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Pictured is Martha - the last remaining passenger pigeon - who died in 1914, marking the rapid extinction of a bird species due to human activity . In 1866, a billion-strong flock of passenger pigeons, 300 miles long and one mile wide, darkened the skies of Ontario for 14 hours as they flew overhead. But less 50 years later, these impressive creatures, once abundant in North America, became extinct as a result of cutting down forests and hunting by humans. Now geneticists in San Francisco are hoping to bring the passenger pigeon back to life using centuries-old DNA. The company, Revive and Restore, will use a process known as ‘de-extinction’ which, if successful, could also be used to bring back hundreds of other extinct species. The process involves using passenger pigeon DNA taken from museum specimens. Scientists can then fill in the blanks with fragments from the band-tailed pigeon. This reconstructed genome would be placed into stem cells of a band-tailed pigeon, which would transform into a cell that could become a sperm or an egg. The scientists would then inject these so-called germ cells into band-tailed pigeons. Their hope is that, as those birds mate, their chicks would have some passenger pigeon genes. ‘The genomes of the two birds will be compared in close detail, to determine which differences are most crucial,’ the company said on their website. ‘The data and analysis will begin with the process of converting viable band-tailed DNA into viable passenger pigeon DNA.’ The process involves using passenger pigeon DNA taken from museum specimens. Scientists will then fill in the blanks with fragments of DNA from the band-tailed pigeon.This reconstructed genome would be placed into stem cells of a band-tailed pigeon. The scientists would then inject these so-called germ cells into band-tailed pigeons. Their hope is that, as those birds mate, their chicks would have some passenger pigeon genes . A century ago, Martha, a red-eyed, grey and brown bird famous as the last surviving passenger pigeon, keeled over, marking an extinction of a species. Revive and Restore will take the long-dead pigeon out of the file cabinets of history as part of their project. ‘Here was a bird like the robin that everybody knew and within a generation or two it was gone - and we were its cause,’ Duke University ecologist Stuart Pimm said. In the 18th and 19th centuries the passenger pigeon was the most abundant bird species on Earth. Unlike the domesticated carrier pigeon used for messages, these were wild birds. They were easy to catch because they stayed together. But they were considered a poor man's food; domestic workers complained about eating too much passenger pigeon. In . the 18th and 19th centuries the passenger pigeon was the most abundant . bird species on Earth. Unlike the domesticated carrier pigeon used for . messages, these were wild birds. They were easy to catch because they . stayed together . Band-tailed Pigeon (pictured) could help bring extinct Passenger Pigeon back to life, according to scientists . ‘Nobody ever dreamed that a bird that common could be brought into extinction that quickly,’ said University of Minnesota evolutionary biologist Bob Zink. Examination of the passenger pigeon's genetic code shows that their population grew and fell regularly from as much as five billion to as few as tens of millions. The chief causes of the extinction - cutting down Eastern U.S. forests and hunting - were man-made, Professor Zink added. By 1900, there were no passenger pigeons left in the wild. By 1914, there was just one - 29-year-old Martha at the Cincinnati Zoo. Then on September 1, 1914, Martha was found lying on the bottom of her cage. The passenger pigeon was now extinct. Pictured are stem cells made from the cell nucleas. These will be a crucial part of the 'de-extinction' process . It was the first public extinction, something people used to think happened only to relics of the past like dinosaurs, or critters stuck on islands like dodos, Pimm and other scientists said. Bringing the passenger pigeon back would cost millions and take at least a decade, said Ben Novak who is leading the project. Some scientists, however, don’t believe the idea is ethical or practical. But Professor Novak sees a world on the verge of a mass extinction of many species and feels something has to be done about it. Reviving some long-lost species, he said, may offer ‘a type of justice for what we're doing now and also teach people it's so much easier to keep something alive than to bring it back to life.’ On September 1, 1914, Martha  - the last remaining passenger pigeon - (pictured) was found lying on the bottom of her cage . By 1900, there we no passenger pigeons left in the wild. By 1914, there was just 29-year-old Martha at the Cincinnati Zoo. People lined up to see her. Then on September 1, 1914, Martha was found lying on the bottom of her cage meaning the passenger pigeon had become extinct. It had gone from billions of birds to zero in around a century. It was the first public extinction, something people used to think happened only to relics of the past like dinosaurs, or animals stuck on islands like dodos. Martha, the last of her kind, was put in a 300-pound block of ice and shipped to Washington D.C. and the Smithsonian. She was stuffed and mounted. When she travelled back to Cincinnati or to San Diego for a big conservation conference, she flew in a first class seat. For the last 15 years, she has been in a metal filing cabinet in the bowels of the Smithsonian, stuck on the same stick with an older stuffed unrelated pigeon named George. On Monday, they were separated, George was put back in storage and Martha was ready for a comeback. An exhibit on her extinction and the 100th anniversary starts June 24 at the Smithsonian.

San Francisco geneticists plan to use a process known as ‘de-extinction’ Technique involves using pigeon DNA taken from museum specimens . Scientists will then fill in gaps with fragments from a band-tailed pigeon . This reconstructed genome would be placed into stem cells of a pigeon . Scientists would then inject these back into live band-tailed pigeons . As those birds mate, their chicks would have passenger pigeon genes . Technique could be used to bring back hundreds of other extinct species . By 1900, wild passenger pigeons were extinct as a result of human activity .

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By . Helen Pow . PUBLISHED: . 00:32 EST, 28 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:10 EST, 28 November 2013 . A Miss Universe pageant hopeful is suing the organization co-owned by Donald Trump, claiming a recruiter asked her to give him oral sex in exchange for fast-tracking her modelling career. Ashleigh Blake, 21, from Tracy in Northern California, filed a suit Wednesday against the Miss Universe Organization, which she alleges is rife with sexual deviants who prey on unsuspecting young women. She claims Miss California USA recruiter Domingo Rodriguez lured her to a Starbucks parking lot with promises to land her modeling jobs and magazine covers. But when she met him in his car he allegedly explained that her end of the bargain involved giving him 'sexual favors.' Lawsuit: Ashleigh Blake, 21, pictured, from Tracy in Northern California, filed a suit Wednesday against the Miss Universe Organization, which she alleges is rife with sexual deviants who prey on unsuspecting young women . Miss Universe: Blake is suing the Miss Universe Organization, which is co-owned by Donald Trump, pictured right . Blake says she burst into tears and ran from the car. She says she went straight to the Tracy Police Department but was told she couldn't file criminal charges against Rodriquez because the recruiter didn't force her to perform the sex act. So she's suing the Miss Universe Organization claiming it knowingly hires 'scam artists' who lure young women with false promises of modeling contracts and fame. Blake is seeking at least $200,000 in damages according to TMZ. According to Jezebel, Blake was an amateur model and part-time tutor who fantasized about being a movie star or one of the Glee team when she was contacted out of the blue by the Miss California USA recruiter in November 2012. She responded right away to his request to schedule a meeting. 'I didn't expect them to pick me in a million years,' Ashleigh said in a YouTube video to raise awareness of the scam. 'When they did, I thought it was the start of my dreams coming true.' After filling out an online application, she was invited to an interview session with Rodriquez and a handful of other girls at a hotel near her home. They watched a promotional video and had one-on-one interviews, during which he told Blake he'd help find her sponsors to pay the $895 non-refundable application fee. Big dreams: Blake, pictured, was an amateur model and part-time tutor who fantasized about being a movie star or one of the Glee team when she was contacted out of the blue by the Miss California USA recruiter in November 2012 . He also told her, if she was interested, he knew a Miami magazine that needed a cover model. He followed up with her on email and later texted her. Blake said she was excited but unsettled by the middle-aged man's enthusiasm so she called the number on the pageant website and reached K2 Productions, which produces the California pageant, and they confirmed he worked there. He then asked her to send him modelling photos, which she did. He text back straight away saying the Miami magazine wanted her on the cover but they'd have to meet in person to discuss the terms of the deal. She agreed to meet him at a Starbucks in Tracy. However, Rodriguez showed up without any paperwork and asked Blake to get inside his car. She felt uncomfortable but got inside, thinking that as he was an official pageant recruiter there'd be no funny business. But once the doors were closed, Rodriguez told Ashleigh that the agreement wasn't written. It was oral. Help: After the Starbucks encounter, Blake said she contacted K2 Productions Director Keith Lewis, pictured left, to report what had happened and she said he told her he was upset but that she should keep it under wraps . Surprised: Blake, a 5ft 8in model was surprised when she was contacted by the Miss California USA recruiter to apply for the MUO pageant . 'Basically, I had to give him head and other "sexual favors" if I wanted to be on the cover of the magazine,' she said on YouTube. He said that this was simply the 'fast track' that 90 per cent of all successful actors and models had done to get to the top and her path to fame would be guaranteed if she did the same. He then asked her to 'prove herself' right there in the Starbucks parking lot. When she looked upset, he let her out of the car and told her to think about his offer. She told the police, who said it was a civil rather than criminal case because he didn't force her to do anything. She also approached Keith Lewis, the State Director for Miss California USA. She said he told Blake in an email that he was horrified by her experience and would remedy the situation, but advised her to keep her story under wraps. Rodriguez confirmed to Jezebel in March that he had met Blake in his car outside of a Tracy Starbucks to impart his knowledge about making it in modelling. 'She told me she would do whatever it takes, and now she's throwing my help in her face,' he told Jezebel. He denied that he personally requested a blow job, but said that he told her he knew of a magazine where 'young ladies can get on the cover if they do some type of sexual favors with the people at the magazine.' He said he had offered the same option to other aspiring models and at least one who took up the offer was 'doing very well.' 'This is character assassination and it's a shame because I've helped a lot of people in the past.' he said. He said he only met with Blake because she said she couldn't afford the fee for Miss California USA. 'The pageant industry is expensive for young ladies,' he said. 'I feel bad for those who dream about it but financially can't make it happen.'

Ashleigh Blake, 21, from Tracy in Northern California, filed a suit Wednesday against the Miss Universe Organization . She claims the organization is rife with sexual deviants who prey on unsuspecting young women . Miss California USA recruiter Domingo Rodriguez allegedly lured her to a Starbucks parking lot with promises to land her modeling jobs and magazine covers . But when she met him in his car he allegedly explained that her end of the bargain involved giving him 'sexual favors' She is seeking $200,000 in damages in the suit .

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Gamblers who won $1.5 million at a casino after realizing the cards hadn't been shuffled have been ordered to return the money. State Superior Court Judge Donna Taylor has sided with the Golden Nugget casino in its long-running dispute with 14 gamblers who say the fault wasn't theirs and they should be allowed to keep their winnings. At issue were games of mini-baccarat played in April 2012 using decks of cards the casino had paid a manufacturer to pre-shuffle but that hadn't been shuffled. Once players realized the pattern in which the cards were emerging they drastically upped their bets from $10 a hand to $5,000 and won 41 straight hands. Bummer: Gamblers who won $1.5 million at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City after realizing the cards hadn't been shuffled have been ordered to return the money . In the ruling, issued Monday and publicized by the casino on Thursday, the judge determined the games were illegal under state law because they didn't conform to gambling regulations specifying the way each game must be played. 'The dealer did not pre-shuffle the cards immediately prior to the commencement of play, and the cards were not pre-shuffled in accordance with any regulation,' the judge wrote. 'Thus, a literal reading of the regulations ... entails that the game violated the (Casino Control) Act, and consequently was not authorized.' She ruled that the gamblers must return any cash paid to them by the casino and any outstanding chips in their possession. The casino in turn must refund the gamblers the money they first put up to play. The Golden Nugget was pleased with the court's ruling, casino general manager Tom Pohlman said. 'We believe it was the right decision,' he said. A lawyer for the gamblers did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the decision. A lawyer for the casino's partner, Landry's Inc., said he expects the decision to be appealed. The Golden Nugget bought what were supposed to be pre-shuffled cards from a Kansas City manufacturer, which acknowledged in court it failed to shuffle them. The casino said its litigation with the manufacturer has been resolved but a confidentiality agreement prevents it from revealing details. The judge's ruling was the latest in a long series of decisions that have seesawed between favoring the casino and favoring the gamblers. The owner of the casino, Texas billionaire Tillman Fertitta, originally decided to let the players keep their winnings, but that offer was contingent on them dropping other claims they made against the casino, which they declined to do. The casino paid out about $500,000 in winnings for the disputed games. About $1 million in chips remains outstanding.

At issue were games of mini-baccarat played in 2012 cards the Golden Nugget had paid a manufacturer to pre-shuffle but that hadn't been shuffled . Once players realized the pattern in which cards were emerging they upped their bets from $10 a hand to $5,000 and won 41 straight hands . Judge Donna Taylor said the games were illegal under state law because they didn't conform to state gambling regulations .

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By . Snejana Farberov . A Pennsylvania man is facing animal abuse and drug charges after police say he tormented his pet kitten and injected him with heroin, prompting a quick-thinking veterinarian to use a human overdose medication on the cat. The 8-week-old, 2-pound black cat was rushed on Sunday to Hope Veterinary Specialists clinic in Malvern Sunday bleeding from his face, missing several teeth and with a rope tightly tied around his neck. A doctor at the center determined that the animal had been exposed to heroin and decided to administer an unusual remedy, giving the kitty the drug Narcan commonly used to treat human victims of drug overdose. Scroll down for video . Nine lives: Hope the kitten is lucky to be alive after allegedly being beat up, choked and injected with heroin by his owner over the weekend . 'Drug fiend': James Paul Myers, 24, faces charges including animal cruelty and drug possession . Police in West Whiteland Township say at around 4.40am Sunday, an officer spotted James Myers' car parked in the middle of Dunwoody Drive with the driver's door ajar, according to a press release put out Tuesday by the Chester County District Attorney's Office. The officer says under the door he saw an injured black kitten with a rope around its neck and several teeth knocked out. Myers allegedly tried to choke his pet, slammed his face into the ground and then painted the message 'SLAM IT YOU PU$$Y' on the pavement. 'This is a two pound kitten that would fit in the palm of my hand. He would take a kitten, a defenseless kitten, and torture it this way,' District Attorney Tom Hogan told the station 6ABC. Police say they also seized nearly two dozen bundles of heroin, hundreds of used baggies and 46 of needles in the 24-year-old's car. Authorities say at the veterinary clinic, Dr. Jennifer Magilto was able to revive the injured cat with an antidote for opium-based drug overdoses. Savagery: The kitty had some of his teeth knocked out in the beating,  and the 8-week-old pet also suffered head trauma . Obscene: Myers allegedly painted the words 'SLAM IT YOU PU$$Y' on the pavement . Initially, there was talk of euthanizing the animal because of his injuries, but when the veterinarian learned the facts of the case, she concluded that the kitten must have been injected with heroin and decided to try and save him. Within 24 hours, the kitty, appropriately named Hope after the veterinary clinic, was purring, eating with appetite and playing. The tough little guy is expected to make a full recovery, according to the doctors. He will then be transferred to the Chester County SPCA, which will help find Hope a foster home before putting him up for adoption. Quick-thinking vet: The doctor treating little Hope determined that he must have been injected with heroin and used the overdose reversal antidote nalaxone, trademarked as Narcan, to revive the pet . Getting better: The kitty is expected to make a full recovery, after which he will be put up for adoption . James Myers has been charged with animal cruelty and drug possession. He is being held in jail on $25,000 bail. ‘The abuse of this kitten was a singularly depraved act,’ stated District Attorney Hogan. ‘Heroin addicts abuse themselves, animals, and children without remorse or regret. What punishment is severe enough for this type of evil?’

A black 8-week-old kitten dubbed Hope was saved by a doctor at Hope Veterinary Specialists clinic in Malvern, Pennsylvania . The veterinarian gave the bleeding, lethargic kitten the overdose antidote Narcan . Owner James Myers, 24, charged with animal cruelty and drug possession . Myers is accused of trying to choke the cat with a rope, slamming his face into the ground and shooting him up with heroin Sunday .

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Babies with ‘three parents’ could be created in British laboratories within two years, it emerged yesterday. The UK fertility regulator said there was no evidence that the controversial technique would be unsafe, but called for extra checks before approving it for use. These could take up to two years. However, some leading scientists said that no time is to be lost in changing the law to allow women to be treated. Hope: Babies with 'three parents' could be created in British laboratories within two years, it has emerged. The UK fertility regulator said there was no evidence the IVF controversial technique would be unsafe (file picture) This would make Britain the first . country in the world to sanction the creation of babies that effectively . have three parents – two mothers and a father. Supporters . say it will give couples who have endured the heartache of repeatedly . miscarrying or burying much longed-for children the option of having a . healthy family. But critics argue that genetically engineering eggs and embryos crosses a crucial ethical line. Done differently, it could lead to the creation of ‘perfect’ babies, made to order by hair or eye colour. Mitochondria are tiny powerhouses in cells . that generate energy and have a small amount of their own DNA, separate . from the bulk of the human genetic code. Defects in mitochondrial . DNA (mtDNA) are responsible for a host of inherited diseases, including . conditions leading to muscle wasting, heart problems, loss of vision, . organ failure and epilepsy. MR treatment, which employs two different . IVF techniques, aims to prevent these diseases by giving babies healthy . mtDNA from donor eggs. The baby is born with normal 'nuclear' DNA . passed down by its parents - containing most inherited traits such as . eye and hair colour and height - plus a tiny amount of mtDNA donated by a . second donor 'mother'. In effect the baby has three genetic parents, though the donated mtDNA contains less than 1 per cent of its genes. Since . the healthy mtDNA would be inherited by future generations, the . treatment has the potential to eradicate mitochondrial diseases from . affected families. Critics argue that allowing the treatments could be the first step down a slippery slope towards 'designer babies'. The . controversy surrounds work being carried out at Newcastle University . into incurable diseases caused by mitochondria – the tiny sausage-shaped . powerhouses inside cells that turn food into energy. These . defects cause serious illness in one in 6,500 babies and are . responsible for 50 genetic diseases, many of which kill in infancy. Women . carrying damaged mitochondria can also miscarry repeatedly and often . face the heartbreaking choice of whether it would be best to remain . childless. To help them, . scientists have developed techniques in which the mother-to-be’s . diseased mitochondria are swapped with healthy ones from an egg donated . by another woman. Successful ‘mitochondrial replacement’ would allow the . couple a healthy child that is genetically their own. As the changes . would be passed down the generations, it would also eliminate the . disease from future generations of the family. Any . child would have DNA from two eggs and one sperm – and so effectively . have two mothers and one father - although the genetic contribution from . the donated egg would be very small. The Government has already given . the treatment its backing and published draft rules that will allow it – . if Parliament agrees. And . it had been predicted that the law could be changed by the end of this . year. But yesterday, a study by the fertility watchdog, the Human . Fertilisation & Embryology Authority, urged caution. The . authors said that while they have not seen any evidence that the . techniques are unsafe, crucial research needed to be done, before the . first women are treated. Panel . chairman Dr Andy Greenfield said: ‘The scientific questions that we . examined and the research that we examined – and it was voluminous – . will never answer all of the critical questions. And, of course it won’t . answer the fundamental question, which is are these techniques safe and . efficacious in humans.’ Three parents: The techniques involve replacing defective DNA in the mother's egg with material from a donor egg. This means the resulting healthy child would effectively have two mothers and a father . However, . he added that the same sort of safety questions existed before the . birth of Louise Brown, the world’s first test-tube baby. Dr David King, of campaign group Human Genetics Alert, said the techniques ‘open the door to a designer baby future’. Newcastle . University described the report as ‘very encouraging’ but couldn’t say . when it would be ready to treat the first woman.

Babies with 'three parents' could be created in Britain within two years . UK fertility regulator said there was no evidence technique was unsafe . However, it has called for additional checks before approving it for use . Approach is designed . to help families with particular genetic faults who want to avoid . passing on devastating incurable diseases to their children . Gives women who repeatedly miscarry 'option of having healthy family' But critics argue genetically engineering embryos crosses ethical line .

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By . Ruth Styles . PUBLISHED: . 07:41 EST, 29 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:05 EST, 29 January 2014 . From the invention of the telephone to the bicycle and even the steam ship, the Victorian period saw a mini revolution in the field of science and technology. But of all the new gadgets invented during her reign, it was the camera that delighted Queen Victoria the most. By the time she died in 1901, the UK's first modern monarch had amassed a huge collection of more than 20,000 images that included everything from favourite landscapes to early war photography and touching snaps of pets, friends and children. Family portrait: Queen Victoria and five of her children in an intimate snap taken by Roger Fenton in 1854 . The Royal Family at home: An 1857 portrait of the Royal Family taken by Leonida Caldesi in 1857 . Now some of the rarely seen photos from her archive are to be included in a fascinating new exhibition that documents Queen Victoria's passion for photography and offers a glimpse of the Royals' family photo album. Although most of the photos remain in the Windsor Castle archive, 200 royal photos will appear at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, including many by early greats such as Roger Fenton,  Leonida Caldesi and William Edward Kilburn. Among them is a touching family portrait featuring Queen Victoria and five of her nine children; the Princess Royal, the Prince of Wales, Princess Alice, Princess Helena and Prince Alfred, taken in January 1852. More show the Queen relaxing at Balmoral, spending time with her husband, Prince Albert, or posing for formal portraits during her widowhood. Carefree childhood: Princesses Helena and Louise pictured playing in the garden by Roger Fenton in 1856 . A Queen remembered: Victoria with Prince Albert in 1841 (left) and the Diamond Jubilee portrait of 1893 . Not amused: Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught seems less than thrilled to be starring in this Caldesi photo . Other members of the Royal family also appear, among them Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, Queen Victoria's seventh child, and her consort, Prince Albert, both of whom appear in official photos. Another, more intimate snap shows Princesses Helena and Louise in matching tartan ensembles in the garden at Balmoral during a summer jaunt. But although family photos dominate, the Queen's interest in photography wasn't limited to pictures of her husband and children. Photos of some of the Royal palaces, among them Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, appear as do snaps documenting some of the most important events of the Victorian period. One, by William Henry Fox Talbot, shows Nelson's Column under construction in Trafalgar Square in 1844, while another chronicles the launch of the pioneering steamship, the Great Eastern, under the watchful eye of its designer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Favourite palace: This photo, dating from the 1880s, shows the Round Tower at Windsor Castle . Pioneer: This shot of Nelson's Column was taken by William Henry Fox Talbot, the inventor of the camera . Poignantly, another, snapped by court favourite Roger Fenton, shows the aftermath of the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War. Considered one of the first war photographers, Fenton travelled to the Crimea under the patronage of Prince Albert and returned with 350 images, among them harrowing shots showing the carnage created by the Siege of Sevastopol and the Battle of Balaclava. His famous photo, The Valley of Death, depicting the spot where the Light Brigade met its end is part of Victoria's collection, along with others documenting events such as the Indian Mutiny from around the Empire. Although a keen collector, Queen Victoria never took any photographs of her own, although her children all embraced the medium. But although she chose not to get involved in creating her own images, her penchant for collecting photos, as the new exhibition makes plain, helped preserve some of the most striking depictions of the Victorian period for future generations to enjoy. A Royal Passion: Queen Victoria and Photography opens at the Getty Center in Los Angeles on 4th February. See getty.edu for more information . Innovation: Isambard Kingdom Brunel watching the launch of the steamship, Great Eastern, in 1857 . Valley of the Shadow of Death: The cannonball littered aftermath of the Charge of the Light Brigade, 1855 . From the Siege of Sevastopol to the Charge of the Light Brigade, Roger Fenton's striking shots taken in the Crimea are among the first war photographs ever taken. So who was the world's first war photographer? Born into a wealthy Lancashire family, Fenton was the fourth of seven children. He graduated with a degree in English, maths, Greek and Latin from Oxford University in 1840 and planned to study law before giving it up in favour of fine art. After stints in Paris, in the studio of Paul Delaroche and at the Louvre, he returned to London just in time for the Great Exhibition of 1851 where he discovered photography. Taught by early pioneer, Gustave Le Grey, within a year, Fenton was exhibiting his work nationwide and across Europe, and in 1853, helped found what would become the Royal Photographic Society under the patronage of Prince Albert. But it wasn't until war broke out in October 1853 between the British, Ottoman and French Empires on one side, and the Russian Empire on the other, that the photos that would define him in later years were taken. Encouraged by Prince Albert, he travelled to the Crimea, ostensibly to create photographs that would swing public opinion in favour of the unpopular war and counteract the critical reports being sent home by The Times' William Howard Russell. Based in the Crimea for just under 18 months, the 350 images he took are among the most enduring portraits of the Crimean War but did little to counter the negative public reaction. Much to his annoyance, when they went on sale following his return, the prints proved just as unpopular as the war itself with the paying public. His later career was spent travelling the length and breadth of the UK, creating stunning landscape photographs that proved far more commercially successful. In 1859, at his home in Potter's Bar in Hertfordshire, Fenton died after a week-long illness. He was just 50 years old.

New exhibition includes 200 rare images from the Royal Archive . Queen Victoria amassed more than 20,000 photos during her life . Many are intimate family portraits, some featuring the Queen herself . Others document significant events such as the Crimean War .

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To Arizona's governor, a bill that would have allowed businesses to close their doors to gays and lesbians out of religious conviction was wrong for the state. So, she vetoed it. The buck may have stopped with Gov. Jan Brewer in Arizona on Wednesday, but the fight to pass such laws bannered as religious freedom issues is still on in quite a few other states. "Right behind it are Missouri and Georgia," said Jay Michaelson, a fellow at Political Research Associates, a progressive political think tank. Brewer felt Senate Bill 1062 did not address specific dangers to religious freedom. "It could divide Arizona in ways we cannot even imagine," said Brewer, who said she tuned out public pressure and made the decision she felt was right. Attention now turns to the following states: . Georgia . The Preservation of Religious Freedom Act has been introduced into Georgia's Legislature, and it is similar to the one vetoed in Arizona. The measure, which is moving through the state House of Representatives, allows a private company to ignore state law that "directly or indirectly constrains, inhibits, curtails or denies" a person's religious beliefs. An almost identical bill has been introduced in the state Senate. Much like the Arizona measure, neither Georgia's House nor Senate bills specifically spell out gays or lesbians as the target. The legislation is not on the calendar for Monday, or "Crossover Day," the last day for legislation to pass the chamber in which it was introduced and transfer to the other chamber for consideration. But Georgia Equality Executive Director Jeff Graham said it could still appear on Monday. His group opposes the legislation. Graham doesn't rule out the bill moving forward, even if it doesn't make the calendar. "This could still come up as an amendment to another bill." Idaho . There are two bills being considered. HB 426 would protect people making decisions out of religious convictions -- including denying service to someone. HB 427 gives people protection against legal claims made against them in cases involving religious convictions. If passed into law, the first bill probably would be vulnerable to constitutional legal challenges. Both bills could cause many disruptions to everyday life in the state, a state attorney general said in an article in the The Spokesman Review. HB 427 has been sent back to committee. Mississippi . A bill is being considered to legally protect people against being compelled to take any action against their religion. SB 2681 does not explicitly mention gays, lesbians or same-sex marriage. It has passed the Senate and was referred to House, where it is in a judiciary committee. Missouri . A bill that requires the government to show a compelling interest in any attempt to restrict a person's right to practice religion was introduced this week by Republican state Sen. Wayne Wallingford. SB 916 provides for additional civil protections to the state's existing "Religious Freedom Restoration Act," according to the senator. But critics of the law say it's a way to discriminate against gays. Ohio . The House introduced HB 376 in December. It also does not single out same-sex relations for discrimination but gives legal protection to individuals acting or making decisions out of religious conviction. It's currently in judiciary committee. Critics say it's aimed at discrimination against same-sex couples, knoxnews.com reported. Oregon . The conservative Oregon Family Council is sponsoring a ballot measure -- the "Protect Religious Freedoms Initiative" -- that would allow private businesses to deny services that would support same-sex marriage. The group, which previously supported the effort to ban same-sex marriage in the state, is pushing to get the measure on the November ballot. South Dakota . Conservative senators introduced one bill that would allow businesses or people to deny "certain wedding services or goods due to the free exercise of religion." But its main sponsor withdrew it. But there's a second one protecting "speech pertaining to views on sexual orientation." It has been deferred to a late legislative day. There are also states where proposed bills have already hit a legislative wall: . Colorado . A bill that would have allowed people to defend against discrimination allegations on the basis of religious convictions was killed in committee, The Denver Post reported . Kansas . State representatives introduced a bill in January that would have explicitly permitted religious business people and government workers to refuse serving same-sex couples. It passed the House, with a vote of 72 to 49, but failed in the Republican-dominated Senate. Maine . A conservative senator introduced a religious freedom bill that would have protected people making decisions out of religious convictions that other legislators felt interfered with other people's civil rights. The state Senate and House both voted it down, the Bangor Daily News reported. Tennessee . Tennessee legislators introduced a bill in early February that proponents said would protect businesses if they refused services to gays and lesbians. Critics called it the "Turn the Gays Away" bill. The measure has been withdrawn from committee, CNN affiliate WSMV reported. Utah . Conservative state Sen. Stuart Reid introduced a bill similar to the Arizona bill that was vetoed, but it has since been shelved, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Arizona's governor felt it wasn't right; many lawmakers face her decision . "Right behind it are Missouri and Georgia," says analyst at political think tank . He predicts the advocates will follow the lead set by anti-abortion advocates . "It's a big, black mark against a state," says GLAAD CEO .

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Jamie Carragher spent 17 years at Liverpool, setting a European appearance record in the process and eventually racked up 737 games for the club. He can therefore probably be forgiven for seeing Melwood as a home from home. On Friday the Sportsmail columnist and former Liverpool defender turned up at his old training base instead of heading to the gym. Jamie Carragher drove to Melwood 'without thinking' on Friday morning, his old place of employment . Liverpool legend Carragher trains with Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt at the training base back in 2007 . Carragher tweeted: 'Anyone ever drive to there previous employment without thinking? I've just drove to Melwood! Supposed to be going the gym!!' The 36-year-old hung up his boots 18 months ago but former Liverpool midfielder Jimmy Case believes the club would have won the title last season were Carragher still around. Case said: 'If Carragher had stayed on for one more season, Liverpool would have won it. He would not have played every game, but the way they lost it against Chelsea and Crystal Palace would not have happened.' The likes of Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Mario Balotelli could have been at Melwood when Carragher arrived, with Brendan Rodgers preparing his players who aren't on international duty for their next Premier League fixture.

Jamie Carragher drove to Melwood instead of the gym on Friday morning . He tweeted: 'Anyone ever drive to there previous employment without thinking? I've just drove to Melwood! Supposed to be going the gym!!' Carragher spent 17 years at Liverpool and racked up 737 appearances .

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By . Associated Press . McDonald's is offering free coffee to its customers for a limited time as competition for the breakfast crowd intensifies. The world's biggest hamburger chain announced on Friday that participating U.S. locations will offer small cups of McCafe coffee at no charge during breakfast hours from March 31 through April 13. McDonald's said that this is the first time it's ever had a free coffee event nationwide. Its McCafe product line, which also includes iced coffees and other drinks, debuted in the U.S. in 2009. 1, 2, free! participating mcDonald's in the U.S. will be offering free coffee from march 31 to April 13 . McDonald's hopes that the limited promotion will catapult breakfast sales to stay on top of their competitors . The Oak Brook, Ill., company is hoping that the coffee giveaway will bring in new customers. It's also a way to get existing customers to come in more frequently. And it's likely that those stopping by for a free coffee will be tempted to pick up a breakfast sandwich or other items while there. Breakfast is an important component of McDonald's business, comprising about 20 percent of its U.S. sales. The announcement comes as Taco Bell rolls out ads to promote its new breakfast menu, which includes a waffle taco. The ads star everyday men that happen to be named Ronald McDonald, the same name as McDonald's mascot. Chains like McDonald's Corp., Taco Bell and Starbucks Corp. - which recently revamped its sandwiches - are all fighting for a piece of the breakfast market because people are increasingly buying breakfast on the go. McDonald's coffee giveaway comes shortly after it reported that an important sales figure declined 1.4 percent at established U.S. locations in February . McDonald's coffee giveaway comes shortly after it reported that an important sales figure declined 1.4 percent at established U.S. locations in February. The chain blamed bad winter weather but also said that 'challenging industry dynamics' played a role. The company has worked on adapting by making menu changes such as giving an option for egg whites in breakfast sandwiches and adding chicken McWraps to help appeal to those looking for fresher, healthier food. For a long time McDonald's, which started offering breakfast nationally in 1975 with the roll out of the Egg McMuffin, has dominated the morning category. Rival Burger King came out with their breakfast menu in 1979 and others have followed. The latest is Taco Bell, which launched its new breakfast menu on Thursday. But McDonald's is still a force - it's 31 percent of the category makes it the No. 1 player in breakfast, according to market researcher Technomic.

Participating U.S. locations will offer . small cups of McCafe coffee at no charge during breakfast hours from . March 31 through April 13 . The free coffee comes at the same time that taco Bell is introducing its new breakfast item the waffle taco . McDonald's coffee giveaway comes shortly . after it reported that an important sales figure declined 1.4 percent . at established U.S. locations in February .

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The United States government has denied Edward Snowden's claims that he was an undercover spy and had worked for both the CIA and NSA. National Security Adviser Susan Rice has spoken out in the wake of Snowden's first televised interview that aired on NBC Wednesday night. When asked if Snowden's claim was true, Ms Rice bluntly said: 'No'. 'Edward Snowden was a contractor working for the NSA and other elements of the intelligence community,' she said to CNN's Wolf Blitzer after being prompted with another question. His side: Edward Snowden told NBC's Brian Williams that he previously worked as an undercover operative for the CIA and the NSA, but the government has since denied those claims . 'Obviously he’s accused of sharing and disclosing, illegally, some of the most sensitive information of the United States government, allegedly, and our strong view is that rather than give television interviews, he ought to come home and have his day in court where he will be treated with all of the protections and fairness that our judicial system allows.' Speaking out: Susan Rice told CNN that Snowden never served in such capacities and he should come back to America to be brought to court . Her comments come after Brian William's full interview with Snowden aired, wherein he claimed to have had experience working as a government-backed undercover agent in addition to working later as an analyst and contractor for the NSA. 'I was trained as a spy in terms of the traditional sense of the word in that I lived and worked undercover, overseas, pretending to work in a job that I'm not, and even being assigned a name that was not mine,' he said to NBC. 'Now the government might deny these things, they might frame it in certain ways and say "Oh, well he's a low-level analyst" but what they're trying to do is they're trying to use one position that I've had in a career here or there to distract from the totality of my experience, which is that I've worked for the Central Intelligence Agency- undercover, overseas. I've worked for the National Security Agency- undercover, overseas- and I've worked at the Department of Defense as a lecturer at the joint-training  academy where I developed sources and methods for keeping our people and information secure in the most hostile and dangerous environments across the world.' He went on to claim that before he turned over the documents to journalist Glenn Greenwald, he started to go through official channels to report his apparent concern over the NSA's surveillance programs. More evidence: Snowden said that he sent emails to his higher ups at the NSA before leaking, expressing his concerns, but the government took the unprecedented step on Thursday of releasing one email that went against his comments . In response, the government used their new Intelligence Community Tumblr to released one email that they had on file from Snowden. The email is dated April 8, 2013, and seems to be an inquiry about the definition of the scope of executive orders as dictated in part of his training. 'NSA has now explained that they have found one email inquiry by Edward Snowden to the Office of General Counsel asking for an explanation of some material that was in a training course he had just completed,' the IC On The Record Tumblr caption notes. 'The e-mail did not raise allegations or concerns about wrongdoing or abuse, but posed a legal question that the Office of General Counsel addressed.' Edward Snowden's email, dated Friday, April 5, 2013 . Hello, I have a question regarding the mandatory USSID 18 training. The training states the following: ----(U) The Hierarchy of Governing Authorities and Documents is displayed from the highest authority to the lowest authority as follows:U.S. ConstitutionFederal Statutes/Presidential Executive Orders (EO)Department of Defense (DoD) and Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) RegulationsNSA/CSS Directives and Policies      USSIDs      SID Management Directives and Policies      Office Policies----I'm not entirely certain, but this does not seem correct, as it seems to imply Executive Orders have the same precedence as law. My understanding is that EOs may be superceded by federal statute, but EOs may not override statute. Am I incorrect in this? Between EOs and laws, which have precedence?Similarly, between DOD and ODNI regulations, which has greater precedence? Could you please clarify?Thank you very much, Ed . Official response, sender's name redacted, sent on Monday April 8, 2013Hello Ed,Executive Orders (E.O.s) have the "force and effect of law." That said, you are correct that E.O.s cannot override a statute.In general, DOD and ODNI regulations are afforded similar precedence though subject matter or date could result in one having precedence over another. Please give me a call if you would like to discuss further. Regards, [name redacted]Office of General Counsel . Full exchange: This email chain was released by a government-run blog on Thursday afternoon in an effort to discredit Snowden's claims that he sent emails showing he was concerned about NSA policies .

Snowden claimed that he worked for the CIA, NSA and Department of Defense at different points in his career . National Security Adviser Susan Rice has shot down that theory and said that he never worked as a spy for any branch of the government . In his first televised interview, he told how he tried going through official channels by emailing his boss about concerns before leaking . Government released one email he sent asking a question about legal precedence- with no sense of concern .

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Real Betis midfielder Alfred N'Diaye was quick to act and cradle a young fan to safety from the wreckage after the collapse of a fence in the stands of Osasuna's El Sadar Stadium. The on-loan Sunderland star was on hand immediately after the incident caused during celebrations for the home side's opening goal after 12 minutes through Oriol Riera. Elated fans for the relegation-threatened host went into raptures after the strike before spilling onto the pitch when the fence gave way. Despite eventually winning 2-1, Osasuna couldn't escape the drop due to result elsewhere and will join Betis, who were already relegated before this week's fixtures, and Real Valladolid in the Spanish second division next season. Supported: Real Betis's on-loan Sunderland midfielder Alfred N'Diaye carries a young fan from the wreckage . Spilling over: Police officers and medical staff restore order after the railing collapsed at Osasuna . Collapse: Play was suspended after a barrier fell during Osasuna's La Liga match against Real Betis . Relegation battle: Officials at the Pamplona ground ensured all was safe before restarting play . The collapse at Pamplona added drama to an already nail-biting final day of La Liga action. Play was halted for more than 30 minutes when the barrier tumbled to the ground following . Osasuna's early breakthrough before fans spilled on to . the pitch. Around 40 were treated on site for minor complaints and 10 . were taken to hospital but none suffered serious injury, according to . the local Red Cross. When play restarted the hosts doubled their lead almost immediately through Javier Acuna but their winning was only one part of their bid to add another year to their 14 spent in the top-flight. Their delay forced the Spanish professional league (LFP) to extend the halftime breaks in the other three games . involving relegation-threatened sides until the second-half restart in the Osasuna-Betis match. Collapse: An Osasuna supporter is helped by a medic after a fence broke at at El Sadar . No serious injuries: 40 fans were treated on site while 10 were taken to hospital with minor complaints . Elated: Osasuna players celebrate Riera's opening goal after 12 minutes that sparked the collapse . Not enough: Despite winning 2-1, Osasuna couldn't avoid relegation . In control: Police and security line the area of the stadium that was damaged . Valladolid, . who were promoted in 2011-12, went down following a 1-0 home defeat by . Granada, who along with Almeria and Getafe avoided the drop. Almeria . drew 0-0 at home to fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao and Getafe beat Rayo . Vallecano 2-1 in a bad-tempered clash between the two Madrid clubs which . ended in a mass brawl. Betis finished in 20th and last place with 25 . points from 38 matches, Valladolid were 19th on 36 and Osasuna 18th on . 39, a point behind Almeria and Elche. Getafe finished in 13th with 42 . points and Granada in 15th on 41. Atletico Madrid won their first La . Liga title in 18 years on Saturday thanks to a 1-1 draw at second-placed . Barcelona in a thrilling climax to the campaign.

Real Betis's N'Diaye was on hand when fans fell onto the ground during celebrations for Osasuna's opening goal at El Sadar Stadium . About 40 fans were treated on site and 10 were taken to hospital . No-one was seriously injured when the fence behind the goal gave way . Osasuna beat Betis 2-1 but couldn't escape relation from La Liga . They will join Real Valladolid and Betis in Spain's second division .

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By . Lydia Warren . A panhandler has devised a creative way to raise cash - by entertaining motorists at a Tampa intersection while they wait for the lights to change. Jeff Stevens, who waits at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and Kennedy Boulevard, dances, twirls a cane and brandishes signs that he hopes tickle drivers into handing over change. 'Wife + pet tiger abducted. Need help w/ ransom to save my lovable tiger. They can have wife, so much quieter at home,' one sign reads. Thinking outside the box: Jeff Stevens performs and holds up creative signs for Tampa motorists . He has become somewhat of a local fixture after putting on his shows every Sunday. Stevens said he had originally held signs reading 'homeless' but realized he had to try something different when they failed to stir passersby into handing over donations. 'I started coming up with comedy things and trying to make people laugh,' he told Bay News 9. 'It just brightens their day.' He managed to get a full time job working at Denny's and moved into an apartment in 2011, but he still needed to perform to make ends meet. Having a laugh: He places signs along the roadside and hopes they tickle motorists into giving a donation . New approach: He said that he previously wrote 'homeless' on signs but that they never worked . He continues with his weekly performances in a bid to pay bills and start saving money. Now he has dreams of returning to what he used to do - traveling with the circus and performing with wild cats, he told Bay News 9. He told the channel he is related to Ron and Joy Holiday, who featured in HBO's documentary Cat Dancers and who hit headlines when their partner was killed by one of their tigers. But after he left the circus, his parents passed away and he clashed with the law - eventually bringing him to Florida and his intersection. Former career: He said he wants to work with a traveling circus - a job he previously had (pictured) Performance: Every weekend, he twirls a cane as cars wait for the lights to change at the intersection . And until he achieves his dream of getting back to the circus, he said he's happy to stay here putting on his shows. 'It blesses my heart to see them laughing,' he said of passersby. 'If I don't make a dollar or anything, it feels good right here just to see somebody smile.'

Jeff Stevens goes to the same Tampa intersection every Sunday and waits for the traffic to stop before dancing and twirling a cane . He also posts signs along the roadside that he hopes tickle motorists into handing over cash . Stevens, who also works at Denny's, dreams of joining a traveling circus .

