A small girl kneeling on the floor of an old mental asylum ward, the shadowy figure of a prison guard standing near a cell and a man lurking in the corner of a hotel basement. These are the spine-tingling images that have emerged from some of Australia's most haunted destinations. Together, medium Rayleen Kable and ghost hunter Allen Tiller have travelled around Australia visiting these sites on a mission to prove the existence of supernatural beings – and to help ghosts stuck in limbo 'move onto the afterlife'. Scroll down for video . Ghost hunters capture what they believe is the spirit of a girl in the Grevillia wing, Beechworth Lunatic Asylum . The cast of TV show Haunting: Australia said that while on tour earlier this year a guest captured this image of what he thought was a male ghost in the basement of the notorious North Kapunda Hotel in South Australia . And while most people may be sceptical that they are finding real evidence of the supernatural Tiller says that's precisely why he does it. In January this year, Kable and Tiller led a group on a tour around Australia collecting photographs, electromagnetic readings and sound recordings of what they believe are the spirits of figures from decades past. The pair make up the local contingent of the cast of TV show Haunting: Australia, which is currently being replayed on 4METV and is due to premier on SYFY in the U.S. later this month. While filming their eight-part series they visited some of Australia's most notorious haunted sites, but they say one of the spookiest visits they ever made was to Beechworth Lunatic Asylum in north-east Victoria in January this year. A member of their tour group captured a haunting image of what appears to be a small girl kneeling on the floor in the darkness of the most notorious wing of the old mental asylum. Haunting: Australia cast member Gaurav Tiwari captured an image of what he believes to be a prison guard standing near the stairs at Geelong Gaol in Victoria . Ghost hunter Allen Tiller (left) and medium Rayleen Kable (right) travelled around Australia visiting haunted sites on a mission to prove the existence of supernatural beings . They say one of the spookiest visits they ever made was to Beechworth Lunatic Asylum (pictured) in north-east Victoria in January this year . The ghost hunters collect photographs, electromagnetic readings and sound recordings of what they believe are spirits . The Grevillia wing of Beechworth was where patients were given electric shock treatments and kept in strait jackets at the institution, which was operational between 1867 and 1995. Visitors to the wing have often reported sightings of the ghost of a male doctor and also of a female matron. But Tiller said some of the female patients of Beechworth had children with them – providing an explanation as to what he believes is captured in the photograph. Tiller said he also had his own personal haunting experience while at Beechworth, in a section of the asylum known as the 'bull pen'. 'It used to house aggressive youths from 18 to 25, and in there I heard a door slamming, and I audibly hear footsteps go up the hallway,' he said. 'Then we had clear EVPs [electronic voice phenomena] of a couple of people say 'Get out.' Tiller – who says he is not a psychic or medium - uses a whole range of gadgets including full spectrum cameras, electromagnetic field detectors and voice recorders to gather 'evidence' of the spirit world. Kable - who is both a psychic and a medium – said her experience at Beechworth was 'amazing'. 'It's definitely got activity and lots of it,' she said. For Kable, the most disturbing experience she has ever had was at the notorious North Kapunda Hotel in South Australia . A disgruntled male spirit tried to attach itself to her in the 'Hallway of Hell' (pictured) For Tiller the most interesting experience was catching what he believes is evidence of the spirit of a young girl called 'Sarah'. The hotel once served as a brothel, and legend has it that when a prostitute was murdered inside the hotel her young daughter 'Sarah' was taken in by the hotel's madam . 'We got some really Class A 'EVPs'– and basically what that is is a recording of a spirit so you actually hear it on a recorder. 'I actually got this disgruntled spirit that said my name clearly… you just hear this spirit screaming down my recorder.' For Kable, the most disturbing experience she has ever had was at the notorious North Kapunda Hotel in South Australia when a disgruntled male spirit tried to attach itself to her in the 'Hallway of Hell'. 'It was definitely a male spirit, but I wouldn't say a happy male spirit,' she said. Tiller said he and other tour guests had their own encounters with ghosts while at Kapunda. One guest captured an image of what he believes is a man standing the corner of the hotel's basement. For Tiller the most interesting experience was catching what he believes is evidence of the spirit of a young girl called 'Sarah'. The hotel once served as a brothel, and legend has it that when a prostitute was murdered inside the hotel her young daughter 'Sarah' was taken in by the hotel's madam. 'I was closing up the top of hotel after a tour and I saw a little girl standing in hallway,' he said. 'She ran down the hall to take her out of the hotel and she looked solid… she was laughing. Tiller said he had another haunting experience while at Geelong Gaol in Victoria . He was in a section upstairs on the third level when he says he heard a 'low whispery growl' 'She's been seen multiple times. 'You can say "Are you here Sarah?" and she'll light up different devices.' Tiller said he had another haunting experience while at Geelong Gaol in Victoria. 'I was in a section upstairs on the third level and I had a psychic tell me there was something evil in the corner,' he said. 'While I was waiting I actually heard a low whispery growl in there, and there was no way an animal could get in there. 'That was pretty spooky.' At the same site fellow Haunting: Australia cast member Gaurav Tiwari captured an image of what he believes to be a prison guard standing near the stairs. The image appears red and purple because it is taken with a full spectrum camera – a favourite among ghost hunters who say it is like a video camera that has filters removed meaning it shows light spectrums the human eye can't see. Kable says she does the work she does in order to help spirits that are 'stuck'. Kable - a medium - says she does the work she does in order to help spirits that are 'stuck'. Pictured is Geelong Gaol . Tiller accepts that people may be sceptical of the existence of ghosts and supernatural beings, but that doesn't stop him trying to prove they're out there . The cast of TV show Haunting: Australia, which is currently being replayed on 4METV and is due to premier on SYFY in the U.S. later this month . 'For me as a medium my objective is if that spirit needs help and wants to move on, I help them,' she said. 'If they don't want to move on my second objective would be to give validation to the spirit world. 'For anybody who's a witness and anybody in that location that really does want to believe and understand the afterlife, that there is a way for them to communicate from whatever realm they're in to our realm.' Tiller accepts that people may be sceptical of the existence of ghosts and supernatural beings, but that doesn't stop him trying to prove they're out there. 'I'm there to record anything that might come up, with the outcome being hopefully that we can prove life after death,' he said. 'A lot of people think dying is the end. 'But if people knew there was a possibility that we move on, stress levels would drop off and people would have peace of mind.' Haunting: Australia airs on 4METV on Mondays at 10pm .

Medium Rayleen Kable and ghost hunter Allen Tiller travel around Australia . They are on a mission to prove the existence of supernatural beings – and to help ghosts stuck in limbo 'move onto the afterlife' The pair make up the local contingent of the cast of Haunting: Australia .

 a collaboration between a leading Canadian theatre director and a visual artist from the Czech Republic, and the results are as haunting as the images are intriguing. The work is by Richard Hellewell and Bohdan Greshov.
Hellewell, the director of Theatre Direct, has been fascinated with Greshov’s work since he first saw it at an exhibit in Paris, France. “Bohdan is a genius,” he says. “I think he’s the finest visual artist the Czech Republic has produced in the past 50 years. I was completely enthralled by his work when I saw it.”
The director wanted to do a show involving a visual artist, and he wanted to do it this year, but the usual obstacles to collaboration seemed insurmountable. “I had a number of people telling me not to do it,” he recalls. “One person warned me off Greshov completely because I was in his country of origin.”
But Hellewell wasn’t deterred and contacted Greshov, who agreed to do the project.
The idea for it began to crystallize in Hellewell’s mind during his 2007 trip to Prague. He visited the K3 Hotel – a building on a former mental asylum site – that has been turned into an art space, and he found it eerily haunting. He started to imagine a scene in which two people were exploring this vast, deserted space, and he envisioned the audience, at a distance, as they peered down through the darkness to see what might be on the other side of the wall.
He had an idea for a male-female romance, a woman standing on a chair and trying to glimpse the man below, and he began to envision some kind of conflict between the two, which might be the conflict between a woman’s heart and a man’s mind – two opposing approaches to life.
“I started to get a bit more clear as to how I wanted to present it,” he says.
Then he contacted Greshov, who is represented by Prague’s Zviart Gallery.
Hellewell presented his idea and, while the artist was intrigued, he said he’d need to see some sketches of the set before he’d be ready to move forward.
Hellewell had an idea of how he wanted the stage to look, and he had some sense of how the lighting should be used to evoke a mood, but sketching out a visual representation


