Scramble For Old Book After Elon Musk Tip

Second-hand copies of an out-of-print history book have soared in price from £4.50 to £75 after tech pioneer Elon Musk recommended it.

The boss of Tesla Motors and SpaceX told a Bloomberg reporter that he liked the book Twelve Against The Gods by William Bolitho, saying: "It's really quite good."

Bolitho, a South African journalist, profiled 12 great figures from history in the book, including the Prophet Mohammed, Casanova, and Napoleon.

Before Mr Musk's recommendation, just a handful of copies were trading on Amazon for about £4.50.

Second-hand copies of the book are sold out

But just hours after his recommendation the price of copies of the book had soared to £75 per copy, and soon after there were no copies left at all.

Amazon's page for the book, which was first published in 1929, now reads 'Out of Print-Limited Availability'.

The English-language version of the book is also out of stock on a number of other popular booksellers websites.

On Amazon.co.uk, the book has just two reviews - both give it five stars.

One reviewer said: "You'll not likely find a more entertaining books of historical essays in modern print," while the other said: "I have had this book and re-read it off-and-on for years. The colorful details of their grand glorious adventures are wonderful."

Mr Musk is famously well read - he taught himself about rocket science by devouring books on the subject.

Now he reads more widely, and recommends his favourites from time to time.

US 'Declared War' Blacklisting Kim Jong-Un

The US made a "declaration of war" by putting the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on a sanctions blacklist, Pyongyang has claimed.

Taking the action, Washington accused the dictator of overseeing widespread human rights abuses, which had made the isolated communist state "among the world's most repressive countries".

In response, North Korea severed its official lines of communication with the US and said dealings between the two nations must now be dealt with under "war law".

Barack Obama 'crossed a line' with sanctions, North Korea has said

Han Song Ryol of the North's foreign ministry said: "The Obama administration went so far to have the impudence to challenge the supreme dignity of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in order to get rid of its unfavourable position during the political and military showdown with the DPRK.

"The United States has crossed the red line in our showdown.

"We regard this thrice-cursed crime as a declaration of war."

The sanctions imposed on Kim placed a freeze on any properties he may own in America and prevented him from doing business with US citizens.

Ten high ranking North Korean were also blacklisted by the US over alleged human rights abuses.

Political prison camps across North Korea are estimated to hold between 80,000 and 120,000 detainees, including children.

The clampdown comes ahead of US-South Korean military exercises which are set to take place in August.

North Korea has claimed the war games include training designed to prepare troops for the invasion of Pyongyang and "decapitation strikes" aimed at killing its leadership.

Mr Han added: "By doing these kinds of vicious and hostile acts toward the DPRK, the US has already declared war against the DPRK.

"So it is our self-defensive right and justifiable action to respond in a very hard way.

"We are all prepared for war, and we are all prepared for peace.

"If the United States forces those kinds of large-scale exercises in August, then the situation caused by that will be the responsibility of the United States."

US 'Declared War' Blacklisting Kim Jong-Un

The US made a "declaration of war" by putting the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on a sanctions blacklist, Pyongyang has claimed.

Taking the action, Washington accused the dictator of overseeing widespread human rights abuses, which had made the isolated communist state "among the world's most repressive countries".

In response, North Korea severed its official lines of communication with the US and said dealings between the two nations must now be dealt with under "war law".

Barack Obama 'crossed a line' with sanctions, North Korea has said

Han Song Ryol of the North's foreign ministry said: "The Obama administration went so far to have the impudence to challenge the supreme dignity of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in order to get rid of its unfavourable position during the political and military showdown with the DPRK.

"The United States has crossed the red line in our showdown.

"We regard this thrice-cursed crime as a declaration of war."

The sanctions imposed on Kim placed a freeze on any properties he may own in America and prevented him from doing business with US citizens.

Ten high ranking North Korean were also blacklisted by the US over alleged human rights abuses.

Political prison camps across North Korea are estimated to hold between 80,000 and 120,000 detainees, including children.

The clampdown comes ahead of US-South Korean military exercises which are set to take place in August.

North Korea has claimed the war games include training designed to prepare troops for the invasion of Pyongyang and "decapitation strikes" aimed at killing its leadership.

Mr Han added: "By doing these kinds of vicious and hostile acts toward the DPRK, the US has already declared war against the DPRK.

"So it is our self-defensive right and justifiable action to respond in a very hard way.

"We are all prepared for war, and we are all prepared for peace.

"If the United States forces those kinds of large-scale exercises in August, then the situation caused by that will be the responsibility of the United States."

US 'Declared War' Blacklisting Kim Jong-Un

The US made a "declaration of war" by putting the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on a sanctions blacklist, Pyongyang has claimed.

Taking the action, Washington accused the dictator of overseeing widespread human rights abuses, which had made the isolated communist state "among the world's most repressive countries".

In response, North Korea severed its official lines of communication with the US and said dealings between the two nations must now be dealt with under "war law".

Barack Obama 'crossed a line' with sanctions, North Korea has said

Han Song Ryol of the North's foreign ministry said: "The Obama administration went so far to have the impudence to challenge the supreme dignity of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in order to get rid of its unfavourable position during the political and military showdown with the DPRK.

"The United States has crossed the red line in our showdown.

"We regard this thrice-cursed crime as a declaration of war."

