(CNN)Rubén García Villalpando was supposed to arrive home from work on a Friday evening in February. But he never again pulled into the driveway of the home in suburban Dallas where he lived with his wife and four children. The 31-year-old welder died that night after a police officer shot him twice in the chest. Villalpando was unarmed, but in early reports about the shooting, police said an altercation erupted after he disobeyed an officer's commands during a traffic stop. It wasn't until hours after the shooting that his wife says she got a call from police, telling her what had happened. Now, questions swirl through Marta Romero's mind. How will their children grow up without a father? Will authorities take the case seriously or toss it aside because of her husband's immigration status and the fact that the man who opened fire was a police officer, not a civilian? And what happened that night to make something so horrible happen? "If my husband had killed a police officer, he would be in jail," she said. "But since it was the opposite, will they just leave it this way? Because an officer killed a man, because he killed an illegal and nothing more? What are a human's rights then? Now an animal gets more rights than a man." Villalpando is one of three Mexican nationals killed in U.S. police shootings in the past month, sparking sharp criticism from Mexico's Foreign Ministry and a call for the U.S. Justice Department to investigate. Pressure for authorities to take a deeper look at the controversial case is also coming from north of the border. At a City Council meeting in Grapevine, Texas, last week, Romero and her children were among a group holding signs that said "Justice for Ruben" and chanting, "Hands up! Don't shoot!" -- the phrase that started as a call to action after the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and has now become a rallying cry across the country in protests against police violence. Police said it's too soon to say exactly what happened that night. Investigators have interviewed dozens of witnesses and plan to share their findings with prosecutors. No charges have been filed. "I do not know now whether to believe in the authorities here or not," Romero said, "because if a police officer acted like this, what can another official do? I don't know. I want to trust them, because they are the ones who are taking care of us in this city. But I don't know what they can do." The case already has one piece of evidence that wasn't available to investigators looking into Brown's death: a police cruiser dash cam video. But police haven't released it to the public. "There will be more information released as the investigation continues. This additional information may shed more light on Mr. Villalpando's actions that night," police and city officials in Grapevine said last week. "We look forward to the time that the community can review the dash cam video of this incident, which we believe will answer many questions and correct some misconceptions about this incident." Villalpando's family members said they've seen the video, and even though it doesn't show the shooting, they said it's clear there was no good reason for the officer to open fire. Villalpando was unarmed, they said, had his hands in the air and did nothing to threaten the officer who stopped him. It all started, police say, when a burglar alarm went off February 20 at a business in Grapevine. Officer Robert Clark of the Grapevine Police Department spotted Villalpando's car in the area and started to follow him. Soon, according to police, the pursuit turned into a high-speed chase, with the officer following Villalpando from Grapevine into the neighboring town of Euless, Texas. A Grapevine Police statement released after the shooting said the dash cam video shows Villalpando's car "weaving through and around the heavy traffic and driving onto the highway attempting to evade Officer Clark." Eventually, Villalpando pulled over. His family said they believe he didn't stop for police right away because he was scared. He was an undocumented immigrant who had lived in the United States for 15 years and he knew any encounter with police could end with him getting deported and separated from his children, Romero said. U.S. President Barack Obama's announcement last fall that undocumented immigrant parents of U.S. citizen children could be eligible for work permits as part of a new executive action gave them hope, but also made them even more nervous about making sure they steered clear of trouble until the paperwork came through, she said. "He was nervous. He knew that to have problems with the authorities was serious. ... We couldn't have a criminal record," she said. "That is what he had in mind. What is going to happen to me now? Now I am not going to be OK. They are going to deport me." Fernando Romero said it was jarring to hear what Villalpando says in the video as he gets out of the vehicle. "My brother-in-law is out of the car with his hands up," he said, "and the first thing he asks is, 'Are you going to kill me?'" There's no sound of any fighting or altercation, but what you do hear, he said, is the profanities the officer repeatedly shouts as Villalpando approaches with his hands up. It's hard to hear exactly what was said, according to Romero; the family believes the officer made a comment claiming Villalpando was drunk. Police in Euless, who are leading the criminal investigation into what happened, told CNN the video does contain foul language. The Grapevine Police dispute the family's assertion that Villalpando did nothing threatening, saying that "contrary to clear instructions" he continued to walk toward the officer after being told repeatedly to stop. But there's a key thing that's not shown on the video, police and the family said: the shooting itself. Still, Fernando Romero said the sound of gunshots is clear, piercing through the roar of rush-hour traffic. His sister, Villalpando's widow, was so devastated after seeing the video he had to carry her out of the police station. Grapevine Police said the video shows the officer did everything he could to keep the situation under control until backup arrived. "We believe the dash-cam video, as well as information that has already been in the media, clearly demonstrates that Officer Clark was doing everything in his power, including the use of strong language, to keep Mr. Villalpando at a safe distance until backup arrived and an arrest [was] safely accomplished," Sgt. Robert Eberling said in a written statement released Thursday. "Members of the media have also been diligent in reporting some of the possible explanations for Mr. Villalpando's actions on the night of February 20, including a previous high-speed chase and a prior arrest for DWI, and a fear that he would be deported. Officer Clark had no way of knowing Mr. Villalpando's nationality at the time the traffic stop was initiated and it may not have been evident on a highway in the late evening." Marta Romero said her husband made a mistake when he didn't stop when the officer tried to pull him over. But she said he was trying to cooperate and turn himself in. "He was painted like a criminal who was involved in a robbery and had assaulted an officer, and in the video you don't see any of those things," she said. "You see the opposite, a man who is scared, who is simply trying to calm the situation, who sees that the police officer has a weapon in his hands." Now she said, she's seeking justice, hoping the police officer will face the appropriate charges for killing her husband. But she knows the family's search for answers won't be easy. In addition to the doubts swirling in her head, she is faced with questions from her children, even as she tries to explain to them that their father won't return. The most devastating of all, she said, is, "Mommy, when is my Papa going to wake up?" Police in Euless said they're also asking plenty of questions. Investigators have interviewed more than two dozen witnesses and are searching for more people who might have seen what happened, Euless Police Lt. Eric Starnes said . Clark, who's worked for the Grapevine Police since May 2014, is on administrative leave pending the investigation. Grapevine Police did not respond to CNN's request to speak to Clark about the incident. The burglar alarm that spurred the officer's initial response, police later said, turned out to be false. As for the video,Grapevine Police said they still want the public to see it, but for now, they're holding off on releasing it because prosecutors have asked for evidence not to be released to the public while an investigation is pending. "While we understand the interest of the community in the requests to release the video, we must balance those needs with the direction from the District Attorney's Office and the respect for the judicial process," police said Thursday. "We recognize that much of the sentiment being expressed is based on the understandable grief concerning Mr. Villalpando's death. We appreciate the support of our citizens and the fact that they are keeping an open mind and waiting for the results of a complete and thorough investigation." CNN's Gustavo Valdes and Alina Machado contributed to this report.

A police officer shot and killed Ruben Garcia Villalpando in a Dallas suburb . The case has drawn sharp criticism from Mexico's government, which calls for a federal investigation . Widow: "I do not know now whether to believe in the authorities here or not"

-year-old had no idea his fate was already sealed.
On the morning of Tuesday, March 1, 2016, the Mexican immigrant was shot in the back of his head as he sat in the driver’s seat of his car, parked in the driveway of the townhouse complex. His wife called police and rushed to the scene, where she found Garcia Villalpando slumped over in his seat, bleeding.
Three days later, the murder remained unsolved.
His family said his life was cut short, his potential robbed and the community left without a hero it could turn to.
The first 48 hours
Before police found Garcia Villalpando, he had been living on the fringes of his suburban neighborhood. He would go to work for three weeks straight, then take a week-long break before returning.
By the time he was shot, he hadn’t been to work for three weeks.
On the day he died, he had left work to pick his kids up from school, police said. When he arrived at the complex, police believe an unknown person approached and shot him, then left.
In the 48 hours before Garcia Villalpando’s death, his life looked much the same as usual — as if he didn’t have a care in the world, police said.
On the day he died, the 31-year-old was driving his 1996 Mazda to the townhouse in Carrollton. He had a red bag from Taco Cabana on the passenger seat and was wearing his work uniform.
Carrollton Police Chief Alan Ashby said it didn’t look like Garcia Villalpando had any suspicions before he died. He was “happy” the night before, Ashby said, adding that the father’s death was a “very sad thing.”
Police said Garcia Villalpando’s wife and children saw him pull up, but he didn’t even look in their direction. They were about to get into the car when they heard a gunshot, Ashby said.
No one else saw the shooting, according to police.
Who killed Ruben Garcia Villalpando?
Just weeks before Garcia Villalpando died, local news outlets asked him to talk about his job and his family.
“I’m going to continue working,” Garcia Villalpando said, speaking in his native Spanish. “I have to work to support my family.”
He explained in detail how he drove


