President Barack Obama brought his two daughters to Selma to 'remind them of their obligations', it has been revealed, as thousands of people are commemorating 'Bloody Sunday' for a second day. The 53-year-old president and his family paid tribute to civil rights legends sung and unsung by leading a symbolic march across the Alabama town's Edmund Pettus Bridge on Saturday afternoon. Speaking on the bridge in the sunshine, Obama said of his 13-year-old and 16-year-old daughter: 'I want to say what an extraordinary honor this has been, especially to have Sasha and Malia here.' He had previously said he hoped the girls - who wore  dresses and boots for the 50th anniversary march - would be reminded 'of their own obligations' to continue America's fight for civil rights. 'There are going to be marches for them to march, and struggles for them to fight. And if we've done our job, then that next generation is going to be picking up the torch, as well,' he said last month. Scroll down for video . Daughters: President Barack Obama brought his daughters, Malia (left) and Sasha (right), to Selma, Alabama, to take part in 50th anniversary commemorations to 'remind them of their obligations', it has been revealed . The next generation: The 53-year-old president (pictured with Sasha) and his family paid tribute to civil rights legends sung and unsung by leading a symbolic march across the Alabama town's Edmund Pettus Bridge . Father: Speaking on the bridge in the sunshine, Obama (right) said of his 13-year-old and 16-year-old daughter (left): 'I want to say what an extraordinary honor this has been, especially to have Sasha and Malia here' Obama is pictured during Saturday's speech, in which he honored the male and female protesters in 1965 . Earlier this week, in a radio interview with host Tom Joyner, Obama added: 'Part of what I want Malia and Sasha to understand is that this is an unfinished project,' referring to simmering racial tensions that flared up following the police killings of black men in Missouri and New York last year. Today, people from across the world were  marching over the historic bridge - where police and state troopers beat and used tear gas against more than 600 protesters in 1965 - for a second day. Among them was Mercedes Binns, who lives out of state and has visited Selma a total of 17 times because of its civil rights history. She was seen punching the air with determination as she walked. Another day's marching: Crowds gather before a symbolic walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Sunday . Dedicated: Mercedes Binns, who has been to Selma 17 times for civil rights history, walks on the bridge . Packed: Crowds gather near the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Sunday, a day after Obama's historic speech . Iconic: Men, women and children take part in the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, Sunday . Homemade banner: Today, people from across the world were marching over the historic bridge - where police and state troopers beat and used tear gas against more than 600 protesters in 1965 - for a second day . Symbolic: Selma veterans who marched across the bridge in 1965 returned to the iconic bridge on Sunday - 50 years after 600 protesters did the same thing . A day earlier, Obama had led several dozen people across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to pay tribute to the 'courageous' male and female marchers who paved the way for the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Clasping hands with 'one of my heroes,' Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and Amelia Boynton Robinson, who was badly beaten on Bloody Sunday, he  strode purposefully under Alabama's bright sun. He was joined by Malia and Sasha, who marched along with first lady Michelle Obama and her mother, Marian Robinson, as well as former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura. Influential: Crowds of people move in a symbolic walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Sunday . Foot soldiers: Dorothy Tillman Wright (center) who marched during Bloody Sunday shouts during a prayer at the Edmund Pettus Bridge as thousands marked the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march . Sunny: A person reaches up toward the sky as they walk across the bridge in the Alabama sun on Sunday . Remembered: Jenni Smith (center) who marched during Bloody Sunday in 1965 walks with assistance to the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the 50th anniversary . Unforgettable: As thousands cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge, women hold signs of Denise McNair, Cynthia Wesley and Addie Mae Collins who were three of four girls killed during the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama . Emotional: A couple stops to kiss as they join thousands of people who marched across the historic bridge on Sunday in Selma . Lewis, an original Bloody Sunday participant whose head was cracked open by police as he led a group across the bridge, held court when Saturday's group stopped after about four minutes. In his radio interview earlier this week, Obama told Joyner that  he thinks his two daughters appreciate that people made sacrifices so that life would be easier for them. Ceremony to remember: Martin Luther King III (above) speaks to the congregation  at Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma on Sunday . Commemorated: Reverend Al Sharpton (above) delivers a sermon during a special church service at Brown Chapel AME Church to remember the sacrifice of those from Bloody Sunday . Visionaries: Former US Ambassador Andrew Young said Andrew Young (above) remembered the struggle in the 1960s but encouraged people to focus on themselves not as problems but as visionaries . He noted that the teenagers live in the White House with their grandmother, whom he said remembers what it was like living in a segregated setting on the South Side of Chicago. 'There is, you know, work to be done right now,' referring to America's battle for civil rights. 'And I say to my daughters the same thing I say to the young people who work for me, and that is it is a glorious task that we are given to continually try to improve this great country of ours. Historic day: President Barack Obama, center, walks as he holds hands with Amelia Boynton Robinson, who was beaten during 'Bloody Sunday,' as they and the first family and others including Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., left of Obama, walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday on Saturday . Historic: Obama, right, first lady Michelle Obama, Malia and Sasha, and others, walked across the historic bridge on Saturday . Teenagers: Malia, left, and her sister Sasha are joined by bodyguards as they leave their father's speech . Legacy: Obama also said he doubts his daughters will run for public office 'partly because they've been listening to their mother. Malia,  left, with mother Michelle (center) and grandmother Marian Robinson (right) 'And we shouldn't shy away from that work and we shouldn't be complacent about it. And everybody's got to find their own way to do it.' Asked how he would like to see his daughters accomplish that, Obama said he doubted they would do it from a public perch. 'I am very doubtful that they will want to run for public office ... partly because they've been listening to their mother,' he said. Flashback: In this March 21, 1965, photo, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. leads civil rights demonstrators across the Edmund Pettus Bridge at Selma, at the start of a five day, 50-mile march to the State Capitol of Montgomery .

President Barack Obama was joined by daughters in Selma on Saturday . He said he hoped the trip would 'remind them of their own obligations' First Family led symbolic march across town's Edmund Pettus Bridge . They were paying tribute to marchers on 'Bloody Sunday' 50 years ago . Obama said he was 'especially' pleased that two daughters were there . On Sunday, thousands of people marched over bridge for second day .

 US president joined the commemorations in Selma, Alabama, with his daughter Malia.
Mr Obama's wife Michelle also took their daughter Sasha to the commemoration, while the family's dog 'Bo' was spotted at the event.
The first lady also paid a visit to the Edmund Pettus Bridge, which is the focal point of the historic march that helped to pave the way for the passing of the Civil Rights Act.
Malcolm X's daughter and a 'bloody woman': Malia Obama gets emotional at Selma civil rights march... and is pictured with President Obama and their dog Bo
Bloody woman: 17-year-old Malia Obama and her father Barack Obama, who is also president of the United States, pose on the Selma bridge during a memorial ceremony to mark the 52nd anniversary of the Bloody Sunday march on Sunday
In the picture, Bo was dressed as a miniature civil rights marcher as he proudly posed for the official 52nd anniversary commemorations of the 'Bloody Sunday' civil rights march which took place in Selma, Alabama on March 7, 1965.
The march was a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights movement, with one of the most dramatic confrontations of the era occurring on that day.
More than 500 people were arrested on the bridge that day, as they protested about racial inequality in the United States.
During the commemorations, Mr Obama stood in front of the civil rights memorial and told the crowd, in front of his daughter Malia and the rest of the family, of his feelings of 'obligation' to be present at the march.
'I'm here with my daughters today because this is my obligation. To stand before my daughters and say, "This is your history and this is who you are",' Mr Obama said, as he was joined by Mrs Obama and their daughters in front of the memorial.
The family then left the site in their vehicle after the ceremony.
The presidential couple also visited the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, which is the historic location where the march took place. Mrs Obama and her daughters walked across the bridge, which has become a prominent site in the civil rights movement.
Obama (center) with daughters Malia (left) and Sasha (right) and his wife Michelle stand on the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the annual Bloody Sunday commemoration, marking 52 years since a march on


