Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge was left in stitches by an impersonation of club legend Michael Owen. Ahead of the Reds' FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa at Wembley on Sunday, the England international met up with comedian Darren Farley as part of an exclusive promotional video to showcase the TV coverage of the match by BT Sport. Farley, who first rose to prominence on YouTube, specialises in mimicking a number of Anfield stars both past and present. Daniel Sturridge cannot stop laughing after hearing Darren Farley's impression of Michael Owen . Owen, now a BT Sport pundit, played for Liverpool between 1996 and 2004, scoring 118 league goals . His hauntingly accurate of portrayal of Owen was certainly one of his best performances and had Sturridge gasping for breath. Between the giggles, the pair discussed the fascinating clash with Villa and Sturridge's trademark goal celebration dance. However, while Farley's Owen impression was certainly on point, his dancing left a lot to be desired. Sturridge is a major doubt to feature in the game with Villa, facing a late battle to overcome a hip injury. Villa, meanwhile, have their own concerns with winger Gabriel Agbonlahor rated 'touch and go' in relation to a hamstring strain, while midfielder Carlos Sanchez is suspended. The other FA Cup semi-final will be played between Arsenal and Reading on Saturday. Sturridge shakes hands with talented comedian Farley as part of a promotional video for BT Sport . Farley sets off on his Owen impression and it isn't long before Sturridge starts to smirk . The Liverpool hitman cannot help but burst into a fit of laughter as Farley watches on . Sturridge struggles to get his words out as Farley delivers a very accurate impression of Owen .

Summary: Daniel Sturridge appeared in a promotional video for BT Sport . He was joined by comedian Darren Farley, who impersonated Michael Owen . Farley's impression of the former Reds striker left Sturridge giggling . Liverpool take on Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday .


Hudson Swafford shot a 6-under 66 for a share of the Zurich Classic lead with Boo Weekley when second-round play was suspended Friday because of the threat of severe weather. Swafford had an 11-under 133 total at TPC Louisiana. Weekley, the first-round leader after a 64, also was 11 under with three holes left. Jason Day, ranked sixth in the world, was 5 under for the round through 14 holes, pulling him into a five-way tie for third at 10 under with Brandon de Jonge, Cameron Tringale, former Zurich champion Jerry Kelly and Daniel Berger. Tringale had a 65, and de Jonge shot 70. Kelley was on the 18th green when play was stopped, and Berger had three holes left. Hudson Swafford watches his tee shot on the 18th hole on day two at the Zurich Classic . Boo Weekley tees off on the 5th hole at TPC Louisiana in Avondale on Friday . Second-round play was scheduled to resume Saturday at 8 a.m. CDT. The field remained tightly packed with birdies seemingly harder to come by Friday. Many players cited a combination of wind, soggy turf from recent rain and thick, swampy air as reasons for the course to play even longer than usual. Six players were tied for eighth, two shots off the lead. They were Chad Campbell, Morgan Hoffman, Steven Bowditch, Justin Thomas, Chris Stroud and David Hearn. Seven more players were at 8 under, including Marc Leishman, who returned to the PGA Tour this weekend after taking a month off from golf to tend to family when his wife became gravely ill. With his wife, recovering, Leishman came to New Orleans saying he just wanted to knock off some rust and was keeping expectations low. He did a lot better than that and is now in line for a nice pay-day, given officials were estimating the cut line at four under. Swafford chips on to the 17th green before ending the day tied for the lead on 11-under . Marc Leishman (right) takes a drop after hitting into the water on the 18th hole . Leishman was at 10 under through 17 holes, putting him in position to set a TPC Louisiana record with a birdie on the par-5 18th. But after a booming drive, Leishman gambled on an aggressive second shot, using his driver on the fairway. He pushed his ball right into the water. When play was stopped, he was on the fringe, lying four, needing to sink his next shot Saturday morning to tie the course record of 62. Swafford, in only his second season on the tour, had six birdies and no bogeys during his second round, putting him in position to contend for what would be his maiden PGA Tour victory. His best finish so far is tied for eighth at the Frys.com Open last October, though his most impressive outing may have been at last month's Arnold Palmer invitational at Bay Hill, where he tied for 11th. Weekley, meanwhile, continued to play well with new shafts that he credited for a strong

Summary: Hudson Swafford shares the lead on 11-under with Boo Weekley . Play was later suspended on Friday due to the threat of sever weather . England's Justin Rose is four shots off the lead on 7-under .


Taylor Swift and rumored boyfriend Calvin Harris spotted together after watching the band HAIM perform at Troubadour Club in West Hollywood . Were a record company to write a job description for the next big thing in popular music, certain attributes would surely be high on the list. Foremost among them, one suspects, would be a decent singing voice, the ability to dance and that elusive brand of charisma which draws crowds of infatuated fans. None of which Calvin Harris possesses. Not that he will be the slightest bit concerned about it. Because he has plenty of reasons for self-confidence. Seventy million of them, in fact. That is the fortune the 31-year-old pop leviathan has amassed since bursting onto the scene eight years ago. No mean feat for an introspective and, by his own admission, curmudgeonly son of a biochemist from the Scottish Borders who less than a decade ago was stacking supermarket shelves to make ends meet. To put it into perspective, his £70 million nest egg eclipses the fortunes of household names such as Kylie Minogue and Sir Cliff Richard. Yet walk into your local pub and it’s a fair bet many people, unless they follow the charts, will never have heard of him. So how has a pasty-faced, gangly geek (he’s 6ft 5in), who decided early in his career to eschew personal publicity altogether, turned into the biggest pop star in Britain? The numbers don’t lie. His earning power is nothing short of breathtaking. Last year alone he earned £45 million. For one night’s work DJ-ing at a party in Puerto Rico, he was reportedly paid $1million. The year before he grossed £30 million, making him comfortably the best paid DJ on the planet, and in the same year his credibility was bolstered by an Ivor Novello award for songwriter of the year. All of this has led to him being named the 21st most powerful celebrity on Forbes magazine’s Celebrity 100, beating the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Simon Cowell and even J.K. Rowling. But the very word ‘celebrity’ flies in the face of everything Calvin Harris stands for. Fans of The X Factor might remember the occasion, in 2009, when the Scot invaded the show’s stage during a performance by the lovably hopeless Irish twins, Jedward. Holding a pineapple on his head, he bent over and pointed at his buttocks — a bizarre performance which he later explained was a protest against the ‘frightening stranglehold that Simon Cowell has got over the entire music chart in the UK at the moment’. Protesting about The X Factor’s obsession with fame, he declared: ‘I’m not a celebrity. I make music.’ This underdog mentality undoubtedly stems from his background. He was born Adam Wiles in 1984 in Dumfries. His father, David, now 72, was the lead biochemist at the local hospital and his mother, Pamela, 65, had been an occupational therapist but became a full-time housewife after Adam was born. DJ Calvin Harris performs onstage in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In 2008 he stormed the stage at an X Factor stage

Summary: Icon has amassed £77million fortune since rise to fame eight years ago . Former Dumfries shelf-stacker now owns £11 million Beverly Hills mansion . Ivor Novello winning DJ has worked with the brightest stars in pop music .


The headline sounds almost too good to be true, doesn't it? But this one is perhaps as close to a sure bet as you'll find - the secret to winning at Two Up, Australia's iconic game of chance. Punting analyst Mike Steward has outlined an approach, known in gambling parlance as the Martingale Betting Strategy.The staking plan is outlined in the table below, but seems simple enough to follow for even a first-time Two Up player. The essence being, that if you lose, you have to double your bet until your coins fall right. A word to the wise however, there is, as with any supposed sure-bet, or an almost can't lose system, a catch - and that is that you'll need a healthy bank of cash with you. Scroll down for video . Scenes like these will be repeated across Australia on ANZAC Day this Saturday, heaving crowds of punters betting on the toss of coins in games of Two Up . The Martingale Betting Strategy of doubling up originated in France and is used with levels of success by punters on ANZAC Day throughout Australia . The traditional game of Two Up involves two coins but many venues now play with three for ease of betting among the crowd . Two Up is one of Australia's longest lasting traditions, it dates back to Australia's goldfields and the first recorded games are believed to have taken place in the late 1790s. It is now legal to be played on ANZAC Day across Returned Servicemen League clubs (RSL) and pubs. Versions will vary between the original two-coined game (with three outcomes) and three-coined version (with two outcomes), the latter preferred by many venues prefer for ease of betting between punters. 'One of the most easy to understand betting staking strategies that punters use is what I call the approach, otherwise known as the Martingale Betting Strategy,' writes Mr Steward, author of 'Betting Strategy doubles up to win' for the website Punters Club Hero. It's a system of betting which originated in France. 'A punter simply bets a stake to win an amount of money, if they fail to win with the first bet they increase their stake to recover their losses plus win the initial targeted win amount on the second bet and so on,' he added. BET # AMOUNT . 1 $1 . 2 $2 . 3 $4 . 4 $8 . 5 $16 . 6 $32 . 7 $64 . 8 $128 . 9 $256 . 10 $512 . * From Mike Steward's "Betting Strategy doubles up to win" 'To simplify this betting strategy, let's take a simple coin toss where the outcome is even money each time. 'I bet $1 on Heads for the first toss to win $1. 'If the bet loses, I will bet $2 on the second toss. If I win on the second toss I have recovered my earlier loss of $1 plus my target winning amount of $1, otherwise if I lose I will have to bet $4 on the third toss to recover

Summary: Punting aces say they have found a way to beat the odds in Australia's iconic game of chance . If you lose a bet then keep doubling up until the coins fall your way . Gambling experts say it is not vital to stick to your original call . Most RSLs and pubs across Australia will feature games of Two Up . The game of Two Up can be traced back to the 1790s .


