Normandy Priest Killer's Cousin Is Charged

The cousin of one of the men who killed a priest in Normandy has been charged with knowing an attack was imminent.

The 30-year-old, named as Farid K, appeared before a judge in Paris as Muslims across France displayed their solidarity with the Catholic community in light of the gruesome killing.

Farid K, from Nancy, is the cousin of Abdelmalik Petitjean, who was shot dead by police after he and another man, Adel Kermiche, slit the throat of Father Jacques Hamel, 86, in his church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. 

Father Jacques Hamel was killed in the attack

He is accused of knowing that his cousin would imminently commit a violent attack - though not the place or the date.

Petitjean's stepfather has said that the pair had spent time together and at times lived together.

Another man, a Syrian refugee, was released by police, while a minor initially detained in connection with the attack will not be prosecuted over the incident, though may face separate charges in relation to materials found on his computer.

Adel Kermiche (L) and Abdelmalik Petitjean (R)

At Rouen cathedral, near the church where the victim was killed on Tuesday last week, more than 100 Muslims gathered to join in prayer with Catholics.

During the service, which focused on the memory of Father Jacques, Rouen Archbishop Dominique Lebrun expressed his gratitude for their gesture.

Sunday's mass at Rouen cathedral

He said: "I thank you in the name of all Christians. In this way you are affirming that you reject death and violence in the name of God."

He told Sky News he was grateful for their "courageous act", as some within the Muslim community believe it is not acceptable to enter a church.

The head of the French Muslim council had proclaimed "we are all Catholics in France" in the wake of the attack, and called on the community to show their "solidarity and compassion".

Other interfaith gatherings took place around the country.

More than 100 Muslims attended the service

In Lyon, a "brotherhood march" followed the religious ceremonies, where hundreds marched in silence carrying banners that read, "This is not a religious war" and "We are all brothers and sisters".

Prime Minister Manuel Valls has called for a new "pact" with the Muslim community in France, after renewed fears of possible religious tensions.

He said: "Islam has found its place in France ... contrary to the repeated attacks of populists on the right and far-right.

"This intolerable rejection of Islam and Muslims... must be combated - and it is - with the greatest strength."

The French government has come under pressure over perceived security lapses, following the Bastille Day attack in Nice, when a jihadist drove a truck through crowds, killing 84 people.

Mr Valls was booed as he attended a tribute to the victims, and faces further questions after it emerged that the two Normandy attackers had been on the radar of the intelligence services and had previously tried to enter Syria.

UK Terror Attack 'When, Not If' - Police Chief

The head of the Metropolitan Police has warned that a terror attack in Britain is a case of "when, not if".

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, commenting in light of a series of recent jihadist assaults in Europe, said the UK faces a "very real" threat.

He wrote in the Mail on Sunday: "I feel and understand that fear, and as the police officer in charge of preventing such an attack I know you want me to reassure you.

"I am afraid I cannot do that entirely. Our threat level ... means an attack is highly likely - you could say it is a case of when, not if."

Sir Bernard said the UK faces a "very real" threat

The national threat level has been at 'severe' since August 2014 - one below the highest level of 'critical', which means an attack is expected imminently.

Sir Bernard said British gun control laws and the "world-beater" relationship between police, MI5 and MI6 makes the UK environment "immediately hostile" to terror attempts.  

He also highlighted the number of terror plots that have been foiled since the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby in May 2013, including one to attack officers at a police station in Shepherd's Bush and a plan to kill soldiers at a US Air Force base in East Anglia.

Counter terror police are currently investigating the attempted abduction of a serviceman at RAF Marham in Norfolk, but other motives have not been ruled out.

E-fit images released of RAF Marham attempted abduction

Britain's top officer also praised the nation's "tolerance and acceptance", saying that the "shared values" of communities also make the UK less susceptible to extremism. 

But he also said that the "British way of life and culture" made the UK hostile to terrorists.