The top ten list of the most expensive clothes and props from some of the most famous films in movie history has been revealed by memorabilia experts. Sold for  £2.9m ($4.5m), the dress Actress Audrey Hepburn wore in My Fair Lady was the most valuable item  on the list. The top ten run down was compiled to mark the recent Oscar's ceremony and charts the most valuable items of memorabilia and how much they finally went for at auction. Scroll down for video . Audrey Hepburn's Ascot dress (left), from My Fair Lady (1964), sold in 2011 for £2.9m ($4.5m) - The film based on the George Bernard Shaw play Pygmalion won eight Oscars . Obvious box office favourites like Star Wars and the Wizard of Oz were on the list, but it was the dress Audrey Hepburn wore in the Ascot scene of the critically acclaimed 1964 musical that topped the lot. Second on the list was James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 which featured in Goldfinger and Thunderball which sold for £2.67m ($4.1m) in 2010. A prop from the all-time classic film Casablanca - the piano from Rick's Cafe Americain - came in third. It sold last year for £2.2m ($3.3m). Original props and costumes from The Wizard of Oz were among the most sought-after and valuable of all movie memorabilia, with the most expensive being the original costume worn by Burt Lahr as the Cowardly Lion. The costume, which was made from genuine lion skin and fur, sold last year for a record £2m ($3.077m). The list also includes the  Orson Welles' Oscar for Best Screenplay which he was awarded for Citizen Kane, a Panavision PSR 35 mm camera used by George Lucas during principle photography on the Star Wars film and Aragorn's sword from Lord of the Rings. James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 from the films Goldfinger (1964) and Thunderball (19), sold in 2010 for $4.1m . Sam's upright Moroccan-looking piano from Rick's Bar in 1942 film Casablanca sold in 2014 for £2.3m ($3.4m) All-time classic: The movie won three Oscars and starred Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid . Charlton Heston's ceremonial costume (left) from Ben-Hur (1959), sold in 2011 for £261,000 ($393,600), while the Cowardly lion costume (right) from The Wizard of Oz (1939), sold in 2014 for £2.04 ($3.07m) Musical landmark the 1939 Wizard of Oz Starred Julie Garland and won two Oscars, one for best music original song and another for best music original score . The list was compiled by Picollecta, an online community for collectors. Dawn Bruce, from Picollecta said: 'I think the reason pieces like these sell so well is because of how iconic the films are. 'The My Fair Lady dress is one of Audrey Hepburn's most popular films, along with Breakfast At Tiffany's, and the style in that film is held in high regard. 'It's the same with pieces from Casablanca and The Wizard of Oz, it represents a time in cinema that seems so far away now, so different from ours. Orson Welles' Oscar for Best Screenplay (left) for Citizen Kane (1942), sold in 2011 for £571.343 ($861,542), while Aragorn's sword Anduril from Lord of the Rings (2003), sold in 2014, for £289,800 ($437,000) The Lord of the Rings Trilogy won staggering 17 Oscars overall and grossed a total of $1.9 billion ($2.92 billion) worldwide . 'A film doesn't have to be award-winning for the memorabilia to do well, it's to do with how much of a following a film has. 'Many people now are much more interested in buying a piece of movie history than say an antique vase. It feels more personal to them as films are a huge part of people's lives. 'I think there is a bit of competition between high end collectors. People with private collections want to own the most iconic, instantly recognisable pieces.' 1. Audrey Hepburn's Ascot dress, My Fair Lady (1964), sold in 2011 for $4.5m . 2. James Bond's Aston Martin DB5, Goldfinger (1964), sold in 2010 for $4.1m . 3. Sam's upright piano, Casablanca (1942), sold in 2014 for $3.4m . 4. Cowardly lion costume, The Wizard of Oz (1939), sold in 2014 for $3.07m . 5. Orson Welles' Oscar for Best Screenplay, Citizen Kane (1942), sold in 2011 for $861,542 . 6. Julie Andrews' Maria dress, The Sound of Music (1965), sold in 2011 for $676,500 . 7. George Lucas' Panavision PSR 35mm camera, Star Wars (1977), sold in 2011 for $625,000 . 8. Aragorn's sword Anduril, Lord of the Rings (2003), sold in 2014, for $437,000 . 9. Charlton Heston's ceremonial costume, Ben-Hur (1959), sold in 2011 for $393,600 . 10. Kate Winslet's signature 'Rose' dress, Titanic (1997), sold in 2012 for $275,000 . Julie Andrews' Maria dress (left) from The Sound of Music (1965), sold in 2011 for £448,630 ($676,500). The 1965 musical starred Julie Andrews and won 5 Oscars and 13 other prestigious film awards . Kate Winslet's signature 'Rose' dress, Titanic (1997), sold in 2012 for £182,400 ($275,000). The 1997 blockbuster starred Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet and broke boxoffice records at the time. It won 11 Oscars .

Items for films Star Wars and Wizard of Oz among the most valuable . Second was the Aston DB5 from Goldfinger which went for £2.67m ($4.1m) Audrey Hepburn's black My Fair Lady dress sold for £2.9m ($4.5m) Private collectors pay extravagant prices to get hold of most iconic props .

 as Holly Golightly in the classic Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 1961.
The film-maker told fans he ‘can’t wait’ to get to work on a new Marvel film and promised he would ‘take the fans on a new ride.’ He posted a photo of a sign featuring Thor's hammer along with the message: 'Hello from Earth!’
"It is a tremendous honour to bring to life the Marvel universe,” said Joe Johnston, director of Captain America: The First Avenger and the forthcoming Captain America: The Winter Soldier. “It is truly a privilege and also a tremendous responsibility."
The actor who plays Bruce Wayne in the Batman Begins is in talks to play a different superhero, with speculation surrounding a role in Marvel's Iron Man 3
'This film will be a journey into his mind,' says director Chris Nolan of Inception
Marvel says 'Don't worry, it's not a dream'
The actor tells an E3 audience that the decision was a difficult one ‘to say the least’
Director takes over from Bryan Singer and will helm a new story and cast of characters
The director of Iron Man has been given the green light by Marvel Studios for the next two entries in the super-hero series
The actor says the film-maker ‘has his finger on the pulse of what’s going on with the world today’
The action comedy has reportedly made $18.7million (£11million) in six days, almost twice as much as 2009's The Hangover
The actor played the role of Batman in 2008's The Dark Knight but didn't feature in 2012's The Dark Knight Rises.
The comic book hero's latest movie - The Amazing Spider-Man - was beaten to the top spot this week by the R-Rated comedy.
The British actor says the cast are 'trying to get as many scenes in there' and that they are 'pushing to make sure that we get another one done.’
The film-makers have signed up a string of stars for the sequel.
The British actor is reportedly set for an 'exotic' new role alongside Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible: IV
The action comedy has made a further $37.4million (£23million) over the weekend - the biggest non-sequel opening of all time, according to industry


Tributes have been pouring in for a teenage schoolgirl, who was killed alongside a 22-year-old man when their car smashed into a tree. Levi Jade Apsley, 15, was killed when the blue Vauxhall Corsa in which she was travelling careered off the road in Offerton, Stockport, Greater Manchester, early this morning. Two others inside the blue Vauxhall Corsa car, aged 23 and 18, were seriously injured and are currently being treated in hospital. The 22-year-old who was killed in the crash has not yet been named. Levi Jade Apsley, 15, was killed when the blue Vauxhall Corsa in which she was travelling careered off the road in Offerton, Stockport, Greater Manchester, early this morning . Officers from Greater Manchester Police, who are investigating the crash, also said a dog was killed after being hit by the car while it was being walked. The dog's owner was not injured, they say. Today, Levi's bereft friends paid tribute to the 15-year-old on a Facebook site launched in her memory, calling her 'a top girl'. Cloe Louise Gregory wrote: 'R.I.P beautiful. Will be sadly missed by so many people', while Sarah Watson added: 'Still can't believe it, R.I.P Levi sweetheart. Sleep tight xxx.' Bethy Mathers said: 'Still can't believe you're gone. Miss you so, so much. You were such an amazing girl and we had many good times. Anyway party hard up there! Love u so much.' And Courtney Louise added that she was 'heartbroken', saying: 'In so much shock to find out someone so beautiful at such a young age has just passed away.' Others posted pictures of Levi, describing her as a 'beautiful princess'. Jade Parr said: 'Rest in paradise beautiful. I cant get my head around it, I really can't! Going to miss you. You was such a top girl, always laughing and joking about! Always knew how to cheer someone up! Such an amazing girl...' Levi's bereft friends have been paying tribute to the schoolgirl on a Facebook site launched in her memory, saying they are 'heartbroken' Carla Grealey said: 'RIP my beautiful little cousin, took so young can't believe it. Your in a better place now. Party hard up there baby girl. Your going to have the best send off ever!' And Lisa Douglas posted: 'There's just no words. I go to write and my mind goes blank. 'I'm just glad I had the privilege to know such a rum but kind hearted beautiful girl. U had the world at your feet.' Dozens of floral tributes have also been left at the scene of the crash. One tribute reads: 'To my sister Levi, I love you lots. Love Cameron.' Another says: 'To my best cousin Levi. Love you so much. Love from Becca. RIP.' The family are still too upset to comment on the young girl's death. Neighbours living near to the site of the crash had told how they were woken by the sound of a bang and a scream. A spokesman said the firefighters were initially called to reports of a car hitting a tree with people trapped inside. Two fire engines were then called to the scene, where firefighters had to cut casualties out of the car. All casualties were taken to Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport. Police said it was too early to confirm who was driving the car and where the 15-year-old was sat. They also added that it was also too early to say whether seatbelts were being worn or where the group had been before the crash took place. Nearby resident Dave Goddard, the former Lib Dem leader and a House of Lords Peer, tweeted: 'Terrible car accident last night on Dialstone Lane, Offerton. 'Our thoughts with all the families involved at this most difficult time.'

Levi Jade Apsley was killed early this morning in Offerton, Stockport . Two others in the car, aged 23 and 18, are being treated for serious injuries . Dog was also killed by the Vauxhall Corsa but pet's owner was not injured . Police have not yet named 22-year-old who also died following horror crash .

a they were in hit the tree in Long Eaton near Nottingham, at 4am yesterday.
Levi’s mother, Amanda Apsley paid tribute to her “bright, beautiful, loving, talented and funny” son in an emotional Facebook post on Tuesday afternoon.
She wrote: “It is with broken heart and soul that my family and myself have to announce the passing of Levi Jade Apsley, aged 15, tragically killed on Tuesday 9th January 2018 in an accident at Long Eaton.
“Levi’s family and myself would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support during this very dark and distressing time, it means a great deal to us. Thank you.
“Levi was our bright, beautiful, loving, talented and funny son. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Levi was his father’s right-hand man. Levi loved music, football, dancing, playing football, playing on his XBox, watching films and playing with his sister.”
Her post continued: “Levi worked hard in school, he studied hard but always made sure he was up to date with everything, and always came home with his school books and his hair cut before school. Levi was our life.
“Our Levi was very protective of his sister Jade and his cousin Chloe. We are devastated by this and would ask that we be respected at this very difficult and sad time.”
Levi’s father, Andrew was also seriously injured in the crash.
In a statement, a Nottinghamshire Police spokesperson said: “Police have confirmed that a 15-year-old boy was killed in the collision.
“It happened at about 4am this morning (10 January 2018) on the A610 Long Eaton bypass, as a blue Vauxhall Corsa was travelling north, when the driver lost control.
“The 15-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. His 22-year-old passenger has been taken to Royal Derby Hospital for treatment of his injuries, which are currently considered to be not life-threatening.”
A section of the road was closed this morning after the incident in Long Eaton (pictured)
The crash, on the A610, just north of Long Eaton has been described as ‘horrendous’
The driver of the car – a 22-year-old man – has been taken to Royal Derby Hospital for treatment of his injuries


