South Korea Ferry Disaster Captain's Apology

The captain of a ferry that capsized off the coast of South Korea leaving more than 200 children dead or missing has apologised to the families of the victims.

In a televised address with his head bowed, Lee Joon-Seok said he had delayed the order to abandon the Sewol because he thought the sea was too cold and that the passengers, mostly children, would "drift away".

South Korea's coast guard found another three bodies on Saturday morning, bringing the confirmed death toll to 32. More than 270 passengers in total are still missing.

A member from the South Korean Navy's SSU dives into the sea off Jindo

Divers trying to find the missing have seen more bodies inside the submerged vessel but have been unable to reach them. 

The discoveries of the bodies came as it emerged the third mate steering the ferry at the time of the accident was navigating the waters for the first time.

Senior prosecutor Yang Jung-jin told reporters that the officer, a 25-year-old woman, was steering the ship as it passed through an area with lots of islands clustered close together and fast currents.

Divers say they have seen bodies through the windows of the sunken ship

Mr Yang said that another mate usually took controls through the area but, because heavy fog caused a departure delay, the third mate was steering.

The 69-year-old captain, described as an industry veteran by the ship's owners and an "expert" by others, was arrested on suspicion of negligence and abandoning people in need.

Investigators are looking into whether Lee's evacuation order came too late to save lives. Two crew members have also been arrested for failing in their duty to assist passengers.

Oh Yong-Seok, a helmsman on the ferry, said when the crew sent a distress call, the ship was already listing more than five degrees.

A family member of a passenger waits for news from rescue teams in Jindo

About half an hour later, Lee finally gave the order for the passengers to abandon ship, according to Mr Oh.

Investigations are also focusing on whether problems with cargo stowage and structural defects of the vessel might have led to the ship capsizing.

Addressing journalists, Lee said: "I am sorry to the people of South Korea for causing a disturbance and I bow my head in apology to the families of the victims.

"I gave instructions regarding the route, then I briefly went to the bedroom and then it happened.

"At the time, the current was very strong, temperature of the ocean water was cold, and I thought that if people left the ferry without (proper) judgement, if they were not wearing a life jacket, and even if they were, they would drift away and face many other difficulties.

"The rescue boats had not arrived yet, nor were there any civilian fishing ships or other boats nearby at that time. There was a mistake on my behalf as well but the steering (gear of the ship) turned further than it was supposed to."

Lee was speaking as divers searching for some 200 missing people say they looked through a window of the ship and saw three bodies inside the sunken vessel but were unable to retrieve them.

No sounds have been heard from the hull which has now disappeared under the water. Rescuers say hopes of finding survivors are fading.

The number of passengers confirmed dead currently stands at 28.

Some 325 passengers were students from Danwon High School near Seoul.

They were on a school trip making a 13-hour journey to the holiday island of Jeju.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man Held Over Killing Of Continuity IRA Leader

A 26-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of former dissident republican leader Tommy Crossan.

The 43-year-old was shot dead at a fuel depot in an industrial complex near the Peter Pan centre in West Belfast on Friday - the sixteenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) tweeted: "Serious Crime Branch detectives investigating the murder of a 43-year-old man in West Belfast yesterday have arrested a 26-year-old man."

Detective Superintendent John Roberts appealed for information about a red BMW spotted near the murder scene.

Politicians have condemned the killing

He said: "It was a brutal and barbaric attack. He sustained several gunshots to the upper body and I'm appealing for any information from anybody who knows who was involved in this terrible murder to contact police."

Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson condemned the shooting.

He said: "The small minority of people who want to continue terrorising the community need to understand that they will not be allowed to drag Northern Ireland back to the dark days of the past.

"They must be hunted down and brought to justice."

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness added: "The people behind this killing are criminals and will further no cause through this shooting.

"Whoever carried out this act has nothing to offer the community and have no role to play in our future."

Mr Crossan was the Continuity IRA's former leader and was believed to have been the subject of a death threat from his former allies.

He had been expelled from the group some years ago and was jailed for conspiracy to murder Royal Ulster Constabulary officers following a shooting at a police station in West Belfast in 1998.

The organisation has opposed the peace process which largely ended three decades of violence and transformed the region.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kate And William: Duchess Tries Out Fighter Jet

The Duchess of Cambridge turned down a chivalrous offer from her husband as the Royal couple continue their tour of Australia.

William was left watching as Kate - despite wearing heels - deftly climbed into the cockpit of a Super Hornet during a visit to the Royal Australian Air Force base Amberley, near Brisbane.

The Duke had asked: "Do you fancy jumping in the back?"

But the Duchess, dressed in a white LK Bennett dress with blue poppies on, wanted to have a go at the controls of the multimillion-pound plane herself from the pilot's seat.

Kate accepts some flowers from a little girl in Brisbane

Stephen Chappell, commanding officer of Number 1 Squadron, said there was some "bi-play between the two as to who was sitting in what seat".

During their visit, the Duke and Duchess met with relatives of four Australian servicemen killed in recent conflicts.

Kate was also presented with a boomerang by twins Ellijah and Tobee Dyer, three, for Prince George.

It comes after the Duchess poked fun at her husband's bald patch and started races on Sydney's Manly Beach as the Royal couple watched life-saving demonstrations.

Kate wore wedges to run in despite the sand before they were presented with a surfboard for their son.

The Duke and Duchess are on a nearly three-week tour of New Zealand and Australia.

They will complete their tour on April 25 in Canberra.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Aberdeen: Boy Found On Fire After 'Petrol Game'

A seven-year-old boy who suffered serious burns while playing in an Aberdeen street may have been set on fire in a game that went tragically wrong.

