Lockdown To Combat Ebola In Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone will impose a four-day countrywide lockdown as part of efforts to halt the spread of the deadly ebola virus.

Ben Kargbo, a presidential adviser on the country's ebola task force, said citizens will not be allowed to leave their homes between September 18 and 21.

This will allow health workers to identify cases in the early stages of the illness which has killed more than 2,000 people since March.

Mr Kargbo told the Reuters news agency: "The aggressive approach is necessary to deal with the spread of ebola once and for all."

According to United Nations figures, Sierra Leone has recorded 491 of the total suspected, probable and confirmed deaths.

Mr Kargbo said 21,000 people would be recruited to enforce the lockdown.

Thousands of police and soldiers have already been deployed to enforce the quarantining of towns in the country's worst-hit areas near the border with Guinea.

But an aid worker in the capital, Freetown, told Sky News a lockdown alone is not enough.

A poster in Ivory Coast warns of the risk of ebola

Augustine Allieu, from Plan International, said improving education, hygiene and facilities are also necessary.

He said: "It's not absolutely the best option, but it is definitely one of those that needs to support all of these things that I have mentioned in terms of containing the spread."

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has said a vaccine for health workers could be available by November, with testing of two candidate vaccines under way.

An American doctor who came down with the virus while working in a Liberian maternity ward is "sick but stable", officials said on Friday.

There is currently no cure or vaccine for the virus

Rick Sacra, 51, has arrived at the Nebraska Medical Center where he is being treated.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has set a goal of stopping the outbreak within six to nine months.

Mr Ban said the "next few weeks will be crucial" to step up international efforts and called on countries to contribute to a $600m (£367m) appeal for supplies to west Africa.

The UN has stepped up its campaign after the international medical group Medecins Sans Frontieres declared that the world was "losing the battle" to contain ebola.

Ebola is contracted through contact with an infected person's bodily fluids and there is currently no cure or vaccine.

Symptoms of the virus appear as a sudden onset of fever, headache, sore throat, intense weakness and muscle pain.

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Sanctions Warning As Ukraine Ceasefire Holds

Deep Divisions Amid Fragile Ukraine Peace

Updated: 12:27pm UK, Saturday 06 September 2014

By Katie Stallard, Moscow Correspondent in Mariupol

Ceasefire is a temporary state. It's not the same as lasting peace.

What has been agreed so far is a halt in the bloodshed - the reasons people took up arms in the first place have so far not been addressed.

The Ukrainian President sounds optimistic - a prisoner exchange could begin as soon as this weekend, a second Russian aid convoy could be allowed in.

The self-proclaimed prime minister of the separatist Luhansk People's Republic is less encouraging.

He said the status of the people's republics had not been discussed, and the ceasefire should not be taken to mean they had abandoned their plans to separate from Ukraine.

The commander of one of the pro-Ukrainian battalions outside Mariupol said they would use the time to regroup and retrain.

The divisions run deep, and not just among the militia.

Plenty of people in the east did not support the winter revolution - from their perspective what they saw was their democratically elected president overthrown, and a government now in Kiev they believe seized power in a coup d'etat.

Some want more regional autonomy, others want their region to secede and join Russia.

On the other side are the pro-Ukrainians who fought for the future of their country on the Maidan, some of whom have now joined volunteer battalions in the east.

They have already seen part of their country annexed by President Vladimir Putin, and believe the Russian army is fighting on the side of the rebels, intervening in their sovereign state.

They want their country to be united, to be allowed to move towards the European Union, and they want their land back.

Militarily we're back to relative stalemate - that in itself is quite a reversal of fortunes.

A couple of weeks ago it seemed the Ukrainian army was in the ascendant - the rebels seemed to be on the backfoot, retreating and largely restricted to the centres of Luhansk and Donetsk.

Over the course of the last fortnight, the rebels have had a sudden and mysterious resurgence - opening a new front in the south threatening the strategic port city of Mariupol, and simultaneously taking villages and towns to the east of the regional capital Donetsk.

Now it's the Ukrainian army losing ground, and the overall balance is roughly back to where it was.

Kiev says that's because Russia is sending troops and equipment across the border - not in sufficient quantities to look like an overt invasion and force the west to act, but enough to stop the rebels from being defeated.

The Kremlin insists any Russian soldiers in Ukraine are either on holiday or lost.

A return to stalemate would quite suit President Putin.

He doesn't necessarily need the rebels to win, and he doesn't seem to want to occupy, and have to defend, eastern Ukraine.

