1. UK householders hit by energy price rip-off
Thousands of people have been caught up in an “energy price rip-off”, says The Times. Households are paying “extortionate” charges to the UK’s energy networks for routine jobs. Some are being billed up to £5,400 to have their meters moved, while others are forking out only hundreds of pounds for the same work.
2. Climate change deal to be presented today
The team behind the climate talks in Paris say a final draft text has been agreed after nearly a fortnight of intensive negotiations. French and UN officials announced that they had completed an edit of the final draft agreement to be presented to ministers later this morning. Barack Obama has called a number of world leaders in recent days, including Xi Jinping, president of China.
3. Blair: I stopped ISIS getting chemical weapons
Tony Blair says he prevented ISIS from developing chemical weapons. The former PM, often blamed for the rise of the terror group, said that his negotiations with Colonel Gaddafi in 2004 led to the leader ditching his arsenal of chemical weapons, meaning there were no such arms to seize when ISIS began operating in Libya.
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4. Protests as hacking inquiry is closed
The former Met commissioner has criticised the phone hacking investigation after the CPS announces the hacking inquiry has been brought to an end. News International and former Mirror editor Piers Morgan will face no further action. However, phone-hacking victims are expected to demand a review of the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision.
5. Jeremy Corbyn hails 'vital' Stop The War group
Jeremy Corbyn has addressed a fundraising dinner for the Stop the War coalition, despite calls from some of his MPs not to attend. The Labour leader said the organisation was a "vital force" and "one of the most important democratic campaigns of modern times", which had brought "hundreds of thousands of people" to protests.
6. Will you be moved to quarterly tax returns?
Most self-employed people are to be forced to file tax returns four times a year, claims the Daily Mail. In a move the paper says was “slipped out” in George Osborne’s autumn statement, self-employed workers, landlords and small businesses will be switched from annual to quarterly returns, bringing them into line with big corporations.
7. Saudi women vote for the first time
Saudi women are voting for the first time as the country goes to the polls in unprecedented municipal elections. Women are also standing as candidates for the first time, despite the kingdom being the only nation where women are not allowed to drive. A total of 978 women have registered as candidates, alongside 5,938 men.
8. Boy dies after hoverboard bus crash
A boy has died after being hit by a bus while riding a hoverboard. An investigation is underway after the 15-year-old was killed after being hit by the vehicle in Alperton, north west London, on Thursday night. The boy is believed to have been clipped and dragged under a bus as he rode the self-balancing scooter, also known as a Swegway.
9. Cumbria faces yet more rain misery
Flood-hit Cumbria is preparing for more rain, says Sky News. Just days after thousands of homes were flooded, beleaguered residents are being warned they could see another deluge this weekend. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning, adding that it would not take "an awful lot of rain" for rivers to overflow, as many did last weekend, ruining homes and businesses.
10. Home nations await the Euro 2016 draw
The home nations will find out who they will meet at next summer's tournament in France when the Euro 2016 draw takes place in Paris on Saturday afternoon. England are joined in the draw by Wales and Northern Ireland. It will be Wales’ first major tournament in 58 years and Northern Ireland’s first ever European Championship.
