• Jail for ‘stupidest bank robber’: A man who tried to hold up a bank in northwest Germany that had been shut for years and robbed a passer-by is jailed.
• Swiss ski resorts hit by drought: The traditional start of Switzerland’s ski season is marred by a shortage of snow, following the driest autumn on record in the country.
• US bottle message reaches Azores: An 11-year-old US boy was stunned to get a reply to his message in a bottle from Portugal’s Azores Islands – via the more reliable means of email.
• Pena Nieto in ‘name-book gaffe’: Mexican presidential contender Enrique Pena Nieto of the PRI falters when asked to name three books that have influenced him.
• Hiring of Tom Cruise fans denied: Organisers of Hollywood star Tom Cruise’s recent visit to India deny reports they hired 200 fans to welcome the star at Mumbai airport.
• Indonesia’s singing cop is sacked: An Indonesian policeman who became an internet sensation when he was filmed singing and dancing in uniform is sacked after failing to go to work.
• ‘Rubbish Island’ is ‘overwhelmed’: The government of the Maldives temporarily bans the depositing of rubbish from its hotels onto an island used almost entirely as a garbage dump.
• Polydactyl cat rescues US shelter: An unusual cat boasting 26 toes helps fundraisers secure the future of a Wisconsin animal shelter in need of a new home.
• Sheep flock seal makes recovery: A young seal pup which was discovered among a field of sheep after the recent storms which battered Scotland is being nursed back to health.
• Apple papers are sold for $1.6m: Apple’s original partnership agreements, signed by its three founders, sell for $1,594,500 (£1.03m) at auction.
• Green plastic sheep fool drivers: Six green plastic sheep on a West Sussex roundabout are put behind bright yellow safety barriers to stop motorists thinking they are real.
• Chile tie campaign to beat heat: Chile urges men to leave their ties at home this summer to beat the heat and reduce the amount spent on air conditioning.
• Indian is world’s shortest woman: Jyoti Amge, an Indian student measuring just 62.8cm, a little over two feet, is confirmed as the world’s shortest woman by Guinness World Records.
• Beach Boys to get back together: US band The Beach Boys announce plans to reunite to mark their 50th anniversary, which will include a new album and world tour.

Iranian pastor, Youcef Nadarkhani will remain in prison:

In late September of this year, he was given four chances to recant his faith in court and refused each time. His case then was referred to the ayatollah. The American Center for Law and Justice reported one of his court exchanges.

“Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?” Nadarkhani asked.

“To the religion of your ancestors, Islam,” the judge reportedly replied.

“I cannot,” the pastor responded.

• Zimbabwe PM breaks wedding taboo: Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai breaks a local taboo and marries in November, paying a bride price of $36,000 (£23,000) and 10 cows.
• Spit threatens Calcutta landmark: Engineers devise a plan to save Calcutta’s famous Howrah Bridge from death by spit corrosion.
• Barack Obama seeks new ‘body man’: Reggie Love, who has served as US President Barack Obama’s personal assistant for four years, says he is leaving the job to focus on his studies.
• Qantas Twitter contest backfires: A Twitter competition draws thousands of angry responses after Australian airline Qantas launches it in the middle of a major labour dispute.
• World’s worst team get first win: American Samoa’s football team – ranked as the worst international team in the world – win a game for the first time in its history after 30 matches.
• Scuba helps man escape bushfire: A man who stayed behind to fire-proof his house from a bushfire in Australia survives by using scuba gear and his neighbour’s pool.
• Gaga emails school bully campaign: Lady Gaga emails an unsuspecting fan to praise his efforts to “spread tolerance” through an anti-bullying campaign.
• Mexico City claims zombie record: Mexico City clams the world record for the biggest ever “zombie walk” after nearly 10,000 people parade dressed up as the living dead.
• S Korea’s Lee dons thermal pants: South Korea’s president says he is wearing thermal underwear to save energy, as he urges citizens to take measures to avoid power shortages.
• Toilet technology targets boredom: A UK design team has devised a urinal-mounted games console, which it hopes will relieve men of boredom across the country.
• Governor regrets tweet complaint: Kansas Governor Sam Brownback apologises for his office’s “over-reaction” to a disparaging tweet from a teenager sent during a visit to the state capitol.
• Snakecharmer sparks office panic: Workers flee in panic after a disgruntled snake charmer lets loose dozens of snakes in a revenue office in India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state.
• Superman comic sells for $2.16m: A copy of the first issue of Action Comics, featuring Superman’s debut, becomes the world’s most expensive comic, fetching $2.16m (£1.4m).

The Olympic Torch will be coming close to Tonbridge, but not quite into it.  Torchbearers will carry the Flame through more than 1,000 cities, towns and villages in the UK.  Lit in Greece, the Olympic Flame arrives in the UK on 18 May 2012.

Representing peace, unity and friendship, the Flame will be carried by 8,000 inspirational Torchbearers during the Olympic Torch Relay.  As it makes its way across the UK on a 70-day journey it will bring the excitement of the Games to everyone.

