Ukraine: Pro-Russian Separatists Seize TV Offices

Pro-Russian separatists have seized control of state television offices in eastern Ukraine, according to reports.

Four men wearing masks and armed with truncheons were standing at the entrance to the building in Donetsk, while more separatists could be seen inside wearing camouflage fatigues, Reuters reported.

The regional governor's office and the city hall in Donetsk have already been seized by separatists.

One of the masked men claimed to be a member of the Donetsk People's Republic and said the TV station would now be broadcasting Rossiya 24 - a Russian state-owned news channel.

It comes after one of eight  Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) observers detained by separatists in Slavyansk was released on Sunday on medical grounds.

The first contingent of US troops arrives in the Latvian capital Riga

Stella Korosheva, a spokeswoman for the separatist mayor of Slavyansk, said the observer who has been freed is a Swedish national.

She said: "He has a mild form of diabetes and so we decided to let him go."

The separatists are not expected to release more of the OSCE observers.

Team leader Colonel Axel Schneider appeared before cameras in Slavyansk to say they are being well-treated and "haven't been touched" by their kidnappers.

They are being protected by the town's self-appointed mayor Vyacheslav Ponomaryovt and "treated as his guests," he said.

A barricade around the state security service building in Slavyansk

"We have no indication when we will be sent home to our countries," he said.

"We wish from the bottom of our hearts to go back to our nations as soon and as quickly as possible."

The head of the OSCE, secretary general Lamberto Zannier, is due to fly Ukraine later on Sunday.

Rebels have accused the observers of being "Nato spies" and vowed to continue holding them.

The US earlier reassured its East European allies of Nato's support as the worst post-Cold War stand-off between Russia and the West continues.

US Vice President Joe Biden spoke with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban and "underscored the ironclad commitment of the US" to the collective defence of Nato members.

They "agreed that Russia would face further costs for its destabilising actions in Ukraine and massing of troops along the Russian-Ukrainian border," the White House said.

The US has ruled out sending American or Nato forces into Ukraine, but has begun deploying 600 US troops to bolster defences in the nearby countries of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Speaking at a news conference in Malaysia, US President Barack Obama said: "We're going to be in a stronger position to deter Mr Putin when he sees that the world is unified and the United States and Europe is unified rather than this is just a US-Russian conflict," he said.

Senior EU diplomats will hold an emergency meeting in Brussels on Monday to discuss sanctions against Moscow.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the EU and US would be bringing forward further travel bans and asset freezes against Moscow over coming days as punishment for its "bullying" behaviour.

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'Suicide Bid' Mum Arrested Over Baby's Murder

A young mother has been arrested on suspicion of murdering her seven-month-old baby after also attempting suicide, police said.

Officers were called to reports of a car collision on Saturday morning where, after a search, they found the mother carrying her lifeless infant.

Police sent to the Del Valle Regional Park near Livermore, California, first came across a badly damaged Honda Civic.

Witnesses had reported seeing a young woman acting erratically and ramming her car into a rock wall, according to KTVU.com, .

Officers carried out an extensive search of an area of the seven square mile (17 sq km) park called Arroyo Camp, the San Jose Mercury said.

Around two hours into the search, highway patrol and park police officers came across the woman walking along Arroyo Road, with the baby in her arms.

Officers saw that the child had been stabbed several times and attempted to resuscitate it, but were unsuccessful.

East Bay Regional Park District Police Chief Timothy Anderson told the San Jose Mercury it was possible the woman, who was in her early to mid 20s, was suffering some form of depression.

She had a cut to the lower part of her body and a pocket knife was found nearby.

Mr Anderson told the San Jose Mercury: "This is an extremely shocking case for us. Many of our officers have families of their own. Something like this hits them really hard."

A number of items of evidence were taken from the scene and the police chief said the next stage was to interview the woman and her family and friends to find out what had happened.

Forensic technicians have also been examining the area.

The woman was being held in Santa Rita Jail, Alameda County, California.

