FBI director James Comey has hinted that the FBI paid more than $1m to hack into the locked iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino attackers.
At an Aspen Security Forum event in London, Mr Comey said the FBI had paid an unidentified third-party more money than he will earn in his remaining seven years as FBI director.
His salary is $183,000 per year.
Mr Comey did not give a precise number but said it was "more than I will make in the remainder of this job, which is seven years and four months, for sure".
He added that he thought the payment was "worth it".
The Justice Department last month revealed that an outside entity had approached it with a method that could hack into the phone used by Syed Farook, who along with his wife killed 14 people at a party in December last year before dying in a shootout with police.
Apple, backed by other technology giants including Google and Facebook, was opposed to assisting the government in unlocking the phone on the grounds it would have wide-reaching implications on digital security and privacy.
Mr Comey said the litigation in the case had inspired a "marketplace around the world" for people to break into an Apple 5C running IOS 9, the phone Farook used.
"Somebody approached us from outside of the government and said, 'We think we've come up with a solution.' And we tested and tested and tested it, and then we purchased it."
He acknowledged the fundamental principles in conflict in the case and said he was glad that, at least in this instance, a way outside the court was found.
"Litigation is not a great place to resolve hard values questions that implicate all kinds of things that all of us care about," he said.
"We have a problem where all of us share a set of values that are in conflict. We have to figure out how to resolve privacy and security on the Internet and on our devices with public safety."
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Can consumers trust the car industry?
First it was Volkswagen. Now Mitsubishi has been forced to apologise after confessing it had exaggerated the fuel economy of more than 600,000 cars.
Japanese government officials have raided one of its offices and research facilities, forcing the company's share price to drop to an all-time low.
On the same day, Volkswagen reached an agreement in the US to compensate half a million American owners of its diesel-powered cars.
In what some are starting to call an international pattern of cheating in the car industry, the German carmaker was found to be falsifying its emissions datalast year.
Prince's Sister Tells Fans: 'He Loved You All'
Shocked fans have laid bouquets and purple balloons outside Prince's home in Minnesota, where he died at the age of 57 yesterday.
Hundreds of people braved the rain to mourn and celebrate the life and work of the music icon - and his sister, Tyka Nelson, came outside to tell the crowd: "He loved all of you. Thank you for loving him back."
An all-night dance party is being held in Prince's honour at the Minneapolis nightclub where he filmed Purple Rain, one of the songs which helped propel him to stardom.
And in New York, roughly 1,000 people attended an impromptu street party organised by Spike Lee - wearing purple and dancing along as Prince's music played from loudspeakers.
Medical examiners have received Prince's body and plan to perform an autopsy later today - and investigators say the cause of death is yet to be determined.
Prince had been found unresponsive and alone in an elevator at his complex in Paisley Park where he lived and worked.
A transcript has emerged of the frantic 9/11 call made by someone inside the superstar's compound, in which they said: "The person is dead here … and the people are distraught."
When asked by an operator for the address, the caller appeared confused and said: "Um, we're at Prince's house."
The emergency services had attempted CPR on arrival but could not revive the singer-songwriter.
Barely a week before his sudden and unexpected death, Prince had become unwell during a flight and his private jet was forced to make an emergency landing in Illinois.
Footage has emerged from what is believed to be the singer-songwriter's final show in Atlanta, Georgia, where he performed Purple Rain as the finale.
He had cancelled two shows in the city because of ill health in the run up to his death.
Prince's passing has stunned the music industry - dominating the world's newspapers and prompting MTV to begin a marathon of his music videos.
The music channel's emblem turned purple in homage to one of his greatest hits, a tribute emulated by Google on its homepage.
Officials at the Carver County Sheriff's Office are investigating the circumstances of his death, and say foul play "is neither suspected nor not suspected".
It could take days before medical examiners have preliminary findings, and weeks for toxicology results.
His first wife, Mayte Garcia, told People magazine Prince was her "everything".
They were married in 1996, and in that year, they lost their son a week after he was born with a rare genetic disorder.
"I loved him then, I love him now and will love him eternally. He's with our son now," she added.
Those gathered outside his home in Minnesota are not just celebrating a global pop icon, but remembering a neighbour.
Chris Spiegel, who attended one of the intimate performances Prince regularly performed at Paisley Park, said: "We were in there and he performed until 3am, it was so special. He shook my hand.
"It's just very sad that he's gone. We were very proud of him."
Prince Joins Long List Of Stars To Die In 2016
the age of 57 makes him the latest in a string of much-loved celebrities to have passed away in 2016.
:: Rock legend, actor and artist David Bowiedied aged 69 on 10 January
:: Die Hard and Harry Potter actor Alan Rickman died aged 69 on 14 January
:: Eagles frontman Glenn Frey died aged 67 on 18 January
:: Broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan died on 31 January aged 77
:: Harper Lee, author of To Kill A Mockingbird, died aged 89 on 19 February
:: Actor Frank Kelly, best known for playing Father Jack in the comedy series Father Ted, died aged 77 on 28 February
:: Coronation Street creator Tony Warrendied aged 79 on 1 March
:: Beatles producer Sir George Martin died aged 90 on 8 March
:: Magician Paul Daniels died aged 77 on 17 March
Comedian Ronnie Corbett died aged 85 on 31 March
:: This Morning agony aunt Denise Robertson died aged 83 on 31 March
:: Sherlock Holmes actor Douglas Wilmerdied at the age of 96 on 31 March
:: Howard Marks, the former drug dealer and writer known as Mr Nice, died aged 70 on 10 April
:: Reality TV star and music producer David Gest, the former husband of Liza Minnelli, died aged 62 on 12 April
British playwright Sir Arnold Wesker died aged 83 on 12 April
:: Comedian Victoria Wood died aged 62 on 20 April
:: Goldfinger and Live And Let Die director Guy Hamilton, who died aged 93 on 21 April
:: Superstar Prince died aged 57 on 21 April.
