Why were there no phone calls from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370?

It's a popular question on social media: Why didn't passengers on board the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 make mobile calls?

Many recall that when United Flight 93 was hijacked on September 11, 2001, passengers were able to make two cell phone calls during the flight's final moments. Several other calls were made using airphones.

If metadata was detected from cell phones on Flight 370, surely it would shed more light on the missing plane's flight path?

The plane may have been flying too high or too fast to register with cell towers, according to telecoms experts, but careful analysis of the passengers' cell phone records will need to be completed to be certain.

 "So far, we have not had any evidence of any telephone company of any member trying to contact," said Malaysia Airlines CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya at a news conference on Monday.

"But anyway, we are still checking. There are millions of records to process. It is being done as part of the investigation."

Was the plane too high?

According to radar analysis, the plane is believed to have been flying as high as 45,000 feet and as low as 23,000 feet.

But even this lower altitude is too high to register with mobile towers, experts say.

"If you look at the data in this case, the altitude at which the planes were traveling is too high," Vincent Lau, wireless communications specialist and professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, told CNN.

"Even on the ground it wouldn't be easy to pick up from that distance, and if you are flying it's even more difficult because at those angles you are only picking up what we call leakage from the side loops of the antennas, which are substantially weaker than the signals from the main loops of the base stations."

While business class seats on the aircraft are known to have been equipped with phones that worked via satellite, it would be easy to strike down that system from inside the plane, said Lau.

Reports on Monday that the plane flew as low as 5,000 feet or less over mountainous terrain -- possibly in order to evade radar detection -- haven't been confirmed.

"In terms of the altitude it would have to be no higher than around 10,000 feet. Anything higher ... would be problematic," according to Bill Rojas, director of telecom research at IDC Asia Pacific.

Unlike in urban areas, where cell phone antennae are typically pointed down toward the ground, cell towers in rural areas are up to 30-45 meters high and are often pointed at an angle meant to cover wider distances.

So if you're up in the sky, you can receive the signal as well, Rojas said.

"If the airplane were flying over northern Malaysia or southern Thailand -- basically the rural area -- then it's very possible that a cell tower could register the signal from the phones, assuming they were on," said Rojas.

 

Retrieving the data

If smartphones had been on and registered with a cell tower, the records would be relatively easy to retrieve.

"The registrations would typically be logged and depending on the operator they will be kept for hours, days or months," said Rojas.

The telecom expert said that he'd place particular focus on the phone numbers of passengers from Thailand or Malaysia.

"I would assume that the authorities are checking with the mobile operators by comparing known passenger cell numbers to see if there were any pings or attempted or successful network registrations in northern Malaysia or southern Thailand or possibly even Indonesia," said Rojas. "Any passenger who had roaming capabilities or a local Malaysian number -- if the plane were over Malaysia -- could in theory have been registered on the network if their phone was on.

"If a passenger does not have international roaming then their access would be rejected by the network and for a period of time that metadata might be stored by the network."

If the metadata records were erased automatically after a few days or a few hours, could they be retrieved?

"Each mobile operator will have its own guidelines for the duration of metadata storage and would not normally be made public for obvious national security and law enforcement reasons."

Rojas said as far as speed was concerned, the aircraft would need to have been flying at speeds below 250 kilometers per hour (155 mph) in order for passengers to make or receive calls.

Passengers on high-speed trains in Japan and other countries can make calls via 3G networks at speeds of up to 240 kilometers per hour, but cell towers aren't able to register a signal beyond those speeds, Rojas said.

Scrap metal find turns out to be $33 million Faberge golden egg

A $14,000 jumble sale find turned into millions of dollars for a man who'd been thwarted in his attempts to turn a quick profit by selling the tiny ornament to scrap metal dealers.

The man, who hails from the Midwest but wishes to remain anonymous, had been left financially stretched after he apparently overestimated what the tiny golden egg would be worth once melted down. He'd been hoping to make $500.

In a fit of desperation one night last year, he typed "egg" and the name engraved on the clock it contained -- "Vacheron Constantin" -- into Google.

His search brought up a 2011 article in Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper describing a "frantic search" for the object: the Third Imperial Easter Egg, made by Faberge for the Russian royal family and estimated to be worth 20 million pounds ($33 million).

Far from being a financial millstone around the scrap metal trader's neck, it appeared the golden egg might live up to its fairy-tale namesake and avoid the furnace with just a few scratches -- to assess its gold content -- to show for it.

The man contacted Faberge expert Kieran McCarthy and flew to London to visit McCarthy's workplace: Wartski jewelers in Mayfair, where the egg will be displayed to the public for only the second time, from April 14 to 17.

'Holy Grail of art and antiques'

McCarthy said he had no warning about the visit.

"A gentleman had walked in wearing jeans, a plaid shirt and trainers. His mouth was just dry with fear," McCarthy said, to the extent that he could barely speak. "He handed me a portfolio of photographs, and there was the egg, the Holy Grail of art and antiques."

Though he had not handled the egg itself, McCarthy said, he was "buzzing from top to toe." He flew to the man's home to see the object in person and confirmed that it was indeed the Third Imperial Egg.

The finder "just can't believe his luck," McCarthy said. "It's almost an affirmation of his existence that this happened to him."

Intrinsic value

McCarthy said the man had overestimated the value of the egg's materials -- which were worth about what he'd paid for it -- but underestimated its value as a work of art.

This is what that object is about, this craftsmanship and demonstration of skill. If you're not looking for it, you won't see it.

Kieran McCarthy

 

"He didn't look upon a work of art at all. He saw that it was pretty and it was nice, but he was buying on intrinsic value. He bought and sold. ... This was quite a considerable outlay for him," he said. "The essence of Faberge's work is craftsmanship. It's the beauty of design and the conceiving of that object."

