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Israel briefly halts Gaza attacks

Israel halts military operations in Gaza for three hours in the first of planned daily suspensions, it says, as ceasefire calls mount.

M&S to close stores and cut jobs

Marks and Spencer says it plans to close 25 Simply Food stores and two of its regular stores, and cut 1,230 jobs.

Pietersen out as England captain

Kevin Pietersen has left his position as England captain and coach Peter Moores will follow, BBC Sport understands.

Thousands suffer rail disruption

Thousands of rail passengers face long delays after power lines came down stopping all trains in to and out of London Euston.

Freeze hits valley's water supply

Water supplies to thousands of people in a south Wales valley are affected as freezing temperatures continue to bite.

Dispute hits Europe gas supplies

Exports of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine stop altogether with both countries accusing each other of turning off the tap.

UK car sales fall to 12-year-low

UK car sales in 2008 are 11.3% lower than they had been in 2007, following a 21.2% drop in December.

Brown boost for apprenticeships

Gordon Brown begins a three-day tour of England and Wales aimed at showing he is heeding concerns about the downturn.

Swayze 'may live only two years'

Actor Patrick Swayze, who has pancreatic cancer, admits in a US TV interview he may survive only two years.

Blocking it out - why Tetris could help ease traumatic stress

Playing the computer puzzle game Tetris might help reduce the effects of traumatic stress, say UK researchers.

First out the door? Ulrika and Lucy face Big Brother's eviction vote

Ulrika Jonsson and Lucy Pinder are nominated for eviction from the Celebrity Big Brother house on Friday.

Live text - Murray v Petzschner

Andy Murray takes on Germany's Philipp Petzschner as he continues his defence of the Qatar Open.

Boro rule out Downing departure

Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb insists the club will not sell Stewart Downing, or any senior player, during the January transfer window.

Australia secure consolation win

Australia dismiss South Africa for 272 with 10 balls remaining to win the third and final Test by 103 runs in Sydney.

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Itching to work

The asylum-seeking accountant living on £35 a week

Szczecin, anyone?

Where will the weak pound drive holidaying Britons?

Out of shadows

How MI5 keeps shedding some light on its work

Sound of 2009

Florence and the Machine at three on BBC music list

Difficult decisions

A prenatal autism test could mean the loss of great minds

Trio accused of murder after fire

A woman and two teenagers are charged with murder after the deaths of three men in a fire at a house in Sheffield.

Judge issues Hep C probe deadline

Ministers are given a deadline to arrange an inquiry into the deaths of two people from Hepatitis C contracted in NHS care.

Teen burglars sent 'apology' card

A court hears how four teenagers returned items they stole from a house along with a card saying they were "very sorry".

Man is guilty of teacher's murder

A 35-year-old man pleads guilty at Londonderry Crown Court to killing a teacher in a park 18 months ago.

New man to take office in Ghana

Thousands of people gather in Ghana's capital to see President-elect John Atta Mills sworn in after his narrow poll win.

Senate snub as US Congress opens

The new US Congress opens amid a row over the man chosen to fill Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

Women banned from Baghdad shrine

Iraqi authorities close a major Shia shrine in Baghdad to women amid security concerns as the rite of Ashura reaches its climax.

Cambodia marks Khmer Rouge fall

Thousands of Cambodians pack a stadium to mark 30 years since the fall of the Khmer Rouge.

Germany sees higher jobless total

German unemployment levels rose for the first time in nearly three years in December, according to government figures.

India IT boss quits over scandal

The boss of Satyam, India's fourth-biggest software firm, resigns after admitting to irregularities in its accounts.

Hundreds to lose jobs at Barclays

Hundreds of IT workers for Barclays Bank are expected to lose their jobs following a review, the bank announces.

Brown urged to 'condemn' Israel

Gordon Brown must "unambiguously condemn" Israel's actions in Gaza, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg says.

Flu outbreak 'may have hit peak'

The outbreak of flu cases in England and Wales looks like it has peaked, experts say.

Apprenticeship boost in downturn

The government is pledging more money to create apprenticeships as part of its efforts to tackle the downturn in the economy.

Baby Jupiter's huge weight gain

The planet Jupiter must have gained mass fast during its infancy, according to astronomers.

Line-up announced for Ross return

Stephen Fry and Lee Evans will be among the guests when Jonathan Ross's TV chat show returns following his three-month suspension.

'Greenness' to drive tech market

Analysts predict that the environmental credentials of technology products will become a major factor in their success.