Prosecutors To Appeal Oscar Pistorius Verdict

South Africa's state prosecutors say they will appeal against the conviction and sentence handed to Oscar Pistorius.

They say they are not happy with the five-year jail term that he was handed last Wednesday, or the manslaughter offence for which he was convicted.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Nathi Mncube said on his Twitter feed: "Oscar Pistorius judgement, NPA will be appealing both the conviction and sentence."

Mr Mncube said the next step was to file papers in court.

Pistorius started serving his prison sentence on October 21 after a seven-month trial.

Video: Pistorius Trial: The Sentence

Judge Thokozile Masipa acquitted him of murder and found him guilty of a lesser charge of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet door in his home.

As things stand, the Olympic runner is eligible for release after 10 months so he can complete his sentence under house arrest.

Sentencing options available to the judge in a culpable homicide case included up to 15 years in jail, a suspended sentence, a correctional supervision or a fine.

Pistorius' legal team argued during the trial that he mistook Ms Steenkamp for an intruder and believed they were both in danger.

Video: ANC Women's League Reaction

During the trial, state prosecutor Gerrie Nel had argued that only 10 years' imprisonment would satisfy the public.

He said that any lesser sentence could result in a widespread loss of faith in the justice system.

Reeva Steenkamp's family initially said that the "verdict is not justice", but later welcomed the five-year term.

But the decision drew criticism from some legal experts who said the judge had made an error in her interpretation of a legal concept that holds a person accountable for the foreseeable consequences of their actions.

Video: Pistorius Faces First Night In Jail

Known as Blade Runner because of his carbon-fibre prosthetics, Pistorius achieved global recognition at the London 2012 Olympics when he reached the semi-finals of the 400m against able-bodied athletes.

Mr Mncube had previously refused to be drawn over whether prosecutors would appeal, saying only that: "The matter is under serious consideration and the announcement will be made in due course."

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Abbas Khan: Tragedy Despite 'Superhuman' Efforts

By Joe Tidy, Sky News Reporter

Dr Abbas Khan's story is tragic, but the inquest also revealed the extreme lengths a mother will go to in an effort to save her son.

Working with her children back in Britain, Fatima Khan managed to persuade politicians, businessmen and complete strangers to help her.

Throughout the inquest, witnesses described her as "superhuman", "extraordinarily persistent" and "the bravest woman I've ever met".

When her son disappeared she travelled alone to Syria where, without speaking a word of Arabic, she managed to find out which prison in Damascus was holding him.

Armed with a suitcase full of chocolates, she travelled the war-torn city looking for her son. She felt the shake of bombs going off and had shots fired at her taxi as she navigated the dangerous streets.

Video: Unlawful Killing Verdict Welcomed

Mrs Khan went from embassy to embassy and prison to prison with a picture of her son.

When she had found out which prison Abbas was in, she charmed guards and officials into letting her see him on a regular basis - while for months she worked on getting him released.

Not wanting to rely on one rescue operation, at one stage Fatima had three separate plans working at the same time.

One plan involved a delegation of three Lords and two MPs travelling to Syria to bring Dr Khan home.

Another involved MP George Galloway collecting the doctor on his own.

The final plan, fronted by former BNP leader Nick Griffin was claimed to have been personally agreed by President Assad himself.

It would have seen Dr Khan released from detention in order to undergo a public "deradicalisation programme".

In the end none of Fatima's efforts saved her son's life but the coroner agreed that Fatima and her children did all they could to try.

Speaking from the witness stand, the distraught mother put it simply: "I felt scared, but my son was here so I had to be brave."

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Ebola: Quarantined Nurse To Leave Hospital

By Sky News US Team

A nurse who had protested against being quarantined can leave a New Jersey hospital and go home, officials said.

Kaci Hickox, who treated Ebola patients in West Africa, does not have any symptoms and had threatened to sue over being kept in isolation.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said she would be released and taken by private carrier to her home in Maine.

Kaci Hickox has been in isolation since Friday

Once there, it will be up to local health officials to decide how to monitor her health for the duration of the incubation period, which lasts 21 days.

The Doctors Without Borders worker had no symptoms when she arrived in Newark on Friday, but developed a fever that prompted putting her in isolation, the New Jersey Department of Health said in a statement.

