Mandela Funeral: Tutu 'Heartbroken At Snub'

Desmond Tutu is said to be "heartbroken" after he was apparently left off the guest list for the funeral of his close friend Nelson Mandela.

The 82-year-old retired archbishop said he received "no indication" he had been invited to the burial service.

He worked closely with the former South African president in his long struggle against apartheid and welcomed Mr Mandela into his home after his fellow campaigner's release from jail.

"Much as I would have loved to attend the service to say a final farewell to someone I loved and treasured, it would have been disrespectful to Tata to gatecrash what was billed as a private family funeral," he said.

Contradicting President Jacob Zuma's claim that he was "definitely" on the guest list, Mr Tutu added: "Had I or my office been informed that I would be be welcome, there is no way on Earth that I would have missed it."

The apparent exclusion of the Nobel Peace Prize winner has led to speculation he is being punished for vocal criticism of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party.

Don Mullan, who travelled from Ireland to South Africa as Mr Tutu's photographer, told Sky News the veteran campaigner is "grieving very, very much" and deserved to be at the event.

"The world needs Desmond Tutu to be here to say goodbye to his old friend," he said.

"This is about Madiba, it's about South Africa and it's about two very important peacemakers saying farewell to each other."

Mr Mullan, who said he will refuse to attend the service in protest against the apparent omission of Mr Tutu, said there was "great confusion" but also "great sadness" at his absence.

"Mr Tutu was the one who kept the flame of freedom alive when Mr Mandela and other campaigners were in prison or in exile," he said.

"He is the one Mr Mandela spent his first night of freedom with and the one he and Graca Machel asked to assist at their wedding."

Zelda la Grange, a former private secretary to Mr Mandela, said South Africa's first black president was "very fond" of the man he affectionately called "The Arch".

"Madiba really adored him," she said. "He respected him, he loved him - there was a very close relationship."

Mr Mandela will be buried in his childhood home of Qutu following South Africa's first state funeral.

Thousands of people lined the streets of Mthatha, as his body was driven towards its final resting place.

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Mandela Funeral: Mourners Angry At Procession

Tribal Traditions At Mandela Burial

Updated: 11:05am UK, Saturday 14 December 2013

By Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent, in Qunu

He is Qunu's most famous son and the return of Nelson Mandela's body to his ancestral homeland is not just for sentimental reasons - it is part of Xhosa tradition that those who pass away are returned to the soil from where they came.

This weekend sees a stark shift in tempo, organisation and ceremony as the state funeral meshes with the centuries-old traditions of Mr Mandela's countrymen and women in the rural Eastern Cape.

"We feel very represented by Nelson Mandela," Mandisi Tshaka, a young Xhosa man, resplendent in his traditional robes and big beaded necklace, told me.

"Everyone in the world knows the Xhosa tribe because of him and we're saluting him."

The South African government has announced the former president's state funeral is a "first for the country" and means full military ceremonial honours will be laid on and led by the armed forces.

There will be 21-gun salutes and a fly-over by the South African Air Force.

But there is a strong importance being put on performing the Xhosa rites as Mr Mandela is laid to rest.

There will be a ritual slaughtering of an ox in the early hours before receiving his body at Mthatha airport in the Eastern Cape.

The AbaThembu king, Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, is expected to lead a group of traditional leaders as well as Mandela elders in welcoming him home to the village of Qunu, where he spent much of his childhood.

Xhosa custom dictates a welcome ritual is performed to ensure the ancestors are informed of the arrival of Mr Mandela's remains.

Mr Mandela will be called on by his praise name Dlibhunga and the AbaThembu king will shout this three times as he greets the body when he arrives home.

Despite the pomp and ceremony of the state funeral, there will be equal, if not more, importance put on the traditional Xhosa burial rituals to ensure the man they call Madiba has an easy transition into the afterworld.

The Xhosa king, Zwelonke Sigcau, told Sky News: "The Xhosa people believe Nelson Mandela is not leaving us. It is just his body which is going into the ground. His spirit will remain."

In the African culture many believe a dead person's spirit lives on beyond death and joins other ancestors who guide, help and protect the living.

It is a belief which greatly helps alleviate the pain felt by the loss of a loved one - and Mr Mandela may assume even greater importance amongst his people because of his exalted status as a spiritual ancestor now.

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China's Moon Rover 'Jade Rabbit' Lands Safely

An unmanned spacecraft carrying China's first lunar rover called "Jade Rabbit' has safely landed on the surface of the Moon, according to state television.

It is the first "soft landing" of a probe there for 37 years and China is only the third country to complete such a feat after the US and former Soviet Union.

Beijing has now taken a big step towards becoming a global player in space.

Scientists burst into applause as a computer-generated image representing the Chang'e 3 spacecraft carrying the solar-powered buggy was seen touching down on the Moon's surface via screens in Beijing.

The craft's camera broadcast images of the surface before it reportedly came down in the Sinus Iridum, or the Bay of Rainbows.

It had hovered for several minutes seeking an appropriate place to land.

A soft landing does not damage the craft and the equipment it takes.

In 2007, China put another lunar probe in orbit around the Moon, which then carried out a controlled crash on to its surface.

The rocket carrying the rover blasted off on December 1

The rover is expected to separate from the lander and then carry out a three-month scientific exploration of the surface, in which it will look for natural resources.

The vehicle will be remotely controlled by Chinese control centres with support from tracking and transmission stations operated by the European Space Agency.

It was launched into space onboard a rocket on December 1 from southern China.

The name Jade Rabbit or "Yutu" was chosen in an online poll of 3.4 million voters indicating just how important this mission is to the Chinese public.

It is the next step in China's ambitious plans to land astronauts on the surface by around 2025.

As well as space enthusiasts, many private space companies were expected to watch the landing closely.

Teams taking part in the Google Lunar XPRIZE are competing for $30m (£18m) to become the first private organisation to send pictures back from the Moon by 2015.

Alexandra Hall, director of Lunar XPRIZE, told Sky News: "The space community is a truly global endeavour and although there are politics involved, there are many engineers and scientists around the world feeling for those guys and girls in mission control in China right now.

"It is actually quite difficult to land successfully on another planetary body so I think there is definitely a sympathy with the tension that is probably quite high in that control room."

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Jayden Parkinson: Police Launch Murder Inquiry

Police investigating the disappearance of teenager Jayden Parkinson now believe she was murdered.

Jayden, 17, from Oxford, was last seen leaving Didcot Parkway train station at 4.27pm on December 3 - and did not return home that evening as planned.

In a news conference this afternoon, Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Murray revealed that police are looking for a man who was seen in an open field near Upton on December 9 at 2am.

The man was carrying a large suitcase in the rural area and notably struggling to wheel the heavy case.

"This man was having difficulty wheeling that suitcase," said Mr Murray.

He said the same man was seen in Didcot around 30 minutes later with the same suitcase. 

The man is described as a white male in his early 20s, with short dark hair and of medium to slim build. 

The case was approximately 3ft long and 2ft wide, likely a pale blue colour, and had an extendable handle and wheels, said Mr Murray. 

Thames Valley Police are currently holding two people - a 22-year-old man and 17-year-old boy - in relation to the case.

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Missing Jayden: Police Release CCTV Image

Detectives looking for a teenager who went missing 10 days ago have released a CCTV image of the last known sighting of her.

Jayden Parkinson, from Oxford, was last seen leaving Didcot Parkway train station at 4.27pm on December 3 - and did not return home that evening as planned.

A man from Reading, Berkshire, has been arrested on suspicion of murdering the 17-year-old.

He is currently being held in police custody in connection with her disappearance.

Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Murray, of Thames Valley Police, said the detained 22-year-old was "part of our enquiries to prove or disprove whether Jayden has come to harm".

He revealed information had come to light to focus the search for the teenager in certain areas, including a wide, rural area between the village of Upton and Didcot.

Appeal: Superintendent Christian Bunt (L) and Det Ch Supt Andy Murray (R)

Mr Murray said teams had particularly been deployed to search a path or track leading from Upton in the general direction of Didcot and a disused railway line.

He told a press conference on Friday afternoon: "We would very much like to hear from any member of the public who has seen Jayden coming out of Didcot railway station, or anytime.

