Ocean Jet Crash Child Survivor

A toddler from a packed passenger jet that crashed in the Indian Ocean near the Comoros archipelago has reportedly been rescued.

Three bodies were also retrieved, along with debris from the plane, but no other survivors have been recovered so far, Comoros immigrations officer Rachida Abdullah said.

The Yemeni Airways Airbus 310 crashed with 142 passengers - including three children -and a crew of 11 Yemenis on board.

Most of the passengers were from Comoros, returning from Paris. Sixty-six on board were French nationals.

Two French military planes and a French ship had left the islands of Mayotte and Reunion to search for the passenger jet.

The flight, which began in Paris, was flying from Sanaa to Moroni, the capital of the main island of the Comoros archipelago.

Yemenia spokesman Mohammad al Sumairi said: "The weather conditions were rough - strong wind and high seas.

"The wind speed recorded on land at the airport was 61km (38 miles) an hour. There could be other factors."

A United Nations official at the airport said the control tower had received notification the plane was coming in to land, and then lost contact with it.

Yemenia is 51% owned by the Yemeni government and 49% by the Saudi Arabian government.

Its fleet includes two Airbus 330-200s, four Airbus 310-300s and four Boeing 737-800s, according to the company website.

The Comoros covers three small volcanic islands, Grande Comore, Anjouan and Moheli, in the Mozambique channel, 300km (190 miles) north west of Madagascar and a similar distance east of the African mainland.

It is the second Airbus to plunge into the sea this month. An Air France Airbus A330-200 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean killing 228 people on board on June 1.

In 1996, a hijacked Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767 also crashed into the sea off the Comoros islands in 1996, killing 125 of 175 passengers and crew.

The European Union will soon propose the creation of a global blacklist of airlines deemed unsafe.

"My idea is to propose a world blacklist similar to that in the EU," Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani.

He also said he would contact the carrier involved, Yemenia, to see what had happened in the Comoros crash.

Ashes Winning Capt Vaughan Retires

Ashes-winning cricket captain Michael Vaughan has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

He said it had been a hard decision but he realised that his form was no longer good enough and that he needed to make way for younger players to come through for the good of the game.

The 34-year-old Yorkshire batsman departs the international scene as England's most successful Test captain of all time - with 26 wins from his 51 matches in charge.

His achievements also include leading England to their first Ashes victory against Australia for 18 years in 2005; a first Test series win in South Africa for forty years - also in 2005 - and presiding over eight consecutive Test wins in 2004.

As a batsman, he scored 18 Test hundreds for England following his debut in 1999 and was ranked the number one batsman in the world following the 2002/3 Ashes Series in Australia in which he made 633 runs including three centuries.

He told reporters at Edgabston he nearly quit some months ago but wanted to give it one last shot at getting in this year's Ashes squad but he said: "I haven't been playing well enough."

He was also unhappy with his club form: "They always say that in the dressing room the senior players have to be the most enthusiastic.

"I just started feeling that in the Yorkshire dressing room I wasn't the most enthusiastic. That was the stage when I knew I had to move over."

Vaughan said it was hard to pick just one career highlight but England winning the Ashes in 2005 stood out.

"The 2005 Ashes win was special but it was also the build-up two years before that was special; I had to get a team into a unit and I was fortunate to get a team of very good players, so the 2005 Ashes was a pinnacle," he said.

"We captured the nation and cricket hadn't captured the nation for a very long time."

Commenting on his decision, English Cricket Board chief executive David Collier praised Vaughan for "his immense contribution" to the England team's success.

"His achievement in leading England to victory against the number one ranked team in the world, Australia in 2005, was arguably the finest by any England captain in the modern era," he said.

England captain Andrew Strauss said he counted Vaughan as a good friend as well as a team-mate and knew it had been a tough decision for him to stand down.

"I learned a great deal from watching him captain the side for five years at close hand and his ability to identify a new strategy for outwitting the opposition or bring the best out of his own players was a priceless asset," he added.

Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen PC Games

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Madoff Gets 150 Years In Prison

Crooked Wall Street financier Bernard Madoff has been sentenced to 150 years in jail for swindling investors out of billions of pounds.

The 71-year-old was handed the maximum prison term for the crime, despite apologising in court to his victims.

Madoff said he would have to "live with this pain for the rest of my life".

He admitted masterminding an enormous pyramid scheme that duped over 4,000 investors out of their money.

Madoff's lawyers had suggested that 12 years would be enough, but prosecutors pushed for the full 150 years.

Many of the victims also wanted the toughest possible sentence to be imposed, including one tearful woman who asked that he be kept "in a cage behind bars".

Also, a man who was financially "wiped out by Madoff" said he wanted "to make sure his prison cell becomes his coffin."

