Lou Pearlman has forfeited four cars to help repay victims

Boy band mogul Lou Pearlman, who created the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for a $300m (£153m) fraud.

Pearlman swindled family, friends, investors and banks by enticing them to put money into two fake companies for 20 years. He pleaded guilty in March.

As part of a plea agreement, he pledged to help prosecute his accomplices.

Judge G Kendall Sharp said he would reduce the term by one month for every $1m (£0.5m) he gave back to victims.

The sympathy factor doesn't run high with the court Judge G Kendall Sharp

Prosecutors counted at least 250 individual victims who lost a total of $200m (£102m), plus 10 financial institutions that lost $100m (£51m).

The judge held up letters in the Florida court from people who Pearlman defrauded.

They included "his family, his close friends and people in their 70s and 80s who have lost their life savings", the judge said.

"So the sympathy factor doesn't run high with the court," he added.

Pearlman was behind boy bands including the Backstreet Boys

Pearlman had admitted persuading people to invest millions of dollars in two companies that existed "only on paper".

In a statement, Pearlman said: "Over the past nine months since my arrest, I've come to realise the harm that's been done. I'm truly sorry and I apologise for what's happened."

Pearlman unsuccessfully tried to delay sentencing while he launched his current boy band US5 - already successful in parts of Europe - in the US and Asia.

He said money made by the band could be used to repay people he had swindled.

Pearlman has also agreed to forfeit four cars, including a 2004 Rolls Royce Phantom.

Day of violence in Johannesburg suburb In pictures

South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki has approved the deployment of the army to quell violence against foreigners.

The announcement from his office came after xenophobic attacks spread outside Johannesburg to the city of Durban.

It is the first time troops are being ordered out onto the streets to quell unrest since the end of apartheid.

The violence, which began last week, has left more than 20 people dead and is estimated to have driven 30,000 people from their homes.

The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation says many of the people were sheltering in mosques and churches around Johannesburg.

There are believed to be between three and five million foreigners living in South Africa, most of them Zimbabweans fleeing poverty and violence at home.

SOUTH AFRICA Foreign population: 3-5m Majority from Zimbabwe, also Mozambique, Nigeria Total population: 49m Unemployment rate: 30% Tensions erupt in city of promise Bloggers want end to violence

The Durban attack prompted about 700 African migrants to seek refuge in a nearby church while in Cape Town a safety forum has been set up to try to prevent violence.

Police say a group armed with sticks and bottles attacked Nigerians drinking in a tavern overnight.

In Johannesburg, police fired rubber bullets to disperse mobs in one area on Tuesday.

'Political'

There are fears that politicians are exploiting the situation in Durban.

"A mob of plus/minus 200 were gathering on the streets carrying bottles and knobkerries (wooden clubs) busy attacking people on the streets," Provincial police spokeswoman Superintendent Phindile Radebe told AFP news agency.

"They attacked one of the taverns there believed to be owned by Nigerians," she said.

KwaZulu-Natal's Community Safety Minister Bheki Cele blamed Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party members for being behind the Durban violence.

"These are purely criminal activities and they will be dealt with decisively in ensuring that xenophobic attacks are not used as scapegoats for criminals who want to serve their own selfish interests," he said in a statement.

The attacks on foreigners began a week ago in the township of Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, before spreading to the city centre and across the Gauteng region.

Mobs have been roaming townships looking for foreigners, many of whom have sought refuge in police stations, churches and community halls.

Some South Africans say foreigners are taking jobs from locals and contributing to crime.

Earlier, President Mbeki urged South Africans to welcome foreigners.

Khyra Ishaq was taken to hospital on Saturday. Pic: Caters News Agency

A woman and man have been charged with neglect after the death of a seven-year-old girl.

Khyra Ishaq, of Leyton Road in Handsworth, Birmingham, was taken to hospital on Saturday where she was pronounced dead.

Tests are continuing to find the cause of Khyra's death.

Angela Gordon, 33, and 29-year-old Junaid Abuhamza were charged with neglect at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The pair, believed to be Khyra's mother and stepfather, were remanded in custody until 28 May.

A Birmingham Crown Court spokesman said Ms Gordon and Mr Abuhamza would appear at the court for a preliminary hearing on that date, charged with causing or allowing the death of a child between 9 May and 17 May.

According to neighbours there were six children living in the house, three boys and three girls.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called to the address in Handsworth at 0545 BST on Saturday. From that address Khyra was taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

A statement by West Midlands Police said inquiries into the girl's death were continuing. "Her cause of death has not been confirmed at this stage," it added.

Valerie Frances, the sister of Kyra's natural father, said she was "shocked" by the news of her niece's death.

Speaking outside the house in Handsworth she said: "All the time I have been coming here I couldn't get into the house, as far as I am concerned because nobody was there.