Pre-revolutionary Russia had seen "this last gasp of imperial patronage colliding with craftsmanship," he said, as the tsar and tsarina had everything they wanted.

"Their daily lives were lived at such a height of luxury that you couldn't really excite them with anything of intrinsic value. It was always about the craftsmanship. This is what that object is about, this craftsmanship and demonstration of skill. If you're not looking for it, you won't see it," McCarthy said.

"It's a very delicate and small object, and people never anticipate that Faberge eggs can be that size," he said, instead imagining them to be "the size of the Empire State Building, with diamonds the size of footballs."

But the eggs were a celebration of Easter and love tokens, "so in a way, they are quite modest."

Missing eggs

The finder was far removed from the art and antiques world and so had not recognized the object's true value. After reading the article, he could hardly believe what he was in possession of, McCarthy said.

"He was just getting frantic. He couldn't sleep; he couldn't eat; he couldn't think about anything else."

Until the 1916 overthrow of the tsar, Carl Faberge's jewelery workshop made 50 Easter eggs for the family, each taking a year or more to craft. According to Faberge, designs were produced in the greatest secrecy, "the only prerequisite being that they contained a surprise."

The egg on the brink of being melted down for scrap in the U.S. had been the third made: Tsar Alexander III's 1887 Easter gift to his wife, Tsarina Maria Feodorovna.

The 8.2-centimeter (3.2-inch) egg is on an elaborate gold stand supported by lion paw feet. Three sapphires suspend golden garlands around it, and a diamond acts an opening mechanism to reveal the Vacheron Constantin watch inside.

The egg was thought to have been lost after the Soviets listed it for sale in 1922 as part of a policy of turning "treasures into tractors," but in 2011, Faberge researchers recognized it in a 1964 auction catalog, reviving hopes it had survived and prompting the Telegraph article.

After the revolution, 42 of the imperial eggs made their way into private collections and museums. Eight, including the Third Imperial Egg, were thought to have been lost. Two others are thought to have survived, though their locations remain a mystery.

The other five were almost certainly destroyed, McCarthy said, with no reference to them after the Revolution.

The Third Imperial Egg has been purchased by a private collector who has allowed the public to glimpse it at Wartski before it disappears from general view again.

History's big mysteries

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 could take its place at the top of the biggest unsolved mysteries of history.

"This is a very strange event," aviation historian Carroll Gray said. "It doesn't lend itself to the normal sets of explanations."

Such mysteries are "phenomenally gripping," Gray said. "Things that are unsolved just sort of grab people, especially when you have the common experience of flying."

Answers about what happen to the Boeing 777 and the people on board must come soon, he said. "When you get on the plane the next time, are you going to wonder a little bit about whether you are going to disappear?"

 But history holds tight to some secrets, leaving us with just speculation, conspiracy theories and educated guesses. A mystery can have a long life, never forgotten and often re-examined.

Here are some of history's most tantalizing mysteries and debatable events:

Who shot JFK and RFK?

The assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, remains one of the most shocking events of the 20th century. The shooting of his brother Robert F. Kennedy on June 5, 1968, added to the conspiracy theories. In each case, a lone gunman was accused. In both deaths, questions remain:

Was there a second shooter on a grassy knoll along JFK's motorcade route? How could a man with a mail-order rifle target the President in a moving car from such a distance? Lee Harvey Oswald was himself shot to death at a Dallas police station days after JFK's death.

A blue ribbon panel headed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren concluded Oswald was the only assassin, but a Gallup survey six decades later found 60% of Americans don't believe that.

As for RFK, a witness told CNN in 2012 that she heard two guns firing during the 1968 shooting in Los Angeles and that authorities altered her account of the crime.

The life and career of Marilyn Monroe

The mystery of Marilyn Monroe

The Los Angeles County coroner ruled that actress Marilyn Monroe's August 1962 death was a "probable suicide" from an overdose of barbiturates. Despite the official conclusion, questions have lingered for decades about her death at 36.

The fuel for conspiracy theories include discrepancies about what time her body was found, the disappearance of her internal organs at the morgue and her links to President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert F. Kennedy, as well as organized crime bosses.

Also, the Monroe the world saw was not the real Norma Jeane Baker. She was not a dumb blonde, but an intelligent, well-read brunette, according to those who knew her.

 

Natalie Wood case reopened

Was Natalie Wood's death an accident or murder?

The death of actress Natalie Wood, whose was found floating off California's Catalina Island in November 1981, was initially ruled an "accidental drowning," but the Los Angeles County coroner officially changed the death certificate last year to read "drowning and other undetermined factors."

Homicide investigators decided to take a new look at one of Hollywood's most enduring mysteries after they were contacted by people who said they had additional information about the actress' drowning, the Sheriff's Department said.

Wood's death happened during a trip on her yacht with husband Robert Wagner and actor Christopher Walken.

"Since there are unanswered questions and limited additional evidence available for evaluation, it is opined by this medical examiner that the manner of death should be left as undetermined," the coroner said in a 2012 statement.

  Amelia Earhart: Pioneer of the sky

 

What happened to Amelia Earhart?

Famed aviator Amelia Earhart vanished along with navigator Fred Noonan during a doomed attempt to fly around the world in 1937.

"There's still no concrete evidence as to what happened," Gray said.

Theories about her fate included one that Earhart's plane was forced down by the Japanese around the Marshall Islands. Another is that Earhart secretly returned to the United States and the government gave her a new identity.

Earhart was on the last segment of her global route, flying from Lae, Papua New Guinea, with a destination 2,500 miles away in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. If her plane crashed into the waters short of her planned refueling point on Howland Island, the wreckage is likely resting 17,500 feet below the ocean's surface.

