UK News: Teen charged with schoolgirl's murder

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of schoolgirl Rebecca Aylward whose body was found in woodland.

Rebecca, 15, was found dead on Sunday in Aberkenfig, Bridgend, south Wales.

Another boy aged 15 who was arrested over her death was released without charge.

Claimants 'fit to work'

THREE-QUARTERS of people applying for a new benefits programme have been found fit to work, or withdrew their application before having a medical assessment, it was revealed today. The Department for Work and Pensions said the figures emphasised the importance of getting people into work.

Young drivers know road danger all too well

BY the time they reach driving age, two thirds of teenagers know someone who has been killed or injured in a road crash, the AA said today.

As many as 67 per cent of 16 and 17-year-olds know at least one road casualty, with 22 per cent saying they know three or more, the survey revealed.

By their 18th birthday, 11 per cent of motorists have themselves been in a crash involving injury or death, said the AA survey. Young people in Northern Ireland are the most likely to know someone hurt or killed on the road.

135m in council frauds

COUNCILS were fleeced of 135 million through nearly 120,000 frauds last year, spending watchdogs said today.

Scams involving the 25 per cent single person council tax discount cost English authorities 90 million alone after a "sharp increase" in claims, the soon-to-be abolished Audit Commission said.

BA boss attacks flight checks

THE chairman of British Airways has attacked "completely redundant" airport checks and said the UK should stop "kowtowing" to US demands for increased security.

Martin Broughton said people shouldn't have to take off their shoes and have their laptops checked.

Londonderry: A police officer has been suspended following a probe into how a dissident republican killed himself while in custody. The Police Ombudsman found no evidence John Brady was mistreated, but officers were criticised for having left the suspect alone on nine occasions at Strand Road police station.

London: A woman faced more police questioning today over the death of a man allegedly pushed under a Tube train while wearing women's clothes. He died after he was struck by a train at London's King's Cross underground station on Monday evening.