Facebook Targeted In 'Zero-Day' Hack Attack

Facebook has revealed it was the victim of a sophisticated attack by an unknown hacking group last month.

The site's security was breached after a handful of Facebook employees unknowingly visited a website that had been compromised with malicious code.

When a suspicious file was discovered on the company's computers, a forensic investigation was launched and the origin of the file was traced to an employee's laptop.

A further search uncovered other infected computers, but Facebook insists there was no data breach and no passwords or user data were compromised.

The company said in a statement: "Facebook, like every significant Internet service, is frequently targeted by those who want to disrupt or access our data and infrastructure.

"Last month we discovered that our systems had been targeted in a sophisticated attack which occurred when a handful of employees visited a mobile developer website that was compromised.

The company has launched a major investigation into the breach

"After analysing the website we found it was using a 'zero-day' (previously unseen) exploit to bypass the Java sandbox (built-in protections) to install the malware.

"As soon as we discovered the presence of the malware, we remediated all infected machines, informed law enforcement, and began a significant investigation that continues to this day."

There have a number of cyber-attacks on prominent websites recently. Some 250,000 Twitter accounts were potentially compromised after attackers obtained access to their names and email addresses.

The websites of The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal were also infiltrated by unknown hackers apparently targeting those papers' media coverage of China.

Although Facebook claimed that no user data was compromised, the incident could raise privacy concerns about the vulnerability of personal data stored within the social network.

The company has experienced several privacy rows over the years for the way it handles user data, including a privacy investigation with regulators that was settled in 2011.

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Fugitive Cop Died Of 'Self-Inflicted' Gunshot

Christopher Dorner, who began a retribution campaign against his Los Angeles police colleagues, died of a single gunshot wound, a coroner has said.

The fugitive officer's charred remains were found in a burned-out California mountain cabin after a "war-zone style" standoff with armed police.

Dorner declared 'war' on his colleagues in an online manifesto

Coroner examiners have yet to determine who fired the fatal shot that killed Dorner, though San Bernardino County Coroner Kevin Lacy said current evidence suggests the 33-year-old committed suicide.

"We are not yet able to speak about the manner of death and tell you whether or not it was the result of a self-inflicted wound or another round," he said at a news conference.

But he added: "The information we have seems to indicate that the wound that took Christopher Dorner's life was self-inflicted."

The ex-LAPD cop went on the run last week after allegedly killing a couple and a policeman, and wounding three people.

Another police officer was killed and one wounded before the cabin in which Dorner was holed-up went up in flames.

Officials also said at the news conference that they had found a cache of weapons at various sites connected with Dorner.

Dorner had posted online a chilling manifesto in which he threatened to bring "warfare" to LAPD officers and their families, and blamed the LAPD for treating him unfairly in his sacking in 2008.

The six-day manhunt reached a climax on Tuesday when Dorner barricaded himself inside the cabin.

The charred remains of the mountain cabin

San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said there was a prolonged firefight with Dorner.

He said when "other means had been exhausted", SWAT officers used a tractor-type device to open up the windows and walls of the cabin, and threw in pyrotechnic tear gas canisters to try to force Dorner to surrender.

A blaze erupted, starting at one corner of the cabin.

Sheriff McMahon said that as the flames took hold, after a period of no firing, there was "a distinct single gunshot coming from inside the house".

The sound of it "indicated to me (that) a different kind of weapon had been fired," he added.

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China Film Market Set To Take Over Hollywood

By Mark Stone, China Correspondent

China has become the world's second largest film market and is predicted to be the largest, overtaking Hollywood, by the end of the decade.

The country already boasts what is claimed to be the largest film studio in the world.

Hengdian is a three-hour flight south of Beijing. Twenty years ago it was a tiny farm village. Now it is bigger than Universal and Paramount Studios combined.

"Forget about Hollywood, here we can have 40 separate productions at the same time," Zeng YuLin, the spokesman for the studio tells me.

With a guide and a golf buggy, we took a tour of the site. There appears to be no limit to what they are able to create: we drove passed a spectrum of Chinese history from colonial Hong Kong to pre-war Guangzhou all recreated to minute detail.

Hengdian is the sight of the largest film studio in the world

At the heart of it all is a staggering full-size recreation of Beijing's Forbidden City. None of the sets are temporary and there seems to be one for every conceivable scene.

In one corner we stumbled across the filming of what appeared to be a key fight scene in a forthcoming war film. Surrounded by extras in outsized costumes was lead actor, Qi Dao.

Immaculately dressed in the uniform of a 1930s policeman, Dao was on his fifteenth take of the morning. In a brief break, he told us about Hengdian.

"It's getting better every day," he said. "There's still a way to go before it is at an international standard like Hollywood. But it is getting better and better."

He then touched on the one issue that many believe is holding China back: censorship.

China's film market is set to overtake Hollywood by the end of the decade

"Of course I'd like censorship to loosen up a bit. That would give a bigger space for us artists to create, and to deliver fresh productions to the audience."

Every TV programme and film that is produced in China is subjected to the censors for approval. The Communist Party's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television is responsible for checking everything that is filmed.

Anything remotely political is off limits, which explains the somewhat cliched subject matter of everything we saw at Hengdian.

The Japan-bashing war films and Ming period dramas may conform with Communist Party regulations but they only have a limited popularity. That may go some way to explaining why less than 5% of Chinese movies broke even in the first half of 2012.

Zhang Jingkun, a director who works regularly at Hengdian, acknowledges the restrictions but doesn't belive they have a big impact on domestic production.

Every TV programme and film produced in China is subjected to censors

"There are restrictions. The policies from different countries are different," he says.

"Compared to the capitalist system, our socialist system has restrictions on policies. But it doesn't affect the productions domestically. It's the different tradition between the east and the west, it takes time to change. It's a progress."

The censorship also has an impact on western production houses who want access to the Chinese market. All films shown in China are checked by the censorship department.

Skyfall, the latest Bond film, was released in China in January but only after one plot thread was altered and another scene was cut altogether.

Anything remotely political is off limits in the Chinese film market

Part of the film is made in Shanghai but one scene in which a Chinese security guard is shot dead in a skyscraper lobby has been removed.

In addition, the Chinese subtitles have been altered to remove any reference in the dialogue to Chinese torture and prostitution.

The threat of censorship has not put foreign production houses off the Chinese market. Foreign films make up 60% of the Chinese box office market.

Chinese producers like Yu Zheng, who is filming a Qin period drama at Hengdian, hopes to offer his work to the world.

"I hope China's TVs will go to the world." he says. "English dramas like Downton Abbey, together with a lot of American dramas, draw large audiences in. I hope many of our beautifully produced TV series will develop into the world markets."

He and his executive producer were reluctant to speak about the issues surrounding censorship.

"I'm reluctant to be associated with issues like this," Mr Yu said. "I can't answer your question."

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Pistorius: Girlfriend's TV Show Goes Ahead

Producers are to broadcast a reality TV show featuring the dead girlfriend of athlete Oscar Pistorius later today, saying they have the backing of her family.

Tropika Island of Treasure, showing Reeva Steenkamp on location in Jamaica, will be broadcast despite her shocking death on St Valentine's Day.

Miss Steenkamp, who had been going out with Pistorius since November, was shot four times at his house in a heavily guarded complex in Pretoria on Thursday.

Local media have reported that she was shot through a bathroom door. A 9mm pistol was found at the scene.

Pistorius broke down in court at the mention of premeditated murder

Producers said Miss Steenkamp's family wanted her appearance on the reality show for South Africa's national broadcaster to be aired as a tribute.

An excerpt of the programme has been released showing Miss Steenkamp swimming with dolphins and smiling broadly as she floats down a jungle-flanked river on a raft.

It also featured a poignant pre-recorded interview with the 29-year-old in which she talked about the importance of leaving a positive mark in life.

"The way that you go out and make your exit is so important, you have either made an impact in a positive way or a negative way," she said.

Pistorius (right) after his arrest on Thursday

The decision emerged as Pistorius' uncle said the athlete was "numb with shock, as well as grief" as he remains in custody facing charges of premeditated murder.

In the family's first public comments since the shooting, Arnold Pistorius said they were "in total shock" by what he called an "unimaginable human tragedy".

