Dustin Hoffman keeps the romance alive on beach getaway with wife of 30 years

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 6:16 PM on 28th December 2010

Dustin Hoffman proved the spark is alive in his 30-year marriage as he took a romantic stroll on the beach with his wife.

The 73-year-old Oscar-winner and lawyer Lisa Gottsegen seemed very much in love as they walked barefoot along the shoreline with their arms around each other.

Romantic stroll: Dustin Hoffman and wife Lisa Gottsegen enjoy a romantic Christmas vacation on the beach in Cabo San Lucas

At one point the pair stopped and shared a cuddle and a kiss as they dipped their toes in the water.

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The actor looked relaxed and casual in a pair of navy blue shorts and a pale blue short sleeved shirt.

Lisa meanwhile showed off her curves in a black halter-necked one piece.

Dustin and Lisa, who have four adult children together, have been enjoying a Christmas holiday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico over the past few days.

What a team: The couple have been married for 30 years

Dustin is on a break from promoting his new film Little Fockers which was released on December 22.

In the film Hoffman plays Bernie Focker, the father of lead character Gregg, played by Ben Stiller.

The film, which is the third in the series, follows the whole family as they reunite for a children's birthday party.

Hoffman is taking a break from film and is set to return to the small screen in the new year starring in a new TV show called Luck, centred around a group of characters all tied to the same horse racing track.

Victoria Beckham shows who wears the trousers as she jets home

in a pair of skin-tight leather leggings

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:18 AM on 29th December 2010

She's known for her impractical dressing, but Victoria Beckham must have been suffering through her long-haul flight in this pair of leather leggings.

Despite aviation experts recommending loose-fitting clothes for long flights, it looks like Posh's circulation may have been affected by her choice of outfit as she jetted home to Los Angeles yesterday.

The pop star-turned-designer, 36, sat through her 11-hour flight from London in a skin-tight pair of leather trousers.

Uncomfortable: Victoria Beckham arrives at Los Angeles' LAX airport in a skin-tight pair of leather leggings

She completed her ensemble with a chic black coat, long beige scarf and a pair of towering high heels.

And as she arrived at LAX airport to make her way home to the family's Beverly Hills mansion, she predictably failed to raise a smile.

She was accompanied by her husband David and their three sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz after spending Christmas in their native England.

During their holiday, they partied with Victoria's Spice Girl bandmate Emma Bunton and comedian James Corden at Gordon and Tana Ramsay's Christmas party.

Home after Christmas: David Beckham keeps an eye on his son Romeo as the family walk through the airport

Their three children even got some skiing in when the couple brought their boys to an indoor skiing centre at Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire - not far from Beckingham Palace.

During her Christmas at home, Victoria was thrilled to hear her new handbag collection sold out in just an hour.

Just 60 minutes after appearing on the net-a-porter.com website last week, a £1,700 two-tone shoulder bag from her self-named fashion label had already sold out.

Traditional Christmas: The Beckhams attended Gordon and Tana Ramsay's Christmas party in south London on December 22

Then an £8,950 crocodile-skin bag with chain handle quickly followed suit.

They were the first pieces from the new accessories range to go on sale, with the full collection to be available from February next year.

After visiting her bag display at Harrods on Christmas Eve, Victoria wrote on her Twitter: 'Just been to Harrods and the Victoria Beckham bag display looks Amazing!!! Thank u Harrods,happy Christmas.'

Sophie Anderton looking healthier and happier than ever as she enjoys a romantic break in the sun

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:23 AM on 29th December 2010

Sophie Anderton has finally got her life back on track after fighting a highly public battle with drugs - even turning to prostitution to fund her addiction.

But after conquering her demons and moving to the country with internet entrepreneur James Simpson, the model is looking healthier and happier than ever.

And the glowing brunette, 33, showed country life is doing her the world of good as she was spotted holidaying in the sun.

Bouncing back: Sophie Anderton looks healthy and toned as she enjoys a dip in the sea off the Turkish coast

The former Gossard model and Simpson jetted to Turkey for a relaxing Christmas break away from the cold.

Showing she's still got her lingerie-model figure, Sophie enjoyed a dip in the pool in a blue bikini top and pink bottoms.

After a difficult year, which saw former stockbroker Paul Davis escape a jail sentence after he was found guilty of harassing Anderton, no doubt the brunette is looking forward to 2011.

Looking good: Anderton looks like she's enjoying the warm weather after escaping snowy Surrey

She admitted recently she hoped to marry Simpson, who she started dating in late 2009.

She told Glamour magazine recently: 'We’re buying a house and, hopefully, he’ll pop the question.

It’ll be a definite 'yes’. My mother has already told him she wants him to be the father of her grandchildren, but I’m allowing the relationship to take its course.'

