Can LeBron catch Michael Jordan?

LeBron James discusses heading to a fourth straight championship series, and what it's like to be compared to the greats of the sport.

LeBron's chance to edge closer to Jordan. Source: AFP

THE comparisons are getting very real now.

Who will go down as the greatest ever player: Michael Jordan or LeBron James?

The answer is about to become clearer, as James' Miami Heat take on the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals starting Friday.

Two-time defending champion Miami and the Spurs are set for the first rematch series since the 1997 and 1998 NBA finals, the annual best-of-seven set between the Eastern and Western conference champions.

A three-peat would edge James closer to Jordan's legacy – although Jordan won three straight titles twice.

Regardless, the talk is growing. Will James one day go down as the best player who ever lived?

MORE: Do LeBron and Jordan despise each other?

LeBron James in action for the Miami Heat. Source: AFP

The Heat knocked off the Indiana Pacers to reach the Finals, and Pacers coach Frank Vogel tried putting things in perspective by comparing James to His Airness.

"It's bitterly disappointing to lose to this team three years in a row, but we're competing against the Michael Jordan of our era, the Chicago Bulls of our era," Vogel said.

Miami has reached the Finals in all four years since James teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form the Big Three.

Who knows how long this dynasty will last.

"Any time I hear my name or our team in the same breath with legends and great teams and franchises, it's so humbling," James said when told of Vogel's high praise. "It's like – I really don't know."

Certainly, there are many who insist James will never touch Jordan's legend.

Former Chicago forward Horace Grant said this week Jordan's Bulls would have destroyed James' Miami.

Michael Jordan in his prime for the Bulls. Source: Supplied

"The Heat wouldn't have had a chance. We would have locked them up. Especially with the rules today, Michael would have had a field day," Grant said.

Asked about his chance to join the greats of the game, James played it down.

"This is my fifth appearance in a finals. I'm blessed," James said during practice on the eve of game one.

"I was a kid who watched so many finals appearances, watched Michael Jordan and watched Shaq (O'Neal) and Kobe (Bryant).

"We watched throwback finals games of Magic (Johnson) and (Larry) Bird and Isiah (Thomas) and Hakeem (Olajuwon).

"I don't need extra motivation. This is motivating enough."

If the Heat beat the Spurs they will become the first team to win three in a row since the O'Neal-led Lakers between 2000-2002.

"My role has been kind of walk by myself and learn from experience," James added.

"You can only live your own life, on your own path and make your own course. And I've been fortunate enough to do that."

The Heat won last year, but San Antonio is looking forward to redemption. It has won four titles since Tim Duncan joined forces with coach Gregg Popovich in Texas.

The Spurs will host the first game Friday (AEST) against Miami, who beat them in seven games last season.

- with AP

Can LeBron James catch Michael Jordan? Tweet your thoughts to @cam_tomarchio

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Women hostages emerge from siege building

All the news you need to know.

Police have cordoned off parts of Adelaide's CBD where wanted man Rodney Clavell is believed to be hiding.

Fugitive Rodney Clavell, taken from girlfriend Samantha Farrer's Facebook page Source: Supplied

FUGITIVE Rodney Clavell has been found dead following a 13-hour siege.

South Australia's Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Dickson told a media conference police sent a robot into the building he had been in at 12.55pm (SA time) and discovered what was thought to be Clavell's dead body. Shortly later police entered the building and confirmed the death at 1.40pm.

It brought an end to the siege that had paralysed central Adelaide but Asst Commissioner Dickson said it was not the outcome police wanted.

"It didn't work out the way we hoped."

Clavell stayed at the business, an adult services agency called Marilyns Studio, last night but it's not known if he had been there before.

He revealed Clavell had committed other "serious" offences while he had been on the run, including an incident on May 25 in Elizabeth Park in which a woman was assaulted and Clavell was in possession of a shotgun.

Rodney Clavell Siege - Picture Tom Huntley Source: Supplied

Rodney Clavell hostage. Picture Tom Huntley Source: News Corp Australia

Police also believe he had committed other offences over the past 14 days.

While he was found alone and in possession of a firearm police have stopped short of saying he took his own life.

An investigation had begun as it was now considered a death in custody.

