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Deaf diplomat loses fight with Foreign Office over posting
Cabinet minister faces inquiry over 'chocfinger'
Tories fear 'car crash' over control orders
Gordon Brown set for Commons return
Eight arrested during illegal rave
Firefighters due to go on strike today
Sir Jock reveals Labour vetoed cuts to forces
BNP establishes 'social networking' branch in America
'Obeisant' spells Scrabble triumph for trans-sexual
UK and France to sign defence treaty
Violence as rave crowd clashes with police
Gordon Brown set to deliver Commons speech

Deaf diplomat loses fight with Foreign Office over posting

Posted: 31 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Equality watchdogs have warned that disabled people face growing barriers in the workplace after a senior diplomat lost her discrimination claim against a Foreign Office refusal to send her abroad on the grounds her deafness made the posting too expensive.

Cabinet minister faces inquiry over 'chocfinger'

Posted: 31 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT

A cabinet minister faces a parliamentary inquiry into his links with a cocoa magnate who donated £40,000 to his political office.

Tories fear 'car crash' over control orders

Posted: 31 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Tensions were running high within the Coalition Government last night over whether to retain the control order regime for terrorist suspects.

Gordon Brown set for Commons return

Posted: 31 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Gordon Brown will return to the political fray today when he delivers his first speech in the House of Commons since Labour's general election defeat almost six months ago.

Eight arrested during illegal rave

Posted: 31 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT

An illegal rave in the centre of London continued throughout yesterday after hundreds of revellers took over a disused eight-storey building.

Firefighters due to go on strike today

Posted: 31 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT

London firefighters were due to strike today in protest against plans for a new shift system after last-ditch talks between the Fire Brigades Union and the capital's fire brigade collapsed last night.

Sir Jock reveals Labour vetoed cuts to forces

Posted: 31 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Proposals put forward by defence chiefs for "painful" cuts to the armed forces were vetoed by Labour ministers, it was claimed yesterday. Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup,former chief of the defence staff, said that plans to reduce fast jet aircraft, ships and Army equipment were all overruled.

BNP establishes 'social networking' branch in America

Posted: 31 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT

The British National Party has set up a branch in the United States – nine years after it abandoned a fundraising drive across the Atlantic amid controversy over its links with American white supremacists.

'Obeisant' spells Scrabble triumph for trans-sexual

Posted: 31 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Casual players of Scrabble, take heart. Even in yesterday's national championship final, the opponents were unafraid to score words more suited to the playground. Beside "zinebs" (a fungicide) and "cothurni" (leather boots worn by Athenian actors), spectators were treated to "tit" and "nads".

UK and France to sign defence treaty

Posted: 31 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Violence as rave crowd clashes with police

Posted: 31 Oct 2010 02:20 AM PDT

Hundreds of revellers were taking part in a suspected illegal rave today after a stand-off with riot police.

Gordon Brown set to deliver Commons speech

Posted: 31 Oct 2010 02:15 AM PDT

Gordon Brown will signal his return to the political fray tomorrow by making his first Commons speech since leaving Downing Street.