Higgins relishes Crucible defence

news.bbc.co.uk - Defending champion John Higgins expects a tough match against first-round opponent Barry Hawkins at the World Snooker Championship. More... (Scotland)

Police examine scene of body find

news.bbc.co.uk - Investigations continue after the discovery of a woman's body in undergrowth near Dundee city centre, police say. More... (Scotland)

'Staff failed' in bridge collapse

news.bbc.co.uk - A report on the collapse of a railway viaduct finds there was a failure as staff did not know the type of structure they were dealing with. More... (Northern Ireland)

Husband accused of wife's murder

news.bbc.co.uk - A man appears in court charged with murdering his first wife and trying to kill his second as part of a plot to make money. More... (Scotland)

Man jailed for organic egg scam

news.bbc.co.uk - A businessman is jailed for masterminding a scam which saw tens of millions of battery hen eggs sold as free-range or organic. More... (England)

Three held over flat arson attack

news.bbc.co.uk - Two people are rescued from a first floor flat in the Ballysillan Road area of north Belfast which is destroyed in a fire. More... (Northern Ireland)

Bolt gun killer to serve 30 years

news.bbc.co.uk - A Suffolk slaughterman who killed a woman with a bolt gun has his minimum sentence increased from 20 to 30 years. More... (England)

More patients wait for 26 weeks

news.bbc.co.uk - The number of patients waiting more than 26 weeks for referral to a hospital in Wales rose during January. More... (Wales)

Goonhilly visitor centre closing

news.bbc.co.uk - The Goonhilly Earth station visitor centre on the Lizard in Cornwall is closing for an unspecified period of time, BT announces. More... (England)

Canal path killer jailed for life

news.bbc.co.uk - A 21-year-old is jailed for life for beating a man to death after asking for a cigarette on a canal towpath in Lancashire. More... (England)

Ferguson issues Rooney challenge

news.bbc.co.uk - Sir Alex Ferguson challenges Wayne Rooney to surpass Cristiano Ronaldo's 42-goal season for Manchester United. More... (UK)

Group mulls over Rangers takeover

news.bbc.co.uk - The group considering a possible takeover of Rangers will decide in about two weeks' time whether to make an offer for the Glasgow club. More... (Scotland)

Up - a tale of education spending

news.bbc.co.uk - As spending rises on public services, so do expectations. So, are we really ready to bring all that to a halt? More... (UK)

Up... and up

news.bbc.co.uk - Are we really ready to let go of the education balloons? More... (UK)

'Racial attack' on station worker

news.bbc.co.uk - A rail passenger grabbed a ticket inspector at a Hertfordshire station and subjected him to racial abuse, a court hears. More... (England)

Coach Calzaghe expected to retire

news.bbc.co.uk - World renowned boxing trainer Enzo Calzaghe is set to retire, BBC Sport understands. More... (Wales)

Hamas releases British journalist

news.bbc.co.uk - Hamas releases a British journalist, Paul Martin, accused of spying and jailed for nearly a month in the Gaza Strip. More... (UK)

Thomas suffers Cheltenham setback

news.bbc.co.uk - Jockey Sam Thomas is a doubt for Cheltenham after being airlifted to hospital following an accident on the gallops at Paul Nicholls's yard. More... (Wales)

Thomas in hospital after bad fall

news.bbc.co.uk - Jockey Sam Thomas is a doubt for Cheltenham after being airlifted to hospital following an accident on the gallops at Paul Nicholls' yard. More... (Wales)

Damage done

news.bbc.co.uk - BBC Newsline on how our plant life handled the winter More... (Northern Ireland)

Feeling the heat

news.bbc.co.uk - BBC Newsline on the future of Tyrone Crystal More... (Northern Ireland)

Doherty banned over road crash

news.bbc.co.uk - Musician Pete Doherty is banned from driving after admitting allowing his manager to use his car without insurance. More... (UK)

Facelift agreed

news.bbc.co.uk - New look for city's hospital gets the go-ahead More... (Wales)

Major revamp cleared for hospital

news.bbc.co.uk - One of Wales' largest hospitals is undergoing a major building programme to improve facilities for patients and staff. More... (Wales)

Crackdown on school place cheats

news.bbc.co.uk - A report into parents who cheat to get their child into a school calls for whistleblowing hotlines to be set up. More... (UK)

