comment on the news as it happens
Cyclone Tomas hits northern Fiji Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:12:57 GMTA powerful cyclone hits northern Fiji, damaging crops and forcing 5,000 people into evacuation centres.
Deutsche Telekom sets sex quotas Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:52:16 GMTGermany's Deutsche Telekom introduces gender quotas to fill 30% of senior jobs with women by the end of 2015.
England held up by brave Tigers Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:57:55 GMTEngland require five wickets to win the first Test against Bangladesh after the hosts close day four on 191-5 in Chittagong, still 322 runs behind.
Submarine officer given reprimand Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:35:44 GMTA nuclear submarine commander whose vessel ran aground in the Red Sea is reprimanded by a court martial.
Explosions hit Nigeria oil talks Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:11:20 GMTTwo suspected car bombs are detonated in Nigeria, during talks over an amnesty for militants in the oil-rich delta.
Sri Lanka trial for ex-army chief Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:53:12 GMTDefeated Sri Lankan presidential candidate and ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka is set to face a court martial.
Ireland charges two over cartoon 'plot' Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:00:12 GMTTwo men are charged in the Irish Republic in connection with an investigation into an alleged plot to murder a Swedish cartoonist.
Kraft to face MPs over takeover Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:02:57 GMTThe vice-president of Kraft Foods will be questioned by MPs over his company's takeover of Cadbury later.
EU's Ashton visits tense Mid-East Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:22:19 GMTEU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton begins a Middle East tour amid tension over an Israeli housing project in East Jerusalem.
Inspectors condemn London's CPS Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:52:32 GMTChronic failings within the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in London are exposed in a damning report.
EU ministers agree Greek plan Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:56 GMTEuropean finance ministers say they have agreed how they would help Greece in its financial crisis, but reveal few details.
Brown says BA strike 'deplorable' Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:24:44 GMTPrime Minister Gordon Brown has described a planned strike by British Airways cabin crew as "unjustified" and "deplorable".
Explosives cache found in Lahore Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:48:05 GMTPakistani police say they have found a big cache of ammunition and 1,500 kg pf explosives during a raid in the city of Lahore.
Georgia 'mafia arrests' in Europe Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:43:06 GMTSixty-nine people are arrested in six European countries as part of an operation against the Georgian mafia.
Liverpool 4-1 Portsmouth Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:58:08 GMTLiverpool thump struggling Portsmouth to stay in touch with the teams chasing the fourth Champions League place.
Tributes paid to Labour MP Kumar Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:45:00 GMTTributes are paid to the Labour MP Ashok Kumar, who has been found dead in his home in Middlesbrough, aged 53.
Petrol price 'to hit record high' Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:17:59 GMTPetrol prices in the UK could hit a record high of £1.20 a litre in the next few weeks, according the AA.
Blood protest against Thai leader Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:32:22 GMTThailand's anti-government protesters donate blood in a ritual curse, as anti-government protests enter third day.
Beckham 'ruled out of World Cup' Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:22:35 GMTDavid Beckham is ruled out of this summer's World Cup after having surgery in Finland on his Achilles tendon injury, BBC Sport understands.
Calvin Klein owner buys Hilfiger Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:41:18 GMTPrivate equity firm Apax partners sells Tommy Hilfiger to the owner of Calvin Klein, Philips-Van Heusen.
EU urges faster cut of UK deficit Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:15:58 GMTGovernment plans to cut the UK's budget deficit are not ambitious enough, a European Commission report will warn this week.
Tribute to stabbed nine-year-old Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:44:30 GMTThe family of a boy who was stabbed to death in Bradford last month pay tribute to him on the day of his funeral.
Pentagon to review spy ring claim Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:38:36 GMTThe US Defence Department may investigate one of its staff over claims he ran an unofficial spy ring in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
MP in 'sudden accidental' death Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:54:01 GMTLabour MP Ashok Kumar has suffered a "sudden accidental" death at his Middlesbrough home at the age of 53.
