Murdered Artist's Family Join Police Appeal

The family of an artist who was found murdered while house sitting in the West Sussex village of Bosham have made an emotional appeal for help in finding her killer.

Valerie Graves' son, Tim Wood, sitting alongside his sister Jemima Harrison at a news conference, said: "This is devastating for the family and has come as a complete shock.

"We would appeal to anyone who has any information about this, no matter how trivial, to contact police to help as catch whoever has done this horrible act."

Ms Graves, 55, who had been looking after the detached home with three members of her family while the owners were abroad over Christmas, was found with significant head and facial injuries on Monday.

Police are carrying out a fingertip search around the murder scene

Det Supt Nick May said police would be "very interested" to hear about anyone who may have come home in different clothes or blood-stained clothes.

"Or was anyone asked to wash clothing or asked to dispose of clothing in unusual circumstances late on Sunday, December 29, or up until Monday, December 30?," he went on.

Police are investigating a possible break-in, he said. Officers are looking at whether the attack could have involved someone in her life now or someone she knew in the past.

Det Supt May repeated an earlier appeal for witnesses who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area from late afternoon on Sunday, December 29 to around 9am on Monday, December 30.

He said Ms Graves went to bed about 10pm on Sunday and was found at about 10am the following morning, in a bedroom at the rear of the house.

Police patrols have been boosted in the area.

The house where Ms Graves was found dead on Monday

Mr Wood said his mother, who had moved back to Sussex from Scotland to look after her mother, had spent a happy Christmas with her family including two young grandchildren.

Ms Graves' family said earlier: "Val was a much-loved daughter, sister, mum and nan, who will be sorely missed by the whole family.

"Val was a free spirit who enjoyed her life and was a talented artist, about to embark on a new path involving ceramics.

"She was an eternal student who was always hungry for a new challenge."

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China Drugs Raid Nets Huge Crystal Meth Haul

Helicopters, speedboats and armed police descended on a Chinese village in a massive drugs raid which seized three tonnes of crystal meth.

Security forces and thousands of police officers surrounded the village of Boshe in the south of the country on Sunday, a location notorious for producing drugs.

A total of 182 suspects alleged to be working for 18 drug rings were arrested, according to a statement from police in Guangdong province carried by Xinhua news agency.

Officials believe more than a fifth of households in the village are involved in trafficking or production, running a "clan-based, industrialised operation with local protection".

The statement said: "The offenders have for a long time been brazenly committing crimes, avoiding investigations and even ganging up to violently oppose law enforcement."

Villagers have put up resistance to raids before, using grenades and AK-47s

The raid was part of Operation Thunder, a crackdown in the province that was launched last summer. So far 11,000 suspects have been detained and eight tonnes of drugs seized.

The coastal city of Lufeng, close to Boshe, is the source of a third of China's crystal meth supply.

Villagers have put up fierce resistance to the authorities' attempts to curtail drug production in the past.

Homemade grenades and AK-47s have been used against officers, and villagers have put nail boards on roads and hurled rocks in an attempt to stop them getting in.

According to local newspaper The Yangcheng Evening News the first person to be captured in the raid was the village's party secretary, who was allegedly protecting the operation from the authorities. Others detained included the local police chief and police officers.

Crystal meth is the second most popular drug in China after heroin, according to a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

It is estimated that sales of the two drugs in the country and South East Asia totalled more than $30bn (£18bn) in 2012. 

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North Korea Ski Resort May Breach UN Sanctions

By Mark Stone, Asia Correspondent in Beijing

A new ski resort in North Korea has been supplied with equipment which may breach United Nations sanctions against the country.

Photographs of the new resort, the country's first, at Masik show newly manufactured North American and European ski equipment.

One photograph shows three modern snow ploughs. Two of them are manufactured by the Italian firm Prinoth.

Another photo shows some skiers riding on a Ski-Doo snowmobile, which is made by the Canadian firm Bombardier.

A third photograph shows state-of-the-art snow cannons, which are used to artificially create snow.

The cannons, which can be seen dotted all the way up the mountain, are made by Areco of Sweden. They cost upwards of £14,000 each.

North Korea is subject to United Nations sanctions which ban the import of a wide range of products.

