Ariel Sharon: Ex-Leader's Body Lies In State

The body of former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon is lying in state at his country's parliament building, the day after he died aged 85.

Mr Sharon's coffin is sitting in the plaza outside the Knesset in Jerusalem until 6pm local time (4pm UK time) for mourners to pay their respects.

Earlier, Israeli ministers held a minute's silence as they met for their weekly cabinet meeting.

Current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the cabinet: "He will be remembered in the heart of the Jewish people forever as one of our most outstanding leaders and most daring commanders."

Mr Sharon will be buried on Monday afternoon at his ranch in the Negev desert, in southern Israel, during a military ceremony.

Israel generals salute Mr Sharon's coffin

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was among those expected to attend.

Mr Sharon had been in a coma since suffering a stroke in January 2006.

His condition deteriorated on New Year's Day when he suffered serious kidney problems after surgery.

Mr Netanyahu said "his memory will forever be held in the heart of the nation", while President Shimon Peres said he would be "greatly missed".

World leaders also sent condolences, with US President Barack Obama describing him as a leader who "dedicated his life to the State of Israel".

Vice President Joe Biden will lead a US delegation to the memorial service due to be held in parliament on Monday before the burial.

Nicknamed "The Bulldozer", Mr Sharon was a veteran soldier who fought in all of Israel's major wars before beginning a turbulent political career in 1973.

He was elected premier in 2001 despite experiencing a period in the political wilderness because of his personal but "indirect" responsibility for the 1982 massacre of hundreds of Palestinians.

As an army officer addressing his troops of the famous Unit 101 in 1955

Ministers in Israel's right-wing government and the political opposition have mourned a leader who left big footprints on the region through military invasion, Jewish settlement building on captured land and a unilateral decision to pull Israeli troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip in 2005.

In Gaza, Hamas has welcomed Mr Sharon's death and celebrated in the streets.

"We have become more confident in victory with the departure of this tyrant," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zurhi said.

"Our people today feel extreme happiness at the death and departure of this criminal whose hands were smeared with the blood of our people and the blood of our leaders here and in exile."

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "Ariel Sharon is one of the most significant figures in Israeli history and as prime minister he took brave and controversial decisions in pursuit of peace, before he was so tragically incapacitated.

"Israel has today lost an important leader."

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Germany Plane Crash: 'Four Die' As Jet On Fire

Four people are believed to have died after a small jet flying from West Sussex crashed near an airfield in Germany.

The plane damaged an electricity pylon as it came down at a landfill site and was in flames when firefighters arrived at the scene near the western city of Trier.

Pictures from the scene apparently showed foam covering the aircraft after firefighters smothered the blaze.

A spokesman for Trier-Fohren airfield said the plane was travelling from Shoreham airport and all those who died were German.

The plane came down near the city of Trier

The plane, believed to be a Cessna Citation business jet, was carrying two pilots and two passengers.

It was not known what might have caused the tragedy, but it was reportedly foggy at the time of the crash.

Police said a member of the public called the emergency services and raised the alarm.

Experts were on their way to the scene to investigate how the crash happened, a spokesman said.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the reports and are urgently looking into them."

Shoreham Airport tweeted: "We are aware of the accident at Trier Airport in Germany today which involved an aircraft that departed from Shoreham Airport at 0954 GMT."

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Ski Hosting Ban: British Company Leads Appeal

By Harriet Hadfield, Sky News Reporter

A British ski holiday company is leading an appeal against a ban on ski hosting in the French Alps.

The appeal comes after a court in Albertville in France said that the informal on-piste group tours led by ski reps are illegal.

The judge ruled that all future hosts must be fully qualified ski instructors certified by the notoriously tough French examining system.

Yorkshire-based Le Ski has joined forces with 12 other British tour operators to argue that the decision is in breach of European law.

Nick Morgan from Le Ski told Sky News: "I think that somebody somewhere has gone a little bit too far in the formation of the law and we are hoping that that is seen by the appeal court and if not is taken up by the European Court in Luxembourg."

In 2012 a ski rep was arrested on the piste and the company was then prosecuted for compromising safety.

