By Sherine Tadros, Middle East Correspondent, in Iraq
Ansar Marjaiyeh, or Soldiers Of The Religious Leadership, is a group of Shia volunteers leading the fightback against Islamic State militants near Fallujah.
IS snipers are just 200m away, and they return fire hard and fast. The volunteers are slowly pushing the militants back, but holding the territory they retake is their main challenge.
Their weapons are not impressive, but their resolve is. Dozens of these fighters have been killed so far. This is just one of several open fronts with the Islamic State group in Iraq.
More than 20,000 Shia militiamen from different groups, many backed by Iran, are involved in the fight against IS. They make up what is known as the Popular Mobilisation Force. Around 5,000 Iraqi officers and soldiers are working with them.
The men proudly show off their weapons and what they have picked up during battle.
Video:People Return Home After Liberation
One militia leader showed us what he said was a receipt, bearing the stamp of the Islamic State group, invoicing the Syrian government for crude oil worth thousands of dollars. The receipt said the oil was to be transferred from Mosul to Syria.
We met up with hundreds of fighters on their way to the frontline in Tikrit - the birthplace of former president Saddam Hussein, which was taken over by IS last summer.
The military operation In Tikrit is in its third week, but the militias still only control parts of the city.
Hadi al Amiri heads up the Badr Brigade, one of Iraq's most effective fighting forces.
Seen by many as Iran's man on the ground, he told Sky News that dozens of Iranian advisors are helping take back territory from IS, and that Tikrit would be retaken within days.
Video:'This Is Not A Sectarian War'
But he insists co-ordination with local Sunni forces has been key, and is confident his men will soon take back Anbar before recapturing the country's second city, Mosul.
He said: "We were victorious in Diyala, and we're using the same strategy here, as a result of a high degree of co-ordination between the army, the popular mobilisation forces and the police."
In Diyala, though, Sunni families returning have found their homes burned and looted. Rights groups say dozens of villages were destroyed not just by IS, but also Shia militias carrying out revenge attacks.
We spoke to people in Diyala who told us they heard about those attacks from their neighbours and friends, but did not see anything themselves.
Militia leaders insist they have strict orders not to harm locals under their control, and near Tikrit, we found Shia fighters helping hundreds of families going home.
Video:Shia Fighters Battle Islamic State
There are also some areas where the battle was too fierce, meaning there is nothing left to come back to. Islamic State flags still litter the walls along the streets as mangled metal and charred buildings replace what used to be a vibrant neighbourhood.
For now, the momentum is with the militias and the Iraqi army.
Tikrit will be a strategic and symbolic victory before the push northwards, but that will entail Shia militias controlling Sunni and mixed villages - putting Iraq's delicate sectarian balance to the ultimate test.
Ed Miliband is facing embarrassment after it emerged one of the Labour Party's largest donors is a hedge fund manager.
It has been disclosed that a "mystery" donor who has given the party nearly £600,000 is Martin Taylor, who describes himself as "a born and bred Londoner, who also happens to be a hedge fund manager".
The revelation will be particularly awkward for Mr Miliband, who routinely criticises the Conservatives over their reliance on funding from hedge fund mangers and businessmen.
Last month during a heated exchange in the Commons Mr Miliband dubbed the Tories "the party of Mayfair hedge funds and Monaco tax avoiders".
Electoral Commission records show Mr Taylor has made eight donations, totaling £591,000, to Labour since 2012, according to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
Video:Sky News To Host 'Chancellors' Q&A
His identity had been unclear because parties need only to provide a name for donors of amounts above £7,500 and not further details.
This makes it difficult for the public to fully identify those people on the donors' register who have a common name.
In a statement on Friday, Mr Taylor, of Nevsky Capital, insisted there was "no mystery" about his donations and said his family had always been Labour, including his father, who was a councillor in Lewisham.
He said: "This Martin Taylor is me. I am a born and bred Londoner, who also happens to be a hedge fund manager. And I am proud to support the Labour Party.
"This may seem a bit odd to many people. It is commonly believed that everyone in the financial sector supports the Conservative Party, in a quest to pay ever lower levels of tax ...
"I believe very strongly that everyone should contribute to society and those who are lucky enough to earn a lot more should contribute more than others.
"This principle has become particularly important since the global financial crisis in 2008 threw Western economies into recession, reduced living standards and sparked a wave of cutbacks on government spending: cutbacks that have hit those with the least hardest."
He added that he also supported Labour's controversial mansion tax policy, which has recently drawn fire from the pop stars Cheryl Fernandez Versini and Myleene Klass.
A Labour Party spokesman said: "We are grateful to people from all walks of life who support the Labour Party and our better plan.
"Unlike David Cameron and the Conservatives who increasingly rely on the money of an exclusive group of donors - the same people who they have rewarded with tax breaks - Ed Miliband will enter Downing Street owing nothing to anybody."
Higher-than-usual tides are expected across the southern coast of England and the north of France due to a rare alignment of the sun and moon that happens only every 18 years.
The most spectacular scenes are expected at the picturesque French island of Mont Saint-Michel.
Perched on a rocky island topped with a Gothic Benedictine abbey, the Unesco World Heritage Site is exposed to some of Europe's strongest tides.
But the high tide due on Saturday evening is expected to be exceptional because of Friday's solar eclipse, with predictions that the water could reach as high as 14.15 metres.
Mont Saint-Michel is cut-off by the supertide
On Friday police struggled to control a crowd of around 10,000 people drawn to what experts had described as "the highest tide of the century".
They were mainly disappointed because, despite a big enough surge of water to leave the only access road impassable, the waves fell a few inches short of expectations.
Video:Get the Surfing Experience
Officials at France's Navy Oceanic and Hydrological Service urged caution, warning that the high tide around 8pm GMT, "will come in faster than a running man" and would pose a danger to people venturing out too far.
In nearby Saint-Malo, crowds gathered by the beach to see waves lap at the town's stone walls.
Similar high waters are expected in parts of the UK's southern coast, where the Environment Agency moved to reassure people that the risk of flood remained "very low for the next few days".
