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(CNN) -- Big-spending English club Manchester City moved a step closer to meeting European football's financial fairplay requirements on Friday despite posting a loss of almost $160 million for last season. City's deficit of £97.9 million ($158 million) for 2011-12's Premier League-winning campaign was just under half that of the £197.5 million ($318 million) for the previous period -- which was the biggest loss in soccer history. The latest figure represents the fourth highest deficit in the English game -- three of which belong to City since the arrival of its Abu Dhabi owners in 2008. It can be contrasted with the $37 million net profit made by rival Manchester United in 2011-12. United posted a reduced revenue of £320 million ($517 million) for that period, while City closed the gap with a club-record turnover of £231.1 million ($374 million). Both are substantially behind leading Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona. Chelsea boosted by first profit in Abramovich era . It was the first time that City had breached the £200 million ($323 million) mark, and reflects the club's attempts to become more self-sufficient and avoid possible punishment from UEFA for failing to meet FFP targets. However, owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed still injected £169 million ($273 million) in order to keep the club debt free. "It is important to recognise the personal and ongoing influence of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed on the rapid transformation that is taking place," said chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak. "The hard work of everyone involved at Manchester City over the last four years has begun to create an obvious momentum." Last season City won the English title for the first time since 1969, and made a debut appearance in the UEFA Champions League. Manchester United seeks to cash in as sponsor DHL is sent packing . The club's revenue would have been higher if not for a group-stage exit from Europe's top club competition -- which has been repeated already this season -- but new chief executive Ferran Soriano was satisfied with the results. He joined City in September, having previously helped transform the financial fortunes of Barcelona between 2003-08. "What I have found is a club on the verge of a historic transformation, reinforced by a genuine commitment to doing things well. It is a club with a rich history and the potential for an even brighter future," he said. With the FFP rules coming into play from next season, City officials are under pressure to conform -- or face the possible expulsion from European competition and a withholding of prize money. A 10-year stadium rights deal with Etihad Airlines -- owned by Abu Dhabi's royal family -- which also includes the club's under-construction campus has considerably boosted City's balance sheet. It is building an academy to try to avoid paying over the odds for star players in the future -- the £201.8 million ($326 million) wage bill for 2011-12 made City the first English club to break £200 million in salaries, according to the Sporting Intelligence website. That equates to more than $890,000 a day. "The City Football Academy will strengthen the club's youth development and training capabilities, enable more players to move through the Academy and Elite Development Squads into the first team in the future, while bringing all of the club's operations together on a single site within the Etihad Campus," Khaldoon said. "The responsibility lies with all of us to continue the hard work that will ensure that this is only the beginning of a long and successful era for Manchester City."

English champion Manchester City posts loss of $158 million for 2011-12 season . Its revenues rose to a record $374 million after winning title and playing in Champions League . Owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed injected $273 million to keep the club debt free . City paid more than $325 million in player wages -- the first English club to reach that level .

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By . Janine Yaqoob . PUBLISHED: . 06:54 EST, 29 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:53 EST, 29 November 2012 . A town was left fuming after it was revealed the celebrity guest opening its Christmas market was the one and only Chesney Hawkes. Residents in Hastings, East Sussex were kept waiting for the grand unveiling of the mystery star, with rumours circulating that local celeb and Madness frontman Suggs would be making an appearance. But their excitement was soon dampened when Chesney Hawkes was revealed as the guest to open the Christmas stalls and ice rink. People in seaside town Hastings, East Sussex, were left fuming after the 'celebrity' booked to open a Christmas market and festive ice rink was unveiled as one-hit-wonder Chesney Hawkes . Locals have now launched a Go Away Chesney campaign and took to the internet to vent their anger. One person tweeted: '90s legend. Will . be a bit long in the tooth by now – we’re planning a Go Away Chesney . protest when he arrives here – if anyone can recognise him.” Another wrote: 'Is this a joke?! If not, not exactly pushing the boat out.' Singer Chesney Hawkes has been revealed as the celebrity to open the Christmas market in Hastings, much to the dismay of locals . Hastings boasts several other singers and celebs who were either born in the town or live there now, who have had scores of hits, such as Graham McPherson, Suggs from Madness. Madness spent 214 weeks in the charts between 1980 and 1986 - the most of any band in the UK in the 80s - with hits like Baggy Trousers and Our House and have multiple platinum albums. Erasure singer Andy Bell, who lives in Hastings, sold more than 25m albums worldwide, with hits including A Little Respect, Always and Chains of Love. Other celebs with links to the seaside town include pop guru Simon Fuller, who was born in Hastings, Have I Got News for You funnyman Paul Merton and comic Jo Brand. Simon Mills, 43, said: 'Hastings has a long line of celebrities, including Suggs and Andy Bell, so why in the world would Chesney Hawkes be chosen to open the Christmas market?' Another local called Wendy said: 'Is this the best we can do? 'Why couldn't we have Mick Jagger or Rod Stewart? Or even good old Cliff? 'The one and only Chesney Hawkes? - you said it mate.' Chesney, 41, is best known for his number one hit The One and Only, which topped the charts in 1991. Although Chesney has since dabbled with fame he now plays gigs at freshers week events at universities around the UK. He was due to take part on ITV1's skating . programme Dancing on Ice last year but after fracturing his ankle he . had to pull out. He was replaced by Chico Slimani. Roger Crouch, who booked Chesney for the . openings on December 6, said: 'This is great for Hastings, as we are . trying to create a truly magical Christmas.' A spokesman for Chesney Hawkes said yesterday that the singer couldn't comment as he was 'away filming'. The spokesman for GB Music said: 'We were approached for Chesney to fulfil this engagement, he was free and agreed to do it.'

Residents in Hastings expected a bigger celebrity, like Suggs from Madness . But were left disappointed when one-hit-wonder Hawkes was named . Locals have now launched a Go Away Chesney campaign .

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Michael Higdon came off the bench and scored two late goals to send Nigel Clough’s Sheffield United into the quarter-finals. Striker Higdon, 31, headed his first on 86 minutes from Jose Baxter’s cross and added his second four minutes later with a shot into the bottom left-hand corner to snatch a dramatic victory. MK Dons’ two brightest young prospects, both of interest to Premier League clubs, had combined to put their side ahead. Michael Higdon (left) of Sheffield United celebrates scoring the winning goal at Stadium mk . Higdon strikes to score his second goal that sealed a Sheffield United comeback . MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin 6; Spence 6, Flanagan 6, McFadzean 6, Lewington 6.5; Potter 6, Alli 7.5; Bowditch 6 (Powell 61min, 6), Reeves 6 (Grigg 61, 6), Carruthers 6; Afobe 7. Subs not used: McLoughlin, Kay, Randall, Baker, Hitchcock. Booked: Potter, Grigg. Scorer: Afobe pen 67. Sheffield United (4-2-3-1): Howard 5.5; Alcock 4.5, McEveley, McGahey 6, Harris 5; Doyle 6, Reed 6; Davis 6 (Campbell-Ryce 76), Scougall 5 (Baxter 70, 6), Murphy 6; McNulty 6 (Higdon 55, 6). Subs not used: Turner, McGinn, Kennedy, Dimaio. Booked: Alcock, Baxter. Scorer: Higdon 86, 90. Man of the match: Delle Alli. Referee: Roger East 6. Delle Alli, the 18-year-old starlet with a wealth of admirers in high places, enticed a foul in the box with an electric run before Benfik Afobe, 21, an on-loan Arsenal striker confidently netted from the spot for his sixth Capital One Cup goal of the season. Alli lit up the second round as MK Dons dispatched Manchester United 4-0. This fourth-round tie had little of the magic of that occasion but Alli again showed why he is being courted by the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal. MK Dons breakthrough came in the 66th minute when Alli was brought down by Craig Alcock and Afobe coolly slotted home. It was a rare moment of quality until the dramatic late finish. If one action summed up a lacklustre first half it was United defender Robert Harris’s free kick from 25 yards out in the 40th minute which he lamely lifted high and wide. MK Dons started brightly, with Afobe coming close to connecting with a looping ball into the box from Tom Flanagan in the second minute. Afobe admitted wanting to impress Arsene Wenger, ahead of his contract running out at the end of this season. Holding midfielder Alli looks a classy prospect and linked up well with Afobe. Alli sparkled in the second half, skipping away from challenges and creating space for his teammates. But it was the United who dominated the opening stages of the second half. Clough shook his head in disbelief as his side failed to score in the second minute after the break when a group of players in the box lunged for the ball but missed the chance to score. Clough again had head in hands when Stefan Scougall headed over by he was dancing with joy at the final whistle thanks to Higdon’s heroics. There was plenty of grabbing and grappling in the box in the second minute of the second half when several Sheffield United players were held by MK Dons defenders. This went unpunished by referee Roger East. East was more inclined to reach for his book when Dele Alli was floored by a sliding tackle by Craig Alcock. heffield United manager Nigel Clough looks on during the Fourth Round tie . A half-chance for Sheffield United trickles wide of the goal in the first half . MK Dons' Ben Reeves (left) and Sheffield United's Jay McEveley battle for the ball. MK Dons' Jordan Spence (right) and Sheffield United's Jamie Murphy compete for possession . Benik Afobe of MK Dons scores the first goal from the penalty spot against Sheffield United . Afobe watches his strike beat the Sheffield United keeper at Stadium mk on Monday night . Michael Higdon scores his first goal after 86 minutes to launch a Sheffield United comeback .

MK Dons took the lead through a Benik Afobe penalty . Michael Higdon came off the bench to score a winning double . Sheffield United progress through to the quarter-finals .

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Washington (CNN) -- Some voters are facing a choice this November: vote or be shamed -- publicly. Voters in Alaska received a letter this weekend from the "Alaska State Voter Program," which told the recipient whether 11 of their friends and acquaintances had voted in the last three elections and asked a bold question: . "WHAT IF YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND YOUR COMMUNITY KNEW WHETHER YOU VOTED?" Despite the official-looking letterhead, the "Alaska State Voter Program" isn't a government initiative. The mailer came from the conservative Opportunity Alliance PAC, which is using public voter rolls to shame or peer pressure voters into casting a vote this election, the Alaska Dispatch News reported Monday. And the political group says it will follow up after the election, with plans to send out a new mailer that lists which voters went to the polls on Nov. 4. "You and your friends, your neighbors, and other people you know will all know who voted and who did not vote," the group writes in the letter. The mailer could have an impact on the crucial Senate election in Alaska next week, where Republican Dan Sullivan is looking to unseat Democratic Sen. Mark Begich, especially in a midterm elections when voter turnout slumps. One recipient of the letter told the Alaska Dispatch News she was creeped out when she realized she was Facebook friends with the 11 people listed in the mailer she received. It's not the first time groups have tried to shame voters into heading to the polling booth. Americans for Prosperity, a conservative group backed by the Koch brothers, sent voters in Virginia a "report card" last year that judged their turnout history at the ballot box-- and their next-door neighbor's. "You are one of the few individuals in your neighborhood that is not a regular voter. We're contacting you and your neighbors today to let folks know who does and who doesn't vote" the AFP letter reads, according to local NBC affiliate WWBT. "Your neighbors who have voted in every election are concerned about our community's well being. They're concerned about the future of America...Are you?" Voters in other states have received similar "report cards." Another group, Values are Vital, sent Florida voters a mailer this spring that even graded their attendance record at the ballot box and also shared their neighbors' voting track record. Liberal groups like MoveOn, the Greater Wisconsin Political Fund and America Votes have also pressured voters with voting records.

The Alaska State Voter Program mailed voters in the state this weekend . The mailer used public records to see who had voted and not voted in recent elections . Alaska is home to a competitive senate race this year .

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Jailed: Joshua Sadler, 21, was sentenced to 12 months after admitting dangerous driving . The mother of a teenager who was killed when a friend crashed his car just four days after passing his test has spoken of her shock after the driver was jailed for only 12 months. Joshua Sadler, 21, lost control of his silver Renault Clio on a 60mph country road and smashed into a tree, killing front seat passenger Mikey Maguire, 19. Sadler had previously been convicted of a . string of serious motoring offences and twice banned from the road . before he even had a licence. He was seen on the night of the fatal crash performing handbrake turns and showing off in a car park. Sadler . pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and was sentenced . to 12 months in jail and banned him from driving for five years. Afterwards Mr Maguire’s mother Allison Jarman, 43, described the sentence as an ‘insult’. She said: 'When I was in court my head was in my hands and at one point I couldn’t even listen to what was happening. 'I . expected the sentence to be low because I have been doing a lot of . research online but when I heard it was 12 months it felt like a slap in . the face. 'Nothing can . bring Mikey back but 12 months for my son’s life is shocking. I was . absolutely speechless, he will be out in three months. 'Mikey and Joshua had known each other for years but I was under the impression that they weren’t close any more. 'He . had always been a bit of a troublemaker and had previous convictions . for driving offences. I always said he would end up hurting someone one . day, I just didn’t expect it to be my son.' The fatal crash happened on Huntick Road, Lytchett Matravers, near Poole, Dorset, on February 8 last year. Sadler, from Poole, lost control of his . car on a bend before it ploughed down a grass bank and struck the tree. Mr Maguire was pronounced dead at the scene. Victim: Mikey Maguire pictured on on holiday with his mother Allison, who described the sentence as an 'insult' to her son's memory . Sadler had previously been disqualified from driving after being convicted of two counts of aggravated vehicle taking. He appeared in court for one of the counts and driving without a licence and insurance in July 2010. In both incidents he lost control and caused more than £5,000 damage to one of the vehicles. Les Smith, defending, read out a statement from Sadler to Bournemouth Crown Court in which he expressed ‘regret and sorrow’ for the Mr Maguire’s death. He added: 'The incident haunts me every day and will do for the rest of my life. Nothing that is said or done to me can make me feel any worse.' As well as being jailed Sadler was disqualified from driving for five years and ordered to take an extended test at the end of the ban.

Joshua Sadler, 21, lost control on 60mph country road and hit a tree . Front seat passenger Mikey Maguire, 19, was killed in the crash . Sadler had previous convictions for a . string of serious motoring offences . He was twice banned from the road . before he even had a licence . Seen on night of the fatal crash performing handbrake turns in a car park . Victim's mother described 12 month sentence as an 'insult' to her son's life .

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By . Lucy Crossley . Tucked away under a grassy hill, at first glance this incredible subterranean house could have stepped off the pages of The Hobbit, but look a little closer and rather than Bilbo Baggins's quaint cosy cottage it in fact bears more resemblance to a James Bond villain's underground lair. Dubbed Walnut Burrow - a name which somewhat betrays its state of the art design - the £2.5million home in Loudwater, Hertfordshire, took 18 months to build with developers having to excavate 5,000 tons of soil before work could get underway. The one-of-a-kind dwelling has four . bedrooms, all of which are en-suite, a huge living room, dining room and . kitchen, a cinema and a central courtyard. And . all of this is hidden hidden below ground level - with the developers . behind the brand-new home given the strict task of building a property . out of sight of the neighbours. Underground: Tucked away under a grassy hill, at first glance this . incredible subterranean house in Loudwater, Hertfordshire, could have . stepped off the pages of The Hobbit . Modern: Look a little closer and rather than Bilbo Baggins's quaint cosy cottage it in fact bears more resemblance to a James Bond villain's state-of-the art underground lair . All mod cons: The one-of-a-kind dwelling has four bedrooms, all of which are en-suite, a huge living room, dining room and kitchen, a cinema and a central courtyard . Secret: Most of the home is hidden hidden below ground level - with the developers behind the brand-new home given the strict task of building a property out of sight of the neighbours . Lighten up: To keep natural daylight, the house has a 45-foot long south facing expanse of glass which serves the kitchen, dining and living areas, opening onto a sunken courtyard . Unique: The home, which was recently finished, has been put up for sale . for £2.5 million with estate agents Savills describing it as 'stylish . and unique underground home' Amazing: 'It is the most amazing and unique house which I have had the pleasure of selling,' said Sue Trybus, from Savills . View from below: 'Even though it is underground, the amount of light it unbelievable,' said Ms Trybus. 'There is a lovely courtyard which acts as a suntrap' Out to impress: Ms trybus said the house would be ideal for a professional footballer, or a celebrity who is looking for something architecturally impressive . Night in: Homeowners would not need to pop to the nearest multiplex to catch a movie as the house has its own cinema, complete with a nine-foot screen . Cooking up a storm: The home has programmable lighting, solar panels and a state-of-the-art heat recovery and ventilation system, while amateur chefs would love the bespoke German kitchen . Entrance: An oak front door opens into the hall with contemporary cloakroom. The main reception room and kitchen have sliding doors to a lit courtyard . Floor plan: The rooms of the luxury home are positioned around the central courtyard and there is a large open plan kitchen and living area . In process: Walnut Burrow was built using a waterproof reinforced concrete box set into the hill. The roof was then turfed over, to create the garden . Wasteland: The site in Loudwater before work began on the incredible property, which took a year and a half to complete .

Developers had to excavate 5,000 tons of soil to build the state-of-the art property in Loughwater, Hertfordshire . Subterranean home was build into the side of a hill and can not be seen by any neighbours living nearby . £2.5million house boasts four en-suite bedrooms, a cinema with a nine-foot screen and a sunken central courtyard . Home would be 'ideal for a professional footballer or a celebrity', say estate agents Savills .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:47 EST, 11 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 14:57 EST, 11 March 2014 . An elderly World War II veteran and his wife were kicked out of their local McDonald's for exceeding the apparent 30-minute sitting limit. Carl Becker, 87, and his wife Barbara Becker, 81, were asked to leave the fast-food restaurant by a manager on February 21 in Culpeper, Virginia. The elderly couple, who have visited the chain for years, had apparently overstayed their welcome and were told to get out of the restaurant, which was half-empty in the mid-afternoon, so an employee could clean under their table. A WWII veteran and his wife, both in their eighties, were asked to leave this McDonald's in Culpeper, Virginia after outstaying their welcome . The couple, who go to McDonald's . because they are on a fixed income and Mr Becker enjoys the chicken . sandwich, say it allows them to pass some enjoyable time talking . together each day away from their home. The Beckers, who have six children and 14 grandchildren, said they have never been kicked out of a place before. Mr Becker was so incensed by their treatment, he wrote a letter to his local newspaper the Star Exponent. He . wrote: 'I have had many experiences in my lifetime as a WWII veteran, a . university teacher, a Professional Engineer, a retiree from the . Ballistic Missile Defense Organization at the Pentagon, and the father . of six children - three of whom are also senior citizens - but none as . unusual as being asked to leave a restaurant so they could clean the . floor under and around the table where I sat.' The couple have gone back to McDonald's but not the one in Culpeper. MailOnline was awaiting a comment today from the McDonald's' franchise owner Bob Drumheller. A McDonald's branch in Flushing, Queens was at odds with group of elderly Koreans in January whom they said hog the tables for hours on end but buy very little . Earlier he issued a statement to WTOP: 'I . care deeply about the comfort and satisfaction of my customers. My . organization takes these matters seriously, and is investigating the . customer's claims. 'I have also reached out to the customer to extend my . apologies for this misunderstanding. Our focus will continue to be on . serving our customers and providing them a welcoming experience.' In January, a McDonald's restaurant in Queens, New York got into a dispute with a group of elderly Korean patrons who spent hours each day hogging tables while buying very little.

Carl Becker, 87, and his wife Barbara Becker, 81, were asked to leave the fast-food restaurant in Culpeper, Virginia . Couple say they were asked to leave so an employee could clean under their table .

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Wasps euphorically claimed to have ‘got the monkey off our backs’ with this first away win in nine months, but Gloucester’s own pesky primate continues to weigh them down after yet another setback at home. There was a full house at Kings-holm on Sunday but the mood of festive cheer in the renowned Shed was soon wiped away. The hosts were desperate to atone for the emphatic loss at the hands of Bath at the same ground eight days earlier but instead they slumped to a fourth defeat in their last five home games in the Aviva Premiership. What was once an intimidating stronghold has become far too welcoming. Man of the match Andy Goode kicks one of his two penalties to add to his three conversions for Wasps . Wasps hit back with Tom Varndell providing the pass for Christian Wade to cruise in for their first try . While Gloucester remain ninth with persistent problems to address, Wasps have risen to sixth after their first victory on the road since beating Worcester on March 21. First-half tries by Christian Wade, Tom Varndell and Nathan Hughes came as an astute kicking game spread panic in the Cherry-and-White ranks. Despite Gloucester’s stirring second-half fightback, Wasps held on to claim a win which was arguably more significant even than the success on their first outing at the Ricoh Arena last week. Director of rugby Dai Young said: ‘We got the monkey off our back. Coming into this we’d won all our home games and lost all our away games. It was nice to get that away victory. ‘In the first half we controlled the game and I was really pleased. At half-time we talked about things we needed to do in the second half and we pretty much did none of them. We turned over the ball eight or nine times and put ourselves under pressure. We were really poor. ‘But I was pretty pleased with how we closed the game out. We found a way to win. It gives us confidence to go away and grind out a victory, especially in the last five minutes because I’ve lost count of how many games we’ve lost in the last five.’ Gloucester's England centre Billy Twelvetrees is tackled by Wasps' Ben Jacobs . Jonny May initially reaches just short of the line but continues his move to chalk up Gloucester's first try . England wing May composes himself on the slide before putting the ball down in the corner . Gloucester's Scotland international Greg Laidlaw kicks one of his two conversions - he also kicked three penalties at Kingsholm in the one-try loss . Wasps half-backs Andy Goode and Joe Simpson had Gloucester in disarray with their aerial onslaught in the first half, but only after Jonny May had given the home side a first-minute lead. When James Hook’s cut-out pass reached Mark Atkinson, he picked out England wing May, who cut inside to score and Greig Laidlaw converted. What followed was grim viewing for the Shed as their heroes unravelled in defence. In the ninth minute, Varndell broke through Steve McColl’s tackle on the flank and offloaded superbly for Wade to go over from close range. Goode’s conversion began his flawless return which yielded 12 points from three conversions and two penalties. In the 20th minute, the veteran fly-half’s high kick into the 22 bounced awkwardly behind Charlie Sharples and Varndell was able to gather and surge past the flailing McColl to touch down. There was a powerful riposte as Gloucester’s pack rumbled forward from a lineout for Matt Kvesic to strike but they were soon exposed again at the other end, in identical fashion, as the Wasps eight drove Nathan Hughes over to score. Varndell then bagged a five-pointer of his own after picking up a speculative kick from Andy Goode . Wasps turned down a kickable penalty before Nathan Hughes finished off a strong line-out drive . After a dressing-down at half-time, the home side rallied strongly and three penalties by Laidlaw brought them back to within a point on the hour. But there was to be no glorious comeback as Goode and Elliot Daly struck late penalties. Gloucester’s director of rugby David Humphreys said: ‘At the start of our year, one of our targets was to make Kingsholm a difficult place for teams to come but our recent results here haven’t backed that up. ‘After another home defeat, the long-term plan doesn’t seem as important as getting short-term results. We all know we are in a results business and we want to win. But we also know we have good players and there are aspects of our game that are improving. We are four months into a long-term project. The fans know that we’re not where we want to be, but they realise that we are a work in progress.’ John Afoa, Gloucester’s World Cup-winning All Black prop, delivered his own damning assessment, adding: ‘It was really disappointing. You look at the body language of the boys — really down and out. We let another game slip through our fingers. We are down in confidence. Maybe some guys are not making the right calls.’

Jonny May and Matt Kvesic scored Gloucester's two tries at Kingsholm . Wasps' five-pointers from Christian Wade, Tom Varndell, Nathan Hughes . Man of the match Andy Goode converted all three and kicked two penalties .

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A new study is backing up long held suspicions that Apple slows down older models of its iPhones to encourage users to buy a new release. The U.S. study analysed worldwide searches for 'iPhone slow' and found that the search term spiked significantly around the time of new iPhone launch. It then compared those results with similar searches for the term 'Samsung Galaxy slow', and discovered the term was unaffected by new releases from Samsung. A new study is backing up long held suspicions that Apple slows down older models of iPhones to encourage users to buy its new release. The U.S. study analysed worldwide searches for 'iPhone slow' and found that the search term spiked significantly around the time of new phone releases . The study, compiled by Harvard University PhD student Laura Trucco, follows claims that the Cupertino-based company is deliberately sabotaging its old products. Writing for the New York Times, Sendhil Mullainathan, a professor of economics at Harvard, described the results as 'striking'. 'Wouldn't many business owners love to make their old product less useful whenever they released a newer one?' Mr Mullainathan wrote. ‘When you sell the device and control the operating system, that's an option'. The study then compared those results with similar searches for the term 'Samsung Galaxy slow', and found the term was unaffected by new releases from Samsung . While some MailOnline readers haven't noticed a slow down, others claim that Apple is sabotaging older phones through software updates. 'This is common knowledge,' one reader wrote. 'If you want to keep your iPhone running at the same pace do not do the software upgrade that comes out within six months of a new iPhone release,' Last year, Catherine Rampell, also writing in the New York Times, raised concerns that Apple could be engineering the new operating system so it only works properly with the newest version of the product. She said her iPhone 4 became a lot slower when she downloaded iOS 7 - and that the only solution seemed to be to buy the iPhone 5. Ms Rampell accused Apple of having run out of ideas so was trying to ‘brainwash’ its customers into buying the new iPhone 5S and 5C because they look nice. Her claims fuelled conspiracy theorists who have long held that Apple engages in ‘planned obsolescence’, a term which has been around since the Great Depression in the 1930s. The theory states that manufacturers of everything from cars to microwaves build in a certain lifetime to a product and then it will simply stop working, forcing consumers to buy a new one. And Apple has faced allegations that it is guilty of planned obsolescence before. Last year, Catherine Rampell, also writing in the New York Times, raised concerns that Apple could be engineering the new operating system so it only works properly with the newest version of the product . A security expert has warned Apple’s iOS software contains potentially sinister tools that could be used by governments to spy on iPhone and iPad users. Speaking at the 'Hackers on planet Earth' conference in New York, Jonathan Zdziarski said that most users are unaware of the lack of protection for iPhone data. He added files found hidden within the firm's software contain a file-relay service that can be used to access the user's address book, photos, voicemail and any accounts configured on the device. However, Apple has denied the claims the backdoor was created deliberately for government or surveillance purposes. His investigation followed earlier reports of the NSA spying on Apple products, which suggested a ‘backdoor’ in iOS could provide hackers with valuable information. A backdoor is a hidden remote access port that can allow outside sources to access a device with little detection. The conclusion was based on an analysis of 600 million iOS devices, with handsets running the most recent versions of the software at particular risk. When it started using more tamper-resistant screws experts said it was to stop users getting into the phone and fixing it themselves if there was a problem. Meanwhile, in 2012 Apple was sued in Brazil by the Brazilian Institute of Politics and Law Software over the launch of the iPad Air. The organisation claimed that because it had the new retina screen it made the iPad 3 redundant and that Apple was changing its devices too quickly. Ms Rampell said: ‘When major innovations remain out of reach, and degrading durability threatens to tick off loyal customers, companies like Apple can still take a cue from the fashion industry. ‘If you can brainwash consumers into developing new tastes that make the old stuff look uncool for aesthetic rather than functional reasons, you still have a shot at harvesting more sales from your existing customer base. Dom Ferkin, managing direction of UK-based iOS experts, Creation Application, told MailOnline that he doesn’t believe Apple are doing this intentionally. ‘On every hardware release they tend to upgrade the chips and they are faster every time they are released,’ he said. ‘Each year they release a new iOS. If you’re running an iOS 7 on a 5 chip, for example, it’s comparable to running Windows XP on a Windows 95 machine. ‘It’s just enough to annoy the users, but it’s needed if you want the slew of new features that Apple releases each year.’ Mr Mullainathan added that the research does not prove that Apple has done anything wrong. No matter how suggestive, he says, the data alone doesn't allow anyone to determine conclusively whether their phone is any slower. There are other explanations for why an older model iPhone may slow down, he claims. For instance, the latest version of the Apple operating system, iOS, is always tailored to the newest device and may therefore not work as efficiently on older models. ‘Hearing about a new release makes you contemplate getting a new and faster phone,’ he added. ‘And you suddenly notice how slow your old phone is.’ Apple is yet to respond. But Mr Mullainathan added that the research does not prove that Apple has done anything wrong.No matter how suggestive, he says, the data alone doesn't allow anyone to determine conclusively whether their phone is any slower .

The study was undertaken by student Laura Trucco at Harvard University . It also compared Apple's results with searches for 'Samsung Galaxy slow' Research found that the term was unaffected by Samsung new releases . Study has fuelled suggestions Apple engages in ‘planned obsolescence’ Theory states that manufacturers build in a certain lifetime to a product and then it will simply stop working, forcing consumers to buy a new one .

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By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 11:56 EST, 15 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:54 EST, 15 May 2013 . A teenager who wanted to help grieving relatives cope with the loss of loved ones has become one of the youngest funeral directors in Britain. Amy Darlow, 19, from Salisbury, began working with the dead when she was just 14 during a work experience placement. She'd applied for it after seeing her grandmother's body as a child, an experience that made her want to make the experience less traumatic for relatives. Amy Darlow, 19,  had her first stint at a funeral directors during a work experience placement aged 14 . Miss Darlow says her friends were surprised by her choice of career but she enjoys the work . Miss Darlow, whose boyfriend and childhood sweetheart Declan Spreadbury, 22, is untroubled by her job, says the first dead body she saw was her grandmother's when she was 10. She said: 'People try to hide death from children, but I was exposed to it - I went to see her in the Chapel of Rest. 'I was encouraged to kiss her on the . forehead and say goodbye but sadly she wasn’t looking her best. 'I asked . why there were bubbles coming out of her mouth and the reply was that . she’d just come out of the fridge. I was just a child - but the image . has stayed with me.' Now Miss Darlow says she knows that the gastric air . coming from her grandmother’s mouth could have been prevented by embalming . the body in a certain way. She said: 'She could have looked . better. It’s important to get it right - because that’s the last time . you’ll see someone. I want people to go away with good lasting . memories.' Miss Darlow has been working for funeral directors Will Case and Partners in Salisbury for over a year . Miss Darlow and her boss, funeral parlour manager Christopher Orledge, in front of one of their hearses . Miss Darlow's boyfriend and childhood sweetheart Declan Spreadbury, 22, is quite used to her unusual job . 'At the end of the day, we’re dealing with someone’s loved one. It’s not just a body.' A year ago, Miss Darlow began working full-time at Will Case and Partners funeral directors in Salisbury. One of the country's youngest undertakers, she said her career choice surprised some. 'My friends were surprised and asked all sorts of silly questions,' she said. 'They asked me if the bodies sat up . when they were being cremated.  I told them that was just the . gas coming out of the organs.' Another nail in the coffin: Miss Darlow is studying for a degree in funeral services as well as working full-time . When she is not conducting funerals, Miss Darlow reads crime fiction and chats to her mother Elizabeth, 53 . It prompted her to take up a full-time post at Will Case and Partners funeral directors in Salisbury a year ago - becoming one of the youngest undertakers. Now she is completing a training course at the parlour, alongside a funeral services foundation degree and an embalming course at the University of Bath. Clad in top hat, cravat and tail coats, Miss Darlow conducted her first funeral in June last year and has completed another nine since then. The Salisbury teenager in full funeral garb, left, and with tattoos on show ready for a night out, right . Polishing hearses is all in a day's work for 19-year-old Amy, who likes to give people's loved ones a dignified send off .

Amy Darlow, 19, from Salisbury, has worked in a funeral parlour for a year . Polishing hearses, nailing coffins and conducting services part of her job . She says: 'It's the last time you see them - it's important to get it right'

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Tokyo (CNN) -- Beneath the cherry blossoms of Shiba Park, more than 2,000 people lined up for a Sunday afternoon march calling for Japan's nuclear power stations to be shut down. A week before, a similar protest -- though in a chilly drizzle, not on a warm, sunny day -- drew about 250. And a month of frustration, desperation and anger boiled over at Tokyo Electric Power Company's headquarters Friday as officials from towns around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant demanded to know when the crisis that has besieged their farming communities would end. "The nuclear plant situation needs to be resolved as soon as possible. If not, we farmers will die," one of the officials, Iwao Suzuki, told the utility's executives. But the response from Naomi Hirose, the managing director of Japan's largest utility, offered little encouragement to the delegation or the rest of the world. "There is a need to draw an end to the current situation as soon as possible," Hirose said, adding, "We totally agree to this and are taking the utmost endeavors to contain the radiation." Since the March 11 earthquake that ravaged northern Japan, workers at Fukushima Daiichi have been struggling to cool down three overheated reactors and keep pools of spent but still potent nuclear fuel from spreading further radioactive contamination across northern Japan. A month into the crisis, the utility acknowledges, there is no end in sight. The problems are so far "beyond the design capacity" of the plant that the Japanese are working in uncharted territory, said Michael Friedlander, a former senior operator at U.S. nuclear power plants. "No nuclear power plant has ever considered the inability to get on long-term core cooling for more than a week, much less three weeks," Friedlander said. Some Japanese experts now say the effort is in danger of failing unless Japan seeks more help from international experts to bring it to an end. Tetsunari Iida, an engineer-turned-industry critic, said the situation is "beyond the reach" of Japan's closely knit nuclear establishment. "A real exit strategy has to start with an inspection by the world's top experts on nuclear accidents," Iida told reporters at Japan's national press club last week. Engineers and workers so far have managed to stave off a complete meltdown in Fukushima Daiichi's reactors 1-3 and in the spent fuel pool of unit 4. But experts say the overheated fuel rods are likely to have suffered extensive damage, and there is a complication for seemingly every advance. Much of the past week was dominated by the attempt to stop water laced with massive amounts of radioactive particles from pouring into the Pacific Ocean -- water that comes out of the reactors "screaming with radioactivity," Friedlander said. Tokyo Electric is now grappling with where to put the stuff, even dumping thousands of tons of less-radioactive water into the Pacific to make room for it in a reservoir for low-level waste. In a normally functioning plant, coolant water is circulated out of the reactors and chilled. Then it's pumped back in to carry more heat away from the plant's fuel rods, which continue producing energy long after the chain reaction at the heart of the units has been stopped. "You have to get the recirculation system up and functioning so they can cool that water in the normal way," said Gary Was, a nuclear engineering professor at the University of Michigan and a CNN consultant. Normal cooling systems don't require the massive amounts of water -- around 7 metric tons (1,850 gallons) per hour -- now being poured into the reactors. "That's a big problem," Was said. Tokyo Electric officials told CNN they can't say when they'll be able to restore those normal cooling. The first step is to get highly radioactive water out of the flooded basements of the units' turbine plants, then figure out how badly the equipment inside has been damaged. For the first two weeks of the crisis, engineers pumped seawater into the reactors. But the resulting buildup of salt inside has made it harder for coolant to circulate, U.S. nuclear safety officials advised in March. In addition, Was said, the fuel rods are likely in a state of "partial melt," the extent of which will be difficult to determine. After 1979's Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania, it took more than two years before operators were able to get a camera into the reactor to examine its condition, he said. Satoshi Sato, a Japanese nuclear industry consultant, called the current line of attack a "waste of effort." Plant instruments are likely damaged and unreliable because of the intense heat that was generated, and pumping more water into the reactors is only making the contamination problem worse, he said. "There is no happy end with their approach," Sato told CNN. "They must change the approach. That's something I'm sure of 100 percent." After the 1986 Chernobyl accident, the world's worst to date, the Soviet Union encased the plant's damaged reactor in a massive concrete sarcophagus. Iida said Fukushima Daiichi's reactors remain too hot to pour concrete, but he suggested pouring a slurry of minerals and sand over them to carry away heat before encasing them. And Was said the reactors have to be cooled in order to let the molten fuel harden again: "Only when it solidifies are you sure you can contain it." He said Tokyo Electric should be in the lead -- "It's their plant" -- but he added, "There's a lot of different areas in which they could benefit from international help." Japan's government is consulting with experts from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the French nuclear fuel company Areva, said Hidehiko Nishiyama, deputy director-general of Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency and the agency's chief spokesman. U.S. Navy barges have been carrying fresh water to Fukushima Daiichi, and Tokyo's foreign ministry has asked Russia about using a Japanese-built ship outfitted as a floating decontamination plant. "We already have quite a bit of support from outside countries and organizations," Nishiyama said. But he added, "I think the most urgent issue now is support in whatever form possible with regard to how we can dispose of the cooling water and be able to build a sustainable cooling system." General Electric which designed the reactors, and Hitachi, which built most of the plant, are also advising the government and Tokyo Electric. GE chief Jeffrey Immelt flew to Japan to consult with Japanese officials and executives last week, and Tokyo has asked Russian officials about using a Japanese-built ship outfitted as a floating decontamination plant. But for now, Japan has "no choice" but to continue pouring water into the reactors, Friedlander said. "I have no doubt that the men and women working at the power plant are indeed going to exert every human effort to make sure that they resolve this," he said. "What I don't know and what I can't tell and the big question mark for me is, will it be done sooner than later? "And again, my hope is, is that it'll be done sooner. But in order for it to be done sooner, TEPCO's going to have to step up and ask for more help from the international community." Ailing Chang and CNN's Brian Walker contributed to this report.

No timetable has been crafted for restoring normal cooling, Tokyo Electric says . Experts say Japan and Tokyo Electric need help resolving the crisis . "There is no happy end with their approach," a Japanese analyst says . It's too early for a Chernobyl-type solution, a CNN consultant advises .

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- On April 20, President Obama challenged his Cabinet to cut $100 million in spending over the next 90 days. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says a report on Cabinet spending cuts will be released "in coming days." The deadline came -- and went -- without a report from the White House on whether or not that promise was fulfilled. Asked about the spending cuts, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday that information still was being compiled. "Those are being reviewed now, and we'll release something in the coming days," Gibbs told the daily White House briefing. At time the challenge was announced, critics said $100 million in savings was a small amount on the context of the federal budget. "Any amount of savings is obviously welcome," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said in April. "But [$100 million is] about the average amount we'll spend every single day just covering the interest on the stimulus package that we passed earlier this year." In April, Gibbs insisted that ordinary Americans nevertheless would appreciate the savings effort. "Only in Washington, D.C., is $100 million not a lot of money," Gibbs said. The issue is a sensitive one for Obama at a time of fierce Republican criticism about increased government spending for the economic stimulus plan. Republicans also oppose health care reform proposals by Democrats that would cost $1 trillion or more over the next 10 years. Obama is pushing for fast congressional action on a health care overhaul.

Obama's April 20 challenge to Cabinet: Cut $100 million in spending in 90 days . The 90 days are up, but White House hasn't issued a report yet on progress . White House spokesman Robert Gibbs: Information still being compiled .

