Horror novelist Stephen King fumes at 'racist' Maine governor Paul LePage

Stephen King, the horror novelist, branded the governor of Maine a "racist and bigot" on Sunday, after he described black and Hispanic people as "the enemy".

Paul LePage, the Republican governor of Maine, where Mr King resides, sparked an outcry last Wednesday after saying that "you try to identify the enemy and the enemy right now, the overwhelming majority of people coming in, are people of colour or people of Hispanic origin".

A furious Mr King, the author of more than 50 novels, furiously responded to the remarks on Twitter, writing: "Our governor, Paul LePage, is a bigot, a homophobe, and a racist. I think that about covers it."

It marks the second war of words this month involving Mr LePage, who is known for his controversial outbursts. 

He was recently accused of becoming "unhinged" after unleashing a foul-mouthed tirade on Drew Gattine, a Democratic congressman.

The governor had left a voicemail on the mobile phone of Mr Gattine, who he claimed had accused him of being a racist.

"I want you to prove that I'm a racist," Mr LePage told him, adding that he had spent his life helping black people and calling Gattine a vulgar name related to oral sex. 

"I want you to record this and make it public because I am after you."

After leaving the voicemail, Mr LePage invited reporters to the governor's mansion, where he said he wished he could turn back time so he and Gattine could face off in a "duel".

"When a snot-nosed little guy from Westbrook calls me a racist, now I'd like him to come up here because, tell you right now, I wish it were 1825," he said. "And we would have a duel, that's how angry I am, and I would not put my gun in the air, I guarantee you, I would not be (Alexander) Hamilton. I would point it right between his eyes."

The voicemail followed another controversy in which LePage, who is white, said at a town hall meeting in Maine that he had a collection of photographs of drug dealers arrested in the state, and that 90 per cent of them "were black and Hispanic people."

Click to view : Stephen King: the 10 best films

 

For more of our quality journalism, add the Telegraph to your favourites

Go to The Telegraph Channel

Tony Mowbray resigns as manager of crisis club Coventry City following 10-match winless run

The Sky Blues have failed to win a league game so far this season and ex-Celtic and West Brom chief Mowbray has decided to walk away

 Tony Mowbray has resigned as manager of League One crisis club Coventry City, following a 10-match winless run.

City scored a 94th minute equaliser to claim a 2-2 draw with AFC Wimbledon on Wednesday night, a result which leaves them bottom of the table after failing to win so far this term.

It's understood Mowbray told his players of his intention to leave the club in the dressing room after the match, having conceded that he wasn't the man to take the club forward.

He met with club officials on Wednesday evening, before the club announced his departure on Thursday.

A statement declared: "Coventry City can today confirm that Tony Mowbray has resigned as manager of the football club.

"Without a win in the first ten league games, Tony felt on professional level that he was no longer able to take the club forward. Coventry City FC would like to thank Tony for all his energy and dedication over the past 18 months.

"We would also like to wish Tony all the very best for the future and put on record that he will always be welcome at the football club."

Mowbray took charge of the club during the 2014-15 season, keeping the Sky Blues in the third tier, having joined a relegation fight.

Last term, led by the goals of loanee Adam Armstrong, they surged to the top of the table during the first-half of the season, but couldn't sustain their form, eventually falling outside the play-off places.

This season Mowbray led the side to six draws and four defeats in their 10 league fixtures.

Speaking after Wednesday's game said: “I won’t be a burden for this club. I won’t hang around for too long if we don’t win football matches.

"I won’t expect to be paid if I decide to leave. They can reinvest the money I currently earn as a football manager.

“I know this club needs every penny. I am an honourable guy and I will make some decisions, talk to the people above me. I have worked with Mark Venus for over 20 years so me and him will sit down and see what’s right.

“I am not a quitter by nature. I just want to make sure this club has the best chance. I only came here to get this club out of this league and yet ten games we are bottom of the league and a long way from promotion."

Technical director Venus remains at the club and will take responsibility of first-team duties for the foreseeable future.