Arnold Pistorius insisted there was "no substance" to the allegation of premeditated murder "or indeed any murder at all" as he spoke of his nephew's happiness with the model and rising star.

"They had plans together and Oscar was happier in his private life than he had been for a long time," he told the Associated Press.

Tropika Island of Treasure sees celebrities paired with contestants and put through a series of challenges as they compete for a cash prize.

Executive producer Samantha Moon said: "This is how they want to remember her. This is what she would have wanted. She was happy, healthy, beautiful and vibrant and that's the way she should be remembered."

Spokesman for broadcaster SABA, Kaizer Kganyago, said: "The mother agreed that we should go ahead and we are free to go ahead. We are working on how to pay tribute to her."

Miss Steenkamp's cousin, Sharon Steenkamp, said she "was proud of being in the show".

Reeva Steenkamp, 29, with Pistorius last November

"Her last words to us personally was that she wants us to watch it," she said.

Production company Stimulii said it was "devastated" by the model's death and described her as a "wonderful human being" with a "zest for life".

Pistorius, who made history by competing in both the Olympics and Paralympics last year, sobbed through his first court appearance on Friday.

He is being held in a police cell ahead of a new hearing on February 19, when prosecutors are set to oppose any request for bail.

The chief magistrate delayed the bail hearing until next week at the request of the defence who asked for more time.

A statement issued by Pistorius' family and management following the initial hearing said: "The alleged murder is disputed in the strongest terms."

The athlete's uncle Arnold added on Saturday: "Words cannot adequately describe our feelings. The lives of our entire family have been turned upside down forever by this unimaginable human tragedy and Reeva's family have suffered a terrible loss.

"As a family we are trying to be strong and supportive to Oscar as any close family would be in these dreadful circumstances.

"We deeply regret the allegation of premeditated murder. We have no doubt there is no substance to the allegation and that the State's own case, including its own forensic evidence, strongly refutes any possibility of a premeditated murder or indeed any murder at all."

Premeditated murder carries a mandatory life sentence in South Africa. If found guilty, Pistorius would not be eligible for parole for 25 years.

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Meteor: Rescue Teams Rally To Recovery Effort

A major recovery effort is under way to replace thousands of windows shattered by the shockwave from a meteor that exploded over Russia, as some 24,000 workers began arriving in the Chelyabinsk region to help relief efforts.

The shockwave blew out glass in more than 4,000 buildings in the region and injured about 1,200 people, largely with cuts from the flying debris.

Forty of those injured remained in hospital on Saturday, two of them in serious condition, the state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

Regional governor Mikhail Yurevich said the damage from the high-altitude explosion -  which was estimated to have been as powerful as 20 Hiroshima bombs - is estimated at 1bn rubles (£21m).

He promised to have the 200,000 square metres worth of broken windows replaced within a week.

Workers in Chelyabinsk examine the damage to a large building

Rescuers are also scouring the bottom of a lake for the remains of the meteor, which plunged to Earth in a fireball on Friday.

Part of the space rock, which was the size of a bus and blazed across western Siberia, is believed to have landed in the frozen Lake Chebarkul.

Curious onlookers gathered nearby were stopped from venturing out on to the lake by police as the search continued.

More than 24,000 rescuers and recovery workers have already been dispatched to the region around Chelyabinsk to help residents.

The workers will gather warm clothes and food, cover windows, and make other relief efforts. Crews from glass companies in adjacent regions have also begun to arrive.

Experts are also examining major buildings in case they have been structurally damaged by the blast.

The meteor burned brightly in the sky as it plunged to Earth

Residents who had poured into the streets to watch the light show after spotting the initial flash were wounded by glass shattered by the subsequent sonic boom.

Experts said the meteor strike was the largest recorded in more than a century.

As the recovery mission begins in earnest, the emergencies ministry said six divers would be inspecting the lake for any pieces of meteorite.

Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov added: "We have a special team working ... that is now assessing the seismic stability of buildings. We will be especially careful about switching the gas back on."

Scientists will be desperate to examine the rock for any clues about the cosmos but Mr Puchkov said no fragments had yet been discovered.

The explosion appears to have been one of the most stunning cosmic events over Russia since 1908 when an asteroid was blamed for a massive blast in Siberia.

The meteor hit in the Urals on Friday morning

Nasa estimated that the amount of energy released when the meteor crashed into the Earth's atmosphere was about 20 times more than the force of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb.                 

"We would expect an event of this magnitude to occur once every 100 years on average," said Paul Chodas of Nasa's Near-Earth Object Programme Office.

The drama happened just hours before an asteroid whizzed safely past the Earth at an unprecedented distance of 17,200 miles.

This is closer than some distant satellites and set alarm bells ringing in some Russian circles about the need for joint global action to protect Earth from space.

Russian parliament's foreign affairs committee chief Alexei Pushkov wrote on Twitter: "Instead of fighting on Earth, people should be creating a joint system of asteroid defence."

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Chile: Red Alert Over Valparaiso Forest Fire

Chilean authorities have declared a red alert after a forest fire broke out in the port city of Valparaiso.

At least 70 homes have been destroyed and more than 500 families have been forced to evacuate.

The blaze broke out on the city's San Roque hill, some 75 miles northeast of the capital, Santiago.

Strong, changing winds and high temperatures at the peak of the Southern Hemisphere's summer holiday season have made the fire worse.

Valparaiso's regional governor Raul Celis described it as "the city's worst blaze in two decades".

At least 70 homes have been destroyed

Local television stations showed images of a towering plume of smoke billowing over the city.

The smoke kept firefighting aircraft grounded while more than a dozen firefighter units, 700 policemen and several army platoons continued to battle the fire five hours after it started.

Twenty-seven people, including five children, were being treated for minor injuries and smoke inhalation, said Claudio Fernandez, director of the local Van Buren hospital.

Police said they had arrested at least three people for looting.

Valparaiso is surrounded by dozens of hills, where most people live.

Authorities say the fire is concentrated near the hills and is still far away from the city's low-lying centre.

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Crippled Carnival Cruise Ship Finally Docks

Thousands of passengers stranded on a crippled cruise ship for nearly a week have finally docked in Alabama.

There were cheers as the Carnival Triumph arrived in the Alabama port, after its first attempt failed when the towline being used to manoeuvre it into position snapped.

Passengers slowly disembarked from the ship in a process that took just under four hours.

Many then faced long journeys home aboard a fleet of around 100 coaches, after days enduring what the company's Chief Executive admitted were "poor conditions".

What began as a four-day voyage in the Gulf of Mexico last Thursday turned into a holiday nightmare.

Passengers have described overflowing toilets and say food has been scarce.

Some of those on board have become unwell.

Speaking as the 14-storey ship docked, Carnival Chief Executive, Gerry Cahill, said that his priority was to go on board to apologise and to help passengers disembark as quickly as possible.

He said: "I know that the conditions on board were very poor. I know it was very difficult and I want to apologise again for subjecting our passengers to that.

Relieved passengers begin to disembark from the Carnival Triumph

"We pride ourselves on providing our guests with a great vacation experience but clearly we failed in this particular case."

The ship left Galveston, Texas, for a four-day cruise a week ago.

It was about 150 miles (240 km) off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula when an engine room fire knocked out its primary power source, crippling its water and plumbing systems and leaving it adrift on only backup power.

Frustrations with the cruise line were simmering on and off the ship, as passengers and their relatives questioned why it took so long to get back to dry land.

Renee Shanar, of Houston, said: "There's poop and urine all along the floor. The floor is flooded with sewer water ... and we had to poop in bags."

Ms Shanar, who was on the ship with her husband, said the couple had a cabin with no windows, so they slept outside for days.

Some passengers were elated to be finally off the ship

She said food has been distributed on the ninth floor, and some of the elderly passengers needed younger people to bring it to them.

They were initially only given cold food, like turkey and vegetable sandwiches.

Then another cruise line dropped off hamburgers and chicken sandwiches, but the line for hot food was nearly four hours long.

"And then people started getting sick from the food," she said.

The company has disputed the accounts of passengers who describe the ship as filthy, saying employees did everything to ensure people were comfortable.

Carnival said that passengers would receive a full refund, discounts on future cruises and a compensation sum of $500 (£322).

