UK News: Prince Harry set to return to Afghanistan

PRINCE Harry has been cleared to be redeployed to Afghanistan and could return next year, it was reported today.

The Ministry of Defence would not comment on the reports but the 26-year-old Apache helicopter pilot is thought to be keen to return to the country after his first tour of duty was cut short in 2008.

Care home reassurances

A SOLUTION to the financial woes of care homes provider Southern Cross will be delivered within four months, the company has said.

A deal, reached at a meeting between its landlords and lenders yesterday, is designed to allay fears that residents may suffer disruption if the company collapses.

Ex-health secretary slams weakening of NHS reform

FORMER health secretary Alan Milburn has branded the coalition's watered-down NHS reforms the "biggest car crash" in the service's history.

The Labour ex-MP, currently advising David Cameron on social mobility, said the taxpayer faced writing "a very large cheque" as billions of pounds in efficiency savings would not be achieved.

The condemnation of the revised plans, which were unveiled earlier this week, came in an article for a national newspaper.

UK 'on course to stability'

BANK of England governor Sir Mervyn King has said the UK economy is on the right course to return to stability following the financial crisis but warned it is in the middle of "seven lean years".

His words at his annual Mansion House speech suggest that it may be another three years before some parts of the world economy, including the UK, fully recover.

Giggs in phone hack claim

FOOTBALLER Ryan Giggs is the latest celebrity to launch legal action against the News of the World over alleged phone hacking by the newspaper, his lawyers confirmed.

NOTW editor Rebekah Brooks has also been shown documents proving her voicemail had been intercepted.

London: Every fire engine in London will be equipped with defibrillators from today as part of a programme launched after concerns were raised about the response to the 7/7 bombings. Rescuers' attempts to treat the injured and dying after the July 7, 2005 suicide attacks were hampered by shortages of first aid equipment.

Leeds: Katie Price is aiming to set a new world record for the longest book-signing session. The model has a target to exceed the eight-hour stint which currently holds the record during her signing at the O2 Academy Leeds on July 27.