Written By Unknown on Selasa, 16 Desember 2014 | 23.12
Actor-director Seth Rogen has said his film comedy about the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was not meant to be controversial.
Rogen, who wrote, produced and directed The Interview with filmmaking partner Evan Goldberg, said the film is "very silly", and had not expected the media storm around the production.
The film parody has infuriated Pyongyang, which declared it 'an act of war'
The movie, about a fictional CIA plot to assassinate the leader of the isolated communist state, has infuriated Pyongyang, which has previously declared it an "act of war", and warned of "merciless retaliation".
And there has been speculation that a damaging cyber-attack on Sony Pictures was in retaliation for the film.
Video:The Interview: Trailer
The hack, by a group calling itself the Guardians Of Peace, crippled key systems at the company and led to the leaking of thousands of damaging documents and five films online.
Rogen told ABC : "I don't know if the hacking honestly is because of our movie, definitively or not. I know that it has been the centre of a lot of media attention lately.
"The movie itself is very silly and wasn't meant to be controversial in any way."
Rogen said the film goes to great lengths to separate the North Korean regime from the country's people, saying they were "victims of a horrible situation".
Video:2 Dec: Did North Korea Hack Sony?
North Korea has denied involvement in the cyber-attack - but hailed it as a "righteous deed".
In the latest leak, emails have been published of the leading US screenwriter Aaron Sorkin saying female leading Hollywood film roles are "nothing close to the degree of difficulty" of their male counterparts.
The writer of The Social Network reportedly said: "Year in and year out, the guy who wins the Oscar for Best Actor has a much higher bar to clear than the woman who wins Best Actress."
In other disclosures, the script of the next James Bond film was made public, while senior Sony executive were forced to apologise after an email exchange emerged of them listing films US President Barack Obama must like because they star African Americans.
Pakistan's prime minister Nawaz Sharif has called the Taliban's massacre at a school in Peshawar a "national tragedy".
The province has been the target of frequent militant attacks in the past.
The Pakistani Taliban said the attack on the military-run school was "revenge" for a widespread military operation in the North Waziristan tribal area earlier this year.
The group, called Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was formed in 2007, in the aftermath of the siege of the Red Mosque in Islamabad.
A radical stands in front of the Red Mosque in 2007
The group's first leader Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a US missile attack in August 2009.
TTP is an umbrella for militant groups, united in fighting the Pakistani military.
It aims to impose a strict interpretation of the Koran throughout the country.
Here are just some of the attacks they have been linked to in recent years:
:: Benazir Bhutto Assassination 2007
Pakistan's government accused TTP of involvement in the assassination of the former prime minister in December 2007, although the group denies it.
:: Marriott Hotel Bombing 2008
A Taliban-linked group claimed responsibility for the September 2008 truck bomb attack on the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, which killed 53 people.
:: Times Square Plot 2010
Baitullah Mehsud was succeeded by Hakimullah Mehsud, who pledged to use suicide bombers in the US. He was behind the failed truck bomb attack in New York's Times Square in May 2010.
The US Department of State formally declared the group a terrorist organisation in September 2010, with the UK and Canada following suit in 2011.
:: Malala Yousafzai Shooting 2012
In October 2012 the Taliban shot the schoolgirl in the head outside her school in Swat Valley for daring to speak about girls' rights.
She survived, and went on the win the Nobel Peace Prize.
:: Karachi Airport Attack 2014
After peace talks with the Pakistan government in June 2014 failed, the Taliban attacked Karachi Airport, killing 26 people.
A week later the Pakistan military began a major military offensive, Operation Zarb e Azb in the Waziristan region, which has seen hundreds of militants killed.
Sydney is recovering after a siege that saw armed police burst into a cafe and rescue most of the hostages that were being held there.
A carpet of flowers appeared within hours of the siege ending, with a number of mourners visiting the spot to pay their respects.
Barrister Katrina Dawson, 38, and cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34, died along with hostage-taker Man Haron Monis during a 16-hour siege at the Lindt cafe in Sydney's financial district.
The area near the cafe remained cordoned off on Tuesday morning, but many shocked commuters stopped nearby in silence to honour those who died.
Angelica Haifa, who was one of those who brought flowers, told AFP: "I'm just here today to pay my respects to the people that lost their lives yesterday. It's so sad.
Video:Sydney Siege Victims Hailed
"They were just going to work like everyone else, just going to get a cup of coffee. That could have been absolutely anyone."
Flags were lowered to half-mast on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and all Commonwealth and New South Wales government buildings.
Representatives from the Muslim community, which had condemned the hostage-taking and the use of a black flag with the Shahada declaration of faith on it, also visited the site to lay flowers.
Video:Police Confirm: 3 Dead, 6 Injured
A number of condolence books were also opened as a service of remembrance got under way in Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral.
The scene of the siege, Martin Place, is Sydney's financial centre and houses several prominent buildings, including the New South Wales parliament, the US consulate, the country's central bank and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
The premier of New South Wales expressed disbelief that the attack could happen in Australia - a place he dubbed "a peaceful, harmonious society which is the envy of the world."
Video:Map - Sydney Siege Location
Premier Mike Baird said: "In the past 24 hours, this city has been shaken by a tragedy that none of us could have ever imagined.
"The values we held dear yesterday we hold dear today. They are the values of freedom, democracy, and harmony. These defined us yesterday, they will define us today, they will define us tomorrow."
In a show of solidarity, many Australians used Twitter to offer to accompany people dressed in Muslim dress who were afraid of a backlash
Video:Sydney Siege Victims Remembered
The hashtag #IllRideWithYou (I'll Ride With You) was used more than 90,000 times by late on Monday evening.
Officers ended the siege after hearing gunfire inside the Lindt cafe where gunman Man Haron Monis had held the group since Monday morning.
Around a dozen hostages were able to flee from the cafe, running towards the waiting emergency services a short distance away.
Video:Sydney Siege: Special Report
Five of the hostages were taken to hospital, three with gunshot wounds, along with a police officer who was grazed in the cheek.
None of those injured were in a life threatening condition.
But two of those who had been held were killed, along with the 50-year-old hostage taker, prompting a flood of emotions from local residents as they returned to Sydney's Central Business district when it began to reopen for work.
Google has gone ahead with its threat to shut down its news service, Google News in Spain, before a Spanish intellectual property law comes into effect in January.
