North Korea: Kim Jong-Un Attends Huge Parade

North And South: A Quick History

Updated: 2:23pm UK, Thursday 25 July 2013

By Mark Stone, Asia Corespondent, in Pyongyang

On the Korean Peninsula there are two versions of history. The version people learn depends on whether they are North Korean or South Korean.

Either way though, understanding both versions is key to understanding this most unusual of countries: its quirks, its people, its politics and its government's ability to survive against the odds.

There is no logical reason why the land that makes up the Korean Peninsula should be split into two countries.

The people either side of the border speak the same language and have the same ancestors.

But since 1945, it has been two countries: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

From 1910 until the end of World War Two, the Korean Peninsula was Japanese territory.

With Japan's defeat, America and the Soviet Union took control of the peninsula.

They decided to split it in two: America didn't want the communist administration in Moscow to control the whole thing. Moscow felt the same about total American control.

And an agreement was reached between Washington and Moscow and an arbitrary line was simply drawn across the middle.

The North became The Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It adopted the communist ideology of its Soviet masters.

A young war hero called Kim Il-Sung became its prime minister.

The South adopted American-style democracy and became the Republic of Korea.

Just five years later though in 1950, Kim Il-Sung and his new army, backed by communist China and Russia, invaded the South.

Within months North Korean forces controlled almost the entire peninsula.

An American-led United Nations force fought back and the Korean War had begun.

Three years of fighting left well over a million people dead. Among them were soldiers from both Koreas, America, China, Russia and Britain.

But no side could claim victory. The border remained where it had been at the start - across the 38th Parallel - and to this day it is a heavily guarded and mined demilitarised zone.

In the decades that followed, the Soviet Union and China continued to prop up the North.

Inside the closed country, Kim Il-Sung's government controlled information and adopted their own version of history which states that the US-backed South Koreans invaded the North.

In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed. North Korea had lost its main communist ally and trading partner.

The 1990s were dominated by a catastrophic famine in which millions died. A once strong country began to crumble.

And yet the country remained cut off, shunning most Western offers of help.

Kim Il-Sung, at his death in 1994, was declared Eternal President.

His son Kim Jong-Il ensured continuity and - on his death in 2011 - the leadership was assumed by his son, Kim Jong-Un.

And so through extreme control and isolation spanning 65 years, the Kim dynasty has cemented its cult of personality through which the state is still run.

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Egypt: 'Dozens Killed' As Rallies Turn Violent

At least 70 people have been killed after security forces attacked a protest by supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi in Cairo, according to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Doctors at a field hospital said another 1,000 people had been wounded in clashes on the road to Cairo's international airport.

"They are not shooting to wound, they are shooting to kill," Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gehad El-Haddad said, adding that demonstrators had been hit by gunshot in the head and chest.

He said the shooting started just before pre-dawn prayers at a round-the-clock sit-in staged by Morsi supporters at Rabaa al-Adawiya in east Cairo.

Protesters set off flares in a mass protest in support of the army in Cairo

Activists rushed blood-spattered casualties to the makeshift hospital, some carried on planks or blankets. Many had fatal head wounds.

A Reuters reporter at the scene counted 36 bodies at an improvised morgue.

Amid claims that rooftop snipers had opened fire on the vigil, Egypt's interior ministry blamed the Brotherhood for the violence.

An Apache helicopter flies over Tahrir Square during the protests

The MENA state news agency, quoting an unnamed security official, reported that nine people had been killed in the violence and at least 200 wounded.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement that he was "deeply concerned" by the violence.

He said: "I am deeply concerned by recent events in Egypt, and condemn the use of force against protesters which has led to the loss of lives."

Protesters stand on power lines near Cairo's presidential palace

The violence broke out as rival rallies were held across Egypt for and against the overthrow of Mr Morsi, who is under investigation for murder.

Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians heeded a call by army chief General Abdel Fattah al Sisi to take to the streets, while the Muslim Brotherhood mounted counter-demonstrations in Cairo.

A spokeswoman for the pro-Morsi camp said eight Brotherhood supporters had died in a clash near the Cairo vigil alone, and another said rooftop snipers had opened fire.

Lasers are pointed at an army helicopter near the palace

At least 10 people have also been killed in Egypt's second city of Alexandria, where hundreds of people fought pitched battles, with birdshot fired and men on rooftops throwing stones at crowds below.

Several of those killed were stabbed, hospital officials said, and at least one was shot in the head.

The investigation into Mr Morsi over his 2011 escape from jail has signalled a clear escalation in the military's confrontation with the deposed leader and his Islamist movement.

MENA said Mr Morsi, who has been held at an undisclosed military facility since his overthrow, had been ordered detained for 15 days pending the inquiry.

Egypt's army-installed interior minister, Mohamed Ibrahim, said month-old Cairo vigils by Mr Morsi's supporters would be "brought to an end, soon and in a legal manner".

An army official said the military had given the party a Saturday deadline to end its resistance and join a military-set roadmap to fresh elections.

But the Brotherhood says it wants nothing to do with the army's transition plan and called its own crowds out for counter-demonstrations in a "day to remove the coup".

Mr Morsi has been in military detention at an undisclosed location since he was overthrown.

UN leader Ban Ki-moon has called on the military to free Mr Morsi and other Islamic Brotherhood leaders, said deputy UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey.

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Train Crash Driver Held For Reckless Homicide

The driver of a speeding train that hurtled off the rails killing 78 people in Spain has been detained for "reckless homicide", according to the country's Interior Minister.

