General news

• Benedict Cumberbatch has no political ambitions after Black Mass role

  11-10-2015 23:29
  
  Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch has revealed playing a politician in his latest film has not whetted his appetite to pursue any political aspirations.
  
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• Cumberbatch Wants Talks With May Over Migration

  11-10-2015 23:08
  
  Benedict Cumberbatch has told Sky News he would like to meet Home Secretary Theresa May to discuss the refugee crisis, and claims the Government is not doing enough to help. The actor was speaking at the London film festival premiere of his latest film Black Mass, in which he plays a politician - William "Billy" Bulger, the brother of Boston mobster and FBI informant James "Whitey" Bulger. "No, government is not doing enough and I'm quite happy to say that," Cumberbatch said.
  
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• Two RAF service personnel killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash

  11-10-2015 22:33
  
  Two service personnel from the RAF have been killed following a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
  
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• Garda among two killed in shooting after being called to 'domestic incident'

  11-10-2015 21:25
  
  Two men, one of whom was a garda in the Irish police force, have been shot dead at a house in Ireland.
  
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• Shocking Photos: Ex-Soldier, 80, Left For Dead

  11-10-2015 21:04
  
  The family of an 80-year-old former soldier have released shocking pictures of him in hospital after he was beaten up by burglars who took his life savings.
  
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• Michael Winner's Widow Beaten During Raid

  11-10-2015 20:05
  
  The widow of film director and restaurant critic Michael Winner has been beaten with an iron bar during a burglary at her London home. Geraldine Winner was taken to hospital after a man and a woman broke into her house in Knightsbridge on Friday night. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Two suspects - a male and a female - forced their way into the home of a woman in her 70s and assaulted her with an iron bar before stealing a number of items at approximately 10pm on 9 October.
  
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• Travellers' site blaze victims' relative tells of 'horrendous' tragedy

  11-10-2015 19:18
  
  The victims of a horror blaze which claimed 10 lives including five children may have been enjoying a "little do" before the fire broke out, a relative said.
  
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• Red Road tower blocks come down - but not without a fight

  11-10-2015 18:53
  
  The demolition of a group of high-rise flats did not entirely go to plan with two of the six blocks still partially upright and some residents unable to return to nearby homes.
  
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• Queen 'shocked and saddened' by Turkey suicide bombings

  11-10-2015 18:53
  
  The Queen said she is "shocked and saddened" by the suspected suicide bombings which claimed at least 95 lives in the Turkish capital Ankara.
  
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• Crowds Jeer At Botched Tower Block Demolition

  11-10-2015 18:24
  
  Dozens of Glasgow residents gathered to watch the controlled demolition of the final six blocks of Red Road flats – but the explosion didn't go entirely to plan.
  
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• Lyme Disease 'Greatest Threat To Public Health'

  11-10-2015 17:51
  
  The number of people contracting Lyme disease has quadrupled in the last 12 years - leading one famous sufferer to describe it as "the most significant threat to human health" of our time. More than 1,100 people were diagnosed with the disease in 2013, according to figures seen by The Daily Telegraph. The bacterial infection is carried by ticks often found in woodlands and, if left untreated, can cause neurological damage and debilitating fatigue in humans.
  
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• UK military vehicles attacked in Afghanistan

  11-10-2015 17:06
  
  A convoy of UK military vehicles has been attacked in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
  
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• Jeremy Clarkson tells how Amazon Prime came 'riding over horizon'

  11-10-2015 17:06
  
  Jeremy Clarkson has revealed he thought about doing "nothing at all" after Top Gear, but then Amazon Prime came "riding over the horizon" and a new motoring show began to take shape.
  
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• Amber Nuttall paddle boards the Thames for charity

  11-10-2015 16:59
  
  Socialite Amber Nuttall has set out on her paddle board in an attempt to travel the length of the River Thames to raise money for charity.
  
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• MPs' vote on Trident 'may be held before Christmas'

  11-10-2015 15:10
  
  Ministers are considering holding the crunch vote on renewing Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent before Christmas.
  
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• Michael Winner's widow beaten with iron bar during raid at her home

  11-10-2015 15:10
  
  The widow of the late film director Michael Winner is in hospital after she was beaten with an iron bar during a raid at her home.
  
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• Malala's father tells of hopes of return to Pakistan

  11-10-2015 15:10
  
  The father of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has spoken of his desire to one day return to their home in Pakistan.
  
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• Dozens of Labour MPs 'ready to back military action in Syria'

  11-10-2015 15:10
  
  Labour MPs are embroiled in bitter infighting amid claims more than 50 are ready to defy leader Jeremy Corbyn and back military intervention in Syria.
  
