CCTV Shows 'Agitated' Suspect After Lover's Fall

A murder trial has been shown CCTV of a man throwing his hands into the air and clawing at his face in a lift shortly after his girlfriend had plunged to her death from their apartment balcony.

Simon Gittany, 30, is accused of throwing Lisa Harnum from the 15th floor flat at the boutique Hyde apartment building in Sydney in July 2011.

He was captured on security cameras apparently acting in a highly agitated manner moments after the 30-year-old Canadian's death.

Gittany was seen holding his head in the apartment lift

Gittany was wearing pyjamas when he walked into the lift in the building and began gesticulating wildly and putting his hands to his head.

When the doors opened on the ground floor he ran into the lobby, his trial at the Supreme Court was shown.

Earlier in the trial, footage showed Gittany allegedly struggling with his girlfriend.

Lisa Harnum was killed by her 'abusive' boyfriend, the prosecution claims

Gittany has pleaded not guilty to her murder and will give evidence next week.

He says she climbed onto the balcony railing and then fell.

Crown Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi QC said the video of the couple wrestling with each other was taken from a secret pin hole camera outside the couple's apartment.

The balcony from which Ms Harnum fell

It allegedly shows Ms Harnum walking out of the front door before being grabbed in a headlock and pulled inside.

She fell to her death 69 seconds later and Gittany left the flat 14 seconds after that, the court was told.

He is then caught on camera leaving the apartment with no shirt on. He returns seven seconds later and leaves again, this time wearing a white top.

Gittany arrives at court in Sydney with his new girlfriend

After taking the lift to the lobby, another camera captures him running outside to where Ms Harnum's body is on the pavement.

The court was then played CCTV footage of her body hitting the ground - video the judge said was too distressing to be released.

It is alleged Gittany was controlling, abusive and secretly monitored his girlfriend's phone calls and emails.

The court heard he was angry because she wanted to leave him.

The trial continues.

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Pakistan Taliban Leader Killed By US Drone

The head of the Pakistani Taliban has been killed in a US drone strike, according to US and Pakistani official.

A senior US intelligence official confirmed the strike, adding that the US has received positive confirmation that Hakimullah Mehsud has been killed.

The strike - carried out in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region - also killed four other suspected militants, according to Pakistani intelligence officials.

Mehsud, who was believed to be aged in his mid-30s, was one of Pakistan's most wanted men. He has been reported dead several times before.

The US offered $5m (£3.1m) for Mehsud's capture after he appeared in a video with a Jordanian suicide bomber who killed seven CIA employees at a base in Afghanistan in 2009.

Mehsud (c) seen with other Taliban militants in a video from October 2009

Mehsud is also believed to be behind a failed car bombing in New York's Times Square in 2010, as well as brazen attacks inside Pakistan.

The US National Counterterrorism Centre describes Mehsud as "the self-proclaimed emir of the Pakistani Taliban". 

The CIA and the White House have declined to comment on the death.

The killing is the latest in a series of setbacks for the Pakistani Taliban.

A drone strike killed Mehsud's number two in May and one of his most trusted lieutenants was captured in Afghanistan last month.

The death follows months of debate over potential peace talks between the Taliban and the new government of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who swept to a landslide victory in May elections.

The strike comes at a politically sensitive time. Pakistan's government has been trying to cut a peace deal with the militants to end years of fighting that has killed thousands of Pakistani civilians and security forces.

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Greenpeace Activists Moved To St Petersburg Jail

Greenpeace says 30 men and women arrested after protesting against Russian oil drilling in the Arctic have been moved from a Murmansk detention centre to St Petersburg jail.

The reason behind the move is not yet clear, according to Greenpeace lawyers.

"The detainees shouldn't be in jail at all," says Greenpeace International executive director Kumi Naidoo.

The 'Arctic 30', as the group are known, were being held in a detention centre in Murmansk.

Mr Naidoo has expressed fears conditions could be worse at the St Petersburg jail.

"There is no guarantee that conditions inside the new detention centre will be any better than in Murmansk. In fact, they could be worse," he said.

The 30 activists - six of them British - were arrested in September as their ship circled near the Prazlomnaya oil platform in the Pechora Sea.

Armed officers stormed the Greenpeace vessel after some activists attempted to board the platform.

The platform, owned by Russia's state-controlled energy giant Gazprom, is the first offshore oil rig in the Arctic.

Prosecuting authorities in Russia came under fire on Friday after failing to lift piracy charges against the group, as promised.

Russia's powerful Investigative Committee announced last week that the piracy charges - which carry a 15-year jail sentence - would be replaced with charges of hooliganism.

But when the 30 detainees appeared before the Committee this week, the piracy allegations were not withdrawn.

Instead each of the activists faced an additional charge of hooliganism, which carries a maximum sentence of  seven years.

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LA Airport 'Shooting' Prompts Evacuation

A terminal at Los Angeles International Airport has been evacuated amid reports of a shooting.