Only in recent years has it been possible to explore those depths with underwater vehicles. Expeditions scanning the ocean's floor have offered tantalizing evidence in the past two years that Earhart's plane could be near Nikumaroro Island in the South Pacific.

The mystery of Jimmy Hoffa

 

Where is Jimmy Hoffa? 

Ex-Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa was last seen on July 30, 1975, outside a Detroit-area restaurant. His disappearance is a mystery that triggers occasional digs by FBI agents looking for his remains. 

The last such search centered on a field near Detroit in June 2013, based on a tip from alleged mobster Tony Zerilli that Hoffa was hit with a shovel and buried alive there. Nothing was uncovered after three days of work with a backhoe.

The FBI said at the time of his disappearance that it could have been linked to Hoffa's efforts to regain 

power in the Teamsters and to the mob's influence over the union's pension funds. Hoffa was thought to be trying to get back into a power position with the labor movement after his release from prison. He was sent to prison in 1967 for jury tampering and fraud. President Richard Nixon pardoned him in 1971.

Popular theories over the years include that Hoffa was disposed of under the old Giants Stadium in New Jersey, buried in a Michigan horse farm, taken to a Florida swamp as alligator food or that his body was incinerated. Another early theory was that Hoffa simply took off for South America with a go-go dancer.

Hoffa's middle name, by the way, is Riddle.

Who was Jack the Ripper?

The name Jack the Ripper came from a letter sent in 1888 to London police, purporting to be the killer of five prostitutes.

His true identity has never been proved. Stories about the serial killings on the streets of Victorian London captured readers around the world, spurring intense speculation that lasted well beyond a century.

Crime writer Patricia Cornwell contributed to the theories with her 2002 book "Portrait of a KIller -- Jack the Ripper: Case Closed." Cornwell fingers painter Walter Sickert, in part based on the similar watermarks on the letter to police and Sickert's personal writing paper. She also argued that many of his paintings depicted Jack the Ripper crime scenes.

The ghost ship Mary Celeste 

The twin-masted merchant vessel Mary Celeste set sail from New York on November 7, 1872, bound for Genoa, Italy. Its 10 passengers were not on board when it was found floating in the middle of the Strait of Gibraltar four weeks later. There were no signs of a struggle, and all of its cargo was still on board. Its only lifeboat was missing.

Speculation over the past 140 years about why the ship was abandoned include theories involving pirates, a crew mutiny and even monster from the sea. A documentary titled "The True Story of the Mary Celeste" released in 2007 ruled out those possibilities but stopped short of a conclusive explanation.

What's the deal with the Bermuda Triangle?

The legend of the Bermuda Triangle began with the unexplained disappearance of a group of military planes carrying 14 men off the coast of south Florida in December 1945.

"We are entering white water, nothing seems right," the flight leader supposedly said before radio contact was lost. Thirteen more servicemen sent to search for the missing fliers also vanished.

Other mysterious disappearances and encounters have been linked to the area of ocean that is a triangle anchored by Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico.

Two British South American Airways passenger planes disappeared in the area a year apart in 1948 and 1949. No explanations or wreckage were ever found.

Victims credited to the area in numerous books and documentaries have included a large oil tanker, a pleasure yacht and a small passenger plane. Books, including "The Devil's Triangle," "Limbo of the Lost," and "The Riddle of the Bermuda Triangle," suggest supernatural explanations. Aliens in spaceships, wormholes and the mythical lost continent of Atlantis have been blamed.

 

Can a high-tech blimp find Bigfoot?

 

Are Big Foot, Sasquatch or Yeti for real?

Stories of elusive giant, hairy human-like beasts have been told on several continents for centuries. In the Himalayan Mountains, it is known as the Yeti or the Abominable Snowman. North Americans have reported sightings of Big Foot or Sasquatch. Russians call theirs the Almasty.

One common feature in modern reports is that most photos are blurry and video is shaky. Serious examination often leads to conclusions of mistaken identity or elaborate hoaxes.

But just last year, a British geneticist said that hair samples supposedly from two of the mystery creatures proved to be a genetic match to an ancient polar bear. The scientist submitted his DNA results for publication in a peer-reviewed science journal, and it is due to publish a book based on his research this year.

Is the Loch Ness Monster a real creature?

The earliest documented sighting of the mysterious creature swimming in Scotland's Loch Ness came in 1871, according to the monster's official website. Yes, it has a website that serves the purpose of promoting tourism to the area. Dozens of sightings have been logged since then, including the most recent in November 2011 when a Mr. George Edwards reported seeing a "slow moving hump" emerge from the murky depths of Loch Ness.

A U.S. research team targeted Nessie -- the creature's affectionate nickname -- in 2009 using a submarine to explore the lake's bottom. The only discovery were thousands of golf balls 300 feet down and 100 yards off the shore.

No mystery there, though: Locals and tourists have been known to practice their golf swing there for years.

 

Shroud of Turin will be shown on TV

  

Was the Shroud of Turin the burial cloth for Jesus? 

The Shroud of Turin may be the most famous religious relic.

Some Christians believe the shroud, which appears to bear the imprint of a man's body, to be Jesus Christ's burial cloth. The body appears to have wounds that match those the Bible describes as having been suffered by Jesus on the cross.

Many scholars contest the shroud's authenticity, saying it dates to the Middle Ages, when many purported biblical relics -- such as splinters from Jesus' cross -- surfaced across Europe. Even the Roman Catholic Church does not insist the shroud was used to wrap the body of Jesus. Its official position is that the shroud is an important tool for faith regardless of its authenticity.

