TV Licence Dodgers May Not Be Prosecuted

TV licence dodgers may no longer face prosecution in the courts under new plans being considered by the Government.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling says "serious work" on the plan is under way, with more than 100 cross-party MPs in support.

"The Culture Secretary (Maria Miller) and I both agree that this is a really interesting idea, particularly given the pressure on our courts system," Mr Grayling told The Daily Telegraph.

"Our departments will be doing some serious work on the proposal."

Efforts to change the law are being spearheaded by Tory MP Andrew Bridgen.

He said that for some cash-strapped families, the current law was "criminalising them for being poor".

"It is outrageous that so many people are brought into the criminal justice system through this means. I believe that non-payment should be treated in the way that parking tickets are," Mr Bridgen told the newspaper.

"It is absurd that the courts are being clogged up by such a minor offence."

Offenders currently face a £1,000 fine and a criminal record, as well as possible time in jail if fines are not paid.

Some 180,000 people faced magistrates last year after being accused of not paying the £145.50 fee, accounting for in excess of one in 10 of all criminal prosecutions.

Of those, 155,000 people were convicted and fined.

The proposed changes could see dodging payment of the TV licence become a civil matter, with a fine set by the Government.

A BBC spokesman said: "Legislation is a matter for the Government. However, changing the law could lead to higher evasion. Just a 1% increase in evasion would lead to the loss of around £35m, the equivalent of around 10 BBC Local Radio stations."

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Clare's Law Rolled Out To Expose Abusers

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

New measures to protect victims of domestic abuse come into effect today.

Clare's Law, which enables people to check the police records of partners, has been launched across England and Wales after being piloted by four police forces.

The father of murder victim Clare Wood, whose name has been given to the scheme, has welcomed its introduction, describing it as "a bittersweet moment".

Clare's killer George Appleton

Michael Brown discovered five years ago that his daughter had been raped and strangled at her Salford home by ex-boyfriend George Appleton, who set fire to her body before going on the run. He was found hanged several days later.

Appleton, who Clare met on Facebook, had a history of violence against women, including knife-point kidnapping.

Mr Brown told Sky News: "When you lose a family member in these circumstances it is always with you. To realise that the last moments of your daughter's life were kicking and screaming in a room in Salford sticks with you."

The 70-year-old said Clare's Law was "not a panacea for domestic violence" but added: "If it can help others - just one - I and all the other campaigners will have succeeded. 

"This is just another piece of armour plate for people to put on when they are in trouble."

The launch coincides with International Women's Day and also marks the introduction of Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs), which are designed to provide support for victims in the immediate aftermath of violent incidents.

Michael Brown has fought for a new law to help women like his daughter

DVPOs can last for up to 28 days, during which time a perpetrator can be prevented from having contact with the victim.

Speaking about Clare's Law, Home Secretary Theresa May said: "What we saw from the pilots was a real benefit for women who were able to go to the police where they had suspicions about the behaviour of their partner.

"As a result of that, they were able to make a decision about whether to stay with that partner or to leave."

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Malaysia Airlines Plane 'Crashes In Vietnam'

A Malaysia Airlines plane with 239 people on board has crashed into the sea after losing contact with air traffic control 12 hours ago, say reports.

The Boeing 777-200 was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it vanished around two hours into the flight.

Vietnamese state media quoted a navy official as saying Flight MH370 crashed near Tho Chu island, off Vietnam's south coast, at around 2.40am local time.

All ships in the local area have been sent to the scene to look for survivors.

Distraught relatives and friends wait at Beijing International Airport

China's Xinhua news agency said teams from Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore are involved in the search near Tho Chu island.

However, Malaysia's Transport Minister Seri Hishammuddin told reporters: "There is no information on any wreckage, but we are looking at all possibilities."

Journalist Leo Lewis, at Beijing airport, told Sky News families were waiting anxiously for news of their relatives.

He said there were "scenes of considerable distress" and "increasing irritation" because of a lack of information about their fate.

The plane was on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing

Malcolm Moore, the Daily Telegraph's Beijing Correspondent, said the relatives have been taken by bus to a hotel in the centre of Beijing.

He told Sky News: "There has been no official confirmation (about what has happened), but it's looking increasingly grim."

The plane left Kuala Lumpur at 12.41am local time and was due to arrive in Beijing at 6.30am local time.

Malaysia Airlines said the flight was carrying 227 passengers, including two infants, and 12 crew members.

Flight MH370 marked in red on Beijing airport's information board

They were from 14 countries - 152 plus one baby from China, 38 from Malaysia, 12 from Indonesia, seven from Australia, three plus one baby from the US, three from France, two from New Zealand, two from Ukraine, two from Canada, one from Russia, one from Italy, one from Taiwan, one from Netherlands, and one from Austria.