These shocking photographs reveal the terrible toll the Nepal earthquake has had on some of the country's most beautiful and historic landmarks. The monuments of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, are recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site because of their unique architecture. But several of the most recognisable buildings in the city, including towers and temples, now lie in rubble after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the country yesterday morning. Scroll down for videos . Destruction: The Dharahara Tower, which was first built in 1832, has been almost completely obliterated by Nepal's earthquake . Historic: The now-destroyed tower was a UNESCO World Heritage Site until its destruction this weekend . Before: The Kathmandu Durbar Square, at the heart of Nepal's capital, is full of temples and historic houses with their distinctive roofs . After: The square is now piled with rubble after tall temples were brought down by the force of the earthquake . More than 2,500 people died in the quake as buildings collapsed raining down debris on the streets below, while enormous avalanches on Mount Everest left climbers dead. One of the most prominent landmarks to be destroyed by the earthquake was the Dharahara Tower, also known at the Bhimsen Tower, which has almost totally collapsed after more than 180 years of standing in Kathmandu. The 200ft tower was built in 1832 by prime minister Bhimsen Thapa as a gift to the queen, who was also his niece. It had to be rebuilt after a previous earthquake in 1934, but the latest disaster has left the tower as nothing more than a stump, killing scores of people who were trapped inside at the time. Destination: Another view of the Kathmandu Durbar Square shows how it was a thriving hub for the city . Reconstruction: Policemen were sent in to the square after it was badly affected by the quake . Venerable: The Durbar High School in the square is a neo-classical building which was shabby but grand before the earthquake . Debris: The school is now surrounded by bricks shaken from the building in the quake . Heritage: The Bhaktapur Durbar Square, pictured before the quake, is another one of the three main public spaces in the Kathmandu area . Piles: The square in Bhaktapur has rubble heaped up after its ancient temples were damaged . Kathmandu's three 'Durbar Squares', the courtyards outside the city's old royal palaces, were devastated by the earthquake, with historic temples razed to the ground by the shocks. In the largest, known as the Kathmandu Durbar Square, rubble was piled up today after a large stepped temple was obliterated in the quake. Images of the Durbar Squares in Patan and Bhaktapur, on the outskirts of Kathmandu, were also devastated by the shocks. The streets of Bhaktapur were impassable because of the rubble which lay several feet deep, with fragments of religious sculptures among the stonework on the ground. In Patan, a temple had its tower broken in half, while the square was strewn with bricks. Centre: The Patan Durbar Square, pictured before the disaster,

Summary: The Dharahara Tower in Kathmandu was brought down by the force of yesterday's 7.8 magnitude earthquake . Durbar Square in the centre of the Nepalese capital is filled with rubble after historic temple collapse . Complex above the city which is considered one of the holiest sites in Buddhism was also hit by the disaster . More than 2,500 people are believed to have died in the devastating earthquake in Nepal and neighbouring countries .


A Japanese artist charged with obscenity for distributing plans of how to build a kayak shaped like her vagina denied the charges when she appeared in court on Wednesday. In a case that has sparked accusations of heavy-handed censorship, artist Megumi Igarashi said she had done nothing wrong in handing out the code for a 3D printer. 'I am innocent because neither the data for female genitals nor my art works shaped like female genitals are obscene,' she told judges at Tokyo District Court. Japanese artist Megumi Igarashi could face up to two years in jail if convicted of obscenity . In a case that has sparked accusations of heavy-handed censorship, artist Megumi Igarashi said she had done nothing wrong in handing out the code for a 3D printer. She's pictured here with the frame of a kayak she created modelled on her own vagina . Igarashi was first arrested in July, but was freed several days later following a legal appeal and after thousands of people signed a petition demanding her release. But Tokyo police arrested her again in December, on three counts of distributing 'obscene' data -- namely CD-ROMs containing computer code for a 3D printer that would allow users to make copies of the vagina-shaped kayak. She was held in custody for around a month before being granted bail. 'I have been arguing that it is strange to single out one part of a human body that every woman has' and treat it as obscene, she told journalists and supporters after the hearing. 'Some people say my works are cheap and not even art, but that should not justify police moves to arrest me,' she said. Igarashi creates a range of products that look like her vagina, including picture frames (left) and phone cases (right) Japanese artist Megumi Igarashi shows a small mascot shaped like a vagina at a news conference in Tokyo . One of her lawyers, Takashi Yamaguchi, said the defence team believes 'it is extremely outrageous that anybody can be arrested and forced to stand before judges because of making artworks or working as an artist.' If convicted of distributing or possessing obscene materials for the purpose of selling, Igarashi could face up to two years in jail and/or a fine of as much as 2.5 million yen ($21,000). Japan has an enthusiastic and prolific pornography industry that caters to all imaginable tastes. But rigid obscenity laws ban the depiction of actual genitalia, which normally appear pixellated or behind black spots.

Summary: Megumi Igarashi makes pieces of art that are modelled on her vagina . Her case has sparked accusations of heavy-handed censorship . 'The data for female genitals is not obsence,' she told a Tokyo court .


Photographers have captured some remarkable pictures of the Lyrid meteor shower above the UK last night. The meteor shower, visible around the world but best seen from Europe, has been observed for the past 2,700 years and peaked overnight with between ten and 20 an hour. And the cosmic show will continue on into Saturday, so it is still possible to catch a glimpse of some meteors if you didn't last night. Scroll down for video explanation . John Phelan took this picture, showing the Lyrid meteor at Porthcurno Beach in Cornwall in the early hours of this morning . Nick Watson, a semi-professional photographer from Newcastle, captured an amazing picture of the meteor over Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island in Northumberland. He took his photo around 1am BST this morning and incredibly managed to get the colourful Northern Lights in the picture too. 'It was an amazing display and I saw quite a few shooting stars. It was the first time I had seen the Lyrid meteor shower and I'm really pleased to have got a shooting star on camera,' said Nick. The Lyrids are so-called because they occur in the constellation Lyra. Amateur photographer and astronomer Stephen Cheatley also took a photo of the meteor at the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire. He spent around one-and-a-half hours watching the meteor and managed to get his incredible picture at around midnight. 'I was very lucky to capture that particular meteor as it was extremely bright,' he said. John Phelan also took a series of meteor shots at Porthcurno Beach in Cornwall in the early hours of this morning as the sun was rising. This picture by Stephen Cheatley shows the Lyrid meteor at the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire on the early hours of 23 April. Photographers captured some remarkable pictures of the Lyrid meteor shower above the UK last night . Here a Lyrid meteor is seen by by Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island in Northumberland, as captured by Nick Watson. He took his photo around 1am this morning and incredibly managed to get the colourful Northern Lights in the picture too . Gemma Lavender, All About Space magazine: . 'The Lyrid meteor shower - while not as strong as the Quadrantids, which were visible earlier on in the year - are still a worthwhile meteor shower to watch especially since it can offer up a sudden burst in meteor rate. 'In general, the Lyrids usually peak at ten meteors per hour but one of these unpredictable bursts could mean that you’ll see anywhere up to 100 meteors per hour. 'These sudden bursts are fairly unpredictable, so you really need to wait and see if this shower will offer up any surprises this year! 'The Lyrids are active through to 25 April, although activity would have weakened by then, but it is possible to catch stray meteors over the next few nights. 'Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1) is the source of the Lyrid meteors. 'Earth crosses the orbital path of the comet and bits of rock and ice that Thatcher sheds

Summary: Photographers in the UK captured the Lyrid meteor shower in the sky last night . It occurs every year around 16 to 25 April, so you can still catch some meteors tonight and tomorrow . The strength of the showers vary from year to year and most years there are no more than 20 meteors an hour . But in 1982 Americans counted nearly 100 an hour and in 1803 it was as high as 700 an hour .


Who can resist Boden’s bright knits and floral prints? I most certainly can’t writes Clare Goldwin. Well, not when it comes to my seven-year-old, Ella, anyway. For years, I’ve happily forked out on pricey but irresistibly cute items for her from Mini Boden. But when it comes to buying clothes from Boden for myself, I’ve always steered clear. Their traditional and instantly recognisable staples of cotton shifts and ‘mumsy’ jersey dresses, not to mention ‘jaunty’ prints in eye-catching colours, have always been a big no-no for me. Clare Goldwin (pictured) admits that she will sometimes fork out for Boden's brightly printed clothes for her daughter but not herself as she doesn't want to be labelled a Boden 'yummy mummy' Who wants to be labelled a Boden ‘yummy mummy’ at 50 paces, and bump into countless other mothers in identical uniforms on the school-run? For many years, Boden — which launched in 1991 — made a success of its appeal to the ‘Sloane’ market. But recently, the company has experienced more challenging times. Profits plummeted 42 per cent in 2011 and, while they rose again in 2012, they remained flat for 2013. Now, however, Boden seems to have finally cracked it, and the fashion world is raving about their latest collections. Glossy magazines have praised their spring/summer shoe range for its nods to designer brands. And they’ve even seduced the notoriously difficult U.S. market, where sales are soaring. Experts are putting the success down to the use of luxury fabrics, with more cashmere and silk mixes, plus more limited-edition pieces — so there’s less chance of bumping into someone wearing the same outfit. They’re also attracting customers by toning down their colour palette, so the look is not so ‘sweet shop’, and making many of the prints more sophisticated and subtle. So, can this latest collection keep its core, middle-class customers happy, while appealing to the more fashionable woman? With the mid-season sale now on, I tried a selection of their latest outfits to see whether this Boden sceptic could be persuaded . . . TOP TROUSERS . Colour-block coat, WAS £179, NOW £107.40; jumper, WAS £89, NOW £53.40; trousers, WERE £69, NOW £48.30; suede-heeled sandals, £119 (all boden.co.uk) I usually avoid Boden, fearing it will make me look frumpy. And on the hanger, these trousers look like a case in point — with their elasticated waist, they look like shapeless tracksuit bottoms. Once on, though, they’re bang on trend, with slim legs tapering to an elasticated cuff. I’d even wear them for an evening out — though perhaps in a plain colour. The jumper has three-quarter sleeves and cute French-knot decorations like little flowers. Meanwhile, the two-tone coat has been carefully considered, down to contrast stitching in the lining. The darker blocks are slimming, too, though the green is a bit insipid for my taste. 3/5 . FAB... IF I WAS 20! Dress, WAS £199, NOW £119.40; mules, WERE £119, NOW £89.25 . At first glance, this dress looks like classic ‘yummy mummy’ Boden. And it does me no favours — making

Summary: Clare Goldwin has forked out for pricey Boden clothes for her daughter . But she has never wanted to be labelled a Boden 'yummy mummy' herself . The brand seems to have its style and the fashion world is impressed . Clare put a selection of their latest outfits to the test for FEMAIL .


