Sydney Hostage Siege: What We Know So Far

The gunman took an unknown number of people hostage at the height of Monday morning's rush hour and the siege is ongoing. Here are the facts we know:

:: At least one gunman went in to the Lindt cafe in Sydney at around 9.45am local time (10.45pm GMT).

:: Police were alerted when a woman reported seeing a man carrying a gun in a blue bag.

:: The man appears to be middle-aged, with a beard, and is wearing a black and white headband. There are reports he is known to police and media outlets.

:: A flag with Arabic writing was displayed at the cafe window and several hostages were seen with their hands up against the window.

Video: 'They Put ISIS Sign On The Window'

:: The writing on the flag appears to be the shahada, or profession of faith in Islam, and says: "There is no god but Allah; Mohammed is the Messenger of Allah."

:: Australian prime minister Tony Abbott said there are indications the siege could be politically motivated.

:: The scene of the drama, Martin Place, is in Sydney's financial centre and houses several prominent buildings, including the New South Wales parliament, the US consulate, the country's central bank and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

:: Some six hours into the siege, three men emerged from the popular cafe and ran for their lives, two from the front door and one from an emergency exit.

:: Around an hour later two women who appeared to be staff members also fled into the arms of police.

:: It is understood that they all escaped and were not released.

:: Police have confirmed that negotiators have made contact with the gunman.

:: His motives are unknown. The two female hostages told Channel Ten news the gunman claims there are four bombs; two inside the Lindt cafe and two in Sydney's financial district.

Video: Gunman Takes Hostages In Sydney

:: It is not clear how many hostages are being held. Reports vary from eight to 50 people.

:: However, police said the numbers are "not as high as 30".

:: In a news conference at around 8.30pm local time, police said they have the "very best negotiators on the job" and that their only priority is to get the hostages out safely.

:: Speaking directly to the hostages, Commissioner Andrew Scipione said: "Rest assured we are doing all we can to set you free."

:: They did not say if anyone has been harmed.

:: Anyone who works in the area has been advised to work from home on Tuesday.

:: Australia raised its terror threat level in September.

:: Watch continuous live coverage on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 132 and Freesat channel 202.

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Police Storm Building To End Belgium Siege

Three men have been detained by police who stormed an apartment in Belgium after reports of a man being taken hostage in an armed siege.

Police were called after four armed men were reportedly seen entering a building in the Dampoort district of the city on Monday morning.

A spokeswoman for the state prosecutor said the victim was safe and well.

"Three men have been taken away though there were no weapons found. The earlier reports were of four men with kalashnikovs," she said. "... It's not entirely clear whether someone was in fact taken hostage."

Armed police in balaclavas emerged at about 1pm from the cordoned-off building.

"It's over," one police officer said.

Belgian broadcaster VRT cited neighbours as saying that the flat had been used by drug dealers.

A wide cordon has been set up

A federal police spokeswoman said the incident was not terrorism-related.

Television footage showed police blocking traffic at a cordoned off intersection while a helicopter hovered overhead and sirens blared in the background.

Local media reported that there was another hostage incident in Ghent, linked to extortion, two months ago.

The siege also comes as a gunman holds a number of people hostage at a cafe in Sydney, Australia.

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Sydney Siege: Gunman Switches Lights Out

A gunman is holding up to 20 people hostage in complete darkness at a cafe in Sydney's financial district.

Chilling footage has emerged of a female hostage apparently trying to communicate with police by miming her throat being cut - while news channels have chosen not to broadcast a video of another hostage relaying the assailant's demands.

Witnesses described seeing the hostages looking "exhausted" and "absolutely petrified".

Worker (L) flees cafe and suspected gunman (R). Pics: Channel 9, Channel 7

But as night fell and the siege entered its 14th hour the gunman turned off the lights, meaning people outside could no longer see in.

The siege began at 10am (local time) when the assailant - who was previously known to both Sydney police and media - entered the Lindt cafe in Martin Place carrying a pump-action shotgun.

Video: Hostage Makes Throat Slitting Sign

Shortly afterwards, hostages were seen holding a black flag with white Arabic text.

Footage showed the assailant apparently using one hostage as a human shield.

:: Follow live updates of the siege

Channel Ten spoke to two hostages who said the gunman is claiming to have four bombs - two inside the cafe and two elsewhere in the financial district.

Police are investigating reports the assailant has used hostages' social media accounts to demand a meeting with Australian Prime Minster Tony Abbott.