BA hopes to fly 60% during strike Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:43:53 GMTBritish Airways will fly about 60% of its customers, even if cabin crew go ahead with their planned strike this weekend.
Dotcom marks silver anniversary Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:49:15 GMTThe internet domain name dotcom celebrates its 25th anniversary as nearly 86 million active internet sites now use it.
Somali deal to tackle militants Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:48:41 GMTA powerful Sufi Muslim group joins Somalia's government to help tackle hardliners from the al-Shabab group.
Social care 'must be made fairer' Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:12 GMTThe number of people excluded from social care in England will continue rising if the system is not revamped, experts warn.
Low-quality nursery food warning Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:25:19 GMTNursery food is poor and could be subjected to new nutritional guidelines, a government-commissioned report says.
Impotence 'link to heart death' Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:30 GMTImpotence is a strong predictor of heart attack and death among high risk patients, say German researchers.
Smyth victim in Brady resign call Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:51:58 GMTA victim of serial abuser Fr Brendan Smyth calls on the the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady, to resign.
Inactivity rife in UK - chief medic Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:31:38 GMTFitness tests should be introduced for children in secondary schools to help make people more active, the chief medical officer for England says.
Minister repays £2,500 expenses Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:19:30 GMTTransport Minister Sadiq Khan pays back more than £2,500 he wrongly claimed in Commons expenses for greetings cards.
Reindeer body clock switched off Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:20:33 GMTReindeer have "switched off" their internal body clocks to survive dark winters and light summers in the Arctic.
Beckham has successful operation Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:21:26 GMTSurgery on David Beckham's ruptured Achilles tendon has been deemed "a success" but ends any hopes he had of playing in this summer's World Cup.
Winslet and Mendes split Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:47:35 GMTActress Kate Winslet and her husband Sam Mendes have split up, their lawyers have announced.
Low-caste Indians hold vast rally Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:42:06 GMTHundreds of thousands of people rally in northern India to mark the 25th anniversary of a party representing low-caste Hindus.
'Deep crisis' in Israel-US ties Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:55:08 GMTIsrael's top diplomat in the US says relations are the worst they have been for 35 years, the Israeli media reports.
England labour to Chittagong win Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:00:11 GMTEngland win the first Test against Bangladesh by 181 runs in Chittagong after a spirited display by the hosts on a tense final day.
Impotence linked to heart attacks Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:30 GMTImpotence is a strong predictor of heart attack and death among high risk patients, say German researchers.
Palestinians in Jerusalem clashes Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:32:27 GMTPalestinians clash with Israeli police in East Jerusalem amid tension over settlements and a reopened synagogue.
Council chief pay-offs criticised Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:20:21 GMTThe average pay-off for council chief executives who leave their jobs is £256,104, a local government spending watchdog says.
Mission: Impossible actor dies Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:54:04 GMTPeter Graves, star of the TV series Mission: Impossible and the Airplane films, dies of a suspected heart attack in LA, aged 83.
Eta suspect before London court Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:54:29 GMTA suspected member of the Basque separatist group Eta appears in court in London ahead of extradition proceedings.
Vietnam releases dissident priest Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:28:53 GMTOne of Vietnam's high-profile human rights activists is released from prison, five years before the end of his sentence.
Radar 'glitch' restricts flights Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:22:44 GMTAircraft movements in northern England and Scotland were restricted after a radar "glitch", air traffic authorities say.
Mars moon Phobos seen in detail Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:00:32 GMTThe European Mars Express probe releases new pictures from its close flybys of the Martian moon Phobos.
SA president set for Zimbabwe visit Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:27:18 GMTSouth African President Jacob Zuma is due in Zimbabwe, where he will try to smooth out splits in the coalition government.
ANC leader guilty of hate speech Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:15:37 GMTSouth African judge convicts ANC official Julius Malema of hate speech for insulting woman who accused Jacob Zuma of rape.
