LJ Rich has an essential guide to help you get started on Twitter and share your thoughts with the world.

Since January 2009 when pictures of the US Airways Airbus landing on the Hudson river in New York was tweeted (published), the micro-blogging service Twitter has been growing in popularity.

Currently more than 50 million tweets are sent per day according to its latest figures. In 2007 the figure was 5,000 a day.

Twitter is, essentially, a micro-blog, or a mini online diary. You can type the answer to "What Are You Doing?" in 140 characters or less as frequently as you like.

It is now proving more than the passing fad some thought it to be when it started in 2006.

Part of the reason it has become so popular is that people tweet from the web, mobile, or by SMS.

Nowadays there are two main ways people use it - either posting or "tweeting" yourself - or just following the tweets other people write.

This is similar to writing a status update on Facebook so you can see what others are up to, or talking about, and vice versa.

The Twitter timelines shows tweets from the people you follow

You have to sign up first for the service, and get started by simply typing the answer to "What’s Happening?".

Other people will be able to see the list of updates on your page, depending on your privacy settings.

After logging in, find and follow others by clicking on their @name or by searching for them.

Once you hit "follow", their updates (or tweets) will show up on your homepage in chronological order, along with the other people you follow.

People who subscribe to your updates are called "followers". See how many you have underneath your profile picture.

Tweet as much as you like, but bear in mind that 30 updates a day will bung up other people’s homepages so they might stop following you.

Many people reckon a happy medium is to start off tweeting around five times a day.

If you just want to follow other people, your Twitter account works like a bookmarking service.

You can share others’ tweets with your followers via a re-tweet

Using the @ sign in front of a name will make it clickable. It also gets someone’s attention.

Reply to them with the @ sign in front of their name - this tweet will come up in their "replies" section and not get lost in the stream.

If you are re-tweeted (RT), it means that someone has read your tweet and forwarded it to their stream - people do this to get answers, or to disseminate information.

You can share something you have seen with others by adding "RT" to the beginning of a re-tweet.

You can send messages privately on Twitter, as long the recipient is following you.

Like e-mail, you need to be careful with your personal details. Direct messages are now prone to phishing scams where fraudsters attempt to get you to disclose your login details.

If you get a vague message asking you to click on exciting-looking links, it needs to go straight in the bin - especially if they take you to a fake login page. Don’t do it!

Hashtags are labels in tweets which make it possible to see a group of tweets about the same subject.

Put a hash sign in front of a relevant word makes it easily searchable. For instance #bbc will filter all the tweets that have been tagged under that hashtag.

It does not matter where the hashtag goes in the tweet.

You can send pictures to Twitter from your phone, just log in to something like Twitpic or Yfrog using your Twitter login details, and upload a picture. Those sites automatically tweet the photo for you.

Browser add-ons like Power Twitter will enhance your web experience by automatically expanding links and pictures.

If you want a deeper experience, get advanced functionality through various Clients such as Seesmic, Dabr, Hootsuite and Tweetdeck - are browser-based or stand-alone programs which allow users to manage multiple accounts, picture uploads, and mobile uploads.

Services that shorten links such as bit.ly are useful because many URLs can be long and take up many of the 140 characters.

Teeth care is particularly important in pregnancy

Successful treatment for gum disease cuts the risk of pregnant women giving birth early, US research suggests.

The preliminary research showed those whose gum disease was not treated successfully were three times more likely to give birth before 35 weeks.

The study of 160 women was presented to the annual conference of the American Association for Dental Research.

UK experts said the finding was "controversial" but advised pregnant women to take care of teeth and gums.

Doctors have previously established that severe gum infections cause an increase in the production of prostaglandin and tumour necrosis factor, chemicals which induce labour, to be produced.

The study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania enrolled women who were between six and 20 weeks’ pregnant.

This paper adds to the growing evidence around links between gum disease and pre-term babies Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation

All of the volunteers had gum disease. These women were given treatment, which was successful in one third of the cases.

The researchers found a "strong and significant association" between successful treatment and full-term births.

Those whose treatment did not work were "significantly more likely" to give birth before 35 weeks.

‘Controversial area’

UK experts warned that this was a small study and further research was needed.

Professor Iain Chapple, from Birmingham Dental School, said this was a "controversial area", and that while some previous studies had shown an association between gum disease and early births, others had shown no association.

He said the results "could reflect behavioural differences in the successfully treated group versus the unsuccessfully treated group" such as "poorer diets, smoking status, alcohol intake and many other issues".

But Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said: "This paper adds to the growing evidence around links between gum disease and pre-term babies.

"It is further strong evidence that pregnant women should take care of their periodontal health and receive appropriate treatment during their pregnancy to reduce as far as possible their chance of a pre-term birth."

‘Only one clue’

This advice was echoed by the pregnancy research charity Tommy’s.

Its consultant midwife, Annette Briley, said: "Women in the UK do get free dental care during pregnancy and for a year after the baby’s birth.

"It is therefore good to go to the dentist early in pregnancy and ensure that your mouth, teeth and gums are as healthy as they can be.

"However, the causes of preterm birth are multifactorial and many women with no periodontal disease may still have their babies early, this is only one clue to one cause."

The Hollies played on the first episode of Top of the Pops in 1964

The two remaining original members of pop group The Hollies are to miss the group’s induction into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in New York.

The group, who had more top 40 singles than the Beatles in the UK up to 1975, are being honoured alongside Abba, Genesis, The Stooges and Jimmy Cliff.

But drummer Bobby Elliott and guitarist Tony Hicks will not be there because the band are on tour in the UK.

They will be represented by former members Graham Nash and Allan Clarke.

"I wish them well and I hope they bring my award back in one piece," Elliott said.

The Hollies, whose singles included He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother and The Air That I Breathe, had more US hits than any other British band except The Beatles and Rolling Stones between 1964-75.

Elliott told the BBC that the current band’s UK tour had been in the diary for 12 months when the Hall of Fame accolade was announced, and they could not reschedule.

There was an upright piano pirouetting on the end of the diving board… that was a good night Bobby Elliott The Hollies

"There was no way we could get an alternative date for these venues," Elliott said. "We’re just a bit hamstrung, we couldn’t get there.