Preston Flores, who is believed to have suffered 80% burns, was reportedly playing with friends in Bedford Avenue when he was engulfed in flames.

The children are believed to have taken a petrol can from the back of a van shortly before the fire started, local newspaper The Press and Journal reported.

A police spokesman confirmed petrol was involved but said there was no evidence to suggest the "tragic incident" was a deliberate act.

Witnesses described hearing screams and said the youngster's clothes stuck to his body as neighbours tried to douse the flames.

One relative told the Daily Record that Preston had been "mucking about" with mates before his clothes caught fire.

"I've never seen anything so horrible in my life," the family member said.

"The flames were covering his whole body."

Preston was initially taken to the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital but was moved to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh overnight.

He is being treated in a specialist unit, where his condition is described as critical.

Chief Inspector Nick Topping, the local Police Scotland area commander, said: "We're grateful for the continued assistance we've received from the local community to help us piece together the events leading up to this incident.

"We've spoken to a number of residents about what they saw or heard which has been very helpful and important to our inquiry."

He added: "Our investigation into this tragic incident will continue and I'd reiterate that so far there's been no evidence of any deliberate act."

Anyone who saw what happened or has information that may assist the police inquiry is asked to contact officers on the 101 non-emergency number.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kate And William: Royals Visit Aussie Beach

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have taken to the beaches of Sydney - but kept their shoes on.

Accompanied by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, William and Kate watched a surf life-saving demonstration and met with some of the lifeguards taking part.

The Duchess seemed at ease on the sand despite wearing wedges as she started a race between eight youngsters.

At the end the royal couple was presented with a surfboard, but there would be no riding the royal wave.

Kate meets some of the lifeguards of Manly Beach, Sydney

Earlier the Duchess delivered her first and only speech during this tour as she and the Duke visited the Bear Cottage children's hospice, which is forging links with the East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH), a UK charity of which she is patron.

"I am delighted that Bear Cottage and EACH are planning to be part of a 'community of best practice'," she told those gathered.

"The haven that you have created here is inspirational, and there is so much that you can share with each other as you continue to support and nurture those in your care."

Kate meets some of the residents of Bear Cottage

The Duchess then added that her family had enjoyed a warm Australian welcome.

She said: "If I may, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has welcomed me and George so incredibly warmly on our first visit. 

"To be here together as a family has been very special and we will always remember it with fond and happy memories."

Earlier, during a wool demonstration at the Sydney Royal Easter Show Kate - wearing a dress by Australian designer Zimmerman - poked fun at her husband's bald patch.

The Duke and Duchess see some giant pumpkins

The Duchess was handed some alpaca wool, at which point she turned to William, gestured towards his bald patch and suggested he might need it more than her.

At the show, one of Australia's largest annual events attracting 900,000 visitors each year, William and Kate also came face to face with Fred the ram and a giant pumpkin.

At one point Fred appeared to bow to the future king, while Kate just settled for a quick pet.

Prince William talks to a resident of Bear Cottage children's hospice

As well as being treated to a sheep shearing demonstration, the royal couple were wowed by displays of giant fruit and veg produce.

Student Mikayla Rendall had been standing in the sun for four hours waiting for the Duke and Duchess.

She said: "Kate apologised for keeping us waiting in the sun and William said they never get this much sun at Buckingham Palace."

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ferry Disaster: Sewol Captain Faces Arrest

Prosecutors have asked a court to issue an arrest warrant for the captain of the South Korean ferry which sank leaving 25 dead and hundreds missing.

Two other crew members are also being sought after the court appeal on Friday. No charges have been specified.

It comes as it emerged captain Lee Joon-Seok was not at the helm of the ship when it capsized, according to investigators.

The third officer was understood to be piloting the ship when the tragedy occurred, an investigating prosecutor told a news conference, and the captain may not have been on the bridge.

Family members of missing passengers wait for news at a gym in Jindo

The investigator said: "He may have been off the bridge... and the person at the helm at the time was the third officer.

"The captain was not in command when the accident took place."

Investigators are also looking at whether the third officer ordered the vessel to make an abrupt turn, which caused it to tilt severely and take on water, according to prosecutor Park Jae-Eok.

It has also been revealed the 68-year-old delayed evacuation for half an hour after the distress signal was sent, suggesting more lives could have been saved had he acted sooner.

A crane arrives at the scene

Oh Yong-Seok, a helmsman on the ferry with 10 years of shipping experience, said when the crew gathered on the bridge and sent a distress call, the ship was already listing more than five degrees - the critical angle at which a vessel can be brought back to even keel.

About half an hour after passengers were told to stay where they were, Mr Lee finally gave the order to abandon ship, according to Mr Oh. He added he was unsure in the confusion on the bridge if the order was relayed to the passengers.

Several survivors have said they did not hear any evacuation orders.

By the time the order was given, it was impossible for crew members to move to passengers' rooms to help them because the ship was tilted at an impossibly acute angle, he said.

It has been suggested the evacuation delay also prevented lifeboats from being deployed in time.

Lee Joon-Seok was not at the helm when the ship began listing

The confirmed death toll from the sinking of the Sewol is 25, but that number is expected to rise sharply with about 270 people still missing. Officials have so far confirmed only 179 survivors.

Some 325 of the passengers were students from Danwon High School near Seoul.

Of the 29 crew members, 20 people including Mr Lee survived.

After the tragedy, he made a brief, videotaped appearance, although his face was hidden by a grey hoodie.

He said: "I am really sorry and deeply ashamed. I don't know what to say."

Anxious relatives take part in a Buddhist ritual

Divers are working in shifts to try get into the upturned ship to pump oxygen into the vessel to help any survivors, but their attempts are being hampered by strong currents and freezing temperatures.