"We do not know where Jayden is at the moment, but as time progresses it is obvious that we are becoming increasingly concerned about her welfare."

He added officers remained "focused on the hope that she is still out there".

Jayden is described as white, of slim build with shoulder length dark brown hair and brown eyes.

She was living with her mum in Didcot up until November this year, when she found herself homeless.

The teenager relocated to Oxford, to a premises called One Foot Forward, which offers assisted and supported accommodation for young people.

During a public appeal on Wednesday, Inspector Chris Simpson, leading the search, said: "She has little access to money and she has not been in phone contact which is out of character for her.

"She could be in Oxford or Reading areas with friends and if this is the case we would urge her or them to get in contact.

"Jayden is not in any trouble but we need to get in touch with her to ensure she is safe and well."

Anyone with information has been urged to contact Thames Valley Police on 101 and quote URN 542 10/12, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Nigella Lawson's Ex-PA: 'She Lied In Court'

Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi have been accused of lying under oath by one of the sisters accused of fraudulently spending £685,000 on the former couple's credit cards.

Giving evidence in court, Elisabetta Grillo, who was one of the TV cook's personal assistants, also claimed other members of her employer's so-called "Team Cupcake" had lied in court.

Last week, Ms Lawson admitted taking cocaine but said she had only used the drug after she found out her late husband John Diamond had terminal cancer, and in July 2010 during her troubled marriage to Mr Saatchi.

However, Grillo told Isleworth Crown Court that although she had never seen Ms Lawson taking drugs, there were signs of regular use.

Jurors heard she found a packet of white powder in the home Ms Lawson shared with Mr Diamond, as well as rolled-up banknotes and credit cards with white powder on them.

As details of some of her alleged spending were revealed, Grillo claimed Ms Lawson allowed her to buy a bed from Ikea and sign up for a fashion course because she was a "very generous" person.

She was given permission to use a credit card during a weekend in Paris because "it was my birthday" and bought Calvin Klein underwear while shopping for Ms Lawson's daughter "because we are the same size", the court heard.

"Nobody told me I could not take money," she said, adding that Ms Lawson allowed her to withdraw extra cash for herself if she worked beyond her hours.

Grillo, 41, claimed Mr Saatchi gave her £200 to bump up sales of his book.

She denied she was better dressed than any other household staff and said she bought clothes at discount stores and online.

She told jurors she was "not a shoes person" and had just 10 pairs, including some inexpensive ones from H&M, Zara and Primark.

"I was allowed to buy clothes for myself ... I worked hard," she said. "I was part of the family for 14 years."

Grillo and her sister Francesca, 35, deny committing fraud by using a company credit card for personal gain.

The trial, now in its third week, continues.

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North Korea Executes Leader's 'Traitor' Uncle

The Rise Of Jang Song-Thaek

Updated: 10:52am UK, Friday 13 December 2013

While hereditary leader Kim Jong-Un is the unquestioned ruler of North Korea, his uncle Jang Song-Thaek was thought to be the country's second most powerful figure.

The 67-year-old had occupied a privileged and yet precarious spot within the inner circle, and his ties to Mr Kim were more than political.

He was the son-in-law of the founder of North Korea, Kim Il-Sung, and was married to Mr Kim's aunt, Kim Kyong-Hui, the younger sister of the former leader, Kim Jong-Il.

A native of the far northeastern border city of Chongjin who hailed from humble roots but was sharp enough to gain entry to prestigious Kim Il Sung University in Pyongyang, he rose from municipal bureaucrat to vice chairman of the National Defence Commission and member of the Political Bureau.

These posts put him second in power only to Mr Kim.

He started his career as instructor for the Pyongyang City Committee of the Workers' Party, and rose post-by-post reaching the top ranks.

Despite not being a career military man, he was made a four-star general, and helped engineer a campaign to bring the once-powerful military into the party's fold.

He was purged and sent to a labour camp for two years in the mid-2000s, according to Kim Young-soo, a North Korea expert at Sogang University in Seoul, South Korea. That purge was widely seen as a move to clip his wings.

It was after Kim Jong-Il's stroke in 2008 that he was assumed to be serving in a regency role while the young heir Mr Kim, then in his late 20s, was being groomed to succeed his father.

Gen Jang would accompany Mr Kim on guidance trips, often dressed in a trim white general's uniform and standing within arm's length of the young heir on field visits and at state events.

That rise to the inner circle gained speed after Kim Jong Il's death from a heart attack in December 2011.

A well-travelled diplomat with a network that spread to China, Gen Jang was considered the chief architect of economic policy that focused on partnering with the neighbour and ally.

He had recently added a new title to his portfolio - chairman of the State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission - one of Mr Kim's pet projects. Mr Kim is a basketball fan and famously invited US basketball star Dennis Rodman for a rare official visit to the country.

Last seen publicly in early November meeting a sports delegation from Japan, rumours of Gen Jang's dismissal began surfacing in Seoul last week.

On Sunday, he was fired from all posts at a special party meeting and dragged away by the arms by soldiers - his ordeal broadcast on North Korean television.

Four days after his dramatic public arrest, Gen Jang was tried for treason by a special military tribunal.

On Friday, North Korea's official news agency KCNA announced he had been executed. He confessed, according to state media.

He was described as "a traitor to the nation" and "worse than a dog".

The list of crimes against Gen Jang was long, with plotting to overthrow the leadership the most serious of the allegations.

Subsequently, pictures showing both Mr Kim and Gen Jang were doctored to remove the uncle - a technique notoriously used by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in the 1930s.

Gen Jang's demise offers an intriguing and revealing glimpse into the murky, feudalistic world of politics in the secretive country.

The fall from grace, accompanied by allegations from corruption to womanising and capped by his arrest at the party meeting on Sunday, has suggested to some analysts that Mr Kim is still trying to consolidate the power he inherited from his father two years ago.

For North Koreans, the shocking public humiliation of a man seen as a father figure to Mr Kim was designed to send a clear message about the intolerance of opposition in a totalitarian state that demands absolute loyalty to the leader.

It was a humiliating end to a complicated career.

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Teen Drink-Drive Killer's Sentence Slammed

A man whose wife and daughter were killed by a teenage drink-driver has spoken of his anger after the boy's wealthy background was used as a defence and he avoided prison.

Ethan Couch, 16, could have faced up to 20 years behind bars after losing control of his vehicle and killing four pedestrians in Fort Worth, Texas.

Instead, he was given 10 years' probation - plus rehab - after his lawyers argued his reckless behaviour was due to "affluenza".

The condition is said by some psychologists to affect young people who come from rich families.

Defence witness Gary Miller, a psychologist, said Couch should not get the maximum prison sentence that was being sought by prosecutors.

Mr Miller said Couch had grown up in a house where the parents often argued and eventually divorced.

Hollie Boyles and her daughter Shelby, 21, were among those killed

He told State District Judge Jean Boyd the mother had spoiled him, telling the court: "Her mantra was that if it feels good, do it."

Couch, whose blood-alcohol was three times the legal limit at the time of the crash, had admitted he was drinking and driving and confessed to intoxication manslaughter.

Eric Boyles, whose wife Hollie and his 21-year-old daughter Shelby were among those killed in the crash in June, told Fox News: "We knew the maximum sentence was a 20-year sentence which in the juvenile system meant the boy would be eligible for parole in two years.

"And while recognising that that's, you know, kind of the circumstances we were dealing with, I wasn't really happy with those circumstances.

"You look at 180 years of future life taken from the four individuals.

"And so you sit and think that even a two year sentence before he is eligible for parole didn't exactly seem fair under those circumstances."

He added: "Money always seems to keep the boy out of trouble. This was one time I did ask the court, that for justice, for money not to prevail and ultimately today I felt like money did prevail."

The scene of the deadly June crash in Texas

Speaking after the case, another psychologist, Dr Gary Buffone, said "affluenza" was never meant to be used as a defence in court cases.

He said the condition, which was popularised in the 1990s, was attributed to children with a sense of entitlement, and who are irresponsible and sometimes use drugs and alcohol.