A week after 10 doctors urged Columbia University to sever all ties with him, Dr. Oz has used his syndicated TV show to hit back and claim that the criticism is part of a conspiracy because of his views on genetically modified foods. The celebrity doctor didn't pull any punches in Thursday's episode of The Dr. Oz Show which was called The Truth About His Critics. 'The 10 doctors who attacked me got what they wanted – sensational headlines and sound bites,' said Oz. Scroll down for video . The celebrity doctor used Thursday's episode of The Dr. Oz Show to hit back and claim that the criticism he's received is part of a conspiracy because of his outspoken views on genetically modified food . The 54-year-old found himself at the center of a firestorm last week when the doctors sent a letter to the university where Oz serves as vice chairman and professor of surgery at College of Physicians. The doctors accused him of being a 'charlatan' who promotes 'quack treatments' and as someone who 'has repeatedly shown disdain for science and for evidence-based medicine, as well as baseless and relentless opposition to the genetic engineering of food crops'. 'It's ironic that I am being accused of a conflict of interest by these doctors, when, as you are about to see, some of them have their own conflict of interest issues - and some integrity ones also,' he said on Thursday's show. A report followed revealing how some of the 10 doctors 'have big ties to big industry.' Four who signed the letter, including leader author Henry Miller, have at some point been associated with the American Council on Science and Health. The organization has previously received grants from Monsanto, who manufactures GMO seeds. 'They are rent-a-scientists,' said Gary Ruskin, cofounder and the executive director of US Right to Know, of Oz's critics. Thursday's Dr. Oz Show featured a report revealing how some of the 10 doctors 'have big ties to big industry' 'What Henry Miller does is he speaks on behalf of big corporations and he tells big lies on their behalf,' said Ruskin. During the almost half an hour defense of his reputation, Oz also denied having it in for genetically modified foods. 'That is not true. I have never judged GMO foods. But just like 64 countries around the world, I support GMO labeling so you can decide on the foods for your family.' Another Oz alley, Joel Fuhrman, said the doctors weren't 'representative of the medical profession.' 'It's ugly,' he told Oz. 'Number one, they're not representative of the medical profession. Number two, it is not an attack just against you. It is an attack against all physicians, all health care professionals, all people who maybe don't take a standard party line.' Oz also included a statement from the BMJ, which he described as his harshest critic. Ten doctors sent a letter to Columbia University urging the school to remove TV celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz from his faculty position because he is a 'charlatan' who promotes 'quack

Summary: TV doctor used Thursday's show to hit back at his critics who he accused of having 'conflict of interest issues - and some integrity ones also' Ten doctors signed a letter last week calling Oz a 'charlatan' who promotes 'quack treatments' Oz said he was being targetted because he supports GMO labeling . His show featured a report on how some of the 10 doctors have received grants from Monsanto, who manufactures GMO seeds . He also told NBC News that the Dr. Oz Show is actually 'not a medical show,' but it will no longer use 'inflammatory' words like 'miracle'


A woman was reportedly spotted threatening people with 'a dildo in each hand' during an altercation outside a Grafton pub. An eye-witnesses said a fight broke out inside Roches Family Hotel late Friday night before it spilled out onto Victoria Road. Nick Weller told the Daily Examiner he initially saw two girls brawling on the streets. A woman was reportedly spotted threatening people with 'a dildo in each hand' during an altercation outside Roches Family Hotel in Grafton . 'There were two girls having an altercation out the front after the hotel closed,' he said. 'There was definitely some hair pulling going on and a couple of girls ended up on the ground.' The altercation took an unusual turn when Mr Weller and other onlookers spotted a woman approaching the scene, armed with two rubber sex toys. 'Out of nowhere this other woman joined the fray with a dildo in each hand,' Mr Weller said. 'She was swinging them about in the air threatening people who were standing around. 'It was just so weird to watch. My friends and I had no idea what was going on. We tried talking to her but she was seriously out of it at that stage.' Grafton Police confirmed they attended the scene however no one made a formal complaint about the woman or her strange choice of weaponry . He described the woman as Caucasian, of slight build, aged in her late 20's or early 30's. Mr Weller said there were at least five or six girls fighting on the streets before police arrived. 'There was 20 or 30 people standing around it trying to break it up or having their own little altercations alongside. 'As soon as the cops arrived everybody sort of dropped their drinks and cleared off.' Grafton Police confirmed they attended the scene however no one made a formal complaint about the woman or her strange choice of weaponry. A spokesperson from Roches Family Hotel denied there was a fight outside the venue, instead claiming it was 'just a heated discussion between a couple of people that spilled on to the street'. 'It was cleared up pretty quickly as soon as the police arrived on scene,' they told the Examiner.

Summary: A fight took an unusual turn outside a Grafton pub late Friday night . A woman reportedly joined an altercation armed with two rubber sex toys . Witnesses say she was swinging them in the air, threatening bystanders . 'Out of nowhere this other woman joined the fray with a dildo in each hand' Police attended the scene but no complaints were made about the woman .


Bitten: Austin Hatfield, 18, found the venomous water moccasin, also known as a cottonmouth, near his Wimauma home last week (pictured is Hatfield with the snake that is believed to have bit him) A Florida teen who kept a deadly wild snake in his bedroom as a pet and bragged about how many times he'd kissed it was bitten on the mouth and rushed to the hospital Saturday. Austin Hatfield, 18, found the venomous water moccasin, also known as a cottonmouth, near his Wimauma home last week. He'd been keeping the serpent in a pillowcase when it escaped over the weekend. 'We was sitting in the kitchen and he ran out of the room saying hospital, hospital. Now, now,' Hatfield's best friend Jason Belcher told Bay News 9. Hatfield was rushed to a Tampa hospital in critical condition. Bites from the cottonmouth are known to cause extreme swelling and can lead to death. But leading up to the incident, Belcher said Hatfield wasn't at all concerned. 'Alright he's kissed it 12 times. The 13 wasn't a lucky one,' Belcher said. 'He kisses it right on the head. Right on the mouth. He's not afraid of death.' The snake on Saturday night had escaped from its pillow case and slithered across Hatfield's stomach and off his bed, reports the Tampa Tribune. The fatal bite came Hatfield tried to recapture the snake. Lucky for Hatfield, antivenom does exist for cottonmouths--known by the name because of the white, gaping mouth they often display when threatened. Gary Morse, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said the worst has come and gone for Hatfield. 'His condition has improved today and he is expected to recover,' Morse said. Outdoorsy: The 18-year-old Florida man is apparently a fan of snakes, as evidenced by at least one other photo on his Facebook . Morse said Hatfield was possessing the snake illegally. In Florida, a a permit is required in order to lawfully keep a venomous pet. The snake had to be captured and euthanized in order to ensure proper identification. Morse urged other budding herpetologists not to make the same mistake as Hatfield. 'It really doesn't want to eat you, but it will protect itself,' he said. 'Cottonmouths have a reputation of being somewhat skittish when you get near them and they will readily defend themselves. 'Alright he's kissed it 12 times. The 13 wasn't a lucky one,' Hatfield's best friend Jason Belcher said. 'He kisses it right on the head. Right on the mouth. He's not afraid of death.'

Summary: Austin Hatfield of Wimauma was keeping the potentially deadly snake, AKA a cottonmouth, in a pillow case in his bedroom . A friend said Hatfield's 'not afraid of death' and the 18-year-old won himself the chance to face death down on Saturday . Hatfield was rushed to a Tampa hospital in critical condition but has since improved and he's expected to recover .


NHS bosses have today come under fire after it emerged a hospital paid a temporary nurse £2,200 to cover a single 12-hour shift. The figure, which equates to £183 an hour, was paid by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. It represents double the rate for a neurologist and was revealed following a Freedom of Information request. It also emerged there were 47 agency nurses working at the trust in December last year. The trust, which runs the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, has been criticised for wasting taxpayers' money. The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust paid £2,200 to a temporary nurse for one 12-hour shift to help amid a shortage of trained nurses, a Freedom of Information request revealed (file picture) Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'Taxpayers will be aghast at the cost of just one shift. 'Agency nurses are far more expensive than their regular counterparts and we have to minimise the number used. 'You can't open a newspaper without hearing how tight finances are in the NHS, but the service has to become far more efficient with the money it already has.' Edmund Stubbs, from independent think tank Civitas, added: 'It is evident that a lack of staff is leading to excessive spending on agency staff, locums and overseas recruitment.' A spokesman for the trust said the £2,200 figure includes VAT, adding that the true figure paid to the nurse, including travel expenses, was £1,864. The shift covered was one in specialist Intensive Therapy Unit on a Bank Holiday. Defending their spending, Sarah Bloomfield, director of nursing at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said temporary staff had to be used to cover a shortfall in trained nurses. She highlighted their situation is one shared by many hospitals across the UK. She added: 'We have said consistently that we want to recruit more nurses to reduce our reliance on agency and temporary staff and this has been widely publicised with a number of recruitment events taking place recently to attract new staff. 'We have recruited, or made offers to, more than 150 staff nurses and health care assistants in recent months as part of our efforts to recruit more nursing staff to support our wards and departments. Defending the spend Sarah Bloomfield, director of nursing at the trust, said temporary staff had to be used to cover a shortfall in trained nurses. She said in recent months the hospitals have recruited more than 150 nurses and healthcare assistants . 'These new recruits have included a number who have been offered positions through a successful nursing recruitment event at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital just last week, which we will repeat again on Thursday. 'We’ll continue our efforts to ensure that over the coming months we will see fewer agency nurses on our wards as our new starters get settled in, which will mean better continuity of care and more support for ward teams.' Figures obtained by the Nursing and Midwifery Council also revealed nearly a third of nursing recruits

Summary: Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust paid the huge figure . Equates to £183 an hour and is double to going rate for a neurologist . Hospital said temporary staff have to be used to cover staffing shortfalls .


