An endangered whale has become entangled in heavy fishing rope off the US coast of Georgia.

Wildlife biologists had to cut away more than 280ft of the commercial fishing line which was being dragged by the whale.

It is now swimming easier than it was, but they had to leave the whale with at least 20ft of the thick rope still tangled in its mouth.

http://news.sky.com/story/1214977/endangered-right-whale-entangled-in-fishing-line

Ukrainian women prepare Molotov cocktails at Independence Square in Kiev.

Riot police have launched a fresh assault on Kiev's Independence Square just hours after talks broke down between the president and his opponents.

The latest move comes after the Ukrainian health ministry said 25 people had died after the worst day of fighting since the nationwide demonstrations began in November. Another 241 have been injured in the clashes.

http://news.sky.com/story/1213843/ukraine-attacks-continue-as-talks-break-down

Britain's biggest insurance companies have been told to "step up" to help flooding victims get back on their feet as quickly as possible.

Industry bosses, including the chief executives of Aviva, Direct Line and Axa, have been summoned to a meeting at Downing Street later where they will be asked about how they are responding to customers' claims.

http://news.sky.com/story/1213292/floods-insurers-must-step-up-to-help-victims

An Australian man has been fined £9,600 for ramming a baby Great White Shark with his boat, then beating it to death with a pole.

Justin Adam Clark, 40, was prosecuted after witnesses told authorities he had used his boat to herd the shark into shallow waters south of Sydney.

Wollongong Local Court heard that Clark then used the boat to ram the shark several times.

http://news.sky.com/story/1210816/shark-beaten-to-death-with-metal-pole-in-oz

Fifteen people have reportedly been killed after police fired live rounds at protesters near Independence Square in Kiev.

The Reuters news agency said a photographer reported seeing the bodies covered with blankets following the gunfire. 

Three EU foreign ministers - due to meet with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych - have left Kiev as a result of the violence.

http://news.sky.com/story/1214512/police-firing-live-rounds-at-kiev-protesters

A policeman and five protesters in Ukraine have been killed following demonstrations in which the party headquarters of embattled President Viktor Yanukovych were attacked.

It came a deadline passed for anti-government protesters to end a violent stand-off with riot police in Kiev, with the security forces threatening to take "grave actions".

"If unrest has not ended by 18:00 (16:00 GMT) we will be forced to introduce order through all legal means," Ukraine's interior ministry and state security agency said in a joint statement.

http://news.sky.com/story/1213589/ukraine-six-killed-in-parliament-protests

The Met Office has upgraded its warning of high winds to a red alert as "exceptional" 100mph gusts are forecast to batter some exposed areas of the coast today.

Northwest England and north and west Wales are in the firing line for the most ferocious winds, with speeds whipping up through the afternoon and early evening.

http://news.sky.com/story/1210213/red-alert-as-storm-set-to-bring-100mph-winds

Flooding has caused severe disruption to train travellers.

First Great Western, CrossCountry, and South West Trains are all reporting major delays on routes.

There is disruption between Oxford and Didcot Parkway, with CrossCountry trains suspended and a replacement road service in place.

http://news.sky.com/story/1209186/floods-cause-major-problems-on-rail-routes