Why would you spend your holiday at another nondescript hotel, when you could have your own island, and stay in a 19th century lighthouse, all for the same price as a B&B. The impressive Ile Louët is perched in the midst of Morlaix Bay in Brittany, France, and provides the perfect peaceful retreat for explorers who wish to have the ultimate secluded retreat. Groups of up to 10 guests can enjoy stunning ocean views on the quaint plot for the mere price of €200 (£145/$215) for two nights. Scroll down for video . Ile Louët is set 1148 ft from the shore in Brittany and is the perfect retreat for up to 10 guests costing just £145 . Enjoy spectacular views of the Morlaix Bay from the island that used to guide safety through the bay . The quaint cottage is a comfortable stay and can be hired for the small sum of €200 (£145) for two nights . Suitable for adventurers only, guests will lodge in the cottage once used by the lighthouse keepers, who had to manually guide boats through the waters on the Carantec coast. From 1857 to the 1960s this was done by person, and the island was inhabited until this point by the families of the guiders. The neglected property was renovated in 2004 for the use of a holiday home, and guests can journey to the haven for a few days of relaxation in the powder-blue lodging. But the property is only suitable for those who are happy to be cut off from the world, and who want to rely on being ferried over by a local sailor, for the return trip sum of €100 (£70). The secluded island has to be reached by boat, and you can hire a local sailor to transport you and your guests for the return trip sum of €100 (£70) The lighthouse keeper's cottage has a patio area, perfect for enjoying a sunset BBQ overlooking the bay . The lighthouse was used manually from 1857 to the 1960s and their families would inhabit the island with the lighthouse keeper. Despite lacking a high-tech interior, the lighthouse cottage offers spectacular views over the bay and guests can enjoy sunsets whilst having a BBQ on the cottage patio while listening the waves crash against the rocks. While the retreat sounds idyllic, guests will have to sacrifice some home comforts. The outcrop has no hot running water, and a chilly night run to the toilet awaits, as the outbuilding has been converted into a bathroom. What the bathroom lacks in facilities, however, it gains in breathtaking views. The lighthouse island is so popular that it is fully booked for 2015, but enquiries for 2016 can be made by emailing carantec@tourisme.morlaix.fr. The cottage is adorned with powder-blue shutters and has an outbuilding bathroom . Bit chilly! An old pigsty was converted to be a new bathroom, which is separate from the house . Guests are left on the island and have to arrange their own means of transport . The lighthouse island is so

Summary: The Ile Louët island is perched 350 metres out from the Morlaix Bay, in Brittany, France . Up to 10 people can rent the whole island for £145 for two nights - the same price as a quality B&B . Island comes complete with a 19th century lighthouse, quaint cottage and panoramic views .


Former Prime Minister John Howard found himself standing on the side of the road with a flat tyre recently, but luckily his driver was there to change it. Mr Howard was photographed standing on the footpath outside the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in the heart of the city as his driver got down on his knees to jack up the flash car. Felicity Waterford was waiting in the car for her daughter to finish a concert at the Conservatorium in when she noticed the vehicle and got out to offer some assistance. Scroll down for video . Former Prime Minister John Howard found himself standing on the side of the road in Sydney recently as his driver changed their flat tyre . But as she inched closer she was shocked to see the former PM standing on the footpath. 'I went up and asked if I could offer any help and I thought 'that looks like John Howard',' Ms Waterford told Daily Mail Australia. 'In this country you always help someone with a flat... (this time) it just happened to be John Howard.' With nowhere urgent to be, the former PM chatted eagerly to Ms Waterford explaining they had been driving along the Cahill Expressway when they realised they had a flat tyre. The pair pulled off and into the Conservatorium to change it. Felicity Waterford was waiting for her daughter at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music when she saw John Howard's car had a flat tyre. She asked if they needed her help before the former PM agreed to a selfie . The pair had pulled off and into the Conservatorium to change the tyre when Ms Waterford approached them . 'He was a complete gentleman and said thank you when I asked if I could help in any way, but the driver had it all taken care of,' she said. 'He was there for about 15 minutes while the tyre was changed and then they took off. The driver took care of everything. There wasn't much to do really.' But just before they did take off, Ms Waterford asked the all-important question. 'I said 'Do you mind if I take a selfie?' If these photos are anything to go by, Mr Howard was very obliging. It comes just weeks after Liberal MP Christopher Pyne was challenged to change a tyre on national television after boasting he was a 'fixer'. It comes just weeks after Liberal MP Christopher Pyne was challenged to change a tyre on national television after boasting he was a 'fixer' The Education Minister jacked up Today Show newsreader Sylvia Jeffrey's car after being tested by host Karl Stefanovic. He was labelled with the new nickname 'The Fixer' this week when he announced that he had backtracked on his controversial decision to cut 1700 research jobs. 'I'm happy to be regarded as The Fixer, I do fix things, I fix a lot of things around the house,' he said as he agreed to the challenge. 'I fixed the curriculum, fixing teacher training, fixing independent public schooling, fixing parental

Summary: Former PM John Howard's car was left with a flat tyre recently in Sydney . Felicity Waterford was waiting at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music when she spotted the black car in front . She hopped out to offer assistance when she realised it was Mr Howard . Before they raced off Ms Waterford convinced him to pose for a selfie . It comes weeks after Education Minister Christopher Pyne was challenged to change car tyre on live television after claiming to be a 'fixer'


Rangers boss Stuart McCall has revealed he was warned about taking over at Ibrox by Walter Smith - but insists he has made the right decision. The former Light Blues midfielder steered his new side to their third victory on the bounce with Sunday's 2-1 win over Hearts. It was a crucial triumph that moves Gers back into second place in the Scottish Championship and looks to have restored vital momentum ahead of the end-of-season play-offs. Stuart McCall says he was warned not to take the Rangers job but is pleased that he took the risk in the end . McCall has managed to unite a forlorn band of players since taking over a month ago and quickly transformed them into real promotion contenders. But he has revealed nine-in-a-row boss Smith - who McCall says was the 'greatest manager' he ever worked for - called to make sure the former Scotland international knew what he was letting himself in for when he agreed to replace Kenny McDowall. McCall, who still does not know if he will remain in charge beyond the summer, told TalkSport: 'Walter Smith rung me up on the day I took the job and asked if I knew what I'd let myself in for. 'But in fairness, he understood I would never have got the opportunity to manage such a wonderful club like this [were it not for the club's current circumstances]. The Gers boss has seen his new side win their last three games in a row including a crucial win over Hearts . 'Even though I knew it was a gamble and the pitfalls, just to be part of it has been great. 'Regardless of what happens at the end of the season, I have relished every minute of it and I'm thoroughly enjoying it, especially with the results being good.' Rangers' promotion hopes looked to have crumbled earlier this season as previous bosses Ally McCoist and McDowall struggled to maintain the required levels of morale and confidence amid the din generated by the club's bitter off-field civil war. Dave King's boardroom coup saw McCall brought in to rally the troops and his impact has been impressive. Kenny Miller (centre) fires home the opening goal for Rangers during Sunday's Scottish Championship game . Newly-crowned Scottish Championship winners Hearts were clapped on to the pitch by the home players at Ibrox. But it was Rangers who left the field to cheers after clinging onto victory after playing the entire second half a man down following skipper Lee McCulloch's red card just before the break. Kenny Miller and Haris Vuckic netted a pair of clinical strikes and McCall believes the quality of his side's goals only proves that the feel-good factor has returned to Glasgow's south side. He told the Rangers website: 'They were brilliant and the first was a good move down the left. On-loan Haris Vuckic (centre) curls home his sides second goal at Ibrox to put them in command . 'I think everyone knows Lee Wallace's capabilities when he gets forwards. Nicky Law has played him

Summary: Stuart McCall revealed that he was warned about taking the Rangers job . Walter Smith rang to make sure McCall was making the right decision . Rangers have now won three games on the bounce in the Championship . Kenny Miller and Haris Vuckic scored the goals in 2-1 win over Hearts . CLICK HERE for all the latest Rangers news .


When father-of-three Sean McCabe got the devastating news that he had just two months to live he set about organising the funeral - choosing the music and even booking the church. But in an extraordinary twist his cancer went into remission and he has now changed his reservation for his wedding to his fiancee Lisa Williams. Mr McCabe, 30, of Tonyrefail, south Wales, even wrote a goodbye letter to his children for his partner to read to them once he had died after he was told he had stage four Hodgkin Lymphoma. Scroll down for video . Sean McCabe planned his own funeral after he was told he had just two months to live, but after making a recovery he was told he was in remission and has rebooked the church for his wedding to Lisa Williams (left) 'When the doctors said my chances of survival were slim, all I could think about was Lisa and the kids. I didn't know how they would cope without me,' said Mr McCabe, a security guard. 'Planning my funeral seemed like a way of easing the strain for them, as it would be one less ordeal for them to deal with.' The father-of-three was diagnosed with cancer in June 2013, then aged 28, and was started on an intensive chemotherapy course. He was given the all-clear in September but just two months later told the cancer had returned in an even more aggressive form. He was expected to live for eight weeks. Mr McCabe was told his cancer had returned aggressively and is pictured after chemotherapy in 2014 . Doing all he could to cope with his diagnosis, Mr McCabe booked St David's Church for his funeral, in late January 2014. He instructed Miss Williams to ensure his favourite song, 'Who You Are' by Jessie J was played, and ordered mourners not to wear black. As preparations got underway he picked the site for his family to scatter his ashes, and penned a heart-wrenching letter to be read to his children after his death, telling them: 'I don't want to leave you or mammy, but I haven't got an option.' But he managed to make a remarkable recovery and was told his cancer is now in remission. He said: 'A year ago I was planning my funeral at that church, and now I'm planning our wedding there. The father-of-three (centre) made a miraculous recovery and is pictured with his family (from left to right) Sumer McCabe, 8, Lisa Williams, 30, Asia McCabe, 7, and Kian McCabe, 12 . Mr McCabe wrote a note to this three children to be read out to them by their mother after he died . 'When Lisa walks down the aisle with our children as page boy and flower girls I'll be fighting back tears, because we could have been in that church under very different circumstances.' He is now due to marry Miss Williams July 25, surrounded by their three children Kian, 11, eight-year-old Summer and Asia, six. The couple have been together for 12 years. Miss Williams said:

Summary: Sean McCabe was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma and was given two months to live, so he started making preparations for his death . He booked the church for his funeral and selected songs to be played . Father-of-three also penned a goodbye letter to be read to three children . Mr McCabe made recovery and cancer is now in remission, so he has rebooked the church to marry his long term partner Lisa Williams this year .


