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Nicki Allwright died after her Mitsubishi sedam hit a tree on Gawler-One Tree Hill Road at Yattalunga . An outpouring of condolences have flooded social media for a family of a teenage girl who was killed after she swerved to miss a duck in Adelaide's north. University student Nicki Allwright died after her Mitsubishi sedan hit a tree on Gawler-One Tree Hill Road at Yattalunga on Friday. The horrific accident came just two days before she and her family were planning to jet off on a 10-day holiday to Bali. Ms Allwright - who was studying human movement at the University of South Australia - was eagerly counting down the days to the Indonesian island getaway. 'We've had a countdown going - 100 days, 80 days, 60 days and the last fortnight she was so excited, saying, "Bali, Bali" all the time,' the 19-year-old's mother, Marion, told The Advertiser. Mrs Allwright said her daughter was loved by all and shared a special bond with her 21-year-old sister, Sam. 'Nicki just loved her family, as we loved her,' she said. 'She loved being with Sam... they just adored each other. It's just so tragic — everybody just loved her.' Ms Allwright's siblings - 26-year-old Joel and Sam - and boyfriend of three years, George Blackett, have paid tribute to 'beautiful smiley Nicki' by changing their profile pictures to a photo of themselves and the teenager. The touching gesture sparked an outpouring of condolences for the family. Nicki's mother said the 19-year-old (right) shared a special bond with her 21-year-old sister, Sam . 'Your gorgeous little sister [was] a very welcome visitor at our house. Always with a smile on her face - gentle and kind, but gone too soon,' one friend wrote on Facebook. Another wrote: 'We are all in shock and disbelief, beautiful smiley Nicki. Sending you, Sam, your mum, dad and the whole family so much love xx.' Ms Allwright's parents have also called for the speed limit on Gawler-One Tree Hill Road to be lowered to 80km/h from 100km/h. Alan and Marion Allwright said too many young people had done along that stretch of road. Family photo: An outpouring of condolences have flooded social media for the teenager .

Nicki Allwright died after her sedan hit a tree at Yattalunga on Friday . The university student occurred just two days before she and her family were planning to jet off on a 10-day holiday to Bali . Friends and family swamped social media with condolences .

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Friday morning marks a special milestone for media personality and Gold Logie winner Karl Stefanovic, who celebrates a decade on the Today show since it began in 2005. Co-host Lisa Wilkinson congratulated her 'TV husband' on Nine Network's breakfast show, saying she 'can't imagine doing this with anybody else'. Awww... And the figures speak for themselves. After doing the sums, Wilkinson concluded that her co-host had clocked up over 8,000 hours on breakfast television. 'That officially makes you the most watched person on Australian TV ever,' she said. Stefanovic has had some infamous moments on the breakfast show, including the time he was intoxicated while hosting the post-Logies show in 2009. Scroll down for video . Karl Stefanovic, Gold Logie winner in 2011, celebrates 10 years of hosting Nine Network's Today show . Co-host Lisa Wilkinson (right) congratulated her 'TV husband' on the special milestone . The TV presenter celebrates a decade on the Today show since it began in 2005 . The show debuted on Valentine's Day in 2005, hosted by Stefanovic and Tracy Grimshaw (right) Stefanovic has had some infamous moments on the breakfast show, including the time he was intoxicated during the 2009 post-Logies show . Wilkinson said her time on the show with Stefanovic as 'been a complete joy'. 'Ten years is a very special anniversary to mark,' Wilkinson said on the show this morning. 'I've only spent eight of those years with you, but you are my TV husband, you know how much I love you. The show looked back at some of Stefanovic's memorable moments including the 2009 post-Logies show when he still appeared drunk from the night before. 'The Logies will always have a special place in my heart,' Wilkinson said. 'Australia realised that, you know, he's about as real an Aussie bloke as you could possibly find.' Richard Wilkins says Stefanovic has changed over the 10 years he's been on the show but is 'still the scallywag he's always been on the inside'. 'He's an intoxicating mix of world's best broadcaster and naughty school boy,' Wilkins said. The presenter also tried to tell the Dalai Lama a pizza joke in 2011 . The TV presenter celebrates a decade on the Today show since it began in 2005 . Stefanovic was spray tanned on live television by model Jen Hawkins last year . Stefanovic pictured with Jamie Duri (left) and Tara Brown (middle) in 2006 . Karl Stefanovic with children Ava and Jack (left) and again with his daughter (right) The 40-year-old is also notorious for his cringeworthy meeting with the Dalai Lama, where he tried to tell the pizza a joke but failed to impressed the spiritual leader. 'The Dalai Lama walks into a pizza shop,' Stefanovic said in 2011. 'And he says, "Can you make me one with everything?"' After an uncomfortable silence, Stefanovic acknowledges: 'Oh, I knew it wouldn't work.' Stefanovic during a live cross with Arnold Schwarzenegger on the breakfast show . The presenter is in hysterics as he tries to interview the Grumpy Cat . Cricketing royalty Shane Warne also paid tribute to Stefanovic on Twitter on Friday morning . Model Jesinta Campbell congratulated the father-of-three for 10 years on the show . Stefanovic paid tribute to his team, past and present, for 'making the 10 years fly by' Upon being described by his colleagues as 'a great friend and fabulous professional' during the show this morning, Stefanovic responded: 'And awesome to get on the drink with right? It's Friday.' Stefanovic paid tribute to his team, past and present, for 'making the 10 years fly by'. 'We started with Tracy [Grimshaw] 10 years ago - it feels like yesterday,' he said. 'Thanks guys and I look forward to the next ten... Do I? I really don't mean what I say,' he joked. On a more serious note, the presenter further thanked the viewers of the show. 'Most importantly to everyone at home watching us, for being understanding of my weird personality quirks,' he said. Model Jesinta Campbell also congratulated the father-of-three while cricketing royalty Shane Warne also paid tribute to him on Twitter.

Karl Stefanovic celebrates 10 years of hosting Nine Network's Today show . Co-host Lisa Wilkinson dubbed Stefanovic her 'TV husband' 'You've done about 8,000 hours of breakfast television and that officially makes you the most watched person on Australian TV ever,' Wilkinson said . The show debuted on Valentine's Day in 2005, hosted by Stefanovic and Tracy Grimshaw . Two years later, current co-host Wilkinson replaced Grimshaw . Stefanovic has had some infamous moments on the breakfast show, including the time he was intoxicated during the 2009 post-Logies show . The presenter also tried to tell the Dalai Lama a pizza joke in 2011 .

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By . Emma Glanfield for MailOnline . A 41-year-old woman battered her musician boyfriend to death with a guitar stand during a drunken row, a court heard. Samantha Adeokun, from Silverdale, Lancashire, is accused of killing her partner Peter Davegun, 42, in a brutal attack on December 23 last year. Stafford Crown Court heard she flew into a rage and beat her boyfriend by kicking and punching him as he curled up in a ball to protect himself. Samantha Adeokun, 41, from Silverdale, Lancashire, is accused of killing her on/off partner of six years Peter Davegun, 42, (above) by punching, kicking and beating him with a metal guitar stand until he fell unconcious . He suffered multiple injuries to his head and body after also being bludgeoned with a metal guitar stand leaving behind 'a bloodbath', jurors were told. Emergency services arrived at his flat in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, after Adeokun waited one hour to dial 999. She claimed her partner had fallen and hit his head on a TV stand after tripping on a mat. Paramedics arrived just before 2.45pm and found Mr Davegun's body lying in the foetal position on his bedroom floor. The court heard he had extensive bruising and bite marks on his body and had suffered severe internal injuries and seven fractured ribs. He was pronounced dead at the property at around 3.20pm. Adeokun went on trial yesterday accused of murdering her on-off partner of six years following the drunken row. Prosecutor Deborah Gould, opening the case, said: 'The prosecution case says the defendant literally beat him to death using her fists, feet and part of a guitar stand. Stafford Crown Court heard how 41-year-old Adeokun allegedly attacked her partner at his flat in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire (above) on December 23 last year during a drunken row. Mr Davegun died from his injuries . The court heard how Adeokun waited nearly one hour before calling emergency services after the alleged attack. When police arrived, Mr Davegun was found unconscious in a pool of blood and was pronounced dead . 'At least part of the time she was doing this, she was bleeding and standing above him. 'She struck him repeatedly, causing significant internal bruising and bleeding. She struck him from behind and from the front. 'You will hear from the pathologist that there's evidence he was struck while on the ground in the foetal position. 'After the attack, the defendant telephoned her daughter and said she was sorry. She said she and the deceased had a fight. 'She said she had been defending herself and Mr Davegun was, at that stage, unconscious. 'When her daughter asked if she had called 999, the defendant said she hadn't because she needed to get dressed because she had blood on her. 'She changed out of her clothing. Then, nearly an hour afterwards, she called paramedics, claiming Mr Davegun had fallen, hit his head and been unconscious for 40 minutes.' Adeokun denies murdering Mr Davegun and claims he fell and hit his head after tripping on a mat at the flat . The jury also heard a recording of the 999 call Adeokun made during which she described the scene as a 'bloodbath'. She told the operator: 'We had a big argument earlier on and he's just fell. 'I cut my finger and it looks bad. I cut my finger and it looks like I've killed him.' Adeokun denies murder. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Samantha Adeokun, 41, is accused of murdering partner Peter Davegun, 42 . Court heard she 'punched, kicked and beat him to death with guitar stand' She waited one hour to call police after alleged attack in December last year . Adeokun denies murder charge and trial at Stafford Crown Court continues .

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Washington (CNN) -- Current and past first ladies Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and Nancy Reagan will attend a memorial service Tuesday in California for former first lady Betty Ford. The White House announced that Obama would travel to Palm Desert, California, for the Tuesday service, which will be followed by a private funeral Thursday in Michigan. Clinton, the current secretary of state, will be accompanied Tuesday by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, an aide told CNN. Reagan also will attend the California service at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, a Reagan Foundation official said. Former President George W. Bush also will attend the service but without his wife, former first lady Laura Bush, who had previous travel commitments, according to a spokesman. Bush's mother, former first lady Barbara Bush, will attend the Michigan funeral, the spokesman said. Following the Tuesday service, Ford's remains will lie in repose at the church until midnight, then be flown on Wednesday to Michigan to the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids, according to a website on the memorial plans. Ford's remains will then lie in repose there beginning at 7 p.m. local time, said a statement posted on the website. On Thursday, Ford's private funeral will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids, the statement on the website said. Ford, who died Friday at age 93, raised awareness of issues involving women's rights, cancer, alcoholism and substance abuse during and after her stint as first lady. Her late husband, former President Gerald Ford, died in 2006. The alcohol and substance abuse treatment center in Rancho Mirage, California, that bears her name has become one of the best-known facilities of its kind in the country. In remarks to reporters Monday, Clinton said she was "grateful for having known" Ford. "Her commitment to speaking out on issues that, before she took them on, were just not discussed made a huge difference in the lives of Americans," Clinton said. "I remember well when my mother's best friend was dying of breast cancer, nobody talked about it in those days," Clinton continued. "But Betty Ford made it acceptable" to discuss the issue in public. Also planning to be in California for the Tuesday service are protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church of Kansas, which cited on its website what it called Ford's infidelity by divorcing a first husband to marry Gerald Ford. The church is known for publicity seeking protests at funerals of U.S. soldiers and others to promote its radical conservative Christian agenda. CNN's Elise Labott and Tom Cohen contributed to this report.

NEW: Former President George W. Bush to attend, but not Laura Bush . Secretary Clinton praises Betty Ford for breaking taboos . Ford will have a public funeral in California, and a private burial in Michigan . Ford died Friday at age 93 .

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(CNN) -- American politicians have a deep need to interpret foreign leaders and foreign cultures and governments as though they were American. Thursday night on "Crossfire", I described the Russian president as a KGB official of enormous toughness. In fact, we showed Vladimir Putin in his KGB colonel's uniform to drive home the reality of who he is. Putin is a great Russian nationalist who is coldly and methodically maneuvering to maximize Russia's prestige and influence. And why shouldn't he? It is his country. It has a longer history than we do. He served in the most intensely pro-Soviet institution in the old empire. Yet, American politicians keep rejecting the realities of Putin's life, statements and actions. Putin jabs U.S. This is a bipartisan self-deception. In June 2001, then President George W. Bush met him for the first time and concluded: . "I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy and we had a very good dialogue. "I was able to get a sense of his soul. "He's a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country and I appreciate very much the frank dialogue and that's the beginning of a very constructive relationship." Gingrich: Syria a distraction from real U.S. challenges . This was said two years after Putin launched the second Chechnya war in which an estimated 300,000 Chechens would be ruthlessly killed. It also assumed a former KGB agent has a soul that is viewable. The less positive view came in August 2013 when President Obama compared his Russian counterpart to a tiresome schoolboy. "He's got that kind of slouch, looking like the bored kid in the back of the classroom," Obama said of Putin. But Putin isn't a bored kid. Putin is one of the most effective and successful leaders in the world. He took over a chaotic decaying Russia in the 1990s and methodically rebuilt the authoritarian state centered system he had learned from the KGB. He may today be the strongest, most stable Russian leader since Stalin. He has achieved it with steady methodical application of power to isolate, imprison and, occasionally, kill those who oppose him. Putin's recent op-ed in the New York Times was another calculated step. Putin despises Obama and resents his attitude and his tone. This was a chance to return the attitude. (Obama acknowledged the difference in an ABC interview: "I don't think that Mr. Putin has the same values that we do.") American politicians as usual tried to force Putin into an American frame of reference. The overall tone of Putin's latest broadside was too much for Sen. Robert Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who said he read the article at dinner on Wednesday. Opinion: American 'exceptionalism' -- who are they kidding? "I almost wanted to vomit," he said. "I worry when someone who came up through the KGB tells us what is in our national interests and what is not." House Speaker John Boehner said he was "insulted." On a bipartisan basis, American politicians seemed surprised. If American leaders would spend a little time studying Russian history they would understand Vladimir Putin. He is a Russian nationalist and seen in that tradition is very understandable and even predictable. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Newt Gingrich.

Newt Gingrich: U.S. politicians reacted with surprise to the views of Vladimir Putin . He says Putin is understandable as a former KGB agent and Russian nationalist . Politicians in both parties have mistakenly seen Putin as someone whom they can trust, he says . Gingrich: Putin is a strong authoritarian leader, maybe the strongest Russian boss since Stalin .

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By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 09:33 EST, 13 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:14 EST, 14 March 2013 . They are hardly worlds apart on the cultural front. But that hasn't stopped Microsoft drawing up a new 44-page guide to Britain for its U.S. staff to ensure they can adapt to life in this country. The handbook covers everything from helpful reminders to leave firearms at home and what time to eat breakfast to definitions of fish and chips and how to navigate your way round Argos. Called A Guide to Working and Living in Cambridge, it has been issued to staff who are relocating to the computer giant's new European research HQ in the city. Spelling it out: Microsoft has issued a 44-page handbook A Guide to Working and Living in Cambridge to explain the . ways of British life to U.S. staff relocating to its UK offices in the city . Covering all bases: This section entitled Shipping and Importing details which are not allowed into the country . Breaking it down: The guide has been drawn up for staff who are moving to the computer giant's new European research HQ in Cambridge (pictured) Americans are warned not to bring firearms, stun guns, obscene material, drugs or dead animals through British customs. According to the guide, fish and chips is 'a national treat of fish, e.g. cod, fried in a crispy batter.' When it comes to pubs readers are told they are 'much more than plain bar' and to expect 'homely places full of historical character (and characters!)' One laughably obvious description says British Chinese takeaways are known as 'Chinese' and cover 'South East Asian cuisine'. The guide says: 'Be warned that . although this exotic cuisine is largely cherished by the British, the . takeaways produce food adapted to the British taste and so will not . necessarily be as authentic as dishes eaten in those particular . countries - slight more cooking oil and MSG food additive than perhaps . should be used!' It also points out that our favourite curries are 'more Bangladeshi than actually Indian.' Legal minefield: The American staff are helpfully reminded not to bring firearms, stun guns, obscene material, drugs or dead animals through British customs (file picture) Cultural differences: Staff are warned the standard eating time for breakfast is 7.30am to 9am (file picture) There . is also practical information on accommodation, parking, using the Post . Office and an explanation that appointments are unnecessary for A&E . departments. And there is even a section on shopping in Cambridge and a series of paragraphs explaining how to navigate your way round Argos. The guide explains Argos is: 'A . popular and useful warehouse shop in which you can browse a thick . catalogue of very wide ranging products.' A glossary of English terms also explains how 'flat' means 'apartment' while British public schools are actually private. Surprisingly . despite the unpopularity of President Barack Obama's healthcare bill, . the document praises the NHS saying it is 'generally considered to be of . an excellent standard' But . it does point out that there are 'long waiting lists' which mean some . people have private healthcare on top of NHS provision. Food for thought: The guide says that fish and chips is 'a national treat of fish, e.g. cod, fried in a crispy batter' Watering holes: When it comes to pubs readers are told they are 'much more than plain bar' and to expect 'homely places full of historical character (and characters!)' Stating the obvious: one section says British Chinese takeaways are known as 'Chinese' and cover 'South East Asian cuisine' Once American readers have swotted up on the British way of life and the peculiarities of the English language they are introduced to the ways of historic Cambridge. The guide warns of high property and rent prices in Cambridge and quite rightly says that parking spaces are rare. Employees who will be based in Cambridge are introduced to punting and are told about the historic colleges of the prestigious University. Importantly, readers are giving tips on cycling in the bicycle capital including to use D-locks to ward of thieves. Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge: The guides explains that appointments are unnecessary in A&E . Hardly New York: There is even a section on shopping in Cambridge and a series of paragraphs explaining how to navigate your way round Argos . Employees are also warned that restaurants are not 24/7 as in many parts of America and told the standard eating time for breakfast is 7.30am to 9am. Cambridge Mayor Sheila Stuart, who is originally from the Pacific Northwest in the U.S., said: 'Moving here was a very strange experience for me. 'It took me a long time to make sense of it. You could not get coffee late at night.' Cambridge University professor and director and curator of the Whipple Museum Liba Taub, who moved to the city 20 years ago, said there was an unavoidable language barrier between Britons and Americans. She said: 'One thing I love here is the English cheeses - a good Wensleydale. You don't get that back in America. 'It's fair to say Americans and the British are on people only separated by a common language. 'For example, 'quite' in America means really or very, but here it can be seen as denigration.' Microsoft has spent a reported £40 million fitting out the new offices, the same cost of building it.

Issued to staff moving to computer giant's new research HQ in Cambridge . Guide also gives definitions of fish and chips and a Chinese takeaway . Has section on shopping in the city and how to navigate round Argos .

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Ahead of the midweek Premier League action, Sportsmail will be providing you with all you need to know about every fixture, with team news, provisional squads, betting odds and Opta stats. Here is all the information you need for Chelsea's home clash with Tottenham... Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur (Stamford Bridge) Team news . Chelsea . Diego Costa is suspended as Chelsea play Tottenham in the Barclays Premier League on Wednesday night. Loic Remy and Didier Drogba are in contention to start up front in place of Costa, who serves a one-game ban after being shown his fifth yellow card of the season in last Saturday's goalless draw at Sunderland. Defender or midfielder Nathan Ake (hamstring) missed the trip to Wearside and is unlikely to be included. Provisional squad: Courtois, Cech, Ivanovic, Luis, Fabregas, Zouma, Ramires, Oscar, Hazard, Drogba, Mikel, Schurrle, Salah, Remy, Matic, Willian, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Schwarzer. Tottenham . Tottenham will have defender Kyle Naughton available for Wednesday's trip to Chelsea following his two-match Barclays Premier League suspension. Emmanuel Adebayor, who has been suffering from a virus and back problem, is among several players who will be assessed, with Etienne Capoue and Danny Rose also concerns with knocks. Full-back Kyle Walker continued his recovery from abdominal surgery by playing for the Under-21s against Manchester City on Monday night. Provisional squad: Lloris, Davies, Vertonghen, Fazio, Chiriches, Bentaleb, Lennon, Mason, Kane, Eriksen, Soldado, Vorm, Lamela, Chadli, Kaboul, Dembele, Dier, Paulinho, Adebayor, Rose, Capoue. Didier Drogba has scored three goals and assisted four more in his last eight league matches against Spurs . Kick-off: Wednesday, 7.45pm . Odds (subject to change): . Chelsea 1/3 . Draw 4/1 . Tottenham 8/1 . Referee: Mike Dean . Managers: Jose Mourinho (Chelsea), Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham) Head-to-head league record: Chelsea wins 55, draws 34, Tottenham wins 43 . Key match stats (supplied by Opta) Chelsea have won 28 and lost just one of the last 34 Premier League games at Stamford Bridge. Tottenham have lost just one of their last six Premier League away games (W3 D2 L1). Tottenham have not won away at Stamford Bridge in any competition since February 1990 when Gary Lineker scored the winning goal in a 2-1 win (W0 D10 L17). Jose Mourinho’s side have kept 11 clean sheets in their last 14 Premier League home matches. Chelsea have lost only one of their last 17 Premier League London derbies (W12 D4) – this coming in a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in March. Chelsea have won all three Premier League games that they have conceded the first goal in this season. Chelsea and Spurs have both won the most points from losing positions in the Premier League this season (9). Didier Drogba has scored three goals and assisted four more in his last eight Premier League games against Spurs. Chelsea are now unbeaten in all 20 of their competitive matches in 2014-15 (W15 D5). Spurs have won three of their last four Premier League games (W3 L1); this after winning just three of their previous nine in the competition under Mauricio Pochettino (W3 D2 L4).

Chelsea host Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night . The Blues have won 28 and lost just one of the last 34 Premier League games at Stamford Bridge . Tottenham have lost just one of their last six Premier League away games .

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(CNN) -- World champion Jorge Lorenzo hailed MotoGP's new qualifying format after claiming pole position for Sunday's season-opening race in Qatar. The Spaniard headed off Britain's Cal Crutchlow in Saturday's new 15-minute session, involving just the top 12 riders, while last season's championship runnerup Dani Pedrosa was third to complete the front row. "It's great to finish in pole position, especially knowing Cal was extremely fast over one lap," Lorenzo, who won last year's race from pole, told the MotoGP website. He said of the new qualifying format: "It's very different to last year and I think more fun for the fans to watch. "From the point of view of the riders, I feel more nervous and with more pressure on me because you know you have only four attempts for your last lap -- and not 15 like last year! So it's more important to go quickly and not make a mistake." Italy's Andrea Dovizioso was fourth for Ducati ahead of German rider Stefan Bradl and Spanish rookie Marc Marquez, who had topped the practice times in his first outing for Honda Repsol. Lorenzo's new teammate Valentino Rossi continued his struggles of the past two years at Ducati as he could only qualify seventh. "Qualifying was not fantastic for us," said the seven-time world champion, who has won three times in Qatar but not since his last season at Yamaha in 2010. "Our performance in free practice was better than this, so we'll wait for tomorrow. Unfortunately in qualifying, on the second tire -- with which I could have improved -- I was stuck in traffic so could not improve my lap time and lost some positions. "For sure, tomorrow becomes more difficult to start from further back, but we have good pace so we can be quite competitive." Pedrosa is seeking to improve his record at Losail -- one of only two circuits on the current calendar where the Spaniard has yet to win in any category of bikes. "It's important that we're on the front row," the Honda rider said. "I think the Yamahas are strong, so I just hope to improve the bike a little bit more and then be on the pace for the race."

Jorge Lorenzo sets the quickest time in qualifying for first race of MotoGP season . World champion outshines new Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi in Qatar . Spaniard will start in first row alongside Cal Crutchlow and compatriot Dani Pedrosa . Seven-time world champion Rossi is on the third row in seventh place .

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Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- Tens of thousands of demonstrators slept on the streets of Bangkok on Monday night, continuing a protest intended to force Thailand's Prime Minister from office, authorities said. The protesters have laid siege to major intersections in Thailand's large and hectic capital city. At their peak on Monday evening, they numbered as many as 170,000, Lt. Gen. Paradon Pattanathabut, the nation's security chief, said Tuesday. But many of the demonstrators have since returned to their homes in the Bangkok area, Paradon said. About 60,000 of them stayed out on the streets overnight, he said, sleeping under tents and mosquito nets. The protesters, who aim to keep demonstrating for a month, occupied seven main intersections and blocked one government office on Monday. They say they intend to march to several other ministries, close more intersections and cut off electricity and water supplies at some government offices. It's all part of an effort dubbed "Bangkok shutdown." It's orchestrated by the People's Democratic Reform Committee protest group, led by Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister for the opposition Democrat Party. Traffic disrupted . On Monday -- Day 1 -- students stayed at home as 140 schools were closed. In some places, protesters stopped cars from crossing blockades. Many people used alternative routes or means of transportation to reach their destinations. Though many areas of the city are unaffected, several of the rally sites are in popular tourist areas. About 20,000 security personnel kept watch throughout the city. But so far, the shutdown has gone without serious incident. The government has offered talks with protesters and other concerned parties to discuss a way out and way to postpone the election, but Suthep has rejected the offer. Urging caution . Rights groups and others have called on Thai authorities and anti-government protesters to respect human rights and avoid violence during the mass demonstrations. Since the anti-government protests began in November, eight people have died and 470 have been injured, authorities said. "The situation in Thailand is tense, volatile and unpredictable," Isabelle Arradon, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific deputy director, said last week. "There is a real risk of loss of life and injury unless human rights are fully respected." U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Friday in New York that he had spoken by telephone with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva over the past three days "in an effort to help them bridge their differences." Ban said he was "very concerned that the situation could escalate in the days ahead," particularly on Monday. "I urge all involved to show restraint, avoid provocative acts and settle their differences peacefully, through dialogue," he said. Abhisit has denied being a member of the PDRC but has appeared on stage and among the crowds at some of their demonstrations. Travel warnings . In a bid to cool tensions, Yingluck dissolved the nation's parliament in December and called for new elections to be held on February 2. But the move has done little to appease protesters. They have called on the Prime Minister to step down from her caretaker position and be replaced by an unelected "people's council," which would see through electoral and political reforms. The national Election Commission has urged the government to postpone elections amid the continuing unrest. On Wednesday, Yingluck will meet with protest leaders and election commission officials to discuss whether to postpone, her office said. Dozens of countries have issued travel advisories amid fears the tensions could erupt into violence. The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok has urged U.S. citizens to avoid large gatherings in the city and to ensure they have a stock of cash and essential items in case the situation deteriorates. "While protests have been generally peaceful over the last two months, some have resulted in injury and death," its online warning said. "Even demonstrations that are meant to be peaceful can turn confrontational, and can escalate into violence without warning." The protest group said that on Monday, it would still allow ambulances to pass along the roads it intends to block, and that it would not block access to airports and public transportation. Ambitious goal . Protest leaders have said they want to rid Thailand of the influence of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the older brother of Yingluck. That's an ambitious goal in a country where every election since 2001 has been won by parties affiliated with Thaksin, a billionaire who built his political success on populist policies that appealed to Thailand's rural heartland. Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and has spent most of the time since then in exile overseas. If he returns, he risks a two-year prison sentence on a corruption conviction, which he says was politically motivated. The recent protests in Bangkok were prompted by a botched attempt by Yingluck's government to pass an amnesty bill that would have opened the door for her brother's return. That move added fuel for critics who accuse her of being nothing more than her brother's puppet, an allegation she has repeatedly denied. Opposition to Thaksin and Yingluck is strongest among the urban elites and middle class, particularly in Bangkok. Thaksin's traditional support comes from the populous rural areas of north and northeast Thailand. His supporters, known as "red shirts," plan to hold demonstrations in various places in Thailand, but not the capital or south of the country, on Sunday. They support the holding of elections on February 2.

NEW: About 60,000 protesters stayed out on the streets of Bangkok overnight . NEW: At their peak Monday, they numbered as many as 170,000, authorities say . They have laid siege to major intersections in the Thai capital . The protesters are demanding that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra step down .

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By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 11:51 EST, 27 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:31 EST, 27 February 2014 . This is the kind of thing that would drive most people nuts. Coming home to find an unwanted visitor squatting in your place - and refusing to move. That's exactly what this bird found in Frankfurt, western Germany, when it came face-to-face with a squirrel. A blue tit comes home to find a red squirrel in his bird house in Frankfurt, Germany . A blue tit comes home to find a red squirrel in his bird house in Frankfurt, Germany . The unfortunate blue tit and the red squirrel eye-balled each other before, it appears, the bird got frightened off. Amateur photographer Christian Kuhn was the lucky snapper who caught the Mexican stand-off on film. Amateur photographer Christian Kuhn was the lucky snapper who caught the Mexican stand-off on film .

Bird and squirrel faced off in Frankfurt, western Germany . They eye-balled each other before, it appears, the bird flew off . Photographer Christian Kuhn caught the Mexican stand-off on film .

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By . Chris Pleasance . When night-time security guard Greg Heaslip left a note with his manager asking for time off, he thought the only person to see it would be his supervisor. Instead, Greg's bungling boss forwarded an email request to 3,500 fellow Arcadia employees - the retail giant that manages Topshop, BHS, Miss Selfirdge and Dorothy Perkins. The request went viral yesterday as staff set about trying to '#givegregtheholiday' on Twitter, with one travel company offering him free flights to Las Vegas. But speaking to Mail Online, Mr Heaslip, 38, revealed he will be giving everything to charity and going to Chessington World of Adventures instead. Viral: Greag Heaslip, a security guard, became an internet sensation after his holiday request spawned a Twitter campaign to '#getgregtheholiday' He said: 'I handed in the holiday request on Wednesday, just left a slip of paper on my boss's desk and thought nothing else about it. 'The next I heard of it was yesterday evening at about 5.20pm when I came in for my next shift, I had absolutely no idea.' Despite receiving free flights to Las Vegas, a tuxedo and various other goodies, Mr Heaslip says he will be donating it all to charity and going to Chessington World of Adventures instead . Mr Heaslip, who has worked as a security guard for six years, added: 'I'm still in shock. 'All I wanted was my two days off an now I've got them. I'm going to go to Chessington World of Adventures with my wife Edyta and our 20-month-old daughter. 'I don't want any of the free stuff. I'm going to donate it all to the Stephen Sutton charity so it goes to a good cause.' The viral sensation all started as a joke between Arcadia staff, who began tweeting each other pictures of their clogged email inboxes after the message was accidentally sent out. As staff shared the request, one employee tweeted a picture of her computer which crashed under the weight of emails, while another started a hashtag asking bosses to give Greg his time off. The campaign soon spread to the surrounding offices, with workers opposite the Arcadia building posting messages on their windows in support of Greg. But the message soon spread across the whole of the UK, becoming one of the highest trending topics on Twitter, beating the European elections. It didn't take long for companies to jump on the bandwagon, offering Greg all sorts of supplies for wherever he might end up going, but it was TrekAmerica who stepped forward to offer him free tickets to Las Vegas. It started with an email: Security guard Greg's holiday request went viral online, ending up with him being offered a free holiday . Greg got the holiday: the moment trek America set Greg up with a dream holiday, but he's decided to donate everything he's been given to charity . Holiday outfit: Trek America had a T-shirt made up and will be sending it to Greg in time for his trip . Styling it out: VO5 were also quick to jump on the bandwagon, offering Greg freebies . While Greg relaxed at home, unaware of the whole campaign, other brands followed, offering Greg a holiday wardrobe from BHS and Topman, a VIP shopping session for any female companion from Miss Selfridge and free toiletries from Elemis. And the freebies didn't stop there. After Trek America offered him a free holiday, they even got a T-shirt made up to celebrate the occasion, while VO5 got in on the action, offering hair products and promising: 'What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas'. Inundated: One Arcadia employee tweeted this picture of her email inbox after the request was sent . Where it all began: Arcadia worker Kimberly Jaina appears to be the first person who started the Twitter campaign, resulting in Greg's annual leave becoming one of the highest trending topics . Campaign: The hashtag soon took off, with companies lining up to offer Greg freebies . TrekAmerica eventually dropped Greg an email to let him know about his good fortune. It . read: 'Hi Greg, I hope you’re well and had a nice sleep. I’m sure . you’ve been blissfully unaware of what’s been happening today, but are . now fully up to speed with recent developments regarding your . colleagues’ campaign to #givegregtheholiday. 'Well, we thought it would be nice if you really did get that holiday, so we’re offering you a Mini Adventure around the USA’s west, including flights from the UK to Las Vegas. 'No, this isn’t a joke – we’re really sending you to Vegas! Welcome to Las Vegas: Greg had the last laugh, after he was offered a free trip to the US, but turned it down for a trip to Chessington . Freebie: The security guard would have stayed in Vegas and gone to tour the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley, but has turned the gifts down . 'In case you haven’t heard of TrekAmerica, we offer small group trips around the USA, Canada, Alaska and Central America and have been around for over 40 years. Our ethos is fun and adventure, which is exactly what we think you’ll need after being at the centre of today’s Twitter frenzy!' The letter goes on to outline the trip that Greg will receive - taking in the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and spending a night in an authentic cowboy camp. He would also have received two nights before and two nights after the trip at a hotel in Las Vegas, but has decided to give all of it away.

Security guard Greg Heaslip requested holiday from work on Wednesday . Unbeknown to him, boss accidentally sent the request to 3,500 coworkers . Spawned viral campaign to '#givegregtheholiday' which trended on Twitter . Mr Heaslip was offered free flight to Vegas, tuxedo and other goodies . However he will be donating it all to the Stephen Sutton cancer charity . Will visit Chessington World of Adventures with wife and daughter instead .

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Sales pitch: Michael McIndoe as a Wolves player in 2007. It is claimed he approached potential investors on behalf of the scheme . Dozens of top Premiership footballers are said to have lost millions of pounds after the collapse of an investment scheme associated with a former star. Millionaire players, including several household names, are said to have handed over cash after being promised a return of 20 per cent a month on their capital. However, the scheme collapsed late last year and the players are now anxiously awaiting news of their money. One international star invested £1million in the scheme, according to  a source. It is claimed that former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Coventry City star Michael McIndoe approached potential investors on behalf of the scheme, but there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on his part. Mr McIndoe previously dated glamour model Helena Fletcher, who appeared as a contestant on BBC gameshow Total Wipeout in 2009. Companies House records show Mr McIndoe, 32, became director of a number of businesses last year, including one business aimed at footballers which promised exclusive access to nightclubs and private jets. A source revealed that Mr McIndoe began approaching stars in the Midlands at the start of last year, claiming it was a ‘guaranteed-return investment scheme’. In April, an invitation-only party was held at a country house hotel in Warwickshire featuring a performance by X Factor winner Alexandra Burke. There is no suggestion she had any involvement in the scheme. As part of the scheme, syndicates were set up in different areas of the country, including the North-West and London. On the first day of each month, one nominated member of each syndicate would travel to a hotel in London’s West End to collect the payouts. But in November the  payments dried up and Mr McIndoe has not been seen since. A source said: ‘The scheme was sold . to people as a guaranteed-return investment scheme. I  personally know . 20 players who have put money in. You got 20 per cent back each month . and could withdraw your  initial investment at any time. 'So if you invested £100,000, you got £20,000 back a month and you could get your £100,000 out. Game on: McIndoe's ex-girlfriend Helena Fletcher appeared as a contestant on Total Wipeout in 2009 . ‘Players did not ask questions as most knew another who had invested and was getting regular returns. ‘The investors received regular monthly payments up until November but since then they have not been paid. Now, players are falling out with each other. They’re  blaming each other for giving them bad advice.’ The source added that Mr McIndoe had recently contacted all of those demanding their money back and promised to repay the cash. There are now fears the investments were made in a Ponzi-style scheme, similar to the one run by US fraudster Bernie Madoff. In a Ponzi scheme, money from new investors is simply redistributed to existing members, rather than being invested to generate returns. That means such schemes eventually collapse. A football agent, who represents a number of Premiership players, said: ‘Some got into the scheme early and did very well and got their money back and the interest. ‘There’s a player with £1 million in that scheme, a player with £500,000, a player with £300,000, and there’s some with £5,000 and £10,000. ‘It’s nothing more than greed. I’ve heard this guy has got to walk around with protection. People have been to Scotland to find his family. ‘The players can’t go to the police. What player is going to stand up in court and say, “Excuse me, Your Honour, I’ve just lost £50,000 of my savings”? ‘They’re going to look like idiots and the club could ask them what they’re doing.’ A financial expert who advises footballers said: ‘We have known about it for a while and have kept our clients well away from it.’ Born in the tough Sighthill district of Edinburgh, Mr McIndoe spoke openly as a young player about his battle to overcome drink and gambling problems. Nevertheless, he went on to enjoy a successful career, scoring 80 league and cup goals for ten clubs. Sources say Mr McIndoe was a charismatic and popular figure among other players. He left Coventry last summer and retired to concentrate on his business career. Fans reported seeing him driving his Bentley around Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, where he and a girlfriend shared an upmarket flat in a large townhouse. However, other residents told The Mail On Sunday Mr McIndoe appeared to have left the property last year in a hurry. Yesterday, Mr McIndoe’s mother and brother declined to comment. Mr McIndoe did not respond to messages left on his mobile.

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers player Michael McIndoe 'approached potential investors on behalf of the scheme' Millionaire players 'promised 20%-a-month return on their capital'

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(CNN) -- It was a busy week for Facebook, which hit a major milestone, made fashion news and made some users uneasy about privacy again. In case you missed it, here are the highlights: . 1. Reached 1 billion users . In short: As of October 4, one of every seven people on the planet are actively using Facebook each month. "Helping a billion people connect is amazing, humbling and by far the thing I am most proud of in my life," Zuckerberg told CNN Money. The reaction: On the CNN Facebook page we asked if readers knew anyone who didn't use the service. Responses came in from around the world, including China, where a Facebook user said the service is "not allowed." Shauna Racette-Graham wrote, "Yup I know ppl who don't use FB, I think they are just weird." Jo Ann wrote, "Yep, my mother. Yet she has no problem texting me obsessively!" Chris Horne may not know them personally, but he wrote, "Tons of old people don't use Facebook." The most detailed answer probably came from Esperanca Pizzolante, "My mom, some colleagues, an ex-boyfriend, a politics teacher two or three financial executives..." 2. Released an ad that confused people . In short: As a way to celebrate their role as the connective tissue of society, Facebook released their first advertisement, "The Things That Connect Us." The ad compares the site to things ranging from bridges to chairs. The reaction: A parody Twitter account @Facebookschair and general head-scratching. "Does anyone understand that Facebook ad yet?" posted @Facebookschair "I don't and I was its star!" "Chairs are for people. And this is why chairs are like Facebook" the ad states, showing rows of empty chairs. "Honored to have been featured in Facebook's first commercial," posted @InvisibleObama, a parody account that cropped up after Clint Eastwood's mock debate with an empty chair at the Republican convention. 3. Had CEO Zuckerberg admit he wears the same thing every day (as if we couldn't see) In short: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in an interview on "NBC's Today" that he lives a "simple" life and proudly wears the same thing every day. (A grey T-shirt) The reaction: Making too many decisions about mundane details is a waste of your mental energy, says the Harvard Business Review. In the October issue of Vanity Fair President Obama said this: "You'll see I wear only gray or blue suits," he said. "I'm trying to pare down decisions. I don't want to make decisions about what I'm eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make." He mentioned research that shows the simple act of making decisions degrades one's ability to make further decisions. It's why shopping is so exhausting. "You need to focus your decision-making energy. You need to routinize yourself. You can't be going through the day distracted by trivia." Other successful people known to wear the same thing every day? Steve Jobs and Albert Einstein. CNN Commenter MarkM87 said, "How you dress reflects you personality. When you look good, you feel good. Zuckerberg is obviously an incredibly boring person with no personality." Bruno Domingues disagrees. "Funny, I do the same thing. Because I don't like to have to think about what I am going to wear so when I find something I like, I buy more than one piece. Just very practical people I guess." 4. Redefined private . In short: The Next Web reported Thursday that Facebook "confirmed scanning users' private messages for shared links to Web pages with Like buttons, so it can increase the number of corresponding Likes for those pages." Facebook's response: "We did recently find a bug with our social plugins where at times the count for the Share or Like goes up by two, and we are working on a fix to solve the issue now. To be clear, this only affects social plugins off of Facebook and is not related to Facebook Page likes. This bug does not impact the user experience with messages or what appears on their timelines." An update and further explanation are at The Next Web. The reaction: Spke posted, "Who cares, exactly what gmail does to serve ads" "This has to make you wonder what other stats FB is inflating," @rk tweeted. 5. Offered to promote personal posts -- for a $7 fee . In short: Users in the U.S. can promote their personal posts for a $7 per-post fee. "When you promote a post it is placed higher in the news feed so your friends and subscribers are more likely to notice it," Facebook wrote in a blog post. The reaction: "$7 to promote you posts? There's a Zucker born every minute," wrote sapient69. Many suggested cutting down on the number of "fake friends." Lisztman wrote, "I don't see a problem with someone paying to advertise. The sidebar does that very nicely. What I'd rather see? A mechanism for the subscriber (that would be me) to push certain post-ers, or friends, up or down. I believe that what I see on MY newsfeed should be what I myself wish to see -- not what someone else thinks I need." The reaction on the CNN Facebook page was a capitalized and often heavily punctuated "NO!" "Hell no I'd just Google+," wrote Kevin E Poindexter. "If that happens I will use MySpace," wrote Michelle Marie Denison. Justin, I hope you're listening.