Just before stepping aside as Pope a year ago, Benedict XVI authorize the broadcast of video of the shroud from Turin Cathedral, where the mysterious Christian relic is kept out of sight in a bulletproof, climate-controlled glass case.

World's most and least expensive cities

Singapore has dethroned the Japanese capital to become the world's most expensive city in 2014, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's latest Worldwide Cost of Living survey.

The bi-annual report, which ranks 131 global cities, credits currency appreciation, solid price inflation and high costs of living for Singapore's dubious new distinction.

"Car costs have very high related certificate of entitlement fees attached to them, which makes Singapore significantly more expensive than any other location when it comes to running a car," says the report.

"As a result, transport costs in Singapore are almost three times higher than in New York. In addition, as a city-state with very few natural resources to speak of, Singapore is reliant on other countries for energy and water supplies, making it the third most expensive destination for utility costs."

Singapore is also the priciest place in the world to buy clothes.

Last year's title holder Tokyo, dropped from the top spot to sixth -- tied with Melbourne, Geneva and Caracas.

Tokyo's decline is due to the weaker yen, says the EIU.

World's 10 most expensive cities to live in 2014

1. Singapore

2. Paris

3. Oslo, Norway

4. Zurich, Switzerland

5. Sydney

6. Caracas, Venezuela

6. Geneva, Switzerland

6. Melbourne

6. Tokyo

7. Copenhagen, Denmark

Asia also has the world's cheapest city on the list.

Down at the other end of the 131-city survey, the EIU lists Mumbai as the world's least expensive city to live in. The Indian capital, New Delhi, is third cheapest.

"Although India has been tipped for future growth, much of this is driven by its large population and the untapped potential within the economy," says the EIU.

"Income inequality means that low wages proliferate, driving down household spending and creating many tiers of pricing that keep per capita spending low.

"This, combined with a cheap and plentiful supply of goods into cities, as well as government subsidies on some products, has kept prices down, especially by Western standards."

World's 10 least expensive cities to live in 2014

122. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

123. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

124. Panama City, Panama

124. Bucharest, Romania

126. Algiers, Algeria

127. Damascus, Syria

127. Kathmandu, Nepal

129. New Delhi

130. Karachi, Pakistan

131. Mumbai, India

The Worldwide Cost of Living survey is released twice a year by the EIU.

It compares more than 400 individual prices across 160 products and services in 131 cities, including food, drink, clothing, household supplies and personal care items, home rents, transport, utility bills, private schools, domestic help and recreational costs.

In total, more than 50,000 individual prices are collected in each survey.

"The cost-of-living index uses an identical set of weights that is internationally based and not geared toward the spending pattern of any specific nationality," says the EIU. "Items are individually weighted across a range of categories and a comparative index is produced using the relative difference by weighted item."

Michael Schumacher showing 'small, encouraging signs'

Michael Schumacher might be in a medically induced coma but the Formula One great has shown enough "small, encouraging signs" to give his family confidence that he will "wake up."

The 45-year-old suffered a severe head injury while skiing on December 29 in the French Alps.

"We are and remain confident that Michael will pull through and will wake up," said Michael Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehn in a statement Wednesday.

"There sometimes are small, encouraging signs, but we also know that this is the time to be very patient."

Germany's seven-time world champion was placed into a medically-induced coma to help reduce swelling on the brain after the accident.

Schumacher has had two operations to relieve pressure on his brain and to remove haematomas at Grenoble Hospital, France.

He retired from F1 in 2012 following a record-breaking 19-year career. He had been skiing off-piste when he fell and hit his head against a rock.

"Michael has suffered severe injuries," added Kehn. "It is very hard to comprehend for all of us that Michael, who had overcome a lot of precarious situations in the past, has been hurt so terribly in such a banal situation.

Why induced comas help injured brains

"It was clear from the start that this will be a long and hard fight for Michael. We are taking this fight on together with the team of doctors, whom we fully trust. The length of the process is not the important part for us."

Over the last few months, Kehn has often asked the media to show respect for the privacy of Schumacher's family and she repeated that call in her statement.

"It is heart-warming to see how much sympathy his family is shown and I can say that the family is extremely grateful for it.

"However, it should not be forgotten that Michael's family is dealing with an extremely intimate and fragile situation.

"And I would like to remind all of us that Michael has always actively kept his family out of the public eye and consequently protected their private lives.

"We try to channel all the energies we have toward Michael and we firmly believe that this will help him. And we believe that he will also win this fight."

Schumacher, who won five consecutive titles with Ferrari between 2000-04, also claimed two drivers' championships at Benetton in 1994 and 1995.

The 2014 F1 season starts this weekend in Australia.Family 'strongly believe' he will recover

Wang, Africa's last polar bear, heartbroken over death of companion

Africa's last polar bear spends his days grieving his longtime companion at a zoo in Johannesburg, a far cry from his Arctic habitat.

Wang has been alone since GeeBee, his polar bear partner of nearly three decades, died suddenly this year.

The South African zoo he calls home is on a mission to cheer up the listless animal and distract him from his heartbreak.

GeeBee and Wang had spent their days together since they were cubs. It was a notable friendship -- polar bears tend to be solitary animals.

In January, GeeBee succumbed to a heart attack.

"On the day she died, Wang was doing unusual things," said Agnes Maluleke, the carnivore curator for the Johannesburg Zoo.

 

 

Wang (left) and GeeBee had spent their days together since they were cubs. GeeBee died of a heart attack.

Instead of gobbling up food used to lure him into his night room, Wang walked around his companion's body, stared and kept watch the whole night, according to Maluleke.

 

 

After his companion's death, Wang lost interest in food and shunned swimming, his favorite pastime.

"He had to be immobilized to retrieve GeeBee's body," she said.

