Australia Bushfires Rage Across Tasmania

Australia's prime minister has promised help to dozens of people who have been made homeless by a series of bushfires sweeping the south of the country.

Hundreds of residents have been forced to leave their homes in the island state of Tasmania, with fires breaking out across the region amid blistering temperatures and high winds.

Around 80 buildings have been destroyed in and around the small town of Dunalley, east of the Tasmanian capital of Hobart, including the town's school, police station and bakery.

Officials are investigating reports that one person has been killed in the blaze, but there have been no confirmed deaths or injuries from the fire.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said: "For those who have lost their homes - a devastating experience, and we will be working with them, as will the state government to support people through.

"There are media reports that a life has been lost - I'm not in a position to confirm that, but bushfires are very dangerous things," she added.

The heatwave sent the temperature in Hobart soaring to a record high of nearly 42C on Friday.

Conditions had eased across much of the region on Saturday, but fire officials warned that the danger from some of the fires remained high.

"We reached catastrophic fire danger ratings at times," Tasmania fire service chief officer Mike Brown said.

Bushfires are common seasonal hazard during the Australian summer.

In February 2009, hundreds of fires across the state of Victoria killed 173 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes.

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India Gang Rape Victim's Friend Speaks Of Attack

The male friend of the Indian gang rape victim has spoken for the first time of how he tried to save her and begged her attackers to stop the "cruelty that should never be seen".

He broke his silence as New Delhi district magistrate Namrita Aggarwal confirmed that the five men charged with the victim's rape and murder will appear before her for the first time on Monday.

The victim's 28-year-old male companion said getting on to a private bus that night, because they could not find a rickshaw to take them home, was "the biggest mistake I made".

Speaking in public for the first time, he hit out at the hospital treatment his 23-year-old friend received, the police and at passers-by for failing to help after they were thrown naked from the bus following the two-and-a-half-hour ordeal.

Press gather outside the district court in New Delhi

The software firm employee said that the woman was left naked and bleeding in the street for nearly an hour before a police van arrived to help.

"What can I say? The cruelty I saw should not be seen ever. I tried to fight against the men but later I begged them again and again to leave her," he told AFP.

"I was not very confident about getting into the bus but my friend was running late, so we got into it.

"This was the biggest mistake I made and after that everything went out of control.

The "driver and the other men raped my friend and hit her in the worst possible ways in the most private parts of her body.

"I cannot tell you what I feel when I think of it. I shiver in pain," he said.

Fresh protests and prayers in the capital on Saturday

The man, who suffered a fractured leg and other injuries in the attack, recounted the savagery of the night of December 16 after he and his friend, who died from her injuries on December 29, had been to see a film in New Delhi.

He told the Hindi-language cable channel Zee News: "The occupants of the bus, which had tinted windows and curtains, had laid a trap for us. They were probably involved in crimes before also. They beat us up, hit us with an iron rod, snatched our clothes and belongings and threw us off the bus on a deserted stretch.

"The bus occupants had everything planned. Apart from the driver and the helper, others behaved like they were passengers. We even paid 20 (rupees) as fare. They then started teasing my friend and it led to a brawl. I beat three of them up but then the rest of them brought an iron rod and hit me. Before I fell unconscious, they took my friend away."

"From where we boarded the bus, they moved around for nearly two and a half hours. We were shouting, trying to make people hear us. But they switched off the lights of the bus. We tried to resist them. Even my friend fought with them, she tried to save me. She tried to dial the police control room number 100, but the accused snatched her mobile away," he said.

Police have used water cannons and tear gas to dispel protesters

The attackers also violated the victim with an iron bar, causing the immense internal damage that lead to her death, before throwing them from the bus.

The friend said: "There were a few people who had gathered round but nobody helped. Before the police came I screamed for help but the auto rickshaws, cars and others passing by did not stop."

He said when police arrived: "We kept shouting at the police, 'please give us some clothes' but they were busy deciding which police station our case should be registered at."

"It took an hour and a half for us to be taken to hospital," he added.

The police have arrested six suspects - five men and a juvenile believed to be aged 17 - who were formally charged with murder, rape and kidnapping on Thursday.

A hearse carrying the body of the 23-year-old rape victim

The case has sparked massive protests across India, where statistics show a woman is raped every 20 minutes.

