Holocaust Hoax Essay 'Horribly Inappropriate'

California school officials have said an assignment asking students to write an essay on whether they believe the Holocaust really happened was "horribly inappropriate".

The Rialto Unified School District made headlines when it gave eighth-grade students a critical-thinking writing assignment on whether the Holocaust was an actual event or "merely a political scheme created to influence public emotion and gain".

The assignment drew the immediate condemnation of Jewish groups, tolerance organisations and community leaders.

The assignment has been withdrawn

The Simon Wiesenthal Center said in a statement that it was "appalled by this grotesque 'assignment'".

The California-based group called the Nazi Holocaust, in which six million Jews were killed, "the most documented monstrous crime in history".

The district had already withdrawn the assignment and called it an error.

But at a packed public meeting, the Rialto Unified School Board went further, taking "full responsibility".

Board president Joanne Gilberts said that a lack of internal checks had turned the project into a "horribly inappropriate assignment".

Parents and Jewish leaders attended the emergency meeting

The board said it was "deeply sorry" for the mistake.

Ms Gilbert said eighth graders will undergo sensitivity training at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, and several other policy changes will be implemented.

It was not clear if any educator would be disciplined.

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Oscar Pistorius 'Is Not Putting On A Show'

Oscar Pistorius was not "putting on a show" and seemed genuinely heartbroken after shooting his girlfriend dead, the athlete's murder trial has heard.

Social worker and probation officer Yvette van Schalkwyk said she came forward as a witness on Tuesday after reading reports that the athlete had been "taking acting classes" and that his tears in court may not be real.

Ms van Schalkwyk, who was asked in February 2013 to assist Pistorius at his first court appearance, said he "cried 80% of the time" when she was with him.

She told the court: "What I saw from the first time I saw him was a man who was heartbroken... he cried, he was in mourning, he suffered emotionally."

She said that when she sat with Pistorius in the cells at the time of his initial court hearings he vomited twice and told her he shot Reeva Steenkamp accidentally.

Ms van Schalkwyk denied feeling sorry for Pistorius, saying: "After 24 years in probation you've got empathy. There's a difference."

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said her evidence should be inadmissable because it did not relate directly to the charges - but Judge Thokozile Masipa turned down his objections, pointing out that he had earlier questioned the Paralympian's sincerity.

Anaesthetist Professor Christina Lundgren cast doubt on prosecution claims that Oscar Pistorius had a late-night argument with Ms Steenkamp before he shot her.

State Pathologist Professor Gert Saayman has previously testified that food found in Ms Steenkamp's stomach had been eaten no more than two hours before she was shot dead at 3am on February 14, 2013.

His evidence challenged Pistorius' claim that she ate early the previous evening and suggested she was awake when a neighbour said she heard what sounded like a woman arguing in the house where Pistorius shot her.

But Prof Lundgren said the prosecution case that Ms Steenkamp's stomach should have been empty if Pistorius was telling the truth was "purely speculative".

She explained that before surgery patients are typically told not to eat for six hours to ensure their stomachs are empty.

Pistorius arrives at court ahead of the trial's 28th day

But she said some ingredients in a chicken stir-fry Ms Steenkamp ate, such as vegetables and fatty foods, could take longer to digest, while her yoga session before going to bed could also delay the process.

Mr Nel worked to eliminate the factors that could have delayed the digestion process in Ms Steenkamp's case, saying that she had not drunk alcohol, smoked or taken medication and did not have an eating disorder.

He said that made Prof Saayman's evidence more probable.

The witness acknowledged to Mr Nel that if Ms Steenkamp had been involved in a long argument that caused her anxiety before her death, the gastric emptying process could have been delayed.

Forensic and ballistics expert Thomas Wolmarans said he found a bullet fragment in the toilet bowl in Pistorius' bathroom that police had missed during their examination.

He told the court about the devastating nature of the bullets fired by Pistorius - describing how they "mushroom" when they hit soft flesh, causing "a permanent cavity".

Mr Wolmarans gave reasons why assumptions about the trajectory of the bullets that killed Ms Steenkamp may not be accurate, suggesting the wooden toilet door could have changed their course by several centimetres.

