General news

• Military Sent In To Battle Christmas Floods

  23-12-2015 23:41
  
  Armed Forces are on stand-by for a Christmas flooding crisis as the North braces for more severe weather. Seven hundred Environment Agency staff and military personnel are being deployed as flood warnings have been issued in the North and Scotland for late Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The Army is preparing to bolster flood defences in Cumbria and will be out putting sandbags in place on Christmas Eve in preparation for Storm Eva.
  
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• Murder probe after death of man who was attacked

  23-12-2015 22:21
  A murder investigation has been launched after a man who was attacked later died.
  
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• Cameron's office to probe why British Muslim family barred from U.S.

  23-12-2015 21:40
  Prime Minister David Cameron's office said on Wednesday it was looking into the case of a family of 11 British Muslims who were refused permission to board a flight from London to Los Angeles to visit Disneyland. The family of two adults and nine children were told by a U.S. official that their right to travel had been revoked as they waited in the departure lounge of Gatwick airport last Tuesday. The source declined to offer further information about the identity of the family member who was ba
  
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• Driver killed woman by knocking her down and twice running her over

  23-12-2015 20:49
  A novice driver who knocked down and killed a grandmother having twice run her over will serve five years behind bars.
  
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• Brave Emma, three, receives award after 999 call saves her pregnant mother

  23-12-2015 20:34
  A three-year-old girl has received a bravery award for calling 999 when her heavily pregnant mother fell down the stairs.
  
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• Journalist attacked at home praised as 'brilliant and fearless'

  23-12-2015 20:28
  An investigative journalist who was attacked in his home has been described as "a brilliant and fearless reporter".
  
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• Nurses' Christmas presents stolen from London hospital

  23-12-2015 20:27
  Christmas presents bought for nurses have been stolen from one of London's busiest hospitals.
  
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• Man arrested as police probe murder of sex worker, 21

  23-12-2015 20:14
  
  A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of a 21-year-old woman found unconscious with serious injuries.
  
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• PM's office to probe case of British Muslim family barred from U.S.

  23-12-2015 19:55
  Prime Minister David Cameron's office said on Wednesday it was looking into the case of a family of 11 British Muslims who were refused permission to board a flight from London to Los Angeles to visit Disneyland. The family of two adults and nine children were told by a U.S. official that their right to travel had been revoked as they waited in the departure lounge of Gatwick airport last Tuesday. Lawmaker Stella Creasy, who represents the north London area where the family lives, said she had a
  
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• Toddler Saves Pregnant Mum With 999 Call

  23-12-2015 19:32
  
  Emma, whose surname has not been disclosed, told the call handler that her mother, Catherine, had banged her head but was not bleeding. However, the fall, in which Catherine had landed on her stomach, had triggered an early labour. Emma managed to keep talking during the 11-minute call, even checking the door was unlocked, until the ambulance crew arrived.
  
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• Scotland's Minimum Booze Price Plan Falters

  23-12-2015 19:08
  
  The Scottish Government's bid to impose a minimum price for alcohol could breach EU guidelines, according to the European Court of Justice. It said the plan to charge 50 pence per unit of alcohol would be contrary to EU rules if there were other options and urged Holyrood to consider alternative tax measures instead. The Scottish Whisky Association had challenged the move, arguing that it would drastically increase the cost of most blends and distort the market.
  
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• Van Gaal Storms Out Of Man Utd Press Conference

  23-12-2015 18:30
  
  Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has stormed out of a news conference after questions about his future at the club. The Dutchman has been surrounded by rumours this week that he could be sacked as United manager and replaced by Jose Mourinho, who lost his job at Chelsea last Thursday. Five minutes into his weekly news conference, Van Gaal refused to take any more questions and walked out, telling journalists: "I wish you a merry Christmas and also maybe a happy New Year when I see you.
  
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• Stephen Fry brands Little Mix's Love Me Like You 'hideous, toxic'

  23-12-2015 18:07
  Stephen Fry has called Little Mix top 20 hit Love Me Like You "a hideous, toxic compound".
  
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• Doggone it! Time to show respect to our canine friend, say viewers

  23-12-2015 18:06
  A spaniel named Daniel has caused quite a stir after appearing as a "guest" on BBC News.
  
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• Manor formerly owned by Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page largely destroyed in fire

  23-12-2015 18:05
  A Scottish manor once owned by Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and occultist Aleister Crowley has been largely destroyed by a fire.
  
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• Help to Work branded 'cruel joke' after unemployed claimants fail to secure work

  23-12-2015 17:52
  Welfare reforms to help the long-term unemployed into work have been branded a "failure" after most participants ended up without a job.
  