Jose Mourinho could one day make a shock return to manage Real Madrid even after his high-profile and acrimonious exit, according to Real defender Alvaro Arbeloa. The Chelsea manager ended his three-year spell in Madrid to rejoin his current club in 2013, leaving the Spanish capital amid rumours of bust-ups with senior players, including club captain Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Pepe. But right back Arbeloa, who has made 25 first-team appearances this season, says Real's door will never be closed to bringing the combustible Portuguese coach back as boss. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho could return to take charge of Real Madrid one day, says Alvaro Arbeloa . Arbeloa handed a portion of the credit for Real's Champions League win to Mourinho's groundwork . Under Carlo Ancelotti's stewardship, Real lifted the 10th European Cup that they had craved for so long . The former Liverpool defender also handed a portion of credit for last season's La Decima Champions League win to Mourinho, saying his work was the foundation of their success under Carlo Ancelotti. 'Yes there is a possibility of Jose returning to Madrid,' Arbeloa said. 'Why not? Madrid's door is not closed for a great coach. 'Mourinho has many fond memories of Real Madrid. For La Decima, we have to credit Ancelotti but Jose planted the foundations.' Mourinho left Madrid and rejoined Chelsea in 2013 and has since led his team to the brink of another title . The Special One endured a trophyless campaign in his last year with Real which he said was his worst season . Arbeloa was said to be one of Mourinho's main 'disciples' in the dressing room, and he admits he has spoken with the Chelsea manager as recently as last week. He also said that despite the talk of unrest in the camp at Real, the Special One left on good terms before joining Chelsea, particularly with expected summer transfer target Raphael Varane. Mourinho is said to be considering a £40million move for the French centre back when the transfer window opens in July. Arbeloa (left) was said to be one of Mourinho's main 'disciples' in the dressing room and the pair still talk . Mourinho's arguments with senior players including Iker Casillas, the club captain, were well documented . 'I spoke to him (Mourinho) last Friday,' Arbeloa told El Chiringuito. 'He’s happy and content in London because his family are happy and there isn’t the daily persecution he and his kids got here. 'The press emphasised (how) it ended badly but Jose ended well with most - (Luka) Modric, Varane, Diego (Lopez), Xabi (Alonso). 'Professionally he has a great team and is doing well.' Arbeloa says Mourinho is happy in London, having won the Capital One Cup with Chelsea last month . Raphael Varane, said to be a summer target for Mourinho, ended on good terms with his former manager .

Summary: Jose Mourinho left Real Madrid in 2013 after a series of public fall-outs . But Alvaro Arbeloa says he could see The Special One returning to Real . He credits Mourinho as the 'foundation' of Champions League success . Arbeloa says his spell ended well but Chelsea boss is happy in London . Mourinho is said to be on good terms with £40m target Raphael Varane .


Gearing up for tonight's NCAA championship game, a group of meerkats have been testing out their basketball skills. The critters were filmed at Indiana's Indianapolis Zoo after getting a makeshift backboard and hoop installed in their pen. Footage shows them inquisitively inspecting the piece of sports apparatus and standing tall on their back legs. However, instead of an even-surfaced court, they're forced to contend with the hilly floor of their enclosure. Spectators were seen smiling as they watched the team of animals in action. The zoo put on a range of Final Four activities over the weekend for visitors including a basketball-theme scavenger hunt. March Madness is set to come to a close tonight as the Wisconsin Badgers and Duke Blue Devils go head-to-head at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. In action: Gearing up for tonight's NCAA championship game, a group of meerkats have been testing out their basketball skills . Sporting activities: The critters were filmed at Indiana's Indianapolis Zoo after getting a makeshift backboard and hoop installed in their pen . Team work: Footage shows them inquisitively inspecting the piece of sports apparatus and standing tall on their back legs . Fancy footwork: However, instead of an even-surfaced court, they're forced to contend with the hilly floor of their enclosure .

Summary: The critters were filmed in action after getting a makeshift backboard and hoop installed in their pen . The zoo put on a range of Final Four activities over the weekend for visitors including a basketball-theme scavenger hunt . March Madness is set to come to a close tonight as the Wisconsin Badgers and Duke Blue Devils go head-to-head at the Lucas Oil Stadium .


A teenager set herself on fire after allegedly being raped by five men from her village in India – and her family reportedly told her to keep quiet about the attack. The 14-year-old is now fighting for her life in Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital with 70 per cent burns. She was allegedly gang-raped on Sunday when she went outside her house in Kosi Kalan, in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district, to relieve herself. Scroll down for video . A teenager set herself on fire after allegedly being raped by five men from her village in India. She is now recovering in Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital (pictured) She was allegedly gang-raped on Sunday when she went outside her house in Kosi Kalan, in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district, to relieve herself (file image) On Tuesday she set herself on fire using kerosene, according to NDTV, to the shock of her brother, who doused her with water. He told the broadcaster: ‘When I woke up, I saw her in flames... I poured water on her to put out the flames.’ The girl was screaming for help, according to a neighbour. The accused men have been arrested. There is a heightened sensitivity to the issue of sexual assault in India at the moment after officials last month banned India's Daughter, a documentary about the gang rape and murder of an Indian student in Delhi. Recent attacks in India have resulted in street protests with many calling for more protection for women . Officials said the documentary would cause further disorder if it was shown, following a number of protests and incidents of vigilante justice in the country. The documentary explained the brutal rape and murder of 23-year-old student Jyoti Singh, who was attacked on a bus when she returned home from the cinema. One of the six men convicted of the attack, bus driver Mukesh Singh, was interviewed in prison and told researchers that had Jyoti not fought back she would not have been killed. Her death led to protests throughout India and outraged the world. Last month an angry mob were seen on video footage beating a man to death in the street who was accused of raping and murdering an 11-year-old girl. Video footage has emerged of the brutal prolonged attack on the 18-year-old, which was watched by a jeering 1,000-strong crowd in Nagaland in eastern India. Ibo Cha was said to have been beaten for an hour before he died of his injuries. The footage was shot in September last year after the girl's body was found in woodland, enraging locals. But it only came to light after earlier this year alleged rapist Syed Sarif Khan was kidnapped from prison and dragged through the streets of the same area. He was then stripped naked and beaten to death. He was accused but not convicted of raping a 19-year-old female student multiple times. Later Nagaland Government said he was innocent. Jyoti Singh Pandey, a physiotherapy student, was gang raped as she travelled on a bus. The 23-year-old suffered in hospital for 13 days from her injuries before

Summary: She was allegedly attacked after leaving her house to relieve herself . The attack is said to have taken place in India's Uttar Pradesh region . Victim suffered 70 per cent burns after dousing herself in kerosene . Her brother apparently saw her covered in flames and threw water on her .


A babysitter broke down during her murder trial this week as she demonstrated the moment she claims a 14-month-old toddler died after his neck snapped. Michelle Heale of Tom's River, New Jersey claims she was trying to burp Mason Hess when he began choking on his applesauce, but when she pulled him off her shoulder his neck snapped backwards, killing the boy. The mother of twins, who were in the next room when the incident happened and then just three years old, was charged with murder and endangering the welfare of a child after a medical examiner determined the boy died as a result of homicide caused by blunt cerebral trauma. The prosecution has argued that Heale shook the child to death. Scroll down for video . Michelle Heale (above) breaks down during her trial for murder in the death of 14-month-old Mason Hess on Tuesday as she reenacts the moments before his neck allegedly snapped . She claims she was burping Mason Hess (above) when he began choking on his applesauce and that his neck snapped when she took him of her shoulder . Heale was babysitting Mason as she was a friend of the family (Mason's mother Kellie above) and her husband Michael and Mason's father Adam worked together as detectives . NJ.com reports that on Tuesday Heale, 46, reenacted the moment the baby boy died with a doll. She claims the young boy started coughing soon after she fed him some applesauce on August 28, 2012, and when his passageway did not seem to be getting clear, she immediately grabbed him to see if she could make him burp. 'I hit him hard on the back. I may have hit him harder than I should have,' Heale said through tears after demonstrating on the doll. 'I hit him about four or five times, and then I felt the applesauce come out. I felt it on my shoulder and I felt it on my shirt.' Thinking the crisis had been averted, she took Mason of her shoulder. 'As I brought him down, his head snapped back ... he was completely limp,' she said. 'His eyes were open, but he wasn't doing anything. ... Everything was flopping.' Mason would die on September 1 after being airlifted to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Courtesy of Asbury Park Press/APP.com . Heale (seen above crying on the stand Wednesday) is out on bail during the trial and still has custody of her twins, who were 3-years-old when the incident occurred . Medical examiners determined that Mason (above with his parents Kellie and Adam) died as a result of homicide caused by blunt cerebral trauma . Heale took the stand again on Wednesday, as she detailed her relationship with the Hess family, with her husband Michael and Mason's father Adam both employed as detectives at the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. For this reason the trial was moved to another county. The Heale and Hess families, including Mason's mother Kellie, had been friends for years. Heale spent most of her day expressing her disbelief over the situation,

Summary: Michelle Heale of Tom's River, New Jersey is on trial for murder in the death of 14-month-old Mason Hess . Heale was babysitting Mason while her husband Michael and Mason's father Adam worked together as police detectives . She claims she was burping Mason Hess when he began choking on his applesauce and that his neck snapped when she took him of her shoulder . Heale broke down demonstrating the incident to the jury . Medical examiners determined that Mason died as a result of homicide caused by blunt cerebral trauma . Heale is out on bail during the trial and still has custody of her twins, who were 3 years old when the incident occurred .


