A Massachusetts police department was forced to pay a $500 Bitcoin ransom to hackers who encrypted vital records on their computer network. Tewksbury Police Department came under attack by criminals who infected their network with a form of Internet malware in December before demanding money to decrypt the files. The program called CryptoLocker infects through an e-mail and then scrambles the data on the computer. It caused police systems to be down between four and five days, according to Tewksbury Town Crier. Tewksbury Police Department (above) came under attack by hackers which encrypted their computers' files using a malware program called CryptoLocker. They were forced to pay a $500 in Bitcoinransom . The only files that were not corrupted were 18 months old, so cops were left paying the ransom in the untraceable digital currency or they risked losing the data forever, according to the Boston Globe. 'Nobody wants to negotiate with terrorists. Nobody wants to pay terrorists,' Police Chief Timothy Sheehan told the Town Crier. 'We did everything we possibly could. 'It was an eye opening experience, I can tell you right now. It made you feel that you lost control of everything. Paying the Bitcoin ransom was the last resort.' Police Chief Timothy Sheehan said: 'It made you feel that you lost control of everything. Paying the Bitcoin ransom was the last resort' The department was hit with the ransomware on December 7 when access to the infected computers became restricted and a payment was required to recover the files. Police became aware of the malware infection the following day. Computers were hit with a more recent form of CryptoLocker that authorities did not have the key to, said Sheehan. It is believed that the Officer In Charge's computer became infected and the virus traveled to the largest store of data on the network which held files including arrest logs, motor vehicle records, calls for service and records management, according to the Town Crier. CryptoLocker is malware that is often installed on computers at the same time. CryptoLocker locks your computer, encrypts files and demands a ransom for them to be unlocked. Computers can become corrupted through phishing emails that include malicious attachments and pop-up ads. According to reports from last year, the U.S. Government admitted that at least one police force has been forced to pay a $750 ransom to release sensitive files. When a Tewksbury officer tried to access the data, a demand for $500 was sent from a web address and account that is untraceable by authorities including the FBI and National Security Agency. After this sort of infection occurs there are only two options which include accessing the most recent back-up or paying the ransom. As Tewksbury's back-up was corrupted they were forced to pay the ransom, but Sheehan also noted that the malware infection was not a data breach. 'This isn't a breach. [The data] stays interior, but this virus encrypts it and prevents it from being readable,' Sheehan told the Town Crier. Tewksbury is not the first police department to be a victim of

Summary: Tewksbury Police Department was attacked by criminals who infected their network with malware program called CryptoLocker . CryptoLocker restricts access to infected computers and demands payment to recover files . Police systems were down between four and five days, and ransom was paid in digital currency by cops in bid to not lose data forever .


For most workers, being told they're getting a raise at work is a cause for celebration, but not for these builders in China. That's because they're constructing a mountain road thousands of feet above the ground in Pingjiang County, Hunan province. With no ropes or safety harnesses, and only hard hats to protect them if they fall, these men spend their days hauling heavy planks and wheelbarrows full of cement over a rickety wooden walkway. On the edge: Workers in China have been pictured building a walkway for tourists while perched thousands of feet up a mountain side in Pingjiang County, Hunan province . Precarious: The men spend their days carrying heavy planks of wood and wheelbarrows full of concrete across a flimsy-looking wooden walkway with so safety harnesses or ropes . Tipping point: Here, the builders are left standing on nothing more than rusty-looking scaffolding poles as they hammer them into the rock to extend the road further round the cliff . Attraction: Pingjiang is dominated by the Mufu mountain range and officials have tried to attract visitors to the small county by construction precarious walkways such as this one for tourists to walk along . In other images the builders can be seen perched on nothing more than rusty metal scaffolding poles as they hammer them into the mountainside to extend the walkway. Chinese officials hope that the road will draw thousands more tourists to the area, as they flock to walk along the scenic route. Pingjiang County is well-known for its mountains, with the Mufu Mountain range sweeping through most of the province, and the national park there already attracts thousands of sightseers. Local authorities have tried to capitalise on this popularity by building a winding series of mountain roads and glass walkways along some of the sheerest cliff faces. Under construction: The workers first assemble the scaffolding poles along the cliff before constructing a walkway of wooden planks along the top, and then use this as a base to construct a more stable concrete path . Don't look down: Without ropes or safety harnesses, and with only hard hats to protect them if they fall, these men assemble scaffolding along the cliff, which is the first stage of extending the walkway . Nerve-wracking: With little or no safety equipment, these are the brave men charged with helping to build this tourist attraction in Pingjiang County, south eastern China, which officials hope will bring tourists to the area . Danger: These men pour heavy concrete into moulds set into the mountain walls, with the whole structure balanced on top of wooden planks and rusty scaffolding poles . It is not known exactly where this walkway is being constructed, but it is very similar in appearance to another mountain path being built along the side of Shifou Mountain, in nearby Jiangxi province. That road has been under construction since at least 2011, and also saw workers balancing on a flimsy 3ft-wide wooden walkway thousands of feet up a mountain. Once completed, that road would have stretched for nearly two miles

Summary: Workers carry heavy planks and wheelbarrows full of concrete across wooden walkway thousands of feet in the air . Men, who are just one step from death, have no ropes or safety harnesses and only hard hats to cushion their fall . Officials in Pingjiang County, Hunan province, hope the path will attract thousands of tourists when it is complete .


Judges have caused controversy by ordering that the parents of nine children involved in plots to travel to Syria should have their identities hidden. They include three terror suspects who have all previously been named but now cannot be identified to protect their youngsters from the glare of publicity. Also among the parents are a couple who lied to the authorities about losing their daughter’s passport. Scroll down for video . All smiles: Waheed Ahmed, son of Labour councillor Shakil Ahmed, after being held on the Syrian border . Critics argue that the parents should be named because they could be extremists and therefore a risk to other members of the public. One case involves a family of nine Britons – three men, two women and four children aged between one and 11 – who were caught trying to get into lawless Syria from Turkey last week. The group, from Rochdale, were led by 21-year-old politics undergraduate Waheed Ahmed, the son of Shakil Ahmed – a respected Labour councillor who was photographed with Ed Miliband just months ago. Anonymity orders were granted to shield the children from the glare of publicity. But the draconian orders mean three of the adults must also have their identities hidden even though they are terror suspects. In a separate case, the High Court banned the naming of five girls, aged 15 and 16, who had their passports confiscated after they showed an interest in Islamic extremism. Four attended Bethnal Green Academy in East London while the fifth is home schooled. Counter-terrorism police have taken over the probe into the shooting of a Syrian imam in London amid fears he was murdered by a professional hit squad. Abdul Hadi Arwani, a fierce critic of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, was gunned down in Wembley as he sat in his car. Scotland Yard’s Homicide and Major Crime Command was leading the probe but counter-terrorism officers have taken over due to its potential ‘international dimensions’. They are understood to be examining his links to groups which oppose the Syrian regime. The girls were granted anonymity because they were juveniles. But this means the identities of their parents must also be hidden behind a cloak of secrecy. These include the couple who lied to the authorities about their daughter’s passport. Police and social services had sought to seize it because they were concerned the teenager had been radicalised. Counter-terrorism officers wanted to ensure she did not follow in the footsteps of four other pupils from the school – Kadiza Sultana, Shamima Begum, Amira Abase and Sharmeena Begum – who ran away to join Islamic State. But when approached by police, social workers and teachers, her mother and father insisted the passport had disappeared and, in any case, had expired. Later, police discovered the girl’s passport remained valid until 2016. A High Court judge said the failure to disclose the truth was ‘manifestly highly relevant’ in the decision to impose a travel ban on the vulnerable child. Mr Justice Hayden, sitting in the family division of the High Court, said: ‘I have

Summary: Parents of nine children involved in plots to travel to Syria are affected . They include three terror suspects who have all previously been named . Critics argue parents should be named because they could be extremists .


The girlfriend of a teenager with a life-threatening tumour has spoken of how his condition has left him paralysed and unable to dress himself. Jahnae Jackson has put her psychology studies on hold in order to care for her long-term boyfriend, Jackson Byrnes after he was diagnosed with a stage four brain tumour four weeks ago. The 18-year-olds from northern NSW have raised over $80,000 from community generosity for his life-saving surgery to be performed on Wednesday by renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Charlie Teo. 'He's already paralysed and I have to help him do many things, including dress him' Jahnae told Daily Mail Australia. Jackson's girlfriend Jahnae Jackson (right) noticed he had developed a lump three weeks ago and prompted him to visit a doctor who requested an MRI . For the past week Jackson and girlfriend have been desperately raising the sum needed to pay the hospital . Jahnae knew they needed a second opinion, so she hunted online for specialist who was willing . Three weeks ago Jackson was told by doctors that the tumour was too deep and aggressive to be safely operated on. Jahnae knew they needed a second opinion, so she hunted online for a specialist who was willing to perform Jackson's urgent surgery and that's when she found Dr. Charlie Teo from The Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney. 'I had to be positive for Jackson as I knew there was always a way to help,' she said. On Monday morning they reached the target on their GoFundMe page, and although they still need an additional $45,000 to cover chemotherapy and other hospital fees, they are overwhelmed by the community support from the small town of Casino in northern NSW. 'It's absolutely unbelievable that a small town can do so much,' Jahnae said. 'It makes us feel so much better.' Although Jackson's surgery is likely to save his life, he still has a long road of rehabilitation in front of him as he will be left paralysed for some time. 'I was devastated when I found out, but I couldn't really react,' she said. The 18-year-old completed school at the end of last year and admits she wanted to go to university to study psychology or social work but has put it off due to Jackson's condition. 'I'd rather help my boyfriend out and worry about university later,' she said. Although Jackson's surgery is likely to save his life, he still has a long road of rehabilitation in front of him as he will be left paralysed for some time. Jackson said he has no nerves for the operation and instead wants to get it over and done with . After desperately fundraising for a week and finally reaching his goal, Jackson said he has no nerves for the operation. 'I just want to get in there and get it over and done with,' Jackson told Daily Mail Australia. 'I'm just really thankful to the community as I didn't think we would raise this much money, it all happened so quickly.' Dr Teo, director of Sydney's Centre

Summary: Teen with deadly brain tumour has raised $80,000 for emergency surgery . 18-year-old Jackson Byrnes and his girlfriend Jahnae Jackson, 18, are preparing for him to go under the knife on Wednesday morning . He was told by doctors it was too aggressive to operate on . But Jahnae found Dr Teo who would do the operation with upfront fee . The couple turned to GoFundMe to raise the money for the urgent surgery . The risky operation will likely see him end up paralysed down his left side .