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Body Of Missing British Man Found In Canal

The body of a British tourist has been recovered from a canal in Leiden after he went missing during a night out.

Wayne Davies, 22, vanished after leaving the Hifi nightclub in the Dutch city in the early hours of April 19.

His mother raised the alarm the next day after he failed to return home to the UK.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We were notified of the death of a British national on April 26 in the Netherlands.

"We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time."

Police believe Mr Davies - a plumber's apprentice from East Grinstead, in Sussex - may have fallen into the canal.

His bank card has not been used since he disappeared, according to detectives.

Divers and sniffer dogs were used to search for him.

Mr Davies had been staying in the Golden Tulip hotel in Leiden with two friends.

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Afghanistan Election Set For Second Round

Afghanistan's presidential election is set for a second round, after preliminary results showed the two front-runners failed to win a majority.

Ex-foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah gained 44.9% of the vote, followed by former finance minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on 31.5%.

Zalmai Rassoul, another former foreign minister, was third with 11.5%, while Abdul Rasoul Sayyaf, a former lawmaker and religious scholar, won 7.1%.

Electoral law requires a run-off between the top two candidates if no one gets a majority.

Mr Abdullah and Mr Ahmadzai are vying to replace President Hamid Karzai, who has been leader since the 2001 US-led invasion toppled the Taliban.

He is barred by the constitution from running for a third term.

The majority of US and Nato troops are expected to leave at the end of 2014

Election commission chairman Ahmad Yousuf Nouristan said: "According to our findings it seems that, this election will go to the second round.

"We have a tentative schedule of June 7th to start the second round."

These results are expected to be finalised on May 14 after complaints of fraud are investigated.

However, these investigations are unlikely to invalidate enough votes to change the outcome.

The US and Nato and are expected to withdraw most of their troops from Afghanistan at the end of the year.

Mr Abdullah and Mr Ahmadzai have promised a fresh start with the West and to move ahead with a security pact with the US that Mr Karzai has refused to sign.

This would allow a small number of American soldiers to stay in the country to train the army and police and to fight the Taliban.

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Paedophile Teacher's Abuse 'Led To Suicides'

A former student of paedophile William James Vahey has said she believes three of her classmates killed themselves after being abused by the teacher.

Alicia, who was taught by Vahey during the 1980s in Saudi Arabia, said she heard rumours about the teacher years after she left school.

"The rumours were, later on, when we would have reunions ... that certain people in my circle, there were three suicides of very popular students of his that were molested by him," she said.

"That was the rumour, and I cannot believe that this guy was still teaching students.

"That was the rumour: that Bill Vahey molested children and that ultimately three children had committed suicide as a result."

Asked to clarify the rumour further, Alicia said: "It's not a rumour. I mean, I know these people."

The FBI application for a search warrant

Vahey, who killed himself last month, is thought to have abused up to 90 boys during his career as a teacher, many of them in Britain.

The FBI says it is believed Vahey abused dozens of pupils at a London school. The American agency is leading the investigation into Vahey's crimes.

FBI special agent Shauna Dunlap said: "Without a doubt, this is certainly one of the most prolific suspected sexual predators that we've seen, given the numbers of children, potential victims, his position of trust, and so forth.

"And some of the allegations and the methods that are being alleged that he may have employed while committing these crimes."

Ms Dunlap added the FBI would not "stop seeking justice" just because Vahey is dead.

FBI agents are in the UK to assist with the investigation into abuse at Southbank International School in London. The 64-year-old taught history and geography there from 2009 to 2013.

Executive principal Graham Lacey said images of between 50 and 60 pupils at the school were found on the American national's computer.

The FBI is in possession of pictures of at least 90 different boys aged 12 to 14 and is concerned there could be more.

Because Vahey drugged some of his victims, many might not even know they were abused.

Southbank International School in London

The school was closed on Friday and is asking for any pupils with disturbing experiences to come forward.

