Philpott Victims: Stadium Observes Silence

A football stadium fell silent in memory of the six Philpott children killed in a house fire started by their father.

Supporters, staff and players of Derby County and Ipswich Town took part in a minute's silence in memory of Jade, 10, and her brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, Jayden, five, and Duwayne, 13.

Mick Philpott, 56, was jailed for life on Wednesday after being convicted of killing the children along with his wife Mairead, 32, and friend Paul Mosley.

Derby said the silence at its Pride Park ground before the Championship tie was observed impeccably.

"Thank you to the #dcfc and #itfc fans for observing the one-minute silence in memory of the 6 Philpott children superbly #rip," the club wrote on its official Twitter feed.

They started the fire at the family's Derby home in an attempt to frame Mick's former live-in lover, 29-year-old Lisa Willis, after she left the family home with her children three months earlier.

But their plan went dangerously wrong and the children, who were sleeping in their beds, were unable to be rescued.

After their deaths in May last year, the shocked community rallied together to raise thousands of pounds for the six funerals.

Football fan Duwayne had the emblem of Derby County etched on to his coffin and reportedly held a season ticket at the club along with his younger brother John.

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North Korea: US Deploys Spy Plane To Japan

Tensions remain high on the Korean Peninsula amid reports the US has deployed an unmanned spy plane to Japan to boost its surveillance after North Korea readied missile launchers on its east coast.

The Global Hawk will be stationed at the US airbase in Misawa, northern Japan, in the first ever deployment of the aircraft in the country, the Sankei Shimbun reported, quoting government sources.

The US military informed Japan last month about plans to deploy the plane between June and September but has brought the date forward.

It comes after North Korea warned foreign diplomats they may not be safe in the country if war breaks out.

The spy plane will be stationed at the US airbase in Misawa, northern Japan

Pyongyang asked foreign embassies whether they were considering evacuating staff, saying the government could not guarantee their safety in the event of conflict from April 10.

The British Foreign Office dismissed the warning as "rhetoric".

However, an urgent international effort to defuse the situation is under way.

The heads of EU missions are to meet to hammer out a common position on the crisis, while the US works its diplomatic channels to resolve the stand-off with Pyongyang.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has been holding talks with officials in South Korea, as well as China - historically North Korea's ally - to see if the Chinese can put any more pressure on North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un to back down.

Kim Jong-Un holding up a pistol as he supervises firing drills

Reporting from the South Korean capital Seoul, Sky's Asia Correspondent Mark Stone, said: "In the skies above the Korean Peninsula there are spy planes operating.

"There will be drones - American drones - operating before long from a base in Japan.

"They are trying to get as much of a sense as possible of what it is that Kim Jong-Un is doing on the ground with his weaponry.

"We know he has some pretty sophisticated weaponry.

"There are artillery rounds just over the border. They could in theory hit Seoul. That's a big concern for South Korea.

"That's why they are trying to put these intelligence reports together, as well as the diplomacy behind the scenes, to try and work out what Kim Jong-Un might be up to."

A South Korean soldier looks to the north at a border observation post

He continued: "The diplomats were warned by Pyongyang to leave by April 10 - no one quite knows why that date should be significant.

"It seems pretty clear, certainly speaking to western diplomats based in Pyongyang, their belief is this is just the latest round of rhetoric from North Korea.

"You would assume that if North Korea was planning some sort of war, it would actually want the diplomats from foreign countries to remain there so that they could be used as some sort of a bargaining chip - not kicked out of North Korea.

"I think it is alarming, but I think it's also probably just more rhetoric," he added.

Most governments have made it clear they have no immediate plans to withdraw personnel from the area.

A rally in support of Kim Jong-Un's order to put missiles on standby

Western tourists returning from organised tours in Pyongyang - which have continued despite the crisis - said the situation on the ground appeared calm, with life going on as normal.

"We're glad to be back but we didn't feel frightened when we were there," said Tina Krabbe, from Denmark, arriving in Beijing after five days in North Korea.

The embassy warning on Friday coincided with reports that North Korea had loaded two mid-range Musudan missiles on mobile launchers and hidden them in underground facilities on its eastern coast.

The Musudan have never been tested but are believed to have a range of around 3,000km (1,860 miles), which could theoretically be pushed to 4,000km (2,485 miles).

That would cover any target in South Korea and Japan, and possibly even reach US military bases located on the Pacific island of Guam - which Pyongyang has threatened to strike.

Tensions have soared on the Korean peninsula since December, when the North test-launched a long-range rocket. In February, it conducted its third nuclear test and drew fresh UN sanctions.

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Man Dies Making Documentary About Homeless

Police are investigating the death of a young documentary maker who was sleeping rough in freezing temperatures to highlight the plight of the homeless.

