When it comes to teaching children about manners, safety or even sex, most parents don't hesitate in making sure their offspring have a good understanding (no matter how awkward they may find it). However, despite the huge importance placed on financial education, more than half of UK parents admit they find it difficult to talk to their kids about money, and are avoiding the topic for as long as possible. A report from the government’s Money Advice Service found parents are simply leaving it too late, claiming children start forming money habits from as young as seven, whereas mums and dads leave discussing savings from around nine. Scroll down for video . Parents should talk to their children about savings from a young age, according to Kalpana . The majority of parents agree that they are the biggest influencer when it comes to teaching their children about money, and insight from the Money Advice Service has shown the more mums and dads talk to their children and give them responsibility from an early age, the better they will become at saving and planning for their future. Financial education truly begins at home, so what can parents do to help their children get to grips with finance? Here, financial journalist and founder of blog MummyMoneyMatters.com Kalpana Fitzpatrick reveals her top seven tips. 1. Start young . Start talking to your child about money from as early an age as possible – five is not too young. It's important for parents to make the lesson appropriate for their child's age. With a son or a daughter who is five years old, mums and dads can start talking to them about different types of coins and let them pay for things when out shopping, so they get used to handling money, or play shops with them at home using pretend cash. 2. Open a savings account . Opening a dedicated savings account for your child is great way to show them how their money can grow, and can also help start conversations about how long it may take to reach a certain amount of money. It will also start to teach them the very basics on investments and savings. 3. Let them make mistakes . It is important to give your children an allowance and let them use it as they choose. Yes, they may well make what you consider to be the wrong choice, but they will learn from those mistakes, which is important for their financial learning curve. It is better for them learn from small amounts now at a young age, rather than bigger amounts when they are older when the consequences would be far more serious. 4. Be confident . Parents should remember when teaching their children about money, that they are helping them to learn a lifelong skill - so confidence is a must. Some mums and dads are afraid to broach the subject, uncertain that they will be saying the right things, or feeling out of their depth. It's important to start with the basics, and remember that any glimpse into handling financial matters that parents can offer their children will stand them in good stead for the future. It is important to give your children an allowance and let them use it as they choose (file photo) 5. Pay for chores . Rewarding children for work around the house is the perfect way to teach them about earning money. Whether it's doing the washing up, washing the car or tidying their room, giving them a little cash for them to save or spend as they wish will introduce them to the working world. Parents could also ask their children to think about and work out how many times they would have to, say, wash the car to pay for the Xbox they so want, so they are familiar with the value of money. 6. Make it gradual . Parents should introduce their child's financial education gradually - if mums and dads haven't spoken before about savings and how to use money, don't jump in with one long chat, as it will become boring and feel like a chore to them. Introduce it gradually, making it a fun thing rather than a serious lesson, and make sure it's ongoing, developing your child's awareness as their familiarity with money grows. 7. Be consistent . Although most parents give their children a sum of pocket money, only 36 per cent of mums and dads say they do so on a regular basis. Being irregular and offering varied amounts can actually make it harder for children to learn about budgeting. Be consistent. For parents giving their child pocket money, do so on the same day, with the same amount, and discuss with them, in a lighthearted way, what they can buy with that money, or what happens when they pop it into their piggy bank - the amount they have doubles by the following installment. According to child psychologist Dr Elizabeth Kilbey, it can be 'very empowering' to give your children skills and confidence with money, so that they don't have to face money worries in the future. This year’s theme for this week's Global Money Week is ‘Save Today, Safe Tomorrow’ – parents can be part of helping children achieve this.

Majority of parents avoid talking about money with their kids . Only 43% of parents think they are better savers than their children . More than 40% believe children should not have to worry about money . More than a quarter feel awkward to talk about money to anyone at all . This week is Global Money Week, which helps engage children with money . Parents are the biggest influencers in forming money habits .

 and how to handle money, more parents neglect to help their kids develop a good understanding of finances.
The fact is that your children will one day inherit a lot of money. As parents, you will be responsible for teaching your kids the meaning of the words estate planning, wills, trusts and much more. Not only is it vital that you teach them this information, it is vital that your kids have some understanding of how to handle and manage it themselves one day.
The fact is that it is important that you educate your children about financial matters so that they can make wise decisions about money, rather than blindly making uninformed ones. The following are a few easy tips you should consider using to help you educate your kids about finances:
Talk to your kids about money
One of the best ways to get children interested in money is to start talking to them early about finances. Although this may be one of the harder topics to tackle, talking to your kids about money, such as how much things cost, how to handle credit and the value of money and wealth, can be a great way to help them understand it.
Start saving for college as soon as possible
By getting your children in the habit of saving when they're young, they will be in a better position to understand the importance of saving later. One of the best ways to do this is to set up a savings account so that they can begin saving their pocket money from an early age.
Make sure your children understand the value of an education
Even if your kids are young, it is a good idea to start educating them about the importance of receiving an education as well as the value of money. One way to do this is to give your kids regular pocket money, but rather than giving it to them in cash, make them use it to buy a book about the importance of an education and the value of money. By doing this, you can teach your children that money does not buy everything in life – even if they can buy that particular book with it.
Have conversations about their dreams
By talking to your children about their dreams, you can not only learn more about them and what they want out of life, but you can help them make those dreams a reality. You can also encourage your children to dream big. In some cases, you may be surprised at the things your kids want to do, including taking on their own small business, making music or learning a specific language. If this happens, it is important that you allow your children to explore


Two of Britain’s most distinguished actors are set to star in a £6million film ‘co-written’ by a leading figure of the Jihadi John apologist campaign group, Cage. Sir Ben Kingsley and Emily Watson will be working alongside an award-winning team in ‘The Secret Evidence’. Golden Globe-winning producer J Todd Harris is said to already be on board, and the film has commitments from Emily Watson, Sir Ben and Lily Collins. Scroll down for video . Actors Sir Ben Kingsley and Emily Watson are among stars to have signed up to the film that has been reportedly co-written by the Cage spokesman . Last night The Mail was unable to contact representatives of the stars, who are believed to have made the commitment to the movie long before the controversy surrounding Cage. The film, which is supported by civil rights group Liberty, is thought to have been co-written by former terror suspect and Cage spokesman Cerie Bullivant. He spent two years under a control order before eventually being exonerated, and the film is believed to be loosely based on his own experiences. But Mr Bullivant’s involvement became an embarrassment for the movie after the unmasking of Mohammed Emwazi as Jihadi John. Last month Cage sparked outrage by defending the London-raised fanatic unmasked as the Islamic State butcher. The group described Emwazi as a ‘beautiful and gentle’ man who was driven to radicalisation by MI5. Promotion: The leaflet for the film showing Miss Watson, Saoirse Ronan and Sir Ben Kingsley . And Mr Bullivant railed for eight minutes about the treatment he had received at the hands of the security services ‘in very similar circumstances’ to those of Emwazi, suggesting it was the MI5’s actions which had led to the brutal killer’s radicalisation. The former mental health nurse also claimed UK security forces harassed Emwazi to the point where he had ‘no options and position within UK society anymore’ in an official video for Cage. He even went as far as suggesting an alleged assault on Emwazi by the police in 2010 could be directly linked to the beheadings. Speaking to the Islam Channel earlier this month, the 32-year-old said: ‘He was looking to get married, get a good job and settle down. ‘If that had happened, if our security forces had not had stopped him, would he be cutting off heads now?’ He added: ‘We have a two year picture of a man constantly…trying to move his life forward and we see a pattern of security services stopping that. ‘We even see a pattern of the police pinning him up against the wall and strangling him. This is a chilling simile when you look at what he ended up doing to other people.’ Cerie Bullivant is a former terror suspect and spokesman for the group Cage . Bullivant was in the spotlight again earlier this month when he stormed off in the middle of a live Sky news interview claiming a question on about his feelings on the beheadings was racist. Now the filmmakers behind ‘The Secret Evidence’ appear to be trying to distance themselves from Bullivant – perhaps fearing that the link with him could damage their chances of securing the £1million still required to begin production this year. The Mail has seen a document, which was presented to potential investors as recently as last summer, clearly stating that the film was ‘co-written by Cerie Bullivant’. And an invitation to a high-profile event due to be held at the Chiltern Firehouse restaurant in London tonight to attract potential investors – which was sent out earlier this month – said: ‘It was co-written by Cerie Bullivant, who was wrongly sent to Belmarsh at 23.’ However, the next day the same invitation was sent out again – but with the line mentioning Cerie Bullivant deleted. The film’s award-winning director Nicholas Racz admitted that the invite to tonight’s event was edited. He said: ‘Cerie generously said there was no reason for him to be mentioned. It was an association that wasn’t helpful to the movie.’ He added: ‘Cerie’s involvement was some five years ago where he was involved as a co-writer. This was before his involvement with Cage and the movie is not based on his life. ‘He has contributed to the script, absolutely, and he will still be paid for that if the film is made but it won’t be a significant amount of money.’ And Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti, who is helping to host the film’s fundraising event tonight, admitted Bullivant had ‘some involvement’ in the film. She explained: ‘My understanding is that Cerie Bullivant is one of a number of stories that inspired this film.’ However she went on to say: ‘Whatever you may think of Cerie Bullivant, he did suffer a miscarriage of justice many years ago, and there will continue to be many more miscarriages of justice if we continue down this path. ‘Fiction is more powerful than anything and I really hope this is a great inspiring film exposing secret courts and secret justice.’ Bullivant described ISIS executioner Mohammed Emwazi as a 'beautiful man' after his identity was revealed .