Protesters have called for all rape suspects to be hanged and want a better deal for women so the streets are safer and men who rape women are put on trial.

National crime records show that 228,650 of the total 256,329 violent crimes recorded in India last year were against women and rape cases more than doubled between 1990 and 2008.

Police in Delhi have filed charges against Zee News under laws which protect the anonymity of victims of offences such as rape. In India, the criminal justice system defines rape as a crime against the state, and it the responsibility of the state to defend the victim.

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Coleen Rooney Heartbroken As Sister Dies

Coleen Rooney's teenage sister Rosie McLoughlin has died at home, her family said in a statement.

The 14-year-old had a lifelong battle with a rare genetic disorder, according to a family spokesman.

Rosie McLoughlin, who had Rett syndrome, died at her home in Liverpool in the early hours of Saturday morning surrounded by her family, the spokesman said.

A statement issued on behalf of Coleen, her husband, Manchester United star Wayne, and the rest of Rosie's family, said they had been left heartbroken by the teenager's death.

The family thanked everyone at Alder Hey Hospital and Claire House Children's Hospice, including "the many doctors, consultants, nurses, helpers and friends who all worked so hard and tirelessly to help make Rosie's life better.

"She was such a strong little girl and an inspiration to us all," the statement said.

"We shall cherish forever the memories we have shared and the love she showed us each and every day of her life."

Rosie's illness inspired Coleen and her husband to help raise funds for sick, disadvantaged and disabled children.

The couple reportedly told guests at their wedding that instead of gifts they wanted donations to Claire House Children's Hospice and Alder Hey.

Rett syndrome is a neurological disorder that affects just one in 12,000 females, according to the NHS. It causes severe physical and mental disability that begins in early childhood.

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New Clashes In Northern Ireland

Police have used water canon in east Belfast, amid fresh clashes between loyalist and nationalist protesters.

The disturbances broke out in the Lower Newtownards Road area of the city following a march by loyalists demonstrating against restrictions on the flying of the Union Flag over City Hall.

It is the third day of clashes between opposing sides in various parts of Belfast.

Sky News Ireland Correspondent David Blevins said loyalists apparently came under attack from a nationalist area.

Police then used water canon against the protesters.

"There is the potential for the violence to intensify," Blevins said.

Saturday's disturbances follow running battles overnight which saw petrol bombs, fireworks and ball bearings thrown at officers in riot gear, injuring nine of them.

The officers were injured in east Belfast after a coming under attack from a crowd of up to 300 people, in what they called "a sustained attack".

A spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said 18 arrests were made after the public disorder in the Castlereagh Street and Templemore Avenue areas overnight.

Some 30 petrol bombs were thrown at police officers as they dealt with the riots on Friday night.

There were also protests in the Robbs Road area of Dundonald, near Ulster Hospital, and in the O'Neill Road area of Newtonabbey, where there was reportedly an attempt to hijack a bus, plus a raid on a commercial premises by masked men.

The latest violence comes after 10 police officers were injured on Thursday during a demonstration against the decision to reduce the number of days the Union flag is flown from City Hall.

More follows...

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Indian Gang Rapists 'Tried To Run Over Victim'

A gang of rapists who assaulted and murdered a woman on a bus in New Delhi tried to run her over afterwards, according to reports.

The woman's boyfriend, who was beaten up and thrown off the bus after she had been repeatedly raped, managed to pull her to safety just in time, police will allege in court on Thursday.

The claims have been made by newspapers in India which say they have seen extracts of the 1,000-page charge sheet.

The 23-year-old medical student, whose ordeal triggered widespread protests about sex crime in India, bit three of her attackers as she attempted to fight them off, the papers claim.

The suspects' injuries, forensic evidence including blood, semen and hair samples and the testimony of the injured boyfriend are expected to form the main evidence against the accused.

Five men have been arrested and will formally face murder and rape charges on Thursday in a fast-track court set up to try them.

Indian holy women perform a prayer ritual in memory of a gang rape victim

A sixth suspect is aged 17 and is expected to be tried in a court for juveniles.

"The woman and her friend were stripped and thrown out of the bus," The Indian Express reported. "Her friend pulled her away when he saw the bus reversing to run her over."

The Times of India newspaper said one of the charges against the accused relates to the destruction of evidence, since the driver had tried to wash the bus and burned the clothes that were snatched from the victim.

