Other News In Brief

250,000 Students Wait On Word From Universities

Some 250,000 students are still waiting to hear about university places. 372,000 already have place confirmed just one day after the A-level results.

Admissions figures on Friday morning show there are 170,000 students eligible for clearing - and a further 80,000 are awaiting decisions.

Ucas is expecting about 50,000 places to be available through clearing.

The numbers of confirmed places is so far lower than last year - with the suggestion that some universities are pausing over their awarding of places.

Ferdinand Fined By FA Over Twitter

Rio Ferdinand has been found guilty of improper conduct and fined £45,000 by the Football Association for comments on Twitter.

The defender denied he was being racist after responding to a tweet describing Chelsea's Ashley Cole as a "choc ice".

But an independent commission ruled the Manchester United centre-half had brought the game into disrepute.

"The commission found that the breach included a reference to ethnic origin, colour or race," read an FA statement.

Ferdinand was also warned as to his future conduct. Manchester United have decided against appealing the decision.

Man Charged With Murder Of 79-Year-Old

A man has been charged with the murder of a 79-year-old woman who was stabbed to death in north London.

Eleftheria Demetriou was was found with multiple stab wounds in Morant Place, Wood Green, on 15 August.

An air ambulance crew attended but the pensioner was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hakim Abdillahi, 31, of Morant Place, Wood Green, is due to appear at Highgate Magistrates' Court later.

(H)