"The simple term would be spoiled brat," he said. "The defence is laughable, the disposition is horrifying … not only haven't the parents set any consequences, but it's being reinforced by the judge's actions."

The American Psychiatric Association says it does not recognise the diagnosis of "affluenza".

Judge Boyd said the intensive rehab therapy Couch needs might not be available in the Texas juvenile justice system.

However, he could be treated at a centre in California which was proposed by the defence. The estimated yearly treatment cost of $450,000 (£276,000) is set to be paid by his parents, according to Fort Worth newspaper the Star Telegram.

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Geminid Meteor Shower To Light Up Skies

Asteroids, Comets, Meteors: A Guide

Updated: 12:32pm UK, Thursday 12 December 2013

Know your asteroid from your comet from your meteorite? See below for definitions of various Space objects.

:: Asteroid

A relatively small, inactive, rocky body orbiting the Sun.

:: Comet

A relatively small, at times active, object whose ices can vaporise in sunlight forming an atmosphere (coma) of dust and gas and, sometimes, a tail of dust and/or gas.

:: Meteoroid

A small particle from a comet or asteroid orbiting the Sun.

:: Meteor

The light phenomena which results when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere and vaporises; a 'shooting star'.

:: Meteorite

A meteoroid that survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and lands upon the Earth's surface.

Source: Nasa

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MPs' Pay: Politicians To Get 11% Pay Rise

MPs are to get an 11% pay rise, taking annual salaries to £74,000, but will lose out on pensions.

In a move the parliamentary watchdog insists will not cost taxpayers "a penny more", MPs will get a "one-off" pay rise but see cuts to pensions, a tightening of business costs and expenses, and an end to golden goodbyes.

The pay increase will come into effect from May 2015, but from then on increases to annual salaries will be in line with average earnings.

The reforms contained in the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) report put the watchdog, which was set up in the wake of the expenses scandal, on a collision course with politicians.

Sir Ian Kennedy remains determined to carry through reforms

Ipsa's chairman, Sir Ian Kennedy, said: "For the first time, MPs' pay and pensions will be set independently, and away from political deals cooked up in Westminster.

"We are sweeping away the out-of-date and overly generous benefits, and introducing a one-off uplift in pay. Crucially, thereafter MPs' pay will be linked to everyone else's.

"We have designed these reforms so they do not cost the taxpayer a penny more. When taken with the tens of millions we have saved by reforming the business cost and expenses regime, we have saved the taxpayer over £35m with the changes we have introduced since 2010."

David Cameron threatened on Wednesday he was "ruling nothing out" if Ipsa did not rethink the hike, suggesting he could scrap the watchdog - or at least curtail its ability to set MPs' pay.

He said it was "unacceptable" for MPs to accept such a rise at a time when public sector pay rises are capped at 1%.

However, Sir Ian remained determined to proceed with reforms, telling Sky News: "I was not appointed to this job to be popular, I was appointed to chair an independent body and independent bodies have to sometimes say no to people even if they happen to be party leaders."

Both Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, and Nick Clegg, his Liberal Democrat counterpart, have said the rise cannot be justified amid a cost-of-living crisis. Mr Miliband called for cross-party talks to put an end to the planned increase.

David Cameron has called the pay rise 'unacceptable'

Speaking on his Call Clegg LBC radio station ahead of the release of the report, Mr Clegg said that any increase in MPs' pay must go with the "grain of public consent".

He said: "I think at a time when this Government is saying to millions in the public sector, 'you cannot have a pay rise more than 1%' I think it really would be very difficult - to put it mildly - to explain why MPs should be treated differently."

However, Sir Ian has stressed that 43% of the public supports the reform package, saying that Ipsa had carried out significant polling before making the recommendations. The polls also found that 45% felt the package was too generous.

The watchdog report also pointed out that MPs themselves, on average, thought they should be paid £86,000 a year. An anonymous poll of 100 MPs, showed Labour MPs, on average, thought they should be paid £77,000, Lib Dems £78,000 and Tories £97,000. 

The Ipsa changes will see:

:: A one-off 9.26% pay rise to come into effect in May 2015 - when added to the previously announced pay rise, MPs will get in 2014, it represents an 11% increase from today's salary of £66,396.

:: MPs' pay increases linked to average earnings from 2015-16.

:: End of final salary pension scheme and an increase in MPs' pensions contributions.

:: Scrapping golden goodbyes, where MPs can get a year's salary even if they lose their seat, in favour of a £14,850 payment.

:: Scrapping £15 after 7.30pm dinner allowance.

:: End of tea and biscuits allowance.

:: No payment for hotels if the House rises before 1am.

:: No payment for taxis if the House rises before 11pm.

:: End of expenses claims for TV licences and home contents insurance.

The watchdog was set up to stop MPs voting through their own pay increases.

Critics have said that while voting against the pay increase seemed to be good PR for MPs, they would effectively be endorsing the continuation of a pension and expenses system that the public has already found wanting.

The former Labour cabinet minister Jack Straw said at the weekend that there was never a good time to increase an MP's pay but that it was important to help attract "people from modest backgrounds" to politics.

There will be a statutory review of the proposals before they come into effect in 2015 and Mr Cameron has indicated that he is not willing to take any action before then.

Following the report's release he again encouraged Ipsa to "think again", saying the watchdog had not made a "final recommendation".

Mr Miliband said: "I want to be clear with the public, I don't think it's right that MPs should get this pay rise at a time when nurses, teachers, people in the private sector are going through a pay squeeze and facing incredibly difficult economic circumstances. I think it will just undermine trust in politics further.

"I'm determined that this pay rise does not go ahead if there's a Labour government."

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Judge Rebukes Cameron For Nigella Comments

The judge in the Nigella Lawson court case has rebuked David Cameron for comments he made saying he was on Team Nigella.

Jurors at Isleworth Crown Court have been told to disregard the comments made by the Prime Minister in an interview for The Spectator in which he said he was a "massive fan" of the television chef.

Judge Robin Johnson told jurors they should disregard Mr Cameron's comments and said: "It is of regret when people in public office comment about a person who is involved in a trial which is in progress."

The trial of Elisabetta and Francesca Grillo, who are accused of abusing their positions by spending £685,000 on credit cards belonging to Ms Lawson and her former husband Charles Saatchi, is now in its third week.

The Grillo sister are accused of defrauding Ms Lawson and Mr Saatchi

It has lifted the lid on the lifestyles of both Ms Lawson and Mr Saatchi and their acrimonious separation, with both giving evidence about Ms Lawson's drug use.

Mr Cameron's intervention in the case came in an interview in which he was asked whether he was a member of Team Nigella, the name her supporters have adopted. He replied: "I am. I'm a massive fan."

He added: "I've had the great pleasure of meeting her a couple of times and she always strikes me as a very funny and warm person, but I'm also an amateur cook and I like her recipes.

"Nancy (Mr Cameron's nine-year-old daughter) and I sometimes watch a bit of Nigella on telly. Not in court, I hasten to add."

Charles Saatchi arrives at Isleworth Crown Court to give evidence

The judge told jurors: "It is inconceivable that some of your number may not have seen these comments.

"The defendants feel aggrieved as the comments, although they do not specifically deal with matters in the trial, are favourable to Ms Lawson.

"The fact they they may feel aggrieved is not without justification.

"You will realise that what public figures may feel about this case or a witness in this case can have no bearing on the issues that you have to decide."

Last week, 53-year-old Ms Lawson admitted taking cocaine with ex-husband John Diamond when he found out he had terminal cancer, and on another occasion in July 2010 during her troubled marriage to Mr Saatchi.

She spoke of suffering "intimate terrorism" at the hands of her multi-millionaire ex-husband, describing him as a "brilliant, but brutal man".

Ms Lawson also accused him of "peddling" stories about her alleged drug habit, including that he was checking her nose for cocaine when he was photographed gripping her throat outside Scott's restaurant in Mayfair, central London, in June.

In court today, Elisabetta Grillo told the jury that she had been the only guest apart from the couple's children at Ms Lawson's marriage to Mr Saatchi.

