Crucial week for under-fire Australian PM after 'catastrophic' poll

PERTH, Australia (Reuters) - Australia's conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott came under renewed leadership pressure on Sunday, a little over a year into office following a voter backlash in a state poll and a slump in his personal approval rating.

Pro-Russia Separatists Are Now Claiming That They Have Trapped Thousands Of Ukrainian Government Troops

L.A. Times: Pro-Russia separatists say they've trapped thousands of Ukraine troops



WNU Editor: For the past few days I have been reading reports on social media that a few thousand Ukrainian soldiers have been encircled in the city of Debaltseve .... but there has been no confirmation and/or reporting from independent sources .... that is until now. Victoria Butenko and Sergei L. Loiko from the L.A. Times have been consistently accurate in their reporting on this conflict and if what they are saying is true .... this could result in a shocking defeat for the Ukrainian army.

Ukraine Peace Talks Collapse

Reuters: Ukraine peace talks collapse, Kiev and separatists trade blame



WNU Editor: From what I am hearing and reading .... these talks were a complete disaster. I do not see any future talks happening in the foreseeable future.

More News On Ukraine's Peace Talks Collapsing

Ukraine peace talks collapse over ceasefire as fighting rages -- The Australian/AFP

Ukraine Peace Talks Collapse As Fighting Continues -- NBC

Ukraine, Rebel Talks End Amid Deadly Fighting -- VOA

Ukraine Peace Talks End In 'Failure' -- Radio Free Europe

No breakthrough as Ukraine peace talk parties meet in Minsk amid worsening crisis -- RT

Ukraine Contact Group Fails to Sign Agreement, DPR, LPR Envoys Say -- Sputnik

Ukraine peace talks break down amid acrimony -- Al Jazeera

Latest round of Ukraine peace talks fall through -- Press TV

Fund for mugging victim passes £200k

Well-wishers donate more than £200,000 in four days to help a disabled pensioner who was mugged outside his Gateshead home.

Whitney Houston's Daughter 'Doing Fine'

A cousin of the 21-year-old, who was found unconscious in a bathtub, tells Sky News the family are "praying for a swift recovery".

Old Firm, Old Foes: Glasgow Derby Returns

Celtic and Rangers will play each other for the first time in three years after the latter's dramatic demise.

Romney: The aura of a serial loser

Mitt Romney certainly looked the part of president, but despite his success in business, he could never pull it off.

Pupils 'must know times tables by 11'

All children in England will need to know their 12 times table by the time they leave primary school under plans announced by the education secretary.

China's Tibet to reward tips on 'terror attacks'

BEIJING (Reuters) - Authorities in China's Tibet will offer rewards up to 300,000 yuan ($48,000) for tips on "violent terror attacks", state media reported, in an effort to "promote stability" in the region beset by ethnic tensions.

Islamic State eyes al-Qaeda lands

The Islamic State group is forging links with militants across North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, challenging its al-Qaeda rivals.

Profile: Sinai Province militant group

Sinai Province is a militant group that has pledged allegiance to Islamic State and carried out a string of deadly attacks in Egypt's Sinai peninsula.

Army to set up 'social media unit'

The Army is setting up a new unit that will use psychological operations and social media to help fight wars "in the information age".

In red heartlands, Thai army keeps a lid on dissent

KHON KAEN, Thailand (Reuters) - In the northeastern Thai city of Khon Kaen, Pongpit Onlamai, a prominent anti-junta "red shirt" member, points to a man seated in the corner of the cafe fidgeting with his phone.

Ko, 17, is youngest world number one

Lydia Ko becomes the youngest world number one in golf history after reaching the top of the women's rankings aged 17.

Missing Mum: Body Suffered 'Violent Assault'

A body believed to be that of Samantha Henderson was subjected to an attack that "focused" on the head and neck, police say.

Tasers 'needed for all police'

All front-line police officers should be offered a Taser to protect them against the increased terrorism threat, the head of the Police Federation says.

Stand Up Be Counted: Youth Vote Stirring

The party leaders will be quizzed by young voters as part of an unprecedented effort by Sky News to engage them in politics.

Greek PM offers olive branch on debt

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras seeks to repair relations with creditors, amid fears of a showdown over Greece's efforts to roll back austerity measures.

Labour makes Cameron billboard vow

The Labour party vows not to feature Prime Minister David Cameron on billboards ahead of the general election as it wants to avoid negative personal campaigning.

Will the falling oil price undermine green energy?