A best man left guests at his brother's wedding in tears after composing an emotional song to use as his best man's speech. Melbourne singer Daniel Buccheri, who composed the tune to the popular music from artists such as Sam Smith and the Backstreet Boys, toasted his brother Adrian and his new wife Sarah at their March 29 wedding in using his voice. The unique speech performed by Daniel at Poet's Lane in Sherbrooke, east of Melbourne, has been viewed over 100,000 times online and included tributes to his brother and his bride and also delves into his childhood and says he always looked up to his older sibling. Melbourne singer Daniel Buccheri (pictured) left guests at his brother's wedding in tears after composing an emotional song to use as his best man's speech . Daniel, 25, started off his speech in a mellow tone on the keyboard, singing of his love for his brother to the tune of Stay With Me, as his sibling began to well up at the top table. 'Guess it's true what they say that you become a man, when you find the one and you take her hand,' he sang. 'When you moved out of home, I thought, 'thank the Lord, I won't be missing you',' Mr Buccheri sang. Daniel toasted his brother Adrian (right) and his new wife Sarah (left) at their March 29 wedding in Melbourne using his voice . 25-year-old Daniel started off his speech in a mellow tone on the keyboard, singing of his love for his brother to the tune of Stay With Me, as his sibling began to well up at the top table . He goes on to document the day his brother Adrian met the love of his life and claims he 'thought he was dead' as he never saw him again. 'Then she found the ignition, got you to sweeping the kitchen, got you feeding the dogs doing the laundry and dishes,' he sang. 'And although you met on the internet I know this love is true. It's enough to let the dogs on the expensive rug and not kick them outside.' The unique speech performed by Daniel at Poet's Lane in Sherbrooke has been viewed over 100,000 times online . Daniel's speech documented his brother falling in love with Sarah, saying Adrian would mention her name in every conversation. 'It was Sarah this and Sarah that and I knew that he loved you,' he sang. He then turned to his new sister-in-law and told her she looks 'so great' on her wedding day and thanked her for making his brother so happy. 'Hey my new sister thanks for making him so happy all the time,' he sang. Daniel's speech documented his brother falling in love with Sarah, saying his brother would mention her name in every conversation . 'One day in the craziness you came along and he couldn't get you out of his head.' Desperately trying to hold back the tears, Adrian couldn't hide his emotions as Daniel began singing about their brotherly bond. 'Adrian

Summary: Daniel Buccheri left guests at his brother's wedding in tears . Mr Buccheri performed his best man's speech through song . The song documented his brother Adrian and his new wife Sarah's story . It also delved into their childhood leaving the groom filled with tears .


It is a skill employed by stand-up comedians, politicians and market traders alike – an effortless way with words that can persuade, cajole and tease. Now scientists believe they have found evidence of what may lie behind 'the gift of the gab'. Brain scans on a group of professional comedians has revealed differences in the way the brains of these 'super speakers' work while talking. The ultimate wheeler dealer, Del Boy's gift of the gab came from a difference in the way his brain worked . Compared to the less silver tongued among us, the super speakers – which also included a barrister and a radio presenter – showed less activity in a key area of the brain involved articulating and comprehending speech. This suggests that this group were putting less effort into the basic mechanics of speech, allowing them to devote more resources to what they were going to say next. Sarcasm is often described as the lowest form of wit, but it seems you need the right kind of wits in the first place to be able to recognise it. Neuroscientists have identified the area of the brain that is the key to picking up on when someone is being sarcastic. They found that people with damage to the right sagittal stratum - a bundle of white matter that lies between the cerebral cortex and subcortical structures in the brain - are unable to detect sarcasm. Stroke survivors often suffer damage to this area of their brain and struggle to recognise when family and friends are being sarcastic. Dr Joe Devlin, a neuroscientist at University College London, told the Guardian: 'The fact that they show less activity there reflects the fact that they simply find speech less effortful and I suspect part of that has to do with practice. ' The findings may also help to explain why some people dry up completely when asked to speak. Dr Devlin and his colleagues used magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brains of 17 professional comedians, a radio presenter and barrister. They were asked to lie in the scanner while talking for 30 seconds on random topics without hesitation, deviation or repetition – a task based on the BBC 4 panel show Just a Minute. Among the comedians taking part were Robin Ince, who presents a show with physicist Brian Cox, Richard Herring and Helen Keen. They were compared against a control group of students, who, according to Dr Devlin, were far less adept at the task. Super speakers were found to have less activity in Broca's region of the brain, shown in the image above . Dr Devlin said: 'One of the participants was given "Scotland" and just said "I've never been there", and that was basically it. 'We asked them to speak about "a perfect cup of tea", topics that should've been easy for everyone. 'A lot of our interest in speaking in fluency has been about things that go wrong, such as stutters. There's been almost no interest in how speech goes right.' The study revealed that the same

Summary: Scientists at University College London took MRI scans of comedians, barristers and radio hosts while they talked non stop for 30 seconds . They had lower activity in key language centre of the brain than students . It suggests 'super speakers' require less effort to talk than other people .


England have been drawn with the Republic of Ireland, Holland and Italy in Group D of the UEFA Under 17 European Championships, which take place in Bulgaria in May. John Peacock's Young Lions are the defending European champions, having defeated Holland on penalties in last year's final in Malta. And they will have to overcome the Dutch again to advance to the quarter-finals in this tournament, which has been expanded from eight to 16 nations for the first time. John Peacock's England have been drawn with Holland, Italy and Ireland at the European Championships . Danny Collinge runs away in celebration after scoring his first England goal against Norway in qualifying . Scotland, meanwhile, have been placed in Group C alongside Greece, Russia and France. Group A contains hosts Bulgaria, Croatia, Spain and Austria, while Group B has the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Belgium and Germany. The tournament will take place in the east Bulgarian venues of Burgas, Sozopol, Sliven and Stara Zagora between May 6 and 22. England reached the tournament with a 100 per cent record, having seen off Norway, Slovenia and Romania in last week's Elite Qualifying Round.

Summary: England in Group D with Holland, Italy and Republic of Ireland . Tournament takes place in Bulgaria between May 6 and 22 . John Peacock's Young Lions are the defending champions . They beat Holland on penalties to win the competition last year . Scotland drawn with Greece, Russia and France in Group C .


The Tennessee Supreme Court postponed execution dates for four inmates, effectively halting all executions while the courts decide whether current protocols for putting people to death are constitutional. Tennessee last executed a prisoner in 2009. Since then, legal challenges and problems obtaining lethal injection drugs have stalled new executions. In 2013 and 2014, the state tried to jump-start the process with a new one-drug lethal injection method and the reinstatement of the electric chair as a backup. The Tennessee Supreme Court has vacated the execution dates of the last four men on the state's death row as new lethal injection methods are challenged. Above, electrocution has been designated as a backup method . Beginning in December 2013, the court set new execution dates for 11 inmates. One inmate died in prison, and the execution dates for the others have been postponed as they approach because of legal challenges to the new methods. On Friday, the court postponed the last of the scheduled execution dates. It will set new dates after the legal questions are settled. States across the country have been struggling to find a method of execution that will stand up to legal challenges. And obtaining lethal injection drugs has been getting harder. As manufacturers have refused to sell drugs to prisons for executions, prison officials across the US have turned to compounding pharmacies, which make drugs specifically for individual clients. But those versions have also become difficult to come by because pharmacists are reluctant to expose themselves to possible harassment. Last month, the American Pharmacists Association adopted a policy discouraging its members from providing drugs for lethal injections, saying that runs contrary to the role of pharmacists as health care providers. Death row inmates challenging Tennessee's lethal injection method recently submitted an affidavit from University of Utah College of Pharmacy professor James H. Ruble that questions whether even a willing compounding pharmacist could provide the pentobarbital that Tennessee and several other states need for executions. Leroy Hall Jr, 48 (left) and Nicholas Todd Sutton, 53 (right) were both convicted of murder in 1991 and 1985, respectively. They no longer have dates for execution in Tennessee . Donald Strouth, 56 (left) and Abu-Ali Abdur'Rahman, 64 (right) were also both convicted of murder, though the European Union has called for Abdur'Rahman, who is believed to be mentally ill, to be allowed to live . Ruble says in the affidavit that the main ingredient for pentobarbital is unavailable from the six primary commercial sources that compounding pharmacists buy their ingredients from. The Tennessee Supreme Court's recent ruling will vacate the execution dates for Leroy Hall Jr, 48, Donald Wayne Strouth, 56, Nicholas Todd Sutton, 53, and Abu-Ali Abdur’Rahman, 64. Hall was convicted of premeditated murder and aggravated arson after burning his ex-girlfriend to death in 1991. Strouth was convicted of murdering a clothing store owner in 1978 by slitting his throat after he was knocked unconscious with a rock. Sutton was sentenced to death for stabbing a fellow inmate to death in 1985 after originally being sent to prison for child molestation. Abdur'Rahman,

Summary: Tennessee Supreme Court vacates execution dates for four men . Leroy Hall Jr, 48, Donald Wayne Strouth, 56, Nicholas Todd Sutton, 53, and Abu-Ali Abdur’Rahman, 64, all faced upcoming death . New executions stalled as states' new lethal injection methods scrutinized .