The aircraft was piloted by Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, a 53-year-old Malaysian with a total of 18,365 flying hours. He joined the company in 1981.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected passengers and crew and their family members," Malaysia Airlines CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said in a statement.

The airline said it would provide "regular updates" on the situation and has set up the phone line +603 7884 1234 for concerned members of the public.

China's state news agency said the plane lost communication with air traffic control in southern Vietnam.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has voiced his "extreme" worries

China has dispatched two maritime rescue ships to the South China Sea to help in the search and rescue work.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said: "This news has made us all very worried. We hope every one of the passengers is safe."

Malaysia Airlines has 15 Boeing 777-200 jets in its fleet of about 100 planes.

If the plane is found to have crashed, the loss would mark the second fatal accident involving a Boeing 777 in less than a year, after an unblemished safety record since the jet entered service in 1995.

Last summer, an Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 crash landed in San Francisco, killing three passengers.

Boeing said it was aware of reports that the Malaysia Airlines plane has gone missing and was monitoring the situation, but had no further comment.

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Putin 'Repeating Georgia Tactics' In Crimea

Russia is using the same tactics to take control of Crimea as it used in efforts to annex other territories in the region, Georgia's former leader has said.

Mikheil Saakashvili told Sky News that Russia President Vladimir Putin wanted to achieve a number of unspoken aims through its involvement in the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

And the 46-year-old, who served two terms as Georgia's president between 2004 and 2012, said Moscow was doing "exactly the same thing" in Crimea as it did in its 2008 conflict with Georgia.

He claimed that in both instances, Mr Putin has sent in soldiers not identified as Russian troops to provoke matters in the neighbouring countries - but claimed they were merely Russian citizens seeking to defend themselves.

Mr Putin and Mr Saakashvili before war broke out in 2008

"Of course this is not true, of course this is nonsense spread by Russian propaganda," he said.

"If the Ukrainian government responds now, Russia will say: 'Well those were not our troops and now we are moving in with real troops.'

"That's exactly what happened in Georgia and it's high time people who still propagate this rubbish version (of events) that we attacked first, to consider that (they have been) a victim of Russian lies.

"Putin has this plan to have occupation and annexation of territories ranging from South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Crimea then all the other parts of Ukraine and then Transnistria in Moldova."

Mr Saakashvili said Mr Putin had various other motives in the Ukraine crisis.

"I think President Putin has very clear goals here," he said.

Russian soldiers in Georgia during the 2008 conflict

"If Ukraine makes it, becomes a European and democratic state, then Russian citizens will be asking quite rightly why Russians cannot have the same, why they should live in a mafia-ridden, oligarchic, corrupt country.

"The other thing is Crimea has lots of shale gas. Actually, within the next three years, thanks to American companies, Ukraine was going to become a net exporter of gas and stop buying Russian gas.

"That would basically mean that Gazprom would lose its biggest buyer of gas in Europe."

Ukraine says Russia currently has around 16,000 troops in its Crimean territories. Kiev says the soldiers are behind the seizure of key bases in the region.

Mr Putin has claimed the gunmen responsible are merely local militias.

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TV Presenter Defends On-Air Resignation

The presenter at Moscow-backed TV station Russia Today who quit her job live on air has told Sky News she was not willing to be "Putin's mouthpiece" in the US.

Liz Wahl, a US anchor for Russia Today America, told viewers during her last broadcast that the channel was guilty of "whitewashing the actions" of President Vladimir Putin.

The dramatic resignation came after Russian troops entered Crimea following months of pro-European protests that saw Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych ousted.

Speaking to Sky's Dominic Waghorn, Ms Wahl said the TV channel's reporting of the crisis had been dishonest, and that she chose to take a stand.

"It was kind of spontaneous. I'd decided on that day that for me, in my mind, a red line had been drawn," she said.

"Covering this crisis in Crimea, I've seen censorship there and really RT being used as a propaganda tool to promote the Putin world view.

Ms Wahl said Russia Today promoted Mr Putin's foreign policies

"I think when I started working there I thought it was an opportunity ... I did not, however, think that his (Putin's) foreign policy agenda would be pushed and used in a newscast.

"When they offered me the job they certainly didn't sell it in a way that I would be Putin's mouthpiece. But as this crisis escalates, I see that this is what it is."

Ms Wahl's grandparents fled to the US as refugees during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution to escape the Soviet Union.

She said she was nervous about resigning live on air.

"(But) I knew that I had to do it  ... Eventually, you have to draw a red line."

In a statement on Ms Wahl's resignation, Russia Today accused the presenter of a "self-promotional stunt".

"When a journalist disagrees with the editorial position of his or her organisation, the usual course of action is to address those grievances with the editor, and, if they cannot be resolved, to quit like a professional," the statement said.