He wrote that "defeating terrorism is as much about refusing to be afraid as anything else", and suggested that the public enjoyed a healthier relationship with officers than elsewhere in Europe because because officers are unarmed.

Scrap Pensions Triple Lock - Ex-Minister

Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted the government will keep the 'triple lock' which protects state pensions.

Number 10 was reacting to suggestions by a former pensions minister that scrapping the locks would save billions of pounds.

Baroness Altmann has warned that by 2020 the cost of safeguarding pensions in the current way would be "enormous".

The pensions 'triple lock' guarantees that state payments rise by the inflation rate, average earnings or a 2.5% safety net - whichever is highest.

It was introduced by the coalition government in 2010 and has been a source of political debate ever since.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: "The manifesto contains a commitment to protect the triple lock. That commitment still stands."

Lady Altmann, who left her post as pensions minister in the reshuffle earlier this month, told Sky News that she attempted to persuade David Cameron to use a 'double lock' system last year, but he refused for political reasons.

Describing the current safeguard as a "political gimmick", she said: "The problem with pensions policy is that politicians only want to think about the next few months, or the next year or two."

Lady Altmann has suggested that state pensions should increase in line with prices or earnings, claiming the 2.5% rise "really isn't a sensible policy as far as long-term policy making is concerned."

She called on politicians to focus on the long term, rather than "knee-jerk, headline, totemic policies", which she claimed "end up staying forever because nobody has got the courage" to revisit the issue.

"The double lock would still give pensioners much better protection than most other areas of the economy," she said.

"It is absolutely right that we must protect pensioners, and we should look at a double lock as the best way for the long term to really achieve that."

Debbie Abrahams, Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary, said: "Just months ago the Tories went to the country on a solemn promise to protect pensioners, saying their 'triple lock' was guaranteed, that people could trust them, now we hear they're considering dumping it.

"Make no mistake, this would be a grand betrayal - a shocking broken promise hitting pensioners in the pocket.

"The lesson here is that for all their words about doing the right thing, the Tories don't stand up for ordinary people."

Game Of Thrones Will End After Eighth Season

The popular TV show Game Of Thrones will conclude after its eighth season, broadcaster HBO has announced.

The announcement was made by the new programming president for the US cable network, Casey Bloys.

Mr Bloys, speaking during the Television Critics Association press tour, added that a possible spin-off programme may be made.

Executive producers David Benioff and DB Weiss have previously suggested that the series may be approaching its end.

Game Of Thrones was recently renewed for a shortened seventh season of seven episodes, instead of the usual 10.

The penultimate season will be broadcast next summer. The eighth and final season is expected to follow in 2018.

Game Of Thrones picked up 23 Emmy nominations this month, the most of any show.

The series is adapted from George R.R. Martin's novels and stars Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington.

Corbyn Victory Unlikely To Split Labour Party

When I interviewed Labour leadership hopeful Owen Smith earlier this week, I asked him if he was on a suicide mission.

"My mam has joined up", he said rather optimistically. "She might swing it."

Despite his maternal support, the Pontypridd MP challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the party's leadership has a tough fight ahead.

Last year, Mr Corbyn won the contest decisively with more votes than the other three candidates put together.

This year, 180,000 people have paid £25 to sign up to have their say in the contest.

Even Owen Smith's supporters admit privately around "two-thirds" of that number are likely to vote for Jeremy Corbyn.

Those who want to depose the Labour leader are relying on a softening of support among longer-standing members.

Mr Corbyn has been holding leadership rallies in the north of England

They hope the more this group hears from Mr Smith, the more they will like him.

But what if they are wrong? What will the 'rebels' do if Jeremy Corbyn wins again?

There are three options despairing Labour MPs are discussing over the summer.

The first is the nuclear option: a split. The party could divide in two and do battle over who gets to keep the "Labour" brand. This is a last resort.

