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Updated: 11:57 EST

Rick Parfitt dead aged 68

Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt has died in hospital in Spain after suffering from a severe infection, his manager has said. The veteran musician was taken into hospital in Marbella on Thursday evening due to complications with a pre-existing shoulder injury. He died there at lunchtime on Saturday, his manager and family said in a statement. The Surrey-born guitarist had been dogged by health concerns for years, most recently pulling out of the band's tour following a heart attack over the summer.

Zara and Mike Tindall have lost their baby

Zara and Mike Tindall have lost their baby, a spokeswoman for the couple has said. Equestrian champion Zara - the Queen's granddaughter - and former England rugby player Tindall announced at the end of November they were expecting their second child. A spokeswoman for the couple said: 'Very sadly, Zara and Mike Tindall have lost their baby.'

The 50-year-old's stock seems to have fallen ever since it was announced the baker (pictured) would leave the BBC and stay on as host of the Bake Off in the midst of its big money move to Channel 4.

Mother Nour El Houda Hassani, speaking at Amri's hometown of Oueslatia in Tunisia said that a 'great secret' had died with him.

The candid discussion saw parents sharing what they thought they'd never do before they had kids including pacifying a baby with a dummy and letting them eat fish fingers.

She's a seven-time Oscar nominee and has been knighted.

The former Arsenal full back, who has just £50 to his name, is spending Christmas by himself after splitting from his fiancee and his inability to kick the booze has seen him lose touch with his family.

For a charity that undertakes 70,000 abortions a year — around one-third of all such procedures in England — a serious lapse is simply not good enough, writes SARAH VINE.

Bing

A recent article suggested that former Scottish national rugby player Simon Danielli was accused of battering his estranged wife after she smashed up his car.

London Paddington passengers unaware station is shut until next week

As the great Christmas getaway continues with millions heading home or on holiday for the festive season, stricken rail passengers have been left angry after one of the busiest stations in the capital closed. No trains will operate to or from London Paddington from Saturday until Thursday because of work to build Crossrail - and a technical fault in the Eurotunnel is leading to delays for those crossing the channel. Furious passengers took to social media to express their outrage at Paddington rail station closing for several days (inset) as millions face a 'nasty cocktail' of potential road disruption, the AA has warned, on what is expected to be the second busiest day for traffic over the festive period. Motorists are also facing long delays as the M1 in Bedfordshire was closed due to a major accident.

The Princess has become embroiled in an embarrassing race row over 'yellowface' casting at West London arts venue The Print Room and is being urged to revoke her patronage.

The woman was on a tour of the Caribbean which left New York on Thursday. The flagship ocean liner of the Cunard company had turned back to help look for her before calling off the search.

A huge manhunt was launched involving 70 police, including a counter terrorism squad from Scotland Yard, after an airman was attacked at knifepoint while jogging near RAF Marham .

Eddie Putman, 51, from Kings Langley, is alleged to have submitted a fake ticket when claiming the Lotto prize in 2009. Giles Knibbs, 38, sent a cryptic last text to Putman before taking his own life.

Lindsey Briggs said she is 'forever thankful' for the court ruling that PC Paul Briggs, 43, a Gulf War veteran, should be taken off life support and receive palliative care.

Andrejus Sumilinas, 34, was ‘blind drunk’ when he lashed out at Dr Bevin McCartan at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, as she leant to check his heartbeat with a stethoscope.

Carrie Fisher suffers heart attack on transatlantic flight

Carrie Fisher's daughter has rushed to her bedside as the actress battles for her life in intensive care after suffering a massive heart attack while on board an 11-hour transatlantic flight from London to Los Angeles. A harrowing distress call made by the flight's pilot revealed that Fisher (shown right) - best known for her role as Princess Leia (inset) in the Star Wars franchise - was kept alive with CPR administered by a fellow passenger after she stopped breathing for about 10 minutes. Her 24-year-old daughter Billie Lourd was photographed sitting outside the UCLA Medical Center (pictured left) on Friday afternoon as family and friends wait for an update. The star's brother, Todd Fisher, said there was 'no good or bad news' from doctors, with reports that Fisher is currently breathing through a ventilator. The 60-year-old actress's medical emergency was revealed in a tweet sent by fellow passenger and YouTube performer Anna Akana (bottom right inset).

