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Google is set to bring its $35 Chromecast dongle to hifi systems. The firm today revealed a major new push into audio designed to take on Apple TV. It plans to partner with hifi firms to create speakers for the service, and today revealed it will already work with speakers connected to a TV. Scroll down for video . The update allows users to control music on their compatible speakers from a mobile phone . Google Audio cast works with the following apps: . Deezer, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, NPR One, Pandora, Rdio, TuneIn, and many others. However, key services, including Spotify, are currently missing. Currently the system allows people to play back video from sites such as Netflix. However, Google is now bringing the same technology behind its popular $35 Chromecast dongle into speakers, soundbars and A/V receivers. It says users will be able to 'cast' audio wirelessly from a variety of apps on your Android or iOS smartphone, or the Web, in a similar fashion to the way people with a Chromecast stream video. 'Just like Chromecast, simply tap the cast button in your favorite music or radio app on Android, iOS, or the web, and select a Google Cast Ready speaker to get the party started.' Similar to the video service, users can use their phone to control the music, which is then played directly through the speaker from cloud services, meaning they can use their phone for other things. 'Google Cast Ready speakers pull content directly from the cloud, so you’ll get the best audio quality and can freely multi-task on your phone, tablet, or laptop, all without straining the battery,' it says. The service is available from today, and Google's speakers will work with a growing list of apps including Deezer, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, NPR One, Pandora, Rdio, TuneIn, and doznes more. The $35 gadget, which resembles a USB stick, is plugged directly into the HDMI port on modern TVs and streams content from the web, via peoples phones, tablets and laptops. All this content is controlled via apps, and the European version of the stick currently features content from the BBC, YouTube and Netflix, while the US version has a host of apps. Chromecast is a direct competitor to the Apple TV system that was launched by the Cupertino company in 2007, and is now in its third generation. It also rivals the streaming box services of Roku. By comparison, Roku boxes start at £60 ($99), while the Apple TV device sells for £99 in the UK and $99 in the U.S. Chromecast is compatible with Android smartphones and tablets, as well as Chrome and Apple's iOS operating system. However, some major streaming services, including Spotify, are currently missing from the list. Google intends to broaden the Google Cast ecosystem over the coming months by bringing it into more televisions, game consoles, and set-top boxes with Android TV. The company is also working to enable other non-audio apps to enhance the experience by supporting Google Cast Ready audio devices. For example, you might be able to see a video on a tablet, but hear the audio on a set of bedroom speakers.

Will allow users to 'cast' audio to compatible speakers and hifi systems . Google working with speaker manufacturers and app makers for service .

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(CNN) -- If you set your alarm this morning for quarter-past ungodly (California time) to catch the predawn announcement of the Oscars nominations, then we're in the same twisted little club. The Order of the Oscars Freaks. Years before Oscars handicapping became an official Olympics sport -- What? It's not? -- two fellow Oscars-obsessed friends and I made an annual game of trying to predict who'd get nominated. I never won (I tied once), but I never lost my enthusiasm for it; that is until every magazine and website came along with their own predictions and took the fun out of it. This year for old times' sake we revived our game, only doing the best actor category because it's been an impossibly full year of great male lead performances that have stumped the prognosticators. My 14-year-old nephew Miles was in on it because he's been a rabid Oscar fiend since he was at least, oh, 12. Call out a category -- best actress say -- and a year -- 1966 -- and he'll holler back "Julie. Christie, not Andrews." Am I proud, or concerned? Today the results came in and we all tied with four corrects each, but with different names on our lists. Jude must have known Christian Bale had the gale winds of "American Hustle" at his back. David, a great strategist, and Miles the Scorsese devotee, both recognized Leo DiCaprio's high standing with the Academy, even if Miles won't be seeing that film anytime soon, I pray. We all had faith in Bruce, Matthew and Chiwetel (funny how we know them all by first name.) I held out for Robert Redford because, well, he's Redford, and because I'm un-young. That should teach me to stop leading with my heart. But did anyone ever imagine that betting against Mr. Oscars himself, Tom Hanks, could pay off? If I had I would have won for once. Of course, Oscar mania is not just about the horse race. It's also the spectacle, the show around the show. The history. I'm a diehard. I haven't missed an Oscars since I got hooked as a teen. My favorite year was 1978, the night Jane Fonda and Jon Voight took the best leads categories for "Coming Home." Justice! Glory! As a professional plower of the fields of celebrity, with a license to fawn and gush (want to see my card?) I've attended the Oscars, been inside the crimson cocoon, felt the collective shock when "Shakespeare In Love" beat "Saving Private Ryan" for Best Picture. I've stepped on a few gowns. Not even the cruel realization that there are essentially two red carpets -- velvet stanchions separate the stars on one side from the rest of us attendees -- could squelch my blind and blinded-by-the-flashbulbs enthusiasm. But like most true believers I have my moments of doubt. If you are not in our little club, I get where you're coming from. To the Osc-nostics it is all too much, too little, and certainly, should you try to slog through the entire three-and-a-half hour ceremony on March 2, too late. It is kind of preposterous: over-hyped, over-scored, overwrought. In poor Oscar's defense, for the past decade or so Hollywood's big night has had to suffer indignities that the Academy of Old couldn't have imagined: dwindling viewership, the cultural-relevance supremacy of TV over movies, an attention deficit that just can't sit still for the live-action shorts category, acting and directing victories basically pre-called by critics and Tweeters and bookies, James Franco. There's desperation in the air. Oscar's been trying too hard. This year's host Ellen Degeneres will take care of some of that, I'm sure. You never see her sweat. Plus, there's red carpet fatigue, as the Oscars limp on high heels to the finish line of a bloated awards season as overextended as Christmas and the NFL. Critics' awards, the People's Choice Awards, the Golden Globes, the SAG Awards — you can only cut to a reaction shot of Jennifer Lawrence so many times before it constitutes stalking. But is it Oscar's fault that everyone else wants in on the action? I recognize the madness -- struggle with it -- but it's hopeless. I just can't shake my addiction. Will I sound like I'm on the Academy's payroll if I argue that the Oscars really are a great national tradition? Movies, of course, which might actually be getting better. And stars, our collective guilty delight. And glamor, maybe even a modicum of sophistication. And there are less-lofty traditions to savor: Carping about his speech, dissing her dress. Trying to catch a loser register a little disappointment. Enduring campy production numbers with aerialists. Dutifully filling out the ballots at your friend's Oscars party even if the only movie you saw that year starred Adam Sandler. It's all part of the ritual. The knowing that it's all too much, but the kind of too much that some of us just can't get enough of. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Tim Allis.

If you watched early morning Oscars nominations, you're in Tim Allis' Order of Oscar Freaks . Allis: It's not just a horse race: Oscar mania is the spectacle, the show, the history . Allis: Academy of Old couldn't have imagined dwindling viewership, competition from TV . Despite its excesses, he says, Oscars are a great national tradition, with a little magic .

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(CNN) -- Yes --- Marissa Mayer posed for Vogue. Her skin is creamy, her hair perfect. She looks gorgeous. It's not surprising; it's Vogue. It's also not surprising that the conversation about Mayer's Vogue piece -- the first major profile she agreed to since becoming CEO of Yahoo -- has remained squarely focused on how she looks in the accompanying photograph. Most criticisms, my own included, have examined Mayer's role in this: At a time when women in the workplace desperately need role models, why did she allow herself to be depicted in a manner so far removed from most women's realities? On CNN.com, Pepper Schwartz writes that "a significant number of women ... were less than thrilled at the idea of one of the few women of real power still needing the affirmation of a Vogue fashion shoot," and "here's a woman who has made it to the top because of her brains, does she still need to self-validate by having a beautiful fashion gig?" But what's so inexcusable about a woman wanting to look her best? How is it self-validating to let a respectable magazine profile you in the way they know how? Or is the issue more about the audacity of a powerful woman sitting for a portrait that might be -- gasp -- flattering? The truth is that we can't blame Mayer, or Vogue, for society's obsession with, and response to, appearance. Women, especially women who happen to be both beautiful and brilliant like Mayer, are very often reduced to, or at least measured by, their looks. This was a reality before Mayer's Vogue spread, and it will be a reality after. The debate over Mayer's culpability in agreeing to be sexed up for a fashion magazine implies that she has some power over the fact, some ability to change the truth, that looks matter, and that pretty people succeed more. Because they do, with or without the "affirmation of a Vogue fashion shoot." According to a 2007 paper from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overweight and obese white women face a significant "wage penalty." According to research by Daniel Hamermesh, author of "Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People are More Successful," the top one-third of attractive females earn about 10% more annually than those in the bottom sixth of the genetic pool. And in her groundbreaking 1999 book, "Survival of the Prettiest," Harvard Medical School psychologist Nancy Etcoff argues that good-looking people get better jobs, are better paid, and have an easier time in life. The evidence is in: Evolutionarily speaking, pretty people win. Mayer's looks likely helped her get ahead in some manner throughout her career; as such, it's unreasonable to expect that she'd do anything but agree to play them up for a national audience. For women, who are faced with any number of disadvantages in the workplace, why not use what you can? That's not to say Mayer isn't brilliant or hardworking; it's not an either/or in business or in life. But it's unrealistic, and unfair, to expect that Mayer wouldn't sit for a photo that wasn't expected to turn out at least somewhat flattering. That's not self-validation, or even narcissism. It's nothing more than completely human. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Peggy Drexler.

Peggy Drexler: Talk of Marissa Mayer's Vogue piece focused on her appearance . Drexler: We can't blame Mayer, or Vogue, for society's obsession with appearance. She says Mayer has no say over the fact that looks matter, pretty people succeed more . But it's unfair, she says, to expect Mayer to sit for a photo that wasn't going to be flattering .

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By . Ben Spencer for the Daily Mail . If your walls are covered in your child’s drawings, they may be worth a closer look. Because artistic talent early in life provides an indicator of intelligence later on, scientists have found. Children who can accurately depict the human form at the age of four are more likely to be brighter in their teenage years, according to a paper published today. Psychologists at King’s College London studied pictures drawn by more than 15,000 four-year-olds. Those who drew with the most skill were likely to do better in intelligence tests a decade later. Scroll down for video . Children who can depict the human form at the age of four are more likely to be brighter in their teenage years, a study by King's College London has found. Drawings of more than 15,000 children were graded for the study . Each drawing was given a grade between 0 and 12 depending on the presence of features such as a head, nose, ears, hair, body and arms. The scoring system ignored features such as proportion for the study . The research, conducted on 7,750 pairs of identical and non-identical twins, also found a strong link between genetics and artistic talent. Identical twins were much more likely to draw pictures of a similar quality than non-identical twins. Dr Rosalind Arden, of the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London, said: ‘Our results show that there is a link between the ability to draw at the age of four and intelligence later in life. ‘Through drawing, we are attempting to show someone else what’s in our mind. 'This capacity to reproduce figures is a uniquely human ability and a sign of cognitive ability, in a similar way to writing, which transformed the human species’ ability to store information and build a civilisation.’ However, she added: ‘But this does not mean parents need to worry. It is really important that parents do not think, “Oh no, my child is terrible at drawing, they will be flipping burgers for the rest of their life.” Each drawing was given a mark out of ten. The one on the left was given a four while the one on the right a ten . More than 15,000 children, all aged four, were asked to draw a picture of a child for the King's College study . There are countless factors, both genetic and environmental, which affect intelligence in later life. ‘Drawing ability does not determine intelligence. The findings show there is a link, but it is only a moderate link.’ The children were asked at the age of four to draw a picture of a child. Each figure was scored between 0 and 12 depending on the presence of features such as a head, nose, ears, hair, body and arms. The scoring system ignored features such as proportion, but the children were given a point for including clothing. The children were given verbal and non-verbal intelligence tests at the time they completed the drawing, and again at the age of 14. The researchers found a definite correlation between the drawing scores and the two sets of intelligence scores. While some drawings received a 0 (left), others were marked up because of their knowledge of features (right) Dr Rosalind Arden, of the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London (pictured), said of the study: ‘Our results show that there is a link between the ability to draw at the age of four and intelligence later in life' Dr Arden added: ‘There is no evidence that drawing makes you more intelligent. But I think drawing will make a child more observant and able to pay attention to what is around them. ‘Children love drawing; give them a crayon and let them get on with it.’ Her team also tested the link between genes and artistic talent, using twins because each pair has a similar background, allowing the scientists to disregard outside influences. 'Overall, drawings from identical twin pairs were more similar to one another than drawings from non-identical twin pairs. Dr Arden said: ‘This does not mean there is a drawing gene – a child’s ability to draw stems from many other abilities, such as observing. 'We are a long way off understanding how genes influence all these different types of behaviour.’ The research is published in the journal Psychological Science.

Children who can depict human form at age of four more likely to be brighter . Psychologists at King's College London analysed 15,000 pictures by children . Those who drew with most skill were likely to do better in intelligence tests . Research on 7,750 twins also found strong link between genetics and talent .

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By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . Ukip is preparing for a ‘vicious, insulting and borderline libelous’ attacks from the Labour party in the run-up to the European elections, Nigel Farage revealed today. The Ukip leader said he now expects to make the biggest electoral gains in Labour’s industrial heartlands, when he predicts an onslaught from Ed Miliband’s party. It comes after Labour revealed it has hired a dedicated official to monitor Ukip’s activities. Ukip leader Nigel Farage said his party now stood to make the biggest gains against Labour . A new YouGov poll today puts Ukip on 10 per cent. It includes 13 per cent of people who voted Tory in 2010, 10 per cent of Lib Dems and 4 per cent of Labour supporters at the last general elections. Labour and Ukip are to go head-to-head in the battle to come first in the European elections on May 22. The Tories are widely expected to come third. Mr Farage told MailOnline he is prepared for a panicked Labour party to descend into dirty politics. ‘The untold story of British politics is that we are hammering working class votes and the Labour party has only just begun to wake up to it,’ Mr Farage said. Labour's Douglas Alexander said the party did not underestimate the threat posed by Ukip . ‘We are now the working class party. The upside potential for Ukip now comes more from Labour than anywhere.’ He said he would be focussing resources and campaign spending on the Midlands and northern seats where Labour dominates. ‘They will be vicious, insulting and much of what they say will border on libellous. They will have they trade union bully-boy friends helping them. They have got unite against fascism groups lobbying outside our meetings. ‘We know all too well how the Labour party will behave.’ It comes as Labour  revealed it has dedicated staff working on countering the threat from Ukip. Douglas Alexander, the party’s election –co-rindator and shadow foreign secretary,  said: ‘I take Ukip very seriously. The truth is that Ukip presents an electoral challenge to all political parties. ‘The way to defeat Ukip is not to be a better Ukip but to be a better Labour Party,’ he told The Independent. ‘That means making sure the EU works better for Britain but also tackling the cost of living crisis, promoting jobs and growth and protecting the NHS. ‘We have got staff dedicated to exposing the gap between the rhetoric of Ukip and its record. Inevitably, Ukip’s policies will come under sustained scrutiny in the weeks and months ahead.’ UKIP Director of Communications Patrick O'Flynn: 'Labour has finally woken up to the fact that the UKIP message is resonating in working class communities. 'Ordinary working families increasingly realise that the Labour Party no longer stands up for their interests and that only UKIP offers a solution to the uncontrolled immigration that is compressing wages and placing pressure on schools, hospitals and other public services.'

Labour election guru Douglas Alexander reveals fear of Ukip threat . Now has a dedicated official to keep an eye on Ukip's activities . Ukip and Labour in battle to come top in European Parliament elections . Nigel Farage tells MailOnline Labour attack will be 'borderline libelous'

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Spoon thieves are getting a chance to redeem themselves and get a free plate of food at the same time. Mexican restaurant Wahaca is offering an amnesty to light-fingered diners who keep stealing their spoons by giving away tacos for the safe return of their colourful cutlery. The street food chain is giving people until the end of January to recoup some of the 4,000 spoons stolen each year. The restaurant chain, which has 16 outlets in London, has just opened an outlet in Cardiff . But those returning spoons on 1 February will not be eligible for free food. Wahaca, which was co-founded in 2005 by Masterchef winner Thomasina Miers, has outlets in 16 London locations and one in in Cardiff. The company is offering a free bowl of tacos to any customer willing to walk into one of their restaurants and hand back their sought after brightly coloured plastic spoons. The amnesty was first launched in  2012. The restaurant has since recovered approximately 100 spoons a year since they started offering food for spoons. Wahaca spokesperson Oli Ingham, 32, said to MailOnline: 'What we tend to find is that people are more nervous at the very beginning of the year. 'A trickle come in the beginning and when they find that we really are forgiving them, more start coming towards the end of the month.' Every year, Mexican restaurant Wahaca has 4,000 of its colourful spoons stolen from its restaurants . According to Mr Ingham, the first couple of years were slow. But he is expecting a better response this time round. 'We are expecting it to be a lot higher this year. People seems to be getting behind the idea each time we do it and we try to spread the word a little further around every time.' The Mexican standoff has led to Wanted posters being put up online by the street food company. The posters state: 'Sure, they're irresistibly bright and some say ergonomically perfect. True, there's no finer ladle for your last mouthful, but please, PLEASE can we have them back? Cardiff assistant general manager Rebecca Jones said: 'Four thousand people a year steal our spoons because they are quite fun and different. The amnesty was first launched in 2012. The restaurant has since recovered approximately 100 spoons a year since they started offering food for spoons . 'We remain convinced that the good customers of Wahaca wouldn't pocket anything underhandedly, and reassure ourselves at every stockcount, that most of our spoons are simply being borrowed. 'Which is why we're giving you another chance to seek absolution, by joining the Mexican Spoon Amnesty this January.' To receive a free plate of tacos customers  who visit the restaurant in January simply have to return any stolen spoons to their waiter before ordering. But those who try to return the cutlery in February will not be entertained. 'It's a one month only  amnesty. Our love has its limits,' Mr Ingham said. 'Those who are more honest and haven't stolen spoons can still get free food,' he continued. 'They just have to sketch a cutlery crime fighting souperhero, snap and share their #SpoonCartoon online to enter.'

Wahaca restaurant amnesty held throughout January . Restaurant chain co-founded by Masterchef winner Thomasina Meirs . Those returning spoons in 1 February will not be eligible for free food .

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"'God is great,'" the Taliban militants shouted as they roared through the hallways of a school in Peshawar, Pakistan. Then, 14-year-old student Ahmed Faraz recalled, one of them took a harsher tone. " 'A lot of the children are under the benches,' " a Pakistani Taliban said, according to Ahmed. " 'Kill them.' " By the time the hours-long siege at Army Public School and Degree College ended early Tuesday evening, at least 145 people -- 132 children, 10 school staff members and three soldiers -- were dead, military spokesman Gen. Asim Bajwa said. More than 100 were injured, many with gunshot wounds, according to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Information Minister Mushtaq Ghani. The death toll does not include the terrorists who attacked the school, bursting into an auditorium where a large number of students were taking an exam and gunning down many of them within minutes, Bajwa said. "They started shooting indiscriminately," Bajwa said, "and that's where maximum damage was caused." Pakistani Taliban spokesman Mohammed Khurrassani said the militants scaled the school's walls around 10 a.m. (midnight ET), intent on killing older students there. The Taliban had "300 to 400 people ... under their custody" at one point, said Khurrassani, whose group is called Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. But Bajwa said there was no hostage situation, as the attackers' focus was shooting to kill rather than taking captives. They were eventually met by Pakistani troops who pushed through the complex building by building, room by room. By 4 p.m., they'd confined the attackers to four buildings. A few hours later, all the militants -- seven of them, according to Bajwa -- were dead. Pakistani authorities spent Tuesday night inside the school in Peshawar, a city about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the country's capital, Islamabad, looking for survivors, victims and improvised explosive devices planted to worsen the carnage. As they searched, they discovered that the school's principal was among the terrorists' victims. The attack drew sharp condemnation from top Pakistani officials, who vowed that the country wouldn't stop its war against the Taliban. "We are undeterred. ... We will not back off," Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told CNN. But he said the ambush at the school is another example of how great his nation's sacrifices have been in fighting that's raged for more than a decade. "Even the children are dying on the frontline in the war against terror," he said. "The smaller the coffin, the heavier it is to carry. ... It's a very, very tragic day." What do the Pakistan Taliban want? Minister: Most of the dead were 12 to 16 years old . On a typical day, the Army Public School and Degree College is home to about 1,100 students and staff, most of them sons and daughters of army personnel from around Peshawar, though others attend as well. Their nightmare began in late morning, when a car exploded behind the school. Pakistani education minister Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman explained to CNN that the blast was a ruse, meant to divert the attention of the school's security guards. It worked. Gunmen got over the walls and walked through where students in grades 8, 9 and 10 have classes and fired randomly, said Dr. Aamir Bilal of Peshawar's Lady Reading Hospital, citing students. They came in with enough ammunition and other supplies to last for days and were not expecting to come out alive, according to a Pakistani military official. Seventh-grader Mohammad Bilal said he was sitting outside his classroom taking a math test when the gunfire erupted. He fell into bushes before running to the school's gates to safety. Ahmed, the 14-year-old student, remembered being in the school's auditorium when four or five people burst in through a back door "and started rapidly firing." After getting shot in his left shoulder, the ninth-grader lay under a bench. "My shoulder was peeking out of the bench, and somebody was following," Ahmed recalled. "They went into another room, (and when) I ran to the exit, I fell." Bajwa told reporters that Pakistani security forces reached the school 15 minutes after the attack began. They found, he said, "the children ... drenched in blood, with their bodies on top of each other." Most of those killed were between the ages of 12 and 16, said Pervez Khattak, chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, of which Peshawar is the capital. But some adults in the school also were targets, like a 28-year-old office assistant who was shot and then burned alive, police official Faisal Shehzad said. Obama: Pakistan attack shows Taliban 'depravity' Violent past . Pakistan has seen plenty of violence, much of it involving militants based in provinces such as South Waziristan, North Waziristan and the Khyber Agency -- all restive regions in northwest Pakistan near Peshawar along its border with Afghanistan. It is the home base of the TTP, an organization that has sought to force its conservative version of Islam in Pakistan. The group has battled Pakistani troops and, on a number of occasions, attacked civilians as well. Peshawar, an ancient city of more than 3 million people tucked right up against the Khyber Pass, has often found itself in the center of it all. Militants repeatedly targeted the city in response to Pakistani military offensives, like a 2009 truck bombing of a popular marketplace frequented by women and children that killed more than 100 people. And the Taliban hasn't hesitated to go after schoolchildren. Their most notable target is Malala Yousafzai, who was singled out and shot on October 9, 2012 as she rode to school in a van with other girls. The teenage girl survived and, last week, became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote education and girls' rights in Pakistan and beyond. Yousafzai was "heartbroken by this (latest) senseless and cold blooded act of terror in Peshawar," saying Tuesday that "innocent children in their school have no place in horror such as this." "I call upon the international community, leaders in Pakistan, all political parties -- everyone -- (to) stand up together and fight against terrorism," the 16-year-old added in another statement. "And we should make sure that every child gets a safe and quality education." Growing up scared in Peshawar . Taliban: Revenge for killing of tribesmen . Still, even by Pakistan and the Taliban's gruesome standards, Tuesday's attack may be the most abominable yet. This is the deadliest incident inside Pakistan since October 2007, when about 139 Pakistanis died and more than 250 others were wounded in an attack near a procession for exiled former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, according to the University of Maryland's Global Terrorism Database. Even the Taliban in Afghanistan, with which the TTP is closely affiliated, criticized the "deliberate killing of innocent people, women and children (as being) against Islamic principles" and expressed condolences to the attack's victims, according to spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid. It comes after peace talks between the Pakistan Taliban and Pakistan's government as recently as last spring. The government released 19 Taliban noncombatants in a goodwill gesture, in fact. But talks broke down under a wave of attacks by the Taliban and mounting political pressure to bring the violence under control. Inside militants' secret tunnels in Pakistan . In September 2013, choir members and children attending Sunday school were among 81 people killed in a suicide bombing at the Protestant All Saints Church of Pakistan. A splinter group of the Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility, blaming the U.S. program of drone strikes in tribal areas of the country. And for the past few months, the Pakistani military has been conducting a ground offensive to clear out militants, spurring violence that's displaced tens of thousands of people and sparked deadly retaliations. Khurrassani, the Pakistan Taliban spokesman, told CNN that the latest attack was revenge for the killing of hundreds of innocent tribesmen during repeated army operations in provinces including South Waziristan, North Waziristan and the Khyber Agency. The TTP spokesman challenged that ordinary citizens were targeted, saying that five army vehicles are routinely stationed at the school. "We are facing such heavy nights in routine," Khurrassani said, rationalizing the siege shortly before it ended. "Today, you must face the heavy night."

Children "are dying on the frontline in the war against terror," Pakistan's defense minister says . The death toll has climbed to 145 people, included 132 children and the school's principal . Attackers gunned down students taking an exam in an auditorium, military spokesman says . Attack was on a school mostly for soldiers' children; many of the dead between 12 and 16 .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 04:56 EST, 19 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:55 EST, 19 June 2013 . In the annals of crime, Jamie Neil is unlikely to be troubling anyone compiling a list of renowned  masters of disguise. For the hapless 41-year-old could not even rustle up a balaclava or hoodie for his hold-up of a petrol station – and instead carried out the raid with a clear plastic bag pulled over his head. To make matters worse, Neil’s accomplice, Gareth Tilley, pretended his mobile phone was a gun, only to have its screen light up and give the game away. Jamie Neil is caught on CCTV robbing a Co-op in St Austell, Cornwall with a clear plastic bag over his head . Neil had been at his home with Tilley, . 20, when they decided to rob the store and grabbed ‘the nearest thing’ they had, a court heard. Tilley wrapped a scarf around his head but Neil . used the bag. After seeing CCTV video of the raid, an off-duty . policewoman recognised Neil in the street several days later. He was jailed for two years at Truro . Crown Court for the robbery on September 27 last year. Tilley was . previously jailed for two years. Neil was arrested after a police officer recognised him from CCTV footage just days after the robbery . The St. Austell service station in Cornwall which was raided by Jamie Neil and his accomplice . A police mugshot of Neil, who was given two years in jail for his part in the robbery . Speaking after the hearing, Detective . Constable Steve White said Neil’s disguise was the most ‘ridiculous’ he . had come across. He added: ‘Tilley disguised his face using a scarf and . Neil, being less resourceful, put a plastic bag on his head. ‘I investigated the case, with CCTV . and forensic evidence used to identify the assailants.’ Both men were . high on alcohol and stolen medication when they stormed the petrol . station Co-op in St Austell, Cornwall. Tilley pointed his phone at the lone . counter worker and demanded cash but she soon realised it was not a gun . and pressed an alarm. Neil wrestled with the brave woman before . headbutting her and fleeing, getting away with bottles of spirits. But his face was easily visible through the bag and a CCTV image was distributed among police. Two days later off-duty Detective Constable Lauren Holley was driving her mother home when she saw Neil and called for back-up. Neil, of Bethel, Cornwall, was . convicted of robbery and jailed by Judge John Neligan, who praised the . shop assistant’s courage. Tilley, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty last . November.

Jamie Neil arrested days later after officer recognised him from CCTV . Accomplice tried to pretend his phone was a gun - but keypad lit up . Robbers jailed for two years over the raid of a store in St Austell, Cornwall .

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Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea is set to hand manager Louis van Gaal an almighty boost by declaring himself fit for Saturday evening’s visit to Arsenal. De Gea dislocated his little finger during a Spain training session last week but the injury is understood to have improved to such an extent that he now believes he has a high chance of starting at the Emirates Stadium. Sources close to the Spanish team told Sportsmail on Tuesday evening that the United No 1 has ‘an 80 per cent’ chance of making the starting line-up when his club return to Barclays Premier League action this weekend. Manchester United could be handed a boost with the news David de Gea might play against Arsenal . The Spain stopper injured a finger while away with the national team last week . De Gea will be assessed by United’s medical staff and goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek upon his return to Carrington and providing the swelling continues to go down, he should be passed fit. It is telling that De Gea has been allowed to remain with Spain despite suffering the injury. He was also named on the bench for the 3-0 victory over Belarus on Saturday and the clash against Germany in Vigo on Tuesday night. He has started every United game this season and has often been the stand-out performer during the opening months of Van Gaal’s reign. De Gea will be assessed by United’s medical staff and goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek upon his return . VIDEO Man Utd still facing injury problems .

David De Gea dislocated his finger while away with Spain last week . It was believed De Gea would miss four weeks due to the injury . Manchester United goalkeeper could now be fit for Saturday however . Louis van Gaal's side travel to Arsenal in the Premier League .

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By . Ian Leonard . PUBLISHED: . 19:03 EST, 22 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:16 EST, 22 April 2013 . A baby has amazed doctors by thriving despite being born with only half a heart. Scarlett Crowther’s parents Rebecca Turner and Daniel Crowther were advised to have a termination because her chances of surviving longer than a few days were 50/50. But after two major heart operations - including one at just five days old - she is now a healthy nine-month-old with a bright future ahead of her. Scarlett Crowther's parents Rebecca Turner (pictured) and Daniel Crowther were advised to have a termination because her chances of surviving longer than a few days were 50/50 . Doctors discovered Scarlett had a defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome - which meant the left side of her heart wouldn't develop in the womb – during her mother’s 20-week scan. Ms Turner, 20, said: ‘It was devastating but termination wasn't an option for us - we wanted to give Scarlett the best chance we could. ‘The doctors said it was unlikely she'd survive very long but I got great support from Daniel so we both decided to carry on. ‘It was especially difficult as we were first time parents. Thankfully Scarlett is much better now and we can't believe how healthy and happy she is.’ After two major heart operations - including one at just five-days-old - she's now a healthy nine-month-old and with a bright future ahead of her . Doctors discovered Scarlett had a defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome - which meant the left side of her heart wouldn't develop in the womb - during her mother's 20-week scan . Days after Scarlett was born in June last year, she had a seven-and-a-half hour operation at Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Surgeons put an artificial tube inside her to help the blood flow to her heart. Scarlett had more major surgery at eight-months-old when a vein was attached from her neck to her heart in an eight-and-a-half hour operation. Days after Scarlett was born in June last year, she had a seven-and-a-half hour operation at Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital . Scarlett had more major surgery at eight-months-old when a vein was attached from her neck to her heart in an eight-and-a-half hour operation . Ms Turner, who lives with boyfriend Mr Crowther, 22, in Oldham, Greater Manchester, said: ‘I couldn't believe it when she was allowed home six days later. ‘But Scarlett's progress has been amazing.’ Scarlett will need further surgery as her heart grows to make sure the vein stays attached. But Ms Turner said: ‘Although her heart will never be fully formed she'll be able to lead a normal life.’

Scarlett Crowther has half a heart due to hypoplastic left heart syndrome . Parents were told to abort her as she only had a 50/50 chance of survival . Has had two major heart operations - including one at five days old . Is now a thriving nine-month-old with a promising future .

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By . Travelmail Reporter . It's not unusual for a British couple to escape the rat race by moving to France - but how about going back 75 years in time as well? Barry and Caroline Selwood have sunk every penny they have into creating their own shrine to the decades either side of the Second World War. But it doesn't end there, because the self-confessed eccentrics live as if it's the summer of 1939, complete with period clothes, furniture and a car all from the era. Vintage style: Caroline and Barry drive a cream Sunbeam Talbot Ten in celebration of a bygone era . Unique time capsule: The couple have re-built a dilapidated riverside hotel in south west France . As it was: La Belle Epoque hotel in south west France as it first looked . Blast from the past: Barry and Caroline, pictured in France, both enjoy dressing in vintage clothes . Perfect spot: The hotel had been abandoned back in the 1950's in the beautiful village of Nanteuil-en-Vallee . 'I guess they think we're just that crazy English couple who run the hotel.' It all started in 2002 when stationery salesman Barry decided his life was going nowhere. He sold his home in Stevenage, Hertforshire, and headed for France where he'd worked on yachts on the Cote d'Azur as a young man. He bought a tumble down farmhouse and set to work, but just a few months later on a trip back to England he met and fell for Caroline from Wokingham, Berkshire. Barry said: 'I'd decided to give up on the rat race, I had a comfortable life as a salesman, but I wanted something different. 'I was working on my farmhouse which I loved, but I loved Caroline too. Luckily she made it easy for me and wanted to be with me in France.' The couple found they both shared a passion for all things vintage. And, after a six-month-long distance relationship, Caroline gave up working as a nanny in London and moved to France. They married five years ago. Stepping back in time: The pair visited vintage events to find authentic items to decorate the hotel . 'We never really thought about how we'd manage,' Caroline said. 'We were young, carefree and in love and had a new and exciting life ahead of us.'The couple took seven to complete the renovation on the farmhouse. They knew their future lay in France and they loved their life in their home complete with swimming pool, but something was missing. 'We needed to find a property we could make into a business so we could support ourselves and live a sustainable life,' said Caroline. Then four years ago they saw a dilapidated hotel which had been abandoned back in the 1950's in the beautiful village of Nanteuil-en-Vallee in the Charente. Caroline said: 'It was love at first sight. It had been stood empty for four years and was derelict and forlorn. 'There were holes in the roof, water had been getting in for years and had taken a heavy toll. Pretty unique: 'There isn't anything like it in the UK where vintage living is more popular', says Caroline . 'We quickly realised we'd spent a large amount of our savings on a pile of rotten timber, collapsed ceilings and mouldy walls! 'And it soon became apparent the renovation budget we'd scribbled down over a couple of bottles of wine was total fantasy.' Work started and for the first couple of years the couple felt like they were 'chipping away at a mountain with a toffee hammer'. Things ground to a halt when Barry was installing a new staircase and he fell, shattering his arm, breaking his nose and a rib. Despite the setback things eventually took shape and the pair knew what the hotel's theme would be. They'd visited vintage events in the UK whenever they could and had been hoarding items. 'But France was a fantastic hunting ground for furniture and paraphernalia, as were local brocantes,' said Barry. 'We trawled eBay for bits and pieces, some of which were perfect and some we got after auctions that ended at midnight. It became madness!' Adding to the experience: The couple have just opened a tea room - and thankfully the bookings are coming in . Blowing the budget: 'We really didn't want to compromise. We wanted the house to appear how it would to people staying here 80 years or so ago', says Caroline . Caroline added: 'We really didn't want to compromise. We wanted the house to appear how it would to people staying here 80 years or so ago. 'We found it really satisfying to put a piece of furniture bought a couple of years before in the place we'd imagined it would go once we had finished the renovation. 'Now it's pretty unique thing in France and there isn't anything like it in the UK where vintage living is more popular.' To help the business they've just opened a tea room too, to add to the whole experience. And thankfully the bookings are coming in. 'If we could go back in time, would we do the same again? Absolutely yes!' said Caroline. 'If we knew how much it would cost, then "No!" we'd never have started. 'But our advice to anyone in similar circumstances is "Go for it!" And if you happen to be installing a new staircase make sure it's properly secured before you venture up it!'

Barry and Caroline Selwood worked on the intensive project for four years . Spent all their savings creating shrine to Forties and Fifties . Couple met in England after Barry returned from working in France .

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PUBLISHED: . 13:38 EST, 4 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:52 EST, 4 September 2012 . The spurned ex of a 31-year-old woman picked her up at the airport and fatally shot her several times on the drive home, police said. Jamie Kimble was picked up from the Tampa International Airport last Sunday by on-again, off-again boyfriend Luis Roberson Rodriguez, 39, but the two soon began arguing. Witnesses watched in horror as she jumped out of the car and he fired several bullets into her. She had apparently been visiting a new boyfriend in London. Scroll down for video . In cold blood: Luis Rodriguez apparently shot dead his old lover Jamie Kimble after picking her up from the airport . Violent end: Police are treating the investigation as a murder-suicide . Police told the Tampa Bay Times that Ms Kimble was flying back from London, where she was visiting a new boyfriend. Rodriguez met her at the airport and gave her a ride. But around 7:38pm Sunday night, witnesses said they saw him punching her repeatedly. They told authorities that Ms Kimble leapt out of the car around Cypress Street and Westshore Boulevard to try and escape him. Shut down: The road was closed for hours as police investigated . Officials said that the suspect then pulled out a handgun, first firing a shot into the air, and then shooting several at Ms Kimble. After he shot her, police said the Orlando resident made a U-turn and shot himself twice in the head. Ms Kimble died at the scene, and Rodriguez died in hospital. Neither families of the suspect or victim responded to request for comment. Police are continuing their investigation.

Luis Rodriguez was picking up ex-girlfriend from Tampa International Airport . Jamie Kimble was visiting new boyfriend in London . Suspect then shot her dead in front of horrified witnesses .

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(CNN) -- Spring has sprung and as far as golf fans are concerned, that means only one thing -- it's time for the Masters. Golf's first major of 2014 begins at the famed Augusta National on Thursday, this year marking the 78th installment of one of sport's most enduring contests. They are four captivating days in Georgia that never fail to throw up a myriad of storylines, sub plots and sensations. With the field as wide open as ever, CNN World Sport looks at six Masters headlines waiting to be written. Mickelson assumes Tiger's mantle . The buildup to any major championship is always dominated by Tiger Woods -- whether he is playing or not. Even Phil Mickelson has said it will be "weird" not to have Woods prowling Augusta's fairways. With the world No. 1 missing his first Masters due to a back injury, most homegrown fervor will focus on "Lefty," the man who already has three green jackets in his wardrobe. The 43-year-old has had his own fitness worries, withdrawing from two tournaments this season, but returned his best finish of the year at the Shell Houston Open just a few days ago. The only current player who can hold a candle to Mickelson in terms of Masters success is Woods, whose four Augusta titles match the feats of Arnold Palmer -- two behind the record haul of another legend of the game, Jack Nicklaus. Mickelson's most recent triumph came in 2010 and featured a shot that has gone down as one of the finest in the tournament's illustrious history. It also showcased Mickelson's game perfectly, as he launched a six-iron from pine needles behind a tree onto the 13th green, over the stream that protects the front of the green. Should Lefty find his very best this week, a fourth Masters crown is a distinct possibility. A wide open field . Trying to predict the next major champion is a futile exercise. Since the start of the 2009 season, there have been 18 different winners of the 20 major titles on offer -- and 15 of those were first-time victors. Such is the talent being stockpiled at the top of the game, the winner could come from pretty much any continent and be stationed at either end of the age spectrum. Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy was 22 when he won the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional -- the youngest winner since 1923, when the legendary American Bobby Jones triumphed. And Mickelson clocked in at 43 years young when he secured the fifth major of his career at the 2013 British Open at Muirfield in Scotland. Talented teenagers and voracious veterans lurk at every corner of a major championship field, and of the 97 players competing, around 70 will think they have a realistic chance of winning. McIlroy's redemption? Until McIlroy is cloaked in a green jacket, the abiding memory of his Masters experience will be of a red-faced youngster slumped over his club as one of golf's greatest chokes took hold. At the tender age of 21, he went into the final round at Augusta in 2011 with a four-shot lead, and blew it in epic style. The sight of McIlroy wandering around the VIP cabins 50 yards to the left of the 10th fairway looking for his errant tee shot are now the stuff of legend. By the time he signed for an eight-over final round of 80, to sink from first place to a tie for 15th, there wasn't a right-minded spectator who didn't feel the urge to give him a consoling hug. A typically stoic interview on the 18th further endeared the youngster to viewers the world over, as he admitted he couldn't put his finger on why he had "unraveled" in such a fashion. He later said he "wasn't ready to win a major" but just a few months later, he was. At the very next major, he shot a record low U.S Open score to win at Congressional in Maryland by an emphatic eight shots. The next year he doubled his major tally, adding the U.S. PGA Championship to his trophy cabinet, but you get the feeling he won't be content until his redemption at Augusta is complete. The Asian invasion . Adam Scott became the first Australian to win the Masters last year but how long will it be before the first Asian winner of golf's most prestigious prize? Last year's tournament was abuzz with the sight of China's Guan Tianlang striding the famous fairways at the tender age of 14, and winning the low amateur medal. The child prodigy represents a burgeoning talent pool in Asia, seeking to build on the breakthrough success made by Y.E. Yang at the 2009 U.S. PGA Championship. Not only did the Korean serve notice of Asia's arrival at the top table of golf, he did it by beating the greatest golfer of a generation -- Tiger Woods. The highest-ranked Asian player is Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, who sits 26th in the world list on only his second year on the PGA Tour. Matsuyama won the leading amateur prize on his Augusta debut as a 19-year-old in 2011 and already has a top-five finish on this season's PGA Tour. His compatriot Ryo Ishikawa has a top-10 place to his name this season despite languishing in the lower reaches of the top 100, while Korean veteran K.J. Choi has been a longstanding representative of Asia at the top level. Another one to watch is Thailand's 51st-ranked Thongchai Jaidee, who has five European Tour titles to his name. The Great Scott sequel? The last person to retain the Masters crown was -- yep, you guessed it -- Woods back in 2002 but could Scott be about to double Australia's tally of wins at Augusta? No-one is ranked higher than the 33-year-old going into the tournament. In fact, only a poor final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March prevented him from returning to Georgia as world No. 1. He spoke on Tuesday of the privileges afforded to a Masters champion -- playing the course with his father Phil and hanging out in the champions' locker room. And after an arduous few years trying to land his maiden major, with his slump a the British Open in 2012 a particularly bitter pill to swallow, Scott's game has been freed up after last year's win. "It has been incredible to see the reception I get every week I play since being a Masters champion," he said in his press conference. "It has been a real buzz for me to be welcomed at all the golf courses I'm at. "This week has been something I have been really looking forward to. But as the last week came around, I also realized it would be time for me to bring the green jacket back and leave it here maybe. "So that motivated me to work harder that last week at home and try and get myself into some kind of form that can maybe go back-to-back and keep the jacket for another year." A European 2014? The last European to don the famous green jacket was Jose Maria Olazabal in 1999. It was the second time the Spaniard had triumphed at Augusta, having won the Masters in 1994. Arguably the third leg of a hat-trick of Olazabal's career highlights also came on American soil, when he masterminded what will forever be known as the "Miracle of Medinah" when serving as Europe's Ryder Cup captain. Trailing 10-6 going into the final day of singles matches in the Ryder Cup clash between Europe and the United States, Olazabal's men pulled off one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time to eventually triumph 14½ points to 13½. The U.S. team, led this time by veteran Tom Watson, are plotting their revenge ahead of the next clash in Scotland in October, but what better way to lay down a marker than for a European to end the continent's 14-year drought at Augusta? There are four European players in the world's top 10 and two of them -- England's Justin Rose and McIlroy -- are already major champions. Sweden's Henrik Stenson won both the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup and the European Tour's Race to Dubai last year, while Sergio Garcia has finished in the top five in all four major championships during his career. Don't be surprised if Europe marches off with another major honor come Sunday. And finally .... The Tiger factor . He might not be playing but that doesn't mean Woods won't still be a talking point in Masters week. Whether it is clips of his famous chip-in back in 2005, or reams of column inches detailing his four Masters wins, Tiger's absence certainly doesn't mean he'll be absent from the debate. And of course, once the green jacket has been placed on the shoulders of the winner, a popular refrain might be "What if Tiger had been playing?"

CNN World Sport takes a look at six potential storylines ahead of the 2014 Masters . Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott dominate most of the buildup to Augusta tournament . Could the season's first golf major throw up the Masters' first Asian winner? Masters runs from April 10-14 at world famous Augusta National Golf Club .

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(CNN) -- It's every flier's worst nightmare: Your pilot announces, "We're all going down!" and starts shouting about bombs and terrorists. He abandons the cockpit, frantically running up and down the aisles like a man unhinged. What do you do? That's what passengers on a JetBlue flight had to decide Tuesday when their pilot, Capt. Clayton Osbon, seemed to have a meltdown in the air between New York and Las Vegas. Fortunately for everyone on board, a quick-thinking co-pilot and some alert passengers snapped into action. Initial reports suggest that at least four passengers leapt to their feet and subdued the pilot, who had been trying to break down the cockpit door after his co-pilot locked him out. The heroic passengers have been praised for their bravery, and rightly so: They may have saved 141 lives on the plane, and maybe more on the ground. It's hard to hear this story and not admire their swift and effective action -- and wonder how you'd respond in the same situation. Would you jump up and subdue a hysterical pilot or sit paralyzed in your seat? Hundreds of studies have explored the so-called "bystander effect," trying to determine why some observers respond positively to a crisis while others ignore it. The research points to a somewhat surprising conclusion: Generally speaking, only subtle differences separate the bystanders from the heroes. Most of us, it seems, can fall into either category depending on the details of a situation. The JetBlue crisis highlights some of the factors that can make a difference, suggesting how we can get people -- ourselves included -- to take action in an emergency. It might seem obvious that when confronted with a raving man attacking a cockpit door, people would realize they should do something to stop him. But that's not always the case, especially when they're part of a large crowd. In fact, in one famous study, social psychologists John Darley and Bibb Latane left people alone in a room and pumped in smoke -- a pretty clear warning sign of danger, maybe on par with a 250-pound guy in a pilot's uniform shouting incoherently about Iran and Iraq. When people were alone in the room, they left and reported the smoke to someone else 75% of the time. But when there were three people in the room, they reported the smoke 38% of the time, illustrating the problem psychologists call "pluralistic ignorance," where we mistake other people's inaction as a sign that everything's actually OK. After all, no one wants to be the fool who tackles your plane's pilot because you misread the situation -- maybe he was just playing a practical joke? When we don't see anyone else respond, we tend to assume there isn't really a crisis; as a result, we inadvertently hold each other back. But response rates shoot up dramatically when one bystander simply acknowledges to another that there might be a problem. So on the JetBlue flight, it helped tremendously that the co-pilot and a flight attendant had the presence of mind to use the public address system to call on the passengers to restrain the pilot. It becomes nearly impossible to assume there isn't really a problem when your acting captain says there is. Yet even once we recognize there's a problem, in crowds we often fall prey to what's called a "diffusion of responsibility," where we assume the people around us are going to help, so there's less of a need for us to take action ourselves. Research by Darley and others shows that the greater the number of people who witness a crisis, the lower the odds that any of them will do anything. To overcome this, it helps when we're singled out personally. Darley once told me that if you ever sprain your ankle in public, don't just call for help -- pick out someone in the crowd and say, "Hey, you there, can you give me a hand?" On the JetBlue flight, it seems like the crew only made a blanket appeal to the passengers for help, which probably wasn't as effective as it could have been. Only four passengers out of nearly 150 sprang to action -- responsibility still might have been pretty diffused. But it likely helped that several of the plane's passengers were retired or off-duty law enforcement on their way to a security convention in Las Vegas. Darley's research has found that personality doesn't necessarily predict whether someone will help. What's more important is whether bystanders have the experience to recognize a crisis when it's unfolding and feel like they have the skills to do something about it. So it probably should come as no surprise that among those who sprang to action, one was a former prison guard and another was an ex-New York police sergeant with 22 years of experience on the force. That sergeant, Paul Babakitis, told CBS News that when he saw the pilot running amok, "my training immediately kicked in." He said he believed he was "deranged" when he looked into his eyes because he had "dealt with a lot of emotionally disturbed people during my time on the force." People who have experience in law enforcement or the military are probably better at recognizing a crisis because they're less likely to convince themselves that this couldn't be happening to them, could it? Of course, "pluralistic ignorance" might be harder for any of us to maintain on a plane after 9/11, even 10 years later. It's harder today to rule out the plausibility of any crisis. Indeed, Babakitis said he immediately thought of that day when he saw Osbon storming the cockpit. "Not again," he told himself, "not while I'm on this plane." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jason Marsh.