Some British skiers say they miss the social side of skiing in a group

Simon Atkinson from the French Ski School says: "Even when they say they're only there to help them round the slopes, the people who are on holiday actually do think that they're responsible for them.

"So when they go on to the slopes, they put their whole confidence in that person to take them round and they follow them."

Some British skiers on holiday in Courchevel told Sky News they are missing the social side of skiing in a group this season.

Julie Tate said: "I miss the guiding more than I thought I would, it's really important to me because I come skiing by myself and skiing with a small group of people with a guide is a really good way to get to know people on the slopes."

John Willis explained: "Rather than spend all day looking at the map and planning my route, the guide used to be there and I could follow them. I'm totally lost without them."

The next step in the legal process will be an appeal heard in a French court in Chambery.

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Ukraine Protests: Ex-Minister Among 10 Injured

Ten people have been injured in early morning clashes between riot police and protesters outside a courthouse in Ukraine's capital, witnesses said.

Police used tear gas and batons to control the crowd of several hundred people who were protesting in Kiev against the sentencing of three activists.

Among those injured is former interior minister Yuri Lutsenko, who served under jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.

Police said they have no information about injuries in the protests

Despite witness accounts, police said in a statement they have no information about injuries during the protest.

Meanwhile, 10km away in central Kiev, several thousand people have set up camp to protest against President Viktor Yanukovich's decision to spurn a European Union trade deal and strengthen Ukraine's economic ties with Russia.

The demonstrations began when Ukraine suspended talks with the EU on November 21 and have grown in size and intensity after unsuccessful attempts by police to clear the protest camp.

Demonstrations began in November last year and have since escalated

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets on December 15 in a huge rally dubbed the 'day of dignity', where they demanded the resignation of the government and called for European human rights.

Ukraine remains deeply divided, between the European-leaning west, and Russian-speaking east.

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CAR: More Violence As Foreigners Set To Leave

More violence has broken out in the Central African Republic (CAR) capital of Bangui following the resignation of the country's president and prime minister.

At least three people were killed in the clashes, including a Christian vigilante, an ex-Seleka rebel and a civilian, according to the Central African Red Cross.

The fighting came as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) prepared to evacuate thousands of stranded foreigners caught up in the fighting. 

Sporadic gunfire was heard in Bangui and there were widespread reports of looting in the city.

The head of the Central African Red Cross, Pastor Antoine Mbaobogo, said many looters were targeting Muslim-owned shops.

Crowds gather in the streets of Bangui after the president's resignation

"Those who were looted when the (mainly Muslim) Seleka arrived (in March last year) are now looting in turn," he said.

President Michel Djotodia, the first Muslim leader in the majority Christian nation, resigned on Friday alongside his prime minister, Nicolas Tiengaye.

During his tenure, Mr Djotodia set up a transitional council and promised open elections but unrest and sectarian fighting began within months of his appointment. 

It was hoped his resignation would help ease tensions in the country.

The CAR has seen spiralling violence between the mainly Muslim Seleka rebels who brought Mr Djotodia to power last year, and Christian militias.

Michel Djotodia was the nation's first Muslim leader

More than 1,000 people have been killed in the past month alone and signs of sectarian conflict remain in Bangui where a mosque was targeted by a gang of young looters.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has called on the African Union to provide promised troops to help end the "terrible crisis" in the nation. 

So far, France has deployed 1,600 troops to help support the African Union MISCA force, which is meant to have up to 6,000 troops but has not yet reached 3,500.

European nations on Friday agreed in principle on a plan to launch a joint military operation in the country, with a final decision expected later in the month.

An interim parliament will hold a special session on Monday to discuss Mr Djotodia's replacement.

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Man Who Saved Two Sons Was 'Amazing Father'

The family of a man who died after rescuing his two children from strong currents at an Australian beach says they are "devastated" by his death.

Andrew Priestley, from Leicestershire, died in hospital after getting into difficulty at Burrill Beach, around 155 miles south of Sydney on Australia's east coast.

The 44-year-old was with his family when the tragedy happened at around noon on Friday.

"The family of Andrew are devastated about his death in Australia. He died after saving his children," the family said in a statement released by the Foreign Office.

"Andrew was the most amazing husband and father that any family could wish for.

"The support and messages we have received have been overwhelming and we are thankful for that.