Beijing (CNN)Native to a remote region of China, this tiny mammal, known as the Ili pika, doesn't know it's a member of an endangered species --  and neither do most people. Rarer -- and some would argue cuter-- than the panda, there are less than 1,000 of these teddy bear-like creatures living in the Tianshan mountain range in the Xinjiang region of northwestern China, says conservationist Li Weidong. Li discovered the pika, formally known as Ochotona iliensis, in 1983 and named it after his hometown, Ili. Last July, Li spotted and photographed the elusive creature for the first time since the early 1990s. He estimates its numbers have declined by almost 70% since its discovery. "I discovered the species, and I watched as it became endangered," he told CNN. "If it becomes extinct in front of me, I'll feel so guilty." In 2008, the animal was listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but there's no official organization or team dedicated studying or protecting it, according to Li. The mammal, only 20 centimeters long, lives on sloping bare rock faces and feeds on grasses at high elevations. Li says the pika's habitat has been affected by global warming. Due to rising temperatures, glaciers have receded and the altitude of permanent snow has risen in the Tianshan mountains, forcing the pikas to gradually retreat to mountain tops, Li said. Ili pikas were originally found at elevations between 3,200 to 3,400 meters, he said. Now they have retreated to elevations of 4,100 meters. "They have nowhere else to retreat," he added. It's also a solitary animal and is not as vocal as other pika species, so if predators are near, Ili pikas are not able to alert each other, Li said. Disease may also be a factor in its decline. In 1983, when Li first came across the mammal, nobody knew what it was. Two years later, Li  found another two and it was declared a new species. In the decade following, Li and his colleagues conducted a number of studies, including a census at 14 different sites. However, in 1992, Li left Ili to work with Xinjiang Academy of Environmental Protection in the regional capital Urumqi. No studies were conducted on Ili pika in the following decade. No one saw the pika, either. In 2002 and 2003, Li,  with a team of volunteers, conducted a fresh census. Despite spending 37 days searching the mountains for the pikas on seven separate trips, they came up empty handed. However, by analyzing droppings and snow tracks, Li, along with Arizona State University biologist Andrew Smith, was able to conclude that the Ili pika population had seen a dramatic decline. Together they calculated that there might be 2,000 mature animals, down from 2,900 in the early 1990s. The research, published in 2005, recommended that the animal should be listed as endangered. In 2007, Li retired early to throw himself into searching for the pika. Last year, he organized a group of 20 volunteers to conduct another survey with infrared cameras. This time, on the second day of the field trip, they finally spotted a pika, who jumped and stepped over Li's feet while he was trying to photograph it. The volunteers dubbed it a "magic rabbit." They concluded that there were fewer than 1,000 Ili pikas, said Li. "This tiny species could be extinct any time," he said. "They don't exist in the sites where they used to be anymore." Li funds the research with himself, along with donations and occasional grants from organizations like the World Wide Fund for Nature. He says he has spent more than $32,000 of his own money over the past three decades and he has to raise funds to pay for gas. But what upsets Li most isn't the lack of funding. It's the lack of official recognition for the Ili, and other pikas' plight. The Ili pika isn't included on China's List of Wildlife under Special State Protection -- part of the country's 1988 Wildlife Protection Law. The Department for Wildlife and Forest Plants Protection, under the Ministry of Forestry, said it was in the process of updating the list but declined to give any further details. Li and his volunteers have been calling for the establishment of a nature reserve to help protect the animal. "I'm almost 60, and soon I won't be able to climb the Tianshan Mountains," he said. "So I really hope that an organization will have people study and protect the Ili Pika."

There are less than 1000 Ili pikas in existence, says Li Weidong . It was photographed for the first time in two decades last year .

ounding up a handful of the furry rodents in China's far west has become a huge undertaking that's helped to highlight the plight of species in the country. In just one two-day event last October, a team led by Beijing Normal University researchers captured 100 Ili pikas in the area around the village of Wuliangye. The total haul for 10 other species that weekend was 2,000.
This region, at the border with Kazakhstan, is part of a vast protected area that stretches over 150,000 square miles (388,000 square kilometers). It's called the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
"This region is an ecological treasure house, but with increasing human population growth, the natural environment has been rapidly destroyed," said Li Shaoping, a research fellow at the university.
In an email exchange with CNN, Li explained, "Since the economic development in western China began, the destruction of the natural environment is more and more serious."
The Ili pika was the first Chinese mammal to be classified as endangered in 2014 and has since been listed among the top 10.
"Now many places in western China are not really suitable for them to survive naturally," Li said.
There's not much grass and shrubs on barren, dry grasslands near the city of Yining (a former Soviet town called Kzyl-Orda), where the scientists were working. So the only source of water is in manmade pits, known as "lanshans," which draw water from meltwater run-off during the short summer.
"Most grasslands are in the dry zone, which is about 400 meters above sea level (1,312 feet). This is one of the most challenging places in China for pikas to live, they do not have their own water source," Li explained.
The team set traps across the region during September and October 2016 using the same sort of technique used by sheepherders.
Li pointed out that the traps can "only catch small animals, for example, lemmings (a type of rodent similar to a mouse), pikas, and ground squirrels. Large animals such as antelopes, deer or sheep are unable to jump into the traps. Therefore, this way is a more effective way to catch rare animals."
The researchers captured Ili pikas, but also other species, including the Tibetan antelope


Lynchburg, Virginia  (CNN)Sen. Ted Cruz, the conservative firebrand from Texas, became the first Republican to announce his campaign for the presidency, and he spent Monday morning telling a crowd at the largest Christian university in the world to imagine what the country will be like when he takes office, and pitching his personal history as a key part of his campaign. "These are all of our stories," Cruz told the audience Monday, roaming around the circular stage at Liberty University, in Lynchburg, Virginia, opening his remarks by spotlighting his family history and his own path to Washington. "These are who we are as Americans. And yet for so many Americans, the promise of America seems more and more distant." Cruz drew on the past only to focus on the future, repeatedly and emphatically asking the Liberty University student audience to "imagine" the U.S. under conservative leadership -- laying out his vision for the country and a Cruz presidency. The senator from Texas, who burst into the national limelight with his staunch opposition to Obamacare and his willingness to shut down the federal government, presents a direct challenge to the expected bids of establishment Republicans such as Florida Gov. Jeb Bush -- candidates Cruz coyly refers to as the "mushy middle." Monday's event was the last part of a carefully coordinated media rollout, following Cruz's announcement of his candidacy in a 30-second video message posted on Twitter shortly after midnight on Monday, roughly 24 hours after the Houston Chronicle first reported his planned announcement. Ten thousand students from Liberty University crowded into the university's main arena for Cruz's announcement. The venue choice at this socially conservative campus aims to give Cruz an early boost among evangelical voters, who will be key to boosting presidential hopefuls in states like Iowa and South Carolina that have early nominating contests. It was a youthful crowd, as students are required to attend the University's tri-weekly convocation address. Not all in the audience were guaranteed Cruz supporters: Several attendees sported red "Stand with Rand" shirts, repping Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who is slated to announce his candidacy early next month. Jerry Falwell Jr., the university's president and son of its founder and evangelical icon, introduced Cruz as a senator who "has gone against the tide" and a "man of great character," all while stressing that the university does not endorse candidates for office. Falwell picked up on Cruz's assertion that millions of evangelical Christians did not vote in 2012, pointing out that "if any candidate can energize that group, it will make a huge difference in any national race." Asked after the speech how he prepared for the event, Cruz said he "spent some time in prayer" thinking about the message he wants to convey. "At the end of the day it's listening to the people about the vision for turning the country around," Cruz told CNN, adding that he was "incredibly" encouraged and inspired by the support. Cruz's announcement came on the five-year anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which Cruz has fought in the Senate to repeal. Cruz marked the anniversary by pledging to repeal "every word" of the healthcare law as president. Cruz also jabbed at Common Core education standards -- which Bush supports -- and repeated his pledge to abolish the IRS, instead suggesting Americans could file their taxes on a postcard. And Cruz drew the longest and loudest applause from the audience when he prompted the audience to "imagine a President who stands unapologetically with the nation of Israel." Cruz's advisers envision a three-pronged strategy that focuses on dominating the tea party faction and competing in the libertarian and Christian conservative circles. A constant and vocal critic of the Obama administration, Cruz is perhaps best known for his stalwart fight against Obamacare in 2013, which led to a tense standoff between Democrats and Republicans and ultimately resulted in a 17-day government shutdown. The showdown was punctuated by Cruz's 21-hour speech on the Senate floor. While popular in conservative and tea party circles, Cruz has a long way to go in terms of broader support in the GOP base, according to public opinion polls. A CNN/ORC International survey conducted this month on the hypothetical Republican primary showed Cruz came in with 4% support among Republicans and independents who lean Republican. But the field is still relatively open, with the top contender -- Bush -- coming in at 16% support, followed by Scott Walker at 13%. But Cruz has relatively strong favorability numbers. According to a recent Quinnipiac University poll, he is viewed in a positive light by 45% of Republicans, compared with only 8% who don't have a favorable opinion of him. Still, 46% say they haven't heard enough about him to form an opinion. Jason Miller, an adviser to Cruz's campaign, confirmed that the campaign's fund-raising target is $40 million, and the campaign believes it can raise $1 million in the first week. Cruz this month finished an early-voting state tour to Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire -- and he's scheduled to return to New Hampshire on March 28 to speak at a brunch in Rockingham County. Depending on the Senate schedule this week, he could possibly make more early-state trips, according to advisers. After his speech Monday, he'll head up to New York for media appearances and a fund-raiser. Cruz developed a loyal following when he won his 2012 primary battle in Texas as a little-known candidate, forcing then-Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst into a surprise runoff and ultimately defeating the establishment Republican. Along with two other first-term senators who are expected to run for president (Rand Paul and Marco Rubio), Cruz will likely face questions over experience, an issue that Republicans brought up in 2008 against Barack Obama, who was also a first-term senator at the time. Before running for the Senate in 2012 -- his first campaign for public office -- Cruz was solicitor general of Texas and argued before the Supreme Court. He graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School. Born in Canada to a Cuban father and American mother, Cruz was a dual citizen until he renounced Canadian citizenship in 2014. He faced questions over whether he would qualify for the presidency, though law experts consider him a natural-born citizen because he was born to an American mother. Cruz was swarmed by students and reporters after he descended the stage and started to exit the arena. He took photos and signed autographs for about a half hour, as his team tried to escort him through the crowd. One girl who was raising money selling baked goods offered to give Cruz a dozen cupcakes for free but he pulled out his wallet and gave her $20. A pair of enthusiastic sisters shouted out to Cruz to tell him that, like his own daughters, they were also named Caroline and Catherine and were two years apart. "That's just cool," he said, as he gave them both high fives. "That is awesome." One student who said she was Hispanic said she and her whole family were behind him. "You have the Hispanic vote," she joked, then proceeded to start talking to him Spanish. While Cruz's father is Cuban, he's not fluent in Spanish. "We grew up speaking Spanglish. My grandmother would be like 'Nino, throw me the remote control'," he said This is who we are as a people. We got to tell that story," Cruz said. CNN's Adam Levy and Kevin Bohn contributed to this report.