The Wall Street swindler defrauded mostly middle class teachers and farmers out of their investments.

Among his victims were Hollywood celebrities, international movers and shakers, some of the world's most famous banks, including Santander, and Jewish charities.

Addressing the judge and several victims in the New York court, Madoff said: "I leave a legacy of shame to my family.

"I am responsible for a great deal of suffering and pain. I live in a tormented state. I apologise to my victims. I am sorry."

Many of those he conned could not afford to pay their bills. In February a British soldier committed suicide after being bankrupted in the scam.

Madoff and his wife Ruth lived a life of luxury, with homes in Manhattan, the Hamptons and Florida.

He also said he knew that fraud was "wrong" and "criminal" but added: "I believed it would end shortly and I would be able to extricate myself and my clients from the scheme."

As time went on it proved "difficult" and then "impossible" to end, he said.

The fraud entailed more than £30bn of clients' money pumped into the scheme under the pretence it was being invested in securities.

Instead, the money was deposited in bank accounts and used periodically to pay other investors to maintain the impression they were making steady returns.

When the scam was exposed, Madoff claimed to hold £40bn worth of client money - in reality, he had only £1bn.

Most of the missing money has not been located, although prosecutors have set about seizing assets such as property and boats.

Banker Boumeester Found Dead

A Dutch financier who went missing after leaving his job at troubled banking group ABN Amro has been found dead with gunshot wounds.

Fears grew for the safety of high-flying banker Huibert Boumeester when he missed a business appointment. He had not been seen for a week.

Police said two of his shotguns had also disappeared from his homes in London and Scotland.

The body of the 49-year-old former chief financial officer at ABN Amro was found in woodland in Winkfield near Ascot, Berkshire, on Sunday morning.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said they could not confirm the identity of the dead man, but added: "He is believed to have died from gunshot wounds.

"At the moment it is being treated as an unexplained death. A definite cause of death has not been established."

Mr Boumeester joined ABN Amro, the 2007 takeover of which plunged the Royal Bank of Scotland into record losses, in 1987

He worked his way up to the post of chief financial officer before leaving early last year.

It is not known whether he left the company voluntarily or was forced out.

Staff at Artemis Assets Management, where the missing businessman was appointed to the board following a merger with ABN Amro, said he resigned in March this year citing "personal reasons".

Mr Boumeester, who set up the Boumeester Foundation in a bid to conserve cultures in countries such as Vietnam, China and Bhutan, was described by police as "feeling down of late".

His car, a blue 56-registration Range Rover, also went missing last week.

UK Embassy Staff In Iran Freed

Five out of nine detained local staff at the British embassy in Tehran have reportedly been released.

Iranian media said on Sunday that several were being held for their alleged involvement in mass street protests.

Iran was rocked by huge rallies, that led to several deaths, over a disputed presidential election on June 12.

Tehran has accused the West of stoking unrest, singling out Britain and the United States.

But state television said Iran's foreign ministry today announced five staff members had been freed.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki had spoken on Sunday evening, ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said.

"Out of nine people, five of them have been released and the rest are being interrogated," Mr Qashqavi told a news conference.

He said Mr Miliband had stressed in his conversation with Mr Mottaki that Britain's intention was not to interfere in Iran's internal affairs.

"Mottaki said that if they really prove this in practice... this can be considered as a positive step," Mr Qashqavi said.

On Sunday, Mr Miliband demanded the release of all the staff held.

He said his European Union colleagues had agreed to a "strong, collective response" to any such "harassment and intimidation" against EU missions.

But videotape evidence proved that the embassy staff "were distinctly present at the scene of clashes," a senior Iranian official said.

Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseini Ejehi said the detainees - all Iranian nationals - mingled with demonstrators to encourage unrest.

Iran's judiciary, which is tightly controlled by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, will decide what happens next, he went on.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's landslide election victory sparked the unrest after opposition parties' claims that the vote had been rigged.

A partial recount of the poll has begun, al Alam state television reported.

Iran's top legislative body, the Guardian Council, had offered to recount a random 10% of the votes.

But defeated opposition candidate Mirhossein Mousavi has rejected this, saying the whole election should be annulled.

Michael Will Be Bigger In Death

Michael Jackson will be bigger in death than he was in life, according to his father Joe.

In an interview with Fox News, Mr Jackson said he wished his son was around to see the public outpouring of affection towards him.

He also said it was unlikely stress about his upcoming concert tour killed the King of Pop.

Mr Jackson told Geraldo Rivera that the Jackson family is "pretty strong" and coping with their loss.

As for Jackson's children, he said: "My grandchildren are fantastic."

The Jacksons have gathered at the home of Michael's brother Jermaine to make funeral arrangements and discuss the future of the singer's three children.

