Scottish Labour Leader In Shock Resignation

Johann Lamont has resigned as leader of the Scottish Labour Party, after claiming her colleagues "do not understand the politics they are facing".

The Glasgow MSP used her exit to criticise the party's leadership across the UK, and accused Westminster of trying to manage Scotland "like a branch office of London".

She added: "Colleagues need to realise that the focus of Scottish politics is now Holyrood, not Westminster.

"There is a danger of Scottish politics being between two sets of dinosaurs… the nationalists who can't accept they were rejected by the people, and some colleagues at Westminster who think nothing has changed."

Ed Miliband gave credit to Ms Lamont for her role in the referendum

It marks another setback for Ed Miliband ahead of next year's General Election - already, a group of Scottish Labour activists are pushing for their party to enjoy complete autonomy from London.

Speculation over Ms Lamont's leadership has grown since the referendum, with one senior aide confessing Scottish Labour needed to rediscover its "sense of purpose".

Video: Fall-Out Over Scottish Referendum

Nicola Sturgeon, due to become the First Minister in November once she replaces Alex Salmond as leader of the SNP, warned that "Scottish Labour really is in meltdown" if rumours of its tensions with Westminster were true.

Meanwhile, a Scottish Conservative spokesman said: "Johann Lamont's resignation has shown the complete chaos at the heart of Ed Miliband's operation in the starkest possible terms.

"The man isn't fit to run a village fete, never mind the UK."

Video: MPs To Debate Scotland's Future

In a statement, Mr Miliband said: "Johann Lamont deserves significant credit for the successful No vote in the Scottish referendum campaign.

"She has led the Scottish Labour Party with determination."

Earlier this week, Scottish Labour was described as "going through a period of reflection" after the referendum, which saw large numbers of the party's supporters vote to leave the UK, despite the overall majority of Scots backing the union.

Video: Oct 13: Dev Battle Preparations

Ms Lamont, who took over as leader in December 2011, is the second Scottish party leader to resign since September's vote - and made her comments during a Daily Record interview.

The first to quit, Alex Salmond MSP, said: "The fact that Scottish Labour are now going to have their fifth leader since the SNP took office in 2007 indicates that their problems are not about personalities - they are much more deep-seated than that.

"It was always very clear that Johann Lamont was never able to be meaningfully in charge of Labour in Scotland, and that is laid bare in dramatic fashion in her resignation comments."

Video: Gordon Brown On Devolution

Meanwhile, Tony Blair, the former Labour Prime Minister, has had to deny rumours that he privately believes Mr Miliband will not win the next General Election.

16.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Attacker Among Two Dead In School Shooting

By Sky News US Team

A school student who went on a shooting spree before killing himself wrote a series of chilling tweets in the months before he ran amok with a gun.

Jaylen Fryberg opened fire in a cafeteria, murdering one and critically injuring three others at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in Marysville, about 35 miles north of Seattle, Washington.

A student who called himself Austin told an affiliate of CNN that the gunman was initially "quiet" before opening fire on fellow diners.

Austin said: "There was just a big group of kids... He was quiet. He was just sitting there. Everyone was talking. All of a sudden I see him stand up, pull something out of his pocket.

Gunman Jaylen Fryberg Pic: Facebook

"At first I thought it was just someone making a really loud noise, like a bag, like a pretty loud pop, until I heard four more after that, and I saw three kids just fall from the table like they were falling to the ground dead."

Fryberg left a series of posts on Twitter before his attack which painted a picture of a teenager who was familiar with using weapons.

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1. Gallery: Students Distraught After High School Shooting

   Police have said two people are dead, including an armed student, after a shooting at a high school north of Seattle

2. The attacker was named as Jaylen Fryberg

3. He had made a number of emotional posts on Twitter in recent days

4. The attacker took his own life in the incident at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in Washington state

5. Three young people are in a "very critical condition" and one other is in a serious condition

6. Witnesses said the freshman took a gun out of his backpack in a cafeteria and opened fire

7. TV footage showed students being evacuated from the school, which has about 2,500 enrolled

8. Armed police conducted room-to-room searches with guns drawn

Next to an Instagram picture of him holding a hunting rifle, he wrote: "Probably the best BirthDay present ever! I just love my parents!!!!"

In August, he issued a threat to an apparent love rival, saying: "Your not gonna like what happens next."

On 18 September he wrote: "Did you forget she was my girlfriend?" and later tweeted: "Dude. She tells me everything. And now. I... hate you! Your no longer my brother."

On Tuesday, one of a series of tweets said: "It breaks me... It actually does... I know it seems like I'm sweating it off... But I'm not.. And I never will be able to."

In his last post on Thursday, Fryberg stated: "It won't last... It'll never last..."

Fryberg was crowned the school's freshman "homecoming prince" just a week ago, according to some US media.

The three in a critical condition were admitted to Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett.

Another patient, a young man in a serious condition, was sent to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Two of the wounded were male and two female, hospital officials said.

One student, Jordan Luton, told CNN he saw the attacker take a gun out of his backpack and open fire in the lunch room.

He said: "He had a gun in his hand and he fired about eight bullets into backs of them. They were his friends so it wasn't just random."

"Then he turned and looked at me and my girlfriend... and kind of gave us a smirk."

TV footage showed students being evacuated from the school, which has about 2,500 enrolled.

Another shooting occurred in the state in June at Seattle Pacific University, where a gunman killed a student and wounded two others.

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Automatic Quarantine In US For Ebola Medics

New York and New Jersey are to begin automatically quarantining medical staff who return from areas badly affected by Ebola.

The decision by the health authorities follows former Doctors Without Borders medic Craig Spencer testing positive for the disease several days after he returned from Guinea.

Dr Spencer, 33, was able to travel on the subway and go bowling before he showed the classic symptoms of the virus and had to go to hospital.

The US government said it was considering adopting the move for the whole country after it emerged that Dr Spencer had already been checked at the border and declared safe.

Hours after the policy was announced, a female healthcare worker who had been quarantined when she arrived from the affected region into Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, was isolated with a fever.

Video: Cured Texas Ebola Nurse 'Blessed'

She had no symptoms on arrival at the airport before being quarantined, but is now being evaulated at University Hospital, Newark.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. "We've seen what happens... You ride a subway. You ride a bus. You could infect hundreds and hundreds of people."

In Washington, Mr Obama sought to reassure members of the public by hugging Dallas nurse Nina Pham, who was one of the first to be treated for the virus in the US.

Video: Ebola: Busting The Myths

She had caught it while working as one of the medical staff treating a man who had earlier arrived from Liberia and who later died of the disease.

Ms Pham, 26, was declared cured on Friday, and gave a speech, thanking those who had treated her.

She said: "I feel fortunate and blessed to be standing here today."

Video: How Ebola Attacks The Human Body

Officials said she did not take any experimental drugs, but she did use blood plasma from previous survivor Dr Kent Brantly, who she also thanked.

Her colleague Amber Vinson, who caught the disease at the same time, was also declared cured, but was not yet well enough to leave hospital.

Dr Spencer remains in a stable condition in an isolation ward at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York undergoing treatment.

Video: Liberia Gripped By Ebola Virus Fear

The disease has now killed nearly 4,900 people - most of them in the countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Top Obama administration officials have met to discuss any potential new rules for healthcare workers returning to the US.

The latest case comes as the World Health Organisation announced that it expects hundreds of thousands of doses of a new Ebola vaccine to be available by early next year.

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Canada Terror Attack Gunman's Criminal Past

The suspect in the killing of a Canadian soldier at an Ottawa war memorial had a criminal record for violent and drug-related offences and wanted to travel to Syria, police say.

Michael Zehaf-Bibeau has been identified as the lone gunman in Wednesday's terror attack at the National War Memorial and inside Canada's parliament building.

Police say the 32-year-old Muslim convert was seeking to travel to Syria and had a passport application delayed over concerns about extremism.

CCTV footage of the moments leading up to the attack shows people fleeing the suspect as he ran into the parliament complex.

After entering the building, the suspect opened fire before being shot dead by Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers, who has been hailed as a hero.