The four women that had been in the building had a "harrowing" experience.

"I think we can all say that the four females who were in that premises had a fairly harrowing experience ... All of that information will come out once we've had a chance to talk to these ladies."

It is understood one of the women had previously worked with Clavell.

Police took necessary action to protect the community.

"There's always a risk to the community, when you have a man that we believe was armed.

He was operating out of the normal community's expectations … All of those reasons are the reasons why we acted as we did.

"Mr Clavell was in those premises and there was a firearm within those premises. We have always treated this incident as what we refer to as high risk.

5.6.2014. Scene of King William St siege where wanted fugitive Rodney Clavell has been holding four women against their will.The third hostage is released. Pic tait schmaal. Source: News Corp Australia

Rodney Clavell Siege - Picture Tom Huntley Source: Supplied

Police vehicles that had surrounded the building have now left and traffic is now moving through city streets that had been cordoned off all day.

Asst Commissioner Dickson said they had been communicating with Clavell through a third party.

Officers had asked relatives to speak to Clavell earlier today but at least one is understood to have refused to co-operate.

Earlier, four women emerged from the building where Clavell has been holed up since 1am (1:30am AEST).

In dramatic scenes, the hostages exited the premises with their hands in the air as gun-toting officers escorted them to safety.

One of the women was so distressed on release that she collapsed to the ground.

Police Superintendent Peter Harvey said the women were safe and uninjured. "The last person was visibly upset, and our indications are she's not hurt but very emotional as you can understand," he said.

LIVE BLOG: ROLLING UPDATES HERE

Rodney Clavell - Facebook Picture Source: News Corp Australia

Detective Superintendent Peter Harvey briefs the media. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Moments before their release a female police negotiator was seen talking on the phone nearby.

Police had been urging him to give up all day. A negotiator had been heard saying: "It's been a long day, a long night. You may feel a bit down but don't forget, there are people to help you.

The events came after a close associate of Clavell told The Advertiser's Nigel Hunt that the fugitive is armed with a .22 rifle and a cache of ammunition and has vowed to kill police if cornered.

"He thinks they have it in for him, he will take police out,'' she said. "He knows he won't survive this alive today."

Press conference with Paul Dickson after Rodney Clavell was found deceased. Pic. Noelle Bobrige Source: News Corp Australia

Rodney Clavell siege in the city. Source: News Corp Australia

Much of the city has gone into lockdown. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia

Supt Harvey said he was aware of Clavell's previous violent encounter with police and wanted him to know they wouldn't hurt him.

"From Rodney's point of view I know his history and police can sympathise which is why we're trying to be as open as we can.

The council of small business of Australia executive director Peter Strong told Adelaide radio station 5AA that many small businesses in the cordoned off area would be feeling its effects.

Mr Strong said cash was king when it came to small business which would be hit hard by having no cash flow. He urged residents and consumers to help them out with workers including taxi drivers and couriers also affected.

Clavell, 46, was being sought for breaching a firearms prohibition order and illegal use of motor vehicles and has been on the run for the past two weeks.

Supt Harvey used media to appeal directly to Clavell to give himself up and to release the people he had with him.

Picture: Tom Huntley Source: News Corp Australia

Scene of King William St siege where wanted fugitive Rodney Clavell was holed up. Source: News Corp Australia

In the past fortnight, police have conducted more than 80 raids in the hunt for South Australia's most wanted fugitive, but up until now he has evaded capture.

The ex-prison guard first captured headlines back in 2004, when he was shot twice and tasered by police snipers following a massive manhunt in the Adelaide Hills.

He was armed with a shotgun and drove a 12-tonne road grader during the chase, The Advertiser reported. Clavell earned four years in prison for the daring crime.

Just four years later, he was involved in a lengthy riot at Port Augusta prison.

He was acquitted earlier this year of a "brutal and cowardly" attack in which a woman was repeatedly punched in the face with a studded leather glove.

In February, he was found not guilty of aggravated assault causing serious harm to a woman at a Tranmere home in December 2012.

The high-profile fugitive has been the subject of one of Australia's most intense manhunts in recent weeks.

Last month, officers came close to snaring him after he was spotted as a passenger in a rental car, which was later found abandoned in Osmond Street following a short police chase.

