Automatic Quarantine In US For Ebola Medics

New York and New Jersey are to begin automatically quarantining medical staff who return from areas badly affected by Ebola.

The decision by the health authorities follows former Doctors Without Borders medic Craig Spencer testing positive for the disease several days after he returned from Guinea.

Dr Spencer, 33, was able to travel on the subway and go bowling before he showed the classic symptoms of the virus and had to go to hospital.

The US government said it was considering adopting the move for the whole country after it emerged that Dr Spencer had already been checked at the border and declared safe.

Hours after the policy was announced, a female healthcare worker who had been quarantined when she arrived from the affected region into Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, was isolated with a fever.

Video: Nurse Cured Of Ebola Hugs Obama

She had no symptoms on arrival at the airport before being quarantined, but is now being evaulated at University Hospital, Newark.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. "We've seen what happens... You ride a subway. You ride a bus. You could infect hundreds and hundreds of people."

In Washington, Mr Obama sought to reassure members of the public by hugging Dallas nurse Nina Pham, who was one of the first to be treated for the virus in the US.

She had caught it while working as one of the medical staff treating a man who had earlier arrived from Liberia and who later died of the disease.

Video: Cured Texas Ebola Nurse 'Blessed'

Ms Pham, 26, was declared cured on Friday, and gave a speech, thanking those who had treated her.

She said: "I feel fortunate and blessed to be standing here today."

Officials said she did not take any experimental drugs, but she did use blood plasma from previous survivor Dr Kent Brantly, who she also thanked.

Her colleague Amber Vinson, who caught the disease at the same time, was also declared cured, but was not yet well enough to leave hospital.

Video: Trials For Ebola Vaccines

Dr Spencer remains in a stable condition in an isolation ward at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York undergoing treatment.

The disease has now killed nearly 4,900 people - most of them in the countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Top Obama administration officials have met to discuss any potential new rules for healthcare workers returning to the US.

The latest case comes as the World Health Organisation announced that it expects hundreds of thousands of doses of a new Ebola vaccine to be available by early next year.

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Attacker Among Two Dead In School Shooting

By Sky News US Team

A school student who went on a shooting spree before killing himself wrote a series of chilling tweets in the months before he ran amok with a gun.

Jaylen Fryberg opened fire in a cafeteria, murdering one and critically injuring three others at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in Marysville, about 35 miles north of Seattle, Washington.

A student who called himself Austin told an affiliate of CNN that the gunman was initially "quiet" before opening fire on fellow diners.

Austin said: "There was just a big group of kids... He was quiet. He was just sitting there. Everyone was talking. All of a sudden I see him stand up, pull something out of his pocket.

Gunman Jaylen Fryberg Pic: Facebook

"At first I thought it was just someone making a really loud noise, like a bag, like a pretty loud pop, until I heard four more after that, and I saw three kids just fall from the table like they were falling to the ground dead."

Fryberg left a series of posts on Twitter before his attack which painted a picture of a teenager who was familiar with using weapons.

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1. Gallery: Students Distraught After High School Shooting

   Police have said two people are dead, including an armed student, after a shooting at a high school north of Seattle

2. The attacker was named as Jaylen Fryberg

3. He had made a number of emotional posts on Twitter in recent days

4. The attacker took his own life in the incident at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in Washington state

5. Three young people are in a "very critical condition" and one other is in a serious condition

6. Witnesses said the freshman took a gun out of his backpack in a cafeteria and opened fire

7. TV footage showed students being evacuated from the school, which has about 2,500 enrolled

8. Armed police conducted room-to-room searches with guns drawn

Next to an Instagram picture of him holding a hunting rifle, he wrote: "Probably the best BirthDay present ever! I just love my parents!!!!"

In August, he issued a threat to an apparent love rival, saying: "Your not gonna like what happens next."

On 18 September he wrote: "Did you forget she was my girlfriend?" and later tweeted: "Dude. She tells me everything. And now. I... hate you! Your no longer my brother."

On Tuesday, one of a series of tweets said: "It breaks me... It actually does... I know it seems like I'm sweating it off... But I'm not.. And I never will be able to."

In his last post on Thursday, Fryberg stated: "It won't last... It'll never last..."

Fryberg was crowned the school's freshman "homecoming prince" just a week ago, according to some US media.

