More Than 50 Injured In Cornwall Coach Crash

One person has been killed and more than 50 injured after a coach crashed into a wall in Cornwall.

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Oscar Pistorius 'Suffers From Anxiety Disorder'

Oscar Pistorius has an anxiety disorder and is a "distrusting and guarded" person who is "hyper-vigilant" about security, the athlete's murder trial has heard.

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Merryl Vorster offered a rare insight into the athlete's mindset, saying he often feels "isolated and alone" and normally keeps his thoughts and feelings bottled up.

But her evidence inadvertently opened up the possibility of Pistorius being admitted to a psychiatric hospital for tests.

State prosecutor Gerrie Nel argued the defendant's mental health should be examined more fully - a move that could delay the trial for up to a month.

Pistorius was described as a "distrusting and guarded person"

If Pistorius were found to be suffering from a mental illness, he could be held not criminally responsible for his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp's death and found not guilty by reason of "mental illness or intellectual disability".

Dr Vorster spoke at length about Pistorius' childhood, saying his mother was a "very anxious person" who slept with a gun under her pillow and "abused alcohol intermittently".

He views his father as an "irresponsible and mostly absent parent", the court heard, and he and his siblings - brother Carl and sister Aimee - were "reared to view the world as threatening".

The psychiatrist went on to talk about the 27-year-old's "fight or flight response", claiming he is more likely to stand up to threatening situations than to flee, as his capacity to do so is limited by his disability.

Ms Steenkamp was shot dead on February 14, 2013. Pic: Stimulii

Pistorius had both legs amputated when he was 11 months old - an operation he would have perceived as a "traumatic assault" because he would not have known what was happening, she said.

Dr Vorster also told the court the insistence of his parents that he should take part in activities his friends enjoyed would have added to his stress and anxiety.

As he became more famous, she said, the Paralympian attempted to hide his disability.

He felt anxious about attending public events and would spend "many hours preparing for them so he would not embarrass himself", she added.

Pistorius is accused of killing Ms Steenkamp in a premeditated attack at his home in Pretoria, South Africa, on Valentine's Day last year.

Thomas Wolmarans faced tough questioning from Gerrie Nel on Friday

He denies the charge and claims he shot his partner after mistaking her for an intruder.

Dr Vorster said Pistorius worries about his family's safety, especially his sister's, even when he is away training in Italy.

While in South Africa, he "worries about being followed and about the security of his home", she said.

He sleeps with his bedroom door locked and wakes often during the night, believing he has heard noises in his house, she added.

The court heard the Paralympian's increased anxiety levels mean he "perceives his surroundings as being threatening when perhaps they're not".

Dr Foster is expected to be one of the last witnesses to be called by Pistorius' defence team.

The trial was adjourned before Mr Nel could make a formal application for a psychiatric referral.

The trial continues.

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Kidnap Video Opens Door To Boko Haram Talks

How To Tackle Nigeria's Growing Insurgency?

Updated: 1:09pm UK, Friday 09 May 2014

By Sam Kiley, Foreign Affairs Editor

American "experts" have arrived. British "advisers" are on their way - phew. It may only be a matter of time before Nigeria's missing girls are found and rescued.

Baloney.

Boko Haram is not a new problem. It's been violently opposing Nigeria's governments since 2009, leaving 4,000 dead, laying waste to villages, and not long ago killing 58 schoolboys in their classrooms.

It's had links to al Qaeda in the Islamic Mahgreb (AQIM).

It kidnapped a French family in the Cameroons, and is reported to have netted $3m (£1.78m) for their safe release.

The militant Islamist group has achieved international notoriety over the abduction of the girls, all aged between 12 and 15  - but only after releasing a video threat to sell them into slavery.

But it has been closely monitored by Western security agencies for some time.

In 2012, British special forces troops were at the sharp end of a failed rescue operation in Sokoto aimed at releasing Chris McManus, a British engineer and his Italian colleague.

They had been held by Boko Haram for over a year. It was thought they were about to be moved or sold to an al Qaeda group operating in the lawless Sahel.

The connections to al Qaeda, which intelligence sources say extends all the way to Somalia but is more tightly entwined with AQIM, have meant that Boko Haram has been of considerable interest to the West.

This has been mostly manifest in sharing intelligence with and getting information from Nigerian agencies about the threat that the movement might pose beyond Nigeria's borders.

Dealing with the growing domestic insurgency has been seen as a strictly Nigerian matter.

Very often Western commentators will see the involvement of Western troops or spooks as a panacea to turmoil in a Third World nation.