She told how Mr Saatchi would shout at her, Ms Lawson and the children and that Ms Lawson had told her he was "difficult to live with" but said that she had hoped he would change.

The Grillo sisters deny the charges against them.

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Fault Fear Grounds 16 Out Of 36 Air Ambulances

Sixteen of the 36 air ambulances in the UK have been grounded as a result of a suspected fault.

Bond Air Services said it has suspended flying of its Eurocopter EC135 helicopters across the UK.

The helicopter is the same model as the one that crashed on to a pub roof in Glasgow nearly two weeks ago killing nine people.

All the air ambulances grounded are operated by Bond, which has also grounded another six helicopters.

It is thought that some of the other six could be police helicopters.

Three helicopters are grounded in the Midlands. Other helicopters are known to have been grounded in Scotland and Wales. The precise regions affected are not yet known.

It is understood that military helicopters are being drafted in to cover the grounded air ambulances in Scotland.

Eurocopter says there are a total of 20 EC135s used as air ambulances and another 20 used as police helicopters in the UK.

Experts said is likely that other operators will follow Bond and ground their EC135s as well.

Bond said it made the decision after a problem with a fuel gauge on another of its EC135s on Wednesday.

A statement put out by Bond Air Services on Thursday said: "During normal operations yesterday, one of our EC135 fleet has experienced an indication defect that requires further technical investigation.

"Therefore as a precautionary measure we have temporarily suspended service operations whilst we undertake detailed diagnosis. We commenced investigations overnight, are continuing this morning and are in close liaison with Eurocopter regarding this investigation.

"We continue to investigate the technical fault that resulted in us temporarily suspending service operations yesterday.

"We are now conducting functional tests across each of our EC135 aircraft in order to gather more specific information."

The Association of Air Ambulances have said a number of air ambulances are grounded at any one time and it is normal that helicopters from other areas cover the regions where that happens.

Clive Dickin, the AAA's National Director said: "The safety of the aircrew and general public is of primary importance and we are supporting Bond Air Services and Eurocopter who are working closely together to investigate and resolve the technical problem.

"Aircraft of all types occasionally are grounded for bad weather or routine maintenance. In these circumstances other air ambulances and ambulance service providers work closely to ensure no patients are affected.

The grounding comes on the day when the youngest and oldest victims of the Clutha helicopter crash have been laid to rest at separate funerals.

Colin Gibson, 33, and Robert Jenkins, 61, were among those killed when an EC135 crashed on to the roof of the Clutha pub.

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Mandela Memorial: Deaf Signer Was 'Fake'

South Africa's deaf federation has claimed that an interpreter using sign language during the Mandela memorial was a "fake".

Concerns over the male interpreter had been raised by deaf people watching the service at Johannesburg's FNB Stadium on Tuesday.

Bruno Druchen, national director of the Deaf Federation of South Africa, said the unidentified man, who was on stage alongside world leaders including US President Barack Obama, "was moving his hands around but there was no meaning in what he used his hands for".

Sign language experts have said there was no meaning to the man's gestures

South African parliament member Wilma Newhoudt, a member of the ruling party, also said the man communicated nothing with his hand and arm movements.

Both Mr Druchen and Ms Newhoudt are deaf.

The revelation also raises concerns over security for world leaders

Three sign language experts said the man was not signing in South African or American sign languages.

South African sign language covers all of the country's 11 official languages, according to the federation.

Nicole Du Toit, an official sign language interpreter who also watched the broadcast, said the man on stage was an "embarrassment".

The man has not been identified

She said: "It was horrible, an absolute circus, really really bad.

"Only he can understand those gestures."

Delphin Hlungwane, an official South African sign language interpreter with DeafSA, said authorities were trying to track the man down.

The man also failed to indicate that the crowd was booing Jacob Zuma

She said: "There was zero percent accuracy. He couldn't even get the basics right. He couldn't even say thank you.

"You're supposed to indicate with your facial expressions, even if it's not an exact sign. He didn't indicate that (booing of Jacob Zuma) at all. It just passed him by.

"Nobody knows who he is. Even at this hour we still don't have his name."

Paul Breckell, chief executive of Action on Hearing Loss, said: "The use of appropriately qualified communication support is crucial to ensure that deaf people can engage with and access the same opportunities as hearing people.

"Sign Language, be it British, International or South African, is a visual and expressive language yet the limited number of signs, the amount of repetition, lack of facial expressions and huge gaps in translation meant that deaf or hard of hearing people across the world were completely excluded from one of the biggest events in recent history."

The memorial was also affected by faulty public transport which prevented some mourners from getting to the event and a faulty audio system that prevented some of the crowd from hearing leaders' speeches.

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World Leaders Pay Final Respects To Mandela

Winnie Mandela, ex-wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, has viewed his body as it lies in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

Hundreds of other dignitaries including his widow Graca Machel, Jacob Zuma, Robert Mugabe and Naomi Campbell are also lining up to pay their respects to the iconic South African anti-apartheid campaigner.

Ms Mandela (L) and Ms Machel say goodbye to the former leader

Thousands of South Africans had lined the streets of Pretoria to pay their respects as Mr Mandela's body was taken to lie in state in a glass-topped coffin.

Members of the public formed a guard of honour as his coffin passed by fronted by a fleet of police outriders, at the start of what will be three days of mourning in the executive capital.

President Zuma is followed by Graca Machel (in black) Mandela's widow

The coffin was draped in the multi-coloured South African flag as it arrived at the grand setting of the Union Buildings, seat of power in the country's capital and the place where the former leader was sworn in as president.

The same procession around Pretoria will take place each morning until Friday, with the coffin being returned to the military hospital each evening.

As the procession passed, mourners sang tributes to the former South African leader, who died last week at the age of 95.

President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe files past to pay his respects

Mandela's grandson Mandla and Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula led mourners into the viewing area. Soldiers set down the coffin and removed the flag.

Members of Mr Mandela's family and VIPs are paying their respects before the public are allowed in to view the body.

South African apartheid-era president FW de Klerk bids farewell

With worries about crowds, three sites have been set up in Pretoria from where mourners will be shuttled in to the Union Buildings and back.

People making their way to the sites told Sky's Alex Crawford they thanked Mr Mandela for their freedom.

Model Naomi Campbell (L) after paying her final respects to Mr Mandela

"South Africa is mourning for the greatest icon that ever lived," one mourner said. "We are sad, we are crying; today we are going to witness him, we are going to see him and we are going to pray for him."

People have been told their mobile phones will have to be switched off and be put out of sight before they will be allowed to file past the body. No photos will be allowed.

A public memorial service was also held at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London at the request of the South African High Commission.

The two share strong links and were the scene of freedom vigils for Mr Mandela during his incarceration.

Irish band U2's lead singer Bono (2L) and his wife Alison Hewson

Speakers at the service included Sir Sydney Kentridge QC and Lord Joffe of Lidington, who both represented Mr Mandela at his treason trials, and campaigner and African National Congress veteran Mama Thembi Nobhadula.

Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the founder of South Africa's Inkatha party, said there was something "unique" about his friendship with Mr Mandela.

The Union Building's amphitheatre where Mr Mandela's coffin lies in state

Despite the Inkatha party being at virtual war with Mr Mandela's African National Congress, Chief Buthelezi said he campaigned tirelessly for Mr Mandela's release.

Speaking to Sky's Jeremy Thompson, he said: "That was the mischief of many politicians who separated us. But I thank God they did not succeed because our friendship existed up until this point.

People lined the streets as the hearse made its way through Pretoria

"There was something very unique about our friendship. I campaigned for his release more than anyone else in this country. I challenge anyone to prove to the contrary."

The lying in state will end with Mr Mandela's remains being transported to the Eastern Cape and his ancestral home of Qunu at the weekend ahead of his funeral.

Women sing tributes to Mr Mandela as the cortege passes by

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the Queen will be represented by the Prince of Wales at the funeral which will take place on Sunday December 15.

Nelson Mandela left it to the South African people to decide how to celebrate his life and legacy.

Mandela: "I would just like a simple stone on which is written, 'Mandela'."

He said once when asked how he wished to be remembered: "It would be very egotistical of me to say how I would like to be remembered.