Sir Ben Kingsley and Emily Watson among stars due to work on the film . It has reportedly been co-written by Cage spokesman Cerie Bullivant . The former terror suspect described Mohammed Emwazi as 'beautiful' Actors are understood to have signed up to film before the controversy .

 among a star-studded cast in an upcoming blockbuster ‘based on the rise of Islamic State’, the Daily Mail can reveal.
In 2015, a film about the Islamic State ‘terror threat’ that ‘the West is facing’ was also launched. It was made by Jihadi John apologist Andrew Chan and his ‘co-writer’ James Delingpole.
Their film was released to coincide with a surge in ‘home-grown’ Islamic terror attacks such as the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris in January, 2015. It is not known what the plot for the new movie will be.
The movie follows in the footsteps of Chan’s earlier effort to justify the murder of British hostages in Iraq – which prompted the resignation of the then Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. Chan and Delingpole’s film included a ‘glowing review’ from Jihadi John apologist Mark Almond who praised the ‘powerful’ story.
Almond had written in the Daily Mail: ‘This new film tells the story of a woman who, for all the right reasons, feels that she must fight back, in a way that can be as destructive to her enemies as to her friends.
Jihadi John, real name Mohammed Emwazi, was killed by a US drone strike in the Syrian city of Dabiq in 2015. In that same year, Chan had said he wanted the film ‘to make it clear that these terrorists must be made to pay a very heavy price in blood’.
His co-writer had agreed that Jihadi John should be a ‘significant character’ in the film’s plot. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Chan was asked whether there should be a death sentence for terrorists like Jihadi John. He said: ‘I think the film that I co-wrote, we didn’t want to make it any less clear than that.’
Chan’s film – released at a time of major concern over radicalisation in British prisons – sought to address the issue of how to prevent young Muslims from falling under the influence of Islamic extremists.
‘Our movie,’ he told the Daily Mail, ‘is quite an optimistic one. It’s a counter-terrorist film, of sorts, to try to understand how we can reach more young people in Britain’s prisons, who are vulnerable to all sorts of radicalism, not just Islamic State.’ He added


A former footballer alleged to have fronted a £30 million investment scheme which led to Premier League stars losing money racked up a 39,000 euro bar bill in just four hours at a lavish beach party, it is claimed. Michael McIndoe, 35, is accused of taking huge sums from top players, including £500,000 from each of Robbie Keane and Jimmy Bullard, for the failed venture. The former Wolves and Coventry midfielder, from Edinburgh, is due in bankruptcy court on Wednesday as his creditors, including other big names, chase him for money. Former footballer Michael McIndoe (circled), who fronted an alleged £30 million investment scheme which left Premier League stars out of pocket, is said to have racked up a 39,000 euro bar bill at a beach party similar to this one . The receipt, allegedly from one of McIndoe's beach parties at Marbella's famous Ocean Club has emerged, reportedly showing how before he declared himself bankrupt, he had splashed the cash to try to attract investors. He is pictured here, with a cigar, in 2011 . Now a receipt allegedly from one of McIndoe's beach parties at Marbella's famous Ocean Club has emerged, reportedly showing how before he declared himself bankrupt, he had splashed the cash at the bar as he tried to impress investors. The bill for 38,778.30 euros, worth around £28,600, shows magnums of Cristal and bottles of Champagne and is from 2011, although a copy was printed off in July 2013 by a member of staff. It also details the 3,525.30 euro service charge. The receipt, allegedly from one of McIndoe's parties, shows a 38,778.30 euro bar bill, including five magnums of Cristal Champagne. This copy was printed off in 2013, although the bill is from 2011 . One onlooker present claims McIndoe and his entourage had been gathered around the pool on two sunbeds in the venue's prestigious VIP section. 'They got 20 women and out of them they were all carrying two bottles each of champagne, but big 15 litre ones, Cristal – you name it,' he said. 'There are beds around the pool and all the girls brought them to the bed and they were sprayed everywhere – all to make him look like the boss. 'It is the largest beach club in the world, with a massive bar and pool in the middle and was renowned for its top quality parties. 'McIndoe had come there a couple of times. It was a holiday to treat some of the boys he was with. 'The end of that weekend before he went he was just there – he wanted to have a big show and try to get more investors. He was asking for the best people, the richest. 'It was a party to show people "look this is what I've got -  you could have this lifestyle". 'He sprayed half of the bottles for the first five minutes and then sprayed again. He wanted to make sure that people saw that he was there. He stayed there for the whole afternoon. 'McIndoe doesn't drink himself but his guests were worse for wear by the end of it. 'After that day I am told he never went back – he did his sales pitch and moved on.' McIndoe is alleged to have persuaded footballers to invest in the scheme, then blew a fortune on women, cars, houses and holidays before bankruptcy. Investors reportedly lost a combined £30 million when the scheme collapsed in late 2011. The scheme is currently being investigated by police, while McIndoe has a bankruptcy hearing this week after previously telling the court that he was living off the generosity of friends and family. A spokesman from the Metropolitan police confirmed to MailOnline that an allegation of fraud was made to Westminster CID in February last year. No arrests have been made. At the height of his spending, McIndoe hired a modernist £2million mansion for £27,000-a-week for a three-week holiday spree in Marbella. His friends had bottles of champagne and vodka at their tables whenever they went to nightclubs, while back in London he hired pop star Alexandra Burke to perform at a party and invested in a private members club. 'He was the Mr Big in Marbella, buying loads of champagne and girls all over the place. He even had a bodyguard,' one footballer, who lost around £75,000 in the scheme. The scheme is thought to have attracted 300 players, including a number from the lower leagues, and he told original investors to get others involved so they could make more money. McIndoe was photographed lounging on a white sofa with his then girlfriend, model Emma Frain, and smoking a huge cigar while surrounded by friends as he bankrolled their luxury holidays. Former players Bullard, who recently appeared on the TV show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and Robbie Keane are thought to have lost more than £500,000 each. 'He had the gift of the gab but was very cagey about the scheme, saying the money was in property, gold or City investments,' added the player, who declined to be named. 'People were convinced when they saw him paying out but then he suddenly closed the scheme down. He kept telling me to wait and that I would be a wealthy man.' McIndoe was made bankrupt in October last year with disclosed debts of £3 million and he told told the court in London at a hearing last month that he was penniless. McIndoe said he had no income and was living off £13,900 surplus from the sale of his mother's house but £6,000 of that had been given to his girlfriend, who lives in Epping, Essex. 'That money has been running thin of late so I have been getting help from friends and family,' he told the hearing. Insolvency practitioners O’Haras Ltd, based in West Yorkshire, are trustees of his bankruptcy estate and the firm's director has said it is looking to recover money lost through McIndoe's gambling habits. Details of his account with bookmakers' William Hill, which were given to receivers as part of the bankruptcy proceedings, showed he had staked a total of £391,955 and his winnings were £309,505.76. McIndoe is accused of taking huge sums from top players, including £500,000 from Jimmy Bullard (pictured) alone, for the failed venture . Ireland striker Robbie Keane is also thought to have lost around £500,000 in the scheme . McIndoe  photographed lounging on a white sofa with his then girlfriend, model Emma Frain . McIndoe at a beach party in 2011 . Four boxes of 10 bottles of Champagne: 5,000 euros each . Three magnums of Cristal: 995 euros each . Two magnums of Cristal Rose: 2,275 euros . One 3l bottle of Cristal: 2,950 euros . One bottle Dom Perignon Champagne: 295 euros . Seven margarita pizzas: 21 euros each . Five chicken quesadillas: 23 euros each . Three portions of tempura prawns: 34 euros each . One club sandwich: 23 euros . 10 Coronita beers: 10 euros each . 19 bottles of Hildon water: 10 euros each . Assorted sushi: 162 euros . Two 'Bebida especial': 1,295 euros each . Two bottles of Minuty Prestige wine: 158 euros each . Service charge: 3,532.30 euros . Total: 3,8778.30 euros . He added that he was not working and was living with his mother in Edinburgh or staying with a friend in London. After the hearing, he faced accusations from creditors that he had not responded to their questions about repayment. 'I have nothing to say, I cannot comment about this,' he said. However, the Spanish onlooker said he had little sympathy for McIndoe – only his alleged victims. He added: 'What he is accused of doing to these people is an absolute joke. 'He took a lot of money off a lot of people. We are not talking thousands – we are talking millions.' McIndoe celebrates scoring for Doncaster against Arsenal in the League Cup in 2005 . McIndoe started out at Luton Town, making his debut in 1998 and playing for the Hatters 39 times before joining Hereford on a free in 2000. Yeovil then took advantage of the Bulls' financial plight and snapped him up for £25,000 the following year. He scored 22 goals in 91 outings for the Glovers, winning promotion from the Conference in 2003 before joining Doncaster for £50,000. McIndoe twice made the PFA Team of the Year with Rovers and was his side's joint-top scorer in 2004-05 with 12 goals. He twice represented the Scotland B side during his time at Rovers. After a loan spell at Derby he joined Barnsley then Wolves, on loan again, before the deal was made permanent for £250,000. He signed a three-year contract with Bristol City in 2007 and scored the winner against Crystal Palace in the second leg of the 2008 Championship play-off semi-final. They lost out to Hull at Wembley and McIndoe had one more season at Ashton Gate before joining Coventry. He also had a brief loan stint at MK Dons.

Michael McIndoe convinced footballers to take part in investment scheme . Investors in the scheme reportedly lost a combined £30million . I'm a Celebrity star Jimmy Bullard thought to have lost £500,000 . Bill allegedly from McIndoe's party at Ocean Club in Marbella has emerged . Includes 995 euro magnums of Cristal Champagne and 3,525 euro service . McIndoe was declared bankrupt in October last year .