Parents of children there will have to chance to express their concerns to police at a meeting on Monday.

Chair of Governors Sir Chris Woodhead said: "The main anxiety of parents is predictable, they want information as soon as possible about whether there are images of their children discovered on Vahey's computer."

One of those concerned he may have been abused by the serial child molester during a field trip has spoken to The Guardian.

Jonathan told the newspaper: "I had my suspicions from the beginning. There was something a bit off about him.

"This was discussed among the boys: it was a case of Mr Vahey - the paedo."

Sky News has also obtained an FBI affidavit which reveals the extent of Vahey's abuse.

The document explains how Vahey reported a theft from his apartment in Nicaragua in 2013.

His maid was dismissed, but handed a memory stick she stole to the American Nicaraguan School in Managua, Nicaragua.

The images it contained "depict minor males in various states of undress" who "appear to be asleep, unconscious or possibly drugged".

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South Korean PM Resigns Over Ferry Disaster

South Korea's Prime Minister has resigned over the government's handling of the ferry disaster that has left more than 300 people dead or missing.

Chung Hong-won said: "As I saw grieving families suffering with the pain of losing their loved ones and the sadness and resentment of the public, I thought I should take all responsibility as prime minister.

"There have been so many varieties of irregularities that have continued in every corner of our society and practices that have gone wrong.

"I hope these deep-rooted evils get corrected this time and this kind of accident never happens again."

A total of 115 passengers remain missing after the Sewol ferry sank on a trip from the port on Incheon to the holiday island of Jeju on April 16.

More than 100 passengers remain missing

The death toll stands at 187.

The resignation has to be accepted by President Park Geun-hye.

Executive power largely rests with the president, so Mr Chung's offer appears to be largely symbolic.

Mr Chung was booed and had a water bottle thrown at him when he visited distraught parents the day after the tragedy.

There has been anger at the slow pace of the recovery mission and the frequent changes in information provided by the government.

A relative of one of those on board cries as she waits for news

There have also been several reports in the South Korean media of bodies going to the wrong families, with the error sometimes being identified only after remains had been taken to a funeral home.

A total of 325 out of the 476 people on board were high school students. Around 250 are either confirmed or presumed dead.

The children on board were told to stay put in their cabins while they waited for further orders.

Divers are continuing to search for bodies believed to be trapped in the sunken vessel, but poor weather conditions and a powerful swell are complicating efforts.

Despite waves of up to nine feet (three metres) and near gale-force winds, 93 divers are trying to get into the ferry.

Search teams are battling harsh conditions in the hunt for bodies

A coastguard spokesman said: "The situation is very difficult due to the weather, but we are continuing search efforts, using the occasional calmer periods."

Around a quarter of the bodies recovered have been found in waters outside the vessel, and there are fears some of those who are missing might have drifted from the wreck.

On Saturday four more crew members were arrested.

All 15 members of the crew are in custody and face charges ranging from criminal negligence to abandoning passengers.

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Helicopter Crash: Probe After Five Killed

An investigation has been launched into why a Lynx helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan, killing five British service personnel.

The crash site, near Kandahar, has been cordoned off by investigators from the Military Aviation Authority.

The Taliban claimed its insurgents shot down the helicopter, but the Ministry of Defence denied this and said initial indications were a technical problem during the routine flight caused it to crash.

Experts have said the investigation will examine the aircraft's log books, weather conditions and whether the the helicopter was carrying out an authorised job in keeping with its capabilities.

Flowers left outside RAF Odiham in Hampshire

A spokeswoman said: "The investigation is now under way, and the area of the crash has been cordoned off.

"We cannot go into further details. At this stage it is not known how long the investigation might last or when investigators will deliver their report, but it will be a thorough inquiry."

Three of the servicemen were from the Army Air Corps, based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire.

A Royal Air Force serviceman also stationed at the base was among those killed, along with a member of the Army Reserve from 3 Military Intelligence Battalion.

