The charity race at Cheltenham is supposed to be all about the taking part - except when serial winners Sir Alex Ferguson and multi-champion trainer Paul Nicholls are involved. Co-owner Fergie and Nicholls were so keen for the Ditcheat trainer’s head lad Clifford Baker to ride the winner that his fancied mount Rainy City, who cost £100,000, had exploited the grey areas of eligibility for the last race on the Festival card yesterday. The regulations, confirmed by a Cheltenham spokeswoman, state that horses in the line-up should all have been given an average BHA rating to ensure a competitive race. Sir Alex Ferguson (right) and Paul Nicholls (left) were at Cheltenham to watch Rainy City finish fifth . Yet Rainy City, who is highly thought of in the Nicholls yard, had no BHA rating, and rival jockeys were concerned that Fergie’s horse was far superior to the rest of the field. The get-out clause buried in the fine print was that any horse without a rating could be handicapped by Cheltenham at their discretion. In the event, Rainy City finished an outpaced fifth, having led for most of the 1m 5f. Nicholls said: ‘Of course we wanted to win. But it’s a charity race and we entered to give Clifford a ride.’ Arena Racing Company, who own racecourses that stage 40 per cent of UK fixtures, still chose to hold their annual drinks party during Cheltenham, even though it is not one of their tracks. ARC are owned by the Reuben brothers, the billionaire property developers who have caused serious upset by closing down popular racecourse Hereford and moving its meetings to the over-raced Chepstow and Uttoxeter tracks. Hereford is now empty most of the time as part of a long-term property play between the local council and the Reuben brothers, who are never seen at the races. Arena Racing Company were among many companies hosting their annual drinks at Cheltenham . It doesn’t say much for the commitment to developing homegrown cricket talent that England selector Mike Newell, in his other role as Nottinghamshire’s director of cricket, has signed Zimbabwe batsman Brendan Taylor as a Kolpak player. The 29-year-old has played 23 Tests and 166 ODIs. The move follows another England selector, Middlesex boss Angus Fraser, bringing in New Zealander James Franklin on an Irish passport. Minister for Sport Helen Grant is a guest of the British Horseracing Authority and Jockey Club at Cheltenham today. But Grant, a modest drinker, is unlikely to embrace the liquid Festival hospitality as heartily as one of her predecessors did last year. The former minister was barely able to walk through the car parks after the meeting. Minister for Sport Helen Grant, a modest drinker, is unlikely to end up like a predecessor at Cheltenham . LTA back in fat cat mode . LTA chief executive Michael Downey has yet to justify an annual salary and benefits package of £434,000 plus a massive one-off relocation payment of £190,000. Nor did the Canadian do his image much good by wearing a GB tracksuit top during last weekend’s Davis Cup triumph over the USA in Glasgow — a cardinal sin for a sports administrator. LTA chairman David Gregson had said Downey would receive a £300,000 salary on his appointment but it seems the excesses of the Roger Draper regime are already in danger of being repeated. LTA chief executive Michael Downey was not his usual suited self in Glasgow - he wore a GB tracksuit top . There will be only five more racing days after Saturday before Clare Balding turns her back on presenting the sport following Royal Ascot. But the Balding effect has not boosted Channel 4’s viewing figures — quite the reverse. The Cheltenham peak of 996,000 was down again on Wednesday, year on year, by 20,000. And the last time Cheltenham enjoyed four consecutive days of 1m-plus ratings was pre-Balding in 2012, when Highflyer produced the coverage and John McCririck, John Francome and Derek Thompson were all still on board. Clare Balding arrives at Cheltenham Festival, but her presence has not helped viewing figures . Only Cheltenham could consider £30,000 for two season tickets in the Cheltenham Club good value. However, 100 of the 300 memberships available for the grand top-floor facility in the new £45million grandstand, which are being sold on a minimum three-year basis, have already been bought. And that’s where AP McCoy will be found at Cheltenham next year, having been signed up as the Club ambassador. AP McCoy will be among those in the Cheltenham Club next year, having signed up to be its ambassador .

Sir Alex Ferguson and Paul Nicholls-owned exploited grey areas of eligility for Rainy City to ride in the charity race at Cheltenham . But Rainy City led most of the 1m 5f before finishing an outpaced fifth . Arena Racing Company hold their annual drinks at Cheltenham despite it not being one of the 40 per cent of tracks they own in the country . England selector Mike Newell has signed Zimbabwe batsman Brendan Taylor as a Kolpak player in his Nottinghamshire role . A former minister had trouble walking due to drink at Cheltenham last year . LTA chief Michael Downey committed a sports administrator cardinal sin . Clare Balding's presence has not boosted Channel 4’s viewing figures . A third of £30,000 memberships  in the Cheltenham Club have been sold .

cheat Stable star to end a barren 16-race run over hurdles that he did so in last year's Foxhunter Chase with a couple of fences to spare and an eight-length victory.
Nicholls also saddled the mare to win the Tote Scoop6 Supreme Chase in 2007 and, this year, she came home well ahead of Nicholls' other contender, Chico De La Tour, to claim the John Smith's Mares' Hurdle.
Ferguson has the better record of the two over fences. Although Nicholls won the JCB Triumph Chase on his first appearance in 2001 with Black Jack Ketch, the trainer's most prolific Cheltenham performer is Katenko, who ran to a mark of 170 last season when he won last year's County Hurdle at the Festival.
Nicholls can't take his pick from many of the 18 horses he has booked into this year's meeting and, if they do go, Katenko would be a better option than the unbeaten but injury-prone favourite Kauto Star. If Kauto Star was a jockey it would have been suspended after losing "six stone" in weight in the eight years since his first Festival appearance in 2003 when he was ridden by Robbie Power.
Even as a racehorse his record over fences is patchy. Katenko is no more than the seventh favourite for the two-mile race that opens the Cheltenham Festival, a race in which last year's winner Punjabi looked good going down by 16 lengths.
However, the biggest risk facing Nicholls is the horse that can't be called. Kempton's big-race winner, Bobs Worth, will stay three miles as a novice but won't run at Cheltenham, or any other festival, this season.
"When you're lucky enough to have a horse like Kauto Star you might as well keep going and if that involves putting him in a two-mile race, what is the worst that is going to happen?" said Nicholls. "It might not work but it's a good problem to have and as long as he's sound I'll go for it."
The same applies to Nicholls' other Festival runner, Big Buck's. Big Buck's became only the fourth horse to be crowned three-time Champion Hurdle winner on Sunday after the eight-year wait for K


The daughter of a man on trial for murder in the 1979 disappearance of six-year-old Etan Patz testified Monday about her father's unusual behavior in an effort to show that he is mentally ill. Becky Hernandez, speaking publicly for the first time about the murder case against her father, Pedro Hernandez, said she wasn't allowed out with friends as a youngster unless she had a written invitation and two weeks' notice — and her father held her hand crossing the street until she was 14. The 25-year-old described how he would clean their Maple Shade, New Jersey, home profusely, the court heard, and cook dinner starting at 2 a.m. — the same food every night: chicken, rice and beans. She said the case has caused a huge strain on her life - preventing her from getting a masters degree because the looming criminal proceedings meant 'she couldn't concentrate'. Harrowing testimony: Becky Hernandez (pictured arriving in court today) said her father Pedro (right), who has been accused of killing six-year-old Etan Patz, said she wasn't allowed to go out with friends unless she had a written invitation and he would hold her hand while crossing the street until she was 14 years old . The defense is trying to show Pedro Hernandez's 2012 confession to choking the boy is a delusion. She told the court her father was hours early for everything and would not allow her to be home alone. He would sleep for hours during the day, rarely socialized and insisted on sitting in the same church pew every Sunday, she testified. She also said he saw shadowy figures, a lady in white, and one time said he awoke to find a bald man choking him who then disappeared. She'd come home to find him talking to himself. But they didn't call the doctors. 'We knew he wasn't well, and we didn't want to hurt his feelings,' she said. 'You know how children sometimes believe in something? That's the type of response we had. My mom always taught me that what he sees and what he believes is not what we have to see.' Hernandez said stress over her father's case prevented her from getting a master's degree. 'I was studying and every single time I had to take a test there was something related to my dad,' she said, choking up.  'I couldn't concentrate.' She began crying when asked if she loved her father despite his behavior. Support: Pictured with her attorney Harvey Fishbein (left) and mother Rosemary (right), she told the New York court how she couldn't get a masters degree as a result of the case because she 'couldn't concentrate' 'He's protective because he loves me,' she said. '...It's the little things that show that he cares. And that's why I love him.' The defendant had no visible reaction as his daughter testified, but he smiled as she walked by during a break. Earlier, he turned around to wave and smile at his wife, who was sitting in the benches. Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi-Orbon on cross-examination sought to show Hernandez was strict and abusive and that he still tries to control her from prison. Pedro Hernandez made a stunning confession in 2012 to choking Etan in the basement of a convenience store where he worked, after police questioned him on a tip. Over the years, he told a prayer circle, a neighbor and his ex-wife that he had harmed a child in New York. At least five people testified about what he said during the trial. Family: Stanley Patz, father of Etan Patz, and his daughter Shira Patz, left, arrive at Manhattan Supreme Court for another day of testimony . Etan vanished on his way to school on May 25, 1979. His disappearance helped galvanize the modern-day missing children's movement; his picture was one of the first to appear on a milk carton. Over the years, the case bounced around between detectives and units and from local police to federal agents and back. There's been no physical evidence. During his confession, Hernandez told detectives that he tossed the boy's bag up onto a freezer in the basement of the convenience store. 'If the freezer is still there, the book bag should be there,' Hernandez told detectives. But the shop was closed and cleared out in the early 1980s, its contents tossed, and it's not clear whether police were present at the time. No body was ever found. Hernandez's attorneys are trying to show that his 2012 confession (left) to choking Etan (right) following his disappearance in 1979 is a delusion .

