Top Five BBC News Items

RBS bank posts £2bn loss for 2011
State-controlled Royal Bank of Scotland reports a loss of £2bn in 2011, its fourth year of losses since the bank's bailout in 2008.

Probe into gender abortion claims
The Department of Health launches an inquiry into claims that doctors agreed to carry out abortions on the grounds of the sex of unborn babies.

Comic Frank Carson dies aged 85
Friends and former colleagues pay tribute to "one-off" comedian Frank Carson, whose catch phrases included "It's a cracker", after his death aged 85.

Homs reporters' deaths condemned
The killings of two reporters in Homs and the reported deaths of 60 people across Syria trigger Western condemnation of Bashar al'Assad's regime.

World leaders to discuss Somalia
African and Western leaders gather for a major London conference on the future of Somalia, to discuss political change, terrorism and piracy.

---

Top Five Google News Items

Analysis: Social issue focus may haunt GOP in fall - The Associated Press

Globe and Mail

Analysis: Social issue focus may haunt GOP in fall The Associated Press MESA, Ariz. (AP) — The longer GOP presidential candidates compete for conservative activists' favor, the more they risk alienating centrist voters who might feel that arguments over birth control are crowding out talk about how to create jobs. Romney and Santorum trade barbs in Arizona debateThe Guardian Five things we learned from Wednesday's debateCNN After bitter debate, Romney and Santorum eye Mich.Atlanta Journal Constitution Philadelphia Inquirer -Reuters all 3,888 news articles »

Remembering Marie Colvin, friend and intrepid war correspondent - Haaretz

Haaretz

Remembering Marie Colvin, friend and intrepid war correspondent Haaretz Haaretz contributor Petra Ramsauer recalls Marie Colvin, one of two western journalists killed on Wednesday while reporting on the Syrian uprising. By Petra Ramsauer Tags: Syria Arab Spring The night before Marie Colvin was killed, she posted a message ... Republicans voice support for arming Syria oppositionJerusalem Post Syrian gunners pound stronghold where Marie Colvin released last dispatchTelegraph.co.uk American war reporter Marie Colvin killed in SyriaWall Street Journal BBC News -Daily Mail -Reuters UK all 3,842 news articles »

Jury recommends 26 years in prison for lacrosse player - CNN

ABC News

Jury recommends 26 years in prison for lacrosse player CNN Charlottesville, Virginia (CNN) -- A judge is considering a jury recommendation that a former University of Virginia lacrosse player be sentenced up to 26 years in prison for his role in the death of his ex-girlfriend. Ex-UVA Student Huguely Found Guilty of Murdering Yeardley LoveBusinessWeek Jury: 26 years total for former U.Va. athleteNewsOK.com all 1,471 news articles »

Iraq attacks kill at least 35 in Baghdad and Baquba - BBC News

BBC News

Iraq attacks kill at least 35 in Baghdad and Baquba BBC News At least 35 people have been killed and dozens injured in a wave of bombings and shootings across Baghdad. Officials said the attacks appeared to be targeting mainly police officers. Nine people were killed in the worst attack, in the central Karrada ... More than 30 killed in Iraq bombingsTelegraph.co.uk Deadly Car Bombings Strike Across BaghdadNew York Times Early morning attacks across Baghdad kill 35The Associated Press Wall Street Journal -AFP all 462 news articles »

DOMA ruled unconstitutional by 2nd federal judge - San Francisco Chronicle

South Bend Tribune

DOMA ruled unconstitutional by 2nd federal judge San Francisco Chronicle The government's denial of all federal benefits to same-sex married couples is an irrational and unconstitutional act of discrimination, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, a step toward a likely Supreme Court test of the law known as the Defense of ... Defense of Marriage Act ruled unconstitutional by judgeLos Angeles Times Bay Area couple wins case against federal same-sex marriage lawSan Jose Mercury News Judge's Ruling Adds to String in Favor of Same-Sex CouplesNew York Times USA TODAY all 276 news articles »