"I'd leave that entirely to South Africans. I would just like a simple stone on which is written, 'Mandela'."

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Dale Cregan: Police Call-Handler's 'Help'

A police call-handler fed secret information to her boyfriend during the manhunt for his friend Dale Cregan, a court hears.

Kathryn Smith, 25, allegedly accessed files outlining the movement of firearms officers and confidential calls from the public concerning the case.

She is then said to have passed on the sensitive information to her boyfriend Sean Booth, 31, a close friend of Cregan.

At one point her information is said to have enabled Cregan's mother Anita to identify and confront a member of public who had called the police.

Smith was arrested in September 2012 after her mobile phone and computer records were examined by detectives.

Cregan had already murdered father and son Mark and David Short. Days after Smith's arrest he went on to murder Greater Manchester police officers Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone.

Manchester Crown Court has been told that the call handler frequently sent text messages to her boyfriend with details of police operations.

At the time Greater Manchester Police had mounted their biggest ever manhunt. A £50,000 reward had been offered for information leading to Cregan's arrest.

The court heard that after Smith passed information to her boyfriend, he in turn passed it to Cregan's family.

A microphone hidden by the police at (Dale's mother) Anita Cregan's house as part of their search for her son picked up conversations in which she discussed the confidential information.

In one she is alleged to have said: "I've just text somebody saying we've got a grass in the street ... it's surprising what fifty grand will solve innit. I can't f*****g believe it."

Booth is then said to have texted his girlfriend saying:  "U can't get in trouble don't worry. I would not put u in a position where u could b."

Smith allegedly replied: "Well I do worry how are u going to explain how u know things to anita? I'm scared, I hate it that you're an associate."

Smith denies a charge of misconduct in a public office. Cregan and Smith deny aiding and abetting the call handler.

The trial is expected to last six days.

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Killer Who Strangled Partner And Son Jailed

By David Crabtree, Midlands Correspondent

A killed who strangled his ex-partner and her baby son in their beds has been sentenced to life in prison.

Wesley Williams, 29, pleaded guilty last week to the "shocking and senseless" murders of university graduate Yvonne Walsh and her seven-month-old son Harrison at their home in Billesley, West Midlands.

He will serve a minimum term of 29 years.

Judge Mr Justice MacDuff lifted a reporting restriction to reveal that Williams was the former partner of Rebecca Shuttleworth, 25, who was found guilty in June of murdering her two-year-old son Keanu Williams in a totally separate case.

He said: "It is clear that you could not accept being rejected by Yvonne Walsh when you were proposing or intending to propose marriage.

"She wanted no further part in a relationship with you. And you decided to kill her, in fact to execute her.

"It was your decision, casually taken that she had to die. Then you killed Harrison as well."

West Midlands Police said officers were unable to determine which of two was killed first.

Ms Walsh, who had split from Williams two days before she was last seen alive on May 31, was found in her bed. Her baby son was found in his cot with the curtains drawn.

A post-mortem revealed they had both died as a result of pressure to the neck.

Detective Chief Inspector Sarbjit Johal, of West Midlands Police, said: "Wesley Williams has pleaded guilty to the shocking and senseless murders of his partner Yvonne and her baby Harrison who both had their whole lives ahead of them.

"Yvonne's family described her as a warm and loving person who was a dedicated professional and absolutely devoted to her two young children."

Birmingham Crown Court heard that after the killings, Williams changed his Facebook status to single and wrote: "Sometimes you just have to do somethings you shouldn't."

Williams had previously served a jail term for causing actual bodily harm with intent after carrying out an attack involving a hammer and samurai swords.

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Obama And Castro Handshake At Mandela Tribute

Barack Obama has shaken hands with Cuban President Raul Castro at a memorial service for Nelson Mandela.

The handshake between the leaders of the two Cold War enemies came during a ceremony in Johannesburg that is largely focused on Mr Mandela's legacy of reconciliation. 

Mr Castro smiled as the US leader shook his hand on the way to the podium to pay tribute to the late South African president, a global symbol of peace.

It was an extremely rare gesture between the leaders of two nations that have been at loggerheads for more than half a century. US officials often have gone to great lengths to avoid having presidents meet Cuban leaders, even in passing.

It was Mr Obama who offered the handshake in a new sign of his willingness to reach out to US enemies, a US official told the AFP news agency.

Mr Obama and First Lady Michelle upon arrival in South Africa

In Havana, the government website Cubadebate.cu ran a photograph of the moment with the caption: "Obama greets Raul: May this image be the beginning of the end of the US aggressions against Cuba".

The two nations have had only limited ties for half a century, most of it under the iron fist rule of Raul's brother, Fidel Castro. 

The US maintains a five-decade-old embargo against the communist island nation, which Havana says has cost the economy $1.1tn.

Recently, the US and Cuba have taken small steps toward rapprochement.

The countries have reached agreements on cooperation on air and maritime rescue and on migratory issues. In 2011, Mr Obama eased restrictions on visas, remittances and travel.

Sky News Foreign Affairs Editor Tim Marshall noted Mr Obama had to walk past Mr Castro on his way to podium. 

But he added: "The Americans will have pinpointed every single movement, every single second of Obama, from the moment he lands to the moment to he leaves.

"So they will have had the seating plan and so they did not take any steps to prevent it -  and I think that does tell us that there is the possibility of a rapprochement between the two countries."

Mr Obama spoke by telephone to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R)

In 2009, Mr Obama made waves when he shook hands with the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, a strident US critic, at the Summit of the Americas.

In September, the US leader spoke by telephone with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in the first such gesture since the 1979 revolution in the Islamic republic.

The ceremony in memory of Mr Mandela, who died on Thursday at age 95, gathered heads of state from around the world.

Mr Obama also shook hands with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who has clashed with the US over alleged National Security Agency spying.

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M5 Pile-Up: Fireworks Man Cleared Over Crash

A fireworks organiser in charge of a display on the night of a motorway pile-up in which seven people died has spoken of his relief after being cleared of breaching health and safety laws.

Geoffrey Counsell, 51, said he believed the decision to prosecute him was "motivated by a desire to find someone to blame for this terrible accident, simply for the sake of doing so".

Speaking outside Bristol Crown Court, Mr Counsell expressed his sympathy to all those affected by the "terrible crash" on the M5 on November 4, 2011.

"I have been through an appalling experience over the last two years, yet I recognise that my misfortune is as nothing compared with that of those bereaved and injured as a result of that accident," he said.

A judge directed the jury to find Mr Counsell not guilty of a single charge of failing to ensure the safety of others contrary to the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Seven people died and 51 were injured when 34 cars collided on the M5

The charge alleged that Mr Counsell, of Ashill in Somerset, failed to ensure he operated the firework display so as to ensure, as far as was reasonably practicable, that others who might be affected were not exposed to risks to their health and safety.

Mr Counsell was originally charged with seven counts of manslaughter, but they were dropped earlier this year and instead he faced the health and safety charge.

Seven people died in a massive motorway pile-up involving more than 30 cars when they were engulfed in a thick fog on a section of the M5 near Taunton.

Mr Justice Simon ruled that Mr Counsell had "no case to answer" following an application from the defendant's barrister made at the halfway point in the trial.

The judge said the prosecution's case was based on "hindsight" and there was not sufficient evidence to show that Mr Counsell ought to have foreseen that smoke from the display, could have drifted and mixed with fog to create thick smog.

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Nelson Mandela Memorial: World Leaders In SA

Nelson Mandela: Obituary Of An Icon

Updated: 6:30am UK, Friday 06 December 2013

Nelson Mandela's long but ultimately successful struggle to liberate South Africa's oppressed black majority made him a figure of hope and inspiration for millions of people around the world.

Feisty young lawyer, determined founder of the ANC's youth movement, militant commander, prisoner, president - his role in the fight for freedom was constantly evolving throughout his life.

Alongside mentor Walter Sisulu and great friend Oliver Tambo, he brought focus to the anti-apartheid campaign where it was needed, but became an enemy of the state in the process.

In 1963, already behind bars and facing the death penalty during a sabotage trial, Mr Mandela gave his famous "speech from the dock".