Becky Hernandez, 25, described how her father Pedro was controlling . Needed a written invitation to go out with friends and two weeks notice . Told court he held her hand while she crossed street until she was 14 . Defense is trying to prove her father's 2012 confession is a delusion .

 for the first time, described the odd behavior – like the time he told her he was the Messiah – that she said drove her mother to divorce him in 1977, just four years before Etan disappeared.
Patricia Bradley Hernandez, now 61, and her son's 67-year-old father were arrested in New York in May 2012 and charged with kidnapping Etan after his disappearance at a Lower Manhattan convenience store as he walked home with his mother from school in May 1979. They deny killing Etan, but prosecutors say his body, which was never found, is buried somewhere in New York or New Jersey.
MORE: "I Saw Him 3 Days Before He Disappeared. My Daughter Knew He'd Been Killed'
Jesse Friedman, a 39-year-old teacher who served nearly nine years in prison after he was arrested in 1988 for sexually abusing eight of his young students in suburban Chicago, is hoping to make a similar argument about his mental health when his trial resumes in Illinois. His parents, who helped finance his defense, also are expected to testify in his defense.
“It’s hard to say if you’re sick in the head if you’re sick enough to be a rapist,” said one of their attorneys, Leonard Levine, during opening statements in his trial last year.
The jury in that trial deadlocked after just five hours, but the judge in the case, Sheila Murphy, allowed the prosecution to retry the case without calling new witnesses. It is expected to resume Thursday.
Meanwhile, another man stands trial just a day away on charges he killed the 6-year-old girl in 1989, after allegedly luring her into his car while he was working as a busboy at an Atlanta-area restaurant. (In 2000, he was also charged with the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl in the same area).
A 50-year-old convicted killer in Connecticut was spared the death penalty after a jury found in 2010 that his crime was committed in the heat of passion and, therefore, was not a capital offense.
At last year’s trial, prosecutors in the Etan Patz case played an audiotape for jurors in which they say Jesse Friedman tells them that his parents had sex every night, as do 12-year-olds. In the audio, Friedman said he witnessed sexual abuse by his


London Mayor Boris Johnson has hit out at the 'human rights' group who claimed Britain was to blame for Jihadi John's murderous actions. He tore into controversial campaigner Asim Qureshi today branding suggestions UK authorities caused the ISIS killer's radicalisation '100% the wrong way up'. The outspoken mayor then added: 'If you're a human rights group then you should be sticking up for the human rights of those who are being beheaded in Syria and northern Iraq.' Scroll down for video . London mayor Boris Johnson today hit back at the group who have blamed the radicalisation of Jihadi John on British security services . Mr Johnson (left) slammed prisoners' rights group Cage after the group's leader Asim Qureshi (right) called into his radio show and claimed security services may have made Jihadi John feel unwelcome in the UK . Prisoners rights group Cage held a press conference in which they called Mohammed Emwazi - unmasked as Jihadi John last week - 'a beautiful man' who was 'harassed' by British security services. After widespread condemnation of the group and their comments, the London Mayor took on Qureshi, the group's leader, today. Qureshi called into Mr Johnson's radio show on London's LBC radio this morning, claiming his defence of Emwazi had been 'unfairly represented'. But Mr Johnson refused to go back on his previous criticism of the group and slammed Mr Qureshi's claims. The Tory mayor said: 'I really, really think that the focus of your indignation and outrage should be at people who go out and join groups that throw gays off cliffs, that behead people who don't subscribe to their version of Islam, that glorify in the execution of innocent journalists and aid workers. 'They should be the object of your wrath, not the security services who are trying to keep us safe.' Families of the victims of ISIS killer Jihadi John (pictured) - unmasked last week as west Londoner Mohammed Emwazi - have also slammed Cage's comments, branding Emwazi 'a monster' Mr Johnson said the group's claims sent out the completely wrong message, adding: 'If you're going to have an impact on the lives of young Muslims you have to focus on what these people are doing wrong and not instantly scatter blame around.' But Mr Kureshi refused to change his line and replied: 'What we want is to understand whether or not, the security agencies, their actions led to [Emwasi] feeling that he did not belong to UK society.' Mr Johnson, who looked furious on a video of the broadcast filmed in the studio, replied: 'I just feel that you've got it 100% the wrong way up. You need to see this thing differently. 'The security services are trying to keep is safe. They cannot conceivably be blamed for their actions trying to prevent people from committing such atrocities.' Qureshi's group press conference last week was broadcast live for 52 minutes on the BBC and 58 on Sky News, with Qureshi speaking uninterrupted for 18 minutes. Mr Johnson is the latest politician to hit out at the perceived apologists for ISIS killers. In a statement to the Commons yesterday, Home Secretary Theresa May said: ‘I condemn anyone who attempts to excuse that barbarism in the way that has been done by Cage.’ The row came after a shocking press conference last week, at which Cage said Jihadi John was 'beautiful' And Jacqui Smith, a Labour former Home Secretary, added: ‘We can – and should – dismiss the outrageous apologists of Cage who claimed that Emwazi was just a good lad radicalised by the actions of western authorities.’ Families of the victim's of Jihadi John's killing spree have also attacked Cage's defence of the murderer. Reg Henning, brother of British aid worker Alan Henning who died at the ISIS executioner's hands, said: 'If he's a "beautiful, kind man", why is he killing innocent civilians? 'He's a monster. Everyone should be doing everything they can to capture him and bring him to justice - not stick up for him like he's been hard done by.' Qureshi previously urged protestors at a protest outside the US embassy to 'support the jihad of our brothers and sisters' in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Chechnya'. Speaking through a microphone at the 2006 pan-Islamic Hizb ut-Tahrir movement rally, he said: 'When we see the example of our brothers and sisters fighting in Chechnya, Iraq, Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan, then we know where the example lies. Cage's comments last week has sparked a charity commission investigation into organisations, including the Joseph Rowntree trust and Body Shop founder Anita Roddick's Roddick Foundation, who fund the group. Qureshi appeared at a protest in 2006 at which he said Muslims were being oppressed by the West and called for support for jihad, shouting: 'Allahu Akhbar! Allahu Akhbar!'

'Human rights' group  sparked outrage claiming ISIS killer was 'beautiful' They have since blamed British security services for his radicalisation . But Boris Johnson today took on the group's leader on radio phone-in . London mayor said groups' approach was '100% the wrong way up'

 fanatic to snap as 'nonsense'. The controversial Islamic expert has long called for the British authorities to be held accountable for 'creating him'.
In an interview with Channel 4's Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Mr Qureshi said the British army had 'blood on their hands' and added that the British justice system was responsible for Jihadi John as well.
Mr Qureshi said Jihadi John had 'fallen off the tracks' when he became embroiled in the Iraq conflict.
The controversial religious cleric said he had been groomed into becoming a 'Jihadist'.
"Britain was involved.
"We were part of it, so was the US.
"Britain should not be seen to be somehow exempt from responsibility."
Boris said the campaigner was wrong to claim Britain was responsible.
He added that he hoped Qureshi, who previously called for a public inquiry into the actions of MI5 and MI6, would be "more sensible".
Mr Qureshi sparked fury in the UK when he compared Jihadi John to an SS officer.
READ MORE
I hope he is more sensible than that: London Mayor Boris Johnson takes a pop at controversial campaigner who says Britain is to blame for Jihadi John's atrocities
He said a government decision to send troops to the region was the catalyst that set the killer on the path to his acts of terrorism.
Jihadi John is the pseudonym used for Mohammed Emwazi, a Kuwaiti-born British citizen who lived in east London with his family and then moved to Manchester before eventually moving to Syria.
He was killed during a raid by US special forces on an Islamic State compound in Raqqa in November 2014.
Jihadi John used several nicknames but was widely known as Mohammed Emwazi, from Bethnal Green, east London.
In February last year, he appeared in five of 12 videos for the Islamic State propaganda channel, boasting about his crimes and threatening more attacks.
In his last video, the 21-year-old appeared to threaten the murder of the journalist James Foley after the US launched a drone attack in Libya in 2014.
His identity was first reported by US Vice President Joe Biden.
It was later revealed that Emwazi had been interviewed by the BBC and the Whitehall Review on possible terror plots in 2010.
His family moved from Iraq to


