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	Monday, 25 February, 2008, 1:00 GMT 09:00 +08:00:Asia/Shanghai

Nominee's diary
British director on the run-up to his big night out with Oscar

Future flights
Airliners running on biofuels? Don't hold your breath...




TOP STORIES

	Raul Castro named Cuban president Cuba's National Assembly unanimously votes to confirm Raul Castro as president to replace his brother Fidel.

	Six more sites in care home probe Police searching a former Jersey care home where a child's remains were found are to investigate six more sites.

	Stars grace red carpet for Oscars Celebrities including George Clooney gather in Hollywood for the Oscars, the biggest night of the film year.

	71% of pupils admit being a bully More than seven in 10 children have bullied others, according to research by the Beatbullying charity.

	Pressure grows on Commons Speaker Commons Speaker Michael Martin comes under increased pressure as more details of his expenses claims are published.




WORLD

	Raul Castro named Cuban president Cuba's National Assembly unanimously votes to confirm Raul Castro as president to replace his brother Fidel.

	Russia 'causes concern' says poll People in Western countries think Russia's President Putin is harming democracy, a BBC poll suggests.

	Stars grace red carpet for Oscars Celebrities including George Clooney gather in Hollywood for the Oscars, the biggest night of the film year.




AFRICA

	Sudan 'renews Darfur air strikes' Fresh air strikes on Darfur are reported as China's envoy for the region starts a visit to Sudan.

	Mugabe 'confident' of sixth term Robert Mugabe tells a rally to celebrate his birthday that Zanu-PF will win next month's elections in Zimbabwe.

	Blair helps Rwanda build economy Tony Blair is to help Rwanda build its economy by attracting private investment, following a visit to the African country.




AMERICAS

	Raul Castro named Cuban president Cuba's National Assembly unanimously votes to confirm Raul Castro as president to replace his brother Fidel.

	Ralph Nader to run for president Controversial consumer advocate Ralph Nader announces he is joining the race to become US president.

	Stars grace red carpet for Oscars Celebrities including George Clooney gather in Hollywood for the Oscars, the biggest night of the film year.




ASIA-PACIFIC

	New S Korean leader takes office Lee Myung-bak is to be sworn in as South Korea's president following a landslide victory in December polls.

	Sudan 'renews Darfur air strikes' Fresh air strikes on Darfur are reported as China's envoy for the region starts a visit to Sudan.

	Man held over wife's 1981 murder A Japanese businessman is arrested on suspicion of murdering his wife in Los Angeles 27 years ago.




EUROPE

	Russia 'causes concern' says poll People in Western countries think Russia's President Putin is harming democracy, a BBC poll suggests.

	Turkey admits loss of helicopter Turkey admits it has lost a helicopter, hours after Kurdish rebels in Iraq say they shot one down.

	Cypriot victor rallies for unity Demetris Christofias wins Cypriot election and promises to work on re-uniting the divided island.




MIDDLE EAST

	Israel steps up border security Israel's military strengthens its positions along Gaza's border ahead of a Palestinian protest planned for Monday.

	Bomber strikes Iraq Shia pilgrims At least 40 people are killed and scores more injured by a suicide bomber targeting Shia pilgrims in Iraq.

	US urges short Turkish campaign The US urges Turkey to keep its military campaign against Kurdish militants in north Iraq as short as possible.




SOUTH ASIA

	Arrests follow India mob attack Seven people are arrested in eastern India after a mob beats a murder suspect until he is unconscious.

	Pakistan troops die in gun battle At least three security personnel are killed in clashes at a checkpoint in north-west Pakistan, police say.

	Pakistan 'sparks YouTube outage' Pakistan is blamed for putting popular video website YouTube out of action for over an hour.




UK

	Six more sites in care home probe Police searching a former Jersey care home where a child's remains were found are to investigate six more sites.

	Row over murder suspects on bail Scores of defendants charged with murder have been released subject to conditions, a study shows.

	Pressure grows on Commons Speaker Commons Speaker Michael Martin comes under increased pressure as more details of his expenses claims are published.




ENGLAND

	Airline in first biofuel flight The world's first commercial aircraft powered partly by biofuel takes to the skies.

	Search continues in Shannon hunt Police carry out "significant" searches of areas in Dewsbury in the hunt for nine-year-old Shannon Matthews.

	Road name change to end 'stigma' The address of Steve Wright - one of Britain's most notorious serial killers - may be erased under a neighbourhood plan.




