The biggest earthquake drill in US history was a vital effort to prepare California's population and the government to cope, the BBC's Peter Bowes in Los Angeles says.

Some five million Californians "drop, cover and hold on", in what organisers say is America's biggest earthquake drill.

Images of the exercise in California simulating the impact of a major earthquake, said to be the biggest drill of its kind.

Barack Obama will seek to reverse a number of policy orders issued by President Bush, his transition chief says.

A man suffers second degree burns to his face after accidentally drilling through a gas pipe in Wiltshire.

A group of gardeners in Oxford drill a new well to try to conserve water.

A water company prepares to drill a new borehole as part of a scheme to improve water supplies in East Sussex.

Leading geologists from around the world decide that a mud volcano disaster in Indonesia was triggered by oil and gas exploration.

The fizz could be taken out of post match GAA celebrations after some officials said they may consider drilling holes in trophies in a bid to stop players filling them with alcohol.

All the action and reaction from the the third debate between US presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama.

A blow-by-blow commentary on the debate, with reaction and analysis from pundits and the public.

Aston Villa, Man City, Portsmouth, Tottenham and Everton win while Motherwell lose on a busy night for British clubs in the Uefa Cup.

The US Congress approves legislation which will lift a 27-year-old moratorium on drilling for oil in US coastal waters.

US officials responsible for collecting revenue from oil companies are accused of unethical conduct.

Cornish Pirates crash to defeat at the Butts Park Arena against a well drilled Coventry side.

John McCain speaks at the Republican conv 2130 BBC North America editor Justin Webb:A strange part of th speech now where he’s talking about changing Washington – does he think President Bush has been a good thing or a bad thing? It’s one of the questions he’s going to have to address in the speec. It’s almost as if the enemy has been in power in Washington for the last eight years. ention.

Seven people have been killed in a helicopter crash on an oil rig off the coast of Dubai, oil company officials say.

In a race to shape public opinion, the Yemeni government develops a national mascot to encourage water conservation.

Eight Republican voters from across the US look ahead to the convention and reflect on the state of the party and their candidate John McCain.

British number one Andy Murray comes from two sets down to beat Austrian Jurgen Melzer in the third round of the US Open.