http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/ Read all the latest national news from the Birmingham Mail. Comprehensive reports on UK news and interesting events in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. en-gb http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/warning-as-species-drop-by-third-97319-20919641/ Fri, 16 May 2008 04:00:29 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/warning-as-species-drop-by-third-97319-20919641/ Populations of animal, bird and fish species have dropped by almost a third since 1970, conservationists have warned. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/court-to-rule-on-mps-expenses-97319-20919607/ Fri, 16 May 2008 04:00:28 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/court-to-rule-on-mps-expenses-97319-20919607/ The High Court will rule on the House of Commons' bid to overturn an information watchdog's decision to force disclosure of MPs' expenses. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/call-for-water-market-competition-97319-20919567/ Fri, 16 May 2008 02:00:24 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/call-for-water-market-competition-97319-20919567/ Water and sewerage markets could be opened up to competition under recommendations announced by regulator Ofwat. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/cost-of-fixed-rate-mortgages-soars-97319-20919495/ Fri, 16 May 2008 00:30:22 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/cost-of-fixed-rate-mortgages-soars-97319-20919495/ Homeowners refinancing their mortgage face the highest fixed-rates deals since the start of the decade, it was reported. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/fo-launches-new-locate-service-97319-20919529/ Fri, 16 May 2008 00:30:22 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/fo-launches-new-locate-service-97319-20919529/ The Foreign Office has launched a new service to help track down Britons caught in emergencies abroad. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/four-year-delay-for-patient-records-97319-20919427/ Fri, 16 May 2008 00:30:21 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/four-year-delay-for-patient-records-97319-20919427/ An electronic system for patients' records will not be introduced to every NHS Trust in England until 2014-15 - four years later than planned - a public spending watchdog said. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/smaller-classes-could-boost-reading-97319-20919461/ Fri, 16 May 2008 00:30:21 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/smaller-classes-could-boost-reading-97319-20919461/ Class sizes should be cut to a maximum of 25 to help young children who struggle with reading, a report on primary education has said. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/demand-for-social-housing-to-rise-97319-20919324/ Thu, 15 May 2008 23:30:20 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/16/demand-for-social-housing-to-rise-97319-20919324/ Up to five million people could be on the waiting list for social housing within two years, town hall leaders have warned. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/make-up-artist-probe-husband-held-97319-20919126/ Thu, 15 May 2008 21:30:37 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/make-up-artist-probe-husband-held-97319-20919126/ The husband of an Emmy award-winning make-up artist has been arrested hours after human remains were found hidden in woodland. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/fan-rampage-response-appropriate-97319-20918620/ Thu, 15 May 2008 18:30:38 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/fan-rampage-response-appropriate-97319-20918620/ Police defended their response to rampaging Rangers fans as "appropriate" as they blamed a minority of yobs for violent clashes which marred the Uefa Cup final. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/two-held-in-terror-swoop-on-campus-97319-20918553/ Thu, 15 May 2008 18:00:29 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/two-held-in-terror-swoop-on-campus-97319-20918553/ Two men have been arrested at a university campus under the Terrorism Act, police said. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/britons-feared-being-buried-alive-97319-20918316/ Thu, 15 May 2008 17:30:24 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/britons-feared-being-buried-alive-97319-20918316/ British holidaymakers who were on a panda-watching trip in China when the earthquake struck said they feared being "buried alive". http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/40-rise-in-youth-violence-97319-20918352/ Thu, 15 May 2008 17:30:24 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/40-rise-in-youth-violence-97319-20918352/ Violent crime by young people has rocketed by nearly 40% in just three years, new figures show. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/sixth-tooth-found-in-jersey-house-97319-20918388/ Thu, 15 May 2008 17:30:24 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/sixth-tooth-found-in-jersey-house-97319-20918388/ Police investigating decades of child abuse at a former Jersey children's home said they have found a sixth tooth in a secret underground chamber. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/burma-britain-pledges-extra-12m-97319-20918141/ Thu, 15 May 2008 17:00:21 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/burma-britain-pledges-extra-12m-97319-20918141/ The UK Government has announced an extra £12 million in humanitarian assistance to aid victims of the Burma cyclone, bringing the total to £17 million so far. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/olympic-diver-jailed-over-sex-abuse-97319-20917931/ Thu, 15 May 2008 16:30:25 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/olympic-diver-jailed-over-sex-abuse-97319-20917931/ A former Olympic diving star has been jailed for nine years after he sexually abused schoolgirls as young as six. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/fatal-blast-caused-by-gas-leak-97319-20917724/ Thu, 15 May 2008 16:30:24 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/fatal-blast-caused-by-gas-leak-97319-20917724/ An explosion which destroyed three houses and killed a man was probably not started deliberately, police have said. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/body-found-in-make-up-artist-search-97319-20917389/ Thu, 15 May 2008 16:00:24 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/body-found-in-make-up-artist-search-97319-20917389/ The family of a missing award-winning TV make-up artist have been informed that a body has been discovered in woodland, police said. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/pm-defiant-despite-economic-concern-97319-20916807/ Thu, 15 May 2008 14:30:19 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/pm-defiant-despite-economic-concern-97319-20916807/ Gordon Brown has insisted he was the right person to guide Britain through difficult economic times, as he continued his effort to reassert his authority in the wake of the worst weeks of his premiership. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/cd-helps-baby-starling-to-safety-97319-20916468/ Thu, 15 May 2008 13:00:22 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/national-news/2008/05/15/cd-helps-baby-starling-to-safety-97319-20916468/ A baby bird trapped in a wall space was rescued with the help of a CD of birdsong, the RSPCA has said.