Cruz announces candidacy in a video on Twitter . He follows up with a speech at Liberty University in Virginia .

 "make a joyful noise."
The freshman senator said Monday he will seek the Republican nomination for president.
"No, we are not satisfied, we are going to keep on pushing and fighting because we know America needs to get back on the right track," Cruz said.
He also said that "The American dream is in trouble," and said his experience as a Texas attorney "couldn't be more different from the failed Washington establishment."
"You know what Washington lacks today? More people like you," Cruz said.
"The next campaign will not be about Democrats and Republicans. The next campaign will not be about conservatives and liberals. This campaign will be about the American people," Cruz said.
The event was not billed as a campaign announcement, but Cruz referred to himself as "your champion" and said: "I'm just getting started."
At 42, Cruz is the first Hispanic U.S. senator. His campaign announcement comes just as Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich have launched their White House bids. Cruz launched his campaign in front of thousands of students at Liberty University's football stadium, saying "a new day is on the horizon."
"We are a great nation that is poised for greatness," Cruz said, adding that the U.S. has faced greater obstacles in its history.
"America has always prevailed in her past," Cruz said. "We've had our backs against the wall many times, and we have always prevailed. We can do it again."
At his announcement, Cruz was greeted by a loud cheer from the crowd. As he spoke, some in the crowd sang "The Star Spangled Banner."
At an early-morning event, Cruz sought to position himself as a conservative outsider with a history of taking on the establishment. In his first appearance in 2012, Cruz criticized the National Rifle Association for not endorsing him.
The event was a celebration of what students call "Founders Day" and "Bible Week" at the university. It is a non-partisan day of events at Liberty, a private Christian university in Lynchburg. There are rallies and religious events.
"We hope to have some fun," the university's director of communications and public affairs, Johnnie Moore, said of the day.
But the atmosphere is not quite normal. The University of Virginia, the state's flagship public university, is located in the liberal capital of Richmond.


This United Airlines regional jet was forced to make an emergency landing without a nose gear at an airport in Chicago, Illinois, Saturday afternoon after experiencing a mechanical problem, officials said. The GoJet plane, operated by the major US airline, was traveling from Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Chicago when the pilot informed passengers there was an issue with the aircraft's front landing gear. A few minutes later, the pilot announced that the plane would be performing an emergency landing at O'Hare International Airport. Incredibly, flight 3645 touched down safely with no nose gear at 3.24pm. It was the second United Airlines plane to suffer a serious malfunction Saturday after another plane had to turn back to Denver International Airport when one of its tire blew on takeoff earlier in the day. Scroll down for video . Emergency: This United Airlines regional jet was forced to make an emergency landing without a nose gear at an airport in Chicago, Illinois, Saturday afternoon after experiencing a mechanical problem, officials said . Firefighters at the scene: The GoJet plane (pictured after landing) was flying from Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Chicago when the pilot informed passengers that there was an issue with the aircraft's front landing gear . Some social media users expressed concern over the successive incidents. One Twitter user, with the handle @j_muta, wrote Saturday: 'United Airlines had two aircraft with wheel malfunctions today.' The GoJet flight was pictured sitting on a runway, with its nose touching the ground and surrounded by emergency crews, following its successful landing in Chicago. No-one was injured on the aircraft. Passengers were subsequently taken off the plane and transported to a terminal, WGN-TV reported. A Department of Aviation spokesman told Fox 17 the plane had experienced 'mechanical problems'. Shortly before the landing, the pilot had reported the aircraft's gear indicator light was on as it flew toward the airport with its nose gear still in its up position, Federal Aviation Administration officials said. Safely grounded: Fligt 3645 (pictured) is the second United Airlines plane to have suffered a malfunction Saturday after another plane had to turn back to Denver International Airport when one of its tire blew . Concern: Some social media users expressed concern over the successive incidents. One Twitter user, with the handle @j_muta, wrote Saturday: 'United Airlines had two aircraft with wheel malfunctions today' Airline: GoJet is operated by United Airlines (file picture), a major US airline that is headquartered in Chicago . The pilot had first alerted passengers to the mechanical problem around 20 minutes after it departed from Gerald R Ford International Airport, Jim Petzing, who was a passenger on the flight, told WZZM. In the earlier United Airlines incident, the plane from Denver to Kansas City was forced to circle Denver International Airport in order to burn off fuel after its tire blew, according to officials. A terrifying video taken by passenger Danny Dodge shows fliers leaning forward against the aircraft's seats while a warning told them to 'Brace, brace, heads down, stay down!' as the plane landed. Passengers began clapping wildly when the aircraft, a Bombardier Q 400, came to a stop at around 11am. Mr Dodge's footage also showed a tire shredding as the plane touched the ground. Terrifying: In the earlier incident, the United Airlines plane from Denver to Kansas City was forced to circle Denver International Airport in order to burn off fuel after its tire blew (pictured), according to officials . Brace! A video taken by passenger Danny Dodge shows passengers leaning forward against the aircraft's seats (pictured) while a warning told them to 'Brace, brace, heads down, stay down!' as the plane landed . The plane was kept on the runway until passengers could board buses, Laura Coale, Media Relations Director for Denver International Airport, told ABC7 late Saturday morning. One runway was closed at the airport while the plane with the blown tire was towed. Five others remained open. Nor crew members nor passengers were injured in the emergency landing. The interrupted flight had been scheduled to land in Kansas City four hours late, at 4:53 p.m. A United Airlines spokesman was not immediately available for comment. Video from passenger Donny Dodge captured the moment the blown tire hit the ground and was torn further . Mr Dodge (pictured) uploaded a series of short videos to his Facebook page documenting the scary incident .

GoJet flight, operated by United Airlines, took off from Grand Rapids, MI . Shortly after, pilot realized there was problem with the front landing gear . Aircraft made emergency landing with no nose gear at a Chicago airport . Firefighters and officials met plane on tarmac; no injuries were reported . Second United Airlines plane to have suffered malfunction on Saturday . Earlier in day, another plane  forced to land after a tire blew on takeoff .

 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Chicago when it suddenly began to shake.
Passengers said the plane flew erratically and rocked, and some described the landing as bumpy as it touched down without nose gear at the Midway International Airport in Illinois. After the incident, United said “some of our customers experienced a mechanical issue that caused us to divert to Midway (Airport)”.
“United technicians are conducting the inspection and we will have an updated timetable as soon as possible. Our team is fully dedicated to ensuring the safe arrival of our customers.” We wish passengers a smooth return to Chicago, and thanks to our colleagues on the ground who have done everything possible to ensure the safety of our customers and colleagues, ”said a statement by the carrier.
After landing, the plane was escorted by an emergency fire and rescue team to a parking lot for passengers. “The flight diverted to Midway Airport. Flight 1701 was not on time and returned to the main airport, where it landed in the parking lot,” local WBBM-TV reported.
Local CBS 2 reported that United spokeswoman Maddie King said the airline was helping local agencies handle the situation. “An emergency medical response team was waiting to welcome and transport our customers to the airport. “
According to King, United plans to return the Chicago plane to service and has contacted a maintenance team to conduct checks after any mechanical incident. The carrier said it plans to reimburse the costs for the passengers. In a statement, the head of Chicago Aviation, Rosemarie AndrCzka, said the plane “appeared to have a mechanical failure” and “the plane landed safely in the parking lot.”
The regional plane carrying 61 passengers diverted for inspection
On Saturday morning, a United plane carrying 61 passengers from Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport landed at O’Hare International Airport due to a mechanical problem, aviation officials said.
Passengers said the plane suddenly started shaking on takeoff and that it seemed to lose power. “The nose of the plane started shaking on the runway when we took off. We shook, but the pilot was in charge of the situation. Then it started shaking all over the place, ”said passenger Mike Gaffney, who was traveling to Chicago with his son, Mike Jr., to surprise his sister for her 70th birthday.
Mike Jr. said the plane was shaking “really bad. I’ve been on the plane for


