Ryanair Fined £6.7m For Labour Law Breach

Ryanair has been ordered to pay fines and damages totalling £6.7m by a French court for violating the country's labour laws.

The no-frills carrier faced several charges including registering workers employed in France as Irish employees, preventing workplace councils from functioning and preventing access to unions.

Ryanair said the majority of the financial penalties related to alleged non-payment of social insurance and state pension contributions in France for Ryanair crews.

The case centred around a facility operated by the company at Marignane, near the southern French cities of Marseille and Aix-en-Provence.

Ryanair, which plans to appeal, said it had believed it was operating there under Irish law.

In a statement released ahead of the judgment, the company said: "We will appeal any such negative ruling (and fine) on the basis that European employment and social security law clearly allows mobile workers on Irish registered aircraft, working for an Irish airline, to pay their taxes and social taxes in Ireland."

It claimed the laws it was said to have fallen foul of were specifically introduced in 2006 as state protection for the loss-making Air France and to limit competition to high fare Air France from lower cost airlines.

Another low budget carrier, EasyJet, was ordered to pay more than £1m in damages to unions representing crew for hiring 170 employees under British contracts at a Paris airport in 2010.

Prosecutors in the Ryanair cased argued there was no doubt the airline was operating in France, given that it had material and staff based permanently at Marseille and its employees lived in the area.

"We are dealing with a company whose only goal is to counter the law in defiance of the interests of workers," the prosecution argued.

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Christina Edkins Killer Locked Up Indefinitely

By Lisa Dowd, Midlands Correspondent

An NHS Trust has admitted it has "lessons to learn" after a paranoid schizophrenic was detained indefinitely for killing schoolgirl Christina Edkins.

Philip Simelane stabbed the 16-year-old in a random attack on a bus during the rush hour less than three months after he was released unsupervised from prison, despite warnings over the state of his mental health.

Simelane, 23, who has a history of mental illness, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said it was leading an external review into the case as Christina's family asked questions about Simelane's treatment.

The court heard that before the killing a specialist registrar had recommended Simelane should receive specialist in-patient treatment for his mental health issues.

It also emerged that a year before the fatal stabbing he had made death threats on a bus to two girls, who warned the authorities that he may have been mentally ill.

Mrs Justice Thirlwall said anyone hearing the facts of the case would be disturbed that Simelane was sleeping rough and receiving no treatment when he attacked Christina in Birmingham in March.

The judge said that as early as mid-2005, his own mother was "repeatedly asking for help" for her son and was desperate for assistance.

In July last year he was made the subject of a restraining order and jailed for 26 weeks for offences, including an assault on a police officer and an incident in which he threatened his mother with a knife.

Christina's family arrive at Birmingham Crown Court

But a week after his release from prison in October 2012, Simelane was jailed again for vehicle interference. 

The judge said he finally received some treatment in prison but it was limited and an investigation will try to establish why that did not apparently continue after his release in December 2012.

Brian Russell, defending, told the court he had asked Simelane before the hearing if he had anything to say to those who had been affected by the killing.

"He said 'I didn't mean to kill that girl, I am ashamed of what has happened and I wish to apologise'."

A family statement issued after the guilty plea said: "Christina was a beautiful, bright, caring girl, loved by everyone.

"The loss of a child is the worst thing that can ever happen, made even more grievous be such a senseless crime as this.

"The family are all the victims and must pay the penalty as we stand by helplessly and watch the lives of the people we love shattered like precious glass, knowing we can never put the fragile pieces back together."

Christina's great uncle, Chris Melia, told Sky News: "It's such a horrific senseless crime. I don't know how you come to terms with it. I haven't."

"He quite clearly shouldn't have been out in society, there had been enough warning signs that he was a danger.

Jason Edkins, Christina's father

"As I understand it, in October, whilst he was in prison, the appropriate mental health experts noted he should, when he was released, be in some way supervised and helped to get back into society in an acceptable manner, but it didn't happen.