"Our fans in this country are a priority. It’s a great honour to be in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, no doubt about it. But it’s just one of those things. What would we do?"

Elliott and Hicks are performing with the band’s current line-up at the London Palladium on Sunday, a day before the US ceremony.

Steve Van Zant from Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band will present the honour to Nash - who formed Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - and Clarke.

The Hollies had a squeaky clean image - but Elliott said that they deserve to be ranked among more raucous rock stars.

"There used to be a rumour that the [Rolling] Stones would go in and wreck the hotel rooms, and then The Hollies would check in later and tidy them up again, but that’s not really true.

"I remember being at a Holiday Inn, somewhere in the Midwest, which had an indoor pool.

"The following morning when I got up and there was an upright piano pirouetting on the end of the diving board. It was one of our lot but we’ve never found out who did it. That was a good night."

Mark Owen said he had not cheated since he got married

Take That star Mark Owen has checked himself into rehab days after admitting he had a drink problem and had cheated on his partner of five years.

A spokesman for the 38-year-old said: "I can confirm Mark checked into a private clinic on Friday."

"I have had issues for a long time. I’ve drunk for the last 10 years and it got to a bad point," the singer told The Sun newspaper on Thursday.

He also admitted he was unfaithful to his wife before they married in 2009.

‘Difficult time’

Owen said he was "deeply sorry" that he had cheated with several women during his relationship with Emma Ferguson, the mother of his two children.

But he insisted he had been faithful since marrying her.

In a statement he said: "I’m so deeply sorry for the pain my actions have caused my family and friends."

The singer added: "I’d like to ask the media to please respect the privacy of my wife and children during this difficult time."

Owen, who won Celebrity Big Brother in 2002, said he had not recognised how bad his drinking had got.

I have been a prat. I wasn’t thinking - I don’t think logically when I’m drunk Mark Owen

"I carried on drinking through my relationship with Emma and it got to the point where she asked me to stop.

"I’ve never liked drinking during the day but once the kids went to bed, I’d get the bottle open and off I went.

"I have been a prat. I wasn’t thinking - I don’t think logically when I’m drunk. I’m not the person I want to be when I’m drunk. I can be a nightmare to live with."

Owen admitted the affairs to his wife on Wednesday and his confession was published in Thursday’s edition of the paper.

The star, who has enjoyed phenomenal success with Take That since they reunited in 2005, said he was "proud" of the fact he had not cheated since tying the knot.

"I know that sounds really stupid but on our wedding day, for me the ring is really important and I want to be true to my word."

The couple married at Cawdor Parish Church, near Inverness in Scotland, followed by a reception at Cawdor Castle.

"It was a big moment for me, my wedding day," Owen said.

"The wedding for me was a new slate and a new start. In my head there was never a time when I was doubting getting married."

Corey Haim was best known for starring in The Lost Boys

Actor Corey Haim’s death is being linked to a major drug ring which has been illegally obtaining prescription drugs, US police have said.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown said the star’s name was discovered on records during an investigation into the illegal activity.

He said that the problem of drug abuse was being "increasingly linked to criminal organisations".

But the Los Angeles County coroner has not yet determined what killed him.

The Lost Boys actor died at a California hospital on Wednesday.

"Corey Haim’s death is yet another tragedy linked to the growing problem of prescription drug abuse," Mr Brown said.

"This problem is increasingly linked to criminal organisations, like the illegal and massive prescription drug ring under investigation."

I don’t think Corey overdosed, not at all Mark Heaslip, agent

Assistant chief coroner Ed Winter said four prescription drug bottles bearing the actor’s name were found in the apartment where he collapsed, but all those drugs had been provided by a doctor who had been treating the actor.

Mr Winter also said he was "surprised" that Jerry Brown would "come out and give a cause of death".

In a later interview Brown said that he did not know what had killed the actor.

Haim’s agent, Mark Heaslip, said his client’s medications had been prescribed to him.

"I don’t think Corey overdosed, not at all," he said.

Plans are under way to hold a public memorial for Haim, who died aged 38, in LA.

The actor is expected to be buried at a private funeral in his native Canada.

Devices such as mobile phones and portable media players are very attractive to thieves.

Thankfully technology can help prevent valuable gadgets falling into the wrong hands.

Video streaming on the internet is also empowering home owners to keep an eye on the house while they are out.

One way to keep your wallet safe is ensuring that no-one else can get to the contents of it - that’s the idea behind the iWallet.

It has a hard case with a fingerprint reader which requires the rightful owner to swipe their finger before the wallet opens up.

Being Bluetooth-enabled also means it can be paired with a handset that alerts the user when the wallet is removed and the connection drops off.

Bluetooth only has a limited range so an alarm is triggered when a mobile phone and the iWallet are separated by more than a few metres.

The inventor, Steven Cabouli, said he came up with the idea after falling victim to a pickpocket.

"I was at a busy airport overseas, and someone stole my wallet. I felt so bad, my identity was stolen, everything," he said.

"It occurred to me to come up with something hi-tech. I looked around, there was nothing out there. So I decided to create my own hi-tech wallet".

Nio is another security system that uses Bluetooth technology to keep valuables safe - software links electronic tags to mobile phones and PDAs.

The tags are attached to personal belongings such as cameras, wallets and handbags.

"If somebody were to walk off with your laptop bag, your phone alarm would go off as soon as they got too far away from you. The briefcase would also be alarming at the same time, so the person would probably drop the bag and go off," said Jessica Williamson from the Nio creator TenBu Technologies.

She added it could also help someone when they get distracted and leave their gadgets behind.

"If you were to leave your phone behind and leave the rest of your belongings, all of them would alarm and your phone would also be beeping where you left it," she said.

Users can tweak the software in their handset to select a low or high-risk level for each tag - this determines how far it is allowed to stray before the alarm goes off.

Schedules can also be set up to automatically enable and disable security at different times of each day.

Home security cameras are common-place these days, but most only help identify intruders after they have broken into a house.

