Shock winners of Nine’s The Block

Rookie renovators Steve and Chantelle have won the 2014 Block fans v faves with a massive auction result

Underdogs ... Steve O'Donnell and Chantelle Ford with host Scott Cam after their shock auction win on Tuesday night. Picture: Ian Currie. Source: News Corp Australia

THIS is a result nobody saw coming.

Steve O'Donnell and Chantelle Ford have shocked TV viewers by hammering their more experienced rivals to win The Block: Fans v Faves.

The Victorian couple silenced the doubters when their Albert Park Dux apartment sold for a whopping $2.47 million — $636,000 above reserve.

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The pair pocketed an extra $100,000 for their win on a night when the four teams netted a combined total of $2.4265 million — believed to be an all-time record for an Australian TV show.

Steve, 35, a chimney sweep, and Chantelle, 31, a sales and marketing business owner, have been dating for two years.

"We'd just hope the apartment would sell," Chantelle says. "We didn't dare dream about what we'd do (if we won). The first thing we're going to do is have a party with our tradies."

Steve and Chantelle's relationship has come under the microscope in recent times but the couple say they still very much together.

"We're closer than ever really," Chantelle says. "Every relationship has arguments and disagreements and people caught some of those on camera.

"People say if you can survive The Block you can survive anything and we have come out the other end together.

"We get to have this memory with each other forever which is so cool."

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Upset win ... Brad, Sophie and Dale congratulate a shocked Steve O'Donnell and Chantelle Ford. Picture: Ian Currie Source: News Corp Australia

Brad and Dale's Apartment 4 was first up for auction and there was fierce bidding between two parties.

The pair's reserve was set at $1,802,750 but it wasn't long before bids crossed the $2 million threshold. The apartment sold for $2.31 million — $507,250 above reserve.

That set the tone for the rest of the auctions where bids came thick and fast and punched through $2 million within seconds.

Kyal and Kara, the viewers' favourites to win, were in a state of shock after their Apartment 2 was sold for $2.44 million — $567,250 above their reserve of $1,872,750.

"This is truly life changing," were the only words Kyal could utter after the result.

Alisa and Lysandra were reduced to tears when their Apartment 3 sold for $2.375 million — a massive $616,000 above the reserve of $1.759 million.

Last year, the pair netted $395,000 when they won The Block: Sky High.

"That was insane," the twins said after the auction. "We have now won over $1 million on The Block."

The best came last. Steve and Chantelle had struggled right throughout the 12 weeks of renovation and were given no chance by punters to win.

Some viewers even doubted the couple would make reserve for Apartment 1.

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How wrong they were. The final auction was frenzied as bidders who had missed out on the previous three apartments took no prisoners.

Given little chance ... A bleary-eyed Steve O'Donnell and Chantelle Ford celebrate their win on The Block: Fans v Faves. Picture: David Caird. Source: News Corp Australia

The pair's reserve of $1.834 million was smashed straight up and by the time the hammer came down, they had beaten Alisa and Lysandra by $20,000.

"When Steve and I applied for The Block we didn't realise we'd be up against previous winners who had done it all before," Chantelle says.

"We did feel out of our depth (at first). We took it week by week and our confidence did grow."

The Block: Fans v Faves has been a ratings stunner for Nine, averaging upwards of 1.8 million viewers nationally on Sunday nights.

The new series of The Block has just started filming in Prahran in inner city Melbourne and will screen later in the year. The new teams will have a hard time beating the monster figures achieved tonight.

"This is a great result for the couples who have worked so hard for every dollar they have earned in profit at the auctions," Nine's director of television, Michael Healy, says. "This project required real entrepreneurial spirit and hard work. I'm really happy for all concerned."

Host and Gold Logie nominee Scott Cam was so overcome by the auction results that he did a fully clothed 'bomb' into the Fans v Faves swimming pool.

Contestants have now won a total of $8,131,501 across eight series of The Block..