Thanks to the bruising experience of the 1980s, when the 'Gang of Four' split from the Labour Party to form the SDP, Labour MPs are reluctant to press the red button again.

The second is a party within a party. Labour MPs unhappy with Jeremy Corbyn could form their own group in Westminster, electing a separate leader of the parliamentary party and even organising MPs to shadow frontbench roles.

In this scenario, the Speaker would have final say over which group would form the official opposition.

The third option is to simply accept the result - willingly or not - if Jeremy Corbyn wins again.

Unsurprisingly, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, chair of the Jeremy for Labour campaign, is calling on them to do exactly that.

In a statement, he said: "The democratic process is fundamental to Labour Party values and all candidates must commit to respecting the outcome of this election.

"We call on Owen Smith to condemn the minority of MPs supporting his campaign who are threatening to subvert the outcome of this election and cause enormous damage to the Labour Party."

Labour MPs might not like it, but if Mr Corbyn is re-elected with an overwhelming majority, they may have little option.

Corbyn Victory Unlikely To Split Labour Party

When I interviewed Labour leadership hopeful Owen Smith earlier this week, I asked him if he was on a suicide mission.

"My mam has joined up", he said rather optimistically. "She might swing it."

Despite his maternal support, the Pontypridd MP challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the party's leadership has a tough fight ahead.

Last year, Mr Corbyn won the contest decisively with more votes than the other three candidates put together.

This year, 180,000 people have paid £25 to sign up to have their say in the contest.

Even Owen Smith's supporters admit privately around "two-thirds" of that number are likely to vote for Jeremy Corbyn.

Those who want to depose the Labour leader are relying on a softening of support among longer-standing members.

Mr Corbyn has been holding leadership rallies in the north of England

They hope the more this group hears from Mr Smith, the more they will like him.

But what if they are wrong? What will the 'rebels' do if Jeremy Corbyn wins again?

There are three options despairing Labour MPs are discussing over the summer.

The first is the nuclear option: a split. The party could divide in two and do battle over who gets to keep the "Labour" brand. This is a last resort.

Thanks to the bruising experience of the 1980s, when the 'Gang of Four' split from the Labour Party to form the SDP, Labour MPs are reluctant to press the red button again.

The second is a party within a party. Labour MPs unhappy with Jeremy Corbyn could form their own group in Westminster, electing a separate leader of the parliamentary party and even organising MPs to shadow frontbench roles.

In this scenario, the Speaker would have final say over which group would form the official opposition.

The third option is to simply accept the result - willingly or not - if Jeremy Corbyn wins again.

Unsurprisingly, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, chair of the Jeremy for Labour campaign, is calling on them to do exactly that.

In a statement, he said: "The democratic process is fundamental to Labour Party values and all candidates must commit to respecting the outcome of this election.

"We call on Owen Smith to condemn the minority of MPs supporting his campaign who are threatening to subvert the outcome of this election and cause enormous damage to the Labour Party."

Labour MPs might not like it, but if Mr Corbyn is re-elected with an overwhelming majority, they may have little option.

Corbyn Victory Unlikely To Split Labour Party

When I interviewed Labour leadership hopeful Owen Smith earlier this week, I asked him if he was on a suicide mission.

"My mam has joined up", he said rather optimistically. "She might swing it."

Despite his maternal support, the Pontypridd MP challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the party's leadership has a tough fight ahead.

Last year, Mr Corbyn won the contest decisively with more votes than the other three candidates put together.

This year, 180,000 people have paid £25 to sign up to have their say in the contest.

Even Owen Smith's supporters admit privately around "two-thirds" of that number are likely to vote for Jeremy Corbyn.

Those who want to depose the Labour leader are relying on a softening of support among longer-standing members.

Mr Corbyn has been holding leadership rallies in the north of England

They hope the more this group hears from Mr Smith, the more they will like him.

But what if they are wrong? What will the 'rebels' do if Jeremy Corbyn wins again?

There are three options despairing Labour MPs are discussing over the summer.

