Halliburton To Plead Guilty Over Gulf Oil Spill

Halliburton is to plead guilty to destroying evidence in connection with the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The US company has agreed to pay the maximum statutory fine of $200,000 (£130,000), to stay on probation for three years and to continue to cooperate with the government's criminal investigation.

Halliburton, which is the world's second-largest oilfield services company, has also made a $55m (£35.7m) voluntary contribution to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Halliburton was BP's cement contractor on the drilling rig whose blowout triggered an explosion that killed 11 workers and spilled millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

A Justice Department statement said Halliburton - which constructed the cement casing of the well at the centre of the disaster - had carried out its own internal investigations following the disaster in April 2010.

But results of computer simulations carried out in May and June 2010 were ordered to be destroyed and were unable to be recovered, the Justice Department said.

The company said in a statement that it had agreed to plead guilty "to one misdemeanour violation associated with the deletion of records created after the Macondo well incident".

The Justice Department has agreed it will not pursue further criminal prosecution of the company or its subsidiaries for any conduct arising from the 2010 spill, Halliburton's statement said.

The plea agreement is subject to court approval, the company said.

According to the government, Halliburton recommended to BP that the Macondo well contain 21 centralisers, metal collars that can improve cementing, but BP chose to use six.

The government said that, during an internal probe into the cementing after the blowout, Halliburton ordered workers to destroy computer simulations that showed little difference between using six and 21 centralisers.

Efforts to locate the simulations forensically were unsuccessful.

Halliburton and BP have blamed each other for the failure of the cement job to seal the Macondo well.

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill was the largest offshore oil disaster in US history, wreaking havoc on the region's environment and economy.

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Egypt: Army And Morsi Camp Showdown Looms

A deeply polarised Egypt is braced for bloodshed ahead of rival mass rallies called by the army and Islamists who back the ousted president Mohamed Morsi.

Army chief General Abdel Fattah al Sisi has summoned Egyptians to the streets in an intended turning point in its confrontation with followers of Mr Morsi, the elected leader the military removed on July 3.

Mr Sisi said he wanted Egyptians to give the military a "mandate" to take the necessary measures against "violence and terrorism".

It comes as the country's state news agency reported Mr Morsi had been detained over accusations he killed soldiers and conspired with the Palestinian group Hamas.

Mr Sisi delivered his call in full military uniform and dark sunglasses

The claims were dismissed as "ridiculous" by his Muslim Brotherhood party, which has been camped out at street vigils calling for his reinstatement.

An army official said the military has given the party a Saturday deadline to end its resistance and join a military-set roadmap to fresh elections.

But the Brotherhood says it wants nothing to do with the army's transition plan and has called its own crowds out for counter-demonstrations in a "day to remove the coup".

Mr Morsi has been in military detention at an undisclosed location since he was overthrown.

UN leader Ban Ki-moon has called on the military to free Mr Morsi and other Islamic Brotherhood leaders, said deputy UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey.

Mr Ban also says he "urges all sides to act with maximum restraint" during the demonstrations.

A Morsi supporter (C) is chased by those backing the army earlier this week

Both the army and the Muslim Brotherhood dramatically escalated rhetoric in the lead-up to the rallies, following a month of clashes in which about 200 people, mainly supporters of Mr Morsi, have died.

The army has threatened to "turn its guns" on those who use violence.

In a Facebook post, the army said it will not "turn its guns against its people, but it will turn them against black violence and terrorism which has no religion or nation".

An army official told Reuters: "We will not initiate any move, but will definitely react harshly against any calls for violence or black terrorism from Brotherhood leaders or their supporters."

The main anti-Morsi youth protest group, which has backed the army, said it would go to the streets to "cleanse Egypt".

Thousands have been holding vigils calling for Mr Morsi's reinstatement

The Muslim Brotherhood accused the army of pushing the nation towards civil war and committing a crime worse than destroying Islam's holiest site.

The Brotherhood also claims the authorities have been stirring up the violence to justify their crackdown.

The rallies are expected to peak after the evening prayer marking the end of the day's Ramadan fast.

Police said they were planning large-scale reinforcements and the Interior Ministry said it would undertake "unprecedented measures to protect citizens and their property".

