'Petition power' to be outlined New powers for English citizens to use petitions to demand action from their local authority are to be outlined by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears. 12:27pm today
Consumer confidence hits record low Consumer confidence slumped to a new record low during June as a run of bad economic news made people worry about the future. 12:27pm today
Call for more specialist rape units Every police force in the country needs to set up a specialist unit to investigate rape allegations, a senior police officer has urged. 12:27pm today
We're not G8 protesters, says Nighy He may be campaigning at the G8 summit in Japan on behalf of Oxfam, but veteran actor Bill Nighy has insisted that he is not a protester. 10:11am today
Baby son joy for actor McConaughey Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey's model girlfriend Camila Alves has given birth to the couple's first child. 10:11am today
Rise in 'stop and search' paperwork The number of controversial forms completed by police after stopping someone on the street rose by more than a third last year, it has been revealed. 12:56am today
