George Michael died of natural causes, an inquest has found, confirming previous reports of a heart condition.
The singer died of "dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver".
"The investigation is being discontinued and there is no need for an inquest or any further enquiries," senior coroner Darren Salter said in a statement.
:: Celebrity deaths: The big names mourned in 2016
According to the British Heart Foundation, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is "a disease of your heart muscle where it becomes stretched and thin".
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Monday, March 6, 2017
New 'fraud-proof' £1 coin on sale ahead of public release
Those who want to get their hands on the new £1 coin before it is released into general circulation can buy their own version from today.
Prices range from £10 for the uncirculated coin to £1,995 for the gold proof two-coin set.
David Pearce was just 15 when his design for the coin was chosen over more than 6,000 other entries in 2014.
David's design, which features national emblems of the UK - a rose, leek, thistle and shamrock - emerging from a Royal Coronet, has been slightly refined with the support of renowned coin artist David Lawrence and lettering expert Stephen Raw.
Dr Kevin Clancy, director of The Royal Mint Museum, who helped choose the design, said: "The winning idea combined traditional elements but also symbolised a modern United Kingdom in an elegant and a succinct way.
"It was a young person's interpretation of an idea while still being steeped in history and tradition."
The coins will be released for general use on 28 March and the old pound coins, which have been around since 1983, will cease being legal tender on 15 October.
The round pound's successor is thinner, lighter and slightly bigger in diameter - and experts believe that its distinctive design will make it trickier to counterfeit.
It has been estimated that about one in every 30 pound coins currently in circulation is fake, creating a headache for businesses and the Royal Mint.
The 12-sided pound has been heralded as "the most secure coin in the world", as it boasts several security features - including a holographic image which changes from a "£" symbol to the number "1" when the coin is seen from different angles.
The collectors' edition coins can be bought from royalmint.com
Prices range from £10 for the uncirculated coin to £1,995 for the gold proof two-coin set.
David Pearce was just 15 when his design for the coin was chosen over more than 6,000 other entries in 2014.
David's design, which features national emblems of the UK - a rose, leek, thistle and shamrock - emerging from a Royal Coronet, has been slightly refined with the support of renowned coin artist David Lawrence and lettering expert Stephen Raw.
Dr Kevin Clancy, director of The Royal Mint Museum, who helped choose the design, said: "The winning idea combined traditional elements but also symbolised a modern United Kingdom in an elegant and a succinct way.
"It was a young person's interpretation of an idea while still being steeped in history and tradition."
The coins will be released for general use on 28 March and the old pound coins, which have been around since 1983, will cease being legal tender on 15 October.
The round pound's successor is thinner, lighter and slightly bigger in diameter - and experts believe that its distinctive design will make it trickier to counterfeit.
It has been estimated that about one in every 30 pound coins currently in circulation is fake, creating a headache for businesses and the Royal Mint.
The 12-sided pound has been heralded as "the most secure coin in the world", as it boasts several security features - including a holographic image which changes from a "£" symbol to the number "1" when the coin is seen from different angles.
The collectors' edition coins can be bought from royalmint.com
Malaysians banned from leaving North Korea: State media
Pyongyang has banned all Malaysian citizens from leaving North Korea, state media said, amid an escalating row over the killing of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's half-brother.
In an immediate reponse, Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak called on North Korea to immediately release all its citizens and also instructed the police "to prevent all North Korean citizens in Malaysia from leaving the country until we are assured of the safety and security of all Malaysians in North Korea".
"This abhorrent act, effectively holding our citizens hostage, is in total disregard of all international law and diplomatic norms," Najib said in a statement, adding that he has summoned an emergency meeting of the National Security Council.
Malaysia-North Korea relations fray after Kim Jong-nam killing
The North's foreign ministry notified the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang of the reason for the ban and said it had hoped the case would be swiftly and fairly resolved in order to develop bilateral ties with Malaysia, the North's KCNA news agency reported.
"All Malaysian nationals in the DPRK will be temporarily prohibited from leaving the country until the incident that happened in Malaysia is properly solved," the official Korea Central News Agency said on Tuesday, citing the foreign ministry.
Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Marican told reporters that there were 11 Malaysians in North Korea: Three at the embassy, two UN workers and and six family members.
Al Jazeera's Florence Looi, reporting from Kuala Lumpur, said Marican also said the government will need to check the exact numbers because some Malaysians might be in the country on approved tours or some other business.
