News
Clinton and Obama draw; McCain leads in U.S. vote
Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton battled to a draw on "Super Tuesday" and John McCain took charge of the Republican race in coast-to-coast presidential nominating battles in 24 U.S. states.
Twenty reported dead as storms rake U.S. south
Tornadoes and thunderstorms ravaged four states in the American South on Tuesday night, killing at least 20 people, injuring dozens and causing widespread damage, emergency services and local media said.
Millions begin China holiday without power
Millions of Chinese began the biggest holiday of the year without power on Wednesday after more than a week of fierce winter weather, but tens of thousands of stranded passengers had finally found trains, buses and planes to get home for family reunions.
Sri Lanka says destroys 30 rebel bunkers in north
Sri Lankan troops backed by tanks and artillery destroyed 30 Tamil Tiger bunkers in the island's far north on Wednesday killing 12 rebels, while air force jets bombed a gathering of rebel leaders, the military said.
Pastor without a prayer, Huckabee stays in U.S. race
Republican Mike Huckabee probably hasn't got a prayer in his bid for the U.S. presidency. But the guitar strumming, joke-cracking Baptist preacher may be a longshot for the second White House job.
Canada says Taliban direct assaults growing more rare
Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan are launching fewer direct attacks on Canadian troops because they suffer heavy casualties from such operations, a senior officer said on Tuesday.
Italy head to dissolve parliament and call elections
Italy's president was due to dissolve parliament on Wednesday ahead of snap elections, likely in mid-April, that could mark a return to power of media magnate Silvio Berlusconi.
Parents not confident in their ability to parent teenagers - Care for the Family
In a recent survey conducted by national charity Care for the Family parents admit they are not confident in their ability to parent teenagers.
Rice urges allies to share Afghan combat burden
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday only a small number of NATO nations had troops in the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan and urged reluctant allies to share the combat burden.
Brown may lift ban on wiretap evidence in court
Prime Minister Gordon Brown will make a statement to parliament on Wednesday about the prospect of allowing wiretap evidence to be used in court, and some media predicted he might lift the ban on the practice.
MPs urged to disclose family employees
Gordon Brown and David Cameron urged their MPs on Tuesday to disclose details of family members they employ, in a bid to dispel an air of sleaze surrounding parliament.
Virgin would cut jobs at Northern Rock
Richard Branson's Virgin Group would cut jobs at Northern Rock if it ends up taking over the embattled mortgage lender, abandoning an earlier commitment to not lay off workers, it said on Wednesday.
Woman given epidural 'unlawfully killed'
A woman who died after mistakenly being given an epidural in her arm during childbirth was unlawfully killed, an inquest jury ruled on Tuesday.
Straw knew of MP prison visits but not bugging
Justice Secretary Jack Straw was aware last December that Labour MP Sadiq Khan had met with a terrorism suspect in prison, but had not heard suggestions their conversations were bugged, the government said on Tuesday.
House prices flat in January
House prices held steady in the month of January, according to the country's biggest mortgage lender, which cited continuing weakness but also signs of a possible stabilisation in the market.
School trips back on the curriculum
The government is to cut red tape surrounding school trips in an effort to reduce the fear of compensation claims and get children out of the classroom.