Taste of victory ... Steve O'Donnell and Chantelle Ford enjoy a spot of champers before breakfast today. Picture: David Caird Source: News Corp Australia

THE BLOCK: THE MATCH REPORT

Just incase you missed The Block final, here are all the auction results and the winners for 2014, Steve and Chantelle. Courtesy: The Block/Nine Network

Apartment 4 — Brad and Dale

Reserve: $1,802,750

Sold: $2,310,000

Profit: $507,250

Apartment 2 — Kyal and Kara

Reserve: $1,872,750

Sold: $2,440,000

Profit: $567,250

Apartment 3 — Alisa and Lysandra

Reserve: $1,759,000

Sold: $2,375,000

Profit: $616,000

Apartment 1 — Steve and Chantelle

Reserve: $1,834,000

Sold: 2,470,000

Profit: $636,000

Plus $100,000 prize money

TOTAL: $736,000

TOTAL MONEY EARNED BY ALL CONTESTANTS THIS SERIES $2,426,500

Stealing the limelight ... The Block host Scott Cam finishes the show with a fully clothed leap into the ground floor pool. Picture: Ian Currie Source: News Corp Australia

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Drug tests needed on Peaches

The spotlight was never far away during the short life of Peaches Geldof.

Death remains a mystery ... Forensic police at Peaches Geldof's home where her body was found. Source: Getty Images

THE autopsy on Peaches Geldof, who died suddenly aged 25, proved inconclusive, police said, as they awaited the results of toxicology tests.

Peaches, the daughter of musician Bob Geldof, was found dead at her countryside home in Wrotham in Kent, on Monday.

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Toxicology tests needed to determine how she died ... Peaches Geldof died suddenly aged 25 after posting a picture of herself as a baby with her late mother, Paula Yates. Source: AFP

Kent Police said her death remained "a non-suspicious, unexplained sudden death".

"A post-mortem examination held on Wednesday following the death of Peaches Geldof has proved inconclusive pending the result of toxicology analysis," police said in a statement.

"Officers continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death in order to compile a report for the coroner.

"The result of a toxicology report can take several weeks."

Toxicology tests are for a variety of toxins, including natural toxins, such as those associated with poisonous plants or animals, chemicals found in the environment, alcohol and drugs — both prescription and illicit.

It has been revealed today that Peaches had complained to her husband that she was "bored and exhausted" by having to look after their two young children and had a fragile self-image.

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Peaches commented on her life incessantly on social media sites as she appeared to crave the approval of strangers in the online world to bolster a fragile self-image.

Throughout the day, even several times an hour, she would tweet a picture or a short video clip shot on her phone.

"It was all a way of her crying: 'Love me, love me, love me!'" Gerry Agar, a close family friend, said.

"Peaches had such terrible self-esteem issues, just as her mum did, and you could see that in the social media"

The day before she was found dead Peaches posted a photograph on Twitter of herself with her late mother, the TV presenter Paula Yates.

Many of Peaches's posts on her Instagram website were about her struggle to get her sons to sleep and her own exhaustion.

Peaches also complained to her husband, Tom Cohen, a singer in a punk band, that she was bored.

Cohen and their sons were believed to be staying with his parents in New Eltham, London, when her body was found after a relative had called police with a "concern for the welfare" of Peaches.

Peaches, who was on her second marriage, recently wrote that reading books on the past lives of children had made her "believe in reincarnation".

In December last year she posted an image on her Instagram website of herself with her eldest son, Astala, which she believed included a "ghost" hand. She said it was linked to a previous occupant of the house who drowned herself after suffering a miscarriage.

In a message to her husband she wrote: "Please come see me, I am scared."

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‘We’re more optimistic it’s MH370’

Authorities say submarines searching for MH370 will only be deployed when another signal is detected.

Searching ... Able Seaman Boatswain's Mate Cameron Grant directing the boat coxswain on a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) of HMAS Perth while searching for debris from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Source: AFP

MALAYSIA'S Prime Minister calls on the world to unite in prayer, saying he is "more optimistic" that MH370 can be found amid the discovery of two new signals.