Pistorius is accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, but he claims he shot her by accident.

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Stars Tweet For Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolgirls

Celebrities and public figures have been using social media to tell their millions of followers about the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls.

Twitter has been the epicentre of the campaign, with the #BringBackOurGirls hashtag building up momentum in the last week and trending worldwide.

Michelle Obama became one of the most high-profile people to highlight the kidnappings when she tweeted a picture from the White House.

Michelle Obama tweeted from her @FLOTUS account

"Our prayers are with the missing Nigerian girls and their families," said the First Lady.

The post from her @FLOTUS account has been retweeted and favourited nearly 60,000 times during the first 12 hours.

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who survived being shot by the Taliban for promoting girls' education, has also posted a picture of herself holding a sign.

X Factor winner Leona Lewis also got behind the hashtag

The 16-year-old, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and now lives in Britain, told CNN the girls were like "sisters" to her.

The hashtag was started by Nigerian lawyer Ibrahim M Abdullahi on April 23, nine days after the 276 girls were taken from their school in the north of the country.

#BringBackOurGirls is trending in many countries. Pic: TrendsMap

It has also made the jump into the "real world", becoming a convenient slogan for posters and placards of campaigners on the ground - who have adopted red as their chosen colour.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell is another of the famous faces promoting the #BringBackOurGirls hashtag.

Naomi Campbell posted on her Instagram account

In an Instagram post she called on under-fire President Goodluck Jonathan to "do something!!!".

The Nigerian leader has been criticised for not doing enough to track down the girls, who are thought held captive by Islamist group Boko Haram in a sprawling forest in the northeast of the country.

Musicians Chris Brown, Puff Daddy, Leona Lewis, Mary J Blige and Alicia Keys have also jumped on board.

R&B singer Brown urged his three million followers to "lend a voice by asking authorities to #BringBackOurGirls", while UK X Factor winner Lewis posted an image of herself holding a sign.

A Facebook campaign also wants people to flood Twitter, Facebook, BBM, Instagram and Whatsapp for 200 minutes on Thursday to add more momentum to the campaign.

An online petition on the Change.org site has so far notched up more than 500,000 names and is aiming for one million.

Campaigners have taken to wearing the colour red

As social media campaign gains momentum, the Nigerian government has called on international experts in areas such as hostage negotiation and intelligence to help track down the girls.

Mr Jonathan has said the kidnap will mark the "beginning of the end" of terrorism in his country - but for hundreds of families still without their daughters that will be little consolation.

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Journalists Destroy TV Set During On-Air Brawl

Two Jordanian journalists got into a fight on a live television show and wrecked its set.

Shaker al Johari and Mohammed al Jayousi were appearing as guests on a show called Between Opposing Opinions when the discussion became heated.

Al Jayousi accused al Johari of supporting the Syrian revolution - and he was in turn accused of backing Bashar al Assad's regime in exchange for money.

The pair then jumped up out of their seats and started shoving the desk in front of them at each other.

The show's presenter Zuhair al Azza tried to calm the pair down before al Johari kicked out at his opponent and was pulled away from the set by production staff.

No action was taken against the pair.

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Deadly Fire At Tennis Star James Blake's Home

A family-of-four have died in a fire which police say was started deliberately at the Florida home of a former tennis star.

Two adults and two teenage children were killed in the $1.5m mansion, north of Tampa, belonging to former World No. 4 James Blake.

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Colonel Donna Lusczynski said two of the bodies appeared to have "upper-body trauma" - and that murder-suicide was a possibility.

Two adults and two teenagers died in the blaze

She said the scene was "unusual", adding  there were "various fireworks" throughout the property.

An investigation has been launched to determine how the blaze started.

The family had been renting the five-bedroom house from Blake for the past two years.

The bodies of those killed are yet to be positively identified, officials said.

However, voter registration records identified the couple renting the property as Darrin Campbell and his wife, Kimberley.

Mr Campbell was the treasurer of Carrollwood Day School, a private school attended by his children Colin and Megan, according to former neighbour George Connley.