The 146-metre (480ft) ship had left Incheon on the northwestern coast of South Korea on Tuesday for the overnight journey to the southern resort island of Jeju.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vice-Principal Rescued From Ferry Found Hanged

S Korea Ferry: Final Contact From Doomed Vessel

Updated: 11:59am UK, Friday 18 April 2014

A transcript of communications between the stricken Sewol ferry and the coastguard has lifted the lid on the final minutes before the order was given to abandon ship.

The conversations show panic setting in on board the vessel, with officers asking for help to "please come quickly" as it began to tilt to the left, three hours from its destination of Jeju Island.

The transcript also appears to back up claims that the evacuation order may have come too late for some passengers as officers said the ship was tilting so much it was "impossible to move" to check on them.

The communication, which begins with the first distress call made by the ferry on Wednesday morning, has been translated by The Associated Press.

It reads:

8.55am

Sewol: Harbour affairs Jeju, do you have reception of The Sewol?

Jeju Vessel Traffic Services Centre (VTS): Yes, Sewol, this is harbour affairs Jeju.

Sewol: Please notify the coastguard. Our ship is in danger. It's listing right now.

8.56am

Jeju VTS: Where's your ship? Yes, got it. We will notify the coastguard.

Sewol: This ship has listed a lot. Can't move. Please come quickly. We're next to Byeongpung Island.

Jeju VTS: Yes, we got it.

8.58am

Jeju VTS: Sewol, this is harbour affairs Jeju. Do you have reception? Sewol, harbour affairs Jeju.

8.59am

Sewol: Harbour affairs Jeju, this is Sewol.

Jeju VTS: Sewol, this is harbour affairs Jeju. Channel 21, please.

9.00am

Jeju VTS: Sewol, this is harbour affairs Jeju.

Sewol: Jeju, Sewol here.

Jeju VTS: What's the current situation?

Sewol: Currently the body of the ship has listed to the left. The containers have listed as well.

Jeju VTS: OK. Any damage of the human life?

Sewol: It's impossible to check right now. The body of the ship has tilted, and it's impossible to move.

Jeju VTS: Yes, OK. Please wear life jackets and prepare as the people might have to abandon ship. 

Sewol: It's hard for people to move.

Jeju VTS: Yes, got it.

9.05am

Sewol: Harbour affairs Jeju, do you have reception of Sewol?

Jeju VTS: Yes, this is harbour affairs Jeju, Sewol.

Sewol: What's going on with the coastguard?

Jeju VTS: Yes, we have notified the coastguard. Currently we are calling Jindo VTS and Wando VTS. Please hold for a moment.

After this, Jeju VTS notified other ships and Wando VTS.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

One Dead As Boat Capsizes In Devon

One person has died and another has been injured after a boat capsized at Bideford Bar, north Devon.

More follows...

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Oscar Pistorius Murder Trial Evidence 'Wrong'

Oscar Pistorius was "wrong" in his version of events about what happened on the night he shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, the prosecution has claimed.

During cross-examination by lawyer Gerrie Nel, forensic expert Roger Dixon appeared to contradict what the athlete told the court about the position of a magazine rack in the bathroom.

In a graphic photograph showing a pool of Ms Steenkamp's blood around the toilet bowl, the witness, whose expertise was heavily criticised by Mr Nel during questioning on Wednesday, pointed out a rectangular-shaped mark.

Mr Nel, who grilled Pistorius for five days, is quizzing a forensic expert

He said this shows the magazine rack was in the position it appeared in in a police photograph, something Pistorius, who claims police officers moved objects in his house, rejects.

Mr Nel told Mr Dixon: "Remember when I asked whether the accused's version was correct? You have now showed us the accused's version was wrong."

The claim was made on the 25th day of Pistorius' trial - the last before a two-week break for the Easter holidays.

As Mr Nel continued his attempt to identify inaccuracies in the defence case, Mr Dixon admitted he did not measure the angles of any specific bullet holes in the bathroom door.

At one point the witness picked up one of Pistorius' prosthetic legs, on which traces of varnish were found.

He revealed he did not check whether the varnish - apparently from the door the 27-year-old kicked down to reach Reeva Steenkamp - could have come from contact with other doors in the house.

Pistorius covered his ears as the court heard about Ms Steenkamp's injuries

Mr Dixon was previously branded "irresponsible" by Mr Nel, who accused him of addressing the court without having properly read a post-mortem report about Ms Steenkamp's death.

Pistorius, 27, admits shooting his partner but denies a charge of premeditated murder, claiming he mistook her for an intruder.

The athlete lowered his head and clasped his hands around his ears as further details about Ms Steenkamp's injuries were read to the court.

Ms Steenkamp was shot dead at Pistorius' home on Valentine's Day last year

Mr Dixon said the shock of the first bullet fired through the bathroom door may have caused her to twist and fall.

He told the court a further bullet hit Ms Steenkamp's head as she slumped to the floor, hitting her back on the magazine rack as she did so.

On Wednesday, Mr Dixon said a bullet that struck the model's arm caused such serious damage it was like "an instant amputation".

The day began with a stark warning from Judge Thokozile Masipa to people watching the case in an adjoining 'overspill' room, who she said clamber over benches and "cheer, boo and do what they like".

"Something disturbing has come to my attention," she said.

As well as premeditated murder, Pistorius, who won two gold medals at the Paralympic Games in London in 2012, denies two further counts related to shooting a gun in public on separate occasions prior to the killing.

The trial is scheduled to resume on May 5.

20.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ferry Disaster: Desperate Texts During Sinking

Teenagers on the stricken South Korean ferry sent heartbreaking messages to their families as it capsized and sank.

Mobile phone footage and messages from passengers suggest they were advised to stay where they were as they vessel listed severely to one side.