David Cameron (pictured) said he knows that when it comes to immigration, 'fears and worries' remain . Let me reassure you, I know that when it comes to immigration, fears and worries remain. They were set out on the front page of this newspaper yesterday. And I want to set out exactly the choice before you on May 7. I am not one of those politicians who says they ‘get’ how people feel about immigration then speaks differently in private. Sitting in the House of Commons from 2001, I had a ringside seat on Labour’s complete failure on immigration – and it was infuriating. Fake colleges, bogus visas, wide open loopholes, the wrong welfare incentives, sham marriages, an abject failure to deport foreign criminals, migrants bringing family members to Britain even if they couldn’t speak a word of English – a litany of failure. Underpinning it all was contempt for the views of most British people. We all remember Peter Mandelson’s boast that Labour was practically ‘sending out search parties’ for migrants. The mess took 13 years to create – and over the past five years we have been working to turn this around. Economic migration from outside the EU has been capped at 20,700 skilled professionals a year. We have closed down over 850 of those bogus colleges that were basically visa factories. There are new charges for migrants using the NHS; there is no social housing unless you’ve been in an area for two years; and there is no housing benefit full-stop for EU jobseekers. Critically, we now have proper exit checks at our borders so we know who is coming in and going out. On top of all this direct action to control immigration, we recognised that the rising immigration numbers weren’t just about lax borders and a system easily abused; it was about British people not being trained to get into the jobs that were becoming available – or not incentivised to work at all, because of Labour’s welfare system. So we have had a huge, unprecedented push on welfare and training, with two million young people starting apprenticeships, and vast numbers getting off welfare and into work. The result of all this? Consider these remarkable two facts. Under Labour, for years, 90 per cent of job growth was taken up by foreign workers. With the Conservatives, two-thirds of our job growth now benefits British citizens. That is a remarkable turnaround. I’m not saying there isn’t a lot more to do. It’s clear that, as our economy has taken off, the bigger issue has become migration from within Europe. And while we have not yet reduced net migration down to the tens of thousands each year, it remains the right ambition. So why have many more EU migrants come here? Partly it’s our extraordinary economic success, with Britain creating more jobs than 27 other European countries combined. But large numbers have also been drawn here because of incentives in things like tax credits and welfare. These have been a powerful draw to EU workers. Scroll down for video

Summary: Cameron said he knows that 'fear and worries' remain over immigration . Under Tories, two-thirds of UK job growth now benefits British citizens . PM said he will continue 'serious, sustained attempt' to control immigration .


The Muslim couple who were abused by a middle-aged woman on a Sydney train said they intend to press charges over the verbal attack. Hafeez Bhatti, 33, and his wife, Khalida, are a 'hardworking, honest and kind' parents of a little baby boy who moved from Pakistan several years ago seeking a better life in Australia. The couple were in Sydney for just a day when they were abused by an unknown woman on an Airport Line train on Wednesday afternoon. Stacey Eden, 23, overheard the ranter insulting the Muslim couple as 'ISIS terrorists' and was recorded on video standing up for the couple. Scroll down for video . Abused on the train: Young parents Hafeez Batthi, 33, and his wife, Khalida, 26, said they will be pressing charges on the woman who verbally attacked them on the train once she is identified . The abusive woman has not been identified despite the video of the attack going viral. NSW police sources told Daily Mail Australia a formal investigation is 'definitely' under way into Wednesday's incident. Mr Bhatti said he will be preparing a statement for Queensland police so charges can be pressed as soon as the woman is identified. 'She touched my wife's head, that is one issue that I will raise,' he said during a 7:30 Report interview. 'Then she was verbally abusing my wife. 'That's what I will ask, police to charge her once she will be identified.' The ABC reported that the couple were still quite shaken up by the incident and have been extra cautious when they leave the house. 'We take very special care, especially when we have to go out,' he said. 'I always look around that if somebody is noticing us. 'I should be very careful that no-one comes close to us or tries to hit us.' While Mr Bhatti would like to put the negative experience behind him he said he has received several threats online. When Stacey Eden witnessed Mrs Bhatti being verbally abused on a Sydney train she quickly jumped to her defence telling the abuser to 'have some respect' One comment from a Facebook profile called 'Christian Soldiers' read: ' I am a Christian I met you, I would have killed you a terrorist. F*****g Islamic Propaganda'. Mr Bhatti said he wouln't 'engage' in a conversation like that, instead deciding to show the comment to police. He said he has also faced criticism for not standing up for his wife, despite English not being his first language. 'People are saying I'm not a brave man for not standing up for my wife,' he said. 'In my local language, people are calling me a coward person. Mr Bhatti has faced criticism for not standing up for his wife but he said he wanted to show respect for the lady, even if she was mounting a verbal attack on the couple. 'I came to Australia but I don't know how to speak English, if I could have speak up.' Mr Bhatti said he didn't want to misrepresent his religion by reacting angrily

Summary: Hafeez Bhatti and his wife Khalida were verbally abused on a Sydney train . The couple said they will be pressing charges when the woman is identified . 'She touched my wife's head, that is one issue that I will raise,' he said . The Islamic couple are preparing a statement for Queensland Police . Police sources confirmed an investigation 'definitely' underway . The identity of the ranter remains unknown .


Phoenix Mercury standout player Brittney Griner and fiancee and fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson have been arrested following a fight at their Phoenix home. The 24-year-olds were both arrested on suspicion of assault and disorderly conduct on Wednesday afternoon and booked into jail but were later released. Several people at the couple's home tried to stop Griner, who is 6'8", and Johnson, who is 6'3", from fighting after an argument turned physical, according to a police report. Johnson's sister ultimately called cops to help break up the fight after the couple started throwing things at each other in the living room, according to AZCentral. Scroll down for video . Arrest: Brittney Griner, left, and her fiancee and fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson, both 24, were arrested on suspicion of assault and disorderly conduct on Wednesday and have since been released from jail . Happier times: Police were called after a fight at their home in a Phoenix suburb turned physical . 'We couldn't get them pulled apart,' the sister, Judy Johnson told police officers when they arrived. Griner told police officers that she and her fiancee had just bought their first home together and had been arguing a lot. According to TMZ, Griner told police that she threw a dog bowl at the wall. 'It turned into a fight. Broke up. We kept arguing, mouthing back and forth, clashed again, separated us, clashed again, separated us, and here we are now,' she said, according to the report. She had what appeared to be a tooth mark on her hand, as well as other injuries to her wrist and fingers, police noted. Johnson had suffered cuts to her lip. Goodyear police spokeswoman Lisa Kutis said no weapons were involved and neither woman required hospital care for their minor injuries. They were taken into custody around 5pm on Wednesday but neither wished to press charges, and they were released from jail at 4am on Thursday. Star player: Griner helped the Phoenix Mercury win a championship this past September. She led the league with a record 129 blocks and was the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year . The fight follows this loving instagram post Griner shared just one day before their arrest . The pair announced their engagement late last summer and are expected to wed next month. Johnson plays for the Tulsa Shock, and team President Steve Swetoha said they were looking into the situation. 'Of course our first concern is for Glory's well-being and health,' he said. Griner helped the Phoenix Mercury win a championship this past September. She led the league with a record 129 blocks and was the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. She also helped the U.S. win a gold medal last month at the world championship. Griner is a two-time AP college basketball player of the year and led Baylor to a 40-0 season and the 2012 NCAA title. She was the No. 1 pick by the Mercury in the 2013 draft. Engagement: The couple shared news of their engagement on Instagram last summer . The arrest

Summary: The Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner and her fiancee Glory Johnson, both 24, were arrested after a fight in their Phoenix home on Wednesday . The couple, who got engaged last year, 'had been fighting for days before the arguments turned physical and friends were unable to stop them' Both were released from police custody at 4am on Thursday .


Police have found video of an unconscious girl being gang raped on a Florida beach in broad daylight during Spring Break. Hundreds of people are seen watching without attempting to intervene during the alleged attack on Panama City Beach, authorities claim. The footage was uncovered on a cell phone during an unconnected investigation into a shooting in Troy, Alabama. Arrest: Delone' Martistee, 22, (left) and Ryan Austin Calhoun, 23, (right) have been arrested in connection with the alleged rape after police in Troy, Alabama, found the clip on a cell phone during another investigation . Alerting the Bay County Sheriff's Office, the two departments worked together to identify two suspects and the alleged victim. Troy University students Delone' Martistee, 22, and Ryan Austin Calhoun, 23, have been suspended from college while they are detained for questioning, WSFA reports. Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen branded the video the 'most disgusting, sickening thing'. According to McKeithen, one man is heard in the clip saying, 'she isn't going to know,' before putting his hand inside her bikini bottoms. He told a press conference: 'This is happening in broad daylight with hundreds of people seeing and hearing what is happening and they are more concerned about spilling their beer than somebody being raped. Horrific: Authorities say hundreds of people walked past but did not stop the attack near Spinnaker Beach Club on Panama City Beach, Florida, in broad daylight during a Spring Break party last month . 'This is such a traumatizing event for this girl. No one should have to fear this would happen in Panama City Beach, but it does.' According to the Panama City News Herald, the woman believes she was drugged before the attack. She told deputies during an interview that she was afraid to report the incident because she couldn't remember many details.

Summary: Police in Troy, Alabama, found the video while investigating a shooting . Video 'shows two men raping unconscious woman on Florida beach' Authorities say hundreds of people walk past but don't intervene . Troy University students Delone' Martistee, 22, and Ryan Austin Calhoun, 23, have been arrested in connection with the alleged incident .