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• Bieber Urges Fans To Buy NHS Choir Single

  23-12-2015 17:34
  
  Justin Bieber has called on his Beliebers to do the unthinkable and help get a rival single to the UK Christmas Number One spot. Bieber tweeted: "I'm hearing this UK Christmas race is close... but the @Choir--NHS single is for charity. Bieber added: "This is what it's all about.
  
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• Jeremy Corbyn Will Not Give Christmas Message

  23-12-2015 17:33
  Jeremy Corbyn will not release a Christmas message this year, Labour has confirmed. The Labour leader has been accused of "cancelling Christmas" by a Conservative MP after deciding to break with tradition and ditch the festive address. Ed Miliband gave a Christmas Eve message in both 2013 and 2014, last year paying tribute to volunteers who gave up their time to serve local communities.
  
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• Afghans call for Nato aid as Taliban claim capture of Sangin

  23-12-2015 17:32
  
  Afghan commanders have appealed for more Nato support amid reports that government forces have lost control of the key strategic town of Sangin to the Taliban.
  
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• 'No-one else involved' in Sheffield student's death

  23-12-2015 17:11
  
  Police have said that no-one else was involved in the death of student Caroline Everest.
  
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• Man Dressed As Santa Robs KFC Armed With Knife

  23-12-2015 17:05
  
  Police are trying to track down a man who stole cash from KFC while dressed as Santa.
  
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• Justin Bieber urges fans to buy NHS Choir single in Christmas Number One race

  23-12-2015 17:05
  
  Justin Bieber does not want to be Christmas Number One - and has called on his followers to support the NHS Choir's charity single instead.
  
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• Murder Arrest After Sex Worker, 21, Found Dead

  23-12-2015 16:27
  
  A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder over the death of a young woman who was found with serious injuries. The 21-year-old victim, a sex worker, was pronounced dead in Leeds General Infirmary after being discovered unconscious by police. Detective Simon Atkinson said a 38-year-old man had been detained.
  
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• Video: Drink Driver Crashes Into Traffic Island

  23-12-2015 16:03
  
  A woman who crashed her car into a pedestrian island while twice the drink drive limit has been disqualified.
  
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• Man held in sex worker murder probe

  23-12-2015 15:16
  
  A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of a 21-year-old woman who was found unconscious with serious injuries.
  
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• Poor Pre-Christmas Sales Spark Game Slump

  23-12-2015 14:55
  
  Shares in video games retailer Game Digital plunged 40% after it said sales had slumped and the start of the school Christmas holidays had failed to spark a revival in its fortunes. It was squeezed by a slower-than-expected switch to games for new Xbox One and PlayStation 4 formats while at the same time the market for old format games was declining more quickly than had been anticipated. It said total sales for the UK video games market in the 21 weeks to 19 December were down 13.5%.
  
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• UK sending new £30m aid package to help Ethiopia drought crisis

  23-12-2015 14:54
  A £30 million emergency aid package is being sent to Ethiopia as the country faces a drought on a similar scale to the 1980s natural disaster that killed more than a million people.
  
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• High street set for busiest day amid Christmas rush

  23-12-2015 14:54
  
  The high street is set to experience its busiest day of the year as shoppers stock up on last-minute Christmas gifts and provisions.
  
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• Flood-hit Cumbria braced for more rain from Storm Eva

  23-12-2015 14:54
  
  Flood-hit locals in Cumbria are clearing up after the second deluge in three weeks as they await further heavy rain in the run-up to Christmas Day.
  
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• Refund for 93-year-old hit by £23,000 bank card distraction theft

  23-12-2015 14:51
  The 93-year-old victim of a distraction theft has had the £23,000 stolen from him refunded by his bank.
  
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• Parents facing 'nightmare' wait for answers over daughter's death

  23-12-2015 14:51
  The grieving family of student Caroline Everest have said they are living out "every parent's nightmare" as they wait to find answers about how their "treasured, perfect daughter" was killed.
  
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• Man arrested in extremist Islamist terrorism probe

  23-12-2015 14:51
  Detectives investigating extremist Islamist terrorism have arrested a 31-year-old man.
  
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• Justin Bieber and NHS Choir neck-and-neck in Christmas Number One race

  23-12-2015 14:51
  Justin Bieber and the NHS Choir are almost neck-and-neck in the race for the Christmas Number One - with just two days to go.
  
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• Five major investment banks paid no UK corporation tax last year, report finds

  23-12-2015 14:51
  Five of the largest investment banks in the country paid no corporation tax last year despite booking billions of pounds in profits, according to a report.
  
