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Party leaders condemn MP pay rise during austerity
A £2.5 million saving by downgrading the final salary scheme for MPs to career average - matching the rest of the public sector - had already been proposed alongside a crackdown on various perks.
All three main party leaders have condemned the increase at a time of national austerity, with both Labour's Ed Miliband and Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg pledged to shun the extra money.
David Cameron has stopped short of matching that pledge - and is under pressure from some Tory MPs to back the increase - but has said Westminster pay should not rise while others face restraint.
MPs to be handed a £7,600 pay rise
MPs are to be handed a £7,600 pay rise after a watchdog refused to bow to pressure from political leaders to scale back the rise at a time voters are feeling the squeeze.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) will unveil its final proposals next week - including boosting MPs salaries to £74,000 from 2015 - 11 per cent higher than they get at present.
It is expected to try to temper criticism by announcing a tougher-than-expected squeeze on MPs' pensions in a bid to cancel out the £4.6 million cost to the public purse.
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Flowers tributes grow outside Mandela's Jo'burg home
A day of delays and frustration at UK airports
Passengers were left stranded today when a glitch at an air traffic control centre caused chaos at airports across the UK and Ireland.
Read the full story'Thousands' displaced amid CAR violence
Charities and NGOs in the Central African Republic have been warning for months of ongoing attacks and the displacement of thousands of people.
The UN says nearly 400,000 people have been displaced since last December, and 70,000 people have been forced to flee.
Heard tragic testimony from those who lost family members in attacks. Distrust growing between Bangui's religious communities #CARcrisis
#CARcrisis airport IDP camp #amnesty visited today. 000s arrived in days seeking safety with French troops http://t.co/uGdtNcsXju
Mandela's image lights up Paris town hall
An image of the late South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela has been projected on to the facade of Paris town hall as tributes to him continued to pour in from all across the globe.
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UNICEF: 'Children targeted in CAR atrocities'
2.3 million children are affected by the crisis in Central African Republic, and children are increasingly becoming the victims of violence and forced recruitment amidst ongoing atrocities, UNICEF has warned.
– U.N. Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila ZerrouguiChildren are killed and mutilated, recruited by armed groups, victims of sexual violence and other grave child rights violations.
At least 400 people have died in three days of violence between the Seleka rebels and Christian self-defence militias.
The U.N. estimates that since the violence started last December, nearly 400,000 people have been displaced. 70,000 people were forced to flee the country.
The U.N. Security Council warned the sectarian violence could escalate into "an uncontrollable situation” and "large scale massacres."
Race to South Pole stopped over safety concerns
Prince Harry's race to the South Pole with Walking With The Wounded has been suspended for safety reasons, expedition director Ed Parker said.
The decision to suspend the race element was made after a "very tricky" few days of unexpectedly difficult conditions that has exhausted the competitors.
Read: Race to the South Pole over, but the expedition continues
French troops arriving to Central African Republic
French soldiers were cheered on Saturday as they began patrolling densely-populated neighbourhoods of Central African Republic's capital Bangui, which has been rocked by waves of killings between Muslim and Christian communities.
France is deploying 1,600 troops to its former colony. At least 400 people have died in three days of violence between the Seleka rebel group and Christian self-defence militias.
Read: UK in talks on Central African Republic military support
Central African Republic has been gripped by chaos since Seleka toppled former President Francois Bozize and embarked on months of looting, rapes and killings.
This is the second major French military operation in Africa this year. It comes just months after France deployed 4,000 troops to oust al Qaeda-linked Islamist groups which had seized control of northern Mali.
US veteran held in North Korea arrives home
US War veteran Merrill Newman, detained by authorities in North Korea for more than a month, has arrived back in San Francisco today.
The tired but smiling veteran of the Korean War was holding the hand of his wife as he thanked the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang, and the US embassy in Beijing for helping to secure his release.
Mr Newman said he was "delighted to be home."
Read: US welcomes North Korea's decision to release citizen
"It's been a great homecoming," he said. "I'm tired, but ready to be with my family."
The 85-year-old was detained in late October at the end of a 10-day trip to North Korea, a visit that came six decades after he oversaw a group of South Korean wartime guerrillas during the 1950-53 war.