In a statement issued by Mr Jackson earlier, they said: "Our beloved son, brother and father of three children has gone so unexpectedly, in such a tragic way and much too soon.

"It leaves us, his family, speechless and devastated to a point, where communication with the outside world seems almost impossible at times.

"We miss Michael endlessly, our pain cannot be described in words."

And then they told fans: "Michael would not want us to give up now. Please do not despair, because Michael will continue to live on in each and every one of you.

"Continue to spread his message, because that is what he would want you to do. Carry on, so his legacy will live forever."

The family is believed to be planning a series of simultaneous global celebrations to honour the star.

And they are continuing their efforts to discover the truth about what caused Jackson's death by requesting a second post-mortem examination.

Family friend Rev Jesse Jackson said: "We have called for an independent autopsy, we cannot just depend on the state.

"It should be independent and verifiable and it should be done quickly.

"The longer we wait the more anxiety there is about the matter. It deserves real priority."

Police in Los Angeles have now had the chance to speak to Jackson's personal doctor Dr Conrad Murray.

He was with the star when he collapsed but said he was not responsible for his death.

Police have said they are not conducting a criminal inquiry into the death of the pop superstar.

Fox News reported that investigators found Jackson's body to be healthier and stronger than they had expected, with some scarring on the face.

Harry Potters Fan Swindled By Hackers

Harry Potter fans desperate for a sneak preview of the new film are being ripped off by hackers.

Cybercriminals are planting links on blogging websites to tempt eager punters to watch the soon to be released Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for free.

Clicking the link opens a new page where the Potter potty are apparently just a press of the mouse away from an early premiere.

But first lovers of JK Rowling's fantastical creations are told they must download and install a "streamviewer" in order to watch it.

Like a bad spell the streamweaver downloads "malware" which secretly records personal information such as passwords, and bank card numbers.

These details are gathered by hackers often working for organised crime networks and sold on.

Fraudsters can then reproduce account details onto blank cards ready to be sold over the internet or use the information for other scams.

Michael Greene, vice president of Product Strategy for PC Tools, said Harry Potter fans are being hit because of the buzz surrounding the new release.

"It's a case of curiosity kills the cat... If you want to see the Harry Potter video before it's released you are going to click on the link. But it's likely you'll get an infection on your computer.

"It's not uncommon to target major events. The malwriters need an audience in order to deliver the malware."

The difficulty in tackling cybercrime is the pace of change. New malware is written every day so programs cannot easily be detected by anti-virus software.

Unfortunately this means impatient fans could be left with no money to see the real movie when it hits cinemas.

Rare White Tiger Mauls Zookeeper To Death In NZ

A zookeeper has been mauled to death by a white tiger in front of horrified tourists at a wildlife park in New Zealand.

The animal fatally mauled the man while he was cleaning an enclosure in Whangarei's Zion Wildlife Park on North Island.

Despite the efforts of a second keeper and a rapid response from other wildlife park staff, the tiger would not let the park worker go.

He died at the scene.

Police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said the keeper had suffered serious injuries to his abdomen and lower legs.

The tiger was later destroyed by wildlife park staff.

Victim Support officers were called to the scene to help distressed park employees and visitors, including eight foreign tourists who witnessed the attack.

The park, located near the northern city of Whangarei, has 42 rare lions and tigers.

They are kept in large wire-cage enclosures, which include trees and grassy areas.

In February, park employee Demetri Price required surgery after he was attacked by a white tiger.

Scottish teenager Lisa Baxter was left scarred last year after she put her hands through a hole in the fence and was bitten by a white lion.

Authorities are investigating the latest incident.

Truck Driver Gets Fired Up

This truck driver has a blazing experience as his engine catches fire.As this web video shows everything seems fine as this driver heads out in his truck.

Things soon get a little to hot for comfort as the front of the truck catches fire.

It is all over in a blaze of glory though as the fire burns itself out, even leaving the flags untouched.

Babysitter 15, 'Beat Two-Year-Old Girl Toddler To Death'

A 15-year-old boy beat a toddler to death, a court in Manchester has been told.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies murdering two-year-old Demi Mahon on July 17 last year.

The child's mother, Ann Marie McDonald, sobbed as she gave evidence before jurors at Manchester Crown Court.

Ms McDonald told the jury of six men and six women that she left her daughter with the defendant at a house in Eccles, Salford, for around 90 minutes while she popped out to pick up her child benefit and buy a birthday card.

She said that when she returned he was standing outside the house with a man.

Ms McDonald claimed the defendant then said to her: "I picked her up - I might have hurt her - and she fell in the park."

She said she rushed into the house and found her daughter in bed with the bedclothes partially covering her face.

