PM Holds Crisis Talks After Journalist Killed

David Cameron has condemned the "barbaric and brutal" murder of James Foley after holding crisis talks with intelligence officials.

The Prime Minister spoke after he was briefed in Downing Street by senior officials and the Foreign Secretary on investigations into video footage of the beheading of the US journalist by Islamic State (IS) extremists.

He said: "Let me condemn the barbaric and brutal act that has taken place and let's be clear what this act is - it is an act of murder, and murder without any justification.

"We have not identified the individual responsible, but from what we have seen it looks increasingly likely that it is a British citizen.

"This is deeply shocking. But we know that far too many British citizens have travelled to Iraq and travelled to Syria to take part in extremism and violence.

"And what we must do is redouble all all our efforts to stop people from going."

US journalist James Foley was killed by a man with a British accent

Mr Cameron cut short a family break in Cornwall following the release footage appearing to show a masked man - speaking with a British accent - killing Mr Foley, who was seized by armed men in Syria in November 2012.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the video appeared to be genuine and was "an appalling example of the brutality of this organisation".

Mr Hammond told Sky News: "This is an evil organisation with an evil ideology."

The PM was briefed by senior intelligence officials and the Foreign Secretary as investigations are carried out following the release of the horrific video footage by Islamic State (IS) extremists.

Scotland Yard, which leads counter-terror policing in the UK, has confirmed it is investigating the video and reminded social media users that spreading extremist material is a crime.

Mr Cameron had only been in Cornwall for a day, where he was pictured with his wife Samantha sipping coffee at Surfside cafe on Polzeath beach in Wadebridge.

Mr Cameron had said he was ready to return from his holiday if needed

He insisted he remained in control while on holiday and was "always within a few feet of a BlackBerry".

Earlier this month, the PM had to cut short a holiday to Portugal to respond to the Iraq crisis, and said he would do the same again "instantly" if necessary.

Mr Cameron has said Britain should use all its assets, including its "military prowess", to help tackle the threat posed by Islamic State (IS) extremists in Iraq, but insisted the UK would not get drawn into another war.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander MP said: "The horrific footage of the killing of James Foley has shocked and outraged the world.

"Suggestions that the attack may have been carried out by a UK national are particularly concerning and the Government must now work with international partners to establish the facts and uncover any possible information about the perpetrator."

Meanwhile, the French President Francois Hollande said the crisis in Iraq represented the "most serious" international situation since 2001.

Meanwhile, UKIP leader Nigel Farage has called on the Government to stop Britons who have gone to fight for IS from returning.

He said: "It would be totally unforgivable and unacceptable for UK nationals who have made the decision to go and fight for Islamic State militants in the Middle East to be permitted to return to the UK and quietly slide back into our communities to take advantage of all that modern Britain has to offer."

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Cliff Richard Pulls Out Of Portugal Ceremony

By Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent In Portugal

Sir Cliff Richard has pulled out of a ceremony where he was to be awarded the Keys of the City of Albufeira near his holiday home in Portugal.

The millionaire pop star, who is facing an historical sex assault allegation, was to receive the region's top civic honour on Wednesday.

A dozen others were given medals of merit during a day of celebrations to mark the granting of an ancient charter.

Sir Cliff told officials he would not be there and stayed in his villa in the hills above the Algarve resort where he has had a summer home for more than 50 years.

Mayor Carlos Silva e Sousa told Sky News: "Cliff was to receive the gold Key of the City because he is a distinguished member of Albufeira.

The claim relates to an event held by preacher Billy Graham in 1985

"He is not here today because it is his choice, but we have kept the invitation and hope to give him his award some time."

The city's full council voted in secret and unanimously to make the award two weeks ago.

The mayor said Sir Cliff had planned to attend the ceremony but sent a message recently to say he had to decline the invitation.

Mr Silva e Sousa added that he was aware of the police investigation into an allegation that Sir Cliff had sexually assaulted a young boy at an evangelical rally in Sheffield in 1985.

He said: "I don't know why he is not here. It doesn't change my opinion of him. We are very proud of him. He is a big man."

Police searched Sir Cliff's home in Berkshire last week

Officials said they had agreed with Sir Cliff's decision because his presence would have overshadowed the ceremony.

The medals of merit were awarded to three individuals - one posthumously - and nine organisations who were said to have promoted Albufeira around the world.