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By . Lizzie Parry . PUBLISHED: . 06:22 EST, 19 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:52 EST, 19 October 2013 . Comedian and actor Felix Dexter has died from cancer at the age of 52 . Celebrities and comedians have paid tribute to star of The Real McCoy comedian Felix Dexter, who died yesterday following a battle with cancer. The comedian and actor, 52, suffered from myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer. Tributes to the St Kitts-born star have flooded Twitter, recalling his characters, including Nigerian accountant Nathaniel in the 1990s BBC series The Real McCoy. The Londoner also starred in The Fast Show and Absolutely Fabulous and was the first black comic to get a regular slot at London's Comedy Store. Comic Charlie Higson, who starred alongside Dexter in The Fast Show, tweeted: 'Very sad news that the brilliant and criminally underused Felix Dexter has died. 'He was a brilliant character comedian and actor.' Friend and colleague, BBC Radio . London presenter Eddie Nestor, told his Up All Night programme that Dexter's terminal illness . did not get in the way of his sense of humour. 'It's a sad day. It's a really sad day,' Nestor, who acted alongside Dexter for three years in The Real McCoy, said. 'It's quite weird, you're going to see . somebody being diagnosed with a terminal illness and you find yourself . laughing, really hard. 'It was great to be able to spend some time with him. (I was) lying with somebody on their death bed and they're still making jokes.' Nestor said although Dexter was on pain medication, his mind was still sharp and he seemed 'really upbeat'. 'You try to hold it together when you're in there, but when you come out of that room, it's a different gig,' he said. 'We've lost a talented, intelligent, articulate performer who could touch - who could reach out.' Scroll down for video . Dozens of celebrities and comedians took to Twitter to pay tribute to Dexter, who starred in The Real McCoy and The Fast Show . Write caption here . Actor David Schneider credits Dexter with creating the funniest character on TV in The Real McCoy, where the St Kitt's-born actor played a Nigerian accountant . BBC's UK comedy production controller Mark Freeland said the comedy community had lost 'a hugely popular, pioneering, naturally funny and thoroughly modest actor and comedian'. 'The outpouring of affection today is testament to a lovely, gracious man, seemingly happy to be in the background, but effortlessly and deservedly very much in the comedy foreground,' Mr Freeland said. 'Many performers will feel today as if they've lost a part of the family.' DJ and X Factor host Dermot O'Leary . remembered a 'true gent' while actor Simon Pegg said: 'Very sad to hear . news of his passing. Very funny man.' Jack Dee added: 'Very sad news about Felix Dexter.' While . Bill Bailey paid tribute to his old friend, tweeting: 'A brilliant . comedian, a superb comic actor, a lovely man I feel privileged to have . known.' David . Schneider, who starred in films 28 Days Later, A Knight's Tale and . Mission Impossible, credited Dexter with creating the funniest character . on TV. He said:' So sad . about Felix Dexter. Lovely, lovely guy. And I think nothing on TV has . ever made me laugh more than his Real McCoy Nigerian character.' Matt Lucas remembered 'a brilliant performer, joining the band of celebrities and comedians paying tribute to Dexter . Grumpy Old Women star Jenny Eclair praised Dexter's 'fabulous work'. As well as his comedy characters, Dexter also performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and on the West End stage with Hollywood star Christian Slater . Actor David Morrissey said he had worked with Felix and was sad to hear the news. 'Such a funny, talented and generous man,' he tweeted. Fellow comedian Sean Hughes wrote: 'So so sad to hear about the truly wonderful Felix Dexter passing away. I hope you can feel the love in the comedy community fella. Rip.' Dexter, who studied law, enjoyed an . eclectic career also performing for a season with the Royal Shakespeare . Company as well as securing the accolade of being named Time Out . comedian of the year. His website credits his legal background with helping his career in comedy. It reads: 'This legal background is extremely useful in his stand-up comedy career, enabling him to stun hecklers into silence with shouts of 'objection.' Dexter also enjoyed an appearance on the panel of Have I Got News For You and Grumpy . Old Men as well as Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge. As . an actor he had parts in Casualty and the Bill and took to the stage in . the West End alongside Hollywood star Christian Slater. More . recently, he played three of the main roles in BBC Two's sketch show . Bellamy's People and is currently on screen appearing in sitcom Citizen . Khan.

Comedy world takes to Twitter to pay tribute to 'The Real McCoy' St Kitt's-born actor suffered battle with bone marrow cancer . Charlie Higson remembers 'a brilliant character, comedian and actor' Friend Eddie Nestor said terminal illness could not dampen his spirits .

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Kim Bo-kyung says he is looking forward to working with Wigan Athletic manager Malky Mackay again after the South Korea winger signed for the Championship club until the end of the season. Kim worked with Mackay at Cardiff City before the manager was sacked by Malaysian owner Vincent Tan in December 2013 amid a storm of racist, sexist, anti-semitic and homophobic text messages in which he was implicated. The Football Association are still investigating the messages retrieved when files were seized from Iain Moody, Cardiff’s former sporting director, who resigned from his position at Crystal Palace when Sportsmail revealed the scandal in April 2014. Kim Bo-kyung says he is looking forward to working with Wigan manager Malky Mackay again . Among them were the use of the term ‘chinkys’ — in direct reference to the arrival of Kim — and a joke about Koreans eating dogs. The situation got worse when Wigan chairman Dave Whelan spoke about ‘chingalings’ as he defended his decision to appoint Mackay back in November. But Kim expressed his delight at being reunited with Mackay following his medical at the DW Stadium. The 25-year-old said: 'I am very happy to be joining up with the gaffer again. 'I really enjoyed working with him in the past and he helped me so much in my career. He gave me the chance to fulfil my dream of playing in England and I am now looking forward so much to working with him again. 'Since becoming a free agent, we had various offers but when the chance came to be with the gaffer again at Wigan, this really was the only place I wanted to come. 'The other players have all made me welcome already. The atmosphere in the dressing room seems very good, there is a nice feeling with all the lads and we now have to keep working hard to pick up as many points as we can and start climbing the league table.' Wigan manager Mackay has signed South Korea winger Kim as a free agent . Kim worked with Mackay at the South Wales club before the manager was sacked by owner Vincent Tan . Mackay came in for heavy criticism last year when the League Managers’ Association issued a statement describing the text messages as ‘friendly banter’, but the 42-year-old Scot later issued a full and unreserved apology. It was reported last week that he is likely to be cleared by the FA, who are believed to have a policy of not being able to act on communications sent privately between two individuals. Wigan, deep in the Championship’s relegation zone, sold Ben Watson, Shaun Maloney, Adam Forshaw and Callum McManaman during the January transfer window, which closed on Monday night. Mackay signed Leon Clarke on loan from Wolves and Sheyi Ojo on loan from Liverpool, and also snapped up the Cameroon defender Gaeten Bong on a short-term deal. His latest signing, Kim, scored his first top-flight goal in a 2-2 draw with Manchester United in November 2013, but has appeared just twice in the Championship this season and had his contract cancelled by mutual consent on January 24. The 25-year-old has won 30 caps for his country and was handed the No 7 shirt following the retirement of South Korea legend Park Ji-sung, but missed out on a place in the squad for the recent Asia Cup, in which they lost a thrilling final 2-1 to Australia in Sydney.

Kim Bo-kyung has joined Wigan Athletic until the end of the season . The 25-year-old is reunited with former Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay . Bo-kyung: 'I am very happy to be joining up with the gaffer again'

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A windy storm sweeping down the West Coast knocked down trees, ripped through freeway and street signs, delayed hundreds of flights and knocked out power for thousands of people in California and Nevada. Up to 10 inches of rain is expected this weekend in parts of the drought-stricken region, but the rainfall won't make a significant dent in California's historic drought. Still, the storm is a major change after six dry weeks in the Bay Area. For the first time in recorded history, there was no measurable rainfall in downtown San Francisco in January, when winter rains usually come. Scroll down for video . Storm: A windy storm sweeping down the West Coast knocked down trees, ripped through freeway and street signs, delayed hundreds of flights and knocked out power for thousands of people in California and Nevada . Forecast: Sunday's forecast shows more rain and snow in San Francisco with snow in some surrounding areas . SUV: Here, an Oregon woman looks at her crushed SUV after a tree fell on the vehicle as Oregon had up to two inches of rain and 55 mph winds . Flooding: As well as 55 mph winds, Oregon saw flooding during the damaging storm . It would take 150 percent of the average rainfall for California to recover from the dry period, state water resource officials say. But snow is more important than rain because snowpack supplies about a third of the water needed by residents, agriculture and industry. About 26 miles west of Seattle, an overflowing river inundated at least a half dozen homes on the Olympic Peninsula. Rescuers went door to door in Brinnon to check homes on a road partially blocked by a mudslide, Jefferson County Emergency Management spokeswoman Keppie Keplinger said. Rainfaill: It would take 150 percent of the average rainfall for California to recover from the dry period, state water resource officials say . Warnings: Regions in the north west are on flood and wind watch with some on high wind and flood warning . Floods: As much as 7 inches of rain have fallen over 24 hours on the east side of the Olympics where the Duckabush River is flooding the town of Brinnon (photographed) Three people were rescued from a flooded pickup truck Friday morning, but none was injured, she said. The threat of landslides will persist into the weekend, and weather officials warn of flooding in several rivers in western Washington. Oregon also saw flooding on roadways. In the Sierra Nevada spanning California and Nevada, strong winds blinded drivers, causing multiple car crashes. The wind snapped massive trees, closed ski resorts around Lake Tahoe and knocked out power to thousands. A 134 mph gust recorded early Friday near the Mount Rose Ski Resort southeast of Reno led the facility and two others to close. At least a dozen people were hurt in multiple crashes on Nevada highways. Threat: The threat of landslides will persist into the weekend, and weather officials warn of flooding in several rivers in western Washington . Sandbags: North of San Francisco, businesses in Marin, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma counties stacked sandbags to prepare for possible flash flooding from swollen waterways as rain started falling in the North Bay . No deaths were reported, but nine people were hospitalized in a crash on a stretch of U.S. Highway 95A that involved at least eight vehicles. Three other people were hospitalized with minor injuries after five cars crashed on U.S. 395 north of Reno near the California line. In the San Francisco Bay Area, power lines were snapped by falling trees and the wind ripped through freeway and street signs. More than 60,000 people lost power. By Friday evening, 9,000 customers remained without power, Pacific Gas & Electric said. North of San Francisco, businesses in Marin, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma counties stacked sandbags to prepare for possible flash flooding from swollen waterways as rain started falling in the North Bay. Winds of up to 15 mph were recorded east of the city Friday morning, and the blustery weather knocked down trees and caused power outages, the National Weather Service said. San Francisco International Airport saw delays of up to 90 minutes and about 175 flights canceled Friday. Warning: The storm is expected to drop rain through Sunday, and the National Weather Service issued a heavy-rain, high wind-gust and flash-flood warning for the region through Monday . Additional Rain: Areas of northern California are expected to see two to three inches of rain through the weekend . The storm is expected to drop rain through Sunday, and the National Weather Service issued a heavy-rain, high wind-gust and flash-flood warning for the region through Monday. The heaviest downpours are forecast in the North Bay, where up to 7 inches of rain is expected to overwhelm waterways and roadway-drainage systems, leading to flash flooding. Urban areas could see up to 4 inches of moisture, while Marin and Sonoma counties could see 10 inches through Sunday, weather service lead forecaster Roger Gass said. Though the storm, dubbed a 'Pineapple Express' has caused substantial damage, some South Sacramento residents are happy for the rain. Delays: Flights were delayed in San Francisco and a wind advisory was issued Friday morning as the powerful storm rolled into the Bay Area . Clouds: This NOAA satellite image taken Friday, Feb. 6, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. EST, shows a line of clouds entering into the Pacific Northwest and northern California as a storm moves into the area, with rain . One resident told KCRA that she welcomes the rain, because the area needs it. 'I love it, we need more of it,' another said. 'California's in a state of drought right now and we need all we can get.' Rain has been nearly nonexistent across much of California and Nevada since Dec. 20, halting hopes for the drought to improve. California's second snow survey this winter found the Sierra Nevada snowpack is far below normal after a dry, unusually warm January. A greater snowpack translates to more water for California reservoirs to meet demand in summer and fall. Water resources managers said heavy rain and cooler temperatures in the next three months would be required for the snowpack to build and give Californians hope for beginning to recover from the drought this year.

A windy storm sweeping down the West Coast knocked down trees, ripped through freeway and street signs, delayed hundreds of flights and knocked out power for thousands of people in California and Nevada . Up to 10 inches of rain is expected this weekend in parts of the drought-stricken region, but the rainfall won't make a significant dent in California's historic drought . More than a dozen people were hospitalized after two separate multiple-car pile ups due to the storm .

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(CNN) -- Canadian aviation company Bombardier is taking a "major bet" on the notoriously cut-throat passenger plane market, spending around $3.5 billion to compete with well-established rivals Boeing and Airbus, its chief executive Guy Hachey says. The money will be invested in Bombardier's new C Series aircraft, which has the capacity to seat 100 to 150 passengers. Bombardier faces obstacles, including the dominance of its competitors in the market and the eurozone financial crisis, which has hit the aviation industry hard. But the company is in a strong position to target a market that has been "under-served" by the major players, Hachey said. Watch: How to buy planes . "So far, we've been serving customers up to about 100 seats, more in the regional segment. Now we're cracking into more of the mainline segment. We're investing about $3.5 billion -- for the size of our company that is a very significant investment," he told CNN. "If you look at our company we have two groups -- a group of about $10 billion on the rail side and $10 billion in aerospace. But it is a major bet for the corporation." Cutting edge design . Hachey said Bombardier's competitive edge lies in the design of its planes. Until now, this market had largely been served by the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. However these smaller versions of planes -- called "shrinks" --- were also much heavier. The other option was Brazilian company Embraer's E-195 -- known as a "stretch" -- but it cannot fly as far in one go. In comparison, Hachey said Bombardier's C Series will deliver an "optimized product" built specifically for the 100 to 150-seat market. On its website the company says its aircraft will be lighter and more fuel efficient, yet provide a "best-in-class, wide-body cabin environment." Taking on the major players . Bombardier's ambitions -- even with this new approach to design -- are high, given the long history of Airbus and Boeing in these markets. Founded in 1942, Bombardier is a relatively new kid on the aviation block. The company expanded from trains to planes in the 1980s and is now the third largest aircraft manufacturer. Its aerospace division now employs 33,600 people, with an annual turnover of £8.6 billion. According to Hachey, the company now has the scale to take such challenges. Watch: Three CEOs in a cockpit . Hachey is hoping to capitalize on demand for around 7,000 aircraft in the 100 to 150-seat segment over the next 20 years. So far Bombardier has secured 330 commitments and 138 firm orders for its new aircraft. Hachey, who worked in the automotive industry for 30 years before moving to planes, said: "We feel very comfortable with the level of production we have going forwards, so we are very happy with our position." Beyond Europe . As European markets continue to take a battering, Hachey says Bombardier will be expanding its focus elsewhere. In the past year the company has doubled its sales force in emerging countries, with a renewed push in the U.S. "In Europe typically things have been slower than usual, and this is a fortress market for us. We've been very strong in Europe so we are feeling the impact of the economic uncertainty," Hachey noted. Watch: Airlines brace for economic impact . "The good thing is the rest of the world is not necessarily in the same shape. If you look at emerging countries we've been doing very well," he said. "We're focusing elsewhere. The U.S. has also been picking up which is a very, very important market for us." Sheena McKenzie contributed to this report .

Aviation company Bombardier is investing around $3.5 billion in 100 to 150-seater aircraft . Canadian group will compete with well-established rivals Boeing and Airbus . Ambitious plan comes against the backdrop of eurozone financial crisis . Bombardier CEO Guy Hachey says it is a "major bet for the corporation"

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(CNN) -- An Iowa community was shut down much of Sunday afternoon while emergency crews remained hard at work, sifting through wreckage caused by a wave of powerful tornadoes that swept across the state overnight. The twisters caused major damage to about 60% of Mapleton, a city of about 1,200 residents, Monona County Sheriff Jeff Pratt told reporters Sunday. It was all part of a violent storm system that struck overnight, originating in eastern Nebraska and following a warm front across northern Iowa, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Boksa. But despite causing extensive damage, it did not lead to any fatalities, said Stefanie Bond, a spokeswoman for Iowa's Homeland Security & Emergency Management Division. Wildfires in Texas | Flooding in upper Midwest . Mapleton was among the hardest-hit areas. Initially, concerns about a gas leak had prompted all nonresidents to be barred from the community, which is about 45 miles southeast of Sioux City. By 5 p.m., people were being allowed back in, though authorities remained on the scene, according to the sheriff's department. The high winds tossed cars and tractors, tore off roofs, caused a car wash to collapse, uprooted trees and downed power lines. Yet Pratt said there had been only minor injuries, giving credit to advance warning as well as an emergency response effort that included authorities both local and from elsewhere. "There was major devastation to the southwest portion of town, but no fatalities," the sheriff said. Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad issued a disaster proclamation for Monona County, according to a statement from his office. The proclamation allows officials to use state funds to help. He later issued a similar proclamation for Pocahontas County, which also suffered severe damage. He then toured the tornado-ravaged town on Sunday afternoon, posting pictures online of uprooted trees and conversations with residents. On his Twitter page, Branstad wrote, "Please keep the victims in your thoughts and prayers." The twisters struck just before midnight Saturday. Amateur video recorded by storm chasers shows a large funnel cloud spinning across a flat terrain outside Mapleton. In the background, a passenger can be heard exclaiming, "It's going to hit that town! ... Mapleton's in big trouble!" Did you witness the storm? Share your story . Afterward, National Guard troops were brought into the area, according to Stefanie Bond, a public information officer for the state's Homeland Security & Emergency Management Division. She also said that natural gas service was temporarily shut off in the city. The Red Cross was also on the ground providing assistance. Bruce Spence, a government liaison for the group, called the damage to the town "extensive." "The whole town is without power. Main Street is a disaster," he told CNN. "They've shut down the town. As we speak, I'm looking down one of the residential streets. There's debris all over, trees are down. "This isn't going to get fixed soon," Spence said. The National Weather Service in Des Moines, Iowa, reported tornado sightings by storm chasers and trained spotters in as many as 11 towns and cities in northern and west-central Iowa over a four-hour period Saturday night. At least three of the twisters, including the Mapleton tornado, caused significant damage, according to Boksa. In Early, a town of 1,600 residents, a tornado ripped roofs off buildings and homes and uprooted large trees, authorities said. There were no reports of injuries in that town. In Schaller, a twister knocked down a dozen trees and felled multiple power poles, the weather service reported. Tammie Pech, a Red Cross spokeswoman, said the agency was opening shelters in Mapleton and Early to take in storm victims. Only four people slept in the Mapleton shelter overnight Sunday, Spence said. Most displaced residents opted to stay with family and friends, he said. The National Weather Service also reported major damage in Nemaha, possibly from a tornado. Bond noted that strong winds also tore through hog pens in Pocohontas Country, in central Iowa, and Kossuth County, in the east along the Illinois border. Three cities in Fayette County -- Fayette, Westgate and Maynard -- were without power for about an hour Sunday evening due to a blown transformer, the state's emergency management spokeswoman said. Randy Frank, Fayette County's homeland security and emergency management coordinator, said that the challenges continued well after the tornadoes came through, with sustained winds blowing at least 50 mph into Sunday evening. "Our biggest problem right now is fuel fires out of control," said Frank, whose county is about 255 miles from Monona County. "And it's that way across the state, with the wind, which (can) be very dangerous in (fanning) the fire." CNN's Greg Morrison, Greg Botelho and Leslie Tripp contributed to this report.

NEW: A Fayette County official says fuel fires, fanned by strong winds, are a concern . Mapleton had been shut down as authorities probed a possible gas leak . A Red Cross liaison calls the city's Main Street "a disaster," with debris everywhere . Other Iowa communities are also hit hard by overnight twisters .

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He’s famed for being one of the greatest living singer songwriters and now Sir Paul McCartney has turned his hand to rapping. The former Beatle – a passionate vegetarian – recorded the rap video in an attempt to persuade people to stop eating meat one day a week in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint and help fight climate change. The 51-second video begins with a simple message directing people to pledge their support to the Meat-Free Monday petition. Scroll down for video . The former Beatle - a passionate vegetarian - recorded the rap video in an attempt to persuade people to stop eating meat one day a week . The 51-second video begins with a simple message directing people to pledge their support to the Meat-Free Monday petition . But it quickly descends into a cringeworthy performance as the Beatles singer starts to wave his hands and click his fingers . But it quickly descends into ‘Dad-rap’ territory as he begins to put on an accent along with animated hand gestures, finger-clicks and hand claps. Sir Paul, 72, made the plea for people to go vegetarian once a week before the UN climate summit, which takes place today in New York. In the video – which runs under the hashtag ‘#MFMclimatepledge’ - he says: ‘I need your help, all I want you to do is just log in on pledge.meatfreemondays.com and pledge your support to the idea of meat-free Monday. ‘I need your help - please do it. We’ll send all these pledges to the politicians, and then they’ll do something about it.’ He then ends by repeatedly rapping the web address for the organisation in an accent, saying: ‘Pledge.meatfreemondays.com, pledge.meatfreemondays.com. You can do it right now please.’ Sir Paul has spoken out against the meat industry in the past which he says is a major contributor to climate change. More than 843,000 people – including the likes as Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Ruffalo, Kevin Spacey and Ricky Gervais – have signed up to the Meat-Free Monday pledge . The Meat-Free Monday movement stems from the idea that cutting out animal products from the human diet can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. More than 843,000 people – including the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Ruffalo, Kevin Spacey and Ricky Gervais – have signed up to the pledge. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is gathering together global leaders at the UN climate change summit today- the first time Heads of State will have come together to discuss climate change since Copenhagen in 2009. The summit is being held to jump-start the climate negotiations that are due to conclude with an ambitious global treaty in December 2015.

Sir Paul McCartney turns his hand to rapping for Meat-Free Monday petition . Rock star's YouTube video quickly descends into cringeworthy 'Dad-rap' Beatles singer puts on an accent while doing bizarre hand gestures . The passionate vegetarian calls on people to give up meat once a week . The campaign argues that this will reduce greenhouse gas emissions . 843,000 have signed up - including Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey .

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By . Catherine Eade . Think your car is safe in the hands of private parking firms? Drivers travelling from Gatwick who entrust their cars to firms close to the airport might want to check the credentials of the company before handing over their keys. Gatwick Airport parking firm Gold Parking is one firm which has allegedly been revealed to be a 'rogue trader' by BBC1 programme Watchdog. The BBC says the parking company was caught leaving holidaymakers' cars in random locations such as side streets and even town centres when they assumed they were being parked in a secure car park. A parking firm taking Gatwick Airport passengers' cars to 'secure parking' allegedly left them on side streets (File pic) One customer told the TV show that her car had an extra 1,500 miles on the clock when she returned . The internet site for Gold Parking describes the company as 'the most affordable and convenient Meet and Greet Parking Company at Gatwick Airport' and claims, 'All our compounds are 24/7 manned'. One customer told the TV show that her car had an extra 1,500 miles on the clock when she returned, while another reported that their Mercedes had been stolen. The show's presenter Matt Allwright and his team secretly checked to see whether the firm had a secure car park by providing three fake customers who handed over cars to Gold Parking. The customers were charged £90 for one week and £150 for two weeks to have their vehicle taken to the company's 'secure car park', but on each occasion the cars were left out in the open in Crawley, in communal public carparks, outside shops and in a residential side street. Exposed: Gold Parking, exposed by Watchdog on the BBC parked some cars in the Three Bridges Community Centre . Secure? Other cars were parked in a residential road in Crawley called Thatcher Close . Gatwick Airport has an approved list of parking firms and Gold Parking is not one of them . Crawley residents told the BBC they often saw unfamiliar vehicles left in the open for days on end. The BBC show, which aired last Wednesday, featured Dipesh Toor, who left his £45,000 Mercedes with Gold Parking and returned to find it had been stolen. The company told Watchdog it did have access to a secure compound which it shared with other companies. It claimed Mr Toor's Mercedes was stolen from within this car park. Brenda Jones left her Audi A7 with Gold Parking while on honeymoon in Cuba, and when she returned found the car was dirty, had a ripped tyre and an extra 1,500 miles on the clock. The couple subsequently received a parking fine in the post, stating the vehicle had been parked in a residents' parking space without a permit and two weeks later another fine arrived for a pay and display space. TravelMail was unable to contact Gold Parking on repeated occasions, and its website has been removed. Gatwick Airport has a list of approved 'meet and great operators' for off-airport parking who passengers are advised to use. Gold Parking is not one of them.

Air passengers reported their cars had been stolen or damaged . BBC Watchdog programme secretly checked parking firm . Crawley resident say random cars often left on side streets .

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By . Deni Kirkova . Could this be the ultimate summer snack? It's not unusual to have a big bowl of popcorn and your favourite tipple while chilling out but now you can combine the two. Cocktail-flavoured caramel popcorn has been invented containing five per cent real booze! The Willy Wonka-style concoction comes from award-winning popcorn pioneers Joe & Seph's, who are leading the way when it comes to . innovative British food and drink. The new adult range comprises four different varieties - Gin & Tonic, Mojito, Margarita and Cosmopolitan . The new adult range comprises a collection . of classic cocktails in four different varieties - Gin & Tonic, . Mojito, Margarita and Cosmopolitan - perfect for serving as snacks or as part of an indulgent dessert. The Latin flavours of the Mojito and Margarita varieties might be just the ticket during the World Cup. Joe & Seph's say they use an innovative . 'flavour-sequencing' technique, which unlocks different taste elements, . one after the other. Enjoy the sweet tonic followed by the citrus and juniper notes of the Gin (l) This refreshing blend of lime and garden mint is infused with 5% Rum, perfect for a summer's day (r) Launching in time for summer, Joe & . Seph's alcoholic range is designed to tantalise the taste buds of . cocktail lovers and culinary adventurers, with the popcorn's smooth . caramel coating infused with the finest artisan spirits. Available from joeandsephs.co.uk at £12 for any three 80g pouches, you can also pick up the alcoholic popcorn at firebox.com or Harrods. Gin & . Tonic - A blend of the finest London Gin with a crisp tonic. Enjoy the . sweet tonic followed by the citrus and juniper notes of the Gin. Mojito - This refreshing blend of lime and garden mint is infused with 5% Rum, perfect for a summer's day. Margarita . – A Latin classic, smooth caramel infused with lime oil and salt gives a . zingy taste followed by the enjoyable tang of the Tequila. Cosmopolitan - Enjoy the citrus blend of oranges, cranberry and lime, followed by the taste of Triple Sec and Vodka. A Latin classic, smooth caramel infused with lime oil and salt gives a zingy taste followed by the enjoyable tang of the Tequila (l) the taste of Triple Sec and Vodka follows the citrus blend of oranges, cranberry and lime (r) Love a Cosmopolitan cocktail? Now you can get popcorn infused with the flavour - and the booze!

Popcorn created by artisan British popcorn brand Joe & Seph's . Adult range of four cocktail flavours is out now for £2.99 a bag . Although it won't be sold in the booze aisle, you may need ID to buy it .

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As any woman knows, a spot of make-up can work wonders by seemingly turning back the clock. But exactly how many years does that foundation, mascara and  blusher knock off? Now research suggests that when applied well, it can make the wearer look almost a decade younger. The beauty myth: Respondents to the survey said Carol, 51, looked 53 with no make up, but just 46 - seven years younger - when she chose to wear a full face of cosmetics . Madonna, 54, took seven years off her 'bareface' age . Demi Moore, 49, lost six years thanks to make-up . Those who go out in their warpaint appear to be between five and nine years younger than when they are bare-faced. Kate Moss, 38, and Carol Vorderman, 51, were shown to have the most age-reducing regimes, with both looking nine years younger after applying make-up. Meanwhile, 54-year-old Madonna managed to shave seven years off her age and Cindy Crawford, 46, took off six. The research – which you won’t be surprised to hear was conducted for a beauty retailer – involved showing respondents images of well-known women, first bare-faced and then with make-up. Respondents were asked to identify a ‘make-up age’ and a ‘bareface age’, with the collective results making an average for each. Britney Spears, 30, managed to look five years younger with make-up on. Demi Moore, 50, was the only woman whose ‘bareface age’ was below her real age at 47 – but with make-up on she looked even younger, at 43. Respondents were also asked about their own make-up, with 70 per cent of over-30s saying it makes them look younger. 100 per cent of 60-69 year olds say they look younger in make-up . and... 73 per cent of 40-49 year olds . 62 per cent of 30 - 39 year olds . Of that, 36 per cent thought that make-up made them look one to three years younger, while 29 per cent thought it could make them look three to five years younger. An optimistic 2 per cent thought make-up took ten years off their real age while 18 per cent thought it took off five to seven years. Only women under 21 thought that a slick of black kohl and some lipstick actually added a few years. The survey by Escentual.com showed that the older you are, the more reliant you are on make-up to turn back the clock. Only 60 per cent of those aged 30 to 39 thought they looked younger with make-up, compared with 100 per cent of those aged 60 to 69.

A full 100 per cent of 60 to 69 year olds thought that make-up made them look younger . Carol Vorderman, 51, looks 53 bare-faced - but 46 with full make-up .

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By . Emily Davies . PUBLISHED: . 20:00 EST, 12 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:10 EST, 13 June 2013 . With their historic mansions and quaint tea shops - National Trust venues seem like the perfect family day out. But the charity has its eye on a rather different audience - as it prepares to host burlesque nights in stately homes. In a bid to attract younger visitors two racy performances featuring cocktails and scantily-clad dancers will be held, after last year saw a four per cent decline in visitors across the country. The National trust has its eye on a different audience at the Killerton estate in Devon . Vintage: The National Trust hopes hosting burlesque nights will help attract a younger crowd . The trust will seek to change perceptions to give off a less ‘buttoned-up’ impression to younger audiences. To reassure members concerned about the trust sexing up its image, a spokesman said performances would be ‘tasteful’ with dancers ‘showing off their corsets, feathers and pearls’. Organiser Shelley Barns told the Daily Telegraph: ‘It is a family event, so the burlesque dancers will be quite tame. ‘It is supposed to be a bit light-hearted. They won’t be getting completely naked, let’s put it that way. This is the first time they have performed anywhere like this.’ Felicity Boucher, a visitor services officer for the trust, said: ‘We’ve never tried anything like this before but with the backdrop of the house and garden it seemed like the perfect setting for an evening of cocktails and nostalgic appeal.’ The first event will be held on June 22 and 23 at the 18th century house in Killerton, Devon, which is known for its collection of historical costumes. One of the reasons for the turn to burlesque nights is the fact that there was a four per cent decline in the number of visitors to National Trust properties across the country last year . Two models pose on a vintage car. The trust hopes to give off a less 'buttoned-up' impression of its properties . The first event will be held on June 22 and 23 at the 18th century house in Killerton, Devon, which is known for its collection of historical costumes . Performers will include Kitty’s Dolls Burlesque and singer Lola Lamour, with adult tickets costing £18.50. The second will be at at Trelissick Garden Cornwall, featuring The Slinky Minkys whose dancers include Babalicious, Miss Pip Tease and Miss Guilty Pleasure. Last year it was reported the organisation - of which Prince Charles is president — was launching an X-rated digital guide to London’s red-light district. It was a far cry from the Trust’s mantra ‘to preserve and protect historic places and spaces’. Former Tory Prisons Minister Ann Widdecombe, said she was appalled by the charitable body’s attempt to update its image. She said: ‘I fail to understand how getting young people to listen to these stories of Soho relates in any way to the important and historic work of the National Trust.’ ‘In fact if this is the National Trust’s idea of attracting new members, I suggest they go for a brisk walk in the countryside to clear their brains and recover their senses.’ The National Trust events may raise an eyebrow among some traditional members who have previously also voiced concerns over the organisation’s so-called ‘Disneyfication’ drive. This is where the organisation  has attempted to make its properties more appealing to younger visitors with innovations such as guides dressed in period costumes and interactive displays.

Charity to host racy performances at 18th Century Killerton House in Devon . Hopes to improve organisation's 'buttoned-up' image . Insists there will be no nudity - only 'corsets, feathers and pearls'

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By . Anne Hamlyn . There's a bitter battle being fought on the High Street between retail titans Marks & Spencer and John Lewis. What are they fighting over? Well, that would be you, Mrs Middle England. It seems that every move M&S makes, John Lewis quickly copies it. Take the surprising similarities between John Lewis's spring/summer own-brand catalogue for the industry, released late last month, and M&S's, which came out in November. The pictures of models in little stripy dresses, floral prints and trendy pink suits are almost indistinguishable. Femail put key looks from each collection to the test and asked top independent stylist ANNE HAMLYN, founder of fashion consultancy company DressMe, to give her verdict... John Lewis: Somerset by Alice Temperley wide-leg trousers, £99, and silk jacket, £140 . M&S: Jacket, £69, and Per Una trousers, £55 . Wrap tops work nicely with wider leg trousers, which are an on-trend look this season. The John Lewis print is lovely. The Alice Temperley trousers are probably my favourite item from the entire John Lewis collection. Yes, they're a bit more expensive than most of the other clothes, but definitely worth it. You could easily team these with a jacket and heels for work. And thanks to the fabulous ribbon detail down the side of each leg, you could dress them up for a sexier look at night. These trousers would be  flattering whatever your size. Sadly, M&S misses the mark. Its jacket is very heavy and strangely shiny - it looks like something you'd sell in a Christmas party range, not put in a spring collection. I'm not a fan of the trousers either, particularly after seeing the excellent John Lewis version. These are creased even on the hanger and they're cut very straight at the hip, which is going to be a problem for pear-shaped women. One good thing is that they're properly lined, so at least your knickers won't show through the white fabric. Personally, I'd spend the extra money and buy the Temperley trousers at John Lewis. WINNER: John Lewis . John Lewis: Cashmere jumper, £69, and Collection pink trousers, £59 . M&S: Pink cashmere jumper, £65, and Per Una pink trousers, £59 . Both retailers have gone for acid brights, with varying degrees of success. The John Lewis sweater is dull and dated - it's limp on the hanger, so it's going to look awful after a bit of wear. The rolled hem on the neckline and cuffs looks cheap. On the other hand, the trousers are well-cut, with ample room round the bottom. They've designed them with women's curves in mind. Knitwear is one of M&S's strong suits and this jumper is lovely. The longer back makes it stylish and the finish looks expensive. The cashmere is much heavier than the John Lewis version, despite the fact they're almost the same price. However, the trousers, are not good. The crotch is too low and there's too much fabric in the waistband. And why have the designers included fussy zip pockets at the side? WINNER: M&S for cashmere, JOHN LEWIS for trousers . John Lewis: Dress, £89 . M&S: Navy and ivory dress, £35 . The John Lewis dress would suit any age. It's beautifully tailored and is flattering whatever your shape. The nautical look isn't overdone (no sailor collars or brass buttons), so it could work in the office or at a wedding. The fabric is a little bit retro, which again will appeal to an older woman. Nautical stripes aren't a particular trend for 2014, but they're a spring/summer staple that you will see cropping up every year and I think John Lewis have executed this look well. Oh dear - then we come to M&S. I wonder who the designers had in mind when they designed this? It's too floppy and girly to wear to work, but too prim to be sexy. The scalloped edging on the stripes is weird and sticks up unattractively, particularly at the seams. Yes, it's cheap, but I just can't see many people looking good in it. WINNER: John Lewis . John Lewis: Collection white dress, £79, johnlewis.com . M&S: Per Una dress with leather panels, £199, marksandspencer.com . At first glance, these dresses are similar - until you put them on. Though a fitted, white dress isn't the easiest thing to wear unless you are super-slim, John Lewis has made their cotton version as flattering as possible. The waist seam curves upwards slightly, drawing the eye away from the tummy. And the deeper neckline elongates the silhouette. Then there's the M&S version, which I really don't like. Yes, they've picked fashion- forward snakeskin-esque fabric (which feels rather cheap to me), but it's clingy so will be unforgiving on lumps and bumps. Then there's that high neckline, which makes even our model look broad-shouldered. I'm surprised this is from Per Una, which is where I often take clients who want a larger size as the range goes up to 20. I can't for the life of me picture any of them wanting to buy this dress, or any older women looking anything less than mutton dressed as lamb in it. And the final blow is that it's more than double the price of John Lewis's version. My advice is to steer clear. WINNER: John Lewis . John Lewis: Floral print top, £49, and trousers, £59 . M&S: Autograph floral top, £65, and trousers, £75 . The John Lewis shirt is just about OK if you want to get this on-trend yellow into your wardrobe without coming on too strong, but how did those shocking trousers get past the design team? Look at the way that white panel runs across the hips at the widest area - and it's even worse at the back where it runs right across the knicker line. It's a classic case of using a print without thinking carefully enough about what it will look like on a real person. If I were a betting woman, I'd say these will be on the sale rail before long. I'm also not convinced by the M&S boxy floral top. I don't think it will flatter anyone with hips or a tummy. But the M&S trousers are brilliant. Despite being a critic of the store's normal range, there's often much better tailoring in the Autograph collection than in Per Una. The M&S designers have really thought about this print. It's not so huge that it will dwarf a little person, but not so small that it will be repeated hundreds of times across someone taller or wider. I'd wear these trousers with a plain sweater or silk blouse. The designers have made a very good job of this fashion-forward look. WINNER: M&S . Pictures: L+R Hair & make-up: OONAGH CONNOR using Bobbi Brown and Mac Model: Hermione at milk management www.dressme.biz .

Stylist Anne Hamlyn of DressMe to gives her verdict .

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By . Joshua Gardner . A veteran Marine and the brave dog that once accompanied him as he searched out and diffused IEDs in Afghanistan had an emotional reunion Thursday after four painful years apart. Corporal Jeff DeYoung never stopped being thankful to his black Labrador pal Cena even after they were separated suddenly and without getting to say goodbye in April 2010. Thanks to non-profit group Mission K9 Rescue, which works to make such reunions possible, the two old friends came together once again and Cena, who retired after six years of service, took her place in his growing family. Scroll down for video . Happy reunion: Four years after they were separated without getting to say goodbye, veteran Marine Corp Corporal Jeff DeYoung was reunited with the bomb-sniffing dog Cena who helped keep him and his fellow soldiers safe in Afghanistan . Since he was sent home in 2010, DeYoung has married and had two children. But the Muskegon, Michigan man never forgot the brave dog he'd bonded with at war. 'When he found the scent, he would lay down and would look at me,' DeYoung told ABC News. 'At that time, I knew within six feet of that area there was a bomb.' The highly trained, life-preserving purebred can sniff out some 300 kinds of explosives. But he had his protector, too. 'My main goal was to protect him,' DeYoung said. 'I remember we would get into firefights and having to cover myself on top of him so he wouldn’t get harm. It was all about him.' Long separation: DeYoung left for home in April 2010 and hadn't seen Cena since . DeYoung served in Afghanistan with Cena who was his contract working dog that specialized as a improvised explosive device detection search dog . 'My main goal was to protect him,' DeYoung said. 'I remember we would get into firefights and having to cover myself on top of him so he wouldn¿t get harm. It was all about him.' When DeYoung found out about Cena's impending retirement, he was connected with Mission K9 Rescue. The organization's president Kristen Maurer soon traveled from her home in Texas all the way to Raliegh-Durham International Airport on Thursday, where she picked up the pooch. Maurer then turned the car around and drove all the way to Detroit, where she'd make the reunion happen. 'The reunion was beautiful. They always are,'  Maurer told ABC News. 'Cena slammed her head into his chest once she realized who he was and she was so happy.' Here, DeYoung hugs Kristen Maurer of Houston, Texas who brought Cena, to be reunited with DeYoung. Maurer works for Mission K9 Rescue who works to reunited dogs that served in the military with their handlers . Close friends: DeYoung said he never once forgot about the pooch he'd become so close to .

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Corporal Jeff DeYoung worked with bomb-sniffing black Lab Cena until April 2010 . That's when DeYoung went home to Michigan and he's since started a family but never forgot about his best canine friend . Their emotional reunion took place Thursday at the Detroit airport thanks to a non-profit group called Mission K9 Rescue .

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Standoff: Goerge Pickering, pictured, allegedly threatened to kill a nurse . A distraught father who caused a four-hour standoff with police in a Texas hospital allegedly pointed his gun at a nurse and yelled 'I'll kill all of y'all'. Police said George Pickering, 57, made the threats from a hospital room after becoming inconsolable over the treatment of his son - a patient in critical care at Tomball Regional Hospital, near Houston. Armed police and a SWAT team descended on the medical center - and eventually convinced Pickering to surrender after a four-hour standoff on Saturday night. Pickering was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is being held on a $30,000 bond, a statement from the Tomball Police department said. Detectives said Pickering was in the room with his son and family, waited for a nurse to come, then aimed his 9mm pistol at her. He then allegedly barricaded the room and threatened to kill anybody who came in. At the start of the confrontation, another of Pickering's sons, who was with him in the hospital room, allegedly wrested the gun away from him and handed it to police. Standoff: George Pickering, 57, allegedly threatened to kill a nurse with his pistol at Tomball Regional Hospital, sparking a police standoff . Response: Police and a SWAT team arrived at the hospital. Pickering reportedly had one gun taken from him, but said he had a second . Pickering then allegedly said, 'You don't think that's the only weapon I have?', prompting fears of a second gun and causing the lengthy showdown with police. But when he gave himself up, police found that he was not in fact armed. Early reports stated that Pickering had taken two hostages, but law enforcement later said there were no captives. A spokesman for the Tomball police department said Picerking fell ill during the standoff and was treated in the hospital overnight - and was still there Sunday afternoon. He does not yet have an attorney. Tense: Pickering was said to be distraught over the condition of his son - a critical care patient .

George Pickering, 57, allegedly made threat from hospital room . Police said he aimed 9mm pistol at nurse inside Tomball Regional Hospital . Gun was allegedly wrested away from Pickering - who said he had another . After three-hour stand-off with police, he was found to be unarmed . Pickering has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon .

