Heavy artillery fire rocks the restive Syrian city of Homs, in what anti-government activists are calling one of the fiercest assaults yet.

Drivers are being warned of black ice, while some schools are closed, following the snow which fell across much of Britain at the weekend.

The Queen is marking 60 years as monarch of the UK and 15 Commonwealth Realms and says she is dedicating herself "anew to your service".

England coach Fabio Capello says he disagrees with the Football Association's decision to strip John Terry of the national team's captaincy.

Labour has urged ministers to block six-figure bonuses for Network Rail bosses, insisting they have the power to prevent such payouts.

Party leaders in Greece's governing coalition are to resume crisis talks on backing a 130bn-euro rescue plan needed to avoid a debt default.

A campaign to stop people smoking in cars when children are present, and which could pave the way for a ban, is launched by the Welsh government.

MPs warn the government not to neglect the threat from extreme far-right terrorism, saying there is "persuasive evidence" of the potential danger.

The US is working closely with Israel to use diplomacy to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power, President Barack Obama says.

The risk of birth defects increases four-fold if the pregnant mother has diabetes, a study of 400,000 pregnancies in England suggests.

Anglican women clergy are to rally in Westminster later at a march supporting plans to introduce women bishops.

Mimi Alford, a former mistress of President John F Kennedy, reveals new details of their relationship in a book, according to US media reports.

Charles Dickens biographer Claire Tomalin says children are not being taught to read with the attention span necessary to appreciate the novelist's works.

Manchester United climb off the canvas to snatch a point at Chelsea as Javier Hernandez's header crowned a superb comeback from 3-0 adrift.

The New York Giants come from behind to beat the New England Patriots 21-17 with a dramatic last-minute touchdown in Indianapolis.

Wales stage a thrilling late comeback to launch their Six Nations campaign with a stunning victory over Ireland in Dublin.

World Champions Argentina beat Great Britain 1-0 to win the Champions Trophy.

China tells its airlines not to pay charges to the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme, aimed at cutting carbon emissions.

UK house prices increased by 0.6% in January, according to the latest survey from the Halifax.

Prime Minister David Cameron praises the "magnificent service" given by the Queen, as she celebrates 60 years on the throne.

Finance Secretary John Swinney defends plans to let EU nationals living in Scotland vote in the independence referendum.

Drinking "just a little more than they should" puts people at risk of serious illness including heart disease, stroke and cancer, the government is warning.

The number of deaths worldwide from malaria has been underestimated, according to data published in the medical journal the Lancet.

The more young people come into contact with employers the less likely they are to drop out of school and become unemployed, research suggests.

A top girls' school is planning a "failure week" to teach pupils to embrace risk, build resilience and learn from their mistakes.

Apple is granted a suspension of a sales ban imposed on some of its iPads and iPhones in Germany.

The FBI investigates how activists linked to Anonymous obtained a recording of a phone call between US and UK police on their operations against hacking.

More than 100 Conservatives are among MPs who have written to the prime minister calling on him to slash subsidies for onshore wind turbines.

Prince Charles says there is a reason to be optimistic about the state of the world's oceans, but it is "critically urgent" to tackle overfishing.

US singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey goes straight in at number one in the UK album chart with her debut release Born To Die.

Gerard Depardieu is to star in a movie about the sex scandal that caused IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn to resign.

Scooters are becoming increasingly popular as people look to cut costs and stretch their budgets, but could the boom spark safety problems?

The Magazine's weekly quiz of the news, 7 days 7 questions.

Motorists are being warned to drive with extreme care as the icy conditions around England continue.

Defence giant BAE Systems is to recruit 136 apprentices at its submarine building business in Barrow, Cumbria.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) calls for a new body to be set up to protect workers from abuse and exploitation by bosses.