Sir Cliff bought his first villa here in 1961 in a resort that has become popular with British holidaymakers.

Twenty years ago he bought a bigger home and planted a vineyard on a plot near a bigger estate where he makes his own wine in partnership with a friend.

He spends several weeks at his Portugal home each summer, usually arriving after visiting the Wimbledon tennis championships and staying until September.

Sir Cliff performs at the O2 Arena in 2009

He has rarely been glimpsed on the 30-acre estate since police raided his UK home in Berkshire last week.

Sir Cliff has also pulled out of a performance at Canterbury Cathedral in September and apologised for the disappointment and inconvenience.

He has described the sex allegation as "completely false" and said he would co-operate with the police investigation.

Detectives said they want to speak to him and are expected to interview him in the next few weeks.

Sir Cliff's close friend Cilla Black said earlier this week she is "absolutely positive" the allegation is untrue.

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Russia Shuts Moscow McDonald's Restaurants

Russia's food safety watchdog has suspended operations at four McDonald's restaurants in Moscow over alleged sanitary law breaches.

The watchdog claimed the fast-food chain was responsible for "numerous violations of sanitary legislation requirements", adding it had sealed off the restaurants' premises.

McDonald's said in a statement that it is reviewing the Rospotrebnadzor watchdog's claims.

The company added that its "top priority is to provide safe and quality products" for its customers.

Last month Rospotrebnadzor expressed doubts about the "quality and safety of food products in the entire McDonald's chain", which has 430 restaurants in Russia.

The watchdog also said it had taken legal action against McDonald's for alleged quality violations and improper labelling.

The closures come amid ongoing tensions between Russia and the West over the crisis in Ukraine.

Earlier this month Russia banned the importation of fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and dairy products from the European Union, the United States and other Western countries.

The bans were imposed by Russia after the European Commission and the US froze assets of Russians who are close to President Vladimir Putin.

Many Western nations blame Russia for the continued fighting in Ukraine, which resulted in Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 being shot down in July.

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Bush Gets Soaked But Who Does He Nominate?

George W Bush has completed the ice bucket challenge after being drenched by his wife.

The former US president had been nominated by his daughter Jenna, who works for NBC.

He appears to decline at first, saying: "I do not think it's presidential for me to be splashed with ice water, so I'm simply going to write you a cheque."

But then the former First Lady empties the bucket of ice water over his head, saying she'll sign the check instead.

"I don't want to ruin my hairstyle," she quips.

Mr Bush then challenges his presidential predecessor, Bill Clinton.

"Yesterday was Bill's birthday, so my gift to Bill is a bucket of cold water," Mr Bush said.

Mr Clinton turned 68 on August 19.

The challenge, which has involved celebrities worldwide, is to raise awareness for ALS, also known as Lou Gherig's disease, or motor neurone disease.

Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg completed the challenge.

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British Toddler Dies After Falling Into Pool

A British toddler has drowned after he fell into a neighbour's swimming pool in Spain.

Two-year-old Theo Lamb was at an apartment next door to his family's property in Mijas Costa, on the Costa del Sol, when the accident occurred.

The boy's father reportedly discovered Theo in the swimming pool, and tried to revive him.

Emergency services were called to the property but the child died at the scene.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has confirmed the death.

"We are aware of the death of a British national on August 18 in Costa del Sol," a spokesman said.

"We stand ready to provide consular assistance to the family at this sad time."

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Iceland: Thousands Of Quakes Amid Volcano Fears

Thousands of earthquakes have been recorded in Iceland in recent days, amid concerns one of the country's volcanoes could erupt and cause travel chaos across Europe.

Some 3,000 small earthquakes have occurred since Saturday at the country's largest volcano system, Bardarbunga, which is located under Iceland's largest glacier, Vatnajokull.

Iceland's Meteorological Office said no earthquakes above magnitude three had been recorded in the last 24 hours, and seismologists have said that magma is moving horizontally, rather than vertically.

 Meteorologist Einar Einarsson said earthquakes were happening practically every minute.

"The fact that it is constant in motion and depth is probably good news," he said.

"It doesn't seem to vary a lot - it is concentrated in one area under the glacier."

The volcanic magma is moving horizontally, say scientists

The country's aviation alert level for the risk of a possible eruption is currently at orange, the second-most severe level.

The risk level was raised on Monday after magma movements were detected around six miles (10km) from the surface.

