Gordon Brown has announced a mini-surge of British troops in Afghanistan to help police the August presidential election there. He’s also promised a big increase in aid to Pakistan, with half of the money going to the Afghan frontier region, which Mr Brown has branded “the crucible of global terrorism”.

His 15-page strategy document (UK Policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan: the Way Forward) highlights the “critical strategic importance to the UK” of what the Americans now just call “the Af-Pak theatre”. read more

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It’s pretty clear from the reaction that our question and answer session last night with the chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, on swine flu answered a lot but begged other questions (see video below).

I can’t really handle many more myself, but we have assembled a panel of experts on the website so hopefully you can get answers here.

The Channel 4 News website is carrying a list of expert replies to your questions – click here.

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MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – It’s very hard to eat with a mask on.

Our team in Mexico City are trying very hard to abide by all the hygiene precautions that should help prevent us from catching swine flu.

It feels very rude to refuse to shake the hands of people you are interviewing, but we have been advised to touch no one. read more

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NEW YORK, USA – America’s first death from the swine virus wasn’t American. A Mexican toddler just under the age of two died at a hospital in Houston after travelling to Texas with his family to visit relatives.

And so with 91 cases in 10 states, President Obama’s facing his first potential health crisis on this, his hundredth day in office – one mistake and it could damage him politically, as Hurricane Katrina did his predecessor. read more

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An absolute cascade of emails has followed my request to you to send in questions for the chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson.

We’re pretty hopeful he’ll be here to field them on tonight’s Channel 4 news – unless there’s another Cobra crisis meeting or some such. And if there is, we’ll get someone of the same standing.

Keep your questions about the outbreak coming. Either post a comment here or email the show on news@channel4.com read more

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Was it really that long ago? Barack Obama became the 44th president of the USA 100 days ago, on 20 January 2009. The anniversary may have been somewhat over-shadowed by the spread of swine flu, but you can re-live the ups and downs with this pleasingly clickable photo montage and this audio slideshow, which combines extracts of key speeches with images from the 100 days.

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The collapse of the case against the alleged 7/7 bomb accomplices coincided with a meeting I attended yesterday of community leaders.

The Muslims amongst them were warning that relations are becoming very strained, and they fear that government policy – in particular, the continued existence of the Prevent programme – is radicalising many young Muslims.

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With the world on swine flu watch, a number of online maps are tracking the spread of the disease. The Google Maps Mania blog rounds up some of the best and most creative efforts.

One of the earliest is this user-generated Google map by “Niman”, which plots suspected,  confirmed or probable, and negative incidences read more

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What were your favourite children’s books? That’s the question five of the UK’s finest writers of children’s books have answered today.

Quentin Blake, Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Rosen and Anne Fine are announcing their lists at a lunch today for 100 10-year-olds.

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