Murphy Named Scottish Labour Party Leader

Jim Murphy MP is the new leader of the Scottish Labour Party, comfortably beating Holyrood health spokesman Neil Finlay and former Scottish Executive minister Sarah Boyack.

The East Renfrewshire MP and former Secretary Of State for Scotland had been favourite to win the race triggered by by the resignation of previous leader Johann Lamont.

After the announcement, Mr Murphy, who received 55.77% of the vote, said: "Today is the fulfilment of a dream for me."

Speaking to Labour party members at the Glasgow Emirates Arena, he joked that he had always dreamed of being appointed captain of a team in the east end of Glasgow.

He said becoming leader was a "remarkable honour".

Video: Jim Murphy After Being Elected

"Scotland is changing and so too must Scottish Labour. I'm ambitious for our party because I'm ambitious for our country."

Mr Murphy told Sky News' Anna Jones: "This is fresh start for the Scottish Labour Party. We are going to do things differently. It's a new beginning. We are going to identify new policies and a new approach.

"I want us to use our passion and ingenuity to change our country. I know we can do it if we work together.

He said he would be the one making the decisions for Scottish Labour, not Westminster.

"I am big enough and ugly enough not to be pushed around by anyone. I'll make the decisions, we'll call the shots here in Scotland.

"The Scottish Labour Party is back in business."

Polls indicate that Labour could be routed in Scotland at May's General Election, as support for the SNP rises, but Mr Murphy said he was determined to change that.

He said most Scots want David Cameron out of Downing Street and warned that only Labour was big enough to do that.

Congratulating Mr Murphy and new deputy leader Kezia Dugdale, Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "I look forward to working with both Jim and Kezia to secure a Labour government in Westminster next year and Holyrood the year after."

Offering her congratulations, Scottish National Party leader and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "I know that the challenges of leadership are never easy, so I offer my best wishes for the job they have ahead.

"While we will undoubtedly cross swords often in the months ahead, my door is always open to those who wish to find common ground and work together in the best interests of people in Scotland - something I hope we will have the opportunity to do."

Ms Lamont stepped down in October, criticising the party's UK leadership for treating Scottish Labour like "a branch office of London".

The Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, which had backed Mr Finlay, said: "The election of Jim Murphy to the position of leader of the Scottish Labour Party is a devastating blow to those members, and particularly the affiliated trade unionists ... hoping to turn Labour to the left."

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Air Traffic Chaos Was 'Unprecedented Failure'

The computer meltdown that hit UK airports yesterday was sparked by an unprecedented systems failure, it has been disclosed.

Air traffic control company Nats has offered its first detailed explanation of the problem at its national centre in Swanwick, Hampshire.

More than 300 flights were cancelled or delayed after the computer failure.

A statement from Nats said: "Swanwick controller workstations provide a number of tools and services to the controller to enable them to safely control a high volume of air traffic.

"In normal operations the number of workstations in use versus in standby fluctuates with the demands of the traffic being controlled.

Video: Flights Delayed In London Airspace

"In this instance a transition between the two states caused a failure in the system which has not been seen before.

"The failure meant that the controllers were unable to access all of the data regarding individual flight plans which significantly increases their workload.

"Our priority is to maintain a safe operation for the flying public; consequently when the failure occurred we immediately took steps to reduce the traffic into and out of the UK network.

"The controllers had a full radar picture and full communications with all aircraft at all times during the incident and at no time was safety compromised in any way."

It is understood that the failure happened as an unspecified number of workstations were being changed from standby to live to deal with a rise in the volume of air traffic.

Video: November: How Busy Is UK Airspace?

This process takes place on a daily basis and the fault that prompted the glitch is under investigation.

Officials restricted air space in response to the issue, leaving flights at some airports grounded yesterday.

Nats declared that its systems were back to full operational capacity last night but a knock-on effect has been seen at airports.

By Saturday morning, timetables were returning to normal, although Heathrow said 38 flights had been cancelled before 9.30am and Gatwick Airport was cancelling a handful of flights.

Friday's problems came just over a year after hundreds of flights were affected when problems arose with a telephone system at Nats in early December 2013.

Video: Air Traffic Problem Delays Flights

There were reports passengers on some flights were unable to collect their luggage and were told that it would be sent on to them by courier.

Other airports where travellers suffered delays on Friday included Manchester, Birmingham, Stansted and Luton, but airports as far north as Aberdeen and Edinburgh were affected.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the disruption was unacceptable.

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Hundreds Of British Troops To Be Sent To Iraq

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

Hundreds of British soldiers are to be sent to Iraq to help the fight against Islamic State, Sky News understands.

They will make up a training mission to assist the Iraqi Army and Kurdish Peshmerga.