Najib Razak tweeted that the update from Joint Agency Coordination Centre head and retired Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston had provided hope.

"Let's all pray," he wrote. "Through Angus Houston JACC informed us of d 2 new signals ... We are cautiously more optimistic."

Air Chief Marshal Houston said the number of transmissions detected by Ocean Shield now stood at four.

"(The) signals will assist in better defining a reduced and much more manageable search area on the ocean floor," he said. "The better Ocean Shield can define the area, the easier it will be for the autonomous underwater vehicle to subsequently search for aircraft wreckage."

"I believe we are searching in the right area, but we need to visually identify aircraft wreckage before we can confirm with certainty that this is the final resting place of MH370," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

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Optimistic ... Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (R) bids farewell to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak after his visit to Perth. Source: AFP

The news was warmly received by Malaysia's Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein who tweeted that Air Chief Marshal Houston was "very professional" and "seems (like) a good man."

Air Chief Marshal Houston said data analysis of the first two detections found they were consistent with "the specification and description" of a flight data recorder.

Two signals ... The chief co-ordinator of the Joint Agency Coordination Center Retired Australian Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston. Source: AP

According to work conducted by the Australian Joint Acoustic Analysis Centre at HMAS Albatross in Nowra NSW, it was not of natural origin and was "likely sourced" from specific electronic equipment.

Defence Minister David Johnston said he was confident that there is life in the black box despite the days that have passed.

"May I say the battery life in the black box transponder has a long way to go in our opinion, certainly several days into the future," Senator Johnston said.

A Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion flying past Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield on a mission to drop sonar buoys to assist in the acoustic search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Source: AFP

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Pistorius ill as fatal wound shown

On trial, Oscar Pistorius was asked if he intended to kill Reeva Steenkamp. Courtesy: CNN

Became physically ill ... Oscar Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria. Source: AP

JUNE Steenkamp, mother of the late Reeva Steenkamp, approached prosecutor Gerrie Nel after he compared her late daughter's head to a watermelon and showed a shocking and graphic image of her fatal wound to the court during the Oscar Pistorius murder trial.

Live television coverage of the trial was blocked and the proceedings adjourned after a photograph, clearly showing Reeva Steenkamp's face in profile and the head wound, was shown on courtroom monitors.

Seconds earlier, after an initial objection from the defence, Nel had shown the court a video of Pistorius firing a pistol at a watermelon at a shooting range.

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Shocking and graphic image ... June Steenkamp, Reeva's mother, is comforted by family lawyer Dup de Bruyn, as they listen to cross questioning of Oscar Pistorius. Source: AP

The hollow-point ammunition being used by Pistorius caused the watermelon to explode. A voice, which Pistorius acknowledged was his, can be heard saying, "It's a lot softer than brain, but it is like a zombie-stopper".

Nel put it to Pistorius that the effect that the bullet had on the watermelon was the same as that which struck Steenkamp in the head.

"Have a look," he said. "It's about time you did. It's time you took responsibility for what you did."

"I don't have to look at it," Pistorius said, sobbing. "I remember. I was there."

The image then appeared on the monitors and, for several seconds before being blocked by broadcasters, was shown on the live television feed.

When Pistorius became distressed and physically ill, the trial was adjourned.

During the break June Steenkamp, who has remained composed throughout proceedings, left her seat to speak to Nel. Pistorius's brother Carl and sister Aimee, visibly upset, conferred with the defence team.

When the court resumed 15 minutes later Nel, who had attacked Pistorius aggressively from the first question of his cross-examination, was markedly softer in his approach.

Fatal attraction ... Oscar Pistorius and girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who he is accused of murdering. Source: AP

Nel began his cross-examination by saying: "You killed Reeva Steenkamp, that is what you did." "I made a mistake," Pistorius replied.

"People look up to you as a sport hero," the prosecutor said. "I know a lot of people's opinions of me have changed," Pistorius answered.