Cut ministers by a third, say MPs Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:08:09 GMTThe number of ministers should be cut by up to a third to reduce costs and make Parliament more independent, MPs say.
Abuse victim wants Irish cardinal to quit Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:21:10 GMTA sex abuse victim calls on the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady, to resign over a disgraced cleric.
Net clash for web police projects Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:30:43 GMTA row is brewing over separate projects to use the web to bring people closer to their local police forces.
Israel closes protest villages Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:09:35 GMTThe Israeli military has ordered two West Bank villages at the centre of protests against the "separation wall" are off-limits.
Concern at council chief pay-offs Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:02:58 GMTAlmost a third of council chief executives who leave their jobs are paid off, the local government spending watchdog says.
EU calls for action on UK deficit Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:54:23 GMTGovernment plans to cut the UK's budget deficit are not ambitious enough, a European Commission report will warn this week.
UK credit rating viewed as safe Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:54:57 GMTThe credit ratings of major AAA governments including the US and the UK are well positioned, says Moody's Investors Services.
Who will win Thai power struggle? Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:28:22 GMTThe Thai prime minister has rejected a call from protesters to call elections. How can the political crisis be resolved?
Michael Jackson's estate sets up $200m record deal for 10 albums Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:16:38 GMTThe estate of Michael Jackson agrees a deal worth $200m (£160m) with the record label Sony, US reports say.
Toxic troubles for climate 'fix' Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:04:58 GMTSpreading iron in the oceans as a climate "fix" could poison marine mammals and birds, scientists show.
Tommy Hilfiger sold for $3bn Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:39:35 GMTClothing and design group Tommy Hilfiger agrees to be taken over by private equity firm Apax Partners.
FBI to investigate Mexico deaths Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:23:36 GMTThe FBI says it is sending agents to Mexico's border city of Ciudad Juarez after three people linked to the US consulate were killed.
Israel-US ties at 'historic low' Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:55:08 GMTA settlements row has sunk US-Israeli relations to their lowest point for 35 years, a top Israeli envoy is quoted as saying.
First dotcom celebrates its 25th anniversary Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:49:15 GMTThe internet domain name dotcom celebrates its 25th anniversary as nearly 86 million active internet sites now use it.
Cyclone causes emergency in Fiji Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:36:24 GMTA state of disaster is declared in parts of Fiji, as Cyclone Tomas batters the north and east of the country.
Sports fans urged to donate sperm Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:37:59 GMTSports players and fans in Manchester are targeted in a campaign to boost the number of sperm donors.
Ex-pats wait for pensions verdict Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:15:52 GMTMore than half a million UK pensioners living overseas will find if they have won an appeal against freezing of their pensions.
Live - Premier League Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:15:59 GMTLiverpool host Portsmouth in Monday's sole Premier League match.
UK minister in China economy call Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:59:13 GMTThe UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband calls on China to build an economy which is efficient, stable and just.
Friends star Schwimmer to marry Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:15:44 GMTFriends actor David Schwimmer is to marry his British photographer girlfriend Zoe Buckman.
Tiger decline 'sign of failure' Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:47:43 GMTGovernments need to crack down on the illegal trade in tiger parts if the big cats are to be saved from extinction, the UN warns.
India eyes foreign college role Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:00:31 GMTIndia's government approves a bill to allow foreign universities to set up campuses and offer degrees to students in India.
Prison for 'fantasist' bomb maker Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:43:51 GMTA "misguided fantasist" is jailed for two years for building makeshift bombs in his bedroom in Lancashire.
Burma and N Korea slam UN reports Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:06:43 GMTBurma and North Korea reject UN condemnation of human rights abuses at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Low-caste Indians rally for party Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:42:06 GMTHundreds of thousands of people rally in northern India to mark the 25th anniversary of a party representing low-caste Hindus.
