Fifa VP's Son In World Cup Ticket Scandal

The son of Fifa vice president Julio Grondona has become embroiled in a scandal implicating officials from the football governing body in the illegal re-sale of World Cup tickets.

Tickets reported to be in Humberto Grondona's name were among hundreds seized by Brazilian police as part of the ongoing investigation into ticket touting.

A picture of one ticket bearing his name has been widely circulated on social media. 

In an interview with Argentinian television station TYC, Grondona Jnr admitted giving tickets to a friend, but denied re-selling them at an inflated price. 

Humberto Grondona denies selling the tickets for more than their face value

He said: "You think with how much I care about my family name I would do such a stupid thing?"

He added that he was unsure what his friend had then done with the tickets.

Re-selling tickets for more than their face value is illegal in Brazil. 

Ahead of the tournament's kick off, all Fifa employees and World Cup delegates were warned against selling tickets, all of which have an electronic chip which makes them traceable back to their original purchaser.

Fifa spokeswoman Delia Fischer would not comment on the investigation, but said anyone found breaching the governing body's regulations would be sanctioned.

Julio Grondona is the second most powerful man in world football

Sky News Sports Correspondent Paul Kelso says that with tickets for matches so hard to come by, the news that the son of a top Fifa executive has allowed tickets to end up on the black market has caused a real stir.

He said the scandal is "acutely embarrassing" for Julio Grondona, who is also president of the Argentina Football Federation, where his son is an official.

The revelation comes days after police in Rio de Janeiro arrested 11 people suspected of running a multimillion pound ticket touting operation.

Police said the source of the tickets is believed to have stayed at the Copacabana Palace Hotel, used by top Fifa officials.

Some of the tickets are thought to have been sold for up to eight times their face value.

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Germany Holds 'Double Agent Who Spied For US'

Germany has arrested a suspected double agent accused of leaking confidential information to the United States.

A 31-year-old German man is being held on suspicion of espionage.

The Federal Prosecutor's office said investigations were still ongoing, but did not reveal his identify or comment on reports that the suspect had handed information to the United States.

However, the German Foreign Ministry said the US ambassador in Berlin had been summoned to assist in the "swift clarification" of the case.

Several German news outlets have cited unnamed government sources who say the suspect was a mid-level agent for Germany's intelligence service, the BND.

The agent reportedly spied on an inquiry into Edward Snowden's revelations

According to the daily Bild newspaper the agent sold 218 sensitive documents to an unspecified US intelligence agency for €25,000 (£19,800).

It said he had worked as a double agent for two years.

The suspect has reportedly admitted the documents included details about a parliamentary committee investigating the US National Security Agency's surveillance operations in Germany.

Germany was shaken last year by information leaked by US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden which revealed that the NSA had spied on German citizens and tapped Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone.

Reports the NSA tapped Mrs Merkel's phone have strained US-German relations

Mrs Merkel has not yet commented on the latest allegations, but a spokesman said: "We don't take the matter of spying for foreign intelligence agencies lightly."

Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper and the broadcasters WDR and NDR say the agent was initially detained on suspicion of contacting Russian intelligence agencies.

But during questioning he admitted that he had worked with the Americans.

Mrs Merkel spoke to US President Barack Obama on Friday evening, although it is not clear whether she discussed the case.

The US embassy in Berlin, the US State Department and the White House have all declined to comment.

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Ukrainian Flag 'To Be Raised' In Slavyansk

The Ukrainian president has ordered the army to raise the national flag in Slavyansk after the rebels reportedly fled their eastern stronghold and government forces moved in.

Earlier, a Ukrainian minister had said the rebels and a top commander had fled - though the report was denied by the pro-Russia separatists.

President Petro Poroshenko's website said the separatist fighters had come under mortar fire as they tried to break through government forces' lines.

The website, citing the newly appointed head of the armed forces general staff, said the separatists had lost one tank and other armoured vehicles.

Ukraine launched its first major assault nearly three months ago

"The President gave the order ... for the state flag to be raised on Slavyansk's town council offices," it said.

The town council office was one of the main buildings where the rebels had been based.

Separatists seized the industrial city of nearly 120,000 people on April 6, and on May 30 rebels there brought down a military helicopter killing 14 servicemen.

The interior minister, Arsen Avakov, said in a Facebook post that the militias were fleeing to Gorlivka, a city of 260,000 about 50km (30 miles) southeast of Slavyansk that remains largely under the rebels' control.

He also wrote that civilians were taking over roadblocks previously controlled by the insurgents "and carrying weapons and bulletproof vests abandoned by the rebels".

This week, Ukraine's cease-fire with pro-Russian separatists expired and Mr Poroshenko said his forces would go on the offensive against the rebels.

But, amid increasing violence, Mr Poroshenko on Friday called for immediate crisis talks with rebel commanders and Russia.

More follows...

