Father In Court Over Daughter's Murder

The father of an 11-year-old girl found strangled at her home has appeared in court charged with her murder.

Rebecca Thompson was discovered at the house in Holmefield Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire, on Saturday, June 22.

Her father Simon Thompson, 52, was taken to hospital after being involved in a car crash in the early hours of the same day.

He has now appeared at Hatfield Magistrates' Court, where he was remanded in custody.

Rebecca's headteacher paid tribute to the schoolgirl.

In a statement, Rita Cooper, head of Sacred Heart Primary School, said: "It is with great sadness that we heard of the death of Rebecca who was in Year Six at Sacred Heart.

"Rebecca was a lovely girl who was hard-working and did well in her learning. She was looking forward to secondary school.

"The whole school is very distressed by this tragedy and our thoughts are with her family and friends."

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Egypt Clashes Turn Deadly As Troops Open Fire

By Dominic Waghorn, Sky News Correspondent, in Cairo

At least 36 people in Egypt have died and over 1,000 were hurt in fierce clashes between supporters and opponents of deposed president Mohamed Morsi.

Supporters of the former leader marched to the Cairo barracks of the Republican Guard chanting "down with military rule" after a Muslim Brotherhood rally at the city's Rabea al Adaweya mosque.

Shots were fired as protesters hung pictures of Mr Morsi on a barbed wire barrier around the military complex. At least three demonstrators were shot by the military.

Downtown Cairo witnessed the same street battles played out two-and-a-half years ago, this time with Morsi supporters fighting their enemies with rocks, clubs and fireworks. One person was killed in their clashes.

Following the violence, the country's interim president Adli Mansour held talks with General Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi - the army chief who is also defence minister - and interior minister Mohammed Ibrahim who is in charge of the police.

It was the first time Mr Mansour has worked from the president's main offices since he was sworn-in on Thursday, after the military overthrew Mr Morsi - the country's first democratically elected president.

An anti-Morsi protester with evidence of gun cartridges

A pro-Morsi crowd crossed the Sixth Of October bridge heading towards Tahrir Square, provoking a fierce confrontation.

The Egyptian army said troops were responding only with blank rounds and tear gas.

However, anti-Morsi youths showed Sky News what their enemies had done to them, brandishing used shotgun cartridges and pellet wounds.

"They are terrorists and we should get rid of them," they said. "They're using automatic weapons and shotguns."

Egyptian elite soldiers guard a military building in Cairo

The atmosphere was febrile. Changing in a second. Turning from triumphant to panicked, as the crowd scattered thinking their attackers had returned.

"The Muslim Brotherhood is coming here beating us shooting us," said one man. "We're here, we're alone and we need someone to  help us."

As if to answer him, military armoured personnel carriers appeared from the gloom.

But this isn't a conflict against foreign invaders, it's between Egyptians.

The anti-Morsi crowd screamed curses against the ousted president venting their fury, and relief then turned against us, the Sky News crew, mistaking us for Americans.

A hurried explanation gave us time to escape.

More than 200 people have been wounded nationwide, according to officials

There are now two armies of protesters on the streets of Cairo - enraged and out for vengeance, determined to prevail.

Violence also erupted in cities of southern Egypt, along the Suez Canal and in the Nile Delta, with officials reporting more than 200 people injured. Four were killed in the northern Sinai city of el Arish, where Islamists stormed a government building.

Egypt's ambulance authority said 36 people had died nationwide, including 12 people in clashes in Alexandria. Most of the fatalities were from gunshot wounds.

It came after the Muslim Brotherhood and its allies called for protesters to take to the streets on the Muslim day of prayer for what it described as a "Friday of Rage".

The leader of the Brotherhood called for followers to remain peaceful but he vowed to restore power to Mr Morsi, who was ousted in a military coup earlier this week, a year after being elected to office.

Meanwhile, lawyers for ex-president Hosni Mubarak entered a not guilty plea as his retrial for alleged complicity in the killings of protesters in 2011 resumed.

The 85-year-old former leader appeared in the dock behind bars, wearing dark sunglasses and a white prison uniform.

During the televised hearing, Cairo's criminal court heard submissions by the defence before proceedings were adjourned  until August 17.

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Islamic Militants Kill 30 In Nigeria School Attack

Armed Islamic militants have killed 29 students and an English teacher in an attack on a boarding school in northeastern Nigeria.

Survivors being treated for burns and gunshot wounds said some students were burned alive in the attack on Saturday which has been blamed on a radical terror group.

Gunmen, believed to be from Islamist sect Boko Haram, stormed the premises of Government Secondary School in the town of Mamudo in Yobe state at around 3am, setting fire to parts of the complex.

Dozens of children from the 1,200-student school escaped into the bush and have not been seen since.

Parents rushed to the school and screamed in anguish as they tried to identify the charred and dead bodies of the victims.

Mohammed Musa, who taught English at the school, died after he was shot in the chest.

One 15-year-old, who survived the attack, told of how he awoke to find one of the attackers pointing a gun at him.

Speaking at Potsikum General Hospital, Musa Hassan said: "We were sleeping when we heard gunshots. When I woke up, someone was pointing a gun at me."

Nigerian soldiers on patrol in a village

He put up his hands in defence and was shot in his right hand, the one he uses to write with, and lost four fingers.

The child said the gunmen came armed with jerry cans of fuel that they used to torch the school's administrative block and one of the hostels.

"They burned the children alive," he added.

Farmer Malam Abdullahi found the bodies of two of his sons, a 10-year-old shot in the back as he apparently tried to run away, and a 12-year-old shot in the chest.

He said he planned to withdraw his three remaining sons from another school nearby.

"That's it, I'm taking my other boys out of school," he said.

He complained there was no protection for students despite the deployment of thousands of troops since the government declared a state of emergency mid-May in three northeastern states.

"It's not safe," he said. "The gunmen are attacking schools and there is no protection for students despite all the soldiers," he added.

A poster offers a reward for the capture of Boko Haram head Abubakar Shekau

It is the deadliest of three attacks on schools since the military launched its offensive to try to crush Boko Haram. The group's nickname translates as "Western education is sinful" in the northern Hausa language.

Suspected Islamist militants opened fire on a school in Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri last month, killing nine students, and a similar attack on a school in the city of Damaturu killed seven just days earlier.

Dozens of schools have been torched and unknown scores of students killed among more than 1,600 victims slain by extremists since 2010.

Militants have increasingly targeted civilians, including health workers on vaccination campaigns, teachers and government workers, while farmers have been driven from their land.

President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency on May 14, and deployed thousands of troops to halt the insurgency, acknowledging that militants had taken control of some towns and villages.

Nigerian forces say they have wrest back control of the remote northeast from Boko Haram, destroying key bases and arresting scores of suspects.

However, the military crackdown has pushed many militants into hiding.

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Lions Beat Australia To Win Rugby Test Series

The British and Irish Lions have won their first Test series in 16 years after beating Australia 41-16 in the third and deciding match.

The Lions, who claimed the series 2-1, got an early lead at Sydney's Olympic Stadium when prop Alex Corbisiero crossed the line for a second minute try.

And fullback Leigh Halfpenny kicked 12 points to put them 19-3 up after 26 minutes.

