Mortar Device Found In Northern Ireland

Police in Northern Ireland say they have found a "mortar type device" near the village of Cullyhanna, County Armagh.

The discovery comes after a major security operation close to the Irish border, which has lasted for several days.

Soldiers have been using sniffer dogs and metal detectors to scour hedgerows and drainage ditches for signs of explosives.

The device was found in the area around Bog Road and Lisleitrim Road, where a number of houses had been evacuated.

It is being examined and made safe by a bomb disposal team.

Dominic Bradley, the Social Democratic and Labour Party MLA for Newry and Armagh, said: "The people of Cullyhanna, south Armagh and indeed the people of this island, want to be left in peace. Instead, those responsible still live in some warped existence of the past.

"There is palpable anger in the local community. They don't want this level of disruption as they go about their everyday lives.

"The community are relieved there have been no deaths or serious injury and they want those responsible to stop immediately."

Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kennedy added: "I'm concerned at both the capability and the intent of those sinister elements behind this (device).

"It simply reinforces how important it is that local people give total support to the police and provide them with every assistance possible as they attempt to protect and serve the entire community."

The discovery comes after a mortar attack on a police station in Londonderry was foiled when security services stopped a van with four devices that were primed and ready to launch.

Mortars have also been found during security alerts in Belfast.

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Syria: Father Reunited With His 'Dead' Son

A Syrian father's nightmare is over after he learned the son he thought had been killed in a chemical weapons attack is alive.

Video has emerged of the moment the pair are reunited in a suburb of Zamalka, surround by friends and relatives.

The heart-warming film uploaded to YouTube shows the boy first being handed over to someone who appears to be a relative before his relieved father is given the news his son is alive.

Safe: the little boy is reunited with his father

As they are about to be reunited he is so overcome with joy and shock that his legs buckle and he bursts into tears.

Those around him shout "Allahu akbar" (God is great).

The man is so distraught and emotional his son has to be momentarily taken away from him while he composes himself.

Later in the video the boy is seen in his father's arms as he is kissed and hugged.

Some 1,300 Syrians are reported to have been killed in the attack in Damascus, with a further 3,600 treated for neurotoxic symptoms.

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Boston Bombing: New Photos Of Suspect Released

Dramatic new photos show Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev with his face bloodied as he surrenders.

Tsarnaev appears disoriented, his face illuminated by a floodlight, as he emerges from a boat in a suburban backyard moments before his arrest.

Some images show him slumped over the side of the boat, his arm covering his face.

The pictures, provided by a state police officer, were the second set of the hunt for Tsarnaev to be published by Boston Magazine.

Three were killed and hundreds injured in the April 15 bombings

Authorities say Tsarnaev and his older brother Tamerlan masterminded the April 15 Boston Marathon bombings, which left three people dead and more than 260 injured.

Tsarnaev, 20 has pleaded not guilty to charges including using a weapon of mass destruction to kill. He is being held at a prison medical facility in Devens, Massachusetts.

His older brother died in a shoot-out with police.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty

The surgeon who treated Tsarnaev after his capture said he had been shot in the face and had a fractured skull, among other injuries.

Sergeant Sean Murphy took photos the April night police cornered Tsarnaev in a dry-docked boat in Watertown, just outside Boston.

He was not authorised to release the pictures but said he was angry about a Rolling Stone magazine cover he felt glamorised Tsarnaev.

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Syria: 'Britain Helped Rebels Use Chemicals'

Britain, the US and France helped "terrorists" use chemical weapons in Syria, says the country's deputy foreign minister.

The claims comes as David Cameron tweeted that today's 'war talks' at Downing Street had "agreed unanimously that the use of chemical weapons by Assad was unacceptable - and the world should not stand by".

The Prime Minister was chairing a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) where military commanders were helping draw up plans for missile strikes against Syria.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged all sides to prioritise a diplomatic solution and said his team needs until Sunday to establish the full facts of the alleged chemical attack.

David Cameron cut short his holiday to return for the talks

Britain has also drafted a United Nations resolution condemning the attack and "authorising all necessary measures".

It will be put forward when the five permanent members of the UN Security Council meet in New York later.

This afternoon's NSC meeting at Downing Street was expected to discuss the intelligence gathered by UN inspectors from their initial visit to Mouadamiya, the site of last week's suspected chemical weapons attack that allegedly killed more than 1,300.

General Sir Nick Houghton, chief of the defence staff, was also expected to outline a series of options for targeted attacks.

It is understood the most likely military response would be a strike launched from US Navy warships against targets such as command and control bunkers.

The US Navy is repositioning several vessels in the eastern Mediterranean, including four cruise missile-carrying destroyers and a missile-firing submarine.

