Islamists 'Massacre' 80 Yazidis In Northern Iraq

Al Maliki's Successor Faces Old Problems

Updated: 6:29pm UK, Friday 15 August 2014

By Andrew Wilson, Sky News Presenter, in Irbil, Iraq

The disaster in the Sinjar mountains turns out to be less of a public relations nightmare for Western leaders than first feared.

A few thousand destitute Yazidi people don't carry anything like the clout of tens of thousands.

The UNHCR operators on the ground had figured this out days ago. Their job is numbers and they know that in a brutal world, the problem isn't Sinjar anymore, it's the displacement of those that were there and are now here looking for long-term shelter from the Kurdish Regional Government and maybe even homes in Europe and America.

So what about the spread of this Islamic caliphate across Northern Iraq and Syria?

Well, as far as its leaders-in-waiting are concerned, it's going pretty well.

It's ominous dark shade on the Middle Eastern map is now one colour from Aleppo to Diyala on Iraq's eastern border. 

And, to date, that progress has been largely unchallenged.

Reports of executions and crucifixions have played a part; even the Taliban back in 2001 could not generate the kind of terror that precedes Islamic State (IS) fighters wherever they go.

But IS are picking their enemies strategically as well.

Few tears were shed in Washington when the extremists turned on President Assad, and as for Baghdad, it took so long for the West to declare mission accomplished and pull out that going back in now would be unthinkably embarrassing.

Better to find another old friend to blame, this time the stubbornly sectarian Nouri al Maliki.

It is all his fault that disgruntled Sunnis allowed the IS to swoop down in their armed pickups and help themselves to all the American weapons lying abandoned in the sand.

If only he had built a more unified Iraq with loyal officers and disciplined troops, says the West, failing to mention 2003 when a cadre of professional Iraqi generals stood ready to deploy their well-trained forces for the post-Saddam rebuild only to be shunned by the American occupiers who knew better. 

So now the successor is embraced. Haider al Abadi seems a decent man, more of a consensus builder than a bully.

He is still a Shia, of course, same party as Mr Maliki, in fact, and you wouldn't want his job for all the gold in Saddam's palace.

He will need three phones; for Washington, Tehran and Brussels, and they will all be on his case to fix - in no particular order - the Islamic Caliphate; Sunni minority rights; an army that's just given all its weapons to the other side; Shia aspirations for a greater Iraq joined by holy sites to Iran and, of course, tens of thousands of displaced Yazidis.

It's difficult, if not suicidal, to be a consensus politician in the Middle East.

Think Sadat, Rabin, or even Mahmoud Abbas sitting quietly in Ramallah with "Israeli traitor" daubed on the walls near his house.

Sadly, in this part of the world, where the borders were drawn by foreigners a long time ago, the time-honoured formula, still espoused by Assad, Sisi, the Royal families of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, is more simple: build a power base and crush your enemies.

Nouri al Maliki was on the way, but didn't make it.

And this time, no more boots on the ground.

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UK Expands Iraq Air Surveillance Operation

By Tom Parmenter, at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus

The UK has expanded its air surveillance operation over northern Iraq, the Defence Secretary has announced.

The RAF's most advanced intelligence gathering aircraft has been deployed to boost a team of Tornado jets gathering intelligence as Kurdish forces battle against Islamist militants in the region.

Information picked up by British forces is being fed back to the Iraqi government, Kurdish fighters and US forces in the region as they try to stem the tide of the Islamic State (IS) advance.

Revealing the move at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "We will continue the humanitarian mission here and we will continue to make sure we will do everything we can to assist with the refugee problem which is wider than the Sinjar mountains."

Michael Fallon speaking to British troops at the RAF Akrotiri base

He added: "I can confirm today we have deployed Rivet Joint, our very latest surveillance aircraft, the successor to Nimrod, to give us a much better picture, more intelligence and analysis of what is happening on the ground which will help the Iraqi government, the Kurdish forces and the Americans."

The Rivet Joint aircraft has carried out a number of flights over the past few weeks, helping to pinpoint the locations of displaced people and IS fighters.

It provides real-time intelligence by intercepting electromagnetic signals, which can be combined with images gathered by Tornado jets to provide a fuller picture of the situation on the ground. 

Mr Fallon was visiting the Cyprus base for the RAF's Iraq aid drop operation.

He spent time with the teams packing and dispatching the aid bundles and told the Army and RAF personnel involved: "This mission isn't over yet."

Sky News Correspondent said the Rivet Joint aircraft was like a "listening post in the sky".

He said: "It's an aircraft that goes up packed full of kit and analysis equipment to make sure the intelligence is as strong as it can be in terms of what they are gathering and how they are analysing it in this region and then feeding it back to the decision makers in Washington and London."

RAF Tornado jets have been flying missions over vast areas in northern Iraq, aided by larger Voyager planes that help them refuel at 300mph. 

Britain has also been delivering aid to help families fleeing the militants - the latest supplies of vital cooking equipment, needed by people forced to leave their homes suddenly.

Two Airbus flights landed in Irbil on Saturday morning with nearly 8,000 sets of cutlery, cooking pots, plates, frying pans, cups and wooden spoons.

The supplies will mean almost 40,000 people, who currently have to queue at makeshift canteens, will be able to cook for themselves and feed their families, the Department for International Development said.

There are approximately half a million displaced people in northern Iraq's Dahuk region - many of them arriving at refugee camps after travelling for days without food and water in temperatures of up to 50C.

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One Dead As Sick 'Migrants' Found In Container

A dead man is among more than 30 suspected illegal immigrants found in a container at Tilbury Docks.

At least 19 of those discovered, including seven children, have been taken to Basildon Hospital with "significant health problems".

Basildon Hospital said on its Twitter feed that it is "responding to a major incident".

