Migrants 'Buying Language Test Passes For £500'

The Home Office has launched an investigation into claims migrants who speak no English are able to buy certificates showing they have passed a supposedly "secure" language test.

Secret filming at an exam centre showed the certificates - which are required by anyone wanting to remain in the UK permanently or to apply for British citizenship - were being sold for £500.

Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire said in a statement: "The Home Office takes any allegation of fraud extremely seriously and we have already begun a full investigation.

"We will take the strongest possible action against anyone who is found to have abused the rules - including the possibility of criminal prosecutions for fraud.

"This ESOL certificate is just one element of a wide range of evidence required by individuals applying for settlement and citizenship.

"Nobody can gain a UK visa on the strength of this qualification alone."

Following information from a whistleblower, the Daily Mail carried out the undercover investigation into the exam centre at Upton Park, east London, which is run by Learn Pass Succeed (LPS).

Uzwan Ghani, one of the directors of LPS, which has four branches in London, told the paper the problem was confined to the Upton Park branch and that it had suspended tests taken at the centre.

"I'm shocked that this has happened and am very concerned as to how it could have happened," he was quoted as saying.

"We are very thorough when it comes to checking IDs of candidates before they take the test, so I will have to investigate which of the centres the test was taken in and who the assessor was.

"I've been in the business for five years and I've never come across something like this and I would not allow it. It is wrong and ridiculous."

Ofqual, the examinations watchdog, was also said to be aware of the allegations and was seeking further information "as a matter of urgency".

A spokesman said the centre had been suspended by EMD Qualifications and "appropriate action" would be taken.

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Co-Op Vote On 'Slimmed-Down' Restructure

The future of the struggling Co-op group is to be decided today as radical reforms are voted on at its annual general meeting.

Former City minister Lord Myners has proposed a major shake-up of the 150-year-old business which reported losses of £2.5bn for 2013.

But Lord Myners fears that traditionalists within the organisation are "still stuck in denial" about its problems and will not support the plans.

These include sweeping away the existing 20-strong board of representatives from the co-operative movement, who currently include an engineer, a plasterer and a retired deputy head teacher.

He wants to replace this with a slimmed-down "plc and beyond" structure staffed by professionally-trained directors.

Lord Myners has said the Co-op is 'not fit for purpose'

The former Marks & Spencer chairman was appointed a director of the Co-operative Group in December but has announced he is to leave following this weekend's vote.

He has said it was apparent to him from the first time he attended a board meeting that not one of its members had the ability to address the complex issues faced by a group burdened with £1.4bn of debt.

Lord Myners believes that the Co-op will survive but faces the prospect of having to sell assets such as its £1bn funeral care business, in order to meet the demands of its lending banks, if it does not adopt reform.

Resistance to the changes saw chief executive Euan Sutherland leave the group earlier this year saying it was ungovernable.

This weekend's ballot will be decided by representatives of its independent societies and affiliated organisations - who hold 22% of the vote - and others voting on behalf of its regional membership boards making up the remaining 78%.

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Nigeria: Police Not Equipped To Fight Boko Haram

Police in Chibok have said they are not equipped to deal with another Islamist attack like the one which resulted in the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls.

Sky's Special Correspondent Alex Crawford, who is in Chibok, said that despite an increased security presence, police felt under-equipped to serve as any sort of meaningful deterrent against further attacks.

One officer told her he felt unable to enter into a combat situation with the militants, many of whom are armed with heavy machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades. 

It has been over a month since more than 200 girls were seized by the militants.

Residents in Chibok, in Nigeria's northern Borno state, say they are in constant fear of further attacks, with abductions and killings taking place in the region on a regular basis.

The girls appeared in a video released by Boko Haram last week

Nigerian authorities are accused of being powerless in the face of the Islamist threat and too slow to respond to the schoolgirls' abduction. 

Frustration with the government rose further on Friday when President Goodluck Jonathan cancelled a visit to the region.

It was reported that his security team had advised him against a visit to Chibok on the basis that it was too dangerous. 

Crawford said the families of the missing girls were "very upset and very angry" at the president's last-minute decision to pull out. 

Parents have criticised the government's handling of the abduction

She said: "As one father of an abducted girl told me: 'If it's not safe enough for the president of Nigeria to come to Chibok, how on earth does he feel about us residents of Chibok living here?'."

The president instead flew directly from the capital Abuja to Paris, where he is due to take part in a summit with the leaders of Nigeria's neighbouring states later today.

Representatives from Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin will all take part in the half-day meeting aimed at forging a joint strategy to overcome the militants. 

Ahead of the summit, one French diplomat said: "Boko Haram represents a risk to the stability of every state in the region, and the leaders of these countries have to be aware of that."

The Nigerian president is seeking a regional strategy to tackle Boko Haram

British Foreign Secretary William Hague and US Secretary of State John Kerry are also scheduled to attend the meeting hosted by French President Francois Hollande.

Britain, the US and France are all taking part in the search for the missing schoolgirls.

Nothing was seen of the girls until last week when Boko Haram released a video appearing to show a group of about 100 of them who the group said had converted to Islam.

Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau said the girls would not be released until detained militants of the group were freed from prison.

The Nigerian government has reportedly ruled out negotiations on a prisoner swap.

