In a speech unveiling plans to introduce tight gun control, President Obama has called on the US Congress to restore a ban on assault weapons. The president's proposals include a ban on magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition and tough checks some people wanted to buy guns. He urged Americans to hold politicians to account.

Get them on the record. Ask your member of Congress if they support universal background checks to keep guns out of the wrong hands. Ask them if they support renewing a ban on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. And if they say no, asked them why not? Ask them what's more important? Doing whatever it takes to get an 'A' grade from the gun lobby that funds their campaigns, or given parents some peace of mind when they drop their child off for first grade.

The Liberian Senate has received a letter allegedly written by the former President Charles Taylor asking for payment of his pension of $25,000 a year. Mr Taylor is currently serving a 50-year prison sentence for war crimes which he's appealing against. The BBC correspondent in Liberia says the signature on the letter resembles that of Mr Taylor but the document contains some basic spelling mistakes.

BBC News

The International Monetary Fund has approved the next installment of its bailout for Greece worth more than $4bn. The decision followed reviews of the country's economic performance and the passage of further measures for the Greek parliament to satisfy lenders. Here's our economic correspondent Andrew Walker.