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Lionel Messi wants Manchester City star and Argentina team-mate Sergio Aguero to join him at Barcelona as he negotiates a new contract at the club. Messi is close to striking a deal with the Catalan giants but has asked Barcelona to sign Aguero and offer goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto a contract renewal. He is set to earn around £16.5million a year with up to £3m in bonuses and the economic terms are nearly settled upon. VIDEO: Scroll down for Behind the Sceness on Messi, RVP and Aguero portraits . Cohorts: Lionel Messi wants his Argentine team-mate Sergio Aguero to join him at Barcelona . Wanted: Messi is hoping that signing Aguero will help his floundering form at club level . Well-connected Catalan television station TV3 are reporting Messi would like those two sporting conditions to be met too. Barcelona have endured a terrible season, being knocked out of the Champions League, losing the Copa del Rey final to Real Madrid and potentially their La Liga title too. Messi and his father Jorge want Barcelona to strengthen and regain their place among Europe’s elite and the club will have to take his suggestions seriously. Jorge met the club’s general director Antoni Rossich and economic vice-president Javier Faus on Tuesday, when it is believed the signing of Aguero was raised. It raises the question of how Messi and Aguero could play alongside Brazil star Neymar, who would also expect a first-team berth. Meanwhile, Messi also wants goalkeeper Pinto to extend his stay at the club. The pair are close friends and even though Pinto has already told team-mates he is expecting to leave at the end of the season, could now stay if the club sanction it. Victor Valdes, currently injured, is set to leave on a free transfer in the summer and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is joining from Borussia Monchengladbach. On his way: Jose Pinto is expecting to leave Barcelona in the summer . Friends: Messi and Pinto together at a BBQ with Javier Mascherano, Sergio Busquets and Barca coach Pop Moix . Moving on: And Victor Valdes will also be leaving the club, after 11 years is number one . Messi’s current contract expires in 2018 but Barcelona constantly try to keep the four-time world player of the year happy. If he signs the new deal it will be his seventh contract improvement in nine years at Barcelona. Both Barcelona and Messi want to secure a new deal by the World Cup at the very latest and he could put pen to paper as soon as next week. Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu previously told Esport3: ‘We are being unfair to Leo. Our club members need to understand that we must take care of Messi. ‘He has made such an important contribution to this club and he will continue to do so. That’s why we have no doubt that he will lead the future of the club. ‘He is young, he is the best player in the world, and we believe in him.’ For Tito: Messi and his team-mates also suffered the loss of former manager Vilanova last month .

Lionel Messi is close to agreeing a new contract with Barcelona . Messi has asked Barcelona to sign Sergio Aguero . Argentinian striker has scored 17 goals in just 22 games for Manchester City in the Premier League this season .

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By . Tamara Cohen and James Chapman . PUBLISHED: . 08:09 EST, 7 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:00 EST, 7 December 2012 . New laws may be needed to ‘civilise the internet’, protect private lives and prevent ‘mob rule’, Lord Justice Leveson has suggested. The judge, speaking in public for the first time since his 2,000-page report into the Press was published, launched a broadside against the prospect of people facing ‘trial by Twitter’. Critics have suggested that the Leveson report’s recommendations risk shackling a shrinking print media while doing nothing to address a ‘Wild West’ online culture in which innocent people’s reputations are trashed every day. Speaker: During a £620-per-ticket lecture in Sydney last night Lord Justice Leveson said 'mob rule' online needed to be dealt with . Speech: Lord Leveson said that the internet had become a 'megaphone for gossip' that would need new laws to control it . Only one short chapter of the report . tackles ‘alternative news sources’, including broadcasters and the . internet. Only one-and-a-half pages are devoted to issues of . ‘enforcement’ raised by the web. Lord Justice Leveson said there was a . perception ‘on the internet that actions do not have legal . consequences’, unlike newspapers which must follow the rules. One of the abuses he mentioned was . the publication of topless photos of the Duchess of Cambridge in a . French magazine, which were not printed in the British Press but could . be easily viewed online. 'Unmissable': Lord Justice Leveson was among a host of experts to speak at the day-long symposium, billed as 'one of the key privacy events of the year' Example: A hoax phone call to Kate's bedside (pictured leaving hospital) was an example of the need for new privacy laws, Lord Leveson said . Lord Justice Leveson was the keynote . speaker at a conference on privacy and the internet in Australia, where . he travelled soon after the publication of his report last week. Pressure: Lord Leveson has been criticised for the lack of detail on his 2,000 page report on how to deal with the internet . He told . guests paying £620 each that he was monitoring developments in London . ‘with interest’ but refused to comment any further on his most . contentious recommendation for a new watchdog to be underpinned by law. However, he did finally address the . problems posed by the internet, which he called a ‘global megaphone for . gossip’, saying online allegations cause ‘permanent’ damage as they . remain in cyberspace. The judge suggested there was ‘an . element of mob rule’ – seemingly referring to false allegations against . Tory peer Lord McAlpine that emerged following a report on the BBC’s . Newsnight programme. ‘The established media broadly . conforms to the law and, when they do not, they are potentially liable . under the law,’ he said. ‘In so far as the internet is concerned, there . has been – and for many there remains – a perception that actions do not . have legal consequences. 'There is not only a danger of trial by . Twitter, but also of an unending punishment, and no prospect of . rehabilitation, by Google.’ His remarks, at the University of . Technology in Sydney, came as newspaper editors announced they had . agreed to put in place the broad principles of his report for a tough . new regulator, with the power to issue fines of up to £1million, order . the publication of prominent apologies and investigate alleged . wrongdoing – but without involving statute. Anticipation: Lord Justice Leveson delivered his long awaited report on media standards last Thursday .

Radio prank on Duchess of Cambridge proves need for new privacy laws, Lord Leveson said during £620-per-ticket Sydney lecture . He was speaking at an exclusive event where he said 'mob rule' online must end . 'There is not only a danger of trial by . Twitter, but also of an unending punishment, and no prospect of . rehabilitation, via Google,’ judge added . He said Lord McAlpine case proved internet is 'megaphone for gossip' Leveson report criticised for only having one page on the internet .

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Washington (CNN) -- A lawyer for Benghazi suspect Ahmed Salin Faraj Abu Khatallah entered a plea of not guilty Monday to all charges related to the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic complex in Libya. But the federal judge in Washington delayed the setting of a trial date as prosecutors address concerns about classified material that will be involved in the case. The government's attorney declined to say whether Khatallah will be the only defendant. Khatallah was brought to District Court in a motorcade under heavy security that included a police helicopter circling overhead and U.S. marshals with M4 carbines patrolling the court perimeter. Inside the courthouse, a bomb-sniffing dog explored the courtroom before the hearing began. Khatallah, a slender man with long gray hair and a shaggy gray beard, was led in by a team of four plainclothes security officers, three of whom stood directly behind him during the proceeding. He wore dark green overalls with "Alexandria Inmate" stenciled on the back, but he was not restrained by handcuffs or leg chains. An interpreter provided Khatallah with a narrative. Khatallah stood for his lawyer to enter his plea of not guilty but did not speak. During the short hearing, prosecutors said they needed more time to work with a variety of government agencies in obtaining classified materials that defense attorneys can use in the case. A defense attorney told the judge that prosecutors have been slow to produce even a bare minimum of documents that could allow her to make progress. "We have to start getting the basis on which he's being charged," said defense attorney Michelle Peterson, complaining it's been five months since Khatallah was first named. A federal grand jury handed up an 18-count indictment October 14 that replaces a single count initially filed June 26. The indictment alleges he was the ringleader of the attack, leading 20 others to attack the diplomatic complex. Among the charges was murder for the deaths of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three American security officers. Khatallah remained free for more than a year after the attacks, doing interviews with CNN and other media, prompting criticism of the Obama administration over how long it was taking to arrest the alleged attackers. He was arrested in a military raid in Libya in June and charged in federal court in Washington, D.C., mere yards away from Capitol buildings where he has become the center of political controversy. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper asked prosecutor Michael DiLorenzo to characterize the state of document production required for the defense. He responded by saying there are "thousands of thousands of pages" and hundreds of hours of video, both consisting of a mix between classified and unclassified material. DiLorenzo said the government will request a closed hearing to discuss how to handle the classified material already in hand and anticipated from other government agencies. Peterson told the judge it is misleading for prosecutors to list a large quantity that she has received so far, since she believes much of it is less meaningful than it could be. "They're still redacting names that are publicly available," she said, asserting that the defense shouldn't have to spend its time piecing together a puzzle of who said what. Prosecutors did not directly answer the judge's question as to when they will be ready to propose a trial date, and the defense counsel said her team needs more time to review the additional charges recently filed. Cooper then continued the case to Tuesday, December 9 at 10 a.m.

Ahmed Salin Faraj Abu Khatallah faces 18 charges including murder . He was arrested in a military raid in Libya in June . His defense attorney says prosecutors have not provided many documents . A prosecutor cites a large volume of materials .

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(CNN) -- It's been 15 years since Darius and Nina fell in love after that pivotal poetry reading in Chicago, but fans of "Love Jones" are still talking about the pair's epic romance. A highbrow, dramatic love story between two young African-Americans, "Love Jones" grossed a mere $12 million at the domestic box office in 1997, but it has an enduring cult following that can certainly be attributed to the film's authenticity. One month after "Love Jones' " 15th anniversary, however, "Think Like A Man" earned more than $39 million domestically in its first week. Featuring a predominantly African-American ensemble cast, the film adaptation of Steve Harvey's best-selling nonfiction book, raises a frequent question: Is Hollywood finally ready to support more movies featuring African-American love? The creators behind these stories have hoped the answer to that question would be "yes" "a million times" before, said "Love and Basketball" writer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood. "Maybe ('Think Like A Man') is the spark." Filmmakers say Hollywood executives, often citing humble box office numbers, can be skeptical when it comes to pouring money into African-American productions. Prince-Bythewood's 2000 movie, for example, is still a fan favorite but earned just $27 million domestically in theaters. Keith Merryman and David A. Newman, who wrote the screenplay for "Think Like A Man," say it's difficult to get financing for a black film. The film only had $12.5 million to play with, but given its box office success thus far, the men hope bigger budgets will increasingly be available to films featuring actors of color. With the exception of Taraji P. Henson's character, Lauren, who was written as an African-American, Merryman and Newman said, they "didn't know what color the whole thing was going to be going in." Their main concern, Newman said, was exploring the universal differences between men and women. The pair said they have an interracial couple they wanted in the film and their race "is never commented on," but the couple's problems stem from the fact that he refuses to grow up and be a man. "African-American filmmakers, we know the audience is there," "Love & Basketball's" Prince-Bythewood said. "It's just, the films that are made are not always as great as they can be, so when one fails, they think, 'the African-American audience isn't going,' as opposed to, 'it wasn't a very good movie.' " "Love Jones" writer/director Theodore Witcher adds that when one action movie fails at the box office, nobody assumes it's because people aren't interested in seeing action movies. But that's been the case with romantic dramas. "There's a dearth of love stories in general," said Witcher, who's currently working on a "Love Jones" sequel. "You don't see a lot of romantic dramas from Hollywood of any kind. ... By the time that concept trickles down to black people, there's nothing really." Most of the movies starring African-American casts that do feature a love story are meant to be comedic and aimed at a very specific audience, Prince-Bythewood said. (Even "Think Like A Man," which rests on its love stories, is very much a comedy.) And although Tyler Perry's films routinely attract moviegoers, studios seem to view his movies as a separate genre, she continued. "I would love to just obliterate this idea of black film being a genre," she said. "It shouldn't be a genre. There should just be films with African-American casts." "Think Like A Man" might have attracted a more mainstream audience because of the way it was marketed. There were advertisements for the film all over the place, Prince-Bythewood said. It appeared to target a much wider demographic than films like "Love & Basketball" and "Love Jones," she added. Whether the flick will continue to draw crowds in its second weekend at the box office remains to be seen, but its performance to date might be enough to warrant more films of its kind -- and quite possibly a sequel, as one of the film's stars, Kevin Hart, recently suggested. When a movie like "Think Like A Man" comes out, audiences flock to theaters, Prince-Bythewood said. "There's a huge audience out there, starved for content."

After "Love Jones' " 15th anniversary, "Think Like A Man" earns $39 million . The film's earnings more than doubled its $12.5 million budget . Screenwriters say it's hard to get financing for a black film .

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(CNN) -- How do you run a business effectively when your supremo is facing bribery charges over a multibillion-dollar deal? In the case of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone you step down as director of the sport's holding company -- Delta Topco -- but continue to run one of the world's most lucrative sport franchises on a day-to-day basis. The 83-year-old Ecclestone is accused of making a corrupt payment during his sale of the sport in 2006 and was indicted on bribery charges in German. He is set to go on trial in April. He denies the charges and he was not immediately available for comment when his office was contacted by CNN. Following the court's decision, Delta Topco Limited held a board meeting to plan how best to run the F1 business. "Mr. Ecclestone has reassured the board that he is innocent of the charges and intends to vigorously defend the case which will commence in late April 2014," said a Delta Topco statement. "After discussion with the board, Mr. Ecclestone has proposed and the board has agreed that until the case has been concluded, he will step down as a director with immediate effect, thereby relinquishing his board duties and responsibilities until the case has been resolved. "The board believes that it is in the best interests of both the F1 business and the sport that Mr. Ecclestone should continue to run the business on a day-to-day basis, but subject to increased monitoring and control by the board. "Mr. Ecclestone has agreed to these arrangements. The approval and signing of significant contracts and other material business arrangements shall now be the responsibility of the chairman, Mr. Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, and deputy chairman, Mr. Donald Mackenzie." Ecclestone is accused of making a corrupt payment to Gerhard Gribkowsky, a banker who worked on the sale of F1 to private equity firm CVC in 2006. Gribkowsky was jailed for eight and a half years in 2012 after he admitted to taking bribes, an accusation which Ecclestone denies.

Bernie Ecclestone will stand trial on bribery charges, a German court announced . The 83-year-old is accused of making corrupt payments during the sale of Formula One . He will step down as a director of the company that owns the rights to the motorsport . However, Ecclestone will continue to be involved in the running of F1 .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 9:05 AM on 28th February 2012 . Backing: Angela Merkel addresses the Bundestag today before politicians backed the Greek bailout package . The German parliament today approved the £108billion Greek bailout package despite fierce public opposition. Chancellor Angela Merkel said it would be irresponsible to abandon the country to bankruptcy. The Bundestag voted 496 to 90 in favour of the new package - despite 80 per cent of Germans being opposed to the rescue. Five members abstained. The result of the vote was never in doubt as two opposition parties backed the measures. The bailout is Greece's second in . less than two years and Angela Merkel told lawmakers before the vote . that 'no one can give a 100 per cent guarantee' that the programme would . be a success. She said: 'The road that lies in front of . Greece is long and truly not without risk.' The world’s 20 leading economies, the . G20, at the weekend demanded Germany drop its opposition to a bigger . European bailout fund, telling Europe it must put up extra money if it . wanted more help from other countries. One member of Merkel’s cabinet, . Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, has openly called on Greece to . leave the eur zone, saying its chances of recovery would be greater . outside. 'Quite clearly the mood in Germany is turning against further rescues for Greece,' he said yesterday. 'But that’s not surprising. This is . all deja vu for the public. We’ve been promised all kinds of things that . aren’t fulfilled and then a few months later there’s the need for . another rescue package. The public’s faith is fading fast.' Hours before today's crunch vote Germany's biggest newspaper urged politicians to reject the proposals. Bild, the German tabloid, ran with . the frontpage headline 'Stop!' after a weekend poll showed the public . firmly opposed the bailout. Germany is desperate to keep the euro project alive at all costs - but the public are opposed to the size of the rescue package. Backing: the Bundestag today voted overwhelmingly in favour of the rescue package despite fierce public opposition . While Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks . of the need for solidarity with Athens, Bild has become the voice of a . long suffering people bitter and frustrated at their taxes underwriting . Greece. The paper said today: 'Enough is enough. 'Bild appeals to all MPs – don’t go down this crazy path any longer.' The paper went on to print the opinions of ten leading economic experts who agree with them. One of them, Professor Gert Wagner, of . the German Institute for Economic Research, said: 'This latest aid . package solves nothing and will only serve to increase Greek misery. 'The exit of Greece from the eurozone should no longer be a taboo subject.' Mood: Protesters gather outside the Bundestag in Berlin to demonstrate against the rescue package . Now it longer seems it is. Hans-Peter Friedrich, the government interior minster, also questioned the value of Greece remaining a euro partner – to the anger of Mrs Merkel. He said that Greece should be allowed . to leave - the first time a member of the German government has openly . called for such a radical step. 'Greece's . chances to regenerate itself and become competitive are surely greater . outside the monetary union than if it remains in the euro area,' Friedrich told news magazine Der Spiegel. 'I'm not talking about throwing Greece out, but rather about creating incentives for an exit that they can't pass up.' Norbert . Barthle, the ruling CDU's budgetary policy spokesman in the Bundestag, . also expressed skepticism about whether the expectations reflected in . the rescue package are realistic, even though he supports the deal in . general. 'I have some . doubts about whether the package's stated goal of reducing Greece's debt . to 120.5 percent of gross domestic product by the year 2020 can be . achieved,' he said. Nein! Germany's biggest newspaper Bild urged politicians to vote against a second bailout for Greece . Meanwhile uncertainty over Greece's position within the Euro has continued to stifle market expectations. Germany's Dax and France's CAC 40 were both down more than 1 per cent following falls on Asian markets overnight. Simon Denham of Capital Spreads said the G20 meeting over the weekend had disappointed investors. 'The non-European members of the G20 said to the European members in no uncertain terms, put up or shut up. 'We still have the political stalemate in Europe whereby Germany’s current leader will not get its bazooka out for fear of giving up further political ground to her opponents when she is already reliant on a coalition to pass votes on European bailouts. 'By giving in and saying that Germany will stump up could easily cost Merkel the next German election in the autumn of next year. 'But other nations around the world will simply not inject any more funds into the IMF in order to prop up the eurozone when large parts of the region remain woefully uncompetitive and profligate.'

80% of Germans opposed to second rescue package . Bundestag vote 496 to 90 in favour of bailout .

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By . Lee Moran . PUBLISHED: . 12:40 EST, 14 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:16 EST, 17 January 2013 . A Spanish scientist says he has discovered a female chimpanzee who is addicted to watching porn. Gina, a resident of Seville Zoo, chose to solely watch adult entertainment channels when a television and remote control was placed in her enclosure. Primatologist Pablo Herreros, writing in Spanish newspaper El Mundo at the weekend, told how he made the discovery some years ago on a tour of the nation's chimpanzee enclosures. Porn addict: Gina the chimpanzee (not pictured) favoured the adult channels on her TV over all others. Stock image . During his research trip, dubbed the 'chimpatour', he conducted surveys on the behaviour of the animals. 'What I could never imagine were the surprises prepared for me by a female of this species called Gina who lived in Seville Zoo,' he said. Her enclosure, he said, consisted of an outdoor area where she could play and a heated interior zone where she could protect herself from the winter cold and extreme summer heat. 'Due to the intense interior lives that these animals have, you have to enrich their environment to stimulate them physically and psychologically,' he wrote. 'These usually consist of artificial mounds, toys and other inventions that require them to be active and sharpen their wits. It is the equivalent of occupational therapy for humans.' Chimpanzees and their close evolutionary relatives bonobos are the closest cousins to humans in the animal kingdom. Bonobos in particular are known for their aggressive sexual behaviour, but no-one could predict how Gina the chimp would respond to a television with access to adult channels. Professor Herreros said: 'To enliven Gina's nights, officials decided to install a television, protected behind glass, and gave her a remote control so she could change the channels herself. 'In the early trials, her keepers visited Gina to check that everything was in order and she did not break the new toy. 'The surprise came when they found that within a few days, Gina was not only using the remote control perfectly well, but that she also chose the porn channel for entertainment, as many of us would have done.' Professor Herreros said that easy access to those kind on images on television was 'a very recent phenomenon in human sexual history'. He added: 'Although a small study estimated that porn films are only watched for about 12 minutes on average, the truth is that human and non-human primates possess an intense sexual life. 'This is probably the result of an infinite capacity to dream and recreate the situation in the mind, as evidenced by the games, innovations and manipulations that we are capable of in other areas of our lives.'

Seville Zoo chimp Gina chose solely to watch adult entertainment channels when a digital TV was placed in her enclosure .

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(CNN) -- The international draw of its star players, the huge sums paid for rights to broadcast live action and the loyal nature of its consumers have long made the English Premier League an attractive home for investors. In recent years this has included a number of American billionaires who, having made their money with sport franchises in the United States, saw ownership of teams including Manchester United (Malcolm Glazer), Liverpool (Hicks and Gillett) and Aston Villa (Randy Lerner) as the best way to expand a global portfolio. Stan Kroenke -- owner of the Denver Nuggets basketball team, the National Hockey League's Colorado Avalanche and Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids -- could be the next to join this elite group after a major shareholder at London-based Arsenal confirmed that she is looking to sell her stake. Kroenke already owns 29 percent of the Champions League quarterfinalists, and needs only one more percent to trigger a complete takeover. Blog: Should Stan Kroenke buy Arsenal? But with the economic downturn compounding both Liverpool and Manchester United's struggles with debt and growing fan unrest -- coupled with Kroenke's recent confirmation of a takeover bid for the St Louis Rams -- would it be wise for the American to aim his sights on owning Arsenal now? CNN's business correspondent Jim Boulden helps break down Kroenke's decision. Why invest in the English Premier League? The recent sale of their overseas television rights amounted to over $1.5 billion, while the domestic rights went for much more. This means the Premier League clubs can sign expensive players on big wages, according to Boulden. "A lot of the league's strength is to do with Sky and its multi-billion dollar deal to show the games around the world," he said. "Sky gives an enormous amount of money to Premier League clubs." Could Kroenke expect much profit from Arsenal? Boulden says the main way to maximize profit is to keep a club healthy, and deliver success on the pitch before selling it on down the line for a profit. He said: "I look upon Stan Kroenke like these other guys in America: the Glazers own a NFL team, the guys who own Liverpool own hockey clubs in America. They only make money if they hold onto them for a really long time and sell them." Is Arsenal a financially healthy club? Yes, according to Boulden. He says the club had to take out a big loan to build its new stadium -- the Emirates, which opened in 2006 -- but that is being chipped away. He explained: "There is a small section of seats at Arsenal's new ground that generates as much money on a match day as the entire former ground did. All other seats are gravy, so the amount of money they make per game is phenomenal." The site of the former ground has been turned into flats, which has also generated a considerable amount of money, Boulden said. Boulden believes Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's model of investing time and money into youth players is also a shrewd move. "Arsene Wenger's theory is to buy someone when they are young and other clubs haven't even noticed them. By the time they come good, and most of them do, he would have to pay $20 million to get these guys." He says these players can also be sold on for huge profit, like in the case of France striker Nicolas Anelka, who came through the Arsenal youth system before being sold to Real Madrid for $35 million. Would Kroenke put the club in debt to buy it, as did the owners of Manchester United and Liverpool? The Glazer family bought Manchester United by putting the debt onto the club, and their most recent accounts show they are over $1 billion in debt. Boulden says any similar move at Arsenal may not do the club any good. "Arsenal already has a debt from the building of the new stadium, so it would be hard to see how Kroenke would get a bank to agree to give them more debt," he said. Does Kroenke's extra investment in the St Louis Rams limit his spending power? Boulden says Kroenke's purchase of the Rams makes it very unlikely he would also fight to acquire Arsenal at the same time: "The fact that he has just ingested the Rams -- one of the worst teams in the NFL -- means he is going to have to spend his time and effort trying to rebuild that club. It's hard to see that he would do that and try to take over Arsenal -- that would be a lot for one person to take on."

U.S. businessman Stan Kroenke is largest shareholder at English soccer club Arsenal . Kroenke has just signaled his intention to buy NFL side the St Louis Rams . CNN's Jim Boulden says Kroenke's Rams move means he may not buy Arsenal .

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A jihadist group that has pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda has taken over swathes of Syria as western forces have focused their efforts on defeating Islamic State. The al-Nusra Front have carved out their own territory in the region, raising fears a second jihadist mini-state could thwart any attempts to end the barbarity. The hardline Islamist fighting group has been gaining control across Idlib province in northern Syria since November, driving out other rebel groups, including western-armed moderates. Scroll down for video . Gaining control: The al-Nusra Front have carved out their own territory in the region, marked above in pink, raising fears a second jihadist mini-state could thwart any attempts by western forces to end the barbarity . Syrian rebel activists and commanders have said that in the past week – as airstrikes have focused around IS strongholds in the region – the Nusra Front have begun to extend its control into the northern city of Aleppo. Aleppo is seen as one of the last areas in northern Syria with a significant presence of moderate rebel groups. Mazen Alhor, an opposition activist in the city, said: ‘Nusra are trying to do in Aleppo what they did in Idlib — they want to wipe out the (western-backed) Free Syrian Army. ‘They are starting to behave like ISIS — kidnapping, enforcing Islamic rules. They have a strategy, they want an Islamic state.’ Sami Mashaal, the head of the Shura Council for the Revolution in Aleppo, said that on Wednesday the Nusra Front began establishing checkpoints inside the city. He said: ‘They are harassing people, trying to enforce Islamic rules — and civilians are getting angry about it.’ Violence: In the past week the Nusra Front have begun to extend its control into the northern city of Aleppo, pictured above after a clash between members of the Free Syrian Army and forces loyal to Assad last week . Conflict: The Nusra Front has turned against the Islamic State after it was previously allied to the extremist group that eventually morphed into ISIS. Above, ISIS militants pictured in Aleppo in 2013 . The Nusra Front was established inside Syria in 2012 under Abu Muhammad al-Julani, a Syrian al-Qaeda commander, and was originally allied to the extremist group that eventually morphed into Islamic State. The two groups turned against each other at the start of last year however, in a war that has cost thousands of lives. The emergence of a new mini-state alongside the IS ‘caliphate’ could jeopardise western plans to train thousands of moderate rebel groups to fight Islamic State. A few weeks ago Britain announced plans to help train the moderate groups alongside other coalition partners in countries bordering the region. The Nusra Front and the Islamic State . The Nusra Front was established inside Syria in 2012 under Abu Muhammad al-Julani, a Syrian al-Qaeda commander, and was originally allied to the extremist group that eventually morphed into Islamic State. It rose quickly to prominence among rebel organizations in Syria for its reliable supply of arms, funding, and fighters. While it has avoided some of the more extreme techniques, such as beheadings, that made Al Qaeda unpopular, it was the first Syrian force to claim responsibility for attacks that killed civilians. The two share the same ideology and rigid Islamic beliefs, but fell out during a power struggle that pitted Islamic State head Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi against Al Qaeda chief Ayman Zawahri and Al Nusra Front leader Abu Mohammad al-Golani. There were reports at the end of last year that the two groups would form an alliance. Despite the occasional coordination on a tactical level, al-Nusra and ISIS continue to fight each other while also fighting the Assad regime. As well as facing conflicts with a number of other groups, ISIS also faces problems within its own members, it has been reported. Some are extreme hardliners originally attracted by the harsh application of Sharia law; others are Syrian militants who are reluctant to be used to reinforce ISIS units in neighboring Iraq. Hazzm Movement . Hazzm is one of the last remnants of non-jihadist opposition to Assad in northern Syria. It has been under attack from the Nusra Front in both the Aleppo and Idlib provinces. Last week the group clashed with the Nusra Front when the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group seized positions from Hazzm west of Aleppo. Hazzm has received what it describes as small amounts of military aid from foreign states opposed to Assad, including U.S.-made anti-tank missiles. It recently announced it was joining a coalition of mostly conservative Islamic rebel groups called Jabhat al-Shamiya, or the Levant Front. This was seen as an attempt to shield itself from future attacks by the Nusra Front. Free Syrian Army . The Free Syrian Army (FSA) was formed in August 2011 during the Syrian civil war by army defectors based in Turkey, led by Col Riad al-Asaad. The array of mainly Western-backed armed opposition groups that have little or no central coordination in fighting President Bashar al-Assad and rival militant groups. It is not clear how many fighters remain in FSA, which has also been hampered by restrictions in neighboring Turkey. The movement claims a force of 60,000 while opposition sources said recently as few as 4,000 were still fighting.

Al-Nusra Front are gaining control across Idlib province in northern Syria . Have driven out other rebel groups including western-armed moderates . Raises fears second jihadist 'mini-state' could defeat efforts to end unrest .

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CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Key Illinois Democratic legislators are circulating a letter urging support for the impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested this week on federal corruption charges relating in part to the selection of President-elect Barack Obama's successor as a U.S. senator. Barack Obama says he has never spoken with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich about the vacant Senate seat. State Rep. John Fritchey, head of the House Civil Judiciary Committee, sent the letter Thursday asking Democratic colleagues to say by Friday whether they support a move for impeachment and would like to be added as a co-sponsor of legislation. Blagojevich also is a Democrat. "Faced with a significant budget shortfall, a national recession, and a vacant United States Senate seat, we cannot afford to allow Illinois to operate without effective leadership in the [Illinois] executive branch," said the letter, also signed by Reps. Thomas Holbrook, David Miller and James Brosnahan. "Simply put, it is imperative to replace Gov. Blagojevich as soon as is practicable." The letter said the impeachment filing was being prepared, and the lawmakers said they expected the process -- the state House would bring charges against Blagojevich and he would be tried by the state Senate -- would take "a matter of weeks rather than months." The lawmakers' move coincided with increasing calls for Blagojevich's resignation. President-elect Barack Obama called again Thursday for Blagojevich to step down, saying the embattled governor can no longer effectively serve the people of Illinois. Watch as Obama says Senate seat belongs to the people » . "I hope that the governor himself comes to the conclusion that he can no longer effectively serve and that he does resign," Obama said, speaking before announcing his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. Obama said he was as "appalled and disappointed as anyone" by the allegations against the Democratic governor, and said he was confident his staff was not involved in the alleged scandal. Federal officials said Blagojevich was looking to sell or trade Obama's open seat in the U.S. Senate. Obama said he had never spoken to the governor on the subject, adding he was confident that "no representatives of mine would have any part of any deals related to this seat." He had asked his staff to gather the facts of any contacts with the governor's office about the vacancy, he said. "This Senate seat does not belong to any politician to trade. It belongs to the people of Illinois, and they deserve the best possible representation," he said. "They also deserve to know that any vacancy will be filled in an appropriate way so that whoever is sent to Washington is going to be fighting for the people of Illinois." Earlier Thursday, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said she is prepared to go to the Illinois Supreme Court to have Blagojevich declared unfit to serve if he does not resign. Explainer: Federal complaint against Blagojevich » . "Obviously the easiest way for us to move on in the state of Illinois is for Gov. Blagojevich to do the right thing for the people and to resign," she told CNN's "American Morning." She added, "If he fails to, the two other options are obviously the Legislature moving forward on impeachment, or I have the opportunity to actually go to our Illinois Supreme Court and ask them to declare, basically, that our governor is unable to serve," she said. In that case, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, would become acting governor, she said. Madigan said she won't wait long to take action. "We would like a signal from the Legislature if they're going to move forward on impeachment proceedings. ... I think there are obviously numerous members of the Legislature calling for impeachment proceedings," she said, noting that the Legislature, which is adjourned, will meet Monday to discuss the possibility of holding a special election for Obama's successor. Fritchey, in the letter to Democratic lawmakers, commended Madigan's willingness to go to the Supreme Court, but said "both the duration as well as the outcome of such a proceeding are inherently uncertain and speculative." Watch what was in the complaint against Blagojevich » . "We would also note the comments of the attorney general indicating her support of impeachment proceedings as an appropriate course of action at this time," the letter said. Quinn said at a news conference earlier Thursday that the governor had lost the confidence of the people. "I think the governor has one duty right now and that's the duty to resign," he said. Should he became governor, Quinn indicated he might lean toward appointing a successor to Obama's seat, saying an election would be expensive and time-consuming. "Time is of the essence for all of us in America right now, to make sure we get our economy on the straight path to recovery," he said. Blagojevich -- who is free on his own recognizance -- returned to work Wednesday, his 52nd birthday. He has not commented on the charges, but his lawyer, Sheldon Sorosky, told reporters Tuesday night that his client "feels he didn't do anything wrong." Sorosky said, "He hopes the people of Illinois have faith in him, because he will be vindicated." White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said Thursday that President Bush believes the governor's arrest marks a "very serious situation," and he believes the charges are "astounding." Some details of the alleged scandal became clearer Wednesday, as a law enforcement official close to the investigation identified Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. as the person referred to in the federal criminal complaint as Senate Candidate 5. Of the six candidates mentioned in the complaint, Candidate 5 is the only one whom Blagojevich said engaged in discussion through an emissary about possibly raising money for the governor in exchange for the Senate position. Jackson firmly denied wrongdoing at a Wednesday news conference. "I reject and denounce 'pay to play' politics and have no involvement whatsoever in any wrongdoing," he said. "I did not initiate or authorize anyone at any time to promise anything to Gov. Blagojevich on my behalf. I never sent a message or an emissary to the governor to make an offer, to plead my case or to propose a deal about a U.S. Senate seat. Period." The law enforcement official said there was no evidence -- other than the governor's taped remarks -- that Jackson or others on his behalf ever approached the governor in an improper way. The official also emphasized that no conversations with Jackson were picked up on bugs or wiretaps, and there is no evidence that he was aware of anything improper. According to the complaint, Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris -- who was also arrested Tuesday on federal corruption charges -- were "conspiring to obtain personal financial benefits" for Blagojevich by leveraging his sole authority to appoint a U.S. senator to replace Obama. Federal investigators also allege the two were trying to have Chicago Tribune editorial board members fired by leveraging state assistance to the parent company of the newspaper, the Tribune Company, in its sale of Wrigley Field. Explainer: Illinois governor is in hot water » . The governor and his chief of staff are also accused of sullying other areas of state business: trying to rescind $8 million of state funds to Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital because the hospital's chief executive officer had not contributed $50,000 to Blagojevich, and expecting a highway contractor to raise $500,000 in contributions in exchange for money for a tollway project. "Because of the unimaginable allegations that were in the federal complaint, it really calls into question absolutely everything that the governor has authority to do," Madigan said Thursday on CNN's "Situation Room." She said she had spoken to the governor only once this year, and perhaps not at all last year. Watch whom Blagojevich has considered » . "That sounds incredible, because I do serve as attorney general, so I'm the lawyer for the state, but we've been well aware for years that there are problems with this governor and so I haven't had anything to do with him," she said. She did not elaborate. Quinn said earlier this week that he had not spoken to the governor since summer 2007. Blagojevich and Harris are each charged with a count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and a count of solicitation of bribery, authorities said. iReport.com: Do you trust your leaders? The count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while the count of solicitation of bribery carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. CNN's Ed Henry and Ed Hornick contributed to this report.

Illinois legislators circulate letter to garner support for impeachment . Barack Obama repeats call for Gov. Rod Blagojevich to step down . President Bush believes the charges against Blagojevich are "astounding" Illinois attorney general says resigning is "right thing" for governor to do .

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Gareth Colfer-Williams was one of more than 1,200 infected by measles in the Swansea area . A young father who was not inoculated against measles as a child died from the disease during an epidemic in Swansea. More than 1,200 people were infected by the virus in the South Wales outbreak. The epidemic last November hospitalised more than 80 young people who had not had the vaccine at the height of the MMR scare. An inquest at Swansea Coroners Court heard how Mr Williams died after he had complained of suffering from a rash on this body, fever and hallucinations, to doctors. He had been advised by . doctors to rest at home, take paracetamol and stop taking . detoxification medicine he had started, in case he was reacting to it. Mr Colfer-Williams was concerned about his four-year-old daughter Dakota and made sure she had the jab. He was said to be vulnerable to infection as he had begun a detox two weeks before his death after suffering from alcohol problems. Consultant pathologist Dr Maurizio Brotto said at 5ft 8in, Mr Colfer-Williams was 'very underweight' weighing just 7st 7lbs. Mr Colfer-Williams' death in April came seven months after the outbreak of the disease last year. A major vaccination programme was launched during the outbreak as parents were warned children could suffer anything from an eye disorder to deafness, brain damage, or death. Mr Colfer-Williams was not inoculated against the disease as a child. He and his partner Cairo Oneim (pictured right) ensured their 4-year-old daughter Dakota was protected against infection . The 25-year-old died at his home in Swansea. He had been advised by doctors to rest at home, take paracetamol and stop taking his detoxification medicine in case he was reacting to it . Gareth Colfer-Williams was infected by measles and died from giant cell pneumonia . Speaking after the case Mr . Colfer-Williams' mother Angela said her son's fiancee Cairo Oneim and . daughter Dakota, were devastated by his death. 'He was a wonderful son and a wonderful father, uncle and brother. Cairo and Dakota are having a terrible time.' Dr Brotto told the inquest Gareth was positive for measles and died from giant cell pneumonia caused by the disease. He said: 'Measles is a viral infection which doesn’t kill you but it can lead to giant cell pneumonia.' The epidemic was contained at . the end of last month after 95 per cent of children in Swansea and the . surrounding areas received the vaccination.