"The last time I saw them was last year some time. I've been coming here all the time, knocking on the door on four occasions and no-one came to the door."

Birmingham Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood pledged to write to the chief executive of the council on Thursday calling for an inquiry to look at all the issues in the case.

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: "We are deeply saddened by the death of this child and our sympathies go to the child's family and friends at this difficult time.

"This death is now the subject of a police inquiry and Birmingham City Council are fully supporting their investigation."

The door and ground floor windows of the house in Leyton Road have been covered with metal shutters.

A family friend, who did not want to be named, said: "Khyra was a happy girl. I saw her with her mum about nine or 10 days ago, she looked normal."

The coroner's office said it would be "at least another week" before a second post-mortem examination takes place.

The by-election takes place on Thursday

The Information Commissioner is launching an investigation after the Conservatives accidentally sent details of 8,000 people to a radio station.

The e-mail sent contained the names, addresses, telephone numbers and intentions of voters in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election.

Deputy Information Commissioner David Smith said the disclosure, to Manx Radio, raised "serious concern".

The Conservatives admitted a "mistake" had been made.

Files deleted

The information, which had been gathered by the Tories during the campaign for Thursday's by-election, was contained in three Excel files, and was sent in an e-mail to Manx Radio by accident, potentially breaching data protection laws.

The e-mail was received by the radio station at lunchtime on Wednesday.

It sent it on to the local newspaper in Crewe, although it is understood that both emails have now been deleted.

Mr Smith said: "It is a serious concern if people's personal details and voting intentions have got into the public domain.

"Voting information is particularly sensitive. We will be launching an investigation to establish the full facts and see where responsibility lies."

A Conservative spokesman said: "The email shouldn't have been sent but we have done all that we can to ensure that it remains confidential.

"The email - which was based on information from the electoral register - was sent in error to a journalist.

"Within two and half hours the recipient was informed. Both he and the local newspaper he sent it on to have now given undertakings that the information on the email has been destroyed.

"A third media outlet was also forwarded the email. It is unclear by whom. They too have given an undertaking that the contents will not be published.

"An internal investigation has already discovered that it was due to human error but an internal inquiry has begun to ensure that it does not happen again."

Polling stations in Crewe and Nantwich open at 0700 BST and close at 2200 BST on Thursday. The result is expected at about 0230 BST on Friday.

The by-election follows the death of long-serving MP Gwyneth Dunwoody last month.

Eleven elderly people accused of being witches have been burned to death by a mob in the west of Kenya, police say.

A security operation has been launched to hunt down villagers suspected of killing them in Kisii District.

The BBC's Muliro Telewa in the region says the gang had a list of the victims and picked them out individually.

The area has witnessed similar attacks in the past when people suspected of engaging in witchcraft have been killed or ostracised.

But our reporter says that this is a surprisingly large number of people to be attacked at the same time.

'Witches meeting'

Anthony Kibunguchy, the provincial police officer, told the BBC that the eight women and three men were all aged between 80 and 96 years old.

The mob dragged them out of their houses and burned them individually and then set their homes alight, our correspondent says.

Residents have been ambivalent about condemning the attacks because belief in witchcraft is widespread in the area, he says.

But local official Mwangi Ngunyi spoke out against the murders.

"People must not take the law into their own hands simply because they suspect someone," he told AFP news agency.

Villagers told reporters that they had evidence that the victims were witches.

They say they found an exercise book at a local primary school that contained the minutes of a "witches' meeting" which detailed who was going to be bewitched next.

The victim's families have gone into hiding, fearing for their lives.

Former policeman Ian Shuttleworth is led away by Thai police

A former British policeman has been arrested in Thailand over claims he sold women into slavery.

Ian Shuttleworth is accused of luring Thai women to London under false promises of a job in a restaurant.

Thai police believe the women were then sold to brothel owners who forced them into sex slavery.

Mr Shuttleworth, 45, who runs a security services agency in Bangkok, protested his innocence at a media conference in Bangkok on Wednesday.

Police Major General Panya Maman said: "We arrested him because a victim, whom the suspect sent abroad but now is in Thailand, insisted that the suspect sent her for prostitution."

No charges

Mr Shuttleworth, who was born in St Helens, Merseyside, said: "An allegation has been made and the police have to do their job.

"They must arrest me in the circumstances because of the allegation that has been made.

I know that my dad has nothing to worry about James Shuttleworth

"At the moment, I don't really know exactly what the situation is."

No charges have yet been brought by Thai police.

Mr Shuttleworth's son James, 27, a project manager from Leeds, who was with him when he was arrested, told BBC London he was shocked at the allegations.

But he added: "I know that my dad has nothing to worry about."

He said his father was semi-retired and had been living in Bangkok for around five years.

Bella's owner says she is at least 28 years old

A Derbyshire couple are trying to prove their pet Labrador cross is the oldest dog in the world.

