India: Eighteen Dead In Mumbai Stampede

A stampede in India has left 18 people dead and nearly 50 injured.

The tragedy happened as a large crowd gathered in the city of Mumbai to pay their respects to Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, a Muslim spiritual leader who died of a heart attack on Friday.

When the gates to the 102-year-old's home in the wealthy Malabar Hill area were closed at the end of his funeral procession, chaos broke out.

The crowds surged forward and many people were crushed near the gates with no means of escaping.

Police chief Satyapal Singh said: "Organisers had closed the gates. The crowd was so huge that people started suffocating, some fainted and then people began running and falling on each other in a panic."

He said there was a lapse in crowd control due to police and organisers failing to anticipate the high turnout for the leader of the Dawoodi Bohra, a sect of Shiite Islam.

Thousands crowd around the vehicle carrying Syedna Mohammed Burhannudin

One man wearing traditional Bohra Muslim clothing told Reuters: "There were a lot of people pouring in, and there was not much attention given by the government and the police, who should have been here and who should have managed things."

TV footage showed thousands wearing white scarves and skullcaps on the streets of India's financial capital on Saturday for the procession.

Several of those who were injured were released from hospital after treatment, said a city official quoted by Reuters.

Such disasters are common in India, where hundreds have been killed in the last decade as a result of stampedes at religious festivals and public events.

They are rarer in large cities such as Mumbai, where there are greater numbers of police to monitor the crowds.

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Spying: Obama Announces NSA Reforms

Obama Contrite Over US Secrecy And Spying

Updated: 11:38pm UK, Friday 17 January 2014

By Dominic Waghorn, US Correspondent

This was a very different president to the one we saw in the immediate aftermath of Edward Snowden's first revelations.

Then, Barack Obama was dismissive and defensive. The balance between information and privacy he said was about right. "Trust us", was his message, "we're your government".

Seven months of bruising relentless revelations and he has changed his tone.

"Given the unique power of the state, it is not enough for leaders to say: 'trust us, we won't abuse the data we collect.' For history has too many examples when that trust has been breached."

This is Mr Obama the constitutional law professor, more than Mr Obama the president.

He dealt with broad principles but did not dwell on the policy detail. Far from it.

The most concrete proposals concern America's secret foreign intelligence surveillance courts.

The president wants new checks and balances. A panel of public defenders, lawyers who will champion ordinary Americans' rights. Until now intelligence agencies have been able to make their surveillance applications to judges, uncontested.

The president has issued a new directive outlining the parameters within which agencies can snoop on foreigners abroad, after the furore over spying on German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Pope and commercial businesses. It is not clear how that directive will be enforced.

And there is little detail on resolving the biggest controversy to have been ignited by Edward Snowden, the collection of all American phone records.

"I am therefore ordering a transition that will end the Section 215 bulk meta-data programme as it currently exists, and establish a mechanism that preserves the capabilities we need without the government holding this bulk meta-data."

The president does not have any suggestions for what that mechanism should be. He is going to leave it to Congress and his intelligence agencies to work that out.

There were also some omissions.

The president said little about the NSA and internet snooping programmes, like Prism. The NSA's breach of cloud computing networks operated by Google and Yahoo were not mentioned, although that revelation has infuriated internet giants.

As has the NSA's manipulation of encryption technology which some have warned could cost the US tech industry billions.

The president did not mention content. He and his spies have repeatedly denied they've been reading emails, listening to phone calls. And yet it is known NSA agents have been accessing the correspondence of lovers and love rivals in well publicised abuses.

The president seems content to leave much of the detail to Congress and his intelligence agencies. But he knows ultimately he has the most to lose from the outcome of this process. The Snowden revelations have plagued his administration for seven months and there may well be plenty more to come.

The president was keen to deal with this issue before he gives his State of the Union address, but he knows one speech will not make it go away. It is the beginning of a long process of reform.

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pope Defrocked 400 Priests Over 'Child Abuse'

The former Pope, Benedict XVI, defrocked nearly 400 priests over a two-year period for allegedly raping and molesting children, according to a leaked Vatican document.

The statistics for 2011-12 show a dramatic increase over the 171 priests removed in 2008 and 2009, when the Vatican first provided details on the number of priests who have been dismissed.

"The document shows that in two years alone, from 2011 to 2012, as 800 new cases of abuse came into the Vatican for review, the Pope actually defrocked 400 priests and the Vatican sent another 400 cases to either be tried by a Church tribunal or to be dealt with administratively," said Rome Acting Bureau Chief and Vatican Correspondent Nicole Winfield.

Before 2008, the Vatican had only publicly revealed the number of alleged cases of sexual abuse it had received.

An internal Vatican document prepared to help the Holy See defend itself before a UN committee hearing this week in Geneva compiled the statistics over the course of several years.

Analysis of the raw data cited in that document, obtained by the Associated Press news agency, confirmed the figures.

An AP review of a decade's worth of the reference books shows an evolution in the Holy See's in-house procedures to discipline paedophiles since 2001, when the Vatican ordered bishops to send cases of all credibly accused priests to Rome for review.

Before becoming pope, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger took action after determining that bishops around the world were not following church policy and putting accused clerics on trial in church tribunals.

Instead, bishops routinely moved problem priests from parish to parish rather than subject them to canonical trials - or turn them over to police.

For centuries, the church has had its own in-house procedures to deal with priests who sexually abuse children.

One of the chief accusations against the Vatican from victims is that bishops put the church's procedures ahead of civil law enforcement by suggesting that victims keep accusations quiet while they were dealt with internally.

The maximum penalty for a priest convicted by a church tribunal is essentially losing his job: being defrocked, or removed from the clerical state.

There are no jail terms and nothing to prevent an offender from raping again.

The Vatican insists nothing in its church process prevented victims from going to police.

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Labour Politician Among Afghan Bomb Victims

One of the two Britons killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul was a Labour candidate in the forthcoming European Elections.

Party leader Ed Miliband confirmed Del Singh, who was standing for the South East region, had died and said he was "appalled and shocked by this barbarous act of terror".

Mr Singh was among 21 people killed in the attack at the city's Taverna du Liban restaurant, which is popular with tourists and Westerners. A suicide bomber blew himself up outside and two gunmen entered and opened fire.

The other Briton killed has been named by Sky sources as Simon Chase, who was originally from Liverpool but living in Limavady in County Londonderry.

A total of thirteen foreigners died in the attack, including two US citizens and two Canadians. It is the deadliest attack on foreign nationals in the country since the start of the war in Afghanistan in 2001.

Mr Miliband said: "My thoughts - and the thoughts of the whole Labour Party - are with the family and friends of Del Singh who was killed in yesterday's tragic suicide bomb in Kabul.

"People everywhere will be appalled and shocked by this barbarous act of terror deliberately targeting members of the international community living and working in Kabul in the service of the Afghan people.

"Del spent over 10 years carrying out vital work on development projects in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Sudan, Sierra Leone and other countries.