Gareth Colfer-Williams, 25, is the only person to die in Swansea's measles epidemic . Died days after he was sent home by doctors despite complaining of a rash on his body . 25-year-old died seven months after 1,200 people were infected in last November's outbreak .

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By . Naomi Greenaway . They say three's a crowd, but this weekend Neville Jone, Edna Doodson and Iris Hopkin couldn't have been happier in each others company. After all, it's not every day you get to celebrate your 85th birthday - as a set of triplets. The trio were born in Manchester just 20 minutes apart in June 1929. And 85 years later are as close as ever, still speaking to each other two to three times a week. Twins had run in the family and their mother Margaret had been expecting two babies before youngest sibling Iris arrived to make it a hat-trick. Britain's oldest set of triplets - (from left) Edna Doodson, Nevile Jones and Iris Hopkin - celebrated their 85th birthday this weekend. They were born just 20 minutes apart in June 1929 . She weighed just 2lbs and was given . little chance of survival but pulled through. Edna weighed 3lbs and . Neville a healthier 4lbs. The trio originally from Manchester, were inseparable in their childhood and although they were parted during the wartime evacuation, they lived in neighbouring houses in Lancaster. They still remain very close today and despite their age and the fact they live at opposite ends of the country, see each other at least once or twice a year. Edna still lives in Manchester with her husband Ken while widow Iris lives in Blackpool. Neville lives with his wife Edna in Portesham, near Weymouth, Dorset, where the trio met this weekend for their celebration. Nevile Edna and Iris with the midwife in 1929 (left) and celebrating being 85 years young this weekend (right) Their family has also submitted a claim to the Guinness World Records after learning that they are four years older than John Davies, Mary Davis and Joy Hillary who were believed to be the country's oldest living triplets. Neville said, 'My daughter has found out that we appear to be the oldest triplets in the country. 'We had a good upbringing and ate well and none of us feel our age now. It would be interesting and nice to know if we are the oldest triplets in Britain or the world.' The triplets hand-in-hand in 1936 . As bridesmaids and pageboys in 1934 (left) and still looking marvelous 80 years on (right) The siblings were born to parents Margaret and Reuben, a docker on the Manchester ship canal. They had an elder sister, also called Margaret who died seven years ago aged 81. Neville said, 'There is a long line of twins in our family and my mother thought she was expecting twins with us. 'In those days there weren't any scans so it must have been a shock for her, although from what I understand she was unconscious for most of it. 'I was the first to be born but there was only about 20 minutes between us. Iris only weighed the same as a bag of sugar and it was a bit touch and go for her. 'We had a great upbringing and never suffered from loneliness or had an argument.' The trio with parents Rueben and Marg on a trip to the seaside in the 1930s . 'We were evacuated during the war to Lancaster when we were aged 10. Iris and Edna lived in one house and I was just two houses down,' he adds. Neville worked as a telecoms engineer while Edna and Iris were machinists. Neville met his wife, a nurse, when he went into hospital after an accident and they have now been married for 61 years. The couple relocated to Cornwall where they owned and ran a village store before retiring to Dorset where they live with their daughter Alison and her husband Duncan. Between them, the triplets have created quite a legacy. Iris has four children, including a set of twins and nine grandchildren. Edna has two children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Neville has two children and three grandchildren. The Guinness World Records is currently looking into Neville, Edna and Iris' claim as the oldest triplets in the UK and possibly the world. According to Guinness, the last record of the world's oldest triplets dates back to 2005 and they were Minna Blocker, Luise Stefener and Bertholdine Bernecker from Ludwig, Germany, who were born in 1914. A family trip to the seaside in the 1930s: The triplets were born just 20 minutes apart in June 1929 .

Neville Jones, Edna Doodson and Iris Hopkin were born in Manchester . Their mother was expecting twins but third baby Iris was a surprise . The triplets are close and still speak two or three times a week .

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Pret a Manger has announced that it is selling 9,000 bowls of porridge a day . It sells a lot of sushi wraps, coconut water, kale crisps, wild crayfish with rocket sandwiches and double berry muffins. But nothing is more popular at Pret a Manger, the healthy fast food chain, than something which is a lot simpler and more traditional. Its bestselling product last year was just a bowl of porridge, the company said yesterday. Pret a . Manger said its £2.35 ‘porridge pots’ were its bestselling item last . year, selling more than 3.2million pots in the UK, equal to around 8,800 . every day. With . just 243 calories in each 300g pot - compared to 616 calories in its . All-Day Breakfast Roll - its porridge is also one of its more slimming . options for breakfast. Pret has only been selling porridge since 2010, and its popularity has surged recently. Sales . rose by ten per cent last year, compared to 2012, even managing to beat . the previous bestseller - bananas - into second place in the 2013 . league table of Pret’s most popular foods. Such is its enthusiasm for porridge that it has specially trained ‘porridge chefs’ to make its breakfast bestseller. It . is stirred ‘gently but continuously’ until it is cooked to avoid lumps, . and must be removed immediately from the heat when it is ready to stop . it from becoming too gloopy. The . revelation comes after porridge has seen a huge surge in popularity as a . healthy alternative to sugary and expensive breakfast cereals. It is said to be the regular breakfast choice of celebrities and politicians from the Prime Minister, David Cameron, to Madonna, Nicole Kidman and Bill Gates. After the London bombings in 2005, the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is said to have turned down a three-course lunch at the Gleneagles Hotel in favour of a bowl of porridge served with cream and Drambuie-laced raspberries. Traditionally, the Scottish would have eaten porridge in its purest form, made with hot water with a pinch of salt for taste. Sales in Pret a Manger jumped by 15 percent last year to £510 million . Today porridge is often just a useful vehicle for a large pool of maple syrup, a mountain of brown sugar or a generous portion of cream. Pret offers two free toppings for their customer’s porridge pots - a berry compote or honey. Honey is the most popular option, it said yesterday. A recent report, by the retail analysts Mintel, found the value of porridge sales have nearly doubled over the last six years to nearly £250million a year. Medical research has shown that oats are important for the diet because they help to reduce the level of blood cholesterol, which is associated with clogged arteries. A warming bowl in the morning is also a relatively cheap and good source of slow release carbohydrates which helps people to feel full and maintain energy levels. It is possible to buy a 1kg pack of porridge oats for as little as 75p while a 1kg box of Kelloggs Cornflakes costs £3.39. Overall, Pret said it sells more cold-pressed vegetable juices, such as carrot juice, than Super Club sandwiches. The ‘classic’ is made from chicken, bacon, tomatoes, salad and mayonnaise. Its financial results, published yesterday, show annual sales jumped by 15 per cent last year to £510million in the year ending on 2 January. In 2013, it opened another 40 new shops, including 26 in the UK. The other 14 were in America, Hong Kong and France, raising its total number of shops worldwide to 352. Pret was opened in 1986 by two former surveyors, Julian Metcalfe and Sinclair Beecham, who said they were fed up with not being able to find a decent sandwich at lunchtime. A few years ago, it was criticised by the former employment minister, Chris Grayling, after one branch in London appeared to be staffed entirely by foreigners. At the time, he said: It is certainly a situation that I find unacceptable. Of course, this country has benefitted from people coming in from other countries to work. ‘But I want to see more young people in positions in this country and I want...to see them getting jobs that become vacant, rather than people coming into the UK.’ Yesterday Pret said it created 600 new jobs worldwide last year, and has doubled the size of its UK school leavers programme to 18 people.

Pret a Manger sold 3.2 million pots of porridge during 2013 . Sales of the popular breakfast snack increased by 10 percent last year . The 300g pots contain just 243 calories - less than half of a breakfast roll .

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(CNN) -- Tests show products at a Peanut Corporation of America subsidiary in Texas may be tainted with salmonella, state health authorities said on Tuesday. The Texas Department of State Health Services said on Tuesday it requested that the plant be closed after the company reported the findings of a private lab. Doug McBride, a health services spokesman, said the positive samples were taken last week and the private company's lab results came back on Monday. State test results were expected to come back on Tuesday. The company voluntarily closed its Plainview, Texas, plant on Monday night "after laboratory tests of sample products from the plant indicated the possible presence of salmonella in some products," state health officials said. A Blakely, Georgia, peanut processing plant is under investigation in connection with a salmonella outbreak that has been linked to eight deaths and has sickened about 600 people nationwide. That facility is not operating at this time, the FDA said on Tuesday. Operations of the Plainview Peanut Co. have been halted while state investigators and the FDA "complete their investigation of the plant's procedures and records of food safety." The state health agency said it is unaware of any illnesses linked to Plainview products and "is developing specific criteria the company must meet before it can resume production." "The peanut meal and granulated peanuts had not been shipped out of the Plainview facility. The dry roasted peanuts had been shipped to a distributor but were detained and recalled before further distribution. It is not yet known if the salmonella possibly found in the product testing is the same strain of the bacterium implicated in a 43-state outbreak of salmonellosis," Texas authorities said. The Peanut Corporation of America, which runs the processing plant, said on its Web site on Tuesday that the Plainview plant is making the move voluntarily to cooperate with authorities. The original peanut butter recall launched weeks ago has expanded to include more than 1,000 products. The Peanut Corporation of America originally said tainted peanut butter and peanut paste were shipped by Peanut Corporation of America to institutions such as schools, nursing homes and prisons but not grocery stores. But on Sunday, the company revised its recall notice to say products were in fact sold to some retail outlets, dollar stores, such as 99 Cent Stuff, 99 Cents Only Stores, Dollar General, and Dollar Tree Stores. Products include Casey's, Parnell's Pride, Reggie, and Robinson Crusoe labels. Companies that make peanut butter are reporting a dip in sales despite the FDA's assurances that major-label peanut butter in grocery stores is safe. See FDA's list of recalled peanut products. Peanut butter makers not affected by the deadly salmonella outbreak are trying to get consumers to keep buying peanut butter. Companies such as ConAgra Foods Incorporated and J.M. Smucker Company have been running ads and offering coupons, trying to lure peanut butter customers as sales have plunged at least 20 percent since the salmonella outbreak. The Blakely plant was raided by the FBI Monday morning, a CNN affiliate reported.

NEW: Officials: Lab tests of sample products from the plant were taken . Plainview Peanut Co. in Texas has suspended operations, the company says . The Texas company is a subsidiary of the Peanut Corp. of America . Peanut Corp. under investigation for shipping tainted products that sickened 600 .

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(EW.com) -- Another day, another English musician getting upset over his compensation from a streaming service. Following in the footsteps of the gentlemen from Pink Floyd, Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke took umbrage with the amount of money paid to artists who allow their music on Spotify. "Make no mistake new artists you discover on #Spotify will no get paid," Yorke tweeted. "Meanwhile shareholders will shortly being rolling in it. Simples." Yorke engaged in a Twitter exchange with his longtime producer and collaborator Nigel Godrich, who tweeted, "We're off of Spotify. Can't do that no more man. Small meaningless rebellion." Pink Floyd writes an open letter on streaming services . That means that Spotify customers can no longer stream Yorke's 2006 solo album "The Eraser," the first album from Godrich's Ultraista project, or the Atoms For Peace album "Amok." "The reason is that new artists get paid f*** all with this model. It's an equation that just doesn't work," Godrich wrote on Twitter. "Meanwhile small labels and new artists can't even keep their lights on. It's just not right." More and more musicians have been speaking up about streaming services, who continually swear that their compensation packages are fair. In the eyes of Yorke and Godrich, services like Spotify (or Pandora, another frequent adversary of musicians) devalue the product created by artists. Yorke drove that point home in his most recent tweet: "For me 'In Rainbows' was a statement of trust. People still value new music," he wrote, referencing the album his band released as a pay-what-you-want download back in 2007. "That's all we'd like from Spotify. Don't make us the target." Reassessing Radiohead . Spotify released a statement in response to Yorke and Godrich's tweets: . "Spotify's goal is to grow a service which people love, ultimately want to pay for, and which will provide the financial support to the music industry necessary to invest in new talent and music," a company spokesperson said Monday. "We want to help artists connect with their fans, find new audiences, grow their fan base and make a living from the music we all love. "Right now we're still in the early stages of a long-term project that's already having a hugely positive effect on artists and new music. We've already paid $500M to rightsholders so far, and by the end of 2013 this number will reach US$1bn. Much of this money is being invested in nurturing new talent and producing great new music. "We're 100 percent committed to making Spotify the most artist-friendly music service possible, and are constantly talking to artists and managers about how Spotify can help build their careers." See the original story at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.

Radiohead's Thom Yorke disagrees with Spotify's musician compensation . His producer and collaborator, Nigel Godrich, said their music has been pulled from the service . Spotify responded that they're still in the early stages of a long-term project .

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(CNN) -- Rory McIlroy may have already wrapped up the money list title, but two veteran golfers have much to play for on the final day of the European Tour season's penultimate event in Hong Kong. Miguel Angel Jimenez, at 48 seeking to become the tour's oldest winner, finished the third round tied for the lead with 43-year-old Michael Campbell -- whose last victory came in 2005, the year he won his only major. "I love to be in contention. It's been a long time since I've been there," said Jimenez, who has won 11 of his 18 European Tour titles since turning 40 but has not triumphed in more than two years. Jimenez, who was one of Jose Maria Olazabal's vice-captains in Europe's Ryder Cup victory in September, carded two-under-par 68 to join Campbell on 10-under 200 overall in a tournament he won in 2004 and 2007. No. 1 McIlroy misses the cut in HK . Irishman Des Smyth was 48 years and 34 days old when he won the Madeira Island Open in 2001, while Jimenez will turn 49 on January 5. "I like to be in contention on this golf course and you have to have patience and let everything happen," said the Spaniard, who led after a first-round 65. "That's what's going to happen tomorrow, stay patient because anyone can win." Campbell is resurrecting his career this year, having fallen out of the top 1,000 rankings at one stage following his breakthrough win at the U.S. Open and subsequent victory at the World Match Play Championship later in 2005. "Today was sort of scrappy; apart from a couple of drives, it was pretty average really," said the New Zealander, who is now ranked 339th. He is 83rd in the Race To Dubai standings following a third-place finish in Portugal last month, but outside the top 60 who qualify for the season-ending World Tour Championship in Dubai. "I just managed to grind out a score, which is very important with me not playing so well. I turned a 73 into a 69, which is always nice," said Campbell, who led by one shot at the halfway stage while defending champion McIlroy missed the cut. "Miguel is playing great golf, and he's won this twice before and he's the man to beat." They have a one-shot lead from young Italian star Matteo Manassero -- who won last weekend in Singapore as McIlroy wrapped up a money list double -- and China's Zhang Lian-wei. "Last week really made me relax a lot on the golf course, and these three rounds and my position coming into this Sunday is certainly due to and what happened last week - I've got more freedom," said the 19-year-old Manassero, who shot 64 on Saturday to surge up 10 places. Zhang matched Campbell's 69, but Sweden's Fredrik Andersson Hed dropped back to fifth on 202 after a 70. Two more veterans were three shots behind the leaders, with 38-year-old Irishman Peter Lawrie tied with 42-year-old Dane Anders Hansen as both seek to end a wait of more than three years for their second and third respective European Tour titles. Meanwhile, Sweden's Henrik Stenson took a three-shot lead into Sunday's final round of the SA Open. The 36-year-old was being chased by South Africa's George Coetzee, who fired nine-under 63 to hold hopes of winning his national title and his first on the European Tour. Ryder Cup winner Ian Poulter will battle with home hope Adam Scott in the final round of the Australian Masters, as the Englishman held a one-shot lead in his bid to follow up his win at the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in China earlier this month. Former world No. 1 Luke Donald of England took a four-shot lead into Sunday's final 18 holes at the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Japan.

Miguel Angel Jimenez joins Michael Campbell in share of the lead in Hong Kong . Jimenez will become European Tour's oldest winner if he clinches victory on Sunday . Spaniard, 48, has won the tournament twice before but is two years without a title . Former U.S. Open champion Campbell, 43, has not won a tournament since 2005 .

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The body of an aspiring actress has been found in the water tank in the Mexico City apartment block where she lived, one year after she disappeared. Psychology graduate Carmen Yarira Noriega Esparza, 27, vanished in February last year, and friends and family feared she had been kidnapped by human traffickers and sold as a sex slave. Ms Esparza's severely decayed body was discovered in the tank after residents in the building complained that the drinking water tasted funny. Horrible discovery: The body of Carmen Yarira Noriega Esparza, 27, who disappeared in Mexico City in February last year, has been found floating in a residential drinking water tank in her apartment block . Mexico City Police fear Ms Esparza's body may have been decaying in the water tank since her disappearance. Ms Esparza, who had graduated as a psychologist and dreamed of an acting career, was last seen leaving her gym in the Mexican capital in February last year. Friends and family set up a social media campaign to try and find her, and took to the streets to post up her photographs in the hope that someone might recognise her. Pal Javier Paz, 30, said: 'She was a talented and beautiful women who dreamed of being an actress. 'When she failed to turn up at the clinic where she worked, we all thought that she might have been kidnapped and sold off into the sex trafficking industry. But it seems that her body was back in her apartment block the whole time.' Horrible: Friends and family feared Ms Esparza had been kidnapped and sold as a sex slave, but police say her body may have been lying in the water tank of her apartment block since she disappeared last February . The body of the 27-year-old  aspiring actress was found after her former neighbours complained that their drinking water tasted funny . Ms Esparza, pictured with an unnamed friend, worked as a psychologist and dreamed of an acting career . Mexico City Police are now focusing their enquiries on Ms Esparza's former partner, a wealthy businessman who had been paying the rent for her flat that she had recently broken up with . Police are now focusing their enquiries on Ms Esparza's former partner, a wealthy businessman who had been paying the rent for her flat. Ms Esparza had recently ended the relationship after meeting a wealthy lawyer, and disappeared just one week before she was supposed to move out of the flat, local news reports. The discovery of the body has stunned Ms Esparza's friends and family who are demanding to know how it could have escaped notice for so long. It has also shocked her neighbours, whose drinking water from the tank had long had a strange taste, which has now been found to have stemmed from Ms Esparza's slowly decaying body. A police spokesman said: 'City officials were called to the tank and when they opened it up they found the body in a high state of putrefaction. 'The body has been taken to the Institute of Forensic Sciences where a postmortem will be carried out to determine the exact cause of death. 'However she has already been identified as the missing woman from implants that she had as a result of a plastic surgery operation. 'We had a missing person report for her and had been looking into suggestions that she may have been taken by a gang involved in the sex slave business. It appears that was not the case.'

Carmen Yarira Noriega Esparza, 27, disappeared last February . Friends feared she had been kidnapped by human traffickers . Body found after residents complained about taste of water . It appears her body had been in the water tank since February .

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- For the first time since September 11, 2001, America is having a vigorous national debate about how to succeed in Afghanistan. This debate is entirely worth having. Whenever America sends its citizens into harm's way, it must do so with eyes wide open. Though no veteran would ever think of himself as "pro-war," I believe that the fight in Afghanistan is critical to our national security. Our goals there are achievable and success is worth the continued sacrifice. We must succeed in Afghanistan for many reasons, but one stands above all: the world walked away from Afghanistan once, and it descended into a cauldron of violence, hatred and human rights atrocities that served as the base for the worst terrorist attack in history against our homeland. We cannot let that happen again, and we cannot let the Taliban and its al Qaeda allies conquer Afghanistan once more. Failure of this kind would also destabilize the entire strategically vital region, including nuclear-armed Pakistan. We know what it takes to succeed in Afghanistan: a resolute commitment to the principles of counterinsurgency, which turned Iraq around during the surge. I am confident that properly resourced counterinsurgency policy, adapted to the unique culture and geography of Afghanistan, can lead to success there. Our entire military chain of command supports this approach, as do our NATO allies, which they made clear at their recent defense ministerial meeting in Bratislava. I supported President Obama when he called for a counterinsurgency plan in March, and I did so again when he deployed Gen. Stanley McChrystal to lead the command in Kabul. I agree with our commander's assessment of the security situation as "deteriorating" and that our civilian and military leaders urgently need more resources, including more combat troops, to turn the tide toward success. I sympathize with our president, because sending men and women into harm's way is the most difficult decision that a commander-in-chief must make. However, Americans are already serving in harm's way in Afghanistan, and the sooner we can provide the reinforcements and resources they need, the safer and more successful they will be. So I am urging President Obama to move as quickly as possible to fully support Gen. McChrystal's request for more troops. It is true that the Afghan government is not as strong or credible as we would like, but that should not deter us from committing more civilian and military resources now. Local governments in counterinsurgency environments are usually weak and fledgling. There is an insurgency in the first place because it seeks to exploit the local population's dissatisfaction with its government. As long as Afghanistan is insecure, it is unreasonable to assume that governance will improve. That is why protecting the population must be job one right now, and in the immediate term, much of that work must be done by U.S. and NATO troops. As security improves, however, we will be able to train capable, battle-tested Afghan security forces that can defend their country. We can break the insurgency's momentum, enabling Afghans to reconcile with former fighters who are willing to lay down their arms. And we can create an environment of safety in which it is more realistic to expect Afghan leaders to meet the high standards of their fellow citizens and their international partners -- namely, the provision of justice and opportunity, the protection of human rights and a crackdown on corruption. Ultimately, Afghans will judge the legitimacy of their government not only by the result of one round of voting, but by its performance in delivering basic services. Success in Afghanistan will emerge, as it did in Iraq, when local leaders and citizens are more and more able to take responsibility for governing and securing their own sovereign country without substantial international assistance. This won't be perfect or easy, but it will allow America's fighting men and women to leave Afghanistan with honor, and it will enable Afghans to build a better, more peaceful future. That is our goal, and we must stay in the fight until it is won. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John McCain.

Sen. John McCain: It's good to have a debate about Afghan war . He says United States cannot let Taliban and al Qaeda have a victory . He says a counterinsurgency effort can succeed in Afghanistan . McCain: Obama should give Gen. McChrystal the troops he's seeking .

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The Tony Pulis trademark look has already set in at the Hawthorns, with his new side West Brom running out of navy baseball caps in their club shop. The former Stoke and Crystal Palace boss, who has won his opening two matches in charge of the Baggies, is a big fan of donning the tracksuit and baseball cap look on the touchline. And despite a brief stint wearing a suit - during his first game in charge against Gateshead in the FA Cup - it didn't take long for the 56-year-old to return to his more favourable look. Tony Pulis has been a big fan of the tracksuit and baseball cap look throughout his career . The navy cap has sold out following Pulis' arrival at the club - forcing the club shop to place a new order . Pulis has worn the black equivalent of the all-weather Adidas jacket, which is sold for £59.99 in the club shop . Pulis wore these adidas white Flux trainers at the game on Saturday, which retail at £70 . Saido Berahino (right) celebrates after scoring the winner for West Brom against Hull . Pulis returned to his trademark look for the crucial win against Hull City on Saturday, with some sparking while Adidas Flux trainers also on show. That sparked huge popularity of the Pulis look amongst Baggies fans, with all of the navy brand getting snapped up, forcing the club to place a new order. A club shop employer confirmed they had sold out of all the navy caps, but still have them available in grey. Martin Swain, director of communications at the club, added: 'The baseball cap is the Tony Pulis trademark and our fans have taken to it. Hopefully it will become the emblem of a good second half of the season.'

Tony Pulis has won his opening two matches in charge of West Brom . His arrival has resulted in the club shop running out of navy caps . The 56-year-old is a big fan of donning the tracksuit and baseball cap look on the touchline . After wearing a suit in his first game in charge of the Baggies in the FA Cup win against Gateshead, Pulis soon returned to the tracksuit look . West Brom are two points ahead of the Premier League relegation zone .

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(CNN) -- Tragedy struck at a Pennsylvania circus Friday after a startled elephant stomped its trainer to death, police said. People at the Irem Shrine in Wilkes-Barre, which has been hosting the James Hamid Circus all week, rushed to help but not before the trainer sustained life-threatening injuries, said police Lt. Steven Oshefski. It was unclear what spooked the elephant, but the pachyderm was calmed by those on the scene. The victim is not being identified until next-of-kin have been notified, Oshefski said. The incident was classified as a workplace accident and the investigation has been turned over to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. A balloon vendor at the circus told CNN affiliate WBRE that the death was shocking. "In the 30 years I've been doing my vending, I've never heard an animal killing their trainer and all," said Ed Conrad. "So something must have happened." Oshefski said the elephant came into contact with electrical wires, but it was unclear what exactly startled the animal. Animal rights activists decried the use of animals in circuses. "It should come as no surprise that elephants and other animals sometimes snap and attack circus employees and members of the public," said Robbyn Brooks of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). "PETA has obtained shocking photos and video of circus trainers as they beat elephants and subject them to violent training methods using barbaric devices such as bullhooks," Brooks said. Circus members observed a moment of silence for the elephant handler who died, WBRE reported. The circus, however, made a decision almost immediately after the death that the performance would go on.

Startled elephant stomps trainer at circus, killing him, authorities say . Incident classified as workplace accident; OSHA to conduct investigation . Circus members observed moment of silence for worker before continuing show .

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Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti has said he would consider rehiring disgraced football star Ray Rice. In a press conference today he said that 'five years down the line' he could see bring Rice back, believing he could redeem himself. He also said of Ray and his wife Janay, 'I think they're going to be two very successful members of our community in the years to come.' Scroll down for video . Speaking out: Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti (above) is saying he would possibly rehire Ray Rice 'five years down the line' Praise: Bisciotti also said he believes Rice and his wife Jany (above) will become 'two very successful members of our community in the years to come' Rice was terminated by the Ravens earlier this month when video emerged of him punching his wife in an Atlantic City casino elevator. This comes on the same day the Ravens denied claims made in a report that they knew about 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. Bisciotti and members of the team refuted 15 of the claims made in a recent ESPN report in an eight-page statement, which is addressed to fans of the team. Gone: Rice (above with Bisciotti) was terminated from the Ravens in early September, after only receiving an initial suspension of two games following reports he hit his then-fiancée in an Atlantic City elevator . Bisciotti also stated 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.' 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.'

Ray Rice got a little good news today when Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said he would possibly rehire the football star 'down the line' Bisciotti also said he believes Ray and his wife Janay will become 'two very successful members of our community' This comes on the same day the team released a lengthy statement refuting claims made by ESPN about their initial knowledge of Rice's abuse scandal .

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(CNN) -- Victoria Arter was outraged when she heard the announcement over the Wal-Mart loudspeaker. "Attention, Wal-Mart shoppers," she said a male voice announced. "All blacks need to leave the store." "We waited and waited. Some people just left their carts in disgust and said they couldn't believe it," Arter told Philly.com, a CNN affiliate. It was busy shortly before 7 p.m. Sunday at the Turnersville, New Jersey, Wal-Mart Supercenter. Arter, a 29-year-old assistant bank manager who is black, didn't know what was going on, but she was not happy. Neither were other customers, who began dialing their cell phones and demanding answers from managers. Some were just quiet, still in shock at what they'd heard. A few moments later, a store manager got on the public address system and began apologizing and contacted the local police. This week, authorities have said they're investigating the episode as "a suspected bias intimidation crime." Arter frequently shopped at the Wal-Mart, but she won't go there any longer, she told the Philadelphia online news source. "It could have led to violence," Arter told Philly.com. "It could have triggered someone who was having a bad day. I don't want to be an innocent bystander to something because of someone's not-so-funny joke." "I can't go back in," said Patricia Covington, who was also in the store and spoke to Philly.com. "I went to Target instead. I can't bring myself to go back in there." She and her friend Sheila Ellington were checking out when they heard the announcement. An attorney, Ellington is also a member of the Gloucester County Minority Coalition. Both were frightened, unsure of whether the person on the microphone was going to do something violent. "This voice was controlled and confident," Ellington told Philly.com. "It didn't appear to be a prank." The discount chain is "just as appalled by this as anyone," Wal-Mart corporate spokesman Lorenzo Lopez said. "Whoever did this is wrong and acted in an inappropriate manner." Police and prosecutors are reviewing security camera video from the store. Any of the 25 in-store telephones could have accessed the public address system, although not all phones are within range of surveillance cameras, authorities said. It's unclear whether the tape will be made public to help identify the speaker. The store has 700 employees; many are part-time. Some of the store's telephones can be accessed by customers.

Male said on PA system that black people should leave store . "Some people just left their carts in disgust," one customer said . Wal-Mart "just as appalled by this as anyone," spokesman says . Local police are investigating incident .

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Beijing (CNN) -- A video of a toddler crying while running in the snow nearly naked has sparked a firestorm in China, but the boy's father says the exercise was meant to strengthen his son. "It's tough for me, too, when he cried out for my comfort," father He Liesheng said. "But I believe in 'no pain, no gain.' Like an eagle, I push my child to the limit so he can learn how to fly." The father shot and posted the online video clip showing his 4-year-old son running down a snow-covered street, wearing only shoes and underpants. In the footage, the boy -- nicknamed Duoduo -- chases his father, sobs and begs to be picked up. "Daddy, Daddy please hold me," Duoduo cries in the video, which was filmed while the family was in Flushing, New York on vacation. The father, who lives in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing, said he calls himself "Eagle Dad" for his tough parenting skills. He told CNN in a phone interview that the snow run is part of a training regimen of intensive physical and mental activities designed to strengthen his son, who was born premature and has suffered from health problems. "I consulted my doctor friends to ensure what we do is scientific and that it won't harm my son's body," he said. The video has been viewed by tens of thousands of people online. In China, it has reignited debate about how far parents should push their children to attain success. Chinese parenting techniques have come under scrutiny after author Amy Chua's book, "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," sparked heated discussion worldwide about the benefits of tough parenting. "Some compare me to the 'Tiger Mom,' but we are different," He told CNN. "Unlike her, I always respect my son's will." He said he plans to publish a book on his "eagle-style" training soon. But his parenting method might have trouble finding followers. On Weibo, China's version of Twitter, many users said the approach was tantamount to child abuse. "I can't agree with this educational style," a user going by the name of Dangpoluobaoyushangfengweibao posted. "It's so cruel." Others suggested government officials should step in. "Why don't we have a law against this abnormal behavior?" a user going by the name of Xinhongbaobei wrote. "Before long, there will be all sorts of lion dads and snake moms who feel justified abusing their children." The boy's father told CNN he doesn't care about the criticism. "I've always felt Chinese parents spoil their only child too much," he said. "We don't expose them to nature enough and they get weaker and less competitive compared to foreign children." In the video, both parents can be heard off camera instructing Duoduo to lie down in the snow. He said he and his wife always ensure their son is happy, and that Duoduo's health has improved because of his unique training regimen. "My wife strongly opposed my idea in the beginning, but I kept persuading her about the benefits of my method," He said. "She told me she's beyond caring now." CNN's Shao Tian contributed to this report.

The video shows a toddler running outside, wearing only shoes and underpants . "Daddy, Daddy, please hold me," the 4-year-old cries . The father says the snow run is part of a regimen designed to strengthen his son . Many in China say the approach is tantamount to child abuse .

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Former NFL star Darren Sharper pleaded not guilty in a Los Angeles court Thursday in the alleged druggings and rapes of two women. Judge Renee Korn raised Sharper's bail to $1 million from $200,000 in response to a prosecution request to raise it to as high as $10 million. The judge also ordered Sharper not to frequent clubs, bars or any venue where alcohol is the primary item for sale. Korn also ordered Sharper "not be alone with any women he does not have a previous relationship with (from) prior to October 30, 2013," the date of the first alleged rape in Los Angeles County. Sharper has already surrendered his passport, the judge noted. "Mr. Sharper must stay in Los Angeles County," the judge said. Sharper, who had been free on bail, stood quietly in a gray pinstripe suit with a black shirt and no tie. One of his defense attorneys, Blair Berk, said that Sharper was pleading not guilty. Berk has said that she is "hopeful that before the case is concluded that Mr. Sharper will be exonerated." Leonard Levine, another of Sharper's attorneys, indicated his client would post his residence and his father's residence for the $1 million bail. The five-time Pro Bowl player, who became an NFL Network analyst, is charged with two counts of rape by use of drugs, four counts of furnishing a controlled substance and one count of possession of a controlled substance, all felonies, according to Los Angeles County prosecutors. The alleged rapes occurred in October and last month, authorities said. Sharper also is under investigation in Arizona, Louisiana and Nevada in connection with a total of five alleged rape cases in those states, according to Los Angeles authorities. Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Stacy Okun-Wiese said in court that Sharper is also being investigated in sexual battery case in a fifth state, in Miami Beach, Florida. But in court, a Sharper lawyer disputed all the rape allegations. "It was all consensual contact with women who wanted to be in his company," Levine said. In unsuccessfully seeking a $10 million bail, the prosecutor argued that "Sharper is a danger to women." "He hangs out with them in clubs. Takes them back. It's the same story," Okun-Wiese told the court. "He gives them a shot. They black out. "The next day they have no idea of what happened the previous night," she said. In the Los Angeles cases, Sharper is accused of using morphine and zolpidem -- another name for the prescription sleep aid Ambien -- on his two alleged victims, who said they blacked after Sharper served them a shot of alcohol, according to authorities. Okun-Wiese said authorities took count of Sharper's Ambien pills. "I counted it up and Mr. Sharper has gone through 70 pills in 65 days," the prosecutor said. When Los Angeles County authorities filed the rape charges last month, they weren't aware of the Nevada and Arizona investigations, Okun-Wiese said. "The circumstances have changed tremendously since the January 17 arrest" of Sharper in California, Okun-Wiese said. Defense attorney Levine, however, said "there is no probable cause" against Sharper in those other states' cases. In the latest accusation, a Florida woman last month filed a sexual battery complaint in Miami Beach against Sharper relating to a 2012 incident, a police report said. The alleged victim filed the complaint shortly after an acquaintance told her last month that Sharper was arrested in California on rape charges, the Miami Beach police report says. The alleged Florida victim filed the report because "she felt she needed to clear her conscious," the report said. According to the police report, in September or October 2012, the woman was with two friends at a Miami Beach club when she met Sharper, and when she, her friends, and another person went to Sharper's condo, the woman was "extremely intoxicated." The woman's two friends later told her she went with Sharper into his bedroom, and the friends heard her telling Sharper, "No, no, stop. I don't want to," the report said. The two friends knocked on the bedroom door, entered the room and tried to take the woman home, but because "she was so intoxicated, she can't remember what she said to (the two friends) because her speech was slurred and she wanted to sleep," the report said. Everyone subsequently left Sharper's Miami Beach condo, except for Sharper and the woman, according to the report. The woman awoke the following morning, the report said, with Sharper allegedly sexually assaulting her without a condom. The woman was treated by a doctor a week after the incident, the report said. Miami Beach police are investigating the case, Miami Beach Detective Vivian Hernandez said Thursday.

Sharper is now under investigation in a sex case in a fifth state, Florida . "It was all consensual contact with women," his attorney says in court . Judge orders Sharper to not to be alone with women he met since first alleged rape . Miami Beach police are investigating Sharper in latest case, detective says .

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(CNN) -- The bodies of two dolphins and the head of another have washed up along the Gulf Coast, raising red flags for federal investigators already looking into roughly half a dozen dolphin killings. Excluding the latest three, the bodies of at least seven dolphins have turned up this year along a 120-mile stretch of the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida. Some were shot, stabbed and mutilated. It's unclear whether the latest three deaths are related to those killings, but investigators are exploring that possibility. Moby Solangi, lead biologist of The Institute of Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Mississippi, performed necropsies on nine of the dead marine mammals and will do the 10th on Wednesday. "We have submitted those results to the federal enforcement officers, who are going to do additional exams or testing to further clarify the cause of death," he said. Citing the ongoing criminal investigation, Solangi declined to elaborate on the results. The Marine Mammal Protection Act states that anyone convicted of killing a dolphin could be sentenced to one year in prison and fined up to $100,000. The law also makes it a crime to feed dolphins in the wild. The remains of the latest three dolphins were found in Mississippi. A group of bird surveyors discovered an adult dolphin head on the west tip of Horn Island on Friday. On Saturday, someone found the body of a 1-year-old male dolphin on the beach in Gulfport. On Tuesday, another dolphin was found dead in Bay St. Louis; a teacher at a boarding school saw the animal and reported it. It's not unusual to see dolphin bodies, or even parts of bodies, wash up. What is unusual is evidence of human interaction as the cause of death, as appeared to be the case in the first seven situations. The first dolphin was found January 8 with a bullet wound on Deer Island, near Biloxi, Mississippi. In June, a bottlenose dolphin was found in Perdido Bay, Florida, near the Florida-Alabama state line, with a screwdriver stuck in its head. In September, one was found on Elmers Island, Louisiana, with a gunshot wound. On October 10, a dolphin was found on the beach in Dauphin Island, Alabama, with its fluke cut off. The list continues. On November 6, a dolphin was found dead with numerous cuts near Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Three days later, two more were discovered: another one with bullet wounds near Ocean Springs, and one on Ship Island, a remote barrier island off Biloxi, Mississippi, with its jaw cut off. Authorities are still trying to determine whether a dead dolphin found November 2, in Bayou Julia, Louisiana, is linked to the other killings. Jeff Radonski, a deputy special agent for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is leading the investigation, spoke last month about the deaths. "We need to have witnesses come forward. We need public input and information," he said.

