By Sky News US Team
Travellers arriving in the US from ebola-stricken countries in West Africa must enter through one of five airports, officials say.
More follows...
By Sky News US Team
Travellers arriving in the US from ebola-stricken countries in West Africa must enter through one of five airports, officials say.
More follows...
Oscar Pistorius has been jailed for five years for killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine's Day last year.
His defence team said he would spend a sixth of the term in prison - 10 months - before being placed under house arrest for the remainder of his sentence.
But Nathi Mncube, a spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, said he was likely to serve one third of the sentence behind bars, before adding "it's not for the NPA to decide".
"This is not what we were hoping to achieve at the end of this trial ... but it is not entirely up to us," he told Sky News.
The 27-year-old, who was found guilty of culpable homicide last month, appeared to wipe his eyes as the sentence was handed down.
Judge Thokozile Masipa had ruled the Olympic and Paralympic athlete did not intend to kill his girlfriend when he fired through the bathroom door at his home in Pretoria.
"Having regard to the circumstances in the matter, I am of the view that a non-custodial sentence would send the wrong message to the community," she said.
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Gallery: Sentencing Day For Pistorius
South African Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius arrives at the court in Pretoria for sentencing over the killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp
He was convicted last month of "culpable homicide" - South Africa's equivalent of manslaughter. Continue through the gallery for more pictures from the day on which he was jailed for five years
Pistorius walks into the courtroom
Pistorius hugs his father Henke Pistorius ahead of his sentencing
Carl Pistorius, brother of Oscar Pistorius, attends the sentencing hearing
Pistorius stands in the dock as his sentence is delivered
Judge Thokozile Masipa sentences Pistorius to prison for the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
Pistorius is led to holding cells
Pistorius holds the hands of family members after being sentenced
His defence team said he would spend a sixth of the term in prison - 10 months - before being placed under house arrest for the remainder of his sentence
Reeva's mother June agrees justice had been served as she reacts to the jailing of Oscar Pistorius over her daughter's killing
Friends of Reeva Steenkamp, Gina and Kim Myers
Pistorius (C) enters a police van after his sentencing
A general view of Pretoria Central Prison
"On the other hand, a long sentence would also not be appropriate either, as it would lack the element of mercy.
"What may appear to be justice to the general public may not be justice. Society cannot always get what they want."
She said Pistorius' skill using a gun was an aggravating factor but that she also recognised his remorse.
She said he "fired not one shot but four shots into the door" of a small cubicle "with no room for escape".
He was also handed a suspended three-year prison sentence for the discharging of a firearm, over an incident in which a gun accidentally went off in a restaurant.
Pistorius is expected to spend his jail time in the hospital wing of Pretoria's prison.
Ms Steenkamp's father, Barry, said he was "satisfied" with the outcome.
Her mother, June Steenkamp, said the sentence brought a sort of closure, but that full closure was not possible "unless you can magic her back".
Sentencing options available to the judge in the culpable homicide case included up to 15 years in jail, a suspended sentence, a correctional supervision or fine.
It brings to a close a seven-month trial, which attracted worldwide attention.
After one of the most sensational court cases in the country's history, the sentence is expected to fuel further controversy about race and money in its justice system.
Pistorius' legal team argued during the trial that he mistook Ms Steenkamp for an intruder and believed they were both in danger.
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Gallery: Reeva Steenkamp's Life In Pictures
Reeva Steenkamp, 29, was born in Cape Town and grew up in Port Elizabeth. She went to a convent school and studied law. She was a keen horse rider until she broke her back
She moved to Johannesburg from Cape Town to model for Avon cosmetics. In 2012, Reeva was voted number 45 in the South African FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll
She featured as a celebrity contestant on BBC Lifestyle show Baking Made Easy in 2012
The model was a keen Twitter user, and had more than 34,000 followers. She used the site to promote women's rights and empowerment
Her former fashion editor, Barbara Robertson, described the model as being "sweet and down to earth" with the "it factor". She likened her to an "early Kate Moss"
Reeva Steenkamp on the set of reality TV show Tropika Island Of Treasure (Pic: Stimulii)
His lawyer Barry Roux said the athlete had "lost everything" after the 29-year-old law graduate and model's death, and argued he should not go to prison.
