General news

• Commons to vote on UK military action targeting Islamic State in Syria

  30-11-2015 23:05
  
  David Cameron has started the countdown for British military action in Syria, with a Commons vote on Wednesday authorising RAF air strikes on the Islamic State (IS) militants in their heartlands.
  
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• Britain to vote on Syria strikes this week, PM confident of support

  30-11-2015 22:14
  
  By William James LONDON (Reuters) - The parliament will vote on bombing Syria on Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron said, confident he can secure its approval after the opposition Labour Party allowed its members to vote freely on the issue. Cameron believes it is time to join other Western powers in bombing Islamic State militants in Syria, saying Britain could not "subcontract" its security to others after the group claimed responsibility for killing 130 people in Paris this month. By cal
  
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• Emphasis on the new in BBC One programming for Christmas

  30-11-2015 21:54
  
  BBC One will boast "more than 90%" of new programmes in peak time over Christmas, the acting director of television has announced.
  
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• Britain to hold vote on launching Syria air strikes on Wednesday

  30-11-2015 21:45
  
  Prime Minister David Cameron said he would hold a debate and vote in parliament on Wednesday to decide whether to launch air strikes against Islamic State in Syria. "I will be recommending to Cabinet tomorrow that we hold a debate and a vote in the House of Commons to extend the air strikes that we've carried out against ISIL in Iraq, that we extend that to Syria," he said in a televised statement.
  
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• Junior Doctors Suspend Strikes To Allow Talks

  30-11-2015 21:43
  
  Strike action by thousands of junior doctors has been suspended, the British Medical Association has said. Any industrial action by medics will now not go ahead before 13 January as long as fresh negotiations with the Department of Health are able to proceed. The Government has agreed to suspend its threat to enforce controversial new contracts as the talks take place.
  
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• PM Calls Syria Airstrikes Vote For Wednesday

  30-11-2015 21:40
  
  MPs will vote on airstrikes in Syria following a one-day debate on Wednesday, David Cameron has said.
  
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• David Cameron set to start countdown to air strikes in Syria

  30-11-2015 21:26
  
  David Cameron is to start the countdown to UK military action in Syria by telling Cabinet colleagues he is recommending a House of Commons vote on Wednesday on air strikes against the Islamic State terror group.
  
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• Police Probe As 'Fat' Cards Dished Out On Tube

  30-11-2015 21:17
  
  Police are investigating reports that female passengers on the Tube have been handed printed cards saying they are "fat" and "ugly". Kara Florish claimed she had been given one such a card and called it "hateful, cowardly and could potentially upset people struggling with their confidence". Ms Florish posted a couple of photos on social media of the note, with one picture containing the word "fat" in bold lettering.
  
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• Gene variations 'protect elderly from dementia'

  30-11-2015 21:00
  
  Humans have evolved unique genes that protect older adults against the ravages of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, research suggests.
  
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• Northern Irish abortion laws breach human rights - court

  30-11-2015 20:51
  
  By Ian Graham BELFAST (Reuters) - Northern Ireland's restrictive abortion laws are in breach of human rights by failing to provide exceptions in the case of fatal foetal abnormality and sexual crime, Belfast's High Court found in a landmark ruling on Monday. Unlike other parts of the United Kingdom, abortion is banned in Northern Ireland unless the life or mental health of the mother is in danger. After four months of deliberation, Judge Mark Horner upheld a challenge by the Northern Ireland Hum
  
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• Davis Cup hero Andy Murray in the frame for Sports Personality Of The Year

  30-11-2015 20:38
  
  Andy Murray made it a couple of days to remember as he backed up his team's historic Davis Cup victory with a nomination for the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year 2015.
  
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• Junior doctors shelve strike plans to allow further talks

  30-11-2015 20:19
  
  Strike action by thousands of junior doctors has been suspended so talks can continue, the Government and the British Medical Association (BMA) have announced.
  
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• World leaders make pleas for new deal to curb global warming

  30-11-2015 20:13
  
  More than 150 leaders have gathered for the United Nations climate talks in Paris with rallying calls to take action to secure a new deal to curb global warming.
  
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• What Persuaded PM To Seek Second Syria Vote?

  30-11-2015 19:45
  
  MPs are on the brink of deciding whether to back military action against Islamic State targets in Syria, with a vote possible within days.
  
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• Car In Fatal Crash Was Being Followed By Police

  30-11-2015 19:37
  
  Mary Laurie, who was reportedly returning home from her son's wedding in the Hackney cab, died at the scene of the crash on the Springhill Industrial Estate. The collision also involved a green Vauxhall Astra, which had been asked to pull over by police. Officers had turned on their blue lights and were following the Astra when it collided with the cab Mrs Laurie was travelling in at 1.30am on Sunday morning.
  
