In Brief

MID-AIR SEX – A couple’s ill-concealed sexual play aboard a Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles got them charged with violating the Patriot Act, intended for terrorist acts, and could land them in jail for 20 years.

According to their indictment, Carl Persing and Dawn Sewell were allegedly snuggling and kissing inappropriately, “making other passengers uncomfortable”, when a flight attendant asked them to stop. * CRITICAL MOMENT – Visiting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday said the world has “reached the pivotal moment of truth” regarding Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.”If Iran achieves the ability to produce nuclear weapons, as we know it is seeking to do, we will enter a new era of instability unlike any the world has ever seen,” he said, adding that “we cannot afford to wait.”* ACT URGENTLY – UN chief Kofi Annan has criticised a “frightening lack of leadership” in tackling global warming, at a major UN climate summit in Nairobi.He said sceptics were “out of step, out of arguments and out of time”.* DEATH BY FIRE – Increasing numbers of Afghan women are committing suicide by setting fire to themselves to escape difficult lives, according to NGOs based in the country.They say women forced into marriage or suffering chronic abuse are killing themselves out of desperation.* VEIL DEBATE – A senior Vatican cardinal has expressed concern over the use of some Muslim veils by Islamic immigrants in Europe.Cardinal Renato Martino said immigrants must respect the traditions, culture and religion of the nations they go to.They ought to abide by local laws banning the wearing of certain types of Muslim veils, he added.* TIDE TURNING – A Los Angeles woman whose son accused pop star Michael Jackson of sexual abuse last year in a sensational trial pleaded no contest to welfare fraud on Monday and has agreed to repay more than $8 600.Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Barbara Johnson also ordered the 38-year-old woman, who has not been named by most news organisations to protect the identity of her son, to perform 150 hours of community service.Nampa-AFP-AP-Reuters-BBC* CRITICAL MOMENT – Visiting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday said the world has “reached the pivotal moment of truth” regarding Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.”If Iran achieves the ability to produce nuclear weapons, as we know it is seeking to do, we will enter a new era of instability unlike any the world has ever seen,” he said, adding that “we cannot afford to wait.”* ACT URGENTLY – UN chief Kofi Annan has criticised a “frightening lack of leadership” in tackling global warming, at a major UN climate summit in Nairobi.He said sceptics were “out of step, out of arguments and out of time”.* DEATH BY FIRE – Increasing numbers of Afghan women are committing suicide by setting fire to themselves to escape difficult lives, according to NGOs based in the country.They say women forced into marriage or suffering chronic abuse are killing themselves out of desperation.* VEIL DEBATE – A senior Vatican cardinal has expressed concern over the use of some Muslim veils by Islamic immigrants in Europe.Cardinal Renato Martino said immigrants must respect the traditions, culture and religion of the nations they go to.They ought to abide by local laws banning the wearing of certain types of Muslim veils, he added.* TIDE TURNING – A Los Angeles woman whose son accused pop star Michael Jackson of sexual abuse last year in a sensational trial pleaded no contest to welfare fraud on Monday and has agreed to repay more than $8 600.Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Barbara Johnson also ordered the 38-year-old woman, who has not been named by most news organisations to protect the identity of her son, to perform 150 hours of community service.Nampa-AFP-AP-Reuters-BBC