He also said the Pistorius, whose lower legs were amputated as a baby, would face particular difficulties in jail.
But state prosecutor Gerrie Nel had argued that only 10 years' imprisonment would satisfy the public.
He said that any lesser sentence could result in a widespread loss of faith in the justice system.
Known as Blade Runner because of his carbon-fibre prosthetics, Pistorius achieved global recognition at the London 2012 Olympics when he reached the semi-finals of the 400m against able-bodied athletes.
:: Watch a round-up of the day's events on Sky News at 9.30pm - Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 132 and Freesat channel 202.
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Gallery: Pistorius: A Sporting Pioneer
Pistorius was born in Johannesburg on November 22, 1986. A congenital condition meant he had no bones in his lower legs.
He had both legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old, and now runs on carbon fibre prosthetic blades.
Pistorius won the 200m final in a record time at the 2004 Athens Paralympics. In 2006 he finished sixth in the able-bodied event in South Africa.
Ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled his blades did not give him an unfair advantage. But he failed to qualify for the men's 400m.
He won gold in all three of his events at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics - the 100m, 200m and 400m. He set a world record in the 400m (sport class T44).
He won the 400m in 47.28s and the 100m in 11.04s at the 2011 Paralympic World Cup. The athlete later ran the 400m in 45.07s - within the Olympic qualifying time.
The Blade Runner won the 400m silver medal in 45.52s at the 2012 African Championships. He just missed the 45.30s he needed to qualify for the Olympics.
Pistorius was selected by the South African Olympic Committee to run the 4x400m relay and 400m at the 2012 London Olympics. He said it was "one of the happiest days of my life".
He had been dating the model Reeva Steenkamp since late 2012. She was found dead at his home on February 14, 2013.
After a lengthy trail, Pistorius is cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison.
In his saintly prime, it was hard not to be beguiled by Oscar Pistorius.
From the waist up, the smiling South African with sparkling eyes was the very image of a world-class athlete. From the knees down he seemed almost miraculous, a model of strength over adversity on carbon-fibre blades.
Pistorius's was a remarkable story when his ambition was confined to becoming the greatest disability sportsman of his time.
Among the legion of remarkable athletes who make up the Paralympic movement however, a double amputation did not make him unusual, even if performances were unprecedented.
It was his determination to compete against able-bodied opponents that took him into a category of one. It elevated him to genuine worldwide celebrity, and allowed the Paralympic movement to follow in his slipstream.
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Gallery: Pistorius: A Sporting Pioneer
Pistorius was born in Johannesburg on November 22, 1986. A congenital condition meant he had no bones in his lower legs.
He had both legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old, and now runs on carbon fibre prosthetic blades.
Pistorius won the 200m final in a record time at the 2004 Athens Paralympics. In 2006 he finished sixth in the able-bodied event in South Africa.
Ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled his blades did not give him an unfair advantage. But he failed to qualify for the men's 400m.
He won gold in all three of his events at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics - the 100m, 200m and 400m. He set a world record in the 400m (sport class T44).
He won the 400m in 47.28s and the 100m in 11.04s at the 2011 Paralympic World Cup. The athlete later ran the 400m in 45.07s - within the Olympic qualifying time.
The Blade Runner won the 400m silver medal in 45.52s at the 2012 African Championships. He just missed the 45.30s he needed to qualify for the Olympics.
Pistorius was selected by the South African Olympic Committee to run the 4x400m relay and 400m at the 2012 London Olympics. He said it was "one of the happiest days of my life".
He had been dating the model Reeva Steenkamp since late 2012. She was found dead at his home on February 14, 2013.
After a lengthy trail, Pistorius is cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison.
It was not a straightforward journey, and along the way he demonstrated that the single-mindedness required to overcome disability extended well beyond the track.
Pistorius repeatedly challenged the sporting authorities to allow him to run despite misgivings that his blades were not comparable, and may even confer an advantage in the gruelling late stages of a 400m race.
He was initially banned from competing but following appeals, and under significant pressure, the International Association of Athletics Federations admitted him to run first at the World Championships in 2011, and a year later at London 2012.