The head of the army, Mr Sisi, was appointed by Mr Morsi in a bid by the president to rein in Egypt's all-powerful military.

Anti-Morsi protesters with a poster of Mr Sisi

But Mr Sisi turned against him after a year in which the Egyptian economy floundered and support for Mr Morsi slumped.

Posters of the general have since appeared in shops and stalls across Cairo.

The US - which has close ties with Egypt's military - said it was "very concerned" by Mr Sisi's call for mass rallies.

After Mr Sisi's comments, the US announced it would suspend a delivery of F-16 warplanes.

The country remains deeply split over Mr Morsi's ousting.

The Brotherhood accuses the army of ejecting a democratically elected leader in a long-planned coup, while its opponents say the army responded to the will of the people.

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Spain Train Crash: Driver To Be Questioned

Police are due to question the driver of a train that derailed in Spain later, killing at least 80 people, in one of Europe's worst rail disasters.

The driver, named by local media as 52-year-old Francisco Jose Garzon, has remained under police guard in hospital since the crash on Wednesday night.

The eight-carriage train came off the tracks on a bend, hit a wall and caught fire just outside the pilgrimage destination Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain.

While data from the train's black box recorder is still being examined, early indications suggest the train may have been travelling at more than twice the speed limit at the time of the crash.

Mr Garzon boasted about speeding on his Facebook page

The train entered the bend at 190 km per hour (120mph), according to local media reports. The speed limit on the curve was 80km per hour (50mph).

Witnesses are reported to have heard Mr Garzon shout into a phone: "I've derailed! What do I do?"

A judge in Santiago de Compostela, capital of the region of Galicia, ordered police to take a statement from the driver.

It was not clear what kind of injuries Mr Garzon - who helped to rescue victims - had suffered.

But as his country mourned, it emerged that Mr Garzon is thought to have boasted on his Facebook page about how fast he was driving a train in March last year.

An official inspects the train's engine

The driver posted a picture of a train speedometer at 200kph (124mph) on the social networking site. His Facebook page has since been blocked.

"What a blast it would be to go parallel with the Guardia Civil (Spanish police) and go past them triggering the radar. Haha what a fine for Renfe (Spanish rail operator) haha," he wrote on what is believed to be his Facebook page.

Mr Garzon was being formally investigated and under police guard but he has not been arrested, the regional supreme court said.

Earlier reports said there was a second driver on the train, but it is believed Mr Garzon was the only driver at the time.

He is believed to have taken control of the train from a second driver about 65 miles south of Santiago de Compostela.

An aerial view of the carnage caused by the derailment

According to reports, one of the drivers realised what was about to happen before the crash and made a desperate call to Renfe ahead of the bend, saying: "I'm going at 190kmh, I'm going to derail."

In a second call to Renfe after the accident, the driver explained that he was trapped in the train.

"We are human, we are human," he is reported to have said. "I hope there are no dead because they would fall on my conscience."

Two investigations are being carried out into the catastrophe - one to look into possible failings by the driver and the other to examine the train's in-built speed regulation systems and see if it was a technical malfunction that meant the driver was not warned of the reduced speed limit around the bend.

Many questions remain unanswered about what went wrong, with some experts claiming that high speed alone would not explain the crash and speculation that the train's braking systems might have failed.

The impact was so huge one carriage flew several metres into the air

Reporting from the scene, Sky News Europe Correspondent Robert Nisbet said investigators would be focusing on the statements made by the driver immediately after the derailment.

Nisbet pointed to further reports from Spanish media suggesting the driver had told officials at Santiago de Compostela train station that an electronic warning signal was flashing inside the driver's cabin to indicate he was going to fast.

"He is said to have pressed a button to acknowledge the warning but still apparently did not slow down," Nisbet said.

State train company Renfe said Mr Garzon had been at the firm for 30 years and he had been driving trains for more than a decade. He became a an assistant driver in 2000 and a fully qualified driver in 2003.

Meanwhile, medical experts are continuing to try to identify 13 of the victims as distraught families continue to wait for news about their loved ones.

Relatives of passengers on the train wait for news of their loved ones

DNA tests are expected to be carried out on those with catastrophic injuries to identify them, with results available in the coming days.