Video: Ebola Nurse To Sue Over Quarantine

Ms Hickox blasted officials over the decision, and her lawyer said the quarantine violated her constitutional rights and threatened a lawsuit.

But legal action seemed unlikely after Mr Christie announced she would be released.

"She was quietly happy," said lawyer Steven Hyman, who said he had spoken to the nurse by telephone.

"She wants this part of her ordeal to be over. She wants to return to her life."

Three states - New York, New Jersey and Illinois - introduced the mandatory 21-day quarantine period for anyone who has been involved in treating Ebola patients in West Africa.

Other states, including Virginia and Georgia, are also considering whether to impose the same regime.

On Monday, the Pentagon announced that US troops returning from missions in Ebola-stricken West Africa are being placed in isolation in Italy before returning home.

"Out of an abundance of caution, the Army directed a small number of personnel, about a dozen, that recently returned to Italy, to be monitored in a separate location at their home station of Vicenza," spokesman Colonel Steven Warren said.

Video: Ebola: The Politics Of Quarantine

None of the soldiers have exhibited symptoms of the virus, Col Warren added.

Back in the US, the quarantine policies have come under criticism that they may discourage health care workers from travelling to West Africa to help in the fight against Ebola.

Under mounting pressure, the governors of New York and New Jersey said on Sunday evening that quarantined medical workers who did not show symptoms could be allowed to remain at home.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said: "We're doing everything possible. Some people say we're being too cautious - I'll take that criticism."

Under the protocols, New York state will also pay compensation if quarantined workers are not paid by a volunteer organisation.

The US quarantines followed the positive diagnosis of doctor Craig Spencer, who fell ill days after returning to his New York City home from treating Ebola patients in Guinea.

He rode the subway and went bowling the night before he was admitted to hospital.

On Monday, a five-year-old boy was being kept under observation for possible Ebola symptoms.

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Anni Dewani Murder Was 'Business Opportunity'

A taxi driver jailed for murdering Anni Dewani on her honeymoon was told that taking part would be a "business opportunity", he has claimed.

Zola Tongo, who is serving 18 years in prison for his role in Mrs Dewani's death, alleged her husband Shrien had approached him with "a job that would make his business grow".

He told Western Cape High Court that Dewani told him that "somebody needed to be taken out of sight" and that "he wanted somebody to be killed".

Tongo said the conversation took place shortly after the newlyweds arrived in Cape Town, where they were celebrating their honeymoon.

"I told him I am not involved in such things," he added. "But I said I could refer him to others who could possibly do it."

During his testimony, Tongo described how Dewani was willing to pay him 5,000 Rand (£283) "when the job is done".

The convicted killer's evidence followed a controversial cross-examination of Leipold Leisser, a German male escort who counted Dewani as one of his clients.

The 43-year-old, who said his services included role play, indulging fetishes and S&M, revealed that Dewani had asked to "sleep over" after one of the three sessions they had together.

According to Adrian Mopp, prosecuting, the British businessman once confided in Leisser about how he was about to be engaged - and how he could not find a way out of the commitment without being disowned by his family.

He said: "It was unusual, and in fact, he was the first ever client I allowed to stay at my home."

Dewani's defence team, along with Judge Jeanette Traverso, interrupted proceedings to ask what relevance the escort's evidence has to the trial.

The judge had earlier rejected evidence related to Dewani's bisexuality because it could not prove a conspiracy to murder - which led her to request written arguments on whether Leisser's testimony should be admissible or not.

Dewani has pleaded not guilty to the five counts against him, and continues to insist he and his wife were the victims of a violent hijacking.

The trial continues.

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Three Dead In Sea Tragedy: Man's Rescue Bid

An off-duty lifeguard has told Sky News how he tried to save a man's life during a sea tragedy in Cornwall that left three surfers dead.

The victims, along with four youngsters, had got into difficulty after they were reportedly caught up in a rip current off Mawgan Porth beach, Newquay, on Sunday.

Brendan Prince, who is a trained lifeguard nearby in Torbay, said he and a friend dragged the man out of the water.

He then performed CPR on him and until a rescue helicopter arrived around 15 minutes later.

The three victims had been found unconscious in the sea. They were taken to Treliske hospital but were later pronounced dead.