Black Eye Friday descended into bloody boozed-up brawls in shocking photos

There were scenes of chaos overnight as revellers took to pubs and clubs to make the most of the last Friday night before Christmas. It is dubbed Black Eye, Mad or Fighting Friday - and as seen in these shocking photos, it is not hard to see why the last Friday before December 25 has earned such a poor reputation. Men and women were pictured vomiting in the road, collapsing and fighting each other in cities across the country. And this year, there have been two 'Mad Fridays' as many enjoy an unusually long break thanks to Christmas Day and New Year's Day both falling on a Sunday - meaning Friday, December 16 was a similarly rowdy affair as workers across the UK held their office parties. Several arrests were made in Cardiff and Birmingham as the excessive alcohol intake led to a number of fights, while officers revealed all of their custody cells in Hull were filled. According to Greater Manchester Police, there were dozens of arrests in the city while some drivers were caught more than three times over the limit. Betting sites even encouraged people to put their money on which city would see the most arrests.

The women who make their mothers and sisters fork out £60 with a bank transfer or cash just so that the turkey, cranberry sauce, roast potatoes and all the trimmings can be served on Christmas Day.

The World-Check list contains details about those suspected of being involved in financial crime and contains the name of Maud Windsor, daughter of actress Sophie Winkleman (both pictured).

For many parents, the best thing about Christmas is seeing their children's delight when they open their presents. That joy came early for one Welsh father who surprised his gobsmacked daughter.

The online retail giant warned anyone receiving the messages not to reply and to report them. It insisted its database had not been hacked and that the con was a ‘phishing expedition’.

Hundreds of thousands of commuters and schoolchildren face mayhem after Christmas, with drivers and guards on Southern rail staging a six-day walkout from January 9.

Forget waiting till Boxing Day record £9billion sales start now online

Retail analysts say millions of Britons will spend the Christmas break searching for bargains from today predicting as much as £9billion could be spent. Sainsbury's and Amazon began cutting prices on their websites by up to 88 per cent from midnight, and rivals including Debenhams, John Lewis and House of Fraser are launching their own deals today. Shoppers descended on Oxford Street in London today, pictured inset left, to grab last minute bargains, while thousands of people headed to Smithfield Meat Market for the annual Christmas Eve auction, pictured main and inset right, to secure their Christmas dinner.

Britain's biggest banks are facing multi-billion-pound penalties after two European rivals were hit with fines of more than £10billion in a crackdown on the mis-selling of toxic mortgages.

It has surprised many Royal Family friends that in this special year when the Queen reached 90, and Prince Philip turned 95, two of their great-grandchildren will not be with her.

In his new book Keeping On Keeping On, Bennett's real venom is directed at Margaret Thatcher - despite the fact (or perhaps because) his roots and hers are very similar.

The experts from the universities of Durham and Aberdeen are creating a supercharged version of the acid produced by vitamin A rich vegetables like sprouts, carrots, spinach and tomatoes.

An estimated 30 million people tune in each year to the BBC's Christmas Eve broadcast of Nine Lessons And Carols From King's College, Cambridge, writes ALEXANDRA COGHLAN.

The strain was discovered in a wild peregrine falcon in Dumfries and Galloway and brings the number of UK cases to five, after two birds in Somerset and Leicestershire also contracted the virus.

EastEnders' Michelle Fowler set to sensationally return to Albert Square

Her soap son Martin made his debut on Albert Square earlier this year. And now it's been revealed that Michelle Fowler (left) is about to make a startling return to EastEnders, however original actress Susan Tully, 49, is set to be shockingly replaced. Instead, the feisty Walford character will be played by Olivier Award-winning actress Jenna Russell (right), as TV insiders hint that she could arrive to the Queen Vic as soon as Christmas Eve. The startling news has caused outrage on social media with a number of fans taking to Twitter in their droves to express their opinion. One loyal viewer wrote: 'Michelle Fowler has been recast! I think that for some characters you just can't do that. Michelle is too much of a legend to change faces.'

UK weather forecasts Christmas Day to be 16C but North will be battered by Storm Barbara

Storm Barbara is continuing to wreck havoc along the coastlines of the UK as the country braces itself for the arrival of Storm Conor. In Caernarfon, north Wales, a school's roof has been ripped off with tiles scattered across the town, pictured left, while in Blackpool, residents have to fight just to stay upright as fierce winds blow along the coast. But it could be the warmest Christmas Day since records began 160 years ago, with predictions of 16C made by the Met Office.

Jack Finch - father of Welsh Assembly member Janet Finch-Saunders - has been well enough to leave a hospital in Llandudno, north Wales, for over three weeks.

Mother-of-three Maliha Parveen, of Rochdale, was previously convicted of swindling £12,000 from the taxpayer and given a community order - but began over-claiming just three years later.