Speaking at a news conference in the northwestern city of Santiago de Compostela where the accident happened, Jorge Fernandez Diaz said: "He has been detained since 7:40pm on Thursday for the alleged crimes of reckless homicide."

The driver, named by local media as 52-year-old Francisco Jose Garzon Amo, was arrested in the hospital where he is recovering after one of Europe's worst rail disasters. He has been under police guard since the crash on Wednesday evening.

He was due to appear before a judge in the Galicia region today but his appearance has been delayed because he remains in hospital. He is thought to have sustained minor injuries in the crash, with pictures showing him being led away from the scene with a bloodied head.

The delay means a further wait to hear his official explanation for the devastating crash. The train was said to have been travelling at more than twice the speed limit on a curve when it hurtled off the rails and slammed into a concrete wall, with one carriage leaping up onto a siding.

Meanwhile, doctors are continuing to try to identify the last three of the 78 passengers killed in the catastrophe. 

More follows...

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Tunisia Killing Sparks Strikes And Protests

Tunisia's biggest trade unions have threatened a wave of strikes that could cause chaos in a country already braced for widespread demonstrations.

It follows the assassination of opposition leader Mohammed Brahmi, which threatened to plunge Tunisia into fresh political turmoil.

Thousands of people gathered outside the interior ministry in the capital Tunis, as protesters blamed the Islamist party Ennahda for the MP's killing.

Mohammed Brahmi was gunned down outside his home in Tunis

The accusation was rejected by party leader Rached Ghannouchi, who described Mr Brahmi's death as "a catastrophe for Tunisia".

"Those behind this crime want to lead the country towards civil war and to disrupt the democratic transition," he said.

Prime minister Ali Larayedh added: "I condemn in the strongest terms this odious crime which targets the whole of Tunisia and its security."

Further demonstrations are planned across Tunisia as Mr Brahmi's funeral takes place, while a strike called by the General Union of Tunisian Labour in protest at "terrorism, violence and murders" could further inflame tensions.

A day of mourning has been declared and national airline Tunisair has cancelled all flights.

There are similarities between Mr Brahmi's death and that of Chokri Belaid, another opposition figure, who was gunned down outside his home in February.

His assassination sparked a political crisis, mass protests and the resignation of then-prime minister Hamadi Jebali.

Mohamed Brahmi's daughter Belkaeis reacts to her father's death

"Our family had the feeling Mohamed would suffer the same fate as Chokri Belaid," Mr Brahmi's sister Chhiba said.

Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring, is struggling with a democratic transition after the overthrow of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.

The country is led by Ennahda, which rules in a coalition with two secular parties.

However, the opposition has criticised the party for not cracking down on hardline Islamists, who have been blamed for many acts of violence in the last few years.

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Egypt: Army And Morsi Camp Showdown Looms

A deeply polarised Egypt is braced for bloodshed ahead of rival mass rallies called by the army and Islamists who back the ousted president Mohamed Morsi.

Army chief General Abdel Fattah al Sisi has summoned Egyptians to the streets in an intended turning point in its confrontation with followers of Mr Morsi, the elected leader the military removed on July 3.

Mr Sisi said he wanted Egyptians to give the military a "mandate" to take the necessary measures against "violence and terrorism".

It comes as the country's state news agency reported Mr Morsi had been detained over accusations he killed soldiers and conspired with the Palestinian group Hamas.

Mr Sisi delivered his call in full military uniform and dark sunglasses

The claims were dismissed as "ridiculous" by his Muslim Brotherhood party, which has been camped out at street vigils calling for his reinstatement.

An army official said the military has given the party a Saturday deadline to end its resistance and join a military-set roadmap to fresh elections.

But the Brotherhood says it wants nothing to do with the army's transition plan and has called its own crowds out for counter-demonstrations in a "day to remove the coup".

Mr Morsi has been in military detention at an undisclosed location since he was overthrown.

UN leader Ban Ki-moon has called on the military to free Mr Morsi and other Islamic Brotherhood leaders, said deputy UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey.

Mr Ban also says he "urges all sides to act with maximum restraint" during the demonstrations.

A Morsi supporter (C) is chased by those backing the army earlier this week

Both the army and the Muslim Brotherhood dramatically escalated rhetoric in the lead-up to the rallies, following a month of clashes in which about 200 people, mainly supporters of Mr Morsi, have died.

The army has threatened to "turn its guns" on those who use violence.

In a Facebook post, the army said it will not "turn its guns against its people, but it will turn them against black violence and terrorism which has no religion or nation".

An army official told Reuters: "We will not initiate any move, but will definitely react harshly against any calls for violence or black terrorism from Brotherhood leaders or their supporters."

The main anti-Morsi youth protest group, which has backed the army, said it would go to the streets to "cleanse Egypt".

Thousands have been holding vigils calling for Mr Morsi's reinstatement

The Muslim Brotherhood accused the army of pushing the nation towards civil war and committing a crime worse than destroying Islam's holiest site.

The Brotherhood also claims the authorities have been stirring up the violence to justify their crackdown.

The rallies are expected to peak after the evening prayer marking the end of the day's Ramadan fast.

Police said they were planning large-scale reinforcements and the Interior Ministry said it would undertake "unprecedented measures to protect citizens and their property".

The head of the army, Mr Sisi, was appointed by Mr Morsi in a bid by the president to rein in Egypt's all-powerful military.

Anti-Morsi protesters with a poster of Mr Sisi

But Mr Sisi turned against him after a year in which the Egyptian economy floundered and support for Mr Morsi slumped.

Posters of the general have since appeared in shops and stalls across Cairo.