NORTHERN IRELAND

	Workshop fire leads to evacuation A family is evacuated from their County Down home following a fire in a garage workshop.

	Charge follows major drugs find A man is charged with possession of class A drugs with intent to supply after a major drugs find.

	Boy injured in town hit-and-run A nine-year-old boy is treated in hospital after a hit-and-run incident in a County Down town.




SCOTLAND

	Assurances sought over rendition Assurances are being sought by the justice secretary that American rendition flights have not landed on Scottish soil.

	Bicycle link in backpacker murder Police probing the murder of a Scottish backpacker in New Zealand carry out tests on a bicycle.

	Pressure grows on Commons Speaker Commons Speaker Michael Martin comes under increased pressure as more details of his expenses claims are published.




WALES

	Man dies in cake-eating contest An inquest is to open on the death of a man during a cake-eating contest at a Swansea nightclub.

	Final day for Lib Dems conference The Welsh Lib Dems 2008 spring conference closes with a speech on the party's efforts for more devolution.

	Spitfire heroine's joy over medal A woman who flew fighters to RAF bases in World War II speaks of her joy at being awarded a special merit.




POLITICS

	Pressure grows on Commons Speaker Commons Speaker Michael Martin comes under increased pressure as more details of his expenses claims are published.

	MP in call for UK primary polls US-style primaries should be introduced in Britain to select Westminster candidates, an ex-minister urges.

	Row over murder suspects on bail Scores of defendants charged with murder have been released subject to conditions, a study shows.




BUSINESS

	UK in Liechtenstein tax data deal The UK confirms paying an informant for data on Liechtenstein-based accounts of British citizens.

	Money maze help for young people Two charities are teaming up to offer financial advice for 16 to 25-year-olds using new technology.

	Airline in first biofuel flight The world's first commercial aircraft powered partly by biofuel takes to the skies.




ENTERTAINMENT

	Stars grace red carpet for Oscars Celebrities including George Clooney gather in Hollywood for the Oscars, the biggest night of the film year.

	Duffy's Mercy tops UK chart again Duffy, runner-up in the BBC's Sound of 2008 search for new talent, tops the singles chart for a second week.

	Lusardi voted off ice dance show Former Page Three model Linda Lusardi becomes the latest celebrity to leave ITV1's Dancing on Ice.




SCIENCE/NATURE

	Antarctic glaciers surge to ocean A UK team finds evidence that the major glaciers draining the West Antarctic Ice Sheet are accelerating towards the sea.

	Airline in first biofuel flight The world's first commercial aircraft powered partly by biofuel takes to the skies.

	Bluetongue risk 'starts in April' UK livestock farms will again be at risk from bluetongue from the second half of April, predict scientists.




TECHNOLOGY

	Pakistan 'sparks YouTube outage' Pakistan is blamed for putting popular video website YouTube out of action for over an hour.

	Japan blasts satellite into space Japan launches a satellite designed to enable super high-speed data transmission in remote areas.

	ISPs could face piracy sanctions The government is considering imposing legal sanctions on ISPs that do not take steps to prevent internet piracy.




HEALTH

	4,000 new midwives to be employed The government plans to recruit 4,000 midwives in England to relieve pressure on maternity services.

	Flavoured foods 'lacking fruit' A consumer pressure group says may fruit-flavoured food and drink products actually contain little or no fruit.

	Cancer plan 'needs more funding' Government plans to improve cancer care could fail because of lack of funding, charities warn.




EDUCATION

	Parents fail comprehension test While schools test pupils, parents are struggling to know what the results are meant to mean.

	Thousands excused training to 18 The new requirement in England to be educated to age 18 will not apply to youngsters in difficult circumstances.

	Some exams 'harder than others' England's exams watchdog finds some subjects are harder than others in a comparison of exams.

ON THIS DAY NEWS FROM THE BBC ARCHIVES

1986: Corazon Aquino is Philippines president
The new Philippines president Corazon Aquino is sworn in today, bringing to an end 20 years of dictatorship under Ferdinand Marcos.

1964: Cassius Clay crowned world champion
Cassius Clay, 22, is crowned heavyweight boxing world champion after a shock win over Sonny Liston.

1994: Jewish settler kills 30 at holy site
A Jewish doctor opens fire on Palestinians praying at a mosque in Hebron, killing up to 30 people.




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