A frozen conflict, that could be thawed as and when necessary, could be just fine.

In terms of domestic Russian politics, President Putin doesn't want the Maidan revolution to be followed by success - his administration has long feared a colour revolution, in the manner of Ukraine or Georgia, fomenting outside the Kremlin walls in Moscow.

Much better that that revolution is synonymous in Russian minds with violence and chaos.

Russian state TV is pushing that narrative heavily at home.

In terms of broader geopolitics, the Kremlin doesn't want a united Ukraine leaving its sphere of influence to join the EU, and maybe one day Nato.

They don't want to find Nato bases on their western border in five years' time.

Keeping a level of control of the east, and an insurgency that has not been defeated, could give Moscow just the leverage it needs.

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Former X Factor Star Dies In Los Angeles

Tributes have been paid to American pop star Simone Battle who has died aged 25.

The former US X Factor contestant, who was later a member of girl group G.R.L., was found dead at 8am on Friday at her home in Los Angeles.

Police are investigating the cause of her death.

X Factor judge Cheryl Cole, now known as Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, led tributes to the singer.

"Such tragically sad news to hear of the passing of Simone Battle. My thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones #RIPSimone," she tweeted.

Battle was in the five-piece group GRL

Battle's friend and fellow musician Derek Butler broke the news on his Instagram account overnight.

He posted a picture of the singer, with the message: "I'm still in shock and in disbelief to have confirmed the death of my childhood friend.

"Her heart was pure gold and her star power limitless. Rest in sweet peace Angel."

Battle appeared in the first series of the X Factor in 2011 and made it through to the live shows.

G.R.L. were formed last year by Robin Antin, who founded the Pussycat Dolls.

They are expected to enter the top five of the UK's Official Chart with their new single Ugly Heart.

Battle's record company and management company issued a joint statement, saying: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Simone Battle of GRL.

"Simone was an exceptional young talent and human being, and we are all devastated to learn of her passing.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones at this time."

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Beheading Suspect Appears In London Court

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of 82-year-old Palmira Silva who was beheaded in north London.

Nicholas Salvador, of Enfield, north London, is alleged to have killed the elderly woman with a machete in the garden of her home in Nightingale Road, Edmonton, on Thursday.

Salvador, 25, was led into the glass-fronted dock with his hands cuffed behind his back, escorted by four uniformed police officers at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court.

He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.

He has also been charged with assaulting a police officer.

Salvador had been taken to hospital and remained under police guard before being questioned by officers and charged.

Ms Silva was found collapsed in the back garden before being pronounced dead at the scene.

The house in the busy street where Ms Silva's body was found became the scene of a major police operation after officers were called to the area.

Metropolitan Police officers said after the operation that there were no signs of a link to terrorism.

Tributes have been paid to the elderly woman of Italian descent who ran a nearby cafe.

Dilek Solma, 19, who works next door, said: "I'm so upset. She was a very smiley lady, always had a smile on her face, and loved the community."

Another shop worker Raj Thangavelselvaraj, 50, said: "She was a nice lady, she was a good lady to everyone. It's very sad."

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Shaquille O'Neal Applies To Join Miami Police

Retired NBA star Shaquille O'Neal has brought new meaning to the phrase 'long arm of the law' - by applying to be a reserve police officer in Florida.

The 7ft 1in-tall basketball legend is set to fight crime on the streets of Doral, near Miami, if his application is accepted.

O'Neal will be given no preferential treatment, say Florida officials

He must first pass psychological and physical tests to ensure he is fit enough to join Miami Beach Police Department, said city spokeswoman Christina Baguer.

She said 'Shaq' submitted his request on Wednesday and would be given no preferential treatment.

"If he passes (the first stage of the application), he will then have to do everything else to be certified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, just like any of our other officers, reserve or not reserve," she told the Miami Herald.

The 42-year-old - a four-time NBA champion - left professional basketball in 2011 after stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics.

He apparently has some previous experience as a cop.

According to local media, he served briefly as a reserve officer in Miami Beach in 2005.

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New York Couple Die In Mystery Plane Crash

Tributes have been paid to a New York couple who were on board an aircraft that crashed into the waters off Jamaica after they apparently became incapacitated at the controls.

The wreckage of the plane carrying prominent real estate developer Laurence Glazer and his entrepreneur wife Jane has not been found.

US fighter pilots launched to shadow the unresponsive aircraft reported seeing the pilot slumped over and its windows frosting over, indicating a loss of oxygen.

