11 December 2012 - Latest UK news & World news

Bonuses curbed at 'blatant' HSBC Dec 11 2012

US prosecutors said HSBC had shown a "blatant" failure to implement proper anti-money laundering controls as it announced restrictions to bank boss bonuses under the terms of a record 1.9 billion US dollar (£1.2 billion) settlement.Read

Snowboard woman 'unlikely to live' Dec 11 2012

A British student left critically ill after a snowboarding accident in the French Alps is unlikely to survive, her family said.Read

Drivers warned of freezing fog Dec 11 2012

Drivers are being warned to be on their guard as widespread freezing fog and icy conditions descend on the UK.Read

Spice Girls unite as musical opens Dec 11 2012

The Spice Girls were reunited once again at the opening night of stage musical Viva Forever in London.Read

Rioters 'shame flag', says Villiers Dec 11 2012

Loyalist rioters who wreaked chaos in Belfast over a dispute on flying the Union flag have only brought dishonour and shame to their cause, the UK Government said.Read

Bonuses curb as HSBC penalised Dec 11 2012

HSBC bosses will have bonuses restricted under the terms of a record 1.9 billion US dollar (£1.2 billion) settlement with US regulators after the bank allowed rogue states and drug cartels to launder billions of pounds through its US arm.Read

500 come forward in Savile inquiry Dec 11 2012

More than 500 people have come forward as victims of the late DJ and television presenter Jimmy Savile, police say.Read

Drones to get aircraft carrier test Dec 11 2012

The Royal Navy is to start trialling unmanned drones launched from aircraft carriers, Defence Minister Philip Dunne says.Read

Cancer screening pilots to launch Dec 11 2012

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has unveiled plans for new cancer screening programmes to help the UK reach the lowest cancer mortality rates in Europe.Read

No 10 looks at 'legal highs' review Dec 11 2012

Downing Street is looking at proposals to make the sellers of so-called "legal highs" liable for any harm the products cause, Prime Minister David Cameron said.Read

Mixed reaction to gay wedding plans Dec 11 2012

Culture Secretary Maria Miller has promised no church would ever be forced to conduct a gay wedding as she faced a furious backlash from traditionalist Tories over Government plans for same-sex weddings.Read

Census shows rise in secularity Dec 11 2012

The population of England and Wales has grown more secular and increasingly ethnically diverse over the last decade, according to new figures.Read

Tree disease experts busy, MPs told Dec 11 2012

Officials were slow to assess the risk of ash dieback in the UK because they were dealing with a number of diseases and had few experts available, MPs have been told.Read

PM 'determined to deport Qatada' Dec 11 2012

David Cameron and the King of Jordan have reaffirmed their determination to find a way of securing the deportation from Britain of terror suspect Abu Qatada.Read

Author defends child grooming study Dec 11 2012

The author of a controversial report on child sex grooming has warned it is "dangerous" to view it as an issue of men of Asian origin preying on white girls.Read

Probe call over minister's expenses Dec 11 2012

The parliamentary sleaze watchdog has been urged to investigate Culture Secretary Maria Miller's expenses claims towards a home used by her parents.Read

New appeal 'may risk Megrahi lives' Dec 11 2012

The family of the Lockerbie bomber could be risking their lives if they raise the prospect of launching a fresh appeal against conviction, according to a leading figure in the campaign for a new inquiry into the court's decision.Read

Rioters 'bring shame on Union flag' Dec 11 2012

Loyalist thugs who have rioted for eight nights in Belfast have brought shame on the Union flag, the UK Government has said.Read

Boy held in derby race tweet probe Dec 11 2012

Police investigating a racist tweet sent during Sunday's stormy Manchester derby have arrested a 15-year-old boy.Read

Branson retains control of airline Dec 11 2012

Sir Richard Branson has retained control of his airline Virgin Atlantic after a deal that will see America's largest carrier take a 49% stake.Read

New year target set for press body Dec 11 2012

Press Complaints Commission (PCC) chairman Lord Hunt said he hoped to see a new form of press self-regulation set up and at work by early next year.Read

'Legal lock' pledge on gay weddings Dec 11 2012

No church will ever be forced to conduct a gay wedding under new legislation for equal marriage, Culture Secretary Maria Miller has promised.Read

Pupils 'victims of statistical fix' Dec 11 2012

Thousands of students awarded lower than expected grades in this summer's GCSE English exams were the victims of "illegitimate grade manipulation" and "a statistical fix", the High Court has been told.Read

Budget to be delivered on March 20 Dec 11 2012

The next Budget will be on Wednesday March 20, the Chancellor told MPs in the Commons.Read

