Egypt: 'Long-Term Ceasefire Agreed On Gaza'

Palestinian and Israeli leaders have reached an agreement for a long-term ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, according to Egyptian officials.

Egypt's state news agency said the truce would begin at 5pm UK time in the seven week-long war that has led to the deaths of more than 2,000 people.

An Israeli official confirmed his country's acceptance of the Egyptian-brokered deal.

But sirens warning of rocket attacks sounded in southern Israel after the truce was due to take effect.

A spokesman for Gaza rulers Hamas said a deal for an "open-ended" ceasefire had been reached.

He said Israel had agreed to ease its blockade of the territory to allow relief supplies and building materials into the territory.

Another militant group Islamic Jihad also confirmed the terms.

Israelis take cover amid a warning of rocket fire from Gaza

Talks on more complex issues, including Hamas' demand to re-open Gaza's airport and seaport, would begin in a month, it was claimed.

"We will issue a statement to announce a long ceasefire agreement was reached between the Palestinians and Israel after which talks between the two parties will resume in Cairo," a senior Egyptian official said.

Egypt has led negotiations between the two sides.

Israel had launched an air and ground offensive on Gaza to try to stop rocket fire by Hamas and other militant groups, and potential attacks through border tunnels.

Overnight in the Palestinian territory, several more people died and more than 20 were injured in multiple airstrikes, which followed rocket attacks from Gaza.

At least 2,133 Palestinians have been killed in the latest conflict as well as 68 Israelis, all but four of them soldiers.

Under the terms that ended more than a week of fighting with in 2012, Israel promised to ease restrictions gradually, while Hamas promised to halt rocket fire from Gaza at Israel.

The truce held, but Gaza's border blockade remained largely intact.

Israel and Egypt imposed the blockade in 2007, after Hamas seized Gaza by force in 2007.

Under the restrictions, virtually all of Gaza's 1.8 million people cannot trade or travel, and only a few thousand are able to leave the coastal territory every month.

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'No Disciplinary Action' Over Rotherham Abuse

No council employees will face disciplinary action over the sexual exploitation of 1,400 children over 16 years in Rotherham.

Council leader Roger Stone stepped down after the report which detailed the rape of children as young as 11 by multiple men, grooming and child trafficking in the South Yorkshire town.

But council chief executive Martin Kimber said there was not enough evidence to take action despite the report attributing the failures "almost without exception" to senior managers in child protection services, elected councillors and senior police officers.

He said those in senior positions during "critical periods" were now working elsewhere. 

"What I have said is that there are people still in professional practice today who were working for Rotherham during the critical periods and it's really important that their current employers read this report for their own judgements as to their particular role at that time," he said.

Professor Alexis Jay, who wrote the report, said councillors seemed to think the exploitation, in which many of the perpetrators were described as Asian, was a one-off problem they hoped would go away.

Council leader Roger Stone resigned after the report was published

"Several staff described their nervousness about identifying the ethnic origins of perpetrators for fear of being thought racist," she said.

"Others remembered clear direction from their managers not to do so."

Rotherham Council accepted that failures were not down to "front line social or youth workers who are acknowledged in the report as repeatedly raising serious concerns about the nature and extent of this kind of child abuse".

Mr Kimber himself told Sky News he would staying in his post as he was "part of the solution".

He said: "The report makes it very clear that I'm part of the solution to improving services, not part of the problem.

"The report indicates that during the last five years there have been very significant improvements, the last five years have been in my tenure as chief executive.

"One of the things the report does allow me to do is to reassure young people today, parents today, that where young people are in trouble, that we will take them seriously and we will put services in to protect them.

"I will not be standing down from my post."

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UK Ebola Patient Given Experimental Drug

Ebola Cure 'A Long Way Off': Facts About Virus

Updated: 6:16pm UK, Saturday 23 August 2014

A cure for the deadly ebola virus, which has killed hundreds of people in West Africa, is "a very long way off", an expert has told Sky News.

David Evans, a professor of virology at Warwick University, said ebola is the latest disease to be transmitted "very efficiently" because of international travel.