Australia fought back as James O'Connor scored a try just before half-time and inside centre Christian Leali'ifano kicked the home side to within three points at 19-16 with 25 minutes remaining.

But the Lions, who last won a Test series in 1997 in South Africa, then found the attacking rhythm that they lacked in the second Test defeat.

Fly-half Jonny Sexton, winger George North and centre Jamie Roberts crossed for second-half tries as the Lions were comfortable winners.

Alun-Wyn Jones captained the side for the decider in the absence of the injured Sam Warburton.

He said he was pleased that rugby had taken over as the main talking point after the debate about Brian O'Driscoll not being picked for the final game.

Jamie Roberts scored one of the Lions' four tries

Jones told Sky Sports: "It's a pretty indescribable feeling.

"A lot has been said about the selections but we just want to thank the fans. I think we proved, despite the selections, that the northern hemisphere is doing pretty well.

"On Wednesday and Thursday we had the two worst training sessions of the seven weeks we've been here, but we fronted up today.

"We represented our four countries with pride. We wanted to win the collisions and the breakdown and it came down to that today."

Jones' fellow Welshman Warbuton joined him on the field at the end to collect the trophy for the series win.

"Unlucky to you Australian boys," Warburton said.

"It's been an immense Test series. To our boys, a massive well done. We worked hard for this.

"To the fans, who spent thousands of pounds to come here, you've made our tour."

Australia skipper James Horwill said: "We just weren't good enough tonight. The better team on the night won."

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Azelle Rodney 'Unlawfully Killed' By Police

An inquiry into the death of a man shot dead by police eight years ago has concluded that he was unlawfully killed.

Azelle Rodney, who was 24, died after the car he was in was stopped by armed officers in London.

An official report found the police marksman who shot Mr Rodney had no reason to believe he had picked up a weapon - so there was "no lawful justification" for killing him.

The officer who fired the fatal shots could now face criminal charges after the case was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Mr Rodney's mother Susan Alexander said the report backed her view that her son was "executed" and demanded an apology from Scotland Yard.

Former High Court judge Sir Christopher Holland released his findings following the public inquiry into the shooting in Edgware, north London in 2005.

The VW Golf in which the victim was travelling with two other men was stopped by officers who feared the trio were on their way to stage an armed heist on Colombian drug dealers and had an automatic weapon capable of firing 1,000 rounds per minute.

Mr Rodney was shot six times, once each in the arm and back and four times in the head.

Sir Christopher's critical conclusions raise the possibility of the officer, known only as E7, facing criminal charges for the shooting.

He found that even if the armed officer believed Mr Rodney had picked up a weapon, it was disproportionate to fire the four fatal head shots.

Mr Rodney's family and legal team spoke out after the report was published

E7 told the inquiry that he had seen Mr Rodney start moving around, reaching down and then coming back up with his shoulders hunched.

But Sir Christopher's report dismissed this account, which was also contradicted by eyewitnesses.

It said: "E7's accounts of what he saw are not to be accepted. Prior to firing he did not believe that the man who turned out to be Azelle Rodney had picked up a gun and was about to use it.

"Further, on the basis of what he was able to see, he could not rationally have believed that."

The officer has written to the inquiry to claim that the findings against him are " irrational".

Three guns were found in the Golf - a Colt .45 calibre pistol, a Baikal pistol and a smaller gun that looked like a key fob.

The Colt was not loaded, the Baikal was loaded but was not cocked and the safety catch was on, and the key fob gun was loaded, cocked and the safety catch was off.

Sir Christopher found that Operation Tayport, which led to Mr Rodney's death, was not run in a way that would minimise the threat to life.

He also concluded that the "hard stop" on the Golf "fell short of the standards set by the MPS".

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the Met "deeply regrets" the killing

Drivers were not supposed to deliberately ram the suspect car but two of the police cars did.

The firearms officers were also supposed to be wearing police caps, but the two that could be seen in a video of the shooting were not.

Two officers also fired rounds into the tyres of the Golf after it had been rammed and hemmed in by unmarked police cars.

Sir Christopher has recommended that Scotland Yard now nominates a senior officer to carry out a review of the operation.

Speaking after the report was published, Susan Alexander said: "I do not seek to justify what Azelle was doing on the day he died, but he was entitled to be apprehended and, if there was evidence, to be charged and brought before a court of law to face trial before a jury.

"The fact that he was strongly suspected in being involved in crime does not justify him or anyone else being summarily killed."

She said she did not want any further delays in investigating what happened to her son, and asked for apologies from the police and watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "I have read the findings carefully and want to express my personal sympathy to Mr Rodney's family.

"The MPS deeply regrets his death, and I recognise how distressing the inquiry must have been for them."

He said the force accepts recommendations made by Sir Christopher about how officers are debriefed after firearms operations.

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Falkirk Row: Labour Calls In Police

Labour is handing its investigation into alleged irregularities over the selection of an election candidate in Falkirk to the police, according to Sky sources.

Facing potentially the biggest crisis of his Labour leadership, Ed Miliband has told Unite boss Len McCluskey to face up to "malpractice" over the selection of MPs.

Mr Miliband insisted the union - Labour's biggest donor - should not be defending the "machine politics" allegedly used in an attempt to swing the selection for its favoured candidate in Falkirk.

It is claimed Unite crammed the Scottish constituency with 100 or more members whose subscriptions were paid by the union, some of them without their knowledge.

Earlier, Mr McCluskey said he had "no trust" in the the party's handling of the Falkirk issue, after Mr Watson, who has close links with Unite, stepped down from the shadow cabinet on Thursday.

Mr Watson said that he was quitting to safeguard "the unity of the party".

As he fought to control the crisis, Mr Miliband announced he was suspending two members of the Falkirk party - constituency chairman Stephen Deans and Karie Murphy, Mr Watson's office manager who was Unite's favoured candidate for the seat.

Mr McCluskey has demanded an independent inquiry, accusing the party of "smears" over claims that it sought to swing the contest.

Tom Watson has resigned

But Mr Miliband dismissed the union boss's smear claim as "total nonsense" and said Mr McCluskey should "face up to what people within your union were doing".

Speaking at a charity event in London, Mr Miliband said: "The Labour Party I lead will select its candidates in a fair and transparent way.

"We will act without fear or favour.

"Instead of defending what happened in Falkirk, Len McCluskey should be facing up to his responsibilities.

"He should not be defending the machine politics involving bad practice and malpractice that went on there, he should be facing up to it.

"We had members being signed up without their knowledge, bad practice, malpractice and, frankly, instead of defending that kind of thing, Len McCluskey should be condemning it."

In an incendiary letter to Labour's general secretary, Mr McCluskey said a party inquiry into claims the union tried to stitch up candidate selection was a "disgrace".

"I ... am obliged to uphold the integrity of Unite, and I can no longer do so on the basis of going along with the activities of a Labour Party administration in which I can place no trust," Mr McCluskey wrote.

"I will therefore be publicly proposing that an independent inquiry be held into all circumstances relating to Falkirk CLP and the conduct of all parties involved."

Mr McCluskey also complained that he had not been shown the "flimsy" internal inquiry report which he said "has been used to smear Unite and its members".

