Ariel Sharon Dead: Israel's Ex-PM Dies

Former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon has died following a long illness.

The 85-year-old's son was quoted as saying he had died, eight years since a stroke at the height of his powers left him in a coma.

Gilad Sharon said: "He has gone. He went when he decided to go."

Gilad Sharon announces his father's death

Sheba Medical Centre, where he was being treated, said he died at around 2pm (midday UK time).

His body will lie in state in the Knesset, before his funeral takes place at a ranch in the Negev desert.

Sharon's 2000 visit to a disputed Jerusalem site caused the second Intifada

Mr Sharon's condition suddenly deteriorated on January 1 when he suffered serious kidney problems after surgery.

Nicknamed 'The Bulldozer', the veteran soldier fought in all of Israel's major wars before beginning a turbulent political career in 1973.

Long considered a pariah for his personal but "indirect" responsibility for the 1982 massacre of hundreds of Palestinians by Israel's Lebanese Phalangist allies in Beirut's Sabra and Shatila refugee camps, he was elected premier in 2001.

Ministers in Israel's right-wing government and the political opposition mourned a leader who left big footprints on the region through military invasion, Jewish settlement building on captured land and a unilateral decision to pull Israeli troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip in 2005.

President Shimon Peres said: "My dear friend, Arik Sharon, lost his final battle today.

"Arik was a brave soldier and a daring leader who loved his nation and his nation loved him. He was one of Israel's great protectors and most important architects, who knew no fear and certainly never feared vision."

Mr Sharon was accused over the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre

Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz said in a statement: "The nation of Israel has today lost a dear man, a great leader and a bold warrior."

There was no immediate comment on the death from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, with whom Mr Sharon's Likud party successor, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been holding US-sponsored peace talks.

But in Gaza, Hamas welcomed Mr Sharon's death.

"We have become more confident in victory with the departure of this tyrant," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zurhi said.

"Our people today feel extreme happiness at the death and departure of this criminal whose hands were smeared with the blood of our people and the blood of our leaders here and in exile."

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "Ariel Sharon is one of the most significant figures in Israeli history and as prime minister he took brave and controversial decisions in pursuit of peace, before he was so tragically incapacitated.

"Israel has today lost an important leader."

US President Barack Obama offered his condolences to Mr Sharon's family, saying: "We join with the Israeli people in honouring his commitment to his country."

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Shangri-La: Ancient Homes Destroyed By Fire

A 1,300-year-old Tibetan village has been partially destroyed by fire, according to state media.

The fire began at around 1.30am in Dukezong, in Shangri-La, in China's southwest Yunnan province, and destroyed more than 100 traditional wooden houses, Xinhua news agency said.

More than 1,000 firefighters were called in to battle the blaze

More than 1,000 firefighters were called in to battle the giant blaze, which at times had flames more than 10 metres high.

Local authorities said strong winds hampered efforts to control the fire, which was still spreading by mid-morning on Saturday.

Villagers were evacuated as the fire broke out and no casualties have been reported.

Strong winds hampered efforts to control the fire

The cause of the fire is still unknown but the cost of damage is expected to reach 100 million yuan (£10m), according to the Chinese news portal Zhongguo Xinwen Wang.

Dukezong, which means "town of the Moon", was founded around 1,300 years ago, and is known for its well-preserved ancient streets and traditional culture.

The fire is estimated to have caused £10m of damage

Earlier this week another high-profile site of Tibetan culture, the Buddhist Serthar institute in the nearby province of Sichuan, also went up in flames with ten buildings destroyed.

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Handcuffed Teen 'Shot Himself' In Police Car

A teenage suspect who was handcuffed behind his back fatally shot himself in the head while in the back of a police car despite being frisked, officers believe.

Jesus Huerta's handgun was not spotted by police and a dispatcher did not tell officers who were earlier searching for him that he had previously tried to kill himself.

This was despite the 17-year-old's family giving a 911 operator that information on the night he went missing in Durham, North Carolina, said Captain Laura Clayton.

Jamie Huerta, the victim's sister-in-law, said the revelation that Jesus was flexible enough to shoot himself in the head with handcuffs behind his back was ridiculous.

"That doesn't make sense. There's no way some can determine if he was flexible enough," she said, according to The Durham News.

A medical examiner said Jesus died from a gunshot wound through the mouth, was found slumped slightly to his left and the gun was on the passenger side floor.

The bullet was found in the right backseat roof of the car.

Officer Samuel Duncan had arrested Jesus on an outstanding trespassing warrant on November 19 after his relatives said he walked away from home following an argument.

