Pound Soars Amid Latest 'Greek Drama'

Fresh uncertainty over Greece has prompted a warning from the Chancellor and helped push the pound to a seven-year high of €1.40.

Sterling is now at levels not seen since the autumn of 2007, meaning Britons travelling abroad will get more for their money - around €1.38 at tourist exchange rates.

But Chancellor George Osborne remains focussed on resolving the deadlock over Greece, tweeting: "Just had bilateral meeting with Greek finance minister, urging them and eurozone to find solution.

"Unfortunately this Greek drama isn't over," he wrote.

Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis was told by his fellow eurozone finance ministers on Monday that time was running out and he must urgently put forward concrete proposals if the country wants to secure rescue funds agreed under its bailout extension.

Athens got a lifeline last month when ministers agreed a four-month deal on extending its current EU-IMF bailout, subject to the reforms being agreed.

The next payout of €7bn (£5bn) is due at the end of April.

Greece may have to leave the currency union if no reform programme can be ratified.

Mr Varoufakis has faced ridicule in Brussels and back home for some of his proposals, including the use of tourists to spot tax cheats.

His tough negotiating style has also irritated creditors, who have signalled their patience is wearing thin.

Greece has warned of a possible referendum if its plans are rejected.

The new radical left-wing government has pledged to streamline bureaucracy and tackle smuggling but its blueprint has been slammed as lacking detail, and especially figures.

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the Eurogroup, said on Monday: "We have lost over two weeks in which very little progress has been made - we have to stop wasting time and start talks seriously."

Mr Dijsselbloem, who is also the Dutch finance minister, added: "The extension (of the Greek bailout) is only for four months and the clock is ticking."

The deadlock, combined with the effects of the eurozone's new QE programme, pushed the euro on Tuesday to levels not seen for years.

The FTSE 100 suffered however, having fallen more than 1.5% by Tuesday lunchtime.

It was pegged back by Prudential after the insurer said its chief executive was leaving for Credit Suisse.

A fall in energy stocks on weaker oil prices also weighed on the market.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Unarmed Naked Man Shot Dead By Police

By Sky News US Team

A police officer has shot dead a naked and unarmed African-American man outside a Georgia apartment complex.

The officer responded to reports of a suspicious person knocking on doors on Monday afternoon and crawling on the ground naked, police said.

The caller who alerted police said the man was "acting deranged" outside the suburban Atlanta building, county police chief Cedric Alexander said.

The officer, who was white, encountered the man in the parking lot of the complex.

The victim moments before being shot. Pic: Channel 2 Action News

The man ran at the officer, who backed up and ordered him to stop before shooting him twice when he did not stop, Chief Alexander said.

The victim was identified as 27-year-old Anthony Hill. According to his social media profile and news reports, Mr Hill was an Air Force veteran and had mental problems, possibly including bipolar disorder.

Video: Wisconsin Cops Kill 'Unarmed' Teen

He described himself as an R&B musician and in his social media posts he sometimes discussed mental problems.

Mr Hill's name started trending on Twitter as many users expressed outrage. The shooting came at a time of heightened tensions between communities across America and police, and amid a debate about police use of lethal force.

The police shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teen, sparked days of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson, Missouri, and since then several deaths at the hand of police have caused anger.

On Friday, an officer in Madison, Wisconsin, fatally shot a 19-year-old, prompting some 2,000 students to march in the state's capital.

The Atlanta officer, who had been with the department for seven years, was equipped with a Taser at the time of the shooting. 

Chief Alexander said he could "reasonably assume" the victim was possibly suffering from mental illness.

"We have already, as many departments have begun to do, look at how do we expand our mental health training," he said.

"It appears that we're seeing more and more of these cases across the country in which police are engaging with those who may be in distress."

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hacking 'Destroyed' EastEnders Star's Career

EastEnders star Steve McFadden said his ex-girlfriend and former co-star's career was "destroyed" by stories published about her as a result of hacking.

The actor, who plays Phil Mitchell, was giving evidence at a hearing at London's High Court to decide the amount of compensation to be awarded in eight cases brought against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

Lucy Taggart, formerly Lucy Benjamin, played McFadden's on-screen girlfriend Lisa and had a relationship with him during the time her phone was hacked.

