General news

• Troubled Jekyll and Hyde 'will not return for second series'

  05-01-2016 23:57
  
  The ITV remake of Jekyll and Hyde will not be returning for a second series, its creator has confirmed.
  
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• Man charged with aiding escape attempt

  05-01-2016 23:27
  
  Izzet Eren joins four other men facing charges for conspiracy to aid escape of two menA man has been charged with conspiracy to escape lawful custody and possession of an imitation firearm.Izzet Eren, 32, will appear in custody at Bromley magistrates court on 3 February. The firearms charge alleges that he intended to commit an indictable offence. Continue reading...
  
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• Police search for camper after bags washed up by river Dee, Aberdeenshire

  05-01-2016 23:05
  
  Fears grow for Terence Kilbride, 48, who was reported missing on Monday, as flood-stricken communities remain on high alert across Scotland
  Police divers are searching the river Dee in Aberdeenshire for a missing camper after two bags containing his belongings were washed up beside the river on Saturday.Terence Kilbride, 48, from Warrington, is thought to have been camping in the area and was reported missing on Monday. Continue reading...
  
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• Mark Cavendish aims for Rio gold and Tour de France in packed schedule for 2016

  05-01-2016 23:00
  
  • Cavendish wants a first Olympic gold medal
  • Busy calendar year includes Tour de FranceClearly, age has not lessened Mark Cavendish’s ambitions. A first spell in the yellow jersey of the Tour de France and an Olympic gold medal head his hitlist for 2016 – both targets that have proved elusive in the past – while he will also aim to win fresh rainbow jerseys at the track and world championships. It will be a massive juggling act but true to form Cavendish seems almos
  
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• Jordon Ibe gives Liverpool advantage against Stoke in Capital One Cup

  05-01-2016 22:59
  
  Perhaps the greatest compliment that can be paid to the way Liverpool set about this tie is that in the closing stages Stoke City had abandoned all the deft soft-touch football for which they would like to be renowned and gone back to aiming long, hopeful balls up to Peter Crouch. There was no way through and Jürgen Klopp’s team deserve their lead after subduing a side that has already beaten Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City on this ground this season.Stoke certainly cho
  
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• Stoke City v Liverpool: Capital One Cup, semi-final first leg – as it happened

  05-01-2016 22:54
  
  Injury-ravaged Liverpool take a lead into the second leg thanks to Jordan Ibe’s goal and a resolute display by makeshift centre-back pairing Kolo Toure and Lucas. 9.54pm GMTThere’s enough time for Walters to chase a Crouch flick on. He’s clear in the area, albeit well to the left of goal, and drags a poor effort across Mignolet and out of play on the right. And that’s that. Stoke were much improved in that second half, but Liverpool were the better side overall. A deserve
  
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• Cruel twists on the way as Celebrity Big Brother begins

  05-01-2016 22:53
  Gemma Collins was the first star to enter the Celebrity Big Brother house as the latest series kicked off with a cruel twist for the contestants.
  
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• Unhappy new year for Coca-Cola as it upsets first Russia, then Ukraine

  05-01-2016 22:48
  
  Both countries left fizzing with indignation over seasonal message with controversial map that did, then didn’t, include Crimea All Coca-Cola wanted to do was to wish consumers a happy new year, but instead it ended up stirring anger in two markets, Russia and Ukraine, over the disputed territory of Crimea.The Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula was annexed by Moscow in March 2014 and remains a trigger issue in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis today.Continue reading...
  
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• Minister defends UK's approach to Saudi human rights record

  05-01-2016 22:40
  
  Tobias Ellwood says ‘change cannot happen overnight’ in Saudi Arabia and freedom there ‘needs to move at a pace acceptable to its society’Saudi Arabia’s attitude to human rights cannot be changed overnight, the government’s minister for the Middle East has claimed, arguing that any progress would need to “move at a pace that is acceptable to [the country’s] society”.Tobias Ellwood, who is parliamentary under-secretary of state for foreign and
  
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• Tearful Obama tightens gun control and tells inactive Congress: 'We can't wait'

  05-01-2016 22:39
  
  President expands background checks for online sellers and gun shows and calls on Congress to expand funding for mental health treatment and gun researchA tear-stained Barack Obama marked his final year in office with a last-ditch call for US gun control on Tuesday as he outlined new rules that will close important background check loopholes but leave much of the political heavy lifting to his successor.In a much-anticipated speech that focused more on what still needed to be done than the limit
  