"But when someone makes a big public show of a personal decision, it is nothing more than a self-promotional stunt."

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Ukraine: Obama Urges Putin Over Crimea Deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been urged by his US counterpart Barack Obama to accept the terms of a potential diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis.

The two men spoke on the phone for an hour on Thursday night, after which the Russian leader said the two sides were still far apart.

Crimea's parliament voted on Thursday to join Russia, and announced they will hold a referendum in nine days.

The move sparked a dramatic escalation in the crisis - and was immediately condemned by Mr Obama.

Cossacks stand guard outside the parliament building in Simferopol, Crimea

Former Kremlin spin doctor Gleb Pavlovsky said there was now a greater danger of shots being fired in Crimea.

"Russia is encouraging the action of local forces," he said.

"We are at a very dangerous point, and it threatens to push a political crisis in the direction of a military situation."

An anti-Putin protest outside the White House

Mr Obama ordered sanctions on those responsible for Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine, including bans on travel to America and freezing of their US assets

He also echoed European Union leaders and the pro-Western government in Ukraine in insisting the referendum would violate international law.

Pro-Russian demonstrators try to overturn a vehicle in Donetsk

He said Russians and Ukrainians involved in what he called "threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine" would be punished - although a US official said Mr Putin was not on the list of those to be sanctioned.

"The proposed referendum on the future of Crimea would violate the Ukrainian constitution and violate international law," Mr Obama told reporters at the White House.

"Any discussion about the future of Ukraine must include the legitimate government of Ukraine."

But in a statement released by the Kremlin early on Friday, Mr Putin said Kiev's new authorities had imposed "absolutely illegitimate decisions on the eastern, southeastern and Crimea regions".

"Russia cannot ignore calls for help in this matter and it acts accordingly, in full compliance with the international law," he said.

The sudden acceleration of efforts to bring Crimea, which has an ethnic Russian majority and has effectively been seized by Russian forces, formally under Moscow's rule came as EU leaders held an emergency summit on the crisis.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says if the first round of sanctions against Russia do not work, there could be more targeting of businesses and individuals close to Mr Putin, Reuters reported.

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Russia TV Presenter Quits On Air In Protest

A presenter for a Russian government-funded TV channel has resigned live on air, after accusing the station of "whitewashing the actions" of Vladimir Putin.

Liz Wahl, a US anchor for Russia Today America, told viewers during the broadcast: "I'm proud to be an American and believe in disseminating the truth and that is why after this newscast, I'm resigning."

Her grandparents fled to the US as refugees during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution to escape the Soviet Union.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Moscow has been accused of invading Ukraine's Crimea region after months of pro-European protests there saw the nation's pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, ousted.

Russia denies this, claiming the troops operating there are "self-defence" forces who do not answer to Moscow.

In a statement on Ms Wahl's actions, Russia Today said: "When a journalist disagrees with the editorial position of his or her organisation, the usual course of action is to address those grievances with the editor, and, if they cannot be resolved, to quit like a professional.

"But when someone makes a big public show of a personal decision, it is nothing more than a self-promotional stunt.

Moscow says troops in Crimea are "self-defence" forces

"We wish Liz the best of luck on her chosen path."

Ms Wahl later tweeted: "I am grateful and humbled by the outpouring of support I have received."

Another host from the channel criticised the actions of pro-Russian forces earlier this week.

Abby Martin labelled the intervention "wrong" and said she was "strongly against" military involvement.

The channel responded by saying Ms Martin "does not possess a deep knowledge of reality of the situation in Crimea" and that she would be sent there to "make up her own mind from the epicentre of the story".

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Ukraine: Russia Faces Pressure Amid Clashes

US Issues Rebuttal Of 'Putin's Ukraine Fiction'

Updated: 8:29am UK, Thursday 06 March 2014

Amid diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis in Ukraine, the State Department has taken the unusual step of issuing a point-by-point rebuttal of Vladimir Putin's assertions.

It bluntly spoke of "President Putin's Fiction" and even quoted Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky, saying: "The world has not seen such startling Russian fiction since Dostoyevsky wrote, 'The formula 'two plus two equals five' is not without its attractions'."

The "10 False Claims" statement follows a defiant press conference by the Russian president two days ago.

Here is the full text of the US rebuttal:

As Russia spins a false narrative to justify its illegal actions in Ukraine, the world has not seen such startling Russian fiction since Dostoyevsky wrote, "The formula 'two plus two equals five' is not without its attractions."

Below are 10 of President Vladimir Putin's recent claims justifying Russian aggression in the Ukraine, followed by the facts that his assertions ignore or distort.

1. Mr Putin says: Russian forces in Crimea are only acting to protect Russian military assets. It is "citizens' defense groups," not Russian forces, who have seized infrastructure and military facilities in Crimea.