(CNN)Empathy. Confidence. Passion. These are the traits the next police chief in Ferguson, Missouri, will need to shrink the ocean of distrust between community and police. So says Cecil Smith. And maybe he should know. Smith is the police chief in Sanford, Florida, another community rocked by racial tensions and poor police-community relations after the high-profile shooting of a black teenager -- the 2012 death of Trayvon Martin. And if Smith's experience is any guide, it will take "a lot of prayer and a little goading" to convince someone to step into the job vacated this week by Chief Thomas Jackson. "That community, as we see, has been hurting and struggling for some time now," he says. And how: . -- The community remains deeply scarred by the events last year, after the August shooting death of unarmed African-American teenager Michael Brown by a white Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson, and the November decision by the St. Louis County Grand Jury not to charge Wilson, who later resigned. Occasionally violent protests and sometimes heavy-handed responses by police deepened divisions and distrust. -- The police department was already groaning under the epic weight of months of nearly constant protest and last week's release of a damning Department of Justice report that found evidence of discriminatory conduct on the part of Ferguson officials. -- Add to that the obvious fears facing officers following the shooting early Thursday of two police officers only hours after Jackson resigned. The decision for Jackson to step aside was a mutual one between the chief and city, Mayor James Knowles told reporters. He'll get severance and a year of health insurance and will turn the reins over to Ferguson police Lt. Col Al Eickhoff next week. The city will launch a nationwide search for a permanent replacement, Knowles said. "The City of Ferguson looks to become an example of how a community can move forward in the face of adversity.  We are committed to keeping our police department and having one that exhibits the highest degree of professionalism and fairness," said Knowles -- who has himself been targeted by protesters demanding he resign. To get there, it might look to Sanford for guidance. There, trust in the police department bottomed out in the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin shooting. While no police officers were involved in the shooting, anger over their perceived failure to arrest the teenager's killer, George Zimmerman, pushed relations in the community to a boiling point, eventually resulting in the firing of Chief Bill Lee. Zimmerman eventually was arrested, and a jury acquitted him. Smith watched the chaos play out from Elgin, Illinois, where he was deputy police chief. A former boss in Illinois suggested he look at the job, so he traveled to Florida on his own time, getting to know the community and learning what divided residents and police. He still isn't sure how to explain why he took the job. "The first year, I was still wondering, was it a smart move?" Smith joked. But things are better now, he says. After taking the job, Smith made it a point of spending time "walking and talking" in Sanford, building relationships with community leaders and everyday residents. Inside the department, stepped up training in engagement and ethical policing. He also stepped up recruitment of African-American officers. "One of the things that's going on is we don't have people who look like us in the community," said Smith, himself an African-American. He handed out long-delayed promotions. And he even presided over a makeover, enlisting officers to help choose new uniforms. The new chief in Ferguson will likely need to do some of the same things, Smith says. Community leaders and other officials agree. "We need to deal with the culture issue here to make sure whoever is coming in behind Chief Jackson is not a new face and a new name on the same type of issues," Patricia Bynes, a Democratic committeewoman for Ferguson Township," told CNN Wednesday. "We need to seriously deal with the culture of the police department and the municipal courts and the way the city is run." New York police Commissioner William Bratton said there are two issues confronting the heads of police forces. There is the lack of trust on the community's part and the lack of confidence some officers have in their leadership. On the first issue, he said: "You need to be willing to embrace that there is a need to change." To police leadership consultant John Vanek, whoever takes over the Ferguson department will need to have the same leadership traits valued in boardrooms across the world -- the ability to form partnerships across organizational lines, to think differently, to turn failure into success and to do it all in a harsh media spotlight. But that's easier said than done. "There's going to be a lot of hostility in Ferguson for a long time," he said. So will the new chief need to be African-American to help defuse the racial tensions roiling the city? Here's the politic answer: Find the right candidate, regardless of race. "You want to find the best candidate to be police chief," said attorney Benjamin Crump, who has represented the families of both Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.  "But diversity is very important. It's very important that the police officers understand the communities, at least want to engage with members of the community they are going to be protecting and serving." "There's an old saying in the black community that everybody else is protected and served but we are policed," Crump said. "We don't want to be policed. We want to be protected and served as any American citizen." CNN's Nick Valencia contributed to this report.

NYPD commissioner: Chiefs need to embrace need for change . Ferguson might look to Sanford, Florida's experience when choosing a new chief . That city also had to find ways to heal divisions between community and police .

former police chief of the town of Oak Park, Illinois, where he served from 1987-1999 and where he served as interim chief from 2005 to 2006. He retired as a captain from the city of Chicago in 2000. (Chicago is one of America's largest cities, with a population of 2.7 million. Ferguson, Missouri, has about 21,000 residents.) In Oak Park, Smith was tasked with handling major protests like the first "No Nukes" rallies on November 6-7, 1980, as well as with dealing with a variety of civil unrest that followed in that city's recent past. And he thinks it could help Ferguson. "When you work in these environments -- and I have -- you learn from it that communities want to be engaged in what's going on," he told CNN. "And they want to be a part of that process." The appointment of Ferguson's new chief will be announced Friday, according to the city clerk's office. The chief will be the city's fifth in about two years, and the mayor will be sworn in as a councilperson on December 16. He'll have a lot on his plate -- one-third of the city is black, the other two-thirds are white, and the racial disparity of population and of crime is growing, according to recent figures released by the Justice Department, which are under appeal. In August 2014, the city became a national flashpoint when 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by a police officer. Brown was African-American, the officer was white. The Justice Department has alleged that police practices and policies amount to racial discrimination. Ferguson officials have denied this and have recently hired a new municipal prosecutor and police chief, hoping that will quell the unrest. "Now we need to get the community involved," Smith said. "I think that's going to happen, and it's going to happen sooner than later. Because I think the community wants to be involved." He said the community may feel neglected as a matter of routine -- "they might feel that they don't count, that they don't have an opportunity to be a part of what the department does." That's why his first task as police chief of Oak Park was to start talking to people. "I went out and met a lot of the community activists, met a lot


It is an incredible moment when, after hours of waiting, you finally get to see a whale swimming in the ocean. And wildlife photographer, Jon Cornforth, 43, managed an even rarer sighting when he witnessed two of the majestic mammals exploding out of northern Pacific Ocean together, before coming crashing down in unison. The rare event was documented off the coast of Hawaii and took place near the humpback whales' breeding grounds. In sync! The gigantic sea giants rose out of the water together, and crash into the waves in unison . Scientists still do not fully understand why 40-tonne whales choose to throw themselves out of the water- but why two would decide to leap into the air at the same time is a greater mystery still . Jon Conforth has been capturing humpback whales for 15 years and says he doesn't have time to think about a composition or change camera settings when witnessing the perfect breach . Cornforth said: 'When this double breach happened, I knew that I had just seen something special, but prayed that my camera had captured the moment. 'I was howling with joy as I quickly scrolled through my images and realised that magnitude of what I had just photographed. 'Keep in mind, that I was doing this while still motoring my small boat in heavy seas with several whales still very close by.' The photographer has been capturing humpback whales for 15 years and says he doesn't have time to think about a composition or change camera settings when witnessing the perfect breach. 'I don't have time to think about composition or change my camera settings,' he said. 'I simply do what I've become proficient at and point my camera and push the shutter button.' Although he may only see the leap unfold in a second, his camera is firing at 10 frames per second to get the detailed shot. Fun with friends! The whales frolic in the waves in unison, propelling themselves into the air to the delight of photographer Cornforth . Majestic: The sight of a humpback whale rising out of the waves is breathtaking for any onlookers . It is not been categorically proven by scientists why the sea giants propel themselves out of the water, though it has been suggested it is a form of social communication. Some say it is a form of warding off predators, with larger mammals creating a resounding smash as they hit the surface. Other explanations say it simply a way of removing parasites from their bodies. It is not categorically proven why whales breach out of the waters but some think it is ward off predators with the sound . Other suggestions for why they breach are to rid themselves of parasites and communicate with other whales . Female whales can often be seen nudging their calves to the surface in order to learn how to breach. Whatever the reason, the sight is still a breathtaking one, especially when you are metres away from the 40-tonne creatures. The photographs capture the sheer power of these mammals, which can reach 62.5 ft in length. Humpback whales are common in the Hawaii area, as they migrate here annually to breed in the warmer waters . Humpback whales are known for their mystical songs, which can travel for vast distances through the ocean. They are omnivores, but can be found near coastlines feeding on krill, plankton and other small fish. Annually the whales migrate to warmer waters closer to the equator to breed. Cornforth said: 'When this double breach happened, I knew that I had just seen something special, but prayed that my camera had captured the moment' Triumphant! 'I was howling with joy as I quickly scrolled through my images and realised that magnitude of what I had just photographed'

Photographer Jon Cornforth captured the incredible event in Hawaii . The humpback whales were pictured near their breeding ground . Cornforth said he was howling with joy when he saw the pictures back .

 engaging in a love bite.
While swimming off a remote, deserted beach near the Falkland Islands, Cornforth, who lives in Devon, UK, spotted a pair of humpback whales – one of the largest creatures on Earth – who appeared to be sharing a kiss. The intimate encounter lasted ‘a few moments’ before one of the beasts moved on.
‘The encounter was totally unexpected,’ Jon said. ‘They were in calm waters and we had a long wait until we could actually see them.
He added: ‘It wasn’t a real “kiss”, just more of a nudge of the head.’
The couple were visiting the Falkland Islands’ capital, Stanley, for the first time in several years, and were hoping to see whales from the shore.
In a matter of minutes, they saw three whales near the beach and, after spending about three hours watching them, were treated to a closer encounter than they would have expected.
‘At first we were watching three whales, but then we noticed there was a fourth one – a much bigger male – that was following the others,’ the photographer explained. ‘But then he started to do what I would call a kind of “kiss” with the female.
‘It was a very brief encounter, perhaps only for a few moments. I had my camera on me and we couldn’t have been in the water any more than half an hour.
‘To see two whales doing that in one moment was just incredible,’ he added.
And, it seems, the 2,000-mile journey to reach the remote islands had been worthwhile for the marine biologist couple, as they were able to witness something they had never seen before.
‘As far as I know, there have been no other instances of whales “kissing” like this, even though many have observed humpback whales in this sort of behaviour, sometimes with another whale and other times with a seal,’ said Jon.
According to National Geographic, humpback whales, the largest of the baleen whales, can grow up to 50 feet long and weigh around 40 tonnes. They are found in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere and are the only known species to produce ‘mysticetes’ or bubble nets to capture their prey.
They are known for their singing and are one of the only known mammals to produce ‘sonar pulses’ to get to the bottom of a