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By . Harriet Hernando . An elderly man was filmed riding his mobility scooter down a street – even though it was flooded and had turned into a river. While cars lay abandoned in the road, the unnamed pensioner ploughed on regardless, much to the hilarity of the bystanders filming him. The incredible video was shot in Arnhem, Netherlands, when it was blighted with flooding after the river Rhine burst its banks. The low-lying Netherlands has been fighting back water for more than a thousand years when farmers first built dikes to protect their land. Now a complicated network of canals and pumping stations cover the country keeping it high and dry. But as this video shows, a bit of flooding is nothing the Dutch can’t handle. The news comes as a British pensioner caused chaos on the M1 motorway by riding his scooter the wrong way down the hard shoulder. The 85-year-old escaped unharmed after being escorted home by the police. Making waves: Pensioner drives down the flooded road where others were forced to abandon their cars in Arnhem, Netherlands .

The elderly man drives down the road where cars lie abandoned . He shows that a bit of flooding is nothing the Dutch can't handle . Is filmed by amused onlookers as he battles through the floods .

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(CNN) -- Novak Djokovic extended his winning run to 37 matches this year as he beat world No. 1 Rafael Nadal for the fourth successive time in the Rome Masters final on Sunday. Second seed Djokovic triumphed 6-4 6-4 in two hours 12 minutes, despite having seemed to be on his last legs when he overcame Andy Murray in a three-hour epic the previous evening. "I'm amazed with way I'm playing, especially today given the circumstances and the conditon I was in," Djokovic said after the match. "I was able to perform maybe my best play on clay and I beat the number one in the world on clay. It's amazing, I'm going to enjoy this victory, but then I need to get ready for Roland Garros." Blog: Djokovic's dream year shows no sign of slowing . He was given more time to rest when the men's and women's finals were delayed due to rain in the Eternal City, and Djokovic appeared the fresher of the two players as he stormed to his seventh title this year after another gripping battle. Nadal had ensured he will be top seed for his French Open defense starting in little over a week by reaching the semis in the Italian capital, but it appears to be just a matter of time before Djokovic takes his mantle as the top player in men's tennis. The Serbian is doing to Nadal what the Spaniard did to Roger Federer a few years ago -- despite their age difference of a mere 11 and a half months, it looks to be a case of out with the old king and in with the new. Djkovic turns 24 next Sunday on the eve of his bid to win a first French Open. He ended Nadal's two-year winning run on clay in Madrid last weekend, and this time he thwarted the Mallorcan's bid for a sixth Rome title in seven years. His aim will now be to stop Nadal collecting a sixth French Open crown, and add to his own tally of two grand slams -- both coming in Australia, this year and in 2008. Djokovic also won the Rome title three years ago, but he was unable to maintain his momentum. In 2011, however, he is within striking distance of John McEnroe's record best start of 42 successive wins set in 1984. As in the match against Murray, the final at Foro Italico was a see-saw affair with both players breaking each other's serve unexpectedly often -- but Djokovic had the power and precision when it counted most. Serbian's No. 1 dream is fast becoming a reality . He took a 5-3 lead in the opening set after an uncharacteristic miscue by Nadal, then dropped his serve and promptly returned the favor to take a 1-0 lead. He went 2-0 up in the second set but Nadal, winner of a record 19 Masters Series titles, showed he is far from a spent force by battling back to level and keep it that way until the 10th game. Djokovic went 40-0 up but Nadal saved three match-points -- but the five-time Rome champion could not escape the fourth one and fell to just his second defeat in the tournament. "He's doing amazing things, he's very tough mentally and physically," Nadal said. "Every week he's winning matches, he's playing fantastically, he's doing a lot of things very well and he has a lot of confidence."

World No. 2 Novak Djokovic five wins away from matching John McEnroe's record . Serbian beats top-ranked Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 in final of Rome Masters . Djokovic has defeated the Spaniard in four successive title matches . Nadal is top seed and defending champion for the French Open starting in a week's time .

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By . Kelly Strange . PUBLISHED: . 10:55 EST, 18 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:57 EST, 18 October 2013 . A woman has spoken of the heartbreaking moment she was told she was infertile because she had unprotected sex with one partner as a teenager. Jodie Watson, 21, was undergoing exploratory tests in hospital to find out why she and her fiancé had been unable to conceive a baby when she was given the devastating news that she may never be a mother. She was stunned to be told her infertility had been caused by an STD she had contracted and been treated for as a teenager. Jodie Watson, 21, caught chlamydia when she was 16. When she started trying for a baby with her fiancé James Jackson, 30, she found the disease had left her infertile . Now, as she struggles to raise money for IVF, Ms Watson has made the brave decision to talk about her heartbreak in the hope that it will stop other teenagers from repeating her mistake. She said: ‘I was young and I made one foolish mistake that I will pay for forever. ‘That single mistake will haunt me for the rest of my life and I want other young women to know that when they have unprotected sex they are dicing with their future and their fertility. ‘My dreams have been destroyed because of something that happened five years ago but I want to talk about it to stop it happening to anyone else.’ Ms Watson thought she was being sensible when she protected herself against pregnancy before sleeping with a partner when she was 16. But after going for an STI test she was told she had contracted chlamydia. She was treated with antibiotics and put it behind her. She says: ‘I’d learned a horrible lesson at a young age, but what young woman doesn’t make mistakes? ‘I put it behind me and vowed it would never happen again.’ Ms Watson had treatment when she was 16 and thought she was cured. When she struggled to conceive tests revealed her fallopian tubes were irreversibly damaged . But Ms Watson was unaware that the damage had already been done. It wasn’t until she met James Jackson through her work in a care home, that she was to discover just how much her life had been affected by one mistake. The couple quickly became serious and Mr Jackson proposed. When they moved into their own home in Hartlepool, County Durham, the couple started trying for a baby. But after a year with no joy Jodie saw her GP in April 2012. Ms Watson and her fiancé are now trying to raise the money needed to pay for IVF treatment . Blood tests came back normal so she was referred to a gynaecologist in June 2012. She underwent a series of ultrasounds and X-rays in October 2012, which revealed blockages in her tubes. Ms Watson said: ‘I was stunned when they told us what they had found, but was not prepared at all when they said it was usually caused by chlamydia. I hadn’t even told James about it because it had happened so long ago, I thought it was in the past.’ But now it was affecting her future dreams of motherhood and Ms Watson was told she was infertile. ‘I broke down and cried. I just couldn’t believe it. I was ashamed, embarrassed and shocked. ‘I thought because I had been treated I would be fine but the consultant said the damage had likely already been done. I had no idea.’ Their only hope of a family lies in IVF but as Mr Jackson had a daughter with an ex-partner the couple do not qualify for treatment on the NHS. After being dealt the bombshell Ms Watson suffered with depression. She said: ‘I was just blaming myself every day and wishing I could turn back the clock.’ After researching her condition she read about an operation, which could help to unblock her tubes and increase her chances of becoming pregnant. Her GP explained there was just a 15 per cent chance it would work but gave the go ahead. Ms Watson underwent the operation in January this year but has still not become pregnant. Ms Watson wants to raise awareness about the dangers of unprotected sex as she says she regrets her decision every day and doesn't want other teenagers to make the same mistake . ‘They managed to partially unblock the right tube but the left was too badly damaged,’ she explains. ‘There is still a tiny chance I might fall pregnant so I cling to that but I know deep down the only real chance is likely IVF.’ Ms Watson applied to take part in an egg sharing scheme but was rejected because of the STD. At between £4,000 and £6,000 per cycle the couple are now fundraising to pay for IVF. She says: ‘After the bills there is hardly anything left to save so I’m doing what I can to raise the money including car boot sales. Ms Watson has also started a Facebook page to spread her warning to as many teens as possible. Ms Watson said: 'Every day I regret the decision I made as a teenager but I know there are likely hundreds of other teenagers doing the same and I want to save them this heartbreak' ‘I think it’s unfair that I don’t qualify for help on the NHS because my partner already has a child. That shouldn’t stop me from being a mum. I would like to see that rule reviewed. ‘Every day I regret the decision I made as a teenager but I know there are likely hundreds of other teenagers doing the same and I want to save them this heartbreak. ‘I know there are people who will judge me, but we all make mistakes and nobody regrets it more than me. ‘I wish I had never had unprotected sex and I wish I had known the full extent of the damage that can be caused. ‘I’m praying for a miracle and hope that one day I will get the chance to be a mother. ‘In the meantime I will do what I can to help other women by raising awareness.’ If it is not treated, chlamydia can cause long-term problems. In women it can spread to the womb, ovaries and fallopian tubes - this can cause a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can cause infertility and persistent pelvic pain. It also increases the risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. Chlamydia can also spread to cause inflammation in the fallopian tubes - this can make it difficult for an egg to travel from the ovary to the womb making conception more difficult. In men, chlamydia can cause epididymitis - swelling of the part of the man's reproductive system that carries sperm from the testicles. If left untreated, it can lead to infertility.

Jodie Watson caught chlamydia from a partner when she was 16 . She was treated with antibiotics and thought she was cured . Went for tests when she and fiancé James Jackson struggled to conceive . Tests showed her fallopian tubes were blocked as a result of the chlamydia . The couple are now fundraising to pay for IVF treatment . They are not entitled to IVF on the NHS as Mr Jackson has a daughter from a previous relationship .

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Oscar Pistorius may have beaten his girlfriend with a cricket bat before shooting her, South African police believe. Detectives are reported to have recovered a bloodied bat from the Paralympic champion’s bedroom and to have established that model Reeva Steenkamp’s skull had been ‘crushed’. This and other evidence – a smashed bathroom door, a 9mm pistol, the peculiar pattern of wounds on the body and reports of a row earlier in the evening – is said to have led them to believe the murder case against the sprinter is ‘rock solid’. South African police are investigating whether Oscar Pistorius beat his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp unconscious with a cricket bat before shooting her after a bloodied bat was reportedly found at his home . Miss Steenkamp, 29, was shot four times early on Thursday at Pistorius’s luxury home in a secure housing estate on the outskirts of Pretoria. Police have rubbished speculation that Pistorius – who is known to have kept a pistol by his bed and a machine gun at his bedroom window – may have mistaken his girlfriend of three months for an intruder. Prosecutors have formally charged Pistorius with premeditated murder but the Blade Runner’s family say he firmly denies such a charge. Yesterday it emerged that he called his close friend Justin Divaris shortly after the killing – reportedly before the emergency services were alerted – and told him: ‘There has been a terrible accident, I shot Reeva.’ Mr Divaris rushed to the house, where he said Pistorius repeatedly told him: ‘My baba, I’ve killed my baba. God take me away.’ While no officials would comment publicly on the case, a disturbing – though disputed – picture of what may have happened in Pistorius’s home started to emerge. Neighbours have said they heard shouting coming from the house at around 1.30am. There were some suggestions, quickly denied, that the row may have been about Miss Steenkamp’s friendship with a rugby player. At around 3.20am, four shots rang out – apparently not all at once. The first person Pistorius called was his father Henke, 59. Shock: Pistorius appears in court charged with premeditated murder, but says he killed his girlfriend accidentally after mistaking her for an intruder at his home . When he arrived, he allegedly saw his son carrying his nightie-clad girlfriend down the stairs. She had been shot in the head, hip, . arm and hand. Pistorius – and later paramedics – struggled in vain to . save Miss Steenkamp’s life. Police reportedly found the bloodied . cricket bat in the bedroom. The en-suite bathroom door was riddled with . holes, a pistol holster was found by Pistorius’s bed and a gun cartridge . was on the floor. South Africa’s City Press quoted an . unnamed police source as saying: ‘The suspicion is that the first shot, . in the bedroom, hit her in the hip. She then ran and locked herself in . the toilet. ‘She was doubled over because of the . pain. He fired three more shots. She probably covered her head, which is . why the bullet also went through her hand.’ The source said police are carrying out tests to establish whose blood is on the bat. While one scenario is that Pistorius . attacked Miss Steenkamp with the wooden bat, it has also been claimed . that the model may have used it to defend herself. Rugby star Francois Hougaard's agent said the 'sad ordeal' was nothing to do with him in response to rumours that had circulated about the nature of the Springbok's friendship with Miss Steenkamp . A third possibility is that Pistorius . used it to break down the bathroom door. Those close to Pistorius have . suggested that he may done so in a bid to ‘save’ his dying girlfriend. According to this theory, the athlete . first shot Miss Steenkamp by accident, whereupon she fled to the . bathroom. He then shot at the door lock to try to get in, accidentally . killing her. Pistorius’s father appeared to suggest it is this version that he believes. While he admitted that he had not . talked to his son in detail about what happened, he said he had ‘zero . doubt’ that the sportsman thought Miss Steenkamp was an intruder. A more likely defence from Pistorius is to acknowledge that there was a row but that he did not intend to kill her. Blade Runner: Oscar Pistorius ran in both the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics . Some in South Africa have speculated . about the nature of Miss Steenkamp’s friendship with Springbok rugby . player Francois Hougaard, and whether this played a part in the tragedy. The 24-year-old was keen to distance . himself from such reports at the weekend. His agent said: ‘This whole . sad ordeal has got nothing to do with him.’ Last night Pistorius’s agent said he had withdrawn him  from all planned races but insisted his sponsors were sticking by him. The tragedy has also cast fresh light on Pistorius’s apparent attraction to danger and weaponry. Miss Steenkamp's father Barry wept as he said he and his wife June were at 'a complete loss' As well as owning a pistol and . machine gun, at the time of Miss Steenkamp’s death he reportedly had . seven outstanding firearm licence applications. One was for same type of assault rifle used in the recent Sandy Hook school massacre in the US. Pistorius, who was charged with . premeditated murder at a court appearance on Friday, spent the weekend . in a police cell ahead of a second hearing planned for tomorrow at which . his lawyers are expected to ask for bail. Police say they will oppose the request. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

South African police reportedly found a bloodied cricket bat at his home . Athlete's best friend claims Pistorius called him moments after shooting . Reeva Steenkamp, 29, had been dating Oscar Pistorious since November . She was shot dead on Valentine’s Day at his gated mansion in South Africa . 'There is no hatred in our hearts' says model's father Barry Steenkamp . Rumours about Springbok Francois Hougaard's friendship with Miss Steenkamp have been rubbished by the rugby player's agent .

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ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Implementing smoke-free policies can lead to fewer hospitalizations resulting from heart attacks, according to a new study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A new study says smoking ordinances can lead to fewer hospitalizations from heart attacks. Researchers studied the impact of smoke-free ordinances implemented in Pueblo, Colorado, in July 2003. They compared the number of hospitalizations for heart attacks 18 months before the policy went into effect and three years after implementation. The Pueblo Heart Study found that although 399 people were hospitalized for heart attacks before any smoke-free laws went into effect, that number dropped to 237 three years after the law's introduction, a 41 percent decline. The study was published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on Wednesday. The accompanying editorial suggests that there may be several reasons the ordinance may have led to a reduction in the number of heart attack-related hospitalizations: . • The ordinance led to an immediate decrease in secondhand smoke exposure. • People who were forced to comply with smoke-free rules in public may have adopted a smoke-free environment at home and thus reduced the exposure to secondhand smoke even more. • Restrictions to where you can smoke may have led more people to quit smoking altogether. While the Colorado researcher didn't know if the study participants were smokers or non-smokers, the CDC's editorial points out that the new study adds to research from eight other studies, which also saw a drop in heart attack related hospitalizations after smoke-free laws are enforced. A 2006 Surgeon General report concluded that "exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer." According to the National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society, secondhand smoke is the combination of two types of smoke that is produced when burning tobacco: the smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar or pipe and the smoke that is exhaled by the smoker. The Environmental Protection Agency has classified secondhand smoke as a known human cancer-causing agent. According to the cancer institute, there is no safe level of secondhand smoke, and it can have an immediate effect "on a person's heart and blood vessels." It may raise the risk of heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and cause about 46,000 heart disease deaths annually, according to the NCI Web site.

Researchers studied effects of anti-smoking ordinances in Colorado . Hospitalizations for heart attacks went down 41 percent, study found . Editorial suggests several reasons for possible correlation .

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An Illinois Congressman was escorted off the floor of the US House after he wore a hoodie as he gave a speech condemning the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Rep Bobby Rush, a Chicago Democrat, is the latest high-profile figure to don a hooded sweatshirt to protest racial profiling and discrimination. The garment, which the Florida 17-year-old was wearing when he was killed last month, has become a political statement for protestors, who believe Trayvon was targeted for being a young black man wearing a hoodie. Scroll down for video... Protest: Illinois Rep Bobby Rush removed his suit jack to reveal a hoody underneath and put the hood over his head as a symbolic show of support for Trayvon Martin . Out of order: Rush was quickly escorted away from the podium and as the acting speaker slammed down his gavel . The Congressman's protest comes as it was revealed Trayvon's girlfriend, 17, had to be hospitalized when she learned that she was the last person to talk to him before his death, according to Radar Online, citing an anonymous source. Trayvon was talking to his girlfriend on the phone as he walked back to his father's home after picking up Skittles and a iced tea. Days after the shooting, following Trayvon's wake, his family's lawyer spokes with the girl to get information about what she heard. When he informed her she was last person to speak to him alive, she became 'absolutely inconsolable and had trouble breathing so her mother took her to a nearby hospital emergency room,' the source told Radar Online. In Washington, Rush took the podium wearing a suit coat. Halfway through his speech Wednesday morning, he took off the jack, revealing a gray sweatshirt underneath, and put the hood over his head. Hallowed halls: Rush (lower left) was led away after acting speaker, Rep Greg Harper (center) began pounding his gavel and called Rush out of order . Political statement: Hoodies have become symbols of racial profiling and discrimination, protestors say, after Trayvon Martin was shot and killed while wearing one . Justified? George Zimmerman claims he killed Trayvon in self defense after being attacked by the teen . 'Just because someone wears a hoodie, does not make them a hoodlum,' he said. The . acting speaker, Rep Greg Harper, a Mississippi Republican, began . bagining his gavel and ruled Rush out of order almost immediately. Rush was escorted away by staffers. The US House has a longstanding policy against wearing hats on the floor. 'I . applaud the young people all across the land who are making a statement . about hoodie, about the real hoodlums in this national, especially . those who tread on our law wearing official or quasi-official cloaks,' he said, according to the Washington Post. Rush, who represents a district on the south side of the Chicago that is 65 percent black, is no stranger to high-profile symbolic gestures. In 2004 he was arrested, along with other Congressmen, for trespassing at the Sudanese embassy during a protest of the Darfur genocide. He was a civil rights leader throughout the 1960s and co-founded the Illinois chapter of the Black Panthers. In 2008, he warned Senators that refusing to seat Rolland Burris, who was appointed by scandal-plagued Illinois Gov Rod Blagojevich, was tantamount of lynching. In 2009, he sponsored a bill that would require all owners of handguns and semiautomatic rifles to register for federal firearms licenses, one of the strictest gun control proposals in recent years. Hoodies are standard attire for the . thousands of people who have marched in cities across the country . demanding the arrest of George Zimmerman. New York state senators wore hooded sweatshirts at the state legislature earlier this week as a shot of support for the protestors. The hoodie escalated as a political symbol when Fox News commentator Geraldo Rivera said: 'I’ll bet you money that if he didn’t have that hoodie on, that nutty neighborhood watch guy wouldn’t have responded in that violent and aggressive way.' He later added to the fury by saying: 'If you dress like a hoodlum eventually some schmuck is going to take you at your word.' The comments sparked outrage and helped fuel the anger of protestors, who turned them into a symbol of support for Trayvon. Celebrity endorsements: Rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs and singer Chaka Kahn were just two of the celebrities who wore hoodies in support of Trayvon protestors . Solidarity: Maimi Heat star LeBron James tweeted this photos of he and his teammates wearing hoodies to show their support . Keeping it real? Rapper Nelly (left) poses with a simple, dark hoody. But what, exactly, is New York Knicks star Amar'e Stoudemire wearing? Chaka Kahn produced a music video . with actor Boris Kodjoe called 'Fear Kills, Love Heals,' which was is a . tribute to Trayvon. It features several celebrities including Angela . Bassett, Eva Marcille, and Garcelle Beauvais wearing hoodies and singing . a remake of 'Super Life.' Miami . Heat star LeBron James tweeted a photo of himself and his teammates . wearing hoodies as a show of support for the Trayvon campaign. Zimmerman, . a 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer, has not been arrested for . killing the unarmed teenage February 26 in a gated community in Sanford, . Florida, because he claimed the shooting was self-defense. However, . it was revealed Tuesday that the lead homicide detective wanted to . charge Zimmerman with manslaughter in the teen's death after questioning . him for several hours at the police station. The local state attorney's office stopped the arrested, saying they didn't believe they could win a conviction because of Florida's Stand Your Ground law. Zimmerman claimed to police Trayvon punched approached him and punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground. He said the teen then climb on top of him and bashed his head against the sidewalk several times. Zimmerman said he feared for his life when he pulled out his Kel-Tec semi-automatic 9mm pistol, which he was licensed to carry, and shot the teen in the chest at very close range. Speaking out: Trayvon's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, talked about their son's death at a public forum sponsored by Democrats on Capitol Hill Tuesday . Under state law, a gun owner can open fire if he has a reasonable fear of being killed or severely injured by an attacker. A local grand jury, a the Florida State Attorney's Office and several federal agencies are all investigating the case to see whether the killing was, indeed, lawful. The federal agencies are also looking into whether the case is a hate crime after a 911 call surfaced with Zimmerman muttering a word that was possibly a racial epithet. The information about Zimmerman's possible arrest comes as new information about Trayvon has begun to paint a different picture of the teen. School records from the Miami Herald reveal he was suspended from high school three times -- once for truancy; once after he was caught carving graffiti and a school administrator discovered he had a 'burglary tool' and bag full of women's jewelry; and a third time when he was caught with a marijuana pipe and an empty baggy with drug residue. The conservative news site the Daily Caller dug up a Twitter account that it claims belonged to Trayvon. On the site reveals a message from his cousin implying that Trayvon might have attacked a bus driver. It also makes references to doing drugs. Trayvon's family maintains none of the new information is relevant to the shooting case and that it is an attempt the smear their son's name and harm their credibility.

Acting house speaker slammed hammered the gavel and ruled Rep Bobby Rush out of order after he put the hood of his great sweatshirt over his head . Rush, a Chicago Democrat, was a founder of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s . Celebrities from the Miami Heat the rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs have posed wearing hoodies, which have become political statements . Trayvon's girlfriend, who was on the phone with him when he died, had to be hospitalized when she realized she was the last person to talk to the teen .

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(CNN) -- A South Carolina sheriff's office is investigating whether Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps smoked marijuana on the University of South Carolina campus. Michael Phelps is facing a criminal investigation into whether he smoked marijuana on a college campus. Authorities will file criminal charges if the investigation determines that they are warranted, a spokesman said Tuesday. "If someone breaks the law in Richland County, we have an obligation as law enforcement to investigate and to bring charges," Sheriff Leon Lott said in a statement. "The Richland County Sheriff's Department is making an effort to determine if Mr. Phelps broke the law. If he did, he will be charged in the same manner as anyone else. The sheriff has a responsibility to be fair, to enforce the law and to not turn a blind eye because someone is a celebrity." Phelps admitted "regrettable behavior" on Sunday after a British newspaper published a photograph of him smoking through a bong. The tabloid News of the World showed Phelps using the bong during what it said was a November party at the University of South Carolina, in Richland County. Both university police and Columbia, South Carolina, police have said they would not pursue charges, according to The State newspaper in Columbia. It was unclear where the party took place, the paper said, or whether it was on the USC campus. "I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," said Phelps, who won a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, in a statement Sunday. See the photo on the cover of Star magazine » . "I'm 23 years old, and despite the successes I have had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner that people have come to expect from me," he said. "For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public -- it will not happen again." The U.S. Olympic Committee also issued a statement that said in part, "Michael has acknowledged that he made a mistake and apologized for his actions. We are confident that, going forward, Michael will consistently set the kind of example we all expect from a great Olympic champion." In 2004, Phelps was arrested on charges of driving under the influence in Salisbury, Maryland. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months probation. He also issued an apology after that incident. Phelps is one of 12 Olympic athletes who have signed on to "My Victory," an initiative launched last year by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency aimed at keeping competitive sports clean.

Charges will be filed if warranted, sheriff's spokesman says . Tabloid published photo it says was taken at University of South Carolina . Photo shows Phelps with a water pipe used for smoking pot . Phelps apologized over weekend for "regrettable behavior"

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By . Thomas Durante, Steve Robson and Lydia Warren . PUBLISHED: . 00:34 EST, 10 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:07 EST, 10 May 2013 . Michelle Knight was gang-raped and impregnated in junior high - a year before she suffered more than 10 years of abuse under a kidnapper, an alarming report has revealed. Michelle was the first alleged victim of Ariel Castro, abducted off a Cleveland street in 2002. She was not seen again until this past Monday, when the 32-year-old was freed from captivity along with two other women and a child. Scroll down for video . First pictures: Michelle Knight, who is now 32, is pictured as a teenager before her disappearance in 2002 . Great aunt: Deborah Knight, left, says that that three male classmates grabbed Michelle at school about a year before she was abducted and raped her . But Michelle's troubles began before the kidnapping. Her great-aunt told the New York Daily News on Thursday that three male classmates grabbed Michelle at school and raped her. Deborah Knight told the paper that if . that wasn't enough of a hardship, she later found out that she was . pregnant as a result of that attack - and later had a son she named . Joey. Concern: Michelle Knight's great-aunt Deborah Knight says that her niece had a child as a result of the junior high sex attack . The boy was placed in foster care shortly after he was born. Michelle remains hospitalized since . she, along with Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus were freed the Seymour . Avenue home owned by Castro. Her twin brother Freddie told the paper that when he saw his long-lost sister, she asked him for a hug. He added: 'She was so freaking happy. I gave her a hug, but I couldn’t give her a bear hug because of all the . things that happened to her.' Relatives told the Daily News that she is looking forward to being reunited with her son, now 13, after she leaves the hospital. It was revealed earlier this week that Michelle is reportedly suffering hearing loss and facial bone damage after years of vicious beatings to her head, it has emerged. Her mother Barbara, 50, said she never gave up . hope and will . now be able to introduce Michelle to the half sister she has never met, . 10-year-old Katie, who was born after she disappeared. On Wednesday, Barbara told to the Today show about how she had never given up hope that her daughter was alive - but that she was led to believe the woman, then in her 20s, had fled. 'Certain people said she didn't want . nothing to do with me but still in my heart I thought no, because I knew . my Michelle,' she said. 'They figured she just left because of . the baby and everything. No contact: Michelle's mother Barbara, pictured, said she has not yet been reunited with her daughter . Troubled: She told Savannah Guthrie some people told her Michelle had wanted nothing to do with her . '[Police] told me if she breaks the law or they spot her, they'll let me know - but nothing happened.' Barbara, who said she filed a missing persons report after Michelle vanished and continued to search for her, said her sons have been reunited with Michelle but she has not yet seen her. 'I just wish that my daughter would reach out and let me know that she's there... She's probably angry at the world because she thought she would never be found but thank God that somebody did,' she said. 'I don't want her to think that I forgot about her... Hopefully whatever happened between us, if something did - I hope it heals because I really want to take her back to Florida with me.' Sources told Fox 8 that Michelle appears to have facial bone damage from her horrific treatment. But Barbara said that she knew little about what had happened to Michelle since she last saw her as she has not spoken with detectives, she said. 'There was a detective who called me but he just said it was my daughter,' she said, adding that she missed his call and that he had left work when she called back. 'I didn't get a hold of anyone.' Family: Barbara Knight's 10-year-old daughter is seen outside their home in Florida before they leave for Ohio . En route to Ohio: None of the Knight family spoke to reporters before they were driven off at speed in a white car with New York license plates . Instead, she only knows the details from watching news reports. While . the stories of missing Cleveland girls Gina DeJesus and Amanda Berry, who were also found on Monday, . have remained high-profile cases over the last decade, little was known . of Michelle. While . family appeals for Gina and Amanda have been frequent and . well-publicized over the past ten years, her case appears to have been . long forgotten. Michelle was in her early twenties when she . was last seen on August 23, 2002, at her cousin's house near West 106th . Street and Lorain Avenue. Mrs . Knight said she would often put up fliers around Cleveland's West Side . and even after moving away she would return to continue the search on . her own as police were little help. High-profile: The missing person cases of Amanda Berry, left, and Gina DeJesus, right, were well-known to people in Cleveland - but the disappearance of Michelle Knight drew little attention . Found: The women were found at this home in Cleveland on Monday after Berry managed to escape . Barbara Knight previously told The . Plain Dealer that Michelle vanished shortly after she was scheduled for a . court appearance in the custody case of her son. The mother told the paper that she had become involved with an abusive man whom she thinks injured her toddler grandson, eventually leading Michelle to lose the boy. Michelle had him as a teenager; . her mother said that she had been assaulted at school but it was never . taken seriously by police. She then fell pregnant soon after and dropped . out of school. Michelle was never registered as missing on the Ohio Missing Persons website. Mrs Knight told The Plain Dealer she . believes she once saw her daughter walking with an older man at a . shopping mall several years ago. When the woman trailed behind her companion, he would grab her by the arm and pull her along, she said. Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were found at this house in Cleveland, Ohio .

Great aunt says that Michelle Knight was raped by a group of male classmates when she was in junior high . She was pregnant as a result of the attack, and had a son she named Joey . Michelle vanished on August 23, 2002 near her cousin's Cleveland home . Michelle had lost custody of her baby son before she vanished and authorities suggested she left of her own free will after the ordeal .

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New York (CNN) -- Protesters will resist any efforts to remove them from the Lower Manhattan park where they have been camped for nearly a month, despite Mayor Michael Bloomberg's order that they vacate the park at 7 a.m. Friday so it can be cleaned, an organizer said Thursday. "Come tomorrow morning, we will passively resist and make it as difficult a process to remove us as possible," said Occupy Wall Street spokesman Tyler Combelic. "It's not an occupation if you can't occupy the park." His words appeared to be backed up by the sentiment of the crowd of more than 1,000 protesters who filled Zuccotti Park Thursday night. "All day! All week! Occupy Wall Street!" they chanted. Combelic called the mayor's announcement a "not-so-veiled attempt" to force protesters from the park, setting up a possible confrontation with authorities. Protesters descended on the privately owned park near the New York Stock Exchange on September 17 to protest the nation's ailing economy. "You want to clean up something? Clean up these crooks on Wall Street," said City Council Member Charles Barron. Daniel Mintz of MoveOn.Org said he was planning to deliver to Bloomberg more than 350,000 petitions and signatures he received Thursday from supporters around the nation. "The mayor would do a lot better cleaning up Wall Street than cleaning up the plaza," he said. "The park is clean," said Letitia James, a councilwoman from Brooklyn. "The issue of cleanliness is a ruse, a disguise and nothing more than an excuse to end OWS." Some protesters could be seen sweeping up debris. Others said they have used donated funds to clean the park. A number of unions have pledged to support demonstrations cropping up in cities nationwide. Maida Rosenstein, president of UAW local 2110, said members of her chapter planned to gather at the park at 7 a.m., when the cleaning is scheduled to begin. "If the mayor thinks he's going to evict these protesters and end these protests, he needs to know that New Yorkers are watching," Rosenstein said. "The unions are going to be there tomorrow and are also watching." Bloomberg met Wednesday with protesters and told them that the decision to clean the park was made after owners voiced concerns about "unsanitary conditions and considerable wear and tear on the park." "The mayor is a strong believer in the First Amendment and believes that the protesters have a right to continue to protest," Deputy Mayor for Operations Cas Holloway said in a written statement. But the situation in the park is "not in the best interests of the protesters, residents or the city," he said. The cleaning is to be done in stages, and protesters will be allowed to return to the park as areas are cleaned if they obey the rules set forth by the owners, Brookfield Properties, the statement said. "The park has not been cleaned in four weeks, a process that is normally undertaken every night," Brookfield said Thursday in a statement. "Our goal is to keep the park clean, safe, and accessible to all." A walk in the park Thursday night found it in orderly shape. The only distinctive smell was an occasional waft of marijuana smoke. Loads of cardboard boxes holding clothes and other personal belongings were neatly tied up in one area; garbage bags were piled in garbage-collection areas; a number of people were cleaning up. Authorities have distributed a pamphlet at the park outlining a list of rules for protesters after the scheduled cleanup. The rules prohibit camping or pitching tents; lying on the ground or on benches; placing tarps or sleeping bags on the ground; using bicycles, skateboards or skates; and storing personal property that interferes with park use. Zuccotti Park was built for the general public, but the weeks-long protest has raised concerns among area business owners and residents about sanitation. The protest campaign began in July with the launch of a campaign website calling for a march and a sit-in at the New York Stock Exchange. For almost a month, demonstrations have addressed such issues as police brutality, union busting and the economy, the group said. Organizers have taken inspiration from this year's Arab Spring protests that swept through North Africa and the Middle East. Crowds have taken up residence in the park in New York's financial district, and organizers have called for 20,000 people to flood the area for a "few months." CNN's Susan Candiotti, Anna Gonzalez and Vivienne Foley contributed to this report.

"It's not an occupation if you can't occupy the park," spokesman says . A UAW official says the union plans to join protesters Friday morning . Cleaning of Zuccotti Park is scheduled to begin 7 a.m. EDT Friday . Brookfield Properties issues a list of rules for Zuccotti Park .

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Classmates of Jaylen Fryberg have said the popular schoolboy and recently crowned homecoming prince seemed fine in the days and hours leading up to cafeteria shooting. One friend even described how he had a conversation with the shooter on the morning of the attack where he acted normally. Junior Nathan Heckendorf told CNN that Fryberg had just returned to school after being suspended following a fight during football practice. Scroll down for video . Acted normally beforehand: Classmates of Jaylen Fryberg have said the recently crowned homecoming prince seemed fine in the days and hours leading up to cafeteria shooting . In an interview with the station, he said: 'His final words that he said to me were about the fight. He said "It was an act of anger, and an act of aggression and I should have used words".' Students who knew Fryberg described him as outgoing and unlike the loner personality that is often associated with school shootings. 'He seemed totally normal,' said Gladis Jimenez, 15. 'Yes, he had a lot of friends.' Another student told CNN: 'He seemed like the perfectly normal kid we all knew, everyone knew him. He was always a very nice kid.' At The Grove Church in Marysville, hundreds of parents, students and community members overflowed aisles during a vigil on Friday evening, holding flowers and crying audibly throughout a prayer service. Outside, 9th grader Bella Panjeli said she attended a different school but was friends with one of the female victims, calling her 'a beautiful girl and so, so sweet.' She also said Fryberg was in an ongoing dispute with his cousin over the victim's affections. 'I heard he asked her out and she rebuffed him and was with his cousin,' Panjeli said, adding that she learned of the connection after talking to the victim's family and friends. It was a fight over a girl.' Reputation: A witness to the shooting said Fryberg - who was a member of the school football and wrestling team - was popular and 'always a nice guy' There were no indications on Fryberg's social media accounts that he had been planning such a rampage, and was even seen smiling while posing for a photo after his homecoming dane. But on Tuesday he posted his feelings of despondency, apparently over a romantic split, on Twitter. 'It breaks me... It actually does... I know it seems like I'm sweating it off... But I'm not.. And I never will be able to,' he wrote. Photos uploaded to his Facebook profile also showed that he was a gun enthusiast and keen hunter. One of his posts on Instagram show him holding a 17HMR that he was given for his birthday. All of the victims of the shooting were under 18, and three of the wounded were in critical condition with gunshot wounds to the head, said Joanne Roberts, chief of medicine at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett. The fourth wounded victim suffered less serious injuries. Describing the deadly attack, Jordan Luton told CNN: 'He came up from behind and had a gun in his hand and he fired about eight bullets ... They were his friends so it wasn't just random. 'Then he turned and looked at me and my girlfriend ... and kind of gave us a smirk and turned around and then shot more bullets outside.' Other witnesses said he had a blank face when he walked into the room full of hundreds of students. Hobbies: Recent photos downloaded onto his Facebook page suggested he enjoyed hunting and was a gun enthusiast. He took a photo posing with a rifle he was given for his birthday .

According to classmates Jaylen Fryberg was outgoing and not a loner . A friend said he was normal when they spoke on morning of the attack . Was recently crowned homecoming prince and was in the football team . Had however been suspended following a fight with another player . He was also 'heartbroken' by a girl who is believed to have rebuffed him .

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(CNN) -- The king of the South Pacific nation of Tonga died "peacefully" Sunday at a hospital in Hong Kong, a Tongan government official said Monday. He was 63. A cause of death has not been released by the government. "Tonga has just woken up to the sad news of the passing of King George Tupou V," said Paula Ma'u, an official in the Ministry of Information and Communication. "We are all in mourning." Ma'u said Crown Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka, heir to the throne, was with the king "just before he passed away." Pesi Fonua, editor of Matangi Tonga online news website, said the Oxford-educated king was known for his world travel and spending habits, but was also respected for his efforts to bring democratic reforms and modernize Tongo. "This king brought in things like mobile phones and other advances that we couldn't dream would come to Tonga, and his push for democracy made a big impact on the people here," Fonua said. However, he said, Tongans had "mixed feelings here in the community" about the king. "He lived a bachelor life, always a single man, and he traveled a lot around the world and spent money. He brought us in some ways forward into the 21st century, but some people have different -- not as good -- views on him." Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard expressed her condolences in a statement Monday, crediting George V with guiding "his country through a critical process of constitutional change towards the establishment of a constitutional monarchy." Tonga, with a population of 106,000, is the only monarchy that remains in the Pacific. George V ascended to the throne after the death of his father in September 2006 and quickly promised to speed up government reforms demanded by the people. "Let us rebuild a new capital and a new Tonga," George V said in 2006, a week after a pro-democracy rally in the capital city of Nuku'alofa led to riots that left eight people dead and the central business district in ruins. In 2008, he announced he was giving up most of the near-absolute power that his family held for centuries and allowing the prime minister to guide the day-to-day governmental affairs. Tonga is an archipelago of 171 islands directly south of Western Samoa. Less than a third of the islands are inhabited. The present dynasty was founded in 1845 after the Tongan islands were first united. CNN's Brian Walker contributed to this report.

NEW: The king helped modernize Tongo and push for reforms, a Tongan news editor says . A cause of death has not been released . King George Tupou V had been monarch since 2006 . Tonga is the only monarchy that remains in the Pacific .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:02 EST, 2 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:18 EST, 3 June 2013 . After blowing more than $5 million in his first two seasons in the NFL on things like multiple BMWs and suped-up Dodge Chargers, New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie has turned over a new leaf - he's traded the fancy Beemers for a fuel-efficient Toyota Prius and has recommitted himself to financial discipline. In an interview with Newsday, Cromartie tells reporter Bob Glauber that his days of reckless spending have come to an end and that he is 'all about saving money.' 'I was out of control,' Cromartie said. 'I remember [former Chargers teammate] Quentin Jammer used to tell me to slow down, but I couldn't do it. I just loved spending money.' Bye-bye, bling! Antonio Cromartie says he now 'all about saving money' after blowing more than $5 million during his first two seasons . For example, at one point, Cromartie had 'nine cars, two expensive homes, piles of jewelry, [gave] extravagant gifts and cash -- lots of cash -- to friends and family members who would simply ask, and shopping sprees that ran into the tens of thousands of dollars. Cromartie spent so much on so many things and so many people he can't even remember where it all went.' Of the cars - which included two Dodge Chargers, two BMWs, two Cadilacs and a 1965 Caprice - Cromartie says he spent upwards of $100,000 just to fix them up. Cromartie - who is the middle of a four-year, $32 million contract with the Jets - has now recruited the help of a financial adviser, who credits the transformation to showing the 29-year-old athlete what it's like to have a 'settled' home life. Proud papa: Cromartie with his wife and two of his 12 children . 'I can tell a lot of things to a lot of clients, but that doesn't mean they'll listen and accept what I say and practice that discipline,' Cromartie's adviser Jonathan Schwartz said. '[Cromartie] buys into it. He knows that a professional athlete's earning period is limited, and that the best form of accumulating wealth is not to spend. His peers will go buy Rolls Royces and Ferraris and diamond jewelry, but 25 years from now, Antonio can still maintain his lifestyle, sit at the beach enjoying a cocktail and say, "I've earned it.'" Cromartie, who has 12 children with eight different women in six different states, says he wants to be a role-model for younger players who might be tempted to make the same mistakes he made as a young athlete with a lot of money. 'I tell the young guys, "'Don't spend any money the first year and a half of your career,'" Cromartie said. 'You don't know what will happen after that. You might be released. You might be hurt. Just save your money.' Filthy rich: Antonio Cromartie currently is in the middle of a 4-year, $32 million contract with the New York Jets .