Video: Canadian Police News Conference

Moments earlier Zehaf-Bibeau shot and killed 24-year-old Canadian soldier Nathan Cirillo at the National War Memorial.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Bob Paulson said Zehaf-Bibeau had a "very developed criminality".

"He is an interesting individual in the sense he had a very developed criminality," he said.

Commissioner Paulson added that the suspect also had a history of "violence and of drugs and of mental instability".

He said the delay over Zehaf-Bibeau's passport application may have contributed to his motive for carrying out the attack.

Video: Ottawa Not Intimidated By Attack

"I think the passport figured prominently in his motives and his - you know I'm not inside his head - but I think it was central to what was driving him."

An email from Zehaf-Bibeau was found on the hard drive of someone who has been charged with a terrorism-related offence in Canada, the RCMP said.

Authorities say the suspect acted alone and police have not linked his attack with the killing of another soldier in Quebec on Monday.

The suspect's mother Susan Bibeau said she is crying for the victims of the shooting, not for her son.

"We have no explanation to offer. I am mad at our son, I don't understand and part of me wants to hate him at this time."

Video: Brother's Pride For Shooting Hero

She added that her son was a social misfit who was "lost".

"(He) was lost and did not fit in," the woman said in a statement given to Associated Press.

"I, his mother, spoke with him last week over lunch, I had not seen him for over five years before that."

Zehaf-Bibeau was not among 93 high-risk travellers being monitored by authorities, but was seeking a passport.

Police were asked to carry out background checks when Zehaf-Bibeau applied for the passport, but he had not been placed under surveillance.

Video: 'Planet Descending Into Savagery'

A former friend who once lived with Zehaf-Bibeau at a Vancouver homeless shelter said the suspect had once tried unsuccessfully to get off drugs.

"We referred to him as Muslim Mike. He didn't seem like a bad guy," Steve Sikich told the Reuters news agency.

Mr Sikich said he last saw Zehaf-Bibeau "a month or two ago", adding that the suspect was rambling about wanting to travel to Libya and join Islamic State.

16.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

EU Wants An Extra £1.7bn Payment From UK

Britain is facing a demand from the European Union for an extra £1.7bn because of the success of the economy.

The increase would add almost a fifth to the UK's annual contribution of £8.6bn.

A spokesperson for the European Commission said it was fair because it was like personal taxation - the more a person earns, the more they have to pay.

Commission spokesperson  Patrizio Fiorilli said: "Britain's contribution reflects an increase in wealth, just as in Britain you pay more to the Inland Revenue if your earnings go up."

The demand is intended to reflect improvements to Britain's economy since 1995.

Video: Farage: EU Surcharge 'Outrageous'

The change in each state's contribution is a result of changes in the way the EU calculates gross national income.

A Commission spokesman said it was mainly due to the fact that the economic strength of EU's member states had increased or decreased relative to each other.

Preliminary figures seen by the Financial Times suggest that Britain is facing the largest adjustment in the amount it is required to pay compared to other members states.

The Netherlands, another country that is being asked to pay more, is being asked for an extra £509m.

By contrast, France is due to receive a rebate of £0.8bn, Germany £618m, and Poland £250m.

Britain's surcharge is due for payment on 1 December - just days after the crunch Rochester and Strood by-election.

The vote to decide who takes the seat hangs on a knife edge with David Cameron's Tories struggling to fight off a challenge from anti-EU UKIP.

Mr Cameron held talks on Thursday evening with Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte, who is also facing a large demand for more cash, on what can be done to challenge the demands.

The surcharges are likely to overshadow a European Council summit in Brussels, where Mr Cameron is meeting leaders of the 27 other EU States, some of which are looking forward to reductions in their contributions.

Video: Does EU Membership Benefit UK?

Several Conservatives MEPs have already spoken out against the surcharge, saying Britain is being punished for its success.

Downing Street said the UK will be challenging the demand.

A source said: "It's not acceptable to just change the fees for previous years and demand them back at a moment's notice.

"The European Commission was not expecting this money and does not need this money and we will work with other countries similarly affected to do all we can to challenge this."

UKIP leader Nigel Farage told Sky News he was unhappy about the news.

"Well, we already pay £55m a day as a membership fee to this club," he said.

"To be asked for a whole load more, and given a few days in which to pay it, is pretty outrageous and I think people will be very, very angry.

"It just leaves Mr Cameron in a hopeless condition, because don't forget, one of his big claims was he'd cut the EU budget. The result of that cut was actually our contribution had already gone up a little bit and now it's gone up a load.

"The EU is like a thirsty vampire feasting on UK taxpayers' blood. We need to protect the innocent victims, who are us."

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Economy: Third Quarter Growth Slows To 0.7%

UK economic growth slowed in the third quarter of the year, according to the first official estimate of GDP for the period.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) measured GDP growth of 0.7% in the period, down from output growth of 0.9% in the previous three months.

It charted a slowdown in manufacturing, saying expansion - at 0.3% - was its weakest for 18 months amid concerns for the world economy and the euro area in particular - the country's biggest trading partner.

The service sector, which accounts for more than 75% of the country's total output, showed growth of 0.7% during the three months to September - down from 1.1% in the previous quarter.

It meant, the ONS said, that annual growth was 3%, down from 3.2%, though total economic output was 3.4% bigger than its pre-crisis peak in 2008.

All the figures are subject to revision but the status quo still leaves manufacturing 4.1% behind and construction 8.2% short of their peaks.

Construction output grew 0.8% in the third quarter.

The performance was widely expected by economists, given forecasts suggesting the eurozone may slip back into recession.

The data for the service sector suggests businesses will be more wary about spending while consumers remain hit by weak wage rises.

The Chancellor George Osborne said: "Today's strong growth figures show that the UK continues to lead the pack in an increasingly uncertain global economy.

"With all the main sectors of the economy growing, it's clear that our recovery is broadly based.

"But the UK is not immune to weakness in the euro area and instability in global markets, so we face a critical moment for our economy.

"If we want to avoid a return to the chaos and instability of the past, then we need to carry on working through our economic plan that is delivering stability and security."

More follows...

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Canadians 'Looking Over Their Shoulders'

The sound of jazz from a musical statue of Canadian icon Oscar Peterson still fills the evening air in Ottawa.

The sculpture of the musician, born in Montreal, is a well-known landmark in the capital and it famously sums up the city's laid-back outlook.

But it stands just yards from the National War Memorial where a soldier was shot dead and in the neon-lit night-time streets of downtown Ottawa the bronze figure is reflecting the blue flashing lights of police cars.

Oscar Peterson's wide grin serves only to highlight the contrast in a city where something fundamental seems to have changed.

Police sirens drowned out the music at Ottawa's Oscar Peterson statue

"I've come to listen to the wonderful music," says a city worker sitting on the bench that also serves as a sculpted piano stool for Oscar, "but it keeps getting drowned out by sirens."

Nearby, Peter Henderson tells me how he keeps thinking about the soldier's gloves. He was one of the first on the scene and saw the ceremonial honour guard on the ground seconds after he had been shot.

Video: How The Ottawa Attack Unfolded

"It got to me to see his white gloves. A young man struck down. I knew from the moment I saw him that he had suffered catastrophic injuries. Just seeing those gloves made it real for me," he said.

Canadians themselves occasionally poke fun at the "sleepy" capital where life was always considered to be relatively safe.

"Tranquil Canada" no more. One of the most secure nations in the world has been shaken into the dark reality that other countries have faced for some time and it is apparently paying a heavy toll for its support for the fight against Islamic State.

Local radio reporter Andrew Pinsent believes time is up for Canada's more open way of life.

Video: Canadian PM: The Full Statement

"I think people will definitely be more vigilant after something like this, after seeing that it can hit so close to home. I think everybody is kind of still reeling from the shock of what happened," he said.

"I suspect that we'll now see people looking over their shoulders."

A few months ago the Oscar Peterson sculpture was vandalised by someone who painted tears falling from his eyes.

The tears may have been removed, but there is no mistaking the sombre mood among fellow countrymen in mourning.