 

 

GeeBee, who died suddenly in January, lived at the Johannesburg Zoo for 28 years. 

 

Shortly after, Wang lost interest in food and shunned swimming, his favorite pastime with GeeBee.

"He generally looked very unhappy. He was avoiding swimming, which is what he likes to do when it's hot," she said. "He hasn't got over the water issues; we've hardly seen him swim lately."

Zoo officials stepped in to lift his spirits.

For Valentine's Day, they brought him a box filled with fruit and meat, and decorated it with love hearts and a note that said, "We Love You Wang!"

"As the partner's not here, we thought let us organize something special for him to show that we still care and love him," Maluleke said.

It appeared to get the cuddly giant excited.

Ecstatic crowds watched him gingerly open the gift in his enclosure and feast on the goodies.

Companies also showered him with toys, including a ball filled with treats that he pored through for hours. One even offered a snow machine in the hopes that it might excite the animal long associated with subzero temperatures.

But Wang suffers from liver disease and has lived his entire life in a warm climate. A sudden change in environment would be fatal for his advanced age, Maluleke said.

Wang was born at a Japanese zoo, and GeeBee came from Canada after both were swapped for lions. The two met at the Johannesburg Zoo when they were 6 months old and lived there for 28 years. They did not breed because polar bears' reproduction is stimulated by cold weather.

Wang is not the only fragile polar bear rescued by humans.

Knut captured hearts worldwide when he was abandoned by his mother at Zoo Berlin in 2007. A zookeeper took care of the cub until he was old enough to fend for himself. Although animal rights groups denounced it as unnatural, the cub and his caretaker, who slept next to his crate, became instant celebrities.

Knut died three years ago at age 4.

But the elderly Wang is thriving amid all the extra care, zoo officials said. He's showing more interest in food and his surroundings, and is more alert by the day.

Zookeepers don't know how much longer Wang has to live. In the wild, polar bears barely make it past 20 years, Maluleke said.

But for now, his human friends continue to find ways to stimulate and console him.

Is a new non-aligned group emerging ? : Russia vs West

Ever since Russia annexed Crimea and invited western sanctions, the world has swirled with talk of a new Cold War. Its Russia versus the US again, the west versus the east, at least that's how the instant pundits of global affairs would have us believe.

On Thursday, Ukraine became the touchstone for 193 countries to declare where their hearts lie. A resolution in the UN general assembly declaring Russia's annexation of Crimea to be illegal was put to vote — more countries ended up on the western side.

But even more significant, a massive 58 countries abstained — that's the new UN equivalent of staying "non-aligned".

In this club fall three big guys — India, China and Brazil. As part of BRICS these countries last week declared in a joint statement that they did not want sanctions and counter-sanctions and a political dialogue was the best answer. But all three countries have strong political and economic ties with the US, unlike Russia. Therefore, walking a thin line, all three countries stayed out of the race.

Interestingly, on the abstention sheet is Israel, US' closest ally. Israel has been livid with Obama on the nuclear deal with Iran. Iran, which considers the US a "great Satan" also abstained — Russia is Iran's greatest ally. Maldives, where the US has been trying to set up a military base, voted on the side of the US, something India should think about.

The general assembly resolution is not binding, but it's a strong statement from the international community. The resolution says under the UN charter all states must refrain "from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, and to settle their international disputes by peaceful means." It reaffirmed the territorial integrity of Ukraine, which is a slap on Russia's recent actions.

India and China have deep reservations on sovereignty and territorial integrity and in the past have not hesitated to slam US for Libya, Syria etc. With Russia doing exactly the same thing, the dilemma in the developing world is acute.

A similarly worded resolution died in the UN Security Council because Russia has a veto there. But in a sign that Russia wont have sweeping international support, the body held almost 10 discussions on Ukraine.

Obama makes fence-mending trip to Saudi Arabia

President Barack Obama is making a fence-mending mission to Saudi Arabia, an important Middle East ally that's grown nervous as the US negotiates with Iran and pulls out troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obama on Friday left for an overnight trip to Saudi Arabia that has only two items on its public schedule: a meeting and a dinner with King Abdullah at his desert camp, a 30-minute helicopter ride from the capital of Riyadh.

Secretary of State John Kerry was travelling with Obama for what will be the president's third official meeting with the king in six years.

White House officials and Mideast experts say the Saudi royal family's main concern is Iran. They fear Iran's nuclear program, object to Iran's backing of the Bashar Assad regime in Syria and see the government of Tehran as having designs on oil fields in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes identified the points of anxiety in the relationship when he described Obama's agenda for the trip last week as: "Our ongoing support for Gulf security, our support for the Syrian opposition where we've been very coordinated with the Saudis, the ongoing Middle East peace discussions, as well as both the nuclear negotiations with Iran but also our joint concern for destabilising actions that Iran is taking across the region."

The Saudi anxieties have been building over time, according to Simon Henderson, a fellow at The Washington Institute, a think tank focused on Middle East policy.

"Ever since Washington withdrew support for President (Hosni) Mubarak of Egypt in 2011, Abdullah and other Gulf leaders have worried about the reliability of Washington's posture toward even longstanding allies," Henderson wrote this week.

"President Obama's U-turn on military action against Syria over its use of chemical weapons last summer only added to the concern, which has likely morphed into exasperation after recent events in Crimea, where the Saudis judge that President Obama was outmaneuvered by Vladimir Putin."

Libya releases video of Gadhafi's son apologizing

Libyan state TV has aired footage showing one of late dictator Moammar Gadhafi's sons jailed in Libya apologizing to the nation and asking for forgiveness.

Prison authorities say the video, broadcast late on Thursday, is in response to "rumors" that al-Saadi Gadhafi is being tortured in custody.