More than half of young adults in Los Angeles can fluently speak a language other than English, despite the fact that the city's percentage of foreign born residents is decreasing. Fifty-seven per cent of those aged 18 to 34, in LA spoke a language other than English at home, beating out Miami which had 55 per cent and San Jose with 54 per cent. Roughly a quarter of the 'Millenial' generation nationwide uses another language, according to the American Community Survey. A map of young adults' ability to speak a language other than English uses dark red for counties where more than 40 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds communicate in a foreign language at home, and lighter shades of pink for smaller proportions of the population . Roughly 60 per cent of LA city residents age five and older speak a language other than English, with Spanish the most popular language among them. In addition to a large number of Latino immigrants, Los Angeles also has large Middle Eastern, Asian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European communities. However, the proportion of foreign-born adults in Los Angeles has actually decreased 9 percentage points to a little less than a third since 1990, and a large number of the Millenials with foreign language skills are thought to be bilingual. The rise in bilingualism is probably caused by children continuing to speak their parents' tongues in addition to English, according to Voice of America. UCLA professor Raul Hinojosa said that the children and grandchildren of immigrants historically stopped learning to speak the same language of their ancestors, but that there has been a 'sea change in the last ten years'. California has seen a growing percentage of its young adults speaking foreign languages (bars in blue) since the 1980s. The US as a whole (pink bars) has also seen its rate increase at a slower pace . Hinojosa said that languages beyond Spanish, second and third-generation immigrants will be encouraged to keep knowledge of Mandarin and other languages. The American Community Survey collected data between 2009 and 2013 and found that 23.3 per cent of the population was between 18 and 34 years old, a fall from 30 per cent in 1980. Data showed that the generation is less likely to be married and more likely to have gone to college than three decades ago, as well as more likely to speak a foreign language. Areas that showed the highest rates for speaking something other than English were near the US-Mexico border in California and Texas. New Jersey was found to be the third most likely state for a young adult to speak a foreign language at home. West Virginia ranked last for the statistic with 3.63 per cent and Middlesborough, Kentucky, was the metro with the lowest percentage of young adults who could speak a foreign language with 0.034. In contrast to Los Angeles, many US cities and states have seen significant increases in their foreign-born populations. The United States as a whole saw its estimated foreign-born population decline 0.4 percentage points from 2000 to the American Community Survey. US: 25 per cent . Atlanta: 22.5 . Boston: 28.1 . Chicago: 33.1 . Cleveland: 11.6 . Dallas-Ft Worth: 35.8 . Denver: 23.5 . Detroit: 14.2 . Houston: 42.6 . Los Angeles: 57.6 . Miami: 55.5 . Minneapolis: 17.5 . New York-Newark 42.9 . Philadelphia: 18.1 . Phoenix: 30.7 . San Diego 38.5 . San Francisco: 43.1 . San Jose: 54.2 . Seattle: 26.04 . St Louis 8.15 . Washington DC: 30.1 . California 47.82 . Texas 38.62 . New Jersey 36.62 . New Mexico 36.48 . Nevada 34.46 . West Virginia 3.6 . Montana 5.4 . Mississippi 5.7 . North Dakota 5.7 . Maine 5.8 . Cities and states throughout the country have seen their percentage of foreign-born residents increase. Above, a man in Dearborn, Michigan, attends an event urging Arabic speakers to vote in 2004 .

Fifty-seven per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds in LA don't speak English at home . Proportion of foreign-born residents has actually decreased in the city . More than half of Millennials speak non-English language in Miami, San Jose . Immigrant children and grandchildren keep knowledge of family's language .

 fact, speak Spanish fluently.
Those who live in Los Angeles also speak a language other than English in their homes. In 2014, Spanish was the most common language in L.A. households, even though 55% of immigrants were Mexican in origin.
Nearly a third of L.A. residents have a close friend or relative who lives abroad, a greater number than any other U.S. city outside the Pacific Northwest.
Nearly a quarter of the city's residents were born outside the United States.
Los Angeles's black population declined from 2007 to 2014.
The median income for Los Angeles residents is $45,000, and the cost of living is 3% more than the U.S. average.
LA County's unemployment rate is 6.2%, compared to the national average of 4.9%.
There were 7,200 more homes sold in L.A. County in 2015 than the previous year.
The L.A. County area has the fourth largest population in the nation.
Los Angeles's population is 11% Latino, 3.5% Asian, and 12.7% black.
LA has the highest share of Latinos in the United States, higher than the U.S. average of 17%.
The city is known for its Hollywood movie industry and its music industry, which has produced stars such as Jennifer Lopez and Sean Kingston.
Los Angeles is a city of neighborhoods. Neighborhoods have their own character and history. Some of the most well-known neighborhoods include Koreatown, Little Tokyo, Thai Town, Watts, Venice Beach, and Downtown Los Angeles.
Los Angeles has a diverse population, with more than 120 different nationalities and languages spoken. The largest group of foreign-born residents come from Mexico and El Salvador. The second largest group is from China, Korea, and Thailand.
Nearly a third of people in the L.A. area are college-educated, and 30% live in households with incomes over $80,000.
In L.A., the median age is 34.
The median income is $45,000.
The median home cost is $300,000.
The cost of living in Los Angeles is 3% higher than the national average.
LA's median home price is $800,000.
The median price for a detached home in 2015


He has already made abolishing the Affordable Care Act the centerpiece of his young presidential campaign, and once spoke for 21 hours straight on the floor of the U.S. Senate in a bid to block its funding. But now Ted Cruz says he and his family will be the latest to use the system, signing up for medical insurance coverage through the Obamacare law's government-run marketplaces. Cruz's wife Heidi has taken an unpaid leave of absence from her job at Goldman Sachs to campaign with him – and lost her employer-funded plan in the process. As Democrats gleefully mocked the irony, though, Cruz insists he's just following the law. OBAMASCARE: Ted Cruz announced his presidential run on Monday, the same day his wife took a leave of absence from her job – forgoing the family's medical insurance . PEDIATRICS ON LINE ONE: The Cruz daughters, Catherine (left) and Caroline (right) need a health plan and for now the Obamacare system will have to do – while their father works to 'rip it out, root and branch' TRANSITION: Heidi Cruz left her Goldman Sachs 'Cadillac Plan' behind when she took a leave of absence to campaign for her husband . 'We will presumably go on the exchange and sign up for health care and we're in the process of transitioning over to do that,' Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas, told The Des Moines Register on Tuesday. The exchanges, created by the Obamacare law, are designed to be state-specific insurance marketplaces where the uninsured can find coverage. Using them is mandatory for middle-income Americans who want to receive federal government subsidies to help pay their premiums. The Affordable Care Act originally left members of Congress alone, but Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley famously inserted a 'poison pill' amendment requiring them – and their staff members – to participate like other Americans if they lacked insurance from other sources. 'The more that Congress experiences the laws it passes, the better,' Grassley said back then. Democrats didn't budge, and the provision now requires Cruz to join millions who have signed up for Obamacare-brokered coverage. He could get the last laught, however, using his experience to construct a first-hand testimonial about the law's shortcomings. Liberal lawmakers were mum Tuesday on the development, passing up an easy opportunity to call Cruz a hypocrite. Daily Mail Online asked five Senate offices and five House offices, all Democratic, for comment. None would offer one. Planned Parenthood, America's biggest abortion lobby, did use the 'H' word. It has defended the Obamacare law, largely because it forces insurers to provide contraception coverage. 'Luckily for Sen. Ted Cruz, hypocrisy isn't a pre-existing condition,' the group tweeted. The Democratic National Committee weighed in, but offered only a half-swing at the softball question. 'The Affordable Care Act, by design, helps Americans who have gaps in employment get coverage, and it's working,' DNC National Press Secretary Holly Shulman told Daily Mail Online. 'We encourage others to follow presidential candidate Ted Cruz to www.healthcare.gov and get covered.' The Houston firebrand won't exactly get a grassroots experience when he enrolls, however. GLEE: The Democratic National Committee piled on, but never called Cruz a hypocrite . THe 'H' WORD: Abortion lobby Planned Parenthood heaped on the scorn at Cruz's predicament . The Washington, D.C. city government extends congressional offices a sweetheart deal that's not part of the Affordable Care Act itself, allowing federal lawmakers and their aides to enroll through the city's Small Business Health Options Program. That system was designed for 'small businesses' with fewer than 50 employees. The United States Congress employs more than 20,000 people. It also makes medical insurance customers eligible for payments from their employers for most of the premiums. The Obama administration's Office of Personnel Management made the arrangement legal by quietly issuing a rule just before the Obamacare law took effect – and setting the typical reimbursement level at 75 per cent. Some customers, including well-paid senators, will get that benefit even though their income levels would be too high to qualify for subsidies if they had to buy coverage on the open exchanges like millions of others. Cruz told CNN on Tuesday that he has no choice but to 'follow the text of every law, even laws I disagree with.' 'It's one of the real differences – if you look at President Obama and the lawlessness, if he disagrees with a law he simply refuses to follow it or claims the authority to unilaterally change,' Cruz said. NOT TOO LATE, TED: Even though the Obamacare open-enrollment period is over, Americans can still sign up if they 'have certain life changes in 2015' He also took a verbal swing at Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who has allowed professional staffers on Senate committees to exempt themselves. 'Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats didn't want to be under the same rules as the American people,' he sniped. But Cruz still believes the Obamacare law should be killed – 'ripped out, root and branch' is how he put it during an Iowa event in January. 'And I believe it will be,' he told the paper, the largest and most influential in the early presidential caucus state of Iowa. 'I believe in 2017 a new president, a Republican president will sign legislation repealing every word of it,' he insisted. 'There are a fair number of Republicans in Washington and elsewhere who have quietly and privatively given up on that fight and I have not.'