It was only a small-sided game at the end of a session at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground, but heads were turned when teenage striker Chuba Akpom, called over to join them, cut in from the left flank and curled the ball, side-footed, around the goalkeeper to score. The move echoed a former time and a former forward, as if the ghost of Thierry Henry was still haunting the centre’s pitches with his trademark dribble and finish. Alexis Sanchez came running over to Akpom, leaping around excitedly and shouting ‘Titi, Titi, Titi, Titi!’ Arsenal's teenage striker Chuba Akpom has been compared to club legend Thierry Henry . Thierry Henry was Akpom's idol growing up and the youngster is keen to emulate his success . Akpom (left), walks to training with Arsenal team-mates Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck . There is still a long, long way to go until the 19-year-old gets anywhere near close to his idol Henry, but nicknames tend to stick around. ‘One day in training with the first team I scored an Henry-type goal, cutting inside and finishing,’ Akpom tells Sportsmail. ‘I could see Sanchez jumping, he’ s an enthusiastic guy at the best of times and he’s going: “Titi, Titi, Titi, Titi!” ‘The next morning he came to me and said “Titi.” 'Then the next morning he came to me and said “Titi.” I asked: 'hold on is this my new nickname?' That’s how it came about and it’s stuck since then. ‘Now the lads just call me Titi or Thierry Henry - I’ll take that. It’s not a bad comparison to have. ‘He was my idol growing up. Playing for the academy and watching Arsenal’s first team I used to see players like Henry scoring every week and it really inspired me.’ Akpom was born and bred in east London’s Canning Town and joined Arsenal aged six. Akpom closes down Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster during September's League Cup tie . Akpom celebrates after scoring during the 2014 International Tournament match with Holland . England U20 play Mexico U20 at 7.45pm on Wednesday 25 March at The Hive, Barnet FC. Tickets for the game at The Hive are priced at £3 for adults and £1.50 for kids and can be purchased by calling 0208 381 3800 or at www.venuetoolbox.com/thehivelondon . Manager Arsene Wenger has been so impressed with his progress the Frenchman has him training with the first team and has included him regularly on the bench this season, featuring several times in the Premier League and FA Cup. Even if the Henry comparisons are premature, there is no denying Akpom is beginning to make his mark where it matters. ‘I’m with the senior team now in the changing room and on the training ground,’ he adds. ‘It’s all about getting familiar with the environment and the players and getting as much game time as I can. ‘A lot of them are international players, a lot are England players; Calum Chambers, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck, Kieran Gibbs. I look up to them. 'They’ve made it into the England senior team. It’s good to be around them and get good advice.’ Akpom is a right-footed front man but likes to drop out wide to the left flank to torment full-backs. Sound familiar? His is quick and skilful with a sharp finish. Most importantly, he scores goal. For Arsenal youth teams and England Under 15 to Under 20 level, bucketfuls of them. Akpom in the thick of the action during Arsenal's Premier League win over Aston Villa last month . The teenage striker celebrates after Nacho Monreal converts the winning penalty in a League Cup tie at West Brom last season . ‘People keep telling me having a child is the best feeling,’ he says. ‘I haven’ t had that yet I’m too young, but when I score goals - I’d be surprised if you beat that feeling.’ He cites one of the game’s greatest goal-scorers, the Brazilian Ronaldo, as another idol and closer to home is aiming at the top. But, unlike the lightning runs down the left wing, he understands all of that will come slowly. ‘Wayne Rooney is another player I look up to,’ he explains. ‘He’s the captain of the national team and that’s something I would like to try to do. ‘I’d love to be a captain - of England and Arsenal. Leading by example off the pitch and on it. It would be a dream. ‘Right now, it’s about getting in the squad first. You look at Luke Shaw, see him go to the World Cup last summer, it shows you how fast things can change. ‘Raheem Sterling is a good friend of mine, Ross Barkley; young players are getting their chance. But now it’s about taking it step-by-step. There’s no rush.’ The Together for England Roadshow is a nationwide drive aimed at inspiring current and future Three Lions fans by strengthening the national side’s relationship with local communities. Following on from the release of the England DNA philosophy, the roadshows will look to encourage a consistent thread of national pride aimed at creating a better England, both on and off-the-field.

19-year-old Akpom scored Thierry Henry-esque goal in training . It led to an his team-mates comparing him to Arsenal's French icon . Akpom has been involved in Arsene Wenger's first team squad . He joined the north London club at the age of six . Admits he'd like to captain Arsenal and England once day . CLICK HERE for all the latest Arsenal news .

 in a lovely, dipping goal from 22 yards.
A number of more experienced players on the pitch, watching from the sidelines, broke into applauding whoops and the 17-year-old striker grinned shyly. His teammates, who had watched from a far-field pitch, surrounded him, and the players still in the training ground made their way across to congratulate him.
A small, sweet moment in a training ground where, amid a sea of bright-eyed teenagers, it can be hard to tell one from another.
“We were talking about it a lot,” a 17-year-old defender called Yassin Fortune said later. “Everybody loves Chuba. Chuba’s young, he’s fresh. He’s the new boy.”
For now, the striker is the new kid with Arsenal. The club signed Akpom from a youth team in his home city of Lincoln in September. He is one of three teenagers who made their first team debuts in the past week in the Gunners’ FA Cup third-round tie against Coventry City and FA Youth Cup semifinal against Chelsea.
Born in London but raised in a suburb of the U.K. capital, Akpom was given an England Under-17s call-up in the summer by then-England coach Steve Cooper, who had known the striker since he was a 13-year-old for the Under-15s squad.
But the forward went to U.S. soccer scouts in Europe, where he has impressed for Arsenal's youth team and in matches such as the one in Coventry.
At 6-foot-3, Akpom was in his element during the Under-18s’ 3-0 win, providing plenty of space for teammates up top to maneuver and shoot at goal.
“We wanted to move him out wide,” Arsenal coach Steve Bould said afterward. “We said, ‘You go and support the striker.’”
With only days before the Under-18 team next plays, Akpom said he is eager to keep playing and improve on his recent performances. He is also eager to spend more time around his teammates.
“They’re like a family,” he said. “I’ve made friends here. I like to be here. It’s easier for me to get along with the guys.”
For now, he has a chance to see more of them. The Under-18s are in the quarterfinals of the


Democratic senators remain irritated with their GOP colleagues who last week sent a letter to Iranian leaders undercutting President Barack Obama, but they will still back bipartisan legislation that would give Congress final say over a nuclear deal. Enough members of the president's party have signaled support for that bill and another that would impose new sanctions on Iran if it doesn't make an agreement with negotiators that the White House would be powerless to stop the measures from going into effect once passed. The Obama administration and its international partners now have until March 24 to set up the framework for a deal. Scroll down for video . Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, a Republican, center, is flanked by the committee's ranking member, Sen. Robert Menendez, a Democrat, right, and Sen. James Risch, a Republican, as they listen to Secretary of State John Kerry, center, back to camera, testify on Capitol Hill last week. Corker and Menendez are the chief sponsors of one of the bills that would restrict the executive branch's negotiating authority . After that, a dozen Democratic senators, including Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Affairs committee, have said they will join with the GOP majority to pass bills inserting themselves into the process. One would levy additional sanctions on Iran after June 30 if it doesn't agree to the final terms of a deal, though monthly waivers would be allowed should more time be requested. The other would give the Senate the power to reject within 60 days any pact the executive branch makes with Iran. Democrats who spoke with Politico voiced their displeasure with the 47 GOP senators who wrote a letter to Iran notifying the country's leaders that any contract it makes with the Obama administration would be nullified when a new president takes office in January 2017, whereas most members of the upper chamber would be in office for years to come. But that hasn't changed their position on the core issue, they've said. 'The letter’s incredibly unfortunate and inappropriate,' Heitkamp said.'That doesn’t diminish my support for the legislation that we introduced.' Michigan Sen. Gary Peters similarly said the missive was 'simply unacceptable' and 'brought hyperpartisanship to an issue that we need to maintain our bipartisanship in.' He added: 'That doesn’t change my support for that bill. … I stay firm.' Blumenthal last week called Republicans' actions 'unconscionable' and bemoaned them for disrespecting the president. At the time, he said the bipartisan coalition of senators willing to buck the White House was 'in tatters.' Blumenthal told CNN that he was determined to 'stitch it back together,' though. A week later it appeared that the group was holding strong and that Senate Foreign Relations Bob Corker, one of just seven Republican senators who did not sign the 'open letter,' was correct in predicting last Thursday that the whole thing would blow over. 'Let a couple days go by. We think there’s going to be really ignited momentum,' Corker had told Politico. Nobody’s dropping out. We’ve had reaffirmed commitment.' Democratic senators remain irritated with their GOP colleagues who last week sent a letter to Iranian leaders, but they will still back bipartisan legislation that would give Congress final say over a nuclear deal. Freshman Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, pictured here last Wednesday on Capitol Hill, authored the missive to Tehran . Meanwhile, Republicans who did sign the letter triumphantly declared on the Sunday news shows that they had no 'regrets' about sending Tehran the strongly worded message. 'I stand by the letter,' National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Rodger Wicker said on NBC's Meet the Press. 'I think it's interesting that we've had so much talk about process, just like we've had talk about process with Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech, rather than dealing with the substance,' the Mississippi Republican asserted, referring to House Republican leadership's end run around the White House earlier this year when it invited Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told CNN he thinks it was 'fair' for Republicans to explain that Congress will be involved in the process one way or another. 'I don’t think it was a mistake,' he said of the message to Tehran. 'The administration would like to have a distraction, but the point is the subject of the matter,' the GOP leader said. 'Apparently, the Obama administration is on the cusp of entering into a very bad deal with one of the worst regimes in the world.' Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, the author of the GOP letter, said on CBS' Face the Nation that 'Iran’s leaders needed to hear the message loud and clear.' 'I can tell you they are not hearing the message from Geneva,' he told show host Bob Schieffer. Secretary of State John Kerry, who has primarily led talks with Tehran on behalf of the U.S., lambasted letter signers on Sunday, saying, 'I’ve never seen anything like this.' Kerry, a former Massachusetts senator, warned that negotiations would likely extend beyond the end of the month. 'We believe very much that there’s not going to be anything that’s going to change in April or May or June that suggests that a decision you can’t make now will be made then,' he said in a separate appearance on Face the Nation. Secretary of State John Kerry, who has primarily led talks with Tehran on behalf of the U.S., warned Sunday that negotiations would likely extend beyond Democrats' deadline for an agreement framework- March 24 . The White House has threatened to veto Senate legislation interfering with the administration's attempt to convince Tehran to put aside its nuclear ambitions. Obama's chief of staff Denis McDonough again told Corker, a sponsor of the 60-day review bill along with predecessor Menendez, in a Saturday note that the president would not sign legislation usurping his ability to unilaterally approve these types of agreements with foreign governments. McDonough said in the letter to Corker that the White House has 'welcomed Congress’ important role' in talks before essentially instructing the legislative branch to butt out. The Corker-Menendez legislation 'goes well beyond ensuring that Congress has a role to play in any deal with Iran,' McDonough contended, and could set a 'potentially damaging precedent.' On Monday, the White House reiterated its stance that Congress has thoroughly been consulted during negotiations and vowed to continue involving the legislature when the time comes to talk about removing sanctions on Iran. Claims to the contrary are 'baloney,' the president's spokesman, Josh Earnest, said, . Earnest said that legislation giving Congress 60 days to reject a deal would suggest to the Iranians that the United States may not stick to its end of the bargain. 'We can't have a situation where you have people in the Congress back seat driving,' the Obama administration official said. If Democrats and Republicans in the Senate stick together, the White House will not be able undo their work. Supporters of the bills now number in the mid 60s. A vote of 66 lawmakers or more in favor of the measures would tie the president's hands. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said Sunday it was 'unrealistic' for the White House to think that Congress wouldn't have a say in any dealings with Iran, however. 'I have supported the negotiations to this point, but any deal that touches upon the congressional statutory sanctions is gonna get a review of Congress, and the only question is are you going to have a constructive, deliberate bipartisan process, or are you going to be rushed and partisan,' he said on Meet the Press.

