Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said she hoped the global scrutiny of China during the Beijing games will lead to lasting improvements in human rights.

Britain has joined international calls for an immediate ceasefire in South Ossetia after Georgia launched a military offensive to regain control of the breakaway province.

Royal Bank of Scotland unveiled its first loss in 40 years as a public company after suffering writedowns of £5.9 billion.

Soaring numbers of borrowers struggling amid the credit crunch sent home repossessions to the highest level for 12 years in the first half of 2008, figures have revealed.

Britain is more likely to face another attack on the transport network than any other kind of threat, the Government revealed.

A 16-year-old youth has been locked up for life with a minimum term of 12 years for the murder of schoolboy Martin Dinnegan.

A British Scout injured in a head-on crash in Canada has been released from hospital, a spokesman for The Scout Association said.

Portuguese police wanted to bug the parents of missing Madeleine McCann but a judge refused to give permission, their case files have revealed.

Eco-activists said that they had "superglued" themselves to the front doors of a British bank in the City of London to protest against climate change.

A lack of adult role models is fuelling a rise in UK youngsters joining gangs, a charity said.

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