1. Immigration figure hugely overestimated
New data from the Office for National Statistics shows that the number of foreign students overstaying their visas has been hugely overestimated. Only 4,600 overstayed last year. Previous estimates had been close to 100,000. Lib Dem leader Vince Cable called on the Prime Minister to apologise for cracking down on foreign students.
2. Police criticised over Watkins abuse case
A new report is highly critical of South Wales Police, saying the force missed several opportunities to bring paedophile Ian Watkins to justice years before he was finally caught. Watkins, a singer in a world-famous rock group, carried out further offences after witnesses had raised suspicions. Ex-partner Joanne Mjadzelics was ignored.
3. Self-driving lorries to be tested
The government is to fund tests of semi-driverless lorries on motorways, despite objections from motoring groups. Groups of three HGVs will be 'platooned' together, with the rear two vehicles automatically mirroring the braking and acceleration of the lead driver. All three will have human drivers controlling steering.
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4. Donors gave Tories £25m for election
The Electoral Commission has released new data about funding in last year's general election – and it reveals that a record amount was donated to political parties, with more than half of it going to the Conservatives. The party received almost £25m from donors between April and June 2016, compared to the £9.5m given to Labour.
5. Edinburgh Zoo panda 'believed pregnant'
The only female panda in Britain, Edinburgh Zoo's Tian Tian, is believed to be pregnant after artificial insemination. It is the fifth time the animal has been artificially inseminated. She has previously given birth to twins, in China, but all attempts in the UK so far have failed. She and male Yang Guang are on loan from China for ten years.
6. BBC boss calls for cheerful drama
The controller of BBC drama commissioning, Piers Wenger, said yesterday it is time for the broadcaster to tone down the misery and make more "inspiring stories" after a slew of "dark dramas". Recent gloomy shows have included The Fall, Apple Tree Yard and Three Girls – the latter looked at survivors of sexual abuse in Rochdale.
7. Driver arrested with 13 people in lorry
A 26-year-old driver has been arrested and charged with people-trafficking after 13 men and boys aged between 15 and 39 were found in the back of his Romanian lorry near Rugby, many suffering from heat exhaustion. Three of the men were taken to hospital by ambulance and the other 10 were arrested. The back of the lorry was insulated.
8. North Korea accidentally shows missile plans
Awkward photos of leader Kim Jong-un looking at things are a stock-in-trade of North Korean propaganda. But the latest shot released to the world seems to be a blunder: plans for two as-yet untested missile systems are visible, hanging on the wall of a facility at the country's Academy of Defence Sciences as it enjoys a visit from Kim.
9. Grunting cricketers spark complaints
Residents in a newly-built estate want Darlington cricket club to stop practising near their homes because of disturbance including the grunts players make because of the "effort of batting and bowling" and "the noise of the bat striking the ball". The club has played at its Feethams ground since 1866 but the practice area is new.
10. Briefing: The destruction of Turkey's neolithic caves
Turkish construction crews started dynamiting neolithic caves this week to accommodate a new hydroelectric dam.
The Ilisu Dam, the building of which has been delayed for years by protests, is also likely to flood the ancient town of Hasankeyf on the Tigris River. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements on Earth, with evidence of human habitation dating back to 10,000 BC.
"They are not only destroying our past, but also our future by taking away this as a source of income and heritage," one resident told Deutsche Welle. "We would like to apologise to the future generations for allowing this."
Turkey's neolithic caves: is destruction of heritage ever justified?