Basildon Hospital is responding to a "major incident"

It added: "A&E is open, but please be aware that waiting times may be extended."

A spokeswoman for the hospital said they are providing treatment for 19 people including seven children.

She added: "They are all currently being assessed."

Essex Police were called after the people were found on the container, which arrived on a ship from Zeebrugge in Belgium and was being unloaded at 7.35am.

Ship freight containers sit at Tilbury Docks

A police spokesman said: "Thirty one people, including adults and children of both genders, were found inside.

"One man has sadly died and the others have significant health problems.

"They are being treated by ambulance crews and are being taken to local hospitals."

Police are dealing with the incident alongside staff from Port of Tilbury, UK Border Force and the East of England Ambulance Service, the spokesman said.

A casualty bureau is being set up.

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UK 'Prepared To Arm Kurdish Fighters In Iraq'

The UK will "consider positively" any request for military equipment from Kurdish fighters in Iraq, according to a Government source.

David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg agreed during an emergency Cobra meeting that it was "vital" to help the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants, formerly known as the Islamic State In Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The Government is now expected to provide weapons and equipment, should Kurdish leaders make a request. 

Iraqi and Kurdish forces are battling IS, which has recently made significant gains in the north of the country, causing thousands to flee after they were issued with an ultimatum to convert to Islam or face death.

A Downing Street source said any supplies would be "dependent on what the Kurds would need".

Other EU countries have already agreed to send weapons to the Kurds

France is already sending weapons to Iraq, with President Francois Hollande confirming the "imminent delivery of military equipment".

Germany, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands have also said they will send arms or are considering doing so.

Meanwhile, several thousand refugees from the Yazidi minority remain on Mount Sinjar in searing temperatures - but the US has said it is now unlikely to mount a rescue.

Yazidi people demonstrate at the Iraq-Syria border

President Barack Obama said the situation had "greatly improved" after a special forces mission found many people had escaped.

Mr Obama said airdrops had delivered more than 114,000 meals and tens of thousands of gallons of water, with fighter jets striking Islamic State fighters to allow the drops to take place.

The militants' siege of Sinjar town had been broken, the president said, but strikes would continue.

UK International Development Secretary Justine Greening said military action and resistance from Kurdish troops had cleared a safe path for many refugees, who originally were thought to number in the tens of thousands.

Nouri al Maliki has bowed to pressure at home and abroad

Britain has also completed seven aid deliveries and a "small number" of RAF Chinook helicopters are being sent to the region, in addition to Tornado jets with surveillance equipment.

Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al Maliki, bowed to pressure and stepped down on Thursday with his country's military still struggling to contain Islamic State's onslaught. Haider al Abadi was named as his replacement.

The US called the decision a "major step forward in uniting (Iraq)".

A night vision image of an air drop by the RAF

Secretary of State John Kerry said: "We commend the important and honourable decision by Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki to support Prime Minister-designate Haider al Abadi in his efforts to form a new government and develop a national program in line with Iraq's constitutional timeline.

"This milestone decision sets the stage for a historic and peaceful transition of power in Iraq."

EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels later to discuss the ongoing aid efforts, and possibly an agreement on a joint position on arming Kurdish forces.

Islamic State's offensive has seen them capture major cities, such as Mosul and Tikrit, this year, with reports of beheadings and crucifixions as they grab more territory for their self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria and Iraq.

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Murder Suspect Dewani 'Fit To Stand Trial'

A South African court has ruled that murder suspect Shrien Dewani is fit to stand trial for the honeymoon murder of his wife.

A mental health panel in South Africa unanimously decided that the 34-year-old businessman is not mentally ill and should be tried in October.

He is accused of the murder of his wife Anni Dewani in Cape Town.

Her sister Ami Denborg said: "It's a relief for all of us. We've been waiting quite a long time for this.

"I know this autumn is going to be tough for us but we still want the trial to start so that we can get the information we need, we can get to know what really happened.

"It feels like we're moving forward. It's still a long way to go but at least we're taking steps in the right direction, and this feels like a huge step in the right direction."

Announcing the decision, Judge John Hlophe said the trial date had been set for October 6.

"The draft handed in by the state is hereby made an order of the court," said Judge Hlophe, after receiving an expert assessment which stated Dewani was not mentally ill.

Today director of public prosecutions Rodney de Kock told the Western Cape High Court: "The accused is not mentally ill.

"The accused is not certifiable in terms of the Mental Health Act."

The South African Press Association reported that Dewani's lawyer Francois van Zyl said the mental health panel had made a unanimous decision.

The panel included members such as Professor Tuviah Zabow, who was appointed by the court as a psychiatrist for Dewani.

"We are in agreement. There is no objection," Van Zyl said.

Dewani, whose family attended court, is expected to appear again on September 9 for a pre-trial hearing, before his trial starts on October 6.

The millionaire, from Bristol, is accused of ordering Anni's murder during their honeymoon in November 2010.

She was shot in the neck as the couple travelled in a taxi on the outskirts of Cape Town.

Dewani, who has not yet entered pleas, faces charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice.

He has previously claimed that the couple were kidnapped at gunpoint as they drove through Gugulethu township.

He says he was released unharmed but his wife's body was found in the abandoned car the next day.

His trial date follows a protracted legal battle over the seriousness of his mental health problems.

Dewani has been detained in a hospital in Britain for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and was extradited from the UK in April to face trial.

A panel of three psychiatrists and a clinical psychologist assessed Dewani's mental health over 30 days.

Three men have been convicted and jailed over Mrs Dewani's death, including taxi driver Zola Tongo, who was given 18 years after admitting his role in the killing.

Xolile Mngeni, who prosecutors claim was the hitman, was convicted of premeditated murder over the shooting.