But the advice may have effectively sealed the fates of many of those on board, making escape impossible as the ferry sank into the icy depths.

One 18-year-old student messaged his mother on the KakaoTalk messaging app at 9.27am (00.27am GMT)  - shortly after the ferry sent its first distress call.

He wrote: "Mum, I'm sending this because I might not be able to say it later. I love you."

Seven minutes later his mother - unaware of the trouble the vessel was in - replied: "Why? ... I thought you don't check your KakaoTalk messages.

"Me too son... I love you."

There are reports that the young man involved may be one of the lucky 179 survivors rescued before the ship capsized and went under the water.

The search has been hampered by high winds and choppy sea conditions

Another student sent a series of messages to friends in a theatre club just after 9am.

He wrote: "Hey really seriously.

"Love you all for real.

"Looks like we really are gonna die.

"No really the ship's tilting.

"You guys really.

"If I've wronged any of you. Forgive me."

A female passenger, also 18, messaged her father at around 10am (1am GMT) as the ship started to sink.

She wrote: "Dad don't worry too much. I am wearing a life vest and am with other girls."

Relatives of passengers have been desperately hoping for good news

A few minutes later, as the situation deteriorated, she added: "I can't. It's too tilted. Can't move ... it's more dangerous if I move."

Her distraught father wrote back, urging her to try to get out, but it was already too late.

"Dad, I can't. The ship is too tilted. The hallway is crowded with so many people," she responded in a final message.

At 9.23am a 16-year-old called Kim Woong-Ki texted his older brother saying: "Brother, I'm riding a ship to Jeju Island and the ship hit something and it can't move."

After he was asked how bad the damage was, he said: "I don't know about that, since I'm inside. I don't have good coverage and just now the Coast Guards arrived."

The teenager's brother replied: "The rescue will arrive soon. Don't panic. Be calm and strong. You just need to move quickly as instructed. When you have coverage contact me again."

An icon on the brother's phone shows that his last message was not read and Kim was listed among almost 290 unaccounted for.

Some parents managed a last, traumatic phone call with their children as they tried to escape.

"He told me the ship was tilted over and he couldn't see anything," one mother recalled of a panicked conversation with her student son.

"He said 'I haven't put on the life jacket yet', and then the phone went dead," the mother told the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper.

20.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ferry Disaster: Hopes Of Finding Survivors Fade

Rescue teams are battling bad weather conditions as they search for around 290 people who remain missing after a South Korean ferry capsized and sank.

Nine people have already been confirmed dead and the death toll is expected to increase sharply in what could be the country's worst maritime accident in two decades.

The dead include a female teacher, a female member of the crew and three male school students, while the majority of those who remain unaccounted for are from the same school field trip.

Many of those on board the ferry were school students

So far 179 people have been rescued - among them Kwon Ji-yeon, a six-year-old girl whose parents are still on the missing list.

Strong currents and bad visibility hampered the search as rescue teams hammered on the Sewol's hull, hoping in vain for a response.

The ferry's captain, 69-year-old Lee Joon-seok, faces a criminal investigation, a coastguard official told Reuters, amid unconfirmed reports that he was one of the first to jump to safety 

The ferry got into trouble on its journey to Jeju

A man identified by broadcaster YTN and news agency Yonhap as Mr Yoon has appeared on television, his face covered by a grey hoodie.

"I'm really sorry and deeply ashamed," he said, as he was being questioned at the Mokpo coastguard.

Video footage has emerged showing passengers in life jackets as the boat began to sink and of a tannoy message asking people to stay where they are as it would be dangerous to move.

South Korean President Park Guen-hye surveys the search area from a ship

Crew member Oh Yong-seok, 58, said the captain waited about 30 minutes before ordering the evacuation because officers on the bridge were trying to stabilise the vessel after it started to list.

By the time the evacuation order was made, it was impossible for crew to reach passengers because the ship was tilted at such an acute angle.

"We couldn't even move one step. The slope was too big," said Oh, who escaped with about a dozen others, including the captain.

Passenger Koo Bon-hee, 36, told reporters many people were trapped inside by windows that were too hard to break.

Distraught relatives wait for news in a gym on Jindo Island

Distraught family members are gathered on the quay of Jindo Island, huddled in blankets against the cold as they wait for any news.

"If I could teach myself to dive, I would jump in the water and try to find my daughter," Park Yung-suk told the Reuters news agency.

Some relatives have turned their anger on the government and coast guard, shouting at officials: "The weather's nice, why aren't you starting the rescue?"

The ship set sail from the port of Incheon on Tuesday carrying 475 passengers, nearly 340 of them teenagers and teachers from the Danwon school near the capital Seoul.

Coast Guard and rescue teams searching for missing passengers

Its destination, along a well-travelled route, was Jeju island around 60 miles (100km) south of the Korean peninsula.

It is not clear why the 6,586 tonne vessel, which was built in Japan 20 years ago, sank in apparently calm waters.

However, some survivors spoke of hearing a loud noise before disaster struck.

State broadcaster YTN quoted investigation officials as saying the ship was off its usual course after being hit by strong winds, which caused containers stacked on deck to shift.

The registered owner of the ship, Chonghaejin Marine Co Ltd, has offered an apology but declined to comment further.

20.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tube Workers To Strike For Five Days

Tube workers in London are to take five days of strike action in the coming weeks over ticket office closures, the RMT has said.

Members of the union will walk out from 9pm on Monday April 28 for two days and again from 9pm on Monday May 5 for three days.

The first two days of action will take place ahead of a May Day event in London in memory of former RMT leader Bob Crow, and politician and campaigner Tony Benn, who died within days of each other last month.

RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said assurances given when the union suspended a planned strike earlier this month had been "ripped up and thrown back in our faces".