Conservatives say they are happier, but liberals show more cheer in smiles, word choice and even emoticon use, claims a new scientific study. Other researchers found fault with the study, which looked at how Democrats and Republicans differ in positive language in speeches entered into the Congressional Record, photos in the congressional directory, tweets by followers of the two different political parties, LinkedIn photos associated with advocacy groups, and answers to psychological satisfaction-with-life surveys. The scientists found Democrats in Congress and liberals in general used a statistically significant amount of more positive language and smiled more with their eyes in photographs, while conservatives self-reported more satisfaction with life, according to a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Science. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington.  Conservatives say they are happier, but liberals show more cheer in smiles, word choice and even emoticon use, claims a new scientific study. The researchers examined 18 years and 432 million words of speeches in the Congressional Record, concentrating on 2013. Democrats used 13.6 positive words for every negative and Republicans used 11.5 positive words per negative. 'We're not saying liberals are happier, they behave happier,' said study co-author Peter Ditto, a professor of psychology at the University of California Irvine. 'But conservatives report being happier.' Other studies have reported that conservatives tend to score higher on tests that rate how satisfied with life they are, but University of California Irvine graduate student Sean Wojcik, the study's lead author, decided to look deeper. He looked at other indicators of happiness: words and facial expressions. The researchers examined 18 years and 432 million words of speeches in the Congressional Record, concentrating on 2013. Democrats used 13.6 positive words for every negative and Republicans used 11.5 positive words per negative. That higher rate for liberals was apparent regardless of who controlled Congress or the White House, Ditto said. For a laughing Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., this rings true: 'A lot of what seems to fuel Republican energy is anger-based. They're angry about Iran. They're angry about Obama. ... And you hear that on the floor constantly.' That's not the feeling at the office of Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., where a sign above the congressman's door reads 'Fighting for Freedom and Having Fun.' His spokesman Ken Grubbs said, 'A day at the office here ... is never without lots of laughs.' Political scientist Jack Pitney said the Wojcik study was so off kilter that it seemed to be a parody, adding 'I don't think too many people will take this seriously.' A professor at Claremont McKenna College, he had many questions about the way the study was conducted and said conservatives in general want less government so this would be reflected in the language they use when talking about government. One study team member, who initially wasn't told what the project was about, examined congressional portraits to rate their facial emotions, an accepted technique in psychology. Democrats and Republicans had similar smiles around the mouth, but the more telling features for happiness are the muscles around the eyes and there Democrats looked cheerier, Wojcik said. He also found more positive language — and emoticon use — in tweets from people who followed only Democratic Twitter accounts versus only Republican account followers. Rep.  Gerald E. Connolly, D-Va., disagrees with his colleague on the other side Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., who spoke against H.R. 4278, the Ukraine Support Act, during the House Foreign Affairs Committee markup of the bill on Capitol Hill in Washington.   For a laughing Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Virginia, the study rings true. Several outside psychology experts told The Associated Press that while it was interesting, they didn't find the study convincing. They faulted some techniques, did not see a significant difference between the two ideologies' scores and they criticized the researchers for mixing long-term happiness in self-reporting with momentary good moods in pictures and language. 'The observed differences are quite small,' said Robert Emmons of the University of California at Davis. 'Happiness is the norm for both' Democrats and Republicans. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Conservatives say they are happier . Liberals show more cheer in smiles, word choice and even emoticon use . Democrats in Congress and liberals in general used more positive language and smiled more with their eyes .

 the text of their Tweets.
The study, published earlier this month in the journal PLOS One, looked at a random sample of 50,000 tweets from a sample of more than 100,000 users. The study's authors sought to identify the emotions present in Tweets of those who identified themselves as liberal, moderate or conservative, as well as the text and image-based emotions in the Tweets. The study looked at "sentiment," which is often defined as the feeling behind a text message. The study's authors, led by John Fox and Joseph Micallef, found that "conservative users tend to employ more words with negative valence (e.g. the words 'no' and 'hate')" while liberals use more words with positive valence, such as 'love', "and they express this love and happiness in more smiley faces and emoticons," the researchers found.
However, other researchers say it's far more difficult to draw meaning from text-based "sentiment analysis" than facial expression (smiles, frowns and winks) and hand gestures (clapping or "thumbs up" gestures) are a much better reflection of the true feeling behind text than word choice.
That's the finding of researchers at the Center for Applied Linguistics, who looked at a study of 40 political blogs and found "no difference between Democrats and Republicans in overall sentence length or in the frequency of positive, negative, or neutral word choices," wrote Robert W. Erikson, a linguist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in a commentary published online last week by the journal Applied Linguistics.
Erikson said "sentiment analysis" can be inaccurate because "it measures the average sentiment of all of the text in a tweet," which can have far less emotional impact than something like a smiley face or the tone of a Twitter user's voice.
Twitter founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted a response to the study's findings, calling sentiment analysis "garbage," but the sentiment analysis community responded by saying Dorsey is using a technique called "emotional contagion" to generate his own positive sentiment in the Twitter.com site.
Twitter doesn't share that sentiment. The service is so worried about political or social sentiment it won't even let users create new accounts with email addresses like "@PresidentObama" or "@


Very few of us have lives interesting enough to warrant streaming them live on Twitter, but a new app gives us the option - just in case. Meerkat effectively turns your phone into a portable webcam and lets you broadcast live footage of whatever you point your handset's camera towards. And because it connects with Twitter, users already have a dedicated audience. Meerkat effectively turns your phone into a portable webcam and lets you live stream whatever you point your handset's camera towards. It has a simple premise: press the Stream button, point the phone's camera at a scene and a link to stream is automatically tweeted from a connected account . The app was built by architecture student Ben Rubin and was on display at this week's SXSW Festival in Austin. It has a simple premise: press the Stream button, point the phone's camera at a scene and a link to stream is automatically tweeted from a connected account. There is also a Schedule button to start recording at a later time. This tweet is posted with a [LIVE NOW] message. An optional #meerkat tag is added to the end of the tweet to make it easy to find. That user's followers can reply and retweet the link, to get more people involved, and watch it through the app or on a desktop browser. So far, streams have included US chat show host Jimmy Fallon rehearsing a monologue for The Tonight Show and live streams of sports. Other more mundane, and in some cases disgusting, streams have included people riding on a bus or even picking their nose . Notably, some of these sports streams have been live from the event while others have simply been a live stream of the sport on the user's TV. This means that people who can't afford a cable TV subscription could watch a game online. The top searches on Twitter include  #meerkat and #meerkat live sports  (shown) So far, streams have included US chat show host Jimmy Fallon rehearsing a monologue for The Tonight Show, Spotify streaming a live spin class with DJ and live streams of sports. When Meerkat first launched last month it imported a user's Twitter followers as well as showed who they were following. However, this was said to have annoyed Twitter and the social network cut off Meerkat's access to this service. Twitter recently bought a live-streaming service called Periscope which is a direct rival to Meerkat. Meerkat has found a way around this though by adding a search feature that lets users find their favourite Twitter users. Notably, some of these sports streams have been live from the event while others have simply been a live stream of the sport on the user's TV. This means that people who can't afford a cable TV subscription, for instance, could watch a game through someone's Twitter feed. The top searches on Twitter include and #meerkat, #meerkat live sports. It is unclear how this would affect licensing and broadcasting laws and MailOnline has asked a lawyer and broadcasters for comment. Sky told MailOnline that it: 'focuses on preserving the value of its investment in sports broadcasting rights and, as part of this, will monitor new technologies and digital distribution methods that become available. 'We work closely with our rights holder partners to, where appropriate, address unauthorised use.' Other more mundane, and in some cases disgusting, streams have included people riding on a bus or even picking their nose. The app promotes itself as a tool for citizen journalists to broadcast live footage of news events, for example. This cuts out the need to film a video and upload it to YouTube, for example. Mr Rubin told Business Insider his favourite use of the app was live BBC reporting from protests in Ferguson. There is no limit on the length of stream but once the stream has ended it is automatically removed from Meerkat's servers - similar to jhow Snapchat works. This means the stream is saved on the user's phone but can't be accessed on the cloud via the link. The app promotes itself as a tool for citizen journalists to broadcast live footage of news events, for example. This cuts out the need to film a video and upload it to YouTube, for example. At the moment the free app is only available on iOS (pictured) but Mr Rubin has said the team is working on developing an Android version . As of the 15 March, more than 91,000 so-called Meerkats - or live streams - have been tweeted, generating more than 293,800 views and 102,600 retweets according to statistics from Simply Measured . Everything that happens on meerkat happens on Twitter. Streams will be pushed to followers in real time via push notifications. People can only watch it live. No reruns. Watchers can restream any stream to their followers in real time. Scheduled streams will be distributed in the community by their subscribers. Your own streams can be kept locally on your phone, but never on the cloud. Everyone can watch on web. But people could use screen capturing software during the stream if they wanted to record and keep it. And, in theory, the app raises privacy concerns especially if live footage features people being filmed either surreptitiously or by accident without permission. There is also the wider issue of hacking. If a hacker was able to take control of a user's phone and camera they could use the service to live stream any footage they wanted. Of course, this is an issue that affects a wide range of apps, and not just Meerkat, but its immediacy and live nature highlights the problem more than on other services. There is also potential for pornographic footage to be streamed. Meerkat's terms of service doesn't address this directly but explained: 'You are responsible for your use of the Services, for any Content you post to the Services, and for any consequences thereof. 'The Content you submit, post, or display will be able to be viewed by other users of the Services and through third party services and websites. 'You should only provide Content that you are comfortable sharing with others under these Terms.' In its rules it also says simply: 'Be kind.' As of the 15 March, more than 91,000 so-called Meerkats - or live streams - have been tweeted, generating more than 293,800 views and 102,600 retweets. At the moment the free app is only available on iOS but Mr Rubin has said the team is working on developing an Android version.

Meerkat is a free iOS app developed by student Ben Rubin . It connects to a user's Twitter account and uses a phone camera to record . Once a user presses Stream, a link to the live footage is tweeted . Followers can then tune into the stream on the app or on a web browser . They can additionally reply or retweet streams to get more people involved . Streams range from behind-the-scenes footage of celebrities to people watching football matches and even users picking their nose .

