Ken Must Go Over Hitler Comment: Labour MPs

Labour MPs have called for Ken Livingstone to be suspended from the party after he said that Hitler was a Zionist.

Mr Livingstone also said social media comments posted by Labour MP Naz Shah suggesting Israel should be relocated to the US and claiming everything Hitler did was legal were not "anti-Semitic".

And he said that there was a "well-orchestrated campaign by the Israel lobby to smear anybody who criticised Israeli policy as anti-Semitic".

:: Naz Shah Suspended For Anti-Semitic Facebook Posts

His comments intensified the anti-Semitism crisis that has engulfed Labour and 10 MPs, including the London mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan, have called for him to be removed from the party.

The MP John Mann confronted Mr Livingstone and shouted at him that he was a "******* disgrace". He has called for him to go.

Jess Phillips tweeted: "Ken Livingstone must be suspended from the Labour Party."

Mr Khan said: "Ken Livingstone's comments are appalling and inexcusable. There must be no place for this in our Party."

Wes Streeting said: "Ken Livingstone has form on anti-Semitism and has been tolerated for far too long. He should be suspended immediately.

"Decent Labour members need to decide how to respond to anti-Semitism within our ranks. Silence is complicity. We must all speak out."

Ms Shah apologised for her anti-Semitic comments in the House of Commons on Wednesday and was suspended after David Cameron said it was "extraordinary" that action had not been taken against her.

Jeremy Corbyn has been roundly criticised for not taking firm enough action to tackle anti-Semitism in the party and for failing to withdrawn the whip from Ms Shah himself.

:: Local Labour Vice Chair Suspended For Anti-Semitic Comments

Asked whether he thought Ms Shah's comments were anti-Semitic on BBC radio, he said: "No it's completely over the top but it's not anti-Semitic ...

"Let's remember when Hitler won his election in 1932 his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism.

"This is before he went mad and ended up killing 6m Jews."

He said that in all his time as a Labour member he had never heard anyone say anything anti-Semitic and suggested the "Israel lobby" had orchestrated a campaign to smear people.

Speaking to Sky News after the interview he said he was "stating historical facts" and he "didn't want to give credence" to those MPs calling for him to go.

In 2005 Mr Livingstone was embroiled in an anti-Semitism row after asking Jewish reporter Oliver Finegold if he was a "German war criminal" and telling him: "You are just like a concentration camp guard, you are just doing it because you are paid to, aren't you?"

:: Corbyn Urged To Tackle Anti-Semitism

A number of Labour MPs have called on the Labour leadership to crackdown on anti-Semitism in the party following the disclosure of a number of anti-Semitic comments by members. 

In March, shadow chancellor John McDonnell, said in an interview those who held those opinions should be "out, out, out. If people express these views, full stop, they are out".

Ms Shah was forced to step down as his parliamentary aide on Tuesday when the disclosures about her comments were made.

Putin Scolds Rocket Team Over Failed Launch

President Vladimir Putin told space engineers to get their act together after he flew thousands of miles to watch the inaugural launch of a rocket from a new spaceport, only for it to be postponed in the final seconds.

The fault was discovered with the unmanned Soyuz on Wednesday - a minute and a half before it was due to lift off - but it eventually launched in the early hours of Thursday.

The Russian President revealed his displeasure at the initial failure after meeting officials at the Vostochny Cosmodrome.

"The fact is there is a large number of hitches. That is bad. There should be an appropriate reaction," he said sternly.

President Putin watched the successful launch 24 hours later

Mr Putin said the technical glitch was to do with the rocket system, not the launch pad, and that Russia still led the world in many aspects of space technology.

The Soyuz later launched at 0201 GMT and a statement confirmed all three satellites has successfully been put into orbit.

The President struck a different tone after the problem was rectified, telling the team: "I want to congratulate you.

"We can be proud. Yesterday the technical side was put to the test and the launch had to be stopped, but it happens. It's a normal thing."

However, he added that if suspects in a criminal investigation into embezzlement on the project were found guilty "they will have to swap their warm bed at home for a prison bunk".

The spaceport, the first civilian rocket launch site on Russian territory, has been built in the remote Amur region near Russia's border with China.

It is the flagship project in a $52bn (£36bn) investment in space exploration up to 2020 and was built to replace Russia's reliance on the Baikonur Cosmodrome leased from Kazakhstan.

However, it has been beset by problems, with various people under suspicion of corruption, workers striking over pay, overrunning costs and a delay last year to its scheduled completion date.

Problems with Russian space rockets are not just a concern for the Russians, but the Americans too.

Since the retirement of the space shuttle programme, NASA depends on Russia to fly its astronauts to the International Space Station.

North Korea 'missile crashes' moments after launch

North Korea fired what appeared to have been an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Thursday but it crashed seconds after the test launch, South Korea's defence ministry said.

North Korean officials did not immediately comment.

Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett, reporting from Seoul, said that South Korean defence ministry confirmed that the missile was launched 6:40 am local time.

A defence ministry official told Reuters news agency that it appeared to be a Musudan missile with a range of more than 3,000km - the same type of rocket believed to have failed in a test launch earlier this month.

The powerful mid-range missile could one day be capable of reaching far-off US military bases in Asia and the Pacific. It exploded in the air a few seconds after it launched, the Southern official said.

"We are also hearing from semi-official Yonhap news agency citing unnamed military officials that it was not detected on South Korean military radar system because it apparently did not get high enough to be detected by that system," Fawcett said.

"It was detected by a US intelligence satellite over North Korea," he said.

The launch came as the Koreas traded threats as Pyongyang expressed anger over annual South Korean-US military drills that the North calls a rehearsal for an invasion.

