Middle East Peace Talks To Resume, Says Kerry

US Secretary of State John Kerry has announced that an agreement has been reached between the Israelis and Palestinians for the basis to resume Middle East peace talks.

It follows a stalemate of almost three years.

"I'm pleased to announce that we've reached an agreement that establishes a basis for resuming final status negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis," Mr Kerry told reporters in Amman, Jordan.

"This is a significant and welcome step forward. The agreement is still in the process of being finalised so we are absolutely not going to talk about any of the elements now."

John Kerry meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank

Secretary of State Kerry also said that Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat and his Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni would meet him in Washington "to begin initial talks within the next week or so".

The announcement came at the end of four days of intense diplomacy by Mr Kerry as he consulted Israeli and Palestinian leaders from his base in the Jordanian capital.

Talks between the Israelis and Palestinians have been frozen for three years, after Israel refused to agree to a new suspension of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

In his brief comments to the press, Mr Kerry praised the courage of Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Kerry is hoping to get Israel-Palestine peace talks back on track

He said: "No one believes the long-standing differences between the parties will be resolved overnight or just wiped away. We know that the challenges require some very tough choices in the days ahead.

"Today, however, I am hopeful. I am hopeful because of the courageous leadership by President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Both of them have chosen to make difficult choices here and both of them were instrumental."

President Abbas' office said there had been "progress" towards resuming peace talks with Israel in the meeting with Mr Kerry.

But a presidency spokesman stressed there were still "specific details that need to be resolved," without saying what these were.

An Israeli official said if the peace negotiations with Palestinians did resume, they would take months.

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Oscar Grant Film 'Highlights Racial Tensions'

By Greg Milam, US Correspondent

The mother of a young black man, whose high-profile death sparked protests similar to those over the killing of Trayvon Martin, has told Sky News that America is failing to tackle the problem of racial profiling.

Oscar Grant was shot and killed by a transport police officer in Oakland, California, on New Year's Eve in 2008 as he lay restrained on the ground.

His killing was filmed by passengers on a waiting metro train and it led to days of riots in the city east of San Francisco.

The officer, who claimed he was reaching for his Taser and grabbed his gun by mistake, was later cleared of murder, prompting more protests.

Now, with America again debating the role of race in the justice system, a movie about Oscar Grant's killing is about to be released nationwide.

Fruitvale Station, named after the metro stop where he died, stars Michael B Jordan and Octavia Spencer, and was lauded at the Sundance Film Festival.

Octavia Spencer (L) and Michael B Jordan (second L) star in the film

Oscar's mother Wanda Johnson says the film was painful to watch but contains an important message.

She told Sky News: "An African-American or a brown life doesn't matter to the judicial system so we want people to know that their lives, our lives, matter and that they are loved."

She said Oscar's family wanted the movie to be made, adding: "They say time heals wounds but it was still very fresh. I almost cried through the whole movie."

The officer who killed Oscar was released after serving 10 months in a county jail for involuntary manslaughter.

Oscar's family was represented by celebrated civil rights lawyer John Burris, who also appeared for police beating victim Rodney King and rapper Tupac.

He said: "Trayvon Martin's case has created this real fear among vast majority of the African-American community, particularly mothers, that their son could be accosted by some gun-toting vigilante and shot and killed and there'd be no justification and no vindication for it.

Trayvon Martin's death sparked protests across the US

"I'd like to think that's not true. I don't want that to be true but when you have evidence time and time again, you know it can be true."

Oakland is a city with a history of tension between the black community and police and it was the place that gave birth to the Black Panther movement.

A church stands where the Panthers first met and Reverend Daniel Buford, a friend of the Grant family, says little is changing in America.

He said: "Consistent with the framers' intent of the US Constitution, black people, at the time they wrote that document, were only considered to be three-fifths of a human being.

"I don't see where that has changed at all in the way the institutions deal with us, particularly regarding justice.

"White people have five-fifths of justice, we have three-fifths of it and that is what you get in the Trayvon Martin case and the Oscar Grant case."

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Obama: Trayvon 'Could Have Been Me' Years Ago

Barack Obama has said Trayvon Martin "could have been me 35 years ago" and urged Americans to do some "soul-searching" about the country's racial history.

The President took the rare step of speaking about his own personal experiences of racism, as he talked openly for the first time since a man was cleared of killing a black teenager in Florida last week.

In the aftermath of the acquittal of George Zimmerman, a neighbourhood watch volunteer, Mr Obama had issued only a statement urging calm.

But on televised remarks, he said: "When Trayvon Martin was first shot, I said that this could have been my son. Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago."