Asked by Nel whether he lived according to "strictly Christian principles," the athlete said: "I try to. The Lord said he came down to this world for people who have sins. I am human. I am here to tell the truth."

Earlier, Pistorius told the court Miss Steenkamp was still alive for a short time after being shot.

On his third day of giving evidence the double-amputee Olympian said Miss Steenkamp, his girlfriend of four months, was "struggling to breathe" after he had shot her through a locked toilet door on Valentine's Day last year.

His evidence was contrary to that delivered earlier in the trial by expert witnesses for the prosecution who asserted that death would have been instantaneous after one of four shots fired through the door struck Miss Steenkamp in the head.

Pistorius is charged with the premeditated murder of the 29 year-old law graduate and model. The prosecution case is that he deliberately shot Miss Steenkamp in a fit of rage. Pistorius has told the court he fired believing he was about be attacked by an intruder.

In his final direct evidence before being cross-examined by prosecutor Nel, Pistorius told how he used a cricket bat to gain entrance to the locked toilet and saw Miss Steenkamp lying bleeding on the floor.

He sat down and pulled her towards him.

"I had Reeva's head on my left shoulder," he said. "I could feel the blood running down. I tried to pick Reeva up. I didn't know what to do. I could see she was breathing … struggling to breathe."

Pistorius said after calling an ambulance he carried Miss Steenkamp downstairs to the ground floor of his home.

She died in his arms.

"I just sat with her waiting for the ambulance to arrive. I felt helpless. I wanted to take her to the hospital. I had my fingers in her mouth to help her to breathe. I had my left hand on her hip trying to stop the bleeding but Reeva had already died when I was holding her before the ambulance arrived so I knew there was nothing I could do for her."

When paramedics arrived one asked Pistorius to produce some identification for Miss Steenkamp. After he had handed over her handbag, the paramedic officially informed him of Miss Steenkamp's death.

With Miss Steenkamp's body still lying in the sitting room Pistorius sat on the kitchen floor, leaning against a serving counter and crying.

"Every time I looked up there were more people in the house, more policemen," he said. "I asked a policeman if I could wash my hands because the smell of blood was making me throw up.

"I stayed in the kitchen. I couldn't look around the corner because every time I saw Reeva I got sick."

The final question asked of Pistorius by his defence attorney Barry Roux before handing over to Nel was: "Did you ever intend to kill Reeva Steenkamp?"

His answer: "I did not intend to kill Reeva or anyone else, my Lady."

Third day of giving evidence ... Oscar Pistorius at the high court in Pretoria. Source: AP

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Cairns on cyclone alert, township evacuated

The weather bureau's prediction for tracking of Cyclone Ita. Source: Supplied

CYCLONE Ita is barrelling towards the Queensland coast with Cairns on cyclone watch and an entire Cape York township has been evacuated.

By the time it hits the coast tomorrow night, Cyclone Ita is forecast to be category 4, producing gales along almost 500km of the far north coast from Cairns to the tip of Cape York Peninsula.

The Weather Bureau is warning people in shoreline areas they should prepare to evacuate with 50 mine workers already abandoning the Cape Flattery Silica Mine township, north of Cooktown

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Packing winds packing winds of up to 280km/h - Ita is tracking to hit the coast right near the mine the site, north of Cooktown.

Forecasters rate it as a significant threat, with the potential for flood rains and a storm surge. Cooktown will have a high tide of 2.4m at 7.26pm.

Last night Ita was 770km east, northeast of Cooktown and had picked up speed to 15km/hr and is forecast to hit in a remote area between Cape Melville and Cooktown.

Satellite image of severe tropical Cyclone Ita as it heads toward the east coast of Far North Queensland. Picture: www.goes.noaa.gov

Energy Minister Mark McArdle said Ita was potentially the most powerful storm to threaten Queensland since Cyclone Yasi and people should be prepared to face power outages for a month or longer, depending on where it came ashore.

Premier Campbell Newman will return from a trade mission to Asia with Prime Minister Tony Abbott to oversee cyclone preparations.