"He was released on 13th December, basically with no fixed abode, and in less than three months he killed an innocent young girl in the prime of her life."

Mr Melia paid tribute to Christina as a "popular", "attractive" and "quietly confident" girl.

The Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust confirmed it was involved in Simelane's prison-based care.

In a statement, the trust said: "We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Christina's family for what was an unprovoked attack on an innocent member of the public.

"Phillip Simelane had previously been in receipt of care from a number of healthcare providers over a period of years.

"What is clear, is that there are lessons to be learned for us and others involved in the care of Phillip Simelane to prevent such a tragedy happening again in the future.

"As a trust we are currently leading an external review, commissioned by Birmingham Cross City Clinical Commissioning Group, on behalf of all the parties involved and intend to report on our findings in December 2013.

"We would not want to speculate on the outcome of this review, but we are clear that this will be an externally reviewed, thorough investigation and we will seek to learn from and fully implement these findings across the healthcare providers involved."

Christina was preparing to take her GCSEs when she died

West Midlands Police say they were called to Simelane's home in Walsall by his family 21 times. On one occasion he held a knife to his mother's stomach.

Superintendent Richard Baker said: "There doesn't appear to be any care plan since his release from prison in December 2012.

"There's currently an independent review being conducted by all agencies who had contact with Phillip Simelane during that period, not just police but probation, prison, and Birmingham and Solihull mental health team will also conduct independent reviews to understand exactly what support Simelane had in place."

He added it was "highly unlikely" that Simelane would ever be released.

Simelane, who was homeless, boarded the number 9 bus at 5am on March 7. He had been challenged by the driver for sleeping on the back seat on the top deck.

Christina got on the bus at 7.30am on the city's Broad Street, a journey she made every day. Seven minutes later, she was dead.

Without warning, and for no reason, Simelane got up and thrust a kitchen knife into her chest once. He then casually walked down the aisle, down the stairs, and briefly spoke to the driver before getting off.

There was just one other passenger upstairs, a 14-year-old boy, who only realised what had happened when Christina cried out for help. Downstairs passengers rushed to her aid, but she could not be saved.

Officers scoured the city centre for Simelane and arrested him more than four hours later.

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Bill Gates 'Under Pressure To Quit Microsoft'

Three top investors in Microsoft are taking aim at Bill Gates to step down as chairman of the company he founded nearly 40 years ago, according to reports.

The mystery backers have not been named but are understood to be lobbying the company's board of directors for Mr Gates to be replaced, unnamed sources say.

The investors are said to be of the view that Mr Gates' presence on the board is blocking the adoption of new development strategies and making it hard for the chief executive to make substantial changes.

Miscrosoft's founder handed the chief executive role to Ballmer in 2000

The news comes days after current chief executive Steve Ballmer announced he will retire within a year following pressure from backers, as the company struggles to reposition itself in the ultra-competitive tech sector.

The investors targeting Mr Gates collectively own 5% of the $277bn (£171bn) company and have stressed they are also unhappy with his role on the special committee that is searching for Ballmer's successor.

They also have misgivings that Mr Gates wields power of out of proportion to his declining shareholding, down to 4.5% now from 49% in 1986.

The company remains one of the world's most valuable tech companies

Although Microsoft is still one of the world's most valuable technology companies, its shares have remained fairly static for 10 years as Ballmer has struggled in the face of competition from Apple and Google.

This is the first time major shareholders have focused on Mr Gates, who lowered his profile at Microsoft after handing over to Mr Ballmer in 2000 to focus on his $38bn (£23bn) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

One of the sources said Mr Gates was one of the technology industry's greatest pioneers, but the investors felt he had been more effective as chief executive than as chairman.

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Bridger Attacker 'In Bid To Find April's Body'

A prisoner slashed child killer Mark Bridger's face to get him to reveal where April Jones' body was hidden, a court has heard.