The Los Angeles Fire Department issued a statement saying it is "assisting law enforcement at multi-patient incident".

Witness Brian Keech said he heard "about a dozen gunshots" from inside the security gate at Terminal 3.

MythBusters' Tory Belleci posted this photo of passengers evacuating

Aerial footage shows police surrounding the terminal and passengers fleeing the area.

The alleged gunman has been taken into custody, according to US media reports.

The incident was reported after 9.30am local time.

There was no immediate word of any injuries, but television images showed two people being wheeled away by firefighters.

NBC in Los Angeles reports two people have been shot, including a Transportation Security Administration employee.

Triage stations were seen being set up outside the terminal.

Tory Belleci, of television's MythBusters, was tweeting and posting pictures from inside the airport.

"Heard gun shots then everyone starting running for the door," he wrote.

"Eye witness said the shooter had an assault rifle."

The White House said President Barack Obama has been briefed on the incident.

More follows...

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Charlene Downes: Murder Hunt Reopened

Police are reopening their investigation into the unsolved murder of 14-year-old Charlene Downes on the 10th anniversary of when she was last seen alive.

Charlene went missing on November 1, 2003 and her body has never been found.

During the 2007 trial of a Jordanian takeaway owner and his Iranian business partner, who were both acquitted of Charlene's murder, the court heard the teenager was one of a number of young white girls who gravitated to Blackpool's fast food outlets to have sex with older men.

Prosecutors claimed her body was chopped up and had "gone into kebabs".

The two men received compensation of more than £230,000 after being found not guilty.

A new senior investigating officer has been assigned to Charlene's case full-time along with a team of specialist officers.

They will also investigate the disappearance of 15-year-old Paige Chivers in August 2007.

Her body was never found and police have not ruled out a link between the cases. Paige had also been connected to sex exploitation in the area.

Paige Chivers went missing in 2007 and has been connected to exploitation

Police have made four arrests on suspicion of Paige's murder over the years but all have been freed without charge.

Lancashire Police Assistant Chief Constable Andy Rhodes said: "We know that people are more confident in coming forward to report historic information nowadays and this may be the case here.

"Charlene and Paige's friends, obviously just teenagers at the time they went missing, will now be grown up and may have their own children.

"I would hope they may be more confident now in coming forward and telling us what they may know."

The British National Party (BNP) has organised a memorial Charlene and will hold a rally against "Muslim grooming gangs", which they have repeatedly claimed were responsible for her exploitation.

However, confidential police documents and witness statements quoted by the Times newspaper, suggested Charlene was systematically abused throughout her life by a range of men, many of them white.

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Baby Found In A Bag: Police Release Picture

Police have released a picture of a newborn baby found in a bag in a park in Stechford, Birmingham, as they search for her mother.

The 6lb baby, who has been named Jade by hospital staff, has been described as "alert, happy and contented" as she continues to recover.

She was named after the dog whose walker found her in a community park off Stuarts Road on Thursday.

West Midlands Police released the photo and a video clip of Jade, as they stepped up efforts to locate her family.

Birmingham East Police Chief Inspector Ian Green, said: "It is fantastic news that baby Jade is recovering well in hospital; I'm told she's very alert and a contented happy baby.

"She's doing well and should make a full recovery over the next couple of days - but of course what she really needs is to be in her mother's arms.

"I'd urge Jade's mum to make contact with us on the 101 police number so we can reunite them and get her medical attention and emotional support."

The newborn was found in Marlborough House Community Park

Officers have carried out extensive house-to-house enquiries around the park and have checked regional hospitals, medical centres and care homes.

The towel that Jade was wrapped in, along with the carrier bag she was in, have been sent away for fast-track forensic examination.

Police also hope DNA samples taken from the child will help identify her parents.

Chief Insp Green, added: "Paediatricians have confirmed the baby was lucky to be found when she was as even just a few more hours exposed to the elements could have had fatal consequences.

"Thankfully, we now know she's safe and well - and our priority is very much on finding her mum to ensure her safety and to provide whatever support she needs."

Officers are keen to hear from people who were in the park on Thursday and may have seen somebody with a carrier bag from The Entertainer toy shop.

The child's mother, or anyone with information about the birth, is urged to call West Midlands Police on the 101 number.

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M25 Closure Causes Severe Delays After Crash

A lorry crash on the M25 is likely to cause rush hour chaos after the Highways Agency announced part of the motorway would be closed for most of the day.

Police said there were severe delays on the northern part of the M25 after it was shut in both directions between junction 23 at South Mimms in Hertfordshire and junction 25 at the junction with the A10 north of Enfield in north London.

Clockwise traffic caught immediately behind the crash has now been released, according to the Highways Agency. 

One person is in critical condition after the crash

Motorists have been asked to consider alternative routes.

Police have arrested the lorry driver on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He remains in custody at a police station in north London.

Many drivers have taken to Twitter to express their frustration at the delays.

"Thanks M25 - Nothing like spending 6 hours in traffic to round off your week," wrote David Hobson.