This sleepy little squirrel forgot who he was when he woke up – sticking his tongue out for the camera like a lizard. The adorable creature had been taking a nap on a coconut leaf in the early morning sun in India, when he gave a big yawn and flicked out his tongue. The cute moment was captured by 19-year-old student, Ranajit Roy in his hometown of Bengaluru. The sleepy squirrel sticks out his tongue after waking up from a nap on a coconut leaf in India . The palm squirrel lets outs a big yawn after waking up. The species are found naturally in India and Sri Lanka . He said: 'I was up early and walking when I spotted the Indian palm squirrel asleep in a tree. 'I thought it would be great to catch some photographs of him waking up. 'As he stirred, he began yawning and he stuck out his little pink tongue.' Ranajit spent five minutes snapping the photographs, before the squirrel ran off to start his day. Photographer and student Ranajit Roy spent five minutes taking pictures of the palm squirrel in his hometown . The 19-year-old said he thought the photographs were 'lucky', adding: 'I was in the right place at the right time.' He says: 'I love animals and I really enjoy sitting in a quiet place and listening to the birds. 'I spend time outside with the animals and I always keep my eyes open to see if there is anything to photograph in my surroundings. 'The squirrel photographs were just so lucky. I was definitely in the right place at the right time.' The Indian palm squirrel, also known as three-striped palm squirrel, is found naturally in India and Sri Lanka. The palm squirrel is about the size of a large chipmunk, with a bushy tail slightly shorter than its body .

Summary: Adorable creature imitates a lizard after waking up from a nap in the sun . Photographer Ranajit Roy spent five minutes taking the cute photographs . 'I was definitely in the right place at the right time', says 19-year-old .


Conrad Clitheroe, left, and Gary Cooper, right, were thrown in jail after being arrested for writing down aircraft registration numbers in Dubai . A planespotter held with two friends in an Abu Dhabi jail has run out of medicine for his serious heart condition. Conrad Clitheroe, from Stockport, is in a cell with friends Gary Cooper and Neil Munro - also from Greater Manchester. But the 54-year-old's wife says he has now run out of a blood pressure medication - and claims guards 'don't care'. None of the men have been charged with any offence since they were transferred there from Dubai. They were arrested in February at Fujairah Airport over claims they were a 'threat to national security'. They were placed in a cell on February 21, missing their flight home the next day. A judge has since extended their custody licence, which will be up again on April 12. The families of Mr Clitheroe and Mr Cooper have paid £9,000 for lawyer Naseer Hashem – but claim he has been out of touch. Mr Clitheroe's wife Valerie said: 'We haven't been able to get him for a week. The Prime Minister's office has replied saying there is nothing they can do to help. 'I only speak to Conrad once a week now – he's said he's run out of blood pressure medication but the guards don't care. 'I've asked the consulate to help but I'm worried.' The couple were planning to spend Easter in Spain. Now Mrs Clitheroe hopes her husband will be home for the next milestone – their first wedding anniversary on May 9. She added: 'I so hope he's home. We've heard nothing, the lawyer won't answer and neither will the charity Detained in Dubai. 'They are just ignoring us. I'm not doing very well at all, I'm just hoping something will happen next Sunday. But if it's another extension I just don't know how the guys will cope.' Hobby: Mr Clitheroe posted this picture from the Sheraton Deira Hotel in Dubai on February 19 saying he was 'plane spotting in the dark' A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: 'We can confirm that three British nationals were detained in Fujairah, UAE on 21 February. They have subsequently been transferred to Abu Dhabi, UAE. 'We are providing consular assistance to the individuals and their families.' Mrs Clitheroe says the three friends were driving past Fujairah Airport, spotting planes and taking notes when they were arrested. Her husband has insisted throughout that they did not take any photographs – heeding warnings on planespotter forums. A crowd-funding site has raised more than £4,300.

Summary: Conrad Clitheroe is in a jail with friends Gary Cooper and Neil Munro . The 54-year-old says he has run out of a vital blood pressure medicine . Men arrested at Fujairah Airport after 'spotting planes and taking notes' They have not been charged with any offence since arrival from Dubai .


Eight animals are dead, including at least one alligator that once belonged to Michael Jackson, after a fire last week destroyed two enclosures at a zoological park in Oklahoma. Authorities suspect an arsonist is to blame for the March 26 fire that left seven alligators and a crocodile 'boiled to death' at the Garold Wayne Interactive Zoological Park, News OK reports. The fire was set in the early morning hours that March day and Joe Schreibvogel, the founder of the zoo, said not only did the alleged criminal set the fire, but also stole a large amount of equipment Schreibvogel used to record his independently produced television show, JoeExotic TV. Alligators: At least one of Michael Jackson's alligators (photographed) from his Neverland Ranch died ina fire at the Garold Wayne Interactive Zoological Park in Oklahoma . Escaped: Eight animals died in the fire that destroyed two reptiles enclosures and one alligator reportedly escaped . 'This was personal,' he told News OK. 'They targeted the studio to shut me up. They wanted to get me off the air...or else they would’ve targeted something else [in the Park].' In addition to destroying the two reptile enclosures, the fire also destroyed a video production studio. Garvin County Sheriff Larry Rhodes told KJRH that the fire was arson and most likely an attempt to cover up a burglary or theft. Only one alligator escaped the blaze. KJRH reports that one alligator that reportedly belonged to the self-proclaimed King of Pop suffered severe smoke inhalation but is in recovery. Destroyed: Not only did the alleged criminal set the fire, but also stole a large amount of equipment Joe Schreibvogel, the founder of the zoo, used to record his independently produced television show, JoeExotic TV . Arson: Officials say an arson investigator has not officially declared the incident a case of arson, but has ruled out other likely causes like electrical issues and lightning from recent storms in the area . All Times: Schreibvogel said that, despite the fire, the park will remain open but armed security guards will be on duty at all times . Schreibvogel told News OK he is often targeted by animal rights groups and extremists, calling them 'animal terroristst.' He said it is an 'ongoing pattern,' noting that he has received threats before. 'It is more of disgust,' He told KJRH of his feelings toward the incident. 'If somebody has an issue with the zoo or an issue with me personally then take it up with me. 'These animals didn't deserved to be burned to death.' Rhodes told News OK that an arson investigator has not officially declared the incident a case of arson, but has ruled out other likely causes like electrical issues and lightning from recent storms in the area. King of Pop: After the worldwide mega-star died in 2009, the animals that made up his massive menagerie were spread across the U.S. to animals preserves, sanctuaries, and animal enthusiasts . No one has been arrested or charged in the case. Schreibvogel, who reportedly filed for bankruptcy in 2013, said repairs

Summary: Eight animals are dead, including at least one alligator that once belonged to Michael Jackson after a fire last week at an Oklahoma zoo . The zoo's founder, Joe Schreibvogel, said the fire was most likely set by rogue animal rights activists who have been targeting the zoo . Schreibvogel: 'The building can be replaced...Michael Jackson's alligators cannot be replaced'


Swansea's England Under 21 international Tom Carroll faces up to six weeks on the sidelines due to ankle ligament damage. Carroll, who is on loan from Tottenham, was hurt during England Under 21s' 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic last Friday. He scored the only goal as England triumphed in Prague. Tom Carroll celebrates after scoring the winning goal for England Under 21s against Czech Republic . The Swansea midfielder is mobbed by his team-mates after steering the U21s to victory on Friday . Carroll has made 18 appearances for Swansea during his season-long loan spell from Tottenham . A Swansea spokesman has confirmed that the 22-year-old midfielder is now expected to be out for between four and six weeks. Carroll has so far made 18 appearances for the Swans after joining them last summer on a season-long loan. Swansea manager Garry Monk, meanwhile, is understood to be awaiting results of a scan on winger Jefferson Montero, who reportedly suffered a muscle strain playing for Ecuador against Mexico last weekend. Swansea resume their Barclays Premier League on campaign on Saturday when they host Hull City.

Summary: Swansea midfielder Tom Carroll is on a season-long loan from Tottenham . The 22-year-old has featured 18 times for the Swans this season . Carroll could be out for up to six weeks after injuring his ankle . He scored the only goal during England U21s' win against Czech Republic .


A former Utah high school teacher accused of having sex with three of her male students took a plea deal Wednesday to avoid a trial, sobbing as she accepted the agreement in court. One of the boys was 16 and two were 17 when they were having sex with Davis High School English teacher Brianne Altice, 35. One testified that he considered her to be his girlfriend during their yearlong tryst. But the boys were all minors, and Utah law also says a person cannot consent to sex if the other person is in a position of special trust. Altice could face up to 45 years in prison when she is sentenced next month. Scroll down for video . Guilty: Former Davis High School English teacher Brianne Altice, 35, pictured here in court on Wednesday, pleaded guilty to three counts of forcible sexual abuse involving three male students . Lengthy prison sentence: Altice accepted the agreement in exchange for prosecutors dropping 11 other counts, including several first-degree felonies. She could face up to 45 years in prison when she is sentenced next month . Altice pleaded guilty to three counts of forcible sexual abuse in exchange for prosecutors dropping 11 other counts, including several first-degree felonies. School officials knew about Altice's inappropriate behavior and didn't do enough to protect the students, the boys and their parents say. In one of two lawsuits filed against the Davis School District, the plaintiffs said the running joke at the high school was, ‘Who is Ms. Altice sleeping with now?’ Davis School District spokesman Chris Williams said he would love to comment on the allegations but that the civil lawsuit precludes him from saying anything. Prosecutor Susan Hunt said the three victims are on board with the plea deal, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Altice is scheduled to be sentenced May 28. Each count carries a possible sentence of 1 to 15 years in prison. Altice's attorney, Ed Brass, said his client wanted to resolve a case to avoid risking an uncertain outcome at trial. Brass previously defended Altice, saying she was no longer the boys' teacher when the sex occurred. Altice's attorney said his client, pictured in court back in January, wanted to resolve a case to avoid risking an uncertain outcome at trial . Altice was first arrested in October 2013 after a student reported having a relationship with her. Two more victims later came forward with similar allegations. She was out on bail during most of the criminal proceedings until allegations emerged earlier this year that she had sex with the third victim following her 2013 arrest. A judge ordered her to jail, where she's been for the three months. Brass asked the judge Wednesday to let Altice out on bail until her sentencing, but the judge denied the request. Brianne Altice was hired by the Davis County School District in 2004 and had been teaching at the high school since August 2012. She was put on leave from the school after the allegations came to light and later fired in February 2014.