Jason Marsh calls quick action of JetBlue passengers with captain admirable . He says "no way out" situation inhibited "bystander effect," where people don't react . He says research shows people usually hang back, rely on others to act on danger . Marsh: Crew asking for help made a difference, as did law enforcement passengers .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:41 EST, 25 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:07 EST, 25 May 2013 . It was the first lighthouse to be powered by electricity and could be seen by ships from 26 miles away. So it is only fitting that Souter Lighthouse, one of the most iconic on the British coastline, gets a well-deserved spruce-up. A team will set about giving the impressive structure a spring clean in a job that is expected to last most of the summer, and, judging from these incredible pictures, it is not hard to see why. Intricate job: Hundreds of glass prisms need cleaning in Souter Lighthouse, South Tyneside. It was the world's first lighthouse to be powered by electricity . The famous orange and white-hooped beacon, left, and the intricate glass prisms inside . Iconic: The lighthouse is one of the most recognisable on the British coastline and was first opened in the 1871 . Picturesque: The famous structure is situated in the village of Marsden, South Tyneside . The lighthouse was built due to the dangerous reefs directly under the water in the surrounding area. In one year alone - 1860 - there were 20 shipwrecks . With broken glass to repair and corroded paint to gloss over, the team face quite a task to restore the structure to its former glory. Located in the village of Marsden, South Tyneside, It opened in 1871 and was decommissioned in 1988, before the National Trust acquired it and opened it to the public in 1990. The clean-up comes ahead of a special event on June 22 when the cliff-tops at Souter will witness a large-scale performance devised by artists Lise Autogena and Joshua Portway. Former glory: The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1988, due to advances in technology, before the National Trust acquired it and opened it to the public in 1990 . Dedicated: Conservationists will spend all summer making it look pristine . The spring clean comes ahead of a special event on June 22 when the cliff-tops at Souter will witness a large-scale performance devised by artists Lise Autogena and Joshua Portway . The Foghorn Requiem celebrates the passing of the foghorn from the British coastal landscape and into maritime heritage with a musical performance. It will involve an armada of vessels positioned offshore, the Souter Lighthouse Foghorn and on-shore musicians. Nick Dolan, Souter Lighthouse property . manager, said work was being carried out on metalwork and glass panes . throughout the historic building. Vital: The lighthouse stopped ships crashing on what was one of the rockiest and most dangerous stretches of coastline on the North Sea . He said: 'It's especially important to get us pristine for the visitor over May half-term and the summer. 'As ever with a historic property like this it's all go to make sure we are looking pristine.'

Souter lighthouse near South Shields, Tyneside, to get makeover . Stunning pictures show intricacy of structure's glass prisms . Team of conservationists will fix broken glass and tackle corrosion . Famous structure was shut down in 1988 but has been open to public since 1990 .

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This time last year Regane MacColl was excitedly planning her future. After achieving good grades in her Higher exams, the popular ‘fun-loving’ schoolgirl had applied to university with dreams of becoming a lawyer. Her proud family had just welcomed her back from a charitable mission to help orphaned children in Africa – for which she raised thousands of pounds - and she had been invited to talk at an event alongside MSPs. But on a night out with friends at the Arches Nightclub in Glasgow in early February, the 17-year-old fell victim to Scotland’s deadly ‘party drug’ culture. Hard-working: Regane  MaColl was a fun-loving teen who adored her family . Her death from ecstasy sent shockwaves across the country – and her distraught family were left asking ‘why?’ Now, for the first time, her parents have spoken publicly about the tragedy and paid tribute to ‘a girl who brought a smile to everyone she met’. In an exclusive interview with the Scottish Mail on Sunday on the eve of the anniversary of Regane’s death, her father Alastair MacColl and mother Vicki Lenaghan revealed their horror at finding out she had been rushed to hospital, the anxious wait for news and the boundless grief when the teen lost her fight for life. They also issued an emotional warning about the trail of destruction left behind by drugs and urged fellow parents to ‘talk honestly to their kids’. ‘People always think it will never happen to them – but it can,’ Mr MacColl, 43, said. ‘There is nothing worse than losing a child and I hate to think of other families going through the pain we have experienced this past year. ‘I would ask parents to sit down with their kids and be honest with them about how dangerous trying drugs just once can be. Perfect daughter: Regane as a child with her mother Vicki. Her parents still do not know exactly what happened in the hours leading up to Regane’s death . ‘If anyone could see the devastation it can cause before they take something they would think twice.’ Miss Lenaghan, 42, said: ‘Our lives will never be the same. We will have to live with this pain for the rest of our days. ‘Time goes on but this cannot be healed.’ Her parents still do not know exactly what happened in the hours leading up to Regane’s death but toxicology reports showed she had the class A drug MDMA – found in ecstasy tablets – in her system. Doctors fought for hours in an attempt to save the 17-year-old - a sixth year pupil at St Peter the Apostle High School in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire - after she collapsed at the late night club venue but she died later that day with her parents at her bedside. In the weeks surrounding the tragedy, police put out repeated warnings to young people to beware of a particularly strong strain of ecstasy known as Mortal Kombat. The red coloured pills, which are stamped with a dragon logo, were linked to the hospitalisations of three other young people at that time. However her parents never considered that their studious and responsible eldest child might find herself in a position where she would try drugs. ‘It was just not like her’, Miss Lenaghan said. ‘She had never given us reason to worry by coming home really late or really drunk and was the responsible one in her group.’ Mr MacColl continued: ‘We never felt the need to explicitly warn her not to do it. We could talk about anything with her and, of course, drugs and their dangers came up but we never felt we had to sit her down and tell her ‘do not do that tonight’.’ Regane, pictured with her father Alastair. He said: ‘People always think it will never happen to them but it can' They learned she was in trouble after Miss Lenaghan received a worried phone call from her nephew who was inside the ambulance with Regane in the early hours of February 2 last year. ‘I was in bed when I got a call in the middle of the night from Regane’s cousin who was in the ambulance with her,’ Miss Lenaghan said. ‘He said she wasn’t well and was going to hospital and that I needed to come quickly. It is all a blur but I remember thinking that maybe she had suffered an asthma attack or had drunk too much alcohol. ‘I called her dad and we all headed to the hospital. At no point did we realise how serious it was. We all hoped she would be ok.’ Mr MacColl added: ‘We still do not know exactly what happened inside the Arches. We know she became separated from her friends and that at the end of the night she became very unwell. ‘We were told that Regane’s body had taken a reaction to a substance and learned that some other young people who had been in the club had been hospitalised after apparently taking Mortal Kombat ecstasy pills. ‘One thing we do know is that our daughter was not a regular drug user.’ Regane’s heartbroken mother is determined she be remembered ‘not for how she died, but who she was’. ‘She was a fun-loving and caring girl. She was smart and vivacious and was just starting to spread her wings in the world,’ Miss Lenaghan said. ‘When people think of her, we want them to recall how much potential she had and how much she achieved so much in a short space of time. Caring: Regane with children during her charity visit to Tanzania before her death . ‘She had just submitted her applications to university to study law. ‘She did some work experience with in our local court and absolutely loved it so applied to the law schools at Strathclyde University and Stirling University. ‘She did well in her Higher exams in 5th year, particularly in English which she had a real natural ability for, and was studying Advanced Highers in English, politics and sociology. She had such a promising future ahead of her.’ One of Regane’s most impressive achievements was being selected from dozens of other young people to go to Africa with The Twende Pamoja Trust — a charity which aims to build relationships between communities in Tanzania and the UK. There she visited schools and orphanages to teach them about Scottish culture and saw first-hand how the money raised for the cause was helping disadvantaged children. Mr MacColl said: ‘She spent three weeks in Tanzania with the most basic of facilities, visiting schools and an orphanage. ‘We were worried she would struggle with it all, as she was a girl who liked to look good and was used to comfortable surroundings, but she surprised everyone. She took to it like a duck to water. ‘She had grown up so much when she returned. She was less bothered about material things and how she looked and was so much more confident. ‘She worked so hard to raise money for the charity, which has links with her school, and had been offered the chance to return this year.’ Miss Lenaghan said: ‘That was the first time she had been away from her family for such a long time and we struggled not being able to contact her for the first ten days. We worried about her, as all parents do. Police put out repeated warnings to young people of Mortal Kombat ecstasy pills, which were linked to the hospitalisations of three other young people at that time . ‘Now, ten days without her does not seem long at all.’ She added: ‘Family was always incredibly important to Regane. She put her family first and was a great big sister. It hurts so much that her siblings won’t have her as an influence any more. ‘So many people have been left devastated by her death, her parents, step parents, brothers, sister, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends, colleagues, teachers.’ The support of family, friends and their local community in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire have helped over the past 12 months but Regane’s parents’ pain still remains ‘very raw’. Miss Lenaghan said: ‘We are still in total disbelief. ‘It doesn’t feel real. If my phones rings I still think it might be her. I still hope she will walk into the kitchen with that beautiful smile and tell me a funny story about her day. Mr MacColl said: ‘I could look at her photographs for hours and it feels like she is there with me.’ Despite separating when Regane was very young, her parents remain close and have supported each other through the most difficult stages of grief. As well as her parents, Regane also had a particularly strong bond with her younger brothers Ben, Leo and Aaron, little sister Sophie and her step-parents. Her step-mother Clare MacColl said: ‘Her brothers and sisters still talk about her all the time. It is hard to hear because we are still hurting but also lovely because they are keeping her memory alive. They keep us going and tell us that Regane would not want us to be sad. ‘Regane shared a room with her little sister Sophie, who is 10, and recently she has been struggling because she doesn’t have her to talk to. ‘She’s growing up and there are things that she wouldn’t want to tell her parents but that Regane would have helped her with. She recently wrote a letter to Regane in her diary and it was heart-breaking.’ December 8 last year would have been Regane’s 18th birthday and keen to mark the date ‘how she would have wanted’ her family got together to celebrate her life. Miss Lenaghan said: ‘She was looking forward to turning 18 so much. It is such a milestone for teenagers. ‘It was hard but we wanted to mark it and celebrate for her. We all got together and went to her graveside. It was covered with flowers and birthday cards from her friends, which really touched us. Her brothers and sister let off doves and we all shared stories. ‘All her school friends have been celebrating their 18th and going off to university. ‘It is very bittersweet for us because we are so happy for them – we watched them grow up alongside Regane – but it hurts so much that our daughter cannot join them.’

After achieving good grades, popular schoolgirl had applied to university . Proud family had just welcomed her back from charitable mission in Africa . But pn a night out with friends at the Arches Nightclub in Glasgow in early February, the 17-year-old fell victim to ‘party drug’ culture .

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By . Freya Noble for Daily Mail Australia . Imagine writing off a car worth almost half a million dollars. Now imagine it wasn't even yours. That's the reality for one unlucky man who totalled his mate's $400,000 Lamborghini in Sydney on Saturday night. While cruising through EdeNsor Park in the city's west, the driver of the charcoal V12-powered Lamborghini Murcielago came over the crest of a hill and ploughed into another car. Scroll down for video . This Lamborghini Murcielago was written off on Saturday night when it ploughed into another car . That other vehicle, a white Honda SUV, was turning into its driveway, Nine News reported. The 2007 model Lamborghini is completely written off as confirmed to the program by the car's driver, Vince, who said: 'Yeah it's a write off, there's nothing left of it'. The Honda, driven by Kathy Barillaro, also looked a little worse for wear after it rolled 20 metres and came to a stop further down the street. The driver of the other vehicle Kathy Barillaro survived unscathed after her Honda SVU rolled for 20 metres down the road . The 2007 model car was only purchased last weekend by two men who split the $400,000 price tag . Ms Barillaro was lucky and was only treated for minor injuries such as cuts, bruises and whiplash by paramedics at the scene, but did not suffer anything more serious. 'I don't know what happened, and I was just rolling and rolling and rolling', she said. 'All I heard was this loud bang, it sounded like a plane crash really', Kathy's husband Bruno Barillaro said. The driver of the Lamborghini, Vince, said the crash totally wrote off the luxury sports car . Police are investigating the crash but no one has been charged . Vince said that he had purchased the car in partnership with a friend, and they had only picked up the car last weekend. He also added that he wasn't too concerned about the car and was glad everyone involved in the accident was largely unharmed. Police told Daily Mail Australia they are investigating the incident and the possibility that speed was a factor, but no charges have been laid. Kathy's husband Bruce Barillaro said the accident sounded like a plane crash .

The luxury car was in an accident in Edesor Park in Sydney's west . It ploughed into another car that was turning into its driveway . The Lamborghini Murcielago was only picked up by its owners last week . The 2007 model car was purchased by the driver Vince and a friend . No one was seriously injured and police are investigating .

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(CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama's transition team announced several key appointments to his communications team Saturday. Robert Gibbs will have one of the most highly visible roles in the Obama administration. Robert Gibbs, an Obama campaign spokesman who also has acted as spokesman for the transition, will become Obama's press secretary, one of the most highly visible roles in the administration. Gibbs, an Auburn, Alabama, native who has worked for Sen. Fritz Hollings, the Democratic Senatorial Committee and Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign, was communications director and then a senior strategist for the Obama campaign. Ellen Moran, executive director of EMILY's List, will serve as Obama's communications director. Moran worked for the AFL-CIO, coordinating "Wal-Mart corporate accountability activities," before returning to EMILY's, an organization dedicated to helping Democratic women get elected to office. It had endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton for president. See who's on Obama's short list for cabinet posts » . Dan Pfeiffer, current communications director with the transition team, will be Obama's deputy communications director. He began work with the Obama campaign in January 2007 as traveling press secretary before returning to Chicago, Illinois, to work as communications director. Unlike Gibbs and Pfeiffer, Moran is not already on Obama's communications team. "These individuals will fill essential roles, and bring a breadth and depth of experience that can help our administration advance prosperity and security for the American people," Obama said in a written statement. "This dedicated and impressive group of public servants includes longtime advisors and a talented new addition to our team, and together we will work to serve our country and meet the challenges of this defining moment in history." On Friday, sources indicated that some of Obama's Cabinet posts were close to being filled. Two sources close to the transition team said New York Federal Reserve President Timothy Geithner is "on track" to be offered the Treasury secretary post. Watch CNN's Anderson Cooper discuss Obama's choices » . Transition officials told The Associated Press on Saturday that Obama planned to announce Geithner's appointment on Monday, along with that of Lawrence Summers as director of the National Economic Council. Summers is a former president of Harvard University and served as treasury secretary under Bill Clinton. Two sources said Friday that Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico is a serious contender for commerce secretary but that he could be chosen for another senior post. Geithner has played a large role in the government's efforts to wrangle the credit crisis, which has damaged markets and economies worldwide. Although a number of those efforts have been controversial, Geithner remains a well-regarded figure from Wall Street to Washington. Geithner began working with the Treasury Department in 1988 in the International Affairs division. In 1999, he became under-secretary of the Treasury for international affairs. Geithner would be charged with restoring stability to the financial markets, the banking system and the housing sector through oversight of the controversial $700 billion financial rescue package, of which about half is still available for use at the discretion of the Treasury secretary. Watch CNN's John King discuss the posts with panelists » . The Dow Jones industrial index staged a late rally Friday after traders heard news of Geithner's possible appointment, rising by almost 500 points shortly before the market's closing time. The two sources close to the transition team said they do not consider Richardson's appointment to the Commerce Department to be a done deal. Richardson, 61, was a candidate for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. Currently in his second term as New Mexico's governor, he served as ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary in the Clinton administration. Richardson is also considered to be a possibility for the secretary of state post. Also Friday, Sen. Hillary Clinton's camp shot down reports that she had agreed to accept the secretary of state position. "We're still in discussions, which are very much on track," said Philippe Reines, Clinton's senior adviser. "Any reports beyond that are premature." The New York Times reported that Clinton would give up her Senate seat and accept the Cabinet post, citing two confidants, who said the decision was made after further consultation with Obama about the nature of her role and his foreign policy plans. A senior Obama aide told CNN there has been no development on a possible Clinton appointment since they informed CNN Thursday that she is "on track" to be nominated for secretary of state. Obama's transition team also appears close to choosing a national security adviser to the White House. Retired Marine Gen. Jim Jones has emerged as the president-elect's leading choice for the position, two sources close to the Obama transition team say. The sources said Jones has been given the impression by Obama that the job is his if he wants it. But the officials said that private discussions are under way and that no final decision has been made. The discussions are focused on precisely how much power Jones will have in the staff job, since he is used to being in a command role. Among his many posts, Jones served for several years as the operational commander for NATO.

NEW: Timothy Geithner to be announced as Treasury pick, AP reports . Robert Gibbs, an Obama campaign spokesman, will be press secretary . Ellen Moran, EMILY's List executive director, will be communications director . Dan Pfeiffer named Obama's deputy communications director .

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The mother of a barman who died after taking part in the NekNominate online drinking craze wept today as she told his inquest that he would still be alive if it were not for the game. But Melissa Richardson, whose son Isaac collapsed after drinking at the hostel where he worked in Woolwich, south east London, said she did not blame his friend who nominated him. The inquest heard that Mr Richardson consumed an estimated 30 units of alcohol when he drank a 1.5-litre cocktail containing rose wine, vodka, beer and whiskey from a pitcher 'in one go' in two minutes after asking a friend to film him on a smartphone. Barman Isaac Richardson, pictured, died after taking part in the NekNominate online drinking craze at the hostel where he worked in Woolwich, south east London, an inquest heard . The 20-year-old collapsed and fell unconscious minutes later and died at hospital in the early hours of February 9 despite the efforts of paramedics and people at the hostel to resuscitate him. Pathology tests found he had drunk a 'very high' amount of alcohol which was 'within the range to induce a coma', the court heard. Mrs Richardson told Southwark Coroner's Court: 'We feel very strongly that it is no one's fault. 'He would not have wanted anyone to be singled out or blamed for something that was his decision. 'I don't blame his friend who nominated him or the friends who were with him that evening. It is a comfort to know that he was not alone.' But she added: 'If it were not for this craze and his nomination, my son would still be alive.' The NekNominate game involves participants filming themselves downing alcohol, nominating someone to continue the game, and posting the video on Facebook. It became an online craze earlier this year after originating in Australia and has seen players consuming alcohol with dog food, engine oil and live goldfish. Mrs Richardson said in a statement referred to in court that the NekNominate craze had reached its peak at a time when her son had 'too much idle time and too little focus in his life'. Melissa Richardson (right), the mother of Isaac Richardson (left) told his inquest that he would still be alive if it were not for the Neknominate game . Her son died of acute alcohol intoxication and coroner Dr Andrew Harris recorded a verdict of accidental death. He said: 'Mr Richardson chose to accept a NekNominate challenge and drank about one and a half litres in about two minutes, shortly afterwards collapsing unconscious.' The court heard Mr Richardson, 20, was one of three people nominated on Facebook by his friend Ross Burton. In a statement read by the coroner, Mr Burton said: 'I confirm that at no point did I tell anyone what to drink. The first time I found out about the drinks Isaac had drunk was through the papers.' Detective Sergeant Roy Black said police determined that the death was not suspicious and no crime had been committed. He said the nomination was made without any 'pressure or force' and the coroner said in his verdict that there was 'no question of any unlawful action'. An inquest heard how Stephen Brookes died after taking part in the NekNominate . The NekNominate game involves participants filming themselves downing alcohol, nominating someone to continue the game, and posting the video on Facebook. It became an online craze after originating in Australia and has seen players consuming alcohol with dog food, engine oil and live goldfish. Earlier this year an inquest heard how rugby fan Stephen Brookes died after downing almost a bottle of vodka during a challenge. The 29-year-old was six times over the drink-drive limit when he collapsed after drinking more than a pint of the spirit 'in seconds' while being filmed by a friend. His distraught family said today he would still be alive today but for the NekNominate craze. In February two young men died in Ireland, both suspected victims of the drinking craze. Ross Cummins, 22, was found unconscious in a house in Dublin in the early hours of the morning and died later in hospital amid reports he was drinking spirits at the time of his death. Hours later, the body of Jonny Byrne, 19, was discovered floating in the river at Milford Bridge in County Carlow after apparently jumping in as part of a nomination. Mr Byrne's family later pleaded with people not to take part in the drinking game. Mr Richardson had been drinking at O'Conners pub below the hostel before heading upstairs to complete his challenge. Robert Howard, a friend of Mr Richardson who was with him on the night he died, said: 'I saw him in the evening at about 9 o'clock, he had been drinking - I suppose he drank quite a lot but I don't and even when I want to get drunk I don't need to drink that much, so I can't gauge how much it takes for other people.' He added: 'He said he was going to do a NekNominate because he had been nominated but he didn't tell me exactly what he was going to do.' He described Mr Richardson mixing wine, beers and spirits into a pitcher and thinking that he was going to pour it into a glass. But he watched him down the whole thing in less than two minutes. Mr Howard said he helped get Mr Richardson to the toilet so he could throw up, but realised something was really wrong when he stumbled away from the toilet and collapsed on the floor. He gave his friend CPR while waiting for the ambulance to arrive but was unable to revive him. Mr Richardson (pictured left) had been drinking at O'Conners pub (pictured right) below the hostel before heading upstairs to complete his challenge . Dr Harris praised Mrs Richardson's 'courage and objectivity' in saying that she did not blame anyone for her son's death. After delivering the verdict, he asked whether she had any suggestions about any further action on the potential risks of the NekNominate phenomenon. She said: 'It was my son's decision to do what he did. He would not want me to use him as an example.' Earlier, the court heard Mr Richardson was a former grammar school pupil of 'great intellect'. He left school with 'numerous As and Bs' but began to attend parties regularly and his mother said he was drinking heavily in the months before his death. She said: 'He worked really hard and played really hard. He would get silly drunk.' Fighting back tears, she told the court: 'I did get fed up with him but we never fell out. It just wasn't in him to hold a grudge. ' She said Mr Richardson was 'susceptible to a dare' but he was 'never one swayed by others' and he could resist peer pressure.

Isaac Richardson died after taking part in online NekNominate drinking craze . His mother tells an inquest he would still be alive if it were not for the game . But Melissa Richardson refuses to blame friend who nominated her son for drinking challenge . Barman drank a 1.5-litre cocktail containing wine, vodka, beer and whisky . Inquest told he consumed 30 units of alcohol finishing the drink 'in one go' NekNominate involves downing alcohol and then nominating someone to continue the game, posting the video on Facebook . The coroner, Dr Andrew Harris, recorded a verdict of accidental death .

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Baghdad (CNN) -- A barrage of attacks struck Monday across Iraq, killing at least 84 people and wounding more than 200, said officials, who likened the attacks to another outbreak last year. "Once again, murderers and criminals have carried out attacks against innocent civilians to add a new page to their black criminal record," Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said in a written statement. He called on security forces to "not let the killers catch their breath," and to pursue them "until they finish them." Some of the 21 reported bombings and shootings targeted police and security forces, while others targeted civilians. It was the worst wave of violence to strike the country in months, taking place on the halfway mark of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. "Today's attacks are eerily similar to the stream of large-scale, complex attacks that occurred here last year during Ramadan on August 25," said Maj. Angela Funaro, spokeswoman for United States Forces-Iraq. Officials believe last year's attacks were carried out by al Qaeda in Iraq "to shake the public's confidence in the capabilities of the ISF (Iraqi Security Forces) to defend this country," but it is too early to speculate about who may have been behind Monday's attacks, Funaro said in an e-mail. A posting Monday on a jihadist website praised the attacks against "Shiites, Christians, and the apostate Awakening Councils." The post did not include a claim of responsibility. Awakening Councils are made up of former Sunni militants now in the pay of the Iraqi government, which have been credited with helping reduce violence. They are also frequent targets of assassination attempts. The attacks come weeks after Iraq's political leaders agreed to request U.S. troops stay beyond a January 1, 2012, deadline to withdraw. While the United States pulled its combat troops last year, between 46,000 and 50,000 troops have remained to provide support and training. The United States is widely expected to agree to some kind of limited extension of training personnel and equipment. Last week, Muqtada al-Sadr, the influential Iraqi Shiite cleric staunchly opposed to U.S. troop presence, warned against the prospects of a "challenge" with any U.S. forces that may stay in Iraq. His Mehdi army militia was a major factor in the sectarian violence that erupted during the height of the war. Al-Maliki said Monday's attacks "cannot undermine the resolve of our citizens and our armed forces." Monday's violence ended a period of calm that began about the same time as Ramadan. Ministry of Interior officials called on security forces to ban people from parking their vehicles on the streets of cities targeted in the attacks, saying they feared more violence. In Tikrit, north of Baghdad, officials imposed a curfew on vehicles until further notice after a fatal suicide attack, officials with the Interior Ministry said. Funaro said Iraq forces requested U.S. assistance only in Tikrit, and added that U.S. forces "are prepared to assist in any capacity" in line with the security agreement in place. Two suicide bombers targeted security forces in Tikrit -- Saddam Hussein's hometown -- killing at least four policemen and wounding 11, the two officials said. The deadliest of Monday's attacks was a double bombing that targeted civilians on a busy street in central Iraq, authorities said. At least 37 people were killed when a car bomb followed by a roadside bomb exploded on the commercial street in Kut during morning rush hour, according to health officials and police, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information to the media. Sixty-five people were wounded in the attack, Dr. Dhiya al-Deen Jalil, the head of the health directorate in Kut, told CNN. In Twareej, near the southern holy city of Karbala, a car bomb exploded near a police station, killing at least eight people and wounding 20, two officials at the Interior Ministry told CNN. The officials also spoke on condition of anonymity for the same reason as the police. A string of explosions rocked Baghdad, killing at least three people and wounding 34, the officials said. Among the attacks were two car bombings that targeted an Iraqi army patrol and an Education Ministry convoy, the officials said. In Yusufiya, about 35 kilometers south of Baghdad, gunmen wearing Iraqi army uniforms entered a Sunni mosque around 9:30 p.m. and summoned seven worshipers by name to step outside the mosque and form a line, said an Interior Ministry official who was not authorized to speak to the news media. The gunmen then fatally shot the seven, who were members of a local Awakening Council. A bomb in a parked car in Najaf killed 11 people and wounded 50. Another parked car bomb in Kirkuk killed one person and wounded eight. A motorcycle rigged with explosives detained at an Iraqi police patrol in central Kirkuk wounded seven people. In Baquba, a suicide car bomb, another car bomb, and a shooting attack killed 13 people. Four roadside bombs exploded in Mosul, wounding five people. In the Sunni-dominated Anbar province, a man building a bomb in his house in Falluja inadvertently detonated it, killing his own 5-year-old son and wounding his wife and three other children, police and health officials in Falluja said. The man was later arrested. While violence in Iraq has fallen off in recent years, there has been an increase in attacks targeting civilians and U.S. and Iraqi security forces in recent months. Stuart Bowen, the U.S. official in charge of overseeing reconstruction in Iraq, said the country was more dangerous last month than it was the year before, according to an agency report to Congress in July. CNN's Chelsea J. Carter contributed to this report.

84 are killed and more than 200 wounded, according to reports from across Iraq . 20 bombings and shooting attacks are reported . Al-Maliki tells security forces to pursue the killers "until they finish them" A jihadist website has a post praising the attacks, but no claim of responsibility .

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(CNN) -- In the final weeks of his brief life, little Myls Dobson suffered unspeakable acts of neglect and violence. A New York criminal complaint released Friday at the arraignment of Kryzie King, 27, with whom the 4-year-old had been staying since mid-December, said the boy had burn marks and abrasions on his head, neck, face and testicles. There were bruises and numerous marks made by an object on his abdomen and legs and wrists -- bruises consistent with being restrained -- lacerations to his fingers, abrasions to his armpit, and bruises and scars on his back. The child appeared malnourished, the complaint said. Myls suffered "horrific injuries sustained over a period of days," New York Police Commissioner William Bratton told reporters. King pleaded not guilty at her arraignment in Manhattan criminal court on charges of first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful imprisonment. But Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg told the court Friday that King also was being investigated on suspicion of murder, and likely faced additional charges upon the completion of the autopsy. In a statement, King's attorney, Bryan Konoski, said: "My client is not charged with homicide at this time and she is presumed to be innocent of allegations against her. I would tell everyone not jump to any conclusions at this time." Shortly before 11 a.m. on Wednesday, police responding to a 911 call found Myles locked in a bathroom at King's apartment at The Ritz Plaza, a luxury highrise in the Hell's Kitchen section of Manhattan. He appeared battered, was unconscious and unresponsive on the floor, authorities said. The child was pronounced dead at St. Luke's Hospital at 1:52 p.m. King told police that Myls' father dropped the child off for her to watch on December 17 and that she was the "child's primary and sole caretaker" until the time of his death, the complaint said. The father was arrested in December for alleged bank fraud, according to CNN affiliate WCBS. At a news conference Friday, an adviser to the boy's mother, Ashlee Dobson, said that she lost custody of her son for financial reasons. The mother and the adviser, Tony Herbert, demanded answers from child welfare authorities. "The city of New York put the child in the care of the father, who they knew was a felon," Herbert said. "You open up a case and then you close it thinking everything is fine? No. That has to be answered. Who did that, who authorized that?" A call placed to the city Administration for Children's Services was not returned. Dobson lost custody in 2012, according to CNN affiliate WCBS. "She was in a shelter, they didn't think it best that she would be in that shelter with a baby, so they gave him to the father," Herbert said of child welfare authorities. Dobson told reporters Friday that she was turning her life around in hopes of regaining custody of her son. She had weekly visitation rights but last saw her son in November. In tears, Ashlee Dobson said, "I love my son. He always loved me. He always gave me kisses." The complaint portrays the finals weeks of Myls' life as a living hell. King told police that on December 29 she removed a hot rack from an oven with a glove and allegedly placed it against the boy's right leg, leaving linear burn marks, the complaint said. The next day, she told police, she allegedly struck him about his body five to six times with a belt, leaving bruises and scars. The complaint said King admitted that from December 30 to January 4 she allegedly tied the boy's wrists and feet together with shoe laces and gagged him with a piece of cloth. She told police that resulted in scaring on his wrists and ankles. On the day she freed him, the complaint said, King allegedly beat him twelve to thirteen times with a belt. On Tuesday, during subfreezing temperatures, King told police she allegedly locked the the child, wearing only a T-shirt and shorts, outside on a balcony from 20 minutes to an hour, the complaint said. That same day, she allegedly locked the boy inside a dark bathroom for about three hours. King told authorities that the boy was "being very difficult eating and that the last full meal he ate was on December 26, 2013; after that he would only pick at his food," the complaint said. The last time the boy ate or drank anything was on January 3. Aside from her comments about the child not eating well, King gave no indication in the complaint of what might have prompted her purported actions. Since arriving at King's home on December 17, the complaint said, Myls Dobson lost 20 to 25 pounds. Julie Bolcer, a spokeswoman for the city medical examiner's office, said an autopsy was performed Thursday but the cause of death is pending further study. CNN's Julia Talanova contributed to this report.

Four-year-old Myls Dobson was burned and beaten to death . Police commissioner says the child suffered "Horrific injuries sustained over a period of days" Caretaker is charged with assault and unlawful imprisonment . The 27-year-old woman could face additional charges .

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(CNN) -- In what activists call a victory for Latinos, the U.S. government has resolved allegations relating to a series of warrantless home raids by immigration agents and must now follow new guidelines for conducing similar operations in the future. The terms were part of a federal court settlement approved on Thursday in New York between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and nearly two dozen plaintiffs who joined in a class-action suit. The suit that was closely watched by immigrant communities who alleged ICE agents forced their way into eight homes of Latino families on New York's Long Island in 2006 and 2007 without legal justification. "This is a positive step in the ability to hold ICE officers accountable for misconduct," said Axel Caballero, founder of My Cuentame, a nonprofit immigrant-rights filmmaker. "We hope officers and the agency are wise enough to not ignore the decision. But this is not enough. This is just the beginning of change that needs to be done." The lead plaintiff, Adriana Aguilar, said agents pounded on doors in the middle of the night and came into her East Hampton home even though they were denied entry. She shared the home with her parents, siblings and children, who are all U.S. citizens. "ICE is known for tactics like showing up unexpectedly and banging on doors, a common strategy that has been employed fairly routinely," said Camille Mackler, director of training and technical assistance at the New York Immigration Coalition. "But now with this change in federal policy, hopefully people's basic constitutional rights won't be violated." Under revised guidelines for cases without warrants, ICE must establish a policy requiring that agents, when feasible, obtain permission to enter a home in a language residents can understand. There are also new restrictions for when searches can be conducted on property surrounding a home. The government, as part of the settlement, also agreed to pay $1 million and drop or put aside immigration proceedings in several cases related to the raids. "Undocumented immigrants have less rights than U.S. citizens would but they do have basic constitutional protection that gives them the right to be protected from unreasonable search and seizure," explained Mackler. ICE declined to comment on the settlement. CNN's Jaqueline Hurtado contributed to this report.

Class-action suit revolved around raids of homes in New York . Court settlement sets new rules for home searches by immigration agents . Activists call settlement a victory for Latinos .

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A veteran who collapsed in an Albuquerque Veteran Affairs hospital cafeteria, 500 yards from the emergency room, died after waiting 30 minutes for an ambulance, officials confirmed on Thursday. Officials at the hospital said it took a half an hour for the ambulance to be dispatched and take the man from one building to the other, which is about a five minute walk. VA spokeswoman Sonja Brown said Kirtland Air Force Medical Group personnel performed CPR until the ambulance arrived. A veteran who needed an ambulance after collapsing in the cafeteria of the Albuquerque Veterans Affairs Hospital died after waiting 30 minutes for an ambulance . She says staff followed policy in calling 911 when the man collapsed on Monday. 'Our policy is under expedited review,' Brown said. The man's name hasn't been released. The death comes at the Department of Veterans Affairs remains under scrutiny for widespread reports of long delays for treatment and medical appointments and of veterans dying while on waiting lists. A review last week cited 'significant and chronic system failures' in the nation's health system for veterans. The review also portrayed the struggling agency as one battling a corrosive culture of distrust, lacking in resources and ill-prepared to deal with an influx of new and older veterans with a range of medical and mental health care needs. The scathing report by deputy White House chief of staff Rob Nabors said the Veterans Health Administration, the VA sub agency that provides health care to about 8.8 million veterans a year, has systematically ignored warnings about its deficiencies and must be fundamentally restructured. Acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Sloan Gibson speaks during a news conference at the VA Medical Center in Washington on Wednesday to release the results from its Nationwide Access Audit . Not only are Veterans forced to wait for ambulances, tens of thousands more veterans than previously reported are forced to wait at least a month for medical appointments at Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics, according to an updated audit of 731 VA medical facilities released in June. The updated report includes new figures showing that the wait times actually experienced at most VA facilities were shorter than those on waiting lists for pending appointments. For instance, new patients at the Atlanta VA hospital waited about an average of 44 days for an appointment in April, the new report said. But the average wait for pending appointments at Atlanta was 66 days. Similar disparities in average wait times were found around the country. Pending appointments, for example, don't include patients who walk into a clinic and get immediate or quick treatment, VA officials said. They also don't reflect rescheduled appointments or those that are moved up because of openings due to cancellations. VA officials said the two sets of data complement one another, but both are evidence that many veterans face long waits for care. More than 56,000 veterans were waiting more than 90 days for an initial appointment, the new report said. 'In many communities across the country, veterans wait too long for the high quality care they've earned and deserve,' acting VA Secretary Sloan Gibson said back in June. The department has reached out to 70,000 veterans to get them off waiting lists and into clinics, Gibson said, 'but there is still much more work to be done.' The report released Thursday showed that about 10 percent of veterans seeking medical care at VA hospitals and clinics have to wait at least 30 days for an appointment. That's more than double the 4 percent of veterans the government said last week were forced to endure long waits. Gibson called the increase unfortunate, but said it was probably an indication that more reliable data was being reported by VA schedulers, rather than a big increase in veteran wait times. Administrators at local VA medical centers questioned the results of an audit released June 9, which looked only at pending appointments. The report did not match internal data on completed appointments showing waits actually were far shorter, the local officials said. The reliability of both sets of data is in question. The VA is investigating widespread manipulation of appointment data by schedulers following an uproar over since-confirmed allegations that dozens of veterans died while awaiting appointments at the Phoenix VA medical center. This 2007 file photo shows Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital, a Veteran's facility in Washington . Some 13 percent of schedulers surveyed by the auditors reported being told by supervisors to falsify appointment records to make patient waits appear shorter. The VA's inspector general has cited a since-abandoned performance bonus system as a reason for the falsifications, which schedulers used to mask frequent, long delays in treatment for veterans. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned three weeks ago amid an election-year firestorm over the treatment delays and waiting list problems at VA facilities nationwide.Shinseki took the blame for what he decried as a 'lack of integrity' through the VA network, which serves nearly 9 million veterans. The House and Senate have approved separate bills to allow more veterans who can't get timely VA appointments to see local doctors listed instead. The proposals also would make it easier to fire senior VA regional officials and hospital administrators. The June 9 audit found that more than 57,000 veterans were waiting at least 90 days for their first VA medical appointments, and an additional 64,000 appeared to have fallen through the cracks, never getting appointments after enrolling for VA care within the past 10 years. The new report said the number of veterans waiting more than 90 days dropped to about 56,300. About 46,400 veterans still have never gotten an appointment despite seeking one over the past decade, the report said. Gibson, who replaced Shinseki May 30, said he still is not 100 percent confident that all wait times listed on VA computers — and its audits — are accurate. 'I have vastly greater confidence in the quality' of wait-time data being reported by VA employees, he said during a speech this week in Washington. 'But I can't look at the entire database and say it's correct either.'

Officials at Albuquerque Veterans Affairs Hospital said it took a . half an hour for the ambulance to be dispatched . The man, whose identity was not released, was only a five minute walk from the hospital . A review last week cited 'significant and chronic system failures' in the nation's health system for veterans . More than 56,000 veterans were waiting more than 90 days for an initial appointment, a report from June said . About 10 percent of veterans seeking medical care at VA hospitals and . clinics have to wait at least 30 days for an appointment .

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(CNN) -- Rightly billed as a clash of tennis titans, World No.1 versus World No.2, few were expecting the comprehensive manner of Novak Djokovic's defeat of Rafael Nadal to retain the ATP World Tour Finals title Monday night in London. Nadal will still end the year as the top ranked player in the world, but he was given a timely reminder that on the fast indoor surface of the 02 Arena, Djokovic reigns supreme, retaining his title with a 6-3 6-4 victory. It came after just one hour 36 minutes on his third championship point, with Nadal putting a forehand wide, rounding off an uncharacteristically tame display from the Spaniard. Djokovic has been undefeated since losing to Nadal in the final of the U.S. Open in September and he deservedly lifted the trophy, named in honor of former ATP president Brad Drewett, who died earlier this year. After the gladiatorial style entrants by both men, it was Djokovic who struck the first blows, racing to a 3-0 lead with an early break of Nadal's service. He had a point for a double break, but the Spaniard weathered the storm before making inroads on Djokovic's next service game to draw them level at 3-3. But Djokovic was not to be denied and after holding his own service, he broke Nadal again, the decisive point seeing both men at full stretch with scarcely believable retrieving. Djokovic finally put away a decisive volley then held his own service, clinching the set with an ace. He was immediately on the front foot in the second set, breaking Nadal early again to take a lead he never relinquished. Nadal was under pressure as he served to stay in the match at 3-5, saving the first match point and forcing his opponent to serve out for the championship. Nadal at last showed glimpses of his true quality by saving a second championship point, but any hopes of an unlikely revival were quickly snuffed out as Djokovic sent down an ace to bring up his third chance to take the title for a third time. Nadal still leads their career meetings 22-17 and will be looking to revenge the defeat when the 2014 season starts with the Australian Open in January. Before that, Djokovic will lead Serbia in the final of the Davis Cup against the Czech Republic, hoping to continue his unbeaten end to the season. Earlier, Fernando Verdasco and his Spanish compatriot David Marrero lifted the doubles title, beating the top seeds and three-time former champions Mike and Bob Bryan of the United States. Verdasco and Marrero won a close final 7-5 6-7 10-7 in one hour and 44 minutes, succeeding Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez as winners of the end of season finale. They shared $335,500 in prize money, while the Bryans -- five-time finalists -- split $195,500. The losing pair have the consolation of comfortably ending 2013 as the top pair in the world, winning three of the four major titles with a 70-13 record.

Novak Djokovic wins ATP World Tour Finals title for second straight year . Thrashes Rafael Nadal in straight sets 6-3 6-4 . Near faultless display from Serbian World No.2 . Fernando Verdasco and David Marrero win thrilling doubles final .

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By . Deni Kirkova . PUBLISHED: . 09:32 EST, 15 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:35 EST, 15 October 2013 . He is one of Britain's most prolific and commercially successful artists with a rumoured fortune of more than £215m. And now Damien Hirst is getting a whole new generation hooked on his controversial artwork through a children's ABC book. Out this month, the tome features one of his works alongside each letter of the alphabet. A is for Anatomy, represented by Hymn, the 20ft anatomical . cross-section that launched his career, while D is, unsurprisingly, for Diamond, accompanied by a picture of For the Love . of God diamond-encrusted skull. From A is for Anatomy to Z is for Zebra, the reader will be able to discover Hirst's paintings in the book . Children are now able to discover Hirst's paintings, . sculptures, and much more on each page of the illustrated alphabet book. His work, which addresses science, philosophy and religious issues that lie at the heart of human existence, is represented in 26 bite-sized chunks. The book is also a . window into typography. Each letter represents an alphabetically-led . font: A is for Albertus, B is for Baskerville. It is printed using child friendly 'soya bean ink'. Hirst, 48, from Bristol, who has three young sons of his own, taps into a new market of art books for children with his new venture. 'I love L is for Lamb. The image is of my 1994 work Away from the Flock [a lamb in a tank of formaldehyde],' HIrst tells the Guardian. But while J is for Jaws - and features Hirst's . pickled shark, mouth open, razor-sharp teeth bared - Hirst doesn't believe . children will be frightened by the book. 'My intention with The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991) was to replicate the sort of fear you might feel on being confronted with a shark. It's the fear of death, but I've always noticed kids love it rather than being frightened of it.' O is for Orange is one of the tamer pages in Damien's new book for children . 'When we are no longer children, we are already dead,' said Constantin Brancusi in one of Hirst's favourite quotes. The book is published by Other Criteria, . an arts-based publishing company co-founded by Damien Hirst, with a . gallery on New Bond Street and shops in Marylebone, and Devon. Hirst's work can be found in several important collections worldwide, including Tate, London, UK; British Council, UK and MoMA, New York, USA. He received the Turner Prize in 1995. Hirst pictured with For the Love of God, his 2007 diamond-encrusted skull work, which is D for Diamond .

Artist, 48, from Bristol, has fortune of more than £215m . Taps into new market with ABC alphabet book . Introduced children to his work: D is for diamond skull .

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A Michigan hockey player and obvious Super Troopers fan did the 2001 cult favorite proud during a mid-game interview this week. Ray Kaunisto, of the Kalamazoo Wings, gave an on-ice interview during his team's match against the Fort Wayne Komets on November 28, managing to sneak in seven 'meows' during the 40-second chat. The goal was 10, as per an infamous Super Troopers scene where an officer bets another he can't say 'meow' 10 times during a traffic stop, in what the pair call 'The Cat Game'. 'I thought about doing it a little bit before and then I just figured just let it rip and see what happens,' Kaunisto told MLive. Scroll down for videos . Champion: Kalamazoo Wings player fan Ray Kaunisto did cult comedy Super Troopers proud during a mid-game interview this week, dropping 'meow' into the 40-second chat seven times . Almost there: The aim was to say 'meow' 10 times, as per the infamous Super Troopers scene . Profile: The 27-year-old is a five-year pro from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan . 'I almost chickened out. I almost didn't do it, but I kind of just went with it.' And lucky he did. Not only has the interview gone viral, Kaunisto said his little game actually helped him on the ice. 'To be honest, I wasn't playing that well right before the interview happened,' Kaunisto said. 'I think that really helped me out and kept me composed. Any other time I probably would've started laughing.' In the video the interview appears oblivious what Kaunisto is doing. Infamous: This silly scene from Super Troopers created 'The Cat Game', after two officers wage a bet whether one can say 'meow' 10 times during a traffic stop . 'Right meow we came out, hit a few guys quickly there,' he said. 'We got to get into the corners meow, and maybe pass the puck a couple more times down in the neutral zone there meow. 'Right meow our focus is on banking as many points meow, but right meow, we're doing a pretty good job coming out and getting the first goal. 'Thanks meow.'

Ray Kaunisto of the Kalamazoo Wings gave an on-ice interview during match against the Fort Wayne Komets on November 28 . Decided to play a game made famous by 2001 comedy Super Troopers . Aim is to drop 'meow' into a conversation 10 times, as seen in the film . Afterwards Kaunisto said the interview helped him play better .