The policeman handcuffed him, did a "cursory search", patted down his trousers and checked his pockets but did not find the weapon.

Captain Clayton said while in the car Jesus tried to drop his handcuffed hands behind his knees, and Officer Duncan told him to stop.

Jesus continued to try to do that as the patrol car headed to the Durham police station, only a mile away, reported wnct.com.

Officer Duncan heard something rubbing against the hard back seat of his car but thought it was the sound of handcuffs, said The Durham News.

But ABC News reported Officer Duncan assumed Jesus was trying to possibly get rid of drugs he might be carrying.

The policeman said he would have searched the teenager again but did not do so because at that point he was close to the headquarters, Ms Clayton added.

On arrival at the station, Officer Duncan heard a gunshot in the back. He jumped out of the car and the vehicle crashed.

Ms Clayton said the car's internal video was not turned on at the time.

Police said they found gunpowder residue on a glove that Jesus was wearing and none on the arresting officer's hand.

Deputy Chief Anthony Marsh said: "Mr Huerta had a handgun on him. Officer (Samuel) Duncan did not notice the handgun. Mr Huerta shot himself with that gun."

He added: "Someone with that degree of flexibility and motivation could intentionally harm themselves with a gun.

"At this point all the evidence suggest he died of a self-inflicted gunshot would in the back of that police car."

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Slavery 'Should Be Made Essential Reading'

By Nick Martin, News Correspondent

The teaching of Britain's involvement in the slave trade is "patchy" and not enough time is devoted to it despite the subject being on the national curriculum, it has been claimed.

The Department for Education has admitted to Sky News that it has no idea how many schools are actually teaching the subject because it is not compulsory.

Britain played a central role in the trade of slaves until its abolition more than 180 years ago, with cities like Liverpool, Bristol and London key trading ports.

Under the last Labour government the then prime minister Tony Blair controversially expressed "sorrow" for the country's involvement in the slave trade but stopped short of apologising for it.

The release of several high-profile films has brought the issue to the forefront once again.

The British director of Bafta-nominated 12 Years A Slave, Steve McQueen, believes the subject should be compulsory in schools.

The film tells the story of Solomon Northup, a New Yorker kidnapped and forced into slavery.

McQueen's new film has reignited the debate on what is taught in schools

"The movie is really a way into this subject. It gets people talking about it and sparks debate. The Northup memoirs, upon which this film is based, should be essential reading for all schoolchildren, in my view," he told Sky News.

For well over 300 years, Britain played a leading role in forcing Africans onto slave ships for transportation across the Atlantic Ocean.

It is thought that British ships may have carried as many as 3.5 million Africans to the Americas.

But it is unclear now many children learn about the slave trade and how influential Britain was in it.

Dr Richard Benjamin, from the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool, says teachers can use their resources to teach the subject.

"We work with teachers to help teach this part of the curriculum. But the teaching of the subject is a bit patchy and I don't think that three hours at the museum is enough.

"Some children have no idea that Britain was such a big player in the slave trade until they're in their mid-20s. We should not be getting to our mid-20s to find that out."

Some children are unaware of UK being such a big player in the trade

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "Unfortunately we do not hold information about how many schools are actively teaching the slave trade.

"The slave trade is covered in the new national curriculum, which will be taught in schools from this September.

"Pupils will learn about the British Empire from 1745-1901 in much greater depth as part of the new more rigorous history curriculum.

"Schools are also free to use other opportunities within the curriculum to teach about the slave trade and as part of Black History Month."

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Teachers 'Should Face Regular Classroom MOTs'

Teachers should be made to have licences and will face the sack if they fail to pass checks on their abilities, the Labour party has said.

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said he wants teachers to be reviewed every few years to improve standards in England's state schools.

A similar proposal was floated by the previous Labour government - and dubbed "classroom MOTs" by former schools secretary Ed Balls - but was opposed by some unions and dropped before the 2010 general election.

Mr Hunt told the BBC: "Just like lawyers and doctors they should have the same professional standing which means re-licensing themselves, which means continued professional development, which means being the best possible they can be.

"If you're not a motivated teacher - passionate about your subject, passionate about being in the classroom - then you shouldn't really be in this profession."

Labour previously said it would insist on all teachers having Qualified Teacher Status, with staff already working in academies given a deadline to acquire a formal qualification.

The plan has not proved popular with teachers. Deputy Secretary General of the National Union of Teacher Kevin Courtney said there had been much reaction on social media.

