Life On Mars Transformed Into Life In Moscow

Time-travelling British detective drama Life On Mars is being remade for Russian TV, with the action being set in the twilight years of the Soviet Union.

After a car crash, a tough Moscow cop is mysteriously transported back to 1979, with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev in power and red neckerchief-wearing Young Pioneers still active.

The new Russian show is called The Dark Side Of The Moon, rather than Life On Mars.

This was the title of the David Bowie song that was playing on the radio when Sam Tyler, played by John Simm, found himself transported from 2006 to 1973 in the original show.

Life On Mars, which aired in Britain between 2006 and 2007, has also been remade in the United States, where it ran for only one series, starring Jason O'Mara and Harvey Keitel.

The Manchester of Life On Mars became New York for the US version (ABC)

The BBC series focuses on the police culture of the 1970s versus the more politically correct ways of modern Britain.

The Russian makers admitted they had to reflect a very different situation, as overzealous police officers were not tolerated under the Soviet regime.

"In the British series, he goes from our time to that one and sees a harshness that does not work. He is a decent guy and opposes it," said producer Alexander Tsekalo.

"In our story, it is all absolutely the other way round. He finds himself in the 1970s and behaves with a harshness that is not appropriate for a policeman of the Soviet period.

"He can push his way into an apartment without a search order, break down the doors, twist people's arms and ask one-sided questions.

"They keep telling him, 'Have you gone mad? You're unbalanced. You mustn't do that. We don't do stuff like that.' We worked with the reality that we live in, because today the authorities are harsher in some ways than they were then."

Philip Glenister played the politically incorrect DCI Gene Hunt

The Soviet police had a fairly minor role in a tightly-controlled country with little violent or organised crime. They were not nearly as powerful as the security forces such as the KGB.

In contrast, today's underfunded force is implicated in bribe-taking as well as allegations of drunken shootings and the torture of suspects.

The Dark Side Of The Moon is not the first time Russian television has remade a popular Western show, although this remake is unusual in taking on a darker drama with a complex concept.

A Russian channel had a huge hit with its remake of the originally Colombian show Ugly Betty, while the US sitcom Married With Children was successfully transported to the city of Yekaterinburg.

Russia has also brought in light entertainment formats such as the quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? for its prime-time slot.

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Ancient Princess' Tomb Discovered In Egypt

The tomb of a pharaonic princess has been discovered south of the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

The 4,500-year-old burial site was discovered by Czech archaeologists near the famous step pyramid of Saqqara.

Princess Shert Nebti's tomb includes four limestone columns and hieroglyphic inscriptions which researchers are now translating.

An official from Egypt's antiquities ministry said the site dates back to the fifth dynasty - around 2,500 BC.

"The discovery of this tomb marks the beginning of a new era in the history of the sepulchres at Abu Sir and Saqqara," antiquities minister Mohamed Ibrahim said.

The site includes the tombs of four senior officials, including a "grand upholder of the law" and an "inspector of the servants of the palace", according to their inscriptions.

Archaeologists will now establish more details about the princess and her life and importance.

The discoveries were made during the annual excavation season in Egypt, when temperatures are moderate.

The country's tourism industry has suffered significantly since the 2011 uprisings which toppled leader Hosni Mubarak.

Earlier this week the Foreign Office raised its terror threat level for UK citizens visiting the country, saying there was a "high risk" of attack.

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Chicago: First US Gun Tax 'Will Stem Carnage'

By Gary Mitchell, in Chicago

A leading anti-gun campaigner has told Sky News a new tax on guns will help end "carnage" on the streets of Chicago - where firearms now change hands for as little as $20.

There have been more than 440 murders in Barack Obama's adopted home city so far this year, surpassing last year's total of 435.

Most involved gang shootings in the south and west of the city. It has been dubbed America's "murder capital" with a higher rate of killings than New York or Los Angeles.

Cook County, which takes in Chicago, is believed to be the first city in the US to introduce a firearms tax. It was approved by county officials on Friday.

Father Michael Pfleger, pastor of St Sabina Church in the city's South Side, said the $25 levy is a start.

"Guns are causing carnage on our streets," he said.

"Anything that makes them harder to get hold of, no matter how small, is to be welcomed.

Father Michael Pfleger has lobbied hard over gun laws

"We tax things like alcohol and cigarettes, but we haven't been taxing firearms.

"But I'd prefer if the tax was a lot higher, and if every single bullet was taxed."

A proposed tax of five cents per bullet was abandoned by Cook County because the tax would, in some cases, have exceeded the price of ammunition.

