World News from the BBC

Nine people, including four foreigners, are killed when a light aircraft crashes after taking off from Fox Glacier in New Zealand, say reports.

Talks to form a coalition government in the Netherlands collapse as the leader of the far-right Freedom Party Geert Wilders walks out.

Downing Street's head of communications, Andy Coulson, is safe in his job despite phone hacking claims surrounding the News of the World newspaper, says a senior government source.

A weakened Hurricane Earl is downgraded to a tropical storm as it continues up the US east coast towards Canada.

A weakened Hurricane Earl has passed North Carolina and is continuing up the east coast of the US.

Police question the three Pakistan players accused of corruption, while the ICC says that trio implicated have a disciplinary case to answer.

Fidel Castro warned of nuclear war arising from the dispute that has pitted the United States and Israel against Iran.

Questions over halal meat as market booms in France

A new drill has arrived at the Chilean mine site for an alternative rescue plan, in which a team will drill a separate shaft from a different part of the mountainside.

China gives EU lesson in rural poverty

Some 77% of Britons think taxpayers should not help pay for Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Scotland and England, a survey suggests.

A fire that damaged construction equipment at the site of a Tennessee Islamic centre was arson, investigators say.

Reading Arabic 'hard for brain'

A state of emergency is declared in Christchurch after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake strikes New Zealand's South Island, injuring two people seriously.

Powerful earthquake damages New Zealand city of Christchurch

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair tells the BBC that radical Islam is the greatest threat facing the world.

The committee set up to organise a referendum on independence in southern Sudan decides on a northerner to be its head.

Six recruiters are accused of luring 400 Thai workers to the US with promises of farm jobs, confiscating their passports and demanding high fees.

Nigeria's economy will hit double-digit growth by the end of 2011 or early 2012, the country's finance minister says.

Senior Labour politicians urge fresh inquiries into phone hacking claims surrounding the News of the World newspaper.