Clavell did not hesitate in sending his girlfriend Samantha Farrer Facebook public messages while on the run.

It appears Rodney Clavell commented on the post while on the run. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

FROM GOD AND THE LAW TO AN OUTLAW:

Clavell is being sought for breaching a firearms prohibition and illegal use of motor vehicles. Source: Facebook

Meanwhile more details have emerged about Clavell's former life. Advertiser court reporter Sean Fewster has revealed his dramatic fall from grace.

Once a keen sportsman and boxer he married and had 11 children, two of whom have biblical names.

"He became this right-wing Christian guy but he was always pumping iron," another person remembered.

"As he was doing it he had this look, like he was angry underneath."

One former associate said they believed his first run in with the law, at age 35, was sparked by assaults at work and daily contact with inmates.

— with Debra Killalea and Daniel Piotrowski

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LA or New York? The great American rivalry

Los Angeles will face New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup final after claiming an overtime win against Chicago to be crowned western conference champions.

They're as different as chalk and cheese. Except for some kinds of cheddar cheese which are actually quite chalky. Source: NewsComAu

LOS Angeles or New York? The Big Apple or LaLa Land? Midtown or Tinseltown?

America's two largest and most famous cities go head to head this week. The official contest takes place on ice, where the LA Kings face the NY Rangers in the seven match finals series of the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup.

Win and you get a really, really, really big trophy. You also get bragging rights. The latter is far more important.

Three seconds later this man was crushed by the trophy. Not really. Source: AFP

This is the first time since the 1970s that New York has faced off against Los Angeles in the final(s) of one of America's big four sporting codes (baseball, basketball, American football and ice hockey). The last such clash was between baseball's Dodgers and Yankees, who met in the 1981 World Series.

But the talk in the US this week isn't about sporting side of things. That's because no one really cares about ice hockey in America except for weirdos and transplanted Canadians. Apologies if that's a tautology.

Most of the pre-series banter has deteriorated into an excellent excuse to break out cliches about New York's crime, LA's smog and all the other cross-country sledges which the Americans delight in.

You might think Sydney/Melbourne rivalry is quite intense, but in many ways, our two largest cities are quite similar. By contrast, New York and LA are polar opposites. New York is crowded subways, LA crowded freeways. New York is blizzards, LA is bushfires. New York is the subtle humour of Seinfeld, LA is the not-so-subtle drama of Baywatch.

In New York they have these unusual things called "clothes". Source: News Corp Australia

In LA, not so much. Source: No Source

The argument over which city is best rages eternally, and is playing out big time this week in America everywhere from social media to the sports pages. An early winner in the battle has been LA, due to the exorbitant price of tickets to see the NY Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

To read an exceptionally cruel but witty list of narky LA put-downs, click here. The list includes such gems as:

"The greater metropolitan Los Angeles area is home to 3.8 million people, at least 53 of whom have never been on Ellen", and "Its principal industries are sequels, vanity and valet parking."

Ouch. Well, this thing is set to range for the next week or so as the series plays out. Sit back, enjoy the sledges and tune into Fox Sports here in Australia if you feel like actually watching some ice hockey.

Oh, and feel free to weigh into the comments below and tell us which city you prefer: LA or New York? The first person to say Sydney is better than Melbourne, or vice versa, wins something soggy and horrible.

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The one thing Hawke and Howard agree upon

Johnny doesn't appear to be sold on what Bob's saying. Source: News Corp Australia

The body language made clear there were two different men on the podium of the National Press Club although both were from a political style Australian voters probably are yearning to see make a comeback.

Bob Hawke (Labor Prime Minister for eight years, nine months from 1983) slouched across his chair, lips usually pursed when not open in laughter, legs crossed, a picture of cool entering its eighth decade.

John Howard (Prime Minister for 11 years, nine months from 1996) was straight-backed, feet parallel and firmly planted, his hands usually clenched on his lap as he maintained a lifetime of good posture.

Not for the first time in his life, Hawke is unimpressed with Howard. Source: News Corp Australia

The differences couldn't hide the fact these men, the most successful politicians of the past 45 years, represented a period when voters had a confidence in political leaders absent today. Back then, they followed when Labor floated the Australian dollar and removed tariffs, and when the Coalition banned many firearms and introduced a GST.