McFadden, 55, giving evidence in relation to Ms Taggart's claim against MGN, said he remembered her being "very upset" about stories published about her and "feeling like she was being picked on and bullied".

He and the actress met on the set and were in a relationship from about 2000 to late 2003.

In a witness statement, he said they had hoped to marry, and he got "very close" to proposing, "but the biggest factor that stopped me was thinking that Lucy had a big mouth and was giving out information".

McFadden was in a relationship with Taggart for three years

He said: "All the articles in the Mirror's newspapers that were constantly being published about us made me suspect Lucy.

"I thought she was shouting her mouth off. Now of course I know it was nothing like this and it was the Mirror's journalists stealing information from our phones."

The London-born actor said: "I now know that messages I left for Lucy must have been heard by MGN's journalists. Although I find this appalling, in some senses, I am relieved to finally know why and how so much information came out about me and Lucy.

"The sad thing is that you can't turn back the clock on what I thought and accused Lucy of at the time, which was that she was betraying me."

McFadden said in the statement: "Apart from our relationship, the Mirror's articles also had a really profound effect on Lucy's career and how she felt as a person."

He said she believed they were responsible "for putting her out of work and making her unemployable, and I think she was right".

Earlier the flight attendant ex-girlfriend of footballer Rio Ferdinand sobbed as she said the hacking of her voicemails had left her feeling "hounded" by the press.

Ms Alcorn, who complains about five articles - three of which are admitted to be the product of phone-hacking - said she was "completely shocked and disgusted" by the illegal activities at MGN which carried on in her case from 2002 until 2006.

She said that Ferdinand, who she was seeing secretly as he also had a long-term lover, became increasingly suspicious that she was talking to the press and giving away intimate details of their "pretty intense" relationship.

The hearing continues.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

IS Defector: I Saw Jihadi John Kill Hostage

By Stuart Ramsay, Chief Correspondent

Sky News has spoken to a former member of Islamic State, who claims he witnessed the man known as Jihadi John murder Japanese hostage Kenji Goto.

The former translator said that the masked man in the video was indeed Mohammed Emwazi, the 26-year-old Londoner who has become the face of the world's most notorious terrorist organisation.

"Saleh" said Emwazi is employed as the chief killer of foreign hostages for Islamic State's media wing and that his murderous influence among the group is feared and respected.

Kenji Goto, 47, was killed by Islamic State earlier this year

Speaking from Turkey, where he fled to escape IS, Saleh explained in broken English how he was employed by the group to convince foreign hostages they were safe. He is the only person to admit seeing Emwazi kill.

He said: "When he killed Kenji Goto I live showed this [saw this] but not near, from a little [distance].

Video: Kuwaiti Ambassador On 'Jihadi John'

"After he was killed him, three or four person come and take over the body and put in a car. After that, John went on a different road.

"The big boss was there with them. Turkish man say 'put this camera there, change place there' but John [was] the big boss. All time, all time say to all 'fastly, fastly, fastly, we should finish'. So respect him. Only he talks orders – others do."

Saleh suggested Emwazi commanded such respect within the group because of his willingness to murder foreigners. 

Video: Audio Recording Of Mohammed Emwazi

"Maybe because he use the knife," he said. "I cannot understand why he is so strong. One man can kill and all people will respect. A Syrian man anyone [in IS] can kill. But strangers [foreigners], only John."

Saleh claims foreign hostages captured and murdered by the group were subjected to numerous mock executions until the procedure became normal. It could explain why many hostages appeared calm in execution videos published online by the group.

He said: "He would say to me 'say to them, no problem, only video, we don't kill you, we want from your government [to] stop attacking Syria. We don't have any problem with you; you are only our visitors'.

1/6

1. Gallery: Jihadi John's email exhanges with Cage and a reporter

   This email Mohammed Emwazi sent to a Mail On Sunday reporter in 2010 revealed his first encounter and his fear of MI5

He later made contact with the campaign group Cage and told them about clashes with border control officers

]]>

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hillsborough Chief: I Wasn't Best Man For Job

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

The match commander on the day of the Hillsborough disaster has admitted he was "not the best man for the job".

