News headlines provided by... BBC NEWS

BNP teachers will not be banned

Members of the BNP or any group which may promote racism will not be banned from teaching in England, the government says.

Handcuffs asylum use criticised

The use of handcuffs by immigration, escort and security staff to restrain asylum seekers is criticised in a report.

New York agrees 9/11 dust payout

New York City agrees to pay up to $657m (£437m) to thousands of rescue and clean-up workers at the 9/11 attacks site.

Rove 'proud' of US waterboarding

Former US President George W Bush's senior adviser, Karl Rove, says he is proud of waterboarding and it prevented attacks.

Election social care truce urged

MPs urge political parties to set aside "pre-election point scoring" and try to reach consensus over elderly social care in England.

Man arrested over death in street

An 18-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a man died outside his home in Greater Manchester.

Warning on public sector pensions

The amount of money paid as public sector pensions could more than triple in the next 50 years, says the National Audit Office.

New blood pressure approach urged

Fluctuations in blood pressure could be more important than high readings as a warning sign for stroke, say researchers.

Turkey and Sweden in genocide row

Turkey withdraws its ambassador to Sweden after the parliament votes to describe as genocide the killing of Armenians in WWI.

Salmond to meet BBC over debates

SNP leader to meet with the BBC to discuss the row over the party's exclusion from televised general election debates.

How one group of Viking 'visitors' was dealt with by Anglo-Saxons

Fifty-one decapitated skeletons found in a burial pit in Dorset were those of Scandinavian Vikings, scientists say.

Live - Bangladesh v England

Michael Carberry is trapped lbw by Mahmudullah for 30 as England lose their first wicket on day one of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

Liverpool sunk by late Lille goal

Liverpool face an uphill task to progress from the last 16 of the Europa League after Eden Hazard's goal gives a lively Lille side a 1-0 first-leg lead.

Juventus 3-1 Fulham

Three first-half goals see Juventus take command of their Europa League last-16 tie with Fulham but Dickson Etuhu's goal gives the Cottagers' hope.

Will high-speed rail improve transport?

Ministers have revealed plans for a new high-speed rail link. Will this improve transport links in the UK?

School Report

Thousands of pupils swap classrooms for newsrooms

Spy snapshot

Report gives insight into everyday work of security services

Bosnian fallout

Pressure on UK after arrest of ex-Bosnian president

Hoodwinked?

Were rumours of Sarkozy's infidelity a media hoax?

'What benefit?'

High-speed rail plan faces opposition in the Chilterns

Between friends

US and Israel dodge settlement confrontation

James Bulger's mother meets Straw

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

Plaster treatment for skin cancer

A sticking-plaster approach to treating skin cancer has been unveiled at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

Man jailed for killing ex-partner

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.

Homes evacuated in Armagh alert

A number of houses have been evacuated in Armagh due to a security alert, the police have said.

Nigeria women protest at killings

Hundreds of Nigerian women protest over last week's violence near Jos, where women and children were massacred.

Pinera sworn in as new quake hits

Sebastian Pinera is sworn in as president of quake-hit Chile, as a 6.9-magnitude aftershock strikes the centre of the country.

UN critical of Israel over Gaza blockade

The UN's top humanitarian official criticises Israel for linking the 2006 capture of one of its soldiers to the Gaza blockade.

Thailand braces for mass protests

Thailand mobilises thousands of troops ahead of mass rallies by planned supporters of ousted former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

Ukraine president forms coalition

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych secures a coalition in parliament and one of his loyalists is confirmed as PM.

Afghan plea for 'no proxy wars'

Afghanistan does not want other countries' "proxy wars" fought on its soil, President Hamid Karzai says in Islamabad.

'Slow start' for 2010 home sales

The number of homes sold in England and Wales at the start of 2010 was at a low level, a survey says.

Four deny charges over expenses

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

Home 'cervical cancer' test hope

At-home screening tests for the virus responsible for most cervical cancers could detect many more cases, say researchers.

Crackdown call over school cheats

Whistleblowing hotlines and random checks should be used to catch parents who cheat over school places, a report says.

Thalidomide effect mystery solved

The mechanism by which thalidomide causes malformed limbs is revealed by scientists.

Take That star sorry for affairs

Take That star Mark Owen says he is "deeply sorry" for cheating on his partner of five years before they married in 2009.

'Console killer' launches in June

A gaming service that aims to kill off the traditional gaming console will begin streaming games over the net in June this year.