Facebook is giving users the option to pay to get a friend's attention . The 1 billion user mark? A big deal to some . The first Facebook ad: Directed by Clint Eastwood. OK, not really .

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By . James Chapman . Last updated at 11:51 AM on 3rd February 2012 . Comments (95) Share . DM.has('shareLink', 'sociallinks', { . 'id': '2095708', . 'eTitle': 'Millions+%27to+get+back+weekly+bin+collections%27%3A+End+unpopular+schemes+or+fac', . 'eUrl': 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticle-2095708%2FMillions-weekly-bin-collections-End-unpopular-schemes-face-voters-councils-told.html', . 'eShortUrl': 'http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FysyKda', . 'eDesc': 'Eric+Pickles+will+reveal+more+than+70+councils+intend+to+use+a+%A3250million+government+fund+to+end+unpopular+fortnightly+schemes.', . 'twitterText': 'Millions%20%27to%20get%20back%20weekly%20bin%20collections%27%3A%20End%20unpopular%20schemes%20or%20face%20voters%2C%20councils%20told' }); . Pledge: Eric Pickles is attempting to shame councils into restoring weekly bin collections . Millions of homes are to have their weekly bin collections restored, Eric Pickles will pledge today. The Local Government Secretary will reveal more than 70 councils intend to use a £250million government fund to end unpopular fortnightly schemes. Mr Pickles is attempting to shame what he will call the ‘town hall Talibin’ into restoring weekly collections, saying councils have ‘no excuse’ not to bring them back and voters should punish those which don’t. ‘Rubbish collections are the most visible service that people get for their £120 per month council tax,’ he will say. ‘Labour’s barmy bin rules have made putting out your rubbish more complicated than solving a Rubik’s cube. 'The public are fed up of all the bin dos and don’ts – they just want a simple service, which is why the Government is making sure councils offer a good weekly collection and make it easier to go green. 'We’ve called time on the town hall Talibin, and have ditched Labour’s policies of bin cuts, bin fines and bin taxes in the dustbin of history.’ Since Labour’s 1997 election victory, half of households – ten million covered by 180 local authorities – have lost their weekly collections. Instead, local authorities have been encouraged to collect household waste and recyclable rubbish on alternate weeks. However, homeowners have complained . the change has led to rises in pest populations, unpleasant smells from . waste left uncollected, and a plethora of bin fines and taxes imposed on . anyone breaking the rules. Those who overfill their bins or accidentally leave rubbish out on the wrong day risk penalties of up to £1,000. The Daily Mail has long campaigned to have weekly collections restored. Rubbish: Since Labour won in 1997 half have lost weekly bin collections - and the number of different types of bin has increased . Mr Pickles will argue today it is possible to increase recycling rates while also offering weekly collections of all rubbish. He will point to the example of Windsor and Maidenhead, which has increased recycling by 35 per cent by offering people incentives such as shopping vouchers and loyalty card points. Mr Pickles said councils could also use the new cash to introduce technology such as ‘mechanical biological treatment’ facilities, where rubbish is sorted into recyclable items and those that need to go to landfill. Even before the Government has formally opened the scheme, more than 70 councils have signalled their intention to restore weekly collections. The Local Government Secretary’s announcement follows a fierce battle between him and Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman, who had tried to ditch a Tory pledge to restore traditional weekly collections, which were first required by law 136 years ago. Even before the election, the Conservatives said they would provide funding for councils that abandoned fortnightly pick-ups. The Environment Department has argued that these had helped boost recycling rates and reduced the amount of refuse buried in landfill sites. Hilary Benn, Labour’s local government spokesman, said: ‘Local people are best placed to decide how rubbish is collected. ‘Sitting behind his desk in Whitehall, Eric Pickles should trust communities to do this rather than thinking that he knows better.’

Eric Pickles to shame 'town hall Talibin' into restoring weekly collections . 70 councils will use £250m fund to empty bins weekly .

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A 104-year-old woman received 6,000 birthday cards after a social media campaign became an internet sensation. Betty Musker was sent cards and gifts sent from all over the world - including Australia, Singapore and China - ahead of her milestone birthday yesterday. The Liverpool FC fan even had a very special visit from former star Ian Rush yesterday and was given a personalised Liverpool strip and a card signed by the current squad. Mrs Musker was overwhelmed and surprised all of the cards were for her and said it was 'lovely people had taken the time out the send them' The avid Liverpool FC fan even had a very special visit from former striker Ian Rush . Due to the overwhelming amount, Mrs Musker's cards had their own designated space at the local post office . Betty's family and staff at Golborn House care home in Warrington, Cheshire, launched the Facebook campaign last month. They invited people to send cards to the popular great-great-grandmother. Lorraine Marshall, one of Betty's carers, said: 'I can't bear football, but she's Reds mad. 'She watches every game, she even watched the whole world cup. She's football crazy. 'She's a lovely, lovely lady, and she loves her hometown of Liverpool. 'Betty has made cards all her life, and when I asked her what she wanted for her birthday, she said 'just a nice card, I love cards', and that's how the seed was planted. 'She's completely with it, she knows everything that's going on. But she'll be very surprised when she gets all these cards on her birthday.' Mrs Musker was born in Liverpool in 1910 and began working for the Dunlop plimsoll company before she married. She then worked at St Paul's Eye Hospital in Liverpool as a nurse before working as a clipper who checked bus tickets. As she got older Mrs Musker became a cleaner for a private company . Mrs Musker told her great-granddaughter Alison Whittle she wanted 'a nice card' for her birthday . Cards have been posted for her from countries including the US, Japan, New Zealand and Australia . The campaign, called For the love of Betty Musker, was started after the elderly widow told her carers she did not think she would receive many cards for her birthday . The care home was inundated with well-wishes for the centenarian with around 200 cards arriving every day . The campaign, called For the love of Betty Musker, was started after the elderly widow told her carers that she didn't think she'd get many cards as most of her friends are dead. The care home was inundated with well-wishes for the centenarian with around 200 cards arriving every day - and people even sent cards addressed simply to 'Betty in Warrington'. But Betty had no idea that she would be met with such a colossal pile of cards and presents, totalling more than 5,600, after she received just 70 cards last year. Betty left her beloved Liverpool 10-years-ago so she could live closer to family who could help look after her - but the devoted fan still manages to watch every game.

Betty Musker received almost 6,000 cards for her 104th birthday . She told her great-granddaughter she wanted a 'nice card' for her birthday . Her family and care home decided to launch a card appeal on Facebook . She has been sent cards and gifts from all over the world . The avid Liverpool FC fan even had a special visit from former star Ian Rush .

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Hong Kong (CNN) -- An Australian teenager reported missing two months ago has been found alive in dense bushland not far from his home, local police say. Matthew Allen, 18, was last seen at his family home near Westleigh, a suburb about 30 kilometers (20 miles) away from Sydney, on November 27. Police feared the worst as the teen had not taken his mobile phone with him or accessed his bank accounts. More from CNN Justice: Three years later, no sign of missing family . Extensive searches by police and emergency services failed to find him. On Saturday, two hikers told police that they had spotted a "disorientated man" in bushland not far from Westleigh. When rescuers reached Allen, he was in a bad way suffering from exhaustion and dehydration. Local media said he was emaciated, covered in leeches and mosquito bites and his feet and lower legs were suffering from gangrene. It was believed he had been in the bush the entire nine weeks he was missing, police said. More from CNN Justice: Casey Anthony files for bankruptcy . ''He was in such a poor state,'' Detective Acting Inspector Glyn Baker told the Sydney Morning Herald. ''He was completely exhausted, completely dehydrated, suffered significant weight loss, somewhere up to 50%. He was suffering from partial blindness and he had leeches all over him.'' He was winched out by a rescue helicopter and taken to a nearby hospital, where he was reunited with his family. Allen went missing during a record heatwave when Sydney endured temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius. According to ABC, Allen told his rescuers that he had survived on water from a creek bed that was almost dry. Detectives have been unable to speak to him and believe there may be more to his story, ABC reported. More from CNN Justice: Man charged with murder in doctor's death, source says .

Australian teenager found after spending two months in the bush . Last seen leaving his family home on November 27 . Spotted by two hikers in dense bushland near his home . Winched by rescue helicopter to hospital, reunited with family .

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The argument occurred as the pilot cruised down wrong taxiway at the Atlanta airport . The pilot took offense at what he called the controller's 'bad attitude' over the mistake . By . Joshua Gardner . Shocking audio of a heated exchange between a Delta pilot and an air traffic controller has flyers wondering just who's in charge of keeping them safe during air travel. All the more disturbing is the time when moment the argument occurred: just as the pilot was landing the jet at the Atlanta airport on the wrong taxiway. 'Like, oh my God, there's another plane out there like six miles away,' mocks the pilot. Scroll down for video . In danger? An airline pilot and air traffic controller are heard getting into a heated argument in newly released audio that has some flyers wondering if the people charged with taking care of them are doing a proper job . The pilot was on the taxiway called Mike and another plane was on its way to that very taxiway. 'Delta 2242, you're supposed to be on Mike,' the unnamed, coolheaded air traffic controller says in audio posted to LiveATC.net. 'Yes sir,' the pilot responds. 'We're going out there now.' The aitr traffic controller responds: 'It looks like you joined Lima,' in reference to the taxiway on which the pilot had actually landed. That's when the pilot gets nasty. 'You know what,' he snaps, 'We'll taxi out there any way we want when you tell us to. I don't like your attitude.' Still, the Atlanta controller, charged with keeping hundreds of thousands of passengers per day safe at America's busiest airport, stayed cool. 'Good morning, there was no attitude. i was just trying to correct you. That's my job to correct you if you mess up,' he said. The pilot again accuses the air traffic controller of being the one neglecting his duties before another pilot on the same frequency chimes from another plane to sum the confrontation perfectly. 'Settle down, Captain Happy,' he quips.

The argument occurred as the pilot cruised down wrong taxiway at the Atlanta airport . The pilot took offense at what he called the controller's 'bad attitude' over the mistake .

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By . Emily Crane . A Brisbane man has been fined for engaging in a sex act with a 15-year-old girl who was forced to work as a prostitute before and after school by her Thai mother. Queensland District Court judge Richard Jones imposed the 'very lenient' $1,500 fine on the 63-year-old man on Thursday. The man hadn't solicited the act in October 2010 and had initially thought it was the girl's mother he was with, a court heard. A Brisbane man has been fined for engaging in a sex act with a 15-year-old girl (picture posed by model) who was forced to work as a prostitute before and after school by her Thai mother . The mother, a prostitute from Thailand, had told her long-standing clients the girl was her 19-year-old sister or cousin. The girl was living with her grandparents in Thailand when her mother brought her to Australia for a holiday in 2004. During the six-week stay, the nine-year-old girl was taught massage and a number of sex acts. 'It is a case that is almost impossible to comprehend for normal people... That a mother would, in such a perverse way, corrupt a young daughter from such a very early age'- Queensland District Court judge Richard Jones . Two years later, the mother brought the child to Australia permanently to work as a prostitute out of their Runcorn house, in Brisbane's south. The girl worked before and after school, and was abused or starved if she complained. 'It is a case that is almost impossible to comprehend for normal people,' Justice Jones said. 'That a mother would, in such a perverse way, corrupt a young daughter from such a very early age.' The girl, now 19, went to authorities in 2011. During a house raid, police found photos and more than $200,000 cash in a safe. The man had been seeing the girl's mother for five years but never knew her daughter was acting against her will. The man hadn't solicited the act in October 2010 and had initially thought it was the girl's mother he was with, Queensland District Court heard . Police believe the threats were delivered in front of clients in Thai, and the teenager never let on. The man pleaded guilty and had shown remorse and shame, the court heard. Justice Jones didn't record a conviction so the man can visit his son who lives in the United States. 'I have treated you very leniently, so suggest you don't come back to this court again,' he said. The mother was sentenced to nine years in jail in 2013 for child trafficking and will be eligible for parole in three years. Police intervention: During a raid on the woman's house in Runcorn, south Brisbane, officers found incriminating photos and more than $200,000 in cash in a safe . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Brisbane man fined $1,500 for engaging in sex act with girl in October 2010 . Court heard 63-year-old hadn't solicited the act and thought it was the 15-year-old's mother he was with . The mother, a prostitute from Thailand, told regular clients the girl was 19 . She brought her daughter to Australia permanently in 2006 to be a sex worker in their Brisbane home . The mother was sentenced to nine years in jail for child trafficking in 2013 .

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By . Rebecca Evans . and Chris Brooke . The British woman gunned down by her gardener in Turkey had just ended their six-year affair. After Anne Bury was shot dead by jilted lover Velli Acar  following her 56th birthday party, he handed himself in, shaking and reeking of alcohol, saying: ‘I’ve killed my wife, shot her mother and her son.’ Miss Bury’s only child Alex, 24, and mother Cecilia, 87, survived. Scroll down for video . Relationship: This portrait of Anne Bury and Velli Acar was on display in his parents' home . Denial: Miss Bury's brother denied the 56-year-old was in a relationship with Acar despite the portrait . Affair: Velli Acar (left) was said to be besotted with Anne Bury (right) even after she ended the relationship . Yesterday, one of Acar’s friends told how he arrived at his house after the shooting on Monday,  begging to be taken to the police. Businessman Ozay Akdogen, who has known Acar, 46, for 20 years, said he was besotted with Miss Bury, from Swainby, North Yorkshire, who worked as a risk manager for a Gulf oil company, but she had ended their relationship after he racked up debts of £100,000. He said: ‘Velli was in a state of shock. He said, “I killed my love and now I am finished, take me to the police now.’” Locals in the resort of Dalyan yesterday said Miss Bury and Acar had been together since she bought a plot of land to build her dream home there. She would split her time between Dalyan and her job which regularly took her to the Gulf. Faruk Ozlap, 57, a retired teacher, said: ‘About six years ago Anne came here and met Velli. They built her villa together, he helped her with it all and they started a relationship. 'He was a very poor guy from a poor village and she was his meal ticket.’ Custody: Acar is said friend and local businessman, Ozay Akdogen, to have begged to be taken to police . Shooting: Acar is believed to have killed Miss Bury with a pump action shotgun at this six-bedroom villa . Birthday: Blood stains can be seen at the foot of the stairs after the party ended in horror . Neighbours said it was well-known that Acar had got into debt and had been forced to sell a boat Miss Bury had bought for him. Mr Akdogen, who lives opposite Miss Bury’s villa, said: ‘Anne would come here three or four times a year and every time she would always be with Velli. 'They were in love, no doubt about it. When Anne used to work abroad in Dubai and Qatar, Velli would get me to write her little notes and text messages because his English was not so good. 'But they had problems in the relationship, she told him it was over and it was too much for him.’ Mr Ozlap said: ‘Velli had lost everything. The woman he loved, his home and his job. He had nothing left to lose and now he will never be released from prison.’ No doubt: Acar's best friend Ozay Akdogan (left) said the couple were definitely in love. Alex Bury (right) remains in hospital recovering from a gunshot wound . Wounded: Alex Bury, 23, was rushed to hospital following the incident. His grandmother also needed treatment . He said Miss Bury had phoned the police three days before the killing because Acar was ‘bothering her’. Last night it emerged that Acar was previously married to another British woman, named locally as Ruth McGarry. The relationship is believed to have ended when the gardener began seeing Miss Bury. Miss McGarry, 59, from Malton, North Yorkshire, is understood to still be living in Turkey, but her family said she did not want to talk about what had happened. Miss Bury’s son Alex, who works in medical research, remains in hospital after being shot in the leg. Her mother, who suffered minor wounds, is being comforted by her sons Jerome, 52, and John, 59, who flew out to Turkey from their homes in Stockton, near Middlesbrough. One of the brothers yesterday denied that his sister was romantically linked to Acra, adding: ‘It’s completely untrue. That is not the case.’ Acar’s parents last night said that Miss Bury and their son ‘lived like man and wife’ despite not being married. They said Miss Bury’s family did not know of their relationship. Love: This picture was taken from Velli Acar's Facebook page with the comment 'I am in love with you always'

Velli Acar was taken to police by friend, shaking and reeking of alcohol . Anne Bury is said to have ended relationship after he racked up debts . Friend of the suspect claims the couple 'were in love - no doubt about it' It has now emerged Acar had been married to a British woman before .

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Washington (CNN) -- Illinois teenager Hannah Perryman lived in fear for years until the young stalker who tormented and threatened her was finally convicted. Hannah was on hand at the Justice Department on Tuesday to tell her painful story as Attorney General Eric Holder and other top officials headlined an event designed to call attention to the growing problem of stalking. Hannah is now a 17-year-old junior at Elgin High School near Chicago. She says the stalking started when she was in elementary school and continued for so many years she believed living a life in constant fear was normal. Then, a few years ago, she decided to openly declare her fears and take up a public fight against stalking. With the help of her mother, who taught school, a determined policeman and a caring social worker, Hannah's case opened the eyes of students and adults alike and led to a tough new anti-stalking law in Illinois. "They just couldn't believe that I was afraid every day, every night, every moment of my life," Hannah told the audience in the ornate Great Hall of the Justice Department. "That's been happening to me since I was in fifth grade, so that was pretty normal to me, you know?" The tormenter in Hannah's case was a girl from the neighborhood who at first hung out for hours and days outside Hannah's house. But after the intimidation escalated to verbal threats to kill Hannah, the courts finally intervened. The offender pleaded guilty and was ordered to stay away. Because the case was adjudicated in juvenile court, many of the specifics remain under seal, and Illinois officials and Hannah's family and supporters won't talk about many details. Attorney General Holder paid tribute to Hannah for "the courage to come forward and share her heartbreaking story with the world." Holder said Hannah and her family had "provided a model for how a potential tragedy can be turned into an opportunity" to pass a law strengthening protection of stalking victims. There are millions of victims, and many of them aren't even certain they are being stalked, officials said. Cindy Southworth, director of the Safety Net Project, says much of the abuse and torment has moved online. She says virtually every technology program and social networking site is being abused and users are being harassed or stalked. In extreme cases, victims are killed. In most cases, they are scared or intimidated. The government defines stalking as a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. The latest Justice Department statistics are nearly five years old, but they show about 3.4 million people age 18 or older were victims of stalking in 2006. Southworth says the number is surely much higher now. There are no available figures on juvenile stalking victims. Officials urge individuals to report repeated unwanted phone calls, letters or e-mails. They also want authorities called if there are repeated incidents in which offenders leave flowers or gifts, show up at places waiting for the potential victim, or spread rumors about that person on the internet. Authorities stressed the individual acts may not be criminal, but collectively if they cause real fear they can violate the law, and courts can order protections for victims of any age. Victims come in all demographic groups, but officials say at least three of every four stalking victims are women.

Hannah Perryman says she was stalked for years, beginning in elementary school . She spoke at a Justice Department event spotlighting the stalking problem . There are millions of victims, officials say .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . and Ap . Fire officials say a 22-year-old woman fell down an elevator shaft at Boston's Fenway Park. The Boston Fire Department says the woman fell down the shaft Friday night. The department tweeted that the fourth floor doors apparently opened and the woman fell on to the roof of the elevator at the second floor. Fenway: The 22-year-old woman fell two floors down an elevator shaft at aging Fenway Park in Boston . Rescuers reached the woman through a hatch in the elevator's roof and transported her to a hospital. Her condition was not immediately available. Fire officials say a state elevator inspector was called to the scene. In the game, the Red Sox lost to the Detroit Tigers 1-0. Inspector: Fire officials say the woman fell when the door accidentally opened when the elevator was two floors below . Detroit has baseball's best record at 25-12, winning 13 of its last 16 games and nine in a row on the road. Pitcher Max Scherzer is a major reason why. He faced the minimum through three innings before rain halted play with one out in the top of the fourth. Rain: The Red Sox 1-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers was almost rained out . While it definitely put a damper on the marquee matchup of aces, the delay barely slowed Scherzer, who stayed warm by throwing in the cages and was ready to go when the game restarted ahead of schedule after a brief rain delay. 'For me, once I was able to get loose, I felt the same,' he said. Had the delay lasted longer, Scherzer's night may have prematurely come to an end. The team says it plans to release more details about the young woman's condition when they become available.

The woman's condition currently is unknown . The fall happened when the fourth floor doors apparently opened and the woman fell on to the roof of the elevator at the second floor . The elevator inspector was called to the scene . The Red Sox lost 1-0 to the Detroit Tigers .

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By . Wills Robinson . Malicious: Chantelle McCluney, 23, laughed as the helpless victim was tortured in her Manchester flat . A mother-of-three lured a man to her home for a threesome, only to watch and laugh as he was  tortured by her boyfriend and another man. Chantelle McCluney, 23, laid a honeytrap by inviting the victim to her flat in Harpurhey, Manchester, for a liaison with her boyfriend, Craig Hogan. But when they arrived, the man was tied to a chair before being kicked, . punched and forced to drink bleach. They then burnt the man with an improvised flamethrower, created by spraying a can of deodorant at a cigarette lighter. During the terrifying ordeal, he was also dunked in a . urine-filled mop bucket, struck with a chair, robbed and forced to pose . naked on a balcony for half-an-hour. At one point McCluney had sex with another of her lovers, Andrew Doyle, as the humiliated man lay covered in blood on the floor – with Doyle kicking him throughout. When detectives asked McCluney why she had sex while the helpless victim was still in the room, she said: 'I’ll admit it – I felt horny.' Despite subjecting the man to 'inhuman' torture,  she was spared jail after admitting false imprisonment at Manchester Crown Court. Judge Richard Mansell QC, gave her an 18-month, suspended for two years. He concluded she had been under the influence of Hogan, after an ‘abusive’ relationship during her teens, and was in fear of Doyle. The court heard that the victim, now 42, was so traumatised he did not speak about the ordeal for four years. It was only when he went to counselling after a suicide attempt that he revealed the details of his horrifying experience and the group was arrested. On the night of the attack, the victim, . who says he has by flashbacks and ‘can still taste bleach’, was found . wandering in the city centre in a ‘stupor’  with severe facial injuries. At the time, he told police he had been robbed by strangers. Weeks before the attack in October 2008, the man had been invited to a threesome with McCluney and Hogan, who he had met in jail. During that encounter, Doyle turned up at McCluney’s flat. It emerged that McCluney and Hogan had been involved in a sex session earlier that day with him as well. Liaison: The court heard how the mother-of-three had sex with another one of her lovers while the victim lay on the floor, covered in blood . The victim thought that Doyle ‘looked like a drug addict’, and told McCluney in a text that she should get tested for sexually transmitted diseases. McCluney told Doyle, who was enraged, and recruited her and Hogan to get revenge. The man, who begged for mercy, was pelted with eggs by the trio before being released with a warning from Doyle that his family would be shot if he spoke out. Convicted robber Doyle, 24, was jailed for five years for false imprisonment, and convicted arsonist Hogan, 28, was jailed for four years. Both pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

Chantelle McCluney laughed as the man was tied to a chair and tortured . Laid a honeytrap by inviting victim for a liaison with boyfriend Craig Hogan . The victim, now 42 years old, was punched, kicked and hit with a chair . Was dunked in a urine-filled bucket and forced to pose naked on a balcony . Mother-of-three was spared jail after admitting false imprisonment .

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(CNN) -- Jennifer Aniston is getting married and this seems to be a matter of intense interest to women around the world. Why do we care? To begin, there is the incredible proliferation of mass media, the huge amount of coverage on celebrities and the self-exposure stars are willing to endure -- even prefer -- these days. "Stars" have changed from glamorous, unfathomables, to "friends" we follow on Twitter, in intimate, unguarded photos in entertainment magazines (which we don't even have to buy; the headlines and pictures capture us in our doctors' offices and at the check out counter). We turn on the TV talk shows and learn more than we should as heartbroken or apologetic celebrity guests share details of their romantic misadventures. Women like Jennifer Aniston become girlfriends, or friends of friends, who we listen to, judge, identify with and commiserate with. The wall separating us from stardom has been replaced by a penetrable surface, with celebrities just one tweet or book group away. She is no longer Jennifer Aniston, the star; she is Jennifer, a friend once removed and we talk about her among friends as if she were one of us. News: Jennifer Aniston engaged to actor Justin Theroux . She is not, though, so why do we feel so strongly about what happens to a movie star who has no apparent connection to our lives? Two reasons. First, we know enough about her travail to identity with her and project ourselves into her situation. Here is a woman, who, like many of us, has wanted someone very badly, made mutual vows of fidelity and loyalty, and had that person leave for another lover -- in this case, an exceptionally talented and gorgeous woman, who now lays claim to everything she (or we) ever wanted. There are few women who haven't lost someone they loved -- and they immediately take up her cause, and her feelings, as their own. Secondly, we follow her life because in a strange way, it comforts us. If a man could be unfaithful to such a lovely, successful and nice woman, we can know that perhaps we weren't left because we weren't pretty enough or sexy enough or witty enough, but because some men just fall in love with someone else. We can see that regardless of why our own mate left, there was nothing about it that should wipe out our self-esteem and there wasn't necessarily anything we could have done that would have saved our relationship. Peering into various celebrity real melodramas rather perversely cheers us up! In 2008, millions of women were riveted to the divorce trial of Christie Brinkley, whose husband, Peter Cook, betrayed her with a teenage employee. Well, we thought, if a man could do that to Christie Brinkley, of course we shouldn't feel that a husband or boyfriend left us for not being pretty enough or sexy enough. Look what happened to one of the most gloriously gorgeous women on Earth! Jennifer Aniston's men . Then there is an additional twist in Aniston's story that reassures us. Her failed marriage says to us that someone even more glorious than ourselves can be left, but her engagement tells us that there can be a Cinderella story at the end of the road: a mate who truly loves us, who wants to create a family, who will deliver security and unconditional love at last. Sure, it may last as long as the next headline, but we deeply hope love stays the course for her, because we want to believe that our own dreams will result in triumph over disappointment. This is why we care in a seemingly unreasonable way about what happens to Jennifer Aniston. Nice girls might not finish last. Justice might prevail. Sure, we care about Jennifer, but we follow her life, and the life of other celebrities, mostly because they are now in our "friendship circle," however illusory this perception is. Aniston's "fairy tale ending" is a stand-in for the fairly tale ending we want for ourselves. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Pepper Schwartz.

Pepper Schwartz: Many are interested that Jennifer Aniston is engaged. Why? She says after years of tabloid scrutiny of her marital travail, many women relate to her . She says that Aniston is finding love lets other scorned women feel they can find it, too . Schwartz: We follow her story, delight in her triumph because it gives hope for our own .

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A Miami suburb has been named as the 'bidet capital of America' thanks to new research which reveals homes in the town are 50 times more likely to have one of the unpopular fixtures than the national average. According to real estate website Zumper, people living in Sunny Isles Beach in Miami are also 30 times more likely to have a bidet, which is a small basin used to wash your derriere, than those living in New York. And it's not just Sunny Isles Beach; Zumper's list of America's top ten bidet cities features four other Florida-based locations, including Aventura, which comes in a close second, and Fort Lauderdale, which places eighth. To bidet or not to bidet? While the bathroom fixture (R) is often found in homes in Sunny Isles Beach, elsewhere in America they are incredibly unpopular . Bidet map of America: Five of the top ten bidet cities are in Florida . 'This amounts to a bidet cluster,' Anthemos Georgiades, CEO of Zumper, explained. 'Probably America's only one.' Florida's apparent love of the hygienic bathroom fixture goes against the popular belief that bidets have no place in the United States. While the country is often praised as one of the most hygienic countries in the world, bidets have never been seen as a popular household feature - despite their overwhelming popularity in much of Continental Europe. 1. Sunny Isles Beach, FL . 2. Aventura, FL . 3. Scottsdale, AZ . 4. Medford, MA . 5. Hallandale Beach, FL . 6. Newton, MA . 7. Somerville, MA . 8. Fort Lauderdale, FL . 9. Palm Beach Gardens, FL . 10. Overland Park, KS . 'In around 90% of the some 200 U.S. cities on Zumper, not a single apartment mentions having a bidet,' Mr Georgiades added. 'So, we're talking in the American context of a pretty niche amenity. 'There may seem to be something un-American about bidets. But there seems something less un-Floridian about them.' Indeed, the only state which comes close to rivaling Florida's bidet dominance is Maryland, which has three cities - Midford, Newton and Somerville - in the top ten list of Bidet cities. 'Many Americans may not be certain what bidets are for,' Mr Georgiades said of the bidet's unpopularity. So, what explains their relative popularity in Sunny Isles Beach? Mr Georgiades is unsure. 'Maybe it's a way to cope with all the sand?' he speculated. 'Or maybe they just took the fancy of certain local architects or developers.'

According to new research, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami is the top bidet city in the country, with 50 times as many as the national average .

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By . Katy Dartford . PUBLISHED: . 10:15 EST, 5 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:19 EST, 5 November 2012 . New victim: Liam Trimbrell died in hospital today, is pictured with baby Charlie who died in hospital a couple of days after the fire in Prestatyn . A 23-year-old man has become the fifth person to die after a house fire in Denbighshire. Liam Timbrell had been in a critical condition since the blaze on 19 October in Prestatyn and died on Monday at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital. His partner Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, and their 15-month-old son Charlie died, along with Ms Shiers' nephew Bailey Allen, four, and niece Skye, two. Melanie Smith, 42, has been remanded in custody charged with murder. She . is also accused of one count of arson with intent to endanger life and . threats to commit criminal damage, and is to appear at Caernarfon Crown . Court in January 2013. Confirming Mr Timbrell's death, Det . Supt John Chapman of North Wales Police said: 'This is the fifth death . as a result of the fire in Prestatyn. 'My sincere condolences go out to the families at this tragic time.' The devastated parents of Bailey and Skye said the family's world was 'overturned' by the tragedy on October 19. Victims: The house fire also killed 15-month old Charlie (left), and his mother Lee-Anna Shiers (right), 20 . Deaths: Bailey (left), four, and Skye (right), two, died in the blaze at the first-floor flat in Prestatyn on October 19 . Boarded up: The house where five members of a family perished in a huge blaze . Melanie Smith, 42, has been remanded in custody charged with murder . Steve Allen and his fiancee Jonty Lewis said: 'They were our world. 'Bailey with his cheeky smile and Skye was just beautiful. They were the most amazing kids in the world. Their smiles used to light up our day. 'They were such little stars. They were always so happy, they were a joy and loved everything about life.' Family tributes were also paid to Lee-Anna  who was described as 'a kind, loving and caring person'. Neighbours have previously described their horror as flames ripped through the first floor flat where the family were staying. Inquests found that all the victims died from burns and smoke inhalation. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.

42 year old Melanie Jane Smith charged with murder . Liam Timbrell, 23, his partner Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, their son Charlie Timbrell, 15 months, and her niece Skye Allen, 2, and nephew Bailey Allen, 4, . all died in blaze . Family members perished after a first-floor flat in Prestatyn, North Wales, was . engulfed by flames on October 19 .

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Johannesburg, South Africa (CNN) -- When he lost his second parent to HIV/AIDS seven years ago, Ayanda Buthelezi's future seemed bleak. "I thought maybe God hated us," said Buthelezi, now 22. "We were very scared. ... But I had to be strong for my brother because he was still young." As orphans in Johannesburg, the Buthelezi brothers were moved to a home for families and children affected by HIV/AIDS. There, they were introduced to their first computer through Infinite Family, a nonprofit started by Amy Stokes. The group connects South African children with caring adults around the world via computer. "Whatever the cause may be, these children are severely lacking adult attention and guidance," Stokes said. "Kids come into the computer lab because they want this special someone in their lives ... they want to connect with that special someone." Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2011 CNN Heroes . Using a custom, Web-based technology, Infinite Family has so far connected almost 300 South African teens -- called Net Buddies -- with nearly 200 volunteer mentors from around the world. For at least a half-hour each week, pairs meet face to face on what they call the Ezomndeni-net. In Zulu, "Ezomndeni means 'everything related to family,'" said Stokes, 44. "Our platform is a virtual world where the mentors and the kids log in in different places, but then can interact and share information in many different ways. A relationship starts between one person here and one person there, and then that relationship expands." In addition to basic Web-cam capabilities, the Ezomndeni-net offers about a dozen interactive forums, including a live chat function, a virtual "wipeboard" where pairs can play games, and areas where pairs can do homework and surf the Web together. There is also an alert SOS button that Net Buddies can use if they are in dire need of guidance between scheduled chats. The experience has benefited Buthelezi, who is starting his first job as an IT professional on the Gautrain Project, South Africa's first inner-city high-speed rail. When he was younger, "he was one of those kids that was sitting in the back of the classroom and was really, really struggling," Stokes said. "About six months after being connected with Betty and Dave (Voigt of Sycamore, Pennsylvania,) he came up to me when I came to visit and said, 'Amy, Amy, I'm in the head of the class now, and I am so happy with where my life is going.'" Buthelezi is also pursuing a degree in IT, and he credits Infinite Family for getting his life on the right track. "My net family, Betty, she always advise me with the future plans: how to set my goals, how to achieve them," Buthelezi said. "I thought maybe this is my chance again to have a family. ... They've been there for me ... just like my parents." Stokes, a resident of Yonkers, New York, understands the important role a caring adult can play on a child's own concept of the future. Raised with two adopted siblings, she knew from an early age that she wanted to become an adoptive parent one day. She did so in 2003, when she and her husband, Chris, visited South Africa to adopt their son Calder, now 7. While in South Africa, Stokes witnessed how HIV/AIDS has resulted in millions of children being left without parents. According to the United Nations, nearly 15 million children in sub-Saharan Africa have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. "If none of the adults you care about has ever lived past 35, then why would you think you can? Why would you stay in school; why would you learn skills?" Stokes said. "[With] so many children and so few adults to help them grow up, I knew we had to find a way to bring new information, resources and the caring, nurturing effect of other adults into the lives of [these] children." Since 2006, Infinite Family has built and operated five computer labs at partner organization sites across South Africa. In addition to providing mentors for children, the computer-driven communication of the Ezomndeni-net also develops their language and technology skills, preparing them to compete in the global marketplace. "If the relationship is the motivation for attracting a child to a caring adult, then it's also the inspiration for getting that child to invest in themselves, to learn the skills to do whatever they need in the future," Stokes said. Before being paired with a child, mentors are subject to background checks, technological tutorials and cultural seminars covering mourning, HIV and developing relationships through e-mail. They sign up for a minimum of one year, but most continue beyond the requirement. Mentors can meet with their Net Buddies from wherever they have a secure Internet connection. Gifts, further financial assistance and any other help is optional and given to partner organizations directly -- never between mentor and mentee. "The mentors know that all they have to offer is themselves," Stokes said. "We like to say, 'The gift is you.' ... It's a bite-sized opportunity to change a world. And there's no commute." Want to get involved? Check out the Infinite Family website at www.infinitefamily.org and see how to help.

Amy Stokes' nonprofit connects South African children with caring adults via computer . Stokes started the program after witnessing how HIV/AIDS left many children without parents . Nearly 300 teens have taken part in the program . Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2011 CNN Heroes .

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By . Paul Thompson . and Daily Mail Reporter . A U.S. army officer accused of sex offenses in three states is to be allowed to use an 'evil twin' defense to try and escape being jailed for life. Lt Aaron Lucas plans to blame his identical twin brother for the crimes. The artillery officer, who was awarded the Bronze Star for valor, is accused of being a sexual predator who roamed the towns near his military base in Fort Carson, Colorado, trying to abduct and assault young girls. Decorated artillery officer Lt Aaron Lucas of Fort Carson, Colorado, plans to blame his identical twin brother Brain for a series of sex offenses . He was arrested last year in connection with a child abduction and an attempted child abduction over the summer. But detectives realized the 32-year-old matched the description of a suspect in as many as 11 attempted abductions. DNA taken from an attempted abduction in Colorado matched samples taken from crime scenes in Alabama in 2007 and Texas two years later. Lawyers for the officer claim the DNA was from his twin brother Brian, who lived in both states at the time of the attacks. As identical twins the brothers share the same DNA. 'War hero': Aaron Lucas is the recipient of the Bronze Star, the fourth highest military honor in the country . Brian Lucas has not been charged and could not be located for comment, reports the Colorado Sprngs Gazette. It said Brian Lucas had previous addresses in Madison and in Texas. Aaron Lucas' attorneys say an unidentified third man is responsible for the Colorado assaults. El Paso County prosecutors said the Colorado victims' ages ranged from six to nine and that they were targeted at random in Colorado Springs and nearby Fountain by a man who tried to coax them into sex with promises of money and ice cream. Prosecutors contend three girls were assaulted during the encounters. The incidents began shortly after Aaron Lucas' arrival at Fort Carson with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. A Colorado Springs police detective, Fred Walker, has testified the assaults stopped while Aaron Lucas was deployed to Afghanistan. Stationed: The crimes began shortly after Aaron Lucas' arrival at Fort Carson with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division . Lucas received . the Bronze Star, the fourth-highest honor given to members of the . military, for valor during a deployment to Afghanistan. In his four years of active duty, Lucas amassed a glowing military resume including 10 medals and awards. He is being held at El Paso County jail on $1.2 million bond. He goes on trial in January and could face life behind bars if convicted. A judge in Colorado Springs, Colorado, has said she will allow Lucas to blame his twin brother. District Judge David Shakes ruled Friday it would be 'inappropriate' to bar 1st Lt. Aaron Lucas' lawyers from presenting his identical twin as an alternate suspect given the siblings' shared DNA. 'Whether it's persuasive or not that's not my role,' the judge said. 'It's the role of the jury.' Karen Steinhauser, a criminal defense attorney and adjunct law professor at the University of Denver, told The Associated Press such an argument is rare. 'I have never seen it, ever,' she said. 'The only time I have seen it was on Law And Order: SVU,' the television show.

Lt Aaron Lucas, 32, is accused of being a sexual predator who roamed the towns near his Fort Carson military base trying to abduct and assault young girls . The married father-of-two plans to use the 'evil twin' defense and blame his twin brother Brian who shares the same DNA . Aaron Lucas was awarded the Bronze Star, the fourth highest military honor in the country, for valor in Afghanistan .