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Fifa President: Qatar World Cup A 'Mistake'

FA Boss Warning Over Qatar 2022

Updated: 3:36pm UK, Saturday 10 August 2013

Fifa "probably made a mistake" in awarding the World Cup to Qatar for the summer of 2022, according to the FA's new chairman.

Greg Dyke has said staging the tournament in the Middle East country during some of the hottest weeks of the year, when temperatures can reach 50C (122F), would be "impossible".

But Qatar said in a statement that it was the right decision to award it the Finals, and it was ready to stage the event in either summer or winter.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Dyke said he had serious concerns for the safety of football players and supporters if the event was not moved to the winter or taken away from Qatar completely.

He said: "I have a lot of sympathy with the Qataris. They bid for it and they got it. I think the Fifa executive probably made a mistake at that time - we have to live with that.

"The question now is, how do we solve this problem?"

It is the first time the FA has taken a formal position on the controversial issue. Mr Dyke believes a winter World Cup is more likely than Qatar losing the tournament completely.

His predecessor David Bernstein said in June that any plans to move the World Cup to the winter were "fundamentally flawed".

The FA's position could lead to some differences with the Premier League, whose chief executive Richard Scudamore strongly opposes any move to change the World Cup to the winter because it would disrupt domestic club competitions.

Fifa's president, Sepp Blatter, has said there is still enough time to switch the tournament to the winter months, when temperatures are significantly cooler but can still reach 30C (86F).

Mr Dyke said: "I don't know how many people have been to Qatar in June. I have. The one thing I can tell you is you can't play a football tournament in Qatar in June.

"Even if all the stadia are air-conditioned - which seems a bit strange in terms of the green policy - it would be impossible for the fans just to go out there, wander around in that sort of heat.

"The FA's position will be you can't play it in summer in Qatar.

"Fifa therefore has two choices; you either move it in time or to another location.

"I suspect that either ends up in some sort of litigation, but then someone should have worked that out in 2010 when it was awarded."

The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee later released a statement saying: "It was the right decision to award the World Cup to the Middle East for the first time in 2022.

"Football is the most popular sport in the Middle East and the people of our region deserve the opportunity to have history made in their part of the world.

"We are committed to delivering on the promises we made in our successful bid.

"We are ready to host in summer or winter. We have always maintained that this issue requires the agreement of the international football community.

"A decision to alter the dates of the 2022 FIFA World Cup would not affect our infrastructure planning."

The final decision on the fate of Qatar's World Cup rests with Fifa, whose executive committee will discuss the matter at its next meeting, in early October.

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Turkey's PM Accused Of Punching Protester

Turkey's Prime Minister has been accused of punching a demonstrator, as fresh images sparked new claims of violence against protesters angry over the government's handling of the Soma mine disaster.

Amateur video shot during Mr Erdogan's visit to the site of the mining disaster appears to show two of his bodyguards punching an anti-government protester.

The footage was taken after the prime minister was forced to take refuge in a grocery store as he was jeered while walking through a hostile crowd in the mining town on Wednesday. His car was then mobbed by protesters calling for his resignation.

And Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy Lutfu Turkkan claimed he had spoken to a man who Mr Erdogan allegedly punched, saying his name was Taner Kuruca.

Mr Turkkan wrote on his Twitter page: "I spoke to Kuruca. The man said he was shopping at the store when Erdogan attacked him, thinking that he was a protester.

Mr Erdogan's bodyguards appear to be punching one protester

"He said that he was also beaten by Erdogan's bodyguards. Kuruca told me the only thing that he clearly remembers was that Erdogan assaulted him."

Other reports said eyewitnesses had suggested a man chanting slogans critical of Mr Erdogan was pursued into the store by the PM, who grabbed the man and punched him two or three times.

The allegations come as the Turkish government said the death toll was unlikely to exceed 302, although critics have previously cast doubt on official accounts following the disaster.

A protester is kicked by an adviser to Turkey's PM during trouble in Soma

Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said a maximum of 18 people were still inside the mine.

A total of 284 people are known to have died, with more bodies expected to be pulled from the mine in the coming hours.

The operator of the mine said there was no negligence on the part of the company and that it still did not know the exact cause of the accident.

Akin Celik, the plant manager of the mine, run by Soma Holding, said: "We still do not know how the accident happened. There is no negligence of ours in this incident. We all worked heart and soul."

Victims of the disaster are being buried in mass graves close to the mine

Separate images had previously emerged showing Yusuf Yerkel, an adviser to the prime minister, kicking a demonstrator as he is held on the ground by police officers during the visit.

Mr Yerkel released a statement on the attack which read: "I am sad I was not able to maintain my composure despite all the provocations, the insults and attacks to which I was exposed."

The images have fuelled public anger over the government's handling of the disaster, with many accusing political leaders of not demonstrating enough compassion. 

The government is also accused of failing to address safety concerns within Turkey's mining industry. Just two weeks ago the ruling AK party rejected an opposition attempt to launch an inquiry into the safety standards at mines in Soma.

Protesters have accused Mr Erdogan of ignoring safety concerns

The PM has rejected the allegations, saying such accidents are not uncommon and happen in other countries. He highlighted cases in 19th century Britain.

"These types of things in mines happen all the time," he said.