Summary: Former Davis High School English teacher Brianne Altice pleaded guilty to three counts of forcible sexual abuse involving three male students . One victim testified that he considered married teacher to be his girlfriend during their yearlong tryst . Two of the boys have filed lawsuits against school district for failing to fire Altice . Each criminal count against teacher carries 1 to 15 years in prison .


A gang of eight dug a 50m underground tunnel in an attempt to steal the ancient treasures inside a 1,400-year-old temple. The real-life tomb raiders began their daring plan by renting a restaurant across the road from Guanghui Temple in Zhengdin County, North China at the start of February. And while serving snacks to the public at the front of the building, a team on the inside was hard at work with shovels, ladders, and power drills - digging their way towards the temple's famous Hua Pagoda. Audacious plot: A seven-metre deep tunnel, which led to a 50m-long underground passage, was discovered by police when they raided the gang's property - across the road from Guanghui Temple . Historical site: The temple dates back to the Tang Dynasty and the Hua Pagoda (pictured) is nationally protected . The Criminal Investigation Bureau was tipped off about the group's audacious plan at the beginning of March and a task force was assigned to the case, reports People's Daily Online. After two days of investigation, police officers located the tunnel and were able to determine its source. They launched a sting operation four days later and five gang members were arrested - all of who confessed to plans to steal artefacts beneath the pagoda. The gang was just 20 metres away from breaching the Hua Pagoda when they were caught. Evidence of plan: Dozens of bags of earth dug up by the gang during their tunnelling were also found by police . Police questioning revealed that the gang's leader is a man named Zhang from Tianjin, North China. Zhang is a known artefact thief and his associates have also been involved in similar crimes in the past. They were able to hide their construction equipment from the rented property's landlord for more than a month - as it's thought they began digging around the Chinese New Year. After removing a board on the restaurant's floor, police discovered a seven-metre-deep tunnel that opened into a passage leading towards the Hua pagoda located 70 metres away. Almost succeeded: The gang had dug 50 metres towards the Hua Pagoda and were just 20 metres away from breaching it when they were foiled by police . Secret underground lair: The tunnel was around 50 metres long when the criminal gang was caught on March 6 . The tunnel was around 50 metres long when the gang was caught on March 6. Five were arrested and three people are still on the run. Guanghui Temple was built in Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and renovated in the five Dynasties (908-960 AD). It was destroyed during the war in late Qing Dynasty and the pagoda was the only monument remained intact. The Hua Pagoda is included in the Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level (MHCSPNL) in 1961. Known to police: The gang's leader, Zhang, who was arrested, has a history of artefact theft . Concealed: The gang were able to hide their construction equipment from the rented property's landlord for more than a month . Raided by police:

Summary: Gang hatched an audacious plot to rob Guanghui Temple in North China . Plan involved renting restaurant across the street and digging 70m tunnel . But before they could breach temple, police were tipped off about the heist . 5 men were arrested including the gang's leader, a well-known artefact thief .


A 12-year-old girl battling Leukemia for two years has been kicked out of school for her lack of attendance. 'I didn't do anything wrong, but they still got rid of me,' Rose McGrath of battle Creek, Michigan said tearfully. Last week St. Joseph's Middle School, a private Catholic School, sent a letter to Rose McGrath and her dismissing her from the school for low attendance and poor academic performance. Scroll down for video . Heartbroken: 'I didn't do anything wrong, but they still got rid of me,' Rose McGrath of battle Creek, Michigan said tearfully of her school kicking her out for poor attendance because of her Leukemia . Dismissed: John Fleckenstein, with Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools, claims that the school made many accommodations for Rose and that none of them seemed to help her enough . Rose's mother Barbara McGrath was just as heartbroken to hear the news and said even though her daughter is no longer getting cancer treatment, that her recovery will take some time. 'Even though she's now done with her treatments you still have a very long recovery process because you've basically just put two and a half years of poison into your body. You're not recovering overnight,' said Rose's mother, Barbara McGrath. Rose has been attending the Battle Creek Catholic Schools her whole entire life and when she was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia her world was turned upside down. Rose told WWMT that school was the one place that she actually felt normal. 'When I'm at home, I'm sick, I don't feel well; no one else does that. But when I'm at school I'm like everyone else,' Rose said. A struggle: Rose was diagnosed with leukemia in 2012 and though she is done with her treatment she still feels ill and has trouble attending her classes and finishing her schoolwork . Not having fun: Rose's mother says her daughter isn't skipping out of school 'to have fun' but that she . Long battle: Rose's mother Barbara (right) stands beside her daughter Rose she continues to heal from her debilitating disease . St. Joseph's catholic school that charges as much as $6,983 per year said that they were generous enough to provide Rose with special accommodations because of her illness. It is unclear as to whether Rose was receiving financial assistance and they did not elaborate on what kinds of accommodations were made. 'These were extraordinary circumstances, but so many accommodations were made we felt eventually it became a point where we really had to help Rose, by being able to make sure that she was getting the assistance that she needed and to learn,' said Father John Fleckenstein, with Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools. The school says that Rose only attended school 32 days out of this entire school year. Rose McGrath's parents feel as though the school is seriously failing their child. 'The accommodations which were made were woefully inadequate for a child with such a serious diagnosis,' said Rose's father Tom McGrath to WWMT. 'It's not like she's out at the mall having

Summary: 'I didn't do anything wrong, but they still got rid of me,' Rose McGrath, 12, of battle Creek, Michigan said tearfully of her dismissal . St. Joseph's Middle School sent a letter to Rose McGrath dismissing her from the school for low attendance and poor academic performance . Rose McGrath was diagnosed with luekemia in 2012 and even though she just finished her treatment she still feels ill a lot of the time . 'When I'm at home, I'm sick, I don't feel well; no one else does that. But when I'm at school I'm like everyone else,' Rose McGrath said .


Ever wondered where footballers chill out after training? Well here's your answer as Alvaro Arbeloa, Asier Illarramendi and Nacho have given adidas an exclusive tour of their state-of-the-art training complex. Former Liverpool defender Arbeloa explained what Ciudad Real Madrid, the name given to the La Liga outfit's training ground, has to offer during the behind-the-scenes guided trip around the club's facilities. Joined by team-mates Illarramendi and Nacho, Arbeloa starts off by revealing that Real Madrid's first-team stars are allowed 24-hour access to the club's HQ. Real Madrid trio Alvaro Arbeloa (left), Asier Illarramendi (centre) and Nacho gave adidas a tour of their HQ . The Real Madrid trio were joined by adidas presenter Roman Kemp during the behind-the-scenes tour . Real Madrid's first-team stars have a room where they can shoot hoops, play games consoles and relax . Former Liverpool defender Arbeloa points to Gareth Bale's room during the guided tour . Each player has their own personalised room in the complex, which is part-owned by the council, where they can rest before and after training or ahead of a home game. There are also communal suites where Real Madrid stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez can socialise in their spare time. And there's no chance of the players getting bored as the club provide games consoles, basketball machines, ping-pong tables and a host of other fun activities. The personalised rooms are the most extravagant part of Real Madrid's HQ as players can only access their own suite by a finger recognition system fitted on the door. Bale's room is the next port of call but presenter Roman Kemp is unable to gain access as the world's most expensive player is not in. Each room is fitted with a recognition system, here Illarramendi opens his room by using his index finger . Real Madrid-crested pillows and a fully equipped en suite are among the facilities inside the room . A closer look of the Real Madrid-crested pillows which are located in the apartments at the training ground . The Real Madrid players also have their name and image displayed on their personalised TV . We are allowed a glimpse of one of the rooms, which Arbeloa explains 'are all the same', as Illarramendi opens his door after passing his index finger across the security system. The rooms contain a luxury bed along with Real Madrid-crested pillows, a fully equipped en suite, and a personalised TV which displays the player's name and picture. And that's not all as the rooms have a balcony which is just a stone's throw away from Real Madrid's training pitches. 'After dinner we sometimes come up here and chat,' reveals Illarramendi. The Spanish midfielder's room overlooks Real Madrid Castilla's practice area, which is surrounded by trees to protect the facilities from sudden gusts of wind. Real Madrid fans will be hoping Arbeloa, Illarramendi, Nacho and Co have been able to get plenty of rest in their 'footballer's crib' ahead of their quarter-final Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid. The European champions face Atletico at

Summary: Alvaro Arbeloa, Asier Illarramendi and Nacho have given tour of complex . First-team players at Real Madrid have personalised rooms at club's HQ . Carlo Ancelotti's side can relax at HQ before and after training . Rooms contain Real Madrid-crested pillows, en suite and personalised TV . Real assistant Fernando Hierro has also shown off his private compartment . Real Madrid face rivals Atletico Madrid in Champions League on Tuesday .


