Third Night Of Protests Over Police Killings

By Sky News US Team

Demonstrators are on the march again in US cities to protest against police treatment of black Americans.

People have so far taken to the streets on Friday in New York City, Washington DC, Chicago and Boston.

More than 200 arrests were made in New York a day earlier when protesters of all ages and backgrounds turned out in cities from coast to coast.

The rallies have been sparked by a grand jury decision not to indict a white policeman in the chokehold death of a black man, Eric Garner.

The case is stoking a national debate about policing, racial profiling and criminal justice.

Video: More US Demos Over Chokehold Death

A New York City prosecutor said on Friday he would convene a grand jury to consider charges against a rookie cop who fatally shot a black man, Akai Gurley, on a housing project stairwell.

Activists, meanwhile, finished a 120-mile march from Ferguson, Missouri, to the state governor's mansion on Friday, in a protest over a white policeman who was cleared of killing a black teenager.

There have also been protests in Phoenix, Arizona, after a white police officer shot dead an unarmed black drug suspect during a scuffle.

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1. Gallery: Chokehold Protesters On March Across US

   An NYPD policeman stands next to protesters on a second night of nationwide demonstrations over the death of a black man and the clearing of a white cop who restrained him in an alleged chokehold

A demonstrator restrains another as protesters clash with police in Times Square

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Cop Killing Of Black Man On Stairwell Probed

By Sky News US Team

A New York City district attorney has announced he will convene a grand jury to consider charges against a rookie cop who fatally shot a black man.

The news came just hours before a memorial service for Akai Gurley, 28, who died on 20 November after he was shot once in the chest.

Probationary Officer Peter Liang's gun fired accidentally on the dimly lit stairwell of a housing project, police officials have said.

It is the latest case in a debate about policing, racial profiling and criminal justice, which has spawned a third night of nationwide protests.

Announcing the grand jury plan, Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson said in a statement: "It is important to get to the bottom of what happened."

Video: Protests Spread Across US

He added: "I pledge to conduct a full and fair investigation and to give the grand jury all of the information necessary to do its job."

The prosecutor, who is black, said there was no timeline for the jurors to be impanelled. 

The New York Daily News reported on Friday that the officer involved texted his union representative as Mr Gurley lay dying.

After Officer Liang discharged the bullet that struck Mr Gurley, he and partner Shaun Landau did not respond to radio contact for more than six and a half minutes, according to the newspaper.

A neighbour phoned for the ambulance that took Mr Gurley to hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival, reports the Daily News.

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1. Gallery: Chokehold Protesters On March Across US

   An NYPD policeman stands next to protesters on a second night of nationwide demonstrations over the death of a black man and the clearing of a white cop who restrained him in an alleged chokehold

A demonstrator restrains another as protesters clash with police in Times Square

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Phillip Hughes: Funeral Held For Cricket Star

A funeral service for Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes has taken place in his hometown of Macksville, New South Wales.

The 25-year-old batsmen died in hospital in Sydney last week after he was hit on the back of the neck by a cricket ball during New South Wales' first-class match against South Australia.

He had scored 63 runs when he was hit by a short ball from bowler Sean Abbott and was wearing a helmet at the time.

Around 1,000 people, mostly locals, packed into Macksville High School for the service, with hundreds more watching on big screens outside.

Phillip Hughes was days short of his 26th birthday

The service was also broadcast live on national television and on big screens in Australia's major cities, including at the Sydney Cricket Ground where Hughes was fatally injured.

Hughes' siblings, Jason and Megan, paid tribute to their brother during the service on behalf of the family along with his cousin Nino Ramunno.

Video: 'I Love You Big Brother'

Megan said: "I'm sorry you cannot be here with us any longer, but I promise that all the dreams and thoughts we had about the future I will continue in your honour.

"There won't be a day that goes by that I won't think of you, I promise I will talk to you every day and keep you company up there."

An emotional Australian captain Michael Clarke struggled as he addressed the service.

Video: Brother Pays Tribute To Cricketer

He said: "He left a mark on our game that needs no embellishment. I don't know about you but I keep looking for him.

"Is this what we call the spirit? If so, then his spirit is still with me and I hope it never leaves.

"We must dig in... we must dig in and get through to tea. And we must play on. So rest in peace my little brother, I'll see you out in the middle."

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1. Gallery: Australia Says Goodbye To Its Hero

   Australia's cricket team has said goodbye to their former colleague Phillip Hughes who died last week

Australian captain Michael Clarke arrives for the funeral with his wife Kyly

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Bill Cosby Sued Over Playboy Mansion 'Sex Act'

Bill Cosby is being sued by a California woman who claims the comedian molested her around 1974 when she was 15-years-old.

Judith Huth claims in the sexual battery lawsuit that the incident happened at the Playboy Mansion.

The document claims she and a friend met Cosby at a Los Angeles film shoot and the comedian later gave them drinks at a tennis club.

It then states that Cosby took them to the Playboy Mansion after several drinks. Her suit states Cosby forced her to perform a sex act on him.

The woman claims she suffered emotional distress and that she discovered its impact within the past three years.          

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1. Gallery: A Profile Of Bill Cosby

   Bill Cosby was born in Philadelphia in 1937, one of four children

He followed his father into the US Navy before securing an athletics scholarship to Temple University in Philadelphia

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Hong Kong Leader Warns Of 'Action' Over Clashes

Hong Kong's chief executive has warned pro-democracy protesters not to return to the streets for another night of protests after clashes with police temporarily closed the government headquarters.