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• Labour to let its MPs vote with their consciences on Syria strikes

  30-11-2015 19:26
  
  By William James LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party said on Monday its MPs could vote according to their consciences on air strikes against militants in Syria, a move that may give Prime Minister David Cameron the parliamentary majority he needs. Cameron believes it is time to join other Western powers in bombing Islamic State, saying Britain could not subcontract its security to other countries after the militant group claimed responsibility for killing 130 people in Paris thi
  
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• Human rights claim over custody death of gingerbread man thief

  30-11-2015 19:18
  
  The family of a man who died in custody after stealing a gingerbread man from a looted bakery during the London riots have launched a High Court claim over his death.
  
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• Justin Bieber beats himself to top of singles charts

  30-11-2015 19:10
  
  Justin Bieber looks set to beat himself to number one on this week's UK Official Singles Chart.
  
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• Probe into Tory bullying claims to be conducted by law firm

  30-11-2015 18:57
  
  An investigation into alleged bullying in the Conservative Party's youth wing has been taken out of the hands of the party.
  
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• 'Potential Deal' To Call Off Doctor Strikes

  30-11-2015 18:52
  
  Junior doctors are considering a potential deal with the Government that would suspend tomorrow's strike. Speaking in Parliament, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that a "time-limited" agreement was reached this afternoon for further talks. This means the British Medical Association would suspend strike action if the Government agrees not to impose the new contracts on doctors.
  
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• Harry tells teenagers he did not enjoy Eton and wanted to be a bad boy

  30-11-2015 18:39
  
  Prince Harry may have gone to prestigious Eton where excellence is expected of its students but he has confessed he wanted to be the "bad boy" at school.
  
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• Harry calls for HIV awareness visits to young by African Premier League players

  30-11-2015 18:39
  
  Prince Harry has suggested African Premier League football stars should use their popularity to help fight the Aids problem among their young fans back home.
  
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• UK Black Friday online spend jumps 36 percent to 1.1 billion pounds - Experian-IMRG

  30-11-2015 18:35
  
  Britons spent 1.1 billion pounds shopping online on "Black Friday" last week, an increase of 36 percent on the previous year, according to an estimate published by retail researcher Experian-IMRG. The sales promotion day, a concept first imported from the United States in 2010, was much more of an online event this year compared to last as shoppers opted to use websites rather than visit physical stores. Online retailer Amazon UK, John Lewis [JLPLC.UL] [JLP.UL], Britain's biggest department stor
  
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• David Cameron set to make airstrikes statement after Labour MPs given free vote

  30-11-2015 18:33
  
  David Cameron is expected to make a statement this evening on the next steps on airstrikes in Syria, after Labour MPs were told they can vote with their consciences on military action.
  
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• 'Potential Deal' To Suspend Doctor Strikes

  30-11-2015 17:48
  
  Junior doctors are considering a potential deal with the Government that would suspend tomorrow's strike action. Speaking in Parliament, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that a "time-limited" agreement was made this afternoon for further talks. This means the British Medical Association would suspend strike action if the Government agreed not to impose the new contracts on doctors.
  
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• Labour MPs to get free vote on Syria air strikes

  30-11-2015 17:37
  
  Labour MPs are to be granted a free vote on air strikes against Islamic State (IS) in Syria, the party has confirmed.
  
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• Police Hunt 'Pandas' After Newsagents Robbed

  30-11-2015 17:25
  
  Police are chasing two men dressed as pandas after armed robbers targeted a newsagents.
  
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• 'Terror plot' accused told mother-in-law he was 'prepared to throw life away'

  30-11-2015 17:23
  
  A would-be suicide bomber accused of plotting an attack ahead of the 10th anniversary of 7/7 wrote that he was prepared to throw his life away because he could not bear to be parted from his "beloved" secret wife, a court heard.
  
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• Pilot 'lost situational awareness' before fatal helicopter crash

  30-11-2015 17:23
  
  A helicopter pilot did not deliberately breach air clearance rules but had lost situational awareness when he clipped a crane and caused a fatal crash, an inquest has heard.
  
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• 'Potential agreement' reached in bid to avert strike by junior doctors

  30-11-2015 17:21
  
  A "potential agreement" has been reached between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Government which could lead to strike action being suspended, the Health Secretary has said.
  
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• Petition to protect models from becoming dangerously thin

  30-11-2015 17:09
  
  Models Rosie Nelson and Hayley Hasselhoff are to take a petition for a law that would protect young models from being pressurised into becoming dangerously thin to 10 Downing Street.
  
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• Women Who Urinated In Front Of Praying Muslim Family Are Spared Jail

  30-11-2015 17:03
  
  'Nobody in civilised society could see your behaviour in any way justified or acceptable, not in the multi-cultural society in which we live.'
  
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• State dining room closed at Buckingham Palace over ceiling safety concerns

  30-11-2015 16:59
  
  Buckingham Palace's state dining room has been closed as a precautionary measure following concerns over the safety of its ceiling.
  
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• Dad Thanks 'Kindhearted' Bus Driver Who Returned Daughter's Purse To House

  30-11-2015 16:44
  
  'It was such a nice thing to do and he seemed like a really nice guy. I even offered him something to say thank you but he would not even accept that.'
  