Those with ebola will often be overcome by a sudden onset of fever, as well as weakness, muscle pain and headaches.

The body is then gripped by vomiting, diarrhoea, rashes, kidney and liver problems and bleeding.

The time between infection and symptoms appearing is anything from two days to three weeks.

Ebola is spread through the direct contact with the blood, organs or other bodily fluids of those infected.

The liquid that bathes the eye and semen can transmit the disease, Prof Evans said.

Horseshoe bats are believed to be the natural host of the viral disease, he said.

"These bats transmit the virus between themselves, but periodically it then ends up in probably primates or other types of bushmeat which are then hunted by villagers and the virus is then transmitted from the sick animals to humans," he said.

Transmission has also been documented through the handling of chimpanzees, gorillas and porcupines.

One of the reasons for the disease's rapid spread is a tradition at burial ceremonies for mourners to have direct contact with the body of the deceased.

"Therefore barrier methods that prevent that direct contact, including things like washing of hands and things like that provide a reasonable level of protection," he said.

Healthcare workers treating patients are particularly at risk.

Public Health England said in a risk assessment published in July that the current outbreak could increase the risk for Britons working in humanitarian and healthcare delivery.

But the threat to tourists, visitors and expatriates is still considered "very low if elementary precautions are followed".

Prof Evans said there had been "periodic outbreaks" of ebola since the first recorded instances in 1976, but this is the deadliest so far.

There were two simultaneous outbreaks in Nzara, Sudan and Yambuku, a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo located near the Ebola River.

Data from the World Health Organisation shows the previous deadliest outbreak was the one in the DRC, when 280 out of 315 people infected died.

In the same country in 1995 another outbreak claimed 254 lives, with 315 patients infected.

In 2000, there were 425 cases in Uganda and 224 people died.

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Darling Under Pressure After 'Losing' Debate

Alistair Darling insists the momentum is still with the 'No' campaign despite claims by his rival that he "muffed" the arguments in Monday night's final Scottish independence TV debate.

As the first postal ballot papers were sent out ahead of the referendum on September 18, polls suggest the  'Yes' campaign leader Alex Salmond came out on top in front of the TV cameras.

A key aspect of the debate was currency - with former Chancellor Mr Darling, who is fronting the Better Together campaign, admitting no one could stop Scotland using the pound.

Mr Salmond also outlined three 'plan Bs'.

Speaking to Sky News on Tuesday, Scotland's First Minister said the 'No' campaign's "bluff had been called" over use of the pound.

"He muffed his chance," said Mr Salmond.

There were angry exchanges over North Sea oil, the NHS and welfare

"We explained the currency options for Scotland - the three plan Bs, if you like.

"But we explained why the currency union between Scotland and England is what we're asking for a mandate for."

However, Mr Darling told Sky News the 'Yes' side remained "vague" on currency and had to "make up their minds".

"TV debates are important but the real debates are going on in people's homes," he said. "Increasingly, people are making up their minds and saying 'no' to the risks of independence.

"They're concerned that after three hours of prime time TV we still haven't had answers to basic questions about currency.

"The postal votes are going out and this is perhaps the biggest decision people will make in their lifetime - and he (Mr Salmond) still can't answer basic questions."

Alistair Darling said the 'Yes' campaign failed to answer basic questions

Sky's Political Editor Faisal Islam says that whether people believe Mr Salmond on currency could decide the outcome of the referendum.

"Mr Salmond views the currency debate as over and if that's right and people have heard enough, just maybe he can creep back up the vote share and reduce the 'No' lead.

"If Mr Darling is right, and currency is still impacting people on the doorstep, then surely 'No' will win."

There were also angry exchanges over North Sea oil, the NHS and welfare during the 90-minute debate, which was hosted by the BBC in front of an audience of 200 at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery.

Voters have to register to cast postal ballots by September 3, meaning some could cast their votes within days.

After the debate, a Sky News poll carried out on Twitter saw more than 2,000 retweets for a Salmond win, compared to under 500 claiming Darling had topped the debate.