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• West of Scotland 'got austerity 40 years earlier than anyone else'

  11-10-2015 15:08
  
  Social changes in Scotland caused a "spectacular widening in inequality" that Scotland's former top doctor likened to the impact of the UK Government's austerity programme.
  
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• Irish prime minister dampens speculation of 2015 election

  11-10-2015 15:07
  
  Prime Minister Enda Kenny on Sunday said he did not intend to call a parliamentary election in Ireland before early next year, seeking to halt widespread speculation that he would call a snap vote next month. Kenny has until March to set a date, but with opinion polls putting his Fine Gael party and coalition partners Labour within striking distance of re-election, party colleagues and strategists have said a November ballot is being considered. Calling a quick election would allow Kenny to capi
  
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• No one should stand in Scotland's way over referendum - Sturgeon

  11-10-2015 14:28
  
  No one should stand in the way if Scotland wants another vote on union with England, Scottish nationalist leader Nicola Sturgeon said on Sunday, predicting a referendum will be all but inevitable if Britain decides to leave the European Union. Sturgeon, whose Scottish National Party (SNP) took nearly all parliamentary seats in Scotland in Britain's May 7 election, said she had been disappointed when Scots voted in favour of rejecting independence last year, but respected the result.
  
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• Business, political leaders back British campaign to stay in EU

  11-10-2015 13:51
  
  By Elizabeth Piper LONDON (Reuters) - Campaigners for Britain to remain in the European Union will make a "patriotic case" that the country is safer in Europe, the group said on Sunday, bringing in business leaders, politicians and television personalities to lead the cause. Called "Britain Stronger in Europe", the 'in' campaign will launch on Monday, keen to show it has broad appeal to fight for Britain's membership of the EU, the world's largest trading bloc, before a referendum which Prime Mi
  
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• Superhero-Themed Bionic Arms For Children

  11-10-2015 13:40
  
  Superhero and other movie-themed bionic hands and arms for children are being made by a British company. Bristol-based Open Bionics says it is trying to boost the confidence of children who need to use prosthetic limbs and to get them excited with the bright designs. There is the Iron Man hand "hot out of character Tony Stark's workshop", the Star Wars lightsaber hand, and the Snowflake hand, inspired by Queen Elsa from Frozen.
  
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• Teacher shortages threatening standards, warns Labour

  11-10-2015 13:09
  
  Labour has warned of a teacher shortage crisis amid a rise in the numbers leaving the profession.
  
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• Parishioners to fund raise for travellers' halting site blaze victims

  11-10-2015 13:09
  
  Local parishioners are to fund raise for the victims of a blaze which claimed 10 lives in Ireland, a Catholic priest has said.
  
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• Man arrested over murder of Cricklewood mother

  11-10-2015 13:09
  
  Detectives investigating the murder of a mother found dead at the home she shared with her young son have arrested a man.
  
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• Defence budget in danger of becoming too low, warns Dominic Grieve

  11-10-2015 13:09
  
  Britain risks spending too little on defence, according to the chairman of Parliament's powerful Intelligence and Security Committee.
  
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• Boris Johnson 'bangs drum for London' on Japan trade trip

  11-10-2015 13:02
  
  Boris Johnson is heading to Japan on a three-day trade mission to "bang the drum" for London.
  
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• Ebola case nurse Pauline Cafferkey 'let down by doctors'

  11-10-2015 11:50
  
  The family of nurse Pauline Cafferkey have claimed doctors "missed a big opportunity" to spot she had fallen ill with Ebola again when she was told she had a virus when she attended a clinic.
  
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• Corbyn Missed Privy Council 'To Go On Holiday'

  11-10-2015 11:36
  
  Jeremy Corbyn missed an opportunity to be inducted into the Privy Council because he was on a walking holiday in the Scottish Highlands, it has emerged. According to Mr Corbyn's aides, his "long-standing private engagements" involved some "relaxation time" – and his spokespeople have stressed the MP will be joining the Privy Council soon. He also posed for a photograph with another restaurant owner in the town, who made a quip about Mr Corbyn's political stance in an accompanying caption.
  
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• Stand firm on tax credit cuts, Ken Clarke urges Chancellor

  11-10-2015 11:12
  
  Tory big beast Ken Clarke has urged George Osborne to hold firm on cuts to tax credits despite fears of a backlash from voters.
  
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• Duchess of Cambridge expected to attend state banquet for China's president

  11-10-2015 11:12
  
  The Duchess of Cambridge is expected to attend her first ever state banquet at Buckingham Palace in just over a week's time.
  
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• More Maternity Units Closing Amid Midwife Crisis

  11-10-2015 07:53
  
  Maternity units could be forced to turn away mothers because of budget cuts and staff shortages, the Royal College of Midwives has said. It comes as midwives are also struggling to cope with a rising birth rate and increasingly complex births, the union said.
  