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(CNN) -- DJ and TV host Jimmy Savile was a larger-than-life personality. And a report released Thursday confirms he was also an extravagant sexual predator, using his access to hospitals as a volunteer porter and fundraiser to abuse victims aged from 5 to 75. The review of Savile's behavior at 28 hospitals across the United Kingdom makes shocking reading, detailing a catalog of abuses against some of Britain's most vulnerable people over the course of decades. Protected by his celebrity and exploiting a network of relationships he built in hospitals, he carried out rapes, other sexual abuse and displayed an unhealthy interest in dead bodies in a hospital mortuary. Worse, the abuse went unchecked and unpunished, since the BBC entertainer died before the allegations against him were made public. UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt apologized in the House of Commons on Thursday to all the victims abused by Savile while in the care of the National Health Service -- and said the system had let down those who were brave enough to raise the alarm but had their complaints ignored. "Savile was a callous, opportunistic, wicked predator who abused and raped individuals, many of them patients and young people, who expected and had a right to expect to be safe. His actions span five decades -- from the 1960s to 2010," Hunt said. "The family favorite loved by millions courted popularity and used it to perpetrate and cover up his own evil acts." Victims who complained were "time and again" ignored, or if heard, little or no action was taken, Hunt said. "People and institutions turned a blind eye." "As a nation at that time we held Savile in our affection as a somewhat eccentric national treasure with a strong commitment to charitable causes," Hunt said. "Today's reports show that in reality he was a sickening and prolific sexual abuser who repeatedly exploited the trust of a nation for his own vile purposes." Victims' ages from 5 to 75 . 'Abused and raped patients without scruple' For a generation who grew up watching Savile on TV's "Top of the Pops" and his children's program "Jim'll Fix It," the revelations that first emerged in 2012 were deeply disturbing. Thursday's report into the full extent of his offending against children and adults, patients and staff, in 28 hospitals -- particularly Leeds Infirmary and Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security psychiatric institution -- will do nothing to reassure them. The Leeds Infirmary report reveals a sexual predator who, while volunteering as a porter, "abused and raped patients without scruple," said Hunt. Some 60 people reported abuse to the Leeds investigation, including a teenager who believed she was pregnant as a result of Savile's actions, he said. "Two witnesses told the investigation Savile claimed to have had jewellery made from glass eyes taken from bodies in the mortuary," Hunt added, saying that other claims were too horrific to recount in parliament. The report cites one witness who tells how Savile recounted making trips to the hospital mortuary, where he claimed to have manipulated bodies before rigor mortis set in, taken photographs and performed sex acts on them. The report's authors say they have "no way of proving Savile's claim that he interfered with the bodies of deceased patients in the mortuary." However, it is established that he "publicly declared his interest in the dead," that he visited a friend who worked in the mortuary and that controls were lax for many years. "In light of the claims about the glass eye jewellery and Savile's interference with the bodies of the deceased, it is evident his interest in the mortuary was not within accepted boundaries," it concludes. 'Very manipulative' The report from Broadmoor said 10 people had alleged they were sexually assaulted by Savile, plus a case of indecent exposure involving a minor. The investigation concluded that at least five people were sexually abused and a sixth was more likely than not to have been. Five other victims could not be contacted for detailed accounts. The report gives an insight into how Savile was able to gain a position of influence at the secure institution that included giving him keys to wards and allowing him to watch female patients undress to bathe. "Savile could be charming and persuasive, at least to some, but at the same time he was grandiose, narcissistic, arrogant and lacking any empathy," it states. "He was also very manipulative, and many staff were convinced that he had close connections in high places and had the power to have them dismissed." Una O'Brien, permanent secretary of the Department of Health, said in a statement that "inadequate processes" had allowed Savile to gain the position of authority at Broadmoor that aided his abusive behavior. "While much has changed in the intervening years we will leave no stone unturned to make sure such appalling actions can never be repeated; our thoughts today are with the people who suffered and continue to suffer from these terrible crimes," she said. The UK's NSPCC children's charity said more must be done to safeguard children and ensure that an apparent "culture of turning a blind eye" to abuse is not repeated. "To hear that some hospital staff may have actively facilitated Savile's abuse of children is sickening and takes the scandal of his crimes to yet another abhorrent level," said Peter Watt, national services director for the charity. "Savile escaped justice because people didn't want to hear or believe what children were saying. Ministers now need to be satisfied that this could never happen again and that children and vulnerable adults in hospitals or any government facility are safe today." Savile died in October 2011 at age 84, soon after being treated in a hospital for pneumonia. His long history of abuse emerged only a year later, thanks to a TV documentary by UK broadcaster ITV. The BBC, where he worked as a radio DJ and TV presenter, has set up a separate inquiry into abuses he carried out on BBC premises. CNN's Carol Jordan and Claudia Rebaza contributed to this report.

28 hospitals release reports into abuse by Jimmy Savile of patients and staff . Health secretary: "Savile was a callous, opportunistic, wicked predator" Reports detail rapes, abuses and claims of sexual behavior with dead bodies . TV star used his popularity "to perpetrate and cover up his own evil acts," health secretary says .

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By . Corey Charlton . It is a beach litter cleanup even the kids could enjoy. Lego is continuing to wash up on the shores of Cornwall beaches 17 years after a container ship was struck by a freak wave and close to five million pieces were lost overboard. The Tokio Express was en-route from Rotterdam to New York on February 13, 1997, when a wild wave struck it 20 miles west of Land's End, tilting it back and forth at such a sharp degree it lost 62 containers. A collection of the tiny bits and pieces found scattered along the coast. There were almost five million pieces of Lego inside the container when it was lost overboard in the 1997 accident . Many of the Lego items that were lost overboard in the freak storm were sea-themed and some of the pieces most commonly found on local beaches are cutlasses, octopuses, scuba tanks and diving flippers . A Lego cutlass (left) and red poppies (right) which washed up on the beaches. Collectors have questioned just how far items could have travelled in the 17 years since the Tokio Express was caught in the storm . One of those lost containers held about five million pieces of Lego - a small and light enough object to be easily carried by ocean currents. And in an odd coincidence, a large proportion of the Lego pieces were sea-themed, so cutlasses, octopuses, scubas and flippers have been routinely washing up on Cornish beaches ever since. The ship's manifest revealed 4,756,940 pieces fell into the sea including 3,178,807 light enough to float. However, nobody has ever established what happened to the remaining containers. Spear guns (red and yellow) - 13,000 . Black octopus - 4,200 . Yellow life preserver - 26,600 . Diver flippers (in pairs, black, blue, red) - 418,000 . Dragons (black and green) - 33,941 . Brown ship rigging net - 26,400 . Daisy flowers (in fours - white, red, yellow) - 353,264 . Scuba and breathing apparatus (grey) - 97,500 . Tracey Williams, from Newquay, said: 'There's stories of kids in the late 1990s having buckets of dragons on the beach, selling them. 'These days the holy grail is an octopus or a dragon. I only know of three octopuses being found, and one was by me, in a cave in Challaborough. 'It's quite competitive. If you heard that your neighbour had found a green dragon, you'd want to go out and find one yourself.' US oceanographer Curtis Ebbesmeyer has tracked the story of the Lego since it was spilled. He says reports of it reaching as far as Australia are not too far fetched as theoretically it could have reached any beach in the world by now. He said: 'The mystery is where they've ended up. After 17 years they've only been definitely reported off the coast of Cornwall. 'The most profound lesson I've learned from the Lego story is that things that go to the bottom of the sea don't always stay there.' The beach of Perranporth, in Cornwall, where thousands of the pieces of Lego have washed ashore . Dragons have become a rare find on the beaches nowadays, and as a result are highly sought after by locals . Finding an octopus on the beaches of Cornwall is now considered the 'holy grail' for local Lego hunters, who have spent years in the area searching for the tiny bits of plastic lost overboard in 1997 . An environmental campaigners say the legacy of the lost Lego illustrates how marine waste and litter floats around for years, posing a risk to wildlife and polluting our seas. Latest figures show an average of 2,683 containers are lost at sea every year. Martin Dorey, organiser of the 2 Minute Beach Clean group, which encourages people to pick up litter on beaches, said: 'I know it's not their fault, it's the way the ships are stacked. 'But while container spills are all resolved from the insurance point of view, it's not resolved from the marine point of view.'

Ship en-route to New York was hit by freak wave with 62 containers lost . Among the lost cargo was a container filled with millions of bits of Lego . The tiny pieces have been washing up on Cornwall beaches ever since .

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By . Allan Hall . PUBLISHED: . 06:15 EST, 21 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:54 EST, 21 March 2013 . A police officer was killed and four others seriously injured when two helicopters crashed into each other during a riot training exercise above Berlin's Olympic Stadium. Both vehicles were reduced to fiery hulks when they smashed into a field adjoining the stadium during a snowstorm.  Reports suggest that the vehicles flew too close to one another while one was descending and their rotors clashed. The helicopters, thought to be carrying up to 25 police officers each, were taking part in a training exercise dealing with football violence and crowd control. Scroll down for video . Devastation: Two crashed helicopters on the field of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin . Response: Police officers rush to the scene after the crash in which one police officer died and another four were seriously injured . Football ground: The Olympic Stadium in Berlin is also home to the Hertha Berlin Bundesliga football club . Exercise: The two helicopters can be seen lying beside each other. The officers are believed to have been taking part in a football violence and crowd control exercise . The Olympic Stadium, which is now home to the Hertha Berlin Bundesliga football club, was the focal point of the Olympic Games in 1936, dubbed Hitler's Games. It also hosted the World Cup final in 2006. Fireworks were reportedly being let off to create riot conditions when the collision occurred.  One pilot was pictured walking away from the wreckage of his craft with blood streaming down his face from a head wound. As well as the serious injuries and fatality, media reports spoke of 'many others' being hurt. The crash between the Puma helicopters happened at 10.40am this morning. Some 400 police officers were on the ground and dashed to the nearby fields to help their stricken comrades when they saw the aircraft go down in flames. Reports suggest that the crash happened when one helicopter was preparing to land and . did not notice the other beneath it. The machines were no more than . 100 feet off the ground when they collided, while it is understood that the dead pilot . was at the controls of the lower aircraft. Alex Lier, a reporter for the Bild newspaper who was at the scene, said: 'Everyone is in shock. Three helicopters were airborne in a real snowstorm. 'Then one heard a loud bang and someone shouted: 'Everyone get down!' There was blood and wreckage everywhere.' The helicopters are part of a fleet operated by the Federal Police - the national force - as opposed to the local Berlin police.  An immediate inquiry is underway into the cause of the crash as local hospitals deal with the casualties. One of the helicopter pilots died at . the scene, fire service spokesman Stephan Fleischer said, who confirmed . that five people were injured, four of them seriously. A female police officer is among the four severely wounded in the crash. Disaster: There were 25 police officers in each of the Puma helicopters, with reports suggesting they flew too close to each other . Injuries: One of the injured officers is helped away from the scene. Reports suggested that 'many more' had been injured . Federal Police spokesman Frank . Brochert confirmed there 'was an incident during an exercise' and that . emergency crews were on the scene. He had no details about the accident. Fire . service spokesman Sven Gerling said his initial information was that . two helicopters crashed, but he had no further details on the accident. It was not immediately clear whether the injured people were in the helicopters, Mr Fleischer said. Pictures from the scene showed one of . the helicopters lying on its side in the snow in a field behind the . stadium and the other next to it, still upright. Eyewitness Johannes Malinowski said . on n-tv television that he saw three helicopters approaching and that . the snow on the field was being kicked up by the aircraft, so 'you . couldn't see a whole lot anymore'. There was then 'a big bang' he said, 'and then we looked up and there was blood on the ground'. The training exercise being conducted was thought to have related to football violence. Germany's main police union is calling for clarification why the training exercise was green-lighted when the weather was so bad in Berlin. The president of the GdP union said: 'We need answers.  But immediately our sympathies and concern lie with the survivors and for the family of the dead officer.  We wish a speedy and full recovery to our injured colleagues.' The Olympic Stadium in West Berlin was constructed in 1936 . Training: There are thought to have been a further 400 officers from the Federal Police on the ground during the exercise . Confusion: Fireworks had been let off inside the stadium to recreate the atmosphere of a riot, according to some reports . Wreckage: Eyewitness Johannes Malinowski said on n-tv television that he saw three helicopters approaching and that the snow on the field was being kicked up by the aircraft, so 'you couldn't see a whole lot anymore' Major stadium: A view from inside the stadium taken during the 2006 FIFA World Cup . The design and construction of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin was overseen by Nazi ruler Adolf Hitler, which was the focal point of the Olympic Games in 1936. German athletes won more gold medals than any other nation at the tournament, prompting Hitler to say that when the war was won, every Olympic Games would take place in Germany. After the Games Hitler told Albert Speer, an architect and later his Armaments Minister who worked on the original stadium, . to produce blueprints for a new stadium seating 400,000 people. Despite its modern remodelling, including a roof and moveable . seating, the stadium is recognisably the same as that which hosted the 1936 Games. The Games represented the one arena in which Hitler's ambition to . rule victorious over the rest of the civilised world would actually be . accomplished, albeit only in the world of athletics. The stadium is the biggest and best-preserved example of Nazi . architecture in Berlin, and was built as an expression of German might. Hitler opened the Games on August 1, 1936, between two tall, imposing . stone towers which look like fortified turrets, with the five rings of . the Olympic symbol strung between them. That summer's day, conscious that he cut a rather sorry figure in . civilian dress, Hitler wore his usual brown uniform with a peaked cap, . baggy trousers, knee-length leather boots and swastika armband. Show of strength: A Hitler Youth meeting in the Olympic Stadium, Berlin, designed for the 1936 Games . He walked beneath a 220ft-high stone belltower, its . nine-and-a-half-ton bell inscribed, in Gothic letters, 'I call to the . Youth of the World'. A special truck had pulled it slowly across Germany to Berlin, . greeted throughout its journey with military parades, bands and . speeches. As Hitler marched slowly between the Olympic teams gathered just . outside on the vast open space of the May Field, he was filmed by the . camera teams of his favourite director, Leni Riefenstahl. From three miles away, loudspeakers positioned along his route had been intoning: 'He is coming. He is coming.' When he entered the stadium and ascended to the Ehrentribune, or seat . of honour, Hitler was greeted by a sea of swastikas and a thunderous . roar of adulation from the capacity crowd of  110,000 people. As the national teams marched past, the French were greeted with a . huge ovation for giving the Nazi salute, while the British, who refused . to give the salute, performing instead a military-style 'eyes right', . were received almost in silence. Despite the existence of concentration camps and brutal treatement of . Jews in Germany, with the exception of Stalin's Russia, who were not . invited, none of the Olympic teams chose to boycott Hitler's Games. A few individual athletes pulled out, but the prevailing sentiment . was summed up by the British gold medallist sprinter Harold Abrahams, . himself Jewish, who said: 'If the British team goes to Berlin, it will . be an influence for the good.' his was despite the fact that, since 1933, Jewish sportsmen and women . had been largely excluded from competing, except among themselves. Under pressure from the International Olympic Committee, the Germans . unwillingly allowed a couple of Jews, both women, to train for the . Olympics, though only one was permitted to participate.

The two Puma helicopters were taking part in a training exercise above Berlin's Olympic Stadium . Reports suggest that fireworks were being let off to recreate riot conditions as part of the exercise . Both helicopters were carrying 25 police officers each, while approximately 400 police officers were on the ground . Reports suggest that 'many others' were injured after aircraft are thought to have flown too close to each other . Reporter said there was a loud bang then somebody shouted: 'Everybody get down' Described 'blood and wreckage everywhere' and suggested helicopters were flying in a 'real snowstorm' Germany's main police union calling for clarification as to why exercise green-lighted in poor weather conditions .

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PARIS, France (CNN) -- The Air France plane that crashed a month ago off the coast of Brazil "did not break up or become destroyed in flight," but bellyflopped intact into the Atlantic Ocean, the French air investigation agency announced Thursday. Relatives and friends of an Air France steward follow his coffin during his funeral last week in Rio de Janeiro. "The plane went straight down, almost vertically... towards the surface of the water, very very fast," air accident investigator Alain Bouillard said. Based on visual study of the physical remains of the Airbus A330 that have been recovered, "we were able to see that the plane hit the surface of the water flat. Therefore everything was pushed upwards -- everything was pushed from the bottom to the top" of the plane, he said. The 228 people killed in the crash "had no time to prepare," he said. Watch more about Flight 447's descent » . But Bouillard said he did not have autopsy results from the bodies recovered, and did not know why no one lived through the crash. "I don't know why nobody survived," he said. "I don't know the intensity of the impact. Perhaps we will find out from the autopsies. Perhaps we will never know." Bouillard said it was still unclear what caused the crash, the deadliest in Air France's 75-year history. "Today we are very far from establishing the causes of the accident," he said. But there is no reason to ground Airbus A330 airplanes, he said. "There is no problem with flying these airplanes." Pressed by a reporter on why he was not ordering the model to stop flying, he said the fleet has flown millions of miles and there are currently 660 of them flying. "Statistically, this would answer the question," he said. Air France 447 was unable to fly on autopilot at the time of the crash, the investigator said. That was because the autopilot was not receiving speed, wind or direction information, he said. "These tell us that the plane has to be, in this case, directed by the pilot," he said. He did not immediately say if the pilots were in control of Air France 447. The last contact with the plane was at 2:10 a.m. local time on June 1. "Right after that 24 automated messages came through" about the status of the plane, he said. Those messages were what enabled investigators to determine that the autopilot would not have had enough information to fly the plane, he said. No air-traffic controllers seem to have been monitoring the flight when it went down, investigations have found. It would normally have been "handed over" from controllers in South America to others in Africa while flying over the Atlantic, but that did not happen, Bouillard said. "We want to know why there was no concern in Dakar (in Senegal, west Africa) when this plane was not handed over," he said. The plane was flying through severe storms when it went down. Three other flights on similar routes changed course within an hour after Air France 447 flew into the bad weather. A Spanish, French and German flight all experienced turbulence in the same region and diverted as much as 100 km (62 miles) off course to avoid bad weather, Bouillard said. All three flights had problems communicating with air traffic control. Investigators will continue searching for the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder -- commonly known as "black boxes" -- until July 10, said Bouillard, of the French air accident investigation agency known as the BEA. "They normally give a signal for 30 days. We will keep listening another 10 days," he said. Air France said Thursday it was of "capital importance" to find the recorders, "which would enable the investigators to analyze the causes of the accident, whatever these may be. No effort must be spared in achieving this end." Bouillard said investigators would continue to search even after the beacons on the recorders stop signaling, in what he called a "second phase" of the search. "If we could find a part of the plane that we know was near the black boxes, that will give us a clue about where to search," he said. The mountainous ocean floor in the search area ranges from 3,280 to 15,091 feet, BEA officials have said in the past, making the search for the recorders -- and the rest of the plane's debris -- difficult. "It is as if it fell in the Andes," Olivier Ferrante, chief of the BEA search mission said last month. French submarines and sensitive U.S. military listening devices are being used in the search. Flight 447 went down in stormy weather while flying from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Brazil called off the search for bodies on June 27, having found 51 of the 228 people who died when the plunged into the sea, according to the military. Investigators have also found more than 600 parts and structural components of the plane, along with luggage, Bouillard said. They have not found any clothing, he said, but was unable to say why.

Air France plane that crashed in June "did not break up in flight," officials say . Airbus A330 was unable to fly on autopilot at the time of the crash . Investigators will search for data recorders until July 10, investigator says . Plane wreckage believed to be on Atlantic seabed, around 4,500 meters deep .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 03:59 EST, 27 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:05 EST, 27 March 2013 . Google has picked 8,000 'winners' who will have a chance to wear the company's new internet-connected glasses ahead of the general public. The US winners will each have to pay 1,500 dollars (£995) if they want a test version of the product, called Google Glass and hailed as the latest in 'wearable computing.' They will also have to travel to New York, Los Angeles or the San Francisco Bay area to pick up the device, which is not expected to be available on the mass market until late this year or early next year. Google has picked 8,000 people in the US who will have a chance to wear the company's new internet-connected glasses . The excitement stems from the belief that Google Glass is at the forefront of a new wave of technology known as 'wearable computing'. Google, Apple and several other companies are also working on internet-connected watches, according to reports citing people familiar with the projects. Google Glass is supposed to perform many of the same tasks as smartphones, except the glasses respond to voice commands instead of fingers touching a display screen. The glasses are equipped with a hidden camera and tiny display screen attached to a rim above the right eye. Google co-founder Sergey Brin walks the runway wearing the new product. The winners will each have to pay 1,500 dollars (£995) if they want a test version of the product, called Google Glass . The engineers who have been building Google Glass tout the technology as a way to keep people connected to their email, online social networks and other crucial information without having to frequently gaze down at the small screen on a smartphone. Google is developing a smart watch as well as its Glass wearable computer, it has been revealed. The search giant is set to use its Android software to power the gadget. It will battle against Apple's iWatch and a Samsung gadget the Korean giant revealed this week it is developing. It is believed watch is being built by Google's Android team, which usually works on handsets and tablets, rather than the 'X Lab' which is developing the Google Glass Wearable Computer and the driverless car. The hidden camera is designed to make it easy for people to take hands-free photos or video of whatever they are doing. Privacy watchdogs, though, are already worried that Google Glass will make it even more difficult for people to know when they are on camera. One contest winner promised to take Google Glass to Veteran Administration hospitals so soldiers who fought in the Second World War can see their memorials before they die. Another plans to wear Google Glass during a trip to Japan so she can take video and pictures that she can share with her grandmother, who lives in the US but would like to see her native country again. A zookeeper wants to use Google Glass to show what it is like to feed penguins and another contest winner plans to use the technology to provide maps that will help firefighters in emergencies. Google said the test, or 'Explorer' version of Glass, will help its engineers get a better understanding of how the technology might be used and make any necessary adjustments before the device hits the mass market. The company sold an unspecified number of Explorer models to computer programmers last year. The finished product is expected to cost between 700 and 1,500 dollars (£465-£995).

Winners will also have to travel to America to pick up the device . Google glass will arrive on mass market late this year or early next year . It is supposed to perform many of the same tasks as smartphones . But the glasses will react to the wearer's voice instead of hand control .

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We are always being told that being overweight is unhealthy. But new research suggests it could be good for you - if you're over 65. An Australian study shows that older people with a higher body mass index liver for longer. Elderly people who are overweight live for longer than those who are a 'healthy' weight . Scientists at Deakin University, in Melbourne, found people over the age of 65 who fell into the overweight category of BMI were least likely to die. They found that the lowest risk of death was among those with a BMI of about 27.5, which is considered overweight according to the World Health Organisation. They also found that mortality rates were much higher among those with a BMI between 22 and 23 – this is within the normal range. ‘It is time to reassess the healthy weight guidelines for older people,’ lead author Professor Caryl Nowson said. ‘Our results showed that those over the age of 65 with a BMI of between 23 and 33 lived longer, indicating that the ideal body weight for older people is significantly higher than the recommended 18.5 to 25 “normal” healthy weight range.’ The research team reviewed studies published between 1990 and 2013 that reported on BMI and risk of death in people aged 65 years and over. Elderly people with a BMI of 27.5 - which is classed as overweight - live the longest . Collectively these studies followed around 200,000 people over an average of 12 years. The results showed that people with a ‘normal’ BMI of 21 to 22 were 12 per cent more likely to die. They also revealed that people with a BMI of 20 to 20.9 were 19 per cent more likely to die and people with a BMI of 33 to 33.9, which is classed as obese, were eight per cent more likely to die. Professor Nowson suggests that most older people need to get off the weight loss bandwagon. She said: ‘These findings indicate that, by current standards, being overweight is not associated with an increased risk of dying. ‘Rather, it is those sitting at the lower end of the normal range that need to be monitored, as older people with BMIs less than 23 are at increased risk of dying.’ Advice on ideal body weight should take into account factors other than BMI, Professor Nowson said. ‘Factors such as chronic diseases and the ability to move around need to be considered as there is no real issue with being in the overweight range unless it is preventing people from moving around freely,’ she added. ‘Rather than focussing on weight loss, older people should put their efforts into having a balanced diet, eating when hungry and keeping active. ‘Putting too much emphasis on dietary restrictions also increases the risk malnutrition in this age group. Malnutrition in older people is not well recognised as this can occur even when BMI is in the overweight range.’ The study was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Older people with a higher body mass index live for longer . Elderly people with a BMI of 27.5 live for the longest . Over 65s with a 'normal' BMI live for less time than fatter people . This could be because older people are at greater risk of malnutrition .

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An 11-year-old girl killed by a stray bullet is among the two dead and nearly two dozen other people wounded by yet another brutal night of gun violence in Chicago. Shamiya Adams was making s'mores inside a South Side home for a sleepover Friday night when a bullet went into the house and struck her in the head. A 30-year-old man was also shot dead, police said. An additional 20 people were injured across the city. As usual, the bulk of the violence occurred on the South and West Sides – a refrain that is now playing out on a nightly basis. Senseless: Shamiya Adams, 11, was killed by a stray bullet in front of her friends while making s'mores during a sleepover inside the home of her best friend . ‘They were just running around through the house, dancing. That's all they do is dance all the time. And dancing, dancing, dancing,’ homeowner Rosemarie Jones told WLS. Until a bullet came through the wall and struck Adams in the head, according to police, she was rushed to a nearby hospital and died Saturday morning. ‘The familiarity of laughter has been replaced by the familiarity of gunfire,’ Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a Saturday morning press briefing. The innocent girl was making s'mores with her friends when the bullet struck her, according to the Chicago Tribune. Her young friends saw the bullet strike her head. Hours after the girl was rushed to a hospital and as police still searched for her killer without any solid leads, marshmallows and chocolate bars were still scattered over the bed Adams and friends were on, according to the paper. Spattered traces of the 11-year-old girl's blood were observed just under a stuffed Tweety Bird doll hanging on the wall. Adams was enjoying her summer vacation with her friends like any other girl her age. 'They were just doing their girlie things,' a resident of the house who was not home at the time of the shooting told the paper. 'They heard shots and a bullet came through the window.' The children were likely inside because of how dangerous the city's West Side, where the home is, becomes on summer nights. Adams’ mother was protective of her to . the point the young girl was rarely allowed to go out, those who knew . her say. It was the 11-year-old’s first sleepover. ‘She . don't let Shamiya go much unless she go to family and then the first . time you let her go something like this happens? This is really eating . her up,’ Nanette Dailey told the station. Devastated: Shaneetha Goodloe, left, mother of 11-year-old Shamiya Adams who died after being shot Friday night, hugs some of Shamiya's friends during a Saturday vigil near the Chicago apartment building where Shamiya was hit by a stray bullet . On the scene: Police officers and detectives gather Friday night at the home where Adams was shot during a sleepover . ‘I . got nothing left to say to these moms,’ Emanuel continued. ‘I don't . know where they find the strength to go on, put one foot in front of . another. Because she had the... she wanted her daughter to play with her . friends. We're a better city than that.’ But statistics paint a different picture. Despite city officials infamously claiming “crime is down” earlier this year, murders are on pace to at least equal last year’s total. There have so far this year been 223 shooting deaths this year, according to an independent website that tracks crime and mayhem in Chicago. There were 454 shooting deaths in Chicago in 2013. The 223rd person shot to death this year in the city was an unidentified 30-year-old man found in a car parked in an alley at 10.00 p.m. by police – only half an hour after Adams was shot. He had multiple gunshot wounds to his neck, back and shoulder, according to the Chicago Tribune, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Point of entry: The stray bullet exit hole in the closet wall of the apartment where Adams killed while making s'mores with friends . Among the injured were four men who showed up with unexplained gunshot wounds at a West Side hospital, authorities said. Two 15-year-old boys were shot in unrelated incidents. One suffered only a wound to his leg, the Tribune reported. The other told doctors he was on a sidewalk when someone walked up and shot him in the arm and foot. A 26-year-old was shot after arguing with a male in a car parked on the same street corner where he was standing, cops said. The male got out of the car, opened fire and fled. No arrests have been made in any of the shootings.

Shamiya Adams was killed Friday night when a stray bullet blew threw the wall of a house she was inside for her first sleepover . The 11-year-old was making s'mores with friends when the bullet struck her in the head - young children saw the entire thing . A 30-year-old man was also found by police shot to death in a car parked in a grim alley .

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Dramatic footage of tragic James Bond stuntman Mark Sutton giving the thumbs up literally seconds before he dies has been released. The poignant video was taken from inside a helicopter as he prepared to jump out of it in a wingsuit. Released with the full consent of his family, the heartrending film shows Mark, 42, leaping from the helicopter to his death. Thumbs up: Mark Sutton gives the camera a gesture of approval before he exits the helicopter for what was to be his final jump . He died 20 seconds later. Mark, who wowed crowds as 007 at the Olympics opening ceremony, crashed into a mountain ridge at a speed of 155 mph. He was one of 23 world-class wingsuit pilots taking part in a non-competitive event in August in Trient, Switerland, near the French town of Chamonix. The event - HeliBASE 74 - was organised by EpicTV, an online extreme sports channel that has since made a series of films about it. Panu Lehti, Head of EpicTV, said: ‘When Mark died we were devastated and planned to shelve the whole project. 'But when the other pilots showed us that the best way to remember Mark was to think about what he would have wanted, we decided to go ahead with the series. One jump: Wearing patriotic blue, red and white, Mr Sutton looks out over the Alps . Ready: Although he observes the cloudiness below, Mark leaps off the helicopter . Final moment: Mark Sutton died seconds after this was filmed, aged 42, in the Swiss Alps . Incredible views: The helmet cameras of Mr Sutton's teammates capture the amazing heights they reach as they leap out of the helicopter . ‘We knew it would be difficult for his . family so before publishing this episode we showed it to his brother . Steve. It feels good to know we have the family behind us. HeliBASE 74 . is dedicated to the memory of Mark Sutton and to the strength of his . family and friends as well.’ Tragedy . struck on the first day of the event. It was Mark’s first jump. He was . partnered in the helicopter with another British wingsuiter, Tony . Uragallo. Moments from death: Sutton's bright wingsuit is visible as he falls through the sky in this grab from the video . The world-class stuntman tragically died moments after this video was shot . In the film, Tony movingly describes how the tragedy unfolded. He says: ‘Everyone is having a good time. It’s so nice to get out above a mountain. Normally we have to climb a mountain. ‘Mark suggested I follow him and I thought ‘that’s great’, because he’s a much better base jumper than me. ‘He’s right there, looking at me, looking at the spot. He’s telling the pilot ‘right, left, bit more, bit more…’ Nervous: In the last piece of footage before his crash Mr Sutton expresses his concerns about the foggy conditions at the beginning of the scheduled day's jump . Poignant: In another scene Mark Sutton, centre in black jacket, is shown listening with his fellow pilots to the safety briefing given before the group start their jumps . Mark was one of 23 world-class wingsuit pilots taking part in a non-competitive event in August in Trient, Switerland . Mark, dressed in his red, white and blue wingsuit, can be seen edging along the back seat of the chopper towards the open door. He gestures to the pilot to veer right then puts his right thumb up and climbs out of the helicopter. Mark launches himself off the side of the helicopter and he is seen free falling, followed closely by Tony. Footage shows two colourful specks plummeting through the cloud. Tony . says: ‘He turns and he jumps and I just followed him. He can follow the . terrain a lot better than me and I’ll just follow his line. ‘And then he just suddenly turned left real quick. And I couldn’t believe it.’ Tony is then seen landing in a field. He . says: ‘I landed close to everyone and I shouted out: ‘Mark hit the . mountain.’ That destroys everything. Everybody is so upset. People in . tears.’ Proud: After his James Bond stunt last year, Mark Sutton's girlfriend Victoria Homewood posted this photo on her Facebook with the message: 'My very handsome 007 xxx' Recalling the moment . he realized Mark had died, fellow wingsuit pilot Colombian Jhonathan . Florez says: ‘It’s just so real. Our worst fear was actually happening.’ Norwegian wingsuiter Espen Fadnes says: ‘Tony is landing with this face of confusion and shock.’ Repeatedly drawing his fingers across his throat, he adds: ‘He’s giving me the sign.’ Referring . to Tony going back up in the helicopter to pinpoint Mark’s location, he . adds: ‘They can see from the heli that there is no point for them to go . down and do anything about it. ‘I feel sadness, confusion, shock.’ Tony says: ‘Mark dying like that was just horrifying. Mark was my hero.’ Tony, who has since retired, adds: ‘I am going to go and buy a ranch in Montana and raise horses.’ Austrian . wingsuiter Hubert Schober, who jumped from the same helicopter as Mark . minutes before, says: ‘It’s Mark you know.  It’s not like anyone. We’ve . been in the chopper with him. I’d seen him two minutes before. You shake . hands. You say: ‘Good flight. Rip it. Tear it up.’ And then two minutes . later you go like: ‘What?’’ Killed: . Mark Sutton, centre, the daredevil who amazed the world when he . parachuted into the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony dressed as . James Bond has died after a stunt went wrong. Pictured here with Gary . Connery, right, the skydiving 'Queen' last summer . It . was Mark’s first jump of the day. Earlier in the film, Mark is seen . looking up to the sky and saying apprehensively: ‘It’s covered in . cloud.’ It is not known whether the weather conditions that day were a factor in Mark’s death. EpicTV, . an online extreme sports channel, organised the three-day event. They . have made a four-part film called Risking Everything For The Ultimate . Flight – HeliBASE 74. The . company paid for the participants’ travel, accommodation and helicopter . flights in return for rights to all footage taken during the event. They . were each fitted with a number of tiny cameras. All participants had signed a disclaimer. Mark shot to fame last year during the opening ceremony for the London Olympics. He was dressed as James Bond and fellow stuntman Gary Connery doubled as the Queen as they parachuted into the stadium. The . stunt came after billions of viewers worldwide watching the opening . ceremony saw a film of Daniel Craig, dressed in a dinner suit as James . Bond, call at Buckingham Palace and be joined by the real Queen. Mark was one of the best-known figures in BASE jumping. Mark and his fellow wingsuiters had been staying in Chamonix, France, and had crossed over into Switzerland to wingsuit jump. He had travelled to France with his girlfriend Victoria Homewood, 39.

Mark Sutton, 42, died during a wingsuit jump in the Swiss Alps . The stuntman played James Bond at Olympics opening ceremony . The video shows him, giving thumbs up before jumping to his death .

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(Rolling Stone) -- "All Is By My Side" -- the Jimi Hendrix biopic currently being shot in Ireland, starring Outkast's Andre Benjamin (a.k.a. Andre 3000) -- will feature new recordings of Benjamin covering the Beatles, Muddy Waters and more, producers tell Rolling Stone. The film will not, however, include any songs written by Hendrix, the rights to which are controlled by the late guitarist's estate. Last month, Experience Hendrix LLC, which oversees the Hendrix estate, issued a statement regarding the movie, which has been in production for four months. The company, which is run by Hendrix's sister Janie, said that it "has made it known many times in the past that no such film, were it to include original music or copyrights created by Jimi Hendrix, can be undertaken without its full participation." Instead, the film -- set in London in 1966 and 1967 -- will include Benjamin's new versions of covers that Hendrix performed during those years, shortly before the release of his landmark debut, "Are You Experienced." Audiences will see Benjamin singing "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (which Hendrix famously performed in a London club with members of the Beatles in the audience), "Wild Thing," "Hound Dog," Muddy Waters' "Mannish Boy" and Elmore James' "Bleeding Heart," plus two songs, "Future Trip" and "Driving South," that Hendrix played as a backup musician for Curtis Knight and the Squires. The remakes were cut in Los Angeles by a session-legend power trio including Waddy Wachtel (who's played guitar for Keith Richards, Stevie Nicks and Linda Ronstadt), Leland Sklar (bassist for James Taylor, Jackson Browne and Phil Collins), and Kenny Aronoff (former John Mellencamp drummer). Danny Bramson, a longtime music supervisor who won a Grammy for his work on the "Almost Famous" soundtrack, oversaw the music. "All Is By My Side" is currently shooting in Dublin, Ireland, where co-producer Sean McKittrick says it was "easier...to recreate 1967 London." Principal photography is expected to wrap this week, and producers then hope to take the film to Sundance in early 2013 for possible release next year. A soundtrack album featuring the Benjamin-sung covers is also in discussion. "Andre has been Jimi for four months now," McKittrick says. "He speaks and walks like Jimi. He dropped a ton of weight. The transformation has been amazing." If the movie were to include songs Hendrix wrote, like "Purple Haze" or "The Wind Cries Mary," the producers would have needed permission from Experience Hendrix, which owns the copyrights to the material. But according to McKittrick, the film was always set in Hendrix' pre-fame era, so neither he or his team ever approached the Hendrix estate. "This is the story of Jimi being discovered as a backup musician and how he went to London and became Jimi Hendrix," says the producer. McKittrick says that focusing on early stories about Hendrix -- like the times he jammed with Cream and met Eric Clapton -- is preferable to a biopic about Hendrix's full life story. "That would be like making a movie about Kurt Cobain," he says. "We all know how that story ends." A spokesperson for Experience Hendrix tells Rolling Stone that the company had no idea the movie would include non-Hendrix songs. "They want to make a Jimi Hendrix movie without Jimi Hendrix music," says the estate representative. "It would be like making a movie about Lincoln without being able to use the Gettysburg Address." Music industry sources confirm that the filmmakers are legally in the clear as long as licenses are in place for the non-Hendrix songs. "They're absolutely in the right as long as they got the licenses for those songs," says Conrad Rippy, a music business lawyer who represents the estates of Elliott Smith and Jeff Buckley. "They don't need to get the approval of the Hendrix estate for that." See the full story at RollingStone.com. Copyright © 2011 Rolling Stone.

The Jimi Hendrix biopic starring Outkast's Andre Benjamin is currently being shot in Ireland . It will feature new recordings of Benjamin covering the Beatles, Muddy Waters and more . The film will not include any songs written by Hendrix .

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Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- Over the past few days, anti-Gadhafi forces have made "significant advances" -- in the northwest and in the regions of Misrata and al-Brega -- a spokesman for NATO's military operation told reporters Tuesday. "Anti-Gadhafi forces are now assuming control of the key approaches to Tripoli," said Col. Roland Lavoie, who described the advances as "the most significant anti-Gadhafi territorial gain we have seen in months." Since the end of July, as the threat from pro-Gadhafi forces has diminished, thousands of people have returned to their homes in the western Nafusa mountains, he said. Since Friday, the northwest coastal city of Misrata has been free of pro-Gadhafi forces, he said. And the threat from nearby Zlitan has diminished as pro-Gadhafi forces are being pushed farther west, he added. Over the last week, NATO warplanes have damaged or destroyed some 150 military targets as part of Operation Unified Protector, Lavoie said. "Our assessment, without going into details, is that the Gadhafi regime does not have anymore an effective operational capability," he said. Lavoie said that rebels had occupied Surman and Sabratha west of Tripoli, but added that the regions were "still contested." However, Libyan state television reported that pro-Gadhafi forces and tribal fighters were "cleansing the city of Sabratha from the gangs of traitors" and had secured the coastal road, a key supply pipeline into Tripoli. Though the center of Zawiya was under rebel control, "there's still reports of fighting also in the suburbs," Lavoie said. Still, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed optimism. "I think the sense is that Gadhafi's days are numbered," she told reporters in Washington. But a spokesman for the Gadhafi government offered a different view. "We are doing very well," Ibrahim Musa told reporters. "It's true that it's a bit slow -- people are still saying that we're not acting immediately and that we're having problems in Surman and Sabratha and whatnot because of armed gangs. That's true but, God willing, we are able to lead this battle successfully. We will achieve peace and victory." He added, "We are fighting NATO -- not the tens or hundreds of armed gang members. Our war is with the crusaders." If rebels gain control of Zawiya, that would be a major stride in putting a stranglehold on the Gadhafi-controlled seat of power. "We will be very careful entering Tripoli, which we hope to do by the end of this month," said Col. Ahmed Banni, military spokesman for the opposition National Transitional Council. Banni said there is intelligence that some Gadhafi forces are moving to Tripoli from other fronts -- Terhouna in the southeast and Sirte farther east. He said those forces have taken off their uniforms to blend in with the population, a "dangerous" sign those troops are preparing for a "bloody war." He said rebels in Tripoli recently were supplied with arms. But, he said, "We asked them to stay put until the zero hour." Col. Jumma Ibrahim, a spokesman for the rebels' western command, said Gadhafi forces controlled most of the eastern part of the city and were shelling rebels with Grad missiles and artillery. "There are still skirmishes with the brigades in the city center, with snipers taking positions," Col. Ibrahim said. "The fight is now urban warfare there at the moment. There have been a lot injured among our ranks but it is hard to give a number." The rebels claim control of towns west of Zawiya to near Ras Jedeir. These include Surman and Subratha. "It is a huge deal and a decisive defeat for his forces in that region. All these areas are liberated," Banni said. Col. Ibrahim said Garyan, south of Tripoli's city center, had been taken by rebels but Gadhafi loyalists were shelling them from a nearby town. There has been "fierce fighting" in Terhouna. He said rebel forces were surrounding Zlitan in the south, east and northeast and fighting Gadhafi forces. He said there's been fighting in the industrial area of al-Brega, where rebels control the residential areas except for one controlled by the Gadhafi government. Gadhafi forces also control the industrial area, Banni said. "He is trying his hardest to prevent us from access to $35 million worth of daily oil money under normal circumstances in al-Brega," Banni said. "If we control the port and the refinery in the industrial area, we'd have that money." CNN's Amir Ahmed, Jomana Karadsheh, Kareem Khadder and Matthew Chance contributed to this report.

The battle for Zawiya is called "urban warfare" Rebel forces in Tripoli are awaiting the "zero hour," a spokesman says . Some Gadhafi forces are going to Tripoli from other fronts . Secretary of State Clinton expresses optimism .

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(CNN) -- A Holland America cruise ship was disrupted early Saturday morning by an intoxicated passenger who released the ship's anchor, according to an affidavit obtained by The Smoking Gun website. California resident Rick Ehlert, 44, released the anchor and a life buoy between 5:25 a.m. and 5:55 a.m., according to the affidavit. The MS Ryndam was unharmed, but the release of the anchor could have caused "significant damage to the ship's rudder or propeller, which could disable the ship's ability to maneuver, or puncturing of the ship, which could result in sinking or severe flooding," according to the affidavit. The ship was traveling from Costa Maya, Mexico, to Tampa, Florida. A surveillance video shows Ehlert taking multiple steps to deploy the anchor while the ship was in motion. The MS Ryndam's maximum speed is 22 knots, which is approximately 25 mph, according to Holland America's website. Ehlert confessed to dropping the ship's anchor when questioned by special agents from the FBI. He admitted to being intoxicated at the time and detailed the multiple steps he took in deploying the anchor, including entering an area marked as off-limits to passengers. "There is probable cause to believe on November 27 that Rick Ehlert did attempt to damage, destroy, disable, or wreck a vessel," FBI agent John Manning stated in the affidavit. Ehlert was arrested Sunday on a felony charge and taken into custody. He has not yet hired an attorney, according to the office of the magistrate who is handling the case.

An intoxicated passenger on a Holland America cruise ship released the ship's anchor . The ship was unharmed, but the release of the anchor could have ultimately sunk the ship . Rick Ehlert, 44, confessed to dropping the anchor and was taken into custody .