The first is the nuclear option: a split. The party could divide in two and do battle over who gets to keep the "Labour" brand. This is a last resort.

Thanks to the bruising experience of the 1980s, when the 'Gang of Four' split from the Labour Party to form the SDP, Labour MPs are reluctant to press the red button again.

The second is a party within a party. Labour MPs unhappy with Jeremy Corbyn could form their own group in Westminster, electing a separate leader of the parliamentary party and even organising MPs to shadow frontbench roles.

In this scenario, the Speaker would have final say over which group would form the official opposition.

The third option is to simply accept the result - willingly or not - if Jeremy Corbyn wins again.

Unsurprisingly, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, chair of the Jeremy for Labour campaign, is calling on them to do exactly that.

In a statement, he said: "The democratic process is fundamental to Labour Party values and all candidates must commit to respecting the outcome of this election.

"We call on Owen Smith to condemn the minority of MPs supporting his campaign who are threatening to subvert the outcome of this election and cause enormous damage to the Labour Party."

Labour MPs might not like it, but if Mr Corbyn is re-elected with an overwhelming majority, they may have little option.

Thousands In Yorkshire Warned Not To Drink Water

Thorne, South Yorkshire, where residents have been told not to drink their tap water.

Thousands of people in South Yorkshire have been warned not to drink their tap water or use it for cooking after high levels of bacteria were found.

Around 3,600 properties in parts of Thorne, near Doncaster, and the neighbouring village of Moorends have been affected by the Do Not Drink warning from Yorkshire Water.

The company said that "following consultation with local health experts" customers should not drink their tap water, cook or prepare food with it, clean their teeth with it or let their pets drink it.

Former Labour leader Ed Miliband, whose constituency covers Moorends, said he was "very concerned" by the situation.

Yorkshire Water said on its website: "Customers in 3,600 properties in the village of Thorne, near Doncaster, have been told not to use their tap water for drinking or cooking.

"High levels of bacteria have been detected in the local water supply, prompting us to issue the precautionary Do Not Drink advice which customers must follow until further notice."

The firm said it was distributing bottled water for residents to use at two locations in Thorne and Moorends.

It said: "Alternative supplies are being proactively delivered to customers on our register of vulnerable customers."

Mr Miliband, the MP for Doncaster North, said on Twitter: "Very concerned for residents who can't drink water because of contamination in parts of Moorends.

"In touch with @YorkshireWater about their provision of water while problem is fixed. Also speaking to council."

Six Billion Fewer Bags Used After 5p Fee

The introduction of a 5p charge will see six billion fewer single-use plastic bags taken home this year, new figures suggest.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said more than seven billion bags were handed out by major retailers in 2014.

This figure fell to just over half a billion in the first six months after the 5p charge was introduced last October.

Retailers have also donated more than £29m towards charities and community groups as a result of the charge.

Environment Minister Therese Coffey said: "Taking six billion plastic bags out of circulation is fantastic news for all of us.

"It will mean our precious marine life is safer, our communities are cleaner and future generations won't be saddled with mountains of plastic sat taking hundreds of years to break down in landfill sites.

"The 5p charge has clearly been a huge success - not only for our environment but for good causes across the country that have benefited from an impressive £29m raised.

"It shows small actions can make the biggest difference, but we must not be complacent as there is always more we can all do to reduce waste and recycle what we use."

England was the last part of the UK to introduce the charge under a Government scheme to reduce litter and protect wildlife.

Retailers with 250 or more full-time equivalent employees have to charge a minimum of 5p for the bags they provide for shopping in stores and for deliveries, but smaller shops and paper bags are not included.

Some are calling on the Government to go further by raising the price of bags.

The National Federation of Retail Newsagents also wants to see smaller retailers bring in charges too.

Ros Finney from the Marine Conservation Society told Sky News: "Every year around eight million tonnes of plastic is dumped in oceans around the world, which is a real problem for marine life.