One has been named locally as Stuart Calder, a 52-year-old orthopaedic surgeon from Leeds.

The others were believed to be a man aged 44 and a 42-year-old woman, both from St Austell.

Two surfers recovered from the sea were given CPR at the scene

The youngsters were all boys. Two are aged 18 while the others were 16 and 15. They were all found safe on shore but were taken to hospital as a precaution.

Sea rescue services said a risk assessment will be carried out to determine whether lifeguard cover should be extended at the beach.

Video: Three Surfers Die In Cornwall

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) said lifeguards man Mawgan Porth beach from March to September and confirmed there would have been none patrolling there on Sunday.

But it explained there would have been "clear signs" indicating the lack of lifeguard cover for beachgoers.

Mr Prince told Sky News: "It was obvious it wasn't a good surfer day. It was too messy, foamy.

"A lady came over and said 'could you lend a hand, there's something going on at the other end of the beach'.

"My friend and I responded fairly quickly. We saw that two people were in the water face down trying to be assisted and there were two others trying to get in.

"I grabbed one who was waist deep in water and others grabbed the lady who was behind. I started CPR on the man and a doctor came along and started CPR on the lady."

He added: "The two boys came in of their own accord and were clearly distressed by the situation."

He went on: "Beaches are changeable. At low tide on Sunday the conditions are a certain type. When the water starts to come in it acts as a bay and those conditions change.

"They were over the right hand side where if there's going to be a rip it's going to be dragging that way. 

"They were probably playing in a bit of up to the waist surf but in the conditions it can suddenly be 6ft as opposed to what you think is 3ft."

Gareth Horner, lifeboat operations manager, said: "Mawgan Porth is a dangerous beach. We don't know the exact circumstances or the ability of the people that were rescued today.

"My understanding is that they were in two groups and that one of the casualties actually entered the sea to assist other people who were in trouble."

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Thailand Beach Party Ban After Briton Murders

Thai authorities have banned beach parties on some holiday islands following the murder two British tourists last month.

Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chatputhi, whose province includes Koh Tao, said no beach parties would be allowed apart from the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan.

The bodies of Britons Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on the tourist island of Koh Tao, or Turtle Island, on 1 September, prompting a barrage of negative publicity.

Two Burmese men charged with the murders were due to appear in court.

And Mr Chatpong said: "We've reached a point where we need to clean up the image of tourism in the province including beach parties that can get out of control and lead to violence.

The two Burmese suspects in the case

"This is aimed at tourists' safety. Sometimes these parties are held at secluded locations that are difficult to reach and where we cannot offer adequate protection."

The ban covers all islands in the province, including Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. Mr Chatpong said authorities on the islands were taking down posters advertising parties.

Video: Parents Visit Thai Murder Suspects

"Some people who come to the islands want peace and quiet but there are all sorts of parties," he said.

"This is also because of the killings on Koh Tao ... It's time to put things in order."

Police say Ms Witheridge and Mr Miller had been out drinking and went to a secluded stretch of beach where they were killed.

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1. Gallery: Thai Murders Accused At Crime Scene

   Two workers from Burma (wearing helmets and handcuffs), suspected of killing two British tourists on the island of Koh Tao last month, stand near Thai police officers where the bodies of the tourists were found

2. The pair have admitted to killing David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the island in southern Thailand

3. Actors were used in the staging of the reconstruction

4. One of the suspects wields a mock weapon

5. The case has threatened to further damage the country's already bruised tourism sector

6. The victims' bodies were discovered on a beach on the island of Koh Tao, or Turtle Island, on 15 September, close to where they were staying. Continue through for more pictures

The murders have hit Thailand's tourism industry, which makes up nearly 10% of gross domestic product, at a time when the sector is reeling from months of political unrest.

Thailand's human rights commission says the two Burmese suspects may have been tortured during interrogation and has launched an inquiry.

Mr Chatpong said Koh Phangan's Full Moon Party, which attracts thousands of young foreigners every month, was not being banned because it is well organised.

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British Doctor 'Unlawfully Killed' In Syria

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

The family of a British doctor who claim he was murdered in Syria say they feel "vindicated" by an inquest ruling.

A jury at London's Royal Courts of Justice concluded Abbas Khan, who died in a Damascus prison, was "unlawfully killed".

