Thursday 10 November 2016
Iraqi forces make further advances into Mosul
Iraqi troops have advanced on Mosul and regrouped to clear neighbourhoods and houses occupied by Islamic State.
Special forces control the Zahra neighbourhood of the city and have taken at least half of the Aden area after establishing a foothold in a small slice of territory in the east of Mosul.
Iraqi troops are converging on several fronts in the country's largest city and the last major IS holdout in Iraq, while Peshmerga forces are holding a line outside the city in the north.
The Iraqi army and militarised police units have approached from the south and government-sanctioned Shia militias are guarding the western approaches.
Video: Iraqi police and local youths enjoy the muddy water of a springThe offensive has slowed down in recent days as the forces push into densely populated areas and cannot rely on airstrikes and shelling because of the risk to civilians.
But rights groups have accused Iraqi government forces of killing and torturing civilians south of the city - the first reports of alleged abuse in the campaign to retake Mosul.
Amnesty International said "up to six" people were found dead last month in the Shura and Qayyara districts who security forces believes had ties to IS.
Lynn Maalouf, deputy director for research at Amnesty's Beirut office, said: "Men in federal police uniform have carried out multiple unlawful killings, apprehending and then deliberately killing in cold blood residents in villages south of Mosul."
Image Caption: Priests at the Mart Shoomy Church in Bahzani survey the destruction carried out by ISHuman Rights Watch (HRW) said at least 37 men suspected of being affiliated to IS had been detained by Iraqi and Kurdish forces from checkpoints, villages, screening centres and camps for displaced people around Mosul and Hawija.
A spokesman for Iraq's Interior Ministry denied there had been any violations.
About eight miles from the city Peshmerga forces have continued to take territory in the town of Bashiq, which is believed to still contain dozens of IS fighters.
At an area church in territory recently freed from the militants' grip, priests rang bells for the first time in two years as the Peshmerga worked to secure the area.
Priest Elkhoury Alfaran Elkhoury, at the Mart Shoomy Church in Bahzani, a village near Bashiqa, said that IS had done a lot of damage to the church while they occupied the area.
He said: "They want to give a message to the world and that message is destruction, their message is death."
Video: Thousands of civilians flee MosulOn the banks of the Tigris River, men sat and watched, smiling with relief as Iraqi policemen, soldiers and local youths bathed in muddy spring water in a town that was recaptured from IS State just a few days ago.
Hammam al Alil was seized from the jihadists by Iraqi Federal Police units last week.
Residents said they were unable to reap the benefits of the springs for more than two years under the rule of IS.
One resident, Taha Daoud, said: "People used to come to these springs from all around the world, from the Gulf, Europe, Asia, they would all come here.
"This area was open to the world, everyone was happy, people would stay here for three or four days.
"That was until the enemy of humanity came to us, the indescribable enemy that has no values or morals, the enemy, Daesh who came to us from the land of ignorance.
"They prohibited all men from undressing and swimming in the spring."
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West Wing writer pens angry anti-Trump letter
Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin has written a letter to his young daughter, urging her to "fight the Trumpsters".
The critically acclaimed writer of the presidency drama The West Wing tells his 15-year old daughter Roxy and his wife Julia to "get out of bed" and "f****** fight" after Wednesday's results.
"The world changed late last night in a way I couldn't protect us from. That's a terrible feeling for a father," Sorkin writes in a letter published on Vanity Fair.
"I won't sugarcoat it - this is truly horrible."
Image Caption: Sorkin and his 15-year old daughter RoxyThe writer then calls the newly elected President a "thoroughly incompetent pig with dangerous ideas", and warns of the dangers of his "White nationalists, sexists, racists and buffoon" supporters.
"Hate was given hope," he writes.
The screenwriter tells the "Sorkin girls" that "the world took no time to react", and that "economists are predicting a deep and prolonged recession".
He speaks of "fear" and says he would trade "this small fraction of a man for Richard Nixon".
Image Caption: The cast and crew of The West Wing at the 2000 Primetime Emmy Awards"So what do we do?," he asks.
Sorkin then encourages his daughter and wife to "f****** fight".
"We're not powerless and we're not voiceless. We don't have majorities in the House or Senate but we do have representatives there. It's also good to remember that most members of Trump's own party feel exactly the same way about him that we do," he adds.
Sorkin concludes the letter with a message of dissidence, saying "the battle isn't over, it's just begun".
"Your tears last night woke me up, and I'll never go to sleep on you again."
:: Watch every twist and turn of the US election fallout live on Sky News.
Read more:
:: Trump supporters dare celebrities to pack their bags
:: Donald Trump wins: US election results in full
:: Nasty campaign to give way to civilised handover
:: Brand Trump: Conflict of interest for tycoon
:: Sky Views: Trump a threat to global free trade
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Manhunt after two police shot in Pennsylvania
People have been told to stay inside their homes in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania after two police officers were shot.
It happened at about 4am local time, WPXI.com said, after the officers had attended a domestic incident on Woodcrest Road.
A neighbour said they had heard two gunshots.
Police are still searching for the attacker.
One of the injured officers was apparently taken to Canonsburg General Hospital, while the other was flown to a hospital in the Pittsburgh area, about 20 miles away.
Their names have not been made public.
The mayor of Canonsburg, Dave Rhome, confirmed to radio station WJPA that two officers had been shot, but was unable to give an update on their conditions.
More follows...
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'Still here?' Celebrities mocked for not leaving US
Celebrities have defended themselves after being mocked on social media for threatening to leave the US in the event of a Trump victory.
Comedian Amy Schumer and Lena Dunham were two of Hillary Clinton's supporters who promised to move to Canada if Mr Trump became president of the United States.