Presidential candidate launched campaign Monday on the promise of replacing the Affordable Care Act with something more GOP-friendly . But since his wife left her job to campaign with him, she lost the family's medical insurance coverage – forcing them onto the Obamacare exchanges . Law forces members of Congress who need coverage to buy it through government-run marketplaces . Democrats poked fun at the irony but Cruz insists he has to follow the laws Congress passes – even those he wants to see repealed .

 is the only candidate in the race who is prepared to keep President Barack Obama from going off the fiscal cliff.
"We're going off the fiscal cliff right now," the Texas senator, who has been called "The most dangerous man in Washington" by The Washington Post, recently told ABC News' Jonathan Karl. "If I am president, I will not allow us to go over the fiscal cliff." Cruz also insisted, as he has before, that if he were to become president, he could unilaterally repeal the president's health care overhaul.
Cruz, like Romney, has no experience working in Washington, but he has the benefit of being well versed in the tea party's principles. His campaign is based on the conservative belief that the federal government spends too much and taxes too little. Cruz and fellow candidates like Sarah Palin have argued, with varying degrees of success, that "tea" party-minded members of the Republican Party should support them because they can beat President Obama in November.
In his ABC interview, Cruz said: "I've introduced legislation to cut spending by more than a trillion dollars. That is not rhetoric; that is a fact. We can reduce the size of government, we can reduce spending, and we can get the federal government out of the way so that the American people can thrive again."
Cruz, 41, went on to say he is the only candidate who has a proven track record in the Senate of fighting to cut federal spending. "What happens in Washington matters," he said. "Washington can't keep spending more than we have, borrowing more than we have and expect the American people to continue to be the ones who sacrifice."
He added, "I am the only one of the three of us up here who cut spending, who won, who beat Barack Obama."
He also vowed: "We will defund Obamacare."
But Republicans, for now, appear inclined to support candidates like Romney, Gingrich and Rick Santorum in the GOP presidential primary. While Cruz's tea party credentials are seen as strong, it is unclear whether those voters will be able to overcome their opposition to "moderate" Republicans like Romney, Gingrich and Santorum. A February Rasmussen Reports poll found that if the election for president were held today, 33 percent of likely Republican primary voters would choose Romney, 21 percent would pick Gingrich, 9 percent would choose Santorum and 6 percent


(CNN)One of the two University of Oklahoma students expelled for their role in leading a racist chant has issued an apology, The Dallas Morning News reported. "I am deeply sorry for what I did Saturday night. It was wrong and reckless. I made a horrible mistake by joining into the singing and encouraging others to do the same," Parker Rice said in a statement printed by the newspaper. Earlier Tuesday, Rice and another student were expelled over their alleged "leadership role" in a racist chant by Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity members, a decision that President David Boren says speaks to his school's "zero tolerance" policy for such "threatening racist behavior." The decision comes two days after a video of frat members singing a racist song surfaced and hours after Boren told CNN he would suspend or expel the group's ringleaders if at all possible. "At this point, all I can do is be thoughtful and prayerful about my next steps, but I am also concerned about the fraternity friends still on campus. Apparently, they are feeling unsafe and some have been harassed by others. Hopefully, the university will protect them," Rice reportedly said in his apology. Already, the Greek letters sigma, alpha and epsilon have been removed from the frat house's facade, the house will be closed as of midnight Tuesday and the university will board up the windows, following up on separate decisions by the university and the SAE national headquarters to shutter the Oklahoma chapter, Boren said. Fraternity's house mom sings n-word . Rice has not responded to multiple requests from CNN for comment. "For me, this is a devastating lesson and I am seeking guidance on how I can learn from this and make sure it never happens again. My goal for the long-term is to be a man who has the heart and the courage to reject racism wherever I see or experience it in the future," his apology read. It was only a nine-second clip, but the backlash has been disastrous. Party-bound students are seen on a bus clapping, pumping their fists and laughing as they chant, "There will never be a ni**** SAE. You can hang him from a tree, but he can never sign with me. There will never be a ni**** SAE." After the campus organization, Unheard, and the school newspaper received the clip via anonymous messages and publicized it, the university and the fraternity's national chapter acted swiftly to shutter the SAE house in Norman. Boren promised the university's affiliation with the fraternity was done. "I was not only shocked and disappointed but disgusted by the outright display of racism displayed in the video," said Brad Cohen, the fraternity's national president. "SAE is a diverse organization, and we have zero tolerance for racism or any bad behavior." Still, it could get worse. Oklahoma may not be the only source of embarrassment for the fraternity. "Several other incidents with chapters or members have been brought to the attention of the headquarters staff and leaders, and each of those instances will be investigated for further action," SAE said. It's likely that if the university hadn't acted, the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division could have stepped in, said Barbara Arnwine, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 "prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance," according to the Justice Department. In this case, Arnwine said, the university likely found that fraternity members appear not only to have discriminated in their membership -- and backed that discrimination with the threat of lynching -- but they've also created a hostile environment. The university, she said, "would've been compelled to do something to sanction and prevent this fraternity from engaging in racial discrimination." Arnwine said she wasn't personally familiar with the school's code of conduct, but she'd be surprised if the fraternity members' actions weren't in violation of university rules as well. All of these reasons are grounds to sanction the fraternity and expel specific members who were involved in the singing, she said. "A very important part of the lexicon of civil rights law is that you cannot create a hostile environment where you make it so people of different races or religions or women feel they can't function at your institution without being subjected to unlawful discrimination," she said. It's unclear whether more students will be punished for the video, though Boren has promised the SAEs won't return during his tenure if he can help it. "The house will be closed, and as far as I'm concerned, they won't be back," he said at a Monday news conference. He later told CNN, "There seems to be a culture in some of these fraternities, and it just has to be snuffed out." The decision to shutter the fraternity was an easy one for Boren, he said. "If we're ever going to snuff this out in the whole country, let alone on college campuses, we're going to have to have zero tolerance, and we have to act right away," said Boren, a former Oklahoma governor and U.S. senator. "This is not a place that wants racists or bigots on our campus or will tolerate it, so I think you have to send a very strong signal." Hundreds of students have protested the fraternity's actions. Some of them arrived Monday morning on the campus' North Oval with tape over their mouths, while the Oklahoma football team and Coach Bob Stoops marched arm in arm across campus instead of practicing. The video infuriated Oklahoma linebacker Eric Striker, who posted a profanity-laced video to social media. "I was angry and I was outraged," Striker said. "I apologize for the profanity, but I'm not apologizing about how I felt, because that's how I felt in my heart." The fallout from the video also cost the football team a top recruit as offensive lineman Jean Delance said Monday he was de-committing from the Sooners and considering other teams. Just as they protested loudly Monday, students on Tuesday were emphatic in expressing their relief and satisfaction that those allegedly responsible for leading the racist chant got their due. Ross Johnson, a senior studying drama and broadcast media, called the video embarrassing and unacceptable as he worried that it may be seen as a reflection on him in the future. "It sucks that I'm graduating in May. I feel I am probably going to have to explain this when I move," he said. "For people who don't know the University of Oklahoma, aren't part of the student body, it's a black eye that doesn't really deserve to be there. It's a small group of people who were acting foolishly." Another student, junior Jake Hewitt, applauded the university and the fraternity's national president for their handling of the incident. "I think it's really good that the president is showing strong support for the students in the community here and saying, 'This is not OK. It's not going to be acceptable on our campus.' It's a good strong move, and I hope if they find out more, they do more," he said. Shortly after the expulsions were announced, senior Omar Humphrey, an African-American modern dance student, told CNN, "I think it's rightfully so that they were (kicked out). ... That needed to happen. It wasn't  fair; it wasn't right. I am, as most of the student body -- not just the African-American students -- we're all disheartened by the situation. It's just really hard to think that this is still going on today, and I'm still deeply saddened." He is still a "proud student," he said, and he understands that the fraternity members in question represent "just some microbial infestation that's on campus. It's  on every campus, it's on every campus. It's unfortunate that we have to be seen in that light." Asked what he could say to the fraternity members if given the chance, Humphrey replied, "I pray for their humanity. I hope that they find maturity. ... I wish them well. " Unheard co-director Chelsea Davis said a racist mentality is not new to campus and is not confined to one fraternity. "Unfortunately, it took them getting caught on video camera for this to happen, but this is definitely not something that is brand-new. It's not something that's only seen within this one organization," she said. Sigma Alpha Epsilon is no stranger to scandal and sanctions . Davis said the only acceptable response is to expel -- not suspend, as that would send the wrong message -- all the students involved. "I was hurt that my fellow peers that I walk to class with every day, people that I see every day, could say such hateful things about me and my culture, about my friends, about my brothers and my sisters," she said. William Bruce James II, who was a member of the frat between 2001 and 2005, called the episode "devastating" -- not just because he's an Oklahoma alumnus but also because he's African-American. James told CNN that there was "never an inkling of this song or a whisper of anything like this" when he lived in the house. He said members of his pledge class "wouldn't let that happen," and if someone did dare to start such a chant they'd swiftly speak out and shut it down "whether I was there or not." Since the video surfaced, James said he's heard from many of his former fraternity brothers. Like him, they're offended and supportive of the decision to shutter the Norman chapter. "I don't know what happened to the culture of my home," he said. "That is not my home. That is not SAE. They are not my brothers." Opinion: Are frats 'a form of American apartheid'? CNN's Brian Carberry, Chuck Johnston, Nick Valencia, John Couwels, Greg Botelho and Ed Payne contributed to this report.

"It was wrong and reckless. I made a horrible mistake," says Parker Rice . He and another student were expelled earlier Tuesday . If university had not acted, Justice Department could have stepped in, lawyer says .

