News

Iran jails journalist as US spy
Events
An Iranian-American journalist branded a US spy has been jailed for eight years by Iran after a brief trial held behind closed doors. Roxana Saberi, 31, who was arrested in January and went on trial this week, denies the charge and plans to go on ...
18/04/2009

Pirates hijack second US vessel
Events
Somali pirates have hijacked a US-owned tugboat in the Gulf of Aden with 16 crew members on board - 10 of them Italians, reports say. Maritime industry sources say the tug was towing two barges at the time of the attack at 0800 GMT. The crew are ...
11/04/2009

Exoplanets finally come into view
Science
The first pictures of planets outside our Solar System have been taken, two groups report in the journal Science. Visible and infrared images have been snapped of a planet orbiting a star 25 light-years away. The planet is believed to be the co ...
15/11/2008

Review ordered after abuse death
Events
The death of a 17-month-old boy after months of abuse, despite him being on an at-risk register, has sparked an review of child protection in England. It comes as two men were found guilty of causing his death in August 2007. The boy, from Hari ...
11/11/2008

Light drinking 'no risk to baby'
Events
By Caroline Parkinson Health reporter, BBC News Women who drink a small amount of alcohol while pregnant do not increase their child's risk of behavioural problems, a study has suggested. The University College London team classed "light ...
31/10/2008

What do market moves mean for you
World politics
By Kevin Peachey Personal finance reporter, BBC News For many people the operation of stock markets across the world will be quite a mystery. But the fluctuations of share prices affect all of us - often in a more direct way than consume ...
24/10/2008

G7 nations pledge to fight crisis
World politics
The G7 nations issued a five-point plan of "decisive action" to unfreeze credit markets, after a meeting in Washington. Widespread fears of a global recession caused Asian, European and US markets to tumble on Friday despite rate cuts and cash inj ...
11/10/2008

Free meal plan for Scots pupils
Events
All pupils will receive free meals in the first three years of primary school, the Scottish Government has announced. The move follows a year-long ?5m pilot scheme in Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire, East Ayrshire, Fife and the Borders. That schem ...
02/10/2008

Irish economy goes into recession
Events
The Irish Republic's economy has fallen into recession after shrinking for a second quarter in succession. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) said gross domestic product (GDP) had contracted by 0.5% in the three months to the end of June. The ...
25/09/2008

Horses for divorces
Events
A divorcee has been awarded ?50,000 a year maintenance - to keep her horses in the manner to which they have become accustomed. What does this mean for tug-of-love battles over the family pet, asks solicitor Kathy Pinney. Divorcing your partner ...
23/09/2008