"It's in its nature. It's not possible for there to be no accidents in mines. Of course we were deeply pained by the extent here."

Thousands of protesters clashed with riot police in several Turkish cities for a second day on Thursday. 

Police fired water cannon at tens of thousands of demonstrators in the capital Ankara and in the western city of Izmir. 

Turkey's four biggest unions also held a one-day strike, alleging that workers' lives were put at risk by cost cuts. 

In a joint statement, they said: "Hundreds of our workers have been left to die from the very beginning by being forced to work in cruel production processes to achieve maximum profits."

Relatives in Soma, meanwhile, began to bury those killed in the disaster as emergency workers battled toxic fumes in their frantic search for those still missing.

The last survivor was pulled from the mine on Wednesday. 

Those still trapped are thought to be some 1.2 miles (2km) below the surface and 2.5 miles (4km) from the mine entrance.

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New Indian Prime Minister Modi Hails Victory

Opposition candidate Narendra Modi declared the "good days are coming" after sweeping to power in historic elections in India.

Though the final results have yet to be confirmed, Mr Modi took to Twitter to declare victory for his Hindu Bharitya Janata Party (BJP).

He tweeted: "India has won. Good days are coming."

Outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called Mr Modi to congratulate him.

India's Election Commission says that for the first time in 30 years a party appears to have enough seats to form a majority government in what is the world's second most populous country.

The BJP currently has 272 seats - meaning they won't need to form a coalition in the lower house of parliament.

Narendra Modi declares victory on Twitter

The result ends 10 years of Congress Party rule and follows what the BJP describe as a "people's revolution".

"This is the beginning of change, a people's revolution and the start of a new era," senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar told AFP.

Sky's Neville Lazarus is outside the BJP headquarters in New Delhi and described the celebrations as "euphoric".

"They were expecting the number of seats to be high, but not this high," he said. "It's a vindication of Narendra Modi and his campaign.

"There is a mood of change in this country because the Congress Party has been reeling from the economic slowdown and corruption charges."

Narendra Modi is blessed by mother, Hira Ba, on the day of his victory

Mr Modi has been the top official in Gujarat state for a decade.

The 63-year-old is the son of a tea seller and has played on his humble roots during the election campaign, with references to his mother riding a rickshaw to cast her ballot.

His apparent victory comes despite controversy over links to the paramilitary Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) - which some describe as neo-fascist.

As chief minister of Gujarat, Mr Modi was criticised for failing to apologise for religious riots in 2002 in which at least 1,000 people died - mostly Muslims.

Celebrations outside a counting centre in Siliguri

He has denied any role in the violence and the Supreme Court declared he had no case to answer.

However, suspicions prompted the United States to deny him a visa in 2005, while Britain maintained a diplomatic boycott on Mr Modi until 2012.

More follows...

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Museum's Harrowing Reminder Of 9/11 Attacks

Final voicemails of victims and images of people falling from the Twin Towers are among the harrowing symbols of the September 11 attacks being unveiled at a new museum in Ground Zero.

Tens of thousands of artefacts, photographs, videos and recordings will be on show as the venue opens its doors to survivors of the attacks, victims' families and first responders.

President Barack Obama will attend the dedication ceremony before the museum opens to general public on May 21.

On entering the museum, visitors will see rusted tops of two of the World Trade Center's trident-shaped columns.

They will then walk through a dark corridor where recordings of voices of people remembering the day will be played before being led to a structure covered with the numbers of police precincts and firehouses and other messages.

A staircase used by hundreds to escape the burning towers is also on show with other artefacts including a mangled piece of the antenna from the top of the trade center and a fire engine with its cab shorn off.

Visitors will then be shown fragments of planes, a teddy bear left at the impromptu memorials that arose after the attacks, while the sounds of emergency radio transmissions and office workers calling loved ones will be played.

Museum President Joe Daniels said: "You won't walk out of this museum without a feeling that you understand humanity in a deeper way.

"And for a museum, if we can achieve that objective, we've done our job."

Before its completion the project suffered construction problems, financial arguments and disputes over the best way to honour the nearly 3,000 people killed in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

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Stephen Sutton Tributes Push Up Donations

Stephen Sutton's cancer fundraising campaign has raised £300k in less than 24 hours since the teenager's family announced his death.

Thousands of people inspired by the 19-year-old's story have pledged cash to his JustGiving page since he passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The total, which stood at just over £3.2m before Stephen's death, had rocketed to more than £3.5m by 8am on Thursday as tributes continued to pour in from politicians, celebrities and members of the public.

Many of the most recent donations to the JustGiving campaign for the Teenage Cancer Trust have been accompanied by simple messages of tribute or thanks.

Rebecca G wrote: "Inspirational Young Man. Rest in Peace :)."

Stephen's JustGiving total had passed £3.5m on Thursday morning

An anonymous donor said: "In memory of a truly courageous and inspirational young man - Stephen, you will never be forgotten xx."

Stephen's mother Jane Sutton announced that he had passed away on his Facebook page, saying: "My heart is bursting with pride but breaking with pain for my courageous, selfless, inspirational son who passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of this morning, Wednesday 14th May.

"The ongoing support and outpouring of love for Stephen will help greatly at this difficult time, in the same way as it helped Stephen throughout his journey.

