Britain’s largest banks are urging the UK Treasury to start a formal review of taxes on the industry, amid concern HSBC Holdings and Standard Chartered could move overseas to avoid a levy on balance sheets.

Mobile phone and internet banking transactions in the UK have reached nearly £1 billion a day, according to a new report.

The UK's biggest lenders have agreed to set up a new body to improve standards and the reputation of the banking industry.

Britain’s banks are to fork out more than £1bn to cover the cost of compensation payments made to UK savers in failed Icelandic banks at the height of the financial crisis.

The British government will legislate to ensure reckless bank bosses can be jailed and bonuses can be clawed back, David Cameron has said.

On a night when trainer Tony Mullins and his jockey-son Danny shared a 98/1 double, it was the Willie Mullins-trained mare Glens Melody which proved the equine star in Sligo, landing the concluding Cleveragh Flat Race in emphatic style.

HOP, Skip and Jump! By Lia Foa and Katie Saunders (Caterpillar Books; €7.10) is a clever mix of bouncy rhymes and busy activities.

The Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson has been unveiled as the UK's new Children’s Laureate and said she will “relish” the role.

WHEN the World Was Waiting for You by Gillian Shields (Bloomsbury; €13.03 HB) is just the children’s book to have when a new baby is imminent.

The Big Barn Dance, by Jenny Arthur (Caterpillar; €11.50), is the bees’ knees. The spreads in this sturdy board book each focus on a farm animal. Press the button on the strip panel and the animal will moo, baa, quack, etc. Excellent entertainment for age 18 months and upwards.

INTEGRATION Minister Conor Lenihan recently introduced a new twist to the immigration debate.

Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea is examining a report on the accuracy of the Army's version of the massacre of eight Irish soldiers in the Congo in 1960.

THE Defence Forces are carrying out a fresh investigation into Ireland’s single largest loss of life on a UN mission.

Property tycoon Nicholas van Hoogstraten - accused of murdering a business associate - made threats about people who displeased him, the Old Bailey in London heard today.