Health experts have accused Coca Cola of ‘health washing’ consumers with the launch of its new ‘lower-calorie’ soft drink as it still contains the full amount of an adult’s recommended daily allowance of sugar. The soft drink giant’s latest product, Coke Life, is partly made from a naturally sweet plant called Stevia, in a bid to target health conscious soft drink lovers. But a 330ml can of Coca Cola Life still has 22g of sugar, equivalent of six teaspoons and 89 calories. When compared to a 330ml can of regular Coca Cola which has 35g of sugar, equivalent of almost 10 teaspoons of sugar and 139 calories, that is 35 per cent less sugar. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults of normal body mass index only eat 25g (six teaspoons) of sugar in total per day. University of Sydney nutritionist Dr Kieron Rooney told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Coke Life should not be considered a healthy option… it should not even have a seat at the table. ‘This is health washing, yes it is less sugar than the original but that is still an excessive amount - it is still a sugar sweetened beverage and is no way part of a healthy life or lifestyle.’ Coca-Cola Life (left) comes in a green can and although it has less sugar than regular Coca-Cola (right) it still contains six teaspoons of sugar . Dr Rooney highlighted research carried out in the eighties where rats were given a sugar solution, a saccharin [artificial sweetener] solution and only drank a certain amount. But when the rats were given both sugar and saccharin mixed together they drank more than they normally would. ‘It’s called a super mix, a little bit of sugar and sweetener drives over consumption… if this translates to the human population then that is fantastic for Coke’s profit line,’ Dr Rooney said. Coke Life has its very own ‘super mix’ of both sugar and Stevia - a type of sweetener. ‘Coke will be pushing more products but we will be doing more detriment to our health,’ Dr Rooney warned. When it comes to the green colour of the Coke Life packet it can give off a ‘healthy vibe’, Dr Rooney said. He noted Coke would have done a great amount of market research before they launched the product. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley launched Coca-Cola Life - sweetened from natural sources with a blend of sugar and stevia leaf extract - back in London in September . ‘There would have been some work that went into the association of green with health. I can understand how on some superficial level at least that it is seen as a healthier product. ‘But people should be aware that a sugar sweetened beverage is still an excessive calorie product with no nutritional benefits,’ he said. Dr Rooney explained that ‘liquid calories’ are the worst type of calorie source because the body metabolises them differently to solid food. ‘If you are looking to improve health the very first step is to remove your liquid calories,’ Dr Rooney said. The best drinks to consume are water and milk, he advised. And when it comes to Coke’s claims that they are trying to help battle the obesity epidemic, Dr Rooney said it is ‘disingenuous, duplicitous and highly inappropriate for Coke to frame their products as healthy.’ Dr Rooney said it is 'disingenuous, duplicitous and highly inappropriate' for Coke products to be marketed as healthy . Coca-Cola Life uses a mix of sugar and natural plant Stevia, which has been in Japan as a sweetener for over 30 years . Sugary drinks do not just cause weight gain they rot teeth, increase fat on the liver and fat around the waist, he explained . ‘I think it is deceitful and they are sitting there saying the only health worry is weight, which is absolutely wrong.’ Dr Rooney explained that 'liquid calories' are the worst type of calorie source because the body metabolises them differently to solid food . Professor Amanda Lee of Queensland University of Technology, and former chair of the National Health and Medical Research Council's Dietary Guidelines Working Committee, told the Sydney Morning Herald the launch of Coca Cola Life is an example of ‘greenwashing’. ‘It reminds me of the stage we were up at 30 years ago when manufacturers were making healthy cigarettes. I'm worried, it's trying to make a product that's intrinsically unhealthy, healthy,’ she said. ‘There's a high risk that many consumers could be confused, thinking that it's a low-energy option when it's not.’ The product, which hit Australian shelves on Monday, has more natural ingredients than Diet Coke because it doesn’t use artificial sweeteners like Aspartame. Lisa Winn, Coca-Cola South Pacific Marketing Director, said: ‘Coca-Cola Life truly is another example of us keeping in step with consumer demands. ‘We’re confident that the new product is what consumers have been looking for. We’ve achieved the taste you’d expect from Coca-Cola with 35% reduced sugar and kilojoules, compared to Coca-Cola.’ ‘Coke Life isn’t simply a new product from Coca-Cola – it’s another great choice for people who want a delicious Coca-Cola to fit their lifestyle. There is a Coca-Cola option for everyone,’ she said. It is only the fourth drink to be launched in the Trademark’s 128-year history. Peach flavour Lipton Ice Tea has over eight teaspoons of sugar, while Vitamin Water has seven . V Energy Drinks which promise to give you 'energy' have 13 teaspoons of sugar in them . The new addition to Coke's range of 3,500 beverages, should also not be mistaken for Coke Zero, which is a low-calorie drink that is marketed at men who don't like the word 'diet' and is meant to taste exactly the same as classic Coca-Cola. Coke Life is roughly inbetween Diet Coke and classic Coca-Cola when it comes to calories – you will still find 27 in a can. However, it has 35 per cent less sugar than classic Coke because it uses the natural plant Stevia and sugar as sweeteners, rather than just sugar. Aspartame is a man-made sweetener used as a sugar substitute in some foods and beverages. The safety of aspartame has been the subject of several political and medical controversies. However, the European Food Safety Authority concluded in its 2013 re-evaluation that aspartame and its breakdown products are safe for human consumption at current levels of exposure. People with the genetic condition phenylketonuria are however told to avoid it. Coke Zero (left) is a low-calorie drink that is marketed at men because they are shown to associate 'diet' drinks with women. Unlike Diet Coke (right), which is completely sugar free, Coke Life still has sugar . Nutritionist Aloysa Hourigan from Nutrition Australia said that Stevia is not known to have any health risks but that doesn't necessarily mean it is healthy to drink Coke Life. 'Nutrition Australia would still say that while it's safe it's still encouraging people to want to eat sweets. Stevia is the name of the plant from which stevia sweetener (steviol glycoside) is obtained. You can buy stevia in a powdered form as a sugar substitute that you can add to food and beverages at home – or you may find it in icecream, water-based beverages, brewed soft drinks, plain and flavoured soy beverages. It can be used in cooking and baking according to the Stevia Australia website, excepting that it does not caramelise like sugar. It has been used in Japan as the main sweetener for over 30 years and safety reviewed by both FSANZ and many other national food standard agencies in other countries e.g the EFSA and USFDA. FSANZ has concluded that the use of steviol glycosides at proposed levels does not raise any public health and safety concerns. 'The problem with all these artificial drinks is they still have high acidity levels and dental erosion. 'The other thing is there is some research that suggests that cola based colour drinks, whether sweetened naturally or artificially, are potentially impact negatively on insulin resistance meaning you are more likely to gain weight,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'It is not proven or definite but there is some concern around it. No matter what, the best drink is water and that’s we’d still agree.' If you’re wondering what the need for another low-calorie Coke drink is, the global brand which is worth an estimated $74 billion US dollars reportedly wanted a product for the growing number of people who are worried about artificial sweeteners like Aspartame, one of the most intensively scrutinised food additives. Aspartame is ingested every day by millions of people around the world in more than 6,000 well-known brands of food, drink and medicine. However, it has been the subject of a number of studies that appear to show harmful effects on human health. One study linked diet drinks containing Aspartame to premature births, while another suggested it could cause cancer. However, in December 2013, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed aspartame and confirmed it as safe, so Coca-Cola has continued to use it. Powerade has over eight teaspoons of sugar and Gatorade has nine teaspoons . Coca-Cola Life does not contain Aspartame so may be seen as healthier – but it does contain more sugar than Diet Coke. 'I guess with the other artificial sweeteners there is not a lot of evidence unless they are in very high doses that they are harmful. But because research hasn’t been done checking Stevia it seems to be quiet safe in those respects,’ Ms Hourigan said. Coke Life is meant to taste similar to classic Coca-Cola but some have noted a slightly aniseed taste to the beverage. Rival soft drink brand Pepsi have also brought out a drink that uses Stevia as a sweetener in some markets. They have named it Pepsi Next.