Antonio Cromartie is now 'all about saving money' Cromartie blew $5 million during his first two seasons in the NFL on things like cars and fancy vacations . Cromartie advises younger players to not make the same mistakes he did . Cromartie has 12 children .

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LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, has withdrawn his name from consideration as surgeon general of the United States, he said Thursday. Dr. Sanjay Gupta will continue his work as a surgeon and for CNN. "This is more about my family and my surgical career," Gupta told CNN's "Larry King Live." The neurosurgeon said he would likely have had to give up practicing had he taken the job as the nation's top doctor. In addition, the 39-year-old and his wife are expecting their third daughter any time, and the government job would have meant long periods away from his family, he said. "I think, for me, it really came down to a sense of timing more than anything else," he said. "I just didn't feel I should do that now." Watch Gupta explain his reasoning » . Gupta said he had not been formally nominated for the job, though he had spoken with senior members of the Obama administration, who made it clear he was their choice, he said. "I think there was a real melding there," he said, adding that he felt flattered to have been considered. Earlier Thursday, an administration official said Gupta "was under serious consideration for the job of surgeon general. He has removed himself from consideration to focus more on his medical career and his family. We know he will continue to serve and educate the public through his work with media and in the medical arena." Sources said in January that Gupta had met then-President-elect Obama in Chicago, Illinois, in November to discuss the post. At the time, Gupta declined to comment. The transition team was impressed with the combination of Gupta's government experience, as a White House fellow in 1997 and a special adviser to then-first lady Hillary Clinton, along with his medical career as a neurosurgeon and his communication skills, the transition sources said. Gupta is a member of the staff and faculty of the Department of Neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He regularly performs surgery at Emory University Hospital and at Grady Memorial Hospital, where he serves as associate chief of neurosurgery. Gupta joined CNN in 2001. As chief medical correspondent for the health and medical unit, he is a lead reporter on breaking medical news, provides regular health and medical updates for "American Morning," anchors the half-hour weekend medical affairs program "House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta" and reports for CNN documentaries. Based in Atlanta, Gupta also contributes health stories to CNN.com, co-hosts "Accent Health" for Turner Private Networks, provides medical segments for the syndicated version of "ER" on TNT and writes a column for Time magazine. He also anchors the global health program "Vital Signs" for CNN International and is featured in a weekly podcast on health issues called "Paging Dr. Gupta." Just after joining CNN, Gupta became part of the team covering the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Later that year, he led breaking news reporting on a series of anthrax attacks. In 2003, Gupta reported from Iraq and Kuwait as an embedded correspondent with the U.S. Navy's medical unit -- and worked alongside them, performing brain surgery five times. In addition, Gupta reported from Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the tsunami that swept the region in December 2004. He also helped cover the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina from New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2005. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical Center.

"This is more about my family and my surgical career," Gupta says . Sanjay Gupta is neurosurgeon, CNN's chief medical correspondent . Gupta mentioned as possible surgeon general in Obama administration . White House: "We know he will continue to serve and educate the public"

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Billie Jean King understands that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and that is how she is taking the advent of the International Premier Tennis League in Asia. The American legend was not just an inspirational driving force behind the growth of women's tennis, but also the playing of the sport in the team format, having first founded the concept with her own league in the mid seventies. On Sunday night she was bringing her Mylan World Team Tennis event to London's Royal Albert Hall, at a time when players joining up under the banner of a group outfit is suddenly all the rage. VIDEO Scroll down to see Billie Jean King speak about the Elton John Aids Foundation . BIllie Jean King and Tim Henman share a joke before the Mylan WTT Smash Hits event . King says she is flattered by the International Premier Tennis League copying her competition's format . Her opposing captain in the charity event was Sir Elton John, who actually penned his classic Philadelphia Freedom song in 1975 as a favour to her, providing a theme tune for one of her professional tennis teams. King has looked at the four-team league currently going in Asia, and might be excused for envying the nouveaux riches of the format, given the eyewatering sums they are paying the players taking part. Roger Federer is reliably said to be collecting at least £2.5 million for his two appearances in India while Andy Murray's fee for representing the Manila Mavericks in three matches is believed to be around £1m. Even the veterans taking part, such as Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, are reckoned to be pocketing well in excess of £500,000. Jamie Murray, Kim Clisters, Henman and Sabine Lisicki pose with King (centre) on Sunday . Sir Elton John (left) and John McEnroe (right) are involved in the event which takes place at the Albert Hall . Before the London event - featuring the likes of John McEnroe, Tim Henman, Andy Roddick and Martina Hingis – King spoke of her delight that her longstanding concept appears to be proliferating. It does not trouble her that her own version in America, which takes place after Wimbledon, cannot afford to attract the world's top players in the way that the IPTL has done. 'I'm thrilled, it's a form of flattery,' she said. 'We are celebrating our fortieth year next summer. This is fantastic. It's really important to support tennis, whatever the level. The IPTL is taking professional tennis to new cities with great players. 'I have always been in favour of the team format, always thought that children signing up to tennis should be in a team, they like to be with their friends. Team sports are the biggest in the world, that was my background originally and that of my brother, who played Major League Baseball.' In a sport where players are often resistant to any form of innovation, those participating in Asia and the Middle East have clearly been enjoying themselves and embracing the concept (as they ought to with its rewards). Andy Roddick and Martina Hingis will be among the stars of the game involved in King's tournament . It is a lively product and television-friendly, fitting in to modern tastes, with players showing their personality. It is certainly hooking people in a way that is making the worthy week-in, week-out event the WTA and ATP Tours look very samey by comparison. What nobody in the game is quite sure is how the IPTL is making its sums add up, and how it will go forward after what looks already to have been a successful first year purely in terms of the product. But then in light of the deep pockets of some of the franchise owners they might not have to balance the books in the same way that more regular events do. McEnroe is also a supporter of the team concept: 'You've got to remember that in the seventies team tennis was packing out stadiums, with players like Jimmy (Connors) and Bjorn (Borg) taking part,' he said on Sunday afternoon. McEnroe, Hingis, Sir Elton and Roddick pose with Heather Watson at the pre-tournament press conference . 'I think the key is this having its own time slot. Maybe the game changer part of this is that the schedule is a bit less year-round than it was. It's got a bit more chance of being a success.' The least that the IPTL is going to do is fuel the current debate in tennis, traditionally resistant to change, about how it needs to broaden its appeal to cater more for modern demands. Sir Elton, who for twenty years has captained his team in charity matches against that of King, is also a keen advocate of the team format despite his enthusiasm for the game's traditions. His sporting loves are football and tennis and, as he pointed out, he goes back a long way with both. He joked 'I'm so old I can even remember (Jaroslav) Drobny beating (Ken) Rosewall at Wimbledon in 1954.'

Billie Jean King has long been a promoter of team events . Mylan World Team Tennis taking place in London . International Premier Tennis League proving a success in Asia .

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The man stabbed to death with a stiletto heel over the weekend has been identified as a professor at the University of Houston, authorities announced today. The victim, identified as 59-year-old Alf Stefan Andersson, worked at the University of Houston Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling where he focused on women's reproductive health. He'd been with the university since 2009. Fashion victim: the man stabbed to death with a stiletto heel has been identified as University of Houston professor Alf Stefon Andersson . The details of the relationship between Andersson and the suspect, 44-year-old Ana Lilia Trujillo, remain unclear as authorities continue to investigate the vicious attack. "The University of Houston community is saddened to learn of the tragic death of Professor Stefan Andersson. Our hearts go out to his colleagues, family and friends during this difficult time," the university said in a statement released today. Houston woman Ana Trujillo, 44, was arrested after police found her boyfriend with multiple stab wounds to the head . Her boyfriend was found lying on the floor. She is now being held on $100,000 bond . According to authorities, police were called to the Parklane Building - a luxury condominium building popular amongst professors at the nearby university - in the 1,700 block of Herman Drive in Houston's Theater District about 4 a.m. Sunday in response to an assault in progress. When police got to the 18th floor condo, Trujillo opened the door and let officers into the unit, which is where they found Andersson in a hallway between the entryway and the kitchen. Authorities say he was stabbed multiple times, each time, apparently, with a stiletto shoe. Trujillo was the only one present when the body was discovered. Crime scene: authorities say a Houston woman stabbed a man to death with a stiletto heel at this condominium complex . Houston police tell ABC13 that Trujillo initially was cooperative with detectives, but later stopped talking as she was taken to a precinct for additional questioning. Investigators say Trujillo doesn't live in the building and appears to have just been visiting. Hotel staff told authorities she appears to have arrived last night. A motive for the slaying is unclear. Trujillo is scheduled to be in Harris County District Court on Tuesday for her initial appearance. She currently is being held on $100,000 bond.

The victim has been identified as University of Houston professor Alf Stefan Andersson . Suspect Ana Trujillo is facing murder charges for allegedly stabbing the 59-year-old professor to death with a shoe . The victim suffered multiple 'stab' wounds .

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Pope Francis has just landed in the Philippines - to a crowd of thousands, church bells and an airport greeting from President Benigno Aquino. The Pope is in Asia, having begun his trip just days ago with a stop in Sri Lanka, for a week-long tour, and has already caused a huge spike in interest when it comes to travel in the region. Flight searches to Sri Lanka have increased by 19 per cent, while the numbers for the Philippines have increased by a whopping 51 per cent week on week from last year. Pope Francis has just arrived in the Philippines - and already travel searches for the region have spiked . The Pope's six-day Asian tour includes stops in Manila, where adoring crowds waited, and Sri Lanka . Interest in Manila has seen a particular increase, up 60 per cent already, according to Cheapflights.co.uk . Cheapflights.co.uk spokesperson Oonah Shiel attributes this 'halo effect' to the Pope's genuine mass appeal. Of particular interest to travellers is Manila, where His Holiness is expected to deliver a huge open air mass on Sunday, January 18, to over 5 million attendees. 'Searches regarding the Filipino capital are up 60 per cent and counting,' she said. Week on week from last year, searches for the Philippines have increased by 51%. Pictured: Palawan . When His Holiness arrived at the Manila airport, Filipino children performed in his honour . Following his stop in Sri Lanka, where the Pope canonised its first saint, travel interest has gone up by 19% . 'As well as driving short-term interest in flights to the region, the Pope's visit is expected to raise awareness of the plight of the more marginalised groups in the area and provide a longer-term boost to ethical tourism,' Shiel added. In fact, Pope Francis has already canonised Sri Lanka's first saint, after calling for unity in the conflict-hit nation. 'Every step he makes, every car ride he takes, every moment he stays with us is precious for us,' said Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. 'Seeing him pass by is a grace.'

Flight searches for the Philippines up over 50% week on week from 2014 . Pope has landed in Manila, following a visit to Sri Lanka on his Asian tour . Interest in Manila, in particular, has seen an even greater spike of 60% .

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Police in Texas have released a sketch of a man suspected of shooting a TV weatherman multiple times as he left work on Wednesday morning. The sketch was drawn during a hospital bed interview with KCEN-TV meteorologist Patrick Crawford, 35, who is recovering after being shot in the stomach and shoulder. The suspect, who managed to escape the scene in Bruceville-Eddy on foot on Wednesday morning, is described as a white male, 30 to 35 years old, with a medium build and a receding hairline. 'We are actively looking for [the suspect],' Trooper D.L. Wilson of the Texas Department of Public Safety told ABC News. 'We had troopers out overnight, but we didn't get any calls of suspicious people. We can't rule out that he's not in the area, but more than likely, he's left the area.' Scroll down for video . Suspect: KCEN weatherman Patrick Crawford (left) helped police put together this sketch (right) of the man who shot him as he left the TV studio on Wednesday morning. He said he had never seen him before . Crawford, the morning weatherman for KCEN, was shot after he climbed into his car around 9.15am on Wednesday. An unknown man approached him in the parking lot and they exchanged words. The weatherman managed to back up at high speed and drive out of the parking lot. He crossed the interstate and drove to a group of construction workers, who administered first aid and called 911. Doctors at Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple said that Crawford was recovering and in fair condition after surgery for a gunshot wound to the abdomen. From his hospital bed, he spoke to investigators and told them he had never seen the man before. Police have not yet found a motive for the shooting. Gunned down: Footage shows Crawford, 35, being stretchered away after he was shot on Wednesday . Attack: The man continued to shoot at Crawford as he drove away and flagged down help nearby . Hit: The weatherman sustained gunshot wounds to the stomach and shoulder, and a bullet grazed his head . KCEN also reported that police were at the station on Thursday, checking IDs of everyone driving in the parking lot. Crawford's wife, fellow KCEN meteorologist Heather Brinkmann, also revealed his quick decision to drive off and flag down help saved his life. 'Doctors continue to tell me how well he's doing considering the multiple gunshot wounds,' she wrote on her Facebook page on Wednesday night. 'Police tell me that if it wasn't for his smarts to hurry up and drive off and flag down construction workers, it could have been a whole different story. He is truly my hero.' Brinkmann and other KCEN employees also uploaded Superman's 'S' emblem to their Facebook pages in a sign of support for Crawford. KCEN shared the image with the hashtag '#oursuperman' to its own page. Heroic: Crawford's wife Heather said police believe he saved his life by driving off and flagging down help . Attack: Crawford is pictured left with his fellow KCEN hosts on Wednesday - just hours before he was shot . Crawford, who grew up in Plano, Texas and earned his meteorology degree from Northern Illinois University, moved from New Orleans and joined the station in September 2012. He married Brinkmann, a fellow meteorologist and KCEN producer, last year. The station's news director, Jim Hice, released a statement about the shooting on Wednesday. 'Early this morning KCEN-HD News received the devastating news that one of our own, Texas Today Meteorologist Patrick Crawford, had been shot in front of our building,' he said on KCEN. 'He is currently at Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Temple after undergoing surgery. He is in stable condition and resting. 'The shooter, as of this note, has not been caught. We do not know who the shooter was or if he is connected in any way to KCEN or its employees.' Updates: Texas Department of Public Safety officers DL Wilson, left and Harpin Myers, give a briefing on the shooting on Wednesday afternoon. By Thursday morning, a suspect had still not been taken into custody . Concerns: Law enforcement officers set up near a command post and look for the gunman on Wednesday . Response: Texas Department of Public Safety officers go in a pickup to a command post while other officers look for the gunman accused of shooting Crawford outside the station on Wednesday . Rural: The gunman attacked as Crawford was climbing into his car outside the KCEN studios in Texas . He added that Brinkmann was by her husband's side in the hospital. 'He is a loved member of the KCEN family and our thoughts and prayers go out to him, Heather and their family,' he wrote. On Wednesday morning, just hours before he was shot, Crawford showed off his winning Christmas sweater for the station's 'Ugly Sweater Contest' and shared images online of him raising a trophy. The town is about 75 miles north of Austin.

Meteorologist Patrick Crawford, who was shot as he left the station on Wednesday, helped police sketch the drawing from his hospital bed . The suspect is described as a white male, 30 to 35 years old, with a medium build and a receding hairline . Crawford, 35, was shot in the stomach and shoulder after exchanging words with the gunman, but he managed to drive off and get help . He told officers that he had never seen the man before .

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By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . Defence minister Anna Soubry said more had to be done to change the way alcohol is treated by the forces . The army was today ordered to end the booze-fuelled culture of ‘drinking to the point of oblivion’. Defence minister Anna Soubry said binge-drinking in the forces could not be justified as just a form of ‘comraderie’ or ‘letting down of the hair’. She was challenged by a committee of MPs about cheap alcohol on offer to troops, where a triple gin and tonic can cost as little as £1. The forces have long had a drinking culture, with officers viewing it as part of the bonding process between recruits and a way to relive stress from serving on the frontline. But Ms Soubry, a former health minister, said more had to be done to change the way alcohol is treated by the forces, and called for less binge-drinking by serving personnel. It follows high profile cases of debauchery, inappropriate behaviour and allegations of sexual assault fuelled by alcohol. Last week Army recruit Gavin Hope, 22, was fined £300 by the RSPCA for swallowing his pet goldfish as part of the NekNomination drinking game. He filmed himself drinking a pint glass of beer, spirits, a raw egg and some fish food, before downing a glass of water containing the unfortunate fish. The video was uploaded to his Facebook page along with the comment: ‘Not a proper man unless you drink fish.’ Today Ms Soubry insisted was not a ‘killjoy’ and recognised from her time as a barrister that people with stressful jobs needed to let their hair down. But she said the ‘vast amounts’ consumed by the armed forces were unacceptable and must be scaled back. ‘I am not convinced that we couldn't do more about the culture of drinking in our armed forces,’ she said during a hearing of the defence select committee. ‘I'm not some killjoy. But sometimes there has been an attitude in the past that it was acceptable, as part of that de-stressing process, to all go out and consume vast amounts of alcohol as part of that camaraderie and that letting down of the hair. ‘There is nothing wrong with some of that, but the levels of drinking to the point of oblivion and all the rest of it is a culture which I don't welcome in any workforce. ‘The incidence of binge drinking, the quantities of alcohol, across society are beginning to diminish. I would hope that would be the same in the armed forces.’ Swallowed: Gavin Hope and the goldfish Neknomination which lead to him to being brought before Gateshead magistrates court . Ms Soubry suggested that her determination to act had been strengthened by the death of a serving member of the armed forces. ‘I read the coroner's report recently into a very sad suicide case of a serving person. There were many things in that report that concerned me. ‘One of them, quite clearly, the culture of heavy drinking,’ she said. A guide for senior commander on how to deal with alcohol is to be overhauled in the light of research into alcohol abuse in the armed forces which is due to be published soon. But she acknowledged that a cultural shift could not be encouraged purely by rules and regulations. ‘You can't just put out edicts to change a culture,’ she said. ‘You can have all the most wonderful guides and manuals in the world but what's most important is the implementation of them and that is something that I am looking at, I can assure you of that.’ Labour MP Madeleine Moon said ending the ‘high level of subsidy’ enjoyed at military bars would contribute to curbing consumption. She said she got the ‘fright of my life’ when she was charged only GBP1 for a triple gin and tonic while visiting forces in the Falkland Islands two years ago. ‘One thing that could be done about alcohol problems in the armed forces is tackling the high level of subsidy in bars in military units - perhaps so they were the same price you would pay in town.’

Anna Soubry calls for an end to binge-drinking in the armed forces . Warns 'vast amounts' drunk by troops cannot be dismissed as 'comraderie' Guide for commanding officers to be overhauled to tackle booze culture .

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Roswell, New Mexico (CNN) -- Skydiver Felix Baumgartner is aiming to pull off a record-breaking free-fall jump from the edge of space Tuesday, wearing nothing but a space suit, a helmet and a parachute. His goal is not only to jump from a higher altitude than anyone ever has -- 120,000 feet, more than three times the cruising altitude of the average airliner. He also hopes to be the first person to break the sound barrier, without the aid of anything besides the space suit. At that altitude, the thin air provides so little resistance that after just 40 seconds, he is expected to be free-falling faster than 690 miles an hour. "I'm not nuts," Baumgartner said when CNN first interviewed him about the project in 2010. "You know, our records are meant to be broken, and I'm a very competitive person. I like the challenge." 'Human helicopter' breaks record for world's longest flight . But on a more serious note, he added, "Of course I'm afraid of dying, because I worked so hard to reach this level. You know, I'm living a good life. I think the most important thing I'm doing is to come back alive." After years of preparations and untold costs to his primary sponsor Red Bull, the jump is scheduled for Tuesday morning at dawn. Baumgartner expects to spend two or three hours on the ascent, in a capsule hanging from a helium balloon. Then he will climb out of his capsule, jump off the step with a bunny hop and form a crouched "delta" position to maximize his speed. He plans to fall 115,000 feet in less than five minutes, before deploying a parachute for the final 5,000 feet to earth. The attempt has serious risks. He and his team have practiced how he can avoid getting trapped in a dangerous "horizontal spin." And at temperatures that could hit 70 degrees below zero Fahrenheit or lower, and an atmosphere so thin that his blood would vaporize if he were unprotected, his life will depend on the integrity of his pressure suit. And if he loses consciousness during the five-minute plunge, he will survive only if his parachute deploys automatically. Another unknown: the effects on the body of breaking the sound barrier. While reaching such speeds can cause stress on an aircraft, planners for this jump believe that there will be little effect on Baumgartner, because he will be at an altitude at which there is so little air, shock waves are barely transmitted. Baumgartner is an Austrian helicopter pilot and former soldier who has BASE jumped from landmarks like the Petronas Towers in Malaysia and the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. He has been preparing for five years -- both physically and mentally. "You have to remember all the procedures," he said in an interview during testing for the jump. "You know you're in a really hostile environment. And you cannot think about anything else. You have to be focused. Otherwise, you're gonna die." The balloon, over 500 feet tall at launch, is light and translucent. The material is only .0008 of an inch thick, and it will change shape and size as it rises. The pressurized helmet and suit, which restrict Baumgartner's mobility and weigh 100 pounds, have been equipped with sensors and recorders to measure everything from his speed to his heart rate. Cameras on the ground and on the capsule will transmit live images of his attempt. Baumgartner was not doing interviews on the eve of the jump, but his performance coach Andy Walshe on Sunday described him as mentally well-prepared. "He knows that he's rehearsed it and knows what to do," he said. "We want him in the right state of mind. We ask him to reflect on what he's done, what he's been through and what he's achieving for himself personally, so he can relax and focus." The record is currently held by Col. Joe Kittinger, who in 1960 jumped from 102,800 feet as part of a U.S. Air Force mission. On this attempt, 52 years later, Kittinger is a consultant and mentor. He has also been giving Baumgartner advice on what to expect. For example, he described what it feels like to fall through space when there is so little air: "There's no way you can tell how fast you're going, because there's no visual cues." But Kittinger rejects any suggestion that he is jealous that Baumgartner is poised to beat his record. "Oh no. I'm delighted," he told CNN recently. "He's advancing science, and he'll do a great job."

Felix Baumgartner will have only a space suit, helmet and parachute for 120,000-foot jump . Record of 102,800 feet was set in 1960 and is held by current mission's consultant and mentor . Baumgartner also hopes to be first person to break the sound barrier without a vehicle's aid . Besides speed, risks include low temperatures, thin atmosphere, possible loss of consciousness .

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New York (CNN) -- In the spirit of spring rebirth, the Occupy movement is ramping up activities as warm weather blankets the country. But while the season is typified by a reawakening of life outdoors, demonstrators are using sleep to get their points across. They call it "sleepful protest." The sleeping bags started appearing on the corner of Wall and Broad streets across from the New York Stock Exchange on April 9. A civil rights attorney sympathetic to the Occupy movement provided the legal justification for the move in the form of a court ruling from 2000. A federal district court judge said people can sleep on sidewalks as a form of political expression as long as they take up no more than half of the sidewalk and don't block any doors. Occupy organizers declared a month ago that the movement would be planning a comeback in the spring and summer. Some city and state governments, armed with new ordinances aimed at the Occupy movements, are ready to prevent demonstrators from re-establishing encampments. For the past few nights, dozens of Occupy Wall Street protesters have slept on a patch of concrete a stone's throw away from the traders and stock brokers who are the targets of their message. "The goal here is to not violate the law and not give the police a reason to move the group," said Ted Schulman, who has taken part in Occupy demonstrations for several months. Every morning, they talk about income inequality and the role of big money in politics as commuters pass by on their way to jobs in the Financial District. Most people who work in the area seem indifferent. "They just don't understand how things work," said Wayne Kaufman, chief market analyst at John Thomas Financial. "They have fantasy ideas. But, they're entitled to their opinions." While police have occasionally forced the protesters to move so the sidewalk could be cleaned, and a few have been arrested, Occupy protester Lauren DiGioia is not deterred. "We're not afraid anymore. I mean, we've been through so much. All of us have been to jail," said DiGioia, a 27-year-old with hair dyed neon blue. "We know we're doing the right thing." What are Occupiers really fighting for? So-called sleepful protests have popped up elsewhere in the country with varying degrees of success. In Washington, police have been less accommodating, while in Los Angeles, protesters have taken to sleeping outside Bank of America branches, a frequent target of the Occupy movement. Similar sidewalk sleep-ins are taking place in Boston and Atlanta. The protesters on Wall Street don't expect their sleep-in to grow into an encampment like the one that became home to hundreds of people at nearby Zuccotti Park. "I view this as the pre-campaign. I certainly doubt that this will still be here May 1st when the big rallies start," Schulman said. "My guess is by that point, they'll have taken control of this space again." Occupy organizers are calling for large-scale demonstrations across the country on May 1 in conjunction with the labor movement's International Workers Day.

The Occupy Wall Street movement is ramping up its activities . In New York, protesters have moved to a sidewalk near the Stock Exchange . Protesters plan for May 1 to be their first large-scale demonstration of the year .

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John Terry celebrated Chelsea's 1-0 win at Sporting Lisbon by spending the day shopping in London with his wife Toni on Wednesday. The Blues captain took her out to Bond Street store Smythson where the pair lavishly indulged themselves. The duo's shopping spree was so vast that staff were required to take their bags to their taxi. John Terry (right) treated his wife Toni (left) to a shopping spree on Wednesday . The couple visited the Smythson store located on Bond Street in London . Terry took his wife out shopping the day after Chelsea's 1-0 Champions League win at Sporting Lisbon . The married couple appeared to enjoy themselves during their shopping trip out in London . The pair spent so much in the store that they needed help with their bags from staff as they left the building . Terry captained Chelsea in Portugal on Tuesday night which saw Nemanja Matic first half header prove the difference between the two teams. The match at the Estadio Jose Alvalade saw the 33-year-old also reach a personal milestone of 100 Champions League appearances. He became only the sixth Englishman to hit this figure and on making a century of games in the competition Terry told SkySports: 'I'm very proud, there's not too many players to achieve that.' Terry (left) captained Chelsea in their 1-0 win at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday night . Blues boss Jose Mourinho was quick to praise his captain on achieving the feat adding: 'The club of 100 is a limited group. Only very few people can play 100 games in the CL for the same club.' 'He may not have been captain in all those games, but surely in most of them. He's an historic player and will go down in the history of the club.' Chelsea sit top of Group G with four points after two games and play Maribor at home next on October 21. Terry became only the sixth Englishman to reach 100 Champions League appearances .

John Terry went shopping with his wife Toni on Wednesday in London . The couple visited the Smythson store on Bond Street . Terry captained Chelsea in their 1-0 Champions League win at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night . The victory also saw Terry reach 100 Champions League appearances .

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A Baltimore Orioles fan got an unexpected surprise when he stopped to help a motorist trapped in an overturned truck and realized the man helping him was one of his sporting idols. Diehard Orioles fan Mike Soukup was driving southbound on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway on Monday afternoon when he saw the accident and decided to pull over and help. Soukup, 55, started to help one man try to push the truck back on its wheels and after four or five others joined in they were able to get the truck upright. Baltimore Orioles fan Mike Soukup, right, got an unexpected surprise when he stopped to help a motorist trapped in an overturned truck and realized the man helping him was his sporting idols, Chris Davis . When Soukup turned to congratulate the achievement with the man next to him - the one who was the first on the scene - he recognized him as Orioles corner infielder Chris Davis. 'I turned to high five the guy for a good job done getting this truck up, and I thought to myself, "Man, that looks like Chris Davis,"' Soukup told The Baltimore Sun. Davis received a 25-game suspension on Friday for a second failed drug test for an amphetamine that he later revealed was Adderall. 'When I said, "Chris?" and he said, "Yeah," back, he did it as if I was saying it to my best friend Bob,' said Soukup. Soukup posted about the chance meeting with one of his sporting idols on his Facebook page . 'He was a real nice guy. He talked to everybody. He talked to the EMTs. But he should wear the No. 19 all the time just so we can tell.' Medics transported three individuals to Maryland Shock Trauma Center and a 61-year-old man was transported to Shock Trauma with serious injuries that were not considered life threatening. Soukup, a local musician who lives in Severn, also told Davis he thought he got 'screwed' by Major League Baseball, and he said Davis told him he appreciated his sentiment. 'He’s pretty much my favorite Oriole. He seems to be a real nice humble guy who just happens to hit a ball really far. 'I was supposed to make more stops on my way home, but I thought, I can’t. I’ve got to go home and tell my wife about this because my cell phone wasn’t working.' A spokesman for the Orioles confirmed that Davis was listed as a witness in a police report and signed a statement about what happened. Davis received a 25-game suspension on Friday for a second failed drug test for an amphetamine he later revealed was Adderall .

Diehard Orioles fan Mike Soukup was driving southbound on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway on Monday afternoon when he saw the accident . He helped another man to rescue a motorist in an overturned truck and afterwards realized that the man was Chris Davis of the Orioles . Davis received a 25-game suspension on Friday for a second failed drug test for an amphetamine he later revealed was Adderall . Local musician Soukup told Davis he thought he got 'screwed' by MLB .

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By . Lizzie Parry . A fit and healthy PE teacher lives under the dark cloud of her skin cancer returning, having suffered four bouts of the disease - despite never using a sunbed. Becky Giddins' melanoma relapsed three times since she was first diagnosed in April 2007. The 32-year-old suffered her fourth relapse in January, just a week after returning from her honeymoon. As the cancer spread Mrs Giddins had to have a lumpectomy, a third of her left lungs and her lymph glands removed. Becky Giddins has survived four bouts of skin cancer, despite using sunbeds. Today the 32-year-old is raising money and awareness to help others fighting the disease. She was first diagnosed with melanoma when in April 2007 . Since being diagnosed Mrs Giddins, 32, has had a lumpectomy, half of her left lung and her lymph glands removed . Reliving her diagnosis, she said: 'When they told me it was cancer I didn’t know how to react - I was on my own and it really didn’t sink in. 'It only hit me when the doctors told me the mole was cancerous and it had be removed. 'I was completely shocked, but relieved that they had removed it. 'I have never been on a sunbed in my life - not even to build up a base tan before going on holiday. 'As part of my job and coaching I’m outside a lot but, because I’m naturally fairly skinned, I’ve always worn sunscreen.' The skin cancer was first discovered after a weird mole on Mrs Giddins’ calf changed colour and became scabby. On visiting the doctor, a biopsy confirmed the growth was cancerous which meant the mole was removed along with a surrounding 2cm of skin. Following the operation, the teacher from Kidderminster in the West Midlands, lived cancer free for almost five years. As the cancer spread Mrs Giddins had to have a lumpectomy, a third of her left lungs and her lymph glands removed . In that time she met her future husband, Kevin. Over Christmas in 2011 - one week before her final CT scan to check whether she was in remission - Mrs Giddins found a lump in her groin. After a biopsy showed the melanoma had returned and spread to her lymph nodes, both were removed in February 2012 and a drain was fitted in her leg to remove lymph fluid. Mrs Giddins said: 'The second time round I kept scaring myself looking things up on the internet and making myself quite upset. 'Having the drain attached was horrible - I was permanently carrying this bag round me which was collection the fluid. 'I refused to let it get me down though, so when me and the girls went out for my 30th birthday I bought an over the shoulder bag to cover it up.' Despite her cancer and the treatment she was undergoing Mrs Giddins continued to coach and play netball. After the drain was removed, she said she felt her freedom return. She was positive, hearing from surgeons that the area was now clear from cancer. Her latest treatment to have a lump on her breast and part of her lung removed took place six weeks before her wedding to Kevin, in August last year . Mrs Giddins returned to her job at a secondary school in Kidderminster, and she and her husband returned to their normal lives. On Christmas Day 2012 - three years after getting together - 32-year-old Mr Giddins proposed and the couple started planning their wedding for August 2013. But, as preparations intensified and the hunt for wedding dresses continued, the couple received the devastating news following a routine CT scan, that the cancer had spread to her lung. Six weeks before her big day, Mrs Giddins had a third of her left lung removed and a lumpectomy on her right breast, throwing the wedding into jeopardy. Melanoma is a rare cancer that begins in the skin and can spread to other organs in the body. The most common sign of the disease is a new mole or a change in an existing mole. This can happen anywhere on the body, but is most often found on the back, legs, arms and face. In most cases, melanomas have an irregular shape and are more than one colour. They also tend to be larger than normal moles and can be itchy or bleed. Melanoma happens when some cells in the skin begin to develop abnormally. It is not known what causes the cancer, but it is thought exposure to UV light from natural or artifical souces may be partly responsible. There are around 13,000 new cases diagnosed in the uK every year. Melanoma is one of the most common cancers in people aged 15 to 34 and is also responsible for most skin cancer deaths. More than 2,000 people a year die in the UK as a result of melanoma. Source: NHS Choices . She said: 'After the operation I didn’t know whether I would be able to walk down the aisle, but the thought of marrying the love of my life really pulled me through. 'When me and Kevin got together I didn’t class myself as a cancer patient as the mole had been gone for two years. 'When it returned though, Kevin was a rock for me - along with my family - and I just wanted to marry him and celebrate our relationship no matter what.' Despite tying the knot in August 2013, their dream honeymoon had to be postponed as Becky could not fly for at least eight weeks post-surgery. Finally, on Christmas Day the pair jetted off to Las Vegas to celebrate their nuptials in style. There Mrs Giddins developed a pain in her side, and in spite of initially passing it off as a urine infection she felt a nagging that it was something more serious. But two days after returning home, doctors confirmed the melanoma had spread to her liver and urethra. She said: 'I don’t like complaining but it just feels like me and Kevin can’t enjoy anything together. 'I’m now on Dabrasenib and Trametinib to try and cure me, but if they don’t work there’s currently only one last set of drugs we can try. 'I’m well aware I’m a bit of a ticking time bomb, but I just want to live a normal life, do a bit of travelling and keep playing netball.' The teacher is working to raise awareness of skin cancer, starting a fund, to which £2,500 has already been donated, for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Charity's Skin Cancer Fund. Along with his brother Ian, cousin and five close friends, Mr Giddins will climb the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland in July. To donate to the cause visit Mr Giddins' Just Giving page.

Becky Giddins was first diagnosed with skin cancer in April 2007 . Since then she has suffered four relapses, the latest coming a week after she returned home from her honeymoon with husband Kevin Giddins . 32-year-old has had a lump in her breast, half of her left lung and her lymph glands removed as part of her treatment to combat the disease . Her husband and friends are embarking on Three Peaks challenge in aid of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Charity's Skin Cancer Fund . To donate to the couple's awareness appeal, visit their Just Giving page .

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The terrier was discovered in the garden of Paul Wollam who later admitted three counts of animal cruelty . RSPCA inspectors found a dog starved to death in a garden shed which had been jammed shut with a breeze block. The terrier was discovered in the garden of Paul Wollam, a father-of-four, who later admitted three counts of animal cruelty. The 37-year-old, of Tipton, West Midlands, told inspectors the terrier called Molly had gone missing days before the discovery on March 16. Wollam, an unemployed foundry worker, told them he had no idea how she ended up starving to death in the barricaded shed. As he was sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Friday, he was told the case was one of the worst magistrates had seen. However, Wollam avoided prison because he is the sole carer of his four children after his ex-partner walked out on the family, the court heard. Banning him from keeping animals for life, the chair of the bench told the panel: 'This is a very serious offence, one of the worst that has come before this court. 'It is only because of your early guilty plea and domestic commitments you are not going to prison.' They gave him an 18-week suspended sentence and placed him under supervision for two years. He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and pay £300 costs. Gaynor Sutton, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said an inspector visited Wollam's address on March 16 after finding an emaciated Shih Tzu with one of his neighbours. They were told the dog had been bought from Wollam. When the inspector was let into his home by one of his children, an emaciated Bichon Frise dog was found to be around half its expected body weight. One of the dogs found at the Tipton home of Paul Wollam. The 37-year-old avoided prison after admitting three counts of animal cruelty . But the most grisly discovery was made when the breeze block was moved away from the shed door and the dead terrier was discovered. Mrs Sutton said: 'The inspector saw the Shih Tzu in the garden and the dead terrier type dog in the shed. 'There was a breeze block in front of the door. 'The defendant arrived home and was shown the dead dog. He said he thought it had gone missing and that he had seen it a few days before. 'The dog had matted hair and there was no food or water in the shed. An inspector visited Wollam's address after finding an emaciated Shih Tzu with one of his neighbours . 'The dog had been dead for some time and there were maggots in the coat. 'A post mortem found an emaciated dog with hardly any body weight and the cause of death was assessed to be starvation. There were no broken bones.' In a statement, the vet who carried out the post mortem said: 'The care of this dog was appalling, allowing a dog to die of starvation is despicable. A terrier type dog found dead in Wollam's shed which was jammed shut with a breeze block . 'Death would have been slow and prolonged. 'There is a complete lack of care and compassion. This was death in the worst way imaginable.' Ravi Dev, defending, said: 'He tells me he looked through the garden and in the streets but couldn't locate the dog. 'He did not realise it was in the shed.' Mr Dev went on to say Wollam, who had been made redundant from his foundry job, had suffered a period of depression after being left alone to care for his four children. 'He was not coping properly,' he said. 'It's no excuse for what's happened and he takes responsibility for that.'

Terrier discovered in the garden of Paul Wollam, 37, of West Midlands . The father-of-four said Molly had gone missing days before she was found . Wollam said he had no idea how she ended up starving to death in shed . The dog had matted hair and there was no food or water in the shed . Wollam avoided prison because he is the sole carer of his four children .

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By . Rosie Taylor . PUBLISHED: . 11:13 EST, 23 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:56 EST, 24 June 2013 . A mother has been arrested for trying to kill her newborn by pushing him down a drain. The two-day-old boy still had his umbilical cord when he was rescued from a shaft in a block of flats near Alicante. The horrific discovery came after a neighbour took his crying for a cat meowing and phoned police to say an animal was trapped. Scroll down for video . Safe now: The baby in the arms of a rescue worker. The two-day-old, who still had his umbilical cord attached, was rescued from a drain in Spain after a 40-hour ordeal . Survivor: The baby suffered a broken arm and other injuries but they are not thought to be life-threatening . The baby, weighing 4lb 8oz, was wrapped inside a plastic bag that had a hole in it to let him breathe. Spanish police say they believe the . child may have been abandoned at birth, spending nearly 40 hours in the . drain before he was rescued. He was taken to hospital with injuries . including a broken arm. His condition last night  was . described as serious but not life-threatening. His mother, who is 26, . was arrested in  the hospital to which she had been admitted on Friday . after telling doctors she had had  a miscarriage. She was escorted back to the flat . yesterday afternoon by police for a scene-of-crime inspection. She has . reportedly confessed to officers, saying she did not have enough money . for an abortion. A woman, 26, is led away after she was arrested for trying to kill the newborn by pushing him down a drain . A view of the Alicante apartment building where a newborn baby was rescued after his mother allegedly threw him down a drainpipe . City: The two-day-old baby was recovered from a drain in Alicante, Spain (file photo) One neighbour said: ‘I thought it was a . cat that was trapped and the baby’s crying was the meowing. The noise . went on for ages so I called the police. ‘One of the firefighters saw one of his tiny feet and realised it wasn’t a cat but a child.’ Police were called at around 2am yesterday morning to the flat in the working-class Alicante neighbourhood of Virgen del Carmen. The mother and her baby, who is being . looked after in the city’s general hospital post-natal intensive care . unit, have not been named. Social services say they will . investigate the newborn’s  family set-up before making  any decision on . his future.  A spokesman for Spain’s national police said: ‘The woman we . have arrested is being held on suspicion of attempted murder.’ Rescue: Last month this baby was cut out of a toilet pipe in east China's Zhejiang province after his mother tried to give birth in secret . Fight for survival: The newborn baby was rescued by firefighters after being flushed down a toilet . The case mirrors that of the Chinese baby rescued from a sewage pipe last month. The child, freed after a two-hour . operation captured on camera, was named Baby 59 after its incubator in . the hospital in the eastern province of Zhijiang. The 22-year-old mother told police the . baby had accidentally slipped into the lavatory after she secretly gave . birth in a public toilet. The mother said she had  managed to hide her pregnancy by wearing loose clothes  and tightly wrapping her abdomen. There are regular reports in China of . babies being abandoned after birth, a problem often attributed to young . mothers not knowing they are pregnant.

Two-day-old found wrapped in plastic bags under manhole cover in Alicante . Baby may have been there for 40 hours only found after neighbour called firefighters because they thought a meowing cat was stuck . Mother, 26, went to hospital on Friday saying she had had a miscarriage . She has been arrested and has told officers she could not afford an abortion .