 I made a mistake and I take full responsibility for what I did," Austin Ricouer wrote in the statement.
Ricouer and OU student president Clay Hudnall were expelled Wednesday. President David Boren said their behavior was inexcusable, and that Ricouer had been involved with a racist chant in a "previously unreported incident."
OU's Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter, where both students are members, was banned from campus for at least two years. The fraternity members were suspended as a result of the incident.
A video of the chant, from The Oklahoman, captured fraternity brothers and their pledgees shouting "f*** Oklahoma, f*** this flag" and "f*** that n-----" and "proud" to a nearby group of OU fans. It's unclear if the footage shows Ricouer.
When the video went viral, OU officials issued a statement condemning the behavior and the video was turned over to investigators.
On Thursday, Boren issued a statement saying Ricouer and Hudnall's actions, "represent a fundamental disregard of our core values of respect and responsibility."
The incident comes days before the first Boren era home football game since the video surfaced. Boren is a former Oklahoma governor.
A new statement was also issued by the fraternity that has since suspended operations at OU.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon said in a statement it had asked for the suspension and that it was unaware the video would be posted online. It goes on to say the men involved are "extremely regretful for their behavior" and the incident has "destroyed us as people."
The fraternity also announced a comprehensive review of its national policy and code of conduct to prevent a recurrence.
Boren said the fraternity's expulsion would not have happened if its pledgees hadn't been caught on video chanting "s--- OK" and that they were acting "irresponsibly and irresponsibly."
"If they hadn't been caught, this would be a long conversation," he said.
Boren said he and the university are in "total agreement" that there needs to be changes in order to get to the bottom of what happened.
Hudnall issued a statement Wednesday apologizing for his role in the incident, saying he would do "absolutely anything I can to make sure no student of mine, or any other student, will ever find themselves in a


The newly released The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is every bit as starry as the first film, with Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and Richard Gere at centre stage. But India plays its supporting role with equal charm and grace. Painted elephants, marble palaces, magnificent forts, wandering cows, pale pink turbans and flickering candles tell of the noise, smells and rich colours of this flamboyant country. A city of colours and sounds: Jaipur is the spectacular setting for The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel . Filmed in Rajasthan, the film is based in its capital, Jaipur. But ask any resident of the city about the film and you will be met with a blank stare. Our wonderful guide, Rajendra, was aware of it only because a client had pointed out 'the apparently very famous Judi Dench' in the Rambagh Palace Hotel. Bollywood, not Hollywood, still rules the screens here. While it might be too late to see Richard Gere in the crowded alleyways of the bazaars, you will spot plenty of other desirable items. Jaipur is a shopper's paradise and Indians flock here for silks and the region's hand-made, block-printed cottons. This is also considered the place to come for jewels. The stones are not mined here, but cut, polished and set better than anywhere else. Visit the iconic jeweller of Jaipur, the Gem Palace, one-time court jewellers to the Mughal emperors and run by the Kasliwal family since 1852. Classic glamour: Judi Dench (left) stars in a movie which shows off Jaipur (right) at its most evocative . Here are ruby chandelier earrings, enamel rings with floral mughal designs and moonstone necklaces. You can watch them being worked on in their basement workshop, using skills that have been passed down the generations. For inexpensive sparkle, head to Bangle Lane (Maniharon ka Rasta) in the old city, where you can choose from a multitude of colourful lac bangles for a handful of rupees. Made from resin produced by the female lac insect, they are embedded with mirror pieces, stones, beads or painted. For fashion, Hot Pink is the most sophisticated venue, with high-collared men's waistcoats and moccasins in all hues, as well as kaftans and shawls. The best block-printed fabrics, a craft that dates back to the 1700s, are at Riddhi Siddhi, where cloth is piled from floor to ceiling. Wander, too, through the spice market, past paan wallahs filling betel leaves and the flower market, where scented roses, fragrant jasmine and marigolds are made into garlands to offer to your favourite deities. Magical moments: "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is every bit as starry as the first film" The Pink City is so-called for its coloured wash, intended to replicate Indian sandstone, a more noble material than the lime and mortar of which the buildings are actually made. With its city gates and crenellated walls, it makes for a striking sight. There are iconic landmarks, such as the five-storey, 18th-century Palace of the Winds, with its latticed screen facade allowing street life to be viewed by the veiled ladies within. Before 1727, when Sawai Jai Singh II created Jaipur, the City of Victory, neighbouring Amber, was the capital. The magnificent Amber Fort, to which you can ride on an elephant, offers panoramic views over Maota Lake and the ornamental gardens that seem to float within. The 16th and 17th century interiors impress with their exquisitely carved silver doors, ceilings of alabaster and an Indian version of the Hall of Mirrors with mirrored fragments embedded in vaulted ceilings glinting between arches. Today, the Jaipur royal family live in the City Palace, where rooms are open to the public. Gone is their Rambagh Palace, which became India's first palace hotel in 1957 (do try its Suvarna Mahal restaurant). But their newly elegant Rajmahal Palace has recently been re-opened. Dating back to 1729, this was once the British residency and later home to the polo-playing Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II, who entertained the Queen, Lord Mountbatten, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and Jacqueline Kennedy. A vision in pink: The Palace of Winds is one of Jaipur's - and Rajasthan's - most iconic structures . Their names adorn some of the 14 suites in the palace's new chapter as a hotel managed by Sujan Luxury. The decor, by acclaimed designer Adil Ahmad, offers vivid turquoises and shocking pinks, gilded mirrors and sweeping marble staircases - but, sadly, not Richard Gere. Abercrombie & Kent (01242 851 868, www.abercrombiekent.co.uk) offers three nights' B&B in Jaipur at the Rajmahal Palace with city tour, trip to the Amber Fort, transfers and flights via Helsinki with Finnair from £1,775 per person, based on two sharing a double room.

Jaipur is the setting for new movie The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel . The city is one of the most alluring destinations in India's Rajasthan . The film stars the likes of Judi Dench, Richard Gere and Maggie Smith .

 as well as ever — there are plenty of Indian references and settings.
As they say in Bollywood, the first one is always a reference. The second, we make a star.
A second-hand car salesman falls on hard times and is shipped off to India in the care of an estranged friend (Richard Gere). Soon he finds himself in the lap of luxury in a five-star hotel filled with pensioners from Britain and beyond.
And all that with a sprinkling of Bollywood along the way. For the uninitiated, it follows the tale of the 60 something British retirees who, after losing money or their retirement investments, have to live a humble and austere life with their children and grandchildren.
So they decide to come to the land of the spices and soak in its ancient traditions and culture.
A couple of Brits have to leave the hotel because of their poor health, but the story is not just about getting old. It’s about being young.
Some of the best performances in the second film are given by Dev Patel (best known as the slum boy in Slumdog Millionaire) and Gere as American widowers who fall in love despite themselves, while a third generation Indian/British couple, played by Dev’s wife, Anushka Sharma, and Dench’s son, Bill Nighy, find their own sparks flying between them.
A fourth-generation Indian/British couple in the film, played by British actress Celia Imrie and an Indian TV actor, are the most jaded. But they also find love at the hotel.
The film is at its best when you watch it with someone who’s already seen the first one. There are so many references and scenes that you miss entirely the first time round.
But the fact that The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is not a sequel as such and could be watched as a stand-alone film works to its advantage. It keeps the story moving and the laughs and the tears flowing.
After a day spent at the Taj Mahal and the Hawa Mahal, the next stop is the Jodha Akbar restaurant, complete with authentic Indian dancers and Bollywood music. This restaurant is so popular with the foreign guests that you can only dine there if you’re accompanied by someone from the hotel staff. And it’s not hard to see why — the food looks delicious.
So as you sit down to dinner in the restaurant that special


It was planned as a publicity stunt to send a strong message that China is cracking down on illegal trade and counterfeiting. But when villagers realised officials in Xuzhou, east China's Jiangsu province, had stockpiled a 35-ton heap of fake goods to burn, they decided to help themselves before dozens of counterfeit designer shoes and clothes went up in flames. Locals fought their way to the vast pile to lay their hands on everything from fake cosmetics and computer parts to soya milk, using iron hooks and bamboo baskets to reach items, according to the People's Daily Online. Villagers descended on a vast pile of counterfeit goods collected in China that was planned to be incinerated, grabbing designer shoes and clothes as well as soya milk and other food from the 35-ton 'mountain' Word soon spread, drawing crowds of people who described the pile as a 'mountain of treasure.' Locals were seen pilfering anything they could from the vast pile, and stuffing goods and dozens of boxes into cars, trucks and even wheelbarrows. Among the items grabbed were food, healthcare products, cosmetics and computer parts. The 35.7 tonnes of counterfeit goods had been stockpiled by authorities in the city of Xuzhou where they were being kept before being destroyed. But when locals heard that the the huge pile worth 285,000 Chinese Juan (£30,500) was to be burned, they went along to have a look. When they saw that many of the items had not been incinerated yet, they started helping themselves. As word spread that many items had not yet gone up in flames, locals descended on the area . Lok Shen, 36, said: 'It was like a mountain of treasure just sitting there. 'There weren't any guards around and it seemed a waste to burn it all, so we took what we wanted.' Word spread and the place was soon swarming with looters grabbing boxes of anything they came across and stuffing them into the backs of cars, trucks and even into wheelbarrows. The public burning was just one of many that have taken place across the country as part of a crackdown on counterfeit goods, with the sign of bulldozers crashing bottles of spirits and counterfeit fireworks being set alight. Dozens of boxes were piled into the back of vans as villagers made off with their spoils, saved from the fire . The 35 ton pile was destined for the incinerator as part of China's crackdown on illegal trade and counterfeiting . Opportunists seized anything they could lay their hands on - including fake food stuffs and soya milk . This publicity stunt was planned to be slightly different, with goods being incinerated to generate energy. It was estimated that for every ton burned 550kwh of electricity would be generated. Officials in Jiangsu attempted to stop any further looting and asked people to return goods they had taken. Many people were unaware of the risks of pilfering fake items, particularly food. A local government spokesman said: 'We are looking at ways of making sure it doesn't happen again.' Boxes containing fake shoes, clothes and other items were grabbed by villagers and loaded onto vans . Locals used anything they could lay their hands on, including sticks of bamboo, to grab fake items . But local man Lok explained: 'If no one else wants them then I don't see why we shouldn't help ourselves. 'They may be fake but they are still good, and this way the counterfeiters aren' t getting any money and we are disposing of the items in a much more environmentally friendly way.' In 2013 Chinese officials set fire to a pile of fake wine, cigarettes, handbags and cosmetics  in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province.

