General news

• Cuts 'could put 240,000 more homes at risk of floods'

  02-01-2016 23:47
  
  Spending cuts could leave 240,000 extra households facing a "significant risk" of flood damage within 20 years, ministers were told.
  
  Read more

• Iranian Protesters Ransack Saudi Embassy After Execution of Shiite Cleric - New York Times

  02-01-2016 23:39 via
  New York Times
  Iranian Protesters Ransack Saudi Embassy After Execution of Shiite Cleric
  New York Times
  Iranian protesters ransacked and set fire to part of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran on Saturday after Saudi Arabia executed an outspoken Shiite cleric who had criticized the kingdom's treatment of its Shiite minority.
  Saudi Arabia executes prominent Shiite cleric and 46 others in 12 citiesWashington Post
  Tehran demonstrators storm Saudi embassy after Shia cleric's executionCBC.ca
  Protests erupt
  

• UK flooding: Government faces calls to overhaul flood defences in showdown ... - The Independent

  02-01-2016 23:06 via
  The Independent
  UK flooding: Government faces calls to overhaul flood defences in showdown ...
  The Independent
  The UK's top flood-fighting organisations will tell the Government this week it must completely overhaul flood defences, planning and housing development to avoid a repeat of the devastating scenes in Cumbria and Yorkshire. The National Flood Forum has ...
  Cameron promises £40m to fix UK flood defencesFinancial Times
  United Kingdom government to send more troops to tackle fl
  

• Police play down retail park shooting as 'isolated incident'

  02-01-2016 22:42
  
  A shooting which left the windows blown out of a car outside a McDonalds was an "isolated incident", police have said.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Doctors operate on Qld shark attack victim - Sky News Australia

  02-01-2016 22:10 via
  Sky News Australia
  Doctors operate on Qld shark attack victim
  Sky News Australia
  Doctors are trying to save a man's limbs after he was mauled by a shark while spear-fishing off central Queensland. The 31-year-old man is being treated in Rockhampton for bites to his hands and arms following the attack near Miall Island, off Yeppoon ...
  Pictured: The man, 31, left fighting for his life in hospital after he was ...Daily Mail
  Man survives gruesome shark attack by punching beast 'several times'Mirro
  

• Pathankot attack: 5 heavily armed Pakistani terrorists, 3 jawans killed; Pak ... - Firstpost

  02-01-2016 21:35 via
  Firstpost
  Pathankot attack: 5 heavily armed Pakistani terrorists, 3 jawans killed; Pak ...
  Firstpost
  Heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists today carried out a pre-dawn strike at the Air Force base here, triggering a fierce gunbattle in which three securitymen and five infiltrators were killed, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise stopover ...
  Punjab strike subjects Modi's Pak policy to political pressure testTimes of India
  Indian airbase in Pathankot attackedThe News International
  Te
  

• Owner saves drivers' bacon after pigs invade A21 again

  02-01-2016 21:35
  Escaped pigs have closed a major main road for the second time in four days.
  
  Read more

• Iraq veterans 'may face war-crimes prosecutions' - Herald Scotland

  02-01-2016 20:40 via
  Herald Scotland
  Iraq veterans 'may face war-crimes prosecutions'
  Herald Scotland
  Iraq War veterans may face prosecution for crimes including murder following a probe into allegations of torture and unlawful killing, the head of the unit investigating the claims has said. Mark Warwick said there were "lots of significant cases" and ...and more »
  

• Advertisement

• Heavy Rain Puts Flood Hit Communities On Alert

  02-01-2016 20:33
  
  Flood warnings are in place across the UK with eastern parts of Scotland expected to be worst hit by torrential rain in the coming days. On Saturday evening, there were more than 30 flood warnings in place across the UK and more than 80 alerts. In Aberdeenshire, 500 giant sandbags have been put in place to try and prevent a repeat of the recent flooding which inundated homes in Ballater.
  
