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	Thursday, 24 December, 2009, 0:00 GMT 01:00 +01:00:Europe/Madrid

TOP STORIES
	No respite for Christmas getaway Weather forecasters fear a "problematic night", as ice and snow continue to disrupt thousands of Christmas getaway plans.
	'Hostages held' in US post office A US man in a wheelchair claiming to be carrying explosives takes five people hostage in a post office in Virginia, say reports.
	Strictly star on driving charge Strictly Come Dancing finalist Ricky Whittle is charged with dangerous driving after an incident involving a photographer in Liverpool.
	Thalidomide survivors to get £20m The government is to pay £20m and offer an apology to people disabled after their mothers took the drug thalidomide.
	Winehouse is charged with assault Singer Amy Winehouse is charged with assault at a theatre in Milton Keynes and a public order offence.

WORLD
	'Clashes' at Iran cleric ceremony Police and opposition supporters clash in Iran during a memorial for a leading dissident cleric, opposition websites say.
	Bishop quits after abuse scandal A second Irish bishop is resigning after a damning report which found that Catholic leaders concealed child abuse.
	Balloon boy hoax parents jailed A court in the US sentences the parents who pretended their son was adrift in a balloon to a total of 110 days in jail.

AFRICA
	UN imposes sanctions on Eritrea The UN Security Council imposes sanctions on Eritrea, accusing it of aiding Islamist insurgents in Somalia.
	Sick Nigeria leader 'must quit' A senior politician in Nigeria takes court action to force the country's sick president, Umaru Yar'Adua, from office.
	Nestle shuts Zimbabwe milk plant Swiss multinational Nestle suspends operations at its dairy plant in Zimbabwe, citing harassment.

AMERICAS
	'Hostages held' in US post office A US man in a wheelchair claiming to be carrying explosives takes five people hostage in a post office in Virginia, say reports.
	Obama says climate dismay valid US President Barack Obama says disappointment at the outcome of the Copenhagen summit is justified.
	Balloon boy hoax parents jailed A court in the US sentences the parents who pretended their son was adrift in a balloon to a total of 110 days in jail.

ASIA-PACIFIC
	Chinese dissident Liu on trial Prominent Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo has gone on trial in Beijing on charges of subversion, amid Western criticism.
	Ford agrees Volvo sale to Geely Ford has agreed to sell Swedish carmaker Volvo to China's Geely and expects the deal to be completed early 2010.
	Man charged with bathtub murder A man is charged with raping and killing British teacher Lindsay Ann Hawker who was found in a sand-filled bath in Japan.

EUROPE
	Air Comet 'hunger strike' threat Passengers stranded at airports in Spain and Latin America threaten a hunger strike after Air Comet suspends all its flights.
	Bishop quits after abuse scandal A second Irish bishop is resigning after a damning report which found that Catholic leaders concealed child abuse.
	Johnny Hallyday leaves hospital French rock star Johnny Hallyday is released from a Los Angeles hospital after back surgery that led to a coma.

MIDDLE EAST
	'Clashes' at Iran cleric ceremony Police and opposition supporters clash in Iran during a memorial for a leading dissident cleric, opposition websites say.
	Shalit mediator holds Gaza talks The German mediator trying to secure a deal for the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit visits Gaza, Hamas says.
	Jewish Exodus ship skipper dies The captain of Jewish immigrant ship the Exodus, which was refused entry to Palestine in 1947, dies at the age of 86.

SOUTH ASIA
	India visa move brings complaints India tightens rules for long-term tourist visas, a move other countries say is causing problems for many of their citizens.
	Pakistan eunuchs get own gender Pakistan's Supreme Court says eunuchs must be allowed to identify themselves as a distinct gender to ensure their rights.
	Afghan senator killed by police An Afghan senator was shot dead by police when his car failed to stop at a checkpoint in northern Baghlan province, officials say.

UK
	No respite for Christmas getaway Weather forecasters fear a "problematic night", as ice and snow continue to disrupt thousands of Christmas getaway plans.
	Strictly star on driving charge Strictly Come Dancing finalist Ricky Whittle is charged with dangerous driving after an incident involving a photographer in Liverpool.
	UK 'friendly fire' soldier named The second British soldier to be killed in a suspected "friendly fire" incident this week in Afghanistan is named by the Ministry of Defence.

ENGLAND
	Driver 'avoided bigger tragedy' A coach driver whose vehicle overturned in icy conditions in Cornwall, killing two women, is praised by witnesses for avoiding a bigger tragedy.
	Loose bullock shot in Birmingham A bullock escapes from an abattoir and runs along streets in Birmingham before being shot by firearms officers.
	Playboy model hit woman in toilet A former Playboy Model of the Year is convicted of attacking a musician's daughter in a nightclub toilet in Brighton.

