9am Briefing: Pakistani man arrested in New York bomb probe

A PAKISTANI man believed to be behind a failed car bomb attack on New York's Times Square was arrested today while trying to leave the US, law enforcement officials said.

The suspect, Faisal Shahzad, is being held in New York after he was identified by customs agents at John F Kennedy International Airport and was stopped before boarding an Emirates airlines flight to Dubai, according to officials.

Shahzad had recently returned from a five-month trip to Pakistan, where he had a wife, it was reported today.

More ash misery

PASSENGERS at Edinburgh Airport were today facing more flight misery as the Icelandic ash cloud closed airspace over Ireland and the Hebrides.

Six international flights from Edinburgh - two each to Dublin, Belfast and Newark, New York - were grounded this morning, along with a flight to Stornoway.

The British Aviation Authority was this morning urging passengers to check with their airlines before going to the airport and expected to release updated information at noon.

Cameron in Scotland

TORY leader David Cameron was due to campaign in Scotland today as the polls continued to show his party ahead.

But Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg - who was also in Scotland today - has accused the Tories of planning to slash the education budget by almost 30 billion.

Actor Richard Wilson fronts Labour's final election broadcast tonight, urging people to use the 60 seconds that it takes to vote to protect the economy, their jobs and their families from Tory cuts.

Prison protest over sunshine

INMATES at Saughton prison staged a sit-down protest after staff ordered them inside at the end of an hour outdoors.

Around 45 prisoners from the prison's Hermiston Hall are reported to have demanded to be allowed to stay outside in the sunshine yesterday.

They held a 30-minute sit in to make the most of the good weather before relenting when wardens threatened to leave them outside on a rainy day as punishment, it was reported today.

Pope could cause gridlock

THE Pope's visit to Scotland could cause gridlock on the M8, it has been warned.

Pope Benedict XVI is to visit from September 16 to 19, arriving in Edinburgh and then travelling to Glasgow for an open-air mass at Bellahouston Park.

With 200,000 people due to travel to the mass, it is expected to take more than 2,000 coaches - 100 more than exist in Scotland - to transport worshippers, resulting in potential traffic chaos.