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• Slowing UK growth leaves Bank of England unhurried on rates

  23-12-2015 14:38
  
  LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's economic growth has slowed markedly, according to data on Wednesday that supports expectations the Bank of England will not raise record low interest rates any time soon.
  
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• Rival camps claim victory over minimum alcohol price ruling

  23-12-2015 14:13
  
  Opponents and supporters of minimum alcohol pricing in Scotland have claimed victory after a court ruled the plan would breach European Union (EU) law if alternative tax measures could be introduced.
  
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• Blow For Osborne As UK Growth Revised Down

  23-12-2015 14:02
  
  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) now believes gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by just 0.4% in the the third quarter, down from a previous estimate of 0.5%. It is a fresh blow to Chancellor George Osborne, a day after it was revealed that borrowing - excluding the effect of bank bailouts - rose to £14.2bn in November, £1.3bn up on the same month last year. The figures add to the likelihood that a rise in UK interest rates from the historic low of 0.5% still looks some wa
  
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• Star Wars Actor 'Among Last To See Damilola'

  23-12-2015 13:45
  
  Star Wars actor John Boyega was one of the last people to see Damilola Taylor alive, the schoolboy's father has revealed. Richard Taylor said Boyega, who plays ex-stormtrooper Finn in The Force Awakens, and his sister Grace were with his 10-year-old son shortly before he was stabbed in Peckham, southeast London, in November 2000. Mr Taylor told the Daily Mirror: "Damilola and John and Grace were so close.
  
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• UK police arrest man 'linked to extremist Islamist terrorism'

  23-12-2015 13:37
  
  LONDON (Reuters) - British police said on Wednesday they had detained a man in London in an arrest "linked to extremist Islamist terrorism".
  
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• Five Banking Giants Paid No Corporation Tax

  23-12-2015 13:31
  JP Morgan, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank, Nomura and Morgan Stanley were among seven major international firms that used tax breaks and losses generated during the financial crisis to reduce their tax bills. The seven banks, also including Goldman Sachs and UBS, paid a total of £21m in corporation tax in the UK on combined revenues of $31bn (£21bn) and profits of $5.3bn (£3.6bn). Some of the banks paid no tax because they reported losses in London while repo
  
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• Pair accused of murdering British backpackers 'confident' over court verdict

  23-12-2015 13:09
  Two men who could face the death penalty for the murders of a pair of British backpackers in Thailand are "confident" they will be acquitted as they prepare to learn their fate on Christmas Eve, their legal team has said.
  
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• Beckhams make more than £60,000 a day in profits

  23-12-2015 13:09
  David and Victoria Beckham made £61,644 a day in profits in 2014, new figures show.
  
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• Weak growth figures hit economic recovery hopes

  23-12-2015 12:44
  
  Britain's economic recovery has been running out of steam as shock revisions to official figures showed growth was weaker than previously thought for much of 2015.
  
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• Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Terror Offences

  23-12-2015 12:43
  
  A man has been arrested on suspicion of being involved in terrorist offences linked to Islamist extremism, Scotland Yard has said.
  
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• VIDEO: Review 2015: The year in politics

  23-12-2015 12:39 via bbc.co.uk
  
  From the Conservative victory in the general election, to Jeremy Corbyn’s appointment as Labour leader, Adam Fleming looks back at the big political events of the year.
  
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• Motorists warned 'expect heavy traffic' despite roadworks removal scheme

  23-12-2015 12:35
  
  Millions of Britons are embarking on the annual festive getaway to be with friends and family over Christmas.
  
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• Beatles fans have ticket to stream Fab Four's music from Christmas Eve

  23-12-2015 12:28
  
  The Beatles' back catalogue of music will launch on a range of streaming services on Christmas Eve.
  
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• Hague warns that leaving EU could mean UK breaks up too

  23-12-2015 12:24
  By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - The United Kingdom could break up, with Scotland going its own way, if Britons vote to leave the European Union, a longstanding EU critic and former Conservative leader warned on Wednesday, saying as a result he was likely to vote to stay in. The comments from William Hague, who once campaigned vigorously to keep Britain out of the euro zone, followed hard on the heels of a similar warning against "Brexit" from the EU by former Conservative prime minister Joh
  
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• Tina Malone calls for more weight-loss surgery on the NHS

  23-12-2015 12:05
  Shameless star Tina Malone has said weight-loss surgery should be more readily available on the NHS.
  
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• Reinforcements backing Afghan troops in battle for Sangin

  23-12-2015 12:05
  Military reinforcements are backing up local forces besieged by the Taliban in Sangin, the Afghanistan government has confirmed.
  
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