(CNN)Serena Williams has won 19 grand slam singles tennis titles, including six U.S. Opens and five Wimbledons. She has four Olympic gold medals. For years, she's had a reputation as one of her sport's top players. Yet for all her myriad accomplishments, Williams says one of her "biggest ... and proudest moments" came Friday night -- in the second round of a tournament in Indian Wells, California. It's not who she was playing, but where. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is where Williams was booed during the 2001 finale. Her older sister, Venus, got similar treatment in the stands, and her father Richard told USA Today he was subjected to racial abuse. Afterward, Serena Williams vowed she'd never go back. She kept true to that promise for 14 years, a time when she often dominated her sport. On Friday, Williams was back. And instead of jeers, there were cheers. And tears, shed by Williams during the crowd's loud, boisterous, more than minute-long ovation. "I knew that I really wanted to do it," Williams said afterward of her return to Indian Wells. "But up until that moment, I didn't really know if it was the right thing for me to do. "And I feel like that's when I felt it was the right thing," she said of her welcome. "... Receiving the love from the crowd here, it really meant a lot to me." The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, just east of Palm Desert, California, isn't a grand slam but is one of the top tournaments in tennis. As such, top players go there to battle the best and prove their mettle. That's what brought Serena Williams to Indian Wells in 2001. The then-19-year-old got to the finals after her scheduled semifinal foe -- sister Venus -- pulled out minutes before the matching, citing a knee injury. Amid whispers he'd predetermined the outcome, Richard Williams told USA Today that he "had trouble holding back tears" given the treatment he got in the stands. According to him, one man said, "I wish it was '75, we'd skin you alive." (Charlie Pasarell, the tournament director at the time, denied any racial abuse in the same story; CNN didn't hear back from him after requesting an interview.) Serena Williams scored a three-set win over Kim Clijsters. But she didn't celebrate. She spent hours crying in the locker room. "(I drove) back to Los Angeles feeling as if I had lost the biggest game ever -- not a mere tennis game but a bigger fight for equality," Serena Williams wrote in TIME magazine in February. "Emotionally it seemed easier to stay away." Serena speaks about nerves before 1st match back at Indian Wells . The roller-coaster ride back to Indian Wells started when Williams accepted a wild-card invitation to play in this year's tournament, a difficult decision she recounted in TIME. Her father and sister, Venus, still stayed away. While she's been on her sport's biggest stage for well over a decade, the world's No. 1-ranked played admitted being nervous in the weeks, days and hours leading to her opening match. Those feelings broke out in the open as she walked onto the court, a response she called "overwhelming" and said she "wasn't really prepared for." The match itself wasn't easy, either. Romanian-born Monica Niculescu, the world's 68th-ranked player, challenged her for more than two hours. Still, Williams managed to overcome her competitor and her emotions to win in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5. Declining to reflect on the past, Williams simply said afterward, "Today was a wonderful day for me, for women's tennis, ... for tennis in general, and for everyone." The 33-year-old still has a lot of matches ahead of her. That includes more at Indian Wells, whose talented field includes Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki. Still, for all her competitive fire, Williams isn't feeling much pressure to win. She feels like she has already won. "I don't feel like I actually have to hold the trophy at the end of this," she said. "I feel like I'm already holding the trophy. And I've never felt this way. 'I feel like just being here is a huge win, not only for me but for so many people. And it's a wonderful feeling." CNN's Ravi Ubha contributed to this report.

Serena Williams' father claimed he was racially abused at Indian Wells in 2001 . She returned to the event Friday night, being met with raucous cheers -- not jeers .

 the sport's dominant and greatest players ever.
And, now, 17 years after first winning a Grand Slam tournament, she has the chance to add to that legacy.
Williams, 39, will be looking to tie Margaret Court's record of 24 major titles in Saturday's final of the Australian Open against Azarenka and will be vying to tie Court's record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles. It is a rivalry that has only been played three times. All were in 2013. Williams won the first two encounters while Azarenka prevailed last year.
"If you put all those in a room, and say, 'Who are the greatest athletes ever?' I just feel like she'd make the list," Azarenka said. "She's that good."
"You want to beat the best in the world," Williams said. "It doesn't matter who it is."
It may be hard to remember this at the moment with Serena at the top of the world, but just 10 years ago, the WTA was a far different place. As a teenager, the sport's brightest light had left the game, and the sport was searching for an identity.
With Maria Sharapova's long run at the top, followed by Petra Kvitova, the WTA had found a star in the 20-something era of the game, and it was all set to take over. But that never happened.
Sharapova got caught with doping and is now back on tour, though her legacy is in some doubt because of her absence from the game for two years.
Read more: Maria Sharapova's return to tennis
As for Kvitova, she had surgery on her left hand and had not been able to match the 20-year-old Sharapova's brilliance. The other top players were either in their 20s, like Caroline Wozniacki and Dominika Cibulkova, or older like Petra Nemcova and Agnieszka Radwanska.
Enter Williams.
The No. 1 player in the world on January 1, 2013 and the favorite to win a sixth Australian Open title, Williams suffered from an unusually slow start. She had the most Grand Slam titles of any player in the Open era without one in Australia.
She started out the year with seven straight wins to go to No. 1,


Police surveillance video shown publicly for the first time Tuesday shows Secret Service agents in their government vehicle driving through the secured area and nudging a temporary barrier at low speed as it drove toward a checkpoint. The incident occurred as on-duty officers and agents investigated a suspicious package thrown near the White House on March 4 – and an accompanying threat that it contained a bomb. The House Oversight Committee showed the video from the Washington Metropolitan Police Department during a hearing on Capitol Hill. Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy was testifying for the third time about the incident, in which two senior agents are accused of drinking before driving into the White House complex and pushing the barrier with the SUV's bumper. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . This screen grab from a police video shows a March 4, 2015 incident involving allegedly drunk Secret Service agents who hit a White House barricade while a suspicious package was under investigation nearby . NUDGED IT THIS MUCH: Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the third such grilling he's endured in the last week . ANONYMOUS EMAIL: The House Oversight Committee heard testimony about how Clancy learned about the incident – after this message had already circulated among agents for several days . Clancy has been criticized for the agency's handling of the incident. He has said he was out of the loop in the days that followed. 'The fact that I did not learn about this allegation until five days [afterward] ... infuriates me,' he told the congressional panel. 'This is unacceptable. Our mission is too important for this to happen. It undermines my leadership.' He said he only learned about the incident from discussions about an anonymous email that was circulating within the agency. The email described the off-duty agents as 'both extremely intoxicated' and confused about the bomb investigation underway near where their vehicle came to rest. It said uniformed Secret Service officers at the scene 'were going to arrest both of them, but the UD (Uniform Division) watch commander said not to.' 'A liot of people got this email,' fumed Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, the oversight committee's ranking Democrat. 'A lot of them got it,' he blared at Clancy, but you didn't!' Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the committee's chairman, angrily recounted a series of events including an 11-minutes stretch of time the Secret Service let the suspicious package lay near the White House before evacuating the area. 'I don’t understand how that happens,' he said. DC Metropolitan Police video shows a car delivering a suspicious package to the White House perimeter; the woman driving claimed it contained a bomb . Minutes later an SUV driven by an agent who had been drinkign at a retirement party drove into a Secret Service barricade near the scene of the 'bomb' investigation . Clancy, a former top agent on President Obama's protective detail, came out of retirement to lead the Secret Service after a series of scandals forced out his predecessor, Julia Pierson . The March 4 debacle was part of 'a litany of recent mishaps,' Chaffet lectured, which 'raise major concerns' about the Secret Service's ability to protect the presidential mansion and the first family. 'This has to stop,' he said. 'We need to understand why these incidents keep happening.' The Homeland Security Department's inspector general is investigating allegations against the agents. Lawmakers asked to speak with the agents involved, as well as Secret Service supervisors who were on duty that night, during the hearing. The Secret Service declined to make them available and Clancy appeared alone. In a written statement, Clancy said the case remains under investigation and any appropriate discipline will be imposed afterward. Clancy also announced a new policy put in place after acknowledging that some video of the March 4 incident had been deleted. The video was shown to a crowded hearing room on Capitol Hill as a helpless Clancy watched . Ultimately the Secret Service agents on duty determined that the package wasn't dangerous – but the agents in the SUV couldn't have known that . Clancy said the agency will start retaining routine surveillance video for seven days. Previously, surveillance recordings that weren't being used as part of ongoing investigations were deleted after 72 hours. Chaffetz said it was 'highly suspicious' the video was deleted. 'We asked Director Clancy to turn over video footage of the incident. He said no,' Chaffetz fumed on Tuesday.

March 4 incident involved allegedly drunk senior agents who drove into the White House complex in a government vehicle . A suspicious package was under investigation nearby as a potential bomb; it can be seen in a police video released Tuesday . Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy testified in a congressional hearing and defended his agency . Republican oversight chairman said it was 'highly suspicious' that the Secret Service had deleted its own video of the incident .

 reports of a man trying to get into the White House.
The White House's top security official says the video "serves to emphasize that the Secret Service's first priority is the protection of the president of the United States, and that's what we are committed to doing."
The Secret Service's internal investigation cleared the agents of any wrongdoing.
Last year's incident, first reported by The Washington Post on Monday, was among a series of mishaps and lapses that have plagued the agency since the 2011 attempted assassination of President Obama.
The video was the first to show what transpired at the White House on April 23 last year, when a man got within striking distance of the presidential mansion just outside the gates.
President Barack Obama was inside the residence and his family was in the main living area at the time.
The person, Jonathan Tran, had been arrested on a misdemeanor charge in Washington just hours before.
The president later took steps to speed the firing of an officer who was charged with accepting bribes during the 2014 Secret Service prostitution scandal and in which other White House security employees improperly helped visitors gain access to the president's residence.
The incidents have prompted Obama to create an outside commission to examine whether additional steps are needed.
In Monday's Washington Post report, the Secret Service acknowledged it had allowed unauthorized individuals, such as children, to go inside the White House while agents were investigating the initial incident.
The video taken at 4:41 p.m. April 23 shows an unmarked government sedan parked off to the right of the driveway, near a chainlink fence topped with barbed wire. The tape lasts just over 90 seconds.
The tape shows a white car, a Secret Service sedan, moving slowly toward the barrier and a second white car behind it.
The driver of the white car on the left pulls out his wallet and reaches over to hand it to a man, who passes it to the first driver in the gray sedan, who sticks the wallet in the center console.
Two agents approach the car and start asking the man questions. The white sedan backs up and then drives back through the driveway. The agents stop it again and question the driver further.
The car backs up again and then slowly drives through the barrier and on toward the main residence.
In a statement on Monday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters that the incident didn't have any impact on the president's security.


