News Headlines - 03 January 2014

▽BBC News - BNP's Nick Griffin declared bankrupt

A statement on the BNP website said the bankruptcy petition was presented for judgement by Mr Griffin's former solicitors, Gilbert Davies and Partners.
The firm once represented Mr Griffin, including during the early stages of his long-running legal battle with the Equality and Human Rights Commission over the BNP's membership rules.

▽UK manufacturing records ninth consecutive month of strong output growth | theguardian.com

Britain's manufacturers finished 2013 on a high note after a leading survey of the sector recorded the ninth straight month of strong output growth in December.
The Markit/Cips survey found that in the run-up to Christmas manufacturers were in upbeat mood after a rise in orders for the 10th month in a row.

▽Study: Tobacco Tax Hike Could Save 200 Million Lives

Tripling tobacco taxes could save up to 200 million lives, according to new research published January 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
"The international tobacco industry makes about $50 billion in profits each year – that’s a profit of approximately $10,000 per death from smoking," said Richard Peto an epidemiologist at Cancer Research UK and co-author of the study.

▽BBC News - Wales flooding 'difficult to predict'

The Environment Agency has warned that weather conditions in some parts of Britain could be the worst it has seen for five to ten years - with the South West expected to bear the brunt of the storms.

▽BBC News - Schumacher fans hold birthday vigil for injured driver

Fans of Michael Schumacher have held a vigil outside his hospital to mark the injured F1 legend's 45th birthday.
Schumacher's family said in a statement they had been moved to tears by the "incredible sympathies" shown by the Ferrari fans who gathered outside the clinic in the French city of Grenoble.