A father-of-two with terminal brain cancer has lived out his dream of sharing a special dance with his daughters in lieu of walking them down the aisle at their weddings. Charlie Kwentus, 42, from Webster Groves, Missouri, was granted his dying wish by the Annie's Hope Bereavement Center for Kids. The charity provided all of his family with star treatment for the day, with black tie makeovers and a limousine included. Tear-jerking footage from the special event shows Kwentus dancing with his daughters Maren, aged nine, and Zoe, 13, before stopping to give a heartfelt speech. Scroll down for video . Unbreakable bond: A father-of-two with terminal brain cancer has lived out his dream of sharing a special dance with his daughters in lieu of walking them down the aisle at their weddings . Caught on camera: Charlie Kwentus, 42, from Webster Groves, Missouri, was granted his dying wish by the Annie's Hope Bereavement Center for Kids . 'You girls are the light of my life and you've proven to me that you’re so strong and wise beyond your years,' he is heard saying. And offering a piece of advice, he adds: 'If you do get married I'd like you to choose a person who makes you feel special.' Kwentus was diagnosed with oligodendroglioma several years ago. The brain tumors affect the frontal, temporal or parietal lobes and cause seizures in a relatively high percentage of patients. Battling illness: Kwentus - pictured with his wife Courtney Beers and two daughters - was diagnosed with oligodendroglioma several years ago . Keeping strong: Kwentus' wife says she still finds it difficult to comprehend the chain of events . Dressed to impress: 'It's overwhelming. It's like pinch me; I'm in a dream... I won't be able to walk them down the aisle at their weddings but I will get this,' a beaming Kwentus said at one point . After years of surgeries and chemotherapy, he recently decided stopped all treatment. 'I just decided... that it was time to quit. You know, quality versus quantity,' Kwentus told NBC News. With little time to spare, the doting dad recently went with his daughters and wife, Courtney Beers, on a three-week vacation all over the western U.S. Maren and Zoe both said that it was important for all of the family to be together. Then when they returned, the non-profit Annie's Hope decided to stage a father-daughter dinner dance for Kwentus at a country club near his home. His daughters were given dresses and treated to salon visits to get their hair and nails done. Ready to dance: Kwentus' daughters were given dresses and both visited a local salon to get their hair and nails done . Lifetime memories: With little time to spare, the doting dad recently went with his daughters and wife, Courtney Beers, on a three-week vacation all over the western U.S. The family then rode to their outing in a shiny limo. 'It's overwhelming. It's like pinch me; I'm in a dream... I won't be able to walk them down the aisle at their

Summary: Charlie Kwentus, 42, from Webster Groves, Missouri, was granted his dying wish by the Annie's Hope Bereavement Center for Kids . The charity provided all of his family with star treatment for the day, with black tie makeovers and limousine included . Footage from the event shows Kwentus dancing with his daughters Maren, aged nine, and Zoe, 13, before stopping to give a heartfelt speech . Kwentus was diagnosed with oligodendroglioma several years ago and recently decided to stop treatment .


A writer has revealed why she stopped washing her hair six years ago after embarking on a quest to try and control her greasy, limp locks - by avoiding shampoo. New Yorker Sarah Theeboom was inspired to give up using products on her hair after she ran into an old friend whose once dry, frizzy locks were smooth and shiny. When Sarah asked for her secret, her friend explained that she had simply stopped shampooing, opting to partake in the apparently-popular 'no poo' movement, which Sarah had never heard of until that moment. 'I wasn’t in love with it, and I just didn’t really know what to do,' she told Seventeen. 'I wanted to try my friend’s trick and stop shampooing.' Scroll down for video . Natural beauty: Sarah Theeboom (pictured) hasn't washed her hair in six years after a friend told her that giving up shampoo was the secret to gorgeous locks . Although her friend warned her that her scalp and hair would go through a nasty adjustment period, Sarah wasn't prepared for the dandruff and excessive amounts of grease that she first experienced after she first started shunning shampoo during a three-week vacation to Thailand. Sarah recalled that during those first few weeks her hair was the 'greasiest' it had ever been. 'I was so embarrassed that I didn’t want to show my head to anyone,' she explained. Despite the fact that she 'almost cracked' and went back to shampoo, she forged on with her mission. After vacation she started wrapping her hair with headbands every day. When she showered she would wet her hair and scrub her scalp with her fingers. And even though her boyfriend was critical of the idea, Sarah explained that, by this point, she 'felt committed' to her cause. New woman: The writer from New York City said her hair is now silkier and 'totally frizz-free' since she gave up using shampoo . It took six weeks for her hair to feel somewhat normal again and then another six weeks of her hair looking 'so-so' before the 'magic happened'. 'I started to see what my natural hair was like when I wasn’t constantly doing stuff to manipulate it,' Sarah explained. 'It was silky and wavier and totally frizz-free.' The 'no poo' movement has gained popularity over recent years because of celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Shailene Woodley, Adele and Jessica Simpson who have revealed that that they avoid washing their hair for days - and sometimes months - on end. Because it is no longer considered a ludicrous concept, Sarah said that she typically doesn't have a problem sharing her hair secret, but she did note that sometimes she will come across someone who just doesn't get it - including one hair stylist who didn't understand why she couldn't shampoo her hair. Sarah explained that her although her current regimen sounds like a 'beauty philosophy', she was really just experimenting to see what worked for her. 'I don’t think shampoo is evil or bad for your hair...' she said. 'I still have good hair

Summary: Sarah Theeboom, from New York City, gave up using hair products as a part of the 'no poo' movement . The writer battled greasy hair and dandruff for nearly two months before locks became silkier and 'totally frizz-free'


Libertarian icon Rand Paul has beefed up his campaign store ahead of his announcement this morning that he would compete for the Republican nomination for president next year. Like Paul, the Kentucky senator who made a name for himself by championing issues not typically associated with the GOP such as criminal justice reform and privacy protections, much of the 'Rand' 2016 SWAG is unconventional. Rand fans will still find the usual array of yard signs and bumper stickers. But they'll also have the opportunity to sport their support through Macbook skins and woven blankets that feature Paul's face, 'Stand with Rand' flip-flops and car mats and a host of other unique items like the 'NSA Spy Cam Blocker.' Scroll down for video . Libertarian icon Rand Paul has expanded his campaign store to include an array of unconventional SWAG, including the 'Rand on a Stick' item feature above, as he kicks off his presidential campaign . An ophthalmologist by trade, the store contains eye charts bearing Paul's name and his campaign slogan because 'we need a president who can see clearly,' as the site states . For $75 Paul fans can own a throw rug featuring the Kentucky senator. It also comes in a Constitution theme for the same price . 'Sure it might be fun to have Rand in your living room at night engaging in deep discussions about objectivism, libertarianism, conservatism and a few other isms,' the description for the item reads. 'In the absence of that, curl up on your couch with the Rand blanket. It's the next best thing to him being there.' The freshman senator's expansion of his campaign store to include 'Paul for president' items preceded an announcement this morning on the website that said: 'I am running for president to return our country to the principles of liberty and limited government.' An unofficial candidate for the last year, the statement made formal the tea partier's entry into the 2016 contest a few hours before he was scheduled to hold a campaign kick-off in his home state. He'll spend the rest of the week rallying supporters in early presidential primary states New Hampshire, South Carolina, Iowa and Nevada, in that order, before making his back to Washington for his day job. The Senate is currently in the midst of a two-week break in honor of the Easter and Passover holidays. Loyalists of the 52-year-old freshman senator and his father Ron, a former Texas representative who sought the presidency in 2008 and 2012, are known for the fervency of their support and organizational skills. Tonight they'll celebrate the younger Paul's entry into 2016 competition with 'Stand with Rand' #LibertyKaraoke parties across the country. Running on the slogan 'Defeat the Washington Machine, Unleash the American Dream' and promoting himself as 'A Different Kind of Republican,' Paul's campaign store reflects the 52-year-old lawmaker's efforts to appeal to a new generation of conservatives- fiercely independent young adults who are just as likely to vote for GOP politicians as they are Libertarian candidates or nobody at all. Playing off the Stand

Summary: The freshman senator beefed up his campaign store ahead of his presidential announcement this morning . Rand fans will find the usual array of yard signs and bumper stickers - but they'll also be able to sport their support with more unique items . Macbook skins and woven blankets feature Paul, flip-flops and car mats bear the slogan 'Stand with Rand' and there's branded cornhole boards . For $1,000 supporters can buy pocket Constitutions signed by Paul . Paul's campaign store reflects the 52-year-old lawmaker's efforts to appeal to a new generation of conservatives .


You'd have thought the celebrations would've stopped but the New England Patriots are still reveling in February's Super Bowl XLIX win as they visited the White House to receive congratulations from President Barack Obama. But there was one notable absence from the Patriots squad who visited on Thursday, with quarterback Tom Brady nowhere to be seen. However, a spokesman for the Patriots said 'prior family commitments' were the reason why Brady didn't attend the visit. Scroll down for video . President Barack Obama (centre) welcomed the New England Patriots to the White House on Thursday . Patriots beat Seattle Seahawks 28-24 to win Super Bowl XLIX in February and were congratulated by Obama . But there was one notable absence with quarterback Tom Brady nowhere to be seen at the White House . The Patriots beat Seattle Seahawks 28-24 to win the NFL Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona with Brady named as MVP for the third time in his fourth Super Bowl victory. Although Brady wasn't able to visit the White House with his team-mates, he'll be fondly remembered for his performance in the Patriots' Super Bowl win. He joins the likes of Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw on four rings, and is now the all-time leader with 12 Super Bowl touchdown passes and completions on 37. It was also his record sixth appearance in the NFL’s seasonal showpiece. A spokesman for the Patriots said 'prior family commitments' was the reason why Brady didn't attend the visit . The 30 year-old (middle) has met Obama (right) before back in 2005 when the president was a US Senator . Obama receives a Patriots team jersey beside head coach Bill Belichick (left) and owner Robert Kraft (right) The president holds a football presented to him during the White House visit which honored the Patriots . Brady won't be kicking himself too hard, however, as he has been to the White House before with three other Super Bowl victories under his belt. Despite earlier's announcement regarding Brady's absence, it's not clear what his prior commitment was. And Brady's team-mates weren't missing him much as they enjoyed a wander around the White House. Obama looked as if he enjoyed himself, too. Kraft gives a signed helmet to Obama during the visit to the White House . Obama and Kraft were seen laughing on Thursday as the Patriots enjoyed their visit to meet the president .