They are not.

It took the British army half a decade to get to grips with the complex tribal structures that dominate Helmand in Afghanistan, where the UK sent some 10,000 troops.

American forces never got to grips with the complex world of Somalia's clan structures after its UN/US intervention there in 1991.

And Western allies have left chaos in their wake after their invasion of Iraq.

Foreign experts can, however, help with technical intelligence surveillance, planning, and perhaps even offering troops for a final assault on a complex target.

But all other matters must remain domestic issues because only locals can fully understand the complexities of the social landscape they live in.

There may, ultimately, be a useful military option involving a strike at the leadership of Boko Haram that the West can help with.

But Nigerians know that finding a solution to a growing insurgency involves far more complex issues.

Nigeria's economically-neglected north will need a greater share of the nation's annual oil revenues of $50bn (£29.8bn) if it's going to reverse the growing north-south schism that has always threatened the coherence of the former British colony.

Locally, Boko Haram's foot soldiers will need to be lured out of the bush with offers of amnesty and employment. Surviving leaders may need to be given a role.

But, of course, this "proves" the argument that politics in Nigeria can only be advanced through the barrel of a gun - the nation has suffered at least eight military coups since independence from Britain in 1960 and is now taking nervous steps along a democratic pathway.

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Boko Haram Video Claims To Show Missing Girls

A new video issued by Boko Haram claims to show some of the nearly 300 schoolgirls missing in Nigeria, who the group's leader says have converted to Islam.

AFP reported that Boko Haram's leader said the girls would not be released until members of the terror group being held in prison are freed.

More than 300 youngsters were abducted from a school on April 14 from the northeastern town of Chibok, in Borno state. Some 276 are still missing.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau speaks on the video for 17 minutes

In the video, Abubakar Shekau speaks for 17 minutes before showing what he says are about 130 of the girls, wearing full-length hijabs and praying in an undisclosed rural location.

One of the girls then appears to talk directly to the camera.

The girls were shown wearing Hijabs and praying

None of the youngsters appears to be visibly distressed, but it appears as if they are clearly under duress. 

Holding a pad of paper in his hand, Mr Shekau tells the camera: "These girls, these girls you occupy yourselves with their affair we have indeed 'liberated' them. We have indeed 'liberated' them.

Two of them hold a flag in the background

"Do you know 'we have liberated them'? These girls have become Muslims. They are Muslims."

He continues: "It is now four years or five years that you arrested our brethren and they are still in your prison.

One of the girls comes forward and talks to the camera

"You are doing many things (to them). And now you are talking about these girls. We will never release them until after you release our brethren."

Sky's Special Correspondent Alex Crawford who has spoken to a father of one of the kidnapped girls says he does not want the government to release Boko Haram prisoners in exchange for his daughter.

He told her: "Its not right. They'll do it again."

Doctor Reuben Abati told Sky News Nigeria will not pay a ransom

A special adviser to the country's president Doctor Reuben Abati told Alex Crawford there were lines the government would not cross in the hunt for the girls.

Speaking after it was revealed authorities had made indirect contact with Boko Haram, Dr Abati said: "The government of Nigeria has no intention to pay a ransom or to buy the girls, because the sale of human beings is a crime against humanity.

"The determination of the government is to get the girls and to ensure that the impunity that has brought this about is checked and punished."

Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau has threatened to sell the girls "at the market" and some are believed to have already been taken out of the country.

The search for the girls remains centred on the huge Sambisa forest, which is three times the size of Wales.

France said that Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan had agreed to attend a summit in Paris on Saturday to discuss what to do about Boko Haram.

Britain has been invited, as has the EU, the United States and the four countries bordering Nigeria: Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Several of the countries in the region affected by the consequences of Boko Haram violence are French speaking.

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England Squad: Hodgson Backs Youth For Brazil

Roy Hodgson has put his faith in England's young generation of stars as he names his 23-man squad for the World Cup in Brazil.

Teenagers Raheem Sterling and Luke Shaw are among those going to the tournament, while more experienced stars including Ashley Cole and  Michael Carrick have missed out.

Announcing details of the squad in Luton, Hodgson said he had given the selection a lot of thought and hoped the squad "won't let the country down" in Brazil.

Frank Lampard, who will turn 36 during the tournament, will be the elder statesman of the squad and the manager said the Chelsea man's "leadership qualities" meant he "fully deserved" his place.

Hodgson said he would have picked a different squad at the end of the qualifying campaign last October but it had been "impossible to ignore" the performances of youngsters Sterling at Liverpool, Shaw at Southampton and Ross Barkley at Everton.

