Pistorius: Angry Clashes Over Grisly Photo

Oscar Pistorius was repeatedly branded a liar today amid angry clashes with a prosecutor over a gruesome picture of Reeva Steenkamp's bloodied head.

Pistorius raised his voice and refused to look at the photograph after barrister Gerrie Nel said Reeva's head had "exploded like a watermelon".

As Pistorius sobbed in the dock, Mr Nel referred to a Sky News video showing Pistorius shooting and hitting a watermelon on a firing range.

Pistorius arrives for the trial today

"You know that the same happened to Reeva's head - it exploded," Mr Nel said.

There were gasps in court and some in the public gallery were forced to leave as a picture of Reeva's wounded head was beamed on screens across the courtroom.

As the picture was shown in court, the barrister continued: "Have a look. I know you don't want to because you don't want to take responsibility. Take a look."

Appearing to lose his composure, Pistorius replied: "I will not look at a picture. I touched her head that night. I know how it felt.

A photograph of Reeva Steenkamp with a head injury was shown to the court

"I am taking responsibility, by standing here today - I am not looking at that picture."

The photograph showed a side view of Miss Steenkamp's bloodied head, with her eyes closed.

Mr Nel said: "It's time that you look at it."

Judge Thokozile Masipais eventually asked for the picture to be taken down and ruled that the line of questioning was inappropriate, as Pistorius was forced to take a break.

Earlier, Pistorius shook in the dock as Mr Nel asked: "You killed Reeva Steenkamp, didn't you?"

Pistorius said: "I did, I made a terrible mistake."

Mr Nel replied: "Won't you take responsibility? Take responsibility - say 'I shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp'."

Again and again, Mr Nel accused Pistorius of lying to the court, something the athlete repeatedly denied.

During one heated exchange Mr Nel said: "But Reeva does not have a life any more because of what you have done.

"So please tell the truth, rather than think of the implications for you."

On another occasion, as Mr Nel grew more impatient, Pistorius sobbed: "I am fighting for my life."

Pistorius began today's evidence by describing how he carried the model down the stairs of his home after finding her slumped on the toilet.

"She was sitting with her weight on top of the toilet bowl. I checked to see if she was breathing and she wasn't," he told the court.

June Steenkamp, Reeva's mother, watches today's proceedings

"I pulled her weight on to me and I sat there crying for some time. I felt her head on my shoulder and I could feel the blood running down me. 

"I thought I felt her breathing. I could see her arm was broken.

"I was trying to pick Reeva up. I could see she was still breathing. She was struggling to breathe." 

Pistorius said that he rang 911 and also security - but did not remember either call clearly.

"After I got off the phone with 911, I ran downstairs to open the front door. I could barely pick Reeva up. I opened the front door," he said.

Pistorius said Miss Steenkamp died in his arms

"I ran back up to my room. I went back to the bathroom and tried to pick up Reeva.

"I got to the second flight of stairs. I was shouting and screaming for help in getting her to the hospital."

Pistorius said he was told to put Miss Steenkamp down as neighbours said an ambulance was on its way.

"I just sat there and waited for the ambulance to arrive," he said.

"I had my fingers in her mouth to help her breathe. I had my hand on her hip to try and stop the bleeding.

"Reeva had already died when I was holding her so I knew there was nothing the ambulance could do.

Pistorius has broken down several times since the start of the trial

"Then the paramedic came to me and said she would like to inform me that Reeva had passed.

"The paramedic asked me if there was some form of ID. I went to get Reeva's handbag."

Pistorius said that police officers then arrived and checked the house to see if anyone else was there.

"I asked the policeman if I could wash my hands because the smell of the blood was making me throw up. I washed my hands and face," he said.

The athlete was later taken to the police station and arrested over the death. Afterwards he was taken to hospital where doctors conducted tests on him.

Sky's Alex Crawford and Jeremy Thompson with a South African newspaper

Asked by his barrister whether he intended to kill his girlfriend, Pistorius responded: "I did not intend to kill Reeva or anyone else for that matter." 

Later, under cross examination, Pistorius was asked about what he meant by "accidently" firing his gun at the toilet door.

"Did your gun go off accidently, yes or no, just answer the question?" Mr Nel said.

Again raising his voice, Pistorius replied: "When I fired my firearm I believed someone was coming out of the bathroom to attack me.