Summary: New England Patriots beat Seattle Seahawks 28-24 to win Super Bowl XLIX . Patriots visited the White House on Thursday to meet President Obama . Tom Brady was nowhere to be seen, citing 'family commitments' as reason . February's Super Bowl victory was Brady's fourth in a glittering career .


Five prisoners - including an Islamic extremist who allegedly shot dead two police officers - have been killed as they tried to escape from a van taking them to court in southern India. Prisoner Syed Viqaruddin - who had links to a network of feared terrorist groups - is understood to have asked the police van to stop in a deserted area, claiming he needed a toilet break, while they were en route to a court in Hyderabad. But when the blue bus stopped at about 10am, another of the prisoners 'tried to snatch a rifle from a policeman and tried to escape', according to Anurag Sharma, the head of Telangana state police. Shoot out: The five suspects were killed this morning after allegedly trying to escape police custody . He added: 'The police first warned them to stop and surrender, and when they did not listen, police opened fire.' The five men were all killed in the shooting, while just one of the 17 officers guarding the group was left with minor injuries. The incident came two days after a gun battle in the same state left two terror suspects and a police constable dead. India.com has named the four other men killed today as Syed Amjed, Izhar Khan, Mohammed Haneef and Mohammed Zakir - all of whom were said to be members of a terrorist group called Tehreek Ghalaba E Islam, according to OneIndia.com. The group is said to be funded by Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami - an extremist group banned in Bangladesh in 2005, and which claimed responsibility for killing 17 people at Delhi courthouse in September 2011. Viqaruddin - who is said to be their leader - has also been linked to the banned terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Toiba. Fatal: Just one of the 17 officers guarding the truck was hurt, and the bodies were later taken for autopsies . He had been in custody since his July 2010 arrest for allegedly carrying out a series of attacks against policemen - including the killing two policemen in Hyderabad, as well as triggering two bomb blasts in the southern high-tech city. OneIndia.com also reports him as having bragged of plans to assassinate Narendra Modi, who was then the Gujurat chief minister. However, he is said to have abandoned the plot at the last minute when he realised 'there was too much security in the area'.

Summary: The van had stopped after Syed Viqaruddin asked for a toilet break . Once stopped, another prisoner tried to take a gun off one of the officers . A scuffle ensued and the 17 policemen guarding the group opened fire . The prisoners - thought to be part of the same terrorist group - all died . Leader Viqaruddin is alleged to have killed two police officers .


An elderly couple died in a freak accident after the woman fell down the stairs in a desperate attempt to save her partner who had also tripped. Mary Murphy, 66, is thought to have tried to grab hold of John Wood, 67, when he stumbled at the top of the stairs, but slipped herself and the pair fell to their deaths. Their bodies were found by paramedics on Wednesday in the hallway of their terraced home, after concerns were raised about their welfare. Mary Murphy, 66, and her partner John Wood, 67, died after falling down the stairs at their home in Failsworth, Greater Manchester . Police initially thought the deaths may be suspicious, but after investigating they believe it was a ‘bizarre and tragic’ accident. It is understood that Miss Murphy, a retired office clerk, had lived at the property in Failsworth, near Oldham, all of her life, having looked after her elderly parents. In recent years she struck up a close friendship with Mr Wood. The retired couple were devoted to each other and attended a prayer group, though it is not known whether either pensioner had any children or close relatives. Miss Murphy had been a regular worshipper at nearby St Mary’s RC Church, where priest Father John McKeown described her as ‘very kind and well-liked’. He believes the accident occurred because the stairs at her home are very steep and she used a walking stick to get around. Both Miss Murphy and Mr Wood were also overweight and suffered from severe mobility problems. He said: ‘Mary was not very good on her feet. If one of them tripped while they were trying to get down then this could have brought the pair of them tumbling down. It’s absolutely tragic.’ The couple's home was cordoned off as police forensic investigators were seen going into the property . Residents spoke of their sadness at the couple’s deaths, with one saying: ‘It is the most shocking thing to happen – that a simple slip could cost them both their lives. They were devoted to each other. They will be really badly missed in the community because they were such a force for good.’ Another said: ‘It is very upsetting and we are in mourning. I would see them at mass on Sunday, they were always smiling and you could tell they loved each other.’ Detective Inspector Lewis Hughes from Greater Manchester Police said: ‘This is an extremely bizarre, albeit tragic incident and our thoughts are with the couple’s family and friends.’ Emergency crews were first called to the terraced house 10.50am on Wednesday and discovered two bodies at the bottom of the stairs .

Summary: Mary Murphy, 66, and John Wood,67, died falling down stairs at her home . Pensioner is believed to have come to aid of her partner, 67, who tripped . Detectives described the incident as 'extremely bizarre' and 'tragic' Ms Murphy, a regular worshipper, was described as 'kind and well-liked'


Paul Gambaccini blamed the presenters' obsession with discussing the sex appeal of pop stars for a slump in ratings . It has been a staple of Sunday night listening for almost 50 years – but now Radio 1's Chart Show has been branded a 'banal failure' by one of the most respected voices in broadcasting. Veteran presenter Paul Gambaccini has blasted the BBC for destroying the Top 40 show by employing 'ignorant' DJs who are more interested in giving vacuous opinions than playing the records. Gambaccini, a respected rock historian, blamed the presenters' obsession with discussing the sex appeal of pop stars for a slump in ratings. The 66-year-old said: 'It is no wonder the Chart Show is a complete failure because it has not accomplished what it was set out to be. It is the news of popular music and, if it is to have any integrity, it should be an objective show. You wouldn't expect Huw Edwards to give his opinion on the news he is reading or to suddenly say 'Isn't Hillary Clinton fit?' The Chart Show has become an extension of its presenter's personality rather than an objective programme.' Gambaccini, a former Radio 1 DJ himself, said he was particularly annoyed about last week's show when host Clara Amfo appeared to dismiss superstar Paul Simon, who had just topped the album charts at the age of 73. The 29-year-old made a passing reference to the star's No 1 album, The Ultimate Collection, before telling listeners to 'ask your dad'. Gambaccini said: 'To me that is an ignorant attitude. You don't disrespect the No 1 album, regardless of who it's by. 'What is the point of saying this is the Top 5 and not playing any of them? That is really stupid. No 1 is No 1. If you don't wish to be authoritative any more you might as well stop. Don't pretend you are important when you are not.' 'Paul Simon has just sold out the O2 with Sting. We are talking about a current major figure in popular music. These are people who will be enjoyed long after our lifetimes as we know and enjoy Beethoven.' The Chart Show has had a presence on Sunday nights in one form or another since the days of Alan 'Fluff' Freeman when Radio 1 launched in 1967. The current version has seen its audience dwindle from a peak of four million in the early 1980s to about 1.2 million. It will end in July, when the chart rundown will become part of Greg James's Friday drivetime show, to reflect changes in the music industry. Gambaccini, who recently returned to Radio 2 after being cleared over historic sex abuse claims, said: 'I wish Greg James well but it will never have the impact being a feature of his programme that it had on a Sunday.' The BBC said: 'The Chart Show is an entertainment programme and as such our DJs present the countdown in a way that is engaging and relevant to our young audience.' In February, Radio 1 was at

Summary: Paul Gambaccini has blasted the BBC for destroying the Top 40 show . He blamed presenters' obsession with discussing pop stars' sex appeal . 'The Chart Show has become an extension of its presenter's personality'


Ed Balls was left briefly stumped by a basic maths question today after he gave a speech in Leeds. Asked what seven times six equals, Labour’s shadow chancellor looked down at his feet and laughed nervously before eventually answering correctly following a ten second pause. Mr Balls said: ‘The answer… the answer is 42’, before adding: ‘It's always a very dangerous thing for politicians to answer those sorts of questions, so that's the last one I'm going to answer.’ Scroll down for video . Ed Balls was left briefly stumped by a basic maths question today after he gave a speech in Leeds . He was asked to work out the multiplication at the Q&A after he last month revealed that he still relies on his mother-in-law for help with maths. During an interview on Good Morning Britain, Labour's shadow chancellor confessed he was relieved he had not been asked any maths questions live on TV. He told host Susanna Reid: 'I was pleased you didn't ask me any maths questions this morning.' Asked how he was with fractions, Mr Balls replied: 'Luckily my mother-in-law is a maths teacher so she is the expert when it comes to maths.' A shocked Miss Reid interrupted: 'You cannot tell me that the shadow chancellor relies on his mother-in-law to do his maths.' Mr Balls said: 'The kids think the mother-in-law is very good at maths teaching. You always rely on your mother-in-law.’ Asked what seven times six equals, Labour’s shadow chancellor looked down at his feet and laughed nervously before eventually answering correctly following a ten second pause . Mr Balls has three children with his wife, Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper. After working as an adviser to Gordon Brown at the Treasury, Mr Balls was elected as an MP in 2005 and became shadow chancellor in 2011. He previously worked at the Financial Times and taught economics at Harvard University. In February, during an interview on the ITV breakfast show, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan was left embarrassed when she refused to answer what 7x8 is.

Summary: Labour’s shadow chancellor got the right answer after a ten second pause . He said it was 'always dangerous to answer those sorts of questions' Comes after he revealed he did not want to answer maths questions on TV . Told Susanna Reid that the maths brain in his family was his mother in law .