Since results came out Wednesday morning, Trump supporters have been sending celebrities online messages, mocking their plans to leave the country.
One Twitter user wrote to singer Miley Cyrus and Girls creator Dunham asking "How's Canada?", while another quipped that "the real loser is Canada, as it seems they are getting Lena Dunham after this".
Comedian Ricky Gervais also posted a tweet mocking the announcements, saying "the only funny thing about today is all those celebrities having to move to Canada or look like liars".
The only funny thing about today is all those celebrities having to move to Canada or look like liars.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) November 9, 2016
In April, Dunham said: "I know a lot of people have been threatening to do this, but I really will.
"I know a lovely place in Vancouver, and I can get my work done from there."
Singer Cher, another vocal Clinton supporter, threatened to "pack her bags for Jupiter" in the event of a Trump presidency.
Image Caption: Twitter users made a photo montage with real estate ads about moving to JupiterOne Twitter user wrote "petition circling on Jupiter to keep Cher away", while others posted pictures of real estate adverts for the planet with the singer's face on them.
While most celebrities have kept away from social media since the results, singer Miley Cyrus posted a video of herself crying, saying she accepts President Trump.
"I accept you," she said, "I even accept you as the president of the United States."
Schumer posted a long message to her critics on her Instagram page, explaining how her threat to leave the US "was said in jest", and shouldn't "count as official news".
"Anyone saying pack your bags is just as disgusting as anyone who voted for this racist homophobic openly disrespectful woman abuser," she wrote.
Video: Sobbing Cyrus says she 'accepts Trump' as PresidentShe also called Trump supporters "weak" and "misinformed".
"People who voted for him you are weak. You are not just misinformed. You didn't even attempt information," Schumer said.
She also posted a fake Donald Trump quote, in which he claims if he were ever to run for Presidency, he would run as a Republican because "they're the dumbest group of voters in the country".
She added: "Yes this quote is fake but it doesn't matter."
Celebrities who threatened to leave the country include Breaking Bad actor Bryan Cranston, Barbra Streisand, Samuel L Jackson, comedian Chelsea Handler, talk show host Jon Stewart and singer Amber Rose.
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MPs propose urgent steps to restore Russia-US relations after Trump elected
A member of the State Duma Foreign Relations Committee has a proposal to launch a special group for restoring normal relations between Russia and the US, while other MPs seek to launch a week of Russian-US friendship to mend broken ties.
Vitaly Milonov wrote that the principles of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence are the basis of global security, and that relations between the Russian Federation and the United States are especially important in maintaining the balance.
“Our nations are the largest economic and cultural centers of our planet. Our nations possess developed economies, powerful military forces, the largest trade ties all over the world and this allows them to influence global political agenda. Unfortunately, due to myopic policies of the US administration and its push towards global hegemony, the relations between our countries have deteriorated to record lows,” Milonov wrote.
“In the current situation it might be reasonable to set up a working group of Russian and US lawmakers who would concentrate on normalization of relations between our countries… This group could start developing a roadmap for the process as well as work on particular contradictions between our states that have accumulated over recent years,” he added.
Milonov also stated that US President-Elect Donald Trump has previously made positive statements about Russia and expressed a readiness for a genuine restart of relations.
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In a separate move, State Duma MP Vladimir Sysoyev (Liberal-Democratic Party) and a member of Russia’s Public Chamber, Sultan Khamzayev, asked the Culture Ministry to consider introducing a week of Russian-American friendship to promote mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence.
Deputy Culture Minister Vladimir Aristarkhov told RT that the ministry would support the initiative, adding that he personally was also in favor of such soft power projects.
On Wednesday, senior Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, welcomed Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections and expressed hope that the subsequent changes in the US foreign policy would help to restore bilateral relations.
“We heard [Trump's] campaign rhetoric while still a candidate for the US presidency, which was focused on restoring the relations between Russia and the United States,” Putin said at a presentation ceremony of foreign ambassadors' letters of credentials in Moscow.
“We understand and are aware that it will be a difficult path in the light of the degradation in which, unfortunately, the relationship between Russia and the US are at the moment,” he added.
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Python owner not guilty over boys' deaths
A Canadian man whose python escaped from his pet shop and killed two young boys has been cleared of criminal negligence causing death.
Noah Barthe, four, and his six-year-old brother Connor were at a sleepover at Jean-Claude Savoie's flat above the shop, called Reptile Ocean, in August 2013.
The African rock python got out through a ventilation duct in Campbellton, New Brunswick, and dropped into the living room where the two boys were sleeping.
A pathologist who carried out post-mortem examinations said both boys had died of asphyxiation.
Image Caption: The python escaped the shop through a ventilation ductThey were also covered in puncture wounds from snake bites.
Mr Savoie's three-year-old son, who had been sleeping in another room, was unharmed.
Leslie Matchim, Mr Savoie's lawyer, said he had thought the snake was too big to get into the duct, and so did not think it needed securing.
Mr Matchim said: "There is no need to install a barrier if you've come to that conclusion in your mind.
"Accidents happen, but not everyone who causes an accident is guilty of criminal negligence causing death."
Image Caption: The boys were killed by an African rock python. Pic: FileThe pet shop owner - who was a close friend of the brothers' family - wept in court as the jury in Campbellton delivered its verdict.
Noah and Connor had apparently stayed over regularly.
The boys' mother, Mandy Trecartin, reportedly showed little emotion as she left court and did not speak to reporters.
Crown prosecutor Pierre Roussel said it was too soon to think about whether to appeal, but said the family found the verdict disappointing.
Mr Matchim said Mr Savoie had looked after the snake for 11 years after being asked to take it by the Canadian Wildlife Service.
