Welfare reform options outlined

Ministers are to set out options for reforming the benefits system and moving people from welfare into work.

Frenchwoman 'smothered newborns'

Prosecutors say a Frenchwoman has admitted killing eight newborn babies after remains are found in a northern village but says her husband knew nothing.

Child heart op ban 'should stay'

Children's heart surgery should remain suspended at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital where four babies died, a report says.

Lockerbie inquiry 'may visit UK'

The US senator who is to chair a congressional inquiry into the Lockerbie bomber release says he may send investigators to the UK.

Cameron defends Pakistan comments

David Cameron says it is important to "speak frankly" after criticism of his comments about Pakistan's record on tackling terrorism.

Fixed retirement age to be axed

People reaching the age of 65 will no longer be forced to retire from October next year, under plans announced by the government.

Gambling firms reveal merger plan

The UK's Partygaming and Austrian firm Bwin unveil plans to merge and create the world's largest online gaming business.

Oil firms' profits almost double

Oil giants Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil see profits almost double in the week rival BP suffered record losses.

Toyota announces fresh car recall

Toyota is recalling almost 430,000 vehicles in the US and Japan amid concern over steering problems.

Jailed Enron boss requests bail

The former chief executive of Enron, Jeffrey Skilling, has applied for bail. His lawyer says his conviction for fraud will be overturned.

Facebook data hoarder speaks out

Security researcher Ron Bowes tells BBC News why he collected and published the personal details of 100m Facebook users.

Google cleared of wi-fi snooping

No "significant" personal data was grabbed by Google when it snooped on wi-fi networks, says the UK data protection office.

Amazon offers new look UK Kindle

Online retailer Amazon launches its popular Kindle e-reader into the UK market for the first time, with a new look and more books.

Nintendo game copiers 'illegal'

A High Court has ruled that devices that allow gamers to play pirated video games on the Nintendo DS console are illegal in the UK.

Government's £6m web search bill

Four government departments spent almost £6m ensuring their websites appeared on search engine results pages, new figures show.

Weakened Arizona immigrant rules still draw protests

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Police arrested at least 30 protesters who took to the streets of Phoenix on Thursday after Arizona adopted a new immigration law, even though its most intrusive provisions had already been blocked by a U.S. court.

Special Report: A Mississippi Yankee in BP's battered court

HATTIESBURG, Miss./CHICAGO (Reuters) - Bob Dudley is not one to wear his disappointment on his sleeve.

Unemployment claims fall, but still elevated

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New claims for unemployment benefits slipped last week, but stayed at a stubbornly high level that underscored the labor market recovery was having trouble gaining traction.

Pakistan monsoons kill at least 100

With monsoons being heavier than normal, floods in north-west Pakistan have killed at least 100 people.

Bollywood version of Austen's Emma

A modern Bollywood adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma is set to hit the big screen. Anna Holligan went to meet its stars.

Greek police clash with hauliers

Greek police have fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of lorry drivers protesting in Athens.

Mum rescues bear cub from fishing net

Amateur video captures footage of a mother bear saving her cub from a fishing net in Anchorage, Alaska.

Prisoner rickshaw rehabilitation

The problems of congested roads and prisoner rehabilitation are being tackled at the same time in a project in Rome.

Record temperatures in Moscow

The record-breaking heatwave in Russia which began a month ago sparked fires across the country, including around the capital Moscow, which now lies under a thick layer of smog.

Star Wars hits New York subway

Meet New York's improvisational film makers who have been performing scenes from cult films in public places.

Commonwealth concern in India

As David Cameron visits one of India's Commonwealth Games venues, there are questions about whether the event is a wise way to spend so much money.

Madagascar delivers plea on aid

The Madagascan government has appealed to the international community not to abandon the country, following the suspension of much aid to the island last year.

Arizona's view of migrant law block

People in Arizona give their views on the blocking of a tougher version of the state's immigration laws days before it was to come into effect.

China: Worst floods in a decade

Amid the worst floods in China for a decade, at least 20 people are missing in Sichuan province where heavy rain triggered a landslide which buried almost 60 houses.

French propose Roma control laws

France is to introduce laws aimed at controlling Roma gypsy commuinities and expel those living in the country illegally.

Baby bodies found in French village

A woman in northern France has admitted killing her eight newborn babies but said her husband knew nothing about it, the prosecutor in the case has said.

Dutch girl Dekker allowed to sail

A 14-year-old girl has been given permission by a Dutch court to try to become the youngest person to sail around the world.

Karzai urges action on Pakistan

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has suggested Western allies are unwilling to move against the Pakistan Taliban.

Rice and Franklin make sweet music

Condoleezza Rice and Aretha Franklin performed together at a concert in Philadelphia.

Pollution threat to deepest lake

The world's deepest and oldest lake, Lake Baikal, is at risk of being removed from the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Puerto Rico's salsa teaching lawyer

Rafael Cancel, who runs Puerto Rico's first environmental law practice, talks about what motivates him to fight for social justice.

Lost Ansel Adams negatives?

Glass negatives bought for just $45 (£34) have been proven to be the work of iconic photographer Ansel Adams and are now worth $200m, it is claimed.

A-Team stars hit London red carpet

The stars of the A-Team movie have hit the red carpet at the London premiere. The BBC's Lizo Mzimba caught up with Liam Neeson, Sharlto Copley, Bradley Cooper and Jessica Biel.

Schoolboy hailed as 'next Picasso'

A British schoolboy has stunned the art world by producing paintings that look like Picasso's.

Judge blocks Arizona migrant law

A judge in Arizona has blocked key parts of the state's strict immigration law a day before it was to take effect.

Who will win the 3D TV war?

Some of the biggest names in Japan's technology industry report earnings later today and the likes of Panasonic and Sony are betting on 3D to drive sales of new TVs, DVD players and camcorders.

The man with the keys to the web

A British computer expert has been entrusted with part of a digital key, to help restart the internet in the event of a major catastrophe. Paul Kane talked to Eddie Mair on Radio 4's PM programme about what he might be called upon to do in an international online emergency.

Gamers try out Nintendo 3DS

Two Newsbeat listeners, Neil and Melanie, have been given a sneak preview of Nintendo's new hand-held console the 3DS.

HTC makes first foray into China

One of the world's top designers of smartphones, Taiwan's HTC, has announced it is moving into the Chinese market for the first time.

Can you crack the cyber-crime code?

A Britain's Got Talent style competition is being held to find UK's finest IT workers.