Tyrone Crystal factory is closing

news.bbc.co.uk - The Tyrone Crystal factory near Dungannon is to close with the loss of 31 jobs, after 40 years in existence. More... (Northern Ireland)

Airline in no comment on service

news.bbc.co.uk - Highland Airways is refusing to comment on its future involvement in a service between Cardiff and Anglesey in Wales. More... (Wales)

Underground to axe up to 800 jobs

news.bbc.co.uk - London Underground (LU) is to axe up to 800 jobs under plans to make savings of £16m a year, the company has announced. More... (UK)

Doherty banned over manager crash

news.bbc.co.uk - Musician Pete Doherty is banned from driving after admitting allowing his manager to use his car without insurance. More... (England)

Ex-Bosnian leader freed on bail

news.bbc.co.uk - Ex-Bosnian President Ejup Ganic, who faces war crimes allegations, has been given bail by London's High Court. More... (UK)

Jefferies happy with Hearts start

news.bbc.co.uk - Jim Jefferies says the club's owner Vladimir Romanov is happy with the way the manager's second spell at Tynecastle is shaping up. More... (Scotland)

Force unveils new police cadets

news.bbc.co.uk - Teenagers are being given the opportunity to tread the thin blue line as a police cadets. More... (Wales)

Man jailed over teenager's rape

news.bbc.co.uk - A man who admitted raping a teenage girl after DNA evidence from another crime led to him being caught is jailed for six years. More... (Scotland)

Lifeboat saves 'drunk' sea woman

news.bbc.co.uk - An "intoxicated" 24-year-old woman has to be rescued by a lifeboat after being spotted in the sea in Shetland. More... (Scotland)

DUP picks McCrea for South Antrim

news.bbc.co.uk - The DUP select William McCrea to stand for the party in South Antrim at the forthcoming general election. More... (Northern Ireland)

Pink Floyd win EMI court battle

news.bbc.co.uk - EMI are no longer allowed to sell individual Pink Floyd tracks online, the High Court rules. More... (UK)

Driver plea over fatal car crash

news.bbc.co.uk - Police investigating a crash in which a car passenger died are trying to trace a driver who stopped at the scene. More... (England)

Two people injured in road crash

news.bbc.co.uk - Two people have been injured, one seriously, after a two vehicle collision near Denbigh. More... (Wales)

Live text - England v Germany

news.bbc.co.uk - England's men take on Germany in the semi-finals of the Hockey World Cup, having reached the last four for the first time since 1986. More... (UK)

As it happened - England v Germany

news.bbc.co.uk - England's men are defeated 4-1 by defending champions Germany in the semi-finals of the Hockey World Cup. More... (England)

Scottish Water fine for loch leak

news.bbc.co.uk - Scottish Water is fined £6,000 after sewage from one of its treatment plants is discharged into Loch Ryan in Stranraer. More... (Scotland)

Five fallen soldiers back in UK

news.bbc.co.uk - The bodies of five British serviceman killed in Afghanistan last week are flown back to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire. More... (UK)

Half-cock theory

news.bbc.co.uk - Why are some chickens part male and part female? More... (Scotland)

Tornado lands with engine problem

news.bbc.co.uk - A Tornado lands safely at RAF Lossiemouth after suffering engine problems while flying over the Highlands. More... (Scotland)

Life for stabbing friend in heart

news.bbc.co.uk - A judge tells a man he must serve at least 18 years for stabbing his friend in the heart in a street fight. More... (UK)

Awol soldier in jail term appeal

news.bbc.co.uk - A soldier who refused to return to Afghanistan because he opposes the war is appealing against his nine-month sentence. More... (England)

High-speed rail plans announced

news.bbc.co.uk - Plans for a new high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham have been announced by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis. More... (UK)

Man arrested over city sex attack

news.bbc.co.uk - A man in his 20s is being questioned in connection with a serious sexual assault in Newry last month. More... (Northern Ireland)

Scottish Power to cut gas bills

news.bbc.co.uk - The energy company Scottish Power says its gas prices will fall by around £66 a year and vulnerable customers will get extra help. More... (Scotland)

Cartoonist plot arrests extended

news.bbc.co.uk - Seven people are remanded in custody for a further 72 hours in the Irish Republic over an alleged plot to murder a Swedish cartoonist. More... (Northern Ireland)