Officials said nearly a third of guns used in Chicago crimes were purchased legally in Cook County.

However, despite the surge in fatal shootings, gun control is not one of the big issues in the current presidential race - it was discussed only briefly in the second election debate.

Mr Obama, who has been attempting to win over conservative voters in battleground states, has refrained from stricter restrictions.

Father Pfleger, whose church is in the troubled Englewood area, has for years been lobbying for stronger gun laws, which are opposed by the National Rifle Association.

No fewer than 12 people have been shot dead in the three-square-mile Englewood district since the start of this year, according to RedEye, which tracks the latest figures from Chicago police and hospitals.

It lies a short drive away from the Kenwood family home of Mr Obama, who was a community activist in the South Side before entering politics. A man was shot a block away from his mansion in August.

Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel

In the summer, Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel was in Englewood to announce a move to secure or demolish vacant buildings to stop gangs using them as gathering places.

He has also attempted to increase policing in the worst-hit areas, but the death toll continues to rise and the police force has been hit with budget cuts.

Hermene Hartman, publisher of N'Digo, a Chicago magazine focused on African-Americans, said the South Side was like a "war zone". Whoever ends up in the White House for the next four years needs to do more to focus on urban crime, she said.

"Nobody is talking about urban America, the fear that people suffer," she told Sky News.

"Here in Chicago, people have been dying in greater numbers than in Afghanistan.

"People are afraid of letting their kids go to school, play outside. They fear doing everyday things because people are being killed.

"How do we figure out what's making these kids so violent? We've got to focus on these crime areas."

Cook County's gun tax is expected to raise $600,000 (£375,000) next year, which will be contributed to healthcare for survivors of shootings.

The tax has been criticised by the Illinois State Rifle Association, which said people will simply travel elsewhere to buy guns.

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Somalia: Bombers Hit Exiles' Diner In Capital

Suicide bombers have attacked a restaurant in the capital of Somali that is popular with former exiles, police have said.

Reports said one person died in the Mogadishu attack on Saturday, with several others wounded.

"There were two suicide bombers who attacked the restaurant. The two of them have died and other people who stayed in the place were injured," a Somali police officer said.

"We are still investigating the casualties," officer Abdi Adan said.

Witness Ahmed Salad Ibrahim said a security guard at the restaurant had been killed in the blast -- a report police said they could not immediately confirm.

"I was sitting inside the restaurant premises when gunfire started at the gate," Mr Ibrahim said.

Soldiers walk near the shattered glass of a destroyed car after the attack

"We stood and rushed to find out what was happening and I saw the security guard at the gate holding the bomber before he detonated."

"As I was shocked with smoke and dust covering the whole area, another suicide bomber detonated himself outside," he added.

"The guard and the two bombers died while other civilians were injured."

Another witness, Idle Husien, said there had been a "heavy exchange" of gunfire followed by large explosions.

"I'm not far away from the place and I can see people injured and the severed dead bodies of the suicide bombers," Mr Husien said.

The targeted restaurant called Sports Coffee is owned by a restaurateur of Somali origin, Ahmed Jama, who recently relocated to Mogadishu from London, where he trained as a chef.

Earlier reports said the restaurant was The Village, but that is the name of another Mogadishu establishment owned by Jama which was hit by a suicide bomb attack in September, killing at least 18 people including three journalists.

A destroyed car near the diner owned by an ex-resident of London

The restaurants have been mentioned several times recently in the international press as a symbol of a nascent return to normal life in Mogadishu after more than 20 years of civil war and violence.

The urban warfare that had gripped the Somali capital has stopped since the country's Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents were chased from the city in August 2011 by Somalia's rudimentary army and the 17,000-strong African Union force Amisom.

The Shebab, who were long active mainly in southern and central Somalia, have increasingly switched to guerrilla tactics after abandoning fixed positions in Mogadishu.

Saturday's attack came as Somalia's new leaders worked to form a government under a UN-backed process to restore stability after two decades of anarchy.

Somalia has lacked an effective central government since president Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted in 1991, unleashing cycles of bloody conflict that have defied countless peace initiatives.

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Charles And Camilla Kick Off Overseas Tour

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

A traditional war dance will greet the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall when they travel to the coastal village of Boera in Papua New Guinea later.

The royal couple are beginning a two-week overseas tour to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, during which they will also take in Australia and New Zealand.

The couple will travel on rough roads, off the beaten track, an hour northwest of the capital Port Moresby to back efforts by the Motuan village to sustain the marine ecosystem.