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By . Dan Bloom . Jeremy Clarkson claims the BBC has put him on his final warning for 'appearing' to use the n-word in unaired Top Gear footage - and he will be sacked if he ever makes an offensive remark again. The 54-year-old admitted 'not even the angel Gabriel' could survive after the threat - especially not a presenter renowned for controversy. And despite begging for forgiveness less than two days ago for the clip of him saying the nursery rhyme Eeny Meeny Miny Mo, Clarkson also claimed the Corporation had forced him to apologise and he did not want to. Scroll down for video . Apology: Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson said he had made . every effort to make sure he did not use the racist slur in a video less than two days ago - but has now said the apology was the BBC's idea and he didn't want to . Warning: The presenter, pictured apologising, said he is now on his final warning from the Corporation . Mr Clarkson, shown filming for Top Gear, when it is alleged he used the n-word - a claim he denies . Writing in his weekly column in The Sun, the presenter compared the apology to saying sorry for starting the Syrian civil war because they were both things he had not done. 'I've been told by the BBC that if I make one more offensive remark, anywhere, at any time, I will be sacked,' he wrote. 'And even the angel Gabriel would struggle to survive with that hanging over his head. 'It's inevitable that one day, someone, somewhere will say that I've offended them, and that will be that.' He also wrote: 'Happily, the BBC had a plan. Unfortunately, it wasn't a very good one. 'An apology is a good idea if you've just spilled some beer down someone's shirt...But saying sorry for using the most racist word of them all, and hoping the story would die down as a result?' The pressure to apologise even went against the advice of his own lawyer, he claimed. A solemn-looking Jeremy Clarkson said the item was recorded a 'couple of years ago' and said he 'did everything in my power to make sure that that version did not appear in the programme that was transmitted' Eventually, he said, he agreed to say sorry and insisted that when he did, he meant it from the heart. In his weekly column the presenter added he had 'become Hitler' and was being attacked by people calling for him to join sex offender Max Clifford in jail. The star became embroiled in controversy after unaired footage of him using the nursery rhyme to compare two sports cars was leaked to the media. Historically the rhyme was 'Eeny meeny miny mo, catch a n***** by his toe', and Clarkson said he 'mumbled' in two takes to avoid using the racist term - which made it sound like he was saying it. In the third, which was broadcast, he said the word 'teacher' instead. An online petition calling for the BBC presenter to be sacked has reached more than 1,000 signatures. Intervention: Deputy Labour leader . Harriet Harman (left) has called for the BBC to sack Clarkson over his . so-called use of the 'N-word' but Education Secretary Michael Gove (right) has . urged him to be kept . Labour figures including deputy leader Harriet Harman also demanded he should be sacked. 'Anybody who uses the N-word in public or private in whatever context has no place in the British Broadcasting Corporation,' she wrote on Twitter. And Labour MP Chris Bryant wrote: 'Clarkson announces he has one last chance. He's been in that saloon so long now he must be hammered.' But Education Secretary Michael Gove urged the BBC not to axe Clarkson because he had been 'clear in his apology'. And the Prime Minister appeared to agree. Mr Cameron's official spokesman said: 'He does . share the Education Secretary's view: it is absolutely right that there . has been an apology.' Pressed on whether he also shared the . view he should keep his job, he replied: 'His view is that in terms of . actions and the like, that's for the BBC.' Denial: The BBC presenter's first tweet immediately after the storm broke earlier this week . Row: Former newspaper editor Piers Morgan has tweeted regularly about a man who is often his nemesis . In his video apology - which he said took hours to complete because he could not remember his Twitter password - Clarkson said he 'did everything in my power to not use that word'. He added he was now 'begging your forgiveness for the fact that obviously my efforts weren't quite good enough'. 'I was mortified by this, horrified. It is a word I loathe,' he said. Controversy: The Top Gear presenter is regularly accused of being offensive . The BBC previously said it had 'left him in no doubt about how seriously we view this'. The claims come days after the motoring show's producer apologised for broadcasting a 'light-hearted' joke by Clarkson that sparked a complaint of racism. An episode filmed in Burma and Thailand featured a scene in which the presenters built a bridge over the River Kwai, and as an Asian man walked over it Clarkson said: 'That is a proud moment, but there's a slope on it.' Somi Guha, an actress who complained to the BBC, said the use of the word 'slope' was an example of 'casual racism' and 'gross misconduct'. In recent years Clarkson has been cleared of breaching the broadcasting code by watchdog Ofcom after comparing a Japanese car to people with growths on their faces. He previously faced a storm of protest from mental health charities after he branded people who throw themselves under trains as 'selfish' and was forced to apologise for telling BBC1's The One Show that striking workers should be shot. The motoring show has also faced complaints from Indian and Mexican politicians over remarks made about their countries while filming on location. A BBC spokesman told MailOnline today: 'We have nothing to add to the statement issued on Thursday.' That statement said: 'Jeremy Clarkson has set out the background to this regrettable episode. 'We have made it absolutely clear to him, the standards the BBC expects on air and off. 'We have left him in no doubt about how seriously we view this.' 'Ordinarily I don't respond to newspaper allegations, but on this occasion I feel I must make an exception. 'A couple of years ago I recorded an item for Top Gear, in which I quoted the rhyme Eeny, Meeny, Miny Moe. 'Now, of course, I was well aware that in the best known version of this rhyme, there is a racist expression that I was extremely keen to avoid. 'The full rushes show that I did three takes. 'In two I mumbled where the offensive word would normally occur and in the third, I replaced it all together with the word "teacher". 'Now when I viewed this footage, several weeks later, I realised that in one of the mumbled versions, if you listen very carefully with the sound turned right up, it did appear that I'd actually used the word I was trying to obscure. 'I was mortified by this, horrified, it is a word I loathe. 'And I did everything in my power to make sure that that version did not appear in the programme that was transmitted. 'In fact, I have here the note I sent at the time to the production office. 'And it says, "I didn't use the n-word here but I've just listened through my headphones and it sounds like I did. Is there another take that we could use?" 'Please be assured I did everything in my power to not use that word. 'And as I'm sitting here begging your forgiveness for that fact that obviously my efforts weren't quite good enough. 'Thank you.'

He said he will be dropped if he makes a remark 'anywhere, at any time' Presenter with long history of stirring controversy said it is unavoidable . Top Gear host 'begged' for forgiveness for appearing to use racist word . Today he also said apology was BBC's idea and 'it wasn't a very good' one . More than 1,000 sign sacking petition as Michael Gove and PM defend him .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:35 EST, 19 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:39 EST, 20 February 2013 . An Italian woman has demanded an apology from Silvio Berlusconi after he crudely joked with her about sex, days before a national election. The former Prime Minister asked the woman at a corporate event how many times she enjoyed sex and if he could look at her bottom. He made his remarks in front of a giggling crowd of business people, male and female. Silvio Berlusconi with Angela Bruno who wants the former Prime Minister to apologise for his comments . Angela Bruno, a 30-year-old employee of a renewable energy firm, was presenting a contract to Berlusconi at a recent ceremony when the former prime minister asked her suggestive questions in front of senior colleagues, staff and members of the public. 'Do you come?...only once?...how many times do you come?...with what sort of time intervals?,' he asked her with a smirk on his face. At the time she went along with the banter giggling nervously as the audience roared with laughter. 'It sounds altogether like a good proposal,' he continued. He then asked her to turn around, took a look at her bottom and said, 'Yes, it is a convincing offer', prompting a round of applause and more laughter from men and women in the audience. Berlusconi commented on her appearance and sex life in front of a room of her peers . A video of the exchange has been viewed more than 950,000 times on YouTube and has sparked outrage on social networks. Miss Bruno told an Italian TV channel that her 13-year-old daughter had cried for days after seeing a video of the encounter, and the response it provoked. 'I want an apology for all Italian women because they should not have to suffer insults like this, at work or outside work,' she said. 'This is the Italy I don’t want any more and I hope no one wants.' The 76-year-old media tycoon, who is on trial for sex with an underage prostitute, stepped down as prime minister in November 2011 at the height of the euro zone debt crisis, but is now seeking a fifth term in government in the February 24-25 vote. Roughly two years ago, more than a million Italians joined street rallies in protest against his treatment of women while serving as prime minister, after details of the 'Bunga Bunga' sex parties at his Milan villa began to emerge. Bruno told Italian television on Monday evening that she had tried to keep the conversation on a professional level but had been too intimidated to reprimand Berlusconi in public due to his position of power and the presence of senior staff. In the interview, the married mother-of-one said she had been offended and embarrassed and demanded the apology. 'He may think he is joking but he has to be a serious person if he wants to represent Italy. He can’t get away with presenting an image like this,' Bruno said. Berlusconi did apologise in an interview on Radio 105 on Tuesday, but also said that Bruno had seemed to enjoy herself at the time. He urged her to stop reading leftwing newspapers, which he said had exaggerated the seriousness of the exchange. Italy is about to go to the polls, with a general election taking place this coming weekend.

Angela Bruno, 30, was subjected to lewd comments as she tried to present a contract to Berlusconi . The former Prime Minister commented on her appearance and sex life . Bruno wants him to apologise to her and all the women of Italy .

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Before Robin Williams took his own life last week, the Oscar-winning actor recorded a video message of hope, support and ‘love’ to a woman in a hospice with a terminal illness. When 21-year-old Vivian Waller was diagnosed in January with lung, bowel and liver cancer, she included a meeting with Williams on a ‘bucket list’ of the things she hoped to achieve before  she died. Her condition deteriorated and she was too sick to travel from her native Auckland, New Zealand, to America, so one of her friends contacted the  63-year-old comedian and he agreed to record a short video clip which he emailed to the family a few months ago. Scroll down for video . Shortly before he died, Robin Williams recorded a video message of hope, support and 'love' for a . woman in New Zealand who is in a hospice with a terminal illness . The Oscar-winning actor, who was found dead on Monday, recorded the video so . Vivian Waller, 21, could cross a meeting with the star off her 'bucket . list' of things she wanted to achieve before she died . ‘Hi Vivian . . . it’s Robin Williams here saying, “Hey girl, what’s going on down there in New Zealand?”,’ Williams says in the message. ‘I’m sending all my love  to you . . . knock this off your bucket list.’ Williams (pictured blowing Vivian a kiss) then broke into brief song, explaining that he’s ‘channelling Matthew McConaughey’ [the dashing actor] before signing off with — ‘much love to you, baby’. Vivian’s husband, Jack, whom she married in February, says she was thrilled beyond belief with Williams’s message. He has, though, yet to discuss the actor’s suicide with her, because it’s too sensitive a subject. ‘We are just enjoying the time we have together,’ he says. ‘We take things a day at a time.’ In the video, the comedian - who puts on a trademark accent - says: 'Hi Vivian, it's Robin Williams here saying "Hey girl, what's going on down there in New Zealand?"' He ends the touching video by breaking into song, explaining that he is . 'channelling Matthew McConaughey' - a fellow Hollywood actor - before blowing Vivian a kiss . Jack told stuff.co.nz that he decided to open up about the message from Williams because 'we love him, we want to show people how awesome a person he was'. The pair married in February after fundraisers from around New Zealand donated enough money in just 10 days to pay for their wedding. They are now fundraising for their daughter's future. Their daughter Sophie celebrated her first birthday a few months later. Vivian Waller, pictured with her husband Jack, from Auckland, New Zealand, was diagnosed with terminal lung, bowel and liver cancer in January this year . The 21-year-old, pictured left and right, became too ill to travel to America to meet Williams. Her husband said the video showed 'what an awesome person he was' Vivian and Jack (pictured left with daughter Sophie and right when she is older) married in February after fundraisers donated enough money in just 10 days to pay for them. They are now fundraising for their daughter's future . Williams, 63, was found dead at his San Francisco mansion on Monday. Authorities said his death was suicide. His death came after years of battling depression and anxiety, as well as an . addiction to cocaine and alcohol. In a statement after his death, Williams' wife, Susan Schneider, said the beloved comedy actor was also battling the early stages of Parkinson's disease when he took his life. Teenager Jessica Cole spent a day with Robin Williams, pictured, two weeks before she died. He chartered a private jet to go and see the girl when she became too ill to travel . According to the widow, Williams wasn't ready to share the diagnosis with the world. She added that his 'sobriety was intact' at the time of his death. Since the actor's death, a number of people have come forward with inspiring stories about how he touched their lives. Mark Cole told how Robin Williams once chartered a private plane to pay a surprise visit to meet his terminally-ill daughter Jessica after she became too sick to visit him on set. Robin Williams in Patch Adams, where he played a doctor who helped patients by making them laugh. The actor showed extaordinary kindness to real-life patients . She had been a huge fan of Mrs Doubtfire - one of his most popular roles - and had requested to meet him through the Make-A-Wish foundation. Garry Kravit, whose nephew David Buist was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer called hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, also called the star a 'comedic Mother Theresa'. Mr Kravit told how he met Robin Williams at an event and asked him for autographed items for their fundraising efforts. Williams went much further and started calling David to help keep his spirits up as his condition deteriorated. Mr Kravit said: 'When David was suffering at his worst, Robin would call him to perk him up. David treasured Robin's calls and it helped to push him forward.' He also told how Williams even invited the pair to a filming of a comedy special in New York in 2004, where 'he spent 20 minutes hugging him'.

Late actor recorded the video for Vivian Waller from Auckland, New Zealand . The 21-year-old was diagnosed with lung, bowel and liver cancer in January . Meeting Williams was on her 'bucket list' of things to do before she died . He said: 'Hey girl, what's going down in New Zealand?' before blowing a kiss . Williams committed suicide after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease .

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Randy Allen Taylor, 48, who has been charged in connection with missing teen Alexis Murphy, may have links with Samantha Clarke, 19, who is also missing . The suspect in the case of missing teenager Alexis Murphy may be linked to the disappearance of another teenage girl, a lawyer has said. Randy Taylor, 48, has been charged with the abduction of the missing 17-year-old Alexis, who has was last spotted by a camera in Lovingston, Nelson County, at a gas station where Taylor was also spotted. While Alexis, a student at Nelson County High School, has not yet been found, investigators are also looking at the case of Samantha Clarke, 19, who has been missing from her home in neighboring Orange County for three years. Orange County commonwealth's attorney Diane Wheeler said Taylor was the last person known to have had contact with Miss Clarke before she disappeared on September 13 2010. A graduate of Orange County High School, Miss Clarke had told her brother she was going out for the evening but never returned. Ms Wheeler told the Huffington Post: 'He was the person who last had contact with her ... He had multiple contacts with her in the days immediately preceding her disappearance... 'The investigation is still continuing and he remains a person of interest to us.' Taylor is being held at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail after he was arrested on Monday on suspicion of abduction by force. He appeared in court yesterday on the felony charge and investigators are currently examining his camo-wrapped car and a camper found at his home near Lovingston. Unlike Miss Clarke, Alexis is not thought to have known Taylor. Her last Twitter entry at 6.40pm on August 3 read: 'I actually look cute right now' and she was later picked up by the gas station CCTV camera at 7.15pm. Three days later police found Miss Aleixs' abandoned Nissan in Charlottesville, 39 miles from the gas station. Alexis Murphy, 17, has not been seen since August 3; Taylor has been charged in connection with her disappearance . Missing: Samantha Clarke, 19, was last seen nearly three years ago when she left her home in Orange County . They are also looking at footage said to show Taylor in Ultimate Bliss, an adult store two miles from where the Nissan was found, on the day Alexis went missing. One man has told how he saw Taylor sitting in his vehicle in the Lovingston Food Lion parking lot, opposite the gas station where Alexis was seen. Bruce Johnson told a reporter he had seen the suspect watching people from inside his suburban. FBI agents search for clues on Alexis' white Nissan Maxima in the Charlottesville parking lot where it was found . Taylor's camo-wrapped suburban is being inspected by forensics officers while he awaits his next court date . He told NBC29.com: 'He was just sitting in that parking lot watching and that kind of was strange to me... 'A suburban with antennas on it, camouflage down the side of it - that's kind of suspicious because I've never seen that vehicle around here before.' Taylor is next due in court in January for a preliminary hearing.

Randy Taylor, 48, has been charged over disappearance of Alexis, 17 . Missing Alexis, from Nelson County, has not been seen since August 3 . Lawyer says Taylor was last person to see Samantha Clarke, also missing . Miss Clarke was 19 when she disappeared from Orange County in 2010 . Neither young woman has been found and police continue to investigate .

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By . Chris Parsons . Last updated at 11:38 PM on 18th January 2012 . Two thugs involved in an attack on an innocent man in the street which put him in hospital for a month were spared prison after telling a judge they were sorry for their actions. Quite how long that remorse lasted is apparent from this picture. Emerging from court, Daniel Chrapkowski gleefully punched the air with both hands and danced on the steps, while his accomplice Thomas Lane made an obscene gesture and squared up to reporters and photographers. Yob: Daniel Chrapkowski celebrates outside Manchester Crown Court after he escaped jail for his part in the drunken street attack . Glee: Thomas Lane swears at photographers as he leaves the court with a non-custodial sentence . Their victim, Joseph O’Reilly, 24, yesterday said he felt ‘angry and frustrated’. He told the Daily Mail: ‘It makes my . blood boil to think that they were rejoicing when they came out of . court. I cannot believe the way they are behaving. ‘One of them looks as if he has just . won an award, not escaped prison for a vicious beating. The other one . looks like he doesn’t give two hoots about what happened. Victim: Joseph O'Reilly, 24, was savagely set upon by the three drunken yobs after asking why they were kicking wheelie bins around Manchester city centre . 'These two are a disgrace. It’s as if . they’ve just been let off their crime and they haven’t been punished at . all – yet I’ve had to serve my own sentence because of my injuries. ‘The fact they were celebrating proves they assumed they were going to go to jail – yet the judge just let them go.’ Manchester Crown Court heard that the . attack happened in January last year after Mr O’Reilly, an office . worker, had been for a night out in the city centre with his girlfriend . Lucy Blackledge, 22, a sales adviser. They were heading for home when they spotted a gang  walking towards them, kicking over bins and scattering rubbish in the road. When Mr O’Reilly asked them: ‘What on Earth are you doing?’, they turned on him and his girlfriend. Lane started ‘shadow boxing’ in front . of Mr O’Reilly before Chrapkowski punched him in the face then tripped . him, causing him to fall to the pavement. Mr O’Reilly was repeatedly punched and . kicked in the face and stomach before the gang ran off. He spent more . than 40 hours undergoing X-rays and scans as well as emergency treatment . for his injuries. He suffered a badly fractured jaw and a bleed on the brain, and was forced to have a metal plate fitted into his face. Months after the attack he had to go . back into hospital after collapsing and he still suffers severe dizzy . spells and numbness in his mouth. A year on Mr O’Reilly says he can chew food on only one side and worries about going out alone from his home in east Manchester. The brutal attack happened when the gang set on Joseph O'Reilly outside Manchester Piccadilly Station . In sentencing the gang, Judge Martin Steiger said the trio had been drinking a 'considerable amount' Tattooed, jobless Chrapkowski, 24, . from Stockport, was given a 12-month suspended prison term, . electronically tagged for two months and ordered to complete 160 hours . unpaid work after he admitted causing grievous bodily harm. Lane, a sign . writer, also 24 and from Stockport, insisted he made no physical . contact with the victim. He admitted affray and was given a . community order for 12 months, ordered to complete 120 hours unpaid . work, abide by a curfew and pay £250 costs. A third man, Oliver O’Neill, 23, from . Bramhall – who was on bail for another vicious attack at the time of the . assault on Mr O’Reilly – was jailed for 27 months after admitting two . counts of GBH. Katie Jones, defending Chrapkowski, . said: ‘He is extremely remorseful and wishes to apologise to the court. It is extremely out of character.’ Paul Hodgkinson, defending Lane, said: . ‘He accepts he had been out drinking and engaging in tomfoolery, but . that mischief doesn’t cross the custody threshold.’ Judge Martin Steiger QC said: ‘Drink . was involved and in particular I bear in mind that O’Neill was . responsible for significant bodily harm.’

Thug whoops with glee after attack which left victim hospitalised for a month . Second yob swears and squares up to onlookers outside court . Daniel Chrapkowski and Thomas Lane had attacked innocent Joseph O'Reilly in Manchester city centre . Victim, 24, asked gang to stop kicking wheelie bins around when attacked .

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Alastair Cook is too good a player not to return to form at some point. What he must ask himself is whether he can do that while he is captain. Cook’s brain seems scrambled and he is having to work so hard on his leadership that I wonder whether he has the mental energy to work on his batting as well. I am sure there is a hundred just around the corner but it will take a lot of grit, determination and a little bit of luck for Cook to get there. MS Dhoni took his nick on day two but didn’t go for one offered by Gary Ballance. Crossroad: England captain Alastair Cook has some decisions to make after another failure at Lord's . Out of nick: Cook looks back as his edge lands in the gloves of MS Dhoni on day two of the second Test . Under pressure: Cook's dismissal for 10 continues his horror run of form . Even if Cook gets runs in the second innings here he will have to decide whether he has enough in the tank to sort everything out for the third Test. Cook’s captaincy hasn’t been good since the first innings at Trent Bridge. He has been reactive and has to take the blame for how England bowled here. England have had the better of conditions here and may yet go on to win the game but India have shown how best to exploit the conditions. You could argue, of course, that it is the bowlers’ fault that opportunities were wasted on Thursday but the tactics are set by the captain. Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad know what they want and like to set their own fields but the captain has to get his way because the wins and losses go against his name. Broad and Anderson are wonderful assets and Cook has to captain them well and make sure they think they’re getting what they want. Even if it’s the captain who is doing it his way. Cook has been in the job for a couple of . years  but he still has a lot to learn. One area of concern is that too . many decisions are being made off the field, such as when England . bowled the right lengths only after lunch on the first day. And Cook . seems too slow to think on his feet and change plans. Assets: Cook needs to make James Anderson and Stuart Broad think they're getting what they want . In the pavilion: Cook appears to make too many decisions off the field . He has to sit down at the end of this Test and ask himself whether putting so much energy into trying to be a better captain is harming his game. What I want to see is Cook getting hundreds for England again. Just say he didn’t play in the third Test. What would we miss most? We’d miss the runs he scores when he is in form more than his captaincy. The bottom line for me is whether Cook feels that giving up the captaincy would give himself the best chance of scoring runs again. He is not a natural leader and has to work so hard at it. But what England need is for him to be their rock again. There is always someone else who could be captain; someone who could surprise us with his leadership. But I want Cook back scoring hundreds, whatever it takes.

A hundred is around the corner for Cook, but it will take grit . The England skipper went cheaply again, caught behind for 10 at Lord's . Cook’s captaincy hasn’t been good since the first innings at Trent Bridge . England would miss Cook's runs more than his leadership on the field .

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By . Martha Cliff . When it comes to a cup of London tea you'll be lucky to grab one for much less than £2.50, however, one extravagant blend has just raised the bar when it comes to an overpriced brew. The prestigious Royal China Club on London's affluent Baker Street has just launched the world's most expensive brew, setting you back no less than £180 a pot. The pricey tea is created from the leaves of the Da Honh Pao (Imperial Red Robe) that are treated much like a fine wine as they are left to mature to gain flavour for 80 years before being served. Pricey pot: The Da Honh Pao tea at the Royal China Club will set you back no less than £180 . Although a tea that costs the same price as a small computer may seem a little unreasonable the legendary Oolong artisan leaves earn their price through rarity, as they can only be harvested on certain days of the year. The tea also has royal endorsement, dating as far . back as the early 18th century, during the Qing Dynasty, when the . emperor Da Hong Pao was titled 'King of Tea' due to his love of the . beverage. Due to its high quality, Da Hong Pao tea is usually reserved . for honored guests in China. Served at exactly 95°c in the Royal China Club, the tea is handmade from tender leaves, withered, tumbled, curled and baked in small batches over charcoal to create an aromatic infusion with distinctive dark cocoa notes, a toasted fruity flavour and a long smooth aftertaste that lingers for several minutes after consumed. The tea was said to be enjoyed by the emperor Da Hong Pao during the Qing Dynasty . Peter Chan the sommelier at the Royal China Club says that brewing the tea at such a specfic temparature is not a gimmick but a necessity. 'Making tea is not simple – it is an art . form when you are using tea leaves as prized and delicate as Da Honh . Pao. It has to be brewed and served at exact temperatures - too hot or . cold and you risk killing the flavours. He continues, 'Tea masters from Hong Kong visit . the Royal China restaurants in London every couple of years to train . all staff in the art of artisan tea making.' The unique blend of tea is served at exactly 95°c to ensure the perfect flavour balance . Peter adds that maturing the leaves for so long adds a great depth of flavour to the tea. 'The tea leaves of Da Honh Pao are left to mature and gain . flavour for 80 years before being served. This helps to create the . unique flavor which is highly respected by tea connoisseurs around the . world.' He adds that this particular blend has an almost completely authentic taste. 'Like all teas, Da Hong Pao is now . processed and sold in many different grades, with some high grades reportedly as expensive as gold! These days, most Da Hong Pao on the . market is produced from clippings of the original bushes, resulting in . similar grades and tastes to the original.' Despite the hard work and craftsmanship that has gone into the tea the Royal China Club understand that not all tea lovers can quite stretch to the price of the cuppa. The Club also offers a range of 18 different types of artisan teas from various regions in China, starting from £4.80 for two. The Royal China Club restaurant on Baker Street is renowned as one of the most authentic Chinese restaurants in London. The restaurant is part of The Royal China Group, consisting of six restaurants. All the restaurants offer traditional Hong Kong Chinese dishes, while the Royal China Club combines European ingredients with the authentic Chinese cuisine. The group is renowned for its dim sum, which includes steamed seafood dumplings with spicy sauce and pan-fried fillet of duck breast rolls. Inside the luxurious Royal China Club . Designed by Stiff + Trevillion, a large aquarium containing lobsters, crabs, fish and seafood creates a focal point. Gordon Ramsay is a huge fan of Royal China Club, and when he was filming a slot on 'how to make dim sum' for the F word, Royal China Club was his location of choice for filming.

The Royal China Club has launched the world's most expensive tea . It is said to have been enjoyed by Emperor Da Hong Pao . The tea is served to customers at exactly 95°c and takes 80 years to mature .

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By . Stuart Woledge . PUBLISHED: . 11:27 EST, 8 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:13 EST, 9 August 2013 . A family's car was written off and 100 homes were left without power after a mystery explosion sparked an inferno causing flames to come shooting up from underneath the pavement.. The Wakelin family, from Hackbridge in Sutton, were shocked when they returned home to see that their hedge was on fire and their car had been engulfed in flames. The heat was so intense, it also burnt Bradley Wakelin's drive leaving it in tatters. The incident caused a powercut to 107 customers, who were without energy for nearly eight hours. Inferno: Faulty underground cabling caught alight after the explosion causing a powercut to more than 100 properties . Mr Wakelin said: 'My family and I came home to find my vehicle and front hedge on fire with the firefighters putting it out. 'I didn’t know what was going on. I saw the car and the . hedge alight and knew it wasn’t good. 'When . they told me what happened I just couldn’t believe it. I just didn’t . think it could happen. 'My car is written off. My driveway is crumbled . from the heat as well. It was frightening.' Neither he, nor his wife Emma and daughters Kelsie, five, and Keira, nine, were harmed during the incident, but he Mr Wakelin is worried something like this might end up happening again. 'This was caused by a fire in the electrical junction box underneath the ground that had got so fierce that it caught my hedge and car alight,' he said. 'I feel that people of Sutton and the surrounding areas should be made aware of the dangers that are beneath us. 'I want to send a clear message to UK Power Networks to do something about the situation and the dangers it can cause.' Explosion: Firefighters were called to the scene of the incident in New Road, Hackbridge, which engulfed a family's car in flames . Tackling the flames: Firefighters were called to the scene and put the fire out, but Mr Wakelin was shocked at the damage it had caused . Firefighers from Wallington Fire Station were called to the scene at about 5.50pm on Sunday, July 28 and . tackled the blaze using water. A fault on UK Power Networks' electrical equipment beneath the ground was blamed for causing the explosion that led to the fire. Similar incidents in April caused . three explosions underground near Sutton train station, leading to . blackouts in the town centre. The incidents reportedly caused chaos . on the railway, with the departure boards going down. A lift was also . damaged and the pavement where the explosions had been was lifted. Across London, a manhole cover also exploded in . Pimlico. UK . Power Networks, which operates the electrical cables under Sutton, . confirmed it was in talks with Mr Wakelin over compensation for the . damage the fire caused. A . spokeswoman added: 'UK Power Networks engineers worked through the night . to restore power after a fault on the underground electricity network . in the New Road area of Hackbridge interrupted supplies to 107 . customers. 'We appreciate how difficult it is to be without power and are sorry for the inconvenience caused.' The faulty equipment was replaced and power supplies restored by 2.55am the following day. Aftermath: Mr Wakelin's car, which had been parked on his drive, was completely written off by the fire . Burnt out: The engine of the victim's car was damaged beyond repair by the fire .

Family of four return home to see car engulfed in flames and hedge on fire . Bradley Wakelin's car was written off and his scorched drive left in tatters . More than 100 homes were without power for nearly eight hours . It was the fourth underground explosion in Sutton since April . Electrical firm UK Power Networks is in compensation talks with the family .

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Parents claim their teenage daughters have been left in tears, and worrying about their weight after teachers told the pupils their trousers were too tight. Furious mothers and fathers claim their daughters have been left upset and 'feeling fat' after the row at Headlands School in Bridlington, East Yorkshire. Parents say their children have been told by teachers their black school trousers are too tight around the 'calf and bottom areas' and are not part of the school uniform. Scroll down for video . Jaydee Hart (left), 13, Chloe Gregory (centre), 14, and Amelia Wileman (right),13, say they have been told their uniforms are unsuitable by bosses at Headlands School in Bridlington, East Yorkshire . And another pupil claims they were told by teachers: 'It's not my fault you can't find trousers big enough'. Sian Hart said her 13-year-old daughter, Jaydee, was among those taken out of class and told her trousers were too tight. She said: 'She has been wearing the same uniform ever since she started at Headlands. 'She's very skinny and tall and I really struggle to find trousers that fit her. 'I bought her trousers from New Look, in the school range, and to me she looks perfectly fine but apparently the school thinks the trousers are too tight.' The mother-of-three said Jaydee and her friend were both taken out of an English lesson over the issue. She said: 'They have threatened to put them in isolation. A girl in the year above my daughter has been excluded for wearing tight trousers. 'I am not buying any more trousers, it's ridiculous. There are more pressing issues the school should be concentrating on.' The angry parents of the schoolgirls have now launched a Facebook group, called Headlands Parents Uniform Unite, to complain. Headteacher Sarah Bone, left, said the school has high expectations about the school uniform . One parent posted her views on the Facebook group and said: 'My daughter is now in floods of tears about this issue. 'She has come home today after a warning that her "trousers may be causing an infringement as they are tight around the calf and bottom area".' The parent claimed the trousers had previously passed a uniform check by the headteacher. Another parent posted: 'My daughter was told "it's not my fault you can't find trousers big enough" and she was not the only one to be told this. 'Girls have put on Facebook how they now feel fat and extremely upset.' Headteacher Sarah Bone said the school has high expectations about the school uniform, which parents were consulted about in 2012. Sarah Bone said: 'All students are required to wear full school uniform at all times, including to and from school. 'Where parents are having difficulty with the cost of uniform, I would ask them to contact their head of year for a confidential discussion. 'Dealing with inappropriate uniform matters detracts from time devoted to learning, so thank you to all our parents and students who have supported us in this matter. 'Students who are not in correct uniform, in line with Department for Education guidance, may be sent home to change or secluded from other students at breaks and lunchtimes.' During the first week of term, Mrs Bone said five students were either sent home or placed in isolation over uniform issues.

Parents furious after teenage daughters left in tears over trousers row . Girls say they 'feel fat' after teachers told them their trousers were too tight . One claims teacher said 'it's not my fault you can't find trousers big enough' Five students either sent home or placed in isolation over uniform issues in first week of term . Headteacher Sarah Bone says school has high expectations over uniforms .

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By . Jessica Jerreat . A former Army Ranger has spoken for the first time about his fear that he fired the fatal round that killed NFL star Pat Tillman. Tillman, who gave up a $3.6 million football contract to serve his country in the aftermath of 9/11, was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan when his regiment was ambushed in Afghanistan. The footballer died after a second group of rangers, including Steven Elliott, fired towards him, believing that Tillman was a Taliban insurgent. Scroll down for video . American hero: Pat Tillman gave up a multi-million dollar contract with the Cardinals to be an Army Ranger . Haunted: Ten years after Tillman was killed by friendly fire, Steven Elliott has revealed his fears that he was responsible for the deadly shots . That fateful day, of April 22, 2004, has haunted Elliott ever since as he wondered if his bullets had been the ones to kill the 27-year-old, he told ESPN. He was one of three Rangers who opened fire towards the ridge where Tillman was standing, in the mistaken belief that he was part of the enemy. Despite an Army investigation into the shooting, it was never determined who fired the deadly round. But the 33-year-old is plagued by the belief that he was responsible for the three shots that hit Tillman in the head. 'It is possible, in my mind, that I hit him,' Elliott told ESPN. He explained that at the time of the shooting, the Rangers had been traveling through a ravine when they came under fire. Tillman, Bryan O'Neal, and an Afghan soldier had crept on to a ridge to provide cover but, silhouetted against the setting sun, the rescue party were mistaken for the enemy. 'I remember seeing the rounds were impacting - 'pop, pop, pop, pop' - just walking in a line right up to where I was laying,' O'Neal, who was 19 at the time, said. Legacy: Footballer and war hero Tillman is remembered with pride by all who knew him . Legend: Tillman, right, celebrates a Cardinals win with his teammates before he joined the Army . Video Source YouTube . Elliott and another soldier had opened fire in their direction, as they mirrored the actions of their platoon leader, Sergeant Greg Baker. 'The mantra is that when all else fails . you do what your team leader does, you go where your team leader goes . and you shoot where your team leader shoots,' Elliott said. 'So effectively him [Baker] firing at that position is, is the . same as his giving an order to fire … And it breaks my heart to say . that, because I know that he regrets that - so much,' Elliott told ESPN, as his voice cracked with emotion. Tillman, who had been a star player for the Arizona Cardinals, died from three bullet wounds to the head. The position of the fatal injury has added to Elliott's fears that he had been the one to kill him. 'You are . holding your trigger for a fraction of a second, but that fraction of a . second releases three to five rounds,' he said. 'If . it looked like you had [three] rounds and very close to one another, . well, that was very consistent to how I was firing my weapon at that . point.' Horror: Bryan O'Neal was standing close to Tillman when their platoon mistakenly opened fire on them . He added: 'It would be disingenuous for me to say there is no way my . rounds didn’t kill him, because my rounds very well could have.' Elliott left the army in 2007 and his marriage broke up as he struggled to come to terms with the events of that day. After being treated for post traumatic stress disorder, rediscovering his faith, and patching things up with his wife - the couple recently remarried - Elliott says he finally feels able to talk about the shooting. 'If I could change what happened, I would change it in a heartbeat,' he said. He added that he hopes by going public with his feelings of guilt, other veterans suffering from the same concerns may find stability and support. It may be ten years since Tillman's tragic death, but the soldier who was lauded for giving up a lucrative football career to serve his country, has left an amazing legacy. An 8ft statue of the athlete was put up in Arizona, and schools and football stadiums have been named in his honor. Impact: The shooting affected Elliott's life, leading him to quit the army and divorce his wife. The couple later remarried as Elliott began to cope . Perhaps the most important part of his legacy however is the 300 servicemen and woman who found their way into the forces through the Tillman Military Scholarships. 'We don't know what Pat would have done if he had lived, but I imagine he would have continued to serve for the rest of his life,' Adrian Kinsella, a Marine captain, told the Mercury News. 'That's what all of the Tillman scholars feel like we have to do. Every day I ask: "Am I living up to Pat's ideal?".' Another scholar, Erik Wittreich, still recalls how Tillman had shrugged off his sporting fame to become a soldier. 'I remember how everyone was whispering as he was walking down a hallway, saying, "There he is",'  Wittreich, who trained with Tillman and later earned one of the scholarships, said.

Arizona Cardinals player Tillman had given up $3.6 million contract to serve his country . 27-year-old died in Afghanistan when comrades accidentally shot at him . Steven Elliott, who served with the footballer, fears he fired the fatal shot .

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A class of Spanish schoolchildren got a surprise when they arrived for lessons only to find King Felipe and Queen Letizia waiting for them instead. The Spanish royal couple were visiting the Ben-Cho-Shey Primary Education Center in Pereiro de Aguiar in Ourense when they joined the children for lessons. Before the hard business of learning got underway, the royals spent a few happy moments getting to know the pupils in the playground before following them into class. Scroll down for video . Are you my teacher? The school children are met by King Felipe and Queen Letizia outside their school . Wow! Some of the children looked a little surprised to find the royal couple in their playground as they arrived . There, . King Felipe, 46, found himself centre of attention as he joined a table of . children doing jigsaw puzzles, while Letizia enjoyed a chat with another . little girl. Dressed . in an elegant floral jacket, cream shirt and tailored black trousers, . she looked every inch the style icon - even managing to effortlessly . navigate the corridors in a pair of sky-high peep-toes. The . look was a far cry from the one she adopted to take her own daughters . to school last week, where she opted for a simple grey t-shirt and . jeans. The two girls, Leonor, eight, and Sofia, seven, . both go to the same school, Santa Maria de los Rosales in Madrid, which . their father also attended as a boy. Lessons from the king: Felipe appeared to be enjoying himself as he helped some of the children with a jigsaw . So that's what you do: Letizia passes on her words of jigsaw-building wisdom to one delighted little girl . Ta dah! The advice seems to work as the little girl, named Victoria, manages to complete her puzzle . Felipe, for his part, was dapper in a pinstripe suit and appeared to be enjoying himself as he chatted to the children and teachers. The . visit came a day after Letizia celebrated her 42nd birthday with an . appearance at a journalism awards ceremony and lunch in Madrid. There, . dressed in a chic rose-print dress and a tailored cream jacket, the . royal made a speech before helping to hand out awards. The appearance in Madrid came hot on the heels of a frenetic week, which included a . visit from the president and first lady of Panama and several charity . meetings. The . rest of the month is also set to be a busy one for Letizia and her . husband courtesy of a busy schedule of appointments at home, before a . visit to New York at the end of September where Felipe will address the . UN General Assembly. Looking good: Letizia was pretty in her print jacket while Felipe opted for pinstripes and a salt and pepper beard . All together now! The royals posed for a photo with all the children and teachers before leaving the school . Stylish: Letizia wore a stylish lilac rose print dress and a chic cream jacket for yesterday's appearance . Bare-faced beauty: Queen Letizia went make-up free for school run with Infanta Sofia (pictured) last week . Back to school: The two little princesses were smart in their navy blazers and carried bright red backpacks . Schedule: The couple have a busy new term of their own, with a visit to New York later this month .

The Spanish royal couple were visiting a primary school in Ourense . Letizia, 42, and Felipe, 46, helped groups of children with jigsaw puzzles . Royals also stopped to pose for a group photo with children and teachers .

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A bizarre sheet of wispy clouds billowing over the Teton mountain range has been enchanting tourists and even veteran employees of the Wyoming national park. Drivers stopped along the Grant Teton National Park's main highway on Thursday morning to gaze in awe and shoot photos of the rare phenomenon hovering over Grand Teton mountain. At 13,770 feet above sea level, the mountain is the highest point in the Teton Range. The shape-shifting clouds at times appeared like a billowing handkerchief or seagull with its beak touching the mountain's summit, Grand Teton National Park spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs said. She first spotted them on her morning drive to work. 'I had to make myself pay attention to the road because I was like, "Wow, that is really strange,"' Skaggs said Friday. The clouds persisted through the morning before finally dissipating in the afternoon. They were lenticular clouds, a type that forms downwind of mountain ranges in certain conditions. Occasionally, lenticular clouds occur as perfectly symmetrical disks, appearing like giant flying saucers and prompting UFO reports. These particular lenticular clouds resulted from an unusual combination of strong wind and moisture between 13,000 and 14,000 feet, said Riverton-based National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Jones, who got wind of the event from several weather spotters. 'We see these clouds get shaped both by the topography of the mountain and also the way the air will flow over the mountains,' Jones said. 'It was just in the right place at the right time.'

Drivers stopped along park's main highway on Thursday to take photos . Clouds looked as though they were coming out of Grand Teton . Grand Teton mountain is the highest point in the Teton Range . The lenticular clouds often occur with the unusual combination of strong winds and moisture between 13,000 and 14,000 feet . They often look like symmetrical disks or inverted mountain ranges .

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By . James Salmon . PUBLISHED: . 16:17 EST, 29 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:17 EST, 29 November 2013 . The astonishing greed of bankers was laid bare last night as it was revealed their salaries soared by more than a third last year. While the rest of the nation coped with an unprecedented squeeze on incomes, City workers were enjoying the high life, with the top 2,700 taking home an average of £1.6million each. The figure – which makes Britain’s financial elite the highest paid in Europe – flies in the face of the banks’ repeated claims that they have scaled down enormous pay rewards in the wake of the financial crisis. Allegations: Last night there were claims the sector had learned nothing from the financial crash . Last night there were claims that the sector had learned nothing from the greatest financial crash for decades – a crisis that their own greed and incompetence was in part to blame for. The figures also follow a string of  scandals at the country’s lenders over mis-selling, failing to help struggling small businesses, and rigging lending rates. Campaigners said that while City salaries have soared, ordinary families are still facing the worst squeeze on household income in living memory. Average workers saw wages rise by a minuscule 0.8 per cent last year, well below the rate of inflation. But figures from City-based watchdog the European Banking Authority show that last year 2,714 ‘high earners’ received salary, bonus and pension packages worth at least £830,000. Soaring salaries: The average pay reward for workers in the City was £1.6million, up from £1.2million in 2011 . This is 12 times the number in any other EU country. The average pay reward was £1.6million, up from £1.2million in 2011. By contrast, there are just 212 euro-millionaire bankers in Germany, and their average pay was £1.3million, almost a fifth less than their counterparts in the UK. Deborah Hargreaves, chairman of campaign group the High Pay Centre, said the report made a mockery of the banks’ claims to have reined in lavish payouts. ‘This goes to prove that the idea that banks are cutting back is a lie,’ she said. ‘They claim they are showing restraint – but everyone else is suffering from cuts in living standards while bankers are living the high life.’ John Mann, the Labour MP and member of the Treasury Select Committee, said: ‘The banks are failing to lend and giving themselves staggering increases in pay. This is despite the fact that the reason they are doing well is because of quantitative easing – in other words taxpayers lending them money.’ The City watchdog has begun an industry-wide inquiry into banks’ lending to small businesses, after claims of ‘unscrupulous’ practices at Royal Bank of Scotland. The Financial Conduct Authority said it will look at claims that state-backed RBS forced some business customers into collapse to seize their assets. RBS denies the claims. The regulator said it will also write to other banks ‘seeking confirmation that they are satisfied they do not engage in any of the poor practices’. The Bank of England said net lending to business fell by £1.2billion in October – reversing a £714million rise in September. Dominic Hook of Unite said it showed that fictional Wall Street villian Gordon Gekko was ‘alive and well and living in the City of London’. The huge pay rises come despite bank bosses repeatedly insisting they have cleaned up their culture in an effort to win back the public’s trust. RBS chairman Sir Philip Hampton said last year: ‘Pay is falling in this industry and has been falling in recent years.’ And addressing shareholders at its annual general meeting earlier this year, Barclays chairman Sir David Walker said: ‘It is without question that in Barclays, and more widely in the banking industry, pay became excessive.’ But critics say the figures show that behind the scenes bankers are intent on carrying on paying themselves just as much as before the crisis, if not more. Experts said the generous increase in bonuses was partly fuelled by the Government’s money printing stimulus – quantitative easing – which has helped push up share prices. Bonuses are typically  paid partly in bank shares, which rose sharply last year. The six and seven-figure banker bonuses have also put the City on course for a showdown with Brussels because the awards breach strict limits on payouts which will be introduced next year. The highest earners in the UK have been  bagging bonuses averaging 3.7 times their basic salary. That is well above a new European Union-wide cap that will limit them to a maximum of one year’s annual salary, or an upper limit of two years’ salary if shareholders approve. Criticism: Jonn Mann, a Labour MP on the Treasury Select Committee (left), said bankers were giving themselves pay rises while taxpayers lent them money and RBS Chairman Sir Philip Hampton claimed last year that 'Pay is falling in this industry and has been falling in recent years' Despite public anger over boardroom greed, the Government has lodged a legal challenge against the EBA bonus cap with the European Court of Justice. It fears the banks will respond to a cap by pushing up basic pay for top staff. Banks have complained they will lose staff to non EU and US rivals which do not have similar pay restrictions if the bonus cap is introduced. Industry lobby groups defended the pay rises. Chris Cummings, chief executive of TheCityUK, said: ‘London is the world’s leading financial centre. That means we attract the best people around the world to the UK. It would be unfortunate if the City were to lose this mantle, because we’d lose the tax that companies and individuals pay.’

