Apple reports record-breaking £8.36bn profits for the three months to 31 December 2011, up 118% from the same period last year.

The government savings body, National Savings & Investments, cuts the interest rate on its main savings account, the Direct Saver, to 1.5%.

Pressure is building on ministers over the NHS reforms in England after a critical report by MPs has added to the mounting concerns.

The control order regime restricting the freedoms of terrorism suspects ceases to exist from midnight on Wednesday.

The law should be changed before the next general election to allow anyone queuing at voting stations when polls close to cast their ballot, a report by peers says.

Two foreign aid workers kidnapped by suspected pirates in Somalia last October are freed in a US military raid, officials say.

UK economic activity fell by 0.2% in the last three months of last year, according to official government figures.

Astronomers say that areas of frantic star formation in the Universe's early days fed supermassive black holes, and led to the largest galaxies we see.