The AlertMe home monitoring system sends the home owner an SMS message or an e-mail as soon as a sensor is breached.

A box-style hub controller connects to the internet via a broadband router while managing motion detectors, door sensors, panic buttons and cameras.

Up to four cameras can record pictures at the same time on to an SD card, and as Rovio can sense motion and use infrared, owners can watch edited key moments when they get home.

If the power or the internet is down, the hub’s battery backup and GSM SIM card still get the message out.

The motion sensitive camera also uploads what it sees to the web, which means the footage is safely stored off property, preventing the thief from destroying the evidence.

But the $350 (£250) system does not sound a loud external alarm or contact the police, so users away from their mobile phone or e-mail, will not find out about the break-in until later.

For more mobile home monitoring, Rovio is a wi-fi enabled webcam on wheels which can be controlled remotely.

The robot connects to the outside world over a wireless router. On a web browser, the user can steer it around the house and through it see, hear or talk back.

When its battery is running out, the robot finds the way back to its charging station thanks to an infrared homing beacon that bounces off the ceiling.

Furniture and stairs pose a barrier to the device and it is extremely difficult to steer if there is too much delay over the internet.

A further two African nations are bidding for ivory sales

Sales of ivory and a possible ban on trading bluefin tuna top the agenda for the two-week CITES meeting that opens this weekend in Doha, Qatar.

CITES - the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species - will set a precedent if it votes to ban trading in a lucrative fish such as bluefin.

The US and EU back the proposal, but Japan is set against.

Conservation groups are also hoping for increased protection on sharks, coral, polar bears, lizards and amphibians.

African disunity

The ivory and tuna issues are both potentially controversial.

This is a key conservation moment - whether the governments here will vote for the conservation of bluefin tuna Dr Sue Lieberman Pew Environment Group

International ivory trading was banned in 1989.

But countries considered to have well-managed stocks of elephants and reliable systems for tracking tusks have three times been allowed to sell consignments from government stockpiles.

Zambia and Tanzania are now seeking permission for a further sale.

But other African nations led by Kenya and Mali want a 20-year ban on all ivory exports. They argue that the legal trade stimulates poaching, which has been on the rise in recent years.

"To permit any step towards further trade in ivory makes no sense whatsoever - it flies in the face of every basic conservation principle and is contrary to the agreement made at the last meeting," said Jason Bell-Leask from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw).

However, the organisation Traffic - which is charged with collecting data on illegal elephant killings and ivory smuggling - maintains there is no proof of a link.

The endangered Luristan newt

Data from its Elephant Trade Information System (Etis) shows that the rate of seizures of illegal ivory began rising well in 2004, well before the last one-off legal ivory sale was authorised in 2007.

And the previous one-off sale, in 1999, co-incided with a fall in seizures.

Etis manager Tom Milliken argues that African governments wanting to stem the rising ivory tide would be better advised to step up enforcement efforts against poachers and traders.

And China, the principal market for illegal ivory, should live up to its promises to act against smuggling gangs, he says.

Otherwise, he says: "Arguments over the impacts of one-off sales will continue to divert attention away from the real problem: finding ways to stop the flow of illicit ivory at source."

Tuna battles

The chances of CITES voting to ban the international trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna increased markedly during the week when - after months of wrangling - the EU decided to give its support.

The bloc includes several nations with tuna fleets in the Mediterranean, the main fishing ground.

CITES EXPLAINED Threatened organisms listed on three appendices depending on level of risk Appendix 1 - all international trade banned Appendix 2 - international trade monitored and regulated Appendix 3 - trade bans by individual governments, others asked to assist "Uplisting" - moving organism to a more protective appendix; "downlisting" - the reverse Conferences of the Parties (COPs) held every three years CITES administered by UN Environment Programme (Unep)

Conservation groups argue that the ban is needed because governments involved in the industry have allowed overfishing to such an extent that the species’ survival is in some doubt.

They also argue that a pause in fishing will eventually lead to higher catches.

"The goal is not to ban trade indefinitely, but to suspend international trade until the species recovers sufficiently to enable international trade to resume," said Sue Lieberman, director of international policy with the Pew Environment Group.

"This is a key conservation moment - whether the governments here will vote for the conservation of bluefin tuna, or will allow commercial fishery interests to prevail, further causing over-fishing and continued decline of this iconic species," she told BBC News from Doha.

Japan has indicated that it would opt out of a trade ban, as it is entitled to do under CITES rules.

But if all other tuna fishing countries went along with it, there would be no supply of tuna to import.

Conservation groups are urging the EU and US to make sure that other tuna fishing countries, particularly North African states bordering the Mediterranean, do not opt out.

Skin and teeth

The CITES meeting will also consider a US proposal to ban international trade in items originating from polar bears.

Rapid melting of Arctic sea ice in recent decades has placed the polar bear on the Red List of Threatened Species.

The delicate red and pink corals are highly prized by jewellers

About 2,000 items are traded internationally each year, including skin, skulls, teeth and claws.

Although this is not considered to be the major threat to the species’ survival, the US feels that the trade ban would be a help, and would not intrude on the rights of Arctic indigenous peoples with a history of hunting polar bears for meat and skin.

Other proposals would see trade banned in a number of reptiles and amphibians, including three iguanas from Mexico and the critically endangered Luristan newt of Iran.

Four species of shark are also up for consideration, as are the red and pink Corallium corals from the Mediterranean that are used in the jewellery trade.

Hippos are known to be aggressive (Photo: Jill Sonsteby/Solent News)

A zebra at Zurich Zoo appeared to be staring into the jaws of death when visitors saw it nose to nose with an open-mouthed hippopotamus.

But the hippo had no intention of having the zebra for lunch - it was having its teeth cleaned.

The extraordinary sight was captured by photographer Jill Sonsteby, from Jacksonville, Florida.

She said the teeth-cleaning session lasted 15 minutes and the zebra came to no harm.

"The zebra was in the same enclosure as the hippo and its baby," said Ms Sonsteby, 34.

"The hippo opened its mouth and let the zebra in there to clean.

"Everybody was snapping pictures. It was so great to be there at that moment."

