highest security classification in the country, and holds . notorious terror suspects and dangerous felons. Inmates have included Al Qaeda . preacher Abu Qatada until his deportation earlier this month, and . fanatic Abu Hamza, who was extradited to the US last year. The cost of . keeping each inmate in the unit is estimated at £65,000 a year. Jail: It is understood several officers were called in to help after Adebolajo began acting violently on Wednesday, and he was injured during the subsequent melee in the prison's high-security wing . Crowds of wellwishers line the street as the funeral cortege of Fusilier Lee Rigby drives away from Bury Parish church on July 12 following a funeral service attended by 800 . A November 2009 inspection report on . Belmarsh criticised the ‘extremely high’ amount of force used to control . inmates at the prison, and said large numbers of inmates claimed they . had been intimidated by prison staff. A Prison Service spokesman said: ‘The police are investing an incident which took place at HMP Belmarsh on July 17. ‘It would be inappropriate to comment while the investigation is ongoing.’ A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘We . can confirm that an allegation of assault was passed to the Metropolitan . Police on July 17 by Belmarsh Prison. An investigation has been . started.’ Rigby, 25, a father of one from Middleton, Rochdale, died . from multiple wounds after he was attacked in the street. The Prime Minister and thousands of . mourners attended his military funeral last week, at which his . two-year-old son Jack wore a T-shirt bearing the words ‘My Daddy My . Hero’.

Several officers 'called in to help after Adebolajo began acting violently' He was injured during subsequent melee in prison's high-security wing . Officers are suspended on full pay pending the results of an investigation . Prison Officers' Association 'angry' at Ministry of Justice . Says the officers deny any wrongdoing and used 'approved techniques'

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By . Simon Tomlinson . Princes William and Harry danced to internet hit the Harlem Shake on an all-day stag do over the weekend. The royal brothers reportedly drank cocktails and joked around with inflatable novelty toys as they celebrated at an exclusive London club. Father-to-be William, 30, was spotted waving sparklers in a VIP area close to girls dressed in just swimwear, it was reported in The Sun. Prince Harry was later photographed leaving the club with what looked like a sun-burned nose. Scroll down for video . Had a few too many, boys? Princes Harry and William show the effects of a heavy night as they leave Tonteria nightclub in London's Sloane Square on Saturday after celebrating on a friend's stag do . The night then hit a high note when the Harlem Shake came on and the Duke of Cambridge and ten friends piled onto the dancefloor to throw shapes to the web craze. A friend told The Sun: 'William was really going for it. He was dancing loads and singing along to the music. 'At one point, he even banged along to the music on the low ceiling. They looked like they were having a great time.' William, whose wife Kate, 31, is expecting the couple's first child next month, was later pictured looking worse for wear as he left from the back door of friend Guy Pelly's club Tonteria in Sloane Square at around 1.30am on Saturday. Harry, 28, dressed in an open-necked shirt, smiled as he followed his older brother out. Throwing some shapes: Prince William reportedly dashed onto the dancefloor when the Harlem Shake started playing during a five-hour party at the exclusive club . Good times: The stag do was reportedly for an old Eton friend of the two princes, Thomas Van Straubenzee . Earlier in the day, the princes had started their friend's stag do on Kew Pier on the Thames. According to the Daily Star, the celebrations were held for Thomas Van Straubenzee, 30, a friend from their Eton days. He is one of Harry's closest friends and also served as an usher for the Duke of Cambridge at his wedding in 2011. Mr Van Straubenzee is due to marry Lady Melissa Percy, 25, at the Percy family seat Alnwick Castle in Northumberland on June 22. Exclusive: William, 30, was reportedly spotted waving sparklers in a VIP area at Tonteria (above) Fun on the river: Earlier in the day, the princes had started their friend's stag do at Kew Pier on the Thames .