As one questioner said: "Isn't the fact of the matter that when it came to managing reform weren't both of you simply better at it than the current crop of politicians on either side?".

"Yes," laughed Bob Hawke, easily urging Mr Howard to agree.

They were at the National Press Club in Canberra to mark its 50th anniversary. They had spoken at the club a total of 57 occasions but this was their first appearance together. There was agreement not to talk of current politics and an unpopular Budget, but their feelings came through.

Still not sold. Source: News Corp Australia

John Howard said politicians have sometimes lost the capacity to respect the ability of the Australian people to absorb detailed argument rather than slogans.

"I think the Australian people normally get their politics right. I mean I would say that. I think both of us would," he said laughing with Mr Hawke.

He said voters wanted to be satisfied reform was in the national interest "because they have a deep sense of nationalism, of patriotism".

"They also want to be satisfied that it's fundamentally fair. The Australian people won't over a long period of time support something they don't think is fundamentally fair."

Bob Hawke said he was fortunate in being an Opposition Leader for just three weeks. But he said the job of Opposition was to do more than oppose.

Totally disinterested now. Source: News Corp Australia

"Take the present situation," he said while fending off any suggestion he wanted to deal with "the merits or otherwise" of the Labor Party's performance.

"You can't expect and nor should you expect from the Australian public their support to throw out an existing government and put you in unless you have done them the courtesy and the country the service of working out a coherent policy -- not necessarily of reform, but of adaptation to changing circumstances," he said.

"And that's essential. You will not just get into government by sheer opposition unless the government is going really badly. Recent events of the last couple of years [the Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd governments] support that proposition."

John congratulated Bob on floating the currency; Bob patted John as he said his gun laws were something the United States couldn't do.

In private, they probably would agree the present generation of their parties would not be able to achieve either.

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This virus can empty bank accounts

Game over ... the US FBI has tracked the culprits behind a virus which siphons money from bank accounts to Australia and Russia. Source: ThinkStock

COMPUTER users have been urged to take action against a cyber virus spreading across the globe.

The Gameover Zeus software has been temporarily held off by law agencies but experts warn that the hackers will soon rebuild their network and strike again.

They advised installing anti-virus software and updating operating systems to the latest versions.

The virus puts data, including photographs and personal files, at risk and can lead to financial accounts being emptied.

It infects a computer when the user clicks on a link in an unsolicited email or website and steals details such as passwords which are sent to the hackers. The software can even lock the computer until an online ransom of a Bitcoin, is paid.

An international dragnet including Australia was involved in dismantled the global computer hacker network which used a sophisticated computer virus to steal millions of dollars from companies and consumers.

Gameover Zeus, which first appeared in September 2011, stole bank information and other confidential details from victims.

According to FBI investigators, the virus infected between 500,000 and a million computers in 12 countries, creating a network of "bots"' the hackers could ``infiltrate, spy on, and even control, from anywhere they wished.''

MORE: The full FBI report on Gameover Zeuz

"Gameover Zeus is the most sophisticated botnet the FBI and our allies have ever attempted to disrupt," said FBI Executive Assistant Director Anderson.

The Australian Federal Police are yet to issue a statement.

The FBI blamed the Gameover Zeus botnet for the theft of more than $100 million, obtained by using the stolen bank data and then "emptying the victims' bank accounts and diverting the money to themselves.''

The bust also targeted another computer virus, dubbed "Cryptolocker,'' which appeared in September 2013.

The virus encrypted the computers of its victims and demanded a ransom — often in excess of $700 — in exchange for the password to unlock it. Investigators say the cyber criminals amassed more than $30 million in just the first two months.

Russian Evgeniy Mikhailovich Bogachev, 30, an alleged administrator of the network, was charged in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with 14 counts including conspiracy, computer hacking, bank fraud and money laundering in the Gameover Zeus and Cryptoblocker schemes.

Bogachev, sometimes called "Slavik'' or "Pollingsoon,'' was also charged in Omaha, Nebraska with "conspiracy to commit bank fraud'' in relation to an earlier incarnation of Gameover Zeus.

