A Cricketer from New Zealand is mercilessly bashed;  Big news from The Rolling Stones;  And Brazil’s main Olympic Venue might be a death trap.   

New Zealand Cricketer Jesse Ryder is in a coma in intensive care after being beaten by four men outside a bar in Christchurch.  Witnesses say the suspects, described as Caucasian men in their late 20s, knew who Ryder was and took off on foot as soon as they heard police sirens.

Accused mass murderer James Holmes is offering to plead “guilty” to killing 12 people in the massacre in a Colorado Movie Theater last year.  In exchange, his lawyers want prosecutors to take the death penalty off of the table and recommend a sentence of life in prison.  Prosecutors have yet to respond to the offer.

Despite structural problems, Brazil will not tear down the “Joao Havelange Stadium” where many 2016 Olympic events are scheduled.  Right now that stadium is closed because of fears the roof could collapse under strong winds.  Another stadium will be used for the 2014 World Cup.  It’s a major embarrassment for Brazil before it hosts the two prestigious events.

An earthquake in Taiwan killed one person was killed and left 86 people recovering from injuries.  Schools closed to clean up toppled bookshelves and cabinets, high-speed rail services were temporarily suspected.

Madagascar needs $22 Million for a spraying program to eradicate a plague of locusts.  The UN's Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) says billions of bugs are threatening crops, which could cause food shortages for 60 percent of the population.  An overwhelming majority of Madagascar’s population already lives on less than a dollar a day.

The American movie star Ashley Judd says she will not run for the United States Senate, as speculated in Hollywood and Washington publications.  Some wanted the progressive activist to run as a Democrat and take on Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell from Kentucky.  Judd says she won’t run because she doesn’t legally reside in that state.

The Rolling Stones will be one of the three headlining acts at The Glastonbury Festival 2013.  Mick Jagger tweeted the news.  It’s the first time the Stones have played “Glasto”.  The venerable UK music festival is expected to draw 130,000 fans to see the Stones, as well as Mumford and Sons, The Arctic Monkeys, John Lydon and PiL, Primal Scream, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, and Elvis Costello.  Tickets are sold out, but resales are expected to begin next month.