The woman died at the weekend after a 13-day struggle to keep her alive in which she underwent three major operations and suffered a cardiac arrest.

Lawyers have refused to defend the men accused of the attack.

Displays and tributes to the victim are still in place across Delhi

"We have decided that no lawyer will stand up to defend the rape accused as it would be immoral to defend the case," said Sanjay Kumar, a lawyer and a member of the Saket District Bar Council.

Mr Kumar said the 2,500 advocates registered at the court have decided to "stay away" to ensure "speedy justice", meaning the government would have to appoint lawyers for the defendants.

In 2008, Indian lawyers also refused to defend a gunman who took part in attacks on Mumbai which killed 166 people, leaving him with a government-appointed lawyer. He was executed in November last year.

Meanwhile, India's top court says it will decide whether to suspend politicians facing sexual assault charges.

The move came as thousands of women gathered at the Ghandi memorial to demand stronger protection from attackers.

Chief Justice Altamas Kabir agreed to hear a petition from retired government administrator Promilla Shanker asking the Supreme Court to suspend those sitting on national and state legislatures who face prosecution for crimes against women.

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Thailand Killing: Victim's Family Speak Out

The family of Stephen Ashton, who was shot dead at a New Year's Eve party in Thailand, have said they are "completely devastated by the loss of Stephen from our lives".

The suspect has been seen with police at the beach bar

He was an innocent bystander simply enjoying New Year celebrations, they said.

Mr Ashton, 22, from Purley, South London, was caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between rival gangs.

He is said to have been killed by a stray bullet as he danced with friends at a beach bar on the paradise island of Koh Phangan.

Police Colonel Kittakarn Kramomthong, chief of police at the island's station, said officers had arrested a 26-year-old Thai man and confiscated a gun.

The man is expected to be charged with manslaughter, he said.

Mr Ashton's family have travelled to Thailand and were on the way to Koh Phangan to identify his body formally and make arrangements for his repatriation.

Mr Ashton was shot with a homemade gun (Photo: Facebook)

British ambassador to Thailand, Mark Kent, is expected to visit the scene on Thursday.

He warned of risks to Western tourists, and urged people to read the travel advice on the Foreign Office website.

"Most people have a very enjoyable holiday, a very trouble-free holiday," he told Sky News. "But there are risks and we've set these out in our travel advice which you can access on the Foreign Office website.

"In particular we do mention that there have been incidents involving Western tourists in Koh Phangan, so there are risks in going anywhere and I think Thailand is certainly not completely trouble free."

Thai police said Mr Ashton was with a group of friends and 300 other tourists celebrating the countdown to 2013 at a pub and restaurant called the Zoom Bar when he was shot by a home-made gun at Haad Rin beach shortly after 4am on Tuesday.

In a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the family said: "As a family we are completely devastated by the loss of Stephen from our lives.

Koh Phangan is in the south of Thailand

"He has been taken away from us in such cruel and tragic circumstances in which he was an innocent bystander simply enjoying New Year celebrations.

"We are comforted in the thought that he was having a fantastic time with friends after such a difficult period following the loss of his much loved dad who passed away from a brain tumour in 2011 and the loss of his granddad a few months earlier.

"We were all so proud of him; he was a much loved son, brother, grandson and nephew.

Friends paid tribute to Mr Ashton (Photo: Facebook)

"He will be truly missed by his family but also by the many friends he made during his life. We cannot comprehend how someone can carry out such a reckless act, giving such little value to human life.

"We ask that our privacy be respected to allow us to grieve."

Friends expressed their shock at Mr Ashton's death and paid tribute to him on social networking sites.

Robbie-Cameron Gray took to Mr Ashton's Facebook page to express his grief and posted a photograph of the two of them as young boys.

He said: "Don't want to believe it. Still got photos of us on my wall from football and school. Will miss you mate."

Aaron Kelly wrote on Facebook: "Horrible news. Be good up there mate."

Neighbour Dawn Mason, 48, described Mr Ashton as a "very normal, likeable young man".

His family moved to the upmarket area of Purley, south London, about three years ago, she said.

"They've always been very nice neighbours. If Stephen or his sister Emily had parties, they'd always be at the house with their parents so they knew where they were. I went to the house today and the family just seem in complete shock."

