General news

• Campaign Group: Mistakes Made Over 'Jihadi John'

  18-10-2015 23:32
  
  The campaign group CAGE has admitted it made mistakes over its handling of Mohammed Emwazi, the man who became known as Islamic State terrorist Jihadi John. The group was criticised earlier this year after one of its director Asim Querish declared Emwazi to be an "extremely kind" and "extremely gentle" man who had been driven to extremism after harassment by Britain's security services.
  
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• Simon Cowell faces X Factor selection struggle

  18-10-2015 23:21
  
  Music mogul Simon Cowell struggled to select his six finalists during The X Factor's controversial Six Chair Challenge.
  
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• Probiotic 'may help combat stress and improve mental health'

  18-10-2015 23:00
  
  Friendly bacteria can act as a stress buster and improve mental health, research has shown.
  
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• Steve Jobs biopic stars close BFI London Film Festival

  18-10-2015 21:39
  
  Oscar winners Kate Winslet and Danny Boyle have brought the curtain down on the 2015 BFI London Film Festival with their new film about technology innovator Steve Jobs.
  
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• Irish eyes are unsmiling as Daniel O'Donnell voted off Strictly

  18-10-2015 21:33
  
  Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell has become the third celebrity to waltz out of Strictly Come Dancing, but says it was "the right time for me to go".
  
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• Alan Rusbridger praises BBC for 'robust, independent journalism'

  18-10-2015 21:33
  
  The former editor of The Guardian has said the BBC can be "slow moving, intransigent and arrogant" but added that it is probably the greatest news organisation in the world.
  
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• Fears As Heavily Pregnant Woman Goes Missing

  18-10-2015 21:24
  
  Detective Inspector David Dachtler said: "We are obviously concerned for Ella's safety, especially considering that she is 35-weeks pregnant. Thames Valley Police said she was likely to be on foot or using public transport.
  
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• Campaign group Cage 'made mistakes' in handling of Jihadi John case

  18-10-2015 19:55
  
  The campaign group Cage has admitted it made mistakes in the case of the man unmasked as Islamic State (IS) terrorist Jihadi John.
  
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• Fears As Heavily Pregnant Woman Disappears

  18-10-2015 19:29
  
  Detective Inspector David Dachtler said: "We are obviously concerned for Ella's safety, especially considering that she is 35-weeks pregnant. Thames Valley Police said she was likely to be on foot or using public transport.
  
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• Tributes to Birmingham teenager killed in car tragedy

  18-10-2015 18:49
  
  Tributes have been paid to a 14-year-old boy who died when the car he was in struck a tree.
  
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• Manchester Fireman Found Hanged At Station

  18-10-2015 18:34
  
  Firefighters in Manchester are mourning the death of a colleague found hanged at the station where he worked. Green Watch crew manager Lee Gaunt, 41, was discovered at 4.40am by colleagues at Stalybridge fire station on Sunday morning and was pronounced dead after they were unable to revive him. "We have three priorities today - to look after Lee's family, his watch and everyone else who is part of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service family.
  
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• UK competition body expected to call for clearer bank fees

  18-10-2015 18:00
  
  LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's competition watchdog is likely to call for bank charges to be made clearer when it publishes the findings of an investigation into the industry next week, banking sources say.
  
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• Tributes to 'popular' fireman found hanged at station

  18-10-2015 17:42
  
  A firefighter found hanged at the Manchester station where he worked has been described as "extremely well liked and popular member" of the brigade.
  
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• China Plays Down MI5 Cyber-Spying Concerns

  18-10-2015 17:10
  
  China's ambassador has insisted the UK has "nothing to fear" from his country despite MI5 identifying spying by Beijing as one of the biggest current threats to Britain's national security. Liu Xiaoming, speaking ahead of a state visit by the president Xi Jinping, told Sky News China was "a peace-loving country". The British security service said on its website that spying, including cyber espionage, by foreign states was still a significant problem, with the activities of the Russian and Chines
  
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• Robots to fix street lights and potholes in £4.2m project

  18-10-2015 17:00
  
  A university is leading a pioneering £4.2 million project to create "self-repairing cities" by developing robots that can fix street lights and potholes.
  
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• Imelda Staunton wins theatre award for Gypsy musical performance

  18-10-2015 17:00
  
  Imelda Staunton has won best performance in a musical for her role in Gypsy at the UK Theatre Awards 2015.
  
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• Hormone in mothers' milk may affect children's social behaviour after weaning

  18-10-2015 17:00
  
  A hormone in mothers' milk may affect the social behaviour of children long after weaning, new research suggests.
  
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• SNP look to polls ahead of any new referendum

  18-10-2015 16:32
  
  The SNP will not seek another Scottish independence referendum until polls consistently show more than 60% of the public would vote to leave the UK, it has been claimed.
  