A spokesman said: "High tides this weekend may lead to spray on promenades in some exposed coastal locations.
"We always monitor the flood risk situation closely, working alongside partners, including the Met Office and local authorities, and issue alerts and warnings if required."
The extreme spring tides were welcomed by surfers, however, as more than 100 headed to surf the River Severn's tidal bore.
Sky News Midlands correspondent Adele Robinson, in Minsterworth, Gloucestershire, said the bore is one of the largest in the world and waves reached 6ft 2in.
It is the second of three tidal bores expected this year, making 2015 a year of unusually-high tidal surges.
"It's essentially the incoming tide, which is pushing against the current of the river in the opposite direction, which creates waves that can travel a considerable distance."
The moon's gravitational pull and the rare alignment between the sun and the moon also have an effect on the rare high tide, she said.
One of those surfing the bore was Gary Wells, who managed to stay on his board for "about a minute-and-a-half", adding that it was "a bit trickier than you think."
Written By Unknown on Jumat, 20 Maret 2015 | 20.48
Teen Gets 22 Years For Plot To Behead Soldier
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
Brusthom Ziamani was 'groomed' by older men, his lawyer said
A teenager has been jailed for 22 years for hatching a plot to behead a British soldier inspired by the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby.
Brusthom Ziamani, 19, stood impassively in the dock as the sentence was handed down at the Old Bailey.
He was arrested in an east London street carrying a 12in knife and a hammer in a rucksack.
He had earlier researched the location of army cadet bases in the south east of the capital.
The court was told how he had earlier shown his ex-girlfriend weapons, described Fusilier Rigby's killer Michael Adebolajo as a "legend".
1/5
Gallery: Ziamani: 'This Is Islamic State Of Ireland And Britain'
In this letter, Brusthom Ziamani told his parents that he had an obligation to fight for Allah - and as he couldn't travel to Iraq and Syria, he would have to wage war on the British Government. 'This is Islamic State of Ireland and Britain,' the 19-year-old adds
The man, from southeast London, said the heads of British soldiers would be removed and burned - and claimed: 'you cannot defeat the Muslims because we love to die the way you love to live'
]]>
He chillingly added: 'we should do a 9/11, 7/7 and a Woolwich all in one day, everyday'
]]>
As the letter continued, Ziamani told his mother and father that he planned to die a martyr and leave this world - 'so please do not grieve, as I will be in paradise'. He also asked his parents to forgive him for the stress he had caused them in the past
]]>
In the final section, the teenager urged his parents not to mix with Christians, Jews and non-believers - and said they should all be killed with no pity. 'But do not kill the women and children,' he added
]]>
He told his girlfriend he would "kill soldiers".
The defendant was radicalised after being befriended by members of a radical Muslim organisation which held meetings in London.
Ziamani was found guilty last month of preparing an act of terrorism and was sentenced by Judge Timothy Pontius.
Judge Pontius said: "A realistic and sensible assessment of the whole of the evidence leads inescapably to the conclusion that this defendant, had he not by sheer good fortune been spotted and stopped by the police on the street in east London, would have carried out the intention he had so graphically expressed to his ex-girlfriend just a few hours before."
The judge told Ziamani that he would have to serve at least two-thirds of his 22-year sentence before being eligible for parole.
Earlier, in mitigation, Ziamani's lawyer, Naeem Mian, said his client was not an "entrenched extremist".
Mr Mian said Ziamani was a young man who while destitute had been groomed by people who were "more sophisticated and mature" than him.
He said: "It is worrying to say the least that those who groomed him are able to groom and radicalise a young man in such a short period of time.
"On any view it is a tragic case because this young man will spend a long time in custody after which he will inevitably be unemployable.
"His foolish, naive acts have resulted in him throwing his life away at his tender age.
"He has nothing to look forward to now. The only glimmer of hope he has is the fact his parents - in particular his mother - has been to see him a number of times since his conviction.
"They are still not comfortable with the fact he has converted to Islam. As you would expect of caring and loving parents, they have been to see him."
The trial was told how Ziamani had "reverted" to Islam only last year and was kicked out of home in Camberwell, south London, by his parents.
1/3
Gallery: Knife Shown To Terror Trial Jury
Police have released images of material shown to the jury in the trial of Brusthom Ziamani
The knife along with this Shahada flag were found in Ziamani's rucksack when he was arrested, the court heard
]]>
Ziamani was born in London to Congolese parents. His mother worked as a nursery nurse and his father was a psychiatric nurse.
He said he first became interested in Islam at the age of 15 through rap music and decided to convert again in the months before his arrests.
He initially turned to his local mosque for support before he fell in with the Muslim group al-Muhajiroun - or ALM.
The group gave him money, clothes and a place to stay.
He attended their talks in the basement of a halal sweet shop in Whitechapel and bought a black flag to take on their demonstrations.
He said he was going "to rock it everywhere I go in the Kaffirs' face".
The court was told how he posted comments on Facebook that he was "willing to die in the cause of Allah".
He added: "Sharia law on its way on our streets. We will implement it, it's part of our religion."
At the time he was first arrested last June on an unrelated matter, police found a ripped-up letter in his jeans pocket.
In the letter he wrote about mounting an attack on a British soldier and expressed the desire to die a martyr.
But Ziamani denied he was planning a copycat terror atrocity like the murder of Fusilier Rigby.
On the letter, he said: "I was ranting and raging about the situation in Muslim countries which was described in these talks. I did not believe it at all."
Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain
Top Stories
Breaking News: 'Eerie' Solar Eclipse Casts Shadow Across Europe
As It Happened: Solar Eclipse Sweeps The Earth
'Oh My God!' Cheers As Clouds Part For Eclipse
Breaking News: Sun Journalists Cleared Over Public Payments
Clarkson Tells Live Audience He's Been Sacked
Teen Gets 22 Years For Plot To Behead Soldier
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
Brusthom Ziamani was 'groomed' by older men, his lawyer said
A teenager has been jailed for 22 years for hatching a plot to behead a British soldier inspired by the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby.
