Ariel Sharon, who suffered a huge stroke two days ago, underwent emergency surgery today after a brain scan revealed new bleeding in his brain. Aides to the Israeli prime minister say his prognosis is not good.
Charles Kennedy today insisted he would fight on as Liberal Democrat leader, as party colleagues urged him to stand down following yesterday's admission that he has a drink problem. Chris Davies, the leader of Lib Dems in the European parliament, said Mr Kennedy no longer had the credibility to remain at the helm of the party, and described him as a "dead man walking".
Coming up later today, David Gow assesses the impact of the Russia-Ukraine gas row on EU energy policy, and Mark Tran looks back on the Gang of Four that terrorised China during the Cultural Revolution. The death of Yao Wenyuan, the last surviving member of the gang, was announced today.
Astonishing scenes on Celebrity Big Brother last night, with the tearful Michael Barrymore, the not-currently cross-dressing Dennis Rodman and the ever-gorgeous George Galloway among those entering what Mark Lawson describes as the "dormitory-of-the-awful". As Chris Shaw says on MediaGuardian.co.uk today, "I love the show and I'm hooked already but it does make me feel a bit grubby."