Polls put the Better Together campaign in the lead ahead of the vote

A Guardian/ICM poll gave the debate to Mr Salmond with 71% of the vote.

Mr Darling was widely judged to have won the first.

A poll of polls, carried out by Sky News before the debate, put 39% in favour of Scottish independence, with 50% against and another 11% undecided.

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Mid-Air Emergency: Hero Pilot Fights Passenger

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent

A young pilot is being described as a hero for landing a light aircraft in a field after fighting off a passenger who tried to cut the plane's engine and grab the controls.

The mid-air drama happened in the skies over New South Wales, Australia, during a flight in a twin-engine aircraft.

It is alleged that the 82-year-old passenger on the charter flight flicked a switch in the cockpit to shut down the engine and then seized the control column.

The quick-thinking 23-year-old pilot issued a Mayday call and wrestled the man back into his seat. He restrained him and then managed to land the plane safely.

The passenger had booked the flight with Australia By Air from Sydney to Cowra, with the plane departing Bankstown Airport about 2pm on Monday.

The plane was forced into an emergency landing

The man, who apparently did not know the pilot, said he had booked the flight because he needed to go to the rural town to sign some papers, reported the ABC.

He was sitting next to the pilot in the four-seater aircraft.

Australia By Air managing director David Trevelyan praised the pilot saying he had issued an emergency 'Pan-Pan' announcement before landing safely.

A pan call is when the pilot is in trouble but not in a life-threatening situation.

"I would like to praise the actions of the pilot. He showed fantastic skill," Mr Trevelyan said.

"He did an excellent job in an amazingly difficult scenario ... and under tremendous pressure."

It was the first time Australia By Air had conducted a flight for the elderly man.

The controls that were allegedly grabbed by the passenger

"Nothing about the guy made us suspicious," Mr Trevelyan told Sky News. "He walked in and said he wanted to go to Cowra to sign some papers, that would take 15 minutes and then he'd fly back. It was a very normal request for us."

With the engine cut, the pilot managed to glide the plane into the field.

Emergency services arrived at the field where the plane landed and immediately attended the two men.

The pilot's efforts left the elderly man with head and facial injuries.

The passenger was taken to Sydney's Westmead Hospital while the pilot was taken to Oberon Hospital suffering from shock and was released on Monday night.

Police will get the elderly man's version of events once he is fit enough to be questioned.

It is understood the pilot has been fully qualified for only two years.

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Shooting Instructor Shot By Nine-Year-Old Girl

A nine-year-old girl has accidentally shot her shooting instructor in the head, authorities in Arizona said.

The incident took place on Monday at an outdoor shooting range in Dolan Springs, in the northern part of the state.

The 39-year-old victim was airlifted to a medical centre in Las Vegas. His condition was not immediately known.

Mohave County Sheriff's officials said the girl was at the shooting range with her parents.

Her name and that of her instructor have not been released.

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Putin And Poroshenko Handshake At 'Peace Talks'

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko and Russian leader Vladimir Putin have sat down for talks - hours after video footage of captured Russian soldiers risked inflaming tensions between the two countries.

The two leaders met alongside senior EU officials in Belarus, where Mr Putin said the conflict in eastern Ukraine would not be solved by a military escalation in the region. 

Mr Poroshenko said the talks would decide "the fate of Europe and the world".

The Russian president's conciliatory words came after Ukraine presented fresh evidence suggesting Russian military activity within Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin disembarks from his plane in Belarus

Ukraine's security service (UBS) released video footage purportedly showing 10 Russian paratroopers who were captured by the army in the war-torn east of the country.

The UBS said it had opened a criminal probe after soldiers from the 98th airborne division based in central Russia were detained near the village of Dzerkalne, around 30 miles (50km) from rebel-held Donetsk.

A Ukrainian military spokesman said the men were on a "special mission".

But Russian military sources quoted by state news agencies have claimed the soldiers crossed the border by mistake.

In footage posted on the official Facebook page of the Ukrainian government's "anti-terrorist operation", the men were shown dressed in camouflage fatigues.

