News
All 11 hottest years were in last 13
The 11 warmest years on record have all occurred in the last 13 years, with 2007 set to be the seventh hottest since 1950, according to provisional global data from the Met Office and the University of East Anglia.
Immigration row takes shine off Brown's performance
Rows over immigration and Europe overshadowed a strong performance by Gordon Brown on Thursday in his first cross-party grilling in parliament since becoming prime minister.
MPs say 'No case' for 42-day detention plan
Plans to let police detain terrorism suspects for up to 42 days without charge were dealt a blow on Thursday after an influential parliamentary committee said no case to change the law had been made.
JK Rowling magic tales fetch 1.95 million pounds
A hand-written, illustrated book of wizardry by Harry Potter author JK Rowling fetched a record 1.95 million pounds at auction in London on Thursday, nearly 40 times its expected price.
Geldof calls for more nuclear power
Anti-poverty campaigner Bob Geldof joined the global warming debate on Thursday with a call for the rapid expansion of nuclear power, describing renewable energy as a "Mickey Mouse" answer to the climate crisis.
Pratchett says he has Alzheimer's
Fantasy and science fiction author Terry Pratchett, 59, has been diagnosed with a rare form of early onset Alzheimer's disease, he said in a statement to his fans.
Brown adamant on police pay row
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Thursday the government would not back down in a dispute with police over pay, a day after the body which represents hundreds of thousands of officers called on the Home Secretary to resign.
Hirst donates pickled cow to Tate gallery
Multi-millionaire artist Damien Hirst said on Thursday he was donating four major works to the Tate Gallery, including a sliced and pickled cow and calf.
Diana wrote to Philip as 'Dearest Pa'
Princess Diana thanked her father-in-law Prince Philip for trying to save her crumbling marriage and praised his skills as a counsellor, the inquest into her death was told on Thursday.
Miracle healings not recognised by government computer
A woman confined to a wheelchair for six years has been told that she cannot end her welfare allowance claims even after being healed of her disability because the government computer does not recognise miracles.
Mexicans crowd shrine despite church's troubles
Hundreds of thousands of believers, some walking for hours, paid homage to Mexico's most revered Catholic figure on Wednesday in a colourful, noisy show of faith that defied growing challenges to the church.
Lord Carey appeals for safe return of British nationals held in Iraq
Former Archbishop of Canterbury appeals for safe release of five British hostages being held in Iraq.
Swedish Church backs church weddings for homosexual couples
The Swedish Lutheran Church has declared that it is in favour of allowing homosexual couples to have weddings in Church, although it recommended that the word "marriage" be used only for heterosexual unions.
Three wise men hit a barrier in Bethlehem
Tawfiq Salsaa's olive wood nativity scene looks like thousands of others sold to pilgrims in Bethlehem at Christmas. Except in his version, a wall separates the baby Jesus from the three wise men.
YWAM hopes shooting won't affect mission recruitment
The Youth With a Mission centre in Colorado said it hopes the deadly shooting this past weekend will not turn people away from being involved in missions.
EU leaders to sign reform treaty
When European Union leaders sign a treaty to overhaul the bloc's outgrown institutions at a ceremony in Lisbon on Thursday, several of them may have their fingers crossed behind their backs.