A UN weapons inspector visits wounded Syrians after the alleged gas attack

Military analysts have also suggested a British Trafalgar class submarine might be used as a potential launch platform.

However, some experts remain sceptical about whether limited strikes on tactical targets would provide a strong enough deterrent.

Defence analyst Francis Tusa told Sky News: "I'm not necessarily sure it puts any particular pressure on the regime to change its behaviour.

"Losing the odd bit of hardware that the Russians will replace for free doesn't seem to be that much of value."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also responded to the rising tensions.

More than 1,300 are said to have died as the result of the alleged attack

He reportedly said that US military intervention in Syria would be "a disaster for the region".

"The region is like a gunpowder store and the future cannot be predicted," Iran's ISNA agency quoted him as saying.

David Cameron and US President Barack Obama have agreed that "all the information available confirmed a chemical weapons attack had taken place", a Downing Street spokesperson said on Wednesday morning.

"They both agreed they were in no doubt that the Assad regime was responsible," said Number 10.

Parliament will be recalled on Thursday for a final vote on what action the UK should take.

Sky sources say a government motion is expected to call for "appropriate measures" but will not contain a timetable for action.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Cameron said action must be "proportionate, have to be legal, would have to specifically be about deterring the use of chemical weapons".

Foreign Secretary William Hague was at the NSC meeting

Decisions about British involvement have not been taken, he said on Tuesday, adding Parliament was the "right place to set out all of the arguments".

"We shouldn't stand by when we see this massive use of chemical weapons and appalling levels of suffering," he said.

"But I would say this to people - there is never 100% certainty, there is never one piece or several pieces of intelligence that give you absolute certainty.

"But what we know is this regime has huge stocks of chemical weapons. We know they have used them on at least 10 occasions prior to this last widescale use."

Labour leader Ed Miliband has indicated that his party would consider supporting international action if it was legal and had "clear and achievable goals".

A child is treated after the alleged chemcial attack

While political momentum towards intervention mounts, the British public has yet to be persuaded.

A YouGov survey for The Sun revealed that nearly three-quarters of people oppose the deployment of British troops to Syria.

And a majority of 3-1 believe the Government should be bound by Parliament's vote tomorrow.

Meanwhile, UN weapons inspectors arrived at the site of the alleged attacks on Wednesday morning, a day after suspending their mission over safety concerns.

The inspectors came under sniper fire when they began their operation on Monday.

Russia has confirmed it has started to pull its citizens out of Syria as the likelihood of military action increases.

It flew 89 people out of the country on Tuesday night and 28 more on Wednesday morning.

The country is strongly against the intervention, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov believing it would seriously destabilise the region.

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Miley Cyrus Performs In Bikini At MTV Awards

Justin Timberlake was the big winner at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) but it was Miley Cyrus' raunchy routine which stole the show.

She appeared on stage with a troupe of teddy bears before changing into a nude-coloured bikini and dancing seductively with Robin Thicke during a performance of his summer hit Blurred Lines.

Timberlake, whose much-anticipated reunion with his 'N-Sync band mates provided one of the highlights of the night, won the coveted Video of the Year gong for his track Mirrors.

"I don't deserve this award," the 32-year-old, who picked up a hat trick of other prizes, said. "But I'm not going to give it back."

One Direction, fresh from the world premiere of their movie This Is Us, won Best Song of the Summer, while Bruno Mars scooped two awards - Best Male Video for Locked Out Of Heaven and Best Choreography for Treasure.

One Direction were winners, except in the eyes of Taylor Swift

Meanwhile, Taylor Swift picked out a former boyfriend for praise as she won Best Female Video for I Knew You Were Trouble.

The singer, who split with One Direction's Harry Styles earlier this year, said: "I want to thank the person who inspired this song, who knows exactly who he is, because I got one of these. Thank you so much."

Lady Gaga changed costumes four times as she opened the New York ceremony, although her performance lacked the shock value of previous VMAs, most notably the 2010 show at which she wore a dress made of raw meat.

Lady Gaga's dress sense was as controversial as ever

Katy Perry brought the event to a close, performing her new single Roar dressed as a boxer.

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North Sea Helicopter Crash: Bodies Returned

The bodies of three of the four oil workers who died when a helicopter plunged into the North Sea have been brought back to the mainland.

A passenger ferry carrying the bodies arrived at Aberdeen Harbour this morning.

 It is understood the fourth body will arrive on Tuesday.

The Super Puma helicopter was carrying 16 passengers and two crew from the Borgsten Dolphin platform when it crashed into the sea off Shetland on Friday evening, killing three men and one woman.