The victims of the crash included a US citizen and a Mexican. At least one British citizen and four children were among the 95 people injured. Just over 30 of those in hospital are still critically ill.

Video footage from a security camera showed the train, which had 247 people on board, hurtling into a concrete wall at the side of the track.

The impact was so huge one carriage flew several metres into the air and landed on the other side of a concrete barrier.

The Alvia 730 series train was travelling from Madrid to the port city of Ferrol when it crashed about 8.40pm local time - 7.40pm UK time - on Wednesday.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy visits the scene of the crash

The crash occurred on the eve of a major Christian religious festival honouring St James, the disciple of Jesus whose remains are said to rest in a shrine.

Many of the dead or injured were believed to be Catholic pilgrims converging on the city.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was born in Santiago de Compostela, visited the scene of the crash on Thursday and declared three days of official mourning across the country.  King Juan Carlos also visited one of the hospitals where many passengers are being treated.

Local reaction to the crash has been such that an appeal for blood donations resulted in hospitals having to turn people away because they could not cope with the demand. Many local hotels are also offering free rooms to relatives of those involved.

Wednesday's train crash is the worst Spain has experienced since a three-train accident in a tunnel in the northern Leon province in 1944.

Due to heavy censorship at the time, the exact death toll for the Torre del Bierzo disaster has never been established.

The official figure was given as 78 dead, but it is thought that as many as 250 could have been killed.

There was another serious accident in Spain in 1972 when a Madrid to Cadiz express collided head-on with a local train on the outskirts of Seville. A total of 77 people died, with more than 100 injured.

The latest crash comes less than two weeks after six people were killed and scores injured in a train crash just south of Paris.

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Hot Air Balloon Crash Caught On Camera

A hot air balloon carrying 11 people has crashed into a lake in the Netherlands, injuring two people.

Dramatic footage taken by a passerby shows the vessel coming down in Lake Gooi, near the city of Almere, and its basket being dragged along by the tide until it hits the shore.

The basket remains on its side in the water while the edge of the balloon dips and comes down on a road alongside the lake in front of a travelling car.

Witnesses can be seen rushing to help the passengers in the stricken balloon.

Dutch emergency services, including two coastguard boats, police, firefighters and ambulances were alerted to the accident and attended the scene.

The two people hurt were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The cause of the crash, which happened at around 9.40pm on Tuesday, is unknown. It is being investigated by police and the Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ETI).

Almere is situated in central Flevoland province, east of Amsterdam.

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Las Vegas Policeman Killed In Helicopter Fall

A Las Vegas police officer has fallen to his death from a helicopter hoist while rescuing a stranded hiker from a mountain ledge.

David Vanbuskirk was part of the search and rescue team sent to the Mary Jane Falls area of Mount Charleston.

Police said the area was too difficult and dangerous to access on foot and decided to use the helicopter's internal rescue hoist to lower Mr Vanbuskirk on to the mountainside.

He attached a rescue device to the victim but became detached from the hoist line as the pair were being lifted into the helicopter and fell into a canyon below.

The victim remained attached to the cable and was pulled into the aircraft.

A spokesman for Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said the exact distance Mr Vanbuskirk fell is still under investigation but added: "The fall was non-survivable and he perished on impact."

Mr Vanbuskirk had been with the department since October 1999 and was assigned to the search and rescue section in February 2007.

Television cameras captured a procession of police cars driving through the dark with their flashing lights on after the accident in a gesture of respect for the fallen officer.

"We're a big family, a close family, and this is going to be trying on us for quite a while," Las Vegas police assistant sheriff Joseph Lombardo said.

"We will survive it. We'll come back together and hopefully in my lifetime it will never happen again."

The National Transportation Safety Board, Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the police department will investigate, Mr Lombardo added.

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Dewani To Be Extradited To South Africa

Shrien Dewani will be extradited to South Africa to face charges of orchestrating his wife's murder, a judges rules.

More follows...

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Pope In Brazil: Thousands Mob Pontiff's Car

Thousands of Brazilians mobbed the Pope's car after his driver went the wrong way down a street in Rio de Janeiro.

Rio Transportation Secretary Carlos Osorio said the Fiat that Francis was riding in from the airport to the city centre turned into the wrong side of a 12-lane road known as Avenida Presidente Vargas.