Others were more upbeat about the incident. 

Aerial footage of the crash scene

"M25 is shut in both directions this is the time where all the little rat runs you learn working in a van pay off," wrote Daniel Cooper.

Four people were hurt when the lorry overturned around 9:30am, forcing police to close the carriageway while emergency services attended the scene.

One man was taken to a hospital in Cambridgeshire by the Hertfordshire Ambulance Service, where he remains in a critical condition.

A second man was taken to a central London hospital by the London Air Ambulance in a serious condition.

The closed off section of the motorway

A third man is being treated at a central London hospital for a leg injury. The fourth man received treatment at the scene for minor injuries.

It is the second time in three days the M25 has partially closed.

On Tuesday, the M25 had to be closed between J23 and J25 after the driver of a lorry died when the vehicle overturned and caught fire near J25.

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Hacking Trial: Coulson Email Said 'Do His Phone'

A jury has heard that former News of the World editor Andy Coulson sent an email telling a journalist to "do the phone" of a celebrity.

Coulson gave the instruction to head of news Ian Edmondson after fears that Calum Best would leak his story to a rival newspaper in 2006.

The NOTW had been chasing a story that he had apparently fathered a child with a woman. She had planned to sell her story to the newspapers.

Prosecutors said the email amounted to Coulson tasking Edmondson and others to hack the phone of Best.

Other alleged targets of the phone hacking included former home secretary Charles Clarke, actors Jude Law and Sienna Miller, and former aide to Prince William and Prince Harry, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the jury heard.

The list also included Lord Archer, cook Delia Smith, and model Abi Titmuss.

Prosecutors said Prince Harry and Calum Best were phone hacking victims

Prosecutors claim journalists at the NOTW used phone hacking as a "perfectly rational but entirely illegal" way of checking stories they had received tip-offs on.

The court also heard that former NOTW and Sun editor Rebekah Brooks allegedly approved a payment of £4,000 for a picture of Prince William in fancy dress at Sandhurst, which had apparently come from a military source. The image was never used in the newspaper.

Brooks also personally authorised £40,000 to the Sun's defence contact while her staff authorised twice that, the jury heard.

Prosecutors said that in signing off payments, Brooks was involved in a conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

The jury was also shown an email from the paper's former royal editor Clive Goodman to Coulson detailing payments to palace police.

Sky's Mark White said according to the prosecution, the 2003 email is an admission that the pair had been involved in criminality by paying police officers for information regarding the royal family.

Defendants Stuart Kuttner and Clive Goodman

A redacted version of the email by Goodman said: "Andy, one of our royal policemen at St James's Palace has obtained the brand new green book, the telephone directory with all the home numbers of the royal family and their household staff. Incredibly useful.

"The standard price is £1,000. So far, so good, but I had a heck of a time getting cash credits signed off by Stuart (Kuttner) earlier this week to pay a Kensington Palace copper.

"I'm not criticising Stuart at all but these people will not be paid in anything other than cash because if they're discovered selling stuff to us they end up on criminal charges, as could we."

Coulson replied questioning why he had recently signed off on a payment of £750 for another copy of the directory.

Goodman answered: "This is the harder to get one which has the Queen's direct lines to her family in it."

Goodman, managing editor Kuttner, Edmondson and Coulson are one of eight defendants on trial for phone hacking at the Old Bailey along with former News International chief Brooks. They deny the charges.

The jury also heard that phone hacking uncovered a claim that Prince Harry had broken rules at military training academy Sandhurst by asking an aide for help with an essay.

Mr Edis said the NOWT story came from a voicemail that was illegally accessed by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire on behalf of Goodman. It is claimed Coulson also knew what was happening.

Mr Edis said the story, which ran under the headline, "Harry's aide helps out on Sandhurst exams", had "got into the paper and was based entirely on a voicemail".

After Coulson stopped weekly payments to Mulcaire in February 2006, Goodman emailed Coulson asking him to keep them going.

The royal editor said he was a valuable source of stories on the royal family, especially after Prince William started at Sandhurst.

He wrote: "We are the only paper getting any information out of there at all about his movements and Kate's."

Jurors were also told that a top aide to the Prince of Wales was targeted by NOTW journalists, chasing false rumours that the Prince Charles' private secretary Sir Michael Peat had been having an affair.

The trial continues.

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Pair Buried In Garden Died From Gunshot Wounds

Detectives say an elderly couple found buried in their back garden in Nottinghamshire died from gunshot wounds.

Police have not yet formally identified the pair, but believe they are William and Patricia Wycherley, who lived at the house in Blenheim Close in Forest Town, Mansfield in the 1990s.

A police spokesman said: "A Home Office pathologist has determined that both people died as a result of being shot."

Their daughter and son-in-law have been arrested on suspicion of their murders, according to the Press Association.

Susan Edwards, 55, and her husband Christopher, 57, were arrested at St Pancras International railway station in London on Wednesday evening, said the news agency.