One of them, who identified himself as Ivan Melchyakov, listed his personal details, including the name of the paratroop regiment he said is based in the Russian town of Kostroma.

The Russian and Ukrainian leaders shook hands ahead of their meeting

"I did not see where we crossed the border. They just told us we were going on a 70-kilometre march over three days," he said.

"Everything is different here, not like they show it on television. We've come as cannon fodder," he said in the video.

Ukraine's Defence Minister Valeriy Geletey said the soldiers were captured on Monday.

"Officially they are at exercises in various corners of Russia.

Separatists walk in front of garages set ablaze by shelling in Donetsk

"In reality, they are participating in military aggression against Ukraine and their families know nothing about their true fate.

"I am addressing the relatives of Russian servicemen: find out immediately where your loved ones are. Take them out of Ukraine, where they are being forced to die."

US National Security Adviser Susan Rice slammed Russia over the incident, branding the latest apparent incursion "dangerous and inflammatory" on Twitter.

At the talks in Minsk, Mr Poroshenko said the only way to end the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine was through effective border controls with Russia, halting arms supplies to rebels and releasing prisoners of war.

Ukrainian soldiers inspect their bus, which was destroyed in fighting

Mr Putin said Moscow would retaliate if a trade pact between Ukraine and the EU gave European goods a back door to Russian markets - a move he said that would cost his economy 100bn roubles (£1.6bn)

Even as the Ukrainian president landed outside Minsk earlier on Tuesday, his country's military said an attack by Russian separatists on the town of Novoazovsk was ongoing.

A spokesman said a hospital was on fire and 12 Ukrainian service personnel had been killed in the last 24 hours - while government forces had destroyed 12 armoured infantry carriers in the area using artillery and aircraft.

Kiev has accused its neighbour of stoking the separatist insurgency but this is the first time authorities have claimed to have captured Russian soldiers.

Moscow continues to deny any involvement in the rebellion.

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'Horrific' Cases Of Child Abuse in Rotherham

By Becky Johnson, North of England Correspondent

More than 1,400 children were sexually exploited in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, a report has concluded.

The abuse of children, some just 11 years old, has been described as "horrific".

The report also found it is "not confined to the past but continues to this day".

Roger Stone, the leader of Rotherham council, has stepped down following the publication of the report.

Council leader Roger Stone

"I believe it is only right that I, as leader, take responsibility on behalf of the council for the historic failings that are described so clearly in the report and it is my intention to do so," he said.

"For this reason, I have today agreed with my Labour group colleagues that I will be stepping down as leader with immediate effect."

Despite Mr Stone's resignation, chief executive Martin Kimber said no council officers will face disciplinary action as he did not have enough evidence against individuals.

"Officers in senior positions responsible for children's safeguarding services throughout the critical periods when services fell some way short of today's standards do not work for the council today," he said.

"To that extent, I have not been able to identify any issues of professional practice related to current serving officers of this council that would require me to consider use of disciplinary or capability procedures."

In the summary of her findings, independent reviewer Professor Alexis Jay said: "It is hard to describe the appalling nature of the abuse that the victims suffered.

"They were raped by multiple perpetrators, trafficked to other towns and cities in the north of England, abducted, beaten, and intimidated.

"There were examples of children who had been doused in petrol and threatened with being set alight, threatened with guns, made witness to brutally violent rapes and threatened they would be next if they told anyone.

"Girls as young as 11 were raped by large numbers of male perpetrators."

Chief executive Martin Kimber: 'No sackings'

The report highlights a variety of historical and serious child protection failings and concludes the council and other agencies should have done more to protect those at risk.

In just over a third of cases victims were previously known to services in the town because of child protection and neglect.

The report says there was a series of failings including poor leadership from senior managers in child protection services and a perceived "lack of interest" in, and understanding of, grooming as a model of child abuse.

Victims were not heard or believed and there was a perception that a "macho and bullying" culture within the council prevented child sexual exploitation from being properly discussed. Professional jealousies between organisations also prevented effective action.