He confirmed another teenager, Everton's John Stones, will be brought into the squad if Manchester United defender Phil Jones fails to recover from a shoulder injury.

Ashley Cole was the most high-profile omission and Hodgson paid tribute to the Chelsea defender, who announced his international retirement after learning he was not on the plane.

He said: "I have been unbelievably impressed by the maturity and graciousness that Ashley Cole has shown."

Hodgson insisted that his inexperienced side would be contenders at the tournament, where the favourites will include hosts Brazil, Spain and Germany.

He said: "Of course I believe the squad can win the World Cup, otherwise what's the point in taking it."

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Balloon Crash Victims Jumped To Their Deaths

Eyewitnesses have described the horrifying moment a hot air balloon went down in Virginia, killing all three of its passengers.

Witness Carrie Bradley told WWBT TV she saw two of the victims jumping from the balloon after it burst into flames.

She said one could be heard screaming: "Help me, help me, sweet Jesus, help. I'm going to die. Oh my God, I'm going to die."

She described it as "the most horrific thing I have ever witnessed."

Police say they believe the balloon hit a live power line as it was coming in to land shortly before 8 pm local time on Friday. It had been taking part in Virginia's Mid-Atlantic Balloon festival.

Two bodies were recovered just under a mile apart on Saturday, but have not yet been identified.

Natalie Lewis was one of three passengers on board the balloon

More than 100 people have been involved in the search for the third victim. They are also hoping to recover any remnants of the basket.

The University of Richmond has confirmed that two of the victims were staff members. It named them as associate head coach Ginny Doyle, 44, and director of basketball operations Natalie Lewis, 24.

Ms Doyle tweeted several times in the hours ahead of the accident. One tweet read: "Getting ready to go up in a hot air balloon today. Tried it at 6:30am but was too foggy."

State police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said 13 hot air balloons were involved in Friday's event. Two of the balloons landed safely before the third reportedly hit the power line.

Witnesses reported hearing an explosion (Pic: Carrie Hager Bradley)

Ms Geller said the pilot attempted to retain control of the balloon and put out the fire. She confirmed that two passengers were seen either jumping or falling from the gondola.

Witnesses also reported hearing an explosion before the gondola and the balloon separated.

The National Transportation Safety Board said a preliminary report into the cause of the crash would be released in 10 days.

The balloon festival, scheduled to continue into the weekend, was cancelled.

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Gove Accused Of 'Lunacy' In Free Schools Row

Michael Gove has been accused of stripping £400m from a fund for extra school places in order to plug a financial "black hole" in his free schools programme in a move described as "nothing short of lunacy".

A senior Government source also accused the Education Secretary of being willing to see children struggle for a classroom place so the department can "lavish" money on the free school "experiment".

The attack is the latest coalition spat with the Department for Education at the heart of it.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was earlier this week accused of "lying" over how plans to provide free school meals for infant school pupils would be funded.

The senior Government source said: "Michael Gove is so ideologically obsessed with his free school experiment, he's willing to see children struggle to get suitable school places.

"Everybody knows there's real pressure on school places at the moment. It is nothing short of lunacy to slash the amount of money available for new school places to lavish on free schools.

"Michael Gove was warned by the schools minister David Laws that this was a bad idea but the zealot pressed on anyway.

"The Conservatives are putting the needs of a handful of their pet-projects ahead of the requirements of the other 24,000 schools in the country."

The source claims Mr Gove reduced the basic need allocation by £400m - enough to provide around 30,000 new school places - to £2.35bn between 2015 and 2017 to help fund an overspend in the free schools budget of around £800m between 2013 and 2016, the source said.

A spokesman for Mr Gove said: "The suggestion we are cutting money for new places in areas of need to pay for free schools where they are not needed is totally wrong.

"These claims pretend that money spent in free schools is not creating new places in areas of need. That is simply not true.

"From 2015, funding to councils for new school places will rise by more than £200m a year. On top of this, investment in free schools will provide tens of thousands of new places in areas of need.

"Indeed the vast majority of free schools - more than seven in 10 - are in areas with a shortage of places."

David Cameron responded to the allegations by telling Sky News: "What the government is doing is putting £5bn in this parliament into expanding the number of school places.

"Part of that is investing in free schools, most of which in the primary schools are in areas of high need, and they are providing good new school places for people inside the state sector.

"I think you should judge the government on its results in education. We are seeing real progress."

