Kuala Lumpur (CNN)The initial hours after the disappearance of flight MH370 were characterized by confusion and chaos, as air traffic controllers struggled to comprehend the situation and radar operators failed to take notice, according to data contained in an interim report. The report -- released one year after the disappearance of the Boeing 777 and its 239 passengers and crew --- provides a detailed picture of delays and protocol violations before the launch of the search and rescue. An astonishing five hours and 13 minutes passed between the last communication from the flight crew and Kuala Lumpur's first distress signal concerning the missing plane. And it was another five hours before the first search flights took off to try to find it. CNN's aviation correspondent Richard Quest said he believes the delayed response was the most disturbing thing revealed by the interim report -- "the lack of somebody pushing the big red button that says crisis and panic." A year later after the plane's disappearance, not a single trace of Flight MH370 has been found despite extensive search efforts. Investigators believe the wreckage lies somewhere on the bottom of the Indian Ocean, based on the analysis of satellite communications data. The first sign that something was wrong with flight MH370 came after plane failed to check in with Vietnamese Air Traffic Controllers after leaving Malaysian airspace. According to protocol, Ho Chi Minh ATC should have informed their Kuala Lumpur counterparts (KL ATCC) about this within five minutes. Instead they waited 20. When Ho Chi Minh finally did inform Kuala Lumpur, the confusion was evident, as seen in transcripts of the conversation released Sunday. KL ATCC asked three times at what point Ho Chi Minh lost contact, then went on to express concern at the delay, asking "Why you didn't tell me first? Within five minutes you should be (sic) called me." The confusion only got worse after Malaysia Airlines mistakenly told Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Controllers they could see the flight somewhere over Cambodia. It took an hour and a half to clear this up, after Malaysia Airlines admitted to controllers they were only looking at the projected flight track. Malaysia Airlines CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said the misinformation was a momentary lapse by a company employee. "Our information was only to be as a guide. We are not an ATC per se. We don't have radar," he told CNN. The watch supervisor then waited another two hours to activate the rescue coordination center. Still another hour went by before before Kuala Lumpur issued the distress signal. No explanation for the delay is given in the interim report, which is composed of factual data and provides no conclusions or recommendations. After the air traffic controllers lost contact with MH370, the plane continued to fly within the range of multiple radar systems belonging to four different countries. Yet little seems to have been done with the data in the immediate hours after the plane disappeared. The interim report says that "for unknown reasons" Indonesia's Medan Radar did not see the flight. And Thailand "did not pay much attention," since MH370's flight path did not fall within its borders. Malaysian military radar tracked the flight for an additional hour, including its turn back across the Malay Peninsula. Despite this information, search and rescue teams did not begin expanding the search area for a full day. Though the interim report makes no mention of it, a failure by the Malaysian military to alert others to the relevant radar data may be blame. A briefing document prepared by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said military authorities failed to share the final radar fix of MH370 with their civilian counterparts for 20 hours. CNN approached Malaysia's Ministry of Defence for comment but is yet to receive a response . Another working document notes that MH370's turn back might have been discovered much earlier, if the military and non-military agencies had coordinated better. "In essence, a week or more was lost in the initial search because of poor civil/military cooperation," reads the ICAO working document. The interim report released by Malaysian investigators on Sunday provides no information about when the military radar data was shared with other authorities. It's impossible to know if a speedier response from air traffic controllers, or more immediate access to radar data, would have changed the course of events for MH370. But it would have provided authorities with more time, either to track the flight or to search the ocean before the batteries died in the emergency locator beacons. Looking back at the series of miscommunication between air traffic controllers and the radar lapses also provides valuable lessons that could help future search and rescue operations. Though the MH370 investigation team did not draw lessons in the current report, it plans to provide safety recommendations in the months ahead. Journalist Chan Kok Leong contributed to this report.

Interim report exposes delays and inaction after MH370 disappeared . Flight carrying 239 people and crew has not been found, one year later . Took 10 hours for the first search flights to take off, according to report .

The documents, published by the Malaysian government, reveal that flight officials spent six hours without knowledge of the plane's disappearance and the lack of communication was exacerbated by the fact that Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 vanished over a large area.
The findings are the first report released by the Malaysian government since the aircraft disappeared on March 8 with 239 people on board.
The first contact between the plane and ground control was 12 minutes after it lost contact with a satellite at 1:07 a.m. Malaysia time. The first indication of the plane's possible hijacking came from a satellite data link that went offline at 1:19 a.m.
A total of nine possible locations were found for the plane, according to the documents, which are based on recordings from the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System, which monitors air-to-ground and ground-to-ground communications of pilots.
However, because the data was not being shared with the National Operations Control Centre in Kuala Lumpur, there was no single location for the plane. The lack of information was compounded by the air traffic system being unable to confirm that the plane was missing, because a distress beacon had not been activated.
As a result, the search area was expanded in two directions and officials began to take the situation more seriously.
The information was then distributed to various departments within the aviation industry, including airlines, Malaysia Airlines, the Malaysian military, the Malaysian Transport Ministry, airports and air traffic controllers.
The report also indicates that Malaysia Airlines staff were warned of a potential problem in the early hours of the day because it was unable to track the plane.
A senior Malaysia Airlines manager sent an email to the airline's chief operating officer at 5:32 a.m. local time on March 8.
"Please be alerted that a flight was unable to communicate for at least two hours and is still showing in the system as in-flight," the manager, who was not named, wrote.
"Please clarify the status of the aircraft."
The report indicates that the air traffic controllers at Kuala Lumpur's Subang airport lost contact with flight MH370 at 1:06 a.m., before it eventually disappeared.
A search area of about 1,000 kilometers, spanning the Andaman Sea and southern side of the Malay Peninsula, was established at 7:09 a.m.
At 3:27 p.m. local time, an urgent call from the military to search the area


Serena Williams cruised into the third round of the Miami Open on Saturday with a comfortable victory over Monica Niculescu. The two players had failed to get on court on Friday due to the weather but the delay did not distract the top seed and she claimed a 6-3, 6-1 victory to set up a clash with 15-year-old CiCi Bellis. Williams had withdrawn from the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open last week with a knee injury but insisted her fitness was not a concern. Serena Williams cruised into the Miami Open third round with a comfortable victory over Monica Niculescu . 'It was a little sore in practice, but it was okay today,' she told www.wtatennis.com. 'I really didn't feel it to be honest. On the court you have so much adrenaline going, and the adrenaline kind of kills it. 'So I was surprised. I felt pretty good.' Sixth seed Eugenie Bouchard was also playing catch up after the weather and she made a shock exit as she lost 6-0, 7-6 (7/4) to qualifier Tatjana Maria. In the remaining second round matches to be completed, Sara Errani beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) and Angelique Kerber was a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 winner over Heather Watson. Williams insisted her fitness was not a concern following the knee injury suffered during last week's BNP Paribas Open semi-finals . Fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki moved into the last-16 with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Kaia Kanepi and will next face Venus Williams, a 6-4, 7-6, (7/3) winner against Samantha Stosur. Daria Gavrilova, the Russian wild card who shocked Maria Sharapova earlier in the week, continued her fine run with a 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) win over Kurumi Nara to set up a clash with Karolina Pilskova who beat Paula Badosa Gibert 7-5 6-1. Ekaterina Makarova was a 6-0, 6-4 victor over Elina Svitolina and will next face Andrea Petkovic, who beat Kristina Mladenovic 6-0, 6-2, while Carla Suarez Navarro's 6-0 6-4 win over Alize Cornet earned her a clash with Agnieszka Radwanska, a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 winner against Irina Camelia-Begu. Caroline Wozniacki (above) moved into the last-16 with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Kaia Kanepi . In the men's event, top seed Novak Djokovic overcame a wobble to beat Martin Klizan. The Serb won the first set to love but then lost the second before closing out a 6-0, 5-7, 6-1 win and he will next face Steve Darcis who beat Gilles Muller 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3. Fourth seed Kei Nishikori beat Mikhail Youzhny 6-2 6-1 and will face Viktor Troicki, who overcame Simone Bolelli 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, while fifth seed Milos Raonic was a 6-1 6-4 winner against Teymuraz Gabashvili, next meeting Jeremy Chardy who beat Jurgen Melzer 6-4 6-1. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won his first match of the season after a spell out with injury as he beat Tim Smyczek . David Ferrer was a 6-1, 6-1 winner over Federico Delbonis to set up a clash with Lukas Rosol, a 7-6 (7/0), 6-3 winner over Alexander Zverev. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won his first match of the season after a spell out with an arm injury as he beat Tim Smyczek 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to set up an all-French clash with Gael Monfils who won 3-6 6-2 7-6 (7/4) against Filip Krajinovic. Fernando Verdasco will face fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the third round after a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 win over James Duckworth while there were also victories for Jack Sock, John Isner, Alejandro Falla, Juan Monaco, Grigor Dimitrov, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Jerzy Janowicz, David Goffin, Adrian Mannarino, Gilles Simon and Thomaz Bellucci.

