Look out for dirty cars in England now

You may be surprised to read that we haven't had enough rain in the South of England for the past year. Our water companies are worried that there may be problems in future if we don't use less water, so customers have just been banned from doing some things with water.
From today people in the South East of England are not allowed to wash their cars or water their gardens using a hosepipe. Families are banned from filling paddling pools with hosepipes, and fountains will be switched off.
Organisers are still allowed to water the grass on sports pitches where major events are planned, and people can use hosepipes to empty used bathwater on to their gardens -- but not fresh water from the tap.
Anyone using a hosepipe can be charged GBP 1000 by the water companies.

See the Royal Family up close

Madame Tussauds, in London, is famous for its waxworks of well-known figures. This week it gets a new exhibit -- the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. There are not one, but three waxworks of the Royal couple -- one in London (in a replica of their engagement photograph), one New York, and one in Amsterdam. A fourth display opens later this month in the English town of Blackpool.
Tussauds wanted to have waxworks of the couple ready for their wedding last year, but it was too difficult to get them in for a "sitting" so that the model could be made. In the end, the models have been made from photographs.
The Duke of Cambridge (better known as Prince William) has been on display in Tussauds for years, but his waxwork has been updated. It has a little less hair now.
The company is also working on a new waxwork model of The Queen, which should be ready in May. It will be the 23rd model of her made since she was two years old.
The Queen's figure is one of the most popular in Madame Tussauds, with that of Barack Obama and Michael Jackson. Each one costs GBP 150,000 to create.

A Level exams may change

The Education Secretary in England has announced plans for the UK's universities to set the content of A Level exams. He has said it is important for undergraduates to have the right knowledge and skills and that he believes universities should have a "leading role" in this.
It is widely believed that the changes will lead to the exams becoming harder and that the AS papers and modular exam papers may possibly disappear.
The Education Secretary has said he has hoped students will be able to start studying for the new exam in 2014.

Famous album cover, updated

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles had one of the most famous album covers ever. It included pictures of the Beatles in military uniform, plus cut-outs of lots of other famous people of the 1960s, when it was released.
Now the artist Sir Peter Blake has celebrated his 80th birthday by updating the album cover, which is probably his most famous artwork. The new version includes Harry Potter author JK Rowling, musicians Amy Winehouse, Mick Jagger, Paul Weller, Elvis Costello and Noel Gallager, playwright Tom Stoppard, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, artist Grayson Perry and the foot from Monty Python.
Sir Peter said: "I've chosen people I admire, great people and some who are dear friends. I had a very long list of people who I wanted to go in but couldn't fit everyone in – I think that shows how strong British culture and its legacy of the last six decades is."