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Canada Will 'Never Be Intimidated' By Terrorists

Canada will "never be intimidated" by terrorists who seek to bring "savagery" to the country's shores, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said.

Speaking after a soldier was shot dead at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Mr Harper said terrorists would find "no safe haven" in Canada.

"Let there be no misunderstanding - we will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated," Mr Harper said.

"In fact, this will lead us to strengthen our resolve and redouble our efforts - and those of our national security agencies - to take all necessary steps to identify and counter threats and keep Canada safe here at home."

Canada will work with its allies to "fight against the terrorist organisations who brutalise those in other countries with the hope of bringing their savagery to our shores", he added.

Video: Footage Of The Ottawa Gunman

Corporal Nathan Cirillo was guarding the National War Memorial when he was shot at point-blank range at around 10am local time on Wednesday.

Witnesses say the gunman raised his arms in triumph after the shooting, which led to a lockdown in downtown Ottawa, lasting until Wednesday night.

The attacker has been named by Canadian media Michael Zehaf- Bibeau, 32, who US agencies have been advised is a Canadian convert to Islam.

After firing upon Cpl Cirillo, the gunman entered Canada's nearby Parliament building where he was pursued by law enforcement officers.

Video: Canadian PM: The Full Statement

People fled the building, took cover, or barricaded doors as police cordoned off the streets outside.

Officials say 58-year-old sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers shot the attacker dead outside the MPs' caucus rooms.

At least three people were treated in hospital for minor injuries.

Authorities say federal government buildings remain off limits following the attack.

Video: How The Ottawa Attack Unfolded

The shooting occurred two days after an Islamic convert ran down two Canadian soldiers near Montreal, killing one of them.

Mr Harper said the two terrorist attacks "are a grim reminder that Canada is not immune to the types of terror attacks we have seen elsewhere around the world".

US President Barack Obama has condemned the shootings, describing them as "outrageous".

"We have to remain vigilant," Mr Obama said.

Video: "We Must Remain Vigilant"

"It's very important, I think, for us to recognise that when it comes to dealing with terrorist activity, that Canada and the United States (have) to be entirely in sync."

David Cameron responded to the attack on Twitter, saying: "I'm appalled by today's attack in Ottawa.

"I offer my full support to @pmharper and the Canadian people as they deal with this incident."

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Nathan Cirillo Made 'The Ultimate Sacrifice'

Hundreds of messages have been posted on a tribute site to the soldier who was killed in the shooting at a war memorial near parliament in Ottawa.

Corporal Nathan Cirillo, of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was guarding the National War Memorial in the Canadian capital when he was attacked.

He was treated at the scene, but later died of his injuries.

One message on the Facebook tribute page, from Bob Rodkin, read: "RIP Nathan. Thank you for your service and the ultimate sacrifice.

"So tragic, so unnecessary. My prayers go out for you and to your family, friends and colleagues."

Video: Canadian PM: The Full Statement

Olivia Mancini wrote: "He not only was a great father, son, and brother, but a close friend of mine. RIP Nathan Cirillo. I will love and miss you forever. Not only did you protect our country, but you were such a loving, caring, and funny person to everyone around you."

Another message, from Olivia Marie, said: "RIP Nathan! Thank you for defending our country, your son is so proud of you. I miss you."

Megan Underwood posted a picture of Cpl Cirillo posing with a friend in front of the war memorial taken on Sunday.

Video: The Face Of Canada's Terror Fight

The message said: "On Sunday, we asked a very handsome guard for a picture with my friend visiting from Cali - RIP Nathan Cirillo."

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1. Gallery: Ottawa In Lockdown After Attacks

   At around 10am on Wednesday, 32-year-old petty criminal Michael Zehaf-Bibeau killed a soldier standing guard at Ottawa's war memorial

2. He then ran into the nearby Canadian Parliament building where he was shot to death by the ceremonial Sergeant-at-Arms

3. Conservative and Liberal MPs were holding their weekly caucus meetings at the time

4. Cabinet minister Tony Clement tweeted that at least 30 shots were heard inside Parliament

5. In a national TV statement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said: "We will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated"

6. It was the second deadly attack in three days against members of the Canadian military

7. On Monday, a man Harper described as an "ISIL-inspired terrorist" ran over two soldiers in Quebec, killing one and injuring another before being shot to death by police

8. Witnesses said the soldier killed in the latest attack, Cpl Nathan Cirillo, was gunned down at point-blank range by a man carrying a rifle and dressed all in black, his face half-covered with a scarf

9. One said: "The honour guard dropped to the ground, and the shooter kind of raised his arms in triumph holding the rifle"

10. At least three people were treated for minor injuries

11. Some people fled the complex by scrambling down scaffolding erected for renovations

12. Others took cover inside as police with rifles and body armour took up positions outside and cordoned off streets

13. The two attacks have raised fears Canada is being targeted for reprisals for joining the air campaign against Islamic State extremists in Iraq and Syria

14. The National War Memorial contains an arched granite cenotaph, or tomb, with bronze sculptures commemorating World War I

15. The gunman had convictions for assault, robbery, drug and weapons offences, and other crimes. Swipe through for more images of the attack and its aftermath

Video: Witness & Reporter Peter Henderson

16.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Wife Held Over British Man's Murder In Bali

The wife of a British businessman found with his throat slashed and dumped in a Bali rice field has admitted ordering his murder, police have said.

Julaikah Noor Ellis, 45, was arrested on Tuesday night after reporting the disappearance of her 60-year-old husband Robert earlier in the day.

His body was found by a farmer in a ditch in the Bangdun region of the Indonesian island.

Mr Ellis' arms and legs were tied up and his body was wrapped in plastic. There were deep gashes in his neck.

Security guards outside the couple's villa complex in Bali

Badung police chief Komang Suartana said marital problems and money were among the possible motives for the murder.

He told Australia's Channel Nine: "We have named suspects - one of killers called Ariel and (the) victim's wife who has (ordered) and (planned) to kill the victim.

"Based on the victim's wife's confession, she wanted to take over victim's wealth."

He added: "She says she was hurt by the victim. There were many factors, one of them that her husband was frequently cheating on her."

Mr Suartana claimed Noor Ellis, an Indonesian citizen, was at home at the couple's luxury villa when the killer she had hired slashed her husband's throat in the kitchen.

A man accused of being the killer was arrested in Padangbai, a port in east Bali, where he was allegedly trying to flee to Lombok island.

Two maids were also in custody, while police are still hunting a further four suspects.

Police initially said Mr Ellis was an Australian citizen, but subsequently said he was a British passport holder who had lived in Australia for many years.

"We are coming to terms with this tragedy only very slowly," said Ross Taylor, the president of the Perth-based Indonesia Institute and who said he had known the couple for years.

Mr Taylor said dual national Mr Ellis was a successful businessman who had lived in Indonesia for many years and was well liked.

He said he had been looking at acquiring a fish processing business in Sulawesi and owned a luxury villa in the Balinese seaside district of Sanur where he had settled for the past few years.

Flowers arrived at the villa on Tuesday afternoon from friends paying their respects.

16.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Foreign Criminals Costing Taxpayers £850m

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

Foreign criminals are costing taxpayers £850m a year, with thousands of offenders setting up home in the UK instead of being deported.

Of the 4,200 foreign convicts living in the community, one in six - 760 - have absconded, according to a National Audit Office (NAO) report.

Among those who have absconded are 58 "high harm" individuals who have been missing since 2010, the report said.

The NAO found that despite greater resources the Home Office has made "slower than expected progress" in dealing with the problem.

The report estimated that public bodies spent £850m in 2013/14 managing and removing foreign national offenders, working out at around £70,000 per offender.

Video: How Police Stop Foreign Criminals

Meanwhile, the number of foreign prisoners has risen 4% from 10,231 to 10,649 since 2006, the NAO said.

Removal numbers have fallen to 5,097 from a peak of 5,613 in 2008/09. Meanwhile, the time it takes to deport an overseas criminal is 319 days.