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• MPs to debate petition seeking ban on Trump, no vote planned

  05-01-2016 22:38
  MPs are to hold a debate on a petition signed by more than half a million people calling for U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to be barred from Britain after his proposal to stop Muslims entering the United States. The debate, called by the Petitions Committee of the lower house of parliament, will be held on Jan. 18 but will not be followed by a vote. The British government responds to all petitions that gain more than 10,000 signatures and topics are considered for parliamen
  
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• 75% of staff fired from Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã stadium ahead of Olympics

  05-01-2016 22:38
  
  The stadium is to be used for up to nine months by 2016 Olympic games organizers, who are bringing in their own workers for that periodAdministrators of Rio de Janeiro’s legendary Maracanã stadium have fired 75% of the arena’s staff eight months before the 2016 Olympics.The consortium formed by construction company Odebrecht SA and entertainment group AEG said in a statement late on Monday that 40 people were laid off. Continue reading...
  
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• Eurosceptics force Cameron to give ministers free rein on EU referendum

  05-01-2016 22:15
  
  Chris Grayling and Theresa Villiers understood to have argued for collective cabinet responsibility to be suspended as PM continues EU negotiations
  David Cameron was forced to announce early that ministers will be given free rein to campaign on either side in the EU referendum after a manoeuvre by hardline Eurosceptic cabinet ministers.Chris Grayling and Theresa Villiers, who are planning to join Iain Duncan Smith in campaigning to leave the EU, told the prime minister on Monday that he should c
  
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• UN peacekeepers in Central African Republic face fresh abuse claims

  05-01-2016 22:07
  
  United Nations says it is investigating new allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse of four underage girls by soldiers serving under UN flag in Bangui UN peacekeepers are facing new allegations of sexual abuse in the Central African Republic involving four young girls, according to the UN spokesman.The UN mission in Bangui received the claims on Monday and has asked three countries whose troops were allegedly involved in the misconduct to investigate. Continue reading...
  
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• Britain raised human rights concerns with Saudi Arabia - minister

  05-01-2016 21:50
  Britain has raised its concerns about human rights in Saudi Arabia with authorities there following the execution of 47 men including a prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric, a Foreign Office minister said on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia's execution of Nimr al-Nimr has angered Shi'ites across the Middle East and caused a major diplomatic row between mainly Shi'ite Iran and Saudi Arabia's conservative Sunni monarchy. "The UK’s close relationship with Saudi Arabia does not mean that we shy away from rais
  
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• Flooded School Bus Sank 'Like The Titanic'

  05-01-2016 21:45
  
  School children burst into tears as their school bus floated into a ditch and sank in flood water on the first day back to school. One pupil told Sky News it was "like the Titanic" and said soaking wet children started smashing the bus windows after being stranded in the water. Grace Abbott, 15, said passengers had pleaded with the driver not to try to go through the flood, which has blocked the road between Newton on Ouse and Tollerton near York since before Christmas.
  
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• Floods hit 16,000 properties in wettest December in a century, MPs told

  05-01-2016 21:38
  
  Environment minister Liz Truss defends response to disaster as Labour claims government is underestimating risk
  About 16,000 properties were flooded in England last month during the wettest December in a century, the environment minister has said.Approximately 9,000 properties were flooded on Boxing Day in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, Liz Truss, the environment secretary, told parliament on Tuesday. Earlier in December, 7,000 homes and businesses in Cumbria were affected by reco
  
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• Member of US special forces killed and two injured in Afghanistan operation

  05-01-2016 21:32
  
  Hours-long gun battle with Taliban occurred in Helmand province
  Pentagon insists US forces were not on combat missionAn hours-long gun battle in southern Afghanistan has left one elite US service member dead and two others injured, although the Pentagon insisted that its personnel were not involved in a “combat” mission.Details remained uncertain about the Monday battle in Marja, in the southern province of Helmand, which has re-emerged as a battleground between Taliban forces and th
  
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• Police hunting boyfriend after bodies found at ex-EastEnders star's home

  05-01-2016 21:22
  
  Murder squad detectives are searching for the boyfriend of an ex-EastEnders actress after three bodies were found by police looking for the performer and her two children.
  