The US - which has close ties with Egypt's military - said it was "very concerned" by Mr Sisi's call for mass rallies.

After Mr Sisi's comments, the US announced it would suspend a delivery of F-16 warplanes.

The country remains deeply split over Mr Morsi's ousting.

The Brotherhood accuses the army of ejecting a democratically elected leader in a long-planned coup, while its opponents say the army responded to the will of the people.

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'Reckless' Train Crash Driver Held By Police

Police have formally detained the driver of a train that derailed in northwestern Spain, killing at least 78 passengers and injuring another 130.

Galicia region National Police Chief Jaime Iglesias said driver Francisco Jose Garzon Amo was officially detained in the hospital where is recovering.

Mr Iglesias said Garzon would be questioned  "as a suspect for a crime linked to the cause of the accident". It was also claimed he was being held for "recklessness".

The 52-year-old driver is being guarded by police and cannot yet testify because of his medical condition, the police chief said. He did not have any further details of his state of health but said that it could delay his statement.

Sky News understands Garzon's condition is not serious, although pictures and video footage have emerged of him being led away from the crash scene with his head covered in blood. Other images show the engine cabin was largely intact compared to the rest of the train.

Mr Garzon boasted about speeding on his Facebook page

As data from the train's black box recorder was being examined, early indications suggested the train may have been travelling at more than twice the speed limit at the time of the crash on Wednesday night.

The eight-carriage train came off the tracks on a bend, hit a wall and caught fire just outside the pilgrimage destination Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain.

The train entered the bend at 190 km per hour (120mph), according to local media reports. The speed limit on the curve was 80km per hour (50mph).

As the investigation turned its focus more and more towards human error, the Spanish press revealed that immediately after the derailment Garzon allegedly said to officials at the railway station 3km from the crash: "I ***** up, I want to die. So many people dead, so many people dead."

Witnesses are also reported to have heard the driver shout into a phone: "I've derailed! What do I do?"

An official inspects the train's engine

A judge in Santiago de Compostela, capital of the region of Galicia, has ordered police to take a statement from the driver.

As his country mourned, it emerged that Garzon is thought to have boasted on his Facebook page about how fast he was driving a train in March last year.

The driver posted a picture of a train speedometer at 200kph (124mph) on the social networking site. His Facebook page has since been blocked.

"What a blast it would be to go parallel with the Guardia Civil (Spanish police) and go past them triggering the radar. Haha what a fine for Renfe (Spanish rail operator) haha," he wrote on what is believed to be his Facebook page.

There was a second driver on the train, but it is believed Mr Garzon was the only driver at the time. He is understood to have taken control of the train from a second driver about 65 miles (104km) south of Santiago de Compostela.

Staff from a hospital treating the injured hold a minute's silence

According to reports, one of the drivers realised what was about to happen before the crash and made a desperate call to Renfe ahead of the bend, saying: "I'm going at 190kmh, I'm going to derail."

In a second call to Renfe after the accident, the driver explained that he was trapped in the train.

"We are human, we are human," he is reported to have said. "I hope there are no dead because they would fall on my conscience."

Two investigations are being carried out into the catastrophe - one to look into possible failings by the driver and the other to examine the train's in-built speed regulation systems and see if it was a technical malfunction that meant the driver was not warned of the reduced speed limit around the bend.

Many questions remain unanswered about what went wrong, with some experts claiming that high speed alone would not explain the crash and speculation that the train's braking systems might have failed.

An aerial view of the carnage caused by the derailment

Reporting from the scene, Sky News Europe Correspondent Robert Nisbet said investigators would be focusing on the statements made by the driver immediately after the derailment.

Nisbet pointed to further reports from Spanish media suggesting the driver had told officials at Santiago de Compostela train station that an electronic warning signal was flashing inside the driver's cabin to indicate he was going too fast.

"He is said to have pressed a button to acknowledge the warning but still apparently did not slow down," Nisbet said.

State train company Renfe said Garzon had been at the firm for 30 years and he had been driving trains for more than a decade. He became an assistant driver in 2000 and a fully qualified driver in 2003.

Garzon is understood to have been on the crash route - from Madrid to Ferrol - for a year, after receiving training specific to that line.

The impact was so huge one carriage flew several metres into the air

Meanwhile, medical experts are continuing to try to identify 13 of the victims as distraught families continue to wait for news about their loved ones.

DNA tests are expected to be carried out on those with catastrophic injuries to identify them, with results available in the coming days.

The victims of the crash included a US citizen and a Mexican. At least one British citizen and four children were among the 130 people injured. Just over 30 of those in hospital are still critically ill.

Video footage from a security camera showed the train, which had 247 people on board, hurtling into a concrete wall at the side of the track.

The impact was so huge one carriage flew several metres into the air and landed on the other side of a concrete barrier.

Relatives of passengers on the train wait for news of their loved ones

The Alvia 730 series train was travelling from Madrid to the port city of Ferrol when it crashed about 8.40pm local time - 7.40pm UK time - on Wednesday.

The crash occurred on the eve of a major Christian religious festival honouring St James, the disciple of Jesus whose remains are said to rest in a shrine.

Many of the dead or injured were believed to be Catholic pilgrims converging on the city.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was born in Santiago de Compostela, visited the scene of the crash on Thursday and declared three days of official mourning across the country.  King Juan Carlos also visited one of the hospitals where many passengers are being treated.

Local reaction to the crash has been such that an appeal for blood donations resulted in hospitals having to turn people away because they could not cope with the demand. Many local hotels are also offering free rooms to relatives of those involved.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy visits the scene of the crash

Wednesday's train crash is the worst Spain has experienced since a three-train accident in a tunnel in the northern Leon province in 1944.