This comes despite a 10-fold increase in the number of Home Office staff working on foreign national offenders (FNOs), from 100 to more than 900.

Amyas Morse, of the National Audit Office, said: "It is no easy matter to manage foreign national offenders in the UK and to deport those who have completed their sentences.

"However, too little progress has been made, despite the increased resources and effort devoted to this problem."

Conservative MP Philip Hollobone, has long raised concerns about the number of foreigners in UK prisons and failures to deport them.

He said: "Most people will be staggered that despite increasing its staffing for deportations from 100 to 900, the Home Office is not actually deporting any more FNOs than it was before.

Video: Romanian Police Fighting UK Crime

"The public will also be concerned that at any one time over 4,000 convicted FNOs are at large within our communities and that, of these, over 700 go missing.

"My view is that if you are a foreign national who commits a crime in the UK, you should be caught, convicted and sentenced with your sentence served back in your own country at the expense of your fellow nationals."

Immigration and security minister James Brokenshire MP said: "The countless appeals and re-appeals lodged by criminals attempting to cheat the system cost us all money and are an affront to British justice.

"That is why we are putting a stop to that abuse through the Immigration Act.

"New powers came into force this week to cut the number of grounds on which criminals can appeal their deportation and to end the appeals conveyor belt in the courts.

"The Immigration Act will help us deliver an immigration system that is fair to the people of this country and legitimate immigrants and tough on those who flout the rules."

16.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Homebase: A Quarter Of Stores To Be Closed

The owner of the DIY chain Homebase is to close a quarter of its stores over the next three years, leaving thousands of jobs hanging in the balance.

Home Retail Group (HRG), which made the announcement as it confirmed its half-year results, said it planned to shut 25% of its 323 stores by 2018 through scheduled lease expirations and sales.

It said a review of the business had found Homebase was saddled with "inconsistent store operating standards" as well as "a large estate with low sales densities that result in a challenged financial model."

The chain, which currently employs 17,000 people, is to lose its managing director Paul Loft in the wake of the findings.

A spokesperson told Sky News: "HRG has announced a three-year plan for Homebase to revitalise the business for the future.

Argos, also owned by HRG, was already getting a digital makeover

"Part of the plan will be to right-size the store estate through scheduled lease expiries and a series of sales to other retailers.

"Once they are identified, our colleagues will be the first to be informed about any of the affected stores, and where possible we will redeploy colleagues to other stores within the Group, or encourage retailers buying our leases to offer roles within their businesses locally".

The transformation to a greater digital offering was confirmed against a backdrop of rising sales at Homebase.

Home Retail said group underlying first-half profit rose 13%, particularly reflecting sales growth at Argos.

Profit before tax reached £30.9m in the six months to 30 August though its full-year result would depend on Argos' Christmas trading, HRG said.

Argos has itself undergone a turnaround, with Home Retail moving away from its traditional catalogue store offering towards digital click & collect.

Argos saw sales from mobile and tablet devices rise by 45%.

Homebase like-for-like sales grew by 4.1% over the six-month period while its improved website helped multi-channel sales rise 12%.

John Walden, chief executive of HRG, said "Homebase is a good business with the basis for future growth.

"In this context, Homebase will pursue a three-year plan through to the end of 2018 to improve the productivity of its store estate, strengthen its propositions and accelerate its digital capabilities by leveraging Argos' investments.

"This will position Homebase as a smaller but stronger business, ready for investment and growth."

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Reeva's Parents A Picture Of Grief At Trial

By Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent, in Pretoria

The elderly parents of Reeva Steenkamp have been the picture of pain and grief each time they've arrived at the High Court in Pretoria.

They faced the gathering of camera crews who filmed their every movement with stoicism and fortitude, but no-one was left in any doubt that this was a harrowing experience for them and they hated every minute of being in the spotlight.

Reeva's mother June sat expressionless for the bulk of the trial, despite repeated graphic testimony about the injuries inflicted on her youngest child by Oscar Pistorius when Black Talon bullets ripped through her head and body.

She lowered her head when her daughter's bloodied face was flashed up on the court TV screens. (She'd been warned beforehand by the state lawyers but was determined to stay inside the courtroom).

Reeva Steenkamp helped her parents out financially

A group from the ruling ANC Party's Women's League accompanied her every day to the courtroom.

They've been funding the family's costs of attending the trial since March. The couple live in Port Elizabeth and couldn't afford the travelling expenses or accommodation bills.

Video: Oscar Pistorius' Sister Speaks Out

June has since managed to attend virtually every day of the seven-month-long trial.

Reeva's father Barry, who has suffered a number of strokes since the death of his daughter, opted to spend most of the time at home during the legal process, unable to cope with the stress.

But he did travel over to hear the verdict and he wanted to be in Pretoria for the sentencing of his daughter's killer.

He smiled shyly and always responds positively when the waiting journalists greeted him as he walked slowly in and out of court.

I met June Steenkamp briefly in the coastal town of Port Elizabeth shortly after the killing of her daughter.

She told me she'd just come back from seeing her therapist and was exhausted - too emotionally spent to talk to me just then although she politely referred me to her lawyers.

The couple almost immediately ran into financial difficulties after their daughter's death.

Mrs Steenkamp told one reporter she'd spoken to Reeva as she was driving to the runner's house on the night she was killed.

Video: From Hero To Convicted Killer

Her daughter had promised to send money to pay for their cable television bill.

She also regularly helped out with her parents' utility and food bills.

The couple consulted lawyers almost immediately and were advised to launch a civil action claim for compensation against Oscar Pistorius.

It emerged during the sentencing hearing that within two weeks of their daughter's death they were getting monthly payments from the athlete of 6,000 South African Rand (equivalent to £350).

The runner offered to pay the money to them after the Steenkamp lawyer advised his legal team of the intention to mount a compensation claim.

The Steenkamps say the Pistorius team asked for the payments to be kept confidential and they abided by this request until the news emerged in court.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said June regarded the cash - plus the offer of a lump-sum from the runner - as "blood money".

When I asked their legal representative Dup De Bruyn if it was difficult for the couple to accept the runner's money, he said: "It's not difficult if you haven't any."

1/6

1. Gallery: Reeva Steenkamp's Life In Pictures

   Reeva Steenkamp, 29, was born in Cape Town and grew up in Port Elizabeth. She went to a convent school and studied law. She was a keen horse rider until she broke her back

2. She moved to Johannesburg from Cape Town to model for Avon cosmetics. In 2012, Reeva was voted number 45 in the South African FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll

3. She featured as a celebrity contestant on BBC Lifestyle show Baking Made Easy in 2012

4. The model was a keen Twitter user, and had more than 34,000 followers. She used the site to promote women's rights and empowerment

5. Her former fashion editor, Barbara Robertson, described the model as being "sweet and down to earth" with the "it factor". She likened her to an "early Kate Moss"

6. Reeva Steenkamp on the set of reality TV show Tropika Island Of Treasure (Pic: Stimulii)

He added that Reeva's parents intended to pay back every cent.

We watched as the very tough-looking June Steenkamp crumpled and held her head in her hands and sobbed as she listened to her niece Kim Martin give heart-breaking testimony of how Reeva's death has impacted on the family.

It was the first real time we have seen this doughty, strong, diminutive woman break down.

It must have been unbearably hard for her to listen to her daughter's cousin talk about all the good times - even the birth of Reeva.

Reeva was the first newborn Kim Martin had ever held, aged 12, and she said from that moment on, the two had a strong bond.

The Steenkamps' lawyer said he'd done "some good deals" for them with media houses: one is thought to be the American network NBC - to try to provide some financial security for them in their old age.

There can't be many who will begrudge them that.

16.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Oscar Pistorius Jailed Over Reeva Killing

Oscar Pistorius has been jailed for five years for killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine's Day last year.

His defence team said he would spend a sixth of the term in the hospital wing of Pretoria's prison - 10 months - before being placed under house arrest for the remainder of his sentence.

The 27-year-old, who was found guilty of culpable homicide last month, appeared to wipe his eyes as the sentence was handed down.