The President said black Americans feel pain after the verdict because they view the case through "a set of experiences and a history that doesn't go away".

Mr Obama, the country's first African-American president, spoke emotionally about the kind of subconscious racial profiling that blacks, especially young black men, continue to suffer in the country.

The case, rife with racial overtones, have prompted protests across the US

"There are very few African-American men in this country who haven't had the experience of being followed when they are shopping at a department store - and that includes me.

"There are very few African-American men who haven't had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars - that happened to me, at least before I was a senator."

Mr Obama said that violence would "dishonour" Trayvon's death.

Trayvon, 17, was shot to death by Mr Zimmerman, who describes himself as Hispanic, during a confrontation in a gated community in Florida in 2012.

Trayvon, who was unarmed and had been visiting his father, was followed by Mr Zimmerman. 

Mr Zimmerman said Trayvon assaulted him and he fired his gun in self-defence.

A jury last week agreed with his version of events and cleared him of second-degree murder charges.

The President declined to wade into the detail of legal questions about the case, saying: "Once the jury's spoken, that's how our system works."

Trayvon's parents have said they were shocked at the verdict

But he said state and local laws, such as Florida's "stand your ground" statute, need a close look.

Mr Obama said it would be useful "to examine some state and local laws to see if they are designed in such a way that they may encourage the kinds of confrontation" that led to Trayvon's death.

He questioned whether a law that sends the message that someone who is armed "has the right to use those firearms even if there is a way for them to exit from a situation" really promotes the peace and security that people want.

Trayvon's parents said in a statement they were honoured by Mr Obama's "beautiful tribute" to their son.

"What touches people is that our son, Trayvon Benjamin Martin, could have been their son," they said. "President Obama sees himself in Trayvon and identifies with him. This is a beautiful tribute to our boy."

Meanwhile, Mr Zimmerman's brother, Robert, said he was "glad" Mr Obama had spoken out.

"No matter what you think of the verdict, there have to be things that bring us together," he told Fox News.

Sky's US Correspondent Amanda Walker said some Americans will feel Mr Obama has "gone too far" but added: "For many African-Americans there will be a sense of relief - relief that could calm the mood of a series of protests planned for the weekend."

Trayvon's parents have spoken of their shock at the verdict, and several protests have been staged across the US.

The Justice Department has said it plans to review the case to determine whether federal prosecutors should file criminal civil rights charges now that Mr Zimmerman has been acquitted.

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LA Violence: Zimmerman Verdict Sparks Clashes

By Tom Parmenter in Washington DC

Violent clashes have broken out between police and protesters in Los Angeles after George Zimmerman's acquittal over the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin.

The LAPD said officers fired non-lethal bean bag rounds to disperse the crowd after protesters threw batteries and rocks at police.

Protesters have been marching on I-10 highway in the Crenshaw neighbourhood in southwestern LA.

Protesters have been demonstrating on the I-10 highway

In New York, Times Square has been closed to traffic to prevent a similar protests from getting out of control.  

Mr Zimmerman, a neighbourhood watch volunteer, was cleared on Saturday of the second-degree murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida.

A police officer pushes back a protester on the highway in LA

Trayvon had been pursued through a gated community before he was shot.

The verdict has sparked protests in towns and cities all over the US.

The protests in LA caused traffic chaos

While many people believe the jury got it right in deciding that Mr Zimmerman acted in self-defence, many others believe it has again exposed deep racial divisions.

Some of the biggest demonstrations were staged in NY where thousands of people gathered in Union Square and then later in Times Square.

New Yorker Stacey Ann Chin said: "I have a black child growing up in New York City.

Times Square has been closed to traffic due to the protests

"And I felt like I had to get out of my house today, and motivate the household and get everyone out to come and show a presence, some evidence of resistance, some evidence of our displeasure or our aghast, unbelief about what has happened. "

Carmella Alston, also from New York, said : "I just know that my ancestors, my great-grandmothers, my grandmothers all marched before with Malcolm, Martin, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and even marched with Al Sharpton.

"And I didn't think at this age I will have to be going through this as well."

Mr Zimmerman (R) was acquitted of Trayvon's murder

US President Barack Obama has called for "calm reflection" in the wake of Mr Zimmerman's acquittal.

"The death of Trayvon Martin was a tragedy. Not just for his family, or for any one community, but for America," Mr Obama said in a statement.

"I know this case has elicited strong passions. And in the wake of the verdict I know those passions are running even higher. But we are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken."