Due to heavy censorship at the time, the exact death toll for the Torre del Bierzo disaster has never been established.

The official figure was given as 78 dead, but it is thought that as many as 250 could have been killed.

There was another serious accident in Spain in 1972 when a Madrid to Cadiz express collided head-on with a local train on the outskirts of Seville. A total of 77 people died, with more than 100 injured.

The latest crash - one of the worst ever in Europe - comes less than two weeks after six people were killed and scores injured in a train crash just south of Paris.

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Spain Train Crash: Footage Of Disaster Emerges

The moment a train derailed killing at least 78 people in Spain has been caught by security cameras at the side of the tracks.

The train entered a sharp bend at high speed, then came off the tracks, smashing into a wall running alongside the rails, the video showed.

Survivors have described carriages flipping and bursting into flames after the derailment just outside Santiago de Compostela, a popular pilgrimage city in northwestern Spain.

More than 130 people, including a Briton, were hurt in the crash. About 20 were reported in a critical condition.

Some carriages were lifted from the tracks

Officials have opened an investigation, as local media report the train was travelling at twice the speed limit.

According to El Pais newspaper, a driver who was caught inside the carriages after the crash reported the train had been travelling at almost 120mph (190kph) when it entered the curve.

"I'm going at 190!" he is quoted as saying by the Spanish newspaper.

The speed limit on that section of track is 50mph (80kph), El Pais said.

The Reuters news agency reported that one of the drivers had been put under investigation.

More follows...

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Bo Xilai Charged With Bribery And Corruption

Disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai has been charged with bribery, corruption and abuse of power.

Bo, who is accused of multiple counts of corruption and misuse of office, has been in custody since his dramatic downfall almost exactly a year ago.

He was formerly the Communist Party chief of Chongqing.

His wife, Gu Kailai, was convicted of the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood last year.

She was sentenced to life in prison for poisoning Mr Heywood in a Chongqing hotel room in November 2011.

More follows...

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Kim Jong-Un: Western Media Get Rare Glimpse

By Mark Stone, Asia Correspondent, in Pyongyang

The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un, has made a rare public appearance in front of Western journalists.

Mr Kim appeared, unannounced, at an event in the capital Pyongyang to mark the opening of a new war cemetery.

A delegation of journalists from around the world, including a team from Sky News, has been granted unusual access to the reclusive country as it prepares to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.

Kim Jong-Un opened the new war cemetery

We arrived at the war cemetery on a bus from the hotel we are instructed to stay in for the duration of our trip.

Our destination remained a mystery as we drove through early morning Pyongyang mist.

On arrival at the cemetery, immaculately built into a hillside just outside the capital city, security was tight but there was still little to suggest that the leader himself might appear.

Many people attended the ceremony

Then, shortly before 9am local time, he strolled onto the parade ground in front of the cemetery to loud applause.

The extraordinary devotion for the leader among the people we saw seemed entirely genuine.

But then people are only granted permission to live in Pyongyang if they are considered, through remarkable background checks, to be loyal.

Among the key figures there was his aunt Kim Kyong Hui

Mr Kim was surrounded by generals and other senior regime figures including his aunt, Kim Kyong Hui, who is the sister of the former leader Kim Jong-Il.

She is thought to hold significant back-room regime power but had been rumoured to be critically ill. Her appearance on Thursday was the first for many months.

We arrived in the country on a charter plane from the Chinese capital Beijing on Wednesday night.

The Sky News team was taken by bus to the event

Operating as journalists in North Korea is strictly controlled and monitored.

Each broadcaster or newspaper is assigned two so-called guides. In reality they are minders. There are two so that they can watch each other as well as us, such is the level of suspicion here.

Pyongyang is a beautiful city surrounded by green hills. Vast soviet-like buildings dominate the landscape and everywhere are portraits of the founder of the nation, Kim Il-Song, and his son, Kim Jong-Il, both now dead.

Two minders at the ceremony

Immaculately dressed traffic police stand in street corners but with no traffic to control. This is one of the most sanctioned countries in the world. It is also one of the poorest.

Ancient trolley-buses limp along but most people seem to walk everywhere. There is little chance of speaking at random to them, though.

An elderly woman makes her way around the cemetery

Our minders - themselves being controlled by an invisible state machine - politely tell us where we can go and who we can talk to.

And so it is extremely hard to get under the skin of this place.

:: Sky News will be broadcasting from inside North Korea for the next five days and are operating under the supervision of the North Korean government.

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Hot Air Balloon Crash Caught On Camera

A hot air balloon carrying 11 people has crashed into a lake in the Netherlands, injuring two people.

Dramatic footage taken by a passerby shows the aircraft coming down in Lake Gooi, near the city of Almere, and its basket being dragged along until it hits the shore.

The basket remains on its side in the water while the edge of the balloon dips and comes down on a road alongside the lake in front of a travelling car.

Witnesses can be seen rushing to help the passengers in the stricken balloon.

Dutch emergency services, including two coastguard boats, police, firefighters and ambulances, were alerted to the accident and attended the scene.

The two people hurt were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The cause of the crash, which happened at around 9.40pm on Tuesday, is unknown. It is being investigated by police and the Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ETI).

Almere is situated in central Flevoland province, east of Amsterdam.

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Bulgarian Police Rescue Besieged MPs

Violent clashes broke out after hundreds of protesters barricaded Bulgaria's politicians inside the parliament building as demonstrations in the country intensified.