Lee Halpin, 26, had planned to spend a week living on the streets in his home city of Newcastle.

He began the project on Sunday but was found dead three days later in a derelict building in the West End of the city.

How he died has not yet been confirmed but it is believed he may have died from hypothermia.

Speaking on a YouTube video the night before his week of sleeping rough began, Mr Halpin said the project was part of an application for a Channel 4 investigative journalism scheme, to give an example of fearless reporting.

He said he had spoken to a homeless charity about the rise in the number of people on the streets and the effect of changes to Britain's welfare system this month.

"I'm about to go and spend a week being homeless in the West End of Newcastle. I will sleep rough for a week, scrounge for my food, access the services that other homeless individuals use," he said.

"I will interact with as many homeless people as possible and immerse myself in that lifestyle as deeply as I can."

He concluded the video by saying he hoped it showed his willingness to get to the heart of a story.

A Channel 4 spokesperson said: "We are saddened to learn of the tragic death of this aspiring young journalist. Our thoughts are with his family."

Mr Halpin's friend of 10 years, Daniel Lake, said: "I was just talking to Lee on Saturday, having some banter talking about football and how excited he was about going out filming.

"Lee was a great guy, a character and was well known. His big things were creative writing and poetry ... He made the ultimate sacrifice trying to raise awareness about what was happening to other people."

Friends and supporters have left tributes on the Save Newcastle Libraries website, to which he was a contributor.

One said: "He was a credit to the North East and all he did was give."

Northumbria Police have arrested two men in connection with the death.

The men, aged 26 and 30, were arrested on suspicion of supplying a controlled drug and have since been bailed pending further inquiries.

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Ikea Withdraws Elk Lasagne After Pork Found

Ikea has removed 17,600 packets of elk lasagne from its European stores after traces of pork were discovered, it has emerged.

The food was removed from shelves on March 22 after tests by Belgian authorities revealed signs of the meat.

The tainted meat was produced for Ikea by Swedish supplier Familjen Dafgard - the same company that produces its meatballs.

"They had been grinding a mix of pork and beef in the morning and elk meat in the afternoon," Ikea spokesman Josefin Thorell said.

"We've reviewed these routines together with Dafgard so this is no longer being done. They now have separate facilities for different types of production."

The frozen lasagne had only been on sale in Europe for a month and was not available in any Muslim countries.

The furniture retailer said it had only decided to go public after a follow-up test in Belgium on Friday confirmed that the meat contained 1.6% pork.

In February, Ikea halted sales of its trademark meatballs after tests showed a batch contained horsemeat, a discovery that added to the Europe-wide scandal that saw many products pulled from supermarket shelves.

In the aftermath of that scandal Ikea also announced it was introducing systematic DNA testing on all products using minced meat.

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Devon House Fire: Teens Die, Boy In Hospital

Two teenagers have died and a young boy is in a serious condition in hospital following a house fire in Devon.

Police said the 17-year-old girl and 18-year-old man died from injuries sustained in the blaze at a property in Lee Close in Honiton.

The boy, aged three, remains in the specialist Frenchay Hospital.

Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Next of kin have been informed.

"Our thoughts are with family at this time and the investigation to establish the cause of the fire is ongoing. At this time the police are not treating the matter as suspicious."

Emergency services were alerted at around 7.50am on Friday.

A total of eight people were in the house when the fire broke out - seven members of a family and another person.

Five were taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, including a six-year-old boy and a man in his 30s, who were treated for smoke inhalation.

Three - the two teenagers and three-year-old - were flown by air ambulance to the hospital for treatment.

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Iraq: 20 Dead, Dozens Hurt In Suicide Blast

A suicide bomber has killed 20 people and wounded dozens during a political rally in the Iraqi city of Baqouba, according to officials.

The bomber detonated his explosives as Muthana al-Jourani, a Sunni candidate for the provincial council, was hosting lunch for supporters in a large hospitality tent pitched next to his house, councilman Sadiq al-Huseini said.

The city, some 35 miles north-east of Baghdad and made up of Sunni and Shi'ite residents, has been a focus of insurgent attacks and sectarian conflict over the past 10 years.

The latest attack comes ahead of provincial elections on April 20.

A police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said the politician, who was injured in the attack, had not requested any extra security for the event.

Eyewitness Ahmad al-Hadlouj, a 34-year-old who was wounded in the blast, said hundreds of people had gathered in the side street for the rally. His father, a member of the candidate's political bloc, was also wounded.

"This is our blood (shed) for the people," said Mr al-Hadlouj. "We will still participate in elections."

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the police officer said the attack was the hallmark of al-Qaeda militants who have used suicide bombers, car bombings and coordinated attacks to shake security in Iraq, hoping that will undermine confidence in the Shiite-led government.

The hard-line Sunni extremists see Shiites and those who work with them as heretics.