EU's Ashton condemns settler plan Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:53:06 GMTEU foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton criticises Israel's decision to build new homes in occupied East Jerusalem, as she begins a Middle East tour.
Woods return date still unknown Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:10:49 GMTUS PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem says he does not know when Tiger Woods will return to golf despite hinting otherwise.
ANC figure guilty of hate speech Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:16:24 GMTSouth African judge convicts ANC official Julius Malema of hate speech for insulting woman who accused Jacob Zuma of rape.
US presses Israel on settler row Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:56:00 GMTThe US says it is awaiting a formal response from Israel amid a row over its decision to build new homes in East Jerusalem.
World Cup dream ends for Beckham Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:22:35 GMTDavid Beckham has undergone successful surgery on his Achilles tendon injury as he comes to terms with missing out on this summer's World Cup.
Toxic troubles for ocean C02 'fix' Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:04:58 GMTSpreading iron in the oceans as a climate "fix" could poison marine mammals and birds, scientists show.
Alice still leads US box office Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:32:25 GMTTim Burton's Alice in Wonderland holds firm at the top of the US box office chart for the second week running.
Phillips blamed for equality row Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:31:23 GMTA parliamentary committee raise concerns over the leadership of UK equalities chief Trevor Phillips and questions his reappointment.
Arrest over couple's fire deaths Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:40:04 GMTA second person is held over the death of a couple who were killed when a fire in a mobility scooter spread to their home in Rugby.
Injured Beckham arrives for surgery Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:58:05 GMTDavid Beckham arrives in Finland for surgery on his Achilles tendon, which looks set to rule him out of the World Cup.
US industrial output rises again Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:46:20 GMTUS factory output has gone up for the eighth month in a row, despite winter storms that affected industry in the north east.
Cotillard receives French honour Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:11:21 GMTOscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard receives one of France's highest cultural honours at a ceremony in Paris.
Georgian mafia suspects arrested Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:34:53 GMTSixty-nine people are arrested in six European countries as part of a co-ordinated police operation against the Georgian mafia.
Osborne calls for 'honest' Budget Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:53:55 GMTThe chancellor must decide whether to put "his country before his party" in his Budget next week, George Osborne says.
New credit card protection agreed Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:42:34 GMTCredit card holders will be offered more protection from spiralling debts, but changes are watered down from original plans.
Darfur rebel row jeopardises deal Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:09:11 GMTA deadline for Darfur rebels and Sudan's government to finalise a peace deal is unlikely to be met, amid a rebel split.
Abba receive Hall of Fame honour Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:40:01 GMTAbba are inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with British band Genesis and reggae master Jimmy Cliff.
Sri Lanka puts ex-army chief on trial Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:41:39 GMTSri Lanka's ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka has appeared before a military court for participating in politics while in uniform.
French singer Ferrat dies aged 79 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:16:46 GMTFrench singer Jean Ferrat, whose communist views saw many of his songs banned in the 1960s, dies aged 79.
World's shortest man dies aged 21 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:46:04 GMTThe world's shortest man, He Pingping, who was just 74.6cm tall, has died at the age of 21, Guinness World Records says.
Home improvement 'hitting swifts' Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:53:50 GMTA survey of swifts suggests the species is at risk from improvement work being undertaken on old houses.
Israel-US ties 'at historic low' Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:45:40 GMTA settlements row has pushed US-Israeli relations to their lowest point for 35 years, a top Israeli envoy is quoted as saying.
'Arms drive' in South East Asia Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:34:06 GMTSouth East Asian nations are ramping up their military capacity in a move that could destabilise the region, a report says.
Turkey ban on insemination trips Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:14:32 GMTA new law in Turkey makes it a criminal offence for a woman to go abroad and get pregnant via artificial insemination.
Gunfire near Indian space office Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:37:21 GMTThere has been an exchange of gunfire between security forces and two people near the Indian space agency in Bangalore.