Serena Williams earns 6-3, 6-1 victory against Monica Niculescu to reach Miami Open thirst round . Williams had withdrawn from BNP Paribas Open last week with a knee injury . American star insists she 'really didn't feel' any knee pain .

 from moving into the next round with a 6-1 6-2 victory.
The Romanian was broken in the fourth game of the first set and did not pose much of a challenge in the second set as Serena raced to a 6-1 6-2 victory in 65 minutes. The American player will face Alisa Kleybanova next after she was granted the Russian walkover.
It's been a tough few weeks for Serena who lost early at Indian Wells and the Miami Masters in the previous two weeks. Despite that she has started well in Florida, with her wins over Monica Niculescu and Alisa Kleybanova giving her an easy passage into the third round.
The match against Niculescu was interrupted on Friday due to bad weather. The Romanian's lack of fitness was plain for all to see. The two players were delayed on court for more than an hour and a half before the game could be resumed.
The American took full advantage of her opponent's fatigue and raced to a 6-1 6-2 victory with some impressive tennis on display.
The two-time champion was not in any kind of trouble and her return game was simply too strong for Niculescu.
"I didn't see Monica until just now," Serena said about her lack of knowledge of Niculescu's fitness at the time. "It's part of the game, I guess. We waited around for so long, but it didn't affect me at all. I was so focused."
Serena's form going forward is difficult to predict. There will be some concern about her fitness as she has been struggling for some time. The Miami Open will be her first tournament for four weeks as she had some time off due to a leg injury.
She will face Alisa Kleybanova next after the Russian was granted a walkover due to a leg injury suffered during her second round match against Julia Glushko.
Kleybanova has been struggling with a shoulder injury which saw her forced to pull out of the Fed Cup earlier in the year.
Serena is yet to face an opponent who has posed a threat in this year's Miami Open, with her toughest match yet to come against Jelena Jankovic. The Serbian has the experience to trouble Serena, who was beaten in their last encounter in Doha.
Elsewhere Venus Williams also progressed to the third round with a 6-4


Thanks to missions like Nasa's Curiosity rover, we know Mars once had water - but until now we didn't know how much. Scientists have provided the best estimates yet, claiming it once had more water than the Arctic Ocean - and the planet kept these oceans for more than 1.5 billion years. The findings suggest there was ample time and water for life on Mars to thrive, but  over the last 3.7 billion years the red planet has lost 87 per cent of its water - leaving it barren and dry. Nasa scientists in Maryland have calculated how much water was once on Mars. They found that 3.7 billion years ago it had more than the Arctic Ocean. Most of this would have been in the northern hemisphere of the planet (illustrated). Since then, 87% of the water has been lost to space, with the rest stored in ice at the poles . The study by scientists at Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is the first to determine just how much water Mars had in its past. During its wet Noachian period - 4.1 to 3.7 billion years ago - it is estimated that it had enough water to cover the entire surface in a liquid layer 450 feet (137 metres) deep. However, it’s likely that most of the water formed an ocean that occupied the northern hemisphere of Mars, which would have been as deep as one mile (1.6km) in places - comparable to the Mediterranean Sea on Earth. Published in the journal Science, the research estimates that, in total, what is now the planet’s arid northern plains would have contained at least 12.4 million cubic miles (20 million cubic kilometres) of water. Microsoft’s ‘HoloLens' headset, which allows wearers to see 3D images superimposed over their vision, may look like it belongs in a sci-fi film. And now Nasa has revealed the prototype technology will be used to enable its scientists to work virtually on Mars. The headset will work with OnSight software to give scientists a means to plan experiments on the red planet, with the help of the Curiosity rover. The software was developed jointly by the two companies, including a team at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. ‘Our study provides a solid estimate of how much water Mars once had, by determining how much water was lost to space,’ said Dr Geronimo Villanueva, first author of the paper and a scientist at Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Center. ‘With this work, we can better understand the history of water on Mars.’ It is thought that while 87 per cent of the water has since been lost to space, owing largely to the planet losing its atmosphere, the remaining 13 per cent resides in the ice caps. But in the past, the ocean would have covered about 20 per cent of the planet’s surface area. The most interesting conclusion, though, is that Mars stayed wet for longer than previously thought, which means it was habitable for longer. ‘We now know that Mars was wet for a much longer time than we thought before,’ said Dr Michael Mumma, co-author of the study and Senior Scientist at Nasa Goddard. ‘Curiosity shows it was wet for 1.5 billion years, already much longer than the period of time needed for life to develop on Earth. ‘And now we see that Mars must have been wet for a period even longer.’ During its wet Noachian period, 4.1 to 3.7 billion years ago, it is estimated that Mars had enough water to cover the entire surface in a liquid layer 450 feet (137 metres) deep. However, it’s likely that most of the water formed an ocean that occupied the northern hemisphere of Mars (illustrated) as deep as one mile in places . It is thought that while 87% of the water has since been lost to space (illustrated), owing largely to the planet losing its atmosphere, the remaining 13% resides in the ice caps. But in the past, the ocean would have covered about 20 per cent of the planet’s surface area . The research was carried out using two telescopes at the Keck Observatory on Hawaii and the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile. To make the discovery, the scientists produced maps showing the distribution of normal water in the Martian atmosphere and 'heavy' water containing deuterium, a more massive form of hydrogen. By analysing the ratio of 'heavy' to regular water they showed that Mars must have lost a volume of water 6.5 times larger than the amount trapped in the present day polar ice caps. An ancient ocean containing the lost water would have covered 19 per cent of the planet’s surface. It would have had a greater volume than the Arctic Ocean, which contains 18,750,000 cubic kilometres (11.7 million cubic miles) of water. By comparison, the Atlantic Ocean covers 17 per cent of the surface of the Earth and contains more than 310 million cubic kilometres (192.6 million cubic miles). It is possible that Mars once had even more water, some of which may have been deposited below the surface. Because the new maps reveal microclimates and changes in the atmospheric water content over time, they may also prove to be useful in the search for underground water. An ancient ocean on Mars containing the lost water would have covered 19 per cent of the planet’s surface. It would have had a greater volume than the Arctic Ocean (shown), which contains 18,750,000 cubic kilometres (11.7 million cubic miles) of water . Missions like the Curiosity rover (illustrated) have shown that Mars was once wet for 1.5 billion years, but the scientists now think it had water for even longer. This is longer than the time it took life on Earth to arise, providing tantalising hints that Mars might once have been habitable .

Nasa Goddard scientists in Maryland studied past water on Mars . They found that 3.7 billion years ago it had more than the Arctic Ocean . Most of this would have been in the northern hemisphere of the planet . Since then, 87% has been lost to space and the rest is in ice at the poles . But the scientists now know Mars was wet for more than 1.5 billion years . This is 'longer than the period of time needed for life to develop on Earth'

, although all of it was frozen.
The study, published this week in the journal Science, uses two models: one that calculates how much water Mars would need to hold a planet-wide glacier of the sort observed on the Red Planet, and one that accounts for the amount of water that was most likely present at the time, based on current estimates of erosion rates and Martian atmosphere.
The authors say that even though their estimates include the water "lost" to Mars' atmosphere, the frozen amount exceeds the volume in Arctic ice caps by an order of magnitude. The study finds the planet had three times the volume of ice-water-covered Earth.
To arrive at such a large figure, the authors first looked at surface features, estimating the volume of glacial deposits and extrapolating those to the whole planet. This gave them the 'lower bound' of Mars' frozen water content.
Then they looked at water loss to the atmosphere, which has the benefit of accounting for Mars' high temperature and low pressure compared to Earth's. It found that there is 'enough' water vapor and water to form large amounts of ice deposits on Mars today, and that water loss from the atmosphere is most likely responsible for the lack of large surface ice deposits today.
This estimate is higher than that found by a study published just over a year ago - possibly because the previous study, conducted at the University of Arizona, used lower atmospheric temperatures, with Mars' atmosphere at the lowest being -133.8 degrees Celsius.
The team's estimate for Mars' total ice volume also provides an upper limit on the amount of water (in terms of mass) that the Red Planet once held. If "most of the total amount of water was frozen when present on the planet, then the total amount of water frozen would be about 0.6 of the present atmosphere, a value of 10-15 times the mass of the atmosphere".
And it's not just water that was involved in this process. The Martian water, ice, and gas interactions that took place gave rise to a lot of salt as well. "Our model provides one more piece of evidence for a briny environment, and it is possible that brine oceans could have existed."
The two models used, known as the "H2O-ice equilibrium" model and the "H2O-ice-gas equilibrium" model, are complementary, the study notes. "This is an important lesson