"He dedicated his life to working with people across the world who needed his support."

"The death toll includes five women, four of them foreign and one from Afghanistan. Three members of staff at the United Nations also died in the blast, as did Wabel Abdallah, the head of the International Monetary Fund in the country.

An Afghan official said the gunmen were shot dead by security forces when they arrived at the restaurant. Sporadic bouts of gunfire could be heard for around an hour after the explosion.

The Taliban claimed responsibility. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the attack was launched in retaliation for an Afghan military operation earlier this week against insurgents that the fighters claimed killed civilians.

He said the bombing had delivered a "heavy admonitory blow to the enemy which they shall never forget".

Afghan president Hamid Karzai condemned the attack and said the US was doing enough to fight "terrorism".

Kebab cook Abdul Majid, who suffered leg fractures in the blast, said: "I was sitting with my friends in the kitchen when an explosion happened and smoke filled the kitchen.

"A man came inside shouting and he started shooting. One of my colleagues was shot and fell down. I ran to the roof and threw myself to the neighbouring property."

Several members of kitchen staff survived by fleeing to the roof, where they remained until they were rescued by police.

More follows...

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

India: Party's Battle Cry Without A PM Candidate

By Neville Lazarus, Asia Producer

India's ruling Congress party has decided that Rahul Gandhi will head its campaign for the forthcoming elections - but fell short of naming him as its prime ministerial candidate.

His mother Sonia Gandhi, president of the party, said the decision had been made in keeping with the tradition of the Congress party not to name a PM candidate, adding that it did not need to ape other parties

She was interrupted several times as she insisted the decision would not be reversed.

The ruling Congress party had been expected to nominate vice president Rahul Gandhi as its choice for PM but instead he will head the party's campaign for May's poll.

During Ms Gandhi's speech to supporters in Delhi, several people shouted "Rahul for PM" and at the meeting some party members applauded him.

But many believe that this is a face-saving exercise to preserve the leadership of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty as the fortunes of the Congress party are not looking good this time.  

The party's president Sonia Gandhi

The mood in the country has changed against the Congress-led government.

In state elections that took place last month, the party suffered in four of the significant North Indian states.

And in Delhi, the 15-year-old Congress government was decimated by the Aam Adami Party, or the Common Man's party, which was formed just a year ago.

The government is reeling under economic slowdown. Growth has come down from double digits to just over 5% and inflation and unemployment are on the rise. Many believe there is a policy paralysis within the government.

But what plagues the government most is the enormous corruption scandals that have been revealed on an almost weekly basis.

The controversy has even tainted the high echelons of the squeaky clean Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who is retiring after two terms in office.

Though he has not been accused of corruption directly, his critics say he heads a government which is entrenched in corruption.

Many senior leaders of the party have clamoured for Rahul Gandhi to be made the candidate on the grounds that it will enthuse the workers.

Narendra Modi is the PM candidate for the Bharatiya Janata Party

But he has been reluctant to take on the responsibility, saying "power is poison" and instead has concentrated on strengthening the party.

There has also been opposition within the Congress party to Mr Gandhi being the PM candidate because the party's chances are not bright and a debut failure could further dim the chances of his leadership.

He would be held responsible for the loss and that may dent his claims when the next elections come.

He is pitted against the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee Narendra Modi, who has won four successive terms as chief minister of the northwestern state of Gujarat.

Mr Modi, a firebrand, is seen by many as a polarising figure in Indian politics.

Under his watch, communal riots took place in Gujarat in 2002 where an estimated 1,500 people were killed and thousands left homeless in a week-long pogrom carried out by the majority Hindu community against Muslims.

Mr Modi is alleged to have turned a blind eye to the clashes for political reasons.

The-then BJP prime minister Atal Bihari Bajpai had chided the chief minister and asked him to follow "Raj Dharam" or ethics of governance and make no difference between people of different religion, caste or creed.

Though he has been cleared by a special investigation team established by the Supreme Court of India, many believe Mr Modi is tainted and much of the evidence in the investigations against him was suppressed.

The order has been challenged.

Mr Gandhi,43, has been an MP for the last 10 years. His great-grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, was the first prime minister of India after British rule ended in 1947.

Grandmother Indira Gandhi was one of the longest-serving prime ministers, his father Rajiv Gandhi took over after her assassination by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984. Rajiv himself was assassinated in 1991.

Italian-born Sonia Gandhi has been the president of Congress for the past 16 years. When the party won in 2004 she was offered the role of prime minister but instead handed to role to Dr Singh.

He stayed on in its second term in 2009. But many believe Sonia was the real power as the head of the Congress party and has remained unchallenged.

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Spying: Obama To Set Out NSA Reforms

President Barack Obama is expected to announce some curbs to US spying operations in a major speech in response to months of revelations by whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The leaks by Snowden, a former security contractor, have shown that surveillance activities by the National Security Agency are far more extensive than previously thought.

They have outraged human rights groups, who say the right to privacy of citizens has been violated, and soured relations with US allies whose leaders have been allegedly spied on, such as Germany.

Critics of US spying programmes have rallied in support of Snowden

US officials insist spying operations are an essential tool in the fight against terrorists, but the president has ordered a review of the programmes in the wake of the leaks.

In his speech, Mr Obama is expected to lay out plans to impose some limits on government surveillance and increase oversight of spying programmes, in an effort to restore confidence in the NSA.

The president will call for ending the government's control of phone data from millions of Americans, reports said. He will likely propose a transitional period and call on Congress to help determine subsequent changes.

He will have to strike a delicate balance between the competing needs of ensuring national security while safeguarding the privacy of American citizens.

In the latest revelations to stem from Snowden's leaked documents, The Guardian reported today that the NSA has been gathering nearly 200 million text messages a day from around the world.

People demonstrate in Washington against NSA surveillance tactics

That includes data on people's travel plans, contacts and credit card transactions.

Code-named Dishfire the NSA programme collects "pretty much everything it can", The Guardian said.

The newspaper said the documents also showed that the British spy agency GCHQ had used the NSA database to search the metadata of "untargeted and unwarranted" communications of people in the UK.

Snowden had already leaked secrets about mass collection of telephone data and other covert eavesdropping programmes before fleeing to Hong Kong and then to Moscow.

Russia has granted him temporary asylum. The US wants him back on charges that include espionage.

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Texas Rhino Hunter Receives Death Threats

A Texas man who won an auction to hunt an endangered black rhino in Namibia has said he has received death threats from animal lovers.

Corey Knowlton paid $350,000 (£212,000) for a permit which was auctioned by the Dallas Safari Club to raise money to protect and conserve the species.

Mr Knowlton has said he has had to hire full-time security due to death threats, after his name was posted on Facebook and picked up on by several websites.

An endangered east African black rhino

The FBI earlier this week said it was investigating death threats against members of the club.

"They're wanting to kill me, they're wanting to kill my children, they're wanting to skin us alive," he told television station KTVT.