"Even if the allegations of people being signed up to the party without their knowledge were true, this had nothing whatsoever to do with my union," he said.

"It is noteworthy that members of the shadow cabinet have been in the lead in initiating this attack upon Unite. Have they had sight of this report while I, the leader of the union put in the frame, has not had the courtesy of a copy?"

Conservative Paty chairman Grant Shapps has written to Mr Miliband demanding the publication of Labour's internal report on events in Falkirk.

Mr Shapps also asked Mr Miliband whether he would suspend candidates in 40 other seats named in a leaked Unite document as enjoying support from the union in selection contests.

Labour insists it has no evidence of membership irregularities in any constituencies outside Falkirk.

"This week we have seen the full extent of Len McCluskey's takeover of the Labour Party," said Mr Shapps.

Sky's deputy political editor Joey Jones said: "Labour badly needs some time away from the parliamentary hothouse to lick its wounds and try to restore some order to its selection procedures.

"However, the Tories will take every opportunity to crow at the opposition's misery."

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Pope Clears John Paul II For Sainthood

Pope Francis has cleared John Paul II for sainthood, approving a second miracle attributed to his intercession, the Vatican says.

John Paul was extremely popular during much of his 27-year-papacy. 

He died in 2005 at age 84.

The canonisation ceremony is expected to take place before the end of the year, possibly in December.

Two miracles are required for sainthood.

A view of St Peter's Square during John Paul's funeral

The first miracle to be approved by the Vatican came just six months after John Paul's death, when French nun Sister Marie Simon-Pierre inexplicably recovered from Parkinson's disease after praying for the late pontiff's "intercession".

There have been suggestions that Sister Marie did not actually have Parkinson's.

The Vatican spokesman said the second miracle concerned a Costa Rican woman.

The Spanish Catholic newspaper La Razon said she suffered from a brain aneurysm that was inexplicably cured on May 1, 2011 - the day of John Paul's beatification.

La Razon reported that the woman had been given only a month to live after doctors found she had the aneurysm. But her family said that after they prayed to John Paul, the aneurysm disappeared.

Pope Francis approved the second miracle attributed to John Paul

The newspaper quoted her doctor, Dr Alejandro Vargas, as saying: "I can't explain it based on science."

For a healing to be officially certified as a miracle, the occurrence must be permanent, instantaneous and have no scientific explanation.

The Vatican put John Paul on a fast-track to sainthood just weeks after his death on April 2, 2005, dispensing with the traditional five-year waiting period.

Calls for the beloved pontiff to become a saint erupted at his funeral, where many mourners shouted "Santo Subito!" ("Sainthood Now!").

But some Vatican observers have voiced concerns that the process has been too quick.

The Pope with the Queen in 2000

The last years of John Paul's papacy have been marred by a clerical sex abuse scandal, and critics said he failed to address other problems such as dysfunctional governance at the Vatican.

As one of the longest-serving popes, the Polish-born John Paul travelled far and wide, often greeted by massive crowds as he championed peace, denounced human rights abuses and deplored the decadence of the modern world.

Pope John XIII was dubbed the 'good pope'

He eschewed the pomp that surrounded his predecessors to seek contact with ordinary people, and is credited by many with helping to topple Communism in Eastern Europe. In 1981, he survived an assassination attempt in St Peter's Square.

But he also alienated many Catholics with staunchly conservative views on social matters.

Pope Francis also decided to make the late pontiff John XXIII a saint even though the Vatican has not confirmed a second miracle attributed to his intercession.

The Vatican said Francis had the power to "dispense" with the normal saint-making procedures to canonise him on his own merit, without a miracle.

John XXIII, who led the Roman Catholic Church between 1958 and 1963, was dubbed the "good pope" and enacted sweeping reforms to modernise the Vatican.

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Egypt Coup: Three Killed In Cairo Gun Battle

At least three people have reportedly been killed in a gunfight between demonstrators and the Egyptian army.

Shots were fired as supporters of Mohamed Morsi marched towards the Cairo headquarters of the Republican Guard, news agency AFP reported.

Several hundred people are believed to have joined the march.

Mohamed Morsi is said to be under house arrest

The deaths came after the United Nations' human rights chief expressed concern at the arrest of key members of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.

Navi Pillay said there should be "no more violence, no arbitrary detention, no illegal acts of retribution" following the military intervention that forced Mr Morsi from office.

He is believed to have been placed under house arrest since Egypt's top judge, Adli Mansour, was sworn in as interim president.

At least four of his aides and advisers are also being held.

Ms Pillay's message came as the Egyptian army positioned its tanks and troops outside the presidential palace in Cairo, blocking access to protesters.

Meanwhile, thousands of pro-Morsi campaigners continued their sit-in at the entrance to Cairo's Rabea al Adaweya mosque.

The Muslim Brotherhood and its allies called for protesters to take to the streets on the Muslim day of prayer for what it described as a "Friday of Rage".

The military keeps guard near the Rabea al Adaweya mosque square

Egyptians are braced for more violence, although Muslim Brotherhood officials have urged their followers to keep their protests peaceful.

Sky's Andrew Wilson, in Cairo, said: "Everyone's trying to read the signals and figure out what's most likely to happen next, and they're hoping for some sort of resolution.

"One thing we will not see this time round, as we might have seen during some parts of the original Arab Spring, is two sides clashing.

"The protesters in Tahrir Square - this so-called coalition or rebellion - all agreed on one point and one point only. They wanted Mr Morsi out and they've won. They have no interest whatsoever in getting involved in clashes in the streets.

A supporter of Mohamed Morsi holds a poster of the ousted president

"Two-and-a-half years ago, it was pro-Hosni Mubarak supporters fighting with anti-Mubarak campaigners, clashing with the army in the middle.

"The army has delivered what half the population wants and now only has the job of policing the other half."

Meanwhile, Ms Pillay called on authorities to investigate the "appalling" rise in sexual violence against women.

It comes after a number of women told Human Rights Watch they had been assaulted in Tahrir Square.

The charity said some women had been beaten with metal chairs, chains and sticks, while others were attacked with knives.

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Madeleine McCann: New UK Police Investigation

By Michelle Clifford, Senior News Correspondent

Madeleine McCann's parents have welcomed the launch of a new UK police investigation into their daughter's disappearance.

A Met Police review has identified 38 "persons of interest" who detectives want to speak to in relation to the suspected abduction in 2007 - almost twice as many as previously thought.

Officers say they are moving from the case review to an "investigative stage of the inquiry" and now intend to pursue more information about those individuals - 12 of whom are UK nationals

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, who is heading up the inquiry, calls this "a critical moment" in the the search for Madeleine.

He said: "We have been in a unique position over the last two years in drawing together three strands - Portuguese, UK and private investigators' material.

"From that vast quantity of material analysed we have identified 38 persons of interest and 12 who are UK nationals, and it is from that position that we are able to move from review to investigation."

The Met intends to apply to issue formal requests to Portugal for evidence to be gathered and to allow a team of British officers to be present during the process.

The working relationship between UK and Portuguese police is now said to be "positive and focused" and in the absence of evidence to the contrary both countries are working on the assumption that Madeleine may still be alive.

Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry say they "warmly welcome" the new probe

DCI Redwood said: "There is no clear, definitive proof that Madeleine McCann is dead.

