General news

• Champions League roundup: Ajax reach Europa League after Apoel rout

  10-12-2014 23:59
  
  Ajax finish their dismal Champions League campaign on a high with a 4-0 win over Apoel Nicosia, while Athletic Bilbao join them in the Europa League last 32 with a 2-0 win over Bate BorisovAjax made the best of a disappointing Champions League campaign by securing a Europa League place after a convincing 4-0 victory over Apoel Nicosia on Wednesday.Lasse Schöne scored a penalty just before half-time, after Arkadiusz Milik was brought down in the area by Marios Antoniades, and the Dane netted
  
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• Air fares set to fall in 2015

  10-12-2014 23:52
  
  Savings made on plummeting oil prices will be passed on to passengers, say carriersFlying could get cheaper next year as airlines say they will finally start passing on some of the savings made on plummeting oil prices.Carriers are forecasting record profits for 2015 due to cheaper fuel and rising demand and they expect to cut the average ticket price by 5%, excluding surcharges and taxes. Continue reading...
  
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• US navy demonstrates ship-based laser weapon – video

  10-12-2014 23:42
  
  The US navy demonstrated its new 30-kilowatt laser weapon system in the Persian Gulf, near Iranian waters. The device, which is 30 million times more powerful than a laser pointer, is capable of targeting mounted weapons systems on fast-moving boats, and destroying drones in mid-flight. According to the navy, a much more powerful 150 kilowatt system is currently in development Continue reading...
  
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• London protest over US police death

  10-12-2014 23:36 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Hundreds of people gather in west London in support of protests in the US over the death of Eric Garner at the hands of New York police.
  
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• Hundreds stage ‘die-in’ protest in UK’s Westfield mall over Eric Garner death

  10-12-2014 23:36
  
  Protesters, led by London Black Revs, chant ‘we can’t breathe’ over failure to indict New York police officer Daniel Pantaleo
  
  • Did you join a protest? Share your stories and photosHundreds of protesters have staged a “die-in” at the Westfield shopping centre in west London over the decision in New York not to indict a police officer in the death of Eric Garner.The event was organised by the campaign group London Black Revs on Wednesday evening as part of a global wave of protes
  
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• Right as rain? The rise of hashtag meteorology

  10-12-2014 23:36
  
  “Booommm,” tweeted 5 Live weatherman Simon King on Sunday.
  
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• Power restored as storm subsides

  10-12-2014 23:32 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Power is restored to the vast majority of the 31,000 homes that had their supply cut as Scotland is hit by a storm dubbed the "weather bomb".
  
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• VIDEO: Frozen-inspired lights in Dagenham

  10-12-2014 23:32 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Families in Dagenham have turned their row of homes into a setting inspired by Disney hit film Frozen for Christmas.
  
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• Amir Khan benefitting from Virgil Hunter’s wisdom for Devon Alexander test

  10-12-2014 23:30
  
  The British fighter knows victory in Las Vegas on Saturday could bring a meeting with Floyd Mayweather nearer, but his veteran trainer won’t let him lose focus
  • No birthday cake or party for Khan in VegasVirgil Hunter vividly remembers the first time he saw Amir Khan. The boy from Bolton was just that, a 17-year-old upstart who caused major ripples at the Athens Olympics by producing a brilliant push for a silver medal which kick-started his professional career.Hunter was there with his p
  
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• Champions League: Story of the groups

  10-12-2014 23:29 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Who is through, who is out, who the English teams could face and how records have tumbled in this season's group phase.
  
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• US extradition couple admit fraud

  10-12-2014 23:27 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A couple from Northamptonshire accused of defrauding the US company they worked for admit the charges against them.
  
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• Manchester City roll aside Roma but last 16 could expose soft centre

  10-12-2014 23:26
  
  City prove they are no one-man band despite old deficiencies on a Champions League night when the stakes could hardly have been higher
  • Match report: Roma 0-2 Manchester CityManchester City’s quest to be a dominant European force lives on into the last 16 of the Champions League. For the third time in four seasons the Sheikh Mansour project appeared to be falling apart before the knockout stage could be reached but then Samir Nasri stepped up with a 60th-minute rocket that left Morgan De
  
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• CIA 'torture report': China, Iran and North Korea take aim at US over shocking revelations

  10-12-2014 23:24
  
  China, North Korea and Iran - nations often accused of committing human rights abuses - have taken aim at the US over a damning report published yesterday, which revealed the CIA had used interrogation tactics amounting to torture in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
  
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• Ed Miliband Sets Out Labour's Stall On Economy

  10-12-2014 23:11
  
  Ed Miliband is to unveil a new policy to balance Britain's books in an attempt to repair the damage to his credibility when he failed to mention the deficit in his party conference speech.
  