An area north of the volcano has been evacuated by Iceland's civil protection agency, which said it could not rule out an eruption.

All roads leading into the mostly uninhabited area were closed earlier this week.

Tourists and park rangers who live there during the summer are now being evacuated.

The agency said on its website: "This decision is a safety measure. It cannot be ruled out that the seismic activity in Bardarbunga could lead to a volcanic eruption."

An eruption could melt vast areas of ice and cause floods

According to the authorities, the area north of the glacier risks being hit by floods as an eruption would melt vast amounts of ice from the glacier, which is located in a national park.

The Vatnajokull National Park is more than 186 miles (300 km) from the capital, Reykjavik, and covers 14% of Iceland.

Airlines were warned about the increased seismic activity on Monday.

In 2010 an ash cloud caused by the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano shut down much of Europe's airspace for six days.

More than 10 million people were affected.

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Drunk Man Sneaked On Empty Birmingham Plane

A man who managed to get through layers of airport security before boarding an empty plane via a baggage carousel said he was too drunk to remember how he did it.

Lee Jezard pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates Court to evading security measures at Birmingham Airport and boarding a Lufthansa plane on July 17.

Jezard - who lost his job as a hotel manager when his employer learned about his antics - also admitted stealing £36.45 worth of foodstuffs from the airport's Caffe Nero.

Prosecutor David Devine said a study of all plane manifests revealed Jezard "was never booked onto any flight", despite reports he was at the airport after missing a flight to Ibiza.

He described the actions of Jezard, of  Redditch, Worcestershire, as a "drunken escapade".

In mitigation, solicitor Tariq Khan said his client "really had very little idea how he arrived at the airport" after going on a drinking binge with friends in Birmingham city centre.

It emerged in court that police had already spoken to a "wandering" and "clearly intoxicated" Jezard, after spotting him in other parts of the airport in the hours before the security breach.

It was the same police officer who later "frog-marched him off the aeroplane" after he was found on board.

In a further "bizarre" act, Mr Khan added, Jezard was seen on CCTV behind a coffee shop counter at the deserted airport "charging his mobile and checking it".

Jezard does not remember getting to Birmingham Airport

He was discovered on the plane by cleaning staff, who he told: "I'm the co-pilot".

"When they asked him for ID, he had none, and then told them 'I work for the Navy'," Mr Devine said.

"He then said: 'I'm breaking into places to see if people can catch me - I go to prisons and other places'."

He was later arrested and interviewed by airport police.

He told officers: "I was trying to show how easy it was to get on that plane - and I did it."

Jezard struggled to recall everything that had happened, telling police he "wanted a walk around and thought it would be a good idea".

Security cameras showed Jezard crawling through the opening of a baggage carousel, getting on to the airport's tarmac apron, and then getting aboard the plane.

Mr Khan said his client "really had very little idea how it was he arrived at the airport, but the guess is it was by train".

Jezard was fined £95 for each of the three offences, ordered to pay full compensation to the coffee shop, together with £185 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Following the hearing, an airport spokesperson said: "The safety and security of our passengers is our number one priority.

"The individual penetrated the terminal boundary and was subsequently arrested by the police. A full investigation has taken place."

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Mass Murderer Breivik's Dad Writes Book On Son

Anders Behring Breivik's father admits he feels some guilt over the actions of his son, who killed 77 people in Norway three years ago.

The revelation came in an excerpt from a book Jens Breivik has written about his son.

In My Fault? A Father's Story, which has been put together with the help of a ghost writer, Mr Breivik writes: "I feel some guilt and I feel some responsibility.

"What would have happened if I had been a better father? Would Anders have done what he did?"

Breivik is serving a 21-year prison sentence, which can be extended, for the killing of 77 people in Oslo and the island of Utoeya in 2011.

The book is a form of "self-trial" according to its editor, Arve Juritzen, who said Mr Breivik re-established contact with his son this year. 

"In fact he is pretty hard with himself," Mr Juritzen said.

Mr Breivik, a former diplomat who moved to France when he retired, has been described as an absent father.

He was separated from his son's mother shortly after he turned one and later lost a custody battle.

By the time Breivik was a teenager, his father had lost contact with him.

During the course of the investigation and trial it emerged social services had suspected Breivik was neglected as a child.

A book about Breivik's late mother, Wenche Behring Breivik, which she collaborated on at first but later rejected, portrayed Mr Breivik as a domestic tyrant.

