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Latvians have begun voting in the country's first parliamentary elections since joining the EU and Nato in 2004. But correspondents predict a low voter turnout due to a lack of major issues and a campaign marred by corruption scandals and accusations of cheating. Current Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis has promised to continue close relations with the West if victorious. Opposition leader, and former prime minister, Einars Repse is hoping for a return to power. This is the fifth general elec ...

Hull: (13) 19Tries: Horne, Tony, YeamanGoals: Cooke 3Drop goals: Cooke Bradford: (0) 12 Tries: Ferres, LangleyGoals: Deacon 2 Hull reached their first Super League Grand Final and ended Bradford's defence of their title in the process. The hosts turned in a big defensive performance in the first half and tries from Richard Horne and Motu Tony helped them lead 13-0 at the break. Bradford hit back through Brett Ferres early in the second half. But Hull scored a third try through Kirk Yeaman an ...

A police initiative which resulted in house burglary rates falling by 83% in one area is likely to be expanded to other forces across England and Wales. Cleveland Police based Operation Crystal on research that following a burglary, houses within a 200m radius were most likely to be targeted next. Officers reacted to burglaries by alerting neighbouring householders, advising on how to secure their homes. A 70% dip in criminal damage offences was also reported in the same period. The latest ...

A US Navy medic has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his part in the killing of an Iraqi civilian in April. But Petty Officer Melson J Bacos is expected to spend just one year in jail after agreeing to give evidence against seven marines charged with the murder. Earlier Bacos told his US court-martial that the marines seized the man in the town of Hamdaniya, threw him into a hole and shot him in the head 10 times. The case is one of several in which US troops are accused of killing I ...

Like the arrival of security fences around schools, the safety bans on playing conkers in the playground, and the disappearance of the one-third of a pint milk bottles from break-times, this week's announced changes to coursework mark the end of an era of innocence in education. When the GCSE came in two decades ago, coursework was the bright new idea. It was a core part of the assessment in almost every subject. Coursework offered a new approach - teachers and students were to be released ...

A UK biotechnology firm is developing a robot to grow hair follicle cells for use in treating baldness. Intercytex has successfully tested a method of removing hair follicles from the back of the neck, multiplying them and then reimplanting the cells. It now plans to use a £1.85m grant from the government to automate the process of growing the cells, meaning many more people could benefit. The method could be used to treat male pattern baldness and alopecia in women. The company, which ...

A top government adviser has said about 80,000 children go to weak secondary schools each year - some of them so bad they should be "shut down quickly". Sir Cyril Taylor, head of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, said it was unfair it tended to be poorer families using these schools. He calculated there were about 500 schools seriously underperforming on the basis of their GCSE results. The government says that, on its count, the number is only about 50. It maintains most parents  ...

Chemotherapy produces long-term changes in the part of the brain dealing with memory, US research suggests. Scans of women treated for breast cancer five to 10 years earlier suggested the brain was having to work harder during memory tests. Researchers said the findings may explain why some cancer survivors suffer from problems with memory, confusion, and concentration. The study of 21 women is published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. But a Cancer Research UK research fellow said p ...

The entire police force in the Mexican city of Tijuana is to be investigated on suspicion of being involved in drug trafficking and organised crime. In an unprecedented move, the authorities say it is the only way to clean up the force. Tijuana is on the American border and has been a major staging post for the supply of drugs to the United States. Dozens of people have been killed so far this year in violent turf wars in the city. In the words of Tijuana's mayor, Jorge Hank Rhon, everyone  ...

But the 700-strong police force sent on Friday morning took control of Posokoni mountain where much of the fighting occurred. "They have come down the mountain bearing flags of peace," said Lt Col Vladmir Suazmabar. Huanuni produces 5% of the world's tin. The BBC's Damian Kahya in La Paz says the conflict is being seen as a major test for the government of President Morales - who was elected in December 2005 with strong support from miners. Bolivia is accustomed to political instability  ...