The service, which provided aggregated news content, has been replaced by a message from Google saying it is 'incredibly sad' to announce the removal of Spanish publishers from the site, as well as the closure of Google News in Spain.
The new law, dubbed the Google Tax, will require Spanish publications to charge services such as Google News to feature their content, even if they are prepared to give it away for free. This content includes headlines as well as snippets of articles.
However, Google said this approach was unsustainable because it makes no money from its news service.
It said: "This legislation requires every Spanish publication to charge services like Google News for showing even the smallest snippet from their publications, whether they want to or not. As Google News itself makes no money (we do not show any advertising on the site) this new approach was not sustainable."
The new law has been backed by AEDE, the Spanish Newspaper Publishers' Association, which represents large news organisations.
However, the AEDE is now calling on Spanish government authorities to intervene amid fears that all Spanish news publications will be also dropped from Google's main search engine.
AEDE's Irene Lanzaco told The Spain Report: "We're not asking Google to take a step backwards, we've always been open to negotiations with Google". However, she added, "Google has not taken a neutral stance".
"Of course they are free to close their business, but one thing is the closure of Google News and quite another the positioning in the general index".
Those who use Google's standard search in Spain will still be able to carry out their own search outside of Google News to find articles from Spanish publications.
However, as the law applies to news aggregators, users will not have the top stories sorted for them. Spanish publications can also anticipate a large decline in internet traffic.
The Google News service, a dominant news aggregator, accounts for 80% of the European search market. It is available in over 70 international editions and in 35 languages.
The two victims of the Sydney cafe siege have been hailed as heroes for trying to protect others and tackle the gunman - but who were Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson?
Katrina Dawson was a high-achiever from a privileged background and always seemed on course for great things, said those who knew her.
As a teenager, the barrister topped the state in her exams at a Sydney private school, achieving a "perfect" score in her Higher School Certificate (HSC) exams.
The Ascham School said she was a "stellar" pupil, the debating club captain and a keen sportswoman.
Ms Dawson pictured second right. Pic: Ascham School/ Sydney Morning Herald
It posted a 1995 newspaper cutting on its website showing her smiling alongside her classmates as they celebrated acing their exams.
Her father, Sandy Dawson, is president of the Royal Sydney Golf Club and former boss of Arnott's, one of Australia's biggest food companies.
Video:Sydney Gunman: What We Know
Success ran in her family - and she more than matched her high-flying siblings.
Ms Dawson's brother, also named Sandy, is a renowned defamation lawyer, while another brother, Angus, works for top management consultancy McKinsey.
But she was also a wife - married to another lawyer, Paul Smith - and has three young children, Chloe, Sasha and Oliver.
Belinda Berryman, an old school friend, told Australian media that despite her success Ms Dawson always had time for people.
"She really stood out as a very warm, happy, friendly person - she was someone you thought would always do well in the world," she told 702 ABC Sydney.
"We always say people are amazing but Katrina, she was a really, really sweet girl."
Ms Dawson was reportedly grabbing a coffee with colleagues when she was caught up in the siege - the Lindt cafe is only a few hundred metres from her office.
Video:Sydney Siege: Hostages Read Demands
The lawyer is said to have been shot while trying to shield a pregnant friend.
"These heroes were willing to lay down their lives so others might live," Archbishop Anthony Fisher told a prayer service held in Sydney.
The other hero was the manager of the Lindt cafe, Tori Johnson.
He is said to have died while trying to end the siege and wrestle the gun from hostage-taker Man Haron Monis.
"We are so proud of our beautiful boy Tori," said his parents in a statement.
"Gone from this earth but forever in our memories as the most amazing life partner, son and brother we could have wished for."
Former friends and colleagues described him as "selfless" and a man who always stood up for his staff and gave them credit.
Video:'Everybody Has Come Together'
Peter Manettas, who worked with Mr Johnson for six years at a Sydney seafood restaurant, told ABC: "(He) always gave the credit back to the staff. He always put his staff first.
"He was very humble in his achievements, but very ambitious in what he wanted to achieve."
The 34-year-old was focused on a career in the hotel and restaurant business from an early age and travelled the world to get experience.
His LinkedIn profile shows he started as a teenage porter at a boutique Sydney hotel but soon spread his wings.
Mr Johnson did a stint in a Massachusetts restaurant in 2001 and gained a Hospitality degree from Washington State University the following year.
He then jetted off to the exclusive Kanuhura resort in the Maldives to work as a food and beverage superviser, before heading back to Sydney in 2004.
"By nature he was a perfectionist and he had a genuine passion for the hospitality industry and people," said Lindt's Australian boss in a Facebook post.
Video:"We Must Learn Lessons From This"
"He was a really important part of our management team in Australia and his loss is absolutely tragic."
One woman, Mercedez Hinchcliff, described how Mr Johnson had once hand-made her six-year-old son his first ever Easter egg after hearing he had a rare condition that meant many foods were out of bounds.
"It's definitely something that stuck out in his mind as being one of his best days," she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"It taught him that people go out of their way for people."
Israeli police have arrested 10 members of the extremist group Lehava which has been linked to last month's attack on a Jewish-Arab school in Jerusalem.
The attack, which incited violence against Arabs, sparked a wave of condemnation and came after months of unrest in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
The suspects were arrested at their homes in the Israeli towns of Petah Tikva and Netivot, as well as in Jerusalem and Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Three men accused of starting the school fire are led into court
Police, who also seized computers, said in a statement they had been detained "following incitement and calls for racist acts of violence and terror".
Among those held was Lehava leader Bentzi Gopstein, who lives in the West Bank city of Hebron.
Video:Palestinian Minister Dies
His lawyer, Itamar Ben Gvir, said the arrests were political.
"The police are acting against Lehava even though it's a legal organisation fighting against assimilation," he said, accusing the "left" of pressuring the police into making arrests.
Left-wing MPs have demanded that Lehava be banned as a "terrorist organisation".
Video:Israel Revives House Demolitions
Three Lehava members were arrested last week on suspicion of setting fire to a classroom at the Hand-in-Hand school, which is a rare symbol of coexistence in Jerusalem.
The classroom was badly damaged and slogans, including Death To Arabs and There's No Coexistence With Cancer, were scrawled on the walls in Hebrew.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among those who condemned the attack at the 624-pupil school, which is situated on the Green Line separating west Jerusalem from the annexed eastern sector.