A 330ml can of Coca Cola Life still has 22g of sugar and 89 calories . A can of regular Coca Cola has 35g of sugar and 139 calories . Experts say branding Coke Life as low-calorie is 'disingenuous' 'Coke Life should not be considered a healthy option,' nutritionist says . It has its very own 'super mix' of both sugar and natural sweetener Stevia . 'People should be aware that a sugar sweetened beverage is still an excessive calorie product with no nutritional benefits,' expert says .

 manufacturer has been under increasing scrutiny over the impact of its sugary products on public health, particularly in the United Kingdom, which is one of the biggest consumers of Coca Cola products in the world.
A recent study from the University of Newcastle in Australia highlighted the health risks of drinking regular Coca Cola which found a clear link between its consumption and tooth decay, a risk factor in cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. The study found that drinking just one sugar-sweetened cola a day increased the risk of decay in children.
With the new soft drink, Coca Cola has reduced the amount of sugar in its product to 10% from 11% but the change was not accompanied by a change in the drink’s name. The company has also launched a new brand, Zeros, which has no calories and will cost less than a penny per unit, but the ‘low-cal’ drinks are still high in sugar.
A can of zero-sugar Coca Cola still has 10g of sugar, equivalent to three teaspoons of sugar. Even the new ‘lower-calorie’ fizzy drinks contain 100 calories, which is higher than a 90-calorie bottle of sparkling water.
Commenting on the latest move, Professor John Britton, a paediatric dentist based in Exeter, told the Guardian that Coca Cola’s ‘health washing’ campaign was a bad joke, noting that it was trying to ‘have its cake and eat it’. He also suggested that the new drink would make sugar levels in kids’ drinks worse, not better.
‘Cola companies are using different forms of sugar to help reduce the amount of sugar in drinks but there is no evidence that any of these sweeteners are any less harmful than sugar,’ he said.
Coca-Cola has been the subject of multiple court actions over its marketing of sugary products in UK. The drinks firm faces a legal action in the High Court for ‘misleading the public’ by promoting low and no sugar drinks as healthy when they are not. In 2015, The Advertising Standards Agency warned that the adverts were ‘misleading’ and said the company had been warned over them in 2012.
‘Coca-Cola clearly have not learnt their lesson, despite two High Court decisions stating that they should stop the misleading use of the terms “no sugar” and “sugar free” in their advertising. In addition, they have failed to include any sort of “no sugar


London (CNN)Mohammed Emwazi, the British-Kuwaiti ISIS fighter the world knows as "Jihadi John," was fuming with righteous indignation when he met with a representative of Cage Prisoners -- a Muslim advocacy group now known as CAGE -- shortly after being deported from Tanzania in August 2009. In a meeting recorded by the advocacy group, he claimed his plans for a safari vacation were ruined when he was detained at the airport and sent back first to Amsterdam and then to Dover, England, where he was subjected to several interrogations by British security officials. He said they accused him of traveling to Tanzania so he could link up with the terrorist group Al-Shabaab in neighboring Somalia and revealed they had been listening in on his phone conversations even before he made the trip. Emwazi said that during the questioning he denied any connection to extremism and stated that innocent people had been killed in the 2005 London transport system terrorist attacks and that the 9/11 terror attacks in the United States were wrong. Father: No proof my son is 'Jihadi John' But more than a dozen British administrative court documents obtained by CNN paint a very different picture of Emwazi and explain why he was on British security services' radar before he made the trip. The documents reveal British security services believed Emwazi was part of a radical West London recruitment network for terrorist groups in East Africa. Last week, two U.S. officials and two U.S. congressional sources confirmed to CNN that "Jihadi John" is Mohammed Emwazi, a Kuwaiti-born Londoner. One figure in the group -- a 30-year-old British-Iranian identified only as "CE" who was allegedly trained by al Qaeda terrorists in Somalia in 2006 -- was later placed under a "control order," a British administrative measure to restrict the freedom of movement of terror suspects. A December 2011 court document pertaining to CE's case named Emwazi as part of his extremist network. According to the document, British Home Secretary Theresa May "maintained she has reasonable grounds for suspicion that since his return to the United Kingdom in February 2007, CE has continued to associate regularly with members of a network of United Kingdom and East African-based Islamist extremists which is involved in the provision of funds and equipment to Somalia for terrorism-related purposes and the facilitation of individuals' travel from the United Kingdom to Somalia to undertake terrorism-related activity. The Secretary of State maintains that members of the network include BX, J1, Mohammed Ezzouek, Hamza Chentouf, Mohammed Emwazi, Mohammed Mekki, Mohammed Miah, Ahmed Hagi, Amin Addala, Aydarus Elmi, Sammy Al-Nagheeb, Bilal Berjawi and others." Some of these men are now dead. Others are wanted. CE told British officials that Mekki and Emwazi often stopped by his wife's apartment. Several of the visits were in early 2011, according to the document. Many of the young men in this network grew up within a few blocks of Emwazi in West London. According to the court documents, security services believe five members of the group -- CE, Berjawi, BX, Ezzouek, Miah and Chentouf -- attended an al Qaeda training camp in Somalia in 2006 in which they may have been instructed in the use of explosives. The camp was run by two veteran al Qaeda operatives, Saleh Nabhan and Fazul Mohammed, who instructed the British group to return to the United Kingdom "to carry out facilitation activities and to recruit individuals to work on behalf of al Qaeda and/or Al-Shabaab," according to the British government. Nabhan and Fazul Mohammed were the most-wanted al Qaeda operatives in Africa and, according to a 2009 U.S. State Department cable, their training camps offered far more advanced instruction than that offered by Al-Shabaab. Nabhan, a Kenyan operative, was suspected of playing a key operational role in the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1998, as well as a bomb attack on a resort in Mombasa in 2002, and on the same day, a failed missile attack on an Israeli airliner taking off from Mombasa's airport. Fazul Mohammed, who was born on the Comoros Islands, was also suspected of playing a key role in the bombings of U.S. embassies in East Africa in 1998.  He wrote in a 2009 memoir that Western recruits should be provided with training rather than instantly dispatched as suicide bombers within Somalia "to build sleeping cells around the world." Nabhan was killed in a U.S. Navy SEAL raid in September 2009 and Fazul Mohammed was killed in an ambush in Mogadishu in June 2011. Authorities recovered a document on a thumb drive found on his body -- probably authored by a British recruit -- proposing an attack on targets including Eton College and the five-star Dorchester and Ritz hotels in the United Kingdom, similar to the 2008 Mumbai, India, attacks that killed more than 160 people. The author proposed two months' training in Somalia for British and Western recruits selected for the attack, including target reconnaissance, hostage-taking, weapons and counter-surveillance. According to the court documents, at least one member of Emwazi's circle -- J1, a 36-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker to the United Kingdom -- had links to the al Qaeda cell that attempted to bomb the London transport system on July 21, 2005, two weeks after bomb blasts on London Underground trains and buses killed 52 people and wounded 770. According to the British government, J1, a Christian convert to Islam known in Islamist circles as Abdul Shakur, contacted bomber Hussain Osman by phone on the morning of the July 21 attempted attack. In October 2009, two months after Emwazi's alleged aborted attempt to wage jihad possibly in Somalia, three members of his west London network -- Bilal Berjawi, Mohammed Sakr and Walla Eldin Rahman -- traveled to join the terrorist group Al-Shabaab in Somalia, according to the documents. British security officials estimate that a total of more than 100 British extremists traveled to join the group, according to published reports. The Lebanese-born Berjawi, from St. John's Wood in West London, swiftly rose to a senior position in Al-Shabaab and likely continued to work closely with the senior al Qaeda operative Fazul Mohammed, according to a profile by Raffaello Pantucci, the director of international security studies at the Royal United Services Institute. According to the UK court documents, Berjawi remained in contact with the radical network he and Emwazi belonged to in the United Kingdom while in Somalia. Berjawi and Sakr were killed in U.S. drone strikes in early 2012. It is possible one of them authored the blueprint for attacks on luxury London hotels found on Fazul Mohammed's body in Mogadishu the previous year. By 2013, Emwazi's West London radical network had a new cause célèbre: the jihad against the Assad regime in Syria. Drone strikes and infighting in Al-Shabaab had made life increasingly difficult for foreign fighters in Somalia. Two members of Emwazi's network managed to leave Britain despite being under "terrorism prevention and investigation measures" (TPIMs), which means the monitoring of terror suspects who can't be charged. Their current whereabouts are unknown, but one possibility is that they traveled to Syria. TPIMs were introduced by the British coalition government in 2012 to replace the previous control order system. According to Robin Simcox, a research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society who has conducted extensive research on control orders, the new system removed authorities' power to relocate terror suspects, making it easier for them to re-engage with their radical networks. Both of Emwazi's associates moved back to London and then fled the country. Ibrahim Magag -- a British-Somali man previously identified as "BX" under the control order regime -- fled in December 2012 after using scissors to cut through the strap of his GPS location monitoring device. British authorities believe he hailed a London taxi, and disappeared.  He had previously attended the training camp run by the senior al Qaeda operatives Nabhan and Fazul Mohammed in Somalia in 2006 and was involved in fund-raising for al Qaeda in East Africa, according to the court documents. In 2010, prior to the introduction of TPIMs, a British judge had ruled he was "too dangerous to allow him to be in London for even a short period." Nevertheless, the British secretary of state wrote in court documents that "Magag is not considered to represent a direct threat to the British public. The TPIMs notice in this case was intended primarily to prevent fund-raising and overseas travel." His whereabouts today?  Unknown. Mohammed Mohamed -- a Somali-born radical previously identified as "CC" -- went on the run in November 2013 after entering a west London mosque and removing his GPS monitoring device. Security cameras captured him leaving the mosque, disguised as a woman wearing a burqa. In 2008, Mohamed had traveled to Somalia, where Al-Shabaab provided him terrorist training. He was  detained in Somaliland in 2011 and deported to the UK. According to the court documents, he was involved in facilitating travel for others to Somalia and fund-raising for Al-Shabaab, and was planning attacks potentially against Western interests in Somaliland before his arrest. He remains wanted by British security. It's unknown if Magag or Mohamed rekindled their ties with Emwazi in London before leaving the country. In 2013, Emwazi himself traveled to Syria, joined ISIS, and began guarding Western hostages. In August 2014 he was dubbed "Jihadi John" -- the menacing, taunting, hooded face of ISIS -- when he orchestrated the brutal beheading of American journalist James Foley, the first of many victims murdered on camera.