Another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, pleaded guilty to murder and was handed a 25-year prison sentence.

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Olympic Organisers Issue Ban Over Ebola Risk

Olympic Games organisers have banned young athletes from ebola-affected regions of West Africa participating in a youth event.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the competitors would not be allowed to take part at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.

The IOC said the athletes have been banned from combat sports and swimming pool events.

The ruling was made in a statement by the IOC and the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee.

They said it was impossible to rule out the risk of potential infection.

Martial arts performers practice for the opening ceremony on Saturday

Those from the affected regions competing in other sports will undergo regular temperature checks and physical assessments throughout the games, which begin on Saturday.

The decision comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the number of deaths and confirmed cases of ebola in west Africa has been vastly underestimated.

The death toll from the outbreak in the region currently stands at more than 1,068 people.

There have been 1,975 confirmed, probable or suspected cases, the WHO said.

Residents across West Africa have been warned as borders have been closed

The majority of the cases have occurred in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Four deaths have also been reported in Nigeria.

But the WHO said there was evidence that the number of reported cases underestimated the scale of the suffering.

"The outbreak is expected to continue for some time. WHO's operational response plan extends over the next several months," it said on Thursday.

"Staff at the outbreak sites see evidence that the numbers of reported cases and deaths vastly underestimate the magnitude of the outbreak."

A Spanish missionary priest died after contracting the disease

It comes after several doses of the experimental drug ZMapp arrived in Liberia earlier this week.

Officials say only three people will receive the drug, which could prove life-saving, ineffective or even harmful.

The Liberian government previously said two doctors would receive ZMapp, but it remains unclear who else will be treated.

The ebola outbreak was first identified in Guinea in March and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

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Medical Chiefs 'Call Time On Failing GP Services'

GP services that continue to offer poor care to patients will be shut down, health regulators have said.

Surgeries are set to receive Ofsted-style ratings - where they will be deemed to be outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate.

The Care Quality Commission's (CQC) chief inspector of general practice, Professor Steve Field, said from October failing practices will face being put into special measures.

Those given the lowest rating face closure if they fail to make the necessary improvements.

"Most GP practices provide good care," Prof Field said.

"We have confirmed this in our pilot inspections so far. But we can't allow those that provide poor care to continue to let their patients have an inadequate service.

"I want to do all I can to drive up standards in those that are not providing the services people deserve."

The regime could also see more doctors referred to the doctors' regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC).

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC, added: "Whenever CQC's new inspection system raises concerns about the competency of individual GPs, the matter will be referred to the GP's local responsible officer and if necessary to the GMC.

"Family doctors are now subject to regular checks, but the inspections in England are bound to expose areas of weakness as well as good practice."

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the British Medical Association's GP committee said: "It is important not to create a counter-productive blame culture based on isolated examples that would wrongly damage patient trust in wider GP services.

"We need to focus on providing support and enabling improvement in those GP practices that need help."

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Iraq: Yazidi Rescue Mission 'Far Less Likely'

A humanitarian mission to rescue thousands of Yazidis trapped in Iraq is "far less likely" to take place after an assessment carried out by a US team revealed fewer were stranded than previously feared.

US Army Special Forces soldiers and a US Agency for International Development (USAID) team spent several hours on the mountain speaking to refugees on Wednesday.

They have since returned to Irbil, the capital of the Kurdish autonomous region, and reported fewer Yazidis remain trapped on the mountain than previously thought.

Some 5,000 refugees remain stranded on Mount Sinjar, according to Sky sources. Some live on the mountain, while around 1,000 are being rescued every night by Iraqi forces.

A map detailing the Sinjar mountains

It had previously been thought there were between 20,000 and 30,000 still there after fleeing Sunni militants of the Islamic State (IS), formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

IS fighters have threatened the ancient religious group with death if they failed to convert to Islam.

A statement released by the Pentagon said humanitarian aid drops, airstrikes on IS fighters and the efforts of Peshmerga fighters had allowed many Yazidis to escape.

It added the US would continue to provide humanitarian assistance as needed and protect US personnel and facilities.

It comes after Sky sources revealed SAS soldiers have also been involved in gathering intelligence and preparing the ground for any possible mass air lift.

Members of the Yazidi sect hold a banner asking for international help

British Prime Minister David Cameron earlier said "detailed plans" were being made for an international mission to rescue the stranded Yazidis.

Sky's Political Correspondent Sophy Ridge said: "Today, I am told that just like the Americans, it is now unlikely that the UK government is going to carry out a rescue mission and that's simply because the information has changed."

Asked about calls for the UK to follow France in arming Kurdish fighters being out-gunned by IS, or to join the US in airstrikes, Mr Cameron said the "desperate humanitarian situation" needed to be dealt with first.

Mr Cameron is visiting an aid distribution centre in Wiltshire later to see some of the UK supplies before they are transported to Iraq.

The UK has successfully completed seven air drops of supplies including clean water, shelter and solar lanterns, and is sending a "small number" of RAF Chinook helicopters to the region.

Areas the Islamic State has launched offensives and wants to make one state

It has already sent RAF Tornado jets equipped with sophisticated surveillance equipment to gather intelligence.

Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, the Kurdish government's high representative to the UK, told Sky News while the new figures spelled "good news", up to two million displaced civilians remained "in a dire situation" in the Kurdistan region.

"We need a step up in international aid to these people," she said.

Her comments came as the United Nations ramped up its assessment of the crisis to level 3 - its highest level of emergency - and condemned the "barbaric acts" of sexual violence IS fighters have reportedly inflicted on minority groups.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said the Iraqi government had "received atrocious accounts on the abduction and detention of Yazidi, Christian, Turkomen and Shabak women and girls and boys, and reports of savage rapes".

"Some 1,500 Yazidis and Christians may have been forced into sexual slavery," he added.