Al-Saadi was extradited to Libya earlier this month from Niger, where he had taken refuge as his father's regime crumbled in 2011.

The Libyan government is preparing to prosecute him for his alleged role in trying to suppress the uprising against Gadhafi's rule.

In the video, al-Saadi is seen wearing blue prison uniform, sitting in what looks like an office. He says he is sorry for the "harm and disturbances" — without elaborating — and says he is being treated well in prison.

Arsene Wenger hits back at Paul Scholes criticism of Arsenal

Arsene Wenger has rejected claims by ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes that his Arsenal side are a "million miles" from winning the title. 

Fourth-placed Arsenal are six points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea.
"People who have managed zero games have opinions. We have to accept that," said Wenger, whose side face third-placed Manchester City on Saturday.

“Jack Wilshere is an exceptional player - and Scholes knows that”
                                                                                                -Arsene Wenger

"If six points is a 'million miles away', I don't know what the translation of a mile into a point is." 

In his role as a television pundit for Sky Sports, Scholes criticised Arsenal following their 2-2 home draw against Swansea City on Tuesday.

A late own goal from Mathieu Flamini saw the Gunners drop two vital points in their bid to win a first Premier League title since 2004.

The draw came just three days after the 6-0 defeat at Chelsea, while Wenger's side have also suffered heavy losses at title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.
 
"I feel for the Arsenal fans. They get a little hint of the title for a few weeks and go to Chelsea, to Liverpool, to City and they just do nothing," said Scholes.

"Fans expect Arsenal to go for the league and I know they are third or fourth but they are a million miles away in my eyes."

Wenger also dismissed the ex-England international's opinion that Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere, 22, has "not improved since he was 17".

"Jack has been handicapped by many injuries, but once he is back and playing consistently he will show everybody that [Scholes] is wrong about that," said the Frenchman. 

"He is an exceptional player - and Scholes knows that."

Arsenal could move level on 66 points with Manchester City, who have played two games fewer, if they beat Manuel Pellegrini's side at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger concedes it is his team's last chance to stay in the title race, but insists they have not given up hope of overhauling their rivals.

"We have got to keep going, despite the last two negative results," he said.

"City are favourites with Chelsea and Liverpool to win the title but when you play one of the favourites you have the opportunity to shorten the distance.

"Champions keep going when everybody else would give up and we have an opportunity to show we have that mentality on Saturday."

Meanwhile, he remains "confident" that France right-back Bacary Sagna, 31, will sign a new contract with the Gunners.

Sagna's existing deal runs out in the summer and he has been linked with a move to Manchester City or Italian side Inter Milan

Liverpool winger bids to shed bad boy image

Raheem Sterling is early - 45 minutes early. In my 14 years in sports journalism, this is unprecedented for a Premier League footballer. 

It's the first sign, of many, that the team around one of England's most exciting young talents is working hard to make sure he keeps his feet on the ground.

He arrives at his favourite Italian restaurant in Liverpool accompanied by his agent and a small team filming him as part of a documentary.

He's affable but shy and in many ways a typical teenager - sipping on a cola, constantly texting.

• 8 December 1994 - born in Kingston, Jamaica
• 1999 - Moves to London with his mother and attends school in Wembley
• 2004 - Joins QPR youth academy at the age of 10
• February 2010 - Moves to Liverpool aged 15, with Manchester United and Chelsea also interested
• 31 March 2010 - Scores for England Under-16s in a 3-1 win over Ukraine
• 24 March 2012 - Makes his senior debut as a substitute in a Premier League match against Wigan
• 26 August 2012 - Given his first start in the Premier League as Liverpool draw 2-2 draw at home to Manchester City
• 14 November 2012 - Makes full England debut in a friendly 4-2 defeat against Sweden
• 20 May 2013 - Common assault charge dropped after a witness fails to appear
• 20 September 2013 - Cleared of assault on former girlfriend.
• 5 March 2014 - Man-of-the-match performance in England's 1-0 friendly win over Denmark.

It's only when the 19-year-old takes off his jacket for lunch that I notice his entire left arm is covered, from shoulder to wrist, in tattoos. 

At the top is the face and name of his daughter, Melody Rose - "the best thing that's ever happened" to him. She was born in 2012 after a brief relationship and is his only child, despite "silly online rumours" to the contrary.

If you search his name on the internet, one of the first suggestions is 'Raheem Sterling four kids'. This, he says, is the public's biggest misconception of him.

He quips that he actually "has eight", but then adds: "It made people think badly of me, that I'm not really grounded, that I'm out and about doing loads of madness."

It's not the only thing contributing to a bad boy reputation. In May 2013, he had a common assault charge against him dropped after a witness failed to turn up to court.

And in September last year, he was found not guilty of assault against a former girlfriend. He knows he's "made mistakes" in the past but says he's young and is using those experiences to help him grow up and move on.

Back to those tattoos. On the inside of his biceps are the words 'Thank you mama for the nine months you carried me, through all the pain and suffering'.

It's clear his mother, Nadine - who he jokes "thinks she's Jose Mourinho" - is a constant presence and strength in his life.

Sterling says: "She's a big part of my life - she tries to have too much of a say sometimes! I try to listen to her, because most of what she says is right.

"My mum thinks she knows her football! She'll certainly tell me when I'm not doing something right. At other times she'll say I'm not listening to her. There's been a few clashes with her."

“My mum thinks she's Jose Mourinho. She tries to have too much of a say sometimes - but I always listen”

She left Maverley, Jamaica, for England when he was aged five and once she had found work, moved Raheem and his three siblings to the tough St Raphael's estate in the shadow of Wembley. 

Sterling was removed from mainstream primary school because of behavioural problems and spent three years at Vernon House special school, where the youngster was told by a teacher: "If you carry on the way you're going, by the time you're 17 you'll either be in prison or playing for England."

