The UK unemployment rate will rise to almost 9% by the end of 2012, doing "permanent damage to the UK's productive capacity", a think tank says.

Qantas will delay the delivery of two A380 planes by almost four years as it announces fresh $410m spending cuts.

Families who borrowed too much during the economic boom must share responsibility for the financial crisis, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond says.

Major employers should give prisoners work experience placements and training and help more ex-offenders get work, Ken Clarke has said.

A Somerset asparagus grower say this season's wet weather could destroy as much as 20% of his 15-acre asparagus crop.

The Premier League issues an invitation to tender for the domestic UK broadcast rights for the 2013-14 to 2015-16 seasons.

RBS confirms it is to repay £163bn of emergency loans, reports a three month loss of £1.4bn and sets aside another £125m for PPI compensation.

Indonesia is to impose a tax on exports of 14 raw minerals, including copper and gold, in an attempt to encourage local processing.