Corbyn's Queen Speech A Comic Timing Triumph
A royal milestone brought the usual confrontational clamour in the Commons to a halt as MPs sought to mix warm anecdotes with polished oratory.
Unsurprisingly this was an event hidebound by convention: MPs speaking on a motion asking the Commons to agree on a Humble Address to be presented to the Queen.
Only the 'Mother of Parliaments' could find such a complex way to wish the Queen a happy birthday.
David Cameron was in his avuncular comfort zone: flicking easily from personal reflection to placing the Queen on a historical timeline.
He dug out some statistics to support his claim that the Queen has led a "gentle evolution" in opening up the monarchy to scrutiny.
Most eye-catching was the assertion that Her Majesty had met a quarter of all the US Presidents since independence.
That provoked amazed headshakes from several backbenchers, cleverly conveying the span of her reign.
The job of the opposition leader at such events is harder, especially when that MP is an avowed republican.
"Today we're talking about a highly respected individual who is 90," he said.
"Whatever different views people across this country have about the institution, the vast majority share an opinion that Her Majesty has served this country and has overwhelming support with a clear sense of public service and public duty."
He even excited Twitter by suggesting the Queen could be an Arsenal supporter.
Corbyn is rarely praised for his comic timing, but he drew laughs when he said "She's seen off 12 prime ministers ..." and then stared across the dispatch box.
Even Mr Cameron chuckled.
Trump Criticises Transgender Bathrooms Law
Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump has criticised North Carolina's transgender bathroom law, saying it has caused unnecessary "strife".
Mr Trump said transgender people should be able to use whichever bathroom they choose.
The HB2 bill requires everyone to use restrooms matching the gender on their birth certificates.
"You leave it the way it is," the Manhattan property magnate told NBC's Today show on Thursday.
"There have been very few complaints the way it is.
"People go, they use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate. There has been so little trouble."
"And the problem with what happened in North Carolina is the strife and the economic, I mean, the economic punishment they’re taking."
Today show co-host Matt Lauer asked Mr Trump: "So if Caitlyn Jenner were to walk into Trump Tower and wanted to use the bathroom, you would be fine with her using any bathroom she chooses?"
Apparently undeterred by Jenner's support for his rival Ted Cruz, Mr Trump replied: "That is correct."
His remarks prompted rare praise from his sworn political enemies among the Democrats.
The North Carolina Democratic Party said: "Today Donald Trump joined the growing list of business leaders against HB2."
But Mr Trump’s comments may dismay the social conservatives who backed HB2 and also swept him to victory throughout much of the southern US states earlier in the primary season.
It could signal a tonal shift in his campaign as he reaches for the party's Republican presidential nomination and pivots to broaden his appeal to younger and independent voters.
North Carolina's law has cost the state hundreds of jobs as PayPal and Deutsche Bank halted proposed expansions in the state.
Bruce Springsteen cancelled a concert in Greensboro because of the law, while others, such as American Airlines and Apple, have raised concerns.
Eight Tons Of Drugs Seized In Tunnel Find
Around eight tons of illegal drugs have been seized in a newly-discovered tunnel running between the US and Mexico.
Federal officials in San Diego say the half-mile-long tunnel connects a Tijuana house with an industrial lot advertised as a wooden pallet business in the Californian city.
The tunnel, which has a railway track, lighting and ventilation, was entered using an elevator large enough for up to 10 people which was hidden in the closet of the Tijuana house.
For 874 yards, the 3ft-wide tunnel then zig-zagged until it reached San Diego, where the exit was covered by a large rubbish bin.
Laura Duffy, US attorney for the Southern District of California, described it as "a rabbit hole".
She added: "Just the whole way that it comes up and that it comes up out right into the open, it is a bit ingenious, I think, and it's something completely different than what we've seen."
Authorities seized more than a ton of cocaine and seven tons of marijuana in the tunnel on Wednesday, revealing that it was the 13th sophisticated secret passage found along the California border with Mexico since 2006.
The region is popular for such tunnels because its soil is quite easy to dig with shovels and pneumatic tools. Both sides of the border also have warehouses that can provide cover for trucks and digging equipment.
Ms Duffy said this tunnel was unusual because it was not just built for marijuana - which is often transported this way because its bulk and smell make evading border inspectors' scrutiny more difficult - but cocaine as well.
Investigators had started monitoring the industrial lot in San Diego last autumn after Border Patrol agents noticed the heavy traffic and become suspicious.
Ms Duffy said she was "fairly confident" that the first drug load was sent earlier this month.
Six people have been arrested in connection with the tunnel, including one US citizen, two Cubans who were granted asylum and three Mexicans who were legally entitled to be in the country, Ms Duffy said.
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