"Initially we were told Malaysian government's ban only affected the North Korean embassy staff and officials. But through the prime minister's statement, it's clear that it extends to all North Koreans in the country."
Pyongyang and Kuala Lumpur had unusually strong links for years, but have been set at loggerheads following the assassination of King Jong-nam by two women using VX nerve agent.
READ MORE: Kim Jong-nam suspect accuses Malaysia of conspiracy
Seoul has blamed Pyongyang for the assassination, and Kuala Lumpur has sought several North Koreans for questioning, although the only one it arrested was released for lack of evidence.
According to KCNA, Pyongyang's foreign ministry expressed hopes that the Malaysian government would solve the issue in a "fair and timely manner based on goodwill".
The North has yet to confirm the dead man's identity but has denounced the Malaysian investigation as an attempt to smear it.
Malaysia expelled the North's ambassador as diplomatic tensions soared, and Pyongyang retaliated late Monday by formally ordering out his counterpart - who had already been recalled for consultations.
Malaysian diplomats and nationals in the North would be allowed to "conduct business and live normally" while the travel ban is in place, it added.
Earlier, Malaysia decided to cancel visa-free entry for North Koreans entering the country. North Koreans are now required to obtain a visa as of March 6 before entering Malaysia for national security reasons, state news agency Bernama reported on Thursday, citing the deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
In an immediate reponse, Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak called on North Korea to immediately release all its citizens and also instructed the police "to prevent all North Korean citizens in Malaysia from leaving the country until we are assured of the safety and security of all Malaysians in North Korea".
"This abhorrent act, effectively holding our citizens hostage, is in total disregard of all international law and diplomatic norms," Najib said in a statement, adding that he has summoned an emergency meeting of the National Security Council.
Malaysia-North Korea relations fray after Kim Jong-nam killing
The North's foreign ministry notified the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang of the reason for the ban and said it had hoped the case would be swiftly and fairly resolved in order to develop bilateral ties with Malaysia, the North's KCNA news agency reported.
"All Malaysian nationals in the DPRK will be temporarily prohibited from leaving the country until the incident that happened in Malaysia is properly solved," the official Korea Central News Agency said on Tuesday, citing the foreign ministry.
Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Marican told reporters that there were 11 Malaysians in North Korea: Three at the embassy, two UN workers and and six family members.
Al Jazeera's Florence Looi, reporting from Kuala Lumpur, said Marican also said the government will need to check the exact numbers because some Malaysians might be in the country on approved tours or some other business.
"Initially we were told Malaysian government's ban only affected the North Korean embassy staff and officials. But through the prime minister's statement, it's clear that it extends to all North Koreans in the country."
Pyongyang and Kuala Lumpur had unusually strong links for years, but have been set at loggerheads following the assassination of King Jong-nam by two women using VX nerve agent.
READ MORE: Kim Jong-nam suspect accuses Malaysia of conspiracy
Seoul has blamed Pyongyang for the assassination, and Kuala Lumpur has sought several North Koreans for questioning, although the only one it arrested was released for lack of evidence.
According to KCNA, Pyongyang's foreign ministry expressed hopes that the Malaysian government would solve the issue in a "fair and timely manner based on goodwill".
The North has yet to confirm the dead man's identity but has denounced the Malaysian investigation as an attempt to smear it.
Malaysia expelled the North's ambassador as diplomatic tensions soared, and Pyongyang retaliated late Monday by formally ordering out his counterpart - who had already been recalled for consultations.
Malaysian diplomats and nationals in the North would be allowed to "conduct business and live normally" while the travel ban is in place, it added.
Earlier, Malaysia decided to cancel visa-free entry for North Koreans entering the country. North Koreans are now required to obtain a visa as of March 6 before entering Malaysia for national security reasons, state news agency Bernama reported on Thursday, citing the deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Trump cabinet member Ben Carson calls slaves 'immigrants' in speech
President Trump's new housing secretary has caused controversy after referring to slaves who were brought from Africa to America as "immigrants".
Dr Ben Carson, who is the only black member of Mr Trump's cabinet, was making his first speech to staff at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) when he made the remarks - described as "offensive" by civil rights campaigners.
He was praising the work ethic of immigrants who dreamed of success for their families in the US when he said: "There were other immigrants who came here in the bottom of slave ships, worked even longer, even harder for less.