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Record Numbers Off To Uni As A* Grades Rise

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs and Education Editor

A record number of students have been accepted into university, with a rise in the number achieving top marks in their A-level exams.

Ucas, the organisation which handles the admissions process, said 396,990 young people had been awarded places on degree courses - up 3% on last year.

Meanwhile, the number of students achieving at least one A* grade rose 0.6% to 8.2%, although the number gaining an A grade or above fell by 0.3%.

The overall pass rate also fell for the first time in 32 years, with the number of students achieving an A*-E grade down 0.1% to 98%.

Students who received lower grades are expected to enjoy unprecedented access to university, with up to 30,000 new places created.

A decision by the Government to abolish the cap on student numbers could have a dramatic effect on this year's cohort, with fierce competition among universities seeking to attract school leavers.

Some were offering cash "scholarships", while others were offering reductions on accommodation and free tablet computers.

Mary Curnock-Cook, chief executive of Ucas, told Sky News: "Compared with their brothers and sisters two or three years ago, students will feel it's a little easier (to get into university)."

Coventry University, which is offering £1,000 cashback, said the giveaways did make a difference but did not unduly influence students.

Deputy vice chancellor Ian Marshall said: "Most students come to university on the basis of the subject they are interested in and the reputation of the institution."

The decision to expand the number of student places comes amid increasing concern about quality assurance in higher education and job prospects for graduates, with recent figures showing almost half of graduates were in non-graduate level jobs.

However, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: "This shouldn't be about ever higher numbers - it should be about ever higher standards.

"An A-level is still a significant achievement ... and we want an A-level that future employers and universities have confidence in."

Rhasan Brunner, who received an offer to study at London Goldsmith's University, said he was deferring his place to take an apprenticeship.

The 19-year-old, who studied at Brooke House Sixth Form College in Hackney, northeast London, said students should think twice about doing degrees, which now cost up to £9,000 a year in tuition fees alone.

"That debt is going to stay over their head for quite a long time," he said.

"Plus jobs are really rare and scarce and quite competitive nowadays, so it doesn't really guarantee you a job after university."

Access to university has been expanding since the 1960s, when a report by economist Lionel Robbins advocated opening up higher education to all those who qualified by virtue of ability and attainment.

Two years ago, the Government abolished the cap on students with the highest grades, essentially paving the way for the expansion of the elite Russell Group of universities.

But the new expansion for students with lower grades - which could also include an additional 60,000 extra students next year - has prompted concerns about quality.

Jude Heaton, from Teach First, a charity set up to end inequality in education, said: "The risk is we create a two-tier system, where pupils from richer backgrounds go to the most selective institutions ... (while) people from poorer backgrounds have an almost second tier university education."

Earlier this week, social mobility charity Sutton Trust warned students from disadvantaged backgrounds are 10 times less likely to apply to the UK's 13 most selective universities.

There are also reports that today's results will confirm a deepening of the gender divide, as girls continue to shun STEM - science, technology, engineering and maths.

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Hollywood Actress Lauren Bacall Dies Aged 89

The Hollywood actress Lauren Bacall has died at the age of 89 after suffering a stroke at her New York home.

The actress' death was confirmed by the estate of her first husband Humphrey Bogart, which announced the death on Twitter.

Lauren Bacall arrives at a Vanity Fair event in California in March 2010

"With deep sorrow, yet with great gratitude for her amazing life, we confirm the passing of Lauren Bacall," the Bogart estate said.

Born Betty Joan Perske, Bacall made her Hollywood debut in the 1944 film To Have And Have Not.

She famously met Bogart on set, and the couple were married until his death from throat cancer in 1957. They had two children.

Their relationship became one of Hollywood's greatest love stories.

"I knew he was a good actor, but he was not my type, I didn't think," Bacall later reflected.

"She's a real Joe. You'll fall in love with her like everybody else," Bogart once said of his wife.

Beginning her career in the Golden Age of Hollywood, Bacall enjoyed a long and successful life on screen and on Broadway.

She starred in many films with the leading actors of her time, including Bogart, John Wayne, Gregory Peck and Marilyn Monroe.

Her career on stage was also hailed by critics. She won two Tony Awards for her roles in Applause in 1970 and Woman Of The Year in 1981.

Bacall began her career during the Golden Age of Hollywood

Bacall had a third child with her second husband, Jason Robards, during their eight-year marriage in the 1960s.

She narrowly missed out on winning an Oscar for her performance in 1996's The Mirror Has Two Faces.

In 2009, she was presented with an honorary Academy Award.

Tributes on Bacall's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Bacall also wrote an unflinching autobiography titled Be Myself which won the National Book Award in 1990.

She once said her "great luck in life was being surrounded by people who had goals".

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Iraq Airstrikes: 'UK Has A Moral Responsibility'

British commanders with experience in Iraq have urged David Cameron to consider taking military action against Islamic State (IS) fighters.

Colonel Tim Collins has warned the Prime Minister that ancient civilisations in Iraq could be "extinguished" unless action is taken to stop the advance of IS.

He also claimed the Government has "left for lunch" on the issue, and accused politicians of refusing to accept the "moral responsibility" to act.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said: "In the next months ancient civilisations will be extinguished on our watch unless we act.

"Britain helped create Iraq in 1920 and we have a moral responsibility to help.

The Prime Minister has been on a 10-day holiday in Portugal

"We have used the Kurds as a public convenience for too long, now their backs are against the wall and we've got to support them."

It comes as the UK steps up its delivery of aid to the thousands of ethnic minority Kurdish Yazidis trapped in the Sinjar mountains after fleeing the advance of violent jihadists in the north of the country.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening confirmed RAF plans had carried out a third round of aid drops over night including tents to provide shelter from the 40C heat and water purification kits.