The man now known as "Jihadi John" was on Britain's terror radar for several years . Court documents claim he was a member of a terror recruitment network in London . The papers spell out his connections to other known terrorists in Somalia .

 group that opposes the terror group.
The group, in a report released on Friday, recounts an alleged incident in November 2014 in which Emwazi threatened to carry out a "martyrdom operation" and "targeted violence" against the group and its supporters.
Emwazi is a member of ISIS and has since gone on to become the notorious ISIS executioner.
"I'm gonna kill you. I'm gonna kill you personally if you don't leave us alone," he told the organization's representative at a meeting in London in November.
He reportedly became angry and "very annoyed" when the organization mentioned his name -- the same way he reacted when they first approached him after hearing of his involvement in ISIS, according to Cage Prisoners.
"I have a personal relationship with this," he told them. "Just to say my name in an aggressive way, as if I'm doing something wrong. Why are you talking about me? Who are you, to say my name? Who are you to threaten someone over my name?"
He warned of a "martyrdom operation" and told the group, "I will make sure you get a taste of what you have been feeding me. How about that, brother?"
And "if you speak to me in a confrontational way, that's a threat. If I see you on the street, I will target you, I will target your family, I will target your mother," he said, according to Cage Prisoners.
"I will target your mother."
Emwazi's anger may not only be fueled by an obsession with his reputation, according to the report. He is also frustrated with the extent to which those involved in Cage Prisoners have been publicizing his presence at the group's London headquarters.
Cage Prisoners says Emwazi was furious to hear that the group had recorded the meeting and released a statement about the recording.
Emwazi was once a computer science student at Kingston University in South West London, where his former lecturer told CNN he was "very dedicated to the subject and to his studies."
"This wasn't an accident," Emwazi is alleged to have said of his presence at Cage Prisoners. "This was a deliberate attempt by you to come and try to catch me out -- like you've seen me somewhere before."
"You should know me very well if you'


Kelly Percival, 32, locked the 43-year-old victim into her flat at which point a male and female accomplice jumped out and demanded £100 . A honeytrap mother-of-one lured a lonely man to her flat with promises of a drunken romp before two thugs burst in and demanded cash. Kelly Percival, 32, lured a 43-year-old to her flat for a 'sexual encounter' in April last year, but once he was inside he was set upon by a man and woman who said: 'Give me £100 or I will cut you up.' Despite being punched several times in the head, he managed to escape, before calling the police who arrested Ms Percival. Prosecutor Jolyon Perks told the court Pervical had started chatting to the victim over dating site Badoo, using the name 'Jess' on her profile. Mr Perks said: 'This culminated in the complainant being invited to visit 'Jess' for what the victim believed would be effectively a date, a sexual encounter. 'He travelled to the address in a taxi, having bought vodka and cigarettes.' The court heard when the victim arrived at the upstairs flat he was led by Percival, who by then had told him her real name, into the living room. Mr Perks added: 'The complainant sat down on the settee and it was at that point a male and female burst into the room. 'The male immediately said "give me £100 or I will cut you up".' The court heard the victim was also threatened by the female before he tried to get out and realised he was locked in the flat. The male attacker demanded the victim's mobile phone when he saw him trying to contact the police before opening the door to let him out. Mr Perks added: 'He was punched by the male to the head a number of times, which knocked off his glasses.' The victim showed police his dating profile and messages and Pervical. Officers then used this to track her down as she had used pictures of herself as her profile images. Mr Perks said: 'The defendant fully admitted agreeing with the others for the victim to go to her flat and they they would then effectively 'tax' him, get money by force.' The man and woman who threatened the victim escaped, and have never been caught. Percival was sentenced to 15 months, suspended for two years, with a supervision order. Newcastle Crown Court heard that, despite being repeatedly punched in the head, the man managed to escape from the flat and call police, who arrested Percival . Judge Jeremy Freedman told her: 'He believed you were willing to engage in sexual relations with him on April 6 when he wnet to an address you had given him. 'When he arrived he was confronted by two other people who burst into the room and demanded £100 and threatened to cut him up. 'Your role was as a facilitator, you lured him to the property, knowing what was to happen. 'There was a plan afoot, it was not sophisticated but you had obviously agreed with the two others that is what you would do in order to rob him of a sum of money. 'I am satisfied, once he had been lured to the flat, you took no further role in the offence. 'Nevertheless, but for your involvement, the robbery could not have and would not have happened.' The judge said the ordeal must have been a 'terrifying' experience for the victim, who has been left traumatised by what happened to him. Vic Laffey, defending, said mum-of-one Percival got involved in the scam to feed her drug habit, which she is now handling. Mr Laffey said: 'Her circumstances, at least for the moment, have taken a turn for the better. She appears to be getting some help and handling the drug problems. She is far better than she was.'

Drug addict Kelly Percival, 32,  lured man, 43, to flat via Badoo dating site . Man went to home with bottle of vodka and cigarettes for 'sex encounter' Man and woman then jumped out and demanded £100 'or I will cut you up' Despite being punched in the head victim escaped and called the police . Percival walked free from court today, while accomplices were not caught .

 into her flat before her two accomplices tortured and ‘humiliated’ him by beating him for a year.
The two victims, who were best friends, were then told that they had been “sold off” to different sex offenders in a terrifying ordeal which began on New Year’s Eve.
Percival had been drinking heavily all day when the victim came to see her in his car.
She invited him up to her flat above a shop in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, where the victim says she repeatedly “seduced” him before making him a sandwich and letting him use the loo.
He told Cambridgeshire Crown Court: “When I walked up the steps to the flat there was a light on but no one answered the door.
“The next minute this girl came out and said, ‘Come in,’ and I went in to have a sandwich, it was like being in a porno film.
“She said, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll look after you. We’ll have a bit of fun.
“She grabbed me and she kissed me on the mouth, it was so passionate.”
He said the encounter then took a “dark turn” as his former partner entered the flat.
He added: “Kelly was like a wild animal, she grabbed me and said, ‘This is not how it’s going to end.’
“She started to tear my clothes off, her teeth were clenched and her eyes were like saucers. I was so scared, I just froze.”
The victim, who lost his job after the ordeal and says he is no longer in touch with his friends or family, has told how they “shoved a toothbrush in my mouth and they poured water down it”.
He was then made to sleep with his eyes open as the mother-of-one and her accomplices took pictures of his naked body.
The victim claimed Percival and her friend used a “black magic” spell and other techniques to “embarrass, humiliate and demean” him during the following year.
The victim said Percival told him he was being sold to “someone in London” who was waiting downstairs.
“We heard her saying over and over, ‘I’ve done it, I’ve done it, I’ve done it.’ We were petrified, we were all alone in the flat,” he added.
Eventually they