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• Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek gives glimpse of future against Sporting

  10-12-2014 23:10
  
  José Mourinho is hoping academy product will be first of many to break into the first team after coming on for Cesc Fàbregas
  • Match report: Chelsea 3-1 Sporting LisbonFootball managers don’t generally like to talk about the future. No doubt this is partly because the present is often so all-consumingly traumatic; and beyond that because as John Maynard Keynes – himself once a Chelsea resident – pointed out, in the long term we’re all sacked. With this in mind, it isn’t hard to f
  
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• Laser gun: US Navy unveils new weapon with video showing speedboat explosion

  10-12-2014 23:09
  
  The US Navy has announced that a new laser weapon it tested earlier this year was a success, and has released footage of the machine in action.
  
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• Hamilton hits out at 'dirty tricks'

  10-12-2014 23:05
  
  Ukip's deputy chairman Neil Hamilton has lashed out at party insiders over a "dirty tricks" campaign being run against him.
  
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• Miliband tries to shed economic incompetence image before election

  10-12-2014 23:03
  LONDON (Reuters) - Ed Miliband, leader of the Labour party, will seek to rally support for his economic policy five months before a national election by portraying planned Conservative spending cuts as "extreme" and driven by a heartless ideology.
  
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• Scouts Admit 36 Child Abuse Actions Since 2012

  10-12-2014 23:00
  
  The Scout Association has issued an apology for child abuse within the movement.
  
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• The Apprentice 2014: episode 10 live blog – as it happens

  10-12-2014 23:00
  
  Last week they had 10 items to buy and a grand to spend – and Felipe got the chop in what felt like the dodgiest of decisions. What did this week do for Julia Raeside’s stress levels? Continue reading...
  
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• Ed Miliband vows to wield the axe on public services

  10-12-2014 23:00
  
  Ed Miliband will make a pitch for the political centre ground today by pledging to cut the budgets of most Whitehall departments every year until the nation’s books are balanced. In his most crucial economic speech since becoming Labour leader, he will tackle the party’s lack of credibility on the issue by unveiling a “tough but balanced” approach to clearing the deficit by the end of the 2015-20 parliament. 
  
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• Chelsea 3-1 Sporting Lisbon

  10-12-2014 22:59 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Chelsea win their fourth Champions League group match and deny Sporting Lisbon qualification for the last 16.
  
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• Chelsea fringe finish group with a flourish against Sporting Lisbon

  10-12-2014 22:56
  
  Chelsea’s progress into the knockout phase proved serene to the last. Sporting Lisbon were outclassed here, and consigned to the Europa League in the process, by a rejigged lineup who flourished in a tie devoid of tension. José Mourinho had not been disconcerted by that first loss of the campaign at Newcastle United last Saturday. His fringe players clearly shared his confidence.This was a stroll from the opening exchanges, against opponents who appeared nervy and gripped by self-doubt
  
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• Roma vs Manchester City match report: Samir Nasri smashes City into the Last 16

  10-12-2014 22:53
  
  If Manchester City do one day establish themselves as the European super-club that their masters in Abu Dhabi crave then they will always remember this night in Rome, when they finally delivered a victory in a big game in one of the continent’s football’s great football cities.
  
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• Blair Summoned Over NI 'On-The-Runs' Scheme

  10-12-2014 22:46
  
  Tony Blair has been summoned to appear before MPs investigating a controversial scheme launched by his government to allow Republican terror suspects to escape prosecution.
  
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• Chelsea vs Sporting match report: Cesc Fabregas gets Blues on their way to comprehensive victory

  10-12-2014 22:38
  
  Chelsea gave a helping hand to a former hero on Wednesday by rounding off the Champions League group stage with a 3-1 victory over Sporting which sent the Portuguese side packing and opened the door for Schalke 04 to reach the last 16.
  
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• Ministers open floodgates to release official data

  10-12-2014 22:28
  
  Information on who owns every property and piece of land in the UK could be available at the touch of a smartphone, under sweeping plans to open masses of government data to the public.
  
