UK News: Cameron to outline troop pullout plans

The Prime Minister was to reiterate his commitment to end the UK's combat role in the conflict by 2015 but recently stressed that any short-term pullouts would be "modest".

Salaries gap widening

THE gap in average earnings between employees in the private and public sectors has widened, with state workers paid nearly 8 per cent more last April, figures show.

Public sector employees were paid on average 7.8 per cent more than their counterparts in the private sector in April 2010.

Cutting salt 'not enough to prevent heart attack'

Cutting down on salt may not be enough to prevent a heart attack, research suggests.

Moderate reductions make no difference to the risk of dying or suffering events such as heart attacks or strokes, say experts.

A review of data from seven studies including 6489 participants found lowering salt consumption did lead to a "small reduction" in blood pressure after six months.

But the research failed to show an impact on rates of death or cardiovascular events.

Food drives up inflation

ANOTHER surge in the price of food has pushed shop inflation to its highest rate for more than two-and-a-half years, an industry body said today.

Shop prices in June rose by 2.9 per cent compared with a year ago, with food prices rising by 5.7 per cent, according to the British Retail Consortium, with last month's increase the fastest in the index since October 2008.

Adele hits million mark

SINGER songwriter Adele's Someone Like You has become the first single to sell more than a million copies this decade, the Official Charts Company said.

It spent four weeks at number one in February, before bouncing back for another week in March.

Cambridge: An elderly couple were taken to hospital after their camper van was hit by a train, emergency services said. The pair - understood to be husband and wife - were rescued after they were trapped following the crash near a level crossing in Littleport, Ely.

London: Those stuck in traffic jams or held up on the tube might not believe it, but London is the easiest city in Europe to get around, according to a survey of travellers. The UK capital was also voted the most exciting European city as well as the most overpriced, the poll by TripAdvisor found.