Officials in Xuzhou collected a 35-ton pile of counterfeit items for burning . Villagers got word of the plans and went down to pile to grab items . They took fake designer handbags, shoes, cosmetics and soya milk . Several stuffed boxes of fake items into cars, trucks and a wheelbarrow . Locals described the collection of counterfeits as a 'mountain of treasure' Items were being incinerated as part of crackdown on illegal trade in China .

tonne mountain of counterfeit goods including 200,000 pirated DVDs, they took the matter into their own hands and destroyed the haul in 40 minutes.
When asked to comment on the destruction of the goods, China's customs chief Luo Shihua had little sympathy for the criminals, telling the Southern Metropolis Daily: "They would be happy if they didn't sell or sell the goods (at the) black market and get busted. They might sell some as scrap. (They) don't mind it being thrown into the river."
So what of the goods? Did we get our chance to score some cheap knock-offs of the latest blockbusters? Unfortunately not - most were probably headed for the dump and the rest were likely to end up on the black market.
There was also speculation that the seized goods had been deliberately hidden for a period of time as officials had been aware that Xuzhou had been earmarked as a hotspot for 'pirate' products. But the discovery of the goods was a big surprise to the customs authorities as they'd been told everything was under control.
The illegal goods were destined for the black market
Photo Credit: AFP / Getty Images
Authorities from other areas have followed the example of Xuzhou - in an effort to crack down on the spread of fake goods in their regions - and destroyed 300 tonnes of illegal goods in the past week alone. A customs spokesman said: "In the campaign against pirated and smuggled goods, we have destroyed goods ranging from toothpaste to DVD players."
Other regions are reporting massive stockpiles of fake products with Heilongjiang Province reporting that the seized goods - 12 tons in total - were all pirated DVD players and computer hardware. The authorities also reported that they'd discovered fake copies of popular software such as Microsoft and Adobe.
A spokesman for the province's customs department said: "Officials had only taken action against a few of the offenders." The head of the department went further and admitted that the goods were deliberately hidden to evade detection.
The police have been asked to investigate the matter - and the province has now set up a task force that has been asked to help find, seize, and destroy illegal products.
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Children are suffering damage to their hearts as early as 12 due to poor diets, a study has warned. Researchers found most people start life with robust heart health, but can lose it quickly through unhealthy eating habits. The American study showed few children under the age of 12 had an ideal diet and almost a third (30 per cent) were overweight or even obese. The researchers said the better equipped children are to make healthy choices, the healthier their hearts will be in adulthood. Study senior author Doctor Donald Lloyd-Jones, professor and chair of preventive medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, said: ‘Our findings indicate that, in general, children start with pretty good blood pressure. Scroll down for video . Scientists said the better equipped children are to make healthy food choices, the healthier their hearts would be in adulthood. They said few children under the age of 12 taking part had an ideal diet, and almost a third were overweight or even obese (file picture posed by model) ‘But if they have a horrible diet, it will drive a worsening body mass index (BMI) and cholesterol levels. ‘The better we can equip our children to make healthy choices, the more cardiovascular health will be preserved into adulthood. ‘And those who preserve their heart health into middle age live much longer and are much healthier while they live.’ Researchers examined BMI, healthy diet, total cholesterol and blood pressure – four of the seven components of heart health – in children aged two to 11. In the sample of 8,961 children, the researchers found that all children had at least one ideal measure, but none had all four. An ideal diet score was the least prevalent health indicator, with less than one per cent of children having four or five of the five components of a healthy diet. The experts warned people are losing a lot of 'intrinsic' heart health very early in life, setting them up to be unhealthy adults . The five indicators of a healthy diet include low intake of sugar-sweetened drinks and salt, and high intake of wholegrains, fish, plus fruit and vegetables. Fewer than 10 per cent ate the recommended amounts of fruit and veg of more than 4.5 cups or more per day or fish, and wholegrains were the least frequently achieved component with just three per cent of boys and 2.4 per cent of girls hitting the target. Ninety per cent ate more salt than recommended, and more than half consumed more than the recommended number of calories from sugar-sweetened drinks. Around four out of ten of the children had ‘poor’ or ‘intermediate’ cholesterol levels, according to the findings published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. Researchers found ideal blood pressure was the most common favourable measure of cardiovascular health, ranging from 88 per cent to 93 per cent across sex and racial groups. Previous studies have shown worsening indicators of cardiovascular health, starting in adolescence and continuing through adulthood. Dr Lloyd-Jones added: ‘We really need better surveillance data, especially in children. ‘Information on physical activity, blood glucose and smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke are not available for younger children. ‘Without knowing how much physical activity a child is doing, and therefore how many calories are needed, we can’t scale the diet metrics to a child’s needs. ‘So we used the adult metrics, but understand that it would be difficult for a five-year-old to take in as many fruits and vegetables as an adult. ‘The bottom line is that we need even better data, but what we do see is that we are losing an awful lot of our intrinsic cardiovascular health very early in life, which sets us up to be unhealthy adults.’

Most people start life with robust heart health, but can lose it quickly . US study showed few children under 12 had an ideal diet, third were obese . Experts said the better equipped children are to make healthy choices, the healthier their hearts will be as adults .

 the age of 13 eat healthy foods, including vegetables, fruit, lean meats and healthy fats, such as those from salmon. Just 7 per cent of children eat five or more servings of vegetables, 9 per cent eat the recommended 60 grams of protein – equivalent to six eggs, and only 9 per cent eat 2.5 tablespoons of healthy fats a day.
In 2018, fewer than 25 per cent of children aged 9-18 met the USDA's recommendations for consuming a healthy diet, according to the study, presented at the European Society of Cardiology's virtual annual congress. Those healthy dietary recommendations were developed in 2004 by an expert committee to ensure that people would be getting all the nutrients they need for optimal cardiovascular health, and to prevent chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension and heart disease.
Experts said the new research showed how the first ten years of life are critical for heart health later on in life – with the greatest impact made by eating vegetables, fruit, low-fat protein foods, and small amounts of healthy fats like olive oil, flaxseed oil, and fatty fish such as mackerel or salmon.
“Eating poorly in the first 10 years of life may be one of the greatest drivers of heart disease later in life,” said lead author of the study Dr. James P. Kaelber, from the University of California in Los Angeles. “We need to do a better job of teaching children the importance of eating healthy, particularly in the early 10 years. We need to make sure children are eating a healthy diet early in life in order to prevent heart disease in the future.”
The research was based on a survey of 6,000 people, including children and adults with and without heart problems. They were asked how much they consumed of 15 different foods to determine their adherence to recommended guidelines. Researchers were also able to use data from medical records to see how well these dietary recommendations were linked with how well a person’s cardiovascular system functioned.
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death around the world, killing over 18 million people a year. The researchers said their results confirmed a link between the early development of the heart and healthy eating later in life, based on how much fat, protein, and vegetables a person ate at age 9 and 10. They found that adults who ate an unhealthy diet at that age had four times the risk of cardiovascular disease, compared to people with a


The final scoreline suggested otherwise. Yet for Gordon Strachan there were spells of a 6-1 thrashing of Gibraltar which felt like a form of misery. As rain and wind swirled around the National Stadium the Scots endured an unexpectedly jittery, uncomfortable first half. Gibraltar, a British Overseas territory of 30,000 residents rejected by FIFA and playing in their first UEFA qualification campaign, reacted to Shaun Maloney's opening penalty by equalising within 60 seconds. It was their first ever goal in a competitive international. Gordon Strachan praised the performance of Gibraltar after Scotland beat them 6-1 on Sunday . Lee Casciaro (second right) scored Gibraltar's first international goal 72 seconds after Scotland went ahead . Casciaro's goal sparked jubilant celebrations from Gibraltar's players as Hampden Park was stunned . 'I have to say that all the credit should really go to Gibraltar,' said Strachan afterwards. 'They made my life a misery for periods of that game. They made it a long game for me as a coach, so well done to them. 'But also well done to my players because there were players out there who personally weren't having a great game but they stuck at it. 'We had some good chances and never took them. It was nice to see Steven Fletcher score a hat-trick I thought he was one of our better players today.' Of late Fletcher has been the subject of unwelcome headlines. Pictured posing beside a £200,000 Lamborgini shortly after Sunderland had lost 4-0 to Aston Villa the striker had managed just four goals all season. At international level his last strike was in a 2-1 win over Iceland in April 2009. 'Some of his touches were lovely today,' said Strachan. 'I was wanting more balls in the first half played through but Maloney, Fletcher, Naismith were marked and wanted balls played through. 'We played square too many times because they were ready for it and wanted it. 'We have people who can turn so I was a wee bit disappointed with that as well. Striker Steven Fletcher (right) led Scotland to victory against Gibraltar with a hat-trick . Fletcher was recently mocked on Twitter for buying a Lamborghini after inconsistent form for Sunderland . Fletcher is the first Scotland player to score three goals in a game since Colin Stein in 1969 . 'To be fair the conditions were not great either. 'It was swirling out there. Andy Robertson and Ikechi Anya had problems with the swirling wind in the first half.' Robertson, the young Hull full-back was dragged out of position when Gibraltar' s Lee Casciano wrote himself into the annals in the 19th minute. Opting to play with a three-man defence – with just Russell Martin at the centre - Strachan admitted the system had worked less well than he anticipated. 'It did get us four goals, but I was expecting that system to work a lot better than that but the goal sort of threw us a bit. Within any system you are hoping your players will play to a level but in the first ten minutes we gave the ball away eight or nine times, that's too much at international level no matter who you are against.' The campaign comes down now to Ireland in Dublin on June 13, a huge game in every sense. Win at the Aviva and a play-off place – at least – becomes more likely than not. 'After five games and performances I am delighted with we are here and we have ten points, I think we are all happy with that. We can go into the second half of this group feeling quite good about ourselves. 'I look back at the performances and I think four so far have been terrific. 'This was not one of our best but we got through. 'We scored six goals and if we had woken up this morning and said we would score six we would have settled for that. 'I wouldn't have wanted the one against us, but that's the way football works some times. 'So it's been a good old day for everybody today. 'Gibraltar got their first goal and unfortunately David Marshall will always be that name now who is the subject of quiz questions everywhere.' Scotland boss Strachan (right) said he is delighted with 10 points from their first five qualifying games . Shaun Maloney scored two penalties for Scotland against Gibraltar at Hampden Park on Sunday . Everton striker Steven Naismith (right) was also on the scoresheet in a big win for Scotland . Despite the scoreline interm Gibraltar coach Davie Wilson can point to the goal his side scored as evidence of improvement. They host Scotland in the Algarve in the final round of fixtures and Wilson says: 'As a Scotsman, it's a horrible thought - but we might just be the ones who get the result that spoils my country's party. 'They come to us in the last game and although I'm not naive enough to say we' ll beat them, if Scotland are under pressure to get a result, who knows?'