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By . Leon Watson . The family of a lost Second World War pilot whose plane was discovered in the desert 70 years after crashing feel 'let down' when they were told human remains found close by weren't his. Relatives of Dennis Copping have been holding out hope that bones located three miles from the perfectly-preserved RAF plane in the Sahara are those of the airman. But after months of waiting and receiving mixed messages from the Ministry of Defence, they have now been told that it is not possible to extract DNA from the remains. The news has been met with frustration by Flight Sergeant Copping's nephew, John Pryor-Bennett, who had been about to fly to Egypt to provide a comparative DNA sample. Scroll down to see the wreckage discovery scene: . Mysterious disappearance: Flight Sergeant Dennis Copping . crashed in the desert in 1942, and his plane was only uncovered last year . Mounting evidence: The twelve bones were found three miles found the plane, along with a piece of parachute, keyfob and metal button with 1939 on it . Bid for survival: The P40 Kittyhawk was found perfectly preserved and someone had apparently tried to build a shelter beside it . But the apparent inability to take DNA . from the bones has been met with doubt by four forensic pathologists . who have become involved in the case. They now plan to travel to Cairo and . examine the bones for themselves to give Mr Pryor-Bennett and his family . a definitive answer. After the bones were found last year, . the family was initially told by the MoD that they were far too old to . have been those of the lost airman. It then emerged that this ruling was . based on a flippant remark made by a member of the Egyptian authorities . and the remains hadn't been examined at all. Mr Pryor-Bennett, 62, was then invited to supply a DNA sample only for the bones to now be written off. He and the forensic pathologists are . demanding to know how authentic the tests have been up until now and . more details about the circumstances of the examinations. Mr Pryor-Bennett, from Kinsale, Cork, . Ireland, said: 'I am a little bit appalled about how all of this has . been handled. All the information that I have received since these bones . were discovered last June has been misleading and vague. 'At first I was told the bones were . 400- years-old but information was on the back of a conversation about . how more often than not bones in the desert were that age. 'Then it was arranged that I would fly . to Cairo and give a DNA sample to the Egyptians so they could compare . it with DNA from the bones. 'Now I have received a call from the . MoD to say that the Egyptian authorities have done the tests and the . bones aren't good enough to get a DNA profile from. 'I'm no expert but is it not possible . to get DNA from a dinosaur bone? The people who found King Richard III . were able to get a DNA sample from his bones and they were over 600 . years old. Poignant: Flight Sergeant Denis Copping in his RAF uniform aged 24, just days before he went missing . Ready for combat: Flt Sgt Copping proudly looks down from the cockpit of his Kittyhawk P-40 . 'I am very disappointed with all of . this and can't help feel let down. Dennis Copping was a serving his . country and was out there doing his bit. If these remains are his he . should be treated properly and given a proper burial.' Ft Sgt Copping, 24, of the 260 . Squadron, had been flying a P40 Kittyhawk plane between two British . bases in Egypt during the north Africa campaign when he disappeared. Family memories: William Pryor-Bennett is the nephew of Flt Sgt Copping . Nothing was ever seen of him or his . plane again until 12 months ago when a team of Polish oil exploration . workers stumbled upon the perfectly-preserved aircraft. There was evidence to suggest Ft Sgt . Copping survived the crash as a makeshift shelter had been made using . his parachute outside of the plane. It is thought he died while making a futile attempt to walk out of the desert. A month later a team of historians . from Italy unearthed 12 human bones close to an outcrop of rocks about . three miles from the plane. A piece of torn parachute was found . close to the remains along with a keychain fob with the number 61 on it. A metal button dated 1939 was also recovered nearby. Dr Laurence Garey, an independent . forensic anatomist who has worked at the University of Oxford and the . University of Lausanne in Switzerland, is doubtful of the latest . development. He said: 'It is quite inconceivable and I cannot accept that is true. 'I have got DNA samples from bones far . older than 70 years before. DNA has been extracted from 60 . million-year-old dinosaurs in the Oman desert before. I am one of four . forensic pathologists hoping to go out there to find out the truth.' A spokesman for the MoD said: 'The . Egyptian medical research authorities have tested some bones and have . come back and said it is not possible for a DNA sample to be extracted . from them. 'We have informed Copping family accordingly.' The last known whereabouts of the P40 Kittyhawk plane was in a storage crater in El Alemain. The Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon . has been in negotiations with the relevant Egyptian authorities to have . the aircraft returned to Britain but it is not known how far that has . progressed. Sky sentinel: A Kittyhawk in U.S.Airforce colours in flight at Duxford Airfield in Cambridgeshire . Time capsule: Aside from the damage it sustained during impact, the aircraft appears to have been almost perfectly preserved in the sands of the Sahara . Chance discovery: The single-seater aircraft was found by a Polish oil company worker exploring a remote region of the western desert in Egypt . Intact: Most of the plane's cockpit instruments were untouched and it still had it guns and ammunition before they were seized by the Egyptian military for safety reasons . Second World War weaponry: The machine gun on the wing of the crashed plane. It appears the pilot got into trouble and brought it down in the middle of the desert . Bullet holes: The Kittyhawk appears to have been . shot at (left), while its broken propeller lays nearby (right). Historians have described the find as the 'aviation equivalent of . Tutankhamun's Tomb' Well-preserved: The Kittyhawk's magazine of bullets were also found in the wreckage. The radio and batteries were discovered out of the plane . At the controls: The plane's cockpit, but there are fears over what will be left of it after locals began stripping parts and instruments for souvenirs and scrap . Unseen and untouched: Equipment and controls . from the plane were found scattered around the craft at the crash site. The plane is still in very good condition . Heading home: The RAF Museum at Hendon, north London, has been made aware of the discovery and plans are underway to recover the aircraft for exhibition in the future . Sign of the time: The Kittyhawk's factory stamp . (left) and gun loading instruction panel (right). However, some locals . see the aircraft as a piece of junk . Signs of survival: Flight Sergeant Dennis Copping's parachute was part of what is believed to be a makeshift camp alongside the fuselage . Remote: The crash site is about 200 miles from the nearest town. No human remains have been found but it is thought the pilot's decomposed body may lay anywhere in a 20 mile radius of the plane . In flight: Ft Sgt Copping and another airman were tasked with flying two damaged Kittyhawk P-40 planes (like this one) from one British airbase in northern Egypt to another for repair .

The 12 human bones were found on some rocks three miles from the wreckage . A piece of parachute and a metal button dated 1939 were found nearby . Flight Sergeant Dennis Copping crashed at the spot in 1942, and is thought to have wandered off into the desert . The perfectly preserved plane was found earlier this year by Polish oil exploration workers . But after months of waiting, his family have been told it is not possible to extract DNA from the remains .

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The New York Times says Chinese hackers have carried out sustained attacks on its computer systems, breaking in and stealing the passwords of high-profile reporters and other staff members. According to The Times, one of the biggest and most respected U.S. newspapers, the cyberassaults took place over the past four months, beginning during an investigation by the newspaper into the wealth reportedly accumulated by relatives of the Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that its computer systems also had been infiltrated by Chinese hackers. The hackers were monitoring the newspaper's China coverage, according to a written statement from Paula Keve, chief communications officer for parent company Dow Jones & Co. "Evidence shows that infiltration efforts target the monitoring of the Journal's coverage of China, and are not an attempt to gain commercial advantage or to misappropriate customer information," the statement read, according to The Journal. The Times's reports on Wen's family members, alleging they had amassed financial holdings worth billions of dollars through business transactions, infuriated Chinese authorities, who responded by blocking access to The Times' website in mainland China. The Times said in an extensive article dated Wednesday that it had worked with computer security experts to monitor, study and then eject the attackers. It said that by following their movements, it aimed to "erect better defenses to block them" in the future. The newspaper said that the security experts it used to counter the attacks had accumulated "digital evidence that Chinese hackers, using methods that some consultants have associated with the Chinese military in the past, breached The Times's network." Asked about The Times's allegations on Thursday, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that "all such alleged attacks are groundless, irresponsible accusations lacking solid proof or reliable research results." China has been the victim of cyberattacks and "has laws and regulations prohibiting such actions," the spokesman, Hong Lei, said at a regular news briefing. A separate statement from the Chinese Ministry of National Defense said the country's military "has never supported any hacker activities." The U.S. State Department said that The Times's experience with Chinese hackers is similar to those of other businesses and individuals and that the department has expressed its concerns to Chinese officials. "The United States has substantial and growing concern about the threats to economic and national security posed by cyberintrusions, including the theft of commercial information," department spokesman Peter Velasco said in a statement. "We have repeatedly raised our concerns with senior Chinese officials, including military officials, and we will continue to do so." On Thursday, it appeared that television censors in China were blacking out CNN's reporting of the hacking story. China-focused journalists targeted . According to The Times, the intruders hacked into the e-mail accounts of its Shanghai bureau chief, David Barboza, the reporter on the controversial articles about Wen's relatives' wealth, and Jim Yardley, the New Delhi bureau chief who had previously covered China. "What they appeared to be looking for," the Times article said, "were the names of people who might have provided information to Mr. Barboza." But the security experts hired by the newspaper "found no evidence that sensitive emails or files from the reporting of our articles about the Wen family were accessed, downloaded or copied," said Jill Abramson, executive editor of The Times. The investigators gathered evidence that the hackers obtained the corporate passwords for every Times employee, using them to break into the personal computers of 53 employees, most of them outside the newsroom. With the level of access the intruders had gained, senior editors at the newspaper were reportedly worried that they might attempt to disrupt the news organization's publishing systems, notably on the night of the U.S. presidential election in November, when it said the attackers were especially active. "They could have wreaked havoc on our systems," Marc Frons, the Times' chief information officer, said in the newspaper's report. "But that was not what they were after." There was no evidence the hackers used the passwords they obtained to pursue information not connected to the Wen family investigation, The Times said, adding that no customer data were stolen. The Times said it informed and "voluntarily briefed" the FBI about the attacks. An angry reaction last year . At the time of the publication of the initial Times report on Wen's family in October, Chinese authorities called it an attempt "to blacken China's image," saying it had "ulterior motives." It came at a particularly sensitive time in China, a matter of weeks before the start of the ruling Communist Party's 18th National Congress, at which the country's next set of leaders was announced. The Times' English- and Chinese-language websites remain blocked in mainland China, as do those of Bloomberg News, which in June published a report on the business interests of relatives of Xi Jinping, who is now the country's top leader. The Chinese government tries aggressively to control the flow of information inside its borders about sensitive topics like unrest in Tibetan areas and criticism of senior officials. It strictly manages the output of domestic news media outlets and has a history of shutting off access to international news websites. Chinese authorities have blacked out the broadcast signal for international television stations like CNN and the BBC when they have aired sensitive reports about the country.

The Wall Street Journal says Chinese hackers entered its computer system too . Chinese defense ministry says the military has never supported hackers . NYT attacks reportedly began during a controversial investigation in China . Hackers obtained the company passwords of every Times employee .

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By . David Kent . Chile's World Cup preparations nearly took an unexpected turn for the worse when the team's bus driver almost ran over a female fan. Travelling at full speed along a highway the coach is seen having to slam on the brakes to avoid knocking a down a woman who ran in front of the vehicle to greet the players. Close shave: The Chile team bus narrowly avoids running over a fan after she runs into the road . Maniac: The female fan ran onto the highway in an attempt to greet the Chile national football team on board . As a squadron of police escorts pass the crowd, who wait to catch a glimpse of Chile's stars such as Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez, a woman in a pink top and jeans is spotted walking along a concrete barrier in the middle of the road before stepping out onto it. Unafraid of risking her life, the fan approaches the bus and starts dancing with the speeding vehicle narrowly avoiding a fatal accident by mere centimetres. Chile open their World Cup campaign on Friday against Australia in Group B at Cuiaba's Arena Pantanal. Dicing with death: The fan started dancing in the middle of the road before the bus sharply broke . Star: Chile are hopeful that talisman Arturo Vidal (centre) will be fit for their World Cup opener vs Australia . The South American's are hoping that talisman midfielder Vidal will be fit for the clash against the Socceroos after stuggling with inflammation in his right knee following an operation on his meniscus last month. The 27-year-old has trained with the team since Wednesday and featured for 15 minutes in a 2-0 friendly win over Northern Ireland last week.

Chile team bus nearly ran over a female fan . The woman ran onto the road to greet the national team's stars . The coach driver missed the lady by mere centimetres after breaking hard . Chile face Australia in their Group B World Cup opener on Friday . Chile are hopeful that Arturo Vidal will be fit to face Australia . Vidal has been struggling with inflammation in his right knee following meniscus surgery .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 22:14 EST, 18 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:12 EST, 19 December 2013 . AKA Jeff Gillooly: In 1994, Jeff Stone--who then went by Jeff Gillooly--helped mastermind the attack on Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan to help improve his wife Tonya Harding's chances as winning gold . The ex-husband of disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding has given a rare interview as the 20 year anniversary of the scandal approaches early next year. Jeff Gillooly, who now goes by Jeff Stone, is the same man who went to jail for masterminding the 1994 Detroit attack on Nancy Kerrigan, but he seems more remorseful about how Harding’s life has turned out two decades later. ‘She'll never be remembered for how wonderful a figure skater she was,’ he said. ‘She'll be remembered for what I talked her into doing.’ Stone, who remains in the Oregon town . of Clackamas, after returning there when he was released from a . two-year stint in prison in 1995, sat for a rare interview with Amy K. Nelson for the blog Deadspin. ‘The . most common question I'm ever asked, if it comes up, "Do you regret . what you did?"’ said Stone. ‘I guess that's kind of a yes-and-a-no . question. Yes, it was pretty darn stupid.’ But . Stone goes on to describe a his happy life as a family man with a wife . and kids. And he seems to believe the 1994 scandal helped him to get . there. ‘What's there to regret,’ he wondered. ‘Not much.’ He’s . also not totally taking the blame, though, despite Tonya Harding’s . years of denying she had any knowledge of what Gillooly and his . associates, Shane Stant, who carried out the attack, and . co-conspirators, Shawn Eckhardt and Derrick Smith were planning. 'What's there to regret? Not much': Gillooly is pictured here in 1994 in a court hearing involving the case. Now on his third marriage and raising tow daughters, he says he regrets little . 'We decided to do something really stupid there, and it ruined her': Gillooly was sentenced to two years in prison but says his biggest regret is helping ruin Harding's career . ‘We,’ he said, ‘absolutely rode her career. She was the best figure skater—women's figure skater—that ever lived.’ And he insists Harding knew what was being planned. ‘Of course she did. I think most people know that she did,’ he said. Though he seems to think he’s in a far better place than his ex-wife these days. 'Whack heard round the world': Here, Kerrigan wails 'Why me?' after being clubbed in the knee at a Detroit skating practice. The attack began one of the most infamous sagas in sports history . 'Of course she knew': Harding (at right in 1994 and at left much more recently) maintains that she had no knowledge that the attack was happening, but Stone says she gave the okay . Kerrigan, seen here in 2004, sat for an upcoming NBC documentary on the attack that will air during the 2014 Winter Olympics in February . ‘She's . a very unhappy person, from what I can tell,’ he said. ‘I occasionally . see her on television and I kind of see—I've read some stories in the . paper about what her personal life has become and the trouble she's got . there, and it's just sad to me.’ Harding . and Stone divorced in 1993, according to the piece in Deadspin, . reconciled prior to the Kerrigan attack and then split for good . thereafter. Stone and Harding sold a sex tape and stills of themselves to Penthouse for $200,000 plus residuals in June of 1994. Now in her 40’s, married for a third time and with a two-year-old son, Harding says she’s turned to motivational speaking. Stone . recounts in the interview how Jeff Gillooly became a punch line on late . night television, Far Side comics, Saturday Night Live and even on . Family Guy. NBC and . ESPN are planning to air competing Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding . documentaries during the upcoming Sochi Winter Olympics as a nod to the . anniversary of the January 6, 1994 attack. However, neither network even asked Stone for an interview. NBC snagged a sit-down with Kerrigan for its documentary, while Harding agreed to appear in both the NBC and ESPN specials. But will Stone be watching? ‘I guess,’ he said, ‘it depends on what else is on.’ Awkward: Harding, (right), will appear in both the NBC documentary and a competing ESPN special to mark the 20th anniversary. Here, the rivals are seen sharing the ice at the 1994 Winter Olympics just weeks after Gillooly had Kerrigan attacked .

Now named Jeff Stone, Tonya Harding's ex-husband agreed to a rare interview as the 20 year anniversary of the scandal approaches . 'We decided to do something really stupid': Stone says Harding knew all about the 1994 attack, though she's always maintained she did not . 'What's there to regret? Not much,' says Stone, but admits he regrets helping ruin Harding's once promising career .

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Former NBA star Dennis Rodman has held tryouts for a North Korean basketball team while on a visit to the communist state. Rodman watched as a few dozen players showed off their skills for a chance to be selected for a match against an American team to mark dictator Kim Jong Un's birthday on January 8. But while Rodman is close to picking 12 Korean players for the game - who will each receive two new pairs of shoes - he admits he's struggling to convince some of the Americans to come. Former Chicago Bulls star Dennis Rodman has held tryouts in North Korea for a basketball team to play a match against former NBA athletes to mark dictator Kim Jong Un's birthday . Rodman spent his first day in the secretive state watching a few dozen local players show off their skills . Speaking after the tryouts, Rodman said: 'You know, they're still afraid to come here, but I'm just telling them, you know, don't be afraid man, it's all love, it's all love here. 'I understand what's going on with the political stuff, and I say, I don't go into that venture, I'm just doing one thing for these kids here, and for this country, and for my country, and for the world pretty much.' Wearing a pink button-down shirt and puffing on a cigar, Rodman asked one player, Kim Un Chol, why he liked basketball. Chol said it was because he had seen it on TV and knew it was a favourite of Kim Jong Un and his father Kim Jong Il. When Rodman asked the other players if they felt the same, they all nodded with enthusiasm. While Rodman is close to picking his starting 12 for the match, he admits he's struggling to convince the Americans to come as they fear for their safety . Wearing a pink shirt and puffing on a cigar Rodman explained to the players that if they get picked they will each be given two new pairs of shoes . In the spirit of unity the January 8 match will be played with Americans verses Koreans for one half, but with mixed teams for the second half . 'I want you guys to do one thing for your leader,' Rodman then told them. 'It's his birthday. It's a very special, special day for the country.' It is less than a week since Kim's powerful uncle was dragged from office and executed, but Rodman has refused to comment on the issue, or on the detention of American Kenneth Bae for allegedly committing anti-state crimes. Instead his focus has been on sport and the basketball game which he hopes will be without political or nationalistic undertones. In aid of that goal, North Korea will play against America in the first half, but for the second half the teams will be mixed. Rodman has said he will not ask his 'good friend' Kim about the execution of his uncle just over a week ago . When Rodman asked the players why they liked the sport they all agreed it was because it was favoured by their leader and his father, Kim Jong Il . Rodman added: 'It's not about win or loss. It's about one thing - unite two countries.' If all goes well Rodman says he will be planning another game in July. Rodman, 52, a former Chicago Bulls player, has been fiercely criticised by both Americans and North Koreans for his relationship with Kim who has imprisoned and murdered thousands of his own impoverished citizens. The bizarre friendship between the two which began while Rodman was filming an HBO series about the Harlem Globetrotters in February. Dennis Keith Rodman was born on May 13, 1961, in Trenton, New Jersey. His father left home while he was young, and according to his website his mother disowned him after he was accused of stealing watches while working as a janitor at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. However in his late teens Rodman found success as a basketball player and quickly established himself as one of the NBA's most unique talents. He famously spent a period of his life cross-dressing, appearing at various celebrity events dressed in women's clothing, and decided to hold several interviews from inside gay bars. He had high-profile relationships with Madonna and actress Carmen Electra, before deciding to settle down Rodman-style by marrying himself while wearing a white silk dress. He also became very well known for his numerous tattoos, facial piercings and multicolored hair. However following retirement Rodman had a series of high-profile court appearances with his ex-wife Michelle over refusal to pay several hundred thousand dollars of child support. He was also sentenced to 104 hours of community service in May 2012. Since then he has become an unlikely quasi-political figure, appearing at the Vatican after the retirement of Emeritus Pope Benedict to try and elect the world's first black Pope, before striking up a weird and much-criticised friendship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Rodamn met the communist leader in February this year while filming an HBO show about the Harlem Globetrotters and has since visited the secretive state several times. Despite his insistence that he will not involve himself in diplomacy, he referred to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as 'a**holes' after one visit in which he failed to convince his 'good friend' Kim to 'do me a solid' and release American prisoner Kenneth Bae.

Dennis Rodman has spent his first day in North Korea holding basketball tryouts . He will pick a team of 12 to face other former NBA stars in a match next year . The game will be held to mark Kim Jong Un's birthday on January 8 . Rodman is due to be in the communist country until Christmas eve .

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Alexandria, Virginia -- Two suspects charged with having served as deep-cover Russian agents living in the United States have told investigators they are Russian citizens and have been living under false identities, according to a court document released Friday. A letter from prosecutors opposing bail for the suspects said that the man known as Michael Zottoli is really a Russian named Mikhail Kutzik. The government also said the woman known as Patricia Mills is a Russian citizen named Natalia Pereverzeva. Prosecutors said that the couple waived their rights to remain silent and made the admissions soon after being arrested at their Arlington, Virginia residence over the weekend. The two were living as a married couple and have two small children. The government document also said searches of the couple's home and two safe-deposit boxes they rented revealed that they contained cash, passports and other identity documents bearing their false identities. Investigators said they found $80,000 in one of the safe-deposit boxes. It was divided into eight unmarked envelopes, each of which contained $10,000 in what appeared to be new $100 bills, they said. The document said another safe-deposit box rented by the two held $20,000 along with passports and other documents bearing their fake identities. Prosecutors said a laptop found in the couple's home had been brought from Russia to the United States by a co-conspirator and given to Zottoli, as court papers referred to him, in March. The revelations are contained in a letter from federal prosecutors opposing bail for the couple and for another suspect named Mikhail Semenko. The pair and Semenko remain in custody in Northern Virginia. They waived their rights to ask for bail in hearings at U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia on Friday afternoon. Zottoli and Mills, as court papers called her, appeared in court wearing dark-green jail jumpsuits emblazoned with "prisoner" on the back of each. They did not speak to each other in court. They spoke only to give their assent when the judge asked if they realized they were waiving their rights to ask for bail. Prosecutors had hoped to get the suspects moved quickly to New York to stand trial with seven others arrested in the case. But attorneys for the three requested a preliminary hearing a judge scheduled for July 7. Semenko appeared at a separate hearing afterward. He too was dressed in a green jail jumpsuit. He spoke quietly with a slight Russian accent when asked if he understood he was relinquishing his right to ask for bail. Magistrate Judge Theresa Buchanan ordered that the three continue to be held in jail and cited the government's contention they are dangers to the community and a flight risk. Following the court proceedings, CNN asked Semenko's attorney Daniel Lopez why he wanted a preliminary hearing for his client. "He's entitled to a preliminary hearing," replied Lopez. The defense attorney indicated the government would be expected to reveal more of its case against his client at the preliminary hearing on Wednesday. CNN's Carol Cratty contributed to this story from Alexandria .

Couple reveals they had given authorities false names . They and a third suspect in Russian spy ring case ordered held . Preliminary hearing set for July 6 . The 3 are among 11 suspects in the case .

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By . Richard Shears . An Australian local council has agreed in a crucial vote to retain a plaque dedicated to disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris - even though it's been stolen. While other tributes to Harris have been removed around the world, the shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley in Western Australia has voted to keep the metal commemorative plaque. But local taxpayers might have to fork out to pay for a replacement because the original, in once-pride-of-place on a stand in a park in Kununurra, was stolen several days ago. Scroll down for video . Officials have voted against removing a commemorative plaque that was laid by Rolf Harris on a footpath . Despite Harris being sentenced to more than five years in jail for indecently assaulting four girls in Britain between 1968 and 1986, a motion to remove the commemorative plaque from the park was defeated by five votes to four. 'I'm disappointed by the decision,' said councillor Keith Wright, who put forward the motion to take down the plaque. 'Some of the councillors argued you can't change history, and cited the example of Ned Kelly being revered as a national hero and the fact his background and record was questionable,' Mr Wright told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 'But I argued that you can't compare standards of a hundred years ago to the standards that we now adopt and are proud of in society today.' Mr Wright said he hoped a fresh vote could be held before the council had to foot the bill for a replacement. 'I hope the council can resolve to permanently remove the plaque to save the community the expense of replacing it.' Harris was sentenced to more than five years in jail for indecently assaulting four girls between 1968 and 1986 . Police have investigated the theft but it is understood no progress has been made in catching the souvenir hunters. Earlier this month another plaque dedicated to Harris was stolen from outside the entertainer's former home in the Perth suburb of Bassendean. The local council had voted to remove the plaque - which had already been vandalised - but before the vote could be taken the memento was stolen. However, the council did vote to strip Harris of all honours and took down his art in public buildings. In further acts to wipe out the memory of the convicted child molester, the City of Perth council voted to remove a commemorative plaque in the city centre while the City of Geraldton agreed not to display any of his art works. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Wyndham-East Kimberley shire council votes to keep controversial plaque . But local taxpayers may have to fork out for a replacement . Harris was jailed for more than five years for indecently assaulting girls .

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Brazil played their best football of the tournament so far in beating Colombia on Friday but I fear the  semi-final on Tuesday in Belo Horizonte against Germany will be as far as they go. At this point, and based on all the evidence we’ve seen so far, Germany are now favourites to win this World Cup. The Germany-France match was, to put it bluntly, largely boring. France missed that l bit of spark that the absent Franck Ribery could have provided to tee up Karim Benzema or someone else. Step too far: Brazil may struggle to defeat Germany in their 2014 World Cup semi-final . Germany looked efficient, and I mean that in an admiring way, not a cliched reference to good organisation. Mats Hummels did very well to head the opener and he and Thomas Muller went on to give the two best performances in the team. Germany looked completely comfortable, totally in control after taking the lead, squeezing the life out of the game the longer it went on. They exude the kind of calm that comes with experience, and that will be vital from here. Brazil did better than in any previous match - but then that’s not saying much. Thiago Silva and David Luiz were both excellent but now Brazil will be without Silva and Neymar for the next match and that’s a big blow. Celebrate: Brazil defeated Colombia 2-0 to put themselves into the semi-finals . They need to play better, dramatically better, and yet will have to do so minus their two best players. I can’t see it. They also got lucky against Colombia because of a referee who let them get away with murder. How does James Rodriguez get booked for his first or second foul when Fernandinho went unpunished for five or six offences? James has been THE star of this World Cup: six goals, lots of assists, showing a desire for the ball and a will to make things happen that makes you purr as a fan. Strong: Based on the evidence we've seen so far, Germany must be favourites to win the World Cup . Power: Mats Hummels did brilliantly to head home the winner against France . He should be treasured and treated fairly. The referees’ leniency towards Brazil has got to stop. It’s embarrassing. I’ve written enough times about Brazil’s dodgy defence, which has attacking flair when it needs solidity. This is where they’ll get undone. I believe Germany will win with their runners — Muller, Mezut Ozil and Mario Goetze — finding the spaces behind the full-backs and between Brazil’s defence and midfield. They’ll cause problems, big problems. Tough: James Rodriguez was the star of the World Cup but was almost kicked out of the game by Brazil . To celebrate the World Cup, I’ve added a special Unity Cap to my fashion range, incorporating all the flags of the participating nations and with a share of the proceeds going to charity. You can find them via www.5mag.co and you can follow me on Twitter for a chance to win exclusive prizes @rioferdy5.

Brazil's weak defence may be their downfall against Germany . The Selecao played their best football of the tournament against Colombia . Germany looked efficient and totally in control against France .

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Manchester United's summer arrivals will be hoping to settle into Premier League life while looking for a place to call home in the North West over the coming weeks. For now, however, Radamel Falcao, Angel di Maria, Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo will be staying in Manchester's luxurious Lowry Hotel. Sportsmail has reviewed the five-star establishment to see what United's new boys can get up to in their free time away from Carrington. VIDEO Scroll down for Falcao, Angel di Maria and co are all staying in the Lowry Hotel . All smiles: Radamel Falcao is staying in the Lowry Hotel following his move to Manchester United . Five-star: Marcos Rojo (left) is another one of United's summer signings staying at the five-star establishment . New boys: Angel di Maria and Daley Blind will be hoping to settle in to their new surroundings quickly . Soup: Lobster Bisque - £8.00 . Starter: Dressed East Coast Crab - £13.50 . Main: Cote de Boeuf - £38.00 . Side: Garlic Roasted Tomatoes - £3.50 . Dessert: Dark Chocolate Fondant - £8.00 . Family suites at the Lowry will set players back £789 per night; a simple double room costs £252 while fine dining and overnight stay at the hotel costs £248. With huge floor-to-ceiling windows, United's new stars will soon be accustomed to the Manchester skyline in their large, furnished rooms. If the players have a spare few hours after a morning training session, they can attend the Lowry's Manchester Gym - annual membership costs new members £600. Five-star: The Lowry Hotel has enjoyed as much success as Manchester Unitedm, with more than 60 awards . Workout: The Red Devils' summer arrivals can pay £600 for a year's membership in the Lowry hotel gym . City life: Many of the hotel's rooms, which cost hundreds of punds to stay in, overlook the Manchester skyline . Family suite - £748 per night . Double room - £252 per night . Fine dining and overnight stay - £248 per night . One-to-one training is on offer as well as a relaxation room and sauna. During their days off, there is plenty for the players to do in Manchester - the city has more than 700 stores United's new additions could visit while the Lowry's concierge is on hand to help them find absolutely everything they need. The Opera House is also nearby as well as The Museum of Science and Industry and the Museum of Transport for those looking to experience English culture. They could always learn more about the city's history and head over to St Peter's Square, scene of the Peterloo Massacre in 1819. Room for the night: A double room at The Lowry costs £252 while a family suite will set guests back £748 . Relaxation: A relaxation room, sauna and several spa treatments are also available at the hotel . Should Falcao or Di Maria wish to learn more about the English game, the duo could even visit the National Football Museum which holds more than 140,000 items of memorabilia. Meanwhile, players can celebrate a victory in the Lowry's river bar and grill while the city of Manchester also boasts some of the country's finest restaurants. Lunch with vintage wine is available as well as afternoon tea and spa treatments should the players wish to relax following one of Louis van Gaal's tough practice sessions. Relaxation: Players can enjoy spa treatments following a tough training session at Carrington if they wish . Fine dining: Lunch with vintage wine is available to guests at The Lowry as well as afternoon tea . Raising a glass: Falcao enjoyed a celebratory Chinese meal after completing his move to Manchester United . On Thursday, the hotel was sold in a deal worth tens of millions of pounds, according to the Manchester Evening News. While an exact price has not been disclosed, the hotel was rumoured to be up for sale for £40m earlier this year. New Manchester United boss Van Gaal chose to stay at The Lowry when first arriving in England having helped guide Holland to the World Cup semi-finals in Brazil this summer. The hotel is popular with a number of visiting sports clubs while United often stay ahead of home Premier League matches. New Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard was also spotted at the Lowry Hotel with his fiancee Christine Bleakley shortly after signing for the Premier League champions. Return: Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal stayed at the Lowry Hotel shortly after arriving in England . New to the City: Frank Lampard and Christine Bleakley have stayed at The Lowry this summer . VIDEO 'Sensational' Premier League spending not slowing down . All information gathered from www.roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/the-lowry-hotel/ .

Radamel Falcao, Angel di Maria, Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo are all staying at the luxurious Lowry hotel . Family suites costs £789 per night at the Lowry; a simple double room £252 while fine dining and overnight stay at the hotel equates to £248 . Annual gym membership costs £600 which includes a relaxation room .

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More than a year after David Beckham swooped into Miami, the retired English soccer star still can't find a home for his planned Major League Soccer team. 'The Miami Beckham United team is actively looking at four or five sites,' Tadd Schwartz wrote in an emailed statement. Beckham's group has remained mostly quiet since local officials last year rebuffed two attempts to secure land for a 25,000-seat bayfront arena in the city's downtown. Scroll down for video . Still looking: David Beckham has not yet secured a spot for his planned Major League Soccer team, a spokesman said (January 2015 file photo) A first push last year to build the stadium on an empty tract on a small island mostly occupied by the port of Miami was fought by a maritime group led by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd . A second effort to tuck it in between the NBA Miami Heat's basketball arena and the city's art museum also failed. 'You can't build a stadium overnight, so finding the right site, finding the right place in Miami is important for us. But it will all start coming together pretty quickly and everything will start happening pretty soon,' Beckham told E! Online last month. Miami-Dade County lawmakers voted on Tuesday to allow the county to open negotiations with Florida International University for use of its stadium as a temporary home for Beckham's team in south Miami. According to The Miami Herald, at the Tuesday vote District 11 Commissioner Juan Zapata said of a temporary stadium, 'It'd just be a wonderful thing for this community.' Florida International University is inside District 11, the newspaper noted. Potential home: Florida International University's stadium (seen here in a file photo) could soon be the temporary home of Beckham's MLS team . 'We’re pleased that members of the commission want to encourage movement,' a real estate adviser for Beckham named John Alschuler told The Miami Herald. 'We view that as a positive step.' 'Right now, our focus is on identifying the location for a purpose-built stadium that will be the team's permanent home,' Schwartz wrote. MLS Commissioner Don Garber has long emphasized the need for the club to have its own facility near downtown Miami. 'If we can't get the right stadium, we can't go to Miami,' Garber told Reuters in October.

David Beckham has not yet secured a spot for his planned Major League Soccer team . His group has remained mostly quiet since local officials last year rebuffed two attempts to secure land for a 25,000-seat bayfront arena downtown . Miami-Dade County lawmakers have voted to allow the county to open negotiations with Florida International University for use of its stadium as a temporary home .

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Providence, Rhode Island (CNN) -- The hottest ticket in town these days is for the Who's Quadrophenia and More Tour concert on Tuesday night at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It will be the first time Cathy Hedtler will see them live, and she's anxious. After all, The Who is her favorite band, and she purchased her ticket more than 33 years ago. "I've waited a long time for this," she told CNN. Hedtler was 18 in December of 1979 when it was announced that The Who's Quadrophenia Tour would be coming to Rhode Island. The then teenager spent three days scouring ticket outlets and record stores to get her seat. Stephen Ball will also be at the concert Tuesday night. He's been waiting for this since his freshman year in college, when the self-described "Who fanatic" stood in line overnight outside of the Providence Civic Center (now the Dunkin' Donuts Center) for his two tickets; one for him and one for his date -- his kid sister Louise. "I wrapped up the night shift at McDonald's and ran across the street to the Civic Center Box Office," he remembered. "I spent all of the money I had -- $25." The Who show was a big to-do in little Rhode Island; the concert was a sell-out. But The Who never showed up. Just weeks before the scheduled Rhode Island show, 11 fans were trampled to death at a Who concert in Cincinnati. It was an incident that forever altered festival style seating at rock concerts. In the aftermath, then-Providence Mayor Vincent '"Buddy" Cianci, who oversaw the Providence Civic Center auditorium, canceled the show. His decision disappointed and enraged Who fans in Providence. "I wanted (Mayor Cianci) impeached!" Ball said. "I cried for days," said Hedtler, who still bristles at the mere mention of the name Buddy Cianci. But even though Providence was the only show to be canceled after the tragedy, Cianci still stands by his decision. "Did I take heat? Sure I did," the mayor-turned-talk show host told CNN. "I got plenty of hate mail over it. But do I regret it? Not at all." In the 33 years since the canceled show, The Who have never played a show in Rhode Island despite numerous overtures made by the arena, according to Dunkin' Donuts Center officials. They have, however, played more than a dozen times at numerous nearby venues in Massachusetts. But for those thinking that the reason for the decades-long absence from the Ocean State was due to a grudge against the arena or Cianci, think again. "I think the mayor of Providence made an informed decision at the time," Who guitarist Pete Townshend said in a statement to CNN. "It was based on what he knew." Left heartbroken and bitter, Cathy Hedtler and Stephen Ball nevertheless always held onto those tickets. Ball, now a retired drill sergeant living in Virginia, kept his pair in a green shoe box that he took with him to the 16 places the Army moved him throughout his career. Cathy, now 51 and an accountant, kept hers in a scrapbook of news clippings about the tragedy in Cincinnati. When the Dunkin' Donuts Center announced last summer that The Who would finally be coming back, general manager Larry Lepore -- a former Providence cop who was coincidentally assigned to work the '79 show -- decided to right a 33-year-old wrong. Anyone with a ticket to the '79 show would be admitted. "I think it's a wonderful gesture," Townshend told CNN. Turns out, Hedtler and Ball were not alone. Thirty-two tickets from 1979 with face values of $11.50 and $12.50 were exchanged for the $129.50 seats being sold today. One of those tickets belongs to Stephen Ball's sister, Louise. She was in the 11th-grade at the time of that canceled date with her brother and the Who. On Tuesday, she turns 50. Lepore says it would take a catastrophic act of God for the arena to cancel the show this time around, but Stephen Ball and Cathy Hedtler aren't taking any chances. And like that famous song by The Who, they're praying that they won't get fooled again.

Venue honors tickets for a Who concert scheduled more than 30 years ago . The original concert was canceled following a tragedy at another venue . Anyone who still had the 1979 ticket could exchange for new show .

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(CNN)NBA star Chris Paul has been called for many technical fouls through the years. His latest is drawing perhaps the most notice, and his criticism of the female referee who called it has drawn a $25,000 fine from the league. The conversation around the technical has centered on what Paul said about rookie referee Lauren Holtkamp, one of two female officials in the NBA. The NBA said Paul was being fined for "public criticism of officiating." The league's statement announcing the fine didn't mention the official's gender. Paul said her call during a Los Angeles Clippers loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers was "ridiculous" and "terrible." "We try to get the ball out fast every time down the court, and when we did that, she said, 'Uh-uh.' I said, 'Why, uh-uh?' And she gave me a tech," the Clippers point guard told reporters after the game Thursday. "That's ridiculous. If that's the case, this might not be for her." Critics focused on the last sentence, accusing the nine-year veteran of sexism. "We deplore the unprofessional comments made by Chris Paul. She belongs," the National Basketball Referees Association said in a written statement. Other people, including San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon, defended Paul. "I don't think it had anything to do with the ref's gender," she tweeted. And the director of the National Basketball Association Players Association, Michele Roberts, also denied it was a gender-based comment. "Any suggestion that Chris Paul would ever conduct himself in a disrespectful manner towards women is utterly ridiculous, outrageous and patently false," she said, according to media reports. Before a game Friday, Paul was asked several times about the comment. Each time he said: "Last night was about a bad call." Paul, who is the players' union president, was fined $15,000 in 2011 when he was with the then-New Orleans Hornets for verbally abusing a referee. According to ESPN's NBA statistics, Paul has been called for 79 technical fouls in his career. Violet Palmer is the other female referee and has worked NBA games since 1997. Dee Kantner worked NBA games for five years and is now the WNBA supervisor of officials. CNN's Jason Durand and Wayne Sterling contributed to this report.

Chris Paul said a rookie referee made a bad call, so working in the NBA "might not be for her." Critics called him sexist while supporters said he was just complaining about what he thought was a bad call . Paul has been fined once before -- $15,000 in 2011 .

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(CNN) -- He struck an imposing figure as Kang, the villainous Klingon commander who struck fears in the hearts of the federation. The man who played Kang in three iterations of "Star Trek," Michael Ansara, has died, according to his former agent. Ansara was 91. The veteran character actor was probably best known for playing the Klingon leader in the original "Star Trek" series, then again in the legendary sci-fi series "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Star Trek: Voyager." But he had an illustrious career beyond that, plus a personal life that included a marriage to Barbara Eden of "I Dream of Jeannie" fame and a 36-year marriage to his wife Beverly. Ansara died Wednesday at his home in Calabasas, California, according to former agent Michael B. Druxman. He was born in a small village in Syria, arriving in the United States with his American parents at the age of two, according to a biography provided by Druxman. Having entered college in Los Angeles intending to be a doctor, he went into acting instead. His breakout role came as Cochise in the 1950s TV series "Broken Arrow." Other small-screen roles included in parts in such shows as "The Untouchables," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Perry Mason, "Lost in Space," "Hawaii 5-0," "Murder She Wrote," "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" and his ex-wife's show, "I Dream of Jeannie." Ansara also voiced Mr. Freeze in Batman movies and the TV series. Ansara's film credits include 1953's "Julius Caesar," "The Greatest Story Ever Told," John Wayne's "The Comancheros," "Guns of the Magnificent Seven," "The Bears and I," "The Message" and "The Guns and the Fury." William Shatner, who played Capt. James T. Kirk on the original Star Trek, was among the many who offered condolences upon hearing of Ansara's death. So too did Eden, Ansara's former wife. Tweeted Eden: "He was a good man, a good father & a fantastic actor who had a long and full life." People we've lost in 2013 .

NEW: Ex-wife Eden says Ansara was a "good man, a good father & a fantastic actor" Michael Ansara dies in California at age 91, his former agent says . He played Klingon commander Kang in three iterations of "Star Trek" He made numerous other TV and movie roles over his long career .