Mr Cash blamed Tube management for "cynically wrecking" long-running talks aimed at settling a dispute over the closure of ticket offices and subsequent job losses.

More follows...

20.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Coulson Tells Trial He Heard Hacked Voicemail

Former News Of The World editor Andy Coulson has told a jury he heard voicemail messages hacked from David Blunkett's phone.

The 46-year-old told the Old Bailey the paper's then-chief reporter, Neville Thurlbeck, phoned him to say Mr Blunkett, who was Home Secretary at the time, was having an affair with a married woman.

He said Mr Thurlbeck had told him he "believed the story was true" after listening to voicemail messages.

Coulson, 46, who denies the charges against him, said he was on holiday in Italy when he took the call.

His initial reaction was one of "shock and anger" at a "direct breach of privacy", he said.

During his third day in the witness box, Coulson told the court: "I was on my way to the airport to collect my brother who was coming to stay with us. I was lost, I remember that, and I parked up on the side of the road to take the call.

"Neville told me he had a tip that David Blunkett was having an affair with Kimberly Fortier. He said he believed the story was true because he heard some voicemails.

"I was shocked because he told me he had heard some voicemail messages. I was shocked he was telling me this as well because it was in relation to David Blunkett, the Home Secretary.

"I was quite angry about it. I used reasonably colourful language, words to the effect: 'What on Earth do you think you're doing?'

"My concern was it was an apparent breach of privacy and I was concerned also that this was involving somebody who I knew. He was somebody we were broadly supportive of."

Coulson, who later became Downing Street's director of communications, told the court he ordered the reporter to stop the investigation.

However, he said that on his return, his former colleague went to the News Of The World (NOTW) offices to repitch the Blunkett story, saying it was in the public interest and playing the messages to try to convince him of that point.

The revelations were made as the journalist's barrister, Timothy Langdale QC, asked him about the NOTW's relationship with Mr Blunkett which, Coulson said, was good.

Coulson said the more he listened, the more he started to think there was "some public interest justification" in the story but he wanted time to think about it.

He told the court he later decided it was in the public interest because Mr Blunkett was "distracted" by the affair and, Coulson argued, sharing sensitive information.

Coulson insisted he had no previous knowledge of voicemail hacking, adding: "I remained shocked. This was the first and only time a voicemail had been played to me."

Coulson, of Charing, Kent, denies conspiring to hack phones with Rebekah Brooks and former managing editor Stuart Kuttner.

He also denies conspiring with ex-royal editor Clive Goodman to commit misconduct in a public office.

All seven defendants in the phone hacking trial deny the charges against them and the case continues.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pistorius Trial: Reeva Bullet Wound Evidence

Oscar Pistorius has buried his head in his hands during a graphic account of how bullets he fired fatally injured his girlfriend.

Forensic expert Roger Dixon, who has suggested neighbours who gave evidence for the prosecution were mistaken in what they heard, gave further evidence on day 24 of the trial. 

Pistorius lowered his head and clasped his hands around his ears as Mr Dixon provided details of the injuries Reeva Steenkamp suffered.

A bullet that hit the model's arm caused such serious damage it was like "an instant amputation", he said.

The witness used a photograph placed on the back of a junior member of the defendant's legal team to illustrate where the Black Talon bullets hit Ms Steenkamp's back.

The court also heard how the bullets and fragments damaged her skull after passing through the toilet door in the athlete's home.

Pistorius was handed a note by a well-wisher as he arrived at court

Mr Dixon disputed the prosecution's account that Ms Steenkamp was facing the door when she was shot because the couple were arguing. 

He suggested that if Ms Steenkamp had been facing the door, the shape of the bullet wounds would have been different.

However, he was forced to admit the same Black Talon ammunition had not been used in his gun tests and there was a problem getting hold of them.

Ms Steenkamp's mother June, her agent and friends of the model were in court to hear the graphic evidence.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel challenged Mr Dixon's expertise, pointing out he was not currently registered with any forensic body.

The witness admitted he had no idea about the sound expertise of a person who made a recording of a gun being fired, which has been used as evidence.

He also conceded he did not have qualifications in ballistics or pathology, after he called into question the evidence of experienced experts in both fields who gave evidence for the prosecution.

Mr Nel called Mr Dixon "irresponsible" and accused him of giving evidence without having read the post-mortem report properly, after he said he had not seen a photograph of a bruise on Ms Steenkamp's back.

The athlete's lawyers have about a dozen witnesses to call as they try to challenge the state's charge that he shot Ms Steenkamp deliberately.

Earlier, Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled proceedings will adjourn for more than two weeks on April 17 and resume on May 5.

Pistorius, 27, admits shooting his girlfriend but says he believed she was an intruder.

He denies premeditated murder and illegally possessing ammunition.

He also denies two further counts related to shooting a gun in public on separate occasions prior to the killing.

There are no juries in South African murder trials, so the athlete's fate will be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ukraine: Nato Bolsters Forces In Eastern Europe

Digging For The Truth Over Russia And Ukraine

Updated: 11:52am UK, Wednesday 16 April 2014

By Ian Woods, Sky News Senior Correspondent

Trying to separate fact from fiction is part of a journalist's job, but in Moscow you have to learn to treat some reports with a large dose of scepticism.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Russian state news channel Rossiya 24 reported that between four and 11 people had been killed when Ukrainian government forces recaptured control of an airfield in Kramatorsk, which had earlier been controlled by pro-Russian protesters. 

Other Russian news agencies reported several deaths.

It seemed as if it might be a watershed moment, likely to trigger a military response from the Kremlin which has pledged to protect ethnic Russians.

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing deep concern and saying events were developing into a "worst case scenario."