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(CNN) -- If he looked gobstruck when he walked onstage at the Oscars, he had good reason. Edgar Martirosyan, who might now be the world's most famous pizza deliveryman, had no clue he'd be serving Hollywood's biggest stars Sunday night. He thought the pies were for a group of writers at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. When he got there, he was told to wait. Then Ellen DeGeneres, who hosted the Academy Awards, came backstage and asked him to follow her. "I didn't know," he told CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight" on Monday. "I was just shocked. It was a really great moment." And there he was, in front of millions of TV viewers, delivering pizzas from his store's red and yellow boxes to the likes of Brad Pitt and Jared Leto. Martirosyan said he was most excited to see actress Julia Roberts. Since then, friends from all over the world have called to congratulate him. "I'm thinking that's when you say American dream, this is really the American dream," Martirosyan said. Business has increased at all 20 locations, according to one owner. "All of our locations are crazy busy right now," Big Mama's and Papa's Pizzeria owner Ararat Agakhanyan told the Los Angeles Times. "We had no idea that our pizzas were going to be on TV. We're ordering supplies like mad, stocking up on cheese, pepperoni, sausage and boxes and shipping them out to the different stores." Martirosyan is also a franchise owner, the newspaper reported. Earlier Monday, he appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." She'd passed around a hat at the Oscars to take up a collection for his tip and gave Martirosyan a whopping $1,000 on her show. "It was really crazy for me," Martirosyan said about the whole experience.

Edgar Martirosyan had no clue he'd be serving Hollywood's biggest stars . Ellen DeGeneres gives him a $1,000 tip . "I was just shocked. It was a really great moment," Martirosyan tells CNN .

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(CNN) -- Five years ago, Robert Rogers was driving home with his family from a wedding when a flash flood took his wife and four children from him in an instant. Robert and Melissa Rogers with their four children before they died in August 2003. Rainfall from a torrential downpour swept the Rogers' minivan off a Kansas highway. As water filled the van, Rogers kicked out a window in a last-ditch effort to save his family. Instead, he and his wife, Melissa, and daughter, Makenah, were sucked out of the van. Hours later, the bodies of children Zachary, 5, Nicholas, 3, and Alenah, 1, still buckled in their car seats, were found inside the van. Rogers survived. Instead of falling into despair, he became a minister dedicated to honoring his family by preaching messages of hope in the face of adversity. "It was a huge choice of faith," Rogers told CNN. "It was a determination to live life to honor God, to honor my heavenly family, and to make something productive out of it and not just to wallow in my pity." Watch the story of the Rogers family tragedy » . Rogers' mission manifests itself in a variety of ways. In the past five years, he estimates he has told the story of his loss at least 400 times to more than 120,000 people. The message behind his story is to live life with no regrets by embracing your family and faith. "People have responded to me that they want to change the way they live their life. They want to have a personal relationship with God and they want to get right with their spouse and children," he said. In addition to his speaking tours, Rogers has established a ministry dedicated to serving orphans across the world. Rogers also traveled to Haiti and tsunami-ravaged parts of Asia to minister and deliver aid to orphans. Watch Rogers talk about his ministry » . His mission is to establish five orphanages in five continents to symbolize the five family members he lost. One, called Melissa's House, already exists in Russia, where eight orphan teens live with a married couple, and another is under construction in Rwanda. "We dedicated it in honor of Melissa because she loved being a mom and I hope she is a role model to these girls," Rogers said. Since that fateful day five years ago, Rogers has begun to heal. He is married with one child and another on the way. More than anything, he hopes his story will inspire others to live each day to its fullest. "We are not guaranteed the next five seconds," Rogers said. "Life is very fragile and I hope my stories and inspirations are compelling people to live that life of no regrets." CNN's Kyra Phillips contributed to this report .

Robert Rogers' wife and four children died in flash flood five years ago . Rogers chose not to "wallow in pity" and became a minister with a message of hope . His mission is to establish five orphanages in five continents to honor his family . One named after his wife, Melissa, exists in Russia, another planned in Rwanda .

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By . Victoria Woollaston . Last week’s emergency surveillance legislation may have sounded like something out of George Orwell’s novel 1984, but was cited as yet another real-life example of states trying to control their citizens. It’s been 65 years since Orwell described a fictional dystopian world of surveillance and manipulation by so-called Big Brother, and experts claim over the next decade this fiction is about to become fact. The Net Threats report from Pew Research Centre details how, by 2025, the web will be governed by a system heavily influenced by governments, large corporations, and security services all trying to control our behaviours. Scroll down for video . More than 1,400 experts were surveyed for The Net Threats report by the Pew Research Centre. The report details how, by 2025, the web will be governed by a system heavily influenced by governments, large corporations, and security services (stock image pictured) This could mean what we buy, read, watch and share will be restricted, and our surfing history stored for future use. More than 1,400 experts, including analysts, editors and professors, were canvassed for their opinion. The Pew Centre report discovered four major threats facing the web: . Actions by nation-states to maintain . security and political control will lead to more blocking, filtering and . segmentation of the internet. Trust . will be weakened, as a result of revelations about government and . corporate surveillance - and will likely increase surveillance in the . future. Commercial . pressures and influences will affect the flow of information, and make . the web less open - a threat campaigners for net neutrality already fear . following debates about internet fast lanes. Efforts to fix the TMI (too much information) problem might over-compensate and actually thwart content sharing. According to their responses, they believe actions by nation-states to maintain security and political control will lead to more blocking, filtering and segmentation of the internet. Trust will be weakened, as a result of revelations about government and corporate surveillance - and this will likely increase surveillance in the future. And commercial pressures will affect the flow of information, and make the web less open - a threat campaigners for net neutrality already fear following debates over internet fast lanes. Paul Saffo, managing director at Discern Analytics and consulting associate professor at Stanford University, said that by 2025 'the pressures to balkanise the global internet will continue and create new uncertainties. 'Governments will become more skilled at blocking access to unwelcome sites.’ Dave Burstein, editor of Fast Net News, added: ‘Governments worldwide are looking for more power over the net, especially within their own countries. ‘Britain, for example, has just determined that ISPs block sites the government considers ‘terrorist’ or otherwise dangerous. In 1984, Winston Smith is told to control the flow of opinion using the government's language Newspeak (still from the 1984 Michael Radford film adaption is pictured). Experts feel this is already happening, in places such as North Korea, and predict that, by 2025, it will become more common place, and spread across the west too . 'This will grow. There will usually be ways to circumvent the obstruction, but most people won’t bother.’ The main criticism of such plans, and the main issue surrounding the data obtained, is its impact on privacy. Raymond Plzak, from The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, said: ‘The inconsistent protection of privacy, whether private information is voluntarily provided or not, as well as the inconsistent protection against exploitation will continue to be the bane of connected environment.’ NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden (pictured) has condemned the UK's plans for an emergency surveillance bill, in what he described 'as increased powers of intrusion' He continued that if local, regional, national and international private and public sector companies fail to join forces and accept a universal way of handling these privacy issues, sharing data and being connected will become more limited by 2025. This will also have an impact on preventing content being shared around the world. In 1984, character Winston Smith is told to edit reports and control the flow of opinion using the government's language Newspeak, and experts feel this is already happening, in places such as North Korea. And they predict that, by 2025, this will become more common place, and widespread across the West too. ‘The increased Balkanisation of the internet is a possible outcome of the [Edward] Snowden revelations, as people seek to develop systems that are less accessible by the NSA, GCHQ and so on,’ said Professor Kate Crawford, a research scientist at the MIT Center for Civic Media. ‘Meanwhile, the dominant content companies may seek ever more rigorous ways to prevent the flow of copyright content within and across borders.’ NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden recently condemned the UK's plans for an emergency surveillance bill, voicing concerns about the lack of public debate, fear-mongering and what he described 'as increased powers of intrusion'. Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission in the U.S pushed forward with plans to let internet service providers charge content companies for faster and more reliable delivery of their traffic to users. The controversial 'fast lane' rules received heavy criticism from many companies that do business online, along with open internet advocates. Under the plans for priority usage, Netflix for example, could pay extra to use fast lanes to get the maximum amount of bandwith to its customers. Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission pushed forward with plans to let internet service providers charge content companies, such as Netflix (pictured), for faster delivery of their traffic to users. The Pew report said such commercialisation of the internet is the biggest challenge to its growth by 2025 . At the heart of net neutrality is an open internet in which all data being sent from websites to customers is treated the same, regardless of size or destination. All this traffic is given the same priority along the same lanes and no site is given preferential treatment. Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission in the U.S pushed forward with plans to let internet service providers charge content companies for faster and more reliable delivery of their traffic to users. The controversial 'fast lane' rules received heavy criticism from many companies that do business online, along with open internet advocates. Under the plans for priority usage, Netflix for example, could pay extra to use fast lanes to get the maximum amount of bandwith to its customers, and maintain and improve streaming quality and reliability. At . the heart of net neutrality is an open internet in which all data being . sent from websites to customers is treated the same, regardless of size . or destination. All this traffic is given the same priority along the same lanes and no site is given preferential treatment. Although . it seems like a fair model, in which sites that use the most bandwith . pay the most money, campaigners claim it will drastically impact on . industry competition. For example, Netflix has the money to pay for better service, using the fast lanes, while smaller companies don't. Although it seems like a fair model, in which sites that use the most bandwith pay the most money, campaigners claim it will drastically impact on industry competition. Experts, including Glenn Edens, director of research in networking, security, and distributed systems at PARC said: ‘Network operators’ desire to monetise their assets to the detriment of progress represents the biggest potential problem.' A post-doctoral researcher, who was not named in the report, continued: ‘We are seeing an increase in walled gardens created by giants like Facebook and Apple. 'Commercialisation of the internet, paradoxically, is the biggest challenge to the growth of the Internet. Communication networks’ lobbying against net neutrality is the biggest example of this.’ Earlier today, the Internet . Association wrote to the Federal Communications Commission claiming that broadband providers could turn the internet into 'a . pay-for-priority platform more closely resembling cable television than . today's onternet.' The . group, which represents Google, Facebook, Netflix, Amazon, and others, urged the Commission to protect its open and neutral . architecture, which is the force behind the internet's success. PJ Rey, a PhD candidate in sociology at the University of Maryland, added that by 2025: ‘It is very possible we will see the principle of net neutrality undermined. ‘In a political paradigm where money equals political speech so much hinges on how much ISPs and content providers are willing and able to spend on defending their competing interests. 'Unfortunately, the interests of everyday users count for very little.’ While a former chair of an IETF working group concluded : 'Corporate influence on the political process will largely eliminate the public’s freedom to do as they please on the internet. 'I would like to see the internet come to be regarded as a public utility, as broadcast spectrum was, but I think the concentration of power is too extreme for that degree of freedom to happen.'

More than 1,400 experts, including analysts and professors were surveyed . Findings are detailed in The Net Threats report from Pew Research Centre . Each expert was asked to explain the main threats facing the web by 2025 . Report details a system heavily influenced by governments, large corporations, and security services . This means what we buy, read, watch and share could be restricted . It also highlighted how these concerns are already becoming common place .

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SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) -- Chile called home its ambassador in Peru on Monday, as a dispute flared over disputed maritime territory between the South American neighbors. They have bickered over the rich Pacific coast fishing waters for years, and Peru published a new map on Sunday that pushes its bid to negotiate a new sea border. Chile's government protested the move and said it was calling home its ambassador in Peru, Cristian Barros, for consultations. "We feel that this type of publication (map) and this position certainly make more difficult a fluid bilateral relationship with the Peruvian government," spokesman Ricardo Lagos Weber said on Monday. "Chile will continue to fully exercise its rights and competencies over Chilean territory," he said. Peruvian President Alan Garcia said in June his country would take Chile to the International Court at The Hague to resolve the case. Peru's foreign minister, Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde, sought to downplay the row. "It is an absolutely common diplomatic practice in novel situations like this that garner attention that ambassadors are called (back to report)," he said. "The channels of dialogue and communication must be kept open, and the countries must work toward a positive agenda," Garcia Belaunde said. The sea border, set in the 1950s, starts close to the land border and cuts due west across the ocean. But Peru says it was non-binding and rob it of 14,630 square miles (37,900 sq km) of fishing waters. Its proposed border is a southwestern sloping line that follows the diagonal land border into the Pacific Ocean. Analysts say Peru will have its day in court and the Hague is the only venue for the issue to be resolved, unless something happens to escalate the debate. "The only thing that could happen, which would be very worrisome, would be if some autonomous group carried out some kind of act of sovereignty (in those waters) now that Peru officially claims them. That would be a shame," said Ricardo Israel, a political analyst in Chile. Chile defeated Peru in the 1879-1883 War of the Pacific and seized a chunk of mineral-rich territory from its northern neighbor. The two countries have strong economic ties but relations are still rocky. The dispute over their sea border has bubbled anew over the past two years and comes in addition to less serious disputes over the origins of everything from a dessert and a fruit to pisco, a grape liquor. Peru and Chile are the world's top producers of fish meal, a cattle feed, and fishing is one of the engines of Peru's economy. E-mail to a friend . Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Peru's foreign minister sought to downplay the row . Sea border dispute has bubbled anew over past two years . Less serious disputes involve dessert, fruit and a grape liquor .

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The Israeli government released the phone numbers and addresses of every registered dog owner in the country today, including fashion model Bar Refaeli. The country's Ministry of Agriculture gave out the information as part of its 'Dogs Database', an app which allows people to search for information on every registered dog in Israel. As well as Ms Refaeli, the database allegedly included Benny Gantz, the head of the Israeli army, Yohanan Danino, the head of the country's police force and Yair Shamir, the minister of agriculture. The phone number of model Bar Refaeli was given out on the 'Dogs Database' application . The TV star had her details shown on the app which allows people to search for every registered dog in Israel . The Israeli government requires all dog owners to register their pets with the Ministry of Agriculture. A spokesman for the Ministry told Vocativ website: 'The public’s interest to create a reliable, publicly available database outweighs people’s right to privacy.'  . The app aims to ensure dogs are properly vaccinated for rabies and other diseases. Bar Refaeli cuddling her teacup poodle Mishmash in one of the photos she posted on social media . Israel's Ministry of Agriculture gave out the phone numbers and information as part of its 'Dogs Database' It also lets users know the names of the dogs, their breeds and whether they have been sprayed or neutered. It also provides a list of vets across Israel. Those who use the app also put down their phone numbers and addresses of their spouses and relatives.

Ministry of Agriculture gave out information as part of its 'Dogs Database' Included fashion model Bar Refaeli and head of country's army and police . Israeli government requires all dog owners to register their pets .

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This is the shocking moment two arsonists broke into a restaurant and set off a massive explosion. The incident at Republica in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda on Thursday morning was captured on the restaurant's security cameras. CCTV footage shows two people, dressed in hooded coveralls, breaking into the restaurant shortly before 4am and using jerry cans to spread fuel across the floor and furniture. Scroll down for video . CCTV footage shows two people, dressed in hooded coveralls (pictured), breaking into the Republica restaurant at St Kilda shortly before 4am on Thursday . One of the arsonists uses a lighter to start a fire as they run to leave the premises and the place is quickly engulfed in flames. Fire crews were called to the restaurant at about 4am and managed to contain the fire to the ground floor of the two-storey building. The fire is believed to have caused $500,000 worth of damage and has forced the owners to close in the lead up to Christmas. The fire is believed to have caused $500,000 worth of damage and has forced the owners to close in the lead up to Christmas . The pair used jerry cans to spread fuel across the floor, which caused a massive explosion when they used a lighter to start the blaze . Fire crews were called to the restaurant at about 4am and managed to contain the fire to the ground floor of the two-storey building . It's the second fire at the beachside St Kilda restaurant in a matter of weeks. The latest incident comes just four weeks after three people were spotted throwing molotov cocktails at the restaurant, starting a fire which caused about $50,000 damage. Last month, the restaurant's owners posted a photo to Facebook saying 'We're Back! Thank you for all your support and patience'. Detectives are now investigating whether the two fires are linked. It's the second fire at the beachside St Kilda restaurant in a matter of weeks, with the owners proudly posting a photo to Facebook saying 'We're Back! Thank you for all your support and patience' last month .

Republica in St Kilda was set on fire before 4am on Thursday morning . Two people were caught on CCTV cameras using jerry cans to spread fuel . Fire caused a massive explosion and an estimated damage bill of $500,000 . It's the second time the restaurant has been subjected to an arson attack . Detectives are now investigating whether the two fires are linked .

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By . James Nye . PUBLISHED: . 23:35 EST, 9 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 00:22 EST, 10 July 2013 . Battling out of his seat, Benjamin Levy's ribs hurt so much he thought they were broken, but what struck him most about seconds after Asiana Flight 214 came to a shuddering halt on the tarmac of San Francisco airport was the silence. None of the flight attendants could be found directing the 291 injured and terrified passengers off the stricken Boeing 777, no one from the cockpit announced anything - and now previously unseen pictures taken by Levy in the confused aftermath have been released by the Associated Press. Ignoring his pain, Levy, 39, rushed to the escape door by his seat above one of the battered wings and opened it and he began to direct the evacuation of the aircraft which just moments before had crash landed - losing its entire tail section. Escape: In this Saturday, July 6, 2013, photo provided by passenger Benjamin Levy, passengers from Asiana Airlines flight 214, many with their luggage, wait on the tarmac just moments after the plane crashed at San Francisco International Airport . 'We were left on our own,' said Mr. Levy to the New York Times. 'There was no message from the pilot, from the crew - there was no one.' Levy ushered up to 40 passengers out of the escape door, despite the fact that the emergency sliding chute had not deployed on his side of the plane. The wheels of the aircraft had been snapped off as the plane hit a seawall on its approach - making it easy for those able to help themselves to lower down onto the tarmac of the runway. Deciding not to exit the Boeing 777 through that exit, Levy, who as an international businessman is a frequent flyer, moved to the back of the plane where a gaping hole now existed where the tail section used to be. Survivor: Ben Levy speaks about being aboard Asiana Flight 214, which crashed on Saturday, July 6th, 2013, at San Francisco International Airport, during an interview at his office in San Francisco, on Tuesday, July 9th, 2013 . Ben Levy, (right), poses for photographs with his wife Sumi Lee Levy, as he wears a yellow ribbon put on by a firefighter on the tarmac for triage after Asiana Flight 214 crashed on Saturday . He moved past luggage which had rained down on seats and he saw a woman whose leg was trapped by a seat - forced loose of its rivets as the plane almost barreled over as it came to a jarring halt. 'She couldn't move,' said Levy to the New York Times. 'There were two other guys. We couldn't pick her up.' A firefighter who had rushed onto the plane without thought for his safety appeared and ordered Levy and the last remaining passengers who could walk off the plane, which had now burst into flames. 'People were pushing each other out. There was a lot of commotion. We got pretty much everyone in the back section of the plane out. I'm so thankful so many people go out of the plane quickly.' Having landed at San Francisco many times before, Levy told NBC Bay Area that he knew the approach was wrong. Fiery Wreck: The flight crashed upon landing, and two of the 291 passengers aboard were killed . Collecting Their Thoughts: The passengers of Asiana Flight 214 hug each other after having survived the terrifying crash on Saturday . As has transpired, this was pilot Lee Kang-kooks first landing at San Francisco in a Boeing 777 and in total he had logged only 43 hours flying time in the aircraft, despite being an experienced Boeing 747 pilot. 'When he realized that, he put more gas to try to correct the plane again and it was too late,' Levy recalled in a phone interview with NBC Bay Area. 'So we hit the runway pretty bad and then we starting going back up in the air again. And then we landed again pretty hard. 'It felt like the guy missed the runway quite completely. He tried to correct, which probably helped. We would have hit the rocks.' As the plane's belly skidded along the runway, Levy described the sheer terror inside. 'It was surreal,' Levy said. 'A lot of people screaming and not really believing what was happening to them. I wasn’t believing it either.' Taken to San Francisco General Hospital, Levy was treated for cuts and bruises and later reunited with his family. 'I am in pain, but not too bad compared to other people,' he said, adding on Twitter of his actions, 'Just did what anyone in my position would have done.' Help: In this Saturday, July 6, 2013, photo provided by passenger Benjamin Levy, passengers from Asiana Airlines flight 214 are treated by first responders on the tarmac just moments after the plane crashed at the San Francisco International Airport . Despite Levy's assertion that the crew were nowhere to be found, the bravery of cabin manager Lee Yoon-hye, the last person to leave the burning plane has been praised. Another flight attendant put a scared elementary schoolboy on her back and slid down a slide and one of the four pilots helped another injured flight attendant off the plane after the passengers escaped. Lee herself worked to put out fires and usher passengers to safety, despite suffering a broken tailbone that she didn't know she had until she was finally treated at San Francisco hospital later. While it is a miracle that 305 of the 307 passengers and crew of Asiana Flight 214 survived, it is 'most likely' that one of the the two Chinese teens who died were hit by an emergency vehicle rushing to the burning plane. While a fire department spokeswoman said this on Monday, authorities are not saying if it was Ye Meng Yuan and Wang Linjia, both 16, who suffered the tragic accident. Head Count: The survivors of Asiana Flight 214 gather together on the tarmac of San Francisco International Airport after evacuating the Boeing 777 which crashed on landing on Saturday . 'The incident commander was notified by one of the chiefs on the field that it appeared that there was a possibility that one of the deceased had been hit by one of the fire vehicles,' Mindy Talmadge, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco Fire Department, said yesterday in an interview with Bloomberg. 'Most likely it was a fire vehicle, but everything is still kind of up in the air until the investigation is complete.' And it has been revealed today that six of the 29 students on the flight who were headed to California as part of a summer camp are now stuck in limbo as their passports were destroyed in the crash. Indeed, the tour organizer, Adam Yu believes that the entire camp will be scrapped and the children will return to China in the next few days. 'The students and parents are missing each other,' he said to the Daily Beast. 'They need a few days to recover. They’re very emotional. It’s best for them to take a few days’ rest before sending them on an airplane again. It would be scary for them. 'They were shocked. They’re afraid to take an airplane right away.'

Previously unseen pictures taken . by Benjamin Levy of the aftermath of Saturday's Boeing 777 crash have been released by . the Associated Press .

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Myleene’s fuchsia dress becomes Littlewoods’ first ever social media sell-out after autumn ad launch . Expected to hit sales of 2,000 by Christmas . Traffic to the £75 fuchsia dress page of Littlewoods.com up by more than 1,200% week on week . By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 11:22 EST, 9 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:38 EST, 9 October 2012 . It's been a difficult year for . Myleene Klass, who was devastated when her husband Graham Quinn walked . out on her after just six months of marriage, but it seems the TV . presenter still has the magic touch when it comes to fashion. The . 34-year-old Littlewoods brand ambassador has worked wonders for the online department store, whose embellished fuchsia pencil . dress designed and worn by the star in its autumn advertising . campaign as its first ever social media sell-out. Although Littlewoods launched the television strand of the campaign, which features the concept of ‘the Littlewoods touch’ last night, the dress had already sold out of its initial stock after adverts were aired online on Tuesday via Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube making it a huge social media success. Scroll down for video . It's a sell out! The fitted fuchsia dress that Myleene designed and modelled for Littlewoods is their biggest social media success story . And if that wasn't impressive enough, the £75 dress is now expected to hit sales of 2,000 by Christmas, making it one of the brand’s best ever sellers. A spokesman for Littlewoods said: 'This is the first time ever that a Littlewoods garment has sold out as a direct result of social media buzz. There’s no doubt that Myleene designed a show stopping dress but the level of demand has completely blown us away, surpassing our initial projections by more than 400 per cent. 'For us, the record spike in sales of the fuchsia dress highlights three things – the power of social media, the level of engagement of our social fans and followers, and the superb knack that Myleene has of tapping into the fashion psyche of real women.' Following the premiere of the autumn advert on ITV last night, traffic to the fuchsia dress page of Littlewoods.com shot up by more than 1,200 per cent when compared with the same time last week, with orders increasing by more than 700 per cent. The £75 embellished pencil dress first appeared in the Littlewoods ad campaign which was broadcast using social media . Myleene is seen looking stunning as she glides through a playground filled with women . The Spokesman added: 'Our autumn ads will continue to appear on TV, in print and online for the remainder of September and throughout October. Despite the unprecedented level of demand for the fuchsia dress, we’ve pulled out all of the stops and are expecting delivery of a further few hundred pieces in the coming weeks. 'Many of those have been pre-allocated so shoppers need to move quickly. But the good news is that all customers who pre-order the garment over the next few days will receive it by the end of November – well in time for the Christmas party season!' The advert itself sees Myleene, dressed in the show-stopping dress, glide through a playground filled with women riding on a carousel. The advert comes as Myleene prepares to launch her second collection for Littlewoods . Myleene casts her spell and transforms another woman from casual to chic . As she touches each woman, their outfits transform into a series of stylish dresses and party lwear. The advert comes as Myleene prepares to launch her second collection for Littlewoods. 'I am delighted to be working as a brand ambassador for Littlewoods,' Myleene said earlier this year. 'As . a busy working mum, I know the importance of being able to shop how I . want, no matter where I am and Littlewoods lets me do just that. 'Collaborating with the team on my . fashion range allows me to work with a brand which I have known and . loved since childhood and it also lets me share my design ideas and . bring them to life. 'I’m looking forward to inspiring others through my latest fashion collection.' Myleene, who was born in Norfolk, has two daughters with her estranged husband, four-year-old Ava Bailey and Hero Harper, one.

Myleene’s fuchsia dress becomes Littlewoods’ first ever social media sell-out after autumn ad launch . Expected to hit sales of 2,000 by Christmas . Traffic to the £75 fuchsia dress page of Littlewoods.com up by more than 1,200% week on week .

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Washington (CNN) -- The Supreme Court has again indefinitely blocked plans to disseminate video of an important federal court case involving same-sex marriage in California. The justices in an unsigned order Wednesday prevented any distribution of the live video stream outside the San Francisco, California, courthouse where the case is being heard, and any real-time or delayed posting on the Internet. In a trial that began Monday, a federal judge in San Francisco will decide whether the state's Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage is constitutional. California voters approved the measure in November 2008, prompting an appeal by several homosexual couples. As part of a pilot program, the judge had agreed to allow video of the trial to be sent live to other rooms within the courthouse and to five other federal courthouses, and to be posted several hours later on the popular video site YouTube.com. Opponents of same-sex marriage had asked the Supreme Court to intervene, saying witness testimony could be affected if cameras were present. It is extremely rare for a federal trial to be televised to the broader public. The Supreme Court's latest order allows distribution only to designated "overflow" rooms in the San Francisco courthouse, where people who want to view the trial but are unable to fit into the courtroom can watch the proceedings on closed-circuit television. A majority of Supreme Court justices concluded expanded broadcast should not permitted because, they wrote, "It appears the courts below did not follow the appropriate procedures set forth in federal law before changing their rules to allow such broadcasting." There has been much internal debate in federal courts around the country about the televised experiment, with several judges and administrators privately expressing concern that it could eventually lead to the entire judiciary being televised, including the Supreme Court. In dissent to the ruling, Justice Stephen Breyer and three liberal colleagues complained the public would be deprived of watching "a nonjury civil case of great public interest to five other federal courthouses located in Seattle [Washington], Pasadena [California], Portland [Oregon], San Francisco [California], and Brooklyn [New York]." He was supported by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Paul Stevens and Sonia Sotomayor. Breyer said the Supreme Court traditionally has stayed out of what he called another court's administrative discretion on such matters, saying, "I believe this court should adhere to its institutional competence, its historical practice, and its governing precedent -- all of which counsel against the issuance of this stay." The case is Hollingsworth v. Perry (09A648).

Lower court had OK'd posting videos of trial on Internet . Supreme Court says no, but cameras can send trial to overflow rooms . Four members of court dissent, led by Justice Stephen Breyer .

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(CNN) -- The family of a Rutgers University student who committed suicide after a sexual encounter was broadcast online has consented to the use of his name on a piece of anti-harassment legislation. The family of Tyler Clementi will allow Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-New Jersey, to use his name in the proposed federal legislation, to be known as the "Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act," an attorney for the family said. Clementi's body was recovered from the Hudson River in September, more than a week after he jumped from the George Washington Bridge. The bridge spans the river between New York and New Jersey, which is home to Rutgers. Clementi jumped from the bridge after two other Rutgers students allegedly videotaped a sexual encounter between him and another man and streamed it online. The proposed law would require schools that receive federal student aid "to create policies prohibiting the harassment of any student," Lautenberg said last month. The legislation also classifies cyber-bullying as a form of harassment. Lautenberg said that federal funding would be provided to colleges and universities to deal with harassment and bullying against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. "The family appreciates the courtesy extended to them during the drafting of the bill, and hopes that the legislation, if enacted, will improve the well-being and safety of America's college students," the family's statement said. "The Clementi family is humbled and gratified that the loss of their son, however painful for them, has inspired nationwide discussion and awareness of the need for a renewal of values of respect for human dignity and personal privacy, particularly for young people in this time of rapidly evolving technology." Dharun Ravi, 18, who was Clementi's roommate, and Molly Wei, 18, have been charged with invasion of privacy. Their lawyers have asserted their innocence.

The family of Tyler Clementi consented to the use of his name on the legislation . The legislation seeks to stop harassment at colleges . Clementi committed suicide in September .

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By . Amie Keeley . and Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 22:32 EST, 13 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:05 EST, 14 January 2014 . A Coronation Street actress who is seen in the soap taking a cocktail of drugs to kill herself after being diagnosed with a terminal illness has said that assisted suicide should be legalised. Julie Hesmondhalgh, 43, plays Hayley Cropper who is suffering from incurable pancreatic cancer and decides to end her life to stop the pain. Viewers will see her drink a cocktail of drugs before dying in the arms of her weeping husband Roy, who did not want her to give up her fight against the illness. Scroll down for video . Actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, seen here playing Hayley Cropper alongside her husband, Roy, in Coronation Street, has spoken out in favour of legalising assisted suicide . Hayley, who has been in the programme since 1998, will use a cocktail of drugs to kill herself . The controversial episode will be aired on ITV next week after a series of high-profile so called right to die cases have gone before the courts. Locked-in syndrome sufferer Tony Nicklinson asked the courts for permission to end his own life with a doctor's help. The 58-year-old was left paralysed from the neck down and unable to speak after having a major stroke. Unlike Julie Hesmondhalgh's on-screen character, he was unable to commit suicide unassisted because of his disabilities. He died from ill health last year after the High Court ruled doctors could not help him kill himself - although his case will still go before the Supreme Court so they can rule on the issue. Mrs Hesmondhalgh – a member of the Humanist . Association, which supports assisted suicides – said she could not . imagine how anyone dealing with such an illness in either themselves or a . family member could be against the right to die. Emotional scenes: Hayley Cropper, played by Julie Hesmondhalgh, silently looks out of the flat window holding her husband Roy Cropper's hand before she takes her own life in a controversial episode of Coronation Street to be aired next week . She said: ‘I would like to see it . legalised, very much so. But I have to put the caveat that it has to be . properly done; you have to make sure that people don’t go around killing . elderly people, say, just for the inheritance. ‘But I can’t imagine how anyone can look at the Tony Nicklinson case and see his suffering and be against it,’ she told the Daily Telegraph. ‘It’s quite a simple thing for me – and I understand it isn’t for everybody – but we need to look at this issue seriously.' Official guidance was published which said people who help loved ones end their lives may escape prosecution even if they benefit financially from the death. Cancer battle: Viewers have seen Hayley Cropper (right) struggling to get out of bed as she battles with pancreatic cancer . The rules, set out by the Director for Public Prosecutions, make clear that anyone acting out of 'compassion' is unlikely to face court action. Mrs Hesmondhalgh said there was an ‘almost holy atmosphere’ as she filmed her controversial last scene. The star, who joined Coronation Street in 1998 to play the soap’s first transsexual, won the hearts of viewers with her on-screen romance with cafe owner Roy. Away from the screen, she is married to writer and actor Ian Kershaw, taking time off in 2001 to give birth to her daughter Martha Mo. She has now decided to leave for good to concentrate on theatre roles. Right to die: Hayley Cropper, played by Julie Hesmondhalgh, is seen ending her own life in the controversial episode of Coronation Street which is due to air next week . The star's character, who is suffering from incurable cancer, will kill herself in Monday's episode . She told Radio Times that the scenes were not ‘beautiful’ and were ‘necessarily agonising, because of her steely determination to end her own life’. But she added that the storyline was ‘timely and appropriate’ and that ‘there are no easy answers’. ‘This is a conversation that needs to be had,’ she said. The . actress also said she had no problem being written out in such dramatic . fashion. ‘It would have been more convenient for me as an actor if I . could have come back later on if work wasn’t working out for me, but it . would have been a complete betrayal of everything that we’ve done . because they [Hayley and Roy] are the most steadfast and loyal and . loving couple... they just would not have separated for any other reason . apart from death.’ Keiran . Roberts, Coronation Street’s executive producer, said: ‘We’re not an . issue-based show but sometimes a story will highlight an issue and this . is such a case. ‘Pancreatic cancer is an illness . that people may not know a lot about and the right-to-die issue will . spark a debate, I’m sure, and that’s right and proper.’ The . storyline will reflect the split in opinion in the right-to-die debate . with Roy and Hayley’s friend Fiz Stape struggling to deal with Hayley’s . decision. The actress said: 'I can't imagine how anyone can look at the Tony Nicklinson (right) case [the paralysed stroke victim who lost a case in 2012 to end his life by assisted suicide] and see his suffering and be against it' Coronation Street producer Stuart Blackburn said: ‘This is a very sensitive issue and we will be exploring the effects of her decision on husband Roy who has a huge emotional and moral dilemma over her choice to die this way. ‘Not everyone will feel Hayley’s decision is the right one and we fully respect this. ‘For that reason we will be exploring both sides of the debate on screen.’ The Samaritans have warned that the storyline could create copycat suicides among vulnerable viewers. The on-screen controversy comes as a YouGov survey found almost three quarters of those questioned supported a change to existing laws regarding assisted suicide.

Julie Hesmondhalgh plays Hayley Cropper who is suffering from cancer . She ends her own life in the soap despite her husband's objections . The actress, 43, said she is in favour of allowing assisted suicides . Hayley Cropper's final moments will be screened across two episodes next Monday .

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(CNN) -- George Zimmerman failed to identify himself twice during a confrontation with Trayvon Martin and missed opportunities to defuse the situation that led to the death of the teen, a detective says in a newly released report. Zimmerman, who served as a neighborhood watch volunteer, is charged with second-degree murder in the February 26 shooting death of Martin, 17, in Sanford, Florida. The report is part of information Florida prosecutors released Tuesday. It includes a previously undisclosed portion of a video of Zimmerman showing injuries he said he suffered in the altercation with Martin. Zimmerman, 28, told police he shot the teenager in self-defense and has pleaded not guilty. But Martin's family and civil rights activists have said Zimmerman, who is white and Hispanic, racially profiled Martin and ignored a 911 dispatcher's advice not to follow him. Among the documents released was a report from an officer who conducted computerized voice stress analysis tests on Zimmerman. Timeline of events in Trayvon Martin case . "Mr. Zimmerman was subjected to two exams, and was found to be classified as No Deception Indicated," the report said. Also released Tuesday was an unredacted capias request, a request that someone be taken into custody, prepared by the lead police investigator in the case, Christopher Serino. "Investigative findings show that (Zimmerman) had at least two opportunities to speak with (Martin) in order to defuse the circumstances surrounding their encounter," Serino wrote in the report. "On at least two occasions (Zimmerman) failed to identify himself as a concerned resident or a neighborhood watch volunteer." The detective also said Zimmerman's actions "are inconsistent with those of a person who has stated he was in fear of another subject." In the same report, Serino wrote that Zimmerman's injuries were "marginally consistent with a life-threatening violent episode as described by him." Zimmerman's defense attorney, Mark O'Mara, filed a motion Wednesday asking that his client be allowed to appear at a Friday bond hearing in "civilian clothing instead of a prison uniform and without restraints." Video and photos of Zimmerman shackled and wearing jail garb could prejudice prospective jurors, O'Mara said. In response to the document release, O'Mara said Tuesday it will be up to a judge and jury to interpret what Serino's report means to the case. "I don't want to get into a battle with investigator Serino's report considering what he believed after it seems he made the decision that charges should be filed," he said. "His suggestion that it's marginally consistent, again, is up for review. Those people will have to look at it, whether it'd be Judge (Kenneth) Lester in a motion hearing where the jury will also make that determination, whether or not those injuries give rise to a reasonable belief in George's mind that he was a victim of great bodily injury or potential death." Martin's family attorney, Benjamin Crump, said he agrees with the detective's assertion. "The lead detective made the determination at least on two different occasions Zimmerman had opportunity to defuse the situation. When he got out the car, he could have at least said, 'I'm a neighborhood watch volunteer' to defuse the situation and it's likely Trayvon Martin would be living today," Crump said. George Zimmerman: Trayvon Martin threatened my life . Also released Tuesday was a previously undisclosed portion of a video re-enactment of the incident that police taped a day after the shooting. In the video, Zimmerman, bandages on his head, talks about how his wife is treating his injuries. "I have a broken nose. She says I could use stitches, but she'd rather not put them in -- as long as I didn't mess with my head. My skin is already healing nicely," Zimmerman said. Also Tuesday, the Sanford Police Department announced that Serino had "voluntarily" asked to be moved from detective to patrol officer. Sanford Sgt. David Morgenstern said the change is not a demotion and he said he did not know why Serino requested the move. Crump said the move was clearly a demotion. "The lead detective today got demoted and that's one of those things we have to question. He told what he thought was the truth," Crump said. Zimmerman had been released on bond after his arrest. But he was ordered back to jail this month after a Florida judge revoked his bail, citing about $150,000 in donations in an account controlled by Zimmerman that he had not disclosed at the April 20 bond hearing. O'Mara is asking Lester, a Seminole County Circuit Court judge, to set a bond similar to the $150,000 bond initially granted Zimmerman, arguing that he poses no danger to the community, is not a flight risk, and "cooperated fully" with police before his arrest. Sanford police chief fired in wake of Trayvon Martin case . CNN's Vivian Kuo contributed to this report.

NEW: Zimmerman's attorney asks that he be unshackled at Friday's bond hearing . No deception was indicated in Zimmerman's voice stress test, police say . Information released includes a document in which a detective questions Zimmerman's story . The lead detective in the case asked to be moved to patrol division .

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By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 05:16 EST, 30 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:40 EST, 30 January 2013 . A Lothario lorry driver who wooed two women with marriage proposals then stole their life savings has been jailed for 20 months. Derek McMaster, 64, got engaged to both victims - one a kidney patient on dialysis - then plundered their bank accounts leaving them 'permanently scarred'. These women only realised they were being two-timed as they plucked up courage to give evidence during his trial at Warrington Crown Court in Cheshire. Divorcee Jean Antrobus thought she had found the perfect gentleman, who behaved like an ‘angel’, buying her flowers every week and taking her away for romantic trips by the sea. But all the time he was stealing her money. Victim: Divorcee Jean Antrobus, pictured left, was one of the two women targeted by conman Derek McMaster, right, who was jailed for 20 months for his scam . McMaster of Falcon Hey, Liverpool, exploited his victims through lonely heart adverts in local newspapers and posed as a police officer, putting on a uniform and pretending to go to work. He changed his plea to guilty minutes before a jury was about to be sworn in. Recorder Andrew Long said: 'This case involved the deliberate exploitation by you, of two vulnerable women. 'It's clear both women have been scarred, I suspect permanently. 'You then gave self-pitying excuses for what you had done.' Prosecuting, Andrew Green described how McMaster first targeted kidney dialysis patient Margaret Dickinson. The 64-year-old has renal failure, Chron's disease and chronic arthritis. The 'perfect gentleman' moved in and became her carer, gaining trust to use her bank card and steal £3,150 between March and June last year. Elaborate: Warrington Crown Court (pictured) found that McMaster's victims did not know they were being two-timed until they arrived to give evidence . McMaster then moved on to Runcorn mum-of-two Jean Antrobus, aged 64, who the court heard desperately wanted 'a companion to stop feeling so alone'.. She 'trusted him immediately', with McMaster claiming to be a semi-retired Merseyside Police officer, and even leaving the house in uniform. The fraudster asked her to marry him, then used her bank card to steal £5,275. He used the cash to pay for a ring, meals out and holidays to Rhyl. His deceit was uncovered when his victim attempted to pay for plastic surgery but found her card was over its limit. She needed counselling as a result and now feels 'so guilty over my own stupidity'. The former shop worker said earlier this month: ‘I had been married for 38 years. I’d never answered a lonely . hearts advert in my  life before, but I was feeling a bit fed up so I . decided to ring the number. ‘He was an angel at first, he bought me bouquets of flowers every week and took me away for weekends, a real gentleman. ‘He . said, “Let’s get married. I never loved anyone like you”. He was . convincing and I loved him, but now I realise I was paying for it all . along.’ Last June the . couple held  a big engagement party, but  by that time McMaster had . already been stealing from her on a regular basis. ‘He said he was a . retired police officer and worked part time,’ she added. ‘He . had a full uniform and handcuffs and used to come home with tales of . how he had arrested drug users, but now I know he had simply bought the . outfit over the internet.’ She said: 'It was terrible because I had got to love him. 'I've had to have anti-depressants to get through it. 'He's a rotter, a horrible man. I don't want him to break someone else's heart.'