"It is heartbreakingly impossible at this moment to imagine our lives without him. We would ask that our privacy is respected at such a sad time."

Emergency services at the scene on Friday

Mr Priestley lifted his sons onto a surfboard before onlookers ran into the water and brought them to safety.

He was then overcome by waves and was unconscious by the time emergency services arrived.

Police and paramedics tried to revive him on the beach. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Milton Hospital.

A statement from New South Wales Police Force said: "Emergency services were called to Burrill Beach just after midday, where they found a man unconscious.

"The 44-year-old was taken to Milton Hospital where he was pronounced dead."

It was the second drowning on the beach in two months, after a Filipino national died there in December.

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Black Rhino Hunt: Permit Sells For $350k

A US hunting club has been criticised for selling a permit to kill an endangered black rhino in Namibia for $350,000 (£212,000).

Dallas Safari Club defended the sale, saying the cash would go towards animal conservation in the cash-strapped African country.

The permit allows the unnamed buyer to kill a single, post-breeding bull, with Namibian wildlife officials on hand to make sure an appropriate animal is targeted, said club executive director Ben Carter.

"Biologists in Namibia were hopeful that a US-based auction would produce a record amount for rhino conservation, and that's exactly what happened," he said.

There are around 4,000 black rhinos left on the plant

"These bulls no longer contribute to the growth of the population and are in a lot of ways detrimental to the growth of the population because black rhinos are very aggressive and territorial.

"In many cases, they will kill younger, non-breeding bulls and have been known to kill calves and cows."

Wildlife campaigners protested outside the Dallas convention centre where the sale took place, and 70,000 people signed an online petition calling for the auction to be scrapped.

They argued that all black rhinos should be protected, given their endangered status.

"This auction is telling the world that an American will pay anything to kill their species," said Jeffrey Flocken, North American regional director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

Protesters said all black rhinos should be protected

"This is, in fact, making a spectacle of killing an endangered species."

The FBI said it was investigating "multiple" death threats against members of the club.

Mr Carter says his family and club staff have received threats.

There are an estimated 4,000 black rhinos left on the planet - down from some 70,000 in the 1960s. Nearly half of those left are in Namibia.

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Venezuela: Vow To 'Rip Heads Off' Corrupt Cops

Venezuela's interior minister has given out his mobile phone number on television and asked police to call him and report corruption in their ranks.

Miguel Rodriguez said authorities would act on the information and "rip the head off" crooked officers.

It comes amid soaring crime levels in the country, which has one of the highest murder rates in the world.

Officers only solve eight out of every 100 murders and police corruption is often seen as part of the problem.

The nation's violent crime wave was highlighted in recent days by the murder of a former Miss Venezuela beauty queen and her British ex-husband, which provoked a national uproar.

Actress Monica Spear, 29, who had a starring role in a popular TV soap series, and 39-year-old Thomas Henry Berry were shot dead in front of their five-year-old daughter, who was wounded, during a robbery.

Murder victims Monica Spear and Thomas Henry Berry

The parents were killed after they had locked themselves in their car, which had broken down on a northwestern highway.

Their daughter, Maya, was treated in hospital after being shot in the leg.

The double murder is putting more pressure on President Nicolas Maduro for his failure to bring down the crime rate that has soared during 14 years of socialist rule.

And Mr Rodriguez said rooting out corruption was a way for police to regain the public's trust.

In a speech carried on state TV, he said: "New police will always have some great superiors, well-prepared ones.

The funerals have taken place in Caracas for the couple

"But they also are going to get some bad eggs. Report them fearlessly because their (corruption) undermines police authority for the Venezuelan people.

"Just give me the information right away, and we will rip the head off that immoral police superior."

Seven people, including a woman and two teenagers, have been arrested in connection with the double murder.

Although the weapon used in the robbery has not been found, it has emerged a digital camera stolen during the attack led police to a criminal group.

The group allegedly preyed on motorists on the stretch of road between Puerto Cabello and Valencia.

Two members of Venezuela's security forces

The camera was found at the home of one of the seven people arrested over the killings and helped officers trace other suspects in the case.

According to Jose Gregorio Sierralta, chief of Venezuela's criminal police, at least 11 people were involved in the crime - four of whom remain on the run.