That decision opened the door not just to sporting history but to a hugely lucrative career. Paralympians, by and large, do not make a good living, if they make a living at all.
As a Paralympian in Olympic sport Pistorius earned around £1.5m a year in endorsements. Track and field is a sport struggling to maintain its position, and the South African was better known than any of the men he was to compete against.
This commercial imperative meant it was often possible to detect a cynical edge to the Pistorius promotion machine. His status attracted major sponsors, British Telecom among them, and he was a model client.
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Gallery: Pistorius: Death, Despair And Drama
Hooded and head down, Paralympic and Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius leaves a police station in Pretoria hours after he shot dead his model girlfriend in the bathroom of his home
Before Valentine's Day 2013, this is how the couple were known - handsome, glamorous and seemingly happy
A day after shooting Reeva, he was taken to court for a lengthy bail hearing during which he denied murdering his girlfriend. He was eventually granted conditional bail
Reeva's Valentine's card to Oscar was later shown in court. She had left it out for him on the night of her death, along with some pictures of the couple and one of her she'd had taken specially as a gift
Five days after her death, Reeva's funeral was held in her home town of Port Elizabeth
Reeva's family and friends comforted each other after her coffin was carried into a crematorium. After the ceremony, her brother Adam said: "There's a space missing inside all the people that she knew that can't be filled again. We will miss her."
Judge Thokozile Masipa presided over the trial. It should have run for three weeks, but lasted at least five months
Reeva's mother June Steenkamp was in court throughout proceedings, sat just feet away from the man who killed her daughter and in the same row as members of his family. Within weeks of Reeva's killing, Mrs Steenkamp said: "I don't hate Oscar. I've forgiven him. I have to, that's my religion. But I am determined to face him and reclaim my daughter."
Gerrie Nel, a seasoned prosecutor, is known in South African legal circles as "the pitbull". He led the prosecution against Pistorius, claiming the defence was inconsistent
The prosecution tried to prove the couple had problems - that Pistorius was an angry and controlling boyfriend. This email was among the evidence they used to make their point, along with a series of texts. The defence said it simply showed they were a normal couple, with normal ups and downs in their relationship
Barry Roux defended Pistorius. He made his presence felt at the very start of proceedings by totally dismissing a senior police officer's case, leaving the man offering an embarrassing admission that his case was weak. "I don't have any facts," said Hilton Botha. Mr Roux has since said his performance was "nothing special".
Sky News uncovered this CCTV image of the couple just a few days before the shooting. They were in a shop in Pretoria, kissing and laughing
The CCTV was among the final images taken of Reeva
The world gasped at pictures of the scene of the shooting obtained by Sky's Alex Crawford
At one point in the trial, as lawyers flicked through a series of pictures on a large screen in court, they accidentally showed a picture of Reeva's body without warning. Friends of Reeva ran from the courtroom in tears at the violent image
On another occasion, the prosecution taunted Pistorius, telling him to look at the image and take responsibility. Pistorius sobbed back: "As I picked Reeva up, my fingers touched her head. I don't have to look at a picture. I remember. I was there."
Much of the case centered on whether Pistorius was wearing his prosthetic legs at the time of the shooting. Did the bullet holes in the bathroom door prove that he was wearing them, and therefore able to move faster and with more ease? Or was he on his stumps, at a lower height and possibly feeling more threatened?