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CCTV 'Shows Palestinian Teen Being Abducted'

By Tom Rayner, Middle East Reporter, in Jerusalem

CCTV footage which purports to show the moment a Palestinian teenager was kidnapped before being killed has been obtained by Sky News.

The video allegedly shows men bundling Mohammed Abu Khadair into a car in East Jerusalem, shortly before his burned body was found in a forest.

Blurry figures can be seen apparently bundling someone into a car

The footage emerged as tensions heightened in the region with Israel's military sending troop reinforcements to its border with the Gaza Strip.

In another development, the official Twitter feed of the Israel Defense Forces was hacked, stating that rockets had hit a major nuclear facility, causing a leak.

The top tweet claims a nuclear facility was hit in the Negev desert The tweet was quickly removed and a correction issued

The tweet, which was quickly removed read: "#WARNING: Possible nuclear leak in the region after 2 rockets hit Dimona nuclear facility."

The IDF later confirmed the tweet was a hoax, vowing to "combat terror on all fronts including the cyber dimension".

The boy's father Hussein Abu Khadair has called for a full police inquiry

The Khadair family say their 17-year-old was on his way to the local mosque to attend the morning prayer when he was taken.

His body was found around 5am by police in a forest in West Jerusalem.

Although the CCTV footage cannot be verified, the family says it has been taken by Israeli police and is being examined as part of the investigation into the murder.

Israeli police have been keen to stress that they are yet to establish a clear motive for the murder and say they cannot yet rule out a criminal, rather than nationalistic revenge motive.

The incident took place hours after large crowds of Israelis demonstrated in Jerusalem.

They called for tougher action to be taken by the government in response to the kidnap and murder of three Israeli teenagers, whose bodies were discovered on Monday afternoon.

Palestinians stand next to a crater they say was caused by Israeli rockets

Crowds chanting "death to Arabs" gathered in the centre of the city and many Arab residents were protected from would-be lynch mobs by police.

Israeli police confirmed that 47 Israelis involved were arrested the night before Mohammed was killed.

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Hurricane Arthur Makes Landfall On US Coast

Hurricane Arthur has made landfall near the southern end of North Carolina's Outer Banks.

The US National Hurricane Center in Miami said Arthur reached land about 11.15pm on Thursday between Cape Lookout and Beaufort, North Carolina.

People evacuate a campiste on Hatteras Island, North Carolina

The Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 100mph (155kph) is moving northeast, the centre added.

The Atlantic storm has already sparked evacuations, closed beaches and tourist sites in the Carolinas, and threatened to disrupt Independence Day celebrations as far north as New England.

A woman finishes a sign in front of her shop in Buxton, North Carolina

Arthur could also cause dangerous rip currents, rainfall, fierce winds, and flooding along coastal areas of southern US states.

Several towns and villages rescheduled Independence Day festivities and fireworks plans as the storm picked up speed.

Arthur's from space. Pic: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team

The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season has prompted the closure of campgrounds, lighthouses and beaches on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

A mandatory evacuation order is in place for nearby Hatteras Island.

A surfer tests the waves off Hatteras Island

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency for 25 eastern counties to help prepare for possible damage.

He warned holiday-makers not to press ahead with planned vacations along the affected areas of the coast.

View of the hurricane from the International Space Station. Pic: Nasa

"Don't put your stupid hat on," Gov McCrory said.

Residents of Hatteras Island, North Carolina, were ordered to evacuate

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Video Of Horrifying Moment Flyover Collapses

A graphic video has shown the aftermath of the collapse of a motorway flyover in Brazil, which left at least two dead and many injured.

It shows injured bus passengers walking away from the crushed vehicle in Belo Horizonte covered in blood.

The camera then approaches the front of the bus, where a barely conscious woman can be seen trapped in the wreckage.

The driver of the bus was killed in the collapse

CCTV footage has also been released showing the moment the entire unfinished section of road dropped onto the motorway below in a split-second.

Alexandra Pereira, a teacher who was in an apartment building just 20 yards from the overpass, said it sounded like an "earthquake or bomb".

"I looked out my window and panicked," she said.

One person said it was like an "earthquake or bomb"

"I couldn't see anything but a huge cloud of dust."

The accident happened in the north of the city, where teams have been based throughout their World Cup campaigns.

The bridge was supposed to be built in time for the tournament.

The car that was crushed in the collapse

The nearby Mineirao Stadium has hosted four World Cup matches and is due to host a semi-final next Tuesday.

Fire services sent more than a dozen engines and a helicopter to the scene to aid those trapped in the wreckage.

A fire department spokesman told the AFP news agency that scaffolding was being taken down at the time of the collapse and the flyover was in the final stages of construction.

It is not known at this stage why the flyover collapsed

Live TV images showed what appeared to be a school bus and other vehicles trapped under the rubble.

The female driver of the bus was killed, with 13 people rescued from the vehicle.

Two trucks belonging to the construction company and one car were crushed along with the bus.