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Two Men Held In Jimmy Savile Abuse Probe

Two men have been arrested by detectives investigating the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal.

A 53-year-old was held in Hampshire at around 8am and a 59-year-old in west London at around midday, both on suspicion of sexual offences.

The allegations are not directly linked to Savile, the Metropolitan Police said.

Scotland Yard is leading a national investigation into allegations against disgraced television presenter Savile and a number of other high-profile figures.

They have separated the inquiry into three strands: claims against Savile, those involving Savile and others, and those involving others. The latest arrests fall under the "others" strand.

So far, officers have questioned 10 people including former pop star Gary Glitter, comedian Freddie Starr and PR guru Max Clifford.

Last month police said a total of 31 allegations of rape had been made against former Top Of The Pops presenter Savile, who died in October 2011.

Some 589 people have come forward with information relating to the scandal, with a total of 450 complaints against the BBC presenter and DJ, mainly alleging sexual abuse.

Detectives have recorded 199 crimes in 17 force areas in which Savile is a suspect.

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Syria: Petrol Station Strike 'Kills Dozens'

Dozens of people have been killed after an air strike on a petrol station in the capital Damascus, according to opposition activists.

Mohammed Saeed, an activist who visited the site, said "tens of people were killed or wounded" in the strike, while "body parts could be seen on the ground".

Amateur video, which cannot be verified, showed block smoke billowing from the petrol station in the eastern suburb of Mleiha and casualties fleeing the scene.

Some activists said more than 30 people died in the strike, although the exact number was not confirmed.

Mr Saeed said drivers were waiting in line for fuel when the petrol station was targeted.

The blast happened in the Syrian capital, Damascus

Syria has been facing a fuel crisis and people often queue for hours to refuel.

Meanwhile, the UN said more than 60,000 people have died in the conflict in Syria since fighting began in March 2011.

Using data from seven different sources, it said the number of fatalities rose from 1,000 a month in the summer of 2011 to 5,000 a month within one year.

In the provinces of Homs and Damascus, around three-quarters of those who were killed were male.

Navi Pillay, the UN's human rights commissioner, described the number of casualties as "truly shocking" and "much higher than we expected".

"Cities, towns and villages have been, and are continuing to be, devastated by aerial attacks, shelling, tank fire, bomb attacks and street-to-street fighting," she said.

"Unless there is a quick resolution to the conflict, I fear thousands more will die or suffer terrible injuries as a result of those who harbour the obstinate belief that something can be achieved by more bloodshed, more torture and more mindless destruction."

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Kim Kardashian Pregnant! Kanye's Big News

Reality television star Kim Kardashian and rapper Kanye West are expecting their first child, it has been revealed.

The performer announced the news that his girlfriend is pregnant at his concert on Sunday night.

He told the crowd of more than 5,000 fans at the Ovation Hall at the Revel Resort in Atlantic City by singing: "Now you having my baby."

West also told concertgoers to congratulate his "baby momma" and that this was the "most amazing thing".

Kardashian's family have also been talking on Twitter about the news.

Her sister Kourtney Kardashian tweeted: "Been wanting to shout from the rooftops with joy and now I can! Another angel to welcome to our family. Overwhelmed with excitement!"

While her other sister Khloe wrote: "I'm excited for Kanye and my sister! There's nothing like bringing life into this world! Let's keep Gods blessings coming!"

Messages of congratulations also came from Kardashian's younger sisters Kendall and Kyle Jenner, who tweeted: "Whos excited about the KIMYE babbyyy?!", and "Congrats to this beautiful couple. I love you guys."

Her mother Kris Jenner also tweeted, writing: "Oh BABY BABY BABY!!"

Kim and her family star in the television reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians, as well as a number of spin off series.

Representatives for the couple have not yet issued a statement about the pregnancy.

The rapper and reality TV star went public with their relationship in March.

Kardashian married NBA player Kris Humphries in August 2011, but separated just two months after their lavish wedding.

It was aired on US television channel E! as a two-part special with magazines paying for exclusive pictures.

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Northern Ireland Bomb: Family's Lucky Escape

A policeman in Northern Ireland targeted by a car bomb was taking his family for Sunday lunch when he found the device, it has emerged.

Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton revealed that the officer was going out with his wife and two young children when he checked his car as a matter of routine.