Ms McDonald said: "Her face was bruised. I tried to pick her up and her head flopped back. She couldn't breathe properly.

"I screamed 'Why haven't you rung an ambulance?' He said 'I never done nothing, I've not done nothing'."

Ms McDonald, who is known as Sindy, sobbed as she pointed to the defendant and said: "He did that to my daughter", before leaving the court in tears.

Prosecutor Howard Bentham QC said: "When her small body was examined by Dr Naomi Carter, pathologist, Dr Carter found 68 sites of injury on that small body.

"We say every one of those injuries were caused by this young man.

"They were all over her body but many of them were to her head and face and Dr Carter drew the conclusion that young Demi had probably been punched repeatedly in the face."

Mr Bentham told the jury that the defence will argue that their client suffered an abnormality of mind which impaired his responsibility.

Venezuela Ready Attack Honduras

Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez has threatened military action against Honduras after the country's president was overthrown.

Honduras' supreme court claims it told the army to oust President Manual Zelaya after his attempt to hold a referendum on his re-election.

During the coup the ambassadors of Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba were taken hostage.

President Chavez said Honduran soldiers left the Venezuelan ambassador on the side of a road after beating him.

Speaking on state television, President Chavez said he would do everything necessary to "abort" the coup.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday has also condemned the action.

"We call on all parties in Honduras to respect the constitutional order and the rule of law, to reaffirm their democratic vocation, and to commit themselves to resolve political disputes peacefully and through dialogue," she said in a statement.

President Zelaya was arrested at his home by around a dozen soldiers and taken to a military base on the outskirts of the capital, Tegucigalpa.

Mr Zelaya said soldiers rousted him out of bed, beat his bodyguards and arrested him in his pyjamas.

He was then flown to Costa Rica from where he condemned his ousting from power.

Mr Zelaya said he was a "victim of kidnapping" and a "coup d'etat," part of a plot by members of the military to remove him from power".

He said he would not recognise any replacement, asked his compatriots to peacefully resist and said the United States should demand his government be reinstated.

President Barack Obama said he was "deeply concerned", while Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, called for "a swift return to constitutional normality."

A neighbor told Honduran television that about 200 troops arrive at Zelaya's home in a dawn swoop.

Shortly after, tanks rolled through the streets and Army trucks carrying hundreds of soldiers equipped with metal riot shields surrounded the presidential palace in downtown Tegucigalpa.

Pro-Zelaya protesters yelled insults at the soldiers while more troops could be seen surrounding the palace.

Tear gas was also fired by police as hundreds of supporters gathered in the centre of the capital.

Mr Zelaya was elected in 2006 for a non-renewable four-year term but planned a vote asking Hondurans to sanction a future referendum to allow him to run for re-election.

He was opposed by the country's Supreme Court, the military, Congress and members of his own party, the Liberal Party of Honduras.

Last week he sacked the country's top military chief, General Romeo Vasquez, and also accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Edmundo Orellana after military commanders refused to distribute ballot boxes for Sunday's vote.

But in defiance of the president the Honduran Supreme Court unanimously voted to reinstate General Vasquez.

Michael Jackson Singles No1

Michael Jackson has topped the album chart and made six new entries in the singles top 40 as fans rushed to buy his material in the wake of his death.

His Number Ones album, that features all of his biggest hits, raced up the charts from 121 to reach number one.

The same album earned Jackson his last number one hit when it was released in 2003.

Four of his other hit albums also made a reappearance in the top 40.

A total of 11 Michael Jackson or Jackson Five albums are in this week's Top 200 and 43 out of the Top 200 singles feature the singer, the Official Charts Company said.

Thriller, still the biggest selling album of all time, surged from 179 to number seven, King of Pop reached 14, Off The Wall got to 17 and The Essential Michael Jackson came in at number 20.

Music retailers said that although demand for Jackson's singles had been overwhelming since his death his extensive back catalogue meant that no one song stood out in sales and he was narrowly denied a posthumous entry in the singles top 10.

Man in the Mirror re-entered the charts at number 11, nearly 20 years after its original release and Jackson hits accounted for all but one of the new entries in this week's top 40 singles.

Billie Jean got to 25, Smooth Criminal to 28, Beat It reached 30 and Earth Song reached 38.

Jackson's return to the charts overshadowed electro-pop newcomer La Roux's surge straight into the number one spot in the singles chart with Bulletproof.

Kasabian also suffered from the Jackson effect and was knocked off the number one spot in the albums chart after three weeks in the chart with West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum.

Jackson has been dominating sales at music retailers and download sites across the world since his death.

At one stage his songs topped Apple's iTunes download charts in every country except Japan.

Spokesman Gennaro Castaldo said HMV stores saw sales rise 80 times over in the 24 hours after Jackson's death - the biggest one day lift in any artist's album sales in the store's history and one which dwarfed the leap in sales after the deaths of Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Freddie Mercury.

