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	Monday, 26 November, 2007, 1:00 GMT 09:00 +08:00:Asia/Shanghai

In pictures
Relief as passengers from iceberg-hit MS Explorer make land

Robert Peston
Virgin takes lead in contest to acquire Northern Rock




TOP STORIES

	Virgin poised for Rock takeover Northern Rock is poised to name a consortium led by Richard Branson's Virgin Group as favourite to buy the bank, the BBC learns.

	Labour woes 'no Black Wednesday' Jack Straw says comparisons with a 1992 financial crisis are nonsense, as polls suggest falling confidence in Labour.

	Sharif welcomed back to Lahore Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif is greeted by jubilant supporters on his return from exile.

	Concern over secret Labour donor Labour launches a probe after a property developer admits donating cash to the party through "friends".

	MP quits union over BNP speaker An MP resigns from The Oxford Union after the BNP leader and a controversial historian are invited to speak.




WORLD

	Ex-PM Sharif returns to Pakistan Pakistan's ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returns home to a jubilant welcome after spending eight years in exile.

	Syria to attend peace conference Syria says it will send a senior official to a Middle East peace conference in the US later in the week.

	Chavez freezes ties with Colombia Venezuela's Hugo Chavez freezes ties with Colombia, after his mediation role in a hostage dispute is ended.




AFRICA

	Kenyan police 'killed thousands' A Kenyan Human rights group accuses the police of killing more than 8,000 people in a sect crackdown.

	Darfur rebels spurn Chinese force A Darfur rebel group says that China's peacekeepers should leave the region as 135 Chinese engineers arrive.

	Commonwealth issues climate plan Commonwealth leaders release a non-binding plan on climate change at a Uganda summit.




AMERICAS

	Chile completes shipwreck airlift The last of the passengers and crew rescued from a shipwreck in Antarctica are flown back to mainland Chile.

	Chavez freezes ties with Colombia Venezuela's Hugo Chavez freezes ties with Colombia, after his mediation role in a hostage dispute is ended.

	California fire residents return Up to 10,000 California residents forced from their homes by fires are being allowed back as dry winds subside.




ASIA-PACIFIC

	Rudd sets new Australian agenda Australian Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd outlines his priorities after his decisive poll victory over John Howard.

	Sarkozy on first visit to China French President Nicolas Sarkozy is in China for a visit that is expected to focus on economic links and Iran.

	Philippines storm leaves six dead At least six die in the Philippines as heavy storms hit the island ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Mitag.




EUROPE

	More activists arrested in Russia Russian riot police break up a second opposition protest in as many days, detaining about 200 activists.

	Sarkozy on first visit to China French President Nicolas Sarkozy is in China for a visit that is expected to focus on economic links and Iran.

	Croatia votes for new parliament Voters in Croatia elect a new parliament, which is expected to lead the country into the European Union.




MIDDLE EAST

	Syria to attend peace conference Syria says it will send a senior official to a Middle East peace conference in the US later in the week.

	Raids target militants in Kirkuk US and Iraqi forces target militants in a major security operation in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.

	'Shia militia' behind Iraq blast The US in Iraq blames Iranian-backed Shia militants for a deadly bomb attack on a pet market in Baghdad.




SOUTH ASIA

	Ex-PM Sharif returns to Pakistan Pakistan's ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returns home to a jubilant welcome after spending eight years in exile.

	Pakistan troops in Swat offensive Pakistani troops begin a ground offensive against pro-Taleban militants in the former tourist resort of Swat Valley.

	Malaysian police break up rally Malaysian police use tear gas and water cannon to disperse a group of ethnic Indian protesters in the capital.




UK

	Virgin poised for Rock takeover Northern Rock is poised to name a consortium led by Richard Branson's Virgin Group as favourite to buy the bank, the BBC learns.

	Labour woes 'no Black Wednesday' Jack Straw says comparisons with a 1992 financial crisis are nonsense, as polls suggest falling confidence in Labour.

	MP quits union over BNP speaker An MP resigns from The Oxford Union after the BNP leader and a controversial historian are invited to speak.




ENGLAND

	Vicky's father visits death house The father of one of two girls whose bodies were found buried in the garden of a Kent house visits the scene.

	MP quits union over BNP speaker An MP resigns from The Oxford Union after the BNP leader and a controversial historian are invited to speak.

	Pilot loses Savage sacking appeal A pilot loses his appeal against being sacked for allowing footballer Robbie Savage onto his flight deck.