The words - combative, but measured and full of hope - signalled the emergence of the statesman who would become an icon of the 20th century.

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He said: "I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination.

"I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.

"It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

The apartheid government jailed Mr Mandela and his comrades for life in 1964 but they could not lock away the ideas he embodied and the righteousness of his cause.

To allies of South Africa's racist regime - including some in Britain - Mr Mandela remained for many years a "terrorist".

But for campaigners Mr Mandela's 27-year ordeal behind bars, often in a cramped cell on Robben Island or in solitary confinement, represented all that was wrong with apartheid.

Pressure to free "prisoner 46664" went hand-in-hand with diplomacy and sanctions as the world set its sights on ending the injustice of South Africa's racial rule.

The beaming smile and joyful raised fist as he walked free from Paarl's Victor-Verster Prison with his wife Winnie on February 11, 1990, proved beyond doubt to most South Africans that a dark chapter in the country's history was coming to a close.

As President from 1994, Mr Mandela sought to build his "Rainbow Nation" - feted by world leaders as he crossed the globe outlining his vision of a non-racial democracy.

His campaign to unite the nation - black and white - behind the victorious Springboks rugby team during the 1995 World Cup in South Africa made many believe that vision could really be achieved.

An often troubled and traumatic personal life - including the split from Winnie following her kidnapping and assault trial - was never allowed to eclipse the greater goal of guiding South Africa into a new era.

After retiring in 1999, Mr Mandela - fondly known by his tribal name "Madiba" - settled into the role of "Father of the Nation".

Passing on the presidency to Thabo Mbeki, he was happy taking a step back from the political frontline, but always there to reassure his people  - a symbol of hope until the end.

Nelson Mandela was born in 1918 into the Madiba tribal clan, part of the Thembu people, in a small village in the eastern Cape of South Africa.

Born Rolihlahla Dalibhunga, he was given his English name by a teacher, Miss Mdingane, at his first school. It was customary for all children to be given English names.

His father, a counsellor to the Thembu royal family, died when Mr Mandela was a child, and he was placed in the care of the acting regent of the Thembu people, chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo.

He joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944, first as an activist, then president of the ANC Youth League.

Mr Mandela married his first wife, Walter Sisulu's cousin Evelyn Mase, in 1944 and the couple went on to have four children during a 14-year marriage.

In 1952, he and friend Oliver Tambo opened South Africa's first black law firm, using their offices to take on many civil rights cases and mount challenges to the apartheid system.

Mr Mandela was first charged with high treason in 1956 following the adoption of the Freedom Charter in Soweto - a document with demands including multi-racial, democratic government and equal rights for blacks - but was cleared when the prosecution failed to prove he was using violence.

In 1958 he divorced Evelyn and married Winnie Madikizela, who later became prominent in the ANC and the campaign to free her husband.

He was convinced to take up arms against the government following the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre - when police shot dead 69 peaceful demonstrators who were protesting against the segregationist Pass Law, which limited the freedom of the black population.

The government followed the massacre by banning the ANC, cracking down on strikers and protesters and applying apartheid restrictions even more severely as a state of emergency was declared.

As commander-in-chief of the ANC's armed wing from 1961, Mr Mandela secretly left the country to raise money and undergo military training in Morocco, Algeria and Ethiopia.

He returned in July 1962, but was arrested at a road block after briefing the ANC leadership on his trip.

Mr Mandela stood trial for incitement and leaving the country without a passport and this time there was no chance of an acquittal as he was jailed for five years and sent to Robben Island Prison for the first time.

He was behind bars when a group of his comrades were arrested in 1963. They were charged with sabotage in what became known as the Rivonia Trial - named after the farm raided by police.

In June 1964 - following a lengthy trial condemned by the UN Security Council - Mr Mandela and seven other activists were sentenced to life in prison.

He remained imprisoned on the infamous Robben Island for 18 years before being transferred to Pollsmoor jail on the mainland in 1982.

In the space of 12 months between 1968 and 1969, his mother died and his eldest son was killed in a car crash, but he was not allowed to attend their funerals.

In 1980, Oliver Tambo, who was in exile in London, launched an international campaign to win Mr Mandela's release. International resolutions and rock concerts alike were harnessed to highlight the cause.

As the world community upped the pressure against South Africa, with the US approving tough economic sanctions in 1986, secret talks began between Mr Mandela and PW Botha's government.

In 1990, President FW de Klerk lifted the ban on the ANC - paving the way for Mr Mandela's release on February 11.

The ANC and ruling National Party began talks about forming a new non-racial democracy for South Africa.

Relations between Mr Mandela and Mr de Klerk grew tense against a backdrop of violence between ANC supporters and Chief Buthelezi's Inkatha movement.

But the two leaders continued to meet and in December 1993 they were both awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Five months later, for the first time in South Africa's history, all races voted in democratic elections and Mr Mandela became president - having himself voted in an election for the first time in his life.

As president, Mr Mandela entrusted much day-to-day government business to his deputy Thabo Mbeki.

While his time in office was hailed as a triumph in terms of building the new South Africa, there was criticism for a failure to tackle the Aids epidemic and conditions in the country's slum townships.

Mr Mandela divorced Winnie in 1996 and married 52-year-old Graca Machel two years later, on his 80th birthday.

Mr Mandela stepped down as president after the ANC's landslide victory in the national elections in the summer of 1999, in favour of Mr Mbeki.

After his retirement he continued travelling the world, meeting leaders, attending conferences and raising money for good causes.

With thousands of requests every year, his problem was fitting everything in and not exhausting himself.

In June 2004, aged 85, Mr Mandela announced he would be retiring from public life as he wanted to enjoy more time with his family.

But he did make an exception to speak out about his son Makgatho's death from Aids in 2005 - challenging the taboo that surrounds the disease in Africa.

The 2010 World Cup closing ceremony in Johannesburg was the world's last glimpse of the iconic leader in a public role.

He may have been looking frail, wrapped up against the cold and not speaking, but the famous smile as he basked in South Africa's success underlined how far his country had come.

In recent years he battled bouts of ill health, with South Africans struggling to come to terms with the reality that he could not go on forever.

Mr Mandela had hospital treatment in early 2012 for abdominal pain and then endured another 18-day stay at the end of the year suffering from gallstones and a chest infection.

A picture taken on February 2 at his Johannesburg home - showing him holding great-grandson Zen Manaway on his lap - proved to be the last time Nelson Mandela's millions of admirers saw the world's most famous smile.

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Sikh Gang Jailed Over Attack On Lt Gen Brar

Three Sikh men and a woman have received lengthy jail sentences after being convicted of slashing an elderly Indian military veteran in the neck in central London.

Lieutenant General Kuldeep Singh Brar, 78, who was involved in an operation against Sikh militants in Amritsar in 1984 that left around 1,000 people dead, was attacked by a gang of four during a visit to London.

He was walking with his wife on Old Quebec Street near Marble Arch when he was ambushed on September 30 last year.

Mandeep Singh Sandhu, 35, of Great Barr, Birmingham, and Dilbag Singh, 37, of no fixed abode, have been sentenced to 14 years in prison while Harjit Kaur, 39, of Hayes, Middlesex, was jailed for 11 years, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.

They were all found guilty of wounding with intent following a trial at Southwark Crown Court in July.

A third man - Barjinder Singh Sangha, 34, of Wolverhampton, had previously pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years today.

Singh Sangha had also been charged with the common assault of Meena Brar, Lt Gen's Brar's wife, but the offence was ordered to lie on file.

The victim's role in the Indian Army, overseeing "a number of military operations ... made him a target for Sikh extremist groups", the court heard.

The attack on the retired general was described as "highly premeditated".

Following a reconnaissance of the area where he was staying, Sangha grabbed the general's wife and held her by the throat against a wall while the others attacked Lt Gen Brar before Sangha also joined in.

The gang then fled on foot towards Oxford Street, leaving the elderly man lying on the ground with a 12-inch cut which ran across his jaw and neck and sliced through muscle. He was also treated in hospital for a three-inch cut to the jaw.

The subsequent investigation was carried out by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command (SO15).