"We all know he will never be forgotten, his spirit will live on, in all that he achieved and shared with so many."

Stephen gave speeches about his positive approach to terminal illness

Prime Minister David Cameron, who met Stephen, told Sky News: "He was really inspiring. I feel deeply sorry for Stephen's family, for everyone that knew him.

"He was determined not to waste a minute, not to waste an hour, or a day. I can hardly think of anyone I have met with such a zest for life, with such a belief that you can get things done, and who wanted to live every minute.

"He did extraordinary things for charity and meeting him was a huge privilege. A very bright light has gone out."

The Teenage Cancer Trust, which Stephen raised money for, said in a statement: "We are humbled and hugely grateful for what Stephen achieved, and continues to achieve, for young people with cancer."

David Cameron congratulated Stephen in person for his charity efforts

News of Stephen's death came shortly after his family said the teenager from Burntwood, Staffordshire, had become too sick to communicate as his condition deteriorated.

He was readmitted to hospital on Sunday after having previously been discharged when it appeared he had made a "miraculous recovery" by coughing up a tumour.

At the time he revealed that he was suffering from breathlessness and said doctors thought there was something blocking his airway.

He wrote on Facebook: "The doctors think there may be something restricting my airway again, they're not sure exactly what yet though (tumour regrowth, infection, inflammation, are all potential reasons mentioned), but are currently discussing the possibilities and my scan results to decide what to do next."

Stephen, from Burntwood in Staffordshire, was diagnosed with bowel cancer when he was 15.

Despite treatment the tumours spread, with doctors telling him the disease was terminal in 2012.

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First Funerals Held For Dead Turkish Miners

Turkey's Prime Minister has defended his country's mining safety record as at least 282 workers were confirmed dead in an underground explosion.

Tayyip Erdogan's car was attacked by protesters as he visited the scene of the disaster in Soma, some 155 miles (250km) south of Istanbul.

Miners are holding a strike in protest at the disaster, amid mounting fury over poor industry safety standards.

Tayyip Erdogan's car is attacked by scores of protesters

The accident has also become a focal point of wider dissent against the ruling administration, which has been in power for 11 years, with violent clashes in Istanbul and the capital Ankara.

Emergency workers are fighting fire and toxic fumes as they search for survivors, with around 150 miners still feared trapped.

The government said 787 people were inside the coal mine at the time of the explosion, and 363 have been rescued including many who were injured.

The disaster also led to clashes in Istanbul where police used water cannon

But some families have cast doubt on the official figures.

As thousands of anxious relatives waited for news of Turkey's worst mining disaster, Mr Erdogan was accused of ignoring warnings over safety at the coal pit.

A convoy containing his ca r was attacked by crowds and he was forced to seek refuge in a supermarket, surrounded by police.

With feelings running high, protesters shouted for him to resign and said he was a "murderer" and a "thief".

A relative checks a list of names of miners injured in the explosion

And Mr Erdogan's attempt to downplay the disaster at a news conference did little to defuse tensions.

He said accidents happened in other countries and even pointed to cases in 19th century Britain.

Mr Erdogan said: "These types of things in mines happen all the time.

"It's in its nature. It's not possible for there to be no accidents in mines. Of course we were deeply pained by the extent here."

The Turkish PM said mining accidents "happen all the time"

He declared three days of national mourning and ordered flags to be lowered to half-mast.

The public backlash over the disaster could threaten Mr Erdogan's presidential ambitions ahead of the August election.

Those still trapped are thought to be some 1.2 miles (2km) below the surface and 2.5 miles (4km) from the mine entrance.

Despite efforts to help any survivors who may be struggling to breathe, the country's energy minister Taner Yildiz said "hopes are diminishing" among rescuers.

The last miner to be rescued alive emerged from the mine in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

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Stephen Sutton Now 'Too Sick To Communicate'

Terminally ill teenager Stephen Sutton, who raised more than £3m for charity after his story was publicised, has been left unable to communicate as his condition worsens.

His family have left a message on his Facebook page saying that because tumours have regrown in his airwaves, the 19-year-old is now too sick to continue posting messages.

The message also called for privacy so his family can focus on the remaining time he has with them.

The statement said: "Unfortunately in the last 24 hours Stephen's condition has deteriorated to where he can no longer communicate through this page himself.

"Unfortunately the breathlessness which had him re-admitted to hospital is due to the regrowth of tumours which are blocking his airways, and not just due to infection as we had all been hoping.

"He is currently comfortable and stable, and we will let you know of any further developments.

"Right now however, as a family, we wish for a certain amount of privacy for us to spend what time he has remaining with him.

David Cameron visited Stephen and said he was 'an inspiration'

"We appreciate everyone's concern, and for all the love and goodwill sent his way, and indeed ours too, we thank you deeply x."

He was readmitted to hospital on Monday after having previously been discharged when it appeared he had made a "miraculous recovery" by coughing up a tumour.

At the time he revealed that he was suffering from breathlessness and said doctors thought there was something blocking his airway.

He wrote on Facebook: "The doctors think there may be something restricting my airway again, they're not sure exactly what yet though (tumour regrowth, infection, inflammation, are all potential reasons mentioned), but are currently discussing the possibilities and my scan results to decide what to do next."

Mr Sutton, from Burntwood in Staffordshire, was diagnosed with bowel cancer when he was 15.