The soldiers - expected to number a few hundred - will go to the region "within weeks" senior military sources have said.

The National Security Council is expected to rubber-stamp the mission when it meets on Tuesday.

Although small groups of British troops have conducted similar missions over the past few months, this will be much greater in size and on a more permanent basis.

Video: Troops Return To Iraq For IS Fight

A team of military advisors recently went to the country to scope out options.

It's believed the mission will be largely split between the capital Baghdad and Irbil in the Kurdish controlled north.

It hasn't been confirmed which regiments the troops will be drawn from.

The UK government has repeatedly insisted that any such training mission would not constitute 'boots-on-the-ground' although British Special Forces are operating in the region.

In October a dozen soldiers from The Yorkshire Regiment were dispatched to Irbil to train the Kurds to use heavy machine guns.

Video: October - Reaper Drones Footage

An advisory team has also been embedded in the Iraqi military HQ, working alongside the Americans.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman wouldn't confirm the specifics of the latest mission but did say: "The Defence Secretary announced the intention to provide further training to the Iraqi military in early November.

"No decisions on troop numbers, units or locations have been made, so this is purely speculation at this stage."

The British contribution will fit into a wider mission involving a number of nations.

Earlier this week, the most senior US Commander Lt Gen James Terry revealed that the coalition training mission would involve around 1,500 soldiers.

Video: British Troops Back In Iraq

US special operations troops have already set up a training base at the Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar Province.

Germany recently pledged around 100 soldiers to help train the Peshmerga in northern Iraq. That mission, if approved, will begin early next year.

NATO has also said it would explore options if the Iraqi government came forward with an official request.

The Alliance said that any training mission wouldn't necessarily be based in Iraq. Neighbouring Jordan has been used for similar projects.

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Bomber Destroys Bus Carrying Afghan Troops

A suicide bomber has destroyed a bus carrying Afghan soldiers in the capital Kabul.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast, which left the bus badly damaged.

"A suicide attacker targeted an ANA (Afghan National Army) bus," defence ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi wrote on Twitter.

"(It) caused casualties. Numbers will be released later."

A Kabul police spokesman said the bomber had been on foot.

Militants say attacks will continue as foreign troops prepare to withdraw from the country at the end of the month, 13 years after the US-led invasion.

Earlier on Saturday, Taliban gunmen shot dead a senior Supreme Court official as he left his home in the capital.

Taliban fighters also killed 12 workers clearing mines in southern Helmand province.

"Taliban gunmen suddenly attacked the deminers with machinegun fire and rockets as they were busy clearing a minefield," said Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the Helmand provincial government.

Afghan troops fought with the attackers, killing two insurgents and capturing four others.

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Britain Braced As 'Weather Bomb' Closes In

More than 17,000 people have lost power supplies and waves of 52ft have been recorded as a "weather bomb" begins to hit the country.

Freezing winds are expected to peak on Wednesday afternoon, but the first phase of the storm and its effects are being felt.

A visual representation of the wind forecast. Pic: NullSchool.net

Engineers are working to restore supplies after power went out in the Western Isles of Scotland just before 7am this morning.

Off the coast of Orkney, a rescue operation was launched to help a British-registered fishing vessel which issued a Mayday call after getting into difficulties.

Video: Weather Bomb Starts To Hit Land

The 33ft trawler, with 16 Spanish crew, had one of its bridge windows smashed and some equipment damaged in the stormy conditions.

The O'Genita is being escorted to Westray in Orkney by the Stromness lifeboat.

And 20 vehicles had to be freed after becoming stuck in icy conditions on Cairn O' Mount, a high mountain pass, in Aberdeenshire.

Video: What Is A 'Weather Bomb'?

The extreme conditions are being caused by rapid cyclogenesis - known colloquially as a "weather bomb" - a deep low pressure system moving slowly eastwards between Scotland and Iceland.

Forecasters have issued widespread weather warnings across Britain, with major travel disruption expected as winds of up to 80mph strike some areas and huge waves hit northern coastal regions.

Waves 52ft high - measured as "phenomenal" on the Douglas Sea Scale - have been recorded off the Outer Hebrides.

Video: Sky Man Gets Weather Bombed

Several ferry and train services have been cancelled in Scotland while some bridges have been closed due to high winds.

Schools and nurseries in the Western Isles have been closed.

The Met Office has issued amber "be prepared" weather alerts for western Scotland, the Highlands, Northern Ireland, Orkney and Shetland and Strathclyde regions.

Video: Waves Pound N Ireland Coast

Yellow weather warnings have also been issued across England's South East, South West, North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber, as well as in northern Wales and several other areas.