The three snow ploughs, two of them made by the Italian firm Prinoth

The latest resolution, adopted in March 2013, reaffirmed earlier resolutions.

Each one bans member states from exporting weapons and associated goods, equipment which could aid the country's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and "luxury goods" to North Korea.

However, the UN fails to itemise the specific items which would fall within its "luxury goods" bracket, thus providing North Korea and its suppliers with potential loopholes.

The European Union has issued its own list of "luxury goods" banned from export to North Korea. It states clearly that European companies are banned from exporting "articles and equipment for skiing, golf, diving and water sports" to North Korea.

It is almost certain that the equipment came through China. The two countries share a border across which almost all of North Korea's goods flow.

North Koreans ride a snowmobile at the resort, built by conscripts

China has its own ski resorts and it is possible that the European and North American firms thought their products were destined for China.

Speaking to NK News, a website which focuses on North Korea, the CEO of Areco Johan Erling said he had "no idea" how at least seven Areco snow cannons had turned up in North Korea.

Mr Erling told NK News that his company sells about 40 snow ploughs to its Chinese reseller every year.

Last week, the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was photographed at the opening of the new resort, the building of which is believed to have been his personal ambition. Mr Kim was educated in Switzerland, though it is not clear whether he can actually ski.

He was pictured taking a ride, without skis, on one of the resort's chair-lifts which appeared not to be new. The two-seater lift looked conspicuously dated.

Mr Kim was not seen skiing at the resort

Last year, it emerged that North Korea had tried to purchase ski-lifts from Switzerland but was blocked from doing so by the Swiss government.

A Swiss journalist who was permitted to visit the resort when it was being built claimed that the failure to secure Swiss ski-lifts prompted the North Korean authorities to relocate an old chair-lift from elsewhere in the country.

It was only long enough to stretch half way up the mountain.

The resort was built largely by hand and by conscripted soldiers to a tight deadline set by Mr Kim.

North Korea is one of the world's poorest countries. Its people remain largely cut off from the outside world.

United Nations sanctions were first imposed on the country following nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. The latest resolution, adopted in 2013, followed the test-launch of a long range Unha-3 rocket from the country's west coast.

Sky News has contacted both Bombardier Recreational Products and Prinoth. Neither has yet responded to our emails.

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Robert Cerqua Charged With Murder Of Twin

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of his identical twin brother in a fight on New Year's Eve.

Robert Cerqua, 31, is accused of inflicting serious injuries on his brother Christopher at the home they shared in Hythe, Hampshire, on Tuesday.

Police were called to the address in Langdown Road, Hythe, at 9pm.

Christopher Cerqua was taken to Southampton General Hospital where he died later.

Robert Cerqua was remanded in custody when he appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court.

He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

Trevor Vidler, chairman of the magistrates' panel, asked him if he understood the charge, to which he replied "Yes".

Mr Vidler told him: "You are being sent for trial to the Crown Court and that first hearing will be on Monday.

"You will attend for that preliminary hearing and remain in custody until that date and time. Go with the officers, please."

He is due to appear at Winchester Crown Court on Monday.

The murder inquiry is being led by detectives from the Hampshire Major Investigation Team.

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Wolf Of Wall Street 'Sets F-Bomb Record'

Martin Scorsese's latest film The Wolf Of Wall Street has been branded the most foul-mouthed film of all time.

The movie, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio as amoral stockbroker Jordan Belfort, tops a list of films that feature most uses of the F-word.

The Golden Globe-nominated film has 506 uses of the expletive in 179 minutes, according to Wikipedia's list, which uses several websites that monitor swearing in films.

It knocked Spike Lee's 1999 film Summer Of Sam off the top of the chart for non-documentary films.

The film joins Scorsese's earlier gangster films Casino and Goodfellas in the swearing top 10.

Last month the director warned fans about the language in his latest project during a Q&A at the Marrakech film festival.

Martin Scorsese warned that the film featured a lot of swearing

He said: "The language is very tough in that film, but not as bad as Wolf Of Wall Street, my new film.

"Much worse, much worse. I mean, they're making money."

The Wolf Of Wall Street has been slammed by some critics for glamorising the worst of Wall Street with its depictions of orgies, drug-taking and lavish spending.

Viewers have been divided on whether Scorsese is satirising or celebrating the main character's outrageous behaviour.