Major General Richard Felton, commander of Joint Helicopter Command at RAF Odiham, said: "It is with the deepest sadness that I must confirm the death of five service personnel.

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families at this most difficult time.

The aircraft went down in the Takhta Pul district of Kandahar

"The focus for the immediate future is to ensure that the families receive the support they need at this most difficult of times."

Next of kin for all five servicemen have been informed.

It is the third biggest single loss of life of British troops since the conflict in Afghanistan began in 2001. A total of 453 UK service personnel have been killed.

It comes after Prime Minister David Cameron said on Sunday his "heart goes out to the families and friends of those killed in this terrible tragedy".

He said: "Every British fatality is a source of deep sadness.

Lynx helicopters are deployed for a wide variety of operations

"This latest incident, which has cost the lives of five UK service personnel, brings home to us all once again how our armed forces continue to put their lives on the line to help the people of Afghanistan."

Foreign Secretary William Hague told Sky News the deaths appeared to have been a "tragic accident".

He added: "It is a reminder of the work that our troops still do in Afghanistan."

Kandahar provincial police spokesman Zia Durrani said the helicopter went down in the Takhta Pul district of Kandahar province, around 30 miles from the Pakistan border - and that it was not attacked by militants.

The helicopter involved was a Westland Lynx, an aircraft with a range of uses including transport and resupply.

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Obama Offers More Help In Missing Plane Hunt

US President Barack Obama has promised more help in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet, while in the country on a visit.

Mr Obama said America was fully committed to providing more assets to assist in the search for flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.

"I can tell you the United States is absolutely committed to providing whatever resources and assets that we can," Mr Obama told a news conference in Kuala Lumpur.

A US Navy robotic submarine has been scanning a patch of the Indian Ocean seabed but has been unable to find any trace of the Boeing 777.

The search is as much in the interest of America as it is in Malaysia's as experts say it is essential to find out why the US-built plane could have veered so far off course.

The Malaysia Airlines plane disappeared on March 8

Flight MH370 disappeared on March 8 while on route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur, but was later traced to an area about 1,000 miles (1,500km) off Australia's west coast.

More than seven weeks after the jet carrying 239 people vanished, authorities are now regrouping to decide how to proceed.

The Australia-based Joint Agency Coordination Centre, which is in charge of the search, told Reuters: "We are currently consulting very closely with our international partners on the best way to continue the search into the future." 

Malaysia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Britain and the United States are assisting Australia in the most expensive search in aviation history.

Mr Obama said: "Obviously we don't know all the details but we do know, if in fact the plane went down in the ocean on this part of this world, there is a big place and it is very challenging effort and laboriously effort.

"It is going to take quite some time."

A US defence official told Reuters on Friday that the search was likely to drag on for years.

The Bluefin-21 submarine has been looking for the aircraft

The official said the hunt was entering a much more difficult phase, which will involve scouring broader areas of the ocean near where the plane is believed to have crashed.

Australia and Malaysia have been under pressure to bring closure to the grieving families of those on board MH370 by finding anything that may help determine what happened to the aircraft.

Malaysia is also under growing pressure to disclose more about its investigation into what happened, although Mr Obama said the country had been "fully forthcoming" in sharing information.

Mr Najib has said his government would make public a preliminary report into the plane's disappearance next week.

Until now, the undersea search has been focused on a 10 square km (6.2 square mile) zone where a series of "pings" were detected earlier this month.

This will be extended if the US Bluefin-21 submarine fails to find anything.

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Anger Over Philippine-US Military Agreement

The United States and the Philippines have reached a controversial agreement on security that will see more US personnel deployed in the archipelago.

The 10-year pact will allow for a larger military presence but the number of extra troops will be depend on exercises that are going on at any one time.

The agreement will be signed in Manila on Monday before the arrival of President Barack Obama on the last leg of his Asian tour.

It has been met with demonstrations on the streets of Filipino cities, with protesters angry at Mr Obama's visit and about closer military co-operation.