The family of a three-year-old boy killed in a Missouri house fire while police used a stun gun on his stepfather as the man tried to save the child are now suing for city of Louisiana for wrongful death. Riley Rieser was killed in the early hours of October 31, 2013. As his stepfather, Ryan Miller, attempted to enter the burning house, a police officer tasered Mr Miller three times and handcuffed him to stop him going inside. 'I was hysterical, yes, because I wanted to save my son,' Mr Miller told the Louisiana Press Journal. Scroll down for video . Riley Rieser, 3, was tragically killed in a house fire on October 31, 2013, in Louisiana, Missouri. His family are now suing the city after the boy's stepfather, Ryan Miller, was tasered and handcuffed by police . Grandmother Lori Miller said she witnessed two officers use the stun gun three times, twice after Ryan Miller had been handcuffed. Mr Miller suffered chest burns and was taken to the city jail, although he was later released without being charged. City Administrator Bob Jenne called the police response a 'judgment call'. However the family say it was the wrong judgement, and are now suing on the grounds of excessive, negligent infliction of emotional distress, wrongful death and false imprisonment. The lawsuit was filed March 12 and was obtained by Courthouse News. The family are seeking unspecified damages . 'Officers Jeffrey Salois and William Harrison prevented Ryan Miller from entering the home to save his stepson Riley Rieser by forcibly moving and by repeatedly Tasing Ryan Miller, including once in the police cruiser as Riley Rieser was being removed from the home,' the lawsuit reads. Police used a stun gun three times on step-father Ryan Miller (left) and handcuffed him so he couldn't run into his burning home in an attempt to save young Riley (right) Riley Miller's aunt Emily has described the actions of the police as 'heartless' and she doesn't think they handled the situation correctly . The original 911 call for the fire came in at 12.58am and firefighters arrived at the scene at 1.03am. Both of Riley's parents were taken to Memorial Medical Center's burn unit in Springfield, Ill. by family members for treatment. Cathy Miller suffered a burn to the cornea in one of her eyes. Both she and her husband were released from hospital on Thursday night. Lori Miller said police stunned her son Ryan as he tried to get back in the house. 'He tried to get back in the house to get the baby,' she told KHQA. 'They took my son to jail because he tried to save his son.' Riley's aunt Emily Miller has publicly criticized how police handled the situation. Mom Cathy Miller (right) is mourning the loss of her youngest son Riley, pictured on the right in the blue pool . 'It's just heartless. How could they be so heartless? And while they all just stood around and waited for the fire department, what kind of police officer wouldn't try and save a three-year-old burning in a house?' she told KHQA. 'We've been going through pictures and he's just smiling in every picture. He was just a happy, go-lucky kid.' The fire started in a recreation room at the rear of the house. The official cause was faulty wiring, according to the complaint. The parents had fallen asleep watching television, but were woken by the smoke alarm and managed to get out of the building via a rear door in the same room. They then called 911. Wreck: A city police officer fired his stun gun at Ryan Miller as he tried to re-enter his burning home, which was destroyed . Riley was asleep in his bedroom and so Ryan Miller ran to the front of the house and kicked in the front door. Police arrived as he was about to enter and an officer stunned him with a Taser. State Fire Marshal Investigator Scott . Stoneberger said that a firefighter in full gear attempted to enter the . home but the flames were too hot. Firefighters discovered Riley near the doorway to the bedroom from the front living room. Ryan Miller has another son who wasn't home at the time of the blaze.

Riley Miller, 3, died in a house fire in Louisiana, Missouri, in October 2013 . Cops used a stun gun three times on his step-father Ryan Miller as he tried to re-enter the burning building . Miller suffered chest burns and was taken to jail before later being released without charge . Riley's aunt described the actions of the police officers as 'heartless' and said Riley had been a 'happy-go-lucky kid' The family filed a lawsuit March 12 alleging excessive, negligent infliction of emotional distress, wrongful death and false imprisonment .

 after police deployed a stun gun to the chest of the man, Anthony Riley. Riley claimed that the stun gun failed to work, although witnesses claimed they saw it strike the man. Riley was then taken by emergency vehicle to the hospital. He died two days later, reportedly because his injuries were fatal.
The family is suing the city to the tune of $5 million, although police claim they are looking into the incident. The family of Riley claims they called police because a car was trying to get into the house. They claim that officers went inside to investigate, although it’s unknown exactly how they got inside. Riley’s older brother, Caleb Riley, claims that the officers kicked down his father’s door.
However, the police say that there was a broken window, but they didn’t kick it down; they used a “window punch” instead. Police say that when they entered the house, they found the child on the floor with burns. The window punch was used again to break down the bedroom door. At that point, witnesses heard what sounded like an electric stun gun.
The Louisiana Chief of Police says that the stun gun malfunctioned. They still haven’t determined why. They will have the department’s use of force expert look into the death.
The family’s attorney, however, says that the stun gun did not malfunction. He claims it’s evidence that the stun gun did work, not fail. He states that because the man had no heart rhythm, it couldn’t have been a faulty stun gun.
Meanwhile, the family and community grieved over the boy’s death.
This lawsuit may well turn on how the stun gun worked, how police got into the house to use the stun gun, and why a child had to die so that they could get inside. At its heart, it’s about whether police acted properly, and whether the stun gun worked, though how it worked may be just as important.
The case has a trial date set of February 2, 2021.
You are not your brother’s keeper.
Your brother is dead. You failed to protect him.
The next few years are going to be rough for you. You didn’t raise him. You weren’t part of his life. You are just now coming to realize that there was a little boy who loved you. You may go into shock after this. If you ever thought about suicide, you will almost certainly start to wonder what else


Sophie Brannan, 11, was killed when she was hit by Christopher Hannah in November last year . A heroin addict is facing a long jail sentence after he admitted killing an 11-year-old girl in a hit and run crash while on bail. Christopher Hannah was high on drugs when he ploughed into Sophie Brannan, her friend and her friend’s uncle as they walked home from local shops on November 14 last year. Hannah, 33, lost control of his hired Vauxhall Astra, mounted the pavement and hit the three victims so hard from behind they were thrown over the car. Sophie suffered catastrophic head injuries and died the following day in hospital. Her ten-year-old friend had a badly broken leg and the 36-year-old uncle suffered a serious shoulder injury. Hannah, the son of a bankrupt businessman, fled the scene in Sandbank Street in Glasgow’s Maryhill – but later called a friend to say he had been ‘driving like a madman’ and had hit someone. At the High Court in Glasgow yesterday, the father of three pleaded guilty to culpable homicide and was remanded in custody for sentence next month. The court heard Hannah’s car, which he had hired a month earlier, mounted the pavement and hit the gable end of a nearby building before careering into Sophie and her companions. Prosecutor Allan Nicol said: ‘This caused them to be thrown onto the bonnet, windscreen and roof of the vehicle before falling onto the ground. Another motorist witnessed the carnage and immediately turned back to help poor Sophie.’ Witnesses saw Hannah speed into Maryhill Road, with his badly dented car being ‘driven erratically’ before he crashed into a taxi. The cab driver tailed Hannah, who eventually stopped a short distance away. Mr Nicol said: ‘At that point, the accused was trying to pull the damaged front bumper, then he stopped and walked away before starting to run off. ‘Both the taxi driver and his passengers noticed he was under the influence of some substance.’ Paramedics took Sophie to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill, where she was found to have swelling to her brain, several fractures and broken bones. Tributes left at the scene after the crash last year. Hannah fled scene but pleaded guilty at High Court in Glasgow yesterday . She remained in intensive care overnight, but died the following day. The court heard Sophie’s friend suffered a serious leg break which will require long-term physiotherapy. Mr Nicol said: ‘She also suffers episodes of withdrawal and angry outbursts. She is due to attend for psychiatric assessment in order to come to terms with her injuries and the loss of Sophie.’ The girl’s uncle also suffered a number of fractures, but was initially released from hospital two days later. However, he eventually required surgery and is likely to have ‘long-term restriction’ in movement to his right shoulder. The court heard Hannah stayed on the run for two days after Sophie’s death, despite promising his partner he would hand himself in. When police finally arrested him, they found heroin hidden inside his boxer shorts. Sophie suffered catastrophic head injuries and died the following day in hospital. Her ten-year-old friend had a badly broken leg and the 36-year-old uncle suffered a serious shoulder injury . Accident investigators later concluded Hannah was solely to blame for the crash. They said he took ‘a conscious decision’ to drive while impaired and failed to stop because he knew he had taken drugs and was ‘aware of the ramifications’. Hannah also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, attempting to defeat the ends of justice and possessing heroin. He has 14 previous convictions for crimes including possessing an offensive weapon and road traffic charges and was on bail at the time, having been freed from Glasgow’s Justice of the Peace Court two months before the crash. Hannah’s advocate Thomas Ross said: ‘He has asked to state publicly his apologies for those affected by this terrible tragedy.’

Christopher Hannah, 33, was high on drugs when he hit Sophie Brannan . She was walking with her friend and friend's uncle from shops in Glasgow . He lost control of hired Vauxhall Astra and mounted pavement into victims . Sophie suffered catastrophic head injuries and died in hospital next day . Hannah fled scene but pleaded guilty at High Court in Glasgow yesterday .

.
Christopher Hannah, 30, admitted killing Sophie Brannan as he appeared at the Old Bailey by video link, the PA news agency reports.
He also pleaded guilty to driving a car that failed to stop and take any steps to avoid Ms Brannan in Croydon, south London, on November 4 last year.
Hannah, of Selhurst, Croydon, was jailed for three years when he appeared in court in October.
Prosecutor Sarah Whiteley said a statement from the victim’s parents had been read in court, in which they expressed their “shock and disgust” at what had happened.
She told the court the statement said Sophie was “a happy and lively child who loved life and her friends”.
Ms Whiteley said Hannah was found on a street in Croydon suffering from minor injuries, including a fractured thumb and wrist, and “was taken to hospital”.
Hannah was then interviewed by police, but gave a “blank answer” and said he “didn’t know how” he had caused Sophie’s death, she said.
She said Hannah was arrested on suspicion of causing the death of Sophie under the influence of a psychoactive substance.
She said Sophie, who attended school in the south London borough, was on her way back home when Hannah’s car came “hurling” along the road, striking her.
Ms Whiteley said: “At approximately 5pm, two other children ran into the ambulance where Sophie was being treated.
“One of them said ‘my sister’s dead’.
“There was no need for those words. Sophie was pronounced dead.”
She said the car did not stop and did not have anything in it that could have been used to help Sophie.
Hannah did not know the law, Ms Whiteley added, nor did he appear to realise the seriousness of the incident, which occurred when he had “a long history of abusing drugs”.
Judge Mark Lucraft QC told Hannah the maximum sentence he could be given in court was 14 years.
He said he was considering three aggravating factors: Sophie was only 11, she was on a crossing and she was not wearing reflective clothes or carrying a torch.
Hannah was released on continuing bail to wait for the date of sentencing, which is expected to be on November 20.
He said: “It is right that the sentencing should take place before Christmas.”
Almost Done!