Most children can be prone to temper tantrums if they don't get their own way but Sapphire Bubb, nine, has become so aggressive, even her own mother is terrified of her. Single mother, Pauline, 47, from Southampton, says her daughter's behaviour can be so unpredictable she dreads outings and special occasions like birthday parties, and she feels like a victim of domestic abuse because of the daily barrage of abuse she gets at home. 'Her behaviour has deteriorated from being a normal child to attacking me on a daily basis. Very few people have seen her that way as it's behind doors,' Pauline told Channel 5 show My Violent Child. Pauline Bubb, pictured on Channel 5 show My Violent Child, has suffered physical abuse from both her son and daughter and wonders if her parenting skills are to blame . Spencer, now 11, pictured as a young boy with twin sisters Sapphire and Jorja, now nine. Spencer could be aggressive at this age as it was before he was diagnosed with ODD and ADHD . 'She can be a complete Jekyll and Hyde - one minute she's a loving child and the next she can turn, biting, pulling hair, trying to pull my earrings out, punching, kicking, trying to break things. 'She is only a tiny little thing and she goes through this thing and it scares me. I have been attacked at least 30 times in one day. It can be for any reason.' The Channel 5 show goes into their home to reveal how Sapphire can be aggressive - both physically and verbally - over the smallest of things if she doesn't get her own way. During one outburst, she is seen shouting at her mother: 'It's not f***ing working, don't f***ing talk to me' over a toy and when her mild-mannered twin sister, Jorja, tells her to 'stop being silly' she retorts: 'Shut up you b****!' Pauline is at the end of her tether as after Spencer was diagnosed, Sapphire then started acting violently. 'It feels like I am in domestic violence with my kids,' she said . In another shocking scene, she bites her mother's face during a meltdown over homework and then sobs in her arms because she's sorry for what she's done. 'I don't understand why I get angry, I hurt people and I kick them,' Sapphire said. It's not the first time Pauline has experienced physical abuse at the hands of one of her children. As previously reported by MailOnline, Pauline found raising her son, Spencer, now 11, a real challenge as he was prone to regular violent outbursts and he once stabbed her with some scissors. At the age of five, he was diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and put on anti-psychotic medication. 'Before the diagnosis he could be really violent, he stabbed me with scissors, he tried to strangle me, he could be violent punching, kicking and swearing,' Pauline recalled. Sapphire hugs her mother after regretting biting her in the face during one violent outburst filmed by the Channel 5 documentary . Spencer has calmed down thanks to his diagnosis but Pauline now faces another violent battleground with Sapphire. After the problems she experienced with Spencer when he was younger and now Sapphire, Pauline said: 'It feels like I am in domestic violence with my kids. 'They have taken the role of the abusive partner. This can't go on, I don't know how to deal with it. 'I try my hardest I put my all into everything for them and they just seem to fight me all the way.' Pauline often has to retreat her to bedroom in fear of her children's behaviour and is left in tears over what she can do to bring harmony to their home. 'I do worry that it's me, where did I go wrong? I do the best I can do at as a mum but I worry it's down to my parenting skills,' she admits. Caught in the firing line is her other daughter, Jorja, who often retreats to sit on her own when her sister's tantrums begin and is often at the receiving end of her verbal abuse herself. Trying to play a simple games of cards with her sister can result in her being sworn and shouted at. The single mother-of-three often retreats to her room to hide from her aggressive children . Islay Downey, a parenting practitioner who helped Pauline when she struggled with Spencer, returns to help the family again now Sapphire is causing problems. She said Pauline needs to establish a routine, set more ground rules and be more assertive. She advised Pauline to work on her own self-esteem as her lack of confidence in her parenting is holding her back. 'At the moment the children are on control and that's a very unsafe place for children,' she said. She observed that Jorja was often the victim as she withdraws to find a corner to sit on her own while her mother and sister fight. Islay said: 'Sapphire has learnt a pattern of behaviour that if she wants attention, this (being violent and aggressive) is the way to get it. Pauline is urged by a parenting practitioner to be more assertive and self-confident - she has let her children take too much control . 'It's like a dripping tap, little by little we have to get mum to be more assertive. Pauline needs to focus more on Jorja, that retreating isn't good for her.' The family are taken for 'intensive weekend intervention' at an outdoor activity centre in the New Forest to help them. Islay said: 'From experience, it helps to taken them away from a familiar environment where they have to break familiar patterns of behaviour.' During the weekend, the family do role play exercises where they recreate arguments taking the part of each other so they can see the situation from the other person's perspective. They also take part in survival activities in the forest and games where they have to work together. A weekend away with her twin girls proves a revelation as Pauline finally starts being the boss . The activities all work towards Pauline reestablishing control instead of letting Sapphire take charge. The mother is amazed by the transformation in her children's behaviour when she is the boss. She said: 'When I have made a suggestion they haven't kicked off and have listen to what I have said which is a good thing. Now I'm in my element, I'm really happy. 'The one thing I will take home is positivity, their behaviour has been amazing.' Islay says she's hopeful Pauline 'will now go from strength to strength' and take what she had learnt back into the home environment. My Violent Child is on Channel 5 this evening at 9pm or catch up On Demand .

Single mother, Pauline, 47, appears on Channel 5 show My Violent Child . Once stabbed with scissors by her son Spencer, now 11 . His behaviour has improved after taking anti-psychotic medication . But now daughter, Sapphire, nine, is misbehaving . Can be verbally and physically aggressive if doesn't get her own way . Pauline admits 'I don't know how to deal with it' Seeks help and is advised she needs to take control and establish routine .

 England, says she is too frightened to punish her daughter or even tell her off in case she attacks her - a situation she can't handle.
Sapphire has a high IQ but suffers from a severe anger disorder and has been diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), as well as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She will not go to school and even when Pauline does take her out for a walk, Sapphire is so unruly she has to carry her because she is afraid of her.
Sapphire's behaviour has deteriorated in the past year, Pauline says. She's become increasingly aggressive, violent and destructive - and now she is so fearful, she doesn't know what to do. 'I've always been aware that Sapphire was slightly different from other kids. She was born at a very difficult time for us, she was a very stressful pregnancy and I suffered from severe depression, so we were both not quite on form and we're still not there.'
When Sapphire was born with a hole in her stomach that needed immediate attention and an operation, she and her baby were in the high dependency unit of Southampton General hospital for six months. She was only two days old when she came out. After that she was taken straight home. 'I can remember seeing her for the first time, I wasn't allowed to touch her or speak to her for an hour because I couldn't hold my hand above her because it had to be above her stomach wound.
'It was a very stressful time,' says Pauline. 'I was very anxious, I was feeling depressed and I think Sapphire was affected by my anxiety too.'
Pauline says she often feels powerless against Sapphire. 'Her behaviour is not consistent and it comes in fits and starts. I don't know why she acts the way she does, and I've never experienced it before. I'm not her father, I don't want to get into all that. But I just don't know what to do.'
Pauline tries her best to give Sapphire stability, but it's difficult when she gets so angry. 'I have to be really calm to make her see I'm a mum, I love her but I can't take her out in public because she's so violent, I can't control her behaviour, she pushes her teachers, she's not always very good in class -


He was sacked for punching a junior TV producer after not getting a hot dinner. And judging by the extensive list of backstage luxuries demanded by Jeremy Clarkson and his Top Gear Live co presenters, it seems a miracle he hadn’t previously lashed out. The three-page catalogue was revealed after BBC producer Oisin Tymon, who felt Clarkson’s wrath, said he did not want to press charges. Scroll down for video . Very specific requests include over 20 bottles of wine, such as Veuve Clicquot Champagne, Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. Also required is Chateau Leoube rosé or equivalent which – at Clarkson’s insistence - must be ‘pale DRY… preferably southern France.’ In case that runs out, they ask for two dozen bottles of Peroni beer, Bombay Sapphire gin plus tonic, ice and lemon, all chilled in a fridge or cooler cabinet with at least four shelves. Their drinks must be served on linen covered tables, while a sofa must be provided with ‘enough room to seat six people, one of whom is 6ft 3in and likes to lie down’. The stars also insist on a Nespresso coffee machine with a milk frothing gadget, balsamic vinegar, Dove deodorant, hair wax, ‘nice rubbish bins’ and a coat stand – ‘NOT a rail!’ In all, there are about 120 different items listed for the green room which Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May use to relax in during breaks from hosting the Top Gear Live events, which take place at arenas in the UK and abroad, and are separate from the BBC TV show. The rooms – often the size of a hotel suite – must be fitted with a rug if there are no carpets, soft lighting, a TV with good speaker system and Sky Sports and movies, an array of films on DVD and green plants - ideally bamboo. Smoker Clarkson insists on a carton of Marlboro Lights and as well as packets of Camels and Marlboro Menthol Lights. In all, there are about 120 different items listed for the green room which Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May use to relax in during breaks from hosting the Top Gear Live events . And in a move which might have pre-empted the attack that ended Clarkson’s BBC career, the list also insists the green room must be located near a McDonald’s, stating: ‘THEY WILL ASK FOR THIS’. A source from Top Gear Live told the Mail: ‘All three presenters have their eclectic tastes and they certainly know what they want. ‘Jeremy is very into his rosé and very particular about getting exactly the right type of wine. ‘He also likes to be driven around in a Range Rover during these events. ‘It’s fair to say he can be a little bit of a Prima Donna at times.’ Clarkson is alleged to have been drinking Rose for three hours before he hit TV producer Oisin Tymon, who had told him that he wasn’t able to have steak and chips at Simonstone Hall in North Yorkshire following a day’s filming. Two planned Top Gear Live events for this weekend in Norway were postponed after the 54-year-old presenter was suspended and later fired over the fracas. Details of the stars’ demands come from a ‘green room rider’ list from 29 November 2014 – the date of the last Top Gear Live event in the Norwegian capital Oslo. Soft drinks on the list included 12 small bottles of ginger beer, a selection of Cokes and Red Bull, and still and sparkling bottled water. Food includes ‘lunch and evening meals and hot snacks, eg pies, jacket potatoes, pasta and prawn cocktail.’ Greek, chicken Caesar and Nicoise salads are requested as a ‘healthy option’ along with a daily fruit bowl. But there are also demands for sweets including jelly babies and minstrels and cheese and cracker boards. Marmite, honey, jam, peanut butter, HP Sauce, salt crackers and a bottle of balsamic vinegar are also listed. There is no direct mention of steak, but steak knives are included on the list. The rider states that trestle tables are expected ‘for the presentation of food and drink’ and ‘table linen for all tables not in good condition!’ Very specific requests from Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond include over 20 bottles of wine, such as Veuve Clicquot Champagne, Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc . The room also has to include a Sky TV connection or way to access live sports and films, Apple TV or Netflix and a selection of DVDs including James Bond films, Blood Diamond and motorbike movie Closer to the Edge. Other movies required on DVD include Hangover Part 3, Miami Vice and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It also lists a Playstation 3 with two controllers plus the Call of Duty game. The source added: ‘Some of the items are brought over by his team from venue to venue around the globe but others they get people on the ground to buy ready for their arrival. ‘They don’t always need everything or eat and drink everything on the list, but they like to have them there just in case.’ The green rooms vary in size depending on the venue, but are often the equivalent of a hotel suite. During most Top Gear Live events the presenters – and anyone they invite to join them – spend a few hours in the room during rehearsals on Friday and before and after shows on Saturday and Sundays. They usually stay in hotels or private houses overnight. The rider was put together by PR firm R:evolution Communications and Events, which worked on the Top Gear Live shows. One of the firm’s directors, Emma Stonier, was unavailable for comment, while another, Rebecca Banks, declined to answer questions at her Oxfordshire home when she was shown the document. But a former business associate of the pair, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘I know there were lists like this for Top Gear with very specific requests. It sounds about right.’ Oisin Tymon’s solicitor, Paul Daniels, indicated the producer wanted to draw a line under the affair. Mr Daniels said: ‘Mr Tymon doesn’t want to press charges. The matter has taken a great toll on Oisin, his family and his friends. ‘Quite simply, Mr Tymon just wishes to return now to the job at the BBC he loves, as soon as possible.’