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The 12-year-old girl who was lured into the woods and brutally stabbed 19 times by classmates hoping to impress the fictional character Slender Man has revealed her identity for the first time. Payton Leutner was completely oblivious to what police describe as a five-month plan concocted by her best friends to murder her when she excitedly arrived for a sleepover in late May. But just hours later she was crawling for her life from the woods in Waukesha, Wisconsin, after being stabbed in the chest, abdomen, legs and arms. Revealed: This is 12-year-old Payton Leutner who was stabbed 19 times by her two friends who allegedly wanted to murder her and pretend she had been killed by a fictional 'bogeyman' called Slender Man . Wounds: Faint marks up Payton's left arm betray her horrific ordeal which left her fighting for life in May . Tonight, she appeared in public for the first time on ABC's 20/20 as it is revealed for the first time that the knife missed her major artery by less than a hair's width. And her mother Stacie Leutner - who has also remained anonymous until tonight - reveals Payton had feared the specter known as Slender Man before the attack, and tried to back away as they neared the woods 'sensing something was wrong'. Until now, Payton has not been identified or previously pictured, apart from an image showing her being carried away on a stretcher. Her attackers, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, both 12, have since been charged as adults for first-degree intentional homicide but questions remain over whether they will be competent to stand trial. Smiling, playing with a cat, and watching a video of the Katy Perry concert she went to the night before, Payton looks like any other carefree little girl. However, the marks on her arm betray a horrific ordeal that she is still unable to acknowledge even to her parents. Recovering: She has now finally returned to school but at first could not even speak due to her injuries . Ordeal: Prosecutors warn there is a chance Payton will have to give evidence in the trial against her attackers . Smiling: Payton did not talk in the report but was seen shopping and playing with animals as she recovers . Moving forward: Her parents said she was so excited to go back to school to rebuild her life after the trauma . Big step: She is pictured here getting in the car to go back to school for her first day since the attack . Payton did not speak in the report where she is shown shopping, going to an animal shelter, and getting in the car to drive for school for her first day since the attack. But her parents describe the horrific night. 'I walked into the trauma room she was in. She was pale as a ghost,' says her mother Stacie Leutner, recounting the moment she arrived at the hospital. 'She was crying. She couldn't breathe. She saw me. She put her hand out and I rushed over to her and I put my arms around her and I laid next to her.' She went on: 'She saw me and she put her hand out and I hugged her and I told her, 'you're going to be OK, it's going to be fine'. But I could see that she was covered in stab wounds.' Looking over the wounds to her daughter's body, she counted five on her arm and seven on her leg. Devastated: The parents of the 12-year-old girl who was stabbed 19 times and left for dead in a Wisconsin park in May have spoken out on camera for the first time in an interview with ABC, which will air on Friday . Heartbroken: The girl's mother described her shock at seeing her daughter in hospital for the first time . 'I heard one nurse say, 'I count 19',' Stacie said. The surgeon, remembering the most horrific night of his career, said: 'If the knife had gone the width of a human hair further, she would be dead. 'She was less than a millimeter between living and dying'. Payton's injuries left her unable to talk so she was forced to write notes to her family. The first asked: 'did they find them?' Her parents eventually asked Payton how she found the strength to crawl out of the forest, and she told them: 'I wanted to live.' 'She's an amazing child,' her mother said, while her father Joe added: 'She's definitely our hero.' The report unveils the 911 call made by a cyclist who found Payton struggling to breathe and covered in blood on a path near the woods in Waukesha. The call-handler is audibly in disbelief. Fighter: The little girl, pictured with ABC News reporter David Muir, will also appear on the show. She spent six weeks in the hospital after she was stabbed multiple times over her arms, legs and abdomen . Survivor: The girl, pictured on a stretcher, managed to crawl out of the woods and alert a passing cyclist . The Slender Man is a fictional character prevalent on the internet after originating as a meme in 2009. The mythical creature is often depicted as an unnaturally tall, thin figure with a blank, featureless face, wearing a black suit. The character is said to have long, tentacle-like arms, which can be extended to capture prey. It is said to stalk, abduct and traumatize children and, depending on interpretations of the myth, can cause memory loss, insomnia and paranoia. It is also said to be able to create distortions in photographs and teleport. It is understood to have originated in a photoshop contest on the Something Awful Forums in 2009. It then went viral with numerous works of fan art and short scary stories published online known as 'creepypasta'. Payton's mother, Stacie Leutner, said her daughter asked about Slender Man before the attack because stories shared by her friend frightened her. Payton insisted her best friend knew Slender Man was real. Leutner was not overly concerned. 'Fantasy when you are 12 years old is still a very active part of your life,' she said. Weier and Geyser told investigators they stabbed the girl to impress Slender Man, a tall, fictional bogeyman popular on the Internet that they insisted was real, according to a criminal complaint. In an official police report Weier said Slender Man is the 'leader' of Creepypasta, and she needed to kill to show their loyalty. She explained Geyser told her they needed to slaughter their friend to become 'proxies' of Slender Man and gain access to his mansion, which they believed was located inside northern Wisconsin's Nicolet National Forest. They planned to kill the victim and then walk to the mansion, they told police. The forest is five miles from Waukesha by car. Geyser was allowed to have two friends over for her birthday, and she and Weier planned the murder for that Friday night. Police tonight revealed the girls had been plotting the attack for five months and initial intended to murder Payton in her sleep at Morgan's house but backed out at the last minute. Payton's mother believes the change of plan saved her life. Arrests: Anissa Weir, left, and Morgan Geyser, right, allegedly stabbed the girl after inviting her over for a sleepover. They had wanted to impress a fictional horror character, Slender Man, with the killing . In court: Weier is pictured in court in June, but doctors have deemed she is not competent to stand trial . Charged: Weier, also charged as an adult, is undergoing competency tests to determine if she can stand trial . They changed their plans and they decided to kill her in a bathroom at a nearby park the next morning. Weier told police she knew there was a drain in the floor for the blood to go down. When they left for the park the next morning, Geyser hid the knife tucked away in her waistband. They planned to play hide and seek with the victim and then kill her when they were out of sight, in the trees. It was in the seclusion of the woods that one of the girls held down the victim while the other frantically stabbed their friend 19 times. Weier said that the victim was so badly injured she couldn't breathe, see or walk and that they left her lying on the ground in a pool of blood. 'Obsessed': Slender Man, left, is a popular online character who abducts children. Right, before the stabbing, Geyser's father proudly shared this image that his daughter had drawn of the character on a menu . Despite her numerous wounds, she was able to crawl out of the woods and to safety where a bicyclist found her and called 911. The victim spent six days in the hospital. The two young suspects were arrested several hours later at a furniture store where police found Weier had a five-inch blade in her backpack. Geyser and Weier face up to 60 years in prison if convicted as adults of attempted homicide. They could be incarcerated to age 25 if they are convicted as juveniles under state law. Two doctors concluded that Geyser was mentally incompetent to stand trial and Weier is currently undergoing competency tests, which must be completed by mid-October. See below for video .

Stabbing victim Payton Leutner, 12, has remained anonymous until tonight . She was left for dead in a park in Waukesha, Wisconsin, in May after her friends 'planned to murder her' but managed to crawl out and find a cyclist . Surgeon reveals knife missed her major artery by 'the width of a human hair' Parents Stacie and Joe describe the moment they saw her in hospital . Her first question was 'did they find them?', she added 'I wanted to live' Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier have been charged as adults with intentional murder - but a judge said Geyser is not competent to stand trial . Police say they were planning the attack for five months . The girls said they wanted to impress fictional character Slender Man . Mother Stacie revealed Payton had feared the character before her attack .

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By . Ted Thornhill . Militant trade union leader Bob Crow left a six-figure nest egg for his family when he passed away – but his ex-wife will not receive a share of it. The former RMT chief’s partner Nicola Hoarau, 50, and the three children they had together will inherit £106,000. However, his ex-wife, Geraldine Horan, and their daughter Kerrie, were left out of the will, according to the probate office in London, which oversees the distribution of a deceased person’s estate. Scroll down for video . Will: Bob Crow, who passed away in March, has left £106,000 to his partner and three children . It said that Mr Crow’s estate was worth £325,000 before outstanding affairs were settled. The fortune Ms Hoarau has inherited is mainly made up of savings and investments. Mr Crow was 52 when he died in March this year from a massive heart attack. He cut a controversial figure – adored by his union members, but often heavily criticised by commuters and politicians for his eagerness to call Tube strikes in London while enjoying a champagne lifestyle. Inheritance: Mr Crow's six-figure nest egg has been left to Nicola Hoarau (pictured) Woodford home: Mr Crow lived in publicly funded council accommodation despite earning six figures . The RMT leader rose from a modest background to running an organisation with 80,000 members on a six-figure pay deal. Mr Crow was elected to run the RMT in 2002, catapulting him to national fame - and notoriety - as the most radical of a new generation of union leaders. Crow liked to be seen as a working-class hero, but was paid £145,000 a year, enjoyed fine dining in top London restaurants — memorably once quaffing champagne and running up a £650 lunch bill with four of his Left-wing brothers — and recently sparked a furore by taking a cruise to Latin America just before yet another of his strikes. Crow also came under fire for taking a holiday to Brazil on the eve of one Tube strike. But he defended his holiday, saying: 'What do you want me to do? Sit under a tree and read Karl Marx every day?' He also came in for criticism because of his insistence on living in publicly funded council accommodation in the north of the capital despite his hefty salary. However, the outspoken union boss always refused to apologise, saying that he deserved his pay packet, and insisted he had a right to live in the home which he shared with Ms Hoarau, an RMT employee. Mr Crow spied Nicola Hoarau in the street near his Woodford home after his marriage to Ms Horan had failed. Immediately he was smitten. Having obtained her phone number, he left her a message: ‘I know where you live, but I’m not a stalker. I’m going to stand under the lamp-post outside your home. If you don’t like what you see, don’t come down.’ She did like what she saw, and they were together for the next 20 years. Outside politics, Mr Crow was a passionate supporter of Millwall Football Club, where he would go to watch games with his father. He was also fanatically interested in the weather, once saying: 'I spend ages looking at weather maps and graphs. 'I have a barometer in the house and if I could have been anything else other than a union official I would have been a footballer - or a weatherman.'

Militant trade union leader leaves £106k to partner Nicola Hoarau and kids . Crow's ex-wife Geraldine Horan and daughter Kerrie miss out . Firebrand's estate was worth £325,000 before affairs were settled .

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Television viewers have become more tolerant of violence and swearing, the head of Ofcom has claimed. But the sexist or racist language of the 1970s is far less acceptable than it once was, research by the broadcasting regulator reveals. Ofcom’s chief executive Ed Richards, who is about to stand down after 11 years in the job, told MPs there has been a big change in tolerance levels in the past few decades. Ofcom chief says the British public has grown more tolerant - but still does not like discriminatory language on TV shows. Till Death Us Do Part, which frequently had lead character Alf Garnett making racist remarks . But critics argued the British public has simply become ‘desensitised’ to swearing after years of lax regulation by Ofcom. According to the regulator’s latest research, published in July, only 35 per cent of viewers think there is too much violence on TV, down from 55 per cent in 2008. Just 35 per cent think there is too much swearing, down from 53 per cent six years ago, while 26 per cent believe there is too much sex, a slight rise from 25 per cent. ‘There has been a big change in this over the years,’ Mr Richards told the Commons culture, media and sport committee. ‘People are more tolerant of a degree of violence than they were. They are much more tolerant of certain forms of swearing than they were. ‘There are still some words – very few to be honest – but still some words which are off limits or only in certain circumstances. ‘They are much less tolerant, interestingly enough, of language which is regarded as discriminatory or unfair or unjust towards people. That’s a big change if you think of the Seventies and some of the programmes which went out then. The public just do not want to see that any more.’ TV shows such as Till Death Us Do Part, which ran from 1965 to 1975, had lead character Alf Garnett frequently making racist remarks. A string of shows – such as The Thick Of It (pictured) – have been accused of needlessly turning the airwaves blue, leaning to accusations that the public is 'desensitised' to swearing . In recent years a number of TV comedians have come under fire for littering their routines with swear words. And a string of shows – such as The Thick Of It and Mrs Brown’s Boys – have been accused of needlessly turning the airwaves blue. Vivienne Pattison, the director of campaign group Mediawatch-UK, said that if it was true that viewers were less concerned by bad language it was simply because they had become ‘desensitised’ to it. Mediawatch-UK recently conducted a similar survey in which more than 2,000 viewers were asked whether they had seen inappropriate material broadcast before the 9pm watershed. Miss Pattison said all of those surveyed said they had, but only 26 per cent had complained about it. She said: ‘It is not true to say that people are more tolerant about bad language, sex or violence on screen. What has happened is that they have now lost faith in the ability of Ofcom to do anything about it so they have stopped even complaining.’ One of the MPs who quizzed Mr Richards, former Labour Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw, said he felt UK broadcasters are now too intolerant of nudity while being willing to accept violence and sex on screen. However, Mr Richards denied that British television has become more ‘prudish’ about nudity and was ‘importing American values and morality’.

Ofcom's chief executive said there had been a big change in tolerance levels . 35% of viewers think there is too much violence, down from 55% in 2008 . But there is less tolerance of language deemed as 'discriminatory' or unjust . Critics say British public has become 'desensitised' due to lax Ofcom laws .

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(Financial Times) -- Google is on the verge of unveiling an à la carte subscription service for some of YouTube's specialist video channels, to finance a broader range of content and add a second revenue stream to the digital video market leader. The move, which has been in the works for months, could be announced as early as this week. It will apply to as many as 50 YouTube channels, people familiar with the plan say. Viewers will be able to subscribe to each channel for as little as $1.99 a month. The subscription service will enable channel operators to produce different content, such as TV shows and films, a person familiar with the plan said. Advertising on YouTube and rival video sites has risen fast, but remains a fraction of television budgets. Digital video advertising will jump from $2.93bn to $4.14bn in 2013, eMarketer estimates, but will account for just 2.4 per cent of all ad spending. YouTube claims the lion's share of that revenue. Brian Wieser at Pivotal Research estimates that YouTube's ad revenues will rise from $1.3bn in 2012 to $2bn this year and Bernstein Research said on Friday that its revenues could exceed $15bn "in the next several years", roughly matching CBS or Viacom. YouTube told the Financial Times that it had "nothing to announce" regarding channel subscriptions but was "looking into creating a subscription platform that could bring even more great content to YouTube for our users to enjoy and provide our creators with another vehicle to generate revenue from their content, beyond the rental and ad-supported models we offer". YouTube's channel partners include Howcast, World Wrestling Entertainment, The Onion and Machinima -- a network for gamers. It is unclear which channels have signed on to the new service. Cable and satellite channels, which traditionally rely on a dual revenue stream model, are eyeing YouTube's subscription service to generate revenue from older shows and new programming, according to another person familiar with the project. YouTube has moved away from its early days as a destination for user-generated content to professionally produced video that would not look out of place on television. In the past 18 months it has spent more than $200m on advances to dozens of start-up channels. The new channels have helped expand YouTube's audience to 1bn users who watch 6bn hours of video each month. Every one of Ad Age's 100 largest brands has advertised on the site. "We're seeing a myriad of brands increasing their media spend," said Robert Kyncl, global head of content partnerships for YouTube. Time Warner, The Chernin Group, Bertelsmann, Discovery Communications and Comcast have all invested in companies that create or aggregate YouTube content. Traditional media companies are also eyeing audiences flocking to individual YouTube channels: DreamWorks Animation, the company behind the Shrek movies, this week acquired Awesomeness TV, a "teen-focused" YouTube network in a deal that could be worth $117m if earnings targets are met. Subscription YouTube channels will compete with the likes of Netflix, the streaming service with more than 30m subscribers, and Hulu, owned by Walt Disney, News Corp and Comcast, which said last week it had surpassed 4m. © The Financial Times Limited 2013 .

Google on verge of unveiling subscription service for YouTube's specialist video channels . Aims to finance a broader range of content and add a second revenue stream . Viewers will be able to subscribe to each channel for as little as $1.99 a month .

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NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Expanded testing across India in the past three years shows a 2,000 percent jump in the number of HIV cases among children, the country's health minister announced Wednesday. An HIV-positive Indian child at a government treatment center. More than 14,000 children get free care. In November 2006, health authorities counted 2,253 children in India with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, Ghulam Nabi Azad told parliament. The number went up to a "cumulative total" of 52,973 in May this year, he said. The huge increase in the number of confirmed cases may be due to the expanded testing for the virus. India, home to more than a billion people, currently has 217 facilities for HIV/AIDS treatment and 5,155 counseling and testing centers. The minister insisted that overall, HIV prevalence had decreased in India from 0.45 percent in 2002 to 0.34 percent in 2007. At present, 758,698 HIV-positive patients are being treated under the country's AIDS control program, Azad said. More than 232,908 AIDS patients, including 14,474 children, are receiving free treatment at the designated facilities, he added. Authorities say mother-to-child transmission is a major source of infection among children. Last year, 19,986 pregnant women among more than 4 million tested were found to be HIV-positive, said Azad. Of them, 10,179 received treatment to prevent transmission to their babies.

Expanded testing across India shows 2,000 percent jump in child HIV cases . Increase in confirmed cases may be due to the expanded testing . Number up from 2,253 in 2006 to 52,973, according to statistics .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter and Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 21:49 EST, 10 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:22 EST, 11 December 2013 . A British tourist who . lost her left leg when a taxi jumped the curb and hit her in New York's . Rockefeller Center during the summer is suing the city for over $27 . million. Sian Green's decision to sue follows last month's announcement . by the assistant district attorney investigating the case not to bring . criminal charges against cabbie Faysal Himon. Green's $27.5 million city claim says that the driver's hack license should have been suspended before the August 20 . accident because he had prior driving violations. Scroll down for video . Sian . Green (left), 23, is suing the city of New York for $27.5m because she claims cabbie Faysal Himon (right) shouldn't have been driving when he crashed into her leading to the amputation of her left leg . On the mend: Green, left, is pictured with her friends at a party in her native England in October - two months after the accident . The city Taxi and Limousine Commission has cited a now-fixed computer problem for the error. Green had to have her left leg amputated after Himon lost control of his cab and . slammed into her, severing her foot, outside the Rockefeller Center on August . 20. Himon maintains that the accident wasn't his fault and that he lost . control after a cyclist slammed the hood of his cab. Prosecutors told Green in November that there wasn't . enough evidence to demonstrate that Himon intended to hit Green. He has now served a . 30-day suspension issued by the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission. The . city Law Department has said it is reviewing Green's claim, she filed . what is called a notice of claim against the city in November. On Tuesday her lawyer Daniel Marchese announced that other parties also might face lawsuits. Vivacious: Green's attorney stated that since returning home to the UK, the 23-year-old has been making great progress in her recovery . Reckless: The Green family are convinced that the incident that left Sian (left) without a leg was not an accident, but rather the result of a negligent act . After it was announced in the November that no criminal charges would be brought against Himon, Green's lawyer released a statement in which he said his client was continuing to make progress in her recovery after returning to the U.K. ‘While . she is incredibly dismayed by this decision, she does not let it affect . her positive spirit, unbelievable strength and incredible poise, which . she demonstrated to the world throughout this ordeal,’ the statement . from Marchese read. He insists that . the incident that has left his young client without a leg is not an . accident, but rather the result of ‘a negligent act of calculated . recklessness.’ In an interview on the Today Show in September, Green, of Leicester, U.K., said she plans to return to New York someday. She said: 'I hope to come back one day. It’s not the city’s . fault. It was the man who made a bad choice, I can’t blame the city for . that.  It’s a beautiful city and I’d love to come back.' Investigation: No charges were filed against the taxi driver in the incident, who reportedly lost control of car after an argument with a cyclist and ploughed into Miss Green . The aspiring model told the New York Post after being discharged from the hospital that she will not let the horrific incident . destroy her dreams. Green's . Facebook account shows that the 23-year-old woman has been keeping . busy, spending time with friends and attending parties. One . picture posted in October showed the 23-year-old employee of the Hugo . Boss fashion house posing in a green dress with a pair of girlfriends at . a soiree while holding onto a walker. The crash happened on the second day of her trip to the city and she did not get to do the things she wanted. 'The only thing I really wanted to do was go to the top of the Empire . State Building,' she said. 'I wanted to go shopping, meet up with a few friends, do the . typical New York things.' Hero: Green said if it wasn't for the actions of strangers who rushed to help she wouldn't have survived the accident. David Justino (right) used a belt to make a tourniquet for her leg, while celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz (left) also raced to the scene . Passersby rushed to help Miss Green . immediately after the incident. Plumber David Justino used his belt to . make a life-saving tourniquet for her leg while a pizza truck owner . raced to put her foot on ice. They . were also helped by celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz, better known on U.S. TV . as Dr Oz, who hurried to the scene from his nearby office. Her appearance in the Today studio took place just one block from the scene of the crash. During . her appearance on the Today show, Green admitted that she had had . some unpleasant flashbacks: 'I haven't been out in five weeks. It takes . me back a little bit, even when I see a yellow car.... But I'll get . there.' The 23-year-old . brunette, who appeared in a wheelchair with what remains of her left leg . bandaged, told the show of her memories of the accident. 'I couldn't move,' she said. 'It was one of those things. If I had gone left, it would have . gotten me, if I had gone right, it would've gotten me.' Aspirations: Sian Green hoped to become a model and was training to be a buyer for Hugo Boss . Driver . Faysal Kabir Mohammad Himon of Queens, New York, 24, has been charged . with seven traffic violations in the last three years. He . is believed to have gotten into an argument with cyclist Kenneth Olivo, . 40, who reportedly also has a criminal history, just before the crash. Friends and relatives say Green's naturally good-spirited nature has helped her through a hard time. 'It's quite difficult, but she's a very optimistic person,' Sian's sister Stacey told Today. 'She just takes it day by day.' Green said her most vivid memory of the day . is walking around the city, getting a drink, going to Times Square and . having a great time with her best friend, Keshia Warren. Miss . Green paid tribute to her friend, who was with her during the accident . and hasn't left her side since. 'She's been my rock,' Green said. 'I . couldn't do half the things without her, I really couldn't.'

Sian Green, 23, had to have her left leg amputated after the crash outside Rockefeller Center on August 20 . Prosecutor told Green's attorney last month that there wasn't enough evidence to charge cab driver Faysal Himon with any crime . Green . family have now filed a $27.5 million claims against the city, they . claim the driver shouldn't have been driving due to prior violations .

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(EW.com) -- For the sixth straight year, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will cohost the CMA Awards, airing tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. (See our predictions for who we think will win, and who we'd vote for.) There's a long list of performances, which include Taylor Swift collaborating with Alison Krauss and Vince Gill, Dave Grohl joining the Zac Brown Band, and George Strait and Alan Jackson paying tribute to the late, great George Jones. Back in August, when Paisley began talking to exec producer Robert Deaton about this year's show, one of their first conversations was about how the broadcast would honor Jones. "It ought to be the best you can have with those two doing it," Paisley told EW last month. "They're the heirs to the torch. If anybody's close to the stratosphere that George Jones was cruising in, it's them. That's who it needs to be." EW: CMA Awards - Who will win (and who should) Fans will also tune in to see what Paisley and Underwood come up with for their opening monologue. When we spoke to Paisley, he expected them to have fun with the genre's current identity crisis, epitomized by Brown referring to Entertainer of the Year nominee and fellow performer Luke Bryan's bro-country chart-topper "That's My Kind of Night" as "the worst song I've ever heard." "You've got people in our industry all fired up on each side of that issue, and then you've got me — I'm just happy about it," Paisley says, laughing. "It's like I'm this sadist when we're writing this show. I'm like, 'Oh, that looks painful... That's great!" EW: How country music went crazy - A comprehensive timeline of the genre's identity crisis . Everything is a potential punchline: "Dolly Parton's in a fender bender. The first thing I heard was, 'She's fine though.' Cool. Great, because I love Dolly.... Well, I guess that's fair game," he said, laughing again. "It's such a weird thing: On one hand, I'm glad the government's not shut down, but yet I'm not. It's horrible that the Obamacare website is such a disaster, but it's also not that horrible because there's a great song about that somewhere. We have all these things that we could talk about... and all I can say is, 'Go, Miley! Keep it up.'" EW: CMA nominations 2013 - The snubs and surprises . With Underwood rehearsing for NBC's Dec. 5 The Sound of Music Live!, the two worked on material by texting each other whenever they came across something that might make for good fodder. "Every time I get a text from Carrie, I picture her dressed as Maria. 'In regards to twerking,' and she's dressed as a Von Trapp writing that," Paisley said. "I was like, 'I'll get out in lederhosen [at the CMAs], I don't care.' But I don't know how ABC will feel about that. We'll see." 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.

The Country Music Awards air Wednesday night . There is a long list of performances . Co-hosts Paisley and Underwood have been texting material for show .

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. first lady Laura Bush -- in a rare foray into foreign policy -- called on Myanmar's military junta to "step aside," give up the "terror campaigns" against its people and allow for a democratic Myanmar in a commentary published in Wednesday's Wall Street Journal. U.S. first lady Laura Bush said the junta "should step aside to make way for a unified Burma." "Gen. Than Shwe and his deputies are a friendless regime," Bush said. "They should step aside to make way for a unified Burma [Myanmar] governed by legitimate leaders. "The rest of the armed forces should not fear this transition -- there is room for a professional military in a democratic Burma," Bush said, in keeping with the U.S. policy of still using Myanmar's former name. In Wednesday's commentary, Bush called on Myanmar's military leaders to release Aun Sung Suu Kyi and other opposition leaders so they can meet with and plan for a transition to democracy. "Meanwhile, the world watches -- and waits," Bush warns. "We know that Gen. Than Shwe and his deputies have the advantage of violent force. But Ms. Suu Kyi and other opposition leaders have moral legitimacy, the support of the Burmese people and the support of the world. "The regime's position grows weaker by the day. The generals' choice is clear: The time for a free Burma is now." The humanitarian rights situation in Myanmar has been a cause for the first lady in the past few months as the crisis there worsened. Myanmar state media has reported that 2,000 people were detained during the demonstrations and the crackdown against them -- under an emergency law imposed on September 25 banning assembly of more than five people -- and that 700 of those people have been released. The official death toll from Myanmar's leadership is at 10, but there are reports that hundreds were killed and thousands arrested in the wake of the demonstrations that peaked late September, which were led by Myanmar's Buddhist monks. On Tuesday morning, Bush received a phone call from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to update her on the efforts of his special envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari. A representative of the secretary general said the call was a follow-up to a conversation they had weeks ago. Gambari met last week with the military junta leadership as well as with Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest in Yangon. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, told reporters that Laura Bush and her husband's administration believe that there is a "need to start preparing for transition" for Myanmar. "We believe it is very important that progress be made and prisoners be released and conditions for Aun Sung Suu Kyi be improved [so] that she can prepare for participation for negotiations for a transition," he said. E-mail to a friend .

Laura Bush calls on Myanmar junta to "step aside," allow for a democracy . Military leaders must give up the "terror campaigns" against its people, she says . Junta should release Aun Sung Suu Kyi and other opposition leaders, she says . Her rare foray into foreign policy was published in the Wall Street Journal .

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By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 07:32 EST, 22 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:04 EST, 23 October 2013 . A 15-year-old 'model pupil' who robbed a bank was locked up for 40 months today after being shopped to police by his own mother. The schoolboy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, brandished an imitation firearm as he burst into the Barclays bank in Liverpool, Merseyside. District Judge Ian Lomax told Liverpool Youth Court last month that the teenager was 'acting like a real-life action video game' when he carried out the raid in the week Grand Theft Auto V was released. Scroll down for video . Raid: The boy burst into the Barclays Bank in Liverpool last month brandishing an imitation fire arm and demanded that staff hand over money . But today Judge Goldstone said 'it was not that sort of case at all' as the boy's family would not allow him to watch 'inappropriate' television programmes, films or video games. The boy walked into the bank with his hood pulled up tight, and said: 'Don’t do anything stupid. I just got out of prison after five years. I’m not ****ing messing around.' He fled with more than £2,000. As the cashiers filled a bag with money they added a 'dummy . bundle' which is designed to detonate and spray dye over the cash when . it leaves the building, Liverpool Crown Court heard. His mother found a stash of cash stained with dye and a fake firearm in his bedroom and turned him over to police. Kim Egerton, prosecuting, told . Liverpool Crown Court that after being questioned by family members the boy . admitted he had carried out a bank robbery. 'She . (his mother) had raised him to understand if he did something wrong . there would be consequences and though she loved her son it was the . right thing to do,' she said. The court was told cashiers Steven Riley and Abbi Melling had been terrified. In a victim impact statement, Mr Riley said he had since found it difficult to sleep and had been having counselling to help him deal with the stress of what happened to him and the worry that it might happen again. Robbery: The boy made off with more than £2,000 following the raid but was handed over to the police by his mother who was shocked to find a stash of cash, stained with dye, and a fake firearm in his bedroom . 'He said that he was extremely afraid at the time when the gun was being pointed at him,' Miss Egerton said. Miss Melling said that during the raid she felt 'completely helpless'. 'She . was so scared she didn't even press the panic alarm,' Miss Egerton . said. The cashier said the raider did not appear scared and she thought . he was 'blase'. She said . she felt 'dread' and 'anxious' that it might happen to her again and . since the robbery she has been thinking it could happen again. Theresa Loftus, defending, said: 'The facts of this case are as striking as they are tragic.' She said the case was tragic for the victims of the defendant's crime, but also for his own family, who turned the boy in to the police when they had no other evidence against him. 'As such, my lord, the honesty, integrity, and decency of this family shone through by their actions on September 22 this year. They were instrumental in bringing this young man to justice,' Miss Loftus said, adding that they were 'brave and exceptional actions'. The boy's mother has been unable to work since due to stress, the court heard. The youngster was ordered to serve 40 months in a Young Offenders' Institution for carrying out the raid on September 20. Passing sentence, Judge Clement Goldstone QC, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, told the boy: 'However innocent you look now, as you sit in your smart suit, you did not look innocent when you held up bank staff at gunpoint and terrified them.' Ultra violent: An image from the video game Grand Theft Auto V. The robbery was carried out in the same week the game was released . Judge Goldstone said the teenager had planned the robbery at that particular branch because he thought it would be a 'soft touch'. The court heard that the boy wanted cash because he 'envied' the material possessions of his friends but also to reduce the financial burden on his family, who were having to pay for private tuition for him as his school grades were declining. The judge said the boy 'carried on with his young life as if nothing had happened' after the raid. 'Two days later, your mother found the money which you had hidden away, and then, later the same day, the gun,' the judge told him. 'It was your mother who bravely and in a remarkable display of public spirit decided to take you to the police station, despite you pleading with her not to.' Judge Goldstone said the actions of the boy's mother were 'all the more commendable' when he compared it to other cases where some parents were prepared to lie to protect their children when they knew they had committed serious crimes. He said he accepted the boy's remorse was genuine but that custody was necessary, not simply to punish the defendant but to 'show other boys that, if they choose to commit offences of this kind, they will be sent to detention'. The boy, who was said to have been doing well in school before his grades dipped this year, admitted two charges of robbery and one of possession of an imitation firearm, a realistic looking BB gun. Wearing a black suit, white . shirt and tie, he sat impassively in the dock as the sentence was passed. He looked briefly over to his mother and the rest of his family as he . was led down. Judge Goldstone refused to lift the boy’s anonymity, saying the family had 'been through enough'.

Boy stole £2,000 when he held up the Barclays Bank, in Liverpool . Judge said at previous hearing the child was 'acting like a real-life action video game' The raid was carried out in the week Grand Theft Auto V was released . The boy is ordered to serve 40 months in a Young Offenders' Institution .

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By . Emma Innes . A new AIDS injection could give people 100 per cent protection against the virus for up to three months . A new HIV injection could protect people from the infection for up to three months, a study suggests. Researchers believe the injection of long-lasting drugs could temporarily provide 100 per cent protection against HIV infection. They say this could be a huge breakthrough which would be particularly important for couples in which one partner is infected while the other is not. In two separate studies scientists found that the injection gives monkeys complete protection when it is administered monthly, The New York Times reports. However, scientists think that having a single injection just once every three months month could be sufficient to provide complete protection. They hope the results can be replicated in humans. Currently, people who are in a relationship with someone who is HIV positive are given low doses of antiretroviral drugs to prevent them contracting the infection. However, this can be problematic if they forget to take the drugs at the right times and, even if they do, it only offers about 90 per cent protection. The researchers hope this injection could eventually offer a safer alternative. Human trials of the vaccine are due to start later this year according to experts at Columbia University. However, if this is successful, a larger human trial will still be required before the injection could be widely offered. This would take a number of years. It is thought the injection could be particularly beneficial for women in Africa. The injection could be particularly beneficial for HIV negative people who are in relationships with people who are HIV positive. Image shows HIV in human tissue . Many such women with an HIV positive partner already take the daily pills but some have reported that taking medication every day leaves them open to stigma by people who assume they are already infected. As a result, they might benefit from being able to go for a regular protective injection. Many of these women already receive long-lasting contraceptive injections for fear that their partner would be angry he found a packet of The Pill. As a result, offering the HIV injection as well could be relatively easy. Currently people who are in relationships with people who are HIV positive take low doses of antiretroviral drugs each day to prevent them becoming infected. However, many forget to take them or are stigmatised for doing so . Dr David Ho, director of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center at Rockefeller University told The New York Times that these contraceptive injections give ‘a good analogy for how [the AIDS vaccine] might work in developing countries’. One of the injection trials was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and saw six female monkeys given monthly doses of GSK744 – a long-lasting antiretroviral drug. Another six monkeys were given a placebo and then they were all exposed to HIV in a way that simulated having vaginal sex with an infected man. The researchers observed that none of the injected monkeys became infected while all of the unprotected ones did. The second study was designed to establish whether the injection could be as effective in people having anal sex with someone HIV positive. It was carried out at Rockefeller University, in New York, and involved 16 monkeys who were injected with the same drug. During the study none of the monkeys who were given the injection contracted the infection while all of the unprotected ones did. Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told The New York Times that the results are ‘very impressive for something in the animal model’. ‘This is the most exciting innovation in the field of HIV prevention that I've heard recently,’ added Dr Robert Grant, an AIDS expert at the Gladstone Institutes, a foundation affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco.

The injection of antiretroviral drugs gives monkeys 100% protection . It is set to be trialled in humans and could eventually be widely available . It would be most beneficial for uninfected people who are in relationships with people who are HIV positive .

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A judge has rejected claims by former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega that a depiction of him in a hit video game which portrays him as a murderous, psychopathic traitor, had 'harmed his reputation'. In the 2012 game Call of Duty Black Ops II, Noriega is seen shooting his own soldiers at random and helping the CIA capture a Nicaraguan drug lord before switching sides. He also is referred to in the game as 'old pineapple face' which is an actual nickname used by Panamanians. Likeness: Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega as depicted in the Call of Duty Black Ops II game, left, and during his time in power, right . The 80-year-old, currently serving a jail sentence in Panama for crimes including murder, filed the suit from prison claiming he is portrayed as 'a kidnapper, murderer and enemy of the state'. He filed suit in July claiming Call of Duty's maker Activision had infringed his right to his own publicity, and sought unspecified damages. Noriega said in court documents that he was unaware that his image was being used in the game until his grandchildren played it and asked him about it. But Judge William Fahey of Los Angeles Superior Court dismissed the suit and granted Activision's special motion to strike the case under a . California statute that seeks to prevent lawsuits stifling free . speech. Fiction: Noriega is portrayed is seen in the game shooting his own soldiers at random and helping the CIA capture a Nicaraguan drug lord . Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who represented Activision said: 'This was an absurd lawsuit from the very beginning and we're gratified that in the end, a notorious criminal didn't win.' Mr Giuliani had argued that Noriega's status as a public figure in the 1980s prevented him from suing over his inclusion in the game which earned more than $1 billion in sales within 15 days of its release. Rudy Giuliani, who represented Activision, described the lawsuit as 'absurd' Activision which has featured historical figures such as President John F. Kennedy and Fidel Castro in previous 'Call of Duty' games said the use of the character was protected under the right to free speech. Judge Fahey agreed saying: 'Given the world-wide reporting of his actions in the 1980s and early 1990s, it is hard to imagine that any such evidence exists.' He said Noriega's right of publicity was outweighed by the defendants' First Amendment right to free expression, and that there was no evidence of harm to Noriega's reputation. Activision had warned that if Noriega prevailed, it would have a chilling effect on movies and works of art that portray historical and political figures. 'Today's ruling is a victory for the 40 million dedicated members of our "Call of Duty" community and global audiences who enjoy historical fiction across all works of art,' Bobby Kotick, Activision Blizzard's CEO wrote in a statement. Noriega was the military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989 when he was toppled by a U.S. invasion. He served a 17-year drug trafficking sentence in the United States. The part of the game in which he helps capture the drug lord is thought to refer to a time in the 1980s when he was a paid CIA informant. Following his release in 2010 he was . extradited to France to serve a sentence there. France then sent . him to Panama, where he remains in prison for crimes committed . during his rule. He has had health issues in recent months and has been treated for high blood pressure, flu and bronchitis. His family said he has a benign brain tumor and heart trouble. Noriega is not the only public figure to sue a video game company. Actress Lindsay Lohan has filed a lawsuit against the creators of Grand Theft Auto V arguing they used her image for a character named Lacey Jonas without her permission. Actress Lindsay Lohan has filed a lawsuit against the creators of Grand Theft Auto V arguing they used her image for a character named Lacey Jonas without her permission. The star's lookalike alter-ego parties at infamous celebrity haunt, the Hotel Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, 'a place where the plaintiff once lived and often frequents', according to the case documents. The legal papers claim the 'game features a mission where the plaintiff's look-alike asks another character to take her home and escape the paparazzi' and features a character sporting the same ' likeness, clothing, outfits, clothing line products, ensemble in the form of hats, hair style, sunglasses, jean shorts worn by [Lohan]...before the release of the GTA V video game.' The video game cover also strikingly resembles a famous picture of Lindsay in a swimsuit taking a selfie and making a peace sign. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Noriega appears in the 2012 video game Call of Duty Black Ops II . He is seen murdering his own soldiers and helping to capture a drug lord . Claimed he is portrayed as 'a kidnapper, murderer and enemy of the state' Filed suit from prison where he is serving time for murder . Judge rejected his claims saying there was no evidence of harm .

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CANKIRI, Turkey (CNN) -- In the searing heat of an Anatolian afternoon, work continues busily on the vast building site that fills an entire block of Cankiri's otherwise quiet town center. Polls suggest the Erdogan's AKP is heading for another victory. A massive Western-style shopping complex is rising from the ground. Next the local mayor, Irfan Dinc, has plans for a smart new bus terminal on the outskirts of this small regional capital a couple of hours north of Ankara. Designated a "preferential province," investors in Cankiri already receive lucrative tax breaks. Now Dinc hopes to tap into European Union funds as part of his efforts to put the town on the map. "Cankiri is generally known for being a rural, modest province," Dinc tells CNN. "But we are becoming more integrated. We are connecting Cankiri to the rest of the world." Cankiri is typical of the Turkish provincial towns and regions that are beginning to emerge from the shadow of Istanbul and Ankara driven by surging economic growth -- and the sort of place where campaigning ahead of Sunday's parliamentary elections is at its most fierce. Yet the issue that forced Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan into early elections showed how fragile Turkey's young democracy can still be -- and how a dispute in Ankara's corridors of power can still tip the entire country into political crisis. Erdogan's critics in Turkey's traditional establishment accuse his Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Islamist tendencies and of plotting to dilute the secularist principles of the modern Turkish republic, as laid down by the country's revered founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. That came to a head in April when the government nominated the country's foreign minister, Abdullah Gul, for the presidency. The fact that Gul's wife chooses to wear a headscarf prompted a secularist outcry, with opposition lawmakers backed by the constitutional court blocking the nomination, millions protesting in Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir and even the leaders of the army -- the traditional defenders of secularism -- issuing an e-mail in which they stated their readiness to intervene in the event of the election of a president not to their tastes. In Cankiri, it is hard to see how the headscarf could have become such a potent political symbol. Many women here chose to wear them, but plenty of others don't and life continues harmoniously as it has done for decades in this culturally conservative country. Suat Kiniklioglu, a local AKP parliamentary candidate and one of a new breed of technocratic young politicians attracted by the party's modernizing instincts, told CNN the real divide in Turkey was between "those who want the old order to continue and those who want the old order to change." He argues it has been the AKP -- rather than the main opposition Republican Party (CHP) led by veteran politician Deniz Baykal, the self-styled defenders of Ataturk's legacy -- that has argued for closer integration with the European Union and for a globalizing drive that has brought visible benefits to places like Cankiri. "We represent the people who believe Turkey should open up and that the old ways of doing things no longer work for us. We do not reject secularism -- we just argue for a more user-friendly secularism. We do not think it should matter if a woman chooses to wear a headscarf." Final polls ahead of Sunday's vote suggest the AKP is heading for another victory, but this is not a straightforward election. The party still faces the job of electing a president and has vowed to press ahead with constitutional changes to prevent a similar crisis occurring again. But without securing an unlikely two-thirds majority, it could find itself blocked by its parliamentary opponents just as easily after the elections as before them. And while the CHP is not expected to get the votes it needs to form a government, the secular establishment remains a dominating presence in Turkish politics, notably through its close ties to the army, which has acted four times since 1960 to bring down governments of which it disapproved. Also damaging for the AKP has been a surge in Turkish nationalism, largely on the back of reaction against regular terrorist attacks by the PKK which have led military chiefs to call for action against Kurdish Northern Iraq. That feeling has been capitalized on effectively by the Nationalist Party (MHP), which may well achieve the 10 percent share of the vote necessary to enter parliament, further shifting the political balance of power. Particularly successful in rural areas, the MHP is challenging strongly in Cankiri -- an AKP stronghold -- to win a place on the list of three MPs the province will send to parliament. For Ibrahim Kalin, an Ankara-based political analyst and newspaper columnist, the main question surrounding Sunday's vote is not who will win, but whether Turkey can return to anything approaching normal politics after a bitterly polarized campaign. "Politicians are ruining Turkish democracy, they are ruining people's trust in politics, they are ruining people's faith in politicians," Kalin told CNN. "There needs to be a little more calmness, a little bit more of a sense of responsibility for the immediate future. I'm talking two weeks down the road when they come back to parliament and you have a country to run. They have to make some compromises and compromises I think have to begin now." E-mail to a friend .

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan was forced into early elections; new poll on Sunday . Many parts of Turkey are seeing impressive economic progress . Erdogan's critics argue his AKP party has Islamist tendencies . Final polls suggest the AKP is heading for another victory .

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By . Lizzie Edmonds . A Colombian drugs lord let a cocaine mule with a kilogram of contraband in his stomach die - before cutting out the packet and selling it on, police say. The body of a well-connected young lawyer was discovered in a forest near Malaga, Spain, in August 2010. The man was found without clothing, wrapped in clingfilm and with a cut in his abdomen. A handout photo from Guardia Civil shows what appears to be an X-ray of the mule with packages still in his stomach. He had ingested almost a kilogram of drugs in numerous packages, officers say . Now, four years later, the Spanish Civil Guard have announced they discovered what happened to the man - known in reports as J.A.U.I. The man, a Colombian national with Spanish citizenship, was hired by a drug lord - known as J.A.V.H in records - to bring a packet of cocaine from South America to Spain. J.A.U.I made it from Colombia to Chile and eventually to Spain - but by the time he landed, he was suffering from terrible pains in his stomach, officers said. It is thought the pain was caused by several bags of cocaine - thought to weigh up to a kilogram - in his intestines. Clearly not too interested in his mule's welfare, J.AV.H. just waited for him to die, The Local reports. Pictured: Some of the cocaine thought to have been smuggled from Colombia to Spain by the mule - a well-connected lawyer. A drug dealer has been arrested by Spanish authorities following the 2010 death . An autopsy showed that J.A.U.I was given painkillers as he was dying, however. After the man died, the drug lord cut out his contraband - removing it through his stomach.It is thought J.A.V.H then sold on the drugs. A later forensic examination concluded the lawyer died from intestinal obstruction. It added a package was removed via a cut in the man's stomach  - which was later stitched up with fishing line. Spanish police have now arrested the drug lord - who is now awaiting punishment. It is thought he had several identities, addresses and security personnel.