According to Mr Knowlton's Facebook page, he leads international hunting trips for a Virginia-based company, The Hunting Consortium, and describes himself as a "hunter/conservationist".

He argued that those criticising him had failed to understand that the idea behind the hunt was to target an old, non-breeding male rhino because it was becoming aggressive and threatening other wildlife.

"We're just not going in there and saying 'hey we're on a rhino hunt and, here, have a beer we're going to find a rhino," he told Dallas television station WFAA.

"No, it is a scientific process and we're going to make sure we get the ones that are causing the most problems."

An estimated 4,000 black rhinos remain in the wild and tens of thousands of people have signed online petitions against the auction.

Animal rights groups condemned the "perverse" claims that the hunt was really about conservation.

"This auction is telling the world that an American will pay anything to kill their species," Jeffrey Flocken, North American regional director of the Massachusetts-based IFAW, said.

"This is, in fact, making a spectacle of killing an endangered species."

Experts say that growing demand for rhino horn in Asia is driving up cases of poaching.

In countries like China and Vietnam, there is a belief that powdered rhino horn has medicinal powers and can impact diseases like cancer. Horns can sell for around $65,000 a kilogram.

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Japan's Hidden WWII Jungle Soldier Onoda Dies

A Japanese soldier who hid in the jungle for three decades, refusing to believe World War Two was over, has died in Tokyo at the age of 91.

The soldier, centre, leaves the jungle nearly 30 years after the war ended

Hiroo Onoda only came out of the Philippines jungle to surrender when his former commander returned in 1974 and persuaded him to give up, bringing his one-man war to an end.

Leaflet drops and other efforts to convince him the Japanese army had been defeated had failed.

Trained as an information officer and guerrilla tactics coach, Onoda was sent to Lubang island in 1944 and ordered never to surrender, never to resort to suicidal attacks and to hold firm until reinforcements arrived.

He and three other soldiers continued to obey that order long after Japan's 1945 defeat.

Onoda surrenders his sword to the Philippines' President Marcos

In 1972, Onoda and the other surviving soldier were involved in a shoot-out with Philippine troops. His comrade died, but Onoda managed to escape.

The incident shocked Japan, which took his family members to Lubang in the hope of persuading him that hostilities were over.

But he refused to quit, saying later that he had believed attempts to coax him out were the work of a puppet regime installed in Tokyo by the US.

Onoda, believing WWII was raging on, focused on 'carrying out my orders'

Asked at a news conference in Japan after his 1974 return what he had been thinking about for the previous 30 years, he told reporters: "Carrying out my orders."

The Japan that Onoda returned to was very changed - gone from a strong militarist government that believed in its divine right to rule the region to an economy in the grip of a recession.

Japan was by then also avowedly pacifist.

Onoda had difficultly adapting to the new reality and, in 1975, emigrated to Brazil to start a cattle ranch, although he continued to travel back and forth.

"I don't consider those 30 years a waste of time," he said in an interview in  1995.

"Without that experience, I wouldn't have my life today."

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hollande: Like The Others But Without Charisma

The whole thing is very French - the Actress and Le President. What's more, it is the one thing the French refuse to get angry about.

They'll bring Paris to a standstill over proposed changes to taxi laws - as happened on Monday - but it would be positively English to take issue with a two-timing head of state.

"It's private," is the most common response from Parisiennes asked about their President's alleged affair. The only question they seem to have is whether French taxpayers should be funding the lifestyle of the First Lady, Valerie Trierweiler, if she is no longer the President's girlfriend.

Francois Hollande must clarify, almost as if it were a cabinet decision, whether the First Lady will be reshuffled out, mid-term.

There is one other issue, however, which plays into Mr Hollande's general character. "He is as a man who can't commit," one Parisienne woman commented. "It's not good to be indecisive, if you are a President."

The calm before the storm: Mr Hollande with Valerie Trierweiler last week

Mr Hollande never married his first long-term girlfriend, the politician Segolene Royal - herself a former presidential runner - with whom he had four children.

Despite moving Valerie Trierweiler into the Elysee palace there's been no suggestion of marriage since they got together in 2007.

While he spent Christmas with the First Lady and her family, under the cover of a moped helmet he was also allegedly sneaking one street away from the Elysee Palace to the appropriately named Rue du Cirque (Circus Road) for flings with French actress Julie Gayet.

"If he can't decide on his girlfriend, how can he make a decision on the economy?" ask his opponents. "And if the First Lady can't trust him can we?"

Up until now he has managed to convey a straight-laced image; a man who may have been failing to re-energise the French economy but his one endearing quality was his workmanlike approach to the job.

How the Italian newspapers covered the Hollande saga

So if it turns out he's just like all the others, but without the charisma, what's left to like?

Political analyst Dominique Moisi said: "The fact is that this is the most unpopular president in the history of the Fifth Republic. He wanted to impress the French with the fact that he was a normal man, that he was a man of dignity, simplicity and moral rigour. And suddenly the French are discovering that he is like others, but in a less glorious manner, and really a more ridiculous manner.

"A president who has to hide under a helmet, driving with a bodyguard on a scooter to see his alleged mistress."

A sex scandal is the last thing France's president needs.

It has opened him to ridicule as well as dislike, and from now on he will forever be portrayed by cartoonists as a man wearing a helmet - with all the negative connotations that evokes.

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

02.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

CAR Violence: Harrowing Stories From Conflict

By Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent

The most senior Muslim leader in the Central African Republic is to travel to Britain in a few days' time to appeal for help from Prime Minister David Cameron as religious attacks raged on in the poverty-stricken country.

The attacks have continued unabated despite last Friday's sudden resignation of the country's first Muslim president, Michel Djotodia.

Sky News accompanied Imam Oumar Kobine Layama as he visited Muslim neighbourhoods in the capital Bangui surrounded by armed guards, and saw hundreds of families cowering in fear in deserted schools and mosques.

"We are forgotten by the French troops," one young man shouted at us.

Another told us: "This is genocide, a big genocide.

"We have Christians living with us and we protect the Christians, but if a Muslim walks downtown then he will be killed."

Tears fell down the cheeks of a 50-year-old Muslim woman as she told us how she witnessed her husband and her son being slaughtered by the Christian anti-balaka militia.

These Christian men were filmed cutting pages of what looked like the Koran

Since the attack a month ago, she has been sheltering  with her two younger sons in the courtyard of a school along with about 40 other families.

They are desperate conditions and the fear is palpable.

Adam Ahamat shook violently as he told us how he witnessed Christian gangs burning his wife and two babies alive.

He said: "They locked the door of our home and then torched it.

"I've lost my life, I don't know what to do."

Mr Ahamat is still recovering from a machete attack on him as he tried to save his family.

He has slash wounds, but it is the emotional scars which will take a lot longer to heal.

But the Christians are suffering too.

