1. UK troops may face war crimes prosecution
UK troops who fought in the Iraq war may face prosecution for war crimes, reports the BBC. Mark Warwick, the head of a unit investigating alleged abuses, says there are "lots of significant cases" and that discussions are to be held over whether they met a war crimes threshold. The Ministry of Defence says it takes such allegations "extremely seriously".
2. Cheating epidemic 'fuelled by foreign students'
Almost 50,000 students at British universities have been caught cheating in the last three years, reports The Times. There are fears of a plagiarism "epidemic" disproportionately fuelled by foreign students, with those from outside the EU most likely to cheat, according to the report. However, less than one percent of those caught cheating were expelled.
3. Erdogan: I want to be Turkey's Hitler
President Erdogan has cited Adolf Hitler’s Germany as an example of the kind of regime he wants to build. Questioned by reporters over his plans for a new political system, the president of Turkey said: “There are already examples in the world. You can see it when you look at Hitler’s Germany. There are examples in various other countries.”
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4. Litter fines to rise to £150 amid 'human rights' fear
Fines for dropping litter will rise to £150 this year, reports the Daily Telegraph. Communities minister Marcus Jones said he wants the new fines to hit litter louts “in the pocket”, ahead of the publication of a new national litter strategy to "create a lasting clutter-free legacy for England". The head of an anti-litter campaign warns that litter louts think it is their “human right” to drop rubbish.
5. Two dead after Israeli bar shooting
Two people have died a gunman opened fire with an automatic rifle at a crowded bar in Tel Aviv, Israel. Local security forces have launched a huge manhunt for the gunman, cordoning off areas of the city. The suspect was identified as a 29-year-old Israeli-Arab from Arara in the north of the country, after his father called the police.
6. Protests as UK rail fares rise by 1.1%
Rail fares across England, Wales and Scotland go up by an average of 1.1% from today. Although it is the smallest increase in six years, the rise, which sends some long-distance annual season tickets above £10,000 for the first time, has been met with horror. Bruce Williamson, from the Railfuture campaign group, says fares are "increasingly divorced from reality".
7. Majority of UK police forces disproportionately white
Most UK police forces have a disproportionate number of white officers, reports The Guardian. A white applicant has a better chance of succeeding than someone from an ethnic minority in more than two-thirds of the UK’s forces, according to data released under the freedom of information act. The home secretary has criticised police for not employing enough black, Asian and minority ethnic officers.
8. Gorilla's new year message berates mankind
A New Year message from a gorilla has urged mankind to stop destroying the planet. In the 60-second video, Koko, a 44-year-old great ape which has been learning sign language since she was one, said: “I am gorilla, I am flowers, animals. I am Nature. Koko love man. Earth Koko love.” The message was scripted by a French conservation group.
9. Shooting outside French mosque after car attack
Soldiers opened fire on a man outside a mosque in France after he drove a car at them, police say. Officers say the driver injured one of the four soldiers, who were guarding the mosque in Valence, in the south-east of the country. The driver has been hospitalised after being shot in the arm and leg but his injuries are not life-threatening, the government said.
10. Couple's despair after £35m lottery blunder
A couple who thought they had won the £35m Lottery jackpot missed out on the prize after failing to top up their online account properly. Despite picking all six winning numbers, Edwina and David Nylan did not win a penny because the app did not register their purchase. “Shocked isn't the word, but as a family we stick together and just have to be grateful for what we've got,” said Mrs Nylan.