NORTHERN IRELAND

	Budget set to delay new hospital The building of a new women and children's hospital in Belfast may be further delayed, the BBC learns.

	Two critical after birthday party Two men are critically ill in hospital following a house party in Waterford in the Republic of Ireland.

	NI face Czechs and Poles in group NI's rivals in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers will be the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and San Marino.




SCOTLAND

	'Serious' oil blaze extinguished A major fire on a North Sea platform with 159 people on board is completely extinguished.

	'Missing' pensions package found A package containing hundreds of pension statements has been found - at its original destination.

	Safety rules 'harming' youngsters Scotland's children's commissioner says safety restrictions are getting in the way of child development.




WALES

	Grange 'faces another allegation' A former chief constable who stepped down amid an inquiry was facing a further allegation, it has emerged.

	Band memorial for Thai crash pair Friends organise a music event to remember two backpackers who died after a plane crash in Thailand.

	Toshack positive after tough draw John Toshack's Wales will meet Germany, Russia, Finland, Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein in their World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign.




POLITICS

	Labour woes 'no Black Wednesday' Jack Straw says comparisons with a 1992 financial crisis are nonsense, as polls suggest falling confidence in Labour.

	Concern over secret Labour donor Labour launches a probe after a property developer admits donating cash to the party through "friends".

	Darling's role 'nearly untenable' Alistair Darling's role as Chancellor may soon be untenable after recent "disasters", says Vince Cable.




BUSINESS

	Virgin poised for Rock takeover Northern Rock is poised to name a consortium led by Richard Branson's Virgin Group as favourite to buy the bank, the BBC learns.

	Firms attack planned tax changes Many firms have changed investment plans as a result of proposed tax changes, a CBI survey suggests.

	Ultra-fast internet needs debated Leaders of the UK's broadband industry meet the government to discuss how to speed up networks.




ENTERTAINMENT

	Penguins win at children's Baftas Happy Feet is named best feature film at the Children's Bafta sAwards, beating Harry Potter's latest outing.

	Lewis holds on to chart top spots Singer Leona Lewis retains her number one spot in both the singles and album charts.

	EastEnders' co-star mourns 'Nana' Family and friends of former EastEnders actress Hilda Braid pay their final tributes to her at her funeral.




SCIENCE/NATURE

	Better ocean monitoring 'vital' Warming seas, overfishing and pollution mean it is vital to improve how the oceans are monitored, say scientists.

	Astronauts get ready for Columbus Spacewalking astronauts complete tasks that will allow Europe's Columbus lab to fly to the space station.

	Zimbabwe crisis hits black rhino The black rhino breeding programme in Zimbabwe is now at a standstill after three females were killed by gunmen.




TECHNOLOGY

	Ultra-fast internet needs debated Leaders of the UK's broadband industry meet the government to discuss how to speed up networks.

	France unveils anti-piracy plan French pirates face being thrown off the net as the country tackles illegal file-sharing.

	Young warned over social websites Young people could damage their future careers with information posted on social network websites, a watchdog warns.




HEALTH

	Lifespan link to depression drug An antidepressant drug lengthens the lives of tiny worms and may help humans live longer, say scientists.

	Brain scans 'may detect OCD risk' Brain scans may be able to spot people at genetic risk of obsessive compulsive disorder, experts say.

	Mini-stroke target 'must change' Experts call for an end to the target for seeing patients after a "mini-stroke" in favour of urgent assessments.




EDUCATION

	'New' policy: something borrowed Mike Baker looks at David Cameron's latest policy proposals for England's education system.

	New A-levels face close scrutiny England's exams watchdog is to sit in on exam board meetings designing more challenging A-levels.

	Concern at pupil data microchips Pupils' school records are stored on a microchip embedded in their uniforms which teachers can scan.

ON THIS DAY NEWS FROM THE BBC ARCHIVES

1983: £25m gold heist at Heathrow
An armed gang carries out Britain's largest-ever robbery from the Brinks Mat warehouse, at London's Heathrow Airport.

1992: Queen to be taxed from next year
The Queen is to become the first British monarch since the 1930s to pay income tax.

1953: Lords vote for commercial television
Peers back the Government's proposals for commercial television - despite fierce opposition from some rebels who fear the influence of advertisers.




DON'T MISS

Britain's Most Wanted
This World gains unprecedented access to the former KGB agent suspected of murder by radioactive poisoning.
Watch on SUN 25 NOV, 7pm, BBC2, then ONLINE

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