NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

WORLD/ MOSCOW POLICE ARREST 30 AT GAY PRIDE MARCH: Moscow police have arrested and detained a number of prominent gay rights activists today, including the openly gay US solider Dan Choi, as homophobic violence broke out during the banned Moscow Pride march near the Kremlin. A large group of gay rights activists including the British human rights campaigner Peter Tatchel waved rainbow flags and carried signs reading “Russia is not Iran” were attacked by ultra-Orthodox campaigners who gathered to disturb the march, banned for the 6th year by the Moscow authorities. According to media reports, about 30 people were arrested in total. Last year, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia’s ban of Moscow Pride in 2006, 2007 and 2008 breached the European Convention on Human Rights, of which Russia is a singatory due to its membership of the Council of Europe. The court forced Russia to pay damages to the organizers. Last month, it was reported that Moscow City Council had given approval for a gay pride march to be held legally for the 1st time. However, this was quickly reversed and yesterday, police warned gay rights activists that they would break up the pride march. Today, eye witnesses statements and videos posted onto YouTube show that police violently arrested both gay rights campaigners and neo-Nazis. In the videos, police are shown violently wrestlying activists and neo-Nazis to the ground before leading them off in handcuffs to waiting security vans. March organizers believe that some of the Neo-Nazis who fought with gay rights activists were undercover police officers. Choi later posted on Twitter that one of his fellow detainees, a neo-Nazi said “we will kick your ass, fuck you Faggot” to him prior to their arrest. Choi who posted photographs of his time inside a Moscow police station has reported that foreigners will be released by the police, while Russians will be detained overnight.

US/ JOPLIN TOLL CONTINUES TO RISE: The number of people killed by last Sunday's massive tornado that struck the city of Joplin, Missouri, has risen to 142. Also today, the list of 156 people missing, dropped to 105 after more were accounted for. Among the newly confirmed victims was teenager who was sucked from his father's car as they drove home from his high school graduation. More than 600 volunteers and 50 dog teams are still scouring the shattered remains of homes and offices for survivors or victims. "We're going to be in a search and rescue mode until we remove the last piece of debris," the Joplin City Manager said. The Missouri Governor has declared Sunday an official State Day of Prayer and Remembrance. US and Missouri flags will fly at half-mast over all government buildings in the state throughout the day and a Memorial Service will be held in Joplin. President Barack Obama will visit Joplin on Sunday to take part in the service. The tornado, with winds of 200mph was one of the most destructive in US history. It injured more than 900 people and carved a swathe of destruction through the city.

US/ ANCHOR FROM BLACKBEARD'S SHIP RECOVERED: An anchor from what's believed to be the wreck of the pirate Blackbeard's flagship has been raised from the ocean floor off the North Carolina coast. Archaeologists believe the anchor recovered Friday is from the Queen Anne's Revenge, which sank in 1718. That was just 5 months before Blackbeard was killed in a battle. The artifact is the 2nd-largest item at the shipwreck, outsized only by another anchor. Researchers retrieved the anchor from the shipwreck about 20 feet under water and brought it to shore. The anchor is about 13 feet long and 8 feet across. Archaeologists said they had 1st planned to lift the bigger anchor but realized it was too well-attached to other items in the ballast pile. They said that divers would continue to work next week and then decide how to proceed to retrieve other artifacts from the ship. They expect to complete work on the wreck by the end of 2013. Blackbeard, whose real name is believed to be Edward Teach or Thatch, was a much-feared pirate, who operated off America's eastern coast and around the West Indies.