Two construction trucks were also crushed

City firefighters said on their official Twitter account that at least one person was dead but other sources said the death toll was two, with at least 22 injured.

Officials say they do not expect the casualty toll to rise too sharply, although they have not yet reached a small car that was flattened.

It is not known if anyone inside the car escaped or remained inside.

More than a dozen fire engines were called to the scene

It is not yet known why the flyover collapsed. Cowan, the construction company responsible for building it, said investigators are on site.

Groups of people gathered near the scene of the accident, with some of them shouting.

A man holds a banner that reads 'Cup dirty with blood' close to the scene

Bank worker Leandro Brito said: "Because of the World Cup they sped everything up to finish faster.

"That's why this tragedy has happened. They are not making things properly. Everyone is very angry."

Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte

Ms Pereira said that, along with her neighbours, she complained to the mayor that they feared for their safety from the construction and asked authorities for compensation so they could move.

She said the request was rejected and the mayor's office assured them the project was safe.

Fire department spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Estevo da Silva said officials had inspected the apartment buildings and did not find any sign they were at risk because of the overpass collapse.

The World Cup has been dogged by delays to stadiums and infrastructure, and there were several accidents during construction of the stadiums.

Just three days before the tournament began on June 12, an accident in Sao Paulo killed one worker and injured two others when an unfinished monorail collapsed.

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Staying Safe Inside Liberia's Ebola Zone

By Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent, in Liberia

Priority number one: Do not spread the Ebola disease. Priority number two: Do not catch it.

With these twin priorities in mind, cameraman Dave Rees and I set off for the north of Liberia.

We were going to the epicentre of the world's most serious outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus to try to find out more about it and the efforts being done to combat its spread.

We took a case-load of protective gear provided by Sky News. It was mostly waterproof all-in-one outfits with goggles and plastic gloves - all easily disposable once used.

Ebola is spread by infected people or animals - through close contact with infected blood and other bodily fluids such as sweat and tears.

There's also a possibility of contracting the virus through indirect contact - by touching infected clothes or furniture for instance, or even eating infected food.

It was imperative that we remained on high alert for the entire time we were in the infected zone - a period of about four days.

Dave also took a plastic covering for the camera so he can still film. But we were prepared to destroy the camera too if needs be.

Crawford started by wearing an all-in-one outfit and a mask

We also had the usual anti-mosquito sprays, anti-malaria tablets, dehydration tablets as well as some of our own food provisions plus sleeping bags and camping equipment.

The north of Liberia is under-developed with poor infrastructure and few resources in a country which is one of the poorest in the world.

The road journey to the north from the Liberian capital Monrovia took nine hours on mostly unmarked, unpaved roads. It was a bone-jangling experience travelling to Foya, right on the northern tip of Liberia and very close to the border with Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Our first sight of the infection wards was a large blue tented area. The medics have tried to rename it as a treatment centre but few seem to have bought into the new name.

Once anyone is diagnosed or even suspected of having Ebola, they are immediately segregated and taken there, where few others want to enter.

Those who do, underwent a series of stringent disinfecting procedures to ensure they did not catch the virus or leave with it to spread it further among the outside population.

The soles of our shoes were sprayed with disinfectant and we were ordered to wash our hands with chlorine. I inadvertently touched the wooden post marking the entrance and am told to re-wash my hands.

Once inside, nurse Adeyemi Babatunde took care of us, leading us first into the low-risk area where we were kitted up. Dave had already encased the camera in a sealed plastic container.

The first thing we were asked to do is put on gloves, then we slipped on scrubs before we all start putting on the PPE (personal protection equipment).

The medical team provided us with their equipment so our Sky-provided gear was untouched.

Then she covered her face with a large hood and visor

We put on rubber boots, then climbed into all-in-one waterproof outfits. The temperature was 37C inside the tent and with the all-in-one plastic outfit on I could feel my body temperature climbing fast.

Next was the mouth guard followed by a huge hood which had panels covering my neck and front. We put visors on top, a second pair of thicker gloves and by this time, I could barely breathe.

"Breathe through your mouth," I was told. "Don't touch anything when you are inside," Nurse Adeyemi said.

"If you feel uncomfortable then leave quickly without touching anything."

The final piece of clothing was a huge plastic apron which reaches from just below my neck and hangs right down my body to just above my ankles. The whole process has taken a good three-quarters of an hour.

Nurse Adeyemi guided us through a series of marked lanes inside the body of the tent.

"The infection ward is separated into two areas," he explained.

"Those who are suspected of having Ebola, and those who are confirmed. We only ever pass from the suspected area to the confirmed - never back the other way. After the confirmed area, the only route is out."

With all the plastic and rubber on us, we were crinkling with every step and sweating profusely by this time. The nurses have to kit themselves out in this gear every time they enter the infected area.

On leaving there was a laborious series of disinfecting steps to take to ensure outside remains virus-free - including the burning of all the kit, gloves and all-in-one outfits.