Two bodies and the head of another dolphin are found in Mississippi . Investigators are looking into whether the deaths could to linked to other dolphin killings . Roughly half a dozen dolphins have been shot, stabbed or mutilated this year .

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English football's new golden boy Raheem Sterling has vowed to try and turn the other cheek if he becomes the target for Premier League's hatchet-men this season. Sterling was the one England player who returned from their World Cup failure in Brazil with his stock greatly enhanced and the teenage star will carry the hopes of Liverpool fans still grieving the loss of Luis Suarez. But with reputation comes responsibility. Sent-off for his country in England against Ecuador this summer for a bad tackle of his own, Sterling knows opponents are looking out for him now and wants to take inspiration from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo who have learned to cope with being kicked regularly by over-zealous markers. Laughing about it: Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling (left) has admitted he needs to learn in dealing with physical approaches from defenders . Dynamic duo: Under the management of Brendan Rodgers, Sterling blossomed into one of the Premier League's finest wingers last term . Time for a chuckle: Sterling is currently in the USA with Liverpool as part of their pre-season tour . 'The physical side is part of the game,' said Sterling, whose speed and balance can make a chump out of any defender. 'You are going to get defenders who want to let you know they are there, make you feel their presence. 'I've got to keep my temper, stay calm and try to play the game the way I think it should be played. If I can play well and score, they will know it's not all about being physical. 'I will definitely be keeping a cool temperament and doing my best for the team.' For someone 5ft6ins tall and of slight build, Sterling can handle himself. He's already picked up eight bookings in his fledgling career and his red card against Ecuador in June – when he slid in recklessly against Antonio Valencia – was described as a 'lesson' for the youngster by international boss Roy Hodgson. Sterling says his challenge is to let his talent do the talking whatever the provocation. 'If you are getting kicked a lot on the pitch, it must mean that you are a threat to the opposition because they want to stop you as early as possible,' he said. 'In this game, you've just got to look at people like Messi or Ronaldo, they get kicked all the time, I think they are doing something right. 'I'm not saying I'm a Messi or Ronaldo but it's the same that if you are in an attacking position, defenders will try to kick you. It is just part of the game, you just have to get on with it and try to do your best.' Shining star: Sterling scored a stunning goal for Liverpool in their recent pre-season friendly with Man City . One to watch: Sterling is congratulated by team-mates following his goal against Man City at the Yankee Stadium in New York . There is a willingness to moderate his performances too and not try to win matches single-handedly every time he picks up the ball. 'I do like taking defenders on and making things happen, a goal or assist, but I need to try and mix my game up,' he acknowledges. 'It's not always about trying to take the man on, sometimes to try and play one or two touches, get in behind defenders and be a handful that way. It's a challenge for the new season.' Liverpool beat a number of top clubs to win Jamaica-born Sterling's signature from QPR at 15. He has won rave reviews as winger but recently has shown he can be a dynamic No10 too. He was the catalyst for Liverpool's 5-1 win against Arsenal, one of their best performances from a season that saw them come close to winning the Premier League, and impressed centrally at the World Cup when Hodgson picked him there against Italy. Diplomatically, he insists he is happy to play wherever manager Brendan Rodgers picks him. But there's a twinkle in his eye when he discusses the central playmaker's role where you can dictate the flow of the game. Three Lions positive: In an otherwise disastrous World Cup for England, Sterling was one of the few stars to emerge with his reputation intact for the Three Lions . Learning experience: Sterling was sent off in a pre-World Cup friendly against Ecuador . 'The manager has trusted me a little to play the No10 role. I'd like to see myself inside more, becoming educated in that position,' he said. 'If I can get that bit more freedom, hopefully it would take my game to the next level and improve my goals-to-game ratio.' The point about goals is important. Suarez scored 31 last season and others will have to step up if the club are to have another tilt at the title and do well in the Champions League. Rodgers has signed five players this summer with more on the way but Sterling also wants to improve on the 10 goals he scored last season. 'Luis was a big part of last year, a massive part to be fair,' he admits. 'You've got Daniel (Sturridge) up front and the new player, but we all have to contribute to make up the missing goals. 'That is part of the next step for me, to improve my goal scoring. Not to put too much pressure on myself but that is definitely the challenge for me.' Every few years, a young English player comes along with complete self-belief that separates it from arrogance. Paul Gascoigne had it, Wayne Rooney had it, Sterling has it. He doesn't turn 20 til December by which time he will probably have racked up 100 games for one of the most famous clubs in Europe. If Liverpool don't sit down with him about a new contract this season, the likes of Real Madrid would be interested. Is he shocked by the speed of his progress? Apparently not. 'My aim was always to be in and around the first team as soon as possible,' he said. 'The club would give me a yearly schedule, Under 18s, reserves, first-team and I'm grateful a manager like Brendan came in and given me a chance. 'But I wouldn't say it is a real surprise because it's something I wanted, to play for a big club like this and show what I can do.' By his own admission, Sterling was glad to leave London, his career might have taken a different path had he stayed. Even at Primary School, behavioural problems were bad enough for him to be asked to leave. Turning the other cheek wasn't part of his life back then – but it's needed now.

Liverpool winger admits he has learned from Messi and Ronaldo in dealing with physical approach from defenders . Sterling admits he needs to mix up his game to improve . England winger would like to play at No 10 in a more inside role .

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To most of us, Katie Piper is the brave acid attack victim turned M&S model, dedicated philanthropist and, in recent years, something of a national treasure. But to fans of Channel 4 show Bodyshockers, she's also a presenting pro who manages to keep a straight face even when confronted with the most bizarre of body modifications and DIY tattoo disasters. To those watching as Rodrigo Alves, a flight attendant who has spent £125,000 on surgery, attempts to drum up some sympathy for his cosmetic surgery 'addiction', Piper's sympathetic approach can seem bizarre. Scroll down for video . Unflappable: Katie Piper manages to keep a straight face even when confronted with the most bizarre of looks . After all, here is a woman whose body was modified, if you can call it that, without her having any say in it, chatting to people about their uniformly self-inflicted woes. But Piper, 31, who has done more than most to raise awareness about the plight of acid attack victims, says these people are deserving of a fair hearing - even if that isn't apparent at first. 'We have all done things we regret,' explains the mother-of-one. 'But in most cases we can simply wash out that hair dye or take out those earrings. 'I actually feel really sorry for people like these because whether their appearance was an accident or intentional, it’s horrible to feel trapped in a body that doesn't reflect who you are.' This season of Bodyshockers has so far included Lee, a father of five from Grimsby who got a DIY tattoo on his face using printer ink while drunk and Joel Miggler, a German model who had his cheeks pierced and stretched in the name of art. The latter, says Piper, is one of the few who did make her do a double take. 'He had these holes in his face the size of coke cans,' she exclaims. All change: Stars of this series of Bodyshockers include Callum (left) and Ken lookalike Rodrigo Alves . Distressing: Father-of-five Lee attempted to remove his tattoos using a cheese grater . Proud: By contrast, Callum is so proud of his inkings, he's planning to tattoo the rest of his family . 'He did it all in the name of art but it was just so impractical for talking and eating and swallowing.' Equally shocking in Piper's eyes are the people who have been left so traumatised by their youthful mistakes, they've gone to extreme lengths to fix things. One such person was Lee, who resorted to scrubbing off his tattoos using a cheese grater but was left with scabs all over his face, and a man named Ernesto who took razor blades to his ears. 'He had had ear stretchers as a teenager and had been left with all this gaping flesh,' she explains. 'He had attempted to do a DIY reversal and cut into his own flesh with razor blades he had found in the bathroom - that really did shock me.' Perhaps more shocking though, are those people who say they adore their unusual new look - however bizarre and painful the methods used to achieve it. One is Savannah who won't be dissuaded from her quest to get beach ball sized breasts while a contributor from last year's series is Cherrelle who spent £3,000 on having holes punched in her cheeks in a bid to get dimples like Cheryl Fernandez-Versini's. Others, such as Callum, a tattoo fan from Scotland, have transformed themselves completely by getting tattooed from head-to-toe - something that Piper says is down to wanting to stand out. 'The alternative and underground scene is becoming a lot more popular and people are having to find new ways to shock,' she explains. 'People tell me it’s quite addictive - not the actual procedures themselves but the attention that they get and in that sense, I think it is quite an adrenaline rush.' Not quite so thrilled are those who get inkings done under the influence - something that is becoming increasingly common. Those to do so include Stefan Owen, 20, from Gloucestershire, who appeared on last year's show with an arm that bore the legend: 'Barry is a T**t' and Holly Aston, also 20 but from Birmingham, who discovered friends had inked a penis on her shoulder during a drunken party. 'People should absolutely not get tattoos while under the influence,' says an animated Piper. 'It is such a bad idea. Oh dear: Holly Aston, 20, from Birmingham, woke up to discover friends had tattooed a penis on her shoulder . New mother: Piper says she would be horrified if baby Belle Elizabeth (pictured) got a tattoo in future . 'To make the sort of decision that has such an invasive and permanent result when you are drunk is obviously never going to end well. 'You would never be allowed to have an operation in that state so why tattoos?' Unsurprisingly, with so many bad examples to choose from, Piper says she would be aghast if her 11-month-old daughter Belle Elizabeth tried to get a tattoo of her own one day. 'If she wanted extreme surgery I would be disappointed and would wonder what I had done wrong,' says a horrified Piper. 'I have always tried to teach her that looks aren’t important.' But, she continues, 'if she wanted a tattoo, I would try and remember that I don’t own her body and she is free to make her own decisions. 'I bet she gets Bodyshockers tattooed across her forehead just to get me back. That’s always the way - if children are told not to do something they rebel and do it anyway.' If the colourful cast of characters who appear weekly on Bodyshockers are any indication, so, it seems, do adults.

Katie Piper, 31, presents Bodyshockers, a show about weird surgery . Tattoos done under the influence and bizarre body modification feature . Piper says people should be more understanding of those who have them . Nevertheless, says she doesn't want daughter Belle Elizabeth to get one . Katie Piper presents Bodyshockers, tonight at 10pm on Channel 4 .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 10:23 PM on 28th June 2011 . An ex-New Orleans police lieutenant today told how his former colleagues conspired to plant a gun and lied to cover-up the shooting of unarmed civilians in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Michael Lohman took the stand in the trial over shootings that killed two victims on the city's Danziger Bridge in September 2005. Four of the city's police officers are on trial accused of indiscriminately opening fire with shotguns and assault rifles amid confusion in the aftermath of the disaster. Aftermath: Lance Madison is arrested by Louisiana State Police and New Orleans Police Department SWAT teams Sept. 4, 2005, after the alleged shooting on the Danziger Bridge. His brother had just been shot dead . Grief: Lorna Madison, right, sister of victim Ronald Madison, with Fuki Madison, Ronald's mother, center, and Micheal Jenkins, his friend . 'Cover up': Former New Orleans Police Lieutenant Michael Lohman said he conspired with officers to make it seem that they were justified in opening fire . Sergeant Kenneth Bowen, former officer . Robert Faulcon, Seargeant. Robert Gisevius and Officer Anthony Villavaso deny any wrongdoing in the shootings that killed 17-year-old James Brissette and . 40-year-old Ronald Madison, who was severely mentally disabled. Brissette is said to have died in a hail of gunfire when officers opened up without reason while Maddison was allegedly shot in the back with a shotgun minutes later. Mr Lohman told the jury that when he arrived at the scene of the shooting, none of the junior officers could explain why they opened fire. He said he arrived at the bridge to find 'people lying on the pedestrian walkway with multiple gunshot wounds' but no evidence of any of them being armed. But after finding the body of Mr Madison, he became increasingly concerend that he could see lot of wounded people but 'no guns'. 'They seemed to be unsure of what . actually happened,' Lohman recalled. 'There was too much uncertainty, . and things didn't add up.' He said he told the officers to go 'collect themselves, calm down and then come back and tell me what happened.' He indicated that he expected them to make up an untrue story according to WDSU New Orleans. He . said Officer Kenneth Bowen then came back and said, 'What about this? I . kicked the guns off the bridge because the scene was still hot. I did . not want anyone else to pick up the guns.' Lohman said he put Sgt. Arthur Kaufman in charge of the investigation. Accused: Sergeant Kenneth Bowen and former New Orleans police officer Robert Faulcon pictured as they handed themselves in over the Danziger Bridge shootings in 2007 . Handing themselves in: Sgt. Robert Gisevius, left, and Anthony Villavoso were also greetedby supporters when they handed themselves in . Prosecutors say the confusion started when police officers on a nearby interstate reported that someone was shooting and gave the impression they had a 'man down'. Shortly afterwards nine officers arrived on the nearby Danziger Bridge and opened fire. The Bartholomew family came under fire and four of them were injured. Susan Bartholemew had her arm shot off and 17-year-old James Briseete was shot dead. Officers say they were shot at but no weapons were found at the scene. Further up the bridge, another officer is said to have opened fire with an assault rifle at mentally-disabled  Ronald Maddison ansd his brother Lance. Officer Faulcon is said to have driven up the bridge, got out and shot Ronald Maddison in the back before stomping on his body and arresting his brother unharmed. No weapons were found at the scene . Lohman expressed concern that there . were no guns on the scene. He said Kaufman told him he had a gun he . could put on the scene. He then asked Kaufman whether the weapon was 'clean,' meaning it could not be traced, and Kaufman said it was. Lohman then said he told Kaufman that 'if he was going to do it, to do it and not talk about it with anyone else. Just do it.' 'The guys who were involved in this were co-workers, and some of them were friends of mine. I didn't want anybody to get into trouble," Lohman said. 'I feel pretty horrible about all of it, but most particularly about the people who were killed and wounded.They were people who didn't deserve what they got.' His evidence came a day after the court heard a woman describe how her arm was blown off as officers opened fire. Susan Bartholemew told jurors she felt bullets piercing . her body as she huddled with her husband and teenage daughter behind a . concrete barrier. She recalled that her daughter, lying on the ground . next to her, tried to shield her body from the hail of gunfire. She recalled that her daughter, lying on the ground next to her, tried to shield her body from the hail of gunfire. I prayed. I just called to the Lord because I didn't know what else to do,' Bartholomew said. Bartholomew said it wasn't until after the shooting stopped that she realized police officers had shot her, leaving her right arm hanging by just a strip of skin. She said the officers approached them as they lay on the bridge, threatened to kill them and yelled at them to hold up their hands. 'Of course I couldn't because my arm was shot off,' she said. 'I raised the only hand I had.' Opening arguments started Monday with prosecutors painting a picture of out of control police opening fire on unarmed civilians without following proper procedure. Defense attorneys countered with a portrait of stressed, tired, overworked officers reacting to what they thought was an attack on fellow officers. 'They cut loose with assault rifles . and shotguns and they did so without ever identifying themselves,' Justice Department attorney Bobbi Bernstein said of the officers. 'The . mistake they made was thinking anyone walking on the Danziger Bridge . that day was a criminal.' The . officers are accused of plotting to plant a gun, fabricate witnesses . and falsify reports to make the shootings appear justified. Five other . former officers already have pleaded guilty to participating in a . cover-up. Crime scene: A caution tape floats in the wind over a walkway running alongside the Danziger Bridge . A .223 caliber shell casing lies alongside the road on Danziger Bridge in eastern New Orleans, Louisiana November 10, 2005. They are cooperating with the government and are expected to testify during the trial, which could last up to eight weeks. Defense attorneys said their clients had honored their oaths to protect and serve, quickly beginning rescue missions even though they too suffered from the hurricane's destruction. They saw death and suffering, worked in horrifying conditions and heard gunshots so frequently at night they had to stop rescue missions when the sun went down. Holmes survived, but Brissette died on the east side of the bridge. On the west side, Faulcon allegedly shot Madison in the back with a shotgun as he and his brother, Lance Madison, were fleeing from the gunfire. Ronald Madison was lying on the ground when Bowen walked over and asked a fellow officer, 'Is that one of them?" before he repeatedly stomped on the dying man, Bernstein said. 'This was a tragedy for everyone involved, police officers and victims," said attorney Lindsay Larson, who represents Faulcon. 'It was a horrible, terrible mistake, but it was not a federal crime.'

Michael Lohman tells jury of conspiracy to plant a gun . He says there was 'no evidence' Danziger Bridge victims were armed . Lieutenant gave muddled officers time to sort out their story . I didn't want anyone to get into trouble, he tells court .

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(CNN) -- Citing an escalation in violence, the Arab League called off its monitoring mission in Syria this weekend. The announcement came just days after the Syrian government agreed to a one-month extension of the mission. The sudden change in policy "surprised" the government, according to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency. It also signaled a new phase in the Arab League's handling of the crisis. In November, the Arab League voted to suspend Syria from its ranks. A couple of weeks later, it initiated sanctions against the country. One month later, monitors were sent in. The next step appears to be a U.N. Security Council resolution. The council is set to consider a draft resolution, presented by Arab League member Morocco, that calls on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down and transfer power. "The Arab League have now exhausted their own internal options and they can be seen to have taken action themselves to try to resolve the crisis," said Chris Phillips, a Middle East professor from Queen Mary, University of London. "It would now seem legitimate for the Arab League to now turn to larger bodies, certainly the U.N., to take action itself." The Arab League, aka the League of Arab States, was created in 1945 to promote closer relations -- politically, economically, culturally and socially -- among its members. The first group consisted of six Arab countries: Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Transjordan (now Jordan). Since then, it has swelled to 22 members, including the Palestine Liberation Organization. The Arab League is one of many regional unions worldwide. These type of groups, such as the African Union, the Union of South American Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, involve neighboring countries trying to work together for the good of the whole. For much of its history, however, the Arab League has been viewed as a toothless organization, Phillips said. He told CNN he was surprised when 18 of its members voted in favor of suspending Syria. "The Arab League will still be seen as the agent of brutal, corrupt regimes: Of the 22 Arab League member states, only three members are even vaguely democratic, and of them only Tunisia has had internationally recognized free and fair elections," he said in November. "But the decision does show that now the Gulf states may have to start recognizing the power of the ballot box in its relations with neighbors." Q&A: Where is Syria crisis heading? Early last year, the Arab League suspended Libya's membership, condemning Moammar Gadhafi's regime for attacking peaceful protesters. Within months, the U.N. Security Council voted to impose a no-fly zone over the country, and Gadhafi was history soon after. Are we now witnessing a stronger, more assertive Arab League? "We've seen this organization move toward the idea of intervention on behalf of the people, which is something they steadfastly would not do in the past, almost no matter what," said Paul Kinsinger, a professor at the Thunderbird School of Global Management who spent 19 years working for the CIA. Kinsinger says the Arab Spring has clearly sent a message to the powers-that-be. "I think there is a sense that they have to be on the right side of the issue more than they have wanted to be in the past, or else they suffer potential increasing irrelevance in that part of the world," he said. Before recent interventions in Libya, Yemen and now Syria, many of the Arab people didn't take the Arab League seriously, said Mohamed Alsiadi, a native of Syria and coordinator of the Arabic Language and Cultural Studies Program at Fordham University. "We did not even look at them," Alsiadi said . "But I would say they're gaining more momentum from the mainstream. ... Finally, we can see a serious Arab League that can take initiative and help the Syrian people." Alsaidi said he and many other Syrians are still taking a cautious approach, as the Arab League still has much to prove and it remains to be seen what becomes of the U.N. resolution. But it's clear that there has been a meaningful shift. "We may see (the Arab League) as weak-kneed and autocrat-loving and -protecting, turning the blind eye to all kinds of excesses going on in their countries," Kinsinger said. "But we have to also understand that this is a vastly different part of the world (not familiar with) participatory democracies. They're busy taking baby steps on a long road, and over the last year they have taken a significant journey on this road. "The mere fact that the Arab League and other Arab leaders have become more willing to intervene on the behalf of people's safety, security and well-being in one another's countries is a significant step forward." CNN's Nick Thompson and Peter Wilkinson contributed to this report.

For much of its history, the Arab League has been viewed as a weak regional power . The group has come down hard on Syria, however, suspending it in November . After sanctions and a failed monitoring mission, it is now turning to the U.N.

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Paul Johnson, from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, says Labour's plans to soften spending cuts would add £170billion to the national debt by 2030 . Labour's pledge to soften spending cuts in power would mean borrowing up to £50billion a year more by 2020 than the Tories, a respected think-tank said last night. Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, claimed Ed Miliband's plans would add £170billion to the national debt by 2030. This would mean greater risks for the economy and make it much harder for the UK to withstand economic shocks in future years, he wrote in The Times. The IFS also said families with children have been among the biggest losers since the Coalition came to power. It found while pensioners have been protected by tax and benefit changes since 2010, families with children 'have lost more on average than other household types'. The report questions David Cameron's promise to lead the most family-friendly government ever – and will cause alarm among Tory MPs ahead of May's poll. 'The overall effect of tax and benefit changes implemented since January 2010 has been to hit the richest hardest, to take benefits away from the poorer half of the income distribution, and largely protect those on middle and upper middle incomes,' said Mr Johnson. 'Pensioners have also largely been protected while families with children have lost out. 'Lest there be any doubt, there is a big difference between £7 billion of cuts and £33 billion of cuts. 'If you take the plans set out in the autumn statement at face value, spending cuts of more than £50 billion could be required after 2015/16.' He added: 'The problem is that another recession will strike one day. Going into a new recession with debt still high - and it is higher now than at any time since the late 1960s - could leave less room for manoeuvre. 'The sort of additional borrowing that we are able to support as we made our way through the recent period might not be as easily financed.' Conservative plans will prove tough to deliver, Mr Johnson suggested. He wrote: 'Under the autumn statement plans, Conservatives could be cutting unprotected budgets by 26% after 2015/16 or an extraordinary 41% over the period from 2010. Mr Johnson said Ed Miliband's, left, plan to soften spending cuts would mean borrowing up to £50billion a year more by 2020 than the Tories. He also questioned David Cameron's, right, promise to lead the most family-friendly government ever . 'Even just to meet their more modest fiscal target, these budgets would need to be cut by more than 15% after 2015/16. 'Labour would need to implement cuts of just 3%.' He pointed out that Conservatives would want to achieve a surplus on the overall budget and do not want to borrow to invest. 'That means they would need to find spending cuts of around £33 billion after 2015/16,' he added. Changes made by the Coalition mean families where one parent is earning more than £50,000 a year are no longer able to claim the £20.50 a week for an eldest or only child and £13.55 a week for subsequent children. Mr Johnson said understanding the economic facts 'should be crucial to the choices people make' on polling day. Downing Street won some backing for its claim that the deficit had halved under the Coalition – but it was told it was still far bigger than planned. The IFS said annual borrowing is on course to fall from 10.2 per cent of national income in 2009-10 to 5 per cent this year – £90billion against a planned £45billion.

Institute for Fiscal Studies say Labour plans would add £170billion of debt . Director Paul Johnson said it would mean borrowing up £50billion a year . Added it would mean greater risks for the UK's economy in future years . He also questioned PM's promise of the most family-friendly government . Pensioners protected by cuts but those with children have lost out .

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Australians living in Britain are heading home where employment opportunities are at an all-time high. Known as the ‘boomerang effect,’ research has shown that Australian and New Zealand expats are sick of the miserable job market in the UK where unemployment was recently at a 17-year peak. The research, done by jobs website Track Me Back, found that the positive outlook at home is enticing expats to return. Dismal job market: Sick of the job queues and unemployment in the UK, many Australian and New Zealand expats are heading home where jobs are a plenty . Caroline Rafferty, the general manager of the website said: ‘People returning home have usually worked in multiple cities globally and are now returning to work in Australia because there are better job opportunities and the economic outlook is more positive. ‘Many of our expats left home 10 years ago with a backpack, thinking they'd be gone for six months. Plenty of jobs at home: There are better opportunities at home with Australia's economy growing 'remarkably', boosted by the mining and construction industries . ‘Now they're returning with a spouse and a family, and they're looking to settle at home for the long-term.’ Immigration figures from the Home Office showed that the number of Australians coming to the UK for employed had dropped by 35 per cent over the last three years. The number of New Zealanders fell by 40 per cent. Heading home: With job prospects in New Zealand as bright as the sun in picturesque Wellington, it's no wonder the number of New Zealanders employed in the UK has fallen by 40 per cent . Unemployment rateAustralia: 5.2 per centNew Zealand: 6.7 per centUnited Kingdom: 8.1 per cent . Number of employed . Australia: 11.5m . New Zealand: 2.2m . United Kingdom: 22.2m . GDP Growth rateAustralia: 4.3 per centNew Zealand: 2.4 per centUnited Kingdom: -0.8 per cent . Exchange rateAustralia: 1.05New Zealand: 0.82 United Kingdom: 1.55 . National debtAustralia: 23 per centNew Zealand:  37 per centUnited Kingdom:  85 per cent . PopulationAustralia: 22.6mNew Zealand: 4.4m United Kingdom: 62.6m . Source: Trading Economics . The UK's dismal economy is all doom . and gloom with a national debt of 85 per cent of the GDP as compared to . 23 per cent in Australia and 37 per cent in New Zealand. Australia has been recognised as one of . the fastest growing economies in the world and in July the country . celebrated 21 years without recession, the longest period of time any . country had gone without recession. In stark contrast to the UK, which has a GDP growth rate of -0.8 per cent, Australia is enjoying a growth rate of 4.3 per cent. Chris Richardson, director of Deloitte Access Economics said: ‘As far as the statistics can tell us that is a record for any nation at any time.’ He said Australia’s economic growth is ‘remarkable’ and predicts its growth, driven largely by mining and construction, will continue. As a result there is currently an industry-wide, high demand for skilled workers to work in Australia, making it a very attractive destination for expats who have struggled in the flailing UK job market. According to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook survey for this year, Australia is in desperate need for more skilled workers, with more than half of 2,200 local employers surveyed in Australia having great difficulty in filling critical jobs.

Australian and New Zealand expats are sick of the dismal job market in the UK . Thousands have returned home where job markets are flourishing . The number of Australians and New Zealanders employed in the UK has dropped by up to 40 per cent .

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By . Emma Glanfield . Jason Scotland-Williams, 34, completed the marathon in just over three hours - knocking more than four hours off his time last year of seven hours 24 minutes . A London Marathon runner - who completed the second half of the race quicker than Olympic champion Mo Farah - is under investigation following claims he jumped over a barrier to slash 10 miles from the route. Jason Scotland-Williams, 34, completed this year’s marathon in three hours eight minutes - knocking more than four hours off his time last year of seven hours 24 minutes. The aspiring model, from Hammersmith, London, ran the first half of the marathon in two hours and seven minutes – an average time for an amateur athlete. However, he ran the second half of the race in just one hour and one minute – quicker than Olympic hero Mo Farah who completed the same stretch in one hour and five minutes. It means Scotland-Williams finished the race in an impressive three hours and eight minutes – putting him in the top six per cent of competitors. However, online forums are awash with claims the runner cheated his way to the super-fast time, with some speculating he jumped over a waist-high barrier at the halfway point at Tower Bridge. It is alleged he jumped the barrier separating the 13-mile marker from the 22-mile point and hid in the crowds while runners looped round Canary Wharf and doubled back. It is claimed he then jumped back into the race, joining a leading group of runners, and sprinted his way to the finish. The official London Marathon website logs his progress around the first half of the course, giving updates for every 5kms he completed. However, it only gives estimated times at the 25km, 30km and 35km markers – which has prompted critics to believe he either cheated his way to the finish by dodging those checkpoints or that his chip failed to activate at those points. Jason Scotland-Williams, 34, above, from Hammersmith, London, faces claims he cheated after completing the second half of the marathon in one hour and one minute - quicker than Olympic champion Mo Farah . London Marathon organisers are investigating Jason Scotland-Williams' time after he ran the second half of the race in just over an hour. Internet forums are awash with claims he jumped over a barrier in the Tower Bridge area . Jason Scotland-Williams' result suggests he ran the second half of the race in just one hour and one minute – quicker than Olympic champion Mo Farah, above,  who completed the same stretch in one hour five minutes . However, his chip was working as he passed the 40km point and the finish line – which reveals he completed the last 13 miles in just one hour and one minute. Forum users have questioned the runner’s speedy time, suggesting it would have been a ‘miracle’ if he managed to complete the second half of the race in such a short space of time. One user, Chris Pearson, posted on a forum on Runners World: ‘First half seems fair enough.  Second half is nothing short of a miracle. ‘It is possible that he ran easy for the first half, then went all out in the second half. ‘However, it would need a chip malfunction at 25, 30, and 35k for this to have happened. ‘It would also mean that he is capable of running a half at just over 60 minute pace, which again is possible if he was a World class elite runner, but certainly not after doing a 13.1 mile warm up.’ Scotland-Williams had posted numerous photos on his Facebook profile of him wearing his marathon medals and showing off his supposed athletic ability. However, the page was closed down this morning . Results on the London Marathon's official website show Jason Scotland-Williams completed the race in three hours eight minutes. However, they also show estimated times were given at the 25K, 30K and 35K markers . Another user, Millsy1977 - a fellow marathon runner - said: ‘If it was legit he would have sped past me on Birdcage walk. I know I was tired but I think I'd have noticed someone 4.30 miling.’ Another marathon runner, Darryl Morris, said: ‘I saw Jason just after Tower Bridge and he was absolutely smashing it’, before adding: ‘Just noted the barrier skip … that would make complete sense as to why I saw him there, looking so fresh!’ And Ryan T said: ‘If he did cheat then I think a ban is in order, I worked very hard for my time this year, did a sub 3:30 for my first marathon and went through a lot of pain in the last three miles, if people are skipping out miles then shame on them!’ Virgin Money London Marathon confirmed Scotland-Williams’ results were being investigated. A spokesman told The Sun: ‘We have anti-cheating measures during the event, and then post-event when we analyse split times from points around the course. ‘Runners found to have cheated are removed from results and banned from future events.’ Jason Scotland-Williams, 34, completed this year's marathon in just over three hours - knocking more than four hours off his time last year of seven hours 24 minutes . Scotland-Williams, who wore a V for Vendetta mask during last weekend’s race, has taken part in the London Marathon for the last six years. He had posted numerous photos on his Facebook profile of him wearing his marathon medals and showing off his supposed athletic ability. However, his profile was removed from the social-networking site this morning. This year he was running to raise money for deaf-blind charity Sense. A spokesman for the charity said: ‘An allegation that a runner cheated at the London Marathon has been brought to our attention. ‘We are urgently investigating and would be very disappointed if this was true.’ The Sun reported it tried to contact Scotland-Williams but was told to ‘f*** off’. MailOnline has contacted Virgin Money London Marathon for a comment but organisers have not yet responded.

Jason Scotland-Williams completed race in three hours eight minutes . His time was four hours quicker than last year when it took seven hours . The 34-year-old ran second half of the marathon quicker than Mo Farah . Internet awash with claims he jumped halfway barrier at Tower Bridge . London Marathon organisers confirmed his result is under investigation .

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Starfish have been mysteriously dying by the millions in recent months along the US west coast, worrying biologists who say the sea creatures are key to the marine ecosystem. Scientists first started noticing the mass deaths in June 2013. Different types of starfish, also known as sea stars, were affected, from wild ones along the coast to those in captivity, according to Jonathan Sleeman, director of the US Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center. 'The two species affected most are Pisaster ochraceus (purple sea star or ochre starfish) and Pycnopodia helianthoides (sunflower sea star),' he wrote in a statement in December. Mystery: Millions of starfish on the west coast are dying - and scientists have no idea why . The sunflower sea star is considered among the largest starfish and can span more than a meter in diameter. The most commonly observed symptoms are white lesions on the arms of the sea star. The lesions spread rapidly, resulting in the loss of the arm. Within days, the infection consumes the creature's entire body, and it dies. Entire populations have been wiped out in Puget Sound off the coast of Washington state, in the Salish Sea off Canada's British Columbia as well as along the coast of California. The mortality rate is estimated at 95 percent. Scientists who have spent decades studying the local ecosystem have yet to identify the cause. 'What we currently think is likely happening is that there is a pathogen, like a parasite or a virus or a bacteria, that is infecting the sea stars and that compromises in some way their immune system,' Pete Raimondi, chair of the department of ecology and evolutionary biology, at the University of California, Santa Cruz, told AFP. Wiped out: Entire populations of starfish have been wiped out in Puget Sound off the coast of Washington state . Then, the creatures become more susceptible to bacteria which is "causing a secondary infection that causes most of the damages that you see.' A barometer of sea health . The 2013 phenomenon has not been observed solely along the West Coast; a smaller outbreak also killed East Coast sea stars last year. Previous cases were believed to be associated with warmer waters -- sea stars have sensitive skin and prefer cooler water -- but this was not the case in 2013. And when the die-offs happened previously, the geographic span of the infections was much smaller, and far fewer sea stars were affected. In 1983, an epidemic nearly wiped out the Pisaster ochraceus from tidal pools along the southern coast of California. Another, smaller die-off in 1997 may have been caused by warmer waters in an El Nino year, scientists said. Parasite: Scientists have theorized that there is some sort of parasite that is affecting the starfish's immune system . Sea stars are important because 'they play a key role in this ecosystem on the West Coast,' Raimondi said. Sea stars eat mussels, barnacles, snails, mollusks and other smaller sea life, so their health is considered a measure of marine life on the whole in a given area. When sea stars decline in number, 'the mussel population has the potential to dramatically increase, which could significantly alter the rocky intertidal zone,' according to Sleeman. While sea stars make up an important component of the base of the ocean food chain and are considered a top predator, they are in turn eaten by other starfish, shorebirds, gulls, and sometimes sea otters. In an effort to find out what is causing the mass deaths, scientists are collecting reports from the public, taking specimens to the lab for analysis and doing genetic sequencing to find out whether a toxin or an infection may be to blame.

Scientists started noticing the mass deaths in June of 2013 . Both wild starfish and those in captivity have been affected by the mysterious phenomenon . Entire populations have been wiped out in Puget Sound .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:42 EST, 25 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:18 EST, 26 September 2012 . The 'Manhattan Madam' admitted Tuesday to running a high-end prostitution service from her New York City apartment. Anna Gristina, 44, pleaded guilty in Manhattan Criminal Court to a single count of promoting prostitution. The sole charge against her stemmed from a tryst she allegedly arranged between two prostitutes and an . undercover police officer, who was posing as a client, in July 2011. Copping a plea: Anna Gristina, pictured leaving court on Tuesday, has pleaded guilty to running a high-end prostitution service from her New York City apartment . Counsel: Gristina exits Manhattan criminal court with her attorney Norman Pattis, left, after pleading guilty to charges that she ran a prostitution service from her apartment in Manhattan . She took the deal in exchange for a promised sentence of time already served, DNAinfo reported, meaning she won't be going back to jail as she was in Rikers Island for four months earlier this year. Gristina will be ordered to serve five months probation when she is sentenced on November 20. The judge warned the Scottish-born mother of four that she could also be deported. The punishment is much more lenient than the potential outcome of a trial; she could have faced seven . years behind bars if she had been found guilty at a trial scheduled for next month. She appeared in court at 4 . p.m. on Tuesday with her husband, two sons and daughter by her side. Gristina, also known as the 'Soccer Mom Madam', had denied before she went to court that there would be any such plea deal. 'Yes, I’m going to court today,' she told the New York Daily News. 'I’m going to listen to the options. A trial is still a strong option. There will be no plea today.' Avoiding jail: Gristina reportedly took the deal in exchange for a promised sentence of time already served, meaning she won't be going back to jail as she was in Rikers Island for four months earlier this year . In court: Anna Gristina, pictured in March, pleaded guilty to a charge of promoting prostitution on Tuesday . Avoiding jail: Gristina will be ordered to serve five months probation when she is sentenced on November 20 . But friends told the New York Post that . Gristina had been considering a plea deal in recent weeks, as . prosecutors pushed her to reveal the name of one man, whom she refuses . to identify. 'The only reason I’d take a plea is . because I don’t want to turn on a friend,' she said. 'So that nobody . else gets hurt, no other families get destroyed. I would do it for my . family and friends.' She added on Dr. Phil earlier this month: 'I have a deep sense of loyalty and I'm Scottish. It was the way I was raised. Your word is everything. I'm not going to hurt someone with a family. 'I'm not going to put the nail in the coffin of someone who is very dear to me.' She was arrested after a five-year corruption investigation, which allegedly unearthed Gristina bragging that she had connections in law enforcement . who were protecting her. Gristina, who is originally from . Edinburgh in Scotland, has denied she was running a prostitution ring . and instead claimed that she was simply running a high-class dating . service. Speaking out: Appearing on Dr. Phil earlier this month, Gristina said she would never reveal the names of her supposed clients. She has maintained she was providing a matchmaking service . Accomplice: Her alleged co-madam, Jaynie Mae Baker (right), also struck a deal with the courts in August . Scene: She stands accused of one charge of promoting prostitution. Prosecutors say she arranged girls for high-profile, wealthy men at her Upper East Side apartment, pictured . But prosecutors alleged she made . $15million over ten years for arranging prostitutes - including underage . girls - for wealthy clients. She was arrested on February 22 and was held at Rikers Island on a hefty $2 million bail until her lawyers managed to argue it down. Tuesday's appearance was her second since she was released from jail in June after posting $250,000 bail. In August her lawyer's request to drop the charge against her was denied. Alleged co-madam Jaynie Mae Baker and accused hookers Katherine DeVries and Mhariangela Bottone have already agreed to plea deals and have stayed out of jail.