The devastated parents of a New Zealand man, jailed for making a joke about Buddha, have revealed the horrific conditions their son is suffering through in a Myanmar prison. Wellington-based Brian and Angela Blackwood have launch an online petition to campaign for Philip Backwood's freedom, insisting that their son and his colleagues have been unjustly convicted. They have revealed their pain they feel as they can not help their son, who is being subjected to the brutal conditions inside Yangon's notorious Insein Prison. He has been sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment. He has been held in the jail since his arrest in December. 'He sleeps on a wooden pallet, no bedding is allowed, no mattress, no pillow,' Brian told ABC. He is only allowed to see his fiancé Noemi Alamo and their seven-month-old daughter for an hour every fortnight. Scroll down for video . Philip Blackwood (C) is escorted by police to a court hearing in Yangon. Blackwood and his two Myanmar colleagues were sentenced  to two and a half years in jail for using a Buddha image to promote a cheap drinks . Two weeks ago the bar manager and his two Myanmar colleagues were jailed for two and a half years with hard labour by a Yangon court for using a Buddha image to promote a cheap drinks night. However, Blackwood's hard labour penalty has been lifted as he is a foreigner. The ad posted on Facebook in December caused a stir of outrage in the former junta-ruled country, where surging Buddhist nationalism and religious violence has sparked international concern. Philip Blackwood, who worked at the VGastro bar in Yangon, was found guilty of insulting religion, after the New Zealander posted a mocked-up photo of the Buddha wearing DJ headphones on Facebook — in reference to a well-known international club brand. The three convicted men have the support of a number of human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The group have condemned the court's ruling and called for the unconditional release of Mr. Blackwood and his colleagues. 'It is ludicrous that these three men have been jailed simply for posting an image online to promote a bar,' a spokesperson for Amnesty International in South East Asia and the Pacific said. “They should be immediately and unconditionally released.” According to International commission of Jurists in the Asia and Pacific, the conviction violates Mynamar's own legal standards. 'The conviction violates international standards for imprisoning people for speech (and) seems to violate Myanmar’s own legal standards which require intent.' Blackwood's loved ones are fighting to help alleviate some of Blackwood's struggles during his sentence. 'He has a hole in the ground for a toilet and he has a bucket of water that he washes in, keeps himself tidy with. 'He is only given broth and rice to eat. 'I don't believe that we understand half of what he is suffering.' Mr Blackwood leaves court after being sentenced to two and half years in prison. He was found guilty of insulting Buddhism . Blackwood, the manager of VGastro Bar in Yangon, was arrested  after posting a promotional image of a psychedelic Buddha wearing headphones to the bar's Facebook page . Blackwood's parents worry for their son's physical and mental health, as he tries to withstand the heat and poor hygiene. They are particularly concerned as their son suffers from a chest condition and from asthma. The 32-year-old was arrested by Myanmar police in December, along with owner Tun Thurein, 40, and manager Htut Ko Ko Lwin, 26, after an official from Myanmar's Religious Department complained about the advertising. The bar has since been shuttered-up. The harsh conviction comes despite Mr and Mrs Blackwood's insistence that 'The judge's ruling that the three had 'intentionally plotted to insult religious belief' was not founded on any concrete evidence at all. 'Mr. Blackwood did not have legal representation when he was charged, nor did he have any interpreter to explain what was going on,' the petition reads. 'Three months later, they were found guilty, despite prosecution not having established intent on the side of the three accused.' A Buddhist monk tries to take a photo of New Zealander Philip Blackwood as he gets into a police vehicle outside the court . VGastro Bar employee Htut Ko Ko Lwin is escorted to a police vehicle after appearing in court in Yangon on Thursday. The trio could face two years in jail for breaching Myanmar's Religion Act . In emotional scenes after the verdict, family members of the two Myanmar defendants expressed shock and fury at the sentencing, with the mother of one exchanging barbs with a handful of nationalist monks waiting outside. The case has been watched closely by international observers amid fears that the Buddhist-majority country, which has seen a surge in foreign investment since it began emerging from the grip of the military in 2011, is seeing its much-lauded reforms stalling. The trio were also held responsible for protests that erupted outside the bar over the image. Judge Ye Lwin said that while Blackwood, 32, had posted an apology, he had 'intentionally plotted to insult religious belief' when he uploaded the photo. He added that although the New Zealander had admitted to posting the picture without intending to offend, it was also 'unreasonable only to blame the foreigner' when explaining the guilty verdicts for the Myanmar defendants. Htut Ko Ko Lwin's mother screamed at a group of monks taking photos with smartphones outside the court after the sentencing. The wife of bar owner Tun Thurein said she would consult her lawyer about appealing. 'They just decided everybody is guilty so I'm very shocked. This is very unfair,' Myat Nandar said. Blackwood made no comment as he was bundled into the back of a police truck through a scrum of media cameras. Myanmar has been rocked by several deadly outbreaks of religious violence in recent years, mainly targeting the Muslim minority. The bloodshed has coincided with the rising influence of hardline monks, who have advocated controversial new laws. Rights groups say these would severely curb the freedom of religious minorities and women. V Gastro bar, which opened just two weeks before the incident, swiftly deleted the offending image and posted this apology on its Facebook page . Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said Tuesday's sentences showed 'freedom of expression is under greater threat than ever' in Myanmar, which is gearing up for crucial elections later this year. 'The authorities should accept the heartfelt public apology of the three men, vacate the conviction, and order them to be released immediately and unconditionally,' he said in a statement. Blackwood's parents told Fairfax Media from their New Zealand home that they were shocked by the decision and their son would consider an appeal. 'We hoped common sense would prevail and he would be found not guilty because it was not a malicious or intentional act...' said father Brian Blackwood. The arrests come during a surge of religious nationalism in Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist country .

Philip Blackwood sentenced to two and a half years jail with hard labour . He used a psychedelic image of Buddha which 'insulted the religion' His parents have started a petition to campaign for his freedom . Supported by Amnesty International & other Human Rights groups . Blackwood sleeps on a wooden panel with no mattress, blanket or pillow . New Zealander can only see his fiance and baby daughter once a fortnight . There are serious concerns for his physical and mental health . His colleagues Tun Thurein, 40, Htut Ko Ko Lwin, 26, were also jailed . Myanmar has been rocked by acts of religious violence in recent years . The bloodshed has seen hardline monks advocate controversial new laws .

er's immediate release.
According to the petition, Phillip Backer, who was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to three years imprisonment for his comments in a Facebook post, is being made to sit on a brick slab with no chair 24 hours a day with no mattress and no blankets. The prison is said to be infested with cockroaches, and the petition adds that Backer is suffering from scabies, dysentery and depression, and has been denied medical attention.
While the Blackwood family has appealed to New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and the Myanmar government to intervene in Backer's case, his parents have now revealed the horrific conditions that their son is suffering in. They told Stuff.co.nz that their son's incarceration was now his punishment for his own mistake, but he deserved better and did not deserve the hell he is now enduring.
"My son didn't realise he was doing something wrong when he wrote what he wrote," Angela Blackwood told Stuff.co.nz. "He wrote because he was shocked. He didn't realise, but his action could have ended someone's life. He didn't realise that he was breaking the law, but he has done his time now."
"The thing that hurts the most is we're not there to help him. He needs us to help him, we are his parents," she added.
Backer is now "inconsolable" and the Blackwood family has launched the Facebook page Free Phillip Backer to bring light to his plight and to gain international attention. They are also trying to raise funds to help Phillip meet his basic living needs and are hoping that Phillip's case can be raised with the United Nations for possible assistance.
," he added. "People have to know we are trying to find a way to release him, and hopefully someone will come forward."
The New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, who has previously been vocal about the deteriorating situation in Burma, last week said that he had taken the appeal to the Myanmar government regarding Backer's sentence. The appeal was in response to a request made by the New Zealand Embassy in Myanmar and the Wellington Foreign Affairs and Trade office, according to the petition.
Backer's mother said she was disappointed with the response, and added that it was frustrating, but acknowledged that the New Zealand government had "done as much as it can".
The petition was signed more than