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• Former Chancellor Howe dies aged 88

  11-10-2015 07:18
  
  Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Geoffrey Howe, an ally turned critic of Margaret Thatcher, has died at the age of 88, Prime Minister David Cameron's office said on Saturday. Howe, who was also a former foreign secretary, died on Friday after suffering a suspected heart attack, the BBC said, citing his family. Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne paid tribute to Howe, who served as finance minister from 1979 to 1983, on social media, emphasising his quiet
  
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• Union flag badge tribute to fallen police 'against regulations'

  11-10-2015 06:22
  
  Police have been told they are not allowed to wear a Union flag badge on their uniforms in tribute to colleagues killed on duty because it breaches regulations, it is reported.
  
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• 'More Teachers Than Ever' Quitting Classrooms

  11-10-2015 04:04
  
  Nearly 50,000 teachers quit the profession in the last year - the highest number since records began - according to figures released by the Labour Party. The Labour Party estimates that Britain will need almost 160,000 additional teachers over the next three years - yet on current trends there could be a shortfall of 65,000 applicants over this period. Responding to the findings, the new shadow education secretary, Lucy Powell MP, said: "For years, this Government chose to ignore the growin
  
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• State pension top-up scheme to be launched

  11-10-2015 04:01
  
  People will be able to boost their state pension income by up to £1,300 a year when a new "top up" scheme is launched tomorrow.
  
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• 'Hidden austerity costs' outlined by ex-chief medical officer

  11-10-2015 04:01
  
  Scotland's former chief medical officer is expected to outline "the hidden costs of austerity" at the Scottish Green conference in Glasgow today.
  
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• Soldier Scoops £13m From 25p Online Bet

  11-10-2015 03:19
  
  Jon Heywood, 26, said his priority is to buy his father - who's waiting for a heart and lung transplant - the "best possible medical treatment". But the Afghanistan veteran does have at least one big purchase lined up - a Bentley sports car. "I never even dreamed of driving a Bentley, let alone owning one.
  
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• Solider Scoops £13m From 25p Online Bet

  11-10-2015 02:14
  
  Jon Heywood, 26, said his priority is to buy his father - who's waiting for a heart and lung transplant - the "best possible medical treatment". But the Afghanistan veteran does have at least one big purchase lined up - a Bentley sports car. "I never even dreamed of driving a Bentley, let alone owning one.
  
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• Government draws up plan of key demands to stay in EU - paper

  11-10-2015 01:50
  
  The Conservative government has drawn up a plan of key demands for Britain to stay in the world's largest trading bloc, the Sunday Telegraph reported, citing Cabinet sources. The plan includes forcing Brussels to make "an explicit statement" saying Britain will be kept out of any move towards a European superstate and another "explicit statement" that the euro is not the official currency of the European Union, thereby protecting the pound in a "multi-currency" union, it said. The Cabinet source
  
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• X Factor's Mason Noise hits bum note with Simon Cowell over short audition

  11-10-2015 01:32
  
  TV mogul Simon Cowell calls The X Factor's Mason Noise "a complete a******e" during the Six Chair Challenge.
  
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• Sex offender flees Edmonton mental health centre

  11-10-2015 01:32
  
  A convicted sex offender with a prosthetic ear has fled from a mental health facility.
  
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• September CPI inflation expected to stay at zero again

  11-10-2015 01:32
  
  Inflation is expected to remain at zero again when official figures for September are published this week.
  
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• Rise in child abuse cases involving witchcraft claims - police

  11-10-2015 01:32
  
  An increasing number of child abuse cases involving accusations of witchcraft and exorcism are being reported to police.
  
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• Nicola Sturgeon: SNP conference 'will be launch pad for election campaign'

  11-10-2015 01:32
  
  First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that this week's party conference will be the "launch pad" for the SNP's Holyrood election campaign.
  
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• New review aims to give consumers better financial advice

  11-10-2015 01:32
  
  A consultation into how financial advice could be made to work better for consumers will be launched on Monday.
  
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• Kezia Dugdale must clarify her position on Trident, says SNP

  11-10-2015 01:32
  
  The SNP has called on Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale to clarify her position on the renewal of Trident.
  
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• Jeremy Corbyn passed up Queen date for Highlands holiday

  11-10-2015 01:32
  
  Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn missed a chance to be inducted into the Privy Council by the Queen because he was walking in the Scottish Highlands, it has been revealed.
  
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• Stormont Crisis: Ministers Resign 22 Times

  11-10-2015 01:18
  
  Four ministers from Northern Ireland's devolved government have resigned a total of 22 times in a month. The Democratic Unionists say there can't be business as usual while the IRA stands accused of the murder of a man in August. But the party hasn't given up on Stormont, according to Simon Hamilton, who's been appointed health minister five times in four weeks.
  
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