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More than 15million viewers stayed up to watch England kick off their World Cup campaign at 11pm on Saturday night. But when all was said and done, our boys had slumped to another defeat ... and the nation needed a scapegoat. Yet for once the national team had given fans a performance to be proud of – and so it was the BBC’s hapless pundit Phil Neville who bore the brunt of their frustrations. Former England player Phil Neville has been criticised for his co-commentary by fans and celebrities on Twitter . South Warwickshire police joined others on Twitter mocking BBC co-commentator Phil Neville . The force tweeted jokes about him as part of its safety campaign during the late-night match . Saturday was Neville’s first appearance as the Corporation’s new star pundit, and could prove to be his last after a brisk Twitter backlash. While England’s players ran Italy close on the pitch, Neville appeared to be out of his depth in the commentary box. Fans made fun of his robotic voice and dull insights, with some asking if he could be hauled off at half-time. He will be absent from England’s next two group games, which will be broadcast on ITV. However, the BBC has refused to say whether Neville would return if the team makes the knock-out rounds. The former England player, providing co-commentary alongside BBC regular Guy Mowbray, was compared by one viewer to the computer HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Another suggested he would be better off presenting the Shipping Forecast. Former Liverpool and Germany star Didi Hamann was among the stars criticising Neville's commentary . Despite also working for the BBC, comedian Danny Baker joined the backlash against the former player . Jokes about Neville lightened the evening for England fans, as the team slipped to a 2-1 defeat . Broadcaster Mary Ann Sieghart branded the former Everton midfielder's voice 'talking Temazepam' He was even mocked by the police, with . the South Warwickshire force’s official Twitter feed providing a string . of safety advice based on his disastrous performance. ‘At . least we know Phil Neville won’t stir the crowds in the pubs into a . frenzy. Drink sensibly,’ read one message, while another claimed . officers ‘will be playing recordings of Phil Neville all night to keep . the streets all calm and sleepy’. Some . fans asked whether it was possible to fire a commentator at half-time, . while former Liverpool midfielder Didier Hamann wrote: ‘If Phil Neville . reads his Twitter feed he may not come out for the second half.’ More than 13million viewers stayed up until the final whistle, just before 1am yesterday morning. The . Corporation could not yet say how many viewers complained about . Neville’s commentary, as weekend figures only become available on . Mondays. Some fans linked physio Gary Lewin's injury to Neville's dull performance in the commentary box . Tottenham MP David Lammy joked that, with such a dull voice, Neville may have a future in politics . Neville was signed up by the BBC after retiring from Everton last year and regularly appears on Match of the Day . Part of the team: Neville is part of the BBC team of pundits and co-commentators for the World Cup . It stressed that Neville had received training before being allowed on-air but, when asked whether he would return for the BBC’s next live England game, a spokesman said: ‘Everything for the final 16 will be decided much closer to the time.’ Critics suggested Neville’s appointment showed the folly of the BBC favouring ‘big names’ over seasoned professionals for its punditry team. Luckily, Neville – the brother of England assistant coach Gary – seems to have taken the comments in good spirits. He tweeted last night: ‘Sometimes you have to take the criticism – it will only make me better. Thanks for the feedback (ahhahaha)!’ The BBC gave England’s fans false hope after just a few minutes, when its on-screen graphic incorrectly put England 1-0 up. The blunder came after Raheem Sterling thumped a shot at goal from 30 yards that appeared to fly into the top corner. ‘Goal’ flashed up on the BBC’s coverage, and the score in the corner of the screen was changed to ‘ENG 1-0 ITA’ – but viewers were bemused to see Sterling fail to celebrate after such an excellent strike. In truth, Sterling’s shot was off-target, with the net only bulging because the ball had hit the side netting. The BBC swiftly rectified their error.

Commentator's performance panned as fans brand him 'dull' and 'robotic' Even police force join the online mockery, saying his voice will calm crowds . Neville was brought in as co-commentator by BBC for England vs Italy . As England lose 2-1, supporters turn their anger on the former player .

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It will become a familiar sight as the season wears on. Every time Manchester United are awarded a free-kick in the general vicinity of the penalty box, a debate will ensue. Angel di Maria will fancy his chances and Robin van Persie will think it's well within his range. Juan Mata will remind everyone that he has a good track record and Wayne Rooney will try to pull rank as captain. Radamel Falcao may well join the conversation too and others will throw in their thoughts. If competition for places in United's starting line-up is intense for the Louis van Gaal-acticos, then the struggle to become regular free-kick taker is going to be really interesting. Louis van Gaal has plenty of players capable of striking a set-piece at Manchester United . Angel di Maria got his Manchester United career off to a flying start by scoring direct from a free-kick in the 4-0 win over Queens Park Rangers last Sunday - though he may not have meant it . Juan Mata is also a fine striker of a set-piece and is a candidate to take them regularly for United . Each of those five players is capable of taking a good free-kick but, of course, only one can win the argument each time. New £60m signing Angel di Maria staked an early claim when he swung in United's opening goal from a wide free-kick against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday. He succeeded in delivering the ball into the 'corridor of uncertainty', deceived goalkeeper Rob Green when everyone else missed it and found the far corner of the net. Whether he meant it barely matters. Trouble is, Di Maria's qualities with the dead ball are unproven. He may well be an expert but with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in the Real Madrid side he didn't get much of a look in. As captain, Wayne Rooney may be able to pull rank when it comes to taking free-kicks . Robin van Persie is also capable of scoring direct from a free-kick . New loan signing Radamel Falcao can also strike the dead ball well . Goals and assists from free-kicks since the start of the 2011-2012 season: . Wayne Rooney – 5 goals (1 assist) Juan Mata – 4 (3) Robin van Persie – 2 (3) Angel di Maria – 1 (2) Radamel Falcao – 1 (0) Source: Opta . And while he can evidently deliver a killer ball from the wide positions, there are better candidates when the ball is close to the box in a central position. Juan Mata is chief among them - he has scored four goals directly from free-kicks for Chelsea and United since 2011. Two of them came at the tail end of last season, either side of David Moyes's sacking, against Newcastle United and Southampton. In that same period of time, Mata has also contributed three assists from free-kicks, adding to his worth with from set-piece situations. But many have predicted Mata will be the unfortunate one to lose his place as Van Gaal somehow tries to cram all his expensive players into his line-up, so step forward Wayne Rooney. The United captain has curled home five free-kicks over the last three-and-a-bit seasons and is among the best from the 18-30 yard range. Di Maria practises his free-kicks at Old Trafford prior to the match with QPR . Di Maria's (not in picture) free-kick evaded everyone in the penalty box and deceived Rob Green . Mata was on target from open play in the four-goal demolition of QPR . Last season he found the target against Crystal Palace, Manchester City and West Brom with direct free-kicks, rare moments of joy as Moyes struggled to gather points early in the campaign. And now that he has the armband, Rooney will have that little bit extra clout in those all-important negotiations at free-kicks. But he's by no means the only capable front man. Robin van Persie is also an accomplished striker of a free-kick - just ask City, who were on the receiving end of his accurate boot in the last minute of the December 2012 meeting at the Etihad. Rooney curls home a free-kick in United's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford last season . Rooney celebrates his free-kick goal against Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-final in March 2013 . Robin van Persie curls home his stoppage time free-kick against Manchester City in 2012 . The Dutchman can't quite match Rooney's record - he has scored with just two since 2011 - but is willing and able if needed. Last but not least is Radamel Falcao. He'll be more use in the box to get his head on the cross or pick up the scraps but the hotshot loanee striker can score direct from set pieces too, as shown by this one for Atletico Madrid against Real Sociedad in October 2012. The stats suggest Mata is the best choice but of course each situation will be different. This is one argument Van Gaal might leave to the players to sort out amongst themselves.

Louis van Gaal is blessed with plenty of accomplished free-kick takers at Manchester United . Angel di Maria scored direct from a set-piece in the 4-0 win over Queens Park Rangers last weekend . Juan Mata has scored four goals direct from free-kicks since 2011 . Wayne Rooney found the net from three dead ball situations last season . Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao are also good free-kick takers .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:38 EST, 9 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:31 EST, 20 September 2012 . A lovesick 13-year-old Texas girl who took her brother’s car and drove almost 800 miles to visit a 12-year-old boy she met online is now heartbroken and fears that everything ‘Dylan’ told her was lies. Meanwhile Beth Robinson’s parents are relieved that their daughter didn’t find ‘Dylan’ who might have been a sexual predator. On Thursday, Beth was just 130 miles away from where she planned to meet ‘Dylan’ when she was stopped by a state trooper who noticed that the car she was driving matched the description included in an Amber Alert which had been issued for her. But it is still not clear whether . ‘Dylan’, who Beth met on the Internet through the Xbox video game Call . of Duty in March, is the 12-year-old boy he said he was. Runaway: Robinson, 13, was found safe after driving hundreds of miles away from home to meet with a boy she has been communicating with online . ‘We're . trying to confirm that the person was on the other end was actually a . 12-year-old,’ Beth’s mother, Tressa Robinson, told ABC News. 'There were . texts and voicemails sent by him, and they're very alarming.' The 13-year-old girl was reported missing Thursday after her mother said she had crept out of her bedroom the night before. Beth, . who was described as naive and sheltered, fled in her brother's 2011 . brown Nissan Versa having taken her mother’s debit card. She didn’t take her cellphone on her road trip so there was no way of contacting her, her parents told ABC. Beth had left a note saying that she . was running away to a girlfriend’s house because of bullies at school, . and threatening to kill herself. But after searching through Beth’s texts messages and voicemails, the parents discovered ‘Dylan’. Her . petrified parents quickly determined that their daughter was likely . headed to his home 921 miles away in Hodgenville, Tennessee. Robbie Robinson, Beth’s dad, then . leapt into his car to chase his daughter as police worked to track the . missing teenager down too. Authorities began tracking Elizabeth’s travels through her mother’s debit card. She used it on Thursday in Henderson, Texas. According . to WSMV, Trooper Dwayne Stanford received an alert that the runaway . teen had been seen in Hope, Arkansas, at around 2pm Thursday. He . calculated that she would be headed his way about 10pm or 11 pm. Around her expected arrival time, the officer pulled into a median and decided to wait. As . Stanford predicted, Elizabeth drove by him on Interstate 40 outside of . Nashville around 10.24pm. He immediately activated his emergency lights . to pull her over and the runaway was later handed her over to her father. But she was still determined to go and . find ‘Dylan’, so Robbie Robinson agreed to take his daughter to find . him believing that if he didn’t she could try and find him on her own . again. Relieved: Robbie and Tressa Robinson are relieved that their daughter never met up with 'Dylan' who may have been a sexual predator . However, when they couldn’t the home . that Dylan said he lived in after hours of searching, Beth agreed to . give up and the two headed home. Now the 13-year-old is devastated that ‘Dylan’ could have been lying to her the whole time. ‘Dylan’ told her that he would even . walk to her home in Cypress to see her, said that she could stay at his . home in Hodgenville and said that his grandmother was aware of her trip. ‘I'm starting to have my doubts. I'm . really scared. I don't know what type of situation she would have found . herself in,’ Tressa Robinson told ABC. The mother thinks that Beth must have . had help to come up with her elaborate escape plan, especially the idea . to change the car’s licence plates. The parents have yet to decide on a . punishment for Beth but said that she will not be allowed to use her . Facebook anymore and will not be allowed to play her Xbox  in her . bedroom. They also plan for Beth to have counselling so she understands she dangers she was in and the torment her family went through. Beth is not facing any charges, her parents confirmed. Internet dangers: It is still not clear whether ¿Dylan¿, who Beth met on the Internet through the Xbox video game Call of Duty in March, is the 12-year-old boy he said he was . Disturbing note: The 13-year-old left a letter for her parents saying that she was running away because she was being bullied at school, and threatening to kill herself. Her parents quickly realised she was off to find 'Dylan'

Beth Robinson sneaked out of her Texas home and headed to Hodgenville, Kentucky on Wednesday night . She was going to find a 'boy' she met through the Xbox game Call of Duty . She was stopped by trooper 130 miles from where she was meeting 'Dylan'

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By . Joe Bernstein . Having slogged his way around the lower leagues for 25 years, Sean Dyche has suddenly become popular and fashionable after taking Burnley into the promised land of the Premier League. He has been granted the flattering nickname ‘Ginger Mourinho’, while agents have been bombarding him all summer with phone calls, faxes and emails because he has money to burn. Or at least that’s what they think. The reality is a little different as Dyche is keen to point out in a typically forthright way. Ginger Mourinho: Burnley manager Sean Dyche is determined to succeed in the Premier League . On the up: Dyche led Burnley to promotion to the Premier League against all the odds last season . ‘One agent sent a message to tell me his player was available at €15million and wanted £45,000-a-week salary, net,’ he says. ‘My reply was two words: “Wrong club.” ‘I was thinking, at least do your homework. It’s not going to happen at that level at Burnley. I’m not stupid and I know we’ve got to be competitive but would I do that and rip the heart out of the club? No, it’s not my style.’ It’s neat symmetry that 24 hours after Premier League superstars like Sergio Aguero and Mesut Ozil do battle in tonight’s World Cup Final, Dyche will take his assortment of youngsters, journeymen and cut-price signings to Austria for a pre-season training camp he hopes will get them ready for the toughest challenge of their lives. Whereas Arsenal bought Alexis Sanchez for £35m this week, Dyche’s five summer signings so far have cost £2m: Michael Kightly (£1.5m), Marvin Sordell (£500,000) and freebies Matt Taylor, Matt Gilks and Steven Reid. Survival looks impossible until you start listening to Dyche. Firstly, he tells you Burnley were sixth-favourites to be relegated from The Championship last season and had only 18 outfield players to choose from. They won automatic promotion. Joy: Michael Kightly celebrates scoring the goal which ensured promotion for Burnley last season . Signings: Dyche has only spent £2m on the signings of Marvin Sordell (left), Matt Gilks (centre), Matt Taylor (right) as well as Steven Reid and Michael Kightly . Secondly, Tony Pulis and Crystal Palace showed that, with the right attitude and spirit, anything is possible. Palace were written off like Burnley and finished 11th in last season’s Premier League. Most importantly, Dyche won’t allow his squad - whose crown jewels are England under-21 striker Danny Ings and £5million-rated defender Kieran Trippier - to feel any fear. ‘We are leaving Burnley-world and going into the reality of Premier League-world but it’s not scary,’ he insists. ‘I know if you catch some of those top boys like Aguero and Sanchez when they are on a hot day, you can get badly hurt. But without being disrespectful, they are still human. They have ups and downs, no player no matter how valuable can be a magician every single week. ‘We are built on a real group mentality rather than individuals. If we bought one big star you’d get this weird thing in the camp. You’d have baggage of all the players who have done well for you whose contracts are nowhere near that of the signing you’ve just made. ‘It would hurt us so, if my chairman came to me and said “Look, we will buy that £20m player”, I would say I don’t think it is appropriate for this club at this time. It would harm the group and unquestionably we have talent here already.’ Big money: Arsenal have just spent £35m on Alexis Sanchez but Dyche will not spend beyond Burnley's means . Emulate: Dyche wants to repeat the achievements of Tony Pulis and Crystal Palace by staying up . Star men: Burnley's Keiran Trippier (left) and Danny Ings (right) could be pivotal to survival success . Burnley have been here before of course. They were in the Premier League in 2009/10 and famously beat Manchester United at Turf Moor early in the season. But manager Owen Coyle jumped ship for Bolton midway through the campaign and they were relegated. Now given a second chance, Burnley could make as much as £120m from promotion. Dyche is adamant it won’t be frittered away, and knows all about getting value for money after a 17-year playing career in the lower echelons with Chesterfield, Bristol City, Luton, Millwall, Watford and Northampton, and a short managerial stint at Watford. ‘One of the first things we did at Burnley this summer was to get the diggers in to lay new fibre sand-based training pitches. The weather up here means we need them, trust me. ‘They turn a tap on at the end of October and don’t turn it off again until the end of March. Our pitches down the bottom end of the training ground got waterlogged last season and were unusable. It’s a miracle my hair is still ginger.’ Ah, the hair. Dyche’s short, red hair and beard, coupled with a voice that is a permanent rasp, mean he is set to be one of the cult figures in the new Premier League season. Don't write us off: The work ethic which Dyche demands from his players could help keep Burnley up . Under-stated: Dyche will not get carried away by Burnley's success last season and will look to progress . Even friends like Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, who worked with Dyche at Watford, now refers to him as the ‘Ginger Mourinho’. Dyche will meet the real one when Burnley face Chelsea on the opening weekend of the season. ‘It’s just banter, isn’t it?’ smiles Dyche. ‘My mates give me some stick about the name but it’s just a bit of fun. If I do half as well as him I’ll be all right. ‘What I will say is that we are very aligned with the culture and environment we have built for the players and I don’t think that can change in any successful organisation.’ Two days in Austria have been set aside from regular football practise. One will deal with physical endurance, the other mental toughness. Last summer, the players were driven to the point of exhaustion pushing giant tyres at an army boot camp. When they were on their knees, Dyche ordered them to sprint for 60 seconds. ‘We knew we had a small group and challenges would come our way where they would be tested to the limit but we had the experience of pre-season to fall back on,’ he explains. ‘The base requirement for a footballer is that you have to be physically and mentally strong, never more so than in the Premier League where you are under constant scrutiny. ‘But out of six weeks’ pre-season, it’s only two days. The rest of the time it’s football, football, football. ‘People have pre-conceptions about me because of my appearance, they think I must shout and bawl at my players, but that is so far from the reality. ‘I like to give the players lots of information about what we do. That’s the way I wanted managers and coaches to treat me when I was a player – but it didn’t often happen.’ Apprenticeship: Dyche enjoyed a playing career in the lower leagues before becoming a manager with Watford .

Dyche slogged around in the lower leagues for 25 years before promotion . He has been granted the flattering nickname 'Ginger Mourinho' Dyche says he will tell his chairman not to spend excessively on signings . His five summer signings have totalled just £2million in value . Burnley can repeat success of Tony Pulis and Crystal Palace says Dyche .

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By . Binky Felstead . Mums, mates and make-up: when a girl's feeling low, this triple-whammy of female gorgeousness is guaranteed to lift the spirits. For those who have been watching MIC recently, you'll know I've been through a rough patch, romantically - suffice to say, I'm grateful for the invention of waterproof mascara, as I've shed an ocean of tears in the last few weeks. Mummy Felstead to the rescue! 'We're going to get you through this,' she announced. Before I knew what was happening, she'd got on the phone to my friend, the singer Stacey Jackson, who just happened to be shooting the video for her new single Dance The Night Away. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Binky appears in Stacey Jackson's latest music video, Dance The Night Away . Together my mum and my mate arranged for me to be chauffeured to the video set and glamorously made up, so I could appear in the video. The song is a funky house number and the vid is set in a nightclub - so it called for a sultry nighttime face. I was so pleased with my look, created by brilliant make-up artist Buster Knight, that I thought I'd share it with you. STEP 1: The Face . Forget 'no make-up make-up', this is a full-on high-glamour look, which demands a flawless complexion. Buster began by prepping my skin using Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer. Next he applied DiorSkin Forever Foundation all over my face, before dotting a touch of Clarins Instant Light Brush-On Perfector on top, to highlight the skin, add definition and camouflage any imperfections. Binky says that by no means is this a natural look and looks best with heavy contouring and dramatic eyes . He fixed this base in place with a dusting of Vichy Dermablend Powder, lightly applied with a big, soft brush. Finally, he contoured and highlighted my face using Daniel Sandler Sculpt and Slim Contour Kit. Last but not least, a swoosh of Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer across my cheeks and forehead gave my skin the warm, sexy glow that I love. STEP 2: The Eyes . Just as with the complexion, prepping the eye area is all-important when creating a dramatic, smoky effect like this one. Buster began by blending bareMinerals Prime Time Brightening Eye Primer across my lids. This creates a smooth base on which to apply colour, and gives your make-up added staying power, ensuring you look just as fabulous leaving the club as you did on arrival. Next, Buster buffed Daniel Sandler Sheer Satin Shadow in Gilded Taupe all over the lid and through the socket, forming a nude base. Then he ran DiorShow Fusion Mono Shadow in Nocturne along the lashes, winging it out at the corners. Using Clarins Crayon Kohl Eye Pencil in black, he intensified my lash line, before applying false eyelashes to create an ultra-glam wink, and finishing up with Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara. Finally, Buster touched up my brows using Too Faced Brow-Nie Brow Pencil, to create a strong frame for my dramatic eyes. Binky achieved her intense eyes with a darker shadow and false lashes . Binky's glamorous lips were created using a nude palette and finished with a high shine gloss and bronzer across her cheeks and forehead gave her a warm, sexy glow . STEP 3: The Lips . This look is all about the intense eyes, so Buster kept my lips luscious but neutral, framing and filling in my lips with Guerlain Lip Liner in Rose de Bulgarie. Next he applied Dior Rouge Couture Colour Lipstick in Ambre Zemire, followed by a sexy slick of Clarins Gloss Prodige in Papaya for the final glamorous touch. If you'd like to recreate this look, you can purchase all the products you need at online beauty boutique, Escentual.com. When Buster had finishing working on my face, I felt newly gorgeous and ready to party. Stacey and I went straight from dancing in the video shoot to dancing all night in a club, with our sultry faces still in place. It was the perfect girly pick-me-up! As all you girls know, you can't beat a bit of retail therapy when you're feeling glum, so I treated myself to some gorgeous new bits from my fave lingerie brand Bluebella. I picked up the Skylar bra and briefs; the pale hue is perfect for spring and I love the girly ruffle detailing. It's a playful, whimsical set with a touch of naughtiness in the form of the sheer fabric - j'adore! The tears are drying and Binky's back! Love Binky xxx .

Been through a rough patch after break-up with co-star Alex Mytton . Binky this week appeared in Stacey Jackson's latest music video . The Made In Chelsea star says it was the perfect girly pick-me-up . Here she shows you how to achieve her high-glamour look .

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Forget the Top of the Rock or the Empire State. The best view of New York City last weekend was from the air, as five Red Bull Air Force Wingsuit Flyers accomplished their dream of skydiving from above one of the world’s most recognizable skylines - Manhattan and managed to catch it all on tape via headcam. The flight was in anticipation of the 2014 Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach in Long Island this Memorial Day Weekend. Five Red Bull Air Force Wingsuit Flyers prepare to jump from an airplane and glide over NYC . All five of them jump from the aircraft and begin their exhilarating descent . The team resemble superheroes as they make their way down towards the glistening skyscrapers . As they come closer to the concrete and the Hudson River, the brave flyers pop their parachutes to prepare for landing . The elite aerial athletes of the Red Bull Air Force, who have performed at the locations in the world, started at the southern tip of the island, jumping from a plane at an altitude of 7,500 feet. They were traveling at speeds of about 120 mph and headed uptown, passing the skyscrapers of the Financial District. The flight lasted about two miles and took about two minutes. It finished with the crew landing on a barge in the Hudson River. The troop was made up of Wingsuit Flyers Jon Devore, Jeff Provenzano, Amy Chmelecki, Sean MacCormac and Andy Farrington are part of the Red Bull Air Force (RBAF). 'Being from New York, this is so special and I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a kid,' said Provenzano, who grew up just north of the city. 'It’s been years of looking up at the big buildings and wondering if there is a day that I can fly over them. 'That day was today.' The Red Bull Air Force will be performing multiple jumps for the large crowds expected at the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach. The fete will also feature Military aircraft flying information, an airshow and skydiving. The RedBull parachutes are out and the gliders are just about to touch the ground . They zoom towards the landing dock on the Hudson river and are greeted by enthusiastic cheers . High five! The flyers get a thumbs up for an awesome flight and realistic vertigo inducing footage .

The flight was in anticipation of the 2014 Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach in Long Island this Memorial Day Weekend . The elite aerial athletes of the Red Bull Air Force jumped from an altitude of 7,500 feet . The flight lasted about two miles and took about two minutes .

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By . John Drayton . MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MISS . Olympic champion Greg Rutherford is desperate to go one better than the silver medal he won at the Games in Delhi four years ago. The men’s long jump final is at 6.45pm. Max Whitlock is one of Sportsmail’s seven Road to Rio stars — will be hoping to add individual gold to his team medal in the men’s all-round gymnastics event from 1pm. Tonia Couch and Sarah Barrow in the 10m synchronised diving at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh. Ambition: Greg Rutherford will be looking for long jump gold on Wednesday evening . KEEP AN EYE ON... Eilish McColgan competing for Scotland in the 3,000m steeplechase in Glasgow, 28 years after her mother Liz won a Commonwealth gold medal in the 10,000m in Edinburgh. Scotland against England in women’s hockey at 9am. Olympic champion Kirani James in the men’s 400m final at 8.30pm. THE GAMES ON TV . LIVE: BBC One: 9am-1pm, 1.45-6pm & 7pm-10pm. BBC Three: 9am-10pm. Highlights: ‘Tonight At The Games’, BBC One at 10.40pm. RADIO BBC Radio 5 Live from 6am. Target: Max Whitlock will be hoping to add individual gold to his team medal in the men¿s all-round gymnastics .

Greg Rutherford is in long jump final action from 6.45pm . Max Whitlock will be looking to add to his Team England gold . Tonia Couch and Sarah Barrow are in the 10m synchronised diving .

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By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . Running the country is like being stuck in an ‘asteroid shower’, David Cameron has complained. The Prime Minister revealed his struggle to cope with the bombardment of questions on foreign affairs. And while trying to deal with global problems he also has to contend with his gaffe-prone ministers going off message. Pressure: David Cameron told students of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta about the challenges of being Prime Minister . Mr Cameron has already used his trip to India to air his grievances with life at the top, grumbling about having to make compromises with the Lib Dems and not getting a Tory majority. But speaking to students in Calcutta he revealed how the blizzard of issues which are thrown at him can leave him struggling to cope. He said: ‘It’s like sometimes being in a sort of asteroid shower, things flying at you every day. ‘You know, “Should you go to Sri Lanka?”, “What are you going to do about the famine in the Philippines?”, “Why has this minister done that?’ All these things are coming at you”.’ Mr Cameron said he coped by having a firm idea of what he is trying to achieve while in government or he will lose his way. ‘You’ve got to have a plan,’ he said. Earlier the Prime Minister admitted that the coalition government has made decisions that are not in the national interest. He said the Liberal Democrats have forced him into adopting policies that could damage Britain 'in the long term'. Shower: Cameron said he had to deal with a flurry of questions about international crises and gaffe-prone ministers . But Deputy PM Nick Clegg hit back, insisting blocking some Tory policies was the 'right' thing to do. With 18 months to go until the general election, both parties have begun striking out to provide greater ‘differentiation’ from their coalition partners. The Conservatives have placed greater emphasis on crime, immigration and Europe while the Lib Dems have focussed on the environment and blocking visa curbs. Speaking in Delhi, Mr Cameron told an audience of politicians and businessmen: 'I would prefer not to have a Coalition. 'We’ve shown it can work. And actually the good parts of Coalition are because you have these arguments within government and you have to proceed on a rational basis – that’s good. 'I think what’s bad about it is that sometimes you have to make compromises that are not necessarily in the long-term interests of the country.' Tour: Mr Cameron also tried some Indian snacks from a street food stall during his visit . But Mr Clegg was defiant about his role in blocking Conservative policies to allow employers to fire at will, allow schools to make profits and giving spy agencies more powers in the Snooper’s Charter.  to be shelved. 'Of course there are compromises that the Conservatives have made that they don’t like,' he said on his weekly LBC 97.3 radio phone-in. 'I so happen to think that with the Liberal Democrats in coalition government, we have not only proved that coalition government works but that it is still anchored in the centre ground.'

David Cameron reveals the struggle to cope with flurry of questions . International crises battle for attention with dealing with ministers . Comes after he complained about making 'compromises' in coalition .

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Oxford University last night launched an investigation into claims that Tory students sang a ‘despicable’ song  celebrating Nazi massacres  during meetings. Members of the university’s Conservative Association were alleged to have given renditions of the song that revels in the killing of Jews during ‘port and policy’ nights. One video, filmed in the common room at Corpus Christi college, is said to show a student drunkenly chanting: ‘Dashing through the Reich’, before being silenced by another member. Oxford University Conservative Association president James Lawson with a friend. They were not involved in the alleged racist singing . The song’s full version, to the tune of Jingle Bells, continues: ‘Dashing through the Reich / in a black Mercedes Benz / killing lots of kike / ra ta ta ta ta.’ The word ‘kike’ is a derogatory term for Jewish people. One member of the Conservative Association, who declined to be named, told the Oxford Student newspaper: ‘Lots of people were singing it that night, and indeed on many other nights, and the general attitude is that that was OK. ‘The thing is, lots of members do find that song, and songs like that one, absolutely despicable, though little is done to stop it. I am very worried with the direction the society is going in at present.’ Pictures taken from ‘port and policy’ nights during the past year also showed members of the society rolling . around drunk on the floor. One was photographed pouring port into a friend’s mouth through a pith helmet. Excess: A member drinks port poured through a pith helmet. Neither was involved in the Nazi singing . Another . photo shows two members dressed as Margaret Thatcher next to a coal . miner outfit bearing an offensive placard which reads: ‘I love . shafting.’ Last night, Joe . Cooke, a former president of the Oxford University Conservative . Association, told the Daily Mail he was resigning from it in protest . about the ‘debauched’ behaviour of many of his fellow members. The . third year PPE student said: ‘It is disgusting and goes against . everything the Conservative Party stands for. I am completely . disillusioned. 'I came from a single-parent family and went to a state . school and had to work for everything I have achieved. ‘But . unfortunately the majority of members are rich former public schoolboys . with a great sense of entitlement who are far more interested in . drinking port than discussing policy.’ A former treasurer of the association recently wrote to members to complain about the ‘excessive and crass’ singing at meetings. He wrote: ‘The dissonance is enough to inflict pain as short, spotty, still-pubescent boys struggle to fix their unsteady voices on any pitch at all. ‘This unbridled clamour is disturbing finalists who live near the Union, many of whom are sounder Conservatives than most, but who don’t feel the need to dress up in ridiculous clothes or pretend that we still have an empire.’ David Cameron and former Tory leaders Michael Howard and Iain Duncan Smith have all given talks to the association in recent years. Its former presidents include Cabinet members William Hague and Jeremy Hunt. The OUCA is affiliated with Conservative Future, the party’s youth wing, and regularly supports candidates in local elections. During last year’s General Election, five former presidents stood for parliamentary seats. The Nazi song allegation is just the latest controversy to hit the association in recent years. Two years ago it was temporarily banned from using Oxford University in its title after members were urged to compete to see who could tell the most offensive racist joke. Yesterday an Oxford University spokesman said: ‘The university proctors, who are responsible for discipline, have been made aware of the [Oxford Student] article and will be considering whether there are grounds for further investigation. ‘The university strongly condemns any form of racism or discrimination.’ James Lawson, the current president of the Conservative Association who took over after the alleged racist singing took place, said he had started an investigation into the allegations. He said: ‘If it turns out this person is a member we will take immediate action to expel them from the association. Racism has no place in the association or our society.’ Additional reporting by James Rothwell .

One video said to show student singing 'Dashing through the Reich' to tune of Jingle Bells .

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By . Associated Press . and Alex Greg For Mailonline . The FBI spied on citizens who were not the subject of investigation because of typographical errors, according to a government watchdog. The Justice Department's inspector general has found that while the FBI has improved handling of national security letters, the agency could do better. The watchdog identified several areas that the FBI needs to improve upon, including the 'tendency to collect data on the wrong person because of routine mistakes.' Typos: A report has found that the FBI spied on people in error due to typographical mistakes . 'We found that the FBI's corrective measures have not completely eliminated potential intelligence violations resulting from typographical errors in the identification of a telephone number, email address, or social security number in an NSL,' the report reads. 'These typographical errors cause the FBI to request and, in some instances receive, the information of someone other than the intended target of the NSL.' National security letters allow investigators to collect private information, including from telephone companies and Internet service providers, without a judge's approval. Earlier reports from the department's inspector general identified widespread violations in the program, including information obtained in non-emergencies. Spying: Investigators can use national security letters to collect private information about citizens, including from telephone companies and Internet service providers, without a judge's approval . The report released Thursday examines the program from 2007 to 2009 and how well the FBI has implemented recommendations from the earlier reports. The inspector general says the FBI has fully implemented 31 of 41 recommendations from prior reports on the topic, but must improve in other areas, including reducing errors. It also made 10 new recommendations. The FBI says in response that it's continued making improvements in recent years. According to the National Journal, the inspector general added a footnote to the public version of the report, saying that the FBI had demanded too many redactions on the 232-page report. 'We disagree with these markings, which have the effect of redacting information that we believe is important to the public's understanding of the FBI's compliance with NSL requirements,' it reads.

The Justice Department's inspector general found the the FBI has spied on the wrong person because of 'typographical errors' In a report, the inspector general says that the FBI has improved on  handling national security letters but could do better . '...typographical errors cause the FBI to . request and... receive the information of someone other . than the intended target' reads the report .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:08 EST, 23 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:35 EST, 24 April 2013 . The homeless older brother of billionaire pop star Madonna required nine stitches to his forehead after he resisted arrest in a public bathroom in northern Michigan, police revealed Tuesday. Law enforcement officials were called in Sunday night when 56-year-old Anthony Ciccone refused to leave the bathroom at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center. Police say a female officer attempted to arrest Ciccone on an outstanding warrant for trespass, but he showed resistance. Down on his luck: Anthony Ciccone, 56, Madonna's older brother, had to get nine stitches after being slammed to the floor by an officer during an arrest on an outstanding trespass warrant . In response, the responding police officer brought the unruly 56-year-old man to the ground. As a result, Ciccone's face hit the bathroom floor. He was taken to Munson Medical Center, where he received several stitches. Police say at the time of his arrest, Ciccone's blood-alcohol level was 0.40, which is five times the legal limit in Michigan. No attorney is listed for Ciccone, who was arraigned on the warrant and jailed. Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, declined to comment. Madonna is a Michigan native. Police received a 911 call at around 11pm Sunday reporting that a man was refusing to leave a detached bathroom and challenged a cleaning crew at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center on West Civic Center Drive. Different paths: Anthony Ciccone (left) has been homeless for the past three years, struggling to survive on the snowy streets of Michigan, while his sister Madonna (right), recently reached $1billion in net worth . Traverse City Police Capt Brian Heffner told the Traverse City Record-Eagle that Madonna’s 56-year-old sibling confronted the responding officer in an aggressive manner when she attempted to restrain and arrest him on an outstanding trespassing warrant. 'She turned him around and brought him to the ground, which is when he struck his face on the bathroom floor,' Heffner said. According to authorities, the warrant stemmed from a March incident when Ciccone was reclining in front of a fireplace at Horizon Books and refused to leave. Ciccone was arraigned Monday on the trespassing warrant and ordered held without bond in the Grand Traverse County Jail. Anthony, the oldest of the seven living Ciccone siblings, has been living on the streets for the past three years, during which time he had several run-ins with the law. He recently spent a month in jail after being arrested drunk in a church and swearing in front of children. A family divided: Madonna (centre) with her siblings (from left-to-right): Anthony (now homeless in Michigan), Jennifer, Paula, Christopher, Mario, Melanie and Marty pictured in 1986 . Recently, the 56-year-old homeless man suffering from an alcohol addicito9n told MailOnline that his glamorous 54-year-old sister, whose net worth stands at $1billion, does not care if he is dead or alive. 'I never loved her in the first place, she never loved me. We never loved each other,' her told MailOnline in an interview last week. Anthony Ciccone lost his job at the family vineyard owned by his father, Tony, and his stepmother, Joan, after being found sprawled on his back drinking wine straight from the vats. 'My father would be very happy if I died of hypothermia and then he would not have to worry about it anymore. He’s old school, he grew up in the depression,' the 56-year-old said. However, a family friend who works at the Ciccone vineyard claims that Anthony's parents are terrified that he might die any day, but refuse to take him back until he cleans up his act and quits drinking. Legal woes: Mr Ciccone recently spent a month in jail after being arrested intoxicated in a church and swearing in front of children . Giving his version of why he was sacked, he said:  'I planted grapes, I picked grapes, worked my hands in the earth. But I discovered that my father was not particularly fond of me for some reason, he doesn't approve of my friends. Still, 83-year-old Tony Ciccone reportedly tried to seek out his troubled son to give him leftovers from a Thanksgiving meal, but the 56-year-oild would not accept any help .

Anthony Ciccone, 56, refused to leave a bathroom at Grand Traverse County Civic Center . Had outstanding warrant for trespassing in a bookstore . Ciccone had blood-alcohol level of 0.40, or five times the legal limit in Michigan .

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An e. You can write it with one fluid swoop of a pen or one tap of the keyboard. The most commonly used letter in the English dictionary. Simple, right? Now imagine it printed out millions of times on thousands of forms and documents. Then think of how much ink would be needed. OK, so that may have been a first for you, but it came naturally to 14-year-old Suvir Mirchandani when he was trying to think of ways to cut waste and save money at his Pittsburgh-area middle school. It all started as a science fair project. As a neophyte sixth-grader at Dorseyville Middle School, Suvir noticed he was getting a lot more handouts than he did in elementary school. Interested in applying computer science to promote environmental sustainability, Suvir decided he was going to figure out if there was a better way to minimize the constant flurry of paper and ink. Reducing paper use through recycling and dual-sided printing had been talked about before as a way to save money and conserve resources, but there was less attention paid to the ink for which the paper served as a canvas for history and algebra handouts. "Ink is two times more expensive than French perfume by volume," Suvir says with a chuckle. He's right: Chanel No. 5 perfume costs $38 per ounce, while the equivalent amount of Hewlett-Packard printer ink can cost up to $75. So Suvir decided to focus his project on finding ways to cut down on the costly liquid. Collecting random samples of teachers' handouts, Suvir concentrated on the most commonly used characters (e, t, a, o and r). First, he charted how often each character was used in four different typefaces: Garamond, Times New Roman, Century Gothic and Comic Sans. Then he measured how much ink was used for each letter, using a commercial tool called APFill® Ink Coverage Software. Next he enlarged the letters, printed them and cut them out on cardstock paper to weigh them to verify his findings. He did three trials for each letter, graphing the ink usage for each font. From this analysis, Suvir figured out that by using Garamond with its thinner strokes, his school district could reduce its ink consumption by 24%, and in turn save as much as $21,000 annually. Encouraged by his teacher, Suvir looked to publish his findings and stumbled on the Journal for Emerging Investigators (JEI), a publication founded by a group of Harvard grad students in 2011 that provides a forum for the work of middle school and high school students. It has the same standards as academic journals, and each submission is reviewed by grad students and academics. Sarah Fankhauser, one of JEI's founders, says that of the nearly 200 submissions they have received since 2011, Suvir's project was a real standout: . "We were so impressed. We really could really see the real-world application in Suvir's paper." Fankhauser said Suvir's findings were so clear, simple and well thought-out, it had the peer reviewers at JEI asking, "How much potential savings is really out there?" For the answer, JEI challenged Suvir to apply his project to a larger scale: the federal government. With an annual printing expenditure of $1.8 billion, the government was a much more challenging task than his school science project. Suvir repeated his tests on five sample pages from documents on the Government Printing Office website and got similar results -- change the font, save money. Will government printers embrace a change? Using the General Services Administration's estimated annual cost of ink -- $467 million -- Suvir concluded that if the federal government used Garamond exclusively it could save nearly 30% -- or $136 million per year. An additional $234 million could be saved annually if state governments also jumped on board, he reported. Gary Somerset, media and public relations manager at the Government Printing Office, describes Suvir's work as "remarkable." But he was noncommittal on whether the GPO would introduce changes to typeface, saying the GPO's efforts to become more environmentally sustainable were focused on shifting content to the Web. "In 1994, we were producing 20,000 copies a day of both the Federal Register and Congressional Record. Twenty years later, we produce roughly 2,500 print copies a day," he said. On top of this, the Congressional Register is printed on recycled paper, which GPO has been doing for five or six years, Somerset says. One federal initiative that focuses on minimizing ink-usage is called "Printwise." Implemented 18 months ago by the General Services Administration, it teaches government offices how to default their computer settings to Times New Roman, Garamond and Century Gothic to minimize printing waste. According to GSA's press secretary Dan Cruz, they hope this type of initiative could ultimately save the federal government up to $30 million annually. Suvir appreciates the government's efforts, but he sees his project as a means of making an even bigger impact nationwide. "Consumers are still printing at home, they can make this change too," he says. Holding out hope . At 14, Suvir understands how difficult such a project might be to implement -- "I recognize it's difficult to change someone's behavior. That's the most difficult part." But he holds out hope: "I definitely would love to see some actual changes and I'd be happy to go as far as possible to make that change possible." With decades ahead to lend a hand, Suvir and other young men and women like him may even be able to untangle some of the knotty political and technical issues that beset Washington, corporate suites and the world at large. Know a young entrepreneur? 'Godfather' of Helvetica font dies at 84 .

Middle-school student says the federal government could cut printing costs with one decision . Suvir Mirchandani analyzed ink use for school project, then expanded his research . So far, the Government Printing Office is noncommittal on Suvir's suggestion .

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By . Stephen Wright . PUBLISHED: . 18:18 EST, 13 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:12 EST, 13 June 2013 . Stabbed to death: Stephen Lawrence . The two racist thugs convicted of murdering Stephen Lawrence were awarded a total of £425,000 of legal aid, official figures reveal. Gary Dobson, 37, and David Norris, 36, each received more than £200,000  of taxpayers’ money to fight their  murder charges. The amount of money claimed by the teenager’s killers emerged days after  the Government vowed to crack down on ‘fat-cat’ legal aid solicitors and barristers. After a six-month freedom of information battle with the authorities, the Mail has finally been given details of the amount of legal aid claimed by Dobson and Norris, both jailed for life in January last year after being convicted of Stephen’s 1993 murder. Our initial request in December last year was turned down by the now defunct Legal Services Commission because the pair were appealing their convictions and officials ruled that disclosing the figures could prejudice any potential retrial. But Dobson has since dropped his legal challenge and Norris’s bid to clear his name has been thrown out by the Appeal Court. The figures provided to the Mail show drug trafficker Dobson was awarded £199,109 of legal aid in the run-up to and during his murder trial, and a further £4,200 for his doomed appeal. Gangster’s son Norris received £222,346 in legal aid to defend the murder charge. Details of how much public money, if any, he received to fund his appeal have not been finalised. Their combined legal aid awards come to £425,655 and dwarf the £320,000 compensation paid to Stephen’s parents Doreen and Neville Lawrence for police bungles that hampered their quest for justice. The Crown Prosecution Service’s counsel fees for the prosecution and related hearings was £287,056. Dobson’s legal team was headed by Timothy Roberts QC, while Stephen Batten QC led Norris’s defence. After a six-week trial, an Old Bailey jury ruled in January last year that Dobson and Norris were guilty of murdering Stephen, 18, in Eltham, south-east London in April 1993. The pair, who were among a gang of five racist thugs who stabbed Stephen to death, were jailed for life. The verdicts were a victory for the Daily Mail, which since 1997 has campaigned for justice for the  Lawrence family. After their convictions, Norris launched an appeal, claiming that the use of a surveillance video in evidence was prejudicial. (Pictured left) Gary Dobson: £203,309 in aid and (pictured right) David Norris: £222,346 in aid . In the film, shot 20 months after Stephen’s murder, Norris was secretly filmed telling friends he wanted to torture and kill black people. His lawyers said the video did not prove he was involved in Stephen’s murder and should not have been admitted as evidence. The footage also showed Dobson using violent, racist language. He was seen recalling a time he threatened a black colleague with a knife. Lawyers for Norris also objected to the way prosecutors presented scientific evidence in the trial. The breakthrough in the investigation came when a cold-case team of forensic scientists were called in. They found tiny traces of blood, hair and fibres on clothing seized from the pair’s homes. The defence claimed this was the result of contamination, but that was rejected by the jury. This March, just over a month before the 20th anniversary of the murder, Dobson finally dropped the appeal against his conviction. In May, Norris lost a second attempt to challenge his conviction when he was refused permission to appeal by the Court of Appeal. Met chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has told the Mail he has no plans to close the investigation into Stephen’s murder, which puts pressure on the three other members of the gang that killed Stephen, brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt and their friend Luke Knight, who have not been convicted. Hopes of a breakthrough in the long-running murder probe rose in April after police said a 20th anniversary appeal for information had prompted ‘two very significant’ phone calls. Last week, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said the amount paid out in legal aid was ‘unsustainable’, adding that taxpayers could not keep footing the bill for a system said to cost £2billion a year. A spokesman for the Legal Aid Agency, which replaced the LSC, said: ‘Anyone on trial for a serious criminal offence can apply for legal aid so a lawyer can represent them in court. Funding is subject to a means test which could require  the defendant to pay towards their legal costs.’

Gary Dobson, 37, and David Norris,  36, each received more than £200,000 of taxpayers’ money to fight their murder charges . Figures released after a six-month freedom of information battle by the Mail .