'Zero viewers for 196 S4C shows'

news.bbc.co.uk - A Welsh TV channel funded by taxpayers aired almost 200 TV shows in the last month that officially attracted zero viewers, according to a newspaper report. More... (Wales)

Man collapses after 'youth abuse'

news.bbc.co.uk - A 64-year-old man is found dead outside his home in Hattersley after youths causing trouble are reported to police. More... (England)

Pupil assault teacher wins appeal

news.bbc.co.uk - A Dundee teacher convicted of assaulting two pupils is given an absolute discharge after an appeal. More... (Scotland)

Bosnian war leader granted bail

news.bbc.co.uk - Ex-Bosnian president Ejup Ganic, who faces war crimes allegations, has been given bail by London's High Court. More... (UK)

John Lewis staff get £151m bonus

news.bbc.co.uk - Department store group John Lewis reports a 9.7% rise in annual profits to £306.6m as staff share a bumper bonus. More... (UK)

Collider chief makes careers plea

news.bbc.co.uk - The man in charge of the Large Hadron Collider is hoping to inspire A-level science students across Wales. More... (Wales)

Scots rescue base 'busiest in UK'

news.bbc.co.uk - HMS Gannet, the Royal Navy's search and rescue unit in Prestwick, is the busiest in the UK, official figures show. More... (Scotland)

Pakistan kidnap boy not released

news.bbc.co.uk - The Foreign Office says a five-year-old boy from Oldham kidnapped in Pakistan has not been released. More... (England)

Rail union workers vote to strike

news.bbc.co.uk - Network Rail maintenance workers vote in favour of strikes, bringing about the possibility of action over Easter. More... (UK)

England to make late Broad call

news.bbc.co.uk - England will make a last-minute call on the fitness of Stuart Broad for the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong. More... (UK)

Labour MSP selected for new seat

news.bbc.co.uk - Former education secretary Hugh Henry beats a fellow Labour MSP in the selection battle for a new Holyrood constituency. More... (Scotland)

Information boss fired over leaks

news.bbc.co.uk - The head of the Information Commission in NI is dismissed for leaking details of an investigation into his own behaviour. More... (Northern Ireland)

Scotland's death rate falls by 3%

news.bbc.co.uk - The number of deaths in Scotland fell by more than 3% to 53,856 last year, the registrar general has announced. More... (Scotland)

Failed 'mercy killing' wife dies

news.bbc.co.uk - A woman convicted of trying to kill her husband in what she said was an attempted "mercy killing" dies in an assisted suicide in Switzerland. More... (UK)

Lost music aired after 80 years

news.bbc.co.uk - A lost musical tribute to Edinburgh written by an acclaimed composer is to be aired for the first time in 80 years. More... (Scotland)

Lost musical tribute to Edinburgh aired for first time in 80 years

news.bbc.co.uk - A lost musical tribute to Edinburgh written by an acclaimed composer is to be aired for the first time in 80 years. More... (Scotland)

Salt mine extension to bring jobs

news.bbc.co.uk - Ten jobs are to be created after the approval of plans to extend Northern Ireland's only salt mine, the environment minister says. More... (UK)

Protest over frogs' legs chippy

news.bbc.co.uk - Animal rights campaigners are to protest outside a Sunderland fish and chip shop which sells battered frogs' legs. More... (England)

Higgins learns Crucible opponent

news.bbc.co.uk - Three-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan will play China's Liang Wenbo in the first round of the World Snooker Championships in April. More... (Scotland)

Sailors stage march through city

news.bbc.co.uk - HMS Albion's new bell will be blessed in Chester after the crew exercise their Freedom of the City by marching through streets. More... (England)

Train warning for football fans

news.bbc.co.uk - Tayside football fans now risk losing their season tickets if they are involved in trouble anywhere on Scotland's rail network. More... (Scotland)

Hamas release British journalist

news.bbc.co.uk - Hamas release a British journalist, Paul Martin, accused of spying and jailed for a month in the Gaza Strip, British officials say. More... (UK)

Man, 52, dies after house blaze

news.bbc.co.uk - A 52-year-old man dies following a fire at his home in the village of Douglas in South Lanarkshire. More... (Scotland)

Farming future

news.bbc.co.uk - The dawning of the age of the agricultural automatons More... (UK)