A mother-of-two lost more than ten stone after she became concerned that her size was causing her to look like a man. Kim Callaghan, 39, piled on the pounds after the birth of her two children, reaching a worrying 20st 3lb. However, the determined slimmer has now shrunk down to a slender 9st 10lb after taking up exercise and swapping starchy meals for smaller portions. Kim Callaghan became so worried that her weight was causing her to look like a man that she went on a dramatic diet that saw her lose half of her body weight . Kim's weight loss saw her drop an incredible ten dress sizes to slim down to a slinky size eight. Before she slimmed down Kim's wardrobe was limited to size 28 figure-hiding garments, and she was afraid she was losing her femininity. Kim who lives in Ardee, County Louth, Ireland, says she turned to masculine clothing as a way of hiding her shape. 'I only wore baggy trousers and flappy shirts when I was fat - I was trying to cover up my body because I was embarrassed. I stopped looking like a woman. 'Now I've slimmed down and I feel confident enough to wear dresses again. I feel healthy and very feminine.' Kim married her husband Sean Callaghan, 41, in 1999. After the pair got married they splashed out on a double deep-fat fryer. Kim piled on the pounds after giving birth to her two children, as she became heavier she worried that her husband Sean would not see her as the 'sexy' woman he married . Before her weight loss Kim was limited to a wardrobe of size 28 clothing she is now a slinky size 10 . The housewife's diet consisted mainly of convenience foods like chicken kiev, deep-fried chicken, potato croquettes and burgers. She said: 'We loved pizza, chips and chicken kievs. The deep fat fryer was my favourite thing in the house.' Soon after Kim gave birth to her children Owen, now 14, and Shannon, 13, and her weight gain accelerated. Eventually she tipped the scales at 20st 3lb and says that she found it increasingly difficult to find clothes to suit her. The turning point came for Kim when she struggled to keep up with her children she now takes part in regular exercise including cycling around her local area . Kim joined Slimming World in secret and lost a stone in her first three weeks . 'I tried to take pride in my appearance, but at that size it was impossible to find anything flattering, I ordered all my clothes from catalogues. 'Before long I had a wardrobe which could have been owned by a man. I had a signature cropped hairstyle and honestly looked nothing like a woman. I was worried that the the sexy, curvy bride which Sean had married had disappeared forever.' The turning point came for Kim when she was out with her children on St Patrick's Day in 2011. She had to stop and rest after struggling to keep up. She said: 'I

Summary: Kim Callaghan, from Ireland, piled on the pounds after having children . Limited to size 28 clothing Kim, 39, worried she resembled a man . She joined Slimming World and dropped ten dress sizes as well as 10st .


It was a vision that apparently led the biblical Paul to become one of the most influential figures in early Christianity by helping to spread the religion around the world. But now astronomers believe the bright light in the sky that triggered the conversion of Paul the Apostle may have actually been a falling meteor 2,000 years ago. They say descriptions of Paul's experience - in which he was blinded for three days after seeing a bright light - match accounts of the fireball that streaked across the sky above Chelyabinsk in Russia in 2013. Scroll down for video . Paul converted to Christianity after experiencing a bright light and a divine voice while he traveled on a road towards Damascus in Syria, as depicted in this painting by Michelangelo, but it may have been a meteor . Dr William Hartmann, co-founder of the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, examined three accounts of Paul's conversion in the Bible. Writing in the journal Meteoritics and Planetary Science, he said: 'The first-century book, Acts of the Apostles, gives three separate descriptions of a bright light "from heaven", which occurred probably in the 30s (C.E.) near Damascus, Syria. A meteor that blazed across southern Urals in February was the largest recorded meteor strike in more than a century. More than 1,600 people were injured by the shock wave from the explosion, estimated to be as strong as 20 Hiroshima atomic bombs, as it landed near the city of Chelyabinsk. The fireball measuring 18 meters across, screamed into Earth's atmosphere at 41,600 mph. Much of the meteor landed in a local lake called Chebarkul. Scientists have already uncovered more than 12 pieces from Lake Chebarkul since the February 15 incident. However, only five of them turned out being real meteorites. The Chelyabinsk asteroid caused the second most powerful explosion in recorded history. The first was in 1908 when a suspected asteroid exploded with a force about 1,000 times more powerful than Hiroshima, levelling about 80m trees over 772 sq miles (2,000 sq km) near Russia's Podkamennaya Tunguska river in Siberia. It is thought the Chelyabinsk meteor may have formed after breaking off a 656 feet wide asteroid called 2011 EO. Researchers have also found that it may have collided with another asteroid around 290 million years ago. 'The details offer a strikingly good match to a Chelyabinsk-class or Tunguska-class fireball.' In the accounts given in the Bible, Paul had been one of the zealous persecutors of the followers of Jesus. However, during a journey to Damascus, Syria, he and his companions saw a bright light in the sky. Paul was blinded for three days and he heard a divine voice or sound. The experience apparently so affected Paul that he converted to Christianity and undertook several influential missions to spread the word of Christ around the Mediterranean. Many believe Paul's preaching led to the rise of much of the theology and traditions in the Roman and Protestant faith strands that exist today. However, some have attempted to explain Paul's vision as being the result of

Summary: Astronomer claims bright light and divine voice heard by Paul 2,000 years ago may have been exploding meteor similar to the one over Chelyabinsk . UV radiation could have caused temporary blindness called photokeratitis . Scientist claims this may have been the source of Paul's 'vision' in 30AD . Paul the Apostle was an instrumental figure in the spread of Christianity .


Six hostages who hid in a supermarket freezer during January's Islamist attacks in Paris have sued French media for broadcasting their location live during the siege. Amedy Coulibaly stormed into the Hyper Cacher Jewish store, killing four and taking others captive before being shot dead in a hail of gunfire by French special forces. The heavily televised events in eastern Paris came two days after Cherif and Said Kouachi shot 12 people at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Patrick Klugman, a lawyer representing the six survivors, said images broadcast from Hyper Cacher on January 9 'lacked the most basic precautions' and endangered those still alive inside. Scroll down for video . Police storm the Hyper Cacher Jewish supermarket, killing an Islamist terrorist in hail of gunfire. Six hostages who hid in a freezer during the Islamist attacks have sued French media for broadcasting their location live . Terrorist: Amedy Coulibaly slaughtered customers during the siege at the Hyper Cacher store. Lawyers claim French media endangered the lives of hostages hiding a freezer by revealing their location live on air . He singled out French 24-hour news channel BFMTV which revealed live on air that the group - including a three-year-old child and a one-month-old baby - was hiding in the freezer. They had been taken to the cold room by one of the supermarket's employees. 'The working methods of media in real time in this type of situation were tantamount to goading someone to commit a crime,' Mr Klugman told AFP Thursday, roundly criticising coverage by other outlets of the movements by security forces during the standoff. The lives of those hiding 'could have been at risk if Coulibaly had been aware in real time what BFMTV was broadcasting,' Klugman said. He added that the jihadist was following the coverage of his raid on different channels and had been in contact with BFMTV journalists. The lawsuit charges media with endangering the lives of others by deliberately ignoring security protocols, which carries a maximum penalty of a year in prison and a €15,000 (£11,000) fine. Extraordinary pictures emerged in the days after the siege showing the hostage huddled together for warmth amid cardboard boxes of food inside the freezer. Defying terror: Hyper Cacher reopened last month with a vow to 'show that life is stronger than barbarity' One woman is seen cradling her child, while in another image a hostage sends a text message to a loved one. Hearing shots, shoppers at the back of the store fled downstairs to the storeroom where they huddled together in temperatures of -3C (27F). Fearing they would not escape alive, they made what they believed would be their last calls to family to tell them they loved them. One man, known only as Ilan, was with his young son and quickly removed his jacket and wrapped him in it as they cowered in freezer for nearly five hours before Coulibaly was shot dead. The Kouachi brothers were also killed after three days of attacks that killed a total of 17 people and deeply shocked

Summary: Amedy Coulibaly stormed Jewish store before being shot dead by police . Hostages - including child, 3, and baby - survived by hiding in cold store . Lawyer claims broadcasters endangered their lives by revealing location . He said jihadist was following coverage of his raid on different channels .


Bacary Sagna could end the season trophyless and lower than Arsenal in the Premier League but the Manchester City defender insists he has no regrets about leaving the Emirates for the Etihad. Sagna's acrimonious departure from Arsenal when his contract expired at the end of last season left many Gunners fans dismayed at a perceived lack of loyalty from the defender. The France international has played only 16 times for City this season in an underwhelming campaign both for him and the Premier League holders, who are languishing in fourth. Bacary Sagna (right) insists he does not regret leaving Arsenal for Manchester City last summer . Sangna (right) has only made 16 appearances and City are fourth in the Premier League, with Arsenal second . Sagna departed Arsenal on the back of winning the FA Cup but faces a year without a trophy at City . But the 32-year-old Sagna says if he was faced with the decision again, he would make the same choice. 'I see a lot of comments from fans saying I should have stayed at Arsenal but if I had to do it again, if I had to come back and sign for City, I would have done it again,' Sagna told the Manchester Evening News. 'I'm happy because I came to the champions.' Sagna departed the Emirates on the back of an FA Cup triumph but arrived at City with the club having won the Premier League. A year later, Arsenal are gearing up to defend their trophy against Aston Villa in the final at Wembley but City's Premier League title will almost certainly be claimed by Chelsea. Sagna is philosophical about how City and Arsenal's seasons have unravelled. 'When I signed I just wanted to come, give the maximum, and give my best for the club then after, it’s life, no?' Sagna said. Sagna (left) said he would make the same decision again if he was faced with a similar choice . Sagna believes Manuel Pellegrini's City side will soon return to winning ways and end the season well . Sanga also brushed aside fears that City could be usurped from the Champions League qualifying places and believes Manuel Pellegrini's side will swiftly return to winning ways. 'Everyone looks forward in the same direction, we want to be successful as a team and the coach and the staff and everyone is part of the team,' Sagna said. 'We are doing out best to get back to a winning team and to finish the season well.'

Summary: Bacary Sagna left Arsenal for Manchester City on a free transfer last year . The defender insists he does not regret making the switch to the Etihad . City are behind FA Cup finalists Arsenal and face a season without a prize .