More than a million Central Africans - both Muslims and Christians - are now living crowded in multiple camps and separated largely on religious lines, surviving in deplorable conditions where disease is now thriving.

Adam Ahamat said his wife and two babies were burned alive

A Christian woman said: "These are terrible conditions. We're abandoned here and we're still being threatened by the Muslim Seleka bandits."

We see several mosques which have been destroyed in the orgy of violence and vandalism which led up to the resignation of Mr Djotodia.

A group of Christian youths carrying machetes tell us proudly they took part in the destruction of the Muslim holy place we are looking at.

There are loose pages of what looks like the Koran still laying on the ground, and the youths pick them up and slice them with their machetes.

"It's the end of Muslims in this country," a young man said.

"Can you live in peace again?" I ask one of the machete-wielding men.

"Yes," he says. "We have lived side-by-side for decades but we need some help from  outside, I don't see anyone in the Central African Republic can sort it on their own."

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

02.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

Egypt: Voting Begins On New Constitution

Voting on Egypt's new constitution is under way, the first ballot since the military ousted President Mohamed Morsi last year.

A yes vote is expected and the result could encourage a bid for the presidency by the head of the army, General Abdel Fattah al Sisi.

Tensions in the country are high as people go to the polls. Thousands of soldiers have been deployed to guard polling stations.

Hospital officials quoted by the AFP news agency said a man was killed in clashes between Islamists and civilian opponents in the central province of Beni Sweif.

A bomb exploded outside a court in Cairo less than two hours before polling stations opened. A police general cited by AFP said it caused little damage and no injuries.

Gen Sisi forced Mr Morsi, Egypt's first freely-elected leader, from office in July following mass protests involving millions of people.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of the Coptic Church, after casting his vote

Islamist opponents view Gen Sisi as the man who caused violence and bloodshed unprecedented in the nation's modern history. At least 1,000 people, mostly Islamists, have been killed in clashes, with thousands imprisoned.

Supporters of Mr Morsi have called for a boycott of the poll, which is set to last for two days. They have been on the end of a brutal crackdown since the coup. 

Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement was declared a terrorist organisation in December. He is currently on trial over the deaths of protesters when he was in power and his escape from prison during the 2011 uprising that got rid of former president Hosni Mubarak.

Backers of the interim government argue the referendum is the first of several votes which will restore elected rule by the end of the year.

In a speech on Sunday, Interim President Adly Mansour urged Egyptians to cast their ballots. He said: "I call on you to live up to the responsibility you owe to your nation and to ensure a better future for this country to go to your polling station and vote."

The capital Cairo has been filled with banners urging Egyptians to vote yes, with many featuring military motifs such as a general's hat, a reference to Gen Sisi.

The aftermath of a bomb which exploded in Cairo on polling day

Rights lawyer Ragia Omran told AFP at least seven activists have been detained in the last week for distributing posters or leaflets critical of the new constitution. Most were released after a few days.

The new draft of the constitution has removed a lot of the Islamist-inspired wording of Mr Morsi's constitution. This was suspended when he was removed from power.

Supporters claim it expands women's rights and freedom of speech.

The powers of the military have been boosted. If passed, the army would have the right to appoint the defence minister for the next eight years and prosecute civilians for attacks on the armed forces.

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

02.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

Francois Hollande Faces Media Over Affair Claims

Francois Hollande has admitted that he is going through a "painful time" in his personal life as he faces allegations of an affair with a French actress.

The French president was speaking for the first time since the publication of tabloid photographs in a French gossip magazine said to show him spending a night with Julie Gayet.

Mr Hollande declined an opportunity to confirm whether his partner Valerie Trierweiler was still the first lady of France, when asked directly by a journalist.

He said: "Each of us on our personal lives can go through difficult periods and that's our case... this is a painful time.

"But private matters should be dealt with privately and this is neither the time nor the place to do so."

He said that he would clarify the situation before a visit to the US in February. 

Mr Hollande spoke for around an hour before addressing the affair claims

Following controversy about the cost to the public purse of the first lady, he said that state funds spent on the role should be made public and "as small as possible."

The first lady doesn't have formal status in France, but in practice they have an office in the presidential palace and small staff.

The president said he was "totally indignant" about the story in Closer magazine, which he said threatened France's principle of "respect for private life and people's dignity".

Ms Trierweiler was taken to hospital in a state of shock over the claims but she is reportedly prepared to forgive Mr Hollande.

The president said she was "resting" but would not give any more information on her condition.

The issue earlier reached the floor of the French parliament as a leading figure from the opposition UMP party accused the president of taking unreasonable risks with his security.

Valerie Trierweiler has been in hospital since the affair claims emerged

Christian Jacob said: "The president is not a normal citizen during his term. He is the chief of our armies. He is the keystone of our institutions. His protection should not suffer from any amateurism.

"The president should be aware of the level of responsibility that he exercises, be aware that his role is greater than his person, and be aware that he incarnates the image of France in the eyes of the world."

Asked whether his security was compromised, Hollande said, "My security is assured everywhere, and at any moment. When I travel officially ... and when I travel on a private basis, I have protection that is less suffocating. But I am protected everywhere."

He left open the possibility of suing Closer for the publication.

Photographer Sebastian Valiela said he was surprised at the lack of security for Hollande, whose government has been repeatedly threatened by al Qaeda.

"To go to the rendezvous with Julie Gayet, he was taking some risks," he told RTL. "As soon as he got into the apartment, his guards left."

Mr Hollande allegedly had secret meetings with actress Julie Gayet

The president was holding an annual New Year's news conference with journalists in Paris to discuss the economy and plans to offer French businesses tax cuts aimed at reducing unemployment.

He decided not to tackle the affair claims head-on, proceeding instead with the launch of measures, including cuts of £42bn (€50bn) over three years to public spending designed to kick-start the country's economy.

He announced the phasing out of employer family welfare charges for businesses and self-employed workers by 2017 as part of a plan to make France produce "more and better".

Laying out his economic "responsibility pact," he said companies would be expected in return to commit to targets for job creation and training, to be negotiated with trade unions and the government.

Mr Hollande said the public spending cuts over the years 2015-17 would be equal to 4% of overall public spending.

The Socialist president came to office in 2012 on pledges to avoid the painful austerity measures endured by other EU countries, but his poll ratings have plunged as the economy has failed to bounce back.

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

02.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

South Sudan Ferry Accident Kills Up To 300

Up to 300 civilians have drowned during a ferry accident as they fled fighting in South Sudan.

Women and children are among the dead after the incident on Tuesday, the African state's army confirmed.

Some 400,000 civilians have fled their homes over the past month amid fighting between South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar.

Tuesday's accident unfolded on the White Nile river as the civilians tried to escape battles in Malakal.

The tragedy occurred as people fled battles in Malakal on Tuesday

Army spokesman Philip Aguer told AFP: "The reports we have are of between 200 to 300 people, including women and children.

"The boat was overloaded. They all drowned. They were fleeing the fighting that broke out again in Malakal."

