3/16 BBC News | News Front Page | World Edition

Brown cool on alcohol price plan March 16, 2009 at 7:01 am Plans to set minimum prices for alcohol are unveiled - but have not attracted government support. Khatami 'pulls out of Iran race' March 16, 2009 at 6:59 am Iran's ex-president Mohammad Khatami is expected to withdraw from June's presidential election, the BBC understands. Banks 'concerned' over model riot March 16, 2009 at 6:48 am America's Next Top Model host Tyra Banks says she is 'concerned' over an audition which descended into chaos. Fritzl admits rape, denies murder March 16, 2009 at 6:31 am Austrian Josef Fritzl, accused of imprisoning his daughter and fathering her children, admits rape but not murder. Queen Cleopatra was 'of African descent', say experts March 16, 2009 at 6:24 am Forensic tests on remains thought to be Queen Cleopatra's sister show the siblings had an African mother. Far right joins Israel coalition March 16, 2009 at 6:17 am Israel's PM-designate signs his first coalition deal, provisionally handing the foreign ministry to a controversial right-winger. Mini-boats are 'strongest ever' March 16, 2009 at 6:15 am Super-buoyant metals used to make postage stamp-sized boats could one day be the basis of "aquatic robots" West Ham & Blades end Tevez saga March 16, 2009 at 6:13 am West Ham and Sheffield United reach an out-of-court settlement over the long-running Carlos Tevez dispute. Vote offer rejected in Madagascar March 16, 2009 at 5:52 am Madagascar's opposition leader rejects the president's offer of a referendum to solve the nation's political crisis. UN aid workers seized in Somalia March 16, 2009 at 5:49 am Gunmen in southern Somalia kidnap four UN aid workers, three of them foreigners, reports say. Select club March 16, 2009 at 5:45 am EU making it ever harder for neighbours to join What next for Pakistan? March 16, 2009 at 5:10 am Pakistan's government will reinstate a sacked Supreme Court chief justice. Will this quell recent unrest? Policemen killed in Afghan blast March 16, 2009 at 4:59 am A suicide bomber kills 11 people, including nine policemen, and wounds many others in an attack in southern Afghanistan. Bernanke hopeful for US recovery March 16, 2009 at 4:24 am The head of the US central bank, Ben Bernanke, says he expects the country's recession to end this year. Baghdad park-life March 16, 2009 at 4:08 am Cautious optimism greets improved security in Iraq Australia cuts migrant job intake March 16, 2009 at 3:16 am Australia cuts its quota of foreign skilled workers to save local jobs amid the world financial downturn. US drone 'kills five in Pakistan' March 16, 2009 at 3:11 am A suspected missile fired by a US drone kills at least five people in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, officials say. Iraqis 'more upbeat about future' March 16, 2009 at 1:00 am Violence and insecurity are no longer the Iraqis' chief concerns, for the first time since the 2003 war, a BBC poll suggests. Elusive peace March 15, 2009 at 10:29 pm No relief for the victims of southern Philippines rebellion Text insurgency March 15, 2009 at 10:25 pm SMS Islamists vying to seize Somalia and beyond Vegetarians 'get fewer cancers' March 15, 2009 at 8:27 pm Vegetarians have a lower incidence of cancer but surprisingly a higher rate of colorectal cancer, a large UK study suggests. Nasa shuttle launched after delay March 15, 2009 at 8:16 pm Space shuttle Discovery blasts off from Florida on a mission to the International Space Station after weeks of delay. Sharif joins Pakistan protesters March 15, 2009 at 6:23 pm Pakistan opposition leader Nawaz Sharif joins a march on Islamabad amid reports that a sacked top judge has been reinstated. Israeli police officers shot dead March 15, 2009 at 5:51 pm Two Israeli traffic policemen are killed in the first fatal shooting of Israelis in the West Bank in nearly a year. Tourists die in Yemen explosion March 15, 2009 at 5:46 pm Four South Korean tourists visiting Yemen die in an explosion while posing for photographs at an