"On that basis I genuinely believe there is a possibility she is still alive. And so I would like to ask the public to continue to look for her."

Madeleine was three when she vanished from her bedroom in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz in May 2007 as her parents Kate and Gerry dined with friends nearby.

The local police investigation was called off a year later, yielding few clues into her disappearance or whereabouts.

In 2011 the Met launched its review of the case and earlier this year the Home Office said it was prepared to fund any continuing investigation.

Met Officers have made 16 visits to Portugal and officers have met and shared their findings with key members of both the Policia Judiciaria and the judicial authorities.

A spokesman for the McCanns said: "Kate and Gerry warmly welcome the shift in the Met's emphasis from review to investigation.

"It is clearly a big step forward in establishing what happened and, hopefully, towards bringing whoever is responsible for Madeleine's abduction to justice."

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Nelson Mandela Children Reburied At Qunu

The exhumed remains of three of Nelson Mandela's children have been reburied in his childhood village of Qunu, AFP has reported.

"We are here now at the graveyard burying the remains," police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said.

The remains of the three children have been at the centre of a bitter family feud over the former South African president's final resting place.

More follows...

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Egypt Coup: Interim President Is Sworn In

The head of the constitutional court has been sworn in as Egypt's interim president, a day after the overthrow of the country's first democratically elected leader, Mohamed Morsi.

Adli Mansour took his oath of office under an army transition plan in a ceremony that was broadcast live on state television.

As the ceremony got underway, the skies above Cairo filled with military jets in a series of fly-pasts.

Above Tahrir Square, for days the centre of anti-government protests, Air Force planes painted the sky in the colours of the national flag.

"I swear to preserve the system of the republic, and respect the constitution and law, and guard the people's interests," Mr Mansour said.

He praised the mass protests demanding the ouster of Mr Morsi, saying they united Egyptians, but also invited the deposed president's Muslim Brotherhood "to take part in the political life".

However, hours later the Brotherhood's supreme leader was arrested, news reports said.

The ousted president is in custody

The ceremony came after the army removed Mr Morsi, replacing him with Mr Mansour, suspended the Islamist-drafted constitution, and called for new elections.

Mr Morsi, who was elected a year ago, and his Brotherhood allies have blasted the army's intervention as a "full coup" by the generals.

The group, which renounced violence decades ago, vowed not to take up arms, according to a senior leader of the group, Mohamed El-Beltagy.

Anti-Morsi protesters react to the army statement

But he warned that the overthrow might push other groups toward violent resistance.

The "second revolution" - after Arab Spring uprisings that led to the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in 2011 - leaves Egypt's 84 million people deeply divided.

In the streets of Cairo, millions celebrated the news of Mr Morsi's removal, as fireworks lit up the sky over Tahrir Square. At a square near Cairo University, his supporters were stunned into initial silence at the news.

Mr Morsi's removal prompted clashes across Egypt that left at least 14 people dead and hundreds wounded.

Fearing a violent reaction by Mr Morsi's Islamist supporters, troops and armoured vehicles deployed in the streets of Cairo and elsewhere, surrounding rallies.

General Abdul Fatah Khalil al Sisi announces the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi

David Cameron called for a return to the democratic process.

"We never support in countries the intervention by the military but what now needs to happen … is for democracy to flourish and for a genuine democratic transition to take place," the Prime Minister said.

"All parties need to be involved in that, and that's what Britain and our allies will be saying very clearly to the Egyptians."

Mr Morsi was being detained by the armed forces at an undisclosed facility, and prosecutors sought the arrest of the Muslim Brotherhood's top leaders and some 300 of its members.

In a televised address, the commander of the armed forces, General Abdul Fatah Khalil al Sisi, said Mr Morsi had "failed to meet the demands of the Egyptian people".

Flanked by military officials, Muslim and Christian clerics and political figures, he unveiled details of a political transition which he said had been agreed with them.

As acting leader, Mr Mansour will be assisted by an interim council and a technocratic government until new presidential and parliamentary elections are held.

No details were given as to when the new polls would take place.

Muslim Brotherhood members and pro-Morsi supporters react in Cairo

The military chief also announced a national reconciliation committee that would include youth movements, and said the armed forces and police would deal "decisively" with any violence.

"Those in the meeting have agreed on a road map for the future that includes initial steps to achieve the building of a strong Egyptian society that is cohesive and does not exclude anyone and ends the state of tension and division," he said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed for a peaceful settlement of the crisis, saying he will personally deliver a message to the country's leaders later in the day.

Ban said the "voices and aspirations of the people should have been heard" and that it was important to restore the democratic process in a "very volatile" situation.

President Barack Obama voiced his concern over the military intervention and urged a speedy return to a democratically elected government.

A military helicopter above Tahrir Square

In a statement he said: "We are deeply concerned by the decision of the Egyptian Armed Forces to remove President Morsi and suspend the Egyptian constitution.

"I now call on the Egyptian military to move quickly and responsibly to return full authority back to a democratically elected civilian government as soon as possible through an inclusive and transparent process, and to avoid any arbitrary arrests of President Morsi and his supporters."

However, the US and other world powers have not branded Mr Morsi's removal as a military coup - which might trigger sanctions.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he had talked with his Egyptian counterpart and had been reassured that "there will be early presidential elections".

He said: "It is the problem with a military intervention that it is a precedent for the future, that if this is going to happen to a democratically elected president it can happen to another in the future, and that's why it's so important to entrench democratic institutions."

A soldier cheers with anti-Morsi protesters

The Foreign Office has advised British citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Egypt apart from the Red Sea resorts, and to monitor travel advice from the Foreign Office.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton condemned the bloodshed and also called for a swift return to democracy.

Mr Morsi's overthrow came after days of demonstrations against the government. He rejected calls to step down and defied an army deadline.

Sky's Middle East Correspondent Sam Kiley said that, a day after Mr Morsi's ouster, the atmosphere among Brotherhood supporters is "extremely subdued", with many going underground.

"One person, asking to remain anonymous, says that he feels that for them the regime has gone back to the days of Hosni Mubarak, when they were a banned organisation and their leadership was in jail."

The Muslim Brotherhood's TV station was taken off air and its managers arrested hours after Mr Morsi was overthrown.

The Egypt25 channel had been broadcasting live coverage of rallies by tens of thousands of pro-Morsi demonstrators in Cairo and around the country, with speeches by leading Brotherhood politicians denouncing the military intervention to oust the elected president.

The offices of Al Jazeera's Egyptian television channel were also reportedly raided by security forces and prevented from broadcasting from a pro-Morsi rally. Several members of staff were also reportedly detained.

:: Follow live updates here

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Bernie Nolan: Singer Dies After Cancer Battle

Irish singer and actress Bernie Nolan has died aged 52 after a long battle with cancer, her publicist confirmed.

The former lead vocalist of The Nolans was told in 2010 she was clear of breast cancer but last year discovered it had spread to her brain, lungs, liver and bones.

A spokeswoman for the family said: "Bernie passed away peacefully this morning with all of her family around her.

"The entire family are devastated to have lost beloved Bernie, a wonderful wife, adoring mother and loving sister; she is irreplaceable.

"They kindly ask people to respect their privacy at this difficult time."