The problems are the latest in a string of failures for the massive cruise company.

Most notable was in January last year when the Costa Concordia, operated by Carnival's Costa Cruises, grounded on rocks off the Italian island of Giglio.

A total of 32 people died in the tragedy, which also unleashed numerous lawsuits against the company.

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$1bn Gambling Loser Stole $2m From Charity

A former San Diego mayor has admitted taking $2.1m (£1.35m) in charity funds as she won and then lost $1bn (£644m) in a decade-long gambling spree.

Maureen O'Connor claimed the addiction was brought on by grief following the death of her husband.

It drove her to use up all her savings, auction off her belongings, sell her homes, and borrow from friends.

She finally looted cash from the foundation set up by her late partner, Robert O Peterson, the owner of the Jack in the Box fast food chain.

The 66-year-old's game of choice was video poker at casinos in San Diego, Las Vegas and Atlantic City, where she would play for hours at a time.

Her cumulative winnings were put at around $1bn from 2000 to 2009, including $200m in one year alone.

Video poker was Maureen O'Connor's game of choice

But her net gambling losses topped $13m, and she is now virtually broke.

It marked a stunning fall for O'Connor, a former physical education teacher who was elected to the City Council when she was 25 and became San Diego's first female mayor in 1986.

At a news conference on Thursday, she said she always intended to repay the foundation and also appeared to partly blame her behaviour on a brain tumour that was diagnosed in 2011.

"There are two Maureens. Maureen number one and Maureen number two," she said.

"Maureen number two is the Maureen who did not know she had a tumour growing in her brain."

O'Connor pleaded not guilty to a money laundering charge under a deal with federal prosecutors that allows her to defer prosecution for two years as she works to repay the debt.

She could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

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Meteorite Shower Hits Russia Injuring Over 900

By Katie Stallard, Moscow Correspondent

More than 900 people have been injured after a meteor strike in central Russia, the country's interior ministry said.

Fragments of at least one meteorite - the weight of a double-decker bus - were seen falling from the sky in the Chelyabinsk region at around 9am local time, around 1,500km east of Moscow.

A regional governor said 950 people have been injured. Russia's Ministry of Emergencies said at least 82 children were hurt and 34 adults and 12 children were being treated in hospital. Two people are in intensive care.

The meteor lit up the sky

Many were hurt by flying glass as windows were blown in. Witnesses described feeling a pressure wave and hearing explosions overhead as the object hurtled to earth.

The Russian Academy of Sciences estimates the meteor weighed about 10 tonnes and entered the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of at least 33,000mph (54,000kph) - 15 times the speed of a rifle bullet - and shattered up to 32 miles (50km) above ground.

Meteors typically cause sizeable sonic booms when they enter the atmosphere because they are travelling much faster than the speed of sound.

The meteorite weighed 10 tonnes

The defence ministry said it had identified a six metre crater near a lake in this region and has sent soldiers to the site of the impact.

The emergencies ministry said that 20,000 rescue workers had been dispatched to help the injured and locate those needing help.

  Resident Anna Pinkus told Sky News she saw a bright light outside her window and then heard three explosions.

More than 500 people have been injured

"It was a very loud sound. After that our windows began to shatter and shiver so it was very terrifying. First we thought it was a plane crash."

Planetary scientist Professor Ian Crawford of Birkbeck University said this was an unusual case as meteorite hits rarely cause any damage.

Viktor was injured by a shock wave

"Several times a year meteorites are observed to fall on the earth's surface but damage to people or property is very unusual – there are only several recorded cases of buildings being hit by meteorites."

Describing the course of the meteorite he said: "I think it's very likely that it would have been a larger lump of rock that broke up in the earth's atmosphere – this is usually what happens.

"The rock comes in from space and hits the earth's atmosphere. That decelerates it and puts a lot of stress on it. Then it's likely to fragment into lots of pieces."

The local office of the National Emergencies Ministry said in a statement: "A meteorite disintegrated above the Urals (mountain range in central Russia), partially burning up in the lower atmosphere.

The crash site of a piece of meteor (Pic: Chelyabinsk MVD)

"Fragments of the meteorite reached Earth, falling in sparsely populated areas in the Chelyabinsk region."

Many drivers in Russia have video recorders fitted in their cars in case of accidents or disputes with traffic police. Footage from these uploaded to YouTube show the fireball crashing to the ground.

There were reports of traffic in the Urals city of Chelyabinsk grinding to a halt and people seeking shelter in buildings as the fireballs lit up the sky.                 

The emergencies ministry confirmed the mobile phone network was temporarily cut. Schools were closed for the day across the region after the impact blew out windows.

The meteor hit Chelyabinsk

The meteor hit less than a day before the asteroid 2012 DA14 is to make the closest recorded pass of an asteroid to the Earth - about 17,150 miles (28,000km). But the European Space Agency in a tweet said its experts had determined there was no connection.

The Chelyabinsk region is Russia's industrial heartland, home to many factories and other huge facilities that include a nuclear power plant and the Mayak atomic waste storage and treatment centre.

A spokesman for Rosatom, the Russian nuclear energy state corporation, said that its operations remained unaffected.

"All Rosatom enterprises located in the Urals region - including the Mayak complex - are working as normal," said a Rosatom spokesman.

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Oscar Pistorius Breaks Down In Tears In Court

Olympic star Oscar Pistorius has broken down in tears as he appeared in court charged with murdering his girlfriend.

He stood before magistrate Desmond Nair with his head bowed as the charge was read out.

Prosecutors say they intend to prove Pistorius is guilty of premeditated murder of the top South African model Reeva Steenkamp.

Local news correspondent Barry Bateman described him as "sobbing uncontrollably" as he sat in the dock.

Pistorius' father Henke leaned forward and placed his hand on his son's back during the 40-minute hearing.

Oscar Pistorius is charged with murdering Reeva Steenkamp

Prosecutors had asked to deal with the bail hearing as a section six offence, meaning the accused has to provide exceptional circumstances to be released on bail. The defence opposes this.

The case was postponed until Tuesday, and Pistorius will remain in custody until then.

A statement on behalf of his family and management said he denies the charge in the strongest terms.

The body of 29-year-old Miss Steenkamp was discovered at the athlete's property in the Silver Woods gated community in eastern Pretoria on Thursday morning.

She had been shot four times. A 9mm pistol was found at the scene.

A police officer holds a gun taken from Pistorius' home

Local media have reported that she was shot through a bathroom door.

Pistorius, 26, spent Thursday night in custody and was subject to blood-alcohol, DNA and other tests, as forensics experts continued to work at the crime scene at his home in an upmarket gated estate.

His lawyer Kenny Oldwage said his client was "very well, obviously emotional, but fine".

Police were called to Pistorius' home at around 4am on Thursday by neighbours who heard gunshots. He is the only suspect in the case.

Pistorius made history at the London Olympics last year when he became the first double-amputee track athlete to compete at any games.

He did not win a medal but did make the semifinals of the 400 metres and the final of the 4x400 relay, propelling the world's best-known Paralympian to the level of an international track star.

Meanwhile a celebrity reality show featuring Miss Steenkamp will still be broadcast on South African television despite her death, the producers have said.

The pre-recorded show filmed in an exotic location in Jamaica features the blonde model and several local personalities competing for prize money.

Producers of Tropika Island of Treasure said they had decided not to shelve the show, which will premiere on Saturday, two days after she was shot dead.

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Oscar Pistorius: Shock After Gun Death Arrest

South Africa's Gun Death Epidemic

Updated: 11:03am UK, Thursday 14 February 2013

With the 12th-highest gun crime death rate in the world, many South Africans have sought sanctuary in gated communities in parts of the country.

Protected by high walls, guard dogs, electric fences, and advanced alarm systems – the areas are a refuge from the high crime rates.

With six million guns in circulation, some well-off families have homes fitted with panic buttons linked to private armed security contractors.

The South African Police Service also often employs security companies to protect their own police stations, with the private security industry estimated to be worth £1bn.

Fear of crime is high, with the Institute for Security Studies estimating that 50% of people in Pretoria feel "very unsafe" walking in their area at night.

