Labour is risking a new clash with business with a pledge to reverse the Government's final cut in corporation tax just weeks after it is due to come into effect, if the party gains power after the General Election on May 7.

On the first full day of campaigning, shadow chancellor Ed Balls said the move would enable them to throw a lifeline to smaller firms - cutting business rates on 1.5 million small business premises - rather than the big firms who benefit from the reduction in corporation tax.

However the Conservatives warned that it could lead to the loss of almost 100,000 jobs, putting economic security at risk, "for the sake of making a political point.".

The parents of two British medical students stabbed to death while in Malaysia on a placement have said they are "pleased" after a man was found guilty of murder, but added that the verdict will not bring their sons back.

Newcastle University students Aidan Brunger, of Kent, and Neil Dalton, of Ambergate, in Derbyshire, were killed in Sarawak on the island of Borneo in August last year.

Zulkipli Abdullah, a 23-year-old fishmonger, was sentenced to death at the high court where prosecutor Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad said he had told friends he wanted to "test his strength" against bigger and taller foreigners before going after the two men.

Britain's intelligence agencies are engaged in a "technology arms race" with terrorists, cyber criminals and other "malicious actors" bent on causing the country harm, the head of MI6 has warned.

Alex Younger said the agencies were facing opponents "unconstrained by consideration of ethics and law" who were exploiting internet technology to "put our people and agents at risk".

In his first public comments since taking over last year as Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) - as MI6 is more properly known - Mr Younger said traditional human espionage was becoming increasing intertwined with "technical operations".

Binge-drinking is costing UK taxpayers 4.9 billion a year, a study has suggested.

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Morning news headlines: Labour's tax battle; Internet terror warning; binge drinking cost