Kim Williamson, 53, claims £15,000 a year in housing benefit on a £1 million Chelsea home as she travels the world doing yoga – and the DWP says it is now looking into her.

How Chinese president Xi Jinping is pouring billions into football

As the signings of two of global football's most famous faces this week shows - England's top league faces a new challenger in the Far East. There was a time when the only competition for players, managers and TV viewers came from the top leagues in Italy, Spain and Germany. But booming wealth in China, coupled with president Xi Jinping's love of the beautiful game, means money is being pumped into the country's Super League like never before. The Chinese Super League has laid out huge summers for stars including Oscar (top right), Hulk (bottom right), Alex Teixeira (centre bottom) and Jackson Martinez (centre top).

Fashion giant Aquascutum has been put on the market by Hong Kong-listed YGM Trading, who took over the ailing label in 2012, with the deal set to be completed by the end of March next year.

Dr Sandy Goldbeck-Wood, the clinical lead for abortion services at Cambridge University Hospitals, said women wanting an abortion were currently facing 'an obstacle course'.

The British actors, who have been together since 2001 and have two children, quietly went their separate ways earlier this year. News of the split only emerged yesterday.

Meghan Markle surprises friend's daughter with Christmas present on Fringe episode

While Prince Harry's girlfriend was busy surprising a friend's daughter with an early Christmas present (pictured left), footage has emerged of a minor role that she took up in long-running sci-fi show Fringe (right). Meghan played Junior FBI Agent Amy Jessup for two episodes back in 2009, as her character looks for justice following an unusual road crash in New York. More recent pictures show Markle enjoying Christmas away from Harry back in her native Toronto, as she surprised a friend's young daughter with a Christmas present. Currently Harry is preparing to celebrate Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham.

Jacob Rees Mogg, MP, pictured, said, the Department for International Development presents the highest cost but lowest value to the British taxpayer and should be curtailed

Trading standards officers have seized £3.5million of counterfeit goods including cosmetics, razor blades, electrical products and designer trainers.

The formal regulations enabling the introduction of higher fees were published last Thursday without being placed in the announcements section of the DfE's website that issues 'alerts'.

Stevenage man spent countless sleepless nights over his abuse by his ex-lover

Sean Smith, a personal trainer, was targeted by his ex-lover and her husband, Neil and Louise Ansell, at his home in Welwyn Garden City when their affair came to light after it ended in 2013. The pair, pictured left and centre, daubed offensive graffiti over his driveway and set his new girlfriend's car on fire. Mr Smith, right, told how he was left so terrified he lose sleep and suffered nightmares, and even kept a crowbar in his van.

The move would halt the scandal that left Kristian and Laura Hancocks from Uttoxeter (pictured with their children), Staffordshire, homeless and has financially crippled thousands more.

Baroness Ruth Deech, who once held the highest office for dealing with student complaints in the UK, said the situation stems from institutions failing to curb a perceived hatred of Jews.

Devon and Cornwall Police officer Shaun 'Keano' Keen, who was described as a 'proud' family man, died on August 7, aged 49, weeks after finding his girlfriend Kimberley James' body.

Sir Michael Wilshaw said immigrant pupils had boosted the performance of England in recent international assessments compared with results in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Early trials have shown that Ocrelizumab slows damage to the brain by altering the immune system, hailed as a 'significant breakthrough' by doctors from Barts and the London.

Half earn over £200,000, according to records published for the first time. Chief executive Mark Carne (left) is on £685,000; chairman Peter Hendy receives £505,000 for a four-day week.

Younger MPs who have not carved out business careers are said to be particularly tempted to cut and run while Mr Corbyn remains leader.

According to a survey, 54 per cent of people believe the Government should trigger Article 50 as soon as possible so Britain can take back control of its laws, borders, money and trade.

Heart-warming nostalgic photos reveal how travellers from yesteryear celebrated Christmas

A collection of fascinating vintage pictures reveal that Christmas has long been celebrated in style by travellers; from Father Christmas snapped after a flight in a bi-plane over rural England, delighting children of the 1930s (left) and British troops at Victoria Station celebrating with bubbly in 1929 (right) to railway chefs showing off their Christmas puddings at Euston Station in 1953 (inset).

Murrin Widley, who has spina bifida, claims she had to sit in the luggage compartment on a train as she travelled to Edinburgh to enjoy the Christmas markets with her family.

Dave Duncan, of Otley, West Yorkshire, said he was shocked by what happened to 37-year-old Lukasz Urban and decide to raise money from 'the truckers of the UK and beyond'.