Bella's owner David Richardson, 76, said he bought the mixed breed dog from the RSPCA 26 years ago when she was "at least three years old".

That would make Bella's age more than 200 in canine years.

But the RSPCA said it does not have any records for Bella and Guinness World Records said without the appropriate paperwork it could not be proved.

Mr Richardson said he thought Bella might be the oldest dog in England, but was shocked to realise that she might be the oldest in the world.

Sweet tooth

His partner Daisy Cooper said Bella was showing signs of her age, but still goes for a walk in the park.

She eats little as she has only two teeth left, but loves to suck on sweets.

Mr Richardson said when he went to the RSPCA to buy a dog he wasn't allowed to have an Alsatian because he was 50 years old.

"My choice was between Bella and another dog. She seemed friendlier so I chose Bella," he said.

Gareth Deaves, records manager from Guinness World Records, said "unless we can find some really clear evidence from the RSPCA" they would not be able to prove Bella's age.

According to Mr Deaves, the most recent record for the oldest dog was held by Butch, a 28-year-old from America who died in 2003. The oldest ever dog was Bluey, a sheepdog from Australia, who lived to 29.

Fans waved flags and banners as their teams walked out onto the pitch

Manchester United have beaten Chelsea in the Champions League final in a penalty shoot-out, after the match ended 1-1 after extra time.

About 40,000 British supporters packed the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow for the game - the first all-English final in the tournament's history.

Many fans had gathered in the city's famous Red Square during the day.

UK police have travelled to Moscow to assist their local counterparts and prevent any trouble after the game.

Police spokesman Yevgeny Gildeyev said more than 6,000 police had formed three giant security cordons around the stadium.

The only apparent trouble so far came a few hours before the game, when a dozen young Russians reportedly threw glass bottles at Chelsea fans who were drinking outside a popular bar.

'Bit late'

Ahead of the game, fans took in the sights of Red Square and queued to view the Champions League trophy which was on display.

BBC Moscow correspondent James Rodgers said the UK fans had been joined by Russian supporters keen to meet their British counterparts.

He said the match was "a huge event for Moscow", adding: "It's clear that to Russia this match is not just a game. It's a chance to prove itself as a venue for international sporting events."

Some fans complained about difficulties getting around the city, with delays caused by traffic congestion and long queues to check in to hotels - despite efforts by the Russian authorities to ease their way, with special buses and bus lanes to ensure fans do not get caught in rush hour jams.

FINAL FACTS Some 700 buses transported fans from airports to supporter "camps" More than 6,000 police and military formed cordons around the stadium Police will not tolerate drinking or smoking in Red Square Live - Champions League final So far, so peaceful in Moscow Fans stranded by cancelled flight

United supporter Jim Wilson, 43, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, complained that Moscow authorities had not done enough to help travelling fans.

He added: "Nobody speaks English and there were no signs in English, on the underground or anywhere else."

Chelsea fan Gary Millis, 49, from Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, said he was also finding it difficult to make his way around the city.

"I think they've left everything a bit late, in terms of their planning - they've known for ages that the match would be played here," he said.

While thousands of fans flew to Moscow on charter flights from the UK, others made the journey via other cities such as Helsinki, to cut flight costs.

But one charter flight from Gatwick Airport to Moscow was cancelled on Wednesday because of a technical problem with the aircraft, leaving 224 Chelsea fans unable to travel to the match.

One fan speaks of his Gatwick nightmare

Manchester United are bidding to become European champions for the third time, while it is Chelsea's first appearance in the final.

Eighteen specialist UK police officers - two from the national football policing unit and eight each from the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) - are in Moscow.

Their role is to act as "spotters" to try to prevent any English fans causing trouble or engaging in anti-social behaviour.

Fans have described the policing so far as "relaxed".

Speaking from Moscow, Chief Superintendent Janette McCormick said: "Although GMP officers have no powers of arrest abroad and ultimate responsibility for policing the game lies with the Russian authorities, we have been gathering intelligence on potential and known troublemakers, and GMP officers will be in Moscow in an advisory role."

She urged supporters to follow the advice being given - do not travel without a legitimately-purchased ticket, use the official transport provided to the stadium and be mindful of personal safety.

The Met said a number of officers with specialist knowledge of Chelsea followers who posed a risk would be acting in support of local police.

Stand-by

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said: "We know who the main troublemakers are and if any try to travel to Russia they will be arrested and dealt with by the full weight of the law."

Fans have been taking in the sights of Moscow

Fans were not allowed to travel to the game from British airports unless they had a match ticket, their passport and a flight ticket.

The Russian authorities had laid on a fleet of 700 buses to transport fans directly from airports to supporter "camps", then on to the stadium for the game.

There were no big screens erected to enable those who did make it to Moscow without tickets to view the match.

Alcohol consumption is banned in all public areas in Moscow and supporters face arrest if they drink in the street.