Instead of taking the left lanes that were free of traffic, the car turned into the right lanes cluttered with buses and taxis, forcing the pontiff's car to stop, he said.

Thousands who had lined the streets then rushed the car, reaching into the Pope's open window, many taking photos of him.

His secretary was not happy during the incident

Vatican spokesman the Reverend Federico Lombardi acknowledged that the Pope's motorcade took a wrong turn, but said the pontiff was never concerned for his safety, even if his secretary who was sitting with him in the car was.

"His secretary was afraid, but the Pope was happy, with his hand out the window waving," Rev Lombardi said.

"There are no concerns for security. The concerns are that the enthusiasm is so great that it's difficult to respond to so much enthusiasm for the Pope. But there is no fear and no concern."

The Pope later toured round the main streets In Rio

Pope Francis, who is on a seven-day trip to his home continent, then switched to an open-air Popemobile as he toured around the main streets in central Rio.

At the official welcoming ceremony, Pope Francis said he had come "to meet young people from all over the world" attracted by the messages of Jesus.

During his stay, the 76-year-old will meet young Catholics converging for the Church's World Youth Festival in Rio.

Police fire rubber bullets at protesters

More than one million people are expected to pack the white sands of Copacabana for ceremonies presided over by Pope Francis. He will also visit a tiny chapel in a slum and make a side trip to venerate Brazil's patron saint, Our Lady of Aparecida.

Police and anti-government protesters earlier clashed outside the palace hosting the Pope's welcoming ceremony.

About an hour after the Pope concluded his short speech, police began cracking down on the protests, firing rubber bullets in an effort to disperse the crowd.

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LaGuardia Plane Crash: Eight People Injured

Ten people have been injured after a plane's landing gear collapsed as it touched down at an airport in New York.

The accident left the Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 with its nose resting on the runway at LaGuardia.

It forced the temporary closure of the airport, which mostly handles flights to and from other US cities.

Some 150 people were on board at the time.

The airline confirmed the emergency services had helped with the evacuation of the passengers and crew of Flight 345 from Nashville.

Thomas Bosco, Acting Director of Aviation for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said the nose gear of the plane collapsed when it landed at 5.40pm.

Investigators are examining the potential cause of the crash

"The aircraft skidded down the runway on its nose and then veered off and came to rest in the grass area," he said, adding that there was no advance warning of any possible problem before the landing.

Television images showed the plane with its nose angled down to the ground and its evacuation slides out. The fuselage was surrounded by emergency vehicles.

Passengers on board the plane saw sparks flying as the nose scraped along the runway, according to accounts given to waiting relatives and friends.

One passenger, Anniebell Hanna said the flight had been delayed leaving Nashville. Passengers had heard an announcement saying "something was wrong with a tyre."

At LaGuardia, "when we got ready to land, we nosedived," she said. "I hit my head against the seat in front of me."

The 43-year-old was among the first to get off the plane, and could smell something burning when she slid down the chute to the tarmac.

Planes scheduled to fly to LaGuardia were held at their origin airports, while those already en route were diverted to New York's other hubs, Newark and JFK, contributing to long delays.

All take-offs were suspended for more than two hours after the accident, but airport officials were aiming to have both runways fully functional on Tuesday.

The incident came 16 days after Asiana Flight 214 crash-landed at San Francisco's international airport. Three Chinese teenagers died as a result of the Boeing 777 crash, with dozens more people injured.

AskthePilot.com's Patrick Smith says landing gear incidents are not high on the list of worries for pilots.

"It doesn't happen very often but I need to emphasise just how comparatively minor this is and how far, far down the hierarchy it is," he said.

"From a pilot's perspective, this is nearly a non-issue. They make for good television, but this is far down the list of nightmares for pilots."

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Royal Baby: Reaction From Around The World

Messages of congratulations have been sent from around the world after the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a baby boy.

US President Barack Obama said the new prince had been born "at a time of promise and opportunity" between Britain and America.

He said he and First Lady Michelle Obama wished Prince William and his wife "all the happiness and blessings parenthood brings".

The US leader said the prince had been born in a time of new opportunity

US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, recently informed by the New England Genealogical Society that she is a distant relative of the Duchess, tweeted her congratulations.