Villagers have been working closely with the University of Papua New Guinea and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to begin a mangrove replenishing programme along the Motuan coastline.

A young Papua dancer looks on during the colourful greeting ceremony

Mangrove roots provide food and shelter for birds and marine animals and prevent coastal erosion. But historically, mangroves have been cut down and used to make wooden products, firewood and building material.

Beforehand, Charles and Camilla will attend a Sunday service of worship led by the Bishop of Port Moresby, before being treated to a cultural performance called "The PNG way".

Thirteen traditional dancing groups from provinces throughout Papua New Guinea will take part. The royal couple will then be driven around the stadium, decorated as a 'Pal na Pidik' (Secret Hut) by members of the Tolai tribe.

This is done to signify that Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have embraced the island's cultural and social heritage.

Huge crowds pictured ahead of the couple's arrival in the country

The Pacific realm is home to over seven million people speaking 800 languages. Traditional inter-tribal gatherings called 'Sing-sings' take place where many different distinct cultures are shown-off.

Prince Charles will also present Colours to the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment, of which he is Colonel-in-Chief.

Before heading out of the capital, the heir to the throne and his wife will attend a Diamond Jubilee Reception at the National Bird of Paradise and Orchid Garden.

Returning in the evening from the village of Boera, the royal couple will be the special guests at a State Dinner hosted by the Governor General.

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Deadly Police Helicopter Crash In Atlanta

Two officers have been killed after an Atlanta police helicopter flying low during a search for a missing boy crashed near a busy crossroads.

Police spokesman Carlos Campos confirmed both officers had died, but said no one was hurt on the ground after the aircraft landed close to Interstate 20 in a neighbourhood populated by fast food restaurants and other outlets.

The helicopter went down around 10.30pm on Saturday in the west of the city.

TV footage soon after the crash showed flaming debris strewn across roads around four miles west of central Atlanta.

The missing nine-year-old child was subsequently found unharmed.

Mr Campos said officials were working with federal aviation authorities at the scene.

"It appeared to have hit the utility wire on the way down," he said.

Bystander Darryl James, 42, said he had been on his way to a cheque-cashing store when he saw the low-flying helicopter.

He said: "The tail end went down and there was an explosion. As soon as I got close enough to it, poom! It exploded.

"They could not survive it."

Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said an investigation had been launched into the crash.

The type of helicopter was unknown at this stage.

Power was cut off after the incident, with a Georgia Power utility crew on the scene.

Atlanta Police Chief George Turner said: "Losing an officer is the most difficult thing a police chief can face. Losing two is an unthinkable tragedy.

"Our hearts go out to the families of these officers and our thoughts and prayers are with them."

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British Soldier Stabbed To Death In Cyprus

A British soldier has been stabbed to death during a fight with UK tourists in a Cyprus nightclub, police have said.

Cypriot police said four off-duty soldiers stationed on the island got involved in an altercation with three tourists in the early hours of Sunday morning.

One of the tourists then allegedly drew a switch blade knife and stabbed the teenage soldier, according to police spokesman Georgios Economou.

He said: "Today at around 3.30am while a group of British soldiers from Dhekelia garrison were enjoying themselves at a club in Ayia Napa they had a confrontation with three of their compatriots.

"During the confrontation one of the three drew what is believed to be a knife injuring the soldier in the chest."

He was pronounced dead on arrival at Famagusta General Hospital in nearby Paralimni.

The three tourists, all British citizens, have been detained for questioning, police said.

Connie Pierce, a British military spokeswoman, said the incident took place in a part of Ayia Napa that is off limits to British soldiers because of past trouble there.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "It is with great sadness that the MoD must confirm that a soldier from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers has died in an incident in Cyprus.

"An investigation is being conducted by Cyprus police and it would be inappropriate to comment any further. The family has been informed and our thoughts are with them."

Around 3,000 British military personnel are stationed in Cyprus at bases retained after the former British colony gained independence in 1960.

In 2008 nine British soldiers went on trial accused of trashing a pub and beating up its owner during a mass bar brawl on the island.

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Syria: Bomb Explosion Near Damascus Hotel

An explosion caused by "terrorists" has hit an area near a hotel used by foreigners in the Syrian capital, state media has reported.

"An explosion caused by terrorists went off near to the Dama Rose hotel and the union federation, which left a number of people wounded and causing damage to the area," Syrian TV said.

The governing Assad regime regularly uses the term "terrorists" for armed rebels in the spiralling civil war.