Downing Street has so far resisted calls for UK forces to join the US in taking military action against IS. It has also rejected demands for Parliament to be recalled to debate the crisis.

Mr Cameron has been on holiday in Portugal with his family, but is expected to return to Number 10 on Wednesday.

Tony Abbott, in London on Tuesday, hinted forces could return to Iraq

A YouGov poll carried out for The Times suggests support for the British bombing of militants in Iraq is now at 40%. Some 36% of those asked were opposed to the UK taking action.

The United Nations estimates that between 20,000 and 30,000 people from the ancient Yazidi community remain stranded on Mount Sinjar.

Britain is sending a "small number" of RAF Chinook helicopters to the region as efforts continue to ease the plight of the trapped Yazidis.

The Government has already sent RAF Tornado jets equipped with sophisticated surveillance equipment to help gather intelligence about the situation.

The UK has also committed to transport military equipment to resupply Kurdish forces which have been outgunned by IS.

After talks with Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in London on Tuesday, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has indicated his country's combat forces could return to Iraq but stressed it would be to "prevent genocide" on a "fundamentally humanitarian mission".

US service members prepare humanitarian aid for the Yazidis in Iraq

Germany has pledged to deliver "non lethal" military aid, including armoured vehicles, helmets and night vision goggles, to the Iraqi army.

General Sir Mike Jackson, who was the professional head of the army during the Iraq War, told the Daily Telegraph Britain should join the US in launching airstrikes.

"Given our history over recent years in Iraq, we have a moral duty to do what we can on humanitarian grounds," he said.

"I would have no difficulty at all in saying that we should be alongside the United States and up the British ante to the use of airpower, on humanitarian grounds."

Former Conservative Defence Secretary Liam Fox also said it was time RAF jets were sent in to join US airstrikes. Writing in the Daily Mail, he said sending in aid was not enough.

The US has sent 130 more military advisers to northern Iraq to assess the scope of the humanitarian mission.

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Iraqis Fleeing ISIS Face 'Desperate' Plight

The US has sent 130 more military advisers to northern Iraq to assess the scope of the humanitarian mission, as the plight of families displaced by Islamist extremists deepens.

Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said the soldiers had been sent to northern Iraq to develop additional humanitarian assistance options beyond the current airdrop effort.

The move is in support of displaced Iraqi civilians, including Christian and Yazidi minority groups, trapped in the Sinjar mountains by Sunni militants of the Islamic State (IS), formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Sky's Middle East Correspondent Sherine Tadros, in northern Iraq, said the situation was also getting "ever more desperate" for those fleeing the violence and who had managed to escape.

A map detailing the Sinjar mountains

"Many have friends and relatives still stuck in the areas taken over by the militants, with no idea if they will make it out alive," she said.

"We are talking about thousands of people that are now taking refuge wherever they can."

What began as a small number of families squatting on a piece of land owned by a Kurdish businessman, has been transformed into a makeshift refugee camp in Dohuk province which has attracted between 6,000 and 8,000 men, women and children.

Areas the Islamic State has launched offensives and wants to make one state

Tadros said: "There aren't enough tents. There are only about 230 actual tents that have been donated by the local mayor, and so most of them are actually on the floor, without any shelter, and are using bits of metal, anything they can, to shelter from the blistering heat.

"There are a couple of showers and bathrooms, but that is it, and the situation is getting worse, by the day, by the hour, as more people come here, completely dependent on locals providing them with food and clothes.

"The owner of this area has told me he doesn't even know if he is going to be able to feed all of these people this afternoon.

Iraqi Christians receive food at Ainkawa's Saint Joseph church, near Irbil

"And these of course, are considered the lucky ones, the ones who did manage to escape."

Since June, the US has sent about 700 military personnel to Iraq to protect diplomats there and take stock of the country's military capacity.

Western powers and international aid agencies are considering further help for the thousands of refugees driven from their homes by IS fighters near the Syrian border.

A man gestures to a crater caused by a suicide car bomb blast in Baghdad

US Secretary John Kerry said the US would consider requests for military and other assistance once Iraq's new prime minister-designate forms a government to unite the country.

Haider al Abadi has received support from the US and Iran, and Sunni neighbours Turkey and Saudi Arabia, but his Shi'ite party colleague, Nuri al Maliki, has refused to step aside after eight years as prime minister.

Meanwhile, at least eight people were killed in a car bomb explosion in a shopping district of Iraqi capital Baghdad, near the home of Mr Abadi, on Tuesday night.

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Robin Williams: 10 Of His Best Career Roles

Robin Williams has been described as a "shapeshifter" who took on many forms during a long and varied career.

Williams with his Mrs Doubtfire co-star Sally Field

His fast-talking, funnyman roles were just as memorable as his more serious, creepy ones.

The list of Williams' achievements is long but here are 10 of his most famous roles:

1. Mork And Mindy (1978-1982)

This TV series, a spinoff of Happy Days, is how many of us first learned of Williams' nuttiness. He played Mork, an alien who comes to Earth from Ork. Pam Dawber co-starred as Mindy McConnell, his human friend and roommate. Mork's greeting "Nanu, nanu" became a popular catchphrase at the time.

2. Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

Williams' fast-talking style was perfect for the role of a DJ on Armed Forces Radio during the Vietnam War. Most of Williams' radio broadcasts were improvised and he received his first Oscar nomination for the role.

3. Dead Poets Society (1989)

Williams played an unconventional poetry teacher who taught his Vermont boarding school students to stand on their desks, think on their own and "seize the day". He was also nominated for an Oscar for this role.  

4. Mrs Doubtfire (1993)

The tale of a bumbling dad who dressed up as a portly nanny - with a latex mask, a wig and a Scottish accent - in order to spend time with his young kids as his wife, played by Sally Field, divorces him. A sequel to this film is believed to have been in the works.