The three in a critical condition were admitted to Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett.

Another patient, a young man in a serious condition, was sent to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Two of the wounded were male and two female, hospital officials said.

One student, Jordan Luton, told CNN he saw the attacker take a gun out of his backpack and open fire in the lunch room.

He said: "He had a gun in his hand and he fired about eight bullets into backs of them. They were his friends so it wasn't just random."

"Then he turned and looked at me and my girlfriend... and kind of gave us a smirk."

TV footage showed students being evacuated from the school, which has about 2,500 enrolled.

Another shooting occurred in the state in June at Seattle Pacific University, where a gunman killed a student and wounded two others.

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Nathan Cirillo Made 'The Ultimate Sacrifice'

Hundreds of messages have been posted on a tribute site to the soldier who was killed in the shooting at a war memorial near parliament in Ottawa.

Corporal Nathan Cirillo, of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was guarding the National War Memorial in the Canadian capital when he was attacked.

He was treated at the scene, but later died of his injuries.

One message on the Facebook tribute page, from Bob Rodkin, read: "RIP Nathan. Thank you for your service and the ultimate sacrifice.

"So tragic, so unnecessary. My prayers go out for you and to your family, friends and colleagues."

Video: Canadian PM: The Full Statement

Olivia Mancini wrote: "He not only was a great father, son, and brother, but a close friend of mine. RIP Nathan Cirillo. I will love and miss you forever. Not only did you protect our country, but you were such a loving, caring, and funny person to everyone around you."

Another message, from Olivia Marie, said: "RIP Nathan! Thank you for defending our country, your son is so proud of you. I miss you."

Megan Underwood posted a picture of Cpl Cirillo posing with a friend in front of the war memorial taken on Sunday.

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1. Gallery: Ottawa In Lockdown After Attacks

   At around 10am on Wednesday, 32-year-old petty criminal Michael Zehaf-Bibeau killed a soldier standing guard at Ottawa's war memorial

2. He then ran into the nearby Canadian Parliament building where he was shot to death by the ceremonial Sergeant-at-Arms

3. Conservative and Liberal MPs were holding their weekly caucus meetings at the time

4. Cabinet minister Tony Clement tweeted that at least 30 shots were heard inside Parliament

5. In a national TV statement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said: "We will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated"

6. It was the second deadly attack in three days against members of the Canadian military

7. On Monday, a man Harper described as an "ISIL-inspired terrorist" ran over two soldiers in Quebec, killing one and injuring another before being shot to death by police

8. Witnesses said the soldier killed in the latest attack, Cpl Nathan Cirillo, was gunned down at point-blank range by a man carrying a rifle and dressed all in black, his face half-covered with a scarf

9. One said: "The honour guard dropped to the ground, and the shooter kind of raised his arms in triumph holding the rifle"

10. At least three people were treated for minor injuries

11. Some people fled the complex by scrambling down scaffolding erected for renovations

12. Others took cover inside as police with rifles and body armour took up positions outside and cordoned off streets

13. The two attacks have raised fears Canada is being targeted for reprisals for joining the air campaign against Islamic State extremists in Iraq and Syria

14. The National War Memorial contains an arched granite cenotaph, or tomb, with bronze sculptures commemorating World War I

15. The gunman had convictions for assault, robbery, drug and weapons offences, and other crimes. Swipe through for more images of the attack and its aftermath

The message said: "On Sunday, we asked a very handsome guard for a picture with my friend visiting from Cali - RIP Nathan Cirillo."

Video: Witness & Reporter Peter Henderson

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Canada Will 'Never Be Intimidated' By Terrorists

Canada will "never be intimidated" by terrorists who seek to bring "savagery" to the country's shores, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said.

Speaking after a soldier was shot dead at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Mr Harper said terrorists would find "no safe haven" in Canada.

"Let there be no misunderstanding - we will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated," Mr Harper said.

"In fact, this will lead us to strengthen our resolve and redouble our efforts - and those of our national security agencies - to take all necessary steps to identify and counter threats and keep Canada safe here at home."

Canada will work with its allies to "fight against the terrorist organisations who brutalise those in other countries with the hope of bringing their savagery to our shores", he added.