At a screening before the film's release, a female Oscar voter yelled "Shame!" at the 71-year-old, who has been nominated for the Best Director Academy Award seven times.

The real Jordan Belfort defrauded clients of $100m (£61m) but escaped with a 22-month jail sentence after agreeing to testify against his co-conspirators.

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Therapist Faces Autistic Boy Abuse Charges

A therapist is facing child abuse charges after he was caught on camera allegedly assaulting a three-year-old autistic boy.

Footage secretly filmed by Caeden Lowe's parents at their home in Wisconsin allegedly shows Stephen Jacobs, 27, elbowing the boy in the head, hitting him with pillows and headbutting him.

Mr Jacobs, a therapist with Autism Intervention of Milwaukee, faces felony charges of abusing a child during a therapy session.

According to the criminal complaint, he was one of several therapists providing treatment to Caeden, who suffers from severe autism and cannot communicate with his parents.

The boy's mother Stephanie said she and her husband decided to install a webcam to record his home visits when they felt his condition was not improving.

Caeden Lowe's autism has left him unable to communicate with his parents

She said she suspected something was wrong, but was shocked by what the footage revealed.

She said: "If we hadn't put a video camera downstairs we would've never known.

"It's about my son. He deserves the therapy he was promised. And he deserves more than they gave him.

"And this could be happening anywhere." 

Mrs Lowe said she had taken calls from other parents whose autistic children had sessions with Mr Jacobs.

Stephanie Lowe with her three-year-old son Caeden

Police have said the investigation remains open and that they have not had any official new cases related to Caeden.

Autism Intervention Milwaukee said it is making inquiries with its other therapists.

Mr Jacobs told investigators he was studying for a college exam on his computer and does not recall assaulting the boy.

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Weather: Flood Warnings As Tidal Surges Hit

Hundreds of homes have been flooded after rivers from the South West to Scotland burst their banks as the British Isles were hit by another violent storm from the Atlantic.

Nine severe flood warnings, which indicate a risk to life, are in place for England and Wales as heavy rain and strong winds, combined with exceptionally high tides, struck western parts.

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Where some of the high tides are on Friday night

Among the areas affected are the south coasts of Devon and Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Gloucestershire, and Wales.

Severe flood warning areas in Dorset Severe flood warning areas in Gloucestershire Severe flood warning areas in Wales

Emergency services are searching for an 18-year-old man who went missing while taking photographs around the River Yealm estuary at Newton Ferrers, Devon.

Harry Martin went missing in the storms

Harry Martin was last seen around noon on Thursday, walking in the direction of the coastal path near his home in Membland.

In North Wales, five people were rescued by lifeboat from a flood-hit caravan park in Gwynedd. And four people were rescued from a farm in Llanbedr, near Barmouth.

It came just hours after homes in Newport, South Wales, were evacuated because of the risk of flooding.

The three severe warnings for the South West are near Bournemouth in Dorset.

There are three in Wales, including the tidal area at Borth and the Usk estuary. And three in Gloucestershire along the River Severn and its estuary.

More than 300 flood warnings and alerts are also in place, affecting almost every region of England and Wales.

There were high tides later on the northwest coastline bringing further threats to communities, including Chester, where sand bags were laid.

Also inland, the risk was that rivers - already swollen from weeks of rain -  would rise further and burst their banks.

People were rescued from a flooded farm in North Wales. Pic: RNLI

And for counties such as Dorset and Gloucestershire that were affected earlier in the day by floods, the evening high tide means further potential problems.

In Christchurch, Dorset, the River Stour burst its banks. Sky's Stephen Douglas at the scene said: "A number of homes have been evacuated so people are listening to the warnings hoping it doesn't get any worse than this."

In Burrowbridge, Somerset, the River Parrett burst its banks as did the River Severn in Minsterworth, Gloucestershire.

Some roads in Gloucestershire were "impassable" due to flooding, including in Tewkesbury.

In Cornwall, there has been flooding in areas including Penzance, Newquay, Looe and Polperro and there have been road closures. In Devon, towns including Kingsbridge and Salcombe were affected.

But the situation in the two most southwesterly counties has been slightly better than anticipated, according to the RNLI.