"It's a boy! So happy for my cousin Kate and the future King of England," she wrote.

US entertainer Ellen DeGeneres added her congratulations

Other celebrities also offered their best wishes on Twitter.

Comedian Joan Rivers said: "Congratulations to Kate & William on the birth of their baby boy! So relieved that his name won't include the words Ivy or Apple."

Actor Stephen Fry poked fun at how news of the Royal baby was announced outside Buckingham Palace, tweeting: "The official easel. We really are a marvellously bonkers country..."

TV star Cheryl Cole wrote: "Congratulations to William and Kate!! So happy they have a healthy baby and everyone is good. Can't wait to see him now."

Cheryl Cole said she was delighted at the news

In the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Parliament Hill was illuminated with blue lights - as were the country's famous Niagara Falls.

Canada's Governor General was among the first international dignitaries to congratulate the couple as their first day of parenting began.

He used Twitter to send a message to Clarence House, saying: "Wonderful news!"

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the arrival of a future sovereign of Canada is a "highly anticipated moment for Canadians given the special and warm relationship that we share with our Royal Family".

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also offered his congratulations, saying: "This is bright and and wonderful news for both England and the world."

Australian PM Kevin Rudd welcomed the Royal "bub" in a statement

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said: "I think all Australians at the bottom of their hearts wish the Royal bub all the best, and certainly wish the new parents all the best as well.

"When a new bub comes into the world, any old day, any part of the world, it is frankly a time for rejoicing."

He also announced the country's quirky gift to the baby prince - a research project examining the Australian marsupial the bilby.

"In terms of cute and cuddly toys, it'll be a cute and cuddly bilby," he said.

Celebrations are being held across the globe today to mark the special occasion, including gun salutes across London.

Royalist group Monarchy New Zealand said it had organised a lightshow, with 40 buildings lit up in blue, including Sky Tower in Auckland, and the airport in Christchurch.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said: "It's a fabulous day for the young couple. They'll be very excited as new parents as indeed I think New Zealanders will be very excited on their behalf.

The story led many of the US news networks' bulletins

"I mean, this is a future king of New Zealand. I think it's a moment to stay for them and we'll be celebrating alongside them as they bring their new one into the world."

Residents in Jamaica and Barbados, both members of the Commonwealth, also congratulated the couple.

"Well it's good to know that a baby is born and it's of royalty. It means a lot to us, not only to me but I guess to most of the Jamaican people," said Kingston resident Pauline Wilson.

Media outlets around the world have been gripped by the arrival of the Royal baby.

The story has featured highly on most foreign news channels and websites, with many focusing on the image of a town crier announcing the birth in London.

Britain's biggest selling newspaper changed its name in honour

"It's a Boy!" was splashed across many UK front pages, with The Sun temporarily changing its name to "The Son" in honour of the tiny monarch-in-waiting.

The baby may become the head of state of 16 countries, including Britain, Australia and Canada, and possibly the head of the Commonwealth, which covers 54 nations.

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Ohio Bodies: Suspect 'Fascinated' By Killer

Police investigating the discovery of three bodies wrapped in plastic bags in Ohio say there could be one or two more victims yet to be found in the case.

Convicted sex offender Michael Madison remains in custody after being questioned in relation to the bodies. The 35-year-old is set to be formally charged later on Monday.

Police Chief Ralph Spotts told volunteers checking around 40 vacant houses for further victims to be alert for smells of rotting during their searches.

He added Mr Madison had not been very specific on whether there could be more victims. 

Suspect Michael Madison is arrested by police (Pic: NBC)

"He really hasn't stated that there's any more, but he hasn't said anything that would make us think that there's not," Chief Spotts said.

During police interviews, Mr Madison also led investigators to believe he had a fascination with the serial killer Anthony Sowell.

"He said some things that led us to believe that in some way, shape, or form, Sowell might be an influence," said East Cleveland mayor Gary Norton.

Sowell is currently in prison awaiting the death penalty for murdering 11 women before hiding their remains around his Cleveland home.

Identified in press reports as the Cleveland Strangler, he has appealed for his sentence to be commuted to life in prison on the basis he did not receive a fair trial.

