A look at Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel, who is set to become Barack Obama's chief-of-staff.

The Iraqi armed forces are preparing to take on responsibility for their nation, but questions remain over how well they will cope, writes Jim Muir.

The Box - a BBC-branded container that travels the globe to illustrate how globalisation is affecting us all - unloads Scotch whisky in Shanghai and loads clothes destined for the US.

Weston Super Mare's pier was a beacon for its tourism so what happened to the town when it was consumed by flame in July?

A high-capacity PlayStation 3 and a new PlayStation Portable have been unveiled by Sony at the Leipzig games conference.

Britain's Andy Murray comes from two sets down to beat Richard Gasquet in an incredible four-hour match on Centre Court.

Five-time champion Roger Federer cruises through in straight sets against Robin Soderling at Wimbledon.

Ian Paisley and Bertie Ahern jointly open a new visitor and heritage centre at the site of the Battle of the Boyne

The BBC's Martin Redfern is spending a month in the Antarctic reporting on International Polar Year.

A day-by-day guide to the 2008 US presidential election, in words and pictures.

The last 12 months have been one of the best years in video game history, both critically and commercially.

Action thriller Bioshock is named game of the year at the Spike TV awards in Las Vegas.

Has 2007 been one of the best ever years for video games?

BBC science and environment correspondent David Shukman joins the Canadian Coast Guard research vessel, the Amundsen, as it attempts to make a crossing of the Northwest Passage.

A depot manager tells jurors how he was kidnapped at gunpoint and feared being shot during a £53m raid.

Papers sum up Tony Blair's last full day at Number 10 and his meeting with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Andrew Marr on how the 1980s moulded modern Britain, and how Mrs Thatcher didn't quite bank on it turning out like this.

The Magazine is compiling a people's history of modern Britain - featuring your written memories and photos. We continue with the 1960s. These are some of the moments you fondly recall

Fergus Walsh experiences the UK's biggest ever brain scanner at very close hand.

Unlike newspapers, radio and TV broadcasters in Britain are bound by strict rules on balance and impartiality. But next week, a political channel threatens to turn these sacred codes on their head. How? By broadcasting on the net. Sean Coughlan reports.