Brothers drank cocktails and joked around with inflatable novelty toys . William waved sparklers then danced to internet hit the Harlem Shake . Friend: 'William was really going for it. He was dancing loads and singing' Princes left friend Guy Pelly's club Tonteria in Sloane Square at 1.30am .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:59 EST, 28 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:53 EST, 28 February 2013 . A toddler bled to death on a hospital's high dependency unit because of a delay in life-saving surgery and a 'complete failure' of communication between doctors, an inquest has heard. Tharun Umashankar, aged two, died from bleeding of the stomach lining which was probably caused by his intolerance to milk. He was rushed to Sheffield Children's Hospital, where he had been been receiving treatment for the previous two weeks after vomiting blood. Despite having suffered a previous large internal bleed he was not slated for an endoscopy to look at his digestive system until the following day - a delay that proved fatal. Tharun Umashankar died from bleeding of the stomach lining, which was probably caused by a milk intolerance . Independent expert Dr David Crabbe, a paediatric surgeon said the procedure would have found the bleeding and Tharun could have had a life-saving operation to remove part of his stomach. He told the Sheffield inquest: 'What was a complete failure was the lack of collaboration between surgeons and gastro-enterologists. Closer teamwork would have resulted in a different outcome.' Tharun's distraught mother Sentamil, 38, broke down and sobbed as she told the hearing: 'I believed they would cure him and make him well.' The young boy had had three endoscopies at the hospital in the previous fortnight after vomiting blood and suffering stomach pain but was thought well enough to be discharged on Friday, July 9, 2010. Consultant paediatric gastro-enterologist Dr David Campbell, who was in overall charge of Tharun although off duty that weekend, said he left instructions to be called if the boy had a serious bleed again. Mrs Umashankar, who also has two daughters aged seven months and seven, left with her son but during the night he vomited blood again. 'He cried and I felt he was in pain,' she said. 'His body was cool and exhausted.' Tharun's parents Setamil (left) and Sivananthan, moved from Barnsley to London after the tragic loss of their son . Tharun was rushed by ambulance to . Barnsley District Hospital and several hours later was transferred to . the Children's Hospital unit on the afternoon of Saturday, July 10. Mrs Umashankar said after doctors checked her son she noticed his nappy was 'full of blood' which she was worried about and claimed the wet bed covers had to be changed at least five times by nurses. 'A nurse told me it was a good sign as the blood was coming through his faeces and not the mouth,' she said. Tharun should have had an endocopy as soon as he was readmitted to hospital on the Saturday afternoon. Instead he was monitored as his condition worsened, an inquest heard. He died the next day . Mrs Umashankar was then told by staff that Dr Campbell would perform another endoscopy on Tharun at 8am on the Sunday morning. But in the middle of the night she noticed his stomach was distended and 'swollen like a bubble.' A doctor thought it might simply be a build-up of gas but at 4am Tharun vomited blood again. The mother said 'all the doctors were in panic and confused' by 6.30am at which time Dr Campbell arrived. 'I was really pleased, I believed he was going to save my son,' Mrs Umashankar said. But despite a blood transfusion, Tharun failed to respond and he died at 9am on the Sunday. Paediatric registrar Dr Tafadzwa . Makaya, whose job was to stabilise the boy, told the Sheffield inquest . she had not been informed of any "red button plan" to alert Dr Campbell . and a surgical team if there was a further bleed. When . she first saw Tharun he was sat up in bed watching CBeebies on a . monitor with his mother and appeared stable. She was only called by a . nurse at 4.30am when he vomited blood again. She . instructed he be given more fluid as he had low blood pressure and a . raised pulse, called for closer monitoring and ordered some units of . blood which should have been ready but were not so fresh ones had to be . made up. Dr Makaya said she alerted both the . surgical and medical registrars to the situation and was told Dr . Campbell would be coming in as planned to carry out an endoscopy at 8am. When . coroner Chris Dorries pointed out that Dr Campbell had asked to be made . aware if there was any further bleeding she replied: 'There was no red . button plan delivered to me.' Dr . Michael Powers QC, for the family, put it to Dr Makaya: 'Knowing that . this is a significant bleed, you didn't make any contact with anyone . anywhere until 6.15am.' She replied: 'I assessed and I managed and then I contacted my superiors.' Tharun died at Sheffield Children's Hospital (pictured). A lack of teamwork between surgeons and gastro-enterologists was partly to blame, an inquest heard . Specialist paediatric registrar Dr James Pauling said he arranged for Dr Campbell to do the endoscopy on Sunday morning and there was no contingency plan in place. He said: 'I don't recall him saying he had to be called back in the event of further bleeding.' He himself was not told of any further fresh bleeding which could have been a 'serious finding.' Mrs Umashankar and her petrol station cashier husband Sivananthan, 42, ran a grocery store in Barnsley at the time but after the tragedy moved to live with relatives in Tooting, London. They came to the UK 12 years ago and are British nationals. Dr Crabbe who reviewed the case said Tharun had a 'mighty strange illness' for a child and he had not come across such a case of catastrophic upper gastro-intestinal bleeding in a child before. He said the Children's Hospital was unique in that Tharun was admitted to the care of paediatricians rather than surgeons. The boy should have had an endoscopy on the Saturday which was an "error of judgment" by the doctors caring for him. 'The benefits of identifying the cause of the bleeding far outweigh the potential risks,' he said. 'I would say Dr Campbell was taking a risk.' The inquest was adjourned.