Despite treatment the tumours spread, with doctors telling him the disease was terminal in 2012.

Hundreds of thousands of people have supported his fundraising efforts for the Teenage Cancer Trust since he posted a picture of himself in hospital in April with a goodbye message as he thought he was nearing death.

Among them was Prime Minister David Cameron.

The amount raised totals £3.24m to date.

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Oscar Pistorius To Undergo Psychiatric Tests

Oscar Pistorius must undergo psychiatric tests the judge in his murder trial has ruled.

The move is likely to delay the trial by at least a month, but Judge Thokozile Masipa said the case was not about convenience but justice.

She said Pistorius could be evaluated as an out-patient, indicating he would not have to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

Further details about the referral are likely to come out when the order is officially made on Tuesday.

Pistorius denies murdering Reeva Steenkamp in a premeditated attack

The prosecution made the application for an assessment after defence evidence from a forensic psychiatrist, who said the defendant had generalised anxiety disorder.

But the defence argued there was no need for psychiatric observation and the application had "no merit".

The prosecution has already claimed the decision to call Dr Merryl Vorster so late in the trial - after Pistorius himself had given evidence - may be a "fallback option" for the defence in the event of a guilty verdict.

Sending the 27-year-old for mental health tests at this stage could also eliminate the possibility of an appeal by the defence on the grounds that Pistorius' mental health had not been fully and adequately assessed.

If Pistorius were found to be suffering from a mental illness, he could be held not criminally responsible for his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp's death and found not guilty by reason of "mental illness or intellectual disability".

In her evidence, Dr Vorster said Pistorius had GAD and was a "distrusting and guarded" person who is "hyper-vigilant" about security.

But she also said he was able to able "to function at a high-level", and did socialise.

Pistorius is accused of killing Ms Steenkamp in a premeditated attack at his home in Pretoria, South Africa, on Valentine's Day last year.

He denies the charge and claims he shot his partner after mistaking her for an intruder.

The trial was adjourned until May 20.

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Turkey Mine Blast: 205 Dead And Toll May Rise

At least 205 miners have been killed and hundreds are still missing after an underground explosion and fire in western Turkey.

The country's energy minister Taner Yildiz said 787 workers were in the mine at the time of the blast, which is thought to have been caused by an electrical fault.

He said 363 miners have been rescued, at least 80 of whom were injured.

Hundreds are still trapped in shafts and tunnels and are thought to be 1.2 miles (2km) below the surface and 2.5 miles (4km) from the mine entrance.

Many of the miners were coughing and covered in dust as they were rescued

The blast in Soma, some 155 miles (250km) south of Istanbul, is rapidly becoming the deadliest mining disaster in Turkish history.

Mr Yildiz said rescue efforts are now "reaching a critical stage," with hopes fading for those still trapped.

He said a fire is still burning inside the mine, hindering rescue efforts.

Dozens of miners have been rescued or made their own way out

High levels of carbon monoxide have reportedly forced rescue teams to halt the operation on a number of occasions.

The poisonous gas is thought to have been responsible for the majority of fatalities. 

Fresh air is being pumped into the pit to help any survivors who may be struggling to breathe.

TV pictures showed rescued miners coughing and spluttering as they were pulled out alive, their faces coated with black dust.

Worried relatives rush to the mine complex in the town of Soma

Relatives waited anxiously at the entrance to the mine, cheering and applauding each successful rescue.

But according to journalist Dorian Jones, fear has already turned to anger among the relatives of many of those lost.

He told Sky News previous accidents have been reported at the mine and the safety record of operator Soma Komur has been called into question.

Mr Jones said one miner had told him he felt like a "lamb to the slaughter" every time he went to work.

The explosion happened in Turkey's western Manisa province

Miner Oktay Berrin told news agency AFP workers were not protected underground.

In a statement, the mine's owners, Soma Komur, described the explosion as a "tragic accident" which happened "despite maximum safety measures and inspections".

According to Turkey's ministry of labour, the pit was last inspected on March 17 and was found to be compliant with safety regulations.

The accident happened when a power distribution unit exploded about 1.2 miles (2km) beneath the surface, according to Nurettin Akcul, head of the Turkish Mineworkers' Union.

It is thought it happened during a change of shifts, leading to confusion over the exact number of workers still inside.

The country's worst mining disaster was in 1992, when a gas explosion killed 270 workers near the Black Sea port of Zonguldak.

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has postponed a one-day visit to Albania and is heading to the scene.

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Beyonce's Sister 'Attacks Jay Z In Lift CCTV'

CCTV footage has emerged that appears to show Beyonce's sister physically attacking Jay Z in a lift.

In the video, posted on TMZ.com, a man resembling the hip hop star fends off a series of blows from a woman purported to be his sister-in-law, Solange Knowles.

The scuffle allegedly happened as she attended an after party with the iconic couple at New York's Standard Hotel, following a gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The woman thought to be Solange aims a kick

The hotel said the leak of the video violated the confidentiality it provides customers - and that it would "discipline and prosecute the individuals involved to our fullest capacity".

According to TMZ, the trio entered the lift before Solange began shouting at the 99 Problems rapper - then unleashing a barrage of kicks and punches.