They kept the rubber boots and plastic aprons only after dunking them in several buckets of disinfectant. The work is both dangerous and difficult and the workers risk their lives every time they enter the infected zone.

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Africa Battles To Stop Deadly Spread Of Ebola

By Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent, In Liberia

The worst Ebola outbreak ever is spreading and will almost certainly extend across West Africa unless there is cross-country co-operation and urgent international assistance.

The porous borders between Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone has meant the disease is not being contained and now risks spreading even further.

Health workers at the epicentre, where the borders of the three countries meet, have made an urgent appeal through Sky News for immediate international help to try to control the virus.

Philip Azumah, the Foya district health officer, said: "We need help now, or the virus will spread and kill more people."

The latest outbreak has spread to three countries

It is difficult to determine exactly how many people have already died from the disease given the cross-border contamination and lack of accounting.

But it is already clear there are many more deaths than any previous outbreak.

Aid organisation Doctors Without Borders has already said it is the largest outbreak on record, with the highest number of deaths.

Across the three countries, more than 400 have died in this latest outbreak, with no sign of the disease being halted.

And for the first time the disease has spread to highly populated areas including cities such as Guinea's capital, Conakry.

At one of the high-risk infection centres set up in Foya, in Liberia, the medics insisted we, like them, took extreme precautions.

This included wearing two layers of protective head-to-toe clothing featuring one waterproof all-in-one outfit, face and head masks, double gloves, thick plastic aprons, sturdy goggles and rubber boots.

Among the victims was a nurse who contracted Ebola after caring for a person who later died from the virus.

Elizabeth Smith was too weak to raise her head

Nurse Elizabeth Smith was lying on a bed next to another nurse who had contracted Ebola from the same patient they had both treated.

But Ms Smith was significantly weaker than her co-worker. She did not raise her head as we entered and her bed was soaked in blood.

Neither woman had realised they were treating a patient with Ebola, so had taken none of the precautions their colleagues were now taking.

Two of them sprayed Ms Smith with disinfectant, down her legs, her feet, her hands and arms as they stood arms-length away in their head-to-toe protective clothing and visors. Gingerly, they took her arms and helped her to her feet, before escorting her down the tent corridor to the high-risk area.

The nurse contracted Ebola treating another victim

Here, every patient is a confirmed Ebola case and the odds are that 90% of them will die.

The frightening deadliness of Ebola, plus the ignorance around it and the lack of a cure, has thrown the medical staff in this area into a panic.

Francis Forndia, administrator for Foya-Borma Hospital, where medical staff have died after treating victims, told us his workers simply fled after nurses began dying.

"It is hard to get them to return, but we have managed to persuade some to come back by explaining to them how needed they are," he said.

Mr Azumah is co-ordinating the health battle against Ebola in this area. He tells me the first recent outbreak in Liberia was in March, when an infected woman travelled to Foya from Guinea.

She died two days after being admitted to the sole and tiny hospital in Foya. By the time of her death, she had infected eleven people in hospital alone.

Officials say cultural traditions have helped spread the virus

Two of them were nurses who went on to die. The remaining nine somehow managed to survive.

Then Liberia went a solid three weeks without an incident and believed they were clear - until the end of May.

This time, a woman from Sierra Leone, probably out of fear, gave misleading information about where she had come from.

She told investigators she was local, which was true, but did not mention she had in fact spent some time in an infected area of Sierra Leone.

This time the consequences were much more widespread. She had infected a stream of people, six of whom died.

They are still trying to trace all those she may have been in contact with.

There have since been other outbreaks in Voinjamma and the Liberian capital, Monrovia, while Guinea and Sierra Leone continue to register deaths, too.

Mr Azumah said: "In our culture, it is the habit to wash the dead body, look after it for a week in the home, kiss and touch it, even eat meals with the dead body - and we believe this has led to the virus spreading.

"Also people are keeping the illnesses and deaths secret if they suspect Ebola."

By alerting the authorities to possible Ebola, people risk being ostracised by their communities.

There is even a fear among these poverty stricken communities that the visiting health workers are spreading the virus.

But what seems significant is that, in Liberia at least, one of the poorest countries in the world, they are largely coping with this virulent disease on their own - with very little outside help evident.

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Clashes Erupt As Teen Found Dead In Jerusalem

Protesters in Jerusalem have clashed with police as the discovery of the body of an Arab teenager heightens tensions over the deaths of three Israeli youths.

Sky News' Middle East Correspondent Sherine Tadros said the violence began in the city's Shuafat refugee camp as news of the discovery spread.

Video footage shows protesters throwing rocks and stones at Israeli police who responded by firing into the air.

Special forces have been sent in and roads have been closed around the area.

The body is believed to be that of a Palestinian teenager from the same camp who was reported missing in the early hours of the morning.

Violence started after reports a Palestinian youth was abducted

Witnesses said they saw him being forced into a vehicle outside a supermarket in the Shuafat area.