Action man: Sophie enjoys a jet ski ride with boyfriend, internet entrepreneur James Simpson

Anderton has credited Simpson with finally giving her the courage to kick her addictions once and for all.

She said: 'I was able to knock drinking and drugs on the head because I knew it would destroy us.'

Sophie shot to fame when she modelled for lingerie giant Gossard in 1996 and soon hit the party scene.

Enjoying the view: Anderton perches on the side of her hotel's infinity pool

She became engaged to millionaire Robert Hanson, 17 years her senior, but the relationship was over by 2000.

It was during her high profile relationship with former Chelsea goalie Mark Bosnich in 2002 that her cocaine addition became public.

In 2007 Sophie became the victim of a national newspaper sting that saw her taking cocaine and offering to sleep with a fake sheikh for £10,000.

Careful: Anderton quickly adjusts her bottoms after her swim in the sea

Three, two, one... Thunderbirds stamps are go!

TV puppets star in Royal Mail collection to highlight the best of British

By Katherine Faulkner
Last updated at 8:00 AM on 29th December 2010

To those brought up in the Sixties, it was the children’s television show that defined an era.

And now the Thunderbirds are to star as the heroes of a new collection of Royal Mail stamps that highlight the Best of British.

A range of eight stamps launched next year will celebrate the Genius of Gerry Anderson, the Londoner behind the hit TV puppet show.

Futuristic: A Supercar stamp

The collection, which marks the 50th anniversary of his work, will also feature his other well-loved British TV series of the time – Stingray, Joe 90 and Supercar.

Captain Scarlet and the Thunderbirds Rockets will appear alongside stamps based on more traditional British icons such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and the tales of King Arthur.

Royal Mail said the Best of British collection was the ‘most exciting’ range of stamps in decades, and is designed to immortalise British cultural icons old and new.

Great British musicals will feature on some, while others will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the WWF environmental group, with portraits of ten animals such as the African elephant and Siberian tiger.

Royal Mail stamps spokesman Philip Parker said: ‘The year blasts off with Thunderbirds, Stingray and the amazing TV series of Gerry Anderson, and the excitement doesn’t stop there. There’s something for everyone.’

Axed 33 years ago, the Thunderbirds was one of the most popular children’s TV shows of the 1960s.

Producer Anderson is famous for his futuristic television shows using ‘supermarionation’, a filming technique using specially designed puppets.

He was awarded an MBE in 2001 for his contributions to broadcasting.

We've found Nemo!

Stunning shark picture looks exactly like 'Bruce' from Pixar blockbuster

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 8:31 AM on 29th December 2010

Just like Finding Nemo this hungry shark looks like it has learnt 'fish are friends not food'.

In the Pixar blockbuster, great white shark Bruce gives up his fish-munching ways at an alcoholics anonymous style, self help meet.

And as this incredible real life image shows, sharks in the real world seem to be following in Bruce's fin-steps.

The image taken by underwater photographer Daniel Selmeczi, shows a school of pilot fish swarming around an oceanic whitetip shark.

Pilot fish are carniverous and are often found in the company of sharks, manta ray and giant turtles.

A school of pilot fish swarming around a oceanic whitetip shark. The two species co-exist - he smaller fish get protection from larger predators while the shark gets freedom from parasites

The relationship is mutually beneficial - the fish gain protection from the larger predators known as 'mutualism' where different species exist side-by-side while the shark is kept clear of parasites.

The oceanic whitetip is the pilot fish's preferred companion, eating 'ectoparasites' from the sides of their body.

A similar harmonious co-existance can be seen on land with birds entering the mouths of crocodiles to clean it out without fear of being eaten alive.

Pilot fish are also carnivores so they have the added benefit that when a shark tears its meal to pieces they can share it and eat the scrap bits that fall off.

The name given to the pilot fish either comes from the belief that they helped to guide ships safely to shore in shallower waters or they helped sharks towards food.

Such is the close relationship between the two different species that sailors have reported the pilot fish staying with a boat for up to six weeks after their host shark has been caught.

The image bears an uncanny resemblance to the poster for the film Finding Nemo, which features Bruce the shark surrounded by hundreds of fish and other marine life.

Daniel, 32, from Hungary took the image while diving in the Red Sea in Egypt.

He said: 'I have been taking underwater photographs since 2002 and have travelled to Egypt, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Indonesia and Malaysia in search of the perfect photograph.

'And this one is one of my favourites, it's rare to capture fish surrounding a shark quite like this.

'I was shocked when someone pointed out my picture looked like a scene from Finding Nemo, I love the film so it has just made me like my image even more.'

'Luckily this shark is friendly, just like Bruce, so I was in no danger photographing it.

'Many people are terrified of sharks especially with the attacks in Egypt recently but Oceanic Whitetip sharks don't eat humans, they eat fish, so I vote we save the sharks.'