A wave of deadly bombings and attacks in March prompted Iraqi officials to conclude that al-Qaeda's Iraqi branch, known as the Islamic State of Iraq, has been getting stronger.

They say rising lawlessness on the Syria-Iraq frontier and cross-border cooperation with the Syrian militant group Nusra Front has improved the militants' supply of weapons and foreign fighters.

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Nelson Mandela Leaves Hospital After 10 Days

Former South African president Nelson Mandela has been discharged from hospital after being treated for pneumonia.

The 94-year-old was allowed to return home "following a sustained and gradual improvement in his general condition".

An ambulance is understood to have taken him back to his residence in Johannesburg.

President Jacob Zuma's office said Mr Mandela would now receive "home-based" care.

Mr Mandela is believed to have been transported home in this ambulance

A statement said: "President Zuma thanks the hard working medical team and hospital staff for looking after Madiba so efficiently."

He also extended his gratitude to all South Africans, friends of the nation and to people around the world for their support.

Spokesman Mac Maharaj told Sky News: "We are all very happy with the news and grateful to the doctors and the hospital staff for looking after him so well.

"The doctors say that given his age, they have to monitor him very carefully and they have to remain cautious all the time.

"He is frail, and we need to take into account his age ... but Madiba is a fighter and he is not ready to say goodbye to us."

It has been the third health scare in four months for the anti-apartheid leader.

He was in hospital briefly in early March for a check-up and before that in December for nearly three weeks with a lung infection and following surgery to remove gallstones.

The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, who became South Africa's first black President in 1994, is a global symbol of tolerance and the struggle for equality.

Mr Mandela stepped down as President in 1999 and has not been politically active for a decade.

He has a history of lung problems dating from when he contracted tuberculosis as a political prisoner.

He spent 27 years on Robben Island and in other jails for his attempts to overthrow the white-minority government.

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Leeds Hospital: Parents 'Were Treated Like Meat'

By Frazer Maude, Sky News reporter

When pregnant Emma Ethelstone was told during a routine scan in Sheffield that her daughter had a serious heart defect, her world fell apart.

"I was screaming and crying," she says. "I couldn't even speak. We'd tried for four years to have a child, and eventually I got pregnant through IVF.

"So to be to told that Imogen-Rose had problems was just the worst news any parent could have."

Emma was referred to the Leeds General Infirmary. She and her partner John Sauve say they expected sympathy, empathy and positivity from the hospital. They say they got none.

"We were treated like pieces of meat," says John. "They wouldn't even refer to Imogen-Rose by name. They always called her 'the foetus'. It was cold an clinical."

The couple say staff at the LGI were "very negative" about the possible outcomes if they went ahead with the pregnancy. They were also told not to go online for advice as they would only get false hopes.

They weren't advised to terminate the pregnancy, but say they felt that they were being steered towards that decision.

So the couple decided to look online for a third opinion, and found themselves going to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for tests.

"Things couldn't have been more different," says Emma. "We were greeted with hugs and handshakes, and treated with real warmth and empathy."

Imogen-Rose was born at Newcastle's Royal Victoria infirmary last month, and just days later was operated on by surgeons at the Freeman. She's now back at home in Sheffield.

A spokesman for the LGI told Sky News: "We would never counsel a patient to terminate a pregnancy.

"We cannot comment on individual cases, but if any family have concerns about their treatment, we would urge them to contact us to discuss those issues."

Life won't ever be normal for Imogen-Rose, she faces a number of operations, and in all probability a heart transplant later in life. None of her treatment though will be in Leeds.

"I know people have different views about the LGI," says Emma. "But I just don't trust them, and I wouldn't want Imogen-Rose to be treated by anyone in Leeds"

Operations at the LGI were suspended last week because of claims the children's cardiac unit had a death rate double the average.

But medical bodies and doctors have questioned the accuracy of the data, which they say was unverified and not fit to base the decision on.

This weekend five health agencies will work together with a view to restarting surgery as soon as possible - on condition concerns about patient safety can be alleviated.

In a statement, Leeds NHS Trust said: "Following a meeting to review the decision to suspend surgery at Leeds, agreement was reached to work together to restart surgery on the site early next week subject to independent assurance of concerns raised.

"The meeting involved NHS England, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the NHS Trust Development Authority, and the Care Quality Commission.

"Over the course of the weekend all agencies will work together to provide sufficient assurance to all interested parties that this service is safe and can therefore re-open next week."

After the closure a week ago, Sir Bruce Keogh, the medical director of NHS England, said: "The trust has taken a highly responsible precautionary step.

"It is absolutely right not to take any risks while these matters are being looked into. The priority must be the safety of children."

Following the decision to work towards early opening next week, Maggie Boyle, chief executive of the Trust, said: "I am extremely confident that this service is safe and effective and should recommence at the earliest opportunity."