Dangerous

The hippopotamus is regarded as one of the most aggressive creatures in the world and has a bite that can cut a small boat in half.

Hippos can weigh up to three tonnes and are the third largest land mammal in the world.

Although they rarely kill each other, hundreds of fatal attacks on people in Africa have been recorded.

Despite its bulky frame, the hippo can outrun a human on land over short distances.

Former Nasa astronauts who went to the Moon have told the BBC of their dismay at President Barack Obama’s decision to push back further Moon missions.

Jim Lovell, commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, said Mr Obama’s decision would have "catastrophic consequences" for US space exploration.

The last man on the Moon, Eugene Cernan, said it was "disappointing".

Last month Mr Obama cancelled Nasa’s Constellation Moon landings programme, approved by ex-President George W Bush.

Nasa still aims to send astronauts back to the Moon, but it is likely to take decades and some believe that it will never happen again.

‘Moral leadership’

The astronauts spoke to the BBC at a private event at the Royal Society in London on Friday organised by the Foundation for Science and Technology.

It will have catastrophic consequences in our ability to explore space and the spin-offs we get from space technology Jim Lovell Apollo 13 commander Obama cancels Moon return project

They were joined there by the first man on the Moon, Neil Armstrong.

As the last astronaut to return to the Apollo 17 lunar module in 1972, Cernan was the last man to set foot on the Moon.

"I’m quite disappointed that I’m still the last man on the Moon," he said. "I thought we’d have gone back long before now."

So why does he believe Americans should go back to the Moon?

The proposed Ares-1 rocket has been cancelled by Mr Obama

"I think America has a responsibility to maintain its leadership in technology and its moral leadership… to seek knowledge. Curiosity’s the essence of human existence."

It is a view shared by fellow Apollo Astronaut Jim Lovell, the heroic commander of Apollo 13.

"Personally I think it will have catastrophic consequences in our ability to explore space and the spin-offs we get from space technology," he said.

"They haven’t thought through the consequences."

Lunar dream alive

Although Cernan and Lovell expressed their dismay with President Obama’s decision, Mr Armstrong tactfully avoided the subject.

When he set foot on the Moon in July 1969, it seemed as if humanity would soon colonise other worlds.

By 1994, when I interviewed him for the first time, he said: "The reality may have faded. But the dream is still there and it will come back in time."

But with the cancellation of Nasa’s Constellation programme to return Americans to the moon by 2020, who is to inspire the next generation?

Nasa still aims to send astronauts back to the Moon, using Nasa to provide incentives and oversight to the private sector for launch services.

It is likely to take some time, however.

Until then we will have the epic tales of Armstrong, Lovell, Cernan and the rest of the Apollo astronaut corps to remind us that all things are possible - and despite the current pause in human spaceflight to other worlds, the dream is still there.

Alcohol consumption is linked to liver disease

Drinkers who are overweight face a "double whammy" impact on their liver, research suggests.

Two studies of more than a million UK men and women suggest excess weight and alcohol act together to raise the risk of cirrhosis and other liver diseases.

Obese women who drink little more than a glass of wine a day have almost double the risk of liver disease than other women, the researchers said.

A similar effect is seen in men, the British Medical Journal reported.

The authors of the research said "safe" alcohol limits for the overweight may need to be redefined.

Rates of liver disease and obesity are increasing in the UK.

Alcohol is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and there is mounting evidence that excess weight also plays a role.

In the first study, researchers at the University of Oxford studied more than a million middle-aged women in England and Wales.

Million Women Study Among women who reported drinking a third to half units a day - 0.8 in 1,000 will develop liver cirrhosis over five years if they are of a healthy weight compared with 1 in 1,000 women who are obese Among women drinking 2.5 units a day, 2.7 in 1,000 will develop liver cirrhosis over five years if they are of healthy weight, compared with 5 in 1,000 women who are obese

They found that being overweight or obese increased the likelihood of developing liver cirrhosis.

Dr Bette Liu of Oxford’s Cancer Epidemiology Unit said: "We estimate that almost 20% of liver cirrhosis in middle-aged UK women is due to excess weight, while almost 50% is due to alcohol consumption."

The second study followed more than 9,000 men in Scotland.

Obese men who said they drank 15 or more units a week had the greatest risk of liver disease; almost 19 times higher than those who were slim.

Writing in the BMJ, the authors said their findings have important health implications.

They said lower body mass index (BMI) specific "safe" limits of alcohol consumption may need to be defined.

National plan

Lead author Dr Carole Hart of the University of Glasgow said: "Further research might show that there could be different limits more applicable to overweight and obese people."

Cirrhosis is the result of long-term damage to the liver

Alison Rogers of the British Liver Trust said the data showed a "double whammy effect" where two causes of liver disease both impact on a person’s liver together, and the impact is greater than the sum of the parts.

The Department of Health said liver disease was a growing problem and they were developing a national strategy to manage it.

A spokesperson said: "Prevention is always better than cure and our public health campaigns on drinking and obesity reflects this."

Nafeica thinks she became infected through drug use

When hepatitis C was first discovered 21 years ago, Nafeica Wafaquani was herself just 21.

She knew nothing of the virus and was by her own admission living a high-risk lifestyle - injecting drugs and not practising safe sex.

"Although we did not know much about hep C," she said. "We did know about HIV so I should have been taking precautions.

"I liked to be pretty rebellious. I was part of a whole subculture who felt that personal was political, squatting was a social statement, drug use was personal choice and sex was as and when a woman wanted it.

Risky lifestyle

"I took a lot of risks, of STDs, unwanted pregnancies, and putting myself in dangerous situations.

"Of course my attitude has changed. I’m now horrified at how many risks I took."

I have been very lucky as I have a strong liver, which has not degenerated much Nafeica Wafaquani

Nafeica does not know exactly how and when she became infected, but believes it could have been through her ex-partner’s habit of sharing needles.

Eight years ago, after learning more about the disease, Nafeica decided to get herself tested.

"I knew I had put myself at risk when younger so it did not come as a huge surprise to be honest, but I had not shown any symptoms," she said.

"I had a lot of fatigue and depression and achy bones, but did not realise it was the hep C."