Brusthom Ziamani, 19, stood impassively in the dock as the sentence was handed down at the Old Bailey.
He was arrested in an east London street carrying a 12in knife and a hammer in a rucksack.
He had earlier researched the location of army cadet bases in the south east of the capital.
The court was told how he had earlier shown his ex-girlfriend weapons, described Fusilier Rigby's killer Michael Adebolajo as a "legend".
1/5
Gallery: Ziamani: 'This Is Islamic State Of Ireland And Britain'
In this letter, Brusthom Ziamani told his parents that he had an obligation to fight for Allah - and as he couldn't travel to Iraq and Syria, he would have to wage war on the British Government. 'This is Islamic State of Ireland and Britain,' the 19-year-old adds
The man, from southeast London, said the heads of British soldiers would be removed and burned - and claimed: 'you cannot defeat the Muslims because we love to die the way you love to live'
]]>
He chillingly added: 'we should do a 9/11, 7/7 and a Woolwich all in one day, everyday'
]]>
As the letter continued, Ziamani told his mother and father that he planned to die a martyr and leave this world - 'so please do not grieve, as I will be in paradise'. He also asked his parents to forgive him for the stress he had caused them in the past
]]>
In the final section, the teenager urged his parents not to mix with Christians, Jews and non-believers - and said they should all be killed with no pity. 'But do not kill the women and children,' he added
]]>
He told his girlfriend he would "kill soldiers".
The defendant was radicalised after being befriended by members of a radical Muslim organisation which held meetings in London.
Ziamani was found guilty last month of preparing an act of terrorism and was sentenced by Judge Timothy Pontius.
Judge Pontius said: "A realistic and sensible assessment of the whole of the evidence leads inescapably to the conclusion that this defendant, had he not by sheer good fortune been spotted and stopped by the police on the street in east London, would have carried out the intention he had so graphically expressed to his ex-girlfriend just a few hours before."
The judge told Ziamani that he would have to serve at least two-thirds of his 22-year sentence before being eligible for parole.
Earlier, in mitigation, Ziamani's lawyer, Naeem Mian, said his client was not an "entrenched extremist".
Mr Mian said Ziamani was a young man who while destitute had been groomed by people who were "more sophisticated and mature" than him.
He said: "It is worrying to say the least that those who groomed him are able to groom and radicalise a young man in such a short period of time.
"On any view it is a tragic case because this young man will spend a long time in custody after which he will inevitably be unemployable.
"His foolish, naive acts have resulted in him throwing his life away at his tender age.
"He has nothing to look forward to now. The only glimmer of hope he has is the fact his parents - in particular his mother - has been to see him a number of times since his conviction.
"They are still not comfortable with the fact he has converted to Islam. As you would expect of caring and loving parents, they have been to see him."
The trial was told how Ziamani had "reverted" to Islam only last year and was kicked out of home in Camberwell, south London, by his parents.
1/3
Gallery: Knife Shown To Terror Trial Jury
Police have released images of material shown to the jury in the trial of Brusthom Ziamani
The knife along with this Shahada flag were found in Ziamani's rucksack when he was arrested, the court heard
]]>
Ziamani was born in London to Congolese parents. His mother worked as a nursery nurse and his father was a psychiatric nurse.
He said he first became interested in Islam at the age of 15 through rap music and decided to convert again in the months before his arrests.
He initially turned to his local mosque for support before he fell in with the Muslim group al-Muhajiroun - or ALM.
The group gave him money, clothes and a place to stay.
He attended their talks in the basement of a halal sweet shop in Whitechapel and bought a black flag to take on their demonstrations.
He said he was going "to rock it everywhere I go in the Kaffirs' face".
The court was told how he posted comments on Facebook that he was "willing to die in the cause of Allah".
He added: "Sharia law on its way on our streets. We will implement it, it's part of our religion."
At the time he was first arrested last June on an unrelated matter, police found a ripped-up letter in his jeans pocket.
In the letter he wrote about mounting an attack on a British soldier and expressed the desire to die a martyr.
But Ziamani denied he was planning a copycat terror atrocity like the murder of Fusilier Rigby.
On the letter, he said: "I was ranting and raging about the situation in Muslim countries which was described in these talks. I did not believe it at all."
Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain
Top Stories
Breaking News: 'Eerie' Solar Eclipse Casts Shadow Across Europe
As It Happened: Solar Eclipse Sweeps The Earth
'Oh My God!' Cheers As Clouds Part For Eclipse
Breaking News: Sun Journalists Cleared Over Public Payments
Millions of people across Europe have defied gloomy weather forecasts to watch a solar eclipse cast its shadow across the continent.
Some lucky observers in Britain got to experience the full extent of the event as the moon crossed in front of the sun, covering up to 97% of its face.
One of the best vantage points was in South Gloucestershire, where amateur astronomer Ralph Wilkins described the "eerie" feeling as a chilly gloom descended and shadows sharpened.
Elsewhere there were reports of birds "going crazy" and flocking to trees, confused by the fading light.
Skywatchers in Newquay, Cornwall, got a clear view of first contact as the moon cut across the Sun at 8.20am, shortly after observers in Spain saw the eclipse begin.
As the spectacle began, astronomer Tom Kerss told Sky News: "You're seeing the Moon's rugged mountainous and valleyed surface starting to cut into the face of the Sun. That will just grow and cut more of the Sun away."
Video:Whoops Of Joy As Eclipse Appears
:: Live Updates: Countdown To The Solar Eclipse
First contact in London was visible at 8.47am, with a large crowd of enthusiasts choosing the Royal Observatory at Greenwich as the ideal spot to watch as the Sun was partially obscured.
Members of the public and commuters who might have caught sight of the eclipse on the way to work had been warned that looking directly at the Sun could seriously damage their eyesight.
Despite fears that cloud cover could ruin the event, there were good views in many areas, from the South West to London, Lincolnshire and the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.
But some were left disappointed, including in cloudy Eastbourne, Glasgow, Bristol and Sheffield.