Around 50 people are murdered in South Africa each day, but while the murder rate is higher than most countries it has fallen from a high of 66.9 per 100,000 in 1994/95.

There are also high levels of assault, rape, robbery and carjackings.

A study by the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, based in Johannesburg, said there are a number of causes for the high levels of violence in South Africa.

These include the normalisation of violence in society, so it has become a legitimate means of resolving conflict, and a subculture of criminality ranging from individuals to gangs.

The report also highlighted the vulnerability of young people and the high levels of unemployment and poverty.

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Man 'Sets Himself On Fire' At Rome Airport

Passengers have spoken of their shock after a man set himself alight at a Rome airport.

The 19-year-old man, from the Ivory Coast, doused himself in petrol and set himself on fire in front of dozens of travellers and workers at Fiumicino airport, 10 miles west of the Italian capital.

Police said he arrived at the departures area of the airport's terminal three with a deportation order and had been due to leave Italy.

But as he spoke to police he suddenly pulled out a plastic bottle of petrol, tipped it over himself and ran off through the terminal.

Officers gave chase, but he then used a lighter to ignite the fuel in front of stunned passengers.

Pasquale Pierri, 43, who was due to catch a flight to London, told Sky News: "I was heading to check in when all of a sudden I heard screaming and shouting.

"The next thing I saw was the police surrounding someone and there was a horrible smell of smoke in the air.

"People were screaming because no one knew what had happened and I think the first suggestion was that it might have been a terror attack."

Fellow traveller Silvana Urso said: "There was a lot of shouting and police running after someone, that was all I saw.

"There was a smell of smoke and then police were telling us to evacuate the terminal because there had been an incident.

"It was only when I was outside that I heard a man had set himself on fire."

One policeman grabbed a fire extinguisher to douse the flames and was slightly injured.

Paramedics wrapped the man in specialist blankets before taking him away in an ambulance.

A spokesman at the Sant Eugenio hospital where he was being treated said he was in a "serious condition with extensive burns".

The officer who tackled him was said to have a slight burn to his right arm but was otherwise uninjured.

Officials said the airport remained open and only a small section of the terminal was closed before it reopened after an hour. There were no significant delays for passengers.

A Rome police spokesman said: "We are investigating the circumstances of the incident which involved a 19-year-old man from the Ivory Coast.

"He was due to leave the country after being served an expulsion order but set himself alight. One of our officers was slightly hurt as he tackled him.

"Scientific teams are at the airport examining the scene and officers will also speak to the man when possible."

A spokesman for the Italian Refugee Council confirmed that the man had arrived in Italy from Holland earlier this week and had tried to claim asylum but had been denied and was ordered out of the country.

He had been due to board a flight to Amsterdam when he set fire to himself. The spokesman added: "One can only imagine the desperation and frustration he must have faced to carry out such an act."

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Oscar Pistorius Charged With Murder

Paralympic and Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home in South Africa.

Her body was discovered at the athlete's home in the Silver Woods country estate in eastern Pretoria, South African police said.

Pistorius reached the 400m semi-finals at the London 2012 Olympics

Initial reports in the South African media suggested Miss Steenkamp was apparently shot as she woke him, trying to surprise him on Valentine's Day, and was mistaken for an intruder.

But police said the shooting was being treated as a murder investigation and that they were "very surprised" by the reports which they said did not come from them.

Brigadier Denise Beukes confirmed the couple were the only ones present in the house at the time of the shooting, and that there had been previous incidents at the premises including "allegations of a domestic nature".

"There are witnesses and they have been interviewed this morning. We are talking about neighbours and people that heard things earlier in the evening and when the shooting took place," she said.

Pistorius was arrested on Thursday morning following the shooting and taken to hospital for a medical examination.

He emerged from a police station after questioning, flanked by plain-clothed officers, wearing a grey hooded jacket covering most of his face.

Miss Steenkamp was due to speak at a Johannesburg school today

The athlete was due at Pretoria Magistrate's Court this afternoon on a murder charge, but prosecutors said his appearance had been delayed until Friday morning to give forensic officers time to carry out their work.

The 26-year-old is alleged to have shot his 30-year-old model girlfriend in the head and upper body.

Paramedics were called to his home between 4am and 5am local time.

Police arrived shortly afterwards and a 9mm pistol was recovered from the scene.

They said they would be opposing bail when the suspect appears in court.

"The deceased was shot four times and died on the scene. It is believed that she was the girlfriend of the accused," said police spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Katlego Mogale.

Miss Steenkamp's body was removed by a hearse at around 8am.

The shooting took place at Pistorius' home at Silver Woods country estate

Pistorius - the world's most famous paralympian - and Miss Steenkamp are believed to have started dating in November.

His father, Henke Pistorius, said of his son: "He is a bit emotional, but he is fine."

There had been speculation the shooting may have been a Valentine's Day surprise gone wrong.

South African journalist Kalay Maistry told Sky News: "It is alleged that he thought his girlfriend, who'd come in to try to surprise him for Valentine's Day, was an intruder. It's alleged that he shot her at least twice in the arm and head.

"I think what this actually highlights is the level of fear ordinary South Africans have.

"This is a man who has gone to bed, it's an innocent surprise from a girlfriend ... and the moment he thinks someone is trying to break in he grabs his gun.

"This has come as a complete surprise for a man who's considered a national hero," she added.

Miss Steenkamp has been described as a "talented and bright young girl"

Miss Steenkamp, a top South African model and a law graduate from Port Elizabeth, was active on Twitter just 14 hours before.

She tweeted: "What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow??? #getexcited #ValentinesDay"

In response to someone else's plans, she said: "That sounds amazing! Wow that's what it's all about! It should be a day of love for everyone :) may it be blessed!"

She was due to give a talk at a school in Johannesburg today, and to star in South African reality TV series Tropika Island of Treasure at the weekend, in which celebrities and ordinary people are tasked with daily challenges in remote, exotic locations.

Her publicist Sarit Tomlinson said the family was "shocked" and "devastated" by the news.

She described Miss Steenkamp as "the sweetest human being" and "a talented and bright young girl", adding that the couple had a "healthy, fabulous relationship".

Photos of the model appeared in newspapers at the weekend, when she described Pistorius as an impeccable man who always had her best interests at heart.

Police are investigating the shooting and have launched a murder probe

The Johannesburg-born athlete, known as the "Blade Runner", made history in 2012 when he became the first amputee to compete in the Olympics.

He won gold in the 400m and another in the 4x400m relay at the Paralympic Games.

The athlete had both legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old, because of a congenital condition, and runs on carbon fibre blades.

Last year Time Magazine named him as one of the world's 100 most influential people.

Silver Woods, situated in the country's capital, is a high security gated complex with a three metre high wall, electric fence, a guarded entrance and regular patrols.

South Africa has some of the world's highest rates of violent crime with an average of nearly 50 people murdered each day.

Some home-owners carry weapons to defend themselves against intruders. According to statistics, nearly 13 in every 100 people in the country own a gun, and it is estimated there are almost six million civilian firearms.

Pistorius, like many fellow South Africans, appeared to have serious concerns about his safety, and reportedly kept a revolver at his bedside and a machine gun by his window, as well as a cricket bat and baseball bat behind his bedroom door.

Pistorius lives in a gated complex in the South African capital Pretoria

South Africa's M-Net cable TV channel said it was pulling an advertising campaign featuring Pistorius off air with immediate effect.

Runner's World magazine editor Mike Finch, speaking from South Africa, told Sky News: "If anybody can overcome this sort of thing it's probably Oscar.

"He's had to deal with a lot in his life. He had a mother that died when he was very young, he obviously has his disability, but yet he's been amazing from a South African perspective as an ambassador.

"There is a certain school of people that don't particularly like him, but I think today everybody has kind of rallied round him."

Both South Africa's Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee said they were in no position to comment, but offered their "deepest sympathy and condolences" to the families of all involved.

UN figures show that in South Africa, just over 17 people are killed by gun crime per 100,000 people.

The highest gun death rate in the world is in Honduras with 68 deaths per 100,000. In the USA, the figure stands at 2.97 deaths, while in the UK it is 0.1.

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Liverpool Fears Racism At Game In Russia

By Katie Stallard, Russia Correspondent

Liverpool's manager will speak to his players about how to respond to any racist abuse during their match against Zenit St Petersburg on Thursday night.

