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	Thursday, 24 December, 2009, 4:00 GMT 04:00 +00:00:Europe/London

TOP STORIES
	No respite for Christmas getaway Weather forecasters fear a "problematic night", as ice and snow continue to disrupt thousands of Christmas getaway plans.
	Strictly star on driving charge Strictly Come Dancing finalist Ricky Whittle is charged with dangerous driving after an incident involving a photographer.
	Queen speaks on Army and climate The Queen is expected to focus on Britain's armed forces and the environment in her annual Christmas Day broadcast.
	Alzheimer's may 'ward off cancer' Alzheimer's disease is associated with a reduced risk of cancer and vice versa, a US study suggests.
	'Hostages held' in US post office A US man claiming to be carrying explosives takes five people hostage in a post office in Virginia, say reports.

WORLD
	'Clashes' at Iran cleric ceremony Police and opposition supporters clash in Iran during a memorial for a leading dissident cleric, opposition websites say.
	Philippine vessels collide at sea At least 27 people are missing after a passenger ferry collided with a fishing boat in the Philippines, officials say.
	Balloon boy hoax parents jailed A court in the US sentences the parents who pretended their son was adrift in a balloon to a total of 110 days in jail.

AFRICA
	UN imposes sanctions on Eritrea The UN Security Council imposes sanctions on Eritrea, accusing it of aiding Islamist insurgents in Somalia.
	Sick Nigeria leader 'must quit' A senior politician in Nigeria takes court action to force the country's sick president, Umaru Yar'Adua, from office.
	Nestle shuts Zimbabwe milk plant Swiss multinational Nestle suspends operations at its dairy plant in Zimbabwe, citing harassment.

AMERICAS
	'Hostages held' in US post office A US man claiming to be carrying explosives takes five people hostage in a post office in Virginia, say reports.
	Obama says climate dismay valid US President Barack Obama says disappointment at the outcome of the Copenhagen summit is justified.
	Second operation for needle boy A two-year-old Brazilian boy has a second operation to remove sewing needles inserted by his stepfather.

ASIA-PACIFIC
	Philippine vessels collide at sea At least 27 people are missing after a passenger ferry collided with a fishing boat in the Philippines, officials say.
	Star Alliance firms seek immunity The Star Alliance airlines apply for immunity from competition rules on routes between the US and Japan.
	Ford agrees Volvo sale to Geely Ford has agreed to sell Swedish carmaker Volvo to China's Geely and expects the deal to be completed early 2010.

EUROPE
	Air Comet 'hunger strike' threat Passengers stranded at airports in Spain and Latin America threaten a hunger strike after Air Comet suspends all its flights.
	Bishop quits after abuse scandal A second Irish bishop is resigning after a damning report which found that Catholic leaders concealed child abuse.
	Greece votes for big budget cuts The Greek parliament votes to adopt big budget cuts which aim to lower the country's high levels of debt.

MIDDLE EAST
	'Clashes' at Iran cleric ceremony Police and opposition supporters clash in Iran during a memorial for a leading dissident cleric, opposition websites say.
	Shalit mediator holds Gaza talks The German mediator trying to secure a deal for the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit visits Gaza, Hamas says.
	Jewish Exodus ship skipper dies The captain of Jewish immigrant ship the Exodus, which was refused entry to Palestine in 1947, dies at the age of 86.

SOUTH ASIA
	India visa move brings complaints India tightens rules for long-term tourist visas, a move other countries say is causing problems for many of their citizens.
	Pakistan eunuchs get own gender Pakistan's Supreme Court says eunuchs must be allowed to identify themselves as a distinct gender to ensure their rights.
	Afghan senator killed by police An Afghan senator was shot dead by police when his car failed to stop at a checkpoint in northern Baghlan province, officials say.

UK
	No respite for Christmas getaway Weather forecasters fear a "problematic night", as ice and snow continue to disrupt thousands of Christmas getaway plans.
	Strictly star on driving charge Strictly Come Dancing finalist Ricky Whittle is charged with dangerous driving after an incident involving a photographer.
	UK 'friendly fire' soldier named The second British soldier to be killed in a suspected "friendly fire" incident this week in Afghanistan is named by the Ministry of Defence.