Well connected lawyer found dead in a forest in Malaga, Spain in 2010 . Police say he was a drugs mule who smuggled cocaine in to the country . Spanish officers say man died in agony from an intestinal obstruction . Drug lord employer then cut out the package and sold on the drugs .

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Warrants for three Wesleyan University students arrested after a rash of illnesses on campus linked to the party drug Molly show police believe the bad batch of the drug originated in the Washington, D.C., area. The students, all neuroscience majors, were arraigned Wednesday in Middletown Superior Court, not far from the private college's campus. Superior Court Judge Leo V. Diana set bond at $50,000 for Eric Lonergan, 22, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and 20-year-old Rama Agha Al Nakib, a Syrian citizen. Zachary Kramer, 21, of Bethesda, Maryland, was freed after posting a $5,000 bond. Eric Lonergan, left, and Rama Agha Al Nakib, right, are two of the four Wesleyan University students arrested Tuesday in connection with about a dozen hospitalizations among people who took a party drug known as Molly . Expected: Zachary Kramer, 21, of Bethesda, Maryland, is also due in court Wednesday . None of the three students entered pleas and their cases were continued to March 3. The fourth student who was arrested, Andrew Olson, of Atascadero, California, posted bail Tuesday and is due in court March 3. All four have been suspended from Wesleyan. Authorities said 11 people, including 10 Wesleyan students, some of whom had attended a rave music show Saturday night, received medical attention over the weekend. Two remain hospitalized. One of the victims was found unresponsive with no vital signs and was revived by paramedics who used six defibrillator shocks and numerous chest compressions, according to arrest warrant affidavits released Wednesday. Lawyers for Lonergan, Kramer and Al Nakib said Wednesday that no Molly was found in their clients' rooms on campus. But according to the affidavits, Al Nakib told police the 'bad Molly' came from Kramer, and witnesses told them it was purchased in Washington, D.C. The affidavits also cite a text conversation that references Kramer losing his usual supplier and going back to an old source. Jennifer Zito, Kramer's lawyer, asked the public to reserve judgment. 'These are very, very bright students, who have bright futures ahead of them and we certainly don't want to make any judgments at this time,' she said. Molly is a term used to describe a refined form of Ecstasy, a synthetic drug also known as MDMA. It can drive up body temperature and cause liver, kidney or cardiovascular failure. Prosecutors said authorities found numerous prescription drugs in Lonergan's room. Police also found more than 600 Xanax capsules and $310 in cash in Al Nakib's room, and nearly 200 nitrous oxide canisters, a scale and marijuana in Kramer's room, prosecutors said. Witnesses told police all four students sold Molly on campus, according to the affidavits. One witness told police she bought a bag of white powder from Olson on Friday and began feeling sick after consuming it. Olson established the Wesleyan chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy in 2013 and currently is co-president. The group advocates for changes to national drug laws that it describes as counterproductive. Authorities from various agencies were working to identify the different types of chemicals in the batch of Molly that caused the overdoses, Middletown Police Chief William McKenna said. 'This particular batch may have had a mixture of several kinds of designer drug chemicals, making the health risks unpredictable and treatment to combat the effects complex and problematic,' he said. Lonergan is accused of possessing a controlled substance and illegally obtaining or supplying drugs, while Olson faces charges of possessing and selling a hallucinogen. Kramer is accused of possessing drug paraphernalia, a regulated substance and a small amount of marijuana. Al Nakib is accused of possessing a controlled substance, a controlled substance with intent to sell it and drug paraphernalia. Eleven Wesleyan students, some of whom had attended a rave music show on Saturday night, received medical attention over the weekend, police said, and two students were still being treated . Dr. Mark Neavyn, chief of toxicology at Hartford Hospital, said users who believe they are taking Molly are often receiving different kinds of designer drugs, with ranges of purity and potency making the health risks unpredictable. The weekend rash of Molly hospitalizations wasn't the first such episode this year at the private university of nearly 3,000 students. Wesleyan health officials said in a campus-wide email on Sept. 16 that students had been hospitalized the previous two weekends after taking Molly. Students were urged to visit the university's health center if they had questions or concerns. The police chief said the safety and welfare of community members, including those on the Wesleyan campus, were his top priority. 'Incidents jeopardizing the safety will not be tolerated,' he said, 'and those offenders will be held accountable.'

Three of four Wesleyan University students appeared Wednesday on drug charges related to about a dozen hospitalizations . Those hospitalized took a party drug known as Molly . Eric Lonergan, Zachary Kramer, and Rama Agha Al Nakib appeared in Middletown Superior Court . The student were arrested on assorted drug charges and suspended from the university . Eleven students, some of whom had attended a rave music show on Saturday night, received medical attention over the weekend, police said . Two students were still being treated, according to police .

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A nine-year-old boy has become a victim of internet censors in China after writing a letter to the country's President telling him to lose some weight. A note written by a primary school pupil Niu Ziru appeared on social media addressed to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, outlining his idea for the country to go on a space mission to Mars. But at the end of the letter, the student decided to give some health advice, saying: 'You could lose some weight. You don't have to look as skinny as Obama. Like Putin is okay!' Schoolboy Niu Ziru, nine, has been censored by the Chinese authorities after a letter he wrote for homework, in which he said the country's leader 'could lose some weight', was posted online . The note, which was done as part of a homework assignment, was never posted, but it was uploaded to Chinese sites by the child's father, and went viral. Users reposted the note across social media, and it eventually appeared on the sites of Zhengzhou Evening News and the state-owned Xinhua news agency. The boy's parents and his school in Zhengzhou said they did not expect his letter to receive so much attention. His teacher, Eileen Wang, told Sky News: 'It was weekend homework, for his Chinese assignment. A letter [written] to anyone or anything. He is a good student. 'At our school, students are welcomed to speak up... so they have crazy ideas like this.' Niu wrote the letter to encourage Chinese leader Li Jinping to create a space mission to Mars, but ended by saying he needed to go on a diet, adding: 'You don’t have to look as skinny as Obama. Like Putin is okay' However it seems that the Chinese authorities have failed to share the joke. The story is now missing from all news websites, while links to the stories on other websites appear to be broken or deleted. On blogging site Weibo a search for Niu Ziru brings up no results, while search engine Baidu is also unable to find either the story or the boy. Niu told the Zhengzhou Evening News that he had seen Xi and other leaders during the recent Asian leaders summit, and thought Xi had 'made Chinese people proud, except that he's a bit fat.' Dear Grandpa Xi Jinping, . Greetings! I’m a pupil from Zhengzhou, Henan Province. Today I want to talk to you about space. Everyone believes the next big challenge is space. I think so too. The moon, for sure has rich minerals, but it doesn’t have air and water and is definitely not suitable for human life. This is not a good place for a long stay. It’s time for China’s aerospace program to change directions. Let’s have a look at Mars. It has both air and glaciers, it's just as good a place as Earth. Eventually, the United States and Russia will no longer use the international space station and the US and Russia are planning full force to land on Mars. Even the European Union and India are joining the fun. Let’s also hurry up! Okay, let's move on to some lighter subjects. Xi Dada, you could lose some weight. You don’t have to look as skinny as Obama. Like Putin is okay! Best regards, . Wishing you good health . Niu Ziru .

Niu Ziru wrote letter to leader Xi Jinping as part of homework project . Said China should send mission to Mars, then joked about leader's weight . Father posted the message online and appeared on national news sites . However all stories have now disappeared after censors stepped in .

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(CNN)The last time Dr. Rick Sacra went to Liberia, he returned home to the United States in a medevac airplane, not sure if he would die of the Ebola he'd contracted while taking care of patients. But Sacra recovered from the virus he contracted in August and Thursday he is headed back to Liberia. He calls the West African nation his "second home." He lived there from 1995 to 2010 and has made about a dozen trips since then. But he said this time he'll have a different perspective. "Having spent three days in the treatment unit in Liberia, I really feel for those who are sick," Sacra said from his home in Holden, Massachusetts. The third American to contract Ebola, Sacra remembers the "spartan" Liberian hospital with the uncomfortably thin mattress and the ever-present strong smell of bleach. Because doctors and nurses had to suit up in protective care, they only came around to see patients every three hours, so if he needed something he had to wait. "You spend a lot of time alone and lonely," he said. Sacra said he hopes this makes him a better doctor. "I think it makes me more sensitive to where people are coming from and how they might be feeling and why they might be discouraged," he said. Sacra was evacuated from Liberia to Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, one of four hospitals in the United States with a biocontainment unit, where he received a blood transfusion from Dr. Kent Brantly, another American Ebola survivor, and the experimental drug TKM-Ebola. "I never felt like I was not going to make it," he said when he was released from the hospital on September 25. This upcoming trip will be easier than his August trip in one big way: He won't have to worry about contracting Ebola, because he's now immune to the strain of the disease responsible for the current epidemic. But it will be more difficult in another way: He knows many of his friends in Liberia lost family members and colleagues to Ebola this fall, and he won't be able to comfort them with a hug, because hugging, or even shaking hands, is forbidden in order to cut down on the spread of the disease. He said now that the number of Ebola patients in Liberia has gone down dramatically, he's not needed to work in the Ebola ward. Instead, he'll be involved in evaluating and triaging patients who come into the ELWA Hospital, run by SIM, a Christian missionary group. He hopes to return to his regular schedule of working four weeks in Liberia every three months. He said he misses the food -- potato greens, palm butter and peanut soup -- and he misses his friends and colleagues. He also hopes his trip reminds the rest of the world that Ebola, and many other diseases, are still a huge threat in West Africa. "The needs in Liberia are still tremendous," he said. "Even before Ebola the health care system was very weak and barely functioning. I just feel that God has opened the door for me to make a difference. I was to continue doing that if I can." CNN's Debra Goldschmidt contributed to this report.

American Dr. Rick Sacra was medevaced back to the U.S. sick with Ebola . He got sick while treating patients in Liberia . He is heading back to continue his work in a medical facility there .

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By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 06:51 EST, 15 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:55 EST, 15 March 2013 . Two gay bars are embroiled in a bitter courtroom battle over the right to be 'queer'. Nigel Martin-Smith, the music promoter who formed Take That in 1990, is suing the owners of a recently-launched venue in Birmingham called 'Queer Street' in the High Court. He claims they are exploiting the reputation of Bar Queer, a bar and club on Canal Street in Manchester's Gay Village, which he has owned through companies since it opened in 2003. Copycat? Gay venue Queer Street opened in September in Birmingham . Suing: Mr Martin-Smith has owned Bar Queer, a popular venue on Manchester's Canal Street, since 2003 . Mr Martin-Smith contacted his lawyers in September last year, when The Nightingale (UK) Ltd, a company headed by the director of Birmingham Gay Pride, Lawrence Barton, opened ‘Queer Street’, in Hurst Street, Birmingham. The music mogul was complaining about the use of the word 'queer' by the new bar. In a High Court writ issued by Bar Queer Ltd, barrister, Robert Onslow, says the venue 'has accrued goodwill in its business which has become exclusively denoted by the word "Queer"'. He argues that as much as £60,000-a-month has been spent on fortifying the bar’s reputation by advertising in the gay press and magazines since it opened. Mr Onslow claims the 'exclusive goodwill' attached to the word 'Queer' 'extends nationally', is the property of the Manchester bar and Queer Street is causing public confusion. Not happy: Music promoter, Nigel Martin-Smith, who formed Take That, right, feels his Manchester bar has accrued 'goodwill' since it opened in 2003 which his Birmingham rival is exploiting . The former boyband manager is demanding an injunction requiring the 'obliteration' of the word 'Queer' from 'all articles and premises' in connection with the Birmingham bar, along with damages and legal costs. The barrister added that Bar Queer’s goodwill could be 'tarnished and diluted' unless its Birmingham rival is forced to change its name. Andrew Norris, for the owners of Queer Street, disputes that Bar Queer’s goodwill exends across the UK and says in his clients’ defence: 'It is denied that the Queer Street name and logo give rise to a likelihood of deception in the minds of the relevant public. 'The only element common to the name and logo of both bars is the word Queer. Both bars are directed towards the gay community. The word Queer is commonly and colloquially understood as describing someone who is gay, thus Queer in these circumstances has a descriptive meaning. 'References to queer bars or nightclubs would be understood by members of the relevant public to be a reference to a bar or nightclub that was directed to members of the gay and lesbian community. 'It is admitted that a bar has traded in Manchester under and by reference to the name QUEER for several years. It is admitted that the bar has acquired a reputation and goodwill in the gay community in and around Manchester. It is denied that any such goodwill extends throughout the UK. 'If the claimant is the owner of the alleged goodwill, it had only limited value,' concludes Mr Norris.

Nigel Martin-Smith, who formed Take That, suing Queer Street, Birmingham . Says they are exploiting reputation of Bar Queer, his venue in Manchester . Claims he has gained 'exclusive goodwill' since bar opened 10 years ago . Queer Street lawyers say word has 'descriptive meaning' in gay community .

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Fernando Torres has been officially unveiled as an AC Milan player, following his two-year loan move from Chelsea. Torres ended a disappointing four years at Chelsea after his £50million switch from Liverpool when he completed a two-year loan deal with the Rossoneri. The 30-year-old is delighted to make the move over to Italy, and will hope for a fresh start in Serie A. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Fernando Torres: I left Chelsea to feel important again . Popular: Fernando Torres drew a huge crowd as he was officially unveiled as an AC Milan player . Selfie: Torres posted this picture on Twitter 'Happy with my new Milan family @acmilan!!! #weareacmilan' Honour: The Spaniard is excited to start his new challenge in Italy after four tough years at Chelsea . ATLETICO MADRID (2001-07) Appearances & Goals: 244 & 91 . Goals per game ratio: 2.7 matches . LIVERPOOL (2007-11) Appearances & Goals: 142 & 81 . Goals per game ratio: 1.8 matches . Cost per goal (signed for £24m): £296,000 . CHELSEA (2011-14) Appearances & Goals: 172 & 45 . Goals per game ratio: 3.8 matches . Cost per goal (signed for £50m): £1.1m . SPAIN (2003-) Appearances & Goals: 110 & 38 . Goals per game ratio: 2.9 matches . 'It's an honour to wear the number 9 jersey, I can't wait to be on the pitch to play' 'The number 9 shirt has been worn by some of Milan's great champions, I hope to be up there with them,' 'I hope one day to find my place in the Mondo Milan Museum' I feel good, mentally strong. When everything goes well you have more will power: I'm happy to train' I can't wait to see the red&black supporters, to score for them and to win many titles' Torres never found his former lethal former at Chelsea, scoring only 45 goals in a frustrating 172 appearances for the Blues. The Spaniard's deal with Milan ends in June 2016, which coincides with the expiry of his current Chelsea contract. Torres became a perennial substitute under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, but the 30-year-old has refused to criticise his former manager. 'I had a professional relationship with him,' said Torres. 'I learned so much. 'When I told him that I was going to Milan he wished me good luck, and he told me about the passion for football that is here. 'I wish him all the best, as he has done with me.' Fresh start: Torres joins Milan on a two-year loan deal to see out his Chelsea contract until June 30 2016 . Milan finished eighth last season in Serie A and will be hoping Torres can rediscover his scoring touch to fire the Rossoneri back up the table. Chelsea team-mate Marco van Ginkel has joined Torres in Milan after completing his own loan deal. The young Holland midfielder, 21, had told the Italians he wanted to stay at Stamford Bridge and fight for his place. But with his chances looking limited in Jose Mourinho's side, he has decided Milan would be the next best step for his career. VIDEO Inzaghi delight at Torres capture . Turbulent: Torres struggled to find his top form during four years at Stamford Bridge after signing for £50m . Settling in: Chelsea midfielder Marco van Ginkel completes his medical ahead of joining AC Milan on loan .

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres has joined AC Milan on a two-year loan . The Spaniard ended a disappointing four years at Chelsea after his £50m switch from Liverpool . Torres watched from the stands as the Rossoneri beat Lazio 3-1 on Sunday . Marco van Ginkel will also spend the rest of this season on loan at AC Milan .

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Gaza City (CNN) -- The Israeli military launched a ground operation into Gaza late Thursday and called an extra 18,000 reservists into the conflict with Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon ordered the ground action to destroy tunnels from Gaza into Israeli territory, according to a statement from Netanyahu's media adviser. Thirteen Hamas militants used a tunnel earlier Thursday to launch an attempted attack in Sufa, near an Israeli kibbutz, but were stopped by Israeli soldiers, the Israel Defense Forces reported. CNN's Wolf Blitzer asked Mark Regev, Netanyahu's spokesman, whether Israel planned to occupy Gaza for a long time. Regev didn't answer directly, but said Israel's goals are to "diminish" the Hamas military force and to show Hamas it cannot attack Israel with impunity. "We have hit Hamas hard, and we will continue to hit Hamas hard," the Israel Defense Forces tweeted. Hamas immediately condemned the Israeli operation. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum told CNN that "the beginning of the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza is a dangerous step with unknown consequences. Israel will pay a heavy price for it." Later, appearing on Aqsa TV, Barhoum said, "the resistance will confront the Israeli ground invasion and will defend the people of Gaza." He said Hamas military forces are "far stronger" than in 2009 and 2012, when Hamas and Israel clashed. Militants are prepared to capture Israel soldiers and use them to trade for some of 5,000 prisoners in Israeli jails, Barhoum said. CNN's Palestinian security sources said Israeli tanks have reached Abu Holeh and that Israeli troops are clashing with Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters along the Kissufim road. Abu Holeh is about in the center of Gaza, said CNN reporter Ben Wedeman. If Israeli forces go from there to the sea they can split Gaza as they did during the 2009 ground operation, Wedeman said. Wedeman said Israeli forces struck near a mosque in Gaza City's Zaitoun neighborhood, which has been pounded since start of bombing, with many casualties reported. Gaza hospital struck . Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, said Israeli bombs hit Wafa Hospital in Gaza while four patients were inside. Seventeen others had evacuated, he said. The long-awaited ground operation follows one of the worst nights of fighting since the war began. That fighting began after a temporary cease-fire ended earlier in the day. The Gaza Health Ministry said seven children were killed in three hours on Thursday. Before the incursion, the IDF dropped leaflets in 14 areas of Gaza, urging residents to temporarily leave their homes. CNN reporter Ian Lee described the action: "Periodic fire balls illuminate the sky over Gaza. We see rockets screech toward the sky. Minutes later we see an intercepting missile rise from the iron dome, reducing the rocket into confetti of light and fire. "We've seen red tracer rounds fly across the horizon. The repetitive thud of naval guns echoes throughout the coastal strip." A 4-year-old girl was killed in an Israeli airstrike near the customs building in Khan Younis, Palestinian medical and security sources said, and another airstrike killed a 29-year-old man east of Khan Younis. Aqsa TV reported that an Israeli was killed and another injured in shelling of Ashkelon and that seven Israeli soldiers were injured in an attack on a military location. Aqsa TV also reported that Israeli gunboats near Beit Lahiya north of Gaza strip, fired at the homes of residents. Palestinian medical and security sources say 246 people have been killed in Gaza and more than 1,850 injured. Israel says one of its citizens has died. Cairo talks . The region has many depressing precedents when it comes to violence. In recent decades, Palestinians launched two armed uprisings against Israel, known as Intifadas, that each went on for years. In late 2008 and early 2009, Israel carried out airstrikes and then a ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza that killed hundreds of Palestinians. In November 2012, the two sides fought a bloody eight-day conflict that ended in a cease-fire. Egypt, which as been trying to broker a cease-fire, said Thursday, "If Hamas had accepted the truce Palestinian lives could have been saved." Earlier, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Al-Arabi held talks in Cairo aimed at reaching a cease-fire agreement. An Israeli delegation also attended, leaving after several hours, the state-run al-Ahram news agency reported. "I expect that we will reach an agreement very soon; the efforts of a cease-fire is to stop the bloodshed, killing and destruction in Gaza," said Nabil Shaath, an Abbas adviser and member of the central committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization. He said negotiators were focusing on stopping bloodshed above all else. He said they would later discuss Hamas demands, including opening Gaza border crossings and freeing prisoners whose exit from jail was negotiated in exchange for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. "These are all legitimate demands by Hamas, but the priority is for an immediate cease-fire," Shaath said. Hamas leaders had rejected an earlier Egyptian cease-fire proposal, saying they had not been consulted on the deal and complaining that it did not address their broader demands. Egypt is playing a large role in the talks despite its distrust of Hamas. Like Israel, Egypt considers Hamas a terror organization because of the group's roots in the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt's military-led government banned after the country's 2013 coup. Temporary cease-fire . During Thursday's temporary cease-fire, Gaza banks opened for the first time in 10 days. Residents poured into the streets. Red Cross officials visited hospitals and damaged houses to assess medical needs, and worked with local officials to fix water pipelines. Some work was also done to repair power lines, the United Nations said. At least 10 to 15 trucks entered Gaza through the Karem Shalom border crossing once it opened at 1 p.m. (6 a.m. ET), according to Ra'ed Fatooh, the Palestinian official in charge of the crossing in Gaza. Goods were limited to medical supplies and basic foodstuffs such as rice, sugar, oil, canned food, flour and other basic goods, he said. Gaza crisis: Who's who in Hamas . Deaths on Gaza beach . Fallout continued from the deaths the day before of four cousins ages 9 to 11 who died in an Israeli military strike on a Gaza beach. The results of a preliminary investigation suggests the deaths were the result of a "a tragic misidentification of the target," Regev told CNN. "We didn't want to kill those four boys. That was not our intention," Regev said. "I'd even say the opposite is true. Had we known that that missile was aimed at four young men like that we would have not sent the missile." A Hamas official called the killings a "war crime." "Those children were not firing rockets, they were just playing," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zhuri told reporters Wednesday. Regev, however, said a legitimate Hamas target was nearby, highlighting what he called a "complex combat environment" in crowded Gaza City and surrounding areas. Israeli officials say militants often use mosques, schools and other crowded places to hide rockets and other weapons. Israeli military's 'knock on roof' warnings criticized by rights groups . War-scarred Gaza medical crews also in harm's way . Opinion: A smart way out of the Gaza confrontation . CNN's Ben Wedeman reported from Gaza City, and CNN's Ralph Ellis and Michael Pearson reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Ali Younes, Jethro Mullen, Samira Abdelaziz, Kareem Khadder, Tim Lister, Ian Lee, Diana Magnay, Samira Said, Michael Schwartz, Salma Abdelaziz and Tal Heinrich also contributed to this report.

IDF: "We have hit Hamas hard, and we will continue to hit Hamas hard" Hamas condemns Israel for launching ground action . Operation follows 10 days of airstrikes and bombings . Palestinian security sources say airstrikes killed 7 children .

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(CNN) -- Richard Branson loves it, says Wubbo Ockels, former astronaut and creator of the super-fast, super-long Superbus. And he's not the only one. "We've had interest from Las Vegas. We also had interest from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the Netherlands," Ockels said. The 15 meter-long (50 feet) Superbus is a new spin on public transport that aims to match the speed and comfort of a train while offering the flexibility and convenience of the car. It has a top speed of 250 kph (155 mph) and Ockels envisions it running on a dedicated highway. But it's not just high-speed transport from A to B, Ockels says -- the Superbus can also use normal roads at normal speeds. What's more, it's powered by electricity, which was central to the vision of its chief designer Antonia Terzi. "What inspired me was the concept that it was a sustainable, new type of transport," Terzi said. "Public transport has to be exciting. You want to say 'well, I have a car but today I'm going to take the Superbus instead,'" she added. A former Formula One aerodynamicist, Terzi has incorporated hydraulic cylinders in the design so that the car can sit just 7cm off the ground when traveling at high speed, rising to a height of 43cm when it uses normal roads in towns and cities. Rear-wheel steering helps the Superbus achieve a 24-meter turning circle, going easily around a roundabout, says Terzi. After taking a ride earlier this month, 61-year-old Branson commented on his blog that he thinks the Superbus could take on the train business one day, matching it for speed while trumping its convenience by dropping commuters off at their front door. Ockels says he wanted to create something sexy, and something that makes you feel powerful when you are inside, but most of all something that could compete with the car. He hopes to have the vehicle on the roads within five years.

Richard Branson takes a spin in prototype designed to transform commuting . It's designed to reach speeds of 250 kph and transport passengers in comfort . Creator says electric "Superbus" was designed to make public transport "sexy"

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West, Texas (CNN) -- Walls warped or blown off entirely, even ones made of brick. Roofs sunken in, if they are still visible at all. Garage doors lying in yards. And, at the center of it all, a crater nearly 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep. On Tuesday, the devastation from last week's explosions at a West, Texas, fertilizer distributor became more eerily apparent as officials offered new details and opened more roads around the town's hardest hit areas. While the blast's lethal power was clear, many other questions remain. Town devastated by explosion is guided by the West way . Why did a fire start in the facility, which had shut down to workers for the day? How did that fire spark the massive explosion that tore through the northern part of town -- killing 14 people, including nine first responders, and injuring hundreds of others? What, if anything, could have been done to prevent the tragedy? So far, investigators have eliminated the possibility that natural causes started the fire, but they haven't gone beyond that. Brothers, friends lost in Texas explosion . When not funneling in and out of the command center at West High School, federal, state and local officials spent Tuesday outside using shovels to methodically search for clues. Assistant State Fire Marshal Kelly Kistner said investigators were starting in the least-damaged areas, hoping to determine the heat source or material that ignited the fire. The West Fertilizer Company said its officials are focused on "fact finding," not lawsuits that may come after the blast. "We continue to do everything we can to understand what happened to ensure nothing like this ever happens again in any community," the company said. Residents of this tight-knit town of 2,800, meanwhile, tried to get back to normal, though the explosion is never far from their minds. At the Pizza House on Oak Street, waitstaff and locals discussed the state of their homes while drinking their beers, trying to figure out how to deal with the fact their once quaint farming town now resembled a war zone. Several hundred residents gathered Tuesday night at a Knights of Columbus hall, some of them standing because the place was so packed, hoping to get answers from officials. They kept their tempers in check, though it was apparent many residents just want to go home. Some who live in damaged residences in areas that have been opened up to traffic have gotten that chance. On Tuesday -- two days before President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama head to Waco, about 18 miles south, for a memorial service at Baylor University -- some of them stood motionless on their front lawns, taking in the devastation. Others kept busy sifting through what remained or trying to fix what they could. The sounds -- of trailers full of debris rolling by, or the buzz of power tools -- were reminders that, for some, life was moving on. CNN's Ed Lavandera contributed to this report.

NEW: The West Fertilizer Co. is focused on "fact finding," not on pending lawsuits . NEW: Residents gather at a local hall hoping to get answers from officials . Investigators say the fire that led to blast wasn't sparked by natural causes . They are hunting for clues, including using shovels to dig through debris .

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What kind of weapon can shoot down a fully loaded passenger jet flying at nearly 33,000 feet? That could be a key question in the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crash investigation, as officials try to determine what was responsible for Thursday's plane crash in volatile eastern Ukraine. A radar system saw a surface-to-air missile system turn on and track an aircraft right before the plane went down, a senior U.S. official told CNN's Barbara Starr. And a second system saw a heat signature at the time the airliner was hit. The United States is analyzing the trajectory of the missile to pinpoint where the attack came from, the official said. Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, said in a Facebook post that "terrorists" fired on the plane operating a Buk surface-to-air missile system. A Ukrainian official also told CNN's Jim Sciutto on Thursday that separatists claimed to have brought down another plane around the same time Flight 17 went missing. But what could have shot down the Malaysia Airlines flight? Shoulder-fired missiles sometimes in the arsenals of rebel and separatists groups would be ruled out, experts said. "At normal cruising altitude a civilian passenger aircraft would be out of the range of the sort of manned portable air (defense) systems that we have seen proliferate in rebel hands in east Ukraine," IHS Jane's Defence Weekly's Nick de Larrinaga said in an e-mail. Such shoulder-mounted weapons at best can reach 15,000 feet, said CNN military analyst Rick Francona, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel. "This would indicate a surface-to-air missile or an air-to-air missile, and I think a surface-to-air missile is probably the best guess right now," he said. One candidate is the Buk missile system, developed during the Soviet era and operated by Russian and Ukrainian forces. The missile system, known as the SA-11 among NATO forces, is operated by both Russian and Ukrainian forces, according to retired Brig. Gen. Kevin Ryan, director of the Defense and Intelligence Project at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University. And it's more than capable of taking down an airliner flying at that altitude, he said. Such weapons travel with Russian troops at the division level, Francona said. "So the Russians on the other side of the Ukrainian border will have all of this weaponry available to them," he said. Other possibilities include Russian-made S-200 missiles that are operated by the Ukrainian military as well as the Russian S-300 and S-400 missiles. The latter weapons are the Russian equivalent of U.S. Patriot missile defense batteries. What seems unlikely is that pro-Russia separatists might have gained control of such a sophisticated piece of weaponry and used it to shoot down an airliner, Ryan said. "It takes a lot of training and a lot of coordination to fire one of these and hit something," he said. Typically, a surface-to-air battery missile consists of a command post vehicle, a radar vehicle, several self-propelled launchers, loader vehicles and even more vehicles to carry new missiles to the batteries as necessary, according to Dan Wasserbly, Americas editor for IHS Jane's. Ryan concludes then that if the plane really was shot down, a professional military force -- either on purpose or by accident -- was responsible. "This is not the kind of weapon a couple of guys are going to pull out of a garage and fire," he said.

Senior U.S. official: Radar saw surface-to-air missile system track aircraft . A sophisticated surface-to-air missile was more likely used, experts say . One possibility is the Russian-made Buk missile system, retired Army officer says . The sophisticated weapon would require professional soldiers, expert says .

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By . Associated Press Reporter . Two women were married on a sidewalk outside a county courthouse in Arkansas on Saturday, breaking a barrier that state voters put in place with a constitutional amendment 10 years ago. A day after Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza said the ban was 'an unconstitutional attempt to narrow the definition of equality,' Kristin Seaton, 27, and Jennifer Rambo, 26, exchanged vows at an impromptu ceremony, officiated by a woman in a rainbow-colored dress. The couple had spent the night in their Ford Focus after traveling to Eureka Springs from their home at Fort Smith, and was the first of about 10 couples to line up outside of the courthouse before it opened. Jennifer Rambo (right) kisses her wife Kristin Seaton following their marriage ceremony in front of the Carroll County Courthouse in Eureka Springs, Ark. on Saturday . Rambo and Seaton were the first same-sex couple to be granted a marriage license in Eureka Springs after a judge overturned Amendment 83, which banned same-sex marriage in the state of Arkansas . Sheila McFadden (center) and Ken Riley (right) yell words of encouragement at the crowd gathered in front of the Carroll County Courthouse after initially being turned away for a marriage license in Eureka Springs, Ark. 'Thank God,' Rambo said after Carroll County Deputy Clerk Jane Osborn issued them a license, ending a brief period of uncertainty when a different deputy county clerk said she wasn't authorized to grant one and questioned whether Piazza's order in a courtroom 150 miles away had any bearing in Eureka Springs. Piazza ruled Friday that Arkansas' 2004 voter-approved amendment to the state constitution violates the rights of gay couples, clearing the way for the first same-sex marriage in a traditional southern state. He didn't put his ruling on hold as some judges in other states have done. That caused confusion among the state's 75 county clerks, said Association of Arkansas Counties executive director Chris Villines. He said Piazza should have issued a stay, just to avoid Saturday's scramble. 'The court didn't give us any time to get the kinks worked out,' Villines said. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said he would appeal the ruling and asked it be suspended during that process. Jennifer Rambo (left) of Jacksonville, Ark., kisses her wife Kristin Seaton (right) of Fort Smith, Ark., as they wait in line at the Carroll County Courthouse to apply for a marriage license . No appeal had been filed as of Saturday morning when the license was issued. Jerry Cox, president of the Arkansas Family Council, which promoted the gay-marriage ban in 2004, said Piazza's decision to not suspend his ruling will create confusion if a stay is issued later. 'Are these people married? Are they unmarried?' Cox said. 'Judge Piazza did a tremendous disservice to the people of Arkansas by leaving this in limbo.' Arkansas' amendment was passed in 2004 with the overwhelming support of Arkansas voters. Piazza's ruling also overturned a 1997 state law banning gay marriage. 'The exclusion of a minority for no rational reason is a dangerous precedent,' he wrote. The U.S. Supreme Court last year ruled that a law forbidding the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages was unconstitutional. Since then, lower-court judges have repeatedly cited the decision when striking down some of the same-sex marriage bans that were enacted after Massachusetts started recognizing gay marriages in 2004. It's official: Jane Osborn (right) deputy clerk for Carroll County, issues the first marriage license to Kristin Seaton (left) and her partner Jennifer Rambo, at the Carroll County Courthouse in Eureka Springs, Ark., on Saturday . Federal judges have ruled against marriage bans in Michigan, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Texas, and ordered Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee to recognize same-sex marriages from other states. In all, according to gay-rights groups, more than 70 lawsuits seeking marriage equality are pending in about 30 states. Democratic attorneys general in several states — including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Oregon and Kentucky — have declined to defend same-sex marriage bans. Arkansas' ruling came a week after McDaniel became the first statewide elected official to announce he personally supports gay marriage rights. But he said he would continue to defend the constitutional ban in court. Aaron Sadler, McDaniel's spokesman, said Friday the attorney general sought the stay because 'we know that questions about validity of certain actions will arise absent a stay'. Gay marriage is legal in Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. Though technically considered southern states by the U.S. Census, they were not part of the old Confederacy, like Arkansas.

On Saturday Kristin Seaton, 27, and Jennifer Rambo, 26, became the first same-sex couple in Arkansas to receive an official marriage license . On Friday a judge overturned a ban on gay marriage that has been in place since 2004 . At the time voters overwhelmingly supported amending the constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman . Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza said the ban was 'an unconstitutional attempt to narrow the definition of equality .

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By . Laura Clark, Education Correspondent For The Daily Mail . Lura Pacheco, 34, (pictured) forged a tenancy agreement in an attempt to get her 11-year-old daughter into a good secondary school in Havering . A mother who cheated to get her daughter into a good school has been fined £500 and sentenced to community service in a ground-breaking case. Lura Pacheco, 34, forged a tenancy agreement in an attempt to persuade high-performing schools she lived closer than she really did. But the mother-of-two, who works for an international recruitment company, was caught out when the property’s real owner received an offer and charged with forgery. Havering Council, which brought the prosecution, said the case was the first of its kind and others could follow. It was brought against a backdrop of rising numbers of suspicious school applications that are prompting investigations by councils across the country. Latest figures suggest that council probes into potentially fraudulent applications have soared 11-fold in five years. Five years ago Mrinal Patel became the first parent to be prosecuted for allegedly lying over school places but the charges were later dropped after running into legal problems. In the latest case, Pacheco, a Portuguese national, had been desperate to get her 11-year-old daughter into a secondary school in the London borough of Havering because she believed they had a better reputation than comprehensives nearer her home in Chadwell Heath, Barking and Dagenham. Magistrates heard how a friend of Pacheco offered to produce a forged tenancy agreement for a home in Hornchurch, within Havering borough, using the fake firm Easy Property Services. The move could have secured a place for her daughter at either Brittons Academy, Chafford School, Frances Bardsley School for Girls, Sacred Heart of Mary Girls School or Bower Park Academy. But town hall investigators uncovered the forgery when the offer of a place was sent to the property’s real owner, who alerted the local authority. After admitting one forgery offence - committed on December 13 last year – Pacheco was ordered to pay £500 and sentenced to 100 hours’ community service. Sentencing at Barkingside magistrates’ court, presiding magistrate Michael Peacock said: ‘You are obviously a very good and conscientious mother and like all good mothers you want your kid to go to the best school available. ‘I think the public are very aware of the lengths people go to to try and secure that. We hear of people buying expensive houses in expensive streets and so on in order to get into a certain catchment area. But whatever you do it’s got to be within the law. ‘What you did was dishonest. It was cheating, cheating the system. It was unfair to people who would have wanted that place if you had succeeded.’ Pacheco was ordered to pay £500 and given 100 hours’ community service at Barkingside magistrates' court (pictured) after admitting forgery. Presiding magistrate Michael Peacock said she had 'cheated the system' Speaking after the hearing, Pacheco told the London Evening Standard: ‘Mums just want the best for their children, they want the best education for them possible. I am still shaken by this experience.’ Giles Morrison, representing Havering council, said: ‘She wanted her daughter to get into a Havering school as these are generally better and she was aware that at this time her address was covered by Barking and Dagenham. ‘It [the offence] is, I am told, something Havering council is very concerned with in the borough and there might be a number of other prosecutions that might happen in the future. But this is thought to be the first of its kind.’ Damian White, deputy leader of Havering council, said: ‘Creating false documents, no matter what the reason, is fraud and ultimately takes away places from those that were entitled to them.’ The case follows suggestions that councils are toughening up on parents who try to cheat the system to secure their chosen schools. Tactics include using false addresses lying about siblings and even impersonating family members. But councils are becoming increasingly alert to possible ruses and demanding more rigorous proofs of residence. Sanctions include withdrawing places refusing applications in or in extreme cases, prosecution. In 2009, Harrow Council accused 41-year-old Mrinal Patel of giving her mother’s address when applying to the over-subscribed Pinner Park First School. She faced up to a year in jail or a £5,000 fine after the council used the Fraud Act 2006 to prosecute her over the school application for her five-year-old son Rhys. Mrs Patel appeared at Harrow Magistrates’ Court in May 2009 and denied fraud by false representation. But two months later the council withdrew its action after being advised that the Act may not apply to her case and could be open to challenge. At the time, Mrs Patel told the BBC that Harrow’s decision not to launch the ‘disproportionate’ action against her showed she was innocent. In 2009, Harrow Council accused 41-year-old Mrinal Patel (pictured) of giving her mother’s address when applying to the over-subscribed Pinner Park First School. She claimed she had lived at the address for 14 years . But she admitted she had said on the application form that she had lived at the address for 14 years, when in fact she had stayed there for only four weeks. The mother-of-three claimed she wrote this figure because her mother had been living at the address for 14 years. She had been ‘under a tremendous amount of stress’ at the time. Her mother’s home was walking distance from the school that was rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and received more than 400 applications for 90 places. However, council action has sometimes crossed into over-zealousness. In 2008, Poole Borough Council mounted an extraordinary covert surveillance operation targeting businesswoman Jenny Paton, her partner Tim Joyce and their three children. The family were followed for three weeks by council officials who wrongly suspected the family of lying to get into a good school. The investigators filled out detailed surveillance forms, describing the family's car as a 'target vehicle'. Using powers available under anti-terror laws, the council surveillance team made detailed notes of the family's whereabouts on 21 occasions. But the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which heard a complaint from the family in 2010, concluded the council's operation was an improper, unnecessary and unlawful use of the surveillance powers.

Lura Pacheco, 34, forged tenancy agreement in attempt to win school place . She tried to persuade high-performing schools she lived closer than she did . Mother-of-two wanted to get 11-year-old daughter into a school in Havering . She was caught out by property's real owner and fined £500 by magistrates .

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These are the horrific facial injuries suffered by a cyclist who was thrown from her bike and slid through the mud in a hit-and-run crash. Tracy Taylor landed on her face after a car ploughed into her bike while she was out cycling on Christmas Eve. The 36-year-old, from Leek, Staffordshire, suffered a broken collar bone as well as cuts and bruises to her face after being knocked unconscious in the collision. Tracy Taylor, 36, from Leek, Staffordshire, suffered horrific facial injuries after being thrown off her bike into the mud (pictured left and right) following a hit-and-run crash . The fitness instructor landed on her face and was left with cuts and bruises (pictured) after a 'small blue vehicle' ploughed into her while she was out cycling on Christmas Eve . The fitness instructor had stopped to take photographs of the scenery with her friend Helen Birch-Machin when the incident unfolded. She was then hit by what she describes as a 'small blue vehicle' and was knocked unconscious. She said: 'I'm lucky to be alive. If it wasn't for my helmet I wouldn't be here. 'I can't believe the driver left the scene, they probably don't realise the damage they've done.' Ms Taylor had been out with he friend Helen Birch-Machin when the pair stopped to take photographs of the scenery . After the crash, Ms Taylor was rushed to Macclesfield Hospital. She needed nine stitches but was discharged in time to spend Christmas with her son. She said: 'My face was covered in mud and my helmet was smashed to pieces. 'I kept drifting in and out of consciousness and I don't even remember much of Christmas because I felt so drugged-up. 'I've no idea how long it will be until I can go back to work and, because I'm a self-employed fitness instructor, I won't get any sick pay. It's turned my world upside down.' She was treated at Macclesfield hospital where she had to have nine stitches for her injuries . The keen cyclist also suffered cuts and bruises to her legs (left and right) but was discharged from hospital in time for Christmas with her son . She added: 'It's all a bit of a blur. I was pretty out of it on morphine. I've not even had time to think about my facial injuries, it's all happened so quickly. 'All I can remember is worrying about being home for Christmas. The fact that I'd been in an accident didn't sink in straight away.' Staffordshire Police are appealing for witnesses following the collision. A spokesman said: 'Relevant CCTV footage has been examined and house-to-house inquiries in the locality have been made. 'The cyclist is now recovering at home having received hospital treatment.'