"Animals get entangled in plastic and if we were to cut the amount we put in the sea overall that would have a huge benefit".

Dr Sue Kinsey of the Marine Conservation Society said: "We are delighted to see that the bag charge in England is showing positive results.

"This is a significant reduction that will benefit the environment as a whole, and our sea life in particular."

Erdogan Tells West: 'Mind Your Own Business'

Turkey's president has told the EU and US to "mind your own business" after the West expressed concern over the crackdown on alleged coup perpetrators.

There has been a purge of the civil service, military, judiciary and education sectors, and the closure of hundreds of schools and dozens of media outlets.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to take all steps "within the limits of the law" as Turkey seeks legal retribution for those suspected of involvement in the coup.

But he also said he was dropping hundreds of lawsuits against individuals accused of insulting him in what he said was a gesture of goodwill.

Earlier this year, authorities said over 2,000 people were being prosecuted on charges of insulting the president.

Speaking about the post-coup clampdown, Mr Erdogan said: "They say they are worried. Mind your own business! Look at your own deeds."

He complained no senior Western official had visited Turkey in the wake of the coup.

He said: "Not a single person has come to give condolences either from the European Union ... or from the West.

"And then they say that 'Erdogan has got so angry'!

"Those countries or leaders who are not worried about Turkey's democracy, the lives of our people, its future - while being so worried about the fate of the putschists - cannot be our friends."

The president slammed the US, claiming it was not standing firmly against the failed coup in which over 200 people died, as Turkey's ties with key allies become strained.

More than 18,000 people have been detained since the coup attempt and over 3,500 of them have since been released.

Also over 66,000 people in the wider civil service have been suspended from their jobs.

Turkey has demanded America extradites cleric Fethullah Gulen who Ankara suspects of being behind the 15 July plot to overthrow the leader.

Mr Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, has denied any prior knowledge of the coup.

The US has asked Turkey for evidence of his involvement.

And Washington also said the extradition process must take its course.

All Royal Navy's Advanced Destroyers In Port

The entire fleet of the Royal Navy's most advanced warships are currently in port and not on operations, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

A photograph showing the vessels docked in Portsmouth was published by the website UK Defence Journal.

A source told Sky News that the ships had either "just got back from operations, are about to go on operations, or are having planned maintenance done".

But another senior figure said it was "almost unprecedented" that all the ships should be in port and "it either showed a gross lack of planning or was indicative of something more serious".

The Type 45 Destroyers are primarily designed for an air defence role. 

Their advanced radars are capable of scanning the skies to detect and engage enemy aircraft. But recently the fleet has experienced serious engineering issues.

This is the latest embarrassment to beset the fleet.

All six ships, worth £1bn each, need to be refitted with new engines after some of them broke down.

This work is due to being in 2019 and the MoD has guaranteed it will not affect operational capabilities.

It will put a further strain on the Royal Navy, which has been considerably cut in size in recent years, and it will put into doubt the safety of the new aircraft carriers which will rely on the Type 45s for security.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "This week the Royal Navy had over 8,500 personnel deployed on operations around the world and 34 ships at sea.

"All Type 45 Destroyers are currently in port as they have either just returned from operations, or are about to be deployed, are conducting training or carrying out maintenance or are home for crew to take summer leave."

Dover Travellers Urged To Take Food And Water

Holidaymakers passing through Dover this weekend are being urged to carry plenty of provisions after travellers faced severe hold-ups last weekend.

There were delays of up to 15 hours, while tailbacks stretched for 12 miles, caused by heightened French security checks following recent terror attacks and a large volume of holiday traffic at the start of the summer getaway.

While the Port of Dover said it was not expecting those delays to be repeated, it added: "This remains our busiest time of the year and we do expect increased traffic volumes as the holiday season continues to get under way." 

statement, Kent Police said: "Motorists planning to travel towards Dover this weekend are being advised to take plenty of food and water before setting off.