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Incheon, South Korea (CNN) -- A small army of elite, highly trained clones are sent on a mission to root out drugs and ammunition from the city. Every few hours they report back to their masters, to whom they've been devoted since birth. But this isn't the set of a low-budget sci-fi flick; it's the departure lounge of South Korea's Incheon Airport, where seven "super clone" sniffer-dogs have been dispatched in the war against contraband luggage. The pack of golden Labrador Retrievers are all genetically identical to "Chase," whose legendary snout kept him top of Incheon's drug-detection rankings right up until his retirement in 2007. But now after years of training, the new class is following in their genetic donor's paw-prints, consistently outperforming the rest of South Korea's naturally born sniffers in the hunt for heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines. Interactive: A day in the life of an airport city . They are the work of Professor Byeong-chun Lee, who established his reputation in 2005 as the driving force behind Snuppy (an amalgam of Seoul National University puppy), the world's first ever dog clone. "The officers in Korean Custom Service read our dog-cloning article and they suggested the project to us," recalls Lee. Indeed, Korean customs had a problem on their hands. Only three out of every 10 selectively bred sniffer dogs that it trained --- at a cost of about $40,140 each -- had the nostrils and the discipline for the job. Although the seven Labrador clones cost upwards of $100,000 each, every single one of them made the grade. But Lee refuses to take all the credit: "I think half of the ability comes from the genetic background and half comes from the training," he said. Lending weight, if it were needed, to the claim that aptitude is indeed a balance of nature and nurture, the dogs still display variations in performance despite their identical genes. And leader of the pack is Tutu. "Last year, he won a medal for detecting the most drugs at the ICN (Incheon) airport," boasts his long-time handler Park Ji-yong. Like his septuplet brothers, Tutu began training for the job at the age one and now, as a mature four year-old, works five to six hourly shifts a day. "He's very active and energetic...He's kind of tough...and he only likes me which makes me feel good," beams Ji-yong. But it's not just drug-mules and meth-addicts that need fear the arrival of this sniffing super-breed. Lee's next clone will be a high-performance "quarantine dog" -- gifted with an enhanced capacity for detecting the presence of disease in humans. Lee says that, due to the high number of travelers passing through Incheon, the airport has experienced problems with the spread of infectious diseases, "so the Korean government have asked us to clone some quarantine sniffing dogs" Beyond the airport barriers, Professor Lee spends his time cloning a variety of other canine breeds, each with a specific purpose in mind. "Some clients want to replicate their own pets" says Lee. In other cases, the scientist works in conservation, creating identical copies of endangered animals. "Wolves are endangered species in Korea, especially grey wolves. We collected cells from the ear of wolves...and transported to surrogate dogs and finally we produced cloned wolves" says Lee. So, now that he's cloned man's best friend, are there any plans for man himself? "Scientifically all the animals, including humans, can be cloned, but I have never thought about (it). It's illegal and it's an ethical problem."

A breed of 'super clone' sniffer dogs is in action at Incheon Airport . DNA taken from golden Labrador Retriever with "legendary" nose . Professor behind project also makes clones of pets and endangered wolves .

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(Financial Times) -- Rupert Murdoch's News Corp was on Tuesday facing a fresh barrage of allegations over its business practices after an Australian newspaper released 14,000 emails concerning one of the group's security subsidiaries. The emails, said to be from the hard drive of a former head of security at NDS, a former News Corp subsidiary, appear to show that the company paid computer hackers to work with its "operational security" unit. The cache sheds further light on commercial disputes between News Corp and pay-TV rivals that now span Australasia, Europe, and the US. The Australian Financial Review claimed that NDS's activities in Australia in 1999 caused millions of dollars of damage to Mr Murdoch's rivals in the country's nascent pay-TV market. The business models of Austar, Optus and Foxtel were all damaged by a wave of high-tech piracy at that time. The Australian newspaper said the emails had originated from the computer of Ray Adams, a former commander in the Metropolitan Police in London, who served as head of operational security for NDS in Europe from 1996 to 2002. NDS had no immediate comment but News Corp said: "News Corporation is proud to have worked with NDS, whose industry-leading technology has transformed TV viewing for millions of people across the world, and to have supported them in their aggressive fight against piracy and copyright infringement." Allegations of fierce competitive behaviour, which were not illegal under Australian law at the time, the AFR said, came a day after the BBC's Panorama programme levelled similar charges against NDS's conduct in the UK. The television programme said that NDS used hackers to crack the security of the encryption cards of OnDigital, the UK broadcaster ITV's entrant in the pay-television market, which went bust in 2002 in the face of competition by News Corp's British Sky Broadcasting unit. In one email purportedly from the hard drive, NDS employees discuss the fact that a European pay-TV company which News Corp was poised to take a stake in was "totally hacked" by pirates. The sender of the email debated whether, in light of the News Corp interest in the company, NDS should "start to protect [the particular model of encryption used by the company] while leaving the main . . . platform compromised". In a detailed statement after the Panorama programme, NDS denied ever using hackers against other companies. "Like most companies in the conditional access industry -- and many law enforcement agencies -- NDS uses industry contacts to track and catch both hackers and pirates. This is neither illegal nor unethical. And, to ensure that all activity remains completely within legal bounds, NDS staff and their contacts operate under a clear code of conduct for operating undercover. "These allegations were the subject of a long-running court case in the United States. This concluded with NDS being totally vindicated and its accuser having to pay almost $19m in costs -- a point that the BBC neglected to include." Some of the emails released on Tuesday played a part in that case, where the US pay-TV platform Echostar won part of its claim, but was awarded trivial damages and was ordered to pay NDS's costs. In the Panorama programme, Mr Adams denied ever having seen or handled encryption codes or cards that would have allowed anyone to hack OnDigital's machines. Tom Watson, the opposition Labour MP who has led British parliamentary investigations into Mr Murdoch's group and the UK phone hacking scandal, said he had written to the broadcasting regulator Ofcom, asking it to include the Panorama allegations in its inquiry into whether News Corp and its executives were "fit and proper" to own a broadcasting licence. To date, 22 people have been arrested in connection with the phone hacking investigation at the News of the World newspaper. A separate UK police investigation is looking into alleged corrupt payments to public officials by journalists at The Sun. The FBI is also conducting a wide-ranging investigation. © The Financial Times Limited 2012 .

Australian Financial Review released 14,000 e-mails regarding former News Corp security subsidiary . E-mails reveal News Corp hired computer hackers, allegedly to damage rival pay-TV operations .

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At Manchester City, Frank Lampard has established a reputation for his impeccable manners and his work-rate on the training ground. At 36, with three Barclays Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the biggest one of the lot - the Champions League - his appetite for the game is undiminished. That much was made clear when he was summoned from the substitutes bench by Manuel Pellegrini to score Manchester City’s equaliser against his former club Chelsea on Sunday. It was dreamy stuff. Frank Lampard looked close to tears after scoring the equalising goal for Manchester City against Chelsea . Lampard was all smiles as he left the San Carlo restaurant in Manchester's city centre . Lampard (left) was joined by his fiancee Christine Bleakley (right) for the meal on Sunday night . The happy couple leave San Carlo restaurant just before 11pm on Sunday . After scoring his first goal for City against former club Chelsea, the Stamford Bridge legend may not have felt like celebrating - but that didn't stop Lampard enjoying an evening out on Sunday night. Lampard dined at Manchester restaurant San Carlo with fiancee Christine Bleakley and seemed to be in high spirits despite taking two points away from his beloved Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 draw at the Etihad. Before Lampard arrived, City staff knew the stories about his extra shuttle runs after training and his dedication to the game during his career with Chelsea and England. Even during the World Cup, when Lampard was on the fringes of the team, he would sit down at England’s URCA training when he was waiting his turn in the ball drills and do sit ups. The former Chelsea star scored against his old club to help City to a 1-1 draw against the Blues . Lampard slots home from inside the penalty area to send the City fans into ecstasy against his old club . Lampard refuses to celebrate after equalising for City against the club he represented for 13 years . Lampard arrives late in the box to score City's equaliser and deny Chelsea three points at the Etihad . VIDEO Lampard City deal extended . It was a small thing, a minor detail, but he was the only England player doing it. That discipline was instilled at a young age, when he chose to ignore the taunts of Martyn Mullen, one of the promising players coming through the youth set up with him at West Ham. ‘Oi, Lampard, what the **** are you doing?’ Mullen shouted across when he saw the young midfielder out on his own after training doing his doggies. It got a laugh from the other players and Lampard has never forgotten it. To this day, he still does them. When he is off the training field and away with the team, he spends time plotting the next move in the London property market. The 36-year-old holds his hands up and looks to the skies after scoring what must have been an emotional goal for the former Chelsea man . Between him and his dad, Frank Lampard Snr, they own half of the capital, or at least it seems that way. They are family who have always planned for the future. Lampard could have taken the easy route during his loan spell at City, going through the motions and keeping himself ticking over until he starts his new career with New York City. Instead he has even surprised City’s manager Manuel Pellegrini with his exceptional attitude and commitment to the game. At the World Cup, even though he knew he was no longer a first-choice midfield player, Lampard took on extra responsibilities. Lampard was a dedicated servant to his national team, earning 106 caps and scoring 29 goals for England . The Chelsea legend celebrates scoring his record breaking 203rd goal for the Premier League club . Lampard poses for a photoshoot with a load of footballs after breaking the Chelsea goalscoring record . He was a comfort blanket for many of the players, an emotional crutch for the youngsters in Roy Hodgson’s England squad. When he spoke with the media, he held the room so well - particularly once when he sat with Raheem Sterling - that he sounded like the manager. One day he should be. He has all the requirements. Lampard (left) won everything with Chelsea, including the Premier League title in 2005 . Starting out at West Ham, Lampard went on to spend 13 happy years at Stamford Bridge . Lampard is a smart guy, responding in Latin to a Manchester City official who had also studied the language when they were at school. Football is Lampard’s first language, though. He wanted to play on Sunday - in any event Premier League rules meant he had to be available - and there was never any doubt that he would give anything other than 100 per cent. When he steered City’s equaliser beyond Thibaut Courtois, he was respectful and dignified, but that goal meant more than many of the 211 he scored in a Chelsea shirt. It proved to Lampard that he could still live with the game at this level. Lampard may have scored for City on Sunday, but the midfielder will always be a Chelsea hero . ‘I don’t speak about former players,’ was Jose Mourinho’s narky response following Lampard’s incredible impact on the game at the Etihad. It was Mourinho’s decision to let Lampard leave when Cesc Fabregas let it be known that Barcelona were prepared to sell him. During those fabulous tussles between the pair, when Fabregas was the chirpy upstart in an Arsenal shirt and Lampard was the main man in Chelsea’s midfield, they never got along. It was obvious, watching Lampard’s body language and demeanour, that he was determined to impose himself in every area of the midfield during those combative and compelling clashes. In all those fights, Fabregas never got the better of the Englishman in the centre of midfield. Even at 36, Lampard still dedicates more time on the training field than most other players . Andre Schurrle fires Chelsea ahead in the clash of the title rivals at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday . On Sunday, Lampard still had the upper hand after coming on to score that equaliser when City were down to 10 men. He is sensible enough to know that this cannot last for ever, that his time as a top class Premier League player will come to an end when he leaves for New York City in January. When the City option came up - initially he was supposed to play for Sheikh Mansour’s team in Australia - he spoke with his father about his emotional attachment to Chelsea. Lampard will have wanted to get the upper hand of Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas (centre) It was pointed out to him that the great Bobby Moore, who was idolised by Frank Snr as a young professional at West Ham, went on to play for Fulham later in his career. He was still, quite rightly, cherished down at the Boleyn. Lampard - or Super Frank, as he is known at Stamford Bridge - is Chelsea through and through. Despite his goal on Sunday, they are still his team.

Frank Lampard is the ultimate professional and Chelsea will always be his club . Lampard scored debut goal for Manchester City against Blues on Sunday . Former Chelsea star dined out with fiancee Christine Bleakley . City drew 1-1 with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday . Lampard won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and a Champions League medal during 13 years at Chelsea . Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho refuses to comment on former player .

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By . Ryan Gorman . PUBLISHED: . 22:50 EST, 11 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:50 EST, 12 November 2013 . This is the moment the president and COO of discount chain Family Dollar is fired during an episode of television show ‘Undercover Boss.’ Michael Bloom was fired by a warehouse supervisor because he was unable to safely operate a forklift. Rosali, a supervisor and forklift operator in a Virginia warehouse, fired a man he thought was named Mark. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . 'I have to let you go': Rosali (left) fired Mr Bloom (right) for incompetence after only a few hours . 'Mark,' as Mr Bloom was called, told Family Dollar employees he was on a reality show competing for his own business. Forklift operator was one of a handful of jobs ‘Mark’ undertook within the company while on the CBS show. He made multiple mistakes with the forklift that put multiple people in danger. From blowing through stop signals to ignoring other safeguards, ‘Mark’ was a terrible forklift operator. ‘Mark, I gotta tell you this,’ Rosali said to the covert COO. ‘I wouldn’t be comfortable leaving you alone doing this.’ ‘I will have to, you know, let you go,’ he continued. Woah, easy!: 'Mark' clumsily operates the forklift, causing Rosali to tell him to be more gentle . Stop signs are not suggestive: 'Mark' also blew through a stop sign - a big no no . 'Test drive': 'Mark's troubles begin shortly after takes the reigns of the forklift . The astonished exec was almost speechless being fired for a low-level position from the company he runs on national television. ‘Just for that… I get fired for one little mistake,’ said ‘Mark.’ ‘Yeah,’ Rosali confirmed. Rosali further defended his decision in a follow up interview added to the broadcast. ‘I have to fire Mark for safety reasons,’ he said. ‘I don’t want him to have an accident or hurt anybody else.’ A stern warning: 'Mark' was only at the controls a few minutes before receiving his first warning . If only he knew: Rosali did not know 'Mark' was actually Mr Bloom as he fired him in this scene . Wait, what?: Rosali fired 'Mark' for incompetence before even finishing his first day . Water under the bridge: Mr Bloom offered to pay off $12,000 in debt and gave Rosali a promotion with a 40 per cent raise . The banished boss was surprisingly upbeat about being booted from the warehouse. ‘It’s a little embarrassing, but I’m glad to see that he takes safety so seriously,’ he said during his walk of shame. Mr Bloom revealed himself to Rosali later in the episode. He showed no ill will towards the man for firing him. The bigwig offered to pay off two-thirds of Rosali’s $18,000 credit card debt and promoted him to a salaried managerial position with a 40 per cent pay raise. ‘Thank you, I’ll do my best, I can do it,’ Rosali said. ‘I know you can,’ Mr Bloom replied. Mr Bloom has been the president and COO of Family Dollar since 2011. His total compensation last year came out to just over $3.5million, according to Bloomberg.

Family Dollar president and COO Mike Bloom went on 'Undercover Boss' and was fired . A forklift trainer fired him for dangerous mistakes he made in a warehouse . Mr Bloom then paid off almost all of the man's debt and gave him a 40 per cent raise .

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The world’s most powerful investment bank was last night accused of being ‘oblivious’ to public opinion after paying its staff almost a quarter of a million pounds last year on average. Goldman Sachs yesterday cemented its position as the world’s most generous big bank, dishing out £8.4billion in pay and perks for 2014. The Wall Street giant, which employs 6,000 people in London, confirmed its 34,000 staff around the world received an average package of £246,000. Astonishingly, the sum – which is almost ten times the average salary in the UK and dwarfs the Prime Minister’s £142,500 package – represents a small pay cut. Goldman Sachs confirmed its 34,000 staff around the world received an average package of £246,000. File photo . Staff received £248,000 on average in 2013. The figure includes salary, bonuses and benefits, including healthcare and pensions. The announcement came as Goldman revealed its profits rose 5pc last year to £5.6billion. Goldman is set to confirm multi million pound bonuses for top executives, including boss Lloyd Blankfein and UK supremo Michael Sherwood, in separate filings to US regulators next week. Deborah Hargreaves, boss of campaign group the High Pay Centre said: ‘This is a further sign that the banking industry - and particularly Goldman Sachs - is completely oblivious to public opinion about bonuses and believes the only way to reward employees is through money.’ Banks on both sides of the Atlantic have been criticised for continuing to award eye watering sums to its staff, despite evidence that the bonus culture encouraged the reckless behaviour which helped to trigger the financial crisis. But Goldman has earned itself the nickname ‘Goldmine Sacks’ for consistently paying more than its rivals as it has consolidated its position as the most powerful investment bank in the world. Just before New Year it sneaked out details of a £367million pay bonanza for its top London staff for 2013. The huge sum was shared between 121 Goldman Sachs bosses and traders, at an average of £3million a head. Astonishingly, the sum represents a small pay cut as the average package was £248,000 in 2012. Pictured, the Goldman Sachs Group global headquarters In New York . This equated to almost £60,000 a week, more than 120 times the average wage. The average pay package of £246,000 for all staff last year dwarfs those on offer at Goldman’s rivals. On Wednesday JP Morgan - which employs 11,000 people in the UK,. became the first US bank to publish its annual figures for last year. It paid £135,000 on average to its 51,129 investment bankers. Goldman Sachs insists it has been showing more restraint since the financial crisis. Last year, staff pocketed just under 37 pc of its earnings – before the crisis it routinely paid out more than 40pc. Its chief executive Lloyd Blankfein - who once claimed that banks ‘do God’s work’ - has also seen his pay cut. His £14million pay package is a far cry from the £45million he was awarded before the financial crisis set in in 2007. The UK banks are set to announce their pay and bonuses for last year in the coming weeks, but they are likely to be much smaller on average than those awarded at Goldman. But Lloyds boss Antonio Horta-Osorio is in line for a £7million windfall after hitting a number of performance targets, including returning the bank to profit and helping to push up its share price. This award, which dates back to 2011, will come on top of his £4million pay package for 2014. Labour have pledged to reintroduce a tax on bankers’ bonuses if they win the general election in May.

Investment bank was accused of being ‘oblivious’ to public opinion . Wall Street giant cemented position as world’s most generous big bank . The bank, which employs 6,000 people in London, confirmed its 34,000 staff around the world received an average package of £246,000 . But the figure represents a pay cut as £248,000 was the average in 2013 .

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After three months of closure, the Lindt Chocolate Café at the centre of the Sydney Siege is set to reopen in a matter of days. The scene of one of Australia’s most infamous terror attacks, workers at the Sydney CBD café said the café told The Daily Telegraph the shop will reopen by the end of the week. The café made headlines around the world in December when Islamic extremist Man Haron Monis held staff and patrons hostage there for about 17 hours. Repairs are currently under way at the Martin Place cafe after it was damaged during the siege that claimed the lives of cafe manager Tori Johnson and barrister Katrina Dawson in December. Lindt officially confirmed on Thursday they would reopen the cafe. 'After the tragic events that happened at the end of last year, we feel this is the right thing to do, to move forward and to push on in a positive way,' a spokesman said. Scroll down for video . The Lindt cafe at Martin Place will reopen in mid-March with a memorial to honour the bravery of the hostages and the two victims who died in the Sydney siege . Lindt Cafe manager Tori Johnson (left, pictured opening the Martin Place cafe in 2013) and barrister Katrina Dawson were both killed during the siege . 'We have taken this decision after careful consideration of a number of factors, the most important of which was consultation with our staff, whom feel positive about this decision and believe this is the best way forward.' The final opening date hasn't been announced but Lindt said they were working on plans for a memorial in the cafe to remember those affected. 'We are still confirming what the memorial will look like, as these things do take a little bit of time, but we feel this is fitting and appropriate to remember their bravery,' the spokesman said. Tori Johnson, 34, Katrina Dawson, 38, and the gunman who held them hostage for more than 16 hours were all killed. It was revealed at a coronial inquest last month that Mr Johnson was shot in the head at point blank range by crazed gunman Man Haron Monis after being forced to kneel on the cafe floor. Ms Dawson was killed by fragments of ricocheting bullets fired by police when they stormed the cafe soon after Mr Johnson was killed. Repairs are currently under way at the Martin Place cafe after it was damaged during the siege . Lindt officially confirmed on Thursday they would reopen the cafe after speaking with staff . The final opening date hasn't been announced but Lindt said they were working on plans for a memorial in the cafe to remember those affected . Some of the hostages who were held alongside Mr Johnson and Ms Dawson shared the agony and fear they felt in televised interviews on 60 Minutes and Seven News this week. They told of how Monis forced them to call emergency services to tell them his demands, and how the gunman became more frustrated as night fell. Louisa Hope, 52, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and needs a walking stick to move around, was one of the hostages that failed to get away and told 60 Minutes how she saw Mr Johnson die. 'When the noise of the gun, and then Tori fell forward... He hasn't just died, his life has been taken,' she said. Hostage Marcia Mikhael, 43, said Monis, who had a history of violence and extremism, told her he had a 'plan' to die in the standoff. A total of 18 people were taken hostage and were forced by captor Man Haron Monis to hold an Islamic flag up to the windows during the siege . Hostage Marcia Mikhael, 43, said Monis, who had a history of violence and extremism, told her he had a 'plan' to die in the standoff . Louisa Hope (pictured) who suffers from multiple sclerosis and needs a walking stick to move around, was one of the hostages that failed to get away and told 60 Minutes how she saw Mr Johnson die . 'I knew he didn't want to get out of there alive and because of that, I was very scared about how it was going to end,' she told Channel Seven. Ms Mikhael said she was beside Ms Dawson as police charged into the cafe, shortly after Ms Johnson was killed. 'There were just so many shots. I could smell the gunpower, I could feel the heat... It was so bright, everyone was just lit up as if it was New Year's Eve,' she said. 'And then all of a sudden it stopped... and I could see police officers wearing the black uniform. 'She wasn't moving. She was just lying down with her head facing me, looking at me.' Harriette Denny, who was 13 weeks pregnant when the siege unfolded, revealed she thought the gunman was going to shoot them in full view of the public. Ms Hope, 52, said Tori Johnson wasn't just killed, his life was taken from him . People run with there hands up from the Lindt Cafe, Martin Place during a hostage standoff on December 16 . 'You lose hope, thinking about your family outside, thinking there's nothing you can do to get yourself out and it's very hard,' she told 60 Minutes. John O'Brien, 82, said Monis was 'ranting and raving' about Prime Minister Tony Abbott and threatened to kill everyone in the cafe. 'Tony Abbott wouldn't come to the phone, he said Tony Abbott will have all your blood on his hands when I kill you all, one by one,' Mr O'Brien told Channel Seven. The interviews, for which channels Seven and Nine reportedly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars, came just over a week after an inquest opened into the siege. In their store reopening announcement, Lindt encouraged people to visit the charity page set up in Mr Johnson's honour. 'Tori was someone who had a very positive approach to life and this page was set up in Tori's memory after the event to raise funds for beyondblue, a charity chosen by his family,' the spokesman said. 'We know that all concerned, including Tori's family, are deeply grateful for the donations being made.' A permanent tribute will be put in place at the Lindt cafe in Martin Place when it reopens to honour the memory of the victims, Tori Johnson (pictured) and Katrina Dawson . Thousands of messages and flowers were laid outside the Lindt cafe in the weeks following the siege .

Lindt will reopen its Martin Place cafe in March after repairs are finished . It was damaged during the siege that claimed the lives of cafe manager Tori Johnson and barrister Katrina Dawson in December . Cafe is organising a memorial to honour 'bravery' of hostages . Lindt say they spoke with cafe staff before deciding whether to reopen .

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A man who had just bought something at a suburban New Orleans shopping mall on Christmas Eve was shot to death at close range and a suspect was in custody, police said. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office has said that the victim was James Vaughn, 24, and the suspect is 25-year-old Gary M. Francois. Vaughn purchased a present for his mother right before the deadly shooting, his grandmother told WDSU. It happened about 4:21 p.m. Wednesday, less than two hours before the Oakwood Center mall in Gretna was scheduled to close for the holiday, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand said. Scroll down for video . Shooting: A distraught woman is comforted outside the food court entrance to the Oakwood Center on Christmas Eve. The shooting left one person dead at the mall in suburban New Orleans, and police say a suspect is in custody . Suspect: Gary M. Francois (pictured) is the suspect in the shooting of 24-year-old James Vaughn, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office has said . The victim had just purchased something from Foot Locker and had turned from the cash register when a man walked to within three or four feet of him and began shooting, Sheriff Normand said . The victim had just purchased something from Foot Locker and had turned from the cash register when a man walked to within three or four feet of him and began shooting, Normand said. No one else was injured. 'Obviously, based on witness accounts, he walked in with purpose of shooting this particular individual,' Normand said when asked if the victim was targeted. The sheriff said at least three shots were fired and Vaughn was pronounced dead on the scene. 'In the aftermath of the shooting, there was bedlam in the mall,' the sheriff said. Witness Glenda Hulbert told WWLT 'We were in the mall purchasing the iPhone 6 for my niece, then you heard the shots.' Another person in the mall, Paul Horton, told the television station 'I've seen a lot of people running and policeman coming in like it was in Cambodia or something, like a war.' 'Clerks say they've seen the victim and perpetrator shop at this store before,' Normand said, according to WDSU. Mall security, deputies and Gretna police calmed everyone to make for an orderly evacuation, Normand said. Normand said the shooter was apprehended several blocks from the mall and is being questioned by authorities. No charges were immediately filed. Normand said authorities were still questioning the man and that he likely would face a charge of second-degree murder. Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman John Fortunato said in a release that both Vaughn and Francois have been arrested multiple times. He said that 'François has a prior criminal history with arrests for aggravated battery, resisting arrest, disturbing the peace, simple criminal damage, simple battery, numerous counts of unruly and uncontrollable along with a number of traffic attachments. 'Vaughn has a prior criminal history with arrests for numerous counts of parole violation, illegal carrying a concealed weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of cocaine, aggravated battery, resisting arrest, simple assault, aggravated criminal damage, simple battery, theft and numerous counts of contempt of court.' Authorities: An Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Deputy patrols as shoppers flee the mall. Sheriff Newell Normand says the shooting happened less than two hours before the mall in Gretna was scheduled to close . First responders: A distraught woman sits on the back of the ambulance as an empty stretcher leaves the food court entrance to the Oakwood Center . Evacuation: Meals sit unfinished on the tables in the food court of the Oakwood Center .

A man who had just bought something at a suburban New Orleans shopping mall on Christmas Eve was shot to death at close range and a suspect was in custody, police said . The shooting happened 4:21 p.m. Wednesday, at the Oakwood Center Mall in Jefferson Parish, Sheriff Newell Normand said . Victim James Vaughn, 24, had just purchased something from Foot Locker and had turned from the cash register when a man walked up and began shooting, he said . The suspect is 25-year-old Gary M. Francois, the sheriff's office has said .

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By . Sam Webb . A builder who battered and stabbed his ex-girlfriend’s father and then poured petrol over him before setting him alight was today jailed for a minimum of 27 years for his murder. James Carbott, 31, beat Thomas Baird with a crowbar and stabbed him with a retractable blade knife inside his bungalow in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. He left, but returned to destroy evidence by dousing petrol on 63-year-old Mr Baird, who was lying on his doorstep and was either dead or dying. He set his body and the victim’s bungalow alight. James Carbott, 31, beat Thomas Baird with a crowbar and stabbed him with a retractable blade knife inside his bungalow. He later set the body alight. He was today jailed for a minimum of 27 years . Sentencing him to life at St Albans Crown Court, Judge Andrew Bright QC said: 'Your attack was brutal and relentless.' The jury heard Carbott had split up from Mr Baird’s daughter Kelly in October 2012, five months before the killing. When Carbott, who had worked as a builder for Mr Baird, moved in with Kelly he had diverted the electricity supply, so that it bypassed the meter. After he left, Mr Baird wanted him to correct the wiring. Carbott promised to meet Mr Baird on the Tuesday before he died, but rang to cancel. He was then supposed to call him on the Thursday, but did not. Prosecutor Stuart Trimmer said the defendant’s behaviour seriously annoyed Mr Baird, who spoke to friends and relatives and threatened violence to Carbott and said he would damage the home where he lived with his mother. Scene: The bungalow in Hemel Hempstead where Mr Baird was killed and set on fire . In response to voicemail messages left by Mr Baird, Carbott went to his terraced bungalow in Westerdale. There he attacked Mr Baird, who was only 5 feet 6 tall and weighed just 66 kilos, with the knife and crowbar before setting him alight. A post mortem examination revealed 17 cuts and stab wounds to the head, face and neck. There were also stab penetrations fracturing the jaw. His voice box was fractured, a wound that may have been caused by severe gripping, but is more likely to have been due to kicking or stamping while on the ground. Carbott was arrested the following day and told the police: 'What's this got to do with me? I haven't been anywhere' Pathologist Dr Nat Carey found internal bleeding in the brain and evidence of blunt impacts, including one very forceful blow to the right side, causing fracturing of the vault and base of the skull. There was burning to his head, trunk and legs. A lack of soot inhalation suggested Mr Baird was either dead or dying at the time he was set alight. Carbott was arrested at ten to five the following day and told the police: 'What’s this got to do with me? I haven’t been anywhere. 'All I have done is walk my dog. I have been at my mum’s.' He made no comment in four police interviews, but gave the officers a prepared statement through his solicitor in which he said Mr Baird had left threats to him and his mother on his voicemail. He said he did not want him threatening his mother and went to Mr Baird’s home. When he went to the door he said Mr Baird appeared with a crowbar and a knife and said: 'J - have this' and pushed the knife towards him. He said there was a struggle in which he disarmed him and caused injuries. In the statement Carbott admitted he had started the fire because he was scared. He said he had left the scene in his silver Mondeo estate and headed to a farm track on the Redbourn Road near Woodend Farm where he burned his clothes and the petrol and threw the knife and crow bar in a ditch. Carbott, of Epping Green, Hemel Hempstead, pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Baird between Friday 1 March and Saturday 2 March last year and also denied arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered. But at the end of a trial last month the jury of eight men and four women convicted him of murder by a majority of 10 to 2. They unanimously convicted him of the arson charge. Giving evidence Carbott said Mr Baird was a 'good laugh'. Asked by his barrister Richard Carey-Hughes how they got on, he replied: 'Fine. We used to got out drinking, watch football and go to the pub. He was a good laugh. He was OK.' He said he suffered anxiety and depression after being attacked in 2007. He had also been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. 'I had suicidal thoughts. I used to self-harm a lot. I was always planning in my head to kill myself,' he said. A post-mortem examination revealed 17 cuts and stab wounds to Mr Baird's head, face and neck. There were also stab penetrations fracturing the jaw . He said he had known Mr Baird for two years before he died and had been 'best friends' with his son Tommy Baird. But Tommy did not speak to him again after Carbott had hit him when he intervened during a row Tommy was having with his sister. After Mr Baird died and he was remanded in custody, Carbott said he had nightmares and flashbacks. 'I was waking up screaming. It was terrifying,' he said. Setting a minimum term of 27 years before Carbott can apply for parole, Judge Bright told Carbott, who appeared for sentence via a video link from Bedford jail: 'When you lose your temper, as you did that night, you are a very dangerous man.' Following the sentencing today the victim's family and the police have released statements. Thomas' daughter, Kelly, said: 'Myself and Harry would like to send thanks to all those who have been involved in Tom's case. 'I am extremely grateful for the fantastic support we have received over the last 11 months. 'Life without my Dad has felt unbearable and felt as though we are living in limbo. This void in our lives will never be filled. 'My dad was devoted to me and Harry and we have a daily struggle without him in our lives. He was the most secure and constant person in our lives. He became my rock and my best friend in my adult life and to say I feel lost and alone is an understatement. 'Harry adored his Grandad and aspired to be like him and he has been robbed of having him around to support and guide him to adulthood. 'We will never recover from this tragedy and our lives will never be the same again. We are now however reaching a point where we can begin to grieve and rebuild our lives, and we ask and thank people in advance for the privacy to do so.' Speaking about the sentence, Detective Inspector John Arthur from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, who led the investigation said: 'Thomas was the victim of a horrific and sustained attack and Carbott lied in an attempt to cover his tracks. 'Although this sentence will do nothing to bring back Thomas to his family, it does reflect the severity of Carbott's actions and I am pleased with today's sentence. 'I would like to pay tribute to Thomas's family as they have not only lost their loved one in the most brutal way, they have had to endure a trial and relive the horrific events which took place that night. 'Whilst the verdict and sentence will not bring Thomas back, I hope this sentence is of some comfort to them and that it will assist them with moving forward with their lives.'

James Carbott battered and stabbed Thomas Baird to death . The 31-year-old torched the corpse and set his home on fire . The pair had rowed over electrical work undertaken by Carbott .

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BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Grand fireworks and spectacular choreography brought to a close the Beijing Games Sunday as one of the most remarkable Olympics in recent history were declared at an end. A dancer performs Sunday during the Olympics Closing Ceremony in Beijing. Fireworks across China's capital as a crowd of more than 90,000 at the landmark "Bird's Nest" National Stadium watched the pyrotechnics. The ceremony marked a climax to a Games that has delivered many world-breaking sporting performances and redefined the international image of the communist nation. "Tonight, we come to the end of 16 glorious days which we will cherish forever," IOC President Jacques Rogge said. "Through these Games, the world learned more about China, and China learned more about the world." "These were truly exceptional games," he said, declaring them formally closed. Joining the sportsmen and women at the event were a delegation from London, host of the 2012 Summer Games, including soccer star David Beckham who rode into the stadium on a red double-decker bus. Watch a gallery of the Closing Ceremony » . British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was also in attendance while London's mayor, Boris Johnson received the Olympic flag from Beijing Mayor Go Jinlong. Watch preparations under way in London » . China had invested more than $40 billion in the games, which it viewed as a chance to show the world its dramatic economic progress. Unlike previous Summer Olympics, logistics appeared to run smoothly for the Games. Also impressive was the emergence of a new world sporting superpower -- the host nation. China, which won its first Summer Olympic gold medal in 1984, clinched first place in the gold medal standings long before the final hours of sporting competition came to a close. The United States led the overall Medals table. Other spectacular sporting accomplishments were recorded at the Beijing Olympics: U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps became the face of the Games, winning a record eight Olympic gold medals in a single Games. See a timeline of daily highlights » . Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt won three golds -- in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 4x100-meter relay. Watch a gallery of Olympic moments . However, questions and criticism remained about China's stance on free speech and political protest. Objections were raised over certain Web sites being blocked. And although Chinese organizers had created designated "protest zones," people allowed to protest appeared non-existent. Demonstrators at unauthorized protests were detained. On the final weekend of the Olympics, U.S. diplomatic officials raised concern to Beijing over eight Americans arrested the previous week for planning or staging protests. Another shadow was cast during the opening weekend when grisly attack at a Beijing tourist site saw U.S. volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon's father-in-law fatally stabbed by a Chinese man who then committed suicide. Watch as two elderly Chinese women face detention » . Worries over pollution and its impact on athletes seemed to fade away. Distance running events ran smoothly, and while the air was thick with smog on many days during the Games, foreign media did not report widespread health concerns by the tens of thousands of foreigners attending the Games.

Extravagant climax closes Beijing's 2008 Summer Olympics . Fireworks light up across China's capital . Crowd of more than 90,000 attends closing ceremony . Olympic torch passed to London, host of 2012 Summer Games .

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By . Alex Greig, Ashley Collman and Daily Mail Repoter . PUBLISHED: . 22:14 EST, 11 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:04 EST, 12 December 2013 . The family of a Texas university student shot dead by a campus cop on Friday have said they do not believe the account given by the officer responsible for his death. Captain Chris Carter claimed he shot Robert Cameron Redus after the 23-year-old beat him with his own baton after being stopped for driving erratically. But the family of the 23-year-old, known as Cameron, say he was never aggressive or confrontational. Grief: Valerie Redus is hugged by family friend Emily Vaughan at a vigil for her son Cameron . Doubts: Mickey Redus, pictured at his son's vigil, says he has doubts about the police account of the shooting . 'Our family does not believe the . officer’s report ... For him to confront a police officer would be completely out of his character', parents Mickey and Valerie Redus said yesterday. In the statement, reported in KVUE, the family said: 'We are grieved by the tragic and unnecessary death of our son Cameron.' The Incarnate Word student was in his final year at the San Antonio university and had been celebrating the end of the fall semester with friends when he was shot outside his apartment. Friends and professors of Cameron told his parents 'just how much they admired and respected Cameron and expected him to be a success in life'. Mr and Mrs Redus added: 'We expect all official reports to confirm that Cameron’s death was unnecessary and unjustified.' The family said they knew their son would have been unarmed and added that the police had searched his apartment and cleaned up the scene before they arrived. Investigation: Police say Cameron Redus, 23, was charging at a campus police officer when he was shot . Scuffle: Witnesses heard a short exchange between Cameron and the officer before shots were fired . Police have started an investigation into the shooting but Cameron's family said they questioned the campus officer's decision to follow an unknown person to an off-campus apartment. 'Even if Cameron was driving erratically, . he presented no threat to the campus police officer or anyone else once . he parked his truck,' they said in the statement. In a press conference on Monday, Chief Richard Pruitt of the Alamo Heights Police Department said Cameron had wrestled Captain Carter's baton from him and hit the policeman in the head and arm with it. Captain Carter eventually got the baton back and told Cameron four times to stop fighting him or he would shoot. That's when the student allegedly turned around and charged at Captain Carter with his arm raised to strike, and Captain Carter fired six shots, hitting Cameron five times in the chest, neck, eye, arm and thigh. While the camera on the police cruiser . was out, audio was still working which captured Captain Carter warning the student 56 . times to stop resisting arrest, 14 times to place his hands behind his back and three times that he was under arrest, the police claimed. Alamo Heights Police Lieutenant Cindy Pruitt told KSAT . that the incident occurred about 2am in the parking lot of the Treehouse apartments in the 100 block of Grandview Place off Broadway, where . Cameron was a resident. It . is not clear where Captain Carter first tried to pull Cameron over, but both . vehicles pulled into the parking lot . of the Treehouse Apartments where the struggle ensued. Lieutenant Pruitt told My San Antonio that Captain Carter radioed for help shortly before Cameron was shot. Cameron had been celebrating the end of semester with friends before he was shot . Not aggressive: Cameron Redus' friends and family can't understand how someone as gentle and kind as him could have been shot by a police officer . A witness who lives in the Treehouse Apartments described hearing 'five or six' gunshots, but no verbal warnings. 'I . didn't hear him say anything like, "Get down on your hands and knees," you know? I didn't hear him say anything. He just started shooting,' the . man told KSAT. 'He emptied the gun on him,' he said. 'Boom, boom, boom.' Mohammad Haidarasl lived directly below Cameron at the Treehouse Apartments. He told My San Antonio that he was asleep on his sofa when he heard an exchange between the student and Captain Carter. 'I heard [a man] say, "Oh, you're gonna shoot me?" like sarcastic almost,' he said. Less . than a minute later, Mr Haidarasl heard four to six gunshots. He only . realized the man who had been shot was his upstairs neighbor, whom Mr Haidrasl described as 'the nicest guy.' The officer, who has been placed on leave pending the outcome of the shooting investigation, has an 'extensive law enforcement background' according to the university. However, part of the background involves jumping from job-to-job on a regular basis, according to employment records obtained by the San Antonio Express-News. Devastated: One of Cameron's brothers, and his father Mickey, at the vigil . Memories: The ceremony included many remembrances from friends in the UIW community. A candlelight vigil was also held on campus at the Lourdes Grotto. Redus' brother and mother can be seen on the right of the picture . A vigil was held inside the Academic Convocation Center. Many in attendance either wore green clothing or a green ribbon as it was his favorite color. Redus' brother is seen here . 'He was just not that type of person,' Cameron's friend, 20-year-old Miriam Thomas, told My San Antonio. 'Everyone has been completely heartbroken over this.' More than 200 people - including the student's . mother and father - attended a vigil on Sunday to mourn the UIW student . and remember his short life. Captain Carter has had nine jobs at eight different agencies over his eight-year law enforcement career. He . rarely stayed in any job for more than a year and the two years and . seven months as a campus officer for UIW was the longest stint in his . career. KVUE-TV reports that Captain Carter has told investigators he feared for his life. Kyle Leihsing, a San Antonio native had been friends with Cameron for three years. 'He was one of the most level-headed people I've ever met. What I have heard is completely counter-intuitive to what I have known him to be,' he said. 'There's just an outpouring of genuine grief among hundreds, if not thousands, of people in our community because he was so well-liked and loved,' Annie Jones, another friend, told KENS 5. 'Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the student and officer involved in this incident,' UIW President Dr Lou Agnese said. Big turnout: Family and friends of University of the Incarnate Word student Robert Cameron Redus gather for a candlelight vigil and tribute . Moving on: Cameron was due to graduate from the University of the Incarnate Word in May . Old high school friends were also shocked to hear about the shooting. 'He was so kind. He’s not an aggressive person at all,' friend Sara Davis told KHOU. 'The story doesn’t really make sense to any of us.' Cameron had moved to San Antonio from . Baytown for school. He went to Baytown Christian Academy and graduated . as co-valedictorian. His academic success continued at . UIW, where he had been named to the Dean's List and was a part-time . anchor for the school's student newscast. 'I . grieve on behalf of his parents, because I know how devastated they . are. He was a sweet, sweet person,' said family friend Annie Jones.

Mickey and Valerie Redus say inquiry will show shooting was unjustified . Robert Cameron Redus, 23, was killed after being pulled over for a traffic stop by campus police officer Chris Carter on Friday morning . Police claimed student was charging at Carter when he was shot five times .

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(CNN) -- I carry in my mind a picture of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at the beginning of the Selma to Montgomery voting rights march on March 21, 1965. What makes that picture so vivid to me 48 years later, as we prepare to celebrate his 84th birthday this month, is that voting rights issues I once imagined were over have resurfaced on a national scale. The biggest difference between then and now is that today's voter suppression operations are highly sophisticated, compared with the crude, racist ones conducted by Southern sheriffs and voter registrars through the middle 1960s. Before the 2012 elections, well-funded efforts in state after state tried to curtail the participation of poor and minority voters by introducing burdensome voter ID requirements, despite a record showing individual voter fraud is virtually nonexistent in the United States. A five-year, nationwide investigation into voter fraud by the George W. Bush administration resulted in just 86 convictions. At the end of the Selma to Montgomery march, King delivered one of his most memorable speeches before a crowd of 25,000 on the steps of the capitol. "Our whole campaign in Alabama has been centered on the right to vote," he declared. "We are on the move now, and no wave of racism can stop us." The beginnings of the march, which came about after violent clashes that pitted Alabama police and state troopers against civil rights protesters and black Alabamans trying to get on the voter rolls, were more uncertain. By current demonstration standards, those of us gathered at Selma, a hard town to reach for anyone who didn't live nearby, were few -- 3,200 by most estimates. As he moved to the front of the line, King seemed eager to get started. He gave no indication he was worried about his own safety. When the march moved down U.S. Highway 80, he appeared unperturbed by the counterprotest that seemed jolting to me: a "Coonsville USA" sign, young kids carrying BB guns screaming "white nigger." King had, I realized, accepted such hatred as part of his lot in life. He could not know that by August 6, 1965, the Voting Rights Act would be signed into law by President Johnson. He could only hope the Selma march changed more minds than were in the rows of us walking behind him. The voter suppression efforts that were aimed at preventing President Obama from being re-elected in 2012 are a reminder that the decisive victory the 1965 Voting Rights Act provided can be undermined if we are not vigilant. The Supreme Court already has on its calendar a case, Shelby County v. Holder, that tests the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires state and local governments, primarily in the Deep South, with a history of discrimination to obtain "pre-clearance" from the Justice Department before making any changes affecting voting. Motivating the Republican politicians, who in recent years have sought to suppress voting with tighter ID requirements, is their fear that the demographic tide is running against them. We have come 180 degrees from 1968, when Kevin Phillips in his landmark political study of that election, "The Emerging Republican Majority," noted that by virtue of capturing the loyalty of the anti-civil rights whites of the South along with a majority of voters from the nation's heartland, Republicans put themselves in a position to be the dominant party in the country after decades of Democratic rule. In 2012 the tide has shifted again. Despite taking 59% of the white vote, Mitt Romney could not win an election in which the votes of minorities and new immigrants make up such an important share of the electorate. Republicans, aware that their hostility to such issues as future citizenship for undocumented immigrants and affirmative action has put the majority of nonwhite voters beyond their reach, have sought to do what white Southerners did before 1965 -- erect voting barriers to preserve their power. The voting barriers that King and the civil rights movement battled in the 1960s had their historic origins in such 19th century measures as the Mississippi Plan of 1890, in which the state instituted the poll tax as well as the requirement that a voter be able to read or interpret any section of the new Mississippi State Constitution. The emphasis on photo IDs, which so many poor and minority voters lack because they do not own a car and cannot afford to fly, is a variation of this past Southern strategy, as Georgia's Democratic Rep. John Lewis, who was badly beaten at Selma during the "Bloody Sunday" protest of March 7, has pointed out. The rhetoric of the Old South and the present can even sound alike when it comes to voter registration. We need only compare Judge R. H. Thompson bragging about how the Mississippi State Constitution of 1890 preserved the white vote "by Anglo-Saxon ingenuity" and Pennsylvania GOP House majority leader Mike Turzai telling a Republican State Convention this June, "Voter ID, which is going to allow Gov. Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done." (That Pennsylvania law ran into trouble with a judge and voter IDs were not required in the November election.) It is easy to imagine King being dismayed by these historical regressive links, but it is hard to imagine him being moved to silence or inaction by them. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Nicolaus Mills.

Nicolaus Mills remembers MLK's march from Selma to Montgomery for voting rights . King was fighting for voting rights, he says, 48 years later, voting issues are re-emerging . Mills: Today's voter suppression is subtle compared with the past's crude, racist attempts . Mills: As we honor MLK, we should fight voter ID laws and attempts to erode voting rights .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 00:57 EST, 6 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:55 EST, 6 December 2013 . Researchers in Ohio have found a revolutionary way to let amputees feel what they're touching with prosthetic hands. The team from Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University has created a means of letting users feel more sensations, better, and with more sustained results than ever before. While others have hade lukewarm success at connecting nerves with electrodes, this team's special technique has created remarkable results. Scroll down for video... Common problem: Test subject Igor Spetic demonstrates his inability to pluck the stem from a cherry without crushing it when the sensors in his hand are turned off . Messy issue: Without sensation, Spetic is unable to determine the softness or size of an object . The breakthrough can be mostly attributed to a tiny, 7 millimeter connection called a cuff electrode. Placed in a user's body and connected to nerve bundles through the arm stump, the electrodes convey sensations from sensors on a prosthetic hand or fingers. The sense of touch is felt from 20 different spots on the hand, another feat on the part of its developers. What's more, the results have been found to last past 18 months whereas other such trials have ended with degraded sensation in the nerves. 'It’s real exciting to see what they . are doing, and I hope it can help other people,' Spetic says. “I know . that science takes a long time. If I don’t get something to take home, . but the next person does, it’s all to the better.” Neuroscience . professor at Northwester University Lee Miller told MIT Technology . Review just how exciting these results really are. Revolutionary: With the sensation on, Spetic is able to actually feel the cherry and control his grip accordingly . New technique: The remarkable results are thanks to a new technique of connecting electrodes to bundles of nerves in the arm . 'This is the greatest number of distinct touch sensations generated by peripheral nerve stimulation that I know of, and the 18-month-long stability is also unsurpassed,' Miller said. Two people have thus far been fitted with the device, including Madison, Ohio man Igor Spetic. Spetic is the subject of videos made by the researchers that first show him attempting to take the stem from a cherry while the sensation is turned off in his hand. As would often be the case for many prostetic hand users, he's unsable to complete the take without crushing the cherry. With the hand turned on, it's a different story. Spetic is able to remove the stem, leaving the cherry intact. 'It’s real exciting to see what they are doing, and I hope it can help other people,' Spetic said. 'I know that science takes a long time. If I don’t get something to take home, but the next person does, it’s all to the better.'