The Facts: Strong evidence suggests that members of Russian security services are at the heart of the highly organized anti-Ukraine forces in Crimea. While these units wear uniforms without insignia, they drive vehicles with Russian military license plates and freely identify themselves as Russian security forces when asked by the international media and the Ukrainian military. Moreover, these individuals are armed with weapons not generally available to civilians.

2. Mr Putin says: Russia's actions fall within the scope of the 1997 Friendship Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

The Facts: The 1997 agreement requires Russia to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity. Russia's military actions in Ukraine, which have given them operational control of Crimea, are in clear violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

3. Mr Putin says: The opposition failed to implement the February 21 agreement with former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

The Facts: The February 21 agreement laid out a plan in which the Rada, or Parliament, would pass a bill to return Ukraine to its 2004 Constitution, thus returning the country to a constitutional system centered around its parliament. Under the terms of the agreement, Yanukovych was to sign the enacting legislation within 24 hours and bring the crisis to a peaceful conclusion. Yanukovych refused to keep his end of the bargain. Instead, he packed up his home and fled, leaving behind evidence of wide-scale corruption.

4. Mr Putin says: Ukraine's government is illegitimate. Yanukovych is still the legitimate leader of Ukraine.

The Facts: On March 4, President Putin himself acknowledged the reality that Yanukovych "has no political future." After Yanukovych fled Ukraine, even his own Party of Regions turned against him, voting to confirm his withdrawal from office and to support the new government. Ukraine's new government was approved by the democratically elected Ukrainian Parliament, with 371 votes - more than an 82% majority. The interim government of Ukraine is a government of the people, which will shepherd the country toward democratic elections on May 25th - elections that will allow all Ukrainians to have a voice in the future of their country.

5. Mr Putin says: There is a humanitarian crisis and hundreds of thousands are fleeing Ukraine to Russia and seeking asylum.

The Facts: To date, there is absolutely no evidence of a humanitarian crisis. Nor is there evidence of a flood of asylum-seekers fleeing Ukraine for Russia. International organizations on the ground have investigated by talking with Ukrainian border guards, who also refuted these claims. Independent journalists observing the border have also reported no such flood of refugees.

6. Mr Putin says: Ethnic Russians are under threat.

The Facts: Outside of Russian press and Russian state television, there are no credible reports of any ethnic Russians being under threat. The new Ukrainian government placed a priority on peace and reconciliation from the outset. President Oleksandr Turchynov refused to sign legislation limiting the use of the Russian language at regional level. Ethnic Russians and Russian speakers have filed petitions attesting that their communities have not experienced threats. Furthermore, since the new government was established, calm has returned to Kyiv. There has been no surge in crime, no looting, and no retribution against political opponents.

7. Mr Putin says: Russian bases are under threat.

The Facts: Russian military facilities were and remain secure, and the new Ukrainian government has pledged to abide by all existing international agreements, including those covering Russian bases. It is Ukrainian bases in Crimea that are under threat from Russian military action.

8. Mr Putin says: There have been mass attacks on churches and synagogues in southern and eastern Ukraine.

The Facts: Religious leaders in the country and international religious freedom advocates active in Ukraine have said there have been no incidents of attacks on churches. All of Ukraine's church leaders, including representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, have expressed support for the new political leadership, calling for national unity and a period of healing. Jewish groups in southern and eastern Ukraine report that they have not seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents.

9. Mr Putin says: Kyiv is trying to destabilize Crimea.

The Facts: Ukraine's interim government has acted with restraint and sought dialogue. Russian troops, on the other hand, have moved beyond their bases to seize political objectives and infrastructure in Crimea. The government in Kyiv immediately sent the former Chief of Defense to defuse the situation. Petro Poroshenko, the latest government emissary to pursue dialogue in Crimea, was prevented from entering the Crimean Rada.

10. Mr Putin says: The Rada is under the influence of extremists or terrorists.

The Facts: The Rada is the most representative institution in Ukraine. Recent legislation has passed with large majorities, including from representatives of eastern Ukraine. Far-right wing ultranationalist groups, some of which were involved in open clashes with security forces during the EuroMaidan protests, are not represented in the Rada. There is no indication that the Ukrainian government would pursue discriminatory policies; on the contrary, they have publicly stated exactly the opposite.

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Neighbour 'Could Not Have Heard' Reeva Screams

Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius is in court for the fourth day of his murder trial.

The court is hearing from neighbour Charl Peter Johnson for a third day.

Mr Johnson claims he heard five or six shots on the night Pistorious shot dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

But defence lawyer Barry Roux pointed out that in his initial notes he wrote that he "did not count the number of shots fired".

Defence lawyer Barry Roux said: "Three hours later you changed this paragraph. And you corrected little things. That is a sign that you revisited that note and amended it."