Peter Houston goaded his vanquished rival Alan Stubbs after Falkirk stunned Hibernian to steal a 1-0 Scottish Cup semi-final triumph at Hampden. Houston claimed that Stubbs should be examining tactical failings that led to the downfall of Hibs rather than highlighting Falkirk’s fortune on the day. The broadside was in response to Stubbs insisting it’s Hibs who fully deserve to be waiting for Inverness Caledonian Thistle or Celtic in next month’s showpiece at the national stadium after bossing the match . Craig Sibbald finally breaks the deadlock for Falkirk with a stooping header that left Hibernian hearts broken . Sibbald rises above his marker to direct his header towards goal in the heat of Hampden Park . Sibbald salutes the travelling Falkirk supporters after scoring the decisive goal in the 74th minute . The Falkirk players celebrate taking the lead against Hibernian in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park . Hibernian (3-5-2): Oxley; Forster, Hanlon, Fontaine; McGeouch, Allan, Robertson (Dja Djedje 80), Fyvie, Stevenson; El Alagui, Cummings (Malonga 87) Subs not used: Craig, Stanton, Handling, Cerny, Dunsmore . Booked: Forster, Allan . Falkirk (4-3-3):MacDonald; Duffie, McCracken, Grant, Leahy; Taiwo, Vaulks, Sibbald, Smith; (Bia Bi 45), Morgan (Muirhead 77), Alston . Subs not used: Bowman, Dick, Cooper, Blair, O'Hara . Scorer: Sibbald 74 . Booked: Taiwo . Referee: John Beaton . However, the Easter Road side failed to convert dominance into a goal and Craig Sibbald’s 75th-minute header settled the tie. Houston pinpointed that all six of his team’s goals against Hibs this season — in three wins and a draw — had come from crosses. He said: ‘After every game we’ve played against Hibs this season, they have deserved to win according to Alan. ‘What he should maybe think about is where we are getting our goals from — crosses into their box. Deal with it. ‘As a coach, I’d be concerning myself with losing goals the way Hibs lose them to us. ‘Look at the videos. They can’t deal with crosses into the box, so that’s his problem, not mine. ‘Of course, Hibs were unfortunate not to win. I’m straight up on that. They hit the crossbar and the post. ‘But rather than say only one team deserved to win, he should think about how the team beat you. Then look back at the other times. Hibernian manager Alan Stubbs (left) and Falkirk manager Peter Houston shake hands before the match . The Hibernian supporters can't quite believe their luck as Fraser Fyvie and Scott Allan both hit the woodwork . Lewis Stevenson misses from close range for Hibernian on one of those afternoon's for Alan Stubbs' side . There wasn't much too cheer about for Hibernian fans in a sparse Hampden Park crowd on Saturday . ‘They were the better football side today but don’t disrespect us by saying we didn’t deserve to win — we put a lot into the match defensively. ‘The most important thing is that we scored the goal to win the match.’ Houston’ s blast will add extra spice to the fifth meeting of

Summary: Craig Sibbald's 74th-minute header is enough to send Falkirk through . Fraser Fyvie and Scott Allan both hit the post for Hibs with the score at 0-0 . Falkirk will play either Inverness Caledonian Thistle or Celtic on May 30 .


The Queen is hiring a sous chef who can develop their technical expertise using ‘the most organic and unique sources’ from her Royal gardens. The successful applicant will have to travel to various Royal residences - including Balmoral in Scotland - for three months of the year. They must also order in 'the freshest seasonal ingredients' from the Queen's private Scottish retreat's kitchen garden and game from the Royal estates. It comes after the Queen was revealed to have surprisingly simple tastes in food – including Special K, jam sandwiches, chocolate cake, venison and scones. The former personal chef to the Queen has revealed some of her favourite foods. From Special K to venison, chocolate cake and jam sandwiches . Based mainly at Buckingham Palace, the job pays around £28,000-a-year - but there is accommodation available ‘for which there is a salary adjustment’. All meals are provided. The advert on the Royal website says: ‘Joining this unique environment, you will be part of a team responsible for delivering daily catering for up to 500 staff, as well as canapé receptions for hundreds of guests, State banquets and the preparation of small private lunches.’ The Queen enjoys afternoon tea each day which includes scones, cakes and sandwiches with no crust . The advert on the Royal website says: ‘Joining this unique environment, you will be part of a team responsible for delivering daily catering for up to 500 staff, as well as canapé receptions for hundreds of guests, State banquets and the preparation of small private lunches. ‘Working alongside a team of professional chefs, you will be confident overseeing the kitchen on a daily basis. ‘From ordering stock and menu design to serving a finished plate, you will be involved in all aspects of the catering operations. ‘Working with the freshest seasonal ingredients from the kitchen garden at Balmoral and game from the Estates, you will be encouraged to develop your technical expertise from the most organic and unique sources. ‘In a varied role, you will play an integral part in the day-to-day running of The Royal Household . ‘Although you are based at Buckingham Palace, you will also work as part of a team at other Royal residences throughout the UK, spending a total of approximately three months away from London. ‘Ideally having worked in a fine dining environment, with some experience of volume catering, you will have the confidence to take charge of the kitchen when required. ‘In return you can look forward to working in a unique and stimulating work environment, and be rewarded with a comprehensive benefits package, including 33 days holiday (inclusive of Bank Holidays), a 15% employer contribution pension scheme (with the option for flexibility - to increase contributions or draw down as salary), good accommodation and all meals provided, with training and development, as well as access to a range of recreational facilities.’ Queen’s former personal chef, Darren McGrady, reveals Her Majesty enjoys a gin and Dubonnet before bed . According to the Queen’s former personal chef, Her Majesty is a woman of simple tastes. Darren

Summary: The Queen's former personal chef has revealed her favourite foods . These include Special K, chocolate cake, scones and venison . It comes as Her Majesty has advertised for a sous chef . The role pays £28,000 a year and there will be accommodation available .


Three women who were filmed twerking in front a Second World War memorial in Russia have been jailed for hooliganism. In a YouTube video, six dancers are seen performing the provocative and popular move along to music while stood in front of the Malaya Zemlya monument in Novorossiysk, southern Russia. Prosecutors said their 'erotic and sexual twerk dance' was disrespectful to those who fought in the war and jailed two of the women for ten days and a third for 15 days. Scroll down for video . 'Hooliganism': Three women have been jailed after releasing a video of their dance group twerking in front of the Malaya Zemlya monument in Novorossiysk, southern Russia . Two others escaped with fines, while another dancer avoided punishment altogether as she was under 16 - with a reprimand being handed down to her mother instead. According to the BBC, prosecutors said: 'This incident of disrespect for the memory of war history is unacceptable and any attempts to desecrate sites of military glory will be stopped immediately.' The Youtube video currently has more than 400,000 views and sees the six dancers performing a well-choreographed one and a half minute routine. After surfacing earlier this week,it was brought to the attention of the mayor of Novorossiysk, where the women are from. The mayor was said to be 'outraged' and personally charged officials with identifying the names of the performers - who posted the video to attract new recruits to their modern dance school . 'We condemn these women. Every inch of this land is covered in blood. It is inappropriate,' said Viktoriya Dikaya, the press secretary for the city's education department. Recruitment video: The one minute 30 second clip was posted by the women to encourage people to join their dance school . Punished: Two of the girls were jailed for ten days, while a third was sentenced to 15 days in prison. Two others were fined, while the sixth dancer escaped punishment as she was under 16 . Prosecutors are now said to be carrying out checks at the institutions where the women, who were all under 30, are enrolled, to make sure they are in compliance with 'programs aimed at ensuring respect for the law among their members', reports RT.com. The Malaya Zemlya memorial, completed in 1982, commemorates a battle to free Novorossiysk from German occupation in 1943. The women's sentences come as Russia prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of the Second World War victory. The incident comes just weeks after Russian officials closed down a dance school after footage emerged of teenage students performing hip-thrusting moves on stage. The video clip, entitled Winnie the Pooh and the Bees, showed a group of teenage girls dancing in striped leotards, long socks and mini-skirts at the Orenburg dance school in southwest of the country. Condemned: Prosecutors said the women's 'erotic and sexual twerk dance' was disrespectful to those who fought in the Second World War . Increased sensitivity: The women's sentences come as Russia prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of the Second World War victory

Summary: Dancers performed popular move in front of monument in southern Russia . Video uploaded to YouTube as a recruitment tool for their dance school . Jailing women for up to 15 days, court slammed 'erotic sexual twerk dance' Just weeks ago Russian dance school was shut down after video emerged of students thrusting hips on stage .


Avid users of MSN Messenger and other instant messaging services that were popular before Facebook and Twitter will remember the ‘away’ message. And years after it was popular, Facebook is bringing back short updates in a new form – the ‘Sidebar status’. The feature lets users post a short message about what they are doing in a sidebar added to the social network’s mobile app, complete with an illustrative picture, but it's currently only available to selected people for testing. Facebook's Sidebar status feature (pictured) will let users post a short message about what they are doing in a sidebar added to the social network’s mobile app, complete with an illustrative picture . The sidebar can be accessed by swiping right on the screen and brings up a user’s most messaged friends. A Facebook spokesman told MailOnline: ‘Millions of people already use the sidebar to quickly find and contact their friends. ‘We're testing new features in this space that let you and your friends stay up to date on all the things that make up your day.’ The sidebar can be accessed by swiping right on the screen (news Feed pictured left) and brings up a user’s most messaged friends. Here, they can see short updates such as 'making blueberry scones at home' and 'watching the game at home' (right) Facebook has started collecting information about the other websites users visit, the links they click on and their searches. The social media site already harvests details people share on their profiles, including where they went to school, their interests and where they live. But under a new privacy policy – to which anyone who has signed into Facebook since February has been opted in automatically – it can track activity outside the website, including online searches and some of the details users share with retailers. A Facebook spokesman said: ‘It takes into account pages and places visited on Facebook, alongside browsing on the internet.’ She added that the changes help Facebook 'to better serve more relevant advertising to you.' The site uses cookies – small files which it places on your web browser or device – to collect information which can then be transmitted back to Facebook. The new terms were introduced as part of a wider update to Facebook's privacy policy, which - the social network claimed - was designed to make the rules easier to understand. Facebook is testing the service in Taiwan and Australia, where from today, users of the app will see short status messages under their friends’ names, The Verge reported. Users can choose from an array of small pictures, such as a bicycle or coffee cup, for example, to go with their status. As well as the addition of the images, the sidebar updates differ from a regular status updates because they don’t show up in the main News Feed. They can just be seen in the sidebar and expire after 12 hours – allowing only the person who posted them to access them again. While the updates are visible to friends, users can change the

Summary: Sidebar status is being trialled by Facebook in Taiwan and Australia . Feature lets users write a brief update to share with close friends . Such notes last for 12 hours and can be seen in the sidebar of the app . Users can choose from a number of square tiles to illustrate their message .


