Apology for women raped by father

Two women who were repeatedly abused and raped by their father for three decades - bearing seven of his children - have received an unreserved apology from authorities who failed to protect them.

The women were repeatedly beaten and raped by their father, enduring 18 pregnancies between them during the horrific ordeal. In November 2008 he was jailed for life.

(10/03/2010) More on this story

---

Economic storm not yet over - Brown

Gordon Brown has admitted that recession-hit Britain faces more "bumps in the road" - but declared he has the character to lead the country to economic recovery.

The Prime Minister used a speech to a City audience to set the stage for a May 6 general election, announcing that the Budget would be held in "two weeks' time" - taking it to March 24.

(10/03/2010) More on this story

---

Roy 'Chubby' Brown 'punched woman'

Blue comic Roy 'Chubby' Brown hit a 21-year-old woman in the face during a foul-mouthed dispute in a supermarket car park, a court has been told.

The 6ft-plus comedian punched slightly-built Kelly Oliver in the face after he nearly bumped his Lexus into her grandmother's parked car, Teesside Magistrates' Court heard.

(10/03/2010) More on this story

---

Most 'prefer surgery to lose fat'

More than half of Britons would rather shift excess weight through drastic surgery than diet or exercise, a poll has suggested.

Women see weight-loss operations as the key to quick results while some men regard it as the "lazy option", it found.

(10/03/2010) More on this story

---

Driver played 'chicken' on crossing

A motorist has escaped a driving ban after being caught playing chicken with a train on a railway crossing.

Douglas Hall was caught on CCTV jumping a red light at a notorious Metro light rail crossing at Callerton, near Newcastle and narrowly missing an oncoming train.

(10/03/2010) More on this story

---

Man sold child alcohol on Facebook

A man who sold alcohol to a child on Facebook has been given a 12-month community order, police said.

Richard Wright, 28, from Carlton in Nottinghamshire, had been trading under the name Booze Monkeys on the social networking site.

(10/03/2010) More on this story

---

Match of the Day rejects PM request

Football-mad Gordon Brown made a request to appear alongside former stars of the game on TV's Match of the Day 2, but was turned down.

It was decided the Prime Minister would be an "inappropriate" guest for the BBC2 programme, because of the need for the broadcaster to show political impartiality in the run-up to the general election, which is widely expected to be staged on May 6.

(10/03/2010) More on this story

---

Warning after teacher dies in bin

A coroner has warned of the dangers of climbing into commercial wheelie bins after a teacher was found dead among rubbish at a waste transfer site after a night out drinking in a seaside city.

New Zealander Scott Williams, 35, was found by a worker as he sifted through rubbish at the site in North Quay Road, Newhaven, East Sussex, on July 13 last year.

(10/03/2010) More on this story

---

Rumours fly over Sarkozy and Bruni

Paris gossips were trying to sort out fact from fiction as the blogosphere raised tantalising questions about the glamorous pop 'n' politics marriage of President Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni.

While the "traditional" French media remained silent, bloggers and Twitterers spread word of alleged infidelity in high places - on both sides.

(10/03/2010) More on this story

---

Pakistan kidnap ordeal father back

The father of a five-year-old British boy held captive in Pakistan has returned to the UK, sources said.

Sahil Saeed, from Oldham in Greater Manchester, was grabbed by gun and grenade-wielding raiders from his grandmother's house on Thursday.

(10/03/2010) More on this story

---