"But they too had a dream that one day their sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, great-grandsons, great-granddaughters might pursue prosperity and happiness in this land."
Enslaved Africans did not voluntarily come to the US and were denied freedom for hundreds of years.
Although Dr Carson received a standing ovation from hundreds of HUD staff, a backlash quickly followed.
Rana Hogarth, a history professor and expert on American slavery, described Dr Carson's comparison as "inappropriate and wildly inaccurate", as immigration suggests "a desire of a person to make the journey".
Rebecca Scott, a law and history professor at the University of Michigan, added that slavery in the US was a "dramatically distinct form of migration".
She explained: "That people had aspirations for their children regardless of how they were brought to the United States was certainly true. Their capacity to see their aspirations realised was starkly limited by slavery."
In a tweet which appears to have since been deleted, the Department of Housing and Urban Development wrote: "This is the most cynical interpretation of the Secretary's remarks to an army of welcoming HUD employees.
"No one honestly believes he equates voluntary immigration with involuntary servitude!"
The furore will likely prove an unwelcome distraction for Dr Carson, who has just begun his first full week leading the department since he was confirmed by the Senate last week.
His department is responsible for providing housing assistance to people on low incomes through vouchers and public housing - and his role could see him play a prominent role in reviving poor neighbourhoods.
Dr Carson, a retired neurosurgeon who ran against Mr Trump as a Republican presidential candidate last year, himself grew up in a Detroit ghetto.
This is not the first time he has been criticised for making insensitive remarks.
In 2013, he described Obamacare - also known as the Affordable Care Act - as "the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery".
Dr Ben Carson, who is the only black member of Mr Trump's cabinet, was making his first speech to staff at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) when he made the remarks - described as "offensive" by civil rights campaigners.
He was praising the work ethic of immigrants who dreamed of success for their families in the US when he said: "There were other immigrants who came here in the bottom of slave ships, worked even longer, even harder for less.
"But they too had a dream that one day their sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, great-grandsons, great-granddaughters might pursue prosperity and happiness in this land."
Enslaved Africans did not voluntarily come to the US and were denied freedom for hundreds of years.
Although Dr Carson received a standing ovation from hundreds of HUD staff, a backlash quickly followed.
Rana Hogarth, a history professor and expert on American slavery, described Dr Carson's comparison as "inappropriate and wildly inaccurate", as immigration suggests "a desire of a person to make the journey".
Rebecca Scott, a law and history professor at the University of Michigan, added that slavery in the US was a "dramatically distinct form of migration".
She explained: "That people had aspirations for their children regardless of how they were brought to the United States was certainly true. Their capacity to see their aspirations realised was starkly limited by slavery."
In a tweet which appears to have since been deleted, the Department of Housing and Urban Development wrote: "This is the most cynical interpretation of the Secretary's remarks to an army of welcoming HUD employees.
"No one honestly believes he equates voluntary immigration with involuntary servitude!"
The furore will likely prove an unwelcome distraction for Dr Carson, who has just begun his first full week leading the department since he was confirmed by the Senate last week.
His department is responsible for providing housing assistance to people on low incomes through vouchers and public housing - and his role could see him play a prominent role in reviving poor neighbourhoods.
Dr Carson, a retired neurosurgeon who ran against Mr Trump as a Republican presidential candidate last year, himself grew up in a Detroit ghetto.
This is not the first time he has been criticised for making insensitive remarks.
In 2013, he described Obamacare - also known as the Affordable Care Act - as "the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery".
Trump signs new Muslim travel ban excluding Iraq
Donald Trump has signed a revised travel ban that will temporarily halt entry to the US for people from six Muslim-majority nations.
Under the Republican president's order announced on Monday, a 90-day ban on travel to the US will be imposed on citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Travellers holding pre-existing visas would still be allowed entry, according to the new order, which will come into effect at midnight on March 16.
Green card holders will not be affected by the order.
Unlike the previous ban, the new directive does not include Iraq in its list of countries targeted, following pressure from the Pentagon and state department which had urged the White House to reconsider given Iraq's key role in fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.
OPINION: All international laws Trump's Muslim ban is breaking
Iraq said the revised order sends a "positive message" about the future of bilateral relations as the two countries work to combat ISIL, also known as ISIS.