Battles raged in several sites in South Sudan on Tuesday, including Malakal, the state capital of the oil-producing Upper Nile state.

Rebel forces staged a fresh attack to seize the town, which has already changed hands twice since the conflict began on December 15.

Some 400,000 have fled their homes since fighting began in December

A United Nations peacekeeping base has been swamped by people seeking shelter, with numbers rising from 10,000 to 19,000.

Meanwhile, the army reported heavy fighting south of Bor as the government sought to retake the town from rebels, the largest in their control.

"We are marching on Bor, there was very heavy fighting late on Monday," Mr Aguer added.

Mr Aguer rejected rebel claims that they have captured the river port of Mongalla, situated between Bor and the capital Juba.

"We are north of Mongalla, we remain in full control there," he said.

Mr Aguer also confirmed fighting south of the capital, around the town of Rajaf, on Monday.

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

China: High-Speed Rail Network To Be Doubled

By Mark Stone, China Correspondent, in Beijing

China has announced it will spend £60bn this year in an effort to almost double the size of its high-speed rail network.

The investment forms part of a project which represents the largest and fastest rail expansion programme in the world.

Since 2008, and in the time Britain has taken only to debate the merits of one line - HS2 - which would be just over 100 miles long, China has built 6,000 miles of track, much of it elevated, and invested in 1,000 high-speed trains.

The network is currently almost double the combined length of Europe and Japan's railway networks.

The programme, the government says, forms a key part of the country's drive to modernise, urbanise and pull the Chinese people out of poverty.

Sky News took a ride on the 10am from Shanghai to Beijing. Bang on time, the shiny new bullet train pulled out of the city's Hongqiao station.

The train, 16 carriages long, has three classes: standard, first and business, which resembles the interior of an aeroplane.

China has built 6,000 miles of track since 2008

Sitting in a fully reclining airline-style seat is businessman Paul Zhou.

He said: "Our country is building an entire high-speed rail system and it has made our travel easier.

"It has shortened the journey between cities. It helps a lot on our work and life.

"On the airlines, there are always delays. They are very unreliable.

"I used to travel by plane, but now I almost always use our high-speed trains to go everywhere. They are comfortable, environmentally friendly, and always on time."

Out of the window the Chinese countryside is a blur as the train reaches its cruising speed of 190mph.

China now boasts the world's fastest conventional train. The CRH380A, manufactured by the Qingdao Sifang Company, has a top speed of 237mph, but in test runs it reached 302mph.

The trains run on a network of new lines, many of which are elevated. Together they knit together more than 100 cities across the country.

The country has the world's fastest train with a top speed of 237mph

Each of the cities has a vast new station. Most look more like airport terminals and they are packed - proof that this railway revolution has got China moving.

Another passenger, Zhao Changhua, is an office worker from the city of Jinan. She has just started commuting to Shanghai for work - a distance of 535 miles, but a journey time of just four hours.

She told Sky News: "It's very comfortable. It's convenient and fast. I'm very proud of it.

"It's the result of the fast development of our country's technology. It has given great benefits to our lives.

"This is my second time on a high-speed train, I think it's much easier than taking a plane.

"Airports are far away from the city centre while train stations are closer. So I choose high-speed trains."

The journey from Shanghai, west, then north, to Beijing is 800 miles - the length of the UK. It is completed in four hours, 48 minutes.

In second class, it costs the equivalent of £55, in first it is just under £100 and in business it costs £175.

Outside we see glimpses of rural China carved up by the new lines, but we also spot new cities springing up. It is evidence that the new rail network is stimulating the local economy at every stop.

Designer Roland Boal says the China network is a huge opportunity

Of all the passengers we spoke to, none had a bad word about the service. Most hoped that China could help the UK with its high-speed train development.

Mr Zhou said: "I hope the British government will use Chinese technology, let China help you to build your high-speed railway."

What none of the passengers realise is that the train they are on is actually designed, in part, with the help of a UK firm.

Priestmangoode is a design consultancy based in the UK but with a growing footprint in China. The company has combined the UK's flair for quality design with China's willingness to pay for it.

Roland Boal, head of Priestmangoode's China division, explained that China's "can do" attitude and seemingly bottomless pockets are a huge opportunity.

He told Sky News: "There is a hunger for new and exciting things. China is moving really fast and moving forward.

"There is a certain sense of excitement among people here and I think they want products that reflect that, whether it's a train or a plane.

"If it's a high-speed train, then make it look really fast. Not pared back; make it look fast.

"Western companies need to pay a lot more attention to what's happening here.

The country's high speed network runs on elevated lines

"I get very upset when I hear things like 'of course it broke, it was made in China' or 'I don't buy that company's products because they're made in China'. I think there is such an out-of-date attitude towards the obvious capability of manufacturing in China."

This railway revolution is not without significant controversy, though.

In 2011, two high-speed trains collided. Forty people were killed and 172 others injured.

Had the trains been travelling at full speed, the number of dead would have been significantly higher.

A signalling failure was blamed; the whole project was questioned and almost cancelled.

A further controversy stems from the fact that the technology behind the network is not Chinese.

In the early stages of the project, China bought high-speed train sets and technology from Canada's Bombardier, Japan's Kawasaki, Germany's Siemens and France's Alstom.

Chinese engineers then combined these technologies and produced their own trains.

Corruption has also plagued the project. In July last year, the country's railways minister, Liu Zhijun, was jailed for corruption, bribery and abuse of power. His demise brought the financial cost into focus.

At the last count, the existing project had cost £24bn through Chinese government loans, according to figures published in the Chinese state media.

The government hopes to recoup some of those costs by selling its success abroad.

China is in talks with countries including Romania, Georgia, Thailand, Burma and several in South America.

There is also a desire to help the US and the UK with their own projects.

The Chinese government, which runs the network through its Ministry of Transportation, declined our request for an interview for this report and refused Sky News all official access to their trains and stations. No reason was given.

The report was compiled without their agreement.

However, speaking to the Chinese media, and addressing the safety concerns, Deng Xiaojun, deputy chief engineer of Qingdao Sifang, one of the state-owned locomotive manufacturers, said that the trains are designed according to international standards and in some areas even stricter.

He told China's Xinhua news agency: "We have a rounded mechanism to ensure the train's safety operation."

Back on the train, and on time - almost to the second - the 10am from Shanghai pulls into Beijing South station. 

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Egypt: Voting Begins On New Constitution

Voting on Egypt's new constitution is under way, the first ballot since the military ousted President Mohamed Morsi last year.

A yes vote is expected and the result could encourage a bid for the presidency by the head of the army, General Abdel Fattah al Sisi.

Tensions in the country are high as people go to the polls. Thousands of soldiers have been deployed to guard polling stations.

Hospital officials quoted by the AFP news agency said a man was killed in clashes between Islamists and civilian opponents in the central province of Beni Sweif.

