London, April 17 : An 8ft 1in tall man in China, who staggered staff at a hospital when he went there for a foot operation, may be the world’s tallest man.

Zhao Liang, 27, is a circus performer. His father is 5ft 11in and mum Wang Keyun 5ft 6in tall.

If Liang’s stature is confirmed, it would mean that he is nearly 4in taller than fellow 7ft 9in countryman Bao Xishun, 58, who holds the current Guinness world record.

Liang mother revealed how her son consumes three meals, and eight giant buns every day for lunch.

London, April 17 : A consumer watchdog has said that UK has the worst copyright laws, as they “needlessly criminalise” music fans and need to be updated.

According to a report by BBC News, the statement came after global umbrella group Consumers International put the UK in last place in a survey of 16 countries’ copyright laws.

Consumer Focus said that the UK had to catch up with the rest of the world.

“UK copyright law is the oldest, but also the most out of date,” said Ed Mayo, chief executive of Consumer Focus.

London, Apr 17 : US researchers are designing a laser-guided microwave blaster to destroy explosives.

The weapon, called the Multimode Directed Energy Armament System, could destroy the electronic fuse of an explosive device or missile, such as a roadside bomb, or immobilise a vehicle by disabling its ignition system, reports New Scientist.

It works by creating a plasma channel that acts as a waveguide for the stream of microwaves, and uses a high-power laser to ionise the air.

The project is the brainchild of the US army''s Armament Research, Development and Engineering Centre (ARDEC).

London, Apr 17 : Pregnant women could strengthen their babies'' lungs and nervous system by exercising, new research suggests.

American researchers conducted a small study into the impact of exercise and found potential benefits for unborn babies.

According to scientists, exercise may also help prevent cot death.

Dr Linda May, an assistant professor of anatomy at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, said her study had yielded "exciting" results.

London, April 17 : The UK security service MI5 is looking for James Bond style gagdget-maker ''Q'' as chief scientific advisor to "lead and co-ordinate" its scientific work.

According to a report in the Telegraph, the job is being advertised on MI5''s website, with the successful applicant expected to use their expertise to thwart terror operations around the world.

The advertisement says that candidates for the "unique and challenging" role need to have "world-class scientific expertise and credibility", "excellent strategic skills", "outstanding influencing and communication skills", as well as a successful track record of "managing critical projects and processes in a complex environment".

London, Apr 17 : Looking for help to assemble that flatpack furniture, including those wardrobes, beds and chairs? Well, robots to do all this and more are just five years away, according to Scottish scientists.

Professor Jon Oberlander, a computer expert at Edinburgh University''s School of Informatics, says that it is only a matter of time before such machines were available in the home.

"A robot that can help you put together a wardrobe is absolutely on the cards In the lab we have things that are close to being able to do that. It will happen within the next five years. In the home would be the next step," the Scotsman quoted him as saying.