1. HEALTH MINISTER BACKS RIGHT TO DIE
Terminally ill people who wish to end their own lives should be allowed to do so in Britain, a newly promoted health minister has told The Times. Calling for greater "honesty", the Under-Secretary of State for Health Anna Soubry said: "It’s ridiculous and appalling that people have to go abroad to end their life instead of being able to end their life at home.”
2. POLICE TO SEARCH Al-HILLI HOME
The Surrey home of Saad al-Hilli, who was shot dead in the French Alps along with his wife and two others, is to be searched by police, a French prosecutor has announced. Meanwhile, al-Hilli's brother Zaid is to be interviewed by French detectives over the suggestion the two men had fallen out due to a dispute over money.
3. OBAMA AND ROMNEY CLASH ON JOBS
The US presidential election campaign has kicked off with a row about employment figures. Figures released on Friday showed fewer jobs were created in August than expected. "We know it's not good enough," Barack Obama told a rally in New Hampshire. Mitt Romney told an Iowa rally, "This president tried but he didn't understand what it takes to make our economy work."
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4. SEPARATE DINNERS BOOST OBESITY
The decline of the traditional family dinner has contributed to Britain's "obesity problem", new research has found. The study, commissioned by the World Health Organisation, found that England has highest proportion of overweight poor people in Europe, more than twice the figure in Italy, Portugal and Spain, where families are more likely to eat together.
5. POSTAL STAFF OPEN MEDICAL RECORDS
The confidential medical records of sick and disabled benefit applicants are routinely opened and sorted by Royal Mail staff, reports The Independent. Medical authorities are furious after learning that the Department of Work and Pensions allows Royal Mail staff to process thousands of benefits claims each day.
6. NEW PRESIDENTIAL FIGURE FOR CHURCH?
The Anglican Church is considering historic reforms, including the appointment of a "presidential" figure to take some of the duties of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams has told The Daily Telegraph. He also admitted to mistakes during his reign, adding: "I know that I've, at various points, disappointed both conservatives and liberals."
7. CHILD CHARITY CHAIR JAILED FOR ABUSE
The chairman of a charity that protects street children in third world countries has been jailed for 30 years for sexually abusing young boys. Simon McCarty, from Surrey, admitted abusing boys and making videos of child pornography, following a joint investigation between UK and US police. He was arrested after being caught with child pornography at a Hawaii airport.
8. HARRY IS 'TARGET FOR TALEBAN'
Prince Harry will become a prime target for Taleban forces when he flies his helicopter over Afghanistan, a former head of the British Army said on Friday. General Lord Dannatt, who was Chief of the General Staff when Harry was first deployed in Afghanistan, said Taleban fighters particularly loathe Apache helicopters and are "always going to be targeting them”.
9. CLARY WINS CELEB BIG BROTHER
Comedian Julian Clary has been crowned winner of Celebrity Big Brother. He beat actor Martin Kemp and Irish singer Coleen Nolan in Friday night's final. "I've never won anything in my life, what will my mother say?" said Clary. He added: "I want to say thank you, you've made a 53-year-old homosexual very happy".
10. ENGLAND THRASH MOLDOVA
England's qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup finals began with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Moldova on Friday night. Frank Lampard scored twice as England recorded its biggest away win since 1993. The only shadow over the victory was cast by John Terry's late ankle injury, which could rule him out of the clash with Ukraine.