Judge Thokozile Masipa had ruled the Olympic and Paralympic athlete did not intend to kill his girlfriend when he fired through the bathroom door at his home in Pretoria.

"Having regard to the circumstances in the matter, I am of the view that a non-custodial sentence would send the wrong message to the community," she said.

Video: Pistorius Jailed For Five Years

"On the other hand, a long sentence would also not be appropriate either, as it would lack the element of mercy.

"What may appear to be justice to the general public may not be justice. Society cannot always get what they want."

She said Pistorius' skill using a gun was an aggravating factor but that she also recognised his remorse.

Video: Judge Criticises Probation Officer

She said he "fired not one shot but four shots into the door" of a small cubicle "with no room for escape".

He was also handed a suspended three-year prison sentence for the discharging of a firearm, over an incident in which a gun accidentally went off in a restaurant.

Ms Steenkamp's father, Barry Steenkamp, said he was "satisfied" with the sentence.

1/10

1. Gallery: Profile: Oscar Pistorius

   Pistorius was born in Johannesburg on November 22, 1986. A congenital condition meant he had no bones in his lower legs.

2. He had both legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old, and now runs on carbon fibre prosthetic blades.

3. Pistorius won the 200m final in a record time at the 2004 Athens Paralympics. In 2006 he finished sixth in the able-bodied event in South Africa.

4. Ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled his blades did not give him an unfair advantage. But he failed to qualify for the men's 400m.

5. He won gold in all three of his events at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics - the 100m, 200m and 400m. He set a world record in the 400m (sport class T44).

6. He won the 400m in 47.28s and the 100m in 11.04s at the 2011 Paralympic World Cup. The athlete later ran the 400m in 45.07s - within the Olympic qualifying time.

7. The Blade Runner won the 400m silver medal in 45.52s at the 2012 African Championships. He just missed the 45.30s he needed to qualify for the Olympics.

8. Pistorius was selected by the South African Olympic Committee to run the 4x400m relay and 400m at the 2012 London Olympics. He said it was "one of the happiest days of my life".

9. He had been dating the model Reeva Steenkamp since late 2012. She was found dead at his home on February 14, 2013.

10. After a lengthy trail, Pistorius is cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Sentencing options available to the judge in the culpable homicide case included jail, a suspended sentence, a correctional supervision or fine. 

It brings to a close the sprinter's seven-month trial, which attracted worldwide attention.

One of the most sensational trials in the country's history, the sentence is expected to fuel further controversy about race and money in its justice system.

Video: From Hero To Convicted Killer

Pistorius' legal team argued during the marathon trial that he mistook Ms Steenkamp for an intruder and believed they were both in danger.

His lawyer Barry Roux said the athlete had "lost everything" after the 29-year-old model's death, and argued he should not go to prison.

He also said the 'Blade Runner' athlete, whose lower legs were amputated as a baby, would face particular difficulties in jail.

1/31

1. Gallery: Pistorius: Death, Despair And Drama

   Hooded and head down, Paralympic and Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius leaves a police station in Pretoria hours after he shot dead his model girlfriend in the bathroom of his home

2. Before Valentine's Day 2013, this is how the couple were known - handsome, glamorous and seemingly happy

3. A day after shooting Reeva, he was taken to court for a lengthy bail hearing during which he denied murdering his girlfriend. He was eventually granted conditional bail

4. Reeva's Valentine's card to Oscar was later shown in court. She had left it out for him on the night of her death, along with some pictures of the couple and one of her she'd had taken specially as a gift

5. Five days after her death, Reeva's funeral was held in her home town of Port Elizabeth

6. Reeva's family and friends comforted each other after her coffin was carried into a crematorium. After the ceremony, her brother Adam said: "There's a space missing inside all the people that she knew that can't be filled again. We will miss her."

7. Judge Thokozile Masipa presided over the trial. It should have run for three weeks, but lasted at least five months

8. Reeva's mother June Steenkamp was in court throughout proceedings, sat just feet away from the man who killed her daughter and in the same row as members of his family. Within weeks of Reeva's killing, Mrs Steenkamp said: "I don't hate Oscar. I've forgiven him. I have to, that's my religion. But I am determined to face him and reclaim my daughter."

9. Gerrie Nel, a seasoned prosecutor, is known in South African legal circles as "the pitbull". He led the prosecution against Pistorius, claiming the defence was inconsistent

10. The prosecution tried to prove the couple had problems - that Pistorius was an angry and controlling boyfriend. This email was among the evidence they used to make their point, along with a series of texts. The defence said it simply showed they were a normal couple, with normal ups and downs in their relationship

11. Barry Roux defended Pistorius. He made his presence felt at the very start of proceedings by totally dismissing a senior police officer's case, leaving the man offering an embarrassing admission that his case was weak. "I don't have any facts," said Hilton Botha. Mr Roux has since said his performance was "nothing special".

12. Sky News uncovered this CCTV image of the couple just a few days before the shooting. They were in a shop in Pretoria, kissing and laughing

13. The CCTV was among the final images taken of Reeva

14. The world gasped at pictures of the scene of the shooting obtained by Sky's Alex Crawford

15. At one point in the trial, as lawyers flicked through a series of pictures on a large screen in court, they accidentally showed a picture of Reeva's body without warning. Friends of Reeva ran from the courtroom in tears at the violent image

16. On another occasion, the prosecution taunted Pistorius, telling him to look at the image and take responsibility. Pistorius sobbed back: "As I picked Reeva up, my fingers touched her head. I don't have to look at a picture. I remember. I was there."

17. Much of the case centered on whether Pistorius was wearing his prosthetic legs at the time of the shooting. Did the bullet holes in the bathroom door prove that he was wearing them, and therefore able to move faster and with more ease? Or was he on his stumps, at a lower height and possibly feeling more threatened?

18. Sitting almost within touching distance throughout the trial, Reeva's mother and Pistorius' sister Aimee had been seen speaking to each other at times

19. The defendant retched and vomited more than once. At one point, Pistorius collapsed in the dock and his psychologist was seen trying to calm him by stroking his face

20. The trial was adjourned for a psychiatric evaluation of Pistorius. Around this time the defendant had a night out and got involved in an altercation, making headlines again

21. Following the row, Pistorius tweeted some cryptic messages. This was one

22. Lawyers went step-by-step through how Pistorius would have got out of bed in the night, walked or run down the corridor shouting at whoever was locked in the toilet, shot through the door and then, on realising it was Reeva inside, bashed down the door using a cricket bat

23. After the shooting, the door was removed from Pistorius' house and was stored in a police HQ office instead of a contamination-free zone

24. Footage emerged of Pistorius recreating the fateful night in a private attempt to make his case clear. Australia's Channel 7 got hold of the video, which described events in graphic detail, and released it while the trial was ongoing

25. Friends and family of Reeva gave various interviews to the media, talking about how the model with a law degree was also someone who cared deeply about others and wanted to help people. "She was more than just a pretty face," one said

26. The world's focus once again closed in on the court in Pretoria when the time came for Judge Thokozile Masipa to give her verdict

27. The runner's brother made it to court for the verdicts, coming out of hospital in a wheelchair. He is recovering from a head-on car crash that happened on 1 August

28. As the judge read her findings to the court on the first day of her verdict delivery, Pistorius sat in the dock and sobbed, gulping back air as he struggled not to cry out loud

29. Reeva's father Barry Steenkamp did not attend the first few weeks of the trial, but he sat through the end and closely watched the man who killed his daughter as the verdict was read out

30. He was found not guilty of premeditated murder on Thursday, 11 September 11, 2014. And the weight of the case took so long for the judge to get through that it was not until the next morning that he was told to stand to hear the verdict on culpable homicide. He stood silently, breathing deeply

31. At the end of it all, Oscar Pistorius, world-famous athlete, was found guilty of culpable homicide. A similar charge to manslaughter, it means he did shoot at someone, but the judge said he might not have known it was Reeva behind the toilet door - and she has now sentenced him to five years in prison for the killing

But state prosecutor Gerrie Nel had argued that only 10 years' imprisonment would satisfy the South African public.

