1. SADDAM HENCHMAN TARIQ AZIZ DIES AT 79
Tariq Aziz, Saddam Hussein's foreign minister and the face of his regime overseas, has died in prison at the age of 79. Aziz, who was a Christian, became well-known during the first Gulf War of 1991 and was captured by US forces after the fall of Baghdad in 2003. He was sentenced to death in 2010 but his execution never took place.
2. US: CHINESE HACKERS BEHIND DATA BREACH
Chinese hackers are suspected of carrying out a massive breach of data affecting almost four million US government workers and former workers in April this year. China has warned against “jumping to conclusions” after the Senate Intelligence Committee said it believed the hackers were based there.
China blamed for 'massive breach' of US government data
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3. KENNEDY DEATH LINKED TO ALCOHOLISM
Former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy died of a "major haemorrhage" as "a consequence of his battle with alcoholism", his family have said. In a statement thanking the public and politicians for their messages of support they said the 55-year-old's alcoholism was "an illness Charles could not conquer despite all the efforts he and others made".
Charles Kennedy laid to rest near parents in the Highlands
4. GREECE DELAYS €300M DEBT REPAYMENT
Greece has delayed a €300m debt repayment, due today, and now says it will pay off €1.5bn at the end of the month. Greece's bailout deal with the EU and the IMF expires at the end of the month and the announcement is seen as political. Creditors have offered Greece more aid, but want economic reforms in return.
Greece finally reaches deal to release €12bn bailout funds
5. FACEBOOK CRITICISED FOR BABY VIDEO
Facebook has been criticised by the NSPCC for allowing a clip which shows a “terrified, sobbing baby” being repeatedly dunked into a bucket of water. The clip carries a warning but the social network has refused to remove it, admitting it is “upsetting and disturbing” but saying it does not breaches rules.
6. NZ RUGBY STAR JERRY COLLINS KILLED
Former New Zealand rugby star Jerry Collins, capped 48 times, has been killed with his wife in a car crash in France. The couple’s baby daughter is fighting for her life. Collins is believed to have stopped his car on the A9 near Beziers because of an unknown problem. A bus with 20 passengers then hit it at speed.
Jerry Collins: All Black 'Hitman' who turned out for Barnstable
7. PRINCESS CHARLOTTE: JULY CHRISTENING
Princess Charlotte, the second child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will be christened at St Mary Magdalene church in Sandringham on 5 July, Kensington Palace has announced. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will conduct the service. The royals have been living at Amner Hall on the Sandringham estate since Charlotte's birth.
Princess Charlotte to start nursery school in January
8. ROLLERCOASTERS HALTED AFTER CRASH
Alton Towers will remain shut on Saturday after the rollercoaster crash that left four people seriously injured on Tuesday. Three other rollercoasters - Saw at Thorpe Park and Dragon's Fury and Rattlesnake at Chessington - have been closed while owner Merlin Entertainments implements new "safety protocols".
9. 5,000 LIGHTNING STRIKES ON HOTTEST DAY
Temperatures in south-east England topped 26C as the country experienced hottest day of the year so far. However, the warm weather also brought rain and thunderstorms and the Met Office record 4,900 lightning strikes on Friday morning. The hot spell will be short-lived, with highs of just 21C this weekend.
10. BRIEFING: REPORTS OF HER DEATH…
A BBC journalist prompted a brief global media frenzy on Tuesday when she mistakenly tweeted that the Queen had died. But what would have happened if the report had been true? The arrangements made in preparation for the Queen's death are codenamed the "Bridge," and while there is some uncertainty as to what will actually happen in the immediate aftermath, some aspects have been meticulously planned.
London Bridge is down: what happens when the Queen dies