Nottinghamshire Police have refused to confirm the identities of the suspects, other than saying they are aged 57 and 55.

The couple, who are believed to have been living abroad, are being questioned in police custody.

It comes after human remains were found at the house last month. Police went there following a tip-off.

Police have not yet formally identified the bodies found in the garden

Mr and Mrs Wycherley moved to the address in 1987 and, according to neighbours, "simply disappeared" in 1998.

Officers have said Mrs Wycherley is believed to have been born in Fulham, west London, and would now have been 79. Her husband would have been 100.

Police say bone analysis has shed further light on the remains.

One of the bodies is believed to be that of an elderly white man who was older than 60, well-built and around 5ft 8in.

The other is thought to be that of a well-built white woman, who was 40 or older and around 5ft 6in.

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Griffin, who is leading the inquiry, said: "Bill and Pat, who would be 100 and 79 respectively if they were to still be alive today, were known to be quite reclusive.

"But with help from relatives and old friends, we are starting to build a picture of their lives and, more importantly, their movements in 1998, when neighbours say they simply disappeared."

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Co-Op: US Hedge Funds Reassure Watchdog

By Mark Kleinman, City Editor

A group of American hedge funds is trying to reassure the Bank of England about their role in the restructuring of the Co-operative's troubled banking arm ahead of a formal deal to be announced on Monday.

Sky News has learnt that the LT2 Group, a coalition of funds which has forced Britain's most important mutual to cede majority ownership of its troubled lender, has held talks with regulators to reassure them that they do not intend to cross a crucial bank ownership threshold.

Under Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) rules, any party owning more than 10% of the shares in a regulated bank must receive approval from the banking watchdog.

The stipulation is designed to prevent undue influence being exercised over important financial institutions by unregulated entities.

The rule also applies to a group of investors acting in concert, which hedge funds including Aurelius and Silver Point have been doing as they sought to win a better restructuring deal for bondholders from the Co-op Group.

Last week, it emerged that the bondholders would gain control of 70% of the Co-op Bank's shares as part of a debt-for-equity swap, leaving the Co-op Group still as the largest individual shareholder, although holding just a 30% stake.

Advisers to Aurelius, Silver Point and other bondholders have informed the PRA that none of them plans to individually hold a stake of 10% in the Co-op Bank, and that they should not be deemed to be acting collectively despite their months-long campaign to restructure the bank.

People close to the situation said on Friday the PRA was expected to be sympathetic to the hedge funds' argument, but that the issue was the subject of strict legal tests and would be closely monitored.

The funds are anxious to avoid having to be approved by the PRA because of the length of time the process can take.

The restructuring of the Co-op Bank will involve listing its shares on the London Stock Exchange next year, as it seeks to raise £1.5bn to fill a capital hole in its balance sheet.

Next Monday's financial restructuring is expected to be accompanied by the publication of a revised business plan for the Co-op Bank, which will entail significant cost cuts and job losses.

The news that the Co-op Bank would no longer be majority-owned by a mutual has sparked fury among many customers, prompting the bondholder group to acknowledge the lender's ethos.

"The Co-Operative Bank is unique for its ethics, mission and heritage which are an essential component of the Bank's differentiated approach," LT2 said in a statement last week.

"It is important to us that the Bank will maintain its unique characteristics and ethos.

"The Co-operative Group Ltd. will remain the Bank's largest shareholder by far and the Bank will benefit by this connection to the Co-operative movement."

Spokesmen for LT2 and the Co-op declined to comment.

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Sheffield Pizza Man Killed On Final Delivery

A 25-year-old student has been stabbed to death as he made his final pizza delivery before starting a career as an IT consultant.

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, who was originally from Sri Lanka, was found slumped at the wheel of his car on Sunday evening, in the Southey area of Sheffield, as he was on his way to deliver a takeaway.

Detectives say they cannot explain the "brutal and shocking death" of a "career-minded, hard-working, bright, articulate and friendly young man".

According to South Yorkshire Police, Mr Peiris was making his last delivery for Domino's Pizza when he died.

Mr Peiris was found slumped at the wheel of his car in the Southey area

He had been working for the chain's branch on Halifax Road in the city, while he studied IT at Sheffield Hallam University.

Mr Peiris had been taking an order to an address in Southey Crescent, which was due around 10pm.

When he failed to arrive, his work colleagues went to look for him.

He was found dead at 10.30pm in the driver's seat of his silver Toyota Yaris, outside the address he was delivering to.

A post-mortem examination showed that he died from stab wounds.

A 50-strong police team is now working on the murder inquiry.

Mr Peiris's family are hoping to travel to South Yorkshire, police said.

The branch of Domino's Pizza in Halifax Road where the 25-year-old worked

Detective Superintendant Lisa Ray, who is leading the investigation, said no motive had yet been established for the murder, and police were keeping an open mind.

But as the crime was not committed on a main through road, she believed it likely the fatal attack was carried out by somebody who knew the area.

Extensive house-to-house inquiries are being carried out, and CCTV footage is being examined. His car had also been taken to a specialist forensic garage.