Saad al-Hadithi, government spokesman, said the decision to revise the ban shows that there is a "real partnership" between Washington and Baghdad.
The new version also removed language that would give priority to religious minorities.
Critics had accused the administration of adding such language to help Christians get into the United States while excluding Muslims.
Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher, reporting from Washington, DC, said: "[US officials] have tried to take what was the existing executive order, make it much tighter, and essentially make it bullet proof in the courts."
'Vital for security'
Rex Tillerson, US secretary of state, said that the renewed ban is "a vital measure for strengthening our national security".
"With this order, president Trump is exercising his rightful authority to keep our people safe," he said.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the order "responsibly provides a needed pause so we can carefully review how we scrutinise people coming here from these countries of concern".
Former FBI agent: Muslim ban 'not about security' - UpFront
"Three of these nations are state sponsors of terrorism," Sessions said, referring to Iran, Sudan and Syria, adding that others had served as "safe havens" for fighters.
Trump's first order, signed on January 27, led to chaos at airports, protests and international condemnation.
That order was ultimately blocked by the courts.
Many said the order had partially fulfilled Trump's campaign promise to ban Muslims from entering the US.
"There's going to be a very orderly process," a senior official from the homeland security department said.
"You should not see any chaos so to speak, or alleged chaos at airports. There aren't going to be folks stopped tonight from coming into the country because of this executive order."
Reactions
Peter Roff of Frontiers for Freedom, a right-wing think tank, welcomed the move.
"Muslims are not banned from America. On the contrary, Muslims are welcomed in America, but we are only trying to prevent terrorists from coming in who might be infiltrating our country as refugees.
"ISIS and al-Qaeda terrorists killed more Muslims than Christians and Jews."
WATCH: Is Trump's Muslim ban a gift to ISIL?
However, several Democrats condemned the new ban.
The leader of the minority Democrats in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, said he expected the revised order to have the same uphill battle in the courts as the original version.
"A watered down ban is still a ban," he said in a statement.
"Despite the administration's changes, this dangerous executive order makes us less safe, not more, it is mean-spirited, and un-American. It must be repealed."
Trump's original ban resulted in more than two dozen legal cases in US courts.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson of Washington state, which succeeded in having the previous ban suspended, said he was "carefully reviewing" the new order.
Tom Perez, chair of the Democratic National Committee, said party members have a "responsibility to fight back".
"I've seen firsthand the difference we can make when we refuse to accept the hateful, immoral, unconstitutional actions of the Trump administration," Perez said.
Senator Dianne Feinstein said the ban "does not strengthen our national security".
"Painting more than 150 million people with the same broad brush is contrary to the principle of religious freedom and will do nothing to make us safer," she said.
READ MORE: UAE minister says Trump's travel ban not Islamophobic
Rights groups, meanwhile, criticised the new order.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the new ban was a "scaled-back version that shares the same fatal flaws".
In a statement, ACLU said: "The only way to actually fix the Muslim ban is not to have a Muslim ban. Instead, President Trump has recommitted himself to religious discrimination, and he can expect continued disapproval from both the courts and the people."
Under the Republican president's order announced on Monday, a 90-day ban on travel to the US will be imposed on citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Travellers holding pre-existing visas would still be allowed entry, according to the new order, which will come into effect at midnight on March 16.
Green card holders will not be affected by the order.
Unlike the previous ban, the new directive does not include Iraq in its list of countries targeted, following pressure from the Pentagon and state department which had urged the White House to reconsider given Iraq's key role in fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.
OPINION: All international laws Trump's Muslim ban is breaking
Iraq said the revised order sends a "positive message" about the future of bilateral relations as the two countries work to combat ISIL, also known as ISIS.
Saad al-Hadithi, government spokesman, said the decision to revise the ban shows that there is a "real partnership" between Washington and Baghdad.
The new version also removed language that would give priority to religious minorities.
Critics had accused the administration of adding such language to help Christians get into the United States while excluding Muslims.
Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher, reporting from Washington, DC, said: "[US officials] have tried to take what was the existing executive order, make it much tighter, and essentially make it bullet proof in the courts."
'Vital for security'
Rex Tillerson, US secretary of state, said that the renewed ban is "a vital measure for strengthening our national security".
"With this order, president Trump is exercising his rightful authority to keep our people safe," he said.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the order "responsibly provides a needed pause so we can carefully review how we scrutinise people coming here from these countries of concern".
