Union leaders representing British Airways cabin crew will meet later to decide whether to announce dates for a strike.

Insurers paid out £650m from 335,000 claims made as a result of damage caused by the wintry weather in the UK.

Mexican Carlos Slim Huan overtakes Bill Gates as the world's richest man, according to the Forbes 'rich list'.

Northern Rock says that it made "good progress" in 2009, after reporting a sharp fall in its annual losses.

The US government records a budget deficit of $221bn (£147.6bn) in February - the largest monthly deficit in its history.