Scotland beat Gibraltar 6-1 in European 2016 qualifying on Sunday . Gibraltar levelled the scores with their first ever international goal . Strachan praised Gibraltar's performance level after the game .

 tough evening in a night to forget for so many reasons.
Strachan’s side may be the top seeds in the draw for next summer’s European Championship in France but they did not do much to improve their chances of winning Group F tonight.
There were positives to be taken. The goalkeeper David Marshall again demonstrated all of the traits that impressed so much against England last month. The centre-back pairing of Russell Martin and Charlie Mulgrew were at least defensively competent. And the wingers Barry Bannan and James Morrison were lively in the opening hour or so. But there was still a lot for Strachan to ponder.
Strachan had set his team up in a 3-5-2 formation and the tactics worked for much of the first half. At the back they were not too troubled and the goalkeeper Marshall was rarely tested.
The biggest moment in the first 20 minutes came in the 11th when the Gibraltar goalkeeper Lee O’Connor dropped a cross in front of the unmarked Eros Grezda. A defender tried to clear the ball and it trickled over the line – only to be correctly ruled out for an offside position against the striker.
Yet even that did not last very long as the striker then turned a low centre from Bannan against the woodwork. The opener finally arrived in the 34th minute.
Again, it was Bannan who put the ball in the box. His teasing cross was turned on to the post by the defender Jamie Smith and a grateful Morrison was on hand to convert the rebound.
Scotland were ahead and there was an air of inevitability to their second 13 minutes later. Yet they still struggled to create too many further opportunities in the opening 45 minutes.
The second half started with some intensity. Yet the Scotland fans were still not convinced by the team’s performance. They were still not happy with Strachan’s selection.
And their anger was justified. The manager made six changes at half-time – including dropping captain Scott Brown. The team was changed in such a way that left them playing with a back three and attacking from the front. But the tactics only looked worse as Scotland lost control of the game.
They were lucky to escape with a 1-0 scoreline. The Spanish referee Pablo Martínez Vega awarded a penalty for handball in the box to Gibraltar in the 61st minute. However, he initially sent the striker Juan P


Elvis Presley had one; so did Clark Gable. It was even the sedan of presidents. Then the name vanished amid an invasion of newer luxury cars from Europe and Asia. Now, the Lincoln Continental is back. Thirteen years after the last Continental rolled off the assembly line, Ford Motor Co. is resurrecting its storied nameplate. The new Continental debuts in concept form at this week's New York auto show. The production version of the full-size sedan goes on sale next year. Scroll down for video . Design: The emblem is illuminated along with the front headlamps on a Lincoln Continental concept car at the New York International Auto Show at the Javits Center on Monday . New look: The concept car being unveiled Monday in New York is painted a deep Prussian blue, a homage to Continentals of the 1950s and 1960s . Features: The driver's seat has a patented split cushion, so if the driver holds one leg out further than another, it will support each leg separately. The moonroof glass turns opaque with the touch of a button . All in the details: The Lincoln logo is seen on a passenger's side front wheel for the concept vehicle (left), and the Continental name also appears on the driver's side door (right) Gleaming: The emblem for a Lincoln Continental shines on the grill of Ford's concept car at the New York International Auto Show . Switch-up: The Continental is expected to replace the seven-year-old MKS, which currently sits atop Lincoln's car lineup . Luxury item: Both Elvis Presley and Clark Gable once owned Lincoln Continentals . Overseas appeal: In China, customers know the Continental name and appreciate brands with a rich history . After more than a decade of toying with alphabetical names like LS and MKS to be more like its foreign rivals, Ford's 98-year-old Lincoln brand is embracing its heritage. It's a measure of the growing confidence at Lincoln, which is finally turning around a decades-long sales decline. And it's a nod to the importance of China, where customers know the Continental name and appreciate brands with a rich history. Ford CEO Mark Fields says the Continental always represented the best of Lincoln. Resurrecting it sets higher expectations, both within the company and outside of it. 'When we get a chance to work on an iconic nameplate like that, it's a mixture of pride and a mixture of fear, because when you put that name out there, it's got to deliver,' Fields told The Associated Press in a recent interview. Classic: This undated photo provided by the Ford Motor Co. shows two people looking at 1940 Lincoln-Zephyr Continental Cabriolet . Tradition: The 1941 Lincoln Continental is seen in this undated photograph . Legacy: In this June 1946 file photo, Henry Ford II, grandson of Ford Motor Co. founder Henry Ford, is seated in a Ford Lincoln Continental . Style: The 1948 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet V12 is seen here. Thirteen years after the last Continental rolled off a Michigan assembly line, Ford Motor Co. is debuting the new Continental in concept form at the New York Auto Show on Monday . Piece of history: A 1948 Lincoln Continental that belonged to baseball great Babe Ruth (2012 photograph) The Continental was born in 1938, when Henry Ford's son Edsel commissioned a convertible he could use on his spring vacation. Thrilled by the reception he got as he drove the elegant sedan around Palm Beach, Edsel made the Continental part of Lincoln's lineup. The Continental soon became the pinnacle of American luxury. Warner Brothers gave Elizabeth Taylor a 1956 Continental with a custom paint color to match her eyes. A darker historical note: John F. Kennedy was riding in the back of a 1961 Continental convertible when he was assassinated in Dallas. Continental sales peaked in 1990 at 62,732. But after that, Lincoln's sales began slipping. Mid-century: The 1956 Lincoln Continental Mk II is seen here. That same year, Warner Brothers gave Elizabeth Taylor a 1956 Continental with a custom paint color to match her eyes . One year later: A 1957 Lincoln Continental cruises by the beach in this undated image . Out for a drive: A woman is seen steering the 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible . This June 1961 photo shows President John F. Kennedy's Lincoln Continental limousine. The limo was the first presidential car equipped with a transparent roof for all compartments and has other options including fabric roof covering, or use as a convertible, as well as combinations for the rear, middle and front compartments . In this June 1961 photo, U.S. Secret Service agents stand on retractable stands on President John F. Kennedy's new plastic-topped Lincoln Continental limousine outside the White House, after its delivery in Washington . Tragedy: President Kennedy, First Lady Jackie Kennedy and Texas governor John Connally are seen in this Nov. 22, 1963 file photo . On display: The 1962 Lincoln Continental convertible is seen here. A production version of the Lincoln Continental being debuted at the New York Auto Show this week will go on sale next year . History: Visitors to the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace get a look at the limousine that was built in 1967 for President Lyndon B. Johnson in August 1996. The modified Lincoln Continental was used by U.S. Presidents, including Nixon, until it was retired in 1978 . Ford had acquired other luxury brands such as Jaguar and Volvo. Lincoln's designs got dull and failed to stand out from lower-priced Fords. The Continental was also squeezed by competition from the midsize Lincoln LS, which debuted in 2000, and the bigger Town Car. Ford also underestimated the threat posed by German rivals, who were expanding their lineups, and newer Japanese luxury brands. By 2000, Lexus was the top-selling luxury brand in the U.S.; last year, BMW was. To make its way back, Lincoln isn't trying isn't trying to be sporty like BMW or showy like Cadillac. Instead, Fields says, it wants to give drivers an experience that is elegant and serene. 'We want folks to get into our vehicles and — for lack of a better term — chill,' Fields said. It appears to be working. Lincoln's U.S. sales rose 16 percent last year, making it one of the fastest-growing luxury brands in the market. The midsize MKZ was the brand's top seller. Full-size sedans like the Continental are a tough sell in the U.S., where buyers tend to prefer midsize sedans or SUVs. U.S. sales of Lincoln's current full-size sedan, the MKS, fell 24 percent last year. Disco era: The 1972 Lincoln Continental Mark IV is seen here. Continental sales peaked in 1990 at 62,732. But after that, Lincoln's sales began slipping . Variation: This image shows a Lincoln Continental Mark V from 1979 . Different look: A 1992 Lincoln Continental is seen here. Full-size sedans like the Continental are a tough sell in the U.S., where buyers tend to prefer midsize sedans or SUVs . Seaside: This undated photo provided by the Ford Motor Co. shows the 1997 Lincoln Continental model . Cruising: A 2000 Lincoln Continental races down a road. The Continental was squeezed by competition from the midsize Lincoln LS, which debuted in 2000, and the bigger Town Car . But globally, the segment is growing, Fields says. Ford has high hopes for the Lincoln brand in China, where it's opening dazzling new dealerships complete with waterfalls. Ford began selling Lincolns in China late last year, and the company will open more than 20 dealerships there this year. The concept car being unveiled Monday in New York is painted a deep Prussian blue, an homage to Continentals of the 1950s and 1960s. But there are few other references to its history. Lincoln's split-wing grille, a feature that dates to the 1940s, has been replaced by a tight, rectangular mesh grille, its shiny chrome patterned with tiny versions of Lincoln's rectangular logo. The sides are smooth; even the door handles are hidden within a narrow strip of chrome at the beltline. The concept is a technology showcase. The driver's seat has a patented split cushion, so if the driver holds one leg out further than another, it will support each leg separately. The moonroof glass turns opaque with the touch of a button. Another button automatically moves the front passenger seat forward and fully reclines the rear passenger seat. That's another nod to China, where luxury car owners often have their own drivers. Under the hood is a 3-liter V6 EcoBoost engine that's unique to Lincoln. Ford isn't yet revealing more details, like whether the car is front- or rear-wheel drive. The Continental switched to a front-wheel-drive sedan in the 1980s, but many of its current competitors — the Infiniti Q70, Mercedes Benz S-Class and Lexus LS — are rear-wheel drive. The Continental is expected to replace the seven-year-old MKS, which currently sits atop Lincoln's car lineup.