"Evgeniy Bogachev and the members of his criminal network devised and implemented the kind of cyber crimes that you might not believe if you saw them in a science fiction movie,'' said Leslie Caldwell, deputy attorney general.

US investigators worked with counterparts in Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Canada, Ukraine, and Britain, as well as the European Cybercrime Center, according to a statement.

They were also aided by private companies, including Dell, Microsoft, Afilias, Deloitte and Symantec.

The US Department of Homeland Security is also offering hints and tips to those who believe they may have been affected by the virus.

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The bizarre surgery of celebrity-obsessed fans

Looking like Justin Bieber ... Toby Sheldon spent $100,000 on plastic surgery to be like his idol. Picture: Twitter Source: Supplied

HAVE you ever dreamt of having Angelina Jolie's lips, or Scarlett Johansson's bust line?

For some, that dream is an obsession. Each year, people around the world drop hundreds of thousands of dollars with the hope of some day resembling their favourite Hollywood icons. They put themselves through multiple painful surgeries in the name of beauty and fame.

So who are these A-list admirers? Here are seven people who have gained notoriety for their extreme measures.

Hong Yuh Reum (Miranda Kerr):

Last week, South Korean model Hong Yuh Reum made headlines after appearing on Japanese TV program Alien Virus to discuss her transformation. "It really struck me when I first saw [Kerr] in a magazine. She has a baby face, but she's very sexy. I knew I wanted to be like her," she said during the show.

Reum had multiple surgeries on her eyes and nose in an attempt to better resemble the Aussie model and claims that her career has taken off since.

Nicholas Ryan (Ryan Gosling):

The real Ryan Gosling. Source: Getty Images

The fake Ryan Gosling. @Thenickryanla Source: Twitter

Aspiring New Jersey-based actor Nicholas Ryan dropped $5,000 last year on Botox and filler injections — all with the hope of making his face look like heart-throb Ryan Gosling.

"I'm going for roles that demand a more rugged look in a man's face," Ryan said in an interview with the Daily Mail. He's also hoping it will help with the ladies since "women love Ryan Gosling."

Turns out Ryan isn't alone in wanting to resemble The Notebook star. Dr. Tim Neavin, who operated on Ryan last May, says Gosling is one of the most-requested looks in his consultations with male patients.

Myla Sinanaj (Kim Kardashian):

After receiving backlash from a Kim K.-inspired sex tape (Myla Sinanaj: The Anti-Kim XXX), Myla Sinanaj went under the knife to finalise the transformation and quiet her critics.

"I'm obsessed with her body and want mine to be exactly the same," the porn star and aspiring media personality said in an interview with TMZ. She's so obsessed with the newlywed that she even dated Kim's ex, Kris Humphries, following their divorce.

Sinanaj spent over $30,000 on lipo, lip injections and a boob job.

'Kitty' (Jennifer Lawrence):

The real J. Law. Source: Getty Images

The fake J. Law. Source: YouTube

In an episode of ABC's Nightline , a Texan woman, identified as "Kitty," cited Jennifer Lawrence as her celebrity icon, because of her "spunky and fun" personality and "banging" body.

The 30-year-old dog trainer, wife and mother underwent six surgeries, totalling over $25,000, to make herself look more like the Hunger Games starlet.

"I am a strong woman ... I am in charge of how I look, and I can change that and then change that again if I want," she said during the special. "I'm not trying to look like Pamela Anderson here during her Baywatch days. I'm trying to look like a very capable, very personal, level-headed female who is an Academy Award winner."

Toby Sheldon (Justin Bieber):

Toby Sheldon has Bieber Fever — and isn't afraid to show it.

The Los Angeles-based songwriter has spent over $100,000 in the last six years in an attempt to better resemble the 20-year-old singer, with surgeries including face fillers, a chin reduction, eyelid surgery and hair transplants.

Earlier this year, Sheldon's compulsion was featured in an episode of TLC's My Strange Addiction, in which the 33-year-old said, "Some people buy fancy cars or fancy mansions. What I do with my money is, I get surgery to look more like Justin Bieber."

Despite his efforts, Sheldon admits that he still hasn't nailed Bieber's look, and has more surgeries planned for the future.

