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Organizers of a University of Missouri demonstration held Tuesday in protest of the exoneration of Darren Wilson asked that 'only people of color' participate in their 'die-in.' The group's email blast about the event asked 'non-people of color to stand holding hands in solidarity' at the Columbia, Missouri campus event. A class walk-out that preceded the die-in was open to anyone interested in demonstrating. However, some are criticizing the organizers' choice to exclude 'non-people of color.' Organizers of a University of Missouri demonstration held Tuesday in protest of the exoneration of Darren Wilson asked that 'only people of color' participate in their 'die-in' The group's email (pictured) about the event asked 'non-people of color to stand holding hands in solidarity' at the Columbia, Missouri campus event. The College Fix spoke to one organizer about the decision. 'The "die-in" is meant to represent black bodies that are killed unjustly. It was requested that others stand in a circle holding hands,' explained student Ebony Francis. The demonstration lasted four-and-a-half minutes as a nod to the four-and-a-half hours that Michael Brown's body lay on the street after he was shot dead by Officer Darren Wilson. Demonstrations lasted about an hour and a half total on Tuesday and were meant to protest the grand jury decision not to indict Wilson. It was also meant as a demand for an equal justice system. One student told the College Fix that demonstrators failed, at least with that goal. 'If they are trying to make a message that is against racism,' said junior Daniel Beaman, 'I think they may have failed. The email makes it appear as if white people are not victims of police brutality. Like it’s only a black issue.' Die-ins like this one at Atlanta's Emory University have happened all over America in the wake of grand jury decisions in the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases .

The white people were asked to hold hands in solidarity during the demonstration following a class walk-out on Tuesday . The die-in was slated to last for 4.5 minutes to represent the 4.5 hours Michael Brown lay lifeless in the street after he was shot by Darren Wilson . Hundreds participated in the demonstration at the Columbia, Missouri campus .

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Queens Park Rangers will see the benefits of five years work when the Barclays Premier League make it’s first foray into the Indian market later this month. The Premier League will host their second international fan park event in Mumbai between December 13-14, which, among other events, will see coaches from England’s top-flight clubs head to India to hold clinics. However, QPR will be represented by their own Mumbai-based coaches at the two day event, which takes place at Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority Grounds. QPR have developed their own coaches to work with Indian youngsters in Mumbai (L-R) Jesse Foyle (Education Manager), Fardin Shaikh, Gulafsha Ansari, Sheetal Hedulkar, Kumar Rathod, Martino Chevannes (Community Trust Manager) Rangers – through the work of their charitable arm QPR in the Community Trust and their academy set-up – have been working in India’s most populous city for five years, through their the Mumbai Soccer Challenger initiative, which serves as a talent hunt for local youngsters at coaching clinics conducted by QPR coaches. And those coaches will lead QPR’s presence during the event, which will be attended by Premier League legends Peter Schmeichel and Robbie Fowler. Joey Barton (centre) takes part in a QPR training session back home in London . Manager Harry Redknapp (left) and assistant Glenn Hoddle discuss plans ahead of their next league game . Sheetal Hedulkar (28), Kumar Rathod (21), Gulafsha Ansari (18) and Fardin Shaikh (21) will join dozens of UK-based coaches from other Premier League clubs in delivering workshops. QPR’s vice chairman, Amit Bhatia, who was born in London and educated in Delhi, said: ‘We are the pioneers in breaking new ground in India and it gives me a great sense of pride when I see the impact QPR’s work is having in Mumbai, in particular. ‘Prior to our involvement in the Mumbai Soccer Challenger, children from municipal schools rarely got a platform to compete in tournaments thereby depriving them an opportunity to showcase their skills.’

Queens Park Rangers are hosting a second fan park event in Mumbai . Premier League club will have their own dedicated coaches at the event . Rangers charity has been working with Indian youngsters for five-years .

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The two Americans killed in fighting in the Gaza Strip followed in the footsteps of scores of Jews from around the world who have volunteered to fight for Israel. Israel calls them the lone soldiers: They are men and women in the prime of their lives who have left their parents and often comfortable lives behind in places like Sydney, London, Los Angeles and elsewhere to join the Israel Defense Forces, marching in the desert and taking up arms to defend the Jewish state. There are about 2,000 lone soldiers currently serving in the military, said Marina Rozhansky, spokeswoman at the Israel Consul General in Los Angeles. Max Steinberg, left, grew up in Southern California's San Fernando Valley and Nissim Sean Carmeli, 21  right, was from South Padre Island, Texas. The two Americans killed in fighting in the Gaza Strip . Groups for families of lone soldiers have recently started in Los Angeles and other cities, providing a support network as the fighting intensifies. For Jews who left Israel before the age of 15 or who never lived there, their service is voluntary. For many, it is a calling, a way to get back to their roots and unite the world's Jewish population. Some have dual citizenship. Others speak little to no Hebrew and have only recently been to Israel. Max Steinberg, 24 , joined six months after he visited Israel for the first time on a Birthright Israel trip with his younger brother and sister in June 2012, according to his brother Jake Steinberg . Max was a sharpshooter in the Golani Brigade, was among 13 Israeli soldiers and scores of Palestinians over the weekend who died during the first major ground battle in two weeks of fighting between Israel and Hamas . Max Steinberg, 24, who grew up in Southern California's San Fernando Valley, joined six months after he visited Israel for the first time on a Birthright Israel trip with his younger brother and sister in June 2012, according to his brother Jake Steinberg. Max was a sharpshooter in the Golani Brigade, was among 13 Israeli soldiers and scores of Palestinians over the weekend who died during the first major ground battle in two weeks of fighting between Israel and Hamas. The Jewish Journal was first to report Steinberg's death. 'He got there and felt a connection to Israel, saw that as a place he could live and be successful, and he went for it,' Jake Steinberg said. Israeli soldiers carry the coffin of Sgt. Nissim Sean Carmeli, during his funeral at the military cemetery in the northern Israeli city of Haifa . Thousands of people attended Carmeli's funeral in the northern Israeli port town of Haifa after a Facebook status called for Israelis to come in droves so that the lone soldier would be not be alone at this final resting place. Carmeli was the youngest of three and has two sisters who currently live in Israel. He was 'loved by his parents infinitely' Nissim Sean Carmeli, 21, the second American killed, was from South Padre Island, Texas, and he felt that same strong connection to the country he had only moved to four years ago. 'Lone soldiers are a kind of star in Israel,' according to the Jewish Journal in a report. 'For Israeli kids, army service is a rite of passage. But because it is a choice for the young members of the Diaspora who re-direct their own life paths to protect Israel, those enlistees are given a hero's welcome - and a lifetime of Shabbat dinner invitations from their fellow soldiers, who become their surrogate families.' Thousands of people attended Carmeli's funeral in the northern Israeli port town of Haifa after a Facebook status called for Israelis to come in droves so that the lone soldier would be not be alone at this final resting place. Tearful mourners rested their heads on his coffin, which was draped in an Israeli flag. Before it was lowered into the grave, piles of flowers were set upon the coffin, as mourners cried beside it. Mike Fishbein, who grew up in Los Angeles, said he felt like he was missing a connection to his Jewish identity in California. He spent a year volunteering and studying in Israel, but that experience only deepened his desire to do more. Max Steinberg, left, poses on a trip to Israel with his siblings Paige Steinberg, center, and Jake Steinberg . The Steinberg family during a trip to Israel. 'Lone soldiers are a kind of star in Israel,' according to the Jewish Journal in a report . 'I believe in that country. I believe in the Jewish people and the country's reason to exist, so I thought I can't just go back home to Los Angeles,' said Fishbein, who served about two years with the Israel Defense Forces starting in 2009. After Fishbein enlisted, he spent 30 days learning Hebrew along with more than two dozen others from Panama, South Africa, Australia and other nations. He then went through basic training, which included a 40-mile nighttime march through the desert. He lived for almost four months inside a worn tent from the Vietnam War era. Israeli troops wondered why he would leave the palm trees and beaches they had seen in movies. 'They didn't understand why a kid from Hollywood was there,' he said. 'But after you stuck around, they would respect you and understand (that) we're here together to try and protect the same thing.' When Fishbein heard of the two Americans killed, it touched him deeply, he said. He has struggled to post on his Facebook page his emotions or even give an explanation to his friends in California as to why he felt the need to serve. He never wanted to join the U.S. armed forces, Fishbein said. Mike Fishbein, middle, a U.S.-born soldier from Los Angeles, with fellow Americans David Wisefield, left, and Ilan Benjamin, all fighting for the Israel Defense Forces . Fishbein who grew up in Los Angeles, said he felt like he was missing a connection to his Jewish identity in California. He spent a year volunteering and studying in Israel, but that experience only deepened his desire to do more. He served two years with the IDF starting in 2009 . After Fishbein, left, enlisted, he spent 30 days learning Hebrew along with more than two dozen others from Panama, South Africa, Australia and other nations . For the 25-year-old commercial production assistant, serving in the Israel Defense Forces was the culmination of milestones in his life, he said. In ninth grade, he accompanied his father with a documentary crew filming the unearthing of Jewish artefacts in a once largely Jewish town in Poland that was destroyed in the Holocaust. 'That was a surreal experience for a ninth-grade kid to go through, but it set me up to go to Israel and serve,' he said. 'Every lone soldier has had something similar.' Josh Reznick, 24, who works for a real estate investment firm in Baltimore, briefly considered joining the U.S. military, but after living on a kibbutz for a year, he realized his calling. Israeli soldiers participate in a military operation in Sderot, south Israel bordering the Gaza Strip . An Israeli soldier takes a nap under a tree in Yad Mordekhai, south Israel bordering the Gaza Strip . Israeli soldiers participate in a military operation in Sderot, south Israel . He served in the same unit as the two Americans killed during the weekend. He did not know either of them, but he did know one of the fallen Israeli troops. Reznick believes the Steinberg and Carmeli will be 'shining examples' for other lone soldiers. He was inspired by Michael Levin, a lone soldier from Pennsylvania killed fighting for Israel in 2006. He visited his grave site in Israel, where his tombstone is covered in Phillies baseball hats and Eagles jerseys. 'It's very nice living in America and everything is fine. But I'm sure people right before WWII felt the same way about living in Germany,' he said. 'If only there had been a place to run to for the Jews. That's why it's important to keep Israel, a Jewish nation, alive.' Isaac Cohen, 18, of Silver Spring, Maryland, starts this month at an Israeli military prep school before joining the army next year. He isn't deterred by the recent violence. 'They teach you how to survive in Israel,' said Cohen, who lived there for six years. 'You kind of have to survive there. I feel a lot stronger when I'm there.'

