Eastern Ukraine Independence Vote 'Chaotic'

Voting is taking place in eastern Ukraine in a disputed independence referendum amid reports of chaotic scenes.

A severe shortage of polling booths, ballot papers being printed off unsupervised, and confusion over what people are actually being asked to vote on, are reported to have beset the hastily-organised vote in Donetsk and Luhansk provinces.

The referendum has been held in defiance of Moscow by pro-Russian militants and polls close at 8pm UK time. 

People queue up to vote on the future of Donetsk and Luhansk regions

More than three million ballot papers have been distributed across the regions, with organisers claiming to have spent just £980 on the entire ballot.

While voting has so far has been largely peaceful, in Mariupol - the scene of fierce fighting in recent days - there were just eight polling stations for half a million people.

It has led to lengthy queues, and at one centre, ballot boxes were put out on the pavement.

The vote has been declared illegal by both the Kiev government and the international community and marks a serious deepening of the political crisis in Ukraine.

Acting chief of the Ukrainian presidential administration Sergiy Pashinski said: "The turnout throughout the whole region amounts to zero as far as formalities are concerned.

"I would like to underline one more time it's not a referendum. It is a desultory attempt by terrorists, bandits and killers to cover their activity by having citizens vote in Luhansk and Donetsk."

Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande want a reduction of Russian troops

Although a 'yes' vote would likely only be recognised by Russia, it would greatly undermine a presidential election that Ukraine is to hold in two weeks, which the US and Europe see as crucial to restoring stability.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "It is regrettable that separatists who are causing so much disruption to the lives of ordinary citizens are going ahead with their illegitimate, so-called referendum today.

"All Ukrainians will have a proper opportunity to express their democratic choice in the forthcoming presidential elections on May 25.

"The focus must be on ensuring that free and fair elections can go ahead in a calm and stable environment."

It came as France and Germany called on Russia to prove it had withdrawn its forces from the Ukrainian border.

A pro-Russian at a checkpoint near Slavyansk

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande issued a joint statement saying there needed to be a "visible" reduction in troops close to the crisis-hit country.

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country's forces had moved back to training bases, although the White House and Nato both said they had seen no movement.

The joint statement, issued after a meeting in Stralsund, Germany, also called on Ukrainian security forces to "abstain from taking offensive actions" before the start of presidential elections.

Mrs Merkel said Mr Putin "must send more signals of de-escalation" so the May 25 poll can go ahead.

The vote comes amid intensifying violence on the ground in east Ukraine.

Troops have been battling the well-armed rebels, who have barricaded themselves in towns and cities in Donetsk and Luhansk.

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'Drunk' Man Rescued From Sydney Opera House

A man who climbed on to the roof of Sydney's iconic Opera House has been rescued by police.

Some reports said he had been holding a protest at the Australian tourist attraction.

But the Sydney Daily Telegraph reported a police officer said it was not a demonstration but rather a case of a drunk man who decided to climb one of the building's 'sails'.

The man was spotted sitting down on top of one of the sails

The rescue operation lasted more than an hour as the man, who reportedly showed signs of intoxication, first had to be convinced by officers to come down.

He eventually decided to do so with the help of a harness and ropes.

Some tourists reportedly clapped as the man was escorted to ground level, while police helicopters hovered overhead.

Rescuers had to persuade the man to leave his lofty position

Laura Finlay said her friends spotted the man while they were sightseeing.

"He was just kind of walking up and down (the sails)," she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"He was smoking a cigarette and drinking from a can - we don't know if it was alcohol or not.

The incident happened on one of the ends of the landmark building

"He was there for at least an hour ... people were taking pictures and recording video.

"Then the police arrived and cleared the area, and everyone had to leave."

Another bystander said the man "seemed intoxicated" and that security personnel "had no idea" how he managed to scale the building.

Officers were using the man's wallet, which appeared to have been left on the ground, to establish his identity, the witness said.

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British Troops Close Final Afghanistan Outpost

British troops have closed their last remaining forward operating base (FOB) in Afghanistan's Helmand Province.

At the peak of combat operations, Observation Post Sterga was one of more than 130 such bases.

It was designed to provide a safe location for soldiers or airmen some distance from the main operating bases, like Camp Bastion, making it easier to conduct land patrols.

The closure of the base means British armed forces personnel are now situated only in Camp Bastion, in locations in Kandahar, which has an airbase, and in the capital Kabul.

The move is part of the winding down of operations in Afghanistan, with a team of advisers to Afghan security forces expected to be Britain's sole presence in the country by the end of the year.

Philip Hammond accompanies a soldier around the desert base

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, who was in Helmand Province to witness the closure of the base, said: "This is another important step towards ending combat operations in Afghanistan.