State news agency Sana said the blast wounded 11 people, adding that the explosive "planted by terrorists" weighed an estimated 50lbs.

Damage to a building near the Dama Rose hotel

The Dama Rose hotel hosted UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi during his visits to Damascus.

The office of the ombudsman, headed by diplomat Mokhtar Lamani, is also located at the hotel.

The Local Coordination Committees, a network of activists on the ground, also reported plumes of smoke rising near Ommayad Square after a "powerful explosion" rocked the area close to the hotel.

The district also houses several security centres and military headquarters.

On September 26, twin blasts blamed on suicide bombers targeted the same military headquarters, killing four guards.

Meanwhile rebels fired mortars and rocket-propelled grenades and captured an oilfield in the country's east on Sunday after three days of fierce fighting, according to activists.

Hillary Clinton has led calls for western help for rebels

Further afield, a leading Syrian dissident has denied he planned to head a government-in-exile as the main opposition group began a meeting aimed at broadening its membership.

Riad Seif rejected claims he was jockeying for control of the opposition at the start of a four-day meeting in Doha, the capital of the Gulf state of Qatar.

The less-than-inclusive nature of the Syrian opposition has been criticised by its key western supporter, the United States.

Details have emerged of plans to reshape the Syrian National Council (SNC) after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it was not representative.

Washington is pressing for an opposition makeover during the Doha meeting, with long-time dissident Mr Seif reportedly touted as the potential head of a proxy government dubbed the Syrian National Initiative.

But the prominent opponent to President Bashar Assad's regime was adamant that he does not want to lead such a government.

"I shall not be a candidate to lead a government in exile ... I am 66 and have health problems," he told reporters before the Doha gathering.

Rebels launched a rocket attack against a Syrian air base on the weekend

Some 286 members of the SNC are taking part in the meeting that was scheduled some time ago.

But both host Qatar and the Arab League have extended invitations for another "consultative" meeting on Thursday, believed to be aimed at promoting a body with a broader opposition representation than the SNC.

A Western diplomat said the initiative is "supported by the United States, Britain, France, and possibly by some Arab countries, Qatar and also Turkey".

"It is a balanced plan, which will bring together the components of the Syrian community: the Alawites, Christians and Syrians inside and outside the country," the unnamed diplomat said.

Mr Seif and some two dozen Syrian opposition figures gathered in Amman, Jordan, last Thursday and came up with proposals for a new body to represent the disparate groups opposing President Bashar al Assad.

Among those in attendance were some SNC members, former premier Riad Hijab who defected in August, Ali Sadreddin Bayanuni of the Muslim Brotherhood and Kurdish and tribal representatives.

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Barack Obama Leads US Presidential Race

The US presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have entered the last two days before voting, with polls indicating the incumbent is in the lead.

According to latest polls, Mr Obama appears to be ahead in enough swing states to secure the presidency for a second term.

After an intensive Saturday criss-crossing key battleground states, the American president is targeting Democrats in Colorado, Florida, Ohio and New Hampshire on Sunday, urging them to vote.

Meanwhile, Republican candidate Mitt Romney has decided to intensify efforts in Iowa, Ohio and then in Democrat-leaning Pennsylvania.

Mr Obama has an apparent edge in some key battleground states, including Ohio, while Mr Romney's campaign is projecting momentum, and banking on late-breaking voters to propel him to victory in the close race.

Pop singer Katy Perry was thanked by Mr Obama for her campaigning

The Republican hopeful plans to cut away briefly from the nine key battleground states that have dominated the candidates' travel itineraries.

Mr Romney, along with running mate Paul Ryan, plan an early evening rally in Morrisville, Pennsylvania in an attempt to woo disillusioned Democrats.

The key battlegrounds states in the election have been Ohio, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Nevada, Wisconsin, Iowa and New Hampshire.

After rules regulating campaign funding were eased for this election, the two political parties ploughed huge amounts into primarily negative advertising against the opposition.

Americans in the key states have been hit by a blizzard of campaign ads.

The two political parties and their allied independent groups aired more than a million ads between June and the end of October, according to the Wesleyan University Media Project.

Mr Romney has continued to campaign in key areas

The advertising in 10 strategic states has cost more than $1bn (£620m).

Would-be voters have been bombarded with some 40% more television advertising than the number that ran in the same period in 2008 when Mr Obama defeated Republican John McCain.

But both candidates have appeared to become more fatigued in the frenzied final weekend of campaigning.

Mr Obama apologised to supporters for a hoarse voice at one speech on Saturday.

