A Borehamwood shop-owner was caught selling alcohol to underage customers during an operation to tackle illegal sales. Hertfordshire Trading Standards ran the five- day sting after recruiting 15 and 16-year-old volunteers to visit 48 shops in the county. In Hertfordshire, six out of 32 licensed premises sold alcohol to teenagers, while three out of 16 shops allowed children to buy cigarettes. One Borehamwood proprietor was caught on February 13, after failing to check how old the customer was. The business cannot be named for legal reasons. County councillor Richard Smith, executive member for community safety, said: "Unfortunately some shops were not abiding by the law, and we are not prepared to tolerate the sale of alcohol or cigarettes to underage customers.

"Anyone selling age-restricted goods should adopt a 'Challenge 21' policy - if a customer looks under 21, then they should be asked to prove that they are 18." A Trading Standards spokesman said acceptable forms of identification are PASS-approved ID cards, or a photo driving licence or passport.

Forty-nine miles per gallon for this car

MT. VERNON REGISTER NEWS (MT VERNON, Ill.)

MT VERNON, Ill. — High gas prices? What high gas prices? It takes Russell Davis less than $20 to fill up his car, and he can drive it up to 500 miles before needing to refuel.Davis, of Mt. Vernon, last year purchased a "hybrid" 2005 Toyota Prius, the environmentally friendly car that gets in the neighborhood of 50 miles to the gallon at peak performance."The technology just boggles my mind," said Davis. "There's a computer printout and it said that I am averaging 48 miles a gallon for (my last) 100 miles. "It varies, really, but I average closer to 49."Hybrid cars — vehicles that combine two or more power sources — were popular when they first came out about five years ago, but lagged in sales — at least until the recent upswing in gas prices."They were very popular when they initially came out," said Trevor Moore, manager at Tyler's Motors, a local Toyota dealer that orders the Prius for its customers.

Sow and grow with pots and modules

What's more, these are substantial flowerpots that are nice enough to use indoors. The finish resembles textured Bakelite, they are resistant to freeze/thaw cycles and last up to five years, so can be reused.

Baby bliss: Gift for mum & pa

They came to know about IVF treatment through advertisements on TV. When they approached doctors, the medical team told them that at this age it was complete gamble to become a parent. But the couple were determined to get their last wish come true and invests whatever they had. "We agreed to the doctors and by God's grace the doctors succeeded in their attempts. Our aim is now to educate Mishthi and make her a doctor, just like the one who blessed us with her," said Sheila.

Talking about the complications in the case, Dr Lakhwinder Singh of Vardaan Medical Centre said, "Sheila Devi was post-menopausal, diabetic and her cardiac status was not up to the mark when they came. We told the couple that it was tough as the uterus was unused for pretty long time and Sheila's body was not fit to bear the stress of a child, but the couple were determined." Describing the treatment, Dr Lakhwinder said, "The treatment took about one year starting from laboratory work to delivery of the child.

Gadgets for cars star at convention

Other companies are displaying steering wheels with imbedded LCD displays that give navigation information while allowing the driver to keep one eye on the road and license-plate cameras that display video on the rear-view mirror.

To emphasize the automobile's new role as an electronics center, General Motors Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner is scheduled to give a keynote speech today. The role traditionally is reserved for the Samsungs, Microsofts and Sonys of the world.

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In nod to Spain, Alaska's largest city holds first reindeer run

One had taped a paper bulls-eye to her back. Others masqueraded as carrots and lichen, both favorite foods of reindeer.At the signal to go, the reindeer stampeded into the crowd. Passing tourist shops, the downtown federal building and a stand selling reindeer hotdogs, the animals were well out in front by the halfway point."We thought, 'Ok, they're just going to mosey along,' but they took off running," said Amanda Pelkola, who dressed as a carrot with a friend. "We got smoked by the reindeer." .