Beyonce appears to come between the pair

The woman in the video can be seen connecting with a number of blows, despite being restrained by a man thought to be a bodyguard.

As the attack takes place, the man who appears to be Jay Z is seen attempting to protect himself but does not hit back.

The couple at the event before Solange is said to have attacked the rapper

Having been pulled away from him, the woman thought to be Solange apparently continues shouting at the rapper and aims at least one more strike at him before they all exit the lift.

Solange Knowles at the event earlier in the night

Throughout most of the incident Beyonce stands next to her husband and appears to barely get involved, but comes between the pair shortly before they walk out.

All three departed the hotel together, before Beyonce and her sister were reportedly driven away in one vehicle, while Jay Z left in another.

Solange, 27, has achieved moderate success as a singer and model, and was joined on stage by her better-known sister while performing at the Coachella music festival in April.

Sky News has attempted to contact Solange's representative for comment.

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AstraZeneca Takeover: MPs Question Bosses

Unions have warned MPs any takeover of AstraZeneca by US drugs giant Pfizer would lead to job losses and damage scientific skills in Britain.

Speaking at a hearing of the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee on Pfizer's £63bn approach to the British-based firm, Tony Burke, of the union Unite, said the firm had a terrible track record on job losses.

He told MPs the US-based pharmaceutical company had cut 65,000 jobs globally since 2005 and that when Pfizer had closed down a UK site, in Sandwich, it had been difficult for workers to get agreement on consultations.

Mr Burke said that there had been a meeting at which staff at AstraZeneca had voice significant concern about their jobs. The firm employs 6,700 in the UK.

He said that of particular concern was the research and development area where Pfizer had made significant cuts, while AstraZeneca has shown greater commitment.

Allan Black of the GMB union questioned Pfizer's suggestions of a five or 10-year legally binding guarantee of commitment to research and jobs and said he felt the drugs company would be unlikely to sign such a document.

Pfizer claims the newly created giant will mean improved treatments

Pfizer's chief executive Ian Read, who will be questioned later today, wrote to David Cameron giving a guarantee 20% of research jobs would stay in the UK, two AstraZeneca directors would be able to join the board and that the company would pay tax in the UK.

In a memo to the committee Mr Read said this was a legally binding guarantee for five years. However, MPs were told that under Takeover Panel rules the guarantee would only be binding for a year, any remaining time would be voluntary.

Mr Black said their was significant concern over AstraZeneca's manufacturing plant in Macclesfield because a drug made there was not widely marketed in the US and there were fears Pfizer would, therefore, not wish to invest in it.

The unions said Pfizer had not responded to requests for a meeting.

MPs are seeking cast iron guarantees on British jobs from drugs giant Pfizer if its attempted takeover of AstraZeneca is successful.

Mr Read's assurances have been dismissed as "vague" and "insufficient" by the Nobel Prize winner and President of the Royal Society Sir Paul Nurse.

He has written a letter to the committee ahead of two days of parliamentary hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday, which will see the chief executives of both firms quizzed.

Sir Paul said greater assurances were needed on the future of the British pharmaceutical industry and the jobs of scientists, and that there should be a 10-year legally binding agreement on what Pfizer would do.

The offer has revived bitter memories of when American food giant Kraft abandoned jobs pledges after buying Cadbury in 2010.

The committee's Labour chairman Adrian Bailey said Pfizer's track record of buying foreign firms and closing them down "gives no confidence that they will deliver on the assurances that we have made".

Mr Read said the new £150bn firm would be able to bring better products to patients with improved treatments for conditions such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

If it goes ahead then it would be the biggest ever foreign takeover of a British company.

AstraZeneca has refused to engage with the Viagra makers on the takeover and dismissed the offer as "inadequate".

Under takeover rules, having indicated its interest to shareholder, Pfizer now has until May 26 to make a formal offer, although one is widely expected later this week.

David Cameron has come under pressure from Labour to subject the takeover to a public interest test.

A public interest test is usually reserved for matters of national security or financial stability and it would be difficult to argue as these rules were not applied for takeovers of British car manufacturers.

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Stabbed Teacher Died Of 'Shock And Haemorrhage'

A teacher who was stabbed in her classroom in Leeds died from "shock and haemorrhage", the coroner's court has heard.

Ann Maguire suffered several stab wounds during the attack in front of pupils, but it was a cut to her neck that severed her jugular that was fatal, Detective Chief Inspector Nick Wallen said.

The 61-year-old was killed during a Spanish lesson at Corpus Christi Catholic College on April 28.

A 15-year-old boy was remanded in custody after appearing in court accused of murdering Mrs Maguire.

He is due to go on trial later this year.

Mrs Maguire had worked at the school for more than 40 years and was described as "the mother of the school". She was due to retire in September.

She lived in the Moortown area of the city with her husband Don and leaves behind two grown-up daughters and two nephews who she brought up as her own sons after the death of her sister.

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Ukraine Independence Vote Gets Russia Backing

Russia says the the outcome of an independence referendum in eastern Ukraine should be implemented "in a civilised manner without violence".

Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine have claimed victory in a contentious poll which could see two regions break away

Voters in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk cast ballots on Sunday on whether to declare their areas independent, but with links to Moscow.

The unofficial poll has been condemned by a host of countries, including Britain, and dismissed as a "criminal farce" by the government in Kiev.