FOLLOW THE MIRROR
b
Facebook
a
Twitter
c
Newsletter
d
App
e
Website

EAMONN REVEALS 'MOST BEAUTIFUL' BRIDE

EAMONN Holmes has revealed the “most beautiful bride” he has ever seen – and its not his wife Ruth Langsford.

The telly favourite is currently hosting Good Morning Britain while Piers Morgan is on holiday, and confessed his co-presenter Charlotte Hawkins stole the crown of blushing bride.

The pair have been friends for years and worked together on Sky's breakfast programme Sunrise before she left in 2014 for a job on ITV breakfast TV.

On today's GMB he revealed: "The most beautiful bride I ever saw in my life was Charlotte Hawkins."

A blushing Charlotte, who got hitched to husband Mark Herbert in 2008, thanked him before adding: "You're supposed to say your own wife!"

Eamonn, 57, quickly added: "Outside of Ruth."

Holding Charlotte's hand during their chat, he continued: "You were stunning. You were absolutely beautiful."

A little flustered at being the centre of attention Charlotte responded to her pal: "That's very nice of you to say."

The discussion sparked interest on Twitter with one super-fan uploading a shot from Charlotte's special day nine years ago showing the mum-of-one in a strapless ivory gown with a sweetheart neckline.

She wore a silver tiara matching to match her necklace and a veil flowing over her shoulders, while clutching a bouquet of pink flowers.

The confession came following a segment on the show centred on Pippa Middleton's upcoming wedding.

After Eamonn made his return to ITV breakfast telly for the first time in 12 years yesterday, he confessed his 3am alarm hadn't impressed wife Ruth.

Eamonn , 57, presents ITV show This Morning every Friday with wife Ruth.

Yet with a 10.30am air time, a later wake-up is needed.

Talking of his crack of dawn alarm call today he said of his other half: "She's not happy.

"It was 2.40am the alarm clock today, she was not pleased.

"I think there will be separate sleeping arrangements in force tomorrow."

Ruth later took to her own Twitter page to cheekily suggest the pair have another baby after watching him cuddle an adorable tot on the show.

Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 02077824220



Get more
amazing stories
BRITAIN'S BEST - SELLING PAPER
READ NOW

David Walliams 'furious' at OBE snub, claims Simon Cowell

David Walliams is "furious" that his Britain's Got Talent co-stars Ant and Dec have been awarded OBEs and he has not, Simon Cowell has said.

TV stalwarts Ant and Dec were given the accolade from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace in January for services to broadcasting and entertainment.

Speaking ahead of Britain's Got Talent returning to screens this weekend for its 11th series, the show's creator Cowell said of Walliams: "He's furious."

Cowell quipped: "He's gone on an all-out assault this year to suck up to as many people as possible so that he can get there before me, and he probably will."

Ant agreed that Walliams is perhaps the most jealous of their OBE, and that "everyone thinks he already has one" because of the large amount of charity work he has done over the years.

Judge Alesha Dixon joked that it would be a "nightmare" if Walliams was awarded an OBE.

She said: "I would say David's more jealous because he's super-competitive. When he won best judge at the National TV Awards, he reminded us of it every day.

"So can you imagine what would happen if he became an OBE? It would be a nightmare because he would make sure that we all knew, he'd probably wear the medal every single day just to rub it in our faces, just in case we forgot, because he's very competitive."

However, former Little Britain star Walliams joked that Cowell is "a bit peeved" that Ant and Dec, who have fronted Britain's Got Talent since its inception in 2007, were given OBEs.

Walliams said: "Simon definitely thinks he should have a knighthood. I don't know why, I don't know what he thinks he's done. Maybe by just being famous for long enough.

"What he doesn't realise is you have to do something positive, you can't just spread evil and think that you'll get one. So I think he's a bit peeved about it.

"I think he thinks he was going to get one at one stage. Who knows, though it would be annoying to have to call him Sir Simon. I wouldn't like that, so I really hope it doesn't happen."

Cowell, Walliams, Dixon and Amanda Holden return to TV screens on Saturday as the reality programme kicks off for another series, which they have promised will be filled with emotional moments, plenty of talented youngsters, a 10ft robot and the programme's youngest-ever magician.

