BBC News

Giant Oklahoma tornado kills dozens

At least 91 people, including 20 children, are feared dead as a gigantic tornado rips through Oklahoma City suburbs, flattening whole neighbourhoods.

Pound falls after dip in inflation

The pound falls after lower fuel prices lead to a lower-than-expected inflation rate of 2.4% for April.

Family urges domestic violence probe

The family of a woman murdered by her ex-partner call for a public inquiry into how complaints of domestic violence are handled by police.

UK governments 'hold back Scotland'

The policies of past and present Westminster governments have held back Scotland, Holyrood's SNP administration claims in an economic document on independence.

Marks and Spencer sees profits fall

Marks and Spencer reports a big fall in annual profits, as troubles in its clothing division continue.

Apple 'among US's big tax avoiders'

Apple is accused of being "among America's largest tax avoiders" by senators, who say the company avoided paying billions of dollars in taxes.

Bed-sharing 'raises cot death risk'

Sharing a bed with your newborn baby increases the risk of sudden death syndrome - commonly known as cot death - fivefold, research suggests.

Obama hails Burma leader on US visit

President Barack Obama praises the leadership of Burma's Thein Sein after historic White House talks, but urges his visitor to halt violence against Muslims.

PM plea as gay marriage row rages on

MPs will continue debating gay marriage as David Cameron seeks to renew his vows with grassroots Tory members angry over alleged "loon" slur.

Sir Cyril abuse claim inquiry widens

Police investigate 10 people over allegations of sex abuse at a residential school after claims ex-MP Sir Cyril Smith abused boys there.

Sharp jump in Royal Mail profits

Royal Mail's annual profits more than double, helped by strong growth in parcel deliveries as more people shop online.

Gove proposes split in exams system

Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove says its time for England, Wales and Northern Ireland to go their separate ways on GCSEs and A-levels.

Eric and Ernie's writer Braben dies

Eddie Braben, the writer behind comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, dies aged 82.

Ferguson is named Manager of Year

Sir Alex Ferguson is named LMA Manager of the Year after guiding Manchester United to a 20th league title.

Flightless penguin puzzle 'solved'

The underwater prowess of the penguin may have cost the bird its ability to fly, scientists believe.

G4S chief Nick Buckles steps down

Nick Buckles, the chief executive of global security group G4S, is to step down from his position at the end of May.

Vodafone sales hit by European slump

Vodafone's full-year sales slip for the first time in eight years as tough economic conditions in Europe take their toll on customers.

Back-to-work scheme failing, say MPs

A scheme to help the unemployed find work appears to be failing the most disadvantaged jobseekers, MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee say.

Police search MP Nigel Evans' office

Police search the Commons office of Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans in relation to a "serious arrestable offence".

Chief inspector of GPs post created

A chief inspector of GPs is to be appointed as part of a push to improve services outside of hospitals, ministers are set to announce.

Bipolar woman's battle for abortion

The High Court in London is judging whether a pregnant woman with bipolar disorder has the mental capacity to request an abortion.

School cuts 'no harm to standards'

A think tank report argues that 18% of public spending on schools could be cut without damaging standards.

FE college teaching 'must improve'

An advisory group for Labour calls for a tougher line on teaching standards in further education colleges.

Ex-Nokia team makes rival smartphone

A smartphone created by former Nokia employees is unveiled ahead of its release later this year.

Pirate movie sites blocked in UK

Big UK net firms have begun blocking access to two movie streaming sites accused of flouting copyright laws.

Ant abilities could aid robot design

A study showing how ants tunnel their way through confined spaces could aid the design of search and rescue robots, say scientists.

Vaccine developed for farm disease

A vaccine to protect sheep and cattle from a livestock virus spread by midges has been approved by government vets.

Doors co-founder Ray Manzarek dies

Ray Manzarek, keyboard player and founder member of the 1960s rock band The Doors, dies aged 74 in Germany after a long battle with cancer.

Dancing on Ice to be axed

The ice skating TV series is to be axed after one further series.

In search of a mystery yodeller

After a technical hitch inserted yodelling into Radio 4's Broadcasting House, Kevin Connolly set about finding the singer.

VIDEO: Running barefoot in Wyoming

Barefoot-running coach Eric Orton, of Wyoming, explains his new book The Cool Impossible, which offers tips he obtained from the Tarahumara tribe.

Bell passed fit for England Test

Ian Bell is fit for the second Test against New Zealand at Headingley as England name an unchanged 12-man squad.

Griffiths & Watt in Scotland squad

Gordon Strachan calls up Leigh Griffiths and Tony Watt to the Scotland squad for next month's match against Croatia.

European Tour finally under the spotlight

Wentworth's PGA Championship is one of the European Tour's few chances to be in the limelight, says golf correspondent Iain Carter

The world's best racquet-sport player?

World champion Ramy Ashour has the titles, talent and charisma to help squash go beyond its four walls

Real Madrid confirm Mourinho exit

Real Madrid announce that Jose Mourinho will leave the club at the end of the season after three years in charge.

Hospital criticised on patient death

An Essex hospital is criticised by a health watchdog for "missing opportunities" to save the life of a woman with disabilities.

Baby disabled after jaundice error

A baby was left deaf and blind because a trainee midwife did not recognise signs of jaundice within days of his birth, a health trust admits.

Grounded cruise ship refloated

A small cruise liner which ran aground in the waters of Oban Bay, with 112 people on board, is refloated.