A fortnight ago, eight-year-old Janshir Issa gingerly stepped off a plane at Heathrow, his lips blue. It wasn’t the British weather that had turned them such a deathly colour: Syria – Janshir’s home country – can be just as cold in early spring. Rather, it was a combination of rare heart problems that meant blood was not getting around his body properly. In fact, it was receiving little over half the oxygen it should. Ever since birth, congenital heart defects meant Janshir was being slowly starved of air, much like a climber marooned at high altitude. Scroll down for video . On the mend: Jansir with his father Omar in London after being brought to Britain for a life-saving operation . And if that wasn’t enough, almost all he has ever known is war. Since Janshir was four, he and his family have had to live with the devastating conflict that has ripped Syria apart, claiming more than 200,000 lives in the process. Dodging bombs and bullets, his family first fled their Aleppo home just weeks before it was blown to bits by President Assad’s jets. Then they took refuge in a village near the Turkish border, only for it to become the focus of fierce fighting. Like thousands of other children, Janshir has spent time in a tented refugee camp too. Unsurprisingly, his health suffered – and his family frequently feared he would die. But today, thanks to a British charity which brought him here for a life-saving operation, Janshir looks like a different boy. In fact, just days after undergoing surgery at The Harley Street Clinic in London, he appears remarkably healthy. Like any impatient eight-year-old, he grabs a mobile phone from his father Omar – with whom he shares an unmistakable likeness – to show him how it really works. His eyes are bright – and his lips are pink. ‘Janshir is a walking miracle,’ says Emma Scanlan, chief executive of Chain of Hope, which brings children to Britain for heart surgery and conducts operating missions abroad. Devastation: A man walks with children in Jansir's home town of Aleppo after it was hit by bombs last year . ‘Most children in the UK with his condition, called Tetralogy of Fallot, would be treated on the NHS soon after birth. But he has been walking around with this for eight years, been bombed, and had to flee.’ Curling up on his father’s lap, shy Janshir simply says he is ‘happy’ to be recovering after his operation. It involved patching up a huge hole in his heart, widening a crucial vessel taking blood out of the heart, and correcting a narrow valve. The operation, performed without charge by consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Martin Kostolny, means his heart now pumps more efficiently. And thanks to the hole being closed, de-oxygenated ‘blue’ blood will no longer be mixed with fresh blood. Without it, Mr Kostolny says, Janshir’s life would have been ‘severely limited’. He would have got progressively weaker and would probably have died in early adulthood. Instead, he should now have ‘a fairly normal future’ and could even be up and playing football within weeks. ‘Children, in general, recover amazingly quickly after heart surgery,’ says Mr Kostolny. Mr Issa, a physics teacher, holds his son tight. ‘It was a race against time to get him here,’ he says. Aged three, Janshir was flown to France to be fitted with a stent to widen a heart opening, but the family knew that was a temporary fix. As daily life became more difficult, Janshir’s health went slowly downhill. By summer 2012, things had got so bad that Mr Issa decided to move the family out of Aleppo. ‘We fled with nothing except our clothes,’ says Mr Issa. The family, who are Kurds, took shelter in a village where they have roots. ‘Leaving Aleppo was awful, but a month after we left, the apartment block where we lived was bombed. We lost everything and heard friends of ours had been killed.’ But they could not escape the war. By early 2013 fighting had spread to their village near Azaz, close to the Turkish border, so they moved again – this time to a tented camp. A month later, with Janshir’s fragile health getting worse, the family returned to the village, only for Mr Issa to face interrogation by Kurdish fighters from a group called the YPK. Despite being a Kurd himself, they held him captive, asked him why he had left, and whose side he was really on. Homeless: The apartment block Jansir and his family were forced to flee before it was blown to bits by President Assad’s jets . ‘I was in prison for 25 days,’ he recalls. ‘I thought that they were going to kill me. They tortured me.’ All this time he could do nothing to help Janshir, who he desperately needed to take to Turkey to see a heart specialist. After being set free, he took the boy and made for the border, helped by guides. Father and son then spent months in Turkey, during which they visited a cardiologist who confirmed the extent of Janshir’s problems. But nobody could help and they were forced to return to Syria. Finally, last November Mr Issa’s brother Wahid, who lives in London, discovered Chain of Hope. Since being set up 20 years ago by pioneering heart surgeon Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, the charity has treated more than 2,000 children. Janshir and his family were in Syria when news filtered through that the operation would take place – prompting Mr Issa and his wife Awash, 31, to break down in tears. From there Janshir and his father travelled to Istanbul and caught a flight to London, accompanied by a Chain of Hope doctor as there were concerns over how Janshir would cope on the flight. The operation last Sunday went well and Janshir should soon be discharged. Mr Issa is now considering applying for asylum in the UK. At the moment, Janshir and his father are here on three-month medical visas. The charity stresses it does not get involved in immigration issues. While Janshir’s heart has been fixed, what his life now holds – like countless other Syrian children – remains uncertain. To donate to the charity, visit chainofhope.org – text ‘LINK04 £5’ to 70070.

Congenital heart defects meant Jansir was being slowly starved of air . Since of age of four, he and his family had to live with devastating conflict . But now, after a life-saving operation, Jansir looks like a different boy . Chief executive of Chain of Hope charity say he is a 'walking miracle'

hir’s birthplace – was in the grip of its own bitter cold.
The young boy had fled with his family four years ago in an effort to escape the war raging across Syria – a war that was threatening to tear his home state apart.
Since then, the family have been living in a cramped caravan park in Essex, which has become a ‘second home’ for the young refugee.
When Syrian Janshir was finally granted leave to the country, he thought he was heading for a warm welcome. But his hopes were crushed on arrival at the airport when he was sent back to a caravan.
“They didn’t even give me a chance to unpack,” he told Metro.co.uk. “I was crying to go to my family.”
As his tears ran down his face, the young boy watched as his father was placed on a plane, his hands in handcuffs, to return to the war he was trying to leave behind.
The distraught youngster was then escorted by two security officers to a large grey trailer where he was placed on his own.
Despite being placed inside a trailer with access to a TV and Wi-Fi, Janshir had a sense he’d be there for longer than was expected. He began to cry.
“They wouldn’t come and let me out. I wanted my family. I wanted to cry with my family.”
He began to cry.
When they did finally approach him, his pleas were dismissed.
“You can stay there for years,” he says they told him. “They told me ‘you’re going to stay there and cry until your family get back’, and that’s what I did.
“I felt like my dad was leaving me.”
Janshir says the UK is no longer the dream he had imagined it to be when he escaped Syria.
He was ‘really excited’ about moving to Britain
But it would be some time before the youngster was able to reunite with his father. His family was then transported to their new home: the Dale Farm site near Basildon.
“The van stopped and the security guard opened the door and I looked up and saw the trailer, and I realised this is my new home,” he explains. “And then I got taken to my caravan, and that’s where I am now.
“I really wasn’t that happy at the beginning. I didn’t like it.”
And


For most boys, China would seem the ideal place to go to school. Just days after football was officially added to the national curriculum in a bid to win the World Cup, the country's air force has announced plans for Top Gun-style training for pupils as young as 14 to develop tomorrow's fighter pilots. A total of 16 senior high schools have been enlisted as 'Air Force Teenager Aviation Schools', according to the People's Daily Online. Sky-high dreams: A team of 77 pilots aged 18 and over recently took to the skies for the first time in a five-hour flight training demonstration at one of the air force's existing junior flying schools . Aspiring face: These teenage pilots have been trained by elite from Chinese Air Force while maintaining academic studies - as the new younger recruits will be . Off you fly: Each student conducted two flights, logging around 80 minutes of time in the air . The news came as China's air force released pictures of its current intake of 18-year-old trainee pilots being taught at its junior flying school. The new 'Top Gun' schools that will give training to boys aged 14 and up will be located in 15 cities across China, including regional capitals like Wuhan and Changsha, and will be chosen based on their previous performance and the level of support they are able to get from local government. The judging body is formed by representatives from the Ministry of Education of China, the General Political Department and Air Force. All schools are regular senior high schools that offer mainstream academic courses. Cream of the crop: The students were selected from senior high schools around the country . Learn to fly: The students have to complete 18 hours' training in basic aviation theory as well as 28 hours of pre-flight study and one hour in a flight simulator . Lead the world: Officials from the Air Force said China had decided to step up its game because major powers in the world all invest heavily in training pilots from young ages . We want you: The poster of China's Teenage Aviation School programme . Special 'Aviation Experimental Classes' will be set up in these Teenage Aviation Schools, which plan to recruit 1,000 students every year. A class is usually made up by 30 to 50 students in China. This means there will be approximately 20 to 30 teen pilots classes every year. These classes are jointly managed by the schools and Air Force recruiting authorities. Male teenagers between 14 and 16 years old from all over China can apply before September 1, the start of an academic year in China. Once accepted, successful candidates will be given meal and living allowances, a rare exception for students in China. Scholarships will also be offered to the cream of the crop. These teen pilots will be taught under the programme for three years before entering the University Entrance Examination in China for a chance to further their studies in aviation universities in the country. While news about Teenager Aviation School has just been released, People's Daily Online published a gallery of a team of trained Chinese teen pilots taking to the skies. These 77 students, who are aged around 18, were selected from senior high schools around the country to receive Air Force training at junior flying schools. Start them young: The country is endeavouring to provide pilot training among young male pupils in senior high schools . Large-scale recruitment: Besides specialised air force schools, regular senior high schools are to set up experimental classes to train young pilots . In their first public flying demonstration recently, these teen pilots carried out five hours of real-equipment flight training. The training took place at a air base in Changchun, provincial capital of Jilin in northeast China. Shi Yansong, one of the teen pilots, said though their training followed a quasi military standard, he felt he still had much to learn from their commanders who were Air Force elite. Unprecedented showcase: This was the first time China had arranged real flight training for teen pilots . Ready for take-off: Shi Yansong, one of the teen pilots in the flying training, said it was his dream to become a pilot in the future . Air base: The training took place in Changchun in northeast China . 'Flying a jet feels so amazing,' said Shi, 'I must become a real pilot in the future.' As China's first batch of training pilots who maintain regular academic studies, the teenagers' flying debut is a landmark on the history of China's teenage aviation education, commented People's Daily Online. Peng Junxia, head of China's Air Force recruiting bureau, told Chinese media that the junior flying schools were established because major powers in the world all invest heavily in training pilots from young ages. In addition, China hopes such schools can raise a large number of outstanding Air Force commanders in the years to come. Big occasion: Students and trainers take part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the military training demonstration . Military vs academic: Unlike regular air force members who often give up academic study for military training, these teen pilots are taught by top faculty in China .