're looking at to Twitter and other services.
Meerkat launched on Monday to much fanfare after being announced at this year's F8, Facebook's developers conference. The Meerkat team has a few tricks up their sleeves to make the service stand out from other live stream services such as Periscope and live.ly - including "Meerkat parties".
"They're essentially private, invite-only events where people from around the world can join you live to chat," said CEO Ben Rubin in a blog post announcing the launch of the app. The parties feature a chat room where you can interact with your audience, and all the viewers can participate with emojis, the ability to share a live view of whatever is on your camera, and an "Appreciation" feature that gives viewers the power to tip the broadcaster.
The app is currently available on iOS with an Android release currently under development, but Rubin made it clear that this is merely the first step in a longer journey. He stated that the app is just the "beginning of live broadcasting," and hinted at an upcoming web presence where users can create their own channels and watch streams from the web.
While the social streaming market is getting increasingly crowded, the team behind Meerkat has a clear path to success with Rubin's background in early Twitter and social video start-up Seesmic.
"At Seesmic, I saw first-hand how live video can change the way we communicate and connect with our friends and family," said the CEO. "As a user of Periscope and Twitter’s live video, I got caught up in the feeling of what I was seeing in real-time — that’s what we want to enable for everyone."
Meerkat will be a free app with no ads, but will have "optional premium features" that can be bought for in-app purchases, but it has no plans for freemium monetization. While that's great news for current users of other live streaming services, it might be bad news for broadcasters on the app. The team will offer "unlimited streams" and "broadcaster tools" such as a live chat with a built in translator and automatic archiving, which seems to be designed to let creators keep their broadcast content intact even when the live stream ends.
The app seems to have taken a page from Meerkat's F8 announcements and not revealed many specifics, such


An Egyptian widow lived her life as a man for 43 years so she could earn enough money to support her children and grandchildren, it has been revealed. Sisa Abu Daooh, 65, was six months pregnant with her first child and living in a highly conservative community in the city of Luxor when her husband died. Unable to support her family as a 21-year-old single mother and unwilling to marry a man she didn't love, Abu Daooh decided to shave her head, dress herself as a man and seek employment - first as a brick-maker and then as a shoe-shiner once she got older. Scroll down for video . Most devoted mother: Over the weekend Sisa Abu Daooh, 65, (left) even met Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (right) to receive an award marking 40- years of self-sacrifice . Free from the threat of sexual harassment, Abu Daooh enjoyed her life as a man so much that even though she has now revealed her true gender, she says she will continue to spend the rest of her life as a man . Free from the threat of sexual harassment, Abu Daooh enjoyed her life as a man so much that even though she has now revealed her true gender, she says she will continue to spend the rest of her life living and dressing as a man. 'My brothers wanted me to get married again...all the time they kept bringing new grooms to me,' she told Gulf News Egypt. However Abu Daooh decided she could not marry somebody she didn't love and set about shaving her head and purchasing loose-fitting male clothing in order to become the breadwinner herself. The decision shocked and angered her family, but Abu Daooh ignored their pleas to remarry and instead set herself up as a brick-maker. By her own account she was as 'strong as 10 men' in her 20s and 30s, but as she got older her strength began to fade and she started a new business, this time as a shoe-shiner. Sacrifice: Pictured left is a woman believed to be Abu Daooh's daugher. The mother (pictured right) was just 21-years-old and six months pregnant with her first child when her husband died . No other option: Unable to support her family as a 21-year-old single mother and unwilling to marry a man she didn't love, Abu Daooh decided to shave her head, dress herself as a man and seek employment . Abu Daooh's decision to live as a man was made purely so she could support her young daughter. 'When a woman lets go of her femininity, it's hard. But I would do anything for my daughter. It was the only way to make money. What else could I do? I can't read or write - my family didn't send me to school - so this was the only way,' she said. She had initially planned to give up the disguise as soon as her daughter married, but unfortunately her son in law fell seriously ill shortly after the wedding and was unable to seek employment. As time went by she grew to enjoy spending time around men and drinking at the local male-dominated cafes without suffering she kind of sexual harassment she claims she would have experienced if she was living openly as a woman. Despite this, Abu Daooh says she never actually lied about her gender and never denied being a woman if she was asked. She also says that a large number of people in Luxor always knew she was a woman and called her by a feminine name - and that the disguise was largely to avoid attracting abuse or prejudice from strangers or people who did not know her well. Now  Abu Daooh has been given an award for her sacrifice, with Luxor's local government naming her the city's most devoted mother. Over the weekend she met Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to receive an award marking 40-years of self-sacrifice.

Sisa Abu Daooh, 65, was six months pregnant when her husband died . As she lived in a strict Luxor community, she wasn't allowed to take a job . The 21-year-old single mother decided to to pretend she was a man . She shaved her head and wore loose clothing to convince her employers . Worked as a brick-maker and a shoe-shiner for 43-years before retiring . Says she will continue to live as a man although she no longer needs to .

with her in-laws in the small village of Abed-el-Bareek, when her husband died in 1982. She is seen left with her late spouse, centre, in a family picture, as a young woman in 1979. Sisa also became an imam of the local mosque in order to help support her three sons and three daughters and her 11 grandchildren. However, Sisa did not want anyone to know she was a woman and she would regularly go to the nearby town of Esna dressed as a man, until she married off her daughter at the age of 17 and she did not want to tell people in the village that she was her mother. Sisa has five daughters, six sons and 11 grandchildren. She said: ‘Before my eldest child was born, my husband told me that I should go to Esna to work as he would give me a good salary. So I left for the city with my first child. ‘I worked there as an imam and I would take the family car there and the children would go with me, while my husband and his sons stayed home. ‘I lived there for seven years. My husband died in 1982. He was my first husband – we married in 1970. In fact, I went to Esna because I needed money for the children, because I did not have a job (in the village). ‘I did not want to leave my children to become old and poor as I could not even take care of my own children.’ Sisa is seen with her husband, left, with his family. She also said her children do not know that she is a woman. She said: ‘I used to walk to the mosque and back as the town was three kilometres away. ‘I would wear a black dress and a headscarf. If anyone were to see me, they would say, “There she goes again, dressed as a man.” I used to be so ashamed of it. ‘I used to think that if I came out, they might ask for money. So I stayed in the mosque. ‘When my daughter got married, she asked me to help her, so I did. ‘My eldest daughter got married at the age of 17. I stayed with the bride and I helped the guests until they left. I did not know that the girl was my daughter. ‘I wanted to tell them that it was me who helped


Chelsea's Lewis Baker has spoken of his pride at captaining England's under 20 side and believes he is only just setting out on his journey with the Three Lions. The 19-year-old, who is currently out on loan at League One side MK Dons, featured for England in their 1-1 draw with Mexico at Barnet on Wednesday night. Aidy Boothroyd's team won the penalty shoot-out 4-2 after Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom won and then scored a penalty in normal time to cancel out Jose Ramirez's opener. Lewis Baker in action for England's under 20s in their international with Mexico on Wednesday night . The midfielder was appointed captain by Aidy Boothroyd at the beginning of the season . On the responsibility of being captain, Baker told Sportsmail: 'It's a great honour for me. Aidy chose me to be captain at the start of the campaign and that was a massive lift for me personally. 'But everyone in the team, we're all captains on the pitch in the game and we showed today that we can be a team and stick together through the bad times. 'I try to lead by example in what I do on the ball and off the ball. Everyone's aim to get to the under 21s and the seniors. 'All we can do is keep working hard, keeping doing what we can do and give your best.' Although England looked the more likely to score after Mexico goalkeeper Raul Gudino was sent off for fouling Akpom for the penalty, they had been second best for much of the friendly at The Hive. As they look towards the Toulon Tournament at the end of the season, Baker believes there is some room for improvement, starting with Sunday's friendly with the United States at Plymouth. Baker celebrates scoring for Chelsea in last season's Under 21 Premier League final with Manchester United . England under 20s coach Aidy Boothroyd smiles during Wednesday night's match at The Hive . England's under 20s are in action again on Sunday when they play the United States at Home Park in Plymouth. Ticket information can be found here. 'We didn't perform today at the level we have performed at in previous games,' he admitted. 'They were a good side; I thought first-half they had the upper hand and could have scored a few goals but we kept persevering, stayed in the game, had a little talk at half-time on how to get better and we got the result.' Akpom, who has been on the fringes of Arsene Wenger's first team all season, took his England under 20s tally to four when he drilled home his 78th minute penalty. And Baker appreciates his game-changing qualities: 'When Chuba goes through on goal, everyone gets out of their seat because they know Chuba is a great goalscorer. He's done well today, getting the penalty and he scored in the shoot-out as well.' Chuba Akpom of England scores their equaliser from the penalty spot for England Under 20s . England players celebrate during the penalty shoot-out against Mexico on Wednesday night . On a personal level, Baker has scored two goals in five appearances for the Dons since arriving from Stamford Bridge and is set to play a pivotal role as Karl Robinson's men push for promotion. He said: 'I've been playing under 21 at Chelsea for a while now and so the next step was to go on loan and at MK Dons now I'm under great care with the manager and the players. 'With the talent we have got at MK Dons there's no reason why we can't get into the play-offs or even gain automatic promotion.'

Baker captained England under 20s in 1-1 draw with Mexico . Aidy Boothroyd's team won 4-2 in penalty shoot-out at Barnet . Chelsea midfielder Baker says it's a 'great honour' to lead the team . 19-year-old is currently on loan at MK Dons in League One . CLICK HERE for the latest Chelsea news .

 at Dutch side Vitesse, led England to the final of the Toulon Tournament in the summer and has since returned to his parent club.
Baker played a crucial role for Vitesse, netting two goals during the tournament before scoring during the side's 3-1 victory over ADO Den Haag to send his side through to the final.
The attacking midfielder has spoken of his pride in captaining the Three Lions, saying the chance to lead the side and lead by example is something he's relishing, whilst speaking about his future he also said he's just getting started at Chelsea and plans to give everything next season,
He told BBC Sport: "It's a dream come true and a huge honour, to be named captain of the U20s. It's a very proud moment and I couldn't be happier.
"It's been a long journey from being on loan at Cheltenham to now, having been part of England's success in France.
"I'm still young and I'm just learning every day, but hopefully I'll take what I've learned to Chelsea next year and hopefully I can push on with Chelsea."
Baker also gave his thoughts on his progress this season, having left Chelsea in the summer to seek game time elsewhere, the England youth international said he had a plan in mind from the off.
The youngster said: "I set myself a little goal at the start of the season, to get as much game time as I could get.
"If that meant playing in the first team at Chelsea then great, but I think if it would have been the same game time at Chelsea I might as well be somewhere else playing week in week out, because that's what's helped my game development.
"I'm really proud to be here. The fact that I've managed to captain the U20 side is really nice, I hope I can get one or two more games for them and I think I'm just getting started with Chelsea, but I'm really keen to do everything I can here to play every week and learn as much as I can."
England have gone one better on this tournament, following their 3-1 semi-final defeat to the Netherlands in 2015, when they fell short 3-0 in the final to the Dutch in Utrecht, a side they beat convincingly in the semi finals this year.
Baker feels that this