The programme's stars have cited the Missing People Choir, made up of people who have had somebody close to them reported as missing, as one of the most tear-jerking acts of the series, and Cowell has said they might even win this year.

Ant described their audition as "very emotional", adding: "It was a hard watch and they played images of the missing people behind them on stage."

Cowell said: "They've got a shot at winning, I think. I remember on the day thinking that it was special."

Stephen Mulhern is returning as the host of ITV2 companion show Britain's Got More Talent for the 11th year.

For the first time in the show's history, the spin-off's reveal show will be broadcast live as Mulhern meets the newly announced semi-finalists live in the studio.

Also returning are the golden buzzers, which each judge and presenters Ant and Dec can use just once to send one chosen act straight through to the semi-finals.

Following the pre-recorded audition shows, there will be a week of live semi-finals before the series concludes with the live grand finale.

The winner of the series will go on to win £250,000 and the opportunity to perform at the Royal Variety Performance 2017.

Britain's Got Talent returns on Saturday April 15 at 8pm on ITV

UK inflation remains above the Bank of England target in March

Inflation holds steady at 2.3%, as decline in air fares offsets sharp increase in food, alcohol and tobacco prices.

April 11, 2017

Inflation in Britain rose in line with expectations in March, remaining above the Bank of England's 2% target for the second consecutive month, after breaking through the threshold for the first time in three years, last month.

According to data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Tuesday (11 April), inflation held steady at 2.3% year-on-year last month, the same rate as the 2.3% reading recorded in February, which was the fastest on record since September 2013.

Higher prices for food, alcohol and tobacco, clothing and footwear, miscellaneous goods and services were among the main contributors to the increase, the ONS added.

However, the increases were largely offset by a downward contribution from transport, with air fares and fuel prices declining, compared with the corresponding period last year.

On a monthly basis, inflation rose 0.4% last month, compared with a 0.7% increase recorded in the previous month and higher than analysts' expectations for a 0.3% rise.

Inflation stood at 0.5% in March last year but the sharp rise has been exacerbated by the pound's ongoing weakness, which has seen sterling fall by some 16% since the June Brexit vote.

However, while inflation stalled in March, analysts warned this was likely to be only a temporary respite.

"Adding to the upward pressure on consumer prices from sterling's fall, airfares inflation should add a few tenths of a percentage point back onto the CPI rate in April, while electricity prices will rise sharply in the coming months as a result of utility companies' price hikes," said Ruth Gregory, UK economist at Capital Economics.

"As a result, we think that CPI inflation will peak at just over 3% before the end of the year. But we don't think that that will panic the MPC into raising rates imminently."

Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist at IHS Markit, added: "We expect inflation to continue to trend up to reach 3% by the end of the year and to likely peak around 3.3% early in 2018 as sterling's weakness continues to feed through.

"This will be uncomfortable for both consumers and the Bank of England. Consumers are facing a serious squeeze as higher inflation is occurring in tandem with muted earnings growth - and this looks set to bite even harder over the coming months."

Data released tomorrow is expected to show that wage growth has slowed down to 2.1% in the past three months, meaning households could see their spending budgets squeezed even further.

A report released earlier today by the British Retail Consortium showed UK retail sales fell 1% on a like-for-like basis in March, the third straight month of decline, as rising inflation forced consumers to be prudent with their spending.

North Korea vows to respond to US Navy's 'reckless' show of force

Download the free Telegraph app

The fastest way to get the news that matters

Download now

  News

North Korea has denounced the US deployment of a naval strike group to the region, warning it is ready for "war" as Washington tightens the screws on the nuclear-armed state.

The strike group, which includes the Nimitz-class aircraft supercarrier USS Carl Vinson, cancelled a planned trip to Australia this weekend to head to the Korean peninsula in a show of force.

"This goes to prove that the US reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase," a spokesman for North Korea's foreign ministry said. "The DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US."

President Donald Trump, fresh from ordering a missile strike on Syria, which was widely interpreted as a warning to North Korea, has asked his advisers for a range of options to rein in Pyongyang, said a US official.

Mr Trump has previously threatened unilateral action against Pyongyang if China - North Korea's sole major ally - fails to help curb its neighbour's nuclear weapons ambitions.

