Interest rates hit all-time low
The Bank of England cuts rates to 1.5%, the lowest level in its 315-year history, as it continues efforts to help the economy.

SFO opens UK Madoff investigation
The Serious Fraud Office says it is to open an inquiry into Bernard Madoff's business operations in the UK.

UFO claim over wind farm damage
UFO researchers claim damage to a Lincolnshire wind farm turbine was caused by a mystery aircraft.

No plan to print money - Darling
Chancellor Alistair Darling denies he is planning to "print money" in order to boost the UK economy.

England rugby star's driving ban
The England and Gloucester rugby player Mike Tindall is banned from driving for three years after admitting being over the drink-drive limit.

Deported thief loses legal fight
A Jamaican criminal who fathered four children by four different women in the UK has lost his legal battle against deportation.

Ronaldo involved in Ferrari crash
Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo writes off his Ferrari in a crash near Manchester Airport.

Cabinet in Liverpool for meeting
The entire cabinet is in Liverpool for its third meeting outside London as Gordon Brown continues his regional tour.

Zavvi announces 22 store closures
The administrators at music, games and DVD retail chain Zavvi say they are closing 22 stores with immediate effect.

Every animal counts - zoos begin their annual stock-take
Zookeepers across Britain are counting every one of their animals and insects as part of a huge new year stock-take.

Wrong name, wrong address - but Christmas card arrives
A Christmas card with a non-existent English address finds its intended recipient - on a remote Scottish island.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Pietersen home as England regroup
Kevin Pietersen arrives home as England look to the future after his resignation as captain.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Strauss to lead West Indies tour
Andrew Strauss to captain England for the forthcoming West Indies tour after Kevin Pietersen's shock resignation.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Derby shock Man Utd with first leg Cup win
Kris Commons' fierce strike gives Derby County a shock win in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester United.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Magpies' Martins to have hernia op
Newcastle United confirm striker Obafemi Martins will undergo a hernia operation in Germany on Monday.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
FA cuts prices for England games
The Football Association decides to cut ticket prices by up to 25% in an attempt to boost crowds at England matches.

Falling interest
Pensioners worried as rate cuts hit income

Little Princess
Is dressing a girl in nothing but pink harmful?

Store wars
Northern retailer battles the 'Big Four'

Free future
Why it makes sense to charge customers nothing

Brown on tour
BBC reporters take temperature of industry en route

Crash suvivors
Twenty years on - memories of M1 plane crash

Downturn 'fuels unpaid overtime'
The economic downturn is helping to drive record levels of unpaid overtime by workers fearing for their jobs, the TUC claims.

Men charged over stolen passports
Three men are charged after 3,000 blank passports and visas were stolen in Oldham last year.

Firm vows to keep up sex adverts
A medical company rejects a watchdog's call to remove adverts bearing the slogan "Want longer lasting sex?".

Poor service 'risks tourism jobs'
Poor service in hotels and restaurants could cost thousands of jobs in the recession, Britain's tourism chief says.

Hard drive destruction 'crucial'
The only way to stop fraudsters stealing information from old hard drives is by destroying them completely, a study finds.

Festive trade cheers Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's says it has just had its "best ever Christmas performance", with its sales rising 4.5% in the past three months.

Water supply back on after freeze
Water supplies to more than 5,000 homes in a south Wales valley are restored after a burst mains disrupts supply.

Itching to work
She's an accountant, a mother, and asylum seeker. And Chipo is jobless and living on just £35 a week.

Where will Britain go on its holidays?
January is traditionally when Brits book their summer holidays, but with the pound weak, where will they go?

Music to kill for
For some people music is far from being a pleasant experience, writes Laurie Taylor.

Papers ponder printing plan
Many of the papers believe the government is giving serious thought to the idea of printing more money to try to ease the effects of the downturn.

M25 closed after lorries collide
Drivers on the M25 continue to face long queues after an accident closes parts of the motorway in both directions.

Princess Beatrice's BMW is stolen
Police say they are carrying out an investigation into the theft of Princess Beatrice's car in central London.

Over 250 jobs to go at FG Wilson
More than 250 workers are to be made redundant at County Antrim engineering firm FG Wilson, it emerges.

Haddock in court over feud murder
North Belfast loyalist Mark Haddock appears in court charged with the murder of a UDA member in 2000.

Fears blast hotel could collapse
Firefighters searching the debris of a hotel devastated by an explosion are forced to pull out.

Scots ministers offer Gaza help
The Scottish Government says it stands ready to offer its help in supporting the humanitarian effort in Gaza.

Man quizzed over death of boy, 15
A street is cordoned off after a teenager dies and a woman is injured in an incident in the early hours.

Electronics firm confirms closure
An electronics firm is to press ahead with a factory closure and 265 job losses after consultation.