Sky News Weather Presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "Scotland, northern England, Northern Ireland and the north of the Republic are today experiencing very stormy conditions, with strong gusty winds and large waves, posing problems for both rush hours and ferry crossings.

"The heavy showers in the north could also produce some hail and thunder, as well as snow across hills and mountains.

Video: Huge Waves Hit Scottish Coast

"With the strong gusty winds, this could mean drifting and blizzard conditions as well."

Richard Brown, head of hydrology for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said: "Exceptionally strong winds and tidal surge in the Atlantic continues to produce unusually high tides and large waves along the north and west coast of Scotland.

"We would strongly encourage people to remain vigilant and be mindful of the conditions in their locality and when travelling, especially along more exposed coastal areas."

Video: Met Office Tracks 'Weather Bomb'

More southerly areas of the UK are likely to be hit by a second storm due to roll in from the Atlantic on Thursday night.

:: Send us your pictures and videos by emailing news@sky.com, texting 84501 or tweeting @SkyNews.

:: Full weather and travel updates at skynews.com, Sky News for iPad app, mobile devices and your local commercial radio station.

Video: Phenomenal Waves In Weather Bomb

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Palestinian Minister Dies After Troop Clash

A Palestinian minister has died after a confrontation with Israeli troops in the West Bank.

Ziad Abu Ein was taking part in a tree-planting demonstration in Turmus Aya when he was hit in the chest by an Israeli soldier's helmet and teargas was fired.

He then began to experience breathing problems, and died while he was being taken to hospital by ambulance.

Announcing three days of national mourning, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas called Mr Abu Ein's death "a barbaric act which we cannot be silent about or accept."

About 100 foreign and Palestinian activists were on their way to plant trees near an Israeli settlement when they were stopped at an improvised checkpoint.

A group of around 15 Israeli soldiers fired tear gas at the protesters and began scuffling with them, witnesses said.

One marcher said Mr Abu Ain marched toward the soldiers ahead of everyone else, until he was stopped by a soldier.

He said the soldier headbutted the politician then hit him in the chest with his rifle butt.

An Israeli Defence Force spokesman said it was "reviewing occurrences" at the demonstration and updates would follow.

More follows...

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Madeleine McCann Cops Question Robert Murat

A British man who was questioned over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007 has been interviewed by police in Faro.

Robert Murat was first questioned shortly after the toddler was reported missing by her parents in May 2007.

British police returned to the Algarve in Portugal this week as four women and seven men who it is thought may have information relating to the case are expected to interviewed over disappearance.

Portuguese police will do the questioning but will be observed by their British counterparts.

Britain opened an investigation in July last year, nearly five years after local police closed their investigation.

Video: Madeleine Suspects Questioned

British officers searched three areas of land in the resort of Praia da Luz in June, close to where Madeleine disappeared, but found no new evidence.

The three-year-old went missing from her holiday apartment on 3 May 2007 while her parents were having dinner at a nearby tapas restaurant with friends.

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1. Gallery: Madeleine Police's Praia Da Luz Search

   British police search another site in Portugal outside the resort of Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, where Madeleine McCann disappeared in May 2007.

Scotland Yard detectives bring in sniffer dogs to search the new area.

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'Weather Bomb': What Is Happening And Where?

As a huge storm system - known as a "weather bomb" - batters the northern half of the UK, here are the key developments so far:

:: More than 17,000 people in the Western Isles have been left without power.

:: A Spanish fishing vessel is being escorted to safety after getting into difficulties off Orkney.

:: Some 20 vehicles had to be freed after becoming stuck in icy conditions on Cairn O' Mount, a high mountain pass, in Aberdeenshire.

:: Three flood warnings and 10 flood alerts have been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Video: Phenomenal Waves In Weather Bomb

:: The Met Office has issued an amber ''be prepared'' warning for the west coast of Scotland, the Highlands and Islands, Orkney, Shetland and Northern Ireland.

:: Giant waves measuring 52ft have been recorded off the Outer Hebrides.

:: Gusts of more than 80mph have been recorded.

Video: What Is A 'Weather Bomb'?

:: Many Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services, which operate in the west of Scotland, have been cancelled or disrupted, while the Argyll Ferries service between Gourock and Dunoon has been suspended.

:: There are also disruptions and cancellations on NorthLink Ferries services between Orkney, Shetland and the mainland, while P&O ferries said its Larne and Cairnryan sailings were operating with delays of up to at least two hours, with further disruption expected throughout the day.

:: Several train services have been cancelled as a safety precaution, Network Rail and train operator ScotRail announced.

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1. Gallery: Weather Bomb Explodes On UK Coast

   Waves crash against the harbour wall at Portstewart in Northern Ireland

Waves pound the harbour wall at Port of Ness, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides. Pic: Angus Maclean

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