Anthony Sowell murdered 11 women in Cleveland

Police and volunteers spent most of Sunday searching at and around the property where the bodies of the three black females were discovered 150 metres apart. But no other remains were found.

The first body was located on Friday in a garage and two other bodies were found on Saturday - one in a backyard and the other in the basement of a vacant house.

All three are believed to have been killed in the last six to 10 days.

Mr Madison was classified as a sex offender in 2002 when he was sentenced to four years in prison for attempted rape, according to Cuyahoga County court records. He had previous convictions in 2000 and 2001 for drug-related charges.

One neighbour, Nathenia Crosby, said she was familiar with the suspect and had seen him walking through the local area, She said she had told him to stop chatting with her 19-year-old daughter.

"When I found out how old he was, I said, 'You need to move on, she's too young,'" she added.

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Barrier Reef: US Navy May Retrieve Bombs

The US Navy is considering salvaging four unarmed bombs dropped on Australia's Great Barrier Reef after a training exercise went wrong.

The two AV-8B Harrier jets launched from aircraft carrier USS Bonhomme Richard each jettisoned an inert bomb and an unarmed explosive bomb on the World Heritage site on Tuesday, the US 7th Fleet said.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the government manager of the 133,360 square mile (345,400 square km) protected zone, said in a statement that identifying options for the "rapid recovery" of the bombs so that they could pose no risk to the marine park was "a high priority".

But the authority also said the ordnances posed a "low risk to the marine environment".

"Based on where the ordnance have been dropped in a location that is in water around 164ft (50m) deep, about 19 miles (30km) from the nearest reef and 31 miles (50km)  from the shoreline, the immediate impact on the marine environment is thought to be negligible," the statement said.

US 7th Fleet spokesman Lt David Levy said on Monday that the Navy was currently reviewing the possibility of retrieving the ordnances in consultation with Australian authorities.

"If the park service and the government agencies of Australia determine that they want those recovered, then we will coordinate with them on that recovery process," he said.

The bombs were dropped from two AV-88 Harrier jets

The four bombs, weighing a total of 1.8 tons (4,000lb), were dropped into more than 164ft of water away from coral to minimise damage to the reef, the US 7th Fleet said.

The jets from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit had intended to drop them on the Townshend Island bombing range, but aborted the mission when controllers reported the area was not clear of hazards.

Both aircraft were running low on fuel and could not land with the bombs on board.

US Navy Commander William Marks told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Monday that the crews detected civilian vessels inside the drop zone.

"The approved area where they could do some of this live training with these 500lb bombs, it was not safe to drop the bombs," he said. "There were civilian boats right below them."

The joint Australia-US training, which began on July 15, involves 28,000 troops and Commander Marks was unable to say how civilian vessels had strayed into the Shoalwater Bay military training area.

"I don't have any more information about what they were doing and why they were there," he said.

Australian senator Larissa Waters, Greens party spokeswoman on the Great Barrier Reef, described the dumping of bombs as outrageous and said it should not be allowed.

She said: "Have we gone completely mad? Is this how we look after our World Heritage area now? Letting a foreign power drop bombs on it?"

Graeme Dunstan, who is among the environmentalists and anti-war activists protesting against the joint exercise, claimed the US military could no longer be trusted to protect the environment.

"How can they protect the environment and bomb the reef at the same time? Get real," Mr Dunstan said from the Queensland coastal town of Yepoon near where the military exercise is taking place.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest network of coral structures rich in marine life that stretches more than 1,800 miles along the Australian northeast coast.

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At Least 54 Dead After China Twin Earthquakes

Two earthquakes have struck in China killing at least 54 people and injuring 300, according to the local government.

Emergency workers carry the injured to safety

The twin quakes hit near the city of Dingxi in Gansu province, a region of mountains, desert and pastureland with a population of 26 million.

An official at the provincial earthquake bureau said: "More than 21,000 buildings were severely damaged and more than 1,200 have collapsed."

Some 21,000 buildings have been damaged by the quake

The most recent figures given for the number killed and injured came from the local government in Dingxi, who posted the details on their verified social media account.

The first 5.9-magnitude quake struck at 7.45am (11.45pm GMT) in the Gansu province and the second, measuring 5.6-magnitude, hit in the same region at 9.12am, according to the US Geological Survey.