Convicted murderer and rapist Juvinal Ferreira, 24, used a knife fashioned out of a razor to cut Bridger from temple to chin at the top security Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire, in July.

Ferreira was given a second life sentence at Leeds Crown Court and had five years added to his minimum term, meaning he will not be released before 2036.

Ferreira, who was born in Guinea and grew up in Gambia, had previously admitted wounding with intent.

Police were told Ferreira and other life prisoners had talked about attacking Bridger to make him reveal the whereabouts of April's body.

Bridger has never revealed the whereabouts of April's body

Jonathan Sharp, prosecuting, said: "He said that Bridger's crime had been discussed, and he claimed people had suggested that if Bridger was attacked, rather than say befriended, Bridger would then be more likely to reveal where April Jones' body was."

The premeditated attack happened three days after Bridger was allowed to associate with other prisoners.

Ferreira fashioned a weapon out of a prison-issue razor with extra blades attached to the handle.

Mr Sharp said: "The defendant saw him and walked directly up to him with the blade held between thumb and forefinger.

"He then slashed him down the face, causing a deep wound extending from temple to chin.

"He paused for a moment and looked Bridger directly in the eyes, in Bridger's own words 'as if to admire his work or show me who it was'."

The court heard he also suffered a cut to his arm as he tried to defend himself.

He required more than 30 stitches to the face wound, which required surgery under general anaesthetic. He will be scarred for life.

Mr Justice Coulson, who sentenced Ferreira over a videolink, said the motive for the attack was no mitigation.

"Convicted murderers cannot appoint themselves as unpaid investigators of another crime, no matter how serious," he said.

"They plainly cannot do that by themselves committing violent crime to do so."

Extensive searches continued for weeks in and around Machynlleth

Robin Frieze, defending, said Ferreira did not attack Bridger to enhance his own status in prison, for reward or because he was incited to do it.

"He does not suggest he was put up to it, but he listened to talk within the prison and he was under the impression that if he put the complainant in a state of fear then it was more likely it would achieve closure for the family of his victim," Mr Frieze said.

"He appreciates that was a wholly misguided and wrong thing to do."

When the judge told Ferreira he was about to be sentenced, the life prisoner replied: "No problem."

April was kidnapped by 47-year-old Bridger outside her home in Machynlleth, mid-Wales, on October 1, 2012. He is serving a life sentence for her murder.

Despite police launching one of their biggest ever search operations, April's body has never been found. Bridger has repeatedly claimed he cannot remember what he did with her.

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Biker In NYC Confrontation 'Paralysed'

A man involved in a group of bikers' alleged assault of a driver in Manhattan suffered spine injuries in the confrontation and is paralysed, his wife has said.

The incident in which police say the bikers assaulted the driver of a Range Rover in front of his wife and child has been caught on video.

Police have so far arrested two suspects, both from the bikers' group.

The video, taken from a rider's helmet cam, shows a large group of bikers clustering around the Range Rover in Manhattan.

There is an initial collision, then the bikers chase down the car, which at various points is blocked in traffic or surrounded by the riders.

At one point, the SUV suddenly accelerates, bouncing over at least one of the motorcycles and its rider as others scramble to get out of the way.

The chase ends when the SUV exits the highway and gets stuck in street traffic.

The video shows one biker using his helmet to smash the driver's window, another one trying to smash the window with his fists.

Police said the group then pulled the man from the SUV and beat him, although that part is not shown on the recording posted online.

The biker who may never walk again, Ed Mieses, is the one hit by the car as it sped away, his wife Dayana said.

He suffered broken legs, fractured ribs and spine injuries, according to his family.

Mr Mieses, known as Jay Meezee, is an aspiring rapper from outside Boston, and he and his wife have two teenaged children.

The six-minute video, posted online, shows the driver speed away

"There's no hope for his back," Mrs Meises told reporters outside hospital.

