Cancer 'stem cells' could be to blame

The treatment of cancer could be revolutionised by a new scientific discovery. There is a hierarchy of cancer cells within a solid tumour, with cancer "stem cells" ultimately responsible for causing tumours to grow, scientists believe. This idea contravenes conventional views, which suggest the illness comes as a result of genetic mutations within ordinary cells. MORE

Heroic deed of new British citizen

A hero who prevented a masked assailant armed with a machete from attacking a group of women had become a British citizen only hours earlier. Steven Izegbu, 28, took on the attacker who was aiming to attack the barbershop singers in Orpington on Tuesday night.

Tea Party makes a surprise comeback

Tea Party favourite Ted Cruz has scored a stunning upset over a long-time Texas state office holder in a Republican Senate primary election, transforming him into a national conservative star and marking a resurgence of the movement to shrink the size of US government.

Cyclist dies in crash with Olympic bus

A cyclist was killed last night after being hit by an Olympic bus near the Olympic Park, Scotland Yard said. The man, believed to be about 30, was struck by the vehicle at the junction of the A106 and A12 in Hackney, east London, at around 7.40pm. He died at the scene, police said. MORE

Orthodox Jews to be conscripted

The defence minister Ehud Barak has given army chiefs a month to draw up a plan to enlist 60,000 ultra-orthodox men who were exempted from military service while they pursued religious studies. The move follows the expiry of the law providing for exemptions.  MORE

Carole Waugh case now murder inquiry

The disappearance of oil executive Carole Waugh is being treated as a murder inquiry. A man was arrested at Luton Airport last night on suspicion of kidnap and conspiracy to defraud, and was later arrested for murder.

Damages award for excessive growth

A woman who says she feels like a freak because an undiagnosed tumour caused her to grow to 6ft 5in has won £1.228m in damages. Kate Woodward, 20, claimed the undiagnosed pituitary tumour put paid to her ambition to become an actress.

Trayvon trial judge refuses to step down

A Florida judge has rejected a motion asking him to step down from the murder trial of George Zimmerman, who killed the unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin. Mr Zimmerman's lawyer accused Judge Kenneth Lester of bias.

Assange interview offer rejected

Sweden has turned down an offer to interview Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy in a bid to break the deadlock over his future. The embassy offered a meeting after Mr Assange took refuge there to fight being deported to Sweden.

Sitcom about vicar to return in 2014

The award-winning comedy based around an inner-city vicar is to return for a third series. Rev, starring Tom Hollander and Olivia Colman, will be broadcast on BBC 2 in 2014. The show won Best Sitcom at last year's TV Bafta awards. BBC2 controller Janice Hadlow said: "It's one of the real comedy jewels in BBC2's crown."

For sale: a ghost town with llamas

A deserted American town believed to have once been a hideout for Butch Cassidy is up for sale for $3.9m. Woodside, three hours east of Salt Lake City, had 300 residents in the early 1900s when it was a water stop for steam engines. Now the town is empty – of people, that is. Two llamas are included.

End of the road for Hotmail

Microsoft has announced plans to abandon its pioneering Hotmail brand, replacing all of its @hotmail.com email addresses with @outlook.com. The computer giant said its new service will link email accounts to top websites such as Skype, Facebook and Twitter. MORE

Minister sacked over sexy video

A junior minister has been sacked after she appeared in a video posted online wearing only her underwear and flirting. Karina Bolanos, Costa Rica's Deputy Minister for Youth, told a television station that the video, showing her lying in bed, pointing at her breasts and inviting a man to join her, was made years ago.

Listeners turning off Chris Moyles

Chris Moyles' show has lost 500,000 listeners in the past 12 months, leaving his replacement Nick Grimshaw with an uphill struggle to win a bigger audience. Moyles, who leaves the Radio 1 breakfast show in September, had 6.9m listeners in the second quarter of this year, down from 7.1m in the first three months of 2012. MORE