A virus that starts off like the common cold could be responsible for leaving more than 100 children with paralysis. Last summer, more than 1,000 children and teens across the country were hospitalized with symptoms that appeared to be caused by a particularly nasty strain of enterovirus. While some of the children showed only minor symptoms of the virus - such as runny nose, sneezing and coughing - others suffered weakness of the limbs to complete paralysis . Doctors caring for the sick children  connected the illness early on to a pathogen called enterovirus  D-68. A new study published on Monday has strengthened the connection between enterovirus D68 and the sudden paralysis of more than 100 children in the last year . A new study published Monday in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases backed those initial opinions, after following the progress of 25 children in California and Colorado who experienced paralysis. Enteroviruses are a type of virus that use a single strand of RNA to replicate themselves inside the cells of mammals. Among other enteroviruses are polio, the virus that causes Hand Foot and Mouth disease along with others that cause a range of respiratory illnesses. Enterovirus D-68 is among the most recently idenfitied and was first spotted in California in 1962. It can cause mild to severe respiratory illness and is likely to be spread by inhaling virus particles when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or touches a surface. In previous years only small numbers of EV-D68 infections have been reported but that has increased during 2014, according to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. It has caused severe illness in a number of children and has even been implicated in some deaths. The incidence of infections has fallen off considerably since October but public health officials warn that infections seem to spike during the late summer and autumn. Researchers now suggest that the children were infected with a mutated form of D-68, which first appeared four years ago. B1 has five to six coding differences that make it different from other strains commonly found in the U.S., and that these differences cause nerve-damaging symptoms similar to polio. And like polio, the nerve damage appears to be permanent - since none of the children have fully recovered. 'This is starting to look more like polio unfortunately where the paralysis appears to be permanent or semi-permanent. This is why there is such an urgency for more research to investigate this' researcher Charles Chiu, an associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco, said according to the Washington Post. However, the study has not definitely proved the connection between B1 and the paralyzed children, since researchers could not find the strain in the patients' spinal fluid. The researchers however, theorized that that was because the samples were taken too late. 'This is a virus that causes the common cold,' Chiu told NBC News. 'Parents don't bring their kids in until they are really sick. By that time, typically, the viral levels may be very, very low or undetectable.' They looked for other viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites that also could have caused the symptoms but none were present. Researchers were also not able to answer another mystery of the enterovirus - why some children only came down with minor symptoms and others lasting paralysis. Included in the study were two siblings that both came down with an 100 per cent genetically-identical strain of the virus in the past year. One of the siblings experienced  paralysis while the other only suffered upper respiratory symptoms. With enterovirus season just a few months away in late summer, researchers are saying it's extremely important that more work be done to unravel the B1 mystery and make grounds to develop a vaccine to fight the dangerous virus. The Children's Hospital Colorado continues to monitor the patients infected with enterovirus, and have even set up a special clinic for the victims.

Researchers now believe mutated strain of enterovirus D-68 caused more than 100 children to suffer sudden paralysis in the last year . The B1 strain first popped up four years ago and has coding differences that make it similar to polio . None of the children monitored in the new study have fully recovered - suggesting the paralysis is permanent .

 strain of flu, and now researchers are warning that many were infected with the rare, and difficult-to-treat, condition called Guillain-Barré syndrome.
According to the research team at Boston Children’s Hospital, a respiratory virus can cause the syndrome — although the virus itself isn’t the actual culprit. Instead, the immune system is overreacting to the virus, damaging the protective coating that covers the nerve cell endings. The result: a life-threatening form of muscular paralysis.
In children, the virus has been found in some rare cases to be enterovirus D68, also known as EV-D68 — the same virus that made its first appearance back in August 2014 and quickly spread across the US, leaving over 120 kids with paralysis as well as two who died, the researchers said. They added that many cases of the EV-D68 virus were associated with respiratory symptoms, but the virus itself wasn’t the cause of the paralysis. Instead, they said, the virus set the stage for the immune system to take over. The researchers are not saying that the EV-D68 virus caused the paralysis, but that a virus infection could have allowed the body’s immune system to go crazy.
“Children and teens who catch this virus have a much, much better chance of recovering than someone with [Guillain-Barré syndrome],” said Dr. Michael B. Benatar, a co-investigator in the study and pediatric infectious disease specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital, according to CNN. “The difference is in the way the nervous system responds after being infected. If kids [with the EV-D68 virus] get a fever, chills and muscle aches, it’s not a big deal.”
But after the enterovirus has set off a response by the immune system, which can lead to a flare up of nerves in the protective coating of the nervous system, a child might find that they can’t move their arms and legs. The paralysis can last for months, and even after kids recover from it, they can still have lifelong damage to their nerves, the researchers say.
“The difference is that those children are having a severe attack that can lead to paralysis,” said senior author Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “Even though the paralysis itself has been shown to be reversible, the damage done to the nervous system is less reversible.”


Mixed Martial Arts is the biggest growing sport in the world and every Thursday, Bleacher Report will bring you a buzzing story. Their five-star Mobile App “Team Stream” helps you follow the MMA 24-7: DOWNLOAD NOW . UFC title shots don't come around all too often. They are rarely earned without sacrifice and can serve as a fighter's career-defining accomplishment. But as difficult as it is to cement a shot at promotional gold, it's even tougher to take advantage of the opportunity. And for those challengers who taste defeat only to feel their time in the spotlight slip away, forging a divisional comeback is the only way to patch the wound. Here are three recently vanquished title threats who may be close to earning another shot at gold. Joseph Benavidez . Team Alpha Male standout Joseph Benavidez resides in a division dictated by arguably the most dominant champion around in Demetrious Johnson. But considering Benavidez is the flyweight version of Urijah Faber, meaning he doesn't lose outside of a title fight, the two men should cross paths once more. Joseph Benavidez (right) kicks Dustin Ortiz in their flyweight bout during the UFC  event in November . Ortiz (right) punches Benavidez in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event . Expected to take on fellow Mighty Mouse leftover John Moraga at UFC 187, the 30-year-old has a chance to extend his current win streak to three. And in a weight class as shallow as a glass of water, Benavidez could once again find himself fighting for a title by the end of 2015 (if not early next year). He's a premier draw at 125 pounds, and one of only a few contenders who can actually instil some doubt about the champ's unheralded reign. Benson Henderson . Despite a recent jump up to welterweight and an impressive finish over rising contender Brandon Thatch, former lightweight champ Benson Henderson is still in the mix at 155 pounds. Add in the fact that Anthony Pettis just handed his title over to Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 185, and Henderson should have an easier track back to contention considering Showtime had beaten him twice. Benson Henderson (left) lands a kick to the body of Brandon Thatch in their welterweight fight . Henderson attempts a submission against Thatch in their welterweight fight last month . While RDA also defeated Smooth via knockout less than one year ago, it was a close contest before the Brazilian landed on unforeseen uppercut that shortly put Henderson on another planet. Needless to say, the 31-year-old is still in the pinnacle of his career and remains one of the most dangerous entities in the deepest division in MMA. He'll be able to log two more Octagon appearances by the end of the year and will have enough momentum to earn a shot should he win both outings. Ricardo Lamas . With an epic showdown between featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo and Irish sensation Conor McGregor looming in the distance, guys like Ricardo Lamas are being drastically overlooked. While Aldo swiftly defended his title opposite The Bully at UFC 169, Lamas did enough in the championships rounds to suggest an upset could happen should he dominate early. Ricardo Lamas punches Dennis Bermudez in their featherweight bout in Mexico City last November . Lamas knocks Bermudez to the mat with a kick in their featherweight fight . But in order to get back into the mix in a division ruled by two international dynamos, the 32-year-old Chicagoan must debunk the evolving arsenal of former title contender Chad "Money" Mendes when the two collide at UFC Fight Night 63. Mendes is another name that could easily make this list, but he is at least two impressive victories away from a trilogy fight with the champion. Of course, if McGregor captures the title from Aldo in July at UFC 189, then all slates will be wiped clean.

Joseph Benavidez could soon be set for another shot at a UFC title . Benson Henderson and Ricardo Lamas also make the list .