"They crushed his spine.They broke it in two different places, so he will be forever, forever paralysed."

"My husband got off his bike to help the guy," she said of the confrontation.

"When you look at the video you can see he (the driver of the car) is running over something.

"It's not just a motorcycle, it's a human being that was under there."

The driver of the SUV, Alexian Lien, 33, was taken to a hospital where he needed stitches for his face. His wife and two-year-old were not injured.

Police say Mr Lien had called 911 to report the bikers were driving erratically, and reported being scared for his wife and child.

He has not been charged, but police are still investigating.

Police have arrested the biker they say was involved in the initial accident, Christopher Cruz, and charged him with reckless endangerment, reckless driving, endangering the welfare of a child and menacing.

A second suspect identified as Allen Edwards is also in custody after he turned himself in.

He is believed to be the man seen on video striking the Range Rover windows with his fists, and was charged with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and menacing.

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Pregnant Briton Dies At Spanish Airport

A pregnant British woman has died after fainting at an airport in northeastern Spain, officials say.

A spokeswoman for Catalonia's regional emergency health service said the woman, believed to be 20 years old, was dead by the time an ambulance arrived at Girona airport.

She had been due to travel with her family to Birmingham before she collapsed, according to a Spanish airport authority spokeswoman.

Further details about the woman's death were not immediately available.

She has not been identified.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman told Sky News: "We are aware of the death of a British national at an airport in Girona, Spain.

"We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time."

The woman's body has been taken to Girona for a post-mortem examination.

Reports in Spain offered conflicting accounts on the length of time it took for medical staff to arrive at the scene.

Some said it took 25 minutes to get to the stricken woman, while others said it was closer to 15 minutes.

An emergency services spokesman said the response time for the ambulance was considered within normal standards in such situations.

Joan Muntada of the UGT workers' union said it was considering some sort of legal action against authorities over the case after the health assistance service in the airport was closed a year ago.

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Cameron Vows Tories Will Build Better Britain

David Cameron has urged voters to hand him a majority at the next election so that the Tories can build a "land of opportunity".

The Prime Minister evoked Winston Churchill as he asked Britain to give the Conservatives the tools to "finish the job" of "clearing up the mess" left by Labour.

He said the economy was starting to turn the corner but warned that anyone who thought the struggle was over is "living in a fantasy land".

In a bid to adopt a more upbeat tone, his party conference speech talked of creating a better Britain and signalled he would slash taxes if he stays in power.

"We are Tories. We believe in low taxes. And believe me - we will keep on cutting the taxes of hard-working people," he declared.

But he also warned of further austerity as the Conservatives aim to pay off the deficit and then build up a surplus for the future.

Mr Cameron signalled the under-25s would have to "earn or learn" under a Tory government and would not be able to opt for a life on benefits.

The Prime Minister and his wife Samantha after his speech

But there were no other major policy announcements in his 49-minute address in Manchester, which was mostly delivered directly to the camera.

Instead, the Tory leader sought to draw clear dividing lines with Labour, accusing Ed Miliband of adopting a "crazy" anti-business agenda.

He dismissed Mr Miliband's promises to cut the cost-of-living as "all sticking plaster and quick fixes" - dubbing it "Red Ed and his Blue Peter economy".

Borrowing the slogan Mr Miliband repeated 17 times in his own speech, Mr Cameron declared: "I tell you what, Britain deserves better than that lot."

He insisted profit, wealth creation and enterprise were not "dirty, elitist words" but the driving force behind the recovery.

"It's businesses that get wages in people's pockets, food on their tables, hope for their families and success for our country," he said.

He branded Labour's plan to hike corporate tax rates for large businesses as "just about the most damaging, nonsensical, twisted economic policy you could possibly come up with".

Activists watch as the Tory leader speaks on stage

And he warned the call for more state borrowing and spending to ease what the Opposition calls a cost-of-living crisis would risk putting the UK on the same track as Greece.