:: Sky News' live coverage of the trial is under way, and a special highlights programme will be broadcast every weekday at 9.30pm.

Ms Steenkamp was shot dead on Valentine's Day

Mr Roux also said Mr Johnson's evidence - that he heard a woman's screams on the night of the killing - had many similarities with his wife's evidence.

"Your statement is strikingly similar to your wife's statement," Mr Roux said.

Mr Johnson replied: "My wife and I did speak about the incident after it happened."

Pistorius Pretoria mansion pictured after the shooting

But he added: "I did not hear her testify or speak to her about what she said in court."

Both Mr Johnson and his wife Michelle Burger insist they heard a woman's screams during the shooting.

The issue of the sound of a woman screaming is a key point for the prosecution. The claims by neighbours that they heard the screams suggest Pistorius would have known it was Ms Steenkamp, rather than an intruder, as he fired.

Pistorius' defence lawyer Barry Roux has been aggressive in his questioning

Mr Roux said: "Your interpretation today is a designed one, it's to incriminate. That's unfortunate, and we'll deal with it."

Sky's Alex Crawford, who is in court, says the day is likely to be emotional for Pistorius as it is the 12th anniversary of his mother's death.

On Wednesday, the court heard from Pistorius' boxer friend Kevin Lerena, who said he was injured when the star fired a gun in a restaurant.

Pistorius wrote notes during the hearing on a pad of paper

Mr Lerena added that Pistorius then asked another friend to take the blame.

On top of the premeditated murder allegation, Pistorius faces a charge of illegally possessing ammunition and two further counts related to shooting a gun in public in two separate incidents before the killing.

He denies all the charges against him and maintains he shot Ms Steenkamp after mistaking her for an intruder.

The high-profile case is being televised around the world

The athlete could face 25 years in jail if he is found guilty by Judge Thokozile Masipa. South Africa does not have trials by jury.

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Key Pistorius Prosecution Witness 'Shredded'

Evidence given by one of the prosecution's key witnesses has been repeatedly challenged by Oscar Pistorius' defence team during a tense cross-examination.

Charl Peter Johnson's claim that he heard a woman screaming after the final gunshot on the night Reeva Steenkamp was killed was criticised by Barry Roux, because it did not appear in his initial witness statement.

Mr Roux said: "In your evidence you described the woman screaming. You said you could hear the fear. What is significant is that in your wife's testimony, she said she could hear the woman's intense fear in her screams. Yet this is not in your statement.

Pistorius enters the dock for the third day of his trial

"When you gave evidence yesterday, it was not stated in your statement but you now speak about the scream after the last shot.

"I think you don't know what you are saying. You are saying all the evidence that your wife gave us yesterday."

The athlete arrives at court flanked by his cousins

But Mr Johnson said: "I don't think it is strange that we used the same words."

Sky's Alex Crawford, who is in court, described Mr Johnson as being "shredded" by the defence lawyer.

Pistorius removes his jacket after entering court

At one point, as Mr Roux became increasingly exasperated during his questioning, he turned around and glanced at Pistorius and told Mr Johnson: "A man's life is at stake here."

Pistorius showed no emotion as he - surrounded by his cousins - entered the court in South Africa's administrative capital earlier.

Pistorius holds his head in his hands

There were shouts and whistles as he made his way through the crowd towards the court's entrance, where he is on trial accused of murder.

Mr Johnson started his evidence by saying his phone number was read out in court on Tuesday, and he had received phone calls from a member of the public as a result.

Pistorius wiped his eyes during the emotional second day of the trial

He said: "The message was intimidating. I feel that my privacy has been compromised."

During an emotional second day, Ms Burger - the prosecution's main witness - wept under cross-examination and Pistorius was seen wiping his eyes with a handkerchief.

Pistorius says he mistakenly thought Ms Steenkamp was an intruder

He faces four charges: premeditated murder, the illegal possession of ammunition and two further counts related to shooting a gun in public in two separate incidents before the killing.

Pistorius, known as Blade Runner, denies all of the charges, including the allegation he deliberately killed his girlfriend after a jealous row.

He maintains he shot Ms Steenkamp after mistaking her for an intruder.

The trial is scheduled to last for three weeks and will hear from more than 100 witnesses.

If he is found guilty Pistorius could be jailed for at least 25 years. His fate will be decided by Judge Thokozile Masipa because South Africa does not have a jury system.

More follows...

:: Sky News' live coverage of the trial is under way, and a special highlights programme will be broadcast every weekday at 9.30pm.

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Ukraine Police Clearing Pro-Russia Protesters

Police say they are clearing pro-Russia protesters from a government building in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine's major city.

Demonstrators stormed the building earlier this week and erected the Russian flag on the roof.

The city - which rejects Kiev's authority - was the political support base of Ukraine's ousted president, Viktor Yanukovych.