African rock pythons are typically between three and three-and-a-half metres long, and weigh between 44 and 55 kilogrammes (100lbs - 120lbs).
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Brad Pitt cleared over abusive behaviour claims
An investigation into whether Brad Pitt was abusive to his 15-year-old son Maddox on the family's private jet has been closed by child investigative services.
The Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services had been investigating mid-September's alleged incident since the Hollywood actor's wife Angelina Jolie Pitt filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences", according to reports.
The actress and UN Special Envoy decided to separate "for the health of the family", and is seeking full custody of their six children.
Image Caption: Divorce papers filed by Angelina Jolie following the plane incident"Angelina said from the beginning that she felt she had to take action for the health of the family and is relieved that after their eight-week involvement, the DCFS is now satisfied the safeguards are put in place that will allow the children to heal," a representative for the actress told TMZ when the investigation started.
Sources close to the family have said Wednesday's decision by the Los Angeles DCFS not to charge the actor will not change Jolie Pitt's decision to bring the matter of custody to court.
The 52-year old actor is under a monitored visitation status, but is seeking joint physical and legal custody of the children.
Image Caption: The couple at the world premiere of Maleficent in May, 2014, in HollywoodJolie Pitt's representatives said Monday that an informal agreement on custody had been reached, although the agreement can only be finalised in the couple's divorce judgement.
California law usually favours joint custody, benefiting the Troy actor's appeal.
A representative for Jolie Pitt said the actress is "relieved that the inquiry is over and that the custody arrangements in place will allow the children to heal".
A representative for Pitt declined comment.
The Hollywood stars were together for 12 years after developing a relationship while filming Mr & Mrs Smith in 2005.
Image Caption: Jolie and Pitt looking at pictures of victims of violence during the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London in 2014They quickly became one of Hollywood's elite power couples and adopted children from Cambodia, Vietnam and Ethiopia.
In 2006, they formed the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, funding it with millions of dollars made by selling personal pictures to celebrity magazines.
The pair recently sold a home they bought in New Orleans' French Quarter for $4.9m (£4m).
Image Caption: Pitt made his first public appearance with co-star Cotillard on the LA premiere of AlliedPitt made his first public appearance since the alleged jet plane incident on Wednesday, hitting the red carpet on the LA premiere of his new film Allied.
He was joined by his co-star French actress Marion Cotillard.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have six children together - adopted Maddox, Zahara and Pax and biological children Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne.
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Markets extend rally following Trump shock
Markets have headed higher again as investors brushed aside their initial shock at Donald Trump's unexpected US election victory.
London's FTSE 100 Index climbed 0.8% in early trading, following a rally in Asian stocks overnight as they recouped steep losses seen in the previous session. European markets saw similar upturns.
Japan's Nikkei, which had fallen 5% the day before, climbed nearly 7%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng added 2%.
A turbulent start to the session on Wednesday had seen European markets briefly follow Asian shares into the red, with the FTSE 100 seeing a 2% fall during the first few moments of trading.
But London's leading share index quickly bounced back and ended the day 1% higher.
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 was also up 1% on Wednesday.
Image Caption: Traders on the floor of the New York stock exchange after Donald Trump's US election victoryThe US dollar has rebounded too, helped by expectations that the US Federal Reserve was still likely to raise interest rates after all.
That possibility had looked sharply reduced in the immediate aftermath of Mr Trump's victory.
Markets had been nervous about the prospect of a Trump presidency up-ending the global political order and tearing up long-standing trade arrangements.
Video: Markets rally but Mexico's peso is batteredBut sentiment calmed after his acceptance speech which eschewed some of the more confrontational rhetoric deployed during the campaign.
Instead he put the emphasis on reuniting a divided America, putting millions into work through large-scale infrastructure projects and dealing fairly with other countries.
Video: Markets look for 'glass half full'Jasper Lawler, market analyst at CMC Markets, said: "In just a matter of hours, markets have switched from the election victory as a glass half empty to a glass half full.
"The perceived negatives of a Trump victory of protectionist trade policy and his anti-Federal Reserve rants have been put aside in hopes he will run a pro-business administration supported by tax cuts and fiscal spending."
:: Watch every twist and turn of the US election fallout live on Sky News.
Read more:
:: Donald Trump wins: US election results in full
:: Nasty campaign to give way to civilised handover
:: Brand Trump: Conflict of interest for tycoon
:: President Trump: What could possibly go wrong?
:: Sky Views: Trump a threat to global free trade
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Nationwide anti-Trump protests rock the US
About 1,800 people joined an anti-Trump rally near Trump International Hotel and Tower, chanting “No Trump! No KKK! No racist USA.”
“I’m just really terrified about what is happening in this country,” 22-year-old Adriana Rizzo in Chicago told Reuters.
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Asian markets bounce back after Trump shock
Asian markets have rallied strongly as they reversed sharp losses seen in the wake of Donald Trump's US election victory.
Japan's Nikkei, which had fallen 5% in the previous session, climbed 7%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng added 2%.
A turbulent start to the session on Wednesday had seen European markets briefly follow Asian shares into the red, with the FTSE 100 seeing a 2% fall during the first few moments of trading.
But London's leading share index quickly bounced back and ended 1% higher.
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 was also up 1% on Wednesday.
Image Caption: Traders on the floor of the New York stock exchange after Donald Trump's US election victoryThe US dollar has rebounded too, helped by expectations that the US Federal Reserve was still likely to raise interest rates after all.
That possibility had looked sharply reduced in the immediate aftermath of Mr Trump's victory.
Markets had been nervous about the prospect of a Trump presidency up-ending the global political order and tearing up long-standing trade arrangements.
Video: Markets rally but Mexico's peso is batteredBut sentiment calmed after his acceptance speech which eschewed some of the more confrontational rhetoric deployed during the campaign.