Anna Gristina, 44, accepts plea deal for promoting prostitution charge . Previously claimed she would only accept plea deal to protect clients . Judge warns Scottish-born mother that she could also be deported .

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(CNN) -- The beating of a gay man during a gay pride festival in Detroit over the weekend was caught on camera. Christin Howard, a 20-year-old hair dresser, was attacked by a group of men on Detroit's Riverwalk during the Motor City Pride event on Sunday. A video shot by a bystander shows the group kicking and punching Howard. Christin told CNN affiliate WXYZ he was taking a picture with a friend when things suddenly turned violent. A group of men began to "gay bash" him, he said, hurling anti-gay slurs his way. Then they started to physically attack him. "I just thought I was going to die. At one point I thought they were going to kill me," Howard said. The attack left Howard bruised with a bloody eye, cuts and a broken finger, leaving him unable to sleep or work. David Wait, chair of Motor City Pride, called the incident troubling, adding that he'd noticed "record attendance on Sunday and we took steps to increase security." Wait praised police for their "swift efforts" at investigating the crime. Other advocates for the LGBT community in Michigan say this attack means there is more work to do. "No one should have to endure an attack like Christin Howard did ... pride celebrations offer people in our communities an opportunity to feel safe in expressing our authentic selves," said Yvnoone Siferd, director of victim services for Equality Michigan. As for Howard, he is on the fence about returning to the festival next year. "I'm kind of iffy about it now, because I don't want that same incident to happen again," he said. "What if the same guys (are) down there?" The Detroit Police Department is investigating and calls the attack a hate crime. "We know about the video. We are seeking public assistance in identifying people in the video," said Nicole Kirkwood, a public information officer for the Detroit Police Department.

Video captures beating of 20-year-old man at Detroit gay pride festival . Group of men kicked and punched man when he was taking pictures with a friend . Detroit police are characterizing the attack as a hate crime .

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By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 07:19 EST, 1 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:48 EST, 2 May 2013 . A son who had sex with his father's new girlfriend has been jailed after beating him up when he was confronted about the affair. Nigel Davies, 54, hit his son Thomas, 24, with a knuckle duster after discovering he had been sleeping with his partner Karen Keen, 36. The younger man overpowered Mr Davies Snr and grabbed him by the throat before repeatedly punching him on New Year's Eve in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. Jailed: Thomas Davies, 24, who slept with his father's girlfriend, was given 10 months behind bars when he appeared before Stoke Crown Court . The court heard the fight started when Nigel overheard mother-of-five Keen telling a friend she had also slept with Davies Jnr. The older man responded by grabbing the knuckle duster to attack his son and partner but it was wrestled away from him. Prosecutor David Bennett told the court Mr Davies attacked his son and knocked him back into the chair. But his son got up and Keen also became involved and started hitting him. Mr Bennett said: 'Mr Davies senior grappled with his son on the sofa. 'His son pinned him down and punched him with both hands. He was also struck by Keen. At one stage, Davies junior had his father round the throat.' Davies Jnr was jailed for 10 months at Stoke Crown Court after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Nigel Davies was left with cuts above his eyebrows, two black eyes, loosened teeth and bruising to his cheek. Thomas Davies told police he had been having an affair with Keen. He also admitted he had punched and headbutted his father because he had 'mouthed off' about him. Shortly after the incident Keen posted on her Facebook page: 'Well almost 5 hours in hospital to get another plaster on and bad break tom if you punch any one again i Will punch you haha xxx. 'Great new year locked up when done sweet fa apart stop people fighting which let them get on with it story got twisted now i am on bail f***** d**** so happy new year (sic).' Davies, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, pleaded guilty to the charge on the basis he initially acted in self-defence but the level of force became unreasonable. He was on bail at the time for another assault, for which he received a community order in February. Keen, of Longton, Staffordshire, also pleaded guilty to assault - which placed her in breach of a suspended prison sentence she received in 2011 for stabbing a former partner with a knife. Judge David Fletcher handed her a 12-month community order with supervision and 32 sessions at a centre which aims to help women get their lives back on track. He told them: 'This was a nasty assault, to some extent the victim started it. 'Nevertheless, I can think of very few more provocative reasons for him becoming a little bit angry.' Paul Cliff, representing both defendants, said all parties had consumed alcohol and Nigel Davies reacted angrily when his son admitted sleeping with Keen. He said: 'The defendant initially acted in self-defence, Miss Keen accepts at some point she struck the complainant.'

Thomas Davies, 24, had been sleeping with mother-of-five Karen Keen, 36 . His father attacked him with a knuckle duster after learning about the affair . Davies Jnr fought back and he has been jailed for 10 months for the attack .

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By . Francesca Chambers . Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will headline a fundraiser celebrating New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's birthday next month. Romney has let bygones be bygones and reaffirmed his friendship with Christie since the New Jersey politician cozied up to President Barack Obama in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy six days before the general election in 2012. The September 10 birthday bash benefiting the New Jersey GOP is the latest in a string of political events the high-profile Republican politicians have appeared at together this year . Buds again: Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, right, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, left, have reaffirmed their friendship since Romney's defeat in 2012 to Barack Obama. The Republican politicians are pictured here at a town hall meeting in Ohio a few weeks before the presidential election . Once rumored . to be on Romney's short list for vice president, Christie's relationship with the former Massachusetts governor was reportedly on the rocks after he was photographed with the president surveying the damage caused by Sandy less than a week before the presidential election. Christie met Obama on the tarmac when he arrived in New Jersey on Air Force One and took . an aerial tour of the devastated areas in the president's Marine One helicopter. At a press conference afterward Christie said he 'cannot thank the president enough for his personal concern and compassion for our state and the people of our state.' 'Good . news for all of us is that the president couldn’t have been better . today,' Christie said during his remarks. 'He made it very clear to me today that getting New Jersey . back to normal is his top priority, and it’s my top priority, too. We . had a good day.' Officially, the Romney campaign stood behind Christie, and Romney himself never uttered a harsh word against the New Jersey politician. Romney campaign . manager Matt Rhoades even told the New York Times that Christie did 'exactly . what a governor should do.' But behind the scenes conservatives and Romney aides trashed Christie and blamed him in part for the Republican presidential candidate's defeat at the polls the following week. 'He went out of his way to embrace the president during the final . week of the campaign,' a Romney adviser told National Review Online the day after the election. 'It . wasn’t necessary and it hurt us.' 'Todd Akin, Richard Mourdock, and . Chris Christie undermined the Republican message,' the Romney aide said, . lumping Christie in with two Republican candidates who lost their . Senate races because of their controversial comments on rape. Refusing to be the scapegoat for Romney's drubbing, Christie fired back that people blaming him in the media were 'know-nothing, disgruntled Romney staffers who, you know, don't like the . fact that I said nice things about the president of the United States.' 'I wouldn’t call what I did an embrace of Barack Obama,' Christie told reporters. 'That’s become the wording of it but the fact of the matter is, I’m a guy who tells the truth all the time. If the president of the United States did something good, I was going to say he did something good and give him credit for it. 'It doesn’t take away for a minute the fact that I was the first governor in America to endorse Mitt Romney, that I traveled literally tens of thousands of miles for him, raised tens of millions of dollars for him, and worked harder than any other surrogate in America other than Paul Ryan,' he said, referring to Romney's running mate. Still, Christie continued to be badgered by Republicans in the weeks after the election for his contribution to the GOP's loss. At a Republican Governors Association meeting just after the election, The New York Times said Christie was overheard telling an attendee, 'I will not apologize for doing my job.' Photos of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie meeting President Barack Obama on the tarmac when he came to New Jersey to view the damage caused by Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and Christie's laudatory remarks about Obama's response to the crisis contributed to Romney's loss in the presidential election the next week, conservatives and Romney aides claimed immediately after the election . Whatever ill will Romney may have had for Christie directly after the incident appeared to have dissipated by the time he spoke out about his blistering electoral loss for the first time nearly four months later. 'I'm not going to worry about how Chris was doing what he thought was best for the people of his state,' Romney said on Fox News Sunday. 'I lost my election because of my campaign, not because of what anyone else did.' Romney had verbally forgiven Christie, but the former Massachusetts Governor publicly kept his distance from the potential presidential candidate despite endorsing him for reelection in his Governor's race in 2013. It was not until earlier this year during the Bridgegate scandal that the two men joined forces again, coming together to raise money for the Republican Governors Association, an organization of which Christie is the chair. They've continued to appear at political events together since, including one last month in Utah and the upcoming event in East Brunswick, New Jersey. According to an invitation obtained by Politico, admission to the fundraiser honoring is $150 and entry to the private reception with Romney is $5,000. Guests also have the option of giving the legal maximum in contributions to the New Jersey Republican State Committee - $25,000- to attend a roundtable with Romney. Instead of gifts, the political party asks that attendees bring an 'unwrapped children's toy' to be donated to Toys for Tots. Christie enthusiasts who can't afford to attend the fundraiser can show their support for the second-term Governor by paying $15 to have their name listed in the committee's birthday card to him.

Romney aides and conservatives claimed after the 2012 presidential election that Chris Christie was at fault for Romney's loss to Obama . The week before Christie welcomed the president to New Jersey in the wake of Superstorm Sandy and complimented him for taking action . Romney never attacked Christie but he stopped paling around with him . The two reaffirmed their friendship earlier this year and Romney is now headlining a September 10 fundraiser for Christie's birthday .

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These are the thrill seekers risking their lives on Britain’s coasts to capture 'weather bomb selfies'. Among them was Stuart Kinnear, who posed at Portstewart in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, as the country was hit by swells of up to 60ft and winds of 80mph. And a woman was pictured photographing herself in front of huge waves on the Lancashire coast at Blackpool yesterday - before looking rather sheepish when she became soaked. Scroll down for video . Weather bomb selfie: A woman attempts to photograph herself in front of big waves in Blackpool, Lancashire . Soaked: After trying to take the picture on the Blackpool promenade yesterday, she was left utterly soaked . Splash: The woman is among the thrill seekers risking their lives on the coast to take 'weather bomb selfies' The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has issued guidance urging people to stay away from huge waves which ‘could be carrying rocks or other debris that has been churned up along the way’. Weather warnings were in place for much of the UK today but the mainland has so far survived relatively unscathed by the Atlantic ‘weather bomb’ - formally known as an ‘explosive cyclogenesis’. The Met Office has severe weather warnings out for wind in the North and Scotland today, and in the South tomorrow. Tomorrow, there is an ice and snow warning for the North and Scotland. An MCA spokesman told MailOnline today: 'In some parts of the country, conditions on the sea and along the coast are extremely treacherous with gale-force winds, large waves and heavy rain. Another selfie: Stuart Kinnear posed next to crashing waves at Portstewart in Northern Ireland . 'Don't take risks': The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has issued guidance urging people to stay away from huge waves which ‘could be carrying rocks or other debris that has been churned up along the way’. 'The Coastguard's advice is simple: don't take risks. The crashing waves may be spectacular to watch but they are also extremely dangerous. 'They could quite easily sweep you off your feet, and they could be carrying rocks or other debris that has been churned up along the way. If you are taking photos of the sea, take care, a great photo is not worth risking your life for. 'If you do get into difficulty, or spot someone who might be in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.' Selfies also came under fire earlier this year when Team Sky rider Geraint Thomas warned British crowds taking the photographs were endangering the safety of riders at the Tour de France.

People pictured taking weather selfies in Blackpool and Northern Ireland . It comes as Britain is hit by 60ft swells and 80mph winds this week . Maritime and Coastguard Agency urges people to avoid taking risks .

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Say cheese! This baby great white is in quite the great mood — and he's ready to show off his big smile along California's Golden Coast. The amazing footage out of Monterey, just south of San Fransciso, shows the growing predator swimming along the harbor as a group of tourists watch. Videographer Patrick Anders Webster on Monday submerged his camera at Monterey Beach Harbor and captured the incredibly photogenic fish. The little white shark appears to smile a toothy grin as he swims around the clear-watered harbor. Hello! The baby white shark swims close to diver Patrick Webster off the coast of Monterey Beach, California . The juvenile fish appears to smile as it swoops by the camera . The shark show happened at Monterey Beach Harbor, where this type of shark doesn't usually swim. Experts say they're showing up that far north along the California coast due to unusually warmer waters . Tourists can be seen gathering in the dock as the shark swims laps around. 'Adults and children were amazed and intrigued after the lifeguards identified it as a harmless shark,' eyewitness Rachael Zalan told KSBW. 'There was a giant crowd following it as it was cruising in the shallows for a good 20 minutes.' Wildlife experts at the Monterey Beach Aquarium say these juvenile white sharks can usually be found along the coast of southern California and Mexico. The warmer fall waters sometimes will draw the unusual guests much farther north. After capturing the stunning footage, Webster could only say: 'WOW. I mean... Wait, what??!'

Diver Patrick Webster captured the incredible footage of a juvenile white shark south of San Francisco . The baby shark appears to smile as it does loops in front of the camera . The show attracted quite a crowd at the beach .

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Some people think International Women's Day, which comes right in the middle of Women's History Month, is overdoing it. If "underdoing it" were a phrase, it's the one I would use. On most days in most months, most women and girls aren't able to raise their voices. Because no one knows the challenges they face, they're forced to face them on their own. On International Women's Day, however, we make a point of hearing the voices of every woman and girl. Today, we make sure that every woman and every girl counts -- literally. I'm talking about a project that combines two of my favorite topics: women's empowerment and data. The media sometimes call Bill and me "data nerds." I'm not sure they mean it as a compliment, but I wear it as a badge of pride anyway. Data is not boring. If you use it right, it tells the hidden stories of millions of women and girls. That's why the Gates and Clinton Foundations are teaming up to conduct a global review of the status of women and girls everywhere. Where they're thriving -- and why. Where they're being held back -- and why. This initiative is called No Ceilings: The Full Participation Project. The seed for this project was planted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women. That's where Hillary Clinton gave her famous speech declaring "women's rights are human rights." It's also where 189 countries came together to agree on an agenda for women's equality. Now, nearly 20 years later, it's time to check in to see whether we're meeting those goals. My husband Bill and I used a trove of data to drive our decision making at Microsoft, and we brought that mentality to our work at the foundation, though the data is much harder to come by when it comes to development. It's troubling that it's possible to produce precise reports about software sales in Kansas, but we have only rough estimates of how many mothers die during childbirth every year. Why is data an indispensible tool for improving the lives of women and girls? First, it helps us make the case to world leaders that empowering women isn't just the right thing to do, it's the smart thing. The data says that women spend 90 cents of every dollar they make on their children. They prioritize things like health care, nutritious food, and education. As a result, a child in a household where the mother controls the budget is 20% more likely to survive -- and much more likely to thrive. Healthier, more educated children today means a stronger workforce tomorrow. I've seen firsthand that this argument resonates with finance ministers -- even those who are otherwise skeptical about the need to invest in women and girls. There's another reason data is so important. It helps us see where women and girls are being left behind, so we know where to target resources. For example, in the Indian state of Bihar, data showed that women were dying during childbirth at alarming rates and giving birth in hospitals at very low rates. In response, health officials decided to encourage women to give birth in hospitals and to improve the quality of care in delivery rooms. Now, our partners in Bihar are collecting data every six months to monitor their progress and adjust their strategies as necessary to keep getting better results. Above all, data is powerful because of the women behind it. We should never lose sight of the fact that every data point represents a mother, a daughter, or a sister. Every data point represents big dreams for the future. On a recent trip to Tanzania, I met women who had pooled their savings. With their shared funds, they bought chickens so they could sell eggs for extra income. When I asked them what they'd use the money for, they all said: their children's education. Their investments in their children were a monument to their hope for the future. All of these women could see a better life for their families -- and, as members of the savings circle, they could envision themselves helping create it. On this International Women's Day, I hope you'll take the time to learn more about women who are working hard to raise their voices. Pick a topic you care about -- maternal mortality, women's economic participation, family planning -- and learn about the people whose lives it touches. As you read over the data, remember that the numbers you see tell the story of real women with real dreams. It's up to us to make sure they count. And it's up to us to keep the spotlight on them all year long. If we do, then by next International Women's Day, we'll have even more reasons to celebrate.

Melinda Gates: On International Women's Day, make every woman count--literally . She says accurate data is crucial to assessing and meeting needs of women . She says Gates, Clinton Foundations teaming for global review of women's status . Gates: Data key to showing world leaders that empowering women makes difference .

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Aussies have reacted with fury after new laws were passed by the government allowing the Australian Security Intelligence Organsiation to spy on all of us. Adapting the viral Ryan Gosling 'Hey Girl' trend, hundreds of Twitter users hash-tagged #HeyASIO to vent their frustration on the micro-blogging site and told the department exactly what they thought of them. The country's spy agency now has now been given extreme powers to monitor computer networks after the Senate passed the bill with 44 votes to 12, with bipartisan support from Labor. Aussies have reacted with fury after new laws were passed by the government allowing the Australian Security Intelligence Organsiation to spy on all of us . Using the #HeyASIO hundreds of Twitter users vented their frustration on the micro-blogging site and told the department exactly what they thought of them . There are concerns about the new powers because the new bill does not establish the definition of a 'network' and allows ASIO to access third party computers to reach the targeted computer. This means the whole internet is open for Australian spies to look at whatever they want. The use of hastags allow users to filter topics on various social media platforms, with 'trending' tags pointing to the most popular at a certain time. The Act states that anybody who 'recklessly' discloses "information ... [that] relates to a special intelligence operation". An authorised ASIO officer can declare any operation 'special'. The new laws come at a time when Australia is on a high terror alert warning and teen terrorist Numan Haider was shot dead in Melbourne on Tuesday by a  Victorian police officer after he allegedly stabbed two police officers near the Endeavour Hills Police Station. The use of hastags allow users to filter topics on various social media platforms, with 'trending' tags pointing to the most popular at a certain time . #HeyASIO was the most popular hashtag on Twitter according to the micro-blogging site's official rankings . The Act states that anybody who 'recklessly' discloses "information ... [that] relates to a special intelligence operation" The passing of controversial anti-terror laws in Australia sparked a flurry of social media activity all over the internet .

The passing of controversial anti-terror laws in Australia sparked a flurry of social media activity all over the internet . #HeyASIO was the most popular hashtag on Twitter according to the micro-blogging site's official rankings . Australians penned some personal responses to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) telling them exactly what they thought.

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Furious Manchester City will write to UEFA to complain on behalf of their supporters after the governing body revealed they would not take action against CSKA Moscow for allowing fans in to their behind closed doors Champions League game on Tuesday. City were flabbergasted to see 300 rowdy Russian fans standing drinking beer — itself a breach of Champions League rules — in the main stand of the Khimki Arena in Moscow to watch their side snatch a 2-2 draw with a disputed late penalty. Hearing stories of media passes and sponsor tickets being sold to CSKA fans and suspicious that security staff may also have let fans through the gates, City asked UEFA to look in to the issue. Around 300 CSKA Moscow fans were in the main stand, despite the match being played behind closed doors . The CSKA fans watched their side come from behind to secure a point against Manchester City . UEFA had ordered the match to be played behind closed doors because of racist behaviour by CSKA fans . Official crowd - 0 . Club delegates - 75 per club . Centre circle boys and parents - 50 . Media - 150 . UEFA partners (sponsors) - 300 . On Wednesday though, UEFA declared themselves happy with the way things had been handled, prompting dismay and anger at City whose own travelling fans had been prevented by police from reaching an apartment overlooking the stadium from which they planned to watch the game. A City source said last night: ‘We feel this is wrong and a complete injustice. It’s unfair that in a game that is supposed to be played in an empty stadium, the home club have 300 fans singing and cheering them on and we don’t have any. To us, that’s not a punishment.’ But UEFA chief of press Pedro Pinto said: ‘I think the club has already been penalised a lot, less than three per cent of the stadium capacity was in attendance. The club isn’t getting gate receipts and the players aren’t getting any meaningful support. ‘If we say it’s behind closed doors, then it’s supposed to be behind closed doors to the general public, but there are always tickets given to VIPs, UEFA staff and sponsors. City threw away a two-goal lead as Seydou Doumbia and Natcho scored in the second half for the hosts . Natcho's late penalty made it 2-2 after City had looked comfortable after going two goals ahead in Moscow . James Milner scored City's second, sliding home to meet a cross from their first goalscorer Sergio Aguero . ‘Following Tuesday’s match between CSKA Moscow and Manchester City, UEFA has reviewed the officials’ reports and found no breach of the conditions related to a match played behind closed doors that make part of the disciplinary decision. ‘Only people who were allowed to enter the stadium (club delegations, media, security staff, UEFA and guests of sponsorship partners) attended the match with no record of inappropriate behaviour. ‘However, UEFA is reviewing the “behind closed doors” policy to see if alternative solutions could be implemented in the future.’ ‘Our sponsors and partners pay a lot of money to be associated with the competition and are entitled to receive a number of tickets. They shouldn’t have to pay the price for the behaviour of others.’ Pinto said UEFA’s reports from Moscow have shown there was no record of ‘any inappropriate behaviour in the stands’. He added: ‘We can’t stop a limited number of sponsors and corporate guests from supporting their own team. If they decide to show up with a scarf or flag we can’t stop that. ‘I can tell you, however, that there is an ongoing internal conversation on this issue in general and perhaps we’ll look to see if there are better solutions.’ Relations between City and CSKA are already at a low ebb following last season’s Champions League clash in Moscow that saw visiting midfielder Yaya Toure racially abused. Officials from the Russian club subsequently showed their contempt for City by turning up at an official reception ahead of the return game at the Etihad Stadium dressed in jeans. City are now furious at the latest events in Moscow and captain Vincent Kompany took a dim view of the matter. He said: ‘This one really annoys me and maybe it’s on top of other things as well. Players from both teams line up before the match with a Respect banner campaigning against racism . Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany was not afraid to point out that CSKA fans were allowed in to watch . Kompany questioned who was being punished after CSKA fans appeared to have been allowed in . Despite Milner and Aguero's efforts, the game ended 2-2 meaning City have failed to win in Europe this season . Manchester City need three good results to ensure they qualify from the group stage, and they can take heart from last season. When they play CSKA Moscow next month, it will be exactly a year to the day since they beat them — the first of three straight victories that confirmed their qualification. 2013-14 CL Group Stage . Nov 5.....Man City 5-2 CSKA Moscow . Nov 27....Man City 4-2 Viktoria Plzen . Dec 10....B Munich 2-3 Man City . ‘You say “No fans” then all of a sudden you turn up and basically the only team that hasn’t got fans is Man City. So who’s getting punished? Who is being done for racism? Man City or Moscow? ‘I don’t have a problem, they’ll say it’s sponsors and so on and they need to give certain allocations, but why are we getting punished? ‘And again, because you’ll have people in your papers writing columns saying “he should be looking at his own performance and stuff” — so, done, we’ve analysed it and we know we should have done better. But things like this are unacceptable to honest, there’s just no fairness in it.’ City were leading 2-0 at half-time but only took a point in the end after a controversial late penalty gave CSKA their first point in Group E. ‘It doesn’t have an effect on the players,’ said Kompany. ‘It’s just little things when you leave with a result like this. ‘Obviously you can’t deny there’s a bit of frustration, and I’m not looking for an excuse, but if you want to play it fair then, fair enough, you’ve got to let your sponsors have some tickets but why the hell do we not have any fans here? Why? What have our fans done wrong? ‘So it needs to be looked at, it needs to be changed, because our fans shouldn’t be punished.’

UEFA finds no breach of the conditions related to the match . Only people who were allowed to enter the stadium (clubs delegations, media, security staff, UEFA and guests of sponsorship partners) attended the match with no record of inappropriate behaviour, according to FIFA . Vincent Kompany had earlier expressed his anger at presence of 300 CSKA Moscow supporters . The match against Man City was supposed to be behind closed doors . City were not allocated tickets for the game as part of the punishment .

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By . Nick Mashiter, Press Association . Head coach Alan Irvine has warned West Brom that Southampton's summer fire sale has not torched the Saints' threat. Southampton side have sold around £100million worth of players - including Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren to Liverpool, Luke Shaw to Manchester United and Calum Chambers to Arsenal - during the close season. They host the Baggies in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday after losing their opening game under Ronald Koeman, going down 2-1 at Liverpool. Wary: West Brom manager Alan Irvine has warned about Southampton's threat despite a summer exodus . Exodus: Saints manager Ronald Koeman was happy to see star assets depart the club over the summer . At the double: Saido Berahino scored twice as West Brom drew 2-2 with Sunderland on the opening day . Positive start: £10.9m signing Dusan Tadic looked impressive on debut at Liverpool last weekend . But Irvine has told his side the Saints, who have spent £10.9million on Dusan Tadic from FC Twente and £8million on Graziano Pelle from Feyenoord, are still dangerous. 'Having been at Anfield last Sunday and watched how well they played and watched how many chances they were able to create at a really difficult place I think they can more than survive,' he said. 'I think they could have a very good season. They have spent the money very wisely and replaced very good players with very good players. 'I was very impressed with how they played at Anfield. Not many teams go to Anfield and make it go quiet but that certainly happened during periods of the game. 'They deserved something out of the game last week and I believe it will be a very tough place for teams to go this season.' On target: Nathaniel Clyne (right) scored at Anfield, in a game Southampton dominated for long spells . Danger man: Graziano Pelle was signed for £8m from Feyenoord . Koeman has replaced Lambert with former Baggie Shane Long in a £12million deal from Hull. The Republic of Ireland striker only joined Hull from Albion in January, scoring four goals in 15 games, and Irvine is aware of his threat. He said: 'He's a very good player for a start and is going to be an important player for them, sometimes former players come back to haunt you. 'We have just got to make sure if Shane does play from the start that we are ready to cope with the threat.' James Morrison and Joleon Lescott have resumed training but are not fit after knee injuries while new signing Georgios Samaras is not in the squad after signing on Friday. Irvine added: 'The good news is when we started training on Thursday, every player in the squad was there. That included Joleon, though he only did the first part of the session which is what was planned for him and then went and joined the fitness coach.'

Southampton sold £100m worth of players over the summer - including Luke Shaw, Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Calum Chambers and Dejan Lovren . But Baggies boss Irvine believes they will still pose a threat in St Mary's clash on Saturday . Former West Brom striker Shane Long will line up against them . Midlands side opened with 2-2 draw against Sunderland . Southampton were beaten 2-1 by Liverpool at Anfield .

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(CNN) -- The family of a Canadian teenager who committed suicide after she was allegedly gang-raped and bullied says it opposes any kind of "vigilante justice" to avenge the attack. This comes after the activist group Anonymous said it might release the names of teens it says raped the girl in an effort to force authorities to pursue prosecution. An earlier police investigation ended without criminal charges. Rehtaeh Parsons, a 17-year-old high school student from Halifax, Nova Scotia, was taken off life support Sunday, three days after she tried to hang herself. "Better act fast," Anonymous warned Canadian law enforcement in a statement. "Take immediate legal action against the individuals in questions." "The names of the rapists will be kept until it is apparent you have no intention of providing justice," the group said. Jason Barnes, partner of Rehtaeh's mother, Leah Parsons, said Thursday that the family does not "support the publishing of the names" in the case -- which has shocked Canada. "We are not looking for some kind of vigilante justice. We just want justice." Her family told CNN they met with Canadian justice officials Wednesday and urged them to reconsider filing charges. The officials assured them they would take a fresh look after a police investigation ended without criminal charges. How to help young rape victims . A girl in torment . Rehtaeh was bullied for more than a year after the alleged sexual assault, which happened in November 2011 when she was 15, her family said. Authorities confirmed that a photograph allegedly showing Rehtaeh having sex with one of the boys was circulated to friends' mobile phones and computers. As a result, her family said, she developed suicidal thoughts. She also struggled emotionally after the police investigation, her mother wrote on her Facebook tribute page. "Rehtaeh is gone today because of the four boys that thought that raping a 15-year-old girl was OK and to distribute a photo to ruin her spirit and reputation would be fun," her mother wrote. "All the bullying and messaging and harassment that never let up are also to blame. Lastly, the justice system failed her. Those are the people that took the life of my beautiful girl." Disseminating such a picture -- even if the sexual encounter was consensual -- is considered child pornography under Canadian law. However, a joint investigation by Royal Canadian Mounted Police and local authorities found "insufficient evidence to proceed with charges," RCMP spokesman Cpl. Scott MacRae said. "There are factors in determining other than the picture itself; ages, who sent the material, computers, so it's complex," he said. "We do understand people want the answers, and the big question here is why was it done or why weren't there charges, and we understand that. We're not trying to deflect blame or not be accountable." Healing process after rape never ends . Anonymous slams law enforcement . The Halifax case is similar to the recent case in Steubenville, Ohio, in which two boys were convicted of rape. In that case, lurid text messages, cell phone pictures and videos, and social media posts surrounding the sexual abuse of a girl emerged at the Ohio trial. It attracted the attention of bloggers and Anonymous, a loosely organized hacking activist group. As far as the Canadian incident goes, Anonymous told Nova Scotia Justice Minister Ross Landry that "justice is in your hands and supports the legal machinery to move forward with charges. "We do not approve of vigilante justice as the media claims. That would mean we approve of violent actions against these rapists at the hands of an unruly mob. What we want is justice. And that's your job. So do it," the group said. The group said it took only a few hours to identify the boys who assaulted Rehtaeh. "This wasn't some high-tech operation that involved extracting private messages from someone's Facebook account. Dozens of e-mails were sent to us by kids and adults alike, most of whom had personal relationships with the rapists. Many recalled confessions made by these boys blatantly in public where they detailed the rape of an inebriated 15-year-old girl," the group said. The group said that declarations from police and prosecutors that there wasn't enough evidence for an arrest "should be viewed solely as an admission of incompetence on their part." "These sad little boys had no fear whatsoever about admitting publicly their crimes and even spreading photographic evidence of it. Why were they unafraid? They believed no one was ever going to do anything to stop them and they were right," the group said. Every officer that signed off on the "no evidence" conclusion, Anonymous said, "should be guarding the entrance to a petting zoo for the remainder of their careers," When bullying goes high-tech .

Activist group Anonymous tells police: "Better act fast" to take action against teens . Mother says the justice system failed her daughter . Mounties defend their actions: "It's complex" The case is reminiscent of an incident in Steubenville, Ohio .

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By . Emily Crane . Billionaire politician Clive Palmer has been dismissed as a 'flash in the pan' like Pauline Hanson and Bob Katter by acting Prime Minister Warren Truss. Mr Truss, who is filling in for Tony Abbott while he is overseas, said Mr Palmer could go the way of other political 'saviours' including the former Queensland MP Pauline Hanson. 'We have had plenty of saviours in the past, like Pauline Hanson and Bob Katter,' Mr Truss told reporters at the NSW Nationals conference in Queanbeyan. Billionaire politician Clive Palmer has been dismissed as a 'flash in the pan' like Pauline Hanson and Bob Katter by acting Prime Minister Warren Truss . 'They all made a little bit of an impact for a while.' The Nationals leader said those who voted for Mr Palmer in protest at last year's federal election were putting their country at risk. Mr Palmer was the big winner at the 2013 federal election, gaining his own seat and three Senate spots. Warren Truss, who is filling in for Tony Abbott while he is overseas, said Mr Palmer could go the way of other political 'saviours' including the former Queensland MP Pauline Hanson . Pauline Hanson roared onto the Australian political landscape in 1996 but was only in federal parliament for a single term. Despite big predictions, the vote for the Katter's Australian Party of long time Queensland MP Bob Katter was disappointing at the last election, and Mr Katter's personal vote slumped. Mr Truss said there was always a protest vote. 'Sometimes these people will gain support from that element,' he said. Pauline Hanson roared onto the Australian political landscape in 1996 but was only in federal parliament for a single term . The vote for the Katter's Australian Party of long time Queensland MP Bob Katter, pictured here with Clive Palmer in the background, was disappointing at the last election . 'Those who throw away their vote in some kind of protest are in fact ignoring their obligations to their democracy but also putting their country at risk.' Mr Truss added that the coalition took its responsibilities seriously and would get on with the job of delivering what was important for Australia. He said other parties could worry about themselves. Mr Palmer was the big winner at the 2013 federal election, gaining his own seat and three Senate spots .

Nationals leader Warren Truss said Clive Palmer could be like other political 'saviours' and only make an impact for a while . He compared Palmer to Queensland's Pauline Hanson and Bob Katter . Palmer won his own seat and three Senate spots at 2013 federal election . Acting PM said those who voted for Palmer were putting country at risk .

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A 14-year-old western Pennsylvania boy has been charged with desecrating a statue of Jesus by standing in front of it and mimicking a sex act, and then posting pictures of it on the Internet. Bedford County officials say the court papers against the boy are sealed, because they're filed in juvenile court. The Altoona Mirror reported authorities charged the boy through a 1972 law, which makes it a crime to desecrate a venerated object. Charged: A boy has been charged with desecrating a statue of Jesus by standing in front of it and mimicking a sex act. He later posted a photo of the incident to Facebook . 'On or about 07/20/14 the ACCUSED took and posted pictures of himself on Facebook desecrating a statue of Jesus,' a police report obtained by The Smoking Gun said. A second photo of the boy with the Jesus statue shows him raising his hands to the sky while standing on the statue's hands. That photo was published by The Bedford County Free Press. A college student was prosecuted under the same 1972 law when he urinated on a nativity scene in Wilkes-Barre in January 2010. The statue at issue in the new case belongs to Love in the Name of Christ, a Christian service organization with a branch in Everett. Bev Patten, a spokesperson for the organization, told MailOnline that Love in the Name of Christ did not press charges in the incident. 'Our request was for prayer for the young man,' Patten said. Trpr. Jeffrey Petucci, a Pennsylvania State Police spokesman, told MailOnline the district attorney's office discovered the photo and forwarded it to state police in Bedford. Based on the police investigation, the district attorney's office filed charges, he said. Petucci said the boy did not tell investigators why he desecrated the statue. Scene: A statue at the Everett branch of Love in the Name of Christ was desecrated in July . __ . Information from: Altoona Mirror, http://www.altoonamirror.com .

A western Pennsylvania boy has been charged with desecrating a statue of Jesus by standing in front of it and mimicking a sex act . The boy reportedly shared photos of the incident on Facebook . Authorities charged the boy through a 1972 law, which makes it a crime to desecrate a venerated object .

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By . Laura Williamson . and Sami Mokbel . Bacary Sagna has been offered a massive £4.1million per season after tax to join Galatasaray in the summer. The Arsenal right back is out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to agree an extension on his current £3.6m deal. Sagna is free to begin talks with foreign clubs regarding a potential free transfer and the Turkish giants have been quick to register their interest. Comfort cash: Sagna has been offered a huge £4.1million per season after tax to join Galatasaray . Stay or go? Manager Arsene Wenger talks with defender Sagna before a training last week . They hope to lure Sagna with the security of a four-year contract and a huge pay rise. The France defender, 30, who is also interesting Fenerbahce, Paris St-Germain and Monaco, has been involved in a long- running contract wrangle with the Gunners. The club’s original offer of a 12- month extension, on the same salary, was dismissed last season. Arsenal have returned with a new offer of a two-year extension, again on the same money, but there remains a reluctance to agree to those terms. Manager Arsene Wenger has spoken of his desire to tie Sagna down to a new contract. Wenger also said Theo Walcott will miss the World Cup but will come back stronger than ever. Mainstay: Sagna is still a regular for Arsenal, and has played 17 league games this term for the Gunners . Wenger said it was ‘unbelievable’ that Walcott picked up a knee injury in a World Cup year after being called up by England prematurely in 2006 and then left out of Fabio Capello’s 2010 squad, but believes it will not cost the player any of his pace. Wenger insisted the 24-year-old is young enough to recover fully from the injury sustained in Arsenal’s FA Cup win over Tottenham last week, but ruled out trying to rush him back in time for the World Cup in Brazil. ‘I’m convinced (Walcott can come back from this),’ said Wenger. ‘Studies show that the players around 25 with that kind of injury come back as normal. When you are over 30, you do not ever come back exactly the same. But between 25 and 28 you come back to the level you had before. Friends: Sagna would be joining former Chelsea star Didier Drogba (right) at the Istanbul-based club . ‘He has said to me he is under shock but he will fight as ever to come back. He is strong mentally and, if you look at his career, he has had a few setbacks. ‘To go, at 17, to a World Cup and afterwards to be left out in South Africa was a massive blow and he always recovered. ‘He went to the World Cup when he was not ready to go and, when he was ready to go, he was not selected. Then, the first time when nobody disputes that he will go, he is out through injury. Desperate: Arsenal boss Wenger has spoken of his desire to tie down Sagna on a new contract . ‘There are always people who make miracles but on cruciates we know that the minimum time is six months.’ Wenger is also confident Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud can compensate for Walcott’s absence, but would not rule out venturing into the transfer market this month. One man who won’t be leaving is Tomas Rosicky. Wenger said: ‘Rosicky will stay here at the end of the season. He is a marvellous player and contributes well to the team.’