The figure make's Britain's financial elite the highest paid in Europe . These bankers also had pension packages worth at least £830,000 . Average workers saw wages rise by a minuscule 0.8 per cent last year . Flies in the face of the banks' repeated claims they have scaled down pay .

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By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 06:56 EST, 15 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:50 EST, 15 May 2012 . Blunder: John Tunney, 63, was left partially blind and in need of round-the clock care . A retired paramedic who was left partially blind and needing round-the-clock care after a blunder by surgeons has been awarded more than £1million. John Tunney, 63, was left severely disabled medical staff mistakenly removed the wrong part of his brain during . an operation he didn’t need. Surgeons removed healthy tissue during the operation instead of the tumour which caused a massive brain haemorrhage. Blood test results - which were not checked before the biopsy - revealed the tumour was benign and could have been treated with tablets. Mr Tunney, who worked as a paramedic with West Midlands Ambulance Service for 23 years, has been awarded the seven-figure sum from University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust after they admitted liability for the blunder. He was awarded a long service award in 2005 and even went back to work part-time two days a week after he retired the same year. Mr Tunney, from Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, had a series of tests in 2008 after he suffered suspected thyroid problems. Doctors at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield performed an MRI scan which revealed abnormalities around his pituitary gland and he was referred to a specialist at Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry. Mr Tunney, had a blood test to determine his hormone levels but doctors failed to check the results. The . results would have revealed he was suffering from prolactinoma - a . benign condition which can be easily controlled with tablets. Mr Tunney, underwent . a biopsy on his pituitary gland on April 29, 2008, but suffered brain . damage after the surgeon removed normal tissue instead of the tumour. Mr Tunney's wife Pamela, 65, said: 'Our lives have both been completely devastated by a completely avoidable brain injury. 'It’s something that we have to deal with every single day of our lives. Recognition: John Tunney receiving his long-service award from West Midlands Ambulance Service in 2005 . 'He gets very frustrated at times that he cannot do the things he once took for granted. 'I remember how we were initially so thankful that this underlying condition had been spotted early. 'Before the surgery he was a very easy-going, active person who was always on the go. 'To see the change in him and to know that it was all entirely avoidable is extremely upsetting. She said the mistakes was 'not something that the hospital can just take back.' 'I . pray that they don’t make this sort of error again and no other family . has to experience seeing their husband suffer the pain and loss that . John has. 'John was . forever praising the work of doctors, so it was only natural for him to . put his complete trust in the surgeon after they told him that he needed . urgent brain surgery. Concerned: Mr Tunney with his wife Pamela, 65, said: 'Our lives have both been completely devastated by a completely avoidable brain injury' 'It is appalling to think the surgeon managed to botch the procedure completely and then to find that the biopsy wasn’t even necessary makes me incredibly angry.' The family have recently relocated to South Wales along with some friends who help Pamela with John’s constant care. University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust admitted liability and today apologised to the family. Meghana Pandit, chief medical officer from Walsgrave Hospital said: 'I would like to apologise on behalf of UHCW again to Mr Tunney and his family for the complications he suffered as a result of his treatment with us four years ago. Apology: Walsgrave Hospital said: 'I would like to apologise on behalf of UHCW again to Mr Tunney and his family for the complications he suffered as a result of his treatment with us four years ago' 'While we acknowledge that the financial settlement he has now received can never compensate for his suffering, I do hope that our sincere assurances that organisational learning from his management mean that patients with similar conditions will experience high quality and safe care will be reassuring to him.' Timothy Deeming, a medical law expert with Irwin Mitchell Solicitors in Birmingham, who represented John, said: 'The fact that the surgeon managed to remove perfectly healthy tissue rather than a sample of the tumour tissue is, in itself, an appalling error. 'To then find that the procedure was totally unnecessary because clinicians had failed to review a blood test, really does add insult to injury. 'The failings of the surgeon involved are so serious that the family is calling on the GMC to investigate his actions.'

Blunderings surgeon removed healthy tissue during the operation instead of the tumour which caused a massive brain haemorrhage . John Tunney, 63, was left partially blind and in need of round-the clock care . University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust admitted liability and today apologised to the family .

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(CNN) -- Lazio will play its next two European matches behind closed doors after football authorities punished the Italian club for several offenses, including a fourth charge of racist behavior this season. European football's governing body also fined Lazio €40,000 ($52,000) following incidents in last week's Europa League round of 32 tie with German side Borussia Monchengladbach. Lazio had already been fined a total of $230,000 for racist abuse and other fan offenses during two group-stage matches with English team Tottenham Hotspur and another against Slovenia's Maribor. The Rome-based team has appealed UEFA's latest decision, which was handed down for "setting off and throwing fireworks, racist behavior and insufficient organization." "The control and disciplinary body decided to order Lazio to play their next two UEFA competition matches as host club behind closed doors," read UEFA's statement. It applies to the home leg of Lazio's last-16 clash in the second-tier competition against another German team, Stuttgart, on March 14. "The remaining game behind closed doors applies to the next UEFA competition match for which the club would qualify," the ruling body said. It is also the second time in a matter of days that a top Italian team has been cited for racism. Inter Milan was fined €50,000 ($65,500) by the Italian football federation on Tuesday after its supporters directed abuse at former player Mario Balotelli during Sunday's derby match with city rival AC Milan. Lazio president Claudio Lotito was disappointed by UEFA's decision, saying it was unfair on the majority of fans at the Stadio Olimpico. "We cannot as a club be penalized for the mistakes of a small minority (and) we will lodge an appeal," Lotito told RaiSport. "Lazio did everything we could and should have done to stop this from happening. It seems absurd to me that we have to play behind closed doors, which will seriously damage the club economically and stop the fans from participating in this event. "We must distinguish between the delinquents who act on their own volition and those fans who express themselves in a civilized fashion." UEFA meted out a heavier punishment to Turkish club Fenerbahce following last week's home Europa League match against BATE Borisov, threatening the Istanbul team with a one-season ban from from European competition if it offends again in the next two years. That sanction is probationary, but Fenerbahce will have to play the home leg of its last-16 clash with Viktoria Plzen on March 14 behind closed doors and pay a €60,000 ($79,000) after its fans set off and threw fireworks from outside the stadium. Fenerbahce's Portugal midfielder Raul Meireles will miss both games against the Czech club after being sent off in the February 14 away leg against BATE.

Serie A side Lazio punished for a series of offenses including racism . UEFA says Lazio must play next two European home games behind closed doors . The Rome-based team also fined €40,000 ($52,000) by ruling body . It is the fourth time this season Lazio has been punished by UEFA .

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Joliet, Illinois (CNN) -- Attorneys for Drew Peterson, a former Chicago-area police officer accused of murdering his third wife, argued during opening statements Tuesday that their client spent his career protecting the public and that murder accusations are groundless. "Kathy slipped, fell, hit her head in a household accident, and drowned. Case closed," said attorney Joel Brodsky. Kathleen Savio was found dead in a bathtub in 2004. Peterson also remains under investigation in the October 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson. Prosecutors, meanwhile, argued that Peterson was motivated to kill, at least in part, by his desire to avoid settlement payments to his ex-wife. "This (is) not a case where you'll have DNA, fingerprints, or a videotaped confession . . . (But) when you've heard all the evidence, you'll be able to determine that Drew Peterson killed Kathleen Savio beyond a reasonable doubt," said Will Country State's Attorney James Glasgow during his opening statement. Prosecutors called Mary Pontarelli, a neighbor, as their first witness. Her voice cracked on a couple of occasions as she described finding the body of Savio, her friend. Court is scheduled to resume Wednesday morning. A jury of seven men and five women, chosen over two days last week, will decide Drew Peterson's fate during the trial in Joliet, Illinois, which is expected to last about a month, according to his lawyer. Peterson, 58, was married to Savio in 2001 when he had an affair with then-17-year-old Stacy Kales, who later became Stacy Peterson. Savio and Peterson filed for divorce that October, and their relationship remained contentious for the next several years. Bolingbrook, Illinois, police records indicate officers were called to Savio's home 18 times to intervene in domestic fights from 2002 to 2004. Drew Peterson had Savio arrested twice for domestic violence, though she was found not guilty in both cases. A judge in March 2002 granted Savio a protection order from her ex-husband, prohibiting him from being near her, entering her home or taking out their children except for two brief weekly visits. Savio had claimed that months later, Peterson held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her inside her home. On February 27, 2004, Drew Peterson picked up his two sons from Savio's home, spending the next two days with them. Prosecutors believe that he entered her home again early on February 29 and killed Savio; she was found naked and dead in her dry tub the next day. At the time of her death, a court was mulling how their marital assets would be divided, and Savio was set to receive part of Peterson's pension and other support. Police initially treated the scene as an accident, although the Illinois State Police was later brought in to investigate. Peterson's trial had been set to start in July 2010 but was delayed. In April, an Illinois appellate court ruled that prosecutors may use potentially incriminating statements made by Savio and Drew Peterson's still-missing wife Stacy against him, a key development in the case. The ruling overturned an earlier judge's decision that forbade prosecutors from using eight statements made by Savio before her death and by Stacy Peterson before her disappearance. The defense had argued that using the statements would violate Drew Peterson's right to confront the witnesses against him.

NEW: Court is scheduled to resume Wednesday morning . NEW: Attorneys for both sides made opening statements in the former police officer's trial . NEW: The prosecution calls Mary Pontarelli, a neighbor, as its first witness . Kathleen Savio was found dead in a bathtub in 2004 .

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(CNN) -- Another place on Formula One's motorized merry-go-round has been filled for the 2014 season. Pastor Maldonado has been named as Frenchman Romain Grosjean's teammate at the Lotus F1 team after leaving Williams. Maldonado, whose deal with Williams had been funded by the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, has filled the Lotus seat vacated by 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who is returning to Ferrari. "It is a fantastic opportunity for me to join Lotus F1 team for 2014," Maldonado said in a statement. "It's no secret that I have wanted a change of scene to help push on with my Formula 1 career and Lotus offered the very best opportunity for me to be competitive next season. "The regulations and cars will change significantly so it is a very good time for a fresh start." The Venezuelan made his F1 debut in 2011 with Williams and the following season he clinched a shock win for the former world champion team at the Spanish Grand Prix -- the first by an F1 driver from his country. Maldonado's brief reign in Spain was the high point of his relationship with Williams, a partnership that showed signs of stress towards the end of the last campaign. At the penultimate United States Grand Prix, the 28-year-old said: "Leaving is an important moment for my career." Before signing for Lotus, Maldonado was among of group of F1 protagonists without a drive at the end of the 2013 season, which reached its climax in Brazil last weekend. Force India duo Paul di Resta and Adrian Sutil, McLaren's Sergio Perez, Sauber pair Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Gutierrez, Marussia's British driver Max Chilton and Caterham pairing Charles Pic and Giedo Van Der Garde are yet to settle their futures. Many drivers are now expected to fund their own drives in F1, a problem that has been exacerbated ahead of the new season. A major rule change looms large in 2014 and that means the 11 teams are having their resources stretched, with the new turbo engines alone estimated to be three times more expensive than the ones being phased out. Grosjean has managed to avoid the fray of the driver market by securing a third straight season with Lotus. After an erratic 2012 season, which included a one-race ban for dangerous driving, the 27-year-old showed consistent improvement in 2013, racing to six podiums. His performances were enough to see Lotus take up the option to extend his contract. "I am very happy to have official confirmation that I will be continuing to drive for Lotus next season," said Grosjean, who, like Maldonado, became a father for the first time in 2013. "This past year has been tremendously satisfying for me. I know everyone is motivated to continue the fight for every last point available." Although Lotus won the opening race of 2013 in Australia, the final part of the season was overshadowed by speculation over the team's finances. Lead driver Raikkonen, who opted to have back surgery rather than race in the final two grands prix of the year, was reported to be owed $20 million in wages. The arrival of Maldonado is likely to help boost the team's coffers as he is expected to once again bring financial support to his new team. Lotus team principal Eric Boullier added: "It is clear that Pastor has pace and potential. We are convinced that we will be able to provide the correct environment to enable him to flourish regularly on track. "With Romain and Pastor I believe Lotus will be able to cause quite a few surprises next year."

Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean will race for the Lotus Formula One team in 2014 . Maldonado joins from Williams to replace Kimi Raikkonen, who is returning to Ferrari . French driver Grosjean keeps his seat at UK-based team for third straight year . Maldonado is expected to bring financial support from native Venezuela .

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By . Alan Roden . Hope: The Prime Minister said he aims to increase devolution after the 2015 General Election . David Cameron has warned left-wing parties they will ‘reap what they sow’ if they punish Scots with higher taxes. Writing exclusively in today’s Scottish Daily Mail, the Prime Minister says he will ‘seek support’ from other parties to deliver the biggest shake-up of devolution after the 2015 General Election. His predecessor Gordon Brown also paved the way for a formal cross-party pact on devolution yesterday as he argued that Westminster is united on the issue. If there is a No vote in September, the . Scottish Conservatives have proposed giving MSPs full control over . income tax, allowing them to raise and lower each rate. The party also wants to give Holyrood a share of the VAT raised in Scotland, the ability to increase welfare payments and control of housing benefit. Labour wants the Scottish Parliament to be in charge of a 15p share of the basic 20p rate of income tax, and be able to increase higher bands – but not lower them unless all levels are reduced. The party also believes there should be the power to create a new council tax band, allowing the Scottish Government to introduce a ‘mansion tax’. The SNP favours a ‘progressive’ tax system and could use the new powers – if there is a No vote – to hammer higher earners. But Mr Cameron writes in today’s Mail: 'You can be sure that Scottish Conservatives will be at the forefront of promoting low-tax, pro-enterprise policies within a Scottish Parliament with enhanced responsibilities. 'If the parties of the Left want to argue for higher personal taxes for Scotland compared to the rest of the UK, then let them reap what they sow.' Agreeing to disagree: David Cameron (right) and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond (left) sign the Scottish independence referendum agreement at St Andrews House in Edinburgh . He adds: 'The Strathclyde report [on further devolution] is a clear, coherent and Conservative blueprint for the next stage of Scotland’s devolution journey.  We will take them forward in our 2015 General Election manifesto and seek support to deliver them in the new parliament. 'All the mainstream pro-UK parties believe in further devolution, so whilst we would want to build consensus for a set of measure and legislation, there is no reason why these changes shouldn’t happen early in the next parliament.' Mr Brown said: 'It is definitely possible now to see an agreement about extra tax powers and extra policy powers for the Scottish Parliament. 'So the argument that the Scottish National Party have been putting across over these last few months that nothing will happen if there is a No vote in September is completely wrong.' I believe in devolution because I’m a Conservative, not despite being one. Two principles that I hold dear are that governments have a responsibility carefully to spend public money; and that where possible decisions should be taken as close to the people affected by them. These two principles are at the heart of the Scottish Conservatives’ proposals for improving Scotland’s devolution settlement, outlined this week by Ruth Davidson and strongly supported by me. The Strathclyde Report is a clear, coherent and Conservative blueprint for the next stage of Scotland’s devolution journey.  We will take them forward in our 2015 General Election Manifesto and seek support to deliver them in the new Parliament. All the mainstream pro-UK parties believe in further devolution, so whilst we would want to build consensus for a set of measure and legislation, there is no reason why these changes shouldn’t happen early in the next Parliament. The Scottish Parliament already runs schools, hospitals and other vital services and decides how to spend two-thirds of all public expenditure in Scotland. However the Scottish Parliament has to date had little responsibility for raising the money it spends.  We have started to put that right.  In 2012 the Coalition Government passed legislation to give the Scottish Parliament more responsibility for funding Scottish public services. The Strathclyde recommendations go further.  Under these proposals the Scottish Parliament would have the power to decide how to fund up to half of what it spends.  These are real powers with real consequences. For the first time the Scottish Government and MSPs in Holyrood will be accountable for how much of your pay packet stays in your wallet and how much goes to the tax man. And when you buy goods or services in Scotland, the report says a share of that money should stay in Scotland, to make up part of the Scottish Government's budget. It gives the Scottish Parliament a greater stake in supporting a thriving economy.  And you can be sure that Scottish Conservatives will be at the forefront of promoting low-tax, pro-enterprise policies within a Scottish Parliament with enhanced responsibilities. If the parties of the left want to argue for higher personal taxes for Scotland compared to the rest of the UK, then let them reap what they sow. It is the Conservatives who are delivering on devolution. We are at the heart of the constitutional debate. We don’t just talk a good game – we lead and we act. A referendum in Wales to give its assembly new law-making powers - delivered. The recommendations of the Calman Commission – the biggest act of fiscal devolution to Scotland for over 300 years - delivered. First time tax powers to the Welsh Assembly – being delivered.  City deals to enhance local democracy – being delivered. But there’s more to do – and we have a plan for the future. And the people of Scotland understand that the only threat to devolution is Alex Salmond and his separation plans. They know that opportunity to take domestic decisions within Scotland whilst retaining the strength, security and stability of being part of the United Kingdom is the best of both worlds. Ruth has charted a very clear course for the future of the country she loves. She has my wholehearted support as together we seek to build an even stronger Scotland with our UK family of nations.  We delivered on devolution in this Parliament. We will deliver in the next.

Prime Minister aims to increase devolution after 2015 General Election . Says he will 'seek support' from other parties for a shake-up of powers . Warned left-wing parties they are encouraging Scots to seek independence . Said a 'yes' vote at referendum is more likely after threats to increase taxes .

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Stuart McCall has admitted to enduring sleepless nights before realising he no longer had the answers to halt Motherwell’s slide in form. The 50-year-old released an emotional open letter to supporters on the Motherwell website, reflecting on both the remarkable achievements of his four-year spell at Fir Park and the thinking behind his decision to step down. McCall resigned as manager on Sunday evening, 48 hours after his side suffered a fifth successive defeat with a 2-1 loss at St Johnstone. Stuart McCall quit as Motherwell manager after failing to halt his side's slide in recent weeks . Motherwell's defeat to St Johnstone was their fifth in succession and proved to be McCall's final game . The former Scotland midfielder feared his own despondency at being unable to turn results around could have a further negative impact on the squad. That led him to the conclusion it was best to step aside, with assistant manager Kenny Black in caretaker charge for Friday’s visit of Dundee United while the process of appointing a replacement begins. ‘I struggled to sleep after Friday’s game with St Johnstone then woke up again during the night, Saturday into Sunday, thinking about the Dundee United game and I just couldn’t come up with any answers,’ said McCall. ‘I felt that with the international break coming up, now would be a good time to step aside to allow the club time. ‘I have a hope that with a fresh voice and maybe some new ideas, it will give the players that little boost they need. I felt that if I didn’t have the same hunger or desire, if I was deflated, then the players would sense that and that’s not what they, or the club, needs at this point. ‘This season has been difficult and when you become apprehensive about the next game, that’s your body’s way of telling you that maybe things have come to an end. ‘Both as a player and manager, you should work all week and really look forward to matches, but if you have that negativity in your head, it’s difficult and I don’t want that to make our situation any worse. I care too much about the place and the people who work here.’ While his last few months in charge were painful, McCall’s tenure will go down in Motherwell’s history as one of great success. Back-to-back runners-up finishes in the league were joined by continental adventures in the Champions League and Europa League, as well as an appearance in the 2011 Scottish Cup Final. McCall helped Motherwell to the qualifying stages of the Champions League where they lost to Panathinaikos . McCall also took Motherwell to the 2011 Scottish Cup final where they lost to Celtic at Hampden . ‘It’s fair to say that the last 24 hours or so have been incredibly difficult and emotional for me personally,’ he said. ‘However, it has also given me time to reflect on what has been four wonderful years. ‘Seeing what getting to a national final meant to the fans, and also the town itself, is something that will live with me forever. ‘I think back to the night we beat Hearts to qualify for the Champions League, then the atmosphere at Fir Park for that game against Panathinaikos. For a lot of our players, that was the highlight of their career, playing at that level. ‘I remember coming back from 2-0 down at Easter Road to win and no one will ever forget that game at Pittodrie (on the last day of last season). That will go down as one of the best days I’ve ever had in football. ‘I just hope the amount of highs cancel out some of the disappointments when people look back at what we’ve achieved here.’ McCall paid glowing tribute to his players, backroom team, club directors, office staff and supporters for their ‘invaluable’ assistance. ‘I would ask you all to rally around the club and the players in the next few weeks and months,’ he added. ‘Nothing would give me more pleasure if I am back up the road next May with my claret and amber scarf, with the team having picked up in the league, watching Motherwell at the Scottish Cup Final once again.’

Stuart McCall brought an end to his four-year reign as Motherwell boss . He resigned after his side's fifth defeat in succession against St Johnstone . McCall felt unable to turn around the club's fortunes .

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By . Lucy Crossley . PUBLISHED: . 12:27 EST, 18 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:36 EST, 18 November 2013 . A mother who went out curtain shopping instead of taking her injured baby to hospital has been warned by a judge that she may be given community service to help improver her parenting skills. Nicky Thompson and her boyfriend Beau Degeorge had noticed swelling on her six-month-old daughter's head but waited two days before taking her to get treatment. When doctors eventually saw the child they found severe ‘boggy’ swelling on the right side . of the baby’s head caused by a skull fracture and on the left side a . complex fracture had caused further swelling. Nicky Thompson had noticed swelling on her six-month-old daughter's head, but it was two days before her boyfriend took the child to Homerton Hospital in east London, where doctors found the baby had fractured her skull . A court was told that 30-year-old Degeorge could not be bothered to take . the baby to the hospital when the injuries were first discovered on . September 30, 2011 because he would have had to tale two buses to get there. He told police he lied to 21-year-old . Thompson about taking the girl to a walk-in centre to ‘avoid an . argument’, Snaresbrook Crown Court had heard. Thompson, of Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, then went curtain shopping with her mother the following day while the baby’s condition deteriorated. The pair were both found guilty of a single charge of cruelty to a person under the age of 16 by a jury of five men and six women, and were ordered to return to court for sentencing in January. It was not until October 2, when the baby’s eyes were vacant and she had not been her usual playful seld, that Degeorge finally took her to Homerton Hospital in east London to be treated. ‘They neglected their child’, said prosecutor Emma Smith. ‘It would appear that despite seeing the swelling, they thought the baby did not need medical attention. ‘Thompson says that on seeing the swelling she thought the baby did need medical attention but rather than taking her herself, she told Degeorge to go - but he didn’t. ‘The child wasn’t getting any better, but rather than taking her to the doctor, Thompson chose to go shopping for curtains with her mother.’ When the baby was finally taken to hospital and seen at 5.50pm on Sunday, October 2, Degeorge and Thompson spun a web of lies, blaming the delay on each another. 'Degeorge told the doctor that they noticed the swelling above the right ear on the Friday’, said Ms Smith. ‘The doctor noted the swelling and the baby cried when she touched her on the head - another doctor found a 10cm boggy swelling on the child’s head. ‘Degeorge told the doctor she had not been her normal self and was not smiling or playful - he said he did not know any reason why the swelling might have occurred. ‘When asked about the mother, he said that she felt he was making a big deal out of nothing.’ The court was told that Degeorge, of Hackney, East London, received a string of calls from Thompson while at the hospital, but he told the doctor she had locked herself out of the house and needed the keys. Thompson eventually arrived at the hospital and told doctors she had taken the baby to Royal London Hospital on Friday, claiming she was told the tot had probably hit her head on something. ‘On Monday, October 3, the baby was seen by a paediatrician and when asked, Thompson said she had noticed the swelling on the Thursday and that the father had taken the child to a walk-in centre the next day,’ Ms Smith continued. ‘There had been no visit to a walk-in centre - the father had lied and told the mother he had in order to avoid an argument. Judge Judith Hughes QC, sitting at Snaresbrook Crown Court, pictured, said she needed to consider if there was a form of community service that Thompson could carry out to help with her parenting skills . ‘It really comes down to this - why didn’t both parents take her to the hospital on that Friday when they say they first noticed the swelling? ‘Fortunately there was no obvious brain damage sustained by this child.’ The pair were arrested a week later and interviewed by police but both gave differing accounts on what had happened that weekend. Degeorge told police Thompson had told him to call NHS Direct, but after she refused to make the call, he decided not to call out of principle. He said he didn’t take the baby to hospital on that Friday because he would have to get two buses, and told Thompson he had when in fact he had gone to his mother’s house. Thompson told police Degeorge had said the baby would be OK and that he would then take her to the hospital. She said she had wanted to take her to hospital but Degeorge had left too quickly and told her he was taking the baby to the hospital when he in fact hadn’t. She had no explanation as to why she went shopping. The girl suffered no lasting damage from the incident. Judge Judith Hughes QC said: ‘I think in Ms Thompson’s case a report is essential - I need to consider whether there is some form of community punishment that might assist her with such things as parenting skills. ‘For parity, I will have a report on Mr Degeorge as well but I make it clear that currently, all options are open at this stage for both defendants.’ Degeorge was remanded in custody while Thompson was released on bail ahead of sentence on January 6 next year.

Nicky Thompson and Beau Degeorge waited days to get treatment for baby . Thompson, 21, shopped while daughter's condition deteriorated . Degeorge told police he lied about taking girl to hospital 'to avoid argument' Couple found guilty of cruelty and await sentence .

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The prospect of a British bombing campaign against ISIS fanatics in Iraq took a step closer today after Ed Miliband suggested Labour could back airstrikes without official UN backing. The Labour leader said a military assault on the terror group needed regional and global support and ‘a base in international law’. But he stopped short of demanding a full UN resolution authorising military action. Mr Miliband’s remarks come as David Cameron prepares to travel to New York to urge world leaders at the UN to tackle the ISIS terrorists slaughtering civilians across the Middle East. Labour leader Ed Miliband did not rule out backing military action against ISIS during an interview with Andrew Marr at the BBC's Media City in Salford this morning . There is increasing speculation that Parliament may be recalled on Thursday after the Labour Party conference to authorise airstrikes. The Prime Minister needs Labour support to pass a Commons motion giving him the authority to join a US-led bombing campaign. Mr Cameron will meet President Barack Obama at the UN and could formally be asked to join airstrikes aimed at "degrading and destroying" Isis. The PM will use his speech at the UN to accelerate the formation of a coalition to fight Isis. "He will talk about the need to act and the importance of an international response to tackle their poisonous ideology," said a senior Downing Street source. Britain will also join America in passing a UN security council resolution urging all countries to tackle the problem of foreign fighters travelling abroad to join the terrorists. ISIS released a video of British journalist John Cantlie following the murder of fellow captive David Haines. UK aid worker Alan Henning has also been threatened . America has already carried out more than . 170 airstrikes against Isis targets in Iraq and was joined for the first . time by French jets in attacks on Friday. Britain has . signalled a willingness to become involved in an air campaign in Iraq . but has reservations about taking action in neighbouring Syria. Michael . Fallon, the defence secretary, will travel to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain . this week to build up support for military action against Isis. Speaking . on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show this morning, Mr Miliband said he would . weigh up any proposal for military action – but suggested he was . prepared to back airstrikes. Islamic State fighters are marauding across vast swathes of the Middle East, butchering civilians including Yazidi and Shia minorities . Chilling Isis propaganda videos showing bloodied corpses are being posted online by British jihadists . He . said: ‘ISIL is a murderous organisation. And their barbaric acts not . just against British people but also the Christians, Yazidis and so on . shock us all. ‘My . judgement about this is that we’ve got to make sure that we assemble . the alliance right across the world – including in the region – to . counter them. ‘The means action in Iraq to include the Sunni minorities who’ve often felt excluded. It means mobilising the region.’ He added that it should have a ‘base in international law’ and have ‘clear objectives’. Creeping influence: A map showing the areas under complete or partial control of the Islamic State . He said: ‘As a person who wants to be the Prime Minister in eight months, I am going to judge any proposal that comes forward on those criteria. ‘We opposed action in Syria because we didn’t feel it met those criteria. That was about chemical weapons and in fact there was another way of dealing with those chemical weapons. They have now largely been dealt with.’ He added: ‘We’ve got to test any decision to take military action against a criteria I’ve set out. We’ve learnt the lessons of the Iraq war – which is that military action has to be a last resort.’ ‘It’s definitely got to have a base in international law. You’ve got to make sure, in any action that you take that you have that regional and international support. And you also have a plan and clear objectives.’

Labour leader says military attack on ISIS needs regional and global support . He also demands a 'base' in international law and clear plan and objectives . But Mr Miliband does not demand UN resolution to authorise military action . The PM is set to address the UN General Assembly on ISIS threat this week . Also set to meet Barack Obama on the sidelines of New York summit . Increasing speculation that Parliament could be recalled on Thursday .

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By . Mike Dawes . Athletics Australia's British head coach Eric Hollingsworth has been sent home from the Commonwealth Games after his outspoken attack on Olympic sprint hurdles champion Sally Pearson. Hollingsworth labelled Pearson, who is the defending champion in Glasgow, a 'bad example', highlighting his anger that she did not attend the team's pre-Games training camp. Australian Commonwealth Games Association chef de mission Steve Moneghetti announced at a press conference on Thursday morning that Hollingsworth had been stripped of his accreditation and would travel back to Australia at the earliest opportunity. Heading home: Australia head coach Eric Hollingsworth has been forced to leave the Commonwealth Games . Moneghetti said: 'There was a breach in our team agreement with one of our members of the team, specifically the head coach of the athletics section. 'We invited that person in to explain that breach in the contract and we decided that there was reason enough to impost some sanctions on the actions taken by Eric Hollingsworth and we then spoke to the section manager from athletics to decide on an appropriate sanction. 'As a result of that Athletics Australia withdrew Eric's nomination as head coach of the athletics section of the Australia's Commonwealth Games team and this led to us revoking his accreditation. We've made arrangements for Eric to travel back to Australia at an appropriate time. 'He is going home today, if we can get some flights arranged. He will leave the Games in Glasgow as soon as it's logical and possible.' Criticised: Australian hurdler Sally Pearson (right), pictured here meeting the Queen, was the subject of a verbal attack by Hollingsworth .

Hollingsworth criticised Pearson for not attending Australia's pre-Games camp . The hurdler is favourite to win gold in Glasgow . Brit Hollingsworth has been sent back to Australia .

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(CNN) -- "Excuse me," the woman called. "Is the president still speaking?" "I think so," I called over to her. She let her face scrunch up into an expression of mild dismay. It had nothing at all to do with politics. This was in central Ohio; she was standing next to a furniture-delivery truck near the intersection of two streets called Sherwood and Dawson. President Barack Obama was addressing a rally on the campus of Capital University in Bexley, a few blocks away. People attending the event had jammed the residential neighborhood with their parked cars, and some of those cars were so close to her driveway, on Sherwood, that the furniture truck could not maneuver into it. "I had this delivery scheduled, but I didn't know it would be the same time the president was here," she said, her voice pleasant. "The guys from the truck are looking for another way to get it to my house. I told them I'd stand here and guard the furniture." Ohio is getting plenty of visits from the candidates. During the time I was in the middle of Ohio this summer, Paul Ryan was in the area twice, Mitt Romney was there at least once, and on this early afternoon Obama had made his way to Capital. Scenes like this repeat every four years; there are days in highly contested states when something seems almost amiss if you don't encounter a motorcade or a police escort. They are traveling salesmen, the candidates are; they hit the road bearing their products -- the products being themselves. And although presidential and vice presidential candidates are the most celebrated politicians in the land, they become not so different from the thousands of other sales reps who lug their sample cases across America every work week of the year. Gergen: Harsh realities for Democrats . And the people in the towns -- especially in the swing states -- find out what it's like to be suddenly wanted, to be the recipient of exceptionally fervid sales ardor. When you are in the market for a big-ticket item -- a house; a new car -- you notice how accommodating the real-estate agent or the car dealership is toward you: always checking back, asking what they can do to win your business, generally being constantly around and ever available. After you've bought the item, they tend not to come calling. That's how it is during that small sliver of time when the people running for president and vice president can't do enough for the potential voters. For those voters in the states that can tip the balance of an election, it can be flattering -- and also a little wearying -- to be so relentlessly courted, even while knowing that the courtship has a hard expiration date in early November. Begala: Democrats fix their enthusiasm gap . The candidates, however low on sleep and tugged in all directions, travel great distances to try to make the sale. Despite the much-vaunted reach of television commercials and social networks, they understand that, to close the deal, they had better be there in person, just like the real-estate agent or the car dealer. Because if they aren't, they know that the other real-estate agent or car dealer will be. To watch the major-party candidates move through the country in these months ... well, for all their fame, there's more than a bit of literature's most unforgettable salesman, Willy Loman, present: "a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine." On the day Obama spoke on the campus lawn at Capital, the Secret Service and the local police had closed down Pleasant Ridge Avenue to traffic, but allowed pedestrians to slip around the barricade if they wanted to give the pizzeria one door down a little business. A local man walking with a cane, running for an office considerably less lofty than president or vice president, stopped at each of the outdoor tables and handed a leaflet to each pizza-eater, saying: "I'd like your vote this fall. I'm on the ballot." In less than nine weeks, two of the four men crisscrossing the nation -- Obama, Romney, Ryan, Joe Biden -- are going to find out that they failed to make the sale after all, and two of the men are going to find out that they have successfully culminated the transaction. The nervous uncertainty of that is what can make their high-level pursuit at times feel utterly life-sized. Arthur Miller, in that same play in which he introduced Willy Loman to the world, understood the compulsion behind all of this quite well: . "A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bob Greene.

Bob Greene was in Ohio this summer, where presidential candidate visits were constant . He says they are like traveling salesmen who must show up if they want to close the deal . He says Ohioans get weary of the courting, even though they know it ends in November . Greene: They're like Willy Loman: "A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory"

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(CNN) -- Tropical Storm Chantal was headed for the islands of the eastern Caribbean Sea on Monday, prompting storm warnings from Puerto Rico to Barbados. The storm was well out in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday night, but it was moving swiftly over the open water and was expected to cross into the Caribbean early Tuesday, U.S. forecasters reported. Projections from the National Hurricane Center in Miami show Chantal is not expected to reach hurricane strength. But forecasters reported the storm would cross the Lesser Antilles, may skirt Puerto Rico and sweep across the Dominican Republic, Haiti and eastern Cuba on Wednesday and Thursday. At 8 p.m. ET, Chantal was centered about 320 miles (515 kilometers) east-southeast of Barbados, moving to the west-northwest at 26 mph. Its top winds had strengthened to 50 mph, and the storm could strengthen more in the next two days. Tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or higher extended more than 90 miles from the eye, mainly to the north, the hurricane center reported. Tropical storm warnings were in place for Barbados, Dominica, St. Lucia, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Puerto Rico, while tropical storm watches were posted for the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Vincent, the southern coast of the Dominican Republic and the islands of Vieques and Culebra, off Puerto Rico. Track the storm with CNN's hurricane tracker . Chantal is expected to dump 2 to 4 inches of rain over the Leeward and Windward Islands, with up to 6 inches possible in some areas. Storm surges could be as high as 3 feet. Any threat to the United States was highly uncertain, CNN meteorologist Sherri Pugh said. Computer models aren't clear on whether the storm will turn toward the Gulf Coast, the East Coast or out to sea, she said. Currently, the hurricane center projects that Chantal will fade to a tropical depression somewhere between Cuba and the Bahamas by Friday.

NEW: Chantal gains some strength as it heads for the Caribbean . NEW: Puerto Rico added to tropical storm warnings . The storm is expected to cross the Lesser Antilles by Tuesday . Up to 6 inches of rain is expected in some areas .

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By . Louise Boyle . PUBLISHED: . 23:50 EST, 25 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:44 EST, 26 July 2012 . An actress with a history of mental illness went missing four days ago after she accused her family of being terrorists, police said. Mabel Pantaleon, 31, who suffers from manic depression, was last seen at 9am on Sunday at her apartment in Manhattan. Her mother said she was on medication but suspected she may have stopped taking it after she was acting strangely right before her disappearance. Sylvia Pantaleon told ABC News: 'She was staying with me. She saw . something on the Internet and got very upset, and she started saying a . lot of weird things. 'She said, "I'm leaving from here, all of you are terrorists, you're not my mother. I knew it wasn't her".' Budding fame: Actress Mabel Pantaleon, 31, disappeared from her Manhattan home on Sunday and has not been heard from since . Mystery disappearance: Miss Pantaleon came runner-up in the Miss Latina New York USA Pageant in 2003 . Miss Pantaleon, who left a nursing program at New York City College of Technology to pursue acting, has had roles on shows including Dexter and Mystery ER. She moved to California to further her . career but came back to New York and moved in her her mother for a year . before finding her own place. But she had recently lost her apartment and had to move back in with her family again, her mother said. She also said that her daughter did not have a boyfriend at the time she disappeared: 'That was one of her problems. She doesn't have friends, she doesn't have boyfriends.' She has also starred in two films - Choose Connor in 2007 and The Gleam a year earlier. Last sighting: The actress, who has had small TV roles, has been missing for four days from her home on W157th St in Manhattan, police reported . Dexter, starring Michael C. Hall, is . the story of a Miami police forensics expert who moonlights as a serial . killer who hunts down criminals. Miss Pantaleon, who was born in New York, also came runner-up in the Miss Latina New York USA Pageant in 2003, according to her IMDb profile. She was last seen on West 157th St in upper Manhattan and may have been driving a silver 2004 Toyota Camry, according to the New York Daily News. She was wearing a shirt with 'Drake' emblazoned across the front and is described by police as 5-feet-7, 165 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. Anyone with information as to Miss Pantaleon's disappearance has been asked to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. Budding career: Mabel Pantaleon had won a role in TV series Dexter starring Michael C Hall .

Mabel Pantaleon starred in TV shows Dexter and Mystery ER . Said to have a mental illness . Mother believes she stopped taking her medication . Former beauty pageant contestant had given up nursing career to pursue acting in New York .

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Wolves are to rekindle interest in Leicester City striker Chris Wood next week when the loan window opens. The Molineux club made a £1.25m bid for the New Zealand international last month but failed to agree personal terms. Championship side Wolves are also looking to loan out defender Roger Johnson who saw a late move to Genk fall through last week. Wanted: Wolves are to rekindle their interest in Leicester frontman Chris Wood when the loan window opens .

Wolves keen on Leicester frontman Chris Wood . Championship side to rekindle interest when loan window opens . Wood failed to agree personal terms on permanent switch last month .

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Violent crime in the United States declined in 2008, due in part to a significant drop in the number of murders, according to the first available FBI figures covering the entire year. The decline would be the third straight year-to-year drop in violent crime in the United States. The preliminary figures for 2008, released Monday, show that overall reported crime dropped 2.5 percent nationally from the previous year, including a 4.4 percent decline in murders. Although crime statistics varied sharply from city to city, the overall number of reported murders declined 9.1 percent in cities with populations of 100,000 to 250,000. However, murders increased 5.5 percent in towns of fewer than 10,000 residents. Overall, the number of aggravated assaults declined 3.2 percent, forcible rape decreased 2.2 percent, and robbery decreased 1.1 percent. The Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report historically provides a strong indication of the final figures that will be compiled and released later in the year. The statistics are based on a compilation of crime reports provided to the FBI by the more than 12,000 law enforcement agencies in the nation. The report shows a small increase in violent crime in the second half of the year. Figures for the first half of 2008, which were released in early January, showed that overall violent crime through the end of June had declined 3.5 percent, compared with the 2.5 percent decline for the entire year. Other results in the year-end figures were a 1.6 percent drop in reported property crimes from 2007, including a 13.1 percent decline in motor vehicle thefts. Violent crime in the United States has largely been on the decline over the past two decades. In 2005, however, a surprising increase prompted headlines of an end to the drop in violence. Monday's figures show that the downward trend has resumed. After the 2005 violent crime increase of 2.3 percent, the figures increased only 1.9 percent in 2006 and then dropped 0.7 percent in 2007 before the decline of 2.5 percent in the preliminary 2008 figures.

Preliminary data: U.S. violent crime in 2008 dropped 2.5 percent from 2007 . Murders declined 4.4 percent but rose in towns of fewer than 10,000 people . Drop in violent crime would be third consecutive year-to-year decline . Violent crime in the U.S. has largely been declining over the past two decades .