16 senior high schools across China have been selected to give training . 'Aviation Experimental Classes' will be set up for cultivating young pilots . Classes are set to recruit 1,000 boys between 14 and 16 years old annually . Pupils have the chance to enter air force universities upon graduation . Trainee fighter pilots at air force's existing junior flying school recently took to the skies for public demonstration of training regime .

 for future pilot candidates.
An advertisement has been posted on the Civil Air Security Authority's website by a school called Beijing Tianjin Academy of Civil Aviation Engineering, inviting young men with a passion for science and technology to apply for its high-flying classes.
Described as "a top flight education provider" and "a centre for elite training", the advert claims to offer a two-year course, which costs 10,000 yuan (£950) per year. Students are required to be 19 years old by August 2009.
The school was established in 1996 and is located on the southwestern outskirts of the capital. It says the course will include "aerospace theory study, professional English teaching and piloting practice".
The advert adds: "Aerospace technology is one of the most important emerging industries. As a professional pilot academy, our school will cultivate more high-quality personnel, who are the foundation of the aviation industry and the core force of civil aviation industry.
"With the help of our school's training and cultivation, our students will have a bright future, whether it is to fly passenger planes or fighter jets."
The application deadline is 22 December. For students who don't already have a pilot's licence, it suggests the school can help its students obtain one, and notes that flying instructors are also available for those who do already have licences.
It is not clear what subjects would feature in the syllabus, but it states it will teach candidates "practical theory" and "practical operation".
The advert does offer some clues. A course in "air traffic management" sounds pretty obvious. Its website also includes a list of "advantages" of students who study its course, including "training and cultivation of professional pilots" and "being well-equipped with language proficiency".
It offers free Mandarin lessons, which sounds like a big advantage if you intend to fly Chinese-built planes such as the JH 6.
The school is operated by the Beijing Aerospace Education Development Centre and its president, Mr Cui, is listed as a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Congress.
"The establishment of the school not only improves the country's training and management level for pilots, but will also provide a foundation for the country to train high-quality pilots," said Mr Cui.
"This will help to solve China's pilot shortage."
China has not confirmed


Martin Skrtel is set to become the second Liverpool player banned for stamping in the defeat to Manchester United after he was charged with violent conduct by the FA.. The Slovakia defender is alleged to have deliberately trodden on goalkeeper David de Gea towards the end of United’s 2-1 win at Anfield on Sunday, leading to an angry confrontation between the two players after the final whistle. The FA were able to take action after referee Martin Atkinson confirmed that he did not see the incident, and a three-man panel unanimously agreed that it was a red card offence. Skrtel, 30, has until 6pm on Tuesday to respond to the charge. Martin Skrtel's foot lands on David de Gea's leg, with the FA to decide whether there was any intent . Skrtel avoided any punishment at the time, with Martin Atkinson blowing for full time seconds later . Liverpool could easily have lost a second player at the very end of the game when Skrtel followed through on David De Gea but Atkinson showed a consistent approach and let the game end in a deserved away win. Teammate Steven Gerrard has already been hit with a three-match ban after he was sent off for stamping on Ander Herrera just 38 seconds after coming on as a half-time substitute. It would be a further blow to Liverpool’s hopes of overhauling United in the race for a top-four finish if Skrtel is suspended as well. The centre-back was pushed forward in search of an equaliser and trod on De Gea as the United goalkeeper slid in to gather the ball at his feet. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admitted that the video footage did not look good in slow motion, but insisted that Skrtel was going for the ball. He said: ‘The ball has been played through and it looks like, when it is slowed down, that he has caught him with intent. I didn’t see it like that. He is trying to get the ball.’ But a statement from the FA read: ‘Martin Skrtel has been charged by the FA for violent conduct following an on-field incident which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video. ‘In Premier League matches, if an incident has not been seen by the match officials, a three-man panel of former elite officials will be asked by the FA to review the footage independently of each other. ‘For an FA charge to follow, all three panel members must agree it is a sending-off offence. In this instance, the decision by the panel was unanimous.’ Brendan Rodgers has defended his player's actions, claiming that Skrtel is 'not that type of player' Rodgers believes his defender landed on the Manchester United keeper accidentally as he went for the ba . Liverpool will already be missing Steven Gerrard for the next three games, after his red card on Sunday . Martin Skrtel has been charged by The FA for violent conduct following an on-field incident which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video. The charge is in relation to an incident involving the Liverpool defender and Manchester United's David de Gea which occurred in the 95th minute of Sunday's game. The player has until 6pm on 24 March 2015 to respond to the charge. In Premier League matches, if an incident has not been seen by the match officials, a three-man panel of former elite officials will be asked by The FA to review the footage independently of each other. They will then advise what, if any action, they believe the match referee should have taken had it been witnessed at the time. For an FA charge to follow, all three panel members must agree it is a sending-off offence. In this instance, the decision by the panel was unanimous.

Martin Skrtel appeared to stamp on David de Gea in final seconds . If found guilty, the 30-year-old defender could face a three-game ban . Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers defends his player . Rodgers says it wasn't intentional, Skrtel was trying to play the ball . CLICK HERE for all the latest Liverpool news .

 the end of the match at Anfield. Both players had been on the receiving end of some heavy challenges by their respective oppositions over the course of the game. The FA, as is their wont, have announced the news by their website.
With the FA taking so long to make a decision, the ban will take effect retrospectively and he will miss the Liverpool trip to Swansea and the Europa League visit of Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool are not alone in their trouble this weekend.
Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic is also set to be charged after a video review proved he had stamped on the Newcastle player when the Blues last met. The FA will also look at a tackle from the Newcastle player Fabricio Coloccini that caught Branislav in the chest. ‘I thought it was a red card,’ Roberto Di Matteo said. ‘But I’ve just seen the video. It’s a yellow card. But I still think that’s a red card.’ ‘I think it was a yellow card,’ added his fellow ex-Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti. ‘Maybe Ivanovic can get a red but I don’t remember it as a yellow card.’
‘I’ve watched that one, it is a yellow card.’ Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was pleased with how his side had performed against Liverpool, despite losing.
‘A couple of players got caught with some heavy challenges,’ he said. ‘Liverpool’s are quite deliberate. But we got caught with some as well, and we had to wait for the last one before getting the decision. But it was fair. They deserved to win. They were good value for it. It would have been harsh on Manchester United if Liverpool had been sent off because their performance was better than it was against Fulham. Ferguson’s side have won all six of their matches since they were beaten at Old Trafford by Arsenal, and have conceded only twice. The Manchester United manager, though, is not happy with his side’s efforts in the second half of the win.
‘It was only 1-0 so we felt they could get a couple of chances on us, and that they might play better in the second half,’ he added. ‘We didn’t deal with that too well. We had to defend and play off the ball and we did that well in the first half. The 2-0 made us more comfortable. In the first half we had the ball