However Israeli police have not yet confirmed the identity of the body, which was found in the Jerusalem Forest in West Jerusalem.

Israel's Ynet website reported that it was charred and showed signs of violence.

Police are investigating whether the body was that of the missing teen

Palestinian news reports have blamed Israeli settlers for the abduction.

One Israeli security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said officials suspect the youth was killed in retribution for the deaths of three Israeli teenagers whose bodies were found in the West Bank on Monday.

Israel has accused the Palestinian militant group Hamas of abducting and killing Gilad Shaar, 16, Eyal Yifrach, 19, and Naftali Frenkel, 16.

They went missing while hitchhiking home from the Jewish seminaries where they studied near Hebron.

Jewish youths mourn next to the graves of the three boys

Their deaths have prompted calls for revenge from Israel.

Police in Jerusalem said 47 Israelis were arrested overnight after attending a hardline "anti-Arab" protest in the city.

Meanwhile Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said he will continue to hunt those he believes are responsible for their deaths.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Netanyahu said: "Whoever was involved in the kidnapping and the murder will bear the consequences. We will neither rest nor slow down until we reach the last of them and it does not matter where they will try to hide."

The Israeli army has launched its largest ground operation for 10 years.

Mr Netanyahu also warned Israel's response would include stepping up military activity in Hamas-controlled Gaza if rocket fire from the territory continues.

"The Israeli Defence Force has been active in recent days against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, and here as well we are still active," he said.

"If need be, we will expand the operation as much as is needed."

The Israeli army has also launched its largest ground operation in the West Bank for 10 years and arrested nearly 400 Hamas operatives.

Overnight the Israeli air force carried out airstrikes on 34 targets, including a Hamas compound, the military said.

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Nearly 2,000 Killed As US Bolsters Iraq Forces

Timeline: How The Iraq Crisis Unfolded

Updated: 10:07am UK, Monday 30 June 2014

A look back at the main events in the Iraq crisis, which has seen Sunni insurgents from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group move to within 50 miles of the capital Baghdad.

December 2011: US troops complete their withdrawal after the 2003 invasion which led to the removal of Saddam Hussein.

August 2013: More than 70 people are killed in attacks at the end of Ramadan. ISIS claim responsibility.

January 2-4, 2014: ISIS declares itself in control of the western city of Fallujah and parts of Ramadi following clashes sparked by the clearing of a Sunni-Arab protest camp.

February: al Qaeda formally disowns ISIS, which was at one time an affiliate, because of its extreme methods.

April: Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki wins the most seats in a general election.

June 10: ISIS seizes all of Nineveh province in the north, including the capital Mosul - Iraq's second city. Mr Maliki asks parliament to declare a state of emergency.

June 11: The militants launch a wave of attacks further south, taking Tikrit and freeing hundreds of prisoners in Baiji. An assault on Samarra, 70 miles (110km) north of Baghdad, is repelled by security forces.

June 12: Iraq's air force strikes fighters' positions near Mosul and Tikrit.

US President Barack Obama says he is looking at "all the options" to help the government, which fails to secure authorisation for a state of emergency.

The army abandons its bases in Kirkuk, leaving Kurdish Peshmerga troops to take control.

June 13: A top Shia cleric issues a call to arms, telling the population to take up arms and defend their country.

Mr Maliki claims government forces have started to clear cities of "terrorists" and implements an emergency plan to protect Baghdad.

Mr Obama rules out sending back troops to fight ISIS.

The rebels move into the towns of Saadiyah and Jalawla in eastern province of Diyala.

June 14: Iran offers to work with the US to tackle the crisis, as Britain pledges an initial £3m in emergency aid to help refugees fleeing the violence.

The Iraqi army's fightback continues, with forces retaking the towns of Ishaqi, al-Mutasim and Duluiyah in Salaheddin province.

Troops also regain much of Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's home town.

US aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush is ordered to the Persian Gulf.

June 15: Photos emerge appearing to show an ISIS massacre of 1,700 captured government soldiers. Baghdad says number is exaggerated.

Reports say militants have overrun Tal Afar, the largest town in Nineveh province.

A bombing in central Baghdad leaves 15 people dead and dozens injured.

Former PM Tony Blair tells Sky News that critics who believe the violence is the result of the 2003 invasion are "profoundly mistaken".

June 16: Video footage purporting to show an ISIS fighter questioning and killing unarmed Iraqi soldiers draws condemnation.

ISIS takes control of Tal Afar and the al Adhim area of Diyala province.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says Washington is "open to discussions with Iran".

June 17: Britain announces it is reopening its Iranian embassy, with Foreign Secretary William Hague saying the "circumstances are right" as the West looks to improve relations to help tackle the crisis in Iraq.

Iraq's Shia leaders accuse Saudi Arabia of promoting "genocide" by backing Sunni militants.