It will be coming to the borough of Tonbridge and Malling on 20th July 2012, in Borough Green.  The torch will be winding its way through the village on it’s way to Seal and Sevenoaks and still won’t come within ten miles of Tonbridge.

• Female suspect hides in male jail: Staff at a men’s jail in Bolivia are surprised to find a woman wanted by police hiding inside – in order to avoid being arrested.
• Love congers all as eel released: A 6ft conger eel is released into the wild so he can find love after a lifting operation involving a crane.
• Timberlake keeps ‘date’ promise: The star says escorting Corporal Kelsey De Santis to her Marine Corps Ball was “one of the most moving evenings” of his life.
• Rushdie claims Facebook name win: Author Salman Rushdie says he has won his battle with Facebook over what to call himself on his profile page on the social network.
• Why is Google in love with Bletchley Park?: Why does Google love Bletchley Park so much?
• Cameron’s Aussie accent attacked: David Cameron’s attempt to impersonate Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been described as “so bad it could cause a diplomatic row”.
• Toast sandwich is ‘cheapest meal’: Britain’s cheapest meal is unveiled by scientists in London – the toast sandwich.
• Afghan elders bar ‘pimp’s number’: Officials at a Kabul gathering are forced to form a 41st committee, after elders reject number 39 because of a belief the number is associated with pimps.
• Swiss allowed to ban naked hiking: Switzerland’s highest court rules that local authorities can impose fines on people hiking naked in the Alps.
• World’s ‘lightest material’ claim: A team of US-based engineers unveil a metallic micro-lattice which they claim is lighter than aerogels and strong for its size.
• ‘Average’ height yields most kids: Women might dream of tall, dark and handsome, but researchers are claiming that it is men of “average” height that are having the most children.
• World’s cheapest car gets revamp: The world’s cheapest motor car, India’s Tata Nano, is given a makeover after disappointing sales since its launch in 2009.

In recent days we’ve seen headlines such as David Cameron slams ‘outrageous’ poppy ban by Fifa on England shirt after it emerged that Fifa officials turned down the special request, made by the Football Association, claiming it would “open the door to similar initiatives” across the world.

A letter from Fifa to the FA sent on Tuesday said:

“We regret to inform you that accepting such initiatives would open the door to similar initiatives from all over the world, jeopardising the neutrality of football. Therefore, we confirm herewith that the suggested embroidery on the match shirt cannot be authorised.  There are a variety of options where the FA can continue supporting the cause of remembrance. One of them already was approved by Fifa, the period of silence.”

Fifa’s rules prevent anything of a political nature being worn on shirts and, although the organisation does not regard poppies as political, it is concerned it would open the door to countries wanting to wear various different emblems on their shirts, some of which would be overtly political.

The sports minister Hugh Robertson also wrote to Fifa urging them to reconsider. Robertson’s letter said:

“We fully understand, and respect, Fifa’s rules on its member nations not adorning their shirts with ‘commercial’, ‘political’, or ‘religious’ symbols or messages. The FA and FAW do not intend to contravene these rules.  However, the British public feel very strongly about this issue which is seen as an act of national remembrance to commemorate those who gave their lives in the service of their country. It is not religious or political in any way.”

The FA have released a statement:

The FA would like to clarify that the organisation and England players at all levels will be showing their respect and marking Remembrance Day in a number of ways.

We have been working closely with the Royal British Legion who have welcomed our support. We can confirm that:

• The England players will wear black armbands during the Spain game on Saturday
• The FA will place a poppy wreath on the pitch during the national anthems
• There will be a one-minute silence ahead of kick-off
• Players will wear training tops with embroidered poppies on match day
• Players will wear poppy-embossed anthem jackets during the national anthems
• Military representatives will be in the presentation party prior to kick-off
• The FA has donated 500 England v Spain tickets to ‘Tickets for Troops’, for members of the armed forces, and 1,000 tickets for the England v Sweden game on Tuesday (this is standard FA policy for Wembley matches)
• The England senior squad will train at Wembley on Friday ahead of the Spain game. They will observe the two-minute silence at 11am, all wearing training tops embossed with poppies. This session will be broadcast live
• The training tops embossed with poppies will be passed onto forces’ charities post-match as auction items for fund raising
• The poppy will be visible around Wembley on Saturday, on the scoreboards and advertising boards, and poppy sellers will be in the stadium to allow supporters to donate to the poppy fund and show their support
• On Thursday, England Under-21s play Iceland in Colchester and England U19s play Denmark in Brighton. All players and staff will be wearing poppies pre- and post-match
• Both the Under-21s and U19s will observe a one-minute silence, too, at their games – the Under-21s will do so alongside troops from Colchester barracks.

The decision by FIFA doesn’t seem a well thought out decision, common sense seems to have stopped in an overly politically correct world where everyone is scared of offending someone else.  I believe the poppy should be allowed on the England shirt.  However, I don’t remember teams wearing poppies on their shirts before this year.  The thing that I have remembered is the minute’s silence and the honouring of troops and retired troops.

What do you think?