Backstage luxuries demanded by Jeremy Clarkson and his co-presenters at Top Gear Live shows revealed . Three-page catalogue includes over 20 bottles of wine, such as Veuve Clicquot Champagne and Sauvignon Blanc . In case that runs out, they ask for two dozen bottles of Peroni beer, Bombay Sapphire gin, tonic and ice . Their drinks must be served on linen covered tables and the presenters must be based near to a McDonald's .

hed out like that.
After being unceremoniously axed from the BBC car show following his altercation with a co-worker, the former Blue Peter presenter had his name bandied around as a potential replacement for Fern Britton on ITV’s This Morning.
And now former T4 presenter Richard Coyle has landed the job, a move he says has been greeted with a mixture of surprise, suspicion and fear.
“I am really lucky to be the one succeeding an institution like that,” he told the Press Association.
“There was something kind of daunting about filling someone else’s shoes and stepping in, but I am very excited. It’s a big jump up from T4 but I’ve done this for a long time and I’m feeling quite prepared for it.”
Having worked on both T4 and This Morning in the past, Coyle has already developed a taste for reality TV presenting – even if it means getting “slap-happy” in a pub with a fellow celebrity.
“With T4, a lot of the time we were drunk. I have been on the show when I have been slap-happy and it is quite an experience,” he joked.
But he admitted that the programme had its more serious moments too.
“There were always the more political elements but I didn’t think about them too much,” he added. “Some of those things seemed really important at the time, but in hindsight the world is not ruled by people watching T4.”
For Coyle, the world is now ruled by This Morning and its audience of millions – a world which he claims is very different to that of T4 and its celebrity guests.
“The audiences are very different,” he said. “With T4 it was a mixture of celebrity gossip, a young audience, and very young presenters, and it was quite a wild thing to do.
“And the audience of This Morning is much more mainstream, it is women, the older age groups – and not as slap-happy.”
He added: “It’s the audience which has had the most impact on me. I was quite surprised that This Morning had the kind of audience which it does.
“In terms of people watching, it’s a massive show and there is a really strong and passionate audience. We had an email from a soldier in Afghanistan and he was telling us that on the front line this morning he listened to the show,


Tributes have poured in for a 29-year-old Australian woman who died during a 'simple' medical procedure in Mexico, as a close friend remembers her as a kind, generous and loving young woman. Evita Nicole Sarmonikas, 29, was admitted to a hospital in Mexicali, the capital city of the Mexican state of Baja California, on March 20 while on holiday with her boyfriend. She died on the same day, after reportedly suffering a heart attack. A close friend of Ms Sarmonkias has shared a heartbreaking tribute to the young woman, as her devastated family struggle to raise funds to have her body flown home, despite the hospital offering to cremate her. Tributes have poured in for Evita Nicole Sarmonikas (right, pictured with friend Sherri Burton) after her death in a Mexican hospital last week . 'Eva my heart, my love, my joy. Where are you? I need you. We were meant to grow old together and still be conquering life hand in hand as sisters. I'm still not understanding. I haven't been able to sleep,' Sherri Burton wrote. Ms Burton recalled the last time the pair spoke, and the final day they spent together before Ms Sarmonkias went overseas. 'The last thing you wrote to me, about 7 hours before you went to be with our Heavenly Father, was "wish you were here with me". You always thought about me when you were having fun and wanted me to experience it. 'It has been 7 days since you were physically with me in this very room I’m typing in. Sitting on this very chair,' the tribute continued. 'Eva… There are not enough words to express how I feel about you. Thank you for loving me. I am honoured to have received such love. I am honoured to call you my sister. 'I am honoured to have been there through the good and the bad. I am honoured to have been let into the most intimate parts of your heart,' Ms Burton also wrote. Family and friends have flooded social media with tributes for the 'bright, beautiful' young woman . 'The last thing you wrote to me, about 7 hours before you went to be with our Heavenly Father, was "wish you were here with me", close friend Ms Burton revealed . Ms Sarmonkias worked as a receptionist at LJ Hooker in Surfer's Paradise, and her former colleagues have remembered her as bubbly, bright and beautiful young woman. Ms Sarmonkias worked as a receptionist at LJ Hooker in Surfer's Paradise . 'The LJ Hooker Surfers Paradise Network is deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing of one of our past employees Eva Sarmonikas,' a statement read. 'She was rightly positioned as our receptionist and the role suited her to a T. 'With the bubbliest and brightest personality anyone could ever imagine it was a pleasure to hear her wonderful voice at the other end of the line. 'This photo was taken last year at the LJ Hooker Annual Night Of The Stars Awards and how stunning she looked,' the post continued, referring to an image of the 29-year-old beaming at the camera. 'We will all miss her very much, Rest In Peace beautiful girl xx.' Ms Sarmonkias's distraught family remain at a loss to understand why she could not be saved. They have highlighted how Australian Medical advice shows that 'even in the case of cardiac arrest a healthy young body can often be brought back to life when surrounded by a fully equipped hospital and a competent medical team'. Ms Sarmonikas's family has set up a Facebook page in tribute to the 'perfect and whole soul' and to also help fundraise up to $30,000, which is needed to bring her body back home to Australia. A GoFundMe page has been established as the young woman's sister and mother battle to get to Mexico to bring 'Eva' home. Her former colleagues have remembered her as bubbly, bright and beautiful young woman . Tributes have also poured in from friends and family, vowing to remember her as a happy woman . The Mexican government have offered to cremate her body, according to the family, but the Australian have strongly advised against it and suggested an independent autopsy be carried out. 'The Australian Embassy has been clear on not allowing her body to leave Mexicali, or allowing her little body to be cremated before an independent autopsy and external opinion is sought,' a statement from the family said. They have also urged other women not to 'risk death to improve on perfection'. 'The autopsy showed Eva went into cardiac arrest following surgery. The hospitals' only response was to cling to their waiver, removing themselves from any liability,' a family member wrote on the Facebook group. 'There have been no answers and their only offer of 'cooperation' was an urgency to return her to us in the form of ashes. The Australian Embassy has strongly advised we do not allow this to happen.' Ms Sarmonikas's family have been advised to travel to Mexico as soon as possible to request an independent autopsy – not carried out by the hospital where she died – and to bring her home. They say she 'did not have travel insurance and we were never prepared for a situation of this magnitude'. A Facebook tribute page has been set up for Evita to share advice and support and to help fundraise to bring her body home to Australia . One friend on Facebook described Eva as a 'shining light in the dark and unforgiving world' 'Evita as we knew her on earth would be devastated at the amount of attention she is receiving at the moment, as she was extremely private and worked very hard to never be a burden on anybody,' her family wrote. 'However the abundance of love that we all hold for her is propelling the action that needs to be taken before she be laid to rest, and she deserves that.' Her family are also asking for help in gaining legal and medical representation as advised by The Australian Embassy. Ms Sarmonikas's family have not said what procedure Evita was undergoing before she died but they explained: 'As beautiful as Evita was inside and out. She was still filled with certain inadequacies. As almost every woman on earth does.' 'Her perfect and whole soul was not strong enough in light of a world that constantly bombarded her with an urgency to demand more from herself and her body,' they explained. 'She never demanded anything from anybody, but was always out giving her people. These near perfect graphic comparisons our young women are bombarded with from get go are too much for innocent hearts to battle, and the consequences are fatal when not conducted by adequate professionals. Ms Sarmonikas's family have been advised to travel to Mexico as soon as possible to request an independent autopsy . 'These doctors promised her more perfection to fill an emptiness that began developing early in our childhood. This emptiness further expanded with traumatic experiences in her adult life and the constant social boarding of a false beauty illusion,' they Facebook post continued. Her sister Andrea has urged others not too risk their lives in the pursuit of what they perceive as beauty. 'This was not the way to go home, no woman should risk death to improve on perfection,' they said. 'Tomorrow morning when you look in the mirror say to yourself 'I am enough, I am worthy, I am perfect just the way I am'. 'Don't listen to a world that is hungry to fill your insecurities with poison. Stop feeding an industry that hates humans, especially women in the natural state and their perfect birth bodies. Do it for Eva, do it for you.' Tributes have poured in for the 29-year-old. One friend wrote 'she was such a gorgeous girl physically and emotionally' Friends have promised to help bring Evita,  'a truly beautiful soul', home anyway they can . There has been an outpouring of love and messages of condolences on the page set up to remember Ms Sarmonikas. Ashleigh Carvell said: 'So sad she was such a gorgeous girl physically and emotionally. She seemed to be so confident in herself. Such a sad thing to happen my heart aches for u all. My deepest condolences.' Sugah Kimba wrote: 'She is a beautiful soul!!! Eva is the type of person to make the world a little more beautiful!!!! That's just who she was!!!' Sasha RPaki said: 'How do you improve on perfection? Eva was perfect, just as God made her and no man should ever have adulterated His masterpiece. The world is poorer for having lost her.' 'This news is devastating! All my memories of Eva, Sarah and I as little girls playing in the street have flooded back! I remember bumping into her a few years back and was amazed by her beauty.. Inside and out! I'm so sorry for your loss, it's always the good ones that are taken too soon!,' Elise O'Donnell wrote. Helen Pearce added: 'Eva was a shining light in this dark and unforgiving world. Beautiful inside and out, gracious, sensitive, caring and giving, who lived by her moto of laugh, live, love. Eva you will be so sadly missed.'