He also rejected Labour accusations that the Tories represent the privileged and said he wanted a society where everyone has "the chance to make it".

Mr Cameron declared that he is "fighting heart and soul for a majority Conservative government because that is what our country needs".

But he warned Tory ambitions should not be limited to repairing the damage caused by Labour and eliminating the deficit.

"Finishing the job is about more than clearing up the mess we were left," he said. "It means building something better in its place. In place of the casino economy, one where people who work hard can actually get on.

"In place of the welfare society, one where no individual is written off. In place of the broken education system, one that gives every child the chance to rise up and succeed.

"Our economy, our society, welfare, schools, all reformed, all rebuilt - with one aim, one mission in mind: To make this country, at long last and for the first time ever, a land of opportunity for all."

His speech followed a raft of policy announcements aimed at countering Labour's claim that it is the only party that will tackle the rising cost-of-living.

The Prime Minister having a final read-through in his hotel room

Tory plans include bringing forward the Help-to-Buy scheme, the prospect of a fuel duty freeze until 2015 and a tax break for some married couples.

Mr Cameron vowed a Tory government would replace the "casino economy" and "welfare society" as well as improve the education system.

He accused Labour of failing Britain's young people and disadvantaged households by giving up and consigning them to a life on benefits.

"If you expect nothing of people, that does nothing for them. Yes, you must help people, but you help people by putting up ladders that they can climb through their own efforts," he said.

"It's this party that is fighting for all those who were written off by Labour. It's this party that's for the many, not the few. Yes - the land of despair was Labour, but the land of hope is Tory."

He also sought to position the Tories as the true defenders of the NHS, hailed the "noble" calling of social work and vowed to drive regeneration in the North of England.

"Make no mistake who's looking forward in British politics," Mr Cameron said. "We'll leave the 1970s-style socialism to others. We are the party of the future."

Activists gave the speech a standing ovation as Samantha Cameron joined her husband on stage.

The pair left the hall to Fleetwood Mac's Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow), famously used by Bill Clinton as the soundtrack to his successful campaign for the US presidency in 1992.

Mr Miliband wrote on Twitter: "David Cameron's speech shows he does not know where to start in tackling the cost of living crisis facing Britain's hard-working families.

"The last thing families want is him to 'finish the job' when prices have risen faster than wages and average pay is down by almost £1,500."

Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, said: "Businesses up and down the country will welcome the Prime Minister's recognition that they are the driving force behind the economy, creating jobs and putting money in people's pockets.

"But they will be looking for him to match the sentiment with action. If tax cuts aren't dirty, let's have a few more of them. If profit isn't elitist, let's allow businesses to keep a little more of it."

John Longworth, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, added: "David Cameron has set out a clear vision, but the harder task of making it happen still lies ahead.

"The Government cannot afford to become complacent, and must focus on creating an environment that supports enterprise, and puts economic growth at its heart."

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'Boy Planned Columbine Massacre At Ex-School'

A teenager armed with guns and explosives planned a repeat of the Columbine massacre at his former school, a court has heard.

The boy, who was 16 at the time, was found to have petrol bombs, air rifles, pistols and armour at his home.

It is alleged he planned to use them against staff and pupils at the school in Loughborough, Leicestershire.

The teenager, who has Asperger's syndrome, also named his college, a local mosque, a cinema, Loughborough University and the town's council offices as potential targets, an Old Bailey jury heard.

A Che Guevara notebook emblazoned with Nazi swastikas and English Defence League (EDL) mottos was found when his home was searched by police in February.

It included drawings showing how he would arm himself and discussed tactics to carry out The New Columbine, the court was told.

Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12 students and one teacher at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999 before both committing suicide in one of America's worst mass shootings.

Columbine High School

Mujahideen Poisons Handbook was also found in the defendant's home along with video and dictaphone recordings in which he discussed an attack, it was claimed.