Protesters build barricades outside the parliament building

Nearly 10 people had to be taken to hospital to be treated for injuries, including two police officers, after 2,000 people took to the streets of the capital of Sofia.

Police armed with shields and batons had to rescue 100 lawmakers who had been trapped inside the besieged building for more than eight hours.

Officers attempt to escort the politicians to safety

Officers tried to escort the politicians out by bus but anti-corruption protesters, shouting  "mafia" and "resign", hurled plastic bottles at the bus.

Thousands of Bulgarians have taken to the streets of the capital every day for 40 days since the government announced the appointment of a powerful media magnate as security chief.

Protesters outside the building in the capital of Sofia

The protesters see the move as an increasing example of private interests controlling state institutions.

The government's withdrawal of the appointment last month failed to quell public discontent in the EU's poorest country and protesters are now calling for the cabinet's resignation.

A woman faces down riot police

Interior minister Tsvetlin Yovchev: "Police reacted very adequately, policemen did their job perfectly although protesters behaved extremely aggressively.

"We will try to find those who threw stones at police and deputies."

Violent clashes break out between protesters and police

Authorities say seven protesters had to be treated for head injuries and two police officers were also hurt.

The president, Rosen Plevneliev, has appealed to protesters and police to keep the demonstrations peaceful.

More peaceful demonstrators play the piano

In a statement he said: "I appeal to the protesters to keep the protest the way it was and the way it impressed all Europe - peaceful, civilised and aimed at achieving the values of a democratic society."

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School Meal Deaths: Headteacher Surrenders

The school headmistress at the centre of one of India's deadliest food poisoning outbreaks in years has handed herself in to the police.

Meena Devi was taken into police custody in the eastern state of Bihar, according to reports.

Police have been searching for the headmistress for more than a week in connection with the deaths of 23 children who died after eating a school meal contaminated with a pesticide that is banned in many countries.

Police say she is key to solving the mystery of how the pesticide ended up in the food.

Thirty other children became seriously ill after eating the free school lunch on July 16.

Results of tests on Tuesday of blood samples from four children still in a critical condition after eating the contaminated school meal indicated "acute poisoning".

The food, served at the school in Bihar as part of an Indian government scheme, contained a toxic substance, according to the tests carried out at a clinic in Mumbai.

An unnamed government official said: "The poisonous substance was more than five times the commercial preparation available on the market."

A forensic report earlier showed the oil that the food was cooked in contained the pesticide monocrotophos at very high levels.

The World Health Organisation revealed it had asked India to ban the toxic substance as far back as 2009.

It also warned that pesticide containers were not being disposed of properly in India and were being used by the poor to store water and food.

The children who died were aged between four and 10.

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LaGuardia Plane Crash: Ten People Injured

Ten people have been injured after a plane's landing gear collapsed as it touched down at an airport in New York.

The accident left the Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 with its nose resting on the runway at LaGuardia.

It forced the temporary closure of the airport, which mostly handles flights to and from other US cities.

Some 150 people were on board at the time.

The airline confirmed the emergency services had helped with the evacuation of the passengers and crew of Flight 345 from Nashville.

Thomas Bosco, the acting director of aviation at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said the nose gear of the plane collapsed when it landed at 5.40pm.

Investigators are examining the potential cause of the crash

"The aircraft skidded down the runway on its nose and then veered off and came to rest in the grass area," he said, adding that there was no advance warning of any possible problem before the landing.

Television images showed the plane with its nose angled down to the ground and its evacuation slides out. The fuselage was surrounded by emergency vehicles.

Passengers on board the plane saw sparks flying as the nose scraped along the runway, according to accounts given to waiting relatives and friends.

One passenger, Anniebell Hanna, said the flight had been delayed leaving Nashville. Passengers had heard an announcement saying "something was wrong with a tyre".

She said of the landing at LaGuardia: "When we got ready to land, we nosedived. I hit my head against the seat in front of me."

The 43-year-old was among the first to get off the plane, and could smell something burning when she slid down the chute to the tarmac.

Planes scheduled to fly to LaGuardia were held at their origin airports, while those already en route were diverted to New York's other hubs, Newark and JFK, contributing to long delays.

All take-offs were suspended for more than two hours after the accident, but airport officials were aiming to have both runways fully functional on Tuesday.

The incident came 16 days after Asiana Flight 214 crash-landed at San Francisco's international airport. Three Chinese teenagers died as a result of the Boeing 777 crash, with dozens more people injured.

AskthePilot.com's Patrick Smith said landing gear incidents are not high on the list of worries for pilots.

"It doesn't happen very often, but I need to emphasise just how comparatively minor this is and how far, far down the hierarchy it is," he said.

"From a pilot's perspective, this is nearly a non-issue. They make for good television, but this is far down the list of nightmares for pilots."

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Royal Baby: Reaction From Around The World

New grandparents the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have popped the bubbly as world leaders and celebrities toast the birth of the new Royal baby.

The pair were met by cheering crowds of well-wishers on a visit to the village of Bugthorpe in East Yorkshire.

Prince Charles said he was "thrilled and very excited" after the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a baby boy and told how he had celebrated the news.

One resident in the flag and bunting-draped village told Charles: "We popped a bottle of bubbly last night at our house. I hope you did too."

The Prince replied: "Yes. But just a little bit."

The US leader said the prince had been born in a time of new opportunity

Messages of congratulations have been sent from around the world, with Barack Obama saying the new prince had been born "at a time of promise and opportunity" between Britain and America.

