The News of the World reacted to the unexpected arrest of one of its most senior reporters by clearing his desk.

Despite the paper having promised that it would co-operate fully with police inquiries, executives descended on the desk of former news editor James Weatherup moments after learning of his arrest. Under the eyes of their legal team, they bagged up notebooks, papers and recording machines and removed them "via our lawyers", a firm whose identity the publisher refused to confirm.A few hours later, the police arrived and took the bags to Scotland Yard.The unexpected arrest of Weatherup, one of the most senior journalists at the News of the World, at his home leaves little room for doubt that the new police team investigating the phone-hacking scandal is determined to succeed where its much-criticised predecessors failed.It was three weeks ago that the News of the World dumped a vast archive of...

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former soap star has appeared in court today accused of murdering a nightclub doorman who was shot dead in the street.

Brian Regan, 53, who played Terry Sullivan in the Channel 4 drama Brookside, appeared before magistrates in Liverpool accused of the murder of Bahman Faraji, known locally as Batman.Faraji, a 44-year-old father of one, was killed as he left a pub in the suburb of Aigburth, Liverpool, on 24 February. Regan, of Garston, Liverpool, who starred in Brookside for 14 years, is also charged with perverting the course of justice. No pleas were entered.He appeared in the dock alongside co-accused Lee Dodson, 42, of Garston, who is also charged with murder.During the brief appearance, both men spoke only to confirm their names and addresses and were remanded in custody until a preliminary hearing at Liverpool crown court on 18 April.A third accused, Edward Heffey, 40, of Dingle, Liverpool, was charged...

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Japan's meteorological agency says it has now lifted a tsunami warning for the north-eastern coast after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck offshore.

The quake hit about 11.30 pm today Japan time. It has rattled nerves nearly a month after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that flattened the same area of coastline.Announcers on Japan's public broadcaster NHK had told residents in the north-east to move to higher ground away from the sho...

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Rebels in eastern Libya say their forces have been mistakenly hit in a Nato air raid.

Rebels in eastern Libya say their forces have been mistakenly hit in a Nato air raid.Doctors in Ajdabiya told the BBC at least 13 rebel fighters had been killed by the strike on a rebel tank position.The BBC's Wyre Davies reports chaotic scenes on the outskirts of Ajdabiya, with rebel forces in retreat reporting being hit by Nato air strikes.It is the third such incident in recent days involving international forces deployed to protect Libyan civilians.One rebel commander told the BBC he saw at least four missiles land among rebel fighters.Many people have been killed and many more have been injured, he said.Civilians are reported to be fleeing Ajdabiya in their thousands, according to the latest wire reports, after rumours spread that Gaddafi forces were preparing to attack the city.Rebel...

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