Instead he put the emphasis on reuniting a divided America, putting millions into work through large-scale infrastructure projects and dealing fairly with other countries.
:: Watch every twist and turn of the US election fallout live on Sky News.
Read more:
:: Donald Trump wins: US election results in full
:: Nasty campaign to give way to civilised handover
:: Brand Trump: Conflict of interest for tycoon
:: President Trump: What could possibly go wrong?
:: Sky Views: Trump a threat to global free trade
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Wednesday 9 November 2016
Anti-Trump crowd smashes windows & police cruiser in streets of Oakland (VIDEO)
Activists protesting the election of Donald Trump as the 45th US president smashed store windows and attacked an abandoned police car in downtown Oakland, California.
READ MORE: Nationwide anti-Donald Trump protests marked by arrests, vandalism (VIDEO)
Videos of the violence have been posted on Twitter. Reports say a police helicopter was hovering above the protestors, and police declared the assembly to be unlawful, demanding it be dissolved.
Protestors also smashed the windows of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce and started a fire on the ground floor of the building.
There have been scenes in the streets of people burning trash bins. They also smashed the windows of an abandoned police cruiser and, according to social media reports, set the vehicle on fire.
Thousands across the US in major cities are protesting the election of Donald Trump. Protests are taking place coast to coast, with rallies reported in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle, DC, Austin, Boston, and Chicago.
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Trump victory sparks angry protests across US
Thousands of people have taken to the streets across the US in protest at Donald Trump's surprise victory in the presidential election.
Demonstrators descended on midtown Manhattan and advanced towards Trump Tower, the President-elect's home, angered by his campaign rhetoric on Muslims and immigration.
They screamed "Not my President" and expressed concern about what was happening to their country - brandishing placards calling on the public to "fight racism".
Video: Moore: 'America voted to leave America'In Oakland, California, protesters smashed the windows of storefronts and threw objects at police in riot gear, who responded by throwing chemical irritants back.
Police in Chicago set up blockades to stop 1,800 protesters from gathering outside the Trump International Hotel.
"No Trump! No KKK! No racist USA," they shouted, as others staged a counter-protest in favour of the man who will become the 45th President of the United States.
The Trump campaign is yet to respond to the protests. In his victory speech, the Republican said he would be president for all Americans, adding: "It is time for us to come together as one united people."
Image Caption: Demonstrators in Seattle chanted 'Not my president' as they paraded through the streetsLater today, the President-elect will meet Barack Obama in the White House, where they will discuss January's handover of power.
Their talks in the Oval Office are scheduled to begin at 11am (4pm UK time), as First Lady Michelle Obama hosts Melania Trump in the residence.
Security has already been ramped up for the President-elect, with air space restrictions imposed over Trump Tower in New York City. Rubbish trucks filled with dirt have also been parked outside the entrance to the high-rise building, forming a protective barrier.
Inside, Mr Trump and his senior aides are plotting their next steps - with a campaign source telling Reuters that they have been hunkered down in meetings to plan the administration's first 100 days, and decide who should serve in key staff positions.
Video: How Trump won the White HouseAmong those tipped for senior posts include former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and New Jersey governor Chris Christie. Both men had eagerly supported Mr Trump during the race.
The White House has begun to make the President's daily brief and other intelligence files available to Mr Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence, a courtesy that George W Bush extended to Barack Obama as he was preparing to take office.
Senior Democrats have said they are ready to put aside their differences to work with Mr Trump on policies which improve the lives of working Americans.
Independent senator Bernie Sanders, who unsuccessfully ran to become the Democratic presidential nominee, expressed his willingness to co-operate - but warned he will "vigorously oppose" any of the Republican's attempts to pursue racist, sexist or xenophobic policies.
Video: What will a Trump presidency look like?Meanwhile, Mr Trump is expected to have a phone conversation with Theresa May "at the earliest opportunity", with the Prime Minister congratulating him on his victory on Wednesday.
He has already pencilled in a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which will take place next Thursday in New York.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has also said he plans to meet Mr Trump during the transition period following a "cordial, friendly and respectful conversation" in the wake of his win.
The Republican currently has 290 Electoral College votes, while Hillary Clinton has 228. Results from Michigan and New Hampshire are yet to be declared.
:: Watch every twist and turn of the US election fallout live on Sky News.
Read more:
:: Donald Trump wins: US election results in full
:: Nasty campaign to give way to civilised handover
:: Brand Trump: Conflict of interest for tycoon
:: President Trump: What could possibly go wrong?
:: Sky Views: Trump a threat to global free trade
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General Motors to lay off 2,000 workers in Ohio and Michigan
Automobile manufacturer General Motors has announced plans to lay off 2,000 employees at two auto plants in Ohio and Michigan. The employees will be furloughed in January.
General Motors (GM) announced Wednesday that it would be letting go 2,000 employees in the Midwest as the result of what they believe is a continued shift from small cars to crossovers and trucks. The plants affected by the layoffs build cars for Chevrolet and Cadillac, Fortune reported.
Both factories will be losing their third shift in January. However, GM will be investing $211 million in the Lansing Grand River facility in Michigan for a new vehicle that still remains a mystery.
GM will also invest $667.6 million in a different Ohio facility. The Toledo Transmission facility will be able to keep 739 jobs with the investment. An additional $37 million is going to the Bedford Casting Operations in Indiana, where 45 workers will be able to keep their jobs as a result, the Detroit News reported.
GM has stated that it is committed to keeping small car production in the US. However, they have invested $5 billion in Mexico with little information available about what kind of vehicle they will build there.
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Trump and Obama to meet for White House talks
President-elect Donald Trump will meet Barack Obama in the White House later where they will discuss January's handover of power.
