Shareholders in Royal Bank of Scotland approved a £20 billion bail-out plan which could put nearly 60% of the company in public hands.

The family of two boys killed by ex-Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick in a crash on the M6 said measures to crack down on speeding motorists and drink-and-drug drivers were too little, too late.

The Government has refused to release a detailed report into the mistakes made by authorities in the Baby P case.

Top UK firms joined the growing list of companies cutting jobs as hundreds of losses were announced and fears were expressed of further redundancies.

There were calls for the Government to halt its JobCentre closure programme, after a minister said he was reviewing it in the light of the economic crisis.

Mortgage lending rose by nearly 7% during October but it remained well down on 12 months ago, figures show.

The Saudi owners of the Sirius Star are reportedly negotiating with pirate hijackers despite pleas from British and Saudi governments not to pay the ransom.

Consumers ventured back to the high street as major retailers slashed prices in a pre-Christmas bid to breathe life into the ailing market.

Government claims to prioritise victims of crime were questioned as a committee of MPs delivered a damning report into compensation for people injured in violent attacks.

The man accused of kidnapping Shannon Matthews told police he took the schoolgirl on trips to the park, a court heard.

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