Shane, who used to play for Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, is said to have racked up a bill of 2,600 euros (£2,110) at the exclusive Cabo Cielo restaurant in Ibiza after inviting Premier League stars to join him in a holiday.
A former footballer alleged to have fronted a £30 million investment scheme which led to Premier League stars losing money has racked up a 39,000 euro bar bill in just four hours at a lavish beach party
It is claimed that he then spent the night at hotel Papagayo, where Premier League stars – including Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham and West Ham’s Declan Rice – had been staying, before returning to the restaurant the next day. Mr McShane, 52, is said to have claimed at the time that the bill had been racked up by a ‘group of people who were not footballers’.
But a photo taken at the party shows a group of men who appear to include footballers and former players, with Mr McShane said to have posted a picture on Instagram of himself and former Leeds player Paul Caddis at the event. Mr McShane, who played for Forest between 1994 and 1998, is believed to be the brains behind the alleged plot – which collapsed in January 2021 and is now being investigated by police.
It is also claimed that he set up a firm, called the McShane Group, which helped run a 100 million euro investment fund which targeted Premier League stars who wanted to become part of his scheme. One man, who claims he lost $100,000 (£71,400) on the investment scheme, said: ‘We got conned.’ The investment scheme was based on a lucrative football trading strategy which was supposed to guarantee ‘100 percent profits’ to clients.
Former footballer Michael McShane is said to have spent thousands of euro at the hotel he was staying at, after inviting Premier League stars to join him for holiday
But the plan was allegedly never in place and, once the investment scheme began, the money from new investors was used to pay off the money from existing investors, who then lost their money. A source close to the investigation revealed that Mr McShane has been interviewed by Portuguese police about the collapsed investment scheme.
This included two other footballers and ‘a member of the Chelsea medical staff’, the source told the Daily Mirror. The former football


As condemned Bali Nine pair Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran wait on 'death island' for their latest appeal to go to court, it's been revealed that almost 200 Indonesians on death row around the world have had their sentences commuted over the last three years - at the request of the Indonesian government. 189 Indonesian death sentences were suspended thanks to diplomatic efforts - and in some cases, money paid - by Indonesia,The Sunday Telegraph reports. The Indonesians who won reprieves were convicted of crimes which included drug smuggling in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, China, Iran and Singapore. 'I am not requesting of Indonesia anything that Indonesia does not request of other nations where Indonesian citizens face the death penalty,' Ms Bishop told the Telegraph. 'We urge the Indonesian government to show the same mercy to Andrew and Myuran as it seeks for its citizens in the same situation abroad,' she said in the Australian Parliament recently. Scroll down for video . Bali Nine pair Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan (left to right) , will have a legal appeal against their execution sentence heard in a Jakarta court on Thursday . 'We urge the Indonesian government to show the same mercy to Andrew and Myuran as it seeks for its citizens in the same situation abroad,' Australia's Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop told Parliament recently . With an estimated 360 Indonesians facing the death penalty abroad - about 230 of those on drug charges - Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has warned Indonesia's plans to proceed with the Bali Nine executions could risk the lives of its own citizens. Ms Bishop pointed to the case of Satinah Binti Jumadi Ahmad, an Indonesian maid who was saved  from beheading in Saudi Arabia by the previous Indonesian government after being convicted of murdering her elderly employer. It's reported Indonesia paid $2.1 million to stop the execution and that President Joko Widodo was among the politicians calling for mercy at the time. While President Widodo lobbies for his own people, he continues to reject Australia's appeals for clemency for the Bali Nine pair. Widodo told Al Jazeera Televsion that  his role, as Head of State, is to protect his citizens. 'But at the same time, we have to respect other countries that apply capital punishment,' he said. Last year, Indonesia made a substantial payment to a Saudi family to halt the impending execution of Indonesian maid, Satinah Binti Jumadi Ahmad.  Her sister-in-law, Sulastri, holds her photo in Central Java last year . Last month, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi told theJakarta Post that the Indonesian government was committed to helping release 229 Indonesian nationals  on death row around the world. 'The state is giving assistance by providing them with lawyers and regular visits in the prisons and carrying out diplomatic efforts with local authorities to solve the issue,' Retno told reporters. She also said President Widodo had ordered all Indonesian embassies and consulates 'to unite the death row convicts with their families as this would be helpful for their psychological well-being.' Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi says Indonesia is committed to helping release 229 Indonesian nationals on death row around the world - despite refusing to grant clemency to Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran . Ms Bishop told the Australian Parliament last month that Indonesian organisations like  Migrant Care and the National Commission on Human Rights, say Indonesia's  policy of proceeding with executions at home 'would risk undermining its representations abroad.' Of Chan and Sukumaran, she said Australia will not give up hope. 'The families of these two young Australian men have spoken openly and in heartbreaking terms of their hopes for a stay of execution,' Ms Bishop said. 'The Australian government stands resolutely with both families, after all, Australia is only doing what Indonesia is doing: making representations on behalf of Indonesian families in support of Indonesian death row prisoners abroad.' 'I believe it is Indonesia that will lose the most from executing these two young men.' The legal appeal for condemned Bali Nine pair Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran will be heard in a Jakarta court on Thursday. It comes after Friday's news that Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran's executions have been indefinitely delayed due to ongoing legal proceedings. The delay and new appeal have been welcomed by the pair's legal team, as well as Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, both of whom have voiced their optimism at the prospect for a repeal to the execution sentence, reports Yahoo News. The new appeal will be the men's second challenge to the clemency bid which was rejected in January. Julian McMahon (C), the lawyer for Bali Nine pair. The condemned Australian's legal team said the delay was a 'welcome development' as it represented a change to the previous position of the Indonesian Government' Michael O'Connell, one of the lawyers for the two Australians, said the delay was a 'welcome development' as it represented a change to the previous position of Indonesian attorney-general Muhammad Prasetyo. 'The indications that we've had yesterday are encouraging because there does now appear to be some regard to his principles.' Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she hoped the appeal represented a possible shift in the stance of the Indonesian government. 'There could be other reasons for the delay but I hope, in my heart, that it's a change of mind,' she said. Drug trafficker Scott Rush is led away for interrogation at Bali Police Headquarters. The now 29 year old has voiced his sympathy for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran after hearing they will face the firing squad . It comes after Scott Rush- one of the Bali Nine members who had his sentence changed from death to life in prison-has spoken out about his sympathy for the pair. Rush, 29, told The Weekend Australian via a friend he was 'shocked and heartbroken' by news of the their fate. 'I am praying for Myuran and Andrew and for the other condemned prisoners that even at this time mercy can't be shown,' he said. 'I send love and prayers to the families and loved ones. May God bless them all,' Mr Rush reportedly said. One of the Brisbane man's lawyers said that while his client was saddened by the destiny of the condemned duo, the reports he felt guilty were inaccurate. Scroll down for video . The family of condemned Australian drug smuggler Andrew Chan, his mother Helen (centre) and brother Michael (wearing pink shorts) arrive at Yogyakarta airport on Thursday to make the five-hour drive to Cilacap . Myuran Sukumaran's mother Raji (right) and sister Brintha (centre) on the tarmac at Yogyakarta, the closest main airport to the port town of Cilacap to which they will drive on Thursday afternoon . News has also surfaced that Chan and Sukumaran's families have been blocked from visiting them on Nusakambangan Island. Australian consular officials are seeking leniency for the devastated families, but Indonesian Officials have vowed there will be no concessions made. 'No exception. We can't make allowances for certain families only. It won't be fair for the others,'  Central Java Justice Officer Mirza Zukarnain told The Age. Armed military troops have increased their presence around Nusakambangan following the transfer of the Bali Nine duo . A smiling Djoko Hariutomo, the police commissioner of the Balinese capital of Denpasar, poses with condemned prisoner Andrew Chan n a photo that sparked national outage . Foreign  Minister Julie Bishop described the image as 'undignified and degrading' in a formal complaint lodged on Thursday . Tensions between Indonesia and Australia are also running high, with Australia lodging a formal complaint to the Indonesian ambassador on Thursday over the treatment of the two men during their transfer to death island. Scores of heavily armed police accompanied Chan and Sukumaran during the transfer, during which an image was taken that sparked national outrage. The leaked photograph depicted Senior Commissioner Djoko Hari Utomo smiling with his hand on Andrew Chan's back. Ms Bishop described the image as 'undignified and degrading' in the complaint lodged on Friday. The jungle and rainforest of Nuskambangan prison island looms over the armoured personnel van carrying Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran as they arrive off the police boat on Wednesday . Shackled and handcuffed, Andrew Chan cut a sad figure as he was escorted by four faceless Indonesian police officers across the tarmac after being taken from Kerobokan prison . Myuran Sukumaran arrives at Cilacap airport. The Bali Nine pair's executions have been delayed until ongoing legal action is settled, with Indonesian officials unable to confirm whether the pair will be executed this month .

189 Indonesians abroad have had their death sentences suspended in the last three years - at the request of the Indonesian government . 'I'm not requesting of Indonesia anything that Indonesia does not request of other nations,' says Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop . Ms Bishop warns Indonesia's plans to carry out Bali Nine executions will could risk efforts to save 360 Indonesians on death row abroad . The execution of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran has been delayed . An appeal for the condemned Bali Nine pair will be heard in a Jakarta court . Chan and Sukumaran's families are blocked from visiting Death Island . Australian consular staff are seeking leniency for the devastated families . Australia has lodged a formal complaint on the treatment of the men .

 overturned or commuted as they struggle under the pressure to carry out 'just punishments'.
More News Videos
- Video duration
- 01:17
How Andrew Chan, Myuran Sukumaran
>
How Andrew Chan, Myuran Sukumaran became Bali Nine pair
The men are now condemned to face firing squad under Indonesian capital punishment.
It comes as Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will again request the Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, to meet with her and the two men at the prison where they will be executed, if a final appeal fails.
Foreign Affairs has been pushing for the president to meet with the pair since March, when Australia became involved in the process of saving the pair from the firing squad.
In September, in a move to save their lives, Indonesia asked the US to consider offering clemency for the pair, while a third man, Lowatri Kusunoki was moved from death row to a lower sentence in an Indonesian jail.
However, that has not stopped Indonesia seeking to send the Bali Nine pair and 11 other convicted murderers to the firing squad.
Of the 15 convicted Indonesian criminals facing the firing squad, 11 have had their sentences commuted or reduced, Indonesian newspaper Kompas said, citing figures from Human Rights Watch.
There have been many cases in which these last minute clemency requests by President Joko have been denied, particularly with the death penalty in Indonesia.
Most of the cases have been for petty offences such as drug use or extortion but Human Rights Watch has listed eight of the 11 in which President Joko has exercised his mercy as having been sent to death row for drug offences.
In 2012, for example, the death penalty was used for a man who killed his wife and for five other members of a gang that trafficked drugs from West Java.
Indonesia executes about 70 per cent of convicted criminals by firing squad. It has more death row inmates than any other nation.
The last official execution was for a murder last year and the next one is believed to be for the 1999 rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in the city of Solo. The woman was convicted in January and is now facing the firing squad.
In the case of Chan and Sukumaran, who were tried and convicted in Australia in 2006 and 2005 respectively, it has been revealed the pair could receive between one and three bullets through the head if they are