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• Tributes Paid After Teen Rapper Dies In Crash

  18-10-2015 16:20
  
  Tributes have been paid to a 14-year-old boy who died when the car he was travelling in struck a tree. Flowers and other items have been attached to a tree near where the accident happened. One poster, called Curly Porter, wrote: "My heart is sadden by this tragic news, a very kind and talented young man.
  
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• Fallon: UK Must Strike Syria Despite Russia Fears

  18-10-2015 15:17
  
  Britain should join airstrikes in Syria and not be "diverted" by the "worrying" risk of a clash with Russian forces, the Defence Secretary has said. Michael Fallon said there was an "inescapable logic" to extending UK military action across the border from Iraq in its fight against Islamic State (IS). He also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "prolonging" the bloodshed in Syria by supporting President Bashar Assad's regime.
  
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• Fallon reaches out to Labour MPs over Trident renewal

  18-10-2015 15:17
  
  Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has appealed for Labour MPs to support the renewal of Trident.
  
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• Matthew Lewis gives children magic start to Dreamflight adventure

  18-10-2015 14:54
  
  Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis ensured 200 children's holiday of a lifetime got off to a magic start as the annual Dreamflight jet embarked on a sunshine break in Florida.
  
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• John McDonnell vows to reverse planned cuts to tax credits

  18-10-2015 14:32
  
  John McDonnell has confirmed Labour would reverse the Government's planned cuts to tax credits after two shadow ministers ducked the question.
  
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• Bishops' Criticism Of Refugee Response Rejected

  18-10-2015 13:39
  
  A Cabinet minister has hit back at bishops criticising the Government's response to the migrant crisis arguing the UK took action years before church leaders took "a campaigning interest". Stephen Crabb told Sky News the approach being taken by the Conservative administration was "one of compassion" and dismissed criticism by the Church of England (CofE) as nothing new. The Welsh Secretary defended the Government's policy after more than 80 CofE bishops signed a letter branding the response as "
  
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• Bishops urge UK's Cameron to take in more Syrian refugees

  18-10-2015 13:26
  
  LONDON (Reuters) - A group of 84 Church of England bishops have written to British Prime Minister David Cameron urging him to increase the number of Syrian refugees the country will take in by 2020 to at least 50,000.
  
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• Boy, 16, charged with murder of 17-year-old in west London

  18-10-2015 13:12
  
  A 16-year-old youth has been charged with the murder of a teenager who was stabbed to death in west London.
  
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• Police probe Kent 'clown mask' stalking incidents

  18-10-2015 13:02
  
  Police have deployed extra patrols around schools following reports of pupils being stalked by people wearing clown masks.
  
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• Michael Fallon plays down rumoured David Cameron cull of Eurosceptics

  18-10-2015 12:44
  
  Michael Fallon has played down rumours that David Cameron could cull ministers opposed to EU membership before the looming in-out referendum - insisting the Cabinet is "all Eurosceptic".
  
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• Gary Numan set for Q Awards Innovation in Sound gong

  18-10-2015 12:35
  
  Gary Numan said he is "very flattered and very proud" to be receiving the Innovation In Sound accolade at this year's Q Awards.
  
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• Michael Fallon: UK should strike IS in Syria despite fear of Russia clash

  18-10-2015 11:46
  
  The "worrying" threat of clashes with Russia should not prevent Britain from joining airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) in Syria, Michael Fallon has insisted.
  
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• Sea search as Briton goes missing in Sydney after evening swim - Daily Echo

  18-10-2015 11:19 via
  Daily Echo
  Sea search as Briton goes missing in Sydney after evening swim
  Daily Echo
  A 31-year-old Briton is missing in Australia after failing to return from an evening swim. A search operation has been under way since Saturday evening for the man, who is understood to have arrived in the country a week ago and has links to Manchester.and more »
  

• Labour front bencher 'won't commit to reversing all tax credit cuts'

  18-10-2015 11:10
  
  A Labour front bencher has refused to commit the party to reversing all of the Government's planned cuts to tax credits.
  
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• Memo 'reveals Tony Blair support for US in run-up to Iraq War'

  18-10-2015 10:42
  
  A previously secret memo has given an insight into Tony Blair's talks with US president George Bush in the run-up to the Iraq War.
  
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• Kate Winslet and Michael Fassbender close festival with Steve Jobs biopic

  18-10-2015 10:42
  
  Kate Winslet and Michael Fassbender will close the BFI London Film Festival tonight with their new film, Steve Jobs.
  
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• Increase in apprenticeships 'diluted their quality' - Ofsted

  18-10-2015 08:52
  
  An increase in the number of apprenticeships, including some on making coffee and cleaning floors, has "diluted their quality", the education inspectorate has warned.
  
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• Mother Who Left Newborn Son In Hospital Found

  18-10-2015 08:23
  
  A mother who went missing from hospital a day after giving birth, leaving her newborn baby boy behind, has been found.
  