A group of black attorneys have called for the second officer connected to the fatal shooting of South Carolina father Walter Scott to be arrested. National Bar Association officials said that Officer Clarence Habersham, 37, who was the second policeman to arrive at the dead man's body after shooter Michael Slager, should be fired and prosecuted for filing a false report. The call comes after Slager, who has been fired from the North Charleston police and charged with murder last week, is thought to have falsified reports on the circumstances that led to Scott's death. Warning: Graphic Content Below . Scroll down for video . The National Bar Association is calling for North Chareston officer Clarence Habersham, 37 (right) to be arrested for falsifying a report about the actions of Michael Slager, 33 (left), during the death of Walter Scott . Habersham (right) was the second office to arrive at the body of Scott, 50, and did not report Slager's actions leading up to the shooting . Scott, 50, a Coast Guard veteran, was pulled over for a broken tail light last Saturday by Slager, who shot him five times in the back as he ran away from the traffic stop. The father of four's death sparked nationwide debate about police brutality and bias against black people after a witness published video contradicting the police account of the event. Slager, 33, who is white, said that he felt 'threatened' by Scott, who is black, during a confrontation over his Taser, but video shows the civilian running away before being shot. Habersham, who approached the body after Slager went to go grab the Taser that fell, can be seen examining Scott. Slager then drops the Taser next to the dead body in the presence of Habersham. Habersham then used his radio to report that Scott had gunshot wounds to his chest, right side, and backside. However, the black officer gave a two-sentence supplemental report and said that he tried to render aid to the body, which no one in the video does. On April 4, 2015 I Officer Habersham responded to the empty Lot behind Mega Pawn in reference to the above incident. I (Habersham) attempted to render aid to the victim by applying pressure to the gunshot wounds and directing the best route for EMS and fire to take to get to the victim faster. Video released after Slager's account into the death shows Scott (left) running away from the traffic stop when he is shot. Mourners have placed flowers at a memorial to the veteran (right) over the past week . Slager said after the incident that he 'felt threatened' by Scott, though video shot by Feidin Santana contradicts his report . Officers in the video are seen walking around and checking the pulse of the body. Sergeant James Gann wrote in his report that he helped Habersham administer first aid and CPR.. Feidin Santana, who filmed a widely circulated video of the incident, said he did not any officers giving Scott CPR. The National Bar Association, the country's oldest group

Summary: National Bar Association calls for Clarence Habersham, 37, to be indicted . Officer filed brief supplemental report where he said he rendered aid . Video of the incident does not show aid or CPR being administered to body of Walter Scott, who had been shot five times in the back . Officer Michael Slager, who shot Scott, faces murder charge . Scott, father of four, mourned on Saturday at funeral ceremony .


Police are hunting Peter Fox, 26, (pictured) after his mother and sister were found dead half a mile apart in an alleged double murder . A 26-year-old man wanted for the murder of his mother and sister has been arrested after being spotted by a member of the public. Peter Fox, from Liverpool, was arrested at Euston Station in London this morning on suspicion of the murders of Bernadette, 57, and Sarah Fox, 27, following a nationwide manhunt. Detectives released CCTV images of the 26-year-old leaving Liverpool Lime Street at 8.18pm on Wednesday and arriving at Euston railway station in the capital at 10.57pm. The body of his sister was found by police on Thursday night, just hours before her 57-year-old mother Bernadette was found dead at sheltered accommodation just half a mile away in Bootle, Merseyside. Merseyside Police said Mrs Fox died of asphyxiation, while her daughter was repeatedly stabbed. Bernadette and Sarah's family today said they are 'absolutely devastated' at their loss. Detective Chief Inspector Dave Rooney from Merseyside Police said: 'I can confirm that a 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murders of Bernadette and Sarah Fox this morning and is being brought back to Merseyside. 'A significant amount of work has been carried out over the weekend with the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police and I would like to thank them for their assistance. 'I would also like to thank the media and the public for their support during the weekend, which has helped us enormously.' In a statement issued through police, a spokesman for the Fox family said: 'We are absolutely devastated following the loss of Bernadette and Sarah and are still trying to come to terms with what has happened to them both. The family of Bernadette (left) and Sarah (right) have said they are 'absolutely devastated' at their loss . 'Bernadette, who was a mother of three and grandmother of three, was a very outgoing and lovely person who wouldn't harm anyone. In fact she only ever had nice things to say about people. She was so caring and would help anyone. 'And Sarah was loved by her family and well-liked by her friends and neighbours. She was a fantastic aunty and was a cheeky, bubbly and outgoing person who loved her dog. They will both be greatly missed. 'We would ask that people appreciate that this is a sad and tragic time for the family and that we are left alone to grieve in peace, whilst we try to understand what has happened.' The family urged anyone with information about the incident to contact police to help them 'find justice for Bernadette and Sarah'. Sarah Fox's body was found around 9pm on Thursday night after police received a phone call about her welfare. A neighbour had reportedly raised the alarm after seeing a dog loose on the streets. Detectives released CCTV images of Peter Fox arriving at Euston Station (right) in the capital at around 10.57pm on Wednesday night after leaving Liverpool Lime Street at 8.18pm (left) Another neighbour living

Summary: Peter Fox, 26, has been arrested in London on suspicion of double murder . His sister Sarah, 27, was found dead at her home in Bootle on Thursday . Mother Bernadette, 57, was later found dead at sheltered accommodation . Fox was arrested at Euston station after he was seen by member of public .


For a self-professed champion of women's rights, ESPN sports reporter Britt McHenry has a funny way of showing it. The 28-year-old has been suspended from the network for a week after being caught on camera telling a parking lot attendant she should 'lose some weight, baby girl', adding 'I'm on television and you're in a f---ing trailer, honey'. But according to her blog, the former model is dedicated to helping women feel 'comfortable in their own skin'. In a self-aggrandizing rant, McHenry tells her readers she is 'taking a stand' against 'sexist' commercials that focus on 'appearance alone'. It is an almost unrecognizable tone from the one she took on April 6, when she raged at towing company clerk Gina Michelle: 'Just being here makes my skin crawl... Maybe if I was missing some teeth they would hire me, huh?' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Women's rights champion? Britt McHenry encourages her blog readers to 'be the woman with a voice, not the sex-ed up body without one'. She said she posted this selfie as an example of female empowerment . Pious: Just eight days before her outburst, McHenry lectured her Facebook followers on the impact of words . Vicious: ESPN sports reporter Britt McHenry has been suspended for one week and could face further punishment after video surfaced of her berating an Advanced Towing employee in Arlington, Virginia . Glamorous: Originally from New Jersey, McHenry is a sideline reporter for ESPN based in Washington D.C. Pictured is Gina Michelle, the clerk abused by McHenry and told she needed to lose some weight . McHenry uses her blog post to lament the pressure put on women to appear a certain way. She describes a cheeseburger advert that features an almost naked woman, writing: 'When so many females fight for gender equality in pay and opportunity–still to this day in 2015–an advertisement like that only sets women back generations.' 'Women,' she pontificates, 'can be comfortable in their own skin... Be the woman with a voice, not the sex-ed up body without one.' Regaling her own life story, McHenry tells readers: 'Even at 18, and yes as a model once, I never fathomed resting on appearance alone. 'In a pre-Instagram era, I was more worried about putting my nose in a book rather than flaunting it (and other female assets) in a portfolio book. 'If a Champion Sportswear ad helped pay for my student loans, great. But, I wanted to be an attractive AND intelligent woman.' She closes with a rallying cry against the cheeseburger ad that inspired her diatribe: 'Put the burger down during the big game's party and pick up some chips and salsa. It will be my silent act of solidarity.' It seems her activism waned as she came face-to-face with mother-of-three Gina Michelle at the Advanced Towing Company after her car was removed from the parking lot of a Chinese restaurant in Arlington, Virginia. The verbal attack on April 6 was captured on a security camera as she paid to pick the vehicle up at the tow lot office. 'I’m

Summary: ESPN reporter Britt McHenry was filmed berating tow clerk Gina Michelle . Her car had been towed from a Chinese diner in Arlington, VA, on April 6 . Enraged, she insulted mother-of-three Michelle's looks, education and job . 'Lose some weight, baby girl,' McHenry told the worker in the video . However, her blog tells women to 'be comfortable in their own skin' McHenry apologized on Thursday after security footage surfaced online . Advanced Towing Co insists there are no hard feelings towards McHenry . Footage released online is believed to have been edited by the tow firm .