A push for answers on how a New York City police officer avoided criminal charges in the videotaped chokehold death of Eric Garner has stalled because it does not protect grand jury secrecy. New York State Supreme Court Justice William Garnett ruled on Thursday that the grand jury record would remain under seal. He rejected arguments by the New York Civil Liberties Union and others that the public had a right to know why jurors refused to indict the officer in spite of the video. He wrote that the law required the plaintiffs to establish a 'compelling and particularized need' to release the grand jury minutes. Testimony from the grand jury than did not indict the police officer involved in the death of Eric Garner (right, with family) will remain sealed after a decision from New York State Supreme Court Justice William Garnett . Mr Garner was seen saying 'I can't breathe' after being taken to a ground by a policeman on New York's Staten Island borough . The Staten Island judge's ruling cited a handful of rare instances where New York courts authorized disclosure, but only to specific parties for specific reasons — not out of the public interest. For example, a 2012 appeals court ruling authorized release of bank records from a grand jury proceeding to someone seeking a civil judgment against the United Arab Emirates. Another ruling in 1978 turned over witness statements to state police for disciplinary proceedings. A 2001 decision even gave the son of a defendant in a decades-old murder case access to grand jury minutes to use for a movie script. At a hearing in February, Garnett had asked over and over how the Garner grand jury minutes would be used. 'The only answer which the court heard was the possibility of effecting legislative change,' he wrote. However, he said that hopes of legal efforts to combat police brutality or 'journalistic curiousity' were not strong enough to unseal the documents. 'That proffered need is purely speculative and does not satisfy the requirements of the law.' The death of Mr Garner (left poster) and Michael Brown (right poster) and the subsequent non-indictment  of the police officers involved in their deaths sparked a series of protests. Justice Garnett wrote that none of the plaintiffs seeking to unveil the grand jury testimony showed a 'compelling and particularized need' for the information . The effort to make the Garner grand jury record public had been considered a longshot. But the decision comes amid an ongoing debate over whether the laws need revisions promoting more transparency, particularly when it involves police shootings. By preserving secrecy in the Garner case, the court 'has reinforced the distrust many New Yorkers already feel toward the performance of the criminal justice system in this case,' said NYCLU legal director Arthur Eisenberg. Officer Daniel Pantaleo and other officers had stopped Mr Garner on suspicion of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes last July. A video shot by an onlooker shows Mr Garner telling the officers to leave him alone and refusing to be handcuffed. Pantaleo responded by wrapping his arm around Mr Garner's neck in what he said was a sanctioned takedown move and not a banned chokehold. The heavyset Garner, who had asthma, is heard on the tape gasping, 'I can't breathe.' He loses consciousness and died at a hospital. The NYCLU and others had asked the court to order Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan to release the grand jury transcript, including the testimony of Pantaleo, and dozens of witnesses, detailed descriptions of evidence and other documentation. A lawyer for Mr Garner's family said that the secrecy of grand juries was an 'anachronism.' Above, his daughter Erica leads a demonstration in September, when the grand jury decision was announced . A similar step was voluntarily taken by the prosecutor in Ferguson, Missouri, when a grand jury there refused to indict an officer in the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown. Both Mr Garner and Mr Brown were black; the officers involved are white. The deaths sparked nationwide protests about the treatment of communities of color by law enforcement and a debate about the role of race in policing. Donovan argued that the disclosure would damage the credibility of prosecutors seeking to assure both grand jurors and witnesses that details of their participation would be kept from public view. The judge agreed that the argument 'is particularly cogent in 'high publicity cases' where the witnesses' truthful and accurate testimony is vital.' Garnett wrote: 'It is in such notorious cases that witnesses' cooperation and honesty should be encouraged — not discouraged — for fear of disclosure.' 'If every newsworthy case were deemed compelling and, thus justified disclosure, the veil of grand jury secrecy would be lifted and every citizen's right to have fellow citizens, sitting on a grand jury, check the power of the police and the prosecutor without pressure from outside influences — real or perceived — would be imperiled,' the justice said. Justice Garnett said that secrecy is especially vital in 'high publicity cases'. Above, a memorial to Mr Garner on Staten Island . The decision by the Staten Island grand jurors, he added, 'was theirs alone, after having heard all of the evidence, having been instructed on law and having deliberated. 'Their collective decision should not be impeached by the unbridled speculation that the integrity of this grand jury was impaired in any way.' Jonathan Moore, who represents Garner's family, called the ruling misguided. 'We think this grand jury process was deeply flawed,' he said. 'Secret grand juries are an anachronism,' he added, according to the New York Times. 'The judge has essentially sanctioned the use of a secret trial for a very public matter. If this was a normal grand jury process, they would have had an indictment in five minutes,' he said. Mr Donovan said Thursday his office would respect 'and will adhere to Judge Garnett's well-reasoned decision.' The parties, which also include the Legal Aid Society, the New York City Public Advocate's office, New York Post and the NAACP, are appealing. Parties in the case are appealing the decision of Justice Garnett, though the application itself was considered a longshot .

New York justice said request didn't show 'particularized need' for info . Testimony had previously been given to help someone with movie script . Prosecutor in Ferguson police shooting unveiled testimony voluntarily . Death of Garner in July and grand jury's non-indictment sparked protests .

 the case will go on to a trial. He also ordered that prosecutors hand over investigative materials to the defense team, including records of an independent autopsy and surveillance videos.
Grand jury proceedings are secretive by definition, but attorneys for the Garner family say they still want an independent investigation. “The family wants to know what was going on in that police car before Mr. Garner’s death,” said lawyer Jonathan Abady. “When they arrived, Mr. Garner was handcuffed and the police were having difficulty getting him out of the car.”
Last month, a New York grand jury decided not to indict Daniel Pantaleo after video of the July 17 confrontation in Brooklyn’s Staten Island showed him apparently putting a man into a chokehold, which led to Garner’s death.
Prosecutors say they believe officers’ testimonies, along with the medical examiner’s findings, were the basis for the decision, but the officers’ statements have been contradicted by video evidence, including from other officers who were there. And the autopsy report, which was the subject of a federal lawsuit that was dropped after a judge ruled that it should not be revealed because it is considered protected police records, has been subpoenaed by the Garner family attorneys to find out exactly what went on that day.
In a previous interview with RT, Abady said he was skeptical of the medical examiner’s findings. “The medical examiner’s report is one man’s opinion,” he explained. “His conclusion, based on the evidence in his possession, is that the man died of natural causes. That is simply his opinion. We need to find out what the circumstances were, what led to his death, and what happened immediately prior to his death.”
The 43-year-old father of six, who worked as a food concessionaire, was unarmed and handcuffed at the time.
In the end, however, the family might only get answers on the circumstances of Garner’s death, as the medical examiner has reportedly been barred from testifying. In a letter sent to the family in January, Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan said “there will be no further comment on this case.”
Police Commissioner William Bratton was on record that Pantaleo is a “fine police officer” and he believes “that he acted properly on the scene.” New York Mayor Bill De Blasio also supports the officer’s actions. The New York Civil Liberties Union had called the verdict “another


A 94th-minute goal by substitute Martyn Waghorn rescued a Sky Bet Championship point for Wigan Athletic in a 1-1 draw at home to Bolton, who looked as though they were going to pull off the classic smash-and-grab. The home side had dominated for the vast majority of the contest, only to fall behind 20 minutes from time when Tom Walker's shot was deflected past a helpless Ali Al Habsi for the opener. It was a crushing blow for a Wigan side that had hit the bar in the first half through James Perch, had a Leon Clarke goal chalked off for offside and seen Marc-Antoine Fortune fluff a relatively straight-forward heading chance. A 94th-minute goal by substitute Martyn Waghorn rescued a point for Wigan Athletic against Bolton . But they stuck to their task in the second period, and after Ben Amos had denied Jermaine Pennant with a stunning stop, the goalkeeper then tipped a Clarke header on to the bar as well as clawing away a Sheyi Ojo effort. It looked like time would run out on Wigan, but in the fourth of five added minutes, Waghorn equalised with a goal that could yet save their season. Wigan had started the game on the front foot, with Bolton content to play on the break. And the visitors showed their threat inside the early exchanges when Adam Le Fondre led a breakaway only for Gaetan Bong to save the day in the nick of time. Wigan were getting the ball wide at every opportunity to wingers Josh Murphy - making his full debut - and Pennant. But it was through the middle that they nearly broke the deadlock, with Perch's 30-yard effort beating Amos only to hit the bar and come back out. The ball fell invitingly for Clarke, but the striker's header was weak and straight at Amos. Wigan XI: Al Habsi, Boyce (Kvist - 78), Maguire, Pearce, Bong, Pennant (Ojo - 67), Kim, Perch, Murphy, Fortune (Waghorn - 78), Clarke . Subs not used: Carson, Taylor, McKay, Cowie . Goals: Waghorn 90 . Booked: Maguire . Bolton XI: Amos, Mills, McCarthy, Ream, Feeney, Trotter, Bannan, Rocha (Vela - 55), Walker (Moxey - 82), Le Fondre (Davies - 68), Heskey . Subs not used: Bogdan, Dervite, Gudjohnsen, Twardzik . Goals: Walker 70 . Booked: Davies . At the other end, Walker could not make the most of Liam Feeney's cross, and the same player was unable to make amends moments later when he fired past the post. Former Wigan man Emile Heskey had a great opportunity to open the scoring on the half-hour mark but his free header from a corner flashed past the upright. Latics ended the half on a high and should have taken the lead when Murphy's pinpoint cross found Fortune, whose header from point-blank was straight at Amos when either side would surely have brought about the opening goal. Wigan did have the ball in the net right on half-time through Clarke, but the striker looked well offside and the flag was up on the far side. The home side picked up where they left off after the restart, and a Pennant free-kick bound for the top corner was superbly clawed out by Amos. Pennant then had time and space in the box to pick his spot on the edge of the area, but his shot hit Clarke and was hacked away to safety. The visitors won a couple of corners but they were virtually non-existent as an attacking force, with Wigan asking all the questions. But with 20 minutes to go, the unthinkable happened and Wanders took an undeserved lead in extremely fortuitous circumstances. Walker's shot from distance took a massive deflection off a defender, completely wrong-footing Al Habsi and rolling into the net to the delight of the packed away end behind the goal. Credit goes to Wigan for the way they stuck to their task, and Amos produced another fabulous stop to deny substitute Ojo before Clarke saw a header tipped on to the bar by the goalkeeper. It looked as though Bolton were going to hold on for all three points before, in the fourth added minute, Waghorn sent an overhead kick in off the bar to rescue a point for the hosts.