Video:Briton Among Dead In Israel Attack
It came after a series of attacks on Jews, including cars ploughing into groups of pedestrians and an assault on a synagogue in which four worshippers and a policeman were killed.
Lehava activists follow the teachings of the late Meir Kahana, a virulently anti-Arab rabbi whose Kach party was banned in Israel.
In 1994 one Kahana follower, Baruch Goldstein, massacred 29 Muslim worshippers at a Hebron mosque.
Police in Iran say Sydney cafe gunman Man Horan Monis was wanted in his home country over a fraud committed almost 20 years ago.
Three people died as the 16-hour siege came to a dramatic end just after 2am local time when armed police stormed the building.
One was the 50-year-old "lone gunman" who Iranian police say fled to Malaysia after committing fraud while working as the manager of a travel agency in 1996.
Following legal proceedings in 2000, Iran's judiciary reportedly informed Interpol about his crime and demanded his extradition from Australia.
Australia allegedly refused to do so, saying it did not have a criminal extradition agreement with Iran.
Video:"We Must Learn Lessons From This"
Shortly after laying flowers near the scene, prime minister Tony Abbott labelled radical group Islamic State a "death cult" and said there were questions to be answered over why Monis had been freed on bail.
He confirmed that he was not on a terrorism watch list.
"This has been an absolutely appalling and ugly incident - that's the only way to describe it. Our hearts go out to the families of Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson. These were decent ordinary people who were going about their ordinary lives.
"Decent, innocent people who were caught up in the sick fantasy of a deeply disturbed individual."
He added Monis "certainly had been well-known to the Australian Federal Police... but I don't believe that he was on a terror watch list at this time."
A year before the cafe siege Monis was released on bail after being accused of involvement in his wife's murder, adding to a string of sex charges against him.
Video:Map - Sydney Siege Location
Police deputy commissioner Catherine Burn commented: "He was on bail and in terms of that matter, his movements will form part of the critical investigation.
"He has clearly made some statements. This is a man who had a serious history of offences and a history of violence. A man we do believe had some extremist views and we also believe he was unstable.
"We will clearly have a look at all the things we can find out about him so we can determine what might have triggered anything."
She refused to speculate on the actions of the cafe manager, when asked if he had acted heroically.
"I'm not going to talk about individual actions at all. This will all come out in time but can I just say every single one of the hostages, every single one of those victims was courageous," she added.
Earlier, police commissioner Andrew Scipione told reporters that 17 hostages had been accounted for in total, including five who escaped early in the attack.
Video:Sydney Siege: Special Report
He added that the Lindt cafe had been secured and no explosive devices found.
Mr Scipione said the incident was "isolated" and urged people not to "speculate" about what had happened, adding police believed more lives could have been lost had they not taken action.
"Events that were unfolding inside the premises led them to the belief that now was the time to actually deploy, and they did," he said.
"I understand there were a number of gunshots that were heard, which caused officers to move towards an emergency action plan."
The deputy chairman of Russia's central bank has conceded the rouble is in deep trouble but says it will take action to remedy the problem soon.
"The situation is critical. We could not imagine this in our worst nightmare a year ago," Sergei Shvetsov was quoted by the Russian news agency Interfax as saying.
He said the shock overnight hike in its key interest rate from 10.5% to 17% "will be followed by other measures to stabilise the situation".
Despite the increase the rouble continued to fall sharply throughout the day, hitting the 80 to the dollar mark and decreasing in value by 20% in a matter of hours.
"Trust me, the choice the central bank's board of directors made was one between bad and much, much worse," Mr Shvetsov added.
Video:Russian Economy In A Crisis
"In the coming days, the situation will be comparable with the toughest period of 2008. I think that the experience we accumulated over the past crises will help us find the right solution and survive this situation. I very much hope so."
The Bank of Russia's shock decision to up its core rate was a response to the rouble's value sinking by almost 50% over the course of the year - hit by Western sanctions imposed over the Ukraine conflict and plummeting oil prices.
It was also intended to settle nerves back home as fears grow that the extent of Russia's economic problems - largely unreported by state media - could spark panic among consumers as price rises become unmanageable.
By raising interest rates, the bank also hoped investors would find it more financially appealing to keep their money in Russia, whose economy relies heavily on oil revenues.
Central bank chairwoman Elvira Nabiullina said earlier the move should stem inflation, although she admitted it will take the rouble "some time" to find its correct value.
Russian stocks fell slightly on Tuesday morning with the MICEX benchmark 1.5% lower, reflecting the additional pressure on businesses.
Video:What's Causing Falling Oil Prices?
Falls of more than 50% in world oil prices are tipped to plunge Russia into recession next year.
On Tuesday the value of Brent crude slipped to new five-year low, falling below $60-per-barrel for the first time since July 2009.
The Bank Of Russia had raised the rate from 5.5% earlier this year to 10.5% just last Thursday.
It said then that it expected inflation to run at 10% this year and climb higher in the first quarter of 2015.
But the rouble has plunged further against the dollar this week, to 65 on Monday and then 80 on Tuesday, after dropping from 55 roubles last week.
Alexei Kudrin, Russia's finance minister from 2000-2011, said on Twitter: "The fall of the rouble is not just a reaction to low oil prices and the sanctions but also (a show of) distrust to economic policies of the government."
Video:Putin Points Finger At The West
He called on Russian president Vladimir Putin to take appropriate measures, although he did not specify what these should be.
Moscow's involvement in Ukraine has led to the US and the European Union imposing a range of sanctions which have added to Russia's economic woes.
These have included blocking Western financial markets to key Russian companies and limiting imports of some technologies.
Further sanctions are likely after the US Congress passed legislation on Monday that could see Washington providing weapons and other assistance to Ukraine.
Jeb Bush has announced he will "actively explore" a run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.
The son of former President George HW Bush and brother of former President George W Bush has long been rumoured to be mulling a bid for the White House.
"I am excited to announce I will actively explore the possibility of running for President of the United States," Mr Bush posted on Twitter.
The former Florida governor is the first potential Republican candidate to formally move toward a presidential bid.
A spokeswoman for Mr Bush said a "final decision" on whether to run will come in 2015 after he gauges support for a potential campaign.