The dawn of a new era of space travel may be upon us after Amazon's Jeff Bezos successfully tested a vehicle that will take tourists into space. Mr Bezos' firm, called the Blue Origin company, has long spoken of its desire to take paying astronauts into the cosmos. And now it has performed the first successful test of the vehicle they hope will make that dream a reality. Scroll down for video . Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin company has completed a successful spaceflight test in West Texas (shown). The New Shepard vehicle rose to a height of 58 miles (94km) - four miles short of space - before landing. It was unmanned, but will ultimately take six people into space . The test took place from the company’s launch site in West Texas. Called New Shepard, the vehicle consists of a main booster rocket and a six-seater capsule on top, standing 60ft (18 metres) tall. The New Shepard system will take astronauts to space on suborbital journeys. It includes a Crew Capsule carrying six astronauts atop a separate rocket-powered Propulsion Module, launched from the firm's West Texas Launch Site. Following liftoff, the combined vehicles accelerate for approximately two and a half minutes. The Propulsion Module then shuts off its rocket engines and separates from the Crew Capsule. The Propulsion Module will finish its flight, descend to Earth, and autonomously perform a rocket-powered vertical landing. The Crew Capsule will go on to coast to the edge of space, providing astronauts with a view to the curvature of the Earth and the beauty of our planet. After descent and re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, the Crew Capsule will land under parachutes no more than a few miles from the launch site. In addition, the New Shepard vehicle will provide opportunities for researchers to fly experiments into space and a microgravity environment. For this, the first test flight of the entire architecture, it was unmanned - but the company hopes to soon start taking customers into space. The cost of a ticket has not yet been announced, but estimates suggest it will be around £130,000 $200,000 - similar to a flight on Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic. The difference, however, is that while Galactic relies on using a plane to slowly rise into the atmosphere, New Shepard takes off straight up and lands back on the ground. This is known as vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL). And Blue Origin is also much more secretive - with this successful test flight taking many by surprise. In video released by Blue Origin, the booster - using liquid hydrogen and oxygen - lifts the New Shepard vehicle to an altitude of 58 miles (94km). This is four miles (six kilometres) short of the official boundary of space - the Karman Line - although there does not seem to be any problems with reaching this boundary in future. Once it reached its peak altitude, accelerating at 3Gs, the booster separated from the capsule. ‘The in-space separation of the crew capsule from the propulsion module was perfect,’ Mr Bezso said in a

Summary: His Blue Origin company completed a successful test in West Texas . The New Shepard vehicle rose to a height of 58 miles before landing . It was unmanned but will ultimately take six people into space . The launch was conducted in secrecy before being released to the public .


Whistleblower Chelsea Manning has given in an in-depth interview from behind bars in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, describing the 'painful and awkward' process and conditions of transitioning to a woman from inside a military prison. Born Bradley Manning, the 27-year-old former intelligence analyst was convicted of espionage in July 2013 for sending a trove of classified documents to the WikiLeaks website and was subsequently sentenced to 35 years prison. One month after being found guilty, Manning announced that he had always identified as female and planned to start living as a woman named Chelsea Elizabeth Manning, officially switching names in April 2014. In February this year, after suing the Defense Department, Manning was approved for hormone treatment, allowing the former Army private to make the transition into a woman while serving out her sentence. Speaking: Chelsea Manning, 27, the soldier convicted of leaking a trove of secret documents and sentenced to 35 year prison, has given her first in-depth interview since announcing plans to transition into a woman . Manning, a former army private who enlisted as Bradley, has had her name officially changed to Chelsea and recently received approval to undergo hormone therapy for gender reassignment while in prison . She was also permitted to have some amenities, including makeup and underwear, but is not allowed to grow her hair long, which she sees as a major affliction. Just this month, Manning started Tweeting and interacting with supporters online from prison. There is no internet access, making it a complicated process that involves her dictating messages over the telephone. Now, Manning has done an interview for the May edition ofCosmopolitan, which was conducted through written letters back and forth. Manning said not being able to grow her hair is 'painful and awkward', because she is forced to reject one of the biggest physical transformations her body will go through now she is taking hormones. 'I am torn up,' she told the magazine. Revelations: In the new interview, Manning speaks of a tumultuous childhood, why she enlisted in the military, and realizing she was a woman trapped in a man's body . 'I get through each day OK, but at night, when I'm alone in my room, I finally burn out and crash.' Manning grew up with a dysfunction home life in Oklahoma, and that combined with bullying at school made him retreat into denial. He found solace by sneaking into his older sister's room and trying on her clothes makeup. She had a mirror that allowed you to see yourself under different lighting, which Manning found fascinating. Manning was constantly being called 'girly boy' and 'faggy' at school, however his father would tell him to 'man up' in the face of such comments. This caused Manning to get into a lot of fights at school, she says. After her mother attempted suicide and her marriage to Manning's father brokedown, she moved with her mother to Wales. Of attending high school in overseas, Manning recalled: 'I don't think I ever said "I'm gay" or "I'm trans." It was more like, "Is it normal

Summary: Chelsea Manning gave an interview to Cosmopolitan from Fort Leavenworth prison in Kansas, serving 35 years for violating the Espionage Act . After being convicted in July 2013 as Bradley Manning, she admitted having gender dysphoria and announced plans to transition into a woman . She officially changed her name last year and sued for permission to undergo hormone therapy for gender reassignment from within prison . Says it's 'painful and awkward' to be forbidden from letting her hair grow . Reveals how being deployed to Iraq made her realize life is volatile .


A volleyball-playing feline was picked to star in a national TV advert after seeing off competition from thousands of gifted animals. Tortoiseshell Mimi became an internet sensation after her owner uploaded clips of her playing the sport to Facebook. The 30-second-video was shared by thousands of people around the world and features the one-year-old cat playing with 15-year-old Joshua Teague. Joshua’s dad Phil, 56, a computer programmer, bought the cat with his wife Christine, 45, when she was eight-weeks-old in December 2013 from a seller who lived in Birmingham. Mimi was picked to star in the TV advert, which was broadcast last Wednesday (15), after Phil shared the video with the Pets at Home Facebook group earlier this month. He said: 'All the family were really excited to see the advert. Mimi the cat appears in a 30-second video showing her unique ball skills . 'We had everyone around so we could watch it together and we told all our friends that it was going to be on. 'I am really proud that our video was chosen out of thousands of entries. 'It was completely by chance that I uploaded the video on to the Pets At Home Facebook page. The cat is seen playing volleyball with 15-year-old Joshua Teague in the hallway . Mimi was picked to star in the TV advert after Phil shared the video with the Pets at Home Facebook group . 'I just saw something on there asking people to share videos and pictures of their pets so that’s what I did. I didn’t even realise it was a competition. 'The video showed Mimi playing volleyball with my son where he would throw the ball at her and she would keep batting it back. 'I had no idea it was competition so I thought it was a joke when I received an email on April 1 saying our video had been chosen for a national commercial. Mimi is seen in the video batting the ball back to Joshua every time he throws it her way . 'This kind of thing just never happens. 'She is a very talented cat. She has done many times since. 'I think she could get her own TV show.' Administrative assistant Christine said: 'I didn’t even know Phil had uploaded the video on Facebook so I thought it was an April Fools’ joke when he told me about it. 'We normally just skip the adverts when we watch programmes but we made sure to watch this one. 'Although she’s only in the advert for a few seconds, it’s nice to see her on it. 'I never thought when I filmed the video that it would end up on TV.'

Summary: A clip of Mimi playing volleyball was uploaded to Facebook . Cat saw of competition from thousands of gifted animals . Family received £20 voucher to buy treats for their cat . Owner said 'family were really excited to see the advert'


An investigation has concluded Freddie Gray broke his neck after falling head-first into the back of the police van as it was moving, it was reported today. Medical and law enforcement sources briefed on the police investigation told ABC News Gray's 'catastrophic' head injuries were consistent with hitting a bolt 'in the back door of the van'. They claimed there was 'no evidence' Gray sustained a fatal spine injury during his arrest, which was caught on camera on a street side on April 12. According to ABC's sources, Gray was standing in the van, bent over with his hand cuffed behind his back and his head pointing towards the back door. It is believed he fell into the door, breaking his neck. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . A report claims Freddie Gray broke his neck when he fell head-first into the back of the van as it was moving . Similar van: Freddie Gray was stood, bent over, with his head facing the back door of a van like this . Timeline? It is believed Gray fell head-first into the back of the van, breaking his neck, during the journey . Inside: The above diagram shows the inside the police van . Pictured: The second stop which police failed to report in their paperwork after the van journey, during which Freddie Gray sustained a 'catastrophic' head injury. It was picked up by a privately-owned security camera . According to the latest police press conference, these are the stops the van made transporting Freddie Gray . The news comes hours after Baltimore Police admitted the van transporting Gray made a previously unreported stop. The mysterious detail was picked up by a privately-owned security camera, and will be integral to the police investigation into Gray's death, which was completed and handed to the state prosecutor on Thursday morning. It is not known why the van stopped at the corner of North Fremont Ave and Mosher Street before it made another two stops then finally transported Gray to the hospital. And police have yet to clarify why Gray would have been standing without a seat belt on. Just nine days before his arrest, the Baltimore Police Department issued a new policy, making it obligatory to belt all inmates placed in the back of a transport van. Revelation: Police Commissioner Anthony Batts revealed a private security camera captured the van making an unknown stop. He refused to elaborate on the details of the new information . Police Commissioner Anthony Batts refused to elaborate on the new information. He said the contents of the report, which was completed and handed to the State Attorney at 8.50am Thursday, will remain confidential as they continue to investigate. Six officers have been suspended with pay over the incident, and the department has admitted Gray - who was asthmatic - should have been given the medical help he requested. The report that Gray fell inside the van corroborates claims he was given a 'rough ride' by the van driver, who is the only officer yet to deliver a statement to the

Summary: Medical examiner 'found Freddie Gray's catastrophic head injury was consistent with bolt in the back door of the police van' Police report suggests he was standing and fell head first into the door . Officer driving van has yet to give statement to police, sources claim . Report on Freddie Gray's arrest and death handed to State's Attorney at 8.50am ET on Thursday . It includes admission that police van made a previously unknown stop . Police Commissioner refused to elaborate on the information .