Det Supt Ray said: "This was his last delivery he was going to make, so it's an absolute tragedy. At the moment we don't have any positive leads as to who was responsible."

But she added: "Somebody, somewhere knows something."

Police stress it was an isolated incident, but had increased the number of patrols in the area to reassure residents.

Det Supt said: "Thavisha Lakindu Peiris was a bright, hard-working, intelligent and caring man who had worked hard to develop his career in Sheffield.

"Everything we have learned from his family, friends and workmates at Domino's suggests he was a career-minded, hard-working, bright, articulate and friendly young man who was very much planning his future.

Mr Peiris graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2011

"To date, we have found no explanation for his brutal and shocking death.

"I need to hear from anyone who knows anything about his murder.

"A family is grieving for a young man whose life has been taken from him in the most brutal of fashions, and we owe it to him and his family to find the person or persons responsible."

He spoke to his mother in Sri Lanka every day.

A number of people have been arrested and questioned by detectives since the murder, but have since been released without charge, according to a force spokesman.

A spokesman for Sheffield Hallam University said Mr Peiris graduated in 2011.

He said: "The university is saddened to hear of the tragic death on Sunday of Thavisha Peiris, who successfully graduated in 2011 with a degree in information technology.

"We encourage anyone with information to contact South Yorkshire Police."

Anyone with information is urged to contact South Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 1253 of October 27.

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Back-To-Work Schemes 'Legally Flawed'

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

The Government's back-to-work schemes, under which people on benefits work for free, are legally flawed, the Supreme Court has ruled.

Judges upheld an earlier Court of Appeal ruling which found that 2011 regulations underpinning the schemes, which have been criticised as "slave labour", were invalid.

However, the judges ruled that regulations did not constitute forced or compulsory labour, leaving both sides claiming victory.

The legal battle focused on several cases including graduate Cait Reilly who had been made to work for two weeks cleaning and stacking shelves in a Poundland store in Kings Heath, Birmingham.

The 24-year-old graduate said she gained nothing from the fortnight and felt as though she was simply giving her labour for free.

The other case was that of 40-year-old unemployed HGV driver Jamieson Wilson, from Nottingham, who had to do unpaid work cleaning furniture and was stripped of his jobseeker's allowance for six months.

The Supreme Court dismissed Secretary of State Iain Duncan Smith's appeal on the issue of the legality of the back-to-work schemes, holding that the regulations were "invalid" as they did not give sufficiently detailed "prescribed description" of the schemes.

Iain Duncan Smith is pleased with the ruling on 'slave labour'

It also held that the Secretary of State had failed to provide sufficient information about the schemes to Ms Reilly and Mr Wilson.

Following the judgment Miss Reilly, who said she had been unfairly labelled a 'job snob' for challenging the scheme, said: "I am really pleased with today's judgment, which I hope will serve to improve the current system and assist jobseekers who have been unfairly stripped of their benefits.

"I brought these proceedings because I knew that there was something wrong when I was stopped from doing voluntary work in a local museum and instead forced to work for Poundland for free.

"I have been fortunate enough to find work in a supermarket but I know how difficult it can be. It must be time for the Government to rethink its strategy and actually do something constructive to help lift people out of unemployment and poverty."

Following the Court of Appeal ruling in February, the Government retrospectively passed legislation to correct problems in the system.

That new legislation rendered much of today's Supreme Court ruling academic but the Government trumpeted its success.

Mr Duncan Smith said: "We are very pleased that the Supreme Court today unanimously upheld our right to require those claiming jobseeker's allowance to take part in programmes which will help get them into work.

"We have always said that it was ridiculous to say that our schemes amounted to forced labour, and yet again we have won this argument.

"Ultimately this judgment confirms that it is right that we expect people to take getting into work seriously if they want to claim benefits."

Jonathan Isaby, political director of the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "This verdict may be embarrassing for the Department for Work and Pensions, but campaigners should not be allowed to exploit it to undermine necessary and fair welfare reform.

"This judgment is about the way ministers introduced legislation into Parliament. It certainly does not reject the concept of mandatory work experience."

On Tuesday, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt lost his appeal against a Court of Appeal ruling, which found he had no power to announce cuts to A&E and maternity services at Lewisham Hospital.

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Cirque Du Soleil Faces Fines After Fatal Fall

Performance company Cirque du Soleil and Las Vegas casino MGM Grand face thousands of dollars in fines after an acrobat died in a fall.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has completed its investigation into the death of 31-year-old Sarah Guillot-Guyard.

Investigators concluded she fell 28 metres (94 feet) to the floor when a wire rope she was suspended from was severed due to her rapid ascent.

Teri Williams, a spokeswoman for the Nevada Department of Business and Industry, said: "She ascended too quickly which caused the rope to come out of the sheave/pulley.

"The rope was severed when it encountered a shear point. The investigation concluded that she ascended too quickly, in part, because she did not receive proper training."

