The BBC's James Coomarasamy looks back at the historic US presidential election of 2008.

Redditch United manager Garry Whild says their Christmas derby opponents Solihull Moors are closer in more ways than one to the Reds.

What did critics make of Edward Bennett, David Tennant's stand-in for Hamlet at the Novello Theatre, in London's West End?

Are we able to think clearly when surrounded by mess because chaos is inherent in all our minds, even those of the great writers and thinkers, asks Clive James.

More details have emerged of some of the victims of the attacks in Mumbai.

Israeli and Jewish victims of the attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai are to be flown to Israel for burial, officials say.

A Turkish nationalist backlash has turned murderous as the country seeks to join the EU, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports.

Singer Dido talks to the BBC's Peter Bowes about new album Safe Trip Home.

Will Barack Obama's White House bid be scuppered by some white voters' secret reluctance to vote for a black man?

US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has bought $100,000 of TV airtime to back gay marriage.

A man from Cardiff is shot dead during an armed robbery on a visit to his dying sister-in-law in South Africa.

Andy Murray says he needs to work hard to go one better than his US Open final loss to Roger Federer.

Thousands of people hunker down across the Caribbean as Hurricane Ike pounds the region, on course for Cuba.

As Michael Jackson celebrates his 50th birthday, we look at the highs and lows of his career to date.

US talk show host Ellen Degeneres marries her long-time partner, actress Portia de Rossi, her publicist confirms.

Dr Who actor David Tennant took to the stage as Hamlet in Stratford-upon-Avon - and the BBC News readers sent us their reviews.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton collects pole as he seeks a hat-trick of victories at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Torchwood star John Barrowman has known he was gay since he was nine. But was he born that way or did his upbringing have something to do with it? Here, he explains why he set out to try to solve this mystery, for the BBC One show The Making of Me.

DNA tests in Guatemala prove for the first time a child put up for adoption in the state system had been stolen.

Barack Obama's team voices outrage at a US magazine cover depicting him in Muslim dress and his wife as an armed terrorist.