UK retail sales rose by a stronger-than-expected 0.9% in January, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

The government is activating a power it says will allow most councils in England to hold town hall prayers.

Forty children held in adult detention centres while seeking asylum have received a share of £1m compensation from the Home Office, the BBC understands.

The UK signs a deal with France to strengthen co-operation on civil nuclear energy as a Franco-British summit is held in Paris.

Hundreds of people have taken part in a church service to mark the death of a vicar found murdered in his parish near Bristol.

Iran's nuclear ambitions could plunge the Middle East into "a new Cold War", warns UK Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Some of the fiercest critics of planned NHS reforms say they have not been invited to a meeting about the changes with David Cameron.

A Chinese envoy visiting Syria calls on all sides in the country to end violence, amid talks with President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.