Evita Nicole Sarmonikas, 29, died on March 20 in Mexicali, Mexico . She had just undergone a simple cosmetic surgery procedure . A hospital autopsy stated she died of cardiac arrest . Her family on the Gold Coast want to find out why she could not be saved . They are fundraising to fly her body home in a casket after the hospital requested to cremate her before an independent autopsy is carried out . Her sister urged other woman not to 'risk death to improve on perfection'

, 29, of Adelaide, went into hospital in Mexico City for a routine operation, but suffered a blood clot that led to her death.
Ms Sarmon, known as Evie, was a senior marketing manager who lived in Los Angeles with her boyfriend Michael Vizzone and had recently travelled to Mexico for a routine operation to remove "the beginnings of cancer cells" discovered in her breasts.
Ms Sarmon grew up in South Australia and attended St Anne's Convent School in Adelaide. She later lived in Singapore where she worked for a recruitment firm before returning to Australia. Her former employer, Nick O'Brien, paid tribute to his employee in a statement. "She was one of our most beloved and cherished employees. As a friend, she was generous, loyal and caring, always willing to help without a second thought," he said. "As a colleague she was bright, creative, and full of energy and excitement. "It is not right that someone so vibrant has had her life taken away.
Her friends, family, and partner are left to deal with the tragedy in the aftermath of losing her so soon. A friend who worked with her in the marketing department at recruitment company Kelly Services, told Daily Mail Australia Ms Sarmon left a lasting impression of compassion and empathy. "I never met anyone so warm and caring and so willing to help others," the friend said. "She always had a smile on her face and was very popular with everyone who worked with her. "Evie was very loving and compassionate and would always look out for people who were in need. "She loved everyone unconditionally. Her family is devastated, her friends, devastated and her partner, devastated," she said. "This is a real loss for the world. "I am going to miss her a lot."
The woman's death on Saturday, February 23, comes only three months after she learned she had "pre-cancer" cells and underwent a lumpectomy in December last year. Ms Sarmon was born in Adelaide and lived there until moving to the United States in 2012. Ms Sarmon is survived by her parents Kevin and Margaret, her boyfriend Michael, and her brother, Adam, who lives in Melbourne. "She was a remarkable person in so many ways – her compassion, generosity and love for her family and friends was infectious," a family statement said. "We will miss her very dearly."
Source


For Stuart McCall, the hope is that the sleepless nights that preceded his exit from Motherwell can be replaced by a sweet dream. Visualising the joy of completing the journey back to the top flight is something he wants all now under his command at Rangers to do. The power of positive thinking will be deployed in the fight for promotion McCall took on Thursday evening. The 50-year-old stepped down from his post at Fir Park in November after admitting much soul-searching in a bid to halt a form slump. New Rangers manager Stuart McCall raises the club scarf after being unveiled on Thursday afternoon . The new Rangers boss takes his first training session at Murray Park on Thursday afternoon . His was surely a classic case of becoming a victim of your own success. Hindsight only makes the prior back-to-back second places finishes he attained on a meagre budget look all the more incredible. Revitalised, refreshed and fully motivated, the lure of resuming his managerial career with a return to Ibrox was simply too great to resist. McCall’s current deal only runs to the end of the season but if his infectious enthusiasm can transform an underachieving, down-in-the mouth squad into play-off victors then his claim for a longer stay will be extremely difficult to ignore. He won six titles and five cups in seven years as a midfielder with Walter Smith’s all-conquering side of the 1990s, but reckons taking Rangers up this season might well be the greatest achievement of his footballing life. ‘It would have to be up there and I have been quite fortunate in my time,’ he mused. ‘Yeah, I suppose it would be. ‘There might still be sleepless nights but it is something to dream about. I want the lads to have a focus about that. Picture yourself running around Ibrox having won promotion. The former Motherwell manager has taken charge of the Ibrox club for the rest of the season . The former Bradford player faces the press as he is unveiled on Thursday . ‘The lads who have been here have done it for two years. Obviously the circumstances were quite different. ‘I would think at this moment in time - and I am not putting the boot into the players because they know this themselves - anyone who has watched Rangers for the last three or four months would say they would struggle. ‘But there are enough good players in the squad I saw as I looked around in our meeting today. ‘They wouldn’t be at Rangers if they weren’t good players. I saw flashes of it today in training. Go and express yourself. All of the players who have come from all these different clubs, I would have signed most of them. ‘It hasn’t sunk in and it won’t sink in for a while. But I’m going to make the most of it.’ McCall believes his new charges still have what it takes and, clearly, he wouldn’t have been getting to grips with a new office in Murray Park if he didn’ t think he could work a little magic alongside trusted assistant Kenny Black. ‘When I got the opportunity, I thought about the whole thing last night,’ said McCall, reflecting on the whirlwind of events that led to him replacing caretaker manager Kenny McDowall, who has made an amicable exit. ‘In an ideal world you will come in for pre-season and have four-six weeks to look at players, try different systems, and look at strengths and weaknesses. That’s obviously not going to happen and I will have to hit the ground running. ‘But just being out on the training ground again gave me a buzz and I’m relishing it. The results have got to be right, of course. ‘There have only been 13 managers in about 123 years so for me to be given the opportunity is beyond belief. ‘I got a nice text from my daughter pointing out that I had played and managed Bradford. I have played for Scotland and worked on the management team and now I’m managing Rangers having played for them. ‘I want to make it a success. I’m not an over-confident person. I know it will be a struggle and I will beat myself up every day but I will do my best.’ Rangers announced that caretaker manager Kenny McDowall has left the club ahead of a new appointmnet . McCall (centre right) celebrates the 1992 SPL during his Rangers playing days with the Ibrox club . He inherits a squad where a dozen first-team players are coming to the end of their contracts but insists that should only add to the shared motivation to stick around a while longer. ‘This club might not know until May 30 what league they are going to be playing in next season. ‘So regardless of who is manager, I don’t think contracts are going to be handed out at this moment in time. ‘I’m sure Hearts will be handing out contracts to a lot of players, because they know they are going to be in the Premiership next season and they deserve to. ‘So the message to the lads out of contract here is “go and and earn yourself one”. They can still turn it around. ‘If they play well and we do well as a team, is there a possibility I might be here next season? Yes, it’s a possibility. But it’s down to themselves if they are here. It’s still in their hands.’ McCall will open his tenure with tomorrow’s home game against Livingston as he seeks to eat into the five-point lead Hibernian currently have in second place. What, though, if Rangers can battle through to the play-off final and have to meet his old love Motherwell to complete the job? ‘It would make me sick,’ he grimaced. ‘It would. But I honestly hope – and believe – they won’t be in the bottom two. ‘I’ve had a lot of texts from the Motherwell lads. I think the signings of McDonald and Pearson coming back will really help them and I think there is enough there. ‘There is no guarantee we are going to be in there but that is the aim. I want to be playing that 11th team at the end of the season. I just hope it’s not Motherwell and I’m confident they are good enough to get out of it.’ McCall will take a sabbatical from his role in Gordon Strachan’s backroom staff for the matches against Northern Ireland and Gibraltar later this month as he focuses on his short-term challenge. The future beyond that remains unclear – with a longer appointment at Ibrox almost certainly meaning his exit from the national set-up - but he insisted the former Celtic manager had been a source of sage advice. ‘I didn’t make any decision until I spoke to Gordon Strachan,’ he added. ‘I spoke to him about 6.30pm the other night. He had just come off the golf course in Spain and he said: “I take it it’s about the Rangers job?” ‘He was fantastic. I won’t go into what he said, but his advice was terrific. He has really helped since I have been working with Scotland. I didn’t know him until he offered me the post out of the blue. ‘I won’t be involved in the Northern Ireland and Gibraltar games but who knows what might happen in the future.’

