National / International News

Twentieth Century history is one of the most controversial subjects in the Japanese school curriculum, reports Mariko Oi.

New wildlife crime legislation targeting landowners is being linked with a sharp drop in birds of prey being poisoned in Scotland.

A £10m government fund set up a year ago to help bring empty shops back into use has barely been touched, according to Freedom of Information requests seen by the BBC.

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How carmakers manipulate emissions tests

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Pope Francis is the first pope from Latin America, a choice that makes sense strategically as the church becomes less Europe-centric. But how he will direct the church, which is still dealing with the fallout of the sexual abuse crisis and other challenges, remains unclear.

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A power cut in London's West End forces some theatres to cancel their shows.

The acting president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro says it is highly unlikely that the body of the former president Hugo Chavez will be embalmed.

One of the first personal tidbits to emerge about Pope Francis: He cooks for himself. But austerity and humility are two of the new pontiff's defining characteristics. And they seem to extend to his eating habits.

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A "satellite" grammar school in Sevenoaks is in doubt after the government said it intended to use the site for a free school.

Executives have recently focused attention on Silicon Valley's workplace culture. While companies like Google, Facebook and Yahoo operate by their own set of rules, what happens there may influence how many Americans work. The key components? Interactive learning and fun, one expert says.

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The Folio Society is unveiled as the sponsor of new £40,000 literary award which will hand out its first accolade in 2014.

Researchers in France and the U.S. say watching a resuscitation attempt doesn't have lingering bad effects on relatives — it can actually be beneficial for them. But a researcher says there will be pushback on the practice from U.S. medical personnel because of their fear of being sued.

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The Syrians are believed to have hundreds of tons of chemical agents. NPR has learned that the 82nd Airborne Division just wrapped up a nine-day training exercise at Fort Bragg, N.C., to get ready for a possible mission to deal with those deadly chemicals.

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Arsenal bow out of the Champions League on away goals, despite an impressive 2-0 away win at Bayern Munich.

Millwall reach the FA Cup semi-finals as Danny Shittu's header edges a tense replay with Championship rivals Blackburn.

Chief sports writer Tom Fordyce gets the inside story on England coach Stuart Lancaster, from some of those who know him best.

New York state police launch a manhunt as four people are shot dead in two separate attacks at a car wash and barber shop.

A Bedfordshire cat, which has just turned 27, could be the oldest cat in the UK, his owner says.