"It's also an opportunity to reflect on the mission and the hard work and sacrifice of British forces.

"Their efforts have helped build a credible Afghan National Security Force and supported the emergence of a democratic Afghan state."

A large number of the 453 British servicemen who have died in Afghanistan since 2001 were posted to an FOB at the time.

Sterga opened in August 2013 to allow UK personnel to observe a large and strategically important area of central Helmand.

More than 100 shipping containers' worth of equipment had to be removed from the base by air and road.

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UK Soldier 'Posed With Dead Taliban Fighter'

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

The RAF has launched a probe after photographs surfaced appearing to show a serviceman posing with a dead Taliban fighter.

The pictures were apparently taken in the wake of an attack by 15 insurgents on Camp Bastion, the main British base in Afghanistan, in September 2012.

The insurgents breached the perimeter of the base, triggering a battle involving a British RAF regiment and US marines.

Two of the marines and 14 Taliban fighters were killed in the firefight, and UK troops were also injured.

The two photographs appear to show at least one member of the RAF giving a thumbs-up sign as he kneels next to the body of a dead insurgent.

The photos were taken after an attack on Camp Bastion in 2012

It is unclear if it is the same serviceman in both of the photographs.

Sky News has learned that the individual or individuals belong to 51 Squadron.

An RAF source said he was making "no excuses" for the behaviour but said it was important to consider the context.

"This was a long, extensive firefight against a well-drilled, well-armed enemy who was trying to kill them," the source said.

He said it was an "unusual adrenaline fuelled situation" in which "foolish" things could happen.

Camp Bastion is the main British base in Afghanistan

The investigation will focus on whether the airman broke the rules by "mistreating" the enemy.

They may also be reprimanded for simply having and using photographic equipment.

Another photograph shows a burned-out plane in a hangar - six US Harrier jets were destroyed in the attack.

The images first appeared on the website Live Leak.

An RAF spokesman said: "The RAF is treating this incident extremely seriously and has launched a military police investigation.

"As this incident is subject to an ongoing investigation it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

Joanne Mariner, Director of Law and Policy at Amnesty International, said: "These pictures ... are appalling.

"They violate international humanitarian law standards, including common article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the disrespectful and degrading treatment of the bodies of dead combatants.

"There must be a thorough and impartial investigation into this incident; it is encouraging to learn that the UK military has instigated one."

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Protest As 9/11 Remains Return To Ground Zero

Remains of unidentified 9/11 victims have returned to the World Trade Center site in a solemn procession, despite the protests of some of the victims' families.

The remains were moved from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Manhattan's East Side at the procession on a foggy morning, accompanied by a police motorcade.

A dozen firefighters stood in the cool breeze saluting the vehicles as they arrived at the site.

The remains - thousands of pouches containing fragments of bone - will be kept in an underground repository in the same building as the National September 11 Memorial Museum.

Families want a say over the resting place of their loved ones

Critics say the remains should be stored in an above-ground monument separate from the museum.

A group of victims' relatives staged a protest during the transfer, some wearing black bands over their mouths.

The death toll from the attacks stands at 2,753

One held a sign saying: "A Museum Is Not A Cemetery".

"I don't know how much of him is down here; if it's one little inch, I want it treated respectfully," said Rosemary Cain, referring to the son she lost in the attack.

"I want it above ground. I don't want it to be part of a museum. I don't want it to be part of a freak show."

Firefighters saluting the vehicles as they arrived at the site

The repository will be available for family visits but will be overseen by the medical examiner.

Officials hope that improvements in technology will eventually lead to the identification of the 7,930 fragmentary remains.

Other relatives, who also were at the ceremony, have supported the decision, saying the repository is an appropriate resting place.

The museum opens this month

The death toll stemming from the attacks at the World Trade Center stands at 2,753. Of those, 1,115, or 41 percent, have not been identified.

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Austria's 'Bearded Lady' Wins Eurovision

Austria's Conchita Wurst - the so-called bearded lady - has won the Eurovision Song Contest in the host city of Copenhagen.

The 25-year-old drag queen, whose real name is Tom Neuwirth, took the crown with the Bond-like anthem Rise Like A Phoenix.

Conchita elicited massive cheers from the crowd as she took the stage sporting a figure-hugging frock, butterfly eyelashes and a full beard before delivering a powerful performance of her ballad.

She went on to secure her victory with three rounds to spare, eventually accumulating 290 points.

Conchita celebrates her victory with 290 points

Conchita, who was visibly overcome by emotion after accepting the prize, said: "This award is dedicated to everybody who believes in a world of peace and freedom.

"You know who you are - we are unity and we are unstoppable."

Conchita had faced strong criticism from petitioners in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine who called for her to be dropped from the competition.