Sitting almost within touching distance throughout the trial, Reeva's mother and Pistorius' sister Aimee had been seen speaking to each other at times
The defendant retched and vomited more than once. At one point, Pistorius collapsed in the dock and his psychologist was seen trying to calm him by stroking his face
The trial was adjourned for a psychiatric evaluation of Pistorius. Around this time the defendant had a night out and got involved in an altercation, making headlines again
Following the row, Pistorius tweeted some cryptic messages. This was one
Lawyers went step-by-step through how Pistorius would have got out of bed in the night, walked or run down the corridor shouting at whoever was locked in the toilet, shot through the door and then, on realising it was Reeva inside, bashed down the door using a cricket bat
After the shooting, the door was removed from Pistorius' house and was stored in a police HQ office instead of a contamination-free zone
Footage emerged of Pistorius recreating the fateful night in a private attempt to make his case clear. Australia's Channel 7 got hold of the video, which described events in graphic detail, and released it while the trial was ongoing
Friends and family of Reeva gave various interviews to the media, talking about how the model with a law degree was also someone who cared deeply about others and wanted to help people. "She was more than just a pretty face," one said
The world's focus once again closed in on the court in Pretoria when the time came for Judge Thokozile Masipa to give her verdict
The runner's brother made it to court for the verdicts, coming out of hospital in a wheelchair. He is recovering from a head-on car crash that happened on 1 August
As the judge read her findings to the court on the first day of her verdict delivery, Pistorius sat in the dock and sobbed, gulping back air as he struggled not to cry out loud
Reeva's father Barry Steenkamp did not attend the first few weeks of the trial, but he sat through the end and closely watched the man who killed his daughter as the verdict was read out
He was found not guilty of premeditated murder on Thursday, 11 September 11, 2014. And the weight of the case took so long for the judge to get through that it was not until the next morning that he was told to stand to hear the verdict on culpable homicide. He stood silently, breathing deeply
At the end of it all, Oscar Pistorius, world-famous athlete, was found guilty of culpable homicide. A similar charge to manslaughter, it means he did shoot at someone, but the judge said he might not have known it was Reeva behind the toilet door - and she has now sentenced him to five years in prison for the killing
His press conferences in the summer of 2012 were an object lesson in how to keep media and sponsor happy. At both Olympics and Paralympics he sat for hours, answering questions he'd faced a thousand times before but betraying not a trace of impatience.
It struck me at the time that only a man of extreme faith or rare focus could have managed it. Pistorius was clearly possessed of both.
Cynicism had little answer to the climax of his career in London, when reached the semi-finals of the Olympic 400m, a bigger draw than the eventual champion Kirani James, who said it was a "privilege" to compete against him.
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Gallery: Oscar Pistorius At Gun Range
Sky News has obtained images of Oscar Pistorius at a shooting range, including one which shows him firing the pistol he used when he shot his girlfriend.
The pictures were taken months before Reeva Steenkamp's death on February 14, 2013.
Pistorius, who is awaiting trial, denies murdering Ms Steenkamp and says he shot her after mistaking her for a burglar.
In one of the pictures from the gun range, the athlete is seen firing at a water melon.
The fruit explodes as Pistorius hits it right in the centre. Click through for more pictures.
The tragedy of what followed at Pistorius' home on Valentine's Day 2013 bears heaviest on the Steenkamp family, robbed of their daughter.
After the five year jail sentence handed down for that crime Pistorius is unlikely to make another podium, and has forfeited his place on a pedestal for ever.
:: Watch a round-up of the day's events on Sky News at 9.30pm - Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 132 and Freesat channel 202.
By Sky News China Team, in Hong kong
Talks between organisers of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement and representatives of the territory's government aimed at resolving the current stalemate have ended without agreement.
The discussions, which had been called off last week, were held at a neutral location in Aberdeen on the southern side of Hong Kong Island.
The student delegation were dressed in T-shirts, while government officials wore suits.
Thousands at the two main protest sites watched the talks on their smartphones and big screens erected in the area.
Protesters have been gathering for three weeks
But, as had been widely expected, there was no breakthrough.
The Hong Kong government has refused to meet protester demands that they be allowed full voting rights to choose the next leader of the territory in 2017.
For three weeks, the protesters have occupied three sites, sometimes in their tens of thousands, refusing police demands that they disperse.
The government formed a "Task Force on Constitutional Development" to meet five representatives of the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS).
The government delegation was led by the Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, the second most senior bureaucrat in the Hong Kong Administration.
The students were represented by the HKFS Secretary-General, Alex Chow, and a number of other protest leaders.
The talks represent the beginning of what is likely to be a long process during which both sides will want concessions from the other, but neither will want to be seen to be giving them.
Speaking after the talks, Mr Chow said: "(Officials) in the Hong Kong government can now decide whether to be democratic heroes or historical villains ... I believe every Hong Kong citizen is waiting to see."