Rescue teams move in looking for people under the debris

A resident of Min county said he was at work at a medicine production plant when the tremor struck and he saw tower blocks shake "ferociously".

"I was in the workshop. I felt violent shaking and so I ran to the yard of the plant immediately," said the man, surnamed Ma.

"Our factory is only one floor. When I came to the yard, I saw an 18 storey building, the tallest in our county, shaking ferociously, especially the 18th floor."

A woman is given water as she waits to be taken to safety

Shaking was felt in the provincial capital of Lanzhou 110 miles north, and as far away as Xi'an, 250 miles to the east.

"You could see the chandeliers wobble and the windows vibrating and making noise, but there aren't any cracks in the walls," said a front desk clerk at the Wuyang Hotel in Zhang County, about 25 miles from the epicentre.

"Shop assistants all poured out onto the streets when the shaking began."

Two earthquakes his the Gansu province

The quake was shallow, which can be more destructive. The first quake was 9km deep while the second was 10km deep.

Dingxi is about 766 miles west of Beijing.

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Trayvon: Jay Z And Beyonce At Protest Rally

The parents of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teenager shot dead in Florida, have joined protesters during a day of demonstrations across the United States.

The 17-year-old's mother, Sybrina Fulton, addressed the crowd in New York, backed by music stars Jay Z and Beyonce, who joined campaigners in a moment of prayer.

Protests were held in more than 100 US cities, sparked by the acquittal of Neighbourhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman.

He was found not guilty of killing Trayvon during an altercation in a gated community in February 2012, after successfully arguing he was protecting himself when he shot the youngster.

Trayvon's death has become a flashpoint in national debates over self-defence laws, guns, and race relations.

Thousands of people have joined protests across the United States

Mrs Fulton told protesters: "Trayvon may not have been perfect, but he was mine. We loved him, we supported him, we cared for him, just like you do your kids.

"Of course we're hurting, of course we're shocked and disappointed. But that just means that we have to roll up our sleeves and continue to fight."

Meanwhile, Trayvon's father, Tracy Martin, spoke at a vigil in Miami.

He vowed to "fight for Trayvon until the day I die", adding: "This could be any one of our children. Our mission now is to make sure that this doesn't happen to your child."

The rallies came after President Barack Obama spoke publicly about Trayvon's death and the deep frustrations felt among African Americans over the not guilty verdict.

Trayvon Martin (L) was shot by George Zimmerman

"Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago," he told reporters.

Praising the "incredible grace and dignity" shown by Trayvon's parents, the president said "some soul-searching" on race was in order.

Although he did not comment directly on the Florida verdict, he called for a review of controversial "stand your ground" laws, which allow citizens to use lethal force - rather than retreat - if they sense their lives are at risk.

"I just ask people to consider if Trayvon Martin was of age and armed, could he have stood his ground on that sidewalk?" Mr Obama asked.

"And do we actually think that he would have been justified in shooting Mr Zimmerman who had followed him in a car because he felt threatened?"

President Obama said Trayvon could have been him 35 years ago

Trayvon's parents said they were "deeply honoured and moved" by Mr Obama's comments.

"President Obama sees himself in Trayvon and identifies with him," they said in a statement. "This is a beautiful tribute to our boy."

As well as appealing for a review of the self-defence law, campaigners are pushing the US Justice Department to investigate filing federal civil rights charges against Mr Zimmerman.

Such a case would require evidence that he harboured racial animosity against Trayvon.

Mr Zimmerman's lawyers say the shooting was not driven by race but by a desire to protect his neighbourhood after a spate of burglaries.

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Australia: Fears Over New 'Stolen Generation'

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent

Campaigners are asking for the law to be changed to help rescue thousands of Aboriginal children in Australia from extreme neglect.

Alcohol abuse is rife amongst indigenous communities and children are being abandoned while their parents drink.

In some rural areas it is common to see toddlers in nappies wandering around unsupervised, even begging for food or warm clothing.

Many non-indigenous families are so concerned that they have been taking children off the streets and into their homes without formal permission.

They want the law changed to make it easier for white Australians to foster or adopt Aboriginal children.

Eight-year-old Cebby, who was born to an alcoholic mother, has been surrounded by alcohol abuse and violence throughout his young life.