Amazon has won approval from U.S. federal regulators to test the latest version of its delivery drone outdoors, less than a month after the e-commerce powerhouse blasted regulators for being slow to approve commercial drone testing. The Federal Aviation Administration had earlier given the green light to an Amazon prototype drone in March, but the company told U.S. lawmakers less than a week later that the prototype had already become obsolete while it waited more than six months for the agency's permission. The FAA granted Amazon's request to test its new delivery drones in a letter dated Wednesday, posted on the agency's website. Scroll down for video . The company must supply monthly data to the regulators, and conduct flights at 400 feet (120 metres) orbelow and in 'visual meteorological conditions,' Amazon is developing aerial vehicles as part of Amazon Prime Air. The aircraft can travel at more than 50mph and carry loads of up to 5 pounds. About 86 percent of Amazon's deliveries are 5 pounds or less, the company said. 'We believe customers will love it, and we are committed to making Prime Air available to customers worldwide as soon as we are permitted to do so,' Amazon has said. Amazon must keep flights at an altitude of no more than 400 feet (120 meters) and no faster than 100 miles per hour (160 km per hour), according to the letter. Seattle-based Amazon.com has been pursuing its goal of sending packages to customers by air, using small, self-piloted aircraft, even as it faces public concern about safety and privacy. The company wants to use drones to deliver packages to its customers over distances of 10 miles (16 km) or more, which would require drones to travel autonomously while equipped with technology to avoid collisions with other aircraft. In February, the FAA proposed long-awaited rules to try to set U.S. guidelines for drones, addressing growing interest from both individual and corporations in using unmanned aerial vehicles. Amazon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Previously the firm blasted federal regulators for being slow to . approve commercial drone testing - and warned the United States is . falling behind other countries in the potentially lucrative area . of unmanned aviation technology. Less than a week after the Federal Aviation Administration . gave Amazon.com the green light to test a delivery drone . outdoors, the company told U.S. lawmakers that the prototype . drone had already become obsolete while the company waited more . than six months for the agency's permission. 'Nowhere outside of the United States have we been required . to wait more than one or two months to begin testing,' Misener . said in written testimony submitted to the Senate Subcommittee . on Aviation Operations, Safety and Security. Misener said Amazon had applied on Friday for permission to . test a more advanced drone system and now hopes for quicker . approval. The Amazon.com case illustrates the frustrations of many . companies and industry lobbyists, who say the U.S. regulatory . process is not keeping up with rapidly

Summary: FAA gave Amazon green light to test latest version of its drone . Had previously taken so long to approve trial design was obsolete . Amazon has been testing its drones in the UK .


Jurgen Klopp would be ideally suited for the Manchester City manager's job, according to former Germany international Dietmar Hamann. The 47-year-old announced on Wednesday he will be leaving Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season after seven successful years at the Bundesliga club. And there will undoubtedly be a number of leading European clubs interested in securing his services, including the defending Premier League champions. Jurgen Klopp announced his departure from Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday after seven years . Former Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes Klopp would be the ideal fit as manager there . Manuel Pellegrini could be on his way out at Manchester City following a poor season . City are set to end the season trophyless and Manuel Pellegrini could be on his way out. Former City midfielder Hamann believes that Klopp has 'more right to take over the job than Pellegrini ever had.' He told talkSPORT: 'What Klopp has done at Dortmund is second to none. If there is a shortlist at City, he should be up there. 'He is very well respected, he is articulate, and he speaks very good English. He doesn't hold back - he says what he thinks. 'There are no guarantees with anyone but he deserves a shot at a top club in any country. 'He has got the fire, because he is a bit younger than Pellegrini, to make him aware of what is at stake every weekend. An emotional Klopp said he believed Dortmund needed a change of manager . Klopp has already been linked with a number of leading clubs around Europe, including City and Real Madrid . Klopp won the Bundesliga title twice during his seven years as Dortmund manager . Bundesliga 2010-11, 2011-12 . German Cup 2011-12 . DFL-Supercup 2013, 2014 . T-Home Supercup 2008 . UEFA Champions League runner-up 2012-13 . German Manager of the Year 2011, 2012 . KLOPP'S RECORD AT DORTMUND . Pld 309 W 175 D 67 L 67 Win % 56.63 . 'You have got to have a relationship with the players these days or you won't succeed and he will be very good at that. 'He will be very good at getting players and people on board and that is why I think he would be a success. 'As I said, there are no guarantees anywhere, but I thnk he has got more right to take over Manchester City than Pellegrini ever had.' Klopp won two Bundesliga titles and the German Cup during his seven years at the Westfalenstadion, as well as taking them to the final of the Champions League in 2013. But he will step down in late June and seek a new challenge following a testing campaign in which Dortmund have flirted with relegation. They are currently 10th in the table having recovered their form but are 37 points behind rivals Bayern Munich. Klopp has also been touted as Carlo Ancelotti's replacement at Real Madrid, but Hamann, who also played for Bayern Munich, Newcastle United, Liverpool and Bolton, believes there is only one place he should go.

Summary: Klopp announced on Wednesday he will leave Dortmund in the summer . German manager has been linked with Manchester City and Real Madrid . Manuel Pellegrini could be leaving City after a trophyless campaign . Former City player Hamann believes he would be a good fit at the club .


Jordan Morris scored early in the second half and Juan Agudelo added his first international goal in four years as the United States beat Mexico. Morris, a 20-year-old thought to be the first university student to make the US side in at least two decades, pounced on a ball that ricocheted off defender Mario Osuna in the 49th minute and beat goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo from close range. Agudelo replaced Morris in the 65th and scored seven minutes later with a low shot from just outside the penalty area, his third international goal and first since March 2011. Jordan Morris celebrates firing USA ahead early in the second half . Morris is the first university student to be picked by USA in two decades . Juan Agudelo is mobbed by team-mates after he scored his first international goal since 2011 . Agudelo replaced Morris in the 65th minute and scored seven minutes later. Michael Bradley made a long pass from midfield and Agudelo controlled it just outside the area. He cut inside with half a dozen touches and beat Saucedo to the near post with a low shot from 19 yards. It was the third international goal for Agudelo and first since March 2011. Playing his second international match since November 2012 and his first since March last year, he dropped to his knees and was mobbed by a group of teammates. The US has beaten Mexico by 2-0 in four straight home World Cup qualifiers, all in Columbus, Ohio. Jurgen Klinsmann played a mix a young players and experienced internationals in the win over Mexico . United States fans turn out in force to watch their side in San Antonio, Texas . With the U.S. looking ahead to this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup, Jurgan Klinsmann mixed a squad of veterans and young players. Morris, who trained with the national team last May and made his debut at Ireland in November, started because captain Clint Dempsey is sidelined by a hamstring injury and Jozy Altidore was serving a one-game suspension for a red card. Mexico's best chance came late in the first half when Eduardo Herrera ran into the penalty area and poked a low cross past goalkeeper Nick Rimando into the side netting. El Tri had complained about the field conditions on Tuesday and by game time the grass was uneven, with large brown and dirt patches causing players to slip and stumble several times.

Summary: Jordan Morris scored the first goal of the game after half time . Juan Agudelo scored for the USA for the first time since 2011 . Jurgan Klinsmann's are preparing for the CONCACAF Gold Cup .


Floyd Mayweather is down to within three-and-a-half pounds of the welterweight limit with more than three weeks still to go before he meets Manny Pacquiao in the Fight of the Century. Mayweather was photographed taking the scales for the WBC’s mandatory weight check 30 days before a world title fight. The boxers are required to weigh no more than 10 per cent in excess of the 147 lb welter limit. Floyd Mayweather is down to within three-and-a-half pounds of the welterweight limit ahead of mega-fight . The electronic machine showed Mayweather at 150.5 lbs. There was a modicum of surplus fat at the sides of his waist but he looks well on track with his conditioning. Pacquiao is also understood to be comfortably within the 30-day stipulation. The checks are designed to prevent boxers draining off too much poundage at the last minute, which increases the risk of brain damage through fluid loss. Mayweather is looking to extend his 47-fight unbeaten streak when he meets Pacquiao next month . Both men will weigh-in again seven days before the fight, when they must be within five per cent of the welterweight limit. Earlier on Wednesday Mayweather took to his Instagram account to show that rest and recovery is just has important as his tough training regime. Mayweather, who is looking to extend his 47-fight unbeaten streak against the Filipino fighter, posted a video of himself receiving a SubZero recovery cool down in Las Vegas. The cold sauna, known as a Cryotherapy Chamber, is used to help rejuvenate the body after a heavy workout. A session at -200 degrees usually lasts 1-3 minutes and helps speed up muscle recovery as well as decrease inflammation and muscle soreness after exercise. The pair will go head-to-head in a $300million mega-fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2 .

Summary: Floyd Mayweather is closing in on welterweight limit, WBC checks show . Mayweather is down to within three-and-a-half pounds of his target . Boxers required to weigh no more than 10 per cent over 147lb welter limit . Manny Pacquiao is also understood to be within the 30-day stipulation . CLICK HERE to watch the official advert for the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight .


At least 65 British climbers and holidaymakers were feared missing yesterday as the death toll in the Nepal earthquake reached 2,500. On Everest, survivors described running for their lives as a ‘tsunami’ of snow and ice triggered by tremors descended on Base Camp. Up to 18 were killed and more than 60 injured when the 7.8-magnitude quake set off a huge avalanche on the world’s highest peak. Survivors described seeing tents with climbers still inside picked up and tossed across the camp before crashing down into rocks and ice. Scroll down for video . Icy terror: An avalanche appears to erupt in a cloud of snow and debris as it tears towards Everest Base Camp, where it ripped through tents with climbers still inside . As the freezing cascade tore down the mountainside in a terrifying explosion of snow and ice, a photographer captured the dramatic moment it headed straight for the camp at 17,700ft (5,380m). Aftershocks set off a series of further avalanches, prompting fears for the Britons among the hundreds of climbers left stranded by the tonnes of debris and ice blocking their routes. In Kathmandu and Pokhara, bodies lay among the rubble as buildings were reduced to matchsticks and tent cities were erected to provide shelter for the hundreds of thousands left homeless. Rescuers dug victims out from the ruins of collapsed buildings – some with their bare hands – while aid agencies warned of a humanitarian disaster and said the death toll could be far higher in more remote areas. At least 65 Britons across the region were unaccounted for last night. Everest suffered its deadliest ever day on Saturday when the avalanche struck. Google executive Daniel Fredinburg, 33, medic Marisa Eve Girawong, 28, and documentary-maker Tom Taplin, 61, were among the dead, as were several Nepali workers and sherpas. Around 1,000 people, including 400 foreigners were believed to have been on Mount Everest when the quake struck. Fears grew for their safety as survivors described how avalanches had left them stranded on the mountain, with their descent paths blocked by debris. Base Camp was said to have borne the worst of the avalanche’s impact and mountaineer Alex Gaven tweeted that it looked like it had been hit by a ‘nuclear blast’. Others described seeing ‘car-sized boulders’ and a ‘50-storey building of white’ as the avalanche thundered towards them. Frantic search: Rescue teams including Sherpas carry off an injured climber at Base Camp as others hunt for survivors among the damaged tents an equipment . Devastation: The scene as Base Camp after the freezing cascade tore down the mountainside . A rescue helicopters lifts survivors from the mountainside, as many climbers were left stranded by the avalanche . The 7.8-magnitude quake struck on Saturday and a 6.7-magnitude aftershock hit yesterday, leaving survivors afraid to return home. Landslides hampered rescue efforts and hospitals warned they could not cope with treating the injured. Although Nepal bore the brunt of the death toll, the quake claimed lives in India, Tibet and Bangladesh. Nepal is one of the world’s poorest countries and

Summary: 65 British climbers feared missing as death toll in Nepal reaches 2,500 . Survivors on Everest recall 'tsunami' of snow and ice triggered by quake . Climbers left stranded by the tonnes of debris and ice blocking their routes . In Kathmandu and Pokhara buildings were reduced to matchsticks .


