News
Live news stream
Death toll from Typhoon Haiyan surpasses 6,000
The death toll from Typhoon Haiyan in the central Philippines has surpassed 6,000, with nearly 1,800 people still missing, officials said.
The government's disaster response agency said 6,009 have been confirmed dead while 1,779 remain unaccounted for.
The November 8 typhoon is the deadliest natural disaster on record to hit the Philippines.
Major Reynaldo Balido, spokesman for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said at least 20 bodies are still being found daily under debris in the hardest hit city of Tacloban.
The homes of more than 16 million people were either flattened or damaged, and officials say rebuilding will take at least three years.
England sneak the advantage after hectic first session
England sneaked the advantage after a hectic first session as Australia took lunch on 107 for three in the third Test at the WACA.
England struck early, in unexpected circumstances, when James Anderson's speed and accuracy ran out Chris Rogers.
But from 13 for one, David Warner (49no) kept the pressure on with some fierce driving among his seven fours as well as one dismissive six over long on off Tim Bresnan.
A frenetic first hour, after Michael Clarke had won the toss on a searingly hot day, contained nine boundaries for Australia and two wickets for England.
Advertisement
Men due in court over alleged football match fixing
Four men are due in court today in connection with a National Crime Agency inquiry into alleged football match-fixing.
Michael Boateng and Hakeem Adelakun, who have been sacked by Brighton club Whitehawk FC, are accused of taking part in a conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.
The Conference South players, both 22 and from south London, are due to appear at Birmingham Crown Court.
It is alleged that Boateng, of Davidson Road, Croydon, and Adelakun, of Mayfield Crescent, Thornton Heath, conspired with two other men to influence the course of football matches.
Chann Sankaran and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, both originally from Singapore, were remanded in custody by magistrates in Cannock, Staffordshire last month.
Ganeshan, 43, of Hougang Avenue, Singapore, and Sankaran, 33, of Hawthorn Road, Hastings, East Sussex, will appear alongside Boateng and Adelakun.
The conspiracy is alleged to have taken place in Manchester and elsewhere between November 1 and November 26.
HS2 report a 'cheerleading whitewash', say campaginers
The report into the viability of HS2 is a "cheerleading whitewash" and only heard from "people who support" the London to Birmingham rail link, according to activists.
Campaign manager for the Stop HS2 group Joe Rukin said:
– Stop HS2 campaign manager Joe RukinUnlike the public accounts committee and treasury committee hearings on HS2, it was clear that this inquiry was going to be a cheerleading whitewash when the transport committee only called people who support HS2 to give evidence.
Despite the official cost of HS2 standing at £50 billion, the committee want to pretend it is £28 billion, even though they said it would be £34 billion in 2011.
In saying this and telling the DfT they should abandon their standard assessments to improve the case for HS2, they are effectively ordering the Government to 'spin harder' on HS2.
MPs: HS2 will meet 'growing demand' for train use
HS2 will deliver "the step change in capacity" needed to support growing demand from both passengers and freight, according to the head of the transport committee.
Chairwoman Louise Ellman said if taxpayers were to reap the full benefits of HS2, it was "vital" links were improved between regular and high-speed rail networks.
– transport select committee chairwoman louise ellmanWe remain confident that construction of a new high speed line is the only way to deliver the step change in capacity on the West Coast Main Line needed to accommodate long-term demand for both passengers and rail freight.
If we are to spread the benefits from HS2 as widely as possible, it is vital we improve links between the conventional and high-speed networks and bring forward projects to speed up journey times on the conventional network.
Why did Kim Jong-un turn on his uncle and mentor?
Kim Jong-un reportedly ordered the execution of party official Jang Song-thaek. But why did the young leader turn on his uncle and mentor?
Read the full storyAdvertisement
The cost of the HS2 project
One bone of contention for anti-HS2 campaigners has been the cost of the project, with the Taxpayers' Alliance dubbing the project a "white elephant".
In June the transport secretary told the commons HS2 would go £10bn over the original budget of £33bn to cover "contingency costs".
- The projected cost of the whole projects is now £42.6bn
- A total of £7.5bn needed for the purchase of high-speed trains.
- £14.56bn of the overall cost will be set aside for contingency costs.
MPs 'convinced' controversial HS2 link is 'justified'
A group of MPs are "convinced" the controversial HS2 link between London and the north is "justified" and urged the Government to consider building the second and first phases together.
Abandoning the project "significantly outweigh the risks" of building it, as the high-speed rail link is "essential for the UK", according to the transport committee.
Phase one, from London to Birmingham via the Chilterns, is due for completion in 2026, with a second Y-shaped section from Birmingham to north-west and north-east England due to be finished in 2032/33.
In its report, the committee said: "Many important local issues will be debated and resolved by the (HS2) hybrid bill committee and there will be detailed debates about many aspects of the project.
"However, we are convinced that it is essential for the UK for HS2 to go ahead, and to do so as a project which has the backing of all three major political parties."
Swinson: 'We want customers to be confident to shop'
Consumer Minister Jo Swinson said the Financial Conduct Authority was committed to considering whether it could introduce measures to limit costs for those calling banks, insurance companies and investment brokers, along with retailers.
She said: "For too long, some businesses have been trying to extract every extra penny from their loyal customers.
"From next year, if something goes wrong with a cooker, or commuters want a refund on their season ticket, they will now pay the same to phone a helpline as they do to call friends or family.
"We want consumers to be confident to shop with a range of traders. The new rights announced today will mean consumers are entitled to the same level of protection whether they are purchasing goods or services online, at home or in a shop."
Expensive calls to consumer helplines to end
Customers calling helplines to complain about faulty items or incorrect orders will no longer have to pay more than the basic rate, the Government has announced.
Consumer Minister Jo Swinson said the new right would end expensive premium 084 and 087 numbers for customers calling airlines, train operators and major high street and online retailers.
Many firms already offer freephone or basic rate numbers but consumers can find that some traders provide an 0800 or freephone number for pre-contract calls to attract new customers but then only offer expensive premium rate numbers when the product or service has been paid for.
The measure is to be included in the regulations implementing the Consumer Rights Directive, which is due to come into force in June 2014.
