Pupils' new powers to fight expulsion
Appeal powers are likely to be extended to all pupils under 18 following claims that failure to do so breaches their human rights. They are also to be given the right to fight over decisions about school places. It comes just days after it emerged statemore
Car bomb accused 'is a pacifist'
The case against Dr Asha was pure speculation, his barrister said An NHS neurologist accused of masterminding a car bomb campaign is a dedicated pacifist, a court has heard. Dr Mohammed Asha would not get involved in terrorism 'in a million years', hismore
Teacher 'guilty of incompetency'
Until now Scottish teachers have only been struck off for serious misconduct A primary school teacher has pled guilty to charges of serious professional incompetence. Sarah Barnard could become the first teacher in Scotland to be struck off the registermore
Welfare rules 'will make finances worse for single parents'
Sir Richard Tilt said that the tougher welfare-to-work scheme, which was announced earlier this year, could increase hardship in lone parent families during the economic downturn, and should be put on hold for up to two years. From next week, singlemore
Men deny French students murders
Two men have appeared in court to deny the horrific murders of two French research students who were stabbed repeatedly in their flat. Dano Sonnex, 23, and Nigel Farmer, 33, appeared separately at the Old Bailey via videolink and were remanded in custodymore
Darling 'to force banks to lend'
Mr Darling is planning to inject money into the economy Chancellor Alistair Darling could force banks to lend to small firms hit by the credit crunch, press reports say. Mr Darling is said to be considering a cap on interest rates on small business loansmore
Madonna, Ritchie on London divorce docket
LONDON -- Madonna and Guy Ritchie are scheduled to get a preliminary decree of divorce at the High Court in London on Friday. The court lists 'Ciccone M L v Ritchie G S' as one of 17 cases for pronouncement of a preliminary decree. After six weeks and amore
BBC online local news expansion scrapped
The BBC Trust concluded that adding video footage to the corporation's network of local websites would not improve public services enough to justify 'either the use of licence fee funds or the negative impact on commercial media'. Sir Michael Lyons, themore
'BNP' police officer to be questioned
Pc Steve Bettley, of Merseyside Police, was suspended after his name featured on an internet list of thousands said to be members of the far right party. The list, which was removed from the original blog where it was posted but remains available onmore
The End? Battle to keep HBOS independent suffers fresh blow
Sir Peter Burt and Sir George Mathewson are set to announce the end of their campaign, amid anger at the position taken by the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, towards the Lloyds TSB takeover of HBOS. But even with the two big guns out of the running, theremore
Pc faces quiz on alleged BNP link
BNP leader Nick Griffin said the party had lodged a complaint over the leak A Merseyside police officer suspended after his name appeared on a list of British National Party (BNP) members is to be questioned by his bosses. Pc Steve Bettley was on holidaymore
Formula 1 boss faces divorce case
Mr Ecclestone's personal fortune is estimated as being in excess of 2bn The wife of Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has filed for divorce, it has been confirmed. A spokeswoman for Slavica Ecclestone said the announcement had been prompted by mediamore
Failed bomber faces lengthy sentence
A Muslim convert is due to be sentenced for carrying out a failed suicide nail bomb attack in a crowded restaurant. Nicky Reilly, 22, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and preparing a terrorist attack in Exeter in May. He faces a lengthy jail sentencemore
Madonna And Guy 'To Avoid Circus'
The couple are set to part ways with a 'quickie' divorce at the Principal Registry of the High Court in London. Neither party is expected to attend the announcing of the 'decree nisi' at 10am in Court 10. The case - v - is listed before District Judgemore
King Liar holds onto his crown
By Cory Allen BBC News John 'Johnny Liar' Graham took the title for the seventh time When you walk into the bar of the Bridge Inn in Santon Bridge in a remote corner of Cumbria, you're greeted by a man wearing false teeth who claims to be from the yearmore
Campbell Brown: Big Three must show a plan
Editor's note: Campbell Brown anchors CNN's 'Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull' at 8 p.m. ET Mondays through Fridays. She delivered this commentary during the 'Cutting through the Bull' segment of Thursday night's broadcast. I just mentioned today's bigmore
British lose out in French list of best films of all time
The list, compiled by French cinema magazine Les Cahiers du Cinema, features German, Spanish, Italian and Russian films, but not one made in Britain. American productions dominate the list, and French films are also well-represented. There are severalmore
And finally... Sir Trevor McDonald's last News at Ten
Sir Trevor McDonald has presented ITV's News at Ten for the last time. Photo: ITV He said presenting the news show had been 'special' before handing over as usual to regional bulletins across the country. Fellow presenter Julie Etchingham paid tribute atmore
Which way should your baby face?
Babies' development may be undermined by the type of pushchair they are in, according to a study by the National Literacy Trust. The research suggests babies in buggies which face away from their parents are less likely to interact with them, which maymore
Executive action: Moves weve waited 153 days for
Ministers get back to business, and rubber-stamp plans that will make a real difference Around the table again: First Ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness with members of the Executive at their first meeting for over 150 days yesterday Searchmore
Welfare plan 'may cause poverty'
The government estimates there are 1.8 million lone parents in the UK Ministers should rethink or delay plans to force lone parents, disabled people and the long term jobless into work, a senior government advisor has said. Sir Richard Tilt said themore
And finally... Sir Trevor McDonald presents News at Ten for the last time
Sir Trevor McDonald has presented ITV's News at Ten for the last time. Photo: ITV He said presenting the news show had been 'special' before handing over as usual to regional bulletins across the country. Fellow presenter Julie Etchingham paid tribute atmore
Jury sees photo of Shannon 'hideout'
A jury has been shown a photo of the bed Shannon Matthews was allegedly hidden in and an elasticated rope said to have tethered her. Michael Donovan is on trial with Shannon's mother, Karen Matthews, and both are accused of kidnapping, false imprisonmentmore
Bonanza for jobs - but only in the public sector
Independent specialists published forecasts showing that an extra 50,000 public officials will have been recruited in the six months to the end of the year. The Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) forecast that over the same period 300,000more
Scots rail fares set to increase
Most tickets will increase by 6% from January Train passengers in Scotland face a 6% rise in the price of most tickets from January - almost 2% above the current rate of inflation. First ScotRail said the changes followed significant 'cost pressures'more
Teenager jailed for eight sex attacks in two hours
Robert Thomson was just 15 when he carried out the series of indecent assaults in Glasgow city centre. All of his victims were between the ages of 20 and 35. The last attack, in which he dragged a woman into a lane and pushed her face in a puddle as hemore
Holocaust denier Fredrick Toben freed
Mr Toben, who founded the revisionist Adelaide Institute, was arrested at Heathrow Airport last month on a European arrest warrant. However, Britian refused to hand him over and German prosecutors were forced to appeal to the High Court. Mr Tobensmore
Officer On BNP List Suspended
Pc Steve Bettley, of Merseyside Police, returned early from a holiday abroad to help the force with an investigation into his alleged involvement with the far right party. A force spokesman said: 'Merseyside Police can confirm that the police officermore
Wales is 'very violent place' with a binge drinking culture warns chief constable
Barbara Wilding, the Chief Constable of South Wales, was speaking at the launch of a new campaign by the country's senior churchmen and police officers to stop people over-indulging in alcohol. Mrs Wilding, who was awarded a CBE in 2006, said the countrymore
Gipsies get 100 million from Government for new camp sites
Sites to accommodate 25,000 gipsies and other travelling people will be built over the next three years, with an announcement of the exact locations expected in weeks. The camps, a combination of new constructions and upgrades to existing sites, will bemore