Their talks in the Oval Office are scheduled to begin at 11am (4pm UK time), as First Lady Michelle Obama hosts Melania Trump in the residence.
Thousands of Americans took to the streets last night in protest at Mr Trump's surprise victory, with demonstrators descending on midtown Manhattan.
Angered by his campaign rhetoric on Muslims and immigration, they screamed "Not my president" and expressed concern about what was happening to their country.
There were similar scenes in other major US cities, with police in Chicago setting up blockades to stop 1,000 protesters from gathering outside the Trump International Hotel.
Video: Moore: 'America voted to leave America'Security has already been ramped up for the President-elect, with air space restrictions imposed over Trump Tower in New York City. Rubbish trucks filled with dirt have also been parked outside the entrance to the high-rise building, forming a protective barrier.
Inside, Mr Trump and his senior aides are already plotting their next steps - with a campaign source telling Reuters that they have been hunkered down in meetings to plan the administration's first 100 days, and decide who should serve in key staff positions.
Among those tipped for senior posts include former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and New Jersey governor Chris Christie. Both men had eagerly supported Mr Trump during the race.
Video: What will a Trump presidency look like?The White House has begun to make the President's daily brief and other intelligence files available to Mr Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence, a courtesy that George W Bush extended to Barack Obama as he was preparing to take office.
Senior Democrats have said they are ready to put aside their differences to work with Mr Trump on policies which improve the lives of working Americans.
Independent senator Bernie Sanders, who unsuccessfully ran to become the Democratic presidential nominee, expressed his willingness to co-operate - but warned he will "vigorously oppose" any of the Republican's attempts to pursue racist, sexist or xenophobic policies.
Video: Will Brexit Britain see a hard or soft President Trump?Meanwhile, Mr Trump is expected to have a phone conversation with Theresa May "at the earliest opportunity", with the Prime Minister congratulating him on his victory on Wednesday.
He has already pencilled in a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which will take place next Thursday in New York.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has also said he plans to meet Mr Trump during the transition period following a "cordial, friendly and respectful conversation" in the wake of his win.
The Republican currently has 290 Electoral College votes, while Hillary Clinton has 228. Results from Michigan and New Hampshire are yet to be declared.
:: Watch every twist and turn of the US election fallout live on Sky News.
Read more:
:: Donald Trump wins: US election results in full
:: Nasty campaign to give way to civilised handover
:: Brand Trump: Conflict of interest for tycoon
:: President Trump: What could possibly go wrong?
:: Sky Views: Trump a threat to global free trade
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President Trump: What could possibly go wrong?
Donald Trump has no experience in government.
He has openly derided US democracy as rigged, routinely peddled falsehoods and conspiracy theories and even brags about assaulting women.
He has undermined the central pillar of western security by raising doubts about US commitments to NATO. He says he's an admirer of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
His talk of ripping up trade deals and leaving the World Trade Organisation has economists so alarmed some have predicted a return to the global depression of the 1930s.
He has no formal qualification for office. His temperament causes deep concern. He has been accused by members of his own party of "textbook racism".
And he is now America's president-elect. What could possibly go wrong?
Video: A look back at Trump's election campaign promisesDonald Trump will be a fundamental break with previous American presidents because he does not accept the principle that has underpinned global order since the Second World War. That what is good for the world is good for America.
It has been the basis of American leadership for seven decades.
Instead, Donald Trump says America must now look after itself. He says that globalisation and international trade have cost American jobs.
Financial Times Chief Economics Commentator Martin Wolf told Sky News: "In essence Trump wishes to tear up the economic and security order underpinned by the US and has nothing to replace it with.
"I am concerned we are moving into international anarchy, economic and political."
Donald Trump appears to want to retire America as a superpower at a time when an unstable world needs firm leadership.
Political scientist Ian Bremmer told Sky News: "This is really the end of the Pax Americana that we have been talking about since World War Two.
"It's become really a G-zero world, not G7, not G20, one where there isn't global leadership.
"The US won't play that role but no one else is capable of it."
World leaders are spouting the usual congratulations. What else can they do? Whatever path America takes under Donald Trump its partners will need to work with him.
But in reality there is deep international alarm about the outcome of this election. Allies and rivals are going through the motions wishing America's new president good luck. It is the rest of the world that will need it most.
:: Watch every twist and turn of the US election fallout live on Sky News.
Read more:
:: Donald Trump wins: US election results in full
:: Nasty campaign to give way to civilised handover
:: Brand Trump: Conflict of interest for tycoon
:: Sky Views: Trump a threat to global free trade
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Nationwide anti-Donald Trump protests marked by arrests, vandalism (VIDEO)
Thousands across the US in major cities are protesting the election of Donald Trump. Hundreds in Union Square in Manhattan, New York are showing their opposition, with women chanting, “P***y grabs back!” There were also reports of flag burnings, vandalism and arrests.
Protests are taking place coast to coast, with demonstrations reported in Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, DC, Austin, Boston and Chicago. The large crowds have mostly remained peaceful.
The New York City demonstrators, who appear to generally be younger voters of all races, made their way to Trump Tower. Along the way, "Not my president" and "F*** Trump" chants were heard, as were calls against excessive use of force by police, as people shouted, “from Ferguson to NYC, end police brutality.”
At 14th and Broadway in New York City, a video was projected onto a wall, showing Trump with the words "narcissist," "conman" and "1%er."
The issue of abortion was also raised, with women calling out, "my body, my choice!" and men responding, "her body, her choice!"
A flag burning was witnessed in front of Trump Tower in New York City.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has started using Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD) to force the protesters to disperse. Protesters are in the process of trying to walk up to Trump Tower on 5th Avenue and 57th Street from 14th Street Union Square.