The Nolan sisters (Bernie: top right)

Nolan shot to stardom with her singing sisters and the group is best known for the 1979 hit I'm In The Mood For Dancing, which sold millions of records around the world.

The Nolans also enjoyed success with songs such as Don't Make Waves, Attention To Me and Gotta Pull Myself Together and became huge in Japan where they are said to have sold more records than The Beatles.

They also supported Frank Sinatra on the European leg of his world tour.

Nolan was born in Ireland and grew up performing with her singer parents and eight siblings in pubs and clubs at night as a family troupe.

She once said: "It got to the stage where they didn't talk about whether the new baby was going to be a boy or a girl, but whether they could sing."

Bernie during her cancer battle in 2010

The girls' father Tommy became their manager and after his death Anne, the eldest sister, revealed he had sexually abused her from the age of 11.

Nolan quit The Nolans in 1994 to focus on her solo career.

But the group reunited in 2009, in a sell-out UK reunion tour, which led to a dispute with two of the sisters, Denise and Anne, who had been excluded.

Siblings Coleen, Bernie, Maureen and Linda said that the record company made the decision.

Nolan, who gave birth to her daughter Erin in 1999, also enjoyed an acting career, with credits included Diane Murray in Channel 4 soap Brookside, and Sheelagh Murphy in ITV police drama The Bill.

She took part in Channel 4 series The Games and ITV's Popstar to Operastar, and in 1988 on Saturday morning children's show On The Waterfront.

On stage, Nolan performed in Blood Brothers, Flashdance The Musical and the UK tour of Chicago The Musical in 2012 and a touring production of Calendar Girls.

Nolan, who married drummer Steve Doneathy in 1996 and whose first daughter Kate was born stillborn in 1997, was the third Nolan sister to have cancer.

In an interview last year, she told Hello! magazine she felt "a weight has been lifted" after she went public about her illness.

She said: "There's no point dwelling on it, I've got to fight it, be positive and get on with it. I say a positive mantra to myself every day."

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Pelka Case: Sibling Says Boy Had Head 'Bashed'

The sibling of Daniel Pelka, who died after allegedly being starved to death, has told a court how the four-year-old had his head "bashed" in the bathroom.

The jury at Birmingham Crown Court is being played a tape of evidence given by the child, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The prosecution claims Daniel died of head injuries after being subjected to a campaign of "incomprehensible" cruelty at the hands of his mother and stepfather.

Magdelena Luczak and her partner Mariusz Krezolek deny murder and causing or allowing Daniel's death.

The child said the last time they saw Daniel he was "sleeping in my bedroom" and they "tried to wake him up ... I listened to his heart ... I couldn't hear his heart ... it couldn't beat".

The child said they used to hide and cook food to give to Daniel "because he's not allowed to come down the stairs".

The court heard that the boy's bedroom "smelled disgusting" and the sibling said they had seen bruises on his legs.

The child said: "I love him and I didn't want him to be hurt."

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Egypt Sex Attacks Reach 'Horrific' Levels

Almost 100 women have been sexually assaulted in Cairo's Tahrir Square in just four days, according to Human Rights Watch.

The charity described the attacks as "rampant" and said they highlight the "failure of the government and all political parties to face up to the violence that women in Egypt experience on a daily basis".

Some of the 91 women assaulted were reportedly beaten with metal chains, chairs and sticks, while others were attacked with knives.

Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said: "These are serious crimes that are holding women back from participating fully in the public life of Egypt at a critical point in the country's development."

The assaults come amid escalating protests in the square around the first anniversary of President Mohamed Morsi's election.

He faces mounting pressure to resign, as well as an army deadline to resolve the country's political crisis that could lead to military intervention.

Some say the attacks are staged by thugs who are abusing a lack of security and are confident of escaping prosecution.

Others claim they are organised to scare women into not joining anti-government protests.

Human Rights Watch cited figures from a hotline for victims of sexual assault and Nazra for Feminist Studies, a women's rights group.

The watchdog called on Egyptian officials and political leaders to "condemn and take immediate steps to address the horrific levels of sexual violence" in the square.

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Woman Falls Asleep And Goes Under Train

A woman miraculously survived after falling asleep while stood on a subway station and tumbling under an oncoming train.

CCTV footage from the Prague underground on Monday appears to show the young commuter dozing on her feet, staggering towards the platform edge before falling forwards onto the tracks.

Luckily the woman landed in the groove between the rails, giving her enough room to avoid being hit by the undercarriage of the train that quickly pulled into the station.

Police spokeswoman Eva Kropacova said in a statement: "Miraculously the woman stood up, dusted her trousers and walked off."

She added that the woman refused both medical treatment and a breathalyser test, telling police she was "merely tired".

One bystander on the platform had tried to pull the woman back but missed by seconds, but a group of men were then on hand to help her out through the gap between the carriages.

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Egypt: 'Crisis Meeting Held' As Deadline Looms

Military chiefs in Egypt have reportedly met for crisis talks, as an army deadline to resolve the country's political crisis draws near.

Senior commanders attended the meeting of the Armed Forces General Command, military sources claimed.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian liberal opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei is believed to have met army chief General Abdel Fattah al Sisi.

Tens of thousands of Egyptians have staged protests across the country

"ElBaradei will urge the armed forces to intervene to stop the bloodshed," a political source told the Reuters news agency.

The Egyptian army has threatened to intervene unless President Mohamed Morsi agrees to a resolution. It could dissolve parliament and take control of the country, sparking fears of a military coup.

The deadline expires at 5pm (3pm GMT), although the army said it had set no time for issuing statements or speeches.

Thousands joined a protest in Tahrir Square in Cairo

Earlier, a state-run newspaper claimed Mr Morsi will either step down or be removed from office when a political road map for the future of the country is drawn up.

The Al-Ahram newspaper said the plan would establish a three-member presidential council to be chaired by the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court.

However an Egyptian military source denied the reports and said he expected political, social and economic figures to be called to talks.

Mr Morsi said he would protect democratic "legitimacy" with his life

Mr Morsi previously refused to step down and said he would protect democratic "legitimacy" with his life.

Addressing the nation in a 45-minute televised speech, he said he had been voted for in a free and fair election and it was his job to "safeguard the revolution" that put him in office.

Mr Morsi called for calm and said Egyptians should not attack the army, police or each other. He was, he said, attempting to get the army to return to its normal duties and withdraw its ultimatum.

A protester sits in front of anti-Morsi artwork on a Cairo building

Sky's Middle East Correspondent Sam Kiley, in the Egyptian capital Cairo, said: "What matters is what does the military do now it's nailed its colours so firmly to the deadline that comes on Wednesday evening, and what will be the reaction, not only of Mr Morsi, but of his supporters?

"The President has very substantial support from, broadly speaking, Islamists across the country and they are not likely to take a sudden change in a presidency that has a three-year mandate lying down.

"They've put out numerous statements on social media saying they will fight and lay down their lives for the cause."

Members of the Muslim Brotherhood ride on a truck through Cairo

The armed forces, which took control of the country after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in 2011, have intensified their presence in Egypt's cities ahead of the deadline.