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• Strength in numbers: Teaching maths that relates to the real-world

  10-12-2014 22:13
  
  The new ruling, designed to ensure the country becomes more maths literate, came into force this September, so Hollie and her classmates at Abingdon and Witney Further Education College in Oxfordshire are among the first in the country to face the new regime.
  
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• Weather bomb: Power restored to at least 27,000 homes in wake of ferocious storm

  10-12-2014 22:11
  
  Power has been restored to at least 27,000 homes in the UK, after ‘weather bombs’ battered the northern half of the country – causing winds of up to 144mph in the remotest area.
  
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• Weather bomb: Ferocious storm leaves tens of thousands of homes without power and causes widespread travel chaos

  10-12-2014 22:11
  
  Weather bombs battered the northern half of the UK today – causing winds of up to 144mph in the remotest area, cutting power from tens of thousands of homes, and creating travel chaos across land and sea.
  
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• Brenda Horsfield: Glider pilot who also flew Spitfires and worked with David Attenborough on educational television series

  10-12-2014 22:09
  Brenda Horsfield was an intrepid glider pilot, a distinguished BBC television producer and a witty, independent woman with trademark long blonde hair. She had a degree in English from Oxford but her television programmes often had scientific themes. She was a Cheltenham Ladies’ College girl but from early on showed distinct anti-establishment tendencies. She could be sharp but also had a gentler, shyer side.
  
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• Dave Appell: Songwriter, arranger and producer who wrote ‘Let’s Twist Again’ and produced ‘Tie A Yellow Ribbon’

  10-12-2014 22:09
  
  During the 1950s, jazz fans hated the advent of rock’n’roll and thought the performers lacked any creditable musicianship, but in reality many experienced musicians with jazz backgrounds were working with the new sounds. One was Dave Appell, a significant background figure who wrote, arranged and produced many records for the Cameo-Parkway label. His most important copyright is Chubby Checker’s “Let’s Twist Again” (1961), a staple of oldies radio stations and a “must have” for a
  
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• Lady Wardington: Model turned down by BBC Television as ‘too beautiful’ who wrote the successful ‘Superhints’ series of books

  10-12-2014 22:09
  Audrey White was from a humble background, but became a successful model and author, was turned down for a BBC announcer’s job for being deemed “too beautiful”, then established financial courses for women, worked for charities and became a lady of the aristocracy.
  
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• Chalk Talk: There’s more to pupil premiums than money

  10-12-2014 22:04
  
  Nice to note that Birmingham is obviously doing something right after everything written about the “Trojan Horse” affair’s adverse influence on its schools.
  
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• Ben Stiller: My night at the museum with Robin Williams

  10-12-2014 22:04
  
  If you’ve ever seen the two Night at the Museum movies, you’ll know there’s a magic tablet which brings the museum’s historic people and artefacts to life at night. The franchise stars Ben Stiller’s museum night guard alongside Ricky Gervais’s acerbic museum boss, Owen Wilson’s cowboy, Steve Coogan’s Roman centurion and the late Robin Williams as President Teddy Roosevelt, in his final screen outing.
  
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• Up, up and away on Google’s wi-fi balloon

  10-12-2014 22:01
  
  The majority of people in the world lack access to the internet. Either they can’t afford a connection, or none exists where they live. Of all the efforts to bring those people online, Google’s “Project Loon” sounds the most far-fetched.
  
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• The miraculous healing power of a doll’s house

  10-12-2014 22:00
  
  When I was eight, I was taken to the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. I remember an unending corridor of glass vitrines, behind which loomed exquisite dolls’ houses. It was a giddy experience in the land of adults, and I have never forgotten it. For once, I was a giant; but it was not simply the power of proportion in my favour. Past lives thrummed in these tiny rooms, easily animated by childish imagination. Creativity unlocked adventure.
  
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• Poor sleep linked to dementia

  10-12-2014 22:00
  
  Poor sleep in old age can result in brain changes associated with dementia, scientists have found.
  
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• Hamilton faces expenses demands

  10-12-2014 21:43
  
  Ukip's deputy chairman Neil Hamilton has faced demands from the party's finance committee to explain his expenses claims.
  
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• Gala tribute to UK military heroes

  10-12-2014 21:43
  
  Top names from the worlds of politics, showbusiness and sport tonight joined senior royals to honour Britain's military heroes.
  