Video:Eclipse From Space
Twitter user @RGGoldie wrote from Jersey: "So cloudy I can't even tell where the sun is right now."
Even in gloomy areas darker skies and a slight drop in temperature were experienced during the event that will not be seen again in the UK until 2026.
It was the deepest solar eclipse shadow to fall across Britain since 1999.
The Faroe Islands and the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard in the North Atlantic were the only places to get a total eclipse.
There were clouds in the Faroes, where Jill and Valerie Lucas, who travelled from Pennsylvania in the US to watch the eclipse, told Sky's Senior Correspondent Ian Woods: "This is a thrill in itself, to be this dark at nine o'clock in the morning - it's like nine o'clock at night."
Video:Children In Awe At First Eclipse
But moments later there were gasps from the delighted crowd when the Sun broke through the darkness of total obscuration at 9.42am.
Around the UK, the proportion of the sun covered by the moon increased towards the north, ranging from 84% in London to 89% in Manchester, 93% in Edinburgh and 97% in Lerwick in the Shetland Isles.
:: London
The partial phase of the eclipse commenced at 8.25am. One hour and six minutes later at 9.31am the maximum eclipse occurred with 85% of the Sun blocked out. The event ended at 10.41am.
:: Manchester
Viewers in the northwest saw 90% of the Sun obscured. The event began at 8.27am, and reached maximum coverage at 9.32am. It lasted two hours and fifteen minutes finished at 10.42am.
Video:How To View The Eclipse Safely
:: Belfast
The event began a minute later than London at 8.26am and lasted two hours and 13 minutes, ending at 10.39am. The eclipse reached maximum coverage at 9.31am when 95% of the Sun was obscured.
:: Scotland
Further north, eclipse watchers enjoyed a slightly better show. Viewers in Edinburgh saw 93% of the Sun covered and from Lerwick in the Shetland Isles, the Moon obscured 97% of the solar disk.
:: Aberystwyth
Viewers watched the eclipse from 8.24am and the event lasted a total of two hours and 14 minutes. The event reached maximum at 9.29am when 90% of the Sun was obscured.
Despite the excitement, Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Society for Popular Astronomy, warned the event could become memorable for the wrong reasons if observers failed to heed warnings of the dangers.
Video:Solar Eclipse: Myths And Magic
"This one takes place right in the middle of the rush-hour," he said. "It's not the best time from a safety point of view.
"A partial eclipse is more risky by far than a total eclipse because people don't realise that even looking at a thin sliver of sun is dangerous. It's absolutely true that there is a serious risk to people's eyesight.
"If people can't find a way to view the eclipse correctly then they shouldn't look because they're likely to damage their eyes."
A tourist visiting Norway for the eclipse has described the terrifying moment a polar bear dragged him out of his tent as he slept.
:: Watch a Sky News special report on the solar eclipse today at 2.30pm, 4.30pm, 6.30pm and 9.30pm on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 132 and Freesat channel 202. Also available on skynews.com, iPad, iPhone and Sky Go.
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
Video:Whoops Of Joy As Eclipse Appears
Whoops of joy greeted the sun as the moon passed over it, delighting millions of skywatchers across northern Europe.
As the clouds parted over the Faroe Islands, turning total darkness to light again in seconds, thrilled crowds shouted in enchantment, with many yelling out: "Oh my God, Oh my God!"
The spectacular eclipse has been described as "amazing", "beautiful" and "eerie".
At one point, at around 9.40am, Sky News senior correspondent Ian Woods said: "We are standing in total darkness, I can hardly see the camera."
After the sun emerged again Woods said: "It was so grey and miserable, weather-wise, that we were preparing to give up on the whole thing.
1/23
Gallery: People Around The World In Awe As Skies Blacken
A pupil at St Vincent's Catholic Primary School in Altrincham looks through special glasses at the partial solar eclipse
Schoolchildren at Madrid's Planetarium react as the sun disappears
]]>
Youngsters in London enjoy the moment
]]>
Pupils from Saint Ursula's Covent Secondary School wearing protective glasses as they watch the eclipse at the Royal Observatory Greenwich
]]>
School children look to the skies in Glasgow
]]>
"But then suddenly we saw it - it was absolutely awe-inspiring. Just at the end, it went very, very dark and then we saw a glimpse of totality.
"We only got a few seconds of totality before the sun emerged again, but it was incredible."
Jill Lucas, who travelled to Faroe from Pennsylvania in the US, told Woods: "This is a thrill in itself, to be this dark at nine o'clock in the morning - it's like nine o'clock at night."
However, despite the excited reaction from some, not all of the 10,000 visitors turning up on Faroe were satisfied.
"It was overcast, there was rain and wind. You could see nothing. It was a disappointment for everybody," said Gabor Lantos, a Hungarian tourist.
"Some tourists were so irritated, they argued with tour operators, demanding their money back," he said, adding that would be impossible.
Video:Eclipse: Who Turned The Lights Out?
Elsewhere, the moon took its first nibble out of the right hand side of the sun at 8.28am in Skegness, on the east coast of Lincolnshire.
Security guard and amateur photographer Gary Martin, 45, took his camera to the seafront straight after a night shift.
"It's been brilliant," he said. "It was very important not to miss it and by taking photos - I can keep the memories for years to come."
Val Goll, 65, from the town described feeling an unusual "atmosphere" and a noticeable drop in temperature as the moon passed in front of the sun.
"I'm immensely pleased and excited to have seen it," she said. "It is beautiful."
Meanwhile, some of the best experiences were had in Newquay, Cornwall, where there was an 85% eclipse and some clear skies.
Video:Pupils' Excitement After Eclipse
Sky's Isabel Webster chatted to children who wore special glasses to observe the spectacle.
One boy, Archie, said: "It's the first one I've seen and I saw it through the glasses, to avoid causing damage to my eyes. It's really good."
Another witness in Newquay said: "It was quite eerie, everything just went pretty dark and the birds seemed to go quiet."
On the Isle of Lewis, in Scotland, where there was a 95% eclipse, viewers turned out with makeshift cameras made from cardboard boxes.