The jets were forced to break off as the Socata TBM-700 continued south from Florida over Cuban airspace for another four hours.

A search team resumes the hunt for wreckage on Saturday

The aircraft was last tracked nearing Jamaica before local military officials confirmed it had crashed into the ocean about 14 miles (22 km) northeast of Port Antonio, most likely due to a loss of fuel.

Rick Glazer said his parents were both licensed pilots and said he could not confirm they were killed, adding that "we know so little".

However, numerous public officials in New York State have offered their condolences for a couple described as linchpins in efforts to rejuvenate the city of Rochester.

Former Rochester mayor Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy said: "They cannot be replaced."

The plane crashed in waters off Port Antonio

Senator Charles Schumer called the crash "a massive and heartbreaking loss for this community." 

"It deeply saddens me that Rochester has now lost two of its most indomitable, industrious visionaries," Senator Schumer said.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said: "The Glazers were innovative and generous people who were committed to revitalising downtown Rochester and making the city they loved a better place for all."

Mr Glazer was the co-founder of Buckingham Properties and served as its chief executive and managing partner, working alongside two sons.

The aircraft flew over Cuban airspace. Pic: FlightAware.com

He had been president of the TBM Owners and Pilots Association and was active on the boards of numerous civic organisations.

Mrs Glazer set up QCI Direct, a business that has 100 employees, the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper reported.

Their plane had taken off at 8:45am on Friday from Greater Rochester International Airport in New York en route to Naples, Florida.

The plane's pilot had indicated there was a problem and twice asked to descend to a lower altitude before permission was granted by an air traffic controller, according to a recording of the radio conversation.

A search team returns to port after failing to find the plane's wreckage

Radio contact was lost a short time later.

The US Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that air traffic controllers were last able to contact the pilot at 10am.

Search operations resumed at first light on Saturday, and an oil slick has been spotted in the area where the crash is suspected to have taken place.

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Stand Up: Young People Finding Their Voices

Less than a week into Sky's Stand Up Be Counted campaign, young people from across the country are already finding their voice.

Launched to help young people become engaged with British politics, our new platform allows 16-25-year-olds to record videos and upload blog posts, talking about the issues that matter most to them.

The 'Open Mic' part of the website is a stream of their opinions, questions and suggestions on anything from unemployment, university entry requirements and mental health, to voter apathy, depression and LGBTQ rights.

ThatVloggingGirl said companies must take more teenagers on work experience placements, while Martosaiy tackled the issue of financial education in schools, writing: "For people who are meant to be the future we have no idea about anything, do we?"

Jaspreet asked whether social media is encouraging young people to slim down to unhealthy levels, while Slipknot_matt said he was "appalled" at the country's attitudes on mental health.

The campaign allows young people to share their views

Young people's views will help shape Sky News' coverage in the months to come, starting with a Google Hangout debate on e-voting - a subject Stand Up Be Counted is keen to hear from under-25s about.

It comes after a Sky News/Survation poll of 16-24-year-olds revealed 80% would be more inclined to vote if they could do so online.

Fewer than half (44%) of young people eligible to vote in the 2010 General Election actually cast their vote at the ballot box, and an identical number said politicians fail to listen to them.

In its first week, Stand Up Be Counted has been backed by the likes of Alex Salmond, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband.

Celebrities including Chris Kamara, Victoria Pendleton and Dame Kelly Holmes have also got behind the campaign, stressing how important it is for young people to have their say.

As well as a burgeoning website, Stand Up Be Counted has a strong social media presence, with thousands of followers on Twitter and Facebook and a growing community on platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ and YouTube.

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Three Arrested Over New Forest Mum Murder

Three people have been arrested in connection with the murder of a mother-of-five in the New Forest.

Pennie Davis, 47, was tending her two horses in a paddock off Hatchet Lane, near Beaulieu, when she was killed.

She suffered multiple stab wounds and her husband Pete found her body on Tuesday afternoon.

Pennie Davis was stabbed multiple times while tending her horses

Police have arrested one person on suspicion of murder, one for perverting the course of justice, and another for assisting an offender.

All remain in custody, and Mrs Davis' family has been informed.

Police have continued to increase patrols in the area to reassure residents.

Officers hunting her killer believe the murder weapon was a bladed item, possibly a knife, and was probably discarded close to the scene.

A forensic tent covers the spot where Mrs Davis' body was found

They are conducting fingertip searches of the paddock and are dredging the adjacent river.