He found the bomb - believed to have been planted by dissident republicans - underneath his vehicle outside his home in Belfast.

The property is close to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) headquarters at Knock and the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont.

"If that officer had not checked his car, we would have been looking at a murder or multiple murders," Mr Hamilton told a news conference as he appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Army robot used to examine the device

"We believe the consequences of this would have been absolutely devastating for the officer, his family, for the police family and for the communities across Northern Ireland.

"For some reason, those people who are anti-peace, who are still hanging on to the past, who aren't prepared to move forward, have tried to murder this officer and his family.

"We consider that completely repugnant. It's inhumane. By any standards in any society, this is wrong and we utterly condemn this attack."

He warned that there was a severe threat level across Northern Ireland and appealed to officers to be vigilant and check under their cars.

It is hoped that the bomb will be useful as evidence because it was discovered and did not engage.

Justice minister David Ford said: "It is ironic that this latest attack was carried out so close to Stormont, where those who are democratically elected seek to move matters forward through debate.

The bomb was planted on Upper Newtownards Road

"The people responsible for this and other recent attacks have no mandate and speak for no one. They need to recognise the futility of their campaign and respect the wishes of the vast majority of our community who want an end to all violent acts."

A second device was found close to a police station in County Armagh on Monday, prompting residents to be evacuated.

The bomb in Tandragee was declared "viable" after it was examined by army technical officers but it was made safe without anyone getting hurt.

Dissidents have repeatedly targeted security force members in recent years.

Over the last five years there have been 115 arrests and 35 charges and 64 officers have had to leave their homes, a police spokesman said.

In November, long-serving prison officer David Black, 52, was shot dead in a motorway ambush in Co Armagh as he drove to work.

A group styling itself the "new IRA" claimed that attack. The faction was formed in the summer when a number of splinter groups joined forces.

In April 2011 newly qualified police officer Ronan Kerr, 25, died when a dissident booby trap car bomb exploded under his vehicle at his home in Omagh.

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Fireworks First For North Korean New Year

North Korea welcomes 2013 with reportedly the first ever New Year's fireworks display the country has held.

Meanwhile, Tokyo reverberated to the sound of the Watch-Night Bell which is struck 108 times at temples all over Japan to symbolise the beginning of a prosperous new year.

The simultaneous celebrations follow one of the most impressive New Year fireworks displays which took place in Sydney, Australia, as it became the second major city to welcome 2013.

Some 1.5 million people are estimated to have turned out to watch the event centred on the Sydney Harbour Bridge with more than 100,000 firework patterns, costing 6.5m Australian dollars (£4.2m).

The countdown to 2013 began with a spectacular fireworks display in Auckland, New Zealand.

Crowds packed the city centre to watch the annual event at the city's Sky Tower, ensuring the new year was seen in with a bang.

Auckland began the countdown to 2013

There had been concerns that poor weather might hinder the pyrotechnic display but conditions held up and revellers were treated to a dazzling display of lights.

In London, the night sky is set to be illuminated with pyrotechnics to round-off a momentous year in the capital city.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who has organised the event, said: "Our New Year's Eve fireworks will cap a triumphant year for London.

"As we welcomed the world to the magnificent celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the glorious success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, London was at its very best.

"From the thrilling sporting action to the breathtaking cultural celebrations, it has been an unforgettable year and I am immensely proud of the contribution that our Ambassadors made to that success.

"As we go into 2013 with a spectacular fireworks display I hope we can build on that energy and enthusiasm to make ours the best big city in the world."

Last year's London celebrations saw Big Ben lit up

Up to 250,000 people are expected to crowd on to the banks of the Thames to watch the display, with millions more seeing it on television.

Following their hard work during the London 2012 Games, more than 150 of the mayor's 'Team London Ambassadors' will volunteer at the event to help ensure it is a success.

They will be giving out maps, helping direct people to the viewing areas, and providing guidance and advice on getting home safely.

Scots rockers Simple Minds will be headlining the Hogmanay concert and street party in Edinburgh.

The View, Bwani Junction, Reverend and the Makers and The OK Social Club will also be playing to an anticipated crowd of 80,000, and fireworks will be set off to mark the start of 2013.

Celebrations got under way in the city last night with a torchlight procession. A record crowd estimated at 35,000, including 7,000 torch carriers, were led by the massed pipes and drums and the Up Helly Aa' Vikings from Shetland.

