UK News: Plans to tighten UK's student visa system

The Government was set to outline plans for tightening the student visa system today amid criticism that it is a "soft" route into Britain.

Individuals will need to prove they are coming to study rather than work, and also be able to show they have the financial means to support themselves.

MPs agree to pay freeze

MPS have agreed to forgo a one per cent pay rise for themselves and freeze their 65,738 salaries.

The move brings them into line with the majority of public sector workers who have had their pay frozen for two years.

The Commons backed the demand without a vote, although some expressed anger.

Royal Mail set to axe 1700 jobs and close two centres

ROYAL Mail is planning to axe 1700 jobs, including 1000 managers, and close two mail centres.

The company also said that a further 1700 jobs had been cut since the start of the year in areas including finance, IT, human resources and support services. The number of employees has been reduced by around 65,000 since 2002.

Two mail centres in London are set to close with the loss of 700 jobs, while 1000 managers' positions will be cut.

Private jets to pay duty

AIR passenger duty is to be imposed on private jets, Chancellor George Osborne is to announce in the Budget in a bid to show the well-off are sharing the pain of his austerity measures.

The move is expected to cost executive flyers tens of million of pounds each year and will come alongside a freezing of the duty paid by holidaymakers for flights abroad.

Britton calls suicide 'brave'

TV host Fern Britton, who has battled depression, believes people who commit suicide are "brave" when she is in the "pit" of despair.

The former This Morning star, 53, who has taken antidepressants for several years, is about to launch Channel 4's new teatime show.

SWINDON: Detectives investigating the disappearance of clubber Sian O'Callaghan have released images of her last known movements. The 22-year-old disappeared after leaving Suju nightclub in Swindon at about 2.50am on Saturday to walk the half-mile home to the flat she shared with her boyfriend Kevin Reape.

KENT: A young offenders institution branded "a frightening and unsafe place" has made minor improvements. In early 2009 youngsters hid in their cells, so appalling was the badly-vandalised Cookham Wood, near Rochester, Kent.