Ita will likely ease to a low after crossing the coast but the bureau has upgraded its alert for the western side of the cape, warning that Ita now has up to a 50 per cent chance of moving into the Gulf of Carpentaria as early as Saturday.

It's likely track is turning into a moving feast, with some international cyclone models having the storm veering further south towards more built up areas but Weather Bureau forecasters are sticking with a consensus of all models.

Forecaster Andrew Cameron said this might change as the storm neared the coast.

Winds to 280km/hr are expected near the eye of the cyclone, with places like Cairns to get a lesser buffeting.

With tourists on the road due to school and Easter holidays, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has closed all camping areas from the Daintree north.

QPWS executive director operations Jason Jacobi said conditions could still be dangerous once Ita passed, with areas expected to be affected by flooding, fallen trees and landslides.

Chief forecaster Bill O'Connor at the Cairns weather station preparing for Cyclone Ita.

Dangerous estuarine crocodiles and snakes also would be displaced and on the move.

Glen and Susan Shephard of 30,000ha Lillyvale Station on Cape York near the storm's likely centre expect to be flooded in, possibly for months.

Their homestead and outbuildings were flooded by Cyclone Monica in 2006 and Mr Shephard said he was preparing for similar conditions.

``During Monica you couldn't see land from the house. I've got a good boat now so we can get to higher ground,'' Mr Shephard said. ``Our neighbours recorded 870mm in two days with Monica so we know what we're in for.''

Meantime, concerns have been raised about two elderly men who drove their 4WDs into Princess Charlotte Bay despite locals warning them of the approaching cyclone.

A world record 14.6m storm surge occurred in the same area in 1899 when Cyclone Mahina came ashore. About 500 pearling sailors and Murris were drowned.

Ann Louise Mulley of Coen's Exchange Hotel said the town was battening down although fuel was short due to water damage to the Cape York Developmental Rd.

``You do what you can and then you've just got to sit back and cop it,'' she said.

Dramatic firsthand footage shows what it's like being in the different categories of cyclones. Produced by Christine Nestel.

Gales are expected to extend up to 240km out from Ita's centre and may develop between Cape Grenville and Port Douglas today. Showers are expected as far south as central Queensland and Brisbane and the southeast face showers and storms on Saturday and Sunday.

Mr McArdle said fuel was on hand for generators and Ergon crews and four helicopters were on standby to handle issues with the electricity grid.

Priority in restoring electricity would be given to hospitals, nursing homes and evacuation centres.

Cairns Disaster Group Chair Cr Steve Brain said they were taking the threat seriously but warned public shelters were a "place of last resort''.

"This is a strong system that is expected to intensify further prior to making landfall,'' he said.

Cape Flattery Silica Mine general manager Gary Bartholdt said the mine site was in the direct path of the cyclone.

"We've got everyone out,'' said general manager Gary Bartholdt.

"It seems like we have a bullseye on us, in the path of a direct hit.

"We just can't take the risk with the lives of any of our employees.''

Cape Flattery staff spent yesterday battening down, tying down conveyor belts, moving machinery and equipment, and bolting storm shutters onto buildings.

Most buildings are waterfront including two workshops, six two-storey barracks buildings and manager's houses only two metres above the high tide mark.

"It is a very picturesque spot, unless you've got a cyclone bearing down on you,'' Mr Bartholdt said.

"If there is a big storm surge, it is possible this place will go underwater.''

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Mundine suffers unanimous points loss

Anthony The Man Mundine has copped a hiding from Ghanas Joshua Clottey, knocked down five times and losing by unanimous decision.

Anthony Mundine is knocked down by Joshua Clottey. Source: News Corp Australia

ANTHONY Mundine's career is almost certainly over after he took the biggest beating of his life in Newcastle on Wednesday night.

The Man was floored five times by a dominant Joshua Clottey during a one-sided fight but showed enormous courage to get back on his feet and go the distance.