But Pyongyang's response suggested the reclusive state is determined to continue on its current path despite repeated rounds of United Nations sanctions.

"We will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms," the foreign ministry spokesman said.

"We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions."

Speculation over an imminent nuclear test is brewing as North Korea marks anniversaries including the 105th birthday of its late founding leader on Saturday - sometimes celebrated with a demonstration of military might.


South Korea's prime minister and acting president Hwang Kyo-Ahn told a cabinet meeting: "There is a possibility that the North launches more grave provocations such as another nuclear test to mark a number of anniversaries."

The current surge in tensions also coincides with today's scheduled gathering of North Korea's parliament, which meets once or twice a year to rubberstamp budgets or overhaul state organisations and personnel.

North Korea is on a quest to develop a long-range missile capable of hitting the US mainland with a nuclear warhead and has staged five nuclear tests, two of them last year.

Satellite imagery analysis suggests it could be preparing for a sixth, with intelligence officials warning it could be less than two years away from achieving the ability to strike the US.

South Korea's top nuclear envoy said on Monday after talks with his Chinese counterpart that the two nations had agreed to "strong" new measures to punish Pyongyang if it carried out another nuclear test.

The talks came shortly after Mr Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a summit at which he pressed Beijing to do more to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

Click to view : Kim Jong-un in pictures

"We are prepared to chart our own course if this is something China is just unable to co-ordinate with us," US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said after the summit.

On Sunday, US national security adviser HR McMaster criticised North Korea as a rogue nation engaged in provocative behaviour and said that denuclearisation of the peninsula "must happen".

"The president has asked them to be prepared to give us a full range of options to remove that threat," he told Fox News, apparently referring to Trump's advisers.

South Korea's unification minister Hong Yong-Pyo said on Monday that the repercussions of a potential military response were worrying.

"Pre-emptive strikes may be aimed at resolving North Korea's nuclear problems but, for us, it is also related to defending the safety of the public," he said.

While a US unilateral strike on North Korea from a shorter range might be more effective, it would likely endanger many civilians in South Korea and risk triggering a broader military conflict, experts warn.

Click to view : North Korea's nuclear history: key moments

United Airlines boss defiant over dragged passenger in leaked letter

The boss of United Airlines was defiant over an incident that saw a passenger dragged off a plane in a leaked memo to employees.

Oscar Munoz wrote to staff after footage emerged of the moment the traveller was forcibly removed from the overbooked flight after refusing to give up his seat.

In the letter, seen by Reuters, Mr Munoz did not apologise for the way the passenger was handled, instead claiming he had "defied" security officers.

The airline's CEO said there are lessons the company can learn from this situation, though he impressed that he "emphatically" stands behind his employees.

He wrote: "We sought volunteers and then followed our involuntary denial of boarding process (including offering up to $1,000 in compensation).

"When we approached one of these passengers to explain apologetically that he was being denied boarding, he raised his voice and refused to comply with crew member instructions."

The Chicago Department of Aviation said one of its officers had not followed protocol and had been placed on leave pending a review of his actions.

Flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville was preparing for take-off at O'Hare International Airport when cabin crew informed the passengers that the flight was overbooked.

The crew asked four passengers to free up space for staff who needed to be at work the following day.

As no-one offered to give up their seat, the airline choose four passengers at random.

The man who was selected refused to leave, prompting airport security guards to remove him from the plane.

A video of the incident shows the man screaming as his seatbelt is unbuckled and he is pulled from his seat by three guards.

He appears to hit his face on the adjacent seat, before he is seen being dragged down the aisle by his arms.

Witness Jayse Anspach said the passenger was a doctor who said he had to be at work the following day.

Mr Anspach added: "The doctor's face was slammed against an armrest, causing serious bleeding from his mouth.

"It looked like he was knocked out, because he went limp and quiet and they dragged him out of the place like a rag doll."

Mr Anspach said the passenger ran back into the plane 10 minutes later "with a bloody face".

Another witness, Audra Bridges, said the incident left passengers "shaky and so disgusted".

In an official statement United Airlines chief executive Mr Munoz said: "This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United.

"I apologise for having to re-accommodate these customers. Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened.