The Philippine government said the accord, called The Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, would give American forces temporary access to selected military camps.

It will also allow the US to temporarily base fighter jets and ships in the country.

They stressed it does not contravene the Philippine constitution, which bans permanent American military bases.

A document seen by AP said additional troops would be deployed "on temporary and rotational basis," but the number would depend on the scale of joint military activities.

The long-closed US facility at Subic Bay could be one of the locations where troops could be encamped.

The president is to visit the Philippines during his Asian tour

US military have a long history of being stationed in the Philippines. They operated in the country during the US-Philippine war at the start of the 20th Century but the number increased during and after World War Two.

The United States withdrew its forces in 1992, after the Philippine parliament rejected a co-operation treaty.

But they returned when hundreds of American military personnel were deployed in the southern Philippines in 2002 to provide counter-terrorism training and as advisers.

They have been helping Filipino soldiers who have been battling Muslim militants for decades.

Under the new agreement, a Filipino base commander would have access to all the areas used by American forces.

Disagreements over Philippine access to the US areas had held up the agreement.

The potential advantage of having US forces in the country was underscored by Super Typhoon Haiyan, which killed 5,200 people when it swept across the country last year.

US ships had to travel for several days to reach the areas worst affected.

The Filipino government said the agreement would allow better co-ordination between US and Filipino forces and help the country respond better to natural disasters and other emergencies.

"Pre-positioned material will allow for timely responses in the event of disasters - natural or otherwise," the document said.

Analysts say the presence of US troops will also help the Philippines counter an increasingly assertive stance by China in disputed territories, which include areas occupied by the US ally.

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Two Popes Made Saints In Historic Ceremony

Up to one million people have gathered at Vatican City for a historic day in the Roman Catholic Church as two former Popes were declared saints.

The Canonisation of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII took place in the presence of two living pontiffs, Pope Francis and his predecessor Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI.

The unprecedented double Canonisation was presided over by Pope Francis in St Peter's Square and watched by millions around the world.

Pope John Paul II and John XXIII were declared saints

He believes the two men revitalised the Church, and has bent years of tradition allowing them to be celebrated on the same day.

Sky's Robert Nisbet, in Vatican City, said: "There are enormous crowds here.

"They are estimating up to one million people could be crowding around Vatican City and the centre of Rome to be part of this event.

The recipient of John Paul II's second miracle is seen at the altar

"And certainly they've come from all over the world. There's a huge contingent from Poland here - John Paul II obviously still a hero figure to many."

Pope Francis and Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, who is rarely seen in public and last year became the first pontiff in six centuries to step down, hugged briefly as the two-hour mass began.

During the service, which began under light rain, relics of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII were taken to the altar, and their sainthoods requested three times.

Pope Francis meets Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe

Floribeth Mora, said to be the recipient of John Paul II's second miracle, was one of many who took part in the ceremony, which is estimated to have cost £6m.

She suffered an aneurysm and was told she had just one month to live, but after seeing John Paul II's beatification ceremony in 2011, she claimed the pain disappeared.

About 850 cardinals and bishops celebrated mass and 700 priests distributed communion to the huge crowd.

Emeritus Pope Benedict arrives for the ceremony in St Peter's Square

"We declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II to be saints and we enrol them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole Church," Pope Francis said in his formal proclamation in Latin about 30 minutes into the service.

Pope Francis later toured St Peter's Square in his Popemobile -  deeper into the crowds than his predecessors.

Nisbet said it was an attempt to be seen as "less staid" than previous Popes and "to be more down with the people".

Pope Francis greets the faithful as he rides in his Popemobile

Scholars see the double Canonisation as an attempt by Pope Francis to unite modernists and traditionalists in the faith.

Both popes helped shape the second half of the 20th century.

John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to 1963, convened the famous second Vatican council - a key moment in the modernisation of the Church.

John Paul II, who reigned for 26 years, saw the fall of communism in his home country of Poland and played a leading role on the world stage.

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