Texas's prison agency is scrambling to find a supplier to replenish its inventory of execution drugs, which will be used up if the state goes forward with two lethal injections scheduled for this week and next. Prison officials only have enough pentobarbital for the scheduled executions of Manuel Vasquez on Wednesday and Randall Mays on March 18, but they don't know how they will conduct lethal injections on four others scheduled for April. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice declined to say why it has not been able to obtain more pentobarbital from the same compounding pharmacy that provided the current batch of the powerful sedative last March. Texas's prison agency only has enough lethal pentrobarbital for two executions. Manuel Vasquez, left, is scheduled to be injected on Wednesday while Randall Mays (right) will be executed on March 18 . Texas prison execute inmates in chambers like this one. But with limited pentobarbital, the state is looking into other options for execution . The state switched to that source several months after its previous supplier cut ties, citing hate mail and potential litigation after its name became public through an open records request from The Associated Press. Prison officials have since waged a legal battle to keep the name of its latest supplier secret, but it's unclear how much longer they can do so after a state judge last year ordered the agency to divulge the source. That ruling is on hold pending the outcome of the state's appeal. Prisons spokesman Jason Clark said the state's lawyers have advised the agency not to comment on whether the current supplier has backed out or whether the judge's order has affected its ability to find a supplier. Although Texas, traditionally the nation's busiest death penalty state, faces the most imminent deadline for replenishing its pentobarbital supply, other states are experiencing similar problems. For example, South Carolina ran out of pentobarbital — part of its three-drug execution formula — when the drug expired in 2013. The state has been unable to replenish its supplies because it can't find a company willing to sell them anymore, according to Corrections Director Bryan Stirling. The state's last execution was in 2011, and no new executions have been scheduled because cases are tied up in the appeals process. Kent Sprouse (pictured) is scheduled to be the next inmate to be executed after Mays. He is on death row for the shooting deaths of a North Texas police officer and another man in 2002 . If Texas executes Vasquez and Mays as scheduled, a new supply of pentobarbital will be needed by April 9 when Kent Sprouse is scheduled to die for the shooting deaths of a North Texas police officer and another man in 2002. Three other prisoners are set to follow Sprouse to the death chamber in April, and at least one more is set for May. 'We're focused on multiple fronts,' Brad Livingston, the Texas agency's executive director, said last month before a prison board meeting in Austin. 'We're not ruling anything out, but clearly securing additional pentobarbital is part of our game plan.' Livingston was traveling Monday and not available to provide an update. While Texas prison officials administratively could change the lethal drug they use, a method change would require legislative action. 'At this time, it's not a topic of discussion,' said state Sen. John Whitmire, who chairs the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. Because pharmaceutical companies stopped selling U.S. prisons drugs for use in lethal injections, Texas and other death penalty states have turned to compounding pharmacies for made-to-order execution drugs. Last week, a Georgia woman's execution was delayed, then called off, when prison officials said they noticed the compounded pentobarbital planned for her lethal injection appeared cloudy, rather than clear. The Georgia Department of Corrections cited 'an abundance of caution' in delaying punishment for Kelly Gissendaner, who would have been the first woman put to death in that state in 70 years, and a second inmate, Brian Terrell, who was set to die this week. Executions for death row inmates take place in Texas Department of Criminal Justice Huntsville Unit (pictured) Texas has executed a nation-leading 521 inmates since 1982, when it became the first state to use lethal injection. It's now been nearly three years since Texas began using pentobarbital as its only capital punishment drug, switching in July 2012 after one of the chemicals in the previous three-drug mixture no longer was available. The last 17 Texas executions, stretching back to September 2013, have used compounded pentobarbital, and the last nine from compounding pharmacies the state has refused to identify. Texas officials have insisted the identity should remain secret, citing a 'threat assessment' signed by Texas Department of Public Safety director Steven McCraw that says pharmacies selling execution drugs face 'a substantial threat of physical harm.' Law enforcement officials have declined to elaborate on the nature of those threats. The U.S. Supreme Court, meanwhile, has refused to block punishments based on challenges to secrecy laws. However, the high court is reviewing Oklahoma's lethal injection method, resulting in a hold on executions there, after a punishment using the sedative midazolam followed by two other drugs went awry. Oklahoma lawmakers now are considering a switch to nitrogen gas as the first alternative to injection while officials in other states are considering a return to firing squads or the electric chair.

Texas's prison agency has enough for two lethal injections of pentobarbital . Prison officials have execution scheduled for Wednesday and one next week . Four more executions are expected in April and one other in May . Texas has executed a nation-leading 521 inmates since 1982 . That same year it it became the first state to use lethal injection . Other death-penalty states are facing similar shortages of injection drugs .

 four more executions if lethal injection remains an option, but the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is still 400 to 450 vials short of its supply of sodium thiopental, which will not be available by the end of July.
That means Texas has to decide what it wants to do. Governor Rick Perry could just decide to stop executions. He could try to find a new supply of pentobarbital — but the problem with that is that there just isn't enough of the drug to go around, even if Texas were to acquire 30 tons of the stuff. States around the country, including Texas, are already looking to cut costs to compensate for the fact that there is a glut of death-row inmates on the books right now. In Ohio, for example, Gov. John Kasich signed a death penalty budget that cut $3 million in the program — leaving the state with just two working lethal injection drugs.
The other thing states can do to keep from running out of lethal drugs is to change to a newer, quicker protocol, but the problem with that is that a change in protocol requires a change in the constitution. (The Texas constitution currently requires a five-drug protocol — but there's another method that requires only three drugs, including the paralytic vecuronium bromide, which causes paralysis instead of unconsciousness.) That's a huge process, with a lot of political will involved, even if there were a push to change it. There's also a federal statute that bars a state from changing an execution protocol until its appeal is resolved.
All of that is bad enough, but Texas also needs an unshakably reliable source of potassium chloride and sodium thiopental — and those drugs just aren't that easy to come by these days.
The bigger issue with Texas's drug supplies isn't the current issue with the execution of Michael Morales and Anthony Garza — it's that Texas has been unable to find a domestic supplier of drugs it can use in its execution protocol. Texas has been turning to compounding pharmacies outside the state and overseas companies to get its drugs, but the recent debacle around compounded drugs and their potency raised doubts about the reliability of those sources. The American Medical Association's interim guidance on lethal injection doesn't help — it warns that it can't certify any drugs for lethal injection because of the lack of quality assurance and the fact that the U.S. isn't manufacturing pent


Olive oil has long been linked with lower levels of cholesterol, blood pressure and a multitude of other health benefits. And while food companies have attempted to get it into the diets of more people by adding it to margarine, a team of scientists has gone a step further. The Italian researchers have discovered a way to convert the liquid state of extra virgin olive oil into a gel, without the need for other solids. Italian researchers have discovered a way to convert the liquid state of extra virgin olive oil into a gel, without the need for other solids. The so-called Gel Oil comes in different flavours (shown above) Known as Gel Oil, the food scientists said it can be added to salads and sandwiches, used in cooking and can be flavoured. Variations include lemon and basil. Olive oil (pictured) has long been linked with lower levels of cholesterol, blood pressure and a multitude of other health benefits . The discovery was made by 10 chemical engineers from the Italian University of Calabria in the southern town of Arcavacata. They used a technique called 'organogelazione' which involves subjecting the properties of certain molecules known in the food industry, such as emulsifiers, to a range of temperatures. When these molecules are heated and mixed they were found to form new structures. The university's food engineering department headed by Professor Bruno de Cindio said: 'In this network structure, the oil remains 'trapped' within the changing texture and transforms itself, in the first stage, into a gel form and, in a second stage, into a creamy spreadable paste.' He added that said that this also means it can be produced in various consistencies from a slightly stickier version ideal for dressing salads and other foods to a more solid variation that can be spread like margarine or butter on bread. The innovation has been patented and the team said it sees huge potential particularly among people with dietary restrictions or moral objections to dairy products such as vegans. The team are now hoping to create a company to sell Gel Oil and already developing variations flavoured with lemon and basil. Valeria Greco, one of the researchers of the team, said: 'Our idea certainly meets the needs of a new customer profile. 'People are increasingly being forced to have fast food meals and that means ready to eat products, but at the same time there is reluctance to compromise on quality and taste and our product very much caters to this market.' Scientists have found olive oil could cut your heart attack risk in just six weeks. The study published in November by the University of Glasgow, found that regular consumption of olive oil dramatically improved chemical signals in the body linked to coronary artery disease. It added just 20mls a day – about four teaspoons - to the diet of healthy adults, which is the amount used in a salad dressing or mopped up by bread during a meal. But a range of signals for heart disease measured in the urine improved in only six weeks, according to the report published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Scientists have found olive oil could cut your heart attack risk in just six weeks. The study, by the University of Glasgow, found that found regular consumption of olive oil (pictured) dramatically improved chemical signals in the body linked to coronary artery disease . Researchers at the Universities of Glasgow and Lisbon and private firm Mosaiques Diagnostics in Germany investigated the effect of olive oil on heart health in a group of 69 men and women who did not normally eat it. The volunteers were split into two groups and asked to consume 20mls of olive oil either low or high in phenolics every day over a six-week period. Phenolics are natural compounds found in plants, including olives, thought to be responsible for the protective effect of olive oil. The research team applied a new diagnostic technology by examining urine samples for a range of peptides (produced by the breakdown of proteins) already identified as biomarkers of diseases such as coronary artery disease (CAD). Known as proteomics, the technology can pick up altered levels of certain proteins which suggest early signs of disease before symptoms appear. The results showed both groups saw a big improvement in scores for CAD – the most common form of heart disease. Dr Emilie Combet of the School of Medicine at Glasgow University, said ‘What we found was that regardless of the phenolic content of the oil, there was a positive effect on CAD scores. ‘Any olive oil, low or high in phenolics, seems to be beneficial. ‘Our study was a supplementation study. If people in the UK replaced part of their fat intake with olive oil, it could have an ever greater effect on reducing the risk of heart disease.’