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Ukraine: Sanctions Threat As Lavrov Meets Kerry

The EU says it could vote on Russian sanctions on Thursday if there is no de-escalation in the Ukraine stand-off before then.

The move came as Western powers tried to rein in Russian President Vladimir Putin's military threat to Ukraine.

Mr Putin has previously said any Western sanctions against Russia would be counter-productive.

US Secretary of State John Kerry in Kiev with Ukraine's leaders

America has already threatened sanctions, with a senior US official saying Washington is ready to impose them in days rather than weeks.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov are due to meet in Paris this afternoon to discuss the ongoing tensions.

Mr Lavrov is holding talks in Madrid this morning, and is expected to give a news briefing in the next hour.

Mr Kerry placed a candle and roses atop the Shrine of the Fallen in Kiev

Earlier, US President Barack Obama spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel about a plan to end the stalemate, sparked by Russian intervention in Ukraine's Crimea region.

Under the proposal, Russia would pull back its forces in Crimea to their bases in the peninsula and limit troop numbers to a Ukraine-agreed maximum of 11,000.

A senior American official said the plan would also see international monitors allowed in to ensure the human rights of ethnic Russians are protected.

Seen as an effort to offer Russian President Vladimir Putin a way out of the crisis without losing face, the plan would pave the way for direct talks between Moscow and the new Ukraine government with the potential for some international mediation.

Troops in Belbek relax after a stand-off with the Russian military

The proposal would also see planned elections in Ukraine this May go ahead.

But Mr Obama sounded a cautious note when commenting on the crisis at a fundraiser on Tuesday night.

"We may be able to de-escalate over the next several days and weeks," he said. "It's a serious situation and we are spending a lot of time on it."

People watch the latest news on a TV screen at Independence square, Kiev

The US official added that Mr Obama had made clear to Ms Merkel that he would not attend a G8 summit scheduled for June in Sochi, Russia, if the situation in Ukraine had not changed.

Preparatory meetings about the summit have already been suspended.

A White House statement about the Obama-Merkel phone call said the two leaders expressed grave concern over Russia's "clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity."

John Kerry boards his plane as he prepares to leave Kiev

They "agreed on the importance of de-escalating the situation, including through the deployment of international observers and human rights monitors, and of initiating direct talks between Russia and Ukraine," it said.

Mr Putin has denied that Russian armed forces were directly engaged in the bloodless seizure of Crimea.

But he said he had the right to send in military forces to protect Russian nationals who feel threatened by the new Ukrainian government after pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted.

Mr Obama dismissed the Russian leader's claims, saying: "President Putin seems to have a different set of lawyers making a different set of interpretations, but I don't think that's fooling anybody."

It comes after footage emerged showing a tense exchange between Russian and Ukrainian soldiers at the Belbek airbase in Sevastopol.

The video shows around a dozen Russian soldiers warning the unarmed Ukrainian servicemen to back away as they tried to take their positions back -before firing warning shots over their heads.

Russia also test-fired an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile on Tuesday, although the White House later said it knew weeks in advance of the "routine" test.

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Oscar Pistorius Defence Team On The Attack

Two things are already clear from the opening stages of Oscar Pistorius' murder trial: the athlete intends to play a full role in his defence; and his lawyers plan to pursue an aggressive approach as they try to keep him out of jail.

In his bail hearing last February, Pistorius struggled to compose himself, frequently breaking down in tears as he sat shaking in court.

This time he has appeared calm and focused, and from the start of the case he has been busy taking notes.

Pistorius says he mistook Reeva Steenkamp for a burglar

Several times he has handed slips of paper to his legal team, participating in every stage. The athlete, famed for his determination on the track, seems to have brought some of that steel to his trial.

He and his lawyers have had a year to prepare and there is little doubt the Paralympic athlete has been key to the discussions about strategy. 

He certainly knew what to expect when he hired Advocate Barry Roux to lead his defence: a bruiser of an attorney, famed for his ability to win cases and rattle witnesses on the stand.

He lived up to that reputation as he launched his cross-examination of the prosecution's first witness.

Barry Roux is famed for his ability to win cases

Michell Burger, a neighbour of the athlete, had told the court how she was awoken by screaming on the night Pistorius shot dead Reeva Steenkamp. 

She described the woman's cries as "blood-curdling" and said she also heard a man shouting for help.

She also spoke of her horror at hearing four gunshots being fired.

Pistorius leaves court after the first day of the trial

Mr Roux, well aware that this was damaging evidence - contradicting Pistorius' defence that he thought Ms Steenkamp was asleep in bed and he was shooting at an intruder - went on the offensive.

The questions were fired fast to try to unsettle the witness; she was accused of being confused and even asked to vouch for the honesty of her husband who had heard more than four shots.