Tharun, two, had three endoscopies after vomiting blood but cause of bleeding not discovered . He was discharged on Friday by Dr Campbell but rushed back to hospital on Saturday afternoon after vomiting blood again . Dr Campbell said he asked to be called in such a case but Dr Tafadzwa Makaya whose job was to stabilise Tharun said she was not informed of this . Had Tharun received an endoscopy on Saturday to find cause of bleed he could have been saved, inquest hears .

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By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 05:13 EST, 12 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:15 EST, 13 August 2013 . They are the brightly-coloured clogs with signature aeration holes most commonly spotted on middle class mothers doing the school run. And whilst they enjoyed huge success when they burst onto the footwear market back in 2007 thanks to their comfortable style, Crocs haven't maintained that success in recent times . Last month, the brand reported a 43 percent decline in second-quarter profits, and their stock fell by nearly a quarter in one day. Out of fashion: They have long been the Marmite of the fashion world and now Crocs have seen earnings fall . Despite selling £630 million of shoes in . 2011 and £739 million in 2012, the first quarter of 2013 saw earnings . fall by 42.5 per cent compared to the previous year, which the company blame on colder-than-normal weather and decreased consumer interest. And last Thursday, shareholders suffered another blow after it was reported that analysts from brokerage Stern Agee downgraded the company from 'neutral' to 'underperform'. Sam Poser, the analyst who wrote the report for Stern Agee, cited reasons for this rating as reduced earnings expectations and concerns over the senior executive leadership, according to The Daily Beast. He wrote: 'Unfortunately, it appears that those who concur with the top executives remain at the company, at the expense of numerous talented people who have left.' Losing their appeal: Despite selling £630 million of the shoes, which were credited for their comfortable style, in 2011 and £739 million in 2012, the first quarter of 2013 saw earnings fall by 42.5 . Overhaul: In an attempt to win over the fash pack, the brand have recently had a style overhaul and redesigned the original £29.99 Crocs to give them a more stylish appeal . Ultimately, it is the end of Crocs’ hypergrowth, and their stock has fallen by about half in the past two years. In an attempt to win over the fash pack, the brand have recently had a style overhaul and redesigned the original £29.99 Crocs to give them a wider appeal. Fashion writer Nicole Mowbray said: 'Crocs should stop pretending to be cool and stick to what they do best — comfortable clogs. Or simply publicise how comfortable all their shoes are, rather than bleating on that they’re stylish. 'In the Seventies, supporters of Millwall Football Club used to chant: ‘Nobody likes us, we don’t care.’ 'Perhaps they’re words the million-dollar Crocs company would do well to listen to.' Fashion blogger Lydia Faye Jones added: 'I'm a girl with a serious shoe obsession, however thankfully Crocs have never been one of them. 'The shapeless chunky style and hideous array of colours are why I'm not surprised the demand for Crocs has rapidly decreased! 'They have never been fashionable and it looks like now they never will be.' Famous fans: The quirky footwear is loved by celebrities such as Brooke Shields and Whoopi Goldberg . Crocs CEO John McCarvel said: 'Crocs, . in fact, is alive and kicking. Our transformation to a diversified, . four-season lifestyle footwear brand is still on track. 'We are a very different company . today compared with five years ago – more than 300 different footwear . styles, more than 500 of our own branded retail stores, better wholesale . relationships, a very strong balance sheet, and more competitive cost . structures – and global consumer demand for our products remains very . strong. 'We’re on track to sale approximately 55 million pairs of shoes around the world this year.'

Crocs reported a 43% decline in second-quarter profits in June . Stock fell by nearly a quarter in one day as a result . Brokerage Stern Agee downgraded company from 'neutral' to 'underperform' Have recently unveiled new designs to try win over fash pack .