NORTHERN IRELAND
	Two-year-old with swine flu dies A two-year-old child who had swine flu and underlying medical conditions has died, the Department of Health announces.
	Wells sacking decision for review The Irish Football Association's decision to sack its former chief executive, Howard Wells, is to be reviewed.
	Masked knifeman robs city shop A man wielding a knife robs a shop on Twaddell Avenue in north Belfast and flees towards the Ardoyne, the police say.

SCOTLAND
	Snow and ice 'worst in 20 years' Ice and snow have left Scotland's roads in their worst condition for 20 years, the transport minister says.
	Second heroin user anthrax death Health officials confirm that a second heroin user - who tested positive for anthrax - has died in Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
	Levein appointed Scotland manager Former Dundee United manager Craig Levein is confirmed as the new Scotland national coach by the Scottish Football Association.

WALES
	Met Office warning on icy roads Drivers across much of Wales are warned to beware icy roads as rain and snow fall on already frozen ground.
	Tracksuit walkers' Snowdon rescue Two pairs of walkers wearing just tracksuits and trainers are "lucky to be alive" after separate rescues on Snowdon.
	Thief stole car with baby inside A major police operation is under way in Cardiff to find a car thief who stole a BMW with a baby inside.

POLITICS
	Brown called to face Iraq inquiry Gordon Brown has been called to give evidence to the Iraq inquiry - but only once the general election has taken place.
	Police hand expenses files to CPS Police hand files on two further politicians to the CPS - bringing the total facing possible prosecution to six.
	University funding cut by £398m Lord Mandelson announces cuts to university funding of £398m in the annual grant letter to academic institutions.

BUSINESS
	Madoff moved to prison hospital Disgraced Wall Street financier Bernie Madoff is moved to the medical centre within his North Carolina jail.
	Star Alliance firms seek immunity The Star Alliance applies for immunity from competition rules on routes between the US and Japan.
	Customers suffer from Abbey error Hundreds of thousands of Abbey customers fail to have money transferred into their accounts owing to a technical error.

ENTERTAINMENT
	Strictly star on driving charge Strictly Come Dancing finalist Ricky Whittle is charged with dangerous driving after an incident involving a photographer in Liverpool.
	Winehouse is charged with assault Singer Amy Winehouse is charged with assault at a theatre in Milton Keynes and a public order offence.
	Boy George loses Big Brother plea Boy George is told he cannot take part in Celebrity Big Brother after the High Court upholds objections by the Probation Service.

SCIENCE/NATURE
	Science news highlights of 2009 From smash-ups in space to shockwaves at Copenhagen - a review of a year in science and the environment.
	Obama says climate dismay valid US President Barack Obama says disappointment at the outcome of the Copenhagen summit is justified.
	Soyuz docked with space station A spacecraft carrying an international crew docks with the International Space Station, Russian mission control says.

TECHNOLOGY
	OLPC unveils slimline tablet PC The group behind the $100 laptop reveals a tablet version of its PC aimed at connecting children in the developing world.
	Hacker cracks Kindle's copyright An Israeli hacker has found a way to transfer the books on Amazon's e-reader to any other device.
	Microsoft Word sales ban upheld A US appeals court upholds a $290m (£182m) verdict against Microsoft in a patent dispute with Canadian company i4i.

HEALTH
	Thalidomide survivors to get £20m The government is to pay £20m and offer an apology to people disabled after their mothers took the drug thalidomide.
	Doctors discover GBL drug death The first known death from a drug popular with clubbers has emerged the day the government banned it.
	Slips up as booze incidents fall A&E departments are seeing a surge in accidents caused by icy conditions, but alcohol-related incidents are down in some areas as people celebrate at home.

EDUCATION
	University funding cut by £398m Lord Mandelson announces cuts to university funding of £398m in the annual grant letter to academic institutions.
	Pair quit amid student loans row Two directors at the Student Loans Company have resigned in the wake of a damning report on payment delays.
	Legal warning halts outdoors trip A council says a school trip for 70 pupils cannot go ahead to avoid discriminating against one of the group who is disabled.

ON THIS DAY NEWS FROM THE BBC ARCHIVES
	1972: Earthquake wreaks devastation in Nicaragua Ten thousand people are feared dead after a two-hour earthquake rips through the Nicaraguan capital, Managua.
	1956: Jubilation as allied troops leave Suez The United Nations Emergency Force takes over in Egypt after British and French forces withdraw from Port Said and Port Fuad ending the Suez Crisis.
	1992: Queen's Christmas speech leaked The BBC investigates a leak which led to the Queen's Christmas speech being published in a national newspaper.

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