Crystal (Britney Spears):

On an episode of MTV's True Life: I Want a Famous Face, office worker Crystal opted for a rhinoplasty, fat grafts, lip injections and breast implants totalling nearly $25,000 — all to look like the Queen of Pop, Britney Spears.

"Just give me that extra boost that I need just for that real presence that's inside of me to be able to come out," Crystal said during the special. Happy with her results, she then pursued a career as a stripper.

Ashley Horn (Lindsay Lohan):

In a story that seems straight out of an episode of Maury, Lindsay Lohan's long lost sister Ashley Horn admitted to InTouch that she spent over $25,000 on plastic surgery to better resemble her famous sibling — then retracted the claim.

"My goal was to look like Lindsay in her good days, when she was around 18, 19 years old," Horn told the magazine in 2013. Procedures included a rhinoplasty, refinement underneath her cheeks and jawline and fat injections in the chin and upper cheeks.

But after making headlines, Horn tearfully admitted that LiLo hadn't inspired her plastic surgery makeover after all.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post.

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Can you answer this question for $1 million?

Eddie has worn 1000 different ties during his time on Hot Seat. Source: Supplied

IT'S the elusive million dollar question.

In 1000 episodes of Nine's prime time game show, Millionaire Hot Seat, not one person has been able to correctly nail the answer.

More: Eddie McGuire on Hot Seat's recipe for success

Only six of over 6000 contestants have made it far enough to even have a crack.

How would you go in the Hot Seat? Source: Supplied

As the Eddie McGuire fronted program celebrates its 1000th episode tonight, news.com.au has been given exclusive access to the six hardest questions ever asked on the show.

More than $24 million in prize money has been given away since the show started in April 2009, but the million dollar prize still remains untouched.

Are you smart enough to win the big bucks?

Read the six $1 million questions below, write down your answers and then scroll down for the answers.

And no, Eddie says you cannot phone a friend.

Good luck!

Lock it in, Eddie. Source: News Limited

1. JUNE 8, 2009 - $1,000,000

Which of Hollywood's four Warner Brothers died on the eve of their landmark premiere of 'The Jazz Singer'?

A: Albert

B: Harry

C: Jack

D: Sam

2. SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 - $1,000,000

Horowitz is the original surname of which American actor?

A: Matt Damon

B: Johnny Depp

C: Julia Roberts

D: Winona Ryder

3. JUNE 14, 2010 - $1,000,000

Famous for his Chinese Theatre, Sid Grauman had earlier opened which other Hollywood theatre, in 1922?

A: French

B: Egyptian

C: Roman

D: Arabian

4. JUNE 20, 2011 and NOVEMBER 29, 2011 - $1,000,000

On the current flag of the United Nations, which country is shown closest to the top of the flag?

A: New Zealand

B: Norway

C: Chile

D: Iceland

5. APRIL 16, 2012 - $1,000,000

In 1935, which of these countries became the first to use an image of the future Queen Elizabeth on a banknote?

A: Australia

B: New Zealand

C: England

D: Canada

6. MAY 13, 2013 - $1,000,000

Which of these Gilbert & Sullivan operettas was performed first?

A: The Gondoliers

B: The Pirates of Penzance

C: The Mikado

D: The Yeomen of the Guard

Eddie says no, you can't phone a friend. Also no Googling. Source: Supplied

This is what $10 million of gold bullion looks like. Source: News Corp Australia

ANSWERS:

1. D: Sam

2. D: Winona Ryder

3. B: Egyptian

4. A: New Zealand

5. D: Canada

6. B: The Pirates of Penzance

BONUS FUN FACTS:

Q: How many contestants have won the minimum prize of $1000?

A: 463

Q: How many contestants have won $10,000?

A: 96

Q: How many contestants have won $20,000?

A: 208

Q: How many contestants have won $50,000?

A: 187

Q: How many contestants have won $100,000?

A: 54 (168 have sat for it)

Q: How many contestants have won the second top prize of $250,000?

A: 17 (56 have sat for it)

Q: How many contestants have played for the top prize of $1 million?

A: 6

Q: How many contestants have won the top prize of $1 million?

A: NONE

Millionaire Hot Seat celebrates 1000 episodes on Monday, June 2 at 5.30pm on Channel 9.