Video: Map - Sydney Siege Location

Some of the hostages have spoken to their families on mobile phones - while five, three male customers and two female staff, have managed to escape.

Journalist Chris Reason, who has a view of the cafe from the Channel 7 building, said the gunman was "extremely agitated" when the hostages fled.

But he told Sky News the cafe had now "gone completely black" - although he could make out a man, thought to be the hostage taker, holding an iPad.

"We can see very little of what is going on inside, which is obviously not good news," said Mr Reason.

"From our position over the last couple of hours we have counted 15 hostages in total. Five of those have escaped.

Video: Escaping The Sydney Cafe Gunman

"They are all ages, all demographics. Fortunately no children that we could see."

Mr Reason said the gunman had been forcing hostages to stand at the window with their hands against the glass - and that they were rotated every two hours.

One woman in that position looked like she had been "crying her heart out", he said.

One of the gunman's reported demands is that an IS flag be brought to the cafe.

Police have confirmed they are working "on a footing" it is a terrorist incident - but they remain "confident" a peaceful resolution can be achieved.

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1. Gallery: Latest Images From Australia

   Two hostages run for cover behind a policeman during a hostage siege in the central business district of Sydney

A hostage runs towards a police officer

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Trending Hashtag And Sydney Siege Cafe Selfies

The ongoing hostage situation in Sydney has sparked an outpouring of solidarity on social media with the hashtag #illridewithyou trending worldwide.

Two Arabic flags, similar to those used by Islamic State, have been seen inside the Lindt cafe.                                                            

The Australian government and Muslim leaders have condemned the attack and called for unity.

Amid uncertainty about the hostage-taker's motives and fears of reprisals an Australian woman reportedly started the #illridewithyou hashtag to reassure Muslims who might feel threatened on public transport in the coming days.

@SirTessa wrote: "If you reg take the #373 bus b/w Coogee/MartinPl, wear religious attire, & don't feel safe alone: I'll ride with you. @ me for schedule."

Twitter users have responded to this in their thousands with many offering to accompany people in Sydney and other Australian cities.

Video: 'They Put ISIS Sign On The Window'

@Eddieperfect wrote: "My family and I are heading in and out of the city by tram in melbs tomorrow. We'll stand by anybody #illridewithyou."

@karennaree tweeted: "#illridewithyou anytime, anyplace, anywhere. We won't be beaten by evil. Praying the hostages will be safe."

The hashtag has been tweeted over 90,000 times.

Elsewhere on social media a number of people have been criticised for tweeting selfies standing by the cordon around the Lindt cafe.

Passers-by and shoppers uploaded the images of themselves to Twitter with hashtags including #hostagesituationselfie.

Their actions have been condemned on the micro-blogging site.

@stillgray wrote: "People taking selfies at the area around the Sydney hostage situation. We have reached peak selfie and it is terrible."

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Top MP's Demand Over CIA Torture Report

By Sophy Ridge, Political Correspondent

The head of the UK's Intelligence and Security Committee is demanding to see material documenting any British links to the CIA's use of torture.

Sir Malcolm Rifkind, chair of the Commons committee, is seeking any intelligence relating to the UK that was redacted from the explosive Senate report into the CIA.

It concluded that the CIA lied over its torture and interrogation programme developed in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

Sir Malcolm told Sky's Murnaghan programme: "This is a major United States' report and so we are requesting, both our colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee ... but also it will ultimately be the United States government, that will decide whether some of the material that has been redated in the American report can be shown to us.

Jack Straw has been questioned by police over renditions, say reports

"We don't need to see everything that's been redacted, what we need to see are the bits that might refer to the UK government."

Asked whether that information would be made public, he said the ISC would only agree for it to be withheld "if the Prime Minister was able to convince us that there were legitimate national security reasons why it shouldn't be published".

Video: Former CIA Officer Michael Scheuer

He said there had been "justified" criticism of the ISC in the past, but it had new powers to order intelligence agencies to hand over requested files and for its staff to go to MI5, MI6 and GCHQ to "personally inspect files to make sure nothing's been left out".

He said once the ISC had looked through the written material, "we will come to a judgement as to which people, first of all who in the intelligence agencies we wish to take evidence from, secondly either current ministers or former ministers who have intelligence on these matters".

Sir Malcolm said he does not think a judge-led inquiry into any British involvement in the CIA's rendition and torture programme is necessary.