Future looks promising

Dr Kosh Agarwal, consultant hepatologist at King’s College Hospital, London, said the future is far from bleak for people like Nafeica.

He says doctors can now cure 50% of cases, rising to 80% for some of those with certain genome types.

People worried they might be at risk are being urged to get tested

"Hepatitis C is a disease that we can treat effectively," said Dr Agarwal.

"The key issue is awareness, as most people will not have symptoms for many years.

"Hep C can be cured and the treatments are much better. We can cure 50% of people who come through the door with hep C, but the treatments last between six months to a year.

"I believe very strongly in the next two to three years that we are going to have a whole new batch of antiviral drugs that are going to change the way we treat hep C.

"We are very positive - so get tested and get treated. It is not a death sentence unless you come too late," he said.

Dr Agarwal urged everyone at risk to come for testing, whether or not they had symptoms.

HEPATITIS C TRANSMISSION ROUTES Sharing drug-taking equipment Blood transfusions and blood products - if you received a blood transfusion before September 1991 or blood products before 1986 in the UK From infected mother to baby, before or during birth Through unprotected sex with someone who has the virus Medical and dental treatment abroad, where unsterile equipment may have been used Tattooing, ear or body piercing, acupuncture, electrolysis and semi-permanent make-up where unsterile equipment may have been used By sharing razors or toothbrushes that may have been contaminated with blood from someone who is infected

"Most people who get hep C are unlikely to have much in the way of symptoms so therefore don’t really know that they have hep C it is a sneaky virus that can sit in the background of the liver and cause damage over time.

"If untreated over a significant period of time, hep C can cause end-stage liver disease," he said.

Professor Howard Thomas, professor of medicine at Imperial College, London, and director of the liver and anti-viral centre at St Mary’s Hospital, agreed: "Hepatitis C remains a serious public health threat but it has very quickly become manageable, now being curable in the majority of cases.

"The biggest barrier to successful recovery is not lack of effective antiviral treatment, but the fact that so many people don’t know they have it. I’d urge all those who may be at risk to get tested and treated."

Nafeica, from Wiltshire, said she is very hopeful for her future.

"I have been very lucky as I have a strong liver, which has not degenerated much.

"I have started now on the treatment and have the genome type which responds well to it," she said.

The six unknown acts are two female soloists, two male soloists, a female trio and a mixed five-piece group

The UK will choose its representative for the Eurovision Song Contest later.

Six previously unknown acts will compete for the chance to perform Pete Waterman and Mike Stock’s song in Oslo in May.

After an initial round singing famous hits, three of the acts will be picked by Waterman to sing the new tune, with the winner determined by a public vote.

The UK’s Jade Ewen finished fifth at the last year’s Eurovision, with a song composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Key change

It was the country’s best placing for seven years after a run of disastrous results.

Waterman, who was part of the team behind hits for Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Steps, has remained tight-lipped about his new composition, which will be heard in public for the first time on Your Country Needs You.

Waterman will be joined by panellists Jade Ewen and Bruno Tonioli

He would only confirm that it contains a key change and an "obvious" title.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Waterman said he and Stock "were not frightened" by the challenge and were "used to the pressure".

"This really is what we do, write three-minute Euro pop songs," he added, and praised Lloyd Webber for having staked his reputation on spearheading the UK’s challenge in 2009.

"It’s like entering a competition every time you write [a pop song]. You’re after a number one, not a number two," he continued.

The acts vying for the UK’s berth in Oslo include a teenage singer with Kurdish roots, a jazzy female trio and a male singer and dancer who considers himself a "showman".

Susan Boyle still lives in her council house despite chart success

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with a break-in at singer Susan Boyle’s home in West Lothian, police said.

The incident at the Blackburn home of the Britain’s Got Talent runner-up, happened on 26 January.

Ms Boyle, 48, disturbed the intruder as she returned home from London after recording a charity single for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

Police said the boy will now be reported to the Children’s Reporter.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "A 16-year-old youth has been arrested and charged in connection with a theft that happened at a property in Yule Terrace, Blackburn, on 26 January."

Despite her global success, Ms Boyle, has not moved from the council house she has lived in since she was a child.

Her album, I Dreamed A Dream, went straight to number one in the charts and became the best-selling debut in UK chart history.

More than 400 pieces will be on display at the exhibition

A new exhibition will showcase for the first time the art that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert collected and presented to each other.

The display at Buckingham Palace reveals the couple’s enthusiasm for paintings, sculptures and jewellery.

The 400-piece royal collection is expected to "challenge attitudes towards the monarch," its curator said.

Jonathan Marsden, lead curator for Art and Love, said: "It was really only intended for Albert’s eyes."

‘Secret picture’

He added: "The Queen does not exactly look like a queen, that’s how he knew her - not the rest of the realm."

He added: "We think, ‘who were these people?’, because she doesn’t look like the queen we know, she was a party girl when she was in her 20s and 30s."

He preferred things that took him to a higher place of thinking, while she liked visual satisfaction Jonathan Marsden, lead curator, Art & Love

Victoria’s most glamorous surviving dress, worn at a Buckingham Palace ball in 1851, is part of the exhibition.

Mr Marsden who takes over from Sir Hugh Roberts as director of the Royal Collection next month said: "This wasn’t exactly normal - this was a very elaborate costume gown.

"She would be out dancing all the time, I think what really got her going was music, dancing the theatre, opera."

One of the highlights of the exhibition is the rarely-displayed painting, known as "The Secret Picture" by Franz Xaver Winterhalter, which Victoria commissioned in 1843 as a surprise present for Albert’s 24th birthday.

The oval image shows the Queen in what many Victorians would have described as a sensual pose, with a bare neck and her long hair flowing freely.

Those behind the exhibition said they hoped it would give members of the public an insight into the royal couple’s relationship and their passion for art.

Paintings and sculptures show the nude female form and private artwork shared between Victoria and her husband.

The curator said the royal couple had distinct tastes, with Victoria attracted to works which stimulated the senses, while Albert was more cerebral and preferred art that appealed to his intellect.