The White House would be powerless to stop the measures from going into effect once passed if as many Democrats as expected defect . One bill would levy additional sanctions on Iran if it doesn't agree to the final terms of a deal; the other would give the Senate the power to reject any pact the executive branch makes with the country . The Obama administration and its international partners now have until March 24 to set up the framework for an agreement or the Senate will act . Congress' complaints are 'baloney' White House spokesman said Monday . 'We can't have a situation where you have people in the Congress back seat driving,' he said .

 have said they will join with Senate Republicans to pass the measure that a filibuster is not likely.
Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said Wednesday that he "hopes the White House will change its position" on the proposed sanctions.
Democrats, including Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.), are still angry at the senators who sent the letter: Sens. Bob Corker (Tenn.) and Tim Kaine (Va.), both veterans, and newer members, Jim Risch (Idaho), Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), and Orrin Hatch (Utah).
“You have a great responsibility, a great duty to the country, to vote in the national interest and not in your own political interest. But what have you done? You have used the U.S. Senate to undermine and threaten a process that may well result in the greatest diplomatic achievement in the history of this country, and that was just wrong,” Reid told the four senators Tuesday in a scolding meeting.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) is a leader of the “Gang of Four” Democratic senators who will introduce legislation that would give Congress authority to review and reject a final nuclear deal with Iran. Other Democrats are expected to sign on to the bill.
But some Republican senators said Wednesday that Congress' role in reviewing a deal is less important than keeping Obama from reaching one in the first place.
“Why would we want to pre-approve a bad agreement when we have the tools, which we do, to approve a good agreement and preclude a bad agreement? So I just think that's the way that the United States ought to approach this, is in favor of a good agreement not against a bad agreement,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said.
That view is echoed by a number of senators, who said the letter, sent to Iranian leaders, is an attempt to counter Obama's outreach to Iran.
McCain also said it was too late in the process for Congress to use a review provision.
Some lawmakers said the effort was doomed from the start.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) told reporters Tuesday that lawmakers were “making a mistake by sending a letter to the Iranians.”
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said the four senators and their colleagues would try “to change [the president's] policy


There's a first time for everything, isn't there? First time in a new country. First time you go on a holiday that leaves you speechless. And the first time you take one of those 'selfies' that everyone is talking about. The country was Burma, which has  just started opening up to touris, and since the best way to see the sights is by taking a river cruise, I booked up for a few nights onboard. 'A floating paradise': A river cruise on the Sanctuary Ananda was the best way to see the sights . The brochure promised enchantment and luxury, along with the chance to experience this fascinating land close up. I have to say, they were true to their promise. The boat, Sanctuary Ananda, is basically a floating paradise. The first thing I did when I got to my cabin was throw open the French doors and step on to the veranda. The second thing was to clamber on to the fluffy nest of a bed and enjoy the sight of a new world sliding past my windows. At this point, I promised myself that one day I would lie there and watch the sunrise. Next morning, thanks to jet lag, that's exactly what I did. It was so superb, I set my alarm so I could enjoy it every day. Ox-cart ride anyone? Stan enjoyed his bumpy ride in the back of the taxi . The only way to see the temples.... from a balloon . Our guide later explained that the owners of Sanctuary Ananda, obviously aware of the negative impact tourism can sometimes have on real lives like these, are working with the village elders to plan for the future. The first fruits of this philanthropic project are a full-time teacher and a library in the village. The next few days passed in a blur of excitement. We stopped off to explore ancient ruins and temples that were still very much in use. One day I found myself wandering along a dusty path, wilting in the heat. I hailed a passing ox cart, which had the word 'taxi' scrawled on the side, and got a delightfully bumpy lift back to the shore. Next morning I was up before the sun had even thought about rising. I couldn't sleep, and couldn't face breakfast. Truth be told, I could hardly stop myself from doing a dance. The reason was simple. I live in Bristol, which is pretty much home of the hot air balloon. I've always wanted to go up in one of these outsized cuddly toys, but for one reason or another I've never got round to it. Until now. So there I was, on a gorgeous boat in a land of loveliness, crossing my fingers for good ballooning weather. Luckily, the wind stayed away and the captain announced that conditions were perfect. A few of us scampered up the bank and climbed into a vintage coach that would carry us to the take-off field. The balloon sighed into the sky just in time for the sun to rise over the 2,000 temples of Bagan. As balloon rides go, it was magical. The early morning sunlight shone through the mist, picking out temples and pagodas with golden sparks. That was when I decided it was time for my first selfie. I'm not saying it was the best picture I've ever taken, but it is definitely one click I am never going to forget. Days were spent exploring ancient ruins and temples that are still very much in use . Bagan at dusk: The ancient capital of Myanmar has more than 2,200 Buddhist temples and pagodas . On our last evening we were treated to a candlelit feast under the night sky. As I sat there thinking nothing could improve my world, a flurry of shooting stars whooshed overhead. Moments later, a harvest moon peeped over the horizon, lighting up the river. I actually had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Our host, Daniel, saw my dazed look and asked if I could think of any way, no matter how big or small, in which the company could improve my holiday experience. I'll be honest, I tried. I really did. I gave it my full attention. I desperately tried to think of something I would have changed. But I couldn't think of a thing. Not a single, solitary one. I had to turn to Daniel and admit the truth. It had been the perfect holiday. Abercrombie & Kent abercrombiekent.co.uk (01242 855 469) offers a six-night trip to Burma from £2,095pp, including return flights, overnight accommodation in Yangon, and a four-night cruise on Sanctuary Ananda (sanctuaryretreats.com) between Mandalay and Bagan. Return fares from Heathrow with Singapore Airlines (singaporeair.com) cost from £775pp. Through-fares combining rail travel from the South West to London with First Great Western are available. Visit rail-fly.com .