One viewer, called Elliott, told Sky's James Matthews: "I'm quite impressed - what I can see is not very big - but the box has drawn attention to the eclipse."
Space journalist Sarah Cruddas told Sky News: "Not only was the solar eclipse amazing, but equally amazing is the fact that so many people, schools, news organisations, are so engaged in what's going on.
Video:UK's First Glimpse Of Solar Eclipse
"This really is a once-in-a-lifetime event - you can tell it's a lot darker outside."
Despite the excitement some voiced their disappointment on Twitter after poor weather spoiled views.
Software engineer Amarjeet Rai (@sonu27), from London, wrote: "Solar eclipse this morning. Shame it's cloudy."
Fellow user @RGGoldie wrote from Jersey: "So cloudy I can't even tell where the sun is right now."
Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain
Top Stories
Breaking News: 'Eerie' Solar Eclipse Casts Shadow Across Europe
As It Happened: Solar Eclipse Sweeps The Earth
Breaking News: Teen Gets 22 Years For Plot To Behead Soldier
Breaking News: Sun Journalists Cleared Over Public Payments
Clarkson Tells Live Audience He's Been Sacked
Solar Eclipse: Cheers As The Clouds Parted
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
Video:Whoops Of Joy As Eclipse Appears
Whoops of joy greeted the sun as the moon passed over it, delighting millions of skywatchers across northern Europe.
As the clouds parted over the Faroe Islands, turning total darkness to light again in seconds, thrilled crowds shouted in enchantment, with many yelling out: "Oh my God, Oh my God!"
The spectacular eclipse has been described as "amazing", "beautiful" and "eerie".
At one point, at around 9.40am, Sky News senior correspondent Ian Woods said: "We are standing in total darkness, I can hardly see the camera."
After the sun emerged again Woods said: "It was so grey and miserable, weather-wise, that we were preparing to give up on the whole thing.
1/23
Gallery: People Around The World In Awe As Skies Blacken
A pupil at St Vincent's Catholic Primary School in Altrincham looks through special glasses at the partial solar eclipse
Schoolchildren at Madrid's Planetarium react as the sun disappears
]]>
Youngsters in London enjoy the moment
]]>
Pupils from Saint Ursula's Covent Secondary School wearing protective glasses as they watch the eclipse at the Royal Observatory Greenwich
]]>
School children look to the skies in Glasgow
]]>
"But then suddenly we saw it - it was absolutely awe-inspiring. Just at the end, it went very, very dark and then we saw a glimpse of totality.
"We only got a few seconds of totality before the sun emerged again, but it was incredible."
Jill Lucas, who travelled to Faroe from Pennsylvania in the US, told Woods: "This is a thrill in itself, to be this dark at nine o'clock in the morning - it's like nine o'clock at night."
However, despite the excited reaction from some, not all of the 10,000 visitors turning up on Faroe were satisfied.
"It was overcast, there was rain and wind. You could see nothing. It was a disappointment for everybody," said Gabor Lantos, a Hungarian tourist.
"Some tourists were so irritated, they argued with tour operators, demanding their money back," he said, adding that would be impossible.
Video:Eclipse: Who Turned The Lights Out?
Elsewhere, the moon took its first nibble out of the right hand side of the sun at 8.28am in Skegness, on the east coast of Lincolnshire.
Security guard and amateur photographer Gary Martin, 45, took his camera to the seafront straight after a night shift.
"It's been brilliant," he said. "It was very important not to miss it and by taking photos - I can keep the memories for years to come."
Val Goll, 65, from the town described feeling an unusual "atmosphere" and a noticeable drop in temperature as the moon passed in front of the sun.
"I'm immensely pleased and excited to have seen it," she said. "It is beautiful."
Meanwhile, some of the best experiences were had in Newquay, Cornwall, where there was an 85% eclipse and some clear skies.
Video:Pupils' Excitement After Eclipse
Sky's Isabel Webster chatted to children who wore special glasses to observe the spectacle.
One boy, Archie, said: "It's the first one I've seen and I saw it through the glasses, to avoid causing damage to my eyes. It's really good."
Another witness in Newquay said: "It was quite eerie, everything just went pretty dark and the birds seemed to go quiet."
On the Isle of Lewis, in Scotland, where there was a 95% eclipse, viewers turned out with makeshift cameras made from cardboard boxes.
One viewer, called Elliott, told Sky's James Matthews: "I'm quite impressed - what I can see is not very big - but the box has drawn attention to the eclipse."
Space journalist Sarah Cruddas told Sky News: "Not only was the solar eclipse amazing, but equally amazing is the fact that so many people, schools, news organisations, are so engaged in what's going on.
Video:UK's First Glimpse Of Solar Eclipse
"This really is a once-in-a-lifetime event - you can tell it's a lot darker outside."
Despite the excitement some voiced their disappointment on Twitter after poor weather spoiled views.
Software engineer Amarjeet Rai (@sonu27), from London, wrote: "Solar eclipse this morning. Shame it's cloudy."
Fellow user @RGGoldie wrote from Jersey: "So cloudy I can't even tell where the sun is right now."
Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain
Top Stories
Breaking News: 'Eerie' Solar Eclipse Casts Shadow Across Europe
As It Happened: Solar Eclipse Sweeps The Earth
Breaking News: Teen Gets 22 Years For Plot To Behead Soldier
Breaking News: Sun Journalists Cleared Over Public Payments
Written By Unknown on Kamis, 19 Maret 2015 | 20.48
British Woman Killed In 'Brutal' Tunisia Attack
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
Video:Brit Woman Killed In Terror Attack
A British woman was killed in the terror attack in Tunis that left 23 people dead, it has emerged.
Named as Sally Adey, the victim was on holiday with her husband, who is receiving support from the firm that runs the cruise ship the pair were sailing on.
Prime Minister David Cameron described the killings as an "appalling and brutal outrage".
Describing it as "the latest example of extremist terror", he said: "We have to fight it with everything we have, whether that is taking the poison out of young minds here in Britain, whether it's working with intelligence, policing and security services in other countries around the world or whether it's dealing decisively with those areas of the world from which these problems come."