Men and women join the Israel Defense Forces to defend the Jewish state . There are about 2,000 lone soldiers currently serving in the military . For Jews who have never lived there, their service is voluntary . Some speak little to no Hebrew and have only recently been to Israel .

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The homeowner accused of deliberately shooting dead a German exchange student allegedly told his barber just days before: 'I've been up three night with a shotgun waiting to kill some kids'. Markus Kaarma is charged with baiting Diren Dede, 17, into his garage on April 27 before firing at him four times with a shotgun. It came weeks after two teenagers stole from Kaarma's garage - a move prosecutors say sparked the Montana father-of-one to plot his revenge. Kaarma has pleaded not guilty and claimed that he was legally defending his life and his property when he opened fire. But that argument took a blow today as his hair stylist Tanya Colby told a court he said: 'I've been up three night with a shotgun waiting to kill some kids.' He added: 'I'm not kidding, you're seriously going to see this on the news,' she claimed. Case opened: Markus Kaarma listened as the court heard he said he was waiting to kill teenagers with a gun . The development came as prosecutors opened their case on Thursday. On the first day of testimony, two teenagers, Mykle Martin, 17, and Trsitan Staber, 18, described how they went 'garage hopping,' or burglarizing garages, in search of alcohol and other things after dark and hit Markus Kaarma's house. Martin and Staber have been convicted in the incident in which they stole a wallet, marijuana, alcohol and an iPhone from Kaarma's garage about a week before Dede was shot. Staber said he acted as lookout while Martin stole the items. 'I was the previous break-in,' Martin said, his voice at times barely audible. 'I'm the reason he (Kaarma) was waiting for another person.' Both teens said Kaarma and his partner made a call to Karma's iPhone. Staber said he heard Kaarma's partner Janelle Pflager make a threat; Martin said the couple didn't. Victim: Diren Dede (left), 17, was shot dead on April 27 after allegedly breaking into Kaarma's garage . Tearful: Dede's mother Gulcin (left) and father Celal (center) were emotional as they watched proceedings . Kaarma has pleaded not guilty to deliberate homicide, citing fear of harm to his family and property after he had been burglarized twice before the shooting. Deputy County Attorney Jennifer Clark said Kaarma gave no warning before firing in the darkened garage four times after tripping the motion sensor, and that Kaarma paused between the third and fourth shots. 'Neighbors heard the sequence of shots,' Clark said. 'They heard boom, boom, boom, pause, boom.' She held the pump-action shotgun used in the slaying and simulated firing it. Clark said Dede may have been crouching behind a car after the first shots were fired. 'We'll be back to ask you to hold this man responsible for deliberately taking the life of Diren Dede,' she said. Days before the shooting, Kaarma had gone for a haircut at a Great Clips and three women from the shop testified Thursday that they heard Kaarma say his house had been burglarized twice and that he had been waiting up nights to shoot an intruder. Arguments: Jennifer Clark, chief criminal deputy county attorney, demonstrates the pump action of the Mossberg 590-series shotgun, which Kaarma used to kill Diren Dede on April 27, 2014, in her opening words . 'I've been up three nights with a shotgun waiting to kill some kids,' hair stylist Tanya Colby said when asked what Kaarma talked about during the hair cut. She said he later told her, 'I'm not kidding, you're seriously going to see this on the news.' Colby also said Kaarma believed police weren't doing anything about the burglaries. Defense attorney Paul Ryan said Montana law allows homeowners to protect their residences with deadly force when they believe they are going to be harmed. Kaarma didn't know whether the person inside the garage was armed, Ryan said. He said Kaarma is a man who doesn't like to be around a lot of people, and he felt targeted and increasingly anxious for the safety Pflager and their infant son after the first burglaries. Montana's 'stand your ground' law makes it easier for people to avoid prosecution in a shooting if they felt an imminent danger, whether or not the person shot was armed. Dede, from the German city of Hamburg, was not carrying a weapon. Dede's parents, Celal and Gulcin Dede, are attending the trial. 'We have lost a bit of our joy for life,' Celal Dede said in a prepared statement to Germany's RTL Television. 'We can no longer laugh, no longer be happy. A huge part of us was taken from our lives - a part that made our family very happy.'