It is not yet known what caused the CHC-operated helicopter to crash as it approached Sumburgh airport on the southern tip of the main island.

It is not yet known what caused the crash

Tributes have been paid to the victims, named as Duncan Munro, 46, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham; George Allison, 57, from Winchester, Hampshire; Sarah Darnley, 45, from Elgin in the Highlands; and 59-year-old Gary McCrossan, from Inverness.

The wreckage is expected to be transported to shore later for examination by a team from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

Senior management staff from the helicopter's manufacturer, Eurocopter, have arrived in Aberdeen.

Guillaume Faury, Eurocopter's chief executive, said: "All of us at Eurocopter are deeply saddened by this accident. This is a tragedy for all of us.

"We express our deepest sympathies to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives. Our thoughts are with all those affected, including the workforce in the North Sea.

Dive vessel Bibby Polaris was involved in the salvage of the wreckage

"We also wish to acknowledge all those persons involved in the search-and-rescue operations. Their prompt and professional action saved many lives and for that we are sincerely thankful.

"At this point in time, limited technical information is available regarding the cause of this accident. Eurocopter's experts are in Aberdeen working closely with the investigation authorities to determine the cause."

It is hoped information on the helicopter's black box recorder will help establish the cause of the crash.

Super Puma flights to and from UK offshore installations have been suspended, prompting a meeting of oil and gas industry chiefs to discuss the impact on platform workers.

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Syria: UN Inspectors 'Shot At By Snipers'

Weapons inspectors investigating an alleged chemical attack in Damascus have been shot at by snipers, a spokesman for the UN has said.

The team's lead vehicle was "deliberately shot at multiple times" as they left a government checkpoint during a visit to part of the city where hundreds of people were allegedly killed, Martin Nesirky told Sky News.

None of the inspectors, who were dressed in body armour, are believed to have been injured in the attack, which came after two mortar bombs landed close to their hotel.

The UN's Angela Kane leaves the inspectors' hotel in Damascus

"The inspectors are determined to carry out the mission they are mandated to carry out," Mr Nesirky said.

"But it's obvious that all sides need to extend their co-operation so they can conduct this work safely."

Mr Nesirky said it was not clear who was responsible for the sniper attack, although Bashar al Assad's regime blamed the bombings on rebel fighters.

After the shooting, the UN inspectors were able to change vehicles and are now meeting victims of the alleged chemical attack.

The Assad regime said the inspections in Zamalka and Ein Tarma districts will prove allegations that chemical weapons were used against civilians, including children, were "lies".

The opposition claimed 1,300 people were killed, while Doctors Without Borders said 355 people died in hospital from "neurotoxic" symptoms.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said the people of Syria deserved to know the truth, adding: "We cannot allow impunity in what appears to be a grave crime against humanity."

Doctors Without Borders said 355 people died in the alleged attack

However, defence expert Chris Bellamy told Sky News that while the UN inspection may reveal whether chemical weapons were used, it may not identify who they were used by.

"If that's the case, we would need another investigation to identify who fired the shells," he said.

The international community continues to consider its response to the crisis, with the Foreign Secretary warning military action may be the only remaining option.

William Hague said Britain and other countries could respond to the alleged attack without the unanimous backing of the UN, telling the BBC: "Otherwise it might be impossible to respond to such outrages, such crimes."

Bashar al Assad denied his regime had used chemical weapons

His comments came as David Cameron announced he was cutting short his holiday to chair a meeting of the UK's National Security Committee.

Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander urged the Prime Minister to recall Parliament to "make his case in advance of a decision being made".

A Downing Street spokesman insisted no decisions had been taken on military action and said there was no clear timetable.

Meanwhile, French politicians are preparing to meet "in the coming days" to decide whether to respond with force, according to the country's foreign minister Laurent Fabius.

There is mounting speculation that France, together with Britain and the US, could back limited airstrikes to demonstrate that deployment of chemical weapons will not be tolerated.

However, Mr Assad said military intervention by the US would fail.

"Failure awaits the United States as in all previous wars it has unleashed," the Syrian president said in an interview with Russian newspaper Izvestia.

Describing the chemical weapons accusations as "nonsense", Mr Assad added: "Would any state use chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction in a place where its own forces are concentrated? That would go against elementary logic.

"Accusations of this kind are entirely political and the reason for them is the government forces' series of victories over the terrorists."

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Dale Cregan: Police Killer 'On Hunger Strike'

Convicted police killer Dale Cregan is reportedly on a hunger strike in a protest against being kept apart from other inmates.

The 30-year-old is serving a whole life sentence at HMP Full Sutton after being jailed in June for four murders.