Derek McMaster jailed for 20 months after stealing £6,500 from them in elaborate scam . One discovered theft when her credit card was rejected by bank . Con artist was engaged to both women at the same time - and they only found out when they came to court to give evidence . 'He's a rotter, a horrible man. I don't want him to break someone else's heart,' victim Jean Antrobus said .

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By . Simon Tomlinson . UPDATED: . 17:21 EST, 8 March 2012 . A group of Iranian women have stripped off for a new video in a protest against sexual oppression in their native country. The ladies, who are living in exile in Europe, pose naked in front of the camera as they each deliver a defiant message. Their slogans include 'I believe in the equality of women and men' and 'my thoughts, my body, my choice'. Scroll down for the video . Defiant: One of the exiled Iranian ladies poses naked for a video calling for more sexual freedoms for women in her native country . Show of strength: The video has been produced to support a nude calendar, which has been released to mark International Women's Day . They have produced the video in the hope of boosting sales of the Nude Photo Revolutionary Calendar, which has been released today to coincide with International Women's Day. The calendar has been dedicated to an Egyptian activist who posted a full-length photo of herself on her blog last year in a stand against sexual discrimination in Islam. The move by 20-year-old university student, Aliaa Magda Elmahdy, sparked outrage in the Middle East and she was bombarded by thousands of insults, with some denouncing her as a 'prostitute'. Call for freedom: Each of the women is accompanied in the film by a defiant slogan expressing their support for more women's rights . Perennial backing: The video hopes to boost sales of the Nude Photo Revolutionaries Calendar (left and right) which was launched today in homage to an Egyptian activist who was vilified in the Middle East for publishing a naked photo of herself . But Maryam Namazie, who produced the calendar, said nudity was an important weapon in the fight against oppression. 'Islamism and the religious right are obsessed with women's bodies,' she told The International Business Times. 'They . demand that we be veiled, bound, and gagged. In the face of this . assault, nudity breaks taboos and is an important form of resistance.' Ostracised: The Iranian women are showing their support for Aliaa Magda Elmahdy (left), who sparked outrage in the Midle East after posting this nude picture of herself on her blog, and Golshifteh Farahani (right), an actress who has been banished from Iran because she posed for this picture in a French news magazine . The . film and the calendar also show support for Golshifteh Farahani, an . actress who has been banished from her home country of Iran because she . posed nude in a French news magazine. The 28-year-old, who has starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, says she was contacted by the Iranian government, which told her not to return home. The offending photo - a black-and-white 'art shot' featuring the 28-year-old Farahani posing against a black backdrop with her hands strategically placed over her breasts - was first published in Madame Le Figaro. WARNING: Contains nudity .

Defiant call for equality as world marks International Women's Day today .

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NEW YORK (CNN) -- A recent college graduate is suing her alma mater for $72,000 -- the full cost of her tuition and then some -- because she cannot find a job. Trina Thompson has sued her alma mater, Monroe College of New York. Trina Thompson, 27, of the Bronx, graduated from New York's Monroe College in April with a bachelor of business administration degree in information technology. On July 24, she filed suit against the college in Bronx Supreme Court, alleging that Monroe's "Office of Career Advancement did not help me with a full-time job placement. I am also suing them because of the stress I have been going through." The college responded that it offers job-search support to all its students. In her complaint, Thompson says she seeks $70,000 in reimbursement for her tuition and $2,000 to compensate for the stress of her three-month job search. As Thompson sees it, any reasonable employer would pounce on an applicant with her academic credentials, which include a 2.7 grade-point average and a solid attendance record. But Monroe's career-services department has put forth insufficient effort to help her secure employment, she claims. "They're supposed to say, 'I got this student, her attendance is good, her GPA is all right -- can you interview this person?' They're not doing that," she said. Thompson said she has fulfilled her end of the job-search bargain, peppering companies listed on Monroe's e-recruiting site with cover letters, résumés and phone calls. But no more than two employers have responded to her outreach, and those leads have borne no fruit. Her complaint adds, "The office of career advancement information technology counselor did not make sure their Monroe e-recruiting clients call their graduates that recently finished college for an interview to get a job placement. They have not tried hard enough to help me." She suggested that Monroe's Office of Career Advancement shows preferential treatment to students with excellent grades. "They favor more toward students that got a 4.0. They help them more out with the job placement," she said. iReport.com: "Don't sue your alma mater" Monroe College released a statement saying that "while it is clear that no college, especially in this economy, can guarantee employment, Monroe College remains committed to working with all its students, including Ms. Thompson, who graduated only three months ago, to prepare them for careers and to support them during their job search." Thompson says she has not hired an attorney to represent her because she cannot afford one. When she filed her complaint, she also filed a "poor person order," which exempts her from filing fees associated with the lawsuit. Asked whether she would advise other college graduates facing job woes to sue their alma maters, Thompson said yes. "It doesn't make any sense: They went to school for four years, and then they come out working at McDonald's and Payless. That's not what they planned." CNN's Kristen Hamill contributed to this report.

Monroe College graduate says career office didn't help her with job placement . She seeks $70,000 for tuition and $2,000 to compensate for stress . Office shows preferential treatment to students with better grades, she says . College says it is "committed to working with all its students"

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LONDON, England (CNN) -- Fashion photographer Rankin took time out from his career to take powerful pictures of people from Congo. One of Rankin's images. He visited a refugee camp with the charity Oxfam and his work is now being exhibited in London. The photos are posed like a fashion shoot and different to the regular images coming out of conflict zones. "I wanted to make the people who saw the photos look at the people and see them as people, not see them as victims," Rankin told CNN. Oxfam says 10 million people have died in the last 10 years in the Democratic Republic Of Congo. In the last few weeks, a fragile cease-fire has broken down. The conflict is complicated by outside forces and a variety of armed groups fighting both the government and each other. Rankin said the people he photographed just "wanted the thing to stop."

Fashion photographer exhibits shots of refugees in DR Congo . Rankin says "I want people to see them as people, not victims .

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Keith Whyte, 33, battled temperatures of -26C, ferocious winds and frostbite to win the 100km ultra marathon in Antarctica . He battled temperatures of -26C, ferocious winds and frostbite to win the 100km Ice Marathon in Antarctica in just nine hours and 26 minutes – two hours quicker than the previous record holder. And father-of-two Keith Whyte, 33, who suffers from bone condition osteoporosis, has now spoken of how close he came to losing his fingers during the gruelling race after the cold started to set in. 'I wanted to bite my fingers just to get the feeling back,' said the runner from County Clare, Ireland, who only quit smoking in 2007. 'I could feel the frostbite setting in. At the next station we poured warm water on it and after a few minutes the feeling came back into the fingers. But I lost the glove. 'If the station had been further away, it could have been more serious. Thankfully we found a replacement glove and I was able to continue. 'Any part of your skin exposed was in danger. I was lucky in that the worst injury I got during the race was very bad windburn on my face.' He finished the race on Union Glacier four hours ahead of his closest competitor, Kevin McGeeney, despite only signing up at the last minute. Speaking after his win, Mr Whyte said: 'It was an amazing once in a lifetime experience. The scenery is out of this world.' The marathon runner had only been back from injury for one week before taking on the mammoth challenge. He suffered a stress fracture in his hip after the 100km World Championships in Doha in November last year. This was brought on by his osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break. The competitors and crew slept in tents (pictured) on Union Glacier and some runners prepared by training on treadmills in industrial freezers . The father-of-two, who suffers from bone condition osteoporosis, said he was close to losing his fingers to frostbite during the gruelling race . In 2012 Keith won the British and Irish Championships, along with ultra-marathons in Dingle and Longford, Ireland. As a result of his victories, he was ranked number one for fifty miles in Europe and number two in the world. Despite his experience, he admitted before the race: 'I don't know how you can prepare for something like this because it will be minus 30, minus 34 degrees,' he admitted before the race. 'It will be running on snow and then wearing so many layers, when I'd be just used to wearing shorts and a singlet.' Runners have been known to prepare for the freezing temperatures by running on treadmills in giant industrial freezers. Advice on the website for the race said: 'Having some prior experience of running on ice / snow terrain in temperatures of -25C with your polar clothing would obviously be advantageous, but probably not practical for people who live in more temperate climates. 'As a result, some competitors have come up with innovative means of preparing for the race. These methodologies have ranged from running on beach sand to running on treadmills in freezers.' He finished the race on Union Glacier four hours ahead of his closest competitor, Kevin McGeeney, despite only signing up at the last minute .

Father-of-two Keith Whyte, 33, won the 100km Ice Marathon in Antarctica . He battled temperature of -26C to complete race in 9 hours and 26 minutes . Mr Whyte said he was close to losing fingers to frostbite in cold conditions . He stopped smoking in 2007 and suffers from bone condition osteoporosis .

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A report said had MI5 known about Adebowale’s messages, Rigby’s murder could have been avoided . The family of Lee Rigby today accused Facebook of failing to help stop his killers as it emerged the social network has still not handed over data from five accounts opened by one of his extremist murderers. His sister Sara said the internet giant had ‘blood on its hands’ because it had hosted exchanges between one of the soldier’s murderers and an Al Qaeda extremist, in which the former said: ‘Let’s kill a soldier.’ However, the social network’s staff failed to tell MI5 about the ‘graphic and emotive’ posts from Michael Adebowale, made just six months before the atrocity took place. Incredibly, Facebook had already disabled seven of his accounts – five of which were flagged over links to extremism – without informing security services. The damning report by Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee released yesterday also revealed that Adebowale had 11 Facebook accounts but GCHQ has still only been given the contents of six. It said in 'over a year since the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby, GCHQ has not received all the information requested. Having not seen the content of the other five accounts, GCHQ cannot be certain that there is no evidence of attack planning in the rest of these accounts'. But civil liberties campaigners fear Drummer Rigby's appalling murder is being used as 'an excuse to justify the further surveillance and monitoring of the entire UK population'. And former MI6 director Richard Barratt said today it would be 'almost impossible' and 'unfair' for businesses like Facebook to hand over terror related activity to the security services. He told the Today programme: 'I think it's unfair to ask companies to make that decision. I think there has to be a legal basis for them so they know what they are to do and what not do to'. Barrett added it was 'almost impossible' because of 'legalities' and because there are 125million posts a day on Facebook passing on terror-related posts would be an 'enormous job'. Fusilier Rigby’s sister, Sara McClure, 25, said: ‘Facebook have my brother’s blood on their hands. I hold them partly responsible for Lee’s murder. 'I suppose it has given me someone to blame but I’m not sure that’s what I wanted. Knowing it could have been prevented and it wasn’t prevented. I blame the failings of MI5 and the internet companies. Mainly the internet companies’ Twisted: Lee Rigby's killers Michael Adebolajo (left) and Michael Adebowale. Facebook hosted exchanges between Adebowale and an Al Qaeda extremist, in which the former said: ‘Let’s kill a soldier’ Michael Adebolajo shows a bloodied hand and knives following the murder of soldier Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich on May 22, 2013 . Response: Former MI6 director Richard Barratt said it would be 'almost impossible' and 'unfair' for Facebook to hand over terror related activity but David Cameron claims: ‘It is their social responsibility to act on this' In a long-awaited report, Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee yesterday said that had MI5 known about Adebowale’s messages, Fusilier Rigby’s murder could have been avoided. And in a damning indictment of US-based tech firms, it said the same mistakes could have been made by websites run by Google, Yahoo, Apple, Twitter or Microsoft, which have become a ‘haven’ for terrorists. Lee Rigby's step-father Ian said: ‘We are left with questions. The report doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do. It has brought back memories - A lot of the feelings are back and it doesn’t give the correct information as to the reason the delays happened. ‘The companies’ duty of care to its customers is to use information like that if necessary when the discover it'. David Cameron said the internet companies – once frequently courted by his government – were being ‘used to plot murder and mayhem’, adding: ‘It is their social responsibility to act on this ... we expect them to live up to it.’ The murdered soldier's family said today that the Prime Minister is the only person with the answers they need. Ian Rigby said: 'He's the only one who has the full report and probably the only one who could get the answers that we want'. Heartbroken: The family of Lee Rigby, pictured after the trial of his killers, blame the security services and particularly internet companies like Facebook for not preventing his death . Files: Michael Adebolajo's profile compiled by secret services detailing his movements and associates in the years before he murdered Drummer Rigby . Background: Adebowale had fewer convictions than Adebolajo but it was his interest in extremist material and posts on Facebook that has sparked debate over whether social networks should have told MI5 and MI6 . The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said today: ‘Any meeting they ask for they will get.’ Talking about the affect his brutal murder had on his family he said: ‘When we are together as a family we laugh about memories of Lee. But we all have difficulty talking about the murder and what has happened since. We are a normal family drawn into this situation. ‘We have lost a son but we have never been able to mourn Lee. 'The loss of Lee will never go away. You learn to live with it over time, but it's still with you over time. Former home secretary Jack Straw said there was a ‘cultural problem amongst the leadership of some of these [sites] who have got a distorted libertarian ideology, who believe that somehow this allows them to be wholly detached from responsibility’. Miss McClure told The Sun newspaper: ‘It is totally clear from this report that information so vital could have alerted our security services to this terror plot.’ The ISC criticised both MI5 and MI6 for a string of blunders when tracking Fusilier Rigby’s killers, Adebowale and Michael Adebolajo – but, controversially, it insisted that given what the agencies knew at the time, they could not be blamed for failing to prevent the murder. This is despite the fact that: . An application for intrusive surveillance on Adebowale in 2013 took ‘nearly twice as long as it should have’ amid internal wrangling by MI5. Home Secretary Theresa May signed the warrant only after Fusilier Rigby was dead. However, the ISC’s 191-page report also highlights an exchange on Facebook between Adebowale and a fanatic since codenamed FOXTROT. Adebowale expressed his desire to murder a soldier in retaliation for UK military action in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was advised on different methods of murder. Announcing £130million in funding to help the fight against ‘self-starting’ terrorists, the Prime Minister declared: ‘We must not accept that these communications are beyond the reach of the authorities or the internet companies themselves. Their networks are being used to plot murder and mayhem.’ But Isabella Sankey of Liberty said: ‘The ISC shamefully spins the facts, seeking to blame [websites] for not doing the agencies’ work for them.’ Executive director Jim Killock, of the Open Rights Group, said: 'To pass the blame to internet companies is to use Fusilier Rigby’s murder to make cheap political points. 'The committee should not use the appalling murder of Fusilier Rigby as an excuse to justify the further surveillance and monitoring of the entire UK population,' he said. A senior internet industry source told the Independent there has been a 'coordinated' attempt by the security services 'to attack US-based technology companies in particular'. A Facebook spokesman said: ‘Like everyone else, we were horrified by the vicious murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby. We don’t comment on individual cases but Facebook’s policies are clear – we do not allow terrorist content on the site and take steps to prevent people from using our service for these purposes.’

Facebook has failed to give GCHQ 5 of Michael Adebowale's 11 accounts . Staff also failed to tell security services about 'graphic and emotive' posts . Adebowale said to Al Qaeda extremist on Facebook: 'Let's kill a soldier' Lee Rigby's family say the blame lies with MI5 and internet companies . Sister Sara McClure said: 'Facebook have my brother’s blood on their hands. I hold them partly responsible for Lee’s murder' Civil liberty groups say 'appalling murder' shouldn't be used as 'an excuse to justify further surveillance and monitoring of the entire UK population' MPs accused of 'spin' to divert attention from failings of MI5 and MI6 . Former MI6 director says it would be 'almost impossible' and 'unfair' to expect businesses like Facebook to pass on terror-related material . Step-father Ian demands answers from David Cameron and says: 'We have lost a son but we have never been able to mourn Lee' Prime Minister's spokesman says Mr Cameron is happy to meet the family . Between them, Adebowale and Adebolajo were subject to no fewer than seven intelligence investigations; . MI6 showed a ‘deeply unsatisfactory’ lack of interest when Adebolajo was caught in Kenya trying to join Al Shabaab terrorists; . He was dismissed as a mere drug dealer weeks before the killing and dropped off the official radar; .

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By . Sam Webb . 'Quiet, calm and gentle': Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, 25, was stabbed to death as he made his final pizza delivery. He was due to start his career as an IT consultant . A pizza delivery driver about to start a new career was stabbed through the heart by two thugs trying to steal his mobile phone, a court heard. University graduate Thavisha Lakindu Peiris was stabbed repeatedly in his car as he made the final delivery of his shift on October 27 last year. 'Quiet, calm and gentle' Mr Peiris - who had been persuaded to carry out a final delivery before clocking off - had moved from Sri Lanka in November 2011 to study economic engineering at Sheffield Hallam University. He was about to start a new career in IT technology before he was stabbed to death in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, a jury was told. Shamraze Khan, 26, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court today charged with his murder, while Kasim Ahmed, 18, has already pleaded guilty to the charge. Robert Smith QC, prosecuting, said it was a ‘joint enterprise’ motivated by robbery. 'The prosecution submit that the defendant Shamraze Khan and another man, Kasim Ahmed, were jointly responsible for the murder of Thavisha Peiris,' he said. He added: 'Thavisha was chosen as a target for robbery by Khan and Ahmed, just as they had selected the couple only an hour or so beforehand. 'The mobile phone had clearly been their target.' The prosecutor told the jury: 'By October last year that Mr Peiris was due to start work in the field of information technology. 'He was never able to use his studies to . his advantage to take up work in his chosen sphere, or to return to Sri . Lanka, because he was stabbed to death.' Kasim Ahmed, who has already pleaded guilty to the murder charge . Loss: Sri Lankan-born murder victim Thavisha Lakindu Peiris (right) with his father Sarath Mahinda Peiris (second left) and mother Sudarma Narangoda (second right) The student had been working at a branch of Domino's Pizza in Sheffield and was delivering an order to an address in Southey. When he failed to deliver the order, his workmates set off to find him . The jury heard that barely an hour before the pair left Thavisha in a pool of blood at the wheel of his car as they attempted to rob his mobile phone, they had already robbed a young couple in Sheffield city centre. Both Ahmed and Khan accept being responsible for that knifepoint robbery in which mobile phones were also stolen. Mr Smith said: 'Regardless of which defendant was actually responsible for inflicting the fatal stab wound [on Thavisha], they were both jointly involved in the attack and each is guilty of the offence of murder.' Grief: Sarath Peiris (left), 66, and Vajira Narangoda Peiris, 59, parents of Thavisha Lakindu Peris, who was stabbed to death during a pizza delivery in Sheffield . Crime scene: The street where Mr Peiris was stabbed to death while delivering pizzas . The court heard the pizza delivery driver had pulled up to deliver an order when he was fatally attacked. His phone was found in his car - where it had been yanked from its windscreen holder. A post-mortem examination revealed he had been stabbed once in his neck and three times in his chest - puncturing his heart. Mr Smith QC told jurors two gloves with Mr Peiris’ blood on were found in Khan’s home - while Khan’s palm print was also found on the roof of Thavisha’s car. Thavisha asked his manager at Domino¿s Pizza if he could go home because he was tired, the court heard. But his manager asked Thavisha if he would take one more order . 'Khan and Ahmed had planned to commit offences of robbery and about an hour or so before the attack, they had jointly committed an offence of robbery involving two young people at Castle Market, in Sheffield. 'During this offence Ahmed had produced a knife and injured one of the two people in question. 'After the robbery the defendants returned to the home of Khan, where they were both living, but they went out again and decided to rob Thavisha while he was trying to deliver a pizza.' The court heard that the vicitm had worked until 7am on the morning of his death, and had returned to start another shift later that evening. Mr Smith said that at 8.40pm, Mr Peiris asked his manager at Domino’s Pizza if he could go home because he was tired. But his manager asked if he would take one more order, which was to the Southey Green part of Sheffield as well as one other order. He left the pizza outlet at 9.50pm, the court heard. Mr Smith said that, while nobody actually witnessed the attack, an eyewitness saw two men in hoods stood around his car, looking in the driver’s window shortly before the attack. Other eyewitnesses saw two men running away from the murder scene in the direction of Khan’s flat, the court heard. One resident described the pair running at a 'hell of a pace', the jury heard. 'The prosecution contend that these were the defendants,' said Mr Smith. Mr Peiris' dead body was eventually discovered by a colleague. 'He opened the passenger door and touched Thavisha’s arm, but he didn’t move,' said Mr Smith. 'At that point he noticed there was blood on Thavisha’s shirt and blood in the car.' Paramedics were called but Thavisha died at hospital, the court heard. Speaking about the pathologists’ findings, Mr Smith said: 'There was a stab wound in the left side of the neck which had passed through Thavisha’s spine. 'In the central area of the chest, there was another wound which had penetrated the heart.' The court also heard that there were stab wounds to his ribs, as well as superficial stab wounds to his face and hands. Following the killing both defendants went to the home of Ahmed’s father, and alluded to family members that something serious had happened - but did not reveal what it was, the court heard. Three days later, Ahmed was discovered by police in a storage area in his girlfriend’s house and Khan discovered hiding in the loft of his parents’ house. Ahmed has already admitted two counts of robbery, which Khan also admits. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris knifed to death in his car for phone, a court heard . 'Quiet and gentle' Sri Lankan was about to embark on new career in IT . He was due to clock off but was persuaded to take one final delivery . Shamraze Khan charged with murder. Kasim Ahmed has pleaded guilty .

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A quick-thinking diving instructor used plastic sandals as a makeshift splint after a woman drove a quad bike off a 60ft cliff and shattered her leg. Melanie Simmonds, 31, from Farnborough, Hampshire, was on a cheap holiday with her boyfriend Jay Buckley in Kefalonia, Greece, when they decided to hire the vehicle instead of taking a taxi. But the former care worker said that while she was in the driving seat the wheels locked and she was unable to steer, leaving them hurtling down the cliff, stopping short of the water's edge. Melanie Simmonds, pictured with her then boyfriend Jay Buckley, on the quad bike which they later crashed . She frantically rung the last number in her phone which went through to the driving school and one of the instructors - Peter Tovey - was able to rush to their side. Miss Simmonds said: 'I'd been wearing cropped jeans and underneath my bones jutted through bloodied flesh on my left knee, right shin and ankle. 'The diving instructor was with us in minutes using his flip flops as splints on my shattered bones. 'When the ambulance arrived I was put on a stretcher and winched slowly up the cliff face. It took 30 minutes and felt like I was screaming forever.' Miss Simmonds in hospital after the incident in which she suffered a broken nose and hand a multiple fractures to her legs . Plaster casts were put on her legs in a Greek hospital soon after she crashed off a 60ft cliff on the quad bike . Miss Simmonds had suffered multiple breaks in both legs, a broken finger and fractured nose in the accident, which happened in June 2010. Mr Buckley, who she has since split from, sustained only minor injuries. The crash was not deemed anyone's fault but the couple were not covered for quad biking in their insurance. She explained: 'Taxis were so expensive so I suggested we hire a quad bike to get back. They were so cheap to hire for the day. 'We'd seen other people do it and they looked fine. We both strapped on our helmets. I was in the driving seat with Jay holding on to my hips. 'I was enjoying the scenery of the stunning coastal road with a steep drop down with sheer cliffs on one side. The crash happened in Kefalonia, Greece, in June 2010 during a cheap holiday break for the care worker . Miss Simmonds during a dive on the trip. The last number she had called was the driving school so when she crashed she called them and an instructor was sent to rescue her and her ex-boyfriend Jay Buckley . The diving instructor took off his flip-flops and made a makeshift splint to support her leg until emergency services could arrive and airlift her to hospital . 'But as we drove along, I spotted a sharp corner up ahead. I turned the handlebars into it. But as I tried to turn out again, the wheels seemed to lock. 'I was helpless as we plummeted off the cliff. If I hadn't been wearing my big camera bag on my back I think I would have been paralysed or worse, as it protected my back. 'The next thing I knew I was lying at the bottom of the cliff on the shore, with the bike in the sea and water lapping at my arm - if I'd landed a yard away I would have drowned.' She was told that Greek doctors could only do the minimum to help and they pulled her bones back together and gave her painkillers. After 10 days she was allowed to leave but needed to remain stretchered. Miss Simmonds said: 'Getting back to the UK was a nightmare. I had to spend 16 hours in an ambulance and we reserved nine seats on the plane back.' The return trip took two days and cost £8,000, which was 26 times more than the £300 trip initially cost them. Her nose was split in two in the incident and she underwent a number of operations to fix it. Pictured after her second surgery . Miss Simmonds was left in a wheelchair (right) for six months and had to have her leg put in a brace (left) A doctor told her she will never regain full strength in her legs again. Pictured right, Miss Simmonds getting ready to dive while on the holiday that left her in hospital . She had to have a metal rod through the whole bone in a second operation, which left her right leg bruised . After landing at Heathrow airport, Miss Simmonds was taken to Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey. She said: 'Family rushed to see me and I'd never been more pleased to see them. Doctors found I had multiple breaks in both legs, a broken finger and a broken nose. 'I needed a metal rod in my right leg, a plate in my left knee and another in my nose. The doctors there were absolutely brilliant. 'I was just so grateful. I've never appreciated the NHS so much.' After 11 days in hospital, she was allowed home but still needed seven operations. A close-up of one of the deepest wounds (left) and Miss Simmonds (right) before she went diving while on the £300 Greece trip . Miss Simmonds (left) cycled 250 miles in a charity race for the Halow Project, which she now works for, in May 2013 after recovering from her accident . 'I was in a wheelchair for six long months. Doctors said I'd never regain full strength in my legs. I could walk but not run long distances. 'People told me I was lucky to be alive, but it didn't feel like it. I left my job and spent my days at home feeling low.' A year after the accident, Miss Simmonds started working with The Halow Project, a local charity for young, disabled people and now has a new partner Craig Ifaia, 31. Miss Simmonds said: 'Looking back, I wouldn't change what happened. I believe everything happens for a reason. Without it, I wouldn't be who I am today. 'I wouldn't have a job I love, or be confident that I can take on anything. It's been a long road, but I refuse to let that holiday disaster shatter my dreams.'

Melanie Simmonds, 31, was on cheap holiday in Greece with her boyfriend . Pair decided to hire a quad bike instead of taxi but did not have insurance . Miss Simmonds was driving when wheels locked and she couldn't steer . They crashed down the side and Miss Simmonds legs were left mangled . She called last number on phone and was put through to diving school . Peter Tovey strapped her leg with his sandal before she could be airlifted . Her leg had multiple fractures and she had broken her finger and nose . She spent six months in a wheelchair and will never regain strength in leg .

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(CNN) -- These days, no fashion house portfolio is complete without a hotel -- or at the very least, a luxuriously designed suite. Tommy Hilfiger and Karl Lagerfeld are the latest fashion icons to try their hands at hoteling, with Hilfiger recently purchasing Miami's The Raleigh Hotel and Lagerfeld set to open his first branded property in Macau (albeit not until 2017). They join the ranks of many of the fashion industry's most iconic members, including Bulgari, Armani, Versace, and -- until recently -- Missoni (the Hotel Missoni brand, alas, is calling it quits). "From a designer's perspective, a hotel gives you complete latitude to bring their way of thinking to everything, from the draperies to the textures and colors, that's what you sign up for," says Nikhil Bhalla, vice president of equity research in lodging at FBR Capital Markets. In many cases, a hotel acts as a sort of large-scale designer showroom. Armani Hotels, for instance, are outfitted with furnishings from Armani Home, ball gowns accentuate the décor at Milan's Maison Moschino, and no suite at Bulgari Hotel is complete without the brand's signature silver. "Hotels are a great way to showcase the design identity of a brand, and to project a lifestyle that goes beyond products," notes Silvio Ursini, the executive vice president of Bulgari Hotels & Resorts. Or, as Bhalla puts it, "the handbag experience has extended itself into a lifestyle experience." Hotel brands are just as eager to align themselves with a fashion brand (even if they don't hand over the reins completely). When they're not tapping big-name designers to decorate their suites, hotels are conjuring up fashion-led experiences to entice customers, be it a Burberry trench coat-loan program or same-day delivery from Net-a-Porter. "For the consumer, who probably already likes the brand, these experiences are an opportunity to experience it at a higher level; it helps them bond with brand a little bit more than they would have before," explains Bhalla. It also offers the customers a consistency that they might not otherwise expect from a hotel room. "When a woman comes to us for a dress, she knows she's going to look gorgeous and glamorous -- that's what we do. When she stays in our suite, she'll know the same design levels went into making the space," notes James Mischka, half of the design label Badgley Mischka, which designed a 1,700-square foot suite at The Breakers Palm Beach. Branding a hotel suite with a fashion label also helps it attain an extra level of exclusivity. Bulgari Hotels, for instance, mimics the exclusivity of its design brand by limiting its room count. "There's always a scarcity value attached to these types of offerings, and at no point does a brand want to dilute that," explains Bhalla.

Tommy Hilfiger and Karl Lagerfeld are the latest fashion icons to turn hotelier . Lately, hotels and fashion houses are becoming more aligned . Many hotels offer designer suites and experiences to bring in customers .

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By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 07:41 EST, 12 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:07 EST, 12 December 2013 . A 'spoilt, jealous mummy's boy' who throttled his model girlfriend before his parents tried to cover it up smashed his victim's head against a table in the 24 hours before he murdered her, it was revealed today. Newly released CCTV shows the moment controlling Elliot Turner, 20, attacked Emily Longley, 17, in a packed Bournemouth bar on the night before he strangled her. In a fit of rage the killer is then seen flinging a glass across the room while Emily's friends console her on the evening before she was choked to death in his bedroom. A new documentary, to be broadcast tonight, also contains the 999 call his mother made 40 minutes after Emily was found dead, which was a devious attempt to conceal her son's crime. Killer: 'Brash, flash, spoilt' ex-public schoolboy Elliot Turner, 20, choked Emily Longley in his room at his parents' home and then used his parents to cover it up . Anita Turner, 51, tried to claim that Miss Longley, may have been choked by a tight necklace, but in fact her child had gone 'absolutely nuts' and killed her in his bedroom. His father Leigh destroyed a letter his son wrote confessing to the crime. Turner's friends have spoken of his paranoia before he killed his girlfriend in May 2011, after a month where he became increasingly paranoid that she was seeing other men. On 'Mummy's Little Murderer' due to be broadcast on Channel Five tonight, Turner is shown as a maniac intent on killing her. Emily's father Mark told The Sun: 'It is horrifying to think someone put their arm around our daughter's neck and literally choked the life out of her. 'To think someone could put their hands on Emily, who would never hurt anyone, and do such a violent act to her, was awful.' Cover up: Leigh and Anita Turner helped to hide evidence that Emily had been murdered and were also jailed last year for protecting their spoilt son . The murderer had enjoyed a privileged life where his parents denied him nothing. Turner had been educated at a £12,000 private school, and as an adult would carry up to £1,000 cash on him to 'show off'. He also spent nights out in Bournemouth bars with his friends, who he called 'The Firm', drinking champagne and trying to seduce women. His parents were so wealthy they even paid £30,000 to send him to the Priory for rehab after he became addicted to cocaine and alcohol. After spending huge sums impressing women he met Emily, and considered her a 'trophy', his murder trial heard. But the model received admiring glances from other men and Turner could not cope, sending him spiralling into fits of rage. During their four-month relationship it later emerged he had bullied and physically abused her, before threatening to kill . her and other men who knew her in a series of texts and emails. In one note written by Emily to him said: 'I love you but don't say you'll kill me. You make me scared'. CCTV also reveals on one occasion he took a hammer into a nightclub to threaten another man he believed was attracted to his girlfriend. Guilty: Elliot Turner (left) strangled Miss Emily (right) in his bedroom during a drunken argument . Love note: A letter from Emily Longley to Turner said: 'I love you' but 'don't say you'll kill me' After he killed her Turner claimed that Emily had died in her sleep and his parents backed him up. A post-mortem was inconclusive and the 20-year-old was not charged. But police were suspicious and bugged his house, and his parents were heard discussing the conspiracy. Elliot said he 'lost it' that night and his mother said: 'We've done the right thing'. His father then said: 'Stop denying it. He f****** strangled her'. He was then arrested and Turner then claimed during the trial he acted . in self-defence when Emily attacked him and he grabbed her by the . throat for five or six seconds and he then woke up to find her dead in . his bed. Pictured together: Elliot Turner and Emily Longley, pictured in the days before her death. Behind the scenes he was controlling and abusing her . Bereft: Emily's parents Caroline and Mark. Caroline said  that Turner saw Emily as 'a trophy adorned on his arm' and were distraught that she tried to hide it from them . But the jury did not believe him and he was jailed for 20 years in May 2012. His arrogance was such that even . his own defence lawyer was forced to describe him as ‘brash, flash, . boastful, spoilt, volatile, obsessive, possessive and obsessed’. He will . serve a minimum of 16 years. His parents Leigh, 56, and Anita, 53, were jailed for 27 months, and were both released in September. Mummy's Little Murderer, is on Channel 5 tonight 9pm.

Elliot Turner, 20, strangled Emily Longley in his room at his parents' home . New CCTV reveals he slammed her head into a bar table 24 hours earlier . His parents tried to cover up his crimes and were later jailed for conspiracy . His mother's lying 999 call is revealed where she said she died in her sleep . Documentary on Turner - 'Mummy's Little Murderer' - on Five tonight .

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A man has been left scarred for life after his stomach caught fire while on an operating table. Paul Hill, 43, from Stockton-on-Tees was burned after an alcohol-based body steriliser burst into flames while he was under general anaesthetic in an operating theatre at Stockton’s University Hospital of North Tees. The father-of-four is now awaiting answers from an internal investigation by hospital bosses into how the incident happened. Paul Hill, 43, has been left scarred for life after his stomach caught fire during an operation . It was only after his operation that Mr Hill was told the shocking news that his stomach had caught fire when a solution used to clean the skin ignited. He said: 'I didn’t even know it was possible. When they told me I didn’t know what to think. 'I had only just come around and told my wife what had happened. She didn’t believe me - thinking it was the drugs.' His wife Tracy, 42, added: 'He said to me "I have been set on fire”. He was high on morphine so I didn’t believe him at first. 'But a nurse in the room said he was being serious. It was scary.' The operation during which the blaze happened came during a long-running battle with ill health. During the operation, some alcohol-based body steriliser caught fire and burned his stomach . Stockton's University Hospital of North Tees is now investigating how the accident happened . Mr Hill was diagnosed with familial adenomatous polyposis in November 2012. The inherited condition causes numerous polyps to form, mainly in the large intestine. These can develop into colon cancer if untreated. As a result, Mr Hill underwent surgery to remove part of his digestive system. A side effect of this is that hernias can develop and he had to have an operation on a hernia in February this year. Mr Hill said: 'I didn't even know it was possible. When they told me I didn't know what to think' But problems persisted and he went into hospital again on March 19, which is when the operating room fire occurred. The experience has also worried the couple's son McKenzie. The 11-year-old has been diagnosed with the same condition as his father and may face similar surgery in the future. 'He has seen me go through it all - all the surgeries and now this,' said Mr Hill, a clerical assistant at Morrisons. Mr Hill said: 'I just hope they learn from what happened to me cause it could have been fatal to someone else' The ordeal has left Mr Hill with scars on the right side of his stomach. He also requires a district nurse every day to change his bandages. 'I just think what more can you take,' said Mrs Hill. 'You get through one thing, then there is something else.' Mr Hill added: 'I just hope they learn from what has happened to me because it could have been fatal. A spokesperson for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust said: 'We take incidents like this extremely seriously. A thorough investigation into what happened and what can be put in place to prevent this happening again has almost been concluded.'

Paul Hill had an operation at Stockton’s University Hospital of North Tees . During the surgery, an alcohol-based body steriliser burst into flames . When he came round from the anaesthetic he was told what had happened . The hospital is now investigating how this could have happened .

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(CNN) -- It's happened to all of us: You print something from the Web, and all you get is a sheet of paper with nothing but a URL or something equally useless. New software is designed to prevent printing blank pages from the Web, its inventor says. This printing pain in the neck happened to Hayden Hamilton so much that he invented a solution: GreenPrint, software that analyzes what a computer sends to a printer. It looks for pages that have no type or just a few lines of type (users can set the parameters). Then, the software automatically eliminates these pages from the print job. Users can reselect the pages if desired and deselect any other pages they don't want to print -- say, the pages of legal jargon at the end of an airline reservation. The software lets users eliminate images from a print job -- for instance, the maps generated in online driving directions -- thus saving ink. GreenPrint also allows users to avoid printing altogether by saving documents as PDF files. "The average employee prints about 10,000 pages a year, and roughly 20 percent of that is waste," Hamilton said from his GreenPrint office in the Old Town section of Portland, Oregon. "We estimate if [GreenPrint] got into widespread use, in the U.S. alone it would save tens of millions of trees a year and hundreds of millions of pounds" of polluting carbon-dioxide gases. Leigh Stringer, a vice president at the Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum architectural firm, heard about GreenPrint from bloggers and decided to give it a try. "I'm an architect by education and print a lot of large drawings as well as a lot of documents," she said from her Washington office. "So the ability I have to self-select just a little bit saves a lot of paper fast." With GreenPrint, it takes a few extra seconds to print. But, Stringer said, "In a way, that's a good thing, because you take that pause and decide if you really wanted to print it or not." GreenPrint tells users how many pages, and how much money, they have saved. Stringer said that based on a rate of 6½ cents per page, she paid off the $35 cost of the software in one day. But now, GreenPrint is offering a free version of the software for non-business use, supported by advertising. Tens of thousands of people have downloaded the program in the weeks since its January 28 debut. "Our goal is nothing short of ending wasteful printing worldwide," Hamilton said. The International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank, is using GreenPrint in a pilot project, sending feedback to the company to help fine-tune the software for the corporation's needs. And Hamilton said that more than two dozen Fortune 500 companies are testing out the product. He's hopeful that several deals will be closed this year. So, is Hamilton getting rich off this? "Not yet," he said with a laugh. "It's still early days, but hopefully over the next couple of years I'll start at least making a salary."

Software prevents computers from printing unnecessary pages from Internet . It might save millions of trees, millions of pounds of pollution, creator says . At 6½ cents a page, one user saved enough to pay for software in one day . World Bank member and Fortune 500 companies are also testing it .