The lightweight division in the UFC is currently going through a transitional phase as the UFC 200 event has just been completed, with the winner Anthony Pettis and the new interim lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos facing off in the main event. But who is going to step up to the challenge next and to what lengths will these two contenders go to make their case?
In the aftermath of UFC 200, here are five names to keep an eye on in the lightweight division.
5. Michael Chiesa
Michael Chiesa had the fight of his career at UFC 197 as he was the first fighter to defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov with a rear-naked choke in the second round. Chiesa made a strong case as he came back from two first-round knockdowns to finish Nurmagomedov.
Now with the weight cut no longer a worry, Chiesa will look to stay relevant in the lightweight division and earn a title shot.
Chiesa’s next fight is yet to be confirmed, but will likely be in August.
4. Eddie Alvarez
Eddie Alvarez came up short against Conor McGregor at UFC 205 as he was outpointed by the former dual weight champion over five rounds.
After a year in the division, Alvarez will look to redeem himself in his next match and secure the lightweight title.
Alvarez’s next fight is yet to be confirmed, but will likely be early next year.
3. Yair Rodriguez
The Venezuelan striker, Yair Rodriguez, is on the cusp of being a world title challenger. Rodriguez was a part of the UFC 200 prelims as he easily defeated the veteran Terrion Ware.
Rodriguez will make a move to the main card at the next event and a win over former champion Frankie Edgar is on the cards. Rodriguez’s next fight is likely to be at UFC on Fox 19.
2. Tony Ferguson
Tony Ferguson’s long-awaited fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 209 is still on the cards and a date for the fight has yet to be confirmed. The featherweight champion will look to defend his title against his toughest challenge so far.
The current lightweight interim champion, Ferguson, will fight either in September or in early 2017.
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov
A win over Ferguson at UFC 209 or Tony Ferguson defeats Ferguson at UFC 209 and Khabib Nurmagomedov will fight for the


A former Royal Marine killed fighting Islamic State extremists was last night described as a ‘one-man army’ who was ‘very angry about the Middle East’. Konstandinos Erik Scurfield, 25, was hit by mortar fire while battling alongside Kurdish forces near the Syrian city of Qamishli. He is believed to have flown to the region after becoming horrified by atrocities carried out by IS and his fellow fighters said he was the first to volunteer for ambushes and assaults. Scroll down for video . Last message: In the video message Mr Scurfield says he was in Syria of his ‘own free will’ and had gone there ‘to help’ Konstandinos Erik Scurfield (kneeling) pictured with Jordan Matson (second from right), a former US soldier . The Marine’s family, who live in a detached former farmhouse in Royston, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, were devastated at being told of his death on Monday. In a statement, they said: ‘His flame might have burned briefly but it burned brightly with love, courage, conviction and honour and we are very proud of him.’ Last night video footage emerged of the Afghanistan veteran in Syria wearing combat gear, jeans and a black T-shirt. Speaking to the camera he says: ‘My name is Konstandinos Erik Scurfield. I came here on my own free will and I came here to help.’ It also emerged that he was questioned by police last October on suspicion of going to Syria to fight jihadists. On camera: Mr Scurfield introduces himself to the camera before giving a short message explaining why he has gone to fight Isis . Mr Scurfield (pictured), one whose fellow-fighters said he 'gave his life combating terrorism for his nation' He was preparing to fly from the US to Turkey after contacting a Kurdish group on Facebook. He was returned to his unit in Arbroath, Scotland, but decided to leave the Armed Forces before Christmas so he could travel to the war-torn region to fight. Konstandinos Erik Scurfield was stopped from joining Kurdish forces last October when he was still a serving Royal Marine. He had been training with the US Marines in California when he made email contact with a Kurdish group and arranged to travel to the frontline. But he was stopped while trying to board a flight from Los Angeles to Istanbul, a now well-known jumping off point for Syria, in October and questioned by the American authorities. His one-way ticket rang ‘alarm bells’, officials said, and his luggage, phone and laptop were examined. The Marine, who was known to be outraged by the atrocities committed by the fanatics of Islamic State, was also questioned by police on arrival in the UK and then returned to his unit, 45 Commando, in Arbroath, Scotland. It is believed he left the Royal Marines just weeks later. Mr Scurfield, known as Kosta to his comrades, is the first Briton to be killed while fighting Islamic State in Syria. The former drama student, who had ambitions to become an actor before joining the Royal Marines aged 21, was described by his comrades as ‘Kosta’s one-man army’ who raised the morale of fighters. John Foxx, who served alongside him in a team of foreign fighters nicknamed the Chappies, said: ‘He was hands down one of the greatest human beings I have ever met. ‘From beginning to end he was 100 per cent about helping everyone else. ‘No matter what the issue was or who you were he would try to help you however he could.’ Last night a fellow Royal Marine said: ‘He was very angry about the Middle East and the Islamic State. ‘As a unit we had been on standby several times but nothing happened and he was frustrated that the UK was standing back. ‘He was a very focused and good Marine, but the Islamic State was his priority.’ While back in the unit he became ‘tired of seeing what IS were doing to people’, and decided to quit to join the Kurdish Peshmerga after befriending fighters in the region on Facebook. Mr Scurfield left his UK base in November, telling his parents and three siblings that he was going to provide ‘medical and humanitarian support’ as an expert in battlefield medicine. Fellow fighters in Mr Scurfield's 'Lions of Rojava' group have posted tributes to him online today . Mr Scurfield was described by family friends as 'strong-willed', with a 'deep sense of duty and honour' A pro-Kurdish campaigner says he has informed Mr Scurfield's family of his death. They said last night they had not had official confirmation. Pictured: Mr Scurfield . Konstandinos Erik Scurfield died while fighting with the Kurdistan People's Protection Units (YPG) in the Al-Hasakah province on Monday . But last night details emerged from soldiers fighting on the frontline in Syria that painted Mr Scurfield as a hardened warrior desperate to help the Kurds defeat jihadists. 'We are devastated to confirm the death of our son Konstandinos Erik Scurfield in Syria where he went to support the forces opposing Islamic State. 'His flame might have burned briefly but it burned brightly with love, courage, conviction and honour and we are very proud of him.' Mr Foxx added: ‘He would always volunteer to be on the ambush team, spend the night on the berm [defence fortification] or go on any assault.’ Jordan Matson, a former US soldier also fighting with the Kurds, paid tribute on Facebook to Mr Scurfield, describing him as a ‘disciplined warrior’. He added: ‘Kosta volunteered for every attack and guard duty opportunity. He wanted nothing more than to bring the fight to the enemy.’ In recent weeks his father, archaeologist Christopher Scurfield, and his mother Vasiliki – a writer and teacher – became increasingly concerned and contacted their MP for help. Neighbours of the family, Mary-Jane Hemmings (left) and David Miller (right), paid tribute to 'Kostas' today . The Lions Of Rojava boast: 'It is better to live one day as a Lion that a thousand days as a sheep.' They are the foreign fighters who have travelled to Syria to fight, not for jihad, but on behalf of the Kurdish communities who are defending their communities from the advance of Sunni Islamists. Just as hundreds of young Europeans have gone to fight for Islamic State, so increasing numbers are now travelling to fight for their avowed enemies, the Kurds. Jordan Matson, the former U.S. soldier now with Syrian Kurds' People's Protection Units (YPG), operates The Lions Of Rojava Facebook page openly calling for volunteers to travel to join the fight. The Lions of Rojava (pictured) are a group of foreign fighters dedicated to fighting and defeating ISIS . Just as many of the Islamic State's foreign volunteers have been drawn from the ranks of Sunni Muslim youth worldwide, many of the initial YPG volunteers have come from the Kurdish diaspora. Last August a hairdresser from South London was reported to be the first Briton to travel to fight alongside Kurdish forces. Ethnic Kurd Mama Kurda from Croydon, 26, travelled to Iraq to join the Kurdish peshmerga as they desperately tried to halt Islamic State's lightning advance. Dan Jarvis, Labour MP for Barnsley Central, said: ‘They came to me a few weeks ago very worried for their son’s safety and tragically it appears their worst fears have been realised.’ He said the young man had been ‘horrified by the atrocities carried out by IS’. Mark Campbell, a pro-Kurdish rights campaigner, who broke the news to the family, said: ‘It was very, very emotional, she was literally in tears for the whole conversation.’ He said the Peshmerga wanted to bury Mr Scurfield as ‘one of their comrades in arms, as a hero’. The Royal Marines were understood to have been ‘upset’ that he had chosen to fight with the Kurds rather than the British military. David Cameron’s official spokesman yesterday warned against British nationals travelling to Syria to fight. People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters sit in the back of pick-up truck in the town of Tal Hamis in Syria. Mr Scurfield was fighting alongside the YPG . It is believed that more than 100 western fighter have joined the Kurds in Syria in the fight against ISIS. Pictured are ISIS militants parading through the streets of Raqqa .

Short video message gives simple reason behind going to Syria . Konstandinos Erik Scurfield was killed fighting Islamic State on Monday . Former Royal Marine is first UK national to be killed battling ISIS in Syria . Archaeologists' son told friends he went to region for humanitarian work . Former commando 'frustrated' by lack of government action against ISIS . Comrades from the group he fought with said he was a 'disciplined warrior' They said he wanted to be buried beneath an olive tree in Syria . Grieving parents say he lived with 'love, courage, conviction and honour'

 leading the charge of a three-man SAS team, in its first operation into the battle for the Syrian town of Manbij. But a military source said the Royal Marine’s ‘exceptional’ bravery may not have saved the rest of the team as the ‘hit by the mortar shell’ killed him instantly. A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed the ‘very bad news’ last night and that ‘a serviceman has lost his life on operations in Syria’, though he refused to discuss the circumstances surrounding the death. It is thought the mortar, which hit the SAS team at around 5am local time, came from inside the Syrian town of Manbij. The MoD source, who has been briefed on the circumstances of the attack, said: ‘The mortar hit at a very close range and the SASman was killed instantly. ‘I don’t know whether it was the round or the shock of being hit that killed him.
‘That is why the report has to go to the Defence Intelligence Services (DIS) who can look into everything. ‘He’s gone to the DIV and this is not something they’ll forget.’ Another source said a Royal Marine had ‘lost his life doing what he knew best’. The Royal Marines were leading a battle group of at least 50 troops into Manbij, a town of 50,000, and were trying to push back towards Raqqa, the IS capital. … Read the full story from The Mirror
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Donald Trump and NATO are just about to get into a big political tussle when the U.S. president meets with the alliance's top diplomats on Friday at the NATO headquarters in Brussels. For starters, the White House's announcement that Trump will not attend the 2017 NATO Summit scheduled for mid-May in Brussels was met with an outcry across Europe, where leaders have been scrambling to convince U.S. officials that the NATO member states will continue to maintain their commitment to the alliance. But while he and Secretary of Defense James Mattis have been working overtime to get the Pentagon's house in order in anticipation of Trump's arrival in Europe, this is a difficult problem for a number of reasons. NATO member governments are concerned about Trump's commitment to the alliance, which came through loud and clear when he called Europe a "foolish nation" for not paying its share.
Trump has made it abundantly clear that he wants the Pentagon to get tough with