Sky News' Dominic Waghorn in Washington said launching an exploratory committee allows Mr Bush to begin setting up the complex apparatus required to run a presidential bid.
In a message on Facebook, Mr Bush told followers he plans to set up a political action committee (PAC) to "facilitate conversations with citizens across America to discuss the most critical challenges facing our exceptional nation".
The PAC also gives the former governor a much-needed tool to raise money.
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
Video:Children Killed In Pakistan Attack
Taliban gunmen have killed 141 people, including at least 132 children, in a school attack in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Nine men stormed the army-run school while around 500 children and teachers were believed to be inside, with many students taking exams at the time.
Most of the victims of the country's deadliest terror attack were killed in the first few hours as the gunman fired bullets indiscriminately at pupils and teachers.
A local hospital said the dead - and the more than 120 who were injured - were aged from 10 to 20 years old.
"One of my teachers was crying, she was shot in the hand and she was crying in pain," Shahrukh Khan, 15, who was shot in both legs, said.
1/22
Gallery: Taliban In Deadly School Raid
Pakistani men help an injured student to a hospital following an attack by Taliban gunmen on a school in Peshawar
Rescue workers and family members carry the coffin of a student, who was killed during the attack
]]>
Ambulances, carrying schoolchildren, make their way from the school
]]>
]]>
Students have told of their terror as the school was stormed
]]>
"One terrorist then walked up to her and started shooting her until she stopped making any sound. All around me my friends were lying injured and dead."
Teachers and pupils were held hostage by the Tehreek-e-Taliban gunmen before the army stormed the building in a bid to end a battle which raged for almost nine hours.
As darkness fell, a military source said "the operation is complete," adding that all nine militants were dead.
Local media reported that the men managed to slip past the school's tight security because they were wearing Pakistani military uniforms.
The Taliban said the militants were equipped with suicide vests and there were fears of more casualties when three explosions were heard inside the school.
Video:Teacher Describes Taliban Siege
"We selected the army's school for the attack because the government is targeting our families and females," said Taliban spokesman Muhammad Umar Khorasani.
"We want them to feel our pain."
Police struggled to hold back distraught parents trying to break past a cordon and get to the school as the loud explosions went off inside.
"My son was in uniform in the morning. He is in a casket now," wailed one parent, Tahir Ali, as he came to the hospital to collect the body of his 14-year-old son Abdullah. "My son was my dream. My dream has been killed."
Video and photos showed other young children in their green uniforms being led away from the school by soldiers and an army helicopter flying overhead.
Video:Students' Terror In Taliban Raid
A school bus driver said: "We were standing outside the school and firing suddenly started and there was chaos everywhere and the screams of children and teachers."
The school is located on the edge of a military cantonment in Peshawar, but the majority of the students are civilian.
One of the wounded students, Abdullah Jamal, said that he was with a group of 8th, 9th and 10th graders who were getting first-aid instructions and training with a team of Pakistani army medics when the violence began for real.
When the shooting started, Abdullah, who was shot in the leg, said nobody knew what was going on in the first few seconds.
"Then I saw children falling down who were crying and screaming. I also fell down. I learned later that I have got a bullet," he said, speaking from his hospital bed.
Video:Schoolchildren Rushed To Hospital
"All the children had bullet wounds. All the children were bleeding," Abdullah added.
Pakistan's prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who has arrived in the area, called the massacre a "national tragedy".
Education campaigner and Nobel peace prize winner Malala Yousafzai, who left Pakistan after being shot by the Taliban, said: "I am heartbroken by this senseless and cold-blooded act of terror in Peshawar that is unfolding before us."
The 17-year-old said she and millions of others "mourn these children, my brothers and sisters but we will never be defeated".
British Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the attack and called it "deeply shocking".
Video:Why Did Taliban Target Children?
"It's horrifying that children are being killed simply for going to school," he said.
Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain
Top Stories
Pakistan Taliban's Terror Grip On Population
Ex-Teacher Guilty Of Abusing Kenya Street Boys
Breaking News: G4S Guards Cleared Over Deportee Death
Rouble 'Critical' After Hitting All-Time Low
Rouble Woes: Six Stages Of A Currency Crisis
Pakistan Militants Kill 141 In School Massacre
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
Video:Children Killed In Pakistan Attack
Taliban gunmen have killed 141 people, including at least 132 children, in a school attack in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Nine men stormed the army-run school while around 500 children and teachers were believed to be inside, with many students taking exams at the time.
Most of the victims of the country's deadliest terror attack were killed in the first few hours as the gunman fired bullets indiscriminately at pupils and teachers.
A local hospital said the dead - and the more than 120 who were injured - were aged from 10 to 20 years old.
"One of my teachers was crying, she was shot in the hand and she was crying in pain," Shahrukh Khan, 15, who was shot in both legs, said.
1/22
Gallery: Taliban In Deadly School Raid
Pakistani men help an injured student to a hospital following an attack by Taliban gunmen on a school in Peshawar
Rescue workers and family members carry the coffin of a student, who was killed during the attack
]]>
Ambulances, carrying schoolchildren, make their way from the school
]]>
]]>
Students have told of their terror as the school was stormed
]]>
"One terrorist then walked up to her and started shooting her until she stopped making any sound. All around me my friends were lying injured and dead."
Teachers and pupils were held hostage by the Tehreek-e-Taliban gunmen before the army stormed the building in a bid to end a battle which raged for almost nine hours.
As darkness fell, a military source said "the operation is complete," adding that all nine militants were dead.
Local media reported that the men managed to slip past the school's tight security because they were wearing Pakistani military uniforms.
The Taliban said the militants were equipped with suicide vests and there were fears of more casualties when three explosions were heard inside the school.
Video:Teacher Describes Taliban Siege
"We selected the army's school for the attack because the government is targeting our families and females," said Taliban spokesman Muhammad Umar Khorasani.
"We want them to feel our pain."
Police struggled to hold back distraught parents trying to break past a cordon and get to the school as the loud explosions went off inside.
"My son was in uniform in the morning. He is in a casket now," wailed one parent, Tahir Ali, as he came to the hospital to collect the body of his 14-year-old son Abdullah. "My son was my dream. My dream has been killed."
Video and photos showed other young children in their green uniforms being led away from the school by soldiers and an army helicopter flying overhead.