Jemma Evans, 22, had her card refused twice when she tried to buy presents from Lush in the Trafford Centre, Manchester, and left to find a cash machine. Bethany MacDonald then paid for her items.

Tom Hardy joins the search for missing RAF gunner who vanished more than 3months ago 

Hollywood actor Tom Hardy has joined the hunt for a missing RAF airman who vanished after a night out more than three months ago. Corrie McKeague, 23, disappeared in the early hours of the morning on September 24 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Darroch McKeague, Corrie's brother, posted the video to the 'Please help us find Corrie McKeague' Facebook group, which has so far gained thousands of views. The London-born star urged people to contact police or Corrie's family directly with information.

Andrew Wright, 53, was jailed for 19 years after he was convicted of conspiring to import class A drugs from Germany and he has now been stripped of his assets by the National Crime Agency.

Darren Blackmore pleaded guilty to one count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent following the incident in a car park in North Walsham, Norfolk, on July 23.

Connor Lane, 24, had previously sent explicit text messages to someone he met online, asking if she had 'big boobs' and 'how far she had been with a guy before,' a Basildon Crown Court heard.

The mother, who is in her 30s, was in bed with her young children in Stockport, Greater MAnchester, when she heard someone repeatedly knocking at her front door.

The violent incident was captured on CCTV and West Midlands Police are hunting the four men involved after the innocent victim was attacked in Livingstone Road, Birmingham.

The ponies were rescued by the actress Jenny Seagrove, and taken to her Mane Chance sanctuary in Compton, Surrey. After some medical attention and lots of love, they've recovered.

What Shackleton's men dreamed of for Antarctic Christmas dinner 108 years ago

The menu (left) was printed with equipment Ernest Shackleton (bottom, centre) took with him on the Nimrod expedition while the men endured bone-chilling temperatures and a lack of food during the winter of 1908. While the made-up menu is based largely on fantasy, it does hint at some of the more unpleasant food the expedition team did have to consume, such as whale meat. The menu was found slipped in a rare copy of Aurora Australis (bottom right) - the first book published and printed on the Antarctic continent. Pictured top right, Shackleton (second left) with fellow members of the Nimrod expedition.

Cubs Poppy and Winston ventured outside for the first time at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire where they are part of a breeding programme to boost numbers of the big cats.

Derbyshire Constabulary's Belper Town team had confiscated the booze from a bus load of Bolton Wanderers supporters who were on their way to watch their side play against Chesterfield.

Buddhist child monks punch each other in the head in a savage bare-knuckle boxing match

Shocking footage has emerged of child monks punching each other in the head a bare-knuckle fight club-style boxing match. A clip shot in the grounds of a temple shows the children in red robes and shaven heads repeatedly hit and kick each other. It is said that the boys were 'training for Buddhist roles'. A monk named Khun Kampon shot the footage in Udon Thani, northern Thailand.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT. A disturbing video shows two Turkish men in seemingly fuel-doused camouflage army gear taken out of a cage and walked like dogs to their death.

Yevgeny Dzhugashvili, 80, son of the tyrant's eldest child Yakov, was found close to his Moscow home. Dzhugashvili, who took Stalin's real surname, accused Putin of being 'a show off'.

Sergei Shoigu claimed British troops on a Salisbury Plain training facility have started to use Russian-made tanks and uniforms of the Russian military to designate the enemy.

Italy's Monte dei Paschi di Siena bank has only enough funding for another four months and risks being wound down if it cannot clear a mountain of loans and find 5 billion euros in new capital.

WORLD NEWS

       

Vladimir Putin leads tributes at ceremony for Russian ambassador to Turkey

Russia staged a sombre memorial ceremony on Thursday for Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey gunned down in Ankara on Monday by a man shouting 'Allahu Akbar' and 'Don't forget Aleppo'. President Vladimir Putin (main) laid red roses at the foot of Karlov's coffin and spoke with his relatives. Karlov's widow Marina inset) kissed his head as he lay in a coffin at the ceremony in Moscow on Thursday

DAILY MAIL COMMENT: In Britain, 2016 will go down as the year voters opened a hugely exciting chapter in our nation's story, watched enviously by millions across the Channel.

Labour was thrown into confusion this week by the resignation of Jamie Reed, the MP who represents the Cumbrian constituency of Copeland, writes PETER OBORNE.

Just hours before her son was shot dead by Italian police yesterday, the mother of Berlin terrorist Anis Amri was talking in her family home in Tunisia, lovingly clutching his picture.