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U.S. soldiers are being flown to West Africa to combat Ebola following just four hours of hazmat training, it was today claimed. The serviceman at Fort Campbell and Fort Bragg are given swift instructions on how to protect themselves against the deadly virus by Army medical teams before deployment. These include how to put on, remove and decontaminate protective equipment, as well as a practical test that aims to ensure soldiers understand the procedures. It comes as the Ebola death toll has struck 4,546, bringing the total number of confirmed and suspected cases of the virus to 9,191. Scroll down for video . Brief training: U.S. soldiers are being flown to West Africa to combat Ebola following just four hours of hazmat training, it was today claimed. Above, U/S/ Marines arrive at Roberts International Airport in Liberia . Instructions: The serviceman are given brief instructions on how to protect themselves against the deadly virus by Army medical teams before deployment. Above, soldiers at a hospital construction site in Liberia . During the four-hour hazmat training, a team of two can train as many as 50 soldiers, the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) told The Daily Beast. 'All training is tiered to the level of risk each person may encounter,' said Caree Vander Linden, spokesman for USAMRIID, which is based out of Fort Detrick. So far, there are 547 U.S. troops in West Africa, serving in Senegal and Liberia, where they have reportedly been holing up in improvised quarters in hotels and local government facilities. This is while the military builds a 25-bed hospital, 'life support areas' and 17 treatment centers in Liberia, where they can train local professionals to care for and conduct tests on potential victims. Safety measures: The soldiers are also not permitted to shake hands, must frequently wash their hands with a chlorine solution and are required to have their temperatures measured (pictured) several times a day . Outbreak: It comes as the Ebola death toll has struck 4,546, bringing the total number of confirmed and suspected cases of the virus to 9,191. Above, a health worker carries a baby to an Ebola holding center . In protective gear: Symptoms of the deadly virus include a high fever, vomiting and joint and muscle aches . According to USA Today, the four-hour training process can be daunting for soldiers, with some being told that Ebola 'basically causes your body to eat itself from the inside out'. Others have reportedly been warned that the disease is 'worse' that what they might have encountered in Afghanistan, while several have been told the virus is 'catastrophic... with a high fatality rate'. 'I’ll be honest with you,' one soldier told the newspaper. 'I’m kind of scared.' Despite the trainers' apparent shock tactics, the Army maintains that the risk of soldiers contracting the virus is minimal because it is not airborne and they will not have contact with sick patients. Mission : So far, there are 547 U.S. troops in West Africa, serving in Senegal and Liberia (pictured), where they have reportedly been holing up in improvised quarters in hotels and local government facilities . Military base: The serviceman at Fort Bragg (pictured) are trained for just four hours before deployment . 'It's been shown that this disease is most manifest when handling bodily fluid—blood, other sorts of fluids, said Major General Darryl Williams, who leads America’s operations center in Liberia. 'There is no plan right now for U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines to do that'. The servicemen are also not permitted to shake hands, must frequently wash their hands with a chlorine solution and are required to have their temperatures measured several times a day. However, some are working with Liberian Army members on a daily basis, and their current living quarters - particularly those  in hotels - means they are surrounded by foreign nationals. Soldier: 'It's been shown [Ebola] is most manifest when handling bodily fluid—blood, other sorts of fluids, said Major General Darryl Williams (pictured), who leads America’s operations center in Liberia . Troops: Some U.S. soldiers are working with Liberian Army members on a daily basis, and their current living quarters means they are surrounded by foreign nationals. Above, Maj Gen Williams speaks to troops . Military spokesmen said they were relying on CDC guidelines to protect soldiers against Ebola. But these guidelines have been called into question after victim Thomas Eric Duncan was misdiagnosed and his nurse was allowed to board a plane just a day before she was hospitalized with the virus. President Barack Obama has committed more than $1billion toward a global fund to battle Ebola in West Africa. Yesterday, it was reported that the U.S. Army is preparing to provide as many as 3,000 troops to help combat the Ebola epidemic. Victim: Military spokesmen said they were relying on CDC guidelines to protect soldiers against Ebola. But these guidelines have been called into question after Thomas Eric Duncan (pictured) was misdiagnosed . These would include more soldiers from the Navy 'Seabees' (Construction Battalions), Navy medical personnel, soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division and other airmen, according to USA Today. Since the Ebola outbreak, most cases of the virus have been recorded in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Symptoms of the virus include a high fever, vomiting, a headache and joint aches. These appear two to 21 days after exposure to the disease, the CDC said.

Soldiers are 'given four hours of Ebola training before they are deployed' Includes instructions on how to put on, remove and decontaminate gear . Also involves a practical test to ensure they understand the procedures . Comes as Ebola death toll has hit 4,546, with most victims in West Africa . More than 500 U.S. troops are temporarily pitched up in hotels in Liberia . Army maintains that the risk of soldiers contracting the virus is minimal .

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By . Sami Mokbel . Follow @@SamiMokbel81_DM . Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen is poised for crunch talks with Arsene Wenger as doubt lingers over his future. The central defender returned to the club's London Colney HQ earlier this week following his exertions with Belgium at the World Cup. However, Vermaelen didn't travel to Austria with the majority of the first-team squad on Monday. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Thomas Vermaelen parades FA Cup and trains with Arsenal . Crunch talks: Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen is set to discuss his future with boss Arsene Wenger . Wanted: Vermaelen is a target for Manchester United and has also been linked with Barcelona . Manager Arsene Wenger preferred for the Belgian, who sustained a knee injury in Brazil, to stay in England to work on his base fitness. Arsenal's travelling party arrive back from Austria today, with Vermaelen will use the opportunity to discuss his future with Wenger in the coming days. Vermaelen is a target for Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal and has also been linked with a move to Barcelona. The former Ajax defender knows his game time will be restricted next season, with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny established as the club's preferred centre-half pairing. Likewise, Wenger's plans to convert new signing Calum Chambers into a central defender could be another obstacle for Vermaelen. In his role as club captain, Vermaelen does not want to be seen to forcing his way out of Arsenal, but sources close to the defender have indicated he is open to leaving this summer. Long-term: Wenger plans to convert new signing Calum Chambers into a central defender . VIDEO Chambers aims to emulate ex-Saints stars .

Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen set for crunch talks with Arsene Wenger . Defender did not travel to Austria with Gunners' first-team squad on Monday . Belgium centre back wanted by Manchester United and has also been linked with Barcelona .

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(CNN) -- The grand jury has made its decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown last August in Ferguson, Missouri. But another verdict became clear last night, too. The decision by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch to announce the decision at 8:30 p.m. CT was foolish and dangerous. Here's the thing about that time of night: it's dark. Anyone -- anyone! -- should have known that the decision in the Brown case would have been controversial. A decision not to indict, which was always possible, even likely, would have been sure to attract protests, even violence. Crowd control is always more difficult in the dark. The grand jury's deliberations concluded around lunchtime on Monday. It would have been simple to make the announcement while it was still daytime. Still, McCulloch said that he would not announce the grand jury's decision until 8 p.m. CT. Read Wilson's grand jury testimony . At a news conference in the late afternoon, Gov. Jay Nixon was asked about this nighttime announcement. In an answer that was consistent with his generally clueless performance throughout this crisis, Nixon said the decision to announce the decision at night was made solely by McCulloch. In other words, don't ask him! He's only the governor! Complete coverage of what's happening in Ferguson . McCulloch started his announcement late, and he was not finished until around 9 p.m., local time. His tone was icy and divisive. His sympathy for the Brown family was perfunctory. He seemed more angry at the news media than about the death of a young man. Are protests taking place near you? The predictable reaction ensued. Protests began, some of them violent. Police responded with tear gas. Fires burned. Cars were destroyed. Gunshots were heard. The full scale of the damage was difficult to assess last night. The ultimate verdict on the grand jury's decision is up to history at this point. But the verdict on McCulloch opting to announce the decision at night is clear -- and devastating. Protests spread far beyond Ferguson .

Jeffrey Toobin says prosecutor's choice to announce grand jury decision at night was clueless . He says deliberations ended at lunchtime, announcing at night was needlessly provocative . Crowd control harder at night. Plus McCulloch's tone was icy, insensitive, divisive, he says . Toobin: Violence ensued. Verdict on McCulloch's decision on timing is clear, devastating .

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By . Helen Lawson . PUBLISHED: . 07:21 EST, 20 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:04 EST, 20 July 2012 . The first pictures of a Spanish student who was decapitated in a frenzied attack have emerged, showing the young man smiling for the camera as he holds a glass of beer. Sergio Retamar Marquez had told friends shortly before his brutal death that he was living in fear and was frightened by a person who would say 'very strange things' to him. The 23-year-old English language student was hacked to death at his two-bedroom flat above a wine bar in Bournemouth, Dorset. A smiling Mr Marquez holds up a glass of beer in the first released pictures of the Spanish student . First picture of the Spanish student who was apparently decapitated in a gruesome attack. Mr Marquez's body was found after armed police swooped on the flat about 5pm on Tuesday. Neighbours reported hearing screaming before the grim discovery. Horrified friends who found his headless body were seen running out of the property screaming and looking gaunt. A trail of blood was found leading away from an alleyway alongside the three-storey building. A blood-covered man was arrested by police outside a private hospital a short distance away 30 minutes later. Officers dressed him in a white forensic suit to preserve any evidence before he was driven to a police station. Police taped off the building and officers with sniffer dogs were seen searching an area to the rear of the property, possibly looking for a murder weapon. The block of flats in Bournemouth where the grisly murder took place . Police talk to shocked local residents near the murder scene . The dead man's uncle, Miguel Marquez Torres, flew to Britain on Wednesday to seek more information about his nephew's murder and begin the process of identifying and repatriating his body. A post mortem examination revealed he died from multiple stab wounds to the chest. Another relative of Mr Marquez, an only child, said: 'We have been told very little about what’s happened. 'It’s destroyed us, especially his mum who he was very close to.' He moved to Britain last August to learn English and is believed to have started in a new job at a hotel shortly before his death. He had briefly returned to his home town of Coin near Malaga to recover from a road accident and do a cookery course. Jeanne Rimes, the deputy manager at the Savoy Hotel, Bournemouth, where Mr Marquez worked part time as a waiter, said: 'He was just a lovely boy. 'People who worked with him will be so distressed to know what happened. 'He was very popular with the guests, he was quite a quiet, shy guy but with the guests he was chatty and lovely all the time, always very polite. 'He was just genuine, reliable, trustworthy and a very helpful man.' Police have arrested a 29-year-old Bournemouth man in connection with the killing. He has been detained at a secure mental health unit, while police have confirmed they are not looking for anybody else in connection with Mr Marquez's death.

Sergio Retamar Marquez, 23, moved to Britain last August to learn English . Told friend he was living in fear of a frightening person who would say 'very strange things' Suspect detained to a secure mental health unit as police investigate .

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Charges against a Pennsylvania woman accused of helping her 93-year-old father to commit suicide have reignited the national debate over aid-in-dying laws. A Schuylkill County magistrate has ordered Barbara Mancini, 57, of Pottsville to stand trial for allegedly handing her terminally ill father his prescription morphine medication, which prosecutors claim caused or assisted his suicide. At the August 1 preliminary hearing, Magistrate James K. Reiley said that prosecutors had presented enough evidence for the assisted suicide charges against Mancini, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A county judge issued a gag order in the case before the preliminary hearing began. "I can't respond. I'm sorry," Barbara Mancini told reporters as she left court in Pottsville. According to Mancini's lawyer, who spoke to reporters via teleconference the day before the hearing, her father, Joe Yourshaw, was in "unremitting" pain, suffering from numerous medical conditions including diabetes and kidney failure. His daughter, who is also a nurse, was at his home hospice bedside when he allegedly asked her to pass him his prescribed morphine. "He chose to drink his morphine because that was the only way for him to find pain relief. That was his choice; that was his constitutional right to do that," attorney Frederick Finelli said. Mancini's "stated intention, only intention" was to help her father get relief from his pain, he said. According to the medical records noted in his autopsy report, Yourshaw went into a coma not long after taking the morphine and was found unresponsive by Barbara Klattermole, a nurse with Hospice of Central Pennsylvania. Klattermole called an ambulance and called the 911 and reported an attempted suicide. Pottsville Police Capt. Steve Durkin said in an affidavit that when he responded to the call on February 7, Mancini opened the door. "She told me that her father had asked her for his morphine so he could commit suicide, and she provided it. She further stated that he was on hospice care, was already dying and did not want to be taken to hospital," he said . Yourshaw, who according to Finelli had a do-not-resuscitate order and had expressed his wishes to die at home, was then taken to a hospital and revived. Mancini was arrested and charged. Fanelli told reporters that when Yourshaw awoke in the hospital, he was angry. "He starts raising hell with everybody for Number One, why are you doing this to me and Number Two, when he sees the police there, he wants to know why are they here and what are you saying my daughter did, leave her alone!" Yourshaw died in the hospital four days later from complications due to morphine toxicity, according to the autopsy report. Compassion & Choices, an end-of-life choice advocacy group that has been fighting for dignity-in-death laws for over 30 years, is petitioning Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane to have the charges dropped. "There's no question the she acted out of compassion and love and support for her 93-year-old dying dad. The fact that she's being charged is outrageous," said Barbara Coombs Lee, the group's president. "Dying patients have a federal constitutional right to as much medicine as they need to relieve their pain, even if it advances their time of death." While most states ban assisted suicide, aid-in-dying is permitted in Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont. New Jersey will review a death-with-dignity bill later this fall that would allow aid-in-dying. Medical ethicist Art Caplan supports doctor-assisted suicide with restrictions, not family assisted suicide. He said Mancini's case has all the signs of a mercy killing. "Your heart goes out to the family but at the same time, you're trying to make sure that it doesn't quickly turn into 'we're encouraging you to do this' or 'why don't you do this? Life would be simpler for us if you swallowed a bunch of morphine.' It has to be regulated." Caplan does not expect Mancini to serve jail time. Coombs Lee of Compassion & Choices agrees that it's important to screen cases and make sure there's no malice or self-interest involved, but "when all the evidence and the entire family's testimony says it was not, it should end there." She said the case has national implications because it scares doctors and hospice workers into not giving elderly patients needed pain medicine and instead encourages them to "save themselves, not the patient" and protect themselves against legal proceedings. Mancini is out on bail and is expected to be arraigned this fall and stand trial early next year.

Barbara Mancini is charged with helping her terminally ill father, 93, die in February . She handed him morphine, he took it and fell into a coma; a hospice nurse called police . Father was revived at a hospital as his daughter was arrested; he died 4 days later . An advocacy group is pushing the Pennsylvania attorney general to drop the charges .

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By . Alexandra Klausner . A little girl, 8, suffering from a neurological disorder wrote a heartwarming letter to an injured police offer who was shot in the chest. Abby Holbrook, of Loveland, Colorado sent local police officer Garret Osilka a letter to make him feel better after he was shot during a March traffic stop. Abby suffers from an autoimmune condition similar to multiple sclerosis called transverse myeliti. At one point in her sickness, she was paralyzed from the neck down. Abby Holbrook and Officer Garrett Osilka met after Holbrook, who suffers from a disease, wrote him a heart warming letter telling him he will heal after being shot . Abby Holbrook, pictured, suffers from transverse myeliti and goes to the hospital often for brain surgeries . Abby, seen here resting in a hospital bed, must also undergo bladder surgeries and has one scheduled for next week . Though Abby did not know Osilka personally before reaching out to him, 'She wanted to give him a gift,' mother Carrie Holbrook said. Abby sent Osilka a St. Christopher medal along with the letter. 'Dear Officer Osilka, I know how it feels to hurt really bad. I'm in the hospital, and Chief Hecker is my friend, so that makes you my friend. I hope you feel better soon. I got this medal because St. Christopher will help protect you from bad guys. Love, Abby,' said the letter. 9News reports that Abby goes to the hospital for brain surgeries often and that gifts always make her feel a little bit better. In addition to painful brain surgeries, Abby must undergo bladder surgeries and has one scheduled for next week. Loveland Police Chief Luke Hecker, referenced in the letter, is a family friend of the Holbrooks, the station adds. Hecker even delivered the gifts to Osilka on Abby's behalf and told him about Abby's condition. Osilka asked if he could visit Abby, which he later did. This is Abby Holbrook's inspiring letter to Officer Osilka telling him that St.Christopher will protect him and that she's in the hospital so she knows what it is like to feel pain . Abby sent Osilka a St. Christopher medal along with her heartwarming letter . Referring to Abby, injured police officer Garret Osilka said 'In my mind, she's tougher than I am' Abby's mom Carrie Holbrook believes this will be the beginning of a long and special friendship for her daughter and injured officer Garret Osilka . 'It was very, very sweet,' Carrie Holbrook said told the station. Holbrook believes that this will be the beginning of a very long and special friendship. 'It was a super, special letter obviously,' Osilka told 9News. 'That's why I wanted to come see you afterwards.' Osilka is currently healing from his injuries, which include both the gunshot wound as well as psychological trauma. The 'bad guy' Abby refers to in her letter, who police suspect is 23-year-old Cody Powell, was charged with suspicion of attempted first-degree murder in early March. He was arrested after police linked a vehicle, either a blue or black Jeep Cherokee with temporary plates occupied by two people to the scene of the crime, Westword.com reports. Powell turned himself in at a Loveland Walmart. Osilka told 9news that even though he suffered an injury while on his sometimes frightening job, he believes that Abby is even stronger than he is. 'I kind of picked my profession,' he said. 'It's not a choice that she made. In my mind, she's tougher than I am.' A GoFundMe account to help raise funds for Abby's medical expenses is viewable here. Osilka was so touched by Abby's gesture of kindness he asked to visit her . Abby, who sent both a St. Christopher and a letter to the injured officer, has said that gifts always make her feel better . Abby Holbrook lives her life and stays strong despite having been in a wheelchair and undergoing brain surgery . Abby spends time in the hospital and shared some of her words of wisdom with an injured officer who is now her lifelong friend .

Abby Holbrook suffers from an autoimmune . condition called transverse myelitis and . at one point in her sickness was paralyzed from the neck down . Officer Garret Osilka was shot during a traffic stop in March and Abby felt she could relate . Holbrook didn't know Osilka personally but after hearing about his injury she wanted to help him by sending him a St. Christopher medal and a letter . Osilka was touched by the gifts and said 'In my mind she's tougher than I am'

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By . Rebecca Camber and Rebecca Evans . Last updated at 9:42 AM on 10th July 2011 . The stepson of notorious former gangster Dave Courtney has been shot dead in a suspected gangland assassination over a drugs debt. Genson Courtney, 23, was ambushed as he got into his VW Golf outside his girlfriend's home in Greenwich, south-east London. The victim, whose stepfather has written books about gangland violence, was blasted by a lone gunman in the head and shoulder before his assailant fled on foot. Genson Courtney, left, the stepson of self-styled gangster Dave Courtney, was shot dead in Greenwich, south-east London . A policeman stands at the scene in Greenwich where Genson Courtney was shot in a black VW Golf. Officers are looking for a male suspect seen fleeing shortly after the shooting . Dave Courtney was born in Bermondsey, London, in 1959. The 52-year-old has made a name for himself through his supposed affiliation with famous hardmen such as Reggie Kray. He was only nine when the Krays were jailed, but claims to have arranged security for Ronnie Kray's funeral in 1995. Courtney became infamous as a knuckle-duster wielding debt collector, and claims to have been shot, stabbed and had his nose almost bitten off. He claims to have been found not guilty in 19 separate trials but in January 2009 he was given an 18-month conditional discharge at Bristol Crown Court, on a charge of possessing live ammunition without a firearms certificate. In 2004 he was cleared of attacking his wife Jennifer Pinto over an alleged lesbian affair. Four years earlier, he walked free from the Old Bailey after he was cleared of being part of a plot to plant cocaine on an innocent woman. During the trial he was named as a registered police informant using the alias 'Tommy Mack'. But Courtney insisted he simply took advantage of the system to disguise a relationship with a corrupt detective. 'I have never been a grass,' he said. He is also known to have spent time in Belmarsh prison. In recent times he has become something of a celebrity figure, making a living from appearances in numerous television documentaries and a number of low-budget British gangster films. He also starred in, directed and produced his own film, Hell To Pay. Courtney has published six books - including titles such as Dodgy Dave's Little Black Book - and recorded a version of 'I Fought The Law' with Scottish pop-punks Mute. He refers to himself as Dave Courtney OBE – 'One Big Ego' - and has a painted depiction of himself as a knight in his south London house (pictured above). He was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead at 3.43am. The . street where Genson, a cagefighter, was killed is a five-minute walk from the terraced . house used in a 1990 film based on the lives and crimes of the Kray . twins, in which his stepfather starred. It is also only a short distance from London's O2 Arena. Police suspect a major drugs baron owed thousands of pounds by Genson ordered his execution just before 11pm on Sunday. There is also a theory he could have been lured to the area after being caught up in an ongoing feud between gangs. Yesterday his 52-year-old stepfather said he was ‘shell-shocked’ by the murder. The self-styled gangster spoke . outside the family home in Plumstead, South London, which is named . ‘Camelot Castle’ and decorated with Union Jack flags and a large painted . depiction of himself as a knight with a large knuckle-duster. Courtney said: ‘I’m shell-shocked. Police have been here all day and they are inside now so I don’t want to . say anything other than I’m devastated.’ He then told The Sun: 'He (Genson) was a proper little solja and I was proud of him. 'If anyone needed an advert to say crime doesn't pay then let Genson be that advert. 'We were close - and even shared a cell when we were both in jail earlier this year.' He pleaded for calm as police feared a gang war could erupt over the killing. A family friend said the victim’s mother Jenny, a singer, was inconsolable. She said: ‘The family are in bits. Jenny is talking to the police now and there have been a lot of tears. 'I don’t know what could have brought this on. ‘Genson was such a nice boy, always going to the gym.’ Police were investigating last night whether the victim knew his killer. Officers were quizzing his family and friends about his last movements. Neighbours told yesterday how they . saw two black men speeding in a black VW Golf in the area . moments before the victim was shot dead in the same vehicle, believed to . be a hire car. Detectives fear that the killing may unleash a wave of ‘tit-for-tat’ retribution attacks. Genson's stepfather, known as ‘Dodgy . Dave’, revels in his image as a violent hardman and claims to be the . inspiration behind Vinnie Jones’s role as the debt collector in the . movie, Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels. The former debt collector has written . a number of books about his underworld exploits in which he claims to . have been shot, stabbed and had his nose bitten off. Courtney, who was jailed in the . Eighties for attacking five men with a meat cleaver, also boasts that he . has been involved in assault and murder. He often focuses on his links with . Reggie Kray and the infamous criminal Lenny McLean and is said to be a . central figure in a loose collection of villains who refer to themselves . as The Firm. Grief: Dave Courtney - pictured here with Genson's mother Jennifer attending the premiere of Mr Nice last year - said tonight he was 'shell-shocked' by the shooting . Mr Courtney, 52, celebrating with his partner Jennifer after being acquitted on charges of perverting the course of justice at the Old Bailey in 2000 . Celebrity-gangster figure Courtney claims to have been involved in assault, murder and debt-collecting, for which he gained a reputation for using a knuckle-duster . This year it was reported that the . author, who refers to himself as Courtney OBE which stands for ‘One Big . Ego', had landed a £15million deal to star in three Hollywood movies. Like his father, Genson was no stranger to police. His father’s website reveals how at . the age of 15, Genson was forced to live rough on the streets when his . parents briefly split up around 2004. The troubled teenager, who attended . Eaglesfield School in Woolwich, committed a number of offences before . moving back in with his stepfather a year later. Yesterday friends and . family left flowers at the scene. One friend said: ‘He was a gentle giant - the nicest bloke you could ever meet’. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Gower . from the Met’s gun crime unit, Trident said: ‘At this early stage it is . believed a male suspect may have run from the scene in the direction of . Christchurch Way, SE10, shortly after the shooting. ‘I am appealing to anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious to contact the police. ‘I would like to reassure anyone . concerned about contacting the police that Trident has great expertise . in protecting witnesses and there are a huge variety of measures that . can be put in place to protect you.’ The street where Genson was killed is a five-minute walk from the terraced house used in a 1990 film based on the lives and crimes of the Kray twins, which his step-father starred in .

Murder scene a five-minute walk from set location of film about The Krays . Fears that a gang war could erupt over the hit .

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By . David Williams . UPDATED: . 21:03 EST, 1 February 2012 . The Taliban is set to return to power in Afghanistan when British and Coalition forces end their combat role in 2014, a damning leaked confidential report reveals. Despite 10 years of fighting by NATO forces and their huge sacrifices - 397 members of the British military alone have been killed and thousands wounded - the report says that in the past year there has been unprecedented interest, even from within the Afghan government, in joining the Taliban. And it points accusingly at Afghanistan's neighbour Pakistan, a key ally of NATO, where powerful elements in the security and intelligence services support the Taliban and describes how insurgent leaders maintain homes within the heart of the capital Islamabad. Scroll down for video . Sacrifice: Jack Sadler was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2007 . Trooper Jack Sadler was repatriated to RAF Lyneham five days after his death in December 2007 . Poised: A Taliban militant holds a grenade launcher in Herat. A secret U.S. report claims the insurgent movement is poised to regain control of Afghanistan when NATO troops withdraw . Unbowed: The document claims Taliban fighters are being supported by Pakistan intelligence services across the border . Based on 27,000 interviews with over . 4,000 Taliban and Al Qaeda prisoners, the detailed report effectively . questions the Coalition’s own assessment that it is winning the war in . Afghanistan. The report - The State of the Taliban - . was described as ‘devastating’ yesterday (W) by former soldier Ian . Sadler, whose son Jack, a 21-year-old reservist serving with the . Honourable Artillery Company, died in a roadside bomb blast in Helmand . in December 2007. 'It has been a waste of time operating . in the way that the British have,' he said, 'Hearing details of the . report makes me wonder why our soldiers were sent there in the way they . were and the cost that has been paid.' The report compiled by U.S. forces . describes how weapons and vehicles given to Afghan forces have in turn . been passed on to the Taliban and says that Pakistan's feared . Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI) is actively colluding with the . insurgents by actually directing attacks. Attacks: An explosion after an airstrike in Nanagarhar, Afghanistan. The report, based on interrogation of insurgents, claims Taliban fighters are being given weapons and training by Pakistan-backed militants . Cost: The remains of Private First Class Cody R. Norris arrive at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. More than ten years after the U.S.-led conflict in Afghanistan, the Taliban are poised to regain control . 'Pakistan knows everything,' the report states, 'they control everything. The Taliban are not Islam. The Taliban are Islamabad. 'ISI officers tout the need for continued jihad (holy war) and expulsion of foreign invaders from Pakistan. 'The government of Pakistan remains intimately involved with the Taliban. 'ISI is thoroughly aware of Taliban . activities and the whereabouts of all senior Taliban personnel. Senior . Taliban leaders meet regularly with ISI personnel, who advise on . strategy and relay any pertinent concerns of the government of . Pakistan.' Those questioned, including senior . Taliban commanders, told how Islamabad uses a complex network of spies . and intermediaries to provide strategic advice to aid the Taliban in . fighting the coalition. Explaining why new recruits are . turning in large numbers to the Taliban, fighters said : 'When the . Karzai government was established, we thought there was a chance of . something good. The harassment, corruption and abuse are unbearable. We . chose to fight. We chose the Taliban.' No confidence: An Afghan border police officer receives his graduation certificate. There are concerns that the police, security forces and Afghan army will not be able to maintain order in the country when NATO forces leave . Unpopular: The Taliban is playing on public opinion of President Hamid Karzai's government . In a bleak conclusion, it paints a . picture of Al Qaeda’s influence diminishing but the Taliban’s influence . increasing, stating : 'Afghan civilians frequently prefer Taliban . governance over the Afghan government, usually as a result of government . corruption.' The report has evidence that the . Taliban are deliberately hastening NATO's withdrawal by reducing their . attacks in some areas and then initiating a comprehensive . hearts-and-minds campaign. The findings could heap further . pressure on David Cameron, and U.S. President Barack Obama, as they face . strengthened calls to withdraw troops before the 2014 deadline. It could also reinforce the view of . Taliban hardliners that the group should not negotiate peace with the . U.S. and President Hamid Karzai's unpopular government while in a . position of strength. Significantly, the Taliban yesterday . said that reports they were about to begin talks with the Karzai . government in Saudi Arabia were untrue. 'The unfortunate reality is that this . is a failure of the allied strategy in Afghanistan. They have not been . able to achieve the goals they set out to achieve,' said Mahmud Durrani, . a former Pakistan army general and ambassador to Washington. Fresh accusations of Pakistani . collusion with the Taliban are likely to further strain ties between . Western powers and Islamabad, which has long denied backing militants . seeking to topple the U.S.-backed government in Kabul. Critics say Pakistan uses militant . groups as proxies to counter the growing influence of rival India in . Afghanistan. The belief that Pakistan supports the insurgents is widely . held in Afghanistan. Pakistani fighter jets bombed the hideouts of two militant commanders along the Afghan border today, killing up to 31 insurgents. One of those killed was reported to be a Pakistani Taliban leader in the Orakzai region, Moin ud Din. The strikes followed clashes between soldiers and militants over a strategic mountain in Kurram last week, in which more than 60 people were killed. In recent years, the Pakistani military has launched a series of offensives against militants in the border regions - which are only nominally controlled by the central government. Large areas remain under the effective control of extremists, who use the region to plan attacks in Pakistani cities and Afghanistan. Gunmen also attacked a Pakistan paramilitary checkpoint in the Marwah area of Baluchistan province last night, killing six troops. And the bodies of seven unarmed men were discovered near the checkpoint. Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina . Rabbani Khar on a one day visit to the Afghan capital Kabul, dismissed . the claims which she said were not new and could be disregarded. 'This is old wine in an even older . bottle. I don’t think these claims are new. These claims have been made . for many, many years,' she said. In Brussels, a NATO official said the . prisoners also claimed that the Taliban retain wide public support . throughout Afghanistan, particularly in the countryside. The official, however, cautioned that . the document was not based on any intelligence analysis of the situation . on the ground, but is a summary of thousands of interrogation reports. 'It's a very lopsided perspective because some of them are motivated to portray the picture in their favour,' said the official. The extent of Taliban support from . within local forces was underlined yesterday when an Afghan soldier shot . and killed a NATO service member in southern Afghanistan. It was the sixth report since December . of an Afghan soldier turning his weapon on the international troops . working to train the Afghan security forces. Two weeks ago, an Afghan soldier . killed four French soldiers prompting President Nicolas Sarkozy to speed . up the exit of French troops from Afghanistan said it would ask NATO to . hand over all combat operations to Afghan forces in 2013 instead of by . the end of 2014. At least seven British soldiers have . been killed by so-called trusted 'colleagues' while there have been at . least 35 attacks on international troops since 2007 by Afghan soldiers, . police or insurgents wearing their uniforms. The number rose sharply . last year to 17, up from six in 2010. Tory MP John Baron, a member of the . Foreign Affairs Committee and a long-term opponent of the Government's . policy on Afghanistan, said: 'This confirms what a number of us have . suspected for some time. 'The Taliban insurgency is intact, it . is supported by local people and it is getting help from the Pakistani . intelligence services. This proves that the Taliban will not be beaten . and recent offers of talks should be positively responded to and taken . up by the U.S. and UK. 'It is possible to talk and fight at the same time - we proved that in Northern Ireland.' Mr Baron, who believes it is vital to . find a political solution in Afghanistan, said the military campaign had . become bogged down in 'mission creep' because it did not have clear . goals.

Report compiled by U.S. forces claims Pakistan security agency is assisting Taliban attacks against NATO forces . Afghans bracing for return of Taliban when foreign troops withdraw in 2014 . Taliban detainees claim Pakistan employs network of spies to give strategic advice to militants . Pakistan Foreign Ministry dismisses claims as 'frivolous' and insists it is committed to non-interference in Afghanistan . 10-year conflict has seen nearly 3,000 service personnel killed .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:03 EST, 29 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:32 EST, 29 November 2013 . With two growing teenage daughters in the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama has put her foot down when it comes to their social media presence. Talking to ABC News' Barbara Walters in an interview set to air on 20/20 at 10pm tonight, the 49-year-old said she doesn't want Malia, 15, and Sasha, 12, to have Facebook accounts just yet. 'I still am not a big believer in Facebook for young people. . . particularly for them, because they're in the public eye,' Mrs Obama said in the interview, her first with the President this year. Talking to ABC News' Barbara Walters in an interview set to air on 20/20 at 10pm tonight, the 49-year-old said she doesn't want Malia, 15, and Sasha, 12, to have Facebook accounts just yet . 'Some of its stuff they don't need to see and be a part of. . . So we try to protect them from too much of the public voice.' While Sasha isn't old enough to be on Facebook yet, Malia's access to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social networks is still limited. But with President Obama leaving his post as commander-in-chief in 2016, the parents say they encourage their daughters to grow personally through other avenues. For example, Malia, a sophomore in high school, is allowed to date and the daughters are given permission to have frequent sleepovers on the White House's third floor. 'I still am not a big believer in Facebook for young people. . . particularly for them, because they're in the public eye,' Mrs Obama said in the interview, her first with the President this year . With President Obama leaving his post as commander-in-chief in 2016, the parents say they encourage their daughters to grow personally through other avenues . Though Mrs Obama won't reveal whether Malia is in fact dating anyone at the moment, she said that the teenager 'can't wait until this light has dimmed to start becoming a person.' 'You know, we think about not just her life here, but her life after,' said Mrs Obama. 'Because she's gotta be an independent, strong, smart, capable woman in the world. So she has to get her training now.' Touching on family life in the White House, Mrs Obama admitted that their home is a 'sanctuary.' While Sasha isn't old enough to be on Facebook yet, Malia's access to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social networks is still limited . 'The girls are there and they dominate,' she said. 'They're not talking about issues of the day, they're talking about . issues of their day, which has nothing to do with what is going on in the rest of the world. 'Everyone has to have their safe haven, a place of peace and calm: that's . home for us,' Mrs Obama added, saying that she 'tries to stay out' of the President's ear when he is home. 'He already has enough people in . his ear,' she said. When asked whether the President thinks the First Lady would have made a better president than, the couple laugh. 'I still am not a big believer in Facebook for young people. . . particularly for them, because they're in the public eye,' Mrs Obama said in the interview, her first with the President this year . Though Mrs Obama won't reveal whether Malia (left, pictured with Sasha, right) is in fact dating anyone at the moment, she said that the teenager 'can't wait until this light has dimmed to start becoming a person' 'Of course,' he said. 'That's an easy question. But she's smart enough that she might not want to go through the process.' Mrs Obama disagreed, saying: 'He has a level of patience and focus and tenactity and calm that doesn't come by with anyone. I defintly dont have that patience.'

The First Lady discusses family life with Barbara Walters on 20/20 . It is the first time Mrs Obama and the President have been interviewed together this year .

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By . Martha De Lacey . When faced with a troublesome child, parents have traditionally turned to a toy or a dummy for help in restoring the peace. But, in a sign of the times, they are increasingly reaching for a rather more high-tech solution . . .  a smartphone. More than one in four mothers admits to handing over a phone to a crying or bored tot when they need entertaining, research has found. Smarty-pants: smart mums give restless babies smartphone apps to play with . And it is more common than shoving a dummy in their mouth or giving them a soft toy or even a bottle in these high tech times. A range of apps for youngsters, including games, puzzles and educational programmes, means smartphones are now a parent’s best friend, said Asda. The study found 27 per cent of mothers give their phones to their children to keep them entertained. And although 40 per cent of these restrict playtime to no longer than ten minutes, 10 per cent admitted leaving their children to play with their mobile for anything up to two hours. High-tech tots: Babies are shunning more traditional toys in favour of smartphone apps . The poll of 1,650 mums found 25 per cent stick to a bottle of milk or other drink as the main way of keeping their child entertained. One in five (21 per cent) resort to a favourite soft toy and only nine per cent use a dummy as a pacifier. Mother of two Louise Pearson of Bishop’s Stortford, Herts, said: 'My phone is the boys’ favourite toy, sometimes the only way to keep them quiet is to hand it over. 'I have a range of apps on it for them to play with from puzzles and games to educational programmes.' Mothers in Scotland are most likely to use their smartphone as a child’s pacifier - 40 per cent of mums north of the border do it, said Asda. David Fletcher, Asda’s mobile phone expert said: 'No longer are mobile phones just a device for keeping in touch. 'To see them also used as an "electronic pacifier" is no surprise with the large variety of games and entertainment now available to download for children.'

Ten per cent of these allow toddlers to play on phones for up to two hours . Scottish mothers most likely to entertain babies with smartphones . Only nine per cent of babies are given dummies by their parents .

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Riley Pearson was suspended for four days for breaking school rules by having Mini Cheddars in his lunchbox and has now been expelled . A six year-old boy who was suspended from his school after he took a bag of Mini Cheddars in his packed lunch has now been expelled. Riley Pearson, from Colnbrook, near Slough, was initially excluded from Colnbrook C of E Primary School after teachers discovered the snack and called in his parents. After a meeting with headmaster Jeremy Meek, they were sent a letter telling them Riley would be excluded from last Wednesday until Monday because he had been 'continuously breaking school rules'. But his parents have now said he has been expelled after they spoke to the media, while his younger brother has also been banned from its pre-school. The school has insisted a pupil was not excluded 'for just having Mini Cheddars in their lunchbox' but because there had been a 'persistent and deliberate breach of . school policy, such as bringing in crisps, biscuits, sausage rolls, mini . sausages, scotch eggs and similar'. Riley’s dad, Tom Pearson, said he was 'devastated' that the school had not only deprived Riley of his schooling but also his younger brother who attends its pre-school. He added that a scheduled meeting between the family and headteacher Mr Meek, due to take place yesterday was cancelled when he arrived. Mr Pearson then saw Mr Meek in the school playground as he picked up Riley's brother Jayden from pre-school but Mr Meek told him he would telephone him by the end of the day to let him know what was happening. Minutes later Mr Pearson received a phone call telling him both Riley and Jayden were not welcome back at the school. 'I’m just devastated,' said Mr Pearson, last night. 'He rang and told me the decision had been made to exclude Riley permanently and we had given the school a bad reputation because of the media coverage. 'He also said the funded sessions Jayden has at the school’s pre school were being withdrawn too. I think he’s a coward for not telling me to my face.' 'Not balanced': Riley's lunchbox fell foul of the new healthy eating policy at Colnbrook C of E primary school . The airport worker and wife Natalie, who is due to give birth to her fourth child next week, are now waiting to hear from education officers from Slough Borough Council to see what to do next. In a statement the school said a pupil had been permanently excluded because 'during the course of a recent four day exclusion, . the pupil’s parents made it publicly clear that their child would not . be following the school's policy on healthy eating upon their return'. The . school also said the decision was taken because of 'the parent school . relationship suffering an irretrievable breakdown' due to 'misrepresentations in the local and national media . that were both wholly inaccurate and grossly misleading, abusive . language being used towards staff, and other inappropriate actions being . taken that were designed to damage the school’s reputation'. The school, which was placed in special measures after Ofsted inspectors deemed it 'inadequate' in 2012, introduced a healthy eating policy at the start of term. The school has said it was 'extremely disappointing that the media have been provided with such grossly misleading information' A letter was sent to parents saying that from January 14, packed lunches should be 'healthy and balanced'. Parents . were told: 'Chocolate, sweets, crisps and fizzy drinks are not allowed. If your child's lunchbox is unhealthy and unbalanced they will be . provided with a school lunch for which you will be charged.' A letter was sent to parents saying that from January 14, packed lunches should be 'healthy and balanced' At the time of his exclusion last . week, Riley's mother Natalie said: . 'We just do not see how they have the right to tell us what we can feed . our son. 'If anything, Riley is underweight and could do with putting on a few pounds.' Miss . Mardle, who is expecting her fourth child, added: 'Having a balanced . diet also includes eating some carbohydrates, sugars and fats. 'It is not about excluding some foods, it is about getting the mix right.' Riley’s lunchbox usually contains a . sandwich, yoghurt tube, Dairylea Dunkers cheese spread snack, and a . packet of Mini Cheddars, with water to drink. His . mother said the . 3ft 9ins tall schoolboy who weighs 3st 2lbs, eats home-cooked meals and . plenty of fruit and vegetables at home. Miss Mardle said: 'I would understand the exclusion if he was constantly throwing tables around or bullying other children, but it is just ridiculous for a packet of Mini Cheddars. 'Surely the headteacher has better things to do with his time than search lunchboxes?' A statement released by the school said it was 'extremely disappointing that the media have been provided with such grossly misleading information which has resulted in them running a wholly inaccurate and potentially damaging story for our school'. The statement said: 'We have not excluded a pupil for just having Mini Cheddars in their lunchbox, but where there is a persistent and deliberate breach of school policy, such as bringing in crisps, biscuits, sausage rolls, mini sausages, scotch eggs and similar, and all other avenues have been exhausted, the Governors would expect further action to be taken. Government guidelines for school meals suggest food must meet certain nutritional standards so children have healthy and balanced diets. According to the guidance, this means there must be high quality meat, poultry or oily-fish, at least two portions of fruit and vegetables with each meal and bread, other cereals and potatoes. It also rules out fizzy drinks, crisps, chocolate or sweets in school meals and vending machines along with more than two portions of deep-fried food a week. 'If we are faced with a situation where a parent threatens to send a pupil into school with insufficient food to sustain them throughout the school day, it is a risk we simply cannot afford to happen.' The statement went on to say it would only use a permanent exclusion as a final resort 'when all other avenues have been exhausted'. It said the school took the decision to permanently exclude a pupil yesterday because of 'persistent breaches of school policies' and because 'during the course of a recent four day exclusion, the pupil’s parents made it publicly clear that their child would not be following the school's policy on healthy eating upon their return'. The school also said the decision was taken because of: 'The parent school relationship suffering an irretrievable breakdown that would have put two pupils in an unacceptable position. 'This breakdown was due to misrepresentations in the local and national media that were both wholly inaccurate and grossly misleading, abusive language being used towards staff, and other inappropriate actions being taken that were designed to damage the school’s reputation.'

School disputes parents' claims and says pupil was excluded for 'continuously breaking school rules' Parents last week spoke of their outrage after Riley Pearson was excluded . They said they were called after teachers discovered pack of Mini Cheddars . Parents now claim their son and his younger brother have been banned after they spoke to press . School says pupil expelled due to 'persistent breaches of school policies' Also says relationship broke down due to 'misrepresentations in the local and national media that were both wholly inaccurate and grossly misleading'

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Trevor McKendrick, an atheist from Utah, earns more than $100,000 annually in revenue from his Spanish Bible apps . A Utah man has made a six-figure salary by selling Bible apps, but feels guilty because he is not a practicing Christian. Trevor McKendrick, an entrepreneur from Salt Lake City who was raised Mormon but is now an atheist, has successfully created two Spanish Bible apps. After launching the apps and raking in an annual revenue of $100,134, he has begun questioning his morality over selling the religious book he does not believe in. McKendrick attended a Mormon college and was also married in a Mormon temple, but he eventually left the church, according to Business Insider. He said that he does not believe in Christianity or the Bible, and likened him selling the apps to someone selling Harry Potter and telling people it was real. 'What if you sold Harry Potter books or Lord of the Rings books, but you told people it was real?,' he said in a podcast interview with StartUp. 'And you told people if they would just learn how to write spells themselves, they could heal their children? 'And if you sold that as a real thing? I would feel terrible about that. 'But that's really the situation I am in selling the Bible. I am selling this thing I truly believe is fiction.' McKendrick, who successfully launched the audio version of the app, La Biblia Reina Valera (left), said he battles with the notion of selling the religious book he does not believe in.  The app is compatible with iPads and iPhones (right) Source: Wycliffe Bible Translators . Both of his apps are Spanish translations of the Bible for iPhones. One app is a text version that is free to download and offers in-app purchases, and took less than $500 to create, according to the International Business Times. The second one is an audio book app that sells for $9.99 in the Apple app store. The more successful of the two, the audio book app, made $5,000 to $6,000 per month following its launch, and his annual revenue jumped from $74,034 in the first year to $100,134 in the second year. McKendrick came up with the idea in 2012 as a way to pay his $600 rent and realized that there were a few Spanish Bible apps that were terrible. Since creating the apps, he said he has received emails from customers asking for prayer as they think he is a preacher. McKendrick said: 'If you're emailing the maker of an app to get help for your son, you're probably not a in a great spot. Trading that for profit weighs on me a little bit.' But when asked if he felt guilty enough to stop selling the product, McKendrick said even though he might have a problem with it, he cannot stop. He told the Huffington Post that he takes pride in his positively reviewed product that people really like and are grateful for, which makes it easier for him to reconcile his faith with his business.

Trevor McKendrick, a software entrepreneur, was raised as a Mormon but eventually left the church . He made two Spanish Bible apps - a free text-only, and an audio version La Biblia Reina Valera, retailing for $9.99 in Apple store .

