Royal Bank of Scotland's chairman says he is "profoundly sorry" for the financial and human cost that the bank's troubles have caused.

Oil prices have fallen below $50 a barrel amid growing fears over a global recession and lower demand for oil.

Singer Madonna and film director Guy Ritchie are to be divorced at the High Court on Friday, according to court lists.

The man accused of kidnapping Shannon Matthews told police he was threatened into keeping her by her mother, a court hears.

Merseyside Police suspend an officer after he is named on a list of British National Party (BNP) members.

The mother of barrister who wrote a book detailing childhood abuse brands her daughter a "wicked thief and a liar".

US politicians say there is no agreement on a rescue plan to help the crisis-hit "Big Three" carmakers.

The UN Security Council votes to send 3,000 more troops to DR Congo following renewed fighting in the east of the country.

Michael Jackson will appear at London's High Court in person next week to counter allegations that he breached a contract.

Top of the Pops returns to the BBC for two shows over Christmas, despite earlier promises it would stay off the airwaves.

Paterson Joseph - hotly tipped to replace David Tennant in Doctor Who - has suggested he would relish the role.

Arsenal captain William Gallas admits his side must toughen up if they are to challenge for the Premier League title.

Captain Kevin Pietersen wants England to score more hundreds after India's Duckworth-Lewis win in the third one-dayer.

England prop Andrew Sheridan is ruled out of Saturday's Test against South Africa because of a neck injury.

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A man is banned from churches across England and Wales after intimidating parishioners and stealing in Surrey.

Fingerprints of the man accused of killing Vicky Hamilton are found on a bag containing part of her body.

A coroner asks for more warning signs on beaches after recording an accidental death verdict on a teenager who died sand tunnelling.

The executive confirms water charges will be deferred for another year, as it meets for the first time in five months.

South Africa's cabinet says it will withhold $28m of aid to Zimbabwe until a representative government is in place.

China has increased computer espionage attacks on US government and business interests, Congress is warned.

The Palestinian Authority has placed a full-page advert in Israel's Hebrew newspapers to promote an Arab peace plan.

Beijing says its employment outlook is "grim", amid concerns of increasing social unrest caused by economic problems.

France's opposition Socialists are voting for a new leader, amid bitter infighting and deep divisions in the party.

An anti-piracy group welcomes an Indian navy warship's destruction of a suspected Somali pirate vessel in the Gulf of Aden.

World stockmarkets falter amid growing concerns that the world economy is entering a protracted downturn.

The government says it is "right to increase borrowing" as figures show public debt rose by £1.4bn last month.

The makers of the anti-impotence drug Viagra have withdrawn an application for the medicine to be available without a prescription.

A printing error on a GCSE exam being taken on Thursday has caused confusion for schools and students.

A US-Russian team announces that it has sequenced most of the genome of a woolly mammoth found in Siberia.

Stand-up comedian Eddie Izzard says he is making a film version of his cancelled US TV show, The Riches.

Digital television is spreading faster in Britain than in France, Canada, the US, Germany and Japan, according to research.