OSHA proposed more than $25,000 (£15,500) in penalties for Cirque du Soleil Nevada, and three citations totalling $7,000 (£4,350) for the MGM Grand, where the performance took place.

Among other things, OSHA reported Cirque did not provide proper training for the performer, and did not properly assess the workplace for hazards.

MGM faces citations because its employees were exposed to hazards due to deficiencies in Cirque's hazard assessments, according to OSHA.

Officials from both entities said they will appeal the decision.

Cirque du Soleil spokeswoman Renee-Claude Menard said: "Cirque du Soleil completed an exhaustive review of its safety policies and procedures in the wake of the tragic accident involving Sarah.

"We have redoubled our efforts to ensure the overall diligence and safety of our performers and crew."

Ms Guillot-Guyard was being hoisted up the side of the stage when it appeared that she detached from her safety wire and plummeted to an open pit below the stage.

The show was cut short after the acrobat's fall, and reopened 17 days after her death.

Ms Guillot-Guyard was the first Cirque du Soleil performer to die in an onstage accident in the company's 29-year history.

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Arctic Sunrise: Inside Greenpeace Crew's Jail

By Katie Stallard, Russia Correspondent, in Murmansk

Sky News has obtained the first pictures from inside the Russian detention centre where 30 Greenpeace protesters and journalists are being held.

The photos show two of the cells where the crew of the Arctic Sunrise have been detained since their arrest at gunpoint near a Russian oil rig last month.

They were protesting Russia's plans for Arctic oil exploration when their ship was boarded by the country's security forces and towed to the northern port of Murmansk.

The group included two freelance journalists.

Originally charged with piracy, the allegations have since been downgraded to the lesser charge of "hooliganism", which still carries a potential jail term of up to seven years.

Two single beds packed into a small space in the Murmansk detention centre

Several of the group have said they are struggling with the cold in their cells and requested warm clothes.

But when confronted about conditions inside, the head of the detention centre told Sky News British prisons were "soft".

We managed to get rare access inside the prison in Murmansk to speak to the governor and raise the detainees' concerns.

In response to a series of questions, he laughed and said: "In Great Britain your prisons are soft."

He referred all other concerns to the relevant consular officials.

We weren't allowed to film inside and were accompanied by guards at all times.

Entering through a checkpoint you find a pretty rundown Soviet-era detention centre.

Freelance journalist Mr Bryan looked tired in court

The cells are housed in a series of concrete blocks, separated by barbed wire and security fences.

I passed a number of prisoners in the corridor, wearing the standard issue black prison uniforms, but they weren't allowed to speak to me and I wasn't allowed to talk to them.

It is relatively mild in Murmansk this week for October, but thick snow already lines the streets, and the courtyard inside the prison is iced over.

Temperatures in the winter months can drop to minus 30.

For six weeks from December it is completely dark.

Outside the prison, we met friends and colleagues from Greenpeace queuing to bring the group food and basic supplies.

Getting the deliveries in means waiting in the cold for much of the night, and navigating a series of bureaucratic rules that require every vegetable to be itemised, and then sliced open by prison staff before it can be accepted.

One inmate has managed to create a makeshift clothes line

Each prisoner is allowed up to 30kg each month from a strict list of approved items.

Rashid Alimov, who had travelled up from the Greenpeace office in St Petersburg said they had brought fresh vegetables, chocolate, coffee, and items such as earplugs the prisoners have requested.

They have already sent in portable water heaters so they can boil water in their cells.

"Cold is a problem for some of the people I know," he said.

"They were asking to have a hat so they can sleep with the hat on, and to have gloves so they can sleep in them."

Irina Paikachova works for a local human rights organisation and has been visiting the prisoners regularly.

She told us many of them are finding the conditions inside very difficult and that all of the female Greenpeace protesters are being held in solitary confinement.

A narrow bench and table make up the 'dining area'

She was able to speak to one of the British activists, Phil Ball, from Oxford, on Tuesday.

He had been given special dispensation as it was his grandmother's funeral.

She said his biggest concern was not his own physical welfare, but that of his family in the UK.

"For him it's much, much more difficult to be far from his family when his children will be without him, maybe many years," Ms Paikachova explained.

He sent out a picture that he has drawn of the inside of his cell.

Irina said that he was feeling more hopeful that this might soon be over.

As we left the prison piped music was playing, presumably for the benefit of the inmates - perhaps the lyrics hadn't been translated into Russian, or the guards have a taste for irony ... the song was What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger.

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Tunisia: Suicide Bomber Strikes At Beach Resort

A man has blown himself up at a Mediterranean resort town in Tunisia which is popular with British holidaymakers.

The man, who was wearing a belt of explosives, detonated his charge near the Riadh Palm Hotel in Sousse - moments before security forces foiled a second similar attack elsewhere.

Witnesses told Tunisian media that the man appeared to be about to enter the hotel when the bomb detonated.

It is believed to be the first suicide bombing ever to take place in the country.