SAINTS TO MAKE IT SEVENTH HEAVEN . The race for the top four has always been keenly contested, but it’s normally between the same six sides: Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal, Man United, Liverpool and Spurs. Now Southampton are forcing people to reconsider and make it seven. That was an excellent point at Chelsea and, aside from poor marking for Diego Costa’s goal, the Saints were excellent at the back. They are so well organised, have an excellent midfield shield in Victor Wanyama and Morgan Schneiderlin and Fraser Forster is a top goalkeeper. He was immense against Chelsea and has been a big plus since arriving from Celtic. The result keeps Ronald Koeman’s side in the hunt and, whatever happens, it’s been a good season for Southampton. Southampton team-mates congratulate goalscorer Tadic after levelling the score at 1-1 in the first half . 21 -  Southampton have conceded the fewest PL goals this season and kept the joint-most clean sheets (13). They have made huge strides and anyone with a talented young lad would love them to play for that club. Their transfer policy is sound and they are happy to give youth a chance thanks to their incredible academy facilities. Some of the top clubs in Europe will be keeping tabs on Koeman because he has done a fantastic job with a side many tipped for relegation. As for the race for the Champions League? If it keeps going as it is there are going to be some big clubs and good sides who miss out. Southampton keeper Fraser Fortser takes the ball away from Ivanovic's head as the Saints defence holds firm . Jose Fonte (right) posted on Instagram after the Chelsea draw saying 'Since 2010 . . .#MARCHINGON' BOY OH BOYD! George Boyd typifies what has been good about Burnley this season. He works so hard for his manager and his team-mates, but he’s also got that little bit of quality to go with it. He scored a fantastic goal against Man City — it was superb technique and such a pure strike — but I was so impressed by his work ethic. He covered 8.4 miles on Saturday — the fourth-highest distance in the league this season. And, incredibly, of the top 10 distances run in 2014-15, six of them belong to Boyd. That is an incredible effort and exactly what managers want. George Boyd (centre) wheels away in celebration after scoring the winner against Manchester City . PELLEGRINI'S CITY SLACKERS . That was a shambolic performance from Man City. I can’t understand how a team can go from being champions to being so slack. The players almost look bored and uninterested. It happened under Roberto Mancini and it’s happening under Manuel Pellegrini. Every time Chelsea stutter, City fail to take advantage. I don’t think you can pin it all on the manager, but he needs to do something and quick, because now they’re looking over their shoulder at the chasing pack. Manchester City players traipse from the pitch after losing 1-0 to Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday evening . £195m - The approximate cost of Manchester City’s star-studded starting XI at Turf Moor this weekend - Burnley’s was less than £7 . PAIN FOR POYET . I’ve played alongside Gus Poyet and he is one of the most passionate people in the game. That result will have hurt him. He took full responsibility after the game but that was one of the worst performances I have seen in the Premier League. Sunderland were hopeless. They were sloppy with the ball and showed no real desire to get into the game. No wonder the supporters were venting their anger. Gus Poyet was left fuming in the Sunderland dugout after his side fell 4-0 behind to Aston Villa by half-time . PULIS ON THE UP . Tony Pulis has his strikers firing but, most importantly for West Brom, he has stopped them leaking goals. He builds teams from the back and it shows in the stats. At Palace last season they conceded far fewer goals after his arrival and it’s the same now at the Hawthorns. He’s such a specialist in the relegation scrap. Tony Pulis is doing a remarkable job at West Bromich Albion as his side continue move towards safety . MAGIC MAROUANE STRIKES AGAIN . I’ve never been his biggest fan, but credit where credit’s due: Marouane Fellaini was outstanding against Tottenham on Sunday. Since he first arrived at the club he has had to fight perceptions and prove his worth. I still don’t think in the long term he is a United player — he’s certainly not someone to build a team around — but this season he has been one of their most effective players. Louis van Gaal has made him his go-to man and it is paying off. He scored one,was involved in another and caused Spurs the most problems. He was United’s best outfield player against Arsenal and again on Sunday, so fair play to him and Van Gaal for making it work. Marounne Fellaini buries this chance for Manchester United's opener against Tottenham in the 3-0 victory . N'ZOGBIA KEY TO VILLA'S REVIVAL . I was speaking to Tim Sherwood a few weeks ago and he said the biggest problem at Aston Villa was that the players were paralysed by fear. Tim has come in and changed all that. He has Christian Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor scoring but, more importantly, he has brought Charles N’Zogbia back in from the cold. Paul Lambert froze him out but he is exactly the kind of creative force Villa were crying out for. He certainly doesn’t play with fear and his energy and skill tore Sunderland apart. Charles N'Zogbia (right) was in fine form for Aston Villa against Sunderland on Saturday afternoon . BLUES ARE BACK . It's been a good week for Everton in a very tough season. The first half-hour against Dynamo Kiev was painful to watch last week — there was almost an anger around the ground at the way the team were playing. They had to fight so hard to get that win but you saw what it did for their confidence — they followed it with a big result against Newcastle. I never felt they were in danger of being relegated and now they could go on a run and might even be England’s last team standing in Europe. James McCarthy (right) opened the the scoring for Everton on Sunday at Goodison Park . 170  - Bolasie has attempted 170 dribbles in 2014-15, more than Neymar (160) and Arjen Robben (154). PALACE'S WIDE BOYS GET IT DONE . Palace are flying under Alan Pardew and it’s the wide men who are doing the damage. Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha were excellent but it was a tough result for Chris Ramsey. He looks like he’s playing youngsters to please the chairman but this is a time to win points, not brownie points. 170 Bolasie has attempted 170 dribbles in 2014-15, more than Neymar (160) and Arjen Robben (154). Yannick Bolasie (left) was in great form to provide two assists for Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon . JAMIE'S PREMIER LEAGUE NUMBER CRUNCHING . 3 - During their demolition of QPR on Saturday, Crystal Palace scored three first-half goals for the first time in their six seasons in the Premier League. However, it was the third time this season that QPR had shipped three before the break. The fact that Matty Phillips scored from the furthest distance this PL season (40 yards) will be of little consolation for Rangers fans. Matty Phillips fired in an unbelievable strike for Queens Park Rangers at Selhurst Park on Saturday . 18 - Wilfried Zaha had gone 18 Premier League games without a goal or assist before Saturday, but managed both in the first half against QPR. 21 - After failing to score in 21 games for Lille, Liverpool loanee Divock Origi grabbed a hat-trick in his side’s 3-0 win against Rennes. 2005 - Arsenal have hit some excellent form in the second half of the season. The Gunners have won eight straight home PL games for the first time ever at the Emirates and the first time overall since November 2005. 12 - Aston Villa scored as many goals in the first 18 minutes against Sunderland as they had in their previous 12 away league games (two). 1-  Southampton have not conceded more than a single goal in a Premier League away game since the opening weekend of the season, when they lost 2-1 to Liverpool at Anfield. Divock Origi (centre) celebrates after scoring for Lille against Rennes at the Pierre Mauroy stadium .

The Saints have a great chance qualifying for Europe next season . Up to seven sides can realistically qualify for the Champions League . Ronald Koeman's side played terrifically well to draw 1-1 at Chelsea .

 Tottenham Hotspur. In my lifetime, the best season the Saints have had was seventh in 2010 under Nigel […]
Tag: 13
Saints’ best ever league finish: 13th
Southampton’s Premier League 11th place finish: how did they do it?
Saints’ 11th place finish: how did they do it? By Jamie Gleadall We finally reached our goal this season and it could have been very different. We started the season with an unchanged starting XI for the opening six league games. However, by the time we went to face Aston Villa at the end of […]
Saints to make history: top four could be ours for the first time in history
Saints can clinch a place in the Europa League group stages on Thursday. We’re on the brink of becoming the first Saints team to secure a European finish in history. The Europa League group stages would be the Saints’ first European final destination, following the club’s 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the 1979-80 […]
We’re Saints, top of the league!
Southampton’s latest triumph sees them top the Premier League table for the first time in their history. With 26 points on the board after 10 Premier League matches, this is Saints’ best start since 2003-04, when they won eight of their first 10 and finished second, behind champions Manchester United. This latest triumph took […]
Hits & Misses: The Saints’ 1-1 draw at Leicester City
Southampton came from behind to score an equaliser at Leicester City and they finished the game with 10 men after Ryan Bertrand was sent off, but they managed to earn a valuable point. 1. The Saints got a point and an impressive performance away to Leicester City, despite being out-played for much of the […]
Southampton’s next opponent – Leicester City
The Saints head to the King Power Stadium to face another side in a slump. Leicester City were second in the table as recently as two months ago, with their only league defeat in their previous 20 Premier League outings coming against current champions Manchester City in April. Yet Leicester have now lost five […]
Tottenham will test Saints’ unbeaten record
We face another ‘Big Six’ side this weekend with the first of two London derbies, this time against Spurs. We’re up against another Premier League top five