Thomas Walker fired Bolton into the lead with just 20 minutes left to play . But Martyn Waghorn equalised with just seconds of injury time to go . Draw with Bolton leaves Wigan five points adrift of Championship safety . Bolton are now without a Championship away win in seven matches .

and-grab on their trip to the DW Stadium.
The draw was harsh on the Latics as it looked like they had sealed a third consecutive home win when the impressive Callum McManaman hit the crossbar with a fine 50th-minute strike for the second time in two matches.
Latics were ahead after a couple of defensive blunders, including a sliced clearance from Antony Sweeney by Jermaine Beckford, resulted in Kevin Davies tapping home from close range after eight minutes.
But the equaliser came nine minutes from time when Waghorn was on hand to rifle home after an error by goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, who had earlier denied Waghorn with a stunning point-blank save with his right hand.
Wigan have now dropped six points in as many games after a bright start to the season, but Bolton will feel satisfied with a hard-earned point after a spirited display.
The result extended the unbeaten run of their manager Owen Coyle to nine matches, as the former Burnley and Scotland manager approaches his first anniversary at the Reebok.
Coyle made two changes from the team which lost to Blackburn on Wednesday with on-loan Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong coming in for Mark Davies, while Marvin Sordell made way for former Wigan man Gary Madine.
Wigan also made two alterations as Shaun Maloney replaced Ben Watson, whose 200th appearance for the club was moved to this weekend, while Jean Beausejour came in for James McCarthy, who dropped to the bench.
Coyle's team made a bright start with a superb 15th-minute save from the brilliant Al Habsi, who parried away an early shot from Madine, while 28 seconds later he kept out an effort from Davies after a lightning break.
Bolton had another effort turned away by the goalkeeper when Sordell met Chris Eagles' pass but he failed to convert, but the visitors deserved to go ahead from that first period of play, with the Latics struggling to produce anything going forward.
Wigan showed no sign of turning things around in the opening minutes of the second half as Al Habsi made another vital save from Madine.
The Chilean then kept out a 25-yard drive from Eagles and a superb volley from Davies but the visitors were almost rewarded for all their dominance when the ball was not cleared from a 20-yard Eagles cross with 17 minutes remaining.
But Latics


James Corden pulled out all the stops for his opening night on US TV - breaking a showbiz exclusive, performing alongside a Hollywood legend and roping in some of his most famous celebrity friends. He made sure his first show went off with a bang with a opening sequence in which he joked he got the job by finding a golden ticket in a Willy Wonka-style chocolate bar. The sketch included appearances from Simon Cowell, Girls creator Lena Dunham, Billy Crystal, Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne and comedian Chris Rock ,all devastated or furious after opening chocolate bars without the golden ticket inside, before Corden found the winning ticket in the street. Scroll down for videos . Welcome to America: James Corden walks out for his first night as host of the US's Late, Late Show . The piece then showed how Jay Leno, Shia LaBeouf, and Arnold Schwarznegger whipped him into shape for his new role. Schwarzegger shouted at him 'You don't look like a talk show host, you look like two' while Leno waterboarded him for preparation. Meryl Streep then appeared to tell the London-born comic he was ready to a become a star. Corden added to the star power on display by bringing on his guests, Tom Hanks and Mila Kunis. Kunis delivered an exclusive for his inaugural show by reluctantly revealing that she and partner Ashton Kutcher 'might' have got married. Asked by Corden if she had tied the knot, she replied: 'I don't know, maybe.' Prompted by gestures from Hanks, the host inspected the huge ring on Kunis's hand and declared 'Oh, you got married! They got married, everyone! Oh my god, Mr and Mrs Kutcher!' Corden introduced himself to American audiences as he admitted he was stunned to be making a star-packed debut with his late-night talk show. Tinsel town: Aswell as a number of cameos from celebrities, Corden interviewed Mila Kunis and Tom Hanks . He was greeted by a whooping crowd including his wife, parents and celebrity friend Piers Morgan for his first outing as host of the Late Late Show on US network CBS. Corden is relatively unknown in America and he immediately addressed that fact as he opened the programme, which airs at 12.35am. 'I feel I should tell you a little bit about myself,' he said. 'My name is James Corden and I'm 36 years old and I'm from a place called High Wycombe in Great Britain, which you almost certainly will never have heard of because most people in Great Britain haven't heard of it so I don't expect you to.' He added: 'I'm married, sorry ladies, this ship has sailed.' Gesturing to his newly slimmed-down frame, he said: 'This don't stay on the shelf too long.' Addressing the cameras in front of a studio audience at CBS studios in Los Angeles, he added: 'We have two children - my son was four yesterday and my daughter is 16 weeks old - and I really couldn't be more honoured to be stood here talking to you now and, believe me, however shocked you are that I am standing here doing this job, you will never be as shocked as I am.' Unknown: He opened the show with a sequence joking that he got the job by finding a golden ticket . He added: 'I promise you we will have fun on this show and I promise we will do everything we can to put a smile on your face before or, let's be honest, more likely while you fall asleep at night. 'It really isn't lost on me what a privilege it is to be given a show like this and I really will do my best not to let any of you down.' The actor thanked his parents for flying over from the UK to watch his debut. He said: 'They have never been to Los Angeles before and they are already loving it, they are eating kale every day, my mum is getting a boob job next week. He choked on his words and wiped away a tear as he added: 'Thank you for being here, thank you for making the trip, I really appreciate it.' One of the show's biggest hits among fans . Other highlights of the show included Corden and Hanks performing a five-minute retrospective of Hanks' many films, complete with wigs and green screen backdrops. Corden took the unusual step of ending the show with a musical number before the end credits. Critics said the idea made the show stand out from other talk shows, though questioned whether the comedian would be able to sing the show out very week. Play it again: Critics praised Corden's idea of finishing with a musical number, for which he sat at a piano .

James Corden has received rave reviews for his first show on US TV . He started with a heart-felt plea to Americans to give him a chance . Comedian panned to his mother and father who were in audience . He then performed in sketch joking that he won job with golden ticket . Arnold Schwarznegger and Jay Leno were then shown getting him in shape . Corden and Tom Hanks then performed whistle-stop tour of his films . In an unusual move, Corden sat at a piano and sung at  end of the show .

 bang, and judging by the reaction, it's safe to say the show was a success.
The Late Late Show With James Corden is a late-night talk show hosted by The Late Late Show With James Corden's titular character James Corden. In the show, Corden conducts interviews with celebrities, gives viewers an inside look at celebrities' lives, and performs music numbers with celebrities.
The Late Late Show With James Corden premiered on March 15, 2015. The show airs weeknights on CBS at 12:37 AM.
"James Corden had an amazing debut, and a great first day," says the host as he starts off his first show. James says that he spent two months planning for his first day of work, which he calls, "the biggest day of his life."
And with that, a montage begins as the camera pans over to the set, where James stands at the desk as it shows the audience cheering and the band warming up, and it ends as it pans back to him at the desk with a big smile on his face as he says he's nervous.
As he's shown a clip from his previous show, Corden is shown sitting with Ellen DeGeneres where he calls her a legend who will always be a legend because people will say, "I remember sitting with that guy."
"Ellen will always be famous," he says, adding "Because people will remember this show, and Ellen will always be famous."
He's shown with Michelle Obama, and we see them at the White House as the host says "Ellen is one of the last people in America that is just as famous on Twitter as she is in real life."
Corden meets the famous rapper Drake on a yacht as the song "Hotline Bling" plays in the background. He asks Drake, "What's your favorite movie?" while the Canadian rapper answers, "The Notebook, it's the greatest movie ever made."
Next, he's spotted with Julia Roberts who is holding a red carpet interview when suddenly the star asks him, "Who's your favorite Beatle?" And Corden responds "Ringo. I don't give a shit."
The cameras turn back to the stage where Corden is about to start the show, but then the host gets on his knees in the middle of the stage, and begins singing, "Happy Birthday, Mr.