But later reports filed by international news organisations such as Reuters and the Associated Press revealed a much less serious incident.

True, Ukrainian soldiers had arrived at the scene and took some verbal abuse from protesters.

Warning shots may have been fired and an officer had his hat knocked off in scuffles.

Tension remains and it is always a worrying development when a country's military confronts its own citizens.

But it still seems some way short of the civil war that Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Ukraine was on the brink of.

Equally, those who suggest that everyone who has manned a barricade or occupied a government office in eastern Ukraine is either a Russian agent or cajoled by the Kremlin is also exaggerating.

Yes, there appear to be many examples of men taking charge who display some form of military training, but recent video footage of people forcing a Ukrainian tank to turn around suggests they were angry locals rather than crack troops. 

When the West cries too loudly about Russian influence it can drown out the genuine voices of those Ukrainians in the East who don't like the western-leaning interim government in Kiev. 

The Russian media ridicules the EU and the US for lauding the civil protests which forced elected President Viktor Yanukovych to flee the country, and yet the same governments condemn Russian-speaking Ukrainians supporters for being angry about what they view as an illegitimate coup.

The truth is out there, and the UN has published a version of it, which found claims of attacks on ethnic Russians had been deliberately exaggerated to justify Russian intervention in Crimea last month.

The UN Human Rights report said assaults were not widespread and that reports of nationalist extremists "coming armed to persecute ethnic Russians in Crimea were systematically used to create a climate of fear and insecurity that reflected on support to integration of Crimea into the Russian Federation".

The Russian foreign ministry said the UN report was "one-sided, politicised and not objective", adding: "One gets the impression that the report was fabricated to correspond with conclusions formed in advance."

The annexation of Crimea was popular in Russia because it returned a territory which was historically Russian, but which was ceded to Ukraine during the Soviet era when Moscow still retained overall control.

But there appears to be little appetite among ordinary Russians for trying to seize chunks of eastern Ukraine, even if many of those who live there speak Russian.

Lisa Zelaney, a student at Moscow State University, told Sky News she had friends in Ukraine and, although she supported Crimea returning to Russian control, the current situation was different, and she was dubious about Russian media reports.  

"When you hear people say, 'Yes, we want Russian people to get here and help us get rid of this government, that we don't like it,'  that's not usually the truth.

"I think we should leave this country alone and let them themselves decide what they need."

Pensioner Vladimir Pantileymonovich told us: "By no means should Russia interfere in the eastern Ukraine situation. It's their own business."

And Dina Boulatova added: "We should definitely not get into it, otherwise there will be huge problems for Russia. The two sides there should take a step towards each other."

But another man was more sympathetic to Kremlin policy.

Elizarov Leonid Mikhailovich said: "For me personally everything is very clear. The majority of the population expressed their opinion. They said what they wanted and how they wanted it.

"The methods that the Kiev authorities are using now are horrible. They were elected in a barbarous way.

"I think the majority in Ukraine understand this government does not have a future.

"I may not support Putin or like him but on this issue I completely support him. Russia is strong enough now to support its people."

As for criticism of a foreign government meddling in the affairs of another, the Russian media reported on evidence to confirm their suspicions the interim government in Kiev came to power as the result of an American-backed coup. 

The confirmation by the White House that CIA director John Brennan was a visitor to Kiev at the weekend fuelled Moscow suspicions of the agency's involvement in supporting the Maidan protesters.

The White House said his arrival in Ukraine was simply part of a wider European tour.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

South Korea: 295 Missing After Ferry Sinks

Almost 300 people are missing after a ferry sank off the coast of South Korea.

Four people have been confirmed dead so far - including a male student, a female crew member and another unidentified man.

The South Korean government says about 180 people have been rescued so far but 295 remain unaccounted for.

Rescued passengers are brought ashore

The ferry, with 476 people and 150 vehicles on board, was sailing to the southern island of Jeju when it sent a distress call at 9am local time (1am UK time) on Wednesday morning as it began listing to one side.

Within two hours it had completely capsized, with only the front part of its hull visible above the water.

A cause has yet to be established, although one witness told television channel YTN there had been a "loud impact and noise" before it began sinking.

95% of the ship is now submerged

Captain John Noble, a marine salvage expert, told Sky News the most likely explanation was the ferry hit a rock.

He added that passengers would have struggled to get off the ferry quite soon after it began listing.

"Once a ship gets beyond 20 degrees it is impossible for passengers to stand up without holding onto something," he said.

Rescue crews set off flares as darkness falls

"Once a ship gets to its side you completely lose your orientation. Those poor people would really have relied on rescuers to get them out.

"It's truly remarkable so many rescue crews got there so quickly."

The 325 students and 15 teachers on board were from Danwon High School in Ansan, near Seoul. They were reportedly on their way to the Jeju island for a four-day trip.

The ferry ran into difficulties 60 miles south of the Korean peninsula

One student, Lim Hyung-min, told YTN he jumped into the ocean wearing a life jacket with other students and then swam to a rescue boat.

"As the ferry was shaking and tilting, we all tripped and bumped into each another," he said.

He said the ocean was "so cold", adding: "I was hurrying, thinking that I wanted to live."

Some of those rescued are being cared for in a gymnasium.

The 6,825-ton ship left Incheon port, west of Seoul, on Tuesday evening and ran into difficulties about 60 miles (100km) south of the Korean peninsula.

The news agency AP is reporting 55 injuries, including people with burns, hypothermia and fractured bones. 

A total of 18 helicopters, 87 rescue boats and 160 divers rushed to the scene, according to AP.

459 people were on the ship when it started to sink

The US Navy has dispatched its amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard to aid the operation.

Fishing and other commercial vessels appeared to rescue many passengers before emergency teams arrived.