Frenchman is out of contract in the summer, currently on £3.6m per year . Sagna offered £4.1m per season after tax to play in Turkey . Arsene Wenger has spoken of his desire to tie Sagna down at Arsenal . Right-back has played 17 times in the league for the Gunners this term .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 03:25 EST, 1 February 2012 . Young-at-heart Kathleen Connell celebrated her 100th birthday and shared the secret of her long life - playing on her handheld games console. Instead of knitting or playing bingo, Kathleen - known to all as Kit - spends two hours a day tapping away on her Nintendo DS Lite. Instead of knitting or playing bingo Kathleen gets stuck into one of her many Nintendo games . The grandmother-of-one, who still lives independently, said she is so addicted to the hand-held device she wore out her first console and had to replace it. Kit turned 100 last Friday but, according to the Brain Trainer, one of her favourite games, she has a mental age of just 64 - the same age as her daughter Pam. She said yesterday: 'It's absolutely super. I don't feel a day over 80. 'I can't speak highly enough of it. I try to keep my brain active by playing my Nintendo. I don't know what I would do without it.' Her daughter, Pam Stewart, bought her mum the console as a 96th birthday present but Kit had to replace the console two years ago when she wore out the power switch. The pensioner, who lives alone . despite having had both legs amputated, spends her evenings painting . pictures using the computer, completing puzzles and said she now knows . 5,000 words. She has a . stack of 10 games including Scrabble, Zenses puzzle game, My Word Coach, . Family Fortunes, Puzzler World, Art Academy and Left Brain Right Brain. Left: Catherine, pictured age 7 in 1919, with parents Frank and Ethel Ward. Right: Catherine pictured age 31 in 1953 in Torquay with her daughter Pam . Catherine 100, has a brain age of 64 . Kit, who lives in Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire, and turned 100 on Friday, said: 'I'll play it in the evening, then I'll have a break and a cup of tea, then I'll go back to playing my Nintendo. 'If there's nothing on the television I'll sit for an hour or two and try my hand on a game. I'll do some of the brain training exercises and I'm also learning to paint on it. 'I can't speak highly enough of this Nintendo. It helps to keep my brain as active as possible in my old age. 'If there's any secret to a long life it's to think positive and keep your mind active.' Pam, from Rutherglen, said she has been stunned at how easily her mother has taken to gaming. She added: 'I'm very proud of the way mum keeps active after all those years. I bought it for her six years ago and she has loads of games for it now. It certainly keeps her sharp.' A Nintendo spokesman said: 'We're delighted that Mrs. Connell is such a Nintendo fan and enjoys the challenges of Brain Training on her Nintendo DS. 'This game has had huge success thanks to its' ability to stimulate the brain and challenge memory skills simply by using it for just a few minutes each day. 'It is wonderful that she also hones her creative skills on Art Academy. Our products are designed to be enjoyed by all ages and generations and Mrs Connell is true testament to this.'

'I don't feel a day over 80,' says super-sharp grandmother . Kathleen spends two hours a day on her Nintendo DS Lite .

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British royal Peter Phillips took his family out on the hottest day of the year yesterday to watch his younger sister Zara compete in the Barbury International Horse trials on Sharpridge Farm. While his giggling baby daughter Isla was content enough in her pram, his eldest Savannah, 3, had bounds of energy as she was swung high in the air by her mother Autumn. The joyous toddler even made a run for freedom at one point, forcing her father to dash after her. Meanwhile Autumn chatted to their companion and tended to Isla at the event near Swindon. Peter Phillips dashes after runaway daughter Savannah at Barbury International Horse trials yesterday . The two little girls were wearing white frilly sun hats and pretty dresses in pink and purple. One-year-old . Isla enjoyed the hot weather barefoot from the comfort of her pushchair . while her older sister ran around in black Mary Jane flats. Dressed in casual summer clothes, Peter . wore a pastel shirt and beige cargo shorts while wife Autumn dressed in . cropped skinny jeans a loose grey top. Peter Phillips and Autumn have been married for five years and have two daughters together. The four-day horse riding competition comprises of dressage, show jumping and cross country. Happy families: Savannah, Peter, Isla and Autumn enjoy a sunny day out . The two young girls are full of energy as they enjoy a sunny day out . Up in the air! Little Savannah is swung up very high and couldn't be happier basking in the sunshine . Zara Phillips brought Mr Murt to Barbury for the two star event for a showstopping dressage test on Friday in the TH White ring. Seeming pleased with the result, she tackled show jumping and cross country on Mr Murt with confidence yesterday. In section one of the Open Novice competition Zara, riding CG Master Lux, finished in fourth place. Zara Phillips, representing Great Britain, on Mr Murt pictured during Cross Country on day three of the trials . Showstopping Zara makes an elegant jump with Mr Murt yesterday during the cross country round .

British royal Peter Phillips and wife Autumn, both 35, went to trials yesterday . Took daughters Isla, one, and Savannah, three, on day out with them . Two giggling girls were all smiles and full of energy on hottest day of year .

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By . Lizzie Edmonds . PUBLISHED: . 05:58 EST, 11 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:23 EST, 11 October 2013 . Jailed: Casey Bowen, nicknamed 'Pocket Money Boy' in the 1990s, was jailed for another three years today . A criminal nicknamed ‘Pocket Money Boy’ after social services gave him money to keep out of trouble nearly 20 years ago has been jailed for burgling a pensioner’s home and stealing her car. Casey Bowen, 33, was just 14 when he earned his 'Pocket Money Boy' nickname in the mid 1990s. Gloucester social services attempted to wean him off juvenile crime by paying him £60 a week - but today he was jailed for three years at Gloucester Crown Court for a crime he committed while on parole. Bowen, from Churchdown, Gloucester, pleaded guilty to burglary, taking a car without the owner’s consent and going out equipped for burglary. The cocaine-using father-of-two targeted a vulnerable 81-year-old woman in July this year who was living alone in Cheltenham, the court heard. Bowen was still on licence from a five-and-a-half year sentence for armed robbery. Prosecuting barrister David Maunder said: 'Mrs Susan Merrell, who is 81, was in the kitchen when she saw the defendant in her back garden. 'She asked him what he was doing and he said he could help her get rid of bags of rubbish and garden waste. She was thankful and said that it would be lovely. 'He followed her into the house, was polite and friendly and started to help her move items. 'He went into the living room where there was a sideboard and cabinet and told her not to follow him as he was behind the door. 'The defendant stacked the bags in the hallway along with a shopping trolley and he asked if he could borrow her car, a silver Rover 25. She agreed, gave him the keys and he loaded the bags into the vehicle. Youth: Casey Bowen pictured leaving court in 1996 - around the time he was given his nickname . 'But when he left and she returned to the living room she found that two display cabinets had been emptied. 'Old and sentimental value items - bone china tea sets, plates and dishes, glassware and a Victorian clock - were gone.' The court heard how a neighbour of the elderly woman saw Bowen reverse the Rover into his driveway before walking away the following day. He took photographs of Bowen and called the police - who arrested him on July 20. Defending solicitor Lloyd Jenkins said: 'Upon release from his current sentence my client has been co-operative, reliable and keen to prove that leopards can change their spots. 'All went well until he went back to Cheltenham, succumbed to temptation, started using cocaine again and mixing with the wrong sort of people. 'But when I spoke to him recently, for the first time ever he has demonstrated remorse and is ashamed of his behaviour.' Jailing Bowen, Judge Hart said: 'You committed your first burglary at the age of 14 and since then a variety of non-custodial disposals have been tried. 'Your criminal record is littered with offending of a serious nature - violence, burglary and drugs supply - and you have served four jail sentences. 'Perhaps this is not a case of a leopard changing his spots but more of a leopard disguising his spots. 'You preyed on a vulnerable and elderly lady and stole items of sentimental value to her. You then took her car. 'Such offending has a damaging effect on the elderly whose feelings of vulnerability lead to helplessness. 'She put her faith in what she saw as your goodwill and you deliberately targeted her.' Miss Merrell said after the hearing: 'The man just came up the garden path and said that he would take away my rubbish. 'I was very pleased and I went inside the house to get my purse to give him some money and he followed me in. Behind bars: Bowen pleaded guilty at Gloucester Crown Court (pictured) to burglary, as well as taking a car without consent and going out equipped for burglary . 'I can’t remember what I was doing, but he stayed in the house and was helping himself to what he wanted. 'He took a lot of family heirlooms including a clock that my sister was very fond of. I was very cross about that. It made me fell very sick at that point. 'I didn’t realise what he had done. I only noticed that everything had gone the following morning.' Bowen's criminal career dates back  two decades and in the 1990s Gloucestershire social services provoked national outrage when they started paying him £60 a week. At the time, the authority thought the money would provide him with the means to legally purchase the items he regularly stole. But the policy was condemned by politicians for paying what appeared to be a 'reward for crime.'

Casey Bowen, 33, was a teenager when he was nicknamed 'Pocket Money Boy' for getting £60 a week from social services to deter him from crime . However, twenty years later, the father-of-two was jailed again today for targeting a vulnerable 81-year-old woman in her home . Put behind bars for three years at Gloucester Crown Court for burglary and taking a car without the owner's consent .

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(CNN) -- It wasn't the grand announcement fans were hoping for, but it will do. Jay Z's Budweiser "Made in America" festival will occur simultaneously in both Los Angeles and Philadelphia over the Labor Day weekend, it was announced on Wednesday. It's the first time the previously star-studded concert series is headed west, and the announcement that the rapper planned a press conference with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti led to speculation that there would be a joint tour with Jay Z's superstar wife, Beyonce. Despite the dashed hopes, it's still a huge deal. Mayor Garcetti says 50,000 fans are expected to attend the two-day event. Philadelphia garnered a $10 million economic benefit from last year's festival thanks to the multitudes who came. "LA is the music capital of the world," Garcetti said. City officials admitted that holding such a festival in downtown Los Angeles will be a logistical challenge. Prior to the announcement, Variety reported that City Councilman Jose Huizar had introduced a motion in March asking for the withholding of permits for the event until the potential disruption to downtown could be assessed. The announcement is yet another financial feather in Jay Z's cap. He and his wife have consistently topped music charts as well as lists of the most successful star couples, including last year's Forbes compilation of the highest-earning celebrity couples. The pair surprised fans this year at the Coachella music festival held in Indio, California, in April. There's no word yet on the lineup, though Jay Z hinted that several genres will be represented. If 2013 is any indication, that will include Beyonce. Last year's performers included Nine Inch Nails, Rick Ross and Skrillex.

Jay Z's two-day festival will is headed to Los Angeles . It will occur simultaneously in Philadelphia . Rumors swirled he would announce a tour with Beyonce .

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Editor's note: Uwe Reinhardt is James Madison professor of political economy at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School. From 1986 to 1995 he served as a commissioner on the Physician Payment Review Committee, established in 1986 by Congress to advise it on issues related to the payment of physicians. Uwe Reinhardt says health costs are rising at unsustainable pace, gobbling up middle-class incomes. (CNN) -- Watching the angry outbursts at town hall meetings on health reform and the continuing public ambivalence about current efforts to reform our health system almost makes me wish that the reform effort fails. Perhaps Americans need to be taught a basic lesson on the economics of employment-based health insurance before they will feel as smugly secure with it as they do now and before they will stop nitpicking health-reform efforts to death over this or that detail. And America's currently insured middle class will be increasingly desperate if health reform fails. Millions more such families will see their take-home pay shrink. Millions will lose their employment-based insurance, especially in medium and small-sized firms. And millions will find themselves inexorably priced out of health care as we know it. Milliman Inc., an employee benefits consulting firm, publishes annually its Milliman Medical Index on the total health spending by or for a typical American family of four with private health insurance. The index totals the family's out-of-pocket spending for health care plus the contribution employers and employees make to that family's job-related health insurance coverage. The Milliman Medical Index stood at $8,414 in 2001. It had risen to $16,700 by 2009. It is likely to rise to $18,000 by next year. That is more than a doubling of costs in the span of a decade! Since 2005, the index has grown at an average annual compound rate of 8.4 percent. Suppose we make it 8 percent for the coming decade. Then today's $16,700 will have grown to slightly over $36,000 by 2019. Economists are convinced that this $36,000 would come virtually all out of the financial hides of employees, even if the employer pretended to be paying, say, 80 percent of the employment-based health insurance premiums. In the succinct words of the late United Automobile Worker Union leader Douglas Fraser: . "Before you start weeping for the auto companies and all they pay for medical insurance, let me tell you how the system works. All company bargainers worth their salt keep their eye on the total labor unit cost, and when they pay an admittedly horrendous amount for health care, that's money that can't be spent for higher [cash] wages or higher pensions or other fringe benefits. So we directly, the union and its members, feel the costs of the health care system." ("A National Health Policy Debate," Dartmouth Medical School Alumni Magazine, Summer 1989: 30) Unfortunately, very few rank-and-file workers appreciate this fact. Aside from their still modest out-of-pocket payments and contributions to employment-based insurance premiums, most employees seem sincerely to believe that the bulk of their family's health care is basically paid for by "the company," which is why so few members of the middle class have ever been much interested in controlling health spending in this country. The price for that indifference will be high. If efforts at better cost containment fail once again, and health care costs rise to $36,000 on average for a typical American family of four under age 65 -- as almost surely it would -- that $36,000 will be borne entirely by the family. That family's disposable income would be much higher if the growth of future health spending was better controlled. And, as noted, many smaller firms will stop altogether providing job-based health insurance. It would be a major problem for families with an income of less than $100,000 a year. In 2007, only about 25 percent of American families had a money income of $100,000 or more. Close to 60 percent had family incomes of less than $75,000. Here it must be remembered that the wages and salaries of the solid American middle class have been relatively stagnant in recent years and are likely to remain so for the next decade. Unemployment is not likely to fall significantly soon, regardless of what stock prices do on Wall Street. Indeed, often stock prices rise as firms lay off workers to drive up profits through leaner payrolls. This prospect -- relatively stagnant family incomes combined with family health-care costs that double every decade -- is what America's middle class should contemplate as it thinks about the imperative of health reform. It is a pity that this central issue seems to have been shoved aside by mendacious distortions from Sarah Palin, Betsy McCaughey, Rush Limbaugh and other extremist commentators seeking to frighten Americans with their prattle about "death panels" and "pulling plugs on granny" that no bill before Congress even remotely envisions. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Uwe Reinhardt.

Uwe Reinhardt: Consider what will happen if health reform fails . He says health costs have already doubled in a decade . Reinhardt says dollars spent on health care come out of wages for middle class .

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(CNN) -- A big landslide has ripped through a village in a remote area of Papua New Guinea, killing at least 40 people and leaving 20 others missing, authorities said Wednesday. The country's National Disaster Office said that 40 bodies had been recovered from the debris and search and rescue officers were at the site on Wednesday to assist with the recovery of others. The landslide happened Tuesday in the Komo area in in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea, near one of the country's major liquified natural gas fields. Bill Yomba, an official at the National Disaster Office said that the agency thought that excavations carried out by Esso Highlands, a division of the oil company ExxonMobil, for a natural gas project could have set off the landslide. "This is a very huge landslide that covered a 1 kilometer area," said Yomba. "We are still trying to find out the cause but at this stage we believe the gas project run by Esso Highlands Limited was a contributor because they had been digging for limestone in the area." The office of Esso Highlands in Papua New Guinea did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment Wednesday.

The landslide takes places near one of the country's largest natural gas fields . The National Disaster Office says the authorities have recovered 40 bodies with 20 people still missing . The disaster office says earthworks for a liquified gas project may have contributed to the landslide .

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Matthew Jordan, whose body was found in Windermere in Cumbria after he went missing . The inquest into the death of a student whose body was found in a lake has been halted after it emerged his iPhone was still working despite it apparently being in the water with him for three weeks. Matthew Jordan, 20, a criminology student from Middlesbrough became separated from three friends during a night out in April, sparking a massive search of Lake Windermere in Cumbria, where his body was found. It has also emerged that a mysterious man captured on CCTV walking through the graveyard of a nearby church and then doing a quick u-turn around the time the student went missing has not come forward, despite police appeals. The inquest at Kendal County Hall in Cumbria was stopped after the barrister for Matthew's family, Kieran Rainey, complained of too many 'gaps' in his final hours and said there were 'unanswered questions'. Mr Rainey told a witness giving evidence for Cumbria Police: ' You've got a blank spot on this and you're giving evidence today which is completely divergent to what the family understands.' Coroner Ian Smith said he did not want the family to go away 'unhappy', but warned all the answers may never be known. Matthew's mum Claire, 43, told the inquest her son was good at directions and cannot understand how he ended up on Rayrigg Road, close to Windermere, as it was in the opposite direction to the cottage where he was staying. She said: 'There's still a gap and we are still adamant people have seen him on Rayrigg Road that night and that Matthew would have asked them for help. An unexplained bruise on Mr Jordan's head was also found during a post mortem but a small cut to his eye was 'missed'. Several 'figures' in 'groups' on the streets that night have not been traced, a detective revealed. Mr Jordan a Teesside University student, had travelled from Middlesbrough with three friends on a spontaneous trip to the Lakes. The group ate and drank at pubs including The Stag's Head Hotel where they got split up around midnight. Mr Jordan's family pictured at an earlier press conference around the time he went missing. His mother Clare, centre, told the inquest she cannot understand how he ended up near to the lake . Mr Jordan was told to go to the toilet after being sick but the group got split up and he was last seen trying to get help at the The Hole Int Wall, which was closed. His three friends - Michael Blakey, Jordan Gill and David Russell - estimated he had drunk around six-and-half pints of lager, some shots and half-a-bottle of wine. His post mortem examination showed he was two-and-half times the drink drive limit, which on its own was not sufficient to kill him, the inquest was told. While he was described as 'swaying', witnesses said he was sufficiently 'coherent' to ask for help and speak to people. The last contact his phone had with the network was at 12.31am. Specialist police teams and a marine unit searched Windermere for Mr Jordan after he went missing following a night out with friends . Mr Jordan had not been drinking regularly due to a fitness regime, the hearing was told. His cause of death remains 'unascertained' - partly because of decomposition after he was found in the water at Rayrigg Wyke, just off the A592 on Rayrigg Road near the Windermere Steam Boat museum. CCTV footage from the museum showed the security lights activating around the time of his disappearance but there is no-one or any animals on film - which detectives cannot explain. Consultant pathologist, Dr Nicholas Mapstone, is also unable to explain bruising on Matthew's head. He said: 'There are a number of things I didn't find and it leaves me with a problem . 'Although it's not uncommon in drowning. 'There was no definite evidence of drowning but that doesn't exclude drowning. Two possible causes are drowning and hypothermia.' Detective Sergeant Andy Lamb, of Cumbria Police, said the operation to find Mr Jordan was ‘comprehensive’ Dr Mapstone said the bruise was not serious enough to be fatal but 'was caused when he was alive.' However, he added that the bruise could also have been due to his position in the water. But the Lancaster-based consultant pathologist believes there was 'no evidence' of Matthew being assaulted but said he was not a 'forensic pathologist'. Detective Sergeant Andy Lamb, of Cumbria Police, said the operation to find Mr Jordan was 'comprehensive' with hundreds of statements taken and CCTV footage examined. He said it was the first missing person search in Cumbria on such a scale in years. DS Lamb said: 'Has someone hit Matthew? I've certainly not come across any material or any witness that suggests otherwise. 'I think, having heard all the evidence and reviewed all the statements, the hypothesis which has the most likelihood is that Matthew has been drunk, perhaps fallen over, and ended up in the lake and to do that, he would have had to cross a field.' Floral tributes were left outside the Winderemere steamboat museum near to where Mr Jordan's body was found . Asked how Matthew's body could have ended up at Rayrigg Wyke, DS Lamb said: 'It's fairly common in Windermere - it has a strong current underwater and various vegetation that someone could get caught up on, or then move around.' A mysterious man captured on CCTV walking through the graveyard of St Mark's Church and then doing a quick u-turn around the time Matthew went missing had not come forward despite police appeals, he said. DS Lamb said they had spoken to who they believed the person to be, who had said he was at home on the night. After the inquest Matthew's family said in a statement: 'There is no criticism of anyone in this matter. The issue is that, there is a gap in the evidence for the period between Matthew leaving the 'Hole in the Wall' to the time when he entered the lake. 'We understand that there is further evidence which was not produced at the inquest and our solicitor will be requesting sight of that evidence in the hope that this will provide a clearer picture of events.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Matthew Jordan, 20, disappeared after a night out with friends in Cumbria . His body was found weeks later in Lake Windermere after a massive search . An inquest into his death was halted by the coroner at Kendal County Hall . Emerged his iPhone still worked despite apparently being in water with him . Police also said a mysterious man spotted on CCTV has failed to come forward .

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David Jones is considering starting its Boxing Day sales one week early to boost sales in a move that could force rival Myer to follow suit. A source in the retail industry said the department store was preparing sale stock to put in stores ahead of Christmas due to slow sales in the past few weeks, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. This comes as New South Wales Planning Minister Pru Goward has taken the step of allowing shops in business districts in the CBD, Bondi Junction and western suburbs to stay open 24/7 until Christmas in order to help retailers pick up their sales. David Jones is considering starting its Boxing Day sales one week early to boost sales . A Lego Christmas tree in Pitt Street in the Sydney CBD, where shops are allowed to open 24/7 until Christmas . Both David Jones and Myer are already offering deals on certain items, with David Jones currently offering 20 per cent off a range of home appliances, 40 per cent off Christmas wrapping and dinnerware, and other discounts on items including TVs, books, kitchenware and linen. Myer is holding a 'Super Weekend' this weekend with discounts on electrical appliances, homewares and clothing. This also comes after consumer sentiment hit a three-year low this December, down 5.7 percent from 96.6 in November to 91.1 in December. Westpac chief economist Bill Evans said this was a 'very disturbing result'. 'This is a particularly awkward time for respondents to feel so downbeat about purchasing major items given that it comes in the critical lead up weeks to Christmas,' Mr Evans said. Myer is expected to follow suit if David Jones starts its clearance sales early, industry sources say . This also comes consumer sentiment hit a three-year low this December . Commonwealth Bank economist Diana Mousina said this was in line with analysis they had done about Christmas shopping, which showed spending during the festive season would be down from $18.4 billion in 2013 to $17.8 billion in 2014. The bank's National Consumer Expenditure survey showed shoppers would spend $300 million less on Christmas gifts and $100 million less on Boxing Day sales this year. 'Based on anecdotes from retailers, and just compared to a year ago and on usual Christmas sales it's just not happening as much as they would like,' Ms Mousina said. 'It's an issue of competition in the market, there are a lot of new entrants into clothing and footwear retail at the moment. '[Stores] are just thinking of strategies to mitigate that.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted David Jones and Myer for comment. Westpac chief economist Bill Evans said the fall in consumer sentiment was a 'very disturbing result'

Department stores consider starting clearance sales early this year . This comes as the NSW government has taken the step of allowing shops in business districts to stay open 24/7 to help boost sales . Consumer sentiment hit a three-year low this December, down 5.7 percent .

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In 2001 a huge earthquake shook the state of Gujarat in India. 2,000 people were killed, 400,000 lost their homes, and countless more lost their businesses in the devastation. One young entrepreneur, Mansukhbhai Prajapati, lost everything, but found an innovative way to get back on his feet. Prajapati designed a low-cost clay fridge which required no electricity and continued to function in the event of major catastrophes or blackouts such as the one that devastated his village. Prajapati's invention is part of a growing trend in India that has become known as "frugal innovation" -- below-the-radar inventors across the country devising low-cost solutions to local problems, often borne of necessity, using bespoke technologies of their own creation. So striking has the trend for frugal innovation become, that last year the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Nesta), an independent charity in the UK, commissioned and published a major research paper on the phenomenon. The paper said "frugal innovation is found throughout the Indian system: from ... efforts to crowdsource drug discovery driven by government labs, to Bharti Airtel's approach to cutting the cost of mobile phone calls, to the Keralan approach to palliative care which is providing access to support at the end of life for thousands in a void of formal healthcare." At the forefront of the frugal innovation movement is Professor Anil Gupta who, for the last 20 years, has been travelling across India in search of local inventors whose creativity has had a positive impact on rural poverty. In 1989, Gupta founded the Honey Bee Network, an organization that uncovers grassroots inventors, and helps bring their inventions to the world. "I have walked about 4,000 kilometers in the last 12 years," says Gupta. "I have tried to map the minds of people who are creating around the country." Gupta's journey has brought him into contact with inventors who are solving common problems in frugal ways, using traditional knowledge and readily available materials. By his own reckoning, Gupta believes that the Honey Bee Network has helped unearth over 25,000 new inventions, including a motorbike-mounted crop sprayer, a device for climbing trees, an amphibious bicycle and a wind-powered irrigation system. Kirsten Bound, the author of Nesta's report, says "frugal innovation is all about creating advantage out of constraint. Faced with scarce resources and institutional voids, frugal innovators develop radical new solutions to problems. It's not just about making things cheaper, but better, more appropriate and scalable. It involves leveraging available resources in new ways, reducing or re-using waste or even re-thinking an entire system around a product or service." Mansukhbhai Patel, a Gujerati farmer devised just such a product. Picking cotton in Gujarat is a manual task which, in the past, has frequently been undertaken by children. In a bid to reduce the work involved, Patel invented a cotton-stripping machine that can be operated by one person. Professor Gupta believes the invention has helped significantly reduce child labor in the region. Frugal Digital, a research group run by the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design, seeks to promote exactly this kind of invention. The group runs projects in conjunction with Indian inventors to build cheap, "hackable" devices to solve enduring problems across the subcontinent. Priya Mani, project manager for Frugal Digital, says that there is a lot to learn from "thinking about how you can hack everyday castaway objects." The projects the organization has run in conjunction with Indian inventors have already yielded products that are being used around India today, including a classroom projector fashioned from repurposed cell phone components and a low-cost health screening tool made from an old alarm clock. But Mani believes that work being done by frugal innovators in India has yet to have a significant international impact: "People thought we were totally nuts trying to create something new out of old parts." Bound believes that the philosophy of frugal innovation and the practice of repurposing technology could be applied globally. "Frugal innovation coming out of India could have important implications for the rest of the world" says Bound. "General Electric has shown with its now famous ultra-low cost ECG machine that there is a Western market for products born out of the constraints of the Indian healthcare market. It forces multinationals to think about how their existing investment intensive models of innovation can face inevitable growing competition with Indian and Chinese multinationals." Of course, not all stories of frugal innovation have a happy ending. In 1975, flooding across India brought the province of Bihar to a standstill. The rising waters in the village of Jatwa-Janerwa made it impossible for many people to work, shop or go about their daily lives. Local honey salesman, Mohammed Saidullah, was forced to cross the swollen Ganges river for sell honey, but every trip came at a price -- the boat was expensive and paying the levy was driving him towards penury -- so he came up with novel solution. Saidullah locked himself away for three days of solid design and construction. When he emerged he had constructed an amphibious bicycle, which would allow him to contend with the annual monsoon. It looked like a regular bike, but had large retractable floats attached to the sides of each wheel. Saidullah's invention earned him a raft of awards including the National Innovation Foundation's lifetime achievement award. Yet in spite of the recognition, the inventor still lives in poverty. Gupta says there is work to be done yet in connecting creative people with funding, and not all of it can come from the public purse. According to Gupta, connecting grassroots technologists with big business will be key to development not just in India, but around the world. "Nothing," he says, "can justify preventing people from learning from one another."

Indian inventors recycle old technology to solve local problems . Inventions include amphibious bicycles, wind-powered irrigation systems and tree-climbing machines . Frugal innovators around India have patented their inventions and received awards .

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(CNN) -- For the Obama administration, yesterday's gaffe may be tomorrow's masterstroke. The idea that Secretary of State John Kerry said would never work now appears to be the best chance of averting a U.S. military strike on Syria, and the Obama administration moved on Tuesday to stake its claim on the proposal. It started early on Monday, when Kerry broached the idea of Syria handing its arsenal of chemical weapons to international control. But Kerry immediately dismissed the idea, saying Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad "isn't about to do it, and it can't be done, obviously." Shortly after, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Moscow would be willing to support it, and his Syrian counterpart quickly welcomed the concept. With the administration fighting an uphill battle to win support from Congress for military action, a U.S. official told CNN on condition of anonymity that Kerry's remarks were a "major goof." Kerry spokeswoman Jen Psaki sought to roll back the comments, saying he was simply responding to a "hypothetical." But by Monday evening, President Barack Obama called it a welcome development "if true," warning that it couldn't be used as an opportunity for Syria to stall for time. Obama told CNN that the threat of American force "has prompted some interesting conversations," including one he had with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Group of 20 economic summit Putin hosted in St. Petersburg. "When I was at the G20, we had some time to discuss this, and I believe that Mr. Putin does not see the use of chemical weapons as a good thing inside of Syria or anyplace else," Obama said. And by Tuesday morning, Kerry told the House Armed Services Committee that the Russian plan "is not something that, you know, suddenly emerged, though it did publicly." "President Putin raised the issue with President Obama at St. Petersburg. President Obama directed us to try to continue to talk and see if it is possible," he said. The plan appears to have taken on "a life of its own" in the past day and could help Washington and Moscow reach "a mutually face-saving solution," said Andrew Kuchins, director of the Russia and Eurasia Program and the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. "This is really a rabbit out of a hat," Kuchins said. For Obama, with Americans largely opposed to yet another military action in the Middle East, "this is the way to at least buy some time and get diplomacy back in the game and in the front seat." And Russia -- Syria's leading ally -- doesn't want "to be viewed as the defenders of the user of chemical weapons, and Vladimir Putin would rather aspire to winning the Nobel Peace Prize," Kuchins said. A senior Obama administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Monday's developments weren't pre-planned, but were an example of diplomacy in real time. Lavrov and Kerry had discussed the idea over the weekend; the two spoke again after Kerry's comments on Monday in a previously scheduled call, when Lavrov told Kerry he would make a public proposal based on the American's remarks. But Kuchins said Tuesday's explanation is "almost not at all" believable. "I would hope that our two governments had talked about the possibility of cooperation and dealing with the Syrian chemical weapons arsenal. I don't doubt that that's come up in conversations," he said. "But to suggest that President Obama and Putin were talking seriously about this? They only talked for 20 minutes or so at the G20, and there has to be time for interpretation." Kuchins cautioned that reaching agreement on a U.N. resolution to close the deal will be difficult, and implementing an agreement "is going to be much more difficult." But he added, "We'll see how it goes." Perhaps more will be known after Thursday. That's when Kerry travels to Geneva to meet with Lavrov to begin discussions on a possible deal, according to senior State Department officials. Kerry will be accompanied by a team of experts at the talks, which are expected to take place in several sessions over two days. The officials cautioned that the negotiations may not be concluded in Geneva and any agreement would be presented to the United Nations for consideration as a resolution. CNN's Jim Acosta and Elise Labott contributed to this report.

How did John Kerry's so-called "major goof" turn into a possible solution to Syrian crisis? Syria accepts proposal to hand chemical weapons over to international control . This is diplomacy in real time, says administration official . Next step for Kerry will be trip to Geneva to meet with Russian counterpart .

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Honduras have named Colombian Jorge Luis Pinto, who steered Costa Rica to their best ever World Cup placing in the Brazil 2014 quarter-finals, as their coach until the 2018 tournament in Russia. Pinto, the third Colombian to take charge of the 'Ticos' after Reinaldo Rueda and Luis Fernando Suarez, replaces Hernan Medford who was sacked on Tuesday after four months in charge following poor results -- including a 6-0 defeat by Japan last month. 'I am pleased to inform the football family and fans that Jorge Luis Pinto is the new H (Honduras) coach until Russia 2018!!' Honduran Football Federation president Rafael Callejas announced on his Twitter account. Former Costa Rica boss Jorge Luis Pinto has been appointed the new manager of Honduras . Pinto, pictured with the Costa Rica squad, guided his side to victories against Uruguay and Italy in Brazil . Pinto's first competitive challenge will be a playoff against Guyana in March for a ticket to the CONCACAF Gold Cup to be held in the United States from July 7-26. Honduras, who first played at the World Cup finals in Spain in 1982, reached the 2010 tournament in South Africa with Rueda in charge and this year's tournament in Brazil under Suarez. Pinto's Costa Rica side were unbeaten in five matches at the 2014 finals including shock wins over Uruguay and Italy in their first two group matches. They drew with England in their final group match and also with Greece, whom they beat on penalties, in the last 16. They went out on penalties to Holland in the quarter-finals. The 61-year-old has coached Colombia and a host of club sides, winning league title with Peru's Alianza Lima, Alajuelense of Costa Rica and Cucuta in his home country. Former Honduras striker Hernan Medford was sacked on Tuesday after four months in charge .

Honduras have named Jorge Luis Pinto as their new national team boss . Pinto's first competitive match will be a playoff against Guyana in March . Former Costa Rica coach Pinto drew with England and defeated Uruguay and Italy during World Cup in Brazil .

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By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 09:52 EST, 8 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:53 EST, 8 November 2012 . This is the shocking moment a thug punched and kicked his own dog in a brutal attack launched only because the animal would not sit outside a shop. Cruel Stacey Barlow, 31, was caught on camera beating cross-breed stray Molly and kicking her with such force that his shoe flew off and landed in the middle of the road. He also slapped and punched the terrified dog during the vicious attack in Northampton. Scroll down for video . Vile: Barlow's shoe is shown flying off into the middle of the street such was the force of his kicks . Brute: Stacey Barlow, 31, was captured on camera beating rescue dog Molly because she didn't sit outside a shop . Hooligan: Stacey Barlow pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and was fined £100 with costs of £115 . Shocking CCTV footage shows Barlow chase her into a blocked-off pathway before he bends down and unleashes a volley of punches and kicks onto his whimpering pet. At the end of the 15-second clip, callous Barlow is seen walking away to retrieve his shoe from the road while Molly scurries away. After seeing the footage on Wednesday, shocked magistrates banned Barlow from keeping animals for three years. Northampton Magistrates Court heard that Barlow also shouted at the dog in an aggressive manner outside the block of flats in Northampton town centre on August 5 this year. Painful: Molly cowers from her attacker who is shown here trying to stamp on her . Sick: The whimpering animal tries to escape into the bushes while her owner lashes out . Relentless: Molly is shown being battered and bruised but Stacey claimed that this was a one-off incident . Mindless: He slapped the terrified pooch just because she refused to sit . RSPCA prosecutor Kevin McCole said: 'The dog was examined by a vet after the attack and in his professional opinion the dog would have suffered mental anguish and physical trauma. 'It was a deliberate act of cruelty by the defendant and a nasty incident. 'It did not cause any lasting physical damage but it is a worry that the defendant could turn on his own dog in this fashion.' Cruel: The attack in Northampton shocked the RSPCA because of its sheer brutality . Stephen Moore, defending, said Barlow had been taking care of Molly for the past nine years after he found her as a stray. He said this was an 'isolated incident' and not a snapshot of Molly’s life. Barlow, from Northampton, pleaded guilty and was fined £100 with costs of £115. Molly has since been taken away from him and will be re-homed.

Stacey Barlow banned from keeping animals for 3 years and fined just £100 . RSPCA say Molly has emotional and physical scars from beating .

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The relative size difference should have meant it was no contest. But amazingly, this wasp was able to get the better of its formidable opponent. The battle between the two creatures was filmed in Arizona, in the US. The footage shows a two-inch Tarantula Hawk wasp, which as their name suggests, preys on tarantulas. A female Tarantula Hawk can seek out its prey by its smell and, after finding its burrow, will go inside and force the spider out. A battle ensues as the wasp attempts to sting the tarantula, often by flipping it on its back. If the wasp succeeds in stinging the tarantula, the tarantula will become paralyzed. The two-inch Tarantula Hawk wasp preys on tarantulas. This battle was filmed in Arizona, in the US . The wasp attempts to sting the tarantula, often by flipping it on its back. If the wasp succeeds in stinging the tarantula, the tarantula will become paralyzed . The wasp will drag the tarantula back to its own burrow and lay an egg in its abdomen. Once the egg hatches, the larva inside is able to feast on the spider’s flesh . The wasp will drag the tarantula back to its own burrow and lay an egg in its abdomen. Once the egg hatches, the larva inside is able to feast on the spider’s flesh. Tarantula Hawk wasps are among the largest of the species. Their legs have hooked claws for grappling with their victims and the sting of the female is considered the second most painful insect sting in the world.

Footage shows a two-inch Tarantula Hawk wasp, which preys on tarantulas . The female's sting is considered among the most painful in the world . The battle between the two creatures was filmed in Arizona, in the US .

