Ex-NoW editor Andy Coulson received payments from News International after becoming the Tories' director of communications, says the BBC's Robert Peston.

Experts say the health risks of obesity have been underestimated because we are not measuring the condition adequately by ignoring how long people remain overweight.

A study suggests fewer than 50% of children aged eight to 17 read fiction books at least once a month.

A church service is to be held to mark the 40th anniversary of the shooting of a Lancashire police officer.

Col Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam makes a defiant appearance in Tripoli, a day after rebels said they had captured him, amid fierce battles.

Jerry Leiber, one of the men who penned classic Elvis Presley songs Hound Dog and Jailhouse Rock dies in California at the age of 78.

The price of gold crosses $1,900 per ounce mark for the first time on growing concerns about a slowdown in global economy.

Hurricane Irene gains strength as it skirts north coast of Dominican Republic, after blasting through Puerto Rico, and continues north-west towards the US.