5. The Fisher King (1991)

Williams' role as a half-mad homeless man, convinced that the Holy Grail was sitting in the Fifth Avenue abode of a billionaire, won him his third Oscar nomination.

6. Hook (1991)

Another of Williams' classic 1990s kids films, in which he played an adult Peter Pan who was forced to return to Neverland to do battle with Captain Hook after the evil pirate kidnaps his children. For many it is the role they remember Williams for from their childhood.

7. Aladdin (1992)

Will it ever be possible to see a cartoon genie and not think of Williams? Remember him shooting out of that bottle: "Ten thousand years will give you SUCH a crick in the neck!"

8. Good Will Hunting (1997)

A rare but welcome serious role for Williams, who played the stubborn yet empathetic therapist who was somehow able to help maths prodigy Will Hunting (Matt Damon) figure out how to handle his life. Williams won a best supporting actor Oscar for this role.

9. One Hour Photo (2002)

This was another serious role, and it was a creepy one: Williams played a photo counter worker at a huge suburban store who got a little too involved in the lives of his customers when he realised one of them was having an affair.

10. Insomnia (2002)

Williams played a murderous and manipulative crime novelist on the run from a sleep-deprived Los Angeles policeman, played by Al Pacino, in rural Alaska.

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Robin Williams Dies In Suspected Suicide

Robin Williams: Tributes For Actor Dead At 63

Updated: 9:47am UK, Tuesday 12 August 2014

Relatives, showbiz personalities and politicians have expressed their sadness at the death of Robin Williams, who has died at the age of 63 in a suspected suicide.

The Oscar-winning actor was found dead at his home in northern California, according to the Marin County Sheriff's Office.

Williams' wife Susan Schneider said in a statement: "This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken."

His daughter Zelda Williams posted an excerpt from the French poet and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery, which read: "You - you alone will have the stars as no one else has them ... In one of the stars I shall be living."

She added: "I love you. I miss you. I'll try to keep looking up."

The star of much-loved films including Mrs Doubtfire and Good Morning, Vietnam had been struggling with severe depression in recent weeks, according to Williams' press agent Mara Buxbaum.

A statement from President Barack Obama described the actor as "one of a kind".

"Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind," he said.

"He arrived in our lives as an alien - but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry.

"He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most - from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalised on our own streets.

"The Obama family offers our condolences to Robin's family, his friends, and everyone who found their voice and their verse thanks to Robin Williams."

Many celebrity colleagues and admirers took to Twitter to express their shock at the actor's death, and to pay tribute to Williams' large and well-respected body of work.

Pam Dawber, his co-star in Mork and Mindy, said: "I am completely and totally devastated. What more can be said?"

Film director Ron Howard recalled that he saw Mork's genesis as they worked together on the US series Happy Days.

In a message posted online, he said: "We lost Robin - first witnessed his genius as he created Mork before our eyes in two hours on set. A Force. A Sweet Soul. A Brilliant Artist."

Steven Spielberg, who worked with Williams on Hook, said: "Robin was a lightning storm of comic genius and our laughter was the thunder that sustained him.  He was a pal and I can't believe he's gone."

Actor and comedian Steve Martin, his co-star in Waiting For Godot, said: "I could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul."

Williams' Mrs Doubtfire co-star Sally Field said: "He always lit up when he was able to make people laugh, and he made them laugh his whole life long - tirelessly. He was one of a kind. There will not be another."

The Birdcage co-star Nathan Lane said: "What I will always remember about Robin, perhaps even more than his comic genius, extraordinary talent and astounding intellect, was his huge heart - his tremendous kindness, generosity, and compassion as an acting partner, colleague and fellow traveler in a difficult world."

His Good Will Hunting co-star Minnie Driver said: "My heart's broken. Robin was a beautiful, kind soul. Can't bear that he's gone. So incredibly sorry for his family."

Ben Stiller, who starred in the Night At The Museum films with Williams, said: "A tweet cannot begin to describe the hugeness of Robin Williams heart and soul and talent. This is so sad."

The third installment of the franchise is due for release at Christmas.

Johnny Depp said: "The world lost a legend of an actor and an extraordinary man today. Rest In Peace Robin Williams."

The US actor and director Henry Winkler wrote on Twitter: "Robin Williams was like no other .. To watch him create on the spot was a privilege to behold.

"Robin you are an angel now!!! REST IN PEACE," he added.

Comedian Eddie Izzard said: "Robin Williams has died and I am very sad. From every comedian here at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, we salute him & we say goodbye."

16.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Robin Williams: Tributes For Actor Dead At 63

Relatives, showbiz personalities and politicians have expressed their sadness at the death of Robin Williams, who has died at the age of 63 in a suspected suicide.

The Oscar-winning actor was found dead at his home in northern California, according to the Marin County Sheriff's Office.

Williams' wife Susan Schneider said in a statement: "This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken."

His daughter Zelda Williams posted an excerpt from the French poet and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery, which read: "You - you alone will have the stars as no one else has them ... In one of the stars I shall be living."

She added: "I love you. I miss you. I'll try to keep looking up."

Dawber and Williams together in 1995

The star of much-loved films including Mrs Doubtfire and Good Morning, Vietnam had been struggling with severe depression in recent weeks, according to Williams' press agent Mara Buxbaum.

A statement from President Barack Obama described the actor as "one of a kind".

"Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind," he said.

"He arrived in our lives as an alien - but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry.

Matt Damon, Williams and Ben Affleck celebrate their Oscar wins in 1998

"He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most - from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalised on our own streets.

"The Obama family offers our condolences to Robin's family, his friends, and everyone who found their voice and their verse thanks to Robin Williams."