"I thought someone was coming out to attack me." 

Mr Nel asked: "Why are you emotional now the questions are difficult?", to which Pistorius answered: "My life is on the line."

For the second time, Judge Masipais jumped in to stop Mr Nel, explaining that it was unfair to imply that Pistorius had intentionally become emotional. 

Pistorius denies premeditated murder and illegally possessing ammunition and two further counts related to shooting a gun in public in separate incidents prior to the killing.

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Two More Signals Picked Up In Plane Hunt

Search Chief's Manner Says MH370 Found

Updated: 2:10pm UK, Wednesday 09 April 2014

Retired Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston is a military man, and military men deal in certainties.

He won't commit himself to say they have found the plane. Not yet. Not until he sees some wreckage for his own eyes.

"How confident are you?" he was asked by an Australian reporter. "50%, 70%, 90%?"

He laughed it off. He wouldn't be drawn. Of course he wouldn't. He's a military man. Certainties, certainties, certainties, remember?

There's no "we think we've found it". In his way of thinking, you've either found it or you haven't.

But they have found it, and he knows it.

You only need to read his demeanour and body posture in the press conferences, and how he has relaxed in recent days.

And he's absolutely right not to commit himself. Because he wouldn't just be making a judgement without the full facts, he would be sealing the fate of the 239 people who were on that plane, and he would be telling the families that any remaining hope was now lost.

He will have to do that at some point, in the coming days I suspect, but only when he is ready, only when he is sure.

And that's right.

I think his media management has been top notch.

He has answered all the many detailed questions the media have asked, and built trust.

But there is one thing that has me wondering...

"We're being transparent, we're hiding nothing," he said as he left the podium at the end of a recent press conference.

Well, I don't quite believe him. There was something that led them to that spot in the Indian Ocean, some clue, some intelligence, something that meant Ocean Shield heard the first pings on the very day the black box batteries were due to start weakening.

Sure, Inmarsat has been recalculating its data and narrowing down the search area, but that alone can't be enough.

They have found the plane's black box, potentially 14,700 ft (4,500m) below the Ocean in the middle of nowhere, and not a single piece of wreckage has been picked up to guide them.

Something told them to look there...

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Mummy Scan Reveals Spatula Lodged In Skull

A scan of an ancient mummy has shown that the person's brains had been scooped out with a spatula.

Researchers at the British Museum made the grim find after the scan showed the instrument had been left lodged in the skull of the body of the man, from Thebes in modern-day Egypt.

The body is believed to have been mummified around 600 BC.

The image of the man's mummified body clearly shows the spatula in his head and a series of dental abscesses that would have given him bad toothache.

The scanner produces high-resolution data that can be turned into 3D images

The mummy is part of a new exhibition at one of London's most famous museums that also features the remains of a female singer called Tamut who lived in the same area in around 900 BC and whose high status was reflected in her body being buried with jewellery.

Her scan showed she had suffered from blocked arteries - the blockage may have contributed to her death.

They are among eight mummies examined with advanced CT scanners that produce high-resolution data.

The data can be turned into 3D images using software originally designed to make cars.

Singer Tamut suffered from blocked arteries

The museum's director Neil MacGregor said: "This new technology is truly ground-breaking, allowing us to reconstruct and understand the lives of eight, very different, individuals.

"This is a project which has only been made possible through recent technological advances and I am delighted that the museum is at the forefront of this kind of research and presentation."

The exhibition starts on May 22 and lasts until November 30.

The museum started x-raying its mummies in the 1960s and used CT scanners for the first time in the 1990s.

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First Public Play Date For Prince George

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

Prince George was described as "advanced for his age" who "owned the place" by parents at his first play date in Wellington.

The little chap looked interested in fellow guests

During the 30-minute gathering of under-ones, mothers and fathers in New Zealand, the animated infant managed to make one little girl cry and snatched a toy from another.

In what is described as the third in line to the throne's first public engagement, eight-month-old teething George chewed on toys and crawled around with 10 other little boys and girls at Government House.

Kate chatted informally with other parents

The Duchess of Cambridge told one parent it was the largest gathering of children George had so far experienced.

It was the Duchess' first public engagement with her son

Father Grant Colling also said the confident Royal tot, who was on the third day of a New Zealand and Australia tour with his parents, had a real command of the room.

