Partying Pakistan frees prisoners
Celebrations are underway across Pakistan to mark the 60th anniversary of independence from Britain and the creation of the country. Crowds filled the streets at midnight to watch spectacular
fireworks displays. Queen Elizabeth and Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent messages of congratulation. Today's celebrations come at a time when Pakistan... [continued]
Chaos and anarchy in Pakistan 
Salmond sets out referendum stall
Scotland's SNP government is to set out plans for a referendum on independence, despite opposition from other main political parties. First Minister Alex Salmond (left) will reveal the plans
when he publishes a white paper in Edinburgh today. He said the aim was to spark a "national conversation" on the... [continued]
How long can Salmond hold on?
Turkish push for Islamic president
Despite strong opposition from secular politicians and the army, Turkey's governing Justice and Development Party has announced it is renominating foreign minister Abdullah Gul as its candidate for
the presidency. Opponents claim that Mr Gul has Muslim beliefs which could threaten the country's secular constitution. Mr Gul is expected to... [continued]
Turkey's leaders plan a Muslim Europe
Dubya sidekick Rove quits
George Bush's close friend Karl Rove resigned as deputy chief of staff yesterday - to spend more time with his family. But White House pundits wonder whether the man they called 'Bush's Brain' has
quit in order to avoid congressional investigations questioning his involvement in key government decisions that may... [continued]
The People page
Man City Thaksin’s trials begin
The first in a series of corruption cases being brought against the former Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, is due to begin today in Bangkok. Mr Thaksin, who was ousted in a military
coup last year, now lives in Britain, and is the owner of Manchester City FC. He... [continued]
Is Thailand on the brink of collapse?
Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy Leader of the Scottish National Party, talking to Jamies Naughtie about the prospects for Scottish independence: Obviously people in the next election will pass their verdict on the SNP government, and a poll last week showed that almost half of the people in Scotland, if there was an election tomorrow, would vote SNP.
Naughtie: To be fair, If you are quoting polls in your favour, you must also quote a poll that says support for independence is falling.
Sturgeon: You get many different polls with many different results...
Naughtie: Ah well, you like the bits that suit you but you don't like the bits that don't...
Sturgeon: No, I accept the poll. I believe that support for independence is significant and growing, and that's why we are very confidently putting our view forward in the white paper. I would say to everyone who has a different view, let's hear what those views are, and let's have a national debate. From the Today programme, BBC Radio 4
How long can Salmond hold on?
David Duchovny's new TV show, the steamily sexy Californication, has been hammered by US critics... Pop duo the Cheeky Girls (right) are flying home to Romania to have their botched boob jobs repaired... Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has been pictured arm-in-arm with a new mystery boyfriend in St Tropez... Brooke Astor, multi-millionaire American socialite and philanthropist, has died at 105... Sixties icon Sandie Shaw, 60, has had an operation on her (hitherto famously bare) feet to make them more beautiful...Russian President Vladimir Putin has been photographed fishing - while topless... After an erratic early morning broadcast yesterday, Radio 2 DJ Sarah Kennedy, spent the day in bed and hoped to be back on form this morning... Richard Branson threw a glass of water over US TV host Stephen Colbert when he was banned from plugging his new airline...
Sub-prime jitters haunt market
Despite signs of recovery in global stock markets, jitters continue among US investors, and worries about losses linked to sub-prime lending have offset earlier gains. Wall Street moved higher in
early trading, as the Federal Reserve pumped an extra $2bn into global markets, but the Dow Jones closed largely unchanged... [continued]
Signs that point to a US crash
UK inflation tumbles
Inflation tumbled to 1.9 per cent this morning - below the Government's 2 per cent target for the first time since March last year. The fall came as a surprise to the City, and gilt and short sterling futures leapt as further interest rate rises from the Bank of England... [continued]