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January was a quiet month for Brendan Rodgers in terms of transfers but there was one move Liverpool’s manager knew he had to make. Having watched Jordon Ibe grow and develop in 24 demanding games on loan for Derby County, Rodgers felt compelled to bring him back to Merseyside and see if he could make a contribution in the frantic pursuit of a Champions League place. It might have seemed an unusual decision, to give a 19-year-old with such little top flight experience such a big responsibility, but Rodgers’ thinking was clear. While staying in the East Midlands would have aided his education, why should another manager benefit when he could aid Liverpool? Jordon Ibe rattles the post with a long-range effort during the Merseyside derby on Saturday . Ibe dribbles with the ball while being tracked by Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku . And do not doubt that Rodgers rates him. He has regularly spoken of him in glowing terms, saying that if you turned up at Melwood and were unaware of who was who in his squad, you would have Ibe down as Portuguese or Spanish given his technical ability and skill. ‘We brought him back because with system we play (3-4-3), he can play in four positions,’ Rodgers explained ahead of this trip to Goodison Park. ‘There is greater chance for him to play. I felt for six months, he needed to go out and play consistently. ‘He went with Steve MacLaren at Derby, who is a very good coach and plays really good football. This was the ideal time to bring him back and he has matured really well. It is unfortunate he is not able to play in cup games but he has got incredible talent. My job is to nurture that.’ So back came Ibe and, true to his word, Rodgers has given him minutes, first at Aston Villa then against West Ham before, most significantly, unleashing him from the start in the frenzy of a Merseyside derby. Everton's Bryan Oviedo puts in a tackle on Ibe during the first half at Goodison Park . The Liverpool youngster robs Steven Naismith of the ball during the Premier League clash . Rodgers isn’t afraid to make big calls nor does he ever consider age if he thinks a player is good enough, so with Lazar Markovic nursing a back problem, in came the England youth international, whose first Liverpool appearance in May 2013 came on the day Jamie Carragher retired. If the game was a disappointment, one of the most ordinary, tame and mundane 90 minutes this grand old fixture has ever witnessed, Ibe most certainly wasn’t and he was responsible for providing the genuine moments of entertainment. First there was electric charge down the right flank, then a chance arriving on to a Raheem Sterling cross before, most spectacularly of all, he cracked a drive against the side of a post from 25 yards after he had turned Bryan Oviedo one way then the other. While others wanted too many touches and were deliberate with their passes, Ibe was constantly looking for a way to stamp his name on the game right until the very end. Fearless and exciting, this will not be the last we see of him. His future is certainly bright. Ibe could be part of a very bright future for Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers . Ibe's heat map, as can be seen in Sportsmail's Match Zone feature .

Liverpool drew 0-0 with Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday . Reds youngster Jordan Ibe was handed a start in the clash . Ibe came closest to breaking the deadlock but his shot hit the bar .

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(CNN) -- Trick-or-treating and dressing in costume have been Halloween traditions for a good long time now, but it seems we're still struggling to get it right. We pass judgment on the ghouls and goblins at our front steps. We bang on the doors of darkened houses. We show up to parties in offensive costumes. So here are a few Halloween PSAs, six not-so-gentle reminders of how to keep in the holiday spirit alive and sugared up. Read them, memorize them, share them and have your happiest Halloween yet. Give goodies to any child who shows up at the door . Halloween night is not the time to quibble over the quality of trick-or-treaters' costumes or whether some kids are too old to ask for free candy. And don't even bother questioning whether they're from your neighborhood, as if visitors don't deserve your Snickers. Last week, a letter to Slate's Dear Prudence columnist, Emily Yoffe, said the majority of trick-or-treaters in the advice seeker's wealthy neighborhood appeared to be from poorer areas. "It just bugs me, because we already pay more than enough taxes toward actual social services," the letter writer said. "Should Halloween be a neighborhood activity, or is it legitimately a free-for-all in which people hunt down the best candy grounds for their kids?" The rules on this are pretty obvious, as Yoffe pointed out: "Stop being callous and miserly and go to Costco, you cheapskate, and get enough candy to fill the bags of the kids who come one day a year to marvel at how the 1% live." Too cool for a costume? Don't go to a costume party. You don't have to like Halloween. You don't have to welcome trick-or-treaters. You don't have to pretend to enjoy parties where the main courses are caramel apples and candy corn. (More for us!) But if you decide to attend your pal's costume party, at least put a modicum of effort into it. It's not hard. Showing up in your work clothes and saying, "I'm an underappreciated ______ (accountant, server, journalist etc.)," just isn't clever. If you truly can't be bothered and can't wait till plainclothes parties return next weekend, at least keep the snark to a minimum. Everyone is just trying to have a little fun. It's a culture, not a costume . No blackface, no whiteface, no religious symbols, no American Indian garb ... shall we go on? Every year on Halloween, an insensitive or ignorant few fail miserably in their attempts to be edgy or clever or funny. When celebrities do this, it spurs a relentless cycle of online rage, hole-digging defenses and public apologies. It's not any prettier when it happens at your neighborhood Halloween bash, your lighthearted college kegger or in your kids' class party. In recent years, students at Ohio University even created a viral campaign to remind their classmates that poking fun at race or ethnicity isn't actually funny. Still, it seems every year that a few miss (or ignore?) the message. Don't be one of them. Costumes don't have to be sexy . Halloween can be the perfect time for adults to show off a little something saucy. If that's your aim, go ahead. But don't do it because it seems easy or like it's the only option. After all, showing up as a barely clothed version of a not-even-kind-of-sexy thing isn't hot. It's ... awkward and, at this point, not surprising -- all the supposedly sexy gerbils, crayons and Girl Scouts of Halloweens past beat you to it. Also: Brrr. Isn't it October where you live, you weirdly "sexy" bottle of ketchup? If you're feeling like "sexy" costumes are the only thing available, check out the ideas at Take Back Halloween. It offers up costume plans the average adult partygoer can pull off with a stretch of Spandex required. On this dark and stormy night, look for the light . It's a very simple bit of Halloween communication, more powerful than all the trick-or-treating apps and maps out there: the porch light. If it's on, feel free to knock at the door or ring the bell once, screech your best "Trick or treat!" (or tell a joke, or whatever your local candy-grabbing custom may be) and gratefully accept whatever treats you're offered. If the light is off, move along. And needless to say, don't egg the house. Potential candy-givers shouldn't forget this rule, either. You don't want to send packs of Ninja Turtles and "Frozen" princesses away empty-handed -- or end up eating your jumbo-size bag of Smarties by yourself. Or do you? Spooky decor expires on November 1 . Unless you're committing to a haunted look all year long, there's a clear expiration date on your Halloween decorations: November 1. (Fine, fine. On years when Halloween falls early in the week, you get a few extra days -- but only through the next weekend. You're welcome.) Don't be that neighbor trying to pass off your soggy faux cobwebs as holiday icicles. So, take a few minutes this weekend to compost your pumpkins and sweep up your spiders. You might even feel a little behind: Store shelves are already buckling beneath the weight of plastic trees and inflatable snowmen.

Every Halloween, people ignore a few rules that will help keep the holiday happy . Costumes don't have to be sexy and should never be based on stereotypes . Porch light on? Trick-or-treat! Porch light off? Move along, kids . After October 31, don't leave moldy pumpkins on your porch for weeks .

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By . Tom Mctague, Mail Online Deputy Political Editor . Police officers carrying out stop and search checks will be forced to wear body cameras, under radical plans set out by the Liberal Democrats today. Armed police and riot squads will also be forced to wear cameras to record their behaviour under the plan, Home Office minister Norman Baker announced. The proposal is designed to restore public confidence in the system amid concerns raised by the Home Secretary Theresa May that black and ethnic minorities are unfairly targeted by police officers. The Lib Dems also want to force police to get a judge’s permission before carrying out certain stop and searches. Black people in Britain are seven times more likely to be stopped and searched than white Britons . Under the current rules, a senior officer can authorise stop and searches in a certain area without any suspicion of wrongdoing – if they fear violence is about to erupt or that people are carrying weapons without good reason. But there has been widespread concern over the way these ‘Section 60’ powers are used. Black and Asian youths are significantly more likely to be stopped and searched by police than white Britons. Earlier this year, the Home Secretary Theresa May pledged to tighten rules on stop-and-search amid warnings that as many as 250,000 a year may have been illegal. Today, Mr Baker promised to go further. He said: ‘Far too many innocent people are subjected to stop-and-search, which is often based on crude stereotyping of minorities.’ He added: ‘Stop-and-search has led to tension, and it’s something that cannot be ignored.’ Lib Dem minister Norman Baker wants police making stop and searches to wear body cameras . The Lib Dems have pointed to figures showing black people are six times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people. In some areas this rises to 29 times more likely, according to research released by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in November last year. Those from Asian or other ethnic minority groups were twice as likely to be stopped as white people; . In London, black people were nearly 7 times more likely to be stopped, mixed race people 2.6 times more likely and Asians and others twice as likely. The Lib Dems said body cameras would ‘help build confidence in the Police, and give the public the reassurance that both the Police and public’s actions will be recorded’. The Metropolitan Police is running a series of trials of body cameras. Senior officers believe footage of incidents of officers responding to life-threatening and other situations will show the force’s professionalism. They highlight the images caught by the public of armed officers overpowering the killers of drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich last year. The pilot scheme follows controversy over the death of Mark Duggan, 29, who was shot by Met marksmen in Tottenham in August 2011. Riots erupted in the area after the killing. Officers, including 999 response teams, in 10 London boroughs have been equipped with 500 small cameras as part of the trial. Firearms officers will also be testing the technology. Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe believes the use of cameras will help to fight crime, defuse violent situations, lead to speedier justice and make the force more accountable. A Met spokesman said: ‘Officers taking part have been given training and guidance about when cameras are to be used, which means they will routinely collect evidence in incidents such as domestic abuse and public order, but also for potentially contentious interactions such as the use of stop-and-search.’

Lib Dems unveil manifesto pledge to make police officers wear cameras . Armed police and riot squads also face being recorded to restore confidence . Policy announced by Home Office minister Norman Baker today .

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By . Patricia Kane . More than 1,000 passports could be issued to ‘suspect’ overseas applicants because staff are not carrying out standard checks due to the huge backlog at the Passport Office. These documents could be issued within the next fortnight, sources within Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) claim, despite Home Secretary Theresa May’s vow that security would not be compromised. The security loophole has been exposed after staff in the HMPO’s ‘Special Security Division’ were diverted to help clear up the chaos elsewhere. Passport applications awaiting to be processed at an office in Liverpool due to a massive backlog . These highly trained officials are usually responsible for carrying out multiple fraud checks on documents sent in with overseas applications. The problem is being compounded by the drafting in of inexperienced staff who are unable to spot suspicious answers on applications and alert the Special Security Division. A source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘All hands are being called to the pumps and the Security Division is now like one man and a dog for the rest of the month with the majority of staff transferred to other duties. ‘The Security Division estimates that within the next couple of weeks, because of this panic, there will be at least 1,000 “unsecure” passports issued to “suspect” persons.’ Last week, Theresa May confirmed that responsibility for dealing with applications for passports overseas had switched three months ago from British consulates abroad to an online system based in the UK monitored by HMPO. She said the change was made to provide better value for money and to ensure more ‘consistency’ of service. She stressed that security would not be compromised. But the HMPO source added: ‘At one of the major Passport Office hubs, in Glasgow, they’ve now been lumped with passport applications from every registry throughout the world, which have to be checked, double-checked and triple-checked. The Security Division handles the potentially fraudulent applications and subjects them to rigid scrutiny. Home Secretary Theresa May has vowed that security will not be comprised while the passport application backlog is tackled . ‘There is a template system in place to sift suspicious applications which Passport Office staff have been trained to recognise. ‘But the Government is drafting in inexperienced Border Agency staff to help. The problem is that they will not recognise certain key answers that would alert full-time staff.’ The Security Division was set up after it was discovered ‘bulk’ applications mainly by Eastern European gangsters were being made for British passports and a small number had been processed. As the Glasgow team picked up on the problem, it was decided to base the unit there. Last week, leaked documents from the HMPO revealed a plan to ‘relax’ checks on applications from overseas. The Home Office said it had been ‘unaware’ of the proposed change and ordered the guidelines to be withdrawn. An HMPO spokesman said: ‘Security is our priority and we will not issue a passport until all  necessary checks have been satisfactorily completed.’ Meanwhile, civil servants at HMPO received bonuses worth more than £1.8 million last year, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The bonuses were paid out to thousands of employees for ‘good performance’ at the service, which now has a backlog of 500,000 applications. More than 94 per cent received the ‘in-year’ bonus, supposed to be handed out to staff who have exceeded ‘key business targets’. Sarah Rapson, the former chief executive, received a bonus worth between £5,000 and £10,000 in 2012/13. On Tuesday the current chief executive, Paul Pugh, will go before the Home Affairs Select Committee to face questioning over the crisis. Keith Vaz, the chairman of the committee, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘It is unbelievable that bonuses have been paid to those who have presided over a service that is now a byword for incompetence.’

Staff from 'Special Security Division' drafted in to help process passport applications . Fear more than 1,000 'suspect' overseas applications may be issued as checks are not carried out . Overseas applications transferred to an online system based in UK 3 months ago . But HMPO say security is a priority when issuing passports .

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(CNN) -- As Haitians struggle to recover from the devastation of Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake, mental health experts caution that the most severe psychological effects won't take form until individuals' situations stabilize. Feelings of confusion, fear, agitation, grief and anger that surround a large-scale traumatic event such as the Haiti earthquake give way to more pronounced psychological disorders once people's basic human needs are taken care of, experts say. "Once the initial resources are in, when actually most people are going to start feel out of danger, is when the psychological aftereffects are going to hit people," said Dr. Daniella David, professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. "People need to ask for help when that happens." In the immediate short-term period after a large-scale traumatic event, people are concerned primarily with self-preservation and taking care of family and friends, said Dr. Sandro Galea, chair of the Department of Epidemiology at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. These people experience acute stress and anxiety, which is taken up by trying to fulfill the immediate physical needs. There is a normal and immediate stress response that comes with an event that causes damage to homes and infrastructure and loss of family members, David said. Haiti has the potential for higher rates of mental illness and a slower recovery after this episode because the population is already strained from weak social and economic supports, Galea said. In those conditions, they may already be predisposed to developing mental illness irrespective of the earthquake itself, he said. View or add to CNN's database of missing persons in Haiti . The stress of the disaster situation, combined with the potential predisposition toward stress disorders, could lead to an extreme emotional reaction, but that does not mean these factors predict any kind of violent or other extreme behavior, said Joan Cook, assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale University, in an e-mail. "I'd say that if the rate of psychological problems turns out similar to previous severe natural disasters in other economically disadvantaged countries, as many as 50 percent or more could suffer in the short-term from clinically significant distress," she said. When disaster victims have information about their situation, they tend to make rational decisions and tend to the immediate needs of themselves and those close to them, Galea said. There is little evidence of widespread panic in those cases, he said, but there is a danger of misinformation. "People can accept uncertainty, as long as they are brought into the uncertainty and told what central authorities do know, and also what central authorities don't know," he said. "It's critically important that there is information that comes out centrally from a single source." To assist at the early stage, the most important thing to do immediately after a disaster -- for example, at this moment in Haiti -- is to try to help with basic needs such as shelter and food, David said. In terms of psychological support, studies of natural disasters show that people should be moved to safety and informed that the immediate danger is over, something that has unfortunately been difficult to do in Haiti, she said. About a month after a disaster occurs, once the immediate physical needs are addressed, symptoms of mental illness begin to coalesce into specific conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, Galea said. PTSD in particular can last years after the event in a substantial portion of people, he said. The response varies. Some people may become fearful and develop panic attacks, while others experience sadness that turns into depression, and still others have an acute stress reaction that leads to PTSD or another stress disorder, David said. The high rates of mental illness in a population that has experienced a traumatic event go down over time, depending on how various problems in the area are resolved, Galea said. "The extent to which we are able to assist people in rebuilding their lives becomes a tremendously important driver of whether or not the psychopathology that is caused by the trauma will go on to become severe, and how long it lasts," Galea said. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, researchers found that stressors such as not having a job, not having access to insurance and not being able to get paid contributed to the symptoms of mental illness, Galea said. "Rebuilding lives, rebuilding social supports, rebuilding financial and practical supports will go a long way to minimizing the health consequences of the event that has passed," he said. Health.com: How will Haitians cope with psychological aftershocks? A population that has gone through something like an earthquake of this magnitude will typically have about 10 percent of people with PTSD and 10 percent with depression, based on studies of Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, and other events, he said. But among those who lose their homes and loved ones in an event like this, the rates can be more like 40 to 50 percent. The life expectancy in Haiti is just 61 years, according to the World Bank, well under the average life span of 78 years for an individual in the United States. About 56 percent of Haitians live on less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. There is some research to suggest that fatalism -- feeling that you are powerless against life's external control -- is also related to long-term emotional consequences of disaster, Cook said. Studies by psychologist Fran Norris at Dartmouth University have shown that adult disaster survivors who feel uncared for by others or who lack the capacity to manage stress are also at risk for PTSD, Cook said. Recent events such as Hurricane Katrina have offered extraordinary insights into human response to natural disasters, experts said. Retired Army Lt. Gen. Russell Honoré, who led relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina, said Thursday that a lack of information "created a lot of anxiety for people because they didn't know what was going on." "We need to correct that, and as soon as we can, start pushing information to people, because rumors can cause the victims to make bad decisions," he said.

After initial shock of tragedy wanes, other mental issues arise, experts say . World Bank: Life expectancy in Haiti is 61 years; U.S. is 78 . Expert: The Haitian population is already strained from weak social and economic supports . There is a danger of rumors spreading, leading people to make bad decisions .

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(CNN) -- That women and girls are singled out during armed conflicts is well documented -- what is less well known is that once hostilities cease the undeclared war on women can continue for years on end. Even though officially the fighting has ended, the proliferation of weapons, a culture of violence and the objectification of women continue to wreak havoc. As a Bosnian women's rights activist put it when she was talking to a group of human rights researchers documenting the horrors meted out in the early 1990s civil war: "There is no peace time for women". This simple statement clarified the truth they were failing to grasp -- that for women in particular, the peace accord had brought no peace. Nearly two decades on, hundreds of women still struggle with the effects of rape and other forms of torture frequently facilitated or committed using weapons, without proper access to the medical, psychological and financial assistance they need to rebuild their shattered lives. The perpetrators mostly go unpunished. On March 18, the final negotiations for an arms trade treaty will begin in New York. The world desperately needs the final agreement to ensure that no country or arms dealer will sell weapons, munitions or related equipment to governments, companies or armed groups where there is a substantial risk of those arms and ammunition -- ranging from AK-47s to bombers -- being used for atrocities or violent abuse. Among the challenges to getting an effective arms trade treaty is the simple fact that the USA, Russia, China, the UK and France are the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. As such they are charged with maintaining international peace and security, yet they accounted in 2010 for about 60% of the well over $70 billion annual trade in conventional weapons. (Source: TransArms - Research Center for the Logistics of Arms Transfers.) Based on the arms orders that the United States and Russia has already received, but not yet executed and delivered, at the end of a four year-period the total annual global trade in conventional weapons could approach $100 billion, according to TransArms. The five governments would account for more than half that amount. These and other states have been trading for decades in the absence of global controls on the flow of arms and ammunition across borders. Guns and ammunition are supplied to governments, companies and armed groups who often put them into the hands of users who terrorize communities by targeting civilians: women, men and children. Targeting civilians in armed conflict is an intentional act which is a crime under international law. It may be a tactic or even a strategy of government forces or armed groups, and women are often singled out by human rights abusers, criminal gangs and individuals who brandish arms manufactured overseas. Some governments will argue that the targeting of women in war -- including with sexual violence -- is a regrettable but inevitable by-product of armed conflict. It is exactly this attitude that makes these same governments ignore violence against women in peace time. To add insult to injury, despite the U.N. Security Council Resolution on Women, Peace and Security, women are often denied any role in peace negotiations, in monitoring the process of disarming combatants and on deciding how to rebuild society in a manner that promotes peaceful resolution to conflicts. Grave human rights abuses against women and men, whether in conflict situations or not, are already forbidden as a matter of law. For example, the Geneva Conventions and Protocols outlaw specific war crimes, and perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity can be brought to justice under the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court. International human rights law also prohibits specific violations, and governments have a responsibility to take action to stop violence against women regardless of who is perpetrating that violence. It has long been recognized that such crimes can be curbed also by taking away the tools used by perpetrators to commit or facilitate them. A strong and effective global Arms Trade Treaty would be a very significant step towards this. Women the world over need to know that governments will not put profits before human security by allowing weapons to get into the hands of those who would use them to commit war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide or other serious violations of human rights. It sounds so simple. It sounds so right. But far too often profits trump government commitments to upholding international human rights and humanitarian law. As the Bosnian activist would attest, the long-lasting consequences of this greed can be devastating for women in particular. So, for the sake of all the women who live with constant insecurity -- the governments convening in New York in March must do the right thing. Put profits and narrow national interests aside and pave the path to peace and security for women by adopting an arms trade treaty with strong and fair rules for human rights protection for all. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Widney Brown.

Once armed conflicts finish, undeclared war on women continues, says Widney Brown . The proliferation of weapons facilitates acts of rape and torture, she says . On March 18, the final negotiations for an arms trade treaty will begin in New York . Brown says an effective arms trade treaty is vital in ending the war on women .

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Cannes (CNN) -- Investigators were at work Tuesday looking into the weekend theft of jewels worth close to $136 million from an exhibition in the French resort city of Cannes, the prosecutor's office in nearby Grasse said. A reformed jewel thief told CNN that the robbery Sunday morning at a jewelry exhibition in the luxury Carlton Hotel -- the third gem theft around the city since May -- had all the hallmarks of a professional job. The robber, whose face was covered by a hat and a scarf, had a semiautomatic pistol and threatened to shoot the exhibitors and guests, according to Philippe Vique, deputy prosecutor for organized crime in the prosecutor's office. Security guards were present but unarmed, he said. No one was injured. "It was definitely a professional heist, I've been saying that from day one," said Larry Lawton, who himself served time for jewelry thefts but is now an author and motivational speaker. He suspects the Cannes thief had an "inside guy" who provided information on where to find the jewels. "It's definitely not a lone man, it was too coordinated," he said. "They went in and within five minutes they knew exactly where to go." Investigators will likely be studying security footage to identify who may have been "casing the place" in the days before the theft, he said. They also will try to identify the getaway vehicle, he said. Lawton said he was surprised the jewels were not fitted with an electronic security device that would have given anyone carrying them beyond a certain distance an electric shock. But he urged against blaming the security guards for the theft. The gems may well already be in the hands of unscrupulous buyers, who probably paid about a fifth of what they're worth, he said. The CGT union, representing workers at the hotel, criticized the management of the Carlton for what it called "irresponsibility." Despite the growing number of events showcasing luxury goods, and the resulting insecurity, "the Carlton management has favored financial operations over the safety of personnel," a CGT statement said. The union called on the French government to initiate an investigation into the safety of jewelry exhibitions in hotels. The Nice prosecutor's office told CNN on Monday that the value of the stolen jewels was close to $136 million, more than twice what had previously been stated. The jewels were supposed to have been on display until the end of August but signs advertising the Leviev exhibition have now been taken down from the hotel. A spokesman for Carlton Hotels in Paris said Tuesday that the company had "no further information or statement" to give on the incident. The Leviev jewelry firm has flagship boutiques in London, New York, Singapore and Dubai. It boasts of being one of the largest diamond manufacturers in the world, allowing it to offer "the industry's most extraordinary assortment of large, rare and colored diamonds." The robbery follows two major jewel heists this year during the Cannes Film Festival in May. A necklace worth $2.6 million was stolen from a hotel party shortly after jewels worth more than $1 million were stolen from a safe in a hotel room. Jeweler de Grisogono said the necklace was part of a collection making its debut. The jewels stolen from a safe were by the Swiss firm Chopard, which was sponsoring the festival. CNN's Alexander Felton reported from Cannes and Laura Smith-Spark wrote in London. CNN's Saskya Vandoorne contributed to this report.

NEW: The union representing hotel workers says management put profit before staff safety . Police continue to search for a robber who stole jewels worth close to $136 million in Cannes . Ex-jewel thief Larry Lawton says the robbery had the hallmarks of a professional heist . Signs advertising the Leviev jewelry exhibition at the Carlton Hotel are taken down .

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By . Simon Tomlinson . A mother has baffled doctors by beating one of the most malignant brain cancers known to man before going on to have a healthy baby girl for good measure. Heather Knies was given just six months to live when she was diagnosed with not one, but two tumours by the age of 26 - the second one described as 'uniformly fatal'. But now, six years later, doctors are at pains to explain how there is not a single trace of the disease left on her brain. 'God had a plan for me': Heather Knies pictured with husband Joe and daughter Zoe, whom she was able to have after beating one of the most malignant brain tumours known . Mrs Knies continued to break the 'biological rules' by giving birth to daughter Zoe, now aged seven months, last year despite undergoing intense radiation that often leaves women infertile. Mrs Knies, now 32, said God 'had a plan' for her and never once thought she would succumb to the disease. She told ABC News: 'The mind is so much more powerful than anyone can imagine. I never once thought it would be the death of me.' Mrs Knies was working as a doctor's receptionist in 2005 when she was diagnosed with her first cancer after she noticed visual problems driving home one day. Amazing: On a patient profile posted online (left), Mrs Knies credits medical marijuana in aiding her radiotherapy treatment which has led to a miraculous recovery that has stumped doctors (right, file picture) Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive malignant brain tumours. Unlike other cancers, which are more likely to strike as patients get older, GBM is just as prevalent in young patients and kills more people under 40 than any other cancer. Common symptoms include seizure, nausea, vomiting and headaches, although the most prevalent is a progressive memory, personality, or neurological deterioration becuase of its location near the temporal and frontal lobes. The average sufferer will only survive for 14 months after diagnosis and 2,500 die from their tumours annually. Glioblastoma is extremely difficult to treat for a number of reasons because the tumour cells  are very resistant to conventional therapies. Senator Edward Kennedy, above, died from the disease in August 2009. An MRI scan revealed a low-grade tumour pressing on her visual reception cord and she underwent successful surgery and chemotherapy. But less than a year later, doctors discovered a stage 4 glioblastoma - a far more aggressive tumour which killed Senator Edward Kennedy in 2009. Mrs Knies opted to have the growth partially removed as any cutting any more out left her at risk of being paralysed. This was followed by more intense radiotherapy before being given the all-clear. Dr Robert Spetzler, director of the Barrow Neurological Institute at Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix who operated on Mrs Knies, said he had never seen such a recovery from a stage 4 glioblastoma like it in his 35 years as a neurosurgeon. He told ABC News: 'It's one of the most malignant tumors there is and it's uniformly fatal. 'I would not feel comfortable calling it a cure, but there is no evidence of a tumor. Her survival is remarkable.' During her treatment, she met and married Joe Knies, a 54-year-old engineer. They both desperately wanted children and fortunately the radiation had left some of her eggs in tact, one of which was used in a surrogate mother to give birth to Zoe. 'There have been so many miracles,' said Mrs Knies. 'One after another, as my dad said, so many angels must be sitting on my shoulders.'

Heather Knies was diagnosed with not one, but two tumours by age of 26 . Says 'God had a plan for me' as scans now show no trace of the disease . Surgeon: 'It's one of most malignant tumours. Her survival is remarkable' Despite intense radiation, she was able to use an egg to have daughter Zoe .

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By . James Rush . PUBLISHED: . 05:48 EST, 28 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:02 EST, 28 May 2013 . A letter written by novelist Rudyard Kipling, in which he appears to admit he plagiarised part of one of his best known works has been unearthed. The one-page autographed letter, written in 1895, addressed to an unknown woman, makes reference to the famous Laws of the Jungle, included in one of his most famous and well-loved novels, The Jungle Book. In the letter, Kipling admits it is 'extremely possible' he helped himself 'promiscuously' to others peoples' ideas, but that he cannot remember 'from whose stories I have stolen.' In his letter written in 1895 (left), author Rudyard Kipling (right) appears to admit it was 'extremely possible' he had plagiarised from other people . The letter is set to be sold for £2,500 at auction. The author, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907, was at one time believed to be the highest-paid writer in the world. His works include The Jungle Books, Kim and the Just So Stories. The letter makes reference to the famous Laws of the Jungle, included in Kipling's well-loved The Jungle Book . The letter, which is being sold by Andruiser Autographs, reads: 'I have been absent from home for some days. Hence the delay in answering yours of no date, in regard to my account of the Law of the Jungle. 'I am afraid that all that code in its outlines has been manufactured to meet "the necessities of the case": though a little of it is bodily taken from (Southern) Esquimaux rules for the division of spoils. 'In fact, it is extremely possible that I have helped myself promiscuously but at present cannot remember from whose stories I have stolen. 'Very sincerely, Rudyard Kipling.' Autograph expert Adam Andrusier said: 'Letters by Kipling that mention his most enduring work are extremely rare.' Born in Bombay, Rudyard Kipling was named after Rudyard Lake, Staffordshire, a beauty spot his parents visited. Kipling was the first English-language writer to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature, at 42, and is still its youngest ever recipient. He died in 1936 and his ashes were buried at Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey. The Jungle Book is one of the most loved children's books in the English language. In 2010, a rare proof edition of the classic was discovered that revealed the book was dedicated to his baby daughter Josephine in 1894 who was just one year old. She died just five years later of pneumonia. Rudyard Kipling won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907 and remains its youngest ever recipient . Joseph Rudyard Kipling was born in 1865 in Bombay to his British colonial parents, John and Alice Kipling. His father was an artist and worked at the Jeejeebhoy School Of Art in Bombay. When Kipling was six, his mother decided he needed an English education and sent him to live with a foster family, the Holloways, while he attended school in Southsea. Mrs Holloway beat and bullied him and he struggled to fit in at school, finding comfort only in books. At the age of 11, Kipling was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, so a family friend contacted his mother and she rushed over from India and removed him from the Holloways' clutches. After finishing his schooling in Devon, Kipling returned to India to work on a local newspaper. He also began to write short stories, and published a collection of them, entitled Plain Tales From The Hills, in 1888, just after his 22nd birthday. As Kipling's writing career burgeoned, he returned to England. His arrival in London was met with great acclaim, and he met and became friends with American agent and publisher Wolcott Balestier, at around the same time as he published The Light That Failed. Kipling fell in love with Balestier's sister Carrie, and married her in London in 1891.  The newlyweds moved to America and had a baby girl, Josephine, shortly after settling in Vermont in a house called Bliss Cottage. It was in this cottage that Kipling began work on what would become the Jungle Books - he had an idea about a boy who was brought up by wolves. In four years Kipling produced a series of Jungle Books, and a second daughter, Elsie, was born in 1896.  His tales of and for children won huge acclaim, and by the age of 32, Kipling was the highest-paid writer in the world. A legal scandal sent the Kiplings back . to England, and another child, a son, John, was born in 1897. But . tragedy struck when the Kiplings sailed back across the Atlantic to . visit Carrie's mother: Rudyard and his elder daughter became seriously . ill with pneumonia, and the child died.  It was said Kipling never got . over the tragedy. Batemans, a National Trust property in East Sussex, which was the home of Rudyard Kipling from 1902 to 1936 . The Kiplings returned to England and the picaresque novel Kim was serialised in a magazine and then published in book form in 1901. In 1902 Kipling bought Batemans, a house dating back to 1634.  Here, the author published his Just So Stories, which he had crafted for his late daughter as he put her to bed. In 1907 he won the Nobel Prize for Literature - the first English-language recipient - and in 1906 he published Puck Of Pook's Hill and Rewards And Fairies, which contained the poem If, came in 1910. In 1915 Kipling travelled to France to report on the First World War. In October of that year the family heard Kipling's son John had gone missing in France but no trace of him was found. Kipling felt so guilty about encouraging his son to sign up, he went to France to search for him but no trace was ever found. Kipling continued to write but, with two of his three children dead, he lost the will to write the children's stories that had made his name.

Letter, written in 1895, makes reference to famous Laws of the Jungle . Kipling appears to admit he had taken other peoples' ideas for his work . But he says he 'cannot remember from whose stories I have stolen'

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By . Helen Pow . PUBLISHED: . 01:27 EST, 23 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:35 EST, 23 May 2013 . A Pennsylvania man accused of shooting dead his long-time girlfriend with a gun he bought at Walmart posted a photograph of the weapon and bragged to friends on Facebook the day before the alleged murder. Gregory Twyman, 44, called 911 on Tuesday afternoon and said: 'I need the police, I just shot my girlfriend.' He was still on the phone to police, sitting on his porch with a cigarette, when investigators arrived and found Jamica Woods, 37, the mother of his 18-year-old daughter, inside with a fatal bullet wounds to her torso, police said. Accused: Gregory Twyman, 44, called 911 on Tuesday afternoon and said: 'I need the police, I just shot my girlfriend' Police recovered a 12-gauge shotgun inside the Coatesville house. On Monday, Twyman uploaded a picture of the firearm and ammunition on Facebook. A friend immediately asked: 'What is that bro???' 'A shell fool,' Twyman responded. 'I'm calling the ATF on your ass now... LOL...,' the friend joked. 'Gon be too late,' Twyman wrote. Another friend commented in: 'CIA FBI ATF u know snitches be lurking amongst us on here... lol.' 'Once I handle my business I don't give a f***!' Twyman responded. Facebook: The day before the alleged murder, Twyman posted a photo of a gun and shells to Facebook . Twyman told detectives he had been fighting with Woods for days. He said he purchased the shells at Walmart last week. On Tuesday night, Twyman was arraigned on murder charges in Downingtown. Around 25 of Woods' friends and family members, including the pair's daughter, Janaija, gathered outside the court, screaming at him as he was escorted inside by East Fallowfield police. Twyman has prior felony convictions, police said. Neighbors told Pottsmerc.com they were shocked by the incident, describing their community as quiet and tight-knit. One unnamed neighbor said he was working in his yard when he heard the shots, which were fired about 10 to 15 seconds apart.

Gregory Twyman, 44, called 911 on Tuesday afternoon and admitted shooting his girlfriend, Jamica Woods, 37 . Woods, the mother of Twyman's 18-year-old daughter, was found dead in the family's Coatesville, Pennsylvania, home . Man had posted a photo of the shotgun he allegedly used and shells on Facebook on Monday and discussed the impending incident with friends .

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By . Jenny Awford for MailOnline . Heavily pregnant Nadia Avila (pictured) was butchered with a kitchen knife by Maria Rodriguez in Tepic, Mexico, according to police confession . A Mexican woman has confessed to stabbing an eight-months pregnant mother in the stomach with a kitchen knife so she could steal her unborn baby from the womb, according to police. In a graphic confession, Maria Rodriguez, 29, from Tepic, Mexico, told police she decided to kill Nadia Avila and remove her baby after lying to her family about being pregnant. She will now appear in court on two charges of murder, for the baby and the baby's mother, according to police. In the chilling video confession Rodriguez says she first beat her victim unconscious after luring her to her home in Tepic with a promise of free baby clothes. She said: 'When I covered her mouth, she bit me and then I took her hands behind her back to defend myself, but I did not kill her then. 'She was shouting, asking me to leave her in peace. Then I beat her again and she fell to the ground unconscious and then I opened her stomach. 'I just lowered her trousers and stabbed her stomach. She reacted a bit in that moment, but just a bit. 'I held her arms down and I took the baby as soon as I could in order to take the baby before it suffocated. 'But I could not take the baby. I tried but it was impossible and the baby came out dead.' Rodriguez told police she was 'obsessed' with having a baby and did not know how to admit to her family that she was not pregnant. 'I had a delayed period and I checked my blood but the results were negative,' said Rodriguez. 'I was obsessed with having a baby and all my family thought I was pregnant. But this was a lie and I did not know how to get out of it. I thought there was nothing I could say, but when I saw her I thought about this idea. 'I did not know anything about her, I had just seen her twice.' Maria Rodriguez, 29, (pictured) from Tepic, Mexico, told police she decided to kill Nadia Avila and remove her baby after lying to her family and telling them that she was pregnant . Rodriguez was caught when she called paramedics to take the baby to hospital, so she could tell her family it had arrived stillborn . Ms Avila was stabbed after Rodriguez lured her to her Tepic home with a promise of free baby clothes . 'When I saw her stomach it came to mind to do this, how I could manage to end the lie. And it came to my mind to steal her baby in order to continue the lie,' said Rodriguez. She explained to police that she saw Ms Avila several times when the pregnant woman was taking her son to school. On the day she approached and killed her, Ms Avila was going to the school to attend a meeting. 'When I saw her stomach it came to mind to do this, how I could manage to end the lie. And it came to my mind to steal her baby in order to continue the lie. Ms Avila with her husband Juan Hernandez, who notified police in Mexico that she was missing . 'We started to talk and I asked her how long she was pregnant and what the baby will be, if it was a girl or a boy, and she told me she was going to have the baby in just days, and it came to my mind to do it.' Rodriguez was caught when she called paramedics to take the baby to hospital, so she could tell her family it had arrived stillborn. 'They were immediately suspicious of her story but she would not let them into the house where her victim's body was,' said a police spokesman. Rodriguez fled when medics insisted on examining her but was arrested after her victim's husband Juan Hernandez reported her missing. Police connected the disappearance to the suspicious birth and tracked down Rodriguez who had gone into hiding. 'The suspect has made a full confession to a shocking, terrible crime and will appear in court on two charges of murder, for the baby and the baby's mother,' said police. Police Officer: Why have you been arrested? Rodriguez: 'For homicide. I had a delayed period and I checked my blood but the results were negative. I was obsessed with having a baby and all my family thought I was pregnant. 'But this was a lie and I did not know how to get out of it. I thought there was nothing I could say, but when I saw her I thought about this idea. 'I did not know anything about her, I had just seen her twice. 'I was in the school and she was also. I went out and she went out as well. We were talking during the way to the entrance door and when I saw her stomach it came to mind to do this, how I could manage to end the lie. And it came to my mind to steal her baby in order to continue the lie. 'We started to talk and I asked her how long she was pregnant and what the baby will be, if it was a girl or a boy, and she told me she was going to have the baby in just days, and it came to my mind to do it. 'There was a meeting in the school but we continued talking and I told her I had some stuff to give her for the baby and she accompanied me to my house. 'When we were in the house I beat her and she tried to defend herself. 'I threw her to the ground and covered her mouth to prevent her from screaming. When I covered her mouth, she bit me and then I took her hands behind her back to defend myself, but I did not kill her then. 'She was shouting asking me to leave her in peace. Then I beat her again and she fell to the ground unconscious and then I opened her stomach. 'I just lowered her trousers and stabbed her stomach. She reacted a bit in that moment, but just a bit. 'I held her arms down and I took the baby as soon as I could in order to take the baby before it suffocated. But I could not take the baby. I tried but it was impossible and the baby came out dead. 'Then the mother died and I took the baby. I felt horror but I realised I could not stop because I had attacked her and the fear made me to continue. 'The knife is in the courtyard, where I lived. It was a knife I usually use to cook and it was sharp. 'In that moment, the only thing I was thinking is to have a baby with me. I called the ambulance to help the baby but it was dead. 'When the ambulance arrived, I was very nervous and they took me and the baby to the nearest hospital to be treated. I did not want to be treated and they told me the baby was dead. And then I escaped. 'The days I was hiding I was thinking how I could go back and not to do anything. But it was impossible to go back. I know I have hurt a lot of people and her family. 'I know they are not going to forgive what I did. I cannot tell them anything. I have no words. I feel bad.'

Maria Rodriguez, 29, from Mexico confessed to killing pregnant Nadia Avila . Says she stabbed her in the stomach and tried to steal her baby . Hatched plot after lying to her family and telling them she was pregnant . Victim was eight-months pregnant when she was butchered, baby also died . She was lured to Rodriguez's Tepic home with the promise of baby clothes . Rodriguez will now appear in court on two charges of murder, say police .

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NEW YORK (CNN) -- Kenneth Cole is the first to admit he has a bit of a language problem. Pun-loving Kenneth Cole pays tribute to inspiring people in his new book. "I need to distort not just leather and fabric, but also words," he said. "It's a disorder I have." The pun-loving fashion designer has raised plenty of eyebrows with advertising copy that ranges from the provocative and the political to the lighthearted and cutesy. Browse his online store and you can buy a T-shirt that reads "In war is it who's right, or who's left?" A canvas tote bag says, "Use me again and again and again ... (I'm used to it)." Should you purchase either product, you're assured that all your money will go to Cole's "Awearness Fund," an initiative designed to draw attention to social issues like homelessness and AIDS. To that end, Cole has just released a new book called "Awearness: Inspiring Stories About How to Make a Difference" (DK Adult). It's a collection of essays from influential types intended to encourage readers to get involved in service and volunteerism in their communities. Watch Cole talk about 'Awearness' » . Former President Bill Clinton contributes a piece on the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Actress Rosario Dawson writes about empowering young Latinos to vote, and cyclist Lance Armstrong discusses the merits of starting a movement like Livestrong, his effort to energize the fight against cancer. As Cole says: "No good deed should go unpublished." Pun intended. The book commemorates 25 years in the fashion business for the New Yorker, as well as a quarter century as an advocate for social activism. Cole spoke to CNN about the book, the belief, his wife and the cover. (OK, so not everyone is brilliantly punny.) The following is an edited transcript of the interview. CNN: What is the big message you're hoping to get across with this book? Kenneth Cole: The message is that these are extraordinary times. They're transformative in so many ways. And America recently expressed the reality that there is an appetite for meaningful, significant, social change like we've never seen before. CNN: In the introduction of your book, you talk about how you've met a lot of people who have inspired you. Is there one person who stands out above the rest? Cole: There are so many people that inspire me, and there are 90 role models in this book, some of whom I've been very close to. I am the closest of all to my wife, who is in and of herself a change agent and has committed to impacting the realities of homelessness -- and making sure I get out of the house every day to do what I have to do. So she's inspired me and she's done great stuff. So I think I'll stay with that answer. CNN: In Robert Redford's essay on freedom of speech, he encourages the use of humor when speaking out about a cause someone feels passionate about. Has humor helped you? Cole: I think it does. I agree with Mr. Redford, and he's been a model of mine. ... And I think we also have these walls around us, and when people disagree, we're inclined not to listen, but to a degree you can break through that wall often with humor. Jon Stewart has shown us how to do that, as have some other people who are in the art of doing it well. CNN: What's your biggest hope for President-elect Barack Obama's presidency? Cole: He has already surpassed my greatest hopes. I think he's created a sense of spirit and energy and opportunity in this country that we've never seen. And I think it has transformed, in a sense, who we are as a nation globally within 24 hours. We saw that happen. CNN: How does a successful fashion designer, who also has a big conscience, feel in a weak economy? Cole: I think it's an extraordinary opportunity. There are only so many things we can do that make us feel better. We pick up the newspapers and we want to cry every day. We turn on the news and we want to jump out the first window, jump in front of the first truck. And there's not a lot you can look forward to right now ... but you can make yourself look better, and if you look better, you'll feel better, and it becomes self-fulfilling. I think fashion can do that to you. You can do it with some older stuff and mix it with newer stuff, or you can just do new cool stuff by a new cool American designer (smiles). And starting from the ankles down, and then up. CNN: Do you think that fashion gets a hard rap? [Are] people too quick to write it off as frivolous and underestimate its power? Cole: I've struggled with that over the years. Is fashion relevant? Is it frivolous? Is it trivial? Because I give so much of my essence to it, as do everybody I work with. I've come to two conclusions. One is that it's as relevant as anything, because most of the people you encounter in a given day don't get to know anything more about you than how you appear. You're making a very thoughtful statement ... so I think fashion is important. And then at the end of the day if someone you know is sick or someone you know can't afford the roof over their head or the food on the plate, then it becomes not so important. So I think it's relevant, and for me it's been an extraordinary resource for me to do so much. And I love fashion. I think it makes us feel good. And if you feel good, we do good.