"He preferred things that took him to a higher place of thinking, while she liked visual satisfaction," said Mr Marsden.

The exhibition, Victoria and Albert: Art and Love, will open to the public on 19 March and runs until the end of October.

HSBC has offered an unreserved apology to customers

About 24,000 clients of HSBC’s private banking operation in Switzerland had personal details stolen by a former employee, the company has admitted.

In December, HSBC said that just 10 account holders were affected by the theft, which happened three years ago.

The information stolen concerns 15,000 accounts that are still active. Another 9,000 accounts have been closed since the theft.

HSBC says that it does not think the data can be used to access accounts.

"We deeply regret this situation and unreservedly apologise to our clients for this threat to their privacy," said Alexandre Zeller, chief executive of HSBC Private Bank (Suisse).

"We are determined to protect our clients’ interests and are taking every necessary measure to do so, actively contacting all our clients with Swiss-based accounts," he said.

The former employee, Herve Falciani, who worked in HSBC’s IT division, fled to France while under investigation in Switzerland.

French authorities subsequently seized the data, and then passed it to the Swiss Federal Prosecutor.

Switzerland’s financial and banking regulator said it had launched "formal administrative proceedings against HSBC" over the security breach, adding that the stolen data was "extensive".

HSBC, which first learnt of a data breach in December 2008, said it had since invested 100m Swiss francs ($93.3m; £62.3m) to upgrade and improve the security of its data systems.

Mr Zeller said, however, that it was "still unclear how Falciani managed to steal the information".

He said that HSBC had only become aware of the extent of the leak after Swiss authorities received the information from France and then alerted the bank on 3 March.

HSBC said that the account holders were based in several European countries, including Britain.

Tax evasion

News of the theft comes as the US and some countries in Europe try to crack down on tax evasion through the use of overseas accounts.

In recent years there has been pressure on Switzerland and Liechtenstein to become more transparent about accounts held there.

This is thought to have led to some bank employees stealing account data and passing it to tax authorities.

In Germany, an anonymous informer has offered to sell data stolen from an unnamed Swiss bank to tax officials.

Previously, Germany bought similar stolen data about clients of a bank in Liechtenstein. Some of this information was handed to tax authorities in the UK, which is also thought to have paid for the data.

French tax authorities are thought to be investigating up to 3,000 of its nationals using bank accounts outside the country.

Government authorities have defended paying for stolen data as in the public interest. However, the practice has been strongly criticised.

The UK’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) office paid around £100,000 for information about its taxpayers with bank accounts in Liechtenstein, according to accountants UHY Hacker Young.

"Paying criminals for data stolen from banks is highly questionable," said the firm’s tax partner, Roy Maugham.

"If people know that there is a market for this data, they will steal it in expectation that HMRC or another tax authority will hand over a six figure sum," he said.

China has several thousand tigers in its parks and zoos

Eleven rare Siberian tigers have died over the last three months at a zoo in north-eastern China.

The local authorities believe that a lack of food contributed to their deaths, according to media reports.

The news is bound to raise concerns about the treatment of captive tigers in China, which is this year celebrating the year of the tiger.

China has only about 50 tigers left in the wild, but it has about 5,000 in captivity.

The tigers died at the Shenyang Forest Wild Animal Zoo in Liaoning Province. That fact was confirmed by a worker at the zoo.

But there are discrepancies about how they died.

A local wildlife protection official, Liu Xiaoqiang, is reported to have said that malnutrition was one cause.

The tigers were apparently fed cheap chicken bones.

Mr Liu also said that the tigers had been kept in very small cages, restricting their movement and lowering their resistance to disease.

A manager at the zoo, which is currently closed, said the animals simply died of various diseases.

But however the tigers died, their deaths will inevitably raise questions about how the animals are treated in China.

Animal campaign groups say there is simply not enough protection for tigers held in the country’s zoos and farms.

A spokesman for the International Fund for Animal Welfare in Beijing said: "[The government has] given too many credentials to groups that do not have the capability of taking care of these animals."

Tiger trade

In China there is also still a trade in tiger parts, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine.

They are used to treat rheumatism and to strengthen bones.

The BBC recently found that the Siberia Tiger Park, based in Heilongjiang Province in the northeast of China, is selling a "tiger bone wine" that contains three small tiger bones.

These issues have been discussed for some time, both inside and outside China, but they are being given extra prominence this year - because this year is the year of the tiger.

Hippos are known to be aggressive (Photo: Jill Sonsteby/Solent News)

A zebra at Zurich Zoo appeared to be staring into the jaws of death when visitors saw it nose to nose with an open-mouthed hippopotamus.

But the hippo had no intention of having the zebra for lunch - it was having its teeth cleaned.

The extraordinary sight was captured by photographer Jill Sonsteby, from Jacksonville, Florida.

She said the teeth-cleaning session lasted 15 minutes and the zebra came to no harm.

"The zebra was in the same enclosure as the hippo and its baby," said Ms Sonsteby, 34.

"The hippo opened its mouth and let the zebra in there to clean.

"Everybody was snapping pictures. It was so great to be there at that moment."

Dangerous

The hippopotamus is regarded as one of the most aggressive creatures in the world and has a bite that can cut a small boat in half.

Hippos can weigh up to three tonnes and are the third largest land mammal in the world.

Although they rarely kill each other, hundreds of fatal attacks on people in Africa have been recorded.

Despite its bulky frame, the hippo can outrun a human on land over short distances.

Sir David Jason was the voice of Toad in Wind In The Willows

Sir David Jason is to lend his voice to CBBC’s first ever in-house animation series, the channel has announced.

Sir David, who was previously the voice of eyepatch-wearing superhero Danger Mouse, will play Randalf the wizard in the new fantasy series, Muddle Earth.

"I am delighted to be back doing one of the jobs I enjoy most for such a wonderfully entertaining new children’s series," the 70-year-old said.

Music for the show will be played by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

Muddle Earth is based on the book of the same name by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell, and follows the adventures of Randalf and his human apprentice Newt.

Together they try to stop Dr Cuddles and an evil blue teddy bear from taking over the land.