Even in her home country, the leader of the right-wing FPOe party had called her "ridiculous".

But on the night, the songstress won over viewers and secured most of her "douze points" from western European countries, including Britain, Sweden and the Netherlands.

UK hopeful Molly Smitten-Downes came 17th

Dutch act The Common Linnets scored 238 points to finish runner-up, while Sweden's Sanna Nielsen came third with 218 points. Both were pre-competition bookie favourites.

The UK's Molly Smitten-Downes, 27, could only place 17th with her song Children Of The Universe.

Despite the disappointment, her performance will go some way to erasing memories of Britain's poor run of form in the contest in recent years, with dire scoring condemning both Engelbert Humperdinck in 2012 and Bonnie Tyler last year to the bottom end of the voting table.

Since the contest was launched in 1956, voting has often been tied to politics and this year's event was no exception, with the audience jeering countries that awarded points to Russia.

Poland's entry Donatan and Cleo left Graham Norton speechless

Azerbaijan and Belarus both gave top marks to country's entry, Shine by the Tolmachevy Sisters.

Viewers were treated to a show of eccentricities, with the highlight provided by France's entry Twin Twin, which finished bottom of the competition with two points with their song Moustache.

At one point, host Graham Norton, who was commentating for the UK audience, was left speechless by a particularly risque display by Poland's entry Donatan and Cleo.

Their performance featured scantily-clad female performers suggestively dancing to lyrics which included the line "shake what your Mama gave you".

It is estimated that around 180 million viewers across 45 countries watched Saturday's competition.

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'Sixth Of Indian Election Candidates On Charges'

By Neville Lazarus, India Producer

More than a sixth of candidates in the Indian elections have criminal cases pending against them, according to a think tank.

The Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) said some candidates are facing allegations of murder, kidnapping, extortion, trafficking and rape.

The group, which keeps track of national and state elections, political parties, contestants and legislators, found 1,398 of the 8,230 candidates (17%) are facing criminal charges - an increase of 2% compared to the last elections of 2009.

India's elections are the largest in the world, with more than 800 million voters eligible to take part in choosing MPs for 543 constituencies.

Voting has been taking place in nine phased stages, with the last round of voting due to take place on Monday.

Professor Jagdeep Chhokar, a founding member of ADR, told Sky News the number of prospective MPs facing charges was a "very serious" problem.

"It emanates from a mindset of political parties that winning the election by any which way is fair game," he said.

"If we have people in decision-making positions who have serious criminal cases pending against them, it is rather unfair to expect them to make decisions which are in the overall societal interest.

"The law breakers are becoming the law makers."

Almost half of the constituencies in the polls have three or more declared criminals running for office, ADR found.

More than 800 million Indians are eligible to vote

During the parliament that has just concluded, the think tank found 30% of MPs had criminal charges against them.

The revelation that some candidates are facing rape charges comes at a time when India has been grappling with the issue of violence against women.

Widespread shock followed the brutal gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student in Delhi in December 2012.

It resulted in new fast-track courts to try cases of crimes against women, as well as new laws and the toughening up of punishments for those found guilty.

However, the issue has taken a back seat since the start of the election campaign.

Mr Chhokar said: "It's very disheartening and disturbing to see that political parties don't see a rape case against a person as (warranting) a disqualification.

"The law says that unless a person is convicted, he or she is presumed to be innocent … but one would expect political parties (to) also look at the spirit of the law and rise above legal technicalities."

Mr Chhokar said he accepts some of the charges may be politically motivated but added all of them have reached the third stage of the criminal jurisprudence process, meaning a judicial officer has found enough evidence in the police investigations to frame charges in court.

The first election results are expected on Friday.

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Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolgirls Tell Of Escape

Nigerian Kidnap Tactic 'Standard Procedure'

Updated: 4:26pm UK, Saturday 10 May 2014

Splitting the captured Nigerian schoolgirls into groups by their kidnappers is "standard operating procedure", a hostage negotiator has told Sky News.

Dr James Alvarez explained this was done on the basis of "not putting all your eggs in one basket".

He also said while negotiation was the safest option, it often had to be backed up by the threat of force in order to act as a back-up if talks do not work out, and also as a "prod" to the hostage-takers.

Meanwhile, Davis Lewin from the Henry Jackson Society - a think-tank on extremism - gave a chilling insight into the Boko Haram militant group behind the kidnappings.

Mr Lewin told Sky News the movement had a "gruesome history" and posed a "major security threat".

They demonstrated "a brutality that frankly doesn't compute in Western minds", he said.

It is thought the schoolgirls are being held in a forest near the border with Cameroon.

Their kidnappers have divided the girls into at least four different groups, complicating the search and hampering rescue efforts.