Tracy Taylor, 36, from Leek, Staffs, went for a bike ride on Christmas Eve . Fitness instructor was hit by 'small blue vehicle' and knocked unconscious . She suffered a broken collar bone as well as cuts and bruises to her face .

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The first pictures of the gipsy camp where an abducted four-year-old girl was rescued in Greece emerged yesterday as the international appeal to identify the child continued. The discovery of the blonde, blue-eyed girl, who police believe may be from northern or eastern Europe, gives hope that Madeleine McCann may also be found alive. Last night, the girl – known only as Maria – was safely playing with other children at a house run by Greek charity The Smile Of The Child, which is caring for her. Scroll down for video . Discovery: The house at the Roma camp in Farsala, central Greece, where the four-year-old blonde girl was found this week during a raid by police . Squalid: The Roma camp where police claim they have found 10 children who could be victims of child trafficking . Rubbish-strewn: The camp in Greece where Maria was found. Police have launched an international appeal to discover her identity . Missing and found: Madeleine McCann vanished on May 3, 2007 from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal while police are appealing for help identifying this blonde girl, known only as Maria, who was found on a gypsy camp in Greece after she was allegedly abducted . Who is she? The four-year-old sparked one of the officer's curiosity as she is pale skinned and bore no resemblance to the other children or the couple who claimed to be her parents . The authorities are sure she does not . belong to the adults she was living with, and her nationality and the . circumstances under which she left her real family remain a mystery. Maria . was found last Wednesday in a Roma settlement in Farsala, central . Greece, after a police officer became suspicious because her pale . complexion and blonde hair stood out during a routine raid on illegal . activities. DNA tests . proved she was not related to the couple with whom she was living. A . 39-year-old man and a woman, 40, have been charged with abducting a . minor. Police have requested assistance from Interpol. Photographs of the girl suggest her hair may have been dyed when she was younger as the bottom half of her plaits are brown. Maria . only speaks Roma but appears to understand Greek and is also being . communicated with using sign language, according to staff at The Smile . Of The Child. One employee . told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The little girl was terrified when she first . came to us and didn’t talk at all, but she is now calm and has been . playing with the other kids.’ Playground: Roma children having fun inside the camp at the camp with corrugated iron for a roof on many of the buildings . Local resident: A man with a double pushchair at the Roma camp in Farsala where the child was discovered . Gypsy camp: A Roma resident at the site which police believe may be the centre of a child trafficking ring . Camp site: Clothes are hang out on the fence to dry at the camp which was raided by police looking for drugs and weapons . Distress: Dirty and grimacing as her photo is taken, the little girl is now the centre of an international appeal. Authorities hope her parents can be found so the family can be reunited . Panayiotis . Pardalis, a spokesman for the charity, said: ‘It was obvious that she . was not a Roma girl. She was afraid and under some psychological . pressure when she arrived. ‘She was living under bad conditions and was very dirty, but is now safe.’ Charity . director Costas Giannopoulos said the child was undergoing medical . examinations. The youngster was discovered by authorities living in a Roma gypsy camp in Farsala in central Greece . Aerial view: Farsala, in central eastern Greece, is one of its largest towns in the region a mainly agricultural area . Do you know her? The poster issued by the Greek police requesting help identifying the girl . Ben Needham disappeared on the holiday isle of Kos in 1999 aged just 21 months, sparking a huge but ultimately unsuccessful police hunt. He was seized within moments of him going to play outside a farmhouse, which his grandfather was renovating in the village of Iraklise. His mother was working as a waitress on the island at the time. Investigators suspect the blonde-haired child was abducted by a gypsy gang, and sold to the highest bidder for adoption. But a bungled police inquiry – which was heavily criticised by Ben’s family - failed to track down the culprits. Despite a number of possible sightings and a range of theories about what happened to him, no trace of the youngster has ever been found. ‘We are shocked by how easy it is for people to register . children as their own,’ he told Greek television. Police believe up to ten more children found at the camp may be the victims of a trafficking ring. Delphine . Moralis, secretary general of Missing Children Europe, said: ‘This case . is very unusual in that we’re looking for the child’s family, rather . than the child.’ She said . The Smile Of The Child, a member organisation of Missing Children . Europe, have several houses in Greece where they take children ‘who have . nowhere else to go’. Maria’s . discovery gives fresh hope for other British families with missing . children, including the tragic case of Ben Needham, the Sheffield boy . who went missing in Kos in 1991, aged 21 months. Ben’s sister, . Leighanna, said the discovery was ‘very significant to Ben’s case’. ‘It . gives us great hope that one day this will be Ben. Child trafficking . and illegal adoption in Greece has been pretty high and that’s exactly . what they thought had happened to Ben – that he was taken for a . childless family and passed through gipsy camps,’ she told the BBC. Maria . was found just days after the Metropolitan Police revealed the results . of a major review of the investigation into the disappearance of . Madeleine McCann. Comparison: The case bears a disturbing similarity to theories about the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann, who went missing on a family holiday in Portugal on May 3, 2007 . Breakthrough? Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann (pictured on a BBC Crimewatch appeal) said they are 'genuinely hopefully' that police can make progress in the investigation . Roma gangs have been accused of trafficking hundreds of children to and from countries including Britain to mug and steal as part of an ‘international criminal network’. Boys and girls as young as 10 are being used to make more than £2000 a month each, through crimes organised by Fagin-like bosses. Around 200 children are though to be involved, with much of their tax free income being smuggled back to Romania to buy property. Details of the sinister 'family' network emerged during an appeal last year in Paris against a five-year-prison sentence by Remus Stoian, a 40-year-old Romanian national. He was found guilty alongside Palos Constantine, a compatriot also aged 40, of organising an ‘international criminal network which aimed to bring minors to France to commit theft.’ Both men were based with their ‘extended clan’ at an illegal Roma campsite in the St Denis suburb of Paris, and regularly 'trafficked' children between ‘France, Romania and even England’, a judicial source told Le Figaro. The Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris said Stoian and Constantine had been wire tapped as they discussed the successes of their operation, which is still being run by relatives. The conversations reveals that children were ‘selected by hand’, with Stoain saying at one point: ‘You need four to five people who can work for you, and each can bring in between 100 and 150 euros a  day. You can bring in 3000 euros a month.' The young criminal gangs are taken to top tourists spots, including central London to steal from people. The reason for keeping the children moving between different countries is so that they can not be 'traced' to the adults exploiting them. Another Romanian in the gang said he had 11 children working for him personally, with a 'clan chief' ultimately being responsible for the whole operation.

McCann spokesman says missing children 'can still be out there waiting to be found' Unidentified girl can only speak obscure Roma language . Man, 39, and woman, 40, arrested and charged with abducting a minor . The girl has fair hair and pale skin and bears no resemblance to them . DNA testing proved she was not related to the couple . Charity now caring for the girl requests global hunt to find her real parents .

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By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 06:37 EST, 21 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:36 EST, 22 August 2013 . Earlier this week she showcased her enviable figure in a glamorous mini skirt and stillettos on a date night with boyfriend Nico Jackson. But Pippa Middleton opted for a more casual look as she strolled through Chelsea this morning. The party planner turned author donned a dark blue skirt, Converse All Star trainers and a white vest as she walked along London's trendy King's Road. Casual: Pippa Middleton was seen out and about in London wearing a dark blue skirt, G-Star trainers and a white vest . Dressed down style: The 29-year-old author looked effortlessly chic in a causal outfit and oversized sunglasses . Pippa checked her iPhone as she walked through London unnoticed by the many passers-by. The 29-year-old sister of the Duchess of Cambridge looked fresh-faced and showcased a healthy tan with her hair down and over-sized sunglasses on. She accessorised her look with a pair of £130 Davina Combe Knot Drop Earrings with Amethyst. Pippa is often spotted hanging out on the famous King's Road, which is home to some of her favorite haunts like Megan's restaurant and Raffles nightclub. Whilst she is usually seen out and about with stockbroker boyfriend Nico Jackson, Pippa was flying solo today as she ran errands around London. The Duchess of Cambridge’s younger sister has dated a string of aristocratic men in recent years, but has told friends Mr Jackson is ‘the one’. Keeping in touch: Pippa checked her iPhone as she walked through London unnoticed by the many passers-by . Bigger is better: The party planner turned author wore her trademark big sunglasses as she strolled through Chelsea . Pippa is expected to announce her engagement within months, according to friends – and has been delaying the news out of deference to Kate, who gave birth to her first child last month. A close friend of the lovestruck couple said in July: ‘An engagement is definitely on the cards.’ The couple have not been shy about displaying their affection and have been spotted canoodling on several occasions. While she attended £31,000-a-year Marlborough College, in Wiltshire, he was educated at The Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone and lived with his parents and sister Nina in a red-brick terraced house. Loved-up: Pippa is usually seen out and about with stockbroker boyfriend Nico Jackson . But after graduating from London’s Kingston University, Mr Jackson made his fortune as a stockbroker. Pippa has previously dated suitors from the upper echelons of society, including investment banker James Matthews and financier and former England cricketer Alex Loudon.

Donned a dark blue skirt, G-Star trainers and a white vest . 29-year-old was seen checking her iPhone . Looked fresh-faced with no make-up and had healthy tan .

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Gordon Brown has threatened to stand for election to the Scottish Parliament over Alex Salmond’s ‘lies’ about the NHS. The former Prime Minister said he would make a dramatic return to frontline politics north of the border to tackle the SNP head on. His announcement prompted speculation that the former prime minister – who would be a significant figure compared to the those currently representing Labour in Scotland – might even seek to succeed Mr Salmond as Scotland’s leader. The former Prime Minister, who is still an MP in Westminster, said: ‘I say this to Mr Salmond himself. If he continues to peddle this deception then I will want to join Johann Lamont in fighting him and securing the return of a Labour Government as quickly as possible.’ Scroll down for video . Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Kilmarnock, Scotland, today suggested he would stand for the Scottish Parliament if Alex Salmond continued 'lying' about the NHS . Mr Brown said he was prepared to return to frontline politics to fight the SNP in Holyrood, Edinburgh . Mr Brown, who has rarely been seen at . Westminster since losing the 2010 election and resigning as Labour . leader, has  re-emerged to try to revive the faltering No campaign. He . even won praise from his old enemy David Cameron this week for . ‘catalysing’ agreement on a rapid timetable for the devolution of more . powers to the parliament in Holyrood. Mr Brown will be 65 by the time . of the next Scottish parliament elections in 2016. He has insisted he . intends to stand in the General Election next year, but it is still . possible to run in Holyrood elections while remaining an MP at . Westminster. Mr Brown’s surprise threat came as he launched a bid to shore up support for the Union among Scottish pensioners. A Survation poll released last night showed the over 65s were overwhelmingly planning to vote ‘No’ – by 57 per cent to just 36 per cent in favour. Mr Brown said Labour would not devolve Scottish pensions to Edinburgh – because they were safer under the protection of the UK Government. But he said . Mr Salmond’s claim that the NHS was in danger from London were bogus . because the health service was already controlled by Holyrood. Mr Brown also vowed to hand further tax raising powers for the Scottish Government to increase funding for the health service. He added that if Mr Salmond continued to claim that Labour was a threat to the NHS he would stand for office in Scotland. The revelation that Mr Brown was prepared to move his political career to Edinburgh overshadowed his pitch to pensioners to vote against independence. Mr Brown said: ‘The nationalists want you to believe that if an English Prime Minister sought to privatise the NHS in Scotland or cut its budget, Scots would be powerless to prevent this from happening. ‘They want you to believe that the Scottish Parliament is powerless to act to safeguard our NHS. If Mr Brown returned to front-line politics in Holyrood it would mark a dramatic resurrection of his career after leaving Number 10 in 2010 . ‘They want you to conclude that separation is the only answer if you care about the NHS. This is a nationalist deception – a claim that does not stand up to the evidence and that is not supported by the facts. ‘What the nationalists don’t tell you is that the Scottish health service cannot be privatised by Westminster because all decisions about our NHS are made here in Scotland. The Scottish Parliament, created by Labour in 1998, has full control over our health service. ‘What the nationalists also don’t tell you is that they are not powerless to fund the NHS. Under the Scotland Act 1998, they already had the power to raise an extra £1,000 million in tax to help pay for the NHS in Scotland. ‘Had they wanted to use it, the SNP could have raised the Scottish healthcare budget from £12 billion to £13 billion. ‘The Scottish Parliament has all the powers it needs to fund the NHS in Scotland.’ He added: ‘It is time to nail the nationalist lie.’ He said: ‘Do you think that I or anyone else who cares about the NHS would let it be privatised in Scotland or have its funds cut – without a fight? ‘Would we stand back and do nothing without ensuring that there were laws in place to guarantee that the NHS could not be privatised in Scotland or see its funding cut without our permission?’ He also attacked Mr Salmond for rejecting the latest warnings that big businesses would move their headquarters to England in the event of a Yes vote next week. Paraphrasing a quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln, he said: ‘I say to Alex Salmond: you can try to dismiss some of the warnings some of the time but you cannot dismiss all of the warnings all of the time.’ But SNP leader Mr Salmond insisted Scotland was on the ‘cusp of making history’ by voting for independence in a week's time. Vowing that Scots ‘will vote Yes’ in seven days' time, he attacked the No camp for being in ‘terminal decline’ the day after the leaders of three main UK parties travelled north of the border in a bid to save the union. Mr Salmond said: ‘Scotland is on the cusp of making history. The eyes of the world are upon Scotland. And what the world is seeing is an articulate, peaceful, energised debate. ‘Scotland will vote Yes next Thursday and they will vote Yes because last minute, cobbled up promises from the No campaign which unravel at the slightest scrutiny will not fool anyone in this country and neither will the blatant bullying and intimidation of the Westminster Government. ‘The No campaign is in terminal decline. In contrast a Yes vote is the opportunity of a lifetime. An opportunity to build a fairer more prosperous country.’ The latest Survation poll for the Daily Record puts support for the union at 53 per cent and backing for independence on 47 per cent, when undecided voters are excluded. Last night an unprecedented list of 200 health workers – including porters, nurses, GPs and the country’s top consultants – signed a letter warning that independence is a ‘great risk’ to the NHS. The open letter to the Scottish Dail Mail stated: ‘Patients from Scotland can access the care they need anywhere in the UK. Independence would, at best, put them at the back of the queue.They accused the Yes campaign of peddling lies about the NHS. The Institute of Fiscal Studies today released independent analysis undermining Mr Salmond’s claim that independence was necessary to protect the NHS. The respected economic think tank said health was already a devolved matter. The IFS also revealed that Mr Salmond had spent less on health than the Tories in Westminster. It said: ‘This means the Scottish NHS does not have to make more use of private sector providers just because the English NHS is (and indeed, it hasn’t been). ‘And the Scottish government decides how much money to allocate to the Scottish NHS from the overall block grant it receives from Westminster. To a significant extent then, the future of the Scottish NHS is already in Scottish hands.’ The IFS added: ‘Between 2009-10 and 2015-16 spending on the NHS in England will, on currently announced plans, have risen by about 4 per cent in real terms despite an overall fall of 13 per cent in English departmental spending. ‘Over the same period the vagaries of the Barnett formula mean that Scotland will have had to cut overall public service spending by less – by about 8 per cent rather than 13 per cent. ‘But the Scottish government has chosen to protect the NHS in Scotland slightly less than it has been protected in England. Spending on the NHS in Scotland has fallen by 1 per cent. ‘Scottish Governments in Holyrood have placed less priority on funding the NHS in Scotland (and more on funding other services) than governments in Westminster have for England.’

Former Prime Minister said he would not tolerate SNP 'lies' about the NHS . He said he would 'join' Labour's leader in Scotland Johann Lamont . Mr Brown pledged to fight SNP to secure 'return of Labour' in Holyrood . SNP has cut funding for the NHS by more than the Tories, figures reveal . Institute of Fiscal Studies said 'Scottish NHS is already in Scottish hands'

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(CNN) -- "Great Gatsby" director Baz Luhrmann isn't the type to be cowed by literary pedigree, not even that of F. Scott Fitzgerald. His movies, including "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet," are like watching a three-ring circus. They revel in surface, spectacle and sensory overload. They're audaciously, passionately artificial and at the same time unabashedly romantic -- post-modern pop medleys aimed at the heart, not the brain. Perhaps Luhrmann even identifies with Fitzgerald's Jay Gatsby; after all, they're both decadents. But Fitzgerald wasn't Gatsby, and Gatsby could never have written such a novel. It takes an observer like Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) to distill the finer sentiments from this sorry tale of the super-rich, and Luhrmann isn't that. He's an extrovert who wants to thrill us and immerse us in his giddy daring. The last thing he wants to do is sit back and watch. There are no two ways about it: "The Great Gatsby" is misconceived and misjudged, a crude burlesque on what's probably American literature's most precious jewel. Shopping Gatsby: 15 items you'll love . Warning bells go off right from the first shots of a CGI version of New York's Long Island. The camera is in a state of constant agitation, while the actors -- and they're good actors -- seem to have been instructed to vamp. Either that, or they decided it was the only way to compete with the film's garish hot deco. But let's give Luhrmann his due: The man does cut a good teaser. The idea to swap Scott Joplin for Jay-Z and ragtime for rap was a bold and brilliant choice. Casting Leonardo DiCaprio as the glamorous, elusive billionaire Gatsby and Maguire as his modest, admiring neighbor was right on. Carey Mulligan as Daisy wasn't as inspired. She gets the sadness of the character but not the flip side of her personality, and she's just not a bright enough spark to keep Gatsby's torch burning for so long. And shooting in 3-D? Look at "Hugo" and "Life of Pi": It could have worked. Yet Luhrmann seems utterly bamboozled by the technique, as if it's thrown off his rhythm. The early scenes especially are likely to induce motion sickness, and not just because Nick is getting drunk on New York's high society. We know Luhrmann can throw a wild party, but the movie doesn't build or grow; it just keeps hitting the same high notes until we go numb to the din. And if he's lost in the loud revelry, Luhrmann is completely out of his element in the more intimate scenes. The reunion between Jay and Daisy is played for laughs (and it gets a couple, too), but Luhrmann shortchanges whatever it is that pulls these lovers together. For such an elaborate display of courtship, it's a remarkably unsensual affair. Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" will endure this indignity as surely as it outlasted previous versions with Alan Ladd and Robert Redford. It's a shame, though, since the novel's depiction of a society dancing on the edge of a precipice is so timely. It's hard not to feel angry at the waste.

Baz Luhrmann is known for sensory overload with his movies . "Gatsby" needs an observant storyteller, which Luhrmann isn't . The adaptation is misconceived and misjudged . Nevertheless, the novel will endure this indignity .

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London (CNN) -- It is a year since an 18th-century Chinese vase was sold in London for $68 million, smashing world records. Now dealers and auction houses in London are feverishly anticipating a slew of sales as part of Asian Art in London, a week-long event that has been attracting newly-wealthy Chinese buyers and collectors to the capital for over a decade. Max Rutherston, Chairman of Asian Art in London, says the week of Asian art sales and exhibitions in London has been running for 13 years, and has seen a "Chinese art boom," with collectors from mainland China and Hong Kong flocking to London to check out the array of antique wares laid out in the salesrooms and galleries. Antique vases hailing from the much-sought-after 18th-century Qianlong period are going under the hammer at major auction houses Sotheby's, Christie's and Bonhams and on display at the commercial galleries, alongside decorative objets d'art and furnishings. Bonhams is selling a rare vase estimated to fetch between $8 million (£5 million) and $13 million (£8 million). The 50cm tall vase features delicate chrysanthemum blossoms in white and pink tones and bears the Qianlong seal. "The Qianlong period is really the apex of the technical achievement for Chinese porcelain, it was a time of great prosperity that led to great opulence and magnificent objects were produced for the imperial court," explained Asaph Hyman, a Senior Specialist in the Chinese department at Bonhams. Sotheby's, too, is hosting a round of sales, with lots ranging from ornately decorated vases to a gilt-bronze enamel tiger, estimated to fetch between $319,000 (£200,000) and $479,000 (£300,000). All houses are anticipating that the buyers of these artifacts will be Chinese, either from Hong Kong or the mainland, with some Taiwanese customers as well. It's a trend that has become more and more pronounced in the last decade, driving prices ever higher. "It's a true tide-change," said Asian art dealer Daniel Eskenazi, whose London dealership has been running for 50 years. "The Chinese weren't allowed to buy anything under Mao and they are developing very quickly, tending to go into an area and exhausting it completely before moving onto another one," he continued. Westerners, who at one point collected this type of work, are being increasingly priced out of the market and are now more likely to sell than buy, said Eskenazi. "It's very patriotic, I'd put it down to that," opined Sotheby's Specialist Stephen Loakes, as to why Chinese buyers are so keen to pay such large sums for antiques from their homeland. "They want to bring back their heritage, which gives them brownie points at home and if they buy it for a lot of money, there's a status thing there too," added Eskenazi. The major auction houses are a regular draw to the new class of Chinese rich but so are smaller ones, such as Bainbridges, the comparatively small auction house in West London that sold the $68 million vase in 2010. "The market is very strong and people will go to where the object is," said Loakes. "You go to the most remote little auction house that's difficult to get to and with Google Maps, half of mainland China is already there," Eskenazi said. And with the new class of Chinese buyers entering the market right now, high prices have become normalized. "If you start from day one at this level, then you think it's normal," he said. "It's incredible, I think it will have its ups and downs but the long-term trend is that (prices will keep) going up," he continued. So why do Chinese buyers come to London to buy art? "Where London's always been very lucky is in the phenomenal levels of expertise here," said Rutherston of Asian Art in London. "You have world-class dealers, which is ironic because there aren't that many collectors here," he continued. "It's that classic British thing of being a middleman -- the art comes in from abroad to be sold here to go abroad again. It's what we're good at," he said.

Newly-wealthy Chinese make yearly pilgrimage to Asian Art in London week . Major auction houses selling sought-after Chinese antiques . Vase at Bonhams expected to sell for more than $8 million . London has "phenomenal level of expertise" that keeps Chinese coming back .

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Guitarist and vocalist Joe Perry of the rock band Aerosmith may be an Icon to some. For Perry on the other hand, his cat Icon is his everything, a sentiment he lovingly expresses in a letter to his favorite pussy of all time. Perry expresses his undying love for Icon in the new book called, A letter to My Cat created by Lisa Erspamer. The page-turner is a collection of letters from celebrities to their purring pets. 'We love and have loved them all. But there was one animal we never had a chance to make part of our clan that always intrigued us: the Maine Coon cat,' writes Perry in his adorable letter, reports The DoDo. Purrfect read: Joe Perry's love letter to his cat Icon is one of the letters in this book created by Lisa Erspamer . I love you Perry much: Joe Perry details his eternal love for his cat Icon in a heartwarming letter . He goes on to describe how when Icon was a kitten he was larger than some cats are when they are full gown. Perry's cat has qualities which are larger than life, he says. 'Already at this young age you moved with a grace and majesty I had never seen before. Icon, you are in a class of your own,' Perry says dotingly. In the letter, Perry explains he doesn't even mind being woken up by Icon after getting home late from a gig because his touch is always, 'gentle and loving.' Perry once thought he was a dog person but after he met Icon he was completely won over. 'I have always been a dog person, but you won me over! Your beautiful coat, your instincts that seem to let you read our minds, the way you MUST sleep so that you’re in constant touch with Billie and me. There’s no denying that you’re there . . . you’re so BIG!' said Perry of the snuggle sessions with his cat and his wife Billie. 'You came with the name Icon' and it’s the name you still have now because you live up to every definition of the word! You are truly one of a kind and have a special place in the Perry clan’s heart of hearts. I love you and always will,' says Perry in a heart-warming finale. The book can be purchased in select bookstores and on the website Alettertomycat.com. Ain't nothin' but a hound dog: Joe Perry says he once favored dogs over cats but that when he met Icon he changed his mind and is grateful for his four legged friend .

Joe Perry expresses his love for Icon in the new book called, A Letter to My Cat which is a collection of letters from celebrities to their purring pets . 'I have always been a dog person, but you won me over!' Perry writes lovingly in the letter to Icon . Icon the cat enjoys snuggling with Joe Perry and his wife Billie every chance he gets .

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By . Jenny Hope . Foreign doctors who want to work in the UK should be required to get better exam results to ensure patient safety, researchers are urging. To practise in the UK, doctors currently have to pass exams testing their medical knowledge and English language skills. But the study concluded that the pass mark is set too low – and insisted that foreign doctors who pass are not up to the same standard as newly-trained doctors in Britain. Researchers claim foreign doctors who pass are not up to the same standard as newly-trained doctors in Britain (file picture) Researchers at University College London and the University of Cambridge found the international graduates got substantially lower marks in exams for would-be GPs and physicians. Foreign doctors must pass an English language test and the General Medical Council's Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test, designed to ensure that overseas doctors demonstrate the same level of medical knowledge and clinical skills as UK graduates who have completed their first foundation training year. The researchers compared the results of these two tests to the performance of UK graduates taking exams set by the Royal Colleges of Physicians and the Royal College of General Practitioners. They said that raising the exam pass mark 'considerably' – by up to 20 per cent – would ensure both sets of doctors were of a similar standard. But they also warned this would cut the pass rate and could cause a shortage of candidates for the NHS, which is heavily reliant on foreign medical staff. To practise in the UK, doctors currently have to pass exams testing their medical knowledge and English language skills (file picture) The number of patients on NHS waiting lists is at its highest for nearly six years. There are now 2.89million awaiting surgery or other hospital procedures, including nearly 550 who have been waiting for more than a year. Official figures also show that, for the first time since March 2011, the NHS has missed a crucial target that patients should be treated within 18 weeks. The health service is meant to ensure that at least 90 per cent are treated within this time but the figure fell to 89.9 per cent in February, meaning that around 400 waited longer. Labour warned that the NHS was heading back to the 'bad old days' when hundreds of thousands of patients waited up to two years for treatment. Its health spokesman, Andrew Gwynne, said: 'Under David Cameron, waiting lists for operations are at their longest in years.' Around one in three doctors registered with the GMC qualified in other countries, with 27 per cent obtaining their medical degree from outside the European Economic Area. Concerns over the abilities of foreign-trained doctors were brought to the fore by the death of 70-year-old retired engineer David Gray in 2008. He was given ten times the normal dose of diamorphine by German locum Dr Daniel Ubani. Nigerian-born Dr Ubani had snatched just a few hours of sleep after flying in from Germany to work his first shift for a private out-of-hours firm. Writing on the medical website bmj.com, the researchers said  the move could create 'severe workforce planning challenges' for the NHS. But they insisted that raising the standard of the exam was 'fundamental to ensuring the quality of postgraduate medical education and training, the delivery of medical care of the highest quality, and thus ensuring patient safety in the NHS'. In a separate study, Durham University researchers compared postgraduate performance between international and UK medical graduates – and found that the UK graduates did better in later exams. Dr Paul Tiffin, a senior lecturer Durham's School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health, said: 'Further research is needed to understand the potential reasons for these differences in performance, and in particular, the possible role that language and culture may play.' He added: 'There may be better ways of supporting overseas doctors to adjust to UK culture, and that of the health service more quickly.' Professor John McLachlan, co-director of  the Centre for Medical Education Research at Durham, said: 'It is important to appreciate that from patients' points of view, cultural differences are not absolutes. 'For instance, a doctor from a particular cultural background may be able to provide particularly valuable care to patients from the same background.'

Researchers concluded that the pass mark is set too low . They insist that foreign doctors who pass are not the same standard . One in three UK registered doctors qualified in other countries .

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Washington Redskins tight end Niles Paul stopped by his locker before a recent practice to drop off a carry-out plate of baked chicken, black-eyed peas and rice. The mini-feast would become dinner later that evening for a player who doesn't cook, one of the many advantages of playing for a NFL team with a full-time, fine-dining chef. It's quite the change from Paul's previous options. Sous Chef Connor McQuire cooks eggs for NFL Washington Redskins players breakfast at the Players Club cafeteria kitchen at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va. Over the last 13 months, the Redskins have changed the diets of many of its players by converting the basketball and racquetball courts in the Redskins Park basement into a made-to-order, healthy-options eating establishment . The gas burner in the pizza oven burns at NFL Washington Redskins Players Club cafeteria kitchen at Redskins Park in Ashburn . 'Probably Wendy's, and get a Baconator,' he said. Over the last 13 months, the Redskins have changed the diets of many players by converting the basketball and racquetball courts in the Redskins Park basement into a made-to-order, healthy-options eating establishment. There's a chef with a French cuisine background, a sous-chef, five cooks and a full-time nutritionist creating some 350 fresh-from-scratch meals per day — mostly breakfast and lunch — for the players, coaches, support staff and other employees. 'If I was going to take a leap from the fine-dining branch, why not go polar-opposite and try to do clean-eating for a football team and see where it goes,' said the head chef, 49-year-old Jon Mathieson, a top name in the D.C. dining community who was hired away by Redskins owner Dan Snyder. Teams invest more than a hundred million dollars annually in player salaries, yet they often fuel those high-performance bodies with standard fare catered from a local restaurant during the week. Ofelia Ramirez prepars onions and celery in the NFL Washington Redskins Players Club cafeteria kitchen at Redskins Park . NFL Washington Redskins Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson walking through the teams Players Club cafeteria at Redskins Park . That's what the Redskins did until the start of last season, setting out lunches of Mexican, Italian, barbecue or other fare — whatever the catering company had to offer — much of it containing heavy sauces and empty calories. Of course, the team did win three three Super Bowls while eating McDonald's hamburgers for lunch in 1980s and early 1990s. 'But they were also smoking cigarettes and drinking malt liquor," tight end Logan Paulsen said. "The culture's changed. It's another resource that 20 years ago wasn't really looked into, and now it is. They didn't take care of their bodies the way we do now. There wasn't the necessity for it because no one was doing it." The kitchen was part of a $30 million building renovation and opened just over a year ago. The Redskins say they are one of a handful of teams that employ a full-time nutritionist, and on-site chefs are even rarer in the league. Kale and peanut butter are ready to use at the smoothie bar at the NFL Washington Redskins Players Club cafeteria . A view of the NFL Washington Redskins individual player's breakfast orders at the teams Players Club cafeteria kitchen . 'If your diet starts to suffer a little bit, then your play is going to suffer,' Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. 'You'll get more tired and you're going to sleep worse at night. It all goes hand-in-hand. It's hard to be a physical specimen and have a terrible diet.' Snyder spared no expense in giving Mathieson and nutritionist Rob Skinner every toy a food connoisseur could imagine: two wok stations, cheese melters, a pasta station, an omelet station, a brick pizza oven with the word 'Redskins' visible next to the flame, a smoothie bar, industrial-sized pots that can cook a week's worth of meat sauce at a time. Mathieson arrives before 5 a.m. every day, a delivery truck shows up within an hour, and soon the kitchen is running like a well-oiled machine preparing 75 pounds of fish, 75 pounds of some other meat protein and as many as 30 pizzas per day. NFL Washington Redskins Executive Chef Jon Mathieson arrives before 5 a.m. every day, a delivery truck shows up within an hour, and soon the kitchen is running like a well-oiled machine preparing 75 pounds of fish, 75 pounds of some other meat protein and as many as 30 pizzas per day . Breakfast might include scrambled egg whites, turkey bacon and sausage, apple chicken sausage and an omelet station that runs the vegetable gamut. For lunch, Mathieson comes up with inventive, healthy ways to cook fish, chicken or turkey and occasionally beef. A recovery smoothie is waiting at every player's locker after practice. 'Berry' and 'tropical' are popular flavors, although Paulsen goes for the more exotic 'kale.' Some players buy in more than others. Running back Alfred Morris provided a comical highlight last season by declining comment on coach Mike Shanahan's firing. Why? Because Morris said he had to get to Chick-fil-A before it stopped serving breakfast. 'Dietitians are salesmen,' Skinner said. 'We're trying to sell good health. We're trying to sell better performance. Do guys still eat fried chicken? Of course, they do. ... I don't whip, but I gently nudge in the right direction. I get all the time, I'll stand here and they'll say, 'Well, which one's better?' And I'll say, 'This one.' They'll say, 'But I don't want that one.' I'll say, 'You didn't ask me what you wanted, you asked me what was better, and this is better.'' Quarterback Kirk Cousins has been known to text Skinner from a grocery store to ask which product is a healthier choice. Veteran Santana Moss brought in a recipe for garlic crab legs from his native Florida, and Mathieson cooked it as a special meal for the receivers. The chef's craftiest masterpiece might be his pizza. Knowing it was a treat dish that players couldn't resist, he changed the dough, adding yogurt and milk and whole wheat flour. NFL Washington Redskins Guard Shawn Lauvao eats breakfast in the team's Players Club cafeteria . 'We started with 50-50 to see what they would do, and if they kicked back on it,' Mathieson said. 'No one said anything. We went 75-25. No one kicked back on it.' It's 100 per cent now, and a quick poll of the locker room shows that the pizza is probably second to salmon among the players' favorites from the kitchen. Skinner consults with the team's doctor about individual players. He advises them how to eat when they're not at the facility, but he obviously can't control whether they follow his advice. An average player eats about twice the protein of a normal person, although a lineman's diet is obviously more caloric than a kicker's. And then there are the coaches, who live perhaps the unhealthiest lives of all, meeting deep into the night and getting by on little sleep. 'I've talked to them about putting me on a meal plan,' Gruden said. 'But I go down there and I always look for the most fattening food and eat that. I'm terrible.'

Culinary staff includes chef with a French cuisine . background, a sous-chef, five cooks and a full-time nutritionist . Kitchen creates roughly 350 fresh-from-scratch meals per day . The kitchen was part of a $30 million . building renovation and opened just over a year ago . Redskins are one of a handful of teams that employ a full-time nutritionist .

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A disabled builder lived in a Scottish cave for five months after he was allegedly kicked out of his one-bedroom flat by a housing association. Cameron Logan, 50, and his partner Elaine survived in the 12ft deep rocky outcrop in Oban from May to September with just two sleeping bags to keep them warm. The former construction worker, who relies on crutches to walk, said living in the 15ft wide cave left him at his 'lowest ebb' as he struggled with the cold and wet conditions. Scroll down for video . A disabled builder and his partner, Elaine, lived in a Scottish cave for five months after he was kicked out of his one-bedroom flat . 'In this day and age, having to live in a cave is just not right. I'm amazed we survived,' he said. 'Two people don't deserve to have to live in a cave. It was only our love for one another that kept us going after everyone else let us down.' Mr Logan was a resident at Ross House homeless accommodation in Oban for more than two years prior to his ordeal. But after breaching the terms of his tenancy by offering Elaine - who herself was sleeping rough - shelter in his one-bedroom apartment, the pair were kicked out, according to Mr Logan. Cameron Logan, 50, who relies on crutches to walk, said living in the 15ft wide cave left him at his 'lowest ebb' as he struggled with the cold and wet conditions . The couple had just two sleeping bags to keep them warm and would spend their days looking for firewood . With no other home available, the only safe haven they could find was a cave off a popular dog-walking route overlooking Oban bay. 'I've always been from the area so I knew the cave was there,' said Mr Logan. 'It was all we had and our only option - the only place we could go if we hoped to survive. We slept in sleeping bags with our heads poking out of the front of the cave. 'We found some wooden panels which we used to sit on and we were given some rugs too, to keep us warm. 'But it was so uncomfortable. Just imagine yourself what it's like sleeping in a cave every night. 'As well as the problems I have with my legs, I've got depression too. 'Both were made so much worse by living in that cave and I found myself turning to alcohol more than ever before. Life in the cave left me at my lowest point.' The cave's walls were covered in insects and cobwebs with rainwater - which would blow in during the night - seeping in through cracks in its stone ceiling. Cameron said: 'We'd wake up every morning with the bells going at the church and go down to use their toilet. Sometimes my legs would be so bad though that I'd struggle to walk that far and just have to go in the trees beside the cave. Mr Logan and his partner Elaine had to use public bathrooms to wash themselves and use the toilet . 'We had no showers and had to wash under the taps in the local public halls just to make ourselves clean. 'Nothing about it was hygienic. It was no way for a man and a woman to live.' The couple, who have now moved to Helensburgh, were helped by long-term friends Stephen Kelly and his partner Ashley McGuire, both 50. Mr Kelly said: 'Cammy would get stuck in the cave. His legs are degenerating so at times he struggles to move at all. 'There were times he couldn't even make it up the small incline to the cave, so would have to just sleep in the trees. 'We'd go and visit him first thing in the morning just to see that he was surviving.' The Blue Triangle Housing Association said that they do not comment on specific cases. A spokesman for Argyll and Bute Council said: 'There are many different reasons why people find themselves homeless. We would encourage anyone in this situation to come to our Homeless Service offices.'

Cameron Logan, 50, and his partner Elaine lived in a cave for five months . Disabled builder said he was kicked out of his flat by housing chiefs . They lived in the 12ft deep rocky outcrop in Oban from May to September . Couple had to wash under the taps in public halls and use a church toilet .

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One of the most sought-after Christmas gifts this year is a ouija board with Google searches for the bizarre present idea up 300 per cent since last month. The internet giant said search engine data revealed that the 'spiritual board' was 'one of the hottest gifts likely to sell out this season'. Other items featured on the top trending gift guide include the Barbie Dream House, Lego Friends and toys linked to the popular children's franchise My Little Pony. Scroll down for video . Internet giant Google said search engine data revealed that the ouija board was one of the most searched for items on its shopping channel and 'one of the hottest gifts likely to sell out this season' (file picture) Google published its list of 'top trending toys', based on search engine results, on its blog this week . Google said cold weather staples, such as Hunter wellies and Canada goose jackets, were among the most popular clothing searches, up 46 per cent and 140 per cent, respectively, since October. The search engine published its findings in its Google Commerce blog after tracking online trends to identify the top trending toys, devices and clothing searches on the shopping avenue of its website. Game consoles and tablets continue to be the top gifts trending on Google Shopping, but wearable technology such as the 'fitbit' are also on the rise this month. 'Jogger pants' have also risen in popularity, with searches for the item up 39 per cent from October. The rise in popularity of ouija boards is likely to have been sparked by the release of the film Ouija last month. The low-budget horror film, inspired by the board which is said to contact the dead, tells the story of a group of young girls who reach out to the spiritual world in search of answers about their friend's mysterious death. It topped the movie charts in the United States and Canada, after collecting $20million in ticket sales alone in its first weekend. Hunter wellies (left) and My Little Pony toys are among the most searched for items on Google this month . Lego Friends is also expected to be a hit with families this Christmas, after being popular in Google searches . Google released the data ahead of Black Friday, which will see dozens of major retailers slash prices on goods. Research suggests that shoppers are already preparing for the annual online shopping day, which falls this Friday and became famous in the UK after being a success in America. Google said 27 per cent of shoppers have already begun hunting for Black Friday deals, in preparation for what is widely expected to be the busiest online shopping day of the year. In the study, the internet giant also found that nearly 50 per cent of all 25–34 year-olds use their phone to shop online while standing in the queue at a shop. Google said wearable technology such as the 'Fitbit' fitness bracelet (left) had risen in popularity since last month while tracksuit bottoms (right) were also on the rise, with an increase of 39 per cent month-on-month .

Searches for ouija boards on Google up 300 per cent since last month . Internet giant said it's 'one of the hottest gifts likely to sell out this season' Other top items include Hunter wellies, My Little Pony and Lego Friends . Data released ahead of Black Friday, when retailers will heavily cut prices .