He told Sky News about the few simple things he thinks adults should provide.

"I want them to make me feel safe. Make me feel alright, not scared. Make me feel normal."

The community of Tennant Creek is seeing hundreds of abandoned children

Becky Healy, who runs a motel in Tennant Creek - a town in the heart of Australia's outback, is distraught at the huge numbers of Aboriginal children wandering the streets unwashed, unfed and unschooled.

Her motel has inadvertently become a refuge for neglected children.

"It's a crisis. We are now at a point of do or die and we have to do something for these kids.

"If it means taking them into our complex and feeding them and training them when we have nothing to do with the social sector, then so be it."

Children surrounded by substance abuse are even becoming addicted themselves.

Recently three girls, barely in their teens, were caught on CCTV in Tennant Creek breaking into a workshop and sniffing petrol fumes from a tractor engine.

Politicians are now considering putting neglected Aboriginal children up for adoption, until now there has been an unwillingness to act because of fears of a new "stolen generation".

The legacy of the 'stolen generation' has prevented adoptions

That was a misguided policy which only ended in the early 1970s where Aboriginal children were taken from their families and placed under foster care with white families or institutions.

The law has since stated that Aboriginal children in need must always be placed within their community, wherever possible.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles, Australia's first indigenous state or territory leader, says it is time to revisit the legislation.

"Whatever we do has to be about making parents take responsibility for their kids," he said.

"(However) we have to give those kids the best opportunity in life and where we deem it necessary we won't be afraid to make those decisions about the child's future."
                 
It is a change Yvonne Mudford and her husband Leigh Swift say can't come soon enough. Their aboriginal neighbours asked them to take their child Mikala for a few hours, then weeks and now permanently.

She still sees her natural parents but is thriving in a home free from alcohol abuse and violence.

Martina is one of thousands of children who need help

"It's just a basic right that every child is entitled to. Safety, a good home life, food, clothing and to be looked after and loved … why should these kids miss out on that?"

Critics though, whilst acknowledging something needs to be done, are concerned about removing children.

Northern Territory Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation spokeswomen Vicki Lee Knowles recently told the ABC: "Within an Aboriginal family ... the loss of culture, land and language has a long-term impact on the social and emotional wellbeing of those children who are removed."

Aborigines are the most disadvantaged Australians, with indigenous children twice as likely to die before their fifth birthday as other children.

While accurate data on child abuse and family violence in Aboriginal areas is scarce, the Australian government has said many children grow up in communities where violence has become "a normal and ordinary part of life".

Aborigines are believed to have numbered around one million at the time of British settlement in 1788, but there are now just 470,000 out of a total population of 23 million in Australia.

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Great Barrier Reef Hit By Four US Jet Bombs

Two American fighter jets dropped four bombs on Australia's Great Barrier Reef after a training exercise went wrong, it has emerged.

US officials said the pilots of two AV-8B Harrier jets were forced to jettison the unarmed devices on Tuesday because both aircraft were running low on fuel and could not land with the bombs on board.

The pilots intended to drop the munitions on a designated bombing range on Townshend Island but aborted the mission when controllers reported the area was not clear of hazards.

Instead, they jettisoned two bombs from each aircraft on the World Heritage-listed marine park off the coast of Queensland state.

The pilots tried to minimise the damage by releasing the devices over deep water of more than 164 feet (50 meters) and away from coral reefs, officials said.

All four bombs were inert and so did not explode. It is unclear whether any environmental damage was caused.

The bombs were dropped from two AV-88 Harrier jets

An Australian Defence Force spokesman was quoted as saying the bombs posed "minimal risk or threat to the public, the marine environment or civilian shipping transiting the reef area".

The two jets were launched from aircraft carrier USS Bonhomme Richard during a three-week joint military training exercise involving around 28,000 US and Australian personnel.

Graeme Dunstan, who is among the environmentalists and anti-war activists protesting against the joint exercise, claimed the US military could no longer be trusted to protect the environment.

"How can they protect the environment and bomb the reef at the same time? Get real," Mr Dunstan said from the Queensland coastal town of Yepoon near where the military exercise is taking place.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest network of coral structures rich in marine life that stretches more than 1,,800 miles (3,000 kms) along the Australian northeast coast.

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