Britian today.

Queen in hospital: The Queen was admitted to hospital last night for an overnight stay ahead of an operation on her knee today. She arrived at London's King Edward VII Hospital in preparation for keyhole surgery to remove a torn cartilage in her left knee. The operation, under general anaesthetic, is due to take place this morning and follows a similar treatment on her right knee in January.

JUDGES WARN: Some of Britain's most senior judges yesterday warned MPs not to dilute the quality of people appointed to the bench by insisting on quotas of women or members of ethnic minorities. Prime Minister Tony Blair has suggested that the creation of a new Judicial Appointments Commission will result in a wider range of people becoming judges. But Lord Chief Justice Lord Woolf and Senior Law Lord Lord Bingham yesterday told the Commons Constitutional Affairs Committee that, while greater diversity among judges was desirable, appointees must continue to be chosen on merit.

HUNDREDS ARRESTED: Five hundred people have been arrested under anti-terror laws in the UK since September 11, it was revealed yesterday. Of those, 90 have been charged with terrorism offences, around 100 have been charged with other crimes. A Scotland Yard source said: "About 50pc of people arrested since autumn 2001 have ended up with some form of sanction."