We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation."

It is the second time in recent weeks that United Airlines has been engulfed in controversy.

Last month, the airline was accused of sexism after barring two teenage girls from boarding a flight because they were wearing leggings.

The incident sparked a social media storm. The airline said the girls were travelling under an employee travel pass that includes a dress code.

Website
Mobile App

Stockholm suspect 'admits truck attack'

The Stockholm truck attack suspect has confessed to a "terrorist crime", his lawyer says.

The admission came at a custody hearing in the Swedish capital.

Rakhmat Akilov, 39 from Uzbekistan, admitted responsibility for the attack in court.

Four people were killed when a lorry was driven into a department store on Friday. A number of people were also injured, including two who are in a critical condition.

"His position is that he admits to a terrorist crime and accepts therefore that he will be detained," said lawyer Johan Eriksson.

Rakhmat Akilov: Who is the truck attack suspect?

Eyewitnesses: Lorry was 'trying to hit people'

Mr Akilov was brought into court in handcuffs.

Security was tight and the press gallery was full, according to a BBC correspondent at the court session, which was conducted behind closed doors.

Mr Akilov was wearing green overalls and was told to remove a green blanket from his head before the hearing started.

Swedish police said Mr Akilov was known to security services.

He had been denied residency in Sweden and had expressed sympathy for so-called Islamic State (IS), they said.

He reportedly ran from the scene of the attack, still covered in blood and glass, and was arrested hours later in a northern suburb of Stockholm.

According to reports, he had left a wife and four children behind in Uzbekistan in order to earn money to send home.

After applying for residency in 2014, he was informed in December 2016 that "he had four weeks to leave the country", police official Jonas Hysing said.

He disappeared and, in February, was officially put on a wanted list.

Responding to the attack, Swedish Justice Minister Morgan Johansson said he wanted to toughen the nation's terrorism laws.

In an interview with AFP published on Monday, Mr Johansson specifically mentioned tackling the financing of terrorism and potential prison sentences for those "dedicated to terrorism even if not connected to a specific crime".

"We want to give the police the opportunity, without concrete suspicion of a crime, to go into workplaces to make sure that people who work there are in Sweden [legally]," he added.

The beer company that owned the lorry said it was hijacked while making a delivery to a restaurant.

Eyewitnesses said it sped down Drottninggatan (Queen Street), a central shopping street, and appeared to be deliberately mowing people down.

The vehicle then crashed into the front of the Ahlens department store.

Police later confirmed they discovered a suspect device inside the lorry.

Huge fire guts France migrant camp

A camp housing 1,500 migrants in northern France has been destroyed in a fire that officials said began during a fight between Afghans and Kurds.

At least 10 people were injured when the fire tore through closely-packed huts at the Grande-Synthe camp, near the port of Dunkirk.

Last month officials said the camp would be dismantled because of unrest.

The French north coast has been a magnet for migrants trying to reach Britain.

"There is nothing left but a heap of ashes," said Michel Lalande, prefect of France's Nord region.

"It will be impossible to put the huts back where they were before," he added.

The population of the Grande-Synthe camp has grown since last October's destruction of the "Jungle" camp near Calais, about 40 km (25 miles) away.

The arrival of more Afghans increased tensions with Kurds living in the camp, AFP news agency reports, citing witnesses and officials.

The migrants have been evacuated and will be sent to emergency accommodation, with two gymnasiums nearby already made available, Mr Lalande said.

What next after the Jungle?

There have been several violent incidents at the Grande-Synthe camp, which was built by the charity MSF (Doctors Without Borders) and opened in March 2016.

Six people were left injured with knife wounds after the fight that started the blaze.

Police intervened last month after five men were injured in a fight, and another man was stabbed in November, AFP reported.

FANS CROSS AT THE CHASE WOMAN'S CHOICE

LUXURY holidays, fast cars, designer handbags, a flashy new TV… most of us would have pretty grand ambitions if we bagged a wad of cash.

But The Chase contestant Laura shocked host Bradley Walsh and viewers at home by revealing the modest way she’d spend her share of the prize fund.