He said that any lesser sentence could result in a widespread loss of faith in the justice system.

:: Watch Sky News for all the developments as they happen in Pretoria live on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 132 and Freesat channel 202.

Video: What Would Oscar Have Seen?

Video: Who Is Judge Masipa?

16.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Prison Sentence Seals Fall From Grace

Oscar Pistorius has been jailed for the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The athlete is going to prison for five years for the culpable homicide of the model, who was shot dead at the home they shared when Pistorius wrongly believed she was an intruder.

It marks a dramatic fall from grace for the athlete who overcame the amputation of his legs as a baby to become an Olympic icon and Paralympic champion.

He was born with fibular hemimelia - the absence of the fibula - and had his legs amputated between his knees and ankles at 11 months old.

But he did not let his disability hold him back, and at school he played rugby union, water polo and tennis, and took part in wrestling events.

1/17

1. Gallery: South Africa's Golden Couple

   Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius faces a charge of murdering Reeva Steenkamp, his girlfriend, on Valentine's Day 2013

2. Pistorius is a six-time Paralympic gold medal winner who has held both the T44 100m and 200m world records

3. Miss Steenkamp was a model and entrepreneur who had said she was committed to empowering women

4. Pistorius poses with a South African national flag after winning gold in the men's 400m T44 at the London 2012 Paralympic Games on September 8, 2012

5. Pistorius wins the 200m T44 for Men at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games on September 21, 2004 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece

6. Pistorius poses with his artificial leg on Italian TV state channel Rai 1, on January 29, in Rome. He has a home in Italy for training during the European athletics season

7. Pistorius arriving at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, where he won an appeal on May 16, 2008 against a decision to ban him from able-bodied competition due to safety concerns

8. Pistorius waves as he celebrates winning gold in the final of the 100m T44 during the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games on September 9, 2008

9. Miss Steenkamp was one of FHM magazine's 100 Sexiest Women in the World for two consecutive years

10. She was also an anti-bullying campaigner with the Spirit Day campaign - which is supported by figures such as Oprah Winfrey and Shaquille O'Neal

11. Two days after her death, South African television aired Tropika Island of Treasure a reality TV show staring Steenkamp, filmed in Jamaica

12. Pistorius poses with his medals during day eight of the IPC Athletics Championships at QEII Park on January 29, 2011 in Christchurch, New Zealand

13. Pistorius crosses the line to win gold in the men's 400m T44 final at the London 2012 Paralympic Games on September 8, 2012

14. Pistorius poses on the podium with his gold medal after winning the men's 400m T44 final at the London games

15. Pistorius meets fans and signs autographs during the South African Paralympic team arrival on September 11, 2012 in Johannesburg

16. Pistorius and Michael Phelps after they both lose their ball during the second round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on October 5, 2012 in Kingsbarns, Scotland

17. Pistorius holds his scroll after receiving his honorary doctorate from Strathclyde University, Glasgow, on November 12, 2012

It was a rugby injury that put him on the path to becoming one of sport's biggest names - a serious knee injury led to running being used as part of his rehabilitation in 2004.

That summer, he took part in the Athens Paralympics and won the 200m race in record time, and came third in the T44 100m event.

South African sports fans soon affectionately started calling him Blade Runner because of his advanced prosthetic legs.

Video: Pistorius Jailed For Five Years

He enjoyed more success at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, winning gold in the 100m, 200m and 400m races.

But it was at the 2012 Olympics in London that he made his big breakthrough, becoming the first amputee runner to compete in the main event.

He made it to the semi-final of the 400m race, where he finished last with a time of 46.54 seconds.

Video: What Would Oscar Have Seen?

He also took part in the 4 x 400m relay race, and was part of the team that made it to the final. He was chosen to carry the South African flag for the closing ceremony.

His trophy cabinet contains 23 gold medals, six silvers and one bronze.

But in the wake of the judge's ruling in Pretoria, much uncertainty is now hanging over his future in sport. 

1/31

1. Gallery: Pistorius: Death, Despair And Drama

   Hooded and head down, Paralympic and Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius leaves a police station in Pretoria hours after he shot dead his model girlfriend in the bathroom of his home

2. Before Valentine's Day 2013, this is how the couple were known - handsome, glamorous and seemingly happy

3. A day after shooting Reeva, he was taken to court for a lengthy bail hearing during which he denied murdering his girlfriend. He was eventually granted conditional bail

4. Reeva's Valentine's card to Oscar was later shown in court. She had left it out for him on the night of her death, along with some pictures of the couple and one of her she'd had taken specially as a gift

5. Five days after her death, Reeva's funeral was held in her home town of Port Elizabeth

6. Reeva's family and friends comforted each other after her coffin was carried into a crematorium. After the ceremony, her brother Adam said: "There's a space missing inside all the people that she knew that can't be filled again. We will miss her."

7. Judge Thokozile Masipa presided over the trial. It should have run for three weeks, but lasted at least five months

8. Reeva's mother June Steenkamp was in court throughout proceedings, sat just feet away from the man who killed her daughter and in the same row as members of his family. Within weeks of Reeva's killing, Mrs Steenkamp said: "I don't hate Oscar. I've forgiven him. I have to, that's my religion. But I am determined to face him and reclaim my daughter."

9. Gerrie Nel, a seasoned prosecutor, is known in South African legal circles as "the pitbull". He led the prosecution against Pistorius, claiming the defence was inconsistent

10. The prosecution tried to prove the couple had problems - that Pistorius was an angry and controlling boyfriend. This email was among the evidence they used to make their point, along with a series of texts. The defence said it simply showed they were a normal couple, with normal ups and downs in their relationship

11. Barry Roux defended Pistorius. He made his presence felt at the very start of proceedings by totally dismissing a senior police officer's case, leaving the man offering an embarrassing admission that his case was weak. "I don't have any facts," said Hilton Botha. Mr Roux has since said his performance was "nothing special".

12. Sky News uncovered this CCTV image of the couple just a few days before the shooting. They were in a shop in Pretoria, kissing and laughing

13. The CCTV was among the final images taken of Reeva

14. The world gasped at pictures of the scene of the shooting obtained by Sky's Alex Crawford

15. At one point in the trial, as lawyers flicked through a series of pictures on a large screen in court, they accidentally showed a picture of Reeva's body without warning. Friends of Reeva ran from the courtroom in tears at the violent image

16. On another occasion, the prosecution taunted Pistorius, telling him to look at the image and take responsibility. Pistorius sobbed back: "As I picked Reeva up, my fingers touched her head. I don't have to look at a picture. I remember. I was there."

17. Much of the case centered on whether Pistorius was wearing his prosthetic legs at the time of the shooting. Did the bullet holes in the bathroom door prove that he was wearing them, and therefore able to move faster and with more ease? Or was he on his stumps, at a lower height and possibly feeling more threatened?

18. Sitting almost within touching distance throughout the trial, Reeva's mother and Pistorius' sister Aimee had been seen speaking to each other at times

19. The defendant retched and vomited more than once. At one point, Pistorius collapsed in the dock and his psychologist was seen trying to calm him by stroking his face

20. The trial was adjourned for a psychiatric evaluation of Pistorius. Around this time the defendant had a night out and got involved in an altercation, making headlines again

21. Following the row, Pistorius tweeted some cryptic messages. This was one

22. Lawyers went step-by-step through how Pistorius would have got out of bed in the night, walked or run down the corridor shouting at whoever was locked in the toilet, shot through the door and then, on realising it was Reeva inside, bashed down the door using a cricket bat

23. After the shooting, the door was removed from Pistorius' house and was stored in a police HQ office instead of a contamination-free zone

24. Footage emerged of Pistorius recreating the fateful night in a private attempt to make his case clear. Australia's Channel 7 got hold of the video, which described events in graphic detail, and released it while the trial was ongoing

25. Friends and family of Reeva gave various interviews to the media, talking about how the model with a law degree was also someone who cared deeply about others and wanted to help people. "She was more than just a pretty face," one said

26. The world's focus once again closed in on the court in Pretoria when the time came for Judge Thokozile Masipa to give her verdict

27. The runner's brother made it to court for the verdicts, coming out of hospital in a wheelchair. He is recovering from a head-on car crash that happened on 1 August

28. As the judge read her findings to the court on the first day of her verdict delivery, Pistorius sat in the dock and sobbed, gulping back air as he struggled not to cry out loud

29. Reeva's father Barry Steenkamp did not attend the first few weeks of the trial, but he sat through the end and closely watched the man who killed his daughter as the verdict was read out

30. He was found not guilty of premeditated murder on Thursday, 11 September 11, 2014. And the weight of the case took so long for the judge to get through that it was not until the next morning that he was told to stand to hear the verdict on culpable homicide. He stood silently, breathing deeply

31. At the end of it all, Oscar Pistorius, world-famous athlete, was found guilty of culpable homicide. A similar charge to manslaughter, it means he did shoot at someone, but the judge said he might not have known it was Reeva behind the toilet door - and she has now sentenced him to five years in prison for the killing

1/11

1. Gallery: Oscar Pistorius At Gun Range

   Sky News has obtained images of Oscar Pistorius at a shooting range, including one which shows him firing the pistol he used when he shot his girlfriend.