Video: UK Bid To Access CIA Torture Report

He agreed the ISC does not have the power to compel ministers to give evidence, "but, of course, it would be huge scandal if they did refuse to".

The British Government has admitted requesting the deletion of references to Britain's intelligence agencies for national security reasons.

UK Government representatives had 24 meetings with members of the US committee responsible for the findings.

Video: MI5 And MI6 Involvement Questioned

Some of the deletions are believed to relate to the British Overseas Territory of Diego Garcia.

There is escalating pressure on the British government not to extend an agreement allowing the US to use the territory in the Indian Ocean as a military base.

Andrew Tyrie, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on rendition, said any negotiations should address allegations that it was used by the CIA to render terror suspects around the world.

Video: UK Involvement in CIA Torture

"The negotiations on the lease can focus minds on establishing the scope and limits of Britain's involvement, direct or indirect, in extraordinary rendition," Mr Tyrie said.

"We are talking about kidnap and taking people to places where they may be maltreated or tortured."

The former Home Office minister, Lib Dem MP Norman Baker, who has taken a close interest in the atoll, said: "As it comes up for renewal, we need a full explanation of what happened in our name on that island."

Video: UK Wanted CIA Report Changes

It comes amid reports former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was questioned by police investigating the abductions of two Libyans who say they were handed to Colonel Gadaffi and tortured by his regime.

Mr Straw was interviewed as a "witness" by Scotland Yard following claims the Government was complicit in the rendition of the two men and their families, the Sunday Times said.

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UN Climate Talks Reach 'Watered-Down' Deal

Negotiators at United Nations talks in Peru have reached a compromise deal which sets the stage for a global climate pact to be made next year in Paris.

After late-night wrangling, delegates from more than 190 nations meeting in Lima adopted a format for national pledges to cut greenhouse gases and approved a blueprint to guide negotiations for the Paris pact in December 2015.

"As a text it's not perfect, but it includes the positions of the parties," said Peru's environment minister, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, who was the conference chairman.

The hard-fought agreement - dubbed the Lima Call for Climate Action - was reached hours after a previous draft was rejected by developing countries who accused rich nations of shirking their responsibilities to fight global warming.

Climate change effects include rising sea levels

The two-week talks overran by 32 hours after the delegates failed to reach a consensus by the end of the session.

While hailing the Lima agreement as one that "unites all nations", UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey warned there was a lot of work to be done before the Paris summit.

Video: Climate Change Deal Reached

Mr Davey said: "The talks were tough but the Lima Call for Climate Action shows a will and commitment to respond to the public demand to tackle climate change.

"The next 12 months will be critical and the UK's leadership will be needed more than ever in the difficult negotiations ahead - but we have to succeed because the threat to our children's future is so serious."

Shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint told Sky's Murnaghan programme: "What is really positive is that for the first time we have got the developed countries and the developing countries on the same page and they have all agreed that they all need to reduce their carbon emissions."

The European Union welcomed the outcome of talks as a "as a step forward on the road to a global climate deal in Paris next year."

Video: Caroline Flint On Climate Deal

But environmental campaigners said it was a step backwards in protecting poor countries from catastrophe.

Friends of the Earth's international climate campaigner Asad Rehman said: "The only thing these talks have achieved is to reduce the chances of a fair and effective agreement to tackle climate change in Paris next year.

"Once again poorer nations have been bullied by the industrialised world into accepting an outcome which leaves many of their citizens facing the grim prospect of catastrophic climate change."

Samantha Smith of the WWF conservation group said of the successive drafts: "We went from weak to weaker to weakest."

Video: People's Climate Change March

And Alden Meyer of the US-based monitoring group Union of Concerned Scientists said the deal was "definitely watered down from what we expected".

Due to take effect in 2020, the Paris pact aims to limit global warming to 2C (3.6F) over pre-industrial levels. At its heart is a roster where all nations enter voluntary commitments to reduce their carbon emissions.

But the Lima deal came after a rebellion by developing nations like India and China, who warned tougher measures would put an unfair burden on them.

The final draft apparently alleviated those concerns, with language saying countries have "common but differentiated responsibilities" to deal with global warming.

Video: 2009: Climate Change In Himalayas

"We've got what we wanted," said Indian environment minister Prakash Javedekar, who said the text preserved the notion enshrined in a 1992 climate convention that the rich have to lead the way in making cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

Historically Western nations have been the biggest greenhouse gas emitters but now developing nations are pulling ahead, as they grow their economies and lift millions out of poverty, meaning China is now the biggest greenhouse gas emitter ahead of the US, the EU and India.