  Read more

• Watford 1 Manchester City 2: Aguero completes late comeback as City keep heat ... - Evening Standard

  02-01-2016 20:26 via
  Evening Standard
  Watford 1 Manchester City 2: Aguero completes late comeback as City keep heat ...
  Evening Standard
  Manchester City rescued their Barclays Premier League title hopes with a late comeback in a 2-1 victory at Watford. On an afternoon when wins for rivals Arsenal and Manchester United made a positive result even more crucial, Aleksandar Kolarov's own ...
  Manuel Pellegrini says risk brought Manchester City reward at WatfordThe Guardian
  Manuel pellegrini believes manchester metropoli
  

• UK must make communities more resilient during floods - Environment Agency chief

  02-01-2016 19:37
  
  Higher defences will not be enough on their own to deal with flooding, the Environment Agency's chief executive said as parts of the UK braced themselves for more heavy rain.
  
  Read more

• Travellers urged to go to Hull with nods for Wales and Scotland's Western Isles

  02-01-2016 19:20
  Hull, Wales and Scotland's Western Isles have been named among the Rough Guides' top places for tourists to visit this year.
  
  Read more

• Sherlock sniffs out 8.4m viewers for Christmas special

  02-01-2016 19:20
  TV drama Sherlock attracted 8.4 million viewers, the highest overnight audience of the festive season across all channels with the exception of the New Year's Eve fireworks on BBC One, which was watched by more than 12 million, the BBC said.
  
  Read more

• Tribute to 'brilliant' graduate killed in collision with van

  02-01-2016 18:10
  A "brilliant" university graduate who was killed when he was hit by a van has been named by police.
  
  Read more

• Plans to hit litterbugs with fines of up to £150 - Herald Scotland

  02-01-2016 17:37 via
  Herald Scotland
  Plans to hit litterbugs with fines of up to £150
  Herald Scotland
  Fines for dropping rubbish are set to rise to £150 under plans to hit litter louts "in the pocket". Ministers are preparing to publish a strategy that will "create a lasting clutter-free legacy for England". It comes as campaigners leading a nationwide ...and more »
  

• Top 10 Cities: Reykjavik, Seoul And... Hull

  02-01-2016 17:23
  Hull has been named as one of the top 10 cities in the world to visit in 2016, alongside destinations such as Reykjavik, Mexico City and Seoul.
  
  Read more

• Shots Fired At Vehicle In McDonald's Car Park

  02-01-2016 15:46
  
  Two people have been arrested after shots were fired at a vehicle in the car park of a McDonald's restaurant in Hull. The blue Volkswagen Golf had two people inside when it was shot at outside the fast food outlet at the city's St Andrews Quay. The pair were not hurt but the windows of the car were blown out by the shots, Humberside Police said.
  
  Read more

• Two arrested after shooting in McDonald's car park

  02-01-2016 15:30
  
  Two people have been arrested after a shooting in a McDonald's car park.
  
  Read more

• Tributes to 'happy lad' who died after being mauled by dog

  02-01-2016 15:04
  
  The family of a man who died after he was attacked by his dog whilst suffering an epileptic fit have paid tribute to a "happy lad who was always smiling".
  
  Read more

• Probe after 'homophobic abuse aimed at drag queen' on London Underground

  02-01-2016 15:04
  An incident in which a man was caught on camera appearing to carry out a homophobic rant at a Tube passenger is being investigated by police.
  
  Read more

• Police safety pledge after Facebook death threats against school

  02-01-2016 15:04
  Police have promised to ensure the safety of everybody at a school which has been threatened on social media.
  
  Read more

• Anti-ISIS group claims cyber-attack on BBC, says was only a test

  02-01-2016 14:58
  A group of computer hackers that wants to target Islamic State has claimed it was behind a cyber attack on the BBC which it intended as a test of its own capabilities, according to messages sent to a reporter at the broadcaster on Saturday. "It was only a test, we didn't exactly plan to take it down for multiple hours," the group called New World Hackers said in a message sent to the BBC's technology correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones, which he posted on Twitter. "We realise sometimes what we do i
  
  Read more

• Teenager Abby floored by lung infection after face swelled up

  02-01-2016 14:09
  A teenage girl has spoken of her shock after a cough led to a catastrophic lung infection, causing her entire face to swell up and leaving her struggling to breathe.
  