June 18: Iraq's foreign minister asks the US to carry out airstrikes to help reverse the sweeping gains of Islamist militants in the country.

David Cameron warns that if Britain does not intervene in the Middle East crisis then terrorists will "hit the UK at home".

Insurgents are seen parading through the city of Baiji with captured vehicles after reports they have taken over three-quarters of Iraq's biggest oil refinery.

ISIS charts its brutality and tactics in annual reports called al-Naba - The Report, it emerges.

June 19: Iraqi authorities say government forces have retaken the Baiji oil refinery after fierce fighting.

Mr Obama says US troops will not return to combat in Iraq, but he would be prepared to take "targeted action".

The president also announces additional equipment and up to 300 additional military advisers could be provided to help fight the ISIS insurgency.

June 20: Iraq's senior Shia religious authority Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani calls for a new government for the country as it struggles to stop Sunni militants.

Mr Obama piles further pressure on Iraq's PM, saying he needs to take urgent steps to heal the sectarian rift in the country, but stopping short of demanding he quit.

A video of British jihadists urging Western Muslims to join ISIS in Iraq and Syria emerges on social media.

June 21: The family of Naseer Muthana, 20, who appears in the ISIS recruitment video and younger brother Aseel, 17, who followed him to fight in the region say they are "devastated". 

The men's father Ahmed Muthana tells Sky News he believes his son Nasser was radicalised in a mosque in the United Kingdom.

In Iraq, dozens of Iraqi troops are killed as ISIS militants seize the crucial Qaim crossing into Syria.

A Shia preacher loyal to anti-US cleric Moqtada al Sadr warns that the 300 US military advisers en route to Iraq will be attacked.

June 22: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei comes out in opposition of US intervention in neighbouring Iraq.

Mr Obama warns ISIS could grow in power, destabilise the region and pose a threat to the US.

The mother of one of two Britons filmed in a militants' video calling for Western Muslims to fight in Syria and Iraq, Reyaad Khan, pleads for him to come home in an emotional Sky News interview.

A former head of counter-terrorism at MI6 tells Sky's Murnaghan programme up to 300 Islamist fighters from Iraq and Syria may have returned to the UK and it would be "impossible" to keep track of all of them.

June 23: Mr Obama warns ISIS could pose a threat to the US, hours after the Islamist militants make dramatic gains by capturing four towns in western Iraq.

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in Baghdad for talks with Mr Maliki.

June 24: Mr Kerry arrives in Irbil for talks with Kurdistan's regional government President Massoud Barzani.

The leaders at a mosque in Cardiff say they believe the jihadists who appeared in an ISIS recruitment video were radicalised online.

June 25: In an exclusive interview with Sky News, the former head of the Armed Forces, Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, warns the fighting in Iraq should serve as a "wake-up call" to the West.

June 26: The first team of American military advisers arrives in Iraq.

Mr Sadr expresses opposition to the US advisers and warns his supporters will "shake the ground" fighting the ISIS insurgency.

Iraqis are urged to put aside sectarian differences by Mr Hague, who calls for an inclusive government to be formed.

June 27: Satellite images appear to back up claims that ISIS militants massacred between 160 and 190 men in Tikrit earlier this month.

June 28: It is revealed that the US is flying armed drones over Iraq, but the Pentagon says this is to protect American military advisers.

June 29: The Iraqi army launches a major offensive to try to retake Tikrit, as ISIS declares an Islamic state in the areas of Iraq and Syria they control.

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Israel Bombs Gaza After Teenagers Found Dead

Israeli fighter jets have bombed dozens of sites in the Gaza Strip hours after vowing to take revenge on the killers of three teenagers.

Soldiers also demolished the West Bank homes of two main suspects in the murders of the kidnapped trio.

A man was shot dead after allegedly throwing a grenade at troops attempting to arrest a militant in the Jenin refugee camp.

A fireball rises above Rafah, southern Gaza, following an Israeli airstrike

The Israeli teenagers' bodies were found under a pile of rocks in an isolated spot near Hebron, three weeks after they went missing.

Eyal Yifrah, 19, and 16-year-olds Gilad Shaar and Naftali Fraenkel disappeared on June 12 while hitchhiking home from the Jewish school where they were studying.

Their bodies were found by soldiers after the biggest Israeli ground operation inside the West Bank in nearly a decade.

Soldiers walk away from the Hebron home of one of the kidnap suspsects

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed the Islamic militant group Hamas for the atrocity and said the teenagers were "kidnapped and murdered in cold blood by human animals".

"Hamas is responsible and Hamas will pay," he said.

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, has denied any involvement in the kidnappings, although a spokesman said: "Threats don't scare Hamas and if (Mr Netanyahu) wages a war on Gaza, the gates of hell will open on him."

An adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the country was committed to peace so that "no mother or no family will be bereaved for the loss of their beloved ones, (whether) Palestinian or Israeli."