Engineers at the University of Calabria, Italy, created the bright gel . The experts heated and mixed molecules to make the new product . Gel Oil comes in different consistencies and flavours like basil and lemon . It could be used for salad dressings as well as a sandwich spread .

 developed a new method to make it easier for people to get the recommended amount - up to 2 tablespoons a day - in their diets.
The new method is the latest in a string of discoveries about olive oil, which is believed to date back to 4,000 BC. "Extra virgin olive oil is produced by crushing the olives," explains George A. Vouros, a professor at the University of Athens and co-author of a recent study in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. "The extra virgin olive oil is the one that retains the most healthy components of the olives. In general, the less the process the olives undergo the healthier the extra virgin olive oil."
In their study, Vouros and his colleague, Maria-Cristina Giampaoli, co-author and professor at the University of Padua, Italy, looked at the chemical components of three types of olive oil. One was extra virgin, another was virgin and the third was what's known as refined olive oil. The refined olive oil was the most processed.
In their search for ways to make it easier to get into people's diets, Vouros and Giampaoli started by trying to add natural ingredients to the existing chemical-processing method. "Basically what we tried to do was add an extra chemical, the tocopherols (or Vitamin E), that we knew was good for health," Vouros says.
When added to the existing process, the tocopherols seemed to be just as effective as adding the refining process.
In the future, the two scientists say the technique can be used to make any oil healthier and easier to swallow. "What we proved was that you can add other ingredients if you like," Vouros says. "We are not only talking about tocopherols (Vitamin E)."
Although Vouros's study focused on what to do to extra virgin olive oil, the Greek oil also contains many healthful ingredients.
Some of the major health benefits include high levels of antioxidants, which are believed to protect the body against disease. The vitamin E in olive oil also protects against certain cancers. Another major benefit of the olive oil is a substance known as oleic acid.
The acid also is found in other cooking oils, including coconut and canola, but it is a major component of extra virgin olive oil, where it accounts for 75 to 85 percent of the oil.
Because of its beneficial properties


The home of Manchester United star Angel Di Maria has been put up for sale just weeks after he suffered a terrifying raid while eating dinner with his family inside. Burglars used scaffolding poles to smash their way in to his home through patio doors while the Argentina winger, his wife Jorgelina and one-year-old daughter Mia were at the Cheshire mansion. Now the sprawling home, which Di Maria rents from a private landlord, has been put on the market for £4.1million amid reports that his wife is too scared to return to the property. The home of Manchester United star Angel Di Maria has been put up for sale just weeks after he suffered a terrifying raid while eating dinner with his family inside . Burglars are believed to have used scaffolding poles to smash their way in to his home through patio doors while the Argentina winger, his wife Jorgelina and one-year-old daughter Mia were at the Cheshire mansion . The mansion, which is set in manicured grounds in Prestbury, Cheshire, is now on the market for £4.1million . Di Maria and his family reportedly moved into a luxury hotel after the incident with round-the-clock security keeping them safe. They now look set to move away for good, with the luxury mansion up for sale. It has also been suggested that a recent drop in form can be attributed to the break-in. The Daily Mail's Martin Samuel writes: 'Searching for clues to the recent decline of Angel di Maria, the break-in that occurred at his house in January cannot be overlooked. Di Maria’s form had dropped off before that, true, but not as alarmingly as it has in recent weeks. 'He wasn’t getting hooked at half-time before this event. 'Alvaro Negredo suffered a similarly shattering blow that ended his family’s love for their new country. He was not the same player after it happened. Di Maria is believed to be relocating his family to a new, high-level apartment following their traumatic experience.' The estate agent's advert says: 'Magnificent mansion set in well-manicured grounds in the heart of Prestbury on a private road. 'Indoor swimming pool with glass panels into the sitting room and hallway which truly envelopes the pool into the heart of the house.' The home also boasts a plush kitchen and family room, with French doors leading to a huge garden. There is also a sitting room with a drop-down screen, a children's TV room, a play room, an office, a gym, changing room, an indoor pool and jacuzzi and a two-bedroom apartment over the garage. The fully-furnished home is described as 'very high-spec and high-tech'. An indoor swimming pool in the property is flanked by glass panels into the sitting room and hallway, and with views into the garden . It also features a Jacuzzi room. Di Maria and his family reportedly moved into a luxury hotel after the incident with round-the-clock security keeping them safe . There is also a sitting room with a drop-down screen, a kids TV room, a play room, an office, and a gym with a changing room . The fully-furnished home is described as 'very high-spec and high-tech'. Di Maria signed from Real Madrid for £60m in the summer. But his future at United remains uncertain, with rumours rife about a return abroad. Di Maria signed from Real Madrid for £60m in the summer. But his future at United remains uncertain, with rumours rife about a return abroad. According to reports, he could be offered an escape route out of Old Trafford by Paris Saint-Germain. Di Maria, however, has maintained he is happy at United. Di Maria's daughter Mia was born three months premature on April 22, 2013 - the night before her father's then team Real Madrid faced Borussia Dortmund in a Champions League semi-final. He missed the game to be with his wife and their baby spent the next two months in intensive care before the couple were allowed to take her home. The footballer has previously said of his little girl: ‘My daughter taught me that everything that appears to be really difficult can end up being easy if you put the effort in and wait for the rewards. ‘She transmitted so much energy to me and it helped me to have the spectacular year that I had.’ Angel Di Maria and his wife Jorgelina. She is said to be too scared to return to the home they rented after the terrifying raid . Di Maria’s wife had suffered complications during pregnancy and doctors had given the couple’s baby a 30 per cent chance of survival if the birth was not induced . Baby Mia and her mother sport United shirts in honour of their footballing father and husband . The gymnasium opens out onto the indoor swimming pool with views across the garden and into the living room . The master bedroom at the property. Due to its proximity both Manchester and Liverpool, Cheshire is popular with Premier League footballers . A guest bedroom at the property. The home also features a two-bedroom apartment over the garage. The spacious en-suite bathroom with marble flooring, a walk-in shower and double sink . The Argentinian international, 26, was reportedly eating dinner with his wife and young daughter when a gang attempted to smash their way through the mansion’s patio doors during a raid last month. But they ended up fleeing empty-handed after triggering the home’s alarm system . Cheshire is popular location for Premier League star and several players’ homes have been targeted by burglars in the past. Everton and England defender Phil Jagielka was robbed at knifepoint at his home near Knutsford in 2009. Stoke striker Peter Crouch suffered two break-ins, in 2011 and 2006, at two properties he’s owned in Cheshire. United star Darren Fletcher’s wife and mother were threatened with a knife when raiders burst into their home in Bowdon in 2009. The wife of Bolton striker Emile Heskey was also held at knifepoint when a gang raided their mansion in Hale. The series of raids led to claims that top footballers were installing panic rooms in their homes.

The sprawling home, which Di Maria rents from a private landlord, has been put on the market for £4.1million . Burglars used scaffolding poles to smash their way in to his home through patio doors while his family were inside . Di Maria and his family reportedly moved into a hotel after the incident with round-the-clock security . They now look set to move away for good after his wife Jorgelina says she's too scared to return to the home .

 the family ate in the garden area just before midnight.
Di Maria and his family were at home during the incident, which happened on March 2. He took to Instagram at the time to share photos of the damage with his followers as he prepared for the Champions League game between Manchester United and Anderlecht. But, now, less than two months on, the star has put his mansion up for sale.
Aerial view of the mansion that the Argentinian star had been living in until now
A property agent’s advert reads: “An opportunity for a family with some money to have a mansion, this truly amazing 4 bedroom property is one of a kind.
“Sitting on a massive plot it really needs to be seen to be appreciated, in a very high end location, just off the main road there is simply no other like it on the market.
“With 4 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, separate kitchen, large entrance hall and living room there is room for every member of the family, and for that matter anyone who needs a private escape.
“In a stunning location, close to the beautiful market town of Huddersfield, this is without a doubt a very special house in a special location.”
The property was built around 12 years ago and has been recently renovated in the last six years.
“The property was built around 12 years ago and has been recently renovated in the last six years. The home boasts a large entrance hall with cloakroom, large separate kitchen with utility room and study.
“There is a large lounge which could easily be made into a theatre room or play room, a large master bedroom with an en-suite and a further two bedrooms and a family bathroom.
“There is a large garden which is ideal for entertaining family and friends. There is also a double garage and a long, private driveway,” it says.
READ MORE: “It’s getting pretty close to panic!” – Angel Di Maria
Di Maria’s former home has been valued at £750,000 – £800,000. The football star’s old home is just two miles from the original house. He first bought the land for £250,000 from his friend, Jorge Mendes, in 2012.
He purchased the detached house next door for £800,000 last year, to convert into a gym. He recently sold that home to one of his business partners, Maximiliano Allegri, but he still