2. The pictures were taken months before Reeva Steenkamp's death on February 14, 2013.

3. Pistorius, who is awaiting trial, denies murdering Ms Steenkamp and says he shot her after mistaking her for a burglar.

4. In one of the pictures from the gun range, the athlete is seen firing at a water melon.

5. The fruit explodes as Pistorius hits it right in the centre. Click through for more pictures.

16.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

US Drops Weapons For Kurds Battling IS

The US has airdropped weapons and supplies for Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State (IS) in the town of Kobani in Syria.

A statement from US Central Command said Air Force C-130 planes "delivered weapons, ammunition and medical supplies that were provided by Kurdish authorities in Iraq and intended to enable continued resistance against ISIL's (IS) attempts to overtake Kobani".

Multiple airdrops were completed near the town, which is close to the border with Turkey and would be seen as a strategic coup for IS if it is captured.

Kurdish forces said they had received a "large quantity of ammunition" from the US airdrop.

Spokesman Redur Xelil told the Reuters news agency: "It will have a positive impact on the course of military operations and certainly we are still hoping for more support."

Video: Stuart Ramsay With 'Rag Tag' Army

The US statement said 135 airstrikes near Kobani - combined with continued resistance on the ground - had slowed IS advances and killed hundreds of its fighters.

"However, the security situation in Kobani remains fragile as ISIL continues to threaten the city and Kurdish forces continue to resist," the statement added.

The Kurds have been under IS assault for more than a month - and US Commander General Lloyd Austin has warned that the city could fall.

However, airdrops are likely to anger key ally Turkey, which has said it would oppose the US helping to arm Kurdish rebels.

1/11

1. Gallery: The Kurdish Refugees Of Kobani

   A Kurdish refugee woman and her child from the Syrian town of Kobani rest in front of their family tent in a camp in the southeastern town of Suruc, Turkey

2. The United States is bombing targets in Kobani to relieve the defenders of the Syrian town and give them time to organise against Islamic State militants, a senior US official said

3. A Kurdish refugee from the Syrian town of Kobani sweeps a passage in the camp

4. A child looks out of a tent

5. Kurdish people watch smoke billowing from Kobani as they gather on a hill overlooking the Syrian town of Kobani

6. A child walks through the camp in Suruc

7. A Turkish aid worker distributes food to Kurdish refugees

8. Kurdish refugees from the Syrian town of Kobani queue to get food

9. Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Kobani

10. Kurdish people shout slogans while standing upon a hill opposite the Syrian town of Kobani

11. The graves of Kurdish people killed fighting alongside People's Protection Units (YPG) against IS jihadists in Kobani

Ankara views the main Kurdish group in Syria as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an organisation that has waged a 30-year insurgency in Turkey.

The PKK is designated a terror group by the US and NATO.

Turkey has resisted pressure from the West to take a more direct role in fighting IS in Kobani.

However, in an earlier call with Barack Obama, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to "strengthen cooperation".

Video: New Video Of The Battle For Kobani

An unnamed official said that while the results of the airdrop mission were still being assessed, it appeared "the vast majority" of the 27 bundles reached the intended Kurdish fighters.

Another official suggested "you might see more" drops in the days ahead.

:: Sky's Stuart Ramsay joined the forgotten Kurds who have held off IS for more than two years with homemade weapons and armoured cars.

16.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

How Kurds The World Forgot Are Holding Off IS

By Stuart Ramsay, Chief Correspondent, in Sari Kani, Syria

Right now in Syria a desperate fight is under way against Islamic State (IS) forces that control so much of the north of the country.

In the east that fight is being carried out virtually unseen to the rest of the world by People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters, Syrian Kurds, who are doing so with almost no assistance.

They have been fighting IS for longer than any other group.

With home-made weapons and armoured cars and some old heavy guns, they fight in dusty villages, the countryside and larger towns to try and force IS back to the west of Syria.

Kurdish fighters have been retaking ground from IS militants on the border

Kobani has been surrounded for weeks by IS but there are many other towns that are under siege. From Sari Kani 100 miles or so east of Kobani the YPG have been taking back ground from IS.

They would dearly love to reach their colleagues in Kobani but, with no assistance, even they accept it will be an almost impossible mission.

Video: Travelling Through Syria

Always moving and repositioning themselves, the front line is a confused and confusing battle of attrition.

The men of the YPG and the women fighters of the Women's Protection Unit (YPJ) work together. There is no battlefield difference between the sexes. They all throw themselves into the fight. They are protecting their homeland and say to us that they can die at the front or at home, but either way they are prepared to die.

Against the odds and the better equipped IS forces, they have made ground and captured weapons. In a rear position they work on tanks captured from IS and they showed us the bodies of 20 IS jihadists they killed in a night operation.

We travelled from Iraq through Syria. The birthplace of IS is one of the most dangerous places on earth today. The YPG grip is tenuous and the vast open spaces are difficult to protect from IS incursions.

Video: Passports Reveal Turkey Link

These Syrian Kurds are hemmed in. The Turkish border lies to the north and its military considers the YPG a terrorist organisation.

To the south, east and west IS controls all the land leading to Iraq and across its border.

On the newest YPG front lines we came across a seemingly rag-tag group of fighters. But while they may look so they are in fact well trained and utterly determined.

A hill-top cemetery has become a fort. They watch across the plains and the villages that IS control. They are so close they can hear the foreign languages of the IS fighters on their walkie-talkies.

Video: Kurds Face Future Without A Home

But nobody here seems in any way frightened of IS. They laugh and joke and prepare to fight. Day in, day out.

The YPG are very canny. Their front-line positions are never static for long. Their numbers are small so they move positions and manoeuvre around the battlefield looking for signs of IS weakness. Then they attack. Both sides are doing this but one gets the sense that the Kurds are more determined.

While IS have many foreign fighters the YPG also have a small contingent. Chechens, Europeans and Americans who have decided to help fight IS.

Brian Wilson is from Ohio. A divorcee with two children, this veteran of the first Gulf War and 16 years a police sheriff in the United States decided to come here a month ago and join the fight. He was shocked that the West was doing nothing to help here.

Video: Desperate Help Needed In Kobani

"They have been holding out against DASH (IS) in this area for going on two, two and a half years," he told me on the front line.

"They are outgunned. They are brave fighters. They just need more help. If they had better technology, better weapons, they could finish IS on their own. More airstrikes would be very helpful to clear out some areas."

The YPG are fighting multiple fronts on a constant basis. Sometimes they are in cities and towns, sometimes in open countryside. But they are holding on and sometimes doing better than that.

And, as they say, they will do that to the death if necessary.

16.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lynda Bellingham: TV Actress And Presenter Dies

Actress Lynda Bellingham, best known for playing the mother in the Oxo television adverts, has died.

Bellingham died "peacefully in her husband's arms" at a London hospital, her agent said.

The 66-year-old had colon cancer and last month said she planned to end life-extending chemotherapy treatment.

