The European Commission has carried out surprise inspections at several major oil companies over possible price fixing in breach of EU anti-trust rules. More »EU raids oil majors in probe over possible price fixing
LONDON (Reuters) - The number of Britons claiming unemployment benefit fell much more than expected in April, official data showed on Wednesday, in the latest sign that the economy is starting to find its feet. The Office for National Statistics said the number of people claiming jobless benefit dropped by 7,300 last month, compared with analysts' forecasts for a dip of 3,000 from March. The jobless rate - at 4.5 percent - hit the lowest since April 2011. ... More »Jobless claimant count falls sharply in April
British water supplier Severn Trent said on Wednesday that it has rejected a takeover bid from a consortium including Canadian and Kuwaiti investment companies, arguing that it undervalued the group. More »UK water firm Severn Trent rejects takeover bid
Asia-focused bank HSBC announced Wednesday that it will make another $2-3 billion (1.5-2.3 billion euros) of new cost savings, as the group seeks to boost profitability. More »HSBC to cut $2-3 bn more costs by 2016
The mother of murdered schoolgirl Tia Sharp wants to visit Stuart Hazell in prison so she can ask why he killed her daughter, she has said. More »Tia mother wants Hazell jail visit
An 11-year-old girl has died after a collision with a lorry, police have said. More »Girl dies after lorry accident
Winds of up to 65mph battered British coastlines during the night resulting in trees blown down in what was "fairly unusual" weather for May. More »Strong winds battered coastline
Bangladeshi garment manufacturers on Wednesday hailed an agreement by top retailers to make the country's factories safer, saying it reflected their long-term commitment to improving working conditions. More »Bangladesh garment makers hail retailers' safety pledge
Children from deprived areas are almost twice as likely to be obese than those in affluent areas, according to a report. More »Poor Children 'Twice As Likely To Be Obese'
Dementia diagnosis rates are "shockingly low", Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said. More »Dementia: 'Britain And The World Must Do More'
A former lord chancellor will table in Parliament a Bill seeking to legalise assisted dying, in a bid to "safeguard patients". More »Assisted dying Bill to be tabled
The youngest victim of the Oxford paedophile ring has accused Oxfordshire county council of lying about the support it has offered to her and her family. More »Sex gang victim accuses council
As the nation prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of the daring and innovative Dambusters raid, a retired fighter pilot has revealed the true extent of the damage the mission caused to Nazi Germany. More »True Dambusters damage revealed
A New York fundraising dinner in aid of US supporters of Prince Harry's Royal Foundation has attracted the wealthy, famous and glamorous. More »Stars come out for Prince Harry
Britain's men are facing a "crisis of masculinity" as rapid economic change distorts male identity fuelling homophobia and misogyny, Labour MP Diane Abbott is warning. More »Men 'facing crisis of masculinity'
Convicted police murderers will face minimum whole-life sentences under new proposals to be announced by Home Secretary Theresa May at the Police Federation annual conference in Bournemouth on Wednesday. More »Police murderers should get whole-life sentences: May
Prince Harry inspected hurricane-damaged areas of the New Jersey shore at the tail end of a US tour that has done much to bury his royal PR disaster last year in being photographed during a strip billiards session in Las Vegas. More »Prince Harry tours hurricane-hit New Jersey
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez refused to confirm his future lies with the FA Cup winners after his side's 4-1 defeat at Arsenal confirmed their relegation from the Premier League. More »Martinez coy over future as Wigan go down
By David Milliken LONDON (Reuters) - Bank of England chief Mervyn King should be the bearer of some good news on Wednesday in his final forecasts before handing the reins to Mark Carney, even if the British economy remains far from healthy. After repeatedly having to cut its growth outlook and lift its inflation forecasts since the financial crisis, the central bank looks set to do the opposite in its latest Quarterly Inflation Report. Economists polled by Reuters last week expect the bank to forecast that inflation will peak at 3.0 percent later this year, below the 3. ... More »BoE's King set to offer some good news in his final forecast
University tuition fees have risen nine-fold in the past six years, but students are only getting 20 minutes extra a week with lecturers as a result, according to new research. More »Degree work 'like part-time job'
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain has leapfrogged Australia to become the world's second most desirable location for professionals looking to live and work abroad, trailing only the United States, a survey found on Wednesday. Worries about Britain's fragile economy, high household bills and squeezed wages were eclipsed by its growing reputation as a centre for fast-expanding technology companies, the poll said. The United States held on to its status as the most popular location for professionals moving overseas, followed by Britain, Australia, Singapore, Canada and Switzerland. ... More »U.S., Britain most desirable spots for foreign workers - poll
Caretaker Manchester City manager Brian Kidd says Roberto Mancini's sacking has rocked the club. More »Kidd shocked at Mancini sacking
By Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew Osborn LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron faced questions about his leadership on Tuesday after he bowed to pressure from inside the ruling Conservative Party to bring forward draft legislation enforcing a referendum on Britain's European Union membership. Just hours after U.S. President Barack Obama cautioned against rushing towards the EU exit, Cameron was forced by a rebellion in his party into promising a bill that would pave the way for an in-out vote on Europe. ... More »Cameron faces leadership questions over Europe
Wigan were relegated from the Premier League just three days after their FA Cup final triumph as Arsenal seized control of the race to finish in the top four with a 4-1 victory on Tuesday. More »Podolski double condemns Wigan to relegation
The Conservatives have unveiled the question that will be posed in a referendum on Britain's future in Europe if David Cameron wins the next general election. More »EU Referendum: Wording Revealed In Draft Bill