Stuart McCall was named as the Rangers manager until end of the season . Former Motherwell boss said it was a gamble he could not turn down . McCall says that promotion to the Scottish Premiership is the club's goal . Caretaker manager Kenny McDowall left the club on Thursday .

 the club to do.
Not least McCall himself, whose new challenge as coach at Fir Park involves the unenviable task of taking his team to the same level that Aberdeen enjoyed over the past decade.
He knows as much, even if he believes there is "a lot of talent in this squad" that should enable him to reach that goal.
Even so, it is a challenge he faces with what seems a limited budget. His recruitment drive, for the moment, has a distinctly lightweight feel about it in the wake of the club's relegation battle. Yet, McCall believes there is a strong basis to build upon.
His former team-mates Darren Randolph and Craig Wighton, in particular, are players he has known well for some time now. The goalkeeper has spent his whole career in Scotland and the left-winger is a talented youngster who he knows well having worked with him as part of the Motherwell development squad. He was keen to try to retain the player's services after he was loaned back to Aberdeen from Dundee United for the season but was thwarted by the Dons.
McCall said: "We lost Darren from us, we tried to get him back but we weren't able to. It's a pity, he's a good player, is good on the ball and there's an opportunity there for another team to take him. We could have had him but we couldn't do anything. I'm a fan of Craig Wighton as well. He was fantastic for us last season when he came in and in that first half-hour in one of the games he was magnificent."
Wighton is under 21 and McCall admits that Aberdeen's capture of the player this month means Motherwell were left with no alternative. However, he also has the belief that the player still sees a route back to Fir Park in the long run. "He has gone to Aberdeen but he's only been there a few weeks and he has got two years left on his contract so we'll just have to wait and see where he is at the end of that," he said. "It wasn't anything we did there, they were looking at the player and then we made it a bit more difficult by going after Craig but, like I said, there's nothing we can do about that.
"I think that one of our players has just gone over to Aberdeen. I don't think


(CNN)It's time for leaders in Israel and the United States to call off their war of insults before they cause serious, lasting damage.  Heading into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address on Tuesday to a joint session of Congress, both sides should immediately agree to a cease fire. The speech itself is a terrible mistake.  Arranging it without prior consultation with the White House was not only an affront to Barack Obama but to the Presidency itself. One would have thought that after all the uproar, Netanyahu would have caught a "cold" and postponed, but now that he plans to go ahead, he should at least give a measured, thoughtful address -- not the barn burner for which he is known.  But let's be clear: he also deserves a respectful hearing in Congress from both sides of the aisle. Blame for the deterioration in relations is shared here in America as well as in Israel. This conflict began on a personal level. Those close to Obama and Netanyahu say the two men took an instant dislike years ago and have since descended into loathing one another. Obama, they say, regards Netanyahu as headstrong, bombastic and reckless. Netanyahu sees Obama as weak, unreliable and priggish. The Obama team also accuses Netanyahu of timing his Congressional speech to rally Israeli voters behind him in elections two weeks away -- Bibi as Churchill standing up to the Nazis -- while Netanyahu's team is convinced Obama is desperate for a deal to burnish his legacy -- the Nobel laureate who brought peace. Each thinks the other endangers the future of the world and each has allowed his top lieutenants to viciously attack the other in the press. But in recent months what began as personal antipathy has deepened and widened into a serious split over the best way to head off Iran's aggressive push to become a nuclear power.  The Iranian threat has long been vexing; former Defense Secretary Bob Gates once told me it was the toughest problem he saw in nearly a half century serving of distinguished service in national security.  There are no obvious solutions acceptable to key parties. The Obama administration believes that a compromise agreement with Iran limiting -- but not dismantling -- its nuclear capability is better than to have current talks fall apart, risking an armed showdown.  The Netanyahu government believes the agreement which Obama appears ready to accept will let Iran eventually wriggle free and build a bomb. In truth, there is merit to both points of view -- and the devil here is not only in the details but in the very structure of an agreement.  As Obama believes, a negotiated settlement is far preferable to a possible war or learning to live with a nuclear Iran. But what is alarming not only to Israel but to other American friends in the region -- and rightly so -- is that the U.S. and its partners in the negotiation with Iran (Russia, China, the UK, France, Germany) have made repeated concessions to get an Iranian signature without getting major concessions in return. Consider: The U.S. and Israel started down the negotiating path saying publicly that Iran must totally dismantle its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of punishing economic sanctions against Teheran.  Leaks since then have shown that in pursuit of a deal, the U.S. is now willing to accept more and more centrifuges in Iran -- 6,500 by latest count. Washington and Tel Aviv once talked of an agreement that would last at least 20 years.  According to the latest leaks, the agreement may only cover 10 years and then give the Iranians a chance to bust loose.  This is only the beginning of a long litany of differences. In defense of U.S. compromises, Secretary of State John Kerry makes a persuasive point that a temporary agreement reached 18 months ago containing compromises has worked far better than critics have conceded and therefore, those now at the table deserve a benefit of doubt. But administration critics are also right in arguing that the Obama administration seems to be betting that if just given a few years grace, an odious regime which sponsors terrorism across the Middle East will suddenly change spots and become a partner for peace. In times past, American and Israeli leaders have sometimes had bad blood and still made substantive progress.  President Jimmy Carter could barely stand Israeli leader Menachem Begin but they and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat shaped the Camp David accords in 1978. Despite sometimes bitter words during Israel's recent dust-up with Hamas -- especially directed by Israel against Secretary Kerry -- Obama ensured that Israel was well supplied militarily, particularly with the Iron Dome missile defense system that saved countless Israeli lives. But today's rift seems far more perilous.  It is not only personal but substantive and comes at a moment of spreading turmoil across the Middle East.  Israel should remember that America is its best friend in a world where anti-Semitism is once again raising its hideous head.  The United States should appreciate that for Israel, a nuclear Iran could pose instant annihilation. America also has Arab friends in the Middle East who have vital interests here -- friends like Saudi Arabia who, if an agreement is weak, will feel compelled to pursue their own bomb, unleashing a lethal arms race. This is a moment that demands that leaders in both Israel and the United States lower their voices, take their differences indoors and begin restoring broken bonds of trust.  In private talks, they should work hard finding ways to bridge differences between them, starting with creative proposals coming recently from veteran U.S. diplomats. Dennis Ross, for example, argues that if the U.S. could greatly strengthen an inspections regime -- a much bigger team who could go anywhere, any time in Iran -- and could enshrine in legislation that Iranian violations will bring military action, that would go a long way toward allaying opposition fears.  Martin Indyk proposes that, drawing upon ideas embraced by President Clinton in Middle East negotiations 15 years ago, the U.S. could enter a formal treaty with Israel, voted upon by Congress, that would provide a U.S. "nuclear guarantee" to Israel in event of an Iranian breakout. In short, the moment is dire but not hopeless.  What is clearly needed is a cease fire.  Secretary Kerry seemed to be pointing in that direction Sunday when he said Netanyahu is welcome to speak in the U.S. on Tuesday.  Others should now take up the cause, recognizing that our real adversaries are not in Tel Aviv or Washington but among those in Teheran who support terror and mayhem across the Middle East.

David Gergen: Netanyahu's speech is a terrible mistake of his making but he deserves a hearing . The rift in US-Israel relations over Iran is serious, needs repair, Gergen says .

 the diplomatic war of words between the US and Israel reached new levels.
The speech, which Netanyahu is delivering after months of pressure from the White House for him to postpone a controversial trip, has been described as "damaging to US-Israeli relations." President Obama has already expressed "deep disappointment" at the speech; this latest spat comes on top of a string of recent public clashes between the two allies.
The rhetoric was heightened on Monday, when Prime Minister Netanyahu took to the US Senate podium to make his case to the American people, describing the negotiations process as a "quagmire" and a "confrontation with extremism."
"Peace does not just come with a nice handshake, nor does it come from a new plan, a new document," the PM said in response to the US's most recent Middle East plan. Netanyahu said Israel is "trying to avoid a battle, while the rest of the world is trying to fight (them)."
Then, speaking at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference in Washington, DC last month, Netanyahu said he was opposed to the Iran nuclear agreement for a number of reasons, including the "gaps and flaws and concessions to the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism." The PM also expressed concern that the deal made "Iran the nuclear threshold state," adding it would threaten Israel's survival.
White House officials say the speech violates the delicate, diplomatic balance that has long been maintained between Israel, the United States and the international community.
A senior administration official told CNN Monday that the Prime Minister "has made clear repeatedly that he believes this agreement is deeply flawed, will lead to more instability in the region, and he has no confidence in the Iranian regime." The official added: "The fact that he believes that this deal is not in Israel's security interests does not make him a 'hater' of America. It makes him a patriot -- and we expect all our allies to be patriots too."
In fact, there are very legitimate concerns over the Iran deal, and these are issues that should be discussed in earnest. But Netanyahu's tone and the timing of his public utterances have been seen to be counter-productive to ongoing negotiations.
On Friday, at a news conference with his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, Netanyahu was asked if he would speak with Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.


