A man who took part in a raid at a Leicestershire cottage during which the homeowner shot at him and another intruder has pleaded guilty to burglary. Joshua O'Gorman, 27, appeared via videolink at Leicester Crown Court, a gunshot wound visible on his face.

Scientists closer to working out Big Bang

Scientists at Cern have smashed together a variety of particles for the first time, moving closer to learning what was in the plasma that formed after the Big Bang. The announcement followed a backing by experts over claims they discovered the Higgs boson "God particle".

China sends ships to disputed islands

Six Chinese surveillance ships briefly entered waters near the disputed islands claimed by Tokyo and Beijing yesterday, raising tensions between Asia's two biggest economies. Japan protested and urged that the situation not be allowed to escalate. MORE

No welfare trade-off, Lib Dems warn Clegg

Nick Clegg must not give George Osborne the go-ahead for more welfare cuts in return for a wealth tax, Liberal Democrat activists have warned. The Social Liberal Forum believes Mr Clegg could sanction £10bn of welfare cuts as a "trade-off" for a mansion tax. MORE

Prosecutors 'ignored proof of cover-up'

The Crown Prosecution Service were given an analysis of the police cover-up of the Hillsborough disaster in 1998, the lawyer who fought on behalf of the families affected has said. Alun Jones QC said the Director of Public Prosecutions must explain why his office took no action. MORE

Draghi ready to talk to German MPs

The president of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, has said he is prepared to address the German parliament if that is what it takes to convince the country increased co-operation in the EU is necessary to save the euro. The budget committee said it will invite him. MORE

Man guilty of 'go to hell' soldier rant

A man who posted a "derogatory" Facebook message following the death of six British soldiers in Afghanistan has been found guilty of sending a grossly offensive communication. Azhar Ahmed, 20, admitted in court that he said "soldiers should die and go to hell". MORE

Consent needed for NYC circumcisions

New York City's Jewish ritual circumcisers who use their mouths to draw away blood from the wound on a baby's penis must now get the parents to sign a consent form, citing the risk that infants could catch a potentially deadly herpes infection.

Platinum miners reject £67 pay rise

Miners at a Lonmin platinum mine rejected an offer of a 900 rand (£67) increase in their wages, far below their demands, which would give new workers a basic monthly salary of 5,500 rand (£412). The strike has raised concern about the future of South Africa's biggest industry.MORE

Sell inmates' phones to help victims – MPs

MPs have called for mobile phones seized from inmates in prisons to be sold to raise money for victims' charities. Storing the 41,000 phones seized costs £20,000 a year. Phones are banned in prison, but they can be returned to inmates when they finish their sentence.

Moyles passes on the breakfast baton

Chris Moyles passed the torch to new Radio 1 breakfast show host Nick Grimshaw yesterday. On his last show in the prestigious slot, Moyles chastised his "haters" but said it was "all worth going through. I thought I would be fired and dragged out by my hair". MORE

Hole in the ozone layer is shrinking

The hole in the ozone layer, the earth's shield against ultraviolet rays, is expected to be smaller this year, according to the United Nations, showing the success of a ban on harmful substances. The hole is still likely be larger than in 2010 and a full recovery is still a long way off.

Sean Penn leads palace demolition

An aid group led by Hollywood star Sean Penn has begun demolishing the National Palace destroyed in Haiti's powerful 2010 earthquake. Tearing down the presidential home, so it can be rebuilt from scratch, will take three months. The palace in Port-au-Prince came to symbolise the devastation.

Policeman held over killing of journalist

A military police officer has been arrested accused of killing of a journalist who reported on illegal logging in north-eastern Cambodia. Police believe the reporter was killed by blows to the head with an axe. Illegal logging is believed to benefit politicians and military officers.

Miller: Give more TV coverage to women

Woman's sport is "woefully under-represented" on television, the new Culture Secretary says. In a letter to TV bosses, Maria Miller said the affection for Jessica Ennis, above, and Ellie Simmonds at the Olympics and Paralympics showed the public has a "real appetite" for women's sport.

Voters urged to back military service

The Swiss government has called on voters to reject a bid to scrap military service, saying the system is the best way to guarantee national security. Opponents have gathered the 100,000 signatures needed to call a referendum, which the government said would happen in the second half of 2013 at the earliest.

Palmer-Tomkinson launches pop career

Socialite and reality show star Tara Palmer-Tomkinson has launched a pop career. A video for her new ballad "5 Seconds" appeared on YouTube, earning a mixture of derision and praise. The friend of the royals previously planned an album in 2008, when she compared herself to Dido.

Bigamy threat halts Tsvangirai marriage

Lawyers for a jilted ex-lover of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai say that a court has ordered him to stop his wedding to another woman today. It ruled that Mr Tsvangirai was in a customary marriage with the former lover and that marriage to a different woman would be bigamy.