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Who Is 'Briton' Who Beheaded James Foley?

James Foley Was 'Super Courageous Journalist'

Updated: 4:50pm UK, Wednesday 20 August 2014

James Foley, the US journalist beheaded by Islamist militants, was an experienced reporter who had worked in a number of war zones and was aware of the risks he faced.

Mr Foley, 40, was working in the northern province of Idlib in Syria when he was kidnapped near the village of Taftanaz in November 2012.

A video purportedly shows Mr Foley being killed by the Islamic State, the militant group formerly known as ISIS and ISIL.

Mr Foley said he saw journalism as a calling. He switched to the profession after years of being a teacher in Arizona, Massachusetts and Chicago.

"I love writing and reporting," he once said.

He was contributing video for Agence France-Presse and the media company GlobalPost when he was abducted.

Mr Foley had worked before in war zones and seen the dangers to journalists up close.

He covered the war in Afghanistan and the fighting in Libya, which he called the worst he had seen at that point.

Alex Sherman, a colleague from Bloomberg, called him "a super courageous journalist who did unbelievable work in Syria and Libya".

Antony Loyd of The Times said: "Jim was an exceptional journalist. He had a very warm and approachable manner and yet at the same time he was very dedicated to his work.

"He was one of those few individuals you met who left a lasting impression."

Tom Coghlan, also of The Times, said: "James was fabulous. A fabulous companion and a fabulously brave man. And he was wonderful to work alongside.

"I remember that he would always be where things were most dangerous ... I understand he died very bravely and that doesn't surprise me."

Film maker Matthew VanDyke, a friend, called him a "fun guy ... He was very nice, very calm."

While covering the Libyan uprising, Mr Foley was captured and held for six weeks.

He also saw a colleague, South African photographer Anton Hammerl, killed by forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

He tried to pull his friend's body out of harm's way but was turned back by heavy fire.

"I'll regret that day for the rest of my life. I'll regret what happened to Anton," Mr Foley told the AP news agency.

"I will constantly analyse that."

Mr Foley grew up in New Hampshire and studied history at Marquette University.

His mother Diane Foley remembered him as "an extraordinary son, brother, journalist and person".

Mr Foley's parents became fierce advocates for him and all those kidnapped in war zones during his abduction.

At Mr Foley's family home in Rochester, a light burned yellow in a centre upstairs window and a yellow ribbon adorned a tree at the foot of the driveway.

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James Foley's Parents: 'We Know He's In Heaven'

The father of James Foley has said that he knows his son who was beheaded by militants "is in heaven", in an emotional tribute.

Jon Foley was speaking with his wife Diane and James's brother hours after a video emerged of an Islamic State militant murdering their son.

As he did so, US President Barack Obama said that the US would continue to do what was necessary to protect its people.

Jon Foley said: "He thought this was his job, his passion. He wasn't crazy. He was motivated by what he thought was doing the right thing."

"He was always a listener and just couldn't detach from other people's lives.

With his voice breaking up, he added: "It's difficult to find solace at this point in time, but Jim is free. We know he's in God's hands and ... we know he's in heaven.

"We're so proud of him. We have to be happy for him. We need the courage and the prayers to continue without him, because he was an inspiration for us and for so many others.

"We miss his courage and his love and his determination. His laugh. His smile."

Speaking from the family home in Rochester, New Hampshire, his mother Diane added: "Jim was a fun loving, daring kid.

"Every time we got despondent in the last two years, we thought of Jim and his suffering. He was helping the other prisoners. There were some much younger in his cell. He would some times hold them, we're told, who were struggling. "

The death of Mr Foley - who had been working in Syria as a journalist before his kidnapping two years ago - was revealed in a propaganda video posted on social media sites by Islamic State sources.

The footage shows a masked man - speaking in English with an English accent - beheading the 40-year-old before saying that Mr Foley was being killed because Barack Obama had ordered airstrikes against IS positions in northern Iraq.

Just before he was murdered, Mr Foley had the chance to make a statement, during which he said: "I wish I had more time, I wish I could have the hope of freedom and seeing my family once again, but that ship has sailed." 

Speaking from where he was vacationing in Martha's Harbour, Massachusetts, Mr Obama said: "Today the American people will all say a prayer for those who loved Jim." 

British Prime Minister David Cameron said it appeared that the killer was a British citizen.

He said that Mr Foley's death was an "act of murder without justification."

More follows...

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