Kidnapped Sahil found in Pakistan Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:45:59 GMTThe five-year-old British boy kidnapped in Pakistan has been found safe and well, the British High Commissioner says.
Brown leads Foot funeral tributes Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:16:41 GMTGordon Brown calls Michael Foot "one of the greatest parliamentarians ever" at the former Labour leader's funeral.
Double Falsehood turns out to be true Shakespeare, experts decide Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:20:36 GMTA play which was first discovered nearly 300 years ago has been credited to William Shakespeare.
China's stern warning to Google Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:17:52 GMTChina's top internet official warns that Google will "pay the consequences" if it does not comply with censorship laws.
Doubts cast on US 'runaway Prius' Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:58:12 GMTToyota casts doubt on claims one of its cars failed to stop, after a widely-publicised account of a "runaway" Prius in California.
Wild online diary rebounds on Chinese official Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:01:31 GMTA Chinese official whose diary of drunken evenings, corruption and wild women appeared online is arrested.
Device allows blind soldier to 'see' with his tongue Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:31:47 GMTA soldier blinded by a grenade in Iraq says his life has been turned around by technology that allows him to "see" with his tongue.
Police stops 'target minorities' Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:41:08 GMTMost police forces in England and Wales still unfairly target black and Asian people in their use of stop and search powers, the equality watchdog says.
Defiant Brown will 'keep going' Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:52:45 GMTGordon Brown says he wants to "keep going", after being asked if he would resign if Labour failed to win the general election.
World's shortest man dies aged 22 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:46:04 GMTThe world's shortest man, He Pingping, who was just 74.6cm tall, has died in Rome at the age of 22, Guinness World Records says.
Brown loses job as Hull manager Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:08:37 GMTHull City manager Phil Brown has been relieved of his duties at the struggling Premier League club and put on gardening leave.
US bank regulation bill unveiled Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:45:29 GMTDemocrat senators have unveiled proposed new laws that will give the US Federal Reserve more regulatory powers over US banks.
Israeli FM 'boycotts Brazil head' Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:17:56 GMTIsrael's foreign minister is reported to have boycotted a visit by the Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Two charged over cartoon 'plot' Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:00:12 GMTTwo men are charged in the Irish Republic in connection with an investigation into an alleged plot to murder a Swedish cartoonist.
Live - Bangladesh v England Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:58:54 GMTGraeme Swann makes a crucial double breakthrough for England as they close on victory in the first Test against Bangladesh.
Congress votes on 9/11 healthcare Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:12:51 GMTA US Congressional committee is to vote on a bill providing healthcare for emergency workers ill after working at Ground Zero.
Doubts cast on 'runaway Prius' Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:58:12 GMTToyota casts doubt on claims one of its cars failed to stop, after a widely-publicised account of a "runaway" Prius in California.
India 'rebels' explosives found Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:37:45 GMTPolice in India say they have recovered a huge amount of explosives which was being "used by Maoist rebels".
US hand over of prison to Iraqis Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:22:29 GMTThe US military hands over control of a prison to the Iraqi authorities ahead of a larger troop withdrawal.
Unite rejects pressure over BA Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:41:55 GMTBritain's biggest union, Unite, is resisting Government pressure to re-start talks to prevent a planned strike by British Airways cabin crew.
Tories may 'lose broadband vote' Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:59:44 GMTResearch suggests that key Tory constituencies could suffer most from the Conservative policy on super-fast broadband.
Power cut plunges Chile into dark Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:37:26 GMTA massive power failure plunges much of earthquake-ravage Chile into darkness, affecting up to 90% of the population.
GPs 'overrun with minor ailments' Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:13:55 GMTDoctors and health campaigners say too many people are going to see their GP with minor problems such as coughs and colds.
Rio eyes continued China demand Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:28:50 GMTMining firm Rio Tinto says China's demand for iron ore, copper and coal will increase dramatically during the next 15 years.