Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi will be given the rare honour of addressing Britain's parliament on June 21 during her landmark first trip abroad in more than two decades, it was announced Wednesday. More »Aung San Suu Kyi to address Parliament on June 21
LONDON (Reuters) - Retail sales fell at their fastest monthly pace in more than two years in April, after a record drop in fuel sales and a weather-related drop in clothing sales, official data showed on Wednesday. The weak start into the second quarter highlights the ongoing weakness of the economy and may raise speculation about another cash boost from the Bank of England. The Office for National Statistics said retail sales volumes fell 2.3 percent on the month - its biggest drop since January 2010 and more than twice as fast as forecast. ... More »Retail sales slide at fastest pace in 2 years in April
Saudi Arabia has signed a $3-billion deal with Britain to buy trainer jets for the Gulf kingdom's air force, SPA state news agency said on Wednesday. More »Saudi signs $3 bn deal with UK to buy trainer jets
A woman on her honeymoon in Mauritius cried out as she was strangled by her attackers in her hotel room, a court has heard. More »Honeymooner 'Cried Out As She Was Strangled'
(Reuters) - Shoppers opted for umbrellas instead of summer dresses, and preferred gadgets to gardening tools during Britain's wettest April on record. Last month's soggy weather heaped more misery on a recession-hit high street, which is grappling with rising costs and weak demand as disposable incomes are squeezed by rising prices, muted wage growth and government austerity. Retail sales volumes fell 2.3 percent in April from March, the biggest monthly drop in two years, government data published on Wednesday showed. ... More »Wet April sends UK retailers running for cover
Bank of England policymakers voted unanimously in favour of holding interest rates at a record low level this month, but one member called again for more stimulus, the BoE said on Wednesday. More »Bank of England united in freezing interest rates
LONDON (Reuters) - BSkyB no longer dominates the British pay-TV movie market following the arrival of new entrants Lovefilm and Netflix, a regulator said, handing a boost to the broadcaster by reversing its initial findings. "Competition between providers of movie services on pay TV has changed materially and, as a result of these changes, consumers now have much greater choice," said Laura Carstensen, chairman of the Competition Commission investigation. ... More »BSkyB cleared in UK pay-TV movie probe
The art collection of the late German-born playboy Gunter Sachs, featuring works celebrating his obsession with his former wife Brigitte Bardot, on Tuesday fetched over $56 million at a London sale. More »Playboy Sachs' art trove raises $56m at London sale
The wills of famous Britons such as Winston Churchill are among those of six million people being published online for the first time Wednesday. More »Churchill's will among millions published online
England's Kevin Pietersen has said it will be "great for the game" if West Indies "superstar" Chris Gayle returns for the second Test at Trent Bridge starting here on Friday. More »Pietersen wants Gayle back for Windies
The Olympic torch took a wrong turn shortly before it crossed the Clifton Suspension Bridge in a spectacular display of fireworks. More »Olympic torch takes a wrong turn
The British designer behind many of Apple's most popular gadgets will be knighted later at Buckingham Palace in recognition of his contribution to the industry. More »Knighthood For Apple's British Designer
Two men locked up for raping an 11-year-old girl have had their sentences more than doubled by the Court of Appeal. More »Two rapists see sentences doubled
Labour will back David Cameron if he chooses to fight an ultimatum issued by human rights judges giving Britain six months to change the law on prisoners' voting rights, shadow chancellor Ed Balls has said. More »Balls: We'll back prisoner battle
David Cameron and fellow EU leaders are to meet in Brussels under intense pressure to agree new economic growth plans ahead of a crucial Greek election vote. More »Growth plan pressure on EU leaders
The Olympic torch took a brief wrong turn near Bristol on Wednesday, delaying the relay by about ten minutes. More »Olympic torch takes a wrong turn
A Downing Street adviser has called Business Secretary Vince Cable a "socialist" who "appears to do very little to support business". More »No 10 Adviser Attacks 'Socialist' Vince Cable
Widespread failings in NHS diabetic care cause 24,000 unnecessary deaths every year, a report has warned. More »Diabetes: 24,000 Deaths A Year Blamed On NHS
Clothing retailers suffered their worst sales performance in nearly four years in April, official figures have shown, as heavy rain dampened demand for a new summer wardrobe. More »Rain dampens summer clothing sales
The Nationwide Building Society has increased home loans by 44%, boosting the number of mortgages provided to first-time buyers. More »Nationwide Gives Boost To Home Loans By 44%
British director Ken Loach is in the running for the prestigious Palme d'Or award at Cannes, despite the Scottish accents in his latest film reportedly being so impenetrable even English-speaking viewers need subtitles. More »Language Barrier: Loach's New Film At Cannes
The coalition is set to pour money into underwriting risky infrastructure projects such as housing in a new push to drive growth, Nick Clegg has suggested in an interview Wednesday. More »UK to spend more on infrastructure to boost growth
A new player in the small business lending market is set to emerge after building society Nationwide unveiled plans to build up a range of services in the coming years. More »Nationwide unveils SME lending plan
A new iPad-based memory test can spot dementia in its earliest stages, when treatment can be most beneficial. More »Dementia App Spots Early Signs Of Condition
BBC presenters Andrew Marr and Jeremy Paxman are to take to the witness box at the inquiry into press standards. More »Paxman to give Leveson evidence