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Gallery: Hong Kong Clashes As Protesters Retake Streets
Pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong won back parts of a key protest zone in the early hours of Saturday. Dozens of people, including police, were injured in the scuffles
Barricades were knocked over as several thousand activists faced off against officers. At least 33 people were reportedly arrested
Police used pepper spray and batons to control the crowd, including on this man - reported to be a journalist
The man is doused in water to wash away the chemical
Many protesters wore masks and carried umbrellas, which have become a symbol of the protests and also a makeshift barrier against pepper spray
The activists, most of them young people, are protesting against China's plan to restrict elections for Hong Kong's leader to approved Communist loyalists
The demonstrations began several weeks ago and have been described as the biggest challenge to China's authority since Tiananmen Square
Police carry a banner warning protesters to stay calm. Continue through for more pictures
Communist Party rulers in Beijing in August offered Hong Kong people the chance to vote for their own leader in 2017, but said only two to three candidates could run after getting majority backing from a 1,200-person nominating committee, which is widely expected to be stacked with Beijing loyalists.
The protesters have rejected this as "fake" Chinese-style democracy and say they will not leave the streets unless Beijing allows open nominations.
But Ms Lam reiterated the government's position that open nominations were not possible under Hong Kong law.
Speaking afterwards, she said described the talks as "constructive".
She hoped it would be the first of many talks, but added: "As far as their position's concerned, I'm afraid that we can only agree to disagree."
Lee Cheuk Yan, a prominent veteran democracy fighter and a member of Hong Kong's Legislative Council, told Sky News: "The students did a really good job. They really were speaking from their hearts.
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Gallery: Protest Is An Art In Hong Kong
Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong have been keeping their message alive with highly-produced poster art celebrating the 'Umbrella Revolution'.
Click/swipe through for more images...
"I think this dialogue hardens people's determinations because no one is happy with the result.
"So I think this talk will only lead to a more determined occupation movement."
Hong Kong student Daniel Wong told Sky News: "I think people will carry on the protest. And I think even more people will now turn up for the protest.
"I think we all believe our ultimate goal is genuine democracy."
By Mark White, Home Affairs Correspondent
A British man has been found dead with his throat slit and wrapped in a plastic bag on Indonesian holiday island Bali.
Locals discovered 60-year-old Robert Ellis' body in the island's Bangdun region.
A forensics doctor at Bali's Sanglah Hospital, Ida Bagus Putu Alit, confirmed reports the victim had several cuts to his throat, including one that severed a main artery.
Local police had thought Mr Ellis was an Australian citizen, because he had previously lived in Australia.
He had been living in a luxury apartment complex in the Balinese seaside district of Sanur with his Indonesian wife.
Police say the his arms and legs were tied up when a farmer discovered the body inside a plastic bag.
It is understood his body showed signs of bruising. Police believe he died early on Monday.
A spokesman at the Foreign Office told Sky News: "We were notified about the death of a British national on Bali on October 21. The Foreign Office stands ready to give consular assistance".
The spokesman added that Foreign Office officials were liaising with local police in Bali.
Key comments from Judge Thokozile Masipa in the sentencing of Oscar Pistorius.
:: On claims from probation officer Annette Vergeer that prison would not be suitable for Pistorius.
"I was not impressed at all by Mrs Vergeer as a witness. Though an expert in this matter, her evidence did not inspire any confidence in this court.
"Her method of investigation in respect of prison conditions and her use of outdated information concerning prisons in particular was slapdash, disappointing and had a negative impact on her credibility as a witness.
"I found her evidence perfunctory and unhelpful, something quite disturbing from someone with 28 years of experience."
:: On Zach Modise, acting National Correctional Services Commissioner, who has worked in the prison service for more than 30 years:
"He came across as a candid and willing witness who wanted to assist this court.
"He testified that prisons in this country were not perfect but were progressive and professional. I have no hesitation in accepting his evidence as true and reliable."
:: On prisons in South Africa:
"I have no doubt that if prisons in this country were below the required standards, the ever-vigilant human rights bodies in this country would not hesitate to take the necessary steps to remedy the situation."
:: On sending a disabled person to prison:.