Sir David, who played Detective Inspector Jack Frost for 16 years, also voiced Toad in the animated series The Wind in the Willows.

Head of CBBC animation development Sarah Muller, said: "We are thrilled to have been able to produce a world-class animated series entirely in the UK, which is testament to the extraordinary talent that we’ve been able to gather together.

"CBBC has a strong commitment to support the British animation industry and I hope that Muddle Earth is just the first of many great local successes for us."

The show makes its debut on 15 March.

Ray Charles was a pioneer in soul music

A musical celebrating US musician Ray Charles will open on Broadway in November, it has been announced.

Unchain My Heart will be produced by Stuart Benjamin, who also made the 2004 Oscar-winning movie Ray, which starred Hollywood actor Jamie Foxx.

The musical was originally staged at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2007 with the title Ray Charles Live! A New Musical.

Suzan-Lori Parks, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, has penned a book to accompany the show.

The Broadway cast has yet to be unveiled.

In 2004, Foxx was named best actor at the Academy Awards for his portrayal of the late musician, who was a pioneer in the genre of soul during the 1950s.

The film also won the Oscar for sound mixing.

The current cast members will be replaced

Popular teen drama series Skins has been commissioned for a further two series, E4 has announced.

A new cast will be selected for series five and six. Open auditions will take place in London and Bristol in April, ready for filming in the summer.

Channel 4’s head of drama Camilla Campbell said replacing the cast every two years made Skins a "truly distinctive show".

The first episode of the current series attracted 1.2m viewers in January.

The Bristol-based show, which follows the lives of a group of troubled teenagers, helped launch the careers of Nicholas Hoult, who recently starred in A Single Man and Slumdog Millionaire’s Dev Patel.

Since the show began in 2007, it has explored several hard-hitting storylines including personality disorders, substance abuse and death.

"Skins has always been about new talent, both on and off screen, and the decision to recast the series every two years is one of the reasons Skins stands out," Ms Campbell said.

"Now another group of teenagers will have the rare opportunity to be part of a British drama series that says something about their lives and is one of the most exciting shows on television.

"I can’t wait to find out who they will be."

The current series ends its run next week.

The sign was first erected in 1923 as part of a housing development

Film director Peter Jackson may face legal action over his plans to install a version of the famous Hollywood sign in New Zealand, according to reports.

The proposed Wellywood sign would sit above the Oscar-winning director’s studios in his home city of Wellington.

But the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which owns the original sign in Los Angeles, has threatened legal action.

"The sign is trademarked," president Leron Gubler told the Telegraph,"and we constantly enforce our trademarks".

"It’s fine for them to put up a sign, just don’t duplicate ours."

Jackson, best known for his Academy Award-winning adaptation The Lord of the Rings, had hoped to emulate the original 1923 sign, but has been warned that the font and staggered lettering of the sign constitute the trademark.

"Having a big Wellywood sign pokes affectionate fun at Hollywood, and the satire doesn’t work if you’re designing something that looks completely different," said Jackson.

‘Tacky’

The success of Jackson’s fantasy trilogy, filmed over 15 months, pumped some $200m ($285m NZ, £131m) into the local economy and turned Wellington into an international centre for film-making.

"This is the heart and soul of New Zealand’s film industry," said mayor Kerry Prendergast, who is backing Jackson’s sign.

Planning permission has been granted, with the sign due to be installed in June.

Bt mayoral candidate Jack Yan - who contacted the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in a bid to stall the sign’s go-ahead - has deemed it "tacky and unoriginal".

The domain clash could cause confusion for many

Social media activists are up in arms over plans by the UK’s police watchdog for a project with the same name as an existing web initiative.

MyPolice.org was set up in mid-2009 to funnel feedback from victims of crime and others to police forces.

But Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has unveiled plans for a project based around a site called Mypolice.org.uk.

The MyPolice.org founders say they may change their name to avoid confusion.

Force feedback

"This came completely out of the blue," said Lauren Currie, one of the founders of MyPolice.org.

Ms Currie said she and co-founder Sarah Drummond have been working on MyPolice.org since the summer of 2009 and were now getting close to launch.

The idea is to use the website as a central point through which to route messages to police forces about the job they are doing. It will also gather information about local issues and pass them on to UK forces.

"We are about giving feedback and we want that to result in change," said Ms Currie. "That’s why it’s called MyPolice. We are empowering people to make changes and make their voice heard."

"We have a lot of forces itching to be the pilot," she said adding that people were bound to be puzzled by a the HMIC launching a different service with the same name and very similar website.

Confusion was evident even before the HMIC site formally launched.

"It’s causing a huge problem," said Ms Currie. Many supporters had got in touch in reaction to media reports about the launch of MyPolice, she said, only to find out that the reports were about the HMIC project.

One disgruntled supporter of MyPolice.org has set up a parody website called MyHMIC.org to collect comments about the clash. Many others have vented their feelings on micro-blogging service Twitter.

HMIC said its mypolice.org.uk website would be used by members of the public to find out information about how their local force is performing.

In a statement an HMIC spokesman said: "We spoke with the owners of www.mypolice.org, and it is clear that we offer very different online products. Both however aim to improve engagement between the public and their police; and this is to be applauded.

"We remain very happy to work with www.mypolice.org to offer the best possible service to the public."

A spokeswoman for HMIC declined a chance to expand on its statement.

Ms Currie said the two projects have discussed the domain name confusion. The HMIC said it has no plans to change the name of its project nor move it to another site.

Legal action by MyPolice.org has been ruled out, said Ms Currie. "We don’t want to go down that route," she told the BBC.

A spokesman for Nominet, which oversees the .uk domain, said Mypolice.org may have a case under its dispute resolution system. Although MyPolice.org does not own the .uk version it may be able to take it over as HMIC’s action could be rule as "unfair".

However, he warned, each case was judged on its merits and the dispute resolution might mean HMIC keeps its claim to the .uk domain.

China’s top internet official has warned that Google will "pay the consequences" if it continues to go against Chinese law.

Google announced in January that it would no longer comply with China’s internet censorship laws.