The 32-year-old brunette revealed she likes to cross stitch and would subscribe to some magazines with her winnings.

Fans couldn’t quite believe it, taking to Twitter to share their amazement.

Jack Wetherill wrote: “Is she sure? She’s gone on #TheChase to win money to subscribe to some cross stitch magazine?”

Holly Moffatt agreed, adding: “If you won some money what would you spend it on? Subscribe to cross stitch magazine. #thechase.”

Kirsty Parry commented: “Did she really just say she would spend all the money on cross stitch magazines?! #TheChase.”

While Nick said: “#thechase #gangofchase subscribe to some cross stitch magazines. WHOA easy there you rebel!”

James Jones joked “don’t get too carried away love”, while Miguel added “she’s a left swipe on Tinder”.

Laura banked £4,000 during the cash builder and was offered a higher prize of £54,000 by Chaser Anne Hegerty, which she turned down.

One viewer joked: “How could you turn down £54k? Think of all the cross stitch magazines you could subscribe to.”

Laura made it through to the final chase alongside fellow contestants Simon and Annie.

They beat The Governess to take home a share of the prize fund.

Meanwhile, we revealed why The Chasers always wear the same clothes on every show.

Bradley Walsh lost his cool demeanour last week and ranted at a contestant after he took the low offer.

Get more
amazing stories
BRITAIN'S BEST - SELLING PAPER
READ NOW

Hawking presents University Challenge prize

Professor Stephen Hawking has presented the winning University Challenge team with their trophy - and revealed he is a long-time fan of the show.

Oxford's Balliol College beat Wolfson College, Cambridge, by 190 to 140 in the final of the BBC Two show.

The series was a hit on social media, in large part due to fan favourite Eric Monkman, who captained Wolfson.

Despite his team's loss some took to Twitter to describe the 29-year-old as the "people's champion".

Host Jeremy Paxman told Wolfson they had been "entertaining".

Why University Challenge contestants go viral

Professor Hawking told the two teams: "I have said in the past that it is not clear whether intelligence has any long-term survival value - bacteria multiply and flourish without it.

"But it is one of the most admirable qualities, especially when displayed by such young minds.

"Many congratulations to both teams but especially to Balliol College Oxford on becoming series champions on University Challenge, a programme I have long enjoyed."

It was only the second time in the quiz's 55-year-history that the trophy presentation had taken place outside the studio.

In the segment, Paxman congratulated the winners and told Wolfson there was "no shame in being runners-up".

Balliol then toasted their win with glasses of port.

Oxford colleges had lost to Cambridge for the past three years - until the 2017 final, broadcast on Monday night.

Could you answer these University Challenge questions?

Here is a selection of some of the questions Balliol answered correctly to beat Wolfson. Answers at the bottom of the story.

In which city of the Eastern Roman empire did Hypatia teach philosophy?

Associated with the philosopher Plotinus and the supreme principle known as the one, which late school of Greek philosophy did Hypatia espouse?

Which German philosopher applied Newtonian principles to the Nebular hypothesis in his 1755 work Universal Natural History and Theory of the Heavens?

In Earth science what four-letter term denotes the zone that separates the Earth's crust from the mantle?

Monkman, from Canada, was applauded by fans for his enthusiastic performances and the encyclopaedic knowledge he displayed.

He had scored 120 of his team's 170 points in a previous round, with the hashtag #Monkmania springing up for fans to praise his prowess.

But in the end, the Balliol team captained by Joey Goldman proved too strong for Monkman and his teammates.

Answers: 1. Alexandria 2. Neoplatonism 3. Immanuel Kant 4. Moho

'Just Kill Me': New Video Shows Bloodied United Airlines Passenger After Being Removed From Seat

The man spoke from the back of the plane as blood dripped from his head and mouth

A new video of the passenger who was forcibly removed from his seat and dragged through the aisle of an overbooked United Airlines aircraft shows the man repeatedly saying “just kill me” as blood drips from his mouth.

“Just kill me, just kill me,” the man said in a video posted on Twitter by Kaylyn Davis, who says her husband was on the overbooked flight on Sunday evening. Another video taken by her husband shows the man repeating, “I have to go home.”