The couple were buried in the capital Caracas on Friday while their daughter was being looked after by grandparents.

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Washington 'More Dangerous' Than North Korea

Two US rappers who have been to one of the world's most secretive countries, North Korea, have told Sky News their home city of Washington DC is a more dangerous place.

Anthony Bobb and Dontray Ennis - known as Pacman and Peso - also said the North Korean people should not be seen as "bad" just because of controversial leader Kim Jong-Un's actions.

It is almost universally accepted that North Korea has the worst human rights record in the world.

As many as 200,000 political prisoners are locked up in labour camps around the country. Escapees have said that torture is routine.

Last month, Mr Kim had his uncle executed, hailing the elimination of "factional filth" within his ruling party.

He accused General Jang Song-Thaek, who was once considered the second most powerful individual in the North, of trying to build his own power base.

The rappers raised $10,000 on a crowd funding website to fund a trip to the nation which they say everyone should see for themselves.

Their manager, who had a friend going on a personal trip there, suggested they went along too.

Kim Jong-Un had his uncle executed last year

The rappers' video for their song Escape To North Korea, filmed in and around the capital Pyongyang, has been seen more than 150,000 times after going viral.

Peso told Sky: "You can't say a whole nation of people is bad just because of one person's actions.

"I think the reason why that's put on the North Korean people is because of the leaders.

"What the people where I'm from don't realise is what they (North Koreans) were taught and how they came up as a nation off of that one person.

"What we learned was that it was for him (the leader) protecting his own people, they didn't compromise, they wanted to stay independent. That's what happened."

Pacman said: "Nothing that goes on there is any more than goes on in my streets. Nine times out of 10 you get robbed on my streets more than out of North Korea."

Dennis Rodman sang Happy Birthday to the North Korean leader

News of their trip came as another high-profile American, former basketball star Dennis Rodman, also visited the country.

He led a team of retired American players in a game to celebrate the birthday of Mr Kim which may help break down barriers between the US and the North.

The colourful sportsman sang Happy Birthday to the leader, but his side were defeated by the North Korean players chosen to play them.

Under the North Korean regime's "three generations of punishment" system, individuals found guilty of a crime are sent to the labour camps with their entire family.

The subsequent two generations of that family are then born in the camp and live their lives locked up inside.

In his New Year message, broadcast on state television, Mr Kim said of his uncle's execution: "Our party took resolute action to remove ... scum elements within the party last year."

South Korean media said they believed he was killed by machine gun, a relatively common form of execution in the North.

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Hollande 'Affair': First Lady In Hospital

The French first lady is being treated in hospital amid claims President Francois Hollande has been having an affair.

Valerie Trierweiler was in a hospital in Paris following revelations about an alleged affair between her partner, the French president, and an actress.

Aides to Ms Trierweiler said she had been admitted "for a rest and to undergo some tests" - and was expected to leave hospital on Monday. 

Valerie Trierweiler is undergoing tests in hospital

On Friday, Mr Hollande threatened to sue celebrity magazine Closer, complaining of breach of privacy after it alleged he was having an affair with Julie Gayet.

The aides said Ms Trierweiler was admitted to the hospital on Thursday, shortly after the news broke.

Asked about the future of Trierweiler's relationship with the president, her spokesman Patrice Biancone said: "She needs rest. Then she will decide what to do."

President Hollande and actress Julie Gayet

Closer printed seven pages of pictures taken outside a Paris apartment.

They included an image of a man it says is Mr Hollande arriving on the back of a scooter wearing a black helmet before leaving in the morning.

The gossip magazine also showed a woman, which it claims is 41-year-old actress Gayet, arriving at the apartment at night.

"Around New Year's Day, a helmeted head of state joined the actress at her apartment, where he has got into the habit of spending the night," Closer said on its website.

However, Closer later said it would remove the online report.

Managing Editor Laurence Pieau said: "At the request of the actress Julie Gayet, Closer will remove from its website information published today regarding her alleged affair with President François Hollande.

"Julie Gayet's lawyer contacted us to ask us to remove all references relating to this from the site and from Google searches."

Mr Hollande is the long-term partner of Ms Trierweiler, who acts as France's first lady.

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