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Your support makes all the difference.Yemenis executed for crime gang role
Saudi Arabia has executed five Yemenis convicted of crimes and displayed their bodies in public as a deterrent for future criminals. The Interior Ministry says the five were convicted of setting up a gang that carried out several crimes, including the murder of a Saudi man.
Water at UK beaches among worst in EU
Water off UK beaches is among the worst in Europe, according to the European Environment Agency. Six per cent of beaches and other swimming spots fail to meet minimum EU standards. A total of 55 beaches achieved a “blue flag” status for 2013, down from 79 last year. MORE
Prosecutor appeals over suspect naming
Britain’s leading prosecutor has called for more “wiggle room” over new plans to protect the identity of suspects arrested by the police. But Keir Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, said there could be no “blanket rule” that nobody is named at the point of arrest. MORE
Power failure hits eight million people
A power failure has affected more than eight million people in Thailand’s 14 southern provinces, including tourist areas such as Koh Samui and Phuket. The blackout was triggered by the failure of the main high-voltage transmission line connecting the south to the central region.
Pope Francis ‘exorcises’ invalid
Pope Francis has been captured on film apparently performing an exorcism on Sunday. The footage shows Francis gripping the top of the wheelchair-bound subject’s head while reciting a prayer. MORE
Mother’s iodine level related to child’s IQ
The children of women with an iodine deficiency have a lower IQ and reading ability, a report has claimed. A study of 1,000 pregnant women found that two-thirds of them had iodine levels below recommended levels and that their children had a 60 per cent higher risk of having a low IQ. The best dietary sources of iodine are milk and fish. MORE
Scotland ‘can afford independence’
Scotland can “more than afford” to function as an independent country, says Alex Salmond. The First Minister said, at the launch of his government’s case for independence, Scottish citizens had paid more tax per head than the rest of the UK for 30 years. Ex-Chancellor Alistair Darling slammed his “flimsy economic plan”.
Former president barred from election
One of Iran’s most reform-minded presidential candidates has been barred from standing in next month’s presidential ballot. The country’s former president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, was blocked yesterday along with 678 other candidates who had initially put their names forward.
Fire crews rescue bear from tree
Firefighters in Colorado Springs were called to rescue a bear from a tree. After the 200lb creature was tranquilised it climbed even higher before falling asleep in a crook in the tree. Fire crews used a ladder truck to reach the snoozing bear and attach a harness before lowering it to the ground.
Forgers had £50,000 in fake £1 coins
Three forgers have been jailed for what police believe is the largest ever plot to make fake £1 coins – some of which may still be in circulation. A 40-foot container with 1,600,000 metal discs and £20,000 of fake coins was found in Waltham Abbey, Essex, last May. There was also £30,000 in fake coins in a car.
Dating site cracks down on pests
Women who use the most popular internet dating website in Britain are being harassed for sex by men sending them photos of their penises. “At first I was really shocked by it but it happened so often it just became laughable,” one user said. Plenty of Fish has now scrapped its ‘Intimate Encounters’ option. MORE
Racing pigeon sold for record £264k
A Chinese businessman has paid a world record €310,000 (£264,000) for a Belgian racing pigeon. The one-year-old award-winner, named Bolt, was bred by well-known Belgian pigeon fancier Leo Heremans, who sold his entire collection of 530 birds for €4.3m (£3.7m) at an auction over the weekend.
Everest climber tops UK record
Britain’s most successful mountaineer, from Gloucestershire, has become the first person to scale the three peaks of Mount Everest and two of its sister peaks in one climb. Kenton Cool, 39, and his climbing partner Sherpa Dorje Gylgen reached the summits of Nuptse, Everest and Lhotse. He holds a British record after 11 Everest climbs.
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