It still clearly rankles with Steven Naismith that injury saw him miss out on a UEFA Cup final appearance with Rangers in what now seems like another dimension, never mind seven short years ago. But the Scotland star has revealed that it’s the memory of that heartbreaking episode which is spurring him on to reach this season’s Europa League showpiece with Everton. Roberto Martinez’s men host Dynamo Kiev tonight at Goodison Park in the first leg of their last-16 tie and the hosts are expected to progress against one of the competition’s lowest-ranked sides. Steven Naismith consoles Kevin Thompson after Rangers' defeat in the 2008 UEFA Cup final . Naismith is determined to make up for that defeat, and missing the final, with Everton this season . Britain’s last remaining representatives in the tournament will have their work cut out to go all the way, with the likes of Wolfsburg, Napoli, Roma and Zenit also still in contention. But Naismith is adamant they have what it takes to challenge for the club’s second continental honour after the Cup Winners’ Cup was claimed three decades ago - and are ready to go one step better than Rangers did in 2008 when they lost to Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester. In his first campaign at Ibrox after leaving Kilmarnock, Naismith appeared as a sub in a crucial 1-1 draw at Panathinaikos that gave Walter Smith’s side an away goals victory. He was also among the replacements at Werder Bremen and in both meetings with Sporting Lisbon as the Scots kept progressing. But four days before the first semi-final with Fiorentina, he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in a last-four Scottish Cup tie with St Johnstone. Naismith, and his then manager Walter Smith, walk past the trophy in 2008 . The Everton forward (far left) trains with his team-mates ahead of their tie against Dinamo kiev . That ended Naismith’s quest for European glory. He was a spectator at the final and didn’t play again competitively for another nine months. ‘I played in Greece back then and was on the bench a couple of times afterwards but then I got injured at Hampden,’ recalled the 28-year-old. ‘I missed the semi-finals and the final and I remember watching the penalty shoot-out in Florence that took us through on TV and I didn’t feel 100 per cent part of it. It was a great feeling to see the team win but I hadn’t travelled and it wasn’ t great to feel I was missing out. ‘This is an opportunity to make up for that. There was still a great buzz from sitting watching the final from the sidelines in Manchester. It was fantastic but it also makes me think now I’d love to get that feeling again and hopefully go one better, play in the final and win it. That’s what drives me on. ‘It’s not just that I never got to play back then but also that I want to experience the feeling we had around the club from getting to the final in the first place. 'This season when we’ve been playing in Europe, it has crossed my mind that the experiences I had with Rangers can help me, especially at this stage in the tournament. The disappointment of seven years ago, and his failure to influence it, still haunts the Scotland striker . ‘We had to be very resilient and well organised in 2008. Teams found it difficult to break us down and we did well to counter and create chances that way. 'We rode our luck a bit as well and I look at that and think it was great we got so far. It’s something Everton can look to do now too and we’ve been similar. ‘In the group stage, things went flawlessly and we played every game perfectly. We were very solid in the last round against Young Boys as well. 'As things go on, we know it will get tougher and tougher but at this stage we feel we can go further and go as far as the final. We definitely believe that.’ While many English sides have looked upon the Europa League as a distraction from domestic matters in recent seasons, that hasn’t been the case at Everton. Martinez has purposely picked strong sides to keep his team’s run going, rather than sacrifice participation in the competition for the sake of concentrating more on the Premier League. Naismith wants to get his hands on the trophy he came so close to with his former club Rangers . That has impacted on the club’s domestic performance and they lie 14th in the top flight - but hopes remain high they can strike a balance on both fronts. Naismith added: ‘After working so hard last season and being so close to the top four in the league, this was our reward. I don’t think you can treat the Europa League as if it’s not worth going 100 per cent for - and the manager has shown that in his team selections. ‘Sometimes we have found it hard to deal with having games so close together and, with a few injuries, our squad has been a bit tight because of that. 'We’ve not had many players we can rotate but full credit to the manager for keeping a strong stance in Europe. That’s why we have done so well in the competition and he will want to keep doing the same.’ Kiev aren’t the same force they’ve been in the past but Naismith still rates them and is wary of the damage they can cause on Merseyside this evening. He remains confident, however, that if Everton perform the way they can, they will keep up their challenge for silverware. ‘Dynamo are a very good team. We’ve watched them on video and we’ ll continue to do so right up to the game. They don’t get as much air time as many other sides and they’re not seen to be as glamorous but they are dangerous with very good players. 'We will need to watch them and be at our best but we came through one of the toughest groups which included Lyon and Wolfsburg. ‘To have done that with the quality we have, I don’t think we will worry about any team. We believe in the way we play and if we are at our best, we can trouble anyone.’

Steven Naismith missed 2008 UEFA Cup final when a Rangers player . The forward wants to win the competition with Everton to make amends . Everton take on Dinamo Kiev on Thursday in competition's last 16 .

 desire to prove he has come through the other side of that personal battle that gives him a hunger for the game that won’t be slaked in next summer’s European Championships.
Seven years ago, Naismith was a vital cog in Rangers’ engine room as they sought to claim their third consecutive title, with the then 20-year-old being called into action in the semi-finals and then appearing for 78 minutes in the final. It wasn’t meant to be as Benfica held off the Ibroxers to claim their first and only European crown and Naismith, though no-nonsense on the field, admits the disappointment of being sat on the sidelines, watching the action from the stands as his team-mates clinched a famous trophy, still bothers him to this day.
“I was in the final squad and it wasn’t that I wasn’t fit because I was in the squad, the gaffer said I was the best I could be and he’s seen me at my best so I know I could have played a part in it,” he explains. “But it was just that my game time, I was so young, but I played that first leg and had a great game but I couldn’t replicate it in the final.”
Indeed, it may just have been the final that broke Naismith and saw him fall out of favour under Walter Smith. The manager dropped the forward after his display against Benfica and by the time it came to the semi-finals of the League Cup against Celtic, the then-21-year-old had fallen out of favour.
“I was young and I didn’t have too much experience at the time so the gaffer decided to not start me but I was playing well and playing okay. I’m sitting in my house thinking, ‘How have I been dropped?’ because the two games before that were the best games of the season,” he says.
“But I had just finished rehab and they’d said I couldn’t play that final week in the build-up to the semi-final.”
There was still a sense of injustice that Naismith felt. He had been handed his first Rangers start against Hamilton earlier in the season in the Scottish Cup – and, though he was taken off at half-time, it was no consolation prize. Seven weeks later he was handed the role as sub.
“The lads came into the dressing room after the game and said


Louis van Gaal believes he retains the full backing of the Glazer family despite a difficult first year in charge of Manchester United. The next five matches will have a big bearing on whether Van Gaal's maiden season at the club will be regarded as a success or failure. United are two points inside the top four with 10 matches to go and after Sunday's game against Tottenham, they face Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Chelsea. Louis van Gaal is targeting second place in the Barclays Premier League with a late push in the run-in . The Manchester United manager believes catching local rivals Manchester City is an achievable target . Despite a run of three defeats in 23 matches, some supporters have complained about a lack of tempo, flair and width from Van Gaal's side. But, crucially, the United boss thinks he still has the support of the Glazer family, who own the club, and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward. 'I have faith that I can complete my three years,' the United manager said. 'I think they are pleased with my way of managing the club.' Van Gaal proudly recalled the long list of successes to support his point at a press conference on Friday. The Dutchman reminded those present that he had won silverware in his first season at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Ryan Giggs and Van Gaal haven't had the greatest season but are still well in with a chance of a top four spot . The 63-year-old also recalled the fact that he won the 2008-09 Eredivisie with AZ Alkmaar a year after finishing 11th. 'I said I will (leave) but the (AZ) players came to my house to ask me to stay, and the board also,' he said. 'Then we were the champion.' Van Gaal accepts it will be 'very difficult' to win a trophy in his maiden year in England. United are out of the FA Cup following their quarter-final defeat to Arsenal and they are 10 points behind Chelsea, who have a match in hand. Van Gaal's sole task is bringing Champions League football back to Old Trafford. The Dutchman has not contemplated what failure would cost United. 'No. I don't think I am here to think about the financial consequences. That is Ed Woodward. I am here to manage the professional football department of Manchester United,' Van Gaal said. United are facing a difficult run following their FA Cup exit at the hands of Arsenal last Monday . Van Gaal has been criticised for his 'long ball' tactics but insists the club support his philosophy . 'I am here because of my qualities and my philosophy. That we have spoken about in our first sessions with each other, Ed Woodward and myself. After that I have spoken with the Glazers. Because of those discussions I am here now. 'I am not thinking of the consequences if we are not in the first four. It is very bad for the club. But why do we have to speak about things that are not happening yet? 'We are longer in the top four than Arsenal.' Van Gaal is likely to receive significant backing in the transfer market regardless of where United finish. Most of last year's signings continue to struggle. Angel di Maria cost £59.7million but his star has faded fast after an encouraging start. British football's record signing is suspended for Sunday's match against Spurs after being sent off for tugging referee Michael Oliver's shirt in the defeat to Arsenal. The Argentinian has also had to deal with off-the-pitch problems, most notably a house move after his Cheshire mansion was targeted by burglars in February. Van Gaal insists Di Maria is happy at United and believes he will be at the club next season despite rumours of interest from abroad. Angel di Maria pleads his innocence after being booked by referee Michael Oliver in the defeat to Arsenal . Oliver shows the red card to Di Maria  after he tugged at the referees shirt following a yellow card . 'As a manager you can never say no or yes because, in the end, the player shall always decide. But I don't think he shall move,' Van Gaal said. 'Nevertheless, his incident with his wife at home, he is very pleased to be here at Manchester United. 'I think that he shall stay because his reaction after the defeat and the red card is very good. I like his attitude.' Van Gaal says his door is always open if Di Maria or any other player becomes unhappy. Van Gaal insists Di Maria will stay at Old Trafford, despite his unrest both on and off the field . 'I am always like that,' he said. 'That is part of my philosophy. A football player is not only a man who kicks the ball. Also, his environment is influencing him. I shall always be open for (that). 'I know also the commercial interests of the club and we have to respect that also because you cannot give a lot of money for the player and the next season you put him out of your selection,' Van Gaal added. 'It is also the quality of the player. Then they also have to pay the sum.'

