News from the BBC

Brown critic 'ends hostilities'

One of Gordon Brown's leading critics, backbench MP George Howarth, says his campaign for a Labour leadership contest is over.

Japan continues plunge in shares

Asian stocks open down sharply amid investor panic that global governments may not be able to stem the financial crisis.

New 'safer' test for Down's syndrome

Scientists develop a blood test that could tell pregnant women if their unborn baby has Down's syndrome.

Smoking 'costs the NHS billions'

Smoking is costing the NHS in England £2.7bn pounds a year, up from £1.7bn a decade earlier, a report claims.

Dragon Jones heads skills academy

Dragons' Den star Peter Jones is to become head of a skills academy to teach budding entrepreneurs tricks of the trade.