UK hostage released alive in Iraq
British hostage Peter Moore, who was held captive in Iraq for more than two-and-a-half years, has been freed.

US 'aware of Nigerian attacker'
The US knew of "a Nigerian" in Yemen being prepared for a terrorist attack - weeks before a failed bombing on a US plane.

Nasa picks three in space contest
Nasa has chosen three front runners among proposals for the next space mission in its New Frontiers programme.

US civilians die in Afghanistan
Eight US civilians have been killed in a suicide bomb attack in south-eastern Afghanistan, US officials say.

Shaikh family shock at execution
The family of Britain's Akmal Shaikh executed in China for drug smuggling has expressed outrage and shock at his death.

Iran government supporters rally
Tens of thousands of Iranians stage pro-government rallies around the country, after recent violent opposition protests.

Iraqi governor hit in twin blasts
At least 24 people die in two suicide blasts in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, with the provincial governor wounded.

Ex-Indonesia President Wahid dies
Former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid - often referred to as Gus Dur - has died, according to party officials.

'Dead' US mother hails 'miracle'
A mother from Colorado who doctors said died while giving birth to her son, says she is glad to be alive.

Picasso toy guitar found in shoe box in Italy
Italian police find a toy guitar sculpture created by Picasso for his daughter Paloma, which had been kept in a shoe box by a businessman.

Mexican jail protest over plans to move inmates for Mel Gibson film
Angry protests are held outside a Mexican jail against the planned transfer of inmates to make way for a Mel Gibson film.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Live - Wednesday football
Man Utd host Wigan while Arsenal are at bottom club Portsmouth in the last Premier League action of 2009.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Lowly Bolton sack manager Megson
Gary Megson is sacked as manager of Bolton Wanderers, who are third from bottom in the Premier League.

Send your video, pictures and story ideas
Have you got a good story? BBC News wants to hear from you.

In remembrance
The sights and sounds of well-known figures who passed away in 2009

Security lapses
How US failed to join dots in jet bomber case

Taking stock
How to invest, after a decade of decline on the markets

Key reformer
The man who helped Indonesia achieve democracy

River world
Sound and images from a floating market in Vietnam

Conflict child
Tough life for baby born as Israel attacked Gaza

Japan Airlines shares fall 24%
Japan Airlines' shares plunge to another new low on growing worries the carrier will file for bankruptcy.

French public debt hits new high
France's public debt rises to a new high of 76% after additional state spending during the downturn, figures show.

Copper price hits 16-month high
The price of copper reaches a new 16-month high as strike action looms in Chile.

Spinvox bought by Nuance for £64m
Voice-to-text company Spinvox has been bought by speech recognition firm Nuance.

Apple shares up on tablet rumour
Apple shares rise by more than 1% in early trading on Wednesday amid further speculation over new products.

Virtual goods 'to make billions'
The sale of virtual goods is turning into a billion dollar industry and one of the hottest trends in technology say experts.

Sheen 'threatened to kill wife'
Actor Charlie Sheen put a knife to his wife's throat and threatened to kill her in a fight that began over Christmas, she tells police.

Snow Patrol is most played song
Snow Patrol song Chasing Cars is the most widely played song of the decade, according to music licensing body PPL.

France to rethink carbon tax plan
A new carbon tax set for the new year in France has been struck down, in a blow to President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Music therapy for tinnitus hope
Personalised music therapy may help cut noise levels experienced by people who suffer from tinnitus, say researchers.

Children's alcohol risks warning
Parents in England are warned not to under-estimate the "dangerous consequences" of children drinking alcohol.

'Illegal' chief judge for Nigeria
The swearing-in of Nigeria's new chief justice is illegal in the president's absence, a lawyer tells the BBC.

Somali man 'tried to bomb plane'
A Somali man is in custody in Mogadishu, suspected of trying to take explosives onto a plane, officials say.

Brazil 'needle boy' out of danger
Doctors in Brazil say a two-year-old boy who was pierced with at least 31 sewing needles is out of danger after a third operation.

Argentina media heirs' DNA tests
An Argentine judge orders heirs to a media empire to take genetic tests to establish if they are victims of forced adoption.

China floats anti-pirate hub idea
A senior Chinese naval officer has suggested that China establish a base in the Gulf of Aden, as part of its anti-piracy effort.

Homes burn in West Australia fire
A disaster is declared as fires raze dozens of homes in farming areas north of Perth, the capital of Western Australia.

Netherlands to use body scanners
Body scanners are to be used on all passengers flying from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport to the US, the Dutch government has announced.

Bosnian peace deal 'being broken'
A row erupts between Bosnian Serbs and the top international official in Bosnia over the role of foreign judges.

Iraq oil contract goes to Angola
Angola's state-owned oil company, Sonangol, has signed a deal to produce oil in one of the most dangerous parts of Iraq.

Britain sought to discourage Shah
Britain was keen to discourage the deposed Shah of Iran from trying to settle in England in 1979, archives reveal.

India hit by new state protests
Large parts of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh are shut down in a strike by new state campaigners.

Taliban claim bombing in Karachi
Pakistan's Taliban say they carried out the suicide bombing in Karachi on Monday which killed 43 people.

Shot pair were 'innocent parties'
The father of a woman killed with her daughter after a row with her former boyfriend says they were "innocent parties".

Three climbers die in avalanches
Three climbers have been killed following three separate avalanches in the Highlands and Argyll, police confirm.

Tory plan for £1m website prize
A Tory government would offer a £1m prize for developing a website to open up policy making to the public, says Jeremy Hunt.

Do not wreck recovery, says Brown
Gordon Brown warns against "wrecking" the recovery in his new year message but says the worst of the recession is over.

Production moving back to UK
Manufacturers are moving production back to the UK amid concerns about quality and higher freight costs, a report says.

Payout for nurse victim's family
The family of a victim of killer nurse, Colin Norris, are awarded more than £47,000 in damages.