HERE are some of the national news headlines today.

Labour members could vote in shadow cabinet elections, Jeremy Corbyn signals


Jeremy Corbyn has backed the return of elections to select Labour's shadow cabinet but has suggested that members could be included in any votes.

Critics of the Labour leader have backed the restoration of shadow cabinet elections by MPs, in what was seen as an attempt to regain internal power in the party.

But Mr Corbyn said any proposals should include a debate over "who might take part in those elections" to pick Labour's top team and how to properly represent Britain's regions, nations, gender and ethnicity.

Housing crisis 'driving geographic wedge between the generations'


The housing crisis is driving a "geographic wedge" between the older and younger generations, according to a think-tank.

Those behind the report said a rise in "age segregation" amid a lack of suitable and affordable homes has been hugely damaging to society, weakening the bond between different age groups.

Across England and Wales, the number of neighbourhoods in which half the population is aged over 50 has surged since 1991, the research from the Intergenerational Foundation (IF) found.

Independence referendum appeal as parties mark two-year anniversary


Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to focus on the "day job" and rule out a second vote on independence as political leaders mark the anniversary of the 2014 referendum.

Two years after the historic September 18 ballot, the Conservatives warned continuing uncertainty over the constitution would act as a "ball and chain on Scotland's economic prospects".

However, the SNP said the behaviour of opposition parties will only increase support for independence.

UK should take in more Syrian refugees, Yvette Cooper urges Theresa May


Theresa May has been urged to meet the government's pledge to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees two years early in 2018 and then offer more help to those fleeing the war.

Labour's refugee taskforce chair Yvette Cooper said the prime minister should use next week's United Nations General Assembly summit to demonstrate British leadership on tackling the refugee crisis.

She should seek to gain support from international leaders in creating safe routes for those fleeing war and persecution and build on the UK's own commitments, Ms Cooper said.

Eastern European quartet 'will veto any Brexit deal which hits citizens' rights'


A group of eastern European countries will veto any Brexit deal that diminishes the rights of their citizens who live and work in Britain, Slovakia's prime minister has said.

Robert Fico said the Visegrad Four (V4) - the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia - want a guarantee that their nationals "are equal" before agreeing to any deal ahead of Britain leaving the European Union.

Prime minister Theresa May has so far refused to guarantee the status of EU nationals in the UK, but insisted she wants them to stay after Brexit - if the rights of Britons overseas are respected.

ParalympicsGB medal haul reaches 147 as Iranian cyclist's death stuns Rio


Great Britain goes into the final day of the Rio Paralympics with 64 gold medals after triumph and tragedy in Saturday's road cycling events.

Dame Sarah Storey won her 14th gold - ParalympicsGB's 60th gold of the Rio Games - in the women's C4/C5 road race, one of 21 medals in all for the team on another impressive day in Brazil.

But her victory came after Iranian cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, was involved in a horrific crash on a mountainous stretch of the men's C4/C5 road event.

'Hippopotamus' Ed Balls has no chance of winning, Bruno Tonioli warns


Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli has dismissed Ed Balls' chances of winning the show, comparing the former shadow chancellor to a "hippopotamus".

The flamboyant Italian said Mr Balls, who lost his seat as an MP for Morley and Outwood at the general election, had as much chance of being elected prime minister as he did winning the BBC One dance contest.

Tonioli told the Press Association : "The danger is (he's) going to be the next Ann Widdecombe. I don't think the nation is ready for another one. I still haven't recovered from the first one."