Kate revealed her son is sleeping well

"He was his own little man and took control moving into the middle of circle of toys," he said.

George played with babies around his age

"He hunted out the biggest toys and propped himself up. He completely owned the place basically."

The gathering was held at Wellington's Government House

Sheila Lemie was struck by the little Royal's strength: "He was very strong and much more advanced than our little boy."

George was boisterous and lively during the play date

The long-awaited first public introduction of Prince George comes 31 years after a young Prince William was paraded in front of the press for the first time on the lawn of Government House in Auckland.

A fidgety William crawled unfazed towards the camped-out media, stopping only to chew on the antennae of the now famous Buzzy Bee wooden toy.

William, Kate and their son are touring New Zealand and Australia

Kensington Palace had been keen to ensure George's play date was as authentic as possible, with nothing staged for the Royal visitors.

After reducing the little girl to tears, it was clear they had achieved just that.

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Ultimate Warrior: Wrestling Icon Dies Aged 54

Wrestling superstar The Ultimate Warrior, who rose to fame with his trademark war paint and shaggy hair, has died at the age of 54.

The wrestler, whose real name was James Hellwig, had only been inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) hall of fame on Saturday.

He is reported to have collapsed outside a hotel in Arizona on Tuesday evening while walking with his wife, according to TMZ.

The website said he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

The Ultimate Warrior had his heyday in the 1980s and 1990s

A statement on the WWE website said: "WWE is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the most iconic WWE Superstars ever, The Ultimate Warrior.

"Warrior began his WWE career in 1987 and quickly went on to become one of the biggest stars in WWE history.

"We are grateful that just days ago, Warrior had the opportunity to take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame and was also able to appear at WrestleMania 30 and Monday Night Raw to address his legions of fans."

Hulk Hogan - who was one of Hellwig's biggest rivals - tweeted: "RIP Warrior. Only love. HH."

Dwayne Johnson - known as The Rock during his WWE career - tweeted: "Loss always has a way of reminding us to live and love as greatly as we can.

"My prayers and strength to his family. RIP Ultimate Warrior."

Hellwig is survived by his wife Dana and two daughters.

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Ukraine Hands Separatists 48-Hour Deadline

Ukraine has said it is prepared to forcibly remove pro-Russian separatists from eastern government buildings to end the crisis within the next 48 hours.

Interim Interior Minister Arsen Avakov told protesters they must either take part in negotiations or face the use of force.

Mr Avakov said: "For those who want dialogue, we propose talks and a political solution. For the minority who want conflict they will get a forceful answer from the Ukrainian authorities."

He said the government's anti-terrorist operation was ready to carry out "all planned actions at any moment," adding that the ultimatum will bring the standoff to an end within two days.

Pro-Russian separatists have occupied state buildings in the eastern cities of Luhansk and Donetsk since Sunday.

The SBU says negotiations with separatists in Luhansk are ongoing

They also stormed a building in the eastern city of Kharkiv but were promptly removed by police.

On Wednesday activists In Luhansk reinforced their barricades around a local headquarters of Ukraine's Security Service (the SBU). 

However police denied earlier reports that hostages had been held inside the building. 

The SBU said activists armed with explosives and weapons were holding at least 60 people against their will after storming the headquarters on Sunday. 

It has since said 56 people have been released, although it did not specify whether they were among the 60 initially thought to have been taken.

The protesters fiercely denied the allegations.

Pro-Moscow separatists in Ukraine's east, which has a large ethnic Russian population, are calling for a vote on joining the Russian Federation.

Several eastern cities appear to be following in the footsteps of Crimea

In Donetsk, protesters inside the regional authority building have already declared a separatist republic.

The latest unrest strongly echoes the build-up to Russia's annexation of Crimea which came after voters overwhelmingly backed referendum on leaving Ukraine.

Many in the east are suspicious of the new Western-friendly interim government which replaced Ukraine's Kremlin-allied President Viktor Yanukovych following mass protests in February.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to protect ethnic Russians, prompting concern he may be planning to expand Russia's military control beyond Crimea.

Ukraine and the United States have gone as far as to suggest Russia may be orchestrating violence in the east in order to justify further military intervention.

Mr Kerry has warned that Russian agents could be behind recent unrest

According to Nato up to 40,000 Russian troops are currently massed along the Ukrainian border.