A German language teacher has been suspended in France after suggesting that panzers should invade the country again so as 'subdue unruly pupils'. The Frenchwoman also used her classes to defend Adolf Hitler's domestic record, and his plans for overseas expansion. 'He was a good man who built motorways and liked music,' she is alleged to have said, before being suspended from the Auguste Remoir college in Limoges, west-central France. The German language teacher suggested that tanks (pictured is a panzer during the Second World War) should be used to invade France again to subdue unruly pupils . Hundreds of German tanks rolled into the country in May 1940 as their Blitzkrieg led to France becoming part of the Third Reich. Yet, according to complaining parents who passed on the comment to other teachers, the woman said she hoped 'German tanks come to Renoir to subdue unruly pupils'. Seventeen of the 20 pupils in her class signed a petition against the teacher, and it was quickly acted on by the authorities. Parent teacher association president, Maurice Sourdioux, said: 'In my experience, this kind of procedure is extremely rare in national education. I have never seen it anywhere else.' She has since been suspended from the Auguste Remoir college in Limoges, west-central France (pictured) The teacher, who has been at the school since September, has denied any wrong doing, saying she was 'very shocked by the extent of the case'. References to the Second World War are particularly sensitive in France, where a collaborationist government worked with the Nazis. State institutions including the SNCF railway company and police in major cities such as Paris assisted in the Holocaust too. Despite this, there are regular cases of far right sympathisers expressing support for the kind of racism and anti-Semitism championed by the Nazis. Last month, a music teacher in Berlin was questioned by police after forcing pupils to march up and down singing a Nazi song. Germany had been forbidden from producing and using tanks because of the Treaty of Versailles. But under a secret program code named the 'Traktor', they began developing armored military vehicles and artillery. The early tanks which were mostly used for training were then tested in the Soviet Union. The early German panzer force's success was mainly down to tactical innovation rather than the quality of the vehicles. But many of their later tanks outclassed Allied armor, delivering more casualties than they took in most engagements during the Second World War. A parade of German tanks crossed the desert plans of Libya in the Second World War in May 1941 . Production of the first tank, the Panzer I, began in 1932 and mass production began in 1934. It had been intended only as a training tank to introduce the army to armored warfare but the Panzer I saw combat in Poland, France, the Soviet Union and North Africa during the Second World War. The army went onto to produce the Panzer II to fill the gap after the construction of medium tanks, Panzer III and IV, fell behind

Summary: Teacher suggested German tanks should invade France to subdue pupils . Frenchwoman also alleged to have defended Adolf Hitler's domestic record . She has since been suspended from Auguste Remoir college in Limoges .


A scientist has warned Britain is facing a collapse in society similar to ancient Rome - because we've lived too peacefully for too long. Australian historian Dr Jim Penman claims Britons today have lost the drive for innovation that epitomised the Victorian era as we enjoy a more comfortable standard of living. He has drawn parallels between modern-day Britain and 100BC in Rome - when the city was at its most powerful as it captured more land overseas and greater wealth poured into the centre. Historian Dr Jim Penman has drawn a parallel between the Roman Empire in 100BC - when Julius Caesar, pictured, was ruler - and Britan today, warning this country is heading for a similar collapse in society . Dr Jim Penman (left) has suggested Britons have lost the biological drive for innovation that helped huge social, economic and industrial changes during the Victorian era, ruled over by Queen Victoria (right) However over subsequent centuries there was a rise in social divisions, inequality and political tensions - which resulted in its demise. Making the comparison Dr Penman said: 'It was a time when democracy was moving towards despotism and in Britain we are now see that politics is becoming much more about individuals rather than political parties. The two-party system has started to break down',The Sunday Telegraph reports. 'We live in a golden age where there have been no major wars in Europe for three quarters of a century. But the economy is stagnating and we're having fewer children. 'And once European countries can no longer defend themselves, the end of national independence cannot be long delayed.' Dr Penman, of the RMIT University in Melbourne, made the claims in his book 'Biohistory: Decline and Fall of the West', and adds that Christianity helped drive social change in Britain which transformed the roles of women and children . Civilisations move in 'cycles' dependent on factors such as food supply, religion and conflict, while epigenetics - a field of study within DNA - explains how people's attitudes and temperament change over time and thus shape society, he argues. 'The First World War had an epigenetic effect in that mothers made anxious by the war gave birth to an unusually aggressive generation which was the main cause of the Second World War', he writes. 'But now we are becoming a lot less warlike and much more reluctant to fight. People no longer want to join the Army, or become engineers. People would rather do arts degrees.'

Summary: Dr Penman argues British people have lived too peacefully to innovate . Rising inequality and division will lead to a collapse in society, he warns . Adaption of genes means we are less aggressive or likely to go to war .


Jenson Button was left to reflect on 'not a great day' and fears he will again be at the back of the grid for Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix. Just three minutes into the first practice session, Button's McLaren suffered an electrical fault that cut the engine and forced him into a spin at turn one of the Bahrain International Circuit. Although the car was recovered, his mechanics failed to fix the fault until just before the start of FP2, in which three laps in he had to stop out on track as a safety precaution for the engine. Jenson Button makes his way back to the pits after his McLaren broke down on Friday . Again the car returned to the garage, and although he made it out on track later in the session, further issues arose that compromised his running. The 35-year-old ultimately finished down in 19th place, sandwiched between Manor duo Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi, with the best of his 19 laps almost 4.5 seconds off the pace of Nico Rosberg in his Mercedes. Clearly frustrated Button said: 'The guys worked really hard, from P1 to P2 they did a great job but we still had our problems in P2. 'I went out on the soft tyre but had to quickly come back in, and then I went out on low fuel when everyone else was on high fuel, so it was difficult to get in any running. Overall not a great day. 'There was a lot of useful data from the other car (Fernando Alonso), but the frustrating thing is our cars were set up quite differently to get a lot of useful information about parts, and we weren't able to do that on our car. 'It doesn't help either of us for Saturday but hopefully we've resolved the issues I've had.' Team members recover Button's McLaren in the pit-lane during the first free practice . Button, though, knows the teams ahead of a struggling McLaren will all turn up the gas in qualifying, which is likely to leave only the Manor boys behind the Briton and Alonso, as was the case in China on Sunday. 'I think some teams were on high fuel all day as well, so it's not going to be an easy weekend,' added Button. 'But we're not kidding ourselves, we know it's going to be a tricky qualifying session and I suppose for us at the moment we're going to qualify near the back. 'In reality it's not such a problem. The race pace is something that is more important.'

Summary: Jenson Button's McLaren suffered electrical fault in first practice session . The Brit managed just three laps in second session before break down . He fears he will again be at the back of the grid at Bahrain Grand Prix .


Fashion-conscious militants fighting for the Islamic State in Syria have been dealt a blow after their commanders banned them wearing products made by Nike. The sports brand features prominently on a leaflet distributed in the terror group's de facto capital Raqqa warning ISIS jihadis about items of clothing they are no longer allowed to wear. The news comes shortly after one militant decried the popularity of Nike among ISIS fighters, comparing the brand's name and famous 'tick' logo to wearing a Christian cross. His comments prompted a fierce debate with fellow jihadis who argued that it was perfectly acceptable to wear Nike products because they are 'comfy and good quality, unlike crosses'. Banned: The sports brand features prominently (circled) on a leaflet distributed in the terror group's de facto capital Raqqa warning ISIS jihadis about items of clothing they are no longer allowed to wear . Not allowed: The leaflet threatens both the buyer and seller of Nike products with punishments ranging from a small fine to whipping or even imprisonmen . Images of the leaflet banning Nike clothing was shared online by the activist group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently who translated it from Arabic. They said Nike was singled out because of its associations with the Greek goddess of the same name and because the word apparently sounds similar to phrases of a sexual nature in Arabic. The leaflet threatens both the buyer and seller of Nike products with punishments ranging from a small fine to whipping or even imprisonment. This is despite the fact one of the group's most famous commanders, Abu Waheeb, is well known for wearing Western sportswear, including items made by Nike and Adidas. The argument that senior ISIS militants still wear Nike products is unlikely to be considered much of a defence for the millions of brutally oppressed citizens living under the rule of the Islamic State. Fashion-conscious: The ban comes despite the fact one of the group's most famous commanders, Abu Waheeb, is well known for wearing Western sportswear, including items made by Nike and Adidas . The wearing of Nike products has long been contentious among ISIS jihadis, due to the fact the name was inspired by a Greek goddess and reportedly sound like several words of a sexual nature in Arabic . The news comes shortly after one militant decried the popularity of Nike among ISIS fighters, comparing the brand's famous 'tick' logo to wearing a Christian cross. His comments prompted a fierce debate with fellow jihadis who argued that it was perfectly acceptable to wear Nike products because they are 'comfortable' A recent ban of men wearing jeans - apparently because the clothing 'provokes sexual desire, and shows the attractions of men's body' - has been strictly enforced. In fact some young men seen wearing jeans after the ban was put in place were reportedly told they must exchange their denim products for pyjamas, or face time in prison. As well as products made by Nike, numerous other items of clothing appear on the leaflet. Newly-banned products on the list include

Summary: Jihadis face fines, whipping or even jail time for wearing Nike products . Ban is also partly due to the brand sharing its name with a Greek Goddess . Commanders say the name also sounds like sexual slang words in Arabic . Those living under ISIS are already banned from wearing jeans or items of clothing carrying provocative language or swear words .


Tony Blair yesterday faced accusations of ‘megalomania’ over an interview in which he vowed to set up his own ‘leaders club’ of ex-statesmen – and appeared to dismiss the need for democracy. The ex-PM said he wanted to create a ‘cadre’ of former leaders to advise governments, saying: ‘You can get some of these guys who are fantastic executors. Why not use their talents and their experience?’ He added: ‘Why not come and help the president of this country or the prime minister of that country?’ Scroll down for video . Tony Blair on the cover of Newsweek. The former Prime Minister said his ideas of leadership were ‘close to a benevolent dictatorship’ In the profile in the American magazine Newsweek, Mr Blair also praised the authoritarian military regime in Egypt, which has been accused of human rights abuses, saying: ‘Yes, democracy is important, but democracy is not on its own sufficient. You need effective government taking effective decisions.’ The article – which described Mr Blair’s ideas of leadership as ‘close to a benevolent dictatorship’ – added that Mr Blair had concluded from the foot-and-mouth crisis of 2001, when the army slaughtered ten million sheep and cattle, that soldiers were better at emergencies than governments. When asked about his future work plans, he grandly announced: ‘I’ve done British. I suppose where I think I can make most difference is on a global level, working on things that had interested me as Prime Minister but that I was not able to devote myself to.’ Mr Blair, who made his first intervention in the Election campaign last week with a speech backing Ed Miliband and warning about the risks of leaving the European Union, said that he hoped to stay active in both politics and business well into his 90s. Blair in his old constituency giving a talk at the Xcel centre in County Durham in support of Ed Miliband. He said he hoped to stay active in both politics and business well into his 90s . Explaining why he had no plans to retire, Mr Blair said: ‘I’ve got decades. I want to be seeing someone when I’m 91 after having had medical tests which show I’m getting younger. The thought of actually retiring is not... look, you have got to have some self-awareness of these things. Tory MP Andrew Bridgen has branded Blair a 'megalomaniac' for his Newsweek remarks . ‘And I just know that if I do that, it would literally take me about three days before I was bored out of my mind. Took to drink or something.’ The 61-year-old has been working as a Middle East peace envoy while picking up international consultancy work that earns him millions of pounds a year. Talking about the group of ex-leaders he hoped to deploy in his business, Mr Blair suggested that only those who had risen to the top of their countries could properly relate to each other. He said: ‘The moment I’m talking to a new leader and I’m describing what I felt and what the challenges were, there’s a