He told Sky News: "If this turns out to be the same as (previous proposals), that hostility will be there from teachers and won't be supported by the National Union of Teachers.

"We've seen reaction overnight from teachers. There is a large degree of scepticism that Tristram Hunt is going to have to overcome."

A Conservative spokesman said the Government was willing to look any proposals which will "genuinely improve the quality of teaching".

He said: "We have already taken action by allowing heads to remove teachers from the classroom in a term, as opposed to a year previously, and scrapping the three-hour limit on classroom observations.

"We are improving teacher training, expanding Teach First and allowing heads to pay good teachers more.

"Thanks to our reforms, a record proportion of top graduates are entering the profession.

"Fixing the schools system so young people have the skills they need is a key part of our long-term economic plan."

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British Dad Drowns After Rescuing Sons

A British man has died after rescuing his two sons who were caught in a rip tide at a beach on Australia's east coast.

The 44-year-old was with his family at Burrill Beach, about 150 miles south of Sydney, when the incident happened at around noon on Friday.

The man lifted his sons onto a surfboard before onlookers ran into the water and brought them to safety.

He was then overcome by waves and was unconscious by the time emergency services arrived.

Police and paramedics tried to revive him on the beach. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Milton Hospital.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm a British national died on January 10 on Burrill Beach in Australia.

"We stand ready to provide consular assistance at this difficult time."

A statement from New South Wales Police Force said: "Emergency services were called to Burrill Beach just after midday, where they found a man unconscious.

"The 44-year-old was taken to Milton Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

"Officers from Shoalhaven Local Area Command attended and were told the man, a British tourist, got into difficulty after attempting to rescue his two sons who were caught in a rip. His sons were not injured."

It was the second drowning on the beach in two months, after a Filipino national died there in December.

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CAR: More Violence As Foreigners Set To Leave

More violence has broken out in the Central African Republic (CAR) capital of Bangui following the resignation of the country's president and prime minister.

At least three people were killed in the clashes, including a Christian vigilante, an ex-Seleka rebel and a civilian, according to the Central African Red Cross.

The fighting came as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) prepared to evacuate thousands of stranded foreigners caught up in the fighting. 

Sporadic gunfire was heard in Bangui and there were widespread reports of looting in the city.

The head of the Central African Red Cross, Pastor Antoine Mbaobogo, said many looters were targeting Muslim-owned shops.

Crowds gather in the streets of Bangui after the president's resignation

"Those who were looted when the (mainly Muslim) Seleka arrived (in March last year) are now looting in turn," he said.

President Michel Djotodia, the first Muslim leader in the majority Christian nation, resigned on Friday alongside his prime minister, Nicolas Tiengaye.

During his tenure, Mr Djotodia set up a transitional council and promised open elections but unrest and sectarian fighting began within months of his appointment. 

It was hoped his resignation would help ease tensions in the country.

The CAR has seen spiralling violence between the mainly Muslim Seleka rebels who brought Mr Djotodia to power last year, and Christian militias.

Michel Djotodia was the nation's first Muslim leader

More than 1,000 people have been killed in the past month alone and signs of sectarian conflict remain in Bangui where a mosque was targeted by a gang of young looters.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has called on the African Union to provide promised troops to help end the "terrible crisis" in the nation. 

So far, France has deployed 1,600 troops to help support the African Union MISCA force, which is meant to have up to 6,000 troops but has not yet reached 3,500.

European nations on Friday agreed in principle on a plan to launch a joint military operation in the country, with a final decision expected later in the month.

An interim parliament will hold a special session on Monday to discuss Mr Djotodia's replacement.

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Missing Student Harry Martin: Body Found

Emergency services searching for a student who disappeared after going out to take pictures of stormy seas have found a body.

Harry Martin left his home on January 2 and was last seen walking towards a coastal path near his home in Devon.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed a body had been found in the sea by coastguards.

"We were informed by coastguards at about 10.40 this morning," the force spokesman said.

"I must stress that the body has not been identified at this stage."

The discovery came after the 18-year-old's family and friends began a new search for him, leaving Noss Mayo village hall at 8am this morning.

Police and around 100 members of the public had previously joined searches for the photography student, described as 5ft 11ins, of slim build with short dark hair and blue eyes.

A 20-mile stretch of coastline, 10 miles either side of Harry's home, was also scoured by police and emergency services.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, the Urban Search and Rescue Group, Dartmoor Rescue Group, HMCG, the inshore and offshore lifeboats and the rescue helicopter from RMB Chivenor were involved.

On Friday, police said the search was moving from "an active stage to a responsive one" after exhaustive searches involving many officers and specialist resources.