An eighth-grader accused of conspiring with her soldier boyfriend by text message to have her mother killed should remain in an adult jail while awaiting trial, a prosecutor said. Defense attorney John Waldron had filed a petition to have 14-year-old Jamie Silvonek returned to the juvenile facility where she was sent the day after the body of 54-year-old Cheryl Silvonek was discovered last month. Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said Friday he will oppose the petition and Waldron's request to move the case to juvenile court, The Morning Call reported. Adult jail: Jamie Silvonek, the eighth-grader accused of conspiring with her soldier boyfriend by text message to have her mother killed should remain in an adult jail while awaiting trial, a prosecutor said . The teenager is charged as an adult with homicide and criminal conspiracy. Her boyfriend, 20-year-old Caleb Barnes, who is from El Paso, Texas, but was stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland, is charged with homicide. Cheryl Silvonek's body was found stabbed in a shallow grave about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Jamie Silvonek was sent to the county jail this month after she was charged as an adult and is in the women's housing unit, away from older inmates, county officials said. Authorities said Barnes and the teenager met in October, when she was 13, but she told him she was 17. The teen's mother found out about their relationship in early March and ordered them to end it. A day later, the teen told Barnes in a text message, 'I want her gone,' police said. Waldron, however, has said that because of the age difference he believes the teen must have been under 'some type of duress or coercion.' He said his client 'cried incessantly and told me how much she missed her mom' and she feared for her life and that of her father. Barnes' public defender hasn't returned a phone message seeking comment. Accused of murder: 14-year-old Jamie Silvonek allegedly conspired to kill her mother Cheryl Silvonek with her 20-year-old boyfriend 'because she disapproved of their relationship' Barnes, who was on leave from Fort Meade in Maryland at the time of the slaying, was previously charged with homicide. He confessed to stabbing Cheryl Silvonek in the neck multiple times while they were in Silvonek's car, and Jamie Silvonek admitted she was there when he did it and helped dispose of the body, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The teen's attorney, John Waldron, said Thursday he believes his client was under Barnes' control, given the age disparity. 'There has to be some type of duress or coercion,' he said. Waldron said he intends to have Jamie Silvonek examined by a forensic psychologist and will petition to have the case moved to juvenile court. Feared for her life: Silvonek's attorney said the girl tearfully told him she missed her mother, and claimed she was coerced by her soldier boyfriend and afraid for her life . Authorities said Barnes and Jamie Silvonek met in October — when she was 13 — but that she told him

Summary: A prosecutor said that Jamie Silvonek, 14, accused of conspiring with her soldier boyfriend to kill her mom should remain in an adult jail . Her boyfriend, 20-year-old Caleb Barnes, who is from El Paso, Texas, but was stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland, is charged with homicide . Cheryl Silvonek's body was found stabbed in a shallow grave about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia . 'She threatened to throw me out of the house. I want her gone. ... 'Just do it,' Silvonek allegedly texted Barnes before the killing .


An police officer who rammed his police car into a suspect told investigators it was either 'shoot him or run him over.' Shocking dash cam footage emerged last week which showed Marana police officer Michael Rapiejko mounting the curb and mowing down armed robbery suspect Mario Valencia. The video sparked fierce debate on the use of deadly force with some accusing him of misconduct and others labeling the cop as a hero. Scroll down for video . Deliberate act: Valencia (pictured, left, in his mug shot) remained in hospital for two days before being booked into jail. Police have since spoken out in defense of Rapiejko's actions in the town of Marana, Arizona . But officer Rapiejko said that Valencia had left him with no other choice than to use potentially lethal force, according to a recording obtained by NBC station KVOA. 'He's refused commands, he's holding what I believe to be a locked and loaded rifle,' said Rapiejko in the inquiry recording, who had also warned there were two officers on the street and business nearby. 'This is what I deem at this point to be a lethal force encounter.' 'I have two thoughts that go in my mind, I need to shoot him to stop the threat or I need to run him over to stop the threat.' Rapiejko said he had slammed his patrol car into Valencia after he allegedly fired a shot from a rifle into the air and was walking towards other officers in Marana, northwest of Tucson, Arizona on February 19. Target: The police officer in the other vehicle warns Rapiejko that the suspect is loaded and tells him to 'stand off'. But in apparent defiance of his advice, Rapiejo drives straight toward unsuspecting Valencia (pictured) Horrific: Seconds later, Rapiejo's vehicle mounts the curb (pictured) and smashes into the suspect's body . Hit: In this screen grab, from the dashcam video, Valenica appears to turn toward the car as it strikes him . In the inquiry recording he added that he was 50 yards away from Valencia, and felt that was too great a distance to safely take a shot. In the two videos, recorded on dash cams in Rapiejko's and another police officer's car, Valencia is captured walking along the street carrying the weapon. He then points the loaded weapon into the air and a shot rings out. A police officer in one of the patrol cars says: 'One round just went out. He's definitely loaded.' He then tells his colleague, Officer Michael Rapiejko, in the other vehicle: 'Stand off, the gun is loaded.' But apparently ignoring his advice, Rapiejko overtakes the officer's car, before speeding straight toward Valencia. Seconds later, his vehicle mounts the curb and smashes into the suspect's body. Valencia is sent flying into the air, while the car crashes through a concrete wall before coming to a halt amid debris. The other officer can be heard shouting in shock: 'Oh! Jesus Christ, man down.' At the end of the footage, obtained by KOLD, Rapiejko is captured emerging from his vehicle and

Summary: WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT . Footage showed Mario Valencia pointing a rifle into air and firing a shot . Michael Rapiejko's police car then mounts the sidewalk and hits suspect . Officer said he had no choice but to 'shoot or run over' the armed man .


A young Star Wars fan, who wrote a heartwarming note to the movies’ creator George Lucas asking whether he would allow Jedi Knights to marry in the future, was elated to receive a reply granting his request. Seven-year-old Colin Gilpatric, an aspiring Jedi Knight, was devastated to learn that achieving his dream might mean never being able to marry, as forming emotional attachments is said by the rules of the fictional order to lead Jedis to the 'dark side'. Desperate for a solution, Colin, who has autism, went directly to the man in charge: Star Wars director and writer Mr Lucas. Plea by post: Seven-year-old aspiring Jedi Colin sent a letter to George Lucas asking him to change the rule that bans the Knights from marrying . As character Anakin Skywalker's marriage to Princess Amidala led him to become a villain - and lord of the malevolent Sith Order, Darth Vader - Colin wanted to avoid the same fate, and pleaded with the Star Wars creator to make a change to the rules. 'With Colin, he was obsessing about it,' Colin's mother Peggy Gilpatric told Inside Edition: 'Finally, I was like, you know what, write to George Lucas and tell him how you feel and that's all that you can do.' 'Dear George Lucas,' Colin wrote in his letter. 'I don't like that a Jedi cannot get married. I want to get married without becoming a Sith. Please change the rule. 'P.S. I want to come to Skywalker Ranch please, Love Colin.' Soon enough, a package from Lucasfilm arrived for Colin in the mail, and his mother Peggy was on hand to film him opening it up. The letter: Colin, desperate not to end up like Anakin Skywalker - aka Darth Vader - in the film series, made his case to the Star Wars creator . The big reveal: Colin's mother filmed her son's ecstatic response as he realizes the package contains a plethora of Star Wars merchandise . In the video, Colin is ecstatic to find a stash of Star Wars goodies in the bag, including books and toys, accompanied by a letter addressing his question. 'It sounds like the Force is strong with you, and you are showing great wisdom by asking your question,' it said. 'To be a Jedi is to truly know the value of friendship, of compassion, and of loyalty, and these are values important in a marriage. The Sith think inward, only of themselves. 'When you find someone that you can connect to in a selfless way, then you are on the path of the light, and the dark side will not take hold of you. With this goodness in your heart, you can be married.' The letter was signed 'Your friends at Lucasfilm'. 'The Force is strong with me!': Colin is elated to have his question answered . Quite the response: Lucasfilm sent this letter to seven-year-old Colin to ease his mind about one day being able to get married . In the video showing Colin reading the letter for the first time, the young

Summary: Traditional Jedi rules forbid any knights from marrying because it is thought it will lead them to the ‘dark side’ Colin Gilpatric, from Sacramento, was therefore concerned that if he became a Jedi, he wouldn’t be able to find a wife . The aspiring Jedi, who has autism, penned a letter to George Lucas to see if he would consider changing the rules .


Jordan Henderson is seeking a new contract worth £100,000 per week before committing his long-term future to Liverpool. The club's vice-captain wants to stay at Anfield but he is approaching the final year of his £60,000-per-week contract and is yet to sign an extension. Talks over a new deal are well underway and Henderson has already rejected a five-year deal worth £80,000 per week. Jordan Henderson is seeking a new £100,000-a-week contract before committing his future to Liverpool . The Liverpool vice-captain scored from the penalty spot during the 4-1 defeat by Arsenal on Saturday . But there remains a strong willingness from both parties to reach an agreement sooner rather than later. And Sportsmail understands an improved offer worth £5.2million per year will be enough for Liverpool to cement Henderson's long-term future. The midfielder has developed into an integral part of Liverpool and England's midfield plans over the past two seasons. Henderson, pictured against Laurent Koscielny, has already rejected a five-year deal worth £80,000-per-week . Sportsmail understands an offer worth £5.2million-per-year will be enough for Henderson to stay at Anfield . Henderson, provided his contract situation is resolved, is expected to be appointed Anfield captain once Steven Gerrard leaves for LA Galaxy at the end of the season. Speaking last month, Henderson said: 'I love playing football for Liverpool and I want to be there for many years. 'In terms of my contract, I think everybody else will make a big deal of it but for me it's just letting my agent and the club deal with it and whenever it gets sorted, it gets sorted.'

Summary: Jordan Henderson looking for £100,000-a-week contract at Liverpool . The Reds vice-captain is approaching the final year of his current deal . Henderson has already rejected a five-year deal worth £80,000 per week .