The procession made its way through the city streets to the burning of the effigy of a Viking boat and a spectacular Son et Lumiere display on Calton Hill.

The central Pacific Ocean island of Kiritimati (Christmas Island) and the eastern-most island in the island nation of Kiribati were the first to usher in the new year at 1000 GMT.

American Samoa, an unincorporated territory of the US in the southern Pacific Ocean, will be the last place on Earth to herald in the new year on Tuesday at 1100 GMT.

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Woman Missing Off North Sea Ferry

Police say they fear for the safety of a woman who went missing from a North Sea ferry.

More follows...

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Russia Plane Crash: Video Of Moment Of Impact

Video footage shows the moment a passenger aircraft crashes into a motorway in Russia - as the death toll rises to five.

The footage, captured from a vehicle on the motorway, shows luggage and other debris flying from the aircraft and hitting other cars on the road as the plane smashed into the ground.

Louds bangs can also be heard as the plane impacted with the ground and the cars were hit by the wreckage.

Five people - the pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer and two flight stewards - were killed in the crash and another three seriously injured after the aircraft overshot a runway at Moscow's Vnukovo airport.

The Red Wing Airlines aircraft burst through a perimeter fence on to the motorway at Russia's third busiest airport.

Officials said the Tu-204 plane - travelling from the Czech Republic - was carrying eight crew members and no passengers. It broke into pieces and caught fire after crashing.

The passenger plane was sheared in two

The cockpit of the aircraft was sheared off from the fuselage and a large chunk gashed out near the tail during the impact.

Investigators are examining flight recorders and other evidence to try to determine the cause of the accident.

Witnesses told state channel Rossiya-24 they saw a man thrown from the plane as it rammed into the barrier of the motorway and described pulling other people from the wreckage.

The airport was closed after the crash and flights were routed to Moscow's other airports, Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo.

Prior to Saturday's crash, there had been no fatal accidents reported for Tu-204s, which entered commercial service in 1995.

The plane is a twin-engine mid-range jet with room to carry about  210 passengers.

Vnukovo is Russia's third biggest airport

Investigators said preliminary findings pointed to pilot error as the cause of the crash.

The billionaire owner of Red Wing Airlines, Alexander Lebedev, said the pilot was experienced, with 14,500 hours of flying time.

The state news agency RIA Novosti cited an unidentified official at the Russian Aviation Agency as saying another Tu-204 had gone off the runway at the international airport in Novosibirsk, Siberia, on December 20.

The agency said that incident, in which no one was injured, was due to the failure of the plane's engines to go into reverse upon landing and that its brake system malfunctioned.

Russia and other former Soviet republics have some of the world's worst air traffic safety records - with a total accident rate three times the world average, according to the International Air Transport Association.

In April, 31 people were killed after a passenger jet crashed after takeoff in Siberia.

Another 44 people, including the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team, were killed when their aircraft smashed into a riverbank in September 2011.

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Ice Lake Rescue Drama Captured On Video

What should have been a day of sledging thrills turned into a string of near-disasters in California after one person fell into an icy lake.

As they overshot the edge of the ice and fell into the bitterly-cold water, flailing and waving their arms in panic, pals to rushed to their aid.

But it begs the question: How many people does it take to rescue a man who falls into an icy lake?

And the answer? Well, if this video is anything to go by ... lots.

The situation in Wrightwood, California, rapidly became a mass rescue attempt, involving ropes, rubber rings and plastic sledges.

But as dozens of people joined in, several more crashed though ice.

One witness captured the amazing drama on video and posted it on The Tubez website.

Another could be heard saying: "That's seriously not funny ... he can't swim", while a companion screamed: "Call 911!"

Some of the victims remained in the water for up to nine minutes before they were eventually pulled out.

No one was seriously hurt.

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Organist Death: Grieving Widow Speaks Of Evil

The widow of Alan Greaves, who died after being attacked on his way to a Christmas Eve midnight mass, said she has not stopped crying over her husband's death and the "evil that has been done".

Mr Greaves, 68, was discovered badly beaten near his church in High Green, Sheffield, on Monday.

The father-of-four died in hospital on Thursday after suffering serious head injuries in the attack.

Two Sheffield men - one in his 20s and the other in his 40s - are in custody after being arrested on Saturday on suspicion of murder.

