Rational choices, reasoned discussions, respect for lawful institutions. That's what Clive James wants from his action heroes. Unless there is an asteroid heading for the Earth, in which case send for Bruce Willis.

A man living in a 300-year-old house made of straw and mud is finally persuaded to have it wired for electricity.

A member of indie band British Sea Power's is knocked unconscious after landing on his head in a stage dive.

Zambia beat Sudan 3-0 in Group C after Egypt shock Cameroon with a 4-2 win.

A demonstrator releases half a million coloured plastic balls in an unusual protest at the Spanish Steps in Rome.

"I get fed up with my players' music - all that headbanging stuff and R&B"

"I get fed up with my players' music - all that headbanging stuff and R'n'B"

A Devon woman is recovering after an exotic spider bite turned her thumb black and numbed her arm.

BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell reflects on a vote in the European Parliament to ban mercury and a possible slip-up by French presidential hopeful Segolene Royal.

Our public information film festival continues with a look at litter.

Three staff are suspended from a hospital that was shown to have poor hygiene standards in a BBC expose.

Failing hygiene and policy breaches in the Kent and Sussex Hospital are exposed by an undercover journalist working as a cleaner.

England's streets are plagued with growing amounts of fast food litter and chewing gum, a new survey says.

Britons will spend an average of £300 each on presents this Christmas. But does the festive season have to burn a hole in the pocket?

BBC Sport's Simon Mann watches all but 15 overs ruled out on day one of the first Test.

The Bishop of Truro herds a flock of sheep through the city to mark the return of the Prime Stock Show.

BBC Sport Online's John May buzzes off from the Hampshire Rose Bowl after a swarm of bees halt play.

A Taiwanese multi-millionaire businessman is putting something back into the community - by ridding the streets of dog dirt.

Plastic debris is the greatest hazard to marine creatures, say the organisers of a survey of rubbish found on UK beaches.