A bomb exploded outside a court in Cairo less than two hours before polling stations opened. A police general cited by AFP said it caused little damage and no injuries.

Gen Sisi forced Mr Morsi, Egypt's first freely-elected leader, from office in July following mass protests involving millions of people.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of the Coptic Church, after casting his vote

Islamist opponents view Gen Sisi as the man who caused violence and bloodshed unprecedented in the nation's modern history. At least 1,000 people, mostly Islamists, have been killed in clashes, with thousands imprisoned.

Supporters of Mr Morsi have called for a boycott of the poll, which is set to last for two days. They have been on the end of a brutal crackdown since the coup. 

Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement was declared a terrorist organisation in December. He is currently on trial over the deaths of protesters when he was in power and his escape from prison during the 2011 uprising that got rid of former president Hosni Mubarak.

Backers of the interim government argue the referendum is the first of several votes which will restore elected rule by the end of the year.

In a speech on Sunday, Interim President Adly Mansour urged Egyptians to cast their ballots. He said: "I call on you to live up to the responsibility you owe to your nation and to ensure a better future for this country to go to your polling station and vote."

The capital Cairo has been filled with banners urging Egyptians to vote yes, with many featuring military motifs such as a general's hat, a reference to Gen Sisi.

The aftermath of a bomb which exploded in Cairo on polling day

Rights lawyer Ragia Omran told AFP at least seven activists have been detained in the last week for distributing posters or leaflets critical of the new constitution. Most were released after a few days.

The new draft of the constitution has removed a lot of the Islamist-inspired wording of Mr Morsi's constitution. This was suspended when he was removed from power.

Supporters claim it expands women's rights and freedom of speech.

The powers of the military have been boosted. If passed, the army would have the right to appoint the defence minister for the next eight years and prosecute civilians for attacks on the armed forces.

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

CAR Violence: Harrowing Stories From Conflict

By Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent

The most senior Muslim leader in the Central African Republic is to travel to Britain in a few days' time to appeal for help from Prime Minister David Cameron as religious attacks raged on in the poverty-stricken country.

The attacks have continued unabated despite last Friday's sudden resignation of the country's first Muslim president, Michel Djotodia.

Sky News accompanied Imam Oumar Kobine Layama as he visited Muslim neighbourhoods in the capital Bangui surrounded by armed guards, and saw hundreds of families cowering in fear in deserted schools and mosques.

"We are forgotten by the French troops," one young man shouted at us.

Another told us: "This is genocide, a big genocide.

"We have Christians living with us and we protect the Christians, but if a Muslim walks downtown then he will be killed."

Tears fell down the cheeks of a 50-year-old Muslim woman as she told us how she witnessed her husband and her son being slaughtered by the Christian anti-balaka militia.

These Christian men were filmed cutting pages of what looked like the Koran

Since the attack a month ago, she has been sheltering  with her two younger sons in the courtyard of a school along with about 40 other families.

They are desperate conditions and the fear is palpable.

Adam Ahamat shook violently as he told us how he witnessed Christian gangs burning his wife and two babies alive.

He said: "They locked the door of our home and then torched it.

"I've lost my life, I don't know what to do."

Mr Ahamat is still recovering from a machete attack on him as he tried to save his family.

He has slash wounds, but it is the emotional scars which will take a lot longer to heal.

But the Christians are suffering too.

More than a million Central Africans - both Muslims and Christians - are now living crowded in multiple camps and separated largely on religious lines, surviving in deplorable conditions where disease is now thriving.

Adam Ahamat said his wife and two babies were burned alive

A Christian woman said: "These are terrible conditions. We're abandoned here and we're still being threatened by the Muslim Seleka bandits."

We see several mosques which have been destroyed in the orgy of violence and vandalism which led up to the resignation of Mr Djotodia.

A group of Christian youths carrying machetes tell us proudly they took part in the destruction of the Muslim holy place we are looking at.

There are loose pages of what looks like the Koran still laying on the ground, and the youths pick them up and slice them with their machetes.

"It's the end of Muslims in this country," a young man said.

"Can you live in peace again?" I ask one of the machete-wielding men.

"Yes," he says. "We have lived side-by-side for decades but we need some help from  outside, I don't see anyone in the Central African Republic can sort it on their own."

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mexico Vigilantes Seize Town From Drug Cartel

Hundreds of heavily armed vigilantes have seized a key stronghold of a Mexican drug cartel.

Fierce gunfire erupted as members of the so-called self-defence group, riding in more than 100 pickup trucks, entered the western town of Nueva Italia, in Michoacan state, disarmed local police and surrounded the city hall.

At least two vigilantes were wounded in the ensuing battle with presumed members of the Knights Templar cartel.

Jaime Ortiz, a 47-year-old farmer and vigilante leader said: "They shot at us from two locations and the clash lasted around an hour-and-a-half."

Both federal police and soldiers were reported to have been present in the town during the clashes, but did not intervene.

Authorities later reported finding the bodies of two men hanging from a bridge on a highway leading to the town.

It was not immediately clear whether the killings were related to the vigilantes' advance, although Mexican cartels are known to have carried out a number of hangings.

The vigilantes have now surrounded the farming hub of Apatzingan, considered to be the Knights Templar's main stronghold, and are expected to advance in the coming days.

The self-defence group, which first emerged over a year ago, has grown in strength in recent months, taking control of several communities in Michoacan state in an effort to regain territory from the Knights Templar.

Members say they were motivated by the local police's inability or unwillingness to end drug-related crime including murder, kidnappings and extortion rackets.

In May, President Enrique Pena Nieto announced he was sending thousands of federal police officers and soldiers to the state to quell violence, although little success has been reported so far.

Michoacan State Governor Fausto Vallejo has formally asked the government for more assistance to deal with drug-related crime.

He said new "co-ordinated actions" with the federal government were to be announced on Monday.

The federal government has classified self-defence units as illegal, with many members carrying high-calibre weapons only permitted for military use.

It is, however, yet to take any action against them.

Critics of the vigilante group suggest it could be backed by a rival drug cartel – something the group fiercely denies.

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Polar Vortex II Set To Strike US This Week

America is set to be hit by another blast from the polar vortex - although temperatures are likely to be warmer than last week's extreme conditions.

The polar plunge is expected to move south from Canada, bringing colder air and sub-zero temperatures to the US this week.

Forecasters say it will sweep over the lower Mississippi Valley and Midwest on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then hit the East on Thursday.

The main thrust of the cold air will follow up a couple of days later.

More sub-zero temperatures are set to hit the US. Pic: AccuWeather.com

However, the conditions will be far less challenging than last week's record-breaking polar air blast which affected more than half the US population.

"Following the retreat of Arctic air this weekend, waves of progressively colder air will move southward over Canada this week," said Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather.com's lead long-range forecaster.

"We will likely see a piece of the polar vortex break off and set up just north of the Great Lakes spanning January 16 to 20.

"This next main arctic blast will not rival, nor will be as extensive as the event last week."