Thousands of people gathered in Tahrir Square, the birthplace of the revolution, while a giant crowd protested outside the Qasr el-Qobba presidential palace where Mr Morsi has been working in recent days.

Meanwhile, Muslim Brotherhood supporters who witnessed clashes near Cairo University told Sky News demonstrators were attacked with automatic gunfire.

They claimed many protesters were killed and said they expect similar attacks after the deadline passes.

The Foreign Office has warned against all but essential travel to most of Egypt and said any Britons in the country should consider "whether they have a pressing need to remain".

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Shipley: Man Arrested Over Murder And Stabbing

Police are linking the murder of an 84-year-old woman to the stabbing of a nine-year-old boy and another incident in which a girl of eight was chased into her home.

West Yorkshire Police said a 26-year-old man has been arrested over the murder of pensioner Louisa Denby at her home in Shipley, West Yorkshire, on Monday, and the attempted murder of the boy at a nearby skate park.

Speaking at the skate park, Detective Superintendent Lisa Griffin said the boy was attacked for no reason and with no warning.

The officer said the girl was chased through her garden 10 minutes later but she went inside her home and came to no harm.

Det Supt Griffin said five people were in custody in relation to the three related incidents and officers were not looking for anyone else.

She confirmed that a knife had been recovered and that the 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder was related to Mrs Denby.

Shipley skate park

"Ten minutes after that attack on a nine-year-old boy, an eight-year-old girl was chased through her garden at home.

"Fortunately the girl went inside the house and nothing untoward happened to her."

Det Supt Griffin said inquiries into these two incidents had led officers to a semi-detached house in Prospect Mount where Mrs Denby's body was found.

"It's my belief at this time that the three incidents are linked," she said.

She went on: "The nine-year-old boy was out playing and was returning home for a drink when he was approached by the male suspect.

"With no prior warning and for no reason known to us at this time, he was attacked with a knife - a single stab wound causing him injuries to his chest and his arm."

Prospect Mount

The boy was taken to Leeds General Infirmary after emergency services were called to the skate park at about 4.40pm. He was due to undergo surgery and is said to be in a stable condition.

The girl was playing in the garden of her home in Prospect Grove "when a male approached and tried to draw her attention, chased her through the garden and she went into her home address".

Mrs Denby's body was found just before midnight. She had suffered a number of stab wounds, police have said.

Sky's North of England Correspondent Gerard Tubb, in Shipley, said Mrs Denby, a retired head teacher, was well-liked.

Next-door neighbour Jackie Smith said: "She was such a good neighbour and she was really respected down this road.

"She was my husband's school teacher and then, when she moved in, she'd say 'Hiya, Michael, I remember you'. She was absolutely lovely."

Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

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Linzi Ashton Murder: Man Arrested By Police

Detectives investigating the murder of mother-of-two Linzi Ashton have arrested a man on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Greater Manchester Police have offered a £5,000 reward for information leading to the capture of murder suspect Michael Cope, described as a "dangerous man".

He is wanted for the "sustained and vicious" murder of Miss Ashton, whose body was found at her home in Winton, Salford, on Saturday.

A post mortem concluded she died as a result of pressure to the neck and multiple injuries.

A 25-year-old man was arrested on Monday night on suspicion of helping Cope, a police spokesman said.

Cope had been in a relationship with Ms Ashton

Chief Superintendent Kevin Mulligan said: "We are continuing to do all we can to trace Michael Cope and urge him once again to hand himself in to the police.

"We also reiterate our appeal to those who may have information on Cope's whereabouts to speak to us in confidence.

"We are also working with our partner agencies to look at evicting anyone who is using their property to offer this man safety."

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CCTV Shows Cop Killing Child Snatcher

CCTV images have been released of a child hostage situation in an Oklahoma supermarket, which ended with a policeman shooting dead the suspect.

The surveillance video released by police in Midwest City shows a man snatching a two-year-old girl from a shopping trolley and then holding a knife to her throat.

The toddler's mother, Alicia Keating, frantically pleads with the man, identified as Sammie Wallace, 37, as other shoppers crowd around.

The man snatches the child as her mother's back is turned

She is seen and heard calling 911 for help. Local police are quickly on the scene and clear the store. 

After 30 minutes of tense negotiation, police said Wallace began talking about a satanic cult and counting down from 60.

One of the officers, Captain David Huff, determined that the only way to ensure the safety of the toddler would be to take drastic action. 

On the video he is seen moving quickly towards the hostage-taker and preparing to fire a single shot at his head.

The pictures stop at that point, but the police commentary continues and confirms Wallace was killed. The child was unharmed.

The mother pleads for her child to be let go

"Obviously, our goal was to talk him down to get him to release the child,"  Police Chief Brandon Clabes told reporters.

"I mean, we waited until the last second to use deadly force. No one wants to take a life, especially in the line of duty."

The Oklahoma County district attorney said the shooting on June 17 was justified, and hailed Captain Huff as a hero.

Wallace served time in a Texas prison from 2000 to 2011 on drug and assault charges. He was known to have a long history of mental illness.

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Stop-And-Search Police Powers To Be Reviewed

The Home Secretary has launched a public consultation into controversial police stop-and-search powers.

Theresa May, in a Commons statement, warned the way the powers were being used was harming community relations as well as wasting police time.

MPs heard people from black or ethnic minority backgrounds were seven times more likely to be stopped by officers than white people.

Mrs May said more than one million stops were recorded every year but on average only around 9% led to an arrest.

This conversion rate and how long each took to process - around 16 minutes - caused a "dreadful waste of police time", she added.

Last year this took up 312,000 hours - equal to 145 full-time officers doing nothing else, Mrs May told the House.

Theresa May speaking to MPs in the Commons

She stressed that the procedure would not be scrapped but announced a six-week public consultation into its fairness.

She said: "Everybody involved in policing has a duty to ensure nobody is ever stopped just on the basis of their skin colour or ethnicity.

"The law is clear that in normal circumstances stop and search should only ever be used where there is a reasonable suspicion of criminality and that is how it should be."

She added: "Firstly, it must be applied fairly and in a way that builds community confidence in the police, rather than undermining it.

"And second, given the scale of recording requirements placed on the police, when stop-and-search is misapplied, it is a waste of police time."

The consultation comes a few weeks after the Government's equality watchdog said police forces were being fairer and more efficient in how the employed the powers.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found that five forces, including the Metropolitan Police, had reduced their use without compromising crime reduction.

Mrs May has also asked Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to look at the procedure and their report is due within a few weeks.

Under current laws, police need to have reasonable grounds to suspect that the subject is guilty of some form of criminal behaviour before they can conduct a search.

The Home Secretary said: "At its best stop-and-search is a vital power in the fight against crime. At its worst, it is a waste of police time and undermines public confidence in the police."

She promised a formal Government response would be issued by the end of the year.

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Hot July Across UK As Summer Finally Arrives

Summer could finally be around the corner with weather forecasters predicting that the UK could enjoy warm weather for the rest of July.

With parts of Britain on Sunday experiencing the hottest day of the year so far - 27.2 Celsius being recorded at London Heathrow - memories of one of the coldest springs on record could soon be banished.

Forecasters have said that a build-up of high pressure will lead to fine weather across the UK resulting in below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures.