Many wearables record your movements but one firm has developed a range designed to help you track other people. These include bands that keep tabs on your children, your elderly relatives and your pets. Each device is controlled via an app where a parent, concerned relative or pet owner can monitor and track its wearer's every move. A Chinese firm called Haier has developed a range of wearables that help you track other people. Senior bands with a leather strap have GPS technology built in so relatives can keep an eye on elderly people . The range was unveiled by Chinese tech giant Haier at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Its child and senior bands have GPS technology built-in but while the former is bright and colourful, the latter has a more classic look with a leather strap. Both are waterproof and are fitted with proximity sensors that feed location to an app where users can monitor the wearable’s movements on a map. Colourful wearables for children also track their location. They are fitted with proximity sensors that feed a child's location to an app so that parents can see their location on a map . Phone maker Doro has launched a social networking tool for seniors called Connect and Care. It connects elderly people with relatives and carers and the service can be used to call for help and assistance in an emergency. Alternatively, the firm said it can also provide help with basic everyday household tasks such as closing a window. The service is optional and comes with Doro phones, and there is an Android and iOS app for relatives to keep an eye on the user and monitor their movement and communication. It gives alerts to the family if irregularities are detected – for example loss of movement. The app will also remind them to call their relative regularly. Concerned parents and relatives can also use the app to set up safe zones, meaning if a child or elderly relative leaves a dedicated zone, the app will send them an alert. The app also stores a log of the wearable’s GPS history. Although many apps and bands track people in a similar way, Haier claims its devices differ because the microphone on each doubles up as a speaker. Similar to how a baby monitor works, the user can listen to ambient noises around the device to determine their location if there is a problem, for example. Users of the app can also talk to the wearer through the band. And for pet owners, Haier has also developed a smart collar that works in a similar way but for cats and dogs. In the future Haier said it plans to launch an SOS service that can be accessed directly from the band in the case of emergency. The company didn’t announce prices or availability for the devices. Haier has also developed a smart collar for dogs. The firm claims  its devices differ from others on the market already because the microphone on each doubles up as a speaker . The Scout5000 (pictured) - a smartphone for dogs - can monitor a dog's health, track their location and even allows owners to speak to their dogs remotely . Doting pet owners will soon be able to get a dog’s-eye-view of the world following the launch of a 'smart collar' for animals. The Scout5000 - effectively a smartphone for dogs - can monitor a canine's health, track its location and even allows owners to speak to their dog remotely. The device can also stream videos showing what pets are up to, using a state-of-the-art built-in camera. The gadget, created by Motorola and video streaming developer Hubble, uses 3G to send alerts to the owner's smartphone, while they are away from their pets. The downside is that the dog will need a data package for the collar to work, although it does come with ones year's 3G service as part of the £131 ($199) price tag.

The range was unveiled by Haier at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona . It includes bands that keep tabs on children, elderly relatives and pets . Wearables are controlled via an app where a user can track its every move . The Chinese firm's child and senior bands have GPS technology built-in . A pet version has the same sensors built into a collar to prevent lost dogs . All are waterproof and fitted with sensors that feed location to the app . Prices and release dates have not yet been announced .

 relative or worried pet owner can see the wearer's location.
As well as keeping tabs on where the person wearing it is located, each product works in a slightly different way. A number of these gadgets work by GPS, using GPS to pinpoint the wearer's location. Some use the device's network carrier, which makes it easier to locate the wearer via smartphone, while others require a wireless or cellular connection.
Each device we've found uses Bluetooth technology to keep the wearer in touch. If this is an issue, for whatever reason, then perhaps it's time to reconsider the tech.
In a world where GPS and tracking devices are so accessible, it's only a matter of time before something goes wrong. There are plenty of stories about this, and if you've been paying attention then you'll probably already know of someone whose kids were tracked via their mobile phone by a worried parent.
Now, the new breed of wearables use GPS technology to alert parents of where their child is at all times. While we all know that location-based technology can be incredibly helpful, do we really want to know where someone is all the time?
We like to feel safe in the knowledge that these products are only capable of helping in emergencies and not tracking someone's movements day and night. If not then we could find ourselves in the same position as parents who are always aware of their kid's whereabouts, which could actually be very dangerous.
When you think about it, it's no different to parents who call home regularly to check on their kids and know exactly where they are at all times. Maybe we should stop looking for new devices and instead focus on new methods for old problems?
Another thing to consider is that these technologies aren't just helping parents. They can be used to keep tabs on seniors living independently, people who have a medical issue or even loved ones in another country. It's an issue that isn't going to go away.
There are devices available to keep tabs on children. It's very handy if you need to know where your child has gone if they've gone missing, and there are many cases of children wandering off and being found hours later.
Tracking tech can help to prevent incidents and keep kids safe. However, there are also many risks with this kind of technology. Many parents are concerned with the fact that if you've already invested in a device that lets you know where your child is, then it will be very easy


Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson has laid into Mario Balotelli after the Liverpool striker's latest faltering performance in the goalless draw with Blackburn in Sunday's FA Cup quarter final. The misfiring Italy international, who has managed only four goals in all competitions since his £16million summer arrival from AC Milan, was brought on after 59 minutes but failed to impress as the game ended 0-0 to force a replay at Ewood Park. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Lawrenson let fly with a scathing attack on the former Manchester City star who he labelled 'a waste of space'. Mario Balotelli leaves Anfield after Liverpool's goalless draw with Blackburn in the FA Cup . The much criticised striker failed to get on the scoresheet during the FA Cup quarter final clash . The Italian firebrand came on after 59minutes but could not add to his meagre goal tally of four this season . Liverpool legend and BBC pundit let loose a scathing attack on Balotelli, branding him 'a waste of space' The 24-year-old has failed to live up to expectations following his £16million arrival at Anfield . Balotelli heads straight down the tunnel towards the dressing room after the final whistle is blown . 'Forget about Mario Balotelli. He is an absolute waste of time. He shouldn't be anywhere near this team,' he said. 'I can see why Brendan Rodgers threw him on today as he might just create something, but 99 times out of 100 he will let you down.' Match Zone statistics  from the game show that Balotelli managed only a single shot on target after coming on as a substitute and appear to support Lawrenson's claims. Balotelli's performance comes just days after he posted a cryptic Instagram message suggesting that one of his team-mates did not like him. Although, having angered players by taking a penalty away from Jordan Henderson during a Europa League clash with Besiktas and with statistics that include only creating six chances for his team-mates all season, it's hardly surprising that the 24-year-old's popularity is waning. Balotelli prepares to be introduced on 51minutes as Liverpool try and change the game . Balotelli has managed only four goals in all competitions since arriving from AC Milan last summer . Mario Balotelli's attack statistics and heat map for the 31minutes he played on Sunday back up Mark Lawrenson's claims - CLICK HERE for more stats from our Match Zone . Lawrenson praised Blackburn for their tactically astute performance to earn a replay at Ewood Park, which has now been scheduled for April 7 or 8th to meet UEFA regulations. 'Congratulations to Blackburn Rovers on an absolutely magnificent display. They were never ever desperate at any time,' he said. 'They have looked at how Liverpool have played recently and the tactics were spot on. Goalkeeper Simon Eastwood hasn't really had to make a real top class save.' Rodgers admitted that he would rather wait a month for the replay than have to play 48 hours later as has happened to Bradford and Reading after their goalless draw on Saturday. Balotelli winces in pain after a rash tackle from Blackburn's Tom Cairney (right) The Liverpool striker checks his leg after a tackle by Rovers'  Cairney (not pictured) The former City striker only managed a single shot on target, although team-mates didn't fare much better . Balotelli wins a header but could not get his shot on target as Liverpool stumble to a draw . ‘I believe the replay is early April, the 7th or 8th,’ said Rodgers. ‘It is certainly not what it is for Reading and Bradford. That is unbelievable. I feel for them, having to play Saturday and again on Monday. It is incredible. It’s unfair for both clubs with so much at stake. I feel sorry for Parky and for Steve and for the players.’ The game at Anfield was marred by a head injury to defender Martin Skrtel who required eight minutes of treatment after losing consciousness from landing awkwardly. He was eventually taken off on a stretcher, having played only a few minutes. Balotelli angered his team-mates by taking a penalty away from Jordan Henderson in the Europa League . Martin Skrtel was knocked unconscious after an awkward fall and required eight minutes of treatment . Reds manager Brendan Rodgers is relieved that the FA Cup replay has been delayed until early April .

Mario Balotelli failed to impress in goalless FA Cup draw with Blackburn . Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has labelled the Italian a waste of space . Former AC Milan striker has scored only four goals  since his £16m move . Balotelli had earlier commented on racism row involving Sulley Muntari . FA Cup replay has been delayed until April 7 or 8 to meet UEFA rules .

 endured a miserable debut season on Merseyside after a £16 million move from Manchester City, wasted numerous chances to fire Liverpool into the semi-finals at Anfield.
And Lawrenson admits he is growing increasingly exasperated by the enigmatic 23-year-old striker.
"We all know Balotelli doesn't do anything without intent," Lawrenson told BBC Radio 5 live.
"He is trying to be clever but we are seeing more than 70 per cent of his chances going wide of the goal or over the bar.
"It would not have mattered against Stoke but against Blackburn, this just isn't good enough.
"For Liverpool to get to the semi-finals this would have been good enough because they dominated the first half.
"If you had bet me £10 that we would be having this conversation at the end of the game I would have taken that."
Balotelli came in for particular criticism from Anfield legend Bruce Grobbelaar, who had taken aim at the "ego" of the 23-year-old for the series of mis-kicks he produced against Blackburn.
Lawrenson believes the £25,000-a-week striker should listen to the criticism he receives from Liverpool's fans and former players, who want him to use his extraordinary talent to help drive the Merseysiders to Premier League success.
"He is a great goalscorer but the only goals he puts in are for Liverpool," Lawrenson added.
"He doesn't put them in for the national team and he doesn't put them in for the big teams he is playing against.
"He is very frustrating. He is so talented but at times he looks like he has no footballing brain at all and just is not interested.
"It's not good enough if the likes of Kenny Dalglish come out and criticise him. But why does no-one put their arm round him and help him?
"When the likes of Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard tell him they are not getting enough from him you listen."
Liverpool are now out of the FA Cup, which they last won in 2006 under ex-manager Rafael Benitez, after being dumped out 2-1 by Everton on Sunday.
And Lawrenson believes that although Kenny Dalglish's side have made progress this season and are still in the hunt for a Europa