Many areas are still recovering from last week's polar vortex, which saw the mercury plunge to -12C (11F) in New York City and -24C in Chicago.

The Niagara Falls froze during last week's polar vortex

Ice has blocked the Delaware River in New Jersey, forcing roads to close and causing a severe flood risk.

Water has built up behind the ice dam, and emergency services fear when temperatures rise it could devastate the area.

"If in fact the ice jam breaks then we'll have a rush of water which could cause flash flooding," said Qareeb Bashir, from Trenton Emergency Management.

A Coast Guard cutter was brought in to keep shipping lanes open, but the ice was too thick to break in places.

A 65ft-long cutter breaks up ice on the Delaware River

Residents have flocked to the river banks to take pictures of the polar conditions.

Rick Wilson, from Yardley, Pennsylvania, told an ABC TV station: "Incredible. I came down here just to take pictures of this. My grandchildren would not believe this. This looks like something you'd find in Antarctica."

Sky News weather producer Jo Robinson said: "After a milder spell, plunges of cold air are expected later in the week.

"The first is expected across parts of Canada, the Midwest and eastern parts of the US over the next few days.

"More significant cold air will affect those areas by the weekend, but thankfully it doesn't look to be as cold as last week."

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ariel Sharon Remembered As 'Military Legend'

'Bulldozer' Sharon Ruthless But Courageous

Updated: 1:54pm UK, Saturday 11 January 2014

By Sam Kiley, Middle East Correspondent

In October 1953, Israeli paratroops and commandos from the Jewish State's first special forces unit, attacked the Arab village of Qibya, on the West Bank.

Some 69 villagers, many of them women and children, were killed. International condemnation followed.

But the raid did nothing to slow down the rise of the then leader of the SF - Unit 101 - Ariel Sharon.

He went on to personify all that Israel stood for - not among moderates but among those who most hated Israel, and among many who most loved it.

Many in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan and beyond will celebrate the final passing of Mr Sharon.

His cunning, tactical finesse, brutality and uncompromising belief in the secular Zionist cause, meant he usually won battles and sometimes wars, against those who would annihilate Israel.

He will be mourned as one of the leading lights of Israeli statesmanship who began fighting for the nation before it existed, who shattered the Egyptians in the Sinai in 1967, and saved Israel from defeat in 1973.

But for one man Mr Sharon's death is a particular blow.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the current Israeli Prime Minister, will now inevitably face comparisons with Mr Sharon, and be found significantly wanting.

Mr Sharon was brave. He was ruthless. He may even have been murderous. But he also had political courage.

As prime minister of Israel from 2004-2005, he ordered the withdrawal of illegal Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip.

He had been the champion of the settlements as both a Zionist enterprise and a tactical necessity.

But to advance peace with the Palestinians he turned on his own.

Some of his confidantes even believe that when he split with the Likud party to form Kadima, shortly before his stroke eight years ago, he had been planning to pull Israeli troops out of the West Bank too. 

Such dramatic moves could only be contemplated by a man who had impeccable hardcore credentials among Israel's right.

He had the medals, and he had earned international opprobrium in defence of Israel.

As defence minister he brought disgrace on the Jewish State after the massacre of Palestinians by Lebanese Christians allied with Israel at the Sabra and Shatila camps in 1982.

An Israeli government investigation found him personally responsible for the atrocity.

In September 2000, he ignited the al Aqsa Intifada by provocatively exercising his 'right' to enter the al Aqsa Mosque complex in a move which sparked immediate bloodletting.

Yet after all this hard-headed belligerence, Mr Sharon recognised that Israel could not survive indefinitely in a regional sea of hatred.

His plans to end the most poisonous aspect of Israel's relationship with her Arab neighbours, the occupation of Palestinian lands, were cut short when he suffered a stroke.

His political heir, Mr Netanyahu, was an officer for a while in Sarayet Metkal, Israel's special force founded by Mr Sharon.

He has led the Likud party and been prime minister for longer than the man they called "the bulldozer".

But his critics fear he does not have Mr Sharon's military credibility, popularity, nor the political backbone or the personal dash that Israel so badly now needs.

This will be the year in which Bibi gets the chance to prove that he is Mr Sharon's political son, not his shadow.

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Central African Republic: 'Anarchy Is Over'

The "anarchy" in the Central African Republic between rival Christian and Muslim groups is over, the country's interim president has said.

Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet said during a speech at police headquarters: "To the ex-Seleka, to the anti-balaka and the lovers of looting, I'm giving you a severe warning: The party is over."

The Seleka rebels, who are mostly Muslim, brought the country's former president Michel Djotodia to power in March.

Mr Djotodia, the first Muslim leader in the majority Christian country, stepped down on Friday along with Prime Minister Nicolas Tiengaye.

His time in office was beset by violence. More than 1,000 people have been killed in the last month.

It is hoped Nr Djotodia's resignation will ease tensions in the state.

Thousands of soldiers and police have deserted their posts in recent months because they fear reprisals from the Seleka.

Some joined the Christian anti-balaka militia, which was formed to fight against the Seleka.

On Monday, hundreds of soldiers were seen returning to their posts in the capital Bangui by the AFP news agency.

It came after chief of staff General Ferdinand Bomboyeke urged troops to return to their barracks.

Colonel Desire Bakossa, who supervised the registration, told AFP: "They came in very large numbers and they're still coming.

"They answered the general's call. It's a relief. It's a very good sign."

Centres for police officers to register have also been set up in Bangui.

France has so far deployed 1,600 soldiers to help support the African Union MISCA force.

The CAR gained independence from France in 1960.

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Washington 'More Dangerous' Than North Korea

Two US rappers who have been to one of the world's most secretive countries, North Korea, have told Sky News their home city of Washington DC is a more dangerous place.

Anthony Bobb and Dontray Ennis - known as Pacman and Peso - also said the North Korean people should not be seen as "bad" just because of controversial leader Kim Jong-Un's actions.

It is almost universally accepted that North Korea has the worst human rights record in the world.

As many as 200,000 political prisoners are locked up in labour camps around the country. Escapees have said that torture is routine.

Last month, Mr Kim had his uncle executed, hailing the elimination of "factional filth" within his ruling party.

He accused General Jang Song-Thaek, who was once considered the second most powerful individual in the North, of trying to build his own power base.

The rappers raised $10,000 on a crowd funding website to fund a trip to the nation which they say everyone should see for themselves.

Their manager, who had a friend going on a personal trip there, suggested they went along too.

Kim Jong-Un had his uncle executed last year

The rappers' video for their song Escape To North Korea, filmed in and around the capital Pyongyang, has been seen more than 150,000 times after going viral.

Peso told Sky: "You can't say a whole nation of people is bad just because of one person's actions.

"I think the reason why that's put on the North Korean people is because of the leaders.

"What the people where I'm from don't realise is what they (North Koreans) were taught and how they came up as a nation off of that one person.