However Russia has repeatedly denied claims it is planning to invade.

In a statement on Wednesday the Russian Foreign Ministry said: "The United States and Ukraine have no reason to be worried.

"Russia has stated many times that it is not carrying out any unusual or unplanned activity on its territory near the border with Ukraine that would be of military significance."

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has confirmed she will attend a meeting next week with Ukraine's acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry.

It will be the first direct meeting between all four key players in the crisis.

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Secret Service Tightens Drinking Rules

The Secret Service has changed its rules for agents and reassigned more than 20 individuals after two embarrassing incidents earlier this year.

Spokesman Edwin Donovan said the division's special agent-in-charge, Dan Donahue, has been moved to another division.

He added: "Personnel are being re-assigned as a result of staffing rotations and as a result of assessments made after two recent incidents of misconduct."

Anyone now assigned to the special operations division is now barred from drinking within 12 hours of starting a shift.

Secret Service agents are tasked with protecting the US President

They are also not allowed to drink within 24 hours of a president's arrival on a trip.

It comes after three agents were sent home from the Netherlands last month after one was found intoxicated in a hotel before President Barack Obama arrived to meet foreign officials.

One of the agents was found passed out in the hallway of the hotel, according to The Washington Post.

More than 20 individuals had been reassigned, the newspaper said.

The Secret Service is tasked with protecting the president and vice president, as well as investigating financial crime in the US.

But the body came under scrutiny from Congress and the White House after a prostitution scandal in Cartagena, Colombia, in 2012.

Two agents were also involved in a crash in Florida earlier this year. Neither was charged.

Secret Service director Julia Pierson called the incident "isolated".

She said: "Director Pierson maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding incidents of misconduct and continues to evaluate the best human capital practices and policies for the workforce.

"The Secret Service has not implemented or changed any agency-wide policies regarding consumption of alcohol. Policies that would affect the entire workforce are currently under review by leadership."

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Why Is MH370 Search Chief So Optimistic?

Retired Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston is a military man, and military men deal in certainties.

He won't commit himself to say they have found the plane. Not yet. Not until he sees some wreckage for his own eyes.

"How confident are you?" he was asked by an Australian reporter. "50%, 70%, 90%?"

He laughed it off. He wouldn't be drawn. Of course he wouldn't. He's a military man. Certainties, certainties, certainties, remember?

There's no "we think we've found it". In his way of thinking, you've either found it or you haven't.

But they have found it, and he knows it.

You only need to read his demeanour and body posture in the press conferences, and how he has relaxed in recent days.

Crews are searching the southern Indian Ocean

And he's absolutely right not to commit himself. Because he wouldn't just be making a judgement without the full facts, he would be sealing the fate of the 239 people who were on that plane, and he would be telling the families that any remaining hope was now lost.

He will have to do that at some point, in the coming days I suspect, but only when he is ready, only when he is sure.

And that's right.

I think his media management has been top notch.

He has answered all the many detailed questions the media have asked, and built trust.

But there is one thing that has me wondering...

"We're being transparent, we're hiding nothing," he said as he left the podium at the end of a recent press conference.

Mr Houston has appeared more relaxed in recent days

Well, I don't quite believe him. There was something that led them to that spot in the Indian Ocean, some clue, some intelligence, something that meant Ocean Shield heard the first pings on the very day the black box batteries were due to start weakening.

Sure, Inmarsat has been recalculating its data and narrowing down the search area, but that alone can't be enough.

They have found the plane's black box, potentially 14,700 ft (4,500m) below the Ocean in the middle of nowhere, and not a single piece of wreckage has been picked up to guide them.

Something told them to look there...

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Toyota In Global Recall Of 6 Million Vehicles

Toyota has issued a global recall of millions of vehicles because of safety issues.

The Japanese company said the announcement covers three issues affecting RAV4, Hilux, Yaris and Urban Cruiser models.

A total of 35,124 UK-registered vehicles are affected by the recall, of 6.4 million worldwide.

The total bill is forecast to cost the company more than £300m.

The carmaker said: "Worldwide, there have been no reports of any accidents or injuries relating to these issues.

"Toyota is conducting the recalls according to Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) code of practice."

The firm said it would provide a "prompt inspection and repair programme" without charge to owners.

