World News 24/7/30

The California parole board recommended on Wednesday that Leslie Van Houten, the youngest of Charles Manson's murderous "family" of followers, be released early from the life prison term she is serving for her role in the cult's 1969 killing spree. from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2TiN2Oi

Accused Mexican drug boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's repeated escapes from the law prove that he "knows he's guilty," a U.S. prosecutor told jurors in closing arguments at his trial on Wednesday, urging them not to let him escape again. from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2RsziyK

A Utah man has sued Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow for $3.1 million, claiming she slammed into him on a ski slope in 2016, breaking four of his ribs and knocking him unconscious before skiing off. from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2HE0dbq

U.S. private payrolls increased solidly in January, pointing to sustained labor market strength despite a recent easing in consumer and business confidence that has suggested a loss of momentum in the economy. from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2Wsk7JC

The father of two young Saudi women whose bodies were found bound together in New York last October has dismissed a police assessment that they committed suicide and said marks he saw on their faces indicate they were beaten before their deaths. from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2MEK8RB

Tyson Foods Inc is recalling some chicken nuggets it manufactured because of possible contamination with rubber, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said late on Tuesday. from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2GcCkVK

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday ordered state officials to develop regulations to reduce methane emissions from its oil and gas industry and separately rollback statewide greenhouse gas output over the next decade. from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2RWlwJH

The annual rise in house prices "almost ground to a complete halt" in January, the Nationwide says. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2DJKi77

Firms have to set out how they will cut water bills as part of the regulator's five-year review. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2HQS6bg

With two months to go until the UK is due to leave the EU, how are firms and the UK economy faring? from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2HHrR7r

The data comes as several global firms warn China's slowing economy will hit their bottom line. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2UvE5l2

JD Sports, Sports Direct, TK Maxx, Amazon, Boohoo and Missguided must do more, say MPs. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2HHsiyB

The UK industry's trade body warns of "permanent devastation" if Britain leaves the EU without a deal. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2BbLdM1

The number of people who logged into the site at least once a month rose 9% last year. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2Uu7wUu

Nearly two million people are estimated to have left it until the last minute to fill in their tax returns. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2Gabtd6

The US central bank says it can "afford to wait" before making further interest rate rises. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2MHkewu

Stephen Martin has been director general of the Institute of Directors for less than two years. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2MH51vx

President Donald Trump had hailed Foxconn's investment as the start of a manufacturing revival. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2sTNqXY

The firm, which has routinely posted losses, reports a small profit for a second consecutive quarter. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2RsHcYT

The High Street bank "cannot wait any longer" to shift business to Dublin because of Brexit. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2FYGv8q

Landlords in England must organise a check every five years, mirroring rules already in place in Scotland. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2CTnznC

Latest twist feels like a "throw of the dice" and does nothing to take no-deal off the table, says the CBI. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2Sgmwrw

The ex-Nissan chairman says some executives were opposed to his plans for the Japanese carmaker. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2sUfASF

Robot waiters and chefs form the future of hotpot chain Haidilao. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2HGanbw

An app is helping healthcare workers in rural Kenya to collect data and improve their service to patients. from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2G8iLhk

Museum and gallery shops are reporting rising sales and greater interest. What is their recipe for growth? from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2CRvcuO

Can the country's mining giant Vale recover after its second major disaster in four years? from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2SlbwJK

Can employees refuse to work if they cannot travel to work or their children's school is closed? from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2ME4E4N

England's children's commissioner writes to social media companies, urging them to tackle disturbing content. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2TlA6Hr

Saoradh claims the social media giant removed a number of its pages from its platform. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2FYq7oy

Those breaching sanctions aimed at cutting rising violence could face up to two years in prison. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2S9v6bN

Met Office weather warnings for snow, ice and fog remain in place for Thursday and Friday. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2FT0dlV

One of the targeted students said she felt "terrified" at the prospect of seeing the men on campus again. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2Rr80Jh

Flames from gas-fed heaters stop snow and ice from clogging up the track at railway intersections. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2RsdKSK

Some 20,000 physios, pharmacists and paramedics are to be recruited to work with under-pressure GPs. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2RW3OGg

Liv Pontin had decided to take her own life, when a train driver stopped her. Now they are reuniting. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2TsPbqZ

In an interview, the White House press secretary says Donald Trump had divine support. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2Bm9a3B

JD Sports, Sports Direct, TK Maxx, Amazon, Boohoo and Missguided must do more, say MPs. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2HHsiyB

A think tank report assesses how ready the government is to leave the EU without a deal. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2BmiJQ3

The UK industry's trade body warns of "permanent devastation" if Britain leaves the EU without a deal. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2BbLdM1

The annual rise in house prices "almost ground to a complete halt" in January, the Nationwide says. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2DJKi77

Thursday's front pages feature stories on Brexit, Facebook, stalkers and a new NHS recruitment plan. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2RsrFZh

Your morning briefing for Thursday 31 January 2019. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2G9SEGO

Nearly two million people are estimated to have left it until the last minute to fill in their tax returns. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2Gabtd6

Meet the professional chefs changing the way people think about women in the kitchen. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2RZhkJp

The deep freeze gripping much of the US has been blamed on a polar vortex. Here's what that means. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2Sex5LW

Rachel Brosnahan, star of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, honours her late aunt in the new collection. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2MFzERJ

How should I drive in the snow? Why does salt melt ice? How can I boost my immune system? from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2DJP0lG

US scientists say it could be used to monitor tumours or ulcers for a month in the stomach. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2ShkLdJ

The app bans images of men in underwear and swimwear after "repeated suspensions by app store distributors". from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2SgJDCi

Stars support Empire actor Jussie Smollet, the victim of a suspected hate crime in Chicago. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2CRvIJi

What can UK cities learn from Finland, where the number of rough sleepers has fallen dramatically? from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2TofSwO

Japan is in the grip of an elderly crime wave. Poverty and loneliness are two of the possible causes. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2sUSv2f

A US state could become one of the first places in the world to allow corpses to become fertile soil. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2S04WbU

Museum and gallery shops are reporting rising sales and greater interest. What is their recipe for growth? from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2CRvcuO

The story of Nastya Rybka, who was questioned in a Thai jail by the FBI about the Trump-Russia inquiry. from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2HHJ9kz

Councils say they are "desperate" to protect services but funding cuts forced "difficult decisions". from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2Saz4AQ

Trade tensions with the United States and a slowing economy are keeping Chinese tourists to budget-friendly destinations closer to home for the Lunar New Year holiday, with more likely opting for Bangkok than Sydney or San Francisco. from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2WydHIP

LAS LAJAS, Argentina - When China built a military-run space station in Argentina's Patagonian region it promised to include a visitors' center to explain the purpose of its powerful 16-story antenna. from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2FZcWn8

Russia and the United States failed to bridge their differences over a landmark Cold War-era arms treaty at last-ditch talks in Beijing, Russia's deputy foreign minister was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies on Thursday. from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2HICNBH

The strength of the embattled Afghan defense forces has declined to its lowest level in four years, a U.S. watchdog said on Thursday, as talks between Washington and the Taliban continue over the possible withdrawal of foreign troops. from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2Tn7PjV

On a cold, grey Sunday morning, in a street lined with shuttered builders' yards and storage units, songs of prayer in the West African language of Yoruba ring out from a former warehouse that is now a church. from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2Ghioky

Australia will direct more foreign aid to develop the sport of rugby league in the Pacific, officials say, bolstering a soft power offensive against China's growing influence in the region. from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2CZMGp4