Passenger Kim Seong-mok told YTN he was "certain" people were trapped inside as water quickly rushed into the vessel, and the severe tilt of the ferry stopped them getting out.

87 rescue boats are at the scene

Some people yelled at those who could not get out, urging them to break windows, he said.

Another passenger said an announcement was made on board telling them to stay put.

"It was fine. Then the ship went 'boom' and there was a noise of cargo falling," said Cha Eun-ok, who was on the deck of the ferry taking photographs at the time.

It took just two hours for the ship to capsize

"The on-board announcement told people to stay put. People who stayed are trapped."

Darkness has now fallen in South Korea and the rescue operation is also being hampered by muddy waters.

"There is so much mud in the sea water and the visibility is very low," Lee Gyeong-Og, the vice minister of security and public administration, told a press briefing in Seoul.

A mother reacts to seeing her son on the list of those rescued

There are concerns storms could affect the operation tomorrow.

Those rescued are being taken to the nearby Jindo Island, where medical teams are wrapping them in blankets, checking for injuries and directing them towards a school gymnasium.

Meanwhile, screams of anguish have been heard as parents of the children on board gather at their high school in Ansan, desperate for news.

The ship, Sewol

An official from the company that owns the ship apologised for the tragedy.

"I would like to say sorry to the passengers including a number of students and their parents, and promise that our company will do its best to minimise loss of life. We are sorry," said Kim Young-boong, from Chunghaejin Marine Corporation.

One of the dead was found inside the sinking ferry, while another died soon after arriving at the Mokpo Hankook hospital on the mainland.

More follows...

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mini-Sub To Be Used As Plane Search Narrows

The commander of the Royal Navy ship searching for flight MH370 has told Sky News they are getting close to sending down a mini-submarine to hunt for wreckage.

HMS Echo is working with Australian vessel Ocean Shield to locate the Boeing 777-200's black box before it runs out of power.

The plane carrying 239 people vanished from radar on March 8 and is thought to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, around 1,500 miles off Australia's west coast.

Ocean Shield, towing a US Navy device to detect signals from the plane's fading beacons, first picked up two underwater "pings" consistent with those from a black box on April 5.

This was followed by two more in the same area three days later.

HMS Echo is searching the southern Indian Ocean for the missing jet

The crew of HMS Echo are analysing the signals by looking at the currents and ocean depth of around 2.8 miles (4.5km) to try to pin-point the plane's wreckage.

The underwater search zone has been narrowed to around 500 square miles (1,300 square km) - roughly the size of Los Angeles.

Phillip Newell, commanding officer of HMS Echo, told Sky News: "We believe we have come close to that point now where we can move to the next stage and deploy a remote vehicle which can go down to the correct depth and search the sea bed."

The Bluefin-21 can search between 20 and 40 square miles a day

The crew will use Bluefin-21, a mini-submarine used to find the Air France plane that crashed into the Atlantic in 2009, to search the sea bed for debris.

But major hindrances still remain, and it could be years before the Malaysia Airlines jet is found, radar expert Professor David Stupples told Sky News.

The search is also set to be hampered by bad weather this week.

Sunday's planned search area

Eleven military aircraft, one civil aircraft and 14 ships are taking part in today's search, said the Joint Agency Coordination Centre, the international body leading the hunt.

It said there have been no confirmed acoustic detections over the past 24 hours.

The batteries that power signals from the plane's flight data and cockpit voice recorders last only about a month and it has been more than five weeks since the plane disappeared.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ukraine: Fatal Clashes As Protests Spread

Kiev Faces 'Difficult Decisions' Over Protests

Updated: 11:04pm UK, Thursday 10 April 2014

By Katie Stallard, Moscow Correspondent, in Donetsk

Support for the protests in Donetsk, Ukraine, depends largely on the question you ask.

This may seem like a blindingly obvious point, but the immediate demands are not quite what they seemed.

The self-appointed People's Council of Deputies, in session inside the occupied administration building, told Sky News they want a referendum on the region's sovereignty, not on joining Russia.

The council's leader insisted they have had no official contact with the Russian government so far, although they have just voted unanimously to create a foreign affairs committee, to make exactly that possible.

And he did go on to say Russian peacekeeping troops could help to secure a referendum here.

Another deputy told us joining Russia would be "like coming home", but it would not be on the ballot paper.

Outside, we were surrounded by a crowd of people, demanding to know which channel we were working for (there are deep suspicions here about Western media, and even more so Ukrainian TV).

Satisfied that we were from the Moscow bureau, and that our producer and cameraman are Russian and therefore apparently not susceptible to 'Western lies', they started showing us their passports - to prove that they are Ukrainian, not hired Russian stooges as has been claimed.

Many feel passionately about what is happening here, but by no means all dream of joining Russia.

Over and over they told us they want sovereignty and federalisation - they see Russia as potential guarantors, and protection from the fascists and extremists they believe control the government in Kiev.

Forced to choose, one woman told us, between Russia and the EU, she would of course vote for Russia, but she would prefer an autonomous region in Eastern Ukraine.

In the city centre, away from the protests around the administration building and the watchful eyes of the "self-defence" volunteers patrolling outside, we spoke to a variety of people to try to gauge opinion.

Of 20 people asked, all but one supported federalisation. Support for joining Russia is less emphatic, but still preferable to the majority over the new government in Kiev.

The Kremlin strategists seem to have assessed the mood astutely - protesters shown on state-controlled TV channels in Russia are being described as "supporters of federalism" now, not separatists or pro-Russian.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has talked several times about the appetite for federalism in Ukraine.

Of course, an autonomous, sovereign eastern Ukraine, would also be open to overtures from Moscow, and likely easily persuaded to remain within its sphere of influence.