Chaos erupted as the demonstrators, wearing helmets and wielding umbrellas, charged police after officers warned them to retreat.

Riot police used batons and pepper spray to push them back.

Local media reported that at least 45 people were arrested and police said 11 officers had been injured.

Chief executive Leung Chun-ying told reporters there would be "resolute action" if the demonstrators returned.

Video: Inside Hong Kong's Protest Camp

"Some people have mistaken the police's tolerance for weakness," he said.

"I call for students who are planning to return to the occupation sites tonight not to do so."

The situation is now said to be calm, although many government offices and shops remained shut mid-morning.

Leaders at the main activists' site in the Admiralty neighbourhood have said they will escalate their campaign after trying to encircle the government headquarters.

Sky's Asia Correspondent Mark Stone said of the clashes: "This is the result of total deadlock between the government and the protesters who want the right to choose their own political leader without interference from China.

"Beijing has said it will allow everyone here to vote but only from candidates chosen by China."

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1. Gallery: Violent Clashes In Hong Kong

   A police officer uses pepper spray while clashing with pro-democracy protesters close to the chief executive's office in Hong Kong

A protester who was pepper-sprayed is helped by volunteer rescuers

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Obama Pushes For More Body Cameras On Cops

By Sky News US Team

Barack Obama is calling for millions of dollars in federal funding to equip more police officers with body cameras.

The White House revealed the plan on Monday as the President met with members of his Cabinet and civil rights leaders to discuss the fallout over a grand jury's decision not to indict a police officer for shooting dead Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

The three-year proposal calls for $263m (£167m), with $75m (£47.7m) aimed at getting 50,000 police officers to wear small, lapel-mounted cameras while on duty.

The White House said the cameras could help bridge deep mistrust between law enforcement and the public.

"Recent events in Ferguson, Missouri and around the country have highlighted the importance of strong, collaborative relationships between local police and the communities they protect," the White House said in a release.

Video: 'No Way' Teenager Had Arms Up

"As the nation has observed, trust between law enforcement agencies and the people they protect and serve is essential to the stability of our communities, the integrity of our criminal justice system, and the safe and effective delivery of policing services."

The unrest in Ferguson escalated in large part due to the varying accounts of Mr Brown's shooting.

Some witnesses described the unarmed 18-year-old as having his hands in the air when he was shot dead by Officer Darren Wilson on 9 August.

Officer Wilson has maintained he shot Mr Brown in self-defence after the teenager assaulted him and attempted to take his weapon.

A St Louis County grand jury agreed with the officer's testimony and decided not to pursue charges - a move that set off violent protests in Ferguson and demonstrations around the country.

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1. Gallery: Ferguson Protests Lead To Arrests Across US

   Protests have been held across the US after a white officer was not charged for shooting unarmed black 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri

Some of the most violent rallies were in San Francisco. Here a police officer on a motorcycle confronts protesters

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Hong Kong: Tensions Soar After Fresh Clashes

Thousands of pro-democracy activists have clashed with police in Hong Kong after they tried to encircle government headquarters in the city overnight.

On Sunday evening, protest leaders at the main activists' site in the Admiralty neighbourhood announced they would escalate their campaign.

Chaos erupted as the demonstrators, wearing helmets and wielding umbrellas, charged police after officers warned them to retreat.

Riot police used batons and pepper spray to push them back.

Local media reported that at least 45 people were arrested and police said 11 officers had been injured.

Video: Hong Kong Protesters Pepper-Sprayed

Many government offices and shops remained shut by mid-morning, but the situation is said to now be calm.

Police had cleared the area more than a month ago during some of the most violent scenes since the demonstrations began in late September.

The democracy movement represents one of the biggest threats for China's Communist Party leadership since its bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy student protests in and around Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

The flare-up comes after four nights of clashes in the working-class district of Mong Kok, across the harbour from Admiralty. 

Video: Oct: Police Accused Of Brutality

The Hong Kong rallies drew more than 100,000 on to the streets at their peak, but numbers have since dwindled to a few hundred.

Meanwhile, China has been accused of "overtly confrontational" behaviour after saying it will ban a group of British MPs from visiting Hong Kong.

The Government committee had planned to visit the former British colony as part of an inquiry into its relations with the UK 30 years after the declaration which led to its handover.

The Chinese embassy said if the group attempted the visit in December then they would be turned away.

Video: HK Protest Barriers Dismantled

Sir Richard Ottaway, chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said: "I have been informed by the Chinese embassy that if we attempt to travel to Hong Kong we will be refused entry."

He added: "The Chinese government are acting in an overtly confrontational manner in refusing us access to do our job."

Sir Richard said he would be calling for an emergency debate in the House of Commons today.

The joint declaration between China and the UK was signed in 1984 and led to the handover in 1997.

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Canadian Woman Kidnapped By IS - Reports

The Canadian government has said it is trying to verify reports that one of its citizens has been kidnapped in Syria.

The woman was believed to be helping Kurdish militias in the fight against Islamic State, according to Haaretz.

It cites a blog used by the extremist organisation, which claims a 31-year-old Canadian-Israeli had been taken captive.

Israel has banned its people from travelling to countries deemed as enemy states, including Iraq and Syria. 

When asked about the reports, Moshe Ya'alon, Israel's Defence Minister, said "I cannot confirm that and I hope that it isn't true."

More follows...

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