BBC news

  • RBS bank posts £2bn loss for 2011
    State-controlled Royal Bank of Scotland reports a loss of £2bn in 2011, its fourth year of losses since the bank's bailout in 2008.
  • Probe into gender abortion claims
    The Department of Health launches an inquiry into claims that doctors agreed to carry out abortions on the grounds of the sex of unborn babies.
  • Comic Frank Carson dies aged 85
    Friends and former colleagues pay tribute to "one-off" comedian Frank Carson, whose catch phrases included "It's a cracker", after his death aged 85.
  • Homs reporters' deaths condemned
    The killings of two reporters in Homs and the reported deaths of 60 people across Syria trigger Western condemnation of Bashar al'Assad's regime.
  • World leaders to discuss Somalia
    African and Western leaders gather for a major London conference on the future of Somalia, to discuss political change, terrorism and piracy.
  • Degree courses 'cut by a quarter'
    The number of full-time undergraduate degree courses offered at UK universities has fallen by 27% over the past six years, data shows.
  • At least 35 dead in Iraq attacks
    At least 35 people have been killed in Iraq and dozens injured in a wave of bombings and shootings targeting mainly police officers.
  • Santorum in spotlight in Arizona
    Rick Santorum comes under fire from rival US Republican candidates in a crucial TV debate days ahead of two key primaries.
  • MP held over Parliament 'assault'
    A man who is understood to be Falkirk's Labour MP Eric Joyce is arrested on suspicion of assault following a disturbance at the Houses of Parliament.
  • Cost-price drink plan criticised
    A ban on the sale of below-cost alcohol will have a "limited impact" on overall alcohol pricing, research suggests.