Former chief superintendent David Duckenfield told the Hillsborough inquests jury he had "limited experience" of planning for football matches prior to the day of the disaster on 15 April 1989.

Watched by approximately 200 family members of the 96 fans who died, Mr Duckenfield confirmed he had been promoted just a few weeks before the FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

He was asked by barrister Christina Lambert QC: "Did you think with hindsight: I should have thought about my limited knowledge of the role of commander in a major event that was an all-ticket sell-out?"

He replied: "I am older, probably wiser. Probably I was not the best man for the job on the day."

He was also asked whether it had occurred to him before the match that it "was a job that called for deep experience".

The former South Yorkshire police officer said he had been assured by the assistant chief constable at the time, Walter Jackson, that he would have an experienced team to assist him on the day.

Margaret Aspinall and 200 other family members are in court

Ms Lambert asked: "Did you think it was a mistake for you to accept the role of match commander and not seek assistance from others?"

He told the jury there had been a culture at the time of  senior officers being moved around different departments and learning "on the job".

Ms Lambert continued: "My question was whether or not it was a mistake."

Mr Duckenfield replied: "With hindsight it was a serious mistake."

He accepted under questioning that he could not remember whether he had read the relevant police guidelines before the match and that he was not aware of the codeword "catastrophe" that was to be used by emergency services in the event of a major incident.

The inquests have already heard that Mr Duckenfield gave the order to open a perimeter gate at the Hillsborough stadium before telling officials that fans had forced it open. 

Ninety-six Liverpool fans died as a result of crushing on the terraces in overcrowded pens at the ground's Leppings Lane end.

Mr Duckenfield is due to give evidence to the inquests in Warrington for four days.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Becky Watts' Phone And Computers Recovered

Police investigating the murder of teenager Becky Watts say they have recovered her mobile phone, laptop and tablet computer.

A statement from Avon and Somerset Police said the investigation into the 16-year-old's death is likely to continue for several weeks.

The officer leading the investigation, Detective Superintendent Liz Tunks, said: "There is likely to be ongoing police activity at properties in St George and Barton Hill for the next couple of weeks as part of our investigation into the murder of Becky Watts.

"There are specific forensic examinations which we need to complete to help establish exactly what happened to Becky.

"We'd like to reassure the local community that our primary aim is to conduct a meticulous and exhaustive inquiry into Becky's death and even though there have been charges brought in this case, it continues to be an active investigation.

"Although six people have been charged in connection with the case, specialist forensic examinations will continue to help establish the full circumstances surrounding Becky's death."

Becky vanished from her home in Bristol on 19 February, taking her electronic devices with her.

Parts of her dismembered body were found on 2 March.

Her stepbrother, Nathan Matthews, 28, has been charged with her murder. His girlfriend Shauna Hoare, 21 has been charged with perverting the course of justice.

Four others have been charged with assisting an offender by helping to dispose of and hide Becky's remains.

Two fundraising pages intended to help the teenager's family pay for her funeral have raised more than £11,000.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Zoolander Takes To The Catwalk In Paris

Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson have officially announced the sequel to Zoolander by taking to the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week.

The stars performed for the fashionistas in character as Derek Zoolander and Hansel and flashed the infamous blue steel pose.

The pair surprised guests by appearing as part of the Valentino show.

Vogue magazine has confirmed that Zoolander 2 is officially gearing up for production with filming set to begin in Rome "any day now".

Stiller and Wilson play fashion rivals in 2001's film where dim-but-kind Zoolander becomes a pawn in a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

1/14

1. Gallery: Cafe Culture At Chanel's Paris Show

   Cara Delevingne wore a sheer black dress and heavy make-up for the catwalk show for Chanel at Paris Fashion Week

Kendall Jenner was modelling a similar look

]]>

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Baby's Throat Cut With Power Saw By Relative

By Sky News US Team

A seven-month-old girl has died after a relative cut her throat with a power saw, Chicago police have said.

The 52-year-old woman attacked the infant with a circular saw, apparently because she would not stop crying, according to police.

The scene in Chicago's West Side

Initially the woman had tried to shove something in the infant's mouth to make her quiet, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Officers found the child, identified in news reports as Rose Herrera, after being called to a building on the city's West Side on Monday.