Thirteen years after the last Continental rolled off the assembly line, Ford Motor Co. is resurrecting its storied nameplate . The new Continental debuts in concept form at this week's New York auto show at the Javits Center . Production version of the full-size sedan goes on sale next year . The Continental was born in 1938, when Henry Ford's son Edsel commissioned a convertible he could use on his spring vacation . Thrilled by the reception he got as he drove the elegant sedan around Palm Beach, Edsel made the Continental part of Lincoln's lineup . John F. Kennedy was riding in the back of a 1961 Continental convertible when he was assassinated in Dallas .

first Continental went out of production, the new “muscular luxury” version was introduced by Ford Motor Corp. late last year. The company is now touting the sleek, four-door with an ad campaign that touts the car as the first new version of an iconic American product. “The new Continental brings to America what America made famous,” says a new ad. “Possibly more importantly, it brings new life to an American legend.” The ad makes a direct link to the original Continental and its association with the president in its description of the car as a “powerful sedan with a sleek design” that offers the “ultimate in contemporary American luxury.” The car has the sleek, aerodynamic look of an import. Unlike many of its competitors, such as the BMW 7 Series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class, however, the Lincoln is built on a “unibody,” or steel, chassis, not aluminum. The Continental is also made in America. All of which has been part of the company’s plan to sell the Continental through its 375 dealer franchises to “high-end” customers who are also “high-end” customers of financial institutions. In the past few years, the carmaker also has worked to bring the Lincoln brand “back to life” by dropping its Taurus-based vehicles from the lineup. It also has redesigned its Navigator sport-utility vehicle and Town Car luxury sedan, as well as revamped the Mark LT. All of the work is part of Ford’s $29 billion restructuring, which also has included a plan to sell Jaguar and Land Rover. Ford officials have also said they plan to bring more cars back into the Lincoln lineup and revive its Navigator-sized “crossover vehicles,” which offer the ride height and handling of an SUV combined with the comfort and space of a passenger car. The Continental offers what the car company says is a more spacious cabin than its European competitors. It also claims it is more durable and has better handling. “The Continental is about 20,000 pounds of luxury,” says Lee Iacocca, the legendary former auto executive who now holds the title of “adviser to Lincoln.” “It isn’t a luxury car anymore. It’s an American luxury car.” The company is aiming high with the Continental, but its price of $66,000 seems to make it more of a competitor for import models than a mainstream luxury car. As of last fall


Missouri's oldest death row inmate was executed on Tuesday for murdering a sheriff's deputy, after the U.S. Supreme Court and the governor declined to spare the 74-year-old whose attorneys said he had a diminished mental capacity because of a sawmill accident decades ago. 'They brought me up here to execute me,' Cecil Clayton uttered before he was put to death by lethal injection after Governor Jay Nixon denied a clemency request. After a final meal of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans and a cola, he was executed at the correctional center in Bonne Terre at 9.13pm and was pronounced dead at 9.21pm. Clayton was executed despite repeated attempts by his lawyers to spare his life, claiming he had an IQ of just 71 after suffering a traumatic brain injury decades before he killed the officer in 1996. Put to his death: Cecil Clayton, 74, was executed by lethal injection at 9:13 p.m. on Tuesday for the 1996 murder of Deputy Sheriff Christopher Castetter. He was pronounced dead at 9:21 p.m. The nation's high court turned aside appeals after the Missouri Supreme Court, in a 4-3 ruling, also declined to intervene. The court's majority concluded last weekend that there was no evidence Clayton - despite his brain injury - wasn't capable of understanding his circumstances. The U.S. Supreme Court was also divided, with four judges saying they would have granted a stay. Mike O'Connell, spokesman for the Missouri Department of Corrections, said in a statement that Clayton was executed at 9.13pm and pronounced dead at 9:21 p.m. The claim of diminished mental capacity stemmed from a 1972 sawmill accident that Clayton's attorneys argued cost him about eight percent of his brain, including 20 per cent of the frontal lobe portion governing impulse control and judgment. Combined with his reported IQ of 71 and reading skills of a fourth-grader, Clayton's attorneys insisted psychiatric evaluations over the past decade concluded that the inmate didn't understand the significance of his scheduled execution or the reasons for it, making him ineligible to be put to death under state and federal law. In their 11th-hour appeals, Clayton's attorneys had argued that his deteriorating mental health left him convinced his conviction was a plot against him and that God would rescue him from a death sentence at the last minute, 'after which time he will travel the country playing the piano and preaching the gospel.' The appeals were ultimately rejected. 'Cecil Clayton had - literally - a hole in his head,' said Elizabeth Unger Carlyle, one of his attorneys, following his death on Tuesday night. 'Executing him without a hearing to determine his competency violated the Constitution, Missouri law, and basic human dignity... The world will not be a safer place because Mr. Clayton has been executed.' But the victim's family were in support of his killer being put to death. Missing: A brain scan shared by his lawyers show a significant section of his brain is missing . At a press briefing on Tuesday evening, James Castetter thanked authorities for convicting Clayton for the 'senseless murder' of his brother, Chris Castetter. 'We know this execution isn't going to bring Chris back,' he said. 'But it destroys an evil person that would otherwise be walking this earth. 'There is no doubt in my mind that Cecil knew what he had done... The Great State of Missouri did not kill an innocent man. Cecil Clayton's actions is what put him to death.' Clayton was convicted of gunning down Christopher Castetter, a sheriff's deputy in rural southwest Missouri's Barry County. Castetter was 29 and a father-of-three when he went to a home near Cassville on Thanksgiving Eve 1996 to check on a suspicious vehicle report. Authorities said Clayton shot Castetter once in the forehead while the deputy was in his car, which was found against a tree, its engine racing and wheels spinning. Clayton's brother had testified that the sawmill accident led to Clayton's breakup from his wife, alcohol abuse and violent outbursts. The lethal injection, Clayton's attorneys said, was 'sure or very likely to cause excruciating or tortuous pain and needless suffering' in light of his dementia. 'If Missouri proceeds with its scheduled execution of Mr. Clayton, it will be conducting an unregulated experiment on a human subject, as there are no studies that support (the prison system's) use of Missouri's lethal injection protocol on an individual suffering from severe brain damage,' the appeals on Clayton's behalf argued. Killed: Barry County Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Castetter, pictured left, was shot dead by Clayton, pictured right in an old mug shot, as he responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle in 1996 . At the weekend, when the Missouri Supreme Court issued its decision, three of the seven judges agreed that Clayton was entitled to a competency hearing. Mental health professionals who examined him agreed that he was mentally impaired and had mental health issues, including dementia. His most recent IQ test had found him to have an IQ of just 71, which is 29 points below average. 'He is not simply incompetent legally; he would be unable to care for himself or manage basic self-care, were he not in a structured environment that takes care of him,' according to a doctor who examined him, the Kansas City Star reported. 'He can shower, groom, eat, walk; it is his comprehension, judgment, memory, limited intelligence and social deficits that plague him.' In Missouri, the director of the Department of Corrections is the only one with the authority to order a competency hearing, and last year, he called on a doctor to examine Clayton. Dr. James Reynolds of the Missouri Department of Mental Health had concluded that Clayton was mentally ill, but could not be certain that he didn't understand his death sentence. But Clayton's lawyers said, while he had conversations in which he understood he was about to be executed, he would later forget that conversation ever happened. His family also called for a fair hearing on the issue. Execution: He was put to death at the state prison in Bonne Terre, pictured, on Tuesday night . Death: His family and lawyers had argued that he was child-like and did not understand the significance of his death penalty. They had called for his execution at Bonne Terre (pictured) to be stopped . 'He is brain-damaged, and talking with him is like talking to a child,' Clayton's daughter, Jena Clayton, said during his clemency petition, the Kansas City Star reported. 'I do not believe we are the kind of country that executes the disabled.' At the execution, Department of Corrections Director George A. Lombardi read a statement from Governor Jay Nixon, in which he praised the work of Castetter. 'Our state is safer because there are brave officers, like Deputy Castetter, who are willing to sacrifice their own safety for that of others,' he said. 'As the sentence of his murderer was carried out this evening, I ask Missourians tonight to honor Deputy Castetter, who gave his life in service to our state, and to remember him and his family in their thoughts and prayers.' The execution was Missouri's second this year after the state's record 10 in 2014. It was also the first Missouri carried out in the evening after decades of having them just after midnight.

Cecil Clayton was executed by lethal injection at 9.13pm on Tuesday for the 1996 murder of Deputy Sheriff Christopher Castetter . Last meal was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans and cola . An hour earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court had denied an appeal by his lawyers who claimed their client had diminished mental capacity . In 1972, 24 years before he shot dead a police officer, Clayton suffered a sawmill accident that speared a shard of wood into his head . Doctors were forced to remove 20 per cent of his frontal lobe, around eight per cent of his total brain mass . His lawyers argued that Clayton didn't understand his death sentence . A doctor from Missouri Department of Mental Health had previously concluded that he did understand the punishment .

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The court and Gov. Jay Nixon had refused to stay the execution of John Middleton Jr. for the 1973 stabbing death of Wayne Franklin of Lafayette County, despite objections from lawyers that he should be spared because of his mental illness.
"No matter what the mental capacity of my client is, it doesn't matter because of Missouri's system," said attorney David Slay, who argued that the mental capacity of death row inmates is a protected interest under the Constitution, even though the Missouri system allows executions. "He is incapable of rational communication. He can't even tell you who he is."
"You are talking about somebody who can't care for himself," Slay said. "He is not the murderer you believe him to be."
Middleton's lawyers said he suffers from a variety of mental illnesses including schizophrenia, paranoia, delusions and dementia and also cannot communicate with the world around him. Slay said Middleton has been unable to express a desire to be executed and has a desire to live.
Before the Supreme Court could decide whether to issue a stay to halt the execution, the Missouri Supreme Court rejected a stay request from Slay and his attorneys, citing a U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that said Middleton is no longer eligible for protection of the Constitution's Eighth Amendment because he "knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived his right to have a hearing before a neutral decision maker to determine that his mental capacity meets the definition of a protected interest under federal law."
"It's tragic that Mr. Middleton did not come to Missouri Supreme Court earlier to raise this issue, but it's also tragic that his mental disabilities have been evident in his 40-year-long capital case and were also recognized by the 8th Circuit," Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster said in a statement.
Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, right, talks to reporters at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo., on Nov. 13, 2012, about the death penalty. (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/MCT)
Koster said he hopes the execution of Middleton "will serve as a lesson" about the mental illness of death row inmates. "I hope this can serve to educate everyone about the importance of recognizing and treating mental illness in Missouri," he said.
"Because of this ruling, Missouri remains in violation of the Constitution and the court refuses to