Most of America has spent this winter shivering in a colder-than-usual polar plunge that's seen almost every state turned white and the Great Lakes freeze over. But in Alaska, residents are wondering what's become of the blizzards and arctic lows that usually characterize the northernmost state. The biggest city, Anchorage, is so unseasonably warm that a winter festival could only go ahead after trucks drove in snow from a stockpile, and hide it under PVC to stop it from melting away. No-show snow: Streets in Anchorage were snowless (left) for a winter festival, while volunteers (right) had to pile up snow and cover it with PVC so a sculpting competition could go ahed. The rest of the U.S. has had a frigid winter . We took your winter! This was the scene Saturday on Boston Common, the heart of a city buried in snow - prompting the envy of Alaskans . Digging out: Boston's motorists found their cars swamped by snow, while the usually frigid land of Alaska was left hardly touched . Want some of this? In the Massachusetts capital, huge piles of snow have emerged as authorities struggle to find anywhere to put snow taken off the roads . Bemused residents even took to asking Boston - which has been swamped with more than 100 inches of snow in a record-breaking winter - if they can have their winter back. Speaking to the Boston Globe, Anchorage-dweller Danielle Crelley, 19, said said: 'This is the worst winter ever... We can’t even go sledding. I just want to build a snowman.' Another, store owner Nina Walker, proposed a trade between Massachusetts and Alaska. She said: 'You give us your snow, and we’ll give you the Palins.' Cameras from local station KTUU showed the snow-less scenes in the city. Their comments follow an unusual set-up for the annual Fur Rendezvous festival, in which Anchorage city authorities had to spread a thin coating of snow from diminishing stockpile to create a winter feel. Sunday highs in the city are set to be above freezing, while Wednesday is predicted rain. A dog sledding race, which usually winds through the Anchorage streets, has been relocated 260 miles north, where there is still enough snow. It was the first time the event had to move since it began in 1946. Wanna trade? One Alaskan said that Boston was welcome to Sarah Palin and her family - if they can restore winter to Anchorage . Winter of two Americas: Climate figures showed that this winter has seen western states experience unseasonable warmth, while the east shivered. Alaska has been warmed by the same phenomenon heating California . Speaking to the KTVA station, former organizer Gary Huffard said: 'This weather is as crazy as it can get!'. He later encouraged people to come down to the event's funfair because, for once, 'you can enjoy the carnival without turning blue'. It comes as cold weather records continue to fall across the country, with February declared the coldest month in New York for 81 years. Boston was predicted still more snow Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, adding to its current total of more than 100 inches since winter began. The average temperature in the New York City over the last four weeks has been 24°F - 11 degrees below normal. New York joins other metropolitan areas such as Chicago and Pittsburgh, which have also experienced their most frigid February in decades. As the mercury continues to plummet, ice breakers are being deployed by the US Coast Guard to create ferry and shipping lanes along the Hudson River in New York and the Delaware in Philadelphia. Many already knew in their bones it was true - but official figures have now confirmed that for some parts of the country, February was the coldest month in history. In New York, the cities of Buffalo, Syracuse, Binghamton and Ithaca all scored their lowest ever averages in more than a lifetime. In Buffalo the February average was 10.9°F, beating the 1934 record of 11.4°F. Syracuse was colder still, with an average of just 9°F. Hartford, Connecitcut, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Portland, Maine also set records. Caribou in Maine had an average of just 2.5°F. While Boston has been colder in February before, it has never been snowier. Its 64.8 inches in February smashed the old record of 41.6. If it managers just another 5.6 inches, the winter will officially be the snowiest ever. Total snowfall for the season is way above normal across the Northeast, according to the National Weather Service. As of Febreuary 26, Worcester, Massachusetts had 108.6 inches, compared to a normal snowfall of 49.9 inches. However, meteorologists at the Northeast Regional Climate Center said the record winter is just down to luck. One said: 'We can't point to anything specific... It's just the way the jet stream bulged and set up. It's random, like a deal of cards. Sometimes you're dealt a royal flush, sometimes you get nothing.' Everywhere else: Emily Martinez makes a snow angel on freshly fallen snow as a a storm out of the Pacific Northwest brings snow to the San Bernardino Mountains on Saturday, in Green Valley Lake, California . New Mexi-snow: Richard Hample of Albuquerque took out his skis to get some exercise near Silver and Harvard on Saturday morning . Ploughing through: Travelers walk with their luggage to the airport due to impassable roads in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Saturday . A lone duck swims in a small creek in Hurst, Texas, on Saturday. The area received almost two inches of snow and freezing rain . A horse looks for grass underneath the snow and ice in a field in Reno, Texas, west of Fort Worth, on Saturday . According to The New York Times, it has not been this frigid in New York since February 1934. That month it averaged 19.9°F. On February 9 of that year, the mercury sank 15 degrees below zero - the lowest daily reading in the city's history. Jay Engle, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, told The Times: 'It was like the most sick month you can think of.' As the records continue to tumble - with almost 500 daily low-points being beaten in the last month - forecasters predict there's more on the way. Record-breaking: Ice chunks form underneath the snow-covered Brooklyn Bridge in New York City at the end of the coldest February in more than 80 years - and two more snow storms are expected to hit the region over the next few days . Frozen: The mercury has not fallen this low in the city since 1934. Pictured are fire fighter working to tackle a blaze in sub-zero climes . Duties continue: The tug Arabian Sea pushes a barge through the icy waters of the Hudson River on Friday, near Rhinecliff, in Upstate New York. With the prolonged cold winter weather, the Coast Guard has been busy clearing shipping lanes . This next winter storm will begin to take shape Saturday in California as a disturbance digs into the Southwest, bringing rain in the lower elevations and snow in the mountains. Snow, sleet and ice will then spread eastward across the Plains, Midwest and Northeast through midweek. Texas has already seen six inches of snow as a result of the storm, with Oklahoma - seven inches - and New Mexico - one foot - also suffering from the wintry downpours. Boston's all-time winter weather record is also at risk, after 102 inches of snow fell on the city in the space of a month. Insurance companies in the area are getting a historic number of claims from homeowners whose properties have been damaged by the weight of the snow. Experts say that popping, creaking, or cracking noises can be signs of a stressed roof that could be about to collapse. Residents are warned to leave immediately in those cases. Peter Judge, spokesman for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, told the Boston Globe: 'If you are hearing loud cracking, like cracking wood, there is something going on up there. But if it’s just a variety of sounds, don’t automatically get everyone out of the building.' Wintry conditions also caused chaos across the southeastern United States this week as the area saw an unprecedented amount of snowfall. Wet, heavy snow snapped tree limbs and cut power lines in North Carolina leaving more than 200,000 Duke Energy customers without electricity at one point. Nearly a foot of snow fell in parts of Alabama - closing roads, schools and businesses. A volunteer who works with the National Weather Service measured 11 inches of snow in the Guntersville area in the morning. Authorities said 8.5 inches of snow fell in the Athens area, with similar amounts reported in other towns and cities across northern Alabama. School's out: Children make snow angels in Richardson, Texas. A winter storm that dumped several inches of snow in Texas on Friday closed schools, snarled travel and forced a main highway into Oklahoma to shut down after nearly 20 vehicles slid off the road . Whiteout: Helena Burns, center, walks in Pioneer Plaza with her mother, Sandra, left, and Hanna Vampola, all of Omaha, Nebraska, .

Winter has seen snow in almost every state, and frigid lows in the Northeast - but Alaska is balmy by comparison . In largest city, Anchorage, snow for winter festival was driven in from stockpiles after less than an inch fell last month . Dog-sledding forced to move 260 miles north to get enough snow - the first time since the event began in 1946 . Residents jokingly asked Boston - been buried by more than 100 inches in recent months - for its snow back . Alaskan warmth and frigid lows further south are both caused by atmospheric movements in the jet stream .

 that are the lifeblood of their economy, in other words, the snowy winter wonderland that makes the state one of the most popular places in the country to visit (and move to), and a place that generates billions of dollars in revenue for the state through tourism and taxes.
Alaska is cold all winter, yes. But, in the past, this cold season typically brings snowstorms that help to attract skiers. This year? "I'm just not seeing it," said Bruce Woodbury, the director of the state's Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "Usually, we have our big snowstorms by now."
Snowstorm.
What's going on? The lack of snow isn't entirely unusual for the state; the last time that snow fell so late in the winter was 10 years ago, in 2007. But the lack of snow and the mild temperatures are making it difficult for locals to make money from the tourism industry.
Related: What will happen if America runs out of oil?
Alaskans are dependent on tourism
About 10% of Alaska's economy is dependent on tourism, which is $7 billion. But for the state to bring in that much in revenue, about 2 million people have to visit it in a single season, 1 million of whom visit the state in winter.
Since snow and cold temperatures are key to attracting snow enthusiasts and skiers, it's a good indicator of how well Alaskans are doing during the winter months, and therefore, an important driver of revenue for the state.
So with winter in Alaska only just starting, there's a concern that the state won't bring in the revenue it's typically used to, thanks to lower tourism -- and that might just force some businesses to close.
The lack of snow hurts tourism, Woodbury said. "There are some folks that have said, you know, it's not so important to have the snow right now, but then there are others that are saying, 'I need to keep my business open, so I have to have some snow right now, and to make up any loss.'"
Related: The truth about how much your favorite sports teams will make
"So it's just one of those really delicate balancing acts that we all go through right now, so that everyone knows that we are experiencing a tough year," Woodbury said.
"I'm not concerned about


The small foam pieces used to protect fragile goods in boxes could soon power your phone thanks to a battery breakthrough. Researchers have developed a way of turning the so-called 'packing peanuts' into carbon, which can then be added to the types of lithium batteries used in everyday gadgets. During tests the packing peanut-based batteries could store 15 per cent more power than current technology - and they even outperformed similar batteries made of graphite. Scroll down for video . Researchers have developed a way of turning  so-called 'packing peanuts' (pictured) into carbon, which can then be added to the kinds of lithium batteries in everyday gadgets. During tests the packing peanut-based batteries could store around 15% more power than current technology . This breakthrough was made by Dr Vilas Pol, Dr Vinodkumar Etacheri and their colleagues at Purdue University. They presented their findings at the National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS). The researchers began by baking the packing peanuts at around 600°C (1,100°F) to create blocks of black carbon. These blocks were then flattened into microsheets and nanoparticles, which in turn were added as anodes to lithium batteries. These sheets had a lithium-ion storage capacity of 420 mAh per gram. By comparison, an iPhone 6 battery has a total storage capacity of 1810mAh and weighs 0.9oz (28 grams), while the theoretical capacity of graphite is 372 mAh/g. This means the packing peanut technology could make batteries smaller and lighter, yet more powerful. Typically researchers make similar microsheets using temperatures as high as 2,200°C (4,100°F), meaning Dr Pol's method uses less energy and is more environmentally friendly. Dr Pol got the idea to turn these peanuts into nanoparticles and microsheets when he was taking delivery of new equipment for his lab. 'I looked at the packing peanuts and thought that while we are exploring "green" technologies, we should not be harming the environment by throwing them away,' he said. The researchers began by baking the packing peanuts at around 600°C (1,100°F) to create blocks of black carbon. These blocks were then flattened into microsheets and nanoparticles, which in turn were added as anodes to lithium batteries. These sheets had a lithium-ion storage capacity of 420 mAh per gram. By comparison, an iPhone 6 battery has a total storage capacity of 1810mAh and weighs 0.9oz (28 grams), while the theoretical capacity of graphite is 372 mAh/g. This means the packing peanut technology could make batteries smaller and lighter, yet more powerful. Typically researchers make similar microsheets using temperatures as high as 2,200°C (4,100°F), meaning Dr Pol's method uses less energy and is more environmentally friendly. The researchers at Purdue University began by baking the packing peanuts at around 600°C (1,100°F) to create blocks of black carbon. These blocks were then flattened into microsheets (pictured) and nanoparticles, which in turn were added as anodes to lithium batteries . Drs Pol and Etacheri then tested the microsheets and nanoparticles as anodes in rechargeable lithium ion batteries. The lithium ions move between the electrodes during charging and discharging and the researchers said their anode works so well 'it outperforms commercial [anodes], with a storage capacity higher than graphite, a typical anode material.' And although the higher temperatures used to create other sheets create a more layered arrangement of carbon atoms to maximise  performance, Dr Pol's less-ordered materials are said to have a 15 per cent higher electrical storage capacity. Typically researchers make similar microsheets using temperatures as high as 2,200°C (4,100°F), which creates more structured sheets. By comparison, the 'disordered crystal structure' of Purdue University's sheets (shown) lets them store more lithium ions than the theoretical limit - making them more powerful . Dr Pol hopes his group's new, scalable process could have carbon microsheets and nanoparticles ready for commercial use in batteries (pictured) within two years . '[The batteries] have disordered, porous structures,' said Dr Etacheri. 'The disordered crystal structure lets them store more lithium ions than the theoretical limit, and their porous microstructure lets the lithium ions quickly diffuse into the microsheets and creates more surface area for electrochemical interactions.' Dr Pol hopes his group's new, scalable process could have carbon microsheets and nanoparticles ready for commercial use in batteries within two years.