Video:Students' Terror In Taliban Raid
A school bus driver said: "We were standing outside the school and firing suddenly started and there was chaos everywhere and the screams of children and teachers."
The school is located on the edge of a military cantonment in Peshawar, but the majority of the students are civilian.
One of the wounded students, Abdullah Jamal, said that he was with a group of 8th, 9th and 10th graders who were getting first-aid instructions and training with a team of Pakistani army medics when the violence began for real.
When the shooting started, Abdullah, who was shot in the leg, said nobody knew what was going on in the first few seconds.
"Then I saw children falling down who were crying and screaming. I also fell down. I learned later that I have got a bullet," he said, speaking from his hospital bed.
Video:Schoolchildren Rushed To Hospital
"All the children had bullet wounds. All the children were bleeding," Abdullah added.
Pakistan's prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who has arrived in the area, called the massacre a "national tragedy".
Education campaigner and Nobel peace prize winner Malala Yousafzai, who left Pakistan after being shot by the Taliban, said: "I am heartbroken by this senseless and cold-blooded act of terror in Peshawar that is unfolding before us."
The 17-year-old said she and millions of others "mourn these children, my brothers and sisters but we will never be defeated".
British Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the attack and called it "deeply shocking".
Video:Why Did Taliban Target Children?
"It's horrifying that children are being killed simply for going to school," he said.
Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain
Top Stories
Pakistan Taliban's Terror Grip On Population
Ex-Teacher Guilty Of Abusing Kenya Street Boys
Breaking News: G4S Guards Cleared Over Deportee Death
Written By Unknown on Selasa, 09 Desember 2014 | 23.12
A German court has thrown out a case against a former soldier over the Nazis' worst Second World War atrocity on French soil.
The 89-year-old former soldier - referred to as Werner C - was charged in January with the killing in 1944 of 25 people in the village of Oradour-sur-Glane and aiding and abetting the murder of several hundred people.
But the Cologne state court in the region where the ex-soldier lives rejected the case, citing a lack of evidence.
In its ruling, the court said: "In a trial, it could probably only be proved the suspect was in the area during the massacre in Oradour-sur-Glane as he has consistently maintained.
"This mere presence is not enough to prove accessory to murder without the proof of other circumstances."
Video:Jan 14: Ex-SS Man's Massacre Charge
In total, 642 people - including 254 women and 207 children - were massacred in the tiny village by SS troops in a crime so horrific that it left a lasting scar on France.
The accused, who was 19 when the atrocity was carried out, said he was in the village but never fired a shot and was not in any way involved in the murders.
He was part of the 3rd Company of the 1st Battalion of the Der Fuehrer regiment of the fanatical SS's "Das Reich" division.
Four days after the D-Day landings in Normandy, the company attacked Oradour-sur-Glane in reprisal for the French Resistance's kidnapping of a German soldier.
The troops herded the civilians into barns and into the church, blocked the doors and then set fire to the entire town. Those not killed in the blazes were shot as they tried to flee, though a handful did manage to escape.
Dortmund prosecutors had alleged the accused went to the village church where the women and children were being held prisoner and members of the unit used explosives, automatic weapons and hand grenades to kill many of them.
Prosecutor Andreas Brendel, who led the investigation, said he was surprised by the court's decision but that it was too early to say whether he would appeal.
The case was reopened 70 years after the event based on German prosecutors' review of earlier investigations.
The charges were part of a last-ditch attempt by the German justice system to prosecute crimes committed under the Nazis.
However, the age of the suspects and the difficulty of establishing criminal proof seven decades after the crimes has meant that few of the defendants have gone on to serve time in prison.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have met celebrities including rapper Jay Z and pop star Beyonce as they continue their three-day US tour.
The royal couple sat courtside at the Barclays Centre for the Cleveland Cavaliers' win over the Brooklyn Nets.
William and Kate chatted with the multiple Grammy winners during a break in play.
They also met four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and double Olympian LeBron James before he took to the court.
Outside the Barclays Centre several dozen protesters called for justice for black men who have been victims of police violence in recent months.
Video:British Royals Meet Showbiz Royals
James was among several NBA players who wore "I can't breathe" T-shirts as they warmed up for the game to show their support for protests which have been held across the US.
The slogan has been used to call attention to the death of Eric Garner, who died after a New York police officer used a chokehold during an arrest in July.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge began their whirlwind US visit with separate stops in Washington and New York on Monday.
Video:King James Embraces Kate
Prince William sat with President Barack Obama at the White House, while Kate visited a child development centre in Harlem.
As reporters crammed into the Oval Office to snap photos, William could be heard discussing the "excitement" surrounding the birth of his son George in 2013.
He confessed to Mr Obama that in the "chaos" of the delivery room he forgot to ask if Prince George was a boy or a girl.
Video:Prince William Meets Barack Obama
"I remember when George was born I forgot to actually work out whether it was a boy or a girl," William was heard telling the President as the two shared pleasantries.
He added that he expects 2015 to be a "busy year", when Kate is due to give birth to their second child.
Kate, who is five months pregnant, landed in New York with her husband on Sunday night. The two were greeted by cheering crowds as they arrived at their Manhattan hotel.
1/20
Gallery: The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge In US For Three-Day Visit
The Duchess of Cambridge is pictured visiting a centre for disadvantaged children in Harlem, New York
She was greeted by Chirlane McCray, the wife of the city's mayor Bill de Blasio, who joined her for the visit
Moments after Shrien Dewani was ruled not guilty of murder, his wife Anni's family told Sky News: "The justice system has failed us."
Ms Dewani's sister Ami Denborg was in tears as she spoke to Sky News Special Correspondent Alex Crawford outside the court in Cape Town.
And later, in an interview with Sky News Tonight, Ms Denborg and her brother Anish Hindocha explained why the family was so distraught that a judge had decided to throw out the case against Mr Dewani without him even being called to give evidence.
"We don't care if he's innocent or guilty, we just want to know what happened to Anni," said Ms Denborg.
Shrien Dewani appeared to breathe a sigh of relief after the verdict
"The only way to find out was to hear Shrien under cross-examination under oath telling his version of events. That right has just been taken away from us.
"We've been patient because we had hoped we'd get to the truth but today we just don't know what to think - we were so disappointed and so sad because this means we'll never, ever get to find out."