Flooding in Lynmouth, north Devon

Spokesman Tom Mansell said: "There has been flooding in places like Looe, Kingsbridge and Salcombe but it is not as bad as we had been expecting."

He said a man in Cornwall had a "very lucky escape" when his car was swept away as he wave-watched.

This was the scene in Kingsbridge, Devon. Pic: norsphoto/Twitter

"People think they are in a strong metal box but moving water on tarmac becomes very buoyant," he said.

One man in Penzance was evacuated from his home after it was "severely affected" by floods.

In the South East, Yalding in Kent was deluged again overnight but not on the same scale as over Christmas.

The scene in the Severn Estuary in Gloucestershire

The unsettled conditions in the UK are expected to remain for the next few days, forecasters say.

Sky's weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "The areas most at risk today will be the southwest of England where the second high tide today will be during this evening's rush hour.

Flooding in Salcombe, Devon. Pic: RNLI

"Tonight the winds will ease, but rain is expected across southern parts of England and Wales by the morning. This rain will spread north on Saturday. On Sunday more rain will spread across all parts of the UK and next week remains unsettled with further downpours."

There are also suggestions there may be snow across northern England, Northern Ireland and southern Scotland on Saturday.

Floods in Newport, South Wales

Meanwhile, the Thames Flood Barrier in London has been closed due to a high flow of water over Teddington Weir combined with a spring tide.

It is has also been announced that December 2013 was the wettest month in Scotland since records began in 1910.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued more than a dozen flood warnings, but no severe flood warnings.

Belfast avoided the serious flooding that had been feared after a tidal surge came and went without breaching defences.

A train passes through the coast at Saltcoats in Scotland

But in Coleraine, in Co Londonderry, there were reports of flooding after the River Bann broke its banks.

On the east coast of the region, towns and villages such as Cushendall, Carnlough, Newcastle and Portaferry took a battering.

In the Irish Republic, forecasters have issued a "status orange" weather warning, with gusts of up to 80mph hitting Connacht, Donegal, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick.

High tides, strong winds and rainfall have caused flooding in parts of Cork, Galway, Salthill, Waterford, Tralee, Clare and Mayo, while the River Shannon has burst its banks in Limerick.

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US Weather: Nine Dead As Snow Batters East

At least nine people have been killed by blizzards battering the eastern half of the US, leaving nearly two feet of snow.

Around 1,900 flights have been cancelled across the country as howling wind and sub-zero temperatures wreaked chaos.

Governors in New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency and urged residents to stay at home, while hundreds of schools were shut down in Boston and New York.

New York Gov Andrew Cuomo said: "This is nothing to be trifled with. People should seriously consider staying in their homes."

The deaths include those caused by difficult traffic conditions in Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.

A massive pile of salt fell on a worker at a Philadelphia storage facility, killing him. And authorities say a woman with Alzheimer's disease froze to death after she wandered away from her rural New York home.

Forecasters say temperatures were plummeting to well below freezing, and wind chill readings could hit minus 10F (-23C).

Another wave of cold air already was blasting through the Midwest after moving down from Canada.

Outreach teams were searching streets in New York City and Boston for homeless people at risk of freezing to death.

Meanwhile, some major highways in New York state were shut down overnight, and some commuter trains around New York City were operating on a reduced schedule.

Amtrak planned to run trains on all of its Northeast lines on Friday but operate on a modified schedule, spokeswoman Christina Leeds said.

New Jersey Gov Chris Christie ordered nonessential state workers to stay at home on Friday, with state offices and courthouses closed.

The heavy weather began on Thursday, just a day after New York Mayor Bill de Blasio was sworn in to lead the nation's largest city and a few days before Boston Mayor Thomas Menino ends 20 years in office.

Mr De Blasio, who in 2010 criticized predecessor Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his handling of a post-Christmas storm, said 1,700 snowplows and 450 salt spreaders were hitting the streets in New York City.

"We have to get it right, no question about it," he said.

"We are focused like a laser on protecting this city."

The snowstorm worked its way east from the Midwest, where it dropped up to 17in of snow in parts of Chicago and prompted the cancellation of hundreds of flights at both of the city's airports.

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Egypt: Six Dead As Morsi Supporters Protest

At least six people have been killed in Egypt after Mohamed Morsi supporters clashed with police and opponents.

