Melbourne, Jan 19 : Terrified of gang violence in schools, many kids in the UK are wearing stab-proof vests to protect themselves, according to a new report.

According to the Independent, teachers at one school where pupils are said to be "seriously involved in gangs" were "aware of young people wearing bullet-proof/stab-proof vests in school".

It is believed that many students as young as 16 are involved in gangs and the number has significantly doubled in the past five years.

Melbourne, January 19 : Despite being outlawed in Australia, electronic cigarettes that use nicotine-flavoured vapour are still being sold on the website eBay for hundreds of dollars.

E-cigarettes were demonstrated at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last week, and they have been a major attraction for smokers ever since.

With the aid of battery-generated heat, these cigarettes create a flavoured vapour, which is puffed by the user in the same fashion as real smoke.

The devices, commonly from Chinese manufacturers, even have tips that glow when the user inhales, simulating the ember of a real cigarette.

Melbourne - Reigning junior champion Bernard Tomic proved himself a rising force at the senior level as a first-round victory on Monday made him the youngest male winner of a match at the Australian Open.

The 16-year-old whose controversial father has been in trouble with Tennis Australia for outbursts during matches, showed mature form in his first Grand Slam with a 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6) first-round win over 73rd-ranked Italian Potito Starace.

Melbourne, Jan. 19 : After receiving a Medal of Freedom from US President George W. Bush, John Howard has been voted Australia''s favourite prime minister since World War II.

A news. com. au report said that an online poll of 1000 people, conducted last week by Essential Research, found almost a third of people rating Howard as the best prime minister since the 1940s.

Current Prime Minister Kevin Rudd came in second with 20 per cent of the vote.

Labor PM Bob Hawke was third, while his colleagues Paul Keating and Gough Whitlam came in fourth and fifth respectively.

Liberal stalwart Robert Menzies can still pull a crowd - 11 per cent of people rated him No. 1.

Melbourne, Jan. 19 : Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is likely to play in the remaining three one-day matches against South Africa after being recalled to the Australian squad.

Melbourne, Jan 19 : Penelope Cruz has revealed that she was forced to push through pain while doing a rope routine for new musical film `Nine'.

The Spanish actress was left blistered and bruised after performing the sexy dance.

"When something like that happens, you just have to keep going and forget about any physical pain," News. com. au quoted her, as saying.

"I was dancing in the dark with one spotlight on me, so I had to be extremely alert and focused.