One of Amer Abu Eisheh's relatives walks through the shell of his home

However, Mark Regev, a spokesman for the Israeli government, told Sky News: "President Abbas says he's committed to peace, reconciliation and fighting terrorism, and yet he's in an alliance with terrorists who kidnap and murder children.

"When he chose to form a pact with Hamas, he was turning his back on his own commitment to fighting terrorism.

"Hamas is part of a family of terrorist movements, such as Hizbollah in Lebanon and Isis in Iraq, who are well known for their violence and their extremism.

Demonstrators march near the UN headquarters in New York

"President Abbas has to decide whether he's with them or with the path of peace and reconciliation."

About 400 suspected Hamas militants were arrested as Israeli air strikes hit 34 targets inside the Gaza Strip.

The homes of chief suspects Marwan Qawasmeh and Amer Abu Eisheh, who are still on the run, were also destroyed, witnesses told the AFP news agency.

Israeli security officials are expected to discuss possible further military action after an emergency meeting on Monday.

Overnight, thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv's central Rabin Square, close to where the teenagers were abducted, to sing, pray and light candles.

It came as Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the "despicable terrorist act" as an "outrage beyond any understanding or rationale".

"As a father, there are no words to express such a horrific loss that shakes all people of conscience," he added.

US President Barack Obama said the murders were "senseless" but warned against retribution that "could further destabilise the situation".

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Dying Reeva's Screams 'As Loud As A Plane'

It is possible Reeva Steenkamp's screams on the night she was shot and killed by Oscar Pistorius were as loud as a plane's engine, a court has heard.

State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel questioned acoustic expert Ivan Lin on the sounds heard on Valentine's Day last year when the athlete's girlfriend was killed.

When asked if he would put Ms Steenkamp's screams at 120 dB, Mr Lin said: "120 means extremely loud, you can almost hear it 100 metres away. It is a very slight possibility, but it is possible."

Sky Correspondent Emma Hurd, who is in the courtroom, said: "Mr Nel is now going through Lin's evidence about the possible volume of a woman screaming. Lin says he used 120DB - loud as a plane.

"Mr Nel is trying to make the point that Reeva Steenkamp would have screamed loudly because she was 'screaming for her life'."

After quizzing Mr Lin about some of the technical details in report, Mr Nel contended that, without exception, everybody heard a woman's screams on that night.

Pistorius hugs a well-wisher in court

He said: "Four state witnesses all heard screams by a woman. That must be reliable even for a scientist."

Pistorius's defence team have previously said the screams came from him, as he was upset that he had killed Ms Steenkamp.

Next to give evidence was Peet van Zyl, Pistorius's manager.

Mr van Zyl, who has worked with the athlete since 2006, told the court Pistorius had a "heightened sense of awareness" and would always park his car in open spaces with plenty of lighting.

Reeva Steenkamp and Pistorius had been dating for around three months

The trial has resumed after an adjournment for a month of psychiatric tests, which found Pistorius was not mentally ill at the time of Ms Steenkamp's death and that he is fit to stand trial.

The results of the mental assessment may play a part in any future sentencing.

The judge ordered the evaluation after a psychiatrist giving evidence in the athlete's defence told the court he suffered from generalised anxiety disorder, and that this may have influenced his judgement.

Pistorius denies murdering Ms Steenkamp, claiming he mistook her for an intruder in his home.

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Iraqi Troops Strike Back In Tikrit Offensive

Thousands of Iraqi troops backed by tanks, warplanes and helicopter gunships have launched their biggest counteroffensive yet against ISIS militants in Tikrit.

There have been conflicting reports as to just how much headway the Iraqi military has made in its advance on Tikrit - the hometown of Saddam Hussein which fell to the insurgents on June 11.

Following two weeks of demoralising defeats, the military has claimed to have regained control of the northern city - but the rebels have insisted they are still in charge.

As the "large military operation" started, Staff Lieutenant General Sabah Fatlawi warned the insurgents they had two choices: "flee or be killed".

Witnesses reported heavy clashes as troops moved in from the west.

Iraqi forces advance on Tikrit from the direction of Samarra in the south

Troops in helicopters landed at a strategically located university campus, with sporadic clashes reported throughout the day.

Prime minister Nouri al Maliki's security spokesman said warplanes were targeting insurgents there.

Lieutenant General Qassem Atta said security forces were also now in full control of a key road from Baghdad to Samarra, between the capital and Tikrit.

He said there was coordination with the US, which has deployed special operations forces to Iraq, over "studying important targets", without elaborating.

Sky's Senior Correspondent Michelle Clifford, who is in Baghdad, said if the recapture of Tikrit is true, "it would not only be a strategic but a symbolically significant victory".

Special operations forces hunting down ISIS militants

"The government is desperate to portray this as a victory because of the humiliating capitulation by the Iraqi forces in the early days of the insurgency," she added.

Twenty security personnel - nine soldiers and 11 police officers - were killed in clashes on Saturday in three areas southwest of Baghdad, doctors said.

