News from the BBC

UK hostages on Saudi tanker named

Two UK hostages on the Saudi Arabian oil tanker hijacked by Somali pirates are named, as families call for a safe return.

US shares plunge to five-year low

Wall Street plunges more than 5% on Wednesday to its lowest level in over five years on rising economic worries.

Sergeant quits Strictly contest

John Sergeant has pulled out of BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing because winning would have been "a joke too far", he says.

BNP members 'targeted by threats'

BNP members say they have received threatening phone calls and e-mails after their details were published on the internet.

Al-Qaeda vows to hurt Obama's US

Al-Qaeda deputy leader calls on Muslims to harm America, describing President-elect Obama as a "house slave".