River cruise through Burma is a good way to see the sights . Hot air balloon rides offer great views of temples from above . Flag down an ox and cart for a taxi ride with a difference .

 raving about.
And that's how we met for the very first time, that moment when I took that photo. I have a feeling we are going to have many many moments like this. The moment when I look at it, I am still wondering how on earth did I take this. I am wondering what I saw, how my eyes saw what others couldn't, what I didn't see that you might. And even now, when I look at that photo, it reminds me of that very moment, the one where we took it. And I love it. And I love the story behind it. I wish you were there.
The first time I went out in public with my little baby in my tummy. I had a very clear idea of what we would look like after the first 8 month of our travels. I had to work out the clothes the best I could, and I had to make sure I will have enough clothes to wear and look good, but also be prepared for the sudden changes when it is time for baby number 2 (or if I won't have number 2 right away, I at least wanted to get started looking more pregnant). But we didn't do exactly that. The weather didn't quite cooperate with our plans.
The first time I was pregnant was also the first time I was abroad since the pregnancy, and it was quite a weird feeling. I don't travel pregnant very often, so it was weird to be away from all things I usually know and love and just be there, doing things I have already done several times before. I can say I have done some of them before. Being away from home. But this time there were no other distractions or places I knew well, which meant I had to get rid of all my routines and just follow my baby and get creative about how to make things work. It was an interesting experience. And it gave me my first taste of solo travelling. It turned out that it wasn't quite as difficult as I thought it would be. Maybe the baby helped me with it.
First time is always a learning process. It's like first day at school. You always have that feeling that people expect you to know a lot, but you really don't. And you don't like that feeling either. It can be quite intimidating. I can't tell you how many times we felt we had messed up on that first day of school. That we didn't know


Mental health checks in the civil aviation industry lack the rigour needed, a former BA pilot has claimed in the wake of this week's Germanwings disaster. Alastair Rosenschein, now an aviation consultant, made the comments after it was revealed co-pilot Andreas Lubitz hid an illness from his employers and crashed the plane into a mountain killing 149 people on board. 'This recent accident demonstrates that the mental health checks lack the rigour that is specifically required in a safety sensitive industry like civil aviation,' he said. Scroll down for video . Killer in the cockpit: Andreas Lubitz - pictured competing in a half-marathon in 2013 - was reportedly in the middle of a 'relationship crisis' when he crashed the Germanwings airliner into the Alps, killing himself and 149 others . German detectives were also pictured carrying computer equipment from Lubitz's family home in the small town north of Frankfurt . Potential breakthrough: German detectives carry evidence boxes from the 28-year-old's apartment on the outskirts of Dusseldorf on Thursday . Yesterday, the boss of Germanwings admitted Lubitz had slipped through the 'safety net' and should never have been flying. And today it was discovered the co-pilot hid an illness from his employers. Following a search of his Dusseldorf apartment, investigators revealed they had found torn-up sick leave notes - current ones and one issued for the day of the disaster. Lubitz locked the pilot out of the Airbus A320's cockpit before setting the plane's controls to descend into a rocky valley, French prosecutors said yesterday. He had previously been signed off from training with depression in 2008 and was reportedly receiving mental health support up until Tuesday's crash. The 28-year-old was also in the middle of the 'relationship crisis' with his girlfriend in the weeks before the crash and may have been struggling to cope with a break-up, German newspaper Bild reported. It was  claimed this morning that the couple may have previously been engaged to be married next year. Mr Rosenschein, who was previously a researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, added: 'The safety net has a very wide mesh and that mesh needs to be narrowed. 'Athough suicide among pilots is not uncommon, murder-suicide is extremely rare.' Slipped through the net: Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz had suffered from depression and ‘burnout’ which had held up his career . Investigators enter Lubitz's house on the outskirts of Dusseldorf yesterday as the probe into the crash continues . In a blunt admission, Carsten Spohr, the head of Lufthansa, which owns the budget airline, admitted Lubitz had slipped through the safety net. ‘The pilot had passed all his tests, all his medical exams,’ he said. ‘He was 100 per cent fit to fly without any restrictions. 'We have at Lufthansa, a reporting system where crew can report – without being punished – their own problems, or they can report about the problems of others without any kind of punishment. 'All the safety nets we are all so proud of here have not worked in this case.’ Lubitz passed one of the most rigorous assessments when he was accepted for flight training by Lufthansa, according to The Telegraph. The airline said Lubitz trained at the Lufthansa Flight Training School in Bremen. An assessment required by Germany's civil aviation authority, the DLR, plus standards imposed by Lufthansa were needed before he was accepted. However, although the process includes psychometric testing of the candidate's ability to work under pressure and handle stress, they do not examine personality or lifestyle more closely, The Telegraph reported. Lufthansa, like other airlines, does not operate a formal vetting process for aspiring pilots. Investigation:  French prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation for what appears to be a case of suicide involving mass murder . Search: Teams working in the difficult Alpine terrain clear scattered crash debris and search for bodies and belongings . Debris from the jet, operated by Lufthansa's Germanwings budget airline, was found near Barcelonnette . New information about Lubitz's life emerged just hours after police investigating the disaster began a four-hour search of his flat, which he is said to have shared with a girlfriend. Officers  found 'evidence of mental illness' but no suicide note, Der Spiegel reported. It is understood detectives have found significant material on Lubitz's computer, which they are now carefully examining for any explanation for his terrible actions. He reportedly received a year and half of psychiatric treatment and was at one point recommended to be examined by a doctor before flying. However, he passed his psychological assessments and was later considered fit to fly. Germany’s Federal Aviation Office confirmed this morning that Lubitz had a medical condition noted in his pilot’s records which required him to have a regular examination. Doctors giving pilots their regular medical checks assess their psychological soundness at the same time, according to the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority. This is done before they first fly and at regular intervals after that – once a year for under-40s and every six months for those over that age. Pilots are not made to sit detailed psychological tests, but the doctors are qualified to spot problems including signs of stress, fatigue and drug or alcohol abuse. CAA standards state: ‘During assessment of the applicant’s history, the doctor should make a general inquiry about mental health, which may include mood, sleep and alcohol use. ‘The doctor should observe the applicant during the process of the examination and assess the mental state of the applicant.’ A CAA spokesman said: ‘There is a psychological element to the pilots’ medical assessments. It forms part of the medical examination which pilots have to undergo to get their medical certificate without which they can’t fly.

Claims made after it was revealed Airbus A320 co-pilot crashed deliberately . Today it was discovered Andreas Lubitz hid an illness from his employers . Lufthansa flight training assessments don't examine personality or lifestyle . Lufthansa does not operate a formal vetting process for aspiring pilots .

 emerged that Andreas Lubitz had twice asked for psychiatric help from a doctor before he was cleared to fly a single-engine aircraft for Germanwings.
Germanwings flight 4U 9525 crashed into a mountain in France on Tuesday, killing all 150 people on board. Lubitz is believed to have deliberately crash-landed the plane, killing himself.
Germanwings pilot's request for help
Lubitz's request for help came in December 2011 while he was studying to be a co-pilot and was in the middle of training, according to The Telegraph. Lubitz reportedly contacted his doctor who spoke to the airline's own medical professionals, the paper reported.
The co-pilot had made the request through a special medical centre that is set up by the German airline's doctors to help staff and air crew who feel they might be at risk of falling into depression due to the stresses of the job.
The doctor interviewed Lubitz, reported The Telegraph, and was satisfied that he was well enough to fly. Lubitz was cleared in the interview to fly as a co-pilot but not to fly alone.
In January 2012, another interview took place after Lubitz started his course to become a pilot, according to German news agency DAPD. At this point he was still undergoing mental health checks, but after this interview was cleared to fly alone.
Despite a later interview in November 2012, in which Lubitz is said to have revealed his problems with depressions, he was still allowed to fly as a co-pilot until the day before the crash.
Psychological tests are not enough
While the psychological tests carried out by the Germanwings centre are a good way for airlines to look after the mental health of staff, they are not enough to guarantee mental health in such stressful jobs.
After learning that a pilot had lied on his medical record about a previous psychiatric episode, the European Agency for Safety and Air Navigation (EASA) said it would now extend its checks to co-pilots.
In January, the US Federal Aviation Administration banned the use of antidepressants that affected a pilot's cognitive functions - including decision making, memory and focus.
"I see many pilots struggle, many who come to me because they are not feeling right," said former Delta Airlines captain John Cox, who has advised airlines on training pilots. "If you were a truck driver and you've been up