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This little boy gets a firm ticking off from his mother - after getting buried up to his shoulders in mud on a Somerset beach yesterday. The youngster got an earful after apparently straying onto mudflats which are exposed at low tide in Weston-super-Mare. He is seen bursting into tears as the furious woman wags her finger in front of his face. The incident happened a few miles from the spot where Lelaina Hall, five, died after getting trapped in the mud at nearby Berrow beach in 2002. And the ever-present danger was underlined during the day as emergency crews were called out several times to reports of people stuck in the mud. Three call-outs were for missing children, who were all located safely. A seven-year-old boy had to be checked over by an ambulance crew. Last year, fire crews had to send a hovercraft to rescue five people after they became stuck in mud on the same beach. The shallow incline of the beach means the tide comes in faster than a human can run . Landed right in it: The youngster is berated by his mother after he is covered in dirt after playing in the mud flats in Weston-super-Mare FFF . Mark Newman, Chairman of BARB Search and Rescue - a charity that operates hovercrafts in the area - said the mud flats present a constant danger. 'We had a very busy weekend attending incidents of people who had got stuck in the mud or had gone missing from families,' he said. 'It's a very dangerous stretch of coastline, that goes on for some way, and has strong currents and deep mud in places. 'People should always take care when going out to sea and be wary of the mud.' Retired Roger Fry, 66, of Weston-super-Mare, took the photos as he attended the Weston Air Day on Sunday. He said: 'I was on the beach watching the planes when I heard this great ruckus. I looked round and saw this mother screaming a a kid. "I told you not to go down there, you're filthy" and so on. 'Everyone stopped and looked around before the mother stormed off with some other children towards the car park. The muddy kid just followed on a little later. 'There is so many people that get stuck out on the mud every year that the mother must have been aware of the danger. There are plenty of warning signs around.' Do you know the woman in the pictures? If so please contact reporter Sam Webb at sam.webb@mailonline.co.uk . Upset: The boy is seen bursting into tears as his furious mum wags her finger in front of his face. Danger: The mother may be right to be angry - the shallow incline of the beach means the tide comes in faster than a human can run and some holidaymakers have had to be rescued .

Photos show a tearful young boy being berated by his mother after getting caked in mud on a Somerset beach . The mud flats can be dangerous and rescue hovercrafts are frequently called out to rescue tourists .

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The company has agreed to rebrand its 'eco superstar' A major lightbulb producer has given way and agreed to stop branding old-fashioned products as ‘eco’ bulbs. The Daily Mail revealed last month that Osram and Philips, two of the biggest manufacturers of lightbulbs, were selling basic halogen bulbs with ‘eco’ branding. Consumer groups accused the firms of trying to ‘greenwash’ their products, encouraging people to buy them because they think they are more environmentally friendly and could save them money. But in reality halogen bulbs are among the least energy efficient bulbs widely available today. They have been surpassed by several technologies including LEDs and compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs - some of which will burn ten times less energy. Now, just weeks after the Mail’s expose, Osram has agreed to rebrand its ‘Eco Superstar’ bulb as ‘Halogen Classic’. Christian Boelling, a spokesman for the Germany-based firm said: ‘We have decided not to use the term ‘Eco’ for our halogen products any more. ‘This change will be implemented in the course of an already planned packaging change. ‘The advantages of dedicated lamp types will still be communicated in the future. This includes longer lifetime, the possibility of disposal in household waste and better light quality. The adjustment will be implemented as soon as possible.’ Previously Osram had tried to insist that Eco stood for ‘economy’ as well as ‘ecology’ - reflecting the cheaper price of the halogen bulb. But the firm has now changed its stance. Mr Boelling said: ‘From our point of view, the term ‘Eco’ is not crucial for our customers. ‘For this reason we decided not to use it anymore.’ Philips, however, is continuing to sell its EcoClassic bulb. A spokesman said consumers are given enough information on packets to make an informed decision. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that replacing every halogen bulb with LEDs will save a family £40 a year in electricity bills. Philips EcoClassic bulb and Osram Classic Eco Superstar bulb each only earn an energy label grade of C or D, the third and fourth out of five efficiency bands. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that replacing every halogen bulb with LEDs will save a family £40 a year in electricity bills. They will last just 2000 hours and consume ten times more energy than the latest LED technology, researchers say. Richard Black, director of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, a think tank in London, said: ‘Low-energy lightbulbs are one of the success stories of recent years, saving British households about a billion pounds per year and helping to reduce the carbon emissions that are changing our climate. ‘So it’s great that Osram has seen sense and put consumers back in charge of their energy saving. We would urge other companies still using misleading labels to follow suit and help consumers make informed choices about their energy bills and carbon emissions.’

Daily Mail revealed companies were selling halogen bulbs with 'eco' labels . Weeks after the expose Osram is to rebrand their 'Eco Superstar' bulbs . The products will now be sold as 'Halogen Classic' after criticism . Halogen bulbs are among the least energy efficient on the market .