Enjoying the sun after one of the coldest spring on record

A few outbreaks of rain are expected between now and Friday but then the warmer weather is expected to return and stay right through into August.

Sky News Weather Producer Joanna Robinson said: "There will be showers around today, but more prolonged rain will move in from the west tonight, which will extend slowly eastwards tomorrow. 

"The wind will pick up as well. Wednesday and Thursday will see showers or longer spells of rain, but by Friday high pressure will build from the south-west settling things down. 

"This coming weekend looks mainly fine and dry, with temperatures climbing across all areas, not just south-east England. England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will see temperatures into the mid-20s, while Scotland and Northern Ireland will see the low-20s."

"It looks like high pressure will keep things settled and very warm for a good part of July too," she added.

"I'm sure there will be showers around at times and some coastal areas may be cooler, but overall the next few weeks currently look dry and very warm, with plenty of sunshine."  

This follows a particularly cold start to the year, with March being the coldest on record since 1962.

March was colder than the preceding winter months of December, January and February, which had not happened for almost 40 years.

June looks like it was fairly average in terms of temperature, with below-average rainfall for England, Wales and Scotland.

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Linzi Ashton Murder Suspect Already Wanted

A man suspected of murdering his ex-girlfriend was also wanted for questioning over claims he raped her.

Police made "numerous" attempts to arrest Michael Cope after Linzi Ashton, 25, was interviewed by detectives over the rape allegations.

The mother-of-two also told officers she had been a victim of domestic violence at Cope's hands.

Miss Ashton's body was discovered after police were called to a house in Westbourne Road, in Winton, Salford, shortly before 6pm on Saturday.

A Home Office post-mortem examination concluded she had died as a result of pressure to the neck and multiple injuries.

Detectives believe Cope, 28, was the man responsible. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have launched a manhunt for him, describing him as a dangerous individual who should not be approached.

Linzi Ashton was in an 'acrimonious' relationship with Cope

Chief Superintendent Kevin Mulligan said Miss Ashton was the subject of a "vicious and sustained attack" and urged Cope to give himself up.

"This is a serious offence and we need to track down this man. He does have a history of violent and aggressive behaviour and he does represent a risk to the community."

Mr Mulligan said Cope was believed to be in the Salford area, and that some people might be helping him.

"If anyone is harbouring this individual, they will be prosecuted," he said.

GMP have referred their previous contact with Miss Ashton to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney said: "We know that Michael Cope had been in a relationship with Linzi and through that relationship there have been reports to police in respect of allegations made by her.

"This includes a serious sexual offence and an assault that were reported at the end of April and the middle of May respectively.

"I am not going to go into great detail about these offences or our involvement, suffice it to say Michael Cope was wanted in connection with these matters and numerous attempts were made to arrest him."

Miss Ashton's body was found at her home

Detectives are keen to hear from anyone who saw Miss Ashton and Cope after it was established they were together on Friday evening.

Mr Mulligan said: "We have also established that Linzi and Michael were out together on Friday night and in the early hours of Saturday morning.

"If you were out and saw them together at any point Friday night or Saturday it is vitally important you call the police."

Cope had been in an "acrimonious" relationship with the barmaid.

Her daughters, Daisy, and Destiny, were not in the house at the time of the murder.

It is thought she was last seen alive by a friend in the Eccles area shortly before 2am on Saturday.

Several bunches of flowers and cards have been left at the Duke of York pub in Eccles town centre where Miss Ashton worked.

:: Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 8531, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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Arizona Wildfire: 19 Firefighters Killed

Nineteen elite firefighters have been killed while battling a fast-moving wildfire in Arizona.

The firefighters, 18 of whom are believed to have been from the specially-trained Granite Mountain Hotshots, were caught by the blaze near the central town of Yarnell.

They were hailed as "heroes" by US President Barack Obama, who said they "selflessly put themselves in harm's way to protect the lives and property of fellow citizens they would never meet".

The wildfire is the deadliest involving fatalities to fire crews since a blaze at Griffith Park, Los Angeles, in 1933, where 29 firefighters died, according to figures from the National Fire Protection Association.

"We're devastated," said Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo. "We've just lost 19 of the finest people you'll ever meet."

Hotshot crews often hike long distances and carry chainsaws and backpacks filled with heavy gear to build lines of protection between people and fires.

They were forced to deploy their emergency shelters when confronted by the blaze.

Strong winds and low humidity allowed the blaze to spread quickly

"One of the last fail safe methods that a firefighter can do under those conditions is literally to dig as much as they can down and cover themselves with a protective ... fire-resistant material," Mr Fraijo said.

"The hope at least is that the fire will burn over the top of them and they can survive it. Under certain conditions there's ... a 50% chance they survive.

"It's an extreme measure that's taken under the absolute worst conditions."

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, who said the state had endured "as dark a day" as she could remember, said the firefighters may have been caught in a flash fire that "turned around and overcame them all".

Art Morrison, a state forestry official, added: "In normal circumstances, when you're digging fire lines, you make sure you have a good escape route and you have a safety zone set up.

"Evidently, their safety zone wasn't big enough and the fire just overtook them."

Messages of condolence for the families of those who died have been left on a Facebook page set up in their memory.

Hundreds of homes have been destroyed by the fire

"This awful tragedy really reminds us how dangerous a job firefighters have," wrote Lakyn Spivey.

"They go to work every day to save lives, not knowing if they themselves will be coming home that day."

Natalie Minafore added: "My son is a firefighter and I cannot imagine the heartache these families must feel. These men are heroes."

According to local newspaper The Republic, around 250 homes - roughly half the town of Yarnell - were destroyed by the wildfire.

Federal government is assisting and Mr Obama pledged to provide state and local officials with all the support they need.

The blaze, which broke out on Friday, is thought to have been triggered by a lightning strike.

Hot, gusty winds blew the fire out of control over the weekend, as flames ripped through 2,000 acres of dry land.

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Smethwick Fire: Massive Blaze At Recycling Plant

A blaze at a plastic recycling factory, described by firefighters as one of the biggest ever seen in the West Midlands, is believed to have been started by a single Chinese lantern.

At its height, some 200 firefighters were tackling the blaze at the site in Smethwick, on the outskirts of Birmingham.

An estimated 100,000 tonnes of recycling material and a factory unit were set alight, and crews battled to stop the flames spreading to neighbouring businesses.

Vij Randeniya, chief fire officer at West Midlands Fire Service, told Sky News: "We believe a Chinese lantern dropped onto some bales of plastic and, looking at CCTV, it would appear that was the cause.

"Chinese lanterns have been involved in a number of incidents and firefighters have been campaigning for there to be better controls.

"They look really nice but they do pose a danger."

Two firefighters were taken to hospital and 11 more were treated at the scene by paramedics, although their injuries are thought to be minor.

Mr Randeniya said firefighters were tackling "one of the largest fires we've experienced", with intense heat released from the burning plastics.

"These are difficult fires to extinguish and we anticipate being here for a number of days," he said.

A spokesman for Birmingham International Airport said there was no disruption to flights, despite a plume of thick black smoke more than 1,800m high that could be seen from 30 miles away.

A number of roads around the recycling plant were closed but the nearby M5 motorway remained open.