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Pregnant actress Jaime King has revealed that it was her close friend, and fellow TV star, Lena Dunham who gave her the courage to speak out about her awful struggle to conceive her first child. Speaking to Daily Mail Online about the upcoming release of her new music video for fashion label Grace MMXIII, in which she showcases her impressive vocal talents alongside those of Oscar-nominated composer J. Ralph, the 35-year-old explained that it was only after reading about Lena's own struggles with endometriosis in her book Not That Kind of Girl, that she felt able to open up about her own fertility issues. 'Lena Dunham was a big factor in my speaking out,' she said. Making moves: Jaime King, 35, lends her vocals to a breathtaking new music video for fashion label Grace MMXIII's latest campaign . Expecting: Jaime announced earlier this month that she is expecting her second child with husband Kyle Newman, after revealing last year that she had suffered five miscarriages before conceiving her son James . 'As a dear friend who spoke out in her book about endometriosis, she helped give me the courage to ponder what kind of impact I wanted to make on this world. And I thought, "Hey, you have a big platform to help other women and couples." 'I know it's not a sexy topic, I know that it's extremely private and vulnerable, but at the same time I went through years of silent suffering because no one speaks about these things or the symptoms and effects of endometriosis.' Jaime, who earlier this month revealed that she is expecting her second child with husband Kyle Newman, added that she hopes her decision to speak out about her fertility struggles will help her fans to see past the perceived perfection of her 'Hollywood life'. People think I live a picture perfect life, and it started to upset me that I could possibly, in some way be presenting a curated, false idea of what my life is to my fans and to the world,' she said. 'Because that's false, it's a lie. In Hollywood we put out this totally unrealistic idea of a glamorous life because that's a part of the illusion that the public and system wants to see. A way to escape. 'However, why can we not do both? Be beautiful and inspiring yet be honest and support others on their journeys. If one more person can feel supported - then I will sacrifice any level of vanity and privacy for that. 'I will sacrifice anything to help educate and bring awareness to something so common, yet so oddly taboo. Because it shouldn't be. It's not about infertility per se - it's about the disease of PCOS and endometriosis and the prevention and care of that.' When it comes to setting an example for other mothers-to-be, Jaime, who is currently starring as restaurant owner Lemon Breeland in hit CW series Hart of Dixie alongside former OC star Rachel Bilson, could not be a better role model. While already balancing her TV role with her family life at home with her beloved husband and son, who is now 16 months old, the actress is also busy throwing her heart and soul into her music career - and confessed that she has no plans to slow down any time soon. Lean on me: Expectant mother Jaime revealed that she was given the courage to speak out about her own struggles with PCOS after reading about her friend Lena Dunham's own diagnosis in her book . Natural talent: Jaime explained that she has no plans to slow down on the work front, despite her pregnancy, noting that 'working always makes a pregnant woman happy' 'Working always makes a pregnant woman happy,' she said. 'Well, at least an insanely creative woman such as myself.' Thankfully, Jaime has plenty of creative projects to keep her occupied. As well as appearing in the soon-to-be launched video campaign for Grace MMXIII, the little black dress brand founded by Jens Grede and Erik Torstensson of Frame Denim, Jaime is also working on her own album with her Grace MMXIII video collaborator J. Ralph, which, she teased, will be available soon. But music is in no way a new focus for Jaime, who revealed that she has been 'working on music and writing poetry and songs for friends' for as long as she can remember. She has also worked on her fair share of music videos in the past, both in front of and behind the cameras. In 2012, Jaime starred in the video for Lana Del Ray's hit single Summertime Sadness, which was directed by her husband Kyle, with whom she has also co-directed a number of music videos in the past. But when it came to pursuing a singing career in her own right, under her own name, Jaime credits her close friend - and global singing sensation - Taylor Swift with giving her the inspiration that she needed to 'put her work out there'. 'Taylor was really the biggest catalyst for me to put my work out there, she lit a fire under me when she read my writing and her brilliance is unparalleled,' she said. 'She is fearless and incredibly brave, always authentic yet capable of reaching people on such a universal scale - it's very powerful.' And while she is finally ready to put her own music out there in the spotlight, Jaime explained that she still plans to remain a strong support to her friends, whom she describes as being 'the greats in their industry'. Number one fan: Jaime describes herself as a 'cheerleader' for her friends, such as Lena (L) and singer Taylor Swift (R), who she believes are 'greats' in their industries . Family ties: Jaime hopes that her struggles with PCOS will help her fans to see beyond the perceived perfection of her 'Hollywood life' and help them to find the strength to overcome their own issues . Surprise! The Hart of Dixie star announced her pregnancy with this adorable Instagram snap of her son James, who is now 16 months old . Reaching out: Jaime posted a heartfelt message to her fans on Twitter, thanking them for their continued support . 'I have an interesting dynamic with my friends because many of them are the greats in their industry,' she said. 'I have always been there to support their artistry because music has the capacity to reach people globally and truly change the planet by connecting us through song. I find by supporting someone like Taylor, or any friend who has that reach, is very important because I am deeply passionate about artists that have a voice and use it to change things for the better. 'I love being a cheerleader behind-the-scenes because in my industry I'm always front and center.' In her new music video for Grace MMXIII, however, the expectant mother happily takes center stage, showcasing her beautifully raw singing voice, as well as a number of seductive dance moves, in the dynamic and visually breathtaking clip. 'The only nerve-wracking part [about the video] is that my vocals are a live track with no auto tune, no bells and whistles, purely my voice which is the same with J. Ralph,' she said of the filming process. 'He is a visionary artist and carefully selected very rare and beautiful microphones that would naturally lend themselves to our particular style. 'For me, to sing and write, to have a band with J. Ralph is just another form of my expression as an artist. What we make musically is very poetic and dramatic which is how I've always sang - more like an old school jazz singer, not a popstar. 'I really just love every medium of art. And I want people to love it of course, to move them deeply. As a performer my goal is to always make people feel less alone in the world. To feel connected. 'But I will leave it to my friends to dominate the music industry.'

Last year, the 35-year-old, who was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, shared details about her struggle to conceive her first child . Jaime suffered five miscarriages and went through five rounds of IVF before becoming pregnant with her son, James, who is now 16 months old . Earlier this month, she announced that she is expecting her second child with husband Kyle Newman . Jaime is also busy working on her music career and has lent her vocals to a new track and video as part of a campaign for fashion label Grace MMXIII . She revealed to Daily Mail Online that it was her close friend Taylor Swift who 'lit her fire' and inspired her to focus on her music .

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If mankind does ever become embroiled in a Terminator-style 'war against the machines', we're really going to have to start doing a few more press-ups. Researchers have developed a robotic muscle, an incredible thousand times more powerful than that of a human and capable of hurling an object 50 times heavier than itself. The breakthrough relies on a material called vanadium dioxide which has a unique ability to change its size, shape and structure when heated. Scroll down for video . Robo muscle: The 'micro-bimorph dual coil' developed by U.S. scientists that can hurl an object 50 times heavier than itself . A team at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in U.S. have used vanadium to build a torsional motor which works just like a human muscle, except it is far faster and more powerful. The vanadium muscle is capable of catapulting extremely heavy objects over five times its own length in just 60 milliseconds. But there's no need to worry about hoards of Herculean robots rising up and taking over the world just yet, the proto-type robo muscle is only micro-sized. Study leader, Junqiao Wu told nanowerk.com 'We've created a micro-bimorph dual coil that functions as a powerful torsional muscle, driven thermally or electro-thermally by the phase transition of vanadium dioxide. Outclassed: Even the likes of Olympic Gold medalist Jessica Ennis can't compete with the awesome power of the robotic muscle . 'Using a simple design and inorganic materials, we achieve superior performance in power density and speed over the motors and actuators now used in integrated micro-systems.' What makes Vanadium dioxide so unique is that it is an insulator at low temperatures but becomes a conductor when it hits 67C, a bit like plastic transforming into metal. The scientists hope that this remarkable ability can be harnessed to create far more energy efficient electronic and optical devices. When heated, vanadium dioxide crystals change their structural form rapidly, both contracting and expanding at the same time. It is this particular trait that the researchers have harnessed to create the robo-muscle. Dr Wu explains: 'Multiple micro-muscles can be assembled into a micro-robotic system that simulates an active neuromuscular system. 'The naturally combined functions of proximity sensing and torsional motion allow the device to remotely detect a target and respond by reconfiguring itself to a different shape. 'This simulates living bodies where neurons sense and deliver stimuli to the muscles and the muscles provide motion. 'With its combination of power and multi-functionality, our micro-muscle shows great potential for applications that require a high level of functionality integration in a small space.'

Breakthrough made by team at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory . Robo-muscle is made of a unique material called vanadium dioxide . It has a unique ability to change its size, shape and structure when heated . Works as an insulator at low temperatures but becomes a conductor at 67C . Could pave the way to create more efficient electronic . and optical devices .

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By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 06:27 EST, 17 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:35 EST, 17 April 2013 . A runner who was just half a mile from completing the Boston Marathon when a bomb detonated has spoken of the simple but overwhelming kindness of strangers amid the scenes of devastation. Runner Laura Wellington was told 'You are a finisher in my eyes' as she was comforted by another athlete who handed her the medal from around his own neck. She had been nearing the finish line of the 26 mile race when the explosion happened, killing three people and injuring 183.  Her first thought, she said, was not for her own safety but for that of her family who were waiting for her at the finish line. Runner Laura Wellington was nearing the finish line of the 26 mile race when the explosion went off killing three people and injuring 183 . She has told how she was given the medal from around another runner's neck as he comforted her by the roadside . After several frantic attempts, she finally made contact and discovered all were safe. As she sank to the floor, weeping and weak with relief, the fellow runner stopped to comfort her. She described the moment she sat on a pavement, scattered with bomb debris, in a Facebook post which has now been shared by more than 88,690 people. She said: 'At that moment, a couple walking by stopped. The woman took the space tent off her husband, who had finished the marathon, and wrapped it around me. 'She asked me if I was okay, if I knew where my family was. I reassured her I knew where they were and I would be OK. 'The man then asked me if I finished to which I nodded "no." He then proceeded to take the medal off from around his neck and placed it around mine. 'He told me "you are a finisher in my eyes." I was barely able to choke out a "thank you" between my tears.' Three people were killed and more than 170 injured when two bombs exploded near the finish line of Monday's race . The scenes of devastation left after the attack. Those who died were an eight-year-old boy, a woman, 29 and a postgraduate student from China . 'Odds are I will never see this couple again, but I'm reaching out with the slim chance that I will be able to express to them just what this gesture meant to me. I was so in need of a familiar face at that point in time. 'This couple reassured me that even though such a terrible thing had happened, everything was going to be OK.' Three people were killed and more than 170 injured when two bombs exploded near the finish line of Monday's race. Those who died were an eight-year-old boy, a woman, 29 and a postgraduate student from China. Vigils for the victims were held across the city on Tuesday night. Images released by a joint Homeland Security and FBI bulletin have revealed the bombs may have been packed in pressure cookers. The pictures show the remains of a dark backpack, a detonation device and mangled pieces of metal.

Laura Wellington was nearing finish line of race when explosion went off . Weak with relief at finding family were fine she sank to ground and wept . Was told 'you're a finisher in my eyes' by stranger as he handed her medal .

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TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- He's been labeled by many as the "reformist," a man who can take Iran beyond the truculent anti-Western rhetoric of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Moussavi was not seen as a reformer during his stint as prime minister during the 1980s. So, when Iran's government announced over the weekend that Mir Hossein Moussavi had lost in his bid to become the country's next president, young Iranians took to the streets by the thousands alleging ballot fraud. Thousands of others around the globe championed the cause on social-networking Web sites and agreed to wear green on Monday in solidarity with Moussavi's supporters. But what is often lost in the outrage is whether Iran would look different under a Moussavi presidency. Watch more about the vote » . Though the 67-year old is credited for successfully navigating the Iranian economy as prime minister during a bloody eight-year war with Iraq in the 1980s, he also was a hard-liner whom the Economist described as a "firm radical." He, like most Iranians in power, does not believe in the existence of Israel. He defended the taking of hostages at the U.S. Embassy in Iran in 1979, which led to the break in ties between the countries. He was part of a regime that regularly executed dissidents and backed the fatwa against British author Salman Rushdie. And as late as April, he opposed suspending the country's nuclear-enrichment program but said it would not be diverted to weapons use. "I wouldn't go as far as (call it) a 'Velvet Revolution,'" Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council, said of the phrase many are using to describe the rallies in Iran. "At the end of the day, Moussavi has been more involved and been there from the very beginning of the revolution in a way that Ahmadinejad never was," Parsi told "CNN Newsroom" on Sunday. "Moussavi was one of the founders of the revolution." Moussavi was named prime minister in 1980. A year earlier, Iran had become an Islamic republic after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was forced into exile. The same year, a group of students in support of the Islamic revolution took 52 Americans hostage and held them for 444 days. In an interview with The New York Times in 1981, Moussavi defended the hostage-taking as the beginning of "second stage of our revolution." "It was after this that we rediscovered our true Islamic identity," he said. The incident, Moussavi added, ended the "problem of pro-American circles and their following in Iran. "After this, we felt the sense that we could look Western policy in the eye and analyze it the way they had been evaluating us for many years." In 1988, author Salman Rushdie released his fourth novel, 'The Satanic Verses,' which Iran said insulted Islam. The country's supreme leader called for the death of Rushdie. And Moussavi, in a radio broadcast, said the order would be carried out. Moussavi told the Financial Times in April that he would not halt Iran's uranium enrichment program if he were president. "No one in Iran would accept suspension," he said. Since his stint as prime minister, Moussavi has been absent from politics. For the past 10 years, his official job has been to head the state-owned Art Center. He is a painter. The long "20 years of silence," as the Iranian media dubbed it, is working to Moussavi's advantage. Of Iran's population of 70 million, almost 60 percent are younger than 28 -- too young to have lived through the 1979 revolution. To them, Moussavi represents a sea change from Ahmadinejad. While the president calls the Holocaust a myth, Moussavi has condemned the killing of Jews. While Ahmadinejad has unleashed the morality police to ensure that women cover their hair in public, Moussavi has pledged his support for women's rights. Most importantly, the youth are unhappy about the faltering economy under Ahmadinejad, with the unemployment rate topping 30 percent by some accounts. They are hungry for anyone who represents change, analysts have said. "We have really an interesting moment of historic irony here," Afshin Molavi, a fellow at the New America Foundation, said on the CNN talk show Fareed Zakaria GPS. "Moussavi is a child of the revolution. Moussavi was never a real reformer, either, when he was prime minister. "And now he's being faced with the question: Should he unleash the young people out onto the streets who supported him -- thus threatening the very system that he fought for?" Shahriar Etimani, an Iranian-American who was part of a demonstration Sunday in Washington, D.C., to protest the election results, said he realizes Moussavi is part of the establishment, but he remains hopeful. "The cynical part of me says that these guys have 30 years' of experience of survival. So this will be another blip on the radar?" he said. "The hopeful part of me says that, 'You know what? There needs to be a catalyst and we don't know where that catalyst comes from. We don't know where that tipping point will come from.'" CNN's Saeed Ahmed in Atlanta contributed to this report.

Mir Hossein Moussavi was named prime minister in 1980 . He steered Iranian economy through eight-year war with Iraq . He opposed suspending the country's nuclear-enrichment program . Has been absent from politics for the past 10 years .

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By . Nick Enoch . PUBLISHED: . 09:02 EST, 24 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:23 EST, 24 July 2013 . A quick glance at the balconies on this estate in Portsmouth reveal the usual suspects: washing lines, the odd plant pot, and satellite dishes. But one resident stands out from the rest - or rather, his balcony does. Pete Gover has festooned his outdoor space, three storeys up, with more than 200 flowers. On this estate in Portsmouth, one green-fingered resident has embraced British summertime . Taxi driver Pete Gover enjoys a glass of orange in his magnificent garden, festooned with more than 200 petunias, geraniums, lobelia and lilies . While the sun shines, the 57-year-old taxi driver can often be seen enjoying a glass of orange in his magnificent garden, which is filled with petunias, geraniums, lobelia and lilies. He even has coaches stopping to admire the fantastic array of colour as they pass by on the Eastern Road, one of the main thoroughfares into the city. Mr Gover said: 'I have been gradually expanding my display since I started with a couple of pots a few years ago. 'It just seems to grow year on year bu I don't think it can get any bigger now because I've run out of space on my balcony.' Mr Gover even has coaches stopping to admire the fantastic array of colour as they pass by on the Eastern Road, one of the main thoroughfares into the city . During the heatwave, he has watered the blooms twice a day. He said: 'It's been quite a struggle in the prolonged dry weather but they seem to be doing better than ever.' Alan Titchmarsh would be proud. During the heatwave, Mr Gover has watered the blooms on his third-storey balcony twice a day .

Pete Gover's balcony in Portsmouth is filled with petunias, geraniums, lobelia and lilies .

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(CNN) -- Five Russian Sukhoi fighter jets have arrived in Iraq, the first of 25 warplanes expected to be delivered under a contract between Moscow and Baghdad, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense said in a statement. A video the ministry released Monday showed the jets, with wings unattached, being pulled toward hangars. "These jet fighters will contribute to increase the combat capability of the air force and the rest of the armed forces in eliminating terrorism," the ministry said. The Su-25 has been in service for more than three decades and was part of the Iraqi air force under Saddam Hussein's regime. The announcement follows a comment by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki that recent militant advances might have been avoided if Iraq had proper air power, in the form of fighter jets that Iraq has been trying to get from the United States. "I'll be frank and say that we were deluded when we signed the contract" with the United States, al-Maliki told the BBC in the interview last week, which was released Friday. Iraq has now turned to Russia and Belarus to buy fighter jets, he said. "God willing, within one week, this force will be effective and will destroy the terrorists' dens," he said. U.S. officials were quick to reject al-Maliki's complaints. U.S. fighter jets have not been slow in coming, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said. The first two promised F-16s "weren't expected to be delivered until the fall, which is still months away," Kirby said. "And we were in the process of working towards that delivery." The advance of an al Qaeda splinter group "couldn't have been stemmed through the use of two particular fighter planes," he said. Al-Maliki's statements about the need for air support came as American and Arab diplomats told CNN that the United States is unlikely to undertake any military strikes against the militant group, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and its allied fighters before a new government is formed in Iraq.

5 Russian fighter jets arrive in Iraq; 20 more expected . Al-Maliki criticizes U.S. for not sending fighters to Iraq . Pentagon says F-16s will arrive in the fall .

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A second daughter of a 'fagin' mother who ran a lucrative family business selling goods online that the family stole from shops has been jailed. Dawn Bainbridge led a 'family business' which involved her and her daughters stealing thousands and thousands of pounds-worth of clothes from high street stores across the North which they then sold on Facebook. Their company, 'Designer Goods North East', took more than £7,000 in online payments in just four months, had detailed sales records and a debtors' book. Caitlyn Bainbridge, left, has been jaild for 16 months for being involved in a family business where goods were stolen from high street stores then sold online; her mother, Dawn, right, was the ringleader . In a note seized by police, Bainbridge's daughter Caitlyn Bainbridge, 19, boasted of making £100 a week and dreamed of going it alone. At Newcastle Crown Court last month Judge Sean Morris jailed Bainbridge, 47, for 30 months and her 21-year old daughter Claire for 20 months. Then yesterday Caitlyn, 19, was sentenced to 16 months jail. Judge Morris told her: 'This was a professional, criminal family firm. 'You played your part, you were the banker, you were the marketer, you went out on some trips as well. 'Thousands and thousads of pounds worth of goods were taken in professional, planned shoplifting expeditions and professionally marketed by you on your own Paypal account and with money being withdrawn to distribute amongst the directors of the firm, your mother and your older sister.' When police raided the family home in West Rainton, County Durham, in March, they recovered goods stolen from Next, House of Fraser, Marks and Spencer and elsewhere worth nearly £7,000 . At Bainbridge's sentencing the court was told she was the 'mother and leader of the criminal firm'. The judge said: 'You are the villain of the piece. It's your fault your daughters are in court. Some mother.' Jamie Adams, defending Caitlyn, said: 'The whole scenario is reminiscent of something Dickens would write about. 'Fagin comes to mind in the form of her mother.' The family stole from stores in Leeds, Bradford, Guiseley, York, Knaresborough, Harrogate, Stockton, Bishop Auckland, Durham, Gateshead and Edinburgh. Their operation was uncovered by an investigator for high street chain Next, who bought clothes and proved them to have been stolen. When police raided the family home in West Rainton, County Durham, in March, they recovered goods stolen from Next, House of Fraser, Marks and Spencer and elsewhere worth nearly £7,000. But still the thieving continued. Police seized a further £900-worth of stolen goods in June. All three Bainbridges admitted conspiracy to steal.

The judge said Caitlyn Bainbridge played the banker in the stealing ring . She boasted of making £100 a week and planned to take the business solo . Her older sister Claire and mother Dawn had already been jailed . Accused's lawyer compared the crime ring to a Dickens books .

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Russian academics are calling for a scientific probe into claims of a 'Siberian Loch Ness monster' in one of the world's remotest lakes. Researchers using underwater scanners have found evidence of 'Nesski' - measuring up to 33 feet in length - in the deep waters of Lake Labynkyr, says a new report. Intriguingly, the evidence is at a lake where native Evenk and Yakut people have long claimed an underwater creature lurks. Proof: This photograph, said to be the head of the underwater beast, is being used as evidence to prove the existence of a Siberian Loch Ness monster . The evidence includes a picture which, it is claimed, shows the monster, says the Siberian Times. Known as ‘the Devil', testimony dating back to the 19th century says the monster has enormous jaws. Associate Professor Lyudmila Emeliyanova, of Moscow State University, told The Siberian Times that on her own scientific mission to Labynkyr she recorded ‘several seriously big underwater objects’ with sonar readings. Images have also recently emerged from a 2006 scientific trip to the lake when strange objects - one of 21ft 4in (6.5 metres) in length - were recorded on a Humminbird Piranha MAX 215 Portable fish-finder at a depth of 138 to 197 feet. Territory: Lake Labynkyr in Siberia, the alleged home of a giant 'Nesski' monster . Based on the sonic readings, researchers drew how the creature might look in real-life on the fish-finder's screen. ‘It was our fourth or fifth day at the lake when our echo sounding device registered a huge object in the water under our boat," said Dr Emeliyanova of her own close encounter. It was clearly alive and too large to be one of the dozen or so known fish species in the lake. ‘The object was very dense, of homogeneous structure, surely not a fish nor a shoal of fish, and it was above the bottom," she said. ‘I was very surprised but not scared nor shocked, after all we did not see this animal, we only registered a strange object in the water. But I can clearly say - at the moment, as a scientist, I cannot offer you any explanation of what this object might be.’ Lady in red: The echo device shows a mysterious shape and the scientists made a drawing, right in red, of what Nessie's Russian cousin might look like . Nesski caught: The device, normally used to find and trace fish movements discovered a strange dense object in the lake . Artists impression: The scientists have made a drawing of a not-so-happy monster on the screen . Other similar findings since her 2002 mission mean that a new scientific mission to discover the truth is essential, said Dr Emeliyanova, a biogeographer. ‘I believe there is a mystery in this lake because there is no smoke without fire,’ she said. She was told an account of two fishermen who were ‘in a 10 metre long boat when suddenly the bow began to rise as if somebody was pushing it from under the water. 'It was a heavy boat, only a huge and strong animal can do such a thing. The fishermen were stuck by fear. They did not see anything, no head, no jaws.’ Another 'sighting' came when a group of Russian geologists were fishing in the lake. ‘Suddenly those in the boat started screaming - apparently they saw a huge head of some creature. Others, who were waiting for them on shore, started shooting, and scared the creature away,’ said a witness. Monster or myth?: The local population have given testimonies on the monster they call 'the Devil' since the 19th century . A 1953 sighting of a 'monster' in neighbouring Lake Vorota by respected Soviet geologist Viktor Tverdokhlebov was initially covered up by the Soviet authorities. But now Dr Emeliyanova wants to investigate a theory that the two lakes are linked by underground tunnels. Strangely, despite being close to Oymyakon, the coldest inhabited town on Earth, the lake does not freeze completely in winter. There has been speculation in Russia  that Labynkyr and Vorota might be inhabited by a school of ichthyosaurs, prehistoric marine reptiles resembling dolphins or sharks, or  plesiosaurs, a popular theory concerning 'Nessie' in Scotland which is often depicted with a long neck. Another version is that relic killer whales could have become marooned in Labynkyr when it was attached to the sea. Some accounts even suggest the 'creature' makes a hideous primeval cry as it attacks its prey. ‘Personally, I do believe that when the information about something strange circulates among local people for so many years, it just can't be groundless, it means something is there,’ said Dr Emeliyanova. ’I know the local people very well - they are ingenuous but they do not lie.’ She stressed: ‘There are many lakes in Yakutia and around the Indigirka River, hundreds of them, big and small, their shores are more or less populated, but all the talk is about Labynkyr and Vorota lakes, and it has gone on for many dozens of years. 'It makes us think about it. And these stories about the local monster are older than those about the Loch Ness monster.’

Giant underwater monster rumoured to be living in remote Siberian lake . Echo scanners found evidence of 'giant dense moving object' measuring over 30 feet .

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(CNN) -- "Terrorists use Guantanamo Bay prison to recruit new members." Aasif Mandvi, "The Daily Show's" senior correspondent, passionately made this argument as our first guest ever on the weekly CNN podcast "The Big Three." Mandvi thinks it's time to close Guantanamo Bay now -- and I couldn't agree with him more. President Obama brought this issue back to the forefront when he renewed his call to close the prison facility. Obama explained at his press conference on Tuesday: "It is critical for us to understand that Guantanamo is not necessary to keep America safe. ... It hurts us in terms of our international standing. It is a recruiting tool for extremists." Mandvi echoed President Obama's sentiments that the United States cannot simply hold people indefinitely without affording them the opportunity to answer the charges against them. "Why can't we try these prisoners in court? We have done that with other terrorists like Timothy McVeigh," Mandvi said. Mandvi, who appeared in the Off-Broadway play, "Guantanamo," and can be seen in the soon-to-be-released comedy film, "The Internship," spoke about his discussion with the father of a Guantanamo detainee. The father made a simple plea to Mandvi: "Try my son in court, and if you find him guilty of being a terrorist, execute him. If not, then let him go." There are 166 prisoners in the prison. Eighty-six of them have been cleared for release by our government but have still not been set free. Many of these prisoners are on a hunger strike to protest their indefinite detention. In response, prison officials are force-feeding them by inserting tubes through their nasal passages, a practice that the U.N. Human Rights Office declared as torture. Should the U.S. government close Gitmo and put the prisoners not cleared for release on trial? That's the first issue in this week's episode of "The Big Three," which features CNN contributors Margaret Hoover, John Avlon and me. Here is a brief summary of the big three issues we took on: . 1. Guantanamo Bay Prison -- close it now? Our guest, Mandvi, emphatically argued yes. Hoover noted that more than 40 of the prisoners have been deemed too violent to ever be released. Avlon expressed concerns that national security secrets could be released if these prisoners were tried in open court. 2. Is Jason Collins, the NBA player who came out of the closet, the Jackie Robinson of gay athletes? While all three of us applauded Collins' courage in coming out, we disagreed over its significance when compared to Jackie Robinson. Avlon argued that Robinson was far more important because racism was a much more polarizing issue at the time and also, Robinson was a far superior athlete. We all agreed, though some of the criticism Collins received makes it clear the fight to end homophobia still has a long way to go. 3. Who will voters pick in the congressional special election in South Carolina next week? Mark Sanford, a Republican former governor who famously cheated on his wife by sneaking off to Argentina, or Elizabeth Colbert Busch, a liberal-ish Democrat who is the sister of Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert? Avlon was the moderator of a recent debate between Sanford and Busch. Some were shocked that Busch brought up Sanford's past affair. I'm not shocked. In fact, I think it tells us a great deal about Sanford's character. Avlon argued that many have forgiven Bill Clinton for his escapades, why shouldn't Sanford get a second chance? Hoover noted that the demographics of the district are becoming moderate, which can help Busch win the May 7 election. We would love to hear your thoughts on these issues. To listen to this episode, click on the Soundcloud audio player on this page. Or you can find us on iTunes. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dean Obeidallah.

CNN Radio podcast features CNN Opinion contributors on top three stories . Dean Obeidallah: Our guest, Aasif Mandvi, argues that we should close Gitmo . Margaret Hoover: Jason Collins was courageous in coming out of the closet . John Avlon: Why not give Mark Sanford a second chance - even though he had an affair?

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Kiev, Ukraine (CNN) -- Civilians, including women and children, have been killed in an attack on a caravan of refugees in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region, the Ukrainian military said Monday. The civilians were trying to escape fighting between pro-Russian rebels and the Ukrainian military but were not in an established humanitarian safety corridor when they came under fire, a military representative said. The civilians were being escorted by the Ukrainian military from the towns of Khryaschuvate and Novosvitlivka when they were attacked at 9:40 a.m. local time (2:40 a.m. ET), the Kiev-recognized Luhansk Regional Government said. A government representative confirmed that there had been "heavy gunfire" in the area and that the victims had been unable to call for help as mobile phone towers were down. Ukrainian Col. Andriy Lysenko told CNN that "terrorists" had attacked the caravan with guns from Russia. Lysenko later told media that preliminary information indicated that the attack had been an ambush. The caravan was almost destroyed, and tens of people were killed, he said. Lysenko said that people had been registering to leave with the caravan for several days before the attack. Ukraine's state information agency reported that Grad launchers and mortars had been fired at those trying to leave the war zone. There had been 25 battles in the past 24 hours, with government forces regaining part of the city of Luhansk, Lysenko said. "Luhansk is almost fully encircled, and the operation to free it is going on right now," he said. The rebels had used Uragan rocket launchers for the first time, Lysenko said. Ukraine on Sunday reported gains against the rebels, saying the army had entered Donetsk and raised the Ukrainian flag in front of the district's police offices. Ukrainian forces also regained control of the strategic town of Yasynuvata in Donetsk in the southeastern part of the country, according to the official Twitter account of President Petro Poroshenko. On Monday, Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti reported that the self-styled Donetsk People's Republic had announced the death penalty would be introduced "for the gravest crimes." Once the war ended, the group would step "on the path of humanization of the criminal law," RIA Novosti quoted a DPR minister as saying, after a meeting of its council Sunday. Humanitarian agencies say thousands of people in the region don't have access to water, electricity and proper medical aid. Ongoing fighting downed power lines and stopped Donetsk city's water treatment plant from working Sunday, the City Council said. The Donetsk City Council announced on its website that the water supply would be cut off starting at 9 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET). In a new statement Monday, it said the supply remained disrupted, with fighting hindering repairs. Ukrainian officials acknowledged Sunday that a convoy of more than 260 Russian vehicles on the border is, in fact, carrying humanitarian aid, a statement on the Ukrainian Cabinet website said. Ukraine received an inventory of the supplies Saturday, which was signed by the head of the regional International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation to Russia. But Col. Lysenko said Monday that failure to reach an agreement on safety with the ICRC had prevented a detailed inspection. The convoy initially sparked fears that Russia was trying to use a humanitarian convoy as a cover for sending in more aid and weapons for pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, which Russia and the rebels denied. The ongoing fighting -- sparked last year by a political crisis over whether Ukraine would seek closer ties with Europe or Russia -- has left more than 2,000 people dead and just under 5,000 wounded in eastern Ukraine since mid-April, according to estimates from U.N. officials. What's happening in Ukraine? Progress reported in cease-fire talks . The foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France met in Berlin on Sunday to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. "We discussed the question of how we can find ways to reach an urgently needed cease-fire in eastern Ukraine," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. "We discussed the question of how we can improve and optimize controls at the Russian-Ukrainian border." Steinmeir said progress had been made in certain areas and the parties were looking at further talks. Russia's Foreign Ministry released a statement saying the talks focused on "the earliest possible termination of the hostilities, border control, humanitarian aid delivery to southeastern Ukraine, and creating the conditions for the earliest beginning of the process of political settlement." "Some progress was made on all these issues," it said. The United States and the European Union have applied steadily increasing sanctions against Russian officials, banks and other interests since March, when Russia annexed the Black Sea Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. Russia's move came a month after Ukraine's parliament ousted pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych. Yanukovych left office after violent protests against his government in the capital, Kiev. Those protests were motivated in part by his decision to back out of a trade deal with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia. Aid or invasion? Question looms as Russian convoy nears Ukraine . Opinion: Why Vladimir Putin isn't going to make peace . CNN's Will Ripley and Victoria Butenko reported from Kiev.

Refugees came under attack in Luhansk on Monday, government officials say . A military spokesman says "terrorists" killed civilians, including women and children . Col. Andriy Lysenko says government forces have regained part of Luhansk city . He says pro-Russian rebels used Uragan rocket launchers in fighting for the first time .

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(CNN) -- The infiltration of a Middle Eastern terror network by a mole who helped foil a plot to blow up a U.S.-bound plane was a "phenomenal," "brilliant" and "powerful" success, experts said Wednesday. It's unclear how much of the credit should go to the United States or to Saudi Arabia, for whom sources say the mole was working, but both countries have delivered a practical and psychological setback to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, analysts on the region said. Western officials describe that affiliate as al Qaeda's most dangerous. "It's a devastating blow to al Qaeda, though not a fatal one," said Juan Zarate, who was deputy national security adviser for combating terrorism under President George W. Bush. "What this demonstrates is that we have the ability to get on the inside." And the plot, by the same group that launched a failed attempt to bomb a U.S.-bound airliner on Christmas 2009, demonstrates the continued "rise of the affiliates," he said. "We have a decimated al Qaeda core -- the al Qaeda of 2001 that we have battled and really dismantled in many ways has metastasized and is now presenting itself in this regional form." This latest intelligence success marks the deepest known penetration into al Qaeda, said Ali Soufan, a former FBI official who oversaw highly sensitive international terrorism cases. But he noted many intelligence efforts remain secret. "It's a major success for the CIA and for the intelligence community," he said. And, he noted, as in this case with Saudi Arabia, "overseas most of our work is done in cooperation with friendly services." Of the al Qaeda affiliate groups trying to carry out terrorist operations today, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is the closest version to the network Osama bin Laden led, Soufan said. Bruce Riedel, who spent 30 years in the CIA and was a senior adviser on the Middle East to four presidents, said thwarting the bomb plot is "primarily a Saudi success story" -- and not their first. "They foiled the AQAP plot in October 2010 to send bombs to the U.S. on FedEx and UPS planes," he noted. That plot was foiled by an informant. Some details remain unknown. This time, Riedel said, Saudi intelligence managed to "get access to AQAP's plot and actually get the bomb." Still, thwarting this attack doesn't damage the organization substantially in the big picture, analysts said. "While this is a good technical success, the harsh reality is that in Yemen, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is growing, getting more powerful, recruiting more assets and taking advantage of the fact that Yemen is essentially the Humpty Dumpty of the Arabian Peninsula -- it's falling apart, broken," said Riedel, now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. CNN terrorism analyst Paul Cruickshank added that while it is a "big intelligence success" for the United States and Saudi Arabia, "there's a limit to their success as well." The operation did not lead intelligence services to Ibrahim al-Asiri, the chief bomb maker for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or to the location where he makes the bombs. "They were able to take out Fahd al-Quso, who's a senior operational planner in the group, but they were not able to take out this very dangerous bomb maker who's ingenious at making bombs," Cruickshank noted. Information from the mole led to a CIA drone strike Sunday in Yemen that killed al-Quso, 37, a senior operative of the al Qaeda affiliate. He was a suspect in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen. He was convicted in a Yemeni court but escaped from jail. All the analysts who spoke to CNN expressed concern that a mole's involvement was leaked to the media. "I think authorities, particularly the CIA, would rather not talk about this right now," said Zarate, now a senior adviser on counterterrorism for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. These kinds of sources "can lead to additional counterterrorism successes or insights," he said. "So the fact that this is now front page news certainly doesn't help." Soufan, who runs a consultancy group on security issues, said, "When you're doing operations like this, you have to do whatever you can do to protect sources and methods -- not only of the CIA but also of the other intelligence services that were involved in this. Because down the road they will be hesitant to cooperate with us." However, Zarate said, there may be a bit of a silver lining in the leak. "I think what this will do is it will increase the amount of vigilance and mistrust within al Qaeda circles to outsiders. They need outsiders to supplement their ranks and allow them to plot against the West. ... It will create layers of distrust and will create inefficiencies," Zarate said.

Analyst: The intelligence success on bomb plot shows "the ability to get on the inside" It's "primarily a Saudi success story," another expert says . Operation did not lead to the terrorist group's chief bomb maker, one analyst says . The leak that a mole was involved could damage intelligence efforts, experts say .

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Gus Poyet is confident he will still be Sunderland's head coach next season amid fevered speculation over his future. The 46-year-old Uruguayan has been linked with potential vacancies at both West Ham and Southampton in recent days, but has also found himself the subject of rumours that he could walk out of the Stadium of Light because of a power struggle behind the scenes. However, as a remarkable season drew to a close with a 3-1 home defeat by Swansea, crucially with the Black Cats still a Barclays Premier League club, Poyet insisted he was going nowhere. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Poyet: I am so proud of how we finished the season . Believers: Sunderland fans hold a banner for Gus Poyet ahead of Sunderland's final game of the season . To do list: Sunderland have beaten rivals Newcastle twice, been to Wembley and avoided relegation . Staying put: Sunderland manager Gus Poyet expects to still be Sunderland manager at the start of next season . Asked if he expected to be in charge in August, he said: 'Yes,' before adding with a smile: 'You are scaring me now. What do you know that I don't know? 'The rumours are natural, there are so many rumours all the time. But that means you are doing something special or you are being recognised for something, whatever it is. 'It could be the way your team plays, or it could be the achievement that you made or it could be that before, I didn't have on my CV Barclays Premier League experience and now I do in a very difficult situation.' Poyet, who revealed he is in talks with "three or four" of the club's 11 out-of-contract and loan players, revealed he had already met owner and chairman Ellis Short to discuss the way forward, and will do so again after a short break, but was adamant there was nothing sinister about those talks. He said: 'Every single manager in the world when he finishes the season has a meeting with the chairman of the football club, winning the league, going down, in the middle, having been named somewhere else, with contract, without contract - it's natural. 'Every now and then when a manager says, "I need to meet with the chairman to see where we are going", you all start to think, "He's leaving" or "He's not happy" or "There's a problem", but it's nothing. Get in! Sunderland fans look fired up as the players walk around the pitch to acknowledge the fans on Sunday . 'Yes, I . want to know where we are going, if it's possible not to make the same . mistakes that we have made in the last couple of years because I don't . want to go through another year like this one.' Sunderland ended the season in 14th place after a defeat in which they were up against it from the off. Nathan . Dyer fired Swansea ahead with a deft seventh-minute finish from Wayne . Routledge's pass, and Marvin Emnes doubled their advantage when he span . John O'Shea and blasted home with just 14 minutes gone. Fabio . Borini's 10th goal of the season five minutes after the restart gave . the Black Cats hope, but Wilfried Bony ensured his side left with all . the points with another fine strike. Job done: Poyet applauds the Sunderland crowd after keeping the Black Cats in the Premier League . Swans boss Garry Monk, who was taking charge of his first game since being appointed manager on a permanent basis, was delighted with a performance which ensured his side finished 12th. He knows his honeymoon period will have ended by the time the new campaign starts, but he is relishing the opportunity to test himself once again. Monk said: 'It's been great for me, this past three and a half months, or whatever it's been, has been a learning process and a taste of what is to come. 'But then I guess from next season, I will be judged more harshly on my own merits and every single move that I make. Relishing the opportunity: Swansea manager Garry Monk admits he will be judged more harshly next season . 'But I know that, I accept that and I'm not worried about that. It's how you have to live your life, so I am just looking forward to it. 'I am looking forward to being judged, being doubted. When you have got a point to prove and you have done that your whole career, there's nothing better than trying to prove people wrong.' Monk's first task could be to attempt to keep star men like Bony and Jonjo Shelvey out of the grasp of potential suitors, although that is not something he fears. He said: 'They will be an attraction for everyone. But we are lucky, we are in a position where we don't have to sell anyone, it's up to us.'

Gus Poyet confident he will still be Sunderland manager next season . Uruguayan has been linked with West Ham and Southampton . Sunderland boss insists he will stay at the Stadium of Light .

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Jamie Carragher has labelled Newcastle’s players a disgrace following their 4-0 defeat to Southampton while Gary Neville has described the Magpies squad as ‘letdowns’. Newcastle supporters have grown frustrated with manager Alan Pardew after the club’s disappointing start to the season but Carragher believes the players are to blame. Speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Carragher, describing Newcastle’s lacklustre display at St Mary’s said: ‘There’s lots of talk about Alan Pardew but some of those players are a disgrace. Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has failed to stem his side's run of poor results in the Premier League . Jamie Carragher (left) and Gary Neville (right) both think Alan Pardew should be given time at St James' Park . A small section of Newcastle fans held up anti-Alan Pardew banners during their match against Southampton . Three Newcastle fans shout abuse at Alan Pardew during their defeat against Southampton . ‘This isn’t an end of season game. This is four or five games into a season.’ ‘I played against some of these players towards the end of my time with Liverpool. We beat them 6-0 at St James’ Park. The performance is shocking. ‘Fans go there and you all want to see players do great things but you also want to see a bit of graft, a bit of heart, a bit of intensity. ‘For Newcastle to be seen like that now, for the last few years, it’s a disgrace.’ Fellow pundit Neville was just as damming and said: ‘I wouldn’t want to be manager of those players, personally. I really wouldn’t. They’re just a letdown as far as I’m concerned. Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher believe Newcastle's players should be doing more to help Alan Pardew . Asked if Pardew was getting a raw deal at Newcastle, former Manchester United defender Neville replied: ‘I don’t think he’s getting a raw deal. He knows the job, he’s been there four years; it’s a pressurised job. 'Alan Pardew has been around the block and he knows what’s coming if he doesn’t get results’, before adding: ‘It’s not all down to him (Pardew). There’s certain things above him. Have they invested as much as they should for a club of Newcastle’s size with that crowd and that fan base? Probably not. ‘There are a number of things which are factors in what you’re seeing at the moment. You can’t put it all on Pardew.’ Talking of the unrest amongst Newcastle’s fans, Carragher added: ‘Those supporters have turned so far it [Pardew’s position as boss] might become untenable.’

