BBC News with Nick Kelly.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond whose long-cherished dream of Scotland's independence was rejected by voters in a referendum has announced his resignation. He told reporters that he would step down as leader of the Scottish Nationalists at the Party's annual conference in November and then resign as First Minister. Norman Smith reports.

Chasing that seems by the scale of the defeat Mr. Salmond decided to stand down. No hint of his intensions, however, emerged in public until a news conference at his official residence in Bute House.

It's been the privilege of my life to serve as First Minister. But as I said often enough during this referendum campaign,this is a process which is not about me; it's much, much more important than that.

This is a watershed moment in Scottish politics. Alex Salmond has led the SNP for a total of 20 years and has been First Minister for seven. He's been the faith of Scottish nationalism for a generation.

Queen Elizabeth has said that the Scotland's decision to remain part of the United Kingdom will be respected by everyone in the UK. She said she was certain that Scots would be able to come together in a spirit of mutual respect to work constructively for their future.

A suspect in the 1998 bombings of American embassies in Africa has pledged guilty to three charges at a court in New York.Adel Abdul Bary is on trial in connection with the attacks that killed 224 people in Kenya and Tanzania. From Washington,here's Jane O'Brian.

Prosecutors had claimed that Adel Abdul Bary was a high-level terrorist to run an al-Qaeda media center in London but was also a cover for the organization's military activities. The 54-year-old Egyptian was extradited from the UK after a protracted legal battle and initially charged with 284 offensives. At a New York court on Friday, he pledged guilty to three charges of conspiracy and threats to murder Americans. But the judge said he wanted to hear further arguments before more serious charges carrying a life sentence could be dropped.

Shares in the giant Chinese online Ali, online retailer Alibaba have soared in their debut on the New York Stock Exchange.The Chinese internet company is planning to use the money it raises on the stock market to expand in the United States and other parts of the world. Here's our business correspondent Feel Lagos.

Alibaba's long-awaited launch on the New York Stock Exchange was certainly dramatic. The shares began trading at 92 dollars 70, a 35% increase over the initial offer price. They moved to within a whisker of $100 before dropping back. At these prices the company as a whole would be worth more than 225 billion dollars, more valuable than corporate giants such as Pfizer, IBM and Coca Cola.

Feel Lagos reporting.

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The American Secretary of State John Kerry says there is a role for Iran to play in a global effort against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. Mr. Kerry told the United Nations Security Council, the coalition to eliminate the Islamists was more than just a military one and Iran could play a part. Syrian activists say the militant group Islamic State has seized more than 60 villages around the predominately Kurdish cities near the Kurdish border. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the extremist group has pushed Kurdish fighters out along with thousands of civilians who had fled the area.

The head of the American National Football League has promised to put the sport house in order after fares criticism over the way he's dealt with violent behaviors by players off the field. The NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the League would set up new personal conduct policies.

Earlier today, each NFL club and all of our legal office locations received information about advocacy and support organizations in their communities. In addition, our teams and lead staff, everyone will participate in education sessions starting in the next month followed by training programs.

Supporters have been embarrassed by a series of incidents involving players including allegations of domestic violence and child abuse. Mr. Goodell has been particularly criticized to his poor handling of the case of the Baltimore Ravens star Ray Rice who knocked his fiancée unconscious at a casino.

And academics in Zimbabwe have criticized the country's biggest university for awarding a doctorate to Grace Mugabe,Zimbabwe's First Lady after just two years of study. Some analysts have speculated that President Mugabe is grooming his 49-year-old wife as successor. In August, she was nominated as head of the ruling Zanu-PF Party's Women's League.

BBC News.