The main goal for the session in Lima was to agree on what information should go into the pledges that countries submit for the summit in Paris.

But the deal weakened language on the content of the pledges, saying they "may" instead of "shall".

Video: Gobi Desert Affected By Climate

And after opposition led by China it was agreed that there will not be a full-blown review comparing each nation's pledge.

And it restored language demanded by small island states at risk of being flooded by rising seas, mentioning a "loss and damage" mechanism agreed upon in last year's talks in Poland.

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Glitch Causes Items To Be Sold On Amazon For 1p

Businesses are furious after a piece of software used by retailers on Amazon went wrong, causing hundreds of items to be sold at 1p.

Some firms which use RepricerExpress say they risk going bankrupt because the problem has resulted in them losing so much money.

The software is designed to keep businesses competitive by automatically repricing items of stock so they are cheaper than others in the digital market.

The firm states on its website: "We are here to increase your sales on Amazon and Rakuten's Play.com and make your efforts as profitable as possible."

For an hour on Friday, between 7pm and 8pm, a problem with RepricerExpress led to hundreds of items being sold on Amazon at a fraction of their normal price. At the same time, some customers said, Amazon charged its usual fees for every item sold.

One of the sellers, Judith Blackford of Kiddymania, told Sky News she could be forced out of business as result of the error.

She said: "I started using Repricer Express - a repricing tool as did a lot of other businesses a few months ago.

"Last night through an error in their programme they listed my stock on Amazon at 1p per item including delivery.

"I have lost about £20,000 overnight. Having asked Amazon to cancel the orders they are still sending them out and charging me horrendous fees.

"Surely someone has to be accountable for this. I will be bankrupt at this rate by the end of January."

Amazon uses automated pricing software created by RepricerExpress

Another retailer affected, Discount Discs, told Sky News: "We are yet to quantify the amount of stock we have lost but we are aware of other sellers losing around £100k of stock.

"This has happened on probably the busiest trading weekend of the year for many sellers."

As a result of the error, several buyers commented on Twitter at how pleased they were to have bought the items for so little.

One person wrote: "Amazon are having a glitch on their site and loads of stuff is selling for 1p. I just bought an incense holder, don't even need it."

An email to some customers from the CEO of RepricerExpress, Brendan Doherty, said the problems with the software caused incorrect pricing to be sent to Amazon.

A statement on the company's website from Mr Doherty said: "I am truly sorry for the distress this has caused our customers.

"We have received communication that Amazon will not penalise sellers for this error. We are continuing to work to identify how this problem occurred and to put measures in place to ensure that it does not happen again.

"Everyone here is devastated and disappointed that you have experienced this problem.

"We understand that you are angry and upset and we will endeavour to work to make good on this issue."

A spokesman for Amazon said: "We are aware that a number of Marketplace sellers listed incorrect prices for a short period of time as a result of the third party software they use to price their items on Amazon.co.uk.

"We responded quickly and were able to cancel the vast majority of orders placed on these affected items immediately and no costs or fees will be incurred by sellers for these cancelled orders.

"We are now reviewing the small number of orders that were processed and will be reaching out to any affected sellers directly."

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Russia Denies Near-Miss With Passenger Jet

Moscow has denied one of its military planes nearly collided with a passenger plane over Sweden.

Swedish defence forces said the incident happened on Friday when a Russian aircraft turned off its transponders to avoid commercial radar south of the Swedish city of Malmo.

It nearly hit an airliner that had just taken off from Copenhagen International Airport in Denmark, they said.

Both Swedish and Danish fighters were scrambled amid growing concerns about Russian planes skirting or violating the national air space of neighbouring countries.

Russia did not deny its plane was in the area at the time, but said it was a safe distance of more than 70km (43 miles) from the passenger jet.

Video: Pilot's Shock At Close Call

"There were no conditions for an aviation incident connected to the flight on Friday December 12 of a Russian military plane in the international airspace over the Baltic Sea," said Moscow defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov.

"The distance from the flight path of the passenger jet that took off from Copenhagen was more than 70km."

He confirmed the Russian plane was flying without a transponder that would have made it visible on the radar of a commercial plane.

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1. Gallery: Russian Military Planes Alarm NATO

   Russian Tupolev Tu-95 (Bear) bomber refuelling from an Ilyushin Il-78 during an exercise

Russian Tupolev TU-22M during a military exercise

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Murphy Named Scottish Labour Party Leader

Jim Murphy MP is the new leader of the Scottish Labour Party, comfortably beating Holyrood health spokesman Neil Finlay and former Scottish Executive minister Sarah Boyack.