Brittany Maynard's widower has described their final moments together in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. Dan Diaz was lying in the bed beside his 29-year-old wife when she drank medication to end her life last month. Having been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer just six months before, Maynard became the face of America's Right To Die campaign after moving from California to Oregon and setting a date for her own death. Now, her widower is continuing that battle calling for all states to approve legislation that supports life-ending options for people with terminal illnesses. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . 'It was peaceful and loving': Dan Diaz has spoken to Oprah about his final moments with Brittany Maynard . Passed away: Diaz's wife controversially chose to end her life with lethal medication last month . Campaign: Maynard documented her final six months and fought for relaxed laws on the right to die . Launching his campaign, Diaz met with Oprah and explained how Maynard chose seven of her closest friends and relatives - and their dogs Bella and Charlie - to stand around the bed in her final moments. 'The mood in the house was very peaceful, very loving,' he said in an interview that will be screened on Sunday. Glassy-eyed, he said each person recited a memory to her before she said her own goodbyes. 'She actually wrote on Facebook a message to her friends and said "I love you" to everyone, to me. 'The medication, we brought it in. She was ready.' Love: The couple married in California but later moved to Oregon where Maynard could end her life . Memories: Diaz said Maynard got seven friends and relatives to each tell her a memory . Diaz is continuing the campaign that Maynard started as he lobbies for new legislation . Maynard's two dogs were in the bed with them when she drank the lethal medicine, Diaz said . Then, she drank the lethal cocktail prescribed by her doctor. 'Within five minutes, she fell asleep. It was very peaceful.' It comes after Debbie Ziegler, Brittany Maynard's mom, wrote an article for DailyMail.com describing the moment she watched her only daughter die. 'Brittany, my beautiful, brave girl, had passed away purposefully and peacefully just as she planned. Death had been kind, graceful even, and spared Brittany a great deal of physical pain and mental anguish. 'It was a good death.' A mother's tears: Debbie Ziegler, Maynard's mother, is also campaigning to change laws . Joining Diaz in the campaign for euthanasia, she added: 'But what does a good death look like in America: the land of death phobia? Americans do not like to talk about death. Some say a good death is a natural death, but they often mean dying “in their sleep.” 'Modern medicine has made death seem like a medical failure instead of the natural end of life. The death of a 29-year-old is unthinkable. All of life looms ahead, full of promise. 'We found ourselves as a family: choosing between no more treatment and death – or a treatment plan that felt like torture and then death anyway only a few months later.' Oregon voters approved the Death with Dignity Act in 1994, but opponents persuaded a federal judge to issue an injunction temporarily blocking the law. Voters in November 1997 overwhelmingly reaffirmed the nation's first aid-in-dying law and it's been in place ever since. According to state statistics compiled through Dec. 31, 2013: . — People who have used the law since late 1997: 752 (396 men, 356 women) — People younger than 35 who have used the law: 6 . — Median age of the deceased: 71 . — Percentage of the deceased who were white: 97 . — Percentage who had at least some college: 72 . — Percentage of patients who informed relatives of their decision: 94 . — Percentage of patients who died at a home: 95 percent . — Median minutes between ingestion of lethal drug and unconsciousness: 5 . — Median minutes between ingestion and death: 25 . — Number of terminally ill people who have moved to Oregon to die: unknown .

Dan Diaz, widower of Brittany Maynard, is campaigning for Right To Die . He tells Oprah in interview on Sunday of moment she passed away . Seven loved-ones told a memory each then she drank the lethal medicine .

 She had been diagnosed with brain cancer last September.
"I woke up, I noticed she was taking the pills. It was a little confusing as to why she was doing that," he told Oprah Winfrey on a chat show due to air on Monday.
"When I looked at her, what I saw was a beautiful soul, a person I really adored, somebody who I loved very dearly. I just knew she was done with her fight. She was ready to go."
Diaz said he wanted to tell her that he would miss her and hold her hand as she died, but he was unable to do so.
"I couldn't get out of the bed. I just wasn't strong enough. All I could do was hold her hand and stroke her hair. There's nothing else that you can do when someone's making the conscious decision to die on their own," he said.
Diaz had first been introduced to Maynard by his friend and co-worker, who saw Maynard's online interview in which she talked about her cancer in August.
Maynard, who had been married to Diaz for a year, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer a month later, and she said her decision to die by euthanasia would give her "control and peace."
Diaz said there had been a "significant amount of time" before she took the lethal dose of medication that he had been considering how he would break the news to her about his terminal cancer diagnosis in July.
"The first thing I did was sit there in bed with her, hold her hand and just tell her that I had cancer. I felt in that very moment I was on a precipice where I was looking death in the face," he said.
"That's something you can't prepare yourself for. What you can prepare for is how you're going to tell her."
Diaz said he had gone through a variety of emotions when Maynard first told him the news, but he had wanted to be the one to break it to her.
"All of a sudden I felt like I had $2,000 in my pocket and I had to tell my wife, who was my best friend, I had to tell her that I was going to die," he said.
"I wanted to be the one to tell her."
After she explained her decision to end her life, he told her how much he loved her.
Diaz told the chat show


Great Britain may be perennial underachievers in world tennis but when it comes to the sport's premier team competition Wimbledon's host nation continues to punch over its weight. In the city of his birth an emotional Andy Murray carried his side into the last eight of the World Group knockout by fending off a ferocious challenge from American giant John Isner to secure a 3-2 victory. To the deafening acclaim of Glasgow's Emirates Arena the former SW19 champion survived a tough opening set to win 7-6 6-3 7-6 against the world number 20 to wrap up the tie with his second point. Andy Murray celebrates extravagantly after winning the first set on a tie break to leave Great Britain just two sets from the quarter-finals . The British No 1 was spurred on by the Glasgow crowd to secure a 3-1 win over the USA and book a quarter-final against France . Murray is forced to stretch to reach a backhand as John Isner put in a much better performance on Sunday in the Davis Cup . Against one of the best servers ever seen in tennis Murray's coolness in the tiebreaks was the key, as was his ability to save seven break points in the opening set. 'It was a great win for the team, everyone played their part,' said Murray. 'Togetherness was a key, everyone was pulling in the same direction. 'I managed to find a way through the first set. I was over complicating my service games at first and he was going for broke on the first point of every rally. The huge American showed aggression in a first set where he forced seven break points on the Murray serve, but couldn't take any of them . Murray was well supported by a partisan Glasgow crowd as he sought to book Great Britain's place in the Davis Cup quarter finals . Isner plays a forehand on the run as the USA's top player started fast in a game his country needed to win to stay alive in the match . Murray was not at his best early on, but rallied to take the first set on a tie break after saving three set points . GB are through to the elite World Group quarter finals for the second year in succession and now face a home tie against France – 3-0 winners over Germany - immediately after Wimbledon in July. If on grass it is likely to be held somewhere like Eastbourne or Nottingham, but if they opted for an indoor court it would likely come back to Scotland, as the fans here have been outstanding in this match. 'If everyone plays to their abilities we have the chance to win more matches. We don't have huge margin for error but if Wardy (James Ward) plays like this we have a chance, although France have huge strength in depth.' This match turned out to be remarkably similar to last year's World Group first round against the same opponents: Ward upset the American number one on the first day, before the Bryans pulled the doubles point back for the USA and then Murray finished it off with his second singles win. Great Britain captain Leon Smith and his staff celebrate as their talisman Murray wins a crucial point against the American Isner . Isner looks stunned during a tough first set where he played plenty of good tennis and earned seven break points, but couldn't break through . Isner looked to have put everything he had into the opener, and looked exhausted after losing the first-set breaker . Isner once beat Roger Federer in an away match against Switzerland so is no shrinking violet in the cauldron of Davis Cup competition and British Captain Leon Smith – low profile but with an excellent record in this job – knew that he could be a danger. That did not take long to be confirmed and the 6' 10' American, revelling in his underdog status unlike on Friday against Ward, came out swinging. A more under pressure was a little hesitant and he had to fend off seven break points in total before the tiebreak, once at 1-2, three times at 3-4 and three more times at 4-5. Isner twice took enormous forehand cuts and shaky second serves and will have been massively frustrated not to have taken the lead. Smith whispers some advice and encouragement into his player's ear between games as Murray booked Britain's place in the last eight . Murray continued to show his emotion as he began to find his best form in front of a raucous crowd in Glasgow . Murray's serve had come under pressure in the first set, but as Isner tired the British No 1 became more secure . His serve was as potent as ever but, crucially, he double faulted at the start of the tiebreak and after that Murray clung on to his lead to clinch it 7-4, a massive psychological blow as he had been outplayed. The nerves of him and another hugely committed crowd were eased by that, especially as Isner needed to play nearly five hours on Friday. A brilliant backhand lob at 3-2 in the second set secured the key break there, but to give Isner his due he kept fighting to take it to second tiebreak. Murray went ahead 6-2 and then finally finished it with a swinging serve ace at 6-4 to complete his weekend's work. Murray stretches for a forehand as he wore down his opponent before pulling out an array of stunning passing shots in the later sets . Isner had played five sets in his defeat to James Ward on Friday, and the effort caught up with him after a brave first set on Sunday . Isner is consoled by his USA Davis Cup captain Jim Courier as he struggles to cope with Murray's athleticism in Glasgow .