Despite uncertainties, cheap oil does not spell disaster for the renewables sector.

VIDEO: Talking kids' doll Cayla is hacked

Rory Cellan-Jones sees how Cayla, a talking child's doll, can be hacked to say any number of offensive things.

Boots Boss: Miliband Would Be A 'Catastrophe'

The Labour leader is hit with more criticism, as Stefano Pessina says the party's plans for the country are "not helpful".

Islamic State says it has beheaded second Japanese hostage Goto

TOKYO (Reuters) - Islamic State militants said they had beheaded a second Japanese hostage, journalist Kenji Goto, prompting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to vow to step up humanitarian aid to the group's opponents in the Middle East and help bring his killers to justice.

Firms to begin inmate rehabilitation

A scheme that will use private contractors to rehabilitate prisoners who have served short sentences is due to start.

Mosque open days to ease 'tensions'

Mosques across the UK will open their doors to the public later in a bid to "reach out to fellow Britons following tensions around terrorism".

Can Islamic State move into South Asia?

Islamic State has its heartland in Iraq and Syria, but recent reports suggest it is building a presence in Afghanistan and Pakistan. M Ilyas Khan asks how worried should people be.

Texas Declares Day To Honour American Sniper

The state's governor says the sharpshooter was "a man who defended his brothers and sisters in arms on and off the battlefield".

'Missing mum' body had head injuries

The body of a woman - believed to be missing mother-of-four Samantha Henderson - found in a Dorset lake, had injuries showing she was violently attacked around the head and neck, police say.

Mourinho developing siege mentality

Jose Mourinho is adopting familiar tactics as he plots Chelsea's route to the Premier League title, writes Phil McNulty.

Innumeracy war, and the 'four-year-old rapist'

Sunday's press has reports of a new initiative from Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, while the the Sunday Mirror carries statistics about child-on-child sex crime.

VIDEO: Fifty shades of manipulation?

Will Gompertz discusses appropriation - and Fifty Shades of Grey - in his latest blog

Phoenix Nights Actor Collapses On Stage

Ted Robbins clutched his chest and fell to the ground while performing in a live version of Peter Kay's popular show.

Pellegrini 'not happy with a point'

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says he is disappointed to draw at Chelsea as his side created more chances.

Stamp was not on purpose - Costa

Chelsea striker Diego Costa says there was no malicious intent behind his stamp on Liverpool's Emre Can.

'Older brother' proud of Sterling

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge says he is "proud" of the performances of fellow Liverpool man Raheem Sterling.

Man Spreading Ashes Washed Out To Sea

A search is under way for the 51-year-old, who was caught by a large wave on the north Cornwall coast.

Chad army says kills 120 Boko Haram militants in Cameroon

N'DJAMENA (Reuters) - Chadian forces have killed 120 militants from Boko Haram in a battle in the north of neighboring Cameroon that began when the insurgents attacked its troops, the army said in a statement on Saturday, adding that three of its soldiers were killed.

Sunday's National Newspaper Front Pages

Sky News takes a look at the stories making a splash on the front pages of Sunday's national newspapers.

Phoenix Nights actor 'collapses'

A performance of comedy Phoenix Nights Live at the Manchester Arena is cancelled after performer Ted Robbins apparently collapses on stage.

Islamic State says beheads Japanese hostage Goto

BEIRUT/TOKYO (Reuters) - Islamic State militants released a video on Saturday which purported to show the beheading of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, who the al Qaeda offshoot had been holding hostage.

Midnight tax return deadline looms

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to log on today to file a self-assessment tax return and avoid a £100 fine.

Chernova ban 'needs long, hard look'

Jessica Ennis-Hill's coach Toni Minichiello wants Russian heptathlete Tatyana Chernova's drugs ban to be re-examined.

IS Hostage Pilot's Brother: 'It's Not Our War'

Jawdat Al Kassasbeh, the brother of captive Jordanian Mu'ath, urges his country to leave a US-led coalition against the militants.

Japan hostage Goto 'killed' - video

A video is released online purporting to show the beheading by Islamic State militants of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto.

Japan Investigating 'Hostage Murder' Video

The Japanese government says it is trying to authenticate a video which shows the apparent murder of hostage Kenji Goto.

Exclusive: FBI says it had no prior knowledge of Philippine raid that killed 50 police

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI had no prior knowledge of a police raid in the Philippines last Sunday to arrest wanted militants that went awry and left more than 50 police dead, an FBI spokesman told Reuters on Saturday.