Researchers at the Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University have created a new way to connect prosthetic hands to human nerves .

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By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 02:44 EST, 14 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:07 EST, 14 January 2014 . Low numbers: Dr Ion Jinga, Romania's ambassador in Britain, says only two dozen of his countrymen have entered the UK since January 1 . Fewer than 25 Romanians have entered Britain since labour market restrictions were relaxed on January 1, according to the country's ambassador in London. Dr Ion Jinga claims the predicted rush of his countrymen to the UK after EU border controls were relaxed has not happened. The diplomat also says that ten companies have contacted his London embassy trying to get Romanians to work for them, and they have been forced to direct them to the Jobcentre. British border officials have not published figures showing how many Romanians and Bulgarians have entered the country since New Year's Day. But in Holland they say that 21 from Romania and 15 from Bulgaria have arrived in the past two weeks, and Mr Jinga says it will be similar for the UK. 'I do not see any reason why Holland would be less attractive than the . UK, with the geographic proximity playing in favour of the Dutch. What . we know is that on the flight into Luton airport on Jan 1, only two . Romanians took advantage of the lifting of border restrictions in . Britain,' he told the Daily Telegraph. Mr Jinga said that companies who have contacted them were urged by Romanian officials to advertise in the Jobcentre, not directly through them. 'British companies are currently advertising 5,000 posts for Romanians to plug gaps in the highly skilled jobs market,' he said. Romania is trying its hardest to stop a surge of its nationals leaving the country for the rest of the EU to keep its own economy stable. But the promise of higher wages elsewhere is difficult to resist now controls on movement were lifted. Victor Spirescu, 30, was treated to Costa Coffee by Labour MP Keith Vaz when he landed in England on New Year's Day after labour market restrictions were relaxed. He insisted he was here to work and not 'rob your country' when he arrived and said he was off to clean cars outside Aldi in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. But his his career at a car wash lasted just a day before he quit and disappeared. Nwcomer: Romanian Victor Spirescu pictured meeting Keith Vaz as he arrived in the country on New Year's Day. He disappeared after spending one day working at a car wash . It came as former Tory Chancellor Kenneth Clarke dismissed suggestions that the EU is to blame for ‘unsustainable’ levels of immigration. Mr Clarke, who sits in the Cabinet as the prime minister’s trade envoy, said: ‘I just don’t think it’s true that the European Union is responsible for unacceptable waves of migration. The idea that you can have some fundamental debate that somehow stops all these foreigners coming here is rather typical right-wing, nationalist escapism.’ It caused a clash with Foreign Secretary William Hague, who insisted the lifting of controls on incomers from eastern European countries who joined the EU had triggered ‘large-scale migration’ and had been a ‘mistake’. But Laszlo Andor, the EU’s social affairs commissioner, suggested Britons were ‘emotional and misguided’ over the issue and would ‘pay more attention to the facts’ in the absence of a big influx from Bulgaria and Romania.

Dr Ion Jinga says influx of migrants since January 1 never happened . Britain has not released figures but in Holland, 21 Romanians entered there . 'I don't see why Holland would be less attractive than the . UK', Dr Jinga said .

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Hundreds turn out for Mark Duggan's farewell in North London . Police massed nearby as his coffin was pulled in a white horse-drawn carriage . The father-of-four, 29, was found with a gun when he was shot dead by police . His loved ones wanted to remember him as an innocent family man. But there was no escaping the murky past of Mark Duggan – the suspected gangster whose death sparked nationwide riots after he was shot by police – as mourners packed a church for his funeral yesterday. In tributes made by relatives before the 1,000-strong congregation he was described as a man who turned his life around with the help of his beloved partner; who loved playing computer games with their three children; who enjoyed getting ‘dressed up to the nines in bling’ to go out partying. Final send-off: The cortege arrives for the Mark Duggan's funeral yesterday. Duggan's brothers, the priest and the undertaker lead the flower-bedecked hearse pulled by plumed horses . A salute to a 'soldier': Mourners lined the streets and raised their palms to say farewell to the father-of-four . Procession: People paid tribute to the man described as a 'fallen soldier' The funeral was held this afternoon for Mark Duggan who was shot dead by police last month. It was his death which sparked riots across England . He was a ‘big kid himself’, said a . cousin. What’s more, she claimed, he was a ‘peacemaker’ who resolved . conflicts in the community. And he had recently applied to become a . fireman. But another side to Mark Duggan’s . life was evident too. It was there in the one-armed salute that men and . women gave as the white, horse-drawn hearse passed along the streets . from Duggan’s family home in Tottenham. And it was there outside New . Testament Church of God in Wood Green, North London, where the service . was held, as friends spoke on the street of Duggan as ‘one of our fallen . soldiers’. Outside the church, where those . mourners who could not fit inside stood on the pavement, the air was . thick with the smell of cannabis. Dark glasses were the order of the day . for men, short skirts for women. For Duggan, 29, was also known as . ‘Starrish Mark’. He was an ‘elder’, or senior member, of The Star Gang, . who strut the streets of Tottenham where such gangs trade in violence, . intimidation and drugs. Yesterday, among the floral tributes spelling out ‘dad’ and ‘son’, there was also a star-shaped wreath. During the 90-minute service Duggan’s . cousin Donna Martin began an obituary by repeating his nickname . ‘Starrish’ three times, eliciting applause from the congregation. She told of his upbringing on the . notorious Broadwater Farm Estate in Tottenham and how he left aged 13 to . live in Manchester with an aunt. There was no mention of the fact that . Duggan was the nephew of notorious crime boss the late Desmond ‘Dessie’ Noonan who boasted his gang had ‘more guns than the police’ and whose . feared family are ‘major players’ in Manchester’s underworld. But she did tell how Duggan had lost . friends in Manchester in ‘unfortunate circumstances’ and how, after he . moved back to London, he treated his friend Kelvin ‘Smegz’ Easton ‘like a . little brother’. The horse drawn carriage carrying the coffin leads a procession of vehicles to the New Testament Church of God, in Wood Green, north London . Distraught: Friends and family hug before the funeral held at the New Testament Church of God in Wood Green, North London today . Easton, 23, another gang member, was . stabbed through the heart with a broken champagne bottle at a nightclub . in East London last March in a row over drugs and a woman. Duggan is . said to have carried a gun afterwards for his own protection. Another source has said he was . planning to avenge the death, which is believed to be one of the reasons . that officers from Operation Trident, which investigates gun crime . within London’s black community, had Duggan under surveillance and were . trailing him in unmarked cars. He was a passenger in a minicab which . was apparently stopped by police near Tottenham Hale Tube station on . the night of August 4 when he was shot. The Independent Police Complaints . Commission, which is investigating the shooting, said police fired two . shots. One killed Duggan, the other lodged in the radio of another . police officer. Duggan’s gun, originally thought to have been a . converted replica, had not been fired. Two days after Duggan died, the . Tottenham riots erupted after his family spent five frustrating hours . seeking a meeting and explanation from local police chiefs. The . circumstances of Duggan’s death have led to lingering tensions between . family members and detectives. Yesterday policing at the funeral was . low-key. But at least a dozen police riot vans and their officers were . spotted on stand-by nearby. Loved ones: Mourners arrive at the funeral to give the father-of-four a final send-off . Heartbroken: Mr Duggan's distraught mother Pamela weeps as she joins the start of her son's funeral procession . Grief-stricken: Mr Duggan's partner Semone Wilson, holding one of the couple's four children, paid tribute to her 'first real love' Loss: Wearing a T-shirt with a picture of his father and the words 'Miss you Daddy', Duggan's 10-year-old son arrives at church . Back at the church, ten black . Mercedes limos brought Duggan’s loved ones to the church. One of his . three children arrived in a white-striped suit and a T-shirt emblazoned . with the words ‘Miss You Daddy’ and a picture of his father in . sunglasses. In an echo of the image, the little . boy was wearing oversized sunglasses. Along with his baby sister, he was . comforted by his mother, Mr Duggan’s girlfriend Semone Wilson, as they . watched the horse-drawn hearse pass. During Miss Martin’s obituary, we . also learned that Duggan’s favourite films included gangster movie . Scarface and – ‘secretly’, she said – Annie. She repeated the family’s . belief that he would not have pointed a gun at police by saying he was . ‘no idiot and not suicidal’. Duggan’s partner Miss Wilson, 29, paid . tribute to him as her ‘first real love’ in a message read out by her . sister Michelle Palmer-Scott. ‘We faced trials and tribulations . together. We had our ups and we had our downs but through it all, I . loved him,’ she said, adding: ‘I don’t understand why you’re gone so . soon.’ Duggan’s mother Pamela Duggan, 53, . said: ‘In many way Semone saved Mark and that’s why he loved her dearly. She loved him unconditionally like they loved their children.’ Pastor Nims Obunge made an impassioned plea for peace in the community, which he said has seen ‘too much blood’. Devastated: A relative of Mark Duggan holds a child as the family follow the coffin . A long queue of cars follows the ornate cortège as it makes its way to Mr Duggan's private funeral after passing through North London's Broadwater Farm estate, where he grew up . A floral tribute from his family is hung from the side of the hearse carrying the 29-year-old's coffin . Event: Around 750 people packed into the church for the service with many more waiting outside . Gathering: During the funeral, police parked in Alexandra Palace . waiting to be called for duty . Police were close to Tottenham and Wood Green in what appears to be a precaution should any violence flare after the service . ‘Let mothers not have to come and . bury their children. Let fathers not have to come and weep for their . children the way we weep today,’ he said, to whoops and applause. ‘We . have been hurt, we have been scarred, we have been maligned, we have . been stigmatised, we have been called names. Today we stand as one community but we say, “Not any more – it shall stop”.’ Asked about the police’s version of . Duggan’s death so far, Ken Hinds, a friend who was a steward at the . funeral and is chairman of the Stop and Search Monitoring Group for . Haringey, said: ‘It doesn’t fit in with everything that’s known on the . street. ‘It’s caused significant damage. It . has further fuelled the tension in the community and contributed to the . uprising that we experienced.’ Duggan was buried at Wood Green Cemetery before a reception at Broadwater Farm Community Centre. Mark Duggan . An earlier version of this  article suggested that mourners lining the streets as Mark Duggan’s body was carried to his funeral made “gang-style” salutes. We have been informed that the salute pictured above referred to a call by Bishop Kwaku Frimpong-Manson at an earlier service for mourners to “stretch [their] hands towards the casket and thank God for Mark’s life as he begins his heavenly journey”.  We are happy to clarify this and regret any confusion or distress caused.

Hundreds turn out for Mark Duggan's farewell in North London . Police massed nearby as his coffin was pulled in a white horse-drawn carriage . The father-of-four, 29, was found with a gun when he was shot dead by police .

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By . Talal Musa . PUBLISHED: . 12:34 EST, 6 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:33 EST, 6 February 2013 . The Uncharted games are some of the most cinematic ever made, raising the bar on PS3 in terms of story-telling and graphics. And even though the PS3 is coming to the end of its life, developers Naughty Dog - behind the Crash Bandicoot games - are determined to push the console's limits one final time. In hiding: Naughty Dog and Sony have kept quiet about The Last of Us for some time, however, early screens suggest it will be one of the PS3's best-looking titles . Enter The Last of Us, which follows the story of two survivors after a deadly fungus outbreak. Black-marketeer Joel made a promise to an old friend to look after a young girl called Ellie, and together they have to make their way across a fiercely militarised America, journeying through quarantined towns maintained through martial law. To make matters worse, they also have to fight off the Infected, whose sole aim is to continue spreading the disease. Apart from brilliant graphics (powered by Naughty Dog's in-house engine), the game's most staggering feature is its AI. Using a system called 'Balance of Power' enemies will react realistically to your behaviour. They may aggressively group together and attack you if they have the edge in battle. However, if you have the advantage, they'll take cover more or try and sneak up behind you. Life-like: Characters will react realistically according to how you approach battles. Multiplayer, too, has been confirmed with Naughty Dog last year defending concerns that it would feel 'tacked on' to the single player . The enemy will also react if one of their friends is killed, showing fear and anger while warning other teammates of the situation. Ellie, too, will dynamically influence battles by throwing objects or causing distractions. It's set for release on May 7. WATCH THE LATEST GAMEPLAY VIDEO HERE: . Follow us on Twitter: @DailyMailGames and on Facebook: Daily Mail Games.

Stunning graphics set to push PS3 to its limit . 'Balance of Power' AI makes enemies react to your every move and warn each other when a comrade dies . Developed by Naughty Dog, behind the likes of Uncharted and Crash Bandicoot .

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(CNN) -- Oil companies could soon be using an innovative new technique involving nanotechnology and magnets to help clean up offshore oil spills. Oil spills from container ships or offshore platforms are a frequent hazard to marine and coastal ecosystems and an expensive one to clean up. BP expects the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010 -- the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history -- to cost it $40 billion. However, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) say they have found a method of recovering oil after a spill using magnets, potentially saving companies like BP money in clean up bills. On it's own, oil is not magnetic, but MIT researchers say that when mixed with water-repellent nanoparticles that contain iron, the oil can be magnetically separated from the water. The nanoparticles can later be removed to enable the re-use of the oil. "I had known about other scientists using magnetic fluids to separate oil but it had never worked out practically and that was something I felt I could do something about," says co-researcher Markus Zahn. The recovery process would be conducted out at sea after the oil spill, explains Zahn. Seawater polluted with oil would be pumped onto a boat treatment facility. Once onboard, the magnetic nanoparticles would be added and attach themselves to the oil. See also: A robot that detects oil spills . The liquid would then be filtered with the magnets to separate the oil and water, with the water returned to the sea and the oil carried back to shore to an oil refinery. "I think in the world we are in, there are always going to be spillages which affect the wildlife and livelihoods of people and this can help tackle that," says Zahn. Since the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, there has been a rise in interest from oil companies and government departments in funding new techniques for reducing the environmental impact and cost of future oil spills. Until now the two main methods have been using chemical dispersants, which break up the oil, and skimming, a technique whereby the oil is pulled off the surface of the water. Although there are drawbacks to both -- chemical dispersants can have negative impacts on marine life and skimming can be hampered by bad weather -- magnetic techniques may still find it difficult to gain acceptance. Zahn admits that one oil company has already turned down the opportunity of funding the research but is confident that other companies will support the project. The use of tiny nanoparticles is seen by some as controversial. As well as being complex and difficult to use on a large-scale, there are concerns they could damage marine life, if accidentally released. See also: Robotic sailboats built to clean up oil spills . While their impact on the environment is still largely unknown, scientists such as David Andrews from the U.S.-based Environmental Working Group (EWG), say their use should be limited. Others suggest the magnetic technique would be better suited to small-scale use and that existing alternatives such as skimming are still better suited for tackling large-scale offshore oil spills. "On a small-scale it (the magnetic technique) may be an excellent system but I don't think it will work at sea in such a challenging environment," says Dr Susan Shaw, founder of the Marine Environmental Research Institute. "I think ultimately, it may be a better way of recovering oil once it is brought ashore rather than out at sea." For Shaw, a newly developed skimmer from an Illinois company Team Elastic offers a better method for cleaning up oil spills. It can recover about 4,700 gallons per minute, so assuming the skimmer could be deployed 24 hours a day, it would take 30 days to pick up the entire 200 million gallons of oil spilled during the Gulf of Mexico disaster. "In my opinion, the new skimmers are the most hopeful and best method for cleaning up an oil spill and protecting health and the environment. They should be part of the safety equipment required by permit for every offshore drilling rig," says Shaw.

MIT researchers develop new technique for recovering oil using magnets . Could save oil companies money and reduce costs of clean up . Some experts question whether technique can work in sea conditions . Skimming technique may be better suited to offshore spills .

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By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 04:31 EST, 11 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:02 EST, 11 January 2013 . Scam: Richard Lowery stole £56,000 from his great grandmother - who brought him up after he was abandoned by his parents . A 'son' who robbed the great-grandmother who brought him up of her £56,000 life savings has been jailed for 18 months. Richard Lowery, 24, was abandoned by his parents at the age of four and given a roof over his head by Brenda Lowery, 91. He repaid her kindness by systematically dipping into her bank account over a seven-year period for living expenses and even to pay £575 in court fines, Sheffield Crown Court heard. His great-grandmother even wrote a letter to the court asking for leniency and hoping that her 24-year-old great-grandson would not be jailed. But Judge Michael Murphy told Lowery: 'I can understand her views because to her you must be like a son. She stepped up to the mark to care for you when you needed it and has been caring for you but there are some situations which transcend the wishes of victims. 'The courts have a duty to the public to mark the repugnance society feels at such conduct. This was a breach of a high degree of trust. It was a despicable course of conduct and it was exploitation not borne of desperation but borne out of sheer greed.' Only last week the same judge gave Jayne Godsmark, 41, an eight-month suspended jail term for stealing £6,000 from her ailing 98-year-old grandmother's life savings. Louise Gallagher, prosecuting, said Lowery, who was responsible for his great-grandmother's financial affairs, stole the cash from an account she had with the HSBC for 40 years. She loaned him her bank card and he was the only one who knew her PIN number and used it at cash machines to withdraw money directly from the account or simply wrote out cheques payable to himself. His thieving came to light after his great-grandmother took out an equity release policy on her home with insurance company Aviva and Lowery attempted to obtain £30,000 in three tranches over four months in 2011. The company called in the police and the discrepancies were discovered. Ironically, Lowery used to collect his great-grandmother's pension for her without taking any of it. When interviewed by police, Lowery said he became 'addicted' to taking the money and did not realise just how much he had stolen. Plea: Despite the theft, his great-grandmother Brenda begged the judge not to jail him, Sheffield Crown Court (pictured) heard . Lowery, of Beauchief, Sheffield admitted theft of £56,427 from December, 2005 to May, 2012. Vanessa Saxton, for Lowery, said she needed her great-grandson's help with managing her finances. He apologised for his behaviour but had not told anyone, even his own family, why he did it. 'His attitude has been one of putting his head in the sand, he is a very quiet individual,' said Miss Saxton. He had made frequent small cash withdrawals over a long period of time and was astonished when confronted with the total. 'Until now he seems to have led a perfectly respectable life and cared for his great-grandmother all his life,' said Miss Saxton. He still lived with Mrs Lowery but no longer had access to her bank account. Judge Murphy told Lowery he had used the account as a cash dispenser 'to dip into whenever you wanted.' In sentencing he had taken into account Lowery's guilty plea, his previous good character and the views of his great-grandmother which helped reduce the sentence he handed down. A proceeds of crime hearing is expected to take place later in the year to reimburse Mrs Lowery for her losses.

Richard Lowery was dumped by his parents aged 4, and great-grandmother Brenda stepped in . Lowery stole money from her bank account for seven years . Despite this Brenda wrote to the judge begging for leniency .

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By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 15:08 EST, 3 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:08 EST, 3 April 2013 . PC Eileen Arthurs, 52, has been jailed for two and a half years for misconduct in a public office . A police officer has been jailed today after she accessed the police national computer database to help a friend who was once suspected of involvement in Britain's biggest ever cash robbery. PC Eileen Arthurs, 52, lied to police about her friendship with Lee May, who was described as 'a man of interest' by detectives investigating the £52million robbery of a . Securitas warehouse in Tonbridge, Kent, in 2006. Arthurs . denied five charges of misconduct in a public office between 2004 and . 2012 but was convicted today by a jury at Maidstone . Crown Court and jailed for two and a half years. Divorcee Arthurs met Mr May when she sold her £760,000 house to him and the two became ‘at least’ friends. The court heard at one stage she was even asked by senior police officers if she knew 'trustworthy' neighbours in the street who could help them with surveillance on Mr May’s house. Lee May was never arrested or charged in connection with the robbery, and is not a police suspect in the case. Arthurs was working in the community safety unit at North Kent police station in Northfleet. Last year Mr May attended the police station to report someone was trying to kill him, giving a description of the car, an Audi, and its registration number. The following day Arthurs told a colleague she had seen a black Audi and its occupants 'behaving suspiciously' on her way to work that morning. She said she had kept a note of the car’s registration number which matched the one given by Mr May the previous day. Arthurs obtained a print-out of the Audi’s details on the PNC (police national computer), including its history and registered owner. She reported to her acting sergeant that the car’s registered owner was from Yorkshire and that the vehicle was 'probably dodgy'. Senior officers had already been suspicious of her conduct and on her way home from work she was stopped by police and arrested. Arthurs, from Bexley, Kent, was found to wrongly have the PNC print-out in her possession, and she had handwritten the same details on another piece of paper. She admitted knowing Mr May and said her account of the Audi that morning was a 'complete fabrication'. Arthurs worked in the community safety unit at North Kent police station in Northfleet . Judge Martin Joy told Arthurs, pictured arriving at court, that offences by officers 'seriously undermine the trust in the police service' Investigating officers looking into . the PC’s association with Mr May found this was not the first time she . had been spoken to about using the PNC for non-policing purposes. Between 2004 and 2005 Arthurs had used the Genesis police system to check the profile of Mr May. In June 2005 she accessed information on a Michelle Stevenson listed on the database, a former partner of Mr May. And in 2006 Arthurs checked the profile of Ian Tucker. He too was 'associated' with Mr May. Arthurs was given a formal warning by the Professional Standards Department of Kent Police in 2008 to 'show a higher degree of honesty and integrity' when using the police system. But she still failed to disclose her association with Mr May when submitting a vetting form to fellow officers in November 2011. Prosecutor Matthew Jewell told the court: 'We know that PC Arthurs was aware of May’s status as a man of interest to police. 'She knew he had been linked to one of the biggest robberies, not just in Kent but in the UK. 'Investigating officers working on the Securitas robbery considered Lee May a person of interest, so much so that they wanted to set up an observation operation on his home. 'Officers discovered that PC Arthurs had connections to this address, namely she used to live in the house before May. 'An officer leading the Securitas case emailed Arthurs asking if she knew any trustworthy people in the street who they could contact in a bid to set up their surveillance operation. 'Arthurs replied saying that she did not, however she did assist in compiling a full layout of the house.' Jailing her for two and a half years, Judge Martin Joy told Arthurs: 'You told lies to other officers, including superiors, perhaps to cover your tracks for your dishonest and criminal behaviour. 'This was an extended course of misconduct carried out over many years. The misuse of the computer relates to major criminals and not mundane matters. 'It is clear that misconduct by police officers such as committed by you seriously undermine the trust in the polices service which the public are entitled to.' Arthurs joined Kent Police in June 2002 about a year after separating from her husband. The court heard she was 'at least' friends with May - having regular and general contact, although she referred to him as a 'neighbour'. Kent Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge said: 'The vast majority of officers serve with the utmost integrity, honour and pride. 'It is important that those rare few who cross the line are dealt with appropriately and charged if an offence has been committed.'

PC Eileen Arthurs, 52, accessed the police national database to help friend Lee May - once suspected of involvement in the £52million Securitas robbery . Arthurs was jailed for two and a half years for misconduct in a public office . Court heard she lied to colleagues and made false entries in her notebooks . Judge said such offences 'seriously undermine trust in the police services'

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Depending who you ask, Yahoo's decision to hire Marissa Mayer several months into her pregnancy is either a boon to all working mothers or a misstep for the ailing tech company. "Talk about lousy timing. She'll be taking maternity leave when she needs to be at work. Yahoo has enough problems without a part-time CEO," one commenter said in response to the Fortune article announcing news of her pregnancy. "It is quite possible that she can do both effectively, but it is not un-'evolved' to express concern," another said, referring to Mayer's comment that Yahoo's directors demonstrated "evolved thinking" in choosing to hire a pregnant chief executive. "As a Yahoo shareholder, I am very concerned and have every reason to be." It's possible that Mayer anticipated these reactions when she revealed her plan to work during her maternity leave so she could "stay in the rhythm of things." Her announcement reignited an already hot debate over whether women can "have it all" and how family leave policies make it hard to juggle a successful career and family. Opinion: What signal is Marissa Mayer giving to Yahoo employees? But Mayer isn't your typical working mother, and some believe her experience reflects the extreme demands that corporate America places on men and women alike and how that translates to national policy. Besides, the demands of motherhood only grow with time, author and activist Gloria Feldt said. That's when benefits such as flexible scheduling, reduced work weeks and the option to work from home really make a difference in helping women get as close as possible to having it all. iReport: How do you balance career and family? "Life only gets busier as your children grow, and that's where flexible benefits comes in," she said. "We have a long way to go as a country when it comes to making those benefits accessible to everyone." iReporter Jennifer Compton was away from work for 12 weeks after the birth of her son, Jack. But that hasn't made returning any easier, she said. Having flexible hours and remote cameras in day cares would help ease the transition, she said. "Before, I got to spend all day with my son, and now it's only two or three hours in the evening," the human resources manager said in an iReport submitted to CNN.com. "I want more time with my little guy, but I have to take what I can get. ... It's hard to balance everything." 'Superhuman, rich or self-employed' That Mayer's pregnancy is a matter of concern to some even though it wasn't for Yahoo's board (as Mayer tells it) reflects a double-standard, Feldt said. "It's very common for companies to negotiate time off upfront with a new hire. If she were a man, no one would judge her for taking time off, regardless of the reason," said Feldt, author of "No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power." Nearly 61% of women with children younger than 3 and 56% of women with children younger than 1 were in the labor force in 2011, according to Catalyst, an organization that tracks women's advancement in the workplace, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics. But ambivalence over their participation in the work force seems to persist. A 2009 Pew Research Center report found that 21% of adults said the trend toward more mothers working outside the home had been good for society; 37% said it had been bad and 38% said it hasn't made much difference. Women reported feeling stressed about balancing work and family, the report said, with 40% of working moms saying they always feel rushed compared with 24% of the general public and 26% of stay-at-home moms. As for working dads, 25% said they always feel rushed. This month's Atlantic magazine cover story, "Why Women Still Can't Have It All," has stoked intense debate on the topic. Former State Department official Anne-Marie Slaughter proposes that the only women who manage to reach the pinnacle of their careers while raising a family are "superhuman, rich or self-employed." Slaughter chronicles her decision to leave Washington and return to academia so she can play a larger role in raising her sons, using her personal journey as a jumping off point to examine the decisions and barriers women face in balancing a career with family. In Twitter exchanges this week punctuated with the hashtag #havingitall, the Princeton University professor applauded Mayer's appointment at Yahoo but noted that it seemed to prove her thesis. "Women who are having it all are superhuman, rich, and in charge. I'm all for Marissa Mayer! but the norm?" she tweeted. Her exchange with Mia Farrow, who tweeted "let's hope she inspires [corporations] to create better options for all working moms," underscored what feminists and policy experts have been saying for years: that corporate culture in the United States, one of few industrialized nations without paid family leave for new parents, does not foster ideal conditions for work-life balance -- for women or men. "We live in a society where there's very little space for men or women in corporate spheres to easily juggle family lives with professional lives," said Caroline Heldman, chair of the Politics Department at Occidental College in California. "When we talk about maternity leave, we assume it's only women who should be taking time off when a child is born. I think that comes from a culture where the assumption is that women are the primary caretakers and the father's bond with his children is not as important," Heldman said. "I think we would have better familial bonds if we viewed parenting as something that every parent could participate in, not just women." Someone in Mayer's position likely has the resources to enable her to work through maternity leave, but that's certainly not the norm for most working mothers. If anything, her experience is representative of the rules and expectations of CEOs of major corporations, 97% of whom are male, Heldman said. "Her choices don't necessarily work for women in lower ranks and should not be held up as a standard for what all men or women should or could do," Heldman said. "She's playing by the good old boys' rules, which uphold a system that doesn't allow space and time for male or female CEOs to really take time off if they need it." Facing tough choices . Some parents can take time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, which guarantees eligible employees at companies with more than 50 employees 12 weeks of unpaid, job-guaranteed leave for the birth or adoption of a child, according to Catalyst. Similar statutes exist in Washington D.C., California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington state and Wisconsin. In 2002, California became the first state to enact a paid family leave act, allowing employees to take six weeks' leave and up to 55% of their weekly wages, with a benefit cap, to care for a newborn or newly adopted child. Every employee who contributes to the State Disability Insurance is covered, not just those who work for companies with 50 employees or more. Although some individual companies offer a paid maternity leave benefit, many parents end up using a combination of short-term disability, sick leave, vacation, personal days and unpaid family leave. Most working mothers return to work within a year of having a child, according to the 2009 report, "Opting-Out: An Exploration of Labor Force Participation of New Mothers," based on the American Community Survey three-year data file for 2005-2007. The researchers hypothesized that two groups of women may opt out: women whose earnings are so low they may not be able to afford child care and women whose family earnings allow them to forgo personal earnings. A 2004 Catalyst study found that while senior-level women and men showed interest in informal and formal flexible work arrangements, few actually took advantage of them: 44% of women used flexible arrival and departure times, compared with 36% of men; and 13% of women telecommuted or worked from home, compared with 12% of men. Perhaps the most telling is that 91% of women and 94% of men agreed that they could be flexible with their schedules when they had a family emergency or personal matter, but only 15% of women and 20% of men said that they could use a flexible work arrangement without jeopardizing career advancement. In the absence of policies that help working mothers, some end up leaving the work force or creating their own solutions. iReporter Shadra Smith of Fort Wayne, Indiana, took a pay cut when she changed jobs after finding out she was pregnant. "[I] took a position that unfortunately pays less, but it allows me to have the mental and physical strength for my son," Smith said in an iReport. "I've already accomplished some career goals, and being a mother is the career I would love to concentrate on now." she said. "The most challenging thing about being a working mom is not being able to experience the day to day growth of my son." Marissa Mayer: Six life lessons from Yahoo CEO . Know Yahoo's Marissa Mayer in 11 facts .

Yahoo CEO's plan to work through maternity leave stokes debate over maternity leave . Some say Mayer's experience reflects demands of corporate America on men and women . Author says Mayer proves that women who have it all are "superhuman, rich, in charge" iReporters say flexible scheduling, working from home improve work-life balance .

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Frank Lampard brought the curtain down on his 13-year Chelsea career as his old club seized pole position in the chase for Cesc Fabregas. England’s 35-year-old midfielder is lining up a move to Major League Soccer with New York City.Fabregas is available from Barcelona for £30million and Arsenal do not want to take up their first option for him. That leaves  Chelsea as favourites to buy the Spaniard in what would be a changing of the guard. Lampard, who will captain his country in Wednesday’s friendly with Ecuador at the Sun Life Stadium, said he will always have Chelsea ‘in my home and in my heart’. Front-runner: Cesc Fabregas set to join Chelsea after Arsenal failed to join race to sign midfielder . In a . lengthy statement released last night, Lampard did not mention Jose . Mourinho — the man he has always regarded as the best manager in the . world — by name. Lampard’s . £150,000-a-week contract with Chelsea ends on June 30 and he is . preparing to accept an offer from the new MLS franchise. The . player, who scored 211 goals for Chelsea since moving from West Ham in . 2001, winning three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the . Champions League, is set to announce his international retirement after . the World Cup. Focused: Fabregas (left) takes part in Spain's training session at Las Rozas playground near Madrid on Monday . In . a statement, Lampard paid tribute to former chairman Ken Bates and . current owner Roman Abramovich. He said Bates ‘put his neck on the line . to sign me as a young player and without him I would not have even begun . this experience’. And . he called the Russian billionaire ‘the man who saved our club and took . us all to new levels. His desire to push the club to the top of the . football world has rubbed off on everyone.’ Lampard called the club’s fans ‘the greatest in world football’. All smiles: Fabregas was in England this weekend to film a 'Beats by Dre' advert . Snub: Arsenal have not shown any interest in signing former captain Fabregas . ‘You . have supported me from the moment I arrived,’ he said. ‘Not only on the . pitch, but in difficult moments in my personal life off the pitch. I . will never forget. ‘I . feel honoured to have shared so many special times with you. Bolton, . Amsterdam, Munich, the list goes on. We could not have achieved those . moments without your support. ‘Whatever the next challenge is for me I will always be among you and have Chelsea in my home and in my heart.’ Time to say goodbye: Frank Lampard applauds the Chelsea fans at the end of the season . On his way: Frank Lampard is leaving Chelsea this summer after 13 years at Stamford Bridge . Former . team-mate John Terry said on social media app Fanzai: ‘Lamps, I’m going . to miss you on and off the pitch mate. The best midfielder I’ve had the . honour of playing with, you’re a true Chelsea legend.’ Atletico . Madrid’s Koke emerged as one of Chelsea’s top midfield targets this . summer but he is the man wanted by Barcelona to replace Fabregas. Paulinho, . of Tottenham, and Juventus’s Paul Pogba are others who have been linked . with moves to Stamford Bridge but the appeal of Fabregas is his instant . availability. A deal could even be completed before the World Cup.

Fabregas disappointed at lack of interest shown by Arsenal . Fabregas has been told he can leave Barcelona in the summer . Chelsea want Fabregas to replace New York City bound Frank Lampard .

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By . Julian Robinson . A trainee nurse has been awarded over £75,000 compensation after a prick on her finger at work transformed her into a cleaning obsessive. Alcinda Tobbal could not kiss or make love to her husband for fear of 'contamination' after being jabbed with a dirty needle whilst working as a nurse assistant at Whipps Cross Hospital in east London. The 45-year-old developed a 'severe' obsessive compulsive disorder focused on cleanliness after the incident in February 2008, a court heard. Alcinda Tobbal, pictured, developed a 'severe' obsessive compulsive disorder focused on cleanliness, after being accidentally jabbed with a dirty needle whilst working at Whipps Cross Hospital, east London . She was dismissed from her job due to the effects of the extreme OCD condition, which saw her wearing gloves even in baking hot weather and scrubbing her children’s shoes with bleach whenever they had been outside. But the most damaging aspect of her condition was that she became incapable of having intimate relations with, or even kissing, her bus driver husband, leading to the disintegration of their marriage, after he dubbed her 'mental'. Now she has been awarded damages by a judge, including more than £20,000 for her ‘pain and suffering’, which takes into account the fact that her marriage broke down due to her condition. Judge Edward Bailey, sitting at Central London County Court, said that the mother-of-five was employed as a nursing assistant and was working towards becoming a fully qualified nurse by studying at night school. But her career was destroyed when she was accidentally stabbed in the finger by a dirty needle sticking out of an 'over full' sharps bin in an operating theatre. Despite being given the all-clear after blood tests to rule out hepatitis and HIV infection, Mrs Tobbal’s distress and anxiety about what had happened to her continued to increase, with her 'main anxieties revolving around her HIV status', the judge said. Her symptoms snowballed until 'a diagnosis of OCD at the severe end of the scale...making it impossible for her to return to work and having a significant impact on her life, most seriously on the breakdown of her marriage,' the judge added. Alcinda Tobbal was working as a trainee nurse at Whipps Cross Hospital, pictured, in east London when the accident happened . Whipps Cross NHS Trust admitted primary liability for the accident and its alarming consequences for Mrs Tobbal, but hotly disputed the extent of Mrs Tobbal’s difficulties and the amount of compensation she deserved. Judge Bailey ruled that Mrs Tobbal ought to be compensated for her inability to work for the past five years. He told the court: 'I am quite satisfied that her continued absence from work after her accident was as a result of the injury she received and her - albeit excessive - psychological reaction to it.' He added that Mrs Tobbal 'developed a habit of compulsive cleaning' after the injury despite having blood tests for hepatitis B and C and HIV which came back negative two weeks after the accident. 'The average person, armed with normal fortitude, would have been able to get on with his or her life, no doubt making a firm mental note to be more careful of the sharps bin. Alcinda Tobbal became incapable of having intimate relations with, or even kissing, her bus driver husband, leading to the disintegration of their marriage, the court heard . 'Unfortunately, Mrs Tobbal was unable to get on in this way. She suffered from what can only be described as an eggshell psychology,' he added. Describing her condition, the judge went on: 'She feels the need to clean and re-clean crockery, cutlery and her house generally. 'She began to wear gloves in everyday activities because she was concerned she might contaminate her family. 'She felt unable to go out, avoiding leaving the home and endeavouring for some time to prevent her children from going out, except for school. 'When they returned from school, she washed their outside school clothing every day and ensured their shoes were scrubbed with bleach. 'She felt unable to have any physical intimacy with her husband for fear she would contaminate him. This led, after an initial period of support, to the breakup of their relationship. 'Even a kiss left her in fear of contamination and resulted in her need to wash. 'Of course, there is more to marriage than physical intimacy - Mrs Tobbal describes a good working friendly relationship with her husband whilst they brought up their children. 'But their emotional as well as their physical relationship has now broken down. 'While there was initial support from her husband, he now describes her as mental.' Judge Bailey awarded her damages for five years of pain, suffering and loss of earnings, including more than £20,000 'for the disruption to her work, her life and her marriage', caused by her 'fear of contamination.' However he declined to give her an award for future losses, saying Mrs Tobbal now has hopes for a brighter future, after her five years of hell. The judge said that recent psychology reports had concluded that 'her prognosis for a return to her pre-accident state was good' if she undertook appropriate counseling. Tara Vindis, for Mrs Tobbal, said of her client: 'She only has one friend as a result of her OCD. 'Her boundaries have shrunk and she lives a very insular life, focused on keeping her house very, very clean.' Mrs Tobbal declined to comment after the hearing.

Alcinda Tobbal became cleaning obsessive after pricking finger at work . Trainee nurse feared 'contamination' after injury at Whipps Cross Hospital . OCD left 45-year-old incapable of having intimate relations with her husband . Trainee nurse awarded £75,000 in compensation following court hearing . Whipps Cross NHS Trust admit primary liability but dispute extent of her difficulties and compensation she deserved .

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(CNN) -- A late Sergio Ramos goal earned Real Madrid a 2-1 win against Barcelona at the Bernabeu on Saturday as the La Liga leaders slumped to a second consecutive El Clasico defeat. Five days after being dumped out of the Copa del Rey by Jose Mourinho's side, the Catalan club were once again forced to play second fiddle to their archrivals. Read: Ronaldo double sinks Barca . Karim Benzema put the hosts ahead in the sixth minute, slotting home after Alvaro Morata had crossed from the left before Barca equalized 12 minutes later -- Lionel Messi collecting his 18th goal against Real Madrid and his 50th of the season. Cristiano Ronaldo came on as a sub in the second half and livened up proceedings, but it was Sergio Ramos who scored the winner eight minutes from the end, rising highest to head home Luka Modric's corner. Barcelona thought they should have been awarded a penalty in the final minute when, at the other end, Ramos appeared to trip Adriano but the referee didn't agree. An angry protest by Victor Valdes after the final whistle earned the goalkeeper a red card. The result takes Real to 55 points and within one point of second-place city rivals Atletico -- who travel to Malaga on Sunday. Despite the loss -- just their second in the league this season -- Barca are still way out ahead of on 68 points, but not in an unassailable position just yet, as the match winner Ramos pointed out. "In the league 13 points is better than 16. We have reduced the distance and whilst it is still possible mathematically we are obliged to fight," Ramos said. But thoughts are already turning to Tuesday's last 16 Champions League match up against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Defender Pepe believes back-to-back wins over Barcelona can inspire Real to victory in the second leg with the tie evenly poised at 1-1. Blog: Pedro's Point of View . "We are very happy with the victory and it was important to win. It gives us a lot of hope for the game on Tuesday, we have to go out and try to win the game in Manchester," Pepe said. In La Liga's other Saturday matches, Valencia played out a 2-2 draw with Levante while the game between bottom-of-the-table Deportivo La Coruna and ninth-place Rayo Vallecano ended goalless. Athletic Bilbao move up to 14th after a 1-0 win against Osasuna. Meanwhile in Serie A, Giampaolo Pazzini scored twice as AC Milan overran 10-man Lazio 3-0 at the San Siro on Saturday. Lazio's chances of getting anything from the game were dealt a fatal blow when Antonio Candreva was shown a straight red after 17 minutes for a foul on Stephan El Shaarawy. Milan proceeded to dominate and two quick-fire goals at the end of the first half -- Pazzini in the 40th minute and Kevin Prince Boateng four minutes later -- effectively killed the contest. Read: Juventus stay six points clear . Pazzini, who is deputizing for the injured Mario Balotelli, scored his second of the night on the hour mark to put the game beyond the reach of the visitors. The win extends Milan's unbeaten league run to nine games and lifts them to fourth -- two points above city rivals Inter who travel to Catania on Sunday. Third place Lazio, meanwhile, have taken just five points from their last seven games.

Sergio Ramos headed goal earns Real Madrid second El Clasico win in five days . Benzema gives Madrid early lead before Messi leveled with 50th goal of the season . Madrid play Manchester United in last 16 second leg Champions League tie on Tuesday . In Serie A, AC Milan beat 10-man Lazio 3-0 to move up to fourth in the table .

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Retired managing director: John Knott, 71, was found dead at his home on Monday . A retired managing director who feared . his home would be surrounded by travellers’ camps is thought to have . shot dead his seriously ill wife before turning the gun on himself. John . Knott, 71, and his wife Elizabeth were found dead at their . 300-year-old country house following a battle to stop a new site being . built on their doorstep. He . is said to have feared being hemmed in if council planners approved the . camp in a field next to their £500,000 property – which already had . travellers living nearby. Mr . Knott also faced the strain of caring for his 70-year-old wife, whose . health was believed to be fading as she battled Alzheimer’s Disease. Neighbours . said yesterday that these problems may have tipped him over the edge, . causing him to shoot his wife of 37 years and then himself. Police . confirmed a shotgun registered to him was recovered from the house at . Pow Green, a hamlet outside Ledbury in Herefordshire. Officers are . investigating whether the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide or a . suicide pact, but said nobody else was involved. The . couple were described as pillars of the community, who moved to the . area from Worcestershire following Mr Knott’s retirement in 2006. Mr . Knott, a former church warden,  was said to be under ‘a lot of stress’ while fighting a planning application for the travellers’ camp in a . field next  to their house. Six . weeks ago, he wrote a letter,  published on Herefordshire County . Council’s website, objecting to plans to convert the field into a . one-family  site featuring a toilet block and  septic tank. Police were called to the home, pictured, of John and Elizabeth Knott near Bosbury after worried relatives could not get in contact with the couple . Mr Knott, feared that his property, pictured, would be impacted by any adjacent development after a family sought to change a field to the right of the property from agricultural to traveller accomodation . Mr Knott, whose house, marked 1 bounded the site, marked 2, objected to the planned traveller's site marked 3 . In . it, he said: ‘There are at least eight settled (traveller) families . within a one-mile radius of the proposed site. The area cannot sustain . any more.’ He also . expressed concerns that his home and neighbouring properties could be . flooded by sewage from the septic tank if the plans for the camp were . approved. The proposed site would have been the second set up near the Knotts’ house in two years. In 2012, the council approved plans for a traveller camp on the other side of their property, separated from them by woodland. Two caravans and a day room were installed on the Oakfield Nash End Lane site. Last . night, a former colleague of Mr Knott’s at Birmingham-based Ashford . Construction said: ‘They faced being virtually surrounded by traveller . sites. It drove him  to despair.’ Lyn . Hodgkiss, who runs a  butcher’s shop in a nearby village where Mr Knott . was a regular customer, said: ‘His wife had Alzheimer’s. He was . fighting the travellers near his house and it must have got too much for . him. Mr Knott had written to Herefordshire Council to express his concern about this planned change of useage from Agriculture to a one-family traveller site . ‘He always used to . come in and give us a nice order and he used to come in all happy and . ask how our son is. I could only say good things about him.’ A neighbour added that the couple were ‘very chatty and friendly’ when they moved to the area. He added: ‘Mr Knott had worked in the building trade but his wife was pretty poorly. ‘Apparently she was fading. He was very concerned about having a camp next door at the same time as caring for his wife. 'The . last time I saw him, he said he was under a lot of stress. He said he . was worried about the possible impact the traveller camp would have on . them because they have to drive past their house to get there.’ Mr Knott, whose property is circled, claimed the planned development, outlined in red, also presented a danger to traffic in the area due to the narrow road . Mr Knott said in his planning objection that he feared that developing a site so close to his home could put his 300-year-old cottage at risk of flooding . Mr Knott, feared the site to the south, marked in red would lead to flooding of his home, circled centre. He told planners that there was already traveller accommodation in the area, circled top centre . The couple’s local vicar, the Reverend Nicky Seabright, said yesterday: ‘The community are deeply shocked. ‘We do know that Mrs Knott was suffering from a progressive illness which must have been challenging for them both.’ Mrs Knott, who was known by her middle name Anne, had a 48-year-old daughter called Jane from a previous marriage. There was no answer at her home in Worcester yesterday. Other relatives declined to comment. Mr Knott, who was a former managing director of a construction firm, also expressed concern about the hand-drawn map attached to the planning application . Mr Knott's cottage is located on the northern boundary of the area marked in blue on this document . A . West Mercia Police spokesman said that officers were called to the . house at around 10.30am on Monday after family members were unable to . contact the couple. He added: ‘We would like to speak to anyone who saw Anne and John Knott prior to Monday August 11. ‘At . present, the last confirmed sighting was around midday on Saturday . August 9 and if anybody has had contact with them in recent days, we . urge them to come forward.’ Post-mortem examinations found they each . died of a single shotgun wound. For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here.

John and Elizabeth Knott were found dead at their home on Monday . Worried relatives called police after they could not contact the couple . Officers found the bodies and recovered a shotgun from the scene . Mr Knott was worried about a planned traveller camp in front of his cottage . The family retired to the 300-year-old cottage in Bosbury in 2006 . Mr Knott was also caring for his wife who had Alzheimer's disease . Herefordshire Council will decide on the planning application by September . For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here.

