Hurricane Rita strengthened to a dangerous Category 3 storm early today, sparing the Florida Keys but prompting mandatory orders to once again evacuate New Orleans as well as the Texas city of Galveston.

Trainee police officer Clare Southern was £97,000 (€140,000) richer today after winning TV sleep deprivation show Shattered.

TV sleep-deprivation show Shattered is being investigated by a media watchdog after sparking a number of complaints from viewers, it emerged today.