Hospital Dash For Ronnie Biggs

Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs has been rushed to hospital with a suspected broken hip.

Biggs was apparently found on his cell floor early Sunday, suffering from a hip injury and chest pains.

He was taken from Norwich Prison to hospital for medical treatment.

His son Michael has spoken to Sky News about today's events and the risks involved in surgery for his father.

"My father was taken this morning with a fractured hip so we are waiting for the main surgeon to come in and see if it is safe for him to undergo surgery," Michael Biggs said.

"What I imagine happened is that he probably fell off his bed."

"My father is in such frail condition."

Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt says the 79-year-old has been dogged by a number of medical conditions in recent years.

"Since he came back to Britain, he has suffered a number of strokes and heart attacks," Brunt said.

During a pneumonia attack last February Biggs was rushed to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

"This coming Friday is the day he's due to be released on parole - that's not been confirmed - but at the moment his family are waiting for Jack Straw to sign off on Ronnie Biggs' parole," he said.

"The Parole Board has recommended he be released on that date," Brunt added.

Biggs' family believe the time served by the robber is far beyond what was fair.

"We are distressed - parts of me think they are trying to make an example out of my father," Michael Biggs told Sky.

Brazil-based Biggs returned to Britain in May 2001 to serve out his sentence after fleeing Wandsworth Prison in 1965.

He had served just 15 months of a 30-year sentence for his part in the infamous post office train raid that netted more than £2m.

"I don't think he has any regrets of coming back," Michael added.

"He has paid his debt to society and now should be let out."

According to Michael, his father has been virtually confined to a wheelchair in jail and insists he is no threat to the public.

"It is quite pathetic - I think the only crime my father could do is use his bus pass before 9am," Michael said.

Once officially released on parole, the plan is for Biggs to enter a nursing home in north London, Brunt revealed.

Hospital Stay Finishes For Ex-PM

Margaret Thatcher will leave hospital on Monday after two weeks of treatment following a broken arm.

The ex-PM had an operation at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital on June 19 and was said today to be in "good spirits".

Her spokesman said: "Lady Thatcher will be returning home tomorrow. She is in good spirits and recovering well."

The Iron Lady remained in hospital for far longer than was originally expected.

She had surgery to insert a pin into her upper left arm which she broke in a fall at her home.

Doctors decided on the move after the injury failed to heal as quickly as they would have liked.

Lady Thatcher has suffered a number of health scares in recent years, including a series of minor strokes.

In March last year, she spent a night in hospital after feeling unwell while having dinner with friends.

Last summer, her daughter Carol revealed her mother was suffering from dementia.

Lady Thatcher cut down her commitments - all but stopping speaking in public - on the advice of doctors several years ago but she continues to attend ceremonial functions.

Pilot Rescued From English Channel

The pilot of a light plane had to be rescued from the English Channel after he was forced to ditch the aircraft when its engine failed.

The man was said to have been stranded on the plane's wing for about an hour waiting to be picked up.

He was later found floating in the water wearing a yellow life jacket and suffering mild hypothermia.

The RAF and Belgium airforce were both involved in the rescue operation.

The pilot was taken by helicopter to William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent.

He had been en route from Lydd in Kent to France when he brought the plane down at 2.30pm, about eight miles from his origin.

He was the only person on board the aircraft.

Michael Mulford from RAF Kinloss told Sky News: "Details are sketchy, but it seems he was able to stay with the aircraft long enough to be rescued by a passing ship.

"It set off an international rescue operation. We were involved and the Belgium airforce launched a helicopter."

A spokesman for the Dover coastguard said it received a call from Lydd Airport air traffic control reporting a light aircraft with engine failure, eight miles south-east of Lydd.

"At the same time a south-west bound vessel in the Dover Strait reported a light aircraft ditching in the vicinity.

"The vessel immediately went to give assistance as did another vessel.

"The pilot was rescued from the wreckage by the Dutch Faith vessel."

The spokesman added it appeared the pilot was able to land the plane and get out.

"He was wearing a life jacket which is a sensible precaution if flying over water," he said.

"The jacket enabled him to be spotted along with the good weather conditions, everything was in his favour."

Warning As Britain Basks In The Sun

The Met Office has issued a heat warning for large parts of the UK as forecasters predicted temperatures could rise above 30C.

Health and social services will be preparing themelves under the Heat Health system should temperatures get too much for the young and elderly as increasingly hot and humid air will spread across much of Britain during this coming week.

The system uses four levels of response based upon threshold maximum daytime and minimum night-time temperatures.

These thresholds vary by region, but an average is 30C (86F) by day and 15C (59F) overnight.