"Those planning to use the roads towards Dover are being urged to check the latest travel updates from Highways England and their travel operator and take adequate provisions and any medication in case there is disruption."

The force added that local people, who may find roads busier than usual, should "plan ahead".

Saturday is also a "Black Saturday" in France, when holidaymakers beginning their breaks and others heading home cross over.

A second Black Saturday is expected on 6 August.

Saturday is also a "Black Saturday" in France, when holidaymakers beginning their breaks and others heading home cross over.

A second Black Saturday is expected on 6 August.

Google's Wacky Moonshot Ideas Lose $859m

Google's moonshot factory lost the search giant almost $1bn in just 12 weeks - more than many tech firms rake in each year.

Parent company Alphabet invests heavily in so-called moonshot projects, which include long-term expensive bets on things like self-driving cars, superfast internet, life sciences and app-controlled home tech.

But, for now, it is costing Google way more than it makes back from sales.

Sales for the quarter ending in June stood at $185m - more than twice as much as the same quarter a year ago.

But overall, its losses stood at $859m, up from $660m a year earlier.

Google's most popular Moonshot products are its automated home kits

In an earning's call Google said most of its sales came from its Fiber internet connection service and its Nest automated home technology systems.

However the company refused to say when the firm's self-driving cars will start making money.

This marks the second consecutive quarter in which losses have deepened in the "other bets" category.

Google has repeatedly promised to rein in its moonshot spending, and has shut down projects in which it saw no future.

Momentum for Google Glass appears to have fizzled

It suspended production of prototypes of Google Glass - an optical head-mounted display - in January last year.

Yet Google can still afford to spend huge amounts on speculative projects because it remains the most successful advertising network in the world.

Alphabet reported on Thursday that it earned $4.9bn during the April to June quarter - up 24% from the same time last year.

Alphabet's stock gained more than 5% as a result, and is set to surpass its all-time high of $810.35 in Friday's regular trading session.

Nigeria Boko Haram crisis: UN aid convoy ambushed

Suspected Islamist Boko Haram militants have ambushed a UN humanitarian aid convoy in north-eastern Nigeria which had a military escort, officials say.

The military said three civilians, including UN staff, and two soldiers were wounded in the attack.

It has prompted the UN to temporarily suspend aid deliveries in Borno state, where more than two million people have been displaced by the insurgency.

The UN says thousands of children are severely malnourished in the region.

Earlier this month the UN's children agency warned that tens of thousands of children would die if treatment did not reach them soon.

• Africa Live: More on this and other stories
• 'Boko Haram took my children'
• 'I almost became suicide bomber'

Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has lost most of the territory it controlled 18 months ago, is fighting to overthrow the government.

Its seven-year insurgency has left 20,000 people dead, mainly in the country's north-east.

The wounded are in a stable condition and are being treated in hospital in the state capital Maiduguri, according to a statement from the military. 

"The convoy was travelling from Bama to Maiduguri in Borno State... returning from delivering desperately needed assistance" at the time of the ambush, Unicef said.

"This was not only an attack on humanitarian workers. It is an attack on the people who most need the assistance and aid that these workers were bringing," it added. 

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How bad is the humanitarian crisis?

• Almost 250,000 children affected by severe malnutrition in Borno state
• UN says one in five of those at risk of dying if they do not receive help 
• More than two million people displaced by the insurgency
• Three million in need of urgent food assistance across north-eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe

---

How strong are the militants? Analysis by BBC Monitoring's Africa security correspondent Tomi Oladipo

Boko Haram never really went away, contrary to the Nigerian government saying that the group had been defeated "technically" or even "decisively".

The group has definitely been weakened in the joint military offensive by Nigeria and its neighbours, losing swathes of territory in Nigeria's north-east.

But attacks against civilians and security forces have seen a resurgence in recent months. Since June, the attacks have even been promoted by media outlets of the so-called Islamic State, to which Boko Haram's leaders have sworn allegiance. 