Brian Williams started embellishing his stories because he felt insecure following in Tom Brokaw's very large footsteps at NBC, according to a new report. The network handed Williams a six-month suspension in February after he acknowledged he had lied about being on board a helicopter that came under fire while reporting from Iraq in 2003. But according to a report in Vanity Fair, Williams started exaggerating his stories because he felt insecure about Brokaw, whom he succeeded at Nightly News in 2004. 'I always felt he needed to jack up his stories because he was trying so hard to overcome his insecurities,' one executive told the publication. Clash: Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams are pictured in New York in 2004 - the year Williams took over Brokaw's role on the Nightly News. A new report has claimed Williams always felt insecure following him . 'And he had to follow Tom, which brought its own set of insecurities. He likes to sort of tell these grandiose tales... I just saw it as one of the quirks of his personality.' But according to former correspondents who spoke to Vanity Fair, Brokaw wasn't so accepting of the 'quirks'. The stories left him 'incensed', the publication reported. On one occasion, Williams implied they had both been in Berlin together on the day the wall fell in 1989 - but he actually joined the veteran newscaster there the following day. On hearing the tale, Brokaw went into 'spasms of anger', one former exec told Vanity Fair. 'Tom treated that anchor chair as a public trust,' a former employee said. 'He really was our Walter Cronkite.' Others said that the two men had a troubled relationship after Williams took over the role because even though Brokaw pushed for him to get the job, Williams never 'embraced' him. 'I don't know why,' a source said. '[Williams] knows the rank and file will never love him like they did Tom, so he never tries. That's the reason there's not a lot of support for Brian over there.' Exaggerations: During a report in February, pictured, Williams recounted a tale of how he had been on a Chinook that came under fire while in Iraq in 2003 - but he had actually been in a separate aircraft . It also meant that when Williams found himself in hot water over his claim he had been in a downed Chinook - when he had actually been in a separate aircraft - Brokaw didn't have his back. A friend told the publication that while Brokaw - who was 'livid' about the scandal - didn't call for Williams to be punished, he 'didn't try to save him either.' Following the suspension, Williams reportedly declared to a friend: 'Chalk one up for Brokaw.' Not impressed: Brokaw, pictured in February, came 'incensed' when he heard Williams' exaggerations . The article also claimed that when he was called out for lying in his reports and conversations following the 2003 helicopter incident, Williams couldn't bring himself to admit he had made it up - and instead, he suggested he

Summary: Williams was suspended from NBC in February after it emerged he'd lied about being in a helicopter that was shot down in Iraq in 2003 . A new report in Vanity Fair claims Williams lied because he felt insecure taking over from beloved anchor Tom Brokaw at the Nightly News . While some execs saw his lying as 'quirks' of his personality, the tales left Brokaw 'incensed' and he ultimately didn't support Williams in February . After he was accused of lying, Williams wondered if he had a brain tumor . But other NBC employees said Williams had always been out of his depth because of his lack of experience and disinterest in 'hard' news .


The new chief executive of Rotherham council could be paid up to £40,000 more than the outgoing boss, because of 'negative publicity' from the grooming scandal. The council will now offer up to £200,000 to candidates, rather than the £160,000 enjoyed by former chief boss Martin Kimber. He left in December after a council report said 1,400 children had suffered horrific sexual abuse over a 16-year period. The new chief executive of Rotherham council could be paid up to £40,000 more than the outgoing boss . The rest of the cabinet resigned in February, after a Government report said the council was 'not fit for purpose' and 'in denial' about exploitation, mainly of white girls by men of Pakistani origin. HR chief Phil Howe said: 'Due to recent negative publicity, it may be necessary to consider additional incentives.' Councillor Caven Vines, leader of the Ukip group, said he was uncomfortable with the idea.

Summary: New chief executive may require 'additional incentives' to take the role . The Rotherham council will now offer up to £200,000 to CEO candidates . Its former boss stepped down in the wake of damaging council report . The report showed 1,400 children had suffered horrific sexual abuse .


David Cameron this morning attempted to explain away how he forgot which football team he supported - by claiming it was because he'd seen another club's ground the day before. The Prime Minister, who insists he has been an Aston Villa fan 'all his life', was giving a campaign speech in south London on Saturday when he joked that everyone should back his team – but then named West Ham instead of the West Midlands giants. An embarrassed Mr Cameron this morning admitted he couldn't explain what happened - but said it must have been because he had been past West Ham's famous Upton Park ground in East London on Friday. It later emerged that the Prime Minister actually flew over the ground in a private helicopter charted to get him back to London quickly after a day's campaigning. Scroll down for video . David Cameron, appearing on ITV's Lorraine this morning, was ridiculed after appearing to forget which football team he supported . The Prime Minister tried to explain away his gaffe by saying he had driven by the West Ham stadium the day before . Appearing on ITV's Lorraine, the PM said: 'I had been past West Ham the day before - I can't understand it, but there we are.' But he added: 'I don't think these are the things that determine the election.' A senior Conservative source told MailOnline the PM had not returned to London on Friday on the party's battle bus - but had flown back from Clacton-on-Sea. On Mr Cameron's flight back from Essex - paid for out of Conservative Party funds - he is likely to have passed over the old West Ham ground. Earlier in the day, Mr Cameron had travelled to Lincoln on the train, before jumping on the battle bus for campaign stops in Colchester and Frinton upon Sea. Mr Cameron had earlier insisted he became a Villa fan after watching the team beat Bayern Munich in the European Cup final as a child. But when he was asked what year the match took place or who scored the winner, Mr Cameron refused to answer. The Prime Minister claimed he had been 'overcome by something', adding: 'It was just one of those things.' He said he had gone 'off script' with the remark adding: 'I suppose it's just the campaign. By the time you have made as many speeches as I have on this campaign all sorts of funny things start popping out of your mouth.' An aerial view of Upton Park home of West Ham United Football Club in East London - which Mr Cameron flew over by helicopter on the way back from Clacton, Essex, on Friday afternoon . Mr Cameron has been pictured watching football with his son Elwyn - but admitted that he does not go to live games very often . Mr Cameron claimed he became a Villa fan after watching the team beat Bayern Munich in the 1982 European Cup final - but admitted he could not remember the year of the triumph. Peter Withe, left,

Summary: David Cameron this weekend forgot which football team he supported . The PM named West Ham as his team, despite supporting Aston Villa . Labour said the gaffe exposed Mr Cameron as a 'phoney' leader . The PM today said it was because he had been past West Ham's ground . Tories later confirm the PM returned to London on Friday in a helicopter .


South Africa's sports minister says he has received assurances from FIFA's ethics committee that it will complete and present a report in June into allegations of match-fixing in the buildup to the 2010 World Cup. Fikile Mbalula said he met with the chairman of the ethics committee's investigatory chamber, Cornel Borbely, in Zurich this week to seek clarity on the status of the long-awaited report. FIFA said as far back as 2011 that it had strong suspicions that some of the South African national team's warm-up games in the weeks before it hosted the World Cup were fixed. South Africa players celebrate a goal during the 2010 World Cup, but their warm-up games are under suspicion . No players were implicated, but referees were suspected of working for convicted match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal and manipulating matches. Mbalula has previously expressed frustration with FIFA over delays in the investigation. South African sports minister Fikile Mbalula is frustrated that the report has taken so long to produce .

Summary: FIFA have been investigating games from the run-up to 2010 World Cup . South African national team games under suspicion since 2011 . Players not suspected of wrong-doing, but referees implicated .


Tim Visser wants to end his Edinburgh career lifting European silverware at the ground he will call home next season. The final of the European Challenge Cup is now tantalisingly within reach for Alan Solomons’ side after their heroic quarter-final triumph over London Irish. Only Newport Gwent Dragons stand in their way in what will be a tough semi-final at BT Murrayfield in a fortnight. Should the Scots prevail, they will head for Twickenham Stoop - home of Harlequins for whom winger Visser signed a two-year deal this month. Tim Visser was a key player in Edinburgh's dramatic win over London Irish at the Madejski Stadium . ‘The Stoop is going to be my future home ground and it would be great to get to know it by playing a final there,’ he said. ‘For that to be one of my final games for Edinburgh and to pick up silverware would make things pretty special, really emotional and a great end to my time at the club. ‘Helping Edinburgh bring the first major trophy back home would be the perfect way to give back something to the club, to repay them for all they have done through the years, all the good friends I have made, all the good memories.’ Scotland cap Visser was one of Edinburgh’s key men in the dramatic win at the Madejski Stadium. He played a crucial role in a mighty rearguard action when he joined the scrum as a flanker following the sin-binning of prop John Andress. VIsser is hopeful he can end his Edinburgh career at the ground he will call home from next season . And it is the strength of character shown in those closing minutes that has convinced him the season will end with silverware and a top-six spot in the Pro12. ‘That was an unbelievable win and you can’t under-estimate its significance,’ he said. ‘I was at the scrum in the end and the way Dicko (Alasdair Dickinson) held up their player when he went over the line in that final minute showed the desire we had to come away with a win. ‘The way we defended in those final moments shows the fight of the boys to get underneath the ball at the end and keep them out. Edinburgh will have to see off Newport Gwent Dragons if they are to reach the final at the Stoop . ‘The Edinburgh of old would have probably let that through and we would have lost. ‘We work hard for each other. That is exactly what you saw at the end of the game. Our aim is to finish in the top six and to lift the European Challenge Cup. Both are definitely on.’

Summary: Tim Visser has agreed to join Harlequins next season . Edinburgh one win away from European Challenge Cup final at the Stoop . And Visser wants to crown his time with the club before he leaves .


Danny Willett gave a rules official, who had been in his line-of-sight, a verbal blast which was clearly audible to spectators surrounding the 17th green at the Masters on Thursday. Englishman Willett vented his anger after his second shot from beyond the green trickled all the way across the putting surface and left the preacher's son facing a bogey or worse. 'Of anyone you should know the rules,' Willett shouted loudly at the official, who was sitting about 60 yards away in a golf cart, outside the gallery ropes. Danny Willett waits to play a shot on the fifth during the first round at 2015 Masters on Thursday . The 27-year-old Englishman carded a one-under 71 during his first ever round at Augusta . Willett was still visibly angry as he left the green after salvaging a bogey, though he had calmed down by time he spoke to reporters about 30 minutes later. He said his ire had been raised because the official had been in his line-of-sight as he was preparing to play his shot. 'We were being timed (for slow play), which I can appreciate,' Willett said after carding a one-under 71 at Augusta National. 'It's a little bit tricky out here, so it takes a little bit of time, but you'd like to think the referee that's timing you knows exactly where to put his buggy and where not to put his buggy.' Willett, 27, a two-time European Tour winner, is playing in his first Masters. Willett was left frustrated with a rules official for getting in his line-of-sight during his round .