"If the accused in this matter were to be given a custodial sentence, it would not be the first time that the Correctional Services Department with an inmate with disabilities.
"Just by way of example, it cannot be disputed that a pregnant woman belongs to one of the most vulnerable groups of people.
"Although pregnancy cannot be termed a disability, it cannot be denied that it does compromise one's freedom and ability physically to do as one wills.
"Yet a pregnant woman will be sentenced to jail if the sentence is warranted.
"I might add that it would be a sad day for this country if an impression were to be created that there was one law for the poor and disadvantaged and another for the rich and famous."
:: On Pistorius' vulnerabilty:
"There was, however, a feeling of unease on my part as I listened to one witness after another placing what I thought was an overemphasis on the accused's vulnerabilty.
"Yes, the accused is vulnerable, but he also has excellent coping skills.
"Thanks to his mother, he rarely saw himself as disabled and excelled as a top athlete, respected worldwide against big odds, going on to compete against able-bodied persons.
"For some reason, that picture remains obscured in the background. In my judgment, to get to the real picture, the correct approach would be to balance the two."
:: On Pistorius' contribution to society:
"There is no doubt that the accused's contribution to society has been enormous as he gave his time and money to various charities and institutions.
"He also helped change the general public's perceptions of disabled people and inspired disabled young people in particular as he grew and excelled in his career.
"This impact on others worldwide cannot be ignored but it ought to be put into perspective.
"As state counsel pointed out to Mr Van Zyl (Pistorius' manager), if a sportsman was approached for assistance, it would not be clever not to be involved as such involvement enhances one's career."
:: On the seriousness of the offences:
"On his own version, the accused knew that there was someone behind the door. He had heard the window slide open. He had heard the toilet door slam shut. He had heard a noise coming from the inside of the toilet.
"It would have been different if he had just heard a noise and assumed that something - maybe a stray animal - was in the toilet.
"In this instance, the evidence shows that he thought an intruder was behind the door. Using a lethal weapon, a loaded firearm, the accused fired not one but four shots into the toilet door.
"It is so that, in his evidence, he said he would have fired higher if his intention was to kill and this court accepted that.
"However, that does not change the fact that he knew the facts above and that the toilet was a small cubicle and that there was no room for escape for the person behind the door.
"What is also significant is that the accused had been trained in the use of, and in the handling of, firearms. In my view, all that is very aggravating."
:: Watch a round-up of the day's events on Sky News at 9.30pm - Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 132 and Freesat channel 202.
By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent
RAF Reaper drones will fly surveillance missions over Syria, the Defence Secretary has announced.
The missions will start in a matter of days but the drones won't be authorised to fire on targets.
The RAF Rivet Joint spy plane will also expand its area of operations into Syria.
Michael Fallon told MPs in a written statement: "As well as their operations over Iraq, both Reapers and Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft will be authorised to fly surveillance missions over Syria to gather intelligence as part of our efforts to protect our national security from the terrorist threat emanating from there.
"Reapers are not authorised to use weapons in Syria; that would require further permission."
Britain has 10 Reaper drones.
They have been based at Kandahar airbase in Afghanistan but controlled by pilots based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.
Sky News understands they will be moved to an airbase in Kuwait.
They are armed with Hellfire missiles and do have permission to fire at Islamic State forces in Iraq.
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Gallery: Human Cost Of Battle For Kobani
A Syrian Kurdish woman and her children at a refugee camp at Suruc, Turkey. These images have emerged as Islamic State (IS) continues to fight for control of the border town of Kobani in Syria
Turkey dropped its refusal to allow Kurdish fighters over the border to defend besieged Kobani, saying it was now helping Iraqi peshmerga to cross the frontier in a major policy shift
A woman boils a kettle of tea as her children gather around in Suruc
Children try to get warm around the fire
Children look out from their tent
A Kurdish refugee child from the Syrian town of Kobani sits on a makeshift swing
A woman boils a pot of tea in front of her tent
The centre of Kobani is seen from near the Mursitpinar border crossing
A US-led coalition aircraft flies over Kobani
Smoke rises as bullets with tracers fly through the air after an explosion in Kobani during a reported suicide car bomb attack by IS militants
The British Government insists strike missions in Syria can only be carried out with Parliamentary approval but the latest development will encourage accusations of mission-creep.