Wales, the north and Scotland is at level one, the lowest, but the Midlands, east Anglia and the south of England is currently at level two.

This is triggered as soon as the risk is 60% or above for threshold temperatures being reached in one or more regions on at least two consecutive days and the intervening night.

Sky weather forecaster Isobel Lang said: "It's been warm enough already this past week, temperatures reached 28C (82.4F) in London on Saturday, and the heat and humidy has already sparked off intense storms.

"But it's going to get even hotter.

"The peak of the heat this week looks like being Wednesday or Thursday with a high of 32 Celsius (90F) possible in London.

"Night-time temperatures will be unusually high and obviously it's the build-up of heat over several days and nights which will cause the problem."

NHS Direct said the elderly and young children are most at risk from heat stroke in hot weather and that people should avoid going out in the hottest part of the day, between 11am and 3pm.

Medics advise:

:: Strenuous outdoor activity such as sport, DIY, or gardening is best avoided and that people outside should stay in the shade, wear a hat and light, loose-fitting clothes, preferably cotton.

:: Indoors, close curtains in rooms that get a lot of sun.

:: Take cool showers or baths, and splash yourself several times a day with cold water, particularly your face and the back of your neck.

:: Drink regularly even if you do not feel thirsty - water and fruit juice are best. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol as they can cause dehydration.

The heat and humidity is expected to fuel some severe thunderstorms this week with the risk of flash flooding.

It has already claimed one victim after a teenage boy was struck by lightning in a park in Birmingham.

The 16-year-old suffered a heart attack after the incident in Small Heath Park and is now in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Doctor Missing After Jackson Dies

Police want to interview Michael Jackson's doctor after the star's family suggested he died because of a drug overdose, according to reports.

The King of Pop suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Holmby Hills and was taken to the UCLA medical centre where he was pronounced dead.

Tmz.com said Jackson received a daily injection of Demerol, a synthetic narcotic similar to morphine, but was given "too much" on Thursday.

Los Angeles police want to talk to the doctor - who lived at the star's home and administered his injections - but he has not yet been found, the entertainment website said.

Jackson's brother Jermaine Jackson confirmed the "legendary" star had passed away at the age of 50 after doctors worked for more than an hour to try to revive him.

The star's body was flown by helicopter from the hospital to the LA coroner's office and a post-mortem examination is expected to take place later today.

Brian Oxman, a spokesman for the Jackson family, said the singer's relatives had been concerned about his health and had tried to take care of him for months.

"Michael appeared at rehearsals a couple of times, he was very seriously trying to be able to do those rehearsals," he said.

"His use of medications had gotten in the way, his injuries which he had sustained performing, where he had broken a vertebrae and he had broken his leg from a fall on the stage, were getting in the way."

The first reports of Jackson's death emerged on the internet and sparked a huge surge in online traffic as people searched for the latest news.

Twitter has been flooded with tributes from fans and celebrities alike including Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher and Stephen Fry.

Moore also paid tribute to Charlie's Angels actress Farrah Fawcett, who died earlier on Thursday.

See how Jackson's famous fans reacted to his death.

A tweet from Emily Eavis, organiser of the Glastonbury music festival, said there would be tributes "all over the site all weekend".

TV channels around the world interrupted programmes to break the news of Jackson's death, while many radio stations are playing his hits back-to-back.

Singer and actress Cher paid tribute saying: "He was a great singer. You know, it's like God gives you certain gifts. And some people he gives different gifts and some people he gives more gifts.

"And this child was just an extraordinary child, touched by this ability to have people feel him and feel people. You know, he was a genius, like Ray Charles, like Stevie Wonder. They just have this gift."

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney described Jackson's death as "sad and shocking".

He said: "I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever."

Madonna added: "The world has lost one of its greats but his music will live on forever."

Fans gathered near Jackson's childhood home in Gary, Indiana, to pay their respects to the singer who left the city years ago.

In LA, people lined the streets outside the hospital and coroner's office while others laid flowers and candles on his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Read more about how fans are paying tribute.



Office worker Yoshiko Plair, who went to the hospital as soon as she heard reports of Jackson's heart attack, said: "He changed music, he's the reason all that black music is on MTV now.

"I followed him from that first song. I'm going to mourn him today and probably for the rest of my life."

On the other side of America, fans congregated at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York, where Jackson gave some of his earliest performances, to sing and dance in his memory.

Civil rights campaigner the Rev Al Sharpton was among crowds and told mourners: "I have known him at his high moments and his low moments and I know he would want us to pray for his family."

Future Of Jackson's Kids Is Unclear

The death of Michael Jackson leaves his three children facing an uncertain future.

It is reported Jackson's mother Katherine has offered to take in Michael Joseph Jackson Junior, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson II.