The discovery was made by Dr Vilas Pol and at Purdue University . Packing peanuts are the small foam pieces used in packaging . Dr Pol's team baked the peanuts at 600°C (1,100°F) to create carbon blocks . These blocks were flattened to make microsheets and nanoparticles . Such sheets and particles can then be added as anodes in lithium batteries .

 of supercapacitors found in electric cars.
In a paper published in the journal ACS Energy Letters, the researchers from Japan's Kanazawa University explain how a high-temperature reaction creates graphene and porous carbon from the tiny fragments.
The method can be repeated by recycling used packing peanuts, though the researchers suggest it will require more time and energy than other ways of making graphene.
As of last summer, a kilogramme (2.2lb) of raw "Styrofoam" can only generate around 7g of graphene. While much more efficient methods of creating graphene, such as chemical reactions and the use of hot gases, are already in development, the Japanese researchers say their findings suggest a future route to the material.
They explained how they first liquefied the packing peanuts by heating them in a vacuum and then mixed them with a solvent that causes them to swell. The material then starts to shrink and eventually turns solid once heated in an oven. The resulting residue contains tiny gaps in its structure, and then in an oven at 500 degrees Celsius for up to 12 hours. This turned the carbon into a porous form, which can then be converted into graphene via a process of activation.
The "grafting" of the graphene onto the porous carbon took place using an oxidation reaction to bond them together. The final form of graphene has a carbon content of around 85 per cent, 30 per cent of which can be attributed to the used packing peanuts.
Dr Keiji Watanabe, one of the researchers behind the new technique, said in a statement: "At present, our method doesn't have any particular advantages but in the future it may be possible for used packing peanuts to be fed directly to supercapacitors in the form of a powdered or granular carbon paste."
Graphene has a number of applications, including as a supercapacitor material that can provide much quicker recharge times for electric cars. However, one of the major limitations to its development has been the cost of sourcing the material, which is more than 10 times the price of silicon in current production. The material is made through a chemical reaction that involves pulling a sheet of carbon atoms into a two-dimensional lattice with single-atom thick layers.
Despite the discovery being described as a breakthrough, the production of graphene is likely to remain a complicated process for some time. As of this January, researchers from the University of Manchester suggested that


Ronny Deila accused Ryan McGowan of endangering the career of Liam Henderson with a wild lunge in the dying moments of Celtic's Scottish Cup victory over Dundee United. The Norwegian's side strolled into a semi-final meeting with Inverness by putting four goals past the Tannadice men, yet the third of four successive meetings between the sides was again pockmarked by ill-discipline. Anthony Stokes was sent off by referee Calum Murray for a swipe at Paul Paton before McGowan was also dismissed for scything down Celtic sub Henderson – prompting the sixth red card in three back-to-back meetings. Ryan McGowan is sent off by referee Calum Murray after he scythed down Celtic sub Liam Henderson . And a clearly angered Deila believes the young Celt was fortunate to escape serious injury. 'It was a red card,' he insisted. 'It was a stupid tackle on the sideline. We need to get these things out of football. 'It was a youngster trying a little trick in the corner. You could have stayed there and kept him out wide instead of going in with both feet. He could have injured him for life. 'It must have been frustration. It was a straight-forward win in the end but there were some angry and disappointed players out there. 'It got a bit tense at the end but that can happen. Celtic boss Ronny Deila claimed McGowan could have injured Henderson for life with his late challenge . 'These have been important games for both teams and sometimes it can get a bit tense. 'Today, we were the better team, like we were on Sunday, and they had some frustration. We need to handle that and get ready for the next game.' Deila, who wanted to look at the Stokes incident before commenting further, isn' t concerned the ill-feeling will spill over in the fourth encounter between the sides on Saturday. 'I spoke to Stokes,' he added. 'His mouth was bleeding after a challenge from Paton and he reacted. We have to see it again if it is a red card. 'I am not concerned for my players. We have to be at the same level and get the three points. I am delighted to be playing them again.' Celtic eased through at the second attempt thanks to goals from Jason Denayer, Leigh Griffiths, Kris Commons and Virgil van Dijk. But given the tempestuous nature of the three previous games, Griffiths believes there's every chance matters might get out of hand when the teams reconvene on league business at Celtic Park. 'That's six red cards in three games now and if I was a betting man then I would be putting money on another sending off this Saturday,' he said. Anthony Stokes (second left) comes together with McGowan during an ill-tempered second-half . 'It is just one of those things and the Dundee United players are getting a bit frustrated and we move on to Saturday and hopefully we can pick up another three points. 'I don't think there is niggle between both sets of players. I just think Dundee United are sick of the sight of Celtic. 'We have got them again on Saturday and then we don't see them for a while.' United assistant manager Simon Donnelly believes refereeing decisions have gone against his side in the three games. The Tayside outfit felt Ryan Dow should have been given a penalty in the League Cup Final while Efe Ambrose should have had a second yellow early in the second half last night for a foul on Nadir Ciftci. 'The Celtic reaction on the back of their player being sent off maybe influences the referee (when McGowan is sent off) but I'll need to look at it again,' Donnelly said. 'Is it any worse or any different to Scott Brown's two weeks ago?' Asked about Ambrose, Donnelly replied: 'It's another yellow card. We deliberately put Nadir out there to play on Ambrose because he was on a yellow card. Deila celebrates at full-time as his side reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals with a 4-0 victory . 'I thought it was another yellow card when we were having a reasonable period in the game. 'They've gone against us in the last few games. We've spoken about the penalty at the weekend. That's football.' Meanwhile, Celtic skipper Brown says he's moved on from being photographed seemingly drunk in an Edinburgh street four days before the League Cup Final. 'I don't think I'm the first player to make a mistake and probably won't be the last,' he stated. 'But I've spoken to the manager, it's been dealt with and now all I'm doing is moving on. 'I'm sure the club, the manager and the fans know that my total focus will always be on the matches coming up and nothing else but winning for Celtic. 'It was a real honour as captain to lift the League Cup on Sunday and we now want to push on and try to bring our fans even more success this season. 'That's all we're thinking about.'

Celtic defeated Dundee United 4-0 in the Scottish Cup on Wednesday . The victory was overshadowed by Ryan McGowan's dangerous challenge on Celtic's Liam Henderson . McGowan was red carded for his challenge on Henderson . The match was pockmarked by bouts of ill-discipline from both sides . Celtic striker Anthony Stokes was sent off for a swipe at Paul Paton .

-final against St Johnstone, winning 3-1 at Tannadice with a clinical second half display.
It was the fifth league meeting between the two sides this season. United took the lead through Mark Connolly's own goal before Leigh Griffiths levelled with a penalty. Goals from Scott Sinclair, James Forrest and a second for the Scotland winger in the second half put the Parkhead club in the last four of the competition.
In the process, Celtic equalled Dundee United's record of 11 consecutive home wins in Scottish football. Despite two goals conceded, goalkeeper Craig Gordon kept a clean sheet to move within two of Peter Schmeichel's total of 126 consecutive home appearances between the sticks.
Despite the comfortable victory, Deila accused Dundee United's Ryan McGowan of putting Celtic striker Gary Mackay-Steven's career in danger with a lunge at the striker in the closing stages of the game. Mackay-Steven had scored two goals in the first half as Deila's side ran riot in Perthshire.
The winger's excellent display on his return from the winter break was ended prematurely when McGowan caught him with a last minute challenge. Mackay-Steven was left with a heavily bruised leg. However, the 21-year-old had no complaints about the Australian's challenge and was delighted to have extended his record goalscoring run against Dundee United to three games.
"I was very happy about it. I thought I was in the clear and he pulled me over. It was a heavy tackle," Mackay-Steven said.
"To be honest, the tackles were pretty heavy all game. The two boys just went over the top a bit. It is football and you know you are going to take a few."
Celtic winger James Forrest, who netted a first half hat-trick, was happy to leave Tannadice with a 3-1 win.
"It was tough," Forrest said. "They made it really difficult for us. I'm delighted to have won and we're through to the semi-final.
"The gaffer made some good changes and we did well. The boys worked their arses off. Now we have two games in a week next week against Partick Thistle and Dundee United. We will have to rest one or two but we'll just pick out the right team and get the job done."


