General news

• David Cameron to campaign for UK to stay in EU after securing 'special status'

  19-02-2016 23:29
  
  David Cameron hailed his historic EU re-negotiation deal, declaring that he has secured Britain's "special status" in the 28 nation bloc.
  
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• Stephen Hawking 'would be proud' to fly on Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo

  19-02-2016 23:13
  Professor Stephen Hawking has announced the world is "entering a new space age" as he helped to unveil the new Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo.
  
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• EU deal gives Britain 'special status' - PM Cameron

  19-02-2016 22:54
  Prime Minister David Cameron said on Friday a European Union reform deal would give Britain special status in the bloc and that he would recommend it to his top team of ministers. Earlier, EU Council President Donald Tusk said the agreement aimed at keeping Britain in the bloc won unanimous support from all 28 EU leaders.
  
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• David Cameron strikes deal in Brussels to pave way for UK in/out referendum

  19-02-2016 22:38
  
  EU leaders have agreed a deal in Brussels which will pave the way for an in/out referendum in the UK before the summer.
  
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• Racist Motive Not Ruled Out In Rochdale Killing

  19-02-2016 21:30
  
  The Jalalia Jaame Masjid mosque named him as Qari Jalal Uddin Saab. The chief officer for the Rochdale Council of Mosques appealed for calm and asked people to let police carry out their investigation. Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "We are keeping a completely open mind as to what the motive for this attack is.
  
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• Man Arrested Over Murder Of Muslim Leader

  19-02-2016 21:13
  
  Police are not ruling out a racist motive as they investigate the suspected murder of a Muslim religious leader who was attacked in the street and left for dead.
  
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• EU summit extended as Cameron closes in on British deal

  19-02-2016 21:05
  By Kylie MacLellan and Paul Taylor BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A European Union summit to negotiate new membership terms for Britain was forced into extra time on Friday as Prime Minister David Cameron closed in on a deal he could sell to sceptical British voters in a referendum. A plenary session to review progress was postponed several times - from a late "English breakfast" to an "English lunch" and again till dinner at 8 p.m. (1900 GMT) - and then the 28 leaders were asked to book hotel rooms for a
  
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• EU Summit: Leaders Start 'Final' Reform Talks

  19-02-2016 20:55
  
  EU leaders have returned to the negotiating table to discuss an apparent deal to reform the European Union.
  
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• Justice secretary Michael Gove to push for Brexit - BBC

  19-02-2016 20:50
  Justice Secretary Michael Gove has made up his mind to campaign for Britons to vote to leave the European Union in an upcoming referendum, the BBC reported on Friday, citing sources in Prime Minister David Cameron's Downing Street office. If confirmed, news that Gove will campaign for a "Brexit" will come as a blow to Cameron. The two men are political allies and Gove is considered one of the policy heavyweights in the cabinet.
  
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• EU talks resume amid deadlock over David Cameron's renegotiation demands

  19-02-2016 20:32
  
  EU leaders have returned to the negotiating table after 20 hours of behind-the-scenes talks as David Cameron and European Council president Donald Tusk struggled to keep Britain's renegotiation on track.
  
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• Sainsbury's bid for Argos owner threatened by rival Steinhoff offer

  19-02-2016 19:24
  Supermarket Sainsbury's could see its takeover bid for Argos owner Home Retail Group derailed after retailer Steinhoff pitched a rival offer.
  
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• Rail and underground problems bring misery for commuters

  19-02-2016 19:20
  Commuters have suffered travel misery because of a spate of rail problems including broken-down trains.
  
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• Family leads tributes for To Kill A Mockingbird author Harper Lee

  19-02-2016 19:07
  The family of To Kill A Mockingbird author Harper Lee, who has died aged 89, has said she was a "generous soul" and that they will "miss her dearly".
  
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• Plea for calm as man arrested after death of religious leader

  19-02-2016 19:03
  Muslims have been asked to remain calm as police held a man on suspicion of murder hours after a religious leader was left for dead from a brutal attack on his way home from prayers at a mosque.
  
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• Viola Beach miss out on top spot despite fan campaign

  19-02-2016 19:00
  Viola Beach have not reached number one, despite a fan-led campaign to pay tribute to the band who were killed in a car crash at the weekend.
  
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• Teachers get indefinite classroom bans over pupils 'fed a diet of Islam'

  19-02-2016 18:39
  Two teachers who worked at a "Trojan Horse"-linked school where pupils were "fed on a diet of Islam" have been banned from the classroom for life.
  
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• Adam Johnson felt 'stupid' for kissing teenager, court hears

  19-02-2016 17:55
  England footballer Adam Johnson admitted to police that he kissed a 15-year-old girl in his car, telling officers he was "stupid" and he "should have known better", a jury has heard.
  
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• What does vanilla yogurt have to do with the secret of happiness?

  19-02-2016 17:42 via bbc.co.uk
  
  What does vanilla yogurt have to do with secret of happiness?
  