ENGLAND
	Driver 'avoided bigger tragedy' A coach driver whose vehicle overturned in icy conditions in Cornwall, killing two women, is praised by witnesses for avoiding a bigger tragedy.
	Strictly star on driving charge Strictly Come Dancing finalist Ricky Whittle is charged with dangerous driving after an incident involving a photographer.
	Loose bullock shot in Birmingham A bullock escapes from an abattoir and runs along streets in Birmingham before being shot by firearms officers.

NORTHERN IRELAND
	Two-year-old with swine flu dies A two-year-old child who had swine flu and underlying medical conditions has died, the Department of Health announces.
	Wells sacking decision for review The Irish Football Association's decision to sack its former chief executive, Howard Wells, is to be reviewed.
	Masked knifeman robs city shop A man wielding a knife robs a shop on Twaddell Avenue in north Belfast and flees towards the Ardoyne, the police say.

SCOTLAND
	Health chiefs in booze price plea All 17 of Scotland's public health chiefs sign a letter calling on politicians to back a minimum price for alcohol.
	Cost issue over 'green' devices Households in the north would consider installing "green" energy devices on their homes but are put off by cost, researchers claim.
	Call for boiler scrappage scheme The Scottish government comes under pressure to commit funds to upgrading old central heating boilers.

POLITICS
	Brown called to face Iraq inquiry Gordon Brown has been called to give evidence to the Iraq inquiry - but only once the general election has taken place.
	Police hand expenses files to CPS Police hand files on two further politicians to the CPS - bringing the total facing possible prosecution to six.
	Concern over university cash cuts University organisations voice fears about the scale of spending cuts being imposed on universities by the government.

BUSINESS
	Madoff moved to prison hospital Disgraced Wall Street financier Bernie Madoff is moved to the medical centre within his North Carolina jail.
	Greece votes for big budget cuts The Greek parliament votes to adopt big budget cuts which aim to lower the country's high levels of debt.
	Star Alliance firms seek immunity The Star Alliance airlines apply for immunity from competition rules on routes between the US and Japan.

ENTERTAINMENT
	Strictly star on driving charge Strictly Come Dancing finalist Ricky Whittle is charged with dangerous driving after an incident involving a photographer.
	Winehouse is charged with assault Singer Amy Winehouse is charged with assault at a theatre in Milton Keynes and a public order offence.
	Boy George loses Big Brother plea Boy George is told he cannot take part in Celebrity Big Brother after the High Court upholds objections by the Probation Service.

SCIENCE/NATURE
	Science news highlights of 2009 From smash-ups in space to shockwaves at Copenhagen - a review of a year in science and the environment.
	Obama says climate dismay valid US President Barack Obama says disappointment at the outcome of the Copenhagen summit is justified.
	Soyuz docked with space station A spacecraft carrying an international crew docks with the International Space Station, Russian mission control says.

TECHNOLOGY
	OLPC unveils slimline tablet PC The group behind the $100 laptop reveals a tablet version of its PC aimed at connecting children in the developing world.
	Hacker cracks Kindle's copyright An Israeli hacker has found a way to transfer the books on Amazon's e-reader to any other device.
	Microsoft Word sales ban upheld A US appeals court upholds a $290m (£182m) verdict against Microsoft in a patent dispute with Canadian company i4i.

HEALTH
	Alzheimer's may 'ward off cancer' Alzheimer's disease is associated with a reduced risk of cancer and vice versa, a US study suggests.
	Another 'bad cholesterol' found Scientists say they have found proof that another "bad" type of cholesterol contributes to heart disease.
	Scientists 'decode' memory making Scientists believe they have uncovered one of the mechanisms that enable the brain to form memories.

EDUCATION
	Concern over university cash cuts University organisations voice fears about the scale of spending cuts being imposed on universities by the government.
	Pair quit amid student loans row Two directors at the Student Loans Company have resigned in the wake of a damning report on payment delays.
	Legal warning halts outdoors trip A council says a school trip for 70 pupils cannot go ahead to avoid discriminating against one of the group who is disabled.

ON THIS DAY NEWS FROM THE BBC ARCHIVES
	1962: Bay of Pigs prisoners fly to freedom More than 1,000 men taken prisoner at the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba return to the United States in time for Christmas.
	1974: 'Drowned' Stonehouse found alive Former UK minister John Stonehouse has been found in Australia after apparently faking his own death.
	1968: First astronauts orbit Moon The Apollo 8 spacecraft and its crew of three astronauts become the first manned space mission to orbit the Moon.

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