Kenneth Cole highlights public-spirited people in "Awearness" Fashion designer Cole admires use of humor to leaven passion . Cole: Fashion is relevant, even in tough times .

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U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel visited the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning at the Yuchi Naval Base at Qingdao on Monday, becoming the first foreigner allowed on board. The Department of Defense confirmed that the trip happened because of a U.S. request. "The secretary was very pleased with his visit today aboard the carrier Liaoning," Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement. The Secretary was impressed with the professionalism with the ship's officers and crew, Kirby added, and said that Hagel understood the significance of the PLA's granting of his request. The tour lasted about two hours, and included a briefing, after which Hagel saw medical and living quarters, as well as the flight control center and bridge. Hagel also took a walking tour of the flight deck and launch stations. Hagel's visit suggests that U.S. efforts to encourage greater U.S.-China military ties are bearing some fruit. "He hopes today's visit is a harbinger of other opportunities to improve our military-to-military dialogue and transparency," the press secretary said. The visit comes as China has deployed a huge force to aid in the hunt for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane far from its territorial waters. In late 2012, China announced that it had landed a fighter jet on the deck of the aircraft carrier for the first time. The Liaoning will be able to carry 30 J-15 fighter planes and will have a crew of 2,000, according to a People's Daily Online report published when it completed its first sea trials in August 2011. China bought the shell of the carrier, then called the Varyag, from Ukraine in 1998. Its construction began under the Soviet military before the breakup of the Soviet Union. Asian superpowers jostle to join the aircraft carrier club .

Hagel visited the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning on Monday . Trip described as "significant," U.S. asked for visit . The Liaoning aircraft carrier will be able to carry 30 J-15 fighter planes, Chinese media reports .

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By . Alex Ward . PUBLISHED: . 09:53 EST, 8 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:46 EST, 8 September 2012 . Is it a bird, is it a plane?  No....it’s Jetman! This was the amazing sight as Spitfire pilot Nigel Lamb teamed up with adventurer Yves ‘Jetman’ Rossy in the skies above Switzerland yesterday. The intrepid flying man takes to the air using only a jet-powered carbon-fibre wing strapped to his back. Death-defying formation: 'Jetman' Yves Rossy flew alongside an iconic British Spitfire flown by Nigel Lamb above the Swiss mountains for an airfield's annual 'fly-in' He teamed up with warplane pilot Mr Lamb for the annual aviation festival at the Bex aerodrome near Geneva. Mr Lamb, who is part of the Breitling . Fighters display team, was flying the original wartime Spitfire MH343, . which is based at the Imperial War Museum aerodrome at Duxford, near . Cambridge. In 2006, Mr Rossy, 53, a former Swiss . Air Force fighter pilot, became the first person to successfully fly . using just a  jet-powered wing. Since then he has powered across the . English Channel at 186 mph and flown over the Alps and the Grand Canyon. He said: ‘To fly in formation with this wonderful machine [the Spitfire] is an incredible experience. ‘Since my technology is getting more . and more reliable I am very confident about these flights. I can relax . and enjoy such a fantastic experience. Under my wing I am free. I have . the perfect view.’ Jet pack: His custom made jet-propelled winged invention allowed him to fly close by the Spitfire . Sky high: Rossy used to fly fighter jets for the Swiss air force but now dons the 121lbs jet suit, completing many astonishing individual flights . Popular plane: The 1943 Spitfire has been a popular part of the annual 'fly-in' at Bex airfield since its first appearance at the event in 1976 . It is the latest in a series of . astonishing stunts mr Rossy, 53, has done in formation having flown . alongside 1940s’ passenger aircraft Breitling Douglas DC-3 and also with . two L-39c Albatros Jets. His custom made jet-propelled winged . invention allowed him to fly beside the Spitfire at high speeds above . the stunning Swiss mountains. Operated by the Old Flying Machine Company, the original wartime MH343 is perhaps the most famous of all Spitfires still flying today. It was built in 1943 at Vickers, Castle Bromwich in West Midlands and is completely original and never fully rebuilt. Rossy flew fighter jets for the Swiss air force for 17 years and since he created his flight suit in 2006 he became the first and only man in the history of aviation to fly with a jet-propelled wing according to his website. The suit weighs almost 121lbs and has a wing span of 6ft 6in. What a view: Rossy said that the technology of his jet suit has become so reliable that when flying he can relax and take in the view . His invention has now been refined, so 'all he has is an altimeter for safety, and a tiny throttle control in his hand'. Rossy’s . website said he 'has always dedicated all his free time to flight and . experimented with all its forms', creating a harness with inflatable . wing panels that he subsequently developed into a rigid wing with four . engines. Spitfire pilot Lamb is well known for flying in the Red Bull Air Race World Championships.

'Jetman' Yves Rossy flew in close formation with an iconic Spitfire MH434 in the Bex aerodrome's annual 'fly-in' on Friday near Geneva, Switzerland . It is the latest in a series of astonishing stunts the 53-year-old Swiss man has done in his jet suit .

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Islamic State fighters beheaded seven men and three women in a Kurdish area of northern Syria, a monitoring group reports. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said five Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, among them three women, and four Syrian Arabs were beheaded near the town of Kobani. The Kurdish fighters were taken prisoner during the battle for the mainly Kurdish town, also known as Ayn Arab, which is close to the Turkish border and has been besieged by Islamic State forces. Scroll down for video . Woman fighters from the Kurdish People's Protection Units: Three women (not pictured) were among five Kurdish fighters reportedly beheaded by Islamic State militants after they were captured near Kobani . Dozens of militants and Kurdish fighters were killed in the fighting, said SOHR. Rami Abdulrahman, head of the Observatory, said a Kurdish male civilian was also beheaded. 'I don't know why they were arrested or beheaded. Only the Islamic State knows why. They want to scare people,' he said. Images posted on social media networks show women's heads placed on a cement block, said to be in the northern Syrian city of Jarablous, which is held by militants. Women fight alongside men in the Kurdish People's Protection Units, known as the YPG, which is the official armed wing of the main Kurdish political group in Syria. Kurdish forces have been locked in fierce clashes with Islamic State militants in and around Kobani since the extremist group launched an assault in mid-September. The fighting has created one of the single largest exoduses in Syria's civil war, with more than 160,000 people fleeing into Turkey, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said yesterday. Kurdish fighters brandish their automatic rifles in Kobani: Fighting for the town has continued for several weeks, with dozens of Islamic State militants and Kurdish fighters killed in recent days alone . More refugees streamed into Turkey from Kobani today, according to an AP journalist on the border. Turkish authorities were registering them and bussing them to refugee camps. Others were being picked up at the border by their relatives in Turkey. Islamic State militants have staked out positions east, west and south of Kobani. Thick dark smoke could be seen rising from an area south of the town today. Smokes rise after a mortar shell landed in the south of the city center of Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani, seen from the Turkish side of border, as thousands of new Syrian refugees from Kobani arrive in Suruc, Turkey . The Islamic State group has pressed its assault on Kobani despite airstrikes by the US-led coalition on its positions. The U.S. has been bombing the Islamic State group across Syria since last week and in neighboring Iraq since early August. The U.S. military said American warplanes conducted three air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria near Kobani overnight and today, destroying an armed vehicle, an artillery piece and a tank. U.S. and British warplanes also carried out five air strikes in neighbouring Iraq, knocking out two armed vehicles, a militant-occupied building and two fighting positions north-west of Mosul, the country's second largest city, which fell to the Islamic State group in June. One strike near the Haditha dam in Anbar province destroyed an armed vehicle, while another air raid outside Baghdad eliminated two armed vehicles.

Kurdish fighters taken prisoner during the ongoing fight for Kobani . Thousands of Kurdish refugees have fled IS attacks on the town . Kurdish fighters have been battling IS militants in the area since last month .

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A historic vote on growing demands for Britain to leave the European Union will be held in the Commons before Christmas. MPs will debate whether the Government should give voters a chance to decide the issue once and for all in a referendum. It will be the first time Parliament has held a major vote on seeking the public’s view since the 1975 referendum confirming the decision to join the Common Market. A historic vote on growing demands for Britain to leave the European Union will be held in the Commons before Christmas . If MPs vote in favour of  a referendum, the result would not be binding on the Government. But, combined with growing public opposition to the increasing power of the EU, it would put enormous pressure on David Cameron to let the people decide the country’s European fate. The Commons vote has been forced on MPs – and a reluctant Prime Minister –  by public demand after the crisis in the eurozone, with desperate attempts to prop up the Greek economy, led to a surge in anti-Brussels feeling. Prime Minister David Cameron. MPs will debate whether the Government should give voters a chance to decide the Europe issue in a referendum . The decision to hold a debate was made after a petition, signed by more than 100,000 people demanding a referendum, was submitted to a new group of MPs given the job of making sure Parliament does not sweep controversial issues under the carpet. The Mail on Sunday has learnt that the Commons Backbench Business Committee will agree to grant a one-day debate on a referendum after Parliament returns next week. Committee chairman Natascha Engel, a Labour MP, said: ‘Given the crisis in the eurozone, this issue has become more relevant than ever. There is a clear majority of backbench MPs who want to debate this and we have to respond to that. ‘The EU today is completely different from the one the British people voted to join in 1975. It is time to examine the position again. For years it has suited successive governments to avoid debating whether Britain should leave the EU. The whole purpose of my committee is to make sure the big issues of the day are aired in Parliament. People in pubs and shops all over Britain are discussing our membership of the EU and it is time MPs openly debated it too.’ The debate will be held before the end of the year.  Anti-European campaigners are divided over the question that should be put in a referendum. Some want a simple ‘in or out’ question. But others want to offer the choice of going back to an old- style trading association, along the lines of the Common Market which British voters agreed to 36 years ago. If the nation voted ‘yes’ to this, the Government could demand that key powers over immigration, health and safety, City regulations and other issues are handed back to Westminster. If the EU refused, Britain could leave altogether. Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg is an avowed Europhile. Labour MP Natascha Engel said the eurozone the issue has become more relevant than ever . In recent opinion polls, when asked . directly, nearly half of people want Britain to come out of the EU, with . about a third in favour of staying in. But when the question  was . rephrased to give the choice of returning to a Seventies-style trade . association, a clear majority chose that option. Tory MPs plan to use this week’s party conference in Manchester to step up their demand for a referendum. Withdrawing from the EU has support at . the highest level of the party, including from Mr Cameron’s senior No . 10 adviser, Steve Hilton. The Commons vote is a nightmare for . the Coalition. Mr Cameron was heavily criticised in Opposition for going . back on a pledge to hold a referendum on the 2007 Lisbon Treaty which . continued the process of switching sovereignty to the EU. He fears a referendum would be a . distraction from his attempts to solve Britain’s economic problems. But . he will face a mass revolt if he orders Tory MPs to vote against it. Protests in Greece over cut backs. The crisis in the eurozone with desperate attempts to prop up the Greek economy has led to a surge in anti-Brussels feeling . Although Deputy Prime Minister Nick . Clegg is an avowed Europhile, he made an Election pledge to hold an ‘in . or out’ EU referendum. It was seen as a crude Lib Dem ploy to prove that . whatever their reservations about the EU, most Britons want to stay in. But with growing hostility to the EU, Mr Clegg may now be hoist with . his own petard. A sizeable number of Labour MPs also want a referendum. The historic Commons debate is set to . be agreed after Tory MP David Nuttall approached the Backbench Business . Committee on the strength of the petition. The Bury MP said he would . defy any attempt by Mr Cameron to silence him. ‘I will vote in favour of . a referendum. It is time the people had their say.’ Last night, despite the growing calls . for a referendum, Foreign Secretary William Hague insisted the . Government would not grant a public vote on leaving the EU altogether – . but said he would consider putting any future erosion of sovereignty to . the people. ‘The EU does have too much power, in . our view,’ he said. ‘But this is a Coalition Government. We have an . agreed programme on which the Lib Dems gave a lot of ground. ‘Any large-scale change in the treaties is for future years. Our place is in the European Union.’ Since Britain joined the Common . Market, there have been a series of Commons votes on whether there . should be referendums on EU treaties such as Maastricht and Lisbon – . although none on whether we should remain in the EU. All have been . defeated, largely due to Governments ordering MPs to vote them down. The Government has suffered three . defeats as a result of debates ordered by the Backbench Business . Committee, including rejecting a European bid to give prisoners the . vote.

Vote will be held in the Commons before Christmas . Eurozone crisis has led to surge in anti-Brussels feeling .

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The bizarre celebrity feud between news anchor Anderson Cooper and Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan just got stranger. At the band's show on Wednesday night, a T-shirt on sale featured a picture of his pet cats, but also had a clear message to his unusual nemesis. The organic cotton shirt, adorned with two cat picture, also said: 'F*** You Anderson Cooper.' At the Smashing Pumpkins show this week, merchandise available included this t-shirt featuring Corgan's cats and a clear message for his nemesis . Anderson Cooper, left, sparked a feud with Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan after he ridiculed this PAWS Chicago magazine cover, right . @ZuZusTeahouse posted a picture of the merchandise on Twitter with the message: 'Awesome tea and Merch at the @SmashingPumpkins concert tonight!! Limited quantity available so get them early!' The row started this summer when Corgan appeared on the cover of PAWS Chicago, reports Gawker. The organizations runs a pet adoption center and neuter clinic and Corgan posed on their magazine with two cats that he adopted called Sammi and Mr Thom. The headline 'Billy Corgan's Siamese Dream' referred to the alternative band's second album released in 1993. He has supported the organization in the past, raising $60,000 after auctioning off a private concert. But when Cooper discovered the cover last month, he ridiculed it live on air. He said: 'So perhaps Billy Corgan is, I don't know, off his alternative rocker. Corgan, pictured on stage at Glastonbury last year, responded on Twitter calling Cooper a 'globalist shill' 'But I think maybe there's more to this, maybe he's being ironic, or maybe when the cool rock stars start doing less rock starry things, it kind of makes us face our own mortality. 'See I want REM to stay just the way I know and love them, I don't want 'Everybody Hurts' to suddenly be used in an Excedrin commercial.' He added: 'Maybe the Internet is the real problem here. There was a time when nobody outside of Chicago would have ever seen the cover of PAWS Chicago magazine.' Corgan responded with a tweet calling Cooper a 'globalist shill' and adding: 'Sorry to disappoint, but when I'm not raising cain for a great organization like @PAWSchicago, I'm still making REAL music.' @ZuZusTeahouse posted this picture on Twitter with the message: 'Awesome tea and Merch at the @SmashingPumpkins concert tonight!! Limited quantity available so get them early!'

Feud started when Cooper ridiculed Corgan's PAWS Chicago mag cover . Corgan posed with two cats he adopted from organization's shelter . Cooper said perhaps Corgan is 'off his alternative rocker' and the singer responded by calling him a 'globalist shill' Beef escalated as it appeared cat t-shirts with a clear message to Cooper were on sale at the band's show this week .

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The Baltimore Ravens are denying a report that claimed they knew about Ray Rice's violent domestic assault hours after the incident occurred, and then pleaded with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to go easy on the wife-beater, in a lengthy statement released earlier today. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti and members of the team are refuting 15 of the claims made in a recent ESPN report in the eight-page statement, which is addressed to fans of the team. Bisciotti also states that those who spoke with ESPN's Outside the Lines were 'sources [who] work for Ray,' and that much of the information they gave was 'manufactured.' Scroll down for video . Speaking out: The Ravens released a statement today refuting claims made in a report about their handling of the Ray Rice abuse sandal, and owner Steve Bisciotti (above) said Rice's friends had 'manufactured' stories . Wants back in: Bisciotti said he believes Rice (above right, with wife Janay) is having his friends talk to the media so he can be reinstated after his indefinite suspension by the NFL . He believes Rice is using his friends to talk to the media in hopes of building up a case for reinstatement. ESPN reported last week that the Ravens head of security Darren Sanders was told about the incident, and video, involving Rice and his then-fiancée Janay Palmer by a local police officer just hours after it happened, and then immediately described the event in detail to team executives. They also said these claims had been corroborated by team officials, current and former league officials, NFL Players' Association representatives and associates, and advisers and friends of Rice. In their statement released today, the Ravens disputed all of these facts. Sanders said that he did not see the tape, and actually had to ask the Atlantic City Police Department for a copy days after the incident. After they refused to send him a tape, one officer did describe to him the events happening in the elevator, but not as they were later seen when the tape was released to the public earlier this month. 'As he described it, Janay appeared to initiate the altercation, but they both spit at and struck each other, resulting in Janay falling and hitting her head against the wall railing,' said Sanders. 'The officer could not tell from the video whether Ray slapped or punched her, but Ray told me very clearly that he did not punch her.' Denied: Bisciotti (second from left) also shot down claims he asked NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (second from right, presenting Bisciotti with the Lombardi Trophy in 2013) to go easy on Rice following the incident . They next took on claims that Goodell went easy on Rice as a favor to his close friend Bisciotti. 'I did not ask Roger Goodell to give Ray Rice no more than a two-game suspension,' said Bisciotti. 'I did not make any request for a "favor" or any particular outcome.' He then stated of his relationship with Goodell, 'The two of us have spent very little time together - as I recall, one round of golf and one dinner several years ago.' He did however admit that team executives did fail when they did not push harder to get a copy of the tape. Later in the day, during a news conference, Bisciotti said, "The majority of the sources [from the report] are people that work for Ray. Almost everything in there is anonymous, but it's clear from the subject matter that it's Ray's attorney, it's Ray's agent, it's Ray's friends.' According to ESPN, he then said that a significant amount of the information in the story was 'manufactured' by members of Rice's camp. Josh Krulewitz, ESPN's vice president of communications, went on Twitter this afternoon following the Ravens statement and Bisciotti's news conference to say, 'We stand by our reporting.'

The Baltimore Ravens released a statement earlier today that refuted 15 of the claims made in a report about their handing of Ray Rice's domestic assault incident . Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti is also claiming that friends of Rice are 'manufacturing' stories to get him reinstated . One of the claims being refuted is that Ravens head of security Darren Sanders knew about the incident hours after it happened, which he denies . They are also denying they ever asked NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to be lenient when deciding on a punishment for Rice .

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(CNN) -- Shortly after President Barack Obama was inaugurated, he said that his re-election effort will be judged largely on the economy. The overall unemployment rate is above 8%; fewer than 150,000 jobs were created the last month; student loan debt has hit $1 trillion; consumer personal credit card debt is on the rise; gas prices look like a yo-yo; the housing industry continues to be stuck in the mud; and Americans still are unsure what the future holds economically. For Mitt Romney's team, that should look like fertile ground to lay a serious line of attack against the incumbent president, especially in hard hit states like Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Nevada. Yet for a band of GOP strategists, they somehow think trying to replay a bunch of old sermons by the president's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, will result in electoral gold. Sounds more like fool's gold. When I opened up Thursday's New York Times and saw a story at the top of the page about a proposal calling on Chicago billionaire Joe Ricketts to spend upwards of $10 million on a vicious attack on Obama with Wright at the center of it, I frankly laughed. In fact, even President Reagan came to mind and one of the all-time classic debate lines he used on Walter Mondale: "There you go again." It's as if the butt-whippin' the GOP got in 2008 wasn't enough. Now they want to try to go to the well a second time. D-U-M-B. When Sen. John McCain declared tying Obama to Wright was off limits in 2008, GOP stalwarts seethed, angry that they couldn't portray the then-senator as an acolyte of someone they considered to be a crazed, deranged pastor who hated America. The revelations of Wright's sermons caused a ruckus in the Democratic primary in 2008, dominating the news cycle for weeks. The only way Obama could quell the raging inferno was to deliver his speech on race in Philadelphia, which was hailed by some commentators as momentous. Ever since then, some in the GOP believe that had McCain bludgeoned Obama with Wright, he could have stood a better shot at winning. To all of you who love and adore the Republican Party, I'll play your political priest and absolve you of all of your sins -- said and unsaid -- on this issue. Making Wright a central campaign theme would have done nothing to keep Obama from beating McCain. And while Republicans like Sarah Palin and countless mouthpieces on the right swear that Obama wasn't properly vetted, just deal with the reality that your party lost in 2008. Trying to dredge up Wright in 2012 simply won't do it. It's silly, childish, and frankly, shows a sign of desperation. And this has nothing to do with riling Obama's African-American base or ticking off independent voters. It just doesn't make sense because what it does is remove the core message of Romney -- the economy -- and makes it about sermons from 20 years ago. Obama's weakness in 2012 isn't a sermon by Wright called "Confusing God and Government" -- that's the one he was ripped for saying "goddamn America" -- it's the weak economy and him as its chief steward. When things are going well a president gets the credit, and when they're not going so good, he gets the blame. And right now, he's shouldering lots of blame for the economy. Romney's team was quick to disavow the plan, and even Ricketts had to come out and say that it was one of many proposals that he was presented, and rejected. Now, Ricketts didn't become a billionaire by making dumb decisions. But even allowing this plan to cross his desk is about as dumb as J.P Morgan continuing to employ the folks that lost the firm more than $2 billion in a colossal trading screw up. Maybe we can just chalk up the Obama-Wright proposal as an attempt by these GOP strategists to pull a fast one on Ricketts and make a quick buck off of an unsuspecting billionaire. Even that thought has me laughing.

GOP considered airing sermons by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright to attack President Obama . Roland Martin says economy seems to be fertile ground for attacks . Making Wright a campaign issue in 2008 wouldn't have kept Obama from winning, he says . Martin: Dredging Wright up in 2012 is silly, childish, shows desperation .

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Eliaquim Mangala has been ruled out of Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Tottenham through injury – but Yaya Toure is in contention to play at the Etihad. Manager Manuel Pellegrini hopes that Mangala, a £32million summer signing from FC Porto, will be fit for Tuesday’s crucial Champions League clash away to CSKA Moscow despite suffering from a thigh problem. He said: ‘There is just a small problem with Mangala. He has a muscle injury, but I think he will be fit without any problems for Tuesday.’ Eliaquim Mangala (left) heads out to training at the Etihad Stadium with team-mate Bacary Sagna . Yaya Toure is in contention for Saturday after returning from international duty with Ivory Coast . Toure flew back immediately after Ivory Coast’s game against DR Congo in midweek in a bid to be ready to face Spurs, and Pellegrini confirmed that the midfielder is in his squad. ‘All the other players are okay,’ added Pellegrini. ‘Of course it’s not easy to see what is the best starting XI for Saturday when you have so many players arriving on different days of the week. Tomorrow we will decide. ‘Yaya arrived yesterday with Aleksandar Kolarov and Matija Nastasic, other players arrived on Wednesday and some more on Tuesday, so we’re trying to see which is the best team for tomorrow – but all of them are on the squad list.’ The issue of Toure and the Premier League’s other African players returning from West Africa has raised concerns over the Ebola outbreak, and even put the January’s African Cup of Nations in jeopardy. Pellegrini said: ‘I suppose that the people who have to decide about that have enough experience to know if they can play or not play. For me it is very difficult to give my opinion but I trust in the persons who have to decide if they can do it or not.’ Meanwhile Kolarov and Nastasic were caught up in the politically-fuelled brawl that halted Serbia’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Albania in Belgrade. City head for Eastern Europe to play Moscow next week but the match will be played behind closed doors after UEFA punished the Russian club over the behaviour of their fans. James Milner, Fernandinho, Sergio Aguero and Aleksandar Kolarov were all in action on Friday . Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany rests his hand on team-mate Sagna during training . ‘I think that affects football,’ said Pellegrini. ‘I don’t think it is the best way to play, not only for our team but for Russian team. For fans, I think football is with fans. It is the most important thing because they give an atmosphere at the stadium which is different to an empty stadium. It will be a different experience but that cannot affect our performance.’ The City boss admitted that the Premier League champions are entering a crucial phase of their season. They must beat Moscow home and away to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stage, and defend the Capital One Cup against Newcastle, but Pellegrini is trying not to look further ahead than Spurs as he looks to keep pace with leaders Chelsea. ‘We are just thinking about the next game which is Tottenham,’ he said. ‘We know that from now until the next international break we have to play seven games in three different competitions. ‘We have four games in the Premier League. It is very important for us to try not to drop points and to try and recover points from Chelsea. Toure in action for Ivory Coast against Youssouf Mulumbu of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday . Kolarov (right) was in action for Serbia in their troubled tie at home to Albania on Tuesday . ‘We also have one game against Newcastle which is final because if we don’t win we go out of the Capital One Cup. We have two games against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League that we need win to win both of them. 'The best way to think is that the next game is a final, which is Tottenham, we will try to win it and after we will see which is the best team to try and win the next final.’ City hammered Spurs 11-1 on aggregate in the league last season but Pellegrini is expecting a much tougher test on Saturday. ‘I am sure it is a different Tottenham,’ he said. ‘Last year one of the best games that we played was against Tottenham away. Here also we played very well but we are not expecting that we can score six or five goals every time we play Tottenham. ‘They are a very strong team. Mauricio Pochettino is a very good manager. Really we play in our best moment last season. We hope tomorrow we can do a very good game also.’

Defender Mangala ruled out of Tottenham game for Manchester City . He has a muscle injury but could be fit for midweek Champions League . Spurs set to travel to Etihad for lunchtime kickoff on Saturday . Yaya Toure in contention after return from international duty .

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(CNN) -- Facebook on Monday appeared to have quietly unveiled a new feature designed to let people see which Facebook users are nearby at any given time. By Tuesday, however, the feature seemed to have been pulled from the Internet. The company called the feature "Find Friends Nearby," and on Monday it was available through Facebook's mobile apps and website despite the fact that it hadn't been formally announced. The blog ReadWriteWeb dubbed the feature a "stalking app" because it could open people up to potentially awkward or threatening interactions with strangers on the social network who know you're nearby. To test out the feature on Monday, Facebook users could go to fb.com/ffn in a browser, or follow this path in the Facebook's mobile apps: menu > apps > find friends > other tools > Find Friends Nearby. Surprise! Teens are sneaky online . Facebook users had to opt in to the feature by going to that site, otherwise their profiles would not appear in a list of people who are nearby. The blog TechCrunch first reported on the feature Sunday after a non-Facebook developer tipped off the site to the feature's existence. In a comment on that site's post about the new feature, Facebook developer Ryan Patterson, who says he developed Find Friends Nearby, described how he hopes the app will be used: . "For me, the ideal use case for this product is the one where when you're out with a group of people whom you've recently met and want to stay in contact with. Facebook search might be effective, or sharing your vanity addresses or business cards, but this tool provides a really easy way to exchange contact information with multiple people with minimal friction." A Facebook spokeswoman declined to provide additional information. "We are constantly testing new features but have nothing more to share at this time," she wrote in an e-mail to CNN. Reactions to the news were mixed in the tech blogosphere. The site Gizmodo found the new feature to be potentially useful -- and dangerous. "You meet a cute somebody at a concert, you're like, 'Hey, we should be Facebook friends,' and they're like 'OMG, totes!' Then rather than having to spell your names and search around, you've got a much smaller group of people to choose from. I guess that's great, right?" Brent Rose wrote on that tech news site. But Rose added: "Sure, it'd be great to easily add a contact quicker, but imagine this: some creeper has been molesting you with his/her eyes all night. She opens the app, can kinda recognize your face from your profile picture, and now said creeper knows (your) name and possibly some of your personal info." That would be the downside. Others said the app simply isn't ready for prime time. The blog Engadget called the app "fairly primitive," and The Next Web said it amounts to "nothing more than a parlor trick at this point" since other location-based friend finders haven't caught on with the general public despite their buzziness in tech circles. Facebook recently acquired a company called Glancee, which did something similar to the Find Friends Nearby feature. So there's speculation that the company's technology may have contributed to the new Facebook feature. Patterson, however, the Facebook developer, wrote on TechCrunch's post that he created the feature during a hackathon. Other similar mobile "social discovery" apps include Highlight, Banjo and Sonar. Some of these apps will also show you nearby friends of friends or even strangers who share your interests, based on your social-network profile. It's unclear exactly how much information the Find Friends Nearby feature gave away. On Monday, users had to log into that site intentionally to see a list of people who are nearby, and that list of people appeared to be quite limited. Also to be determined is how large of a radius the feature employed. Did it search for people who are within eyeshot of you? Or within a mile? Let us know what you think in the comments section. On Monday, we weren't able to interact with anyone -- friendly or otherwise -- who was nearby.

NEW: Facebook appears to have pulled the 'Find Friends Nearby' feature . The feature uses phones' GPS to show which of your friends are near your location . Blog ReadWriteWeb already has dubbed the feature a "stalking app" It appears Facebook users must opt in to the feature, which may allay privacy concerns .

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Aid target: Mark Lowcock, Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Development, was given the handout last year . The head of Britain’s foreign aid department was handed a bonus of almost £20,000 as it met a target to spend billions more on overseas development. Mark Lowcock, Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Development, was given the handout last year, the ministry’s annual report for 2013/14 shows. Despite concerns over whether millions of pounds of aid money were being spent effectively, he received the bonus of between £15,000 and £20,000 on top of his salary of almost £165,000. Critics last night said the bonus was yet another example of the aid department’s profligacy. It comes after the damning conclusion of auditors that DfID splurged £1billion in only eight weeks at the end of 2013 in order to meet the Coalition commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on foreign aid. The National Audit Office said the fact that the funds were spent so quickly raised serious questions about whether value for money was achieved. The Coalition commitment to the 0.7 per cent target meant that DfID had to spend £11.46billion on aid projects in 2013. In June 2013, DfID officials forecast that they would have to spend £2.7billion in November and December to hit the target. However, months later – under the leadership of Mr Lowcock – the department found it had to spend an extra £1billion on top of this to hit the 0.7 per cent target. This extra money was then allocated to different schemes over a period of only eight weeks. The NAO report tops a series of failings at the department. Two months ago an independent report found that DfID programmes were making corruption worse in Nigeria and Nepal. The department’s annual report for 2013/14 also shows that DfID’s director general Richard Calvert received a bonus of between £10,000 and £15,000 in addition to his £130,000 pay. DfID said the payments to Mr Lowcock and Mr Calvert were based on objectives reached in the year 2012/13. Peter Bone, Tory MP for Wellingborough, said: ‘People will be pretty surprised in my constituency to hear about this bonus payment. £20,000 is more than many people in Wellingborough earn in a year, and many of them have had to endure pay freezes. ‘Now we have criticism from the NAO saying that they gave away lots of money at the end of the year to meet the 0.7 per cent target, raising questions about value for money.’ The DfID report shows that as well as his large bonus, Mr Lowcock has amassed a pension pot of almost £1million, entitling him to an annual payment of almost £60,000 when he retires. Auditors concluded DfID splurged £1billion in only eight weeks at the end of 2013 in order to meet the Coalition commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on foreign aid . The report reveals that the number of staff at DfID has risen by 7.3 per cent in the past year to 2,972, despite David Cameron’s pledge to cut the cost of government. The wage bill soared 8.8 per cent to £145.7million last year. At the same time, other departments’ budgets were reduced. Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: ‘DfID looks like a black hole for taxpayers’ cash. ‘Each penny of foreign aid should go to the world’s poorest, and the arbitrary way in which the department spends at the minute isn’t contributing enough to freedom, health or safety in the developing world.’ A DfID spokesman said: ‘The payments in question related to staff performance in the 2012/13 financial year, not 2013/14 when the UK first achieved the 0.7 per cent aid target. 'Furthermore, these salaries and performance payments are funded from the core administration budget which is entirely separate from the budget which is used to finance overseas aid programmes. 'They are paid in line with standard Civil Service rules and an independently-chaired Remuneration Committee advises on all pay and bonus awards for Permanent Secretaries.' He said DfID has reduced its admin budget by a third, reduced spending on admin consultants in DfID by 90 per cent, clamped down on the travel policy for staff and reformed aid spending.

Head of Britain’s foreign aid department was handed a bonus as it met target to spend billions more on overseas development . Mark Lowcock was given handout last year, ministry’s annual report shows . This was despite concerns over whether aid money was spent effectively .

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By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 06:20 EST, 23 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:59 EST, 23 July 2013 . She has been a contracted Victoria's . Secret Angel for 13 years so it's safe to say that Adriana Lima knows exactly what she's doing when it comes to modelling. And the 31-year-old's latest underwear shoot for the lingerie giant does not disappoint. Adriana showcases her perfectly toned and tanned body as she strikes a pose in an array of sexy lingerie and swimwear. Hot pink: Donning an array of brightly coloured lingerie, Adriana teases the camera . Beach brights: The new bikinis come in tropical or candy-stripe prints and Adriana showcases them on a tropical shoot . In some of the shots, the mother-of-two dons revealing hot pink and black lingerie, which she playfully undoes for the camera. In other images, she can been seen smouldering in more demure camisoles and silk shorts. There are also a few snaps of her showcasing the brand's summer swimwear line as she poses on a tropical beach in an array of colourful items. The model wears her chocolate brown hair in a variety of styles and sizzles with her smokey-eyed beauty look. Barely there: The mother-of-two shows off her toned physique in a range of revealing underwear in the shots . Just like fellow Angels Alessandra . Ambrosio and Doutzen Kroes, and recently retired Angel Miranda Kerr, . Adriana made a superhuman recovery after giving birth to her second . child, her daughter Sienna, last year. Adriana credited boxing for getting . her runway ready when she was given the arduous task of returning to the . Victoria's Secret catwalk last year just eight weeks after her baby . girl arrived in September 2012. Joining . forces with professional boxer Michael Olajide, who co-founded the . AeroSpace fitness studio in New York, she revealed that she worked out . an astonishing six hours a day in five weeks before the show. Beach babe: Adriana also showcases the lingerie giant's new swimwear for summer on a tropical beach . Tanned and toned: Adriana achieved her post-baby figure with an intense boxing regime, which she is keen to showcase . The supermodel did the training in two three hour sessions, one in the morning and one in the evening, as soon as she got the green light from her doctor. 'The doctor gave me the okay about three weeks after I gave birth and literally two days after that I started working out -- every single day, two times a day,' she explained at the time. Adriana said that when she discovered boxing, she knew it was the right exercise for her. 'I discovered boxing, accepting that it is great for the body, wonderful for the mind and it give you the best shape ever,' she said. 'It is a challenge, I love a challenge.' The Brazilian model and actress finished first in Ford's Supermodel of Brazil competition when she was just fifteen. In 2012, she came 4th on the Forbes top-earning models list, estimated to have earned £4.75 million in one year. She is married to Serbian basketball player Marko Jarić, with whom she has two daughters. Blue eyed girl: Adriana wears her glossy chocolate locks tousled and smoulders with smokey eyes . Smouldering: Seasoned Victoria's Secret model shows off her incredible body as she models the brand's new collection . Fighting fit: Adriana made a superhuman recovery after giving birth to her second child, her daughter Sienna, last year . Big earner: In 2012, she came 4th on the Forbes top-earning models list, estimated to have earned £4.75 million in one year .

Brazilian 31-year-old mother-of-two showcases summer lingerie range . Has been a Victoria's Secret Angel for 13 years . Poses in revealing shots .

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Almost 90 years after her passing, a New Jersey nun credited with restoring a blind man's sight will be the first person beatified on U.S. soil in a historic honor. Sister Miriam Teresa Demjanovich, of the Sisters of Charity in Convent Station, NJ., will be beatified Saturday in a Mass of Beatification at Newark's Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The move is an important step on the road to becoming a saint, following be venerated for heroic virtue but preceding the final step of having a a second miracle attributed to them. Sister Miriam Teresa Demjanovich, of the Sisters of Charity in Convent Station, NJ., will be beatified Saturday in a Mass of Beatification at Newark's Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart . In her case, devotional writings - cut short by her untimely death at the age of 26 in 1927 - became very inspirational to Roman Catholics and were credited with a medical miracle decades after she passed. The Bayonne native was even credited with having opinions that would shape the church as we know it, The Wall Street Journal reported. 'She . brought up what Vatican II was all about: the importance of scripture, . the importance of the trinity, the place of liturgy,' Sister . Kathleen Flanagan, a professor at the College of Saint Elizabeth in . Convent Station, told reporters. Taking place in the early 1960s, Vatican II was an ecumenical council and pivotal moment for a Catholic Church seeking to redefine itself for the modern era, changing the institution's identity with changes such as having the mass spoken in the modern vernacular instead of Latin. Candidates for sainthood must fulfill multiple requirements, including one miracle that could be tied to their intercession which must be confirmed by the Vatican. Demjanovich's first miracle is said to be the sight of Michael Mencer, who as an 8-year-old in Teaneck, N.J., suffered from juvenile macular degeneration, which has no known cure. Now 59, Mencer says his vision was once so poor that Dr. Mary Mazzarrella and his family registered him with the New Jersey Commission for the Blind. Demjanovich's first miracle is said to be the sight of Michael Mencer, pictured here in his late 50s, who as an 8-year-old in Teaneck, N.J., suffered from juvenile macular degeneration . He claims that in 1964 his eyesight was restored after his teacher gave him items relating to Demjanovich. The item was reportedly a prayer card and a strand of Miriam Teresa's hair that had been preserved in plastic. Mencer told NBC News that he decided to walk home alone that day, despite having only peripheral vision. 'I was about two blocks from the house when I think it happened,' he told reporters. 'I looked up at what I thought was the sun, and it didn't hurt my eyes, but I could see an orb, a bright light. And when I looked back down I could see the hair in the memento.' After that, he ran home. He says his affliction never came back. In 1971, his mother wrote a letter about the miraculous cure to the Trenton diocese's newspaper when she spotted a story about Demjanovich. The letter was lost until 1998 when a sister discovered it stuck between two file folders while cleaning out some cabinets. Mazzarrella said she had consulted with 18 other doctors about his condition and a seven-member panel of opthalmologists. The doctors told her the recovery was 'medically unexplainable.' For Demjanovich to be canonized, the church also had to be shown that others had prayed for Demjanovich's intercession before the boy was cured. The move is an important step on the road to becoming a saint, following be venerated for heroic virtue but preceding the final step of having a a second miracle attributed to them . Demjanovich . was the youngest of seven children born to an immigrant family from . what's now known as Slovakia, and was baptized in Byzantine-Ruthenian . Catholic Church before attending public schools in Bayonne. In 1923, she graduated summa cum laude from the College of Saint Elizabeth with a degree in literature. She was first suggested for sainthood in 1945 when her family asked the Bishop of Paterson, N.J., to initiate 'cause.' In Rome, her case was overseen by the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which oversees canonization. They interviewed people who knew her as well as poured over her writings, including plays, poems, letters, meditations, and a piece of an autobiography. The meditations were especially important in establishing sainthood. They were published just one year after her death under the title, 'Greater Perfection.' Fewer than a dozen native-born U.S. citizens have been granted beatification by the Catholic Church and of those only three have finally been canonized. For Demjanovich to be canonized, the church also had to be shown that others had prayed for Demjanovich's intercession before the boy was cured . The Vatican's head of Congregation for Saints' Causes will attend Saturday's mass. Having the ceremony in Newark makes 'beatification more personal,' said Jim Goodness, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Newark. 'Here we have a woman who was born in Bayonne and lived in New Jersey,' he said. 'It allows us to really be able to understand there are saints and holy people among us today, and that we're all called to sainthood.'

Sister Miriam Teresa Demjanovich, of the . Sisters of Charity in Convent Station, NJ., will be beatified Saturday . in a Mass of Beatification at Newark's Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred . Heart . Demjanovich is credited with restoring the sight of 8-year-old Michael Mencer in 1964 when his teacher gave him a prayer card associated with the nun and a strand of her hair . Mencer was suffering from macular degeneration, of which there is no known cure . If one more miracle is attributed to Demjanovich, she could attain sainthood in the Catholic Church .

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A 19-year-old man who refers to himself as 'King Pekas' has been arrested after allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl he met on Facebook, police said on Tuesday. Abraham Bucio-Bucio, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, reportedly traveled to the unidentified girl's home, north of the city, and asked her to have sex with him after speaking to her on the social network. When she declined, Bucio-Bucio grabbed her, before ripping off her pants and sexually assaulting her, it is alleged. The victim apparently suffered a number of minor injuries. Arrest: Abraham Bucio-Bucio (pictured in his police mugshot) , who refers to himself as 'King Pekas', has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl he met on Facebook, police said on Tuesday . Police were alerted to the alleged incident at around 9.10pm on Sunday by staff at Hillcrest Medical Center. Officers traveled to the hospital, where they found the girl in a 'catatonic state'. While there, they spoke with her sister, who alleged that Bucio-Bucio had raped her relative earlier that evening after meeting her on Facebook on Saturday, according to Tulsa World. After sexually assaulting his young victim, the teenager had then apologized to the girl through the photo messaging service, Snapchat, the sister claimed. Now, Bucio-Bucio - who is believed to be engaged - has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree rape and lewd molestation. His bond has been set at $100,000. Accused: The 19-year-old (pictured in a Facebook photo), from Tulsa, Oklahoma, reportedly traveled to the girl's home, north of the city, and asked her to have sex with him after speaking to her on the social network . Meeting: When she declined, Bucio-Bucio grabbed her, before ripping off her underwear and raping her, it is alleged. The victim suffered minor injuries. Above, the pair apparently met on Facebook (file picture) During an interview with police, the suspect reportedly told officers that the girl had told him she was 18 years old. However, he later admitted that he knew she was just 13, it is alleged. He was also found to have deleted several text messages from the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons. The victim is reportedly recovering from her ordeal and unspecified injuries. According to court records, Bucio-Bucio was accused of two counts of sexual battery in Tulsa County last October. But these were dismissed when a prosecution witness in the case failed to appear. On his Facebook page, the suspect goes by the name 'King Pekas Bucio'. He is also listed as being engaged - and has posted numerous photos of himself and his 'fiancée', who uses his surname. Posing: During an interview with police, the suspect (pictured left and right) reportedly told officers that the girl had told him she was 18 years old. However, he later admitted that he knew she was just 13, it is alleged .

Abraham Bucio-Bucio, 19, reportedly met girl on Facebook on Saturday . Following evening, he 'traveled to her Tulsa home and asked her for sex' When she declined, he allegedly ripped off her underwear and raped her . Police were called by staff at hospital, who treated girl for minor injuries . Bucio-Bucio arrested Monday on suspicion of rape and lewd molestation . The suspect, who goes by name 'King Pekas', is believed to be engaged .