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• Water charge protests: traffic eases after tens of thousands demonstrate - Irish Times

  10-12-2014 21:32 via irishtimes.com
  
  Irish Times
  Water charge protests: traffic eases after tens of thousands demonstrate
  Irish Times
  We speak to the water protesters that have blocked the Luas line and Dublin bridges. Harry McGee reports from the Water Protest at Merrion Square which has spread throughout Dublin. Video: Bryan O'Brien & Daniel O'Connor. As the water protest starts ...
  Tens of thousands protest against Irish water chargesThe Globe and Mail
  Austerity tax: Tens of thousands protest againt 'regres
  
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• British MPs demand inquiry into UK's role in CIA abductions - The Guardian

  10-12-2014 21:31 via theguardian.com
  
  The Guardian
  British MPs demand inquiry into UK's role in CIA abductions
  The Guardian
  British ministers tried to suppress all evidence in the case of Binyam Mohamed, who was tortured and secretly flown to Guantanamo Bay. Photograph: Shaun Curry/AFP. Richard Norton-Taylor and Ian Cobain. Wednesday 10 December 2014 12.50 EST.
  Hayden slams Senate report, claims CIA interrogations yielded 'Home Depot ...Fox News
  'Black site' countries outed in torture report aren't outraged. Why
  
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• Which Hollywood Honcho Called Angelina Jolie a "Minimally Talented Spoiled ... - seattlepi.com

  10-12-2014 21:25 via seattlepi.com
  
  Hollywood Reporter
  Which Hollywood Honcho Called Angelina Jolie a "Minimally Talented Spoiled ...
  seattlepi.com
  There's a good chance that the behind-the-scenes drama around the upcoming Steve Jobs biopic will trump any entertainment value the movie itself offers. Emails recently hacked from Sony reveal testy (to put it mildly) exchanges between Sony Pictures ...
  Hacked emails reveal Scott Rudin trashing Angelina JolieNew York Daily News
  Hacked Sony info shows heated emails over S
  
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• 'Weather bomb' causes disruption to northern UK - BBC News

  10-12-2014 21:22 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News
  'Weather bomb' causes disruption to northern UK
  BBC News
  High winds and huge waves have affected north-western parts of the UK as bad weather hit power supplies and travel. The "weather bomb" brought hundreds of lightning strikes, temporarily cutting power across the Western Isles. Energy firm SSE said it had ...
  Weather bomb leaves thousands without power and transport in chaosDaily Mail
  UK weather bomb explodes: as it happenedTelegraph.co.uk
  The weather bomb: w
  
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• Storm hits power and travel in UK

  10-12-2014 21:22 via bbc.co.uk
  
  High winds and huge waves cause power blackouts and travel disruption in north-western parts of the UK.
  
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• Home crowd welcomes finalist Fleur

  10-12-2014 21:11
  
  X Factor finalist Fleur East received a warm welcome today back in her native Walthamstow.
  
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• Scouts 'deeply sorry' for abuse

  10-12-2014 21:07
  
  The UK Scout Association today said it was "deeply sorry" for the hurt caused by child abuse within the movement.
  
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• 'I'm the only Nobel winner who still fights with her brother,' says Malala - The Independent

  10-12-2014 21:03 via independent.co.uk
  
  The Independent
  'I'm the only Nobel winner who still fights with her brother,' says Malala
  The Independent
  Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan and Kailash Satyarthi of India received the Nobel Peace Prize yesterday for risking their lives “against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education”. The 17-year-old Ms Yousafzai, the ...
  Malala, Satyarthi receive Nobel Peace PrizeDaily Times
  Malala vows to struggle for every child's righ
  
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• Scouts body faces abuse legal claims

  10-12-2014 20:59 via bbc.co.uk
  
  More than 50 people have asked lawyers to sue the Scout Association over historical abuse claims since the Jimmy Savile scandal emerged, the BBC learns.
  
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• Palestinian minister dies at West Bank protest - BBC News

  10-12-2014 20:59 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News
  Palestinian minister dies at West Bank protest
  BBC News
  A Palestinian official has died after a confrontation with Israeli troops at a protest in the West Bank, reports say. A Reuters news agency photographer said Ziad Abu Ein, a minister without portfolio, was hit and shoved by soldiers near the village of Turmusaya.
  Palestinian Authority condemns death of government minister at protestSydney Morning Herald
  Palestinian minister dies at protestBrisbane Times
  After Abu Ein death, Gantz
  
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