Former FBI agent: Muslim ban 'not about security' - UpFront
"Three of these nations are state sponsors of terrorism," Sessions said, referring to Iran, Sudan and Syria, adding that others had served as "safe havens" for fighters.
Trump's first order, signed on January 27, led to chaos at airports, protests and international condemnation.
That order was ultimately blocked by the courts.
Many said the order had partially fulfilled Trump's campaign promise to ban Muslims from entering the US.
"There's going to be a very orderly process," a senior official from the homeland security department said.
"You should not see any chaos so to speak, or alleged chaos at airports. There aren't going to be folks stopped tonight from coming into the country because of this executive order."
Reactions
Peter Roff of Frontiers for Freedom, a right-wing think tank, welcomed the move.
"Muslims are not banned from America. On the contrary, Muslims are welcomed in America, but we are only trying to prevent terrorists from coming in who might be infiltrating our country as refugees.
"ISIS and al-Qaeda terrorists killed more Muslims than Christians and Jews."
WATCH: Is Trump's Muslim ban a gift to ISIL?
However, several Democrats condemned the new ban.
The leader of the minority Democrats in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, said he expected the revised order to have the same uphill battle in the courts as the original version.
"A watered down ban is still a ban," he said in a statement.
"Despite the administration's changes, this dangerous executive order makes us less safe, not more, it is mean-spirited, and un-American. It must be repealed."
Trump's original ban resulted in more than two dozen legal cases in US courts.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson of Washington state, which succeeded in having the previous ban suspended, said he was "carefully reviewing" the new order.
Tom Perez, chair of the Democratic National Committee, said party members have a "responsibility to fight back".
"I've seen firsthand the difference we can make when we refuse to accept the hateful, immoral, unconstitutional actions of the Trump administration," Perez said.
Senator Dianne Feinstein said the ban "does not strengthen our national security".
"Painting more than 150 million people with the same broad brush is contrary to the principle of religious freedom and will do nothing to make us safer," she said.
READ MORE: UAE minister says Trump's travel ban not Islamophobic
Rights groups, meanwhile, criticised the new order.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the new ban was a "scaled-back version that shares the same fatal flaws".
In a statement, ACLU said: "The only way to actually fix the Muslim ban is not to have a Muslim ban. Instead, President Trump has recommitted himself to religious discrimination, and he can expect continued disapproval from both the courts and the people."
Brexit: PM warns Lords amendment would 'incentivise' EU to give Britain a bad deal
Theresa May has warned peers they would give the European Union an incentive to offer Britain a bad Brexit deal if they pass a further amendment to the Article 50 bill.
The House of Lords is expected to vote on Tuesday on an amendment calling for Westminster to get a "meaningful" vote on the eventual Brexit agreement.
The PM has promised Parliament a vote, but only on a "take it or leave it" basis, which would see the UK leave the EU without a deal if MPs reject the agreement.
A number of peers also want the option of telling ministers to go back to the negotiating table to thrash out a better deal.
Some opposition members believe Mrs May's position that "no deal is better than a bad deal" risks a "cliff-edge" move onto World Trade Organization tariffs which would harm the UK economy.
Mrs May's spokesman said: "She believes we should not commit to any process that would incentivise the EU to offer us a bad deal.
"If we are in a position where any deal negotiated by the Prime Minister could be rejected by MPs, that gives strength potentially to other parties in the negotiation."
:: Chancellor warns Britain won't 'slink off as a wounded animal' over deal
Conservative MP Bob Neill has signalled he is one of those prepared to vote against the Government unless Mrs May gives Parliament more say on any Brexit deal.
Former Tory chancellor Lord Lamont has warned Brexit is "under attack" on several fronts and urged peers to "see sense" over their threats.
Lords who support Remain must not use their role scrutinising legislation as cover for opposing the will of the people, said Lord Lamont.
He also raised fears about lawyers "concocting some mysterious challenges" to Britain's withdrawal.
Lord Lamont said: "The result was clear, the question was simple and unambiguous and yet Brexit is under attack on several fronts.
"Some say maybe in the future the British people will change their minds. By that they mean they would like to change their minds for them."
The House of Lords is expected to vote on Tuesday on an amendment calling for Westminster to get a "meaningful" vote on the eventual Brexit agreement.