His apology came as former Democrat president Bill Clinton suffered from a similar problem and told supporters in Virginia he had "given my voice in the service of my president".

Mr Obama's strategy has included appeals to the industrial Midwest, where jobs have been saved after the federal government invested large amounts in the wake of the financial meltdown.

Ann Romney has been on the weekend trail with her husband

His Republican challenger trails the president in some polls in battleground states but retains a narrow and plausible path to the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency

Mr Romney's camp also argues that the Republican may not even be behind the incumbent.

They argue state polls are based on unrealistic assumptions of the size of the Democratic slice of the electorate and underplay Republican enthusiasm.

Mr Romney told crowds in Colorado Springs that the vote is "a moment to look into the future, and imagine what we can do to put the past four years behind us".

"The door to a brighter future is there."

Mr Obama has stirred up support from cheering fans

But both sides realise with just two days to go the result may now be beyond their control.

"The power is not with us anymore, the planning, everything we do, it doesn't matter," Mr Obama told supporters in Virginia.

"It's all up to you, it's up to the volunteers - that's how democracy is supposed to be."

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Sandy: 'Tens Of Thousands In NY Need Housing'

Sub-zero temperatures could see tens of thousands of New Yorkers in need of housing after superstorm Sandy, the state's governor has said.

Andrew Cuomo issued the warning as New York City residents were urged to guard against the increasing risk of hypothermia

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg estimated between 30,000 and 40,000 people in the city alone would need housing in the wake of the storm.

With temperatures projected to fall as low as -6C (21F) on Monday night, the National Weather Service is tracking a coastal storm that could impact the tri-state area - New York, New Jersey and Connecticut - on Wednesday into Thursday.

As well as strong gusty winds, forecasts predict the storm could bring rain or possibly snow, sleet or hail, to a region that is still in the midst of recovering from Sandy. Coastal flooding is also a concern.

Mr Bloomberg urged older New Yorkers still without gas for heating or electrical power to move to shelters and said 25,000 blankets were being distributed.

Electrical power has been restored to many residents

He said: "We're New Yorkers and we're going to get through it. But I don't want anyone to think we're out of the woods."

The mayor also said the Long Island Power Authority (Lipa) had not acted aggressively enough to restore power to storm-hit residents in the region.

He said it was "unacceptable" that the worst-hit areas were not being made a priority for repairs after some residents were told it could take two weeks to restore power.

The Red Cross said it was stepping up its efforts in the face of the new storm warning.

Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of its disaster services, said: "We're working closely with emergency operations centres to stand up warming facilities, warming shelters, and stocking those with additional blankets, pillows and everything needed."

Residents get into arguments over gasoline supplies

Mr Bloomberg also warned residents that fully resolving the shortages at petrol stations could take several days.

Long lines of vehicles and pedestrians formed after governor Andrew Cuomo announced the US Department of Defence was opening mobile fuel stations in New York City and on suburban Long Island.

The government then asked the public to stay away from the locations until emergency responders get their fuel tanks filled.

But National Guard Colonel Richard Goldenberg said people who were already at the distribution sites would not be turned away.

"It's chaos, it's pandemonium out here," said Chris Damon, who had been waiting for nearly four hours at one site and had circled the block five times.

New Jersey governor Chris Christie stopped gas to the Barrier Islands

"It seems like nobody has any answers."

Energy companies have said they are working around the clock to restore power to parts of New York devastated by the powerful storm.

The lights are back on in lower Manhattan after residents were left without power for nearly five days.

But resentment has festered in the city's outer boroughs and suburbs over the lack of power, fuel shortages and now heating concerns.

The worst-hit area of New York remains Queens - with 81,000 people still without power. Brooklyn and Staten Island both have 31,000 and the Bronx has 25,000 without electricity.

Domingo Isasi, waiting in a petrol queue on Staten Island, minced no words about the divide between Manhattan and the outer boroughs.

"The priorities are showing, simply by the fact that Manhattan got their power back," Mr Isasi said.

"We're the b****** kids who keep getting slapped in the head and told to shut up."

A statement from energy firm Con Edison said it had now restored power to 70% of customers - around 645,000 homes.

It said: "The hurricane is the worst natural disaster to strike Con Edison's customers in the company's history.

"Crews are facing thousands of downed wires in New York City and Westchester County.

"Some cannot be re-energised since they are in flood zones with damage that bars the safe re-introduction of electricity."

Some residents of New Jersey have been moved to tents set up by a utility company due to the length of time they are expected to be homeless as a result of last week's storm.

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