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• The party leaders can’t even pretend they are in charge | Steve Richards

  05-01-2016 21:21
  
  Neither Jeremy Corbyn nor David Cameron can overcome the schisms that are now tearing their parties apartSuddenly the limits of a leader’s power come into full, glaring view: David Cameron has announced he will allow ministers to take a different public stance to him during the EU referendum campaign. He concedes this not because he wants to but because he has no choice, if he wants to keep his government more or less intact. As Cameron made his announcement Jeremy Corbyn struggled to comp
  
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• Slimline black hole 'could have gone on astronomical crash diet'

  05-01-2016 21:08
  
  An astrophysicist has discovered something even rarer than a double-black hole galaxy: a skinny black hole.
  
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• Huawei targets new versions of smartwatch at women

  05-01-2016 21:08
  Huawei has unveiled two new versions of its smartwatch that are aimed at women.
  
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• Man dies after 'explosion' strikes Wolverhampton house

  05-01-2016 20:55
  A man has died in a fire after a reported explosion at a house in the Midlands.
  
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• HSBC Service 'Steadily Returning' After Glitch

  05-01-2016 20:30
  
  HSBC has said "more and more customers" are managing to log into their internet banking accounts following two days of IT faults. Both personal and business customers had experienced problems accessing the bank's website, and using its mobile app, following a "complex technical issue". The chairman of the Treasury Committee, Andrew Tyrie, has said he plans to demand an explanation from HSBC and banking regulators on what went wrong.
  
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• UK lawmakers to debate petition seeking ban on Trump, no vote planned

  05-01-2016 20:20
  British lawmakers are to hold a debate on a petition signed by more than half a million people calling for U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to be barred from Britain after his proposal to stop Muslims entering the United States. The debate, called by the Petitions Committee of the lower house of parliament, will be held on Jan. 18 but will not be followed by a vote. The British government responds to all petitions that gain more than 10,000 signatures and topics are considered
  
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• Geoff Hurst: England Can Emulate 1966 Heroes

  05-01-2016 20:15
  
  The current generation of England players can emulate the 1966 World Cup winning team, according to the hero of the game's finest hour Sir Geoff Hurst. At the start of a year that will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first and still only English triumph in a major tournament, Hurst said he was optimistic the boys of ’66 may finally be emulated in the coming years.
  
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• Mother tells of 'panic' after daughter choked on grape

  05-01-2016 20:14
  A mother has told an inquest of the "torture" of waiting up to 25 minutes for an ambulance as her six-year-old daughter choked to death on a grape.
  
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• Yahoo dumps video hub amid 'refocusing' drive

  05-01-2016 20:13
  Yahoo has pulled the plug on an online video hub that had once been envisioned as the beleaguered company's answer to Netflix and YouTube.
  
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• MPs to debate ban on Donald Trump over Muslims comments

  05-01-2016 20:11
  MPs are to debate calls for US presidential hopeful Donald Trump to be banned from Britain after his controversial comments about Muslims.
  
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• May Criticised Over Jihadi Who Fled UK On Bail

  05-01-2016 20:01
  
  The Home Secretary has been questioned in the Commons about why a Briton reported to be the masked militant in a new Islamic State video was able to leave the UK and flee to Syria. There is speculation the jihadi in the 10-minute recording may be Siddhartha Dhar from London, but Theresa May said she could not comment as it was an ongoing police investigation. Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham asked why Dhar was able to travel to Syria in 2014 despite being on police bail for alleged t
  
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• British jihadi linked to IS video 'arrested six times before fleeing UK'

  05-01-2016 19:49
  
  The British jihadi linked to the latest murderous Islamic State (IS) propaganda video was arrested six times before fleeing the UK for Syria, it has been revealed.
  
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• HSBC in 'profound' apology to customers over online banking glitches

  05-01-2016 19:35
  
  HSBC has apologised to customers after it suffered online banking glitches for two days running.
  
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• Cameron says will let ministers campaign for EU exit

  05-01-2016 19:32
  
  LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday bowed to pressure to allow government ministers to campaign to leave the European Union in an upcoming referendum, heading off the prospect of multiple resignations from his top team.
  
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• LG unveil smart fridges, washing machines linked to phones and a 98in 8K TV

  05-01-2016 19:21
  Smarter fridges and washing machines that interact with users were at the centre of LG's press conference ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
  
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• Gas flows at Britain's North Morecambe sub-terminal shut

  05-01-2016 19:03
  
  (Reuters) - Gas flows at Britain's North Morecambe gas sub-terminal ceased on Tuesday afternoon due to a compressor failure, its operator Centrica said.
  
