Three MPs and a peer tell a court they are not guilty of charges of false accounting in relation to their expenses claims.

Plans for a new high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham are announced by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis.

The Chancellor Alistair Darling warns not to expect a "giveaway" when the Budget is announced later this month.

A report into parents who cheat to get their child into a school calls for whistleblowing hotlines to be set up.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw meets the mother of murdered toddler James Bulger to discuss the return to prison of one of her son's killers.

UK forces are to hand security powers in the Afghan district of Musa Qala to US troops, the defence secretary says.

The Foreign Office says a five-year-old boy from Oldham kidnapped in Pakistan has not been released.

A businessman is jailed for masterminding a scam which saw tens of millions of battery hen eggs sold as free-range or organic.

A man with learning difficulties dies outside his Greater Manchester home after suffering years of abuse from youths.

Blue Peter dog Mabel, one of the show's longest-serving pets, is to retire after 14 years, it is announced.

England's men are defeated 4-1 by defending champions Germany in the semi-finals of the Hockey World Cup.

Sir Alex Ferguson challenges Wayne Rooney to surpass Cristiano Ronaldo's 42-goal season for Manchester United.

England will make a last-minute call on the fitness of Stuart Broad for the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

Thousands of pupils swap classrooms for newsrooms

Can neuroscience help us solve conflicts?

Are we really ready to let go of the education balloons?

One family's experience of anti-social behaviour

Keeping up with the theatrical Joneses

New skirmishes in war of Daily Mail v the internet

A British Airways computer expert has appeared in court charged with planning suicide bombings.

Hamas releases a British journalist it had held for a month in Gaza, saying at a news conference that it suspects him of being a spy.

The government has said the security services face "difficult choices" amid fears of impending spending cuts.

London Underground is to axe up to 800 jobs under plans to make savings of £16m a year, the company announces.

Police forces in England and Wales are being criticised for failing to deal adequately with anti-social behaviour.

The prime minister attends a service to rededicate the Basra Memorial Wall following its relocation to Staffordshire.

Network Rail maintenance workers vote in favour of strikes, bringing about the possibility of action over Easter.

Most families in England were given their first choice of secondary school - but the picture is varied.

Ex-Bosnian President Ejup Ganic, who faces war crimes allegations, has been given bail by London's High Court.

The bodies of five British servicemen killed in Afghanistan last week are flown back to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire.

A woman convicted of trying to kill her husband in what she said was a failed "mercy killing" dies in an assisted suicide in Switzerland.

It's a big task, so how do you recycle a plane?

Can a fatwa to counter a fatwa really work?

Test yourself, now Royal Mail will no longer limit the stuff

Failings by police and social services over two sisters raped by their father over many years is widely reported in Thursday's papers.

Musician Pete Doherty is banned from driving after admitting allowing his manager to use his car without insurance.

A Suffolk slaughterman who killed a woman with a bolt gun has his minimum sentence increased from 20 to 30 years.

Two men are found guilty of murdering a County Tyrone supermarket manager because he was gay almost two years ago.

A man who was on the run for four years over the kidnap and attack on a dissident republican is remanded in custody.

The UK government's proposals for a high-speed rail link must include Scotland, the Scottish government says.

A Dundee teacher convicted of assaulting two pupils is given an absolute discharge after an appeal.

A man is jailed for murdering his ex-girlfriend but his barrister says she would be alive if a 999 call had been handled differently.

The number of patients waiting more than 26 weeks for referral to a hospital in Wales rose during January.

Liverpool take on Lille before Fulham play Juventus in the last 16 of the Europa League.

The validity of Portsmouth's administration will not be challenged by HM Revenue & Customs, the BBC learns.

England will make a last-minute call on the fitness of Stuart Broad for the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

World champion Jenson Button admits he must hit the ground running in Sunday's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Reigning champions Germany end England's hopes of reaching the World Cup final with a 4-1 victory in their last-four clash.

The Red Knights group eyeing a possible bid for Manchester United says investment bank Nomura will advise it.

Sir Alex Ferguson challenges Wayne Rooney to surpass Cristiano Ronaldo's 42-goal season for Manchester United.

Rafael Nadal commits to playing the Aegon tournament at Queens in June, the competition Andy Murray won last year.

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini receives support from the club's director general following the Spanish giants' Champions League exit.

Jockey Sam Thomas is a doubt for Cheltenham after being airlifted to hospital following an accident on the gallops at Paul Nicholls' yard.

World renowned boxing trainer Enzo Calzaghe is set to retire, BBC Sport understands.

Three-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan will play China's Liang Wenbo in the first round of the World Snooker Championships in April.

Joshua Clottey is confident he will be able to deal with Manny Pacquiao's furious punch output when they meet in Dallas on Saturday.

The world's leading players are in action at the World Golf Championship event at Doral in Florida.

England players court the camera with big season ahead