But Syrian officials say he committed suicide by hanging himself in a cell after 13 months in custody.

The married father-of-two, from south-west London, had travelled from Turkey to the rebel-held city of Aleppo to treat injured civilians.

He was arrested in November 2012 whilst volunteering in a hospital.

His family campaigned for his release for months before he was found dead on 16 December 2013.

Dr Khan's mother Fatima had tried to locate her son

Speaking outside court, Dr Khan's brother Afroze said: "We have always maintained he was an innocent man who travelled to Syria for no other reason than to help civilians in the Syrian conflict.

"We have always maintained he was mistreated, maltreated and tortured by the Syrian authorities, and maintained he was murdered by the Syrians.

Video: Jan, 2014: Mum Confronts Delegates

"Today our position has been vindicated."

Another of Dr Khan's brothers Shah told Sky News that the family's appeals for help from the UK government "fell on deaf ears".

He said the help was "tantamount to one letter in 13 months after 10 months painstakingly pushing them".

He added the Khans had "opened up avenues for the government to pursue with difference countries" and the family got together a group of MPs that could have got him out two months before he died.

When he died, the 32-year-old orthopaedic surgeon was on the verge of being released from prison and being allowed home for Christmas.

During the inquest, the jury heard evidence from Dr Khan's mother Fatima who, the chief coroner Judge Peter Thornton said, had been "extraordinarily persistent" in trying to locate and free her son.

In evidence she explained how she travelled to the capital Damascus alone when she found out her son was being detained on terror charges.

She trawled embassies and prisons with a picture of her son who was working as a surgeon when he was arrested.

When she eventually tracked him down she described how he had a fingernail missing and that his feet were badly burnt.

Outside court, said she was grateful to the jury and described him as "angelic".

She told reporters: "I regret I couldn't save my son. Everybody lied to me there (Syria). There was no justice system there."

The family's lawyer Michael Mansfield QC said it was an important case which laid down a marker and should now go forward to the International Criminal Court.

He said: "What this jury has done is uncover the truth - that it was never suicide."

The jury said the medical cause of death was "unascertained".

During the two-week hearing, it heard there was no evidence Dr Khan had gone to Syria to fight.

Judge Thornton said: "It is clear that he wanted to use his medical skills to help others, and that included helping others in conflict-torn Syria."

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Russia: We'll Recognise Ukraine Election Result

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov says his country will recognise the results of Ukraine's parliamentary election.

He was quoted by Russian news agency RIA as saying: "Taking everything into account, this election took place, though not on all of Ukraine's territory.

"I think we will recognise this election because it is very important for us that Ukraine finally will have authorities which do not fight one another, do not drag Ukraine to the West or to the East, but which will deal with the real problems facing the country."

Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk's Popular Front is leading

With more than half of the votes counted, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk's Popular Front is leading with 21.6% of the vote while President Petro Poroshenko's party has 21.5%.

The two parties have campaigned for reforms to battle corruption.

Video: 'Darth Vader' Stopped From Voting

The recently formed pro-European party based in western Ukraine, Samopomich, is sitting in third place with around 11% of the vote.

Negotiations to form a broad coalition are due to begin straight away.

The Parliament was once dominated by loyalists of former President Viktor Yanukovych, whose decision to deepen ties with Russia in February led to his ousting.

Video: Poroshenko Makes Election Day Visit

Anti-Russian sentiment has increased in Ukraine as the country struggles with separatists in the east, who many believe are supported by Moscow.

The Opposition Bloc won around one-tenth of the vote.

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Cameron: UK Will Not Meet EU Bill Demand

David Cameron insists there is "no pressing need" for the UK to pay £1.7bn to the EU - despite a warning of a substantial fine.

The surcharge was made public at an EU summit last week - but Mr Cameron said the UK would not meet the 1 December deadline.

EU Budget Commissioner Jacek Dominik has told tonight's Ian King Live - which airs at 6.30pm - the UK could face a "visible" fine of "hundreds of millions" if the payment is delayed significantly.

But in a statement to the Commons, Mr Cameron said: "The scale and timing of the demand is not acceptable.

"It cannot just be nodded through by the EU bureaucracy - it is British taxpayers' money.

Video: EU Row: Miliband Scathing Of PM

"There are fundamental issues of the fairness of these payments.