Markus Kaarma fired four bullets into Diren Dede, 17, in his garage . He has pleaded not guilty and claims he was defending himself . His barber said Kaarma told her: 'I've been up 3 night with a shotgun waiting to kill some kids...I'm not kidding you'll see this on the news' Development came as prosecutors opened Montana case on Thursday . Two teenagers testified, said they think their 'garage-hopping' prompted Kaarma to plot revenge before killing Dede .

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Locals in northern New Jersey believe they filmed a black bear hunting for food hours before a 22-year-old hiker was mauled to death in nearby woods at the weekend. Two men splitting wood on Saturday captured a video of a bear going through garbage just a few feet from where they were working, before scampering off into the woods, according to CNN. On Sunday, Darsh Patel,  a senior majoring in information technology and informatics at Rutgers University, was found dead in Apshawa Preserve - about 45 miles northwest of New York City - with a 300-pound bear guarding his body. Officials say the attack was the first fatal bear-human encounter on record in New Jersey. Scroll down for video . Attacks: Northern New Jersey locals captured this black bear looking for food in their garbage in September. Just a day after the footage was shot,  a black bear mauled a 22-year-old student to death in the woods nearby . Patel had been hiking with four friends in the 526-acre woods. The five friends noticed the bear beginning to follow them and ran, splitting up as they did. When they couldn't find Patel, they called police, who found his body about two hours later. The bear was about 30 yards from the body and circling, Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Larry Ragonese said, and wouldn't leave even after officers tried to scare it away by making loud noises and throwing sticks and stones. The male bear was killed with two rifle blasts and is being examined at a state lab for more clues as to why it may have pursued the group of five hikers. Kelcey Burguess, principal biologist and leader of the state Division of Fish and Wildlife's black bear project, said the bear could have been predisposed to attack but more likely was looking for food. State and local officials stressed that bear attacks are rare even in a region of the state that may have as many as 2,400 bruins in its dense forests. 'This is a rare occurrence,' West Milford police Chief Timothy Storbeck said, noting that his department receives six to 12 calls per week regarding bears, usually involving them breaking into trash cans. Locals: Residents in northern New Jersey often spot bears in and around their yards. There are as many 2,400 bruins in the area's dense forests, but until now had never been a fatal human-bear attack . Preserve: This photo from NJUrbanForest.com shows the Apshawa Preserve, a 526-acre park with hiking trails . Wildlife officials believe there is a current shortage of the acorns and berries that bears eat. The hikers had granola bars and water with them, Storbeck said. Officials don't believe the hikers provoked the bear but they may have showed their inexperience when they decided to run. The safest way to handle a bear encounter is to move slowly and not look the bear in the eye, DEP spokesman Larry Ragonese said. New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife guidelines direct law enforcement to euthanize 'Category I' bears, which are deemed an 'immediate threat to human safety.' NJ Advance Media reports that the New Jersey State Medical Examiner, the Fish and Wildlife Division of the state Department of Environmental Protection and the West Milford Police Department are looking into the circumstances of Patel's death. Idyllic: The wooded preserve provides hiking trails and a peaceful setting for visitors to the northern New Jersey site . 'Bear sightings are not unusual by any stretch in New Jersey,' said Bob Considine, spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Protection. 'They have been seen in all 21 counties, although they’re obviously most common in the northwest part of the state.' Black bears rarely pose a threat to humans and often retreat when confronted. In 2006, a tabby cat scared a black bear up a tree in West Milford. The bear only climbed down and left after the cat's owner had called it back into the house.

Darsh Patel, 22, was hiking with friends in the Apshawa Preserve in West Milford on Sunday when a bear started following them . The group fled in different directions and when the four other hikers could not find Patel, they called police . Patel's body was found two hours later . The 300-pound bear was circling the body and could not be scared away . It was shot dead in accordance with Division of Fish and Wildlife guidelines . On Saturday locals splitting wood filmed a bear rifling through their garbage .

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A Nebraska man described by one prison psychiatrist as a 'psychopath' and 'one of the most dangerous people' the doctor had ever evaluated was found guilty Wednesday of shooting dead four people last summer. Nikko Jenkins, 27, who is representing himself, filed a handwritten motion to the Douglas County District Court last week stating his intention to plead guilty to all felony counts against him. But on Wednesday, he pleaded no contest to the murder counts, eight weapons counts associated with the killings and two separate counts of being a felon with a gun. Judge Peter Bataillon found him guilty of all charges. Scroll down for video . Guilty: Nikko Jenkins, pictured Wednesday, was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder in the slayings of four Omaha people last summer. He is led from court by Douglas County deputies in Omaha . A no-contest plea acknowledges there is sufficient evidence to convict but is not an admittance of guilt. Prosecutors say Jenkins shot Juan Uribe-Pena, Jorge Cajiga-Ruiz, Curtis Bradford and Andrea Kruger in three separate ambushes over 10 days last summer after his July 30 release from prison without supervision. While prosecutors say that Jenkins planned the killings to cover up robberies of the victims or to keep them from identifying him, Jenkins insisted he did not remember killing anyone, only that an Egyptian god named Ahpophis ordered him in a foreign language to kill the four as human sacrifices. Dr. Eugene Oliveto, who serves as a psychiatrist for the prison system in Douglas County, testified in a February hearing on Jenkins' competency that Jenkins was a 'psychopath' and 'one of the most dangerous people I have ever evaluated.' Bataillon found Jenkins competent to stand trial. Jenkins had flipped between expressing his guilt and declaring his innocence since being charged with the killings in September. After initially pleading not guilty, he declared in November that he wanted to plead guilty. He had changed his mind again by late January, saying he is mentally ill and should be released from jail. Psychopath: A psychiatrist called Jenkins, pictured, a 'psychopath' and said he was 'one of the most dangerous' people he'd ever evaluated . Scene: Prosecutors say Jenkins shot Juan Uribe-Pena, Jorge Cajiga-Ruiz, Curtis Bradford and Andrea Kruger in three separate ambushes over 10 days last summer after his July 30 release from prison without supervision. Seen is the scene of two of the deaths . During a contentious two-hour hearing in which Jenkins cursed and attempted to introduce various arguments rejected by the judge, he said Wednesday that he wanted to plead guilty because he believes his constitutional rights are being violated and that he can't get a fair trial in state court. The judge later let him plead no contest to the charges. Jenkins had tried to plead no contest to all the charges earlier this month, but the judge refused to accept the plea because of the severity of the charges. The judge later allowed Jenkins to plead no contest to the murder counts, as well, when Jenkins denied prosecutors' version of how Jenkins carried out the fatal shootings. 'My problem is, he disagrees with your factual analysis of the case,' Bataillon said to Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine, in explaining why he could not accept Jenkins' guilty pleas to the murder counts. 'He's not admitting to anything.' Police say Jenkins used a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun loaded with deer slugs August 11 to kill Cajiga-Ruiz and Uribe-Pena, whose bodies were found inside a pickup truck in southeast Omaha. Eight days later, he used a small-caliber gun to kill Bradford, a one-time prison acquaintance. Then, on August 21, police say, Jenkins pulled Andrea Kruger from her SUV as she drove home from work and shot her four times before speeding off in her vehicle. Death: Prosecutors said Wednesday they will still seek the death penalty for Jenkins . Prosecutors said Wednesday they will still seek the death penalty for Jenkins, who waived his right to a jury trial on the question of whether he should be put to death or sentenced to life in prison without parole. A three-judge panel will instead decide his fate. Kleine said he doesn't know of a Nebraska case in which a person has been executed after pleading no contest to first-degree murder, but said Jenkins is not the first defendant to plead no contest and be convicted of first-degree murder. Jenkins' release from prison is one of several that have prompted the state to reconsider its supervised release programs. He had threatened violence while incarcerated and begged corrections officials to commit him to a mental health institution. A state ombudsman's report released in January faulted the department for its handling of the case. Two bills introduced by Senator Brad Ashford of Omaha on the topic were passed by the Nebraska Legislature this year and are awaiting the governor's approval. One would provide more supervision for former inmates and another would create programs that help them transition back to society.