The protests have shut down Manhattan’s 5th Avenue while the protesters make their way uptown towards Trump Tower.
RT's Alexander Rubinstein caught video of a march in Washington, DC. At the Trump International Hotel in DC, protesters splattered the outside walls with blue paint.
There was also another flag burning in DC.
Arrests have been made in the New York City protest. While the NYPD has not released a number, there are reports on social media of as many as 16.
Protesters in New York City revived an old favorite attack on Trump's hands which emerged during his road to the presidency. They joined in chants of “can’t build a wall, hands too small!”
A scuffle during the NYC protests was quashed when protesters removed the agitator while others chanted, “peaceful protest!”
According to protesters at the scene, streets have been blocked off by police, forcing latecomers to walk about half a mile (0.8 km) from the nearest subway station.
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Prison stocks soar, gun stocks lower following Trump win
It’s impossible to say what a Donald Trump presidency will entail, but if the stock market is any indication, investing in private prisons will be great again. Pharmaceuticals and defense stocks also both saw an increase.
Investors are adapting their choices after Trump was declared the winner of the US presidential election. Corrections Corp.’s stock surged 60 percent before paring to 34 percent Wednesday morning, Bloomberg reported. GEO Group, another private detention facility firm, saw their stocks rise by 18 percent.
The Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) had both announced plans to move away from the private prison system. The DOJ cited safety concerns in an August press release that explained their plans to transition away from private prisons, while DHS announced they would review use of correctional facilities for detained undocumented immigrants.
However, analysts believe Trump’s presidency could halt efforts to phase the use of private contractors for federal corrections facilities.
"Private prisons would likely be a clear winner under Trump, as his administration will likely rescind the DOJ's contract phase-out and ICE capacity to house detainees will come under further stress" analysts at Height Securities LLC told Bloomberg.
Big pharma also saw a boost from Trump’s election. Stocks for insulin manufacturer Novo Nordisk rose 6 percent, according to Fortune. Eli Lily, another insulin maker, came under fire recently for drastically increasing the prices of their life saving drugs and also saw a stock price increase of 3.1 percent.
EpiPen manufacturer Mylan also had a good Tuesday night. After months of negative press for the price hike on their medication, along with investigations for possibly defrauding Medicaid, Mylan’s stock prices had been low prior to Trump’s election. On Wednesday, they opened with an 8 percent increase in Tel Aviv.
Defense and arms suppliers are also having a good day following the presidential election. UK arms supplier BAE Systems and defense-electronics firm Thales increased by 3 percent, the Wall Street Journal reported. Trump’s plans for increased military spending could play into the increase, along with Trump’s skepticism towards the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
In a surprising turn of events, gun stocks suffered from the Republican election. Smith & Wesson shares fell 16 percent, while Sturm Ruger saw their latest drop since February 2014, according to Business Insider. The plunge in weapons stocks could be related to Trump’s support for the Second Amendment.
During the election, Sturm Ruger saw the demand for guns increase while Clinton was campaigning on expanding gun control laws. However, Trump’s opposition to increasing gun control could signal the end of increased demands for guns if there is a decrease in concerns over having them taken away.
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Sunday 7 August 2016
All Russian Athletes Banned From Paralympics
The International Paralympic Committee has banned the entire Russian paralympic team from competing in the Rio de Janeiro games.
Sir Philip Craven, President of the IPC, said told a news conference in Rio his committee had listened to the evidence of experts and to submissions from the Russians and decided what action it needed to take.
He said the decision was based on a report on the Sochi 2014 Olympics and Paralympics by Professor Richard McLaren, sponsored by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which found evidence of state-sponsored cheating.
The report found that several samples taken from athletes who had taken part in paralympic events in Sochi had been tampered with.
The report also found evidence of the swapping of doped urine samples for clean ones through holes drilled in the wall of laboratories.
WADA previously recommended that Russia's entire team be banned from the Rio Olympic Games but the International Olympic Committee decided only to suspend some Russian athletes.
Sir Philip said: "(The IPC) is strongly of the view that the Russian Paralympic Committee is currently unable to ensure compliance with... the IPC's anti-doping code and the world anti-doping code within its own national jurisdiction.
Video: Analysis: What Does It Mean For Russia?
"Therefore, it cannot fulfil its fundamental obligations as an IPC member and as a result the IPC governing board has resolved to suspend the Russian Paralympic Committee with immediate effect.
"This means... the Russian Paralympic Committee will not be able to enter its athletes into the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games."
Sir Philip said he had deep sympathies with Russian athletes who will not be able to compete, but added that the doping culture that the report had found stemmed from the Russian government.
He added: "At the same time as feeling great sympathy towards the Russian athletes, we must not forget the feeling of those athletes from their nations who competed at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter games.
"Now it has been revealed that the sample swapping regime in the Sochi laboratory took place during the winter games, some athletes may be questioning whether the results from the Sochi 2014 will change."
Video: July: All Russian Teams Face Ban From Rio
The British Paralympic Association put out a statement immediately afterwards, saying: "While we have real sympathy for those individual Russian Paralympians not going to Rio who train and compete clean, it is crucial for the integrity of our sport that those involved as well as the public feel confident that all necessary measures are in place to tackle doping and the playing field is level.
"The British Paralympic Association therefore congratulates the IPC on taking a clear stand."
Russian newsagency Interfax reported that Russia will challenge the decision of the International Paralympic Committee to suspend Russian athletes from the Paralympic Games, according to the president of the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) Vladimir Lukin.
He told the newsagency he would file a lawsuit against the IPC in the Sports Arbitration Court in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Under IPC rules, the RPC has 21 days to appeal.