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• Woman Charged Over 'Racist Rant' On Bus

  18-10-2015 07:21
  
  A woman has been charged over an alleged racist rant on a bus which was captured by a passenger on video and posted online.
  
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• Charities Urge Govt To Keep Free School Meals

  18-10-2015 07:00
  
  More than 30 organisations including the Trussell Trust and Child Poverty Action Group have expressed fears that the policy may be scrapped in the Government's November spending review. The letter shown to Sky News and printed in the Sunday Times says: "It is a sad truth that 28% of our children live in poverty and that many have a poor diet as a result. The authors' note that the Prime Minister recently declared himself "proud" of the policy on Sky News, but they call on him to provide certaint
  
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• PM Pledges £5m To Fight 'Poison' Of Extremism

  18-10-2015 05:26
  
  Groups tackling extremism in the UK are to be given £5m this year, Prime Minister David Cameron has promised. The strategy is to tackle violent and non-violent extremism, Mr Cameron has said, supporting mainstream voices and address the "segregation and feelings of alienation" that are "fertile ground" for radicalisation. Speaking on the topic, Mr Cameron said: "We need to systematically confront and challenge extremism and the ideologies that underpin it, exposing the lies and the destruc
  
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• Amazon sues more than 1,000 people over 'fake reviews'

  18-10-2015 05:01
  
  Amazon is taking legal action against more than 1,000 people it claims provide fake reviews on its website.
  
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• Briton Missing After Australian Beach Swim

  18-10-2015 04:22
  
  A British tourist is missing off the Australian coast after he failed to return from an evening swim. Emergency services have been scouring the area around South Curl Curl beach in Sydney since the man went missing, according to New South Wales Police. Surf Life Saving NSW spokeswoman Donna Wishart said the beach was one of the more hazardous in Sydney as there was a strong rip that could catch people unaware.
  
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• Slavery: A Modern-Day Growing Problem

  18-10-2015 04:04
  
  The stunt by The Salvation Army was designed to send a potent message to the public - that slavery is not consigned to the past but is a modern and growing problem. Keith Turton from the charity says: "Many people think that slavery was abolished 200 years ago, and people think of slavery as something to do with chains and ropes and things.
  
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• Repairs May See Big Ben Silenced For Months

  18-10-2015 03:58
  
  Big Ben needs up to £40m of repairs - but the work may see its famous chimes silenced for four months. The cross-party Commons Finance Committee's report says it would only cost £4.9m to "prevent the clock from failing" but that the cost could rise to £40m if Big Ben's other problems are not dealt with at the same time. "There are major concerns that if this is not carried out within the next two to three years, the clock mechanism is at risk of failure with the huge risk
  
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• Bishops Urge Cameron To Take In More Refugees

  18-10-2015 03:55
  
  Eighty-four Church of England bishops have accused the Government of an "increasingly inadequate" response to the migrant crisis and ignoring their offers to help to provide housing, foster care and other support for at least 50,000 refugees. The CoE has released a letter, signed by the bishops, which was sent to the Prime Minister urging him to make a "meaningful and substantial response to the scale of human suffering we see daily". Amid pressure from public opinion to strengthen the UK's resp
  
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• Sea search as Briton goes missing in Sydney after evening swim

  18-10-2015 03:41
  
  A 31-year-old Briton is missing in Australia after failing to return from an evening swim.
  
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• Tea, Cake And Sympathy: Campaign For Death Cafe

  18-10-2015 03:32
  
  A funding campaign will launch this week to create the world's first permanent 'death cafe' in London. The cafe's founder says it is aimed "to increase an awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives". Already, pop up death cafes of this kind have been held in over 30 different countries worldwide.
  
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• PM Pledges £5m For Groups Fighting Extremism

  18-10-2015 02:24
  
  Groups tackling extremism in the UK are to be given £5m this year, Prime Minister David Cameron has promised. The strategy is to tackle violent and non-violent extremism, Mr Cameron has said, supporting mainstream voices and address the "segregation and feelings of alienation" that are "fertile ground" for radicalisation. Speaking on the topic, Mr Cameron said: "We need to systematically confront and challenge extremism and the ideologies that underpin it, exposing the lies and the destruc
  
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• Katie Derham and Anton Du Beke top Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard

  18-10-2015 01:46
  
  BBC Radio 3's Katie Derham has soared to the top of the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard.
  
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• Taxpayers 'paying millions' to defend troops in human rights cases

  18-10-2015 01:27
  
  Taxpayers face paying out millions to defend British soldiers being sued by enemies who claim their human rights have been breached, it has been reported.
  
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• Simon Cowell not impressed with X Factor Overs category

  18-10-2015 01:27
  
  Music mogul Simon Cowell has complained about being "stuck" with his X Factor category, the Overs, during the Six Chair Challenge.
  
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