Prosecutors say Nikko Jenkins, 27, shot Juan Uribe-Pena, Jorge Cajiga-Ruiz, Curtis Bradford and Andrea Kruger in three separate Omaha ambushes over 10 days last summer . The rampage came after his July 30 release from prison without supervision . Jenkins, who is representing himself, filed a handwritten motion to the Douglas County District Court last week stating his intention to plead guilty . Wednesday he switched to no contest, which doesn't admit guilt . Jenkins said he did not remember killing anyone, only that an Egyptian god named Ahpophis ordered him to kill the four as human sacrifices .

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Luis Suarez is now the third most valuable footballer in the world according to an authoritative new report, published today, that rates the Liverpool striker as worth £79million - at least. Only Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, with a ‘starting price’ of £161.5m and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, worth at least £85.2m, are valued more highly in the study, compiled by a Swiss-based expert research centre. The CIES Football Observatory has detailed knowledge of actual prices paid in thousands of transfers to ‘Big Five’ divisions over recent years, and have now published their annual review of players - including ‘market values’. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Messi scoring from behind the goal in training . Hit man: Luis Suarez was the Premier League's top scorer last season with Liverpool . Revealed: The 20 most valuable players in Europe . A huge range of information is considered for each player to produce a ‘real world’ price tag of what each star should objectively be worth in the transfer market this summer. Age, the length of contract remaining, position, performance data, international experience and the level at which the players are working are all considered. The stunning season enjoyed at Anfield by Uruguay forward Suarez, 27, has propelled him up the rankings of ‘most wanted’ among a string of elite clubs. The CIES study brackets his market value at between £79.4m and £92.3m. Suarez cost Liverpool £22.8m from Ajax in January 2011 and has been linked with some of Europe’s top clubs in recent days, from Real Madrid to Manchester United, who are reportedly ready to bid £65m. On the basis of the CIES study, that would represent a huge under-valuation of the player. The fourth most valuable man on the list is Chelsea’s Belgium starlet, Eden Hazard, 23, reckoned to be worth at least £61.2m. Chelsea paid around half that sum two years ago. Genius: Messi didn't have his best season at Barcelona, but is still the most valuable player in the world . The top 10 is completed by Paul Pogba of Juventus, Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale - rated at £47.1m at least, or considerably less than he cost last summer - then Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil, PSG’s Edinson Cavani and Bayern Munich’s Mario Gotze. Four England players make the top 20: Wayne Rooney plus three of the young Lions from Roy Hodgson’s World Cup squad - Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley and Daniel Sturridge. Rooney is thought to be worth £29.6m, a bit less than the younger Sterling (£31.2m) and Barkley (£29.7m) and very lightly more than Sturridge (£29.4m). Outside the top 20, Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere is rated as worth at least £27.6m and Southampton’s Luke Shaw is worth £23.2m. Wizard: Ronaldo was named Ballon d'Or winner, with the Portugal striker enjoying a superb campaign . Value: Chelsea's Eden Hazard (left) is fourth, and Gareth Bale, the most expensive player on earth, was seventh . Any footballer is only worth what a club will pay for him, of course, but the CIES study shows that their evaluation process stands up to scrutiny, with only a small historical variation between their valuations on players and the prices they actually move for. The margin of error is fairly insignificant 7.5 per cent. Of the 20 highest valued players, nine of them play in the Premier League, for now at least, seven in Spain’s La Liga, two in Germany’s Bundesliga (Mario Gotze and Thomas Muller at Bayern Munich), one in France’s Ligue 1 (Cavani at PSG) and one in Italy’s Serie A (Pogba). At the top end of the chart, Messi’s value is almost twice that of Ronaldo’s. The report’s author’s say: ‘This is mainly related to the younger age of the Argentinian prodigy, who was born 28 months after the Portuguese superstar. ‘However, with respect to the last year, Messi’s market value has gone down (by €19m) while that of Ronaldo increased (by €4m). Prospect: Everton star Ross Barkley was ranked in the top 20 most valuable players in the World . England's future: Raheem Sterling was also in the top 20 after rising to fame with Liverpool . More information and access to the full report can be found at www.football-observatory.com .

Luis Suarez third in the CIES Football Observatory ranking of most valuable players . Lionel Messi is top of the list, with Cristiano Ronaldo second . England prospects Raheem Sterling and Ross Barkley are above Daniel Sturridge and Wayne Rooney . Nine current Premier League players make up the top 20 . A huge range of information is considered for each player to produce a ‘real world’ price tag .

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Russia's deputy prime minister has tweeted a picture mocking Barack Obama's masculinity just days after the U.S. president announced a fresh wave of sanctions against the country. Dmitry Rogozin uploaded an image of Russian president Vladimir Putin posing with a leopard alongside an image of Obama holding a white poodle. The peculiar display of one-upmanship was captioned 'We have different values ​​and allies,' making it clear what the Kremlin thinks of the U.S. president and his Western counterparts amid heightened tensions following the shooting down of flight MH17 in Ukraine, which left 298 people dead. Scroll down for video . Mockery: Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin uploaded this image of Russian president Vladimir Putin posing with a leopard alongside an image of Obama holding a white poodle . Macho: Rogozin's image is the latest attempt by Russian officials to present Putin as an ultra-manly figure. He has previously posed for staged photographs topless on horseback . Rogozin's image has so far been retweeted more than 1,000 times and is the latest attempt by Russian officials to present Putin as an ultra-manly figure. He has previously posed for staged photographs topless on horseback, swimming at sea, embracing a polar bear and hang-gliding with migratory birds. The image of his posing with a snow leopard is believed to have been taken during a visit to a sanctuary in the run-up to the Sochi Winter Olympics last year. The photograph of Obama, meanwhile, is understood to have been taken in the mid-2000s when he was campaigning to become Senator of Illinois. It is not the first time Rogozin has taken to social media to defend his country's might. Earlier he tweeted a short YouTube documentary on the history of the Russian-made Ural tank. Joke: The image mocking U.S. president Barack Obama (left) uploaded by Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin (right) has so far been retweeted more than 1,000 times . Outdoorsy: Russian president Vladimir Putin regularly poses for staged photographs to boost his macho image . Tough guy: Vladimir Putin has long been keen to show off his physical prowess as well as his political strength . Obama himself, meanwhile, is not exactly the most popular in the U.S., with his approval rating close to an all-time low in the crucial Ohio swing state. In many Democrat-voting areas of U.S. he is now seen as a less-popular figure than potential presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, amid anger over his domestic policies on illegal immigration, health care and gun control. He has also been criticised for being more concerned about his celebrity image than foreign policy and was accused of 'partying while the world burns' when hosting a Katy Perry concert at the White House last night. As violence intensifies in Gaza, ISIS militants continue their brutal campaign in Iraq and Syria, and tensions with Russia reach Cold War levels, Obama introduced the pop star on stage with the words 'I love Katy Perry. She is just a wonderful person... for her to take time out to do this is really special.' Winning mentality: Putin is a fan of judo and often arranges photo shoots where he will take on and occasionally beat professional athletes . Not so tough: Although Rogozin suggested Obama was weak for posing with a dog, Putin obviously considers doesn't consider it a faux-pas.  Here he is seen snuggling up to his puppy he was given during a visit to Bulgaria . Rogozin's mocking tweet comes after EU countries and the United States tightened sanctions on Russia over its role in the Ukraine crisis. Russia has been accused of supporting anti-government forces in the east of Ukraine . It has also claimed they provided the BUK suface-to-air missile launcher that down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in the state of Donetsk on July 18, killing all 298 people on board. Today it was announced that Russia will impose import duties on products from Moldova and its latest move to limit trade with the former Soviet republic, which signed an EU free-trade deal in June. Moscow has put curbs on trade with some other countries that have attempted to move out of its orbit, including Ukraine. In . fact it was tensions over whether Ukraine should position itself closer . either to the EU or Russia that kicked-off the violence in the country . late last year. Unpopular: Barack Obama is not exactly the most popular in the U.S., with his approval rating close to an all-time low in the crucial Ohio swing state . Party: Barack Obama has also been criticised for being more concerned about his celebrity image than foreign policy when hosting a Katy Perry concert at the White House last night (pictured) Russia is currently Moldova's third-largest export market after the European Union and Ukraine. The Russian government today said import duties at 'Most Favoured Nation' rates will be introduced for Moldova on August 30, covering products such as meat, vegetables, sugar and wine. Under the regime, Russia applies basic import duties to products from countries that are not members of its free trade zone and do not enjoy any other preferences. Moldova currently supplies products to Russia with a zero duty, according to their agreement. The move follows Russia's decision to suspend imports of fruit and limit meat imports from Moldova after the country of 3.5 million - one of Europe's poorest states - signed the free-trade and political cooperation agreement with the EU.

Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin uploaded picture to Twitter . Image captioned 'We have different values ​​and allies' retweeted 1,000 times . Mockery comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and the U.S. following the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Ukraine .

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The nine-year-old daughter of a black, unarmed man shot dead by a white Phoenix police officer who mistook a pill bottle for a gun is speaking out in an emotional interview. Rumain Brisbon, 34, was killed after an officer feared the suspect was armed during a struggle. Now his daughter Aiyana has made an emotional a plea to law enforcement across the country as she talks about how unnecessary the killing was, and how her father will never see her grow up. 'I felt like that it really didn't need to happen,' Aiyana Raines told Fox10. Scroll down for video . Emotional plea: Aiyana Raines, nine, (above) gave an emotional interview after an officer shot her father and said: 'The officer did not have the right to shoot my dad or kill him' Tragedy: Rumain Brisbon (above with his youngest daughter) was killed after an officer feared he was armed during a struggle, but it was just a pill bottle. The officer shot him twice in the torse . 'He is going to miss our birthdays and how my little sisters grow up, and how we grow up because she is the only one and I am only nine, and my sister is only 10, and my dad is not going to be here for our happy moments and our sad moments.' As for the moment she found out that her father had been killed, little Aiyana said, 'I started crying cause I really didn't believe that my dad got killed.' The Phoenix Police Department claim Brisbon was sitting in a Cadillac SUV on Tuesday evening and that witnesses told an officer he was selling drugs. Police approached him and made several demands for him to show his hands, but Brisbon fled. During a scuffle, the officer - a 30-year-old male officer with seven years experience on the force - felt a pill bottle in his waistband, which he believed was a gun. 'The officer gave the suspect several commands to get on the ground but he refused to comply, yelling profanities at the officer,' the Department said in a statement. 'Fearing Brisbon had a gun in his pocket the officer fired two rounds striking Brisbon in the torso.' He was pronounced dead at the scene. Questions: Police said Brisbon (above with his youngest daughter) was carrying a vial of oxycodone pills at the time of the incident. They had earlier received reports that he was selling drugs . Missed: The sisters, who are aged nine and 10, have said they won't have a father to watch them grow up . Rap sheet: Court documents show that Brisbon was known to authorities and had a criminal record including burglary, DUI, narcotics, and paraphernalia related charges . Police said Brisbon was carrying a vial of oxycodone pills, and that a semi-automatic handgun and a jar of marijuana were found in the SUV. A nearby resident told The Arizona Republic that he went over to the window after hearing the shooting and saw the officer 'walking out, and he was cussing, you know, he was screaming, "F***, f***", like upset that he shot the guy'. Sergeant Trent Crump, a Phoenix police spokesman, said at the Wednesday news conference that 'this one went bad from the standpoint of how it ended' but that they stood by the officer's actions. 'Let's be very clear,' he said. 'The officer was doing what we expect him to do, which is investigate crimes that neighbors are telling him are occurring in that part of the complex.' Friends, including the man who had been in the SUV with Brisbon, said that the victim was simply on his way to deliver fast food to his children in the apartment block. One witness said he did not see police officers trying to speak with Brisbon before the altercation. 'The Phoenix Police Department does not treat white people this way,' The Rev. Jarrett Maupin, who organized a march in the city on Thursday night, told KPNX. 'What that officer did was harass and accost them.' Gathering: Crowds formed on Thursday night in Phoenix to march to the police department . Planning: There are also rallies planned for the city on Friday evening as well . Aiyana also has a message for the officer . 'To the officer that killed my dad, let me tell you something,' she said. 'You hurt three little girls that looked up to their dad. 'I am hurting, but I have to stay strong for my dad and my little sister.' More importantly, she wants people to know that above all else, her dad was a 'good dad' and that 'the officer did not have the right to shoot my dad or kill him'. Marci A. Kratter, an attorney for Brisbon's family, told The Arizona Republic that witnesses disputed the official police account and that 'we intend to pursue this to the full extent of the law'. Court documents show that Brisbon had a criminal record including burglary, DUI, narcotics, and paraphernalia related charges. About 100 people marched to the Phoenix Police Department on Thursday evening to protest the fatal shooting, which was likened to the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York. Outrage: As the protests were underway in Phoenix, hundreds of demonstrators marched through Manhattan and across the Brooklyn Bridge (pictured) following the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown . Both were unarmed black men who died after altercations with white police officers. Grand juries in both cities have decided not to indict the officers - sparking massive protests across the U.S. In Cleveland, there have also been protests after a black 12-year-old boy, Tamir Rice, who was shot dead by a white rookie police officer after he mistook the boy's fake gun for a real weapon. A grand jury is deciding whether or not to pursue charges in that case. In the protests in Phoenix on Thursday, demonstrators demanded to know the identity of the police officer who killed Brisbon. Another protest is scheduled for Friday night.

Rumain Brisbon, 34, was killed after Phoenix police say an officer feared the suspect was armed during a struggle . He was thought to be selling drugs and after fleeing from officers, a cop mistook a pill bottle for a gun and shot him . Now his nine-year-old daughter is telling the cop he had no right to shoot her father, while also saying he will never get to see her grow up .