There was "denial" that such events could happen in Rotherham and issues of ethnicity were "played down" by senior managers. "Almost all" the perpetrators were described by victims as being of Pakinstani origin, but the authorities "wanted to play down ethnic dimensions... for fear of being thought racist."

Professor Jay presents her report

Prof Jay found a series of reports made available to both the council and police raising serious concerns were not apparently acted on, and there had been a series of missed opportunities to understand the scale of the problem since 2002.

The spotlight first fell on Rotherham in 2010 when five men, described by a judge as "sexual predators", were given lengthy jail terms after they were found guilty of grooming teenage girls for sex.

The prosecution was the first of a series of high-profile cases in the last four years that have revealed the exploitation of young girls in towns and cities including Rochdale, Derby and Oxford.

In response to Prof Jay's report, Rotherham Council's chief executive Martin Kimber, said: "(It) does not make comfortable reading in its account of the horrific experiences of some young people in the past, and I would like to reiterate our sincere apology to those who were let down when they needed help.

"I commissioned the independent review to understand fully what went wrong, why it went wrong and to ensure that the lessons learnt in Rotherham mean these mistakes can never happen again.

"The report confirms our services have improved significantly over the last five years and are stronger today than ever before. This is important because it allows me to reassure young people and families that should anyone raise concerns we will take them seriously and provide them with the support they need."

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Nail Polish Designed To Detect Date Rape Drugs

Students at a US university say they have found a new way to combat sexual assault: nail polish that can detect the presence of date rape drugs in drinks.

The project called "Undercover Colors" won a competition that challenges North Carolina State University students to find solution to real-life problems.

The nail polish changes colour if it comes into contact with the so-called dat -rape drugs, allowing a woman to check her drink by stirring it with her finger.

Among the most common such drugs are Rohypnol, Xanax, and GHB, which are often odourless and colourless.

The four undergraduates who came up with the idea say their goal is "to reduce the overall rate of drug-facilitated sexual assault by creating a risk for potential perpetrators to get caught, shifting the fear from the victims to the perpetrators".

The nail polish changes colour to detect the drugs. Pic: File

The Washington Post, which reported on the project, said critics of this and similar ideas note that alcohol is used more often than drugs in cases of sexual assaults.

The newspaper quoted Tara Culp-Ressler of Think Progress as saying that the nail polish could have unintended effect on women who are assaulted.

"Any college students who don't use the special polish could open themselves up to criticism for failing to do everything in their power to prevent rape," she wrote.

The students say the product is still being developed, but would eventually like to bring it to the market.

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Terror-Related Travel Arrests Increase Fivefold

There has been a fivefold increase in UK nationals arrested for travelling to Syria or Iraq to engage in terrorist activities, according to Scotland Yard.

Police said 69 suspected extremists have been arrested so far this year who planned to travel to Syria or fund terrorism there.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Rowley, of the Metropolitan Police, appealed to family members of potential UK terrorists to come forward and said nearly half of would-be extremists identified as part of the Syria investigations were not previously classed as dangerous.

"The biggest growth in Syrian-related investigations has occurred in London and the West Midlands," he said.

"The growth of dangerous individuals poses challenges for policing, especially when nearly half of Syria travellers of concern were not known as terrorist risks previously.

"Hence, we appeal to the public to help identify for us aspiring terrorists - they may be about to travel abroad, have just returned or be showing signs of becoming radicalised."

Mr Rowley added that seizures of cash which people had been trying to take out of the country to fund Syria-related terror activity have also doubled.

Investigators are attempting to get hundreds of pieces of terror-related content linked to Syria removed from websites including YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

Mr Rowley said police in the UK are trying to prevent hate crimes that could be influenced by events abroad, including anti-Semitic offences related to the Gaza conflict.

He added: "There is a lot at stake.

"In addition to the public assistance in identifying potential terrorists, we all need community and religious leaders to continue to speak out against warped narratives and we need everyone to ensure that public debate does not give oxygen to the terrorists by giving them the publicity they seek."

An estimated 500 Britons have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight alongside extremists, half of whom are thought to be from London.

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