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Grand National: Auroras Encore Wins At Aintree

Ryan Mania has won on his first ride in the Grand National as he guided outsider Auroras Encore to a shock victory at Aintree racecourse in Liverpool.

The Scottish jockey gave a perfect ride to the 66-1 chance, beating home Welsh duo Cappa Bleu (12/1) and Teaforthree (10/1).

Auroras Encore showed stamina was his forte when he powered clear at the final fence and stormed up the run in to win by nine lengths.

"He gave me a dream ride, he's brilliant. I had the choice of two horses to ride, I wasn't sure which one to go for," said Mania.

"He loved every second of it, just class - he was second in the Scottish National last season. He made a couple of little mistakes then learned from them."

Auroras Encore's trainer Sue Smith was just the third woman to train a National winner.

"It's unbelievable, he gave him such a good ride," she said.

"I knew the ground was right for him and hoped everything else was. He stayed down the middle and had a bit of luck in running.

Seabass, ridden by Katie Walsh, was the favourite

"I just feel sorry for the previous owners, who were wonderful and sold him because of ill health."

Mrs Smith, 65, trains 1,000ft up in the Yorkshire Moors in partnership with her husband, former British Olympic showjumper Harvey Smith.

After the shock victory, Mr Smith, said: "It's superb, absolutely spot-on."

Auroras Encore was also a local win as one of the three owners, Jim Beaumont, is from Liverpool.

"I used to work as a bell boy at the Adelphi Hotel. I was employed by the porter and not by the hotel, so I used to make a lot of money for the hall porter and can remember the Grand National winners coming up the hotel steps," said Mr Beaumont, who now lives in Edinburgh.

He said he never thought he would ever own a horse "never mind anything else".

Twenty-three of the 40 horses failed to finish the steeplechase

A sell-out crowd of more than 70,000 gathered at Aintree racecourse to watch the 40 runners and riders compete in the world's most famous steeplechase.

Katie Walsh's hopes of becoming the first woman rider to win the Grand National looked promising midway round the second circuit on 11-2 favourite Seabass.

Two other well-backed horses, On His Own under Katie Walsh's brother Ruby and Colberts Station with AP McCoy onboard, were among the 23 fallers.

The Grand National is worth £975,000 in prize money, making it one of the richest jump races in Europe.

Changes were made to the famous fences after four horses died in the last two years.

After the race, an Aintree spokesman said: "Forty horses and jockeys returned safe and sound following the John Smith's Grand National."

But a spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) said: "No horses died today, but two this week is two too many.

"Little Josh and Battlefront died for nothing more important than an afternoon's amusement."

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India: British Woman Murdered In Kashmir

A second man is being questioned after a British woman was found murdered on a houseboat in Indian-administered Kashmir, police have confirmed.

The son of the owner of the houseboat where Sarah Groves, 24, had been staying for up to two months is helping police with their inquiries, according to Sky sources.

Miss Groves, from Guernsey, was found in a pool of blood on the vessel at Srinagar's Dal Lake, a popular tourist destination.

A police officer at Dal Lake, a popular tourist destination

Local police said the victim had multiple stab wounds all over her body and a knife was found next to her.

Earlier a Dutch national aged in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of murder. He is alleged to have smashed open the door of her room during the night.

The Dutchman was picked up as he tried to flee the valley with only his passport, senior police officer Abdul Ghani Mir said.

Miss Groves' body is being sent for medical examination to determine whether she was sexually assaulted before being killed.

Speaking to Sky News India correspondent Alex Rossi, Irfan Shoda confirmed his brother Samir was being questioned and described finding the victim's body in the early hours.

Onlookers gathered near the scene of the murder

Superintendent Tahir Sajjad told AFP: "We walked into a pool of blood in her room. We found a sharp-edged knife close to her body. The young lady had multiple stab wounds."

The Dutchman was held at Qazigund, in south Kashmir's Anantag district, around 100km (62 miles) from the lake where Miss Groves' body was found.

He had allegedly fled in a small boat which capsized as he was trying to reach the shore, forcing him to swim.

Speaking near the murder scene, Deputy Inspector General of Police for central Kashmir Afadul Mujtaba said: "There is one houseboat over here in which there were two tourists living.

"She has been living here, an English tourist, and a Dutch tourist arrived two days ago, and now today in the morning the dead body of the female tourist has been found with incision wounds, sharp-edged weapon wounds."

The woman was killed in Indian-administered Kashmir

The weeping owner of the Kashmir houseboat, named Hafeeza, said she was shocked by Miss Groves' murder.

She said: "She was very dear to me, she was just like my daughter."

The Foreign Office says it is in touch with local authorities and Miss Groves' family has been informed.

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