Mrs Davis, from Blackfield, worked in a supermarket and married just four months ago.

Her husband, children and parents visited the paddock on Friday morning and left flowers with messages from each member of the family.

Mr Davis' message said: "Angel, all my love, always and forever Pete."

Family, friends and locals have left floral tributes by the paddock

One of her daughters left a note saying: "Dearest mum, you were a goddess. I swear I'll make you proud.

"I like to think you're sitting there, watching on a cloud. You had so much more to give. You had so much more to do. But now I'll be your legacy. I'll do it all for you."

:: Anyone with information is asked to contact the Operation Biscotti investigation team in confidence on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Family's 'Incredible' Obama Stonehenge Surprise

One family had an "incredible five minutes" when they met Barack Obama during his impromptu stroll through Stonehenge.

The US President played tourist after a busy two-day Nato summit in Wales.

While other world leaders may have headed straight for the airport, Mr Obama took a small detour for a spot of sightseeing.

The ancient site got the thumbs up from the US President

"How cool is this?" he commented as he was taken on a guided tour through the ancient Wiltshire monument.

He told reporters it was always something he had wanted to see, and now he had "knocked it off the bucket list".

"It's spectacular. It's spectacular. It's a special place," he said.

Barack Obama chats with the Raffle family

The Raffle family, who were walking through a nearby field of sheep, also aren't likely to forget his visit in a hurry.

After walking around the monument Mr Obama made his way over to the excited family of five and proceeded to spend a few minutes chatting and posing for photos.

Janice Raffle told Sky News: "The first person to say something was James (her husband), and James said: 'Welcome to England'.

Mr Obama said Stonehenge was on his bucket list

"At that point he shook all of our hands and said: 'It's such a beautiful place do you live around here?'

"We said we'd just moved to the area, he said it was very quiet and the air was beautiful and so peaceful.

"He was very sweet, one of the boys had put his hands on barbed wire and he was like 'oh be careful'."

Her husband James described it as an "incredible five minutes".

The Raffle family only moved to the area two weeks ago

Afterwards Mrs Raffle posted a picture of the whole family with the President.

Mrs Raffle, who does charity runs to highlight the declining bee population, has since received a number of donations. 

Stonehenge, which was built in three phases between 3000 BC and 1600 BC, is a Unesco World Heritage site.

Archaeologists believe it was built as a temple, although to which gods, and exactly how it was used, is unclear.

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Ashya Set For Specialist Treatment In Prague

Brain tumour patient Ashya King is ready to travel from Spain to the Czech Republic for specialist cancer treatment, according to his parents' lawyer.

Juan Isidro Fernandez Diaz said the five-year-old child could fly to Prague this weekend or by Monday at the latest to have proton beam radiotherapy - a technique not available to him on the NHS.

But the Proton Therapy Centre (PTC) told Sky News that hospital doctors in the Czech capital would make a final decision about his treatment after a meeting on Monday morning.

The boy is currently at a medical centre in Malaga after parents Brett and Naghmeh King removed him from a Southampton hospital over a week ago without doctors' consent.

Proton Therapy Centre (PTC) spokeswoman Iva Tatounova

PTC spokeswoman Iva Tatounova said: "Czech doctors will review documents from Malaga about the current status of the boy and will be able to say 'Yes he is capable of travelling to Prague.'"

It comes after a British judge ruled the youngster could be transported from Spain for the treatment.

Mr Diaz said: "He is in perfect condition to travel," adding that the boy was playing with his family and his toys.

He said the parents were "really happy" with the judge's decision and the British court has been "really nice with us".

The boy will stay at a children's hospital near the PTC which carries out the treatment, he added.

The couple had been detained in Spain under a European arrest warrant issued by UK authorities before it was withdrawn following a public outcry and the pair were released.

The judge Mr Justice Baker approved the Kings' request on Friday to have Ashya moved to Prague.

The family's lawyer Juan Isidro Fernandez Diaz speaks to reporters

A lawyer representing bosses at Southampton General Hospital told the judge that doctors aimed to provide chemotherapy but not proton beam.

Vikram Sachdeva said such treatment could not be provided in Britain.

The judge said he had been told specialists at the PTC had considered a treatment plan.

And he said he had seen evidence of the treatment planned, evidence of plans to fly Ashya to Prague and evidence that Mr and Mrs King could afford the cost of treatment and transport.

The judge said he would cease to have responsibility for Ashya once the youngster arrived at the Czech hospital.

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