"What we learned was that it was for him (the leader) protecting his own people, they didn't compromise, they wanted to stay independent. That's what happened."

Pacman said: "Nothing that goes on there is any more than goes on in my streets. Nine times out of 10 you get robbed on my streets more than out of North Korea."

Denis Rodman sang Happy Birthday to the North Korean leader

News of their trip came as another high-profile American, former basketball star Dennis Rodman, also visited the country.

He led a team of retired American players in a game to celebrate the birthday of Mr Kim which may help break down barriers between the US and the North.

The colourful sportsman sang Happy Birthday to the leader, but his side were defeated by the North Korean players chosen to play them.

Under the North Korean regime's "three generations of punishment" system, individuals found guilty of a crime are sent to the labour camps with their entire family.

The subsequent two generations of that family are then born in the camp and live their lives locked up inside.

In his New Year message, broadcast on state television, Mr Kim said of his uncle's execution: "Our party took resolute action to remove ... scum elements within the party last year."

South Korean media said they believed he was killed by machine gun, a relatively common form of execution in the North.

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Black Rhino Hunt: Permit Sells For $350k

A US hunting club has been criticised for selling a permit to kill an endangered black rhino in Namibia for $350,000 (£212,000).

Dallas Safari Club defended the sale, saying the cash would go towards animal conservation in the cash-strapped African country.

The permit allows the unnamed buyer to kill a single, post-breeding bull, with Namibian wildlife officials on hand to make sure an appropriate animal is targeted, said club executive director Ben Carter.

"Biologists in Namibia were hopeful that a US-based auction would produce a record amount for rhino conservation, and that's exactly what happened," he said.

There are around 4,000 black rhinos left on the plant

"These bulls no longer contribute to the growth of the population and are in a lot of ways detrimental to the growth of the population because black rhinos are very aggressive and territorial.

"In many cases, they will kill younger, non-breeding bulls and have been known to kill calves and cows."

Wildlife campaigners protested outside the Dallas convention centre where the sale took place, and 70,000 people signed an online petition calling for the auction to be scrapped.

They argued that all black rhinos should be protected, given their endangered status.

"This auction is telling the world that an American will pay anything to kill their species," said Jeffrey Flocken, North American regional director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

Protesters said all black rhinos should be protected

"This is, in fact, making a spectacle of killing an endangered species."

The FBI said it was investigating "multiple" death threats against members of the club.

Mr Carter says his family and club staff have received threats.

There are an estimated 4,000 black rhinos left on the planet - down from some 70,000 in the 1960s. Nearly half of those left are in Namibia.

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Venezuela: Vow To 'Rip Heads Off' Corrupt Cops

Venezuela's interior minister has given out his mobile phone number on television and asked police to call him and report corruption in their ranks.

Miguel Rodriguez said authorities would act on the information and "rip the head off" crooked officers.

It comes amid soaring crime levels in the country, which has one of the highest murder rates in the world.

Officers only solve eight out of every 100 murders and police corruption is often seen as part of the problem.

The nation's violent crime wave was highlighted in recent days by the murder of a former Miss Venezuela beauty queen and her British ex-husband, which provoked a national uproar.

Actress Monica Spear, 29, who had a starring role in a popular TV soap series, and 39-year-old Thomas Henry Berry were shot dead in front of their five-year-old daughter, who was wounded, during a robbery.

Murder victims Monica Spear and Thomas Henry Berry

The parents were killed after they had locked themselves in their car, which had broken down on a northwestern highway.

Their daughter, Maya, was treated in hospital after being shot in the leg.

The double murder is putting more pressure on President Nicolas Maduro for his failure to bring down the crime rate that has soared during 14 years of socialist rule.

And Mr Rodriguez said rooting out corruption was a way for police to regain the public's trust.

In a speech carried on state TV, he said: "New police will always have some great superiors, well-prepared ones.

The funerals have taken place in Caracas for the couple

"But they also are going to get some bad eggs. Report them fearlessly because their (corruption) undermines police authority for the Venezuelan people.

"Just give me the information right away, and we will rip the head off that immoral police superior."

Seven people, including a woman and two teenagers, have been arrested in connection with the double murder.

Although the weapon used in the robbery has not been found, it has emerged a digital camera stolen during the attack led police to a criminal group.

The group allegedly preyed on motorists on the stretch of road between Puerto Cabello and Valencia.

Two members of Venezuela's security forces

The camera was found at the home of one of the seven people arrested over the killings and helped officers trace other suspects in the case.

According to Jose Gregorio Sierralta, chief of Venezuela's criminal police, at least 11 people were involved in the crime - four of whom remain on the run.

The couple were buried in the capital Caracas on Friday while their daughter was being looked after by grandparents.

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ariel Sharon: Ex-Leader's Body Lies In State

The body of former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon is lying in state at his country's parliament building, the day after he died aged 85.

Mr Sharon's coffin is sitting in the plaza outside the Knesset in Jerusalem until 6pm local time (4pm UK time) for mourners to pay their respects.

Earlier, Israeli ministers held a minute's silence as they met for their weekly cabinet meeting.

Current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the cabinet: "He will be remembered in the heart of the Jewish people forever as one of our most outstanding leaders and most daring commanders."

Mr Sharon will be buried on Monday afternoon at his ranch in the Negev desert, in southern Israel, during a military ceremony.

Israel generals salute Mr Sharon's coffin

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was among those expected to attend.

Mr Sharon had been in a coma since suffering a stroke in January 2006.

His condition deteriorated on New Year's Day when he suffered serious kidney problems after surgery.

Mr Netanyahu said "his memory will forever be held in the heart of the nation", while President Shimon Peres said he would be "greatly missed".

World leaders also sent condolences, with US President Barack Obama describing him as a leader who "dedicated his life to the State of Israel".

Vice President Joe Biden will lead a US delegation to the memorial service due to be held in parliament on Monday before the burial.

Nicknamed "The Bulldozer", Mr Sharon was a veteran soldier who fought in all of Israel's major wars before beginning a turbulent political career in 1973.

He was elected premier in 2001 despite experiencing a period in the political wilderness because of his personal but "indirect" responsibility for the 1982 massacre of hundreds of Palestinians.

As an army officer addressing his troops of the famous Unit 101 in 1955

Ministers in Israel's right-wing government and the political opposition have mourned a leader who left big footprints on the region through military invasion, Jewish settlement building on captured land and a unilateral decision to pull Israeli troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip in 2005.

In Gaza, Hamas has welcomed Mr Sharon's death and celebrated in the streets.

"We have become more confident in victory with the departure of this tyrant," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zurhi said.

"Our people today feel extreme happiness at the death and departure of this criminal whose hands were smeared with the blood of our people and the blood of our leaders here and in exile."

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "Ariel Sharon is one of the most significant figures in Israeli history and as prime minister he took brave and controversial decisions in pursuit of peace, before he was so tragically incapacitated.

"Israel has today lost an important leader."

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

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More