The Europa League tie will be the Russian club's first significant match since a group of its fans published a manifesto in December calling for non-white and gay players to be kept out of their club.

St Petersburg is due to be a host city for the 2018 World Cup and with just five years to go it is hardly the image Russia would hope to project.

Liverpool FC has written to both Zenit and UEFA to express the club's concerns ahead of the game.

Manager Brendan Rodgers said he would be briefing his players about the potential for trouble before the match.

He said: "I will make reference to it because we have players it maybe could affect but we are here for football.

Zenit fans fight with riot police during a game with Dinamo Moscow in April

"No-one in life wants to see anyone come under any sort of scrutiny like that.

"You go into the sporting arena and hopefully everyone from football, UEFA, referees and officials will support any player it may affect.

"There is no doubt if there is anything like that which is untoward then as a group, we will do everything we can to support the player or players.

"We hope it is a game where the officials and UEFA can take care of all that."

The club's managing director said they would do whatever was needed to protect their players, both on and off the pitch.

In an interview posted on the Liverpool FC website, Ian Ayre said: "The most important thing for our players is that they remain professional throughout this.

"We certainly won't tolerate that type of attitude or any of those types of incidents from our team.

"So the important thing is that we let them know how we expect them to act if there is an incident. 

"I'd much rather we take the incident off the pitch and we deal with it.

"Obviously the referee has a role to play within that. But we'll be briefing our players on what's acceptable and what's not.

"Anything that happens off the pitch, then we'll work very closely with the authorities."

Zenit is the only top-flight Russian side never to have fielded a black player, and has developed a reputation for racism among its fans.

In December its largest fans group, Landscrona, published an open letter on its website objecting to what it called "non-European" and "sexual minorities" players being brought into the club.

The manifesto stated: "We object to representatives of sexual minorities playing for Zenit.

"We are not racists and for us, the lack of black players at Zenit is only an important tradition, which emphasises the identity of the club and nothing more.

"As the most northern club of the major European cities, we have never been associated with Africa, South America or Australia and Oceania.

"We have absolutely nothing against the people of these and any other continent. But now black players are being imposed on Zenit almost by force."

Previous incidents involving the club have included Brazilian player Roberto Carlos being offered a banana by Zenit fans in March 2011, and monkey chants being made and bananas thrown by fans during a match with Marseille in 2008.

The current manager insists there is no formal selection policy excluding black African players, and points to the recent signings of Brazilian striker Hulk and Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel as evidence of the club's multiculturalism.

A spokesperson for the club said it was working with UEFA to ensure the safety of players and fans at tonight's match.

The statement said: "We at Zenit have always condemned racism.

"We strongly underline that tolerance is the only possible mode of development for our club, the game of football, and sport in general.

"We sincerely hope that this principle is fully shared by our opponent, and that we'll all get to see a high-quality football match featuring great support from the stands!"

A statement posted today on the Landscrona fan site, apparently by members of the group, urged Zenit followers to behave tonight, warning that they could be kicked out of the Europa tournament if they did not.

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Oscar Pistorius: Reeva Steenkamp Remembered

In the days leading up to her death, Reeva Steenkamp's excitement about Valentine's Day was clear.

"What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow??? #getexcited," the girlfriend of South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius tweeted.

Miss Steenkamp then received a series of replies, one of which was from a mother who said her children would be making a card for their father. 

Miss Steenkamp had a law degree

She responded: "That sounds amazing! Wow that's what it's all about! It should be a day of love for everyone :) may it be blessed."

Miss Steenkamp said Pistorius - her boyfriend since November - had "impeccable" taste.

"His gifts are always thoughtful," she was quoted as saying on the social pages of last weekend's Sunday Independent.

But February 14 ended up going terribly wrong for the 30-year-old when she was shot dead in Pistorius' home.

Now Twitter and other social media are flooded with tributes to the model and law graduate.

Former Miss South Africa Melinda Bam said: "Heartbroken for #ReevaSteenkamp's family & for #OscarPistorius. This highlights how unsafe most South Africans feel because of crime#RIPReeva."

Sammy Lambrechts said: "A woman with rare beauty ... A classy and sophisticated young socialite with a heart of gold. A true lady."

Miss Steenkamp's tweets about Valentine's Day

On Facebook, her cousin Deon Steenkamp said: "RIP cuz this is tragic we will always remember you for your stuning smile brighting up everyone world."

Miss Steenkamp's publicist Sarit Tomlinson described her as "the sweetest human being" and "a talented and bright young girl".

She told Sky News that the couple had a "healthy, fabulous relationship".

Miss Steenkamp had most recently been a celebrity contestant on South African reality TV show Tropika Island Of Treasure 5. 

The couple had a 'healthy' relationship, her publicist said

The first episode of the show, which was filmed in Jamaica, was due to air this weekend.

On the show's website, a tribute to Miss Steenkamp said: "We are deeply saddened and extend our condolences to Reeva's family and friends."

The Cape Town-born model grew up in Port Elizabeth, where she studied law, but later moved to Johannesburg after signing a deal with cosmetics company Avon.

She went on to model for FHM and feature in various national and international advertising campaigns.

Miss Steenkamp's family is 'shocked'

Miss Steenkamp - who spoke out on Twitter against rape and abuse of women - described herself as someone who has a "passion for cars and cooking and prefers to read a book on her off days and spend quality time with friends and family".

She was from a family of horse trainers, who are all "shocked" and "devastated" by the news, Miss Steenkamp's publicist said.

Her former headmaster Greg Stokell told the South African Press Association that Miss Steenkamp was popular and respected by all.

"She was a vibrant, friendly, diligent, and motivated student who was popular with and respected by staff and peers alike," he said.

"The St Dominic's Priory school community in Port Elizabeth is both shocked and saddened by Reeva Steenkamp's sudden and tragic death."

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Peugeot Citroen Hit By Record £4.29bn Loss

Embattled French car firm Peugeot Citroen has made a loss of 5bn euros (£4.29bn) for 2012, the worst result in its history.

But France's number one automaker said it had built the foundations for recovery after cleaning up its balance sheet and implementing a tough restructuring plan.

Peugeot blamed the results on a previously announced 4.7bn euro (£4bn) asset writedown last year and the crisis in the European car market.

The loss compared with a profit of 588mn euros (£505m) in 2011, while revenue for the year fell 5.2% to 55.4bn (£47.6bn) euros.

The results "reflect the deterioration of the automotive industry environment in Europe," chief executive Philippe Varin said in a statement.

But he added: "The foundations for our rebound have been laid."

According to What Car? editor-in-chief Chas Hallet, the firm suffers from combination of problems.

"Peugeot Citroen is losing out in several ways. For a start, its models mainly compete with each other, which makes little sense," Mr Hallet told Sky News.

"It is being undercut on price and quality by rivals, including the incredibly strong Korean makers. And unlike many of its rivals it does not sell cars globally and so take advantage of the scale that provides.

"Furthermore, it can't really compete with the might of the VW group, in Europe or anywhere else."

The results were worse than forecast by analysts and overshadowed the previous record loss of 1.2bn euros (£1bn) in 2009.

Net debt stood at 3bn euros (£2.5bn), the company said.

On Monday, the European Commission authorised France to shore up Peugeot temporarily to the tune of a six-month 1.2bn euro guarantee.

Peugeot Citroen, which has a strategic tie-up with General Motors (GM) of the US - itself bailed-out by the Obama administration - is in the midst of a restructuring involving deep job cuts.

Markets reacted positively to the balance sheet announcement, with shares up 5% in early trading.

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Afghanistan Nato Air Strike 'Kills Children'

A Nato air strike on a Taliban hideout in Afghanistan has killed nine women and children, local officials say.

"Five children, four women and a man were killed in the raid," said Kunar provincial governor Sayed Fazulullah Wahidi.

A spokesman for Nato forces said they were investigating the allegations.

Three Taliban commanders, including a notorious al Qaeda-linked militant leader called Shahpoor, were also killed in the raid, district governor Abdul Zahir said.

The air raid was in support of a ground operation by US-led coalition and Afghan forces in a Taliban-controlled valley in the insurgency-plagued region, Mr Zahir said.