Jackson family lawer Brian Oxman said: "Probably Mrs Jackson will take care of them, she loves them dearly."

Teen Babysitter Murdered Two-Year-Old Baby Girl

A teenage babysitter who battered a toddler to death while her mother popped out to the shops has been found guilty of murder.

Karl McCluney, 15, inflicted 68 injuries on two-year-old Demi Leigh Mahon because he was fed-up with her behaviour, Manchester Crown Court heard.

The boy, who admitted manslaughter, took her to a park before beating her at a house in Salford, Greater Manchester, on July 15, 2008.

Michael Jackson Fans 'Will Get Full Refund'

Fans with tickets for next month's Michael Jackson shows at the 02 arena will get a full refund, Sky News Online understands.

Officially the venue will only say that customers should hold on to their tickets and wait for more details.

But Sky sources say that all 750,000 fans will get their money back.

Pop 'Genius' Michael Jackson Died At 50

Stars from the world of showbiz have joined devastated Michael Jackson fans in paying tribute to the pop legend, who has died after suffering from a suspected heart attack.

The King of Pop suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Holmby Hills and was taken to the UCLA medical centre where he was pronounced dead.

His brother Jermaine Jackson confirmed the death of the "legendary" star at the age of 50 after doctors worked for more than an hour to try to revive him.

Highs And Lows Of Star's Life

Michael Jackson, the hugely talented pop star who produced a string of Number One hits, has died aged 50 after suffering a heart attack.

From a fresh-faced young showman with the Jackson Five to a massive pop icon adored by fans around the globe, Jackson was a constant source of fascination, filling newspapers and magazines.

Michael Jackson: Friends In Shock

Michael Jackson's death has sent shockwaves through the world of showbiz. Here are some of the tributes left to the star.

Ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley: "I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible. I am heartbroken for his children, who I know were everything to him and for his family. This is such a massive loss on so many levels, words fail me."

Madonna: "I can't stop crying over the sad news. I've always admired Michael Jackson - the world has lost one of its greats but his music will live on forever."

Michael Jackson Dies: Fans Gather In Key Places To Mourn

Thousands of fans have gathered in public to mourn the death of Prince of Pop Michael Jackson.

Civil rights campaigner the Rev Al Sharpton was among crowds at The Apollo in Harlem, where Jackson gave some of his earliest performances.

A message was posted on the billboard saying: "In memory of Michael Jackson, a true Apollo legend, 1958-2009."

Michael Jackson: The Enigma That Was Wacko Jacko

Michael Jackson's often eccentric behaviour saw him dubbed Wacko Jacko by the tabloid press.

Over the years, his image changed from cute child star to that of a secretive singer who was the target of ridicule and devotion in equal measure.

Wild stories about his personal life began to circulate; that he slept in an oxygen tent; he had adopted a chimp called Bubbles; he had undergone plastic surgery and skin bleaching.

Soon he retreated to his Neverland ranch, complete with its own zoo and funfair.

His friend Uri Geller told Sky News: "Michael Jackson as a man was a really down-to-earth human being, a nice person, courteous, humble, generous, giving, loving, amazing, extraordinary, unique.

"There are no words to describe who 'Michael Jackson' was, but the simplicity I picked up in him and what I felt and saw generated out of him the love.

"The eccentricity of Michael Jackson is an enigma.

"No one will really know the truth, what was etched and burnt into his psyche in his heart, what he really wanted. Nobody really knew Michael Jackson but Michael Jackson.

"I had my ups and downs with Michael. I had rows with Michael. I think I was one of the very few people who dared to shout at him when I thought he was doing the wrong things."

Former PR representative and friend of Jackson Jonathan Morrish said: "I saw him when he was last in London, which was for the World Music Awards, and he was his usual, lovely gentlemanly self.

"You don't get to the top of the tree like he did without being incredibly strong - mentally and physically. He survived over many generations of music lovers."

Phil Sutcliffe, from Mojo Magazine said: "He led a life that was heading for tragedy.

"Down the years he has always been a fragile person while being an athletic marvel as a dancer. That's what made him a complete entertainer. And yet he was a stick of a man.

"He kind of messed about with himself over the years. There's been such emotional confusion in his life, you can see how that might bring him down into serious illness."

Friend and actor Joe Pesci said: "He was a fun kid and did so much. He always reinvented himself time and time again.

"He was excited about getting back to the stage. He was downhearted for a while and I think he finally got himself up."

Iran Opposition Delays Rally After Crackdown

A Thursday ceremony to mourn the victims of Iran's post-election protests has been postponed for a week, an opposition party Web site said.

The statement was posted Wednesday evening on the Web site of presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi's party -- some hours after security forces wielding clubs and firing weapons crushed a planned demonstration at a square in the capital, Tehran.