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Ecuador Volcano Tungurahua Erupts And Explodes

At least 200 people have been forced to leave their homes after a volcano in Ecuador erupted and spewed ash miles into the air.

The "strong explosion" at the Tungurahua volcano could be felt hundreds of miles away, the Geophysics Institute reported.

It spewed stones, gases and ash more than 5km (3.1 miles) into the sky, authorities said.

The clouds of ash and gas could be seen as far away as the capital Quito, about 153km (95 miles) north of the volcano.

There were no reported deaths, according to local media.

Authorities declared an "orange alert", the second highest warning level after red, following the eruption at 6.47am local time on Sunday.

Villages near the volcano on the eastern Andean range were evacuated, said Lourdes Mayorga from the National Risk Management Secretariat.

Some residents had problems leaving because of the volcanic rocks and minor flooding following heavy rains.

After remaining dormant for eight decades, Tungurahua - which means "throat of fire" - rumbled back to life in 1999 and has been active ever since.

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Five Jamaican Athletes Fail Drug Tests

Five Jamaican athletes, including Asafa Powell, have tested positive for banned performance-enhancing drugs, according to the country's anti-doping authority.

Herb Elliott, chairman of the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO), confirmed the body had received "reports of adverse analytical findings from 'A' samples."

He said: "The process of the result management has commenced in accordance with the JADCO anti-doping rules.

"We cannot disclose any further information until the athletes have responded to notification of the 'A' sample."

Sherone Simpson won a silver medal at London 2012

Sprinter Asafa Powell was revealed to be one of the athletes after his management company confirmed he had failed a drugs test.

And Olympic relay silver medallist Sherone Simpson also admitted she had tested positive for a stimulant after last month's national championship.

Powell's agent Paul Doyle confirmed the former 100m world record holder had tested positive for a banned substance.

The 30-year-old has won gold medals in the 4x100m relay at the Olympics and World Championships and is a former world record holder.

In a statement, Powell said: "I can confirm that a sample I gave at the national trials in June last year this year has returned 'adverse findings'.

"The substance oxilofrine (methylsynephrine) was found, which is considered by the authorities to be a banned stimulant.

"I want to be clear in saying to my family, friends, and most of all my fans worldwide that I have never knowingly or willfully taken any supplements or substances that break any rules.

Tyson Gay revealed he had tested positive for an unknown substance

"I am not now - nor have I ever been - a cheat."

Simpson, 28, was a member of the Jamaica team that finished second in the 4x100m relay at London 2012.

In a statement, she said: "This is a very difficult time for me.

"I was notified on July 14, 2013, that my urine sample taken at the National Senior Championship, June 21, 2013, after the 100m finals returned a positive analytical finding for a stimulant, oxilofrine (methylsynephrine).

"As an athlete, I know I am responsible for whatever goes into my body. I would not intentionally take an illegal substance of any form into my system."

Last month, Jamaica's most successful female athlete Veronica Campbell-Brown tested positive for a diuretic, which can be used to mask the use of performancing-enhancing drugs.

The twice Olympic 200 metres champion has been suspended by the Jamaican Athletics Administrative Association pending the outcome of a disciplinary panel hearing.

It comes after former double sprint world champion Tyson Gay announced on Sunday that he had tested positive for a substance he could not identify and was withdrawing from next month's world championships in Moscow.

The American, who had the year's fastest 100 metre time of 9.75 seconds, said he was notified by the US Anti-Doping Agency on Friday that his A sample from an out-of-competition test on May 16 had returned a positive.

He said: "I don't have a sabotage story. I don't have lies ... I basically put my trust in someone and I was let down.

"I made a mistake."

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Eight-Year-Old Saved From Lake Michigan Dune

An eight-year-old boy trapped in a sand dune beside Lake Michigan for several hours has been rescued.

The boy, who has not been named, was playing at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore state park when he partially fell into a hole and then got stuck under 11ft of sand.

It took a crew, using heavy excavating equipment, more than three hours to pull the boy out of the dune, known as Mount Baldy, Lakeshore Ranger Bruce Rowe said.

The boy's family had called the emergency services, saying their son became covered when they tried to dig him out.

Emergency responders from Michigan City were on scene within 15 minutes and began digging by hand, said Mr Rowe.

The boy is carried to an ambulance after his ordeal

"We're investigating the cause," he added.

"I have never heard of anything like this here or at other sand dune parks."

"Mount Baldy will be closed for the weekend for public safety while we determine the cause of the accident and if there's any further danger," said Mr Rowe.

The boy was taken to Franciscan St Anthony Health Medical Centre, but was later flown to a hospital in Chicago, about 50 miles away.

