In Brief: Teen let off for knife assault

A TEENAGER who slashed a classmate's arm with a knife during a school row has been spared a custodial sentence and a criminal conviction.

The 17-year-old boy had pleaded guilty at the Children's Court to assault causing harm to his former classmate at a south Dublin secondary school on a date in May 2010

Last year the teenager agreed to take part in an 'action plan' which included him writing a letter of apology to his victim and doing voluntary work. He had complied with the terms and appeared again at the Children's Court where Judge Ann Ryan struck out the case.

Sandinista founder dies

Tomas Borge Martinez, the last surviving founder of the Sandinista guerrilla movement that overthrew Nicaragua's US-backed right-wing dictatorship in 1979 and replaced it with a leftist system criticised for its own repressive measures, has died. He was 81.

Rosario Murillo, wife of President Daniel Ortega who serves as a government spokeswoman, announced the death but did not give a cause. The military had said previously that Mr Borge was being treated for pneumonia and other ailments.

Pilots fear lack of oxygen in jets

Some of America's 200 F-22 Raptor pilots want to be moved into other jobs because of oxygen-deficit problems with the stealth fighter, a US Air Force leader said.

General Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, told reporters that a "very small" number of pilots have asked not to fly the fifth-generation fighter jets or to be reassigned.

Dannii and I will be pals -- Tulisa

X Factor star Tulisa Contostavlos said she expects to hit it off with Dannii Minogue if the Aussie star returns to the talent show.

Minogue is in talks for a return to the ITV1 programme following Kelly Rowland's departure.

Tulisa said: "I used to watch X Factor before I got on the panel, so I always thought Dannii was great and I enjoyed watching her, so I'm sure we'd get along really well."