Google yesterday refused to remove an offensive image of first lady Michelle Obama from its search results. The image was the first hit for any searches for "Michelle Obama" in Google Images. The search engine added the notice "Offensive Search Results" above the image and a message declaring: "Sometimes our search results can be offensive. We agree."

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:00:00

A meningitis victim left severely brain-damaged after a hospital failed to initially diagnose his condition has today been awarded £3.2 million. Mark Thomas, from Walsall, was 12 years old when doctors failed to recognise his worsening symptoms after his family took him to hospital. In 2002 Mr Thomas developed an ear infection which eventually led to the virus. Blood tests taken at Walsall Manor hospital took five days to be reviewed.

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:00:00

The UK economy is contracting at a slower place than had previously been predicted in the third quarter of this year. Data this morning from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed the economy shrank by just 0.3 per cent in the three months through September, an upward revision of 0.1 per cent from the 0.4 per cent forecast contraction. Although the news was a surprise to many analysts, it bolstered views the UK could exit recession in the final quarter of this year.

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:00:00

The way in which major public order events are policed "needs to evolve", a review following the disastrous handling of the G20 protests in central London has claimed. Metropolitan police commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson ordered a review into current tactics following the death of Ian Tomlinson outside the Bank of England back in April as well as numerous complaints of police brutality. In the second part of his review, Denis O'Connor, HM chief inspector of policing, has revealed a series of failings and claimed the shift towards more aggressive policing represents a betrayal of traditional methods used in Britain.

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:00:00

Billions of pounds in refunded overdraft charges will not be paid out to customers after the supreme court ruled in favour of the banks. Lord Phillips revealed the decision in favour of the banks, which wanted to stop the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) using consumer protection rules to investigate the fairness of their charges on unauthorised overdrafts. It is believed the seven banks and one building society had an estimated £2.6 billion of annual income at stake.

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:30:00

A man hired by the parents of Madeleine McCann in the search for their daughter and wanted by US authorities over an alleged fraud has been arrested. Kevin Halligen was taken into custody yesterday afternoon following discrepancies over his bill at the Old Bank hotel in Oxford. The 48-year-old is wanted by the US department of justice over allegations he tried to defraud a London law firm of more than $2 million (£1.2 million).

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:10:00

Police have found Jane Andrews, the ex-royal aide who escaped an open prison while serving a life sentence for murder. Andrews had been missing from East Sutton Park open prison since last Sunday, but Kent police say she has now been found "safe and well". The 42-year-old was found in the Maidstone area on the early hours of this morning. She is now in police custody.

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:00:00

The education watchdog Ofsted has been accused by local government leaders of "feeding people's fears" rather than improving child protection. The criticisms from the Local Government Association (LGA) said Ofsted should be a calm, measured voice that helps to make child protection services work better. The LGA is now calling for the watchdog to sign up to its own improvement plan to "win back the confidence of the public, central government and councils".

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:59:41

The number of people believed to have been killed in a politically-motivated attack in the southern Philippines has risen to 52, local officials have confirmed. Police announced six more bodies had been discovered in a shallow grave close to the scene where another 46 victims were found. The group were killed as they travelled to file nomination papers in the southern province of Maguindanao on Monday.

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:55:05

The UK government's controversial claim that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction will be discussed in detail at the Iraq inquiry later today. Former senior Foreign Office staff Tim Dowse and William Ehrman will appear before the committee on the second full day of hearings in central London. They are expected to give evidence to the five-member committee on the intelligence available to ministers regarding Iraq's alleged arsenal prior to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:53:26