A Number 10 spokeswoman said: "We are using these assets to enhance our capability to gather intelligence and protect Britain from threats emanating from Syria.
"The Prime Minister and Government have made clear that we would return to Parliament for a separate decision if we were proposing to take military action. This is about intelligence gathering.
"We've also made clear that, if there was a critical national interest at stake or we needed to act swiftly to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, we would act immediately and explain to Parliament afterwards. I think our approach is consistent with that."
By Katie Stallard, Moscow Correspondent
The driver of a snow plough involved in the fatal collision that killed Total CEO Christophe de Margerie at a Moscow airport was drunk, according to Russian investigators.
Frenchman De Margerie and all three of the crew on board his private jet died in the incident on the runway at Vnukovo international airport on Monday night.
"It has been established that the driver of the snow plough was in a drunk state," the investigative committee said in a statement, adding that preliminary inquiries would focus on "an error by the pilots and the actions of the snowplough driver."
The driver's lawyer denied the claim, saying that his client has a heart problem and never touches alcohol.
"My client has chronic heart disease, he doesn't drink at all. His relatives and doctors can confirm this," lawyer Alexander Karabanov told Interfax news agency.
A fire engine at Vnukovo airport following the crash
"At the moment of the accident he was sober."
The collision happened just before midnight local time (9pm UK time) as De Margerie's Dassault Falcon jet was preparing to take-off from Moscow bound for Paris.
Weather conditions at the time were poor, with dense fog and heavy rain reducing visibility to 350 metres.
Investigators said airport employees were being questioned as witnesses, and several may be suspended.
De Margerie had been in Moscow for a Russian government meeting on foreign investment.
Snow ploughs at Vnukovo airport
Russian president Vladimir Putin paid tribute to the 63-year-old, who had defended Kremlin energy policy and cautioned against reducing European dependence on Russian gas.
In a telegram to French president Francois Hollande, Mr Putin said: "I was shocked to hear the news about a plane crash at Moscow Vnukovo airport that claimed the lives of Total's Chairman and CEO Christophe de Margerie and members of the crew.
"I kindly ask you to convey my sincere condolences and words of sympathy and support to the family and friends of Christophe de Margerie, an outstanding French businessman, who stood at the origins of many joint projects that laid the foundations for a long-term fruitful co-operation between Russia and France in the energy sector.
"We have lost a true friend of our country but he will remain in our memories."
Foreign minister Laurent Fabius described de Margerie as a "visionary" and an "exceptional leader".
Christophe de Margerie was a staunch defender of Russia's energy policies
"The tragic loss of Christophe de Margerie comes as a deep shock for our industry and our country," he said.
Total is one of the biggest foreign investors in Russia, where it is involved in a $27bn joint venture to tap natural gas reserves in northwest Siberia.
The company has said that international sanctions will not affect its work on the Yamal project, and forecast that Russia would become its biggest source of oil and gas by 2020.
In a statement, the group said: "Total confirms with deep regret and great sadness that Chairman and CEO Christophe de Margerie died just after 10pm (Paris time) on October 20 in a private plane crash at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, following a collision with a snow removal machine."
By Sky News US Team
The Islamic State has released footage purporting to show weapons from a US airdrop to Kurdish forces that have been intercepted by the militants.
The footage was allegedly shot in Kobani, the northern Syrian city that is being defended against a sustained IS offensive by Kurdish fighters.
It shows IS fighters opening boxes seemingly containing grenades and other weapons.
Sky News could not verify the video's authenticity.
The US military on Sunday began airdropping weapons, ammunition and medical supplies to Kurdish forces defending Kobani against Islamic State militants.
The video allegedly shows weapons dropped for the Kurds near Kobani
The airdrops were the first of their kind and followed weeks of US and coalition airstrikes in and near Kobani, near the Turkish border.
Sky News Defence Correspondent Alistair Bunkall said: "That is not supposed to happen at all, but it is a danger - it has always been a danger - when the West has tried to arm moderate Syrian opposition in the country."