The actress said she wanted to spend one last Christmas with her family after the disease had spread to her lungs and liver.

Her role as the mother in a squabbling family in the Oxo adverts made her familiar to millions in the 1980s.

Career highlights also included TV series All Creatures Great And Small, sitcom Faith In The Future, competing in Strictly Come Dancing, and starring in the stage production of Calendar Girls.

In her autobiography, the actress described her decision to end cancer treatment.

"I sat down with (husband) Michael and Professor Stebbing and announced: 'The time has come to cease and desist.

She also took to the dance floor on Strictly Come Dancing in 2009

"'I would love to make one more Christmas, if possible, but I want to stop taking chemo around November in order to pass away by the end of January'."

In another excerpt she wrote: "I don't want the boys or my husband to see me die a little sad old lady. I want to go out there as I am."

Speaking on ITV show Loose Women, where she was one of the presenters, she told viewers: "Grasp it all, don't be afraid, enjoy the bits you can and tell your family you love them while you have the chance."

The actress, pictured with husband Michael, was awarded an OBE this year

Her pre-recorded farewell appearance on the show will go out on Wednesday.

Earlier this year, Bellingham also picked up an OBE from Buckingham Palace in recognition for her 40-year career.

Her agent, Sue Latimer, issued a statement on behalf of her family: "As an actor, writer and presenter, Lynda was a consummate professional to the very end.

Bellingham with her Loose Women co-presenters

"Those of us privileged to have known her personally will miss the entertaining, life enhancing, true and honest friend that blessed our lives."

The family also thanked nurses "for their tremendous care and support".

Actor Simon Pegg was among those to pay tribute on Twitter - he appeared alongside the actress in 1990s show Faith In The Future.

"Lynda Bellingham, a gorgeous, brassy, funny, generous, talented human being. My first TV mother figure and a treasured friend," Pegg tweeted.

"So devastated to hear the news about the beautiful Lynda Bellingham," said actress and presenter Amanda Holden.

Comedian Sarah Millican posted: "So sad to hear Lynda Bellingham has died. What a great woman. Smart and spirited."

Bellingham married three times and has two sons.

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Hannah Graham Police Find Human Remains

Police have found human remains they believe could be those of British University of Virginia student Hannah Graham.

Virginia State Police Chief Tim Longo and colleagues told a news conference further forensic tests would be conducted to establish if the remains are those of the 18-year-old.

The remains were found at around noon on Saturday by volunteers searching an abandoned property to the south of Charlottesville, a college town about 100 miles southwest of Washington.

Hannah Graham was last seen on 13 September

Albemarle County's Police Chief Col Steve Sellers said: "Right now we have the discovery of human remains and a great deal of work ahead of us.

"We cannot and will not jump to any conclusions regarding today's discovery. I ask for the public's patience as we move forward and pursue what is now a new, ongoing death investigation."

Video: Graham Case 'Nowhere Near Over'

Police said a public search planned for Walnut Creek Park in Albemarle County on Sunday had been called off.

Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr, 32, has been charged with abduction with intent to defile Ms Graham, who has been missing since 13 September.

Thousands of volunteers had joined searches for the student, who was born in the UK but has lived in the US since she was five.

Virginia State Police have said Mr Matthew's arrest provided a "forensic link" to the 2009 unsolved murder of Morgan Harrington, a 20-year-old who also went missing from Charlottesville.

Video: CCTV Shows Missing Teen Running

The suspect was arrested on a Texas beach last month.

He is the last man to have been seen with Ms Graham before her disappearance.

Police believe Ms Graham met Mr Matthew at the Tempo Restaurant in Charlottesville.

Mr Matthew's father has insisted he is innocent and was probably simply trying to help Ms Graham.

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Ched Evans Rape Inquiry Will Be Fast-Tracked

A "substantive" investigation into Ched Evans' rape conviction is expected to take place "within the next few weeks", the Criminal Cases Review Commission has said.

The disgraced footballer, who continues to protest his innocence, has had his case prioritised by the body, which examines possible miscarriages of justice.

If the review goes in Evans' favour, his conviction could potentially be overturned, as the CCRC has the authority to direct cases to the Court of Appeal.

A CCRC spokesman told Sky News: "In line with our published policy on prioritisation, and in relation to the facts of the case and the issues raised in Mr Evans' application to us ... we now expect our substantive investigation to begin within the next few weeks."

"The decision to prioritise the case simply brings forward the starting point of the investigations to decide whether or not there may be grounds for us to refer the case to the court of appeal.

Video: 'Heartbreaking' If Evans Re-Signs

"It does not in any way represent a judgment by the commission as to the merits of the case or its chances of being referred."

Evans was released from jail on Friday after serving half of a five-year sentence for raping a woman.

In an interview with the Sunday Mirror shortly before he was released, he said he was "ashamed" of his actions but insisted he is innocent of rape.

The 25-year-old striker added that cheating on his girlfriend, Natasha Massey, was "unforgivable".

"It was something that should never have happened," he said.

"I cheated on my girlfriend and had sex with this girl - but it was definitely consensual."

A statement posted on Evans' website from his family and girlfriend said he would "continue the fight to clear his name".

It added: "Chedwyn Evans maintains his absolute innocence and his family, friends and many who know the true facts of the case believe that his conviction was a gross miscarriage of justice."

Katie Russell, of charity Rape Crisis, told the Sunday Mirror the player's words were insulting to his victim.

"His protestations of innocence and sympathy only for his girlfriend are insulting, harmful and hurtful - not only to his victim, but also to the countless other victims of sexual violence out there," she said.

"He has never taken a moment's responsibility for his crime nor shown any regard for the terrible impact it has had on her."

The former Sheffield United player's release has divided opinion over whether he should be allowed to return to football.

1/10

1. Gallery: Sports Stars Whose Careers Survived Criminal Convictions

   England defender Tony Adams was arrested in 1990 for crashing his car into a wall near his home whilst drunk. He served half his prison sentence and in 1999 received an MBE from Buckingham Palace.

2. American boxer Mike Tyson was convicted of raping an 18-year-old in the U.S in 1991. He was sentenced to six years in prison, but served three. He returned to the ring in 1998.

3. In 1998 ex-footballer Vinnie Jones was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage against a neighbour in 1997. He now lives in LA and works as an actor.

4. American figure skating champ Tonya Harding avoided jail for her involvement in an attack on fellow skater and rival Nancy Kerrigan in 1994. She's since followed a career in boxing.

5. Haitian-born Canadian boxer Adonis Stevenson's was released from prison in 2001 after serving four years in prison for managing prostitutes, assaults and making threats. His professional career began in 2006.

6. In 2007 Michael Vick served 21 months in prison, followed by two months in home confinement for his involvement in an illegal dog fighting ring. In 2009 he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.

7. NBA star, Dennis Rodman has been in and out of trouble and has served 45 days of community service for allegedly hitting his wife. In 2010 it was reported he owed more than $300,000 in child support.

8. Craig Thomson of the Scottish Premier League pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent behaviour with two underage girls in 2011. He remains on the sex offenders register.

9. American basketball star, Lamar Odom was arrested in 2013 on drink driving charges and put on a three-year suspended sentence. He now plays for Spanish team Laboral Kutxa

10. Footballer striker Marlon King is serving an 18-month sentence for dangerous driving. He's had several convictions and served multiple jail sentences.

Many Blades fans have called for Evans to be rehabilitated but more than 151,000 people have signed an online petition urging the Bramall Lane club to block his return.

Sheffield United Community Foundation patron Charlie Webster said if Evans re-signed for the club she would be "heartbroken" and "disappointed".

She told Sky News: "It would send out the wrong message to the next generation to watch Ched Evans score a goal and cheer him on as a hero."

Ms Webster also said it would "wrong" for her to stay in her role with the foundation if the club took him back.

On Saturday, Sheffield United dismissed reports that the club has offered a new contract to convicted rapist Ched Evans as "false and damaging".

The club's co-chairmen, Kevin McCabe and Jim Phipps, said they had not yet made a decision about whether to re-employ him.

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