"The civilians were killed in the air raid," he said.

It is not clear if the owner of the house targeted was a member of the Taliban or a civilian, but the Taliban were visiting when the home was attacked, Mr Zahir added.

Four other children were wounded in the raid, Mr Wahidi said.

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Pregnant Kate: Now Oz Mag To Show Pictures

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent

An Australian publication has followed the lead of the Italian gossip magazine Chi and said it will publish photographs of the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge in her bikini.

The weekly magazine Woman's Day will be on sale on Monday and will feature the pictures of Kate and William's Caribbean holiday, where the Duchess was snapped wearing a blue bikini and strolling on a beach.

Editor Fiona Connolly has defended her decision to publish the prints, telling Sky News: "The photos are what our readers want to see. Kate looks beautiful, glowing and healthy."

Ms Connolly said it was her understanding that the photographs were taken by a member of the public rather than "a photographer hiding in the bushes" and, as a result, were not an invasion of the royal couple's privacy.

The editor said the pair had been mingling with others on a public beach and would have been aware that there were other holidaymakers around with cameras.

The issue will also feature pictures of Kate's sister Pippa Middleton, who was holidaying with the royals on the island of Mustique, staying in a £5.1m villa.

Ms Connolly said the photographs show Kate "fabulous, fit and glowing, out and about on a public beach".

She said British journalists and picture editors would no doubt be "frustrated" that they were not also running the pictures because of the "gentleman's agreement" between editors and the royal family about what sort of photos would be published.

Kate was on holiday in Mustique with her husband William and sister Pippa

"As a magazine that does publish photos of the royals, I am sensitive to the sort of pictures that shouldn't be published," she said, referring to the 2012 topless shots of the Duchess that appeared in various magazines.

"These are certainly not photos that they would disapprove of - they are happy."

"The last time we saw Kate looking really unwell, coming out of hospital and at a really tough time for her in her pregnancy - to see these photos where she's fit and healthy and really glowing is even more reason to celebrate."

The couple are expecting their first child in July.

In December Kate was admitted to hospital with a severe form of morning sickness, which pushed the couple to announce the pregnancy.

The news that an Australian magazine is publishing the pictures comes at a particularly sensitive time, just two months after a pair of Australian radio presenters made a prank call to King Edward VII's Hospital in London where Kate was being treated.

Pretending to be the Queen and Prince of Wales they were able to speak to a nurse about her condition. The nurse who put the call through, Jacintha Saldanha, subsequently committed suicide.

On news that Chi was publishing the photos St James's Palace issued a statement saying: "We are disappointed that photographs of the Duke and Duchess on a private holiday look likely to be published overseas.

"This is a clear breach of the couple's right to privacy."

Ms Connolly admitted the bidding for the photos between several of Australia's biggest selling weekly gossip magazines was "furious".

Last year the Royal Family launched legal action against French magazine Closer, over paparazzi pictures of Kate sunbathing in bikini bottoms on the balcony of a private chateau in the South of France.

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LA Manhunt: Dorner Shootout Ends In Cabin Fire

A gun battle between Christopher Dorner and police has ended after fire ripped through the remote cabin where the murder suspect was thought to have been hiding.

TV footage showed flames rising from the property in California's Big Bear Lake area, which also had thick black smoke billowing from it.

A sheriff's spokeswoman said charred human remains had been found in the rubble of the burned cabin.

It is not yet clear how the fire started, whether it was started from inside or by police officers, who were firing bullets and tear gas canisters at the cabin.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the fire set off ammunition which was being stored inside.

In one audio clip purporting to be a police scanner conversation, a male voice can be heard saying: "All right, Steve, we're gonna go, er, we're gonna go forward with the plan, with, er, with the burn. We want it, er, like we talked about.

"Seven burners deployed and we have a fire."

It is unclear whether "the burn" refers to tear gas.

Jodi Miller said the remains were found late on Tuesday, and forensic tests would be carried out to determine if the remains are Dorner's.

A law enforcement official said a gunshot was heard before the fire broke out, and the suspect did not come out of the cabin as it was engulfed in flames.

Police had urged the fugitive to turn himself in as authorities surrounded the cabin where he was reportedly holed up with an arsenal of weapons.

Dorner had earlier exchanged gunfire with federal authorities.

San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon told a news conference that a sheriff's deputy had died of wounds he suffered during the shootout. Another deputy was also injured in the exchange of fire.

Authorities focused their hunt for Dorner in the mountainous area since they said he launched a campaign to exact revenge against the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) for sacking him.

LAPD Commander Andrew Smith had urged Dorner to surrender, telling him: "Enough is enough."

It is believed the 33-year-old - who is suspected of three other killings - may have held a couple hostage in a holiday home before police tracked him down.

Commander Smith had urged him: "It's time for you to turn yourself in. It's time to end the bloodshed."

Another police officer told the Associated Press that Dorner robbed the cabin and tied up the holidaymakers, but one was able to get away and make a phone call.

Dorner reportedly fled in a stolen white Dodge pickup truck and a California Fish and Game ranger fired on the vehicle.

He then abandoned the truck and ran into the forest.

The noise of the gun battle was broadcast by KCAL-TV, whose reporter suddenly found himself near the shooting. Someone could be heard yelling at the reporter to get out of the area.

The manhunt has centred on the San Bernardino mountains since Dorner's truck was found in the area last Thursday.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Jodi Miller said a stolen vehicle report from a residence was received at 12.20pm on Tuesday and the owners of the car described the suspect as looking similar to Dorner.

Police had been following up hundreds of new leads prompted by a $1m (£640,000) reward for information.

Dorner, a naval reservist, is suspected of killing a couple on February 3 and then ambushing two policemen early on Thursday, killing one.

An angry Facebook rant with threats against the LAPD led officials to assign officers to protect officers and their families.

Within hours of the release of photos of Dorner, described as armed and "extremely dangerous," the suspect then ambushed police in Riverside County, shooting three and killing one police officer.

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Pope In First Outing Since Resignation

The Pope has made his first appearance in public since the shock announcement of his resignation on Monday.

Benedict XVI received a lengthy standing ovation when he entered a packed audience hall in the Vatican, with applause from the audience, many of whom had tears in their eyes.

He repeated in Italian what he had told cardinals on Monday in Latin - that he simply did not have the strength to continue.

"I did this in full liberty for the good of the Church," he said, asking supporters "to continue to pray for the Pope and the Church".

The Pope's audience took place before he celebrated an Ash Wednesday mass in St Peter's Basilica, his last public mass and one of his last engagements as Pope.

The mass is traditionally held in the Santa Sabina Church on Rome's Aventine Hill.

Nuns wave to the Pope during his Vatican appearance

On this occasion, however, it was moved, out of respect for the outgoing pontiff and to accommodate the crowd of pilgrims who wanted to mark the end of his eight-year rule - one of the shortest in the Church's modern history.

"It will be an important concelebration, and the last led by the Holy Father in San Pietro," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said before hand.

Key cardinals had been due to attend as the papal conclave began gathering in Rome to elect the next head of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.

No date has yet been set for the secret conclave, which will meet in the Sistine Chapel under Michelangelo's famous ceiling frescoes, but it could come within days of Pope Benedict's resignation.

Father Lombardi says he expects a new pope to be in place in time for Easter, which falls on March 31 this year. Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone will govern the Church during the transition.

More than 3,000 people attended the audience with the Pope

Candidates for the Vatican's top job will join bishops, monks, friars and pilgrims for the Ash Wednesday celebrations, during which the Pope anoints the foreheads of the faithful with ashes. The ceremony launches a period of penitence before Easter in the Christian calendar.

Pope Benedict's decision to step down - making him the first pontiff in 600 years to resign simply because he cannot carry on - sparked a flurry of rumours over his health, fed by revelations that he had had an operation to replace the batteries in his pacemaker three months ago.

Some observers saw his decision as a bid to avoid the fate of his predecessor John Paul II, whose drawn-out and debilitating illness was played out on the world's stage.

But Father Lombardi insisted: "The Pope is well and his soul is serene. He did not resign the pontificate because he is ill but because of the fragility that comes with old age."

