Could Mattel have avoided its costly courtroom battle with Bratz-maker MGA?

A chronology of key events

It's the sort of conundrum that apprentice wizard Merlin - eponymous hero of the current BBC children's drama - needn't concern himself too much about: how do magicians stop others from pinching their tricks?

BBC Middle East correspondent Tim Franks sends the latest edition of his diary.

The original manuscript of the rules for yacht racing drawn up in 1847 is expected to fetch up to £1,000 at auction.

A look at a few of the technology products that herald what's to come at your house

A huge particle accelerator experiment is about to start and a tiny group of people believe it could spell the end of the world. But why are we so obsessed with the possibility of apocalypse?

Mayor Boris Johnson receives the Olympic flag to signal the start of London's reign as Olympic host city and spark wild celebrations in the capital.

The 29th Olympic Games is brought to an end in the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing and London becomes the offical host.

London Mayor Boris Johnson says he wants the city to be at the heart of England's bid for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

BBC Middle East correspondent Tim Franks sends the latest edition of his diary.

The Archbishop of Canterbury criticises the illegal immigrant detention regime that separates families.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw has revived the idea of creating a written constitution for the UK. Nick Assinder reports.

The inconsistencies in women's clothes sizes are all too familiar to many. A size 10 in one shop is a size 14 in another. But will a new system of sizes eliminate all the confusion?

Manila is unlikely to sign a new charter for Asean unless Burma restores democracy, Philippine leader says.

Burma's ruling generals concede that 15 people died during their crackdown on protests, a UN envoy says.

How would a total bail-out of Northern Rock savers actually work?

Some police officers are taking unnecessary risks in high speed chases, a watchdog has warned.

The US president welcomes a deal between Iraq's Shia, Sunni and Kurdish leaders aimed at forging unity.

Here is the full text of Gordon Brown's statement setting out his plans for constitutional changes to MPs on 3 July, 2007