Gordon Brown will keep up the pressure on Robert Mugabe when he meets South African president Thabo Mbeki at the G8 summit.

The Government is promising to increase the conviction rate for rape after admitting it remains one of the most under-reported crimes.

Consumer confidence slumped to a new record low during June as a run of bad economic news made people worry about the future.

The family of a teenager fatally injured by a cyclist criticised his "laughable" fine and said he should have been tried for manslaughter.

A report being published next week might clear the way for victims of the collapse of insurance giant Equitable Life to claim billions of pounds worth of compensation from the Government, it was reported.

Marks & Spencer chief executive Sir Stuart Rose is facing the prospect of a humiliating shareholder rebellion at the firm's annual meeting.

New powers for English citizens to use petitions to demand action from their local authority are to be outlined by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears.

Most people believe terrorist suspects should be held without trial for no more than four weeks, in opposition to the Government's planned 42 days, according to a new survey.

A jail has been accused of "institutional disrespect" because it is dirty, cells are covered in pornography and inmates are locked up early.

Athlete Dwain Chambers is beginning a race against time to try to clear the way for him to compete at next month's Olympic Games in Beijing.

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