Pop Star Killers To Be Executed

An Egyptian tycoon and a hitman's death sentences for murdering of a Lebanese pop star have been confirmed.

Hesham Talaat Moustafa was convicted of paying a hitman $2m (£1.2m) to kill Suzanne Tamim, 30, at her apartment in Dubai.

Media reports labelled the attack an act of revenge after she ended their relationship.

New Cancer Drug Is 'Holy Grail'

British scientists say they are close to developing what they are calling the "Holy Grail" of cancer treatment.

Cancer sufferer Julian Lewis responds well to a trial drug treating his condition

Revolutionary new drug Olaparib could be lifesaving for people whose genes make them more likely to get cancer.

Iran Leader Calls For Obama Apology

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called on Barack Obama to apologise for alleged US interference after disputed elections in the Islamic republic.

Mr Ahmadinejad in Tehran celebrating his victory in the presidential elections

The hard-line leader also accused his American counterpart of behaving like his predecessor George Bush.

Energy Firms 'Don't Pass On Savings'

Energy companies are being accused of failing to pass on billions of pounds worth of savings made because of falling gas and electricity prices.

Suppliers have not passed on cuts in wholesale prices, watchdog claims

The watchdog Consumer Focus states the fall in wholesale prices has saved energy companies around £1.6bn but this has not been reflected in average domestic bills.

Sharks 'Face Threat Of Extinction'

A third of all sharks and rays in the open ocean are at risk of extinction because of overfishing, an international environmental organisation has warned.

The oceanic whitetip shark is globally vulnerable Pic: IUCN

The International Union for Conservation of Nature, which produces the Red List of endangered

Bomb 61 In Baghdad, 116 Hurt

At least 61 people have been killed in a bomb blast at a market in eastern Baghdad's volatile Sadr City slum, according to police.

It comes six days before US combat troops are due to withdraw from Iraqi towns and cities.

About 116 people were also wounded in the explosion in the mostly Shi'ite Muslim area in one of Iraq's worst attacks this year.

A witness said the explosion tore through a part of the Mraidi Market where birds are sold, setting stalls ablaze.

Bloodshed has dropped sharply across Iraq in the past year, but militants including Sunni Islamist al Qaeda continue to launch deadly car and suicide bombings aimed at undermining the government and reigniting sectarian conflict.

The market bombing comes just four days after the US military formally handed control to local forces of Sadr City, where US and Iraqi forces fought fierce battles against Shi'ite militiamen in the spring of 2008.

Three school students died in another bombing in Sadr City on Monday, one of a string of blasts that killed 27 people across Iraq that day.

On Saturday, at least 73 people died in suicide truck bombing outside a mosque in Kirkuk province.

High death tolls remain common despite the fall in overall violence.

Two female suicide bombers killed 60 people outside a Shi'ite shrine in the capital this April, just days before twin car bomb blasts killed 51 people in Sadr City.

Such attacks cast doubt on the ability of local security forces, rebuilt from the ground up after they were dissolved by US officials in 2003, to vanquish a stubborn insurgency on their own.

Sadr City is a bastion of support for fiery anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al Sadr and his Mehdi Army militia.

However, the Mehdi Army has frozen most activities in the past year and Iraqi government forces have retaken control of the area.

Analysts say attacks are likely to intensify ahead of a parliamentary election in January.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki has built his reputation on reducing the bloodshed, and has lauded the partial withdrawal of US troops.

Maliki, a member of Iraq's Shi'ite majority, has urged Iraqis not to lose heart if insurgents take advantage of the US military drawdown to step up attacks.

A US military spokesman has said only a small number of American troops will be left in Iraqi cities after the June 30 deadline for combat forces to leave urban areas, but that the exact number is still being worked on.

Govt Beats Tory Iraq Inquiry Motion

The Government has comfortably beaten a Tory motion to revise its proposals for the Iraq inquiry following a number of concessions.

Earlier, Gordon Brown's spokesman said the Prime Minister would be willing to give evidence to the inquiry in public.

Ahead of the Opposition Day debate, his spokesman said

Morocco Rejects Home Office Request

An extradition request for a martial arts expert suspected of having helped mastermind the £53m Securitas depot robbery in Kent has been rejected by Morocco, Sky sources say.

Cage fighter Lee Murray was arrested in Rabat in 2006 in connection with the raid.

The UK Home Office had applied for Mr Murray's extradition.

Fears For Depressed Missing Banker

A depressed Dutch financier who recently left his job at troubled banking group ABN Amro has gone missing along with two of his shotguns, police have said.

Officers are concerned for the welfare of high-flying banker Huibert Boumeester, who has not been seen since Monday, when he missed a business appointment.