Lt Gen Brar had been in the Indian Army for 40 years rising to the rank of Lt Gen and is well-known for his role in Operation Blue Star, which involved attacking the Golden Temple which is sacred to Sikhs.

He has survived several assassination attempts and still receives death threats, the court heard, but none of the defendants were accused of any other attacks.

Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the chief of the Indian Army General Arun Vaidya were among those assassinated in the aftermath of the operation.

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Teenager Stabbed In School By Fellow Pupil

A 15-year-old is in hospital after allegedly being stabbed at school by a fellow pupil, police say.

Officers were called to Eggbuckland Community College in Plymouth, Devon, this morning and the boy was taken to Derriford Hospital with a back injury.

It is not thought to be life threatening.

Police arrested a 14-year-old boy, also a student at the school, on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The stabbing took place this morning at Eggbuckland College

Superintendent Chris Singer, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said the suspect had been taken into police custody.

"We are investigating the circumstances of this incident and would like to reassure people that there is no danger to anyone else," Supt Singer said.

"The alleged weapon that was used has been seized and the suspect has been arrested."

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Glasgow Helicopter Crash: 'No Engine Failure'

A helicopter that crashed into a bar in Glasgow, killing nine people, did not suffer an engine failure, investigators have said.

An initial report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) found that "all significant components were present" when the police aircraft came down on the Clutha bar last month.

It also confirmed that while all rotor blades were attached at the time of impact, neither the main blades nor the tail blades were rotating.

"Initial evidence indicated that the helicopter struck the flat roof of the single-storey building with a high rate of descent and low/negligible forward speed," the report said.

It added: "Initial assessment provided no evidence of major mechanical disruption to either engine and indicated that the main rotor gearbox was capable of providing drive."

The crash left the police helicopter embedded in the roof of the Clutha

The AAIB said the helicopter suffered "very extensive damage" when it crashed through the roof of the bar on the banks of the River Clyde shortly after 10.20pm on November 29.

All three people on board the aircraft - pilot David Traill, 51, and police officers Kirsty Nelis, 36, and Tony Collins, 43 - were killed.

Six people inside the pub - Robert Jenkins, 61, Mark O'Prey, 44, Colin Gibson, 33, John McGarrigle, 57, Gary Arthur, 48, and Samuel McGhee, 56 - died as debris fell from the roof.

There was no fire, despite the helicopter containing at least 95 litres of fuel - around a quarter of the amount it took off with nearly two hours before.

The remains of the aircraft have been inspected at AAIB's headquarters in Farnborough, Hampshire, where a detailed examination continues.

Although the helicopter was not fitted with flight recorders, investigators are combing through radar data covering the flight, as well as radio communications and footage from CCTV cameras.

The AAIB's initial report revealed the pilot had significant experience, having flown more than 5,500 hours, including 646 behind the controls of the type of helicopter involved in the crash.

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Woolwich: 'I Am A Soldier And This Is A War'

One of the men accused of murdering off-duty soldier Lee Rigby has described himself as a "soldier" fighting a war.

Michael Adebolajo also spoke of his "love" for al Qaeda, telling the Old Bailey he considers members of the terrorist group to be his "brothers".

The 28-year-old was dressed in black and surrounded by five security guards.

Fusilier Rigby's relatives sat feet away as he spoke to the court.

The soldier's mother and widow left the hearing in tears as Mr Adebolajo described how he and co-defendant Michael Adebowale killed him.

He said he could see Drummer Rigby was still moving after he hit him with a car and that after striking at his head he used another knife to try and decapitate him.

He and Mr Adebowale, 22, are accused of murdering Fusilier Rigby by running him down with a car and then hacking him to death with a meat cleaver and knives near Woolwich Barracks in south east London on May 22.

Asked directly for his defence to the charge of murder, Adebolajo told the jury: "I am a soldier. I am a soldier of Allah and I understand that some people might not recognise this because we do not wear fatigues and we don't go to the Brecon Beacons to train.

"But we are still soldiers."

He told his counsel David Gottlieb that he considered al Qaeda to be "Mujahideen".

He said: "I love them, they're my brothers. I have never met them. I consider them my brothers in Islam."

Mr Adebolajo said he had been raised as a Christian by his parents, but grew frustrated with family visits to church and converted to Islam in his first year at the University of Greenwich.

He said that he held former Prime Minister Tony Blair responsible for the death of one of his childhood friends who had become a soldier but was killed by an IED blast in Iraq.

The jury has previously seen video of police interviewing Mr Adebolajo

Mr Adebolajo told the court that he took the name Mujahid, meaning fighter, in 2002 or 2003.

He told the court that the 2003 invasion of Iraq - particularly the "shock and awe" bombing campaign launched by the US - had been a big influence on him.

He said: "Growing up I never did think of killing a man. This is not the type of thing that the average child thinks of and I was no different.

"When a soldier joins the Army he perhaps has in his head an understanding that he will kill a man at some stage. When I became a mujahid I was aware that perhaps I might end up killing a soldier."

Mr Adebolajo told the jury that he used to attend demonstrations organised by Anjem Choudary's al Muhajiroun "in the hope it might make a difference".

He said that at one demonstration he was arrested and sent to prison for 51 days for assaulting a police officer.

In 2010 he tried to travel to Somalia but was captured in Kenya and brought back to the UK.

He told the jury that before Fusilier Rigby was killed, he and Mr Adebowale prayed to Allah that they would attack a soldier and not a civilian.

Mr Adebolajo said he handed a letter to an eyewitness in Woolwich to make it clear that the events happened "for one reason and one reason only - that's foreign policy".

He said: "The life of this one soldier might save the lives of many, many people, not just from Muslim lands but from this country."

He said he asked people at the scene at Woolwich Barracks to film him to "make it clear to everybody why the soldier lost his life" and "how this can be avoided in the future".

Mr Adebolajo and his co-defendant Mr Adebowale deny murdering Fusilier Rigby, attempting to murder a police officer and conspiracy to murder.

The trial continues.

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Snow Storm Brings Misery To Much Of US

A powerful storm has dropped snow, freezing rain and sleet on the Mid-Atlantic and the East Coast, blanketing some NFL playing fields and forcing thousands of flights to be cancelled.

The storm coated parts of Texas in ice, and struck the East Coast with unexpected force.

It left travellers stranded, slowing traffic on roads and leading to a number of accidents, and caused some power outages.

Arctic air plunged temperatures in much of the country, with the record low of -42F (-41C) reported in Jordan, Montana, on Saturday.

The storm turned NFL playing fields in Pennsylvania into winter wonderlands.

In Texas, the storm caused power outages and scrapped flights

The snow fell so heavily in Philadelphia on Sunday that yard markers at Lincoln Financial Field - where the Eagles beat the Detroit Lions - were completely obscured.

"Twenty-seven years I've been a season-ticket holder, I've never seen snow at the game like this," Philadelphia fan Dave Hamilton said.

"It just kept coming down."

It was almost as bad in Pittsburgh, where the snow intensified after kick-off.

Highways that ground to a halt over the weekend might be treacherous today, and travel problems were expected to linger for commuters.

More than 1,000 flights scheduled for today have already been scrapped, many from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

On Sunday, more than 2,500 were cancelled with thousands more delayed, according to estimates from the website Flightaware.com.

The forecast for today remains up in the air for the northeast, depending on how quickly the system moves and temperatures rise, according to the National Weather Service.

Much of Dallas was covered in ice

A winter storm warning was in effect in the morning for Washington DC and Baltimore, where freezing rain could cause power outages.

Slippery conditions were reported overnight in the New York City area, where a crash involved about 20 vehicles. No injuries were reported.

So far, one person has died in North Texas after a pick-up truck went off an icy bridge while four people have died of hypothermia in the San Francisco Bay area of California.

Heavy snow in the Philadelphia area has led to a fatal crash that involved some 50 vehicles.

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Mandela: South Africa Urged To Unite As Tribute

By Emma Hurd, Sky News Correspondent

President Jacob Zuma has urged South Africans to unite as the "rainbow nation" and remember the values Nelson Mandela stood for, as the country marks a day of "prayer and reflection" to honour the late icon.