Former paramedic Crsity Collins had admitted that she used ice while driving and treating patients in an effort to raise awareness about the damaging drug . A former ice addict, who worked as a paramedic while high on the drug, has made her story public in an attempt to raise awareness of the illegal substance and the lack of support available for its victims. Crsity Collins was using crystal meth every day and spending up to $500 a week to keep up her drug habit. The 30-year-old, who took herself to the emergency room six times while suffering drug induced psychosis, has slammed health services for failing to offer her support despite claiming on numerous occasions that bugs were eating her eyes. 'Because I was awake all the time I had a staph infection, but I actually believed I might have bugs in my eyes and when I went to hospital, I was having drug-induced psychosis, I would say I had mites in my eyes or fleas or bugs, ' Ms Collins told Daily Mail Australia. 'Not once was I ever asked "are you on meth or taking drugs or are you having a drug induced psychosis" or "should we get a social worker or a psych assessment". 'I don't know if they were trying to protect me because I was in the ambulance service, but either way they shouldn't have been protecting me because firstly, I was dealing with people and patients and secondly, like anyone else I deserve the best treatment and care. 'I should have never been allowed to be released so many times without a psych consultation or councillor.' The 30-year-old said she was never offered support despite checking herself into the emergency room on six occasions (right) while claiming that she had bugs in her eyes (left) 'I should have never been allowed to be released so many times without a psych consultation or councillor,' she said . Ms Collins, whose addiction was fuelled by her post traumatic stress disorder and a borderline personality disorder, first began using illegal drugs recreationally, and first tried meth, while living in Darwin. However her habit ironically escalated when she attempted to escape the city an its 'party scene' by moving back to Launceston in Tasmania, where she rekindled a relationship with an ex-boyfriend who was part of 'the same sort of scene'. 'I didn't have any friends that weren't using drugs. Everyone had it around. Pills weren't easy to come across in Launceston, it was always speed and then ice took over,' Ms Collins said. 'It made me feel like superwoman - I could do anything and run on barely any sleep, so it became something I was using on a very frequent basis. 'You could be on top of everything even while lacking sleep - long night shifts, day shifts, I could study for hours when I came home, dinner would be done, the house would be clean - and it became a way to cope with these mental illnesses that I didn't know I had.' Ms Collins has

Summary: Cristy Collins worked for the Tasmanian Ambulance Service in Launceston . She used to drive the ambulance and treat patients while high on ice . 30-year-old, who is now clean, was never offered support by hospital staff . Post traumatic stress disorder from her service in Iraq and borderline personality disorder both fuelled her drug addiction . Ms Collins has shared her story in an effort to raise awareness of the damaging drug and the lack of support available for addicts seeking help .


Activated charcoal is thought to act as a 'detox' Are you the first to jump on the latest food fad bandwagon? Do you regularly 'detox' with a green tea or a wheatgrass juice? Or pack your diet full of flax seeds and acai berry - all in the hope of improving your cholesterol, preventing cancer and promoting weight loss? Every day across the world scientists publish countless studies into the health benefits of various foods. For example, acai berries have been linked to weight loss and cancer prevention, flax seeds are thought to help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease, while coconut oil has been hailed as a weight loss aid. More recently charcoal, freekah, spiralizing and bone broth have emerged as the latest craze in healthy eating. Each comes with its own promise, with claims of 'melting away fat cells', 'supercharging the metabolism', and 'regenerating and revitalising'. But what is the truth? I am often asked in clinic about fad diets and products by patients, desperate to find a quick way to shift the pounds. Some of these fads are clearly bonkers, with no scientific evidence to back them up. Others have some basis in common-sense and may be worth including in the healthy, balanced, real-food appproach to eating that is the only way to succeed in the long term. I asked Sophie Claessens, our Vavista dietitian, to pick the 'miracle' foods from the fads... ACTIVATED CHARCOAL . Due to its use by medical professionals in the effective treatment of toxic poisoning, some believe that taking active charcoal, often in the form of a capsule can ‘detox’ the body. However it’s not as easy as that; the charcoal will only remove certain poisons and only if they have recently been ingested and are therefore not yet absorbed. Is it worth trying? No. Firstly, ‘detoxing’ is a word my colleagues and I don’t agree with. We should be aiming for an everything in moderation approach rather than a ‘binge-detox’ cycle. Secondly, activated charcoal has only been shown to be effective for acute poisoning such as certain drug-overdoses, not an accumulation of toxins over time. And what are these accumulated ‘toxins’? Calories? Fat? Carbohydrates? As far as we’re concerned, all of these contribute to a healthy balanced diet - just don’t overdo them. The spiraliser gadget turns various vegetables into spaghetti, helping to boost weight loss . SPIRALIZING . This new gadget is getting everyone in a spin. Take vegetables such as courgettes and carrots and turn them into low-carbohydrate 'spaghetti' in just a few seconds. Great to up your veg intake, increase your fibre intake and reduce your calorie intake, but is it really a healthy addition to the kitchen? Is it a healthy craze? Well, yes and no. We should all be aiming to get as much veg into our diet as possible as it provides us with a low calorie source of fibre, vitamins and minerals. But be careful not to use the spiraliser vegetables as a replacement for complex starchy carbohydrates like pasta, which are

Summary: Dietitian Sophie Claessens picks the latest 'miracle' foods from fads . Charcoal to 'detox', while freekah is new supergrain on the culinary scene . Fermented foods like pickled cabbage act like a probiotic yoghurt . And spiralizers to create vegetable spaghetti can help boost weight loss .


The Andaz Liverpool Street hotel in London used to be bedlam, but not through cavalier management, rebellious staff or disruptive guests. The Victorian building that houses it is built on the site of England’s first hospital for the mentally ill - the Bethlehem Royal Hospital, which opened in 1247 and was often pronounced as ‘bedlam’. Fast forward a few centuries and in its place is a swanky, celebrity-baiting boutique hotel with 267 rooms - four of which have been decorated by trendy artists. And instead of mental health patients, it's the likes of Beyonce, Lil Kim and Lady Gaga that stay here these days. Silence is golden: Step into the Andaz Liverpool Street lobby and you're in a world of hushed swankery . Star guests: The likes of Lady Gaga (right) and Beyonce (left) are fans of the Andaz Liverpool Street . Historic: Andaz Liverpool Street is built on the site of England's first hospital for the mentally ill . The striking thing about walking into the lobby is just how serene it is. Despite its proximity to one of the country’s busiest railway stations and the frenetic Bishopsgate road, the foyer is a place of almost temple-like peacefulness, as if hermetically sealed from the outside. ‘Who turned off London?’ I ask my girlfriend as we walk in. The check-in system is very Apple Store. The foyer doesn’t have a reception, it has amiable youngsters swanning around with iPads, which you use to register. Our room on the third floor matches the foyer in the hushed stakes, with the traffic noise quite marvellously suppressed. Even emergency service sirens are little more than distant bleeps. The vibe in this Large King room is minimalist chic, with two distinctive red Eames chairs and a sleek wooden desk with Jacob Jacobsen lamp. But we’ve chosen it for a certain bespoke flourish, for this is one of four rooms in the Andaz which has been decorated by trendy artists. Our room has a gigantic mural created by Patrick Vale and Paul Davis called One Day Walk plastered across one of the walls. The three other ‘art rooms’ contain works by Chris Price and his wife and collaborator Delisia Howard, design studio ILoveDust and Patrick Morgan. Art of the matter: MailOnline stays in the Andaz's quirky One Day Walk room, which features a huge mural by Patrick Vale and Paul Davis . Big draw: Patrick Vale (right) and Paul Davis (left) put the finishing touches on their amazing One Day Walk picture . Creative: The Pearly Room - also king-sized - features a flamboyant piece of art by Chris Price . Easel does it: Internationally renowned British artist Patrick Morgan reveals his Andaz street art room - The Day The Flower Rose . Multi-disciplinary English Artists ILoveDust’s East My Dust street art room will also appeal to those who fancy a quirky twist to their stay . One Day Walk is a celebration of the hotel’s east side locale, documenting a nine-hour walk the artists took that began with breakfast at St John Bread And Wine and

Summary: Andaz Liverpool Street is built on the site of the Bethlehem Hospital which housed the mentally ill . Dating back to 1247, most people will know the institution by the name 'bedlam' These days it's a swanky celebrity-baiting hotel with 267 rooms and celebrity guests including Beyonce and Lil Kim . Four of the king rooms are decorated with mesmerising murals created by artists . Hotel hosts a candlelit dinner in its 1901 restaurant once a month .