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While his namesake Cristiano Ronaldo was collecting a third Ballon d'Or on Monday, the original Brazilian Ronaldo was also a big winner... at a major poker event. The World Cup winner, and former three time FIFA Player of the Year himself, collected $42,180 (£27,824) at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main Event in the Bahamas. The tournament, which is still under way in the Bahamas, will see the winner collect a top prize of more than $1.4 million (£923,000). The original Ronaldo smiles as he wins big at the Poker Stars event in the Caribbean . The 38-year pulls his best poker face as he heads towards an almost £30,000 windfall . The World Cup winner moved into 26th place - further than any other sports star has ever reached . The former Inter Milan and Real Madrid star beat some of the world's top poker player on his way to cashing in - taking 26th place from a field of 816 players (top 4%). 'El Fenómeno' also beat former Pokerstars 'SportStar' Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia's previous record of 52nd place set in 2012, to go further than any other sports star in the PCA's 10-year history. Ronaldo said: 'I'm really excited, it's the same emotion I used to have at the soccer fields playing at the highest level. Ronaldo had previously lost a head to head with tennis superstar Rafael Nadal in 2014 . Ronaldo celebrates after scoring against Germany to win the 2002 World Cup for Brazil . The Brazilian's namesake Cristiano Ronaldo screams after picking up the Ballon d'Or on the same night . 'The experience has been great, my first goal was to get a prize in a big tournament and I achieved that.' After losing to tennis superstar Rafa Nadal in a heads-up poker charity event in late 2014, Ronaldo was determined to improve his game and has obviously been spending time working on his strategy. Support flooded in with celebrities - including Sergio Garcia – and sports fans alike, voicing their encouragement on Twitter with the hashtag #GoRonaldoPCA .

World Cup star won nearly £30,000 at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure . Brazil legend broke Sergio Garcia's record to go further than any other sports star at the event in the Bahamas . Namesake Cristiano Ronaldo picked up third Ballon d'Or on same night .

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By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 11:20 EST, 29 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:50 EST, 29 August 2013 . A studio assistant to artist David Hockney died after swallowing bleach during a drink and drugs session with the millionaire artist’s former partner, an inquest heard yesterday. Dominic Elliott, 23, was in a relationship with Hockney’s ex John Fitzherbert and the pair ended up in bed together after their all-night session while the painter slept just down the corridor at his home. Mr Fitzherbert, who is in his early 60s, told the inquest in Hull that after spending most of the day sleeping he was woken at 4am on Sunday March 17 by his young lover asking to be driven to hospital. Friends: Renowned artist David Hockney (left) employed keen sportsman Dominic Elliott (right) as an assistant . He said he found an open bottle of . toilet cleaner – which was 95 per cent sulphuric acid – in the bathroom . sink but ‘didn’t connect’ the two. Mr . Elliott ‘slouched forward groaning and grunting’ during the 45-minute . journey to Scarborough General Hospital but was pronounced dead soon . after his arrival. He would have died in agony and suffered shocking internal injuries, the inquest was told. Mr . Hockney, one of Britain’s most successful artists and worth around . £37million, did not attend the inquest but he submitted a statement. He . described how he shared his home in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, with . his ex-partner and two other male studio assistants, but had his own . room where he slept alone. Mr . Hockney said he knew Mr Elliott, who had his own home in the town, only . on a professional basis but described him as a ‘Jekyll and Hyde . character’ when drunk. Scene: Mr Elliott was taken to hospital from David Hockney's home (pictured) in Bridlington, East Yorkshire . Mr . Hockney said he saw Mr Fitzherbert at midnight on the Saturday but . noticed ‘nothing out the ordinary’. He said he knew nothing about . drug-taking that night and was asleep when Mr Elliott was taken to . hospital. He was woken by an assistant at 9.30am and told of his death. Mr . Fitzherbert told the inquest that he had been Mr Hockney’s partner for . 24 years, but the pair split amicably four years ago. They remained . friends and continued to share the five-bedroom house in Bridlington. Mr . Elliott, who had a relationship with Mr Fitzherbert before he went to . university, became an assistant for Mr Hockney after dropping out. Mr . Fitzherbert said Mr Elliott came to see him on the Friday night before . his death. He was upset about his exclusion from a Vanity Fair . photoshoot of Mr Hockney and his team by the leading photographer Annie . Leibovitz. Hockney painted this portrait of Dominic Elliott in 2008, left. Hockney's former partner John Fitzherbert, right, had smoked cannabis and drunk alcohol with Elliott during the course of the day, the inquest heard . The two men spent . the night alone together in Mr Hockney’s house drinking and taking . drugs, with Mr Elliott snorting cocaine. The following day they were in . bed when they heard Mr Hockney leave the house. Mr Fitzherbert said Mr . Elliott was ‘laughing hysterically’ and leapt out of bed before throwing . himself off an internal balcony. Mr Elliott could not explain his behaviour but Mr Fitzherbert said he was ‘prone to random behaviour’ when drunk. They smoked more cannabis but spent most of the day sleeping until Mr Elliott asked to go to hospital. A post-mortem examination revealed cause of death to be ingestion of sulphuric acid ‘associated’ with taking drugs. The . pathologist said Mr Elliott had a ‘significant quantity of ecstasy’ in . his system and that would have ‘exerted influence at the time of death’. The inquest continues. Sportsman: Mr Elliott (right) is pictured playing for Bridlington Rugby Club against Heath last November . Talented: This 2004 painting Four Roads and Cornfields is a prime example of Hockney's much-loved artwork . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.