But the Kremlin said it "respects the will of people" and condemned the use of force against civilians after at least one person was reportedly killed by Ukrainian forces.

Mariupol has been at the centre of eastern Ukraine violence

More than three million ballot papers are said to have been distributed across the two regions, with organisers claiming to have spent just £980 on the entire ballot.

Roman Lyagin, election chief in Donetsk, said early results showed almost 90% of voters in the region were in favour of sovereignty.

In Luhansk, no immediate preliminary results have yet been released.

In Mariupol, the scene of fierce fighting in recent days, there were just eight polling stations for half a million people.

As the makeshift polling stations closed on Sunday night, at least one person in the town of Krasnoarmeisk was reported to have been shot dead by Ukrainian government forces.

Reports said the troops had tried to stop people voting.

Witnesses claimed heavily armed men in balaclavas started shooting at the crowd as the tense standoff escalated.

People queued up to vote on the future of Donetsk and Luhansk

On the edge of Slavyansk, fighting broke out around a television tower shortly before people began making their way through barricades of felled trees and tyres for the vote. One serviceman was wounded.

Slavyansk's self-proclaimed mayor Vyacheslav Ponomaryov said turnout was 80% and the result "was not in doubt".

Asked if he knew what would follow, the former businessman said: "Of course we know. Work starts on the establishment ... of the Donetsk People's Republic."

Western leaders have threatened more sanctions in the key areas of energy, financial services and engineering if Moscow continues what they regard as efforts to destabilise Ukraine.

The EU may announce as early as today measures endorsing a widening of the legal criteria for imposing sanctions on Russia, with the goal of making it easier to freeze the assets of companies involved in the Ukraine crisis.

Using the new expanded criteria, EU officials have prepared a list of 14 people and two Crimean companies active in the energy sector that ministers are likely to add to the EU sanctions list today, diplomats say.

The identities of the people and firms are being kept confidential for now.

The EU has previously imposed asset freezes and visa bans on 48 Russians and Ukrainians over Moscow's annexation of Crimea but it would be the first time the bloc has targeted companies.

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Charger 'Caused Fatal Sheffield House Fire'

A house fire that killed five members of a family in Sheffield was probably caused by a faulty charger, police said.

South Yorkshire Police said a joint investigation with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue had confirmed that the most probable cause of the fire was an "electrical fault involving a faulty charging device."

Five members of the same family died in the blaze in Wake Road in the Nether Edge area of Sheffield two weeks ago.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue told Sky News the fire was found to have started in the living room. However they were unable to confirm what the charging device had been used for. 

A spokesman said more would become clear at a full inquest into the fatalities at a later date.

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Gary Barlow 'Should Not Give Back OBE' Says PM

The Prime Minister has said Gary Barlow should not have to give back his OBE after the Take That star invested in a tax avoidance scheme.

Barlow and two other members of the band have refused to comment after it was disclosed they will have to pay tens of millions of pounds in tax after a court ruled a partnership they invested in was a tax avoidance scheme.

It triggered calls for the singer to hand back his honour, with Labour MP Margaret Hodge, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, telling The Times he "might want to show a bit of contrition by giving back his OBE".

Conservative Charlie Elphicke echoed Ms Hodge's comments, telling the newspaper: "People who have seriously abused the tax system should be stripped of their honours."

However, David Cameron, who last year publicly attacked the comedian Jimmy Carr for his involvement with a tax avoidance scheme, has said he does not think the singer should be forced to give back his OBE.

The Prime Minister, who appeared with Conservative supporter Barlow during the 2010 General Election campaign, said: "Gary Barlow has done a huge amount for charity, raising a huge amount for Children in Need."

Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Gary Barlow

Mr Cameron told ITV's Good Morning Britain Barlow was appointed as an OBE for his charity work and the tax avoidance issue should not affect that.

Along with Howard Donald, Mark Owen and their manager Jonathan Wild, Barlow invested £66m in two partnerships that were styled as music industry investment schemes.

A total of 51 such partnerships set up by Icebreaker Management were to secure tax relief for members, Judge Colin Bishopp ruled.

HM Revenue and Customs is now expected to demand repayment.

Two years ago when it was alleged Barlow, Donald, Owen and Wild invested at least £26m in an Icebreaker Management scheme, lawyers for the band insisted they believed the investments were legitimate and that all four named paid "significant tax".

In a statement released after the ruling, Icebreaker Management said: "Icebreaker Management is extremely disappointed with this decision since it puts a valuable source of funding for the UK's independent music industry in jeopardy.

"Icebreaker will review the full decision and consider all the LLPs' options including appeal."

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Gove Accused Of 'Lunacy' In Free Schools Row

Michael Gove has been accused of stripping £400m from a fund for extra school places in order to plug a financial "black hole" in his free schools programme in a move described as "nothing short of lunacy".

A senior Government source also accused the Education Secretary of being willing to see children struggle for a classroom place so the department can "lavish" money on the free school "experiment".

The attack is the latest coalition spat with the Department for Education at the heart of it.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was earlier this week accused of "lying" over how plans to provide free school meals for infant school pupils would be funded.

The senior Government source said: "Michael Gove is so ideologically obsessed with his free school experiment, he's willing to see children struggle to get suitable school places.