It does not help that Nigeria is now fighting a separate conflict against oil militants in the southern Niger Delta region.

---

Boko Haram at a glance:

• Founded in 2002, initially focused on opposing Western-style education - Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language
• Launched military operations in 2009
• Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria, hundreds abducted, including at least 200 schoolgirls
• Joined so-called Islamic State, now calls itself IS's "West African province"
• Seized large area in north-east, where it declared caliphate
• Regional force has retaken most territory last year

Town divided by Boko Haram legacy

On patrol against Boko Haram

Who are Boko Haram?

'A Million Iraqis Could Flee' Fight For Mosul

Up to one million Iraqis could be forced to flee their homes as the war against Islamic State intensifies, the International Committee of the Red Cross has warned.

The flight of so many people could pose a "massive humanitarian problem" for Iraq, the Geneva-based aid group said.

It said it is preparing for the worst, particularly in the Mosul area - IS's de facto Iraqi capital.

US-backed government forces have trained their sights on the city since retaking full control of Fallujah, 30 miles west of Baghdad, after a vast operation against IS which was launched in May.

"Up to a million more people could be forced to flee their homes in Iraq in the coming weeks and months, posing a massive humanitarian problem for the country," the ICRC said in a statement.

More than three million civilians are already displaced inside the country and 10 million people are in need of assistance.

Around Mosul, the United Nations is also preparing for what it has described as the largest relief operation so far this year to provide food, water and shelter for people fleeing the area for between three and 12 months.

Coalition victories in IS-strongholds are shrinking the size of the "caliphate" the group proclaimed over large parts of Iraq and Syria two years ago.

The latest warning on the deepening humanitarian crisis comes as a British-based watchdog said IS had executed 24 civilians in northern Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday the killings had taken place "in the last 24 hours" after jihadis retook a village called Buyir from the Syrian Democratic Forces, a US-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance.

Valls 'Open' To Ban On Foreign Funding Of Mosques

France's prime minister has said he is "open" to an interim ban on the foreign financing of mosques in the country following a spate of attacks claimed by Islamic extremists.

Manuel Valls also called for imams to be "trained in France, not elsewhere" and said the nation needed to forge "a new relationship" with Islam.

He said he was "open to the idea that - for a period yet to be determined - there should be no financing from abroad for the construction of mosques".

Security forces in France are under scrutiny after it emerged both jihadists who slit the throat of a Catholic priest at a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray on Tuesday were known to police.

Nineteen-year-old Adel Kermiche was awaiting trial on terror charges and had been placed under house arrest and was wearing a tag, having attempted to twice travel to Syria.

Scramble For Old Book After Elon Musk Tip

Second-hand copies of an out-of-print history book have soared in price from £4.50 to £75 after tech pioneer Elon Musk recommended it.

The boss of Tesla Motors and SpaceX told a Bloomberg reporter that he liked the book Twelve Against The Gods by William Bolitho, saying: "It's really quite good."

Bolitho, a South African journalist, profiled 12 great figures from history in the book, including the Prophet Mohammed, Casanova, and Napoleon.

Before Mr Musk's recommendation, just a handful of copies were trading on Amazon for about £4.50.

Second-hand copies of the book are sold out

But just hours after his recommendation the price of copies of the book had soared to £75 per copy, and soon after there were no copies left at all.

Amazon's page for the book, which was first published in 1929, now reads 'Out of Print-Limited Availability'.

The English-language version of the book is also out of stock on a number of other popular booksellers websites.

On Amazon.co.uk, the book has just two reviews - both give it five stars.

One reviewer said: "You'll not likely find a more entertaining books of historical essays in modern print," while the other said: "I have had this book and re-read it off-and-on for years. The colorful details of their grand glorious adventures are wonderful."

Mr Musk is famously well read - he taught himself about rocket science by devouring books on the subject.

Now he reads more widely, and recommends his favourites from time to time.