Witnesses say the gunmen behind the attack opened fire on tourists arriving at the capital's Bardo Museum, renowned for its collection of Roman mosaics, before chasing them inside.
Video:PM Condemns Tunis Terror Attack
The two attackers were among the 23 people left dead.
The victims, who also included Japanese, Italians, Colombians, Spaniards, Australians, Poles and French, were passengers on two cruise liners which had recently arrived in Tunis.
Moncef Hamdoun, an official with the Charles Nicolle hospital where many victims were taken, said seven of the dead remain unidentified.
1/14
Gallery: Gallery
Police officers stand outside the parliament
A tourist injured after an attack by gunmen on Tunisia's national museum is wheeled on a stretcher
]]>
Police lead their dogs during the attack by gunmen
]]>
Police officers and a journalist run outside the parliament
]]>
A tourist injured after an attack by gunmen on Tunisia's national museum
]]>
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: "Sadly, I can confirm the death of a British woman in yesterday's terrorist attack in Tunisia. Consular staff are providing assistance to her family. My thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.
"The Tunisian people are rightly proud of their democratic transition.
"Cowardly attacks, such as the one we saw yesterday, must not be allowed to undermine what they have achieved."
Video:Tunisians Unite Against Terror
Meanwhile, Mr Essid said one of the two gunmen was known to intelligence services. Authorities are searching for two or three other possible accomplices.
In an interview with France's RTL radio, Mr Essid said Tunisia was working with other countries to learn more about the attackers, identified as Yassine Laabidi and Hatem Khachnaoui.
The pair were killed by security services in a raid after the attack.
Video:Terrified Hostages Flee Museum
Mr Essid said Laabidi had been flagged to intelligence, although not for "anything special." No formal links to a particular terrorist group have been established following the attack.
Spain's foreign minister, Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo, also revealed a Spanish tourist couple were found safe after hiding out in the Tunis museum all night after the attack.
He said the pair, Juan Carlos Sanchez and Cristina Rubio - who is four-months pregnant, were so afraid that they did not want to move.
Video:Tunisia's Deadly Exports
Mrs Adey was among 10 people sailing on MSC Cruises' vessel, Splendida, who were killed in the attack. Twelve were injured.
The company said: "At this tragic time, the MSC Cruises family wishes to extend its most sincere and heartfelt condolences to all those who were affected by this tragic event and are suffering as a result, in particular to the families and friends of those who lost their lives as well as the injured ones."
Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain
Top Stories
Anger As Lib Dems Deliver 'Yellow Budget'
Man Forced Boys Into Fight, Theft And Sex Act
Countdown To Eclipse: Eerie Darkness To Cover UK
Wet Wipes Blighting Britain's Beaches
One Direction Ordered To Pay 'Weed Bond'
British Woman Killed In 'Brutal' Tunisia Attack
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
Video:Brit Woman Killed In Terror Attack
A British woman was killed in the terror attack in Tunis that left 23 people dead, it has emerged.
Named as Sally Adey, the victim was on holiday with her husband, who is receiving support from the firm that runs the cruise ship the pair were sailing on.
Prime Minister David Cameron described the killings as an "appalling and brutal outrage".
Describing it as "the latest example of extremist terror", he said: "We have to fight it with everything we have, whether that is taking the poison out of young minds here in Britain, whether it's working with intelligence, policing and security services in other countries around the world or whether it's dealing decisively with those areas of the world from which these problems come."
Witnesses say the gunmen behind the attack opened fire on tourists arriving at the capital's Bardo Museum, renowned for its collection of Roman mosaics, before chasing them inside.
Video:PM Condemns Tunis Terror Attack
The two attackers were among the 23 people left dead.
The victims, who also included Japanese, Italians, Colombians, Spaniards, Australians, Poles and French, were passengers on two cruise liners which had recently arrived in Tunis.
Moncef Hamdoun, an official with the Charles Nicolle hospital where many victims were taken, said seven of the dead remain unidentified.
1/14
Gallery: Gallery
Police officers stand outside the parliament
A tourist injured after an attack by gunmen on Tunisia's national museum is wheeled on a stretcher
]]>
Police lead their dogs during the attack by gunmen
]]>
Police officers and a journalist run outside the parliament
]]>
A tourist injured after an attack by gunmen on Tunisia's national museum
]]>
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: "Sadly, I can confirm the death of a British woman in yesterday's terrorist attack in Tunisia. Consular staff are providing assistance to her family. My thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.
"The Tunisian people are rightly proud of their democratic transition.
"Cowardly attacks, such as the one we saw yesterday, must not be allowed to undermine what they have achieved."
Video:Tunisians Unite Against Terror
Meanwhile, Mr Essid said one of the two gunmen was known to intelligence services. Authorities are searching for two or three other possible accomplices.
In an interview with France's RTL radio, Mr Essid said Tunisia was working with other countries to learn more about the attackers, identified as Yassine Laabidi and Hatem Khachnaoui.
The pair were killed by security services in a raid after the attack.
Video:Terrified Hostages Flee Museum
Mr Essid said Laabidi had been flagged to intelligence, although not for "anything special." No formal links to a particular terrorist group have been established following the attack.
Spain's foreign minister, Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo, also revealed a Spanish tourist couple were found safe after hiding out in the Tunis museum all night after the attack.
He said the pair, Juan Carlos Sanchez and Cristina Rubio - who is four-months pregnant, were so afraid that they did not want to move.
Video:Tunisia's Deadly Exports
Mrs Adey was among 10 people sailing on MSC Cruises' vessel, Splendida, who were killed in the attack. Twelve were injured.
The company said: "At this tragic time, the MSC Cruises family wishes to extend its most sincere and heartfelt condolences to all those who were affected by this tragic event and are suffering as a result, in particular to the families and friends of those who lost their lives as well as the injured ones."
Danny Alexander struggled to make himself heard in the House of Commons as he attempted to deliver the Liberal Democrats' "yellow budget".
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury was heckled by Labour MPs who accused him of using "ministerial privileges" for "purely party political purposes".