It warned that it may shut down google.cn because of censorship and a hacking attack on the portal.

Minister of Industry and Information Technology Li Yizhong was speaking at China’s annual legislation session.

"We need to preserve our nation’s interest, our people’s interest, we cannot be relaxed with any information that will cause harm to the stability of our society, to our system, and to the health of our under-age young people," he said.

"So, of course, what needs to be shut down will be shut down, what needs to be blocked will be blocked."

‘Up to them’

Google began operations in China in 2006 to widespread criticism. While many argued Google was complicit in the censorship imposed by Chinese government, Google insisted it was nevertheless serving the public interest even though it was furnishing censored results.

Relations between China and Google cooled in January after what Google described as a sophisticated cyber attack in which the webmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists were targeted.

Since then, the firm has been in talks with Chinese officials about how to provide an unfiltered service but still remain within the law. Google chief executive Eric Schmidt said this week that he hoped the results of those consultations would be revealed soon.

Mr Li said that whether the firm quits China or not is "up to them", saying the internet would flourish in China regardless.

"I hope that Google will abide and respect the Chinese government’s laws and regulations," he said.

"But, if you betray Chinese laws and regulations… it means that you are unfriendly, irresponsible, and you will have to pay the consequences."

Google is a distant second in search engine stakes in China, holding less than a third of the market; rival Baidu has about 60%.

Evan Williams’ Twitter has grown by 1500% in the past year

Social networks will become the fundamental way we communicate with our governments, Twitter co-founder Evan Williams has told the BBC.

He said that Twitter will be expanding into regions where only the simplest of technology is available, such as in Haiti or parts of India.

In areas where censorship hinders freedom of speech, he hopes the "open exchange of information will prevail".

He also added there are still no plans to charge end users to use the site.

"Our goal at Twitter is to be a force for good," he told the BBC’s Carrie Grace on The Interview.

"We have a fundamental belief, having worked on this type of thing for 10 years, that the open exchange of information has a positive impact on the world."

Part of this vision, Mr Williams adds, will require the service to expand into areas where technology is more limited.

"We think it’s particularly exciting in regions where they have less access to information.

"Which is why we’re pushing to expand SMS coverage in India, and Haiti, and other areas where with the simplest mobile phone you can get updates and information you’ve never got before."

But restrictions on Twitter’s reach is not just down to technology limitations.

"Last we checked, we were blocked in China.

"My hope is that eventually the open exchange of information will prevail in most regions, but we don’t have any specific plans in China or other areas where we’re blocked."

Lucrative offer

For the 38-year-old Nebraskan, the free exchange of information is his key motivation - and a key part of why Twitter turned down an offer from Facebook rumoured to be between $300-$500m.

And the more people that use Twitter, the more money we make, the better we can make Twitter Evan Williams

"Most of the biggest and most interesting services are independent.

"I believe that companies that are independent are more competitive, ultimately.

"What we’re working on is technology that has the power to change things, and that’s very, very exciting and motivating."

Motivation, however, is not enough to keep one of the world’s most popular websites operational.

Mr Williams joined the BBC from San Francisco

"We can’t change the world if we can’t pay for our servers and employees.

"We are working on how we make money."

Thus far, Twitter has survived on outside investors and, more recently, deals with Microsoft and Google to list messages - "tweets" - into search results.

"The real scalable business model is still in the works," he added, citing inspiration from Google’s Adwords advertising scheme.

"What we want to do is build something into the product that makes us money and makes the product better.

"And the more people that use Twitter, the more money we make, the better we can make Twitter."

Big names

Twitter’s phenomenal growth has in part been down to its adoption by a raft of celebrities.

Mr Williams, however, is less excited by the big names on Twitter - Oprah Winfrey, Stephen Fry et al - than he is about White House press secretary Robert Gibbs signing up.

"[He's] using it to give these sort of inside peeks from the White House and behind the scenes.

"He’s definitely using it as part of their strategy and supporting Obama.

"So that seems important because it’s really changing the game there."

THE INTERVIEW The Interview is a weekly programme broadcast on the BBC World Service . It is broadcast on Friday at 1132GMT and repeated on Saturday at 0332GMT, 1132GMT and on Sunday at 0632GMT It is also available as a podcast

He sees people such as Robert Gibbs being instrumental in Twitter’s long-term future.

Likewise, the White House has acknowledged the importance of Twitter correspondence - it recently announced that its tweets will be archived in accordance with the Presidential Records Act of 1978.

"I think Twitter will be a fundamental part of how people interact with their government," continued Mr Williams.

"I think it will be how you get personal, customised information from every entity you care about, from your local café to your government, from your politician to your friends and family."

Word 2003 and 2007 are the most common versions on the market

Microsoft has lost an appeal against a court judgement that told it to pay $240m (£160m) in damages.

In August 2009, a US court awarded the damages to i4i which claimed Microsoft had infringed its patents.

The patents cover the use of XML, a mark-up language that preserves data formats across different programs.

The judgement also required Microsoft to remove the i4i technology from its Office software suite and stop selling the infringing programs.

The injunction on sales began in January 2010 and applied to any Microsoft Office software, specifically Word 2003 and 2007, containing the infringing patents.

Since it lost the first round of the legal battle, Microsoft has been stripping the disputed technology from its Office products.

Soon after losing the initial case, Microsoft filed an appeal asking the court to re-think its decision. In December 2009, a panel of judges upheld the initial ruling.

In this second appeal, the court again re-affirmed the original ruling and spelled out why that decision was made. In court documents spelling out their reasoning, the three appeal court judges said there was evidence that Microsoft knew i4i technology was patented before it turned up in Office programs.

The appeal is not the last that Microsoft can make. The court documents are now being sent to the other appeal court judges who will decide if Microsoft has grounds for a wider review of the case.

The decision on the whether to hold that review is due within the next six weeks. If that is refused then Microsoft can appeal again to the Supreme Court.

I4i’s patents date from 1998 and outline a way of "manipulating the architecture and the content of a document separately from each other" that invokes XML as the means of doing this.

I4i founder Michel Vulpe said he was "pleased with the court’s continued decision to uphold the injunction".