BBC News with Julie Candler

The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution that moves a step closer to foreign military intervention in Mali. Our UN correspondent Barbara Plett reports.

The resolution reflects growing concern that extremists Islamist rebels have gained control of a large ungoverned space in northern Mali. It also reflects frustration with African attempts to respond to the crisis. Both Mali and West Africa's regional body Ecowas have requested UN authorization of an African-led international force to

retake

the north. But for some months council members have been asking in vain for a detailed plan of operations. This resolution is an attempt to reenergize the Ecowas effort, it calls for delivery of the plan within 45 days, and expresses

readiness

to respond positively to it.

This year's Nobel peace prize has been awarded to the European Union. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said the EU had over six decades contributed to the advancement of reconciliation, democracy and human rights. The Committee said the

fledgling

EU helped to rebuild Europe after World War Two; some critics said Nato had played a bigger role in preserving the peace in post-war Europe.

The BBC will

commission

two independent internal inquiries into allegations that one of its former presenters Jimmy Savile sexually abused large numbers of underage girl over a period of decades and sometimes on BBC premises. The director general George Entwistle said the first would look into why a BBC program last year shelved its investigation into allegations against Mr Savile. After police approval, a later review would look at whether BBC practices facilitated the abuse, Mr Entwistle apologized to victims.