A would-be suicide bomber who tried to blow himself up at the tomb of former President Habib Bourguiba in the southern city of Monastir was captured by police.

The suicide bombing was in Sousse, and a second attack foiled in Monastir

"An attempted attack targeting the compound of the Bourguiba mausoleum was foiled ... and a young man carrying explosives was arrested," said ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Laroui.

Both men appeared to belong to an extremist group, he added.

The suicide bomber in Sousse, which is situated 90 miles south of the capital Tunis, was the only person killed in the attack, the interior ministry said.

There were no immediate reports of any other casualties.

Sousse has long been a major destination for European tourism, a sector that is now recovering from a catastrophic drop following the country's 2011 revolution which kick-started the Arab Spring.

The country has been battling unrest since the overthrow of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's secular dictatorship, and has seen the rise of a hardline Islamist movement that has armed itself and carried out attacks.

Earlier this year, Tunisia's moderate Islamist government began a crackdown on Ansar al Sharia, one of the most radical groups to emerge since the uprising.

The group's leader is a former al Qaeda veteran who once fought in Afghanistan.

Nine police officers were killed in clashes with militants earlier this month.

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Sir Alex Ferguson's Book Is Fastest-Selling

Sir Alex Ferguson's memoir has set a new record for the fastest-selling non-fiction book.

Released last week, figure's show My Autobiography has echoed the 71-year-old's managerial success with Manchester United by selling 115,547 to date.

The hardback book - which has a cover price of £25 - notched up the biggest first week sale for a non-fiction title since official records began 15 years ago.

According to industry magazine The Bookseller, the previous record-holder was Delia Smith's How To Cook: Book Two.

That title sold 112,000 copies in its first week, nearly 14 years ago.

Ferguson in United's treble-winning season in 1999

My Autobiography was well ahead of many other big name memoirs during their first week on the shelves.

Tony Blair's book, A Journey, sold 92,000 copies three years ago, while 86,000 copies of David Beckham's My Side were snapped up in the first week of its release a decade ago.

The memoirs of Sir Alex, the most decorated British football manager in history, prompted a number of controversies.

Passages of the book such as those about former United players including Roy Keane, Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy have attracted considerable media attention since its release.

Some commentators have suggested its success is merely due to the magnitude of Sir Alex's achievements as a manager and that the book actually contains no major new revelations.

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Child Killer Alan John Giles On The Loose

Police are hunting a child killer who is on the run from prison while serving two life sentences for kidnap and murder.

Alan John Giles, 56, fled from an "open" section of HMP Hewell, near Redditch, in Worcestershire, on Monday, West Mercia Police said.

Giles, originally from Oldbury in the West Midlands, was jailed in 1997 at Birmingham Crown Court for murdering 16-year-old Kevin Ricketts in 1995.

At the time of Giles' trial, the body of Kevin, a student from Quinton, near Birmingham, had not been found.

Giles was in an open part of the prison when he went missing

Appealing for the public's help to trace Giles, Detective Inspector John Cashion, of West Mercia Police, said: "We have a dedicated investigation team working expeditiously to locate and apprehend Giles, and to that end we are also liaising with our colleagues in West Midlands Police and in the Prison Service."

Police also made a direct appeal to Giles, who is eligible for consideration for parole next year, to contact police, and hand himself in.

Det Insp Cashion said: "We have information that gives us concern for his welfare and it is important that we trace him as soon as possible.

"It should be borne in mind that Giles was in an open part of the prison when he went missing.

"However, we would appeal to anyone who sees him not to approach him, but to contact police immediately on 999.

"Furthermore, we would urge anyone who may be helping him or sheltering him to contact us without delay."

Giles, who has had recent contact with family in the West Midlands, is described as white, 5ft 9in, and of proportionate build with short grey hair and blue eyes.

He has tattoos of an eagle on his back and a swallow, shark and flower on his left arm.

It is believed Giles is wearing a grey Rockport sweater, blue jeans and white Asics trainers.

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Big Six To Be Forced To Make Switching Easier

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

The Big Six energy companies will be forced to be more transparent about their profits and make it simpler for customers to switch under plans for an annual competition check on the industry.

Ed Davey, the Energy Secretary, will unveil plans for the yearly review on Thursday in the House of Commons.

He is expected to say that the companies will be subject to rigorous checks in three key areas - competition, profit and customer engagement.

It follows a storm of controversy around energy prices after four of the big six companies raised prices by an average of 9.1%, causing customer bills to cross £1,400 a year and leading to allegations of cartel behaviour.

The annual check is aimed to drive up competition in the market which is still heavily dominated by the Big Six.

Despite a number of new entrants to the market, British Gas, SSE, Powergen, EDF, E.ON and Scottish Power still provide gas and electricity to 99% of British homes.

The annual review will aim to crackdown on practices seen as preventing new firms from entering the market.

Ed Davey will announce the move in his annual statement

One revealed earlier this week involved British Gas. The energy giant was said to have a dedicated team that contacted customers who had switched away and offered them lower rates to go back.