Travel misery amid fares protests Dec 11 2012

Rail travellers have suffered fresh disruption to services as protests were held across the country against rising fares and threatened cuts.Read

Data legislation rethink signalled Dec 11 2012

Ministers have signalled they will rewrite a Bill which gives police and security services new powers to monitor communications, after Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said it needed a "fundamental rethink".Read

Three held in Libor rigging inquiry Dec 11 2012

Three men have been arrested in connection with an investigation into the rigging of the interbank lending rate Libor, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said.Read

Prank call station plans nurse fund Dec 11 2012

The Australian radio station whose DJs duped a nurse with a prank call only for the woman to apparently take her own life is to set up a memorial fund for her family.Read

Number of Christians down to 33.2m Dec 11 2012

The number of Christians living in England and Wales has fallen by four million in the past decade, the 2011 Census reveals.Read

Science education 'down rankings' Dec 11 2012

England is slipping down a global education league table as schoolchildren struggle to keep up in science, it has been suggested.Read

PM to discuss Qatada with Jordan Dec 11 2012

David Cameron will discuss the Government's long-running battle to have terror suspect Abu Qatada deported from Britain when he meets the King of Jordan in Downing Street.Read

Police chief condemns mob violence Dec 11 2012

Mob violence against police officers in Northern Ireland is being stoked up by individuals and social media, the chief constable said.Read

Abu Qatada 'moves to new home' Dec 11 2012

Radical preacher Abu Qatada has moved house while he fights the latest round in his battle against deportation, according to a report.Read

HSBC agrees £1.2bn launder payout Dec 11 2012

HSBC has said that it has agreed to pay US authorities a record 1.9 billion US dollars (£1.2 billion) settlement over accusations that it allowed rogue states and drug cartels to launder billions of pounds through its US arm.Read

GCSE grades challenge goes to court Dec 11 2012

A legal challenge over this summer's GCSE English controversy is due to begin at the High Court.Read

Cancer screening project unveiled Dec 11 2012

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is to unveil plans for new cancer screening programmes which ministers believe will save up to 3,000 lives a year.Read

Watchdog criticises EU aid spending Dec 11 2012

Hundreds of millions of pounds of UK taxpayers' money is being channelled into European Union aid projects without proper assurances that it is being spent effectively, an independent watchdog has found.Read

Post-mortem today on hoax nurse Dec 11 2012

A post-mortem examination is due to be held on the nurse who apparently took her own life after she was duped by a hoax call made to the hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge.Read

Tory anger at gay marriage plans Dec 11 2012

The Government will set out its plans to legislate for gay marriage amid bitter opposition from some Tory MPs.Read

Officer attack 'attempted murder' Dec 11 2012

Police are treating an attack by loyalists on a police officer in Belfast on Monday night as attempted murder.Read

Hard core still risk drink-driving Dec 11 2012

Almost 20% of motorists have taken a risk by drink-driving at Christmas, according to an AA/Populus survey.Read

Plans unveiled over whiplash claims Dec 11 2012

The Government is to unveil plans to reduce the huge number of whiplash claims which have been pushing up insurance premiums.Read

UK 'will help train Syrian rebels' Dec 11 2012

Britain is working with key international allies on plans to provide Syrian rebels with military training and air and naval support, it has been reported.Read

Prison's failings slammed in report Dec 11 2012

Prison inspectors have produced a damning report into the safety standards at an overcrowded jail published just days after it was saved from the axe.Read

Strauss-Kahn settles assault claim Dec 11 2012

Former International Monetary Fund leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn and a hotel maid have settled her lawsuit over sexual assault allegations that sank his political career and spurred scrutiny of his dealings with women on two continents.Read

Protests over train fare hikes Dec 11 2012

Average train fares have increased by more than 26% since the start of the recession, almost three times faster than wages, new research reveals.Read

Jobs market set for happy new year Dec 11 2012

The employment outlook is at its strongest level since before the recession, although many new jobs are part-time or temporary, according to a new study.Read

Data laws are overkill, report says Dec 11 2012

The Government has been accused of using "fanciful and misleading" figures to back up its plans to give police and security services new powers to snoop on all emails, web visits and phone calls.Read

Netanyahu slams double standards Dec 11 2012

Israel's prime minister has accused the international community of "deafening silence" in response to recent vows by the head of the Hamas militant group to fight on until the Jewish state is destroyed, and appeared unmoved by the gathering storm of global condemnation of his government's plans to continue settling the West Bank.Read

HSBC 'pays £1.2bn to settle probe' Dec 11 2012

HSBC will pay 1.9 billion US dollars (£1.2 billion) to settle a money-laundering probe by US federal and state authorities into Europe's biggest bank, officials have said.Read

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UK & World News for 11 December 2012

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