The Paralympics take place after the conclusion of the Olympics and begin on 7 September.
More follows...
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Macedonian Flooding 'Catastrophe' As 21 Die
At least 17 people have been killed and 60 hurt after Macedonia's capital Skopje was hit by flooding, with warnings the number of dead could rise.
Part of the ring road around the city was swept away during torrential rain and some cars were reportedly carried hundreds of metres into fields.
The nearby villages of Stajkovci, Aracinovo and Smiljkovci were also badly affected by thunderstorms and strong winds on Saturday night.
Most victims are believed to have drowned in their houses when large amounts of water swept through the area.
Hundreds of homes and vehicles were destroyed by the floods, which left roads impassable and several areas without electricity.
Some cars were reportedly carried hundreds of metres into fields
More than 1,000 people had been evacuated as police and army units in helicopters search for several missing following the storm.
The capital's mayor Koce Trajanovski said the damage was "the worst Skopje has ever seen".
Deputy prime Minister Nikola Todorov called it "a catastrophe of unprecedented proportion" and warned the death toll could go up.
Special police forces and trucks loaded with drinking water were heading for the worst affected areas.
The government is believed to be planning to declare a state of emergency for two weeks.
By Sunday morning, the rain had stopped and water levels were receding, but more downpours were forecast for the capital later in the day.
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Macedonian Flooding 'Catastrophe' As 17 Die
At least 17 people have been killed and 60 hurt after Macedonia's capital Skopje was hit by flooding, with warnings the number of dead could rise.
Part of the ring road around the city was swept away during torrential rain and some cars were reportedly carried hundreds of metres into fields.
The nearby villages of Stajkovci, Aracinovo and Smiljkovci were also badly affected by thunderstorms and strong winds on Saturday night.
Most victims are believed to have drowned in their houses when large amounts of water swept through the area.
Hundreds of homes and vehicles were destroyed by the floods, which left roads impassable and several areas without electricity.
Some cars were reportedly carried hundreds of metres into fields
More than 1,000 people had been evacuated as police and army units in helicopters search for several missing following the storm.
The capital's mayor Koce Trajanovski said the damage was "the worst Skopje has ever seen".
Deputy prime Minister Nikola Todorov called it "a catastrophe of unprecedented proportion" and warned the death toll could go up.
Special police forces and trucks loaded with drinking water were heading for the worst affected areas.
The government is believed to be planning to declare a state of emergency for two weeks.
By Sunday morning, the rain had stopped and water levels were receding, but more downpours were forecast for the capital later in the day.
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Iran Executes Nuclear Scientist For 'Spying'
Iran says it has executed one of its nuclear scientists after he was convicted of spying for the United States.
Shahram Amiri was hanged after allegedly giving America information about the Islamic republic's nuclear programme.
He revealed top secrets to "the enemy", according to a judicial spokesman, who claimed Tehran had "outsmarted" America.
News of his reported death comes a year after his country agreed a landmark agreement with the West to limit uranium enrichment in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.
Mr Amiri, who had worked for a university affiliated to Iran's defence ministry, vanished in June 2009 while on a pilgrimage to holy sites in Saudi Arabia.
He resurfaced a year later in the US when he appeared in a set of online videos.
Mr Amiri then walked into the Iranian interests section at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington and demanded to be sent home, returning to a hero's welcome in Tehran.
Back in the Islamic republic, he said he had been held in the US for more than a year after being "kidnapped" at gunpoint by two Farsi-speaking CIA agents in Medina.
Mr Amiri pictured arriving back in Iran in 2010
Mr Amiri was detained in Iran in 2010 and judicial spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejeie said he was tried in accordance with the law and had access to a lawyer.
He denied having any classified information, saying: "I'm not involved in any confidential jobs. I am a simple researcher who was working in the university."
But Mr Amiri, aged in his late 30s, was convicted of handing over "confidential and vital" information to the US.
"He appealed his death sentence based on judicial process. The Supreme Court... confirmed it after meticulous reviews," Mr Ejeie added.
US officials said in 2010 Mr Amiri was paid $5m (£3.8m) to offer the CIA information about Iran's nuclear programme, though he left the country without the money.
They said Amiri, who ran a radiation detection programme in Iran, stayed in the US for months under his own free will.
Some analysts suggested Iranian authorities may have threatened Amiri's family back in Iran, forcing him to return.
It is not known what prompted Iranian authorities to execute him, years after his first disappearance.
However, since the nuclear deal, hardliners in Iran's government have increasingly targeted dual nationals for arrest and cracked down on journalists, artists, human rights activists and others.
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Biggins 'very sorry and very sad' over CBB removal after unacceptable language
Christopher Biggins said he was "very sorry and very sad" after he was removed from the Celebrity Big Brother house for "unacceptable language."
The 67-year-old was warned three times for comments which could cause "widespread offence."
The final one involved a conversation with Renee Graziano where he said Aids was "a bisexual disease".
He'd also made comments to Katie Waissel who said she wasn't in the house to represent Jewish people.
On a separate occasion Biggins was hauled into the diary room when he told Graziano in another conversation: "I think the worst type is the bisexuals, what it is is people not wanting to admit they are gay."
He was ejected on Friday after saying that homosexuals had been blamed for the rise of Aids.
He called it a "killer disease" adding that he thought it "was a bisexual disease, if I'm honest".
Biggins said: "There were a lot of bisexuals who went to those countries and had sex with those people and brought it back to their own families in America and that's how it became a worldwide disease."
Big Brother called him into the diary room later in the day and noted this comment as the third use of "unacceptable language", which left them with "no choice" but to remove him from the house.
Biggins looked shocked as he was told and when asked if he had anything to say he replied, "I'm very sorry and I'm very sad."