The past few days have been turbulent, to say the least, for British middleweight, Luke Barnatt. When his upcoming fight against Clint Hester was scrapped from the UFC's Fairfax card on April 4, after Hester developed a foot injury, Barnatt was on the hunt for a replacement opponent. 'I heard from Clint directly that he was injured and out of the fight.' Barnatt told Sportsmail. 'I spoke to Joe Silva and he said there's no-one on the roster who is free to fight you, so it might have to be a newcomer. But I didn't want to fight a newcomer who people knew nothing about. He had a few guys in mind but none of them could take the fight or would agree to it. Britain's Luke Barnatt found the replacement he was looking for after his fight with Clint Hester was scrapped . Barnatt will be facing Filipino-American fighter Mark Munoz in the UFC's maiden event in the Philippines . 'I said, 'Why don't you give me Mark Munoz and let me fight in the Philippines?' 'Then Joe called back and said he'd made about 500 phone calls and that he couldn't find anyone, so your wish is my command – you're fighting Mark in the Philippines. 'I went from being very down, to being very happy, and now I have 10 weeks to prepare for the fight.' Barnatt is looking to bounce back from two frustrating back to back losses, both of which the middleweight feels he would have won, were it not for poor judging decisions. Mark Munoz, meanwhile, who recently fell short of the UFC's top 15 middleweight rankings, is a veteran of the sport and will present a dangerous challenge on the ground for Barnatt. 'Obviously I have to pay a bit more attention to my wrestling now' said Barnatt. 'Mark is a very, very good wrestler. There will be a bit more of a focus on, but I am going to implement my own game plan.' Munoz (front) fought in UFC 184 but was forced into submission by Brazilian fighter Roan Carneiro (rear) Carneiro celebrates his win over Munoz in their middleweight bout during the UFC 184 event at Staples Cente . The bout will feature on the UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber fight card, the UFC's first event ever to take place in the Philippines. 'Six years ago I was in Thailand.' Barnatt continued. 'I lived there for 7 months and I always wanted to go to the Philippines, so I'm super excited. I'm going to go out there about 10 days before to get acclimatized. The funny thing is, Mark trains about 3 hours away from me in California so we will both be going all that way. We will probably leave on the same flight to get out there!' When it comes to trash talk, we can expect to witness none of that in the lead up to this bout. 'I know Mark' said Barnatt. 'He's pound for pound the nicest guy in the world. But this will probably be Mark's last fight in the UFC. He's wanted to fight in the Philippines for so long so it's great that he's able to do that, but I think this will be the last fight for him. 'It's a fantastic opportunity that the UFC has given me, to allow me to be the one to retire Mark Munoz.' Munoz was on the losing end against Carneiro, but he'll be hoping for a comeback against Barnatt on May 16 .

The pair will meet at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber on May 16 . British middleweight Luke Barnatt says he will 'retire Mark Munoz' The spectacle marks the UFC's first ever event in the Philippines .

 back injury, Barnatt was left with a couple of options. He could either sit around hoping for a call from the UFC, which wasn't promising, or he could jump on the next available flight to New Jersey and face another opponent on less than a week's notice.
A week after facing "the Beast" at UFC FN: Hester vs. Barnatt, Barnatt faced another challenge when he was forced to take on undefeated Sean Spencer on short notice. Spencer, who trains at the Fight Ready camp in London, came in with a 9-0 record and was on the brink of a title shot in one of the most stacked British organizations. Spencer came out aggressive and rocked Barnatt with a left hand, but not more than two minutes into the round, Barnatt shot in for the takedown, got Spencer to give up his back, then sunk in his hooks for the rear-naked choke to seal a win in front of his fellow Brits.
Luke Barnatt now has three wins in the UFC, and though he's faced a few of the best middleweights in the world, he's got his sights set on the very top of the food chain in Michael Bisping. In this exclusive interview with FIGHT! Magazine, Luke breaks down what it was like facing the former UFC Middleweight champion for the title, what it was like taking a call from the UFC after his UFC FN: Hester vs. Barnatt fight was cancelled, and why he'll still have some big-fight bonuses in store no matter what happens in his career.
FIGHT! Mag: What was it like to get a call from Dana about a replacement opponent?
Luke Barnatt: It was crazy. I was just having a drink with mates and all of a sudden this call comes in from Dana. I didn't even know he had my number, so when it came in I was like, "What is this? What's going on?" He said, "You're fighting on Saturday. It's Michael Bisping, so get ready to fight." I was like, "Okay, great. Let me go to the pub and let my mates know."
FIGHT! Mag: How did you prepare in the few days before you were notified?
Barnatt: The fight was cancelled [Wednesday]. I was out in California on business, so I had to fly back to London to get my mind ready. Even though I


Scotland centre Alex Dunbar could miss the Rugby World Cup – after collapsing with suspected ligament damage to his left knee in training on Thursday. Dunbar had been named in the XV to face England in Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham. But, running on his own just an hour before selection was announced this morning, he changed direction and his knee simply gave way. The damage is being scanned at a private hospital in Edinburgh, while a specialist will need to examine the images before making a final diagnosis. Alex Dunbar faces a race against time to be fit for the Rugby World Cup after injuring his knee at training . While Scotland coaching staff are hopeful that he may only have torn his cartilage, putting him out of action for around six weeks, there is a real fear that Dunbar has sustained damage to his ACL – which means up to six months on the sidelines. Matt Scott, who had been due to start on the bench, will take Dunbar's place in the starting line-up on Saturday. Scotland centre Dunbar was due to start against England in the Calcutta Cup on Saturday . David Denton, Jim Hamilton and Dougie Fife will all start for Scotland against England on Saturday after Vern Cotter made five changes to his starting XV. Stand-off Finn Russell also returns to the Dark Blues line-up for the penultimate RBS 6 Nations clash at Twickenham after suspension ruled him out of the 22-19 defeat to Italy at Murrayfield two weeks ago. The Scots are desperate to restore pride in the Calcutta Cup meeting following three straight defeats to France, Wales and the Azzurri. Edinburgh number eight Denton - the only player among the incoming five not to have featured in this year's competition - replaces Johnnie Beattie after shaking off the calf strain which has kept him out of action so far. Denton's Gunners team-mates Fife - a try-scorer against France in round one - and Matt Scott replace injured wing Sean Lamont and centre Alex Dunbar, who are both ruled out with knee complaints. Russell, meanwhile, starts in place of Peter Horne while experienced Saracens lock Hamilton takes the place of benched forward Tim Swinson. Cotter said: 'Jim comes in and will bring his physicality and understanding of English rugby to our forward pack. 'It's good to have Dave Denton back as he provides us with strong ball-carrying and strong defence. He's also a very good lineout forward and will give us a bit more physical density against a big forward pack. 'It's been tough on Finn to sit out and it's great to have him back. He's slotted straight back in to the structure we're looking for. 'Finally, Dougie came on and played well against France and has had a couple of games with his club. 'We're looking for him to bring his enthusiasm, energy and high work-rate, particularly in kick-chase and receipt.' Tighthead prop Euan Murray, meanwhile, will equal Allan Jacobsen's all-time appearance record for a Scotland prop when he collects his 65th cap. Dunbar, here showing his disappointment after Scotland's loss to Wales, awaits results of scans on his knee . He will partner Alasdair Dickinson and fit-again Ross Ford, who has recovered from the back spasm suffered against Italy to start in an experienced front-row. Jonny Gray remains in the second-row to pack down with Hamilton, while Blair Cowan and Rob Harley start together for the sixth consecutive time in the back-row, alongside Denton. Captain Greig Laidlaw will again partner the returning Russell from scrum-half, with the back-line completed by Glasgow Warriors trio Mark Bennett, Tommy Seymour and Stuart Hogg. Hogg, Fife, Bennett, Scott, Seymour, Russell, Laidlaw. Dickinson, Ford, Murray, Hamilton, Gray, Harley, Cowan and Denton . Subs: Brown, Grant, Cross, Swinson, Beattie, Ashe, Hidalgo-Clyne, Tonks . Cotter added: 'This is a very important game. 'It will be played away from home at a very intense level and will allow us to assess further our ability to operate away from home in a hostile environment. 'Our focus, however, has been on ourselves and how we can perform better, by identifying the areas that we can control - like improving our skill sets and reinforcing our cohesion - to withstand the difficult times and also apply some pressure.'

Alex Dunbar was running on his own when his knee gave way on Thursday . The injury puts the Scotland centre in doubt for the 2015 Rugby World Cup . Scotland face England in the Six Nations for the Calcutta Cup on Saturday .

 Twickenham and the 25-year-old will travel to London with the rest of the Scotland squad on Friday.
The Barbarians director of rugby is expecting a "massive ask" when they play at Twickenham on Sunday.The Barbarians director of rugby is expecting a "massive ask" when they play at Twickenham on Sunday.
The Barbarians director of rugby is expecting a "massive ask" when they play at Twickenham on Sunday.
The game has been arranged to mark the Queen's official birthday but Rob Andrew believes it could be crucial to the Barbarians' preparations for the World Cup. "It's a massive ask to turn out in a Test match in nine days time, but it's a unique opportunity to play at Twickenham," he said. "The Barbarians have a very good record at Twickenham - we won in 2005 and drew the last time we played there."
Andrew's team will line up against the All Blacks and include some familiar faces. He announced a 35-man squad made up mainly of players who featured in last year's Barbarians win against Fiji, with two places available to other players in the squad. They are:
Gustavo Gomez (Argentina, Edinburgh), Paul Hodgson (Argentina, Exeter), Luke Palmer (Argentina, Northampton), Michael Lipman (Argentina, Newcastle), Matt Symons (Argentina, Harlequins), Hugo Southwell (Argentina, Gloucester), Pablo Matera (Argentina, Ospreys), Luke Cowan-Dickie (England, Exeter), Ben Mowen (Australia, Wasps), David Seymour (New Zealand, Brumbies), Ben Franks (New Zealand, Wasps), Jannie Du Plessis (New Zealand, Sharks), James O'Connor (Australia, Melbourne Rebels), Adam Ashe (Ireland, Munster), Henry Thomas (Wales, Scarlets), Richard Wigglesworth (England, Saracens), Scott Lawson (England, Newcastle), Jonny May (England, Gloucester), Nick Frisby (Scotland, Edinburgh), Jamie Stevenson (Scotland, Glasgow), Jonny Gray (Scotland, Glasgow), Ryan Wilson (Scotland, Glasgow), Tom Catterick (England, Harlequins), Ben Youngs