The reported crash comes ahead of a major ruling party meeting next week in Pyongyang.

"Well that is very rare event. It is the seventh such event since the foundation of ruling party of North Korea. It is very much centered around the personage of Kim Jung-un and his general status," the Al Jazeera correspondent said.

These Force Awakens ‘Outtakes’ Include a Hilarious Game of Thrones Gag

First there was Emo Kylo Ren. Then there was Undercover Boss Kylo Ren. Now, the galaxy far, far away’s newest villain is back and better than ever as Game of Thrones Kylo Ren. The latest video from the comedy duo known as Auralnauts features several outtakes from the Star Wars bad guy, including a gag poking fun at the world of Westeros.

The joke — which runs throughout the clip — plays off the fact that Gwendoline Christie, the actress who portrays Captain Phasma in The Force Awakens, is also Brienne of Tarth. It begins after Phasma informs Kylo Ren that “he” was murdered by a shadow with the face of Stannis Baratheon.

Third Of Brits Think Sexting Is Not Cheating

More than a third of Britons do not think sexting another person when they are in a relationship is cheating, new research has revealed.

Eight percent of the 2,150 men and women surveyed in the online poll admitted to sexting.

But a far greater proportion - 35% - did not think it amounted to being unfaithful.

Sexting is defined as sending flirty messages or explicit images to someone who is not your partner.

This was despite the fact the law would not permit it.

In the UK someone can only sue for divorce on the ground of adultery if their husband or wife has had extramarital sex.

Rupi Rai, family lawyer at Slater and Gordon, said: "We have seen a rise in the number of clients coming to us who think their partner has crossed the line and committed adultery, but not in the traditional sense.

"What some might consider sending flirty messages or explicit pictures, others consider to be detrimental to their relationship and cause as much hurt and upset as physically cheating.

"The research is a real warning to couples about being careful not to cross that line."

Explicit photos were considered by the majority to be less acceptable than flirty texts, with 62% of respondents saying they would feel very guilty about sending one.

Of those polled, 34% of men compared to 49% of women, thought sexting was cheating.

Hillsborough Vigil Takes Place In Liverpool

A vigil is taking place to remember the 96 victims of the Hillsborough tragedy - and to reflect on their families' 27-year fight for justice.

LIVE: Vigil Held In Liverpool

Thousands gathered in the sunshine outside St George's Hall in Liverpool for the event attended by relatives, campaigners and the city's Mayor Joe Anderson.

Crowds chanted "for the 96, justice" before music by The Beatles was played and 96 young people laid red roses for the victims.

:: This Is Not The End, Says Home Secretary

Mr Anderson said the tragedy - which happened when fans were crushed before Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest in Sheffield on 15 April 1989 - was the biggest cover-up in history.

He added: "Yesterday, the wall of lies was finally torn down. The real truth came out yesterday."

It was because of the "incompetence of those in charge" who "tried to lay the blame at the door of our fans"that the 96 had lost their lives, he said.

Archbishop of Liverpool, Malcolm McMahon, held prayers and said: "Justice never comes cheap.

"But nobody would have expected it to take over a quarter of a century for the light of truth to shine on this dark episode in our nation's history.

"We are all aware of the prolonged suffering of the families who refused to be crushed by indifference, denials and false accusations."

Politicians, including shadow home secretary Andy Burnham and Garston and Halewood MP Maria Eagle, read the names and ages of the victims outside the hall, where a memorial emblazoned with the words Truth and Justice stands over a row of 96 lanterns.

Liverpool FC legend Kenny Dalglish, who managed the team on the day of the disaster, read a passage from the Bible, and added: "You'll never walk alone," before crowds joined together in song.

The vigil began hours after the Government said families will continue to receive legal aid as they pursue further action over the tragedy.

Home Secretary Theresa May told MPs it was "not the end of the process" as she set out the Government's response to an inquest jury's ruling that the Liverpool supporters were unlawfully killed.

The jury concluded the behaviour of fans was not a factor in the tragedy.

It also found errors by the police and ambulance service had "caused or contributed" to Britain's worst sporting disaster.

The chief constable of South Yorkshire Police, David Crompton, has been suspended over his response to the tragedy.

Dr Alan Billings, the area's police and crime commissioner, said he had no other choice given the "erosion of public trust and confidence".

Phil Spector's Wife Heartbroken Over Divorce

A lawyer for the wife of imprisoned music producer Phil Spector has said she has been left heartbroken after he filed for divorce from behind bars.

Aaron Abramowitz said in a statement that Rachelle Spector has been devoted to her husband and has been providing support and care while he is incarcerated.

He wrote: "This whole situation is heartbreakingly bizarre.

"It is regrettable that Mr Spector has failed to recognise the efforts made by Rachelle in spending tens of thousands of dollars on his medical and dental costs while incarcerated."

Court records in Stockton, California, show Spector filed for divorce on 18 March.

Spector and his wife Rachelle at his retrial in 2008

The 75-year-old is at a prison facility in the city which provides medical and mental health care to the state's most unwell inmates, including those with chronic conditions.

He became known for his Wall of Sound production method and worked with a number of stars in the 1960s to produce pop hits including Da Doo Ron Ron, Be My Baby and the Righteous Brothers' You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling.

Mr Abramowitz said Rachelle Spector had obtained her pilots' licence to make it easier for her to visit her husband.

They met at a Hollywood restaurant in 2003, shortly after he was arrested over the shooting death of Lana Clarkson.

Spector was later convicted of killing Ms Clarkson and is serving a sentence of 19 years to life.

The couple married in 2006, and Rachelle Spector has been running her husband's businesses while he is in prison.