Ryanair opens new destinations for 2014

LOW-FARE airline Ryanair has announced new routes for next northern summer.

The budget carrier will be operating from Stansted airport to 12 new destinations, including Basle, Bordeaux and Bucharest.

The no-frills airline, which has launched something of a charm offensive in recent weeks, will also be increasing frequencies on 17 routes next summer, including to Milan, Rome, Berlin, Barcelona and Dublin.

Other new destinations from summer 2014 include Dortmund, Lisbon, and Prague.

The increases are part of Ryanair's long-term agreement with Stansted's owners Manchester Airports Group (MAG).

The new flying programme will see Ryanair offer an additional 1.3 million seats, taking the airline's capacity at the Essex airport to 14.5 million passengers.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary says the new routes and increased frequencies will sustain more than 1300 on-site jobs at Stansted.

MAG chief executive Charlie Cornish says the announcement is "fantastic news for Stansted, the region and the passengers who rely on the airport".

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Aussie tour a long shot for Python show

MONTY Python haven't ruled out eventually touring their reunion show to Australia although John Cleese has joked it would be easier to travel to another planet.

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Greece predicts return to growth in 2014

GREECE'S deputy finance minister says the economy is expected to emerge from its recession and grow slightly next year.

Christos Staikouras said on Thursday that the 2014 budget projects economic growth of 0.6 per cent next year.

He spoke as he presented the budget, submitted to Parliament moments earlier by Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras.

Staikouras said the economy is expected to contract by four per cent this year, slightly less than the originally expected 4.5 per cent.

He said the conditions are being created for Greece to return to the international bond markets next year.

It has been priced out of them by high interest rates since 2010, and relies on international rescue loans.

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UK PM 'following' escort agency on Twitter

British Prime Minister David Cameron has been following a high-class escort agency on Twitter. Source: AAP

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has been following the exploits of a high-class escort agency on Twitter.

One of the prime minister's official accounts was linked to the Carltons of London's feed on the micro-blogging site, technology news website The Register found.

It claims to be London's "finest luxury boutique escort agency" catering for the needs of a "select and small group of elite gentlemen".

The agency also offers a corporate service for those looking to secure a big deal who "need something special to swing them in your favour".

But Downing Street indicated the agency may have first been followed under Gordon Brown's premiership.

The @Number10gov account is the official Twitter feed for the office of the Prime Minister and automatically followed anyone that chose to follow it until 2009 - while the former Labour leader was in power - when the practice was stopped.

"We have stopped following this particular account," a Downing Street spokesman said.

"Prior to 2010, an auto-follow process was used, meaning that @Number10gov automatically followed anyone who followed the account. This was common practice at the time for many corporate accounts, but was discontinued in 2009.

"As a result of this legacy, the @Number10gov account follows almost 370,000 accounts and we have taken steps to un-follow as many as possible that are inactive, spam or inappropriate. This work is ongoing."

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Cyclone warning issued for southern India

A TROPICAL cyclone over the Bay of Bengal is likely to hit coastal areas of India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh over the next 24 hours, with evacuations set to begin soon, officials said on Thursday.

Cyclone Helen is predicted to bring winds of up to 120km/h, as well as heavy rainfall.

Storm surges of up to 1.5 metres at the time of landfall are expected near the city of Machillipatnam on Friday afternoon, India's Meteorological Department said.

The storm was expected to cause "extensive damage to thatched roofs and huts. Minor damage to power and communication lines due to uprooting of large trees", the IMD said in a statement.

Fishermen have been warned not to venture out to sea.

State disaster management official VK Ekbote said the storm was changing course, and evacuations would begin on Friday once officials were able to confirm precisely where it would make land.

The storm is expected to be significantly less intense than Cyclone Phailin, which hit India's Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states last month, with wind speeds of over 200km/h, claiming 40 lives.

Cyclones often form over the Bay of Bengal, bringing widespread destruction and flooding to India's southern and eastern coasts.

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UK police free women held as slaves

Dream end on MCG comes to ashes

A MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferer has hit out at the rejection of her dying wish that her ashes be scattered on the hallowed turf of the MCG.

Train lines shut on New Year's Eve

NEW Year's Eve revellers from Melbourne's west and parts of country Victoria will have to catch buses home as train lines are shut down.

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Pedestrian dies in crash near Townsville

A PEDESTRIAN has died after being hit by a car at Nome, near Townsville.

The woman died at the scene when she was hit on the Bruce Highway at about 9pm (AEST) on Thursday, police said.

The woman driving the car was taken to Townsville Hospital for observation.

The highway was closed for several hours and the Forensic Crash Unit is investigating.

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