2. Two held in Russia-uk 'spy' case

Last week, Russian TV showed what it said was the spy rock

Two people allegedly working as spies for British intelligence have been arrested in Moscow, a Russian MP has told a television programme.

"They are not silent they are talking," Nikolai Kovalyov, the former head of the security service said.

There is no official confirmation of the claims, which are due to be broadcast on Sunday evening.

I t is not clear if the men are linked to last week's spying claims allegedly involving British embassy workers.

The UK Foreign Office said Britain was asking the Russian foreign ministry for information.

"We have not been notified but it is not clear whether this report is about British staff," a spokesman said after Mr Kovalyov's comments in a trailer to the programme on Russia's NTV television in which he referred to two "British spies" being arrested.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said officials were still considering how to respond to the alleged UK spy scandal.

Last week's TV programme said four officials from the UK embassy and one Russian citizen, allegedly recruited by the British secret service, downloaded classified data from a transmitter in a fake rock planted in the street onto palm-top computers.

The programme also said a UK diplomat made regular payments to Russian non-governmental organisations.

The UK Foreign Office expressed surprise at the allegations and denied any improper behaviour.

3. Pinochet daughter held in Chile

Ms Pinochet arrived in the US from Argentina

The eldest daughter of former Chilean military ruler Augusto Pinochet has been detained, after arriving back in Chile to face tax evasion charges.

Lucia Pinochet, 60, was served notice of the charges that also include passport fraud as she returned from a bid to seek political asylum in the US.

She gave up after being detained in Washington and flew home via Argentina.

She is one of five members of Gen Pinochet's family to be charged with tax evasion - but denies wrongdoing.

Ms Pinochet was detained when she arrived back in Chile's capital, Santiago, on Saturday.

A Chilean judge had issued an international warrant for her arrest and boarded her plane to inform her of the indictments.

'Political persecution'

He then ordered her detention, where she will remain until at least Monday, when the Santiago Court of Appeals will decide whether or not to uphold the bail she was granted before travelling to the US last week.

On her arrival in the US, at Washington's Dulles airport, she was denied entry and taken into custody.

She had arrived from Argentina and was transferred to an immigration service detention centre while her position was assessed.

G en Pinochet's wife was granted bail on Tuesday

She told a reporter on her flight home that during her short stay there she was "very badly treated" and forced to wear a prison uniform.

Three of her siblings, her mother and Gen Pinochet have also been charged with tax fraud in connection with secret foreign bank accounts.

The other family members have been granted bail.

Ms Pinochet is said to have driven from Chile to Argentina on Sunday, the same day that reports about the possible arrest of the four Pinochet siblings and their mother appeared in the press.

According to the Chilean tax office, Lucia Pinochet has evaded $859,000 (£480,000) in taxes.