The Finding Nemo poster which resembles Daniel Selmeczis underwater photograph

How not to pull a bird:

Blundering polar bear takes on a tiny seagull in 10-minute battle... and loses

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 8:30 AM on 29th December 2010

This brave seagull heroically took on a polar bear in an epic battle of David v Goliath - and won.

The ten-minute encounter between bird and beast stunned onlookers as the seagull dramatically escaped with its feathers intact.

After the scrap the shame-faced half tonne bear scampered off in search of easier prey to pick a fight with.

Everything but the gull: Polar bears may be at the top of the food chain, but the only thing this bear got to swallow was its pride

Photographer Ole Jorgen Liodden was shocked when he captured the incredible moments on film.

Before the bruising encounter Ole had been happily snapping away at the Glaucous gull as it gently bobbed on the water minding its business.

The polar bear appeared from nowhere and unusually, instead of hunting for its preferred prey of seals, decided to dive into the water and swim up to the bird.

The bear launched a ferocious attack on the gull by biting it on its back and following up with a flurry of blows.

On the back foot: The polar bear is on the defensive as the tussling pair move into shallow water

Bear bites back: The polar bear surfaces immediately behind the unsuspecting gull and clamps its jaws into the bird's back

On a wing and a prayer: The seagull managed to fend off the bear for several minutes

However, this gull was no bird brain and, using its beak, instinctively landed a few hits of its own to the bear's sensitive eyes and nose.

Sensing the bird was not about to become dinner, the bear swum off and the fearless gull was able to make a getaway.

Ole, 37, from Norway, took the photos in the north of the country, in Svalbard.

'This was our second photo expedition to Svalbard and we experienced an incredibly rare situation between a polar bear and a Glaucous gull,' he said.

The brave bird just doesn't know when it is beaten as it twists and turns on the giant hungry bear

The bear plunges its head beneath the water as it attempts to subdue the gull

The bear has a grab at the anry gull's wing but gets nothing but a mouth full of wet feathers

Finding itself free of the giant carnivore's jaws, the bird snatches its chance of freedom and flies off

'The bear suddenly dived and swam a good ten to 15 metres underwater before it attacked the surprised young gull.

'I have never seen anything like this on previous expeditions and the fight was more interesting than I had expected.

'Usually a polar bear can easily kill a 100kg seal, and a gull weighing in at 1.5 kg should be an easy catch.

'After the first bite to the back of the gull, the bear continued its attack in the water.

'The gull fought heroically, and with its bill managed several direct hits to the bear's eyes and nose.

'This made the bear back off and the gull escaped after ten minutes.'

The disconsolate bear is left to rue its inability to pull a bird

Dial-a-fatwa that bans naps, raffles and tattoos:

Muslim scholars issue 350,000 decrees in 2010

By Daily Mail
Last updated at 7:59 PM on 28th December 2010

Taking an afternoon nap, the monotonous drone of vuvuzelas that irritated almost all football fans during the World Cup is OK, and it doesn't matter how much noise a donkey makes, it musn't be touched.

But buy a car raffle ticket and you could be in big trouble, but eating dates from palm trees growing in public areas is acceptable - as long as you don't harm the tree.

These are just some of the 350,000 fatwas, or Islamic religious decrees, that have been thought up by Muslim scholars on their website in Abu Dhabi that has a 'call centre' for those seeking guidance.

Blow that horn: South African fans get into full swing with their vuvuzelas in Durban during the World Cup in June

They cover a vast range of personal and religious questions submitted online, over the phone or via text to the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf).

The centre, which employs 50 scholars, mostly male, has issued a total of 343,121 decrees this year and plans to hire twice the amount of muftis next year to accommodate growing demand for answers.

Vuvuzelas are permissible in soccer stadiums providing they don't exceed 100 decibels which could damage people's hearing, and it is illegal to kill a noisy donkey, bird or other animal, no matter how annoying they are.

Body paint, henna and make-up are allowed because they are deemed to be temporary, but tattoos are ruled out because they are permanent.

By November 1 Awqaf had issued 298,277 fatwas this year, with most inquiries made by phone. The centre was averaging about 1,000 fatwas a day.

Henna tattoos were deemed okay as it is temporary

Car raffles are out because they are 'a kind of gambling', and an afternoon nap is banned because the time could be used more productively.

But half sisters are allowed to shake hands with their brothers, even if their mother is a Christian.

Speaking of women, the centre ruled that there are no specific prayers for 'getting a husband' and women may live alone 'as long as it was in a safe place'.

Another fatwa called on worshippers to 'be clean' when heading to the mosque and to avoid overeating garlic less the smell 'offends' others.

As for recreation, watching television and checking websites that instigate hate or division are to be avoided.