Mundine refused to speculate on his future immediately after the fight.

"I don't want to think about that now," he said.

"I want to take some time off and relax. Who knows?"

Anthony Mundine and Joshua Clottey lock horns. Source: News Corp Australia

Mundine's first knockdown came in the third round when he was caught with a straight right.

He went down twice in round six and again in round eight and round 10 but got back up on each occasion to see out the fight.

"I got caught early and didn't recover the way I wanted to," Mundine said.

"My defence wasn't tight enough but I finished the fight on my feet."

Anthony Mundine takes an upper cut and lands on the mat. Source: News Corp Australia

Clottey stepped into the ring having suffered just four defeats in his 37 bout career.

All four were to world champions — Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Maragarilo and Carlos Baldomir.

And while he had fought only twice since he went the distance with Pacquiao in 2010, there was no sign of any rustiness.

Anthony Mundine gets the count from the referee. Source: News Corp Australia

Right from the opening bell, Clottey was the aggressor and Mundine had no answer to the Ghanaian's rock solid defence.

Mundine's usual crisp jab rarely found its mark and he was scurrying for cover as Clottey came at him with big lefts to the body and overhead rights that found their mark.

Mundine, on the other hand, rarely pierced his opponents defence.

It wasn't until the later rounds that Mundine, in an all or nothing bid for a knockout, even troubled Clottey.

Joshua Clottey victorious. Source: News Corp Australia

It's was no surprise Clottey goes by the nickname "The Hitter".

Right from the outset, his punches had far more venom.

Not surprising, Clottey was a unanimous point's winner with the three judges calling the fight 116-108, 115-109 and 117-108.

Should Anthony Mundine retire?

In the main supporting bout last night, former Australian Commonwealth Games gold medallist Brad "Hollywood" Pitt suffered his first professional defeat — a brutal fourth round knockout at the hands of Team Mundine prodigy Dave Aloua.

Aloua floored Pitt with a sickening blow to the head but the referee surprisingly allowed the fight to continue after Pitt struggled to his feet.

Seconds later, it was all over.

Re-live all the action from the Newcastle Entertainment centre by following our blog below:

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‘Someone is stabbing people!’

Evacuation ... students leave Franklin Regional High School where 20 students were stabbed. Source: AP

A STUDENT has stabbed or slashed 20 teenagers and an adult in a bloody 30-minute rampage in the classrooms and hallways of a US high school, officials say.

Several had life threatening injuries, Chris Kaufmann, the trauma medical director at Forbes Regional Hospital, told CNN.

The attack at Franklin Regional High School, just outside Pittsburgh, began at 7.13am on Wednesday as students began arriving for what should have been a routine day.

"I was walking into the school and a stampede of people were running after me," Kari Lee, a student at the school, told NBC News.

"They were screaming, 'Go to your cars! Go to your cars! Someone is stabbing people!

"It was really scary but it happened so fast I didn't know what to think."

The assault was over by 7.45am with the suspect taken into custody almost immediately, Dan Stevens, a spokesman for Westmoreland County emergency management, said.

Bloody horror ... of the 20 students injured, four were flown from the scene. Source: Supplied

Mr Stevens identified the suspect as a male student.

Stevens said he was cornered by police officers who rushed to the scene. His age and identity were not immediately released.

"Twenty students were injured, four of those students were flown from the scene," Mr Stevens said.

He said the victims are aged 14 to 17 and were attacked in "numerous classrooms and hallways" of the school.

The school has since been evacuated.

Shock ... a pair of women walk arm-in-arm off the campus. Source: AP

Mr Kaufmann said his hospital was treating seven teenage students and an adult over the age of 21.

A statement on the website of the Franklin Regional School District said a "critical incident" had occurred.

"All elementary schools are cancelled, the middle school and high school students are secure," the statement said.

Victims had been stabbed in the torso, Mr Kaufmann said.

"These are quite serious injuries," he told CNN.

Emergency response ... police gather in the parking lot of the high school. Source: AP

"We had two patients who went immediately to the operating room," Mr Kaufmann said.