Louis van Gaal says Manchester United trust in his philosophy . The Dutchman has struggled in his first season in charge . But Van Gaal defended his record and insists the club will stick with him .

 as a success or not.
United, who started the campaign as the favourites to win the Premier League and with an £85m signing on the bench in Angel Di Maria, were 11th after a 1-0 home defeat to Southampton on Boxing Day. They are eighth after 22 matches, having lost five of their last six Premier League matches.
"I can't say the Glazer family are not happy about the situation, no," Van Gaal said on Friday ahead of Sunday's Premier League match against Swansea City, a game in which they would appear to have one hand on a vital three points. "The Glazer family is happy. They are not happy with the results, of course, but they are behind me 100%. And that's the most important thing."
Van Gaal, who was speaking in front of an international media pack after a training session at Carrington, said the Glazer family – which is based in the USA – had asked his agent, Marcel Bout to keep them informed of progress, especially after 19-year-old Di Maria joined United at the start of the month. The Argentina forward has so far made two substitute appearances.
Van Gaal has also been linked with a £50m move for Paul Pogba, another of his former players at Barcelona who is out of contract at the end of the season, and there is talk in Madrid about Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid if the Portuguese leaves this summer.
It would be something of an understatement to suggest Van Gaal has struggled to adapt to life at Old Trafford. He is yet to beat his former club.
"In my opinion," Van Gaal said, "a manager who can bring an international team together is a good manager."
He said he had not spoken to Jose Mourinho or the Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, about Sunday's game. "Of course not, why should I speak with other managers before my own match?" Van Gaal said. "It is no help for me to make me feel better. I have to take on my responsibility. I can take the best experiences of other teams. But you know this better than myself. If I can steal something, then why should I steal it and not tell the other ones? We all help each other."
While United have played the same number of matches as Arsenal, who are second, they are four points adrift of the Gunners, who also have


(CNN)During a conversation with a professor at an Ivy League college, a mother nudges her daughter to share how she's president of her school's "survivors-of-bulimia" group. Hoping to impress the Yale admissions committee, a student writes an essay about the time she was so engrossed in a discussion with a French teacher she admired that she urinated on herself instead of interrupting the teacher or leaving the room. Looking to give their child an edge, parents hire a college admissions consultant when their child is in the eighth grade and know the total tab will be roughly $50,000. How I wish I could report that those three nuggets were pure fiction, morsels from my imagination for a great storyline for a novel or television series. But sadly, they are all-too-real examples included in a provocative new book "Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania" by award-winning New York Times op-ed columnist and bestselling author Frank Bruni. Those examples, Bruni said, should really be "wake-up calls" for any parents or students currently engaged in, or one day likely  to be consumed by, the "What school will I get into?" annual game. "This says that we are attaching a level of importance to this that is just completely bonkers," Bruni said during a recent interview. Student goes 8 for 8 in Ivy League college admissions . For many families in the United States, the challenge isn't getting into the right college. It is being able to afford the school of their choice, or any school for that matter. But for many middle- and upper-income families, the college admissions process is as frenzied as ever with the belief that one school can make or break a child's future. I had to ask Bruni, whom I met during my time covering presidential politics, how exactly college admissions became so insanely intense and ridiculously competitive. We both laughed that the process was definitely not nearly as manic or as charged when we both went to college in the '80s. Bruni points to a number of factors all mixed together, creating "this kind of perfect storm of just absolute fixation, panic, etc." about where kids are going to go to school, whether it's exclusive enough and whether they've "breached the inner sanctum." There's the economic pessimism over the past decade, combined with a widening chasm between the haves and have-nots, he said. "I think all of that has made parents feel anxious on behalf of their kids and has made them feel like their kids have to have anything that might be a leg up, and if an elite school is a leg up, well, then dammit, let's get them that." Adding to the dangerous brew, says Bruni, is the "whole test prep and college coaching industry." Yes, it has become an industry, with parents and students willing to pay thousands of dollars to consultants for an extra edge. That "industry" didn't exist just three decades ago when Frank and I were applying. 5 ways community colleges are fixing higher education . The final piece of the puzzle are the colleges, which have essentially become businesses, marketing themselves and using their acceptance rate as a bragging right. "So when you have colleges drumming up extra applications so that they can then claim an acceptance rate below 15%, that becomes part of the discussion that adds to the anxiety because you look at these numbers and you think, 'Oh my God, if I don't begin doing SAT prep as a freshman in high school, if I don't hire the private tutor,' " I won't get in -- or so the thinking goes, said Bruni. But how much does where you go really determine how successful you will ultimately be? Consider the Fortune 500 and the alma maters of the heads of the 10 companies with the highest gross revenues back in the summer of 2014. There was only one Ivy League school on the list (Dartmouth), Bruni says in his book. When you look at the Fortune 500 executives in the top 30, you see Cornell, Princeton and Brown, but also the University of Central Oklahoma, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Minnesota, he writes. The point is there isn't one exact path to the corner office, and an Ivy League degree or a degree from another prestigious private university is neither a requirement nor a guarantee. National politics is another case in point. Sure, there are presidents who hail from the Ivies (George W. Bush, Bill Clinton) but there are many who don't: Ronald Reagan went to Eureka College, a small school in Illinois, and Richard Nixon got his undergraduate degree from Whittier College in Southern California. Looking at other national politicians who either ran for or could run for president someday, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Vice President Joe Biden graduated from the University of Delaware, Paul Ryan from Miami University of Ohio and John Edwards from North Carolina State University. Bruni said a big reason for writing the book was that when he surveyed the accomplished people he has known and interviewed, there didn't seem to be any "exaggerated concentration" of people coming from the most selective colleges. "So the amount of importance that parents and kids seem to be attaching to the selectiveness of where they went to school did not seem to me to jibe at all with the ingredients of success as manifest in the people I've met who were successful and even more to the point content," he said. "And so I felt like that contradiction really needed to be pointed out in a bold way." Part of what fuels the perception that the most successful among us always attend the most selective schools is what we see and read about people who've made it. For instance, take the "30 Under 30" list, which Forbes magazine puts out every year. Bruni writes about how back in 2013, a website called the 60second Recap noted how every time honorees attended a school like Harvard, Stanford or Princeton, it was mentioned in the profile. But if they hadn't graduated from such a school, Forbes didn't mention their alma mater. "So why do we get the impression that so many of the world's most glittering people went to these schools? Because when they've gone to those schools, we make it part of their biography because we think it explains something. And when they haven't gone to those schools, we skip right over it because we think it's actually contradictory evidence when it may be anything but." One of the most poignant stories that Bruni shares in his book is the letter Matt Levin's parents wrote to him the night before he received his first college response. Levin, like many of his classmates at Cold Spring Harbor High School on Long Island, had Ivy on his mind. He hoped for admission to Yale, Princeton or Brown, and he did everything to be a standout candidate: studying with a tutor for the SATs, playing on the varsity baseball team, earning one of the highest grade point averages as a junior and volunteering for more than 100 hours of community service. The letters came, and Levin got rejected by all three. His mom and dad, in their letter, wrote, "Your worth as a person, a student and our son is not diminished or influenced in the least by what these colleges have decided. If it does not go your way, you'll take a different route to get where you want." A letter to my son as he leaves for college . "What I love about Matt Levin's parents and that story is ... they were saying, we know you've been filled with these aspirations. We may have been agents of filling you with them," said Bruni. "What they were saying is this is one metric in a life with many of them. Do not turn this metric into a bludgeon that you are beating yourself up with, and that's what I think parents need to do." Is it possible to restore any sanity to the entire college admissions process? Bruni said what we can do is try to change the conversation and begin to also talk about the negative consequences of this push to get into the most selective school. "If we give kids too much of an impression that the name on their diploma is going to be everything, we run the risk of also telling them that their diploma is going to do the work for them." Kids who feel that way often end up in therapy or completely incapable of carving out a life, he said. "If we talk about all the things that happen, all the negative things that attend an over-concentration on getting into an elite school, then maybe we will begin to not concentrate as much on getting into elite schools." Bruni hopes parents and students read his book, but he especially hopes graduating seniors read it before they head off to school. Because while we spend so much time worrying about where our kids are going to get in, we spend less time on what they are going to do and explore when they get there. "So my dream audience are kids going off to college, and kids who are going off to college ... being made to think about more than the name on their sweatshirt and being made to ponder what they're going to do with this extraordinary privilege." Do you think going to an elite college gives you a leg up when it comes to professional success? Share your thoughts with Kelly Wallace on Twitter or CNN Living on Facebook.

A new book says that where you go to college does not determine who you will be . Author Frank Bruni blames the economy and colleges for increasing the stakes for admission . Of the top 10 Fortune 500 CEOs in 2014, only one went to an Ivy League school .

 show that she's on top of these things, the mother asks the professor about what she does when her daughter brings home a bad test. He said she throws out the test in the trash.
"If the test is not A+," he tells the mother, "then it is not worth keeping."
This is reality for many Americans who struggle with eating disorders.
"An eating disorder is a deadly mental health disorder that needs more awareness," said 24-year-old Anna. "I think eating disorders are a subject that is not often talked about by medical and mental health professionals."
Anna is a model from Los Angeles, who says she has struggled with an eating disorder since 2012, when she was a freshman in college. "I remember it like it was yesterday," she said, recalling the first time she experienced it. "My freshman year in college, I was having a bad week. My grades weren't that great, and I started to lose sleep because I was over-studying and I was starving myself. That's the first time I ever threw up -- it was a very sad and scary time.
"I really had a lot of anxiety because I knew I was not eating enough and I wasn't getting enough sleep."
For her, the road to recovery is a constant battle, and she can only go so long without relapse.
"You cannot take a break from it because it's very scary," she said. "If you're a competitive person, or someone that tries to impress people or keep up an image of a perfect life, then you have a very tough time recovering from an eating disorder."
While she said she has received professional help for her eating disorder, she did not go into the details of exactly how she has received that help. She did say that she was open with her therapist and psychiatrist about how the disease affects her.
Anna also went to a treatment center where she spent a month during the summer, but she said that she couldn't follow some of the strict rules enforced at the facility. "One of the things that I was not allowed to do was to eat and drink food at the same time. So I would have to drink a glass of water before I would eat breakfast, because I needed to give my body the water and time to digest it."
For Anna, that was too restrictive and made it impossible for her to eat anything on the days she went to the treatment