The US President said he and First Lady Michelle Obama wished Prince William and his wife "all the happiness and blessings parenthood brings".

US entertainer Ellen DeGeneres added her congratulations

US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who was recently informed by the New England Genealogical Society that she is a distant relative of the Duchess, tweeted her congratulations.

"It's a boy! So happy for my cousin Kate and the future King of England," she wrote.

Other celebrities also offered their best wishes on Twitter.

Comedian Joan Rivers said: "Congratulations to Kate & William on the birth of their baby boy! So relieved that his name won't include the words Ivy or Apple."

Actor Stephen Fry poked fun at how news of the Royal baby was announced outside Buckingham Palace, tweeting: "The official easel. We really are a marvellously bonkers country."

Cheryl Cole said she was delighted at the news

TV star Cheryl Cole wrote: "Congratulations to William and Kate!! So happy they have a healthy baby and everyone is good. Can't wait to see him now."

In the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Parliament Hill was illuminated with blue lights - as were the country's famous Niagara Falls.

Canada's Governor General was among the first international dignitaries to congratulate the couple as their first day of parenting began.

He used Twitter to send a message to Clarence House, saying: "Wonderful news!"

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the arrival of a future sovereign of Canada was a "highly anticipated moment for Canadians given the special and warm relationship that we share with our Royal Family".

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also offered his congratulations, saying: "This is bright and and wonderful news for both England and the world."

Australian PM Kevin Rudd welcomed the Royal "bub" in a statement

A spokesman for the Russian President said: "Vladimir Putin congratulated the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Elizabeth II on the birth of her grandson and wished her good health of the newborn, the Duchess of Cambridge and all the members of the Royal Family."

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said: "I think all Australians at the bottom of their hearts wish the Royal bub all the best, and certainly wish the new parents all the best as well.

"When a new bub comes into the world, any old day, any part of the world, it is frankly a time for rejoicing."

He also announced the country's quirky gift to the baby prince - a research project examining the bilby, an Australian marsupial.

"In terms of cute and cuddly toys, it'll be a cute and cuddly bilby," he said.

The story led many of the US news networks' bulletins

Royalist group Monarchy New Zealand said it had organised a lightshow, with 40 buildings lit up in blue, including Sky Tower in Auckland, and the airport in Christchurch.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said: "It's a fabulous day for the young couple. They'll be very excited as new parents as indeed I think New Zealanders will be very excited on their behalf.

"I mean, this is a future king of New Zealand. I think it's a moment to stay for them and we'll be celebrating alongside them as they bring their new one into the world."

Residents in Jamaica and Barbados, both members of the Commonwealth, also congratulated the couple.

"Well it's good to know that a baby is born and it's of royalty. It means a lot to us, not only to me, but I guess to most of the Jamaican people," said Kingston resident Pauline Wilson.

Media outlets around the world have been gripped by the arrival of the Royal baby.

Britain's biggest selling newspaper changed its name in honour

The story has featured highly on most foreign news channels and websites, with many focusing on the image of a town crier announcing the birth in London.

It also sparked a frenzy of excitement on Twitter which spread rapidly across the world.

There have been more than two million mentions of the baby's arrival on the site, with the hashtag #RoyalBaby being used more than 900,000 times.

A spike in conversation on Twitter came at 8.37pm, in the minutes following the initial announcement, with more than 25,300 tweets per minute.

Andy Murray's historic win beat Royal baby news on Twitter

But it failed to generate the same flurry of activity as Andy Murray's historic Wimbledon victory, which amassed 120,000 tweets per minute, or the election of Pope Francis, which sparked a massive 132,000 tweets per minute.

A Twitter spokesman said the Royal baby reaction may not yet have reached its peak, with a surge expected when the Duke and Duchess show their son to the world and announce his name.

The baby may become the head of state of 16 countries, including Britain, Australia and Canada, and possibly the head of the Commonwealth, which covers 54 nations.

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Pope In Brazil: Thousands Mob Pontiff's Car

Thousands of Brazilians mobbed the Pope's car after his driver went the wrong way down a street in Rio de Janeiro.

Rio transportation secretary Carlos Osorio said the Fiat that Francis was riding in from the airport to the city centre turned into the wrong side of the 12-lane Avenida Presidente Vargas.

Instead of taking the left lanes that were free of traffic, the car turned into the right lanes cluttered with buses and taxis, forcing the pontiff's car to stop, he said.

Thousands who had lined the streets then rushed the car, reaching into the Pope's open window, many taking photos of him.

His secretary was not happy during the incident

Vatican spokesman the Reverend Federico Lombardi acknowledged that the Pope's motorcade took a wrong turn, but said the pontiff was never concerned for his safety, even if his secretary, who was sitting with him in the car, was.

"His secretary was afraid, but the Pope was happy, with his hand out the window waving," Rev Lombardi said.

"There are no concerns for security. The concerns are that the enthusiasm is so great that it's difficult to respond to so much enthusiasm for the Pope. But there is no fear and no concern."

The Pope later toured round the main streets In Rio

Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, who is on a seven-day trip to his home continent, then switched to an open-air Popemobile as he toured the main streets in central Rio.

At the official welcoming ceremony, Pope Francis said he had come "to meet young people from all over the world" attracted by the messages of Jesus.

During his stay, the 76-year-old will meet young Catholics gathering for the Church's World Youth Festival in Rio.

Police fire rubber bullets at protesters

More than one million people are expected to pack the white sands of Copacabana for ceremonies presided over by Pope Francis. He will also visit a tiny chapel in a slum and make a side trip to venerate Brazil's patron saint, Our Lady of Aparecida.