The East Renfrewshire MP and former Secretary Of State for Scotland had been favourite to win the race triggered by by the resignation of previous leader Johann Lamont.

After the announcement, Mr Murphy, who received 55.77% of the vote, said: "Today is the fulfilment of a dream for me."

Speaking to Labour party members at the Glasgow Emirates Arena, he joked that he had always dreamed of being appointed captain of a team in the east end of Glasgow.

He said becoming leader was a "remarkable honour".

Video: Jim Murphy After Being Elected

"Scotland is changing and so too must Scottish Labour. I'm ambitious for our party because I'm ambitious for our country."

Mr Murphy told Sky News' Anna Jones: "This is fresh start for the Scottish Labour Party. We are going to do things differently. It's a new beginning. We are going to identify new policies and a new approach.

"I want us to use our passion and ingenuity to change our country. I know we can do it if we work together.

He said he would be the one making the decisions for Scottish Labour, not Westminster.

"I am big enough and ugly enough not to be pushed around by anyone. I'll make the decisions, we'll call the shots here in Scotland.

"The Scottish Labour Party is back in business."

Polls indicate that Labour could be routed in Scotland at May's General Election, as support for the SNP rises, but Mr Murphy said he was determined to change that.

He said most Scots want David Cameron out of Downing Street and warned that only Labour was big enough to do that.

Congratulating Mr Murphy and new deputy leader Kezia Dugdale, Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "I look forward to working with both Jim and Kezia to secure a Labour government in Westminster next year and Holyrood the year after."

Offering her congratulations, Scottish National Party leader and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "I know that the challenges of leadership are never easy, so I offer my best wishes for the job they have ahead.

"While we will undoubtedly cross swords often in the months ahead, my door is always open to those who wish to find common ground and work together in the best interests of people in Scotland - something I hope we will have the opportunity to do."

Ms Lamont stepped down in October, criticising the party's UK leadership for treating Scottish Labour like "a branch office of London".

The Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, which had backed Mr Finlay, said: "The election of Jim Murphy to the position of leader of the Scottish Labour Party is a devastating blow to those members, and particularly the affiliated trade unionists ... hoping to turn Labour to the left."

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Air Traffic Chaos Was 'Unprecedented Failure'

The computer meltdown that hit UK airports yesterday was sparked by an unprecedented systems failure, it has been disclosed.

Air traffic control company Nats has offered its first detailed explanation of the problem at its national centre in Swanwick, Hampshire.

More than 300 flights were cancelled or delayed after the computer failure.

A statement from Nats said: "Swanwick controller workstations provide a number of tools and services to the controller to enable them to safely control a high volume of air traffic.

"In normal operations the number of workstations in use versus in standby fluctuates with the demands of the traffic being controlled.

Video: Flights Delayed In London Airspace

"In this instance a transition between the two states caused a failure in the system which has not been seen before.

"The failure meant that the controllers were unable to access all of the data regarding individual flight plans which significantly increases their workload.

"Our priority is to maintain a safe operation for the flying public; consequently when the failure occurred we immediately took steps to reduce the traffic into and out of the UK network.

"The controllers had a full radar picture and full communications with all aircraft at all times during the incident and at no time was safety compromised in any way."

It is understood that the failure happened as an unspecified number of workstations were being changed from standby to live to deal with a rise in the volume of air traffic.

Video: November: How Busy Is UK Airspace?

This process takes place on a daily basis and the fault that prompted the glitch is under investigation.

Officials restricted air space in response to the issue, leaving flights at some airports grounded yesterday.

Nats declared that its systems were back to full operational capacity last night but a knock-on effect has been seen at airports.

By Saturday morning, timetables were returning to normal, although Heathrow said 38 flights had been cancelled before 9.30am and Gatwick Airport was cancelling a handful of flights.

Friday's problems came just over a year after hundreds of flights were affected when problems arose with a telephone system at Nats in early December 2013.

Video: Air Traffic Problem Delays Flights

There were reports passengers on some flights were unable to collect their luggage and were told that it would be sent on to them by courier.

Other airports where travellers suffered delays on Friday included Manchester, Birmingham, Stansted and Luton, but airports as far north as Aberdeen and Edinburgh were affected.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the disruption was unacceptable.

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