Former schools minister Nick Gibb told Sky News: "This is a legacy from the previous government not having put those plans in place to provide new schools."

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said: "The free school programme had the Lib Dem stamp of approval from day one. They're as much to blame for the failings as the Tories."

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Deadly Shooting At Playground Birthday Party

One man has been killed and six other people hurt, including a child, after gunmen opened fire at a baby's birthday party in a playground.

In what appeared to be a gang-related shooting, multiple attackers walked up to the group and began firing before fleeing in a car, according to police.

The man who died was in his 20s and was believed to be a gang member, although his name has not been released.

A seven-year-old child was among the wounded, all of whom had non-life threatening injuries.

The group had gathered at Peregrine Park in northern Sacramento, California, to celebrate the birthday of a one year-old child.

The shooting left one person dead and six others injured. Pic: Fox40.com

Footage from the scene showed picnic tables and an inflatable playhouse which had collapsed.

Clothing and shoes were scattered across the playground.

Officer Doug Morse, a police spokesman, told local newspaper The Sacramento Bee: "There were so many eyewitnesses. Detectives are trying to talk to everyone they can."

Some of those who were shot drove themselves to hospitals or were taken by friends or family members, Mr Morse said.

Others were taken by ambulance.

A woman told the newspaper the man who died was her son-in-law.

She said he had a young son who would now grow up without a father.

"They took him away too early," she added.

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Nigeria Kidnapping: Militants 'Have Laid Traps'

The militants who have kidnapped almost 300 schoolgirls in Nigeria are likely to have laid booby traps and landmines to stop them being found, Sky News has been told.

A former member of Nigerian military added that starving members of Boko Haram could be a way of rescuing the girls, who were taken from Chibok in the northern state of Borno on April 14.

Former air commodore Darlington Abdullahi said: "They may have made land mines, one cannot rule that out.

Boko Haram have threatened to sell the girls 'on the market'

"One thing for sure is, even as they go along abducting children, they will also go after food; grabbing food from various angles.

"That is why it's important that if the military from various countries close up on them that means the issue of starvation might come in and might even force them to find exit ways and most likely abandon the girls that are still with them within the forest."

Intelligence sources have previously told Sky News they believe they know where some of the schoolgirls are.

Parents of some of the kidnapped girls

The sources believe they have been split into at least four different groups.

Sky News also understands British and American officials are using advanced eavesdropping equipment to scan the Sambisa forest where the schoolgirls are thought to be.

The militants are believed to have blown up an important bridge near where the girls were first seized, complicating efforts to find them.

The burnt out school from where the girls were taken

Fleeing residents said the bridge between the states of Adamawa and Borno was destroyed on Friday.

The wife and two children of a retired police officer were also abducted, they said.

A team of French experts arrived in the country on Saturday, as international efforts to find the schoolgirls are ramped up.

Borno state in the north borders Cameroon

This follows on from British and American personnel arriving earlier in the week.

As international help continues to arrive, the Nigerian military has had tip-offs that Boko Haram could be planning another attack on the market in the capital Abuja.

The militant group has killed more than 1,500 people this year and has been waging an insurgency in the country for the last five years.

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Apple 'To Buy Dr Dre's Beats Firm For $3.2bn'

Apple is set to buy headphone maker Beats Electronics for $3.2bn (£1.9bn), it has been reported.

The Financial Times says the deal could be announced as early as next week, marking Apple's largest ever acquisition.

Founded by rapper and music producer Dr Dre and fellow music producer Jimmy Iovine in 2008, the firm produces 'Beats by Dr Dre' headphones and also runs a music streaming service.

Beats Electronics received a $500m (£295m) investment from Carlyle Group last September, valuing the company at more than $1bn.

It has been reported that Apple is contemplating a Spotify-like on-demand music service.

Apple is reportedly planning to take on music-streaming service Spotify

Some technology analysts have speculated that the purchase plans are motivated by acquiring Beats' streaming arm rather than the headphones division.

Apple is sitting on a $133bn (£78bn) cash pile, and chief executive Tim Cook has said the firm has "no problem" with spending large sums of money to acquire top companies.

Apple and Beats have not commented on the reports.

However, in a video posted by singer Tyrese Gibson, Dr Dre boasts that he is "the first billionaire in hip hop".

He then laughs as Gibson says: "Billionaire boys club for real, homie. The Forbes list just changed."

Dre, a former member of NWA, compared his company to Apple in an interview in 2011.

He said: "We're trying to eventually be second to Apple. And I don't think that's a bad position."

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