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• Man Arrested Over Street Murder Of Imam

  19-02-2016 17:25
  
  Police were called by paramedics to a play area at the end of South Street in Wardleworth, Rochdale, on Thursday night. Officers attended and found a man believed to be in his late 40's to early 50's with a serious head injury. The Jalalia Jaame mosque in Rochdale confirmed that the dead man was imam Qari Jalal Uddin Saab.
  
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• To Kill A Mockingbird author Harper Lee dies at 89

  19-02-2016 17:02
  To Kill A Mockingbird author Harper Lee has died aged 89.
  
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• EU summit extended as Cameron struggles for British deal

  19-02-2016 16:59
  By Kylie MacLellan and Paul Taylor BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A European Union summit to negotiate new membership terms for Britain was forced into extra time on Friday as Prime Minister David Cameron struggled for a deal he could sell to sceptical British voters in a referendum. A plenary session was postponed for several hours and the 28 leaders were asked to book hotel rooms for an extra night in Brussels. "The session scheduled for 4 p.m. (1500 GMT) has just been cancelled and the meeting of leade
  
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• Man held in murder probe after imam found with head injuries dies

  19-02-2016 16:58
  A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of the imam of a Rochdale mosque.
  
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• London kicks off fashion shows amid catwalk shake-up

  19-02-2016 16:57
  By Li-mei Hoang LONDON (Reuters) - London picked up the fashion baton from New York on Friday with five days of catwalk shows and presentations amid an industry shake-up as designers strive to sell their creations faster. London Fashion Week, which returns to a car park as its main venue, will feature 83 designers presenting their autumn/winter 2016 collections, including Burberry, Alexander McQueen, Erdem and Topshop Unique. Among the most anticipated shows will be that of luxury goods maker Mu
  
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• Michael Fallon authorised use of RAF Lakenheath for US air raid on Daesh camp

  19-02-2016 16:47
  A US air raid on an Islamic State training camp in Libya was launched from an RAF base in Suffolk.
  
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• Judge refuses to jail man embroiled in cash dispute with ex-wife

  19-02-2016 16:47
  Years of fighting over money have taken their toll on a businessman and ex-wife, a High Court judge says.
  
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• Greece Veto Threat Puts PM's EU Deal In Peril

  19-02-2016 16:33
  
  Greece has threatened to veto the conclusions of a crunch EU summit over Europe's handling of the migration crisis, a move that would torpedo David Cameron's hopes of an EU reform deal.
  
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• Man killed in suspected gas explosion near York named

  19-02-2016 16:14
  
  More than a dozen houses have been damaged in an explosion that claimed the life of a man in Haxby, near York, police said.
  
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• Human Foot Found In Bath Park By Dog Walker

  19-02-2016 16:01
  
  A human foot has been found in undergrowth at a park in Bath by a member of the public. Freelance journalist Simon Clarke was out walking his six-year-old cocker spaniel with his partner Nicky Jefferies at around 8am when they came across a woman whose dog had spotted the foot beside a bush at the southern corner of the park. He told the Bath Chronicle: "It was just like CSI.
  
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• Prime Minister's EU deal hopes held up by talks delays

  19-02-2016 16:00
  
  David Cameron's hopes of securing a deal on reforms to Britain's relations with the EU were mired in delay as European leaders dug in their heels on a series of contentious issues in Brussels.
  
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• Smile study points towards cultural values

  19-02-2016 15:34
  World leaders from countries which value excitement pose with bigger smiles than those which value calmness, a study has claimed.
  
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• Liberal Democrat election drubbing due to 'perfect storm', party review finds

  19-02-2016 15:11
  The electoral bloodbath which saw the Liberal Democrats reduced to just eight MPs was a "perfect storm" with the party hit by poor morale, an effective Tory strategy and public anger over the tuition fees U-turn, an internal report has concluded.
  
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• Lloyds Bank to pay out 60 million pounds in UK December flood claims

  19-02-2016 15:06
  Lloyds Banking Group said on Friday it expected to pay around 60 million pounds ($85.68 million) in insurance claims to households hit by flooding in Britain in December. The bank helped more than 10,000 households affected by Storms Desmond and Eva in Scotland and the North of England through its Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland insurance brands, it said in a statement. Direct Line has said it expects up to 140 million pounds in claims from customers across three UK winter storms in De
  
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• Record 580,500 sign meningitis petition after death of Faye, two

  19-02-2016 14:58
  
  An online petition to give a meningitis vaccine to all children has become the most popular ever on the Government's website.
  
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• Police shut down party 'organised to exploit children'

  19-02-2016 14:58
  
  Police shut down a party arranged on social media by people looking to sexually exploit children, a report has revealed.
  
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• Council and police apologise to man over 'teen sex' error

  19-02-2016 14:58
  
  Police and social services bosses have apologised to a man who found himself at the centre of a High Court case after wrongly being suspected of sexually exploiting a teenage girl.
  