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Americans poke fun at Abbott

The Last Week Tonight segment collated most of Abbott's biggest gaffes in one tidy four-minute package. Source: YouTube

IT would appear the secret's out: America knows about Tony Abbott.

Satirical US news program Last Week Tonight with John Oliver today aired a segment ruthlessly collating our embattled PM's most embarrassing moments.

WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE.

In a regular segment devoted to 'Other countries' Presidents of the USA', the HBO show turned its attention to Australia, describing our current leader as "hard line right-wing Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who rose to power promising to be pro-business and religiously anti-immigration — literally, religiously anti-immigration."

US TV show Last Week Tonight devoted an entire segment to our PM's foibles. Source: YouTube

It then cut to Mr Abbott on ABC panel show Q&A, explaining to host Tony Jones that "Jesus knew there was a place for everything and it's not necessarily everyone's place to come to Australia". Cue much laughter from the Last Week Tonight studio audience.

"Exactly. Australia is for real Australians, like Tony Abbott — who was born in London, England," the Last Week Tonight voiceover intoned.

Tony Abbott's birthplace was highlighted during the segment. Source: YouTube

From there, Last Week Tonight cut to clips of former Prime Minister Paul Keating, protesters and even schoolchildren lambasting the PM. "My mummy calls him Tony Dum-Dum," said one young boy in an undated interview.

Then followed clips of Mr Abbott's disparaging remarks about women ("What the housewives of Australia need to understand is they do the ironing"), gay people (telling 60 Minutes' Liz Hayes he feels "a bit threatened" by homosexuality), the Irish, and his now-infamous wink while speaking to an elderly sex-line worker.

They finished with his silent response to a journalist who asked about his choice of words when speaking about a fallen Aussie soldier:

"Yes, Tony Abbott knows, one panicked pant-sh**ting expression is worth a thousand words," the voiceover said.

Reaction from American viewers — and Aussies who'd managed to view the segment online — was swift and decisive:

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Does porn rot your brain?

64 men between the ages of 21 and 45 were asked about their porn-watching habits. Source: Supplied

RESEARCHERS have found less grey matter in the brains of men who watched large amounts of sexually explicit material.

The research, which appeared on Wednesday in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, could not determine if porn actually caused the brain to shrink however, and the authors called for additional study on the topic.

"Future studies should investigate the effects of pornography longitudinally or expose naive participants to pornography and investigate the causal effects over time," said researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin.

The institute recruited 64 male subjects aged between 21 and 45, "with a broad range of pornography consumption".

The men were not told initially that the research was monitoring their brains on porn, rather that it was "a scientific study including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements".

The men filled out surveys, describing how much porn they watched.

Their responses averaged a little more than four hours per week. Their brains were scanned with MRI technology while they were shown sexually explicit images from porn websites, along with non-sexual images of people exercising.

"Our findings indicated that gray matter volume of the right caudate of the striatum is smaller with higher pornography use," said the study.

Furthermore, when sexually explicit material was shown, the men's MRIs showed diminished function in a part of the brain that processes motivation.

But were men with smaller striatums seeking more porn, or did more porn make the brain smaller? Was it a consequence, or a precondition?

"Individuals with lower striatum volume may need more external stimulation to experience pleasure and might therefore experience pornography consumption as more rewarding, which may in turn lead to" more porn watching, said the authors, concluding that more study is needed.

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Asylum seeker dies from burns

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed the death of an asylum seeker living in Melbourne.

AN asylum seeker living on a bridging visa in Melbourne is dead after suffering serious burns.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said the man was rushed to Melbourne's The Alfred hospital after a "very serious incident" on Saturday morning, but died overnight.

He suffered burns to about 90 per cent of his body.

"There are many matters about this incident which are still not known at this time," Mr Morrison said today, adding that the man's injuries were not linked to an assault.

Tragedy ... Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says police are investigating the death and are working to formally identify the man.

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Police were investigating the death and also working to formally identify the man, who was living in the community and receiving "necessary support", Mr Morrison said.

He arrived in Australia in January 2013 and was first granted a bridging visa in May the same year.

The minister extended the Government's sympathies to the man's friends and overseas-based family.

More to come

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