Alan Pardew's side are bottom of the Premier League after four games . The Newcastle boss is rumoured to be under pressure at St James' Park . Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville both believe Newcastle's players should take responsibility for their recent poor results .

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(CNN) -- Four former Blackwater private security contractors faced new federal charges on Thursday, the latest chapter in a controversial political and diplomatic case over a deadly 2007 Iraqi War incident. The men were re-indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington on various manslaughter charges related to a shooting that left 17 unarmed Iraqi civilians dead and at least 18 others wounded at Nisur Square in Baghdad. The indictment alleges the men "unlawfully and intentionally, upon a sudden quarrel and heat of passion, did commit voluntary manslaughter." The defendants have denied all charges and said they acted in self-defense when fired upon initially by militants. A federal judge in 2008 dismissed the original case, finding the Justice Department withheld key evidence, and violated the guards' rights. But a federal appeals court later reversed that decision, leading the government to seek a fresh indictment. The incident prompted international outrage at the time, and the criminal prosecution in the United States has dragged on for years. 2011: Blackwater founder enters video game business . The killings led Iraq's government to slap limits on security contractors hired by various firms, including Virginia-based Blackwater-- now under new management and known as Academi. "The vast majority of the U.S. contractors who served in Iraq did so with honor and integrity, but, as alleged today, these defendants abused their power through a relentless attack on unarmed civilians that recklessly exceeded any possible justification," said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. "This prosecution demonstrates our commitment to upholding the rule of law even in times of war and to bringing justice to the memories of those innocent men, women, and children who were gunned down in Baghdad more than six years ago," he said. There was no immediate reaction from attorneys for the men. There was no indication when a new criminal trial would begin. The case is U.S. v. Slough, et al (cr-08-360).

Private security contractors reindicted by grand jury on manslaughter charges . Case relates to shooting in 2007 that left 17 unarmed Iraqi civilians dead . Defendants had denied all charges previously, saying they acted in self defense . Incident prompted international outrage as U.S. prosecution has dragged on for years .

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City girl: Billie Piper in London earlier this week . She put her wild child past behind her and settled down to a quiet family life in the country. But seven years later, it seems Billie Piper has finally tired of her rural idyll and is moving back to the bright city lights. The 32-year-old actress and her actor husband Laurence Fox, 36, have put their secluded Sussex cottage up for sale and bought a smart townhouse in north London. Miss Piper – who shot to fame playing the companion in Doctor Who and a prostitute in the TV drama Secret Diary of a Call Girl – has been flooded with work after struggling to find roles for several years. She is currently in stage farce Great Britain at London’s National Theatre and recently played a poor Irish immigrant in Sky Atlantic drama Penny Dreadful. Meanwhile Mr Fox – who is best known for starring in ITV detective drama Lewis – is busy recording a music album and made his own West End appearance in Strangers on a Train at the Gielgud theatre. It seems the young couple, who are parents to two sons Winston, five, and Eugene, two, no longer have time to relax in the countryside. When they married in 2007, they settled down in a picturesque, oak-timbered cottage near Midhurst, West Sussex, which they bought for £725,000. They soon learned to appreciate its views of rolling fields, large garden and friendly village pub, and bought a horse called Chutney, two pics named Boris and Barack and three chickens. Mr Fox seemed to appreciate the rustic simplicity even more than his wife. In 2011, he said he loved their ‘boringly normal’ life, adding: ‘I never liked London. I always said I wanted to live in the country. I’m an outdoorsy sort of person; I go fishing, take my dog out to the pub.’ But it seems Miss Piper, who often says she is less laid back than her husband, began to tire of the good life, especially when he had to spend time in Los Angeles looking for acting work. She told an interviewer she began to feel bored in the countryside after the birth of their first son. She said: ‘I did go a bit Sylvia Plath down there. Staring at the condensation on the window and wondering where it comes from. For sale: Piper is getting rid of her country house in West Sussex and moving back to London . ‘Following slugs in the garden that hadn’t moved a foot, and feeling a bit desperate. Laurence was filming when I first had Winston. I’d had an emergency caesarean and I could barely walk. I was alone in the country with a new born baby for three weeks.’ And it seems couple’s elderly neighbours did not immediately warm to the actress thanks to her racy reputation and role in ITV’s Secret Diary of a Call Girl. In 2010, she revealed: ‘A few of the older locals actually believe I’m a whore. They love Laurence because he’s in Lewis — his fan club are in their mid-60s upwards. ‘It’s sickening. They look at me and they are like, “That s***! How could you dirty yourself with her? She’s corrupted you”.’ Girl about town: piper starring asescort Belle in ITV's London-based Secret Diary of a Call Girl . Sci-fi: Piper playing Doctor Who's companion Rose, with John Hurt as the Doctor in the BBC hit . Two years ago, the couple sold their horse after it threw Mr Fox off repeatedly, rehomed the pigs at a nearby farm when they became too big to keep in the garden and gave the chickens to their local pub. Last year, they paid £1.7million for a four-bedroom house in north London. Now they appear to have decided to stay there for good as their acting careers flourish in the capital, putting their Sussex home up for sale with an asking price of £825,000 last month. While she may prefer city life, it appears Miss Piper has not yet adjusted to the busy London traffic. She was recently quizzed by police after she collided with a cyclist while attempting a U-turn in her Volkswagen Golf near their home. She was not arrested or charged.

Billie Piper and husband Laurence Fox have bought a London townhouse . Couple, who have two sons, are selling their cottage bear Midhurst . Piper said she began to feel bored of country life after having first child . Former singer found fame in Doctor Who and Secret Diary of a Call Girl .

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(EW.com) -- As Jay Leno fights for his job, more people are opting to tune into the show that he's expected to lose. "The Tonight Show" just hit a seven-week high in total viewers with 3.52 million (his best since the week of January 28-February 1) and a four-week high in the 18-49 demo with 982,000 viewers (his best since February 18-22), according to Nielsen ratings. The ratings bump for the week of March 18-22 came as Leno began taking nightly jabs at his employers — like referring to them as snakes — as news hit that a succession plan was in the works to replace him with Jimmy Fallon. As it now stands, Leno has outranked "The Late Show with David Letterman" among 18-49 viewers for the last 18 weeks in a row while topping "Jimmy Kimmel Live" for nine of their 11 head-to-head weeks. In total viewers, Leno has averaged more than the Late Show for 22 weeks in a row and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" for 11 of 11 weeks. NBC has yet to confirm or comment on the succession plan, other than to say Fallon is getting a fancy new set in New York, where The Tonight Show is expected to move. Though plenty of industry watchers question whether it's the right time to bump Leno, speculation continues that Fallon may start as early as February, after the network's telecast of the Winter Olympics. Leno continued his war of words against NBC on Wednesday, with this joke about the network's Monday lineup. "'The Voice' and 'Revolution' moved NBC into the No. 2 position. You know what that means? Between Easter and Passover, this is truly the season of miracles. We're number two! We're number two! And I've been saying that for the last week — NBC is a big No. 2. Haven't I been saying that?" See the original article at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.

"The Tonight Show" hit a seven-week high in total viewers with 3.52 million . As it now stands, Leno has outranked "Late Show with David Letterman" The ratings bump came as Leno began taking nightly jabs at his employer .

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(CNN) -- Two Burmese migrants accused of the brutal murder of two British tourists on a popular tourist island in Thailand last month have retracted their confessions, a lawyer representing them says. Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, who have been in custody since October 1, had admitted to killing David Miller and raping and murdering Hannah Witheridge on Koh Tao, according to Thai police. However the men now say they did so under duress after being physically abused by police, Surapong Kongchantuk, the head of the Lawyers Council of Thailand, which is acting for the two suspects, told CNN Wednesday. Surapong said the men deny the murder and rape charges, and that an official complaint to the justice department of Samui, which has jurisdiction over the island, has been filed. They appealed for fair treatment for the two accused, he added. Thai police could not be immediately reached for a response. The two Britons were found dead on a beach on the island, a popular tourist destination, on September 15. Both were partially undressed with severe injuries to their heads. A hoe with blood on it was found close by, police said. Police Commissioner Gen. Somyot Poompanmuang previously told CNN that DNA in semen taken from Witheridge matched samples taken from the two men. "The DNA matching result is out already and they matched with DNA found on the female victim," he said. Torture claims denied . Reports that the police extracted confessions through torture first surfaced earlier this month, when Burmese media reported that its two nationals had complained to a visiting lawyer attached to the Myanmar embassy. The revelation prompted national police chief Somyot Poompanmuang to hold a press conference in Bangkok to deny allegations his officers had tortured the suspects. Nevertheless, Amnesty International has called for a full, independent investigation into reports of misconduct by police officers. Allegations of torture should be investigated independently, and not by the Thai police, Richard Bennett, Amnesty's Asia-Pacific Program director, told CNN earlier this month. He also said there were questions of due process that had arisen, specifically the absence of legal counsel prior to the confession, and difficulties with interpretation. "There is a fairly long-standing record of ill-treatment," in Thailand, he said. "Impunity is also a problem. If the investigation shows ill-treatment, those responsible should pay." The fact that the suspects are migrant workers, many of whom work in Thailand illegally, makes them more vulnerable, he added. Journalist Kiki D in Bangkok contributed to this report.

Burmese migrants who had previously confessed to double murder retract confessions . Lawyer acting for the two says his clients claim they were physically abused by police . Police had held a press conference the previous day to deny torturing suspect . Amnesty International condemns act, calls for independent investigation .

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By . Darren Boyle . Radcu Prutianu, pictured, stole £30,000 of designer goods from Boots on Oxford Street on his first night renovating the flagship London store . A builder helped himself to £30,000 of designer goods on his first shift when he was hired to renovate Boots on Oxford Street. Raducu Prutianu, 35, even stole steel partitions to sell for scrap metal, Southwark Crown Court heard. The court heard that Prutianu arrived in the UK five years ago from Romania with his wife and two daughters, turning to crime because he was 'at a low ebb'. But the judge Recorder Robert Rhodes QC, was unimpressed and jailed him for two years. He said: 'This was a substantial theft in breach of trust. 'It was the first night that you were working and had no direct relationship with the victim, in this case Boots. 'It was clear that you had carried out two trips - first to take the steel partitions and then stealing spectacles and aftershave valued at over £30,000. 'You were trusted by your employer to work that evening and you breached their trust deliberately.' Prutianu also has convictions for fraud after he conned tourists with street gambling games. On previous occasions he was given community orders and suspended sentences that he breached numerous times. Prutianu from Welling, Kent, pleaded guilty to a single count of theft. Prutianu made two trips from the Boots store on Oxford Street, pictured, first taking steel partitions to sell for scrap before returning for £30,000 worth of aftershave and spectacles . Southwark Crown Court, pictured, heard that Prutianu arrived in Britain five years ago from Romania and turned to crime as he was at 'a low ebb'

Raducu Prutianu was hired to work renovating the flagship London store . The 35-year-old first stole steel partitions to sell for scrap . He then returned to steal aftershave and spectacles worth more than £30,000 . Prutianu came to the UK from Romania five years ago with his wife and children . Southwark Crown Court heard he had previous convictions for fraud . He was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to the 'substantial theft'

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:58 EST, 4 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:58 EST, 4 September 2013 . A Florida man has been arrested for secretly recording illicit videos of a woman who was renting a room in his marital home. The tenant discovered her landlord's perverse scheme when she borrowed his computer and discovered naked pictures of herself stored in a file labeled 'Porn,' as well as a host of nude images of girls as young as age seven, according to the Sun Sentinel. William Anthony Raber, 27, was arrested Saturday and charged with one felony count of video voyeurism and 17 child pornography charges. William Anthony Raber, 27, has been arrested and charged with one felony count of video voyeurism and 17 child pornography charges . He is being held on $162,000 bond. Raber reportedly admitted to using a small black camera to record videos of the tenant, who had been paying $350 a month to live in a room of his home with his wife since mid April. He also admitted to downloading the child pornography. The tenant told police that on Raber's computer, she found four video recordings of herself nude and in the process of getting dressed in her bedroom. She reported her findings to police and then copied the images onto a flash drive as evidence. The Sun Sentinel reports that there were 42 files on the flash drive, including a recording of a young girl engaged in various sex acts with an adult man. The tenant rented out a room in this home in Tamarac, Florida, where Raber lives with his wife .

William Anthony Raber, 27, was arrested . Saturday and charged with one felony count of video voyeurism and 17 . child pornography charges . The tenant discovered her landlord's . perverse scheme when she borrowed his computer and discovered naked . pictures of herself stored in a file labeled 'Porn' She had rented out a room for $350 a month in Raber's marital home . Raber reportedly admitted to using a hidden camera to capture recordings of the tenant .

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The judge in the Oscar Pistorius trial has been placed under police protection after her decision to acquit the athlete murder sparked anger around the world. Several legal groups in South Africa have expressed concern about threats and harsh criticism of Judge Thokozile Masipa which they say could amount to racism and contempt of court. Judge Masipa, one of the first black female judges in South Africa, last week found Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide, but not guilty of the more serious charge of murder. Scroll down for video . South African Judge Thokozile Masipa (pictured delivering her verdicts) has been placed under police protection after receiving threats over her decision to acquit Oscar Pistorius of murder . Some South Africans said they were surprised and even shocked when she ruled last week that the Paralympic champion was negligent but did not intend to kill when he fatally shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a closed toilet door. Pistorius said he thought a dangerous intruder was in his house. Prosecutors alleged he intentionally killed Steenkamp after an argument. Police protection for Masipa has been stepped up since the verdict on Friday in the sensational case, South African media reported. The case will return to the global spotlight when Pistorius, who is free on bail, appears before the judge for a sentencing hearing on October 13. In a statement, three legal groups described a 'wave of criticism' directed at Masipa that in some cases could border on hate speech, defamation and contempt of court. Pistorius leaves the court in Pretoria after being cleared of the murder of Reeva Steenkamp, but found guilty of culpable homicide and has been granted bail until being sentenced next month . The comments include allegations that the judge is corrupt, as well as attacks on her race and gender. 'In judging, there's a lot of analysis of the information before the court and applying the law to what is before you,' Thabang Pooe, a researcher at legal group SECTION27, said today. 'Attacking the judge's integrity and making insinuations of bribery or that she's not fit because she's a woman, or that she's black, means that you're breaking down the belief in the law.' Masipa, 66, is a former social worker and journalist who became one of the first black female judges in South Africa, which shed white racist rule in 1994. Her supporters have described her as a symbol of accomplishment in a country where poverty and unemployment remain obstacles for many people. The legal groups, including SECTION27, the Legal Resources Centre and the Centre for Child Law, said people are entitled to disagree with the verdict and that the prosecution can appeal. South African media react to the decision not to convict the Paralympian of murder . Prosecutors have said they will decide whether to appeal after sentencing. The sentence for a culpable homicide conviction is at the judge's discretion and can range from a suspended sentence and a fine to as much as 15 years in prison. Legal experts have cited five years as a guideline. Many legal analysts agreed with the judge's ruling that Pistorius could not be found guilty of premeditated murder. But some believe the law supported a conviction on a lesser murder charge on the grounds that Pistorius knew someone - in his version, a perceived intruder - was behind the toilet door and also knew that firing four bullets into the door could cause that person's death. James Grant, an associate professor of law at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, said in an online analysis that 'there appear to be errors of law' in Masipa's judgment. 'The effect is that, if the state does appeal, and one may well expect that it will, Pistorius continues to face the prospect of a murder conviction,' Grant wrote. Meanwhile, South African sports officials . have said Pistorius can compete for South Africa again, as long as his . running doesn't go against the ruling of the judge.

Judge Masipa criticised for only convicting Paralympian of manslaughter . Legal groups say threats border on defamation and contempt of court . Pistorius said he killed Reeva Steenkamp after mistaking her for intruder . But legal experts claim the law allowed for him to be convicted of murder .

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Dove's long-running Real Beauty campaign is being called into question by an advocate for the FTC's Truth in Advertising act, for perhaps not being so 'real' after all. Seth Matlins, a father-of-two and former high-powered advertising executive based in Los Angeles, California, has launched a petition aimed at Dove on Change.org, which has so far garnered 3,758 signatures. Although he doesn't outright accuse the beauty giant of any specific wrongdoing, Mr Matlins is asking for two 'Hero Pledges': full disclosure to its customers as to whether it has or hasn't Photoshopped its images, and the avoidance of running Photoshopped ads where kids can see them, i.e. 'billboards, bus shelters, mall kiosks, and the back covers of magazines.' Scroll down for video . Demands: Seth Matlins' petition (pictured) asks Dove to lets consumers know when it has Photoshopped an image, and if it has, to display these images only where kids can't readily see them . The petition, which is 1,241 signatures away from its goal, is accompanied by a still from Dove's own 2006 campaign; a time lapse video which sees a make-up free model styled, transformed and aggressively Photoshopped, and ends with the caption: 'No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted.' Mr Matlins' petition reads: 'As a father of two young children, I've always appreciated the idea behind Dove's Real Beauty campaign, and the brand's understanding that the way women and girls are portrayed, both literally (through words) and visually (in pictures), has a big impact on how they view themselves and who they aspire to be.' The outspoken father has an eight-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son, and runs a blog with his wife Eva called Feel More Better, with the aim of building children's self-esteem. He argues that Photoshopped ads should be kept out of the sights of impressionable youths because 'kids don't have the ability to process or understand what they're seeing.' Practice what you preach: The petition is accompanied by a still from Dove's own 2006 campaign - a time lapse video which sees a make-up free model (right) styled, transformed and aggressively Photoshopped (left) Mr Matlins claims he is 'starting' with Dove because: 'They've been championing ‘Real Beauty’ for ten years, and because they know more about the health consequences created by the false, unrealistic representations of women and girls in Photoshopped advertising, than most.' He points to Dove's own research, which is listed on its website and states that while 72per cent of girls globally feel 'tremendous' pressure to be beautiful, only 22per cent are actually comfortable describing themselves as such. Mr Matlins hopes that Dove will lead the way in signing the Truth in Advertising Pledge and thus encouraging other advertisers to follow. 'If they don't,' he says, 'Let's ask them why not...after a decade of "real beauty" it seems a fair question.' 'Dove takes great care to realistically portray women by accurately depicting their natural shape, size, skin color and age' In a statement to the New York Daily News, Dove said: 'When the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty launched in 2004, we made a commitment to all women that we would not distort any of our images to create an unrealistic view of beauty. 'Dove takes great care to realistically portray women by accurately depicting their natural shape, size, skin color and age, thereby representing them as they genuinely are.' Parents: Mr Matlins (center left) has an eight-year-old daughter (left) and a seven-year-old son (right), and runs a blog with his wife Eva (center right) called Feel More Better, with the aim of building children's self-esteem . Concerns: The father said, 'Two weeks ago, my daughter [far left and far right] looks up at me as I'm putting her to bed and she says, "Daddy, do you think I'm ugly?"' In a May interview with Fashionista, Mr Matlins opened up about why he left his 'successful' and 'lucrative' career in advertising to stand on the opposite side and campaign for stricter regulations in the very same industry. 'I left behind a pretty successful . career to do this... But if I can help my kids . and other kids grow up happier, I'll feel good' 'Two weeks ago, my daughter - apropos to nothing - looks up at me as I'm putting her to bed and she says, "Daddy, do you think I'm ugly?"' he told the publication. 'My heart shatters into a thousand pieces, and I don't even know what to say.' He added: 'I left behind a pretty successful career to do this, and sometimes I look at the big check I didn't cash every two weeks and I think, "That was dumb!" But if I can help my kids and other kids grow up happier, I'll feel good.'

Seth Matlins, a father-of-two, also wants Dove to keep airbrushed images off billboards . He is starting his campaign with Dove because they've been championing 'Real Beauty' for ten years . Mr Matlins is a vocal advocate for stricter Photoshop regulations .

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They were best friends to the very end. So it is no surprise that Danny the German Shepherd could be heard whimpering during his master's funeral. His crime-fighting partner Mountie Constable Dave Ross was gunned down along with two of his colleagues in Moncton, New Brunswick, last week. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Grief: Danny, the canine partner of Mountie Constable Dave Ross looks around at the start of the RCMP regimental funeral for three slain officers killed last week . During the funeral procession Danny . could be heard whimpering by the side of his partner's casket during the . emotional ceremony. He always stayed close to the hearse carrying the casket and was even photographed sniffing his master's stetson. According to Constable Ross's brother, Olivier Juneau-Rousseau, the Mountie loved working with Danny. He said at a news conference last week: 'He always wanted to work with dogs and he died doing what he loved.' Tribute: An officer holds Const. David Ross' dog Danny at the funeral procession for the three RCMP officers who were killed on duty in Moncton, Canada . Sombre: Danny looks around as he sits next to the casket of his partner RCMP Constable Dave Joseph Ross during the funeral procession for the three murdered Mounties . An officer keeps hold of Royal Canadian Mounted Police dog Danny (left) who sniffs the Stetson of his partner Constable David Ross (right) An officer holds the hat of Const. Dave Joseph Ross as he walks with Ross' K9 partner Danny to the Moncton Coliseum for the RCMP regimental funeral on Tuesday . Mourning: An officer pats the head of David Ross' K9 partner Danny at the Moncton Coliseum for the RCMP regimental funeral on Tuesday . Thousands . of police officers from across Canada on Tuesday attended the funeral . of three Mounties killed by a gunman last week in what was the deadliest . attack on Canada's national police force in nearly a decade. Pipers . and drummers led mourners at the funeral in Moncton, New Brunswick, . which was paralyzed by last week's massive manhunt for 24-year-old . Justin Bourque. Bourque was caught on Friday and charged with three murders and two attempted murders. Procession: Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers march before the funeral for Constables Dave Ross, Douglas Larche and Fabrice Gevaudan . Honoured: RCMP officers wore their famed red uniforms and Stetson hats for the funeral . Standing guard: RCMP officers on horseback take part in a funeral procession as the hearses for Ross, Larche and Gevaudan pass . March: Officers gathered on Monday dressed in red serge and wearing their Stetson hats . The . three officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were killed after . responding to a report of a man with firearms. The victims were . Constables Fabrice Gevaudan, Douglas Larche and Dave Ross. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper acknowledged a 'searing grief.' 'Together, we struggle for answers,' Harper said. 'We ask what in God's name happened here and why. We may never know.' Patriotic: Onlookers, many of whom were dressed in the colors of the Canadian flag, observed the procession . Salute: Royal Canadian Sea Cadets salute the procession . Service:P Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper (2nd R) watches as pallbearers carry the casket of one of the RCMP officers . Never forget: Officers and government officials are seen in the packed Moncton Coliseum for the funeral . Memory: A Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers march hold his Steston close to his heart at the regimental funeral . Public visitation: RCMP officers stand guard over the caskets of (L - R) Dave Ross, Douglas Larche and Fabrice Gevaudan on Monday . Members . of the RCMP and municipal police forces, as well as correctional . officers and U.S. border patrol officers, were among the more than 2,700 . who marched. A beige RCMP Stetson was placed atop each casket at the front of the service. Ross's . brother-in-law, Adrian Vander Ploeg, recalled how the officer was . making dinner but dropped everything, including leaving the barbecue lid . up and the garage door open, to be among the first to respond to a . report of a gunman. 'For . those closest to Dave, that barbecue left still open says everything . about who Dave was and his devotion to those around him,' Vander Ploeg . said. So many people were expected for the funeral that 10 other sites in and around Moncton were set up for mourners to gather. A man suspected of gunning down three Royal Canadian Mounted Police was caught and charged Friday, ending a 30-hour manhunt that closed schools and forced residents to hide inside their homes of this eastern Canadian city. 'I'm done,' a witness heard him say to police. Police said at a news conference that they received a tip that led them to a wooded residential part of Moncton, New Brunswick, where they found 24-year-old Justin Bourque, suspected in the deadliest attack on Canada's national police force in nearly a decade. Suspect: Justin Bourque, pictured, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder . Constables David Ross, 32, Fabrice Georges Gevaudan, 45, and Douglas James Larche, 40, were killed in the shooting. Armed with high-powered long firearms, Bourque was spotted three times Thursday as he evaded the manhunt that all but shut down the normally tranquil city about of about 60,000 people east of the Maine border. Nearly 300 police officers searched for Bourque, who was seen going in and out of a wooded area. RCMP Supt. Marlene Snowman said Bourque was arrested at 12:10 a.m. She said he wasn't carrying any weapons, but some were found nearby. Prosecutors and police declined to comment when asked if the guns were acquired legally. Bourque turned himself over without incident. Bearded and shaggy-haired, Bourque made a brief court appearance Friday afternoon, where he was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. In aqua-colored jail clothes, he stared ahead intently, clearly paying attention but showing little emotion. He nodded when the judge said his name. He will be back in court July 3 as he seeks a lawyer. A court appointed legal aid attorney represented him Friday. Prosecutors say they were not requesting a psychiatric evaluation, seeing no need for one. The defence agreed. There was a high-level security at the appearance, including officers with drawn weapons outside the courtroom. Two other officers - Constables Éric Stéphane Dubois and Marie Darlene Goguen - were injured in the shootings and rushed to a local hospital for surgery but neither condition was life-threatening.

Thousands of mourners attended funerals for three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers killed last week . The victims were Constables Fabrice Gevaudan, Douglas Larche and Dave Ross . Justin Bourque, 24, was caught on Friday and charged with three murders and two attempted murders . Constable Ross's dog Danny attended the ceremony and could be heard whimpering throughout the service .

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Supreme Court voiced deep free speech concerns Tuesday about a law designed to stop the sale and marketing of videos showing dog fights and other acts of animal cruelty. Selling depictions of animal cruelty like this amateur dogfighting video may be illegal under a 1999 statute. The justices heard an hour of lively debate about the scope and intent of the decade-old statute that supporters say has done much to stop the spread of profiting from the torture and abuse of animals. But media groups and the National Rifle Association were among those who say the law is overly broad. "It's not up to the government to decide what are people's worst instincts," said Justice Antonin Scalia. "One can contemplate a lot of other areas, where government could say: You are appealing to people's worst instincts, and, therefore, movies cannot be made" showing dramatized depictions of animals being abused, for example. "What about people who like to see human sacrifices?" asked Justice Samuel Alito, somewhat sarcastically. "Suppose that is legally taking place someplace in the world. I mean, people here would probably love to see it. Live, pay-per-view, you know, on the Human Sacrifice Channel. They have a point of view they want to express. That's okay?" He seemed to indicate strongly it was not, and that lawmakers would have discretion to block it. The specific case before the court dealt with tapes showing pit bull dogs attacking other animals and one another in staged confrontations. Watch an excerpt of the tapes » . A federal appeals court had thrown out the conviction of Robert Stevens, a Pittsville, Virginia, man who sold videos through his "Dogs of Velvet and Steel" business. According to court records, undercover federal agents found he was advertising his tapes in "Sporting Dog Journal," an underground magazine on illegal dogfighting. Among the products Stevens advertised was "Catch Dogs," featuring pit bulls chasing wild boars on organized hunts and a "gruesome depiction of a pit bull attacking the lower jaw of a domestic farm pig," according to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based appeals court. Stevens was charged in 2004 with violating interstate commerce laws by selling depictions of animal cruelty. He was later sentenced to 37 months in prison, and promptly appealed. He argued his sentence was longer than the 14 months given professional football player Michael Vick, who ran an illegal dogfighting ring. It was the first prosecution in the United States to proceed to trial under the 1999 law. The divided appeals court concluded that when it came to the federal law in question, "research and empirical evidence in the record before us simply does not support the notion that banning depictions of animal cruelty is a necessary or even particularly effective means of prosecuting underlying acts of animal cruelty." Nearly every state and local jurisdiction have their own laws banning mistreatment of wild and domesticated animals. Several media organizations have come out in support of Stevens, worrying the federal law was too broad and could implicate reports about deer hunting, and depictions of bull-fighting in Ernest Hemingway novels. A number of justices too had concerns, raising a number of hypotheticals, a possible sign a majority of the court remains uncomfortable with allowing the law to be reinstated. "Why not do a simpler thing?" suggested Justice Stephen Breyer. "Rather than let the public guess as to what these words mean, ask Congress to write a statute that actually aims at those frightful things that it was trying to prohibit. Now, that can be done." "You have to look at the content to determine whether or not the speech is prohibited," said Chief Justice John Roberts. "How can you tell these aren't political videos? With organizations like PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] and others, depictions of the same sort of animal cruelty that is used to generate support for efforts to prohibit it. Why aren't these videos the exact opposite of efforts to legalize it?" Justice Sonia Sotomayor questioned the distinction between Stevens' videos and news items. "Tell me what the difference is between these videos and [filmmaker] David Roma's documentary on pit bulls? I mean, David Roma's documentary had much, much more footage on the actual animal cruelty than the films at issue here, greater sections of the film, and more explicit," she said. Roma's 2006 independent film "Off the Chain" consisted of a great deal of hidden camera footage. Among the wide-ranging hypotheticals raised by the justices over what the law could forbid included: fox hunts, pate de foie gras from geese, cock fighting, bullfighting, shooting deer out of season, even Roman gladiator battles. Neal Katyal, an attorney for the Justice Department, said the law was "narrowly targeted" and had exceptions specifically for "religious, political, scientific, educational, journalistic, historical, or artistic value." "This statute has nothing to do with the offense of the message. It has to do with trying to dry up an underlying market for animal cruelty," said Katyal. Justice Samuel Alito appeared most supportive of the government's views. He asked about selling of so-called "crush" videos, in which women -- with their faces unseen -- are shown stomping helpless animals such as rabbits to death with spiked-heel shoes or with their bare feet. "The people who produce 'crush' videos think they have a message, and the message is that this is sexually exciting," he said, clearly uncomfortable with the subject matter. When Stevens' lawyer Patricia Millett launched into a caveat-laden answer, Alito broke in. "You are not even willing to say that this could be prohibited?" he asked. "Because we are trying to determine whether this is overly broad. And this is the category of activity that Congress particularly targeted." Congressional supporters said a principal motivation for passing the law was to stop the growing popularity of "crush" videos. The Humane Society said the market for such videos stopped almost completely after the law was passed. Millett said "Congress has a job to write with a scalpel and not a buzz saw in the First Amendment area." She noted that if the law is upheld, it would only be the second time the Supreme Court has identified a form of speech undeserving of protection by the First Amendment. The justices in 1982 banned the distribution of child pornography. "The problem in this case, was that Congress chose to attack speech and to control what the people of this country could see and hear before it was even seriously punishing the conduct at issue and that gets our Constitution upside down," Millett told reporters later. The government had argued a "compelling interest" in stopping people who would profit from dog attack tapes and similar depictions. The case is U.S. vs. Stevens (08-769) and a ruling is expected in several months.

The justices heard an hour of debate about scope and intent of decade-old statute . Statute supporters say it helps stop profiting from the torture and abuse of animals . Media groups, National Rifle Association say the law is overly broad . Case is first prosecution in the United States to go to trial under the 1999 law .

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(CNN) -- The women's lives have taken different paths since the days they were born. Brenda Vazquez is a 29-year-old elementary school teacher in Matamoros, Mexico. Laura Castro lives across the border in Brownsville, Texas. She is a 32-year-old housewife who helps her husband manage several stores. They share one thing in common: Both say they were delivered by midwives in south Texas, but pressured by U.S. Border Patrol agents to deny their U.S. citizenship. Their problems began, according to attorney Jaime Diez, when a group of midwives along the U.S.-Mexico border were found guilty of selling birth certificates to people who were not born in the United States. "Now all the midwives in the area are suspected of committing fraud," said Diez, who said his office regularly sees cases of people delivered by midwives in Texas. Some of them are struggling to get passports because officials question the validity of their birth certificates, he said. Others have been deported and had their identification documents confiscated at the border, he said. Vazquez, who Diez is representing in a federal lawsuit filed last week, said she was intimidated into signing a document swearing she was not a U.S. citizen at a border crossing in Brownsville, Texas, last year. "He said, 'You'd better cooperate with me, because if you don't, you're going to jail. I had to lie and say that I was not a citizen. ... I was quite scared. I was crying," the second-grade teacher said. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman said he could not comment about Vazquez's case or other such cases "due to pending legal action." Border patrol agents are "obligated to ensure that documentation presented to establish citizenship is proper and correct and was issued to the person presenting the documents," spokesman Bill Brooks said in a statement. A 2012 report from the Texas Office of the Inspector General said a fraud investigation had been "substantiated" and Vazquez's birth record had been flagged, noting Vazquez's signed confession and the fact that officials found birth certificates for Vazquez in both the United States and Mexico. The report said the case would not be prosecuted because it was beyond the statute of limitations. Vazquez said her parents obtained the Mexican birth certificate so she could study in Mexico. Vazquez said she has never lived in the United States, but wants to fight to regain her citizenship. "With crime as it is in Mexico, something might happen, and as a citizen I would go live there," she said. Laura Castro said she faced a similar situation with her mother and sister at the same border crossing in 2009. "My sister got desperate and signed the paper," Castro said. A border patrol agent told her that her mother had admitted to buying false identification documents for the family. "He kept asking me the same thing, and I replied the same thing, that I was a citizen. ... I said I was not going to sign because I did nothing wrong, and they let me go. ... They sent me back to Mexico," she said. Nearly a year later, authorities returned Castro her U.S. passport after she filed a lawsuit, she said. But Castro said she remains frustrated. "We were very humiliated. We were treated like criminals," she said. The issue has come up before. In 2008, the ACLU sued the federal government on behalf of nine people, arguing that authorities were unfairly discriminating against passport applicants. "For countless Latinos who were delivered by midwives in the Southwest ... trying to obtain a passport has become an exercise in futility," the ACLU said in a statement at the time. "Although midwifery has been a common practice for more than a century, particularly in rural and other traditionally underserved communities, the U.S. government has imposed unsurpassable hurdles on midwife-delivered Latinos to prove their citizenship and eligibility for U.S. passports -- even when their citizenship has already been established in the past." In a 2009 settlement, the State Department agreed to a new set of procedures for such passport applications. But the settlement said the department denied the ACLU's accusations, and noted that "there has been significant fraud by midwives and other birth attendants certifying births as occurring in the United States when they have not occurred in the United States." Diez said U.S. authorities need to do more to address the problem. "If they doubt that a person was born here and they can't criminally charge them, then give them a process in which they can send their documents to be investigated, give them a chance to be before a judge with a lawyer, and in which there could be a process in which they make things right. That's how it should be when we are talking about the citizenship of someone," he said.

Suspicion of midwives has caused immigration problems for many, an attorney says . One woman says she was forced to deny her U.S. citizenship . Another says her passport was taken and returned a year later after a lawsuit . The border patrol says its agents must verify that citizenship documents are valid .

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(CNN) -- One of the worst-hit cities in the Philippines, Tacloban, has been completely devastated by Typhoon Haiyan. The capital city of Leyte province, nearly 400 miles south-east of Manila, was one of the first places hit by the storm. Around 200,000 people were made homeless in a matter of hours as a wall of ocean water flattened their houses. Tacloban City Stadium was one of just a handful of structures in the area to withstand the storm, despite its coastal location. It is now being used as a refugee center where thousands of people have taken shelter. Scroll the slider above to see the stadium before and after the storm. CNN's Ivan Watson toured the typhoon-devastated Tacloban region by air, read his personal account of the destruction he saw.

The stadium was one of just a handful of structures in Tacloban to withstand the storm . It is now being used as a refugee center where thousands have taken shelter . Scroll the slider above to see the Tacloban stadium before and after the storm .

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By . Katy Winter . PUBLISHED: . 07:42 EST, 18 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:53 EST, 18 December 2013 . Meet the 'living doll' who spends up to four hours every day perfecting her look. Lhouraii Li says her extraordinary appearance is inspired by a combination of Japanese fashion and pink princess Barbie style. The 21-year-old nail technician from Bradford, West Yorkshire, uses special contact lenses and false eyelashes to made her eyes look huge and doll-like and has learned how to contour her face with clever make-up. Scroll down for video . Lhouraii, who also cites 'unicorns', 'fairies' and Disney princesses as inspiration for her image, spends four hours daily perfecting her look . Lhouraii uses special contact lenses and fake eyelashes to make her eyes more doll-like . She explains: 'I put circle lenses in so . it makes your eyes appear larger - then I put eyeliner on and I extend it . out way past my actual eye line and I stick together about fourteen . pairs of eyelashes. 'I've even shaved my eyebrows and draw them on higher, so it doesn't look too weird when my eyes are big. She is so attached to her look that she admits she never leaves her home without a full-face of make-up - even when she's just popping to the local shops. 'It's not a chore to do,' she says. 'People get up and watch television, I get up and do my makeup and I find it just as entertaining.' Lhouraii says her extraordinary appearance is a combination of Japanese fashion and pink princess Barbie . But the blonde-haired beauty, who cites 'unicorns', 'fairies' and Disney princesses as inspiration for her image, hasn't always been a pink-obsessed princess. She said: 'I was a goth at one point. And then that got a lot of stares and more hate than this. 'I remember I actually tried to fit in at one point and I'd walk down the street and people would still stare at me and point at what I was wearing, so I was like screw it, I was going to dress even crazier.' Lhouraii puts circle lenses in to maker her eyes appear larger, next she applies eyeliner on, extending it out past her actual eye line, and then sticks on about fourteen pairs of eyelashes . The nail technician has grown her hair over the years to a length to rival that of a Disney princess . Now Lhouraii says the attention from the locals in her hometown don't bother her as much. 'Obviously some people say bad . things but I kind of switch off from it a lot - I'll look around and . everyone will just be staring at me. 'People sing I'm a Barbie girl and I'll finish it.' Lhouraii's boyfriend of four years, Nathen Kent, 24, says he loves her unusual look . Lhouraii Li is a nail technician by trade - here she shows off her attention-grabbing nail art . Lhouraii admits that she does attract a few stares from the locals in her hometown . Llhouraii's transformation from goth to barbie princess began four years ago, when she started experimenting with makeup and researching Japanese culture. Now, . she's even started uploading make-up tutorials on YouTube and has . already attracted more than 6,000 followers and averages 20,000 views . per video. And her biggest fan is her boyfriend of four years, Nathan Kent, 24. Nathan said: 'I really like the look. I think it would be better for her if she could go outside without so much makeup on every so often, but it makes her happy. 'I've known her for the past eight years. When we first met, she was dressed kind of gothic and so was I, but when we met up again after a few years, that's when she dressed like this and it has changed since we've been together. 'Most people are more positive about it than negative and just interested. 'It upsets me when it upsets her - it's irritating.' But despite the stares and comments, Lhouraii is happy with her look and won't be changing it anytime soon. 'If I do want to look like this when I'm fifty or something then I'll still look like this because it won't matter.' With her tiny waist, skeletal arms, . enormous coloured contact lenses and vacant expression, Ukraine's . Valeria Lukyanova, 23, believes she has become a living, breathing . Barbie, something she sees as the embodiment of perfection. She has turned herself into a human doll using plastic surgery . and thick layers of dramatic make-up, confessing she wishes to be . considered 'the most perfect woman on the internet'. A . VICE documentary-maker went behind the scenes with Valeria - who . currently has 876,000 fans on her Facebook page - journeying to Ukraine . to capture her life on film. Valeria . believes she is from another planet - possibly Venus, but she isn't . quite sure - and isn't really human like the rest of us. Valeria currently has 876,000 fans on her Facebook page . [caption . Justin Jedlica, a 32-year-old from New York who has spent £96,000 ($158,000) on cosmetic surgery and calls himself 'a living doll' was recently featured on TLC's My Strange AddictionJustin explains that he grew up wishing his family was as wealthy as those seen on Eighties TV show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.He became enamored with the idea, and consequently, 'I ended up sort of emulating what I thought a lot of those wealthy people looked like - they all had plastic surgery,' he says.Overall, Justin has had about 125 cosmetic procedures to make him look more and more like a doll, including bicep implants, tricep implants, a brow lift and five nose jobs. Justin Jedlica, a 32-year-old from New York who has spent $158,000 on cosmetic surgery and calls himself 'a living doll'

Lhouraii Li, 21, cites Japanese fashion, unicorns and Barbie as inspirations . Wears 14 pairs of fake eyelashes stuck together for doll-like eyes . Lhouraii's boyfriend of four years, Nathen Kent, 24, loves her look .