Video: Footage Of The Ottawa Gunman

Corporal Nathan Cirillo was guarding the National War Memorial when he was shot at point-blank range at around 10am local time on Wednesday.

Witnesses say the gunman raised his arms in triumph after the shooting, which led to a lockdown in downtown Ottawa, lasting until Wednesday night.

The attacker has been named by Canadian media Michael Zehaf- Bibeau, 32, who US agencies have been advised is a Canadian convert to Islam.

After firing upon Cpl Cirillo, the gunman entered Canada's nearby Parliament building where he was pursued by law enforcement officers.

People fled the building, took cover, or barricaded doors as police cordoned off the streets outside.

Video: How The Ottawa Attack Unfolded

Officials say 58-year-old sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers shot the attacker dead outside the MPs' caucus rooms.

At least three people were treated in hospital for minor injuries.

Authorities say federal government buildings remain off limits following the attack.

The shooting occurred two days after an Islamic convert ran down two Canadian soldiers near Montreal, killing one of them.

Mr Harper said the two terrorist attacks "are a grim reminder that Canada is not immune to the types of terror attacks we have seen elsewhere around the world".

Video: "We Must Remain Vigilant"

US President Barack Obama has condemned the shootings, describing them as "outrageous".

"We have to remain vigilant," Mr Obama said.

"It's very important, I think, for us to recognise that when it comes to dealing with terrorist activity, that Canada and the United States (have) to be entirely in sync."

David Cameron responded to the attack on Twitter, saying: "I'm appalled by today's attack in Ottawa.

"I offer my full support to @pmharper and the Canadian people as they deal with this incident."

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Father Of British Hostage John Cantlie Dies

The father of British hostage John Cantlie has died - weeks after making an impassioned plea for his son's release.

Paul Cantlie died "from complications following pneumonia", his family has said.

The 80-year-old recorded a video message for his son's Islamic State (IS) captors earlier this month, which has so far gone unheeded.

In a statement, the family said they had made urgent attempts to inform their son since the death last Thursday.

John Cantlie has featured in several Islamic State videos

They said: "Paul died not knowing whether John's captors had received any of the messages he had sent to them.

"The failure of communication to date has inevitably led to a terrible sense of abandonment, particularly for John's father, with the family feeling ignored."

Video: Hostage's Family In Video Appeal

The Cantlies, from Surrey, added that the father-of-three's strength had been diminishing since his photojournalist son was kidnapped in Syria two years ago.

"Paul Cantlie will be remembered by many for his fortitude, quiet courage, wry humour and keen intelligence, as well as for his great gentleness," their statement went on.

John Cantlie has been shown in a series of videos in recent weeks in which he speaks about Islamic State (IS) and criticises the West over its strategy in Iraq and Syria.

In a video message from his hospital bed earlier this month, his father said: "For the first time in almost two years, we saw John when he made a televised broadcast during which he told viewers that he was still a prisoner of the Islamic State and that maybe he will live and maybe he will die.

Video: Appeal By Hostage Victims' Families

"As a family we experienced great relief seeing and hearing John and knowing that he is alive. This was followed by the feeling of despair and helplessness.

"To those holding John, please know that he is a good man. He sought only to help the Syrian people and I ask you for all that is sacred to help us and allow him to return home safely to those he loves and those who love him."

IS, which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq, has killed four Western hostages over recent months.

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Foreign Criminals Costing Taxpayers £850m

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

Foreign criminals are costing taxpayers £850m a year, with thousands of offenders setting up home in the UK instead of being deported.

Of the 4,200 foreign convicts living in the community, one in six - 760 - have absconded, according to a National Audit Office (NAO) report.

Among those who have absconded are 58 "high harm" individuals who have been missing since 2010, the report said.

The NAO found that despite greater resources the Home Office has made "slower than expected progress" in dealing with the problem.

The report estimated that public bodies spent £850m in 2013/14 managing and removing foreign national offenders, working out at around £70,000 per offender.

Video: How Police Stop Foreign Criminals

Meanwhile, the number of foreign prisoners has risen 4% from 10,231 to 10,649 since 2006, the NAO said.

Removal numbers have fallen to 5,097 from a peak of 5,613 in 2008/09. Meanwhile, the time it takes to deport an overseas criminal is 319 days.

This comes despite a 10-fold increase in the number of Home Office staff working on foreign national offenders (FNOs), from 100 to more than 900.