A woman has told how she fulfilled a promise to her twin when she successfully fought to get her sex attacker jailed after she committed suicide. In a landmark legal case, Sharon Hennessy, 30, won justice for her sister Michelle who killed herself aged 27 in October 2012, a year after she was punched, kicked and sexually abused as she walked home from a night out. At the time of Michelle's death, police were pursuing a rape case against her attacker Sean Thackaberry, but they said they would close it because there was no chance of a conviction without her evidence. Michelle (left) and her twin Sharon, pictured together on their 21st birthday. Michelle committed suicide a year about being attacked after a night out. Sharon reveals how she fought to bring her sister's attacker to justice . Sean Thackaberry was jailed for five years in a landmark case over attacking Michelle Hennessy . But Sharon, of Kildare Town, Ireland, had promised her beloved twin she would not let her attacker walk free. The pledge was important to Sharon because after initially being charged with rape, Thackaberry was released on bail – and Michelle said she did not feel safe while he was on the streets. The family believe this was one of the reasons Michelle took her own life. Sharon reveals how Michelle - who was a fan of skydiving and nights out - changed after the attack. She said: ‘She was afraid and vulnerable and instead of travelling to far-flung corners like she had done, she spent her time sat by the fire, knitting. ‘I hardly ever saw her put on make-up and she never went out with friends, like she used to. ‘She’d been so proud of her girly locks and her sense of fashion, but afterwards she didn’t care. ‘We were furious that Thackaberry hadn’t been locked up and whenever Michelle left the house, his supporters would harass her. They sent her abusive messages online too, calling her a liar. ‘The taunts and threats ground her down until she didn’t feel human anymore.’ In October 2012 Michelle committed suicide at home. Her sister recalled finding out – and desperately trying to reach her twin’s body. She said: ‘I remember collapsing onto the stairs and screaming from the bottom of my belly. ‘I screamed for all the pain and emotion that my twin sister was never able to scream. I screamed for the devastation she buried inside her, until it slowly destroyed every inch of her being. ‘I screamed for the anger she felt at not being protected from the monster who stole her life. It was devastating.’ Michelle (left) and Sharon, pictured at three years old, had always been close and Sharon vowed to see her sister's attacker jailed, hiring a top lawyer and pestering police to keep the case open . Sharon, pictured at her 30th birthday (left) along with a tribute to her sister at the event (right) Michelle (right) and Sharon pictured together on their 27th birthday . Sharon was heartbroken when a lawyer told her family the ongoing case against Thackaberry would ‘never see the light of day’ because of her sister’s death. ‘It felt like the final nail in Michelle’s coffin,’ she said. ‘I felt like that monster was going to win – again.’ So she hired a top lawyer and repeatedly pestered the police for the case to be pursued – and the trial went ahead. In November 2013 Thackaberry, then 20, of Kildare Town, Ireland, appeared at Dublin’s Central Criminal Court where he admitted aggravated sexual assault. The court was told the former boxer had violently assaulted Michelle as he walked her home, dragging her onto wasteland around 250m from her home. Michelle pictured after skydiving in Spain. Her sister Sharon reveals how Michelle changed after the attack and wouldn't leave the house . Michelle - pictured (left) skydiving in Spain, and (right) on a night out afterwards - committed suicide a year after she was attacked by Sean Thackaberry after a night out . Remembering how Michelle felt after being attacked, her sister said: ‘She told me, “I thought I was going to die”.’ Sharon told how Thackaberry winked at her as he was jailed for five years at Dublin’s Central Criminal Court. Her sister said: ‘I’d made my sister that promise. ‘The lawyer said there hadn’t been a case in Irish history like Michelle’s, where someone was convicted after the victim had died. But we wouldn’t give up. ‘Michelle was dead because of what that man did to her. ‘We had hoped he would be prosecuted for rape, but it meant so much that Thackaberry had finally admitted what he’d done. ‘His sentence wasn’t long enough for what he’d done, but we were so relieved that we finally had justice for Michelle.’ She said she was now fighting for other victims. ‘They weren’t even going to look at her case and didn’t believe Michelle deserved justice,’ she said. ‘Michelle’s case set a precedent for future court cases. Hopefully there won’t be other victims like Michelle. But if there is, they won’t just be forgotten, like Michelle threatened to be. ‘People think it’s bad to talk about these things but, in fact, it’s one of the most important things in the world. ‘Because it’s only by talking about them that more women who feel lost like Michelle will go and get help.’ In the year after her sister's death, Sharon has helped raise more than €30,000 (£21,000) for suicide awareness.

Michelle Hennessy killed herself year after attack by Sean Thackaberry . Sharon won legal landmark case of conviction without evidence from twin . Hired lawyer, pestered police for case to be pursued and trial went ahead . Thackaberry was jailed for five years at Dublin Crown Court .

in 2007 after 12 years of sexual abuse. She was also fighting to get her abuser jailed. Police failed in their efforts to put him behind bars for the rape of a young girl - then he was freed and murdered a child. Miss Hennessy, from Sheffield, said the attacker - who she believed also killed two other victims - was now in prison for life after losing a battle to clear his name. She said: "I am delighted. He is in jail for the rest of his life but will probably be released in 2012. "I'm glad I stuck to my promise to my sister. I am sure she is looking down and smiling." The attacker, who was freed on police bail following the murder of eight-year-old Amber Peat, had been on the run for 14 years. He was finally jailed for life for murdering a second victim - then killed himself while awaiting a retrial for the rape of his victim - when his defence team failed to overturn his sentence. Miss Hennessy said: "We know from the post-mortem that he was not the only person in that caravan." The rapist was originally convicted in 1997. But in 2008 it emerged that two victims had come forward to allege he raped them. The second victim said the man who murdered her father had told her not to say anything when she went to police in 1997. The first victim, who was aged six, told police that she had been raped by the man in 1995. But that evidence could not be used because it had not been recorded "because of an error". "This is the justice system at its worst," said Mr Hennessy. "But I'm glad we got there and are at least one step closer to justice for my sister." It is believed he killed himself after receiving the "terrible news" that a jury had found him guilty. "That was the turning point for him," said Mr Hennessy. "When that news came out, he probably thought it was too much for him to deal with. "But he was not just a sick, dirty man who used to rape our sister. "There was always someone else with him, at least five or six other people." He said he believed the man had raped at least three other children. "He was not just some evil man, but a part of a group of people


You can search far and wide for the answer to a problem, but sometimes it is right under your nose. When Arsene Wenger sent Francis Coquelin on loan to Charlton in November it looked to be the final nail in the Frenchman's Arsenal career. The Gunners manager admitted as much recently, revealing he was prepared to let the midfielder leave in December. Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin (right) controls the ball during his side's win against QPR . The Frenchman wore a protective mask at Loftus Road after fracturing his nose against Everton . Coquelin, pictured challenging Sandro, has become the Gunners' midfield enforcer in recent months . But a spate of injuries in midfield saw Wenger recall Coquelin in December. The 23-year-old hasn't looked back. He's grasped his chance to become a key member of Arsenal's midfield with both hands, despite his reluctance to return to Arsenal from Charlton fearing he'd simply be warming the bench. There's an argument to suggest he's the most vital component in Wenger's plans at the present moment; the central midfield enforcer they've been crying out for in recent years. Just weeks after his Arsenal career looked to be drawing to a close, Coquelin is on the verge of agreeing a new long-term contract to stay at the Emirates Stadium. Wenger would like to say Coquelin's emergence has been pre-planned; a managerial masterstroke that has helped Arsenal turn their stuttering league form around. But that is far from the case. Coquelin played five games on loan at Charlton this season but has returned to be a first team regular . Coquelin's stint in the first team has earned him a new long-term contract with the Gunners . The Frenchman midfielder has propelled himself above compatriot Mathieu Flamini in the pecking order . Following three substitute appearances after his return from the Valley, Coquelin was handed a rare start against West Ham on December 28 in place of the injured Mathieu Flamini. He hasn't looked back. His energetic and mature displays alongside Santi Cazorla in central midfield have been a revelation - none more so than in the win at Manchester City in January. The concern with Coquelin has always been about his physical stature. Can his slender frame handle the rough and tumble of Premier League football? He's answered those questions unequivocally in recent weeks. Having fractured his nose in the recent win over Everton, the midfielder insisted upon playing on - only coming off in injury time after taking another blow to the face. Three days later he was back on the pitch, sporting a protective mask, in the narrow win over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. He's waited so long to prove himself in an Arsenal shirt, Coquelin's won't let a broken nose keep him on the sidelines now. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admitted that he was willing to let Coquelin leave the club before his return . Wenger is still interested in Southampton's defensive midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin (left) Coquelin, pictured in training, still needs to convince Wenger that he can play for Arsenal long-term . The big question is whether Coquelin is the long-term answer to Wenger's holding midfielder conundrum. After failing to sign an enforcer last summer, the Gunners will be back in the market for a midfield ball winner once more at the end of the season despite Coquelin's emergence. Morgan Schneiderlin, for the time being, is favourite to land the role provided Arsenal can strike a deal with Southampton, who will want at least £25milliom. That would leave Coquelin's regular place in Wenger's team selections under threat. For now Coquelin will be focusing on keeping his place in the team until the end of the season. The returns of Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere following injury spells will cast further questions over the Frenchman's role. But, for now, the shirt is Coquelin's to lose. Having waited so long for this chance - he'll be desperate to keep it that way.

Arsenal were set to release Francis Coquelin this summer . But he is now on the verge of signing a long-term contract at Arsenal . The Frenchman has impressed since returning from a loan at Charlton . Arsene Wenger remains interested in Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin . Coquelin must prove he can keep his place at Arsenal for years to come . READ: Schneiderlin denies Arsenal deal but refuses to commit to Saints . CLICK HERE for all the latest Arsenal news .

man's Arsenal coffin. The then 20-year-old had featured sparingly in the first half of Arsenal's 2013-14 campaign, making just three brief substitute appearances before a 19-minute spell of his finest form in mid-December.
When he returned to the club in early January, it appeared as though his chances of playing for Arsenal again were extremely slim. But the way Arsene Wenger has used him this term shows just what he thought of the youngster - and it was enough to convince the Frenchman to bring him back for a third season under his wing.
Coquelin has played 14 times for Arsenal this campaign. The most notable one is perhaps his man-of-the-match performance for the Gunners against Everton at the Emirates on Sunday. But the 24-year-old has also started against Hull City, Sunderland, Southampton and Manchester United this season, all of whom were games in which Arsenal were looking to secure something from. Coquelin is an industrious and tireless runner, who is just as comfortable breaking up play as he is spraying passes all around him. It may not be the most spectacular form of football, but Coquelin is crucial to Arsenal's performance in the big games.
In the first half against Hull City, the Arsenal midfielder was the only player to hold any sort of shape during the opening 45 minutes. While his passing was not great in the first half, the youngster's energy and willingness to get on the ball was. He played 35 passes in that first 45 minutes, more than any other player on the pitch in the game, with an 82% pass completion rate. Only Jack Wilshere bettered him on the pitch.
But in the second half, Coquelin did the same, only better. Of his 31 passes played, 26 of those were accurate, again only bettered by Wilshere. What is particularly impressive about this is that Wilshere has some of the best passing percentages in the Premier League. (Coquelin and Coquelin are on 82% and 80% respectively.) While Coquelin may not boast such a high passing percentage, his positioning in the first 20 minutes was far superior. He always positioned himself to receive the ball and was always one or two yards in front of any of Hull's midfielders, allowing him to make quicker decisions on the ball. At one point he was two yards