The PM has promised Parliament a vote, but only on a "take it or leave it" basis, which would see the UK leave the EU without a deal if MPs reject the agreement.
A number of peers also want the option of telling ministers to go back to the negotiating table to thrash out a better deal.
Some opposition members believe Mrs May's position that "no deal is better than a bad deal" risks a "cliff-edge" move onto World Trade Organization tariffs which would harm the UK economy.
Mrs May's spokesman said: "She believes we should not commit to any process that would incentivise the EU to offer us a bad deal.
"If we are in a position where any deal negotiated by the Prime Minister could be rejected by MPs, that gives strength potentially to other parties in the negotiation."
:: Chancellor warns Britain won't 'slink off as a wounded animal' over deal
Conservative MP Bob Neill has signalled he is one of those prepared to vote against the Government unless Mrs May gives Parliament more say on any Brexit deal.
Former Tory chancellor Lord Lamont has warned Brexit is "under attack" on several fronts and urged peers to "see sense" over their threats.
Lords who support Remain must not use their role scrutinising legislation as cover for opposing the will of the people, said Lord Lamont.
He also raised fears about lawyers "concocting some mysterious challenges" to Britain's withdrawal.
Lord Lamont said: "The result was clear, the question was simple and unambiguous and yet Brexit is under attack on several fronts.
"Some say maybe in the future the British people will change their minds. By that they mean they would like to change their minds for them."
Mamma Mia! Steps and ABBA's Benny and Bjorn team up for 'special album track'
Two ABBA stars have 'taken a chance' on Steps, teaming up with the British pop group for a "special track" on their comeback album.
The five-piece band's new record, Tears On The Dancefloor, marks 20 years since they formed, and they will also mark the anniversary by going back on the road for a UK tour.
'The name of the game' is collaboration, as new song Story Of A Heart was given to them by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus from the Swedish superstar band. Steps' Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer, Ian "H" Watkins and Lee Latchford-Evans announced their comeback in a video on Twitter - and it could mean 'money, money, money' for the stars.
They said: "As you know it's our 20th anniversary year and we've promised loads of fun things.
"So to kick it off we've got a new album... We're also going to be touring up and down the country in November and December."
Tears On The Dancefloor is Steps' first studio album since 2012 and is set to be enjoyed by 'dancing queens' - and kings.
On working with Andersson and Ulvaeus, Scott-Lee told The Sun: "We've always had that comparison with ABBA so it's amazing to work with Benny and Bjorn.
"When we heard the special album track they gave to us we said, 'that's perfect'.
"It's a bridge to where we were and it moves on nicely to where we're taking the new music."
If the song proves to be popular, Steps will no doubt 'thank them for the music'.
The group formed following an advert in The Stage entertainment magazine in 1997.
They split up on Boxing Day 2001 but reunited a decade later.
The band, who had hits including 5,6,7,8 and Tragedy, announced another hiatus in 2013 but confirmed a second reunion earlier this year at London's G-A-Y nightclub.
The five-piece band's new record, Tears On The Dancefloor, marks 20 years since they formed, and they will also mark the anniversary by going back on the road for a UK tour.
'The name of the game' is collaboration, as new song Story Of A Heart was given to them by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus from the Swedish superstar band. Steps' Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer, Ian "H" Watkins and Lee Latchford-Evans announced their comeback in a video on Twitter - and it could mean 'money, money, money' for the stars.
They said: "As you know it's our 20th anniversary year and we've promised loads of fun things.
"So to kick it off we've got a new album... We're also going to be touring up and down the country in November and December."
Tears On The Dancefloor is Steps' first studio album since 2012 and is set to be enjoyed by 'dancing queens' - and kings.
On working with Andersson and Ulvaeus, Scott-Lee told The Sun: "We've always had that comparison with ABBA so it's amazing to work with Benny and Bjorn.
"When we heard the special album track they gave to us we said, 'that's perfect'.
"It's a bridge to where we were and it moves on nicely to where we're taking the new music."
If the song proves to be popular, Steps will no doubt 'thank them for the music'.
The group formed following an advert in The Stage entertainment magazine in 1997.
They split up on Boxing Day 2001 but reunited a decade later.
The band, who had hits including 5,6,7,8 and Tragedy, announced another hiatus in 2013 but confirmed a second reunion earlier this year at London's G-A-Y nightclub.
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