UK News: Trainee RAF pilots set to be grounded

Reports today said up to 100 student pilots will be told they have no future in the service.

They are said to include some who are just a few flying hours away from earning their wings as fully qualified pilots.

Probe into family deaths

POST-mortem examinations are due to be carried out today on a man believed to have taken his own life after killing his former partner and two children.

Aram Abdul Razaq Aziz, 32, was found at a Leicester park on Friday. The bodies of his former partner and two children were found at a flat on Saturday.

Loophole allows illegal workers benefit claims

TENS of thousands of illegal migrant workers could be claiming benefits due to a legal "loophole" in the welfare system, the government said.

The Department for Work and Pensions said illegal immigrants could still claim employment and support allowance and statutory payments such as maternity or paternity pay and sick pay.

Officials say that 155,000 people working illegally could currently claim at least one of the benefits but new legislation will close the loophole.

Job woe for graduates

MORE than a third of graduates have claimed the dole since leaving university, research suggests.

Of these, a third have done so for more than six months, according to a study by totaljobs.com.

The survey, which questioned more than 400 adults, found that many students are leaving university believing higher education has not equipped them for work.

Firth 'excited' for Oscars

COLIN Firth admitted there was "immense excitement" about the forthcoming Oscars ceremony where he will be hoping to repeat his Bafta triumph.

The King's Speech swept the board at the ceremony in central London last night.

South Wales: Cleaners at one of the country's biggest steelworks were set to strike today in a row over pay. Members of the Community trade union were to mount picket lines outside the Port Talbot plant and continue with the action until tomorrow.

Surrey: A paranormal "expert in residence" will be on hand at the opening of a theme park ride next month to monitor any strange activity after fears that an ancient burial ground has been disturbed.

A new ride at Thorpe Park was moved to another part of the site after workers said they started noticing ghostly sightings nearby.