Madeleine decision

Prosecutors in Portugal are expected to announce that their investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance will be closed. The toddler disappeared from a hotel room in Praia da Luz in May last year. Fernando José Pinto Monteiro, the Attorney-General, has promised to announce a “solution”. Gerry and Kate McCann, Madeleine’s parents both 40, from Rothley, Leicestershire, could remain “arguidos”, or formal suspects.

Jobless to reach 2m

The number of people out of work will reach two million by 2010, the highest level since the early days of new Labour, according to a think-tank. The unemployed number will rise from 1.6 million to 2 million for the first time since July 1997, according to the Ernst & Young ITEM club. It said that the poor British jobs market would reverse immigration trends.

MoD laptop stolen

The Ministry of Defence said last night that another laptop with “sensitive information” on it had been stolen, this time while one of its officials checked out of the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool city centre on Thursday. On Friday the MoD admitted that 658 of its laptops had been stolen over the past four years – nearly double the figure that had previously been disclosed.

Three Lotto winners

Three winners shared the £3.6 million lottery jackpot on Saturday. The winning numbers were 6, 9, 13, 18, 29 and 30. The bonus ball was 37. The Dream Number was 5827174. In the Thunderball draw the winning numbers were 12, 17, 24, 27 and 32. The Thunderball number was 6. The estimated jackpot for Wednesday’s main lottery draw is £2.5 million.

Call for immigrants to be legal for £5,000

Britain’s half a million illegal immigrants should be offered the chance to turn legitimate in exchange for a £5,000 fee, according to the liberal think-tank Centre Forum.

It said that anyone in Britain illegally for more than three months should be allowed to begin an “enrolment period” for a £200 charge, followed by five annual instalments of about £1,000.

At the end of the process, they could be granted permanent residence in the UK if they fulfilled a series of criteria, such as being able to prove they were paying taxes, holding a stable job and able to speak basic English.

Air crash families sue

The families of two backpackers who died in a plane crash in Thailand are taking legal action against the airline, One-Two-Go. Bethan Jones, 22, of Porth, South Wales, was pulled alive from the wreckage but died in hospital. Her boyfriend, Alex Collins, 22, of Maesteg, near Bridgend, South Wales, died in the crash. The flight, from Bangkok to Phuket, crashed and burst into flames on September 17 last year.

Star flickers back

The Northern Star has began to flicker again after a century of decline. The star, also known as Polaris, is a cepheid – one that has a cycle of brightness and dimness – and is used to map distances in the galaxy. A century ago there was as much as 10 per cent difference between the brightest and dimmest times. By 1995 the variations had fallen to just 2 per cent but now they have risen to 4 per cent.

Holiday toddler dies

A toddler has died after an accident in a swimming pool while on a family holiday in Turkey. Lucy Cardwell, 2, from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, died two days after hitting her head on the side of the pool at a family friend’s home in Dalyan. Last year her uncle, Daniel Cardwell, 15, was found drowned in a quarry on Lucy’s first birthday. The Foreign Office said that it was providing assistance.

Vaccination extended

More girls aged 17 to 18 are to be offered vaccination against human papilloma virus, a leading cause of cervical cancer. Dawn Primarolo, the Public Health Minister, said an extra 300,000 girls could be vaccinated because she has chosen to use the vaccine Cervarix. This is cheaper than a rival vaccine, Gardasil, although that also protects against genital warts. Critics say the choice is not health-effective.

Seaside hotel boom

Travelodge, the hotel chain, is to build 55 new hotels in seaside resorts. The company said that it would be spending £150 million on developing an average of almost one hotel a month up until 2015 in towns such as Blackpool, Newquay, Bournemouth and Scarborough. A spokesman said: “As our hotels are no frills, our customers spend their holiday cash in our hotels’ communities.”

Two held over beach death

A 16-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man have been arrested in connection with the death of a man who was found with serious head injuries at Par beach in Cornwall. The victim, who was in his twenties, died in hospital. A police spokesman said: “We want to talk to anyone who may have seen a violent altercation near a bench between the beach and the holiday village.”

Victim of car chase named

The driver killed on Friday when a stolen 4x4 being chased by police careered into his car has been named. William Forrest, 52, a printer who lived in Newcastle upon Tyne with his partner, had two sons.

No charges over explosion

Nobody will be prosecuted after a blast that seriously hurt four teenage girls. The explosion, in Llanelli, South Wales, in December, involved a cigarette lighter and excessive use of deodorant, police said.

Oldest swinger on the course

A man celebrated his 100th birthday with a round of golf. Ralph Hoare, of Gloucester, took up the sport aged 58. He plays twice a week with a friend, aged 93, but said his handicap had slipped a little in recent years.

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