'Safety first' in food buy rules

news.bbc.co.uk - The assembly government tells public sector bodies they should prioritise food quality and safety over price. More... (Wales)

Soldier's family 'proud of son'

news.bbc.co.uk - The father of an East Midlands soldier killed in Afghanistan said his son considered it an honour to die for his country. More... (England)

Mosque plan rejected by council

news.bbc.co.uk - Plans to build a mosque with two tall minarets on the site of a listed building in Camberley are thrown out by councillors. More... (England)

Two in court over cartoonist plot

news.bbc.co.uk - Two people are due in court in the Irish Republic over an investigation into an alleged plot to murder a Swedish cartoonist. More... (Northern Ireland)

Lifeboat rescues woman from water

news.bbc.co.uk - A woman is rescued by a lifeboat and then taken to hospital after getting into difficulties in the sea in Shetland. More... (Scotland)

Hearts give Nade 'final warning'

news.bbc.co.uk - Hearts issue a final warning to Christian Nade over the striker's recent breach of discipline at the club. More... (Scotland)

Patchy picture on school places

news.bbc.co.uk - Most families in England were given their first choice of secondary school - but the picture is varied. More... (UK)

Police seek 'wrong way' motorist

news.bbc.co.uk - Police try to trace an elderly woman who drove the wrong way down a dual carriageway near York, causing several motorists to swerve out of the way. More... (England)

Warning over buried marker cairns

news.bbc.co.uk - Cairns used by walkers as a guide in poor visibility are almost completely buried in snow, a safety officer is warning. More... (Scotland)

Profits at John Lewis rise 9.7%

news.bbc.co.uk - Department store group John Lewis reports a 9.7% rise in annual profits to £306.6m as staff share a bumper bonus. More... (UK)

Second man charged over shooting

news.bbc.co.uk - A second man is arrested and charged in connection with an alleged shooting and stabbing incident at an Edinburgh pub. More... (Scotland)

Troops in homecoming parades

news.bbc.co.uk - Two Worcestershire towns will welcome home soldiers from local regiments from deadly combat operations in Afghanistan. More... (England)

Man charged over fatal collision

news.bbc.co.uk - A man is charged with causing the death of a 24-year-old moped rider by careless driving in Suffolk. More... (England)

Say what?

news.bbc.co.uk - School Report's definitive guide to teenage slang More... (UK)

Four held over £19,000 of drugs

news.bbc.co.uk - Four people are arrested after drugs worth thousands of pounds were seized in Aberdeen by Grampian Police. More... (Scotland)

High-speed rail line plan awaited

news.bbc.co.uk - Plans for a new high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham are to be published by the government later. More... (England)

Date set for City Square results

news.bbc.co.uk - A date for the results of the consultation on plans to create a civic square in Aberdeen to be made public is set. More... (Scotland)

Irish Cup tie faces further delay

news.bbc.co.uk - The JJB Irish Cup game between Newry City and Loughgall faces a further delay as Larne appeal their expulsion from the competition. More... (Northern Ireland)

Six accused of human trafficking

news.bbc.co.uk - Six men are charged as part of an investigation into human trafficking offences in Shropshire. More... (England)

Man collapses after trouble alert

news.bbc.co.uk - A 64-year-old man is found dead outside his home in Hattersley after youths causing trouble are reported to police. More... (England)

Fire destroys Shoreditch offices

news.bbc.co.uk - More than 100 firefighters tackle a major fire at a restaurant and office block in central London. More... (UK)

Five unexploded shells made safe

news.bbc.co.uk - Five unexploded WWII shells believed to have been buried on a beach in Kent are blown up by bomb disposal experts. More... (England)

Meeting over council pay freeze

news.bbc.co.uk - Union members at Aberdeen City Council are to hold a mass meeting over plans to withhold an annual pay increase to staff. More... (Scotland)

Man, 83, dies in road collision

news.bbc.co.uk - An 83-year-old man dies at the scene of a road collision on the A30 near Launceston. More... (England)

Profits halve for Scotsman owners

news.bbc.co.uk - Johnston Press, the owners of the Scotsman and Yorkshire Post, sees full year pre-tax profits fall by 56% to £43m. More... (Scotland)

Under fire force 'failed victim'

news.bbc.co.uk - Greater Manchester Police is told it failed a woman murdered by her ex-partner as a report grades it as one of the worst in England. More... (England)