Summary: Vowed to set up exclusive club of ex-statesman in Newsweek interview . Described his ideas of leadership as ‘close to a benevolent dictatorship’ Hopes to stay active in both politics and business well into his 90s . Tory MP Andrew Bridgen claimed Mr Blair came across a 'megalomaniac'


Manchester United have begun the search for Michael Carrick's long-term replacement, with Ilkay Gundogan a prime contender to fill the role. Manager Louis van Gaal has been hugely impressed with Carrick's contribution at Old Trafford this season. The England international's passing range and ability to dictate the pace of a match has been a key feature for United. Michael Carrick (left) has been instrumental in Manchester United's recent run of good form . United boss Louis van Gaal has been impressed with Carrick's contribution to the team . Van Gaal has identified Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan as a long-term successor to Carrick . MICHAEL CARRICK . Age: 33 . Height: 6ft 2in . Manchester United appearances: 379 . England caps: 33 . Honours: Champions League (2008), Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013), League Cup (2010), Club World Cup (2008) ILKAY GUNDOGAN . Age: 24 . Height: 5ft 9in . Borussia Dortmund appearances: 86 . Germany caps: 9 . Honours: Bundesliga (2012), German Cup (2012), German Supercup (2013) But at the age of 33, the Dutchman knows the midfielder is in the twilight of his career, while the amount of time Carrick has been injured this season is also a worry. United will seek to sign Carrick's successor this summer as part of another huge spending frenzy. Dortmund's ball-playing midfielder Gundogan has been watched extensively by United. Van Gaal has an intrinsic knowledge of the Bundesliga and believes the 24-year-old has the ability to take over from Carrick on a long-term basis. Carrick, who recently signed a new 12-month extension, will continue to be part of Van Gaal's plans next season - but the club are planning for life without him. The impending departure of manager Jurgen Klopp could see the excellent Dortmund squad unravel this summer. Gundogan (right) has been watched extensively by United, who could make a move in the summer . Dortmund could listen to offers to avoid losing Gundogan on a free transfer in 2016 . Jurgen Klopp's impending departure from Dortmund could see a host of players leave the club . Gundogan's existing contract expires at the end of next season and he is yet to sign a new deal. Dortmund are keen to tie the Germany international to an extension, but will listen to offers for him in the summer to avoid losing him for nothing in 2016 if he continues to stall on fresh terms.

Summary: Ilkay Gundogan is seen as a successor to Michael Carrick in midfield . Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has been impressed by Carrick . Van Gaal feels Gundogan can replicate 33-year-old Carrick's displays .


England picked up their first title on the Sevens World Series this season after beating competition leaders South Africa 21-14 in the final of the Tokyo tournament on Sunday. Phil Burgess, Charlie Hayter and Tom Mitchell scored the tries in the final for the English, who bounced back from a thumping group stage defeat to Fiji on Saturday to win a first title since the Wellington Sevens in Feb. 2013. 'I am unbelievably proud of this team. It's a huge effort and we are so grateful to deliver this title,' skipper Mitchell said after victory at a wet Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground. England's James Rodwell (left) celebrates with his team-mates following their final victory in Tokyo . England defeated championship leaders South Africa 21-14 in the decider of the Sevens Word Series event . The England victory is their first since February 2013 and puts them fourth in the series so far . The 22 points moved them onto 100 and ahead of Australia into the fourth and final Olympic qualifying position available from the series. Further spots are available for next year's Rio de Janeiro Games via regional qualifiers . South Africa still lead the way after collecting 19 for the runners-up spot to move onto 129, four clear of Fiji with only two rounds left in the series in Glasgow and London next month. The Fijians, winners of the last two tournaments in Las Vegas and Hong Kong, picked up 17 points in Tokyo after edging Canada 21-19 to finish third. Phil Burgess streaks away to score England's first of three tries in their triumph in Japan . South Africa's Cecil Afrika (centre) kicks on the run as rain stream down during the Tokyo Sevens final . The Fijian's hat-trick bid was ended by the South Africans in a nervy, error-strewn semi-final that the Blitzbokke took 7-5. New Zealand, winners of 12 of the 15 Sevens World Series titles and reigning World Cup sevens champions, endured a disappointing week in the Japanese capital, suffering a first ever loss to Canada in the quarter-finals. The 19-15 defeat sent them into the second tier Plate tournament, which they won after beating France in the last four and then Scotland in the final after Dylan Collier's try in the last play of the game. The 13 points keeping them third on 120. Tom Mitchell needs all of his strength to get to the line as South Africa's Werner Kok tries to pull him up . Mitchell holds off Kok as he just makes the line for England's third try in the important seven-point win . Trans-Tasman rivals Australia dropped to fifth after a weekend to forget in Tokyo. After losing to Portugal and Scotland in group play on Saturday, they then suffered a heartbreaking defeat to the United States in the lung-busting final of the third tier Bowl event. Perry Baker scoring the match ending try in extra time as the ever-improving Americans prevailed 17-12. Portugal won the Shield after edging Argentina 12-7 but last-placed Japan closed the gap on the Iberians

Summary: England beat South Africa 21-14 in the final at the Prince Chichibu ground . England hadn't won a tournament since Wellington in February 2013 . Phil Burgess, Charlie Hayter and Tom Mitchell scored England's tries . Win puts England fourth in series into the final Olympic qualifying spot .


Six people have been arrested in Dover on suspicion of Syria-related terrorism offences, West Midlands Police said. Five men and one woman were detained at approximately 8am this morning in the departure zone of the south coast port, according to the force's Twitter feed. Four of the men, all in their 20s, are from Birmingham, West Midlands, while a 26-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman of no fixed abode were also held. Six people were arrested at Dover this morning on suspicion of Syria-related terrorism offences, according to West Midlands Police . They are currently being questioned at a police station in the West Midlands area. Searches are taking place at a number of addresses in Birmingham and police say the arrests are part of an on-going investigation. Officers added that the suspects, who are not a family group and were not accompanied by children, did not pose any immediate risk to public safety. It comes a day after it was revealed that one of the nine Britons detained in Turkey for allegedly trying to cross the border into Syria is the son of Rochdale Labour councillor, Shakil Ahmed. Politics student Waheed Ahmed, 21, and his aunt, cousins and four children were caught by security forces in Hatay province, southern Turkey. Police are yet to confirm whether the two cases are linked. Four of the men are from Birmingham, West Midlands, and in their 20s, while a 26-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman of no fixed abode were also arrested . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Summary: Five men and one woman were arrested at 8am in the port's departure zone . The group, all in their 20s, are currently being questioned at police station . Searches taking place at a number of addresses in Birmingham, West Mids . Suspects are not a family group and were not accompanied by children .


A 19-year-old Minnesota teen has been charged with fatally stabbing a 34-year-old father-of-five after an argument on the Wisconsin side of the St Croix River.about swearing took a deadly turn. Peter Kelly, who leaves behind a wife in addition to five children under the age of nine, was killed on Tuesday night when he was stabbed in the chest after he and a friend argued with three teens. One of the teenagers, Levi Acre-Kendall, was charged with one count of first-degree reckless homicide on Friday by the Polk County attorney's office. Scroll down for video . Peter Kelly was fatally stabbed on Tuesday night at the St Croix River after an argument with three teenagers . Levi Acre-Kendall, 19, was charged with one count of first-degree reckless homicide on Friday . Kelly and his wife Christie, pictured, have four sons and a daughter all under the age of nine. He was just 34 . The suspect, who was held on $125,000 bail, is now facing a maximum sentence of 60 years of combined prison and extended supervision. During the alleged incident, Kelly and Ross Lechman were fishing on the Minnesota side of the St Croix River when they heard three teens being loud and rude on the Wisconsin side. They asked them to quiet down and heated words were exchanged for the next three hours. The suspect's mother, Lavonne Acre, said of her son: 'Levi's a good kid. He was just fishing' Kelly and Lechman eventually drover over to Interstate Park and confronted the three teenagers. There are differing accounts about what happened, but Lechman told investigators Acre-Kendall showed a knife during the argument, the Pioneer Press reported. He later reportedly said: 'Yes, yes, I stabbed him.' Lechman called 911 after the stabbing and Kelly was taken to St Croix Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Acre-Kendall's mother, Lavonne Acre, turned a knife and clothes her son was wearing on Tuesday over to police, the Star Tribune reported. She said: 'All I can tell you is that it would have never happened if it weren't for those two older men coming to the boys, because the boys were just fishing. 'Levi's a good kid. He was just fishing.' There is still uncertainty about stabbing and the argument that caused it. Polk County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Steve Moe said: 'I think it's just something that we're still aggressively working on, is all.' Acre-Kendall is now facing a maximum sentence of 60 years of combined prison and extended supervision . Now the small community in St Croix Falls, which has just 2,100 people, is mourning the loss of Kelly, who volunteered as a coach at the high school's football, baseball and wrestling teams. He would often go to work at 4am so he could get back in time to coach before dinner, fellow high school coach Dan Clark said. His day job was at Andersen Windows in Bayport, where he worked in quality control. 'He worked 10 to 12 hours a day at Andersen Windows, and he would come home and volunteer

Summary: Peter Kelly, 34, was fatally stabbed on Tuesday night at the St Croix River . Levi Acre-Kendall, 19, charged Friday with first-degree reckless homicide . Max sentence is 60 years of combined prison and extended supervision . Kelly and friend were fishing on Minnesota side of river and heard swearing . Asked three men on Wisconsin side to be quiet and an argument ensued . Kelly and friend drove over to other side and the fatal stabbing occurred . Dead man, who volunteered as a high school wrestling coach in his spare time, leaves behind a wife and five children, all under the age of nine .