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(CNN) -- When I heard the news that Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer I was shocked and saddened. She was a woman clearly ahead of her time, blazing trails for all of those behind her, showing other women that it was possible to be smart, to care about science and to be an astronaut. After her death, it was revealed that she was gay, but it didn't totally surprise me. Being a lesbian myself, I admit I was proud to learn that such an accomplished American pioneer and role model was on "our team." Some are saying that she let the gay and lesbian community down, that she should have been more visible and should have publicly declared her sexual orientation. She could have made a contribution to gay rights. She could have inspired many young people struggling with their sexuality. But it isn't that easy. Especially for women like Sally and me, who grew up in the '50s and '60s. I retired from the Navy in June 2002 as a captain after nearly 30 years of living under "don't ask, don't tell" and its predecessor. Once I retired, I knew that I needed to add my voice to the fight against DADT, to be a visible example of a gay service member. However, outing myself beyond my close circle of friends wasn't easy. I was proud of my accomplishments but a big part of me wanted to keep my personal life private. In America: Sally Ride as role model . In my early career, most of my challenges, like those of Sally Ride I suspect, were trying to succeed in what was pretty much a man's world. No, Sally wasn't in the military -- but being a part of NASA had many similarities. I can see why she wanted to focus on succeeding as a woman, which was difficult enough, and didn't want to complicate things by bringing up her sexual orientation. More science news from CNN Light Years . She carried the burden of being the first American woman to go into space and all that it meant, and back then, she faced some pretty laughable questions. One was whether the flight would affect her reproductive organs. Former astronaut Rick Hauck, who was co-pilot on the 1983 Challenger mission with Sally, recalls another: A reporter asked: "Do you think you will cry during the flight?" and she answered: "Why doesn't Rick get asked that question?" There is still a long way to go. For example, Sally's partner of 27 years, Tam Shaughnessy, will not receive her federal survivor's benefits because it is prohibited by the Defense of Marriage Act. Still, a lot has changed rather quickly for the better. DADT has been repealed, and gays and lesbians are serving openly and successfully in the military. Marriage equality is beginning to take hold in several states, and campaigns such as the "It Gets Better" project are trying to send a message that it really is OK to be LGBT. Opinion: A friend remembers Sally Ride . Could Sally Ride have come out publicly before her death? Yes. But we should respect her choice to keep her personal life relatively private. Perhaps, if she had been fortunate to have lived a little longer, she might have decided that giving up some of her privacy was worth it to let people see her as an American hero who "happened to be a lesbian." I know thousands of LGBT kids might have been encouraged to learn Sally Ride was gay -- but we need to remember that those of us who grew up in the '50s and '60s, when many of us didn't even know what gay meant, are still on a journey of self-acceptance. I still marvel at so many young gay and lesbian kids when I see how accepting they are of themselves and how their straight peers accept them as "normal." Although I am retired and DADT is gone, I still hesitate to share I am a lesbian and am still surprised when people are totally fine with it. Opinion: Thank you, Sally Ride . Let's remember Sally Ride as a courageous pioneer and American hero. Let's not let the fact that she didn't publicly come out to the world detract in any way from her remarkable accomplishments. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Joan Darrah.

Sally Ride kept her sexual preference a secret during her lifetime . Some say Sally should have come out, Joan Darrah says, but it wasn't easy in her generation . Darrah: When Sally and she grew up, being a woman in a man's world was hard enough . Darrah: Ride should be remembered for her remarkable life, not for her orientation .

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(CNN) -- "The Normal Heart," written by my friend, the brilliant playwright Larry Kramer, and based on his story during the earliest days of the AIDS epidemic, tells a tale that many of us lived through, and many others did not survive. It's as relevant today as an HBO movie as when it premiered on the stage in New York City in 1985. Back then, The New York Times refused to print the word "gay," and New York Mayor Ed Koch was agonizingly slow to respond to the unfolding epidemic. Fear was everywhere. Around the country, family members shunned infected relatives, doctors were afraid to touch AIDS patients, let alone treat them, and hospital wards filled up with young men covered in lesions, dying excruciating deaths. I've almost lost track of the number of funerals I went to in those years. My friends were dying all around me -- I'm lucky that I somehow survived. ACT UP, the coalition that Larry founded to address the crisis, coined the phrase "silence equals death" as its rallying cry, and it was no exaggeration. By the end of 1983, AIDS had claimed 2,100 lives, but the government would hardly acknowledge that anything was awry. I can't help but wonder, if those in power had cared more, if they had done more, perhaps we could have ended this epidemic before it began to circle the globe. But they didn't care, they didn't act, and 36 million people have died of AIDS since. Worldwide, another than 1.6 million people will die of AIDS this year. In the United States, there will be roughly 50,000 new infections. While The Normal Heart is a product of a specific time, it is not an artifact. There is still an AIDS crisis -- not only in sub-Saharan Africa, but right here in the America, in your state, in your community. And, just as in 1985, it is silence, fear and stigma that continue to drive the epidemic. Today, African-Americans represent 12% of the national population, but they account for 44% of Americans living with HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gay and bisexual men comprise only 2% of the American population, but they represented 30% of the nation's HIV infections in 2010. Around 4,000 Americans are infected with HIV each year because of injection drug use, and one in seven HIV-positive Americans pass through a correctional facility each year. The crisis is particularly acute in the American South, where homophobia is rampant. I hope HBO's production of "The Normal Heart" will compel a new generation to act up. There is so much work still to be done, but there's also so much potential. The characters in "The Normal Heart," living as they did in the 1980s, didn't understand what they or their friends were dying of, and they didn't have treatments to manage the disease. They hardly knew how to protect themselves. Today, we know how to protect everyone, and we have the ability to treat every single person living with HIV. Yet AIDS continues to prey upon the most vulnerable in our society: the poor, the incarcerated, sex workers, drug users, and those living in regions where intolerance and stigma are facts of life. Today, as ever, silence equals death. Elton John uses photography to fight AIDS . As Larry so forcefully taught us nearly 30 years ago -- and as he and Ryan Murphy, the director of the new HBO film, continue to remind us today -- we must speak out against injustice, act with compassion, and fight for equality. If enough of us raise our voices, we can finally begin to end this epidemic. Editor's Note: HBO, like CNN, is owned by Time Warner.

Elton John: In the 1980s, newspapers wouldn't use term "gay," AIDS was ignored by many . He says "The Normal Heart," an HBO film, portrays the days when many of his friends were dying . Today's challenges regarding AIDS are different but equally urgent, he says . Elton John: We can protect and treat everyone, yet the most vulnerable still struggle .

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Ecuador is about to be hit by eastward-moving waves of warm water, resurrecting hopes that El Niño may be on its way. El Niño - a heating of sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific - affects wind patterns and can trigger both floods and drought in different parts of the globe. The most recent waves increase the chances that parched California could be in for some relief - albeit small - if weather patterns take a turn later this year. Scroll down for video . El Niño refers to a set of conditions when the surface of the sea in an area along the Equator in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean becomes hotter than usual. The waves of warm water are pictured . But Nasa has warned that 'fickle' El Niño will likely be weak if it does appear, providing only limited relief for a drought-ridden west coast. Around 430,000 acres of land will be left fallow in California - because there hasn't been enough rain or snow coming from the nearby mountain ranges. Prospects had been fading for an El Niño event this year, but now there's a glimmer of hope for a modest comeback. Nasa recently spotted areas of higher sea level indicating warmer than normal water in the Pacific Ocean. Now crossing the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, these warm waves, known as Kelvin waves, appear as the large area of warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures hugging the equator. Kelvin waves of high sea level (red/yellow) are seen crossing the Pacific Ocean at the equator. The waves may be due to El Niño events. Green indicates normal sea level, and blue/purple areas are lower than normal . The Kelvin waves are travelling eastward and should arrive off the coast of Ecuador in late September and early October. El Niño refers to a set of conditions when the surface of the sea in an area along the Equator in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean becomes hotter than usual. The average water temperature in that area is typically between 1 and 3°C (approximately 2 and 5°F) warmer than normal during this event. This has the effect of adding huge amounts of heat and moisture into the atmosphere, ultimately affecting patterns of air pressure and rainfall across the Pacific and globally. Strong El Niño events occur every 20 years or so, but researchers recently said this could drop to 10 years thanks to global warming. At the opposite end of the scale, La Niña is the climatological counterpart to El Niño. La Niña refers to periods when sea-surface temperatures around the Equator are cooler than normal. This has a similar affect on air pressure and rainfall because it suppresses how much heat and moisture enters the atmosphere. Climatologist Bill Patzert of Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, warned it's too early to know for sure, but he would not be surprised if the latest Kelvin waves are the 'last hurrah' for El Niño. 'Since February 2014, the prospect of an El Niño has waxed and waned,' he said. 'This late in the season, the best we can expect is a weak to moderate event. What comes next is not yet clear. 'But for the drought-plagued American West, the possibility of a badly needed drenching is fading,' continued Patzert. If it appears, this year's El Niño is expected to be mild. However, scientists expect extreme weather events fuelled by unusually strong El Niños will double this century. The worst El Niño on record, in 1997 and 1998, was blamed for massive flooding along China's Yangtze river, responsible for killing more than 1,500 people. The impact of extreme El Niño events is felt by every continent, and the event in 1997 cost up to £27.4 billion ($45 billion) in damage globally. Extreme El Niño events develop differently from standard El Ninos, which first appear in the western Pacific. The extreme events occur when sea surface temperatures exceeding 28°C develop in the normally cold and dry eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. Around 430,000 acres of land will be left fallow in California - because there hasn't been enough rain or snow coming from the nearby mountain ranges. Pictured is a mud flow along Mud Creek Canyon in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest which  may be related to California's prolonged drought . The sea temperature as seen from space on September 18. Green shows normal sea level, and blue and purple areas are lower than normal. Strong El Niño events occur every 20 years or so, but researchers recently said this could drop to 10 years thanks to global warming .

Ecuador is about to be hit by eastward-moving waves of warm water . This suggests a very modest El Niño event may appear later this year . El Niño refers to a set of conditions when the surface of the sea in an area along the Equator in the Pacific Ocean becomes hotter than usual . It can trigger both floods and drought in different parts of the globe . Nasa has warned that El Niño will likely be weak if it does appear . This means it will only provide a limited amount of relief to the west coast .

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A British father cheated death when a can of bug spray exploded in his hand, catapulting him through the wall of his first-floor Spanish flat, onto the street five metres below. Daran Cooper had been preparing a meal to celebrate his 48th birthday on Tuesday when he was distracted by a cockroach that his partner Carmen had been trying to kill with the spray. Taking the can from Carmen, Daran began spraying the bug, when the explosion happened. Lucky to be alive: Daran Cooper recovers in hospital after being treated for a broken arm and cuts to his head . Destroyed: Mr Cooper's flat in Torrevieja, with the frame of the balcony wall stripped bare following the blast . Speaking from Torrevieja Hospital, Daran said: 'I started spraying at the cockroach, and some of the gas must have got into the washing machine. 'A moment later, there was the click of the wash cycle, followed by an almighty bang as I flew through where the wall used to be. 'There was glass and all kinds of stuff in the air, but miraculously I stayed conscious all the time, and all I could think of, was that I had to protect my head.' The blast totally ripped out the wall of his partially enclosed balcony, but Carmen escaped unscathed, while their five-year-old son Sebastian was tucked up safely in bed. Daran fell onto the pavement just next to a parked car. 'I’m just glad to be alive,' he added. 'If I’d lost consciousness, I would have died. 'I made sure that my arms and hands took the brunt of the fall, and by sheer luck I was wearing Superman underpants at the time!” His main injury was a bone that went through his elbow, which needed an operation on Wednesday. Daran also suffered a broken wrist, bruising and head wounds that required stitches. Debris: The remains of the wall can be seen strewn across the street beneath the flat . Clear-up: A firefighter inspects the damage to the outside wall of Mr Cooper's apartment . 'It was an incredible escape', said Daran’s father Harry. 'The wall and window were taken out and it could have been so much worse for our son. 'The emergency . services were excellent and they did everything possible for Daran. We’re just happy that he’s alive! It certainly was nothing to do with . him blowing out the candles on his birthday cake!' Investigators have been at the scene, but so far there has been no official explanation for what caused the explosion. One of Daran's neighbours, who lives opposite, said: 'I always park my car beneath that window and, luckily, today I left it a bit further away. 'If I hadn't have done so, then my car would have been completely destroyed.' Investigators initially believed the explosion had been caused by a gas leak, which would have sparked an evacuation of all nearby properties. But fire crew sources think the insecticide reacted in some way with the man's domestic appliances - a fridge and a washing machine - that were close by. The fate of the cockroach is unknown.

Daran Cooper was celebrating his 48th birthday at his flat in Torrevieja . He landed on the street beneath his first-floor flat and suffered serious injury .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:56 EST, 5 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:43 EST, 5 June 2013 . Suicide notes were found with the bodies of a couple who took their own lives last week, police sources said. Lynne Rosen, 46, and John Littig, 48, who worked as 'happiness gurus' and motivational speakers, allegedly left two notes at their home in Brooklyn, New York. Mr Littig's note said that the couple 'were going to do this together' amid reports that Ms Rosen had suffered from psychological problems, according to the New York Daily News. Scroll down for video . Double suicide: Lynne Rosen and John Littig were found dead at their apartment in Brooklyn, New York . Suicide: Lynne Rosen, 46, and 48-year-old John Littig were found dead on Monday at their home in Brooklyn, New York . The NYPD could not confirm the details to MailOnline. It is believed that the bodies had been lying for a week in the Park Slope apartment before they were found. The supervisor of the building kicked in the door after noticing a foul odor. They hosted a monthly radio show together called 'The Pursuit of Happiness' on WBAI-FM. On their radio show, Ms Rosen, a psychotherapist, and her long-term partner Mr Littig would offer advice to listeners on becoming their 'true self'. Ms Rosen, who was also a life coach and consultant, had presented the show for six years. In the February installment of their show, the couple discussed the importance of doing something that scares you every day, advice that was taken from their Why Not Now Life coaching program. Unexplained death: Police offered no motive today as to why Mr Littig (pictured performing with his band) would take his own life . Loss: Ms Rosen, a psychotherapist and life coach, took her own life last week . Mr Littig, a life coach and motivational . speaker, was also a musician, performing under the name Jadex. He . recently performed and produced the Naked Sounds concern at Webster Hall . in Manhattan. The main page of Ms Rosen's business website displays a quotation from author Norman Vincent Peale: 'It's always too early to quit.' One neighbor of the couple, who had lived in the building for 20 years, told the Daily News that they were 'always respectable'. However the elderly man added that while Mr Littig was an 'exceptionally nice person', Ms Rosen could be a 'cold fish'. The couple's tragic deaths also raises questions as to how their bodies could have lay undetected in their apartment for a week. Apartments in the building have been estimated at $900,000. Park Slope is an affluent area of Brooklyn popular with young families and professionals. Gruesome discovery: The couple's bodies were found at their apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn on Monday . Shocking: The couple's suicide, while in their forties, shocked many of their neighbors in the Park Slope area of Brooklyn . Motivational: Ms Rosen made a living by helping people to find happiness in their lives . For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the U.S. on 1-800-273-8255 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org . In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or go to www.samaritans.org .

Lynne Rosen, 46, and 48-year-old John Littig found dead on Monday at their home in Brooklyn, New York . The bodies were not found for a week until building supervisor kicked in the door after foul smell .

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Andrea Pirlo has been called up to the Italy squad for their European Championship qualifying matches as a replacement for the injured Giacomo Bonaventura. Pirlo had announced before this summer's World Cup that he would quit playing for the national team after the tournament. However, the Juventus midfielder reversed his decision when Antonio Conte took charge of the Azzurri, telling his former club coach he would be available for selection. Andrea Pirlo (left) returns to the Italy squad for the first time since . The Italian legend's outing against Roma was his first appearance after more than a month out injured . The 35-year-old Pirlo returned to action on Sunday after more than a month out with a hip injury. Bonaventura reported to the Italy camp with a right thigh injury and the Milan midfielder withdrew from the squad after tests on Monday afternoon. Italy host Azerbaijan in Palermo on Friday before making a short trip to visit Malta three days later. Giacomo Bonaventura (right) drops out of the national team squad with a thigh injury .

Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo replaces Giacomo Bonaventura for Italy . Announced his decision to retire from international football after a disappointing World Cup campaign . But changed his mind after former Juventus coach Antonio Conte appointed national team boss . Bonaventura reported to the Italy camp with a thigh injury on Monday . The Azzurri play Azerbaijan and Malta in next round of matches .

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A terrified man who feared he had contracted Ebola after returning from an Africa trip last night told how an NHS call centre advised him to drive himself to hospital. Adam Griffiths, 24, of Swansea, stunned medical teams when he turned up at the hospital with concerns he had contracted Ebola. He was then immediately placed in a decontamination room 'used for terrorist attacks'. When met by doctors in full protective body suits, he said they were 'shocked' at the advice he was given by the NHS call centre. Mr Griffiths, who works as a salesman, was staying in Bristol after arriving back in the UK from travelling around Africa. He said: 'I found it odd that they would allow me to travel by myself to hospital by car. Scroll down for video . Adam Griffiths, 24, pictured in hospital after he was placed in a decontamination room with fears he had Ebola . 'On arrival at Bristol South Mead Accident & Emergency unit, the staff were amazed NHS 111 had allowed me to travel by car knowing it was a possibility I had Ebola. 'NHS staff immediately panicked and told me to stay where I was, I was in a lot of pain and could hardly stand. 'Quite quickly medical staff came to my aid dressed in full personal protective equipment including suits, masks and gloves. 'I was taken to a decontamination room which is used for terrorist attacks and put under quarantine. 'Cordons were place around the area of the hospital I was in, no-one was allowed out or in. 'Multiple blood tests were taken and other tests were carried out. At 5am I was transferred to an infectious disease control suite in the hospital and was treated accordingly.' Adam, of Swansea, South Wales, was staying in Bristol where his girlfriend lives after he began feeling ill on his return from travelling in Africa and Egypt. Fearing he was suffering the symptoms of Ebola, he went to hospital in Bristol and was later transferred to a specialist infectious disease control suite. Adam said: 'Just a few days ago I became really ill, having chest pains, being hot and sweaty with blood blisters on my hands and abdominal pains. 'I was staying at my girlfriend's house in Bristol and on Friday night my conditions started to get worse, I rang NHS England 111. I told them what was wrong and my symptoms and also that I had recently come back from Africa. Mr Griffiths was staying in Bristol with his girlfriend when he started feeling ill after his return from Africa . Southmead Hospital in Bristol, where Mr Griffiths drove himself fearing he had contracted Ebola . 'I was told they would send an ambulance or I could travel myself to either of the hospitals in Bristol. 'Many hours later after blood tests were taken and specialists in London had been spoken to it was confirmed I did not have hemorrhagic fever also known as Ebola. 'However, I may still have malaria. I later discharged myself from hospital.' A spokesman for North Bristol NHS Trust confirmed the incident happened but refuted Mr Griffiths' claim that 'staff panicked'. He said: 'We acted appropriately and are glad Mr Griffiths had a good outcome.' Dr Chris Burton, medical director of North Bristol NHS Trust, said: 'We can confirm that a patient was admitted to our Emergency Department with possible viral haemorrhagic fever. 'He was fully and appropriately tested, following nationally agreed guidelines, and was found not to have the Ebola virus. 'On arrival he was quickly and efficiently assessed by staff who followed the correct procedures and protocols to ensure there was no risk to any other patient or member of staff. 'We are satisfied that our staff acted professionally and appropriately throughout this process and are pleased that the patient had a good outcome. 'North Bristol NHS Trust has been following national guidance around Ebola and making plans in line with Public Health England and Department of Health advice. 'Contingency plans are in place and have been walked through with relevant staff. If and when guidance changes we will respond accordingly. A health worker is sprayed down with disinfectant in Liberia, where the virus has killed more than 2,000 people . The body of a person killed by Ebola is removed from a house in Monrovia, Liberia . 'We have the internal decontamination room in the emergency department set up for anybody who comes in through A&E suspected of having Ebola. 'Staff in the emergency department, pathology and the medical microbiology team have received training in how to respond if an Ebola case is suspected. 'A room has been prepared in case a patient comes in with suspected Ebola where staff have protective clothing and equipment and will follow an agreed process. 'If a patient tests positive for Ebola the trust will contact the Royal Free and take advice from them. At this point the expectation is that the patient would then be transferred to the Royal Free in London.'

NHS 111 call centre told him to drive to hospital with Ebola symptoms . Adam Griffiths, 24, was then immediately placed in a decontamination room . Doctors said to be 'shocked' at the advice he was given by the call centre . He has now been cleared of having Ebola but may have caught malaria .

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(CNN) -- Hannah Whiteley laughs in the face of danger -- at least she does now. But it wasn't always that way, for this was one kitesurfing tale which almost ended in tragedy. Rewind 11 years and with her father Pete, a five time British senior champion, watching on in horror. Whiteley came within inches of serious injury -- and maybe even death. It was a moment which would have forced lesser beings into nightmares and cold sweats -- but not this British-born battler. "My dad was teaching me and I was going along fine, then all of a sudden then I was out of control and went flying through the sky," Whiteley told CNN's Human to Hero series. "I was getting dragged down with the kite and heading into the wavebreakers. "I thought I was going to hit the pier and that was scary, but I hit the ground and was in a daze. Some guy came and helped tame my kite and made sure I stayed still. "When you crash in the water, the water turns into concrete, it's not soft. You get a lot of whiplash in your neck and it gets flung back. "I was in a semiconscious state, a bit shaken up but that put me off for five years. Looking back, I'm just so relieved I gave it a second chance." Rising star . Kitesurfing is a fusion of some of the most exciting and challenging water sports, taking components of paragliding, surfing, windsurfing and wakeboarding before sprinkling some acrobatics and gymnastics on top for good measure. Standing on a small board, the rider uses the wind to power the large kite, which propels it across the waves at rapid speed. Since returning to action at the age of 15, Whiteley has gone on to establish herself as one of Europe's rising stars -- an outcome which looked unlikely following her first ever event. On that occasion, the amateur competition ended in disappointment after she finished last, beaten by a considerable distance and defeated by a far more experienced field. It was to prove the turning point. "I was so embarrassed," Whiteley recalled. "I couldn't do any freestyle tricks and I came last. "I just sat there and thought, 'What am I doing here?' But that competition really inspired me and suddenly I said to myself, 'I'm never going to be that bad again.' "I went out and trained as much as possible after that." Reaching the top . That chastening experience powered Whiteley through months of training, hitting the waves at every opportunity despite the infamous British weather. The rest is history. At just 15, Whiteley became the youngest ever female to win the British Amateur Ladies title, repeating the feat the following year at the professional championship. Two more title wins followed in consecutive years as did the prestigious Big Air/Board off crown at the 2009 Pro Kite World Tour competition. Now at the age of 21, and voted as the country's most influential female kitesurfer, Whiteley has her sights set on reaching the very top. "I'd really like to be European champion," she added. "At the moment I feel as if I'm not at my peak. I always want to push it and I think I'm going to be going for some time. "There's plenty of time for me to progress and have fun." Magical . There's certainly plenty of fun. Whiteley travels across the globe to some of the most exotic places to improve her kitesurfing skills. Australia, Turkey and Hawaii are just three of her favorite places -- although she retains an affection for her local beach at Lytham St Annes in the north west of England. But it doesn't matter whether its brown water off the British coast or sharks lurking beneath sunnier climes, nothing puts Whiteley off taking her kite into the deep unknown. "It's a pretty magical feeling when you're out kitesurfing," she added. "You're looking back at the land, you've got the whole ocean, and it's just really special. "We're using the wind, the sea and the waves. When it's cold and windy you feel like you're really in the elements, it's great, you feel alive. "When I started to compete at the age of 15 it was a real eye-opener. I got to travel to some amazing places and it was definitely for me. "You have so much freedom on the water and it takes you to beautiful places you wouldn't normally go to. It's amazing."

Hannah Whiteley is a three-time British freestyle kitesurfing champion . The 21-year-old is one of the most exciting prospects in European competition . Started kitesurfing at age of 10 but stopped following near death experience . Returned to action at age of 15 and vowed to reach top after finishing last in first ever event .

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Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN) -- Lady Gaga has canceled her concert in Indonesia, her management said Sunday, citing security concerns after Islamic hardliners denounced her costumes and dance moves as too risqué. If the concert were held, there would be concerns the singer, her crew and attendees may be in harm's way, said Minola Sebayang, the lawyer for the promoters. "This is an advice from her security team. So the cancellation is purely based on the decision made by her management," Sebayang said. Before she was Gaga: The unseen photos . Earlier this month, Jakarta police recommended that Lady Gaga's sold-out June 3 show not be issued a permit because of security concerns. The pop diva appeared to acknowledge the incident in a post on Twitter on Saturday: "There is nothing Holy about hatred." On Sunday, she tweeted confirmation of the cancelation: "We had to cancel the concert in Indonesia. I'm so very sorry and the fans & just as devastated as you if not more. You are everything to me," she wrote. "I will try to put together something special for you. My love for Indonesia has only grown," the performer said. Islamists and conservative Muslims have decried Lady Gaga's upcoming concert, saying her revealing costumes and sensual dance moves are forbidden by Islamic law. The chairman of the Islamic Defenders Front, Habib Rizieq, said his group could not guarantee security if the concert were held. Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world. In March, the pop star got a thumbs-down by the country's highest Islamic authority, according to The Jakarta Globe. Indonesian Council of Ulema chairman Cholil Ridwan was urging Muslims not to attend the controversial singer's upcoming concert in Jakarta, the newspaper reported. "(The concert is) intended to destroy the nation's morality," Ridwan told the Globe. Ridwan is concerned that the singer's revealing outfits and sexy dance moves will set a bad example for Muslim youths. Newspaper reports said more than 25,000 tickets were sold in the first two hours after the concert went on sale in March. Police said the promoter should not have started selling tickets before getting a permit. This is not the first controversy surrounding the singer's "Born This Way" tour. Gaga also ran afoul of Christian groups in South Korea, prompting the government to ban people under the age of 18 from attending her show. Last week, Christian groups in the Philippines protested Lady Gaga's performances there Monday and Tuesday. CNN's Kathy Quiano contributed to this report.

NEW: Lady Gaga says she is devastated, apologizes to her fans . There are concerns the singer, her crew and attendees may be in harm's way, promoter says . Islamists have decried Lady Gaga's dance moves and costumes . Jakarta authorities say June 3 show should not be issued a permit over security concerns .

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By . Lucy Crossley . PUBLISHED: . 08:29 EST, 27 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:09 EST, 27 November 2013 . A teacher who slipped in 'something gooey' as she side-stepped a slice of discarded ham was awarded a £17,000 compensation pay out, it emerged today. The teacher was awarded the money after . she fell while trying to avoid the meat, which had been dropped on the . floor of the lunch hall at Backwell School in Backwell, Somerset. Her claim was among a number of bizarre payouts, estimated to have cost councils in and around Bristol nearly £150,000, prompting warnings about a 'compensation culture' in schools. A teacher who slipped in 'something gooey' as she side-stepped a slice of discarded ham on the floor of her school lunch hall was awarded a £17,000 compensation pay out (file photo) Across England a total of £4million has been paid out in compensation and costs by councils for accidents and injuries at schools. Matthew Sinclair of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: 'Education chiefs must resist the creeping compensation . culture that is to be found in too many schools these days.' South Gloucestershire Council found itself embroiled in an eight-year legal battle after a teacher tripped on a football net, a saga which ended in a four day court hearing. The teacher got his foot caught in a loose goal net and was demanding £30,000 in compensation - but was handed just £619.50. However, because the council was judged to be partly to blame for the accident it was forced to pay £82,070 in legal fees, including the cost of the claimant’s solicitors. The money was paid in 2011-12, eight years after the accident at the undisclosed school in 2004. Council spokesman Dominic Moody said: . 'The council contested the claim on the basis that the teacher had been . negligent of their personal health and safety. 'The . judge found that not only was the claimant 50 per cent responsible for . their own accident but the injuries were far less serious than claimed, . resulting in a compensation payment of only £619.50, significantly less . than the £30,000 originally claimed. 'The . bulk of the costs were the claimant’s solicitors’ fees which, in spite . of our success in the case, were awarded, in their entirety, against the . council. 'Under the old . regulations, the costs followed the case, regardless of contributory . negligence being found on the part of the claimant. 'This . particular case ran for eight years with four days in court, hence the . high level of costs, and, as the council were found contributory . negligent, the costs were awarded in their entirety against the . council.' Across England a total of £4million has been paid out in compensation and costs by councils for accidents and injuries at schools (file photo) He added that reforms introduced at the end of July this year meant that in future cases, such 'disparity of costs compared to damages' should not happen again. North Somerset Council has dealt with 35 claims made by teachers, support staff and pupils between 2008 and 2013 relating to incidents in its schools, including the ham-related fall at Backwell School. At St Katherine’s School, in Pill, a pupil was awarded £15,719 after he cut his knee open on a protruding paving slab. The youngster was running towards the school’s playing fields with his classmates to play rugby when he slipped on wet leaves and fell down a grass bank. A boy at Worle School, Weston-super-Mare, was awarded £9,666 after he slipped on a wet floor in his tutor room and landed on his elbow, causing it to fracture. And at St Martin’s School, in Worle, a pupil was handed £12,442 after suffering burns to an arm while working with a teacher to build a wooden rocket. The youngster said the teacher had refilled a glue gun and pumped it, causing the substance to drip on to the unnamed pupil’s arm, causing burns. Other recent claims in South Gloucestershire include one by a teaching assistant who fractured her foot after catching her shoe on an uneven playground surface while loading waste into a skip. In February 2011, she received £2,800 in compensation and the council had to pay a further £7,500 to cover the claimant’s legal fees. Fear: The TaxPayer's Alliance has warned that education chiefs must resist the 'creeping compensation culture' found in many schools after a number of payouts for accidents and injuries . Bristol City Council said it could not supply details of compensation claims made by teaching staff and students in the last few years because it could lead to the disclosure of personal data. Hilda Kalap, spokeswoman for the authority, said: 'We have only had one successful compensation claim made by teaching staff against the council over the last five years.' The total claimed by tripping teachers and slipping students in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire was £148,127. The pattern seems to be repeating itself across the country, after Kirklees Council in West Yorkshire was forced to pay £20,000 after a teacher took the authority to court after being bitten by a flea. The bite triggered an allergic reaction which caused ulcers and pain lasting for two years. Initially the council refused to pay up, saying it was not negligent, but then coughed up. A spokesman said: 'The case was . settled out of court following legal advice and the claimant received . compensation of around £5,000. 'The remainder was spent on the necessary legal fees. 'This was an unusual situation. Other . medical conditions meant the bite became infected, leading to swelling . and ulceration and up to two years of pain.' Another case cost a London council . £220,000 - including £174,000 legal and other costs - when a teacher . suffered nose and eye injuries after being hit in the face with a set of . maracas in Hounslow. And in Rochdale, a teacher who strained their back while lifting a table received over £10,000. However, teaching union NASUWT dismissed claims that there was a compensation culture within schools. General secretary Chris Keates said: 'It is a myth that compensation is easy to obtain.'

Teacher at Backwell School in Somerset fell over in lunch hall . Total of £4m paid out by councils for accidents and injuries at schools . Other staff awarded cash after tripping on a football net and a pen lid .

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The struggle for democracy is not dead, say Hong Kong's pro-democracy activists, who have pledged to continue opposing Beijing despite setbacks. The activist group Occupy Central had hoped that their threats of a mass sit-in in Hong Kong's downtown Central district would convince China to approve open democratic elections for Hong Kong's next leader. But on Sunday, the Chinese government said the elections should only consist of candidates approved by a Beijing-backed committee, dealing a blow to democracy supporters. Even the leader of the movement seemed deflated. "Up to this point, we failed," Benny Tai, the co-founder of Occupy Central, told Bloomberg Tuesday. "Beijing refused to back down." But Chan Kin-man, a fellow co-founder, told CNN on Wednesday that Tai's remarks did not mean surrender. "We may not have attained that specific goal," he said, referring to the hoped-for reforms. "But we want to create a resistant movement in Hong Kong. As long as the democratic spirit continues in Hong Kong, we will not give up." 'We will occupy Central' Chan said Occupy will proceed with its mass sit-in "soon," bringing downtown Hong Kong to a halt. It's the culmination of years of pent-up unhappiness. When Hong Kong, a former colony of the United Kingdom, was returned to Chinese rule in 1997, the two countries struck an agreement promising Hong Kong the democratic election of its own leader, known as the chief executive. But the democratic reforms have not materialized. Seventeen years after the handover, the city's chief executive is chosen by a committee filled with Beijing loyalists, leading to frustration among pro-democracy Hong Kongers who want the city's leader to be chosen by local people, not China. That's why many of them see China's recent proposal as a bitter sham. The National People's Congress (NPC) proposed Sunday the Hong Kong public be given the right to vote for its next leader — but only on up to three candidates approved by a Beijing-backed committee. Democracy's activists' chosen response, civil disobedience, is similarly controversial. Chinese officials have repeatedly said occupying Central would be an illegal act that would jeopardize Hong Kong's economic security. Hong Kong's own security chief has warned the protest could turn violent, and "things could get out of control." In August, an "anti-Occupy" march organized by pro-government activists drew tens of thousands. "We want universal suffrage, but not at any cost," said its organizer Robert Chow. 'Ungovernable' Hong Kong streets aren't the only thing that'll be paralyzed. A group of 26 pro-democracy legislators has said they will vote down any undemocratic proposal. Without their votes, Beijing's reform proposal will not have the necessary votes to become Hong Kong law, resulting in gridlock. "We are going to veto it to show our determination that we are not going to accept this fake democracy," said Albert Ho, a pro-democracy legislator who is involved with Occupy Central. Li Fei, China's deputy secretary-general of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, has said Hong Kongers only have themselves to blame for lack of reform if they veto Beijing's proposal. This has effectively set up a standoff between Hong Kong and Beijing. Alan Leong, another pro-democracy legislator, said Hong Kong is becoming "ungovernable." Without a popular mandate, the next chief executive will face serious challenges as he or she tries to control an increasingly upset civil society. "There will be a new age of civil disobedience and non-cooperation across the board," Leong told CNN. But, he added, Hong Kong spiraling into chaos may also persuade Chinese leaders that robust democratic reforms are what's needed to regain stability. "It's like a phoenix rebirth sort of thing. We're getting worse in order to get better." International support . In recent days, Western governments have spoken up in defense of Hong Kong's democracy activists. British lawmakers have announced plans to visit Hong Kong to conduct an inquiry into whether its handover treaty is being violated by China's actions. But China's National People's Congress has responded angrily, calling the inquiry a "highly inappropriate act which constitutes interference in China's internal affairs." In the United States, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. government "supports universal suffrage in Hong Kong in accordance with the Basic Law and the aspirations of the Hong Kong people." "We believe that an open society with the highest possible degree of autonomy and governed by rule of law is essential for Hong Kong's stability and prosperity." But Hong Kong's democracy activists doubt the United States or United Kingdom can make a big difference. "I do not have much hope on these two governments in particular," said Ho. "Of course they should say something, if they still have the moral fiber to stand up to the strong economic pressure of China. They should know what is right and what is wrong... if they have the guts to do it." Ho said he and other legislators are currently requesting an "urgent appeal" with the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations and the Human Rights Committee on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to examine whether the rights of Hong Kongers are being violated. Opinion: Why Beijing is courting trouble in Hong Kong .

China announced Hong Kong will not have open elections on Sunday . Hong Kong democracy activists say they will stage mass sit-in protest . Hong Kong legislators will veto China's reform proposal, resulting in gridlock .

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(CNN) -- The family of stricken Formula One star Michael Schumacher "strongly believe" he will make a recovery from the life-threatening injuries he sustained in a skiing accident. Schumacher has been in a medically-induced coma in a Grenoble hospital since December 29 and a statement on behalf of the family Thursday said he was "still in a waking up process." It was released a day after a published report in Germany's best-selling newspaper Bild -- which claimed the seven-time world champion had contracted pneumonia. Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm has refused to comment on what she termed "speculation" and there is no specific reference to the report in the latest update. "Michael's family would like to again express their sincere thanks for the continuous sympathy coming from all over the world," it read. "The good wishes they receive help the family and, we are convinced they also help Michael, who still is in a waking up process. "As often in such situation no day is like the next. The family is thankful for one's understanding that they would not wish to disclose medical details in order to protect Michael's privacy. "As assured from the beginning we will continue to communicate any decisive new information on Michael's health state. We are aware that the wake up phase can take a long time. "The family continues to strongly believe in Michael's recovery and place all their trust in the doctors', nurses' and nursing auxiliaries' team. "The important thing is not the speed of the recovery but that Michael's heal process progresses in a continuous and controlled way. The statement if the first official information released since January 30 when it was revealed that Schumacher's sedation had been reduced in order for him to come out of a coma. The 45-year-old German superstar suffered a severe head trauma while skiing off-piste at the French Alps resort of Meribel. He has undergone two emergency operations to remove blood clots on his brain and reduce swelling and kept asleep to aid his recovery. Schumacher's wife Corinna has kept a constant vigil at the hospital since the accident. He retired for the second and final time from F1 in 2012 after a glittering career with the Benetton, Ferrari and Mercedes teams, bringing him 91 victories in grand prix racing. Mercedes has a "Keep Fighting Michael" message on its silver livery for the upcoming F1 season which starts next month in Australia and get well messages have flooded in from all over the world.