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By . Michael Zennie . PUBLISHED: . 08:52 EST, 2 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:51 EST, 3 August 2012 . The war over chicken sandwiches escalated today as gay rights advocates revealed plans for a 'Same Sex Kiss Day' at Chick-fil-A to counter the hundreds of thousands of people who lined drive-through lanes and filled dining rooms at the restaurants across the nation on Wednesday. The fast food chain said it enjoyed record-setting sales thanks to 'Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day,' which seemed to achieve its goal of backing the company's 'Christian principles' by asking supporters to vote with their feet and their dollars. Liberal groups are furious at the fast food chain after CEO Dan Cathy was quoted as saying he supports the 'biblical definition of marriage' and that the United States was 'inviting God's judgement' by supporting gay marriage. Conservatives, including top politicians and pundits like former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Fox News commentator Mike Huckabee, have rallied to the defense of the company -- citing concerns over freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Scroll down for video . In your face: Gay rights groups are hoping to combat yesterday's Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day with a same-sex kissing protest at stores across the country . Supporters: This scene, people standing in long lines to patronize a Chick-fil-A in Fresno, California, was played out at the chain's restaurants across the nation . Waiting: The drive-through lane in Huntsville, Alabama, circles the parking lot twice hundreds of people waited for their turn at a chicken sandwhich . Huckabee's Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day was a wildly successful national movement -- with nearly 700,000 people pledging to attend on Facebook. Photos emerged from across the nation -- from Texas to Colorado to California and Chicago -- of patrons waiting for hours to support the company. 'It's gone beyond anything I could have imagined,' Huckabee, a former Republican presidential candidate, told Fox News. 'Every one of (the stores) that I know have reported record, historic sales yesterday... A lot of the stores ran out of chicken before the end of the day.' Chick-fil-A says it had nothing to do . with planning the rally that brought customers to its stores in droves, . but it appreciated the business. Should Chick-fil-A be free to voice their support for the biblical definition of marriage? 'We are very grateful and humbled by . the incredible turnout of loyal Chick-fil-A customers on August 1 at . Chick-fil-A restaurants around the country,' the company said in a . statement. It added: 'While we don't release exact sales numbers, we can confirm reports that it was a record-setting day.' Gay rights groups like the Gay and . Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation are firing back on Friday by . encouraging gay couples to 'show Chick-fil-A thanks for their support of . Love, Equality, and the Real Definition of Marriage!' by smooching at . the restaurant and photographing the evidence. Organizers don't recommend eating at Chick-fil-A and are encouraging their supporters to visit Kentucky Fried Chicken. Mockery: The Facebook group for the National Same Sex Kissing Day plays off the Chick-fil-A slogan 'eat mor chikin' with the motto 'kiss mor chicks' Show of faith: A pair of nuns were photographed walking out of a Chick-fil-A on Wednesday loaded with food, milkshakes and iced tea . Competition: A Wendy's franchise owner in North Carolina had several of his stores post support for Chick-fil-A on their marquee signs . A 20-year-old gay man and self-described liberal supporter of President Barack Obama, made a surprising announcement when he revealed he would continue eating at Chick-fil-A. The man, who gave his name only as Matt, wrote in a column for CNN iReport that 'Cathy has been unfairly attacked for his statement that he doesn't support same-sex marriage.' He argues that Cathy has a right to his opinion and  he respects Chick-fil-A for closing on Sundays out of principle. Matt writes that when gay rights activist 'push on anti-gay people and organizations to change their minds and opinions via bullying or forced involvement,' the results will not be favorable. 'I'm a gay man. I love Chick-fil-A as a place to get good tasting food. I . do not support their beliefs and disagree with their funding of groups . that are well known to be anti-gay activists. Personally they have never . treated me any different as a gay man and I will continue to do . business with them so long as that holds true,' he writes. Despite . their efforts, the protest is unlikely to come close to matching the . impact of Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day -- only 11,000 Facebook users . have said they plan to attend 'National Same Sex Kiss Day.' Not all gay people support the boycott, though. A 20-year-old gay man, who said he is a liberal who supports President Barack Obama, wrote a piece for CNN iReport in which he defended Cathy's right to oppose gay marriage. The man said he planned to continue eating at Chick-fil-A because he thinks the reaction of gay rights groups has been overblown -- and their southern-style chicken sandwiches taste good, too. As opponents regroup, Chick-fil-A is finding even more supporters -- including the owner of competing fast food restaurants. Jim Furman, the biggest Wendy's franchise owner in the world, posted 'We stand with Chick-fil-A' on the signs outside several of his restaurants in North and South Carolina, reported WBTV in Charlotte. The Wendy's corporate office issued a statement distancing the company from Mr Furman, saying 'we are proud to serve customers of varied races, backgrounds, cultures and sexual orientation, with different beliefs and values.' Mr Furman took the signs down after speaking with Wendy's officials. Roman Catholic Cardinal Francis George, the leader of the Archdiocese of Chicago, also sided with Chick-fil-A when he criticized Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel for blasting the company's anti-gay marriage stance. The mayor said the chain's values 'are . not Chicago's values' and said he did not welcome plans to . build additional restaurants in Chicago. Face off: When Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said that Chick-fil-A's values 'are not Chicago's values,' Cardinal Francis George said the mayor's view doesn't represent the Catholics who support 'traditional marriage' Controversy: CEO Dan Cathy drew ire from gay rights groups with his comments about same sex marriage . That opinion was shared and repeated by the mayors of San Francisco and Boston, as well. Emanuel's . words, along with a vow by Alderman Proco 'Joe' Moreno to block any . expansion in the city, drew Cardinal George's ire. 'I . was born and raised here, and my understanding of being a Chicagoan . never included submitting my value system to the government for . approval. Must those whose personal values do not conform to those of . the government of the day move from the city?' he wrote on the Chicago . Archdiocese blog on Sunday. A . church spokeswoman said the cardinal was standing up for 'religious . freedom' and that he has long spoken out against same-sex marriage. Cathy, the son of the company's founder, was quoted in a Baptist newspaper on July 16 saying he was 'guilty as charged' when asked about his opposition to gay marriage. He later told a Christian radio show: 'I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, "We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage," and I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is about.' Cathy says Chick-fil-A isn't a Christian . company -- however its stores are all closed on Sunday, even in . airports and shopping malls, and his company biography says the purpose of his business is to 'glorify God by being a faithful steward of all . that is entrusted to us.' Opposition: Gay rights supporter Trey King stood outside the Chick-fil-A in Hollywood, California, on Wednesday with a rainbow flag to protest the chain's opposition to gay marriage . Picketing: The massive crowds drew handfuls of gay rights protestors to Chick-fil-A on Wednesday . Chick-fil-A also puts its money where its mouth is, donating $5 million to Christian groups between 2003 and 2010. The company supported groups like the Family Research Council, which lobbies Congress on a host of conservative social issues -- including the prohibition of gay marriage. Chick-fil-A, a $4.5 billion company, has made the Cathy family very wealthy. Dan Cathy, who runs operations, owns one-third of the family business -- making him a billionaire. VIDEO: Today's protest in LA ... including singer Pat Boone, who was picking up some chicken...

Nearly 700,000 people responded to 'Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day' as cars clogged drive through lanes at restaurants across the nation . Owner of Wendy's franchise in North Carolina posts 'We stand with Chick-fil-A' on signs outside his stores . Chicago Catholic Cardinal voices support for company after Mayor Rahm Emanuel said its plans for expansion weren't welcome . Gay man, 20, says he supports Chick-fil-A because the CEO has a right to his own opinions -- and he likes the chicken sandwiches .

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A computer student suspected of trying to hack into police websites has been jailed for refusing to hand over his password in the interests of national security. University student Christopher Wilson caused the Northumbria Police website to shut down after ringing the force using a voice changing device to warn of a cyber attack. Wilson, who has Asperger's Syndrome, was caught sending online messages about 'trolling the Newcastle police department' and infiltrating the secret files of the Serious Organised Crime Agency. Christopher Wilson, 22, has been jailed for six months for refusing to hand over his computer passwords after earlier being suspected of trying to hack into police websites . The 22-year-old even suggested putting nasty messages on a condolence page set up for two female police officers shot dead in Manchester. Wilson, who is doing a Master's degree in computers and has set up his own business programming artificial intelligence systems, was studying at Northumbria University when he first came to the attention of police. After repeatedly refusing to provide his password for his encrypted computer, a judge last year ordered him to do so in the interests of national security. None of the 50 passwords he provided worked so he has now been jailed for six months for failing to provide his details. The Master's student has set up his own business programming artificial intelligence systems . Judge Simon Hickey told him: 'What you were doing was for your own satisfaction, showing what you could do with your undoubted skill with computers. 'But this is a serious offence and I can't avoid an immediate custodial sentence.' Police began investigating Wilson in October, 2012 after two emails were sent to the Vice Chancellor of Newcastle University saying a man had been making online threats to kill a member of his staff and that he had a handgun and ammunition. The message was sent under the username 'Catch 22', which was linked to Wilson's server. Police began investigating Wilson in October, 2012 while he was studying at Northumbria University, pictured above, after he emailed another university warning them about an online threat against one of their staff . Police went to Wilson's home in Milford Close, Washington, and seized computer equipment, including one system he had built himself which allowed remote access to other computers. Wilson denied making the university threats and claimed he had fallen out with a couple of Dutch men online and that the allegations were malicious. Prosecutors accepted he was telling the truth and he wasn't charged. Police still wanted to access his computer and the passwords he initially provided didn't work. Detectives later linked Wilson to a call made to them a month later warning that the Northumbria Police website was going to be attacked. The attack lasted for eight minutes and the website began to slow down before being taken down as a precaution for four minutes. Wilson was arrested in January last year and admitted making the call but claimed he was just warning them of a possible attack by someone else. Police then uncovered other messages he had sent from his Skype phone which included him saying, 'gonna (sic) go harass some police stations' and 'Let's troll Newcastle police department'. He also encouraged others to report a hoax mugging outside Newcastle's Centre for Life. Wilson also discussed hacking into the university network and getting passwords for 50 other students, the court heard. When his phone was examined, police found references to him carrying out another online attack on the Serious Organised Crime Agency and trolling a police memorial page. David Lister, defending, said: 'He has expressed genuine remorse, he bitterly regrets his actions. 'He was 19 at the time and the impact of his Autism Spectrum Disorder or Asperger's meant he matured more slowly than others.'

Christopher Wilson was ordered by a judge to hand over his password . None of the 50 he provided worked so he was jailed for six months . Wilson had talked of trolling a police memorial page .

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

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

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(CNN) -- Africa's most active volcano, Mount Nyamuragira in the Democratic Republic of Congo, erupted early Saturday, spewing lava off its southern flank, the Congolese Wildlife Authority reported. Rangers in Virunga National Park reported hearing a loud explosion at 3:45 a.m. and then seeing lava flowing from the crater of the 10,033-foot volcano. "I first thought (it) was the sound of war. I thought there was fighting again near our park station," said Innocent Mburanumwe, warden for the southern sector of Virunga National Park. "Then I saw the mountain was on fire with sparks flying. We could see that we were not in immediate danger here at Rumangabo, but there are many people who live to the south of the volcano, where the lava is heading as I speak." Nyamuragira is 15 miles (25 kilometers) north of the city of Goma and its 600,000 residents, but Mburanumwe said in a blog posting that lava flows from the mountain were unlikely to threaten human populations. Lava flows from another park volcano, Nyiragongo, destroyed parts of Goma in 2002. The wildlife authority said the Nyamuragira eruption was likely to destroy habitat for 40 chimpanzees on the volcano's lower slopes. Virunga National Park is also home to 200 endangered mountain gorillas, but they live on the slopes of the Mikena volcano to the east of Nyamuragira. The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History calls Nyamuragira the continent's most active volcano, with 42 eruptions since 1885. Its most recent eruption ended in December 2006.

Lava flowing down southern flank of Mount Nyamuragira, park rangers report . Nyamuragira is in Virunga National Park . Park's mountain gorillas not in danger, but lava threaten chimp habitat .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 02:21 EST, 26 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 07:09 EST, 26 February 2014 . Thirty-one of the passengers who were aboard the ill-fated February 2013 Carnival Triumph voyage turned cruise from hell are looking for compensation for their pain and suffering in a civil case that began last week. Emotions were high in the Miami courtroom as passengers took the stand to describe the five days adrift in the Gulf of Mexico with very little food, sewage-filled decks and near total darkness at night. 'I think about the smell, the stench and the bad things. All the memories come flooding back, and I can't stop them, testified 74-year-old Jean Cripps, who like the rest of the plaintiffs says the experience left emotional marks that have remained in the year since the headline-grabbing cruise. Nightmarish: Passengers revealed gruesome details of their ordeal after enduring five days of overflowing toilets, feces-covered decks and overpowering stench . 'I did not get physically injured. I got mentally injured,' said Cripps, who suffers from Parkinson's disease and whose husband is diabetic. 'The whole experience never ends...It's over and over again.' According to CNN, U.S. District Judge Donald Graham made a sweeping ruling prior to testimony that Carnival is indeed responsible for the fire that left the cruise helpless and adrift. 'It is highly likely that Carnival was responsible for a reasonably probable causes to which the accident could have be (sic) attributed. Here, the facts of the occurrence warrant the inference of negligence,' Graham wrote. However, the judge also ruled that the passengers, per their agreements with Carnival, were not guaranteed a safe cruise and therefor the company was not in breach of contract. Nevertheless, the passengers will . continue to testify to the extent of their emotional distress and . injuries for at least another week in an attempt to convince the judge . they deserve compensation from Carnival. Those . include testimonies like the Cripps', who emphasized an extreme fear of . physical injury during the debacle--not least of all because Alton . Crisp went without his diabetes medication for days--and other . passengers' with less tangible but far more stomach-turning flirtations . with disaster. Carnival failure? The Carnival Triumph was anything but after a fire knocked out power and left 3,000 passengers without power, with very little food, and fearing for their lives in some cases . Suffering after a year: Now 31 passengers have filed a civil suit against Carnival and want compensation for the emotional trauma some of them say they relive even now, a year later . Like Fleda Key, who described having terrible diarrhea on the already feces-covered ship and the distinct lack of usable toilets. 'There was lots of urine and feces all the way up to the rim of every one,' said the 68-year-old. '(I) choked away the smell...I was fearful, downright afraid and scared.' 'I walked through water and feces and urine, no telling what else,' Key's daugher Michelle Key agreed on the stand. 'We would slip and slide through greasy, gross, slippery muck.' Like many of the passengers, the Keys said they feared they wouldn't make it home alive from the trip. Houston-based plaintiff's attorney Frank Spagnoletti said each passenger should receive anywhere from $30,000 to $1 million in compensation, depending on the severity of their injuries. 'There's documented evidence with regard to any number of plaintiffs that show that they were physically injured, and there is ample documented evidence that shows that all of the plaintiffs were injured mentally because of the way they were exposed to this,' he said in his opening statement. Miami attorney Curtis Mase, representing Carnival, said the claims of injuries are overblown. 'There are a number who I believe deserve nothing. And I will tell you this, the one or two that I can think of who have significant injuries, they're very much in the minority and there are only one or two,' Mase said. Steep: The attorney representing the plaintiffs said they're asking for between $30,000 and $1 million for each of the 31 passengers . Inhumane conditions: Passengers were reduced to going to the bathroom in biohazard bags and placing excrement outside their cabins in the hallways .

31 passengers who were stranded aboard the Carnival Triumph in February 2013 are alleging the company is responsible for their suffering . 3,000 passengers weer stranded for five days aboard the ship without electricity, little food, and as sewage flooded decks . A fire knocked out the ships main power, for which a judge has faulted the company . But the same judge says Carnival made no guarantees the voyage would be a safe one and thus was not in breach of contract .

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Ryan Moore confirmed his position as one of the best jockeys in the world by winning the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington aboard German raider Protectionist. Moore came with a turbo-charged late surge inside the final furlong to deny the remarkable Red Cadeaux, finishing second in the Group One handicap for a third time, by four lengths. Trained by Andreas Wohler, Protectionist was a good winner of the Prix Kergorlay, a renowned Melbourne Cup trial in France, in August before finishing an encouraging fourth on his Australian debut at Caulfield on October 11. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Protectionist wins the Melbourne Cup in Australia . Jockey Ryan Moore celebrates after riding Protectionist to victory in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday . Red Cadeaux (centre) tries to catch leader Protectionist at Flemington Racecourse in Australia . The girls added plenty of glamour to the day's racing at Flemington . These fillies were happy to pucker up for the cameras . But the four-year-old son of Monsun took his game to an entirely different level under a majestic Moore. Despite having missed the break, the peerless jockey was happy to bide his time towards the rear as the keen-travelling My Ambivalent took the field along at a brisk pace. Irish challenger Royal Diamond was also prominent in the early stages, as was home favourite Fawkner and big Japanese hope Admire Rakti, who finished last and had to be put down after he collapsed upon his return from the track. The landscape of the race changed markedly around the home turn as the Ed Dunlop-trained Red Cadeaux gained a slight lead two furlongs out and fleetingly looked poised for a famous success at the age of eight. Admire Rakti started as the favorite but collapsed and died afterwards . Admire Rakti was leading the field round the bend early on in the race . Australian Governor General Peter Cosgrove (left) presents the trophy to winning owner Christoph Berglar . Model Gigi Hadid was pretty in pink at the Melbourne Cup . But Moore, who also claimed the Cox Plate aboard the Aidan O'Brien-trained Adelaide towards the end of October, and Protectionist had other ideas. The splits arrived beautifully as the pace quickened inside the final furlong, which unquestionably played to the strengths of Wohler's inmate, who surged handsomely clear for a decisive triumph. Who Shot Thebarman and Signoff finished third and fourth respectively, while Godolphin's Willing Foe, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, ran a blinder in fifth spot. Moore said: 'He's won very easily, like a very good horse. 'I was struggling for a position early on, but I had so much horse under me. 'I'm very pleased for him (Wohler), his record is very good. 'I've got to thank Michelle (Moore's wife) at home because I've been away a lot. 'You need to win these races for it to be worthwhile. 'It's very special.' Wohler praised Moore's role in the Protectionist fairytale. He said: 'Ryan couldn't have the position that he'd liked to have had, but he was so patient. 'When they came round the last bend he just needed to have the right gap and he found it. Flemington was packed as the Aussies turned out for Melbourne Cup day in their thousands . Protectionist trainer Andreas Wohler (left) and English jockey Moore lift the Melbourne Cup aloft . 'He (Protectionist) quickened so well and Ryan is a superstar. 'He stays and has a nice turn of foot. We just needed a smooth run and the jockey was absolutely great. 'We have had great success all around the world, but this is the biggest of all. 'This is a moment we won't forget.' After being among the front-runners in the early going, Admire Rakti faded suddenly midway through the race. Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey said on the TV broadcast that the seven-year-old Japanese stayer collapsed and died shortly after returning to the stalls. Dr Brian Stewart, Racing Victoria's head of veterinary and equine welfare, later issued a statement saying the cause of death has yet to be determined, 'although the circumstances of the horse's passing are very rare' Admire Rakti, owned by Riichi Kondo and trained by Tomoyuki Umeda, carried top weight of 58.5 kilograms (129 pounds) in the fourth-fastest Cup ever run. Stewart said a postmortem examination would be conducted at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital. 'Our sympathies are extended at this time to the owner Mr. Kondo, trainer Mr. Umeda and his staff who cared deeply for their horse and are naturally saddened by their tragic loss,' he said in the statement. Briton Moore tips his cap when swarmed by photographers after the country's biggest race of the year . Jockey Zac Purton said he could tell there was something wrong with his horse early in the race. 'I knew he was in trouble when he didn't tow me into the race around halfway from home,' Purton was quoted as saying by the Australian Broadcasting Corp. 'So I eased him down straight away, the horse's welfare comes first. 'It's very sad. He gave me a great thrill at Caulfield and for this to happen to him is just not fair.' In another post-race incident, seventh-place Araldo broke its leg on the way back to the stalls and had to be euthanized. Racing Victoria said the horse was spooked by a flag waved by a person in the crowd and, in retreating, kicked out and fractured a pastern bone in its hind leg on a fence near the path. Protectionist is now set to continue his racing career in Australia under the tutelage of trainer Kris Lees. Luke Murrell, director of part-owners Australian Bloodstock, said: 'We'll talk to Kris and Andreas, but I think we'd look like giving him a lead-up run before the BMW (in Sydney next year). Asked about Royal Ascot, Murrell said: 'It's a possibility, for sure. There are lots of options.' Dunlop hailed Red Cadeaux, running in the Melbourne Cup for a fourth time, as 'the greatest bridesmaid ever'. The Newmarket handler said: 'He's always susceptible to a younger horse but I'm very proud. 'The way the race was run we were in front plenty soon enough for us and the winner was very good on the day. 'We'll have to come back again, but we'll just see how he is as he's old. 'However, I would like to bring him to Sydney in the autumn. 'He's just been an amazing horse, he must be the greatest bridesmaid ever.' Bin Suroor was especially satisfied with the outcome after his other contender, Cavalryman, was a late defection from the race. Moore was all smiles after getting his hands on the prize for winning the Melbourne Cup . Moore was happy to play up for the photographers after his big win Down Under . He said: 'We understand what happened with Cavalryman, it was up to the vets. 'I'm happy with Willing Foe, he ran a good race and was beaten by a better horse. 'We'll keep him in mile-and-six staying races and, who knows, he could come back.' Seismos, trained by Marco Botti, finished a creditable ninth from a tough draw in stall one. Botti said: 'There was nothing Craig (Williams, jockey) could really do with the draw he had, but he finished the race well.' John Gosden felt Gatewood, who came home in 12th place, did not see out the two-mile trip. Moore salutes the jubilant crowd after running home Protectionist at the lucrative meet Down Under . Moore was the centre of attention during one of his greatest afternoons in the sport . The Clarehaven handler said: 'He ran a great race, he just didn't stay. 'It wasn't the usual Melbourne Cup as My Ambivalent did her own thing from the front. 'He'll come back home now and have a break until the spring.' Despite having shown up promisingly for a long way, the Johnny Murtagh-trained Royal Diamond beat home just two horses. Stablemate Mutual Regard, impressive winner of the Ebor at York in the summer, fared a little better in 14th place, while the headstrong My Ambivalent was 17th. But the day belonged to Moore, who was typically quick to deflect the glory. The jockey said: 'I've just got to thank Andreas, who did a marvellous job bringing this horse all the way down here for a long-term plan. 'He did a top-class job and all I had to do was point him. 'He's a very good horse, he's still improving, and who knows how far he could go. 'It's probably the greatest race in the world and I hope everybody enjoyed their day.'

Briton Ryan Moore rode Protectionist to victory in the Melbourne Cup . But the race was marred by the deaths of Admire Rakti and Araldo . The Melbourne Cup's total prize money stands at more than £3million .

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(CNN) -- Even as they were rejecting as far-fetched an Australian company's assertion that it may have identified the resting place of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 -- thousands of miles from where investigators have been searching -- experts acknowledged Wednesday that they have little choice but to check it out. "The investigators are going to be hard-pressed to blow this off," said Mary Schiavo, a former inspector general for the Department of Transportation. "I think, at this point, because of the lack of results where they've been searching for six weeks, they're almost stuck. They have to go look." The Adelaide-based firm GeoResonance has said that electromagnetic fields captured by airborne multispectral images some 118 miles (190 kilometers) off the coast of Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal showed evidence of aluminum, titanium, copper and other elements that could have been part of the Boeing 777-200ER, which disappeared from radar on March 8 while en route from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing. "The company is not declaring this is MH370, however it should be investigated," GeoResonance said Tuesday in a news release. GeoResonance Managing Director Pavel Kursa, citing intellectual property concerns, would not explain how the imaging works. Nevertheless, the company got its wish on Wednesday, when Bangladesh sent two navy frigates into the Bay of Bengal to the location cited by GeoResonance. "As soon as they get there, they will search and verify the information," Commodore Rashed Ali, director of Bangladesh navy intelligence, told CNN in Dhaka. The chief coordinator of the Joint Agency Coordination Centre, retired Chief Air Marshal Angus Houston, held out little optimism that any such search would prove fruitful. He told Sky News International that the search area in the Indian Ocean had been set based on pings believed to have emanated from one or both of the plane's voice and data recorders. "The advice from the experts is that's probably where the aircraft lost power and, somewhere close to that, it probably entered the water." CNN aviation expert Miles O'Brien said GeoResonance's claims are not supported by experts. "My blood is boiling," he told CNN's "New Day." "I've talked to the leading experts in satellite imaging capability at NASA, and they know of no technology that is capable of doing this. I am just horrified that a company would use this event to gain attention like this." He called on company officials to offer "a full explanation" for their assertion, which he said appeared to be based on "magic box" technology. Sending investigators to the Bay of Bengal would draw away from the limited resources that are focused in the southern Indian Ocean, O'Brien said. But that won't stop them from going, he predicted. "I think they have to," he said. "It's a public relations thing now." David Gallo, director of special projects at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, also expressed skepticism. "It's so revolutionary, and I don't know anyone that knows of this kind of technology," he told CNN. "And I know most of the people in this business." 'We were being ignored' The company's director, David Pope, said he had not wanted to go public, but did so only after his information was disregarded. "We're a large group of scientists, and we were being ignored, and we thought we had a moral obligation to get our findings to the authorities," he told CNN's "New Day" on Tuesday. GeoResonance's technology was created to search for nuclear, biological and chemical weaponry under the ocean's surface or beneath the earth in bunkers, Pope said. And the company's news release said its search technology was reliable. "In the past, it had been successfully applied to locate submersed structures, ships, munitions and aircraft," it said. "In some instances objects that were buried under layers of silt could not be identified by other means." The company began its search four days after the plane went missing and sent officials initial findings on March 31, Pope said. It followed up with a full report on April 15, which it would not make public. "We only send our report to Government authorities as it contains the exact coordinates of what we believe to be the wreckage of an aircraft," Pope said Wednesday in an e-mail. By going public with their conclusion, if not their data, the company says it hopes it will spur officials to take its claim seriously. Malaysian authorities contacted GeoResonance on Tuesday and were "very interested, very excited" about the findings, Pope said. Inmarsat, the company whose satellite had the last known contact with MH370, remains "very confident" in its analysis that the plane ended up in the southern Indian Ocean, a source close to the MH370 investigation told CNN. The Inmarsat analysis is "based on testable physics and mathematics," the source said, and has been reviewed by U.S., British and Malaysian authorities as well as an independent satellite company. Is GeoResonance on to something? Relatives hear new details . On Tuesday, relatives of the 239 passengers and crew heard new details from officials, including audio recordings of conversations between the plane and a control tower that had not been released before but appeared to contain nothing out of the ordinary. "Malaysia three seven zero, contact Ho Chi Minh 120.9, good night," says a voice identified by Malaysian officials as that of a radar controller in Kuala Lumpur. "Good night Malaysian three seven zero," answers a male voice believed to be a Flight 370 crew member. A preliminary report on the plane, submitted last week to the International Civil Aviation Organization, will be released to the public Thursday, the Malaysian Ministry of Transportation said Wednesday. "The report will be very basic, I assume -- most initial, preliminary reports are," said Schiavo, the aviation analyst. "Just the facts, basic things." But she predicted it will also lay out what is not known, as well as a blueprint for the path ahead and, as such, could prove helpful to family members of those who were aboard. Plane audio recording played in public for first time to Chinese families . More intense underwater search . Seven weeks of intense searching have found nothing linked to the plane. Though some ships will stay on the Indian Ocean to gather any debris, the international air effort to find the plane is over. The likelihood of finding any debris on the ocean's surface is "very remote indeed," since it has probably become waterlogged and sunk, Houston said. So crews will scour a larger area of the ocean floor -- 23,000 square miles (60,000 square kilometers) -- in a process that could take eight months, officials said. The next phase will use private contractors and could cost about $56 million. Houston said that could stretch to 12 months if any glitches with equipment or weather were to occur. He was confident the aircraft will be found, though perhaps not soon. "Nothing happens fast underwater," he said. "It could take months and months and months and months." The Bluefin-21, which has searched the 121-square-mile (314-square-kilometer) area around where pings were thought to have been detected, resumed searching a nearby area of the ocean floor at about 1 a.m. ET on Wednesday -- its 17th mission, according to a U.S. Navy source. New phase to include private contractors, may cost $60 million . Journalist Farid Ahmed reported from Dhaka; CNN's Anna Coren reported from Adelaide, Australia; Miguel Marquez and David Molko reported from Western Australia; Mitra Mobasherat reported from Kuala Lumpur; Tom Watkins, Holly Yan and Mariano Castillo reported and wrote from Atlanta; and Mike Ahlers contributed from Washington. CNN's Ivan Watson and Allen Shum contributed to this report.

Bangladesh sends two frigates into the Bay of Bengal to investigate . "The investigators are going to be hard-pressed to blow this off," says aviation analyst . More than 600 military members from around the world end their air search . Crews will now search a larger area of the ocean floor .

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With Christmas barely out of the way, it might seem a bit soon to be thinking of a trip abroad. But experts say this is the ideal time to plan a foreign holiday after travel agents began slashing the price of package trips yesterday and it emerged that a strong pound is giving tourists up to 28 per  cent more for their money than a year ago. Operators are cutting the prices of deals to popular resorts in Turkey, Greece and Spain as competition begins during the peak selling season for holidays after Christmas. Bargain breaks: Thomson is offering 14 nights in Florida for £1,119 per person - a saving of £670 per couple . When package prices, meal costs and . exchange rates were assessed together for ten winter destinations in . January, Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt came out top for value. A week in the Red Sea resort costs just £399 – less than half of mid-haul competitor Jumeirah Beach, Dubai. The strong pound also buys tourists around £55 per £500, or 12.5 per cent more in Sharm than during the same period last year. The . best value long-haul destinations include Orlando in Florida, Negril in . Jamaica, and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, according to a . survey for the Post Office. Bali, . in Indonesia, is the place to  go to get the most from the pound, with . sterling up 28 per cent on  the weak rupiah – buying the equivalent of . £108 more spending money for each £500 exchanged compared to 12 months . ago. Cape Town  in South Africa is also great value, with tourists . getting the equivalent of £91 more per £500 because of  the 20 per cent . slump in the value of the rand. A . seven-night break, departing January 1 from London to Orlando in . Florida costs £719, researchers said, while a holiday in Playa  del . Carmen, in Mexico, was £899  and a seven-night stay in Dubai  was £983. Thomson is offering seven nights for couples to Marrakech for £399 per person - a saving of £330 per couple . Most expensive of the resorts surveyed was Penang in Malaysia where the package costs as much £1,314. Paul . Havenhand, the head of travel at the Post Office, said: ‘Egypt’s  Red . Sea resorts have always been a good value option but it’s not  just . Sharm el-Sheikh where sun-seekers will find their pounds  stretch . further. ‘Sterling buys . more holiday cash in all ten of our January hotspots, with the biggest . benefits to be found in Cape Town and Bali.’ January is prime selling season for holiday firms, with some cutting as much as £360 per person off short and long-haul breaks. Thomas . Cook has slashed seven nights in May at a four-star resort in Gran . Canaria by £200 per person to £419. Thomson First Choice has 14 nights . in Mauritius in May from £1,599 a head, saving £740 per couple. The travel agency is also offering a seven night stay at a five-star resort in Belek, Turkey, for £1,769 which saves £320. Thomas Cook is offering seven nights in Olu Deniz in Turkey all-inclusive from £1179 per person . A seven night stay in Barbados has been cut by £442 to £1,159 per person. However, . British holidaymakers are expected to spend more on their annual . getaway in 2014 rising to an average of £1,035 per person, a new study . has found. That will include £617 on the hotel and flights, and £459 in spending money. A typical break will last 9.6 nights, staying in a Spanish beach resort, and self-catered accommodation. Next year will also see a 14 per cent fall in the number of Brits opting for a staycation - a break within Britain. Holidaymakers are more likely to jet off on long-haul flights, research by online comparison service Travel Supermarket shows. Popular destinations will include the likes of U.S (7 per cent), and Turkey (3 per cent). Spain continues to be the nation's favourite country in which to take a foreign holiday. But the number of us who expect to be visiting will fall from 14 per cent this year to 12 per cent next. Over a third of British holidaymakers (37 per cent) expect to spend more on their holiday in 2014. Thomas Cook is offering seven nights in Ayia Napa self-catering from £1,529 for a family of four . In 2013 the total sum spent was 1,035 pounds, or 41 pounds less than 2014. A . quarter of those who plan to spend more (25 per cent) saved up for a . nicer break, while 23 per cent cut back on last year's travels to afford . it. Almost four in ten Brits (39 per cent) took a beach holiday in 2013 but only 29 per cent plan to do the same for in 2014. Instead, Brits are craving culture, history, shopping or entertainment. Research shows city breaks were five per cent more popular in 2013 than they were in 2012 (35 per cent, 30 per cent). Excluding those who have yet to decide, five per cent more holidaymakers plan on taking two or more breaks in 2014 compared to 2013 (70 per cent, 65 per cent). A quarter are set to take exactly two holidays in 2014, which is the national average. The summer months of June, July and August are by far the most popular months to travel in 2014. Trips in June are potentially inspired by the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off on June 12 in Brazil. A total of four per cent of Brits surveyed revealed they are going to a destination with a good atmosphere to watch the tournament. Thomson First Choice is offering 14 nights in Mauritius from £1,599 per person . While a further four per cent claim the World Cup might inspire them to go to Brazil one day. The trend of people booking all-inclusive breaks in 2014 is set to rise by two per cent. Nearly two in five single young professionals (39 per cent) want to have an adventure. Those most tempted by a relaxing holiday are couples who do not plan to have children (73 per cent) and couples with grown up children (71 per cent). Almost one in five families with young children go on holiday to experience new cultures (19 per cent), but the majority (67 per cent) claim that spending time with the family is their main motivation for traveling. Bob Atkinson, travel expert from TravelSupermarket said: 'Spain has long been a favourite beach destination for Brits looking to unwind. Airtours is offering seven nights in Sharm el Sheikh in Egyt from £1,799 for a family of four . 'It continues to offer great value in terms of affordable holidays and a reliable experience for holidaymakers. 'However it's great to see people having the confidence to try new, less traditional, holidays as they look to make the most of their time and money overseas. 'With economic signals indicating a slow but steady upturn in many countries, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and Cyprus are emerging as popular holiday alternatives to the nation's favourite, Spain. 'Meanwhile, destinations such as Sri Lanka, Dubai, Florida, Cancun and Egypt are ideal for those looking at experiencing more long haul locations for their beach breaks. 'The fact that so many of us are keen to enjoy a city break demonstrates how keen we are to make use of the UK's proximity to exciting, and increasingly accessible cities across Europe. Cities offering low cost of living such as Budapest, Tallinn, Vilnius and Riga, will continue to soar in popularity, but for those looking to splash more cash, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Las Vegas are all increasing in popularity as people travel for special occasions or for a treat. 'Regardless of where you choose to go, January will always be a key booking time for holidaymakers, so my advice will always be to think about what you want from your break and research your options via a price comparison website to help decide on the best holiday options for you. 'This way, you can book with confidence knowing you're getting the best value break possible.'

Destinations expected to enjoy price cuts include Turkey, Greece and Spain . Some companies offering as much as £700 off exotic locations . Study found on average people will spend £1,035 on their holiday in 2014 .

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The future of NASA's planet-hunting Kepler space observatory was in question Wednesday after a part that helps aim the spacecraft stopped working, the U.S. space agency said. Controllers found Tuesday that Kepler had gone into a "safe mode" and one of the reaction wheels needed to orient the spacecraft would not spin, Associate NASA Administrator John Grunsfeld told reporters. NASA engineers are trying to figure out whether they can get the balky part back into service or whether they can resume control by another method, Grunsfeld said. "We're not ready to call the mission over," he said. But at roughly 40 million miles from Earth, "Kepler is not in a place where I can go up and rescue it." Another Earth called a certainty . The Kepler mission has identified 132 planets beyond our solar system since its launch in 2009, leading scientists to believe that most stars in our galaxy have planets circling them. It has gone into a "safe mode" with its solar panels facing back at the sun, giving controllers intermittent communication with the craft as it spins. Three new planets could host life . The probe was built with four reaction wheels and needs three of them -- one for each axis -- to aim its telescope precisely at a distant star, deputy project manager Charlie Sobeck said. One failed in July 2012, leaving it with only two functioning wheels at this time, Sobeck said. Kepler shut itself down after it was pointing in the wrong direction, Sobeck said. He said it was "reasonable to suspect" the failure of the reaction wheel was the cause, but scientists hadn't confirmed that. More news about Kepler . The $600 million mission was designed to operate for three and a half to six years. Even if controllers are unable to return it to service, NASA said the mission has produced enough data to keep scientists busy for up to two years. "Another four years would have been frosting on the cake, but we have a nice cake now," said William Borucki, the project's principal scientist. More space and science news from CNN Light Years . Follow @CNNLightYears on Twitter .

The Kepler space observatory has identified 132 new planets . A control wheel has stopped responding, leaving the craft unable to aim precisely at stars . "We're not ready to call the mission over," NASA official says .

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(CNN) -- At long last, Maria Toorpakai Wazir can indulge her life's greatest love without fear of persecution. Hounded out of the notoriously dangerous tribal region that borders Pakistan and Afghanistan -- once referred to as "Hell's door knocker" -- salvation has been found thousands of miles away on a different continent. She survived death threats, spent countless hours alone in her room and masqueraded as a boy for years. And all for her love of squash. Now Pakistan's number one female player, who is ranked 53rd in the world, is homing in on her quest to become the best female player in the world, under the tutelage of Jonathon Power, the Canadian star whose name was inscribed on the first racket she ever owned. It is a fairytale story that has taken the 22-year-old a world away from a treacherous existence in the mountains of Pakistan, to Power's academy in Toronto, and morphed her into an agent for social change in her native country. "I think positive and I do positive so I think people in Pakistan need to be educated, need to take part in sports and skills so they have high integrity, high self-esteem and so they use energy in a positive way," she told CNN's Human to Hero series. "They will start holding rackets and bats rather than holding guns and grenades. I don't want militancy or Talibanisation -- I just want a brighter future for all the kids. I don't want them to end up as suicide bombers." Growing up in South Waziristan provided Wazir with a crash course in conservatism, a prevalent theme in a territory with a reputation for fierce tribalism. "It was an area in between mountains and mud houses and as it was 100 or 200 years ago," she explained. "The girls are deprived of all those basic rights. They stay inside the home and get married off at a young age. "My whole family was different to the rest of the people in the area -- you could see the progress, the different mindset -- but they were still living in the Stone Age. "They had no awareness about education or any health or exercise, or women's rights or child's rights. They didn't know how any education can be important for one person as a human." Exasperated at the barriers placed in front of her, Wazir took drastic action aged just four, burning all her dresses, putting on her brother's clothes and shearing off her long, dark hair. "My dad believes that it is your choice and your right to live the way you want," she said. "He laughed and he gave me a boyish name Genghis Khan, the greatest warrior in the history of the world. He said 'So, we have a fifth son, and his name is Genghis Khan.'" However for Wazir and her family, domestic tolerance came at a price. In a society cloaked by repression and inequality, even being seen unaccompanied in public could be perceived as a betrayal of her culture and Muslim religion. And the liberal attitude of her father, Shamsul Qayyum Wazir, who encouraged his wife to continue her education and allowed their daughter to play outside with her brothers, was contradictory to the prevailing attitude of ultra-conservatism. So much so that he family decided they'd had enough after a campaign of intimidation that included the stoning of the family house, attempts on their lives and an imposed spell in an asylum for the father. The family moved to the city of Peshawar -- another Taliban stronghold -- where Wazir's scrapes intensified, with one scuffle leading to a head injury that required 12 stitches. Realizing she needed to channel this aggression, her father enrolled her in weightlifting classes at a local sports club, keeping up the pretense she was a boy. Wazir went on to win a junior weightlifting championship, but she also grew fixated on squash, having seen it played on her breaks from training. She earned a place at a squash academy run by the Pakistan Air Force, though she had to reveal her true identity to the director. Such was his delight at seeing a girl enraptured by squash he donated a racket to Maria bearing the name of Jonathon Power -- who won 36 top level events during his 15-year career at the top of the sport. But as word spread of her emerging talent, the anonymity Wazir had reveled in for so long evaporated. "Attitudes changed, they started bullying but I used to find a way," she explained. "I used to go early in the morning when there was no-one in my way. "I used to repair those balls that were bad and torn in the squash court that guys used to throw away with tape and glue." Taliban's unwanted attention . A steady improvement in her game led to appearances in high profile tournaments and prominence in the Pakistani media. Awards from then president Pervez Musharraf and prime minister Shaukat Aziz were a mark of her pioneering spirit, but they also attracted the Taliban's unwanted attention. "It was exhausting at every step," she said. "It was hard to let people know all I want is to play squash. That's how I can live happy but I had to change my life with time. "For the last eight years I've been trying hard to come through to the common people and today I'm getting threats from Taliban. I was totally exhausted. I didn't know what to do. "I stopped going to the academy because it's the biggest dishonor if a daughter is kidnapped. That's (why) I locked myself in my room and started hitting from evening to morning." Her absence was noted and when she relayed the threats she'd received the issue was debated in parliament, who reacted by beefing up security around her. "They put so many attack posts on the way to the squash court and around the squash court too," she said. "Above the squash court they put snipers. "I was going once a week or twice a month but at that time I completely stopped because if a bomb happened -- there is so much glass in the squash court itself -- it would kill the innocent kids. "I didn't want it to be the reason so I stopped going and started playing in my room for three-and-a-half years." It was during this time Wazir says she knew she had to leave Pakistan to follow her dream. "My dad said 'If a baby bird wants to learn flying, he has to leave the nest' and at that time I realized I cannot learn flying while am here. "For three-and-a-half years I didn't get any email from anyone and one day I got an email back from Jonathan Power saying that he's going to help me, support me, teach me how to play squash so I can play at tournaments and become a world champion for Pakistan." Power himself was sent to London as a 12-year-old to train with former Pakistani world champion and all-time squash great Jahangir Khan, and was immersed in the culture of Khan's country, traveling to play there on many occasions during his career. Wazir's plea struck a chord with Power, who flew her to Toronto and has since been working on building her strength and stamina, and molding the rawness of her technique into a formidable weapon. "I recognized right away this girl is special, she's very courageous girl and I wanted to help," said Power. "She'll run through that wall 10 times until she finally breaks it. She thinks working hard just means killing your body and you'll get better, but sometimes you have to work smart. "It's so rare to find somebody who has so much drive and so much passion, who is just dying to absorb knowledge. I think she's going to make it to number one in the world. "She knows it's going to take a lot and she's prepared to sacrifice whatever it takes. I think she has the skills and the mental ability to make it all the way." Building bridges . As for Wazir, her ambition to be the finest player on the world is now allied to a desire to campaign for other young girls in Pakistan to have the freedom to explore sport. "I feel the luckiest person and I think whether my hard work turned me into being lucky or if I am the chosen one to bring change to the world," she said. "I learned it's more about humanity. It's not about religion, it's not about culture or caste or tribe or where you're from or the value of the background of the person. "It's all about being a human. I learned a lot and squash taught me. Through squash I made it and learned otherwise I'd be stuck in those tribal regions. "I want to create bridges between east and west, friendship between country and country, family to family and people to people. It's all about brotherhood -- sharing knowledge, skills, helping each other and sharing love and care for each other."

Pakistani Maria Toorpakai Wazir battled Taliban persecution to indulge her love of squash . The 22-year-old grew up in the ultra-conservative region near border with Afghanistan . Maria and her father suffered death threats for pursuing her dream of playing squash . She now is training with former world number one Jonathon Power at his academy in Canada .