Summary: Englishman Danny Willett blasts timing referee for getting in line-of-sight . Vented anger at official as he bogeyed the 17th at 2015 Masters . Willett carded a one-under 71 on opening round in first time at Augusta .


They are already talented actresses, one a Hollywood star. But now Aussies Rose Byrne and Gracie Otto are about to add another string to their bow. The Bridesmaids star and daughter of famed Australian actor Barry Otto have, along with fellow actress Krey Boylan, film director Shannon Murphy and PR maven Jessica Carrerea, have launched their very own all female film production company called The Doll House Collective . Byrne believes, in an age where Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook, Arianna Huffington of Huffington Post and Marissa Mayer of Yahoo dominating powerful positions, it's about time they become strong, female leaders in film. Dolled up: Rose Byrne and Gracie Otto have joined up in new film-making collaboration 'The Doll House' Byrne says when Bridesmaids came out, people's first reaction was to be surprised that women could be so funny. Her hope down the track is that they can bring more gender equality in. 'I'd love to get to a day when people didn't say 'Wow, we didn't know women were so funny' and we have to be like, 'What? We're not a group of dolphins!' Byrne said in an interview with Vogue Australia. Byrne believes Sheryl Sandberg is a pioneer for women, and said the speech she gave in a TED talk about the benefits of having women in companies was inspirational. Film feminism: The five Australian women want to bring a female body to the film-making industry . Referencing Sandberg, Byrne said it is not only better for your home life, sex life and for the company to have woman in positions of power, both in terms of decision-making, collaborating or delegating. 'Cate Blanchett put it so beautifully in her Oscar's speech about women being consumers - women want to see women doing stunts - there is a market for that!' The quintet will collaborate together on films, share ideas and creative advice, and even provide financial support to each other's projects. Powerful people: Rose Byrne wants new production company to follow in feminist foot steps of Arianna Huffington (left) and Sheryl Sandberg (right) The women liken it to the female equivalent of Blue-Tongue Films, four men who have collaborated to produce a film-making company. Instead of there being only one actor, one director, if they are working on a short film, they all look out for each other, says Otto, so that is there hope for The Doll House. According to Boylan, they were all supporting each other anyway, so they thought it was time they made it official. Fierce and funny: Referencing Bridesmaids, Byrne says women can be funny and intelligent, not just dolphins . And the ball is already rolling, with Byrne set to be the executive producer in Boylan's next film project 'Seriously Red.' 'I've never done anything in a producer capacity before but have long had the desire...It can be a lonely business, especially as an actor. 'And I'm tired of talking about how it's lonely instead of taking the reigns and producing and creating my own work,' said Byrne. In vogue: 'The Doll House Collective' girls

Summary: Rose Byrne and Gracie Otto star alongside Krew Boylan, Shannon Murphy and Jessica Carrera on new film-maker group . The new collaboration will support Australian women in the film industry . The Doll House Collective will work together to create and produce films . Byrne believes it's time for women to be taken seriously in the industry .


A woman whose designer crocodile-skin handbag was seized by the UK Border Force has triumphed in a test case bid to get it back. The £2,000 designer tote bag, hand-made in Japan, was a 50th birthday gift for Hampstead woman, Sabine Smouha, from her husband Jeremy, the director of an investments company. But, when it arrived in Britain in 2013, customs officers confiscated it because Nile crocodiles are a protected species and it didn't have the right documentation. High end: A £2,000 designer tote bag, hand-made from Nile crocodile skinin Japan by exclusive designer Hikiji . The Border Force has repeatedly refused to return it to her, because it it did not have the required endangered species import permit. Now, however, Mrs Smouha - who said she was 'very sad to lose her birthday present' - has been handed victory by a tribunal judge. Judge Anne Redston said the crocodile was farmed and Mrs Smouha had relied on the reputable Japanese manufacturer to get the formalities right. She had acted entirely honestly and the Border Force's repeated refusal to hand over the bag was irrational and disproportionate. The judge said Mrs Smouha's birthday was approaching and her husband wanted to buy her a special present. She spotted the 'very pretty bag' on the website of elite Japanese handbag maker, Hikiji. The black bag, complete with bronze cowhide lining and matt gold finishings, was the creation of top designer, Mayumi Kondo. Her husband paid $3,400 for it and it arrived in the UK by express mail, in time for Mrs Smouha's happy day. Sabine Smouha was handed a victory at the Royal Courts of Justice, left, after a two-year battle. Judge Anne Redston ordered UK Border Force to reconsider their ruling on a designer handbag made from Nile crocodile, right, that they confiscated on the grounds that it was not imported with the right documentation . The bag was made from the skin of a Nile crocodile, a protected species under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). But it didn't have the required documentation and customs officials seized it at the international mail hub, in Coventry. Representing herself, Mrs Smouha told the First-Tier Tribunal at the Royal Courts of Justice that she had been told by Hikiji that import formalities would be 'taken care of'. Endangered species are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Countries all over the world have signed up to the agreement imposing special responsibilities on anyone importing any of the hundreds of plant and animal species listed in the convention . It's designed to stop the illegal killing of these species by destroying the market. It applies to anything from that species, such as skin, fur and teeth . Under British and EU law, you must apply to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for a permit before importing anything on the list . When something is imported, it must also have a permit proving it was sourced legally by the country of export . Without these documents, your

Summary: The bag was a 50th birthday gift from her investments manager husband . It was made in Japan from African Nile crocodile - an endangered species . Customs officials took it because 'endangered' imports need special permits . Sabine Smouha from Hampstead has now won two-year battle for its return .


An Ohio woman has spoken out in a Reddit Q&A about why she and her Catholic husband made the painful decision to have a legal abortion at 23 weeks. When the couple learned that their unborn daughter had a chromosomal defect 'incompatible with life outside the womb', they decided that terminating the pregnancy was the best course of action. 'I am pro-choice because I am pro-life,' the woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said. 'My little girl would never have [had] a life, and attempting to give her that could take mine away in the process.' Sad decision: After an amniocentesis, the Ohio woman found out that her unborn daughter found out that her daughter wouldn't survive outside the womb, and she chose to get an abortion . The anonymous couple was happy to learn that they were expecting last December. In March, they were looking forward to the 20-week anatomy scan. But the woman had a gut feeling something wasn't right. At about five months along, she wasn't showing yet, and though her family assured it was just because she had an athletic body, she explained: 'Things just felt wrong, felt off.' Her fears proved to be right. On April 1, she and her husband went to her OB-GYN for the planned anatomy scan. They found out they were having a girl - but at the same time discovered that the fetus was much smaller than it should have been at that time. She was referred to another hospital with a specialized fetal medicine center where, two weeks later, an amniocentesis test showed that the fetus had Triploidy, a chromosomal defect that is 'incompatible with life outside the womb'. They learned that their unborn daughter had 69 chromosomes instead of the normal 46, an abnormality that also resulted in Dandy Walker Syndrome. The fetus also had a diaphragmatic hernia and severely stunted growth, weighing 8oz when she should have weighed just over a pound. These major health issues also meant there were risks for the mother. The fetus was so small that it could have died in the womb without the woman knowing, which could have resulted in an infection. The mother was also at a higher risk for preeclampsia, a blood pressure-related pregnancy complication that can be fatal. She also noted that her placenta could have ruptured, leaving her to 'bleed out in my bathtub faster than anyone could help me'. With the knowledge that her health was at risk and her child would be unable to live, the woman and her husband made the decision to terminate the pregnancy. It wasn't an easy choice. The couple had already picked out a name, Gwendolyn Renee. And the woman added that the decision was especially hard for her husband, who grew up Catholic. Still, he agreed, carrying the child to term wasn't worth the risk to his wife's health. In their state of Ohio, abortion is legal until 24 weeks - but that doesn't compel all doctors to perform them. At the age of 23 weeks, the average baby is

Summary: The Ohio woman revealed on Reddit that her unborn daughter's dangerous condition would have left her unable to live outside the womb . Potential complications from the pregnancy put the anonymous mother's life in danger . She and her Catholic husband had to get special approval for a doctor at Catholic hospital to perform the procedure . Though she is still grieving over the loss of the child she named Gwendolyn Renee, she 'doesn't regret' her decision .


Jurgen Klopp has conceded that Bayern Munich were the better team in their 1-0 victory over his Borussia Dortmund side on Saturday. Robert Lewandowski condemned his former club to defeat in the Bundesliga clash, as the hosts struggled to create chances at the Westfalenstadion. And charismatic Dortmund manager Klopp says that Bayern deserved to claim the three points, with Pep Guardiola's side looking to storm to the title. Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp says his side lacked punch against Bayern Munich and deserved to lose . Robert Lewandowski beats Marcel Schmelzer to the ball to head Bayern Munich in front against Dortmund . As his team-mates roared wildly around him Lewandowski did not celebrate against his former club . 'The first 10 minutes were completely fine,' Klopp told Sky. 'After that it was not so good, we had too few chances. 'Bayern sat deep and played very physically robust, we could not get our way. In the last third we lacked punch. 'The second half was okay because we had our opportunities but, overall, it was not enough against Bayern. We lacked focus. 'In many small moments Bayern were better, so they deserved to win.' The Bavarians are now 10 points clear at the top of the table, but Dortmund captain Mats Hummels disagrees with his coach and says the 10-placed side merited more for their efforts. The defender said: 'Bayern were not the better team, I can only remember two chances. We had not much more, but a bit more. Dortmund captain Mats Hummels disagrees with his manager and says they created enough chances to win . Lewandowski's goal sent the Bayern bench into raptures although Pep Guardiola remained calm . The Bayern players celebrate in front of the travelling supporters after claiming a narrow victory .

Summary: Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund 1-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday . Robert Lewandowski netted only goal against his former club . Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp says Pep Guardiola's side deserved win . Captain Mats Hummels disagrees with manager .