Darrin Campbell and his children Colin and Megan

The family members' bodies were all found in their bedrooms.

Mr Connley said: "They were a very nice family, we know nothing of any problems. The kids were outstanding children."

Mr Campbell had held a number of senior jobs with firms including mobile storage container business PODS and insurance company IVAMS.

Blake, 34, retired from professional tennis last year.

He was not at the property when the fire broke out at 6am (local time) on Wednesday.

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Huge Explosion Destroys Hotel In Syria

A huge explosion has destroyed a hotel being used by the military along with several other buildings in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo.

Bashar al Assad's troops had made the hotel, the Carlton Citadel, their base, state media and activists said.

There were believed to be casualties among the troops.

The Islamic Front rebel group has claimed responsibility for the blast.

The country's official news service also reported that terrorists - a term the government uses for rebels - had dug tunnels below the hotel and planted explosives in the attack in the ancient district of the city.

The rebels are believed to have detonated the explosives remotely.

Aleppo, Syria's largest city, is divided into rebel-held and government areas after the rebels launched an offensive there in 2010.

The attack is a blow to the Assad regime in the north as his troops prepare to regain control of the rebel stronghold of Homs.

Rebels on Tuesday relinquished control of the central city, the cradle of the Syrian uprising, marking a significant victory for the government.

The Islamic Front is an alliance of several Islamic groups fighting to oust Assad.

Many of its fighters have joined the Front after splitting from the Western-backed Syrian Free Army last year.

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Separatists Set To Defy Putin On Ukraine Vote

Pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine plan to hold a vote on independence this weekend despite President Vladimir Putin's call to delay it.

The co-ordinating committee of the self-proclaimed 'Donetsk People's Republic' announced it would have a referendum as planned on Sunday, following a meeting.

But some people fear the vote in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk could spark further violence between Ukrainian troops and the pro-Russia militants.

The separatists have already seized government buildings in about a dozen cities in the east of the country.

President Putin wants the independence vote postponed

Russian leader Mr Putin wants the vote postponed so talks can take place with the Kiev government.

However, many in the east said the referendum was the only way to prevent war against what the rebels and Moscow call the "fascist" politicians in the capital.

Head of the rebel elections commission Denis Pushilin said the suggestion to put off the vote "came from a person who indeed cares for the people of the southeast" of Ukraine. "But we are the bullhorn of the people," he said.

The Russian stock market fell on the news and Kiev officials promised to continue with their "anti-terrorist campaign" to retake control over Donetsk and Luhansk regardless of the poll decision.

Pro-Russia activists stand guard during a rally in Luhansk

The European Union said the rebel vote has "no democratic legitimacy" and can "only further worsen the situation".

Mr Putin's comments appeared to be an attempt to try to defuse the row with the West over Ukraine.

The president also declared that Russia had pulled its troops away from the Ukrainian border.

Nato and the US said they had seen no signs of this.

Mr Putin also spoke more positively about the Ukrainian interim government's plan to hold a presidential election on May 25.

He called it a "step in the right direction," but reiterated Russia's view that there should be constitutional reforms beforehand.

Also, Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine had assembled 15,000 troops on its border with Russia.

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FBI Agent In Pakistan Released On Bail

An FBI agent has been released on bail by a Pakistani court three days after his arrest.

The man, who the US said is a federal agent, had to submit a surety bond of one million rupees ($9,800) for his bail, the court said.

He was arrested at an airport in the southern city of Karachi on Monday after he reportedly attempted to carry ammunition and knives on to a plane bound for Islamabad.

Pakistani police officer Rao Anwaar said officials had found the man also carrying electronic devices that were being examined.

A US law enforcement official identified the man as an FBI agent working in Pakistan as part of an anti-corruption task force.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the agent appears to have made a mistake and there is no indication he purposely tried to board the plane with weapons.

US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington was coordinating with Pakistani authorities to resolve the matter.

Pakistani television channels aired footage on Wednesday of police with the American in court.

The arrest marks the latest incident between the two uneasy allies.