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• Facebook in a flutter over St Andrew's Day flags

  30-11-2015 16:32
  
  Scottish Facebook users were left baffled when the social networking site offered them the chance to mark St Andrew's Day on their profile - with the flag of Romania.
  
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• Feminist makeover for no-nudes Pirelli calendar featuring women of substance

  30-11-2015 16:30
  
  Annie Leibovitz has struck a blow for feminism by putting clothed high-achieving women on the 2016 Pirelli calendar, breaking with the tradition of nudity associated with the product.
  
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• Facebook's St Andrew's Day Flag Muddle

  30-11-2015 16:22
  
  Scottish Facebook users were left baffled after they were offered the option to post a status update celebrating St Andrew's Day - featuring the flag of Romania. Facebook encourages users to update their status to show that they are celebrating national holidays and other events. But for several hours on Monday Scottish users could only mark their day with a status update featuring the red, yellow and blue Romanian flag.
  
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• FGM protection order issued to safeguard four sisters

  30-11-2015 16:19
  
  A female genital mutilation (FGM) protection order has been issued to safeguard four young sisters after fears were raised that one of them could be taken abroad to be cut.
  
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• Corbyn To Offer Free Vote On Syria Airstrikes

  30-11-2015 16:04
  
  Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will offer his MPs a free vote on airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria. A senior party source has confirmed that a free vote on extending RAF strikes against Islamic State targets will be offered, allowing Labour MPs to decide according to their conscience. It is understood Mr Corbyn will make clear that the party's official policy is to oppose military action, but he will not impose a whip ordering them to vote against.
  
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• Labour MPs 'to be offered free vote on Syria air strikes'

  30-11-2015 15:35
  
  Labour MPs are to be offered a free vote on David Cameron's proposals for air strikes against the Islamic State terror group in Syria.
  
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• Nigel Farage tells Oldham voters, 'let's take control of our country'

  30-11-2015 15:00
  
  Nigel Farage has told voters "let's get control of our country" as he continued his campaign to cause a major by-election shock.
  
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• Northern Ireland's abortion laws 'breach human rights'

  30-11-2015 14:59
  
  Northern Ireland's near blanket ban on abortion breaches human rights legislation, a High Court judge has said.
  
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• Cricketer Chris Cairns cleared of perjury after five years of 'hell'

  30-11-2015 14:51
  
  Former New Zealand cricket captain Chris Cairns has described the five-year battle to clear his name as "hell" that has left his reputation "burned".
  
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• N Ireland Abortion Law 'Breaches Human Rights'

  30-11-2015 14:48
  
  Northern Ireland's heavily restricted abortion laws could be relaxed after a judge found they were in breach of human rights legislation. Belfast High Court had heard a legal challenge from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, which argued that women should be given access to legal terminations in cases of incest, rape, or fatal foetal abnormality (FFA).
  
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• Labour Party says most members against air strikes in Syria

  30-11-2015 14:43
  
  Britain's opposition Labour Party said on Monday three-quarters of its members opposed bombing Islamic State militants in Syria, according to a sample of responses the party received over the weekend. Prime Minister David Cameron is hoping to win round some Labour lawmakers so he can gain parliamentary approval for joining air strikes against Islamic State in Syria, saying Britain could not subcontract its security to other countries. Labour is deeply divided over whether to back Cameron.
  
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• Cyber Monday sales up - but Black Friday still leads the way

  30-11-2015 14:43
  
  Cyber Monday traffic is up 9% on last year but is unlikely to beat Black Friday when shoppers shunned the high street to spend £1.1 billion online, according to experts.
  
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• Hatton Garden Raider 'Used Free Bus Pass'

  30-11-2015 14:39
  
  The oldest man involved in the Hatton Garden raid used another pensioner's bus pass to travel to the crime scene, a court has heard. Brian Reader, 76, took two free bus rides to London's jewellery quarter on 2 April – as a gang looted safety deposit boxes for valuables worth more than £14m. Detective Constable Matthew Hollands told Woolwich Crown Court that the Freedom Pass found in Reader's wallet belonged to a Mr T McCarthy.
  
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• UK Black Friday online spend jumps 36 percent to top 1 billion pounds - Experian-IMRG

  30-11-2015 14:24
  
  Britons spent 1.1 billion pounds shopping online on "Black Friday" last week, an increase of 36 percent on the previous year, according to an estimate published by retail researcher Experian-IMRG. Last year's Black Friday was marred by long queues and brawls in stores. At British stores, Black Friday shopper numbers fell 4 percent year-on-year, according to retail researcher Footfall.
  
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• Last-ditch talks continue to avoid strike by junior doctors

  30-11-2015 14:07
  
  A strike by thousands of junior doctors is looking increasingly likely as last-ditch talks continue to avoid a walkout.
  
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• Davis Cup hero Andy Murray laughs off talk of victory parade

  30-11-2015 14:07
  
  Andy Murray and his Davis Cup team-mates have dismissed the idea of a victory parade to mark their historic win, joking that no-one would turn up to see them.
  
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