A prophetic statement, made because it was clear that although he could be disruptive, he was a talented footballer.

Sterling joined QPR at the age of 11, where he was quickly nicknamed 'Raheem Park Rangers' by his peers. With several big teams interested in him, he chose Liverpool when he was 15. 
 
England manager Roy Hodgson, then in charge of Liverpool, handed Sterling his senior debut for the Reds in a pre-season friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach.

The slight, diminutive boy who was repeatedly knocked off the ball by older players is still the same height - just 5ft 7in - but has "bulked up a bit" and Hodgson has made it clear that Sterling is in his World Cup thoughts.
 
"He has seen me play and I think he likes the way I play. I'm grateful he's the manager of England," Sterling says.

"He gives me good motivation to do well. He puts his arm around me and gives me little things I can do better at."

Scholes supports Moyes and asks fans to be patient

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has urged the struggling English champions to stick with manager David Moyes despite yet another humbling defeat.

Just over a week from their 3-0 loss at home to bitter rivals Liverpool, United went down by the same scoreline in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Edin Dzeko needed a mere 43 seconds to score Manchester City's first goal and the Bosnian striker added a second early in the second half before Yaya Toure rounded off a comprehensive loss for United with the visitors' third goal in the 90th minute.

Defeat left United seventh in the Premier League table and 12 points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal.

It also left many fans asking how what is effectively the same side that won the title last season in former manager Alex Ferguson's final campaign before retirement had become so ineffectual against top English teams under his fellow Scot and chosen successor Moyes.

But Scholes said laying the blame solely on the shoulders of former Everton manager would be a mistake, arguing that United had to give their new boss more support in the next transfer window than they'd shown thus far during Moyes's brief time at Old Trafford.

"You have to stand by him, he's made a couple of signings that haven't quite worked out yet as he would have liked and in the summer he's going to need backing, there's no doubt about that," Scholes told Sky Sports on Tuesday.

"Was he backed as well as he could have been last summer? I'm not too sure, but this summer he has to be backed and I think he knows he needs players," the ex-England international added.

Nemanja Vidic is due to leave for Inter Milan at the end of this season and with both Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra under severe scrutiny, Scholes said strengthening United's defence was a priority for Moyes, although he also had concerns regarding midfield.

"It looks to me that there's a few areas that need addressing," Scholes, who finally retired at the end of last season, said.

"Centre midfield you could say they've been looking for that for quite a few years now and maybe haven't quite come up with the answer.

"I think defensively as well, with Vidic going -- it looks like Rio and maybe Evra are going as well, there's three of your back four gone -- that's another area he's got to look after.

"Going forward, they're all right. But it's probably midfield and defence where he (Moyes) needs to look."

Under-fire Moyes seeks Villa respite

Manchester United manager David Moyes will hope the faltering English champions can stem the rising tide of criticism coming his way against Aston Villa in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Moyes was the handpicked successor of former United boss Alex Ferguson, British football's most successful manager, who retired at the end of last season.

That led some fans to honour Moyes by draping a banner bearing the words "The Chosen One" at the Stretford End of United's Old Trafford ground.

However, such has been United's slump, one angry supporters' group has threatened to hire a plane towing the message "Chosen wrong, Moyes out" over Old Trafford during the Villa match.

But Villa manager Paul Lambert said that would be excessive, insisting Moyes -- who has signed a six-year contract -- would stay at United for the foreseeable future.

"Some of the criticism is way over top," Lambert said of the flak coming the way of his fellow Scottish manager.

"He has a huge job -- and it's not as if he is standing there feeling good -- he's fuming like anyone else.
"For him to receive that level of criticism is not nice. Flying a plane over stadium saying he's not wanted is a bit extreme.

"I fully expect him to remain Manchester United boss."

Tuesday's humbling 3-0 derby defeat at home to title contenders Manchester City, their 10th league defeat of the season, left seventh-placed United a massive 18 points behind leaders Chelsea and 12 adrift of a top four finish that will secure qualification for next term's elite European Champions League.

Those include include two successive 3-0 defeats by arch-rivals Liverpool and City, both vying for the Premier League trophy, in United's last two home league matches.

And with European champions Bayern Munich, who recently retained their Bundesliga title, visiting Old Trafford next week for the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final, Moyes knows United cannot afford a fresh slip-up against Birmingham-based Villa.

- 'Right the wrongs' -
After the City match, United defender Rio Ferdinand urged all connected with the club to fall in behind former Everton manager Moyes.

"Losing a game is something that I will never enjoy experiencing," said the former England centre-back.
"Sticking together and working hard to right the wrongs is a must."

Moyes used midfielder Michael Carrick as a centre-back in the 2-0 win at West Ham last weekend because of injuries to several first-choice defenders.

Ferdinand played in the defeat by City despite struggling with a recent back problem and it remains to be seen whether the veteran is fit enough to feature again against Villa, currently nine points above the relegation zone.

Nemanja Vidic, who is set to join Inter Milan at the end of the season, is out with a calf injury, as is Jonny Evans, while Chris Smalling has a hamstring problem.

Moyes is also set to be without striker Robin van Persie until the start of May due to the Dutch forward's strained knee as his team look to end a miserable run of form at Old Trafford that has seen them win just six, and lose six, of their 15 home matches this season.

Villa, who've won just one of their last 29 matches at Old Trafford, courtesy of Gabriel Agbonlahor's header five years ago, expect to have Andreas Weimann available following a dead leg although Karim El Ahmadi (thigh) is doubtful.

Lambert's side beat Premier League leaders Chelsea a fortnight ago before losing 4-1 at home to Stoke last week.