Mr Martin had recently started a course in film and TV production at Greenwich University in London but was back home visiting his family for Christmas.

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Duggan Vigil: Hundreds Gather In Tottenham

A vigil for Mark Duggan - whose death at the hands of police marksmen in August 2011 sparked nationwide riots - has passed peacefully.

Hundreds of relatives and supporters of the 29-year-old gathered outside Tottenham police station this afternoon and appealed for those taking part to remain peaceful.

His aunt Carole Duggan told the crowds: "Let's show the country that we are not this gangster family that the media has been systematically portraying us as. Mark was not a gangster ... we are just an ordinary family.

Carole Duggan calls for "calm" at the vigil

"Please remember we are here to respect Mark. He didn't get justice, but the fight goes on. So please let's do it respectfully and calmly."

The event was arranged in protest against what his family have branded a "perverse" inquest finding that Mr Duggan was lawfully killed by police, despite jurors also finding that he was unarmed when he was fatally shot.

His aunt added: "What we really want the IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission) to do now is to do what they should have done in the beginning and that is a thorough investigation.

"Over 65% of the IPCC members are ex-police, so therefore they are investigating their own people, and I believe that's why Mark did not get the justice that he should have got," she added.

Earlier, Tottenham MP David Lammy warned troublemakers to stay away after police said some protesters could "provoke disorder" at the event.

He told Sky News police believed some elements of the "criminal fraternity" wanted to cause trouble at the vigil.

"I am absolutely clear and so are (the police), the people of Tottenham do not want trouble, the family do not want trouble, there's no room for it, no excuses for it and of course the police will have to police this event carefully and safely and ensure we do not see silly scenes on our streets again," he said.

Mark Duggan's killing sparked riots across Britain

Scotland Yard said it had extra officers on standby and would be ready to "intervene immediately" if trouble broke out.

The statement issued by the Metropolitan Police said: "Today is a busy day in the capital and we have a policing operation in place across London.

"This includes having additional officers on standby that could respond to any incident that occurs.

"Part of this operation includes assessing all available information and intelligence, and we are aware of a limited amount of information that indicates a small number of people are expressing their desire to use this vigil as an opportunity.

"This information includes the intention of protest groups to attend and of people looking to provoke disorder. We will be ready to intervene immediately if required.

"The family has expressed that they wish this vigil to be held in a dignified and peaceful manner.

"The MPS has met with the organiser to ensure that we can appropriately facilitate their plans."

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Flood Warnings As River Levels Set To Rise

Homeowners in southern England have been warned to prepare for further flooding today after heavy rainfall caused the River Thames to burst its banks.

The Environment Agency (EA) has warned people living along the lower reaches of the Thames to be aware of the risk of rising water levels.

pic James Sillars: The Macdonald Compleat Angler hotel in Marlow

Further flooding is expected over the weekend in Oxfordshire, West Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey as recent rainfall flows downstream.

There are also risks of flooding along the River Parret in Somerset and the River Severn in the Midlands.

Residents in Dorset, south Wiltshire, Hampshire and West Sussex have also been warned of likely flooding caused by high groundwater levels.

Rainfall in England and Wales over recent weeks. Pic: Environment Agency

The EA has issued 94 flood warnings - meaning immediate action is required due to expected flooding - and 151 flood alerts across England.

The agency estimates that some 570 properties have been flooded since the New Year, while a further 239,000 properties have been protected by flood defences.

"Communities along the River Thames, particularly below Oxford, into Berkshire and through Surrey need to remain vigilant for further flooding," said the agency's head of incident management, John Curtin.

Flooding seen in the village of Muchelney, in Somerset

"River levels on the Thames are high and will continue to rise for the next few days and we urge people keep up to date with the latest flood warnings and take action.

"With so much standing water around, we would also remind people to stay out of flood water and not attempt to walk or drive through it."

The Thames burst its banks on Friday, forcing homeowners to carry out clean-up operations and protect their homes from damage.

Flood warnings along the River Thames (Pic: Environment Agency)

Parts of the river, stretching from Buscot in Oxfordshire to Bourne End in Buckinghamshire, were under flood warnings as heavy rain over recent days caused river levels to rise.

Residents were warned on Thursday to expect flooding, with many moving belongings to prevent damage.

Many homes close to the banks are underwater, with flood waters causing damage to ground floors and gardens.

Affected areas included Marlow and Cookham in Buckinghamshire, as well as Shiplake and Wargrave in Berkshire and parts of south Oxford.

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