The prospect of consolidation in the banking sector and good news from fashion retailer Next helped the London market close up a comfortable 61.2 points today.

Rival Palestinian delegations met in the dark hours of the morning as they prepared for crucial talks in the Saudi holy city Macca today on ending their bloody street battles and resuming the peace process with Israel.

One of the UK’s biggest bingo chains today said revenues had fallen 14% in Scotland following the introduction of a smoking ban.

A GOALKEEPER making the sign of the cross during a soccer match in Scotland is deemed to be in breach of the peace!

The UK’s third-largest bingo club business returned to the acquisition trail today with an £11m (€16m) deal for another operator.

A STRING of winners by the Aidan O’Brien stable has hit first-half profits margins at Paddy Power bookmakers.

Leisure group Rank prepared today to bring the curtain down on a 60-year relationship with the film industry by announcing the separation of its Deluxe unit.

Indian clerics claim the Coca-Cola logo contains a blasphemous anti-Islamic message.