Stephen Fitzpatrick, managing director of Ovo Energy, made the claims at a select committee hearing in which companies faced MPs.

Sources told Sky News the review would also look at how to force companies to offer clearer information to customers who want to switch and to reduce the time it takes to change companies. There are already plans to reduce the number of tarifs on offer so that customers can easily compare them.

And the review will be expected to push companies to be more transparent about their profits. While companies say they only make margins of around 5% on their retail products, they make much bigger percentages in power generation. And the profits made on trading are not disclosed.

The review will be carried out by three regulators - Ofgem, the Office of Fair Trading and the Capital Markets Authority.

A source said the plans were "very much about transparency and asking the [Big Six] to open their books".

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Uefa Partially Closes Stadium Over Fan Racism

Uefa has ordered a partial closure of CSKA Moscow's stadium after their fans racially abused Manchester City player Yaya Toure.

The governing body of European football's announcement comes a week after supporters appeared to aim monkey noises at Toure during the two teams' Champions League game at the Arena Khimki.

The sanction will apply to CSKA's next home match in the competition, against Bayern Munich on November 27.

Toure spoke out immediately after the game and later suggested black players should boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia over racism. CSKA had vehemently denied the claims

Uefa has faced heavy criticism over the perceived lenience of previous sanctions it has issued for racist abuse in football.

The organisation revealed its decision its control and disciplinary body hearing in Switzerland, for which City submitted evidence.

Uefa issued a statement, saying: "The fight against racism is a high priority for Uefa.

WThe European governing body has a zero-tolerance policy towards racism and discrimination on the pitch and in the stands.

"All forms of racist behaviour are considered serious offences against the disciplinary regulations and are punished with the most severe sanctions.

"Following the entry into force of the new disciplinary regulations on 1 June, the fight against racist conduct has been stepped up a level - resulting in more severe sanctions to deter any such behaviour."

Under the regulations, a second offence of racial abuse concerning spectators could result in a full stadium closure.

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Phone Hacking: Three Journalists Plead Guilty

Three former News Of The World journalists have pleaded guilty to phone hacking charges.

The Old Bailey heard on Wednesday that ex-chief correspondent Neville Thurlbeck, former assistant news editor James Weatherup, and ex-news editor Greg Miskiw had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to intercept communications at earlier hearings.

Private detective Glenn Mulcaire had also admitted hacking the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, prosecutor Andrew Edis QC said.

The revelations came at the beginning of a trial of eight defendants who face 15 phone-hacking related charges between them.

Rebekah Brooks denies the hacking charges

Ex-News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and former NOTW editor and ex-Downing Street spin-doctor Andy Coulson are accused of conspiring to illegally access voicemail messages on mobile phones. Both deny the charges.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Mr Edis told jurors "journalists are no more entitled to break the criminal law than anybody else".

He said there was "no justification" for newspaper staff to get involved in phone hacking or to make payments to public officials.

Jurors would have to decide whether Brooks and Coulson knew about the illegal behaviour of the three journalists who had pleaded guilty, Mr Edis said.

"There was phone hacking, and quite a lot of it," said the barrister.

"Given they (Brooks and Coulson) were so senior, if they knew about it, well obviously they were allowing it to happen.

Ex-Downing Street spin doctor Andy Coulson also denies the charges

"They were in charge of the purse strings."

Mr Edis said that private detective Glenn Mulcaire had been paid around £100,000 a year by the News of the World and that such an "extraordinary arrangement" must have required high level approval.

Coulson and Brooks, both 45, are alleged to have conspired with former NOTW head of news Ian Edmondson, the tabloid's ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner, and others to illegally access the voicemails between October 3, 2000 and August 9, 2006.

Celebrities including Kate Moss, Joanna Lumley and Will Young were named in court as some of the defendants' alleged victims of phone hacking.

Brooks is also charged with two counts of conspiring with others to commit misconduct in public office - one between January 1, 2004 and January 31, 2012 and the other between February 9, 2006 and October 16, 2008 - linked to alleged inappropriate payments to public officials.

One of the payments she authorised was £40,000 to a Ministry of Defence official for information, the jury was told.

Brooks faces another two allegations of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice,

It is alleged she conspired to remove seven boxes of material from the News International archive between July 6 and 9, 2011 with former personal assistant Cheryl Carter.

The second count alleges that Brooks, her husband Charles Brooks and former head of security at News International Mark Hanna conspired together and with others between July 15 and July 19, 2011 to pervert the course of justice.

It is claimed that they tried to conceal documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police officers who were investigating allegations of phone hacking and corruption of public officials in relation to the News of the World and The Sun newspapers.

Coulson is also facing two allegations that he conspired with the tabloid's former royal editor Clive Goodman, and persons unknown to commit misconduct in public office - between August 31, 2002 and January 31, 2003, and between January 31 and June 3, 2005.

The phone hacking investigation began in January 2011 and led to the closure of the News of the World and the Leveson Inquiry into press standards.

More follows...

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