Wednesday's attack comes after a long and frequent line of US school shootings that have inflamed a nationwide debate over gun control in the United States.

Meanwhile, a separate stabbing attack at an office building in Toronto left as many as five people injured, with one victim rushed to hospital in a serious condition.

A suspect — a man in his 30s — had been arrested, police said.

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N Korea invites you to go on the run

Run for your lives ... marathon runners pass by a long row of North Korean soldiers as they cross a bridge in Pyongyang. Source: AP

RUNNERS of the world, unite!

For the first time ever, North Korea is opening up the streets of its capital to runner-tourists for the annual Pyongyang marathon, undoubtedly one of the most exotic feathers in any runner's cap.

Tourism companies say they are getting inundated by requests to sign up for the April 13 event, which this year will include amateur runners from around the world. The race includes a full marathon — with a handful of world-class, invitation-only athletes — a half marathon and a 10-kilometre run.

The opening of the race to recreational runners is in keeping with the North's ongoing, but sometimes sporadic, effort to earn cash revenue by boosting tourism, usually with well-orchestrated group tours to major arts performances or attractions the North wants to show off.

Earlier this year, North Korea's government announced a plan to create special trade and tourism zones across the country and unveiled its first luxury ski resort, aimed largely at luring ski enthusiasts from abroad. Under the watch of young leader Kim Jong-un, the North has also been giving sports in general a higher profile. Simple recreational sports facilities, such as outdoor basketball courts and roller skating rinks, have been popping up lately in Pyongyang and some other cities.

Taking a break ... runners rest inside Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang during last year's marathon. Source: AP

Much of North Korea remains off-limits to foreigners, but Pyongyang, with its broad avenues and ubiquitous monuments, is a showcase city and more accessible than other places in the secretive and isolated country.

"I think a lot of the attraction is the 'Pyongyang' part rather than the 'marathon' part," said Simon Cockerell, a Beijing-based agent for the Koryo Tours travel agency.

"A lot of the people going along to take part are interested in simply doing something a bit unusual, something that would cause a bit of cognitive dissonance in friends of theirs when they tell them they ran a marathon in North Korea."

Known officially as the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, the race is sanctioned as a bronze label event by the International Association of Athletics Federations and has been held annually for 27 years.

The generally flat, full-marathon course entails four loops around the centre of the city of 2.5 million.

The race starts at the 70,000-seat Kim Il Sung Stadium and moves on past the Monument to Chinese Soldiers to the Kim Il Sung University area. After that, the runners cross a bridge over the Taedong River to the east side of the city and wind their way along the river bank to the stadium.

Spectators back in the stadium will be treated to soccer games, volleyball and martial arts exhibitions while they wait for the runners to return.

Triumph awaits ... people watch runners near the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang during the 26th Mangyongdae Prize Marathon. Source: AP

Mr Cockerell said nearly 200 foreigners have signed up for the event, which coincides with commemorations of the April 15 birthday of North Korea's first leader, Kim Il Sung. That is an unusually large number, though the North's famous mass games are also often a big draw.

As a practical matter, aspiring runners had to apply through agencies familiar with the North Korean bureaucracy in order to get the proper visas. Mr Cockerell said most are joining packaged group tours to see the sights while they are in Pyongyang.

In the past, the main race has been restricted to a select group of elite runners. Recreational jogging isn't a part of ordinary North Korean life, but past events have included races for local students and junior runners.

Though many national teams are reluctant to come to North Korea for political reasons, times in the elite part of the race have been up to the international standards. Last year's marathon was won by Ethiopia's Ketema Nigusse in 2:13:04. North Korea's own Kim Mi Gyong won the women's title for the second straight year, with a personal best of 2:26:32.

What's new this year is the decision to open up the marathon, half-marathon and 10-kilometre courses to recreational runners of any nationality. The only requirement for marathon runners is that they finish in four hours; those who don't will be escorted back to the stadium. In 1995, South Korean runners were allowed to participate in a road race in the North, but that was a one-off, Koreans only event. Because of South Korea's travel restrictions to the North, participation from south of the border this time was unlikely.