"We will be challenging this in every way possible. We want to check on the way the statistics were arrived at, the methodology that was used. We will crawl through this in exhaustive detail."

The demand is the result of improvements to Britain's economy since 1995 and would add almost a fifth to the UK's annual contribution of £8.6bn.

Outgoing Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has insisted Brussels is only following the procedures created by member states to balance the EU's books each year.

Mr Cameron has called for an emergency meeting of EU finance ministers to discuss the surcharge - and told the Commons he had been backed by Italy, Holland, Malta, Greece and others.

Video: Man Held After PM Security Alert

But Labour leader Ed Miliband told MPs he wrote to the Treasury Committee seven months ago about a potential surcharge - and accused the Prime Minister of "sleeping at the wheel".

"This is a familiar pattern with this Prime Minister: months and months when he doesn't do the work followed by last-minute pyrotechnics when it all goes wrong," he said.

Preliminary figures seen by the Financial Times suggest Britain is facing the largest adjustment in the amount it must pay compared to other member states.

The Netherlands is being asked for an extra £509m, but by contrast France is due to receive a rebate of £0.8bn, Germany £618m, and Poland £250m.

Britain's surcharge is due for payment just days after the Rochester and Strood by-election, which hangs on a knife edge with anti-EU UKIP threatening to wrest the seat from the Tories.

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Man Arrested In Cameron Security Scare

A man has been arrested briefly by police after he ran into David Cameron as he left a news conference in Leeds.

The man, identified as Dean Balboa Farley, headed towards the Prime Minister at speed, bumping into him in the street outside the city's Civic Hall.

But Mr Cameron's security team stepped in to wrestle the dreadlocked 28-year-old out of the way.

The PM appeared to be alone for several moments before the team got him into a waiting car.

The 28-year-old was briefly arrested and then released

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Specialist Protection Command, which is responsible for the protection of the Prime Minister, has said it will conduct a review of the incident in coordination with West Yorkshire Police.

Video footage shows Mr Cameron appearing to brace himself as the man approached, before a bodyguard intervened to grapple with him.

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1. Gallery: Man Runs Into David Cameron

   These images show the moment a man runs into David Cameron as he emerged from a news conference in Leeds

2. The Prime Minister is seen bracing himself as the man runs towards him

3. Mr Cameron's security team stepped in to wrestle the 28-year-old out of the way

4. The Prime Minister was then driven away in a waiting car

5. The runner was tackled to the ground and arrested

6. Police say the man had been running to the gym

8. Police say there was 'nothing sinister' about the incident

West Yorkshire Police said there was "nothing sinister" about the incident and it was "just a man in the wrong place at the wrong time".

He is understood to have told officers he was on his way to a local gym.

The runner later posted on this Facebook page: "So im all over the news as 'the protester that attacked david cameron in leeds' yeah if you call brushing into someone while running then getting assault[...]"

Conservative MP Mark Pritchard has demanded a full investigation into how the Metropolitan Police security team allowed the man to get so close to Mr Cameron.

Video: PM Security Scare: Call For Inquiry

He called for the Met's commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe to launch an immediate internal inquiry.

He said: "The Met Police have some of the best close protection officers in the world. However, this was a clear breach of security and could have been far more sinister in outcome."

Sky's Home Affairs Correspondent Mark White said: "Maybe it does raise questions about the kind of security bubble you put around VPs when they are put in the public like this.

"Especially at the moment as you have the terrorism alert in this country at severe.

Video: Previous Scares: Prescott Attacked

"But you can see from the video that it did happen very quickly, and the security personnel that were with the Prime Minister did react to pull this person away.

"The Prime Minister was then quickly ushered into his vehicle along with Chancellor George Osborne."

He added: "There are some suggestions this man may have been jogging to the gym and may not have noticed he was about to collide with the Prime Minister."

The security scare happened after Mr Cameron spoke about the second phase of the £50bn HS2 high-speed rail project.

Video: Previous Scares: Prince Charles

Chief Inspector Derek Hughes of West Yorkshire Police said: "Around midday today, a 28-year-old local man was briefly arrested after he came close to the Prime Minster's group, who had just left the Civic Hall in Leeds.

"No threats were made, and after the man's details were checked he was de-arrested and allowed on his way."

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