"Everybody knows there's real pressure on school places at the moment and the Secretary of State for Education knows better than most. It is nothing short of lunacy to slash the amount of money available for new school places to lavish on free schools.

"Michael Gove was warned by the schools minister David Laws that this was a bad idea but the zealot pressed on anyway.

"The Conservatives are putting the needs of a handful of their pet-projects ahead of the requirements of the other 24,000 schools in the country."

The source claims Mr Gove reduced the basic need allocation by £400m  - enough to provide around 30,000 new school places - to £2.35bn between 2015 and 2017 to help fund an overspend in the free schools budget of around £800m between 2013 and 2016, the source said.

A spokesman for Mr Gove said: "The suggestion we are cutting money for new places in areas of need to pay for free schools where they are not needed is totally wrong.

"These claims pretend that money spent in free schools is not creating new places in areas of need. That is simply not true.

"From 2015, funding to councils for new school places will rise by more than £200m a year. On top of this, investment in free schools will provide tens of thousands of new places in areas of need.

"Indeed the vast majority of free schools - more than seven in 10 - are in areas with a shortage of places. This investment in free schools is entirely in addition to the rising basic need funding for councils which we announced in December.

"Free schools are hugely popular with parents and are more likely to receive top ratings from Ofsted than council-run schools. So it is absolutely right that, where they are needed, new places are created in free schools."

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Nigeria Kidnapping: Militants 'Have Laid Traps'

The militants who have kidnapped almost 300 schoolgirls in Nigeria are likely to have laid booby traps and landmines to stop them being found, Sky News has been told.

A former member of Nigerian military added that starving members of Boko Haram could be a way of rescuing the girls, who were taken from Chibok in the northern state of Borno on April 14.

Former air commodore Darlington Abdullahi said: "They may have made land mines, one cannot rule that out.

Boko Haram have threatened to sell the girls 'on the market'

"One thing for sure is, even as they go along abducting children, they will also go after food; grabbing food from various angles.

"That is why it's important that if the military from various countries close up on them that means the issue of starvation might come in and might even force them to find exit ways and most likely abandon the girls that are still with them within the forest."

Intelligence sources have previously told Sky News they believe they know where some of the schoolgirls are.

Parents of some of the kidnapped girls

The sources believe they have been split into at least four different groups.

Sky News also understands British and American officials are using advanced eavesdropping equipment to scan the Sambisa forest where the schoolgirls are thought to be.

The militants are believed to have blown up an important bridge near where the girls were first seized, complicating efforts to find them.

The burnt out school from where the girls were taken

Fleeing residents said the bridge between the states of Adamawa and Borno was destroyed on Friday.

The wife and two children of a retired police officer were also abducted, they said.

A team of French experts arrived in the country on Saturday, as international efforts to find the schoolgirls are ramped up.

Borno state in the north borders Cameroon

This follows on from British and American personnel arriving earlier in the week.

As international help continues to arrive, the Nigerian military has had tip-offs that Boko Haram could be planning another attack on the market in the capital Abuja.

The militant group has killed more than 1,500 people this year and has been waging an insurgency in the country for the last five years.

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Eastern Ukraine Regions Vote On Self-Rule

Ukraine Referendum Will Add Fuel To the Fire

Updated: 7:31pm UK, Saturday 10 May 2014

By Katie Stallard, Sky News Moscow Correspondent

The polling stations are ready and we're told three million ballot papers have been printed, enough for every eligible voter in the region of Donetsk.

But what is still far from clear is what they are being asked to vote for.

The question seems to be deliberately vague: do you support the act of state sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic?  Yes or No?

That could be taken to mean greater autonomy, or some form of autonomous region, but still within Ukraine - or they could find they have voted for the creation of an independent state that could then seek to join the Russian Federation, a la Crimea.

Then there is the question of legality.

The referendum has no basis in law as there is no provision for local referenda on the statute in Ukraine.

There also seems to be no independent oversight and the poll will be policed by the separatists themselves - hardly the ideal conditions for a free and fair vote.

The organisers do not have access to up-to-date voting lists - those are held by the Ukrainian state security service - so they are relying on data from the 2012 parliamentary elections.

The ballot papers, at least those that we have seen so far, appear to have been printed on an ordinary printer, with no watermarks or other features to guard against, say, photocopying.

But that  is unlikely to be at the top of the list of complaints, when the votes are also going to be collected and counted by "People's Republic" volunteers.

None of which is to deny that there may well be a genuine number of voters going to the ballot box on Sunday to vote "yes", at the very least to express their dissatisfaction with the government in Kiev.

The latest poll shows that while a strong majority (70%) in the east still want to live in a united Ukraine, around two-thirds (67%) disapprove of the current national government.

But I strongly suspect we will be in roughly the same position after this referendum as we are now - the Ukrainian authorities and politicians in the West will say that this was an illegal poll, carried out under the threat of intimidation, and with no means of independent verification.

The People's Republic will say, assuming the vote goes their way, that the people have spoken, that they have a democratic mandate, that this is a genuine popular uprising of ordinary citizens demanding their rights.

What is clear is that this referendum is unlikely to resolve what seems to be a deteriorating security situation in the east of this country - it is difficult to see it will do anything other than add more fuel to the fire.

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