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Two women killed after car leaves road in Swindon

Two female passengers were killed when the car they were travelling in plunged into undergrowth at the side of a road in Swindon, police said.

Another three male passengers are being treated in hospital with injuries, and two of them have been described as being "very poorly". All were aged 19 or 20 years.

Police received a report from another driver, who saw the car leave the road, at around 5am this morning. They found the grey Renault Clio some 20 metres from the A419.

Wiltshire Police are appealing for witnesses to call 101 and ask for PC Kevin Fry of the Serious Collision Investigation Team.

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Woman found alive after swimming off Lincolnshire coast

A woman who disappeared while swimming off the Lincolnshire coast has been found alive after a major search operation.

The Humber Coastguard said the 23-year-old woman, who had been drinking alcohol, was found semi-conscious on the beach near a holiday resort in Chapel St Leonards, near Skegness, early today.

A tractor driver who was working on the beach went to the aid of two men who went into the sea after her, and raised the alarm.

North Korea short-range tests 'routine procedure'

  • In March, North Korea launched what appeared to be two KN-02 missiles off its east coast
  • The country routinely launches such short-range missiles in an effort to improve its arsenal
  • North Korea recently withdrew two mid-range missiles believed to be capable of reaching Guam after moving them to its east coast earlier this year

Report: Resort where Briton died re-opened this month

The Coral Sea Water World resort in Egypt, where a five-year-old British girl drowned, re-opened at the start of this month after being refurbished with a "brand new waterpark," according to its website.

The large resort has almost 370 rooms and a "waterpark brimming with pools and slides," a press release said.

This promotional video was featured on the website:

North Korea 'fires three short-range missiles'

South Korea claims that three short-range guided missiles have been fired by North Korea. The country routinely tests such missiles, but the latest launches come during a period of diplomacy aimed at easing tensions.

North Korea fired short-range guided missiles twice in the morning and once in the afternoon off its east coast. In case of any provocation, the Ministry will keep monitoring the situation and remain on alert.

– South Korea Defence Ministry

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Most Conservative members are 'normal enough'

Paul Goodman, the editor of the Conservative Home blog, has countered the alleged claim by a Tory aide that party activists are "mad swivel-eyed loons". He writes:

There are activists in every Party whose eyes aren't entirely steady in their sockets ... But most Conservative members are normal enough.

Tory activists are not untypical of the class which, if one takes a romantic view, has been the backbone of England for centuries - and, even if one takes a prosaic one, works (largely in the private sector), earns, provides, saves, and gives generously to charity.

A high proportion of the members I know are involved in their local communities: indeed, they are the Big Society.

– Paul Goodman, editor, conservative home

Read the full blog here.

Gun scare during live broadcast at Cannes Film Festival

A live outdoor television broadcast from the Cannes Film Festival was briefly interrupted when what sounded like gunfire sent the crew and audience running for cover.

Actors Christoph Waltz and Daniel Auteuil were among guests being interviewed on the programme 'Le Grand Journal' when what sounded like gunfire rang out.

Television footage shows Auteuil and Academy Award winner Waltz - a member of the Cannes festival jury - scrambling from the seaside stage with dozens of others as a someone was heard saying "there's someone shooting."

When Friday's programme carried on a few minutes minutes later, host Michel Denisot said the noise had been caused by blank rounds. There were no reports of injuries.

A man was detained by police with a starter's pistol, a pocket knife and a plastic grenade.

Councils given financial help to help residents

We are giving councils £150 million this year so that they can help their vulnerable residents and we are monitoring this spending closely to ensure support goes to those who need it.

The spare room subsidy changes will bring fairness back to the system - when in England alone there are nearly two million households on the social housing waiting list and over a quarter of a million tenants are living in overcrowded homes.

– Department of Work and Pensions

Archbishop of Westminster to bless 600 couples

The Archbishop of Westminster will bless more than 600 married couples today to celebrate marriage as "an exclusive commitment and a life-long partnership between a man and a woman".

Westminster Cathedral where the blessings will take place
Westminster Cathedral where the blessings will take place Credit: Ben Curtis/PA Archive/Press Association Images

The couples - who have almost 20,000 years of marriage between them - are all celebrating their 10th, 25th, 40th, 50th or 60th+ wedding anniversaries this year.

In his homily, Archbishop Vincent Nichols will say that marriage between man and woman is "sorely needed today" and serves society during the "hardship and deprivation today".

He will tell the couples that marriage "fulfils husband and wife and is itself fulfilled in the life of the family".

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