  Read more

• Saudi Arabia condemned after executing dozens of prisoners

  02-01-2016 14:09
  Saudi Arabia has been condemned after executing dozens of prisoners, including a cleric who was a prominent figure in the Arab Spring protests against the country's monarchy.
  
  Read more

• Coming back after a baby 'the hardest thing I've done' says Jessica Ennis-Hill

  02-01-2016 14:09
  Jessica Ennis-Hill has described getting back to competitive track-and-field athletics after she gave birth to her son as "the hardest thing I've ever done".
  
  Read more

• Man Was Having Fit When Mauled To Death By Dog

  02-01-2016 13:37
  
  Liam Hewitson was having an epileptic fit when he was attacked and sustained significant injuries to his face and neck, say police. The dog, a male which was a pit-bull cross and not a banned breed, had belonged to Mr Hewitson since birth and was called Trigger. Mr Hewitson's family said in a statement: "Liam was a happy lad who was always smiling and had lots of friends.
  
  Read more

• X Factor host Caroline Flack 'cried after first live Sunday night show'

  02-01-2016 12:55
  X Factor host Caroline Flack says she cried after the first live Sunday night show - and her life is "like a sad film".
  
  Read more

• Boy George back on The Voice and 'getting there' with rebuilding his career

  02-01-2016 12:55
  Boy George, who will be back in the spotlight as a new judge on The Voice, has said he is "getting there" in attempts to rebuild his career in the UK.
  
  Read more

• Hackers 'target Islamic State on BBC website'

  02-01-2016 12:13
  
  The BBC website has been hit by hackers who claim they launched the cyber attack in an attempt to thwart potential online propaganda from Islamic State.
  
  Read more

• Teenager 'dies after falling in harbour after New Year celebrations'

  02-01-2016 12:05
  A teenager is believed to have died after falling in to a harbour following New Year celebrations , police said.
  
  Read more

• Elephant fossil dating back 100,000 years found on Isle of Wight

  02-01-2016 12:05
  A fossil from an extinct species of elephant dating back 100,000 years has been discovered on the Isle of Wight.
  
  Read more

• Tennis superstar Serena Williams says she has learned to love her curves

  02-01-2016 11:42
  
  Tennis superstar Serena Williams says she has learned to love her curves, despite years of criticism and the risks and difficulty of playing sport with large breasts.
  
  Read more

• London Travellers Go Free Due To Oyster Glitch

  02-01-2016 11:39
  
  Passengers in London travelled for free for several hours due to a technical glitch with the Oyster card system. People were unable to use their plastic smartcards as the system could not read them on the tube, bus and rail network. Transport for London (TfL) later said the problem had been resolved.
  
  Read more

• Former spy chief 'alarmed' by lack of alertness to terror attack dangers

  02-01-2016 11:06
  A former spy chief has said she is "alarmed" by the number of people using mobile phones and listening to music when they should be more alert to the danger of a potential terror attack on the streets.
  
  Read more

• Higher defences 'not enough to deal with floods' says Environment Agency chief

  02-01-2016 11:05
  Higher defences will not be enough on their own to deal with flooding and people and communities should be helped to become more resilient when homes and businesses are inundated, the Environment Agency's chief executive said.
  
  Read more

• Boy, 16, Critical After Moped Stabbing Attack

  02-01-2016 10:44
  A 16-year-old boy is in a critical condition after he and another teenager were stabbed by people riding on mopeds. Both boys were taken to hospital with stab wounds to their torsos after the attack, which happened in Mountearl Gardens in Streatham, south London. Police believe the boys were approached by two mopeds, each with a rider and passenger on board.
  
  Read more

• Looters branded 'scum' after disabled man's bike stolen from flooded home

  02-01-2016 10:11
  
  A pensioner has branded looters "scum" after her disabled son's mountain bike was stolen from their flooded home.
  