Dominic Elliott was at famous artist's home in Bridlington, East Yorkshire . Took cocaine, ecstasy and temazepam before drinking acid, inquest hears . Hockney's former partner John Fitzherbert drove 23-year-old to hospital . Elliott's mother says he dropped out of university after partying too much .

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Stare up at the moon and you might be forgiven for thinking that it’s a barren, desolate world that does little more than orbit Earth. But research suggests that our planet’s natural satellite is not a lifeless hunk of rock - it’s actually got a hot liquid layer around its core that is still churning today. If true, the study would suggest the moon is more active than once thought, and it would also have important implications for the history of Earth. Researchers in Beijing have presented evidence that part of the moon is still liquid. They say Earth's gravity is keeping a molten layer around the moon's core (illustration shown). The conclusion is based on seismic experiments from the Apollo mission and also information from Japan's Selene lunar orbiter . It has proven for the first time that the deepest part of the lunar mantle is soft, based upon the agreement between observation results and the theoretical calculations. The research team also clarified that heat is efficiently generated by the tides in the soft part, deepest in the mantle. In general, a part of the energy stored inside a celestial body by tidal forces (caused by being pushed and pulled by its partner, in this case Earth, as it orbits) is changed to heat. The heat generation depends on the softness of the interior. Whereas previous research also suggests that some part of the energy inside the moon due to the tidal forces is changed to heat, the present research indicates that this type of energy conversion does not uniformly occur in the entire moon, but only intensively in a soft layer. The research team believes that the soft layer is now warming the core of the moon as the core seems to be wrapped by the layer, which is located in the deepest part of the mantle, and which efficiently generates heat. They also expect that a soft layer like this may efficiently have warmed the core in the past as well. Any two bodies in orbit in space have a gravitational effect on one another, but as no orbit is perfectly circular, the force of gravity varies as they move closer and further from one another. The effect is very noticeable on moons such as Jupiter’s Io, where volcanoes rage on its surface as it swings round its parent planet in an elliptical orbit and is pushed and pulled by the planet’s gravity. And the effects are apparent here, too, on Earth, where the seas and oceans undergo daily tides due to the gravity of the moon. Of course, given that our planet is 81 times larger than the moon, it’s obvious that in turn the moon would experience similar forces as it orbits. It had previously been considered that this might cause part of the moon’s core to be liquid, just as how Earth’s core is liquid, but until now no one had shown this could be true. Now an international research team, led by Dr Yuji Harada from Planetary Science Institute, China University of Geosciences, has found that there is an extremely soft layer deep inside the moon and that heat is effectively generated in the layer by the gravity of Earth. The discovery was made by comparing the deformation of the moon as precisely measured by Jaxa's Selene (Selenological and Engineering Explorer) spacecraft and other probes with theoretical calculations. The findings suggest that the interior of the moon has not yet cooled and hardened, and also that it is still being warmed by the effect that Earth has on the moon. Researchers say the findings provide a chance to reconsider how both Earth and the moon evolved - and continues to evolve - since their births through mutual influence. Any two bodies in orbit have a gravitational effect on each other, but as no orbit is perfectly circular the force of gravity varies as they move closer and further. This effect causes a pushing and pulling effect, noticeable by Earth's tides. An exaggerated diagram of this effect on the moon is shown . This is an estimate value of the Moon’s interior viscosity structure replicated with the observational results in this research. The viscosity is one indicator of how tender or hard the moon's interior is. For reference, the density structure and seismic velocity based on previous studies are added . ‘I believe that our research results have brought about new questions,’ said Dr Harada. ‘For example, how can the bottom of the lunar mantle maintain its softer state for a long time? ‘To answer this question, we would like to further investigate the internal structure and heat-generating mechanism inside the moon in detail. ‘In addition, another question has come up: How has the conversion from the tidal energy to the heat energy in the soft layer affected the motion of the moon relative to Earth, and also the cooling of the moon? ‘We would like to resolve those problems as well so that we can thoroughly understand how the moon was born and has evolved.’ The research team focused on the structure deep inside the moon. During the Apollo programme, seismic observations were carried out on the moon. Analysis of data concerning the internal structure of the moon indicates that the satellite is considered to consist mainly of two parts: the ‘core’ - the inner portion made up of metal - and the ‘mantle’, the outer portion made up of rock. Researchers found that the observed tidal deformation of the moon can be explained if there was an extremely soft layer in the deepest part of the lunar mantle. Previous studies have indicated that a part of the rock at the deepest part inside the lunar mantle may be molten. These results support the above possibility since partially molten rock is soft. Here Buzz Aldrin is shown with a seismic experiment during the Apollo 11 mission in July 1969. Experiments such as these provided the researchers with information they could use to prove that part of the moon's core is still hot and molten . Another investigator, Professor Junichi Haruyama of the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science at Jaxa, mentioned the significance of this research. 'A smaller celestial body like the moon cools faster than a larger one like the Earth does,' he said. 'In fact, we had thought that volcanic activities on the moon had already come to a halt. Therefore, the Moon had been believed to be cool and hard, even in its deeper parts. 'However, this research tells us that the Moon has not yet cooled and hardened, but is still warm. 'It even implies that we have to reconsider the question as follows: How have Earth and the moon influenced each other since their births? 'That means this research not only shows us the actual state of the deep interior of the moon, but also gives us a clue for learning about the history of the system including both Earth and the moon.'