Ranger Bruce Rowe said the incident was unprecedented

Mr Rowe said he understood the boy has vital signs, but did not know his condition.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore covers 15 miles of the southern shore of Lake Michigan. 

Operated by the National Park Service, its website says: "Whether you enjoy scouting for rare species of birds or flying kites on the sandy beach, the national lakeshore's 15,000 acres will continually enchant you. 

"Hikers will enjoy 45 miles of trails over rugged dunes, mysterious wetlands, sunny prairies, meandering rivers, and peaceful forests."

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Moscow Bus Crash: 18 Killed And 25 Injured

Eighteen people have been killed and another 25 injured in a road crash outside Moscow, Russian officials said.

A truck, a bus and several other vehicles were involved and the dead includes a young girl, said the interior ministry.

The accident took place when a truck carrying gravel turned onto a main road and ploughed into the bus, which was broken in two by the force of the collision.

Helicopter teams and 30 ambulance crews were sent to the scene. The number of dead was revised upwards after several of the injured died in hospital.

The crash occurred near Oznobishino, about 25 miles south of Moscow city centre.

Officials said some injuries were serious as bus passengers were also hit with gravel being carried on the truck.

Moscow deputy mayor Pyotr Birukov said that the truck's driver, a 46-year-old Armenian who survived the crash, had been fined for traffic offences six times over the last year.

 Moscow authorities said the city would observe a day of mourning on Monday in memory of the victims.

Russia has one of the world's worst road safety records with some 25,000 people losing their lives in traffic accidents every year, although the government is trying to improve the situation with measures including a zero-tolerance ban on drink driving.

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Trayvon Martin: George Zimmerman Acquitted

George Zimmerman has been acquitted of all charges over the fatal shooting of black teenager Travyon Martin in Florida.

Mr Zimmerman was freed after the jury deliberated for more than 15 hours over two days in the second-degree murder trial.

The jurors notified the judge on Saturday night, shortly before 10pm local time, that they had reached a decision.

Minutes later the verdict was announced. Mr Zimmerman stood impassively as the verdict was read out.

Supporters of Trayvon Martin outside court after the verdict was reached

The parents of the teenager were not in court for the verdict.

But outside the court supporters of Trayvon reacted with disappointment and anger.

Some chanted and held up a large banner saying "End racial oppression", while others yelled "No" in disbelief at the acquittal.

The six-member, all-woman jury began deliberating at 2.30pm on Friday after spending part of the day listening to the defence team's closing arguments and a rebuttal from the prosecution.

George Zimmerman is congratulated by his defence team

The jurors considered nearly three weeks of often wildly conflicting testimony over who was the aggressor on the rainy night the 17-year-old was shot while walking through the gated townhouse community where he was staying.

Mr Zimmerman's lawyers said the case was classic self-defence, claiming Trayvon knocked Mr Zimmerman down and was slamming the older man's head against the concrete footpath when Mr Zimmerman fired his pistol.

Trayvon Martin was shot dead in a gated community

"We're ecstatic with the results," defence lawyer Mark O'Mara said after the verdict.

"George Zimmerman was never guilty of anything except protecting himself in self-defence."

Another member of his defence team, Don West, said: "I'm glad this jury kept this tragedy from becoming a travesty."

Prosecutors called Mr Zimmerman a liar and portrayed him as a wannabe police officer and vigilante who had grown frustrated by break-ins in his neighbourhood committed primarily by young black men.

The teen's death drew protests in cities across America

They said Mr Zimmerman assumed the teen was up to no good and took the law into his own hands.

The case divided public opinion in the United States, with even President Barack Obama commenting on the shooting. Congressman Bobby Rush wore a "hoodie" in the House of Representatives in support of Trayvon.

Further criticism came from the 44-day delay before Mr Zimmerman was arrested.

Trayvon's father was not in court for the verdict

After hearing the verdict, judge Debra Nelson told the defendant he was free to go and the GPS tracking tag unit would be removed.

"You have no further business with this court," she said.

Mr Zimmerman later hugged his family, and his wife Shellie smiled and cried.

Fearing further social unrest over the controversial shooting, the police chief in Sanford, where Trayvon Martin was shot and where the trial was held, urged peace.

State Attorney Angela Corey said she believed second-degree murder was the appropriate charge because Mr Zimmerman's mindset "fit the bill of second-degree murder."

"We charged what we believed we could prove," Ms Corey said.

Second-degree murder is classed as a death that does not include specific intent to kill, and the trial centred on the state's controversial self-defence rule of "Stand Your Ground".

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