Many celebrity colleagues and admirers took to Twitter to express their shock at the actor's death, and to pay tribute to Williams' large and well-respected body of work.

Ellen DeGeneres expresses her sadness at the death of Robin Williams

Pam Dawber, his co-star in Mork and Mindy, said: "I am completely and totally devastated. What more can be said?"

Film director Ron Howard recalled that he saw Mork's genesis as they worked together on the US series Happy Days.

In a message posted online, he said: "We lost Robin - first witnessed his genius as he created Mork before our eyes in two hours on set. A Force. A Sweet Soul. A Brilliant Artist."

Williams receives an award in New York in 2012

Steven Spielberg, who worked with Williams on Hook, said: "Robin was a lightning storm of comic genius and our laughter was the thunder that sustained him.  He was a pal and I can't believe he's gone."

Actor and comedian Steve Martin, his co-star in Waiting For Godot, said: "I could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul."

Williams' Mrs Doubtfire co-star Sally Field said: "He always lit up when he was able to make people laugh, and he made them laugh his whole life long - tirelessly. He was one of a kind. There will not be another."

The Birdcage co-star Nathan Lane said: "What I will always remember about Robin, perhaps even more than his comic genius, extraordinary talent and astounding intellect, was his huge heart - his tremendous kindness, generosity, and compassion as an acting partner, colleague and fellow traveler in a difficult world."

His Good Will Hunting co-star Minnie Driver said: "My heart's broken. Robin was a beautiful, kind soul. Can't bear that he's gone. So incredibly sorry for his family."

Ben Stiller, who starred in the Night At The Museum films with Williams, said: "A tweet cannot begin to describe the hugeness of Robin Williams heart and soul and talent. This is so sad."

Comedian Eddie Izzard pays tribute to Williams on Twitter

The third installment of the franchise is due for release at Christmas.

Johnny Depp said: "The world lost a legend of an actor and an extraordinary man today. Rest In Peace Robin Williams."

The US actor and director Henry Winkler wrote on Twitter: "Robin Williams was like no other .. To watch him create on the spot was a privilege to behold.

"Robin you are an angel now!!! REST IN PEACE," he added.

Comedian Eddie Izzard said: "Robin Williams has died and I am very sad. From every comedian here at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, we salute him & we say goodbye."

16.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gaza Truce Holds After Death Toll Tops 2,000

A 72-hour ceasefire between Israel and Hamas held overnight - paving the way for talks aimed at securing a lasting end to the month-long conflict.

The truce, which was agreed during negotiations between both sides in Cairo, began at midnight (10pm UK time).

Israel pledged to return to Cairo on Monday if the ceasefire was observed.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hopes the break will provide a "chance to agree on a durable ceasefire for the benefit of all civilian populations".

Israel and Hamas exhanged fire up to the deadline

Since the last truce broke on Friday, warplanes have reportedly hit more than 170 targets in Gaza, killing at least 19 Palestinians.

Meanwhile, militants fired at least 136 rockets at Israel. Some 93 hit, according to the army.

The death toll since Israel launched its military campaign on July 8 topped 2,000 on Sunday - 1,939 Palestinians and 67 on the Israeli side.

The break in fire will allow Gazans to stock up on supplies and recover the dead buried beneath rubble.

Gazans inspect the damage after Israel's weekend bombardment

Preliminary reports say rebuilding Gaza will cost up to £4.8bn, according to the UN.

More than 10,000 homes have been destroyed and the livelihoods of 300,000 people ruined.

Almost a third of the population - 500,000 people - are displaced within Gaza.

Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal said for the ceasefire to hold, Israel must end its blockade of the Gaza Strip and reopen the seaport.

10,000 homes have been destroyed since July 8

Israel's campaign has been aimed at destroying Hamas' infrastructure, including its network of tunnels.

Away from Gaza, an 11-year-old Palestinian boy was apparently shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank.

Mohammed Khalil al Anati was killed in Al Fawwar refugee camp, southwest of the city of Hebron, a medical official said.

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Extremists Beaten Back After Iraq Airstrikes

Islamist extremists have been forced out of two towns in northern Iraq by Kurdish troops - amid a deepening political crisis in the country.

The militants were driven out of Makhmour and al Gweir, near Irbil, after fighters were aided by a series of US airstrikes targeting armed vehicles.

Kurdish forces have been bolstered further after senior US officials said the Obama administration has begun directly providing them with weapons to defend themselves against attacks by Islamic State (previously known as ISIS).

US soldiers watch as halal meals are parachuted to the ground in Iraq

The recapturing of the towns came as embattled Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki appeared on TV  to accuse the new President of violating the constitution.

In a surprise speech, Mr al Maliki resisted calls to resign amid the jihadist insurgency and declared he will file a legal complaint against Fuad Masum.

He accuses him of failing to name a prime minister from the country's largest parliamentary faction by Sunday's deadline.

The US, which has urged Iraq to form an inclusive government, immediately issued a statement backing President Masum.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond will chair a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency committee to discuss the crisis at 11am, as No10 resists calls for Parliament to discuss military action.

The political turmoil comes amid mounting evidence of the slaughter of minority Christians and Yazidis by Islamic extremists.

Yazidi refugees approach the food bundles on the ground

Photographs taken in the north of the country appear to show crucifixions and beheadings, as well as a series of executions by gunfire.

Iraq's human rights minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani said accounts from Yazidis fleeing Sinjar suggested hundreds had been slaughtered.

"Some of the victims, including women and children, were buried alive in scattered mass graves in and around Sinjar," he said.

The Australian newspaper also featured a photograph purporting to show the nine-year-old son of terrorist Khaled Sharrouf carrying the head of a Syrian soldier.