"One way or the other it (the aid) tends to end up in the wrong hands - either directly like this, because you drop it in the wrong place, or because it is sold on the black market."
C-130 cargo planes made multiple drops of arms and supplies provided by Kurdish authorities in Iraq, the US Central Command said.
The airdrops are intended to enable continued resistance to Islamic State efforts to take full control of Kobani, a strategically important town.
Kurdish forces on the ground reportedly withstood a fierce attack by IS on Tuesday, as they waited for reinforcements to arrive after Turkey sad it would help fighters reach the area from Iraq.
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Gallery: Syrian Kurds Battle IS To Retain Control Of Kobani
Turkish soldiers clean mortars as they take up positions by the Turkish-Syrian border opposite the Syrian town of Kobani
Smoke rises above buildings after Islamic State militants hit the Syrian town with mortar fire
A man surveys the town from a point near the Mursitpinar border crossing, on the Turkish-Syrian border
A fighter jet flies above Kobani
An explosion rocks the town during an airstrike by the US-led coalition
Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters in a street in Kobani
Turkish soldiers take up positions
A man watches Kobani through a sniper rifle binocular from near the Mursitpinar crossing
Turkish army tanks take up positions by the border opposite the town
A Turkish soldier covers an armoured vehicle
Kurds watch Kobani - also known as Ain al-Arab - from the southeastern village of Mursitpinar. Continue through for more pictures
Meanwhile, Britain said Royal Air Force drones will fly intelligence-gathering missions over Syria, in a broadening of UK operations against IS beyond Iraq.
And the UK's most senior police officer has claimed at least five Britons are travelling to Iraq and Syria to join IS every week.
"Five a week doesn't sound much but when you realise there are 50 weeks in a year, 250 more would be 50% more than we think have gone already," Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said.
"There may be many more who set out to travel to another country and meandered over to Syria and Iraq in a way that is not always possible to spot when you have failed states and leaky borders."
Another video posted on the internet purportedly showed a woman being stoned to death for alleged adultery, with her elderly father taking part in the stoning.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the execution took place in August or September in an IS-controlled rural area in the east of the central province of Hama.
Barry and June Steenkamp reacted positively to the five-year sentence handed to Oscar Pistorius for the killing of their daughter.
Speaking outside Pretoria High Court, Mrs Steenkamp expressed relief at the end of the trial, which lasted seven months.
Defence counsel had suggested that Pistorius could be moved out of prison into house arrest after serving 10 months of his sentence.
Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead on Valentine's Day 2013
When asked whether she was happy with this, Mrs Steenkamp said: "Doesn't matter, he's going to pay something. I'm just glad it's over."
Reeva Steenkamp's father Barry, who has suffered health problems since the death of his daughter, added: "We are satisfied."
Sky's Special Correspondent Alex Crawford spoke to both inside the courtroom.
She added that Mrs Steenkamp had said: "There's no closure without Reeva unless you can magic her back."
Dup De Bruyn, the lawyer acting for the Steenkamps, said the judge had given "the right sentence" and added: "Justice was served."
Arnold Pistorius, the athlete's uncle, criticised the prosecution in the case and called for his family to be allowed to move forward.
He said: "We accept the judgment. Oscar will embrace this opportunity to pay back to society."
Judge Thokozile Masipa had ruled a custodial sentence was unavoidable for the Paralympic and Olympic athlete, and criticised defence witness Annette Vergeer, who had suggested he would have been vulnerable in jail.
Pistorius offered little visible reaction as his sentence was read out. He stood and stared straight ahead, and then sat staring at the floor as legal submissions were made.
Mrs Steenkamp looked directly at him as the sentence was given, but otherwise did not visibly react in the packed courtroom.
A spokesperson for defence lawyer Barry Roux said there would be no appeal. She added that Pistorius will serve a sixth of his sentence - around 10 months - before being moved to house arrest.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who had argued the double amputee should be jailed for 10 years for killing Ms Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year, said: "The court has done what the court should do."
The prosecution has not yet decided if it will appeal against the sentence, spokesman Nathi Mncube said.
The prosecution has disputed the defence claim that Pistorius - known as the Blade Runner - could be out of prison after 10 months.
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