1. SIX ARRESTED OVER MATCH-FIXING IN UK
Police probing the alleged fixing of UK football matches by an Asian betting syndicate have arrested six men in the last two days. The arrests, including three current players in the English Football Conference and one agent, come after the Daily Telegraph secretly recorded a man saying he paid players £7,000 each.
Six men arrested after English football match-fixing probe
2. CAMERON’S ‘U-TURN’ ON CIGARETTE PACKS
David Cameron is facing accusations of a U-turn after it emerged the government is paving the way to force cigarette companies to sell their wares in plain, unmarked packaging. Labour had earlier accused Cameron of bending to the will of advisor Lynton Crosby, whom they claimed had lobbied against the measure.
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David Cameron in plain cigarette packaging 'U-turn'
3. MINISTERS CONSIDER ENERGY BILLS
The government is looking at ways to reduce household energy bills, in the wake of Labour’s pledge to freeze prices if elected. David Cameron is keen to undo the social and green levies which he says have added to the cost consumers pay. However, the largest levy, which provides free insulation to homes, will remain.
4. BRAZIL WORLD CUP VENUE DELAYED
A stadium under construction in Brazil for next year’s World Cup will miss its Fifa-imposed construction deadline by between 45 and 60 days after a crane collapse killed two workers and damaged the venue. Six of the new stadiums are ready but there are fears those in Cuiaba, Manaus and Curitiba will miss their deadlines.
What now for Brazil World Cup after stadium collapse?
5. LIFE FOR KILLER OF IRANIAN MAN
Lee James, the 24-year-old man who admitted murdering a neighbour who had been wrongly accused of being a paedophile, has been jailed for life. James killed Bijan Ebrahimi, an Iranian national, in July at his flat in the Brislington area of Bristol. He then dragged the body out of the building and set fire to it.
Life for killer of Iranian man wrongly accused of paedophilia
6. FINGERS CROSSED FOR ‘COMET OF CENTURY’
Astronomers are anxiously waiting to see if a comet dubbed the potential ‘Comet of the century’ will survive a potentially bruising encounter with the Sun. Comet Ison could spectacularly light up the skies of Earth - if it is not destroyed by the Sun’s heat and gravitational force. It will pass the Sun at 6.35pm UK time today.
Has part of Comet Ison made it past the Sun?
7. PARIS GUN SUSPECT'S 'UK CONVICTION'
The man suspected of carrying out a series of shootings in central Paris was convicted of domestic violence in the UK earlier this year, according to the French newspaper targeted in one of the attacks last week. According to Liberation, Abdelhakim Dekhar was convicted of assault by St Albans Magistrates' Court, Watford, in January.
Paris gunman suspect 'guilty of domestic violence in the UK'
8. PROFESSIONALS STAR LEWIS COLLINS DIES
Lewis Collins, the British actor who sprang to fame as CI5 agent Bodie in TV's The Professionals has died at the age of 67. Collins, who starred opposite Martin Shaw in the fast-paced 80s drama, had been suffering from cancer for five years. His agent said he "died peacefully" at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by family.
Lewis Collins: five things about 'Bodie' from The Professionals
9. NPOWER CONFIRMS 1,460 JOBS TO BE CUT
Energy giant Npower has confirmed that 1,460 UK jobs are to go as part of a major corporate restructuring. The company, owned by Germany's RWE, plans to outsource much of its customer service and back office functions to Capita and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), it said in a statement.
10. HOT TICKET: SARAH RUHL'S VIBRATOR PLAY
Sarah Ruhl's In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) has opened at St James Theatre, London. The comedy about Victorian attitudes to female sexuality is set in a 19th century doctor's surgery where women are treated for "hysteria" with an early vibrator. "Stimulating," says The Times. Until 4 January.
'Stimulating' vibrator play In the Next Room - reviews