Update on condition of Formula One star Michael Schumacher . Family 'strongly believe' he will make a recovery from injuries . Schumacher has been in a medically-induced coma since accident on December 29 . Doctors started bringing him out of the coma nearly two weeks ago .

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By . Katy Winter . Clinically obese Chris Dune, who weighed in at 310lb, or just over 22st, deployed his passion for technology in his quest to lose weight, tracking all aspects of his food intake, activities and excursions. Chris, 45, is an independent consultant based in Denver and works extensively with technology. As part of his job, he is connected up to hundreds of data-tracking tools, leading his nickname as 'the most quantified human on earth'. Chris eventually realised he could use these tools to lose weight: ‘Looking at that data brings up an . amazing array of life hacks that you can use. I like to think of it as . fast-track enlightenment.’ Chris admits he used to smoke, drink and eat too much and felt his job allowed him to continue his bad habits . Chris knew his weight was an issue and . dangerous for his health, but had previously struggled to stick to any . diet that saw him lose significant amounts in the long-term. ‘I never had a good relationship with food even as a child - I was a little bit heavy and you get made fun of you say “OK that’s what this is like".' Using his own high-tech method, Chris managed to lose over 9st in a year and a half, dropping from 22st (left) to 13st 9lb (right) Then came a moment of enlightenment, when he realised he could use his passion for data and technology to tackle his weight. ‘Everyone needs to understand that the average person touches between 100 to 400 systems a day, whether it’s swiping a credit card or going past a speed camera or using the phone,' he says. ‘When you start to think about what we could do with that information it opens up a world of possibilities . ‘I just put that same paradigm onto everything else, like if I’m tracking my calories I can dig into that data and find out what causes me to eat extra calories. It lets me look at what I did that day, who I saw, how I slept, what I watched, what I listened to.' Chris used his love of data collecting gadgets (left) to help him see where he was going wrong in his diet and began to record (right) and analyse all aspects of his body and eating habits . Chris maintained bad eating habits developed in childhood, and felt his success at his job allowed him to justify his bad habits . Chris says he knew he was overweight and hated to look at pictures of himself . Chris has earned the nickname of the most quantified human in the world through his job which allows him to test apps and gadgets that collect personal data . Chris began by taking pictures of his meals and posting them on Instagram to get a clearer picture of  where and what he was eating as well as activating geo-tagging on his credit card so he could see where he  was splurging on food. Using his various gadgets Chris is still continuing to lose weight . He also tracked his eating, sleeping and activity patterns, and began setting geographic limits on his credit cards, blocking him from spending at his favourite fast food restaurants or places near his home and work. ‘Often if you are overweight like I was, the most profound thing you can do is to look at your life in a quantified way. I think all men like puzzles and the more we can understand about ourselves through having a relationship with our own data the more powerful it becomes. ‘A good example is that I use systems in my home to track the temperatures and the lighting and what I’ve noticed with my own data is that the cooler it is the less I eat. Chris’s realisations saw him shed nearly 9st from his 5ft 11in frame, dropping from 22st 1lb to 13st 9lb in a year and a half. ‘I am still losing weigh pretty fast but I am also going to the gym now. In the beginning I said I didn’t want to do the gym so I used to walk to McDonalds which was 1.1 mile and then it was kind of a fast walk to Subway which is 2.2 miles than it was running and then biking.’ Chris says that his high-tech method of weight loss can work for anyone. ‘Just start with very simple things like being aware of what you are spending on food is often more than enough. ‘A lot of grocery stores will offer you club cards and you can ask for the data. ‘There is no magic that is going to happen. You are probably not going to wake up tomorrow and start this amazing data journey. What you can do is make a choice that you are okay right now. You can help you - you are your best coach, so just be nice to that person.’ Read more about Chris and other amazing losers at Man V Fat a free weight loss magazine available for men online .

Chris tests apps and gadgets that collect personal data . Earned nickname of the 'most quantified human in the world' through job . Used data tracking to gain insight into exactly how and when he overate . Noticed that temperature and music could change his appetite, . Identified 'danger' times, restaurants and situations . Lost over 9st in a year and a half, dropping from 22st to 13st 9lb .

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By . Ryan Gorman . A Brooklyn drug dealer with ties to a well-known hip hop artist accused of running a murderous drug gang has admitted to cross dressing in order to more easily kill a rival. Saquan Wallace, 28, told a federal jury hearing the racketeering trial for Ronald ‘Ra Diggs’ Herron that the rapper advised him to don a wig, lipstick and makeup to track and then kill the target. ‘I put on a wig, lipstick, makeup and I went looking for him,’ Wallace testified Thursday in court, according to the New York Daily News. Accused kingpin: Ronald 'Ra Diggs' Herron is accused of running a violent drug gang in Brooklyn's Gowanus Houses . The six-foot-two Wallace weighs upwards of 200 pounds, but said he looked passable in a shirt long enough to be a dress while skulking in the hallways of the Wyckoff Gardens housing projects looking for Jabari Foster in early 2006. Herron, 32, wanted Foster, a one-time protégé, dead because he continued to sell drugs in Wyckoff Gardens in open defiance of the hip hop artist. The rapper’s violent gang ran the drug trade, mainly crack cocaine, in the nearby Gowanus Houses, authorities contend.  They ran him into court on a racketeering count and three murder charges. The idea to dress like a woman came from Herron, who Wallace said gave him the idea after doing it himself. Wallace claimed he lurked in the grim project’s halls until finding an apartment with a loud music.He then waited in the hopes Foster would emerge from the party. Wyckoff Gardens: The housing project where Saquan Wallace claims he cross dressed in order to kill a rival . ‘Someone walked out and I was around the wall waiting,’ the man already serving 30 years on murder, racketeering and drug charges testified. ‘When the person came in the open it was him [Foster] and I opened fire on him repeatedly and killed him.’ He then replied ‘yes’ when asked during cross-examination if he looked like a woman. ‘So it was a good disguise for you?’ Defense Lawyer James Neuman asked. ‘It was good enough,’ the admitted killer said, adding that he burned the getup after the killing. Wallace admitted he is looking to cut a deal with officials for a shorter sentence in exchange for his testimony. His identical twin brother was also locked up for 20 years on drug charges. Authorities are using Herron’s performances and songs as Ra Digg, which portray a gang banging, drug dealing and murderous lifestyle, against him in court. None of the murders he is accused of involve cross dressing.

Convicted drug dealer Saquan Wallace claims Ronald 'Ra Diggs' Herron suggested he dress like a woman to kill a rival drug dealer . Wallace made the revelation Thursday to a federal jury . Herron is on trial for racketeering and the murder of three people .

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By . Helen Pow . PUBLISHED: . 01:10 EST, 4 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:02 EST, 4 October 2013 . An incredible dash-cam video has captured the heart-stopping moment a Kansas City police officer stopped a suicidal man from throwing himself 60 feet off an interstate overpass by grabbing his leg. Sergeant Steven Griswold said what started out as a stranded motorist call turned into a suicide rescue mission early Saturday morning on a ramp from Interstate 49 to Interstate 470 in the Three Trails Crossing. The 15-second video released this week by Kansas City police shows Griswold's heroics. Scroll down for video . Hero: An incredible dash-cam video has captured the heart-stopping moment Kansas City police officer Steven Griswold, pictured, stopped a suicidal man from throwing himself 60 feet off an interstate overpass . En route to the location, the 12-year police veteran, who'd received Crisis Intervention Team training, received a second call - this one from a woman who had also spoken to the motorist and said he told her he wanted to kill himself. Griswold is seen on the tape pulling up his patrol car behind the man's vehicle. But the driver was already perched on the ramp beside a concrete barrier, a 60-foot drop to the interstate below him. Modest: Griswold, pictured, has deflected any praise, disputing his new found hero label . Suicidal: Griswold, left, is seen on the tape pulling up his patrol car behind the man's vehicle and walking towards the man, pictured next to his car, who is leaning against the concrete barrier . 'I got about 10 feet away,' Griswold said, according to the Kansas City Star. Then the man began to lean over the barrier. Griswold had to act fast. 'He threw the top half of his body over the concrete barrier,' Griswold said. 'I grabbed his ankles before he flipped over.' Griswold pulled him back onto the pavement and to safety. Jump: When the man jumps, quick-thinking Griswold catches his leg . Safety: Griswold pulls the man back over the barrier to safety . The driver did not speak, but Griswold said he sensed the man's relief at being rescued. The man was then taken to receive treatment. Griswold told the newspaper he had never had a call quite like this in all his years with the city's police force. However, he deflected any praise, disputed his new found hero label. 'I feel kind of silly getting any attention over this,' he said. 'You don't have time to talk, you just react. And then I was on to the next call.'

What started out as a stranded motorist call turned into a suicide rescue mission Saturday morning on an interstate ramp in Kansas City, Missouri . Sgt. Steven Griswold arrived to find the motorist leaning on the ramp's concrete barrier then he threw himself over . Griswold said: 'I grabbed his ankles before he flipped over' A 15-second dash-cam video released this week by Kansas City police shows the heroic rescue .

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Maybe a career in the music industry over media would be more fitting for this news anchor. Dan Thorn has released yet more dance videos, showing him bopping away and lip syncing alongside his unimpressed co-host, Sarah Pisciuneri, during commercial breaks. The West Virginia based journalist, who anchors WVNS-TV's 59 News, chose Taylor Swift's Shake It Off for his latest performance - a fitting track, seeing how he fails to get Ms Pisciuneri joining in the 'fun' and sits there 'dancing on his own.' Scroll down for video . On a roll: Dan Thorn has released yet more dance videos, showing him bopping away and lip syncing alongside his unimpressed co-host, Sarah Pisciuneri, during commercial breaks . Getting into the swing of things: The West Virginia based journalist, who anchors WVNS-TV's 59 News, chose Taylor Swift's Shake It Off for his latest performance . Apt lyrics: It is a fitting track, seeing as he fails to get Ms Pisciuneri joining in the 'fun' and sits there 'dancing on his own' Unimpressed: Ms Pisciuneri looks increasingly uncomfortable, trying to maintain a professional edge as Mr Thorn grooves away . Ta da! In just over a minute he performs a range of moves, doing 'jazz hands' and using a mirror as a prop . Got the moves: Mr Thorn mouths the lyrics 'And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate' Reason to smile: At one point he does manage to get Ms Pisciuneri in the swing of the things, grabbing her hand and giving her arm a good old 'shake' In just over a minute he performs a range of comical moves, doing 'jazz hands' and using a face mirror as a prop. Meanwhile, Ms Pisciuneri is seen looking increasingly uncomfortable, trying to maintain a professional edge as Mr Thorn grooves away. At one point he does manage to get her in the swing of the things, grabbing her hand and giving her arm a good old 'shake.' At that point, Ms Pisciuneri can't help but smile. In a follow-up video Mr Thorn is seen mouthing the words to James Brown's I Got The Feelin'. Cool dude: In a follow-up video Mr Thorn is seen mouthing the words to James Brown's I Got The Feelin' Carried away: Alone in the TV studio without Pisciuneri cramping his style, he pops on a pair of sunglasses and gets up from the news desk to perform some hip swings . Born to perform: Mr Thorn first broke onto the music video scene this month with a rendition of the rap song Where They At Doe? by T.I. Sex appeal: Many viewers have thanked him for making them smile, with some female admirers even putting in wedding requests . Alone in the TV studio without  Pisciuneri cramping his style, he pops on a pair of sunglasses and gets up from the news desk to perform some hip swings. Mr Thorn first broke onto the music video scene this month with a rendition of the rap song Where They At Doe? by T.I. Many viewers have thanked him for making them smile, with some female admirers even dishing out wedding requests.

Dan Thorn from West Virginia-based WVNS-TV's 59 News has released yet more dance videos . He hit internet fame last week with his performance of the rap song Where They At Doe? by T.I. He chose Taylor Swift's Shake It Off for his second performance . His co-host Sarah Pisciuneri sits looking unimpressed as he performs . He has also done a video of James Brown's I Got The Feelin'

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(CNN) -- World No. 1 Rafael Nadal prevented Novak Djokovic from reaching the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals and kept his own hopes alive by beating the Serbian in London on Friday night. The Spaniard notched his second Group A win this week, triumphing 7-5 6-2 in the season-ending men's tournament. He will face Tomas Berdych on Friday in a rematch of this year's Wimbledon final, with the Czech having earlier earned his first victory with a result that left American eighth seed Andy Roddick needing to win his final match in straight sets. Nadal is seeking to reach the final for the first time, having failed to win a match at the same venue last year. He defeated Djokovic in the U.S. Open final in September to complete his collection of Grand Slam titles, and needed to overcome a strong first-set challenge this time from the world No. 3. Djokovic, who beat Berdych in his opening match, appeared to be the stronger player in the early games but then had his serve broken by Nadal before immediately replying in kind. Nadal broke again in the 11th game and held serve to claim the first set as Djokovic appeared troubled by problems with his contact lenses, then raced to a 4-0 lead in the second set before winning in one hour and 52 minutes. "It was a very good match for me. I was very sorry for Novak for what happened with his eye, I hope he is okay. It was my best match in this tournament," Nadal told reporters. The 23-year-old Djokovic said he was disappointed he was not given more time to solve his eye problem. "I'm just really annoyed by the fact that something like this can affect the match. It did because my right eye got irritated and from the five-all I could not see a ball, especially the return. It was just terrible," he told AFP. "I don't want to find any excuses for my loss, but the fact of the matter is that I just could not play. I needed some time to make it right, but I didn't have time. Everybody was hurrying me up, saying come to the court, play your match." Berdych, who lost to Nadal in the final of this year's third Grand Slam in July, won 7-5 6-3 against Roddick as he saved two set-points at 4-5 on his serve in the opener. The 25-year-old then stunned his opponent with a winning forehand return off a 110-mile-per-hour second serve and was untroubled as he closed out the set. The sixth seed hit 28 winners and made 27 unforced errors, while winning 12 of 16 net approaches and serving six aces. "The last couple of weeks, I was in this position many times but not often was I able to get back, to do a couple of good serves, get to deuce, then win the game," Berdych said. "That's the thing that's going to give you a lot of confidence. Then the next game I managed a quick break and that was the key to the match." Roddick, who lost his opening match to Nadal after qualifying for the event for the eighth consecutive year, will play Djokovic in the closing Group A match on Friday evening. On Thursday, second seed Roger Federer takes on No. 4 Robin Soderling in their third Group B match, then Britain's Andy Murray plays Spain's David Ferrer. Federer has won both matches so far, while seventh seed Ferrer has lost his two. No. 5 Murray and Sweden's Soderling both have a 1-1 record.

Rafael Nadal keeps his ATP World Tour Finals hopes alive by beating Novak Djokovic . Serbian falls to his first defeat this week after suffering from eye problems . Nadal's 7-5 6-2 victory means that American Andy Roddick needs to win his final match . Eighth seed earlier lost his second match, being beaten by Czech Tomas Berdych .

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At least four Muslim villagers were killed, three of them burned to death, when their thatched huts were set on fire during a clash between Hindu and Muslim groups in eastern India, a government official has said. Police had arrested 14 people on Monday on charges of arson and murder, said Ranjit K Mishra, a local police superintendent. Security has been tightened in and around Sarayian village in Bihar state with some 500 police officers assigned to the area. Scroll down for video . The remains of burnt and ransacked huts still smoulder in a village following a clash between Hindus and Muslims nearly 105 kilometers (65 miles) north of Patna. At least four Muslims were killed in the violence . Atul Prasad, a Bihar state administrator, said the violence erupted on Sunday after the body of a young Hindu boy was found in Sarayian more than a week after he went missing. Prasad said Hindu fishermen blamed Muslims for killing the boy who was friendly with a Muslim girl from the village, which is situated 105 kilometers (65 miles) north of Patna, the capital of Bihar. The charred bodies of three Muslims were found in the burned huts while the bullet-riddled body of a fourth man was found in a village field, the officials said. Prasad said the situation remains tense but under control in the village. Hindus make up more than 80 per cent and Muslims nearly 13 per cent of India's 1.2 billion people. They largely live peacefully in various parts of the country, but there is occasional violence. Last year, around 50 people died in clashes between Hindus and Muslim in Muzaffarnagar town in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh state. Police said the situation remains tense but under control in the village .

Thatched huts in Bihar state were set on fire during Hindu-Muslim clashes . Violence erupted after body of missing Hindu boy is found . Police said Hindu fishermen blamed Muslims for the boy's death . He was friendly with a Muslim girl in a village 65 miles north of Patna .

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Zombies might be something you associate with modern popular culture. But for our ancestors in the Iron Age, it appears they too were fearful of ‘the walking dead.’ A female skeleton found in Wiltshire has all the signs of a ritual burial designed to stop her rising from the ground. An Iron Age woman was found buried without her feet in Wiltshire, UK . The discovery was made in a field near West Knoyle during a dig for Wessex Water, who are building a pipeline 64 kilometres (40 miles) long to carry water from Dorset to Wiltshire. Although Iron Age discoveries are not in themselves unusual, it was the nature of this burial that made it so odd. In addition to the woman’s feet being chopped off and buried alongside her, she was also buried with the carcasses of sheep and goats on her head. The Iron Age in Britain was a period in history that began around 700 BC and ended with the Roman invasion in AD 43. Burial practices were extremely varied. In some regions, such as the South, formal burials were rare, with only a small number of adult burials known from pits inside hill forts and other settlements. Finds of bone fragments on many sites have led to the suggestion that the majority of the population in this region were disposed of by 'excarnation' - the deliberate exposure of the corpse. In the South West and West, bodies were sometimes interred in small stone coffins, known as 'cists'. In East Yorkshire, large formal cemeteries including burials with cart and horse equipment have been discovered. Bog bodies show evidence of a violent death, and in the cases of Lindow Man from Lindow Moss in Cheshire and the recent Irish discoveries at Clonycavan and Croghan, a possible ritual or sacrificial killing has been suggested.Many bog bodies show evidence of a violent death, and possible ritual or sacrificial killing . The placing of these individuals in wet locations may also link with the later prehistoric ritual practice of depositing metalwork in rivers, lakes and bogs. Source: BBC . And alongside her were found the remains of a child aged ten and two men with sword wounds. ‘I think this cemetery is marked for difficult deaths where people were probably worried about the circumstances in which they’ve died,’ Dr Melanie Giles, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Manchester, told MailOnline. Such burials have been known to be performed where the local community were frightened by the nature of the death. This could be death caused by childbirth, violent wounding or illness. In such circumstances, locals were afraid that the bodies could rise from the dead and haunt their community. So, to prevent such an occurrence they would sometimes chop off the feet of a body after its death so it could not walk. They would also leave food offerings for the undead to prevent them rising. The burial was found in a field in West Knoyle during a dig for Wessex Water . The odd burial may have been a ritual to prevent the woman rising from the dead . Alongside the woman were found a 10 year-old child and two men with sword wounds . ‘Chopping off whole feet is something done after death to stop them haunting you,’ explains Dr Giles. ‘It looks like a sort of rite designed to prevent her rising and becoming a member of the walking dead.’ The goats and sheep, meanwhile, are common funeral offerings. They are often placed on the head or upper chest to appease the spirit and send it off with food to the afterlife. But the exact circumstances behind the deaths of the individuals will likely remain somewhat of a mystery. ‘It’s the clustering of these bodies that is fascinating,’ says Dr Giles. ‘It looks as if everybody in that group died in an untimely way.’

A skeleton of an Iron Age woman has been found in Wiltshire . She was found alongside a child and two males with sword wounds . The carcasses of sheep and goats were also found on her head . It was most likely a ritual burial to stop her rising from the dead .

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(CNN)It was closing time. Scott Tayloe marched up to the Starbucks counter in Jacksonville, Florida, and handed the barista a napkin with his number on it. "Call me sometime," he said, hoping his voice hit a cool-guy tone, though he knew in reality it was probably cracking like a schoolgirl's. Josh Holder looked down at the napkin. Scott was handsome, well-mannered and professional -- just the type of guy he had always envisioned himself with. But he knew he wouldn't call. A couple years later, Josh was at the Lemon Bar in Jacksonville. A friend of his had met a great guy at a party and thought he'd be perfect for Josh. She invited both to the bar -- a sort of blind date in the midst of a group hangout. As Josh walked toward the guy, he realized it was the same Starbucks customer whose number he had secretly kept for so long. Scott tried to pretend he didn't remember but eventually cracked. "Why didn't you call?" he asked. Josh explained he had been in a serious relationship at the time. By the end of the night, the two had exchanged phone numbers. For the next week, they spoke on the phone every day for hours. On July 15, 2004, they went on their first date. "I always dreamt I would meet my future husband in line at the grocery store," Scott wrote on CNN iReport. "I would be buying spaghetti, and he would be buying spaghetti sauce. Our eyes would lock and the rest would be history." "I always dreamt I would have a cute story. And I got one." The first date was followed by a second, then a third. They rented giant sumo wrestling costumes and battled each other in a friend's backyard. They went horseback riding on the beach. For their six-month anniversary, they flew down to the Florida Keys. They took a road trip to Salt Lake City and spent months backpacking around Europe. "It was like one of those crazy romantic movies," Josh remembered. "Nobody does dates like this, but we did them all." On July 29, 2011, Scott slid a note under Josh's door while on Cape Cod in Massachusetts: "Starbucks Boy, will you marry me today?" Today, Scott and Josh Tayloe live in Los Angeles with their son, Hayden. They disagree over small things -- movie selection, driving styles, which drawer to put the shorts in -- but agree on all the big things, such as their plan to adopt more children. With this kind of love story, it's no wonder the couple believes so strongly in fate. One of Josh's favorite stories is from Plato's "Symposium": The Greeks believed humans were originally created with four arms and four legs. Fearing their power, Zeus split them in half. "So you have a perfect match," Josh said. "You just have to find it."

Scott and Josh Tayloe met at a Starbucks in Jacksonville, Florida . The couple is now married and living in Los Angeles with their son, Hayden . Go to CNN.com/soulmatestories to see more and add your own .

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A half-brother to 2010 King George winner Harbinger, sired by Galileo, topped the Tattersalls Book One sale when sold to a bid of 2.6million guineas (£2.73m) from Coolmore Stud supremo John Magnier on Thursday, . More than 79m guineas (£82.95m), a new record, was spent over the three-day auction in Newmarket, 17m-plus guineas by Sheik Mohammed's bloodstock adviser John Ferguson. A half-brother to 2010 King George winner Harbinger, sired by Galileo, topped the Tattersalls Book One sale . After an extremely slow start, when he was even available for the minimum bid of 5,000 guineas, the Ashbrittle Stud-consigned youngster eventually reached an incredible 2.6million guineas when the hammer went down to Magnier after a battle with John Warren. 'When the bidding opened at 5,000 guineas, I just wanted the ground to open up,' said Ginny Whales, who led up and had looked after the colt at Ashbrittle. 'When it stuck again at 60,000, I thought the boss was bound to sack me - how could we have got it so wrong! I am just delighted and amazed at the price.' The colt is reported to be the world's most expensive yearling sold this year. Lot 245, a Dubawi colt sells for 1.6m guineas during the Tattersalls sales in Newmarket on Thursday . John Ferguson, bloodstock adviser to Sheikh Mohammed, had made three six-figure signings on Wednesday and he beat Al Shaqab Racing to Lot 398. 'He came to us in July and was always a stunning, straightforward colt, always easy to deal with and always oozed class,' said Charlie Vigors of consigners Hillwood Stud. 'It is easily our biggest sale and it is a fantastic feeling.' The day started off briskly when James Delahooke spent 1.25million on a Galileo three-quarters sister to Derby winner Pour Moi. 'She was my pick of the sale,' Delahooke told Tattersalls' website. 'I tried very hard to buy a filly by Bernardini filly earlier this summer, but was beaten by John Ferguson. 'This is the nicest filly I have seen since - she ticks all the boxes, she is gorgeous. She is for Bobby Flay and will probably race in Europe.'

John Magnier came out top in bidding duel with John Warren . Colt is reported to be the world's most expensive yearling sold this year . A record 79m guineas (£82.95m) was spent over the three-day auction .

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By . Ashley Collman . California Highway Patrol investigators believe a 29-year-old woman committed suicide on Friday by getting onto the freeway, driving in the wrong direction, and causing a deadly head-on collision. Witnesses saw Trista Lynn Stier drive onto Route 67 near Lakeside that afternoon, where she started speeding south in the northbound lane and lined her Ford-150 up with the utility vehicle driven by father-of-two Douglas Menegos, 49. 'She got to the middle and squared up facing oncoming traffic and stayed in that position,' witness Patrick Vargas told NBC San Diego. 'That tells me that it was deliberate.' The two trucks crashed head-on at high speed, killing both Stier and Menegos. Suicide: California Highway Patrol investigators believe Trista Stier (left) purposefully caused a head-on collision that killed father-of-two Douglas Menegos (right) on Friday in Lakeside, California . Fatal: Witnesses saw Stier drive onto Route 67, going south in the northbound lane before she lined up with Menegos' truck and crashed head-on. The two were later pronounced dead at the hospital . Another Ford F-450 was struck in the accident, but the 53-year-old male driver from El Cajon was not injured. On Monday, the Medical Examiner's Office said they were investigating the crash as a homicide. CHP Officer Kevin Pearlstein said Stier was 'just looking for the biggest truck you could find' to hit and that there was no indication that the two victims knew each other. Family man: Menegos, 49 (right), leaves behind wife Lisa (second left), 20-year-old daughter Kara (second right) and son Jacob, 17 (left) The CHP continues to investigate the crash. Friends have described Mengos as a devoted family man. He leaves behind wife Lisa, 20-year-old daughter Kara and son Jacob, 17. A GoFundMe account has been set up to raise money for Menegos' funeral expenses, with the leftover funds going to his children's college education. As of Tuesday morning, the fund had surpassed it's goal of $20,000.

Trista Lynn Stier, 29, was driving south in the northbound lane of Route 67 on Friday when she crashed head-on with a utility truck . Driver Douglas Menegos, 49, and Stier were both pronounced dead at the hospital . California Highway Patrol investigators believe Stier purposefully caused the crash to commit suicide . Menegos leaves behind a wife, a son and a daughter . For support on suicide matters call the National Suicide Prevention Helpine on 1-800-273-8255 or go to www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

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By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 05:33 EST, 8 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:32 EST, 8 January 2014 . From Heidi Montag’s breast reduction to Cameron Diaz's Botox admission, it seems cosmetic surgery was big business in 2013. And vain Brits are following their favourite celebrities' leads, with 2014 set to see a huge surge in treatments - some of which you've probably never even heard of. A new survey has . analysed the most popular treatments of the last year: arm lifts, buttocks lifts and even 'buffalo hump' surgery dominated the cosmetic world. Heidi Montag and Cameron Diaz have admitted to plastic surgery and it seems to be getting more and more popular, if knew research is anything to go by . Buffalo hump removal, in which there was negligible interest in . 2012, saw a 350 per cent increase in 2013, found researchers. This surgery removes the fatty . build-up at the base of the neck caused by excessive weight gain. Although it’s still not widely available in the UK, demand amongst . British patients is certainly on the up, according to research. A spokesperson for WhatClinic.com, who carried out the research, said: 'Buffalo humps can be an unusual side effect of certain medications, but more often they appear over time, through obesity.  Poor posture doesn't help either, making it more noticeable. Buffalo hump surgery removes the fatty build-up at the base of the neck caused by excessive weight gain . 'This issue undoubtedly leaves sufferers feeling self-conscious and miserable, especially as it occurs in an area of the body that people don't usually worry about. A relatively simple surgical procedure can correct the problem, and restore the person's normal shape.' Arm lifts saw a staggering 473 per cent increase in 2013, as many patients waved goodbye to those dreaded bingo wings. Mini-facelifts dropped by 60 per cent as less invasive treatments, such as dermal fillers proved more popular with patients . Fluctuations in weight and growing older can cause the upper arm skin to sag, which is what the surgery - also known as brachioplasty - corrects. The cost, however, is not for the light of pocket, averaging £3,872 - over a third (35 per cent) more than it cost in 2012. With Beyonce’s booty once again taking centre stage in her raunchy new video, Partition, it's not surprising that enquiries into buttock lifts more than tripled (221 per cent) last year. However, the surgery, which aims to contour and sculpt patients' rears, comes with a hefty price tag of around £4,226 and experts recommend no physical exertion for three to six weeks following treatment. It wasn't just women going under the knife in 2013, as male breast reduction enquiries more than doubled last year. However, over a third (35 per cent) of those looking to banish their 'moobs', went overseas to countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Belgium, where surgeries are considerably cheaper. Full abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, saw enquiries fall by half (46 per cent) last year, while abdominal etching dropped by almost a fifth (17 per cent). Etching, hugely popular in the 1990s, is aimed at people who are quite fit but have a small amount of fat covering their abs. Demand for both procedures is now falling as many patients opt for alternatives like fat transfer, which saw a 126 per cent increase in the past 12 months. Mini-facelifts also dropped by 60 per cent as less invasive treatments, such as non-surgical facelifts and dermal fillers (both up 93 per cent) and Thermage skin tightening (up 80 per cent) proved more popular with patients. A relatively simple surgical procedure can correct the problem, and restore the person's normal shape, say surgeons . With Beyonce's booty once again taking centre in her new music videos, it's not surprising that enquiries into buttock lifts more than tripled (221 per cent) last year .

The 'buffalo hump' is the build-up of fat around the neck . Cosmetic removal of the buffalo hump saw a 350% rise in 2013 . Not widely available in the UK but demand rising . Arm and buttock lifts also shot up in popularity in the UK in 2013 . Male cosmetic surgery enquiries more than doubled last year .

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(CNN) -- A gunman who opened fire on his co-workers at a Walmart in Reno, Nevada, was arrested without incident Friday after a six-hour standoff with authorities, Reno police said. Three employees were injured and two remained hospitalized Friday night in serious to stable condition, Lt. Mohammad Rafaqat told CNN. John Gillane, 46, will be charged with three counts of attempted murder in the shootings, Rafaqat said. The incident began at 8:30 a.m. (11:30 a.m. ET) when Gillane walked into the store and opened fire on employees before barricading himself in an office. It ended at 2:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. ET) after hours of police negotiations. A possible motive for the attack was not immediately clear, Rafaqat said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with our employees at this time," Wal-Mart spokesman Dan Fogleman said. CNN's Sara Pratley contributed to this report.

NEW: Three employees are injured in the shooting by their co-worker, police say . NEW: John Gillane will be charged with three counts of attempted murder . NEW: Two people remain hospitalized in serious to stable condition .

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HAVANA, Cuba (CNN) -- A man named Ernesto pressed an old-fashioned radio to his ear, listening to a baseball game roughly 5,000 miles away. Ernesto listens to the Baseball World Cup gold medal game by radio in Havana. The U.S. beat Cuba 10-5. "Oh, it's already over," he groaned, listening to the staccato play-by-play of Sunday's Baseball World Cup championship. In the gold-medal game, played in Nettuno, Italy, team USA defeated Cuba, 10-5, to wrap up the World Cup played this year throughout Europe. In the winning country, that news likely was overshadowed in most places by Major League Baseball, professional football, or dozens of other sports stories that developed on Sunday. But in Cuba, where baseball is as much a source of national pride as it is a game, the Baseball World Cup was big news. Reverberations of that last out in Italy could be felt as far away as Havana's central park, where a daily gaggle of baseball fans often provide for the country's liveliest debate. "The American pitching was strong," said Ernesto, still listening to the crackle and pop of his radio. "But Cuban batters were not as good," he added. For the widely anticipated match-up, Havana residents holed up in their homes Sunday afternoon to watch their national team take on their northern neighbor on TV. Those without televisions huddled around a small radio in the capital's central park, appearing to hang on every broadcasted pitch. "Strike three!" the radio sputtered as another Cuban batter was retired by U.S. starter Cory Luebke, who tallied seven strike-outs in four-and-a-third innings. He prompted a near-unison groan among the group. The United States, led by Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Lucas May, scored early and often as May put the Americans ahead with a second inning three-run home run. The Cubans refused to go quietly, rallying in the fourth inning and scoring two runs on three singles. A two-run blast by Cuban first baseman Ariel Borrero in the sixth inning tied the game at 4-4 before a salvo of U.S. hits in the seventh drove in six runs, enough to secure the American win. For team USA, the contest capped a 14-game winning streak that began after a first-round loss to Venezuela. Sunday's win is only the fourth U.S. championship in World Cup competition, with Americans having previously earned gold in 1973, 1974 and 2007. For the Cubans, whose teams have brought home gold in 25 of the last 30 Baseball World Cup championships their country has played in, it was time to start looking ahead in quintessential baseball philosophy. "They won it this year, but we will win it the next," said one Havana resident who declined to give his name. Long a baseball powerhouse, Cuba has never finished out of the top three in World Cup competition, according to International Baseball Federation spokesman Jake Fehling. But million-dollar contracts in professional baseball often have lured away top Cuban prospects and depleted national team talent, pulling star athletes such as Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez and Jose Contreras away from state salaries at home. Cuban pitcher Ardoldis Chapman, who defected in July during a national trip to the Netherlands, is the latest example of top Cuban players seeking the bigger payoffs of major-league salaries. Chapman, a lefty who reportedly throws over 100 mph, has sparked rumors of a potential bidding war among top major-league franchises. Residents in Havana's central park, however, were unwilling Sunday to say more than a few words about the loss of star talent. "If they leave, they leave," Ernesto said, still clinging to his radio. Players come and go, but in Cuba, baseball -- and baseball talk -- is one steadying constant. And in Havana's central park, the talk of Sunday's game -- the talk of baseball -- buzzed on, long after the last pitch was thrown.

Havana residents flock to radios, TV to watch Baseball World Cup title game . U.S. beats Cuba 10-5; game garnered more concentrated attention in Cuba . Cuba consistently a baseball powerhouse despite stars' defections .

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Barcelona have confirmed that former Everton loanee Gerard Deulofeu will be joining Sevilla on a season-long loan deal. The La Liga giants have explained their reasons behind the move commenting: 'It is an operation designed to maximise his participation and optimise his progression as a player.' Deulofeu is highly-rated by the Catalan side and is considered to be one of the most promising youngsters to recently emerge from Barcelona's 'La Masia' football academy. Potential: Deulofeu showed signs he can become a top player in the future on loan at Everton last season . Classy: Deulofeu celebrates scoring a last-gasp equaliser for the Toffees at the Emirates last December . Last season the 20-year-old was loaned out to Goodison Park where he impressed despite scoring just four times in 29 appearances. However, new Barcelona boss Luis Enrique didn't feel that particular loan spell aided Deulofeu's development and is far more confident of him progressing on loan this time around. It was initially believed that Deulofeu would form part of Barcelona's attack this season but Enrique has opted to send the youngster out on loan, believing his chances of playing first-team football were minimal after the £75million signing of Luis Suarez. Deulofeu is the second Barcelona player to be loaned out to Sevilla before the start of the new season, along with former Manchester City youngster Denis Suarez.

Barcelona have confirmed they are loaning out Deulofeu to Seville for a year . The La Liga side says the move will maximise and optimise his progression . The highly-rated Spaniard spent last season on loan at Everton .

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(CNN) -- The grief of any parent who loses a child is unimaginable. But that pain is amplified now in South Korea, due to the uncertainty over the fate of hundreds -- many of them children on a school field trip -- on a sunken ferry and how this east Asian nation's culture copes with such heartache. For proof, one need look no further than hospital beds where some parents are hooked up to IVs because their sorrow is so great that they have refused to eat. Some say they don't want to live. Families' frustration: 'Nothing is changing' "If I don't have my younger child, I want to jump in the sea," one woman said. "Thinking about my child in the sea, how can I, as a parent, eat or drink. I hate myself for this." In South Korea, suicide is a real threat. It has the highest suicide rate among the 34 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Some point to South Korea's ultra-competitive society or an unwillingness to accept failure as factors that contribute to this reality. Kin give out DNA . It is a culture where shame carries a heavy burden, and where there is simply a societal acceptance of suicide. Officials have made mental health workers available to the families, but despite the enormity of the tragedy, they find themselves not busy. "No one came to us for counseling. The families don't care about their safety or well-being," said Han Kee Rae, a psychology volunteer. Counselors hope more people will come for help, especially in light of the high number of suicides in the country. There are fears that some may follow the example of Kang Min Kyu, the vice principal of Seoul's Ansan Danwon High School. The 52-year-old Kyu was among the first to be rescued from the sinking ship. Then, two days later, he was found hanging from a tree. Police said he used a belt to apparently hang himself from a tree near a gymnasium in Jindo, where the distraught relatives of missing passengers have been camping out. In a note, Kang wrote that the field trip had been his idea and that the deaths of the students were his fault. His suicide is hardly the first, nor the most high-profile, in recent memory in South Korea. Former President Roh Moo Hyun jumped to his death in 2009 in the wake of a financial scandal. And Hyundai Group Chairman Chung Mong Hun leaped from a building in the midst of a corruption investigation in 2003, ending his life. Wherever it leads, the despair was palpable at the site where grieving family members of the capsized ferry's passengers have been gathering. For some, the sadness is mixed with anger. And desperation abounds. As one woman, during a briefing by maritime officials, shouted: "How are we going to live now?" Families protest over rescue operation .