A veteran Georgia middle school teacher has been removed from the classroom after she gave students her highly critical personal opinion of President Barack Obama and some parents complained. Nancy Perry will no longer teach students at Dublin Middle School and will retire at the end of the year, city schools superintendent Chuck Ledbetter announced on Tuesday. Perry is alleged to have told students that Obama is a Muslim and that any parent who support him couldn't be Christian, either. Nancy Perry, left, won't teach again at Dublin Middle School in Georgia after she gave students her highly critical personal opinion of President Barack Obama and parent Jimmie Scott complained . A 12-year-old boy in Perry's class brought the matter to the attention of his father, Jimmie Scott, who complained to the school. 'If your parents voted for Obama, they're evil and I don't see how your parents could vote for someone that's Muslim' he told WMAZ, paraphrasing Perry's alleged comments. Scott said he immediately requested a parent-teacher conference to which Perry brought along her husband Bill, who sits on the county Board of Education. Instead of discussing Nancy Perry's classroom comments, Scott says that she and her husband showed him what he described as internet propaganda. 'She showed it to me and said, "See, Obama is a baby killer. He aborts babies at nine months old as they're coming through the birth canal."' Superintendent Ledbetter said Perry was already planning on retiring before the complaint about her behavior. 'On behalf of the School District, we want to apologize to the student and to his parents,' he said at a school board meeting. Scott said he requested a parent-teacher conference, but Nancy Perry brought along her husband Bill, pictured above, who sites on the Board of Education. The pair showed him what he described as anti-Obama internet propaganda . City schools superintendent Chuck Ledbetter says school principals are now required to call the superintendent if any board member asks to sit in on parent-teacher meetings . 'It is not the place of teachers to attempt to persuade students about religious or political beliefs.' Scott also addressed the community at the meeting, saying his family had been ridiculed and had racial slurs thrown at them. Scott is black and Perry is white. 'We've lost loved ones in the community because a line was drawn,' Scott said. 'Either you were for my son or you were for the teacher.' Ledbetter also apologized for the actions of Perry's husband, who he said shouldn't have attended the parent-teacher conference. Ledbetter said school principals are now required to call the superintendent if any board member asks to sit in on a parent-teacher meeting. 'See, Obama is a baby killer. He aborts babies at nine months old' Nancy Perry is alleged to have told Jimmie Scott .

Summary: Nancy Perry won't teach again at Dublin Middle School after giving students her highly critical personal opinion of President Barack Obama . One student told his father, Jimmie Scott, who complained to the school and requested a parent-teacher conference . She is the wife of a school board member and brought her husband along to parent-teacher meeting . Scott says that Perry showed him what he described as propaganda and called the President a 'baby killer' A superintendent has said Perry was already planning on retiring before the complaint about her behavior .


Arsenal are close to signing Argentine wonderkid Maxi Romero - who has been dubbed the next Lionel Messi. The Gunners are in advanced talks with Velez Sarsfield over a £4.5million swoop for the teenage sensation. Arsenal are confident of completing a deal for the 16-year-old in the coming days. Arsenal are close to signing 16-year-old Maxi Romero from Velez Sarsfield for £4.5million . 'Arsenal have made a big offer for Maxi Romero. I don't want to talk figures just yet but it's a big offer,' confirmed Velez president Raul Gamez. Romero's agent Rolando Zarate said: 'I met with Arsene Wenger twice in London. They heard about Maxi through their scouts in South America. He is the player who has most impressed him. 'Maxi has huge potential but he is going to complete apprenticeship at a great club like Velez.' The Argentine wonderkid has been dubbed the next Lionel Messi and would stay at Velez on loan . Romero is expected to remain with Velez, on loan, for at least two more seasons before coming to England to begin his career with Arsenal. The youngster is yet to make his senior debut for Velez but has trained regularly with the first team. Arsenal are always on the lookout for young talent to join their ranks. In January they signed defensive midfielder Krystian Bielik from Polish club Legia Warsaw.

Summary: Arsenal in advanced talks with Velez Sarsfield over deal for Maxi Romero . The 16-year-old wonderkid has been dubbed the next Lionel Messi . Romero is expected to remain with Velez on loan for at least two seasons . Velez president confirmed Arsenal have made a 'big offer' for the player . Romero's agent revealed he has met twice with Arsene Wenger in London .


The beloved, traditional Anzac biscuit recipe is a simple one that features rolled oats, desiccated coconut, and golden syrup as the primary ingredients. But with so many different food tribes competing for prominence these days, be it sugar-free, raw, paleo, or #foodporn, the time-honoured recipe may not quite cut if for you and your family on April 25. FEMAIL asked well-known food authors to contribute their spin on the classic Anzac biscuit recipe, from sugar-free, to a pimped-up chocolate and macadamia version... and even a raw recipe. But how do they stack up against the original? Bake (or simply make, in the case of the raw variety) one or all of these recipes this weekend, and decide for yourself... Traditional treat: The classic ANZAC biscuit is a much-loved classic cookie . SUGAR-FREE ANZAC BISCUITS BY SARAH WILSON, I QUIT SUGAR . 'Anzacs should always have a chewy, almost tooth-cracking quality (traditionally they were rock hard) and to get this result without sugar can be tough,' says I Quit Sugar founder Sarah Wilson. 'This recipe uses rice malt syrup which is a fructose-free sweetener that, unlike sugar, doesn't cause metabolic havoc. But, as with all our recipes, we keep the sweetener to less than half a teaspoon per serve. We chuck in some macadamias to give them extra Australian love!' 'These delicious Anzac biscuits are the perfect way to celebrate Anzac day this weekend without the sugar hangover.' Yield: 25 biscuits . Prep time: 10 minutes . Cooking time: 20 minutes . Total time: 30 minutes . Ingredients . 125 g unsalted butter. ¼ cup rice malt syrup. pinch sea salt. ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda. 2 tablespoons boiling water. 1 cup rolled oats. ¾ cup desiccated coconut. 1 cup plain flour (or plain gluten-free flour). ½ cup roughly chopped macadamias. Directions . 1. Preheat oven to 150ºC/ 300ºF/ Gas Mark 2 and line baking trays with baking paper. 2. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and rice malt syrup, stirring until the mixture starts to bubble. Add a pinch of salt. 3. Combine the bicarbonate of soda with boiling water and add to butter mixture. 4. Combine remaining ingredients in a separate bowl. Pour melted butter mixture into dry ingredients and combine well. 5. Roll 1 teaspoon of mixture into a ball and place on tray, flattening into a disc. Repeat with remaining mixture, allowing room for spreading. 6. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. 7. Allow to cool on trays before transferring to a wire rack. Store in airtight container. For more recipes, visit I Quit Sugar. I quit sugar: Sarah Wilson's sugar-free recipe substitutes golden syrup and sugar for rice malt syrup . Sugar-free: 'These delicious Anzac biscuits are the perfect way to celebrate Anzac day this weekend without the sugar hangover,' says Wilson . CHOCOLATE & MACADAMIA ANZAC BISCUITS BY LORRAINE ELLIOTT, NOT QUITE NIGELLA . 'There are two types of Anzac biscuits: crunchy and chewy, and while I'll happily eat both I prefer crunchy,' says Lorraine Elliott of food blog Not Quit

Summary: Classic biscuits feature rolled oats, golden syrup and coconut . Sarah Wilson's sugar-free version substitutes rice malt syrup . Food blogger Not Quite Nigella adds chocolate . Raw foodie Taline Gabrielian came up with no-cook version of the classic .


All three of the main parties’ education spokesmen revealed they would have no problem with the next Education Secretary sending their children to private school. The outbreak of honesty among politicians came when the BBC’s Daily Politics show presenter Andrew Neil, asked if it would be a ‘acceptable for an education secretary to send their children to a private school’. Tristram Hunt, Labour’s shadow education secretary answered first and said: ‘Yes. In certain circumstances’. He also confirmed Labour could fire the thousands of ‘unqualified’ teachers across the state sector. All three of the main parties’ education spokesmen - pictured on the BBC's Daily Politics show today - revealed they would have no problem with the next Education Secretary sending their children to private school . Two of his three children go to a state primary school in north London, with the third expected to go to the same school. But he has not ruled out switching them to independent schools. In contrast, Labour leader Ed Miliband refused to publicly support Labour’s deputy Scottish Leader, Anas Sarwar, when he chose to send his son to a private school in Glasgow. Privately-educated Schools Minister David Laws – who has no children - immediately said ‘yes’ when asked whether a future education secretary should be able to send their children private. And Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, who was privately educated but sends her son to a state primary, said: ‘Yes, you do what’s right for the child.’ Ukip’s James Arnott and the Green Party’s James Humphreys also agreed that there was no problem with a future Education Secretary sending their children private – although Mr Arnott added it would be an ‘indictment’ of the quality of state schools. Just seven per cent of children in the UK are privately educated. Ukip has pledged to bring back grammar schools by converting some existing comprehensives but Mrs Morgan said it would be a ‘step backwards’ and the plan ‘does not respect the outstanding schools that we see up and down the country’. Tristram Hunt, Labour’s shadow education secretary, was asked if it was acceptable for an Education Secretary to send their child private. He said: ‘Yes. In certain circumstances’ The rare frankness about whether they would send their children private is in stark contrast to the controversy sparked by Labour left-winger Diane Abbott, who sent her son to the exclusive fee-paying City of London school. Miss Abbott had previously criticised Harriet Harman, now Labour’s deputy leader, for sending her children to a selective grammar school. While many politicians on the Left have avoided paying to send their children to get the best education, they have managed to get them into elite taxpayer-funded schools. Both Tony Blair – who converted to Catholicism after standing down – and atheist Nick Clegg, bagged places at leading London Oratory for their children. Both men are married to Catholics. Put to the three main party spokesmen that they were all privately educated and Oxbridge graduates, Mr Hunt agreed that the ‘circle is tightening’ on top professions. Mr Hunt also signalled Labour would

Summary: Main parties' school spokesmen backed right to opt out of state education . They were asked if an Education Secretary could choose private school . Labour’s shadow education secretary said: 'Yes. In certain circumstances' Education Secretary Nicky Morgan agreed, as did the Lib Dem David Laws .