Researchers in Beijing present evidence that part of the moon is liquid . They say Earth's gravity is keeping a molten layer around the moon's core . The conclusion is based on seismic experiments from the Apollo missions and also information from Japan's Selene lunar orbiter . Suggests the moon's core has not cooled and is still churning . It could provide information on the history of the Earth-moon system .

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The most senior Syrian diplomat to defect and publicly embrace his country's uprising is calling for a foreign military intervention to topple President Bashar al-Assad. He also accused the Damascus regime of collaborating with al Qaeda militants against opponents both in Syria and in neighboring Iraq. "I support military intervention because I know the nature of this regime," Nawaf al-Fares told CNN. "This regime will only go by force." Until a few days ago, Fares was Syria's top man in Baghdad. His defection marks a shocking about-face for an official who occupied a critically important post. Until Fares was sent to Iraq in 2008, Syria had no ambassador stationed in Baghdad for more than 20 years. "I was at the top of the Syrian regime," Fares said in his first interview with a U.S.-based TV network since his defection. "But what happened in the last year during the holy revolution, all of the killing, the massacres, the refugees, and the declaration of war by Bashar al-Assad against the Syrian people, stopped any kind of hope for reform or real change, which had been promised previously by Bashar al-Assad. "I tried during the last year and a half to convince the regime to change its treatment of the people," Fares added. "But I wasn't successful, so I decided to join the people." Opposition calls on Obama to act now . Damascus confirmed news of Fares' defection in a short article published by Syria's state news agency SANA, which announced that the ambassador had effectively been fired for leaving the Syrian Embassy in Baghdad without official authorization. Prior to his diplomatic assignment in Iraq, Fares served as a provincial governor in different parts of Syria for a decade. He was also a regional boss in Syria's ruling Baath Party. Photographs on Syrian government websites as well as from Fares' personal collection show that on more than one occasion, this native of the eastern city of Deir Ezzor reported directly to the Syrian president. In an interview that lasted for nearly two hours in the gilded halls of a luxury hotel in the Qatari capital, Fares laid the blame for large-scale allegations of human rights abuses in Syria squarely at the feet of the country's president. "The regime in Syria is a totalitarian regime and a dictatorship. There is only one person who gives the orders: one person who is the president," Fares said. Iran offers to host talks . Syria's state news agency has maintained that "armed terrorist groups" are behind the violence, which the United Nations estimates has killed more than 10,000 people since March 2011. CNN cannot independently verify reports from Syria, including Fares' allegations, because the nation has restricted access by international journalists. Syrian opposition leaders applauded the very public departure of such a high-ranking Syrian official because it clearly embarrasses and weakens the Damascus regime. But they appeared reluctant to invite one of al-Assad's trusted lieutenants into the ranks of the opposition movement. "We don't reject him because we want everyone to quit the ship," said former Syrian National Council chairman Burhan Ghalioun, who spoke to CNN in the lobby of the same Doha hotel where Fares was staying under Qatari protection. Ghalioun insisted he did not know the former Syrian ambassador was sharing the same quarters. "But we cannot put him in a political position (in the opposition) ... no one will accept Tlas or Fares at the head of the movement," Ghalioun added. The activist was referring to Gen. Manaf Tlas. Like Fares, Tlas is a Sunni Muslim who once held a high rank in an Alawite-dominated regime. He abandoned the Syrian government and fled into exile just days before Fares' departure. "I know General Tlas. ... There is friendship between us," said Fares. "But there has been no coordination between me and him in terms of defecting." Throughout the interview, Fares played down growing sectarian divisions between the ruling Alawite minority and the Sunni majority, who make up much of the current uprising. He also rejected the Syrian government's common claim that the rebellion is being led by militants from al Qaeda. Instead, he accused Damascus of cooperating closely with al Qaeda militants, ever since the U.S. invasion of neighboring Iraq in 2003. "The Syrian regime felt threatened and felt that it, too, might fall," Fares recalled. "So they had an agreement with al Qaeda to keep the road open to Iraq. The militants started coming from all over the world through Syria, under the eyes of the Syrian secret police, which are directly responsible for the killing of thousands of Iraqis in Iraq as well as Americans and coalition forces. "The secret police were encouraging enthusiastic young people in Syria to go for jihad in Iraq and join al Qaeda," Fares continued. "Bashar al-Assad and his security forces are directly responsible for the killing of thousands and thousands of Iraqis and coalition forces, because he gave al Qaeda everything it needed. He trained and provided shelter and he built safe havens for them to hide in." One of these "safe havens," Fares said, was the Syrian border village of al Sukariya, near the border city of Abu Kamal. In response to the accusations, a senior U.S. administration official said that Fares' claims about the Syrian government 's cooperation with al Qaeda during the war in Iraq are "broadly consistent with our understanding." "Since 2003, al-Assad allowed al Qaeda and associates to facilitate weapons, money and fighters to al Qaeda's Iraq-based affiliate, setting the conditions for those same elements to shift from Syria-based facilitation to active attacks -- this time focused against the al-Assad regime," the official said. "This emerging al Qaeda operational presence in country bolsters our own argument that the sooner al-Assad leaves, the better," said the official, noting that that the current al Qaeda-linked effort in Syria is small and not representative of either the opposition or the broader population. In October of 2008, the U.S. government claimed responsibility for a controversial cross-border raid into Syria near Abu Kamal. U.S. officials later told CNN that special forces soldiers and helicopter gunships targeted an Iraqi man named Abu Ghadiya, who they called "the top facilitator of al Qaeda foreign fighters into Iraq." At the time, the Syrian government angrily protested the violation of its airspace and what it said was the killing of eight civilians. Four years later, however, Fares claimed the American forces had in fact struck an al Qaeda training camp run by one of al-Assad's close relatives by marriage. "This was a hiding place for al-Qaeda on the border with Iraq, and it was under the control of Assif Shawkat, the brother-in-law of the president," Fares said. "One hour after the raid, Assif Shawkat was there at the location. A conversation took place between me and him ... and he was angry about the attack made against al Sukariya and he was kind of scared," Fares recalled. Claims like this, which CNN cannot independently confirm, will likely make the former Syrian ambassador a much sought-after asset for Western intelligence agencies, as well as for the Qatari government. Doha has publicly lobbied for arming Syrian rebels against the al-Assad regime. Fares went on to repeat a long-stated Syrian opposition accusation: that the Syrian government is staging al Qaeda-style attacks in Syria as a fear-mongering tactic. The former ambassador was reluctant to explain the details of how he escaped from Baghdad to Doha. He said he timed his departure with the escape of his wife and grown children from Syria. But he had a message to the Syrian president and his former colleagues in the government. "My former colleagues, I ask them to join the people and leave this corrupt regime. There is still time," Fares said. "To Bashar al-Assad, I say you don't know history. Two wills cannot be defeated: the will of God and the will of the people. ... History will curse you for the crimes you committed in Syria."

