BBC News - Home

The latest stories from the Home section of the BBC News web site.

Six million facing new tax bills HM Revenue and Customs says some 1.4 million people each owe about £1,500 in tax, while 4.3 million will get an average rebate of £418. Overnight curfew after NZ quake Police declare an overnight curfew in Christchurch, New Zealand, after a powerful earthquake causes considerable damage but no fatalities. Balls enters 'phone hacking' row Labour leadership hopeful Ed Balls says the home secretary should make a statement about claims of phone tapping by the News of the World. Blair pelted with eggs in Dublin Shoes, eggs and plastic bottles are thrown at Tony Blair as he arrives at a book-shop in Dublin to sign copies of his memoirs. Tory defects over schools scheme A Tory councillor defects to Labour over cuts to the government's schools building programme, saying she was "ashamed to be a Conservative". Protests over French Roma policy Tens of thousands gather in Paris and other French cities to protest against the government's policy of deporting Roma people. Burned body found on golf course A badly burned body is found in undergrowth between the 17th and 18th holes of an East Sussex golf course. Chile miners advised to exercise Scientists from the US space agency Nasa advise the trapped Chilean miners to exercise and regulate their day and night sleep patterns. Nine die in New Zealand air crash Nine people, including four tourists, are killed when a light aircraft crashes after taking off from Fox Glacier in New Zealand, say reports. Karzai sets up Taliban talks body Afghan President Hamid Karzai has formed a committee to seek peace talks with the Taliban, his office says.