Elderly woman dies in house fire

An 86-year-old woman dies in a house fire in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, which broke out on Monday evening.

Games numbers 50% below target

The organisers of the World Police and Fire Games confirm the number of athletes who have signed up to take part so far is almost 50% below the 10,000 target.

Body search at murder victim's home

Irish police are excavating the rear of a murdered former garda detective's house in the search for the body of another murder victim.

Bone in April case 'from skull'

Bone fragments found in the fireplace of the man accused of the murder of five-year-old April Jones belonged to a human skull, a jury is told.

Exams system must split, says Gove

The UK education secretary says it is time for Wales to go its separate way on GCSEs and A-levels.

'Mass arrests' at Nigeria funeral

About 120 militant Islamists are arrested in Maiduguri as they organise the funeral of a commander killed in clashes, the Nigerian army says.

Obama plans Africa tour in June

US President Barack Obama will visit Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania in his first extended tour of sub-Saharan Africa, the White House says.

Muslims jailed over Burma clashes

Six Muslim men are jailed for their involvement in religious clashes in the Burmese town of Meiktila that left more than 40 people dead.

North Koreans free Chinese crew

A Chinese fishing crew seized by unidentified North Koreans two weeks ago is freed along with their boat, reports say.

Barroso urges full tax data exchange

The head of the European Commission tells the European Parliament he will argue for EU-wide exchange of income data as part of the fight against tax evasion.

Azerbaijan starts Eurovision inquiry

The president of Azerbaijan orders an investigation into why his country gave Russia "nul points" at Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest.

Rios Montt's conviction overturned

Guatemalan former military leader Efrain Rios Montt has his conviction for genocide overturned by the constitutional court.

Bolivia law backs Morales third term

Bolivia passes a law which could allow President Evo Morales to be elected for a third time, despite claims that it is unconstitutional.

Fresh bombings in Iraq 'kill 13'

At least 13 people are killed in new bomb attacks in Iraq, a day after a wave of bombings across the country left at least 70 people dead.

Syria and Israel in exchange of fire

Israeli and Syrian forces trade fire across the ceasefire line in the occupied Golan Heights.

Obama aides 'knew of IRS inquiry'

Senior White House aides were informed last month of an inquiry into the US tax agency's targeting of conservative political groups, an official says.

Tumblr 'will boost Yahoo revenue'

Yahoo says its $1.1bn (£723m) purchase of blogging platform Tumblr will boost its revenue as soon as 2014.

In pictures: Monster tornado hits Oklahoma

Gigantic tornado rips through Oklahoma City

Day in pictures: 20 May 2013

Twenty-four hours of news photos: 20 May

Eurovision Song Contest in pictures

58th Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo

In pictures: English ritual year

Idiosyncratic English rituals on camera

Week in pictures: 11-17 May 2013

Some of the best news photos this week

In pictures: Things come apart

Inside everyday objects and design classics

Day in pictures: 17 May 2013

Twenty-four hours of news photos: 17 May

In pictures: Raw power of the Sun

Best pictures of our parent star

VIDEO: House of Commons

MPs are raising questions with the justice secretary and his ministerial team.

VIDEO: Bed-sharing 'raises cot death risk'

Sharing a bed with a newborn increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome fivefold, research claims.

VIDEO: All mod cons in Ghana's building boom

Ghana's fast growing economy is experiencing a building boom - the BBC's George Alagiah takes a tour of a new luxury apartment in Accra.

VIDEO: Final reading for gay marriage bill

The government's same-sex marriage bill is to receive a third and final Commons reading after surviving resistance from Tory opponents on Monday night.

VIDEO: Burmese President visits White House

President Obama has welcomed Burma's president, Thein Sein, to the White House.

VIDEO: 'First crane egg in 400 years'

The first crane egg in southern Britain in more than 400 years has been laid by a nesting bird.

VIDEO: Will Israel bomb Iran?

Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen explores what might happen if Iran continues with its nuclear programme.

VIDEO: Teenager plans to go to Mars by 2030

Fifteen-year-old Abby Harrison is already training to become an astronaut and hopes to reach Mars by 2030.

VIDEO: Toilet paper shortage in Venezuela

The government of Venezuela is trying to import 50 million rolls of toilet paper before supermarket shelves run out of stock.

Calculate your inflation rate

Find out how much your cost of living is going up

New Xbox readies for video games war

Will Microsoft's new games machine win the console war?

The curious story of how the lie detector came to be

Do lie detector tests really work?

Foreign comedians stand up for the UK

Why foreign comedians love the British comedy business

The rise of food swapping

The people who use sprouts as currency

How does your team fare in fans' league table?

How do your football club's attendances match up?

Too famous to see?

One man's failed attempt to wipe this painting from his memory

How religions change their mind

How does a religion change what it believes?

Readers' music to banish the blues

The songs readers most enjoy when they are feeling low

Cannes Film Festival 2013

Our reporter's updates from the 2013 film festival

Is Apple's tax avoidance rational?

Is the company’s tax avoidance rational, asks Robert Peston

What kind of NHS can Britain afford?

As costs soar, how must the health service change?

Ground control to 'Major Tim'

Science editor David Shukman talks to UK astronaut Tim Peake

The Small Print

Copyright Vicinitee Ltd 2013
Spinningfields Management Office
Today's Local Weather

High: 16 ºC (61ºF)

Low: 10 ºC (50ºF)

View the five day forecast