Customers can check if their vehicle is affected by using a registration number look-up function on its website.

It said a spiral cable assembly issue had been identified on airbag modules of some RAV4 and Hilux vehicles.

There is a risk that when the steering wheel is turned damage may occur to the circuitry.

"If connectivity is lost, the airbag warning light will illuminate on the instrument panel and the driver's airbag may be deactivated," Toyota said.

The RAV4 and Hilux vehicles were manufactured between June 2004 and December 2010.

Toyota's Prius Hybrids were recalled last February

The world's largest carmaker also found a fault in the seat adjustment rail for Yaris and Urban Cruisers could fail after repeated usage.

It said: "Should the spring break, the seat may not lock into its adjusted position, and could move in the event of a crash."

The affected Yaris and Urban Cruiser models were built between January 2005 and August 2010, covering 10,339 UK-registered cars.

Toyota said there was a potential fault in the tilt or telescopic steering column of some second generation Yaris and Urban Cruisers.

It said: "Toyota is aware that the weld which connects the steering column bracket to the instrument panel on some Yaris and Urban Cruiser models might break when the steering wheel is repeatedly turned with full force.

"The driver may hear an abnormal noise from the bracket area and if the vehicle continues to be driven, it is possible that the bracket will fail, causing the steering column to tilt out of position. However, the driver will not lose steering control."

The potential steering issue affected 1,293 UK cars built between September 2005 and February 2009.

The company said: "Vehicle owners will be contacted by Toyota within the coming weeks by post or telephone and asked to make an appointment to bring their car to their nearest Toyota Centre, in accordance with DVSA guidelines."

Tokyo-listed shares for the company were down more than 3% on the Nikkei after the news was announced on Wednesday, before easing to 2.1% down.

Some of the affected vehicles were made in France, with the majority built in Japan.

The recall of 6.4 million vehicles includes 297,000 in Australia - where it recently announced a decision to stop making vehicles.

Toyota was once renowned for impeccable build quality but that reputation has been hit in recent years.

In 2012, it recalled more than 3 million vehicles over safety issues and last February 1.9 million Prius Hybrids were recalled.

The Toyota announcement is the latest in a series of high-profile recalls to hit the sector.

General Motors (GM) recently recalled more than 2.4 million North American vehicles over ignition switch issues - with its CEO grilled by politicians in Washington DC - while the world's second biggest carmaker, Volkswagen, recalled 2.6m vehicles late last year.

GM has been fined $7,000 (£4,200) a day until they provide all sufficient information required by lawmakers.

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Student 'Flashing Knives' Stabs 20 At School

A 16-year-old boy who stabbed 20 people in a bloody 30 minute rampage at a high school was eventually subdued by a school security guard and an assistant principal.

At least four students were seriously injured at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, when the student, who police said was "flashing two knives around", carried out the assault.

Thomas Seefeld, chief of police in the suburb 15 miles east of Pittsburgh, said the 16-year-old walked down a hallway and ended up stabbing 19 fellow pupils and security guard as they began arriving for what should have been a normal school day.

The assault began at 7.13am (12.13 GMT) and was over by 7.45am.

The school was locked down and students were kept inside while officials checked the premises was secure.

A motive has not been established.

Forbes Regional Hospital is treating eight of the victims. Doctor Mark Rubino said he expected everyone to survive, despite "deep penetrating" stab wounds.

Three victims are in surgery there, while the other five are still being evaluated.

Dan Stevens, a spokesman for Westmoreland County emergency management, told AFP the teenage victims are aged 14 to 17.

Mr Stevens said some of those injured suffered cuts and scrapes as they attempted to flee the scene.

Twelve victims have been sent to four different hospitals.

One student told the television channel WTAE he saw "students holding their stomachs, bleeding."

Morris Hundley said his 14-year-old daughter Morriah called him in tears. He rushed to the school still wearing his slippers, hoping for more information.

"My first thoughts were I think we need to home school now that this has happened," he said.

"The words can't describe how I feel. I'm just thinking of the victims."

Mr Seefeld praised staff, telling a news conference things could have been much worse "if there was not (the) immediate interaction that occurred".

The attack follows on from a long line of US school shootings that have provoked a nationwide debate about gun control laws.

The December 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, which claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults, failed to tighten the rules surrounding gun ownership.

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