On Twitter opinion has been split.
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Siege Police Find Suspect Asleep In Restaurant
An injured man who barricaded himself in a restaurant has been taken to hospital after a stand-off with police which lasted several hours.
Specialist police officers entered the Dubrovnik restaurant in Saarbruecken, in southwest Germany, after trying to negotiate with the man.
The 43-year-old, who was not identified, was found asleep in the basement of the building, police said.
The details of how he came to be injured are unclear, but he was unarmed.
Previous reports suggested he was covered in blood and had a weapon on him.
It is believed no hostages were involved.
He ran into the restaurant in the town centre on Sunday morning while shouting for everyone inside to leave, according to a report by German newspaper Bild.
Footage from the scene earlier showed a police street cordon in place and several vehicles outside the building, including a marked police car.
Police said the man seemed to be mentally disturbed and that there were no indications that it was a terrorism-related incident.
A police spokesman described the man as appearing to be in an "exceptional psychological situation".
It is thought he is the son-in-law of the owner of the restaurant and is originally from Macedonia, but has lived in Germany for several years.
Some reports suggested he was a former employee.
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Injured Man Barricades Himself In Restaurant
An injured man who barricaded himself in a restaurant has been taken to hospital after a stand-off with police which lasted several hours.
Special forces entered the Dubrovnik restaurant in Saarbruecken, in southwest Germany, after trying to negotiate with the man.
The details of how he came to be injured are unclear, but he was found unarmed.
Previous reports suggested he was covered in blood and had a weapon on him.
It is believed no hostages were involved.
He ran into the restaurant in the town centre on Sunday morning while shouting for everyone inside to leave, according to a report by German newspaper Bild.
Footage from the scene earlier showed a police street cordon in place and several vehicles outside the building, including a marked police car.
Police said the man seemed to be mentally disturbed and that there were no indications that it was a terrorism-related incident.
A police spokesman described the man as appearing to be in an "exceptional psychological situation".
It is thought he is the son-in-law of the owner of the restaurant and is originally from Macedonia, but has lived in Germany for several years.
Some reports suggested he was a former employee.
from
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Armed Man Barricades Himself In Restaurant
An armed man covered in blood has barricaded himself in a restaurant in Germany, police have said.
It is unclear how he injured himself and what type of weapon he has on him.
Officers outside the eaterie in Saarbruecken, in southwest Germany, are trying to convince him to end the stand-off.
It is believed he is not holding anyone hostage.
He ran into the restaurant called Dubrovnik in the town centre on Sunday morning while shouting for everyone inside to leave, according to a report by German newspaper Bild.
Footage from the scene shows a police street cordon and several vehicles outside the building, including a marked police car.
Police said the man appeared to be mentally disturbed and there are no indications that it is a terrorism-related incident.
A police spokesman said the man appeared to be in an "exceptional psychological situation".
It is thought he is the son-in-law of the owner of the restaurant and is originally from Macedonia, but has lived in Germany for several years.
Some reports suggest he is a former employee.
More follows...
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Oscar Pistorius Denies Prison Suicide Bid
Oscar Pistorius has denied "speculations" of a suicide attempt after he was treated at a private hospital in Pretoria for injuries suffered in jail.
The South African Paralympian was rushed to Kalafong Hospital from his Pretoria prison cell on Saturday, where he is serving a six-year sentence for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
He has since been returned to jail following treatment.
Singabakho Nxumalo, a spokesman for the correctional services department, said Pistorius told officials that he suffered injuries after falling out of bed.
Video: Pistorius Breaks Down In Court
But South African media reported that Pistorius also had injuries to his wrists.
A spokesman at the Department of Correctional Services said: "Oscar Pistorius denied speculations of a suicide attempt.
"As a policy principle we cannot further discuss a particular offender's personal condition in the public domain."
The athlete fatally shot Ms Steenkamp in his home on Valentine's Day in 2013.
He initially served one year of a five-year prison sentence for manslaughter, but the conviction was later overturned by an appeals court.
Video: Reeva Steenkamp's Family Says Goodbye
Pistorius was then convicted of the more serious charge of murder.
The runner has always insisted the shooting was a mistake, saying he thought an intruder had entered his home and he feared for his safety.
He fired four shots through a locked toilet door, killing Ms Steenkamp. She was hit in the head, hip and arm.
Pistorius claimed in court it was only when he battered down the door with a cricket bat that he realised the person behind was Ms Steenkamp.
Last month prosecutors said they would appeal Pistorius' six-year sentence, saying it was too lenient.
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Oscar Pistorius Rushed To Private Hospital
Oscar Pistorius has been treated at a private hospital in Pretoria after suffering injuries in jail.
The Paralympian was rushed to Kalafong Hospital from his Pretoria prison cell on Saturday, where he is serving a six-year sentence for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
He has since been returned to jail following treatment.
Video: Pistorius Breaks Down In Court
Singabakho Nxumalo, a spokesman for the correctional services department, said Pistorius told officials that he suffered injuries after falling out of bed.
The athlete fatally shot Ms Steenkamp in his home on Valentine's Day in 2013.
He initially served one year of a five-year prison sentence for manslaughter, but the conviction was later overturned by an appeals court.
Pistorius was then convicted of the more serious charge of murder.
Video: Reeva Steenkamp's Family Says Goodbye
The runner has always insisted the shooting was a mistake, saying he thought an intruder had entered his home and he feared for his safety.
He fired four shots through a locked toilet door, killing Ms Steenkamp. She was hit in the head, hip and arm.
Pistorius claimed in court it was only when he battered down the door with a cricket bat that he realised the person behind was Ms Steenkamp.
Last month prosecutors said they would appeal Pistorius' six-year sentence, saying it was too lenient.
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