Amyas Morse, of the National Audit Office, said: "It is no easy matter to manage foreign national offenders in the UK and to deport those who have completed their sentences.

"However, too little progress has been made, despite the increased resources and effort devoted to this problem."

Conservative MP Philip Hollobone, has long raised concerns about the number of foreigners in UK prisons and failures to deport them.

He said: "Most people will be staggered that despite increasing its staffing for deportations from 100 to 900, the Home Office is not actually deporting any more FNOs than it was before.

Video: Romanian Police Fighting UK Crime

"The public will also be concerned that at any one time over 4,000 convicted FNOs are at large within our communities and that, of these, over 700 go missing.

"My view is that if you are a foreign national who commits a crime in the UK, you should be caught, convicted and sentenced with your sentence served back in your own country at the expense of your fellow nationals."

Immigration and security minister James Brokenshire MP said: "The countless appeals and re-appeals lodged by criminals attempting to cheat the system cost us all money and are an affront to British justice.

"That is why we are putting a stop to that abuse through the Immigration Act.

"New powers came into force this week to cut the number of grounds on which criminals can appeal their deportation and to end the appeals conveyor belt in the courts.

"The Immigration Act will help us deliver an immigration system that is fair to the people of this country and legitimate immigrants and tough on those who flout the rules."

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US Drops Weapons For Kurds Battling IS

The US has airdropped weapons and supplies for Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State (IS) in the town of Kobani in Syria.

A statement from US Central Command said Air Force C-130 planes "delivered weapons, ammunition and medical supplies that were provided by Kurdish authorities in Iraq and intended to enable continued resistance against ISIL's (IS) attempts to overtake Kobani".

Multiple airdrops were completed near the town, which is close to the border with Turkey and would be seen as a strategic coup for IS if it is captured.

Kurdish forces said they had received a "large quantity of ammunition" from the US airdrop.

Spokesman Redur Xelil told the Reuters news agency: "It will have a positive impact on the course of military operations and certainly we are still hoping for more support."

Video: Stuart Ramsay With 'Rag Tag' Army

The US statement said 135 airstrikes near Kobani - combined with continued resistance on the ground - had slowed IS advances and killed hundreds of its fighters.

"However, the security situation in Kobani remains fragile as ISIL continues to threaten the city and Kurdish forces continue to resist," the statement added.

The Kurds have been under IS assault for more than a month - and US Commander General Lloyd Austin has warned that the city could fall.

However, airdrops are likely to anger key ally Turkey, which has said it would oppose the US helping to arm Kurdish rebels.

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1. Gallery: The Kurdish Refugees Of Kobani

   A Kurdish refugee woman and her child from the Syrian town of Kobani rest in front of their family tent in a camp in the southeastern town of Suruc, Turkey

2. The United States is bombing targets in Kobani to relieve the defenders of the Syrian town and give them time to organise against Islamic State militants, a senior US official said

3. A Kurdish refugee from the Syrian town of Kobani sweeps a passage in the camp

4. A child looks out of a tent

5. Kurdish people watch smoke billowing from Kobani as they gather on a hill overlooking the Syrian town of Kobani

6. A child walks through the camp in Suruc

7. A Turkish aid worker distributes food to Kurdish refugees

8. Kurdish refugees from the Syrian town of Kobani queue to get food

9. Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Kobani

10. Kurdish people shout slogans while standing upon a hill opposite the Syrian town of Kobani

11. The graves of Kurdish people killed fighting alongside People's Protection Units (YPG) against IS jihadists in Kobani

Ankara views the main Kurdish group in Syria as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an organisation that has waged a 30-year insurgency in Turkey.

The PKK is designated a terror group by the US and NATO.

Turkey has resisted pressure from the West to take a more direct role in fighting IS in Kobani.

However, in an earlier call with Barack Obama, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to "strengthen cooperation".

Video: New Video Of The Battle For Kobani

An unnamed official said that while the results of the airdrop mission were still being assessed, it appeared "the vast majority" of the 27 bundles reached the intended Kurdish fighters.

Another official suggested "you might see more" drops in the days ahead.

:: Sky's Stuart Ramsay joined the forgotten Kurds who have held off IS for more than two years with homemade weapons and armoured cars.

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