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George Groves is a force of nature. Carl Froch is a force which defies nature. The weather is set fair for London but the micro-climate about to be generated by 80,000 people inside Wembley Stadium is brewing up a storm. Froch’s thunderous punches and the lightning fists of Groves threaten to make this a Saturday night as electrifying as it is historic. But which of them will be struck down? The warrior with the huge heart and unbreakable jaw, or the high-tech strategist with the creative thought process? VIDEO Scroll down to watch Froch and Groves square up at an intense weigh-in . Storm brewing: George Groves and Carl Froch are heading into a titanic clash at Wembley . Weigh in: The two boxers salute the crowd after being weighed at Wembly Arena . Not that either of these fighting men is entirely devoid of the other’s prime qualities but it is the broad differences which are dividing opinion so sharply. The Nottingham Cobra and London’s Saint George each predict one-sided victories by knock-out which will leave no scope for the kind of controversy ignited by the abrupt conclusion to their first, dramatic encounter. You pay your money – either to be there, to watch on TV or place a bet – and you take your choice. The great British public are split down the middle. The bookmakers have Froch as the marginal favourite but Groves still close to even money. A majority of the fraternity of the ring appear to favour Froch – with Barry McGuigan, Amir Khan,  Lennox Lewis, Anthony Joshua and legendary American promoter Bob Arum among those telling me that experience will out – but there are plenty of dissenters. War: The two fought out a brutal encounter in Manchester in the first fight . Controversy: The fight was stopped by referee Howard Foster in the ninth round - perhaps prematurely . What everyone seems to agree upon is that Groves needs to win early or Froch gets him late. Everyone, that is, except the  combatants themselves. Groves says: ‘I expect to KO Carl with a left hook in the third round but if he survives I will dominate even more the longer it goes.’ Froch says: ‘I will box properly this time and take George out in the middle to late rounds. Unless he actually does come out looking for that third-round win, in which case I stop him early.’ Welcome to confused.com. What we know for sure is that the 26-year-old Groves gained the nation’s respect with his instant flooring of Froch six months ago and the lead he held on the scorecards before referee Howard Foster jumped hastily between them in the ninth round. More significantly, he also caught the attention of the world super-middleweight champion. Froch went into their first fight underestimating Groves to the point of under-preparing and was so irritated by the presumptuous attitude of an opponent 10 years his junior that he fought with  near-suicidal anger instead of a  calculating brain. ‘I’m not making that mistake again,’ he says. ‘I’ve trained back to the physical  condition I achieved in my 20s.’ Workout: Froch works out in Broadmarsh Shopping Centre in Nottingham earlier this week . Looking good: Groves hits the pads at Westfield Shopping Centre, west London . That has been done by a return to road running instead of cutting corners on the treadmill and with a tough strengthening regime which has included, most eye-catchingly, the repeated battering of a lorry tyre with a heavy metal bar. Froch has also addressed his  complacency issue by engaging a sports psychologist. He says: ‘I will be fighting with my mind not my emotions. I won’t be charging out again looking for a quick one-shot KO to teach him a lesson — and  getting caught myself. ‘Instead of the worst Carl Froch of my career, George is now facing the best Carl Froch there’s ever been.’ To which Groves says: ‘That’s just not true. He should have lost the first fight and he can’t win this fight. I’m a better boxer than him in every aspect and he just can’t change.’ Must see: Media and fans pack into Wembley arena to witness the weigh-in . Fighting talk: Froch and Groves once again went at it during the weigh-in . On the opposite page, McGuigan, who is grooming Carl Frampton as his own heir to greatness in Belfast, advises Froch to make some basic adjustments ‘not least by keeping his left hand up by the side of his head to block those big Groves rights.’ Whether he will pay heed is open to doubt. Froch knows the risk entailed in keeping that arm low but it has always been one he is prepared to take. Armed with that iron chin he is willing to absorb a big shot so he can keep jabbing and hooking with his left from unusual and unexpected angles, adhering to the ring maxim that it is the punches  opponents do not see coming which are most devastating. While the late Friday afternoon timing of the weigh-in could create a stamina issue for Groves if he has to toil down to the 12-stone limit — even though he denies he is not a 12-round fighter — the real key to this intriguing contest lies secreted deep in the contrasting personalities of these two men. Confident: Froch says he will be in better shape and a better frame of mind for the rematch . Both are proud and excited to  be the central characters in a passion play being staged before the  biggest boxing audience in Britain since the war. But while Groves says ‘80,000 or 8,000 is the same  to me,’ Froch declares himself  ‘honoured and humbled by the magnitude of the occasion.’  Groves reports knowledge and experience gained from the original clash, while Froch says: ‘You can’t beat a man like me with bravado.’ Groves, as he prepares to move on to German promoters Sauerland, is setting himself the target of ‘an impressive performance to make the world sit up and take notice. Froch says: ‘I have no real interest in becoming a celebrity. It’s the winning that comes first.’ The scale of interest has been driven by the public’s love affair with these Battles of Britain and such rematches make a lot of money for all concerned. Better? Groves said he 'expects' to beat Froch in the third round with a left hook . Promoter Eddie Hearn took a gamble booking Wembley for the night after an England match but he has successfully tapped into a popular mood of fascination. Projected Sky pay-per-view sales of a million may fall just short of Ricky Hatton’s record 1.2m for his Las Vegas fight with Floyd Mayweather but if it is achieved then Froch will bank anything up to £10m, Groves close to £2m. Being the defending champion has its purse privileges, which Froch has earned the hard way as he goes into his 12th straight world-title fight, all but one against the elite fighters in his division. Although, at coming up to 37, he has no plans for imminent retirement he was asked this week how he would like to be remembered whenever that day comes. Froch replied: ‘As a warrior who feared no man and ducked no-one.’ Time for action: The pair go face to face for real at Wembley stadium on Saturday night . As one who predicted he would stop Groves in the ninth round of the first fight, I expect Froch to be fractionally more patient before his world-class battle-hardening prevails again, in the 10th or 11th. But whatever the result, that  epitaph of his has already been assured. Froch-Groves II, Unfinished Business, is live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Carl Froch and George Groves prepare to clash at Wembley . 80,000 people will pack inside the national stadium on Saturday night . The Cobra is a narrow favourite against St George . Huge purse could be worth up to £10m for Froch and £2m for Groves . I predict a battle-hardened Froch to win in the 10th or 11th round .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:07 EST, 18 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:56 EST, 18 June 2013 . 'Sesame Street' is brought to you by the letter 'P' - for Prison. The children's educational show is about to tackle the problem of incarceration head on and they've created a new Muppet, Alex, whose dad is in jail. He is the first character to join the likes of Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and Elmo, who will teach young children about how to cope when their mom or dad is . incarcerated. One in 28 children in the United States now has a parent behind bars - more than the number of kids with a parent who is deployed. Scroll down for video... Missing dad: Alex is part of a Sesame Workshop online took kit aimed to help children with a parent behind bars understand and cope with the situation . The Sesame Workshop says it created . the 'Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration' initiative, an . online tool kit intended to help kids with a parent in prison find . support and comfort, and provide families with strategies and tips to . talk to their children about incarceration. Alex is blue-haired and green-nosed and he wears a hoodie. When he talks about his dad, he sounds upset. 'I just miss him so much,' he tells a friend. 'I usually don’t want people to know about my Dad.' 'Coming from a Muppet, it’s almost another child telling their story to the children,' said Jeanette Betancourt, vice president of outreach and educational practices at the Sesame Workshop. Alex will not be part of the regular cast on 'Sesame Street,' but he’s playing a central role in the online tool kit. A short documentary will be distributed this week to therapists' offices, schools and prisons. Educational: 'Sesame Street' characters have tackled all sorts of problem in the past but this is the first time the problem of parents in jail has been addressed . The project and its unusual subject matter have garnered a lot of attention, with some observers calling it a sign of the times. 'Congratulations, America, on making it almost normal to have a parent in prison or jail,' wrote a columnist on Reason.com. Organizers say the campaign is aimed at helping kids aged three to eight in the U.S., which has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Timeless children's favorite 'Sesame Street' - home to Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and Elmo - is to start teaching young children about how to cope when their mom or dad is incarcerated . Organizers say the campaign is aimed at helping kids aged three to eight in the U.S., which has the highest incarceration rate in the world . A toolkit of resources has been uploaded onto the Sesame Street website including videos, printable brochures, eBooks and apps. ‘The incarceration of a loved one can be very overwhelming for both children and caregivers,’ reads a message on the website. ‘Here are some tools to help you with the changes your child is going through.’ The kit includes a video showing two Muppets - Abby the fairy and lovable monster Rosita - dealing with a Muppet boy who shamefully admits that his father can't help him build a toy car because he’s in jail. Then a woman called Sofia tells the boy that she knows what he’s going through because her dad was in jail when she was his age. As well as the online resources, information packs will be distributed to schools, community centers and jails . The online materials include a variety of 'tips¿ for how to prepare young child for visiting a parent in prison . The online materials include a variety of 'tips’ for how to prepare young child for visiting a parent in prison. 'Before you visit your incarcerated loved one, let your child know some of the things she can expect to happen. For instance, "We won’t be able to sit in the same room with Mommy, but we can see her through a window and read a story together."' Another tip focuses on explaining to a child how they might explain the situation to other people. 'When explaining where an incarcerated parent is, you can say, "Daddy is in a place called prison (or jail) for a while. Grownups sometimes go to prison when they break a rule called a law."' A toolkit of resources has been uploaded onto the Sesame Street website including videos, printable brochures, eBooks and apps . As well as the online resources, information packs will be distributed to schools, community centers and jails. ‘Sesame Street' receives funding from both the federal budget and private sponsors although in this particular program the website lists a series . of charitable foundations and corporate sponsors including BAE Systems.

'Ales' is the first Muppet to have a dad in jail . The long-running kid's favorite has launched an educational program to help child comes to terms with having a parent behind bars . It is aimed at children aged 3-8 years of age . The U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world with one in 28 children having a parent in jail . More men are in jail in the U.S. than are deployed for the U.S. military .

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North Korea says it's ready for a 'full scale nuclear war' and called South Korea's president a 'crafty prostitute' with president Obama as her 'powerful pimp.' The North Korean insults come after President Obama visited  South Korea and its president Park Geun-hye for two days in which both leaders asked that North Korea not proceed with its nuclear program. The Committee for Peaceful Reunification of Korea CPRK)  said, 'Park Geun-hye's recent behavior with Obama was like a mean immature girl begging gangsters to beat up someone she does not like. Or a crafty prostitute eagerly trying to frame someone by giving her body to a powerful pimp.' South Korean President Park Geun-Hye (R) and US President Barack Obama (L) arrive to receive a briefing from United Nations Commander General of US-ROK Combined Forces Command in Seoul during Obama's two day visit . The Korean Newws Agency (KCNA) said the official English translation of North Korea's description of Park was as a 'capricious whore.' North Korea called Obama 'master' and Park Guen-hye his 'puppet' and said that Park would pay a 'dear price,' reports The Guardian. Satellite imagery has shown an increase in activity at North Korea's nuclear test site and Park warned that Pyongang was ready to execute another atomic test. Both Obama and Park threatened North Korea with harsher rules and economic sanctions on the already poor country. They encouraged China to speak against it's ally's nuclear threats. The CPRK called the both Park and Obama's statements 'intolerable insults' against their leadership. US President Barack Obama (L) and South Korean President Park Geun-Hye (R) attend a joint press conference at the presidential Bule House oin which they discussed North Korea's nuclear threats . 'In particular, Park Geun-Hye continued to viciously take issue with our dignity, system and nuclear programmes,' it said. They said her remarks were as though she were 'froth(ing) at the mouth.' 'She thus laid bare her despicable true colours as a wicked sycophant and traitor, a dirty comfort woman for the US and despicable prostitute selling off the nation,'  said the KCNA translation. The CPRK claimed that Obama should have 'postponed or shelved his trip' following the ferry full of schoolchildren that sank in South Korea. The CPRK said that Obama was 'utterly indifferent to the sorrow' felt by South Korea after the ferry incident. 'The latest visit by Obama only reaffirmed our long-held belief that might, not words, are the only option to deal with the old enemy US and strengthened our resolve and determination to stick with our policy to fight a full-scale nuclear war,' they said. Pyongang is North Korea rejected South Korea's proposal to absorb the North into the South . 'Park Geun-hye will pay a dear price for abandoning the opportunity we earlier gave and choosing a path of anti-unification and anti-peace and a path to confrontation and war,' they continued. They also likened Park to a 'comfort woman,' a term used to describe women who were sexually enslaved by Japanese soldiers during World War II. The comments will be a controversial topic in South Korea as it's still a touchy subject regarding their relationship with Tokyo. North Korea has been known to criticize South Korean leaders including Park's predecessor Lee Myung-Bak. The attacks on Park have been even more offensive and sexual in nature since she is the first female president in Seoul. Park has expressed her wish to build a trusting relationship with Pyongang but she says she will also remain strong if she faces provocation. Pyongang rejected her proposal to prepare for unification and to attempt to absorb North Korea into South Korea. 'She thus laid bare her despicable true colours as a wicked sycophant and traitor, a dirty comfort woman for the US and despicable prostitute selling off the nation,' the KCNA translation said of Parks allied relations with the United States.

North Korea says it ready for nuclear war and satellite imagery has shown activity at their nuclear sight . North Korea has called South Korean female president Park Geun-Hye a 'prostitute' and Obama her 'pimp' following Obama's two day visit to South Korea . Both the U.S. and South Korea have threatened North Korea with harsher rules and economic sanctions on the already impoverished country .

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A mother has been arrested after she allegedly forced her young daughter to take pornographic photographs of her to send to her inmate fiancé. Jodi Roberts, from Wabash Valley, Indiana, is facing a federal charge of conducting a performance harmful to minors after making her nine-year-old child take naked pictures of her in sexually graphic poses, authorities said. Roberts' actions were discovered when prison guards opened a letter containing the lewd pictures that was addressed to her fiancé Jeremiah LaMaster last week. Scroll down for video . JAllegations: Jodi Roberts, from Indiana, is facing charges after she allegedly made her daughter take lewd pictures of the woman to send to her fiancé in jail. It is not known if this is the child . Arrested: Jodi Roberts is facing federal charges after she allegedly made her young daughter take sexually graphic pictures of her . Roberts, a gas station cashier, is due to appear in court over the charge but a date has not yet been set. It is not known who is taking care of the nine-year-old girl. Roberts also appears to have a young son. Her 24-year-old fiancé was arrested in May and charged with felony aggravated battery. He was involved in a 45-minute stand-off with police in Terre Haute as they tried to arrest him in May. Lamaster was previously convicted of reckless homicide and is known to police as a repeat offender. He is being held on $100,000 bail at Vigo County Jail and is due in court on July 23. Jail birds: Roberts and her fiancé Jeremiah Lemaster are both currently behind bars in Indiana . Lock-up: Lamaster is currently in jail for allegedly stabbing someone in May .

Jodi Roberts, from Wabash Valley, Indiana, is facing federal charges .

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A Briton who was once the world's fattest man at 70st has spoken about how meeting his American fiancee is the 'best thing that has ever happened' in his life, as he revealed he will quit the UK for the U.S. Paul Mason, 53, from Ipswich, Suffolk, who has since slimmed down to a comparatively svelte 22st, immediately said 'yes' to Rebecca Mountain, 40, from Orange, Massachusetts, on U.S. television. Mason said: 'I have never felt like this before. Meeting Rebecca is the best thing that has ever happened to in my life.' Scroll down for video . Paul Mason with fiancee Rebecca picking out engagement rings in a jewelery store . Paul Mason and Rebecca Mountain jubilant in Times square, New York . Paul Mason and Rebecca Mountain picking out the engagement ring, after she proposed . He told the Daily Mirror: 'When . you get to the other side of 50 you start thinking life has passed you . by. I did wonder if marriage would ever happen for me. 'I was speechless when she proposed. I wasn't expecting it at all.' Mountain said: 'A lot of very small things added up to how we are attracted to . each other. People kept asking me: "Was Paul what you expected?" but it . wasn't like that. It was chemistry. 'He . is funny, he makes me laugh. We are easy together. Even though this . seems extremely spontaneous, we are level headed people. 'Since I first . contacted Paul we have talked on Skype for between four and eight hours . every day.' 'I was instantly attracted to Paul's personality. What happens is the chemistry that connects you emotionally drives the physical attraction that follows naturally.' The former postman has vowed to get . into the shape of his life for their big day, saying: 'I don’t want to . go down that aisle in a wheelchair.' Forty-year-old Miss Mountain, who is a slender 8st, asked for his hand in marriage as they appeared live on ABC's The View, BBC News reported. And that wasn't the only surprise Mr Mason had in store, as the show's hosts announced that as an engagement present they would donate towards the amount needed to fund surgery to remove excess skin following his dramatic weight loss. Asked if a date had been set for their wedding, Miss Mountain told The View: 'There’s so many things we need to do to take care of Paul first. 'There will be another surgery for his legs but not for another six to eight months.' The engagement comes after the pair fell in love online following Mr Mason's incredible 48st weight loss thanks to NHS surgery. Paul Mason poses with New York's finest in Times square while out shopping for an engagement ring . Engaged: Paul Mason, centre, who was once the world's fattest man, and Rebecca Mountain, right, on The View The pair are to marry after she proposed to him during their interview on the ABC show . Mr Mason flew to the U.S. in December . to spend Christmas with Miss Mountain, and also for a consultation with a . New York-based plastic surgeon who had agreed to carry out the . procedure for free. Dr . Jennifer Capla agreed to donate her time to perform an operation to . remove the excess skin from Mr Mason's belly and arms, meaning that he . and Miss Mountain only need to find the cash for his hospital stay and . drugs. That's where The View . stepped in for Mr Mason's second surprise, as they offered to stump up . the $17,000 (£10,341) he needed to cover the medical expenses. Mr Mason said: 'I'm excited, all I've got to do is go back to the UK, get a medical visa, and then come back.' Miss Mountain first got in touch with Mr Mason on Facebook after she saw a television documentary about his extreme obesity. World's fattest man: At the height of his food . addiction, Mr Mason was eating an entire pack of bacon, four sausages . and four eggs with bread and hash browns for breakfast and . lived in a specially adapted home . Appearing on UK breakfast television . programme last November, in the week they met in person for the first . time, she said she 'just felt compelled to reach out and just try to . help and that's all it was.' 'I . have a lot of drive and just thought I could write letters and . support,' she said. 'Things I set my sights on, I just go and do. I just . knew that I should try and help. 'He's . incredible, a genuine person. Incredibly honest and open about the . difficulties he's been through, which helped our relationship.' Mr Mason's binge eating began in his 20s at the time of his father's death and a deterioration in his mother's health. He quit his job as a postman when his weight stopped him from finishing his rounds. As his weight soared he was left unable to stand or walk before finally becoming bed-ridden and being looked after full time by council carers. Firefighters had to demolish the front wall of his former home so they could drive a fork lift truck inside to lift him out and put him into an ambulance when he needed a hernia operation in 2002. Mr Mason was later given a purpose-built housing association home with extra wide doorways so he could move around. His care bill cost taxpayers an estimated £100,000 a year and is believed to have topped £1million. Obese: The former postman would then eat quadruple portions of fish and chips along with two kebabs for lunch followed by a roast dinner, curries or pizza and more chips in the evening . At the height of his food addiction, he was eating an entire packet of bacon, four sausages and four eggs complete with bread and hash browns for breakfast. He would then eat quadruple portions of fish and chips along with two kebabs for lunch followed by a roast dinner, curries or pizza and more chips in the evening. Mr Mason finally beat the bulge after an NHS operation to fit him with a gastric band, but his life was left on hold as he waited for further surgery to remove the excess skin it left behind. Now he and Miss Mountain hope that after The View is broadcast in the U.S. on Friday, the publicity surrounding it will help them raise the rest of the cash they need for the aftercare following his surgery.

Rebecca Mountain proposed to Paul Mason, calls 'chemistry' the cause . Totes his personality as the reason for emotional and physical attraction . He immediately said 'yes', but a date for the wedding has not yet been set . They are now searching for engagement rings following the proposal . First he must have surgery to remove excess skin left after 48st weigh loss . Show's hosts announce they will help fund expenses for the procedure . Pair first met online last year after she saw a documentary about his obesity .

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It may not be stamped in your passport, but everyone on Earth is now officially a citizen of Laniakea. That is the name scientists have given the gigantic super-cluster of galaxies that contains our own Milky Way, which is revealed in a stunning new 3D animation. The word means 'immeasurable heaven' in Hawaiian - an appropriate description for a structure 500 million light years across that contains 100,000 galaxies and the mass of a hundred quadrillion suns. Scroll down for video . Laniakea means 'immeasurable heaven' in Hawaiian - and it measures 500 million light years across and contains 100,000 galaxies. Laniakea is 500 million light years across . It contains 100,000 galaxies . It has the mass of a hundred quadrillion suns . Around Laniakea are four neighbouring superclusters known as Shapley, Hercules, Coma and Perseus-Pisces . First supercluster to have its size mapped by astronomers. And Laniakea itself forms just one corner of the observable universe. Scientists have long-known that galaxies are not distributed randomly but congregate together in clusters. On the largest scales, galaxies are strung out like pearls, forming glowing 'filaments'. Where these intersect they produce enormous 'superclusters' of galaxies whose motion is affected by gravity. A slice of the Laniakea Supercluster in the supergalactic equatorial plane . The Milky Way sits near the edge of one such supercluster, the first to have its size mapped by astronomers. Within Laniakea, galaxies flow inwards towards a region called the Great Attractor, the equivalent of a large gravitational valley. Around Laniakea are four neighbouring superclusters known as Shapley, Hercules, Coma and Perseus-Pisces. A 3D cutaway of the new supercluster . Dr Brent Tully, from the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, led the team of scientists that mapped Laniakea's boundaries from measurements of the velocities of local galaxies. The researchers compared the galactic flow with that of water in a landscape of hills and valleys, tracing the outer surface of a region where the net-motion of galaxies was inward. They wrote in the journal Nature: 'We define a supercluster to be the volume within such a surface, and so we are defining the extent of our home supercluster, which we call Laniakea.'

Word means 'immeasurable heaven' in Hawaiian . Structure is 500 million light years across . Contains 100,000 galaxies and the mass of a hundred quadrillion suns . Around Laniakea are four neighbouring superclusters known as Shapley, Hercules, Coma and Perseus-Pisces . First supercluster to have its size mapped by astronomers.

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By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 04:17 EST, 20 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:32 EST, 20 August 2013 . These spectacular images capture a colourful kingfisher creating a splash as it darts into a river and successfully emerges with a snack. The beating wings of the striking blue and orange bird kick up spray as it hits the water while hunting for fish in the Kent countryside. The charismatic birds can reach speeds of up to 25 miles-per-hour as they dive-bomb into rivers and ponds to target their prey. Making a splash: A colourful British kingfisher was captured cooling off in Kent by photographer Mark Bridger as it hunted for fish . This kingfisher, caught on camera by rambler Mark Bridger, appeared to be luxuriating in the cool water as it hunted in the balmy August temperatures. Pre-press operator Mr Bridger, 44, who is from . from West Malling in Kent, took the stunning wildlife shots while out on a walk in the countryside. 'Our country has some of the best wildlife found anywhere in the world,' he said. 'There a lot more to the British Isles than just ducks and small brown birds. In particular I love kingfishers and I have always wanted to photograph them diving,' Mr Bridger said, adding that catching the darting bird at just the right moment was not easy. 'It was very difficult to capture these shots,' he said. 'But I really like the way the bird emerged from the water after he dived. It shows how much effort on his part it is to take off again.' Spectacular wildlife: The kingfisher is known for hunting and feeding on fish - quickly darting towards the water once it spots its prey . Splash landing: The photographer captured the strikingly coloured kingfisher hitting the water with a splash . Native birds: Britain is home to between 5,000 and 8,000 breeding pairs of kingfishers, which dive-bomb into water at up to 25 miles per hour to catch their prey . Dive-bombing: The charismatic birds can be found living across the whole of the British Isles, with the exception of the west of Ireland, the Outer Hebrides, and North West Scotland . 'Effort': The bird's blue wings shimmer in the water as it emerges from the river in the Kent countryside . Nice catch: The blue and orange kingfisher propels itself back out of the water with a tiny fish in its beak . Successful day of hunting: The bird's tiny prey stood no chance against the speedy kingfisher, which can dive at up to 25 miles per hour to catch a fish in its sharp beak . Britain is home to between 5,000 and 8,000 breeding pairs of kingfishers at any one time. They can be found across the whole of the British Isles - living wild in lakes, rivers and even garden ponds - except the west of Ireland, the Outer Hebrides and the edge of northwest Scotland. 'People get pleasure from my images and I have had quite a lot of great comments,' said Mr Bridger. 'But I try not to disturb an animal just for the sake of a photograph.'

Striking blue and orange bird can reach speeds of up to 25mph as it dive-bombs into rivers and lakes to catch prey . Rambler Mark Bridger, 44, captured this darting kingfisher kicking up spray as it hit water in Kent countryside .

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Britons are running up debt at the fastest rate in seven years, after £1.25billion was borrowed on credit cards, loans and overdrafts in November. The Bank of England figures showed that November saw the biggest rise in unsecured borrowing since February 2008, when Northern Rock was nationalised and the credit crunch took hold. It comes as consumer helplines warn that people would be struggling to make ends meet when the first credit card bills of the year start to arrive this month. Scroll down for video . Experts say Black Friday promotions were probably linked to a new seven-year high in borrowing for UK consumers during November . Statistics released yesterday show that more than £980m was taken out in loans and overdrafts during November, a sharp rise from the average of £728m in the six months before. The report also shows that, despite credit card lending falling from £399m in October to £269m, it remained above the average for the previous six months. Experts said the surge in retail sales around Black Friday - when an estimated £810m was spent online - was probably linked to the increase in borrowing. Research carried out by R3, which represents those working in the insolvency sector, found that more than a quarter of adults were expecting to take on debt to pay for their celebrations. At the same time, banks and credit card companies were competing with offers in a bid to win new customers and balance transfer deals on credit cards became increasingly generous. Martin Beck at the EY Item Club told the Independent that growth rate was 'reminiscent of the credit-fuelled days of the mid-2000s'. And Joanna Elson, chief executive of the Money Advice Trust, told the Guardian that many households will probably be overstretched. She said: 'While most people will be able to cope with this extra borrowing, we are concerned that many households will have overstretched – particularly over the Christmas period.' Chief executive of the debt charity StepChange Mike O'Connor added that the figures 'point to a worrying rise in people's reliance on credit'. According to the figures, unsecured lending was up 6.9 per cent in November, compared with the previous year. It had grown at its most rapid pace since October 2005. The statistics also showed that consumers have borrowed more than they have paid off almost every month since September 2012. On the business lending side there was a more encouraging picture, with net lending to small and medium-sized businesses rising by £252m in November. It represented the biggest increase since the series was started by the Bank of England in 2011. But net lending to all non-financial businesses fell again by £1.1bn, while the figures showed a slowdown in mortgage lending. According to the R3 research carried out before Christmas, half of those planning to borrow money for the festive period were planning to use an existing credit card, while 24 per cent said they would use overdrafts. Some 14 per cent said they would borrow on a store card. Worryingly, 11 per cent planned to skip other spending commitments, like mortgage payments, while eight per cent expected to need a payday loan. Giles Frampton said: 'Taking on debts is fine so long as they’re affordable and people have a plan for how to pay the debt back. Pressure to spend is acute at Christmas.'

Figures show biggest rise in unsecured borrowing since February 2008 . Statistics made up of credit card spending, bank loans and bank overdrafts . Consumer helplines warn people will struggle with first 2015 credit card bill . Research found a quarter of adults planned to borrow before Christmas .

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By . Liz Hull . PUBLISHED: . 10:26 EST, 2 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:34 EST, 2 October 2013 . The wife of a convicted drugs baron spent  thousands of pounds on Botox, designer handbags and sports cars while claiming benefits, a court heard. Diane Brookhouse, 41, applied for the state handouts after her husband Richard, 45, was jailed for smuggling cocaine and heroin. But rather than living on the breadline, the mother of two enjoyed a lavish lifestyle by  helping him run his illegal  business from behind bars, it is alleged. Trial: Diane Brookhouse (left) collected her husband Richard (right) - who masterminded the operation from his prison cell - on day release from Kirkham open prison and drove him to drugs meetings, the court heard . Warrington Crown Court was told that . Brookhouse was a key player in a drugs ring that imported more than . £15million of heroin and cocaine into the UK via ‘fishing trips’ from . France. Neil Flewitt QC, prosecuting, claimed . she took her husband, who was nearing the end of his 22-year sentence, . to meetings with drug dealing associates while on day release from . prison. He said: ‘She did so, in part at least, in order to obtain the . funds required to maintain a lifestyle that she could not afford to . enjoy through legitimate means.’ Brookhouse also claimed  benefits, he . said, while making a ‘substantial cash deposit’ on her rented property . as well as rental payments that ‘exceeded the amount that she received . by way of housing benefit’. She also ran two luxury cars – a Mercedes CLC 180 Sport and a Volkswagen Golf convertible. Mr Flewitt told jurors that . Brookhouse, of Warrington, Cheshire, spent almost £1,300 at the . hairdressers’, making 16  visits to a Toni and Guy salon in just over a . year. Fists up: Former amateur boxing champion Carl Wall, 36, was described as a 'wholesaler' for whom Mr Brookhouse arranged importations. He admitted conspiracy to supply controlled drugs . And between June 2010 and June 2013, . she also allegedly spent £2,635 on Botox and filler treatments at a . private clinic, which she mostly paid for in cash, and had two . top-of-the range iPhones on £80 contracts. When Brookhouse was arrested, police . also found a £1,215 receipt for a handbag by the designer brand Chloe . and £440 cash in her purse. The brunette is in the dock alongside . co-accused Stephen Crane, 55, of Lutterworth, Leicestershire, and Ikhlaq . Hussain, 25, of Bury. All three deny conspiracy to supply cocaine and . heroin. Brookhouse also denies conspiracy to supply the party drug . mephedrone or M-cat. The court heard that the drugs were trafficked into . Britain by a 19-strong gang using chartered fishing breaks to the . continent as cover. The plot unravelled after a trip to . northern France in April last year when officers in Essex collared two . men loading a van with a haul including cocaine with a street value of . £15million and £400,000 worth of heroin. The other 16 gang members have admitted various charges of conspiracy to supply drugs. Richard Brookhouse, who ran the . operation from his prison cell via smuggled mobile phones, has admitted . the same charge and will be sentenced later. The trial continues. Trial: Neil Flewitt QC, prosecuting, told Warrington Crown Court (pictured) in Cheshire that the woman put down a large cash deposit on her rented property and ran expensive cars . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.

Mother-of-two Diane Brookhouse, 41, denies being involved in a drugs ring . Allegedly involved heroin and cocaine being smuggled into UK from France . Collected husband on day release from jail for drugs meetings, court hears . It's claimed she made 16 visits to a Toni and Guy hair salon in 13 months .

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(CNN) -- A Bahrain court sentenced eight Shiite opposition activists to life in prison after finding them guilty of plotting to overthrow the country's Sunni royal family, state media said Wednesday. They were among 21 people who were convicted on terrorism-related charges in connection with the anti-government protests in the country, the Bahrain News Agency said. Soon after the judge read the verdict, the defendants protested loudly, prompting officials to forcibly remove them from the courtroom. Zainab al-Khawaja, a spectator, protested her father's life sentence by yelling "God is Great." She was arrested. Rights groups have urged Bahrain to halt the special military court proceedings, with Human Rights Watch deeming them a violation of international law. "Most defendants hauled before Bahrain's special military court are facing blatantly political charges, and trials are unfair," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. In London, Britain's foreign office minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, said he was "extremely concerned" over the sentencing and the nature of many of the charges. "It is deeply worrying that civilians are being tried before tribunals chaired by a military judge, with reports of abuse in detention, lack of access to legal counsel and coerced confessions," he said. In a meeting last week with U.S. President Barack Obama, Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa said he is seeking national dialogue with the protesters. Bahrain's crackdown contradicts statements the prince made, Human Rights Watch said. Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab said he, too, disapproved of the trials. "This court does not meet international standards for human rights and for fair trials. The people were sentenced for expressing their opinion and for opposing the government," Rajab said. "This goes against the government saying it wants a dialogue." Sheikh Ali Salman, head of the opposition Wefaq group, said Wednesday's sentencing goes against the conditions called for by Obama and the international community to restore calm ahead of any dialogue. Khalil Marzooq, a Wefaq leader, said the Shiite organization was reviewing whether to enter into national dialogue. He said the continuing crackdown and trials, not the protests, were hurting the country's international standing. Bahrain is one of several Middle Eastern and North African countries embroiled in anti-government protests. The ruling royal family -- Sunnis in a majority-Shiite nation -- accuses protesters of being motivated by sectarian differences and supported by Iran. Also on trial in Bahrain are dozens of doctors and nurses who are accused of taking control of a hospital during anti-government protests, storing weapons and holding people prisoner. The doctors, their lawyers and international human rights activists say the defendants were tortured to extract confessions. From CNN's Jenifer Fenton .

NEW: An opposition leader says crackdown, not protests, are hurting country's standing . Defendants are forcibly taken out of court after the verdict . The verdicts come after human rights groups have urged Bahrain to stop the trials . "This court does not meet international standards for human rights," an activist says .

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By . Richard Spillett for MailOnline . Prince Andrew has revealed he remained friends with Sarah Ferguson after their divorce 'more for family than anything else'. The royal spoke about the couple's split and continued friendship in a candid interview with US satellite TV channel CNBC. The couple married in 1986 but separated in 1992 and divorced four years later. But they have remained on good terms and have brought up their daughters, Princesses Beatrice, 26, and Eugenie, 24, together. Scroll down for video . Prince Andrew has said he stayed friends with Sarah Ferguson (right) for 'the sake of family' in a new interview . The couple, pictured at daughter Beatrice's graduation in 2011, have called themselves 'the world's happiest unmarried couple' In his latest interview, to be screened in the US this week, the 54-year-old said of their relationship: 'It's just part of life's rich tapestry if you have been married to somebody,' the Sunday Times reported. He added: 'I just see it as illogical not to be a friend at the end of the day, regardless of what your circumstances are.' The Duke and Duchess of York have made no secret of their amicability since their split and are said to describe themselves as 'the world's happiest unmarried couple'. The Duchess, 54, who still lives at the Duke of York's home in Windsor, even visited the Queen's estate in Balmoral, Scotland for a break earlier this summer. It is believed the Duke's TV interview is a bid to improve his image worldwide after his acquaintance with convicted American paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The couple married in 1986 (left) but divorced a decade later - however they have since remained close friends . Andrew reportedly said of the scandal that he accepted he had to 'live with the rough and live with the smooth' in a 'free world, with freedom of speech'. He also used the interview to promote his iDEA scheme, which aims to improve young people's computer and digital skills to help them get a job. The technology-loving Duke is promoting the scheme with pop star Will.i.am and the pair are said to 'compare smartphones' when they meet up. But Will.i.am's phone caused embarrassment in a recent interview about the scheme, when it went off as the pair were answering questions on live TV. After the incident, the Prince told the Black Eyed Peas frontman: 'I leave my digital devices in the car when I am doing engagements - based on the fact that they might accidentally go off.' Talking about the scheme in his latest interview, Andrew said: 'I believe that the next generation are as capable and have greater opportunities than our generation ever had. 'So it's about making those possibilities more relevant and more alive to young people today.' The Duke used the interview to speak about a new scheme he is fronting with pop star Will.i.am (right), which helps young people gain skills in computing .

Royal couple divorced after decade of marriage in 1996 - but stayed friends . Prince now says post-married friendship is 'part of life's rich tapestry' He opens up on US Satellite TV channel to improve image around the world . The royal also spoke about his new youth employment scheme with Will.i.am .

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An orphaned bear with life-threatening third-degree burns on her body has made a remarkable recovery and is now set to return to the wild. Nine-month-old Cinder was found in a driveway in Washington state this summer after getting caught in a blazing wildfire which covered more than 250,000 acres, destroyed 300 homes, killed one person and countless animals. The burned cub was air-lifted to the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care rehabilitation center to be nursed back to health and now, three months on, her injuries are healed and she has almost tripled in weight. Scroll down for video . On the med: An orphaned bear with life-threatening third-degree burns on her body has made a remarkable recovery and is now set to return to the wild . Lucky escape: Nine-month-old Cinder was found in a in a driveway in Washington state this summer after getting caught in a blazing wildfire which covered more than 250,000 acres . The worst burns were on Cinder's paws as she walked across the burnt landscape of coals and hot ash. The infant later tried to alleviate the pain in her feet by crawling on her elbows. She also sustained agonizing burns to her face and chest. For weeks, vets painstakingly changed the bandages on Cinder's body every other day. Her paw pads had completely burned away leaving the raw pink flesh exposed. In a bid to get her up to a healthy size, the furry animal was fed a nutritious diet of fresh fruit and fish. Gradually she went from around 35lbs to 97.5lbs - her current weight. The care she needs: The 35lb baby bear, nicknamed Cinder, was in agony, with third-degree burns on all four paws and badly scorched sections of her ears, face and body . Bearing up? The cub had limped up a driveway and then took shelter under a horse trailer . Dinner is served: In a bid to get her up to a healthy size, the furry animal was fed a diet of fruit and fish . Steve Love, who lives in Methow Valley, discovered Cinder in August when he heard his dog barking. After venturing outside to see what all of the commotion was about he spotted the helpless bear cub hobbling in his driveway. Fish and Wildlife responded to the call and managed to capture the 35lb female. The little bear tried to escape when the officer used his catch pole but was unable due to her injuries. The cub was then transferred to Wenatchee, Washington, where state biologist Rich Beausoleil became responsible for her welfare. She was aptly named, Cinder. Back to where she belongs: Now that Cinder is healed, vets plan to release her back to her natural habitat . Before and after: Cinder's paw pads had completely burned away leaving raw pink flesh exposed - now the skin has healed over thanks to expert care . Looking for a more permanent home for the brown bear he decide to take her to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, a place that helps burned bear cubs rehabilitate. Pilot Bill Inman of Seattle transported the cub in his small, private airplane. Now that she is healed, vets plan to release Cinder back to her natural habitat. She will spend the winter hibernating at a rehab center in Idaho and then come spring, back to the woods of Washington. The blaze in the Methow Valley in north-central Washington was the largest wildfire in the state's history.

Cinder the cub suffered third-degree burns in a massive Washington state wildfire over the summer . For weeks she has received expert care . The cub is now up to a healthy weight and her paw pads are healed . She will spend the winter hibernating at a rehab center in Idaho and then come spring, return to her natural habitat .

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By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 06:47 EST, 8 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:12 EST, 8 October 2013 . A four-year-old boy suffers from a rare condition that means a scrape or an argument could kill him, his parents say. Four-year-old Morgan Taylor has adrenal insufficiency which means he cannot naturally deal with physical or emotional setbacks. The youngster’s body does not produce the stress hormone cortisol, and so his body will begin to shut down if he is not administered a life-saving injection within 30 minutes of any stressful event. Morgan Taylor, four, has adrenal insufficiency which means his body doesn't produce the stress hormone cortisol. As a result, without a life-saving cortisol injection after stressful events, his body would shut down . After Morgan started school in Burnley his mother, Susan Murwald, 39, said: ‘Every day I watch the clock, waiting for him to come home. ‘I miss him and it’s hard because I worry about anything happening. ‘He should be my responsibility, but I have to let him be a normal little boy and go to school.’ Morgan was diagnosed with the condition after being born by emergency caesarean at 28 weeks, weighing just 1lb 8oz. Morgan (pictured with his mother, Susan) was born at 28 weeks weighing just 1lb 8oz. When he was a week old he developed an infection and his parents were told he would not survive . Morgan (pictured with his mother, Susan, father, Neil, sister Abbey, 14, and brother, Ollie, 18-months) also has growth problems, chronic lung disease, a heart defect and behavioural problems . When he was a week old, he contracted . an infection in his bowel and Susan, and his father Neil, were told to . expect the worse by doctors who said he was not strong enough to . survive. The adrenal glands, which are found at the top of the kidneys, produce steroid hormones that are essential for life - cortisol and aldosterone. Cortisol mobilises nutrients, enables the body to fight inflammation, stimulates the liver to produce blood sugar and helps control the amount of water in the body. Adrenal insufficiency is caused by the failure of the adrenal glands to produce sufficient (or any) cortisol. A prolonged lack of the hormone causes severe fatigue, depression, loss of appetite and weight loss. Cortisol is particularly important when the body is subjected to stress, such as surgery, trauma or a serious infection. If the adrenal glands do not produce cortisol, the body might not be able to cope with this kind of major stress. This causes a life-threatening condition called adrenal crisis which causes symptoms including low blood pressure, stomach pain, nausea and fever. There are a number of potential causes for adrenal insufficiency including an infection, an autoimmune disease and pituitary gland tumours. Ms Murwald, a . mother-of-five, said: ‘We knew we were having a small baby, but we . didn’t know there was anything medically wrong with Morgan until he was . born. ‘They sent us home for the night to be with our other children and said they would call as soon as he started to deteriorate. ‘It was so upsetting to be told our baby wasn’t going to last the night. ‘We had only had him a week and I hadn’t even been able to give him a cuddle.’ But amazingly, the call never came and the couple returned to the hospital the following morning to learn that their little boy was pulling through. ‘It was a massive turning point for Morgan,’ Ms Murwald said. However, Morgan has be left with adrenal insufficiency which makes him vulnerable to physical and mental stress. Other symptoms of the condition include fatigue and muscle weakness, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite and stomach ache. Mr . Taylor, a 37-year-old engineer, said: ‘If you or I fall over, our body . will deal with the stress of that situation, but Morgan’s body can’t do . that. ‘Even if he had an argument with someone, he wouldn’t be able to sit down and calm himself down. He’s just not capable. ‘Any . kind of shock to the system, physically or emotionally, means he needs a . cortisol injection as his body won’t naturally release it. Morgan has just started school but because of his condition is cannot play with the other children in the playground in case he becomes stressed . Morgan (pictured at school with Grace Naylor, four) is still small for his age and his parents do not know what the future holds for him . ‘If he doesn’t get the injection, his . body will start to shut down and he becomes clammy, lethargic and run . down and he would eventually die. ‘We have to take his kit wherever we go as just a trip to the park or the shops can be dangerous.’ Ms . Murwald has stayed at home to look after Morgan, who also has growth . problems, chronic lung disease, a heart defect and behavioural problems. Ms Murwald said: 'We knew we were having a small baby, but we didn't know there was anything medically wrong with Morgan until he was born.' Morgan is pictured in hospital shortly after his birth . All of the staff at Morgan's school are trained to administer his cortisol injections if he needs them . She said: ‘I worry about him and he’s in a class with other children who are much bigger than him. He has to really think about what he’s doing. ‘He knows all about his condition and he knows what the injections are for. ‘He’s aware that he has to be cautious and knows he’s not allowed to play contact sports. We have had to drill it into him.’ Ms Murwald said: 'I worry about him and he's in a class with other children who are much bigger than him. He has to really think about what he's doing' All of the staff on the school premises are trained to administer cortisol injections to Morgan if he needs them. ‘I feel more comfortable because of that,’ said Ms Murwald. ‘All the staff came forward to be trained which is nice because they didn’t have to. ‘But I can’t help but worry that everything will be OK as he has complex medical needs, just like any parent would. Ms Murwald said: 'He's very happy and incredibly cheeky, and although he's got this illness we just have to deal with it. It's heart breaking really because he's always got a smile on his face no matter what. We don't know what the future holds for him but while he's happy that's all we can ask for' ‘He’s very happy and incredibly cheeky, and although he’s got this illness we just have to deal with it. ‘It’s heart breaking really because he’s always got a smile on his face no matter what. ‘We don’t know what the future holds for him but while he’s happy that’s all we can ask for.’

Morgan Taylor, 4, has adrenal insufficiency which means his body doesn't produce the hormone cortisol, so he cannot deal with stress . Has to be given a cortisol injection within 30 minutes of a stressful event . He was diagnosed after being born at 28 weeks weighing just 1lb 8oz . He also has growth problems, chronic lung disease, a heart defect and behavioural problems .

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By . Rob Preece . PUBLISHED: . 06:17 EST, 23 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:04 EST, 23 September 2012 . After a summer in which the Olympics, the Paralympics and the Euro 2012 football tournament have caught the public's attention, they might seem a modest affair. But for more than 100 men who gathered in eastern France this weekend, the European Beard and Moustache Championships were as eagerly anticipated as a major sporting event. Competitors from across the continent converged on Wittersdorf, near Mulhouse, to take part in the contest. Cheers: More than 100 men took part in the 2012 European Beard and Moustache Championships in Wittersdorf, France . Helping hand: Two men wearing impressive curled moustaches help each other prepare as they await their turn before the judges . Finishing touches: An entrant holds his curly moustache in place with sticky tape as he waits backstage (left) while other competitors help each other to perfect impressive looks (right) Team effort: German contestant Elmar Weisser is helped by his wife as he gets ready to participate in the competition . And, on this evidence, the judges must have had a difficult job deciding whose facial hair was most impressive. Some wore extraordinary costumes to match their extraordinary hair, with several candidates sporting hats to complete their unusual look. At least one man came dressed as a sailor, and many others turned up in military uniform. But if some of the entrants wore similar outfits, the facial hairstyles on display varied widely. While a few entrants decided to wear their beards big and bushy, others came to the show with curious curly moustaches. Several participants received a helping hand from supporters as they sought to create a winning look. Elmar Weisser, a 48-year-old German competitor, enlisted the assistance of his wife as he prepared to take to the stage. Top marks: A competitor is awarded a perfect '10' by a judge as he takes part in the unusual contest . Unusual: The competition in Wittersdorf attracted proud contestants from across the continent . Picture gallery: Some entrants wore extraordinary costumes to match their extraordinary hair, with several candidates sporting hats to complete their unusual look . Watching on: Three men with extraordinary moustaches sit in anticipation as fellow competitors are judged on their appearance . Going into battle: Two men wear similar moustaches and similar outfits as they prepare to take part in the event . Spot the difference: Three men wearing enormous grey beards stand together during the extraordinary contest . Ship-shape: Two competitors dressed in naval uniform assist each other as they prepare to take part in the contest . Taking it seriously: Two men read competition documents at the European Beard and Moustache Championships . Pampering: A man uses a hairdryer as he gives his grey moustache some last-minute attention . Face to face: A participant with a large grey beard is seen through the moustache of a fellow competitor in this unusual photograph . Bizarre: Four men wearing hats and unusual beards wait in line to appear on stage . It takes all kinds: A wide range of weird and wonderful styles were on display at the event in Wittersdorf, eastern France . Time for reflection: A participant gazes at his expertly-groomed moustache in a mirror .

More than 100 take part in European Beard and Moustache Championships . Event held in Wittersdorf, near Mulhouse, eastern France .

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By . Anna Hodgekiss . PUBLISHED: . 07:08 EST, 16 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:10 EST, 16 January 2013 . A hospital has sparked outrage by announcing it is to erect a smoking shelter outside a cancer ward. Managers at the new £400 million University Hospital of North Staffordshire have applied for planning permission for five shelters on site after patients repeatedly ignored the no-smoking policy. They will be put up outside the hospital's maternity block, two main entrances and its accident and emergency unit. Bosses at the new £400 million University Hospital of North Staffordshire have applied for planning permission for five smoking shelters on site . But the final shelter is to be installed outside the hospital's cancer ward - a move which has infuriated victims of the disease and charities. Cancer survivor Harry Larkins, 70, from Cheadle, Staffs., who still has annual check-ups after beating the disease in 2009, yesterday (Wed) slammed the decision. He said: 'I know they have to accommodate smokers, but a lot of people in the cancer ward have smoked throughout their lives and don't need reminding that could be the reason they are there. 'It's just plain insensitive. It is a huge site and they could put them somewhere a lot more discreet. I think it's a terrible error of judgement.' Ron Locker, founder of the Staffordshire Moorlands Cancer Support Group, said: 'I understand the difficulty of people who have been smoking all their lives to just quit. The move was taken after ents repeatedly ignored the hospital's no-smoking policy (posed by model) 'But it is not pleasant for patients heading into hospital to have to walk through people smoking outside.' Councillor Colin Eastwood, chairman of Newcastle Borough Council's Health Scrutiny Committee, said: 'I don't feel the shelters are really addressing the problem of smoking. It is almost like condoning smoking. 'Smoking is a real issue in the local area and it concerns me that the hospital is providing for them. 'What they should be doing is supporting smokers who are admitted to hospital to quit the habit.' Hospital officials yesterday refused to explain why a smoking shelter was planned for the cancer centre. Chief Nurse Liz Rix said: 'We do not condone smoking on our premises by patients, visitors or staff. 'However, a degree of pragmatism has been adopted to keep the hospital clean and tidy and smokers away from building entrances. 'The beautiful main entrance has become a particular problem area with a large number of smokers congregating and at times it has been difficult to keep the area clean. 'We accept this has caused problems for neighbouring residential areas and are working with unions to see what actions can be taken to alleviate this. 'We enforce a blanket ban on staff smoking on our property and staff will not be allowed to use the shelters.' Stoke-on-Trent City Council is expected to rule on the planning application in the middle of February.