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E-cigarettes could be luring teens into trying smoking - and lead them onto smoking 'real' cigarettes, researchers have warned. They found one-third of Hawaiian teens have tried e-cigarettes - half of whom have never used another tobacco product. They claim if a similar pattern was repeated in the US, it could lead to a 'epidemic of teen tobacco use'. Scroll down for video . E-cigarettes were found to be less addictive - but researchers say they could still be harmful to health . There are currently more than 400 brands of 'e-cigs' available. E-cigs contain far fewer cancer-causing and other toxic substances than cigarettes, however their long-term effects on health and nicotine dependence are unknown. The popularity of e-cigarettes, which typically deliver nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin and flavorings through inhaled vapor, has increased in the past five years. 'The concern is that e-cigarette advertising is recruiting intermediate risk adolescents to nicotine use- kids who would not otherwise have started smoking,' said James Sargent, of Dartmouth Hitchcock's Norris Cotton Cancer Center in a paper published in the journal Pediatrics. 'These are kids who might go on to smoke cigarettes, which are much better at delivering nicotine than e-cigarettes. 'If this pattern of use is adopted by adolescents in the continental U.S., we could be in for an epidemic of teen tobacco use in this country that could greatly reduce the overall benefits to public health of e-cigarettes.' Researchers from Dartmouth and the University of Hawaii Cancer Center collaborated in the 2013 survey-based study of 1,941 adolescents aged 14-15 years old in public and private schools in Hawaii. Cigarettes are highly taxed in Hawaii and e-cigarettes, with their potent combination of lower cost and kid-friendly flavours such as mango and pineapple, may be more attractive to teens. Thomas Wills, PhD, of the UH Cancer Center, said e-cigarettes, which are widely available in Hawaii, marketing is 'very aggressive here.' He added that manufacturers place ads in venues such as movie theaters where adolescents socialize, as well as on radio and television. Nearly nine per cent of eighth graders have admitted using an e-cigarette, compared with four per cent who have taken a normal cigarette. Professor Lloyd Jonson of the University of Michigan said: 'I worry that the tremendous progress that we've made over the last almost two decades in smoking could be reversed on us by the introduction of e-cigarettes.' E-cigarettes have been on sale in the United States since 2006, but this is the first year that the Centers for Disease Control  has measured their use. 'This is a markedly different pattern of use compared to their peers in the continental U.S., where teen e-cigarette use is less than half that rate and e-cigarette users are mainly also cigarette smokers (dual-users),' reported the team. Sargent and collaborators were so concerned about the findings that they submitted them to the FDA docket to inform proposed regulations on e-cigarettes. They note that favouring packaging, and marketing of e-cigarettes is not regulated, and that manufacturers' opportunities to target adolescents are wide open, absent FDA regulation of these products. A recent study found e-cigarettes are less addictive than cigarettes for former smokers, researchers have proved. The research sheds new light on how nicotine addiction works. However, experts warn the long term health risk of e-cigarettes are still unknown. 'We found that e-cigarettes appear to be less addictive than tobacco cigarettes in a large sample of long-term users,' said Jonathan Foulds, professor of public health sciences and psychiatry, Penn State College of Medicine. The popularity of e-cigarettes, which typically deliver nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin and flavourings through inhaled vapour, has increased in the past five years. The investigators assessed risk status for three groups (non-users, e-cigarette-only users, and dual-users) on variables that predict future use of cigarettes, and found the e-cigarette-only users to have risk that was in between the never-smokers and dual-users. Statistical analysis examined risk and protective variables across a spectrum of use, comparing never-smokers with e-cigarette-only users and e-cigarette-only users with dual-users. Risk factors for smoking cigarettes include protective variables such as parental support and academic involvement, in addition to risk factors including peer smoking and sensation seeking. On almost all of those measures, e-cigarette users ranked somewhere between the never-smokers and the dual-users. There are currently more than 400 brands of 'e-cigs' available in the US. E-cigs contain far fewer cancer-causing and other toxic substances than cigarettes, however their long-term effects on health and nicotine dependence are unknown. To study e-cigarette dependence, the researchers developed an online survey, including questions designed to assess previous dependence on cigarettes and almost identical questions to assess current dependence on e-cigs. More than 3,500 current users of e-cigs who were ex-cigarette smokers completed the Penn State Cigarette Dependence Index and the Penn State Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index. Higher nicotine concentration in e-cig liquid, as well as use of advanced second-generation e-cigs, which deliver nicotine more efficiently than earlier 'cigalikes,' predicted dependence. Consumers who had used e-cigs longer also appeared to be more addicted.

Currently more than 400 brands of e-cigarettes available in the US . Researchers found third of Hawaiian teens have tried e-cigarettes . Half of those surveyed had never used another tobacco product . E-cigarettes are now more popular than tobacco cigarettes among teens .

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Prince Philip was sporting a badly-bruised eye at a reception to commemorate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta at Buckingham Palace this evening. The 93-year-old Duke of Edinburgh was also wearing two butterfly stitches on a cut to his right ear that he received during his Christmas Break in Sandringham last month. Buckingham Palace do not comment on the health of the royal family but played down Philip's new facial injury by saying that he was: 'Well enough to attend the event this evening.' Scroll down for video . The Duke of Edinburgh had some painful-looking bruising to his eye at an event at Buckingham Palace this evening to commemorate the Magna Carta. He also had two butterfly stitches on a cut that he had sustained a couple of weeks earlier while on his Christmas break in Sandringham . It isn't the first time that the Duke has sported a black eye in recent years - in April 2013, he carried a similar mark under the same eye during an official engagement in Canada. At the time, it was reported that he hadn't fallen and had simply woken up with the mark on his face. The Duke was at the event this evening to accompany The Queen in her capacity as Patron of the Magna Carta Trust. Several Members of Parliament, constitutional historians, representatives of non-governmental organisations, and senior figures from the legal profession attended the reception at the palace to celebrate 800 years since the Magna Carta was sealed in 1215. Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, is greeted by Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Chris Grayling (fourth right) The Queen was dressed in a bright red dress with a matching jacket . The Queen wore a bright red dress with a matching jacket and accessorised with a diamond brooch, a pair of pearl earrings and a pearl necklace. During the event, guests were given the opportunity to view a facsimile of Magna Carta, provided by the British Library. King John agreed the Magna Carta at Runnymede, near Windsor, in June 1215 – a moment hailed as one of the most significant in English history. Dr Claire Breay of the British Library talks The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh through the details of the Magna Carta . Dr Claire Breay (left) and Clive Izard (centre) from the British Library discuss the Magna Carta with The Queen and Prince Philip . Meaning 'The Great Charter', the Magna Carta brought an end to the unlimited power of the monarch and established the principle that everybody, including the king, was subject to the law and had the right to fair trial. The manuscript has a large influence on the rule of law in Britain today, giving all citizens the right to justice and a fair trial. Prince Philip sported a similar bruise in April 2013, during a visit to Canada . It says: 'No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any other way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land. 'To no-one will we sell, to no-one deny or delay right or justice.' Once sealed by the king, scribes made many copies in medieval Latin, although only four are known to have survived. The Magna Carta influenced  Thomas Jefferson when he helped draft the Declaration of Independence. It also influenced the writers of the French constitution and the late South African leader Nelson Mandela, who cited it in his famous speech in his own defence at the Rivonia trial in 1964. A 13th century copy of the Magna Carta manuscript . What is Magna Carta? Magna Carta is an 800-year-old document containing the idea that no-one is above the law, and it still forms the foundation of many modern ideas and documents today. What does Magna Carta mean? It means 'Great Charter' in Latin. In fact the whole document is in Latin. When and where was Magna Carta granted? Magna Carta was first drawn up in 1215, granted by King John on June 15 at Runnymede near the River Thames in Surrey. Why was Magna Carta first written and granted? It was originally meant as a peace treaty between King John and his barons, with whom he was at war. Is it true that King John never 'signed' Magna Carta? Yes, at least not in the way we think of signing. Back in the Middle Ages kings never signed their name on documents to pass them into law. Instead John used his Great Seal to authenticate the document. How much of Magna Carta is relevant today? The original Magna Carta had 63 clauses. Today, only three of the original 63 clauses remain on the statute books. Of these three survivors one defends the liberties and rights of the English Church, another confirms the liberties and customs of London and other towns, and the third gives all English subjects the right to justice and a fair trial.

The Duke of Edinburgh was sporting a black eye at reception this evening . He accompanied The Queen to an event commemorating the Magna Carta . The party at Buckingham Palace was attended by MPs and historians .

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(CNN) -- Barcelona stand-in coach Jordi Roura suffered another agonizing display on his competitive return to the stadium that effectively ended his playing career. Twenty-four years on from suffering a cruciate ligament injury while playing for Barcelona in the San Siro, that same old sinking feeling returned for a man holding the reins as regular coach Tito Vilanova undergoes medical treatment for a tumor in New York. Fielding a strong side against a Milan team that failed to beat the Spaniards in last season's four European Champions League meetings, Barcelona lost the first leg of the last 16 clash 2-0. After a tight first half, Kevin-Prince Boateng broke the deadlock after 56 minutes when drilling home from the edge of the box after a Riccardo Montolivo drive was deflected into his path. Nine minutes from time, fellow Ghanaian Sulley Muntari sealed Milan's first Champions League win over Barca in 13 years after he stylishly finished off a sweeping move involving Stephan El Shaarawy and new signing M'Baye Niang. The victory was especially satisfying for the Milan hierarchy and club president Silvio Berlusconi, who may hope the unexpected win represents a good omen as the 76-year-old tries to return to office in this weekend's Italian elections. Following last year's comprehensive 3-1 aggregate defeat against Lionel Messi and colleagues in the Champions League quarterfinals, Milan overhauled their squad -- with Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf, Alessandro Nesta and Zlatan Ibrahimovic among those moved on. A total of eleven players who took part in the 2012 clashes were sold, reducing the average age of the squad from 30 to 27, and the team has slowly overcome a difficult bedding-in period to rise up to fourth in Serie A. Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri had spoken of the need before the game to find a way of blunting Barcelona's attacking threat and his plan worked to perfection thanks to the on-field discipline of his players. "We played as a team and we listened to our coach," said Muntari, whose goal was his first ever in the Champions League. "He did a fantastic job by setting us up us very well on the pitch -- and we were very disciplined and managed to close every angle." CNN Football Club: Send in your questions for Ian Wright . Even though Milan are seven-time European champions, their tally second only to the nine of Barcelona's great rivals Real Madrid, exuberant celebrations spread out across the stadium as the four-time winners fell without scoring an away goal. Roura has never made any claims to wanting to be a permanent coach and he suffered in Milan where the home side's impressive defensive discipline smothered the usual attacking prowess of a side standing 12 points clear in the Spanish league. His side were unable to formulate an alternative to their usual fluent style until the stand-in coach chose to use defender Gerard Pique in a makeshift attacking role for the final minutes. Mustering barely a shot on target worthy of the name, Barcelona's limp display -- with Lionel Messi's impact wholly minimized by some efficient defending -- must have made Roura, 45, wish he could never return to the San Siro in a competitive capacity again. In 1989, he was an aspiring Barca midfielder when the then 22-year-old suffered a serious knee against Milan in the European Super Cup - an injury that would bring his career to a premature end four years later. His side are now in danger of failing to reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time in six years and Vilanova may discover that his team is out of the competition when he returns to the fray in late March. Elsewhere, Galatasaray fielded both major January signings -- Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba -- in their home clash with Germans Schalke but were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw. The hosts appeared to have made the perfect start when Burak Yilmaz slammed home a fine individual goal after 12 minutes, with the striker now having scored seven of Galatasaray's 8 Champions League goals this term. That was as good as it got for the home side, with Jermaine Jones leveling the scores shortly before halftime as the visitors finished the game the stronger.

Milan win 2-0 in first leg of Last 16 tie to stun tournament favorites . Ghanaian duo Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari fired home in second half . Turks Galatasaray held 1-1 at home by Schalke despite fielding Sneijder and Drogba .

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By . Toby Harnden In Danville, Kentucky . PUBLISHED: . 07:54 EST, 11 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:38 EST, 11 October 2012 . Paul Ryan hopes to deliver a knockout blow to President Barack Obama's hopes of re-election tonight against Joe Biden who expects to come at him 'like a cannonball'. Paul Ryan has been taking time out from his workouts to prepare assiduously for tonight's vice-presidential debate in Danville, Kentucky with both camps predicting a muscular showdown between the two campaign attack dogs. If the pictures in the next edition of TIME magazine of the vice-presidential candidate working out last year are anything to go by, he's at least in physical shape for the showdown. Tough guy: Paul Ryan, pictured here demonstrating his workout technique last year, is hoping to deliver a knockout blow to Obama's re-election hopes tonight. PHOTO CREDIT: Gregg Segal for TIME . Ryan said this week he expects Biden to come swinging for him from the off after Obama's disastrous presidential debate last week: 'What was wrong with Obama? I don't know. It was really something,' Ryan said. 'President Obama was flustered. He has a terrible record to run on. It’s pretty indefensible as witnessed by the fact that he didn’t do a very good job of defending it last night.' 'That means the focus is going to be on Joe,' Ryan said, 'and I expect the vice president to come at me like a cannonball. He’ll be in full attack mode, and I don’t think he’ll let any inconvenient facts get in his way.' Brains and brawn: Ryan is seen as the intellectual superior to Biden. PHOTO CREDIT: Gregg Segal for TIME . At the same time, Ryan aides have said their man will be aggressive, accusing Biden of misrepresenting his record. Biden this morning joked with reporters about his strategy, saying: 'You ever see me rope-a-dope?' While the Romney campaign has been publicly playing down the chances of Representative Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, scoring a major victory in the vice-presidential debate, privately hopes are high that he could do very well. Advisor: Paul Ryan today tweeted this picture of him hugging one of his sons as he prepares for the showdown . Biden, who was a Senator for 36 years, is legendarily verbose and prone to verbal slips which have been a boon to the Romney campaign - most particularly when he said Republicans wanted to 'put y'all back in chains' and when he said the middle class had been 'buried' under Obama. Ryan, just 42, is widely seen as one of the most intellectually impressive of a new Republican generation, a policy expert steeped in the minutiae of the economy and who entered Congress in 1999 when he was just 28 - two years younger then Biden was when he became a Senator in 1972. Feeling good: Republicans are more confident than Democrats going into the vice presidential debate . Biden is expected to assail Ryan on his own budget plans in the House. But Ryan, who has fallen in line with Romney on policy issues, will want to keep the focus on his running mate. 'You have to remember this is a Romney-Ryan ticket, and there's one presidential candidate, there's one person at the top of the ticket,' Romney spokesman Kevin Madden told reporters. A new Pew Research Centre poll has found that voters view Biden less favourably than Ryan and much worse than they did when he debated the 2008 Republican vice- presidential candidate Sarah Palin. By a 40 per cent to a 34 per cent margin, voters expect Ryan to beat Biden at their Thursday debate in Danville, Kentucky. Among independents, 42 to 25 per cent believe Ryan will win. This could create an expectations problem . for Ryan - much as was the case for Obama, who was heavily favoured by . voters before he was trounced by Romney in the first presidential debate . in Denver. At the weekend, Ryan said of Biden: . 'He's fast on the cuff, he's a witty guy. He knows who he is and he's . been doing this for 40 years. So you're not going to rattle Joe Biden.' All smiles: Biden joked with reporters after stepping off the plane with his daughter Ashley Biden today 'Have you seen my rope-a-dope?' Romney tried to damp down Ryan's . experience, telling CNN: 'I don’t know how Paul will take on the debate. Obviously the Vice President has done 15-20 debates in his lifetime—he . is an experienced debater—I think this is Paul’s first debate. I may be . wrong, he may have done something in high school, we don’t know. 'But, . it will be a new experience for Paul, but I am sure he will do fine. Frankly, he has policy, facts, and results on his side. So I think you . find in the analysis people make the assessment on these debates not so . much on the theatrics or smoothness of the presenter, but the policies . and pathways being described.' Popularity contest: A new Pew Research poll has found . that voters view Biden less favourably than Ryan . Charmer: Ryan is widely seen as one of the most intellectually impressive of a new Republican generation . In fact, according to ABC News, Ryan has taken part in at least eight debates during his 14 years in Congress - though none of them anything like as high-profile as Thursday's clash, which could be seen by as many as the 67 million who watched Romney and Obama in Denver. According to Pew, Biden, whose role in the campaign is as attack dog and as the man who can connect with blue-collar voters, is viewed favourably by just 39 per cent of voters. Four years ago, when he faced Palin, his favourability rating was 53 per cent. Romney has leapt to level pegging - or . even into the lead - in national polls since his much-praised debate . performance in Denver. While Obama still holds slim leads in . battleground states, his campaign badly needs to alter the trajectory of . the race. Biden has the opportunity to do that but . traditionally vice-presidential debate, while they have provided . entertainment and some big moments, have not had an appreciable effect . on the general election result. Losing ground: Biden is . viewed favourably by just 39 per cent of voters compared to four years ago, when he . faced Palin and his favourability rating was 53 per cent . In 1988, Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas delivered one of the most famous put-downs in political history. When Senator Dan Quayle, then Vice-President George H.W. Bush's running mate, said he had nearly as much congressional experience as John F. Kennedy, Bentsen pounced. He said: 'Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy: I knew Jack Kennedy; Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. … Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.' Quayle responded lamely that this was 'really uncalled for' and his political career arguably never recovered . But in the November election, the Bush-Quayle Republican ticket was victorious over Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts and Bentsen, the Democratic ticket.

Ryan says he expects Biden to come at him 'like a cannonball' Pressure on Biden to be aggressive after Obama flop in Denver . He joked this morning about his strategy, saying 'you ever seen me rope-a-dope?' Expectations are high that Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan will win the debate against Vice President Joe Biden . Biden, a senator for 36 years, is a far more experienced debater than Ryan, who is 27 years younger than Biden . Republican nominee Mitt Romney is tamping down expectations that Ryan will win the debate to avoid negative fallout if his running mate fails to impress .

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It’s a decision that every seasoned traveller has wrestled with when a hotel doorman calls a taxi or a guide wraps up a tour – who should you tip during your travels and how generous should you be? While tipping is customary in most Western nations, many tourists are making big mistakes when it’s time to show their appreciation for good or exceptional service, largely because they don’t know how much to give and they are unaware of local customs. It can lead to awkward or uncomfortable situations, especially when the amount doesn’t reflect the quality of the service provided or no tip is given at all to someone who is expecting one or may be relying on gratuity to pay their bills. Tipping is not expected in China, but it has been catching on at businesses frequented by Western tourists . In a small number of countries, holidaymakers must tread carefully to avoid offending employees in the service industry. In Japan, for example, tipping is considered an insult. As for how much, it depends on the type of service provided, quality and geographic location as the rules vary by country. If the service is extremely poor, it’s OK to leave nothing at all. Etiquette expert William Hanson, author of The Bluffer’s Guide to Etiquette, said: ‘If the service or standards are sloppy then do not tip as the staff will only think that they are being rewarded and will get complacent and standards will not improve.’ Paul Fidgeon, associate professor of tourism at the University of West London’s School of Hospitality and Tourism, said tipping can be an ethical minefield, but the 10 per cent rule is a good one to follow. He said: ‘There are clearly issues here around who should you tip, how much should you tip, and should you tip at all, and there are big differences between countries and cultures. The standard tip for hotel bell staff is £1 to £5 per bag (or $1 to $5) when it is delivered to the room . ‘My advice here would be, in order to prevent problems, is do your research before you travel and try and find out about tipping culture and customs in that country prior to leaving home. ‘If in doubt, a small gratuity is taken a sign of appreciation.’ Oonagh Shiel, travel expert at Cheapflights.co.uk, added: ‘For those who are prepared to put a dent in their travel spend to cough up the cash needed for service charges, the rules surrounding tipping around the world are far from finite. ‘Whether you’re paying in euros, Indian rupees or US dollars the tipping system can come with a myriad of country-specific guidelines, leaving many tourists suitably perplexed.’ Despite the naysayers, it can lead to better service. Mr Hanson said he once over-tipped by about 100 per cent following an evening drink in the bar at a Washington, DC, hotel. He added: ‘Needless to say at breakfast the next day and for every breakfast there after I got incredible service and staff were falling over themselves to accommodate my every need. ‘I had fresh pastries “on the house” brought over, even though I didn’t want them, and everyone seemed to know my name suddenly.’ MailOnline Travel spoke to travel insiders to learn more about who should receive a tip – and how much – in countries where it is accepted. If a service charge isn't included, the standard tip at a restaurant is 10 to 15 per cent . Restaurant wait staff . These days, restaurants tend to include a service charge on the bill, and it is usually noted near the bottom. In the UK, the standard service charge is 12.5 per cent of the bill. If a service charge isn't included, the standard tip ranges from 10 to 15 per cent worldwide or up to 20 per cent for exceptional service in countries where it is common. Mr Hanson said: ‘The standard used to be 10 per cent - a nice easy percentage for people to work out but in the last ten years restaurants have sneakily pushed this up to 12.5 per cent, which is a pain for everyone concerned, but 10 per cent is still a good guide.’ The same rule of thumb typically applies for room service or a bartender. Marriott places envelopes in guest rooms at 1,000 of its hotels to encourage tipping for housekeeping staff . The American Hotel & Lodging Association published a gratuity guide which offers the following advice for guests: . Housekeeping staff: Leave a tip of $1 to $5 in a marked envelope or with a note. Concierge: Tip $5 to $10 depending on the service provided. Hotel shuttle driver: Give $1 to $2 or $4 to $5 per party. Valet/parking attendant: Hand over a tip of $1 to $5 when the car is delivered. Bell staff/porters: $1-$5 per bag, especially if the luggage is heavy or the staff member explains the room and its features. Door staff: Tip $1-$2 if they hail a cab. Delivery of special items (an extra blanket, for example): $2 for one item, $1 for more . Room service: If there is no service charge, tip 15 to 20 per cent. Restaurant: Leave a tip amounting to 15 per cent of the total bill or 20 per cent for exceptional service. Bartender: 15 to 20 per cent of the tab. Housekeeping staff . These hotel employees tend to be the forgotten ones because they tend to do their work when guests are not around. But some hotels are starting to remind their customers of the work that they do. Marriott places envelopes in guest rooms at nearly 1,000 of its hotels to encourage tipping for its cleaners. The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) published a gratuity guide, which said guests should leave a tip of $1 to $5 in a marked envelope or with a note. Housekeeping staff in better hotels should expect £5 to £10 at the end of a week’s stay, said Mr Hanson. Concierge . Tips for concierges depend on the nature of the service provided. Did they book a table at a trendy restaurant? A few pounds or dollars should do. If they managed to score hard-to-get tickets to a concert or sporting event, a tip of at least $10 (approximately $6.50) is warranted, the AHLA said. Another option is leaving a lump sum upon departure. It is not uncommon to tip hotel door staff £1 to £2 for hailing a cab, and £1 to £5 per bag for bell staff . Porters and door staff . The standard tip for hotel bell staff is £1 to £5 per bag ($1 to $5 or the equivalent in local currency) when it is delivered to the room. It should be on the higher end of the scale if the bags are heavy or if the employee takes time to show you how to operate the TV or explain the room’s features. Guests who request bell service when they check out should provide another tip. It is not uncommon to tip door staff £1 to £2 for hailing a cab. Taxi drivers are usually tipped 10 per cent of the fare, although in some countries it is common to round up . Transportation . For valet service, tip £1 to £5 (or $1 to $5) to the employee when the car is delivered. Those who are driven to and from their hotel by shuttle should give £1 to £2 or £4 to £5 per party. Taxi drivers are usually tipped 10 per cent of the fare, although in some countries it is common to simply round up to the nearest whole number. In Africa, holidaymakers should budget a tip of at least $10 per day (in a shared vehicle) for game rangers . Tour guides . This is another situation where the 10 per cent rule tends to apply. Experts said the standard tip for a tour guide is 10 to 20 per cent for a job well done on a day tour. For multi-day group tours, about £5 a day in local currency should be enough. Before travelling abroad holidaymakers should take some time to research local tipping customs to avoid an embarrassing situation. Saskia Welman of Holidaylettings.co.uk said: ‘If you haven’t managed to research acceptable tipping advice for your destination, keep an eye out on what other tourists around you are tipping. ‘Never ask whether you should tip someone or not as this can be embarrassing for the service person or you could end up being ripped off.’ Here are a few customs to take note of: . Tipping is considered an insult in Japan . Africa: Ten to 15 per cent is the norm at restaurants, but the bill may include a service charge. For game rangers, holidaymakers should budget a tip of $10 per day (approximately £6.50) in a shared vehicle, or at least double that amount if they are travelling in a private vehicle, said Oonagh Shiel, travel expert at Cheapflights.co.uk. Australia: There is no tipping culture in Australia or New Zealand, so it is not a requirement. For those who receive exemplary service, a small tip is a good way to show appreciation, said Ms Shiel. Caribbean: Many all-inclusive resorts discourage tipping as it is typically included in the cost of the room. Guests who are unsure should check with the concierge to find out if tips are permitted. China: Tipping is not required or expected, but it is common at hotels and restaurants frequented by Western tourists. High-end hotels or restaurants may add a service charge to the bill. Tipping is very common in Hong Kong and Macau. Egypt: Expect to pay a further five to ten per cent on top of the five to ten per cent service charge. France: ‘Service compris’ means that a service charge is included on the bill, but customers can leave extra if they were satisfied with the service. Germany: Don't leave a tip on the table at a restaurant. Hand it to the waiter or waitress. Japan: Tipping is considered an insult in Japan, so don’t bother offering a little extra to your cab driver or waiter. Spain: A tip of between seven and 13 per cent is commonplace in restaurants, according to the level of service received, though travellers are unlikely to get a rap on the wrist if no tip is given, said Ms Shiel. Thailand: Tipping is not a requirement, but 20 baht is acceptable in many situations.

Many tourists don't know how much to tip or are unaware of local customs . Gratuity amount depends on type of service provided and quality . Standard tip at a restaurant ranges from 10 to 15 per cent, said experts . Marriott leaves envelopes in its rooms for guests to tip housekeepers . Hotel guests should give bell staff anywhere from £1 to £5 per bag .

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(CNN) -- Thousands of people across the globe took to the streets on Saturday in annual demonstrations for May Day, the annual event marked by demonstrations demanding better working conditions. Known as International Workers' Day, the holiday draws thousands to peacefully protest. Others, as in Athens, Greece, clashed with police amid growing anger over the government's stiff plans to grapple with the country's debt. About 12,000 people in Athens were on the streets, waving red flags and at times surging toward a line of police, who wore helmets and carried riot shields. Those disturbances led to injuries and arrests. A satellite truck was torched and two ATMs, the glass frontage of a bank and a car were damaged. In Russia, more than 2.5 million people participated in traditional May Day celebrations in 900 cities and towns, the country's trade union federation said. The largest gatherings took place in Krasnodar, Yakutsk, Vladivostok, Izhevsk, Moscow and St. Petersburg. The people spoke out in favor of decent salaries and stable employment. Watch May Day demonstration in Paris, France. According to CNN sources and state-run news reports, there were many demonstrations. Turkey: . For this first time in 30 years, tens of thousands of union members and leftist political activists gathered for the first legally sanctioned May Day celebration in Istanbul's central Taksim Square. Germany: . Several protesters were detained after clashes with police in Hamburg. Seventeen police officers were reportedly injured when confronting demonstrators who they said were throwing rocks and setting garbage cans on fire. Cuba: . A throng marched through Revolution Plaza in Havana. Crowds are usually big in Cuba on International Workers' Day but government officials said the turnout was a signal to Washington that the country is unified and supports its leaders. United States: . Several dozen cities braced for protests against Arizona's controversial new immigration law. Asia: . Thousands gathered in several Asian cities for its annual May Day demonstrations. They demanded improved working conditions and wage increases. Clashes between police and protesters were seen on TV. Iran: . Protests popped up at the Labor Ministry, where demonstrators clashed with police and shouted "Death to the dictator." CNN's Diana Magnay, Ivan Watson, Yesim Comert, Azadeh Ansari and Maxim Tkachenko contributed to this report .

International Workers' Day draws thousands of demonstrators annually . Truck torched; ATMs, front of bank and car damaged in Athens, Greece . More than 2.5 million people participated in May Day celebrations in Russia . In the U.S., several dozen cities braced for protests against Arizona's new immigration law .

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By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 20:21 EST, 25 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:36 EST, 26 April 2013 . A fight in the crowded Westfield shopping centre just before the Olympics led to murder and a pitched battle between two gangs, a court heard. Shoppers looked on in horror as Liam Woodards, 24, was stabbed in the chest after glasses and a yoghurt pot were thrown at rivals. As he lay dying, youths began fighting, throwing metal chairs and brandishing two knives, the Old Bailey was told. Victim: Liam Woodards was stabbed at Westfield shopping centre just before the Olympics . 'It was a joint pitched battle,' said Aftab Jafferjee QC, prosecuting. Nii-Azu Kojo Smith, 18, of Hackney Wick, east London, denies murder at the prestigious site next to the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, on June 29. Seven others aged between 18 and 25 deny violent disorder, while five others have pleaded guilty to various offences, the jury was told. Mr Jafferjee said it was not known if there had been a history between the two groups or whether the confrontation was 'gratuitous and opportunistic violence'. But there had been 'an atmosphere of menace' with 'verbal posturing' between the two sides during the build up. At 4.20pm, the groups converged and after a number of exchanges, they moved towards some central stalls with Mr Woodards ending up amongst the rival youths. Mr Jafferjee said there was little doubt that Mr Woodards had been 'confrontational and mouthy' in the escalating atmosphere. A glass and a yoghurt pot had been thrown by Mr Woodards' group, then a third item, a glass or yoghurt pot landed on or near Kojo-Smith. Mr Jafferjee said: 'The deceased did not throw anything. His only crime was to have been mouthy.'His misfortune was to be closest to Kojo-Smith who was confronting the other man just before the item landed.' Kojo-Smith allegedly produced a knife as Mr Woodards moved away. 'In an utterly disproportionate and lethal reaction, Kojo-Smith lunged forward and stabbed the retreating Liam Woodards in the chest. 'This was as needless as it was cowardly. Mr Woodards was an easy and mouthy target.' Jason Vaughan and Anselm Legemah, on trial for violent disorder with Nii-Azu Kojo-Smith, who is also accused of murder . Javin Rigabie, 23, denies being part of the fighting that happened after the murder of Mr Woodards . Shoppers at Westfield shopping centre in east London looked on in horror as Liam Woodards, 24, was stabbed in the chest . Accused: Michael Alvaranga, 24, is one of the group on trial for violent disorder . A thrown yoghurt pot sparked a knife murder in front of horrified shoppers inside the giant mall next to the London Olympic site just weeks before the games began. Two rival gangs squared up to each other as they met in 'The Street' area of the Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford, east London, last June, a court heard today. Plastic bottles and plastic yoghurt pots were thrown and when one hit alleged killer Nii-Azu Kojo-Smith, 18, he responded by pulling out a knife and lunging at Liam Woodard 'whose only crime thus far was to have been mouthy,' the Old Bailey was told. Mr Woodard, who turned 24 the day before his death and had been celebrating his birthday with pals, had the 'misfortune' to have been close to Kojo-Smith when he lunged forward and stabbed him once in the chest. As Kojo-Smith fled, Mr Woodard's friends picked up steel chairs and began hurling them at the rival gang in front of shoppers as two other knives were brandished. Aftab Jafferjee QC, prosecuting, told the Old Bailey jury the yoghurt pot had been thrown by Danny Caton, 24, who has since pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He said Caton's act 'set in motion the train of events'. Mr Jafferjee said: 'He threw a glass and then a plastic yoghurt pot at or towards the rival group. A third pot or glass was also thrown. It may not readily be apparent who it was. 'As far as the offensive behaviour and verbal posturing in immediate build up for the violence that was to follow, there is little to choose between the conduct of various members of each group , each being as offensive as the other. 'Woodard had plainly not thrown anything, his only crime thus far was to have been mouthy. His misfortune was to be close to Kojo-Smith, each confronting each other either before or after the items were thrown.' He said CCTV captured Kojo-Smith pulling out the knife murder and recorded the murder and the resulting violence. The fight happened just before the Olympics. Pictured here is the Olympic Stadium in London . He added: 'Significantly Woodard, the deceased, was beginning to back away. He was therefore not only unarmed but posing no threat whatsoever to Kojo-Smith. 'In an utterly disproportionate and lethal reaction, Kojo-Smith lunged forward and stabbed the retreating Woodard in his chest. 'Kojo-Smith seeks to rely on self-defence. The prosecution case is that the evidence demonstrates that nothing could be further from the truth. 'This was an act by Kojo-Smith that was as needless as it was cowardly. Kojo-Smith had a knife and he could see Woodard did not. Woodard was an easy and mouthy target, it was as simple and mindless as that.' Mr Jafferjee said as Kojo-Smith fled Woodard's friends been hurling chairs and in the mayhem that followed it was not apparent Woodard had been stabbed. He said: 'A frightening event for members of the public who were obviously around at the time simply trying to shop and enjoy themselves in such avenue shortly before the London Olympics was to begin, this being June 29.' Kojo-Smith, of Hackney, denies murder. Michael Alvaranga, 24, Javin Rigabie, 23, Travis Townsend, 21, and members of Woodard's gang Tony Caton, 21, Anselm Legemah, 18, Jason Vaughan, 25, and Emmanuel Oloyede, 19, all deny violent disorder. The trial continues. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.

Shoppers looked on in horror as Liam Woodards, 24, was stabbed . Nii-Azu Kojo Smith, 18, of Hackney Wick, east London, denies murder .

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The American cities with the most coffee-lovers have been revealed - and the top spots are not necessarily where you might expect. According to an I Love Coffee infographic using data from a Men's Health study, people in Portland, Maine, are the most obsessed with the caffeinated brew. And on the other end of the spectrum, residents of Jackson, Mississippi, couldn't care less about coffee, apparently preferring to start their mornings with another beverage. Pass me the joe! According to an infographic using data from a Men's Health study, Portland, Maine, is the city in America that is most obsessed with coffee . Since Seattle, Washington, is the birthplace of Starbucks and known for its coffee culture, one would assume that it would score high on the list. But surprisingly, the West Coast city only came in at number nine, followed by Corpus Christi, Texas, at number ten. The top three spots are in fact all located in the Northeast: Portland, Maine; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Burlington, Vermont, respectively. In order to reach these findings, the study considered the percentage of households that own coffeemakers and buy coffee, the average amount of money spent on coffee per household, the number of cafes per capita and the percentage of residents who drink five-plus cups a day. No thanks: Judging by the maps, none of the Southern states have taken a liking to coffee - in fact, a number of cities in the South are on the list of places that are least obsessed with the drink . Judging by the map, none of the Southern states have taken a liking to coffee - in fact, a number of cities in the South are on the list of places that are least obsessed with the drink. Texas cities Fort Worth, Houston and Dallas are all indifferent to coffee, with Fort Worth coming in second place on the 'least obsessed' list, Houston in tenth and Dallas in sixth. Other cities where coffee is unappreciated include Memphis, Tennessee; Durham, North Carolina; and Kansas City, Missouri. 1. Portland, Maine . 2. Manchester, New Hampshire . 3. Burlington, Vermont . 4. Portland, Oregon . 5. Albuquerque, New Mexico . 6. Colorado Springs, Colorado . 7. Reno, Nevada . 8. San Francisco, California . 9. Seattle, Washington . 10. Corpus Christi, Texas . 1. Jackson, Mississippi . 2. Fort Worth, Texas . 3. Memphis, Tennessee . 4. Durham, North Carolina . 5. Birmingham, Alabama . 6. Dallas, Texas . 7. Baton Rouge, Louisiana . 8. Milwaukee, Wisconsin . 9. Kansas City, Missouri . 10. Houston, Texas .

Since Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks and known for its coffee culture, one would assume that it would score high, but it was only number nine . Surprisingly, New York City did not even make the top ten list .

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Being paid £3,000 per month for inscribing intricate writing patterns on young female models means that at just 23-years-old this self-taught artist probably has the world's best job. Talented 'calligraffiti' artist Pokras Lampas, from St. Petersburg, Russia, has his models strip naked before he scribbles his calligraphy freehand on their chests, navels and legs. The intricate designs wind around the models' bodies, covering them in the ancient writing form in a variety of colours, creating mesmerizing and unique works of art. A model has been blended into a calligraphy backdrop in one of Pokras' unusual designs . The intricate work means that models often have to remain still for up to five hours to create the designs . Pokras' clients now include world-famous brands such as Nike, Mercedes-Benz and Skoda . 'Sometimes girls are fully naked,' said Pokras. 'My male friends might be envious of my job sometimes, but my real mates just enjoy the work I produce and support me with help and feedback. 'My girlfriend fully understands that this is my job and knows that I am trying to be a good boy during my sessions. 'I enjoy this job, but for me sometimes really important to stay serious and execute my calligraphy perfectly.' Unbelievably Pokras in entirely self taught, and says many models want to turn his designs into permanent tattoos . Pokras began graffiti art when he was 16 before teaching himself calligraphy and combining the two . Pokras Lampas poses in his studio with one of his models baring his calligraphy . Pokras uses acrylic-based ink to write on the ladies' bodies in sessions that last up to five-hours. Pokras' unusual art has become so successful that his clients include world-famous brands such as Nike, Mercedes-Benz and Skoda. 'I got started as a graffiti artist when I was just 16-years-old,' said Pokras. 'I started to teach myself calligraphy a few years after this and began to blend the two techniques together. 'People are generally impressed by my style and how it looks on my models. 'Often the models love the look so much they want calligraphy tattoos to be permanent on their necks or hands.' For more information see http://calligraphyongirls.com/ .

Began graffiti art when he was 16 before teaching himself calligraphy . He is entirely self-taught and each design takes up to 5 hours to create . His clients include brands such as Nike, Mercedes-Benz and Skoda .

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The flag over the Taliban's Qatar office was reportedly still flying today despite the U.S. government's promise to its Afghan counterparts that it would be removed. Afghan president Hamid Karzai has already promised to boycott peace talks, and the Taliban styling their Doha office as a diplomatic mission risked worsening tensions. As well as the flag, the newly opened office in Doha where talks between the fundamentalist group and the U.S. are due begin had opened with a sign announcing the 'Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan'. After objections that was later replaced with one that read, simply: 'Political office of the Taliban'. Afghan President Hamid Karzai said his government has suspended negotiations on a security deal in protest at the not being included in initial peace talks with the Taliban . Suspension comes just 12 hours after U.S. said it would hold talks with the Taliban at its newly opened office . U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had also promised Afghan officials that the flag would be removed, but today it was still flying, albeit on a shorter flagpole, according to the BBC. Mr Karzai is understood to feel . betrayed by the failure of U.S. officials to extract commitments from the . Taliban to engage with the Afghan government, recognise the constitution . and renounce violence before the talks took place. In protest that the peace process was . not being 'Afghan-led', Mr Karzai also suspended meetings on allowing . 9,000 US and 6,000 allied troops to remain in Afghanistan following . Nato's withdrawal in 2014. He suspended both sets of talks after the deaths of four US soldiers in a rocket attack at the Bagram airbase outside Kabul. The Taliban claimed responsibility and . the attack fuelled concerns that a peace deal could hand Afghanistan . back to the extremists who have killed 444 British troops since 2001. Aimal Faizi, Mr Karzai's spokesman, . said: 'There is a contradiction between what the US government says and . what it does regarding Afghanistan peace talks.' Meanwhile, it has emerged that the . Taliban are ready to free a U.S. soldier held captive since 2009 in . exchange for five of their senior operatives imprisoned at Guantanamo . Bay, a senior spokesman for the group said today. The only known American soldier held . captive from the Afghan war is U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl of . Hailey, Idaho. He disappeared from his base in southeastern Afghanistan . on June 30, 2009, and is believed held in Pakistan. In an exclusive telephone interview . with The Associated Press from his Doha office, Taliban spokesman . Shaheen Suhail said that Sergeant Bergdahl 'is, as far as I know, in . good condition.' 'He is, as far as I know, in good condition': Shaheen Suhail said U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl (pictured) could be freed in exchange for five of senior Taliban fighters currently imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay . Among the five prisoners the Taliban . have consistently requested are Khairullah Khairkhwa, a former Taliban . governor of Herat, and Mullah Mohammed Fazl, a former top Taliban . military commander, both of whom have been held for more than a decade. Sergeant Bergdahl's parents earlier . this month received a letter from their son who turned 27 on March 28 . through the International Committee of the Red Cross. They did not release details of the . letter but renewed their plea for his release. The soldier's captivity . has been marked by only sporadic releases of videos and information . about his whereabouts. The prisoner exchange is the first . item on the Taliban's agenda before even opening peace talks, saidn Mr . Suhail, who is a top Taliban figure and served as first secretary at the . Afghan Embassy in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad before the Taliban . government's ouster in 2001. 'First has to be the release of . detainees,' Mr Suhail said when asked about the captive sergeant. 'Yes. It would be an exchange. Then step by step, we want to build bridges of . confidence to go forward.' Tensions are high after four soldiers were killed by the Taliban at the Bagram Air Base (pictured) The US announced . negotiations with the Taliban on the same day that Nato handed over . security for the country to the Afghan government. US President Barack Obama said: . 'Ultimately, we're going to need to see Afghans talking to Afghans about . how they can end the cycle of violence.' Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the insurgents . fired two rockets into the base outside the Afghan capital, Kabul, late last night. American officials confirmed the base had come under attack . by indirect fire — likely a mortar or rocket — and that four U.S. troops . were killed . The Karzai announcement and the . latest attack may hamper the peace process just 12 hours after the U.S. announced the milestone negotiations due to be held in Doha. In a statement from his office, Karzai said negotiations with the . U.S. on what American and coalition security forces will remain in the . country after 2014 have been put on hold. The deal was expected to . define the future of American troops here and also pave way for billions . in aid to the Afghan economy. Karzai's statement followed an announcement yesterday by the U.S. and the . Taliban that they would pursue bilateral talks in Qatar before the . Afghan government was brought in. He . said: 'In view of the contradiction between acts and the statements . made by the United States of America in regard to the peace process, the . Afghan government suspended the negotiations, currently underway in . Kabul between Afghan and U.S. delegations on the bilateral security . agreement.' The U.S. said it would negotiate with the Taliban at the group's offices in Doha, Qatar. Pictured. Qatari Assistant Foreign Minister Ali bin Fahad Al-Hajri (right) and Taliban official Jan Mohammad Madani (left) one of the Taliban officials . The Taliban said yesterday they would open a 'political office' in Qatar to conduct peace talks on Afghanistan . The U.S. Embassy in Kabul said it has no immediate comment. The . Taliban indicated yesterday that they would be willing to talk with the . Afghan leader despite previously dismissing him as an Afghan puppet. But both the American side and the Taliban said they would first meet together before any talks with the Afghanistan government. The Taliban has opened a political office in Doha with the intention of . starting peace talks, which was a reversal of months of failed efforts to start . negotiations. President Barack Obama cautioned that the peace talks with the Taliban . would be neither quick nor easy but that their opening a political . office in Doha was an 'important first step toward reconciliation' between the Islamic militants and the government of Afghanistan. It is not clear how long Karzai plans to suspend negotiations on the NATO agreement for. The . security handover is due to pave the way for the departure of the . majority of coalition forces - currently numbering about 100,000 troops . from 48 countries, including 66,000 Americans - within 18 months. The . NATO-led force is to be cut in half by the end of the year, and by the . end of 2014 all combat troops are to leave and be replaced — contingent . on Afghan governmental approval — by a smaller force that would be on . hand for training and advising. NATO troops are to be cut in half in the coming months with Afghanistan taking control of security . The . U.S. has not yet said how many troops will remain in Afghanistan, but . it is thought that it would be a force made up of about 9,000 Americans . and 6,000 allies. Six years . ago, Afghan security forces numbered fewer than 40,000, and have grown . to about 352,000 today. But questions remain if they are good enough to . fight alone. The Afghan Taliban has said it wants a political solution to the 12-year war that would bring about a just . government and end foreign occupation. Taliban . officials held secret negotiations in Norway over the past few months . that played a significant role in the opening of the Taliban's Qatari . office, foreign minister Espen Barth Eide told state broadcaster NRK. In setting up the office, the . Taliban said they were willing to use all legal means to end what they . called the occupation of Afghanistan — but did not say they would . immediately stop fighting. American officials said the U.S. and . Taliban representatives will hold bilateral meetings in the coming days. Karzai's High Peace Council had been expected to follow up with its own . talks with the Taliban a few days later but it was now not clear . whether that would happen. The Afghan Army has swelled in size since 2007, and now numbers more than 350,000 . Yesterday, a formal agreement meant Afghans will now have the lead for security in all 403 districts of Afghanistan's 34 provinces. Until now, they were responsible for 312 districts nationwide, where 80 per cent of Afghanistan's population of nearly 30 million lives. Afghan security forces were until now carrying out 90 per cent of military operations around the country. Foreign forces will continue to support Afghans on the battlefield when they require it, but the Afghan army and police will be responsible for planning and leading military operations against the insurgency. 'As your forces step forward across the country, the main effort of our forces is shifting from combat to support. We will continue to help Afghan troops in operations if needed. But we will no longer plan, execute or lead those operations. And by the end of 2014, our combat mission will be completed. At that time, Afghanistan will be fully secured by Afghans,' NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said. Called 'Resolute Support,' Rasmussen . said the goal of the new mission 'is to train, advise and assist Afghan . forces. We will also play our part in the broader international efforts, . to ensure the long-term sustainment of the Afghan security forces. This . will be another visible demonstration that Afghanistan does not stand . alone, now or in the future.' The U.S. and its allies have already pledged to fund the Afghan forces in the immediate years after 2015. Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai (left) shakes hands with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (right) during the handover ceremony .