Dr Alvarez said: "It's standard operating procedure. You don't want to put all your eggs in one basket."

He said negotiators would be making contacts locally and trying to gather information about the aims of the group, what they wanted with the girls, and also find out from the Nigerian government what concessions they are prepared to make.

"Negotiations only work if you have got something to exchange," he said.

Mr Lewin added: "What the problem really is, is that there's a very grave lack of infrastructure in terms of intelligence in terms of capability on the part of the Nigerian government in the region of the country where these extremists are active.

"We have seen them get stronger and stronger and they have really proven to be one of the most deadly forms of this radical Islamist threat with thousands dead, and a brutality that frankly doesn't compute in Western minds.

"The leader of this terrorist movement couldn't care less about the outrage that Michelle Obama and so many others have expressed."

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Ukraine Referendum Will Add Fuel To The Fire

The polling stations are ready and we're told three million ballot papers have been printed, enough for every eligible voter in the region of Donetsk.

But what is still far from clear is what they are being asked to vote for.

The question seems to be deliberately vague: do you support the act of state sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic?  Yes or No?

That could be taken to mean greater autonomy, or some form of autonomous region, but still within Ukraine - or they could find they have voted for the creation of an independent state that could then seek to join the Russian Federation, a la Crimea.

Then there is the question of legality.

The referendum has no basis in law as there is no provision for local referenda on the statute in Ukraine.

There also seems to be no independent oversight and the poll will be policed by the separatists themselves - hardly the ideal conditions for a free and fair vote.

The organisers do not have access to up-to-date voting lists - those are held by the Ukrainian state security service - so they are relying on data from the 2012 parliamentary elections.

The vote is not being independently monitored

The ballot papers, at least those that we have seen so far, appear to have been printed on an ordinary printer, with no watermarks or other features to guard against, say, photocopying.

But that  is unlikely to be at the top of the list of complaints, when the votes are also going to be collected and counted by "People's Republic" volunteers.

None of which is to deny that there may well be a genuine number of voters going to the ballot box on Sunday to vote "yes", at the very least to express their dissatisfaction with the government in Kiev.

The latest poll shows that while a strong majority (70%) in the east still want to live in a united Ukraine, around two-thirds (67%) disapprove of the current national government.

But I strongly suspect we will be in roughly the same position after this referendum as we are now - the Ukrainian authorities and politicians in the West will say that this was an illegal poll, carried out under the threat of intimidation, and with no means of independent verification.

The People's Republic will say, assuming the vote goes their way, that the people have spoken, that they have a democratic mandate, that this is a genuine popular uprising of ordinary citizens demanding their rights.

What is clear is that this referendum is unlikely to resolve what seems to be a deteriorating security situation in the east of this country - it is difficult to see it will do anything other than add more fuel to the fire.

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Nigerian Govt 'In Contact With Boko Haram'

Nigerian authorities have reportedly made indirect contact with the Islamist group behind the abduction of more than 250 schoolgirls.

Intelligence sources told Sky News that Nigeria's neighbours - Chad, Cameroon and Niger - are also providing satellite imagery to help find the girls.

More than 300 youngsters were kidnapped from a boarding school in Chibok in the northern Borno state on April 14. It is thought that 53 managed to escape, but 273 are still missing.

Security experts from the UK, US and France are assisting Nigerian authorities in the rescue operation.

But Sky News sources have learned that the militants are likely to have laid booby traps and landmines to stop the girls being found.

Boko Haram has reportedly blown up two key transit bridges near the borders

Former air commodore Darlington Abdullahi said: "They may have made land mines, one cannot rule that out."

Search efforts have been further hampered by reports that two important bridges near the borders with Chad and Cameroon have been destroyed by militants in the last week, hindering the movements of rescue teams.

The rescue operation has been focused on the vast Sambisa forest near to where the girls were abducted. However there are also reports that some have been trafficked across Nigeria's borders.

They are believed to have been split into four different groups.

Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau claimed responsibility for the school raid in a video earlier this week. He threatened to sell the girls, who he described as slaves, "on the market."

Abubakar Shekau has threatened to sell the girls 'on the market'

The militant group has also admitted to carrying out a bomb attack in the capital Abuja on the same day as the abduction.

The Nigerian military has had tip-offs that the group could now be planning another attack on a nearby market.

The government has faced fierce criticism over its failure to contain the Islamist group's five-year insurgency, which has left thousands dead.

However the brazenness of April's mass abduction has particularly shocked the international community and triggered a major social media campaign.

Pope Francis is among the latest high-profile figures to take part. He tweeted: "Let us all join in prayer for the immediate release of the schoolgirls kidnapped in Nigeria #BringBackOurGirls."

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