Five shelters are planned at the new £400m University Hospital of North Staffordshire . Bosses say the move was forced by patients repeatedly ignoring the no-smoking policy . Cancer victims and charities have condemned the move .

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(CNN) -- Lane Kommer should be skiing this week. Instead he postponed a trip to Colorado because the snow situation just isn't looking good. "We've been keeping a close eye on the weather the last few weeks and keeping our fingers crossed, hoping for some good snow and it just got to the point where we decided it's better to reschedule and pay to change our plans than to go out there and be disappointed," said Kommer, who was planning to fly from Dallas to meet up with friends at Beaver Creek Resort. Now they're planning to go in February. It is a decision faced by skiers and snowboarders across the United States as ski resorts scramble to make the snow that Mother Nature isn't providing. December 2011 yielded the 11th least extensive snow cover in the United States in the past 46 years, according to climatologist David Robinson, a professor in the geography department at Rutgers University. Weather patterns are moving in and out too quickly and nothing is locking in to produce significant snowfall, he said. "It doesn't look like there's going to be huge improvement the next two weeks and we're getting halfway through winter by then. But still, hope springs eternal for late January into early March. One would expect that we're going to see at least some interruption in this progressive fast-moving pattern," Robinson said. Any snow would be a welcome change for the Lake Tahoe area straddling California and Nevada, where odd spring-like weather has plagued snow seekers. Base snow averaged about 14 inches at seven area resorts on Thursday, with summit averages of a little more than 19 inches. The annual average summit snowfall at one of the resorts is 350 inches. Revenue at some California resorts over the peak week between Christmas and New Year's was down 20% to 30% after a tremendous ski season across the United States last year, according to estimates from the National Ski Areas Association. It's no good for skiers, but the warm weather is pleasant, said local restaurant manager Vicky Mallett. "It's just gorgeous. People are paddle-boarding and hiking and riding their bikes, so they're definitely in town hanging out," said Mallett, who manages the Fire Sign Café in Tahoe City, California. Lack of the cold white stuff actually brought a boost to the café's business in the past few weeks, she said. "We're really busy because (visitors are) not skiing." People who would usually be on the trails all day are skiing in the morning and then coming into town, Mallett said, but she suspects the novelty of the warm weather will wear off for vacationers. Ski resorts in other parts of the West didn't experience such steep declines in December business. In Colorado and Utah, revenue was down by single digit percentages over the holiday week, said Michael Berry, president of the National Ski Areas Association. Holiday bookings at major destination resorts are usually made before the start of the season. With the lack of snow going into January, some potential customers are hanging back to see what happens, Berry said. "We are a weather-dependent industry, no matter what, and we've done lots of things to help mitigate it, but at the end of the day, it's always nice to have Mother Nature's help," he said. Some of Colorado's biggest resorts -- like Aspen and Vail -- are surviving on high altitude, cold temperatures and enough money to produce a lot of man-made snow, said Patrick Crawford, content director of snow sports website OnTheSnow. Ski areas are trying to make the best of it. Aspen/Snowmass CEO Mike Kaplan penned a blog post this week titled "The Glass is Half Full" highlighting some of the best trail conditions, and a Facebook comment complaining about attractive photos of "fake snow" on the resort's page received this upbeat response: "Yep - sometimes we've got to lend a hand when Mother Nature is being fickle. Sure beats doing nothing, right?" Vail Resorts, which owns six resorts in Colorado and California, is looking at a .6% increase in total lift ticket revenue from the start of the season in November through the beginning of January over the same period last year, according to CEO Rob Katz. Katz said that slight uptick after last year's incredible season is due in large part to the company's investment in snowmaking and family-friendly activities and amenities. So while a lot of expert terrain is closed, the intermediate terrain is available to vacationing families. "For an expert skier who wants to ski everything, no question, they come and they say 'hey, this isn't as good as it was last year,' absolutely," Katz said. Despite a very slow start to the ski season, there are a few brighter spots, Crawford said. Western storm systems have split to the far north and south of the country, so conditions in New Mexico, Arizona and southern Colorado in the south and the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and Canada are looking pretty good. "We can't complain certainly," said Kathleen Goyette, a spokeswoman for Ski Washington. Resorts in Washington got 20 to 35 inches of fresh snow during the last week of December. The state's resorts are aware of their luck compared with many other areas of the country, she said. "We've been there before," Goyette said. "We've been the ones with no snow." Not so compassionate is Big Sky Resort in Montana, which is taking a run at Vail Resorts' business with an offer of free lift tickets to holders of the company's Epic Pass, which allows unlimited access to all six Vail-owned resorts in Colorado and California. Epic Pass holders must book lodging through Big Sky to be eligible for free skiing. Still, there's no bounty of deals, and the OnTheSnow user community isn't happy paying full price for poor conditions, Crawford said. "Considering the state of the snow, you don't see as many discounts as you think you might. But this is also when (resorts) make all their money." Things have "turned the corner" at ski areas east of the Mississippi after a 10% to 15% slump in holiday week revenue, said Berry of the National Ski Areas Association. There has been some natural snow in some areas this week and colder temperatures mean resorts are "making snow like crazy." People in the ski business have their fingers crossed for recovery across the country. Lack of snow affects livelihoods as well as vacation plans. "It's a big big deal for our little industry," Crawford said.

Ski resorts have suffered from dry weather and warm temperatures . Base snow averaged about 14 inches this week at Lake Tahoe resorts . Bright spots include New Mexico, the Pacific Northwest and Alaska .

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As outrage builds over the shock death of Melbourne Cup favourite Admire Rakti, the horse's jockey has paid tribute to the Japanese raider, which collapsed and died in its stall following the race. Jockey Zac Purton made an emotional statement about the Caulfield Cup winner's sudden death to the TVN Racing Network. 'He gave me a great thrill at Caulfield, for this to happen to him, it's not fair,' Mr Purton said. Animal rights activists have seized on the opportunity to question the ethics of horse racing. It is the second horse to die at the Melbourne Cup in two years. Scroll down for video . Jockey Zac Purton, left, rode Admire Rakti to victory at the Caulfield Cup . Purton rode Admire Rakti in today's Melbourne Cup, when it placed last and died following the race . Admire Rakti, pictured, collapsed in its stable and died immediately following the race . Verema was euthanised after it broke its leg in the 2013 Cup. Another horse, the outsider Araldo, was transported to University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital for treatment after he injured his right hind leg after the race. Elio Celotto, the campaign director for the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, blamed the racing industry for treating the animals poorly. 'If these were human athletes, the sport would be banned,' Mr Celotto told Daily Mail Australia. In a statement, the RSCPA said horses were dying for our entertainment. 'This is a tragic outcome for both horses and we expect there to be a full and transparent investigation undertaken into both incidents. 'Events like these are a stark reminder to the community of the real risks to horses associated with racing.' 'Sadly, injury and death are the price some horses pay for our entertainment in a sport that puts intense pressure on animals to perform to the limits of their endurance. Verema, ridden by Christophe Lemaire (green silk), died following last year's Melbourne Cup (pictured) after it snapped its cannon bone around the 200m mark . Racing Victoria's (RV) Head of Veterinary and Equine Welfare, Dr Brian Stewart, said: . 'It is with sadness that we confirm that Admire Rakti has passed away in his stall following the running of the Emirates Melbourne Cup. 'The exact cause of death is yet to be determined, although the circumstances of the horse's passing are very rare. 'A post mortem will be conducted at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital as is standard practice. 'Our sympathies are extended at this time to the owner Mr Kondo, trainer Mr Umeda and his staff who cared deeply for their horse and are naturally saddened by their tragic loss.' Dr Stewart also advised that the Mike Moroney-trained Araldo suffered an injury to its right hind leg when it took fright upon returning to scale and kicked the fence. The horse has been treated by the on-course veterinary team and has been transported by ambulance to the University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital for further treatment and assessment. Protectionist took out this year's Melbourne Cup, with crowd favourite Admire Rakti finishing last . Claire Fryer, a spokeswoman for PETA Australia, told Daily Mail Australia: 'People who care about horses should steer clear of horse racing.' Ms Fryer said horses routinely sustain catastrophic injuries or drop dead on the track. Animal rights group Voiceless tweeted: 'The story of Admire Rakti exemplifies everything that is wrong with the horse racing industry.' Dr Brian Stewart, the head of Veterinary and Equine Welfare at Racing Victoria, said the exact cause of Admire Rakti's death was yet to be determined. 'It is with sadness that we confirm that Admire Rakti has passed away in his stall following the running of the Emirates Melbourne Cup,' Dr Stewart said. The Victorian Racing Club led the tributes to Admire Rakti on Twitter, saying it 'expresses its condolences to connections of (the horse) following his passing'. Admire Rakti took out the Caulfield Cup in what was described as 'brilliant style' last month, and many Twitter users paid tributes to the horse's racing prowess. The Toodyay Race Course organisation, in WA, tweeted: 'RIP Admire Rakti - what a wonderful horse may he rest in peace.' Businessman Scott O'Neill wrote: '#AdmireRakti rip mate. So sad to see a sporting hero perish.'

Animal rights activists and many punters have expressed shock and outrage following Admire Rakti's death . The stallion's jockey, Zac Purton, made an emotional statement about the sudden death this afternoon . 'For this to happen to him, it's not fair,' Mr Purton said . The cause of Admire Rakti's death remains unknown . It is the second horse to die at the Melbourne Cup in two years .

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By . Ellie Buchdahl . PUBLISHED: . 10:42 EST, 12 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:42 EST, 12 October 2013 . A mother who created false alibis for her murdering son and his friend has been imprisoned for two years. Maria Keane, 37, told police her then 16-year-old son George Keane and his friend Luke Garner had been watching DVDs at her house on the night of December 23. But her lie was exposed when other evidence was uncovered that led the pair to be convicted of the murder of David Scott on the same evening. Alibi: Maria Keane, left, gave a false witness statement to her police saying her son George, right, was watching DVDs at home when in fact he was involved in a murder . The teenagers were jailed indefinitely last month and Maria Keane has received a two-year prison sentence for perverting the course of justice after she gave a false witness statement. Mr Scott, a father-of-two, was repeatedly stabbed by the killers in Stanley, County Durham. Stabbed: David Scott, the father-of-two who was killed by the two youths before Christmas last year . Garner was arrested five days later and in police interviews said he had been at Maria Keane's home. When police checked out the story, Maria Keane told police her son and his friend had been with her watching TV at her house that night and had stayed there until noon the next day. When further evidence came to light George Keane was arrested on December 31 - and repeated his claim. But CCTV showed him away from the house and a witness said he had confessed what had really happened. Sentencing her at Newcastle Crown . Court, Judge James Goss QC said: 'With you they concocted a false alibi . where it was agreed you would all say George Keane and Luke Garner were . in your house and in your company in the period when they were in fact . involved in killing David Scott. 'You gave a witness statement which gave them a cast iron alibi and they gave the same account. 'This . was deliberate lying to deflect possible blame for a crime of homicide . and the seriousness of this type of offence merits a custodial . sentence.' Maria Keane was arrested on January 4 for perverting the course of justice. After her arrest Maria Keane changed her story to try to fit in with other evidence the police had gathered. Accomplice: Luke Garner, who was also convicted of the murder, was jailed along with George Keane . The mother-of-seven - who is currently pregnant with her eighth chid - has two previous convictions for child neglect from 2003 and 2005 and one for animal cruelty in 2011. The court heard George was not living with her at the time and had been in care. Maria Keane pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. Peter Sabiston, defending, said: 'It was a moral dilemma with it being her son and a really serious allegation. 'She is poorly equipped to deal with the traumas in her life. 'She has seven children and is expecting another child.' David Scott sustained five stab wounds to his upper body, four to his back and one to the right front side of his abdomen, in the attack just after 1am the day before Christmas Eve last year. One of the stab wounds to his back penetrated a lung, causing internal bleeding into his chest cavity and effectively suffocating him. Keane and Garner, both now 17, were given indefinite sentences. They will serve a minimum of 14 years in prison.

George Keane, then 16, stabbed to death David Scott in December . Mother Maria Keane said he had been watching DVDs at her house . Pregnant mother-of-seven has been imprisoned for two years . George Keane and accomplice Luke Garner given indefinite jail sentences .

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By . Anna Hodgekiss . PUBLISHED: . 08:16 EST, 5 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:33 EST, 7 January 2013 . Most couples who renew their wedding vows do so several years after they first step down the aisle. But Gemma and Luke Stewart are not a couple with time on their side. Their vow renewal on a beautiful Corfu beach last October, just a year after they first married, was a symbol of just how much time they might have left together. For Gemma, 30, has been told she may have just three months to live, after being diagnosed with terminal malignant melanoma. Gemma Stewart says being told she had terminal cancer made her realise boyfriend Luke (pictured) was the love of her life. The couple married in October 2011 . But while she is clearly devastated at her diagnosis, she also believes it has made the last few months of her life some of the best. Put simply, she says: ‘Being told I had terminal cancer made me realise Luke was the love of my life.‘Suddenly everything becomes very clear and you realise exactly what it is you want.’ Until then, the couple, who have been together for eight years, had been unsure of their future. As Gemma explains: ‘We always loved each other but it just didn’t work the first couple of times we lived together. I am quite bohemian and a hoarder of stuff and Luke is the total opposite. We also had different outlooks on life, to some degree. The couple enjoyed a 30's Hollywood glam-style themed wedding. Until her diagnosis, they had been unsure of their future . ‘I was also badly affected by the death of my father at the beginning of 2009 as he was the person who basically brought me up and we were extremely close. 'Being told I had terminal cancer made me realise Luke was the love of my life' ‘After that, I had a burning desire to have children to continue Dad’s blood line. But Luke wasn’t ready to have a family and that caused a huge rift between us. ‘In hindsight, it really wasn’t the right time to go about it, as I was incredibly raw. ‘Now we’ve made it work because we’ve realised how much we love each other.’ The couple, who live in Farnborough, Hampshire, met in April 2005 in a nightclub. ‘It was a very cheesy nightclub and we both stood out like sore thumbs,’ Gemma told MailOnline.  ‘We’d both been dragged along by the groups of friends we were with. But we got talking and just clicked. He took my number and we went on a date shortly afterwards.’ Over the next few years they had a couple of minor breakups, but always remained friends. And they were back together when in October 2010, Gemma found a lump near her groin. ‘I spoke with Luke and he encouraged me to go see a doctor,’ she recalls. ‘Neither of us dreamed it could be cancer. Shock diagnosis: Very fair skinned, Gemma has never been a tanner and was always careful in the sun . 'My doctor agreed - I was too young and had lived a healthy lifestyle, so he was sure it was nothing sinister. But as a precaution, he decided to run a few tests.' 'I just couldn't believe what I was hearing... it was like being smacked around the face' She began to feel uneasy when she was called in for a biopsy – and rightly so, for the news that followed was shattering. The biopsy had revealed malignant melanoma in her lymph nodes. ‘It was such a shock as I have never been a tanner – I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing,’ she  says ‘It was like being smacked around the face. ‘My mind was whirring with questions – when had it started, how had I got it when I’d always been so careful in the sun?’ Doctors told her the primary site of the melanoma was in the middle of the ball of her foot. ‘Looking back, I had felt very run down, but I put that down to my busy job as a special needs teacher working with autistic children, commuting and the stress of Dad dying,' she says. ‘I was warned from the start that it wasn’t good. I was pretty much slap bang in the middle of stage three, advanced cancer and was already very ill.’ The couple renewed their vows in Corfu last October, just a year after they first married. Gemma's blue wig is to symbolise the Greek theme . Gemma immediately underwent major surgery at the Royal Marsden to remove 37 lymph nodes, before undergoing chemotherapy. 'I am so grateful for every day we have together' But that failed to stop the cancer spreading and just seven months later, in May 2011, she received the devastating news that the cancer was terminal. ‘When I heard the news, all I could think about was Luke,’ she recalls. ‘We’d broken up again in the January but now everything seemed so clear, and I had to be with him. ‘He was at work and I couldn't bear to tell him over the phone. I waited for him to come around to my house and when I told him my prognosis we hugged and cried and told each other how much we loved each other. ‘It was then that I realised that the man in front of me really was the love of my life and before I knew it, I was telling him I wanted to marry him. He felt the same and proposed then and there. ‘Suddenly, everything became very clear and I no longer cared about anything in the past or the silly rows we’d had. ‘I knew regardless of what happened Luke would always be there for me. He was my rock, the one person who could cheer me up no matter what. Gemma says: 'When I do pass away I will be happy because in Luke I have found the love of my life and nothing else matters. I am so grateful for every day we have together' Precious moments: Gemma and Luke, seen on a boat trip, met in a nightclub in April 2005 . ‘I just knew that I wanted to marry him, have a fabulous day celebrating our love and enjoying the time we had left together.’ Not knowing how long she he had left, Gemma set about planning her 30’s Hollywood glam-style wedding. And in October 2011 she and Luke, 36, who works for a luxury mobile phone company, married in front of their friends and family in a Farnborough boutique hotel. ‘It was the best day of my life and I couldn't have been happier,’ says Gemma. ‘It wasn’t about getting a piece of paper, it was about celebrating our love with friends.' Brave: Gemma hopes her story will serve as a cautionary tale to those striving to get a sun tan . Since her diagnosis, Gemma has also thrown herself into travelling the world, visiting destinations such as the Mauritius, Australia and New York and the Caribbean. And in October, the couple celebrated their first anniversary by having a blessing in Corfu – the destination of their first holiday. Having lost her hair due to radiotherapy on her brain, after tumours were also discovered there, Gemma decided to embrace the Greek theme and wear a blue wig. ‘I just thought “if I’m going to wear a wig, why not wear a fabulous blue one and do the Grecian look”.' She has chosen to share her story now to try and prevent others suffering a similar fate. ‘I just want to make sure people don’t get to my stage. I have always been fair skinned and never a tanner, but I must have been burnt on my foot at some stage and that’s what triggered the cancer, although I have no recollection of it. ‘I was always very careful, wearing factor 30. So look after yourself and don’t sacrifice your life for a tan. I can’t stress enough how much it’s not worth it.’ She is now planning her 31st birthday in March as her next milestone to reach, and something to focus on. ‘But I know that if I do pass away I will be happy because in Luke I have found the love of my life and nothing else matters. I am so grateful for every day we have together.’ January 21- 27 is Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Talk Week. For support or information on any type of cancer, call the free support line on 0808 808 00 00 or visit www.macmillan.org.uk/cancertalkweek .

Gemma was diagnosed with malignant melanoma after finding lump in groin . Told it was terminal in May 2011 and she had just months to live . Says news was the trigger for realising on-off boyfriend Luke was 'the one' Couple married that year and have since renewed their vows .

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By . Stephanie Linning . A reclusive pensioner died surrounded by a huge pile of rubbish that he had been hoarding - and his body was not found until police broke down his door eight months later. Denis Walsby, 74, who had not had contact with his family for years, was found lying underneath a stack of papers at the foot of his stairs, with bags of rubbish and cardboard boxes packed in around him. The police officer who uncovered the decomposing body described the scene as being 'like a nest' where Mr Walsby had collected, and kept, everything that he needed. Hoarder: Plastic bags and cardboard boxes filled with junk were stacked so high in Denis Walsby's house that the police officer who discovered his body found it difficult to open the front door . During the inquest at Southampton Coroners' Court, it emerged that Mr Walsby was living downstairs among the clutter in his terraced house in Romsey, Hampshire during the final months of his life. Dates on the piles of mail found in his home indicated that Mr . Walsby could have died in April last year - eight months before he was found dead - the court heard. The alarm was raised when a postman saw mail piled up inside the porch at his home in Romsey, Hampshire. PC Lindsay Miell, who found Mr Walsby's body, noticed an infestation of flies upon entering the property. She said: 'It was hugely cluttered to the point that I couldn’t step inside the doorway. 'The thing that immediately struck me was the smell. It appeared in the last stages of his life that he had created a small nest for himself - it was where he had basically done everything.' Reclusive: Denis Walsby, pictured in 1968. He did not have any contact with his family for years before he died, according to his ex-wife . Mr Walsby had not had contact with any family for years and had not been in touch with his ex-wife Joyce, 69, for 30 years. Joyce, from Southampton, said they had moved to the then new-build home in 1970 when they were both working for Ordnance Survey. The couple divorced in 1982 and his ex-wife said that she had not spoken to Mr Walsby since he retired in 1984. It was only after Mr Walsby died that she met his cousin, Robert Lucas, who it appears is his last surviving relative. Mr Walsby would holiday in Germany and would visit Mr Lucas at his home in Camberley, Surrey, on his way home. He was last seen at a family funeral in 2001 and Mr Lucas last spoke to him in 2006. Little is known about the last ten years of his life. Richard Heather, of Hampshire taxi firm Samtax, took Mr Walsby on weekly shopping trips. He said: 'He never used to complain about his health.' Mr Walsby’s neighbour, Karen Stewart, also said she had knocked on his front door several times each year. She said would only see him once every few months and could have been the last person to have spoken to him. She said: 'I felt so awful when I heard that he’d died, I was in tears.' A post-mortem found that Mr Walsby had died from a head injury although it is uncertain how he sustained it. Delivering a verdict of accidental death, Central Hampshire coroner Grahame Short said: 'Because of the period of time which has elapsed, it’s not possible to ascertain whether he had been drinking, for example, and then fallen, or if he had a fall because he tripped. 'He was clearly a very reclusive man who preferred his own company.'

Denis Walsby was found underneath stack of papers, surrounded by rubbish . 74-year-old hoarded plastic bags, cardboard boxes and broken furniture . Alarm was raised by postman who noticed uncollected mail at his door . Dates on letters indicate he could have been lying dead for eight months . Post-mortem found he died of a head injury, but circumstances are unclear .

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Washington (CNN) -- The District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Rhode Island are all to receive a portion of the $3.4 billion remaining in the "Race to the Top" fund for education in those states. "We had many more competitive applications than money to fund them in this round," Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Tuesday. "Race to the Top" is an Obama administration initiative to award money to states that show that they have a plan for school reforms in four main areas: turning around low performing schools, adopting college and career ready standards, effective teachers and principals, and using data systems to support student achievement. Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia applied for the second round of competition, and of those, 19 were listed as finalists by the Department of Education in July. Those finalists all sent representatives to Washington in August to present their case to a group of peer reviewers. Massachusetts received the highest score in the second round of competition followed by New York and Hawaii. Sometimes, it's just about finishing the test. In the first phase of the competition, Hawaii turned in an incomplete application. In the second phase, not only did they turn in a completed application, but they were awarded with a grant of $75 million. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist thanked the teachers' unions for their success. In that state, 54 local teacher unions signed on to their plans. "This level of participation far exceeds the five local teacher unions who joined our efforts during Phase 1," he said in a statement. Tennessee and Delaware both won grants under the program in the first round which was announced earlier this year. Over the next four years, Tennessee will receive $400 million and Delaware will receive $100 million for their programs. For the second round, the Department of Education announced that it would be limiting the amount that any given state can receive. The limits are based on the student population of that state. So, large states like New York and Florida can receive as much as $700 million while smaller states like Hawaii, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia are limited to $75 million grants. The grants will be awarded in installments over the next four years. And state education departments need to spend the money according to the plans they submitted. In a conference call with reporters, Duncan said he would pull funding from states that he feels are not "acting in good faith." Duncan said he hopes Tuesday's announcement is not the end of the program. "We're very hopeful there will be a Phase 3 of 'Race to the Top' and have requested $1.35 billion dollars in next year's budget," he said.

Nine states plus the District of Columbia are winners . Each will receive a portion of $3.4 billion . Winners had to show they have plans for school reforms .

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Blaze: A teenage work experience girl set fire to the wilko store in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, because she was 'a bit bored' A teenage private schoolgirl who was 'fed up' of her work experience in a shop set fire to it, causing £1million damage, a court heard. The girl, 15, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was working in a wilko shop, formerly known as Wilkinson's, in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, on placement from her fee-paying private school when she started the blaze with a cigarette lighter. Staff and customers had to be evacuated as thick black smoke filled the shop as the fire, which began in a cage in a warehouse behind the shop, swept the premises. Warwick Crown Court heard the 'intelligent student' set fire to waste cardboard in a cage in the goods inward bay as she was fed up of stacking shelves and wanted to go home for the day. Fire crews were called after the blaze got out of control, and spent more than half an hour battling to quench the fire which began at around 12.20pm on July 8 this year. The girl was arrested by police shortly afterwards, and admitted to officers it was a 'stupid thing to do.' Ninda Gill, prosecuting, said: 'The incident occurred at lunchtime when the store was busy with customers, and elderly customers were caused distress. 'The potential for injury to staff and customers was great as the store was consumed by smoke.' Miss Gill added that, as a result of the blaze, the hardware chain was now reviewing its national policy in relation to taking on any more work experience students. She said: 'It has caused a national employer not to engage in work experience schemes.' CCTV footage played in court showed the teenager leaning into a cage of waste cardboard in the goods inbound bay. Smoke began to rise one minute later and, as she left the bay, flames began flickering, which quickly turned into an inferno. Fire investigators rated the danger to life at eight on a scale of one to ten, although the building was evacuated without anyone being injured. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, hoped to start a small fire that would get her sent home . Fire crews were called and it took more than half an hour to extinguish the flames at the homeware store . The blaze was tackled by five fire crews using breathing apparatus and a 'conservative estimate' has been put on the damage caused at between £600,000 and £1 million. John Mohammed, defending, said: 'To a degree she got a bit bored, and she would have liked to have done something more exciting than stocking shelves. 'When she went to the goods inward area she intended to start what she thought would be a small fire in a crate, as she described it, which contained cardboard boxes. 'She lit the corner of a box, and did not expect it to spread any further than the cage it was in.  She thought it would cause some disruption, sufficient for her to be able to go home.' He added: 'She didn't realise how quickly the fire would spread to other boxes - she certainly did not intend to harm anyone.' Shoppers and staff had to be evacuated at fire swept through the store at lunchtime, filling it with black smoke . Mr Mohammed said the girl came from a good family, and her parents were 'aghast' at what she did. He said she bitterly regrets what she did, and she had written a letter of apology to Wilkinson. The teenager herself said: 'When I was doing it I didn't think of the consequences - it was a stupid act. If I could turn the clock back, I would.' The girl, who admitted arson with intent to cause damage and being reckless as to whether lives were endangered, was due to be sentenced this week. But Judge Alan Parker ordered for her to be examined by a psychiatrist first, saying: 'I am very concerned about her, and very concerned about the dissociation referred to. 'The fact that she is an intelligent girl makes it more disturbing.'

Teenager, who cannot be named, was on placement from fee-paying school . Used a cigarette lighter to light a cardboard box in warehouse behind shop . Fire quickly swept through the wilko store in Nuneaton, Warwickshire . Customers and staff were evacuated as thick black smoke filled the shop . Girl is said to come from a 'good family' who are 'aghast' at what she did . She admitted arson with intent to cause damage at Warwick Crown Court . Court heard she was 'a bit bored' and hoped to be sent home after fire . Judge Alan Parker asked for a psychiatric report before he sentenced her . He said: 'She is an intelligent girl - I am very concerned about her'

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(CNN) -- In the old days, being passive-aggressive took effort. An annoyance -- like, say, a neighbor who has elected to make the stairwell his own personal broom closet -- would fester and fester until one was finally forced into action. IE, leaving a note to the effect of: "Hi! I tripped over a bucket of liquid in the hallway and turned my ankle. Therefore, I elected to remove your garbage from our common area -- for the sake of everyone's safety. Thanks! :D 3B. P.S. Everyone can hear you have sex through the wall." Now, it's all too easy to vent your frustrations via Twitter, Facebook and various and sundry meme machines, cluttering the newsfeeds of friends and "Facebook friends" with your petty, petty gripes. We get it: Sometimes you just need to scream silently into your pillow, and since one does not always have a pillow on hand (unless one rolls like that), the Web is often the closest substitute. Still, it is vital to realize that you are not, in fact, bellowing into the ether about your co-worker's apparent lack of breathing-through-the-nose skills -- no, you are recording these grievances for all to see, laugh at and possibly garner a book deal via passive-aggressive notes. Thankfully, the Web (and its outlying regions) is an innovative place, and now it's possible to get passive-aggressive (and even outright aggressive) without spreading your lack of sunshine to the rest of your social network. Here's what to do: . When your friends are being all foe-like . The other weekend, you had a rather unfortunate drunken experience with a fire extinguisher at a local music venue. The next day, you confided in your friend -- let's call him "Steve" -- who immediately appropriated the venue's security camera footage and posted your incriminating, foamy dance (you were belting out a stirring rendition of "We Didn't Start the Fire," you now recall) to YouTube. You became a viral star! -- for all the wrong reasons. Angrily, you take to Facebook and start posting messages akin to, "NOW I KNOW WHO MY REAL FRIENDS ARE!" Sorry to break it to you, dude, but acting out digitally in this way makes you look like a giant loser -- not that you needed any help in the first place. Naturally, you should probably confront your friend, but if you can't manage to summon up the balls to do so, might we suggest downloading Face-Invaders, an iPad game that allows you to blast your Facebook friends in effigy as if they were malignant aliens from outer space. "Steve" will never know what hit him -- unless you manage to get your hands on another fire extinguisher. When your beau is being a schmo . So here's the thing. Everything about you and your girlfriend makes us intensely uncomfortable: the way you (wetly) make out in public, the way you lick sauce off of each other's face while eating, and, especially, the way you get into raging fights in public locations and then retreat into the nearest restroom to "make up." And when you port all of that over into the digital realm, snipping about fights and seeking support from your friends ("He's just not good enough for you, girl!") we're just that much more embarrassed for you because it's all out there for anyone to see (Openbook is watching). Luckily, someone has gone and created an application called Pair especially for couples, allowing Jack and Jill to share pictures, videos, texts and drawings with each other -- and each other alone. So the next time you feel tempted to bring up Jack's inability to purchase TP via incensed tweet, snap a pic of the naked roll and send it along to J instead. Bonus: The app also has a "thumb kiss" feature that causes the phone to vibrate when both couples touch their appendages to their screens at the same time. It's like really discreet makeup sex. NB: This app is intended to be used by happy couples, but we're cynics. When your boss is eating your soul . Wait until you get home and pull out the aforementioned pillow. Seriously. While we're all about free speech and all that, it's just basically a bad idea to post anything disparaging about your boss or workplace online. Why? Because you never know who has access to your social accounts -- a lot of workplaces are even asking for Facebook logins nowadays (a practice that we wholly do not endorse). If you're that upset about your current work situation, by all means get smashed and complain about it with friends (after looking over your shoulder, of course). But after you've recovered from your hangover, maybe start looking for another gig. If you must let off some steam, try firing up Enemy Graph, a Facebook app that allows you to declare friends or public figures "enemies." We hear Justin Bieber is a popular enemy, and there's slim to no chance he's your boss.

Face-Invaders is an iPad game that allows you to blast your Facebook friends in effigy . It's always a bad idea to post anything disparaging about your boss or workplace online . Facebook app Enemy Graph allows you to declare friends or public figures "enemies"

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As the hours count down to $85 billion in government-wide spending cuts, there's one transportation service that won't be derailed -- Amtrak. Officials of the nation's only long-haul passenger railroad say there will be no cutbacks or changes in its schedule, especially on its popular Northeast Corridor route between Washington, New York and Boston. That's much different than the scenario facing U.S. airlines, which may be forced to alter schedules if federally run air traffic control services are disrupted by spending cuts due to take effect on Friday. Just how is Amtrak able to absorb a hit from the so-called budget sequester? Part of the answer lies in its charter as a for-profit government corporation, which allows it to operate like a business and charge fares and fees. "Amtrak is planning to take actions to allow it to withstand a funding cut and not cut service. During (fiscal year) 2013, Amtrak is experiencing solid revenue growth and we have been controlling our costs and managing our budget in anticipation of a possible reduction in federal funding," said Kimberly Woods, an Amtrak spokeswoman. Congressmen leave as spending cuts loom . However, she acknowledged that the "continued lack of predictable federal appropriations makes proper budgeting and future planning extremely difficult." Rail service has been a priority for the Obama administration. While in the Senate, Vice President Joe Biden commuted for years to his home in Delaware on Amtrak and is one of its biggest supporters. The railroad has instituted a number of business reforms over the years, some of them under pressure from Congress, lowered debt, and has been able to make infrastructure improvements to boost operating efficiency. Amtrak carried more than 31 million passengers last year and covers most of its operating costs from passenger revenue. Why Washington can't cut wasteful spending . But it also receives taxpayer help each year. In fiscal year 2012, Amtrak was approved to receive an operating subsidy of $466 million. The remainder of government help for capital improvements and debt service was estimated at $950 million. If Amtrak is going to continue to stay on track, it will have to rely on its money-making short haul routes, where it competes with airlines. Nearly 90 percent of the rail service's ridership since 1997 has been on trips under 400 miles. Along with a 55 percent jump in passengers, it generated a positive operating surplus of $47 million in 2011, according to a new report released by the Brookings Institution. Amtrak has been the fastest-growing domestic transportation mode over the past 15 years, the report said. By the numbers: Congress and fiscal delays . Ten metropolitan areas, mostly on the coasts, account for nearly two-thirds of its ridership. Its signature line, the high-speed Acela, operates in the Northeast and is aimed at premium-paying business travelers. "The Brookings report shows that Amtrak ridership has been growing faster than any other domestic mode of transportation, faster than GDP, and faster than population growth. These ridership numbers include our long-distance train passengers," Steve Kulm, Amtrak spokesman, said in an e-mailed statement. Heavily subsidized long-haul routes have long been a target of criticism from Amtrak opponents, especially in Congress. What you need to know about spending cuts . The report on rail travel trends found ridership on long distance routes carry less than 20 percent of system riders and contributed a drag to Amtrak's bottom line to the tune of $614 million. "We appreciate their suggestion to allow states the flexibility to use their federal surface transportation dollars for rail investments. With regard to how long-distance trains are funded, Congress has determined that these services are vital and a necessary part of America's national transportation system and economy," Kulm said. Robert Puentes, a Brookings senior fellow and co-author of the report, said that Amtrak is "too often considered a big, bloated bureaucracy that depends heavily on federal subsidies and is no longer relevant to the technologically oriented metropolitan economies of today." Read the Office of Personnel Management's furlough guide .

Amtrak says no changes or cutbacks in schedules due to federal budget cuts . Rail line carried record number of passengers last year and has reported strong revenues . It has also cut costs and made capital improvements to boost efficiency . Amtrak receives annual taxpayer subsidies for operating and capital improvements .

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A 27-year-old Catholic charity worker has been killed after she was hit by a piece of scaffolding during a visit to the Philippines by Pope Francis. Kristel Padasas was volunteering at a mass officiated by the Pope near Tacloban's airport today when a scaffolding reportedly holding huge speakers was blown over by strong winds. She suffered a fractured skull and was taken to St Paul's Hospital in Tacloban City, shortly after the leader of the Catholic church departed, where she was pronounced dead, according to reports. Kristel Padasas, 27, was killed when she was hit by a piece of scaffolding supporting huge speakers during Pope Francis's visit to the Philippines today . Vatican spokesman the Rev Federico Lombardi said the Pope was informed of the woman's death after returning to Manila. He asked his aides 'to investigate how he could show his own suffering in solidarity with the (woman's) family', Mr Lombardi said. Ms Padasas, from Manila, was based in the Samar province of the island where she was working on a recovery project for typhoon Haiyan with charity, Catholic Relief Services (CRS). A spokesperson from the charity said: 'Her dedication to the people affected by the typhoon extended beyond her official work with CRS. 'She travelled a great distance to volunteer at today's papal mass and to remember the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. 'CRS Philippines mourns her loss along with her family, friends and loved ones. Her colleagues remember her as someone who loved to laugh and who was always ready to assist outside her normal duties. About 150,000 people attended a rain-drenched mass celebrated by the pope near Tacloban's seaside airport . The venue where Pope Francis held a mass this morning, surrounded by the scaffolding supporting speakers . 'She found great joy in being able to contribute to the recovery effort by working directly with communities and families. Our deepest prayers are with Kristel's family and loved ones.' The area has been lashed by strong winds and rain as tropical storm Mekkhala hit the region today, bringing with it gusts of up to 80mph. Three other faithfuls who attended the papal mass were rushed to hospital after they were pinned by a barricade, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) reported. Meanwhile a private jet carrying senior Philippine officials as part of the Pope's entourage veered off the runway at Tacloban airport as it prepared for take-off. The front tyres blew, causing the aircraft to overshoot the track - although no one is believed to be injured in the accident. The storm caused Pope Francis to cut his visit to the city short. He had travelled there to offer comfort to the survivors of typhoon Haiyan, which his the area in November 2013. A group of young women clasp their hands together during the mass wearing yellow plastic rain ponchos . The region was lashed by strong winds and rain as tropical storm Mekkhala brought gusts of up to 80mph .

Kristel Padasas was volunteering at a mass officiated by the Pope today . Scaffolding holding speakers blown over in strong winds and struck her . She suffered fractured skull and she taken to hospital where she died . The Pope was informed and asked he could show 'his own suffering'

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By . Colin Fernandez . Last updated at 12:55 AM on 19th August 2011 . Deceit: Dr Ellen MacInnes (pictured) was banned from the roads for drink-driving and used a sample of clean blood from her own patient in Essex to try to con testers that she was all clear . A family doctor has been found guilty of a ‘grave abuse of trust’ for taking blood from a patient and pretending it was her own in an attempt to beat a drink driving ban. Dr Ellen MacInnes, 46, claimed she was checking for an ‘underlying medical condition’ when she took a syringe of the female patient’s blood. But she instead submitted the vial as if it were her blood to medical experts working for licensing authority the DVLA – along with a forged signature from another doctor – in an effort to convince them she was sober after a string of drink driving convictions and a driving ban. A General Medical Council panel heard that the married mother of four had sent the ‘clean’ sample of blood with the forged signature in an unsuccessful attempt to deceive the DVLA and have her licence reinstated. The same day she had already submitted a genuine sample of her blood at the Whitley House Surgery in Chelmsford. Confronted with two samples of blood bearing her name – one ‘clean’ and one containing ‘abnormalities’ – on May 26 last year, staff testing it for the DVLA at the Broomfield Hospital Laboratory became suspicious. She was required to give another sample and admitted her deception during a further blood  test at the former Royal London  Homeopathic Hospital on August 17 last year. But as the doctor left the room, and the nurse washed her hands, Dr MacInnes snatched the blood vial and fled the hospital. In an apparent attempt to see if  her blood would come out clean  if tested, she sent a sample of it for analysis to the Baddow  Village Surgery in Chelmsford – where she once worked – using forms filled out with a former patient’s name. When her sample came back showing ‘abnormalities’ she accessed the surgery’s computer to wipe all traces of it. Dr MacInnes, of Chelmsford, was found guilty of three charges of  dishonesty by the GMC and suspended for 12 months for serious professional misconduct. GMC panel chairman Dr Surendra Kumar told Dr MacInnes: ‘The panel heard you took the blood from Ms A under the pretence it was to be tested to discover if she had an underlying illness. Dr MacInnes was formerly of the Baddow Village Surgery in Essex (pictured) but has been suspended for a year . ‘The panel took a grave view of your abusing her trust in you in such a way.’ He added: ‘Your dishonest actions have the potential to undermine the reputation of the profession as a whole.’ Dr MacInnes admitted the charges of dishonesty, but claimed they were ‘sudden irrational decisions’ – a view the GMC said was ‘not credible’. She was previously suspended by the GMC’s fitness to practise panel in 2009 for a period of six months following a spate of drink-related incidents. The previous misconduct hearing was told her brushes with the law began in 2004 when she was convicted of drink driving and disqualified at North West Essex Magistrates’ Court. In January 2006 a practice nurse smelt alcohol on the doctor’s breath ‘from some feet away’ while  she was fitting a contraceptive coil. She was fired later the same month after she appeared drunk and smelling of alcohol at a surgery meeting. A further drink driving conviction followed in 2007.

Suspended by the GMC in 2004, 2009 and in 2011 for working or driving under the influence of alcohol .

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Much like Sam from the Dr. Seuss book, 'Green Eggs and Ham,' American kids were met with both delight and disgust when served typical breakfasts from around the world which to them seemed utterly foreign. 'It tastes like cow poop!' said one young boy when tasting coffee from Brazil as part of the gustatory experiment from website KitchenBowl.com . Video of the American youngsters trying foods from Korea, Brazil, Finland, Vietnam, Poland and the Netherlands has nearly half a million views on YouTube since being posted yesterday. Korea: The American kids were less than thrilled when offered this Korean breakfast of anchovies, kimchee, and eggs though they dared to try it anyway . Gross!: This American kid grimaced as he tried the breakfast typically served to kids in Korea . The first breakfast the American children tried was from Korea and consisted of kimchee (pickled cabbage), anchovies, egg, and other spicy foods, . 'There's a dead fish in it,' said one of the boys as he proceeded trying the dish with caution. The others seemed to have a bit of trouble gulping down the savory tastes as well. When trying food from Brazil they were given coffee, ham, bread, and banana. 'I think it's weird that kids in Brazil drink coffee' said one of the American participants who was as shocked as 'cow poop' kid that the typically adult drink was an item on the menu. The children had no trouble munching on the banana part of the meal which may have been the most recognizable element on the breakfast table. You want me to drink what?: This American likened coffee as part of this Brazilian breakfast to 'cow poop' but didn't mind the bread, ham, and banana it was also served with . Next the adventurers were asked to try food from Finland which was characterized by a bowl of raspberries along with salmon and onion on a piece of bread. 'No I would not eat fish for breakfast,' said one girl who was presented with the common dish of Finland. 'This is pretty soft that could be my pillow,' said the spunky young boy of the bread, salmon, and onion creation. One of the American kids was fond of the meal but wasn't quite sure where it came from. 'I actually would eat this for breakfast,' he said. When asked where he thought the food might come from he replied, 'Africa.' I'd eat it: This kid said he liked the salmon, onion, bread and raspberry breakfast from Finland but guessed that the meal actually came from Africa . Another American girl who tried the fish breakfast had trouble placing a geographic origin. 'What's Finland,' she asked? 'A country in Europe,' replied one of the adults serving her the food. The young Americans were then served a very old egg called a Century Egg in a breakfast menu from Vietnam. 'So it kind of has liked a portable toilet smell and a rotten egg smell,' said one boy when describing the Vietnamese food. Vietnam: One American youngster said that the extremely old Centry Egg from Vietnam smelled like portable toilet and also rotten egg . Not pleased: This American child had trouble sniffing and stomaching this breakfast from Vietnam . 'This is really good,' said another. The egg, sausage, potato, and apple, breakfast from Poland proved to be a hit with the American kids. 'This tastes like French fries and French fries are good,' said one kid. The other kids stuffed their faces until they couldn't take eating any more food. Poland: This American's eyes were bigger than his stomach when he was served the Polish breakfast of eggs, sausage, apple, and potato . The final breakfast from the Netherlands which was Hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles) on toast, proved to be the biggest hit. 'I don't think my friends would eat this for breakfast because their mom's would say it would be too unhealthy,' said one child. 'This is great,' said another girl as she voraciously scarfed down the toast leaving chocolate smudges all over her face. While some of the foods may have differed from the egg and cereal breakfast common to American children, chocolate sprinkle toast may be popular with kids in America and many countries across the globe. Disbelief: This American said he didn't think he or his friends would be allowed to eat the chocolate dish at home for fear that it would be 'too unhealthy' Netherlands:: The kids unanimously enjoyed the Hagelsag (chocolate sprinkles) toast from the Netherlands and were sent into a chocolate stupor .

'It tastes like cow poop!' said one young boy when tasting coffee from Brazil as part of the gustatory experiment from website KitchenBowl.com . Video of the American youngsters trying foods from aroud the globe has nearly half a million views on YouTube . The most popular foods were the eggs, sausage, and potato from Poland and chocolate toast from Finland . The least popular breakfast was anchovies from Korea and coffee from Brazil .

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By . Joshua Gardner . An 89-year-old Washington State shop owner fearlessly used a golf club to fend off a robber who entered her store Sunday morning armed with a 3-foot samurai sword. Miyo Koba had never faced a robber in her 60 years as owner of Frank's Market in Moses Lake, but handled her first such encounter like a seasoned pro, at least after she ruled out stabbing the man. Before the 5 wood club, Koba tried threatening him with a sharp pair of scissors. Not having it: 89-year-old Moses Lake, Washington shop owner Miyo Koba stands in her store holding the 5 wood golf club she used to fend off a samurai sword wielding attacker who robbed her store on Sunday morning . Brave: The attacker came in demanding Miyo open the register. She refused and says she was emboldened by the false belief her attacker's 3-foot sword was just a toy . 'I had the scissors in my hand like this,' she said as she demonstrated her threatening stance to KREM. She said the robber demanded she open the register and that he at some point knocked her down. 'I didn't have the nerve to stab him,' admitted Koba, who nonetheless was under the false impression his sword was just a toy. 'I didn't feel threatened.  It just probably made me a little bit more brave,' she told KREM. While on the floor, the plucky lady snatched a nearby golf club and started swinging. Sharp lady: Koba first grabbed a pair of scissors, which she brandished at the robber but was hesitant to stab him. Instead, she grabbed a golf club--but not before he pushed her to the ground . Thwomp! Koba first swung at the robber's head, but missed. So she whacked him in the legs before he ran off with her cash register . 'I got into a sitting position and I found the club so I went tried to swing this club at him and I tried to hit his head a couple times but I couldn't reach it,' said Koba, who then went for his legs where she landed some blows. The wounded robber managed to make it out of the store with the cash register, which was recovered later by police along with the robbers clothing and shoes. Police say he was riding a BMX style bike as he fled. 'He must have been running around in his underwear and no shoes because that's what they said, they found all his clothes,' said Koba. Thankfully, Koba was unharmed and had her register returned by police.

Miyo Koba of Moses Lake, Washington was threatened with a samurai sword on Sunday by the first robber she faced in 60 years as a shop owner . Koba first grabbed a pair of scissors but says she didn't have the nerve to stab the man as he demanded she open her register . Koba grabbed a 5 wood as the robber pushed her to the ground and began to swing at him from the floor as he fled the scene .