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New York (CNN) -- Hip-hop artist Ja Rule turned himself to begin a two-year prison sentence Wednesday afternoon in New York. The rapper, whose real names is Jeffrey Atkins, pleaded guilty in December to attempted criminal possession of a weapon after police found a loaded semi-automatic firearm -- with the serial number scratched off -- hidden in the backseat of his luxury Maybach sedan, according to a statement from the Manhattan's district attorney. The incident occurred on New York's Upper West Side in July 2007, the statement said. He will be sent to New York's Rikers Island before being assigned to another facility in upstate New York, said his publicist, Courtney Barnes. In the months leading up to his surrender date, Atkins has been putting the finishing touches on a new album -- his first in six years -- that is scheduled to be released later this summer, Barnes said. Atkins has won MTV Video Music Awards, Source Awards, a BET Award, a GQ Man Of The Year Award, an NAACP Image Award, a World Music Award and a Teen Choice Award, according to the publicist's statement. He was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 2001. In an interview on the TV show "Good Day New York" this month, Atkins said growing up in Queens, he felt almost groomed for prison and knew "a lot" of friends who were locked up. In the interview, he said he regrets what his imprisonment will mean for his family. "I've got three kids," he said. "If there was anything that I regret, I regret that they have to go through this with me, and I'm not going to be there for them." CNN's Denise Quan and Alan Duke contributed to this report .

NEW: Ja Rule begins 2-year sentence after pleading guilty to a weapon offense . DA: Police found a loaded firearm with the serial number scratched off hidden in his car . The rapper's next album is expected to be released while he is in prison .

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(CNN) -- Do you believe in second chances? It would appear that those wearing the green and white of Celtic do. Having been handed a brutal beating by Polish side Legia Warsaw in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, Celtic's European adventure appeared to be over before it had started. A 4-1 defeat in the Polish capital was followed by a 2-0 home defeat -- a result which should have sent Legia through to the playoff stage. Except it didn't. Instead, UEFA, the game's European governing body, was called in to rule over claims Legia had fielded an ineligible player during the tie. Bartosz Bereszynski, who entered the action with two minutes of the second leg remaining, was supposed to be serving a ban. It was his presence on the field which meant UEFA awarded the game to Celtic 3-0, making it 4-4 on aggregate and allowing the Scottish champion to progress on away goals. While Legia protested, even taking their failed case to CAS, the Court for the Arbitration of Sport, Celtic ensured it made the most of it fortune. A game against Slovenian champion Maribor was Celtic's reward with the opportunity to play some of European football's biggest names the prize. Celtic, which won the European Cup in 1967, took the lead within six minutes of the kickoff when Callum McGregor fired home from close range after Jo Inge Berget's effort was diverted into his path. Maribor, which last reached the group stage of the tournament in 1999, overcame Maccabi Tel Aviv 3-2 on aggregate in the previous round. And it soon carved Celtic open to claim a deserved equalizer when Damjar Bohar ran through to slot the ball past the onrushing Craig Gordon. Both teams had opportunities to win the game with Charlie Mulgrew and Virgil van Dijk going close for the visitors, while Tavares' rasping effort flew just over the crossbar for Maribor. The two will meet again next Tuesday with Celtic now the firm favorite to progress following the 1-1 draw. Elsewhere, Porto, the 2004 champion, gained an impressive 1-0 win at French side Lille. Hector Herrera's 61st minute strike was enough to give Porto a slender advantage going into next week's second leg. In Belgium, Oleg Shatov scored the only goal of the game as Zenit St Petersburg recorded a 1-0 away win at Standard Liege. In the night's other games, Slovan Bratislava drew 1-1 with BATE Borisov, while Aalborg and Apoel finished 1-1.

Celtic held 1-1 by Slovenian side Maribor in Champions League playoff . Scottish champion will host second leg next Wednesday . Celtic qualified after Legia Warsaw was thrown out of competition . Porto claims 1-0 win at Lille .

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Under scrutiny: Ken Livingstone earned the money from personal appearances, speech making and hosting a radio show . Ken Livingstone used a loophole to avoid £50,000 in tax, despite having attacked tax avoiders in the past as ‘rich b******s.’ Companies House documents show that Labour’s London mayoral candidate earned £232,000 in 2009, the first year after his defeat to Boris Johnson. The money was earned from personal appearances, speech making and hosting a radio show. It was paid into a personal company set up by Mr Livingstone and Emma Beal, his then partner who is now his wife. The pair are sole shareholders in the company, Silveta Ltd. Accountants told the Sunday Telegraph that the move appears designed to ensure that Mr Livingstone paid corporation tax at 20 or 21 per cent, rather than income tax at up to 40 per cent. The move is entirely legal. Three years ago, Mr Livingstone . criticised tax avoiders, saying: ‘These rich b******s just don’t get it. No one should be allowed to vote in a British election, let alone sit . in Parliament, unless they pay their full share of tax.’ Accounts: The money was paid into a personal company set up by Mr Livingstone and Emma Beal, his then partner who is now his wife . A spokesman for Mr Livingstone denied he was a tax avoider. ‘No one can actually say Ken has done anything wrong - he pays his tax on his income,’ he said. Accusations: Tory MP Priti Patel accused Mr Livingstone of 'hypocrisy' ‘Since he has not held elected office Ken has had his own small business. As thousands of small businesses will tell you, the logical thing to do is to set up a company to handle all the issues. ‘That’s all he has done. He will wind up the company if he is elected.’ Tory MP Priti Patel accused Mr Livingstone of ‘hypocrisy’. She said: ‘This is another case of Ken Livingstone saying one thing while doing another. How can Londoners trust this man?’ Last night Mr Livingstone told BBC Radio 5’s Pienaar’s Politics show: ‘I’m not avoiding tax. Basically I pay income tax on what is paid for me to my daily expenses. I mean poor old Emma had to spend three years in our attic typing out my autobiography, booking my visits round the world to the mayors of all over the place and it’s a very demanding job. ‘But the other thing is, you know, I’ve used that to pay for other people to work on the campaign for Mayor and so on, and I don’t think that anyone really in Britain pays income tax on the money they use to employ other people to work for them.’

Companies House documents show that he earned £232,000 in 2009, paid into a personal account . Move is entirely legal but has angered some people .

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Georgia teen Kendrick Johnson, who was found dead in a rolled-up gym mat at his high school in January, died as the result of "unexplained, apparent non-accidental, blunt force trauma," according to a newly released, independent autopsy report. The report, obtained exclusively Tuesday by CNN, directly contradicts the finding of an autopsy conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation that determined that Johnson's death was the result of positional asphyxia. The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office determined that his death was accidental. Johnson, 17 and an athlete, was found January 11 headfirst in a rolled wrestling mat at a Lowndes County High School gym in Valdosta, Georgia. Inconsistencies in official reports on the condition of Kendrick's body have led the family and community to question the official cause of his death. The family's attorney, Chevene King, has sent the independent autopsy report to the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the U.S . Attorney for Georgia's Middle District and Lowndes County Coroner for review. The coroner can call a coroner's inquest, a process that resembles a grand jury proceeding. After reviewing evidence and testimony, a jury would decide the cause of death, although the findings alone would have no civil or criminal consequences. "Coroner's inquests are not something you do every day. I cannot tell you the last time a coroner's inquest was done in this office," Lowndes County Coroner Bill Watson said. "I want to do the right thing by the people and the county and all concerned; I'm just not sure we have enough information. I'm not about to refute anybody's findings because I'm not a doctor," said Watson. On May 1, a judge granted the Johnsons' request to exhume their son's body for the purposes of a conducting an independent autopsy at their expense. That autopsy, conducted June 15, found blunt force trauma to the right neck and soft tissues, "consistent with inflicted injury." It was conducted by Dr. William R. Anderson with Forensic Dimensions in Heathrow, Florida. "This is unexplained -- most very, very likely inflicted, as opposed to something he caused himself, inflicted by another -- and therefore needs to be investigated as an open homicide investigation," Anderson said. "I've never had a case that I can recall where the prosecution actually was told that this may well be a homicide -- the prosecution being the state, the police and so forth -- and then they didn't bother prosecuting. It's mystifying," he added. Anderson's finding supports the narrative of the initial patient care report, written by EMTs with the South Georgia Medical Center Mobile Healthcare Service on January 11, the day Johnson's body was discovered. That report said, "bruising noted to the right side jaw." However, a January 25 report by the Valdosta - Lowndes County Regional Crime Laboratory cited "no signs of blunt force trauma on Johnson's face or body." The autopsy results released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation May 2 identified "no significant injuries." A spokesperson for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the agency stands by its report after reviewing the findings of the independent autopsy. U.S. Attorney Michael Moore is reviewing the case but has not launched a formal investigation. "We've been working on this for some time," he said. "I'm sure at the appropriate time, I'll speak with his pathologist." "There are some members of the community that question the result," Moore continued. "I want to make sure members of the community and the family and everyone involved has confidence in my work and my decision." The spokesperson for Civil Rights Division has not yet responded to questions about the new report.

New autopsy: Teen's death caused by "apparent non-accidental, blunt force trauma" Kendrick Johnson, 17, was found headfirst in a rolled-up gym mat at high school . Georgia law enforcement said his death was accidental, caused by positional asphyxia . Kendrick's family demanded outside exam after law enforcement findings .

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The mother of a four-year-old boy struck by a car on a family holiday said she was forced to sit in the middle of the road nursing her dead son while paramedics 'looked the other way'. Thomas McLaughlin died after he was hit by a car as it reversed out of a driveway at McMasters Beach on the NSW Central Coast on January 6. At an inquest on Monday into Thomas' death, his mother Michelle, a registered nurse, said the day she lost her middle child was 'crystal clear', the Daily Telegraph reports. Scroll down for video . Thomas McLaughlin died after he was hit by a car as it reversed out of a driveway at McMasters Beach on the NSW Central Coast on January 6 . Family: Thomas with his father David, mother Michelle and siblings Hugh and Sopie . 'I sat in the middle of the road with a dead child (and they were) watching me,' she said. 'Every time I looked up, they looked away. No one came over to me on the roadway.' Police say Thomas ran from behind a parked car and into the path of the four-wheel drive driven by a 64-year-old woman in front of his family's holiday rental property. He was getting ready to go for a swim while on holidays with his family when the accident unfolded. The inquest heard the driver 'didn't have time to react' and his death appeared to be 'an extremely tragic accident'. Thomas' parents, Michelle and David, have set up a road safety foundation in their son's name titled the Little Blue Dinosaur. They are currently championing the review of road safety within holiday town where infrastructure doesn't cater for tourist spikes. The foundation also hopes to introduce safety improvements to holiday town roadways. The inquest into Thomas' death continues. For more information, visit the Little Blue Dinosaur Facebook page. Thomas' parents, Michelle and David, have set up a road safety foundation in their son's name titled the Little Blue Dinosaur .

Thomas McLaughlin died when he was hit by a car on the NSW Central Coast on January 6 . The four-year-old's mother Michelle says she was forced to nurse her dead son after he was hit while paramedics watched her . Michelle gave the statement on Monday at an inquest into Thomas' death . The family have since set up a road safety foundation in their son's honour .

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By . Stephanie Linning . Possible father: Jonathan Smith, 31, claims that he could be the father of Josie Cunningham's baby after sleeping with her over four years without protection . A homeless friend of controversial wannabe glamour model Josie Cunningham has admitted that he could be the father of her baby. Jonathan Smith, 31, claimed that he is one of two men in line to be the father, but will only find out when the baby boy is born in October. He told the Sunday Mirror: 'If the baby isn't black when it comes out, I'm going to have a DNA test.' He said that he started sleeping with the mother-of-two in 2010 but admitted they had never once used protection - . despite him knowing that she was sleeping with other men. Miss Cunningham, a former prostitute, has previously confessed that she was 'ashamed' to admit she did not know who the father of the baby is as she had slept with one client and had been having 'casual sex' with a friend at the time she conceived. Mr Smith, who is jobless, has come forward to claim that he is Ms Cunningham's 'friend with benefits'. He said that the mother-of-two told him three months ago that she had slept with him and a black man over the weeks she conceived. He recalled: 'She told me "I've slept with you and a black lad in those dates. So if it doesn't come out black, you'd better run because it will be your child".' Yesterday Miss Cunningham, 24, whose baby son is due in October, announced that she is selling more than £10,000 worth of tickets to 50 fans who will be able to watch the birth over video chat service Skype. Miss Cunningham, who rose to fame . after undergoing a £4,800 breast enlargement on the NHS, has already . scooped a staggering £30,000 for the four VIP bedside seats. Three of the four tickets were purchased . by journalists while the fourth is believed to have been bought by . somebody described as 'a super-fan'. Her announcement that she was going to sell the £200 Skype tickets came just two days after Miss Cunningham revealed on Twitter that she plans to sell her placenta to the highest bidder. Mr Smith said that he felt scared when Miss Cunningham, from Leeds, broke down in tears and told him about the baby as he is homeless and already has three children who he doesn't see. He added that he last slept with Miss Cunningham three months ago, after she said that they might be having a baby together. As well as the NHS breast surgery, which increased her bust from a 32A to 36DD, Miss Cunningham has undergone Botox on the NHS over a 'sweat problem'. She claimed she needed the breast enlargement because she had been bullied since the age of 14 for being flat chested. Earlier this year, she sparked further . outrage after publicly considering aborting the son she is due to give . birth to because the pregnancy prevented her from appearing on Channel . 5's Big Brother. Controversial: Miss Cunningham, a former prostitute, rose to fame after undergoing a breast enlargement on the NHS. Mr Smith said she had told him that she had slept with two men during the weeks she conceived . Just weeks later, she claimed she was receiving . negative attention on public transport and asked the council to provide . her with a £6,000-a-year taxi to take her children to school. Leeds . City Council eventually decided to axe the service, prompting Miss . Cunningham to Tweet: ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but taxpayers . will always fund me.’ She later added: 'If the council think I’m getting a bus, they can think again.' Earlier this month Miss Cunningham declared she was 'genuinely gutted' to discover she was expecting a third boy, not the little girl she had hoped for. The wannabe model, who already has two boys, aged six and three, said she smoked a whole packed of cigarettes and drowned her sorrows with a glass of wine after finding out her baby's sex.

Homeless Jonathan Smith said he is one of two men who might be the father . Claimed he started sleeping with mother-of-two Ms Cunningham in 2010 . Admitted they never used protection, despite her sleeping with other men . Mr Smith, who is jobless, already has three children who he doesn't see .

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(CNN) -- The cost of attending college has risen nearly three times the rate of the cost of living, and could eventually put higher education out of reach for most Americans, according to a National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education report released Wednesday. The price to attend college, adjusted for inflation, rose 439 percent from 1982 to 2007, according to a report. The problem could affect the United States' global competitiveness, the center said in its biennial report. "College tuition continues to outpace family income and the price of other necessities, such as medical care, food and housing," the center said. College tuition and fees, adjusted for inflation, rose 439 percent from 1982 to 2007, towering over increases in medical care, housing and food, according to the report. Median family income rose 147 percent during the same period, the report said. In Austin, Texas, Tony D'Addeo, a high school senior and straight-A student, hoped to attend an Ivy League school, paid for with his parents' stock options. But the options, once worth several hundred thousand dollars, are now worthless. "I think a lot of families -- lower class and middle class -- are having to readjust their plans and goals," said D'Addeo, who is now looking at a state school or possibly signing up for an ROTC program to cover college expenses. Watch how the economy is affecting students' college plans » . The report gave a failing grade in affordability to all states but one, California, which received a "C." "The nation's colleges and universities have become less affordable for students and their families since the early 1990s," it said. "This year continues the trend in deteriorating college affordability in the majority of states." See how tuition has risen in comparison to other prices » . In most states, the percentage of an average family's income used for a public four-year college -- after financial aid -- has increased, the report said. "On average, students from working and poor families must pay 40 percent of family income to enroll in public four-year colleges. Students from middle-income families and upper-income families must pay 25 percent and 13 percent of family income, respectively." Watch how the affordability of college is getting tougher in the U.S. » . In addition, students who enroll in college take on more debt to stay there. "Over the last decade, borrowing has more than doubled," the report said. "Money isn't cheap," said Georgia State University senior Eric Hahn. "The process is time-consuming, and there's also the stress of having to liquidate my investments and wonder where I'm going to find money," said Hahn, who had to scramble to find a new loan earlier this year after his lender suspended its private loan program. Hahn is now borrowing money from Sallie Mae, the country's leading student loan provider. He estimated it will take him five to seven years to repay about $30,000 he will borrow. Read full story . The researchers said states are struggling with substantial budget shortfalls, a consequence of the lagging economy. The soaring cost of college is on the political radar of President-elect Barack Obama. He has promised to create a new American Opportunity Tax Credit worth $4,000 in exchange for community service, according to the Obama-Biden Web site. Recipients of the tax credit would be required to conduct 100 hours of community service. Obama also promised to streamline the financial aid process. Under Obama's plan, families would apply for financial aid by checking a box on their tax form, which would authorize their tax information to be used, and eliminate the need for a separate application. The United States made modest advances in some areas of education, but the rate of enrollment and completion for college is below other countries, the report found. The 34 percent of young American adults enrolled in college puts the United States behind Hungary, Belgium, Ireland, Poland, Greece and Korea -- which ranked the highest, with 53 percent. Nearly 40 percent of older Americans, ages 35 to 64, hold an associate degree or higher, putting the United States second in the world in that category, behind Canada's 44 percent. But the United States ranks 10th in the world for percentage of younger adults holding those degrees -- 39 percent -- far below Canada, which has the highest at 55 percent.

Report: Tuition and fees, adjusted for inflation, rose 439 percent from 1982 to 2007 . Public policy and education center gave an "F" in affordability to 49 states . U.S. leadership in college enrollment has slipped, it said .

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Daytona Beach, Florida (CNN) -- For a sport where speed is king, NASCAR's Daytona 500 this year was one long waiting game. First, rain led race officials to pull the plug Sunday -- the first time in Daytona 500's history. Then, continuing showers led them to re-reschedule the start from noon to Monday evening. When the race finally got underway, a massive fire with 40 laps to go red-flagged it for a couple more hours, pushing the race into a third day. In the end, Matt Kenseth crossed the finish line about 1 a.m. Tuesday, claiming the 54th running of "The Great American Race." The Daytona 500 victory was the second for the driver, who edged out Dale Earnhardt Jr. and teammate Greg Biffle to take the checkered flag. Those who made it to the end survived multiple accidents, including one on the second lap, and 10 caution flags. Officials shut down the race for nearly two hours after Juan Pablo Montoya careened into the back of a jet dryer that was being used to blow debris off the track during a caution flag. Montoya's car, the jet dryer and the truck pulling it all burst into flames and also set a section of the track on fire. Montoya said he had returned to the race track from pit row before the accident, after having the crew check out a vibration he was feeling in his car. "I was in fourth gear. I wasn't even going that fast," Montoya told reporters. "It just felt really strange and ... the car just turned right." Some 24 hours of intermittent rain forced Monday's prime-time start -- the first since the inaugural race in 1959. Before this year, rain had cut short four of 53 previous races -- in 1965, 1966, 2003 and 2009 -- but none had been canceled for the day. The Daytona 500 opens the NASCAR season, but it also is the sport's most prestigious race. Daytona International Speedway announced this month that the race will boast a record purse of more than $19 million. In comparison, last year's Indianapolis 500 had a payout of $13.5 million. CNN's Tom Watkins and Dan Moriarty contributed to this report.

A massive fire delays the race for two hours . Matt Kenseth claims the checkered flag . The race was pushed back twice due to rain . Four of the previous 53 races have been shortened .

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This is the birth certificate that reveals Hugh Grant has had a third love child, this time a son with a Swedish TV producer. The 53-year-old actor's son was born in September 2012 to Anna Elisabet Eberstein, three months before Grant's lover, Tinglan Hong, gave birth to her second child by him, a son named Felix. Grant's paternity was only publicly revealed when Miss Eberstein's baby's birth was re-registered, giving the father's name as Hugh John Mungo Grant, last month. Apparently the original birth certificate had a blank where the father's name should go. The birth certificate for the son Hugh Grant has had with Swedish TV producer Anna Elisabet Eberstein . Hugh Grant, 53, is said to have had a son with Swedish TV producer Anna Elisabet Eberstein 16 months ago . The son is the first child to be registered with Grant's surname. His other two children were registered with their mother's surname. Ms Eberstein, who is said to have met Grant at a London party where she pitched an idea to him, is said to have moved into a £3million house near the actor's home shortly before she gave birth to the baby boy 16 months ago. She was 'supported by Hugh all the way', it was reported, and is still believed to be living in the townhouse with her child. Miss Eberstein is reportedly living with her son in a £3million house near Grant's home in West London . 'Anna lives in a very comfortable property in West London and knows that Hugh is there for her,' a source told the Sun. 'Anna's parents in Sweden know all about the relationship and she has their blessing.' However it is unclear whether the two women were aware they were both expecting the About A Boy star’s child around the same time. Ms Eberstein, a former promotions producer for the ESPN sports channel, and Grant had an instant attraction for each other, it was reported today, and the pair went on several dates. She is a keen tennis player and plays for the smart west London Queen's Club women's first team. Her mother, Susanna Eberstein, is a well-known feminist campaigner in Sweden who campaigned to have a picture of a topless woman taken down from the country's parliament building. Miss Hong, . who was already the mother of Hugh’s daughter Tabitha, gave birth to Felix on . December 29 2012 and registered the new arrival on Valentine’s Day 2013. According to the birth certificate, Felix Chang was born at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, West London . At the time the actor tweeted: ‘In . answer to some journos. Am thrilled my daughter now has a brother. Adore . them both to an uncool degree. They have a fab mum.’ Single man: Mr Grant is not believed to be dating anyone and devotes his time to the Hacked Off campaign . Miss Hong, above, and Miss Eberstein would have both been pregnant with Grant's children at the same time . He added a short while later: ‘And to be crystal clear. I am the Daddy.’ Felix’s . arrival came almost 17 months after Miss Hong gave birth to the . couple’s first child, daughter Tabitha Xaio Xi Hong Grant, at London’s . Portland Hospital, in September 2011. In an interview with American chat . show host Ellen DeGeneres, Grant admitted that while coming as something . of a shock, fatherhood had had a very positive ‘life-changing’ effect . on him. Other mother: Tinglan Hong is the mother of Grant's daughter Tabitha and son Felix . He said: . ‘Everyone was right all these years, saying: “Hugh, why don’t you have . some children? It changes your life.” Now that I have a child, it is . life-changing. I recommend it. Get some. ‘I . can’t pretend it wasn’t a little bit of a surprise. But it’s a very . nice surprise. In fact, the baby’s name in Chinese, because the mother . is Chinese, means ‘happy surprise’. Miss Hong, who was born in Zhejiang . province in eastern China and moved to Britain in 2003, is understood to . have met Grant in a Chelsea wine bar in 2008. The pair struck up an unlikely friendship before embarking on a relationship in January 2011. Tabitha’s . arrival was kept secret for two months until the actor’s spokesman . released a statement confirming the birth, but adding that Grant – who . rose to fame in Four Weddings And A Funeral in 1994 – was no longer in a . relationship with Miss Hong. It read: ‘I can confirm that Hugh . Grant is the delighted father of a baby girl. He and the mother had a . fleeting affair and while this was not planned, Hugh could not be . happier or more supportive.’ Grant dated Elizabeth Hurley for 13 years and remains close . to the model  - he is the godfather to . her son Damien. Following their amicable split he then started dating Jemima Khan for . three years. He is currently believed to . be single. A spokesperson for Hugh Grant has been contacted for comment. Hugh Grant previously dated divorced heiress Jemima Khan for three years, from 2004 to 2007 . Long term love: Hugh was with model/ actress Elizabeth Hurley for 13 years and they remain close . Hugh Grant now has three children by two different women. Daughter Tabitha, 2, was born in 2011 after Grant started a relationship with Tinglan Hong. He has since had two sons born within a few months of each other. His first son, now aged 16 months, was born to Swedish TV producer Anna Elisabet Ebersetein on September 3, 2012. Mother and son currently live in West London, near to Grant's home. At the same time Ms Ebersetin was pregnant with her son, Grant got Miss Hong pregnant again. She gave birth to baby Felix just a few months after Ms Ebersetein had her son, on December 29 2012.

British actor, 53, had a son with Anna Elisabet Eberstein in September 2012 . The birth certificate was re-registered to include Grant's name last month . Baby was born months before his lover, Tinglan Hong, had his son Felix . Unmarried actor also has daughter Tabitha, two-and-half, with Miss Hong .

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Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic is poised to wrap up his move to Schalke over the coming days. Sportsmail revealed Schalke's interest last month and that of AC Milan. The Italians have failed to follow up with any substantial bid as they push their finances towards other priorities and Schalke are hopeful of concluding an initial loan with a view to a permanent £10million signing. Nastasic, 21, has 16 caps for Serbia and was considered to have a promising future when he arrived from Fiorentina for £12m. However, he has failed to establish himself and the arrival of Eliaquim Mangala has limited his prospects further. Manchester City outcast Matija Nastasic is poised to join German side Schalke over the coming days . Arsenal and Inter Milan showed interest initially but Schalke coach Roberto Di Matteo has pressed for Nastasic and the German side will conclude a deal shortly. City are continuing to look for a left-sided defender but that is more likely to be for the summer. They remain confident of James Milner signing a new contract with them and are waiting for Aston Villa to improve their offer for Scott Sinclair. Manchester City are waiting for Aston Villa to improve their offer for winger Scott Sinclair . Chelsea starlet Lewis Baker has joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan after they won a three-way tussle for his signature with Bolton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest. The England Under 20 international is one of Chelsea's brightest prospects and the three Championship sides were eager to add him to their squads to improve their chances of promotion. Jose Mourinho said that he would have failed as a coach if Baker, 19, did not become an England international under his management. The stylish midfielder has been a key member of Chelsea's U21 side, where he acts as a midfield general cajoling and pushing his side forward with simple, effective passing and good movement. He made his senior debut a year ago against Derby County in the FA Cup as a late substitute. Sheffield Wednesday beat Nottingham Forest and Bolton Wanderers to loan signing of Chelsea's Lewis Baker . Chelsea's Todd Kane signed for Forest on Thursday. Meanwhile, Barnsley are discussing a deal for former Chelsea forward Milan Lalkovic. The 22-year-old Slovakia U21 international was born in Kosice but was signed by Chelsea at 16. He never made an appearance but had various loan spells before moving to Czech side Mlada Boleslav and Danny Wilson is keen to bring him back to England. Inter Milan are continuing to press for Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva. Inter Milan, managed by former Man City boss Roberto Mancini, are pressing for Liverpool's Lucas Leiva . The Brazilian is on around £85,000 a week and has a lengthy contract. Inter, who are ready to offload troublesome striker Dani Osvaldo, are close to signing Xherdan Shaqiri from Bayern Munich but want a reliable midfielder like Lucas to protect their defence. Liverpool have been linked with a move for Roma's Miralem Pjanic but initial signs are the midfielder is not keen on a move to Anfield. Roma's Miralem Pjanic has been linked with Liverpool but doesn't fancy a move to the Anfield club . Arsenal have gone cool on a deal for St Etienne's Loic Perrin after his club asked for £8m for the 29-year-old defender. Villarreal's versatile defender Gabriel Paulista has since been put forward to Arsene Wenger and is a player all the scouting staff like but a work permit would seem improbable. The 24-year-old Brazilian has not been capped by his country and reportedly has no dual passport. He is expected to join Brazil's future squads but that will struggle to get him past an appeal. His team-mate Bruno Soriano has also been discussed. Arsenal have been told any deal for West Ham United's Winston Reid would cost them £7m in a transfer fee and they are weighing up their options. Arsenal are weighing up defensive options having been told West Ham United's Winston Reid will cost £7m . Eccentric Sampdoria owner Massimo Ferrero wants Samuel Eto'o from Everton. Ferrero, a film producer, has cut a controversial and sometimes comical figure in the Italian media with outspoken comments and marketing ideas. He has attempted to engineer a return to Italy for Mario Balotelli with his out-of-contract goalkeeper Sergio Romero going the other way and is now looking at Everton striker Eto'o. After the recent match against Lazio, representatives from the club met with the player's agent, Claudio Vigorelli. The Everton striker, who also has tentative interest from Valencia, is understood to be willing to listen to their offer as he considers whether to remain at Goodison Park for another season. The big obstacle for Sampdoria is his wages with 33-year-old Eto'o reputed to be earning £2.35m a season. Sampdoria's eccentric owner Massimo Ferrero (right) is keen to sign Everton forward Samuel Eto'o . Blackburn Rovers are looking for around £6m for striker Rudy Gestede as West Browmich Albion show interest. The 6ft 4ins striker has scored 12 goals in 23 games this season which prompted Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp and Kevin Bond to check on him when Blackburn played at Brentford last month. He scored again but QPR decided, with their transfer budget, that Gestede was not for them. Tony Pulis, however, believes he may be a player worth taking a chance on. Gestede's team-mate Jordan Rhodes continues to draw scouts to Ewood Park also but the likes of Southampton have yet to follow up with a bid. Albion, meanwhile, have also checked on Sheffield Wednesday's French defender Claude Dielna, 27, who can play centre back and le t-back. He scored his only goal in the 2-1 win over Blackburn last month. West Bromwich Albion have shown an interest in Blackburn Rovers striker Rudy Gestede . Tottenham Hotspur are willing to make an offer for Burnley striker Danny Ings in this window but Sean Dyche is hopeful the England U21 international will still see out his contract. Leicester City have already bid £8m for the 22-year-old but the prospect of moving to Tottenham now is more tantalising. Burnley would still make £3m in compensation should Ings leave at the end of his deal in the summer but the player is having to consider whether Tottenham will move on to other targets by that stage. Tottenham expect to lose Kyle Naughton to Swansea City and are waiting for West Brom and others to place serious bids for Aaron Lennon. Albion and Southampton also have an interest in Ings. Burnley will announce the permanent signing of Michael Keane from Manchester United over the next 24 hours. Tottenham's former striker Jermaine Defoe is training with the club's development squad for the next week 'to maintain fitness during MLS close season'. Tottenham are interested in Burnley's Danny Ings but Sean Dyche hopes the striker will see out his contract . Leicester and Wolverhampton Wanderers are keeping a check on Basford United winger Blair Anderson. The Midland FL Premier Division club are managed by former Stoke City striker Martin Carruthers and Anderson has ex-Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie playing alongside him. Scouts from League One clubs have also been following his progress this season and believe Anderson can make the step up into league football. Rotherham have completed the signing of Leicester's Jack Barmby, 20, on loan for the rest of the season. Rotherham have completed the signing of Leicester City's Jack Barmby on loan for the rest of the season . Red Star Belgrade are close to signing former QPR winger Josh Parker. The 24-year-old has had a colourful career. He was born in Slough but has been capped by Antigua and Barbuda and has been playing for Domzale in Slovenia where his return of 14 goals in 42 games caught the attention of scouts and Red Star, now known as Crvena Zvezda, have offered him a contract. Millwall are in discussions to sign Wales and Charlton striker Simon Church on loan. Portsmouth and Mansfield Town are interested in taking Oxford United midfielder Alfie Potter on a permanent deal. The 25-year-old has made over 130 appearances for Oxford since joining from Peterborough. He has scored three goals this season. Newport striker Christian Jolley is attracting interest from Dover Athletic and Eastleigh. The 26-year-old former Wimbledon player had a recent spell on loan at Forest Green.

Matija Nastasic has failed to establish himself at Manchester City . The Serbia international is set to join Schalke over the coming days . Inter Milan are keen on signing Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva . Miralem Pjanic has been linked with the Reds but is not keen on moving . Sampdoria owner Massimo Ferrero wants Everton forward Samuel Eto'o .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:53 EST, 12 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:02 EST, 12 March 2014 . Winter-weary residents in Chicago and the Midwest had to get out the snow shovels and trudge to work through snow after another storm hit this morning. Most of the U.S. had been enjoying what appeared to be the start of spring, with warmer temperatures over the weekend. But a storm moving eastwards dropped 6 inches of snow in Chicago, and caused flight cancellations and power cuts. Big freeze: After a few spring-like days, large parts of the U.S. have had a return to chillier temperatures and snow . No end: A pedestrian walks across a snowy parking lot in Pennsylvania on Wednesday after another winter storm hit . The blizzard is expected to move through the Great Lakes in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania before heading to upstate New York. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses in northern Illinois lost power this morning and a few hundred flights were canceled at Chicago's airports, including at Midway International. 'The roads were just horrible, it was pretty hazardous conditions out there,' Stephen Rodriguez, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Romeoville, Illinois, said. He said an initial forecast for 8 inches of snow in the city was overblown, but said the impact on the morning commute had been significant. Forecasters warned that as much as 9 inches of snow could fall in parts of southeastern Michigan, with 4 to 8 inches in Detroit. Winter returns: Snow falls over the White River in Indianapolis on Wednesday . Blizzards: The storm is heading East, with large snowfall forecast for Upstate New York . Before sunrise on Wednesday, snow and sleet were making roads slippery across a southern swath of the state. Hundreds of schools closed their doors for the day. The picture was similar in upstate New York, where hundreds of schools called off classes after the weather service warned that a blizzard with winds of up to 50mph could paralyze the area from western New York to the Adirondacks. Chicago had already been buried by 75.5 inches of snow this winter - the fourth most on record dating back to 1884-1885, according to the weather service. The snowfall on Wednesday pushed the seasonal total into third place, ahead of the 77 inch total from 1969-1970, though with some snow still falling Wednesday a final tally was not complete. 'It's going to be pretty hard going for people trying to get to work, especially in the side streets that haven't been treated,' Weather Channel meteorologist Kevin Roth said. 'Detroit has had a heavy season so I don't know how much salt they have left,' he told NBC News. After a few days of spring-like thawing, the return to snow-covered streets and trees was a jarring sight. A few hours before dawn, 40mph winds blotted out the lit-up skyline and left trees glazed with heavy snow. Grim start: Residents in Illinois faced a snowy trudge to walk after a storm hit on Wednesday morning . White out: A road sign is covered in Blue Island, Illinois, after 5in of snow fell . Struggle: Grocery carts are pushed across a snowy parking lot as much of Michigan woke up to a return of the wintry weather . Workers downtown grunted as they heaved slush with well-worn shovels. Others rushed to return sidewalk signs warning pedestrians of ice falling from skyscrapers. The shift in temperatures, from the 50s on Monday to back below freezing, caused some confusion. 'I had a guy in here yesterday asking for salt and right after him a guy wanted mulch. Only in Chicago,' Richard Schauer, owner of Schauer's Hardware in Forest Park, said. He did say there are still a few shovels, though the selection is pretty thin. Snowfall totals in southeastern Michigan could come close to breaking a 133-year-old record. The storm will likely move the Detroit area close to the seasonal snow total of 93.6 inches set in 1880-1881, according to the weather service. Looking up: As the week comes to an end, temperatures will slowly be rising . Rainy Indianapolis experienced a swift temperature drop of about 30 degrees, from 68 late Tuesday afternoon to 37 early Wednesday. In Missouri, temperatures that peaked in the high 70s and in St Louis as high as 83 degrees on Tuesday were replaced with high winds and temperatures in the low 30s Wednesday morning. Jeff Gatewood, who owns Allisonville Nursery in the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers, said the months of snow and cold had slowed down business, but in recent weeks customers had returned for house plants and cheery garden items. 'Everybody's got so much pent-up energy, it's going to make for a crazy spring,' Mr Gatewood said. 'Spring fever is really going to be pretty high this year. And we all know the weather's going to hiccup and do this a few times before it straightens out.'

Hundreds of flights out of Chicago cancelled and thousands of homes and businesses lose power . Several inches of snow forecast for Detroit and upstate New York .

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By . Helen Pow . PUBLISHED: . 21:41 EST, 27 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 22:16 EST, 27 November 2013 . A high-profile New York jewelry designer whose uncle founded the French fashion house Givenchy has been arrested for punching a police office in the face. Taffin jewelry boss James de Givenchy, 50, allegedly assaulted the NYPD cop after refusing to get out of his black Mercedes SUV, which was sitting on the back of a tow truck. The altercation happened outside the Valbella Italian restaurant at 421 W. 13th St. in Manhattan's Meatpacking district about 2 a.m. Saturday. High society scuffle: Taffin jewelry boss James de Givenchy, 50, allegedly assaulted the NYPD cop after refusing to get out of his black Mercedes SUV, which was sitting on the back of a tow truck. His wife Gina, pictured was also arrested . Police said the former creative director for Sotheby's Diamonds had parked his car illegally, and when he returned to the vehicle an NYPD traffic officer was towing it. The angry designer then allegedly climbed onto the back of the tow truck and got into his Mercedes, stubbornly refusing to get out. The sergeant from the Sixth Precinct was then forced to pull him out of the car, police said. Givenchy then assumed a 'fighting stance' on the sidewalk, and the sergeant fired a taser at him but missed. That's when he punched the sergeant in the face, police said. A second officer came to help the sergeant, and the pair sprayed Mace at de Givenchy before finally calming him down enough to arrest him, DNAInfo reported. Scene: The altercation happened outside the Valbella Italian restaurant, pictured, at 421 W. 13th St. in Manhattan's Meatpacking district about 2 a.m. Saturday . Bond: Givenchy's jewelry has been featured at Sotheby's and Christie's and he was once dubbed 'the James Bond of the jewelry world' by Vogue . His wife, Gina de Givenchy, 46, was also arrested after she tried to get the officers off her husband. Givenchy's jewelry has been featured at Sotheby's and Christie's and he was once dubbed 'the James Bond of the jewelry world' by Vogue. The couple are regulars on the Manhattan socialite scene and their Upper East Side apartment was on one occasion featured in T Magazine. Givenchy is charged with assaulting an officer and resisting arrest. He was released after paying $2,500 bail, court records show. Gina de Givenchy was charged with obstructing governmental administration, which is a misdemeanor charge.

Taffin jewelry boss James de Givenchy, 50, allegedly assaulted the NYPD cop after refusing to get out of his black Mercedes SUV, which was sitting on the back of a tow truck . The altercation happened outside the Valbella Italian restaurant at 421 W. 13th St. in Manhattan's Meatpacking district about 2 a.m. Saturday . His wife, Gina de Givenchy, 46, was also arrested after she tried to get the officers off her husband . Prior to the punch, the cop tried to taser Givenchy but missed .

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By . Louise Boyle and Thomas Durante . PUBLISHED: . 01:22 EST, 26 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:05 EST, 26 October 2012 . As comedians and talk show hosts have their way with Donald Trump over his 'huge' announcement the real estate mogul is sticking to his guns in his first live TV appearance since making the request. Trump was a guest on the Late Show With David Letterman, to further explain the offer - which turned out to be a $5million charity donation in exchange for Obama's old college and passport records. When asked by Letterman why he was orchestrating the demand, Trump replied: 'Transparency.' He added: 'There's too much we don't know about our president.' Scroll down for video . Playing to the audience: Donald Trump was offered the opportunity to explain his demand that President Obama show his college and passport records with David Letterman . When Letterman asked what kind of damning evidence would be revealed by college records, Trump said: 'A line saying place of birth' - an apparent indication that Trump still may not believe the president was born in the U.S., despite Obama’s release of his birth certificate last year. 'I hope everything [in Obama's records] is perfect - and it might be.' 'If it was negative - there wouldn't be an election.' On the subject of Obama’s birth certificate, Trump said that it took Obama six years to provide it, when ‘I could give it to you in less than an hour.' Sticking to his guns: Trump, seen outside the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, is standing by his offer of $5million to the charity of President Obama's choice if he releases the records . Marketing: Trump also discussed his line of shirts and ties, all of which are made in Bangladesh and China, respectively . As the audience applauded, Trump raised his hands, relishing in the moment on the late night stage. But Letterman ordered the crowd to stop clapping, saying 'the breeze will disturb [Trump's] hair.' Moving along, Trump said that what he . likes most about Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is his . stance on China before showing off his shirt and tie line currently . being sold at Macy’s stores. But as Letterman quickly revealed, the ties were made in China. Hours earlier, Trump has received an counter-offer to his 'bordering-on-gigantic' news about the President. Trump had hyped his 'big reveal' for several days on major news outlets while incessantly tweeting about his 'game changer' information in the final weeks before the election. Political satirist Stephen Colbert has now ramped up the stakes for the Apprentice star by offering Trump a donation to a charity of his choice - with rather more x-rated consequences. Payback: Stephen Colbert (left) offered Donald Trump (right) $1million charity donation for an expletive act as a counter-offer to the $5million Trump told Obama he would donate to charity in exchange for his college records . On his Comedy Central show The Colbert Report, the sarcastic host told the audience: 'Mr Trump, I will write you a cheque to the charity of your choice for $1million.... if you will let me dip my balls in your mouth.' Colbert added: 'Nothing would make me happier than to write this cheque... and nothing would make America happier than something going into your mouth instead of coming out of it.' Trump had yet to respond to Colbert's offer which the comic set for '5pm on October 31' - the same deadline that Trump gave the President. Trump made his YouTube offer on Wednesday at noon, promising . to donate $5million to a charity of the President's choice if he revealed the information. The tycoon denied his elaborate staging was a publicity stunt, insisting this was 'not a media . event', but instead is 'about the United States of America'. Colbert, who is left-leaning, was far from the only public figure to mock the billionaire businessman. Repeat guest: This was Mr Obama's fifth time on The Tonight Show; the president is in the middle of a campaign blitz . Broadcaster Barbara Walters scolded her 'friend' on The View today saying: 'Donald, you're not hurting Obama, you're hurting Donald, and that hurts me because you're a decent man.' Trump was characteristically unrepentant today, returning to Twitter to directly respond: '@BarbaraJWalters @theviewtv--Why did you choose me as one of the 10 Most Fascinating People of the Year last season (and more than once?)' The Internet exploded yesterday with mock responses to the Apprentice star's announcement. Comedian Andy Borowitz tweeted: 'Attention . parents: if you give your children even the tiniest bit of attention . now, maybe they won't grow up to be Donald Trump.' Observers on the right also slated Trump, who has publicly endorsed Republican Mitt Romney. Jim Geraghty of the conservative National Review, wrote: 'If at any point you seriously considered Donald Trump for president, please study the error of your ways in quiet, private contemplation.' However there was support for Trump's actions with those echoing his call for most transparency from the President including conservative talk show host Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter. Defence: Trump took to Twitter to claim that his announcement was public-spirited, not self-serving . There are a number of conspiracy . theories surrounding Obama's college records, the most popular being that he had poor grades and that he had attended college as a foreign exchange student. The latter ties into Trump's other argument, the so-called 'birther' conspiracy, that the President was born in Kenya and not Hawaii thus making him ineligible for the White House. Although a White House response was not expected, Obama addressed the matter directly when he appeared on the Jay Leno Show last night. Obama told the TV host that the rivalry between himself and Trump began in their childhood. ‘This all dates back to when we were growing up in Kenya,' he joked. 'We had constant run-ins on the soccer field, he wasn’t very good.’ It had been suggested that Trump's revelation was that he had unearthed divorce papers between the President and his wife Michelle. The claims about divorce papers have previously been made in a book released earlier this year by author Ed Klein. The White House rubbished the allegations then and claimed Klein had a history of making things up. Friends and enemies: Trump and Obama are very public enemies but the billionaire mogul has endorsed Republican challenger Mitt Romney .

Trump sits down with David Letterman for first TV appearance since his 'huge' announcement . TV satirist made offer to a charity of billionaire businessman's choice . Trump had told major news outlets he had 'game-changing' information about President in weeks before election .

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