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Bali: Lindsay Sandiford Fights Death Penalty

By Jonathan Samuels, Sky News Correspondent

A British woman has started an appeal against the death sentence she received in Indonesia for smuggling cocaine worth £1.6m into the resort island of Bali.

Lindsay Sandiford, a grandmother from Cheltenham. Gloucestershire, co-operated with the police and local authorities after her arrest last year, actions which led to other arrests being made.

Her lawyer, though, says this was not taken into account by the three judges sentencing her.

In the appeal filed to the Indonesian higher court, Sandiford's lawyer Fadillah Agus said: "She has acknowledged that she did that crime, but the punishment was not fair and out of proportion."

He said she had expressed regret and apologised and "her co-operation with the police led to the arrests of the other suspects".

Lindsay Sandiford claims she was forced to smuggle drugs by a criminal gang

Sandiford, 56, was arrested in May 2012 at Bali airport when customs officers found almost 5kg (10.6lb) of cocaine in her luggage. She claimed she had been forced to smuggle the drugs into Bali from Thailand by a criminal gang.

Prosecutors announced in December that they would be recommending a 15-year prison sentence after she agreed to co-operate in a sting operation in which police swooped on four other suspects alleged to be her accomplices, including Britons Rachel Dougall, Julian Pounder and Paul Beales.

However, in January she was sentenced to death by firing squad. Dougall, Pounder and Beales have all received sentences ranging from one to six years.

Sandiford, originally from Redcar, Teeside, claims she was forced to transport the drugs by gang members who were threatening to hurt her children.

Paul Beales, Rachell Dougall and Julian Ponder all received jail sentences

"However, her role as a justice collaborator was not taken into account by the district court," Mr Agus said. "Rather, she was sentenced to death while those masterminds and actual owners of the cocaine received lighter sentences."

The High Court in London last month dismissed a case Sandiford filed against the British Government, saying it did not act unlawfully when it refused to fund her appeal.

Indonesia has very strict anti-drug laws and most of the more than 40 foreigners on its death row were convicted of drug offences.

The country has not executed anyone since 2008, when 10 people were put to death, leaving 113 prisoners remaining on death row. Officials have said several executions are expected this year.

A response to Sandiford's appeal could take up to a month and a half.

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Ryanair: EU 'Will Block' Aer Lingus Merger

Ryanair has said the European Commission (EC) intends to prohibit its proposed merger with smaller Irish rival Aer Lingus.

The budget airline said the decision is a political one that is not based on competition law.

The company said: "Ryanair ... was notified this (Tuesday) morning at a state-of-play meeting with the EU Commission, that the EU Commission intends to prohibit Ryanair's offer for Aer Lingus, despite the fact that Ryanair has met every competition concern raised in the EU's statement of objections and during the review process."

The EC said it would launch a detailed investigation into Ryanair's bid in August.

Ryanair, which currently owns just under 30% of Aer Lingus, has already attempted to gain control of Aer Lingus twice but ran into opposition from the EC and the Irish government on both occasions.

Last month it was told that it had one last chance to submit measures to ensure the proposed £591m merger did not reduce competition.

Ryanair's latest offer to the Commission included ceding 43 routes to Flybe and handing the routes operated by Aer Lingus from London's Gatwick Airport to British Airways.

A spokesman for EU competition chief Joaquin Almunia said: "The Commission will take a decision in this case at the end of February or the beginning of March."

He declined to comment further on the Ryanair statement.

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Vatican: Pope Has Had Pacemaker For Years

The Vatican has admitted for the first time that Pope Benedict has had a heart pacemaker for several years.

The Pope, who is stepping down at the end of the month due to "deteriorating" health, had its battery replaced a few months ago in what was described as a "routine" procedure.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the 85-year-old had the pacemaker fitted "a long time" before he became Pontiff in 2005.

The Italian daily newspaper Il Sole 24 said Benedict had the pacemaker procedure less than three months ago in a Rome hospital and did not miss any public appearances.

The Pope will bid his followers a final farewell in an audience in St Peter's Square, Rome, on February 27, the day before he officially steps down.

"The last general audience will be held in the square since a lot of people will come," Mr Lombardi said at a press briefing.

He also said the traditional Ash Wednesday mass on February 13 would be his last major religious ceremony as Pope together with other prelates.

The mass, which marks the start of a period of penitence before Easter for Christians, will be held in St Peter's Basilica instead of a smaller Rome church in order to accommodate large numbers of people expected because of the announcement.

"We suppose there will be a lot of people who will want to come and pray with the Holy Father and the cardinals and bishops," Mr Lombardi said.

"It is an important concelebration. It is will be the Holy Father's last major concelebration with the public present," he added.

Mr Lombardi said the Pope would also speak about his experiences during the reformist Second Vatican Council in the 1960s at an already scheduled meeting with parish priests from Rome on Thursday.

"This is an important moment, an embrace from the Pope," he said.

Meanwhile, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, said his brother will stay out of the public eye and lead a quiet life in the Vatican when he returns to being Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

The priest , who lives in the southern German city of Regensburg and was ordained on the same day as the pope in 1951, said his brother has no plans to move back to his homeland.

"You don't transplant an old tree," said the 89-year-old.

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UN Meets After North Korea Nuclear Test

The UN Security Council has opened emergency talks on North Korea's nuclear test, as world powers made calls for swift action against Pyongyang.

The 15-nation council passed a resolution last month threatening "significant action" against North Korea in the event of a new nuclear test or missile launch.

The meeting comes after North Korea confirmed on Tuesday that it carried out a third nuclear test. Monitoring agencies had earlier reported an "unusual seismic event".

"A third nuclear test has been successfully staged," the North's state-run Korean Central News agency said.

"The nuclear test was conducted as part of measures to protect our national security and sovereignty against the reckless hostility of the United States that violated our republic's right for a peaceful satellite launch."

North Korea's ambassador to China was summoned to explain the nuclear test

At just before midday local time, an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.9 was detected just north of a site where Pyongyang conducted earlier nuclear tests.

The two previous tests, in 2006 and 2009, prompted quakes of 3.6 and 4.5 respectively.

The South Korean defence ministry, which raised its military alert level after the quake, said the blast had an explosive yield of between six and seven kilotons (kt) and was of "enormous destructive power".

In comparison, the nuclear weapons detonated above Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 carried estimated yields of 15kt and 22kt respectively.

An activist defaces a poster of Kim Jong-un and his wife Ri Sol-ju

Prior to the Security Council meeting a spokesperson for the UN boss Ban Ki-moon said: "The Secretary-General condemns the underground nuclear weapon test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea today.

"It is a clear and grave violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions."

Tibor Toth, the executive secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), said the event's location was "roughly congruent with" nuclear tests carried out by North Korea in 2006 and 2009.

"This act would constitute a clear threat to international peace and security, and challenge efforts made to strengthen global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, in particular by ending nuclear testing," he added.

A Japanese seismic official shows where the blast occurred

China expressed its "firm opposition" to North Korea's nuclear test, saying its wayward ally had gone ahead with the blast "despite widespread opposition from the international community".

"We strongly urge the DPRK to honour its commitment to denuclearisation, and not to take any actions which might worsen the situation," the foreign ministry said in a statement posted on its website.

US President Barack Obama said the test posed a threat to international peace and security.

A North Korean soldier stands guard after the test

On Tuesday morning the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "The UK will begin urgent consultations with Security Council partners calling for a robust response to this latest development."

Mr Obama said the US will "continue to take steps necessary to defend ourselves and our allies" and it will work with other nations "to pursue firm action".

He added that North Korea's action "warrants further swift and credible action by the international community".

Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "North Korea's development of its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities poses a threat to international and regional security.

Protesters in Seoul shout anti-North slogans

"Its repeated provocations only serve to increase regional tension, and hinder the prospects for lasting peace on the Korean peninsula."

The Russian foreign ministry said: "By implementing a new nuclear test, Pyongyang once again ignored the rules of international law and has shown disregard UN Security Council resolutions.

"There is an urgent need to create an effective system of regional peace, which would be based on the principle of undiminished security for all participants in accordance with multilateral commitments on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula."

South Korean troops march along the demilitarised zone at the 38th parallel

Japan said the test was a "grave threat" that "cannot be tolerated".