The Pope will be hoping his visit will galvanise support for the Roman Catholic Church in Brazil.

In 1970 some 90% of Brazilians identified themselves as Catholic, but a poll at the weekend suggested that number was now down to 57%, with an increasing number of people joining evangelical groups.

Pope Francis meeting Brazil president Dilma Rousseff

Police and anti-government protesters earlier clashed outside the palace hosting the Pope's welcoming ceremony.

About an hour after the Pope concluded his short speech, police began cracking down on the protests, firing rubber bullets in an effort to disperse the crowd.

The protests, the latest in a series of demonstations in Brazil over the past few weeks, focused on government corruption and the cost of Pope Francis' visit, said to be in the region of £33m.

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China: Twin Earthquakes Leave Dozens Dead

Two earthquakes have struck in China killing at least 75 people and injuring 400, according to the local government.

Emergency workers carry the injured to safety

The twin quakes hit near the city of Dingxi in Gansu province, a region of mountains, desert and pastureland with a population of 26 million.

An official at the provincial earthquake bureau said: "More than 21,000 buildings were severely damaged and more than 1,200 have collapsed."

Some 21,000 buildings have been damaged by the quakes

The most recent figures given for the number killed and injured came from the local government in Dingxi, who posted the details on their verified social media account.

The first 5.9-magnitude quake struck at 7.45am (11.45pm GMT) in the Gansu province and the second, measuring 5.6-magnitude, hit in the same region at 9.12am, according to the US Geological Survey.

Rescue teams move in looking for people under the debris

A resident of Min county said he was at work at a medicine production plant when the tremor struck and he saw tower blocks shake "ferociously".

"I was in the workshop. I felt violent shaking and so I ran to the yard of the plant immediately," said the man, surnamed Ma.

"Our factory is only one floor. When I came to the yard, I saw an 18-storey building, the tallest in our county, shaking ferociously, especially the 18th floor."

A woman is given water as she waits to be taken to safety

Shaking was felt in the provincial capital of Lanzhou 110 miles north, and as far away as Xi'an, 250 miles to the east.

"You could see the chandeliers wobble and the windows vibrating and making noise, but there aren't any cracks in the walls," said a front desk clerk at the Wuyang Hotel in Zhang County, about 25 miles from the epicentre.

"Shop assistants all poured out onto the streets when the shaking began."

Two earthquakes his the Gansu province

The quake was shallow, which can be more destructive. The first quake was 9km deep while the second was 10km deep.

Dingxi is about 766 miles west of Beijing.

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Woman Jailed Over Dubai Rape Claim Pardoned

A Norwegian woman who was jailed for 16 months in Dubai after she reported she had been raped, has had her sentence overturned.

Marte Dalelv, 24, told police she had been attacked by a male colleague, but was herself charged with extra-marital sex, drinking alcohol and filing a false statement.

The Norwegian government condemned the verdict, and following talks between Norway's foreign minister Espen Barth Eide and his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates, Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ms Dalelv has been pardoned.

Norwegian spokeswoman Ragnhild Imerlund said: "She hasn't been deported, she has been pardoned. She can remain in Dubai if she wishes. Her passport has been returned to her.

"She will travel home shortly."

The alleged incident occurred on March 6 when Ms Dalelv, who works for an interior design firm in Qatar, was on a work trip with a group of colleagues in Dubai.

On the last day of the business trip she joined them for drinks, and later asked one of her male colleagues to escort her up to her hotel room.

Dubai is known as a tourist hotspot, but the city has strict laws

Speaking to Reuters she described what she alleges happened next.

"(He was) trying to convince me to come in to his room and again I said 'no' and that's when he start pulling my bag trying to drag me to his room," she said.

"So I just thought I need to calm the situation down, so I walked in with him and I sat down and wanted to drink my bottle of water; I thought I would finish this water and find my room by myself. That's the last thing I remember.

"And the following morning I woke up on my stomach, my clothes were off and I was being raped."

Following the alleged incident, Ms Dalelv immediately went down to the hotel reception and asked them to call the police.

A group of policemen arrived and took a statement from Ms Dalelv and the alleged rapist, before they were both taken to the Bur Dubai police station.

She was then held for four days in a Dubai prison until contact was made with the Norwegian consulate and her bail was arranged.

"If I did not call the police he (her alleged attacker) will be still free but then I also wouldn't be in this situation," said Ms Dalelv who has been staying at the Norwegian Seaman's Centre in Dubai.

Her alleged attacker received a sentence of a year in prison. However, Ms Dalelv did not know if he has appealed.

Ms Dalelv said she was disappointed with the way the judicial system in Dubai deals with rape cases.

"I am very surprised. We have a DNA report, we have a medical report and we have a witness," she said.

"It is also being clarified and it has been proved that he has been lying the whole time in court in front of the judge and still they did not believe me, that was very shocking."

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Hizbollah's Armed Wing On EU Terror Blacklist

The History of Hizbollah

Updated: 12:05pm UK, Monday 22 July 2013

Lebanon's powerful Shi'ite Muslim party Hizbollah is a key client of Iran and an ardent ally of Syria's regime.

Hizbollah, which means the Party of God, was founded in 1982 in response to Israel's invasion of Lebanon.

It spearheaded an anti-Israeli guerrilla campaign and was the key actor in forcing the Jewish state to finally withdraw in 2000.

That success, coupled with the movement's extensive network of social services, has gained it enormous support among Lebanon's Shi'ites, who represent about a third of the country's population and the largest single community.