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• Last evidence heard in inquests into Hillsborough disaster deaths

  05-01-2016 18:55
  The inquests into the deaths of 96 Liverpool supporters at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough heard its last evidence today.
  
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• Sainsbury's unsuccessful swoop for Home Retail Group dominates trading day

  05-01-2016 18:54
  Trading on the London market was dominated by Sainsbury's bid approach for £1 billion-rated Argos owner Home Retail Group.
  
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• Hunt for boyfriend after bodies found at home of ex-EastEnders star Sian Blake

  05-01-2016 18:39
  
  Murder squad detectives are searching for the boyfriend of an ex-EastEnders actress after three bodies were found by police looking for the performer and her two children.
  
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• Peake To Carry Out First Spacewalk By Briton

  05-01-2016 18:36
  Astronaut Tim Peake is to become the first Briton to carry out a spacewalk, NASA has confirmed. Major Tim will venture outside the International Space Station on Friday 15 January to help replace a voltage regulator and lay electric cables. He will be joined by NASA astronaut Tim Kopra.
  
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• HSBC's IT Issues Could Last For A Third Day

  05-01-2016 18:19
  
  HSBC customers are continuing to have issues accessing online and mobile banking services - and the disruption could spill over into Wednesday. According to its latest statement, services are still down for many thousands of customers - although the mobile banking app is not affected. HSBC has promised to reimburse any customers who incur fees because of the disruption, which began on Monday.
  
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• Tunnock's advert brews up storm in a tea cake

  05-01-2016 18:07
  Tunnock's has been accused of ditching its Scottish heritage with a new campaign promoting its famous treat as "the Great British Tea Cake" in England.
  
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• Jeremy Corbyn told to resist urge to purge after sacking Michael Dugher

  05-01-2016 18:07
  
  Jeremy Corbyn was urged not to sack "highly-respected" colleagues who disagreed with him on key policies as he remained locked in talks over a contentious reshuffle of his top team.
  
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• Undercover officer 'infiltrated jihadi terror group'

  05-01-2016 18:06
  A British undercover officer infiltrated a jihadi group and scuppered their plan to join Islamic State in Syria, a court heard.
  
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• 'Human rib cage' floating near pier turned out to be plastic skeleton

  05-01-2016 18:05
  A Coastguard rescue team was scrambled after a member of the public spotted a human rib cage in the sea - only for it to turn out to be a plastic skeleton.
  
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• Sheep rustlers put behind baaaaas for fleecing farmers

  05-01-2016 17:09
  Two members of a sheep farming family whose rustling caused police to hold identity parades for stolen ewes have each been jailed for three years.
  
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• 'Self-Publicist' Who Fled UK While On Bail

  05-01-2016 17:08
  
  As security services try to identify the Briton featured in the latest Islamic State video, there is speculation it may be jihadist Siddhartha Dhar. The 32-year-old was born a Hindu, but converted to Islam around a decade ago, taking the name Abu Rumaysah. He lived in Walthamstow, east London, and reportedly ran a business renting out bouncy castles before converting and becoming radicalised.
  
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• Britain's Tim Peake cleared for his first spacewalk next week

  05-01-2016 17:08
  British astronaut Tim Peake is due to take part in his first spacewalk next week, the European Space Agency (ESA) has confirmed.
  
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• Cameron says ministers can campaign for EU exit

  05-01-2016 17:02
  British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Tuesday government ministers would be allowed to campaign to leave the European Union at a referendum due by the end of 2017. Up to a third of Cameron's team of senior ministers have expressed Eurosceptic sentiments and there had been speculation that some would resign as ministers if he forced them to back remaining in the bloc when he completes a planned renegotiation of Britain's relationship. "There will be a clear government position but it will
  
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• Ministers to get freedom to campaign for either side in EU vote

  05-01-2016 17:00
  
  Government ministers are to be free to campaign o n either side of the referendum on Britain's continued membership of the EU, Prime Minister David Cameron has confirmed.
  
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• Missing Sian Blake Search: Three Bodies Found

  05-01-2016 16:48
  
  Three bodies have been found in the search for missing former EastEnders actress Sian Blake and her two young children, police have said. The 43-year-old, who played Frankie Pierre in the soap, vanished with her sons Zachary, eight, and Amon, four, in east London on 13 December. Detective Superintendent Paul Monk said officers are still searching for Miss Blake's partner and the children's father Arthur Simpson-Kent.
  
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