At the service at St Saviour's Mortomley and High Green Church, Mrs Greaves, a church community worker, thanked the couple's congregation for their support.

"I've never stopped crying for Alan, and I know that you've never stopped crying with me," she said.

"I've grieved over the evil that's been done, and I know you too have grieved over the evil that has been done.

"I have prayed for you, and I know that you have prayed for me.

"I want to thank you because I really have sensed your very deep love and affection for me.

"You were Alan's Christian family and he loved belonging to this church."

The Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Steven Croft, led the service at the church, where Mr Greaves was a lay preacher.

Dr Croft said Sheffield had lost a "shining light".

Mr Greaves has been described as a 'gentle soul'

"There is a sense of shock and a sense of outrage, not just in this community but across the whole city of Sheffield," he said.

"Alan was the victim of a brutal attack as he was on his way to church on Christmas Eve, as he was walking to this church to bear witness to his deep Christian faith.

"There will be immense grief for those who knew Alan well, which includes many in this church and community."

He went on to speak of the love and support that has been offered to the family and also appreciation for the medical teams that tried to save Mr Greaves's life.

"And in the midst of all this, I am sure, many will be giving thanks for Alan himself, for all he showed us of God's grace and love," he said.

"There will be occasions in the future for many generous tributes to be given.

"Goodness is not as common as it should be and this community and this city have lost a shining light."

Dozens of people attended the church to hear tributes to Mr Greaves, with some having to stand because there were no seats left.

Detectives are still appealing for anyone with any information about the attack to come forward.

Police are treating Mr Greaves's death as murder but say the motive for it is unclear.

Canon Bessant said Mr Greaves had been attacked 250 yards from the church and that his family had been at home.

"His wife wants justice but she doesn't want vengeance. She is not embittered but obviously she wants this person to be caught."

Mr Greaves had recently become a grandfather to twin boys adopted by his daughter in Mozambique.

He and his wife had recently set up a food bank and community project in the area where he was killed.

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Fiscal Cliff: Countdown Begins For Congress

Politicians in Washington are back at work as they attempt to strike a last-minute deal to avoid huge tax hikes and spending cuts set for January 1.

Economists warn the $500bn in fiscal pain due to hit in the New Year could send the country back into recession, and destabilise the global economy in the process.

Aides to both leaders in the Democrat-controlled Senate worked feverishly behind closed doors on Saturday to fashion a deal palatable to both sides.

The Senate convenes Sunday at 1pm (6pm GMT) while the House goes into session an hour later, with no votes expected before 8.30pm ET (11.30pm GMT).

Both chambers would have little time to debate and then pass a deal that has eluded the White House and Congress for weeks.

Barack Obama, who called congressional leaders to the White House on Friday, addressed the crisis once more as he appeared on NBC's Sunday morning talk show Meet the Press.

The president said Republicans were unwilling to see tax rates raised for the richest taxpayers.

"They say that their biggest priority is making sure that we deal with the deficit in a serious way," Mr Obama said.

"But the way they're behaving is that their only priority is making sure that tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans are protected.

"That seems to be their only overriding, unifying theme," he added.

Mitch McConnell and Harry Reid still heading in different directions

Senate Democratic majority leader Harry Reid and Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell are reported to have set a deadline of about 3pm ET (8pm GMT) for a deal.

The parties will then decide whether to put it to the vote on New Year's Eve in the Senate and then the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

President Obama has pressed lawmakers to clinch a deal, even if they must reach a compromise that lacks the significant deficit-reduction measures both sides had sought.

"I was modestly optimistic yesterday, but we don't yet see an agreement," the president told NBC in the interview recorded on Saturday. "And now the pressure's on Congress to produce."

At least one senior Republican is optimistic of a deal, and a "political victory" for Mr Obama.

Senator Lindsey Graham told Fox News that the odds are "exceedingly good" a deal can get done.

"I don't think people want to go over the cliff," he said.

The US is facing the fiscal cliff because tax rate cuts dating back to George W Bush's presidency expire at the end of the year.

Mr Obama originally insisted on letting the tax cuts expire on households earning more than $250k (£154k) but later upped that threshold to $400k (£246k).

The pending reductions in spending, which will hit everything from social programmes to the military, were put in place last year as an incentive to both parties to find ways to cut America's soaring deficit.

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