After the blast took place a North Korean newsreader urged the Korean People's Army (KPA) to prepare for combat against its foes.

She stressed that if an order was given "the KPA should blow up the stronghold of aggression at a strike".

"And wipe out the brigandish US imperialists and South Korea puppet army to the last man and thus accomplish the historic cause of national reunification."

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Japan Train Crash: Passengers' Narrow Escape

More than 16 people on an express passenger train in Japan have been injured after the train hit a lorry at a level crossing and then crashed into a station platform.

The collision happened near Arai station on the Sanyo line in Takasago city, police in the Hyogo prefecture said.

A police spokesman said: "Sixteen people including the drivers of the truck and the train were injured.

"There is a possibility that the number of injured will increase."

A clean-up operation is under way

The driver was seriously injured but is not in a life-threatening condition.

There were about 70 passengers on the train, one report said.

The first and second carriages of the six-car train jumped the tracks, moving around 200 yards before coming to a halt at the end of a station platform.

"According to people in the neighbourhood, the trailer stalled at the crossing and the express train crashed into it," one report said.

Another said the trailer had been at the back of a queue of vehicles that had stopped for a red light.

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Russia Coal Mine Explosion Kills 16 Miners

By Katie Stallard, Moscow Correspondent

Sixteen miners have died and two are thought to be trapped underground after an explosion at a coal mine in northern Russia.

Rescue teams are attempting to reach the men at the Vorkutinskaya mine in Vorkuta, Komi region, around 1,160 miles northeast of Moscow.

A ministry spokesperson told Sky News a methane explosion was reported at the mine at 10.28 local time this morning.

She said a plane carrying medical personnel would be dispatched to the region from Moscow.

The Russian prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, has asked for a report on the situation and urged help for the miners' families.

The mine belongs to a division of Severstal, one of Russia's largest steel producers.

"Our rescue team has only just gone out to the mine," said Yevgeny Sukharev, a spokesman for Vorkutaugol, a coal supplier for Severstal.

"Clearly, an incident has occurred, but we cannot yet say exactly what happened and what scale (it is on)," he added.

Russian state TV said the families of those killed in the explosion would receive two million rubles, around £42,000, in compensation.

The mine in the northern city of Vorkuta has been working since 1973. 

According to its website, it won a corporate award in 2011 for "worthy working conditions - the basis for respect in the work force".

Once the powerhouse of the Soviet economy, Russia's coal mines have a poor safety record, with frequent accidents reported despite recent efforts to improve conditions.

Last month four workers died in an explosion at a mine in western Siberia.

In 2010, 68 people were killed in two methane blasts at Russia's biggest underground coal mine, the Raspadskaya mine in Siberia.

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North Korean Statue Given Anorak In Make-Over

The North Korean authorities have recast a huge bronze statue of their former dictator Kim Jong-Il to show the leader wearing a casual anorak rather than a formal coat, only months after the original was unveiled.

The previous statue featured the North Korean 'Dear Leader' wearing a three-quarter length coat, with lapels and three buttons.

The first version only went on display at the Mansudae Grand Monument in Pyongyang in April last year, next to a huge statue of his father, the 'Great Leader' of North Korea, Kim Il-Sung.

It is not known how or why the statue was changed as North Korea has no independent media, but a photo of the monument taken on February 10 this year shows Mr Kim in a casual jacket.

Both statues were surrounded by tenting in October and had remained covered up until they were unveiled without ceremony this week.

It contrasts with the original unveiling in April 2012 which was watched by Kim Jong-Il's son and Kim Il-Sung's grandson Kim Jong-Un and a host of other senior Communist Party members.

Kim Jong-Il was known to like wearing his anorak, which he wore on numerous visits around the secretive and impoverished country.

A tribute to Kim Jong-Il, said to have been penned by the state-run Korean Central News Agency after his death, hailed the North Korean leader's "threadbare and discoloured" parka as a "symbol of revolution".

"It is a witness of history," the new agency's obituary said of the anorak. "The parka will be remembered forever by the Korean people."

The original statue, of Kim Il-Sung, was placed on the site in 1972, long before the death of the leader who ruled his country from 1948 until his death in 1994.

The second statue of Kim Jong-Il was only placed on the spot after the dictator's death.

The statues, which sit in a large ceremonial square filled with smaller versions, stand 20 metres high.

The statue of Kim Il-Sung was originally covered in gold leaf but the valuable coating was removed after the Chinese, who were effectively bankrolling the country, objected to such an expensive display of wealth.

North Korea has become increasingly isolated in recent months after demonstrating it is determined to press ahead with testing of nuclear weapons.

Its only ally China has also signalled its growing unhappiness by agreeing to tightened UN sanctions that had been proposed by America and other Western nations.

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Pope Benedict Resignation: Global Reaction

Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign as head of the Catholic Church has shocked political leaders, religious figures and commentators alike.

Political reaction was led by Prime Minister David Cameron, who said: "I send my best wishes to Pope Benedict following his announcement. He has worked tirelessly to strengthen Britain's relations with the Holy See.

"His visit to Britain in 2010 is remembered with great respect and affection. He will be missed as a spiritual leader to millions."

Conservative MP Mark Pritchard, who has met Pope Benedict several times, said he would be a "sad loss" to the Catholic Church, while former MP Ann Widdecombe added: "He's given the church stability. He was very much an authority figure and he was very, very trusted by church."

Diarmaid MacCulloch, professor of the history of the church at Oxford University, said the announcement had taken many people by surprise.

"What's very noticeable is the sheer disarray around the statement," he said. "Clearly no one in the upper hierarchy in this country knew anything about it.

"Normally these things are very well prepared but this hasn't been. It may be the result of an elderly man reflecting in private and coming to a sudden decision."

Robin Gill, professor of applied theology at the University of Kent, described Pope Benedict as a "very intelligent, very astute man", who had managed to "hold Catholics together".

"I think he knew that if he continued, he would be unable to function properly," he said. "He saw his predecessor become increasingly frail and I think he has made a very wise decision."

Pope Benedict XVI visited the UK in 2010

Meanwhile, Madeleine Teahan, associate editor of the Catholic Herald, who was only 17 when Pope Benedict was elected, said: "Young people were so inspired and so encouraged by him."

Elsewhere, Monsignor Andrew Faley, of the Catholic Bishops' Conference, told Sky News: "He is extremely popular and is a Pope who will be remembered by ordinary people, as well as by political leaders, as a man who appreciated the humanity of everyone he met.

"He is someone who gives you his complete attention when you meet him and it's that sense of humanity and openness that he gave to everyone that he will be remembered for."

Father Christopher Jamison, a Benedictine monk, told Sky News: "My reaction is one of great shock and surprise.

"He's reached out very strongly to non-believers and fully recognises that people today won't necessarily join the Church.

"On his visit to the UK in 2010, people were surprised to discover that he wasn't a terrible ogre of a man but someone of great wisdom."

John Arnold, Auxillary Bishop of the Diocese of Westminster, recalled the Pope's trip to Britain with fondness.

"Those were four extraordinary days," he said. "He came as a friend and he came to give us a very important message about the Church in our country and our society."

The Most Reverend Justin Welby, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, added: "It was with a heavy heart but complete understanding that we learned of Pope Benedict's declaration of his decision to lay down the burden of ministry as Bishop of Rome, an office which he has held with great dignity, insight and courage."

The Pope, who was born in Germany, visited the country in 2011

Further afield, the German government said it was "moved and touched" by the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, who was born in the country.

Spokesman Steffen Seibert said: "The German government has the highest respect for the Holy Father, for what he has done, for his contributions over the course of his life to the Catholic Church.

"He has been at the head of the Catholic Church for nearly eight years. He has left a very personal signature as a thinker and also as a shepherd."

In the Philippines, President Benigno Aquino said the country was grateful for the "many prayers and comforting words Pope Benedict XVI dedicated to Filipinos in times of calamity and challenge".

"All peoples and nations of goodwill are filled with great regret," his spokesman said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the Pope's "courage", while Rabbi Yona Metzger, the country's Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, said he had helped to reduce anti-Semitism around the world.

Meanwhile, French President Francois Hollande said the Pope's decision to resign was "eminently respectable".

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