A new television adaptation is being made of The Day of the Triffids, but why are we still prepared to believe in a post-apocalyptic world roamed by flesh-eating semi-sentient plants? And do we have a love affair with fictionalised destruction?

New Zealand cause the biggest shock in World Cup history by beating favourites Australia 30-24 in Brisbane.

New Zealand beat Scotland, Ireland thrash Canada, after England see off the Pacific Islanders and Wales lose to South Africa.

England are handed a humiliating thrashing by Australia in their World Cup group game in Melbourne.

A £330 million programme to deal with catastrophes is still "inadequate", the Whitehall spending watchdog says.

Defending champions Leeds beat St Helens in a fascinating Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.

Shoaib Akhtar takes a wicket on his Surrey debut but Hampshire close a rain-hit first day at The Oval on 116-2.

Phil Mickelson is a member of the United States' 2008 Ryder Cup team.

Great Britain win a sixth gold in cycling, a silver in sailing, Usain Bolt strolls through the 200m heats, while Chinese star Liu Xiang limps out of the Olympics on day 10.

BBC Scotland education correspondent Seonag MacKinnon looks ahead to the exam results, which will be issued on Tuesday.

The Championship looks at how Ulster counties have faired

Asafa Powell wins the 100m in a time of 9.94 seconds on the first day of the final warm-up event before the Olympics.

Bill Thompson examines the different approaches to security flaws online.

The Championship looks at what Ulster counties have to offer

South Africa coach Mickley Arthur says his team will target England's Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood when the first Test starts on Thursday.

Former ER star Alex Kingston is to appear in Hope Springs, a new BBC drama about four female ex-cons.

The Championship looks at what Ulster counties have to offer

New Zealand beat England in a remakable one-day international with last man Mark Gillespie running two from the final ball.

Why you should care about the British MotoGP this weekend

French Open champion Rafael Nadal kicks off his grass-court season with a routine win over Jonas Bjorkman at the Artois Championship.