"The contrast from Chelsea to Stoke was like night and day," said Lambert. "We need to make sure it does not happen again."

Class of 92 to buy Salford city

Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt confirm their acquisition of the non-league club, who play in the eighth tier of English football

Manchester United's 'Class of '92', a group of players that includes Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, have agreed a deal to buy Salford City FC subject to FA and league approval.

The group have been in negotiations with the non-league outfit for the past month before reaching an agreement on Thursday evening, with the purchase set to be complete in the summer.

Recent reports had linked the ex-United players with an astonishing move to buy the Premier League champions, though they have instead settled for a side playing in the eighth tier of English football.

Former midfielder Scholes, meanwhile, has reportedly been lined up to take over the managerial reins at the club, having turned his back on a coaching role at Old Trafford under David Moyes.

A statement read: "Salford is close to all their hearts. Manchester United nurtured and developed them but Salford is where it all began so, when the opportunity arose to acquire Salford City FC, it was one they all wished to pursue.

"They want to put back into the community of Salford and surrounding areas, they want to develop and engage especially at grass roots level."

"I had my first trial for Manchester United in Salford at age 11 and I will never forget how important that was to me," added Gary Neville. "Salford City FC, to me, represents those early years, the commitment, hunger, enthusiasm, desire and spirit of football and I am very excited about this venture."

Scholes remarked: "We know it will be tough but we will be committed to this from the start and have some very exciting plans going forward."

Manchester United troubles 'affect Premier League brand'

Manchester United's troubled defence of their Premier League title is harming the English top flight's worldwide brand, says the competition's chief executive Richard Scudamore. 

Under new boss David Moyes, United are seventh in a disappointing campaign.
The 20-time champions are 18 points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

"It's a double-edged sword," said Scudamore. "When your most popular club isn't doing as well, that costs you interest and audience in some places."

Former Everton manager Moyes has watched the Red Devils suffer 10 defeats in 31 league matches since he replaced Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired last summer after almost 27 years in charge.

His team were knocked out of the FA Cup at the third-round stage before being eliminated from the Capital One Cup in the semi-finals.
 
They have reached the Champions League quarter-finals, where they will face defending champions Bayern Munich next month.

"There are lots of fans around the world who wish Manchester United were winning it again," Scudamore told Bloomberg. 
 
"But you have to balance that off against, generally, we're in the business of putting on a competition and competition means people can compete."

Overseas television deals will earn the Premier League more than £2bn between 2013 and 2016.
The Premier League sold its domestic broadcasting rights to Sky and BT in a record-breaking deal, worth around £3bn, last year.

Manchester Derby, key stats

After the worldwide excitement leading up to El Clasico in Spain, the attention now shifts to Manchester, England, as one of the most fierce derby matches on the planet takes place.

Fallen giants Manchester United host their superstar-laden neighbours Manchester City in a battle that could dictate the futures of both club's managers.

David Moyes will be looking to make it three wins on the spin, after his team rescued their Champions League tie against Olympiakos at OldTrafford and had an impressive win this weekend against one of the Premier League's most in-form sides, West Ham.

Manuel Pellegrini will be looking to fortify his team's Premier League title-winning chances after recently crashing out of the FA Cup and Champions League to Wigan Athletic and Barcelona. 

The Sky Blues lie in third position in the table, per BBC Sport, and are six points behind leaders Chelsea.

However, they have three games in hand on the West London club, and will need to win at Old Trafford to make this slim advantage pay for them.

With the enforced absence of Robin van Persie for the match, after sustaining a knee injury against Olympiakos, David Moyes chose to play his three most flair-driven players together for the trip to West Ham.

The result, though only a solid 2-0 victory, was a taster of what could be about to come with the three little wizards playing as a unit.

On Saturday, Wayne Rooney, Shinji Kagawa and Juan Mata proved United can play with fluidity, which in turn does wonders for the team's confidence.

With Marouane Fellaini sitting deep and protecting, the three were able to play close together and take the game away from their East London opponents. 

This could be a tactic that Moyes plays against City, forcing Yaya Toure onto the back foot.

However, if Moyes gives in to his pragmatic ways, he will sacrifice this chance and go for a more defensively secure 4-4-1-1. 

This would be a mistake: Chelsea set the blueprint of how to beat Manchester City tactically, and any variation of 4-4-2 will just play into Pellegrini's hands. 

United's home form has been shocking this season, and City playmaker David Silva gave his opinion on their decline.

Silva is correct in his assessment, and United will need to prove on Tuesday night that there is life after Fergie. The game has come at a perfect time for Moyes and his men, and with a set of brave tactics could see United achieve a shock victory.

 The Brilliance of Yaya Toure

When Yaya Toure signed for City from Barcelona for a reported £24 million deal in 2010, per BBC Sport, many eyebrows were raised at the size of the fee in comparison to the type of player that was arriving at the Etihad Stadium. 

Toure was viewed as very good player, with a versatile edge, but it was questionable if he was a world-beater.

Those questions exist no more.

The 30-year-old Ivory Coast is now considered one of the best midfielders in Europe, and his record for City has been phenomenal. 

Toure has shone in both the Premier League and European competition this year, scoring 17 goals in 34 combined appearances, and also providing five assists, per WhoScored.com. This is such a fantastic return for a player who was once considered a defensive type. 

Everything good that City does flows through Toure. With Fernandinho acting as a shield for the player, he can release himself from any shackles and play the game he wants. 

If Yaya plays well against United on Tuesday night, the Red Devils will not win the match.

Toure is an example of how a player can peak later in his career. Now into his thirties, he will have to manage his fitness more closely. 

But at Old Trafford, with a title to fight for, he can do what he does best: Power his team to victory from the centre of the park.