If that region went on to join the Russian Federation in time, so be it, but if at least then would not move towards the EU, that would still be a form of victory for the Kremlin.

It's a precarious situation for the government in Kiev and there are difficult decisions ahead.

Crack down on the protests in the east and risk galvanising a broader uprising against an administration many already associate with extremists and fascists, and give Russia the pretext it needs to show Russian lives are in danger and it must act to protect them.

Accede to demands for a referendum and risk losing the east, and the country's economic backbone, to Russia's influence, and perhaps ultimately to Russia itself.

Refuse to recognise any referendum that does take place (not a successful tactic in Crimea) or hope that turnout is too low to validate it, or the self-appointed people's councils are unable to organise it - none of which are really much of a plan.

Meanwhile Russia's military continues to mass on the border - nothing for the US or Ukraine to worry about, they insisted earlier this week, which will have reassured no-one.

The protests here are not huge, but the emotions that sparked them run deep, and it is difficult to see an easy way out.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ed Davey: World's Climate Is 'On A Precipice'

Energy Secretary Ed Davey has said the world is "looking down a precipice" as the UN urges more solar and wind power investment.

The minister, who is also responsible for climate change, told Sky News' Murnaghan programme, that the new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a "stark warning".

The report says massive cuts to greenhouse gas emissions are needed in the next few decades if the world is to avoid "dangerous" climate change.

Mr Davey said: "This is a stark warning that the world is looking down a precipice if we do not take action now."

"But it also says, and some good news, that the cost of renewables, things like solar and wind, are coming down, so we can go green in an affordable way."

The latest UN report is the third part of a detailed review of the way in which the world's climate is being changed by greenhouse gases and what can be done about it.

Two weeks ago the second part of the review said the impact of climate change was likely to be "irreversible" and could lead to wars.

It said that Britain would face soaring food prices, deadly floods and heatwaves, which would only be lessened if action was taken sooner rather than later. 

In the latest part of the report, the IPCC says substantial reductions in greenhouse gases will be needed, through large-scale changes to the ways we generate energy and how we use it.

It says we need to curb deforestation and start planting forests.

Emissions need to be reduced by 40% to 70% on 2010 levels by the middle of the century and to near zero by 2100 to prevent temperatures going up by more than 2C, the report said.

There will need to be a three- or four-fold increase by 2050 in the share of energy that comes from low-carbon sources such as renewables, nuclear and power plants fitted with technology to capture and store carbon underground.

By the end of the century fossil fuel power plants without carbon capture and storage will need to be virtually phased out.

A failure to take action could result in temperatures soaring 3.7C to 4.8C by 2100, the experts warned.

Mr Davey admitted that there was a split at the heart of government over plans to cut green subsidies.

But he said the government's record showed that there was agreement about what could be done.

"The coalition government actually has done more on the green economy, more on low carbon, than any predecessor.

"Britain is leading the way. Not only have we implemented action, the Energy Act 2013, to create the world's first ever low carbon electricity market; we've got the green investment bank - the first bank that's not just being judged by financial performance, but by how it is cutting carbon - and in Europe, the coalition have been leading the way to make sure Europe has the most ambitious, the toughest, greenhouse gas reduction target."

He added that the UK is the world leader in offshore wind power, with more offshore wind electricity generating capacity in the pipeline than the rest of the world put together.

Also, he said, the UK leads the world on carbon capture, which involves removing carbon dioxide from gas or coal-fired powerplant emissions and storing it underground. 

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Royal Tour Baby Rumours Spark Media Frenzy

A white-knuckle boat ride, a vineyard visit, and a rugby game provided a hectic itinerary for William and Kate on their tour of New Zealand, as rumours swirled there could be a new addition to the royal household.

Speculation there may be another baby on the way was sparked after the Duke of Cambridge apparently told a woman who knitted a shawl for Prince George she "might have to make another one soon".

But the hype was dampened down somewhat after the couple went on a jet boat ride which passengers are advised to avoid if they are pregnant.

The Duchess had also sipped wine during a visit to a vineyard, suggesting the pitter patter of more tiny feet was not imminent.

William was able to even the score with his wife at a "Rippa Rugby" game

The jet boat's captain Wayne Paton told Sky News: "It is in our safety brief that we have to ask if anyone is pregnant, back injuries, anything else medically that they think they should tell us, and I asked that and there was no answer from anyone, so I took it that would be a no."

The royal couple, who had flown to Queenstown on New Zealand's South Island, had the full tourist experience during the hair-raising trip on the fast flowing Shotover River, which is one of the country's most popular attractions.

Mr Paton, who drove the boat designed to be able to speed along in water just a few inches deep, said: "They loved it. There were some screams but not from them."

The pair sampled a pinot noir at a winery near Queenstown

Earlier, the Duke and Duchess had toured a winery.

The pair sampled the pinot noir made at the Amisfield Winery near Queenstown.

Prince William joked that he and his wife should "probably stop talking and start drinking", as they began the tasting.

The Duke was also able to level the score with his wife after coaching a children's "Rippa Rugby" team to victory over opponents led by Kate.

It followed a drubbing he had received last week at the hands of the the Duchess, after she comprehensively beat him in a yachting challenge.

He could not help teasing his wife and looked in her direction and said: "Next time, next time."

Following a church service in Dunedin the couple did a walkabout

The royal couple were casually dressed for the event with Kate in a cream jumper by Jonathan Saunders, white blouse, dark leggings and pumps, while William had a similar outfit of sweater, shirt and trousers.

Their day's schedule had also seen them do a walkabout following a Palm Sunday church service at St Paul's Cathedral in Dunedin.

They are undertaking a 19-day official visit to New Zealand and Australia with Prince George.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More