Big Brother only wants to help you

Council 'spies' have been pilloried by politicians for snooping on citizens but CCTV cameras can be a force for good

Why Gordon needs Prudence — and Patience

The case for an early election is that Labour could exploit the economic crisis with a 'doctor’s mandate' appeal

People

Adam Sherwin turns the spotlight on Louis Theroux, Sir Paul McCartney and Keira Knightley

War and Medicine

While this show may be historically fascinating, scientifically informative and ethically challenging, don’t expect it to be uplifting

Pioneer beavers swap Norway for Scotland

The families are part of a programme to to reintroduce the species to Scotland after a 400-year absence

A better picture of what the child’s-eye view is

While some children have outgoing personalities and enjoy looking out, for others it may be more reassuring to see their parent

Looking back is way forward for a buggy

New research indicates that children in a pushchair benefit from the reassurance of facing the person pushing them

LSO is only British orchestra world’s best

Leading international critics have selected only one British orchestra in a poll of the world's twenty greatest orchestras

How did they miss these?

What most surprises me is the omission from this list of two orchestras that have ignited the 21st century’s musical world

Surgeons repair girl's brain with superglue

Ella-Grace Honeyman, aged 17 months, was given only months to live before undergoing the high-risk operation in New York

Otter swims astonishing sea journey

Conservations are stunned by the mammal's ability to navigate the three-mile journey to the Farne Islands from the coast

The Face: Dido

The Islington girl goes head to head with Leona Lewis in a battle for this week's number one album

A fate that's sealed

Twenty-five years ago sparrows were so common that one would pass them on the street without a glance

Iran 'has enough material for atomic bomb'

An analysis of the latest report on the country’s nuclear programme concluded Iran now has 630kg of low enriched uranium

2,000 complain over Sergeant's Strictly exit

John Sergeant's decision to waltz away from talent show prompts viewer backlash and thousands of complaints to BBC

Boy, 14, guilty of possessing semi-automatic

Teenager, who also had silencer for weapon, is one of the youngest people convicted of a gang-related firearms offence

Picture: the Queen in 1970s flares

The monarch as you've never seen her before. Image belonged to Marchioness of Cambridge, went with Queen on several trips

Mother 'knew Shannon was staying with Donovan'

Police officer tells court Karen Matthews admitted Michael Donovan had her daughter, but denied she arranged her kidnap

Viagra firm abandons non-prescription bid

Pfizer, makers of the anti-impotence drug, end attempt to make it available over counter after regulators' health concerns

Pentagon wants UK troops for Obama surge

America is to deploy thousands more troops against the Taleban in Afghanistan and expects Nato allies to do the same