The region of Molina de Aragon, in Spain, is as barren as it is beautiful. Since the 1950s and continuing through to today, the process of de-industrialisation and de-population has left behind a vast region of Central Eastern Spain that is infamous for its staggeringly low number of inhabitants. In fact, there are so few people who live in these particular municipalities that the area now competes with Siberia and the Arctic provinces of Lapland as the least populated zone in Europe. Spanish photographer, David Ramos, captured images of the de-industrialisation and de-population occurring in Central Eastern Spain . Despite the barren landscape, agriculture and ranching remain the main economic sources all around the vast region. The square footage of the underpopulated Central region is as large as Austria, and just two hours drive from Madrid. Quickly becoming known as Europe's largest desert - at least in terms of population - the area is made up of the provinces of Soria, Guadalajara, Teruel and Cuenca. And the population that remains is aging. Currently, 41 percent of the whole population is over 65 years of age, while a shocking eight per cent is under the age of 15. Three crosses are seen outside the village of Luzon near Molina de Aragon, Spain, which is the least populated zone in Europe . Here, a mastiff sits among sheep as they graze near the village of Codes, which is also near Molina de Aragon, Spain . An abandoned house is spotted in the village of Iruecha, where agriculture and ranching are the main economic sectors in the region . Felix Martinez, aged 75, poses for a portrait as he lops apple trees near the village of Rillo de Gallo, near Molina de Aragon, in Spain . Mari Angeles Moreno and her son Juan Romero wait for the school bus outside the village of Selas so that Juan can travel 68 km to class . Juan Romero, for example, is the only boy in the village of Selas, a municipality located in the province of Guadalajara. The school is Selas was shut down in 1974 and moved to Molina de Aragon, which is the largest village in the region, with a population of 3,706. Every weekday, Juan has to travel 68 km to get to school. According to official figures, the area has 1.63 inhabitants for every square kilometre, compared to the 1.8 of Laponia and 3 inhabitants for every square kilometre in Siberia. However, Javier Munoz, the former mayor of Selas, points out that these figures could be even lower than suggested because the official census does not represent the actual population of the villages. The vast, barren landscape is hauntingly beautiful outside the village of Luzon in Central Eastern Spain . A mare looks on in the village of Selas, Spain, which, as of 2012, had a population of just 63 inhabitants . A woman wearing a mask poses for a portrait as she takes part in a carnival in the village of Luzon in Spain . A frozen pond, surrounded by rows of trees and coarse, tall grass is pictured outside the village of Iruecha . Margarita, aged 64, poses at her store in the village of Anquela del Ducado, having decided to shut it down after more than 70 years open . Here, a worker cleans the forest near the village of Cobeta, where the municipality is home to just 108 inhabitants . Women play cards at the old schools of the village of Anquela del Ducado, where 41% of the population is over the age of 65 . The series of photographs were captured by Barcelona-based artist, David Ramos. Ramos is well versed in capturing diverse populations, having worked on projects in Israel, Japan, Lebanon and Kosovo, among others. He's also been awarded with top international prizes for his work, such as the World Press Photo and Feature of the Year by Getty Images.

Near Molina de Aragon in Central Eastern Spain, there are only 1.63 inhabitants for every square kilometre . Experts warn that this number may even be too high, since the census took place several years ago . 41% of the region is aged 65 and older, while teenagers and children make up just eight percent of the population .

 natural parkland and forest, which is home to the famous Vulture species of birds. This is the home of the Sierra Mágina, a massive natural park with a huge variety of plant and animal life, including the Spanish Imperial Eagle, one of Europe’s rarest birds of prey.
The village of Molina de Aragon, where you’ll find Molina de Aragon House, is a good place to start looking for eagles. Even if you’re not a bird-watcher, the 12th century Church of San Pedro, the main village building, is a must-see. The village sits at the northern edge of the Sierra Mágina and has been a part of the landscape for over 2000 years.
This particular area of Molina de Aragon has been inhabited for over 13,000 years, but the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) had a detrimental effect on the region’s people. In the 1950s the Spanish Government embarked on a programme of ‘modernisation’ which, among other things, entailed removing workers from the region’s agricultural sectors and sending them to the burgeoning industrial centres of Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia. This action resulted in a rapid population decline, as well as the destruction of the natural landscape, which at the time was the prime source of fuel in the region. In Molina de Aragon the local economy is now based almost entirely on the National Park tourism industry, which is centred at the Parador de Monasterio de Santa Maria de Olmos, and has preserved much of the village’s old architecture and traditions.
One such tradition in Molina de Aragon is the Festival of the Holy Grail. The local church celebrates the festival with a pilgrimage and re-enactment. The event takes place between May and September, and is usually held during the first full moon after the Christian Spring Festival of San Isidro (the second week of May). The exact dates vary each year, and pilgrims travel from across Spain and overseas.
The Holy Grail is a wooden chest, which contains a host, or the body of Christ, according to Catholic belief, but the Holy Grail has also been described as a sacred spring, or fountain, which according to legend, Jesus drank from as he rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
Legend has it that the church was built on the site of the house of a Jewish convert to Christianity, called the Apostle Matias, in Roman times. The


Peter Quillin has described how the death of his uncle last month will inspire him to dethrone WBO middleweight king Andy Lee when they clash in Brooklyn on April 11. With the New Yorker's dad in prison, uncle Eric Munson had been Quillin's father figure until he lost his fight with cancer five weeks ago. Undefeated 'Kid Chocolate' was already a week into his camp in preparation to fight Lee and, on the advice of his family, he did not break ranks in order to attend his uncle's funeral. Former middleweight world champion Peter Quillin action against Lukas Konecny last year . But Quillin says he was inspired by the visit he made to be by his uncle's side just a week before he died and has warned Lee that he is 'highly motivated' for this fight as a result of it. The 31-year-old said: 'He was the most important person to me in my whole life and it's the first time I've ever lost anybody that close to me. 'When I saw him fighting on his deathbed with cancer, I saw him fight through that until he had nothing left in the tank to fight with. 'That showed me the fight is all in your head. There's no cancer here so I have to do what's worth while I'm still here on this earth. 'I couldn't attend his funeral because I was here in camp. When I saw him it was the week before I started camp and the week after he died. My family told me he would've wanted me to stay in camp. I knew he was proud of me.' Quillin is facing Lee for the title the Irishman won by stopping highly-fancied Matt Korobov in Las Vegas last December. Quillin recently lost his uncle after a battle with cancer but did not interrupt his training to attend the funeral . That night, the pair clashed for the vacant title because Quillin vacated instead of facing Korobov, who had been made his mandatory challenger. As such, the American, who is of Cuban descent, did not lose his title in the ring but insists he no longer feels like the champion. He added: 'I'm going to let Andy have the pressure on him to perform like the champion. I had that pressure but now I have pressure of being a challenger.' Lee and Quillin almost crossed swords three years ago when a fight at Madison Square Garden was mooted as part of the bill on which Matthew Macklin faced Sergio Martinez at Madison Square Garden. Now they will finally meet, across New York at the Barclays Center, and Lee recalled why the fight never happened in 2012. He said: 'I remember when it was proposed at the the time, [former trainer] Emanuel [Steward] turned the fight down because he felt it should have been me fighting Martinez instead of Macklin. 'On top of that they put me in the fight with Quillin on the undercard. They wanted me and Peter to have the hard fight. Lee won his middleweight world title by beating Matt Korobov in Las Vegas last December . Lee celebrates winning his world title . 'Now you have two big middleweights, big for the weight, two genuine punchers and two very good boxers. We match well and it will come down to whoever implements their plan better on the night. We have a plan and we're working on it.' In Lee's last two victories – the win over Korobov and the Knockout of the Year contender against John Jackson in June – the 30-year-old from Limerick has been behind on the scorecards but turned the fight on its head with a single shot. But Lee added: 'At no time in those fights did I feel I was going to lose. I knew at some stage we would have to trade. With the power I carry I know we will have to trade in a 12-round fight and I just know if I land at the right time with my power I can knock anybody out. 'It gives you confidence. People got the wrong impression as a blood and guts fighter but I'm a technical boxer.' That technique, as ever, is being honed under the tutelage of Adam Booth in their training base in Beausoleil in the south of France. They operate within walking distance of one of the world's biggest gambling districts in Monte Carlo and Lee recognises that the stakes could not be higher in Brooklyn next month. He said: 'I could've fought in Ireland, chosen the opponent and beaten someone comfortably for my first defence. But if I fight and beat Peter in New York I will be a global star. People will need to acknowledge what I've been doing. It's a great opportunity to fight in America, on national TV and it takes me to the next level.'

Peter Quillin takes on world champion Andy Lee in Brooklyn on April 11 . Quillin's uncle died after battling cancer while he was in training camp . Quillin did not attend the funeral, instead concentrating on his training . Lee won the WBO middleweight title against Matt Korobov last December .

oz was his main male influence, and it was his uncle who bought him into the world of boxing, taking him on road trips around the streets of Manhattan while his parents worked.
In the wake of Eric Munoz's death, Quillin said his father, Joe, has given his blessing to his son to focus entirely on the fight, and Quillin admitted: "I think I'll be a little more aggressive. It gives me that added incentive. I don't want the death of my uncle to be in vein."
Munoz was shot dead at 47 in the early hours of March 27 after a disagreement, reportedly over a car parked on his driveway, with a 22-year-old neighbour and a 30-year-old neighbour. Quillin Jr, who turns 28 next month, was at his mother's home in Long Island when he got the call to tell him his uncle was dead, and he was left with the choice of whether to leave for Brooklyn as originally planned.
He said: "At that point in time, I had to make a decision about whether I wanted to be here and put on my boxing gloves and get a title shot, or go be with my family and family friends. I was like, man, I'm a fighter, I need to be fighting. And we needed to put this fight together and get it done so we could put it on Spike, and I needed that fight to help support my mother and my sister."
Quillin fought through tears before he stepped into the ring in his native New York to defeat Hassan N'Dam in November last year, and there is a real fear his next fight could have similar consequences.
His opponent is confident he will not be affected by the loss of his uncle, who worked as a bouncer and as a school bus driver, having trained him in the early days of his career.
He is also aware of the impact on his opponent, having lost his own father when he was 10, the victim of a hit-and-run driver in New York.
He said: "It's a blessing to still be able to have a family. When I lost my dad when I was a kid, I can't imagine losing my uncle. It's a real blessing and I'm truly blessed to have my family."
Quillin said of the fight: "I think it will make me angry, yes. When I go in there


