Tories to block NI tax increase

The Conservatives are to announce plans to block next year's planned rise in National Insurance tax.

Obama hails forces on Afghan trip

US President Barack Obama tells US forces in Afghanistan they are there to help Afghans to forge a "hard-won peace".

Drug adviser quits over 'trust'

A senior government drugs adviser resigns, hours before the home secretary is expected to ban a new "legal high".

Twelve charged with boy's murder

Twelve teenagers are charged with the murder of 15-year-old boy who was stabbed at London's Victoria Underground station.

Pope hits back at 'petty gossip'

The Pope speaks of the need not to be intimidated by critics, in a veiled reference to anger over Catholic sex abuse scandals.

MoD 'not ready for casualty rise'

Insufficient preparations are in place for a significant rise in injured service personnel, a cross-party committee of MPs says.

Bomb kills boy in Greek capital

A bomb explodes outside a building in Athens, killing an Afghan teenager and injuring his mother and sister, police say.

BA union dismisses Tory strike claim

Unite rejects David Cameron's claim its members are on strike due to "weakness" in Gordon Brown's handling of the BA row.

Small garden birds 'hit by cold'

The number of small birds like coal tits and goldcrests spotted in gardens has fallen because of the cold winter, says the RSPB.

Children 'stunted by Iraq war'

Iraqi children born in the most violent areas are shorter than those born in other parts of the country, a study says.

MPs call for Sure Start guarantee

Cutting funds for a scheme aimed at helping young families in England would be disastrous, a committee of MPs says.

Celebrating 10 years as the UK's first broadband customer

It is a decade since a household in Essex became the first in the UK to get a broadband internet connection.