Video:Reaction From Anni's Sister Ami
Asked how the family had coped since Anni was murdered in 2010, her brother added: "It's been very tough for our family. We've had four years of hell, literally.
"To see my parents wake up at 3am or 4am every day is a nightmare. What we're trying to do is be strong in front of them but it's been very difficult to cope with."
After the trial collapsed, Ms Denborg struggled to contain her emotions as she read a family statement.
Video:Shrien Dewani's Family 'Very Happy'
Her brother collapsed in tears as she said: "The knowledge of not knowing is going to haunt us for the rest of our lives.
"We had four years of sleepless nights and we will never be able to sleep."
Mr Dewani had declared himself a bisexual on the first day of his trial - something Anni and her family had not known.
Video:Anger Outside Court After Verdict
Her uncle Ashok Hindocha said Ms Dewani would never have agreed to the marriage if she had known about her husband's "secret sex life" and confirmed the family would speak to lawyers about bringing a civil case against Mr Dewani in the UK.
Mr Hindocha added: "As far as Anni's grief-stricken parents are concerned, they would not wish the torture they have endured onto any other mother of father.
"They will live forever with the warm and magical memories of Anni, but these memories will always be tinged with the pain of the fact that closure has not been afforded them."
Video:Dewani Extradition Defended
Mr Dewani's family hugged and cried tears of joy after the verdict was announced.
A relative who spoke through the intercom at the family's home in Bristol told Sky News: "We are very happy."
Nathi Mncube, a spokesman for South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority, said he believed the authorities were right to pursue the case, despite anger at the amount of taxpayers' money spent to bring Mr Dewani before the court.
Video:Judge Dismisses Dewani Charge
He said: "Obviously, we are very disappointed with the outcome today. When we started with the trial this is not what we set out to achieve.
"We believed there was evidence, otherwise we would not have taken the case to court."
Emotions were also running high on the steps of the courthouse, where a lobby group chanted: "Justice for Anni."
Brazilian footballing legend Pele is set to be released from hospital following successful treatment for a urinary tract infection.
The Sao Paulo hospital which has treated the 74-year-old for the past two weeks said he is "doing well" and is ready to be released today.
"(He) does not have any signs of infection," the Albert Einstein Hospital said in a statement.
"Considering his good recovery, his medical team has scheduled his leaving hospital tomorrow (Tuesday)."
Pele will speak to reporters in Sao Paulo at 2.30pm UK time, the hospital added.
1/12
Gallery: Pele's Career In Pictures
Pele signed for Santos in September 1956 at the age of 16. He made his debut in a 7-1 win against Corinthians, scoring the first of his record 1,283 goals in football
He scored on his debut for Brazil, becoming the youngest player to score in international football, aged 16 years and nine months
The growing wealth gap between the middle class and poor households is the single biggest factor affecting a country's economic growth, according to a new global report.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said income equality has a "significant impact" on a nation's ability to expand.
The report looked at countries around the world and estimated by how much growing inequality harmed potential expansion.
"The single biggest impact on growth is the widening gap between the lower middle class and poor households compared to the rest of society," the Paris-based group said.
"Education is the key - a lack of investment in education by the poor is the main factor behind inequality hurting growth."
Video:Why You're Still Getting Poorer
It said almost nine percentage points were missed from the UK's GDP over the two decades preceding the banking-led global financial crisis.
This compared to 10 percentage points in Mexico and New Zealand, and around 6.5% in the US, Italy and Sweden.
It added that greater pre-crash equality in Spain, France and Ireland helped those countries' growth rates.
Video:More Help For White Working Class
The OECD, previously described by The Economist as a "rich-country think tank", said its results showed inequality needed to be central to policy formulation.
It said inequality affects growth by undermining education opportunities for children from poor backgrounds, which in turn hampers social mobility and skill development.
By contrast the OECD, which represents 34 countries, said there was little or no effect on people with middle or high levels of parental education.
Video:Poor White Pupils 'Need Longer Days
"This compelling evidence proves that addressing high and growing inequality is critical to promote strong and sustained growth and needs to be at the centre of the policy debate," OECD secretary-general Angel Gurria said.
"Countries that promote equal opportunity for all from an early age are those that will grow and prosper."
South African prosecutors have argued that Oscar Pistorius' five-year jail term for manslaughter is "shockingly inappropriate" as they try to secure a longer sentence for the athlete.
The Olympian was not in court to hear prosecutor Gerrie Nel argue that Judge Thokozile Masipa misinterpreted the law when she ruled he did not intentionally shoot Steenkamp.
Mr Nel said: "The precedent set by this court is shockingly low."
Defence counsel Barry Roux said the state had failed to show that the court had made a legal rather than factual error, so the conviction and sentence handed to Pistorius should stand.
Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013
The judge listened to arguments from both lawyers for almost three hours and said she would consider the legal issues before making a judgement on Wednesday.
Ahead of the hearing, Reeva Steenkamp's mother told Sky News she hopes the appeal process will help her get the truth about her daughter's death.
Video:Pistorius Trial: The Sentence
June Steenkamp said an increase in the athlete's sentence will not make much difference to her family, but she hoped further court hearings might help bring together "missing pieces of the puzzle" surrounding the night he shot and killed her daughter.
She told Sky's Special Correspondent Alex Crawford: "Anything that can get the truth is fine by me, but it won't actually have anything to do with me.
"I have no influence about it, they're going to be discussing the judge's decision, which I just didn't feel... was suitable."
She said the long murder trial had not provided the answers she had hoped for.
1/6
Gallery: Reeva Steenkamp's Life In Pictures
Reeva Steenkamp, 29, was born in Cape Town and grew up in Port Elizabeth. She went to a convent school and studied law. She was a keen horse rider until she broke her back
She moved to Johannesburg from Cape Town to model for Avon cosmetics. In 2012, Reeva was voted number 45 in the South African FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll
Shrien Dewani has boarded a flight out of South Africa after being cleared of plotting his wife's death on their honeymoon.
The case against the 34-year-old was thrown out by Judge Jeanette Traverso, who ruled that prosecution arguments fell "far below" the level needed for a conviction for the murder of Anni Dewani.
Mr Dewani arrived at Cape Town airport with members of his family and they boarded an Emirates flight to Dubai.
It is believed they will take a connecting flight from there to Britain.