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Legalising assisted suicide is a slippery slope toward widespread killing of the sick, MPs and peers were told yesterday. A former euthanasia supporter warned of a surge in deaths if Parliament allowed doctors to give deadly drugs to their patients. ‘Don’t do it Britain,’ said Theo Boer, a veteran European watchdog in assisted suicide cases. ‘Once the genie is out of the bottle, it is not likely ever to go back in again.’ Scroll down for video . How the toll has risen: The Netherlands has seen deaths double in just six years . His . native Netherlands, where euthanasia has been legal since 2002, has . seen deaths double in just six years and this year’s total may reach a . record 6,000. Professor . Boer’s intervention comes as peers prepare to debate the Assisted Dying . Bill, promoted by Lord Falconer, a Labour former Lord Chancellor. The . bill, which has its second reading next week, would allow doctors to . prescribe poison to terminally ill and mentally alert people who wish to . kill themselves. Professor . Boer, who is an academic in the field of ethics, had argued seven years . ago that a ‘good euthanasia law’ would produce relatively low numbers of . deaths. Peers are preparing to debate the Assisted Dying Bill which was promoted by Lord Falconer, a Labour former Lord Chancellor . But, speaking in a . personal capacity yesterday, he said he now believed that the very . existence of a euthanasia law turns assisted suicide from a last resort . into a normal procedure. A . ‘slippery slope’ for assisted dying in Britain would mean that . euthanasia would follow the same path as abortion, which was legalised . in 1967. There are now . nearly 200,000 terminations a year. Anti-euthanasia campaigners and . disability activists called on politicians to listen to the professor’s . warning. The Paralympian, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, said: ‘What Dr Boer says comes as no surprise. ‘An . assisted dying law is playing with fire, especially when there are no . safeguards in place. Lord Falconer’s bill just isn’t fit for purpose.’ Baroness . Jane Campbell, who is a disability rights campaigner, said: ‘As happens . in Holland, Lord Falconer’s bill could end up encompassing significant . numbers of seriously ill people.’ Euthanasia . is now becoming so prevalent in the Netherlands, Professor Boer said, . that it is ‘on the way to becoming a default mode of dying for cancer . patients’. He said . assisted deaths have increased by about 15 per cent every year since . 2008 and the number could hit a record 6,000 this year. He . said he was concerned at the extension of killing to new classes of . people, including the demented and the depressed, and the establishment . of mobile death units of ‘travelling euthanasing doctors’. Activists, . Professor Boer said, continue to campaign for doctor-administered death . to be made ever easier and ‘will not rest’ until a lethal pill is made . available to anyone over 70 who wishes to die.‘Some slopes truly are slippery,’ he added. The . Utrecht University academic has been a member since 2005 of a review . committee charged with monitoring euthanasia deaths. Its role includes a . duty to ‘tell doctors how their actions in particular cases are likely . to stand up to legal, medical and ethical scrutiny’. Professor Boer admitted he was ‘wrong – terribly wrong, in fact’ to have believed regulated euthanasia would work. ‘I used to be a supporter of the Dutch law. But now, with 12 years of experience, I take a very different view. Theo Boer (left) warned of a surge in deaths which Tanni Grey-Thompson (right) said came as no surprise . ‘Whereas . in the first years after 2002 hardly any patients with psychiatric . illnesses or dementia appear in reports, these numbers are now sharply . on the rise. ‘Cases have . been reported in which a large part of the suffering of those given . euthanasia or assisted suicide consisted in being aged, lonely or . bereaved. ‘Some of . these patients could have lived for years or decades. Pressure on . doctors to conform to patients’ – or in some cases relatives’ – wishes . can be intense. ‘Pressure . from relatives, in combination with a patient’s concern for their . wellbeing, is in some cases an important factor behind a euthanasia . request. Not even the review committees, despite hard and conscientious . work, have been able to halt these developments.’ The latest euthanasia figures for the Netherlands show that nearly one in seven deaths are at the hands of doctors. Dignitas is Zurich-based organisation which helps people to kill themselves. Candidates have to fill in an official form to prove they want to commit suicide . In . 2012, there were 4,188 deaths by direct euthanasia – 3 per cent of all . deaths – and 3,695 deaths by direct euthanasia in 2011. The . figures do not include deaths by terminal sedation, where patients are . rendered unconscious before they are dehydrated and starved to death, an . act often referred to as ‘euthanasia by omission’. This practice accounts for more than 12 per cent of all deaths in the country. The . Netherlands is following a pattern that anti-euthanasia campaigners say . has happened wherever the practice has been legalised. Doctors . in neighbouring Belgium are collectively killing an average of five . people every day by euthanasia – with a 27 per cent surge in one year. Dignity . in Dying, the pressure group which supports Lord Falconer’s bill, . dismissed fears that the legislation might lead to similar horrors. Its . spokesman James Harris said: ‘Lord Falconer’s Assisted Dying Bill will . not legalise euthanasia, rather assisted dying for adults who are . terminally ill and mentally competent, similar to legislation in Oregon . which has been working safely for over 17 years and has never been . extended beyond the criteria of terminal illness.’ Anti-euthanasia campaigners dispute that the Oregon law is safe or that limited numbers are dying at their own request. Elspeth . Chowdharay-Best, honorary secretary of Alert, the anti-euthanasia . pressure group, said legalising assisted suicide would be like ‘stepping . off a precipice’. ‘It means that you would lose the right to live,’ she . said. ‘It is more serious than people realise.’ Under Lord Falconer’s bill, a terminally-ill patient would be able to ask for drugs to kill him or herself. Two . doctors would need to approve, and to be satisfied the patient was of . sound mind and settled view, and had not been influenced by others. In 2001 The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalise euthanasia and, along with it, assisted suicide. Various ‘safeguards’ were put in place to show who should qualify and doctors acting in accordance with these ‘safeguards’ would not be prosecuted. Because each case is unique, five regional review committees were installed to assess every case and to decide whether it complied with the law. For five years after the law became effective, such physician-induced deaths remained level - and even fell in some years. In 2007 I wrote that ‘there doesn’t need to be a slippery slope when it comes to euthanasia. A good euthanasia law, in combination with the euthanasia review procedure, provides the warrants for a stable and relatively low number of euthanasia.’ Most of my colleagues drew the same conclusion. But we were wrong - terribly wrong, in fact. In hindsight, the stabilisation in the numbers was just a temporary pause. Beginning in 2008, the numbers of these deaths show an increase of 15% annually, year after year. The annual report of the committees for 2012 recorded 4,188 cases (compared with 1,882 in 2002). 2013 saw a continuation of this trend and I expect the 6,000 line to be crossed this year or the next. Euthanasia is on the way to become a ‘default’ mode of dying for cancer patients. Alongside this escalation other developments have taken place. Under the name ‘End of Life Clinic,’ the Dutch Right to Die Society NVVE founded a network of travelling euthanizing doctors. Whereas the law presupposes (but does not require) an established doctor-patient relationship, in which death might be the end of a period of treatment and interaction, doctors of the End of Life Clinic have only two options: administer life-ending drugs or send the patient away. On average, these physicians see a patient three times before administering drugs to end their life. Hundreds of cases were conducted by the End of Life Clinic. The NVVE shows no signs of being satisfied even with these developments. They will not rest until a lethal pill is made available to anyone over 70 years who wishes to die. Some slopes truly are slippery. Other developments include a shift in the type of patients who receive these ‘treatments’. Whereas in the first years after 2002 hardly any patients with psychiatric illnesses or dementia appear in reports, these numbers are now sharply on the rise. Cases have been reported in which a large part of the suffering of those given euthanasia or assisted suicide consisted in being aged, lonely or bereaved. Some of these patients could have lived for years or decades. Whereas the law sees assisted suicide and euthanasia as an exception, public opinion is shifting towards considering them rights, with corresponding duties on doctors to act. A law that is now in the making obliges doctors who refuse to administer euthanasia to refer their patients to a ‘willing’ colleague. Pressure on doctors to conform to patients’ (or in some cases relatives’) wishes can be intense. Pressure from relatives, in combination with a patient’s concern for their wellbeing, is in some cases an important factor behind a euthanasia request. Not even the Review Committees, despite hard and conscientious work, have been able to halt these developments. I used to be a supporter of the Dutch law.  But now, with twelve years of experience, I take a very different view. At the very least, wait for an honest and intellectually satisfying analysis of the reasons behind the explosive increase in the numbers. Is it because the law should have had better safeguards? Or is it because the mere existence of such a law is an invitation to see assisted suicide and euthanasia as a normality instead of a last resort? Before those questions are answered, don’t go there. Once the genie is out of the bottle, it is not likely to ever go back in again.Theo Boer has been a Member of a Regional Review Committee since 2005. For the Dutch Government, five such committees assess whether a euthanasia case was conducted in accordance with the Law. In the past nine years, Prof. Boer has reviewed almost 4,000 euthanasia cases. The views expressed here represent his views as a professional ethicist, not of any institution.