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• Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc race from London to Blackpool for new Top Gear show

  19-02-2016 14:58
  
  Top Gear presenters Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc have kicked off filming the first episode of the new show with a trip to Blackpool.
  
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• Adam Johnson 'a little bit shaky' after arrest at his home, officer tells court

  19-02-2016 14:58
  
  England footballer Adam Johnson was "a little bit shaky" after he was arrested at his home following allegations made by a 15-year-old girl, the arresting officer has told a jury.
  
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• Adam Johnson Jurors Shown Star's Phone Pictures

  19-02-2016 14:53
  
  Jurors at the trial of former Sunderland and England star Adam Johnson have been shown pictures taken on his mobile phone. An image of his groin area was one from a number downloaded from the 28-year-old's mobile. Prosecuting barrister Kate Blackwell QC told Bradford Crown Court they were a "series of images of the defendant himself and one separate photograph of his groin area".
  
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• UK adviser checks on product quality not consistent - FCA

  19-02-2016 14:38
  By Simon Jessop LONDON (Reuters) - British financial advisory firms are not consistent enough when assessing the quality of products and services they recommend to clients, the Financial Conduct Authority said on Friday. While the 13 firms assessed in the regulator's thematic review on the topic had demonstrated some good practice when undertaking due diligence, greater consistency was needed and there was room for improvement, it said in a statement. Three were told to make improvements in thei
  
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• Facebook launches 'Suicide Prevention tool'

  19-02-2016 13:56
  Facebook has launched a new feature in the UK to offer support to users who may be suicidal.
  
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• Rihanna Delays 'Anti' Tour And Cancels Dates

  19-02-2016 13:49
  
  A number of Rihanna's UK concerts for her upcoming world tour have been cancelled due to "logistical reasons". Fans have been told Rihanna's shows in Cardiff on 16 June and Sunderland on 18 June have both been cancelled. Sunderland AFC's commercial director Gary Hutchinson said: "Unfortunately this is something that can happen with major tours and naturally we are sorry for those concert-goers who were looking forward to the show.
  
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• Cameron Back At EU Summit To Try For Deal

  19-02-2016 13:45
  
  David Cameron has said he will "only do a deal if we get what Britain needs" as he arrived for more talks on his EU reforms. As leaders reconvened for the second day of the European Council summit, the Prime Minister pledged he would not accept a watered-down agreement which did not meet his demands. Mr Cameron spent the early hours of Friday morning in a series of bilateral meetings trying to bridge divides on four areas of his negotiation.
  
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• GPs set for 1% pay rise after new contract deal

  19-02-2016 13:44
  GPs have agreed a new contract which will see them get a 1% pay rise.
  
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• Adam Johnson sex trial shown photos from footballer's phone

  19-02-2016 13:19
  The jury in the trial of footballer Adam Johnson has been shown a photograph of the England player's "groin area".
  
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• Violent Road Rage Attack Caught On CCTV

  19-02-2016 13:10
  
  Police looking for a man in connection with a violent road attack in southeast London have released CCTV footage of the attack. Both men got out of their vehicles on Ramac Way, SE18, away from the traffic, after the lorry driver suggested they have a chat.
  
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• History programmes have to keep up with the Kardashians, Egyptologist claims

  19-02-2016 13:05
  Egyptologist Dr Chris Naunton has said it is "vital" to see television programmes about history and archaeology alongside EastEnders and Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
  
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• Government borrowing drops as UK records biggest January surplus since 2008

  19-02-2016 13:05
  Britain saw borrowing fall last month as it recorded its biggest public finance surplus for January since 2008.
  
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• UK advisers not consistent when assessing suitability - FCA

  19-02-2016 12:54
  By Simon Jessop LONDON (Reuters) - British financial advisory firms are not consistent enough when assessing whether products and advice are suitable for clients, the Financial Conduct Authority said on Friday. While the 13 firms assessed in the regulator's thematic review on the topic had demonstrated some good practise when undertaking due diligence, greater consistency was needed and there was room for improvement, it said in a statement. Three were told to make improvements in their research
  
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• Teen Gets Six-Figure Payout For Holiday Illness

  19-02-2016 12:35
  
  A teenager who caught a potentially fatal illness while on a family holiday in Turkey has been given a six-figure payout. Bradie Perkins was 13 years old when he was among 27 people who fell ill at the Holiday Village in Sarigerme in the Dalaman region during October 2010. The teenager, from Earl Shilton, Leicestershire, had to be rushed to hospital twice suffering from severe diarrhoea, stomach cramps and dehydration that he and his family said was caused by lax food hygiene at the resort.
  
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• Royal Mail to increase first class stamp price to 64p

  19-02-2016 12:20
  The price of a first class stamp will increase by 1p to 64p and second class by 1p to 55p from March 29.
  
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