Violence broke out after thousands of people loyal to the deposed president demonstrated ahead of a new hearing in Morsi's trial, to be held on Wednesday.

Three people were killed in Cairo, said the health ministry, while three others died in Ismailiya, Fayoum and Egypt's second city, Alexandria.

More than 120 people were also arrested and 42 wounded as police used tear gas and birdshot to break up the demonstrations.

Protesters threw rocks at police during street battles in Cairo, with reports that fireworks and petrol bombs were also used.

Petrol bombs and fireworks were reportedly thrown by demonstrators

The capital's main squares, the site of violent clashes in the past, had been sealed off in advance by barbed wire and military vehicles.

Mohamed Morsi, an Islamist who came to power in democratic elections, was removed by a military coup in July 2013.

He now faces charges of inciting the killing of protesters when he was in power and is also accused over a jailbreak during the 2011 uprising that ousted former president Hosni Mubarak.

His Muslim Brotherhood movement was declared a terrorist organisation in December after Egypt's current rulers blamed it for a car bomb that killed 15 people.

It is now illegal to belong to the group or finance it.

The military says Mohamed Morsi incited the killing of protesters

The crackdown has increased tensions in a country suffering the worst internal strife of its modern history.

More than 1,000 Morsi supporters are estimated to have been killed in fighting since he was overthrown and thousands have been jailed.

Around 350 police and security officials have also died in attacks.

Tensions are also high ahead of a referendum on a new constitution later this month which would give the military more power and ban political parties based around religion.

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Schumacher Family 'Overwhelmed' By Fans' Vigil

Michael Schumacher's family has been "utterly overwhelmed" and "moved to tears" by fans' silent vigil to mark the Formula One legend's 45th birthday.

On the stricken driver's official website the family said: "The incredible sympathies shown today by the Ferrari Fans outside the hospital has utterly overwhelmed us and moved us all to tears.

"We are deeply grateful for it and also for all the heartwarming and heartfelt wishes for Michael to get well soon, which have reached us from all over the world."

Fans show their support outside the hospital treating the injured driver

The seven-times F1 world champion has been in Grenoble University Hospital since suffering critical head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps on Sunday.

His father Rolf and brother Ralf arrived separately to visit him on Friday. His wife Corinna and children Gina-Maria, 16, and 14-year-old Mick are also at his bedside.

The Ferrari team, for which he spent many years racing, bussed in scores of fans from Italy and France to the hospital.

Rolf (left) and Ralf Schumacher arrive at the hospital

It put a message on its website, saying "Forza Michael," or "Go Michael" in Italian.

"He is tackling the most important fight of his life and therefore we want to send him very special wishes," said Schumacher's old team, as similar messages poured in from around the world.

German former tennis ace Boris Becker wished his compatriot "Happy Birthday" on Twitter, adding "Fight Schumi" in a German hashtag.

Schumacher slammed his head against a rock on Sunday while skiing near Meribel and has had two operations to remove bleeding and pressure on his brain.

He is being kept in an induced coma and in the latest health update given by his manager on Wednesday, his condition was described as stable but still critical.

New statements will be issued when there is a change in his condition.

Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik made this message

In an earlier statement the family thank fans and said: "We all know he is a fighter and will not give up."

Fans left a poster outside the Grenoble hospital saying: "Schumi, all our thoughts for you and your family."

Accountant Stefano Pini, 47, who arrived from Milan to pay tribute, said: "Schumi has given us a lot in the past.

"The least we could do is to come here and support him and his family on his birthday."

The German was injured while skiing off piste in Meribel, France

French fan Gabriel Klose, who turned up with his 12-year-old son, said: "He is one of my greatest idols. We want him to fight and to return to us."

However, the Ferrari tribute has created controversy with some accusing the Italian racing giant - which asked fans to sport its trademark colour red and its insignia - of exceeding the limits of good taste.

The carmaker, which has 130 clubs in Europe, provided about 20 coaches across Italy to bus in fans for the vigil.

But Roberto Luongo, president of the Roma-Colesseo Ferrari club, said he did not want to be associated with an event linked to "a man who is suffering".

"It's very delicate and if I was among those who are close to Michael, such an initiative would not have pleased me," he said.

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