Theo Boer, a European assisted suicide watchdog, said 'don't do it' In Netherlands euthanasia has been legal since 2002 . However, in six years the numbers of deaths have doubled . Peers are preparing to debate the Assisted Dying Bill . Bill has been promoted by Lord Falconer, a Labour former Lord Chancellor .

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A group calling itself 'The Women of the 99 Percent' is making robocalls across the United States in an attempt to link Republican members of the House of Representatives to 'the war on women led by Rush Limbaugh'. The automated calls are illegal because they do not state who they are from (there is no known group called The Women of the 99 Percent) or provide a callback number, as required under the U.S. Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991. They appear to be the most aggressive attempt yet by Democrats to exploit politically the recent furore over comments by the controversial conservative radio talk show host. Scroll down to hear the call . Controversy: Rush Limbaugh kicked off a national firestorm with his comments . Limbaugh apologised last Sunday for his 'insulting word choices' when speaking about Sandra Fluke, a student activist campaigning for contraception to be paid for by Georgetown University, a Catholic institution, under President Barack Obama's healthcare reform. The radio host had said she was a 'slut' because she was asking to be paid for having sex and then commented that she should repay the public by releasing videos of her sexual activities 'so we can all watch'. Limbaugh's comments had been widely denounced, including by John Boehner, Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Barack Obama, in what Republicans branded an attempt to make political capital, telephoned Fluke to commiserate. Democrats have been taking Republicans to task over the comments. David Axelrod, the Obama campaign's top strategist, said that Mitt Romney, the Republican frontrunner, had failed 'a test of leadership' over 'the Limbaugh thing'. He ask how if a candidate couldn't stand up to 'the most strident voices in your party, how can he stand up to Ahmadinejad?' Activist: The radio host called Sandra Fluke a 'slut' after she spoke out in favour of easy access to contraception . A call left on the answering machine of Paula Bolyard of Doylestown, Ohio yesterday stated: 'Hello, this is a message from Women of the 99 Percent. Congressman Jim Renacci is condoning the war on women led by Rush Limbaugh, who has become the de facto leader of the Republican party. 'Call Congressman Renacci at 330-489-4414 and ask him why he remains silent while Republican spokesman Rush Limbaugh insults, degrades, and verbally abuses women. Tell Congressman Renacci that it’s just plain shameful that he that he allows Rush Limbaugh’s behaviour to continue. We are the Women of the 99 Percent and we won’t be silent anymore.' As well Mrs Bolyard's Ohio-16 district of Representative Jim Renacci, there were similar calls in Rep. Roscoe Bartlett's Maryland-6, Rep. Dan Benishek's Michigan-1, Rep. Judy Biggert's Illinois-13, Rep. Tim Johnson's Illinois-15, Rep. Bobby Schilling's Illinois-17 and Rep. Scott Rigell's Virginia-2. The robocalls prompted hundreds of angry calls to Republican congressional offices. Target: Constituents of Ohio Republican Jim Renacci have been contacted by a robocall focussed around Mr Limbaugh . Mrs Bolyard sent out a tweet about the call and then posted an audio file of it on the RedState website after being contacted by MailOnline. In a blog post, she wrote: 'Apparently, unless you are throwing a public temper tantrum about Rush’s inappropriate and malicious comments, you are "condoning" them. By this standard, 99 per cent of the country is guilty.' She added: 'We should all feel great compassion for the poor souls who had to answer the phones and listen to the angry rants that resulted from these robocalls.' A blogger called 'Corinthian Scales' from Michigan wrote that the claim against Rep Dan Benishek was 'one wildly outrageous accusation to make by an unidentified "group" who, by the way, is now intruding into the privacy of my home. 'Hmmm... no number shows on the caller ID, and *69 only prompts the phone company's recorded message that they are unable to determine the phone number used.' Criticism: John Boehner, Speaker of the Hous of Representatives, is one of many Republicans to have spoken out against Mr Limbaugh . Last week, the Democratic . Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) organised a petition accusing . Republicans of having 'launched an all-out war on women'. The . petition said that Republicans were 'trying to silence women who stand . against their radical agenda' and Americans had witnessed 'top . Republican leaders squirm at denouncing or even criticising Rush . Limbaugh after he called women's health care advocate Sandra Fluke a . "slut" and a "prostitute" on his radio show.' Phil Bloomer, spokesman for Rep. Johnson, said that some people calling as a result of the robocalls were not even in the congressman's district but part of a new district created after boundary changes he will be running for in November - a sign the calls are linked to this year's elections. He said: 'How do we not "allow" Rush Limbaugh to say what he wants? We believe in free speech. At the same time, we don’t condone name-calling or caustic language from either the Left or Right. That is why Representative Johnson formed the Center Aisle Caucus in 2005 and continually advocates civility.' Andrea Pivarunas, spokeswoman for Rep. Schilling, said: 'We were surprised to hear this since Representative Schilling spoke out about this days ago. 'He stated Mr Limbaugh’s comments on the religious freedom issue are deplorable and wrong, just as he also feels that the Obama Administration is wrong to violate the religious conscience rights of others. We hope the organisation spreading these inaccurate statements will issue a retraction.' Telephone calls and emails to the DCCC and the Democratic National Committee asking whether either organisation was connected to the robocalls were not returned. Listen to the call . To comment on this article, please visit Toby Harnden's blog .

Ohio congressman criticised for 'condoning the war on women led by Rush Limbaugh' Messages left by mysterious unregistered group .