The picture was apparently posted on Twitter by Sharrouf, a convicted terrorist raised in Sydney.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that the photograph was further evidence of "just how barbaric" the militants were.

Refugees flee the extremists carving a bloody path through northern Iraq

As the world watched the images from Iraq in horror, a Downing Street source told Sky News David Cameron would resist pressure to recall Parliament to discuss military action.

"Our focus is humanitarian support," the source said.

"The key priority is getting support to people in desperate need."

Tory backbencher Conor Burns said the Government's response so far, of ruling out military intervention and air dropping supplies, was "not strong enough".

David Cameron has been urged to recall Parliament

"These people are being beheaded by people from IS, and our only response is to drop some food or water on them," the Bournemouth West MP said.

The former head of the army, Lord Dannatt, also backed a parliamentary recall, insisting Britain was "watching in horror" as atrocities were committed.

"In the face of a crisis of this scale, with the potential for so much human misery, this is not the moment for decision-makers to be on holiday," he wrote in the Sunday Telegraph.

Yesterday, Downing Street announced that more UK advisers were being sent to the under-threat city of Irbil to help deal with the developing crisis.

The US has been carrying out airstrikes to protect the area, which is a Kurdish stronghold and major centre for the country's oil trade.

Overnight, US military planes conducted a fourth air drop of food and water for civilians besieged by jihadists on Mount Sinjar.

A C-17 and three C-130 cargo aircraft dropped 88 bundles of supplies that will provide "food and water for thousands of Iraqi citizens".

The militants have driven as many as 150,000 Yazidis from their homes into the Sinjar mountains, where they are cut off from food and water.

The jihadists have also kidnapped 300 women as slaves.

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Medics Desperate To Help Paralysed Gaza Girl

By Katie Stallard, Sky Correspondent, in Gaza

Maha is seven years old and paralysed from the neck down.

Her mother and sister were killed in the airstrike on their house. She remembers everything about it.

She told Sky News: "We were sitting at home when we heard the noise. So we went down under the stairs.

"This is where we were injured. Some of us stayed alive, some of us died.

"Those who stayed alive were injured, all the family was injured.

"Me and my mother were injured, and we knew if we stayed like this we would die. But my mother stayed at home and she died."

Maha watches everything around her, she understands what is being said, but she doesn't understand why she can't move her arms and legs.

She said: "I feel like I can't do anything with my body. And when I move like this I can't feel my body moving."

She has been like this for 22 days now.

Her family tells her that she will get better, but any real hope of that depends on urgent treatment abroad.

Mahasen Sheikh Khalil, her aunt, explained: "She doesn't know that she could stay paralysed like this.

"She's waiting to go for treatment abroad so she might get well.

"She says to me, 'Aunt, if I can move my hand then I can eat by myself. I just want to stand up, move and play.'"

The family has been told there are three hospitals willing to treat Maha - in Germany, Turkey, and the US - and a sponsor has agreed to cover the cost.

But they need to get her our of Gaza first, and they are still waiting for permission from Israel.

Palestinian aid workers are trying to help, but the sad truth is there are other children like Maha here, all of whom need equally immediate care.

Her doctor, neurosurgeon Basil Baker at al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, told us that with every day that goes by, her chances of nerve recovery fade.

He explained: "Her lower limbs are lost. The recovery for the upper limbs is the aim.

"If she remains here and gets an infection, it will be difficult to treat.

"This means that she will be worse, we will not have any chance for any nerve recovery."

He hopes that she might be eligible for stem cell therapy in the future.

At the very least, he said, she deserves to be registered as a possible candidate.

Maha has already lived through three wars - she has learned how to be brave.

She has also learned how to hate.

"I would love the Israelis to die so I can stay alive," she said.

"So nobody else from our side would be killed. Because they killed and injured a lot of us."

Maha used to want to be a doctor when she grew up, now she wants to be in the resistance.

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Weather Warnings As Bertha Hits Britain

The remnants of Hurricane Bertha has brought gale force winds, heavy rains and flash flooding to Britain.

The deluge landed at Cornwall in the early hours and was sweeping across the UK from the south west of the country with gusts of 45mph reported on the Isles of Scilly.

The Red Cross has put hundreds of volunteers on standby in response to concerns that homes in some areas will need to be evacuated.

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "Heavy rain, associated with the remnants of hurricane Bertha, has already spread up across southwest England, Wales, eastern parts of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

"Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, received 21mm of rain in two hours between 4am and 6am and 15mm of rain fell in Cardiff between 6am and 7am with an area of thunderstorms now spreading across much of south Wales. 

The Met Office has issued a yellow rain warning for much of the UK

"Wind gusts to around 40mph have been recorded along the south coast as the low pressure area has moved in.

"Intense thundery weather and gusty winds are now spreading into Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

"As the low tracks northeast into the Midlands and northeast England the winds are likely to become stronger across much of England and Wales with 50mph gusts expected, perhaps up to 60mph in exposure, with large waves also expected along the south coast."

Alister McHardy, from the Met Office, said: "Anywhere in England and Wales could get two inches - even the far south east of England could get a good dollop of rain.

The A14 in Cambridgeshire was flooded on Friday

"Britons should brace themselves and be aware that the rainfall could bring some flooding in places.

"It is a quick dose of autumn in the summer."

Today's forecast means part of the RideLondon-Surrey 100 bike ride has been cancelled.

Organisers have reduced the event to 86 miles to miss out a section including Leith Hill and Box Hill, where heavy rain is predicted.

Hurricane Bertha has already torn through the Caribbean, with 90mph winds leaving thousands of homes without power.

Its aftermath is not as potent - but the Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings telling people to "be aware" of rainfall for England, Wales and Scotland.

It follows flash flooding across eastern England on Friday.

More than 1,400 homes were without power after the heavy downpours.

Further bad weather is expected at the start of next week.

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