En famille: Sarah and her children in France . Breathless, but with an unmistakeable swagger, our three children burst through the door of our mobile home and regale us with their latest news. 'We've changed our minds about croissants and have got pain au chocolat instead,' announces Freddie, eight, swinging a bag full of freshly baked French pastries. Behind him, his twin siblings Bobby and Loulou, six, brandish a newspaper and my change, respectively, which they thrust onto the table like warriors returning from battle. We are halfway through a week-long break at Les Castels holiday park in Domaine De La Paille Basse, near Souillac, in the Lot region, and it is the fourth time our children have completed this morning ritual. It takes them approximately nine minutes to make the round trip to the campsite shop (they could do it in half the time if they weren't stopping to examine every rock and tree along the way) and the sojourn has lost none of its thrill. At home in London, such independence is the stuff of their dreams. Les Castels fits our bill completely: pool, play-park, shop, takeaway, English-speaking kids' club, games room, nightly entertainment. Domaine De La Paille Basse has the added aesthetic attraction of being built round an original medieval village restored by the grandparents of the current owners nearly 40 years ago. Accommodation is a mixture of tents, touring pitches and mobile homes. We opt for a three-bedroom mobile home perched on a small hill surrounded by woodland, with an unbroken view of the valley below. Inside, the sleek lines and cool grey colours have more in common with a boutique hotel. Bobby and LouLou share one twin-bedded room, Freddie (the earliest riser) has the other one. A Lot of reasons to be cheerful: Villeneuve-sur-Lot is one of the many pretty towns which dot the region . My husband and I have the double room, which boasts its own en-suite shower room, and we quickly settle into a routine that begins with the croissant run, breakfast on the terrace and two hours of 'mini-club' for children aged four to 12. Lunch is another lazy affair on the terrace with more fresh bread from the shop, cheeses, meat and fruits from the stadium-sized Leclerc supermarket at Souillac, before an afternoon of hurtling down pool slides and playing tennis. In the evenings, we light the barbecue provided before decamping en masse to the bar for the evening entertainment. We do manage to drag the children off site a couple of times. My favourite trip is the 40-minute drive to the Christian pilgrimage site of Rocamadour, which, like something from a children's fairy tale, clings to the cliffs above a gorge. Our children would say the eight-mile journey aboard the steam train at Martel, which handily includes an ice-cream stop and costs a family-friendly £7.50) for adults and £4 per child. The lesson from our holiday is that keeping it simple is the best rule because, for our children, the croissant runs arguably were the highlight of the day. Ferries from Portsmouth to Caen can be booked at aferry.co.uk. Fares with Brittany Ferries (0871 244 07446, brittany-ferries.co.uk) start at £79 each way for a car plus two passengers. A mobile home at Domaine De La Paille Basse (0033 2 23 16 45 02, camping-castels.co.uk) costs from £4.60 per person per night.

Les Castels holiday park is in Domaine De La Paille Basse, near Souillac . Park has been family-owned for three generations, and is great for children . Accommodation is a mixture of tents, touring pitches and mobile homes .

 names to John and Jodie', my 12-year-old tells me. 'I've been swimming in the lake again', chirps the eldest, 10, in French.
My husband and I - the parents - stand dumbfounded in the middle of this French mobile home park, watching our children disappear up the beach path that winds through the pine trees. We're on a plot that once housed a caravane and, for a few months each summer, we take an annual family break there.
We've become so used to France - its people, food, culture - that we're hardly surprised by its surprises any more, but that's not to say we don't embrace them. One of our children has just asked me in English, 'Dad, why does everyone here shout such nice things?'
He was referring to the French propensity to make sweeping gestures of affection in response to an 'Hello'. You see it in the Paris metro, the cheese stall down the road, the checkout girl at the local grocery store. And yet there's more to France than French kisses, baguettes and brie. There's a lot more.
One of the best things about France is how close it is to England (less than three hours away). The Eurostar train is an easy way to travel. You can board your Eurostar in London's St Pancras International station and arrive 16 hours later in Paris's Gare du Nord station, the gateway to France's most visited city.
Our three children adore France for all the best reasons, but there is more to France than a child's wonderment at French accents. France is a country rich in natural history, from the pre-historic cave dwellers and Gallo-Roman tribes to Napoleon and his French Empire. It also boasts a rich literary, artistic and musical heritage, stretching right into the 20th century.
The country is littered with castles, forts and abbeys, ancient and modern, and these historical monuments are linked by the finest roads and railways - the TGV (high-speed train) network, for example, means it is easier than ever to hop around the country from place to place on holiday.
But it's the French lifestyle - the joie de vivre of French people, as they themselves would put it - that has such charm. So how best to see this part of the


A daredevil Swiss wingsuit flyer has jumped off the side of a mountain in pitch darkness and flown down past huge pillars of rock using only the light from two bright red flares. And the amazing night-time flight by Patrick Kerber, 33, was not only captured on video, but also on a slow shutter speed photo taken by photographer Christian Meier. In the picture Kerber's route appears as a glowing red line running down from the top of the 10,000-foot Titlis mountain in the resort town of Engelberg in central Switzerland to the bottom. Scroll down for video . The amazing night-time flight by Patrick Kerber, 33, was not only captured on video, but also on a slow shutter speed photo taken by photographer Christian Meier . Kerber used two superheated emergency flares on the descent down the 10,000-foot Titlis mountain . The daredevil pictured at the moment he leaped into the darkness from the summit of Titlis . And just to show how dangerous jumping with the wingsuit was, Kerber made the flight during the day, showing how a wrong turn would easily have sent him crashing into one of the rocky crags that he was flying close to as he hurtled down from the mountain top. He said: 'I wanted to do a wingsuit BASE flight at night during winter for a very long time. But somehow I never really managed to do it.' The idea became reality when they decided to try and do a single photograph on a slow shutter speed and at the same time fit a light to the jumper so that the flight down the mountain could be recorded. The first problem was that it was difficult to find a light that was bright enough to be seen from a distance of one mile away, where the camera needed to be placed. They solved it, though, by using two superheated emergency flares. These also provided some light to help illuminate the way, although the intense heat also posed a risk that they might set the suit on fire. Patrick said: 'We used flares exactly like the ones used for rescue missions or emergencies. But flares burn very, very hot and my biggest fear was burning holes or melting the suit. That would have been super dangerous. To show how dangerous the jump was, Kerber did a trial run in daylight . A slight mistake would have sent Kerber crashing into craggy rocks . The wingsuit jump produced a dramatic video, with Kerber zooming down the mountain at breakneck speed . 'There definitely was a lot of pressure. Even though we did intense testing before, I did not know for sure how it would turn out. Having fire really close to you on a wingsuit BASE flight leaves no margin for error. Everything has to be worked out.' The two photographers, Fabian Wyss and Meier, stood on the other side of the valley on the Furrenalp to take the snap. Patrick also had to wait until the torches burned out before he could open the parachute. He said: 'I definitely did not want to open up my parachute with fire still around me, as this could be very dangerous. I only have one single parachute attached to me. If this one burns or melts, it's over!' Kerber decided to use two torches. The first one he ignited before he took off and held in his right hand so it would be visible to the photographer. When the torch burned out, he opened up his parachute and when it was safely in the air, ignited a second torch attached to his foot. He said: 'I only had 20 seconds to ignite the second one as it also burned for one minute and I only had 1 minute and 15 seconds to the landing area.' Patrick Kerber has jumped at night before, but not in winter and only at full moon. He said: 'The feeling was very intense and amazing. It is much harder to orientate yourself, as you can't see as well. It feels much more intense because you fly with more feeling and awareness of your body and movements.'

Wingsuit daredevil Patrick Kerber jumped off a 10,000-foot Swiss peak . First he filmed himself performing a daylight flight down Titlis mountain . Then he did the same jump at night, guided by emergency flares . A slow shutter picture of the descent shows his route as a red line .

37, comes on the back of his death-defying wingsuit ski jump last month that saw him jump 50-meters off a snowy mountain in Norway.
Wingsuit skiing is similar to base-jumping, with skiers donning a full-body suit with fabric and plastic wings on their arms and legs, designed to allow them to soar down mountainsides.
But ski-jumpers – known as free-flying skiers – take this to the extreme by also jumping off the side of mountains. Some of the most daring jump off mountains up to 11,000 feet high and ski up to 80mph. Others don’t use skis and use a special flying suit called a paraglider to glide down.
On the back of Kerber’s previous ski-jump flight, which ended in his death, he promised to take it slower and with better safety measures this year. He was also planning to change his training technique and ski using longer skis in powder snow.
The daredevil is known as the ‘Swiss Spiderman’ because he can go around the Alps using nothing more than his body and his wits to reach his various objectives.
However, this time he had to improvise to get off the mountain, after the flight plan he had devised to help him jump in darkness on his way to his eventual landing spot on a snowy plateau didn’t work.
He was forced to improvise again and jumped off the mountain at 11,250 feet after his planned exit had been blocked by a sheer cliff.
“It’s really crazy,” Kerber, who is from Berne, told swissinfo.ch after his latest flight.
After a lot of thought he landed on skis close to his original exit point but with his arms stretched upwards towards the mountain to be protected by the wind and keep warm.
Kerber had initially intended to fly off his exit point into the sky at a 45-degree angle in order to allow him to land with some speed on the snowy mountainside, but once he got up to around 1,500 feet he was forced to change his mind.
“You have to try something else,” he said.
Kerber landed his body on the mountainside close to his original starting point and used two bright red flares he’d taken along in order to illuminate the area.
This allowed him to check his watch for the time (11.40pm