Widely considered more powerful than Lebanon's army, Hizbollah never disarmed at the end of the 1975-1990 civil war on the grounds it was necessary to protect the country against Israeli attacks.

It now wields great influence on Lebanese politics.

It, and its allies, have ministers in the government and control several seats in parliament which allows them to veto any policy or legislation not to their liking.

Though the EU sought to differentiate between Hizbollah's political and military wings, the reality is the movement makes no such distinction because it defines itself as a party of the anti-Israeli resistance and all its activities as linked to the cause.

Hizbollah has a formidable security and intelligence apparatus and is known abroad primarily for its military prowess.

Although it initially sought to impose an Islamic way of life in multi-confessional Lebanon, it has since toned down its rhetoric.

The party drew its inspiration from the 1979 Islamic revolution in Shi'ite Iran, and has long been the recipient of financial and military backing from Tehran.

Much of the weaponry has been funnelled to it by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad, including thousands of missiles.

Those weapons played a key role in a second event that raised Hizbollah's popularity in Lebanon and the wider Arab world - the 2006 war against Israel.

Hizbollah guerrillas carried out a daring cross-border raid, capturing two soldiers. Israel retaliated with a fierce air and land assault on Lebanon that devastated much of the Shi'ite-majority south and parts of Beirut itself.

Rocked by hundreds of Hizbollah's missiles and stymied by a fierce resistance on the ground, Israel never managed to vanquish the movement and the party emerged even stronger.

Intelligence officials now estimate it has amassed an arsenal of more than 40,000 short and long-range rockets which the party claims can reach deep inside Israel, as well as anti-aircraft guns and other sophisticated weaponry.

In 2008, things started to sour.

During clashes with supporters of key Sunni politician Saad Hariri, Hizbollah fighters seized control of a section of western Beirut, sparking fears of a new civil war.

The party and its Syrian allies were already suspected of having been behind the 2005 assassination of Hariri's father, Rafiq, and four of its members were eventually charged by a UN-backed tribunal.

Its leader Hassan Nasrallah threatened in 2010 to "cut off the hand" of anyone who attempted to arrest them, and they remain at large.

Prior to Monday's EU decision, Hizbollah had already been blacklisted as a terror group by the US, Britain, the Netherlands and Australia.

The latest move comes after it was implicated in an attack against Israeli tourists in Bulgaria last year and its activities in Cyprus.

Hizbollah's growing involvement in the Syrian conflict in recent months has further worried EU nations.

The charismatic Nasrallah took over as secretary general in 1992 after his predecessor, Abbas Mussawi, was assassinated in an Israeli missile strike.

He acknowledged for the first time on April 30 that his troops were involved in the fighting in Syria, where they helped Mr Assad's troops to recapture the former rebel bastion of Qusayr.

Nasrallah has also warned that the "friends of Syria" - a reference to Hizbollah and to Iran - will not allow the fall of Mr Assad and has promised "victory" in his country.

Lebanese University professor Waddah Sharara, an expert on Hizbollah, said its militia has about 20,000 fighters, including 5,000 trained by Iran in urban warfare.

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Trayvon: Jay Z And Beyonce At Protest Rally

The parents of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teenager shot dead in Florida, have joined protesters during a day of demonstrations across the United States.

The 17-year-old's mother, Sybrina Fulton, addressed the crowd in New York, backed by music stars Jay Z and Beyonce, who joined campaigners in a moment of prayer.

Protests were held in more than 100 US cities, sparked by the acquittal of Neighbourhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman.

He was found not guilty of killing Trayvon during an altercation in a gated community in February 2012, after successfully arguing he was protecting himself when he shot the youngster.

Trayvon's death has become a flashpoint in national debates over self-defence laws, guns, and race relations.

Thousands of people have joined protests across the United States

Mrs Fulton told protesters: "Trayvon may not have been perfect, but he was mine. We loved him, we supported him, we cared for him, just like you do your kids.

"Of course we're hurting, of course we're shocked and disappointed. But that just means that we have to roll up our sleeves and continue to fight."

Meanwhile, Trayvon's father, Tracy Martin, spoke at a vigil in Miami.

He vowed to "fight for Trayvon until the day I die", adding: "This could be any one of our children. Our mission now is to make sure that this doesn't happen to your child."

The rallies came after President Barack Obama spoke publicly about Trayvon's death and the deep frustrations felt among African Americans over the not guilty verdict.

Trayvon Martin (L) was shot by George Zimmerman

"Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago," he told reporters.

Praising the "incredible grace and dignity" shown by Trayvon's parents, the president said "some soul-searching" on race was in order.

Although he did not comment directly on the Florida verdict, he called for a review of controversial "stand your ground" laws, which allow citizens to use lethal force - rather than retreat - if they sense their lives are at risk.

"I just ask people to consider if Trayvon Martin was of age and armed, could he have stood his ground on that sidewalk?" Mr Obama asked.

"And do we actually think that he would have been justified in shooting Mr Zimmerman who had followed him in a car because he felt threatened?"

President Obama said Trayvon could have been him 35 years ago

Trayvon's parents said they were "deeply honoured and moved" by Mr Obama's comments.

"President Obama sees himself in Trayvon and identifies with him," they said in a statement. "This is a beautiful tribute to our boy."

As well as appealing for a review of the self-defence law, campaigners are pushing the US Justice Department to investigate filing federal civil rights charges against Mr Zimmerman.

Such a case would require evidence that he harboured racial animosity against Trayvon.

Mr Zimmerman's lawyers say the shooting was not driven by race but by a desire to protect his neighbourhood after a spate of burglaries.

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