In a statement, police said they were summoned after the passenger “became irate” after he was asked to leave the oversold flight.

"Aviation Officers arrived on the scene attempted to carry the individual off of the flight when he fell,” the statement said. “His head subsequently struck an armrest causing injuries to his face. The man was taken to Lutheran General with non-life threatening injuries.”

A video posted on Facebook Sunday evening showed security forcibly pulling the passenger from his seat after he refused to leave the overbooked flight. The man could be heard screaming as a security official grabbed his arms and then proceeded to drag him down the aisle of the United aircraft.

United had to randomly select four passengers to switch flights to make room for four United employees who had to return to Louisville, according to passenger Aura Bridges, who posted the original video. The airline had originally offered vouchers and hotel stays for customers who volunteered to take a different flight the next day, but no one opted to.

The man said he was a doctor who had to return to his patients Monday morning. Bridges told the Louisville Courier-Journal the man returned to the plane after being pulled off with his face bloodied.

The video sparked outrage online, with many expressing confusion, discontent and anger at the airline company for its handling of the situation.

“After our team looked for volunteers, one customer refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily and law enforcement was asked to come to the gate,” the company said in a statement Monday morning.

United CEO Oscar Munoz said the company is reaching out to the passenger to “further address and resolve this situation.”

“This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United,” United CEO Oscar Munoz said in a statement Monday. “I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened."

China heads world executions list as US falls out of top five

China executed more people than all other nations put together last year,  according to Amnesty International.

The charity says in its annual report on the death penalty that while it is known that China puts large numbers of people to death, the exact number is not clear.

But Amnesty says it has managed to calculate that the figure is more than the 1,032 people killed by the state in other countries in 2016.

In 2015, the total was 1,634 - the highest recorded since 1989.

A drop in executions in the US has meant that America has now fallen out of the top five countries for judicial killings.

Salil Shetty, secretary general of the London-based human rights watchdog, said: "China wants to be a leader on the world stage, but when it comes to the death penalty it is leading in the worst possible way - executing more people annually than any other country in the world.

"It is high time for China to lift the veil on this deadly secret and finally come clean about its death penalty system."

The human rights charity found around 930 incidents of execution in China between 2014 and 2016.

But it estimates there are many more.

The number of death sentences handed down in the US in 2016 was 32, the lowest since 1973.

The other countries in the top five are: 2nd, Iran; 3rd, Saudi Arabia; 4th, Iraq and 5th, Pakistan.

Egypt doubled the number of executions it carried out from 22 in 2015 to 44 last year.

Amnesty said: "Under (President) Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's rule Egypt has witnessed an unprecedented increase in mass death sentences after unfair trials."

The report also revealed that Vietnam has been killing hundreds of its citizens for several years without stating how many have died.

Three dead in San Bernardino after husband kills wife and student in special needs class

Gunman Cedric Anderson also died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The perpetrator of the North Park Elementary School shooting in San Bernardino, California, killed his estranged wife while she taught a special educational needs class before committing suicide, authorities said Monday (10 April).

One of two students caught in the gunfire, eight-year-old Jonathan Martinez, has since been confirmed dead after being taken to the hospital.

Authorities identified the teacher as 53-year-old Karen Elaine Smith and her husband as Cedric Anderson. San Bernardino Police Department Chief Jarrod Burguan said Anderson did not say a word before opening fire with a large-caliber revolver, killing his wife and striking two students standing behind her.

"She was killed in that exchange," Burguan said. Anderson then died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, The Washington Post reported.

The police chief said Anderson reloaded his gun at least once. According to KTLA, 15 students between first and fourth grades were in the special education classroom, as well as two adult aides.

San Bernardino City Unified School District Spokeswoman Maria Garcia told reporters that authorities responded to a report of an active shooter just before 10.30am PST (6.30pm GMT). Burguan said when officers arrived, they found a man and a woman dead, as well as two injured students.

The two students, an 8-year-old boy and a 9-year-old boy, were transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center's trauma centre. The two boys were initially listed in critical condition, KTLA reported. Martinez died shortly after arriving at the hospital, while the other student is in stable condition.

