UK News: Bailed-out banks to make taxpayers £30bn

THE Government is set to reap almost £30 billion from its holdings in British banks which it bailed out, according to an analysis published today.

The sum - enough to fund the UK's primary schools for a year - represents a dramatic turnaround from predictions that propping up the banks could cost 850 billion.

Cricket probe nears end

CRICKET authorities are hoping for "some sort of a conclusion" by the weekend to the crisis over match-fixing allegations involving Pakistani players.

The International Cricket Council, said cricketers found guilty faced swift and firm punishment, including being thrown out of the sport.

UK floats plan to share warships with France

BRITAIN and France could share their aircraft carrier capability in a dramatic co-operation pact designed to maintain military power while cutting costs, it was reported today.

The Ministry of Defence described reports as "speculation".

But a source said that ideas for all sorts of co-operation would be "on the table" when Defence Secretary Liam Fox visited Paris for talks with his French counterparts on Friday.

Negative equity continues

HOMEOWNERS who bought at the height of the housing market face another four years of negative equity before they recover what they paid, according to a forecast published today.

People who bought at the peak of the market in 2007 will have to wait until 2014 before emerging from negative equity, according to a report by the National Housing Federation.

Cowell to cut hopefuls' pay

SIMON Cowell has threatened to dock his X Factor contestants' future pay following reports that they damaged his rented villa in Spain.

The reality show hopefuls at the mogul's boot camp are said to have caused damage worth thousands of pounds to the Marbella property.

London: A hospital has stepped up cleaning after four premature babies were found to be infected with a superbug resistant to common antibiotics. The babies at the neonatal unit at University College Hospital, were infected with so-called "gram-negative" bacteria. One of the infants died.

Kent: The police watchdog is investigating after a man died following attempts to restrain him. Staff at Medway Maritime Hospital, called police yesterday to report that a 52-year-old man being held there under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act was missing.