historic fortress. Second generation Surface coming March 15, 2009 at 3:45 pm A second generation of Microsoft's Surface computing device is two to three years away, the South by SouthWest Festival hears. Night shift fears March 15, 2009 at 3:06 pm Cancer risk for women who work through the night England can offer more - Johnson March 15, 2009 at 2:59 pm England manager Martin Johnson urges his side to continue their improvement after seeing them hand out a 34-10 Six Nations hiding to France. Number of Irish dissidents 'tiny' March 15, 2009 at 2:23 pm Police say the number of republican dissidents trying to wreck the Northern Ireland peace process is about 300. Resurgent England destroy France March 15, 2009 at 12:56 pm England beat France 34-10 with some magnificent attacking rugby in a five-try rout at Twickenham. EU peacekeeping handover in Chad March 15, 2009 at 12:05 pm European peacekeepers in Chad hand over operations to a larger UN force at a ceremony in the eastern town of Abeche. Cliff-hanger vote for El Salvador March 15, 2009 at 11:58 am Former Marxist rebels put up their strongest electoral challenge in 20 years as El Salvador elects a new president. Iraqi footballer shot dead by fan March 15, 2009 at 11:56 am A spectator shoots dead an Iraqi footballer, as he is about to score an equalising goal in the last minute of a match. Steve Martin backing banned play March 15, 2009 at 11:47 am Actor Steve Martin steps in to save a school production of his play that was banned for its adult content. Flying the flag March 15, 2009 at 11:04 am UK web firms aiming for digital innovation Afghan attack kills Nato soldiers March 15, 2009 at 10:52 am Four soldiers from the Nato-led force have been killed in a roadside bomb attack in eastern Afghanistan, the alliance says. Carbon-neutral goal for Maldives March 15, 2009 at 10:52 am The Maldives leader says his country will be carbon-neutral within a decade by switching to renewable energy. Plans for minimum alcohol price March 15, 2009 at 10:30 am Proposals to set a minimum price for alcohol have been drawn up by England's chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson. Live text - England v France March 15, 2009 at 10:25 am Martin Johnson's under-pressure England take on a confident France team at Twickenham. Australia oil coast 'half clear' March 15, 2009 at 9:46 am Half of the beaches affected by an oil spill along the coast of north-east Australia have been cleared, say officials. Opec debates oil production cuts March 15, 2009 at 9:24 am Oil ministers from the 12 Opec countries meet to discuss cutting production rates amid falling prices. Freeman's fall March 15, 2009 at 9:09 am How criticism of Israel hurt Obama's intelligence choice Pakistan ex-PM ignores 'arrest' March 15, 2009 at 8:56 am Pakistan opposition leader Nawaz Sharif defies what he says was an "illegal" house arrest order, to head for a protest in Lahore. Live text - Premier League March 15, 2009 at 8:46 am Chelsea host Manchester City in Sunday's early kick-off ahead of Tottenham's trip to Aston Villa. Madagascar president offers poll March 15, 2009 at 8:25 am Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana offers to hold a referendum to resolve the country's political crisis. Clinging on March 15, 2009 at 8:20 am Isolated Madagascar leader remains defiant G20 summit 'critical for economy' March 15, 2009 at 7:36 am The G20 summit in London is critical if the world wishes to avoid the turbulence seen in the 1930s, the UK warns. Auditions for America's Next Top Model descend into chaos March 15, 2009 at 7:31 am Open auditions for America's Next Top Model in New York descend into chaos, leaving six people injured. Bolivia leader redistributes land March 15, 2009 at 7:06 am Bolvia's President Evo Morales hands over thousands of acres of land seized from large-scale owners to indigenous farmers. Israel envoys seek Shalit release March 15, 2009 at 4:48 am Two senior Israeli envoys attend talks in Cairo aimed at securing the release of captured soldier, Gilad Shalit.