Cregan gunned down unarmed policewomen Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, after luring them to a house last September.

He also killed father and son David and Mark Short in twin attacks earlier in 2012.

Cregan is said to have started refusing food after the prison turned down his request to mix with other inmates, according to the Manchester Evening News.

One-eyed Cregan is also understood to be unhappy being at the Yorkshire prison as he wants a move to Strangeways so he can be closer to family.

Cregan has been segregated from other inmates because of concerns over his safety as reports suggest there is an underworld reward of £20,000 for anyone who damages his remaining eye.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson could not confirm or deny the reports.

In a statement it said: "We do not comment on individuals.

"We take food refusal extremely seriously. If a prisoner chooses to refuse food for any reason, the Prison Service works with healthcare staff to monitor their physical and mental health.

"Prisoners who are considered mentally capable are entitled to refuse health interventions, provided they fully understand the consequences of their decision."

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FBI Director Fears 9/11-Style Attack On US

The outgoing head of the FBI fears another 9/11-style attack on the US, saying the fallout from the Arab Spring has bred a number of "violent extremists".

Robert Mueller, who leaves his post on September 4, said that he fears terrorists will target planes, or attack America using a weapon of mass destruction.

He warned that the US does not have the capability to defend a cyberattack on the country's energy sector.

Mr Mueller said: "I always say my biggest worry is ... an attack on a plane. And secondly, it's a weapon of mass destruction in the hands of a terrorist and that includes a cyber capability that trumps the defences that we have."

The underpants bomber's plot was foiled during Mr Mueller's tenure

The FBI director said terrorism has shifted from Osama bin Laden's global brand in the aftermath of the 2001 attacks to splintering threats arising in the fallout from Middle East uprisings.

He said: "Every one of these countries now has cadres of individuals who you would put in the category of extremists, violent extremists, and that will present threats down the road."

Mr Mueller, who started as FBI head a week before 9/11, has been credited as the architect of the bureau's transformation into a terrorism-fighting agency in his 12 years at the helm.

He said: "I had in my own mind some ideas about where the bureau needed to go and then a week later we had September 11.

"I did not expect I would be spending my time preventing terrorist attacks." 

During Mr Mueller's time at the bureau US authorities have had dealt with significant terror threats and attacks, including the underpants flight bomber in 2009 and the cargo plane printer bomb threat in 2010.

Authorities capture a suspect after the Boston Marathon bombings

He has also dealt with the Boston Marathon bombing, and the 2009 shooting that killed 13 and injured more than 30 at Fort Hood, Texas.

Speaking to reporters at the FBI headquarters, Mr Mueller also defended the National Security Agency's classified surveillance programmes, exposed by whistle-blower Edward Snowden.

He said it was "tremendously important to the protection, not only from terrorist attacks, but from other threats to the United States".

Mr Mueller made the comments on the same day that a new round of revelations about the surveillance showed that the NSA scooped up as many as 56,000 emails and other communications annually over three years by Americans not connected to terrorism.

The director's last day on the job is September 4. His successor, former Justice Department official James Comey, will be on hand next week for the transition.

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Microsoft Boss To Quit Amid Strategic Shift

Microsoft Faces Fight For Relevance

Updated: 5:20pm UK, Thursday 25 October 2012

By Thomas Moore, Sky News Correspondent

It's Windows, but not as you know it.

Microsoft's radical update to the world's most widely used operating system will either secure its future in a touchscreen era - or it will consign the traditional PC to the recycle bin.

Five years ago, more than 90% of computers ran a version of Windows, according to tech analysts Forrester.

This year - with Apple and Google dominating mobile computing - it is found on just 30% of devices.

PC manufacturers like Dell and HP have seen sales slump as consumers turned to iPads and Android tablets.

So Microsoft is betting big on Windows 8. Its marketing budget is estimated to top £619m ($1bn).

It will have to convince millions of users who are familiar with the old-style screen that they can work with the revolutionary new interface.

The new look has had a mixed reception from people who have used prototype beta versions.

The iconic start button has gone, as have the short cuts. Instead, apps are tiled on a bold metro start screen.

On a tablet, Windows 8 is just as slick as operating systems designed by Apple or Google.

But Microsoft makes much of its money from business users.

And they rely on desktops and laptops, where Windows 8 feels somewhat clunky.

It will need to convince companies that it is worth upgrading their systems and retraining their staff.

Microsoft has just reported a 22% fall in profits over the last quarter. It is by no means a crisis - the company still made a net profit of £2.8bn in just three months.

But computing is changing so rapidly that Microsoft is having to fight to stay relevant.

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