Parents of students missing from the sunken ferry are grieving, desperate . The students' vice principal killed himself; some fear others may do the same . South Korea has a high suicide rate compared to other countries . Mental health workers say no family members sought counseling near ferry site .

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By . Ashley Collman . Graduate: Cancer patient Yeatise Gaines was able to accomplish her goal of graduating high school in a special ceremony held just one day before she died . A 17-year-old Michigan cancer patient was able to achieve her goal of graduating high school in a special ceremony before she died. Kalamazoo Central High School Principal Valerie Boggan personally presented Yeatise Gaines with a cap, gown and certificate of completion at the hospital on May 14, ahead of the scheduled June 4 commencement. School administrators, teachers, and more than 20 family members gathered around Yeatise's hospital bed to celebrate her accomplishment. She passed away the next day. 'It was always something she wanted to do,' Yeatise's mother Santasha Gaines told MailOnline. 'If she made it this far she didn't want to leave this earth without the diploma in her hands.' Ms Gaines says her daughter dreamed of studying oncology in college so she could help children with cancer, just like herself. Yeatise has been battling cancer since she was just 18 months old, and it was the radiation treatment that sent her cancer into remission but weakened her lungs and ultimately killed her. The teen asked to be taken out of school for the third time after Thanksgiving, but the dedicated student continued her studies through home schooling. Her tutor, Ruby Sledge, told the Kalamazoo Gazette that she was focused girl who took school very seriously. Ms Sludge also admired the way Yeatise would stay strong even through the most painful periods of her illness. Ambitions: Yeatise wanted to become an oncologist so she could help other children with cancer. Pictured above in a photo posted on her Facebook . 'A plus on attitude': Yeatise's tutor says she never complained about her pain and was a very focused student . 'I never heard her complain,' Ms Sledge told the Gazette.  'I would give her an A plus on attitude. 'This was a case where the teacher learned from the student,' Sledge said. During her long battle with cancer, Yeatise underwent 10 surgeries, was in crutches for four years and had severe back pain. Her mother is just glad that her daughter is no longer feeling that pain. 'She's just happy now that she's with the lord,' Ms Gaines said. 'No more suffering for my daughter period. No more.'

Yeatise Gaines, who attended Kalamazoo Central High School, died on May 15 . The day before, the schools' principal personally delivered her cap, gown and certificate of completion . Gaines' mother says it was her number one goal to graduate before passing away .

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A brand new hotel has skipped the recruitment process - because all its staff are robots. From reception desk staff to security doormen and waiters, the Pengheng Space Capsules Hotel in Shenzhen, China, has built, rather than hired, their new employees. Start-up costs and robot maintenance aside, staff bills must be minimal. And it seems the hotel is keen to pass their savings right back to the customer as a night's stay costs just £6.80 per night. The Pengheng Space Capsules Hotel in Shenzhen, China, combines minimalism with a futuristic vibe . Situated in Shenzhen's Bao'an . District, the micro hotel has gained widespread media . attention after being open for just three months. Rocket News 24 has confirmed there is a skeleton staff overseeing operations. While there is a very small number of . operations staff, the vast majority of menial tasks within the hotel are . carried out by machines. You . can even order food and drinks from the lounge area using supplied . tablet computers, and your choices arriving via robot waiter just a few . minutes later. Best of all, however, is the price. A . stay in the hotel costs a mere 70 yuan (£6.81) per person. For that price you might not expect much, but the . hotel's facilities are impressive. This capsule hotel - a hotel format coined in Japan featuring many extremely small rooms dubbed capsules - combines affordable and minimalist overnight accommodation with a futuristic vibe. The capsules look like they've been lifted out of a sci-fi movie . A eerie blue-lit corridor leads to the space station-style bunks, which resemble something . lifted out of a sci-fi film. The hotel also features banks of computers, lockers, washrooms and a DIY laundry room. With robots, neon and shiny surfaces as far as the eye can see, a stay in the hotel has become a must for both local and visiting tech fans. Capsule hotels were originally developed in Japan. They feature a large number of very small rooms . Robot 'staff' at the reception desk of China's newest capsule hotel . Robot doorman waits outside the space age themed inn - complete with planet logo . Banks of PCs ready for customers to surf the net, check their emails and play games . Inside one of the capsule rooms, brightly lit with an eerie blue light .

The Pengheng Space Capsules Hotel in Shenzhen, China has robot staff . Waiters, reception desk staff and doormen all machines . Skeleton staff of humans oversee operations at £6.80 per night inn .

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The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a far-reaching immigration bill - after its chairman withdrew an amendment allowing gay couples to obtain green cards for spouses born outside the U.S. The 13-5 vote clears the bill for a Senate debate expected to begin early next month. Committee approval came after the panel's chairman, Sen Patrick Leahy sidestepped a showdown on the rights of gay spouses, caving to pressure from the White House and others who feared such a vote could lead to the bill's failure in the Senate. Scroll down for video . Heated: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen Patrick Leahy confers with the committee's ranking Republican, Sen Chuck Grassley during immigration bill talks . The much-awaited announcement on Tuesday by the Vermont Democrat clears . the way for passage by his committee of the legislation . offering the possibility of citizenship to millions in this country . illegally. Leahy had been under pressure from gay rights groups to offer the . amendment, which would have allowed gays to petition to bring their . spouses to the United States like straight Americans can. But the White House and other Democrats privately urged Leahy to hold . off as Republican supporters of the immigration bill threatened to . withdraw their support over the issue. In a statement released on Tuesday evening, President Obama said: 'I congratulate the Senate Judiciary Committee on completing its work on S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. 'Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Leahy and a bipartisan group of eight Senators, the legislation that passed the Judiciary Committee with a strong bipartisan vote is largely consistent with the principles of commonsense reform I have proposed and meets the challenge of fixing our broken immigration system.' The controversy over the rights of gay spouses, with the ability to . fracture a bipartisan coalition behind the legislation, has hovered in . the background of the debate from the beginning. Under pressure: Leahy, pictured left with New York Sen Chuck Schumer and Sen Dianne Feinstein of California, sidestepped a showdown on the rights of gay spouses, caving to pressure from the White House and fellow Dems . Solution? An additional surge in immigrant traffic to the U.S. has begun since . immigration reform negotiations began . As drafted by the Gang of Eight, four Republicans and four Democrats . who negotiated the basic provisions of the legislation, gay spouses do . not have the same right to a green card as heterosexual spouses. Sen John McCain, a Gang of Eight member who does not have a seat on the judiciary committee, said: 'It would kill the bill. You'd lose the evangelicals, you'd lose the Catholic . Church, and the issue is wending its way through the courts. 'And so . for the amendment to be included is destructive to this carefully . crafted compromise." Two people familiar with the deliberations said the White House had . suggested to Leahy that it would be best to put the controversy aside . until the bill goes before the full Senate, and congressional officials . said similar pleas had come from Democratic senators. All said they were . not authorized to discuss the matter on the record and insisted on . anonymity. Leahy's comment to reporters was unlikely his final word on the . issue, and hardly the first time he has demonstrated his independence on . this and other bills. Most recently, he was the sole opponent of an . amendment that passed 17-1 on Monday to make a third drunk driving . conviction a deportable offense for immigrants in some instances. An April 10 rally in front of the U.S. Capitol . brought tens of thousands of immigration advocates, and generated more . subway traffic in Washington, D.C. than on the day of President Obama's second inauguration . Still, a vote on the proposal could create political difficulty for . Democrats on the committee who support gay rights and are also members . of the Gang of Eight, including Schumer and Sen. Dick Durbin of . Illinois. Durbin has told outside groups he will back the change if it . is offered. Schumer hasn't said which way he would vote. All eight authors of the bill have pledged to maintain the essential . outlines of the legislation. A vote to add the gay rights provision . could lead to approval on a party-line vote in committee. On a final day of drafting, the panel also agreed to a last-minute compromise covering an increase in the visa program for high-tech workers. The landmark legislation creates new provisions to bring workers here legally and enforce against illegal immigration, as well as creating a path to citizenship for 11 million here illegally. California is the home of up a large number of . illegal immigrants, including some who protested in front of the office . of California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein on April 10, in an . attempt to persuade her to support immigration reform legislation . The measure also creates a new program for low-skilled foreign labor . and would permit highly skilled workers into the country at far higher . levels than is currently the case. At the same time, it requires the . government take new steps to guard against future illegal immigration. As the day wore on, opponents of the bill made a final bid to strip . the measure of its signature feature - a path to citizenship that could . take 13 years and payment of fines totaling $2,000 to travel. Sen Ted . Cruz' proposal failed on a vote of 13-5. The rejection was one of numerous ways in which the bipartisan . coalition behind the White House-backed measure demonstrated its command . of the proceedings. Without so much as a roll call vote, the panel adopted a compromise . setting the terms of the expansion of H-1B high tech visas, a deal that . brought Sen Orrin Hatch, R-Utah over to the ranks of supporters. Under the deal, the number of highly skilled workers admitted to the . country would rise from 65,000 annually to 110,000, with the possibility . of a further rise to 180,000 depending in part on unemployment levels.

Far-reaching immigration bill approved by Senate Judiciary Committee - and the Senate will debate on it next month . Legislation went through without amendment that would allow same-sex couples to obtain a green card if a spouse was born outside the U.S. Sen Patrick Leahy decided to withdraw the amendment after he had received pressure from the White House and fellow Democrats .

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Thousands of terror suspects in the UK are being monitored by the security services, it has been claimed. Far more militants than previously thought are under surveillance, according to the Mayor of London. Boris Johnson said the threat from Islamist extremists may be greater than officials have admitted. It had been believed that the main danger came from some 500 jihadis who have travelled to Syria and Iraq from Britain to join Islamic State or Al-Qaeda. About half of these have since returned to the UK. Scroll down for video . Boris Johnson said the threat from Islamist extremists may be greater than officials have admitted and claimed 'there are probably in the low thousands of people that we are monitoring in London' But Mr Johnson told the Daily Telegraph the danger was much more widespread than the relatively small numbers of extremists who have gone abroad to fight. ‘In London we’re very, very vigilant and very, very concerned,’ he said. ‘Every day – as you saw recently, we had to raise the threat level – every day the security services are involved in thousands of operations. ‘There are probably in the low thousands of people that we are monitoring in London.’ Speaking about IS, the jihadist organisation that has beheaded two British hostages, he said: ‘London has a particular concern, because probably of the five or six hundred that are out there, we think a third, maybe more – maybe half – come from the London area. ‘If and when they come back, we have a real job to deal with them.’ Mr Johnson gave the interview to promote his new biography of Sir Winston Churchill, The Churchill Factor. He said he believed the wartime leader would have approved of Parliament’s decision to back air strikes on Islamic State in Iraq. Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, of the Met Police said policing methods would not change . More than 200,000 police officers and staff were warned last night that they could be directly targeted by terrorists. Chief constables in every force across Britain are putting extra measures in place to protect those on the frontline. They have urged officers to be extra vigilant in the face of the growing threat posed by violent Islamic fundamentalists. Police were told to take every precaution while off-duty and not to unnecessarily identify themselves as police officers. The warning included reminders not to speak about work in public and to remove items such as identification cards. Officials refused to discuss details of the warning, but counter-terrorism police are thought to have received information that officers could be terror targets. Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, of the Metropolitan Police, said the threat would not change policing methods. He added: ‘We are informing officers and staff of the heightened risk and reminding them to remain vigilant.’ ‘I think he would be appalled by the spectacle of these cowards executing journalists, and I think he would have wanted to do something to set them back a long way, and if need be, to neutralise them altogether,’ Mr Johnson said. ‘He was a great believer in air power – don’t forget he invented the RAF – so I think he’d do exactly what the Prime Minister is doing.’ Mr Johnson said Mr Churchill would have been ‘very tough’ on home-grown terrorism, and would have taken ‘personal charge’ of the situation. ‘Had he been Home Secretary now, he would be absolutely appalled to think that these people could be carrying British passports and yet be loyal to another state.’

Far more militants than previously thought are under surveillance . And Mayor claims threat not only comes from those returning from Syria . He said: ‘London has a particular concern...every day security forces involved in thousands of operations' Meanwhile - police officers warned uniform could make them terror targets .

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By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 07:10 EST, 28 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:51 EST, 28 May 2013 . A drunk mocked a Muslim prayer ritual and then hurled racist abuse when dozens rioted after a Help for Heroes march turned sour, a court heard today. Lee Cousins, 40, was among 60 men who attended a Facebook-organised rally to raise cash for the charity in memory of Lee Rigby, 25, who was murdered in Woolwich last week. But when trouble flared and police tried to stop the parade, a mob barricaded themselves in a Bristol pub - sparking a five-hour stand-off and 19 arrests in Bristol. Scroll down for video . Unrest: Riot police outside the St George's Pub in Bristol after a disturbance which led to several men being arrested for mocking Islam, Lee Cousins . Unsavoury: This is one of the 19 men arrested in the riot, which came on the back of a disrupted Help for Heroes march in Bristol . In the chaos Cousins came outside, got down on his hands and knees in the road and mocked a Muslim prayer ritual - also shouting racist insults about Allah. Appearance: Jason Bennett, 39, outside Bristol Magistrates Court, where he pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour and was fined £50 . Today he blamed alcohol for his actions during the march in Bristol on Saturday night. Cousins, who represented himself said: 'I . was very drunk and I apologise for my behaviour. I was extremely drunk - . I apologise if I offended anyone.' He pleaded guilty to racially or . religiously aggravated harassment or alarm. He was fined £500 and . ordered to pay £85 costs plus a £15 victim surcharge. Prosecutor Siobhan Heron told Bristol Magistrates Court the event had started peacefully with around 30 people but the crowd later doubled. She said: “When police arrived a number of people used chairs and tables to make a barricade. Police formed a line outside and bottles and glasses were thrown at them. 'The atmosphere was hostile. A group of men came out of the pub. Cousins was among them. He mocked a Muslim prayer ritual and got down on his hands and knees.' Luke Selman, 23, of Bristol, also . admitted using threatening words or behaviour towards two police, with . intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence, and to assaulting a . police officer and will be sentenced on June 17. Jason Bennett, 39, of Bristol, pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour and was fined £50. Problems: Hoards of police were forced to break up the walk in Bristol because of disorder . Trouble: Riot officers were called to halt a Bristol walk in support of Help for Heroes after they feared it would stoke up 'community tensions' - this led to 19 arrests . Andrew Carlisle, of Bridgeyate, Gloucestershire denied using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence and with face trial on August 22. Another eight people were bailed to appear at court and seven more released on bail pending further inquiries.

Lee Cousins, 40, blames drink for his racist behaviour during Bristol riot . He had joined a Help for Heroes march that turned sour on Saturday . Cousins was fined £500 and . ordered to pay £85 costs today . Others also dealt with by the courts for their part in Saturday's unrest .

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By . Sam Webb . and Jennifer Smith . Graham Richardson, 27, was sentenced to life behind bars after murdering antiques dealer Peter Battle and leaving his body to rot for weeks . A killer who murdered an antiques dealer and left his corpse to rot for weeks as he repeatedly stole more goods has been jailed for life. Graham Richardson was sentenced to a minimum of 27 years in prison today after being found guilty of murder following a five week trial. Richardson clubbed Peter Battle to death with a heavy ornament and then hid his body at his cottage in Full Sutton, East Yorkshire. The alleged heroin-user returned to the property to repeatedly steal goods that he then passed on to elderly friends and relatives. A court heard he covered up the killing with ‘cunning and guile’ by posting fake notes on Mr Battle’s window and covering his body and a window so it couldn’t be seen. The murder is said to have taken place on December 30 last year and Mr Battle lay undiscovered at his home until early February. His body was eventually found when neighbours started to get concerned and called police, who broke in and found his body. Passing sentence today Mr Justice Stephen Males said Richardson had launched a 'vicious and sustained attack' on a 'defenceless and unconscious man' who he had already stabbed to the ground. A pathologist report found the victim suffered some 40 injuries, including fatal blows to the head. 'You demonstrated extreme callousness by leaving his body to lie for five weeks before it was found,' added the judge. 'The . ransacking of a dead man's home with his body lying there is despicable . conduct, made worse by the way in which it was repeated over an . extended period.' Victim: Antiques dealer Peter Battle was was found murdered in his countryside home in Full Sutton, East Yorkshire . The victim's daughter, Lisa Battle,  is one of the first people in the country to be able to address the court under the new Victims’ Code. The code, which came into effect this month, allows victims or their relatives to address offenders to explain how a crime has impacted them. Previously, judges read such statements in private. Looking directly at her father's murderer she said: 'If all you wanted to do was to rob my dad, why didn’t you wait until he was out and then break in when he wasn’t there? 'You have totally ripped my heart out and that piece that you have ripped out will never grow back. 'How would you feel if someone had done this to your mum in the same way you he done this to my dad and taken advantage as much as they could, like you have done.' Mr Justice Males praised the woman for her bravery, and that of her family. 'Their courage, love for their father and genuine feelings contrast starkly with your cowardice, selfishness and lies,' he told Richardson. Richardson had earlier admitted taking and selling jewellery from the cottage but denied murder. During the five-week trial, prosecutor Nicholas Lumley QC said Richardson killed Mr Battle in rage when he refused to give him credit on gold to sell. He told Teesside Crown Court that Richardson, of Norton, North Yorkshire, was on bail and desperate for money and went through his ‘little black book’ looking for easy prey. On December 29 he went to Mr, Battle’s house hoping to get gold and rings on credit so he could sell them and when that didn’t succeed he returned the following day. Mr Battle again refused and Richardson lost his temper and battered him with a heavy ornament, fracturing his skull, claimed the prosecutor. Police believe Mr Battle, 56, may have lain dead in the lounge of his home for weeks before his body was found . Scientists allegedly found Richardson’s DNA on Mr Battle’s trouser hem, which the prosecution claimed showed he moved the body after death. His DNA was also found on a curtain allegedly used to cover a window and door to prevent people from seeing into the house. The prosecution claimed that Mr Battle’s blood was found in Richardson’s mother’s car which he used and tried to scrap after the death. The prosecutor said Richardson was expected to claim that Mr Battle had been killed by another man and he had just ‘chanced on a treasure trove’. Darren Archer, 43, was convicted in court after carrying out a robbery of a gold dealer with Richardson three weeks before the murder took place. He will be sentenced next month. Peter Anthony Egan, 48, was acquitted of the same charge. Richardson showed no emotion as he was jailed for life with concurrent sentences of nine years and one year for robbing Mr Cleaver and stealing Mr Battle's property respectively. Speaking at Friday's sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Alistair McFarlane from the Humberside Police Major Incident Team, said: 'Graham Richardson used the house as his own treasure store and returned time and time again to plunder the belongings of the murdered owner. 'All the time, the decaying body of Mr Battle was lying on the living room floor.'

Graham Richardson battered antiques dealer Peter Battle to death . Heroin user allegedly returned to murder scene on various occasions . Richardson was sentenced to 27 years behind bars after a five-week trial . The victim's 'brave' daughter addressed her father's killer in court . Richardson hid Mr Battle's body inside his home and closed curtains . A judge said the man launched a 'vicious and sustained' attack on victim .

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By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 05:32 EST, 27 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:26 EST, 27 January 2013 . A 22-year-old climber fell over 300 feet to his death yesterday while scaling a ridge on Britain's highest mountain. Ben St Jospeh, from Essex, was climbing Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis when he fell into the gully below. Two fellow climbers saw the man fall at 11am and Lochaber Mountain Rescue were called out and a Royal Navy helicopter from Prestwick was also dispatched. The climber was scaling Tower Ridge, pictured from the summit of Ben Nevis, when he fell into the gully below . The man, who is in his 20s or early 30s, was about 2,800 feet up the 4,409 feet mountain when he dropped. John Stevenson, team leader of . Lochaber Mountain Rescue, said it 'did not look good' when the man was found. He said: 'We . think he was climbing on his own. We do not know which part of the . Tower he fell from - but he was seen by two other climbers fall a long . way. 'He must have fallen at least 400 feet. It is a long fall from where we think he was.' Police at Fort William confirmed the man had 'sustained fatal injuries'. An investigation has been launched and a report is being prepared. The ridge, which is popular with climbers, is almost 3,000 feet long and has almost 2,000 feet of ascent. Tower Ridge is one of several rocky ridges protruding north west from the summit plateau. His death came just one week after four climbers were killed in an avalanche in Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands. Search and rescue workers in Glencoe, where an avalanche claimed the lives of four climbers . On Saturday the avalanche risk was 'high' - the second highest category - but Mr Stevenson said he did not think an avalanche caused the man to fall. He said: 'It is just one of those tragic things - it is one of the risks that climbers take. 'The Tower Ridge is probably the most popular climbing route - both in summer and winter - on the Ben. The conditions were pretty good. He was just on the verge of cloud level.' The previous Saturday Tom Chesters, 28, from Leeds, his girlfriend Dr Rachel Majumdar, 29, who was working at Harrogate District Hospital in Yorkshire, junior doctor Una Rachel Finnegan, 25, from County Antrim, Northern Ireland and Christopher Bell, from Blackburn all died after the 1000-feet fall descending Glencoe. A 24-year-old woman remains in hospital - having been transferred from the Belford Hospital in Fort William to the Southern General in Glasgow - and a sixth climber survived. Meanwhile, emergency services were called to hills near Roybridge, north of Fort William, on Saturday evening after reports that two walkers had got lost in bad weather.

Ben St Joseph from Essex was scaling Tower Ridge when he fell into a gully . The man, who was alone, was seen to fall by two climbers at about 11am . Police at Fort William confirmed the man 'sustained fatal injuries' Fall comes a week after four climbers died in an avalanche at Glencoe .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:30 EST, 12 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:48 EST, 12 December 2013 . Most people would probably pay money to keep a pair of old shoes that at one point may have been covered in flu germs as far from them as possible. But if the shoes once belonged to Michael Jordan - and were worn during one of his more legendary games - people are willing to cough up quite a bit of cash to get their hands on a piece of sports history. So is the case  with the shoes Jordan wore during his famous 'Flu Game,' which sold at auction Thursday morning for a record-shattering $104,765. Pricey pair: The shoes Michael Jordan wore during the legendary 'Flu Game' sold at auction for more than $100,000 . Tough: Despite feeling ill, Jordan scored 38 points in the Bulls' Game 5 victory over the Utah Jazz . The pricey kicks were worn by Jordan during Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals when the Chicago Bulls took on the Utah Jazz. Despite displaying flu-like symptoms before, throughout and after the game, number 23 scored 38 points in the game. The media later dubbed Jordan's performance as the 'Flu Game.' The shoes were later secured by the Jazz's longtime ball-boy Preston Truman, ESPN.com reports, after Truman and Jordan developed a relationship that began when Truman brought Jordan his traditional pre-game applesauce during the 1996-97 season. Authentic: Jordan signs the shoes for Jazz ball-boy Preston Truman, who brought the shoes to auction . Truman brought the shoes to auction, where an unknown collector made the record-setting purchase. The previous record auction price for a pair of shoes happened last month, when a collector paid $31,070 for another pair of Jordan's shoes. That pair was worn during his rookie season with the Bulls. Before the 'Flue Game,' Truman brought Jordan his traditional applesauce. When the game was over, and Jordan's performance had helped give the Bulls a 3-2 lead over the Jazz, Jordan gave Truman the shoes. In addition to the shoes, Truman got a photo of Jordan signing the shoes for him the night of the game, which helped authenticate the shoes as actually being the ones that Jordan wore. Champs: The Bulls went on to win the 1997 NBA Finals 4 games to 2 against the Utah Jazz . 'I think my photo that Jordan's bodyguard took with me standing there . drove up the price because buyers didn't have to worry if they were . real,' Truman told ESPN.com. Bidding for the shoes started at $5,000 last month. It took only 15 bids to get the price over the $100,000 mark. The identity of the winning bidder currently is unknown.

The shoes were given to the ball-boy after the famous game . Despite having flu-like symptoms, Jordan scored 38 points during the game . $104,765 is the record price for a pair of shoes . The previous record were also shoes once belonging to Jordan that sold for $31,070 .

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(CNN) -- The FBI is asking for the public's help to find a San Francisco man accused of having explosive materials at his home. Ryan Kelly Chamberlain II, 42, was last seen Saturday south of the city, the agency said in a statement. "We don't know the intent or motive yet," FBI agent Peter Lee told reporters, stressing there was no threat to public safety. Chamberlain was described as a white male, 6 feet, 3 inches tall, and 225 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen driving a white 2008 Nissan Altima with either a California or Texas license plate. He should be considered armed and dangerous, the FBI said. Chamberlain's block was closed for some 15 hours over the weekend as investigators searched and cleared the area, CNN affiliate KTVU reported. It was not immediately clear what led them to that site.

Ryan Kelly Chamberlain II, 42, was last seen Saturday south of San Francisco . He should be considered armed and dangerous, the FBI says . "We don't know the intent or motive yet," an agent tells reporters .

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A white van man is getting his hands dirty to create stunning works of art on the side of his unwashed van. Rick Minns, also known as Ruddy Muddy, has created pictures including winter landscapes, children playing in the snow and a ship on high seas by scraping away the dirt on the side of his van. The 39-year-old, who works for Norfolk-based floral wholesaler Flowervision, has dubbed his work 'grafilthy' and enjoys entertaining onlookers as he goes about his daily work making deliveries to florists. Creative: Rick Minns has created his 'grafilthy' artworks on the side of grubby florist vans . Detailed: As his work progressed, the dad-of-three started using cotton buds and tissues to help create different effects and shadows in the grimy Transit vans which are used for his work at a Norfolk-based florist . Fun: The 39-year-old said he started creating the masterpieces as 'just a bit of fun' He said: 'It just started as a bit of fun while I was at work. 'Work might prefer it if I washed my van more regularly but this is better than me driving around in a boring old dirty van.' Mr Minns, who has an A-level in art and attends adult art classes, started drawing on the vans using his fingertips. As his skills developed, he began using cotton buds and tissues to create more intricate effects. Merry Muddy Xmas: Rick, 39, said: 'Two of the guys I work with keep their vans clean but I draw on the others' Social media: Mr Minns posts pictures of his works of art on Facebook and Twitter and he has a loyal following . Landscape: The trees in this piece have been created in the muck . Each piece takes about 10 minutes and every few days he wipes the van down to create a fresh canvas for his creativity. 'It’s always a shame to wipe away a picture I’m proud of,” he added. 'Then again it’s nice to start afresh - it’s just frustrating waiting for the van to get dirty enough. 'Luckily I spend a lot of time on country roads, so it doesn’t take long.' The father-of-three from a village in South Norfolk posts pictures of his works of art on Facebook and Twitter where he is gradually developing a loyal following. 'I first did it two years ago and somebody stopped and remarked on it,' he said. 'My first picture was a mountain scene, a lot like the ones I do now but not as sophisticated. We have six vans at work. Two of the guys keep theirs nice and clean but I draw on the others. 'The reaction I get is great - it’s just nice to see the smile on people’s faces when they notice.' Mr Minns added he would like to find a way of raising money for charity through his hobby. He can be found on Twitter under the username @Ruddy-Muddy or as Ruddy Muddy on Facebook. Mr Minns added he would like to find a way of raising money for charity through his hobby . One graffiti artist came up with her own form of graffiti by using food and toiletries to create her artworks. Photography graduate and artist, . Dorota Pankowska, known as Dori the Giant, has tagged a series of brand . logos using the product they represent. Her . project, called Pro Bono Promo, was taken to the streets of downtown . Brampton, a Canadian city in Southern Ontario, where she painted product . logos using the product they promote. The . 23-year-old created the Maxwell House logo by dry-rubbing its powdered . coffee on to a wall; Sharpie's brand mark is replicated in magic marker; . Colgate is applied with a toothbrush on to red brick; and the Gillette . logo lathered in shaving foam on the side of a salmon-coloured school . building. Dorota Pankowska, known as Dori the Giant, has tagged a series of brand logos using the product .

Rick Minns, from Norfolk, is known as Ruddy Muddy . He created pictures including winter scenes, children in the snow and a ship . Mr Minns has an A-level in art and attends adult art classes .

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(CNN) -- Nina Davuluri, a 24-year-old Indian-American from upstate New York, expertly twirled to the pulsing beats of a Bollywood tune during the talent portion of the Miss America pageant. At the same time, she spun the traditional notion of American beauty on its head. In the interview portion of Sunday's pageant, Davuluri was asked about Chinese-American journalist Julie Chen's decision to have eyelid surgery to advance her career. "I don't agree with plastic surgery; however, I can understand that from a standpoint," Davuluri said, delivering a noncommittal, diplomatic answer. "But more importantly, I've always viewed a Miss America as the girl next door, and the girl next door is evolving as the diversity in America evolves. She's not who she was 10 years ago, and she's not going to be the same come 10 years down the road. So I wouldn't want to change someone's looks or appearance, but definitely be confident in who you are." While Chen made the decision to undergo eyelid surgery, Davuluri opted to highlight her heritage on a historically conservative American platform. And both women reveal that each of their definitions of beauty, to varying degrees, is rooted in the idea of individual choice -- a concept that, for better or worse, is as American as it gets. Half a century ago, Miss America was synonymous with a blond-haired, blue-eyed incarnation of beauty. But the first Indian-American winner of Miss America and Chen's candid admission reflect the evolution of American beauty, which is now less about assimilation than it is about the freedom of choice. It's been more than 60 years since the Miss America Pageant had Rule No. 7, a stipulation that barred nonwhites from participating: "Contestant must be in good health and of the white race." And gone is the day when it was required for contestants to list their ancestry. On the surface, this change suggests that culturally assimilating to white Anglo-Saxon Protestant ideals is no longer a prerequisite to winning. But Davuluri's win sparked criticism, including tired call-center analogies, references to terrorism and being dubbed "Princess Jasmine" -- for supposedly prioritizing her subcontinental roots over her star-spangled ones. Critics seemed to emphasize that her Indian heritage -- she was born in New York to parents from the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh -- and American patriotism could not occupy the same space, no matter how genuine her display. Former Miss California: How do we teach kids diversity is beautiful? Davuluri, an eloquent speaker and aspiring doctor, should be a welcome respite from a surge of recent pageant participants who have claimed headlines for all the wrong reasons. Cases in point: Blond-haired, hazel-eyed Miss Teen USA hopeful Caitlin Upton, who gained notoriety in 2007 for a largely incoherent response to a geography question, or all-American Miss Utah 2013, aka Marisa Powell, of "create education better" fame. Chen also faced hurdles following her decision to have plastic surgery, including a family that was initially divided over her choice. "I did it; I moved on. No one's more proud of being Chinese than I am," Chen told the hosts of CBS' "The Talk" last week. "After I had that done, the ball did roll for me," she added, referring to her new and improved journalism career. Ultimately, whether it is Julie Chen or Nina Davuluri, Miss Kansas or Miss New York, I'm grateful that they all set the stage for my own story: the daughter of Indian immigrants, born and raised in Japan and educated in the United States. It's heartening to know that there are others who exist outside traditional conventions of American identity, paving the way for a more inclusive definition of both inner and outer beauty. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Aarti Virani.

TV host and anchor Julie Chen reveals she had plastic surgery to advance her career . The first Indian-American was crowned Miss America on a platform of diversity . Aarti Virani says both women reflect an evolving American beauty rooted in choice .

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A rare half-male, half-female butterfly has been discovered by staff at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. Now deceased, the unique creature was spotted upon emerging from its cocoon at the institution. Telltale signs are the wings, with the left wing containing a pattern typical of the male and the right displaying markings typical of a female. The lexias pardalis butterfly is a species that has strong sexual dimorphism - with female displaying brown wings with yellow spots and males show off with simmering black and blue wings. A rare half-male, half-female lexias pardalis butterfly has been discovered by staff at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University . Telltale signs are the wings, with the left wing containing a pattern typical of the male and the right displaying markings typical of a female . The body of the Drexel specimen is also split between male and female parts, a condition known as bilateral gynandromorphy, reports WPTV. Drexel's Academy of Natural Sciences will display the butterfly to the public beginning Jan. 17. While such insects are rare its difficult to tell just how rare they are as in most species the sexes look similar. Fifty-fifty: This is a female lexias pardalis butterfly, which shows yellow spots against brown wings . The male lexias pardalis butterfly is iridescent black and blue . This is a different condition than hermaphroditism, as that would show the outward characteristics of only a single gender. 'Gynandromorphism is most frequently noticed in bird and butterfly species where the two sexes have very different coloration. It can result from non-disjunction of sex chromosomes, an error that sometimes occurs during the division of chromosomes at a very early stage of development,' one researcher told reporters.

Telltale signs are the wings, with the left wing containing a pattern typical of the male and the right displaying markings typical of a female . Drexel's Academy of Natural Sciences will display the butterfly to the public beginning January 17 . While such insects are rare its difficult to tell just how rare they are as in most species the sexes look similar .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:52 EST, 8 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:34 EST, 9 July 2012 . If you cannot get on the internet today, there may be a good reason why - the FBI might be shutting you down. The U.S. law enforcement agency will be blocking up to 500,000 users around the world who have a malicious program installed on their computer. It will affect anyone who inadvertantly downloaded a piece of 'malware' called DNSChanger, which redirects users to fake advertising websites. Internet shutdown: Software called Alureon/DNS Changer attempts to change the website you visit - and those infected may get cut off on Monday . Internet providers have plans to help their customers on Monday and others are braced for calls to helplines because thousands around the country whose computers were infected with malicious software more than a year ago faced the possibility of not being able to get online. The FBI is taking the unusual step in a bid to shut down DNSChanger, thought to have been created by Eastern European cyber-criminals. It is not known how many computers in the UK are affected, but 12 per cent of the top 500 U.S. companies are said to have infected PCs or Macs. Some providers may put technical solutions in place that will correct the server problem that could hit some computers after midnight EDT Sunday. It they do, the Internet will work, but the malware will remain on victims' computers and could pose future problems, said Tom DeGrasso, an FBI supervisory special agent. If you are worried about the impending meltdown, follow these steps: . 1) Visit this FBI-approved site - http://www.dns-ok.us - and see if you get an 'all-clear' green . background or an 'at risk' red background. 2) If you have a red background, visit http://www.dcwg.org/fix which lists free virus scanner and removal software. Our personal recommendations from the free range are Microsoft Windows Defender and Avira. For more information, visit here: http://www.dcwg.org/detect/ . The FBI arranged for a private company to run a website - http://www.dcwg.org . - as a place where computer users could go to see if their computer was . infected and find links to other computer security business sites where . they could find fixes for the problem. From . the onset, most victims didn't even know their computers were infected, . although the malicious software probably has slowed their web surfing . and disabled their antivirus software, making their machines more . vulnerable to other problems. Many computer . users don't understand the complex machines they use every day to send . email, shop, and cruise for information. The cyberworld of viruses, . malware, bank fraud and Internet scams is often distant and confusing, . and warning messages may go unseen or unheeded. Marcin Kleczynski, chief executive of Malwarebytes, which makes a free piece of software designed to remove the malware, said: 'The FBI left the criminal servers running to give infected users time to remove this piece of malware, however it is estimated there are still hundreds of thousands of people who just don't know they are infected. 'Monday is D-day because anyone who still has this piece of malware on their computer simply won't be able to access the internet. 'This means people will struggle to repair the problem because they won't be able to download removal tools or access information through the infected laptop or computer. 'The total cost could be significant.' A FBI spokesman said: 'We've been using the last eight months to go out and clean up the infected computers, but we don't have everybody.' To the rescue: For those who didn't check the site designed to inform users if they are infected (pictured), Internet providers have plans to help their customers on Monday and others are braced for calls . Experts are taking the warning . seriously, but in reference to the Millennium Bug which supposedly . threatened to shut Britain down, one blogger wrote: ‘Yet another ploy to . get everyone freaked out…remember Y2K.’ There is an underlying sense that this will be much ado about nothing, such as the approach of 2000. The transition to that year presented technical problems and fears that some computers would stop working because they were not set up for the date change. In the end there were very few problems. Considering there are millions of Internet users across the country, several thousand isn't a big deal, unless you're one of them. Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., and co-founder of Congress' cybersecurity caucus, said computer users have a responsibility to practice good sense and make sure their computers are not infected or being hijacked by criminals. 'These types of issues are only going to increase as our society relies more and more on the Internet, so it is a reminder that everyone can do their part,' he said. FBI officials have been tracking the number of computers they believe still may be infected by the malware. As of Wednesday, there were about 45,600 in the U.S. - nearly 20,000 less than a week ago. Worldwide, the total is roughly 250,000 infected. The numbers have declined steadily, and recent efforts by Internet service providers may limit the problems on Monday. If you see your computer isn't functioning properly throughout the day today, customer support lines could be your best solution.

Those who downloaded DNSChanger will be affected . 12% of top 500 U.S. firms have infected machines .

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