National / International News

The UK performs poorly in an international comparison of social mobility within school systems.

Some U.S. meat producers add an obscure chemical called ractopamine to the feed that they give to their pigs, cattle or turkeys. But Russian safety officials haven't approved it, and they've stopped U.S. meat imports – worth a half-billion-dollars a year – until those imports are ractopamine-free.

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The home secretary outlines a new code of ethics for the police force in England and Wales.

An Irish property developer who was found wandering on a country road eight months after he disappeared has left hospital without leaving a forwarding address for police.

Much of the excitement over social networks has been based around the idea that they can sell targeted ads and maybe eventually things. Well, “social commerce” is becoming a bit more real. Starting Wednesday, American Express customers who link their cards to their Twitter accounts will be able to make purchases with a tweet.

Here’s how it works: American Express will release a list of things you can buy as favorites on their Twitter page -- think a Kindle Fire or an X-box. Each product will have a special hashtag. You tweet that hashtag, along with a second confirmation tweet from American Express, then the product gets mailed to your billing address.

“Everything happens within the Twitter eco-system,” says Doug Pierce, the head of research at Digital Due Diligence. “So there’s no going to the merchant site, no fumbling to find your card. It’s really simple, seamless.”

Pierce says it’s seamless because a lot of marketing already happens on Twitter and so that’s where you may first find a product you want. But the new payment system may be more about social media cred, than just about making money.

“It’s something to help spread the word about what can be done and how to do it, ” says Ingrid Lunden, a staff writer for TechCrunch. “And how cool and hip American Express is, rather than something that really will generate massive returns.”

Lunden says at least for now, what you buy with this system will likely be limited, as will the number of people who choose to participate.

Also: A school will be named after Maurice Sendak; poetic parking regulations; and Amish romance novels.

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Inter Milan are fined 15,000 euros after their fans made racist chants about their old striker Mario Balotelli.

The parents of a four-year-old boy who died of cancer say a hospital's apology over treatment delays is "unsatisfactory".

Culture Secretary Maria Miller clashes with a Labour MP after describing marriage as a "gold standard" that people aspire to.

Children's favourite Oliver Twist is to be "reimagined" for the big screen as an adventure, Dodge and Twist.

News photos over 24 hours: 12 February

Chicago police charge two men with the murder of a 15-year-old girl who performed at President Barack Obama's inauguration parade.

The Welsh detective who arrested one of the 10-year-old boys who killed toddler James Bulger 20 years ago says he will never forgive them.

American Express is offering US credit card users the ability to make purchases by sending messages on Twitter.

Luxury smartphone maker Vertu has launched its first Android-operated handset.

Pope Benedict XVI will not interfere in the affairs of his successor after his decision to resign later this month, the pontiff's brother says.

The annual Parliamentary pancake race saw MPs triumph as they took on teams from the House of Lords and the media to see if they could hold on to the title they won last year.

Scientists develop a computer program that can reconstruct long-dead languages, making quick work of what would take human linguists far longer.

Analysts also say North Korea's claim that the device was smaller and lighter than ones it previously tested might be a sign it has moved closer to being able to fit a weapon on to a missile. Leaders around the world are condemning North Korea's actions.

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Tesla Motors chief executive Elon Musk brands a New York Times review of his company's electric saloon car as "fake", after its range is questioned.