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Most men enjoy a good pint of lager or real ale while they are watching football or relaxing with friends. Very few would dedicate themselves for more than two decades to the world's longest pub crawl. But six friends from the West Midlands have embarked on a special quest to drink in a different pub every Saturday night - and have done so for 28 years. Peter Hill, 56, his father John Hill, 81, John Drew, 48, Kelvin Price, 34, Richard Hill, 30, and Gary Mountain, 54, make up the Black Country Ale Tairsters (BATs) and have been to a total of 16,337 pubs, hotels and wine bars. Cheers! Peter Hill (left), John Drew (middle) and Kelvin Price (right) from the Black Country Ale Tairsters enjoying a pint at their local . Living the dream: BATs have visited a new pub every Saturday night for 28 years, they've been to more than 16,000 . Originally a team of 20 when it started in 1984, the BATs have now slimmed down to half a dozen men on a serious mission. They have vowed to visit very single pub in the West Midlands even going as far as fashioning a rather fetching uniform out of beer towels. While it may seem as simple as walking into a pub and ordering a pint, there’s a strict science behind holding the longest bar crawl world record, as organiser of the group Peter, from West Bromwich explains. Stylish: They group were so dedicated that they decided to make their own uniform fashioned out of beer towels . Banter: The friends look happy together as they share a joke and a pint on an overcast afternoon in West Bromwich . He said: 'We have our own score cards which we fill in and give to the pub we go to. 'We write the number of the pub on the card, and ask the landlord to sign the book we have which has information in from every pub we go to. 'We also keep a record of the pubs we go to by taking a photo of the pub, inside and out and make a note of anything special about the place.'The men believe they hold the title for the world’s longest pub crawl, and have kept thousands of souvenirs to prove it. Including 130 box files full of beer mats and menus and 35,000 photos. Stamp of approval: The BATs legendary commitment has turned them into real ale connoisseurs . Lads: Peter, John and Kelvin are three of six that make up the mighty Black Country Ale Tairsters - there used to 20 members when the club was founded in 1984 . Every pub they visit is rated, photos are taken and information is noted down and BATs approval is a recognised accolade in the local pub trade. Their almost obsessive hobby demands a certain amount of patience from their partners who sometimes accompany them to the pub - but are strictly banned from the BATs regular four-day boozy weekends away. Girlfriend Crystal Tromans, 24, from Tipton, West Midlands, spoke of her six year relationship with Kelvin Price. She said: 'When I started going out with Kelvin, it was clear from the start that beer was part of the package. 'They have done it for so long, you know what you’re getting into - you can’t complain. The BATs are committed to finding new pubs in Britain and Europe - this picture was taken during a visit Bankss, in Budvar . Day out: The gang are photographed at the Smiths Arms, Godmanstone, as they continue the world's longest bar crawl . 'He enjoys his hobby and he lets me do what I want to do, plus it’s nice to get some time to myself! 'I do sometimes go to the pub with him on a weekend if they’re meeting nearby, as some of the other partners do but we’re not allowed to go on the lads’ weekends - that’s definitely more of a man thing! 'When we go away I can’t keep him away from new pubs and breweries - he’s always trying to hunt out some real ale. 'Kelvin wants me to learn to drive so that I can ferry him about on his pub trips - good try.' Dedication: The BATs keep a detailed log of pubs they have visited - their approval has become something of an accolade in the local pub trade . The BATs raise money for childrens’ hospitals along their way by asking each pub landlord they buy beer from to donate £1 to a deserving cause, so far raising over £15,000. They have also made trips to pubs right across Europe but they say these pubs don't count because they are not in the UK. The Tame Bridge public house in Great Bridge, West Bromwich, West Midlands is one of the team’s favourite local pubs. That's better: Peter raises his pint as the other BATs take a sip of their first pint of the day outside their favourite pub . Local: The BATs allow their wives and girlfriends to come for a drink in the week but they are strictly banned from the boozy weekends away . Owner, David Parsons, 67, said: 'These men are incredible - they are such a presence in the pub here. 'They have changed this pub, we used to serve a lot of lager but since they started coming with the knowledge they have of real ales, we sell a lot of the stuff. 'We get a different crowd in here now, and I love being educated about what they know about real ale. Calling card: The group invested in personalised beer mats - which they leave in every pub they visit . Pub number 15,440! The Old Moseley Arms in Birmingham - the BATs have visited 16,337 and have vowed to drink in every pub in the West Midlands . 'What they don’t know about beer, no-one does! 'I don’t think their quest will ever end, they will always find new territories when it comes to beer.' The BATs latest quest is to have been to every pub in the Midlands by the end of 2014. Sunshine: The Bats were lucky to have a good weather when they visited pub number 15,499 The Paddock, Penally . Rain: The boys endured summer showers to visit pub number 15,520 - The Cresselly Arms, Pembrokeshire . Historical: Pub number 15,491 The Charlton, Pembroke Dock, looks staunchly traditional from the outside . Peter added: 'It’s great to have made it to many milestones, and exciting to think of what we have to come. 'It’s hard to think of a hobby which is so much fun. 'When we’ve finished our current quest, we will just move on to another county. I’ll be doing this for as long as I can - I intend to visit every pub I can.' Beer there and everywhere: BAT member Peter Hill has even written a book about his many experiences .

The Black Country Ale Tairsters have been to 16,337 pubs, hotels and wine bars . They fill in an elaborate score card and leave a personalised beer mat in every bar . Women are allowed to the pub but not on boozy weekends away .

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A Facebook page seeking to preserve the 'Black Pete' clowns in blackface who accompany St. Nicholas to the Netherlands during the holidays has become the fastest-growing Dutch-language page ever, receiving 1 million 'likes' in a single day. The popularity of the 'Pete-ition' page reflects the emotional attachment most Dutch have to a figure that helped launch the tradition of Santa Claus. It also reflects their anger at critics who call it racist. Those critics include foreigners who they feel don't understand the tradition. They also include many of the country's most prominent black people. Facebook page: The U.N. has condemned the Christmas tradition but a Facebook page set up in support of it has attracted huge attention . 'Don't let the Netherlands' most beautiful tradition disappear,' the page says. On Tuesday, the chairwoman of a U.N. Human Rights Commission panel condemned it. 'The working group does not understand why it is that people in the Netherlands cannot see that this is a throwback to slavery, and that in the 21st century this practice should stop,' Verene Shepherd told television program EenVandaag. In stories told to children, St. Nicholas - Sinterklaas in Dutch - arrives by steamboat from Spain in mid-November accompanied by a horde of helpers: 'Zwarte Pieten,' or 'Black Petes', who have black faces, red lips and curly hair. A public broadcaster produces a daily fictional news program about Sinterklaas and the Petes that is shown in schools for several weeks. On December 5, families read poems and exchange presents as part of the Dutch-Belgian festival that is one of the main sources of the Santa Claus traditions. Opponents say Pete is an offensive caricature of black people. Supporters say Pete is a positive figure whose appearance is harmless. Popular: A musician dressed up as 'Black Pete' during last year's Christmas celebrations . The traditional song refers to Pete as a 'servant' to the elderly saint, but in recent years those references have been replaced with the idea that he is black from chimney soot as he scrambles down to deliver toys and sweets for children who leave their shoes out overnight. Discussion about Zwarte Piet has escalated since 2011, when a prominent opponent was thrown to the ground, handcuffed by police and dragged away for wearing a T-shirt reading 'Black Pete is Racism'. Opposition has been centered in Amsterdam, home to the Netherlands' largest black community. Mayor Eberhard van der Laan this month said he would support changing Pete's appearance - but only gradually, as it has changed over time in the past. 'If it appears that Amsterdammers feel pain as a result of this tradition, that's a good reason for new development,' he said. Controversial: Many claim that the tradition is offensive towards black people . Organizers of the festival and the broadcaster also said they would be open to changes if people want them. The latest public figure to speak out against the tradition was the man who has played the part of 'Head Pete' on the Sinterklaas news program for more than a decade. His commentary appeared in a top Dutch newspaper on Tuesday, entitled 'Make me less black and less a servant.' Others to question the tradition include Victoria's Secret model Doutzen Kroes. But their campaign has failed to draw widespread support and the overwhelming majority of Dutch people don't want change. 'Message for the U.N.: Isn't there a war somewhere, starvation or genocide going on that you could better be concerned about?' Dutchman Peter Udo commented on the Facebook page. His comment attracted more than 2,000 likes. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said it isn't his place to intervene in a folk tradition. 'Black Pete: The name says it already. He's black,' he said. 'I can't change much about it.'

Facebook page supporting tradition gains one million 'likes' in a day . 'Don't let the Netherlands' most beautiful tradition disappear,' it says . UN has condemned the tradition claiming it reflects racial prejudice .

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