Top Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani has urged Iraq's political leaders to unite and form a new government as the new parliament elected on April 30 convenes on Tuesday.

World leaders have insisted on a political settlement among Iraq's Shia Arab, Sunni Arab and Kurdish communities.

Mr al Maliki, who has publicly focused on a military response to the crisis, has acknowledged that political measures are also necessary.

The foundations of Iraq 'are under threat'

On Saturday, Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said in Damascus: "Russia will not remain passive to the attempts by some groups to spread terrorism in the region.

"The situation is very dangerous in Iraq and the foundations of the Iraqi state are under threat."

Baghdad has agreed to buy more than a dozen Sukhoi warplanes from Russia and Belarus in a deal that could be worth up to $500m (£295m).

Iraqi state TV quoted Lt Gen Atta as saying Sukhoi jets had arrived, without specifying how many.

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Russia Accuses US Over Ukraine Confrontation

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the US of encouraging Ukraine into a confrontation with Moscow.

And he claimed the chances of resolving the Cold War-style crisis would be better if only Russia and Europe were involved.

Mr Lavrov suggested the US was an obstacle to settling the Ukraine conflict

Speaking on television, Mr Lavrov said: "Our American colleagues still prefer to push the Ukrainian leadership toward a confrontational path."

It came after EU leaders meeting in Brussels on Friday decided against immediately imposing new sanctions on Russia for destabilising eastern Ukraine, but gave Moscow and pro-Russian separatists until Monday to take steps to improve the situation.

Ukraine has also extended a ceasefire by its forces for 72 hours.

EU leaders also signed agreements with Ukraine and two other former Soviet states, Moldova and Georgia, to establish closer political and economic links with Europe.

Kiev celebrated the historic agreement between Ukraine and the EU

It was the decision of the former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych to ditch a deal with Europe in favour of a pact with Russia which triggered protests culminating in his overthrow earlier this year.

Moscow responded by annexing the mainly Russian-speaking Crimea in March, that led to pro-Moscow separatists rise up in eastern Ukraine.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "The UK is firmly committed to the prosperity of these sovereign and independent countries, which are signalling their determination to forge closer political and economic links with Europe.

"I look forward to ever closer relationships that will better the lives of their people and contribute to prosperity across the region."

The Foreign Office predicted that the completion of the agreements could result in GDP growth in Georgia of €292m (£234m) a year and €1.2bn (£960m) in Ukraine, while boosting Moldova's national income by 5.4% annually.

Ukraine is seeking to increase its gas production after Russia cut exports

Meanwhile, Ukraine is seeking to increase its own gas production after Russia's state-controlled gas company, Gazprom, cut exports to the country, after talks to settle a debt and agree a lower price broke down.

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At Least 20 Dead In India Buildings Collapse

At least 20 people have been killed and around a dozen remain trapped following two separate building collapses in India.

The search for survivors at the collapsed 11-storey building in Chennai

An 11-storey building under construction on the outskirts of Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu state, came down, killing and trapping construction workers, during monsoon rains.

Police said 28 workers had been pulled out so far and the search was continuing for more than a dozen others.

Four of the workers were killed instantly and another five died of their injuries later in a hospital, said police officer George Fernandes.

Another 13 injured workers are in hospital, while six others were allowed to go home after medical attention.

A man is carried from the collapsed building in Chennai

Police said two directors of the construction company, Prime Sristi, have been detained for questioning as authorities began investigating the cause of the collapse.

Balaguru, one of the builders, said the structure collapsed possibly due to lightning.

"Usually, once the construction gets over we install the equipment to prevent the building from a thunder strike. It was nearing completion," the Press Trust of India news agency quoted Balaguru, who uses one name, as saying.

Nearly 300 policemen and fire service workers worked overnight, looking for survivors in the debris.

Rescuers faced a tangle on scaffolding at the Chennai collapse

Earlier in the day, 11 people, including five children, were killed when a four-storey building fell in New Delhi.

It is believed the collapse of the 50-year-old block may have been triggered by nearby construction work.

A local resident said he helped pull people from the debris before the emergency services arrived.

Ifikhar Ahmed said: "We ourselves pulled out seven people. Others have told us that they also rescued two to four people. To begin with, local residents rescued the victims and later the officials came."

More people are feared trapped in the rubble of the New Delhi block

Deputy Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma told reporters an investigation into the cause of the New Delhi collapse had been launched.

Building collapses are common in India, where high demand for housing and lax regulations have encouraged some builders to cut corners, use substandard materials or add unauthorised extra floors.

In April last year, 74 people were killed when an eight-story building being constructed illegally in the Mumbai suburb of Thane caved in. It was the worst building collapse in the country in decades.

A politician from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tweeted that action was needed to stop more people dying.

Debris is cleared by hand from the collapsed New Delhi building

Vijay Goel said: "Building collapse in Delhi brings forth need to adhere to safety requirements."

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