It comes as Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Queen will be represented by the Prince of Wales at Mr Mandela's funeral on December 15.

President Zuma was speaking today at a service at the Bryanston Methodist Church in Johannesburg, where he was joined by Winnie Madikizela Mandela, the former statesman's second wife. 

Dressed in black, she was seated next to Mr Zuma and was clearly grief stricken in her first public appearance since Mr Mandela's death.

Addressing the congregation the South African President urged his country to remember that Nelson Mandela stood for freedom, reconciliation and unity. 

Jacob Zuma has urged South Africans to celebrate the icon's life

"He believed in caring and he cared for our nation. He believed in forgiving and he forgave those who kept him in jail for 27 years," Mr Zuma said.

South Africans have gathered in churches, synagogues and mosques across the country to join the tributes to the country's first black president ahead of a week of official celebrations and memorial services.

At the famous Regina Mundi Church in Soweto, Father Sebastian J. Rossouw described Mr Mandela as "moonlight," saying he offered a guiding light for South Africa.

Hundreds of people attended mass in the small church that still bears the scars of the conflict.

An impromptu shrine in Johannesburg

"Madiba did not doubt the light," Father Rossouw said. "He paved the way for a better future, but he cannot do it alone."

On Tuesday, a memorial service will be held at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, the place where Mr Mandela made his last public appearance at the World Cup final in 2010. 

At least 80,000 people are expected to attend, including President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron.

From Wednesday, crowds will line the streets in Pretoria as a funeral cortege carries the remains of the nation's first black President to lie in state at the Union Buildings, where people will be permitted to file past his body to pay their respects. 

Mourners outside Mr Mandela's home in in Johannesburg

The procession will be repeated for three days with the public urged to form a "guard of honour".

The focus will then switch to Nelson Mandela's ancestral home of Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, where the state funeral will be held on Sunday.

Mr Obama will again attend, along with hoards of other world leaders, joining the Mandela family in a public tribute before a private burial service.

Nelson Mandela left it to the South African people to decide how to celebrate his life and legacy.

He said once when asked how he wished to be remembered: "It would be very egotistical of me to say how I would like to be remembered. I'd leave that entirely to South Africans. I would just like a simple stone on which is written, 'Mandela'."

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Ice Storm: Temperatures Drop To -29C In US

Temperatures have plunged to -29C in parts of the US as a deadly cold snap continued to grip much of the country.

Montana and South Dakota saw -29C during the day on Saturday while much of the Midwest was hit by temperatures around -17C to -7C.

Wind chill readings could drop as low as -46C in northwestern Minnesota, weather officials said.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled from Dallas

So far, one person has died in North Texas after a pick-up truck went off of an icy bridge while four people have died of hypothermia in the San Francisco Bay area of California.

Half-a-dozen traffic-related deaths due to the weather were recorded in various states.

Icy conditions were expected to last through the weekend from Texas to Ohio to Tennessee, and Virginia officials warned residents of a major ice storm likely to take shape on Sunday, resulting in power outages and hazardous road conditions.

The harsh conditions caused a number of road deaths

Weather forecasters said the powerful weather system has Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic states in its icy sights next.

Treacherous sections of Interstate 35 north of Dallas were closed for hours at a time as tractor-trailers had trouble climbing hills, wrecks occurred and vehicles stalled, authorities said.

Some 400 departing flights from Dallas, Fort Worth International Airport were cancelled on Saturday morning, the airport said.    

The ice storm is now heading to the Eastern seaboard

About 3,330 passengers stayed overnight in the terminals.

"The weather, it's going to hold until probably after the weekend so I'm thinking I'm just going to hunker down," said Blaine Houserman, a stranded passenger.

More than 100,000 customers in the Dallas area were without power on Saturday, with about 7,000 in Oklahoma and thousands more in other states.

The weather forced the cancellation of countless events, including Sunday's Dallas Marathon, which was expected to draw 25,000 runners, and the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis, expected to include 20,000.

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Football Spot-Fixing Claims: Three In Custody

Three people are in custody and being questioned by police in connection over football spot-fixing allegations.

The  National Crime Agency, which is working closely with the Football Association and the Gambling Commission, confirmed it had launched its investigation after being contacted by the Sun on Sunday.

As part of its investigation, the Sun on Sunday recorded footage that appears to show players allegedly arranging spot-fixing.

Ex-Portsmouth defender Sam Sodje allegedly claimed he could arrange a yellow card booking in the Football League, in exchange for tens of thousands of pounds.

The former Premier League player and Nigerian international also allegedly told how he punched an opponent in the groin during a game earlier this year to get sent off in exchange for a £70,000 payout.

The Sun on Sunday

And he claimed he could rig Premier League games, and even said he was preparing to fix matches at next year's World Cup in Brazil.

Another player, Cristian Montano, for Oldham Athletic appears to explain in the video how he attempted to get booked during a match against Wolves, in return for cash.

The ex-West Ham player said: "From minute one I was hacking people down.

"People running past me and I would go clip.

"I run against one player and barged him."

Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey, said: "We treat any allegations of criminal activity in our competitions with the utmost seriousness.

"Given that there is an ongoing police investigation into this matter, we cannot comment further at this time.

"Although, we would encourage anyone with any evidence to report it to the police.

"We will be giving our full assistance to the police during their investigation."

The NCA said an active investigation is now under way.

The National Crime Agency is investigating separate fixing claims

A spokesman said: "Three people are in custody and are being questioned by NCA officers. We cannot comment further at this stage."

In a statement, Portsmouth Football Club said: "If these serious allegations are true, then we are extremely shocked and saddened by them, as match-fixing of any type goes to the heart of the integrity of the game.

"The player in question no longer plays for the club and we have not been contacted by the authorities, but of course we would cooperate fully with any inquiry."

The new probe comes after the NCA announced at the end of last month that it had launched a separate investigation into "a suspected international illegal betting syndicate".

Gambling on the matches is thought to have taken place on Asian-based betting services and so far investigators to do not believe British betting markets are involved.

That inquiry was launched after an undercover investigation by the Daily Telegraph newspaper, which recorded one alleged fixer offering to rig two games.

It is understood to involve clubs in the English Football Conference, the level below the Football League.

On Thursday, the NCA revealed that two footballers from Brighton-based Conference South team Whitehawk FC had been charged over match-fixing allegations.

Michael Boateng and Hakeem Adelakun, both 22 and from the Croydon area of south London, were charged with conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law.

The two men have been bailed to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on December 11.

They are the third and fourth people charged to date in connection with the NCA investigation into the alleged international illegal betting syndicate.

Chann Sankaran, 33, from Hastings, East Sussex, and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, 43, from Singapore, were charged on November 28 with plotting to defraud bookmakers.

Both were remanded in custody to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on December 13.

Sky News sports presenter Charlie Thomas said both NCA investigations were being carried out separately.

He added: "This is a situation that football has been fearing and had hoped it had nothing to do with football at all, but now it appears it is encroaching on the league as well as the non-league."

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'Slaves' Rescued In Bristol Police Raids

Three men, believed to be victims of slavery, have been "rescued" by police following a series of raids in the Bristol area.

Police officers raided three travellers' sites, a business unit, a house in South Gloucestershire and a house in Bristol.

Two people have been arrested on slavery offences and five others on suspicion of offences including money laundering and handling stolen goods.

A significant quantity of cash was found at one of the addresses.

Three male victims, one aged in his 30s, one in his 40s and one in his 50s, have been taken to a place of safety and are being offered support.

Avon and Somerset Police launched an investigation into forced labour and human trafficking five weeks ago following intelligence built up by CID.

Head of CID, Chief Superintendent Julian Moss, said: "This is an ongoing and dynamic inquiry; our primary aim is to safeguard and protect vulnerable victims.

"We know from talking with other police forces and charities such as Unseen that victims in such cases are often forced to live and work in poor and unsanitary conditions, sometimes with little or no pay.

"Some of those affected will not view themselves as victims and, even if they do, may have been unable to speak to the police or any other authorities for a variety of reasons."

South Gloucestershire NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, the National Crime Agency and specialist charities, such as anti-trafficking organisation Unseen and the Red Cross have all been involved in the operation.

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