The businessman could face a civil case from Anni Dewani's family
Sky's Special Correspondent Alex Crawford said the businessman, who made no comment, looked "very well" and "very relaxed" despite the chaotic scenes as he was surrounded by dozens of photographers.
He "looked very different to the man who appeared in the dock" on Monday, Crawford added.
Video:Dewani Expected To Return To UK
"He had a full police escort, with at least half a dozen police officers around him. He refused to answer any questions. He looked extremely well," she said.
Mr Dewani, of Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, had denied any involvement in the murder of his 28-year-old wife.
He said she was killed during a botched carjacking during their Cape Town honeymoon in November 2010.
The dismissal of the case led to angry scenes outside court as Mrs Dewani's family criticised the South African justice system.
In a statement read outside the court, the Hindocha family said: "The knowledge of not knowing is going to haunt us for the rest of our lives."
Mrs Dewani's sister Ami Denborg told Sky's Alex Crawford: "The justice system has failed us."
Video:Family 'So Sad And Disappointed'
The family say they will review the case with their lawyers to see if they can file a civil lawsuit against Mr Dewani in the UK.
Three men - Zola Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and gunman Xolile Mngeni - have already been convicted over Mrs Dewani's murder.
Qwabe is currently serving a 25-year sentence. Mngeni was serving life for firing the shot that killed Mrs Dewani, but died from a brain tumour in October.
But Judge Traverso said chief prosecution witness cab driver Tongo's claims about the murder were "riddled with contradictions" and "highly debatable".
Prosecutors claimed Dewani, who is bisexual, wanted to leave the relationship and arranged the carjacking during the couple's trip to South Africa.
But Dewani's defence team argued the case against him was weak.
A knife-wielding man has stabbed a student in the head inside a New York City synagogue before being shot dead by police.
Police say the confrontation happened at 1.40am (6.40am UK time) on Tuesday at the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic headquarters in Brooklyn.
According to witnesses, the attacker was heard saying repeatedly "Kill the Jews," said Chaim Landa, a spokeswoman for Chabad-Lubavitch.
Police said the attacker, identified as 49-year-old Calvin Peters, had a documented history of mental illness.
Reports from Jerusalem said the 22-year-old victim was an Israeli called Levi Rosenblat.
NYPD spokesman Adam Navarro said he was stabbed in the side of the face and was being treated in hospital.
An officer can be seen aiming his gun at the man
Chabad's spokesman in Israel, Rabbi Moni Ender told Army Radio that the attack wasn't terror-related or premeditated.
"Incidents like these happen in Brooklyn every 15 minutes," he said.
Video filmed inside the synagogue showed the attacker refusing to drop the 9in (23cm) knife despite pleas from witnesses.
The man does put it down, but later picks it up again and lunges towards a police officer.
A single shot is then heard but the footage does not capture the man actually being hit.
He was shot once in the torso and pronounced dead in hospital.
The synagogue is open 24 hours a day and at night homeless people go inside to get warm.
"Apparently there was an argument during which the attacker pulled out a kitchen knife and told the Jewish student he was going to kill him," the rabbi said.
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
The stock exchange in Athens is set for its biggest one-day fall since 1987
The Athens stock exchange has plunged by more the 15% over fears political turmoil will hit Greece's fiscal reform measures.
If the drop holds until markets close it would become the biggest one-day fall in almost 30 years.
Investors have been spooked that the country may be forced to hold early general elections.
Concern comes from the prospect of a left-wing opposition party, that currently leads the polls, winning and derailing reforms.
The Syriza party wants a cut to what Greece owes in bailout money, arranged with the so-called troika of the EU, IMF and European Central Bank.
1/9
Gallery: Youth Protests Turn Violent In Athens
A protester holds a placard during clashes at the end of a youth protest to commemorate the six-year anniversary of the fatal shooting of teenager Alexis Grigoropoulos by a police officer
A protester wearing a gas mask holds a black flag in Athens
]]>
The commemoration is held as a close friend of Grigoropoulos, 21-year-old anarchist Nikos Romanos, jailed for attempted bank robbery, is on the 26th day of a hunger strike. Here riot police fire tear gas at protesters
]]>
Greek police take position during clashes. Click through for more pictures
]]>
]]>
Greece has only just announced it has finally come out of a painful six-year recession.
The economic contraction has seen major social, economic and political upheaval in the struggling southern eurozone periphery.
In response to the fresh fears, Greece's government named respected former EU commissioner Stavros Dimas as its presidential candidate in a crucial parliamentary vote this month.
On Monday the government made a surprise move and brought forward the start of the presidential vote by two months to December 17.
There is now the risk of early elections if the government fails to secure a large parliamentary majority to back Mr Dimas' nomination.
The government needs 25 more votes than the 180 it currently holds in its coalition.
The conservative government hopes to bring about an early end to the €240bn (£195bn) bailout that rescued Greece at the height of its debt crisis.
But the programme is deeply unpopular with swathes of society because of the strict austerity conditions and enforced reforms.
The country was hit with a series of protests last weekend, which mirrored numerous violent demonstrations during the height of the reform process.
Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain
Top Stories
Britain To Be Battered By 'Weather Bomb'
Security Fears As CIA Torture Report Released
Breaking News: Live: CIA Reveals Interrogation Techniques
Threat Made To Kidnap And Kill Police Officer
Chaotic Scenes As Dewani Leaves Cape Town
Athens Stock Exchange Drops 15% On New Fears
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
The stock exchange in Athens is set for its biggest one-day fall since 1987
The Athens stock exchange has plunged by more the 15% over fears political turmoil will hit Greece's fiscal reform measures.
If the drop holds until markets close it would become the biggest one-day fall in almost 30 years.
Investors have been spooked that the country may be forced to hold early general elections.
Concern comes from the prospect of a left-wing opposition party, that currently leads the polls, winning and derailing reforms.
The Syriza party wants a cut to what Greece owes in bailout money, arranged with the so-called troika of the EU, IMF and European Central Bank.
1/9
Gallery: Youth Protests Turn Violent In Athens
A protester holds a placard during clashes at the end of a youth protest to commemorate the six-year anniversary of the fatal shooting of teenager Alexis Grigoropoulos by a police officer
A protester wearing a gas mask holds a black flag in Athens
]]>
The commemoration is held as a close friend of Grigoropoulos, 21-year-old anarchist Nikos Romanos, jailed for attempted bank robbery, is on the 26th day of a hunger strike. Here riot police fire tear gas at protesters
]]>
Greek police take position during clashes. Click through for more pictures
]]>
]]>
Greece has only just announced it has finally come out of a painful six-year recession.
