Syria artillery onslaught on Homs - The fiercest attack yet - involving heavy artillery - rocks the Syrian city of Homs, as the US closes its Damascus embassy over security concerns. ** Abbas to head interim government - Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas says he will head a unity government between Hamas and Fatah ahead of elections in the West Bank and Gaza. ** Contador given two-year drug ban - Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador is handed a two-year ban for a doping offence, and loses his 2010 Tour de France title. ** US sanctions Iranian Central Bank - US President Barack Obama places new sanctions on Iran, blocking government assets held in the US, including the Iranian Central Bank. ** Mars cooperation near collapse - US space agency officials tell Europe it is highly unlikely that America will participate in joint missions to the Red Planet in 2016 and 2018. ** Romanian PM resigns over protests - Romania's Prime Minister Emil Boc steps down to "defuse political and social tension" after a series of austerity protests. ** Radical cleric Qatada given bail - Radical cleric Abu Qatada is granted bail following a hearing at the UK's Special Immigration Appeals Commission. ** Deadly quake hits the Philippines - At least 15 people die and 29 are missing after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake strikes islands in the central Philippines. ** Deaths in Lahore factory collapse - An illegal medicine factory collapses in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, killing at least nine people, including women and children, officials say. ** Europe's big freeze tightens grip - The Arctic conditions sweeping Europe tighten their grip, with more deaths reported in Poland and Ukraine, taking the toll to well over 200. ** Queen commemorates 60-year reign - The Queen visits a school in Norfolk and there are gun salutes around the UK as she marks the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne. ** SA 'resurrected singer' detained - A South African man who claims to be a famous Zulu musician who apparently died in 2009 is in custody until DNA tests determine his identity, police say. ** VIDEO: Breivik appears in Oslo court - Anders Breivik, who killed 77 people in a bombing and mass shooting in Norway, has appeared in court in Oslo. ** VIDEO: Factory collapse traps many in Pakistan - A factory has collapsed in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore with many people, including women and children, feared trapped. ** VIDEO: The day Elizabeth became Queen - Sixty years ago today King George VI died and his 25-year-old daughter Princess Elizabeth became Queen. ** VIDEO: One-minute World News - Watch the latest news summary from BBC World News. International news updated 24 hours a day. ** VIDEO: Snow-covered scenes across Europe - The Arctic conditions sweeping Europe have tightened their grip, with more deaths reported in Poland and Ukraine, taking the toll to well over 200. ** VIDEO: Eritrean refugees kidnapped in Sudan - An estimated 2,000 Eritreans arrive every month in Sudan, hoping to claim asylum. ** VIDEO: Evacuation from Queensland floods - Floods continue to threaten Queensland in eastern Australia, with the town of St George expected to be worst hit. ** VIDEO: Madonna performs at Super Bowl - American broadcaster NBC has apologised after the singer M.I.A. put her middle finger up during the half-time performance. ** Delay in Greece bailout meeting - Government talks in Greece to try to agree new austerity measures needed to secure bailout funds and avoid defaulting on its debts, are delayed. ** China in EU carbon scheme 'ban' - China tells its airlines not to pay charges to the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme, aimed at cutting carbon emissions. ** Ofcom wants Openreach price cut - Telecoms regulator Ofcom tells BT Group to cut the wholesale prices it charges for use of its lines ** Acta protests spread over Europe - Dozens of protests are planned across Europe in opposition to the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. ** Madonna 'brassy' at Super Bowl - Madonna "rose to the occasion" to give "a shot of female brass" to the Super Bowl in her 12-minute half-time show, reviewers say. ** Phil Spector death case settled - The mother of the actress Phil Spector murdered has settled a wrongful death case against the music producer, according to her lawyer. ** Race to drill into Antarctic lake - Russian scientists are attempting to beat US and British rivals to be first to drill into an Antarctic sub-glacial lake. ** 'Birth defect risk' for diabetics - The risk of birth defects increases four-fold if the pregnant mother has diabetes, a study of 400,000 pregnancies in England suggests. ** Transplant jaw made by 3D printer - An 83-year-old woman is fitted with a jaw made by a 3D printer in what doctors say is the first operation of its kind. ** Campaign to cut smoking in cars - A campaign to stop people smoking in cars when carrying children - and which could pave the way for a ban - is launched by the Welsh government. ** Pakistan seal England whitewash - England slump to a 71-run defeat in the third Test in Dubai to suffer a series whitewash by Pakistan for the first time. ** Capello opposes FA Terry decision - Fabio Capello says he disagrees with the decision of his employers to remove John Terry as England captain. ** NBC sorry after M.I.A. 'gesture' - American broadcaster apologises after British singer puts her middle finger up during Super Bowl performance. ** Depardieu to star as Strauss-Kahn - Gerard Depardieu is to star in a movie about the sex scandal that caused IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn to resign. ** Somalia moves to evict squatters - Somalia starts a major operation to remove tens of thousands of people who have been squatting in government buildings in the capital. ** China stresses Tibet stability - The Tibetan regional government warns its officials to maintain stability in the area or face dismissal or criminal charges ahead of the Tibetan new year. ** Merkel: 'Normal' to back Sarkozy - German Chancellor Angela Merkel holds a joint cabinet session with President Nicolas Sarkozy, 80 days before French voters go to the polls. ** Brazil privatises three airports - The Brazilian government privatises three airports, including the country's largest in Sao Paulo, in sales valued at $14bn. ** US and Israel 'in unison' on Iran - The US is working closely with Israel to use diplomacy to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power, President Barack Obama says. ** Egypt 'to try foreign NGO staff' - Egypt says it is to try 43 people - including Americans and other foreigners - over the alleged illegal funding of non-governmental organisations. ** Schools and roads affected by ice - Drivers are being warned of black ice and some schools are closed, after the snow that fell across much of Britain at the weekend. ** Mail editor 'knew of detectives' - The Daily Mail's editor was aware the paper was using private detectives but not of the extent to which it was doing so, the Leveson Inquiry hears. ** Network Rail boss forgoes bonus - Network Rail bosses, including chief executive Sir David Higgins, say they will not accept bonuses this year amid growing political pressure. ** Germans jailed for terror offence - Two German nationals are jailed and given deportation orders after pleading guilty at the Old Bailey to possessing documents useful to terrorism. ** In pictures: Snowy Sunday - Much of UK with several inches of snow ** In pictures: Making charcoal from Liberian rubber trees - Making make use of old rubber trees in Liberia ** Week in pictures: 28 January-3 February - News photos from around the world: 28 January-3 February ** The Queen: 60 photographs for 60 years - Sixty photographs for 60 years on the throne ** In pictures: Venice in Solitude - Haunting views of Venice's waterways ** Where the Titanic was born - Drawing offices where Titanic was designed ** Day in pictures: 3 February 2012 - 24 hours of news photos: 3 February 2012 ** Day in pictures: 2 February 2012 - 24 hours of news photos: 2 February 2012 ** India's love affair with Charles Dickens - India's love affair with Charles Dickens ** VIDEO: The art of boxing - The champion female fighter on the art of winning ** The moment a princess became a queen - How Elizabeth became queen in a treehouse in Kenya ** Day in pictures: 6 February 2012 - 24 hours of news photos from around the world ** Avoiding Syria's secret police - The Syrian activists daring to evade the secret police ** Super Bowl photos - New York edge a thriller in Sunday's Super Bowl ** Climate consensus cracking open - or not... - Why climate sceptics claim they've cracked the consensus ** In pictures: Deep sea discoveries - Scientists find two species of colourful worms ** Working with Lucian Freud - Lucian Freud as seen by his assistant, model and friend **

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