Other News In Brief

Pair Who Robbed Student During Riots Jailed

The two men who robbed a Malaysian student as they pretended to help him have been jailed today.

John Kafunda, 22, received four-year and three months and Reece Donovan, 24, was jailed for five years.

Ashraf Rossil, who had only been in the UK for a month, was on his way to a friend house when his bike was stolen and he was punched in the mouth.

His jaw was broken in two places and as he sat on the ground bleeding from his mouth Kafunda helped him to his feet. As the student regained his balance Kafunda and Donovan were caught on camera going through his bag. They stole items worth £500.

Donovan, of Chadwell Heath, Romford, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years for robbery. He was also sentenced to 18 months for violent disorder and 18 months for burglary with the sentences to run concurrently.

Kafunda, of Eastwood Road, Ilford, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years for robbery and nine months for violent disorder.

Beau Isagba, 17, of Icknield Drive, Ilford, who admitted stealing the bike from the student was convicted of the attack and jailed for seven years.

2001 ‘Kettling’ Tactic Ruled Illegal

The European Court of Human Rights has declared the kettling tactics used by Metropolitan Police to control crowds in 2001 were unlawful.

Police used the tactic during anti-globalisation demonstrations in London.

Officers blocked off Oxford Circus and held those trapped inside for seven hours.

The court said there had been no violation of Article 5 - the right to liberty and security - of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Three people - George Black, a Greek national from Australia; Bronwyn Lowenthal and Peter O'Shea - who had nothing to do with the demonstration, took the case to Europe claiming they were "deprived of their liberty".

It was the first time the court in Strasbourg had been asked to rule on kettling.

Cameron’s US Visit Ends In Biggest Ever State Dinner

The UK and US leaders exchanged mutual praise at the biggest state dinner ever held in the Whitehouse.

Cameron praised Barack Obama's "strength, moral authority and wisdom".

And President Obama called the UK prime minister "the kind of partner you want at your side".

After a packed schedule the leaders used the dinner to return to what has become a frequent topic, the countries shared “special relationship”.

Mr Cameron praised the president for having "pressed the reset button on the moral authority of the entire free world".

Comparing Mr Obama to former US President Theodore Roosevelt, Mr Cameron said he understood that "America must do the right thing but to provide moral leadership America must do it in the right way too".

He praised Mr Obama for being strong when required to defend US national interests, while not rushing to "pick fights", and for having "found a new voice for America with the Arab people".

In a similar style, Mr Obama said of the prime minister: "I trust him. He says what he does and he does what he says. I've seen his character. I've seen his commitment to human dignity during Libya."

The president also spoke of Cameron and his wife Samantha having "shown a measure of strength that few of us will ever know", in a reference to the death of their eldest son, Ivan, at the age of six.