300 Bank branches face chop

City London's financial institutions

NEW TRADE FIGURES PLEASE CITY

claim (make) a statement that something is true (especially when there may be disagreement);

pay claim demand for higher wages

SCIENTIST CLAIMS CANCER BREAKTHROUGH RACISM CLAIM IN NAVY TEACHERS' PAY CLAIM REJECTED

clamp down on deal firmly with (usually something illegal)

POLICE TO CLAMP DOWN ON SPEEDING

clash quarrel, fight (noun or verb)

PM IN CLASH OVER ARMS SALES

STUDENTS CLASH WITH POLICE

clear find innocent

DOCTOR CLEARED OF DRUGS CHARGE

Commons the House of Commons (in Parliament)

MINISTERS IN COMMONS CLASH OVER HOUSING

con swindle

TEENAGERS CON WIDOW OUT OF LIFE SAVINGS crackdown firm application of the law

GOVERNMENT PROMISES CRACKDOWN ON DRUGS DEALERS

crash financial failure

BANK CRASH THREATENS TO BRING DOWN GOVERNMENT

curb restrict; restriction

NEW PRICE CURBS

cut reduce; reduction

BRITAIN CUTS OVERSEAS AID NEW HEALTH SERVICE CUTS

cutback reduction (usually financial)

TEACHERS SLAM SCHOOL CUTBACKS

dash (make) quick journey

PM IN DASH TO BLAST HOSPITAL

deadlock disagreement that cannot be solved

DEADLOCK IN PEACE TALKS

deal agreement, bargain

TEACHERS REJECT NEW PAY DEAL

demo demonstration

30 Arrested in anti-tax demo

dole unemployment pay

DOLE QUEUES LENGTHEN

drama dramatic event; tense situation

PRINCE IN AIRPORT DRAMA

drive united effort

DRIVE TO SAVE WATER

drop give up, get rid of; fall (noun)

GOVERNMENT TO DROP CHILD LABOUR PLAN BIG DROP IN INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT

due expected to arrive

QUEEN DUE IN BERLIN TODAY

duo two people

HANDICAPPED DUO ROW ACROSS ATLANTIC

EU The European Union

EU TRADE MINISTERS TO MEET

edge move gradually

WORLD EDGES TOWARDS WAR

envoy ambassador

FRENCH ENVOY DISAPPEARS

face be threatened by

HOSPITALS FACE MORE CUTS

STRIKERS FACE SACK

feud long-lasting quarrel or dispute

FAMILY FEUD EXPLODES INTO VIOLENCE: SIX HELD

find something that is found

BEACH FIND MAY BE BONES OF UNKNOWN DINOSAUR

firm determined not to change

PM FIRM ON TAX LEVELS

flak heavy criticism

GOVERNMENT FACES FLAK OVER VAT

flare begin violently

RIOTS FLARE IN ULSTER

foil prevent somebody from succeeding

TWELVE-YEAR-OLD FOILS BANK RAIDERS

fraud swindle, deceit

JAIL FOR TICKET FRAUD MEN

freeze keep(ing) prices etc at their present level; block(ing) a bank account

MINISTER WANTS TWO-YEAR PAY FREEZE DRUG PROFITS FROZEN

fuel provide reason for growth (of anger, protest etc)

PA Y FREEZE FUELS UNION ANGER

gag censor (ship), prevent(ion) from speaking

AFRICAN PRESIDENT ACTS TO GAG PRESS

gems jewels

£2m GEMS STOLEN

go resign; be lost, disappear

PM TO GO? 4,000 JOBS TO GO IN NORTH

go for be sold for

PICASSO DRAWING GOES FOR £5m

go-ahead approval

SCOTTISH ROAD PLAN GETS GO-AHEAD

grab take violently