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Meat From Diseased Cattle Sold By Defra

Meat from cattle slaughtered after testing positive for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is being sold for human consumption by Defra, the food and farming ministry has said.

The meat is banned by most supermarkets and burger chains, The Sunday Times reported.

Tesco, for example, rejects it because of "public-health concerns surrounding the issue of bTB and its risk to consumers".

But carcasses from around 28,000 diseased animals are sold to caterers and food processors every year.

The meat then finds its way into schools, hospitals and the military, or is used in products such as pies and pasties, the newspaper said.

A Defra spokeswoman said: "All meat from cattle slaughtered due to bovine TB must undergo rigorous food safety checks before it can be passed fit for consumption.

"The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed there are no known cases where TB has been transmitted through eating meat and the risk of infection from eating meat, even if raw or undercooked, remains extremely low."

Cattle which test positive for bTB must be slaughtered. Unless a private slaughter is arranged, the animals are taken to slaughter by Defra, which then pays compensation to farmers based on the market value.

Compensation ranges from £81 for a dairy calf up to £1,717 for an older breeding bull. Payments for pedigree cattle vary from £639 to £4,471.

Meat from slaughtered cattle is sold with no warning to processors or consumers that it comes from a bTB-infected herd.

A spokeswoman for the FSA said: "All meat must be marked with an identification mark which will indicate the approval number of the plant of origin.

"However, meat from TB reactors (animals that have failed tests for TB), once it has been passed as fit for human consumption, is not required to be marked in any way to distinguish it from other meat.

"Meat which passes the post-mortem inspection is fit for human consumption and does not need additional labelling."

The spokeswoman said that where an inspection of a carcass reveals tuberculous lesions in more than one organ or region it is declared unfit for human consumption and destroyed.

If the lymph nodes in only one organ or part of the carcass are infected, that area is removed and the rest is considered safe to enter the food chain.

"Cooking this meat would be an additional safety step, but we would emphasise the risk even before cooking is very low," she said.

George Browning, an organic farmer in Frankton, Warwickshire, told Sky News he would be "happy enough" to eat meat from a TB-infected animal.

"It's a waste for one thing," he said. "I'd rather eat something that had had TB than had been filled with drugs of all sorts, which I'd view as more unsafe to eat.

"People have got used to having cheap food and if you want cheap, you can't afford to be picky about what's in there."

The Sunday Times claimed Defra's reassurances contrasted with experts' warnings that rising levels of bTB in cattle are becoming a serious threat to human health.

Such claims have been used to justify a cull of tens of thousands of badgers which are said by some to help spread the disease between cattle.

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Dundee's Landmark Tower Blocks Demolished

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

A church in Dundee was the meat in a "demolition-sandwich" when two neighbouring tower blocks were blown down.

St Martin's Episcopal Church is situated just metres from Butterburn and Bucklemucker Court multi-storeys, which have been razed to the ground.

The congregation was decanted elsewhere for their Sunday worship, where prayers were said for the church to survive intact.

The top of one of the buildings appeared to fall onto its side

The Bishop of Brechin, the Right Reverend Dr Nigel Peyton, told Sky News before the demolition: "We'll be praying for everyone involved in the whole day, really. 

"There'll be a lot of other neighbours anxious about their properties and we'll be praying for them. We are confident that the blow down of the 'multis' will go well. 

"We've made our preparations, we've talked to the contractors and have a lot of confidence in them and we've certainly told our insurers!"

A huge pile of debris was left after the towers were brought to the ground

Preparations for the plume of dust included sealing the church organ in plastic, removing valuable items from the premises and taping up exterior doors.

The demolition of the 25-storey blocks removed two landmarks that have been prominent on the Dundee skyline since 1971. 

The 374 flats were demolished by explosives placed strategically in the structure of the buildings. 

A cloud of dust hangs over Dundee after the demolition

More than 10,000 detonators were used by the contractors SAFEDEM, which has worked on the tower blocks for several months, removing internal fittings and weakening support walls prior to the final 'blow down'. 

An exclusion zone has been set up closing off 20 surrounding streets and, as well as St Martin's Church, around 600 homes and 60 business premises were evacuated.   

Dundee City Council advised people in the area to keep windows and vents closed, not to hang out their washing and to cover garden fish ponds.

The demolition took place as part of a regeneration project for Dundee's Hilltown area.

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Salford Murder: Police Seek Linzi Ashton Ex

The ex-boyfriend of a 25-year-old mother who was "brutally murdered" in her home is being hunted by police.

Detectives in Salford said Michael Cope, 28, was their main suspect in the death of Linzi Ashton and have warned locals against "harbouring" him.

Bar worker Ms Ashton suffered "obvious face and head injuries" in the attack and her body was found in the early hours of Saturday by relatives, police said.

It is understood her daughters Destiny, seven, and Daisy, two, were not at home in Westbourne Road, Winton, at the time.

The couple had an "acrimonious" relationship, police said, and officers had been called to the address in the past. Because of this, the case has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Ms Ashton's children were not at home at the time of the attack

A post-mortem examination on Ms Ashton's body was taking place on Sunday. Neighbours have laid flowers close to the scene as police continue to look for clues.

Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Shenton said: "I have named Michael Cope as I believe he is responsible for Linzi's death.

"Linzi and Michael Cope have been in a relationship and that relationship has been acrimonious and the subject of reports to police.

"A young woman has been brutally murdered and our thoughts are with her family and friends at what is obviously a totally devastating time for them.

"I will take a dim view of anybody who provides assistance to Cope knowing that he is being sought by Greater Manchester Police."

:: Anyone with information should call police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

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Heatwave: Man Dies As Temperatures Hit 50C

A man has died and dozens more have been treated in hospital during a heatwave in the western United States.

The temperature in Phoenix, Arizona, hit 48.3C, while in Las Vegas, Nevada, the mercury rose to 46C, two degrees short of the city's all-time record.

Large swathes of California also sweltered in the extreme heat, although temperatures in Death Valley were around 3C cooler than the 53C that was forecast.

The area's record high of 56.6C, set a century ago, stands as the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth.

Temperatures reached 53C in Death Valley National Park

The first fatality of the heatwave was confirmed in Las Vegas, where paramedics found an elderly man inside a house without air conditioning.

Fire and rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said the man had pre-existing medical issues, although the heat was thought to have worsened his condition.

Another elderly man suffered a heat stroke when the air conditioner in his car went out for several hours while he was on a long road trip.

He stopped in Las Vegas, called for help and was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

People in Los Angeles shelter under a parasol

More than 40 other people have been hospitalised in Las Vegas since the heatwave began on Friday, although no life-threatening injuries were reported.

"We will probably start to see a rise in calls on Sunday and Monday as the event prolongs," Mr Szymanski said in a statement.

"People's bodies will be more agitated the longer the event lasts and people may require medical assistance."

The heatwave is expected to last into Tuesday night and possibly longer.

To make matters worse, ocean breezes that would normally cool the region's valleys and deserts have not travelled far enough inland.

Cooling stations have been set up to shelter homeless and elderly people who cannot afford to run air conditioning units.

Rangers took up positions on trails around Lake Mead, Nevada, to persuade people not to hike, while zookeepers in Phoenix tried to keep animals cool, hosing down elephants and feeding tigers frozen fish snacks.

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