Mr Roux claimed the woman's voice she heard could have been Pistorius and that the shots were the sound of the athlete using a cricket bat to break down the bathroom door after realising he had shot Ms Steenkamp by mistake.

It was a fiery exchange, with Ms Burger sticking to her account, but Mr Roux might have introduced just a hint of doubt where before there was none.

We can expect more of this, Pistorius sharply focused on his freedom, as Barry Roux spars with the renowned and tenacious lead prosecutor, Gerrie Nel.

There is no jury for the two men to sway, just one judge, Thokozile Masipa, who will ultimately decide what really happened to the 29-year-old Ms Steenkamp that night and, with it, Pistorius' fate.

:: Sky News' live coverage of the trial is under way, and a special highlights programme will be broadcast every weekday at 9.30pm.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Ukraine: US Halts Russia Military Engagements

The United States has put all military co-operation with Russia on hold over Moscow's deployment of troops in Ukraine.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said the measure included all military exercises, port visits, bilateral talks and planning conferences.

He said: "We call on Russia to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine and for Russian forces in Crimea to return to their bases, as required under the agreements governing the Russia Black Sea Fleet."

Vitaly Churkin shows the letter purportedly from Viktor Yanukovych

It comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops taking part in military exercises close to the Ukraine border in western Russia to return to their permanent bases on Tuesday.

Russian soldiers were also reported to have fired warning shots into the air as around 300 Ukrainian troops demanded their jobs back at Belbek air base in Crimea. The air base was seized over the weekend.

Moscow's UN envoy told a stormy meeting of the UN Security Council that Ukraine's ousted leader Viktor Yanukovych had sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting that he use Russia's military to restore law and order in Ukraine.

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, reading from an unofficial translation of the letter he said was dated March 1, said: "The country has plunged into chaos and anarchy.

Barack Obama holds a meeting on Ukraine in the White House situation room

"The country is in the grip of outright terror and violence driven by the West. People are persecuted on political and language grounds.

President Putin was filmed watching war games in Russia

"In this context, I appeal to the President of Russia Vladimir V Putin to use the armed forces of the Russian Federation to re-establish the rule of law, peace, order, stability and to protect the people of Ukraine."

But US President Barack Obama warned Moscow it would find itself "on the wrong side of history" - and that Russia's deployment of troops in Ukraine violates international law.

He spoke shortly after Mr Putin's aides were forced to deny reports that Russian forces have given the Ukrainian navy until 3am (5am local time) today to surrender.

America said any threat by Russia to Ukraine forces would represent a "dangerous escalation" in the crisis, and Moscow would be held responsible.

Moscow has also threatened it could be forced to drop the dollar as a reserve currency and refuse to pay off loans to US banks if the US imposes sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.

Kremlin economic aide Sergei Glazyev said: "We would find a way not just to reduce our dependency on the US to zero but to emerge from those sanctions with great benefits for ourselves.

Ukraine's military might is dwarfed by Russia's

"An attempt to announce sanctions would end in a crash for the financial system of the US, which would cause the end of the domination of the US in the global financial system."

Ukraine says Russia has deployed 16,000 troops to Crimea over the past week.

Hundreds of Russian soldiers have surrounded a military base near the Crimean capital Simferopol, preventing Ukrainian soldiers from going in or out.

Russian forces have also seized a border checkpoint on the Ukrainian border between Russia and Crimea, Reuters reported.

Russia denies it told Ukraine forces in Crimea to surrender

US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: "At this point we are not just considering sanctions given the actions Russia is taking, it is likely we will put those in place and we are preparing that.

"We have a broad range of options available."

However, US Senator John McCain criticised Mr Obama's handling of the crisis and described him as "totally naive".

He told Sky News it was time the US had a "cold-eyed view of Putin" and said it should immediately impose "severe economic sanctions" on Moscow and reinstall missile defence systems in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Samantha Power, US Ambassador to the UN, told the UN Security Council in New York that Russia's actions are a violation of international law and a "response to an imaginary threat".

She said there is no "legal basis" for Moscow's troop deployment and the way to resolve the crisis is through talks between Ukraine and Russia.

British Prime Minister David Cameron called for the world to send Russia a "clear message" about its actions.

Nato will hold more emergency talks on the crisis on Tuesday after Poland requested consultations with its allies on the threat posed by Moscow.

The Russian foreign ministry said Nato's criticism of its actions in Crimea "will not help stabilise" the situation in Ukraine.

Russia was reported on Monday to have given Ukrainian forces in Crimea a deadline of 3am on Tuesday to surrender or face military action.

But that ultimatum was dismissed as "total nonsense" by an official from the Russian Ministry of Defence. There were no reports of fighting as the deadline passed on Tuesday.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Judge's Anger As Pistorius Witness Identified

The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius was temporarily delayed after a witness was reportedly identified by a South African news organisation.