Behind enemy lines ... for the first time ever, North Korea is opening up the streets of its capital to runner-tourists for the annual Pyongyang marathon. Source: AP

"The marathon has traditionally been open only to professional runners with 2:27 male and 2:38 female cut-off times, making it impossible for even the best recreational runner to participate," said Andrea Uri, head of Uri Tours, an American company offering tours to North Korea. It is bringing 20 runners, most of them American.

"Generally, the country has become more friendly for tourism," she said. "This change in policy is in line with what we've seen to be the tourism administration's willingness to explore different tour programs and other avenues to attract tourism."

Mr Cockerell warned against reading too much into the North's decision to ease its restrictions. It was unclear whether the same rules would apply next year.

"Maybe (it's) just because they wanted more people in the marathon," he said. "Maybe the powers that be didn't expect there to be so many runners entering."

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Bratty teen wins uni scholarship

Paid to learn ... Rachel Canning has found someone willing to pay to teach her a few lessons. Source: Supplied

IT TURNS out she didn't need her parents' money after all.

The bratty US teen who sued her mum and dad for child support and college money is bragging about the hefty scholarship she won from a university.

Rachel Canning, who dropped the ludicrous lawsuit against her folks last month, revealed the windfall on her Facebook page this week, The Star-Ledger reported.

"Decision made," Canning wrote on March 30. "WNE U class of 2018 BME Major w/ 56,000$ scholarship."

Western New England University, the school Canning said she is attending, is located in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The school's tuition is about $US46,000 ($49,700) per year, including room and board, the paper said.

This would leave the former New Jersey high school student with nearly $US10,000 of spending money before she needs to hit up her parents.

Parenting 101 ... Rachel Canning's father Sean fought his daughter in court over her bid for child support. Source: Supplied

The 18-year-old Ms Canning filed a lawsuit for child support and college costs against her parents, Sean and Elizabeth Canning, on February 24.

During the tense proceedings, Rachel moved in with the family of her best friend, Jaime Inglesino.

Ms Canning complained in court papers that her mum called her "fat" and "porky," and that as a ­result, she had developed an eating disorder.

Her parents claimed that she was drinking heavily with a boyfriend and cutting classes. They also said the ­Inglesino family let their daughter and her friends throw wild ragers.

Read more at the New York Post.

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Twins sat dead in chairs three years

Found on recliner chairs ... Police at the house where twins Andrew and Anthony Johnson were found. Picture: WRCB Source: Supplied

THEY were born together and in all likelihood died together.

Identical twins Andrew and Anthony Johnson, 63, are thought to have died in early 2011 in their home in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Their badly decomposed bodies were found in recliner chairs in the lounge of their home, reported WRCB.

The date of their death has been released based on the time stamp found on a receipt near used cans of Coca-Cola.

Been dead for three years ... Identical twins Andrew and Anthony Johnson's home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Picture: WRCB Source: Supplied

The discovery on Sunday (AEDT) has shocked neighbours who didn't think anything was wrong because the grass at their property was regularly cut and the mailbox wasn't overflowing.

Police went to the house Johnson's sister in August 2011 as it appeared the home was empty.

A letter from the post office was found in the mailbox stating that they believed the residence to be vacant and to cease delivery of mail to the address.

At that time, family members indicated that they would not have been surprised if the twin brothers had moved without telling anyone.

The twins were known to live a hermit lifestyle and did not communicate regularly either with family or anyone else, WRCB reported.

On Sunday family members called police after finding a key to the residence. Officers were given the key and found Andrew and Anthony Johnson's skeletal remains on recliner chairs.

Chattanooga Police are still awaiting the results of the toxicology reports to determine the cause of death. There were no signs of foul play or any indications that would lead police to believe that their deaths are a homicide.

The twins' family has declined to comment.

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