Prosecutor Max Hill QC said the jury must consider whether the boy was a "misfit" or "something altogether more sinister and serious".

Mr Hill said the boy, now 17, claimed to be a member of an EDL branch and had a Nazi swastika on his bedroom wall along with a poster of the Joker from the Batman film, the Dark Knight.

He wrote in a letter found at his home that there were "too many Muslims in the UK and Europe" who wanted to "take over Europe and put Sharia law in place".

The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies a charge of possessing items for the purpose, preparation and instigation of an act of terrorism.

These include nine partially assembled petrol bombs, a quantity of part-assembled pipe bombs, partially constructed improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a stab proof vest, a gas mask and three 0.22 air rifles, it is alleged.

The boy also denies one count of possessing a document or record containing information likely to be useful for a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, and a further count of possessing explosives in the form of component parts of IEDs.

He and two other 17-year-olds have already pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing petrol bombs and component parts of pipe bombs for the use of explosive devices.

The trial continues.

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Shutdown 'Impacts Army Day-To-Day Operations'

The US Army Chief of Staff has said the government shutdown is significantly harming the Army's day-to-day operations.

General Ray Odierno urged Congress to find a resolution to the funding row that led to the first government shutdown in 17 years.

"It is going to be difficult for us to do anything," Gen Odierno said.

"We won't be doing training like we normally would, we won't be travelling, we won't be doing the coordination necessary, only mission-essential tasks.

''The longer it goes on, the worse it gets. Every day that goes by, we are losing manpower, we are losing capability, so in my mind it is important we get this resolved."

As the shutdown entered its second day, President Barack Obama is scrapping parts of a trip to Asia as the political stand-off shows no sign of letting up.

The Martin Luther King Memorial is among sites affected

Mr Obama called off stops in Malaysia and the Philippines, while keeping plans to travel to regional summits in Indonesia and Brunei.

The shutdown that began on Tuesday have left federal government functions in limbo from coast to coast.

National parks such as Yellowstone and Alcatraz Island have been shuttered and government websites have gone dark.

As many as 800,000 workers are taking unpaid leave.

Some have rebelled against the shutdown - on Tuesday, veterans pushed past barricades at the National World War Two Memorial to get into the site.

The crisis has also forced the cancellation of a Ku Klux Klan rally at Gettysburg National Military Park originally planned for Saturday.

Park officials - who had granted permission despite criticism, citing the right to freedom of expression - said they rescinded all permits for special events.

Many citizens are anxious about their future

Mr Obama has accused Republicans of taking the government hostage to sabotage his signature healthcare law, which was passed three years ago.

"They've shut down the government over an ideological crusade to deny affordable health insurance to millions of Americans," Mr Obama said on Tuesday.

Republicans, who control the House of Representatives, view the law, called the Affordable Care Act and known as Obamacare, as a dangerous extension of government power.

They have coupled their bid to undermine it with continued efforts to block government funding, resulting in the impasse with Democrats, who control the Senate.

Politicians in both parties have suggested the stand-off might last for weeks.

Republicans have sought passage of legislation aimed at reopening small slices of the government, such as national parks and programmes for veterans.

But that approach was quickly rejected by the Democrats, who said Republicans cannot pick and choose what parts of the government they want to open.

"That's important - a park? How about the kids who need daycare?" said Democratic Representative Sander Levin of Michigan.

"You have to let all the hostages go. Every single one of them."

Republicans lamented that the rejection of their proposals would harm veterans like the ones who were at the National World War Two Memorial.

"They're coming here because they want to visit their memorial, the World War Two memorial, " said Republican Representative Mike Simpson of Idaho.

"But no, the Obama Administration has put barricades around it."

The veterans did not seem interested in taking sides.

"It's just like a bunch of little kids fighting over candy," said George Atkinson, an 82-year-old veteran of the Korean War.

"The whole group ought to be replaced, top man down."