Andy Murray takes first set on a tie-break after saving seven break points . British No 1 breaks John Isner's serve for the first time in sixth game of second set, takes set 6-3 . Murray wins third set tie break to seal 3-2 victory in the tie . Great Britain will face France at home in July in quarter-finals .

 quarter-finals of the Davis Cup with a victory against Belgium's Steve Darcis, 18-16 in the fifth set.
Great Britain will now play either the USA or Argentina in the quarter-finals and, assuming Murray stays fit, there is no reason why he should not be the man to give an old country a lift.
His last defeat against Belgium's 28-year-old No3 came five years ago at the US Open, which means that of his 23 ties, 22 have been successes, including 19 of his last 20.
He may have been dropped out of the top four in the world by his arch-rival Roger Federer at the end of last year, but the Scot is still, by a margin, the world's best returner of serve and, if he continues to improve, he will have a better chance of fulfilling his promise.
"I know people think I am a bit of a loser but actually I am a fighter," said the man who can never lose the label. "I have played some great tennis lately, but there is something in me that doesn't want to give up or give in – whatever way you want to phrase it. I am not quite sure where that comes from but hopefully it will help me to be a better player."
So much for the man in the spotlight. For one of the most entertaining players in the women's game, Kim Clijsters, 27, also showed her credentials on the hard courts as she joined the top 10 in the women's world rankings for the first time when she beat Dinara Safina to claim the $1.5 million (£1 million) WTA Championships in Doha.
The Belgian had to come through three successive rounds on Sunday to become the first woman to win the season-ending championships since Justine Henin – another Belgiam, and Clijsters's rival – in 2005.
In the process the 2003 champion lost just 14 points – an average of one every 10 minutes – and beat the Russian twice with 16 aces. The tournament was moved to the Middle East from its usual home in Madrid last year with the intention of bringing a sharper edge to the women's game after many years of the Henin sisters being so dominant.
Safina had knocked out Justine Henin on her way to the title but the 22-year-old


(CNN)Selma, it seems, is everywhere. The Ava DuVernay film of that name continues to draw audiences and plaudits, while this month marks the 50th anniversary of three pivotal civil rights marches from the Alabama city -- the first two stopped by brute force, the third a triumphant procession to the state capital of Montgomery led by Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Bunche, Maurice Davis and other activists. Now, the events that seared those marches into the American consciousness are the subject of a photography show at the Steven Kasher Gallery in New York. "Selma March 1965" brings together -- for the first time, anywhere -- pictures by three essential witnesses of the civil rights era: James Barker, Spider Martin and the man Kasher calls "the single greatest civil rights photographer" -- Charles Moore. The pictures in the gallery above include Moore's work in Selma and from other parts of the South, including some of the riveting, award-winning photos he made in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963. (Two weeks after his Birmingham pictures appeared in a landmark issue of Life magazine, a letter to the editor succinctly captured the elemental power of Moore's work. The Birmingham pictures, wrote a reader from Indiana, were "superb and bone-chilling.") "The quality, the depth, the sense of reality that he brings to the work is unparalleled," Kasher said of Moore's civil rights shots. Kasher's own bona fides on the topic, meanwhile, are well-established: He's mounted photography shows on the civil rights movement in 30 different public venues since the mid-1990s. "It's important to remember that Charles was a white Alabaman," Kasher said. "He was the photographer at the Montgomery Advertiser -- hardly a bastion of integration -- who became very sympathetic to the movement. I knew Charles pretty well, and he had many sides to him -- sides he was able to reconcile and that allowed him to shoot with a deep understanding of so many different points of view. He was not parachuting into these marches and protests in the South. He had roots there and was fully engaged. "Of course, there are lots of really good pictures of the era by, say, Bruce Davidson, Bob Adelman and others, but they're Northerners -- and I think that shows. There's a sense in many of the photos made in the South by Northern photographers that what they were capturing was somehow exotic. For Charles, this was home." At his very best, Moore invested his pictures with an unsettling intimacy. Whether he was chronicling the overt, graphic suppression of human rights or framing a profoundly human moment -- as in his unforgettable shot of bloodied poet Galway Kinnell in Selma -- Moore's photographs often feel as if he was shooting with Robert Capa's famous dictum ringing in his ears: "If your photographs aren't good enough, you're not close enough." Moore was always, always close enough. John Loengard, who was a staff photographer at Life and later the founding picture editor for People magazine and for Life, the monthly, in the late '70s and '80s, calls Selma "a not particularly dramatic event, photographically." He does, however, have high praise for Moore's Birmingham work, specifically, and his legacy in general. "There's no question that Charlie made some phenomenal pictures," said Loengard -- who, incidentally, took one of the most memorable photos of the civil rights era: a Life cover of Medgar Evers' weeping widow and son at the slain activist's funeral in June 1963. "And he did a terrific job, for example, on a cover story on (Alabama Gov.) George Wallace in the first few months of People." Social media . Follow @CNNPhotos on Twitter to join the conversation about photography. Whatever else Moore might have shot, and however routinely excellent his output over the course of his long career, there's little doubt he'll always be remembered and honored for his work during those fraught years of the early and mid-1960s. "What's especially significant to me about Charles' civil rights work," Kasher said, "is his clear affinity with nonviolence at the same time that he's depicting the irrationality and brutality of the segregationists. "In his famous picture of a police dog attacking a black man in Birmingham in '63, for example, the figure in the photo is a perfect symbol of nonviolence. You know, the man is standing there, taking it, not fighting back, amid this incredible rush of hatred and violence and as another dog is charging right at Moore's -- at the viewer's -- face. It's a terribly complex image, swirling with information, but in the middle of it is this unmistakable emblem of the movement -- an emblem of the power and bravery of civil disobedience." Charles Moore was an American photographer known for his images documenting the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Some of his photos are included in "Selma March 1965," a photography show taking place at New York's Steven Kasher Gallery from March 5 to April 18.

The Steven Kasher Gallery will be showing powerful photos from the 1965 Selma marches . Included are images from the late Charles Moore, whose civil rights work is legendary .

 that brought about a change in the way America was governed.
All over the world, people are thinking about this landmark anniversary -- but most of them do it by looking at that iconic photograph by John H. White II of 25-year-old clergyman Fred Shuttlesworth being beaten by a white officer with his arms raised in the act of protecting his churchgoers. That photo and some others, like one of four young children being baptized together, now hang inside the new King-Eulalia Justice Center in Selma.
Selma's city council chose to commission a series of photographic portraits of King-era events in 2007. Two years later, the Rev. Jesse Jackson was quoted as saying that the project "can put Selma back in history and in memory, not as a blip or as a black dot, but as the center of the modern civil rights movement and the epicenter of democracy."
The portraits cover that period of modern American history: Selma's long struggle against racial segregation (from 1956 until the desegregation of the city's high school a year after Bloody Sunday), to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s first march from Selma to Montgomery to protest the failure of the Alabama governor, George Wallace, to live up to the promise of his 1963 inauguration speech (to which King gave his reply -- and from which many say he should be credited with ushering in the civil rights era), to the 1965 march to Montgomery that the Selma-Montgomery Voting Rights Trail describes as "the most dangerous protest and the most successful march of the entire civil rights movement."
For those of us who grew up in the 1960s hearing the songs of the Freedom Songbook, or saw the civil rights protests captured on the news by photographers like Gordon Parks and Bruce Davidson (and who were lucky enough to have seen the "Black Is Beautiful" poster that showed young black men and women looking directly into the camera), that was a time when the future of civil rights -- and the very nature of American society -- was hanging in the balance.
As a 13-year-old girl living in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963, I didn't realize just how dangerous it was to be protesting with Martin Luther King Jr. and the other civil rights activists -- and I certainly didn't realize just how much of a target they were. But I was very interested