  Read more

• Engineers hold key to world's challenges says Duke of Edinburgh

  02-01-2016 10:11
  
  The Duke of Edinburgh believes engineers hold the key to meeting the challenges of the world's growing population and it was "curious" there is not a Nobel Prize for the discipline.
  
  Read more

• Boy, 16, critical after being stabbed by knifemen on mopeds

  02-01-2016 09:23
  A 16-year-old boy is in a critical condition in hospital after he and another teenager were stabbed by knifemen on mopeds.
  
  Read more

• Sian Blake: Former EastEnders Actress Missing

  02-01-2016 09:15
  
  Sian Blake, 43, who played Frankie Pierre in the soap, went missing from Erith, Kent . She was last seen on Sunday 13 December in Waltham Forest, east London, with eight-year-old Zachary and four-year-old Amon. Officers believe they are still in the London area - but Ms Blake also has links to Cambridge and Colchester.
  
  Read more

• Oyster card glitch gives free travel in London

  02-01-2016 09:08
  A technical glitch has meant that passengers travelled for free in London today.
  
  Read more

• Alcoholic drinks 'should have calorie labelling'

  02-01-2016 06:59
  Alcoholic drinks should have calorie counts on their packaging to help fight obesity, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.
  
  Read more

• UK Soldiers May Face Iraq War Crime Charges

  02-01-2016 06:05
  British veterans of the Iraq War could face prosecution for crimes including murder, the head of a team examining potential torture and unlawful killing during the conflict has said. Mark Warwick, who leads the Government-established Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT), has told The Independent there are "lots of significant cases" where there is substantial evidence for the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) to press charges.
  
  Read more

• Calorie Labels On Alcohol Products 'Are Needed'

  02-01-2016 06:05
  
  Calorie labels should be introduced on bottles and cans of alcohol, the Local Government Association has said - amid warnings that drinkers have little idea about how many calories they are consuming during a night out. The organisation, which represents 370 councils and deals with public health issues, believes drinkers are ill-educated on the health effects of alcohol. Although many Britons are aware that the long-term consequences of drinking include liver damage and an increased risk of canc
  
  Read more

• 'Ex-EastEnders actress' missing with children

  02-01-2016 03:59
  Concern is growing for a woman who reportedly starred in EastEnders, after she disappeared with her two young children.
  
  Read more

• Cheating students pose university challenge

  02-01-2016 03:11
  Nearly 50,000 university students have been caught cheating in the last three years, according to new figures.
  
  Read more

• Experts Warn Of Injuries From Extreme Sports

  02-01-2016 02:34
  The drive to take on tough physical challenges is pushing competitors to ignore persistent pain and risk long-term injury, according to health experts. But physiotherapists like Roger Kerry are seeing an increase in long-term injuries caused by those who believe in the concept of "no pain no gain". But Seon Stanton, an entrant in the Dirty, Rotten, Scramble mud and obstacle race in Kent, says the whole point is to "push yourself beyond your limits".
  
  Read more

• Rail Fares 'Divorced From Reality' After Rise

  02-01-2016 02:23
  
  Train fares across England, Wales and Scotland go up by an average of 1.1% from today, sending some long-distance annual season tickets above £10,000 for the first time. Calculations by the Labour Party suggest commuters are now paying 25% more for season tickets than they did when David Cameron took office in 2010 - prompting Jeremy Corbyn to renew his calls for the railway network to be brought back into public hands. Network Rail figures suggest 10.7% of trains arrived at their destinat
  
  Read more

• NatWest customers lash out over debit cards glitch

  02-01-2016 01:33
  
  Angry NatWest customers vented their frustrations through the night as they reported being unable to use their debit cards in shops and having their PINs blocked.
  
  Read more

• Social media addiction feared by its users, says survey

  02-01-2016 01:28
  Almost half of people fear they are addicted to social media, with many trying but failing to stop using it, a new study has shown.
  
  Read more

Follow @GeneralnewsUK on Twitter!