Milly Dowler’s parents arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice today to give evidence to the press standards inquiry triggered by revelations about the hacking of their murdered daughter’s phone.

THE parents of Madeleine McCann, actor Hugh Grant and Harry Potter creator JK Rowling were named yesterday as core participants in the first stage of the inquiry into the British phone-hacking scandal.

Tony Blair’s national insurance number appears to have been obtained by computer hackers from the email account of a former member of his staff.

The British government was warned today that it risked hitting Britain's reputation across the world after funding cuts were blamed for the loss of 650 jobs and the closure of five language services at the BBC World Service.

A complaint about former British Labour Party minister and Rotherham MP Denis MacShane has been referred to the Metropolitan Police, the UK parliament's standards watchdog said today.

Channel 4 has defended a “bold and ambitious” show which looks at how children as young as eight would cope without their parents for a fortnight.

Luxury clothing brand Burberry came under attack today when workers heard from the media that they were losing their jobs under plans to close a factory.

Former ITN newsreader Carol Barnes died in hospital today after reportedly suffering a stroke last weekend.

Turkey’s Justice Minister Cemil Cicek criticised EU officials today for pressuring Turkey to stop a freedom of expression case against renowned author Orhan Pamuk, but hinted that a court could drop the case.

A judge halted the trial of Turkey’s best-known novelist today, saying the Justice Ministry must first approve the explosive legal case that raises questions about Turkey’s commitment to free speech.

THE former British minister for Europe, Denis MacShane, tells a good story from one of those negotiating sessions in Brussels where European leaders advanced, bit by bit, the creation of the new Europe.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he was personally saddened by the rejection of the European constitutional treaty and called for a “period of reflection”.

The European Union nations today failed to agree on lifting their 15-year-old ban on arms sales to China, a proposal that had drawn heavy criticism from the US and exposed internal divisions.

The British government was today launching a high profile drive to encourage British firms to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the European Union’s 10 new member states.

Celebrities from the world of broadcasting gathered today to remember the daughter of British newsreader Carol Barnes, who was killed in a skydiving accident.

British skydiver Clare Barnes plunged 14,000ft to her death when her parachute failed because it was not packed properly, an interim report into the accident found today.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair refused to confirm whether he had ruled out a referendum on joining the euro.

North Korea must address international concerns about its development of weapons of mass destruction and human rights abuses if it wants to trade with the rest of the world, ministers warned a delegation from the state today.