The woman is in police custody at a hospital with self-inflicted wounds, after both the baby and the woman were found by another relative.

No other children were present in the home at the time of the incident.

Police spent several hours at the scene collecting evidence.

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services officials said the agency had no prior contact with the family.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Video Emerges Of Reality TV Helicopter Crash

Footage has emerged of a helicopter crash which killed ten people - including three French sports stars.

Amateur video shows two helicopters colliding and then plunging to the ground during filming for reality TV show Dropped in northern Argentina.

Camille Muffat, who won an Olympic gold medal in swimming at the London 2012 games, Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine, and champion sailor Florence Arthaud were in the two aircraft flying over mountains near Villa Castelli, in La Rioja province.

Camille Muffat, Alexis Vastine and Florence Arthaud

Photographs showed the burning wreckage in dry scrubland with people gathered nearby.

The other seven victims - five French TV production crew and two Argentine pilots - were not immediately named.

Video: Investigators Examine Crash Scene

A statement from La Rioja's government confirmed the identities of the three athletes.

Ms Arthaud, 57, was considered one of the best sailors in the world and had won the 1990 Route du Rhum.

Ms Muffat, 25, won gold in the 400-metre freestyle in 2012, along with two other medals.

Mr Vastine, 28, won a bronze medal at the Beijing games in 2008 in the light welterweight category.

In her last Facebook post, Ms Muffat had written: "Everything is going well for me. Leaving Ushuaia early this morning. See you soon."

Former Arsenal footballer Sylvain Wiltord reportedly missed the doomed flight because he was voted off the show the day before.

The 40-year-old tweeted: "I'm sad for my friends, I'm trembling, I'm horrified, I have no words, I don't want to say anything."

1/9

1. Gallery: Argentina Helicopter Collision Kills Olympians

   French athletes Florence Arthaud (left), Camille Muffat (centre) and Alexis Vastine about to board the helicopter which crashed in Argentina, killing them and seven others

The wreckage of a helicopter crash in Villa Castelli, northern Argentina. The two aircraft apparently collided with 10 people on board. Crash images by Gabriel Gonzalez

]]>

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Missing Girls: 'No Sign Of Radicalisation'

The families of the three east London girls who are thought to have joined Islamic State say they had no idea they had been radicalised.

Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-old Amira Abase flew from Gatwick to Istanbul on February 17 and are feared to have continued to Syria to become so-called "jihadi brides".

According to reports, they are now staying in a house in the IS militants' stronghold, Raqqa.

Appearing before the Home Affairs Select Committee, Amira's father Hussen Abase, Khadija's cousin Fahmida Aziz and Shamima's older sister Sahima Begum said there were no indications the girls had been turned.

Responding to a question from Committee chair Keith Vaz, Sahima said: "My sister was into normal teenage things. She used to watch Keeping Up With The Kardashians."

Family solicitor Tasnime Akunjee told the committee the Metropolitan Police owed the parents an apology over the way a similar case was handled last year.

It has emerged that police gave the three schoolgirls - as well as four other girls - letters addressed to their families about another 15-year-old pupil at Bethnal Green Academy who joined Islamic State in December.

However, the girls did not pass the letters on to their families, prompting questions over why it was not delivered directly to their parents.

Had they received them Mr Akunjee said the parents would have been "on notice" for issues like radicalisation and foreign travel.

Sahima said she and her family "did what they could" to monitor Shamima's activities, but they would have done more if they had known the first girl - a friend of Shamima's - had gone to Syria.

"We would have questioned that," she said.

Sahima said she was not aware of the Government's anti-radicalisation programme Prevent before her sister went missing.

She said she should have been given a risk assessment under the Prevent strategy when she was interviewed about her friend going missing last December.

Scotland Yard previously said that, "with the benefit of hindsight", letters addressed to seven girls' families could have been sent directly to them.

Earlier on Tuesday the force said the parents had already been made aware by the school's deputy head that the 15-year-old girl had gone to Syria.

But it later issued a clarification stating the deputy head had only told the families the girl had disappeared.

Met Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe told the committee it was hard to identify those being radicalised as the scale was so large.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More