Amid heated exchanges, Mr Alexander was so badly heckled he was forced to accuse one Labour MP "ranting like a lunatic".
Labour MPs also jeered Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg as he left the Commons before Mr Alexander had finished speaking.
Mr Alexander said he was unveiling plans for the economy that would not return the country to the era of "Kathy Come Home" setting out the party's differences to the Conservatives.
Video:'Bye, Bye' Clegg At 'Yellow Budget'
He used an assessment from the Government's Office for Budget Responsibility to deliver Liberal Democrat fiscal policy, saying deficit reduction needed to happen more fairly than proposed by the Chancellor.
Following his House of Commons appearance, Mr Alexander posed outside the Treasury with a yellow box alternative to George Osborne's red box.
The briefcase, sporting the words Liberal Democrat Budget in gold letters, had been auctioned off - described as a "beautiful, historic, briefcase" - for £1,500 at the party conference last week.
Mr Alexander made his alternative Budget statement in the House of Commons ahead of a Government announcement to crack down on tax evaders.
The announcement of the measures had been left over from George Osborne's sixth Budget on Wednesday.
The plans will see banks and accountants who help people dodge tax facing fines equal to the amount owed.
Video:Tax Evasion Plans Unveiled
It means the Government would get the money back from both the person who evaded the tax, and the firm that helped them to do so.
Mr Alexander told Sky News the Government wanted to send the message that "dodging and evading tax is simply unacceptable".
He said: "In future if a bank or an accountancy firm help you evade tax they will be liable for a financial penalty the same as the tax that they encourage you to evade.
"This is all part of the Liberal Democrat-led clampdown on avoidance and evasion that has gone on for the whole of the parliament."
Labour MP Chris Leslie accused Mr Alexander of orchestrating a "phoney exercise" to put forward a Liberal Democrat agenda.
He said the Chief Secretary had used a legitimate Government Budget statement on tax evasion measures to present Liberal Democrat plans and said he was guilty of delivering his alternatives under "false pretences".
Video:Osborne Dismisses Cuts Fears
He said the Liberal Democrats had backed the Tories for five years and now Mr Alexander must pay the "ultimate price".
Tory MP Adam Afriyie said the "yellow budget" was the "Westminster bubble at its worst".
Speaking on his LBC radio show ahead of the Mr Alexander's appearance, the Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg, said £6bn of the £27bn needed to balance the books should be found from an increase in tax - mainly for the richest in society.
He said: "Over the last five years, we have basically taken a mixture of tax increases and spending reductions, welfare reductions, action on tax avoidance, to start balancing the books. That's allowed us to halve the deficit as a proportion of our nation's wealth.
"The Conservatives announced last autumn that they are going to lurch away from that and only nobble the working-age poor and only the working-age poor will make additional sacrifices to balance the books.
"I don't think that's fair, I don't think it's right to ask for £1,500 off the eight million poorest families in this country, which is what the Conservatives want to do."
Video:Balls: Rollercoaster Budget Cuts
Mr Osborne, meanwhile, has defended plans for more cuts to spending on public services, saying it was "necessary if we are going to go on living within our means".
The solar eclipse is just a day away as millions of people wait to witness an astronomical spectacle that will not be seen again in the UK for another 10 years.
Around the UK the amount of the Sun covered by the Moon will increase the further north you are.
Coverage will range from 84% in London to 89% in Manchester, 93% in Edinburgh, and 97% in Lerwick in the Shetland Isles.
Times will also vary with the eclipse beginning in the capital at 8.24am, reaching its maximum extent at 9.31am and ending at 10.41am.
For anyone watching in Edinburgh it will start at 8.30am and peak at 9.35am.
Video:Solar Eclipse: Will You See It?
Only people in the Faroe Islands and the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard in the North Atlantic will witness a total eclipse.
The last solar eclipse of such significance was on 11 August 1999, and was "total" - with 100% of the Sun covered - when seen from Cornwall.
Another "deep" partial eclipse visible in the UK will not occur until 12 August 2026 and the next total eclipse not until September 2090.
Video:Solar Eclipse: Myths And Magic
Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Society for Popular Astronomy (SPA), said: "We won't experience totality in the UK but it will still be a memorable event.
"You'd think everything would go virtually black, but it doesn't, it's about equal to a fair bit of high cloud in front of the Sun.
"But it has this eerie quality, especially on a clear day. You think, hang on, it's getting darker, but there are no clouds."
1/11
Gallery: Best Images Of The 2013 Solar Eclipse
The moon moves in, as seen from the northern Iraqi city of Arbil
Members of the Rendile tribe gathered to watch the full eclipse in Sibiloi National Park in Kenya
Police have released CCTV of knife-wielding man wanted for forcing two teenage boys to have a fight, steal from a shop and perform a sex act on each other.
The suspect approached the pair of teenagers on a bus in Brixton, London, told them he had a knife and forced them to get off the route 133 service in the Elephant and Castle area.
There, he led them to a park in Newington Butts, where he made them fight each other and steal from a nearby shop.
He then led them to the stairwell of a block of flats, where he forced one of the boys to perform a sex act on the other, before walking off.
Trainee Detective Constable Amy Beautridge said: "This was a most unusual crime and distressing crime, during which the two young victims were terrified by threats made by the suspect, who intimated he was in possession of a knife.
"He used their fear to control them and force them to effectively do as he said.
"Despite their young age, the victims have been incredibly brave in coming forward and providing information to the police and I would praise them for this.
"I am very keen to identify and speak to the person in the CCTV image we have released today, and I would urge anyone who recognises him to call the police or Crimestoppers as soon as possible.
"I would also like to reassure anyone concerned about contacting the police that they will be treated with the utmost sensitivity."
:: Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 020 8721 4621, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Chancellor George Osborne has delivered his pre-election budget. Here are his key points so far.
Click to refresh for the latest lines...
:: Personal tax-free allowance will be increased to £10,800 in April 2016, and to £11,000 in April 2017.