A U.S. official says defector's claims about al Qaeda cooperation are "consistent" Nawaf al-Fares, former Syrian ambassador to Iraq, is the highest-ranking diplomatic defector . "I tried to convince the regime ... to change its treatment of the people," he says . Syria denies accusations of massacres and attacking civilians .

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By . Travelmail Reporter . It is well known as the City That Never Sleeps. And now the hustle and bustle of New York City has been captured perfectly by Polish filmmaker Kamil Nowak in a time lapse video featuring some of the most famous sites of the Big Apple. Grand Central Terminal, Times Square, and the Empire State Building are all featured, among others, in the short film. Buzz: The City That Never Sleeps is captured beautifully by Nowak . Nowak gained experience working on commercials, documentaries and feature films in Poland and across the world, and has now taken on one of the world's most iconic cities for his next project. As the clouds rush buy, people wander like ants around the sites, and day turns to night, New York is very much painted as the bright, multicultural hybrid that it is. Iconic: The Big Apple - a real hive of activity . Memories: Iconic landmarks are shown off in the video . Got it: The Empire State Building, radiant in the night sky . Empire: And the famous building by day . All action: Nowak used his experience from working on commercials and feature films to capture New York . Always there: The water's constant flow mirrors the fast-paced action of Nowak's video .

Polish filmmaker captures everyday life of the Big Apple . Video shows off the spectacular and iconic sites of the U.S. city .

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