The economic contraction has seen major social, economic and political upheaval in the struggling southern eurozone periphery.
In response to the fresh fears, Greece's government named respected former EU commissioner Stavros Dimas as its presidential candidate in a crucial parliamentary vote this month.
On Monday the government made a surprise move and brought forward the start of the presidential vote by two months to December 17.
There is now the risk of early elections if the government fails to secure a large parliamentary majority to back Mr Dimas' nomination.
The government needs 25 more votes than the 180 it currently holds in its coalition.
The conservative government hopes to bring about an early end to the €240bn (£195bn) bailout that rescued Greece at the height of its debt crisis.
But the programme is deeply unpopular with swathes of society because of the strict austerity conditions and enforced reforms.
The country was hit with a series of protests last weekend, which mirrored numerous violent demonstrations during the height of the reform process.
Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain
Top Stories
Britain To Be Battered By 'Weather Bomb'
Security Fears As CIA Torture Report Released
Breaking News: Live: CIA Reveals Interrogation Techniques
The daughter of Korean Air's chairman has resigned from her posts at the airline after being heavily criticised over a first-class row - about nuts.
Cho Hyun-ah delayed a flight from New York to Incheon, South Korea, after forcing the captain to return to the gate so the most senior cabin crew member, the chief purser, could be removed from the plane.
Ms Cho, who was vice president responsible for cabin service at the family-run airline, reportedly took exception to the arrival of some macadamia nuts served in a packet rather than a bowl.
She called over the chief purser who, according to an earlier Korean Air statement, replied with "lies and excuses" when challenged over his crew's knowledge of inflight service procedures.
Ms Cho, who was sitting in first class, then decided the chief purser was "incapable" and the plane taxied back to the gate at New York's JFK Airport where he disembarked, causing a delay of around 10 minutes.
Cho Yang-ho is the airline's chairman and chief executive
Her behaviour on last Friday's flight caused an uproar in South Korea, where she was accused of being petty and arrogant.
"This ugly behaviour by the Korean Air boss' daughter puts the entire nation to shame," Seoul's top business daily, the Maeil Business Newspaper, said in an editorial.
"This is a global embarrassment for South Korea... Korean Air should punish Cho, and she should apologise to the public for disregarding passengers' safety," it said.
The Dong-A Ilbo newspaper said Ms Cho's action had exposed the "sense of entitlement and supercilious attitude" prevalent among the rich.
"Apparently some members of owner families like Cho see their companies like their own kingdom," it added.
After her resignation, the 40-year-old, who joined Korean Air in 1999, issued a statement through the airline.
Korean Air is South Korea's biggest airline
"I feel so sorry for our customers and South Koreans for causing such trouble ... and seek forgiveness from the people who might have been hurt by me," Ms Cho said.
"I will resign from all my posts at Korean Air to take responsibility for the incident," she was quoted as saying.
Her father, Korean Air tycoon Cho Yang-ho, accepted her resignation immediately.
But a Korean Air spokesman later said Ms Cho would keep her title of vice president even though she no longer holds any official role. It is not clear whether she would hold any responsibilities in the future.
South Korea's biggest airline earlier apologised for causing "inconvenience" for passengers but defended Ms Cho's actions as a "reasonable" move to improve inflight service.
The government said it is investigating whether Ms Cho violated any aviation safety laws.
Written By Unknown on Selasa, 02 Desember 2014 | 23.12
On Monday, the Russian rouble suffered its worst one-day crash since the 1998 default crisis.
The currency has lost more than 40% of its value against the dollar since the start of the year, rivalling the Ukrainian hryvnia for the title of world's worst performing currency 2014.
President Putin can blame the West for any economic hardship
International sanctions have played a part, but the vast majority is down to the falling global oil price.
To give you an idea of how that breaks down - Russia's finance minister estimates Western sanctions have cost the country around $40bn, whereas the price of oil has accounted for around $100bn so far.
Video:Oct: Message Sent To Russia At G20
Russia's economy is heavily dependent on oil and gas - they make up approximately two-thirds of the country's exports and around half its budget revenues.
Monday's dramatic slump followed OPEC's decision not to cut production to boost prices - cheaper oil looks set to last for a longer period, forcing markets to reassess Russian assets.
Added to that, Russia's Central Bank abandoned its policy of routine intervention last month - switching to a free-floating rouble, which would be allowed to find its own value, undertaking only to intervene if domestic financial stability was threatened.
The bank is widely believed to have done exactly that on Monday, accounting for a small rally in the rouble's exchange.
So what does this mean for Vladimir Putin - the strongman President who has built his rule on the promise of restoring Russia's place in the world, delivering stability after the chaos and financial crises of the 1990s.
His first two terms coincided with a massive hike in the price of oil - giving the impression of a booming economy, even if the fundamental structures underneath hadn't really changed.
For many people here that meant an increase in the standard of living, and a new middle class that became accustomed to owning the latest iPhone and enjoying summer holidays and winter skiing abroad.
So you might expect the rouble crash to be leading every news bulletin, perhaps people taking to the streets. Not so.
Video:Nov: Russian Tanks In Ukraine
Mr Putin's popularity has dipped very slightly, but his approval rating remains above 80%.
There is an argument that Western sanctions actually help the Kremlin politically.
The economy was already flat-lining and oil-dependent, so the oil price drop would in any case have had a significant effect.
Without international sanctions, Mr Putin would have been forced to explain why, given the vast oil wealth that has flowed through Russia during his time in office, the country's economy is in such an underwhelming state.
Now the Kremlin has the familiar spectre of the "hostile West" to blame for any hardship the population might feel.
The foreign minister recently accused the West of seeking "regime change" in Russia through sanctions.
Rather than challenging the government's handling of the economy, Russian state-controlled media are instead focusing on stirring the nation's patriotic sentiment and portraying the President as the one man standing up to the West.
Increasing control of the media, aided by the fact that key opposition figures are under house arrest, means that for all that Russia's economy may be faltering, thus far the same cannot be said of its President.