:: Beer duty to be cut for the third year running, with 1p off the price of a pint. Cider duty to be cut by 2%. Duty on scotch whisky and other spirits to be cut by 2%. Wine duty to be frozen.
:: Pension pot lifetime allowance to be reduced from £1.25m to £1m from next year, saving £600m annually.
Video:'Banks Must Support Whole Country'
:: National Minimum Wage will rise by 20p an hour to £6.70 from October.
:: Corporation tax to be cut to 20% in two weeks' time.
:: "Help to buy ISA" will be launched for first-time buyers. For every £200 saved for a deposit, the Government will top it up with £50.
:: Personal savings allowance to be launched, taking 95% of Britons out of savings tax altogether.
:: Fuel duty increase scheduled for September is cancelled.
:: Employers' National Insurance contributions for under-21s to be abolished from this April, and for young apprentices from April 2016.
:: Class 2 National Insurance contributions for the self-employed to be abolished entirely in the next parliament.
:: Annual tax return to be abolished altogether.
:: "More generous" tax credits for TV and film, expanded support for video games industry and new tax credit for orchestras.
:: Trebling in £15m fund for church roof appeals, and extension to £8,000 in automatic gift aid to benefit 6,500 small charities.
Video:Osborne Plans To Hit Tax Evaders
:: Review on the use of deeds of variation to avoid inheritance tax to report by the autumn.
:: Charities for British servicemen and women to receive £75m, funded by Libor fines.
:: Up to £600m to clear new spectrum bands for further auctions, improving mobile phone coverage nationwide, including in remote communities.
:: Funding for wifi in public libraries and new national plan for ultra-fast broadband to nearly all homes in the country.
:: New investment in transport and regeneration across London, and funding to address acute housing shortages in the capital.
:: Automotive industry to receive £100m in investment in the race to driverless technology.
:: South West to receive £7bn in transport investment.
:: Eight new enterprise zones across Britain – including Blackpool and Plymouth.
:: North Sea oil industry to receive £1.3bn in support through four new measures.
:: £1m to buy defibrillators for public places, including schools.
Video:Trade Deficit 'Still Far Too High'
:: Expanded support for creative industries, including a new tax credit for orchestras.
:: Consultation on tax support for local newspapers.
:: Measures on tax avoidance and evasion to raise £3.1 billion over the forecast period.
:: Legislation next week on diverted profits tax aimed at multinationals shifting profits offshore, with policy to take effect at the start of April.
:: The Office for Budget Responsibility says Britain's economy grew by 2.6% last year.
:: Growth forecast for 2015 revised up by 0.1% to 2.5%, with unemployment set to fall by 0.1% from 5.4% to 5.3%.
:: OBR revises 2015 inflation forecast down to 0.2%.
:: Sale of £13bn of mortgage assets held by the Government after the bailout of Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley is going to be launched. This will be used to pay down the national debt.
:: Bank levy increased to 0.21%, raising an additional £900m a year. New banking taxes to raise £5.3bn across forecast period.
:: Farmers will be allowed to average their incomes for tax purposes over five years.
George Osborne urged voters to "choose the future, choose jobs and choose economic security" as he set out his "responsible" vision for the economy.
As he opened his sixth Budget with just 50 days until the election, Mr Osborne confirmed the UK has grown faster than "any other major advanced economy in the world" and Britain was "walking tall again".
The Chancellor attempted to present an economic plan that was, as promised, not packed with pre-election "giveaways" but responsible and careful.
Mr Osborne announced a £9bn windfall from bank sales, and said there had been lower debt interest and lower welfare bills but said this would be used to pay down the national debt and not spent irresponsibly.
He said the national debt was falling and added: "The hard work and sacrifice of the British people has paid off. The original debt target I set out in my first Budget has been met.
Video:'Banks Must Support Whole Country'
"We will end this Parliament with Britain's national debt share falling. The sun is starting to shine – and we are fixing the roof."
:: Updates and analysis with the Sky News team
However, there were some sweeteners in the statement including the widely predicted increase in amount people can earn without paying income tax to £11,000.
Video:UK 'More Equal' Under Coalition
Mr Osborne also raised the threshold at which workers start paying the 40p tax rate above inflation from £42,385 this year to £43,300 by 2017-18.
And he promised it was a "down-payment" on the Conservative party commitment, made during the autumn conference, to raise the higher Rate threshold to £50,000.
He also announced a Help To Buy ISA for first time buyers which for every £200 saved for a deposit, the Government would top up with £50 more.
Video:"Choose The Future"
Mr Osborne rounded off his hour-long speech by saying: "Five years ago I had to present to this House an Emergency Budget. Today I present the Budget of an economy stronger in every way from the one we inherited.
"The Budget of an economy taking another big step from austerity to prosperity. We cut the deficit – and confidence is returning."
Other measures contained in the Budget included:
Video:Budget Speech: Growth Revised Up
:: The lifetime allowance on pensions will be reduced from £1.25m to £1m.
:: The Government will legislate to tackle multinationals who move their profits to cut tax.
:: Tax evasion will be a criminal offence with new penalties for those who assist them.
Video:UK Growth '50% Faster Than Germany'
:: The rate of the bank levy will be increased to 0.21%, raising an additional £900 million a year.
Mr Osborne said that growth had been revised up to 2.5% and had been greater in The North than in The South.
He also hailed the employment figures out today which he said showed "under this Government, 1,000 more jobs have been created every single day".
Video:Trade Deficit 'Still Far Too High'
Speaking ahead of Mr Osborne's statement, the Business Secretary Vince Cable stressed the Budget was a "joint effort" and not an electioneering Budget by the Tories.
Dr Cable told Sky News the Liberal Democrats will be delivering their own Budget plans on Thursday.
Mr Osborne is delivering his plans for the recovery of the nation's economy against a backdrop of the most unpredictable election for a generation.
Video:Cable: No Big Giveaway Budget
A Sky News projection, following analysis of the latest polls, suggests a hung parliament with the two parties virtually neck and neck.
It also comes after new figures showed the number of unemployed falling by more than 100,000 to 1.86m, which is the lowest since 2008.
