The week's news in bullet points

Saturday 11 May

• Points blamed
Railtrack confirmed a points failure caused the Potters Bar rail crash that killed seven people.  More details

• Middle East
The leaders of Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia said they "rejected all forms of violence" and expressed "sincere" Arab determination to forge peace with Israel.  More details

•Old Firm
The BBC learned Celtic and Rangers were set to be invited to join the English league next season.  More details

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Friday 10 May

• Train crash
Seven people died in a train crash at Potters Bar in Herfordshire. The train smashed into a bridge as it approached Potters Bar station, derailing three carriages.  More details

The siege at the Chuch of the Nativity ended after a five-week stand-off

• Church of the Nativity
All of the Palestinian militants and civilians besieged inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem have now left, ending the five-week stand-off with Israeli troops.  More details

• Pim Fortuyn
Thousands of people lined the streets of the dutch city of Rotterdam for the funeral of the assassinated right-wing politician, Pim Fortyun. His coffin was carried to a funeral mass at the Catholic cathedral.  More details

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Thursday 9 May

• English devolution
The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, laid out plans which could dramatically change the political landscape of England. Under the proposals, each region would be offered the choice of its own assembly in a referendum before the next election.  More details

• Middle East
Israel made clear it will attack the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the suicide bombing on Tuesday which killed 15 Israelis. The army began an emergency call up of reservists and there is a build up of forces in the area.  More details

• World Cup 2002
The England coach, Sven-Goran Eriksson, named his squad for the World Cup Finals in Japan and Korea. The surprise inclusions were the veteran Arsenal defender, Martin Keown, and the young West Ham midfielder, Joe Cole.  More details

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Wednesday 8 May

• Middle East
The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, held an emergency cabinet meeting this evening to consider his response to last night's suicide bombing. He arrived in Tel Aviv, having cut short a visit to the United States.  More details

Ariel Sharon cut short his visit to the US

• Pakistan bomb
President Musharraf of Pakistan said a suicide bombing in Karachi, in which 15 people were killed, most of them French, will be answered with the full force of his government. French security officials believe Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda group was behind the attack  More details

• Football
Arsenal won the English Premiership. They secured the title by beating the reigning champions Manchester United one-nil. They have gained the Double this season, having won the FA Cup Final against Chelsea last Sunday.  More details

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Tuesday 7 May

• Middle East
Israel suffered its first suicide bombing in almost a month. At least 16 people were killed and around 50 others injured in an attack on a crowded club in the coastal town of Rishon Letzion, near Tel Aviv.  More details

• Iraq sanctions
The US said an agreement was reached by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council on a new system of sanctions against Iraq. Only items of potential military use will continue to face UN scrutiny.  More details

• Baby kidnapping
An 18-year-old woman was charged with kidnapping a baby girl taken from a hospital maternity unit. Elizabeth Rice was taken from the Wordsley Hospital near Stourbridge on Monday afternoon. She was found by police investigating a tip off from a member of the public.  More details

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Monday 6 May

• Dutch assassination
A man was arrested in connection with the killing of the right-wing Dutch politician, Pim Fortuyn. Mr Fortuyn recently provoked controversy by describing Islam as a "backward religion" and calling for the Netherlands' borders to be closed to immigrants.  More details

France's interim Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin

• Baby kidnapping
A two-day-old girl - taken from a maternity hospital in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, was found. Police say the baby, who is one of twins, was discovered in a house in the Dudley area. Two women and a man were arrested.  More details

• French Prime Minister
France's new interim prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, said he will announce his Cabinet tomorrow, hours after being appointed to his position. Mr Raffarin will stay in power, at least until the country's general elections next month.  More details

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Sunday 5 May

• French Election
The French people emphatically rejected the right-wing extremist, Jean-Marie Le Pen, in their country's presidential election. Exit polls gave President Jacques Chirac a record victory, with more than 80% of the vote.  More details

• Ann Winterton
The Conservatives' rural affairs spokeswoman, Ann Winterton, was sacked for telling a racist joke at a rugby club dinner. The party leader, Ian Duncan Smith, said the remarks made at her Cheshire constituency of Congleton on Friday night were unacceptable.  More details

• Football Hooligans
Three men were arrested by police investigating the violence which erupted after the Millwall - Birmingham City game on Thursday night. Almost a hundred police officers and a number of horses were injured in the trouble.  More details

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