Burguan said that there was no known present motive for the shooting. The couple had been married for a few months but had separated "for about the last month, month-and-a-half roughly". Anderson has a criminal history that includes domestic violence, weapons and possible drug charges, the police chief told reporters.

San Bernardino Police Captain Ron Maass told reporters at an earlier news conference that the children were not the gunman's targets. "We believe the two children were the unfortunate recipients of injuries by being in the proximity to the female at the time of the incident," Maass said.

Prior to the shooting, Anderson reportedly checked in at the school's front office and requested to drop something off with his wife. Burguan said it was not uncommon for a spouse to do that. Authorities said there was no indication that Anderson's gun was visible when he entered the classroom.

Garcia noted that the elementary school does not have uniformed police officers or campus security like the district's middle and high schools. The district had re-examined its security measures following the 2 December 2015 terror attack at the Inland Regional Center. Principals have had lockdown training and know what to do if there is an active shooter on campus.

US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos called the shooting a "horrible act" in a statement.

"As a mother and grandmother, today's senseless violence is a tragedy no parent should ever have to face," DeVos said. "I ask everyone to join me in keeping all the victims and those impacted in your prayers."

In a news conference after the shooting, school district Superintendent Dale Marsden said: "Our hearts are broke, as are everyone else's."

Marsden added: "This is a tragic event. It's going to take time for our heads, our hearts, to heal...when you're going through this type of horrible event, we need each other to walk hand in hand to heal, to continue to press forward, to not allow what is tragic to halt our lives."

The school, which enrolls nearly 530 children, will be closed for two days, the Washington Post reported.

Theresa May and Donald Trump agree 'window of opportunity' exists to persuade Russia to break ties with Syria's Assad

Theresa May and Donald Trump have agreed that "a window of opportunity" now exists to persuade Russia to break ties with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The US president and British Prime Minister spoke on Monday evening, with Mr Trump thanking Mrs May for her support following the air strikes he launched against the Assad regime last week.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister and the president agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest.

"They agreed that US Secretary of State (Rex) Tillerson's visit to Moscow this week provides an opportunity to make progress towards a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement."

Trump administration officials said a week ago that they had abandoned the goal of forcing Assad to leave power.

However, the chemical weapons attack on Idlib province last Tuesday, which left at least 87 people dead including more than 30 children, had a "profound effect" on the US president and led him to order retaliatory air strikes against an Assad regime air base.

Rex Tillerson, the secretary of state, said, following the chemical attack, there was "no role" for Assad in governing Syria. He will visit Moscow on Tuesday with the aim of persuading Russia, Syria's key ally, to distance itself from the Assad regime.

Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, on Monday said Mr Trump was open to authorising additional strikes on Syria if the use of chemical weapons continues in the country. He said that even the use of barrel bombs by the regime, which is a frequent occurrence, would necessitate action.

"The sight of people being gassed and blown away by barrel bombs ensures that if we see this kind of action again, we hold open the possibility of future action," he said.

In a further development, the US has concluded that Russia knew in advance of Syria's chemical weapons attack last Tuesday, officials said.

A Russian-operated drone flew over a hospital as victims of the attack rushed to get treatment, US officials said.

A Russian-made fighter jet bombed the hospital several hours later in what American officials believe was an attempt to cover up the use of chemical weapons. It remains unclear whether the jet was being flown by Russia or Syria.

However, US officials have now confirmed the drone was operated by Russia and cited its position over the site of the attack as proof that Russia must have known the chemical weapons attack was coming and that victims were seeking treatment.

The US claimed that 20 per cent of Syria's operational aircraft were destroyed in the strikes on the air base.

"The Syrian government has lost the ability to refuel or re-arm aircraft at Shayrat airfield and at this point, use of the runway is of idle military interest," James Mattis, the defence secretary, said in a statement.

"The Syrian government would be ill-advised ever again to use chemical weapons."

In their phone call, Mrs May and Mr Trump also "discussed the broader Middle East, including the threat posed by Iran throughout the region".

"The Prime Minister and president also stressed the importance of the international community, including China, putting pressure on North Korea to constrain the threat it poses," the statement said.

Click to view : Syrian control and airforce capabilities