President Hamid Karzai drops out of security talks in protest at negotiations . Angry that government blocked form initial talks between U.S. and Taliban . Karazi accuses U.S. of 'inconsistent statements and actions' Hours after announcement Taliban killed four U.S. soldiers in air base attack . Threatens peace process just one day after milestone announcement .

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(CNN) -- Spain won the World Cup for the first time in its history as an extra-time goal from midfielder Andres Iniesta gave his country a last-gasp 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in the final at Soccer City. The showpiece game of the South Africa-hosted tournament on Sunday was littered with no less than 14 yellow cards and one red but was settled by a moment of magic by the Barcelona man after he was played in by substitute Cesc Fabregas. His 116th-minute strike was the goal all Spaniards were waiting for and spared both sides the agony of deciding the new world champions by penalties. The breakthrough came after the Dutch had been reduced to 10 men, following Johnny Heitinga's dismissal in the second half of extra time by referee Howard Webb for a foul on Iniesta. "It's incredible," Iniesta told gathered media in a post-match news conference. "What a joy especially when you see how we won it. There aren't the words to describe what I am feeling. After my goal, I thought about my family and all the people who I love. But the victory is the fruit of a lot of work," an emotional Iniesta told reporters. Spain coach Vincente del Bosque added to the happy sentiment following his side's victory: "Today is a reward for beautiful football. Everyone in the dressing room is ecstatic," he said. Del Bosque, who won two European Cups when in charge of club side Real Madrid, dedicated the win to his countrymen. "Spain, the country, deserves this triumph. This goes beyond sport. We have to celebrate and are delighted to be able to offer this victory to all the people of Spain." Del Bosque said it had been a pleasure to coach the side, which with the win adds the World Cup to its European crown. "There is joy of being 50 days with this group of players who have given us the world title. It was a difficult match. Afterwards, I think that we were slightly better," he added. The coach also refused to be drawn into criticizing the tough tackling of the Netherlands: "I'm here to speak about the beautiful things of football. Holland played a good game in an even, balanced match. Yes it was rough at times, but that is part of football." For the Spanish came joy, but for the Dutch, desolation. The Netherlands lost its third appearance in a World Cup final, after previous defeats in the 1974 and 1978. Two second-half chances went begging for star player Arjen Robben. The flying winger was sent clear by Wesley Sneijder, only to be denied by a superb save from Spain captain Iker Casillas, who stuck out a leg to send the ball wide. Late in normal time Robben was also through and appeared to be pulled back by Spain defender Carles Puyol before Casillas saved again at his feet. Spain had great chances in the second half with David Villa denied by the legs of Heitinga, and Sergio Ramos who headed over with the goal at his mercy. At the end of normal time, the game remained scoreless, as the dropping temperatures and deadlock in the match served to quiet the sell-out crowd in the Soccer City Stadium. In extra-time, Spain pressed forward with yet more urgency and Fabregas was put through by Iniesta only for goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg to deny him with a smart save. With the game opening up, Joris Mathijsen was nearly an unlikely scorer for the Dutch while Spain substitute Jesus Navas saw his shot deflected into the side netting. But in the second half of extra-time, the goal chances dried up until Iniesta cropped up to score the winner. Substitute Fernando Torres, who later pulled up in agony clutching his hamstring, played in the initial ball. It was poorly cleared, falling to Fabregas, who sent a neat pass through to his teammate Iniesta, who had cleverly stayed onside. The Dutch angrily protested Webb should have awarded an earlier foul, but he waved the protests away and was soon signaling the end of an eventful final, marred by persistent fouling that broke up the natural rhythm of the game. A chest-high tackle in the first half by Nigel de Jong, which left Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso nursing bruised ribs, might have earned a red card, while Mark van Bommel also escaped harsher punishment after another thumping challenge. Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk -- who lost out on the chance to have become the first coach since 1970 to have led a side through World Cup qualifying and the finals unbeaten -- conceded Spain had deserved to win. "The best team won. I am disappointed. Early on we gave chances away, we were not good enough in possession of the ball. But then we turned it around. We made a real game out of it and we had two great chances through Arjen [Robben]. "It is very bitter, but that is sport. It is harsh. Spain were the better team," he told reporters after the game. In Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, most of the hundreds of thousands of people who'd gathered in the Museumplein square to watch the game on a giant screen filtered out in stunned silence after the final whistle, leaving behind trampled orange hats and a smattering of tearful people sitting on crates with their heads in their hands. "I thought we could hang on till the penalties, and then it would have been 50-50," said a man in his 30s, wearing face paint in the colors of the Dutch flag. A woman in her early 20s had an expression that veered between a smile and a frown. "We really thought we could do it," she said. "It was tough to watch, and it feels tough now." Back in South Africa, Van Marwijk defended the tactics that had seen his side regularly penalized by the referee: "It is not our style, but then again you play a match to win. It is a World Cup final, and there is a lot of emotion -- you saw that at the end of the match. "I would have loved to win the match, even with not so beautiful football. I'm not someone to look back on the what the referee did. I think the best team usually wins the match," he added.

Spain win World Cup for the first time with 1-0 win over the Netherlands . Goal from Iniesta in extra time settles final without penalty kicks at Soccer City . Dutch lose their third appearance in a World Cup final . Game littered by 14 yellow cards and sending off for Dutchman Johnny Heitinga .

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(CNN) -- A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck the Russian Far East on Friday, the U.S. Geologicial Survey reported. The epicenter for the extremely powerful quake was located in the Sea of Okhotsk, just to the west of the Kamchatka Peninsula, and about 600 kilometers (nearly 375 miles) underground. The quake was felt for five minutes in the region, Russia's Ria Novosti news agency reported. Many people ran into the streets as the temblor shook. No tsunami warnings were issued in the quake's immediate aftermath. The region is located along the Pacific "ring of fire," an area of high seismic and volcanic activity stretching from New Zealand in the South Pacific up through Japan, across to Alaska and down the west coasts of North and South America. CNN's Boriana Milanova contributed to this report .

The earthquake was centered off the western coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula . No tsunami warnings were issued . The region is located along the Pacific "ring of fire," an area of high seismic and volcanic activity .

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Mauricio Pochettino is not scared to drop his star players from the north London derby, and has told his squad that a good performance against Nottingham Forest in the Capital One Cup could earn them a place against Arsenal on Saturday. This will come as a wake-up call to Tottenham's under-achieving senior players, as Pochettino opens the door for fringe and youth squad members to make the starting eleven in one of Spurs' biggest games of the season. Speaking to press in the build-up to Wednesday night's Capital One Cup match against Nottingham Forest, Pochettino said: 'We have 25 or 26 players and they are all in the squad. Mauricio Pochettino watches on as his side fall to a 0-1 loss against West Brom at White Hart Lane . Etienne Capoue (centre) of Spurs reacts angrily after Spurs conceded to a James Morrison header . 'If I decide you play then you play, but the name is nothing for me when I pick my team. Every day, they fight for their places. 'When I pick the best players for each game, I analyse the last performance. I have no problem to change, I have no problem to pick different players in different competitions or if it's not a good moment - if you need to change, you change.' Tottenham have endured a difficult start to the season, winning two, losing two and drawing one on their way to ninth position. Last weekend's loss to West Brom stretched Spurs' winless streak to four matches in all competitions, and they have a lot to prove when they face a Forest team flying high, unbeaten, at the top of the Championship. Pochettino (right) looks dishevelled as he puffs out his cheeks behind West Brom's Alan Irvine (left) Disgruntled Tottenham fans direct their frustration towards the pitch after Morrison's West Brom winner .

Tottenham have not won for four matches in all competitions . They play Nottingham Forest in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night . Mauricio Pochettino has told his players to earn their place against Arsenal - who they face in a north London derby on Saturday . Pochettino has said that any of his 25-man squad could play .

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A Muslim mother has been told to expect a 'substantial' prison sentence after encouraging terrorism in Syria over social media. Runa Khan, 34, admitted posting a message on Facebook in September, saying: 'Sisters, if you love your sons, husbands and brothers, prove it by sending them to fight for Allah.' Khan, a mother-of-six, also posted a a picture of a suicide vest on the site, alongside a message which read 'sacrifice your life to be in Islam' in July last year. Scroll down for video . Runa Khan, 34 (right), a mother-of-six, has been told to expect a 'substantial' jail sentence after pleading guilty to posting messages on Facebook encouraging men to go and fight 'for Allah' in Syria . On September 13, she sent a series of messages on the social media site describing a path into Syria and the name of a group in the country to join. Wearing a niqab while standing in the dock of Kingston Crown Court, Khan pleaded guilty to four counts of disseminating terrorist publications between July and September 2013. Addressing the defendant, Judge Peter Birts QC said: 'I’m sure you have been advised they are charges of the utmost gravitas that almost inevitably will be met by a substantial custodial sentence.' Judge Birts allowed Khan to wear a niqab in the dock after her barrister Jo Sidhu QC confirmed her identity. The court heard Khan, from Luton, sent a series of Facebook messages to an undercover police officer describing a route from Turkey into Syria. Kingston Crown Court, Surrey, heard that Khan posted the messages between July and September last year along with a picture of a suicide vest. She also posted details of a route into Syria from Turkey . She received details of the route from Mohammed Nahin Ahmed who has admitted spending eight months in Syria fighting alongside an Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group, the hearing was told. Ahmed and childhood friend Yusuf Zubair Sarwar, both 22, from Birmingham, fled to the country last May after contacting Islamic extremists. They each pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in preparation of terrorism acts at London’s Woolwich Crown Court earlier this month.

Runa Khan, 34, admitted posting messages with picture of a suicide vest . Told by judge to expect a 'substantial' jail sentence for her crimes . Khan, a mother-of-six, also posted details of a route into Syria online .

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(CNN) -- Politics is a contact sport, and presidents tend to get tackled on every play, even the ones they've executed perfectly. There is no better example than the criticism being hurled at President Obama for the killing of Osama bin Laden. It was a daring mission, fraught with peril for the Navy SEALs, but also full of political danger for Obama. Had the attempt failed, Obama would have faced the same kind of political and policy disaster that confronted President Jimmy Carter after his helicopter rescue attempt of the Iran hostages crashed in April 1980. Everyone would have second-guessed Obama, just as they did Carter, who lost re-election six months later. Instead, bin Laden was eliminated, the SEALs became instant heroes and the nation rejoiced. Americans approved of the raid overwhelmingly, and Obama got a much needed, though brief, job approval spike in the polls. At the time, even Obama's fiercest foes gave him a salute for making the right, tough choice. Fast forward a year. Now President Obama is being reproached for taking too much credit for the success during his re-election campaign. Sen. John McCain called it "cheap" and "a pathetic, political act of self-congratulation." Democrats responded by questioning whether Mitt Romney would have gone after bin Laden, since he had criticized the expenditure of so much money to catch one person. Romney retorted that of course he would have grabbed bin Laden, adding that "even Jimmy Carter would have given that order." America's emotional high point in the last couple of years has become just one more partisan football. Too bad. It would have been nice if that special moment of justice for bin Laden had remained above politics. Perhaps President Obama and the Democrats have overdone the "self-congratulation." But did Republicans think Obama's most clear-cut achievement in his first term would go unmentioned? A campaign team that didn't focus on the key unifying event in Obama's entire presidency should be sued for political malpractice. The old rule still applies: A president should get the credit for all the good things, and must take the blame for all the bad things that happen on his watch. Politicians are not shrinking violets, least of all presidents. Naturally, Obama and his staff have capitalized fully on bin Laden and will continue to do so all the way to November. Instead of trying to diminish the accomplishment, Republicans would be better off conceding the point, congratulating Obama, and making the argument that the bin Laden mission was the exception that proves their contention that the president has failed to do what he promised in other spheres. Is the country better off economically? Most Americans don't seem happy with the weak recovery, which is the real issue that Romney will focus on in his pursuit of electoral victory. Obama promised a much stronger rebound after passage of his economic stimulus program, and he should be held to account for that. Similarly, Obama's health care legislation -- controversial from the start -- has remained consistently unpopular, to judge by the polls, and is a legitimate target for the GOP. A political party enhances its credibility if it mixes praise for something done well with criticism for the inadequacies that, in its view, should lead voters in a new direction. In our hyper-partisan era, political figures and both parties seem to be permanently stuck in petty attack mode, to their own detriment. The bin Laden success also illustrates an irony we should appreciate. The 2008 conventional wisdom about Obama was wrong. He was expected to be an effective domestic policy leader, but his lack of foreign policy experience meant he wouldn't know what to do when he got that dreaded 3 a.m. phone call. The reality of Obama's presidency has been the opposite. Domestically, Obama has failed to revitalize the economy to the satisfaction of most voters, and his divisive health care and energy proposals increased partisanship in Congress and around the country. Yet in foreign policy, he can tout many successes, from the ending of the disliked Iraq War and the scaling back in Afghanistan to the overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi and the flowering of democracy in several Middle East nations. What parts of our current conventional wisdom about Obama and Romney are misguided? Since the future is unknowable, perhaps our projections should be less definitive and more tentative, if not humble. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Larry J. Sabato.

President Obama has been criticized for touting his success in killing Osama bin Laden . Larry Sabato: Obama's campaign should capitalize on the president's achievement . He says Republicans are better off picking on other issues . Sabato: Defying expectations, Obama has more success in foreign policy than domestic .

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Angelic: Emani Moss, 10, pictured here a a toddler, was starved to death before her body was set on fire and stuffed into a trash can . The paternal grandmother of a 10-year-old Georgia girl whose emaciated body was discovered burned in a trash can over the weekend said the system had failed the child. Eman and Tiffany Moss, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, have been arrested and charged with murder, concealing a body, and child cruelty after police say they had starved to death their daughter, Emani, and then set her body on fire to cover up the crime. Police reports released since Saturday, when Emani's malnourished remains were found in a garbage bin outside her home in suburban Atlanta, indicate that the 10-year-old tried to run away from home and showed up at school with bruises and welts. 'My baby went through hell,' her grandmother Robin Moss told Atlanta Journal Constitution. According to the woman, after Emani had confided in her that she was being abused by her parents, her son and his wife kept the 10-year-old away from her. ‘Detectives believe the victim was isolated from people outside of her family in the weeks before her death,’ said Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith. ‘She did not attend school outside the home during this school year.’ Robin Moss’ attorney said the woman tried to get child services to open an investigation into allegations of abuse, but no action had been taken. Scroll down for video . Inconsolable: Robin Moss, Emani's paternal grandmother, said she had fought to win custody of the 10-year-old and asked child services officials to investigate possible abuse, but no action was taken . Isolated: Police say her parents kept little Emani away from people outside of the immediate family and did not let her attend school . Miss Moss also said she had fought to win custody of her granddaughter, but the state would not let her have Emani. ‘I don't understand how the system kept putting her back in that home,’ Moss said. The bereaved grandmother explained that she helped raise Emani from the time she was 4 years old, and the two had developed a strong bond. In an interview with WSBTV, Robin Moss said that since her granddaughter’s death, she cannot sleep because she can 'see her hurt.' Division of Family and Children Services officials released a statement Tuesday announcing that it will look into the way the agency handled Emani’s case. Special bond: Robin Moss said she helped raise Emani from the time she was 4 years old, and the two had a relationship akin to that of a mother and daughter . Horrific death: Both Eman (left) and Tiffany Moss have been charged with murder, cruelty to children in the first degree and concealing a body. Tiffany had previously been arrested for beating her boyfriend's daughter . Horrific: Police found the body inside this trash can and said that there was evidence that it had been burned . Authorities conducted an autopsy on . Emani Sunday and determined that her body was burned after she was . dead, likely in an effort to conceal the crime, said Gwinnett County . Police Cpl. Jake Smith. Emani . may have died as early as October 30 and was severely underweight when . her body was found, Smith said. He said the autopsy showed the girl had . been denied food for several days before her death. Both Eman Moss and his second wife have criminal histories. The father was arrested in 2004 on charges of battery and cruelty to children after police said he allegedly beat his first wife in front of Emani. On . March 19, 2010, then-6-year-old Emani told a school nurse she was . afraid to go home with her bad report card because she was afraid her . parents would hurt her, according to one of the police reports. When the nurse investigated further, she found the girl had bruises on her body and reported it to police. Police . took Emani and her stepmother to department headquarters for interviews . that day and said Emani had severe bruises and welts on her chest, . back, shoulders, arms and legs, the police report said. Burned to death: Emani Moss was found burned to death, her father (left) and stepmother (right) are each charged with murder - leaving loved ones shocked . Tiffany . Moss told police she only hit the girl with a belt three times, the . report said. She was arrested on a child-cruelty charge. The . Georgia Division of Family and Children Services signed a 2010 plea . deal ordering Tiffany Moss to serve five years of probation for beating . Emani, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday. In July 2012, Emani tried running away from home, the police reports show. The . girl's grandmother, Robin Moss, was quoted by local news media on . Sunday and Monday as saying that she suspected Emani was being abused, . but couldn't persuade state authorities to grant her custody. Emani's . mother, Danita Leaks, told Atlanta FOX affiliate WAGA-TV on Monday that . she and Eman Moss fought over custody for two to three years and she . was unaware that her daughter was being abused. Disturbing call: The girl's father, pictured, told police he was suicidal and that his daughter was dead after drinking a chemical . ‘If . I would have known that him and his wife were abusing my baby, I would . not have let her stay over there,’ she told the television station. Authorities . initially said Eman Moss called police early Saturday saying he was . suicidal and that his daughter died after drinking some type of chemical . substance. Smith said . Monday that the detail about Moss being suicidal was a miscommunication . during the 911 call and was later clarified with the dispatcher. Police said they won't release audio from the call because it's part of the investigation and could be used in court.

Eman and Tiffany Moss were both arrested and face several felony charges in the girl's death . First told police that Emani, 10, swallowed chemicals . Investigators concluded she had not been fed since October 24 and her body had been burned after being stuffed in a garbage can . Police report now reveals Tiffany Moss was arrested for abusing Emani in 2010 after a school nurse noticed bruises and welts .

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By . Freya Noble . One man has died and another rushed to hospital following a tragic speedboat accident in South Australia on Saturday, where their vessel crashed on bank of the Murray River and burst into flames. The Age reported both involved were 57-year-old males from Victoria, and the accident occurred around 1.30pm. An SA Ambulance Service spokeswoman told the publication the driver of the boat suffered severe burns, and the passenger had a 'massive cardiac arrest'. SA Police said Saturday afternoon's accident occurred during a competitive event, believed to have been the South Australian Ski Racing titles. A tragic speedboat accident in South Australia has left one man dead and another fighting for his life . According to South Australian Police the passenger was revived at the scene and both men were airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, but the passenger sadly passed away. 'There were two victims, one is sadly deceased,' an SA police spokesman said. 'The other has got some serious burns and has been flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.' 'It was a sad tragic way of ending the day's competition there,' the police spokesman said. Ski Racing South Australia are expected to release a statement on Sunday.

One man dead, another critical after speedboat accident . Both men from Victoria and aged 57 . Believed to have been involved in the South Australian Ski Racing titles .

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Nasa's Kepler telescope scans the skies for 'habitable worlds' - but an American chemist has suggested the whole project might be a terrible idea. Ronald Breslow suggests that life-forms based on slightly different amino acids and sugars could take the form of huge, ferocious dinosaurs that have evolved to have human-like intelligence and technologies. 'We would be better off not meeting them,' says Breslow, who claims that it was a stroke of luck that an asteroid wiped out dinosaurs on earth, leaving the field clear for mammals such as humans. A scientist has suggested that other planets could be populated by intelligent dinosaurs . Amino acid tryptophan: A scientists suggests that a tiny 'tweak' to such acids could mean life on other worlds evolved very differently . On other worlds, dinosaurs could have evolved into huge, intelligent warriors armed with hi-tech weaponry - but without losing their hunger for fresh meat. 'Of course,' Breslow says, 'Showing that it could have happened this way . is not the same as showing that it did. An implication from . this work is that elsewhere in the universe there could be life forms . based on D-amino acids and L-sugars. 'Such life forms could well be . advanced versions of dinosaurs, if mammals did not have the good fortune . to have the dinosaurs wiped out by an asteroidal collision, as on . Earth. 'We would be better off not meeting them.' In the report, noted scientist Ronald Breslow, Ph.D., discusses the century-old mystery of why the building blocks of terrestrial amino acids (which make up proteins), sugars, and the genetic materials DNA and RNA exist mainly in one orientation or shape. There are two possible orientations, left and right, which mirror each other in the same way as hands. In order for life to arise, proteins, for instance, must contain only one chiral form of amino acids, left or right. 'Such life forms could well be advanced versions of dinosaurs, if mammals did not have the good fortune to have the dinosaurs wiped out by an asteroidal collision, as on Earth,' says Breslow . With the exception of a few bacteria, amino acids in all life on Earth have the left-handed orientation. Most sugars have a right-handed orientation. How did that so-called homochirality, the predominance of one chiral form, happen? Breslow describes evidence supporting the idea that the unusual amino acids carried to a lifeless Earth by meteorites about 4 billion years ago set the pattern for normal amino acids with the L-geometry, the kind in terrestial proteins, and how those could lead to D-sugars of the kind in DNA.

Life-forms based on different amino acids could be intelligent dinosaurs . Mammals only triumphed on Earth due to 'accident' of asteroid . 'We would be better off not meeting them,' says American scientist .

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By . Katy Winter . Forget 'no carbs before Marbs', the TOWIE cast spent more than £1,000 each on beauty and fitness treatment getting ready for their annual holiday to Marbella and the new series – and that’s just the boys. The Only Way is Essex launched last week on ITV2 and the glamorous cast wanted to show their best toned and tanned side for the beach clubs and bars in the Spanish party town. And it seems the men were just as keen to be plucked and preened to look their best. Scroll down for video . Looking good: Bobby Norris has an anti-aging facial, spending more than £1,375 on beauty treatments . Arg spent £1,200 for a week at boot camp to lose a stone in preparation for donning his swimming trunks . James 'Arg' Argent and Lewis Bloor both . spent a week at No 1 Boot Camp in Norfolk which saw both boys lose a . stone in weight, but at a price of £1,200 each. James Diags stayed at a weight-loss boot camp in Ibiza for a week for £1,250 and had a couple of £185 facials to get rid of spots and break-outs on his face - adding up to a costly £1,620. Playboy Tom Pearce had a £1,000 lipoglaze fat freezing treatment to take a couple of inches of hard-to-shift flab off his abs. Bobby Norris had a set of six anti-aging facials at Debbie Thomas in London's Knightsbridge for £925, plus tanning and products at £450, totting up a total beauty price of £1,375. Talking about how much Essex boys spend to prepare for Marbs, Bobby Norris said: 'By the time you add up all the products and tanning regime it’s about £450-a-month. Playboy Tom Pearce had a £1,000 lipoglaze fat-freezing treatment to take a couple of inches off his abs . Lewis Bloor and Tom Pearce were pictured enjoying themselves in the latest episode filmed in Marbella . Lewis Bloor, Tom Pearce, Imogen Leaver and Robyn Althasen hit the pool in Marbs . James Argent is lifted on to Dan Osborne's shoulderes at one of the Marbs pool party . 'I . think Essex guys generally do care about their appearance a bit more . than most. And when it comes to Marbs we make that extra bit of effort.' Talking about his treatment, he said: 'I get dry patches on cheeks and forehead and I used to get acne, it’s got better and I have facials quite often now as it makes a big difference. 'The Skinbreeze treatment has been amazing, my skin feels really fresh and moisturized and less flaky, so it’s a win-win.' Not to be outdone, of course, several members of the female TOWIE cast spent more than £1,000 on beauty treatments and weight-loss camps, including Grace Andrews who had a lipoglaze fat freezing treatment which cost her £1,000 for 60-minute session. Gemma Collins stayed at No 1 Boot Camp in Norfolk for nearly two weeks for the steep price tag of £2,400. James Bennewith and Tom Pearce spent plenty of time (and cash) to look their best for Marbs . Gemma Collins headed to boot camp for two weeks before heading to Marbs (left), while Grace Andrews had a lipoglaze fat-freezing treatment (right)

Annual trip to Marbella highlight for cast of TOWIE . Arg and Lewis Bloor both spent £1,250 at a weight-loss boot camp . James Diags had facials costing £185 each before the trip . Treatments also included laser fat removal .

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Had this been the Premier League, everyone would have packed up at 0-0 with Tim Howard deservedly hailed a hero. But the American’s impassable effort had merely granted his Belgian opponents an additional 30 minutes to breach his target – and that they did, twice. Howard, though, was above criticism, and his numbers told their own story. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Obama get stuck in and start chanting during World Cup match . No way past: Tim Howard denies Everton team-mate Kevin Mirallas with his left foot late in the second half . On fire: Howard's heat map serves to highlight his involvement . Busy boy: Howard was kept very busy in comparison to Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois . Red alert: Howard gets down well and stretches to deny Belgium as Vincent Kompany watches on . For in making 15 saves, the Everton man had set a new World Cup record since such statistics were first collected in 1966. Peru's Ramon Quiroga held the previous best with 13 against Holland in 1978. It was the best performance from an American goalkeeper since Sylvester Stallone’s exploits in the 1981 film Escape to Victory. And Howard’s display belonged on the big screen. Only there was to be no fairytale ending, Belgium emerging 2-1 victors after another pulsating affair at these finals. But it mattered not, the 35-year-old had etched his name in the history books. Seventeen of Belgium’s 39 shots had found the target, only the extra-time efforts of Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku managing to evade Howard; by this juncture, however, his rearguard had tired and the netminder was exposed. Divock Origi had been thwarted three times, Eden Hazard twice, even defender Jan Vertonghen had been denied on a couple of occasions. He had improvised to use his feet, chest and knees. Howard’s heat map serves to highlight his red-hot display. He even swept up on the edge of his penalty area – Manuel Neuer style – when called upon. Ultimately, the only thing Howard couldn't save was the day. In vain: But Howard's heroics were to no avail as Belgium emerged 2-1 victors . Leap of faith: Howard denies Marouane Fellaini who had climbed above two defenders to head on goal . VIDEO Belgium leave it late again .

Everton goalkeeper was impassable as second-round match finished goalless after 90 minutes . But USMNT keeper Howard was helpless as extra-time goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku were enough to see Belgium through to the quarter-finals . Julian Green gave the USA hope when he made it 2-1 but the Belgians held on to set up a last-eight tie against Argentina .

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While the fact that going on holiday makes us happier is hardly breaking news, the sacrifices we would make for an extra week in the sun make for much more interesting reading. Research has revealed that reveals that 69 per cent of British employees cite regular holidays as helping them keep focused in the workplace which is vital as we approach arguably some of the most miserable working days of the year this January. In fact, such is the clamour for holiday time, one in three Brits would take a pay cut for more holiday and 61 per cent said they'd even switch jobs. Holidays help people stay focused in their work as they have something to look forward to (File Photo) When it comes to inducing general happiness, being on holiday tops the list for Brits (46 per cent), beating getting a tax refund, finding lost money and being told you look younger. 1. Being on holiday – 46%2 . 2. Getting a tax refund – 17%3 . 3. Finding lost money – 14% . 4. Being told you look younger than you are – 9% . 5. Birthdays – 8% . A healthy 94 per cent of us also associate holidays with their overall happiness, with 89 per cent saying they come back from holidays happier than before they left. Junk food tops the list of things Britons would be happy to sacrifice in order to get an extra week's holiday; 50 per cent admitted to being prepared to cut out the crisps and chocolate for more time in the sun. But catching the eye more is that 28 per cent of people admit they would give up sex if it meant more time away from work. And, worryingly, 16 per cent would forgo having a shower for more time off. Relative to other markets, however, British bosses show one highest levels of support for holidays globally. Almost one in three have admitted they would be prepared to give up sex if it meant more holiday off work . According to the report 69 per cent of British employees feel supported by their boss when taking their holiday allocation, in comparison to only 28 per cent in neighbouring France and a global average of just 55 per cent. 'While habits differ across continents, the emotional impact of holiday does not,' said Andy Washington, managing director of Expedia.co.uk, who conducted the research. Having nice holidays makes a happier workforce, with many of us prepared to change jobs for more time off . 69 per cent of British employees feel supported by their boss when taking their holiday allocation . 'Almost 70 per cent of British employees say that holidays make them feel more focused at work, as well as happier, better rested and less stressed. 'In the UK, we're fortunate to have one of the highest holiday allowances and the most supportive bosses globally, so, we are in a great position to use up any days we've rolled over from last year - or still remaining - is a great way to start the New Year on a high and banish the post-Christmas blues,'

One in three would be prepared to take a pay cut for more time off . 50% would give up junk food for a holiday, 16% wouldn't shower . 69 per cent of British employees cite regular holidays as helping them keep focused in the workplace .

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By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 14:25 EST, 15 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:48 EST, 15 October 2013 . This mouse had a lucky escape when its scavenging expedition nearly saw him completely toast. The rodent had climbed inside a toaster in search for crumbs but got into trouble once it had finished his dinner. When it tried to get out of the kitchen appliance it got its legs trapped wire mesh - which was lived wired to the mains. "Cheesus, I thought I was toast!": The mouse was found stuck insite the toaster with its legs trapped in the wire mesh . Fortunately for the mouse, the owner . of the toaster heard its terrified squeaks before she put her bread in . to grill, and called RSPCA. RSPCA Animal Collection Officer Zenon Brown, who was called to the rescue in Catford, London, said: ‘This little fellow was quite lucky really. ‘The . wire mesh he was caught in was connected to live wire and it is not . worth thinking about what would have happened had this lady not heard . the squeak. True mouseketeer: After rescuing the crumb-thief, RSPCA found it had sustained no injuries and it was released back into the wild . ‘There was no . way he would have been able to free himself without any help, but I . managed to get his legs unstuck and he was unharmed - hopefully just . well fed on the crumbs. ‘Mice can get themselves into some small corners but I have never actually had to rescue one from a toaster before.’ The mouse was examined after the rescue and found to be unhurt. He has now been released back to the wild.

Rodent got stuck in toaster after feasting on crumbs . RSPCA called to the scene to rescue mouse from toaster wire .

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By . Nina Golgowski . PUBLISHED: . 17:37 EST, 7 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:15 EST, 7 October 2012 . A gunman jumped into a car and opened fire immediately killing two of five victims inside before pushing out the driver’s body and taking off with his three surviving passengers still inside. Police in Camden, New Jersey say the masked man armed also with a machete jumped into the parked vehicle late Saturday night sparking a shockingly gruesome attack even for a city consistently ranked as the nation's most dangerous. The gunman is said to be still at large while investigators believe he may have known at least one of his victims. Scroll down for video . Slain: The vehicle's driver 20-year-old Jewel Manire was one of the two victims killed during Saturday night's horrific attack . Tragic death: Khalil Gibson, 20, of Camden was sitting in the passenger seat when he was shot and killed by the gunman . While parked in an alley on Hull road around 11.45pm, the group’s vehicle was approached by the masked man who entered on the driver's side soon before delivering a spray of bullets inside, said Camden County prosecutor's spokesman Jason Laughlin. He fired several shots, killing the 18-year-old driver, Jewel Manire, and Khalil Gibson, 20, of Camden. A 20-year-old woman was wounded in the face during his gun fire, a 16-year-old was shot in the head and another 16-year-old in the arm, Laughlin said. After the gunman stopped shooting, he pushed aside Ms Manire's body and drove off with all the victims inside except the teenager who was shot in the arm and managed to escape and called 911. Identity: Police are working to find a motive for the gunman, who has not been identified, attacked the vehicle and its passengers while they suspect he knew at least one of his victims, Ms Manire and Mr Gibson pictured . The car was driven to a nearby dirt road, where the 20-year-old woman also jumped out and ran off. The gunman briefly pursued her but could not catch her, and he soon ran away. He was described as Hispanic and about 6 feet tall. He wore a black mask over the lower part of his face and yellow latex gloves. All three wounded victims remained in the hospital on Sunday with two in critical condition. Camden, a city of about 80,000 that sits along the Delaware River across from Philadelphia, continually ranks as one of the most dangerous and poorest in the U.S. The two fatalities bring the city's homicide total this year to 50, eight short of the record reached in 1995. Fleeing the scene: Police are seen late last night where the vehicle was abandoned by the gunman before he took off remaining at large by Sunday . City officials are trying to replace the police department with a force run by the county, a move that would circumvent union rules in order to increase the number of officers while keeping costs the same. Last month, authorities said they were trying to determine whether a contaminated batch of PCP was going around town after a child was decapitated and two other children's throats were slashed by people believed to be on the illegal drug. A man charged in the attack admitted to police that he had smoked 'wet,' a combination of PCP and marijuana. Watch the video here: .

Police say the Camden, New Jersey gunman who killed two people is still at large . Driver Jewel Manire, 18, and Khalil Gibson, 20, were both killed at the scene . A 20-year-old woman injured by a spray of bullets to her face managed to escape after a brief chase by the gunman on foot . A 16-year-old woman shot in the head listed in critical condition remained in the vehicle throughout the gunman's drive . A second 16-year-old woman shot in the arm was able to immediately jump out of the car and call 9-1-1 . Investigators believe the gunman may have known at least one of his victims .

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Sanaa, Yemen (CNN) -- Land mine explosions have killed at least 73 people in Yemen's Abyan province since al Qaeda fighters were defeated two weeks ago, the Yemeni Defense Ministry said. Among those killed were 23 soldiers. The ministry said that tens of thousands of land mines were planted before militants were driven out of their key strongholds, as an ambush to retaliate for their defeat. A senior Defense Ministry official told CNN that more than 200 experts are involved in the mine removal operation, but he would not give a deadline for when the province would be mine-free. "Al Qaeda had more than a year to plan and plant the land mines, so it will take time. We are also in dire need of modern detecting devices," the official told CNN, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to talk to media. Top Yemen commander killed; al Qaeda claims responsibility . Residents in Abyan told CNN that the injury toll from mines is far greater than those killed. They said that most mines were planted near government institutions, military compounds, checkpoints, and mountainous roads. "With every person killed, four or five are injured. Hospitals in Abyan and neighboring Aden are full of land mine victims," Ali Hadi, a resident of Zinjibar, told CNN. "Zinjibar is still empty though, al Qaeda is nowhere to be seen. People know their lives are still at risk but this time from land mines," he added. Col. Saeed Ali Mishal, head of the engineering unit tasked with clearing the mines, said the government managed to clear 3,119 land mines this week from the towns of Zinjibar, Jaar, and Shuqra. "Explosions linked to land mines are heard three to four times daily in Zinjibar," said Mishal. He said that the mines are all locally made and those found have been destroyed. The increasing death toll complicates government efforts to relocate locals displaced by the war. UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, reported that 150,000 people fled Abyan and are stranded in low-capacity shelters. The displaced currently occupy dozens of schools in Aden and Lahj provinces. Mohammed al-Saadi, Yemen's minister of international affairs, said one of the government's main priorities is to rebuild Abyan, after the year-long war destroyed thousands of homes. Egyptian official: Al Qaeda affiliate adds to violence between Israel, Palestinians .

Yemen's Defense Ministry says thousands of land mines were planted by al Qaeda militants . At least 73 people, including 23 soldiers, have been killed by the mines, the ministry says . Local residents say many more people have been injured by mine explosions . Ministry: The militants planted the mines to retaliate for defeat by government forces .

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By . Ruth Styles . Smiling for the cameras as make-up artists dab foundation on their noses, the models backstage at Ivanman show in Berlin could have stepped straight off the set of 2001 film Zoolander. Others are pictured peeping out from beneath curling rags, while one shows off his best 'Blue Steel' while a beauty guru pats foundation into his cheekbones. A third looks intently into the mirror as he smooths down his centre parting while a fourth keeps his eyes on the camera as a helper attacks his nose with a powder brush. Looking good: A blonde model has his dark circles banished by a helpful make-up artist backstage at Ivanman . Do models get SPOTS? It would seem so but luckily this man has a make-up artist on hand to sort it out . It's Magnum! An intense-looking model shows Zoolander fans how its done backstage at Ivanman . All later appeared in the latest menswear collection from Serbian designer Ivan Mandzukic, which along with loosely tailored jackets in pastel pink and blush, also saw the return of the form-fitting roll neck which was worn Miami Vice style with a blazer on top. But it wasn't all delicate shell pink and nude. Mandzukic injected a pop of bright colour into the palette courtesy of a series of cobalt blue ensembles, among them a beautifully tailored pair of shorts that even the most fashion illiterate of men could pull off. Other highlights included chic tailored chinos with rolled hems and wearable short sleeved shirts in khaki linen and cerulean. One of the hottest young designers on the German fashion scene, Mandzukic, who took the Net-A-Porter Who's Next award in the menswear category in 2012, has been at the helm of his own label since 2010 and boasts a degree in fashion styling from ESMOD. Final touch: A model, dressed in a jaunty cobalt ensemble, has his side parting hairsprayed into submission . Neatened up: A model has the final touches applied to his make-up ahead of showtime in Berlin . It's beautiful... A model admires his flawless skin and slicked down hair backstage at Ivanman in Berlin . Just leave the Malaysian prime minister alone! A model gets ready for his appearance on the catwalk . He's so hot right now! A model with skin that wouldn't be out of place on a Botticelli angel smiles for the camera . But while Mandzukic's deft touch with tailoring and delicate use of colour won plaudits from the local fashionistas, he isn't the only hot young designer taking to the stage at Berlin Fashion Week today. Also on the schedule on day two of the biannual fashion extravaganza were shows from Julian Zigerli, a menswear whizz specialising in quirky print, and Rebekka Ruétz, a 29-year-old streetwear star. Later this week, Berlin will see shows from more established names, among them Copenhagen's David Andersen and Livia Firth favourite, eco-label Prophetik. Just because we have stunning features, it doesn't mean we don't get shiny! A model is dabbed with powder . Have you ever heard of styling gel? Two immaculately coiffed models have their make-up done backstage . This is what it takes to be really, really, ridiculously good-looking! A make-up kit backstage at Ivanman .

The models were seen backstage at Ivanman at Berlin Fashion Week . Highlights included shell pink blazers and the return of the roll neck . Berlin Fashion Week kicked off on Monday and runs until the 13th July . Ivanman was launched in 2010 by Serbian designer, Ivan Mandzukic .

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