1. COMPETITION PROBE FOR RETAIL BANKING
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is to launch an investigation to decide whether small businesses and consumers are being failed by a lack of competition in retail banking, due to the dominance of the largest four lenders, which together control about 77% of personal current accounts.
2. EBOLA: UN ‘DOES NOT HAVE RESOURCES’
The head of the UN mission to fight the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa, Tony Banbury, says he does not yet have the resources necessary to defeat the disease, despite significant contributions from the UK, US, China and Cuba. Banbury was speaking after visiting Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
3. TREASURY TO CALL FOR FUEL PRICE CUT
Treasury chief secretary Danny Alexander will today call on fuel suppliers to drop their prices further after the cost of oil fell from about $115 per barrel in June to about $84, a decline of about 25%, while petrol prices have only fallen by around 6% at the pump. Major supermarkets have cut prices most.
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4. NEWCASTLE ATTACK ‘FOILED BY POLICE’
Police in Newcastle say they foiled a plot to cause “serious harm” at a city college. An 18-year-old man, arrested on Monday, has been charged with possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and possessing a pipe bomb. Liam Lyburd is due to appear before magistrates in the city later today.
5. SALMOND EFFIGY NOT BURNT IN SUSSEX
The town of Lewes in East Sussex has a tradition of burning effigies of topical figures, including David Cameron and Nick Clegg in 2010. Last night’s victim was supposed to be outgoing Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond but a storm of protest from Scottish nationalists prompted the decision to spare him.
6. ARRESTS AFTER GUY FAWKES PROTEST
Ten arrests were made last night as thousands of anti-capitalist protesters marched from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square in London. Many wore Guy Fawkes face masks as part of the demonstration which was organised by internet collective Anonymous. Three were held on suspicion of assaulting police.
7. GAY CAKE LEGAL ACTION BEGINS IN NI
The Equality Commission is starting civil legal proceedings against a baking company in Belfast which refused to ice a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan earlier this year. The cake was ordered by gay rights activists in Bangor but Ashers Baking Company said it offended its Christian beliefs.
8. AC/DC DRUMMER IN COURT OVER 'MURDER'
The drummer of hard rock band AC/DC, Phil Rudd, has appeared in a New Zealand court to be charged with attempting to arrange a murder, making threats to kill and possessing methamphetamine and cannabis. The 60-year-old, born in Australia, was released on bail. He could face a 10-year jail sentence.
9. NEW PORTRAIT OF QUEEN FOR COINS
The portrait of the Queen which appears on the obverse of UK coins is to be updated for the first time since 1998, through a closed competition with selected designers submitting sketches anonymously. This will be the sixth version of the Queen’s profile to be used during her 62-year reign.
10. HOT TICKET: DANCE DUEL TOROBAKA
A new hybrid dance work, Torobaka, is on stage at Sadler's Wells, London. Contemporary British choreographer Akram Khan and Spanish flamenco master Israel Galvan perform a dance duel with solos drawing on their traditions of Indian Kathak and flamenco. "Extraordinary," says The Times. Until 8 November.
Torobaka – reviews of ‘inspired’ hybrid dance duel