The US relies on Pakistan in its fight against al Qaeda and its attempts to stabilise neighbouring Afghanistan, but US drones strikes in the country have angered many Pakistanis.

The unilateral assault that killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad in May 2011 also irked Pakistani government officials.

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Girls' Kidnap Will Be 'End Of Nigeria Terror'

The abduction of more than 200 girls in Nigeria will be the "beginning of the end of terror" there, says Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Nigerian capital Abuja, he also thanked the international community for its support and said "by God's grace we will conquer the terrorists".

Mr Goodluck has been criticised for his response to the kidnapping, and for not acting sooner to recruit help.

His words come as military and intelligence experts from around the world head to Nigeria to help in the search.

Michelle Obama has joined the social media campaign to free the girls

The UK, France, China and the US are among the countries lending their support.

Britain is sending a small team of advisers - possibly including some military officers - to help with planning and coordination. However, they will not take part in operations on the ground.

The US is flying out a group including experts in intelligence, law enforcement and hostage negotiations, with fewer than 10 military troops going.

Prime Minister David Cameron told Parliament the kidnapping was "an act of pure evil".

Many people in Nigeria are angry at the government's response

"There are extreme Islamists around our world who are against education, against progress, against equality and we must fight them and take them on wherever they are," he said.

The 276 girls were abducted from a boarding school in the village of Chibok in Borno state, north Nigeria, on April 14.

Islamist group Boko Haram claimed responsibility and its leader, Abubakar Shekau, has threatened to sell the girls "on the market".

Some of the group have already reportedly been trafficked to neighbouring Chad and Cameroon.

A further 11 girls, aged 12 to 15, were taken from the northeastern village of Warabe on Sunday.

The search is focussed around the huge Sambisa Forest - the 'hideout' of Boko Haram which extends to some 60,000 square kilometres - three times the size of Wales.

Boko Haram is also thought to be behind the killing of up to 300 people reported to have been killed on Monday in the northeastern Nigerian town of Gamboru Ngala.

Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the abduction

A witness told the AFP agency that fighters in armoured trucks and motorcycles overran the town, leaving it "littered" with bodies.

A social media campaign to raise awareness of the kidnapping has ramped up in recent days, with the Twitter hashtag #BringBackOurGirls being promoted by the likes of US First Lady Michelle Obama.

Malala Yousafzai, the schoolgirl who survived being shot by the Taliban for promoting girls' education, has also spoken out over the kidnapping.

The girls were taken three weeks ago in the village of Chibok

The Nigerian government has now put up a 50m Nigerian naira (£182,000) reward for information leading to the location and rescue of the female students.

Sky News Special Correspondent Alex Crawford, in the Nigerian capital Abuja, said the situation is likely to be a key concern for politicians at the World Economic Forum, currently being held in the city.

"It's very poor advertising for Nigeria. This international outcry, the fact it's taken so long for the Nigerians to react is not going to play well.

"There's going to be a lot of whispering and diplomatic chat behind the scenes to try to galvanise them into action.

"Of course, there is a great deal of anxiety and anger right here in Nigeria against the government and what's perceived to be their sluggish response."

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Wetsuit-Clad Stowaway Found Clinging To Ferry

Video footage has captured the moment a stowaway was discovered hidden inside the engine housing of a ferry travelling from Morocco to southern Spain.

The Moroccan man, wearing a wetsuit, had clung to the left turbine of the ferry for the 35-minute journey across the Strait of Gibraltar between Tangier and the port of Tarifa, near Cadiz.

The 20-year-old, who was carrying a bag of belongings tied to his arm, was arrested by officers from the National Police at around 11am on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old was arrested before he could arrive in Tarifa

He was then taken to an immigration detention centre.

It is believed he was intending to jump into the water and swim ashore before arriving at the port to avoid immigration barriers after completing the 18 mile journey.

The ferry takes 35 minutes between the two ports

So far, 31 people have been arrested this year attempting to get into Spain from Morocco illegally, according to El Correo.

Other methods have included hiding people underneath car seats or even next to vehicle engines.

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