When you first enter your hotel room, it's tempting to immediately head toward the minibar, brew yourself a cup of coffee or raid the toiletries that have been supplied for you. But, before you get carried away, there are a few things that you should know. Your stately room is likely not as clean as you believe it to be. And those goodies you're eager to try out? They may not actually be free. MailOnline Travel reveals the most important things to know about your hotel room, including those that no one will ever tell you... Hotel rooms may appear clean, but there are certain areas the cleaning staff don't often have time to inspect . Beware when touching the television remotes and light switches . A study by the University of Houston revealed that the most touched places in the room such as television remotes and bedside lamp switches are often the least cleaned. Results found that in some cases, they had as much bacteria as bathroom toilet seats and sinks. That's enough for us to remember to pack our hand santizer whenever we travel! Pack your sanitizer for items like remotes and light switches which are hot spots for germs . Drinking from the bathroom glasses . You may be tempted to quench your thirst when you arrive and use the bathroom glasses for a drink. However in an expose by Fox News, it was revealed that many hotel maids do not wash them out with soap before the next guest checks in. Hidden cameras revealed glasses that were rinsed only with water, or that were wiped down with a cloth that had previously been used for cleaning the room. Use bottled water, or request plastic cups from reception to be safe. Think before you snuggle up in the blankets . Due to a lack of seating area in some hotels, the bed becomes the place where most people sit, eat, and perform other, ahem, intimate activities. Some mothers even change their child's nappies on the blankets, too. While you have no need to worry about items that get washed daily, some of the smaller blankets may not get replaced that often. It is advisable to check user comments before staying at a hotel so that you are aware of the experiences of other guests. Don't assume that everything is free . Everyone loves to stock up on the hotel-provided shampoo, shower cap and biscuits, but guests should never assume that everything is up for grabs. While pens and brochures are often free to use and take, items such as bathrobes, slippers may not be. Travelodge have noted a number of items being taken out their rooms that are supposed to remain. Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge spokeswoman said: 'Since we have introduced our new brand design and modernised our rooms, we have seen a significant rise in our fluffy pillows, snuggly duvets, striped bed runners and contemporary artwork being taken from our 500 UK hotels. 'There have even been attempts to smuggle our new luxurious king size Travelodge Dreamer bed out of the hotels.' Don't threaten to leave a bad TripAdvisor review in change for perks . Unfortunately, some people resort to blackmail to receive upgrades and free perks, in exchange for not writing a negative comment on the hotel's TripAdvisor page. If you are tempted to use this technique, take note: hotels have a way of proactively reporting any threats before a corresponding review is submitted. A spokesperson for the online review site said: 'It is absolutely against the terms and spirit of our site to use TripAdvisor's name to try and claim discounts or freebies that would not be available to other guests. 'Our fraud detection experts will then investigate and, where we find evidence of threatening behaviour, take action to stop their reviews from ever reaching the site.' The mini bar items are extremely over-priced for what you get, bring your own snacks for guilt-free feasting . Keep your name and room number private . Telling other guests your full name and room number can lead to unwanted visitors and charges finding their way to your room. Set your own wake up call . On occasion, the front desk will forget to call you for your 3am flight reminder. Eliminate the risk and set your phone alarm yourself. Take hand santizer . Even if the room passed the cleaning inspection, there are still corners that the staff may not have reached. Keep yourself protected and always carry a bottle on trips. Request the top floor or a corner room . The top floor rooms tend to have higher ceilings, better views and less noise than other rooms. Corner rooms also tend to be larger - regardless of the floor its on. Tip generously . Leaving a little something for the staff gives a great impression and shows that you're grateful for their service. Plus, it doesn't hurt for them to remember your generosity when you have a request during your stay. Don't go crazy with the minibar . When you're nice and cosy, it can be tempting to see what the minibar has to offer, as opposed to leaving the room to explore other snacking options. However, prices of items in the fridges are often exorbitant, and can leave you regretting that last little packet of peanuts when you get the bill. Before indulging, remember this: The 2014 TripIndex Survey found that average price for nuts in Switzerland, France, New York, Canada, Singapore and Sweden was over $10. Topping the leader board was Toronto, where the average bag of nuts cost an unbelievable $18.23. And don't add your own items . For savvy travellers who bring their own items instead of perusing the (expensive) minibar options, beware. You could still be hit with a large charge. Several hotels have a restocking fee to dissuade you from placing personal items in the fridge. Last year it was revealed that hidden fees were set to earn hotels £1.4bn in revenue add-ons, a six per cent increase from 2013. A study by  a professor at New York University's hospitality school noted that although these fees only add an extra two per cent in revenue, most of that money is pure profit for the hotel. Blogger Keri Anderson was horrified to find that there was a charge to placing personal items in the fridge . Be careful when using the coffee machine . An investigation by ABC News showed cleaners simply swirling the pots in water without properly cleaning them, which leads to a build up of bacteria. In Cincinnati, Ohio, one cleaner was found to have cleaned the pot with a bottle of Lysol mildew remover, and another was captured using the same cloth to clean the coffee maker as she had used to clean the bathroom floor. Always clean the machine yourself before use - even if it had been cleaned after the last user, it could have been sitting around collecting dust for a few weeks before you arrive.

Studies show that TV remotes can house as much bacteria as a toilet . Some minibars will charge you for storing your own items inside . Using advice sites, like TripAdvisor, to get free perks can actually backfire .

 you should do to ensure your trip is a successful one.
1. Double-check Your Room Type and Amenities
First, check your room type and amenities — they may not be what you booked. For example, if you booked a king-size bed, you might end up in a room with two double beds. Even worse, you could wind up without a bed at all. It's a good idea to confirm your room type before you unpack all of your belongings.
If you end up with a room that doesn't have all of the amenities you reserved, talk to the front-desk staff right away. They're happy to change things for you — just mention that you booked the room because it came with a fireplace, whirlpool or similar item. The only caveat is that they can't change your room if you're moving to a more expensive type of lodging. You can always try negotiating for a room upgrade, but keep in mind that your only shot is when you arrive — if you book a room online and realize it's not what you thought when you actually get to the hotel, it's probably too late.
2. Look Around
You only have to look as far as the minibar to realize that some hotels aren't as family-friendly as they may seem. Make sure the room isn't filled with booze or other substances that aren't age-appropriate for your kids. Don't assume that just because there isn't alcohol or other drugs available that the hotel is OK for your kids.
If your family is a bit adventurous, check the mini-safe. Some of them have secret compartments, which can help you keep important items locked up safely. You can also hide valuables in your dresser drawers or place them on the dresser between the dresser and the wall, so they aren't as easy for thieves to spot.
3. Check Your Bill
After you've had time to check out the room and make sure everything is in good working order, check your bill and compare it with the paperwork you received from the hotel. Before you go, make sure the total you owe includes the correct amount of taxes. Also, ensure that your credit card is charged appropriately. And if you want to use points earned from a hotel loyalty program, confirm that you've received the correct number of points for your stay.
If you're not sure how you'll pay your bill, ask to see a copy of the bill before


One has straight ginger hair, a fair complexion and deep blue eyes. The other has masses of curls, far darker skin and her eyes are a sparkling brown. With such opposing looks it’s hard to believe this striking pair are sisters. But they are much more than that – they are twins. The girls were born with radically different colouring thanks to a quirk of their mixed-race parentage. Scroll down for video . Same same, but different:  Lucy and Maria Aylmer, 18, from Gloucester are non-identical twins . Lucy and Maria Aylmer’s mother Donna is half Jamaican and their father Vince is white, and together they managed to produce one white twin and one black twin. The girls were born in January 1997. Their mother was astonished when she first saw the twins, as nothing on the scans had prepared her for their different skin tones. Fair-haired Lucy, who lives with her family in Gloucester, said: ‘It was such a shock for her because things like skin colour don’t show up on scans before birth. 'So she had no idea that we were so different. When the midwife handed us both to her she was just speechless.’ Their mother, who is 47 and a warehouse worker, and their 53-year-old father, who works as a scaffolder, split up after the twins were born. Family line: The twins' mother Donna is half Jamaican and their father Vince is white, and their siblings George, Chynna and Jordan all have darker skin than Lucy and lighter than Maria . Two of a kind: The twins, who live in Gloucester, were born in January 1997 . Different strokes:  'Outgoing' Maria studies law at Cheltenham College, while 'shy' Lucy studies art and design at Gloucester College . All together: Maria and Lucy with their mother Donna and siblings George, 23, Chynna, 22, and Jordan, 21 . The 18-year-olds have three older siblings, George, 23, Chynna, 22, and Jordan, 21. Lucy said: ‘Our brothers and sisters have skin which is inbetween Maria and I. We are at opposite ends of the spectrum and they are all somewhere inbetween. Non-identical twins come from separate eggs, so inherit different genes. The girls’ half-Jamaican mother carries genes for both white and black skin. By chance, Lucy will have inherited genes for white skin and Maria will have genes that code for black skin. People with Afro-Caribbean heritage often have some European DNA, dating back in many cases to the slave trade. This increases the chance of them passing on a gene for white skin to at least one twin. ‘But my grandmother has a very fair English rose complexion, just like mine.’ She added: ‘No one ever believes we are twins. Even when we dress alike, we still don’t look like sisters, let alone twins. Friends have even made us produce our birth certificates to prove it.’ Certainly at school there were no problems mistaking the twins for one another – and no way of playing tricks to confuse their classmates. Lucy said: ‘We were in the same class, but no one had a problem telling us apart. Twins are known for swapping identities. But there was no way Maria and I could ever do anything like that. ‘Most twins look like two peas in a pod – but we couldn’t look more different if we tried. We don’t look like we have the same parents, let alone having been born at the same time.’ The twins’ interests are as different as their looks. Lucy studies art and design at Gloucester College whilst Maria studies law at Cheltenham College. Lucy explained: ‘Maria was outgoing whilst I was the shy one. But Maria loves telling people at college that she has a white twin – and I’m very proud of having a black twin.’

Lucy and Maria Aylmer, 18, from Gloucester are non-identical twins . Lucy has fair skin and ginger hair, while Maria is darker with curls . Their mother Donna is half Jamaican and their father Vince is white .

 are, and it all began over ten years ago in the slums of New Delhi.
Their names are Ayaan and Zubeda – and they were left to die within the first week of their birth as part of the infamous ‘killing of twins’ custom. When they were finally found they were living at one of the city’s many rubbish dumps alongside other unwanted children.
But their luck took a turn for the better when the children were taken to the Mother Teresa’s Sisters of Charity Home. Here they were looked after and soon both were adopted and went to live in the US.
Now both Ayaan and Zubeda are teenagers. This month the pair were selected as UNICEF’s Child Champions 2014 for their work in children’s rights. It wasn’t something they were aiming for, though.
Zubeda, who’s just taken her 11+ exam, said she was asked by her parents what she’d like to be when she grows up. Her reply ‘a lawyer’ soon got a reaction from them.
“It was quite funny when they told me they didn’t think that was possible,” she said. “I knew I wanted to do something that made a difference and I’m trying to think of what that might be, but so far I can’t really imagine what it could be.”
But Zubeda’s older sister Ayaan, is more sure of what she wants to do. “I want to become a doctor,” she said. “But I am still hoping for someone to pay me to go!”
It was while the sisters were at school that they got interested in helping people. “We had always liked science, but we realised that helping people made a much bigger difference,” Ayaan said.
After going to India with her sister in 2011 Ayaan said the first thing that struck her was how bad the slums were. “It’s a very different world from the one I live in. There are a lot of children there but a lot of them didn’t know what was going on.”
The sisters were determined to do something to make a difference and realised how much of an impact they could have with their education. They are now in Year 10 in the US. Ayaan is now studying for her SAT exams and hopes to get into a top university. Zubeda, who is aiming for A level, was