The sanctions imposed on Kim placed a freeze on any properties he may own in America and prevented him from doing business with US citizens.

Ten high ranking North Korean were also blacklisted by the US over alleged human rights abuses.

Political prison camps across North Korea are estimated to hold between 80,000 and 120,000 detainees, including children.

The clampdown comes ahead of US-South Korean military exercises which are set to take place in August.

North Korea has claimed the war games include training designed to prepare troops for the invasion of Pyongyang and "decapitation strikes" aimed at killing its leadership.

Mr Han added: "By doing these kinds of vicious and hostile acts toward the DPRK, the US has already declared war against the DPRK.

"So it is our self-defensive right and justifiable action to respond in a very hard way.

"We are all prepared for war, and we are all prepared for peace.

"If the United States forces those kinds of large-scale exercises in August, then the situation caused by that will be the responsibility of the United States."

US 'Declared War' Blacklisting Kim Jong-Un

The US made a "declaration of war" by putting the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on a sanctions blacklist, Pyongyang has claimed.

Taking the action, Washington accused the dictator of overseeing widespread human rights abuses, which had made the isolated communist state "among the world's most repressive countries".

In response, North Korea severed its official lines of communication with the US and said dealings between the two nations must now be dealt with under "war law".

Barack Obama 'crossed a line' with sanctions, North Korea has said

Han Song Ryol of the North's foreign ministry said: "The Obama administration went so far to have the impudence to challenge the supreme dignity of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in order to get rid of its unfavourable position during the political and military showdown with the DPRK.

"The United States has crossed the red line in our showdown.

"We regard this thrice-cursed crime as a declaration of war."

The sanctions imposed on Kim placed a freeze on any properties he may own in America and prevented him from doing business with US citizens.

Ten high ranking North Korean were also blacklisted by the US over alleged human rights abuses.

Political prison camps across North Korea are estimated to hold between 80,000 and 120,000 detainees, including children.

The clampdown comes ahead of US-South Korean military exercises which are set to take place in August.

North Korea has claimed the war games include training designed to prepare troops for the invasion of Pyongyang and "decapitation strikes" aimed at killing its leadership.

Mr Han added: "By doing these kinds of vicious and hostile acts toward the DPRK, the US has already declared war against the DPRK.

"So it is our self-defensive right and justifiable action to respond in a very hard way.

"We are all prepared for war, and we are all prepared for peace.

"If the United States forces those kinds of large-scale exercises in August, then the situation caused by that will be the responsibility of the United States."

Cameron's £21k Of Cut-Price Fitness Sessions

David Cameron benefited from £21,000 of cut-price fitness sessions with trainer to the stars Matt Roberts in his battle to keep in shape while prime minister.

In all he had 150 discounted sessions with Mr Roberts during his time in office, according to official records.

Mr Cameron was pictured a number of times out running with the personal trainer - as was his wife, Samantha Cameron.

She received a discount of £85 per session for 10 sessions in December 2011.

The register of MPs' financial interests shows the former prime minister enjoyed a discount of £150 per session for 50 sessions from April 2013 until June 21 this year.

It  follows a similar £7,500 discount for 50 sessions in January 2013, £3,625 for 25 sessions in December 2011 and £3,250 for 25 sessions in November 2010.

Mr Cameron wrote in his most recent entry to the register: "Discount of £150 per session on 50 sessions of personal training received since April 2013; total value £7,500. I have made a personal donation to a charity of my trainer's choice."

Mr Roberts lists initial consultations on his company's website at £150. Twenty five sessions with a senior trainer are priced at £2,125.

Mr Cameron joked on the EU referendum campaign trail about his battle against the bulge, saying he needed to lose some weight before his holiday because photographers would take pictures of his stomach.

Corbyn Wins High Court Leadership Fight

Jeremy Corbyn is entitled to be on the Labour leadership ballot without the support of MPs, the High Court has ruled.

In an unprecedented case, the judge ruled Mr Corbyn did not need to find the support of 51 of his MPs or MEPs to take part in a leadership battle - unlike those who sought to challenge him.

The beleaguered leader welcomed the decision saying the case, brought by Labour donor Michael Foster, was a "waste of time and resources".

The case focused on the party rules governing a leadership challenge and the decision may by the party's ruling body, the national executive committee, earlier this month if that Mr Corbyn did not have to find the backing of MPs - unlike his challengers.

Mr Foster had claimed the rules were "misapplied" and that Mr Corbyn should not be on the leadership ballot.

The move was seen as an attempt to oust Mr Corbyn by effectively blocking him from running in the contest, leaving his challenger, Owen Smith, unopposed.

While Mr enjoys massive support among Labour members, the same is not true among MPs.

Earlier this month he lost a Parliamentary Labour Party vote of no confidence by 172 votes to 40 and he would have struggled to find the 51 members to back him.

Mr Corbyn said: "I welcome the decision by the High Court to respect the democracy of the Labour Party.

"This has been a waste of time and resources when our party should be focused on holding the Government to account.

"There should have been no question of the right of half a million Labour Party members to choose their own leader being overturned. If anything, the aim should be to expand the number of voters in this election."

Iain McNicol, General Secretary of the Labour Party, said: "We are delighted that the Court has upheld the authority and decision of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party. 

"We will continue with the leadership election as agreed by the NEC."