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Tom Clancy: Patriot Games Writer Dies At 66

Best-selling US author Tom Clancy, who wrote high-tech, Cold War thrillers including Patriot Games and The Hunt For Red October, has died aged 66.

Clancy, who died in Baltimore, Maryland, was described as a "master of his craft", a "consummate author" and "one of the most visionary storytellers of our time".

A cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Clancy penned a series of military and spy thrillers including blockbuster debut The Hunt For Red October, Patriot Games, Clear And Present Danger and The Sum Of All Fears, which were all made into successful Hollywood films.

Several of his books featured his hero character Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst.

Harrison Ford played Ryan in Patriot Games and Clear And Present Danger while Alec Baldwin was in the role for The Hunt For Red October, alongside Sir Sean Connery as the captain of a Soviet submarine.

Ben Affleck played Ryan in The Sum Of All Fears, and a fifth film featuring Ryan called Shadow One is due for release later this year.

Clancy was born in Baltimore on April 12, 1947. He entered Loyola College as a physics major, but then switched to English, admitting later he was not clever enough for the rigours of science.

Hollywood star Harrison Ford played Clancy's character Jack Ryan

After graduating in 1969, he married wife Wanda and joined her family's insurance business, all the while scribbling down ideas for a novel.

In 1979, Clancy began Patriot Games, in which he invented his hero, Jack Ryan.

In 1982, he put it aside and started The Hunt For Red October, basing it on a real incident in November 1979, in which a Soviet missile frigate called the Storozhevoy attempted to defect.

In real life, the ship did not make it, but in Clancy's book the defection was a success.

By a stroke of luck, President Ronald Reagan got Red October as a Christmas gift and quipped at a dinner that he was losing sleep because he could not put the book down.

Clancy later said those remarks helped put him on the New York Times best-seller list.

The writer had said his dream had been simply to publish a book, hopefully a good one, so that he would be in the Library of Congress catalogue.

He had sold the Hunt for Red October manuscript to the first publisher he tried, the Naval Institute Press, which had never bought original fiction.

Sir Sean Connery was in the movie version of The Hunt For Red October

The book led to a string of hits, both on the page and in Hollywood blockbusters, including the 1987 book Patriot Games, made into a film five years later.

Penguin Group USA's executive David Shanks, who was personally involved in the publication of every one of Clancy's books, said: " I'm deeply saddened by Tom's passing.

"He was a consummate author, creating the modern-day thriller, and was one of the most visionary storytellers of our time. I will miss him dearly and he will be missed by tens of millions of readers worldwide."

Tom Weldon, chief executive of Penguin Random House UK said: "Tom Clancy changed readers' expectations of what a thriller could do.

"He was a master of his craft and it was our privilege to work with him.  He will be greatly missed by millions of fans in the UK and around the world."

Ivan Held, president and publisher of G.P. Putnam's Sons says, "It was an honour to know Tom Clancy and to work on his fantastic books.  He was ahead of the news curve and sometimes frighteningly prescient.

"To publish a Tom Clancy book was a thrill every time. He will be missed by everyone at Putnam and Berkley, and by his fans all over the world."

Clancy even ventured into video games with the best-selling Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent.

Ubisoft Entertainment, a company that Clancy co-founded, said: "We are saddened to learn of Tom Clancy's passing and our condolences go out to his family.

"Tom Clancy was an extraordinary author with a gift for creating detailed, engrossing fictional stories that captivated audiences around the world.

"The teams at Ubisoft, especially at the Red Storm studio, are incredibly grateful to have collaborated with and learned from him, and we are humbled by the opportunity to carry on part of his legacy through our properties that bear his name."

Sandi Mendelson, who worked with Clancy early in his career, told Sky News: "Working with him was just extraordinary.

"It was the beginning of his rise in popularity ... He was incredibly professional and talented ... his writing was extraordinary, the detail, the authenticity, people got lost in his books."

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