Neighbour Michell Burger, who says she heard Reeva Steenkamp being killed by Oscar Pistorius, is being grilled by the athlete's defence team for a second day.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux opened Tuesday's questioning by saying he wanted to focus on two aspects of Ms Burger, her "credibility and reliability".

The trial is being televised, but witnesses can choose not to appear on camera.

Ms Burger does not want to be filmed, and the case was temporarily adjourned just before 8am after Judge Thokozile Masipa was alerted to an image of the witness that had appeared in local media. The judge said she viewed the error as "serious" and ordered an investigation.

Oscar Pistorius shot dead his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Ms Burger claims to have heard gunshots and a woman's screams on the night Ms Steenkamp was murdered.

Mr Roux has repeatedly attempted to establish this morning that Ms Burger had already decided she did not believe Pistorius' account of the evening - that he believed there was an intruder in his home - when she gave her evidence contradicting his story.

She is the prosecution's key witness, and her account of hearing a woman's screams suggests Pistorius would have known that it was his girlfriend rather than an intruder when he fired.

A tense exchange between Mr Roux and Ms Burger came to a climax when he said he'd asked her the same question eight times.

"I'm going to be really slow this time," he said. "You heard at the bail application that it was put on behalf of Mr Pistorius that Reeva did not scream that night, is that correct?"

The Pretoria home of Oscar Pistorius pictured after the shooting

After giving an unclear answer, Judge Masipa insisted that she had to give a clear answer. Eventually, the witness said she had heard about Pistorius' claims.

Mr Roux said: "You've watched Sky News, you've watched other channels, and you've got retrospective knowledge and you take that knowledge and you come and give evidence today as if it's the knowledge of that fateful evening."

He also challenged her claim that she could clearly hear screams over the sound of gunshots.

On Monday, Ms Burger, who is the first witness in the case, told a packed courtroom in South Africa's administrative capital Pretoria she heard "blood-curdling screams" and four gunshots when Pistorius' girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was killed.

Members of the Paralympic athlete's defence team used their opening statement to allege the crime scene had been "contaminated and tampered with", a suggestion state prosecutor Gerrie Nel denied.

The double-amputee is accused of the premeditated murder of Ms Steenkamp last Valentine's Day after a jealous row, illegal possession of ammunition and two additional counts relating to shooting a gun in public in two separate incidents before the killing.

The 27-year-old, who is known as the Blade Runner, denies all the charges against him. He claims he shot his girlfriend by mistake at his home after mistaking her for an intruder.

The trial, large parts of which can be broadcast live after a landmark ruling, is scheduled to last for three weeks and will hear from more than 100 witnesses.

South Africa does not have a jury system. Instead, Judge Masipa will decide his fate.

If Pistorius is found guilty he could be jailed for at least 25 years.

More follows...

:: Sky News' live coverage of the trial is under way, and a special highlights programme will be broadcast every weekday at 9.30pm.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Steenkamp's Mother Prepares To Face Pistorius

The mother of Reeva Steenkamp has said she wants to "force" Oscar Pistorius to look at her when she meets him for the first time at his trial.

Today will be the first time June Steenkamp comes face-to-face with the Paralympic and Olympic sprinter who is accused of murdering her daughter.

The 67-year-old said she wants to confront Pistorius on the first day of the proceedings.

Pistorius says he was deeply in love with Ms Steenkamp

"I want to look at Oscar, really look him in the eyes, and see for myself the truth about what he did to Reeva, and whatever the court decides at the end of his trial, I will be ready to forgive him," she told the Mail.

"But first I want to force him to look at me, Reeva's mother, and see the pain and anguish he has inflicted on me.

"I feel I need that."

Last month, Ms Steenkamp's family said they were looking for "closure".

Ms Steenkamp enjoyed a successful modelling career

Pistorius, 27, had been dating 29-year-old Ms Steenkamp for a few months before he killed her by firing four shots through the bathroom door of his upmarket Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year.

The double amputee has admitted shooting the model and reality TV star but claims says he shot her accidentally, mistaking her for a burglar.

However, prosecutors say he had a heated row with his girlfriend in the hours before the shooting - with several witnesses claiming to have heard the couple arguing.

In her early days as a cover-girl

On the anniversary of her death last month, Pistorius issued a statement saying he was "consumed with sorrow" over the loss of Ms Steenkamp.

"No words can adequately capture my feelings about the devastating accident that has caused such heartache for everyone who truly loved - and continues to love Reeva," he said on his website.

"The pain and sadness, especially for Reeva's parents, family and friends consumes me with sorrow.

"The loss of Reeva and the complete trauma of that day, I will carry with me for the rest of my life."

 :: Sky News will have live coverage of the trial starting from today, with a special highlights programme every weekday at 9.30pm.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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